cair-net Digest of: get.1201_1300
Topics (messages 1201 through 1300):
CAIR-NET: Muslims Seek Political Voice/Israeli at Abu Ghraib
1201 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bush Shouldn't Take Muslim Vote for Granted/'Islam Rooted in
Evil'
1202 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bomb Explodes Outside Texas Mosque
1203 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Conducts Diversity Training for NASA
1204 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Voter Seminar in GA/Mayfield to Speak in FL
1205 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Applaud Court's Condemnation of Israeli Wall
1206 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Libertarians Reaches Out to Muslims/Thongs in Kabul
1207 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Arsonist Torches Muslim Store in Washington
1208 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Cross Burned at Home of Middle Eastern Family in WA
1209 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Foster Parents Sought/Sikh Beaten in NY
1210 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Help Get CAIR's PSA on Local TV Stations
1211 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Meet with FBI/Canadian Mosque Vandalized
1212 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Meet Pelosi/Cartoon Smears Islamic Civilization
1213 by: CAIR
ISLAM-INFONET: 'Aware' Primer will be Revised
1214 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Aware' Primer will be Revised
1215 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Civil Rights Eroding/Iraqi PM Shot Prisoners
1216 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ask Red Lobster to Resolve Muslim Bias Claim
1217 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Iowa Terror Arrests Appear Doubtful
1218 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islam to be Banned in Norway?/Tragedy in Sudan
1219 by: CAIR
CAIR Election Update: Bush, Kerry on Mideast Policy
1220 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: California Muslim Detained in Egypt
1221 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Host DNC Delegates/MI Voters Back Adhan
1222 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: McKinney Wins/Muslims at DNC/Detainee Released
1223 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CIA Recruits Arab-Americans/FBI Holds 'Chats'
1224 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: UCLA Student Missing/CA Detainee Returns/Medical Expert
Sought
1225 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Radio Host Calls Islam a 'Murderous Organization'
1226 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Jewish Leader Warns of 'Growing US Moslem Community'
1227 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Delegates Gather at DNC Event
1228 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI Probe Sought for Attack on NY Muslims
1229 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim to Offer DNC Prayer/Kerry Can't Take Muslim Vote for
Granted
1230 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Seek a Voice at Democratic Convention
1231 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CA Muslims Decry 'Pressure Tactics' Used on Detainee
1232 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Feds Warn About Limits on Mosque/No Muslim Input on 9-11
Report
1233 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DHS Given Census Data on Arab-Americans
1234 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Church Bombings Condemned/Mosque Voter Drives
1235 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Air Force Prevents Worship in Mosque/Islam in Vegas
1236 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Joins 'Call to Action' on Darfur Crisis
1237 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Constant Use of 'Islamist' Overlooks Real Threats
1238 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Voter Shift Could Hurt Bush/Israelis Train US Police
1239 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls Alleged NY Missile Plot 'Deeply Troubling'
1240 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pro-Islam Resolution Sparks Debate/LA Muslims Rally for
Detainee
1241 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR and ACLU Offer Legal Help to FBI Interviewees
1242 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: GOP Rep Regrets Bogus Terror Plot Claim
1243 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islam Enters U.S. Mainstream/Kerry Attacker Smears Islam
1244 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Eager to Vote/CAIR Trains First Responders
1245 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Urge End to Fighting Near Iraqi Shrine
1246 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Anti-Kerry Author Sorry for Islamophobic Slurs
1247 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims Seek Probe of Teacher's Anti-Islam Remarks
1248 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Nader vs. the ADL/New Film May Stereotype Muslims
1249 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: TX Muslim Store Torched, NY Muslim Beaten
1250 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslim Voter Drive Swamps County Office
1251 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Charges in TX Mosque Bombing/Muslim Roots of the Blues
1252 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Both Parties Courting OH Muslims/Equality in Mosques
1253 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Illinois Muslim Worker Files Bias Suit
1254 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Vote and Bush Converts/American Mosques
1255 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims Mobilize to Aid Hurricane Victims
1256 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: AZ Muslim Voter Drive/NY Muslim Harassed at JFK
1257 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome Pentagon Report on Boykin's Speeches
1258 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Register Online for CAIR's Oct. 2-5 Banquet & Convention
1259 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CT Prison Guard Fired Over Racist Remarks
1260 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Help the Needy' Case Politicized/Muslim FBI Agent Sues for
Bias
1261 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 300 at CAIR-KY Kick-Off/Indictments a Political Game
1262 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for Reversal of Prof's Visa Revocation
1263 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Muslims Out on Bail - Lack of Evidence
1264 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI Gets Muslim Insight/CAIR PSA Reaches 2 Million
1265 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Muslim Called 'Sand N*gger' During NJ Assault
1266 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Radical Jewish Groups Raise Funds in U.S.
1267 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pakistanis Feel Most 9/11 Bias/Material Witness Statute
Misused
1268 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: President to Woo Muslims/AIPAC Spy Scandal
1269 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Imam to Give Invocation at GOP Convention
1270 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Racist Note Left on AZ Muslim's Vandalized Car
1271 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Challenges of Secret Court/Ramadan Refutes Pipes
1272 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Who Gets Muslim Vote?/FBI Seizes AIPAC Computer
1273 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: IL Pastor Rips Muslims, Loses Polling Sites
1274 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns School Killings in Russia
1275 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Get More Political/IA Mosque Vandalized
1276 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Suit Over Book on Islam Dismissed/Influential Muslim Women
1277 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: The Likudization of the World/'Criminals, Not Muslims'
1278 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Playing the Condemnation Game/CAIR 9/11 Events
1279 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL University Accommodates Basketball Player's Hijab
1280 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islamic Prayer Area Vandalized at AU in DC
1281 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Opens New Chapter in Connecticut
1282 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Urged to Vote/Sports About Unity, Not Hijab
1283 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslim Athlete Quits Over Team Attire
1284 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NJ Issues New Halal Rules/Arab-Americans and Kerry
1285 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Immigrants and Voting/Muslim Scouts Hold Blood Drive/Golfers
Assaulted
1286 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Firebombs Thrown at TX Mosque/CA Muslims Attacked/Anti-Islam
Sign at PA Church
1287 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Texas Leaders Asked to Condemn Islamophobia
1288 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Must Vote/TX Rep Condemns Islamophobia
1289 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for Release of All Hostages in Iraq
1290 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Internment of American Muslims?/Condemning Islamophobia
1291 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims React to Exclusion of Yusuf Islam
1292 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Asks President to Explain Exclusion of Yusuf Islam
1293 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Election Insights/Poll Shows Muslims Back Kerry
1294 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: James Yee to Speak at CAIR DC Dinner - Reserve Your Ticket
Today!
1295 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Say 'Killings Betray Our Faith'/Beheading Condemned
1296 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: GA Muslims Hold Service for American Killed in Iraq
1297 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ohio Muslims Hold Town Hall Meeting on Elections
1298 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: MI Muslims to Hold Candidate Forum/Yusuf Islam's Statement
1299 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pre-Election Arrests of Muslims?/Muslims Invite Bush, Kerry
to Swing State Meetings
1300 by: CAIR
---------------------------------
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--0-2073684868-1171822864=:63922
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/5/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: HOPE AND FEAR
* HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
- CAIR Launches Anti-Torture Campaign
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS URGED TO RENOUNCE TERROR (Sun Sentinel)
* MD: MUSLIM POLITICAL GROUPS SEEK UNIFIED VOICE (Balt Sun)
- CAIR-FL: Muslim Voters Recruited (Tampa Trib)
* CAIR-FL: MAN'S BOMB THREAT ARREST QUESTIONED (Sun Sentinel)
- CAIR-OH: Family Protests Treatment of Suspect (AFP)
- Canada: Muslim Subjected to Interrogation (Van Sun)
* CA: MUSLIM YOUTH SHARING THEIR FAITH (Fresno Bee)
* CAIR-AZ: QUESTIONS ON HOW FREE WE ARE LINGER (Arizona Trib)
* INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION (Orlando Sentinel)
- FL: Proud to be American (Orlando Sentinel)
* NB: FIREWORKS LOOK LIKE TERROR LEADERS (Sioux City Journal)
* AFGHAN MAN'S DEATH IS INVESTIGATED (NY Times)
* ISRAELI MIGHT HAVE WORKED AT ABU GHRAIB (AP)
- Israeli Soldier Filmed Abusing Palestinians (Haaretz)
- Israel Unleashed (Antiwar.Com)
- Israelis Kill 9-Year-Old Palestinian (AP)
- Israelis Say Sharon Is Expanding Outposts (AP)
* ARMY STAGE-MANAGED FALL OF HUSSEIN STATUE (LA Times)
- Boondocks Comic on Rumsfeld and Saddam
* FOR BANTU MUSLIMS, HARD-WON AMERICAN DREAMS (NY Times)
- Mutilating Africa's Daughters (New York Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HOPE AND FEAR
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited a young man who was
dying
and asked him how he felt. The man replied: "I place my hope in God…but
I
am afraid because of my (past) sins." The Prophet then said: "(This
hope
and fear) cannot come together in a man's heart at such a time without
God
giving him what he hopes for and granting him security from what he
fears."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 504
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
CAIR has launched a new drive to raise $80,000 online each month. To
help
us reach that goal, go to: https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
SEE ALSO:
CAIR LAUNCHES ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to
help
prevent the use of torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners or
detainees.
A CAIR postcard urging the House of Representatives to conduct hearings
into allegations of detainee abuse by American military personnel is
now
online on CAIR's web site. (The site also contains links to news
articles
related to the issue of torture.)
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=postcardjun2004
-----
CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS URGED TO RENOUNCE TERROR
Altaf Ali, Sun-Sentinel, 7/4/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/sfl-brmail794jul04,0,7747412.story
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Florida calls on all Muslims
worldwide to sign our petition, "Not in the Name of Islam." The
petition
can be viewed at www.cair-florida.org. The petition reads:
"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who
commit
acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only
destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the
faith
they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify
the
massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the
cause
of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group
or
individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to
allow
our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority
acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet
Muhammad,
peace be upon him."
"As it states in the Quran: 'Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for
justice, as witnesses to God, even if it be against yourselves, or your
parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor; for God
can
best protect both.'"
-----
MD: MUSLIM POLITICAL GROUPS SEEK UNIFIED VOICE
Frank Langfitt, Baltimore Sun, 7/5/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.muslims05jul05,0,680827.story
When Baltimore City Council candidate Melvin Bilal held a fund-raiser
at a
local mosque in May, the black Republican drew 250 fellow Muslim
Americans,
including immigrants from India, Pakistan and the Arab world.
Among them was retailer Ahzar Ansari, originally from Karachi, who
donated
$1,000 to help put one of his brethren in office.
"We don't have any representative at all, anywhere in Baltimore City,"
said
Ansari, who plans to hang signs for Bilal's long-shot campaign in one
of
his Dollar Stores. "We have to start somewhere."
Bilal's fund-raiser captures what American Muslim political organizers
have
been working for: cooperation across ethnic lines. At a time when many
Muslims are anxious about civil rights and opposed to President Bush,
organizers want to develop a unified voice and gain a foothold in the
political system.
It's not easy. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and
the
war in Iraq, the number of Muslims running for office nationwide has
dropped more than 80 percent.
Organizing American Muslims is also a challenge. Far from being a
monolithic group, they hail from about 80 countries and are often
divided
by linguistic, cultural and political differences that can outweigh
their
common faith.
Numbering from 3 million to 6 million - estimates vary widely - they
have
established a variety of public organizations. But none hold public
office
beyond the state level.
"There are so many groups, and they are so diverse," said Mohamed
Nimer,
author of The North American Muslim Resource Guide. "The major thing is
for
leaders in the community to start thinking of the Muslim population as
a
whole."
As the election approaches, Muslim activists are trying to do just
that.
In December, they created a national political umbrella organization,
the
American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights and Elections, which
includes
the nation's nine largest Muslim groups. They're holding voter
registration
drives - with mixed results - and fielding seminars to teach political
organizing skills...
Muslims have had some success organizing across ethnic lines. The
Council
on American-Islamic Relations, a watchdog group, has drawn broad
support by
focusing on unifying concerns: civil rights and attacks on Islam....
SEE ALSO:
VOTERS RECRUITED AT MUSLIM CELEBRATION
KATHY STEELE, Tampa Tribune, 7/5/04
http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGB2WG14AWD.html
TAMPA - A Sunday picnic in the park celebrated the nation's
Independence
Day with all-American ingredients: cotton candy, grilled chicken and a
basketball tournament…
But underlying the patriotic holiday event was a more serious purpose:
mobilizing Muslims to register and vote.
About 1,000 people were expected to attend the picnic on the campus of
the
Islamic Society of Tampa Bay on Sligh Avenue. The event was sponsored
by
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a nonprofit Washington-based
advocacy group that is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Many national chapters of CAIR celebrated the anniversary in mid-June
but
Tampa's chapter combined it with the national holiday.
"It's a long weekend. We took advantage of that," said Ahmed Bedier,
Florida spokesman for CAIR.
The picnic included games and a performance by a Muslim hip-hop group,
The
Iron Triangle…
CAIR seeks to dispel stereotypes about Muslims and the Islamic faith,
but
Bedier said the attacks of Sept. 11 were a setback…
In typical July Fourth fare, political stump speeches were scheduled
about
7 p.m., although Bedier didn't know who would show up.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Frank and Betty Castor, Democratic
candidate for U.S. Senate, were expected for speeches. Others invited
included Mayor Pam Iorio and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa.
Local campaign workers in U.S. Sen. John Kerry's presidential bid
worked
the crowds.
"We're trying to inform them of what Kerry stands for," said Evita
Cheaib,
22, a member of CAIR, as she handed out papers on Kerry's position on
foreign policy and the economy.
A recent poll of Muslims showed Kerry with a lead among Muslims over
President Bush and Ralph Nader, Bedier said…
-----
MIAMI BEACH MAN'S BOMB THREAT ARREST QUESTIONED
Kevin Smith, Sun Sentinel, 7/3/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cprofile03jul03,0,2943757.story
Plantation · A Miami Beach man, arrested this week on charges he
threatened
to blow up an electronics store, was the victim either of a misguided
investigation or a misunderstanding, an advocacy group said Friday.
Plantation police, however, said the arrest was made only after a
complete
investigation, and the Broward County State Attorney's Office said it
was
reviewing the case before filing formal charges, as is common.
The arrest Tuesday of Taiser Okashah, 43, after a June 3 exchange that
was
reported to the police on June 5, was troubling, said Altaf Ali,
executive
director of the Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"The community is very concerned that a very humble member of the
community, for asking a question about a rebate, can be put in jail,"
Ali
said during a news conference. Okashah, a Muslim, was being held
without
bond at Broward County Jail. He was charged by Plantation police with
threatening to detonate an explosive.
According to Ali, an arrest affidavit and a police report, the incident
began at 7:30 p.m. June 3, when Okashah went to the Best Buy store at
12301
W. Sunrise Blvd. and encountered sales representative Alejaundro
Schnakofsky. After discussing the purchase of a laptop computer,
Okashah
questioned whether he would get the rebate.
Schnakofsky said in a sworn statement that Okashah said, "I am going to
come back and blow up this place if I do not get my money this time."
But Okashah never introduced the idea of a bomb, according to Ali. "All
he
said was, `These rebates are a big lie,' and it appears the clerk
misunderstood that statement," Ali said...
---
FAMILY PROTEST US TREATMENT OF SOMALI TERROR SUSPECT
Agence France Presse, 7/4/04
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Relatives of Somali terror suspect Nuradin Abdi have
had a
hard time reconciling the man they know with the alleged bomb-plot
conspirator and dedicated jihadist that US authorities say he is.
But neither did they recognise the broken-down, at times incoherent
individual that appeared in court last month after six months in
solitary
confinement.
"He's the shell of the man we love and know," said his brother, Abdi
Karani, 27.
Abdi's relatives suspect that Abdi, 32, described as an outgoing
father-of-two, may have suffered a mental breakdown during his long
months
in custody. Some in this city's thriving Somali community of 30,000
question whether he was abused in prison.
"I am extremely concerned that his behaviors might indicate mental and
possibly physical abuse during his detention, and that his mental
injuries
may be permanent," said Asma Mobin-Uddin, a physician and official with
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
"In America," she goes on in an editorial printed in the Columbus
Dispatch
newspaper June 24, "we considered the use of torture unacceptable in
civilised society.
"Has the war on terror changed our nation's values?"
Abdi was arrested in November 2003 on immigration violations, then
charged
in June with plotting to blow up a shopping mall in the US heartland
with a
convicted al-Qaeda conspirator...
Jad Humeidan, director of the Ohio chapter of CAIR, stressed that the
community's support was not unconditional. "We will not tolerate any
form
of terrorism or any act that jeopardizes the security of our nation or
the
world," he said.
But Humeidan said he feared that Abdi might simply be another unwitting
victim of over-zealous officials prosecuting the war on terror, much
like
the Oregon attorney Brandon Mayfield and the Muslim Army chaplain
Joseph
Yee...
---
A VANCOUVER RESIDENT WITH A MUSLIM NAME IS SUBJECTED TO AN HOUR-LONG
AIRPORT INTERROGATION, WHILE A TEXAS IMAM IS TURNED AWAY IN WHAT
CRITICS
SEE AS THE GROWING USE OF RACIAL PROFILING
Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, 7/3/04
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/index.html
Vancouver resident Mohamed Khan was returning from London in May when
government airport officials checked his baggage and took him to a room
for
questioning, which lasted more than an hour.
"I was the only one out of 300 passengers to be thoroughly
interrogated,"
said Khan. "I was the only person taken to the side."
He feels the incident was the result of his name, which suggests he is
Muslim.
Previously, he said, he had been questioned about his reasons for going
to
Germany and the U.S., asked about where he stayed while overseas and if
he
was bringing more than $10,000 cash into Canada.
"I've been travelling since 1959," said Khan, a 71-year-old retired
travel
agent who calls himself a globetrotter. "I'm addicted to travelling."
But he is offended by the frequent questioning he has experienced at
Vancouver's airport, especially since the U.S. terrorist attacks of
Sept.
11, 2001.
He points out that he was born a British subject in Tanzania, his
parents
were born in India, he came to Canada in 1987 and became a Canadian
citizen
in 1991.
He has written letters of complaint about his treatment to Air Canada,
the
Canada Border Services Agency and Anne McLellan, the federal minister
of
pub-lic safety and emergency preparedness, who is in charge of border
security.
"It is racism and profiling based on a person whose name appears to be
Muslim," Khan said of his past experiences. He's not alone in that
sentiment...
-----
SHARING THEIR FAITH
Susie Vang, The Fresno Bee, 7/4/04
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/8801879p-9688097c.html
Year after year, Zainab Munjy, 22, makes the drive from her Fresno home
to
join hundreds of Muslim families at Camp Green Meadows in Fish Camp.
About 250 people are expected to attend this year's 15th annual Youth
and
Adult Islamic Camp, hosted by the Muslim Society of Central California
near
the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The retreat, which began
Thursday
and ends Monday, attracts people of all races and nationalities who
share
the Islamic faith.
A few things have changed at the retreat since the 9/11 terrorist
attacks
and the war in Iraq, organizers said. There have been a few discussions
on
how Muslims could interact with and educate others about their faith.
And one of their new goals: Refute the misconception they say is
portrayed
by the media that Muslims are terrorists.
"Honestly, the majority of Muslims are very peaceful people," MSCC
President Hamid Akbar said. "They work hard."
There are about 20,000 Muslims in the San Joaquin Valley.
"One of the unique things about this camp is the dialogue between
different
nationalities," said Aslam Abdullah, editor-in-chief of two Muslim
publications. "We reflect the American pluralism."
Muslims come from New York, Montana and Florida to the tranquil
campground
neighboring one of America's most notable parks. Many of these American
citizens came from countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
India
and Lebanon. There are about 75 similar Muslim camps across the
country...
-----
QUESTIONS ON HOW FREE WE ARE LINGER FOR SOME IN THE E.V.
Gary Nelson, Tribune, 7/3/04
http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=24188
Judging from the soft twang, a remnant of her Arkansas upbringing,
you'd
expect her to be, most likely, a Baptist. But you'd be wrong. Deedra
Abboud
is a Muslim, and she has tackled one of the toughest public relations
jobs
on the planet.
As executive director since February 2003 for the Arizona branch of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Abboud defends Muslims from
infringements of their civil liberties and from the perception on the
part
of many Americans that all Muslims are somehow connected with
terrorism.
Many Valley Muslims are looking over their shoulders these days, Abboud
said from her Phoenix office.
"Any U.S. citizen or person who has a knock on their door from the FBI
that
'just wants to chat' is a little uneasy," Abboud said. That happened to
her
husband, a native of Iraq, once after Sept. 11, 2001, and once before
the
war in Iraq began last year.
It is not merely FBI agents making the visits, Abboud said. She's heard
reports that the short-handed FBI has delegated such investigations to
other law-enforcement agencies, and that Muslims are being questioned
at
work even though agents usually have the option to conduct such
interviews
in the subject's home.
"I can't even tell you how many calls I got last week, people saying,
'Oh, my God, I'm scared,'" Abboud said.
Her organization now counsels people not to speak to law officers more
than
once without a lawyer present, even though that can cost hundreds of
dollars. Interviews with lawyers on hand are a lot shorter, she said,
than
those where the subject tries to go it alone.
Muslims also are being singled out for extra attention at immigration
roadblocks on the way to San Diego and El Paso, Texas, she said. "It's
just
little things like this that gives us the perception that somehow
Muslims are second-class citizens."
Abboud believes Muslims also are being shouted down in the national
conversation about war, terror and other issues. "Pretty much, people
say
the only thing Muslims have a right to say in America is that we
condemn
terrorism. Beyond that, we're not supposed to say any thing," Abboud
said.
And more than 2 1/2 years after its passage, Abboud still gets the
willies
thinking about the USA Patriot Act.
-----
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION PATRIOTIC PARTY
Brian Baskin, Orlando Sentinel, 7/3/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locmuslimpatriots03070304jul03,1,7463251.story
There were sparklers and an enormous American flag at the Islamic
Society
of Central Florida's outdoor Fourth of July celebration Friday. There
also
were firefighters, a rock-climbing wall, potato salad and popcorn.
Then, an hour into the area Islamic community's first public
Independence
Day party, the sky opened up.
The party was hastily switched to an indoor affair to avoid wind gusts,
lightning and torrential rain.
Inside, there was still potato salad, a reading of the Declaration of
Independence and patriotic good cheer among the Muslims, Christians and
Jews who attended.
And most of the 100 people remaining after the storm died down couldn't
have cared less about the weather.
"I haven't stopped yet. The chicken keeps coming," said Keith Shaw, the
ISCF's official grill master and the only member wearing a cowboy hat.
"People are saying, `So what that it's raining? We want chicken.' "
The revelers gathered inside the ISCF community center in Orlando,
where a
local Boy Scout troop prepared to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, to
be
followed by speeches and more food.
The event was organized to remind people about the importance of giving
back, said Areej Zufari, ISCF communications director. Sandwiched
between
booths devoted to Muslim culture and food were opportunities to
register to
vote and donate blood...
ALSO SEE:
PROUD TO BE AMERICAN
Zaineh Khalil, Orlando Sentinel, 7/3/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpnewvoices03a070304jul03,1,294467.story
To me, being an American doesn't only mean the freedom and the liberty
given to me by the Founding Fathers. No, it's having the ability to
change
and influence what happens. It's giving what you have, and not
expecting
anything in return. It's smiling to your neighbor and volunteering at a
local home. It's eating barbecue chicken and watching the fireworks
over
Lake Eola.
I'm not of American origin, nor am I a Christian like the majority of
Americans. Rather, I'm of Arab descent and a Muslim. I don't like to
distinguish myself from other Americans, though. I like to say I'm an
American -- yes, indeed, a patriotic American Muslim.
You can never grow up in a country, and then say you're not part of it.
I
love America and all it has to offer. Living here, I've met some really
amazing people, and they've made me into a better person. I've learned
so
many things about life that I'm not sure I would have learned if I had
grown up in another country. Not only has my life in America taught me
tolerance, but it has also taught me to look at my cup as half full
rather
than half empty.
Recently, however, times and events have changed things. I start to
worry
about whether taking a jog alone would actually harm me rather than put
me
in better shape. Whether driving all the way to New York would be
easier
than taking a plane. Or whether helping a child up after he or she
falls
would be considered an act of kindness or a threat.
I really wish things didn't have to be this way. I've always had a pure
and
positive look at things; never have I assumed that being a patriotic
American could actually cause people to question who I am.
I love America, and I love being a Muslim....
-----
FIREWORKS IN LIKENESS OF TERROR LEADERS OFFERED AT NEBRASKA STANDS
Sioux City Journal, 7/3/04
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2004/07/03/news/regional/cd85d8f436413ff086256ec6001884fe.txt
PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) -- America's war on terrorism is playing out
this
Fourth of July at fireworks stands across the country with celebrants
being
offered a chance to figuratively blow up terror leaders.
The bin Laden Noggin, a cone-shaped firework decorated with a gun
wielded
on a green-faced cartoon of Osama bin Laden, has been a top seller at
Stars
and Stripes fireworks stands across Nebraska.
The business' owner, Keith Christensen, said he figured the bin Laden
Noggins would be popular, but not as popular as they have been.
"I've been busy trying to keep it on stands," he said.
When lit, the bin Laden cone erupts in blood red flames and screeches
loudly for 60 seconds, Christensen said. Bin Laden's so-called
execution
isn't complete until two shots blow his head off.
The cone sells for $1.99 each or $7.96 for a package titled "Exploding
Terrorists Heads," which also includes the likenesses of "Sadly Insane
(Saddam) Hussein," "Rag Hat (Yasser) Arafat" and "Cannibal (Moammar)
Gadhafi."
The terrorists fireworks also are distributed to vendors in Oklahoma,
Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana by Missouri-based Crazy Debbie's
Fireworks.
Lisa Myer of Papillion was appalled when she heard about the terrorists
fireworks while shopping at an Omaha-area stand for smoke bombs and
sparklers for her son.
"What are we trying to teach our children?" she asked.
Another fireworks shopper, Suzi Hoffman, thought the fireworks were a
good
idea.
"I thought they should have shot Saddam in the head when they found
him,"
she said. "So this is a great way to get your aggression out."
Hoffman, 40, said her husband returned home in May after spending eight
months working as an electrician in Baghdad.
Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, D.C., said she hopes the fireworks don't add to the
increased backlash Muslims have faced, particularly since the recent
beheadings of Americans in the Middle East.
"We have faith that most Americans using these fireworks can make a
distinction between a dictator and a terrorist and not to associate
them
with the religion or killing people," she said...
-----
AFGHAN MAN'S DEATH AT U.S. OUTPOST IS INVESTIGATED
Carlotta Gall, New York Times, 7/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/05/international/asia/05AFGH.html
ERESHK, Afghanistan - The American military is investigating the death
in
November of an Afghan man held in detention at an American military
outpost
here in southern Afghanistan.
There are now five deaths of Afghans in American detention that the
military is investigating.
The family of the dead man, Abdul Wahed, 28, charge that the Afghan
commander of security at the base was responsible for his torture and
death, and various local authorities back that account.
The Americans do not say whether their investigation is focusing on the
Afghan commander, Daoud Muhammad Khan, who is a figure about town and
can
be seen leading operations from the base.
American military spokesmen confirm that Mr. Wahed died on Nov. 6 at
the
base here. Some 70 American Special Forces soldiers at the base live
within
a perimeter of six bunkerlike positions maintained by an Afghan militia
force, who serve under murky lines of authority.
The American military has given few other details of the death...
-----
ISRAELI MIGHT HAVE WORKED AT ABU GHRAIB
Associated Press, 7/3/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4274209,00.html
The American general formerly in charge of Abu Ghraib prison says there
are
signs Israelis were involved in interrogating Iraqi detainees at
another
facility.
Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, who was suspended in May over allegations
of
prisoner abuse, said she met a man who told her he was Israeli during a
visit to a Baghdad intelligence center with a senior coalition general.
"I saw an individual there that I hadn't had the opportunity to meet
before, and I asked him what did he do there, was he an interpreter -
he
was clearly from the Middle East," Karpinski told British Broadcasting
Corp. radio in an interview broadcast Saturday. "He said, 'Well I do
some
of the interrogation here. I speak Arabic but I'm not an Arab; I'm from
Israel.'
"I was really kind of surprised by that ... He didn't elaborate any
more
than to say he was working with them and there were people from lots of
different places that were involved in the operation," Karpinski added.
Israel's Foreign Ministry told the BBC that reports of Israeli troops
or
interrogators in Iraq were "completely untrue." Israeli officials could
not
immediately be reached by The Associated Press.
The U.S. military has used private contract workers in the
interrogations
along with military personnel.
The presence of Israeli forces in Iraq would inflame opinion in the
Muslim
world, where many compare the abuse of prisoners by U.S. forces to
Israel's
treatment of Palestinian detainees...
SEE ALSO:
IDF FILMED PARATROOPER ABUSING PALESTINIANS
Haaretz, 7/7/04
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/447175.html
The Military Police last week arrested a sergeant in the Israel Defense
Forces Paratroopers Brigade on suspicion of abusing Palestinians when
he
commanded the Hawara checkpoint in the West Bank.
A crew from the IDF Education Corps filmed the sergeant's actions five
months ago, in the framework of a project to document military activity
at
the checkpoints.
The sergeant was dismissed from command two months ago by the commander
of
the Paratrooper Battalion in which he served.
The commander showed the sergeant the film, telling him he would not
hold a
command post, and was not even worthy of wearing the Paratroopers'
beret.
The sergeant was questioned by the military police last week, prior to
his
arrest, during which gave his version of the events.
The sergeant was filmed committing three separate acts of violence,
even
though he was aware that he was being photographed.
In one incident, he kicked a Palestinian man, while his wife and two
children were present. In a second incident, he slapped a handcuffed
Palestinian, then took him inside a nearby tent, where he beat him
further.
In the third instance, the sergeant was filmed shattering windows of
Palestinian cabs that had not queued in line at the checkpoint...
---
ISRAEL UNLEASHED
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 7/5/04
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/
The Israelis just had to get in on the fun. But then the stories of
torture
- of hooded, humiliated inmates at Abu Ghraib and other facilities -
did
have a familiar air, as if the Israelis were tutoring their American
sock-puppets in the finer points of squeezing those ragheads until they
squealed. Torture - of the "mild" variety - has the official imprimatur
of
Israel's high court, and it makes perfect sense that the Israelis would
be
called in as "experts" in the art (science?) of corralling and
controlling
crowds of irksome Arabs, but this testimony from General Janis
Karpinski,
former commander at Abu Ghraib, explicitly fingers the Israelis:
Are Israelis among the interrogators in Iraq's prison camps? This
photo,
which we didn't publish until General Janis Karpsinski spilled the
beans,
strongly suggests that the answer is yes.
"I was visiting an interrogation facility one time - not under my
control,
but I was escorting a four-star. And he wanted to go back and observe
an
interrogation that was taking place. They asked me if I wanted to go
and I
said no. So I was standing there and, you know, the usual conversation,
just kind of chit-chat, there (were) three individuals there and two of
them had DCU pants on, one had a pair of blue jeans on, but they all
had
T-shirts on. They did not appear to be military people. And I said to
one
of the - one of them asked me, 'So what's new?' Or, 'What's challenging
about being a female general officer over here?' And I said, 'Oh! Too
long
a story, but it's all fun.' And I said to this guy who was sitting up
on
the counter, I said to him, 'Are you local?' Because he looked like he
was
Kuwaiti. I said, 'Are you an interpreter?' He said, 'No, I'm an
interrogator.' And I said, 'Oh, are you from here?' And he said, 'No,
actually, I'm from Israel.' And I was kind of shocked. And I think I
laughed. And I said, 'No, really?' And he said, 'No, really, I am.' And
-
but it was - I didn't pursue it, I just said, 'Oh, I visited your
country a
couple of years ago and I was amazed that there's so little difference
between the appearance of Israelis and Americans,' and - I really was
just
kind of making chit-chat at that point...
---
ISRAEL TROOPS KILL 9-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN
Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press, 7/3/04
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040703_861.html
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip - Israeli troops shot to death two Palestinian
boys
Saturday, pushing ahead with a broad military operation aimed at
preventing
militants from firing rockets at Israeli towns bordering the Gaza
Strip.
Nine-year-old Ehab Shatat was killed by machine gun fire, apparently
from a
tank-mounted gun, while standing near his home in Beit Hanoun in
northern
Gaza, Palestinian hospital and security officials said.
The army said it fired warning shots at a Palestinian mob that
approached
soldiers in a threatening manner, but it was not aware anyone was hit.
Hours later, troops killed a 16-year-old boy, who Palestinian hospital
and
security officials said apparently was shot by a machine gun.
---
ISRAELIS SAY SHARON IS EXPANDING OUTPOSTS
PETER ENAV, Associated Press, 7/5/04
JERUSALEM (AP) - In a display likely to increase U.S. displeasure with
Israel, an opposition lawmaker and former general Monday showed photos
of
four West Bank outposts he said proves the government is deceiving
Washington by expanding the enclaves instead of taking them down.
The settlement watchdog group Peace Now said it has counted 53 outposts
Israel is required to dismantle under the U.S.-backed ``road map''
peace
plan - or nearly twice the 28 named in a government list handed to the
Americans last week.
``There is a clear-cut case of flagrant deception and a breaking of the
promise to the Americans,'' legislator Ephraim Sneh from the Labor
Party
told reporters in displaying the ``before'' and ``after'' photos…
-----
ARMY STAGE-MANAGED FALL OF HUSSEIN STATUE
David Zucchino, Los Angeles Times, 7/5/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-na-statue3jul03,1,5285803.story
The Army's internal study of the war in Iraq criticizes some efforts by
its
own psychological operations units, but one spur-of-the-moment effort
last
year produced the most memorable image of the invasion.
As the Iraqi regime was collapsing on April 9, 2003, Marines converged
on
Firdos Square in central Baghdad, site of an enormous statue of Saddam
Hussein. It was a Marine colonel - not joyous Iraqi civilians, as was
widely assumed from the TV images - who decided to topple the statue,
the
Army report said. And it was a quick-thinking Army psychological
operations
team that made it appear to be a spontaneous Iraqi undertaking.
After the colonel - who was not named in the report - selected the
statue
as a "target of opportunity," the psychological team used loudspeakers
to
encourage Iraqi civilians to assist, according to an account by a unit
member.
But Marines had draped an American flag over the statue's face...
SEE ALSO:
BOONDOCKS COMIC ON RUMSFELD AND SADDAM
http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/bo/
(See the July 5th comic.)
-----
FOR BANTU REFUGEES, HARD-WON AMERICAN DREAMS
By WILLIAM L. HAMILTON, New York Times, 7/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/05/national/05SETT.html
For Abkow Edow, a Bantu refugee from Somalia who now lives in Tucson,
the
Fourth of July was just another day. Though fireworks on the mountain
and a
reggae concert were scheduled, Mr. Edow was washing dishes at the
Westin La
Paloma Resort and Spa, wearing a baseball cap and thick rubber gloves
that
came up to his elbows. His wife, Madina Idle, was folding sheets and
towels
several corridors away in the vast underground complex below the desert
views, the fountains and the valet golf carts.
But work is good. If the Fourth was just another day, it was a day in
an
extraordinary year for the couple, their two children and a grandson.
Mr. Edow, 57, and Ms. Idle, 42, have found themselves, after 12 years
in
refugee camps, at the end of the rainbow: America.
"In Somalia, I dreamed of the United States, even though I didn't know
anything about it," Mr. Edow said, speaking through a translator like
the
other Bantu adults interviewed. America represents opportunity, Bantu
refugees say, which involves hard work, struggles with English,
discarding
cultural ways - like the physical disciplining of children and arranged
marriages - and a wary assimilation with Americans and other refugee
groups
in Tucson.
For them, independence is not a holiday but a daily engagement…
SEE ALSO:
MUTILATING AFRICA'S DAUGHTERS
TINA ROSENBERG, New York Times, 7/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/05/opinion/05MON3.html
One strategy that has proved effective is persuading religious leaders
to
dispel the widespread, erroneous belief that Islam calls for
circumcision.
Ms. Shuriye finally laid down her knife after Womankind brought liberal
Islamic clerics to see her, who convinced her that the practice was
nowhere
in the Koran. They also told her to apologize to her victims and offer
them
camels as compensation. Ms. Shuriye has no camels to give but has been
begging forgiveness from the women she cut. ''I now feel like I've
committed a sin against God,'' she says. In Mali, where local groups
are
very active, one of them, Sini Sanuman, just convinced one of the
country's
most important Islamic leaders to begin speaking out against it -- a
huge
victory.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/6/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S SUPPLICATION
* HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
- CAIR Launches Anti-Torture Campaign
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'ISLAM IS ROOTED IN EVIL'
* CAIR-MD/VA: Q&A ON POST 9-11 CIVIL LIBERTIES
- CAIR-CAN Featured in Program on Canadian Muslims
* CAIR-AZ: MUSLIMS SPEAKING AGAINST TERRORISM (EV Trib)
* BUSH SHOULDN'T TAKE MUSLIM VOTE FOR GRANTED (DM News)
- CAIR-CA: FBI to Expand Interviews with Arabs (AP)
* FL: MUSLIMS INVITE ORLANDO TO JULY 4TH PARTY (AP)
* CA: SCHOLARS IN LIMBO (Sac Bee)
- Jordanians Question U.S. Mideast Plan (Chicago Trib)
* US TROOPS KILL IRAQI CHILD AT CHECKPOINT (Reuters)
- More Than 100 Iraqi Children Imprisoned (Der Spiegel)
* NADER ASKS BUSH FOR FULL ACCOUNTING OF IRAQI DEATHS
* LOBBYING FOR THE PRO-ISRAEL CANDIDATES (Haaretz)
- Crooks' Bucks in Sen. Schumer's Coffers (NY Post)
* ISRAELIS PLEAD GUILTY IN NEW ZEALAND (JTA)
- Palestinian Professor, Son Killed In Raid (AP)
* AFGHAN DISTILLERY FACES STIFF CHALLENGES (WSJ)
* MD: MCC MUSLIM FAMILY DAY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S SUPPLICATION
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, I seek refuge in
Thee from knowledge that does not (offer anything of) benefit, from a
heart
that does not fear (displeasing) You, from a soul that does not feel
contented, and from a supplication that is not answered."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1260
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
CAIR has launched a new drive to raise $80,000 online each month. To
help
us reach that goal, go to: https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
SEE ALSO:
CAIR LAUNCHES ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to
help
prevent the use of torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners or
detainees.
A CAIR postcard urging the House of Representatives to conduct hearings
into allegations of detainee abuse by American military personnel is
now
online on CAIR's web site. (The site also contains links to news
articles
related to the issue of torture.)
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=postcardjun2004
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'ISLAM IS ROOTED IN EVIL'
CONSERVATIVE DARLING TIM BUELER CAN'T WAIT TO SLAUGHTER MUSLIMS
Gustavo Arellano, Orange County Weekly, July 2-8, 2004
http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/04/43/news-arellano.php
Like all incoming high school seniors, Tim Bueler has big plans after
graduation. The 17-year-old student at Rancho Cotate High School near
San
Francisco is acclaimed in conservative circles for starting the High
School
Conservative Clubs of America, an organization that is just what its
name
states. But instead of taking the next logical step and entering
politics,
Bueler plans to do what so many conservatives merely dream about: kill
Muslims.
Bueler revealed his after-graduation plans to an audience of about 130
at
the June 23 meeting of the Huntington Beach-based California Coalition
for
Immigration Reform (CCIR). He'd received nationwide attention after
establishing a "Conservative Hot Line" that urged Rancho Cotate
students to
rat out "the liberal traitors who call themselves teachers." The
ensuing
furor provoked 40 teachers to sign a letter challenging Bueler to cite
any
instances of liberal bias. Bueler took his story to the conservative
press,
which immediately transformed the lanky kid into a cause célèbre.
At the CCIR meeting, he took diligent notes as speakers launched into
the
group's usual anti-immigrant canards, snapping pictures of the elderly
crowd like a health inspector visiting a retirement home. In turn, the
CCIR
crowd doted on Bueler like a spoiled grandkid, especially after he
revealed
that his own family "no longer wants anything to do with me" because of
his
views.
"Over 3,000 of our own people died at the hands of illegal aliens and
their
religion of peace, Islam!" Bueler screamed. Soon after assuming the
podium,
he denounced George W. Bush as being soft on immigration, mocking him
for
expressing sympathy for migrants who die trying to cross the
U.S.-Mexican
border.
"The price of freedom, my friends, is paid in blood," Bueler boomed.
"The
blood of our ancestors. For hundreds of years, Americans have fought to
keep it and secure our freedom. And to extend the light of liberty to
other
countries. I'm not going to stand by and let some Third World illegal
immigrants from Mexico, the Middle East or any other country continue
to
destroy our language and our American culture.
"We're at a crossroads in America," Bueler continued. "If our
government is
not willing to enforce our immigration laws and uphold our laws, then
what
do we start to do? We take matters into our own hands."
That sentiment produced cheers from the crowd…
"Politics is not the answer," Bueler shot back. His eyes glinted as he
began explaining to the audience why he was no longer planning to
enroll at
a university. "I am tired of the religion of peace, Islam," Bueler
thundered. "I know that Islam is not peaceful-it's rooted in evil. And
these people have declared war against all of us, all of us being
Christians and Jews. And they want to do what they did to Daniel Pearl
and
Paul Johnson and Nick Berg to us. What I'm going to do is join the Army
Rangers…"
-----
CAIR-MD/VA: Q&A ON POST 9-11 CIVIL LIBERTIES
WHAT: On Saturday, July 10, the National Lawyers Guild and the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations Maryland & Virginia (CAIR-MD/VA) will
co-host a
Question & Answer Session on Post 9-11 Civil Liberties. Speakers will
discuss policies that impact the Muslim community post 9/11, including
special registration, immigration enforcement by state and local
police,
hate crimes, and detentions on immigration violations.
Speakers include:
* Shoba Sivaprasad, National Lawyers Guild, DC Chapter; Senior Policy
Associate, National Immigration Forum, Washington, DC
* Benjamin Johnson, Director, Immigration Policy Center, Washington, DC
* Jeanne Smoot, Public Policy Counsel, Tahirih Justice Center, Falls
Church, VA.
* Mujahid Idlibi, Director of Governmental Relations, Council on
American-Islamic Relations, Maryland-Virginia, Bethesda, MD
* Rizwan Mowlana, Executive Director of CAIR Maryland-Virginia
* Paromita Shah, National Lawyers Guild, DC Chapter; Detention Project,
Director, Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition, Washington, DC
(Tentative)
WHEN: Saturday, July 10, 2004, 2:00-4:00p.m. (Eastern Time)
WHERE: All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS Center), 46903 Sugarland
Road,
Sterling, VA Directions: http://www.adamscenter.org/Content.asp?ID=26
CONTACTS:
Shoba Sivaprasad, (202)-491-6520, shobikutti@worldnet.att.net
Mujahid Idlibi, (301)-986-1900, mujahid@cairmd.org
Parvez Khan, (703) 433-1325, ext. 101
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN FEATURED IN PROGRAM ON CANADIAN MUSLIMS
http://www.anewlife.ca/documentary/episode3.php
Dr. Sheema Khan is a founding director of the Muslim lobby organization
CAIR-CAN (Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada). She is a
tireless
volunteer and a national spokesperson for the Muslim community working
collectively with other interfaith and social action groups advocating
for
a more just and tolerant Canada. As a mother of three she is uses her
faith
in God to help her balance her family life, her career and her
volunteer
efforts.
-----
CAIR-AZ: MUSLIMS SPEAKING AGAINST TERRORISM
Deedra Abboud, East Valley Tribune, 7/3/04
http://epaper.aztrib.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMa
il&Type=text/html&Path=EVT/2004/07/03&ID=Ar02100
[Deedra Abboud is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations of Arizona.]
We've heard over and over requests for moderate American Muslims to
speak
up and condemn terrorism. What we have not heard about are the large
number
of rallies, published opinions, newspaper ads, public service
announcements, press releases, and conferences initiated by Muslims and
Muslim organizations across the country doing just that.
Though many of us are speaking until our throats are hoarse, our
messages
do not seem to carry.
By all accounts, there are over 1 billion Muslims in the world. In
other
words, at least one in every five people on earth is a Muslim. Recent
Bombings in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq indicate that these
terrorists
will not discriminate between Muslims and non-Muslims to promote their
extremist ideology.
The recent abductions of Wassef Ali Hassoun, a U.S. Marine and Lebanese
Muslim, and Yusuf Amjad, a Pakistani Muslim employee of U.S. contractor
Kellogg Brown and Root, are further examples of this.
We've also heard that only Muslims can stop the extremists murdering
and
terrorizing the world in the name of Islam. In theory, this sounds
plausible.
However, in reality such is not the case.
If all it took to stop bad, evil, or sadistic behavior was a majority
condemning such actions, then child-sex tourism, child molestation,
domestic violence, discrimination, gangs and drug lords would be a
thing of
the past in the United States. A vast majority of Americans condemn
these
ills of our society…
-----
BUSH SHOULDN'T TAKE MUSLIM VOTE FOR GRANTED
WHAT'S ON MUSLIM MINDS?
William Mckenzie, Dallas Morning News, 7/6/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/columnists/wmckenzie/
stories/070604dnedintexasmuslims.a1f7a.html
I got to wondering what Muslim-Americans think about this year's
presidential election, especially given that so much has happened over
the
last four years. 9-11. Iraq. The Mideast. The Patriot Act. So I sat
down
with 11 North Texas members of this key religious swing group, and
here's
what I learned:
George W. Bush may have done well with Muslim voters in 2000, when he
won a
majority of Arab-Americans. But if the group I queried last week in
Richardson is any indication, he better not take their support for
granted.
It doesn't matter that the president has gone out of his way to say the
war
against terror is not a fight against Islam. The battle against
terrorism
feels that way to this group. "He needs a public campaign against
prejudice
against Islam," declared Uzma Feroze, a North Texan now living with her
children and husband in Dubai.
She's not alone. Participant after participant lambasted the way
America's
seen in the world, particularly in Muslim countries.
Then there's the Patriot Act. And the roundup of Muslims after 9-11.
Both
are far from forgotten.
After an hour of listening, it was no surprise to learn very few of
these
registered voters plan to support the president. The administration
could
dismiss this as an unscientific group. But their preferences track an
April
Zogby poll in the four states with the greatest Muslim populations…
ALSO SEE:
BUREAU TO EXPAND INTERVIEWS WITH U.S. ARABS
Larry Margasak, Associated Press, 7/6/04
http://www.examiner.com/article/index.cfm/i/070604b_terror
WASHINGTON -- Fearing terrorist attacks this summer and fall, the FBI
is
using its latest intelligence to expand interviews in U.S. communities
to
find al-Qaida operatives before they strike.
An FBI official said the interviews will be driven by information
gathered
by the 2004 Threat Task Force, composed of bureau agents and analysts
plus
experts from the intelligence community and Department of Homeland
Security.
The official said only a small number of interviews have taken place so
far, but they will be conducted on a larger scale in coming weeks.
A local activist said the Arab-American community in the Bay Area had
been
cooperative with the Justice Department in the past and was wary of the
stepped-up program of interviews.
"When will the suspicion end?" said Helal Omeira, the executive
director of
the S.F. Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"We've been so open, and three years later everyone is still a suspect.
We're just looking for that light at the end of the tunnel."
The FBI has conducted community interviews before, going into
Arab-American
neighborhoods after the Sept. 11 hijackings to seek information. And,
after
the United States invaded Iraq, the FBI interviewed thousands of
Iraqi-born
individuals living in the United States to try to uncover potential
terrorists and to protect the rest from hate crimes.
Omeira called local FBI agents "very professional" in their
interactions
with interviewees. However, citing cases of domestic attacks targeted
at
Muslims, he said the government was running a risk in continuing its
program of interviews. "It's a loss of credibility for the Department
of
Justice to focus on the Muslim community when there are so many other
things going on out there..."
-----
MUSLIMS INVITE ORLANDO TO JULY 4TH PARTY
Mike Schneider, Associated Press, 7/2/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Mus
lims%20Fourth%20of%20July
ORLANDO - After their afternoon prayers, members of the Islamic Society
of
Central Florida double-checked the moon-walk ride, unfolded American
flag
paper tablecloths and began barbecuing chicken for a Fourth of a July
open
house for the larger Orlando community.
The celebration, the first of its kind for central Florida's burgeoning
Muslim community, was as much about allowing non-Muslims to learn about
them as it was about fireworks and flag-waving.
"We're trying to break down stereotypes," said Areej Zufari, director
of
communications for the group.
The war in Iraq and the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks left many
American Muslims concerned about their acceptance in the United States.
Last month, a Muslim woman in Freeport, Ill. and a Muslim man in San
Diego
were reported to have been attacked by people who shouted anti-Muslim
slurs.
"There's a lot going on in the world, and we thought this was an
appropriate way to reaffirm our American values," Zufari said. During
the
celebration, a local broadcast personality read the Declaration of
Independence, firefighters allowed children to explore a fire truck and
children bounced on the moon-walk ride…
-----
SCHOLARS IN LIMBO
Lesli A. Maxwell and Emily Bazar, Sacramento Bee, 7/5/04
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/9894099p-10816335c.html
Infected by a biting sand fly in the deserts of Iraq, hundreds of
American
soldiers are nursing unsightly sores known as the "Baghdad boil."
One of the world's leading experts on the fly - and the disease-causing
parasite it injects - conducts his research at the University of
California, Davis. But America's stepped-up visa scrutiny is preventing
Dia-Eldin A. Elnaiem from gathering the most critical component of his
research: the sand flies themselves.
After Elnaiem, a Sudanese national, was stranded in Brazil for more
than
six months awaiting permission to re-enter the country, he has become
too
fearful to travel abroad to collect samples or assume a coveted
position in
the World Health Organization.
His plight mirrors thousands of international students and scholars
afraid
to travel, delayed overseas or denied entry because of intense security
screening since Sept. 11, 2001.
The terrorist attacks and subsequent investigation into how they
occurred
exposed holes in an unwieldy exit and entry system that allowed
visitors to
abuse the terms of their visas.
Some who came to America on student visas never enrolled upon arriving
-
and the system for monitoring their whereabouts was spotty. Others did
enroll but stayed long after they were supposed to leave - again with
little consequence. At least one of the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the
country on a student visa but didn't attend the Oakland college to
which he
applied…
ALSO SEE:
JORDANIANS QUESTION U.S. MIDEAST PLAN
Ali Abunimah, Chicago Tribune, 7/6/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
AMMAN - Every time I visit Amman, the U.S. embassy here seems to have
around it more high walls, concrete barricades and armored cars with
machine guns mounted atop. The massive building, bristling with
antennas
and satellite dishes, evokes a 21st Century version of the austere
windowless castles built here by European crusaders in the Middle Ages.
A short distance away is the official residence of the Israeli
ambassador,
ensconced in its own high walls. These two buildings, huddled together,
far
away from the bustle of the city and its people, make a good metaphor
for
the way the United States is increasingly seen here.
This is a tragedy, because Americans have always been welcomed in
Jordan,
and many I know have lived here happily for decades and still do.
Jordan is
no Saudi Arabia, and it remains a safe, cosmopolitan and tolerant
society
where one can live pretty much as one pleases as long as one shows
respect
for others.
Jordan, sandwiched between Palestine/Israel to the west and Iraq to the
east, is cited by American leaders as a "moderate" and "reforming" Arab
country in part because of these features, but primarily because it is
seen
as compliant with U.S. policies and has a peace treaty with Israel. Yet
this image is incomplete and misleading. While the Jordanian government
maintains very close ties to the United States, the views of ordinary
Jordanians, cutting across social classes, have never been more angry
at
and mistrustful of America, a recent poll by the Center for Strategic
Studies at Jordan University found.
The Iraq war ratcheted up these sentiments, but the central issue that
drives them is decades-long American support for Israel's policies at
the
expense of Palestinians…
-----
US TROOPS KILL IRAQI CHILD IN CHECKPOINT SHOOTING
Reuters, 7/6/04
http://www.bgnewsnet.com/story.php?sid=5918
BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers killed an Iraqi child and wounded another when
they
fired on a car that failed to stop at a checkpoint in Baghdad, the army
said on Tuesday.
"Soldiers fired on the vehicle after the driver failed to obey verbal
and
visual instructions to stop, switched off the vehicle lights, and
forced
guards out of the way as he attempted to bypass the checkpoint," a U.S.
military statement said.
It said the incident happened late on Monday.
The statement said the mother and the wounded child were taken to
hospital
while the father, who was driving, was questioned by police.
Many Iraqis accuse U.S. soldiers of being too hasty to open fire and of
killing many innocent civilians. Baghdad residents say they often fail
to
notice poorly-lit and unannounced checkpoints while driving at night.
Power
cuts regularly plunge streets into darkness, making checkpoints even
harder
to spot…
ALSO SEE:
MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN IMPRISONED
Der Spiegel, 7/4/04
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6430.htm
According to information from the International Red Cross, more than a
100
children are imprisoned in Iraq, including in the infamous prison Abu
Ghraib.
The German TV magazine "Report" revealed that there has been abuse of
children and youth by the coalition forces.
Mainz - "Between January and May of this year we've registered 107
children, during 19 visits in 6 different detention locations" the
representative of the International Red Cross, Florian Westphal, told
the
TV station SWR's Magazine "Report Mainz". He noted that these were
places
of detention controlled by coalition troops. According to Westphal the
number of children held captive could be even higher.
The TV Magazine also reported of evidence and eye witness reports
according
to which U.S. soldiers also abused children and youthful detainees.
Samuel
Provance, a staff sergeant stationed in the now infamous Abu Ghraib
prison
said that interrogating officers had pressured a 15 or 16 year old
girl.
Military police had only intervened when the girl was already half
undressed. On another occasion, a 16 year old was soaked with water,
driven
through the cold, and then smeared with mud.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, confirmed the detention of
Iraqi children by foreign military according to "Report" which cited an
interim memorandum by the organization, The as yet unreleased report,
which
is dated June 2004, is quoted as follows: "Children who were detained
in
the cities of Kerbala and Basra because of alleged activities against
the
occupying forces were reportedly routinely sent to a detention camp at
Umm
Kasr. The classification of these children as detainees is worrisome
because it includes unspecified length of detention without contact to
their families pending further proceedings or legal actions"…
-----
NADER ASKS BUSH FOR FULL ACCOUNTING OF IRAQI DEATHS AND INJURIES
http://www.votenader.org/media_press/index.php?cid=87
Today, Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader asked President
Bush
to provide the American public with a full accounting of American
casualties, illness and injury, physical and mental.
In the letter Nader notes: "the Pentagon does not have a comprehensive
accounting of the human toll of the war from the American side, not to
mention the larger toll on the Iraqi people." In particular Nader is
concerned about non-combat deaths and injuries as well as
disease-connected
sickness and mental illness.
Nader highlights "the gaping omissions in your Administration's
casualty
reporting" by noting "the disease known as Leishmaniasis"…
-----
LOBBYING FOR THE PRO-ISRAEL CANDIDATES
Nathan Guttman, Haaretz, 7/6/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/447265.html
Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who is pro-Palestinian,
is
trying to get re-elected, and once again there is debate over the power
of
the pro-Israeli lobby in Washington.
On July 29, voters in the Fourth Congressional District in the state of
Georgia will decide who will represent the Democratic Party in the race
for
the district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. This race, in
a
congressional district where most of the inhabitants are
African-American
and where there is only a tiny Jewish minority, is stirring great
interest
in the American Jewish community and reigniting - as it did two years
ago -
debates and accusations about over-intervention by Jews in the
political
system of the United States.
There is one reason for all of this: Cynthia McKinney, who is
contending
for the position.
McKinney is a well-known figure on the American political scene. A
member
of the House of Representatives for the Fourth District for five
consecutive terms, McKinney was considered one of the outstanding
spokeswomen for the African-American caucus in Congress.
However, her sharp tongue, her acute criticism of the administration
and
her clear pro-Palestinian line led, ultimately, to her failure in the
2002
elections. For the Jewish community, it was her problematic voting
record
on Israel and the Middle East, and for the moderate voices in her party
it
was her claim in the year following 9/11 that senior people in the
administration had known about Al Qaida's intention to carry out the
attacks, and that there are many who have profited from the war on
terror.
All of these elements came together in a coalition whose goal was
getting
McKinney out of Congress. This they achieved, getting Denise Majette
nominated and elected thanks to broad public support and a massive flow
of
donations.
But after serving only one term in the House, Majette has decided to
run
for the Senate - a move considered a very long shot by all the
political
commentators monitoring the candidates in Georgia. With the House seat
for
the Fourth District in Georgia now wide open, Cynthia McKinney is back
in
the picture, promising to re-conquer her seat in Congress after two
years
in political exile…
ALSO SEE:
CROOKS' BUCKS IN CHUCK'S COFFERS
NY Post, 7/6/04
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/26817.htm
ALBANY - Sen. Charles Schumer has accepted thousands of dollars in
campaign
donations from convicted criminals, The Post has found.
Only after told of the donations by The Post did the Schumer campaign
say
it would give $17,000 in questionable contributions to charity.
Schumer (D-N.Y.) received $10,000 from officials convicted in
connection
with an accounting scandal at Long Island-based Computer Associates,
including $4,000 between 1999 and 2003 from Ira Zar, the company's
former
chief financial officer, according to a review of Schumer's
campaign-finance records.
Zar pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy, securities fraud and
obstruction
of a federal probe into an accounting scandal at Computer Associates.
Schumer also received thousands of dollars from two other Computer
Associates execs: David Kaplan, a former VP of finance who pleaded
guilty
to obstruction and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and Lloyd
Silverstein, a former finance executive who pleaded guilty to
obstruction
of justice.
The incumbent senator also accepted $2,000 from George Lindemann Jr.,
who
was convicted in 1996 of ordering the killing of a show horse in order
to
collect insurance money.
In addition, Schumer accepted $4,000 from Solomon Weiss, a former
Warner
Communications executive convicted of taking bribes.
And he received $1,000 from former Court of Appeals Chief Justice Sol
Wachtler, who was convicted of stalking his mistress and threatening to
kidnap her daughter.
A Schumer aide said the senator will give all six of the crooks'
contributions to charity.
Campaign aides to Schumer's Republican opponent, upstate Assemblyman
Howard
Mills, noted that the latest disclosure comes after Schumer agreed to
return nearly $20,000 to the federal government after billing taxpayers
for
35 trips that were political in nature.
"The more you know about Chuck Schumer, the more questions you have
about
how he conducts his affairs," said Mills campaign spokeswoman Caroline
Quartararo.
-----
ISRAELIS PLEAD GUILTY IN NEW ZEALAND
Henry Benjamin, JTA, 7/5/04
http://jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Mossad+in+New+Zealand%3F&intca
tegoryid=2&SearchOptimize=Jewish+News
SYDNEY, Australia - Two Israelis suspected by New Zealand authorities
of
being Mossad agents have pleaded guilty to unlawfully attempting to
obtain
a New Zealand passport.
Uri Kelman, 30, and Elisha Cara, 50, pleaded guilty in Auckland's High
Court last week. They will remain in custody until a July 15 sentencing
hearing. The crime carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
The men had been on bail since their first court appearance in April.
Two
other charges against the men of conspiracy for being part of an
organized
crime syndicate have been dropped.
The New Zealand Herald said the guilty plea was to prevent the
prosecution
bringing "diplomatically embarrassing" evidence that the men indeed
were
Mossad agents involved in criminal activity in New Zealand.
But a major New Zealand television station, TVN, sent a camera crew to
Israel to investigate the alleged Mossad connections, but they found
nothing definitive.
There have been rising tensions recently between New Zealand and
Israel.
Last month, the New Zealand Government openly criticized Israel's
policy of
bulldozing Palestinian homes and donated $534,000 to aid homeless
Palestinians.
In May, two officials from the Jewish Agency for Israel were detained
at
Auckland Airport on suspicion that the two were Mossad agents,
drug-runners
or illegally transporting food across borders. One of them reported
that he
had been told by a customs agent, "We are treating all you Israelis the
same - you are nothing but drug dealers and spies."
In the passport case, Kelman and Cara applied for a New Zealand
passport
using the birth certificate of a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy
victim.
Two other men were suspected of being involved in the crime. Zev
William
Barkan, a neighbor of the cerebral palsy patient, has fled the country.
A
fourth man remains unidentified.
After an earlier hearing, Cara denied that he had any connections to
Mossad. But New Zealand's acting foreign minister, Jim Sutton, said at
the
time that the men were "representatives of the Israeli government."
The arrests spawned a diplomatic brouhaha between New Zealand and the
Israeli Embassy in Canberra, Australia, which is responsible for New
Zealand.
New Zealand media reported that the acting ambassador, Orna Sagiv, had
been
summoned to New Zealand where she was "read the riot act." The embassy
did
not respond to requests for interviews about the story.
Cara had been to New Zealand many times. He lived in Sydney, Australia,
where he allegedly ran a travel agency. His wife and children have
since
returned to Israel.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has refused to comment until
after
sentencing, but observers said her government likely would re-evaluate
the
policy of granting visas to visiting Israelis following the hearing. At
present, Israelis do not need a visa to visit the country.
Sagiv also refused to comment on the case until after the sentencing.
Geoff
Levy, co-president of the Auckland Jewish Council and a lawyer on the
team
defending Cara, told JTA, "Jews in Auckland are not happy with the
attention the media has whipped up with regard to this case."
---
PALESTINIAN PROFESSOR, SON KILLED IN RAID
Ali Daraghmeh, Associated Press, 7/5/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slu
g=Palestinians%20Raid
NABLUS, West Bank - For two hours, Khaled Sallah and his family huddled
on
the floor of their apartment early Tuesday as the army poured machine
gun
fire into the building and helicopter gunships pounded the roof with
rockets, trading fire with a fugitive gunman.
But as Sallah, 50, tried to negotiate an exit from the building, a
single
bullet hit him in the neck, relatives said. His 16-year-old son
Mohammed
tried to rescue him when another bullet caught the teen in the mouth
and
killed him.
Sallah, an American-educated computer science professor, and his son
were
killed during an arrest raid by Israeli commandos in the Ein Beit Ilma
refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus. An Israeli officer and
two
Palestinian gunmen also were killed in the nightlong battle.
In nearly four years of fighting, hundreds of civilians have been
killed on
both sides. Gun battles often rage in crowded population centers, where
walls and doors offer little protection against large-caliber bullets.
Maj. Sharon Feingold, an Israeli army spokeswoman, said the military
regretted the deaths of the two civilians Tuesday. ``But any time the
terrorists use civilians as cover these things happen,'' she said,
adding
that the two militants killed in the fighting had been behind a string
of
attacks against Israelis.
Palestinians allege that troops often fire randomly in densely
populated
areas, with little regard for possibly injury to bystanders.
The latest incident began just after midnight when soldiers cornered
two
local leaders of the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine, a
violent PLO faction.
In the initial exchange of fire, the Israeli officer and a Palestinian
gunman were killed, Feingold said. The second fugitive fled into to the
building where the Sallah family lives...
-----
AN AFGHANISTAN DISTILLERY BREWS UP THE MEDICINE PEOPLE THERE STILL
CRAVE
Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal, 7/6/04
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108907412346655730,00.html?mod=home%5Fpag
e%5Fone%5Fus
KABUL, Afghanistan -- As the pungent smell of fermenting raisins wafted
through the Supplementary Medical and Technical Materials Industry
Establishment here, Said Anwary spread a stack of yellowed bottle
labels on
his polished desk and recalled what this decrepit factory on the edge
of
Kabul made in its heyday.
"Whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, grappa, peach liquor, white wine, red wine
--
and, of course, brandy, the most famous of them all," he recited. "We
were
so good, we could hold our own against the best in the world. And we
can do
it again."
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, this distillery -- then known as
Afghan-Clemd
-- was renowned around Central Asia for its sticky brown brandy, and
for
the wines of Kandahar grapes that won a gold medal in Bulgaria.
Since then, Afghanistan has become one of the world's most pious Muslim
societies. And, while the radical Taliban theocracy is gone, President
Hamid Karzai's new Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan still
welcomes
visitors with a stern warning that all alcohol and pork products, both
forbidden by Islamic law, will be confiscated at customs. The one thing
the
plant is officially allowed to produce now is medical and technical
alcohol.
Mr. Anwary's open campaigning to start making brandy again shows just
how
far Afghanistan has already moved from its harsh recent past. The
distillery's limbo status is also proof that, after decades of brutal
jihad, the country is a long way from the level of tolerance it
displayed
before Afghanistan's gentle monarchy was overthrown 31 years ago.
The state-owned distillery was established with Italian help during the
reign of the last king, Zahir Shah. In 1968, he outflanked religious
objections by saying the booze it produced would be sold only to
non-Muslim
expatriates. But as the distiller was betting, Muslim Afghans quickly
became the main customers.
Under Mr. Anwary, Afghan-Clemd's top executive from 1977 to 1986, the
distillery rapidly expanded to become one of the main revenue sources
for
the Afghan state, contributing as much as $60 million (48.7 million
euros)
a year. The zenith came under Soviet occupation, as Kabul's Communist
rulers fought against Islamic "prejudices" and U.S.-backed Islamist
guerrillas known as the mujahedeen. At the time, Kabul was relatively
peaceful, and the city's streets -- where pale-blue burkas are common
today
-- were filled with unveiled women wearing high heels and miniskirts.
Mr.
Anwary was selling 5,000 bottles of liquor a day...
Indeed, a casual visitor to Kabul wouldn't guess that this is
officially a
dry city. With police only occasionally enforcing alcohol laws, and
with
thousands of aid workers, U.N. staff and other expatriates exempt from
the
booze ban, imported drinks -- and pork chops -- are openly served in
dozens
of city restaurants. ISAF even runs a special Kabul supermarket where
any
non-Afghan can buy duty-free liquor by the case...
-----
MCC MUSLIM FAMILY DAY
WHAT: The Muslim Community Center of Silver Spring, MD, will be hosting
its
annual Muslim Family Day at Six Flags. There will be reserved prayer
area
and Halal food
WHEN: Saturday, July 10
WHERE: Six Flags
Tickets are available ($20) from MCC, ICM, PGMA, Halalco, Adams Center
ICL, Indus Food
(Children 3 and under are free)
The Muslim Community Center, 15200 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring,
MD
20905, 301-384-3454 (Ext 10)
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE TEXAS MOSQUE
(HOUSTON, TX, 7/7/04) - The Houston office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) and the Islamic Society of
Greater Houston will hold a news conference today to ask that local and
national law enforcement authorities investigate a weekend bomb attack
on
an area mosque as a possible hate crime.
WHEN: July 7, 2 p.m. (Central)
WHERE: Champions Masjid, 6700 Old Louetta Road, Spring, Texas
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-814-5554, 832-656-0449
According to police reports and eyewitnesses, a home-made bomb exploded
on
Sunday in the mailbox of Champions Masjid in Spring, Texas. Muslim
children
who saw two white men place the bomb in the mailbox narrowly missed
being
injured in the attack.
"Law enforcement authorities need to determine whether this attack was
random criminal behavior tied to the Fourth of July holiday or was
instead
motivated by anti-Muslim bias," said CAIR-Houston Executive Director
Iesa
Galloway.
Sunday's bombing was just the latest in a series of suspicious
incidents at
the same mosque. In June, a number of dead fish were dumped near the
entrance of the mosque. Worshipers have also reported verbal harassment
in
the recent past.
Other Islamic institutions and businesses in Texas have been targeted.
Earlier this year, a man was arrested for threatening an El Paso
Islamic
center, an arson suspect was arrested at the scene of a fire at a
Muslim
business in San Antonio and vandals scrawled racist graffiti on the
interior of a Lubbock mosque.
Incidents targeting Muslim individuals and Islamic centers have
occurred
recently across America. A Muslim woman driver in Illinois and a Muslim
shopper in California were assaulted at the end of June by attackers
shouting anti-Muslim and racist slurs.
In Florida, vandals wrote "Kill all Muslims" inside the Islamic
Community
Center in the Tampa suburb of Lutz. The FBI is also investigating
vandalism
and threatening messages targeting the Islamic Community of Southwest
Florida in Charlotte Harbor. In Missouri, vandals painted a Nazi
swastika
and the word "die" on an addition under construction at the Islamic
Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Three Miami Islamic centers were
vandalized.
In response to these incidents, CAIR published a "Muslim Community
Safety
Kit." The safety kit may be obtained by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org.
CAIR,
America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/7/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: MANY FORMS OF CHARITY
* HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
- CAIR Launches Anti-Torture Campaign
* CAIR CONDUCTS DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR NASA
* CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #11: ECONOMY AND VP SELECTION
* REP. JACKSON LEE CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK ON TX MOSQUE
- CAIR: Bomb Explodes Outside Texas Mosque
* CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN FL AND CA
* CAIR-OHIO: MED CENTER PERMITS HEAD SCARVES (CD)
* FL: HE FOUND TRUTH IN ISLAM (Hernando Today)
* REP EXPECTS BIAS VICTIM'S FAMILY TO GET PERMITS (AP)
- Rescuing What Hatred Tried to Kill (NY Times)
* CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS: MIXING PROPHECY AND POLITICS (CSM)
- The Price of Brainwashing (Haaretz)
* CHINA USES WAR ON TERROR TO PERSECUTE UIGHURS (AFP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MANY FORMS OF CHARITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Charity is prescribed
for
each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises." He was then asked:
"From
what do we give charity every day?" The Prophet answered: "The doors of
goodness are many...enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from
the
road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the
object
of his need, hurrying with the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow
who
is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of
one's
arms--all of these are charity prescribed for you."
He also said: "Your smile for your brother is charity."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
CAIR has launched a new drive to raise $80,000 online each month. To
help
us reach that goal, go to: https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
SEE ALSO:
CAIR LAUNCHES ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to
help
prevent the use of torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners or
detainees.
A CAIR postcard urging the House of Representatives to conduct hearings
into allegations of detainee abuse by American military personnel is
now
online on CAIR's web site. (The site also contains links to news
articles
related to the issue of torture.)
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=postcardjun2004
-----
CAIR CONDUCTS DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR NASA
CAIR's Civil Rights Department today conducted a sensitivity and
diversity
training workshop, entitled "Understanding Islam and Muslims," at NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The workshop was also
broadcast live to other NASA employees.
CAIR Civil Rights Department staffers Khadija Athman, Tariq Mangru and
Engy
Abdelkader presented the workshop, which focused on basic Islamic
beliefs,
the accommodation of religious practices in the workplace, issues
related
to anti-Muslim stereotyping and bias, and the common values shared by
all
religions.
-----
CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #11: ECONOMY AND VP SELECTION
The latest issue of CAIR's ELECTION 2004 UPDATE is now available
online.
CAIR's election updates are designed to promote American Muslim
political
empowerment. Updates focus on issues of importance to the American
Muslim
community and outline the candidates' positions on those issues.
TO READ THE FULL UPDATE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/jul062004.asp
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1) RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Economy
- Fed Raises Key Interest Rate
- Bush Campaign: 1.5 Million New Jobs Created Over Past Ten Months
- Bush, Kerry Position on Taxes Compared
Perspective
- Economy Still Improving, But at Somewhat Lower Rate
- Service Base Drives June's Job Growth
- Most States Out Of Financial "Crisis Mode" As Tax Revenues Rebound
VP Selection:
- Kerry Picks Edwards as Running Mate
- Bush Campaign Describes Edwards as Kerry's Second Choice
Iraq
- Kerry Calls for a Realistic Path in Iraq
- Nader Asks Bush for Full Accounting of Iraqi Deaths and Injuries
Urges
Kerry to Join in this Request
Ethnic Outreach
- Churchgoers Get Direction from Bush Campaign
- Bush Campaign Wants Church Lists
- Baptists Angry at Bush Campaign Tactics
- Courting Minorities, Kerry Promises Expanded College Access
Civil Rights
- Administration Changing Review at Guantánamo Bay
- Statement of John Kerry on the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights
Act
of 1964
Immigration
- Kerry against Licenses for Illegal Immigrants
- Kerry Vows Action for Migrants
Government Reform
- Badnarik says Congress taking away citizens' rights
Health Care
- Kerry Campaign Statement on Health Care Costs
Energy
- Nader Highlights His Energy Policy
Family
- Kerry Says He Believes Life Starts at Conception
Farmers
- Bush Campaign's Policy Memo on Rural America
- Kerry Pledges to Support Farmers
2) COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
- Michael Badnarik Meets with the American Muslim Task Force for Civil
Rights and Elections
- Muslim Political Groups Seek Unified Voice
- FL: Muslim Voters Recruited
- CA: Activist Plans Faith-Based Panel on Middle East Peace
3) NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL
- Coalition seeks Ashcroft's Resignation
- Group to Ask Libraries about Government Requests for Patron Records
- GAO Judges Iraq War Efforts Harshly
- GA: Iraq Looms Large in 4th District Primary
- CT: Rep. Shays Stands by his Position That Invading Iraq was Right
- CA: San Francisco Group Wants to Put a "Bring the Troops Home"
Resolution
on the November Ballot
- FL: Graham Defends Castor in Al-Arian case
- Online Porn Law Blocked by Court
- PA: Governor Rendell Signs Slot Bill
To send local news stories, feedback, and comments please email:
politics@cair-net.org
-----
CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
is
warning Muslims in Florida and California about a con artist who seeks
money by impersonating well-known personalities in the Muslim world.
The con artist calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with a
respected Islamic institution. He claims that he and others are coming
to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport and asks for emergency cash to be wired to
him
at Western Union or a similar facility.
Today CAIR received a report from a Muslim institution in Florida that
stated: "Our Imam knew immediately that we were dealing with the
impostors
due to the email information from CAIR about similar incidents that
happened in other cities."
A person using this same con game was arrested in Canada two years ago
(see
alert below), but was later released. NOTE: The impostor may use many
variations of this scam.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please ANNOUNCE AT JUMA'A and other functions - several hundred
Muslims
have been targeted in the past.
2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming to be stranded in an airport.
3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, the local office of the FBI (ask
for
a fraud investigator) and to local police. Obtain a copy of the
complaint.
4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer
documents to CAIR so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX:
202-488-0833)
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE THE FOLLOWING 2002 ARTICLE AND CAIR ALERT:
CON-ARTIST WHO DEFRAUDED MUSLIMS CAUGHT
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=125&page=AA
-----
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK ON HOUSTON-AREA
MOSQUE Congresswoman Stands with Muslim Community against Hate Crimes
http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/
Congresswoman Jackson Lee stated today, "Its sickening to me that
people
could commit acts of violence against a peaceful community simply
because
of their faith. It is imperative that Houston area law enforcement in
conjunction with the FBI immediately investigate this matter as a
possible
hate crime...It is saddening to me that there are Americans who would
commit hate crimes against Muslim-Americans, but their bigotry will not
deter our nation from treating people of all faith with equality and
dignity."
SEE ALSO:
BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE TEXAS MOSQUE
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1100&page=NR
-----
OSU MED CENTER PERMITS HEAD SCARVES
Robert Ruth, Columbus Dispatch, 6/7/04
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/07/07/20040707-B3-01.html
An upcoming change in the dress code for the janitorial staff of the
Ohio
State University Medical Center had worried female employees who wear
head
scarves as part of their Muslim faith.
But concerns that the hijabs would be banned were shortlived.
A phone conversation last week between David Abbott, director of the
hospital s facilities services, and Ahmad Al-Akhras, president of the
Ohio
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, quickly resolved
the
issue.
Yesterday, Abbott called it a misunderstanding.
By mid-August, the hospital will require its 200 housekeeping employees
to
wear black-and-gray uniforms, but the institution never intended to
outlaw
hijabs, he said.
However, several of the hospital s Somali women, hired through a
temporary
employment agency, were told the scarves would be outlawed, Al-Akhras
said.
Al-Akhras praised the hospital for quickly clearing up the confusion.
"We are very encouraged by the willingness of the . . . medical center
to
accommodate the religious needs of its workers," he said.
Similar misunderstandings crop up periodically in the central Ohio
business
world, Al-Akhras said.
Many of the area s Muslims are recent immigrants employed in low-paying
jobs, he said. They often are apprehensive about speaking up.
"Our Islamic faith mandates women cover their heads," he said. "We want
to
bring this issue to the larger community. As long as hijabs are not
creating a hardship on an employer, they should be allowed. Banning
them
represents religious discrimination."
The hospital s current dress code requires janitors to wear blue pants
and
white striped shirts. The code does not mention head scarves, Abbott
said.
Not only will the new code make it clear hijabs are acceptable, Abbott
said, but his department also will require supervisors to attend
seminars
about Islamic culture.
-----
HE FOUND TRUTH IN ISLAM
Ray Reyes, Hernando Today, 7/5/04
http://www.hernandotoday.com/MGBXINB6BWD.html
SPRING HILL - His life's journey brought him here, to this place of
contentment. To this small business, Custom Computer Repair &
Networking,
LLC, at 6203 Deltona Blvd. To this space behind a glass counter, where
the
frazzled innards of computer monitors and hard drives receive their
remedies. Here, Lance McElmurry patches up processors gone buggy, or
offers
network solutions for the home or office. Here, McElmurry often prays.
After nearly a decade of searching, McElmurry, once a Christian, at one
time a soldier in the U.S. Army, finally found God. "Alhamdulillah,"
McElmurry said. It means, "Praise be to God." McElmurry, 33, began
saying
that phrase of thanks in 1996, when he converted to Islam. He had
thirsted
for truth. It was slaked after his conversion, McElmurry said. "When I
started reading the Qur'an, everything started making sense," McElmurry
said. "I already had most of (Islam's) beliefs. I just didn't know the
proper names."
'Searching for the truth'
When Lance McElmurry talks, his voice twangs. It's an earthy tone, as
grounded as the hot acres of a South Carolina tobacco farm, where he
was
born and raised.
He grew up in a Southern Baptist family, outside the small town of
Darlington, S.C., close to the buckle of the Bible belt. In his early
adulthood, McElmurry was always at church on Sundays. "All kinds of
Christian churches," he said. "Searching for the truth."
He found it while assigned to the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations
Aviation Regiment. McElmurry accepted Islam while he was in Bosnia on a
peacekeeping mission. His ex-wife is Muslim, McElmurry said, so while
he
was married to her for two years, he became familiar with the religion.
All
the pieces clicked in his head and in his heart when he was in Bosnia.
He
said Islam resonated closely with his personal philosophies about life.
Did
his conversion form a strain on the rest of his Southern Baptist
family?
"My mother's fine with it," McElmurry said. "She wishes our religions
were
still the same, but we both believe that all things come from God."…
-----
CONGRESSMAN EXPECTS BIAS VICTIM'S FAMILY TO GET PERMITS
Associated Press, 7/6/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--backlashvictim0706jul06,0,6695268.story
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers have approved legislation that would grant
permanent
residency to the widow and daughters of a Pakistani national slain in a
post-Sept. 11 hate crime.
The private relief bill _ a type of legislation that affects only a
specific person or group of people _ has been called a last chance for
Waqar Hasan's wife and children to remain in the United States.
The measure sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., was approved Tuesday
by
the House of Representatives and now goes to the U.S. Senate.
"I believe that there is no more crucial time to demonstrate to Muslims
in
America and around the world that we are a tolerant and sympathetic
people," Holt said. "We must seize opportunities to showcase America's
commitment to the democratic values that we are making great sacrifices
to
promote overseas."
The 46-year-old Hasan was shot to death in a Dallas convenience store
he
owned, four days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks…
ALSO SEE:
RESCUING WHAT HATRED TRIED TO KILL
Peter Applebome, NY Times, 7/7/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/07/nyregion/07towns.html
DURI HASAN was in her car on the way to the halal meat market in
Highland
Park when the call came from Representative Rush D. Holt's office in
Washington.
"Do you know what happened two minutes ago?'' the caller asked. Mrs.
Hasan
could guess, but she was too scared to speak the words. "The House of
Representatives passed the bill.''
Mrs. Hasan offered her thanks and then began frantically calling her
sister
and her daughters, wondering to herself if this really might be it -
the
guarantee three years after her husband was murdered in the aftermath
of
Sept. 11, 2001, that his death would not kill his dream. If so, it's a
rare
island of unity and good will, of disparate people coming together to
do
the right thing, in the sea of division and rancor 9/11 helped bring
about.
On Sept. 15, 2001, a young man named Mark Anthony Stroman walked into a
convenience store in Dallas and shot Waqar Hasan, 46, a Pakistani
immigrant, in the face. He said he did "what every American wanted to
do
but didn't" - commit a murder to avenge 9/11. He picked Mr. Hasan, who
was
beginning a convenience store business as a prelude to moving his wife
and
four daughters to Texas, because Mr. Hasan's face, the gunman decided,
was
the face of America's enemy.
But along with the tragedy of her husband's death, Mrs. Hasan and her
four
daughters soon learned they faced another nightmare - since his family
had
come to the United States on his visa, their applications for visas and
green cards died when he did. Under federal immigration law, they were
subject to deportation, with no alternative path to legal residency...
-----
MIXING PROPHECY AND POLITICS
Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, 7/7/04
http://csmonitor.com/2004/0707/p15s01-lire.html
Christian Zionists are growing in influence - even as they fight for
policies their critics say work against peace in the Mideast. For these
believers, it's all about fulfilling biblical prophecy.
JERUSALEM - Ray Sanders and his wife, Sharon, grew up on farms in the
American Midwest, but Israel has long been their home. Their journey
began
in the 1970s, when they read Hal Lindsey's apocalyptic bestseller, "The
Late Great Planet Earth," which laid out a scenario for the end of the
world according to a literal interpretation of Bible prophecies.
"That awakened our understanding to Israel and its prophetic role in
the
Last Days," Mr. Sanders explains in his spacious Jerusalem office.
"That
was a real paradigm shift in our lives."
That shift spurred the couple to leave their jobs, attend Bible college
in
Texas, and move to Jerusalem, where in 1985 they helped found a
biblical
Zionist organization called Christian Friends of Israel (CFI).
With a handful of similar groups here they are marshalling financial
and
moral support from evangelical Christians around the world, and
particularly in the United States, to fulfill what they see as their
role
in an unfolding final drama.
Christian Zionists, an Evangelical subset whose ranks are estimated at
20
million in the US, have in the past two decades poured millions of
dollars
of donations into Israel, formed a tight alliance with the Likud and
other
Israeli politicians seeking an expanded "Greater Israel," and mobilized
grass-roots efforts to get the US to adopt a similar policy.
Christian Zionist leaders today have access to the White House and
strong
support within Congress, including the backing of the two most recent
majority leaders in the House of Representatives.
For many Jews, the enthusiastic support of these evangelical Christians
is
welcome at a time of terrorism and rising anti-Semitism. Several
Israeli
leaders have called them "the best friends Israel has."
But other Jews and Christians have begun speaking against the alliance,
which they see as a dangerous mix of religion and politics that is
harmful
to Israel and endangers prospects for peace with the Palestinians…
SEE ALSO:
THE PRICE OF BRAINWASHING
Daniel Ben-Simon, Haaretz, 7/6/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/447719.html
MONTREAL - Meeting with Jewish communities overseas nowadays yields
quite a
few surprises. They saw anxious and pained Israelis in the shadows of
terror attacks and mourned with them. The years of intifada brought
Diaspora Jews closer to Israel because they felt that the existential
crisis for Israel was as great as it was in the days of the Yom Kippur
War.
That's the reason they increased their financial donations and even
sent
their children to Israel on visits. There's nothing like a crisis to
intensify solidarity between Israelis and Diaspora Jewry. "Whenever
there's
a terror attack," said Haim Musicant, secretary general of the CRIF,
French
Jewry's umbrella organization, "French Jews feel as if it happened to
them.
Everything that happens in Israel affects them and their lives. They
feel
like Israelis."
Ever since the failure of the Camp David summit of 2000, the Jewish
communities have been absolutely to the right of Israeli governments,
marketing the state's official policy that Israel has no partner for
negotiations. As in Israel, the Diaspora communities regarded
compromise as
defeatism, and those in favor of dialogue and agreement with the
Palestinians were condemned for bringing down the terrible intifada
upon
Israel. Ariel Sharon became a hero, and the Jews spoke of him as if he
were
King David. Even French Jewish intellectuals who were sickened in the
past
by his very name, embraced him. Bernard Henri-Levy praises him, Alain
Finkielkraut rediscovered him, Marek Halter wanted very much to meet
him
during a visit to Jerusalem.
It seems that the Jews were caught unprepared when they heard about
Sharon's disengagement plan. They read about the intention to quit Gaza
and
were particularly astonished by the plan to evacuate settlers. For
years
they had heard something different from official Israeli spokesmen, and
they always adopted the Israeli policy as if it were Torah from Sinai.
Thus, while Sharon may have changed his spots, the Jews haven't. The
man
who raised the settlements onto a holy pedestal managed to convince
Diaspora Jewry that Israel would not exist without the settlements,
that
Tel Aviv would not exist without Netzarim. Nearly every Israeli
ambassador
bent to those policies and blindly recited the chapter and verse on how
important the settlements - all the settlements - are to Israel. The
Jewish
Agency was so identified with the settlement vision that it named a
settler, Menachem Gur Ari, to head its fiefdom in France. The years of
brainwashing turned the organized Jews of the Diaspora into loyal
soldiers
enlisted in official Israel's cause…
-----
AMNESTY SLAMS CHINA FOR USING WAR ON TERROR TO PERSECUTE UIGHURS
Agence France Presse, 7/7/04
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/94301/1/.html
BEIJING - China is using the global war on terror to justify repression
of
its Uighur community who face torture and execution when forcibly
returned
from neighbouring countries, Amnesty International said Wednesday.
"China has repackaged its repression of Uighurs as a fight against
'terrorism,'" Amnesty said in a new report.
"Since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA, the Chinese government
has
been using 'anti-terrorism' as a pretext to increase its crackdown on
all
forms of political or religious dissent in the region."
The rights watchdog said many Uighurs have fled to neighbouring
countries,
but growing numbers "were being forcibly returned to China where they
face
torture and execution".
Over the last three years, tens of thousands of people are reported to
have
been detained on grounds of "anti-terrorism" in the Xinjiang Uighur
Automonous Region in northwest China.
This is despite a claim by the head of the regional government in April
that "not one incident of explosion or assassination took place in the
last
few years".
"The Chinese government continues to detain prisoners of conscience --
who
have never used or advocated violence -- showing that China's policies
of
repression in the region stretch far beyond combating acts of violence
or
'terrorism,'" said Amnesty.
In December China issued its first publicized list of "terrorist"
organizations and "terrorists," which included four groups of the
Turkic-speaking Uighurs advocating for an independent state in the
natural
resource-rich region.
The list also named 11 Uighur Muslims, most of whom are living
overseas…
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/8/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD
* HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
- CAIR Launches Anti-Torture Campaign
- Rep. Tom Davis Responds to Anti-Torture Campaign
* CAIR-GA: MUSLIM VOTER SEMINAR IN ATLANTA
- CAIR-FL: Mayfield to Speak at Civil Rights Event
* TX: BOMB LEFT IN MOSQUE'S MAILBOX (Houston Chronicle)
* NV: FEDERAL OUTREACH TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY (KLASTV)
* CIVIL LIBERTIES SEEN AT RISK (Telegram)
- Daniel Pipes Uses Guilt by Association (West News)
* PA: TROUBLING TIMES FOR AMERICAN MUSLIMS (Delco Times)
- Bridges TV: Television Relevant to Muslims (KC Star)
- MO: West County Muslims (West News)
* PAKISTAN FOR BUSH: JULY SURPRISE? (The New Republic)
* PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS START MEDIA CAMPAIGN (Forward)
* US TORTURE ON UK TERRITORY CLAIM (BBC)
- Suspects 'Were Tortured In US Camps'(Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "During the Night
Journey
(to Jerusalem) I met Abraham, who said to me, 'O Muhammad, convey my
greetings to your community, and tell them that Paradise is of pure
land,
its water is sweet, and its expanse is vast, spacious and even. And its
plants are 'glory be to God,' 'praise be to God' and 'there is no deity
but
God.'"
The Prophet also said: "There are two phrases that are light on the
tongue
but heavy on the scale of rewards…These are, 'all glory is to God and
all
praise to Him' and 'glorified is God, the Great.'"
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 103
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $80K ONLINE THIS MONTH
CAIR has launched a new drive to raise $80,000 online each month. To
help
us reach that goal, go to: https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
SEE ALSO:
CAIR LAUNCHES ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
Have you sent a card to your Congressman yet?
CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to
help
prevent the use of torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners or
detainees.
A CAIR postcard urging the House of Representatives to conduct hearings
into allegations of detainee abuse by American military personnel is
now
online on CAIR's web site. (The site also contains links to news
articles
related to the issue of torture.)
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=postcardjun2004
---
REP. TOM DAVIS RESPONDS TO CAIR'S ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
http://tomdavis.house.gov/
Let me begin by saying that like you, I am very disturbed by the images
from Abu Ghraib. This is a serious issue, and we must act quickly to
resolve it.
First and foremost, a swift and thorough investigation is needed, and
needed now. For those responsible, justice must be swift and strong, as
their conduct directly contradicts and undermines our mission in Iraq.
As to how this investigation is carried out, at this time I am
monitoring
the internal military process that is being conducted pursuant to the
Uniform Code of Military Justice. I am hopeful that it will be carried
out
in a professional, methodical fashion, and that those who are guilty of
crimes will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. If, however,
I
see that this process is biased or flawed, I will not hesitate to
invoke my
congressional oversight authority as Chairman of the Committee on
Government Reform. In addition, I am intently watching the hearings
that
have been called by my colleague and friend, Senator John Warner,
Chairman
of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to see where there was a
breakdown
in the chain of command and what we in Congress can do to ensure that
it
does not occur again in the future.
From a geopolitical perspective, we must do everything possible to
reassure the world community that all those things we take as
self-evident
- the honor of our military, our intentions in Iraq, our respect for
human
rights - remain as strong as ever. The vast majority of our troops,
who
perform heroically every day, are the best evidence of these tenets.
Finally, please let me close by saying that in the wake of this crisis,
we
must also remember that there are 138,000 Americans in uniform who
uphold
the highest standards of professionalism every day. They do so in the
face
of extreme danger and hardship, and we should not let the egregious
acts of
a very small group overshadow the integrity of our soldiers nor deter
our
nation from its overall objective of developing a democratic Iraq.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Should you have any
questions or further concerns, please let me know.
----
CAIR-GA: MUSLIM VOTER SEMINAR IN ATLANTA
(ATLANTA, GA, 7/8/04) - On Sunday, July 11, CAIR's North Georgia office
(CAIR-NGA) and the Muslim Professional Network will host a Muslim Vote
2004
Political Seminar at Atlanta's Holiday Inn Select Perimeter (4386
Chamblee
Dunwoody Road at I-285) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Some 20 candidates representing both federal and state elections have
confirmed their attendance. The event is free and open to the public.
It is
an excellent opportunity to become more active in the political process
and
to make the candidates aware of what issues are important to the local
Muslim Community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 770-220-0082 or 404-216-7929
-----
CAIR-FL: CIVIL RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM
WHAT: The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-FL) invites you and your family to a Civil Rights Symposium,
titled
"The Principles of American Democracy," on Saturday, July 17, in Ft.
Lauderdale. Join us for this important dialogue as we journey in
search
for answers to the current status of civil rights in America.
Panelists for the event include:
AMY GOODMAN
An internationally acclaimed journalist and a media phenomenon. She has
received several top journalism awards, and in addition to her daily
radio
show 'Democracy Now', Goodman speaks around the country on university
campuses, as well as to human rights, church and community groups about
media activism.
DAVID COLE
The Nation's legal affairs correspondent and a professor at Georgetown
University Law Center, is the author of 'No Equal Justice: Race and
Class
in the American Criminal Justice System', co-author of 'Terrorism and
the
Constitution: Sacrificing Civil.
BRANDON & MONA MAYFIELD
Oregon lawyer and convert to Islam, was arrested in May 04 in
connection
with the deadly train bombing in Madrid. The FBI falsely alleged they
had
identified him from a fingerprint found near the scene. Was held for
two
weeks and was released when the FBI acknowledge a mistake.
LUCY A. DALGLISH
Executive Director of the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the
Press.
Previously she worked as a Reporter and Editor for 13 years, and as a
lawyer for five years.
DR. PARVEZ AHMED
Board Member, CAIR-National
WHEN: Saturday 7/17/2004 @ 12:30 pm (sharp)
WHERE: Wyndham Ft. Lauderdale Airport
1870 Griffin Rd., Ft. Lauderdale
I-95 & Exit 23 ~ hotel #: 954-920-3300
LIMITED SEATING/Event Fee: $10 per person
Pre-Registration required by phone or online: Tel: (954) 916-5661
Click here to register now: http://www.cair-florida.org/events
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506
-----
BOMB LEFT IN MOSQUE'S MAILBOX INVESTIGATED
Robert Crowe, Houston Chronicle, 7/7/04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2668598
SPRING, TX - The celebration of a new baby at a mosque in Spring was
interrupted July Fourth when a small, handmade bomb exploded in the
mailbox.
Children attending the event at the Champions Masjid in the 6700 block
of
Old Louetta said they saw a white man in his 20s place something in the
mailbox around 8:30 p.m. before fleeing in a car with another white
male
inside.
The device, made of a two-liter soda bottle and other, unknown
materials,
exploded about 30 seconds later as the children walked toward the men
to
find out what they were doing. No one was injured, but the metal
portion of
the mailbox, surrounded by brick, was destroyed.
Authorities with Harris County and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives are investigating the incident.
"If there are any federal charges, we'll consult with the district
attorney
and U.S. attorney's office," said Franceska Perot, an ATF spokeswoman.
She did not know whether it was a hate crime or a random case of
criminal
mischief. But local Islamic leaders don't believe it was a coincidence
because the mailbox sits near a sign for the mosque…
Najat Elsayed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Houston said
that on June 18, the day engineer Paul Johnson was beheaded in Saudi
Arabia, someone left a package of headless fish near the mosque's
entrance.
-----
NV: FEDERAL OUTREACH TO VALLEY MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Edward Lawrence, KLASTV, 7/7/04
http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2011184&nav=168XOYuF
The federal government wants to build bridges between the Muslim
community
and federal authorities. That's why agents from a number of law
enforcement
organizations have reached out to Muslims in Las Vegas through meetings
at
local mosques.
The meetings started about a month ago at mosque in downtown Las Vegas.
Eyewitness News has learned this is part of a nationwide effort from
the
Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security. The hope is to open
a
dialogue that could prevent terrorism
Fateen Seifullah is the Imam or spiritual leader of the Masjid as-Sabur
Mosque. He received the call from federal authorities asking to meet
his
followers. "The community is open and receptive, but still reserved in
terms of trust," Seifullah said.
Mujahid Ramadan added, "Is there some suspicion? Yes. Is there some
distrust? Yes. Is there some trust? Yes." Mujahid Ramadan says federal
agents must do more than just meet. He would like to see some sort of
gesture that says agents are serious about working with the community…
-----
CIVIL LIBERTIES SEEN AT RISK
Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram, 7/7/04
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040707/NEWS/40707002/1025
WORCESTER -- A Worcester family, who worship in the Muslim faith,
report
being told by a bus driver that they will have to produce their birth
certificates in order to board a bus bound for another city.
A student from Pakistan, who has been attending the University of
Massachusetts at Boston, fails to complete his exit registration form
at
Logan International Airport before flying home, then is detained by
U.S.
Immigration authorities when he returns to this country. He is sent
back to
Pakistan and is twice refused applications for a new visa. When he
finally
returns to Boston, he has missed more than six months of study.
A jail guard in another county responds to an Arab immigrant's request
for
assistance by suggesting he "call on Mohammed to help."
ALSO SEE:
DANIEL PIPES USES GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
DEFENDING MUSLIMS
Kamal Yasin, West News Magazine, 7/8/04
http://www.westnewsmagazine.com/letters.html
I was dismayed when I read the editorial, "If You Are Muslim, You Are
Suspect," by Daniel Pipes (June 16).
The main reason I was dismayed was that West Newsmagazine allowed such
an
article filled with hate and improper twisted logic to be there. The
second
reason is that in spite of Pipes' Islam-aphobic position he takes in
every
word he writes or utters, using all that twisted logic, some still are
willing to quote him.
Pipes used a lot of methods to get to his own conclusion that he has
"all
the time," that "It is absolutely alright to do any injustice to a
person,
even it was unwarranted, illegal, or unconstitutional, if he or she is
a
Muslim."
That preconceived conclusion has driven him - again - to write this
piece,
the same way he wrote many more before. His main, and maybe only,
motivation to write is his Islam-aphobia.
He has used guilt of association as his way to say that it is
absolutely OK
to falsely accuse and jail a person based on the fact that he is
Muslim.
Since when in this country are we guilty because of disagreeing with
the
government?
Based on Pipes' notion, millions of Americans who disagree with the
Patriot
Act or some other government position should go to jail. But we have to
find enough jail space first for them. That would be even worse, if we
follow Pipes' logic.
Kamal Yassin
Town & Country
-----
PA: COUPLE FINDS TROUBLING TIMES FOR AMERICAN MUSLIMS
Patti Mengers, Delcotimes, 7/7/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1675&dept_id=18171&newsid=12242773&PAG=461&rfi=9
At Masjid Al-Madinah in Upper Darby, where as many as 400 Muslims can
be
found praying on a Friday night, there is no talk of the beheading of
hostages in the Middle East.
It is understood that these are gruesome deeds and that, contrary to
what
the executioners would have the world believe, they are alien to
Islamic
teachings.
"There is no way it can be condoned. It is outside Muslim, it is
outside
Islam," declared Abu Rahman, who has been president of the mosque for
more
than five years.
The 52-year-old Marple resident moved to the United States with his
wife,
Shelly, from Bangladesh 30 years ago. They both have been American
citizens
for 25 years and, like all other Americans, they are horrified by the
beheading of hostages in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
"This is a criminal act. It is unbelievable that people would do such
things. They are doing it because that's all they have. Showing a
beheading
on a Web site generates fear. It's like dropping the atom bomb," said
Mr.
Rahman.
Since the beheadings began with journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in
2002
and with each case since, Mrs. Rahman has become increasingly
disheartened.
"My personal feelings are, where are we going? What's happening to the
world? It's like we're competing with each other. I feel like it's 100
years ago," she said.
Mrs. Rahman experienced first-hand the disdain citizens of other
countries
have for the United States due to its military involvement in Iraq. In
March, when she visited her native land, her reception was not warm.
"It's the first time I've gone when people are wondering if the
American
dream has faded away," said Mrs. Rahman…
ALSO SEE:
TELEVISION RELEVANT TO MUSLIMS
Zulfiqar Malik, Kansas City Star, 7/8/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/
I subscribe to a TV channel that does not exist yet.
There is a dream and efforts are being made to allow "Bridges TV" to
make
its debut in the fall, I hope before the start of Ramadan -- the Muslim
holy month of fasting that will begin on Oct. 15.
A few months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Muzammil Hassan
and
his wife were driving to Detroit for a business meeting. They were
listening to a radio talk show on the topic of how bad Muslims are.
His wife was offended by the comments and suggested that Hassan could
help
develop a medium that could help their children grow up feeling
self-confident about their identity.
So Hassan, a 39-year-old former banker with a master's in business
administration from the University of Rochester, wrote a business plan
for
an English-language nationwide television channel directed at American
Muslims. It would be available on satellite and cable.
The main target audience for this new channel is the estimated 8
million
American and Canadian Muslims. The Muslim population of the Kansas City
area is estimated to be 20,000...
---
WEST COUNTY MUSLIMS
Laura Saggar, West News Magazine, 7/9/04
http://www.westnewsmagazine.com/cover.html
Many Muslims have come to America - the great melting pot, a nation of
immigrants who have come here from many foreign lands - for that same
promise of a life of opportunity, hope and freedom that the Founding
Fathers sought.
To that end, many in the Muslim population have become productive
members
of the West County community, contributing a great wealth of knowledge
as
well as a unique spiritual and cultural perspective on the world. These
contributions are what many Muslims who live, work and worship in West
County hope that people will remember instead of what the terrorists
who
claim to have Muslim ties have done in the rest of the world.
Muhammad Nur Abdullah, an imam, or the spiritual leader of the
Daar-ul-Islam mosque and Islamic Center of St. Louis located in West
County, estimates that there are 70,000 Muslims in St. Louis, with
1,500
individuals regularly attending the mosque every week. There are an
estimated 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide.
While many West County residents might look at local Muslims as
foreigners,
that is not the case in most instances. Many of the members of the
religion
(and all of those interviewed for this story) were born in the United
States or call this country home because they have lived here the
majority
of their lives. They also are U.S. citizens.
In an effort to bring about more awareness of this culture and all the
Muslim community has to offer, several of them recently spoke to West
Newsmagazine about what life is like in West County as well as their
perspective on the current climate about Muslims who live here and
around
the world.
First, it is important to get a better understanding of the religion as
well as the history of the Muslim community in St. Louis...
-----
JULY SURPRISE?
John B. Judis, Spencer Ackerman, Massoud Ansari, New Republic Online,
7/8/04
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040719&s=aaj071904
Late last month, President Bush lost his greatest advantage in his bid
for
reelection. A poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post
discovered
that challenger John Kerry was running even with the president on the
critical question of whom voters trust to handle the war on terrorism.
Largely as a result of the deteriorating occupation of Iraq, Bush lost
what
was, in April, a seemingly prohibitive 21-point advantage on his
signature
issue. But, even as the president's poll numbers were sliding, his
administration was implementing a plan to insure the public's
confidence in
his hunt for Al Qaeda.
This spring, the administration significantly increased its pressure on
Pakistan to kill or capture Osama bin Laden, his deputy, Ayman Al
Zawahiri,
or the Taliban's Mullah Mohammed Omar, all of whom are believed to be
hiding in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan. A succession of
high-level
American officials--from outgoing CIA Director George Tenet to
Secretary of
State Colin Powell to Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to
State
Department counterterrorism chief Cofer Black to a top CIA South Asia
official--have visited Pakistan in recent months to urge General Pervez
Musharraf's government to do more in the war on terrorism. In April,
Zalmay
Khalilzad, the American ambassador to Afghanistan, publicly chided the
Pakistanis for providing a "sanctuary" for Al Qaeda and Taliban forces
crossing the Afghan border. "The problem has not been solved and needs
to
be solved, the sooner the better," he said.
This public pressure would be appropriate, even laudable, had it not
been
accompanied by an unseemly private insistence that the Pakistanis
deliver
these high-value targets (HVTs) before Americans go to the polls in
November.
-----
PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS START MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Ori Nir, Forward, 7/9/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=staff200407071152
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of American Jewish activists launched a concerted
pre-emptive media campaign this week to minimize negative publicity for
Israel, as the International Court of Justice in the Hague rules on
Israel's West Bank security fence.
The activists set off a newly created network and applied skills that
they
acquired during a three-day pro-Israel media advocacy conference, held
last
week here. Graduates of the seminar contacted local news organizations
across America to argue - in advance of Friday's ICJ's decision - that
Israel has the right to fend off terrorists, and that polls show most
Americans support Israel's security barrier. Their messages were
carefully
crafted and orchestrated by the Israel Project, a Washington-based
pro-Israel advocacy group, which organized the seminar.
"When the news cycle gives you lemons, you need to make lemonade," said
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of The Israel Project. "By using
proven
sound-bites and images, we can take what could be a bad press situation
and
turn it around."
Last week's conference in Washington brought hundreds of Jewish
activists,
mainly senior officials in Jewish federations and community-relations
councils across America. Participants learned how to deal with the
media
locally and agreed on ways to distill a coordinated, uniform message to
react to developments pertaining to Israel, and sometimes to even
pre-empt
them.
Shoshana Cardin, national chair of the Israel Project, kicked off the
seminar with a declaration of war.
Cardin sought to galvanize the Jewish activists who gathered from as
far
away as Argentina and the Dominican Republic to do battle on behalf of
an
Israel that she and other speakers portrayed as damaged by its
depiction in
the press.
The event "is the largest effort to begin to have a war of words,"
Cardin
said. "We are in a war. We may not have realized it yet."
A new arsenal was introduced to the troops: role-playing sessions to
simulate successful television appearance techniques; coaching on how
to
effectively craft and deliver pro-Israel messages for call-in radio
shows;
prescriptions for contacting reporters and editors, influencing them,
building relationships with them and closely monitoring their work to
detect anti-Israel slants; crash courses in public relations; lists of
"positive" stories on Israel to pitch to the media; and much more…
-----
US TORTURE ON UK TERRITORY CLAIM
BBC, 7/7/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3873291.stm
The UK's Indian Ocean territory could be being used to interrogate
terror
suspects in a US facility known as "Camp Justice", MP Tom Brake has
said.
The Liberal Democrat frontbencher raised the issue during a Westminster
Hall about British treatment of the people of Diego Garcia.
They were forcibly removed in the 1960s to make way for a US military
facility.
Mr Brake called for reassurance the base was not being used "to
secretly
hold and interrogate terror suspects".
He described a satellite photo of the base which included "very large
hangers".
'Reassurance demand'
"There are claims that prisoners are being held there by the Americans
for
so-called 'rendering' which other people have described as torturing,
at
least holding and questioning before being transferred to Camp X-Ray,"
he
said.
Earlier in a statement Mr Brake said there was a "huge question mark"
over
the use of the facility and he called on the government to reassure the
public it was not being used for holding and interrogating prisoners.
"The existence of a US airbase on the island of Diego Garcia has
consistently brought controversy on the government," he said.
"After the recent prisoner abuse scandals in Iraq and Camp X-Ray, the
British people have the right to know whether suspects in Bush's War on
Terror are being held on British soil…
ALSO SEE:
INTERNED TERRORIST SUSPECTS 'WERE TORTURED IN US CAMPS'
Sean O'Neill, The Times, 7/8/04
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
ISLAMIST terrorist suspects have been interned without trial in Britain
on
the basis of evidence extracted by torturing detainees at the US prison
camp in Guantanamo Bay, the Court of Appeal was told yesterday.
The use of such methods is morally repugnant in the English legal
system,
claimed lawyers for ten Muslim men held under emergency powers
introduced
after the September 11 atrocities.
Yet British government officials had been present during some of the
interrogations of inmates at the US detention centre in Cuba.
The foreign terrorist suspects, most of whom are held at Belmarsh
prison in
southeast London, are contesting rulings by the Special Immigration
Appeals
Commission that their detention is lawful.
The SIAC has held that it is entitled to consider evidence which may
have
been obtained under torture or ill-treatment at Guantanamo Bay, Bagram
airbase in Afghanistan, or other US detention facilities...
-----
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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
MUSLIMS APPLAUD COURT'S CONDEMNATION OF ISRAELI WALL
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/9/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today applauded a ruling by the highest U.N. court that
Israel's wall in the occupied West Bank violates international law and
should be torn down.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also criticized the
Bush
administration for dismissing the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
ruling. (An administration spokesman said today that the issue of the
wall
should be addressed through the Middle East peace process.)
In its ruling, the ICJ stated: "The court is of the view that the
United
Nations, and especially the General Assembly and the Security Council,
should consider what further action is required to bring to an end the
illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall."
The court dismissed Israeli arguments that the barrier was essential
for
its security and said the wall infringed on Palestinian freedom. It
also
ordered Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians directly impacted by
the
wall and to return land seized for its construction.
Even the lone dissenting judge on the 15-member panel, American Thomas
Buergenthal, acknowledged that Israel's wall might violate
international
law. (The other judges were from China, Madagascar, France, Sierra
Leone,
Russia, Britain, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Brazil, Jordan, Egypt,
Japan,
Germany, and Slovakia.)
In its statement, CAIR said:
"Today's ruling is a historic victory for international law and
justice.
Unfortunately, we once again see our own government swimming against
the
tide of world public and legal opinion to defend Israel's neo-Apartheid
policies. How long will America's international image and interests be
held
hostage by a powerful domestic lobby for a foreign government? And when
will the Palestinian people deserve inclusion in America's drive for
freedom and justice worldwide?"
The Washington-based group's statement reflected similar comments in
response to the ruling from world leaders. European Union foreign
policy
chief Javier Solana said today: "The wall not only results in
confiscation
of Palestinian land and causes untold humanitarian and economic
hardship,
but also could prejudge future negotiations and hinder a just political
solution to the conflict."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/9/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A GENTLE GRANDFATHER
* CAIR-FL: RACIAL PROFILING COMMUNITY FORUM
- CAIR-Houston Meets with FBI-DOJ
- CAIR-Dallas: Muslims Allege Selective Prosecution
* WI: LIBERTARIAN PARTY REACHES OUT TO MUSLIMS
* DEMOCRATS ENDORSE KEY PRO-ISRAEL POSITIONS (JTA)
- Kerry Backs Israeli Wall
- U.S. Church Leaders Support World Court Ruling
* CAIR-FL: 'AWARENESS' COULD MEAN PROFILING (Orlando)
* C.I.A. OFFICER CRITIQUES TERROR POLICY (NY Times)
- Senate Report Strikes Heart of Iraq War (AP)
* HOUSE LEAVES PATRIOT ACT AS IS (AP)
* VA: ISLAMIC SCHOOL DROPS PLAN FOR CAMPUS (AP)
* MI: MUSEUM GIVES ARAB-AMERICANS RECOGNITION
- MI: Residents Debate Prayer Call (Free Press)
* ISRAELI INTERROGATORS IN IRAQ (Janes.Com)
- Palestinians Talk of One-State Solution (Reuters)
- Israel's Chemical Weapons (Antiwar)
* BEER AND THONGS IN KABUL (NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A GENTLE GRANDFATHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed while carrying his
grand-daughter Umama. When he prostrated in prayer, he put her down,
and
when he stood, he put her on his neck.
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 495
-----
CAIR-FL TO DISCUSS RACIAL PROFILING AT COMMUNITY FORUM
On Monday, June 12, Montgomery County (Md.) Police Chief Charles A.
Moose
will lead a discussion of racial profiling and civilian oversight of
the
police in a Tampa, Fla., community forum.
Other speakers include: Ahmed Bedier, Florida Communications Director
for
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Dalia Hashad, the Arab,
Muslim, South Asian Advocate for the American Civil Liberties Union.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 12
WHERE: Auditorium of the John F. Germany Public Library, 900 North
Ashley
Drive, Tampa, Florida
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier 813-514-1414, E-Mail: abedier@cair-florida.org
-----
HOUSTON MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI-DOJ TO DISCUSS CONCERNS
CAIR-Houston and ACLU-TX initiate positive dialogue
(HOUSTON, TX)- The Houston office of Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-Houston) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
(ACLU-TX)
met with representatives of the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ)
on
Tuesday to discuss issues of mutual concern, including protection
against
anti-Muslim hate crimes, the FBI's counterterrorism efforts and ways of
improving cooperation between law enforcement and the American Muslim
community.
The meeting included three top officials of the Houston District Office
of
the FBI, Special Agent in Charge Roderick l. Beverly, Supervisory
Special
Agent Norman Williams of the Hate Crimes unit and Supervisory Special
Agent
Steve Gentry. The meeting was also attended by Justo Garcia, Outreach
Coordinator of the Department of Justice, who offered insights on
encouraging community support for law enforcement.
The meeting was one of many CAIR-Houston is conducting with various law
enforcement agencies to build constructive relationships and to voice
the
Muslim community's concerns.
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-814-5554, 832-656-0449
---
LOCAL MUSLIM LEADERS SPEAK OUT AFTER ELASHI VERDICT
KIM HORNER, Dallas Morning News, 7/9/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/090704dntexelashi.a3b46.html
Local Muslim leaders spoke out Friday against what they called
selective
prosecution in the recent convictions of five Richardson brothers for
illegally shipping high-tech goods to nations deemed sponsors of
terrorism.
"We believe that these convictions indicate a growing disparity and
climate
of injustice for Muslims, who we feel are being selectively prosecuted
and
given unfair sentences precisely because they are Muslim or Arab," said
Khalil Meek, who serves on the board of directors of the Dallas-Fort
Worth
Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The group held a
news
conference about the case at its Dallas office.
Mr. Meek said the federal government has imposed administrative fines
rather than criminal convictions on non-Muslims who have admitted
similar
export violations.
"This is not justice," Mr. Meek said. "This growing trend of selective
prosecution only furthers much of the community's view that this is
nothing
but a witch-hunt against the Muslim community."
A federal court jury on Wednesday convicted the five brothers of
conspiring
to use their Richardson computer services business to make illegal
shipments of high-tech goods to Libya and Syria, two nations deemed
state
sponsors of terrorism.
After deliberating more than 18 hours over three days, the jury of nine
women and three men concluded that Ghassan Elashi and his brothers,
Bayan,
Basman, Hazim and Ihsan, repeatedly violated U.S. export laws between
1995
and 2000.
The jury's verdict was mixed. While the brothers were convicted of
making
shipments to Syria and Libya and conspiring to undervalue shipments to
other countries, all but Basman Elashi were acquitted on most charges
alleging individual false statements.
A spokesman for the team of prominent defense attorneys has said an
appeal
of the convictions is likely…
-----
WISCONSIN LP REACHES OUT TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Libertarian Party, 7/8/04
http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0408/muslim_wisconsin-outreach.html
Those who regularly attend the Muslim Professional Association's annual
Independence Day picnics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are accustomed to
hearing
from politicians. But this year's picnic brought something new:
Libertarians.
As a Muslim man and a small business owner, Arif Khan -- Wisconsin's
Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate -- has deep ties to the Muslim
community and with this professional organization. His involvement paid
off
with an invitation to address the 150 picnic attendees, many of whom
are
small business owners themselves.
Politicians often show up to this picnic to do their usual campaigning;
sometime they are invited and sometime not.
"They know how critical the Muslim vote is in Wisconsin, especially
Milwaukee," Khan said. "But the Muslim community wanted to hear
something
different this year -- something that is actually in line with our
Muslim
beliefs of individual rights and non-interventionism.
"That is why they invited [Libertarian vice presidential candidate]
Richard
Campagna and me to address their issues and concerns."
The members of the Muslim Professional Association, who have yet to
endorse
a candidate for U.S. senator or president, enjoyed hearing from the
Libertarian candidates.
"I just recently became a U.S. citizen and I can't wait to make my
first
vote Libertarian," said Umar Akram, a college student whose family
moved
from Pakistan to the United States in 1997.
Akram was one of the more than 25 attendees who requested more
information
regarding the Libertarian Party and its candidates.
Libertarian National Committee member Jeremy Keil said he was amazed at
the
excitement the Libertarian candidates generated.
-----
DEMOCRATS ENDORSE SOME KEY PRO-ISRAEL POSITIONS
Matthew E. Berger, JTA, 7/8/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Democratic+platform+eyes+Israel+&intcategoryid=5
WASHINGTON - The Democratic Party wants to send the right message to
the
American Jewish community about its priorities in the Middle East, but
its
platform fails to include several positions Jewish groups recommended.
The platform, being revised this weekend in Miami, resolves to uphold
the
close relationship between the United States and Israel, according to
sources who have reviewed the relevant sections. It also negates a
Palestinian refugee "right of return" to Israel and says the armistice
line
ending Israel's 1948 War of Independence - known as the Green Line -
cannot
be the basis for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,
implicitly recognizing some Israeli claims to the West Bank.
"It is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status
negotiations
will be a full and complete return to the armistice line of 1949," the
draft reads.
However, the platform ignores calls from several Jewish organizations
to
explicitly endorse the "road map" plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace,
support Israel's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and part of the
West
Bank and justify Israel's West Bank security fence.
"A party platform is not supposed to specifically negate or support
every
item of a country's agenda at the moment," said Rep. Robert Wexler
(D-Fla.), who helped write the Middle East section of the platform.
"The
language that is contained in the platform is entirely consistent and
supportive of the 'road map.' "
The American Jewish vote is being watched closely in this year's
presidential election largely because of President Bush's support for
Israel and Jewish approval of the policy positions Bush has laid out in
the
Middle East.
The platform could be an opportunity for Democrats to solidify their
traditional base of American Jewish support with policy positions that
match Bush administration support for Israel.
The American Jewish Committee and Anti-Defamation League laid out
policy
recommendations for both political parties last month that included
support
for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.
No word is expected on the Republican platform until next month - the
Republican convention isn't until the end of August, a month after the
Democratic one - but Bush already has endorsed Sharon's plan.
The American Jewish Committee also advised the platform committees to
endorse the road map that the United States crafted with the United
Nations, European Union and Russia, and to express support for Israel's
right to construct its security fence. The fence has drawn fire because
it
juts beyond the Green Line in some areas into land the Palestinians
want
for a future state.
SEE ALSO:
STATEMENT BY JOHN KERRY ON INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULING
REGARDING
ISRAEL'S SECURITY FENCE
BEAVER, W.V., July 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Senator John Kerry released
the
following statement today regarding the International Court of Justice
ruling on Israel's security fence:
"I am deeply disappointed by today's International Court of Justice
ruling
related to Israel's security fence. Israel's fence is a legitimate
response
to terror that only exists in response to the wave of terror attacks
against Israel. The fence is an important tool in Israel's fight
against
terrorism. It is not a matter for the ICJ.
"I have made very clear from the start that I do not believe that the
ICJ
should even be considering this issue given that they do not have
jurisdiction.
"We were right to oppose the resolution in the General Assembly and to
convey this opinion to the ICJ. Several months ago, I joined in
sending a
letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urging him to "act so that
the
ICJ does not...issue an advisory opinion on the legality of the
security
fence Israel is building."
"Our nation is rightly discussing with Israel the exact route of the
fence
to minimize the hardship it causes Palestinians. And Israel's own
Supreme
Court has looked at the very same issues and we should respect that
process."
Web: http://www.johnkerry.com
---
CHURCH LEADERS ASK FOR COOPERATION WITH U.N. TO RESOLVE BARRIER ISSUE
AND
RESUME PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
WASHINGTON, July 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Church leaders appealed to
their
government to support the International Court of Justice's advisory
opinion
on Israel's separation barrier. The court said earlier today that it is
against international law for Israel to build its barrier in the
occupied
territories and that it should be dismantled. For nearly a year, the
U.S.
churches that work together through Churches for Middle East Peace have
advocated for the United States government's intervention to stop
Israel's
building of the barrier beyond the 1967 "green line" on occupied land
in
the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.
"We are grateful that the humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian
people of this massive barrier are no longer being ignored," was the
response of Episcopal Bishop Barry Howe of the Diocese of West
Missouri. Howe was part of a delegation of seven U.S. Episcopal
bishops
who viewed the barrier on a trip to Palestine and Israel in May. "The
International Court opinion as well as that of the Israeli Supreme
Court
ruling on June 30 emphasizes the humanitarian dimension as well as that
of
the rule of law." Recognizing that the Israelis argue that they needed
the barrier for protection from violent terrorist acts, Bishop
Howe continued: "The security that Israel seeks, and deserves, will
be found in resolving the conflict through a negotiated solution with
all
concerned and the establishment of a Palestinian state with peace and
security for all in the region."
Franciscan Sister Florence Deacon, director of Franciscans
International
(an NGO at the United Nations in New York), noted that Franciscans have
had
custody of Christianity's traditional Holy Land shrines for 800 years.
She
appreciated the Court's emphasis on the role of the United Nations in
negotiating a just and lasting peace in that land sacred to all the
children of Abraham. "For the past 50 years, the United States has been
a
trusted friend of the state of Israel while also caring about the
Palestinian people's welfare, and more recently their political rights.
Our
government needs to use these historic ties to push both sides toward
serious negotiations without further delay." She urged the United
States
"to be a partner with the global community and work within the United
Nations' system to bring security to both peoples. We cannot have two
sets
of standards for upholding international law."
Dennis Frado, director of the Lutheran Office for World Community at
the
United Nations, said, "All Members of the United Nations should
respect
today's advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice.
This is
a particularly important principle for all of the parties seeking an
end to
the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians." Referring to
the
Lutheran churches' historical involvement with Namibia, he said, "We
recall
the ICJ's opinion in 1971 that South Africa was illegally occupying
Namibia. That dispute unfortunately continued to take too many lives
and
cause unnecessary hardships on both sides before it was resolved. The
religious community is called to redouble our efforts for peace with
justice in this region as well."
Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington based program of the
Alliance of Baptists, American Friends Service Committee, Antiochian
Orthodox Archdiocese, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's
Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the
Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, Franciscan Mission Service, Friends Committee on
National Legislation, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central
Committee,
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Presbyterian
Church
(USA), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association
of Congregations, United Church of Christ and the United Methodist
Church
(GBCS & GBGM). For more information see http://www.cmep.org
http://www.usnewswire.com
-----
SOME FEAR 'AWARENESS' COULD MEAN PROFILING
Brian Baskin, Orlando Sentinel, 7/9/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-loccapfolo09070904jul09,1,6344312.story
Local and national civil-rights groups predict that a plan to train
firefighters, cable repairmen and others to ferret out terrorism, drug
trafficking and child pornography for local police will result in
racial
profiling and innocent citizens being subjected to terrorism
investigations.
"We're afraid law-abiding members of our community will be targeted
simply
because of their appearance," said Taleb Salhab, president of the
Arab-American Community Center of Central Florida.
Chief among the organizations' concerns is a brochure intended to be
distributed to Citizen Awareness Program trainees that lists "multiple
adult males living together, usually of Middle Eastern appearance and
between the ages of 18 and 45, with little or no furnishings," as one
of
five signs of international terrorism.
Arab-American leaders are worried that racial profiling could result.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Lawson Lamar, one of CAP's architects,
dismissed charges levied by four groups, including the American-Arab
Discrimination Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union of
Florida,
that innocent citizens who look Arab could come under suspicion through
the
program.
"I think this thing will get some legs even though there are some
people
who are more concerned with being politically correct than saving
lives,"
Lamar said Thursday.
An estimated 5,000 brochures have already been printed, at a cost of
$500
to the Sheriff's Office, Chief Steve Jones said.
The sheriff's intelligence unit, which would receive all tips generated
by
the program, is trained to screen out bad leads, Lamar said. He
contends
that would eliminate the risk that innocent people will become suspects
in
terrorism investigations.
Salhab said such safeguards have failed to prevent innocent
Arab-Americans
from being singled out for surveillance or detention in the past.
"How much heartache would an individual have to go through before they
verified that a person is innocent," he said. "Without a doubt, it's
going
to be our community who will be most affected."
The groups' concerns echoes the fallout from Operation TIPS, a similar
program proposed in July 2002 by President Bush, then abruptly
withdrawn in
the ensuing uproar from civil-liberties organizations.
"Seems like Central Florida agencies . . . are taking a step back and
trying things that have already failed at the federal level," said
Ahmed
Bedir, communications director for the Florida chapter of the Council
of
American-Islamic Relations. "It doesn't make any sense why they're
doing
this now…"
-----
C.I.A. OFFICER CRITIQUES TERROR POLICY
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 7/9/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/books/09BOOK.html
Imperial Hubris," the scalding new book by a current Central
Intelligence
Agency officer - who was able to publish the book on the condition that
his
real name not be revealed - is an assessment of America's war on terror
that is bound to provoke large heapings of controversy, on both the
right
and the left, among hardliners on Iraq and critics of the
administration
alike. Readers will doubtless contest some or many of the things
Anonymous
has to say, but he pulls few punches in this book and gives us a
fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda - at least as framed
by
one senior analyst, who seems to have put all bureaucratic niceties
aside.
It is a book that not only slings all manner of arrows at America's
political, military and intelligence establishment (going back to the
mid-70's, with the qualified exception of President Ronald Reagan and
his
C.I.A. director, William J. Casey), but a book that also calls for a
complete re-evaluation of the nation's foreign policy toward Muslims
and
the Middle East.
In its pages, prescient analyses of recent developments in the Persian
Gulf
and Middle East (informed by the author's experience in the mid-1990's
as
head of a C.I.A. unit assigned to tracking Osama bin Laden) jostle for
space with incendiary calls for a Shermanesque exercise of American
military power in a potential war with the Muslim world; maverick
assessments of Islamic attitudes toward the United States, with shrill
exhortations for America to adopt a neo-isolationist stance based on
narrowly defined self-interest.
If the country's foreign policy remains status quo, Anonymous warns,
"America's military confrontation with Islam" will broaden "with
escalating
human and economic expense." He predicts that Al Qaeda "will attack the
continental United States again, that its next strike will be more
damaging
than that of 11 September 2001, and could include use of weapons of
mass
destruction."
In addition, Anonymous accuses United States leaders, elites and media
of
being in denial about the nature of the Qaeda threat and the balance
sheet
on the war on terror: he argues that America must stop using the
terrorist
paradigm for Al Qaeda and accept "the fact" that the group is "leading
a
popular, worldwide, and increasingly powerful Islamic insurgency," and
he
asserts that United States victories against Al Qaeda have thus far
been
tactical ones that have failed to slow "the shift in strategic
advantage
toward al Qaeda."
SEE ALSO:
SENATE REPORT STRIKES HEART OF IRAQ WAR
Ken Guggenheim, Associated Press, 7/9/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1152&slug=Intelligence%20Claims
WASHINGTON -- After hundreds of American soldiers have died and
billions of
U.S. dollars have been spent, a Senate panel is saying the
justification
for the war in Iraq was wrong.
"In the end, what the president and the Congress used to send the
country
to war was information that was provided by the intelligence community,
and
that information was flawed," said Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan.
Roberts said the war might have still been justified on humanitarian
grounds. But Congress never debated going to war to stop Saddam
Hussein's
brutality. The debate was over Saddam's chemical and biological
weapons,
his ability to deliver them, his nuclear ambitions and his ties to
terrorism.
The Bush administration told the American public - and the world - that
Saddam had to be stopped before he used his weapons of mass destruction
or
before they fell into terrorists' hands.
"The facts and Iraq's behavior show that Saddam Hussein and his regime
are
concealing their efforts to produce weapons of mass destruction,"
Secretary
of State Colin Powell told the United Nations on Feb. 5, 2003, just
weeks
before the war.
Powell's speech was the culmination of months of warnings by top
administration officials on the dangers posed by Saddam - warnings the
panel is now rejecting...
-----
HOUSE LEAVES PATRIOT ACT AS IS
Alan Fram, Associated Press, 7/8/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/opinion/O9LAMB.html
WASHINGTON - The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto
threat
Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block
the
part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate
people's reading habits.
The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law's powers lost by 210-210,
with a
majority needed to prevail. The amendment appeared on its way to
victory as
the roll call's normal 15-minute time limit expired, but GOP leaders
kept
the vote open for 23 more minutes as they persuaded about 10
Republicans
who initially supported the provision to change their votes.
Shame, shame, shame," Democrats chanted as the minutes passed and votes
were switched. The tactic was reminiscent of last year's House passage
of
the Medicare overhaul measure, when GOP leaders held the vote open for
an
extra three hours until they got the votes they needed.
"You win some, and some get stolen," Rep. C.L. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, a
sponsor of the defeated provision and one of Congress' more
conservative
members, told a reporter.
Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said he switched his initial "yes" vote to
"no"
after being shown Justice Department documents asserting that
terrorists
have communicated over the Internet via public library computers...
The effort to curb the Patriot Act was pushed by a coalition of
Democrats
and conservative Republicans. But they fell short in a showdown that
came
just four months before an election in which the conduct of the fight
against terrorism will be on the political agenda.
Besides successfully fending off the effort to weaken the law, the veto
threat underscored the administration's determination to strike an
aggressive stance on law enforcement and terrorism...
-----
ISLAMIC SAUDI SCHOOL DROPS PLAN FOR CAMPUS IN LOUDOUN
Associated Press, 7/8/04
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0704/157834.html
Ashburn - An Islamic school funded by the Saudi government has scrapped
plans to build a campus in Loudoun County.
The Islamic Saudi Academy already has two campuses in Fairfax. It
wanted to
open 3,500 student campus on about 101 acres in Ashburn. Now the
academy
says it will sell the land. County officials tell The Washington Post
they
have approved plans to buy it for $13.5 million as a site for public
schools.
The Ashburn project was approved by county supervisors six years ago,
after
months of heated public debate. Residents raised concerns about Saudis
moving to the area, and contended that the school could be a target of
terrorist attacks. Others complained about the Saudi government's human
rights record.
----
MUSEUM GIVES ARAB-AMERICANS LONG-OVERDUE RECOGNITION
Barbara Karkabi, Houston Chronicle, 7/7/04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/features/2667943
Houston - The voice on the tape is strong, even though the recording
was
made some 50 years ago.
It is the "life of the old man," as Najeeb "Jim" Jamail calls it -- 25
minutes' worth of thoughts and memories, in English and Arabic.
Jamail, a Lebanese immigrant who died in 1957 at the age of 72, was the
owner with his sons of Jim Jamail & Sons Food Market. The once
nationally
known grocery store closed in 1990 but is remembered by many longtime
Houstonians. A grandson, another Jim Jamail, carries on the family
tradition at the Jamail Family Market on Airline Drive.
Their story became part of the fabric of Houston's history and will
soon be
displayed along with other memorabilia in the Arab American National
Museum. The museum is scheduled to open in late April 2005, in
Dearborn, Mich.
The Detroit-Dearborn area has the highest concentration of
Arab-Americans
in the country, and the fastest-growing...
ALSO SEE:
RESIDENTS UNITE AMID DEBATE ON PRAYER CALL
Cecil Angel, Detroit Free Press, 7/9/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/call9_20040709.htm
Dozens of people came together Thursday evening at the Al-Islah Islamic
Center in Hamtramck to talk about what they have in common in the
religiously divided city.
They talked about being immigrants or the children of immigrants. They
talked about how Christians, Muslims and Jews all believe in one God.
"I really feel this is the key to bringing peace and harmony," said
William
Hood, a longtime resident.
The event was billed the Unity in the Community open house, an
opportunity
for Christians, Muslims and other residents in the city to get to know
each
other.
Hamtramck has been divided largely along religious lines over a noise
ordinance that allows the Al-Islah to broadcast the call to prayer via
a
loudspeaker.
Some residents opposed the broadcasting of the call to prayer, which
traditionally is said five times a day, because they said it adds to
noise
pollution and imposes Islam on them. The controversy has attracted
worldwide attention.
In a special election on July 20, voters will decide whether to appeal
the
ordinance that regulates the call to prayer and church bells in the
city.
The ordinance, which the City Council approved in April, has been on
hold
pending the outcome of the election.
Even though the ordinance is on hold, Al-Islah has been broadcasting
the
call to prayer three times a day since May 28 -- the earliest and
latest
prayers are not broadcast. Mosque leaders said they won't say prayers
early
in the morning or late at night because they are honoring the intent of
the
ordinance…
-----
ISRAELI INTERROGATORS IN IRAQ
Janes, 7/7/04
http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/fr/fr040707_1_n.shtml
At least one aspect of the occupation of Iraq was well planned by
Washington. The USA needed help conducting mass interrogations of
Arabic-speaking detainees. Foreign Report can now reveal that, to make
up
for this shortfall, the USA employed Israeli security service (Shin
Bet)
experts to help their US counterparts 'break' their captives.
The USA could have approached other friendly regimes in the Middle
East,
such as Egypt or Jordan, which have vast experience interrogating
Muslim
fundamentalists. The Israelis may be brilliant linguists, but they
cannot
match Arabs speaking their own language. But there is a significant
difference between the Egyptian and Jordanian interrogation techniques
and
those of the Israelis. For the Egyptian and Jordanian secret services,
physical torture is an essential part of interrogation and a key
element in
breaking the prisoner's will and making them co-operative.
In the past, Shin Bet would use torture when it interrogated prisoners.
But
20 years ago, an Israeli government committee investigated the security
service's practices and the use of torture was subsequently banned,
forcing
Shin Bet to adopt a variety of techniques that did not cause physical
damage. These new methods are much more palatable to US sensibilities.
They
also brought faster and more convincing results.
Foreign Report has learnt that top Shin Bet interrogation experts were
sent
to Iraq to help with the most difficult interrogations, such as the
captured heads of the Iraqi intelligence - and perhaps with former
president Saddam Hussein. US sources say that in spite of the
incidences of
abuse in Abu Ghraib prison, such events are not representative of the
sophisticated methods that Shin Bet used in Iraq…
ALSO SEE:
PALESTINIANS TALK OF SCRAPPING CALL FOR STATE
Cynthia Johnston, Reuters, 7/8/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=5620798
JERUSALEM - The Democratic State of Israel-Palestine?
That is the vision of a small but growing number of Palestinians and
Israeli Arabs debating whether to end decades of demanding an
independent
Palestinian state and to push instead for one homeland for Arabs and
Jews.
The chances of ever getting Israeli acceptance are as good as nil. Most
vehemently oppose a "bi-national" state because a higher Arab birth
rate
would kill Israel's character as a Jewish state.
But the idea has started rumbling among Palestinians, especially
intellectuals who argue that Israeli policies make a viable state
impossible and who think it could be time for a shift in strategy…
Jewish settlements and a West Bank barrier that Israel says it needs to
keep out suicide bombers will leave Palestinians with cantons
surrounded by
Israeli-controlled land instead of the state they want, the
intellectuals say.
Israel's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) has
only
heightened their worries. They fear that in exchange for Gaza, Israel
will
use its barrier to annex far larger parts of the West Bank, which it
also
captured in a 1967 war...
---
ISRAEL'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS
By James Brooks, Antiwar, 7/8/04
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/brooks.php?articleid=2957
"On June 10th, 2004, the two clinics in Al-Zawiya treated 130patients
for
gas inhalation. The patients were children, women,old people and young
men.
Dr. Abu Madi related that there was a high number of cases of [tetany],
spasm in legs and hands, connected to the nervous system. Pupils were
dilated. ... Other symptoms included shock, semi-consciousness,
hyperventilation, irritation and sweating."
Thus reads a report by medical units serving the West Bank village of
Al-Zawiya, where nonviolent resistance to Israel's impending wall has
been
extraordinarily resolute. According to the medical report (procured by
the
International Middle East Media Center [IMEMC]), "the gas used against
the
protestors is not tear gas but possibly a nerve gas."
The following day, Israel's "Peace Bloc," Gush Shalom, began a press
release with the following quote from Al-Zawiya:
"What the army used here yesterday was not tear gas. We know what tear
gas
is, what it feels like. That was something totally different. ... When
we
were still a long way off from where the bulldozers were working, they
started shooting things like this one (holding up a dark green metal
tube
with the inscription "Hand and rifle grenade no.400" - in English).
Black
smoke came out. Anyone who breathed it lost consciousness immediately,
more
than a hundred people. They remained unconscious for nearly 24 hours.
One
is still unconscious, at Rapidiya Hospital in Nablus. They had high
fever
and their muscles became rigid. Some needed urgent blood transfusion.
Now,
is this a way of dispersing a demonstration, or is it chemical
warfare?"
The incident in Al-Zawiya appears to be the tenth attack by Israeli
soldiers using an "unknown gas" against Palestinian civilians since
early
2001. We have photographs of the canisters. We have film of victims
suffering in the hospital. We have interviews with Palestinian and
European
doctors who have treated the victims. And we presumably have hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of survivors. But we know nothing of their fate.
Despite
the evidence, we have not inquired.
Though it is a state secret, Israel's development of chemical and
biological weapons has been known and analyzed for decades. From the
typhoid poisoning of Palestinian wells and water supplies in 1948 to
the
conversion of F-16s into nerve gas "crop dusters" in 1998, Israel has
always demonstrated a strong interest in developing CBW agents and
methods
for their dispersal…
-----
THE TWO SIDES OF KABUL
Christina Lamb, New York Times, 7/9/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/opinion/O9LAMB.html
KABUL, Afghanistan
Look, the swimming pool is in the shape of a martini glass," boasts
Alex,
as he shows several visitors around his soon-to-be-opened
hotel-cum-blackjack lounge. Alex, an Afghan-American who used to be a
mortgage broker in Las Vegas, is really named Omar Zamadi, but he
thinks
that is too complicated for foreigners - and foreigners are his market.
Mr. Zamadi, who returned to his homeland a year ago, says he has
invested
$200,000 in his hotel, the Peacock Lounge. A pink-and-gold colonnaded
extravaganza, which he describes as "Roman style" but probably owes
more to
Caesars Palace, the Peacock Lounge sticks out on a street in which
families
sleep in bombed-out houses with no roofs or windows and dusty-faced
children walk to a well to collect water.
"Expats need a place where they can wear thongs, eat hot dogs and drink
beers," Mr. Zamadi says. "You can make a lot of money here."
On the other side of the city, two Britons have set up Afghanistan's
first
cocktail bar, serving margaritas and Tora Bora specials to Westerners
at
$10 a drink. Their bar, the Elbow Room, is packed every night. So is a
restaurant called Lal Thai where Lalita Thongngamkam's green chicken
curry
is served up by slinky waitresses from Bangkok in slit-to-the-thigh
silk
skirts with pistols in their garters.
These are just a few of the many establishments for Westerners that
have
sprung up in postliberation Kabul, capital of the land cited by Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as a model and described by President Bush
last
month as the "first victory in the war on terror." Not only would the
Taliban's leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, have a fit, but many who
supported
the war to oust the Taliban regime need wonder if an invasion of bars
and
restaurants for Westerners is really what it was for.
Although aid workers, contractors and security consultants have every
right
to enjoy themselves, there is mounting resentment among ordinary
Afghans,
who feel the West has been busier opening drinking holes than
rebuilding
their nation…
-----
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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
ARSONIST TORCHES MUSLIM STORE IN WASHINGTON
CAIR calls for FBI probe, condemnation of Islamophobic bias
(SEATTLE, WA, 7/10/04) - The Seattle office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Seattle) today called on local and
national leaders to address the issue of growing Islamophobic prejudice
following an arson attack on a Muslim-owned business in Washington
State.
CAIR-Seattle also called on the FBI to investigate the fire as a
possible
hate crime.
According to media reports, white crosses and "F U Arab" were
spray-painted
inside a Middle Eastern grocery store in Everett, Wash., that was
heavily
damaged by an intentionally-set fire early Friday morning. (The owner
of
the store is from Pakistan.) Firefighters found a gas can inside the
store.
Investigators estimate the damage at $90,000.
SEE: "Everett Arson Might Have Been Hate Crime"
http://www.komotv.com/stories/32123.htm
"If a bias motive is proven in this case, it will be yet another
indication
that our nation's leaders need to more forcefully address the rising
level
of anti-Muslim prejudice in America," said CAIR-Seattle Board Chair
Samia
El-Moslimany.
On Wednesday, CAIR's Houston office called on law enforcement
authorities
to investigate a bomb attack on an area mosque as a possible bias
crime.
Suspects have been apprehended in that case, but the motive has not yet
been established.
Earlier this year in Texas, a man was arrested for threatening an El
Paso
Islamic center, an arson suspect was arrested at the scene of a fire at
a
Muslim business in San Antonio and vandals scrawled racist graffiti on
the
interior of a Lubbock mosque.
Incidents targeting Muslim individuals and Islamic institutions have
occurred recently across America. A Muslim woman driver in Illinois and
a
Muslim shopper in California were assaulted at the end of June by
attackers
shouting anti-Muslim and racist slurs.
In Florida, vandals wrote "Kill all Muslims" inside the Islamic
Community
Center in the Tampa suburb of Lutz. The FBI is also investigating
vandalism
and threatening messages targeting the Islamic Community of Southwest
Florida in Charlotte Harbor. In Missouri, vandals painted a Nazi
swastika
and the word "die" on an addition under construction at the Islamic
Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Three Miami Islamic centers were
vandalized.
In response to these incidents, CAIR published a "Muslim Community
Safety
Kit." The safety kit may be obtained by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org.
(Include name, address and phone number when requesting the safety
kit.)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-Seattle, Samia El-Moslimany, 206-409-3407, E-MAIL:
samia@cair-seattle.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726,
cair@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS
CONTACT: CAIR-Seattle, Samia El-Moslimany, 206-409-3407, E-MAIL:
samia@cair-seattle.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726,
cair@cair-net.org
[NOTE: The U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld a Virginia law that
banned
cross burning as a form of racial intimidation.]
-----
CROSS BURNED AT HOME OF MIDDLE EASTERN FAMILY IN WA
Katherine Schiffner and Theresa Goffredo, Everett Herald, 7/10/04
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/04/07/10/loc_arson001.cfm
(A) cross was burned at the home of a Middle Eastern family in Edmonds,
police there reported Friday.
The Edmonds investigation so far indicates that the malicious act may
have
been done by a former longtime friend of the homeowner's teenage son,
Edmonds police said.
Apparently, the former friend "had a parting of the ways" with the
teenage
son, Edmonds police Sgt. Jeffrey Jones said Friday.
The cross was made of wood and about 5 feet tall. It was set on fire in
the
front yard of the home in the 16000 Block of 75 Place W., and the
flames
charred some shrubs but didn't do any extensive damage to the house.
In the Edmonds incident, police arrived at the home about 9 a.m.
Friday.
The cross was placed at the house sometime between 11:45 a.m. and 11
p.m.
on Thursday. The homeowners were not home at the time and no one
reported
the incident until the family returned home Friday.
The victim's son, who was with his parents on vacation and out of town,
received a call from a friend who told him about a cross burning in his
front yard. The homeowner contacted a family friend to check the house
on
Thursday night. She located the cross, which was no longer burning, and
returned to her home without calling police.
The incident is still under investigation. If anyone has any
information
that can help apprehend those responsible for this crime, they can call
Edmonds detectives at 425-771-0200 during normal business hours Monday
through Thursday.
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/12/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT FOR FOSTER-PARENTS
* CAIR-CLEVELAND: MUSLIM FOSTER PARENTS SOUGHT IN OHIO
* CAIR-OHIO: MUSLIM FAITH UNDER FIRE (Canton Rep)
- WA: Cross Burning Possible Hate Crime (KOMO)
- CAIR-Seattle: Bias Motive Possible at Fire
* MOST MUSLIMS BACKING KERRY (Deseret Morning News)
* NY: MUSLIMS CALL FBI REQUEST 'RACIAL PROFILING' (WOKR TV)
- NY: Sikh Victim May Have Been Mistaken for Muslim (NY Times)
- NY: Sikh Leaves Hospital After Bias Beating (Newsday)
* FL: MUSLIM CULTURE IS INGREDIENT IN MELTING POT (Sun-Sentinel)
* CIA INSIDER: THE THREAT WE REFUSE TO GET (Wash Post)
- Saudi Students Speak Of FBI Mistreatment (Arab News)
* IL: ISLAMIC SOCIETY'S VISIBILITY GROWS (Daily Herald)
- CA: Bigotry Shut Out As Jews, Muslims Play Ball (OC Reg)
- VA: Muslim School Joins Theological Group (Wash Post)
- A Growing Muslim Identity (LA Times)
* NC: MUSLIMS HOST OPEN HOUSES AT MOSQUES (Observer)
* WOMEN OF COVER (KC Star)
* U.S. JEW DENIED ENTRY INTO ISRAEL (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT FOR FOSTER-PARENTS
Narrated AbutTufayl - "When a woman who came forward approached the
Prophet
(peace be upon him), he spread out his cloak for her (as a sign of
respect), and she sat on it. I asked: 'Who is she?' The people said:
'She
is his foster-mother.'"
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2441
-----
CAIR-CLEVELAND: MUSLIM FOSTER PARENTS SOUGHT IN OHIO
EMPTY NEST
Andale Gross, Beacon Journal, 7/12/04
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/local/9134442.htm
The tall, brown house resembling a mosque is quieter and emptier now.
Glenda and Herbert Hill's children are no longer home.
Their presence made the shabby, oddly structured abode appealing. They
were
the nine reasons for moving into the home underneath the All-America
Bridge
in North Akron.
But earlier this year, authorities tore the family apart. The Summit
County
Children Services Board gained temporary custody of the children after
determining that the house in which they were living was unfit and
without
sufficient food.
Herbert and Glenda Hill insist they aren't bad parents, just poor ones.
And
it's not right, they say, to lose their children.
During the last two months, an Akron Beacon Journal reporter and
photographer have followed the Hills as they have struggled to do what
they
must to reunite their family.
The Hills were charged with multiple counts of child endangering.
Police
and social workers accused them of having a dirty home with electrical
problems, glassless windows and no edible food besides pita bread.
"They come in and see a house messed up, but we were fixing it up,"
Herbert
Hill said.
The house was in decent shape for them to be such a large family,
Glenda
Hill said…
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group with an
office in Cleveland, has been working with CSB to find Muslim foster
families.
"I know (CSB) is looking out for the best interests of the children,
but
they need to look out for the religious rights of the children and make
sure those rights are protected," said the council's Cleveland office
director, Julia A. Shearson.
"This would be a great chance for the interfaith community to pull
together
to restore the sanctity and dignity of a family…"
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-830-2247, 216-440-2247,
E-mail: julia@cair-ohio.com
-----
CAIR-OHIO: MUSLIM FAITH UNDER FIRE IN WORLD OF TERROR
Charita M. Goshay, Canton Repository, 7/10/04
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=8&ID=171275&r=0
When Christian extremist Eric Rudolph was arrested and charged with
bombing
two abortion clinics, Centennial Olympic Park and a gay nightclub, no
one
blamed mainstream Christians for his alleged crimes.
Yet, when similar acts are committed by Islamic extremists, American
Muslims say they are tagged as terrorists.
Reports of harassment and attacks on Muslims have risen dramatically
since
Sept. 11, 2001. According to the FBI, the reported number of
anti-Muslim
incidents rose from 28 in 2000, to 481 in 2001.
Jad Humeidan, executive director of the Ohio office of CAIR, the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said harassment of Muslims seems to
fluctuate
with the news.
"We see good days and bad days," he said. "It's sad that people clump
all
Muslims together and just automatically have suspicions. People tend to
forget that American Muslims have been in this country for hundreds of
years. We're proud of this country."
Humeidan said Muslims in Ohio reported a 20-percent increase in
harassment
from 2002 to 2003.
There are approximately 150,000 Muslims in Ohio, the largest
concentration
being in Cuyahoga County.
"For 2004, we're already on track to see a 50 percent increase from
2003,"
Humeidan said. "Before 9/11, we averaged three to four open cases at
any
given time. Currently, we have in Ohio 120 open cases, ranging from job
discrimination, denial of public accommodations, housing,
discrimination by
financial institutions. It runs the gamut."
"Part of the reason for the hate has to do with lack of information and
a
lack of knowledge," said Dr. Ihsan ul-Haque, a Pakistani Muslim who has
lived in Cleveland for 25 years…
ALSO SEE:
CROSS BURNING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE HATE CRIME
Komo News, 7/10/04
http://www.komotv.com/stories/32133.htm
EDMONDS - Police here want to know who left a flaming symbol of hate
right
in front of a family's home.
The Middle Eastern family, including a teenage son, was away on
vacation.
Thursday when someone placed the cross in their yard and set it on
fire.
The family thinks one of the teen's former friends with some sort of
grudge
is responsible.
Police are investigating this as a possible hate crime.
"It's pretty frightful to think somebody would do this to you," said
Sgt.
Jeff Jones with the Edmonds Police Department. "It's a tactic that's
been
used for years as an intimidation tool. It's obviously something that's
not
acceptable to us..."
---
MUSLIM LEADER CITES POSSIBLE BIAS FOR FIRE AT MARKET
Seattle Post, 7/12/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/181731_everettfire12.html
EVERETT - A leader in the American Muslim community has called for an
FBI
investigation and more forceful leadership to deal with "Islamophobic
prejudice" following the burning of an Everett store owned by a
Pakistani man.
"If a bias motive is proven in this case, it will be yet another
indication
that our nation's leaders need to more forcefully address the rising
level
of anti-Muslim prejudice in America," said Samia El-Moslimany, board
chairman of the Seattle office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
It was not clear yesterday whether authorities would do what
El-Moslimany
asked.
Firefighters estimate there was $90,000 damage on Thursday from the
fire at
the Continental Spices Cash and Carry market. The fire was being
investigated by Everett authorities as an arson and possible hate
crime.
The market is operated by Mirza Akram, a Pakistani and longtime
resident of
the area.
Investigators found a gas can and incendiary device inside the store,
which
is located in a strip mall on East Casino Road. In addition, white
crosses
and an anti-Arab message were found spray-painted inside…
-----
MOST MUSLIMS BACKING KERRY
Deborah Bulkeley, Deseret Morning News, 7/11/04
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595076555,00.html
Shahid Bahadur of South Jordan was in the minority among Muslims four
years
ago -- most voted for President Bush, he didn't.
This November, however, Bahadur could be voting with the majority of
Muslims when he casts his ballot.
A new survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations suggests many
Muslim voters are shifting their support from Bush to Democratic Sen.
John
Kerry.
"Kerry seems to be more in line with what people want, what I want in a
president," said Bahadur, 29. "I'm hoping he just leads this country in
a
better path. Too much emphasis has been on the war."
CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said exit polls in 2000 showed 55 percent
of
Muslims voted for Bush. However, only 2 percent of those Muslims
surveyed
in June said they'd vote for Bush today.
CAIR, a nonprofit organization established to promote an accurate image
of
Islam and Muslims in America, sent the questionnaire to subscribers of
its
e-mail list and received 1,161 responses from 43 states.
Hooper said while the survey is "admittedly unscientific," it is a
"pretty
good indication of trends within the Muslim community."
Kerry got the most support -- 54 percent; 26 percent favored Ralph
Nader,
and 14 percent were undecided.
To understand why Muslims may not back Bush this November, Hooper said
it's
important to look at the issues. The No. 1 domestic issue in the survey
was
civil rights, followed by the economy and health care. The top
international issue was U.S. Middle East policy…
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS CALL FBI REQUEST "RACIAL PROFILING"
Gavin Reynolds, WOKR-TV, 7/11/04
http://www.wokr13.tv/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9650D495-98A6-40A8-BCCD-45858A4E5EE3
ROCHESTER - With recent warnings of possible terrorist attack this
summer,
FBI agents are asking Muslims to alert them of any terror activity
within
their communities. Muslim leaders in Rochester call the request
offensive
and a form of racial profiling.
Hanif Abdul Wahid and ten of his friends patrol the streets of
Rochester
twice a week. They focus on the area known as the "Crescent," which
some
believe has the highest crime rate in the city. Their group, called
RAIN--Rochestarians Against Illegal Narcotics--is made up of those in
the
Islamic faith.
"It's to promote public safety in the neighborhood, good citizenship.
We
try to help curb the violence in the city," he said.
Recently FBI agents have been told to establish contacts with Muslims
across the county. The US government believes this could stop an
attack.
While he volunteers for pubic service, Wahid says the FBI's request
directed at Muslims is offensive. He believes it sends the message that
all
Muslims are terrorists, which, he says is far from the truth.
"Some part of me says that they shouldn't have to do that, because
naturally Muslims are law-abiding citizens, and they cooperate on the
side
of what's just," Wahid said…
SEE ALSO:
3 ASSAILANTS SOUGHT IN BEATING OF SIKH MAN
Thomas J. Lueck, New York Times, 7/12/04
http://www.nytimes.com
A Sikh man wearing the turban and beard that are symbols of his faith
was
confronted by three men drinking cocktails on a Queens sidewalk
yesterday
and beaten into unconsciousness, according to the victim and two
witnesses.
The police said last night that the beating, which occurred outside an
Italian restaurant in an enclave of Sikh immigrants in Richmond Hill,
was
under investigation, but was being treated as a simple assault, not a
bias
crime, because there was insufficient evidence that ethnic slurs had
been
used. They said three men were being sought.
The Sikh man, Rajinder Singh Khalsa Ji, 54, a limousine driver who
immigrated with his family to Queens from India in the mid-1990's, was
taken by ambulance about 5:30 p.m. to Jamaica Hospital. In a telephone
interview from his hospital bed, he said he had multiple cuts and
bruises,
and might have a broken nose.
He said he and a fellow Sikh, Singh Gurcharan, were approached by three
men
in their early 20's, all of whom appeared drunk, as they walked past Il
Palazzo di Villa Russo, a catering hall at the corner of Lefferts
Boulevard
and 101st Street.
The young men ridiculed both Sikh men by referring to their turbans as
dirty curtains and telling them to take them off, Mr. Gurcharan said by
telephone last night.
"He cussed at me, and I told him that this is not a curtain, this is my
turban and it is a religious symbol," said Mr. Gurcharan, the owner of
a
nearby restaurant, Tandoori Express, where he and Mr. Khalsa Ji
intended to
have tea when they left their car on the street and walked past the
catering hall.
The sidewalk confrontation reflected a vulnerability of Sikhs in New
York
City and elsewhere, particularly since the 9/11 attacks, to being
singled
out for discrimination or attacks because they appear to be Muslims.
"I tried to explain to them that we are not Muslims, and that we cover
our
heads out of respect for God," said Mr. Khalsa Ji, who is an honorary
priest among Queens Sikhs and who frequently speaks in Sikh temples on
the
importance of the Sikh traditions and culture…
---
SIKH LEAVES HOSPITAL AFTER BIAS BEATING
Loretta Chao, Newsday, 7/12/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-sikh0713,0,5462527.story?
A Sikh honorary priest returned home from the hospital Monday morning
after
three men allegedly beat him unconscious in Richmond Hill Sunday night.
Rajinder Singh Khalsa Ji, 54, said he was on his way to have tea in his
cousin's restaurant when three unidentified men who were at a party
next
door began ridiculing his cousin's turban. When Khalsa Ji came to his
cousin's defense he said the men, who appeared to be drunk, told them
to go
back to their country and proceeded to beat him.
His cousin, Gurcharan Singh, 51, said that as he passed the men they
said,
"This is my curtain, give it to me," referring to the turban that Singh
and
the Khalsa Ji wear as a symbol of their religion.
"I called 911. When I called they got more angry and they started to
abuse
[curse] me again," Singh said. "Five to six people came to me, punching
me.
When they started punching me, my cousin told them, 'Leave him alone'
...
They started punching him and pushed him on the floor, punching,
kicking,
his face was all bloody and he was unconscious."
Khalsa Ji, who regained consciousness in an ambulance, said he will
need to
return the hospital several times over the next few months to treat his
injuries, including a fractured nose and multiple fractures in his
face...
-----
MUSLIM CULTURE IS INGREDIENT IN MELTING POT
Shabbir Motorwala, Sun-Sentinel, 7/12/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-15forum12jul12,0,3265420.story
There has been a false perception among Americans that American Muslims
are
not against terrorism as they have not protested in the streets against
terrorism and not answered why Islam breeds terrorism.
To reply to the first one: If large numbers of protesters can change
people's minds, then what happened to millions of people who protested
against the war in Iraq? Our elected leaders ignored the pleas of
millions
of people who came out in the streets, to no avail. If our elected
people
didn't listen to their electorate, what makes one think that these
terrorists will listen to our voices?
Why does Islam breed terrorism? Terrorism is not unique to Islam. Eric
Rudolph is not Muslim, he was fed the right-wing Christian philosophy.
Meir
Kahane and his group have been labeled terrorists by the U.S. State
Department. Babri Mosque was destroyed by right-wing fanatic Hindus.
The
Oklahoma City bombing was an act of a deranged Christian. By the way,
Hitler was a devout Christian.
The time has come that we American Muslims have to stop apologizing for
the
ignorant acts of a few. We do not support terrorism, in any form or
shape,
among anybody, anywhere -- and that should say it all. Islam doesn't
condone the acts of these deranged people. Terrorists have no religion
as
we have seen in the acts of terrorism on fellow Muslims in Pakistan,
Saudi
Arabia and India.
The recent book by an anonymous CIA agent reveals that terrorism in the
Arab and Muslim world will decline if Arab-Palestinian issues are
resolved
and the U.S. government played a more neutral role in that conflict,
instead of a biased policy toward the right-wing Israeli
administration.
Why is the patriotism of American Muslims called into question whenever
there is a terrorist act anywhere in the world? Nobody asks the
American
Jewish population which side they are on whenever there is a conflict
between Israeli and U.S. policies (though it rarely happens).
I am asked why Muslims around the world hate America, or where did we
go
wrong? Being an immigrant and now a U.S. citizen who has listened to
the
gripes of people back home, I can answer that question.
We have gone wrong by supporting corrupt and authoritarian regimes in
the
Arab and Muslim world against the wishes of their populace. We were
wrong
when we made Osama bin Laden a hero by fighting our war to get the
Russians
out of Afghanistan. We were wrong when we supplied Saddam Husain with
WMD
and supported him when he was gassing Iranians and his own people.
That's
where we have gone wrong…
Shabbir Motorwala is a Miami resident and a member of the Institute for
Islamic Education and Research.
-----
CIA INSIDER: THE THREAT WE REFUSE TO GET
Washington Post, 7/11/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40428-2004Jul10.html
He may be the best-known "Anonymous" man in Washington these days. Over
the
past two weeks, he has appeared for interviews -- always in the
shadows,
his face unseen -- on almost every national television network. He is a
23-year veteran of the CIA and the author of a new book, "Imperial
Hubris:
Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror." As a CIA employee, he had to
submit his manuscript for agency review. The CIA allowed him and his
Virginia publisher, Brassey's, to go ahead with the book on the
condition
that he maintain his anonymity.
By requiring him to withhold his identity but allowing him to publish
as
Anonymous, the CIA has actually drawn attention to the book (it briefly
alighted on Amazon.com's best-selling top 10 last week). That prompted
the
Washington speculation machine to wonder whether the book somehow
serves
the CIA's interests.
At this point, his name is about the only basic biographical detail
that
hasn't become known. He writes in his book that he has spent most of
his
career at "headquarters," where he has worked as an analyst for the
past 17
years, "focusing exclusively on terrorism, Islamic insurgencies,
militant
Islam and the affairs of South Asia." Other biographical details come
from
reporters and published reports: From 1996 until he was transferred in
1999, he was in charge of a special office set up to oversee the
intelligence effort on Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. His transfer
wasn't
voluntary; his blunt manner and strident views apparently did not sit
well
with some in the intelligence community, and he was taken off the al
Qaeda
portfolio. He returned to the counterterrorism field on Sept. 12, 2001,
but
not specifically to the al Qaeda desk. He has told interviewers that he
wrote "Imperial Hubris" to send a message, and he minces no words in
his
criticism of White House and CIA leadership. An example: He scorns
"senior
leaders" as "moral cowards" for ignoring warnings he says they received
about al Qaeda…
ALSO SEE:
SAUDI STUDENTS SPEAK OF FBI MISTREATMENT
Sanad Esteita, Arab News, 7/12/04
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=48228&d=12&m=7&y=2004
RIYADH - Saudi students returning from the US have spoken of shocking
treatment at the hands of the FBI. Among other things, they complain of
discrimination against them once they identify themselves as Saudis.
Ibrahim Al-Toeimi, a finance and banking student at the University of
Tampa, Florida, told Arab News the FBI would conduct random searches of
his
home once or twice a month. "They would come and knock on my door any
day
at any time... there was one occasion when they came to my house at
eight
o'clock on a Sunday morning." Without any warrants or justification,
the
FBI would proceed to search the apartment with a fine toothcomb.
"They used to open my closet and search the pockets of my clothes to
make
sure I wasn't hiding anything. They would go through my drawers and
even
check my shoes," Ibrahim continued.
"Once they took all my CDs and played them one at a time to check
what's on
them." When he asked them why, he was told: "It is part of our
procedure."
He went on to describe how agents would search his bathroom, kitchen
and
even checked under the carpet. "When they finished searching the place
they
would question me where I'd been and what I'd done.... they would ask
me
where my money came from and what I'd spent it on," Ibrahim said. "The
thing is that they know every detail about you but they ask you anyway
just
to make you nervous..."
-----
ISLAMIC SOCIETY'S VISIBILITY GROWS
Michael Puente, Daily Herald, 7/11/04
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intid=3817945
Last weekend, a group of youngsters belonging to Boy Scout Troop 786
marched in the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade.
Not a big deal for most, but for this new troop, it was something to
get
excited about. The troop is composed of children whose parents belong
to
the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs in Rolling Meadows.
The society has called the city home for some 20 years. But because the
170
members keep a low profile, many long-time residents didn't realize the
society was even here until a few weeks ago.
That's when officials of the society approached the Rolling Meadows
City
Council, asking for permission to move the Islamic community center to
a
larger building - not far from its current location at 3890 Industrial
Ave.
on the city's west side….
After calling Rolling Meadows home for two decades, Mohammad Salam,
president of the society, didn't think getting the approval would be
such a
big deal, "because we are already here."…
The debate has been conducted in a polite manner.
In contrast, things weren't so polite recently in Orland Park.
A public outcry erupted late last month when Muslims sought permission
to
build a mosque in that South suburb. More than 400 people crowded into
the
civic center in Orland Park to argue over the proposal - including
officials with the U.S. Justice Department...
ALSO SEE:
BIGOTRY SHUT OUT AS JEWS, MUSLIMS PLAY BALL
Jeff Rowe and Tim Burt, Orange County Register, 7/11/04
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/07/11/sections/local/local/article_164666.php
IRVINE - Sometimes, the players teach the coaches.
As relationships between Muslim and Jewish students at the University
of
California, Irvine, deteriorated this spring into angry exchanges,
young
Muslim and Jewish baseball players a few miles away not only figured
out
how to get along, they were becoming friends…
From day one, it seemed that the players and their families were a big
hit
together.
One mother, Sarah Catz, was an assistant coach and her son, 9-year-old
Ojo
Weiss, was one of the team's pitchers.
Catz and her son, both Jewish, said they immediately found the
experience
of being on a team with Muslims and those of other nationalities
rewarding.
"I remember the first real game, and I'm taking a look out at the team
and
I said, 'This is a microcosm of Orange County, this is beautiful," said
Catz, who moved from Laguna Beach to Irvine about three years ago…
As Fiedler's team was bonding during the season, it was getting ugly at
UCI.
Muslim-Jewish relations deteriorated as violence escalated between
Israelis
and Palestinians in the Middle East, and by graduation time last month,
the
two sides were so polarized that they communicated through university
officials or the media. Some Muslim students' decision to wear sashes
with
an Islamic inscription, along with their caps and gowns, boiled into a
national debate...
---
IN A FIRST, MUSLIM SCHOOL JOINS U.S. THEOLOGICAL GROUP
Bill Broadway, Washington Post, 7/10/04
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/living/religion/9103640.htm
WASHINGTON - The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in
Leesburg, Va., has joined the Washington Theological Consortium,
marking
the first time that a Muslim school has become part of a major group of
U.S. seminaries and schools of religion.
"While our primary mission is advancing Christian unity, one of the key
objectives is promoting interreligious understanding," said the Rev.
John
Crossin, executive director of the consortium. "The unanimous vote of
the
consortium to bring together theological schools representing these two
great faiths is a good first step in the process."
The Muslim school is an affiliate member of the consortium, as is the
Interfaith Conference of Washington. The 10 member schools, all
Christian,
are the school of theology at Catholic University, the Dominican House
of
Studies, the Howard University School of Divinity, Washington
Theological
Union and Wesley Theological Seminary, all in the District of Columbia;
Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria; the Lutheran Theological
Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa.; and three schools in the Richmond (Va.)
Theological Consortium. There are also four associated members….
---
A GROWING MUSLIM IDENTITY
Shibley Telhami, Los Angeles Times, 7/11/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-telhami11jul11,1,4117623.story
COLLEGE PARK - One of the most stunning moments after the collapse of
Saddam Hussein's regime was the rush of tens of thousands of
celebrating
Iraqi Shiites into the streets in response to the call of their most
revered leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. It was a stark
demonstration
of Shiite power, one that may have unnerved those Americans who believe
in
the possibility of a secular, democratic Iraq.
The moment was also a harbinger of a larger trend across the Middle
East,
one that poses difficult, long-term challenges for U.S. foreign policy:
More and more Arabs identify themselves as Muslims first.
This trend is evident in a survey I conducted last month in six Arab
countries - Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and the
United
Arab Emirates. It is related to another, more enduring phenomenon: the
Arab
public's perception of their mostly authoritarian governments.
Respondents to my survey believe that the war in Iraq has made the
region
even less democratic. A possible - and remarkable - consequence of this
perception is that most Arabs polled said that they wanted the clergy
to
play a bigger role in politics…
-----
MUSLIMS HOST OPEN HOUSES AT 4 LOCAL ISLAMIC CENTERS
Ken Garfield, Charlotte Observer, 7/10/04
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/religion/9122744.htm
Charlotte - The Charlotte area's Muslim community will host a series of
open houses at its places of worship throughout July.
Muslim Women of the Carolinas is coordinating the events to bring
people of
different faiths together "to break bread," as one organizer said. The
first open house is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Ash Shaheed
Islamic
Center, 22717 Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte. Open houses follow from 2
to 5
p.m. next Saturday at Islamic Center of Charlotte, 1700 Progress Lane;
6 to
8 p.m. July 24 at Islamic Center of Charlotte-South, 559 N. Polk St. in
Pineville; and 6 to 8 p.m. July 31 at Islamic Center of Greater
Charlotte,
7025 The Plaza in Charlotte.
The Charlotte area is home to 8,000 to 10,000 Muslims. The free open
houses
will feature food. Details: (704) 578-0481.
-----
WOMEN OF COVER
Bill Tammeus, Kansas City Star, 7/11/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/9100175.htm
Kansas City -…Muslim women in America have faced both acceptance and
discrimination, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by
terrorists
who claimed to be acting in the name of Islam. But Kadir says much of
the
reaction is mere curiosity….
Kadir, 25, explains her hijab decision this way: "In the Qur'an, it
says in
not one but many places that people who believe in God and the Prophet
Muhammad have to show themselves as Muslims and not be afraid to do so.
That's part of faith. I believe that hijab is the easiest way to
identify
myself."…
Awn, the Columbia University religion professor, notes that "concern
with
women's modesty was equally prevalent among Christians and Jews (in
earlier
times) as among Muslims. In classical patriarchal environments, for
example, certain parts of a woman's body were considered erotically
charged
and, therefore, they needed to be guarded from public view. Hair was
universally recognized as such, and thus head coverings were mandated."
He says older Roman Catholic women today no doubt "remember that they
used
to be obliged to cover their heads before entering a church. Why?
Because
this was one of the last remnants in Roman Catholicism of this same
attitude toward women's hair. Even today, the Vatican has serious
restrictions on what a woman can wear if she is to attend an audience
with
the pope. In Orthodox Judaism, many women adhere to these same
restrictions
and wear head scarves or wigs to cover their hair..."
As these Muslims seek their place in American culture, the hijab will
become more prominent, especially if Muslim women adopt the position of
former Kansas Citian Aminah Assilmi, director of the International
Union of
Muslim Women, a private nonprofit group based in Taylorville, Ky.: "To
ask
me to go without my hijab would be like asking a nun to go topless."
-----
U.S. JEW DENIED ENTRY INTO ISRAEL
Dan Waldman, Associated Press, 7/11/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Israel%20Activist%20Barred
JERUSALEM - A Jewish American was denied entry to Israel because she
belongs to a pro-Palestinian group, her lawyer said Sunday - a rare
case of
a Jew banned from the Jewish state.
Jamie Spector, 32, a social worker from San Francisco, arrived in
Israel on
Saturday to protest the West Bank separation barrier Israel is
constructing. She has been held in detention since defying the order to
leave, said her lawyer, Yael Berda.
The separation barrier was ruled illegal in an advisory opinion on
Friday
by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Israel
dismissed the nonbinding ruling as one-sided, charging that it
encourages
terrorism.
Israel says the barrier is needed to keep Palestinian attackers out of
the
country, but Palestinians call it a land grab because it dips into the
West
Bank.
Spector was denied entry because of her affiliation with the
International
Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group active in the West Bank
and
Gaza Strip, Berda said. The group's members often place themselves in
between Palestinians and Israeli forces to prevent the army from
carrying
out operations...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/13/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: FEED THE NEEDY
* HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL TV STATIONS
- INCITEMENT WATCH: 'Islam is Rife with Cruelty'
* CAIR-SEATTLE: FBI WILL ASSIST PROBE OF STORE ARSON
- CAIR-Seattle Calls for FBI Probe of Arson
- WA: Education May Deter Hate (Seattle Times)
- MI: Halabi Says Worship Was Denied (Detroit Free Press)
* AN IMMIGRANT, A LIST, A DAY TRIP GONE WRONG (NY Times)
- CA: Attorney Creates ME Advocacy Group (CC Times)
* STUDY: ISLAM NOT OBSTACLE TO DEMOCRACY (UPI)
* DISABLED MAN DIES IN GAZA RUBBLE (BBC)
- Palestinians Trudge Out of Besieged Town (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: FEED THE NEEDY
Hast thou ever considered [the kind of person] who denies the Judgment
(to
come)? Behold, it is this [person] who drives the orphan away with
harshness and feels no urge to feed the needy.
The Holy Quran, 107:1-3
-----
HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL TV STATIONS
PSA part of effort to reduce anti-Muslim stereotyping
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/13/04) - CAIR is asking for the help of local
Muslim
activists to promote the distribution and broadcast of the "I am an
American Muslim" television public service announcement (PSA).
TO VIEW THE PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
CAIR's 30 and 60-second PSA, which is designed to challenged
anti-Muslim
bias, features American Muslims of European, African-American,
Hispanic,
and Native American heritage. Each person in the PSA states how they
and
their families have served America and ends by saying, "I am an
American
Muslim." (See the INCITEMENT WATCH below for an example of Islamophobic
stereotyping.)
The PSA was first distributed by satellite to television public service
directors in June. It will be rebroadcast to television stations
nationwide
on Wednesday, July 14.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Please call each of your local television stations and ask to speak
to
the person who handles public service announcements.
2. Explain to that person why it is important to help reduce
anti-Muslim
bias in our society and how this PSA could assist in that goal.
3. Ask that the PSA be recorded from the following satellite feed:
DATE: Wednesday, July 14th
TIME: 2:00pm - 2:15pm ET (11:00am - 11:15am PT)
SATELLITE COORDINATES: C-BAND, AMC 9, Transponder 22, D/L 4140 H
4. Contact Rabiah Ahmed (rahmed@cair-net.org, 202-488-8787,
202-439-1441)
if the public service director requires a hard copy of the PSA or if
you
need more information about the campaign.
SEE ALSO:
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'ISLAM IS RIFE WITH CRUELTY'
ISLAM IS RIFE WITH CRUELTY
DICK CORNELIA, News Journal, 7/12/04
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/rebuttal/07122004a.html
The repression of women proves that Islam is not a cultural system of
peace
and compassion. Honor killing of females for perceived indiscretions,
polygamy, acid burning, genital mutilation and other horrors do not
constitute care and understanding…
Dick Cornelia, of Hockessin, teaches at the University of Delaware's
Academy of Lifelong Learning.
NOTE: Cornelia teaches a course called "Islam: A Threat to the West?"
SEE:
http://www.continuingstudies.udel.edu/academy/courses/humanities.shtml
(Scroll down.)
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO THE NEWSPAPER AND TO THE UNIV. OF DELAWARE:
NEWSPAPER: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/index.html
UNIV. OF DELAWARE: jbroom@udel.edu, judyc@udel.edu, dthorpe@udel.edu
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
WA: FBI WILL ASSIST PROBE OF GROCERY-STORE ARSON
Seattle Times, 7/13/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001978061_dige13m.html
The FBI will help Everett police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigate the arson Friday that
destroyed a Pakistani-owned grocery store.
Everett police said they had not determined whether the fire was a hate
crime. However, FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said yesterday agents
are
usually brought in to help other agencies when it appears that a crime
may
be "based on race or religious orientation."…
Samia El-Moslimany, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Seattle, said she has asked the FBI to investigate the
fire as
a possible hate crime.
SEE ALSO:
ARSONIST TORCHES MUSLIM STORE IN WASHINGTON
CAIR calls for FBI probe, condemnation of Islamophobic bias
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1107&page=NR
---
EDMONDS OFFICIALS HOPE EDUCATING MAY DETER FUTURE HATE CRIMES
Javacia N. Harris, Seattle Times, 7/13/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001978059_cross13m.html
EDMONDS - Pastor Jason Martin can empathize with the Edmonds family
that
was victimized by a recent cross-burning.
The black minister awoke to find the same terrifying symbol early one
morning in March at his Arlington home.
"Pull together as a family and know that everybody in the city of
Edmonds
is not that way," Martin said yesterday, offering advice to the Edmonds
family.
Edmonds police on Friday were called to investigate the cross-burning
outside a house in the 16000 block of 75th Place West. According to
police,
the cross was believed to be placed at the house sometime on Thursday
while
the family, which is of Middle Eastern descent, was on vacation. After
the
victim's son received a call from a friend who told him a cross was
burning
in his front yard, the homeowner asked a family friend to check on the
house. The friend found the cross, which no longer was burning, but did
not
call the police. The family called police when they returned home.
Edmonds police have not ruled out race as a motive, but they are
looking at
the possibility that a former friend of a teenage boy in the home may
be
responsible. Police yesterday said they were continuing to investigate
the
incident. The family could not be reached for comment.
The incident is similar to the cross-burning at Martin's home that
sparked
local outrage. Two white teenage boys later convicted for the act said
they
had burned a cross on Martin's lawn because of a dispute with Martin's
teenage son.
In April, the city of Edmonds adopted a proclamation decrying the
Arlington
cross-burning and even proclaimed a week of "Brotherhood Days"
encouraging
Edmonds citizens to deepen their understanding and acceptance of people
of
all backgrounds. "I think this is an isolated incident," Edmonds Mayor
Gary
Haakenson said of the recent cross-burning…
ALSO SEE:
DEARBORN MAN SAYS WORSHIP WAS DENIED
Tamara Audi, Detroit Free Press, 7/13/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/tside13_20040713.htm
Lawyers for Ahmad Al-Halabi, the Air Force senior airman accused of
spying
while he was stationed as a translator at the military base at
Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, have filed a complaint against the Air Force for refusing to
allow the Dearborn man to worship in a mosque.
Al-Halabi, a Muslim originally from Syria, is confined to Travis Air
Force
Base near Sacramento, Calif., while awaiting military trial on charges
that
he improperly handled sensitive material while working as a translator
in
the camp. His trial is scheduled for September.
The complaint alleges that military officials have made no provisions
for
Al-Halabi to practice his religion, in violation of the 1993 Religious
Freedom Restoration Act.
Al-Halabi, who attended high school in Dearborn, is asking for $57,000
in
damages, plus $1,000 for each day he is denied the right to worship,
according to the complaint…
-----
AN IMMIGRANT, A TERRORIST LIST AND A DAY TRIP GONE WRONG
Seth Kugel, New York Times, 7/13/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/nyregion/13stranded.html
At 12:01 Thursday morning, Irfan Ahmed, a 35-year-old Indian immigrant
living in Forest Hills, Queens, left on a bus to Montreal for a
whirlwind
visa renewal tour. His plan was to arrive at the United States
Consulate
for his 8:30 a.m. appointment, wait for his paperwork, then take the
4:15
home to New York and be back at his city job the next day. He had done
it
twice before, with no glitch.
But yesterday, four days later, Mr. Ahmed was still in Montreal, hoping
to
clear up an apparent case of mistaken identity after his name came up
as a
match on a government watch list. That delayed the renewal of his work
visa, which can be issued immediately only by an American consulate in
a
foreign country.
At the consulate, a visa officer handed him a letter that stated,
''Please
be aware that this review may take one month or more to complete,'' and
he
was advised not to leave Montreal.
His story is hardly extreme -- he was not thrown in jail, just stranded
in
a French-speaking city that he barely knows but that is home to the
foreign
American consulate that is closest to New York.
He is exasperated and panicked, however, to be away from work as a
computer
consultant for the city's Human Resources Administration and to miss
classes at Mercy College, where he is studying education.
''What's the big deal having a name Irfan Ahmed?'' he said in a phone
interview. The name is common among South Asian Muslims. ''Everyone has
this name. Irfan Ahmed is like John Smith.''
To Monami Maulik, the director of Desis Rising Up and Moving, a South
Asian
immigrant group in Queens where Mr. Ahmed volunteers, it is
distressingly
unsurprising.
''What's happening with Irfan is something that's happening pretty
frequently since Sept. 11, especially to Muslim men like him,'' she
said.
His problem seems particularly ironic, she said, because of his
volunteer
work for her organization and for the Internal Revenue Service, where
he
helps low-income residents file tax returns. (To make matters worse, he
could have simply filed the renewal application by mail, but he said he
thought that would take too long.)…
SEE ALSO:
ATTORNEY CREATES MIDDLE EASTERN ADVOCACY GROUP
Jack Chang, Contra Costa Times, 7/13/04
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/9141909.htm?1c
SAN FRANCISCO - An attorney who has defended hundreds of Middle
Easterners
and Muslims is starting what she says will be a lead organization
championing communities put on the defensive by suspicion and
investigation
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Attorney Banafsheh Akhlaghi said the National Legal Sanctuary for
Community
Advancement will address the plight of Muslims and other communities as
a
civil rights matter, similar to the internment of Japanese-Americans
during
World War II and the disenfranchisement of African-Americans.
"There is another group that has now come forward as a group with the
light
shined on them, rounded up and shackled," said the Iranian-born
attorney.
"It's time to turn up the volume on the voices of our clients, and I
believe America's ready to hear it."
Akhlaghi said she plans to model the new organization on the venerable
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which has
defended African-Americans for nearly a century.
Representatives of the new group will lobby lawmakers, defend
individual
clients, argue legal cases that could set broad public policy and
educate
the public about affected communities.
Since Sept. 11, Akhlaghi has been one of the nation's most visible
defenders of immigrants embroiled in federal responses to the attacks,
having represented more than 600 clients, many threatened with
deportation
after obeying mandates to register with immigration authorities.
She said the legal sanctuary group will serve any community, from
Indian
Sikhs to Lebanese Christians to African-American Muslims, affected by
post-Sept. 11 policies…
-----
STUDY: ISLAM NOT OBSTACLE TO DEMOCRACY
Nathalie Lagerfeld, United Press International, 7/12/04
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040712-024310-4157r
WASHINGTON - Islam is not the greatest obstacle to democracy in Muslim
countries, according to a report from the Islam Program at the Center
for
Strategic and International Studies.
Powerful militaries, poverty and a weak private sector, not religion or
culture, are the real problems, the study found.
Islam "is neither a tremendous help nor a hindrance" in promoting
democracy, said Shireen T. Hunter, director of the CSIS Islam Program,
who
prepared the report.
The report, "Modernization and Democratization in the Muslim World:
Obstacles and Remedies," is based on research by three different study
groups of scholars. Each investigated a category of possible causes for
the
lack of democracy in the Muslim world: cultural, internal and external
factors.
Many ideas in Islam support democracy rather than discourage it, said
Hunter. She cited the concept of baya, or consultation (sic), which
"means
giving support and acceptance to a leader. And also withdrawing that if
the
leader did not perform for the benefit of society."
The report calls for "reviving the spirit of earlier democratizers and
reformers in the Muslim world" and promoting the rationalist and
progressive traditions of Islam as a way to promote democracy.
"If there is going to be peaceful change, there needs to be change
through
the cultural tradition of the society," said Hunter…
-----
DISABLED MAN DIES IN GAZA RUBBLE
BBC, 7/12/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3885725.stm
A disabled man in his 70s died when Israeli troops demolished a
building
where he was living in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources say.
They say the death occurred when tanks and bulldozers began removing
buildings near the town of Khan Yunis at the southern end of the strip.
The Israeli army said it was removing flimsy shacks and unfinished
buildings.
Palestinian witnesses said it was possible that the troops were unaware
that the man was inside the building.
'No warning'
The man, named as 70-year-old Mohammed Khallas, apparently did not hear
calls to evacuate and was found dead in rubble shortly after the
demolition.
His daughter, Mona, told the BBC that she rushed out into the darkness
to
plead for more time to get her father out of the house but the soldiers
did
not listen to her.
An Israeli military spokesman said the army was investigating the
reports.
Israel has demolished the homes of thousands of people in the West Bank
and
Gaza since it began the policy of destroying the homes of Palestinian
militants in August 2002.
Often those who lived in the houses say they were given just minutes to
gather their families and flee…
ALSO SEE:
PALESTINIANS TRUDGE OUT OF BESIEGED GAZA TOWN
Cynthia Johnston, Reuters, 7/13/04
GAZA - Palestinians complaining of food shortages trudged out of a
sealed
Gaza Strip town on Tuesday for the first time since the Israeli army
invaded two weeks ago to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel.
They returned to Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza in the afternoon on
donkey
carts laden with flour, potatoes, rice and bread as Israeli forces
briefly
let townspeople through.
"The kids need tea, bread, food. We just had a bit of flour and rice
left.
There were no vegetables," said Hania Muhammad Muslih. She sat on a
donkey
cart loaded with sacks of flour to feed an extended family of more than
20
people. The Israeli army moved into Beit Hanoun last month in response
to
rocket fire that killed two Israelis, including a three-year-old boy,
in
the town of Sderot. It said it could stay for months.
Fifteen Palestinians -- eight militants and seven civilians including a
nine-year-old boy -- have been killed since the siege began.
Doctors said a pregnant Palestinian woman was shot and seriously
wounded on
Saturday when she tried to leave to get food for her family.
Israel had previously conducted periodic raids into Palestinian areas
while
maintaining a regular presence mainly in the vicinity of Gaza's 21
Jewish
settlements, which Israel plans to evacuate by late 2005.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/14/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
* MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI IN AZ, NY
- CAIR-FL: Muslim Group to Host Civil Rights Forum
- CAIR-FL: Dangers of Profiling (SP Times)
- CAIR-CAN Participates in National Conferences
* CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #12: ETHNIC OUTREACH
* FREED SWEDE SAYS WAS TORTURED AT GUANTANAMO (Reuters)
- Red Cross Suspects U.S. Prisoner Stash (AP)
* GA: PRAYER PULLS HINDU, MUSLIM CLOSER (Journal-Constitution)
- Heeding Stereotypes Hinders Effort (Sun News)
* IA: ANOTHER HITCH FOR MUSLIM CAMP (Des Moines Register)
- IL: Islamic Group Allowed To Move (Daily Herald)
* CANADIAN MOSQUE VANDALISM MAY BE FAITH-RELATED (Spectator)
- Documentary on Canadian Muslim Experience
* ISRAELIS PUT ROTTING CHICKENS IN PALESTINIAN WELL (Haaretz)
- Settlers Suspected Of Polluting Wells (Maarivintl)
- Judgment on the Israeli Wall (SF Chronicle)
* 'THE GRID': TERRORISM-FUELED MINISERIES (USA Today)
* DC: ISLAMIC ART FROM THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the
suffering of a brother...God will ease his...suffering on the Day of
Resurrection. He who finds relief for one who is hard pressed, God will
make things easy for him in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the
faults)
of a Muslim, God will conceal his faults in this world and in the
Hereafter."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI IN AZ, NY
Meetings seek to initiate positive dialogue
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/14/04) - The Arizona office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Arizona) and the American Civil
Liberties
Union of Arizona (AzCLU) met Tuesday with representatives of the FBI to
discuss concerns about recent interviews of local Muslims, ongoing
counterterrorism efforts and ways to improve cooperation between law
enforcement and the American Muslim community.
Representatives of CAIR's New York office (CAIR-NY), along with other
Muslim community leaders, met with FBI Assistant Director in Charge,
Pasquale J. D'Amuro, Tuesday at the Muslim Youth Center in Brooklyn to
discuss issues of concern to the Islamic community. Topics of
discussion
included the criteria used for opening an investigation, building trust
in
the Muslim community and the possibility of sensitivity training for
FBI
personnel.
"Arizona's Muslim community, as well as other Muslim communities across
the
country, are ready, willing and able to work with law enforcement
authorities for the safety and security of our nation," said CAIR-AZ
Executive Director Deedra Abboud.
"The Muslim community in New York wants to play a positive role in
protecting our nation's security, but that role is made more difficult
if
the FBI is perceived as pursuing suspects much more actively than it is
searching for community partners," said CAIR-NY Executive Director
Wissam Nasr.
Both meetings were part of CAIR's efforts to build constructive
relationships with local, state and national law enforcement agencies
and
to voice the Muslim community's concerns about religious and ethnic
profiling.
CONTACT: CAIR-Arizona, Deedra Abboud at 602-262-2247, E-Mail:
director@cairaz.org; CAIR-NY: Wissam Nasr at 212-870-2002, 917-751-1017
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: MUSLIM ADVOCACY GROUP TO HOST FLORIDA CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM
(FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 7/14/04) - On Saturday, July 17, the Florida office
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a civil
rights forum, called "Principles of American Democracy," designed to
raise
awareness on civil rights as an issue of importance to all Americans.
WHAT: The Principles of American Democracy - A Symposium on Civil
Rights
WHEN: Saturday, July 17, 2004, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Wyndham Ft. Lauderdale Airport, 1870 Griffin Rd, Ft., Lauderdale
PANELISTS FOR THE SYMPOSIUM:
Amy Goodman, An internationally acclaimed journalist and host of
'Democracy
Now'
David Cole, Legal affairs correspondent for 'The Nation' and Professor
of
Law at Georgetown University. Author of 'Terrorism and the
Constitution'
Lucy A. Dalglish, Executive Director of the Reporters' Committee for
Freedom of the Press.
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org; Ahmed
Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair-florida.org
---
MOOSE WARNS OF DANGERS OF PROFILING
Saundra Amrhein, St. Petersburg Times, 7/13/04
http://www.sptimes.com/
He has a doctorate degree, led a police force outside the nation's
capital
and studied with the FBI.
And still, said Charles Moose - who was Montgomery County police chief
during the Washington, D.C.-area sniper shootings - he's been pulled
over
because he's black.
"Racial profiling does exist,'' he said."It is real. It is painful. It
happens to people like me.''
But it takes more forms than traffic stops, Moose told about 70 people
who
gathered Monday night at the John F. Germany Public Library to hear him
discuss ways to improve police and community relations in the wake of
the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Racial profiling destroys community policing by alienating some
residents
who could actually help police solve crimes, Moose said.
"In communities where there is racial profiling . . . eventually,
people
stop participating with police,'' he said."Police are looking at
everyone
as (if) somehow they're all bad.''
The event was sponsored by the Racial Justice Project of the American
Civil
Liberties Union of Florida, which is taking Moose on tours and speeches
throughout the state. Moose spoke in favor of proposed federal
legislation
to help stop racial profiling and force local police to keep statistics
on
whom they stop and why.
Joining Moose for his address were Guadalupe Lamas, the parish nurse
and
advocate for migrant farmworkers at San Jose Mission in Dover; and
Ahmed
Bedier, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Florida…
---
CAIR-CAN PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL CONFERENCES
Topics Include Discrimination Prevention, Civil Liberties and Human
Rights
(Ottawa, Canada - 14/07/04) - Alhamdulillah, (to God belongs all
praise),
the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) has
participated in two national conferences in June, and will feature
prominently in a third later this summer.
In June, CAIR-CAN Executive Director Riad Saloojee served as a panelist
at
the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (CFHSS) held
at
the University of Manitoba on June 5. Mr. Saloojee joined University of
Victoria political science professor Reg Whitaker to speak on the issue
of
"Security vs. Liberty Post-9/11: Are We Losing Our Balance?"
The conference brought together over 90 associations and more than
6,000
scholars from the international academic community. It featured
interdisciplinary symposia, cultural events, public discussions and
attracted major media coverage.
In June, Saloojee was also panelist at the annual conference of the
Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), an
organization established to provide an effective communication link
between
governmental agencies working in the field of protecting and promoting
human rights. Hosted by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, this
year's
conference theme was "The Everyday Work of Promoting and Protecting
Human
Rights in Canada." Saloojee spoke on the issue of "Discrimination
Prevention."
On Sunday, August 15, 2004, CAIR-CAN Chair Sheema Khan will join
Professor
Janice Gross Stein, Director of the Munk Centre for International
Studies
at the University of Toronto, and broadcaster Ann Medina for the
Opening
Panel of the Canadian Bar Association's (CBA) annual conference,
"Engaging
Communities: Human Rights in Context?"
The panel will be preceded by an opening address from UN Special Envoy
Stephen Lewis. (For more on the program, please visit:
http://www.cba.org/CBA/annualmeeting/2004_annual/ )
The CBA Canadian Legal Conference and Expo is the premiere annual event
for
legal professionals in Canada. The CBA represents some 38,000 lawyers,
judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada.
CONTACT:
CAIR-CAN
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA
P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ONT, K2K 1X4
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Fax: 613-254-9810
URL: www.caircan.ca
-----
CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #12: ETHNIC OUTREACH
The latest issue of CAIR's ELECTION 2004 UPDATE is now available
online.
CAIR's election updates are designed to promote American Muslim
political
empowerment. Updates focus on issues of importance to the American
Muslim
community and outline the candidates' positions on those issues.
TO READ THE FULL UPDATE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/jul142004.asp
-----
FREED SWEDE SAYS WAS TORTURED AT GUANTANAMO
Reuters, 7/14/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5665599
STOCKHOLM - A Swede released from Guantanamo Bay last week said he had
been
tortured by exposure to freezing cold, noise and bright lights and
chained
during his 2-1/2-year imprisonment.
Mehdi Ghezali, the son of an Algerian-born immigrant, told Swedish
media in
interviews published or aired on Wednesday that he was interrogated
almost
every day at the U.S. naval base on Cuban soil.
The 25-year-old man, who was arrested in Pakistan where he says he was
studying Islam, was released on July 8 after pressure from Sweden.
Ghezali told Dagens Nyheter daily and Swedish public radio he had
cooperated for the first six months but stopped talking when his
interrogators kept asking the same questions.
In April the military changed their tactics, he said.
"They put me in the interrogation room and used it as a refrigerator.
They
set the temperature to minus degrees so it was terribly cold and one
had to
freeze there for many hours -- 12 to 14 hours one had to sit there,
chained," he said, adding that he had partially lost the feeling in one
foot since then.
Ghezali said he was also deprived of sleep, chained for long periods in
painful positions, and exposed to bright flashes of light in a darkened
room and loud music and noise.
"They forced me down with chained feet. Then they took away the chains
from
the hands, pulled the arms under the legs and chained them hard again.
I
could not move," he said…
ALSO SEE:
RED CROSS SUSPECTS U.S. PRISONER STASH
Naomi Koppel, Associated Press, 7/14/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20040713-111332-1645r.htm
GENEVA - The international Red Cross said yesterday it suspects the
United
States is hiding detainees in lockups across the globe, though the
agency
has been granted access to thousands of prisoners in Iraq and
elsewhere.
Terror suspects reported by the FBI as captured have never turned up in
detention centers, and the United States has failed to reply to agency
demands for a list of everyone it's holding, Antonella Notari,
spokeswoman
for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in an
interview with the Associated Press.
"These people are, as far as we can tell, detained in locations that
are
undisclosed not only to us but also to the rest of the world," Mrs.
Notari
said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said yesterday he was "looking
further into" the Red Cross concerns and added: "We do work closely
with
the Red Cross on all detainee issues." He did not concede a problem
exists.
At the Pentagon, spokesman Bryan Whitman said, "The International
Committee
of the Red Cross has access to all Defense Department detention
operations."
However, in his report into claims of abuse at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib
prison,
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba found that military police there
had
"routinely held persons brought to them by other government agencies
without accounting for them, knowing their identities, or even the
reason
for their detention..."
-----
PRAYER PULLS HINDU, MUSLIM CLOSER
Namita Devidayal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/14/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/atlanta_world/0704/14woman.html
She lived in my neighborhood in Bombay, India, and worked as a sales
representative for an international business. She was Muslim. I was
Hindu.
We had common friends, and no one was particularly aware of religion as
a
measure of identity. We both got married, moved away and disappeared
into
the United States.
My husband's software business took him to Marietta two years ago. The
first day I enrolled my son in play school, I noticed a dark-haired
little
boy crying inconsolably. I picked him up and rocked him for a minute.
He
immediately grew quiet. "What's his name?" I asked the teacher.
"Irfan,"
she drawled. "He's from Iraq. He doesn't seem to understand English."
My son, Chait, and Irfan became buddies - to the extent 2-year-olds can
be.
They probably connected on some visceral level to each other's sameness
in
a school otherwise populated by flaxen-haired toddlers. I secretly
delighted in the fact that my son's best friend was of Iraqi origin and
was
already revealing his cosmopolitan leanings in a world that had grown
hideously xenophobic.
A few weeks later, I met Irfan's mother as she was dropping her son off
at
school. I would have recognized her right away, but she was wearing a
black
head scarf. I couldn't believe it. Little Irfan was no "Saddam-ling,"
as
his teacher had presumptuously thought, but the son of my friend from
Bombay. In a strange twist of circumstance, she had also moved to
Marietta,
and our sons were exactly the same age and had ended up in the same
church
school.
I was a little shocked to see her under a head scarf. Why had she
decided
to flaunt her Islamic faith, especially while living in a country where
many believe that this particular religion epitomizes evil?
"9/11 changed everything," she said softly. She invited me to join her
for
Friday prayers. I did another double-take. This was someone who never
went
to mosque in Bombay. Suddenly, she comes to America and turns into this
veiled wonder...
ALSO SEE:
HEEDING STEREOTYPES HINDERS EFFORT
Moustafa Bayoumi, Sun News, 7/14/04
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/9149095.htm
The Bush administration says it wants to win the hearts and minds of
the
Iraqi people. But it is relying on a poor and biased guide.
Veteran journalist Seymour Hersh recently reported in the New Yorker
magazine that the "bible" of a powerful pro-war group of conservatives
in
Washington is a 1973 book called "The Arab Mind," by Raphael Patai.
This
book says that "Arabs only understand force" and that the "biggest
weakness
of Arabs is shame and humiliation."
According to the London Guardian, "The Arab Mind" is "probably the
single
most popular and widely read book on the Arabs in the U.S. military"
and is
"even used as a textbook for officers at the JFK special warfare school
in
Fort Bragg, [N.C.]." Hersh alleges that the book was a kind of manual
for
the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison.
But "The Arab Mind" [should have] no place in U.S. military schools or
policy circles. Serious scholars have long discredited the book because
of
its racist character.
"The Arab Mind" follows a genre of books popular in the 19th century
that
said race defines human behavior. These books reduced the histories,
politics and cultures of huge groups of people into simple instinct or
an
unchanging personality.
Imagine if our officials were basing government policies on a book that
told them the African mind has an "aversion to work that involves
dirtying
one's hands," or that the Jewish mind has an "all-encompassing
preoccupation with sex." Substitute the word "Arab" for "African" and
"Jewish" in these two examples, however, and you have the wisdom in
this
noxious text used by the military.
So why have the military and influential pro-war pundits taken this
book to
heart?...
-----
ANOTHER HITCH FOR MUSLIM CAMP, BUT GROUP'S PLANS MOVE FORWARD
Jordan Schrader, Des Moines Register, 7/14/04
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040714/NEWS08/407140343/1010
North Liberty residents in 2002 objected to plans to build the nation's
first Muslim youth camp . The residents worried that the camp would be
a
sprawling development in their rural neighborhood. Others went further
in
their protests, equating the proposed summer camp with a terrorist
enclave.
More than a year after it was told to scale back its plans, the group
formed to build the camp still has not obtained the go-ahead from
federal
officials.
When leaders of the drive to build a Muslim youth camp in eastern Iowa
were
told this summer that their latest plan exceeded its boundaries, it
must
have felt a bit familiar.
It was more than a year ago that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told
them
to cut the scope of their proposed camp in half, amid pressure from
local
officials and neighbors concerned about how the camp might change their
way
of life.
Muslim Youth Camps of America is back at the drawing board, revising a
proposal it submitted two months ago. The Corps rejected that plan
saying
its buildings extended outside the area approved for the camp's use.
It's one more setback for the Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit group in its
quest to create a Muslim summer camp on 106 acres of federal land along
Coralville Reservoir, just northeast of North Liberty.
Nevertheless, it's a small obstacle compared with the hurdle the group
cleared in June 2003 when the Corps allowed it to proceed despite
complaints from next door and around the country...
ALSO SEE:
IL: ISLAMIC GROUP ALLOWED TO MOVE
Michael Puente, Daily Herald, 7/14/04
http://www.dailyherald.com/cook/main_story.asp?intID=3818210
The Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs will be allowed to relocate to
a
larger facility within a manufacturing district in Rolling Meadows.
By a 4-3 vote, a majority of the Rolling Meadows City Council approved
amending a city zoning code to allow places of worship to operate under
a
special use permit in a manufacturing district.
"It is the right thing to do, and I am glad the council did the right
thing. We are very grateful to the council," Mohammad Salam, president
of
the Islamic Society, which has called Rolling Meadows home for the past
two
decades.
The society, now at 3890 Industrial Avenue, wants to move to a facility
three times in size - but just doors away - at 3950 Industrial Avenue.
Prior to the vote, a number of supporters addressed the council urging
changing of the city code and granting of a special use permit to the
society.
"I would hope that tonight, without any further delay, the citizens of
Rolling Meadows would be recognized as a city that welcomes and
encourages
diversity," resident Carol Melby said.
Guy Austrian, of the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs of Chicago, urged
the
City Council to support the efforts of the Islamic Society...
-----
MEMBERS SAY MOSQUE VANDALISM FAITH-RELATED
Natalie Alcoba, Hamilton Spectator, 7/14/04
www.thespec.com
Yunus Baig has had to clean egg stains from his east-end mosque's
window
three times too often.
They're still there.
"When it dries up, it becomes difficult (to clean). You have to scrub
it
properly," said Baig.
Three times in the last two weeks, eggs have been thrown at the back
and
side windows of the Umar Mosque on Rennie Street. Dirt has been left at
the
entranceway. Police were informed of the vandalism Monday and a report
has
been forwarded to the hate crime unit.
Mosque members believe vandals have targeted their place of worship
because
of their faith. Other buildings in the area haven't received the same
treatment, noted Baig. This is the first time that eggs have been
thrown at
the mosque.
"We do believe it is targeted," said Baig, a member of the mosque. "It
is
faith-related, we believe," he said.
Sergeant Mike Senchyshak said the incidents are being investigated.
"The
possibility that there is a hate crime element would be part of (the
investigation)."
An incident report has been forwarded to the police's hate crime unit.
Sandra Wilson, community relations co-coordinator with the Hamilton
police,
said police will look at all motivations for the vandalism, but said
it's
too early to label the incident as hate-motivated. She said an upcoming
information session with the Muslim community will provide an
opportunity
to discuss the incident, and to encourage reporting of similar
crimes...
SEE ALSO:
BROADCAST OF FIRST-EVER DOCUMENTARY ON CANADIAN MUSLIMS
http://www.anewlife.ca/documentary/episode3.php
A unique project that represents the history and dynamics of the
Canadian Muslim community, the three-part educational series was
created by
producer Michael Milo at the Division of Media and Technology of
University
of Saskatchewan. It is hosted by internationally-renowned
singer/songwriter
Dawud Wharnsby Ali and written by educator Saira Rahman.
The three-part series chronicles the history, religious life and
contributions of Muslims in Canada's multicultural fabric.
"At any given mosque throughout the country, you might find up to fifty
different ethnic and cultural groups. The Muslim community in Canada
is a
microcosm of Canada's multicultural make-up and the videos try to
celebrate
that diversity," said producer Michael Milo.
"A New Life in a New Land fills a critical gap in providing a
well-researched and elegantly presented snapshot of the presence and
contribution of Canadian Muslims," added CAIR-CAN Executive Director
Riad
Saloojee…
-----
SETTLERS SAID TO HAVE PUT ROTTING CHICKENS INTO VILLAGE WELL
Jonathan Lis, Haaretz, 7/14/04
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/450926.html
Palestinians in a West Bank village south of Hebron complained of
settler
harassment on Tuesday after six rotting corpses of chickens were found
in
their central well.
Residents of a-Tawna said they saw settlers throwing the chickens into
the
well, which supplies drinking water to the local school.
Judea and Samaria regional police are investigating the incident and
have
reported a notable increase in Palestinian complaints of harassment in
the
last few months. There has been a 15 percent rise in the number of
investigations opened this year, police said.
The majority of the complaints involve theft of equipment, destruction
of
property and attacks on Palestinian passers-by, according to police.
About a month ago, five young Jewish women attacked a Palestinian woman
near the Hazon David settlement between Hebron and Kiryat Arba. The
victim
was lightly wounded…
ALSO SEE:
JUDGMENT ON THE WALL
George Bisharat, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/14/04
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/14/EDGVN7KDL51.DTL
Last week's judgment by the International Court of Justice on Israel's
West
Bank separation barrier -- known to Palestinians as the apartheid wall
--
may emerge as the most important development in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict in years. While advisory in nature, the conclusion that the
barrier is illegal may spawn actions by the international community to
compel Israeli compliance. In 1971, just such an opinion regarding
South
Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia led to diplomatic pressure,
boycotts
and other forms of nonviolent resistance against the apartheid regime,
eventually contributing to peaceful democratic transformation.
Israel began construction of the barrier in 2002. It consists of a
road,
trenches, barbed-wire fencing, electronic sensors and a concrete wall
as
high as 24 feet. Palestinians, together with much of the world, suspect
this is a step in an Israeli plan to permanently annex much of the West
Bank. (Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, but the United Nations
has
designated the territory for Palestinian national self-determination.)
Meanwhile, the officially announced purpose of the wall was to prevent
infiltration by Palestinian attackers from the West Bank.
While some might have preferred negotiations to enforced segregation,
no
legal quarrel would have erupted had Israel placed the barrier along
its
roughly 200-mile West Bank border. But it chose to build the barrier
substantially within the West Bank, on Palestinian land.
The planned wall is not linear, with Israelis on one side and
Palestinians
on the other. Instead, if completed, the barrier will stretch some 400
miles and completely encircle Palestinian population centers in the
West
Bank. Israel will control all access of people and goods in the
Palestinian
enclosures. About 43 percent of the West Bank will remain outside the
Palestinian areas under Israel's control. In several places, the
barrier
cuts deep into Palestinian territory to protect Israeli settlements,
long
condemned as illegal by the international community...
-----
'THE GRID': TERRORISM-FUELED MINISERIES
Bill Keveney, USA Today, 7/14/04
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-07-13-grid_x.htm
When Julianna Margulies watched 9/11 testimony detailing squabbling
among
government agencies, she had a feeling of dj vu. She had already acted
in
scenes with a similar theme in TNT's six-hour terrorism thriller, The
Grid.
In The Grid, which opens with a two-hour premiere Monday (9 p.m.
ET/PT),
Margulies' character, counterterrorism director Maren Jackson, must
overcome such infighting to lead an interagency team against a global
terror cell of Muslim extremists…
Alexander wanted to show the range of Muslim life. One U.S. agent is a
Muslim; other Muslims express a range of views that, Alexander says,
aren't
always shown…
-----
PALACE AND MOSQUE: ISLAMIC ART FROM THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/upcoming.htm#islamic
WHAT: Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert
Museum
The Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London has one of the most
renowned
Islamic art collections in the world. Over 100 works from the V&A, many
exhibited for the first time outside that museum, convey the richness
of
Islamic art on a scale and quality hard to find in any collection
outside
the Middle East. The exhibition's themes start with "The Written Word,"
featuring calligraphy from the 10th to 18th century. Considered the
noblest
and most distinctive form of Islamic art because of its association
with
the Qur'an, beautiful calligraphic writing pervades Islamic art.
"Courts
and Courtiers" introduces art made for the secular realm of the ruling
elite. Two royal courts that flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries
will
be featured--the court of the Ottoman dynasty that ruled from Istanbul
and
the Safavid dynasty in Iran. "Mosques, Shrines, and Churches" will
examine
works created for religious establishments, including a 20-foot high
pulpit
(minbar) made for a mosque in Cairo in the 15th century. The section
also
includes works produced by Islamic artists for Christian churches,
reflecting the religious tolerance that has characterized Islamic
culture
from its beginnings in the 7th century. "Artistic Exchange," the final
section, includes works of Islamic, European, and Chinese manufacture.
As
the textiles and ivories demonstrate, the wealth of interaction between
the
Islamic Middle East and Europe was such that some works of art cannot
be
easily assigned to one culture. Timothy Stanley, senior curator, Middle
East, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is exhibition curator and the
principal author of the book that accompanies the exhibition, Palace
and
Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East.
Organization: This exhibition was organized by the Victoria and Albert
Museum, London, in association with the National Gallery of Art,
Washington.
Sponsor: The exhibition at the National Gallery of Art is generously
sponsored by H.R.H. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Ambassador of Saudi
Arabia to
the United States.
The international tour of this exhibition has been made possible by the
generosity of Mohammed Jameel, the benefactor of the V&A's Jameel
Gallery
of Islamic Art, which is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Abdul Latif
Jameel,
the late founder of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, and his wife Nafisa.
The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on
the
Arts and the Humanities.
WHEN: July 18, 2004 - February 6, 2005
Schedule: National Gallery of Art, July 18, 2004 - February 6, 2005;
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, April 3 - September 4, 2005;
Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo, October 22 - December 11, 2005; Millennium
Galleries, Sheffield, January 14 - April 16, 2006
WHERE: East Building, Upper Level
Passes: Passes are not required for this exhibition.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/15/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PREVENTING EVIL
* CAIR: MUSLIMS MEET WITH HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER
- Democratic Leaders Hold Roundtable with Muslims
* CAIR-HOUSTON MEETS WITH POLICE CHIEF
- TX Muslims Attend DOJ Training Event
* INCITEMENT WATCH: CARTOON SMEARS ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
* MUSLIMS SAY FELLOW AMERICANS ARE LASHING OUT (Chicago Trib)
* MUSLIM LEADERS WANT 'TERROR-FREE' LABEL (Newsday)
- CA: The War on Terror Begins at Home. (OC Weekly)
* MI: IMAM A CHAMPION FOR ISLAM'S FUTURE (Free Press)
- MI: Prayer Call at the Heart of Election (Free Press)
* THE CIA'S PRISONERS (Wash Post)
- PA: Detained Cleric Baffled By Raid (Phil Inq)
* GA: LAWSUITS ACCUSE UNIVERSITY OF DISCRIMINATION
* PROTESTANT GROUP OKS DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAEL (Forward)
- UK: BNP Filmed Admitting Muslim Attacks (Reuters)
- Chirac: No Regrets for Blaming 'Attack' on Muslims
* IL: MUSLIMS ESTABLISH RELIEF FUND FOR SUDAN REFUGEES
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PREVENTING EVIL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) related a parable comparing
those
who obey God's commands to those who do not. He said they are like
people
who draw lots for seats in a ship. "Some of them got seats in the upper
part, and the others in the lower. When the latter needed water, they
had
to go up to bring water (and that troubled the others), so they said,
'Let
us make a hole in our share of the ship (and get water) and save those
who
are above us from being troubled.' If the people in the upper part left
the
others do what they had suggested, all the people of the ship would be
destroyed, but if they prevented them, both parties would be safe."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 673
-----
MUSLIMS MEET WITH HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/15/04) - Representatives of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with a number of other
American
Muslim leaders, met yesterday with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA) in the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Charles
Rangel
(D-NY), and other congressional Democrats also took part in the
roundtable
discussion, which focused on the defense of civil liberties.
"We appreciate the opportunity to interact with national leaders and to
share the Muslim community's concerns on issues of mutual concern,"
said
CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar, who participated in yesterday's
meeting. CAIR Northern California Government Affairs Director Dahlia
Eltoumi was one of three participants selected to make a presentation
to
the panel of elected officials.
Other national Muslim groups represented at the meeting included the
Islamic Society of North America, Indian Muslim Council, Muslim Public
Affairs Council, Muslim American Society, Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America, Muslim Bar Association, National
Association
of Muslim Lawyers, and the Universal Muslim Association of America.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-415-0799; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787,
202-744-7726, cair@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
PELOSI, DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH MUSLIM
AMERICAN
LEADERS
http://democraticleader.house.gov
WASHINGTON - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congressman
John
D. Dingell (D-MI), Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Congressman Charles
Rangel (D-NY), and other Congressional Democrats were joined yesterday
by
national leaders of the Muslim American community in a roundtable
discussion on issues of mutual concern to Democrats and Muslim
Americans.
The discussion centered on working together to defend civil rights and
to
restore civil liberties.
"This discussion is only the first in an ongoing dialogue between
Congressional Democrats and Muslim Americans," Pelosi said. "We share a
fundamental principle - the belief that diversity is the backbone of
our
communities. Generations of Muslims have made positive contributions in
every aspect of American life. We must now work even more closely to
navigate through the challenges we face as a nation."
"Since September 11th, many Muslim Americans have been subjected to
searches at airports and other locations based upon their religion and
national origin, without any credible information linking individuals
to
criminal conduct," Pelosi continued. "Racial and religious profiling is
fundamentally un-American and we must make it illegal.
"When the Patriot Act was enacted, it was intended to be accompanied by
strong Congressional oversight to prevent abuses of our civil
liberties.
That oversight has not occurred, particularly with the mass detention
campaign ordered by Attorney General Ashcroft, which to date has led to
more than 5,000 foreign nationals being detained since September 11th.
Moreover, individuals' assets have been frozen on the basis of secret
evidence that they have no opportunity to confront or rebut, and such
processes are a fundamental denial of due process. We must correct the
Patriot Act to prevent abuses of our civil liberties."
Working with Conyers, the Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary
Committee, Democrats have introduced legislation to end racial
profiling,
limit the reach of the Patriot Act, and make immigration safe and
accessible. Leader Pelosi is a proud cosponsor of the End Racial
Profiling
Act, the Security and Freedom Ensured Act (SAFE), and the Safe,
Orderly,
and Legal Visas Enforcement Act (SOLVE).
"These measures are long overdue, and we call on the Republican
leadership
in Congress to bring them to a vote now," Pelosi said. "As we protect
and
defend the American people, we must protect and defend the Constitution
and
the civil rights that define our democracy. Ours is a country of great
diversity and we must stand together as one America."
The following Democrats also participated in the discussion: former
Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY),
and
Congressman Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV).
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON MEETS WITH POLICE CHIEF
Houston-Area Muslims Strengthen Support for Law Enforcement
(HOUSTON, TX) - The Houston Chapter of Council on American-Islamic
Relations recently hosted a dinner for Houston Police Department (HPD)
Chief Harold Hurtt. The dinner was designed to strengthen the
relationship
between the Houston Muslim community and law enforcement officials.
The event was the second with Chief Hurtt and one of many CAIR-Houston
plans to conduct with various law enforcement agencies. Houston City
Councilman M.J. Khan and Alamdar Hamdani of the American Civil
Liberties
Union of Texas (ACLU-TX) also attended the dinner.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM ACTIVISTS ATTEND DOJ TRAIN THE TRAINER EVENT
Representatives from CAIR-Houston and ICNA to Train Law Enforcement
(DALLAS, TX) - Representatives from the Islamic Circle of North America
in
Houston (ICNA) and the Houston office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-Houston) participated recently in the Justice
Departments
Community Relations Service (CRS) initiative in building a cadre of
trainers capable of delivering training on Arab Americans, American
Muslims, Islam, Sikhs and Sikhism. The program, entitled "Building
Cultural
Competency," will be presented by CRS in partnership with and developed
by
Connecting Cultures and the Sikh Media Watch and Resource Task Force
(SMART).
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-814-5554, 832-656-0449
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: CARTOONIST SMEARS ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
A Pat Oliphant political cartoon distributed nationwide on July 9th
apparently suggested that Islamic civilization has achieved nothing but
the
taming of the camel. The cartoon depicts stereotypically-dressed and
hook-nosed men named "Mohammed" and "Ahmed" riding camels in the
desert.
TO VIEW THE CARTOON, SEE:
http://www.ucomics.com/patoliphant/2004/07/09/
SEE ALSO: http://www.ucomics.com/patoliphant/bio.phtml
The men engage in the following conversation:
On man says: "IS IT NOT WONDROUS, MOHAMMED, THAT BY THE GRACE OF ALLAH,
MANKIND HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE SUCH AMAZING EXPLORATIONS OF DEEP
SPACE?"
Another responds: "NOT MANKIND, AHMED - INFIDELS!"
A third man says: "DEATH TO THE INFIDELS!"
A small figure in the corner of the cartoon (a signature of Oliphant's
cartoons) then say: "WE TAMED THE CAMEL DIDN'T WE?"
Another small figure responds, "THAT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT. THEN WHAT?"
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Pat Oliphant's cartoons are distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
(UPS).
Contact UPS to express your concerns about the overtly racist and
bigoted
content of this particular cartoon.
CONTACT: lsalem@amuniversal.com, sroush@uexpress.com,
gmelvin@uexpress.com,
amcdermott@uexpress.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
Lee Salem
Executive Vice President and Editor
Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
TEL: (800) 255-6734, (816) 932-6600
WEB: http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/
-----
MUSLIMS SAY FELLOW AMERICANS ARE LASHING OUT
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 7/15/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0407150256jul15,1,1523384
.story
Law-enforcement officials in the U.S. say they've seen an increase in
hate
crimes as Muslims grapple with harassment believed to have been
prompted by
beheadings in Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Through all the tense moments since the Sept. 11 attacks, Samar Jarrah
thought her small Islamic community in Port Charlotte, Fla., had
remained
at peace with its non-Muslim neighbors.
The town's Muslim doctors often treat homeless and impoverished
immigrants
free of charge. And Jarrah went out of her way to teach residents about
Islam, sometimes giving talks two or three times a week in synagogues
and
churches.
But three weeks ago, a caller left a message on the mosque's answering
machine at the Islamic Community of Southwest Florida, shattering the
perception of harmony with the community: "You barbarians. Lucky to be
alive." Then the caller warned that if any attacks occurred in the
United
States, he would retaliate.
Since Islamic extremists began beheading foreigners in the Middle East
two
months ago, a spate of hate crimes against Muslims has emerged, said
law-enforcement officials and Islamic leaders, sparking renewed fears
among
American Muslims who believed they had made progress in enlightening
Americans about their religion after Sept. 11, 2001...
Whether it is a telephone threat, graffiti scrawled on a Muslim's
house, or
menacing e-mail messages sent to Islamic organizations, Muslims fear
this
wave of harassment is different from those in the past. Not only are
American Muslims being blamed for extremists' attacks a world away, but
there is a feeling that even some Americans who tried not to generalize
about Islam now are turning against the community...
Annual reports by law-enforcement agencies and Islamic organizations
indicate that hate crimes have been on the rise since Sept. 11, 2001.
Muslims in the U.S. reported more than 1,000 incidents of alleged
harassment, violence and discrimination in 2003, an increase of 70
percent
over 2002, according to a study released in May by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, a national group based in
Washington,
D.C….
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS WANT 'TERROR-FREE' LABEL
Ron Howell, New York Newsday, 7/15/04
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-mus0715,0,4199010.story
Facing a fall off in donations since Sept. 11, 2001, local Muslim
leaders
asked federal officials Tuesday night to come up with a seal of
approval
that would assure potential donors that a group does not have ties to
terrorism.
The Muslims said the matter was critical, because many immigrant
Muslims
are afraid that if they contribute to an Islamic group they may be
accused
at some point in the future of supporting terrorism.
Charitable groups and mosques are hurting, they said.
"I would suggest to you that most of the organizations here rely on
public
donations," attorney Khurrum Wahid told FBI agents at a Bensonhurst
catering hall where the Muslim American Society has offices.
Pasquale J. D'Amuro, the FBI agent in charge of the New York City
office,
told the several dozen Muslim leaders that he doubted a stamp of
approval
could be developed, but he left open the possibility that FBI officials
might discuss the matter with counterparts at the U.S. Department of
the
Treasury.
"We can raise these questions," D'Amuro said.
D'Amuro and several other FBI agents met with several dozen Muslim
leaders
for three hours Tuesday night. The Muslim told the agents they would
like
to have regular, perhaps monthly, meetings in the future...
ALSO SEE:
THE WAR ON TERROR BEGINS AT HOME. MY HOME.
Nadia Afghani, OC Weekly, 7/9/04
http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/04/44/cover-afghani.php
So I might be a terrorist, but I'm not completely sure; I'm still
waiting
for the government to let me know. Like many Orange Countians-150,000,
give
or take-I fit the description of a possible terrorist. What's that
exactly?
Does she walk around with a .38 Smith & Wesson, slaying heathenish
infidels? Nope. Does her normal wardrobe include an "I [heart] Osama"
T-shirt? No way; I tossed that out with my "I [heart] the New Kids on
the
Block" shirt ages ago. Does she conveniently create fictitious wars
around
election years? Not me.
I don't feel like a terrorist, but who am I to question the
sophisticated
methods used in our nation's counterterrorism agencies, as infallible
as
our nation's leaders. With new, cutting-edge advancements in
technology,
today's terrorists can be easily tracked down based on two factors:
their
last name and their country of origin. Forgive me, Big Brother, for I,
having the last name of "Afghani" and my father being from, well,
Afghanistan have thusly sinned twice. My being Muslim is simply an
added
bonus.
My family was contacted last August via post card-I suppose our Morse
Code
machine must have been down at the time. The piss-colored post card was
addressed from Detective Boyd of the Los Angeles Police Department and
asked us to "PLEASE CONTACT."
My father, the original Afghan in the family, had the honor of placing
the
call to the Anti-Terrorist Division at the LAPD. The conversation
between
my father and the detective basically resulted in the understanding
that
we, the Afghani family, were on some sort of a list that their highly
developed computers had created. The detective wanted us to set up a
meeting with him sometime in the near future. Where? Well, it seems the
preferred meeting place for police and enemies of the state can now be
found at your local coffee shop-doughnuts were not discussed...
-----
IMAM QAZWINI: A CHAMPION FOR ISLAM'S FUTURE
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 7/15/04
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/imam15_20040715.htm
Imam Hassan Qazwini bent over newborn Gabriel Haidar to whisper the
infant's first Muslim call to prayer. Only a few inches separated the
imam's lips from Gabriel's ear, but Qazwini understood that he was
calling
to the child across a vast gulf of centuries and continents, praying
that
he would grow up to take his place in the tradition of Islam.
"God is great!" the imam called to him softly in Arabic.
Great care is required to save each young, American-born Muslim from
the
host of other appeals showering down on them from television, cell
phones
and the Internet, Qazwini repeatedly warns his congregation.
This imam, whose time is prized by presidential candidates, community
leaders and his thousands of followers, faced a half-dozen demands on a
busy Friday at the Islamic Center of America in Detroit. But, when
Gabriel's proud father hurried up to him after his weekly sermon, the
infant instantly became Qazwini's top priority.
Gesturing proudly at the baby, Qazwini turned the moment into a lesson
for
the adults surrounding him. "This is our future," he said.
The story of Qazwini, who is emerging as one of the nation's top
Shi'ite
leaders and whose family ties extend to the heart of Islam in Iraq and
Iran, is a story of the daily friction between two cultures in the
United
States.
The result of that friction is surprising. The American stereotype of a
foreign-born imam is that of a stern ambassador of a rigid faith.
Instead,
Qazwini represents a dynamic branch of Islam. And he recognizes that
he's
caught up in a powerful struggle in which American culture is reshaping
him
and his followers as much as they are able to change life in the United
States...
ALSO SEE:
CALL TO PRAYER IS AT THE HEART OF ELECTION
Cecil Angel, Detroit Free Press, 7/15/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/dham15_20040715.htm
Voters in Hamtramck will weigh in Tuesday on two controversial issues:
a
noise ordinance to regulate the broadcast of the call to prayer from
mosque
loudspeakers and the recall of three school board members.
For some, the vote they cast in the special election on the noise
ordinance
will be about religious freedom or ethnic tolerance. For others, it
will be
about confronting Islam or stopping noise in the city.
"I'm going to oppose it," resident John Rush, 40, said Wednesday as he
walked on Holbrook. "I don't like it. I think it's imposing religion on
everybody."
Across town on Conant, Mohammad Islam, 31, said the call to prayer,
which
has been broadcast at the Al-Islah Islamic Center since May 28, should
continue.
"It's just a simple prayer thing," he said. "It's like the sounds that
come
from the church."
But no matter how residents vote on the issue, the call to prayer will
continue to be broadcast from the Al-Islah mosque. The reason: City
officials say they do not have the right to deny any mosque the ability
to
broadcast the prayers. They only want the authority to regulate the
sound...
-----
THE CIA'S PRISONERS
Washington Post, 7/15/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50490-2004Jul14.html
FOR DECADES the United States led the denunciation of despots whose
enemies
"disappear" -- vanish into official custody, with no accounting for
their
whereabouts or treatment, no notification of their families and
sometimes,
no acknowledgement that they are being held. Now that same term is
being
applied to prisoners held by the Bush administration in the war on
terrorism. According to the International Red Cross, a number of people
apparently in U.S. custody are unaccounted for. Most are believed to be
held by the CIA in secret facilities outside the United States.
Contrary to
the Geneva Conventions, the detainees have never been visited by the
Red
Cross; contrary to U.S. and international law, some reportedly have
been
subjected to interrogation techniques that most legal authorities
regard as
torture. According to the independent group Human Rights Watch, this
exceptional practice is "perhaps unprecedented in U.S. history." Like
the
Pentagon's mishandling of Iraqi detainees, it cries out for
congressional
review and reform.
At least a dozen of the CIA detainees are senior figures in the al
Qaeda
organization, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an alleged organizer of
the
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and Abu Zubaida, the group's operations
chief.
Few question their status as dangerous enemy combatants or the need to
interrogate them about al Qaeda's networks and plans for attacks -- and
no
one suggests that they have been murdered, like many of the
"disappeared"
in other countries. But some of these men have been held incommunicado
since before April 2002, or long past the time when urgent questioning
or
strict seclusion might have been necessary. Yet still the
administration
refuses to reveal where they are or allow visits by the Red Cross --
something the United States often has advocated for prisoners elsewhere
in
the world, including other terrorists...
ALSO SEE:
DETAINED CLERIC BAFFLED BY RAID
Gaiutra Bahadur, Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/15/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/9156085.ht
m
The Muslim cleric arrested six weeks ago by federal authorities in a
raid
of his East Frankford mosque and home said yesterday he was bewildered
by
the events that led to his detention.
"I've played it in my mind a thousand times," Mohamed Ghorab said by
telephone from York County Jail, where he is being held. "I don't know
why.
There is nothing going on in our mosque."
The interview was his first since dozens of federal agents with rifles,
dogs, and a search warrant for bank, wire-transfer and other financial
records took him into custody on immigration charges.
Ghorab, 45, has not been charged with a crime. He was being held for
overstaying the visitor's visa that brought him from Egypt in 2000.
Today, an immigration judge is to rule at a closed hearing whether the
Muslim preacher can again be granted bond.
Although such hearings are usually open, Judge Grace A. Sease has
issued in
Ghorab's case a protective order - used when an ongoing investigation
or
national security might be compromised...
-----
LAWSUITS FILED BY 2 FORMER PROFESSORS ACCUSE GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN STATE
U.
OF DISCRIMINATION
Kendra Nichols, Chronicle of Higher Education, 7/15/04
http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=z1b8balxkyc943v2726qv1dvjfikuw9y
Two former professors at Georgia Southwestern State University have
filed
federal lawsuits accusing the university of discriminating against them
on
the basis of race, religion, and ethnicity. Both men are seeking
compensatory and punitive damages. Their lawsuits also ask for
positions
comparable to their previous jobs at the university.
Bhanu Prasad, a former assistant professor in Georgia Southwestern's
School
of Computer and Information Sciences, said in his lawsuit that three
officials -- Boris V. Peltsverger, dean of the school; Michael L.
Hanes,
the university's president; and Thomas C. Meredith, chancellor of the
University System of Georgia, of which Georgia Southwestern is part --
had
conspired to discriminate against him based on his status as a black
man of
Indian descent in the United States on a work visa.
Mohammad A. Saheb, a former associate professor in the same school and
an
American citizen, said in a separate lawsuit that he had faced
discrimination based on his religion, Islam, and his Iranian
background.
The same three officials are named as defendants in his lawsuit.
In both suits, which were filed last month in U.S. District Court in
Atlanta, the university and the university system are also defendants.
Spokesmen for both the university and the university system said they
could
not comment on pending litigation. Mr. Peltsverger did respond to
repeated
calls seeking comment.
Mr. Saheb, who received notice that his contract would not be renewed
in
November 2002, is currently unemployed. Mr. Prasad, who resigned from
the
university last summer, is now teaching at Florida A&M University.
Mr. Saheb said in an interview that while he and Mr. Prasad had faced
several derogatory comments from the dean, the problems that prompted
their
lawsuits go beyond racial discrimination and include larger issues like
nepotism and academic fraud. "It's not a matter of just being a race
card
here," he said…
-----
CHIRAC: NO REGRETS FOR BLAMING 'ATTACK' ON MUSLIMS
Michel Zlotowski, Jerusalem Post, 7/15/04
PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac was not remorseful for
condemning
the Muslim community following what appeared to be an anti-Semitic
attack
on a 23-year-old woman in Paris last week, but was later revealed to be
a
complete fabrication.
"I have no regrets about what I said," said Chirac during the annual
Bastille Day interview broadcast live on French television on
Wednesday.
"We are in a time where undoubtedly, we are witnessing racist events
involving our Jewish and Muslim compatriots and others, too. Sometimes
just
simple Frenchmen are attacked because they do not belong to such or
such
community. This is unacceptable. This is against our social contract,
our
ethics. And when there is a manipulation, the manipulator must be
punished
according to the full weight of the law," said Chirac.
Chirac had been criticized by groups like the The Movement Against
Racism
and For Friendship Amongst Peoples (MRAP) for unjustly rushing to
condemn
France's Muslim community for perpetrating the "anti-Semitic
aggression."
Marie-Leonie Leblanc, 23, claimed in a police report that she and her
baby
were attacked by several young Arab men who believed she was Jewish on
a
suburban train on the outskirts of Paris on Friday. She said they had
painted swastikas on her stomach, cut her shirt and her hair and stolen
some of the contents of her handbag. She also said they overturned her
stroller, causing her baby to fall out. She also claimed that no
passengers
came to her assistance. The story was reported throughout the world and
invoked hasty condemnation by French officials...
-----
PROTESTANT GROUP OKS DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAEL
Eric J. Greenberg, Forward, 7/15/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=greenberg200407141104
In an unprecedented victory for pro-Palestinian activists, leaders of
the
largest Presbyterian denomination officially equated the Jewish state
with
apartheid South Africa and have voted to stop investing in Israel.
With the decision, approved in a 431-62 vote at the 216th annual
General
Assembly of Presbyterian Church (USA), the church, boasting nearly 3
million members, is believed to be the largest organization or
institution
to join the fledgling divestment campaign against Israel. It is the
first
Christian denomination to do so, according to Sister Patricia Wolfe,
executive director of the Interfaith Center for Corporate
Responsibility,
coalition of 275 Christian denominations.
"This now raises the issue," Wolfe said, "and will cause ICCR to have a
discussion."
In 2001 the combined value of the church's foundation and pension fund
was
estimated at $7 billion.
Leaders of Presbyterian Church (USA), a mainline Protestant church,
approved several other anti-Israel resolutions at their gathering in
Richmond, Va., and also refused to halt funding for "messianic
congregations" that target Jews for conversion.
The Presbyterian resolutions came just as Jewish organizations were
hailing
the results of a historic international interfaith meeting in Buenos
Aires
last week, where Roman Catholic officials for the first time signed on
to a
document equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism…
SEE ALSO:
BNP MEMBERS FILMED ADMITTING MUSLIM ATTACKS
Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters, 7/15/04
LONDON - A TV documentary to be shown today shows members of the
far-right
British National Party calling Islam "wicked" and confessing to
assaults on
Muslims.
The BBC expose, to be aired on Thursday and released in advance to
other
media, has infuriated Muslims and undercut the BNP's efforts to
cultivate a
more moderate image.
It may also lead to criminal prosecutions.
In secretly recorded footage in the northern town of Keighley, BNP
leader
Nick Griffin -- who recently hosted French National Front leader
Jean-Marie
Le Pen -- rails against the Koran and acknowledges his views are
legally
dangerous.
"That's the way that this wicked, vicious faith has expanded through a
handful of cranky lunatics about 1,300 years ago until it's now
sweeping
country after country," he says at one point…
-----
CHICAGOLAND MUSLIMS ADDRESS HUMAN TRAGEDY IN DARFUR, SUDAN COUNCIL
ESTABLISHES RELIEF FUND FOR SUFFERING REFUGEES
www.ciogc.org
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), an
umbrella organization serving over 400,000 Muslims throughout
Chicagoland,
has initiated an Awareness/Relief program to (1) inform
Americans-Muslims
and those of other faiths - about the suffering of hundreds of
thousands of
Sudanese refugees escaping persecution in the Darfur region of Western
Sudan, and (2) raise funds for their assistance. An apparent ethnic
cleansing campaign there has uprooted over an estimated one million
people
from their homes; these refugees are now barely surviving in makeshift
camps, with little access to food or medical care. Their plight is
certain
to become more desperate as the onset of the rainy season makes local
roads
impassable and obstructs incoming relief supplies. The United Nations
has
called the situation in Darfur "the world's greatest humanitarian
crisis,"
and has estimated that up to 300,000 may perish if nothing is done.
Expressing deep concern about this crisis, Council Chairman Kareem
Irfan
stated: "The CIOGC and Chicago Muslims are distressed at the unfolding
human tragedy in Darfur and the severe plight of hundreds of thousands
of
innocent civilians, including women and children, who have been
assaulted,
lost their homes and property, and brutally thrown out of their
villages as
part of a pogrom apparently targeting ethnic, non-Arab Sudanese. It is
an
urgent moral imperative of the U.S. and the international community to
work
with the Sudanese authorities to halt this human tragedy, guarantee the
security and fundamental human rights of all Sudanese, and cover the
immediate needs of displaced refugees."
The Council has established a special Darfur Relief Fund* for pooling
tax-deductible, charitable donations in support of these refugees.
Mosques
and Islamic centers across Chicago will focus on the situation in
Darfur
and its victims during Friday sermons and other congregational events,
and
raise charitable funds for this cause. We urge Muslims and fellow
Americans of all faiths to spread awareness of the desperate situation
in
Darfur, contact their elected representatives in Congress to condemn
the
violence in Sudan, and press for urgent humanitarian intervention by
the
U.S. and the global community.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/16/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TWO WORTHY OF ENVY
* 'AWARE' PRIMER WILL BE REVISED (Orlando Sentinel)
- ID Program for Fliers Is Grounded (Star-Telegram)
* CAIR-SAC VAL: MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
- CA Muslims to Hold Community Picnic/Voter Reg Drive
* 'SECRET FILM SHOWS IRAQ PRISONERS SODOMISED' (Indep)
- MI Attorneys Fight for Muslim Civil Rights (NPR)
* PAUSE FOR HINDSIGHT (NY Times)
* ARAB-AMERICAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK KERRY (Reuters)
- Arab-Americans Turn against Bush in Key States (FT)
* IL: ROLLING MEADOWS APPROVES MOSQUE (Chicago Tribune)
* RARE ISLAMIC ART ON SHOW IN WASHINGTON (Daily Times)
* MUSLIM HOMESCHOOLERS MEET IN MA
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TWO WORTHY OF ENVY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Avoid envy except in
two
cases: a person who God has given wealth and he spends it in the right
way,
and a person who God has given wisdom and he makes his decisions
according
to that wisdom and teaches it to the others."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol 2, Hadith 490
-----
FL: 'AWARE' PRIMER WILL BE REVISED
Brian Baskin, Orlando Sentinel, 7/16/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-loccapfolo16071604jul16,1,3324058.story
A program that will urge workers in Orange County such as cable TV
installers and firefighters to report suspicious or illegal activities
they
spot in private homes will be rewritten after complaints the plan would
target Arab-Americans.
The Orange County Sheriff's office has already printed 5,000 training
brochures outlining the Citizen Awareness Program, which seeks to train
workers who regularly enter private homes to identify signs of
terrorism,
drug trafficking and child pornography. But law enforcement officials
will
now scrap the brochures -- one week after the Florida ACLU and others
labeled the effort as an attempt to create a citizen spy network that
would
infringe on privacy rights.
The sharpest criticism came from Arab-Americans, who said language in
the
brochure amounted to racial profiling because it said several adult
males
"usually of Middle Eastern appearance" who live together with little or
no
furnishings could be a sign of international terrorism.
The brochures will be rewritten and references to specific ethnic
groups
will be removed from the final version, said Joyce Dawley, regional
director for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and co-chairman
of
the Central Florida's Domestic Security Task Force, which oversees the
program…
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations tried
and
failed to get a copy of the program brochure from the Orange County
Sheriff's Office, according to spokesman Ahmed Bedir. The group is
still
trying to schedule a meeting with FDLE to discuss the plan.The Florida
ACLU
is also largely in the dark, said Scott Rost, Central Florida chapter
chairman. But he said the Citizens Awareness Program is probably
unfixable.
ALSO SEE:
ID PROGRAM FOR FLIERS IS GROUNDED
Bryon Okada, Star-Telegram, 7/16/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/9169332.htm?1c
The controversial, high-dollar effort to create a vast data-mining
computer
network that ranks air travelers based on the likelihood that they're
terrorists has stalled, maybe for good.
The next-generation Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or
CAPPS II, is not dead, federal officials said. But the program's
problems
have caused officials to hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and they are largely
starting
anew.
"Homeland Security is redesigning the program, and certainly this new
proposal is a significant undertaking -- and is still being developed,"
said Amy von Walter, spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department's
Transportation Security Administration.
Federal officials were still scrambling Thursday to address a USA Today
report that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge had called CAPPS II
"dead" while moving his hands as if he were driving a stake through his
heart.
CAPPS II was supposed to be the high-tech crown jewel of the nation's
domestic response after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. It was also
envisioned
as the key component of a strategy to screen passengers before they get
to
the airport.
The system was expected to feed each passenger's basic data -- name,
address, telephone number and birth date -- into private and public
databases to verify identity and generate a color-coded score. Greens
would
be OK. Yellows would need more screening. Reds would be the bad guys…
-----
SACRAMENTO VALLEY MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
Meeting initiated by FBI to discuss concerns of the Muslim Community
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 7/16/04) - Leaders of the Sacramento Valley Islamic
community met yesterday with the FBI to discuss issues of concern to
local
Muslims.
The meeting with Special Agent in Charge Keith Slaughter, facilitated
by
the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-SV), addressed issues related to anti-Muslim hate crimes, racial
profiling, security in Sacramento, and the FBI's counterterrorism
efforts.
Suggestions to improve communication between law enforcement and the
Muslim
community were also discussed.
In the near future, CAIR-SV will hold town hall meetings between the
Muslim
community and the FBI in other parts of the Sacramento Valley.
The meeting included leaders representing more than a dozen Islamic
organizations in the Sacramento Valley region, including members of
CAIR-SV, Farooqia Islamic Center of Lodi, Islamic Society of Folsom,
Masjid
As-Sabur, Masjid Ibrahim, Masjid AnNur Islamic Center, Muslim Mosque,
SALAM, Qoba Foundation, South Sacramento Islamic Center, and the Davis
Islamic Center.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director, Basim Elkarra (916) 289-3748
ALSO SEE:
SACRAMENTO VALLEY MUSLIMS HOLD ANNUAL COMMUNITY PICNIC
WHAT: Annual Muslim Community Picnic will host voter registration drive
to
be held during the picnic
On Saturday, July 17, 2004 Muslim communities from across the
Sacramento
Valley will gather for an annual picnic. The picnic is sponsored by a
number of organizations:
Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations (COSVO), Islamic
Society
of Folsom, Masjid As-Sabur, Masjid Ibrahim, Masjid AnNur Islamic
Center,
Muslim Mosque, SALAM, Qoba Foundation, Islamic Jafaria Association,
South
Sacramento Islamic Center, and Islamic Center of Davis.
An important feature of the Annual Community Picnic will be the Voter
Registration Drive sponsored by CAIR-Sacramento Valley. CAIR has
initiated
the “National American Muslim Voter Registration Drive” to register
100,000
new voters by the November 2004 election.
WHEN: Saturday, July 17, 2004 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
WHERE: Hagan Park, Lot B2 and B3, Rancho Cordova, California.
Directions: From 50 East take the Mather Field Exit. Turn left on
Mather
Field. Turn right on Folsom Blvd. Turn left on Coloma Rd. Turn left on
Chase Dr. (Second traffic light). Go straight to Hagan Park Gate.
Contact: Farouk Fakira, President Masjid AnNur Islamic Center (916)
717-1006, Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR-SV (916) 289-3748
-----
'SECRET FILM SHOWS IRAQ PRISONERS SODOMISED'
Charles Arthur, Independent, 7/16/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=541472
Young male prisoners were filmed being sodomised by American soldiers
at
the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, according to the journalist who
first
revealed the abuses there.
Seymour Hersh, who reported on the torture of the prisoners in New
Yorker
magazine in May, told an audience in San Francisco that "it's worse".
But
he added that he would reveal the extent of the abuses: "I'm not done
reporting on all this," he told a meeting of the American Civil
Liberties
Union.
He said: "The boys were sodomised with the cameras rolling, and the
worst
part is the soundtrack, of the boys shrieking. And this is your
government
at war."
He accused the US administration, and all but accused President George
Bush
and Vice-President Dick Cheney of complicity in covering up what he
called
"war crimes.”
ALSO SEE:
ATTORNEYS FIGHT FOR MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS IN U.S.
Alex Chadwick, National Public Radio, 7/15/04
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3424008
The abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq have created a need for a new
kind
of lawyer: a Muslim civil rights attorney. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports on
one
such lawyer working in Michigan.
One of those drawn into the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Baghdad
is a
Muslim-American civil rights lawyer who, 10 years ago, was an
accountant.
His name is Shereef Akeel. NPR's Ari Shapiro has the story of how he
went
from accountant to Abu Ghraib abuse attorney and how his career
paralleled
the emerging Muslim civil rights movement in this country.
ARI SHAPIRO reporting:
Shereef Akeel has a positive take on life. He can even find the
positive
side of the torture scandal at American-run prisons in Iraq.
Mr. SHEREEF AKEEL (Civil Rights Lawyer): The wonderful thing about
what's
happening right now, even though these are difficult times for America,
is
that you see the process working, the democratic process working, and I
feel like I'm a part of it right now. You know, the Senate hearings are
doing their thing with respect to military, the Army is doing their
thing
and I'm doing my thing in the civil arena to serve as a check. And this
will send a message around the world that this is America.
SHAPIRO: After eight years working as an accountant, Shereef went
tonight
school for law. When he graduated in 1996, Akeel joined two other
attorneys
in a firm that mostly handled personal injury claims. They were a Jew,
a
Christian and a Muslim--Melamed, Dailey, and Akeel. He'd been in
practice
with them for five years, and then came September 11th.
Mr. AKEEL: I never imagined that when these planes hit the World Trade
Center that they would have such an immense impact on my life.
SHAPIRO: On the morning of September 12th, a Yemeni man named Ahmed Esa
arrived to work at the Detroit construction company where he'd been a
welder for 15 years. Esa's boss fired him that day, shouting racial
slurs
and calling Esa a terrorist. Esa made his way to the Michigan office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, where Horace Ahmad (ph)
was
working as executive director. At that point, CAIR had had little
experience with discrimination cases. Ahmad turned to his Rolodex.
Mr. HAARIS AHMAD (Council on American-Islamic Relations): Honestly,
there
was just a card there, you know--that this is the attorney that we've
worked with in the past for different things, just to ask general
questions
on. And that was the first person I called..
-----
PAUSE FOR HINDSIGHT
New York Times, 7/16/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/16/opinion/16FRI1.html
Over the last few months, this page has repeatedly demanded that
President
Bush acknowledge the mistakes his administration made when it came to
the
war in Iraq, particularly its role in misleading the American people
about
Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and links with Al Qaeda.
If we
want Mr. Bush to be candid about his mistakes, we should be equally
open
about our own.
During the run-up to the war, The Times ran dozens of editorials on
Iraq,
and our insistence that any invasion be backed by ''broad international
support'' became a kind of mantra. It was the administration's failure
to
get that kind of consensus that ultimately led us to oppose the war.
But we agreed with the president on one critical point: that Saddam
Hussein
was concealing a large weapons program that could pose a threat to the
United States or its allies. We repeatedly urged the United Nations
Security Council to join with Mr. Bush and force Iraq to disarm.
As we've noted in several editorials since the fall of Baghdad, we were
wrong about the weapons. And we should have been more aggressive in
helping
our readers understand that there was always a possibility that no
large
stockpiles existed.
At the time, we believed that Saddam Hussein was hiding large
quantities of
chemical and biological weapons because we assumed that he would have
behaved differently if he wasn't. If there were no weapons, we thought,
Iraq would surely have cooperated fully with weapons inspectors to
avoid
the pain of years under an international embargo and, in the end, a war
that it was certain to lose.
That was a reasonable theory, one almost universally accepted in
Washington
and widely credited by diplomats all around the world. But it was only
a
theory. American intelligence had not received any on-the-ground
reports
from Iraq since the Clinton administration resorted to punitive
airstrikes
in 1998 and the U.N. weapons inspectors were withdrawn. The weapons
inspectors who returned in 2002 found Iraq's records far from
transparent,
and their job was never made easy. But they did not find any evidence
of
new weapons programs or stocks of prohibited old ones. When American
intelligence agencies began providing them tips on where to look, they
came
up empty...
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK KERRY
Rolando Garcia, Reuters, 7/16/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5684415
WASHINGTON- Concern about civil liberties and the war in Iraq have
pushed
President George W. Bush's already low support among Arab-American
voters
in key battleground states even lower, a survey showed on Thursday.
In a poll of Arab-American voters in the key states of Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Florida only 24 percent said they would vote for Bush,
a
dip from 30 percent in April, while 51 percent supported Democratic
nominee
John Kerry.
In the poll, conducted between July 9 and 11, 13 percent supported
independent candidate Ralph Nader, who is of Lebanese descent.
"Maybe if Bush said 'I'm sorry' and fired (Attorney General John)
Ashcroft
and (Vice President Dick) Cheney, that might make a difference," said
James
Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, which commissioned the
poll.
Ashcroft has been targeted by rights groups for security measures
introduced since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, some of which have
impacted
Arab-Americans, and Cheney is criticized by opponents for unwavering
support for invading Iraq.
Bush narrowly won the Arab-American vote in 2000, but 69 percent in the
latest poll said Bush did not deserve to be re-elected, including 30
percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans...
ALSO SEE
ARAB-AMERICANS TURN AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IN KEY STATES
Alex Barker, Financial Times, 7/16/04
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373753720
A growing number ofArab-American voters in four battleground states
opposethe re-election of President George W. Bush, according to a poll
released yesterday.
The survey underscores the difficulties the president faces with a
community that broadly supported his election campaign in 2000.
In a three-way race, 51 per cent of those surveyed by the Arab American
Institute (AAI) said they would vote for John Kerry, the Democratic
presidential candidate, and 13 per cent for Ralph Nader, the
independent
aspirant of Arab-American heritage. Only 24 per cent planned to vote
for Mr
Bush in November.
Five hundred voters were surveyed in the swing states of Florida,
Michigan,
Ohio and Pennsylvania, where an estimated 1.1m Arab-Americans live.
A sharp drop in support for Mr Bush is evident when yesterday's survey
is
compared with polling conducted four years ago.
Exit polls from 2000 indicated that 45 per cent of all Arab-Americans -
about two-thirds of whom are Christian - voted for Mr Bush, as did 58.5
per
cent of Muslim voters...
-----
ROLLING MEADOWS APPROVES MOSQUE
Jamey Fry, Chicago Tribune, 7/16/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0407150220jul15,1,4878316.story
Rolling Meadows will let a growing Islamic community center relocate
within
a manufacturing district, a move that caused no public opposition but
created a legal dilemma for the City Council.
To allow the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs of Chicago to move
two
doors to a larger building, the council on Tuesday had to rewrite its
zoning regulations and authorize a special-use permit for the opening
of a
mosque.
Now the council intends to amend the regulations again so no other
religious group can move into the district.
"No responsible citizen should be 100 percent comfortable with a
council
that would do that," said Ald. Tom Rooney, who opposed the rewriting of
the
zoning regulations but approved the special-use permit.
"If for any group less worthy than this group, people would be all over
us," he said. "It's a frustrating position to be in."
Mohammed Salam, the society's president, said after the vote he was
happy
and relieved.
"There's been a lot of anxiety for a long time," Salam said. "I think
the
city looks good presenting the values of tolerance and acceptance...”
-----
RARE ISLAMIC ART MASTERPIECES ON SHOW IN WASHINGTON
Daily Times, Daily Times, 7/16/04
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-7-2004_pg7_42
WASHINGTON- Thanks to Saudi generosity, a touring exhibition of more
than
100 works from one of the most renowned Islamic art collections in the
world opens at the National Gallery of Art, from July 18 through 6
February.
Selected from a collection of more than 10,000 objects, ‘Palace and
Mosque:
Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum’, as the exhibition is
named, will convey the richness of the Islamic art of the Middle East
on a
scale and at a level of quality hard to find in any collection outside
the
region, according to the National Gallery of Art.
Organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, in
association
with the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the exhibition is taking
place while a new gallery for art of the Islamic Middle East is under
development at the V&A.
The exhibition will also travel to the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth,
Texas (April 3-September 4, 2005); the Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo,
Japan
(October 22-December 11, 2005); and the Millennium Galleries,
Sheffield,
England (January 14-April 16, 2006).
The exhibition at the National Gallery of Art has been made possible by
a
generos donation by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, ambassador of Saudi
Arabia to
the United States. The international tour of this exhibition has
benefited
through contributions by Mohammed Jameel, president of the Abdul Latif
Jameel Group, the benefactor of the V&A’s Jameel Gallery of Islamic
Art,
which is dedicated to the memory of Abdul Latif Jameel, the late
founder of
the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, and his wife Nafisa. The exhibition is
supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the
Humanities…
-----
MUSLIM HOMESCHOOLERS MEET IN MA
The New England Muslim Educator's Network (NEMEN) will hold it's first
Muslim Educator's Potluck Picnic and Book Fair Saturday, August 21,
2004 at
Al-Hamra Academy in Shrewsbury, MA. NEMEN serves all Muslim educators
in
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
Beyond the all day networking, fellowship, job fair, great food and
educator's book fair, two special information sessions have been set
up:
2:00pm - If you are interested in starting an Islamic school come and
speak
to those who've done it. Get pointers and tips.
3:00pm - New to home schooling or interested receive an information
packet
and ask questions from veteran Muslim homeschoolers. and answer
questions
about home schooling.
For more information visit the NEMEN website http://www.nemen.net
For additional information about home schooling
http://www.muslimhomeschool.com or more about Islamic schools
http://www.4islamicschools.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-infonet/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/16/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TWO WORTHY OF ENVY
* 'AWARE' PRIMER WILL BE REVISED (Orlando Sentinel)
- ID Program for Fliers Is Grounded (Star-Telegram)
* CAIR-SAC VAL: MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
- CA Muslims to Hold Community Picnic/Voter Reg Drive
* 'SECRET FILM SHOWS IRAQ PRISONERS SODOMISED' (Indep)
- MI Attorneys Fight for Muslim Civil Rights (NPR)
* PAUSE FOR HINDSIGHT (NY Times)
* ARAB-AMERICAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK KERRY (Reuters)
- Arab-Americans Turn against Bush in Key States (FT)
* IL: ROLLING MEADOWS APPROVES MOSQUE (Chicago Tribune)
* RARE ISLAMIC ART ON SHOW IN WASHINGTON (Daily Times)
* MUSLIM HOME SCHOOLERS MEET IN MA
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TWO WORTHY OF ENVY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Avoid envy except in
two
cases: a person who God has given wealth and he spends it in the right
way,
and a person who God has given wisdom and he makes his decisions
according
to that wisdom and teaches it to the others."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol 2, Hadith 490
-----
FL: 'AWARE' PRIMER WILL BE REVISED
Brian Baskin, Orlando Sentinel, 7/16/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-loccapfolo16071604jul16,1,3324058.story
A program that will urge workers in Orange County such as cable TV
installers and firefighters to report suspicious or illegal activities
they
spot in private homes will be rewritten after complaints the plan would
target Arab-Americans.
The Orange County Sheriff's office has already printed 5,000 training
brochures outlining the Citizen Awareness Program, which seeks to train
workers who regularly enter private homes to identify signs of
terrorism,
drug trafficking and child pornography. But law enforcement officials
will
now scrap the brochures -- one week after the Florida ACLU and others
labeled the effort as an attempt to create a citizen spy network that
would
infringe on privacy rights.
The sharpest criticism came from Arab-Americans, who said language in
the
brochure amounted to racial profiling because it said several adult
males
"usually of Middle Eastern appearance" who live together with little or
no
furnishings could be a sign of international terrorism.
The brochures will be rewritten and references to specific ethnic
groups
will be removed from the final version, said Joyce Dawley, regional
director for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and co-chairman
of
the Central Florida's Domestic Security Task Force, which oversees the
program…
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations tried
and
failed to get a copy of the program brochure from the Orange County
Sheriff's Office, according to spokesman Ahmed Bedir. The group is
still
trying to schedule a meeting with FDLE to discuss the plan.The Florida
ACLU
is also largely in the dark, said Scott Rost, Central Florida chapter
chairman. But he said the Citizens Awareness Program is probably
unfixable.
ALSO SEE:
ID PROGRAM FOR FLIERS IS GROUNDED
Bryon Okada, Star-Telegram, 7/16/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/9169332.htm?1c
The controversial, high-dollar effort to create a vast data-mining
computer
network that ranks air travelers based on the likelihood that they're
terrorists has stalled, maybe for good.
The next-generation Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or
CAPPS II, is not dead, federal officials said. But the program's
problems
have caused officials to hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and they are largely
starting
anew.
"Homeland Security is redesigning the program, and certainly this new
proposal is a significant undertaking -- and is still being developed,"
said Amy von Walter, spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department's
Transportation Security Administration.
Federal officials were still scrambling Thursday to address a USA Today
report that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge had called CAPPS II
"dead" while moving his hands as if he were driving a stake through his
heart.
CAPPS II was supposed to be the high-tech crown jewel of the nation's
domestic response after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. It was also
envisioned
as the key component of a strategy to screen passengers before they get
to
the airport.
The system was expected to feed each passenger's basic data -- name,
address, telephone number and birth date -- into private and public
databases to verify identity and generate a color-coded score. Greens
would
be OK. Yellows would need more screening. Reds would be the bad guys…
-----
SACRAMENTO VALLEY MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
Meeting initiated by FBI to discuss concerns of the Muslim Community
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 7/16/04) - Leaders of the Sacramento Valley Islamic
community met yesterday with the FBI to discuss issues of concern to
local
Muslims.
The meeting with Special Agent in Charge Keith Slaughter, facilitated
by
the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-SV), addressed issues related to anti-Muslim hate crimes, racial
profiling, security in Sacramento, and the FBI's counterterrorism
efforts.
Suggestions to improve communication between law enforcement and the
Muslim
community were also discussed.
In the near future, CAIR-SV will hold town hall meetings between the
Muslim
community and the FBI in other parts of the Sacramento Valley.
The meeting included leaders representing more than a dozen Islamic
organizations in the Sacramento Valley region, including members of
CAIR-SV, Farooqia Islamic Center of Lodi, Islamic Society of Folsom,
Masjid
As-Sabur, Masjid Ibrahim, Masjid AnNur Islamic Center, Muslim Mosque,
SALAM, Qoba Foundation, South Sacramento Islamic Center, and the Davis
Islamic Center.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director, Basim Elkarra (916) 289-3748
ALSO SEE:
SACRAMENTO VALLEY MUSLIMS HOLD ANNUAL COMMUNITY PICNIC
WHAT: Annual Muslim Community Picnic will host voter registration drive
to
be held during the picnic
On Saturday, July 17, 2004 Muslim communities from across the
Sacramento
Valley will gather for an annual picnic. The picnic is sponsored by a
number of organizations:
Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations (COSVO), Islamic
Society
of Folsom, Masjid As-Sabur, Masjid Ibrahim, Masjid AnNur Islamic
Center,
Muslim Mosque, SALAM, Qoba Foundation, Islamic Jafaria Association,
South
Sacramento Islamic Center, and Islamic Center of Davis.
An important feature of the Annual Community Picnic will be the Voter
Registration Drive sponsored by CAIR-Sacramento Valley. CAIR has
initiated
the “National American Muslim Voter Registration Drive” to register
100,000
new voters by the November 2004 election.
WHEN: Saturday, July 17, 2004 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
WHERE: Hagan Park, Lot B2 and B3, Rancho Cordova, California.
Directions: From 50 East take the Mather Field Exit. Turn left on
Mather
Field. Turn right on Folsom Blvd. Turn left on Coloma Rd. Turn left on
Chase Dr. (Second traffic light). Go straight to Hagan Park Gate.
Contact: Farouk Fakira, President Masjid AnNur Islamic Center (916)
717-1006, Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR-SV (916) 289-3748
-----
'SECRET FILM SHOWS IRAQ PRISONERS SODOMISED'
Charles Arthur, Independent, 7/16/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=541472
Young male prisoners were filmed being sodomised by American soldiers
at
the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, according to the journalist who
first
revealed the abuses there.
Seymour Hersh, who reported on the torture of the prisoners in New
Yorker
magazine in May, told an audience in San Francisco that "it's worse".
But
he added that he would reveal the extent of the abuses: "I'm not done
reporting on all this," he told a meeting of the American Civil
Liberties
Union.
He said: "The boys were sodomised with the cameras rolling, and the
worst
part is the soundtrack, of the boys shrieking. And this is your
government
at war."
He accused the US administration, and all but accused President George
Bush
and Vice-President Dick Cheney of complicity in covering up what he
called
"war crimes.”
ALSO SEE:
ATTORNEYS FIGHT FOR MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS IN U.S.
Alex Chadwick, National Public Radio, 7/15/04
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3424008
The abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq have created a need for a new
kind
of lawyer: a Muslim civil rights attorney. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports on
one
such lawyer working in Michigan.
One of those drawn into the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Baghdad
is a
Muslim-American civil rights lawyer who, 10 years ago, was an
accountant.
His name is Shereef Akeel. NPR's Ari Shapiro has the story of how he
went
from accountant to Abu Ghraib abuse attorney and how his career
paralleled
the emerging Muslim civil rights movement in this country.
ARI SHAPIRO reporting:
Shereef Akeel has a positive take on life. He can even find the
positive
side of the torture scandal at American-run prisons in Iraq.
Mr. SHEREEF AKEEL (Civil Rights Lawyer): The wonderful thing about
what's
happening right now, even though these are difficult times for America,
is
that you see the process working, the democratic process working, and I
feel like I'm a part of it right now. You know, the Senate hearings are
doing their thing with respect to military, the Army is doing their
thing
and I'm doing my thing in the civil arena to serve as a check. And this
will send a message around the world that this is America.
SHAPIRO: After eight years working as an accountant, Shereef went
tonight
school for law. When he graduated in 1996, Akeel joined two other
attorneys
in a firm that mostly handled personal injury claims. They were a Jew,
a
Christian and a Muslim--Melamed, Dailey, and Akeel. He'd been in
practice
with them for five years, and then came September 11th.
Mr. AKEEL: I never imagined that when these planes hit the World Trade
Center that they would have such an immense impact on my life.
SHAPIRO: On the morning of September 12th, a Yemeni man named Ahmed Esa
arrived to work at the Detroit construction company where he'd been a
welder for 15 years. Esa's boss fired him that day, shouting racial
slurs
and calling Esa a terrorist. Esa made his way to the Michigan office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, where Horace Ahmad (ph)
was
working as executive director. At that point, CAIR had had little
experience with discrimination cases. Ahmad turned to his Rolodex.
Mr. HAARIS AHMAD (Council on American-Islamic Relations): Honestly,
there
was just a card there, you know--that this is the attorney that we've
worked with in the past for different things, just to ask general
questions
on. And that was the first person I called..
-----
PAUSE FOR HINDSIGHT
New York Times, 7/16/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/16/opinion/16FRI1.html
Over the last few months, this page has repeatedly demanded that
President
Bush acknowledge the mistakes his administration made when it came to
the
war in Iraq, particularly its role in misleading the American people
about
Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and links with Al Qaeda.
If we
want Mr. Bush to be candid about his mistakes, we should be equally
open
about our own.
During the run-up to the war, The Times ran dozens of editorials on
Iraq,
and our insistence that any invasion be backed by ''broad international
support'' became a kind of mantra. It was the administration's failure
to
get that kind of consensus that ultimately led us to oppose the war.
But we agreed with the president on one critical point: that Saddam
Hussein
was concealing a large weapons program that could pose a threat to the
United States or its allies. We repeatedly urged the United Nations
Security Council to join with Mr. Bush and force Iraq to disarm.
As we've noted in several editorials since the fall of Baghdad, we were
wrong about the weapons. And we should have been more aggressive in
helping
our readers understand that there was always a possibility that no
large
stockpiles existed.
At the time, we believed that Saddam Hussein was hiding large
quantities of
chemical and biological weapons because we assumed that he would have
behaved differently if he wasn't. If there were no weapons, we thought,
Iraq would surely have cooperated fully with weapons inspectors to
avoid
the pain of years under an international embargo and, in the end, a war
that it was certain to lose.
That was a reasonable theory, one almost universally accepted in
Washington
and widely credited by diplomats all around the world. But it was only
a
theory. American intelligence had not received any on-the-ground
reports
from Iraq since the Clinton administration resorted to punitive
airstrikes
in 1998 and the U.N. weapons inspectors were withdrawn. The weapons
inspectors who returned in 2002 found Iraq's records far from
transparent,
and their job was never made easy. But they did not find any evidence
of
new weapons programs or stocks of prohibited old ones. When American
intelligence agencies began providing them tips on where to look, they
came
up empty...
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK KERRY
Rolando Garcia, Reuters, 7/16/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5684415
WASHINGTON- Concern about civil liberties and the war in Iraq have
pushed
President George W. Bush's already low support among Arab-American
voters
in key battleground states even lower, a survey showed on Thursday.
In a poll of Arab-American voters in the key states of Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Florida only 24 percent said they would vote for Bush,
a
dip from 30 percent in April, while 51 percent supported Democratic
nominee
John Kerry.
In the poll, conducted between July 9 and 11, 13 percent supported
independent candidate Ralph Nader, who is of Lebanese descent.
"Maybe if Bush said 'I'm sorry' and fired (Attorney General John)
Ashcroft
and (Vice President Dick) Cheney, that might make a difference," said
James
Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, which commissioned the
poll.
Ashcroft has been targeted by rights groups for security measures
introduced since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, some of which have
impacted
Arab-Americans, and Cheney is criticized by opponents for unwavering
support for invading Iraq.
Bush narrowly won the Arab-American vote in 2000, but 69 percent in the
latest poll said Bush did not deserve to be re-elected, including 30
percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans...
ALSO SEE
ARAB-AMERICANS TURN AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IN KEY STATES
Alex Barker, Financial Times, 7/16/04
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373753720
A growing number ofArab-American voters in four battleground states
opposethe re-election of President George W. Bush, according to a poll
released yesterday.
The survey underscores the difficulties the president faces with a
community that broadly supported his election campaign in 2000.
In a three-way race, 51 per cent of those surveyed by the Arab American
Institute (AAI) said they would vote for John Kerry, the Democratic
presidential candidate, and 13 per cent for Ralph Nader, the
independent
aspirant of Arab-American heritage. Only 24 per cent planned to vote
for Mr
Bush in November.
Five hundred voters were surveyed in the swing states of Florida,
Michigan,
Ohio and Pennsylvania, where an estimated 1.1m Arab-Americans live.
A sharp drop in support for Mr Bush is evident when yesterday's survey
is
compared with polling conducted four years ago.
Exit polls from 2000 indicated that 45 per cent of all Arab-Americans -
about two-thirds of whom are Christian - voted for Mr Bush, as did 58.5
per
cent of Muslim voters...
-----
ROLLING MEADOWS APPROVES MOSQUE
Jamey Fry, Chicago Tribune, 7/16/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0407150220jul15,1,4878316.story
Rolling Meadows will let a growing Islamic community center relocate
within
a manufacturing district, a move that caused no public opposition but
created a legal dilemma for the City Council.
To allow the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs of Chicago to move
two
doors to a larger building, the council on Tuesday had to rewrite its
zoning regulations and authorize a special-use permit for the opening
of a
mosque.
Now the council intends to amend the regulations again so no other
religious group can move into the district.
"No responsible citizen should be 100 percent comfortable with a
council
that would do that," said Ald. Tom Rooney, who opposed the rewriting of
the
zoning regulations but approved the special-use permit.
"If for any group less worthy than this group, people would be all over
us," he said. "It's a frustrating position to be in."
Mohammed Salam, the society's president, said after the vote he was
happy
and relieved.
"There's been a lot of anxiety for a long time," Salam said. "I think
the
city looks good presenting the values of tolerance and acceptance...”
-----
RARE ISLAMIC ART MASTERPIECES ON SHOW IN WASHINGTON
Daily Times, Daily Times, 7/16/04
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-7-2004_pg7_42
WASHINGTON- Thanks to Saudi generosity, a touring exhibition of more
than
100 works from one of the most renowned Islamic art collections in the
world opens at the National Gallery of Art, from July 18 through 6
February.
Selected from a collection of more than 10,000 objects, ‘Palace and
Mosque:
Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum’, as the exhibition is
named, will convey the richness of the Islamic art of the Middle East
on a
scale and at a level of quality hard to find in any collection outside
the
region, according to the National Gallery of Art.
Organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, in
association
with the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the exhibition is taking
place while a new gallery for art of the Islamic Middle East is under
development at the V&A.
The exhibition will also travel to the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth,
Texas (April 3-September 4, 2005); the Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo,
Japan
(October 22-December 11, 2005); and the Millennium Galleries,
Sheffield,
England (January 14-April 16, 2006).
The exhibition at the National Gallery of Art has been made possible by
a
generos donation by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, ambassador of Saudi
Arabia to
the United States. The international tour of this exhibition has
benefited
through contributions by Mohammed Jameel, president of the Abdul Latif
Jameel Group, the benefactor of the V&A’s Jameel Gallery of Islamic
Art,
which is dedicated to the memory of Abdul Latif Jameel, the late
founder of
the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, and his wife Nafisa. The exhibition is
supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the
Humanities…
-----
MUSLIM HOMESCHOOLERS MEET IN MA
The New England Muslim Educator's Network (NEMEN) will hold it's first
Muslim Educator's Potluck Picnic and Book Fair Saturday, August 21,
2004 at
Al-Hamra Academy in Shrewsbury, MA. NEMEN serves all Muslim educators
in
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
Beyond the all day networking, fellowship, job fair, great food and
educator's book fair, two special information sessions have been set
up:
2:00pm - If you are interested in starting an Islamic school come and
speak
to those who've done it. Get pointers and tips.
3:00pm - New to home schooling or interested receive an information
packet
and ask questions from veteran Muslim homeschoolers. and answer
questions
about home schooling.
For more information visit the NEMEN website http://www.nemen.net
For additional information about home schooling
http://www.muslimhomeschool.com or more about Islamic schools
http://www.4islamicschools.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 God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/18/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: LEADERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
* CAIR-FL: CIVIL RIGHTS ERODING, MUSLIMS SAY (Sun-Sentinel)
* FBI STARTS TO QUESTION MUSLIMS IN U.S. (LA Times)
- Interviews of Muslims to Broaden (Washington Post)
* NY: FBI OFFICIAL, MUSLIM LEADERS MEET (Staten Island Advance)
* KY: MUSLIM ACCUSES AIRPORT CONTRACTOR OF BIAS
* NJ: MUSLIM GROUPS PUBLISH ADS TO CONDEMN TERRORISM (AP)
- CAIR Launches 'Not in the name of Islam' Petition Drive
- Sign the Petition
* MI: NEW GRAD TO LAUNCH MUSLIM YOUTH GROUP (Flint Journal)
- VA: Scouts' Mission Based on Faith (Daily Press)
* MI: VOTE THIS WEEK ON MOSQUE'S CALL TO PRAYER (AP)
* IRAQ'S PM ALLAWI SHOT SIX BLINDFOLDED PRISONERS (Sunday Herald)
- Special Report: Iyad Allawi (Sunday Herald)
* CORRECTION: FBI OFFICIAL'S NAME MISSPELLED
------
VERSE OF THE DAY: LEADERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
And [know that true servants of God are only] those who never bear
witness
to what is false, and [who], whenever they pass by [people engaged in]
frivolity, pass on with dignity. Who, whenever they are reminded of
their
Sustainer's messages, do not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. And who
pray:
"Our Lord! Make our wives and our children to be the comfort of our
eyes,
and make us leaders of the righteous."
The Holy Quran, 25: 72-74
-----
CIVIL RIGHTS ERODING, MUSLIMS SAY
Georgia East, Sun-Sentinel, 7/18/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cdemocracy18jul18,0,5109918.story
DANIA BEACH · Before more than 200 people gathered to discuss civil
rights
Saturday, Kussay Al-Sabunchi told his harrowing tale.
He was half naked when federal agents pulled him from his Orlando home
last
April, pinned him to the ground and arrested him, he said. He had
failed to
disclose on his 2001 immigration application that he was found guilty
in
1997 of violating his ex-wife's restraining order by sending her
flowers.
The oversight landed Al-Sabunchi, 40, in court facing deportation to
his
native Iraq. A judge found him not guilty of purposely lying on his
immigration documents and three months ago charges were dropped.
Al-Sabunchi, a computer engineer, advised the Muslims in the audience
to be
careful.
"It was very, very difficult. They really freaked me out. We still have
post-stress syndrome," he said after the program, referring to himself
and
his wife.
Members of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Florida said
Al-Sabunchi is one of countless others who have been victims of
overzealous
authorities.
Providing security while preserving the rights of foreign-born U.S.
residents is one of the biggest challenges for democracy in the United
States in the post-9-11 climate, speakers at the symposium said. They
included Randall Marshall, legal affairs director at that American
Civil
Liberties Union of Florida; David Cole, a lawyer and law professor at
Georgetown University; and Amy Goodman, host of the radio show
Democracy Now.
Many Muslims who attended Saturday's event said they still think they
are
under scrutiny since the 9-11 attacks.
"Muslims in America have been made the scapegoats in the witch hunt
that
ensued after 9-11," said Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the board for the
council in Florida. "Our freedoms have been compromised by invoking
fear
and paranoia."
Speakers criticized the Patriot Act, which has been used to expand law
enforcement's surveillance powers. The provision allowing FBI agents to
search public library records and conduct secret searches without a
warrant
were called most troubling.
Cole said what is taking place in the country now is "the most massive
campaign of ethnic profiling since World War II," and that the United
States is setting double standards by allowing one set of rules to
apply to
foreign-born residents who are not American citizens.
Cole questioned why about 5,000 people were detained after 9-11 as part
of
the government's preventive campaign. "Could you imagine if 5,000
American
citizens were picked up and held without any charges?" he asked…
-----
FBI STARTS TO QUESTION MUSLIMS IN U.S. ABOUT POSSIBLE ATTACKS
Richard B. Schmitt and Donna Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 7/18/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-muslims18jul18,1,84284.story
WASHINGTON - FBI agents are beginning another round of interviews with
Muslims and Arab Americans around the country as part of an effort to
root
out a possible terrorist attack in the U.S. this summer or fall, civil
rights activists and attorneys for some of the people questioned said
Saturday.
The interviewing program was announced in late May at a news conference
by
U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III.
Officials are concerned that terrorists may seek to disrupt the
national
political conventions in late July and late August or the general
election
in November, among other possible targets. But the actual questioning
of
people has taken weeks to get off the ground.
Muslim advocacy groups and lawyers said that, in recent days, the FBI
had
begun interviewing dozens of people in Virginia, Florida, New York and
California, among other states. The individuals questioned include a
U.S.
citizen of Iranian descent in Missouri and a Yemeni college student in
Arizona. None of the people interviewed so far had been told that he or
she
was a suspect in a terror investigation.
To many, the interviews are a bewildering case of déjà vu. The FBI
interviewed thousands of Muslims and Arab Americans after the Sept. 11
attacks and in the walk-up to the war in Iraq last year, fueling
accusations of racial profiling by the government. Hundreds of people
were
jailed or deported for alleged visa and immigration violations after
the
Sept. 11 roundup.
FBI officials said in announcing the latest set of interviews in May
that
they would work to ensure that the process would be driven by specific
intelligence rather than race or ethnicity. The approach recently was
cited
by one bureau official as a reason why the interviewing had taken so
long
to begin.
But Muslim leaders said Saturday that they were concerned that the FBI
was
repeating mistakes of the past.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, or CAIR, in Washington said his office had received dozens
of
reports of Muslims being questioned at their workplaces and homes by
the
FBI. He criticized the operation, saying it inexplicably seemed to
target
even respected community leaders.
"The way it's being done stigmatizes the entire community and makes
Muslims
objects of suspicion to their neighbors and co-workers," Awad said.
"This
is not right. This is more politics than security."
He said he hoped to meet with FBI officials on Monday to express his
concerns and appeal to them to more closely cooperate with the
community
during their investigations.
"Muslims should be enlisted in the war on terror, not blacklisted," he
said...
Deedra Abboud, the director of CAIR's Arizona office, said she met with
the
FBI in Phoenix on Tuesday after receiving phone calls from people who
had
been recently approached by the bureau for questioning.
The FBI is "really stressing that these people are not under
investigation,
and that this is just a friendly chat," Abboud said. "We tried to get
them
to understand they are not having friendly chats with non-Muslims."
Abboud said the FBI told her that it was trying to identify people who
may
have crossed paths with individuals who could be of use to
investigators,
including "people who may be six degrees of separation away from
somebody
who at some point in time may have been under investigation."
She said officials in Arizona told her they were moving ahead
aggressively
with interviews in part because a proposed presidential debate is
planned
for Tempe in October…
SEE ALSO:
INTERVIEWS OF MUSLIMS TO BROADEN
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 7/17/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56080-2004Jul16.html
FBI agents have launched a series of interviews of Muslims and Arab
Americans in the Washington area and across the country, hoping to
glean
information that could prevent a major terrorist attack during this
election year.
A few dozen voluntary interviews of community leaders, students,
businesspeople and others have been conducted so far, according to
attorneys and Muslim activists. Authorities said they do not know how
many
people will be contacted, but the effort is expected to expand
significantly in the next week or so.
The new round of questioning is also far more targeted than an earlier
program of voluntary interviews with men from Arab and Muslim
countries,
which followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was criticized
for
being ineffective and using profiling.
"This is not a general population. They are identified by intelligence
or
investigative information," said an FBI official who spoke on condition
of
anonymity, in line with department policy. He added that the
questioning
did not signify that the people were under investigation themselves.
The questions being posed vary widely, according to attorneys,
activists
and interviewees. Several people in California and Arizona have been
asked
whether they knew anyone who had recently been in the Pakistani border
region of Waziristan, regarded as a possible refuge for al Qaeda
figures.
They were also asked about Abu Nour, which agents identified as a
mosque
and school in Syria that was popular with American converts to Islam,
the
attorneys and activists said…
Those being sought for interviews appear to represent a broad spectrum.
Attorneys and activists said they had heard from students, high-tech
professionals, Muslim leaders and others who had been contacted. Most
were
immigrants, but at least one African American Muslim and some U.S.-born
residents were also included.
"Within two days, I received 10 calls from people freaking out because
the
FBI was contacting them," said Deedra Abboud, executive director of the
Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
She said that the FBI agents went out of their way to be low-key but
that
Muslims were fearful when they got the calls, worrying that they were
under
investigation themselves.
Leaders of Muslim and Arab American organizations have been trying to
build
bridges with federal officials since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Many say that the earlier
interviews
cast too wide a net and reflected the wrong approach…
-----
FBI OFFICIAL, MUSLIM LEADERS MEET
YOAV GONEN, Staten Island Advance, 7/16/04
http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1089985522116710.xml
Muslim cultural and religious leaders from across the city flocked to
the
Muslim Majlis Mosque in Concord last night to meet the head of the
FBI's
New York office for the first time.
Continuing a dialogue begun by his predecessor, Kevin Donovan, who left
the
FBI last year, Pasquale J. D'Amuro met with the Muslim community over
dinner at the mosque to answer questions, allay any fears, and ask for
help
in the war on terror.
"We're asking them to work with the FBI in trying to identify any
element
that they may be aware of that raises some suspicion," said D'Amuro.
D'Amuro -- who said he's been working closely with the Muslim community
in
New York since 1997 -- also came to remind everyone that the FBI is
working
to protect their rights as American citizens.
"Since 9/11 there have been a lot of concerns in their community about
their safety and their civil rights. We want them to know the FBI
investigates that also," said D'Amuro.
About 75 community leaders and members, mostly of Pakistani origin,
welcomed the opportunity to continue building a strong relationship
with
the FBI, following the mistrust that pervaded the community immediately
after the terrorist attacks in 2001.
"In a democratic society such as ours, dialogue is an essential
ingredient
in reaching comprehensive understanding and the meeting of the minds,"
said
Dr. Suhail Muzaffar, chairman of the mosque's board of trustees. "There
is
no better alternative than to sit across the table and listen and be
listened to."
Some of the concerns Dr. Muzaffar relayed were the fear of sending
money
abroad through a charity, the presumed but often false affiliation of
someone who prays at a mosque with that mosque itself, and the fear
that
Pakistani tourists now have of taking pictures of landmarks.
"The use of a camera, an innocent instrument, has become problematic
for
us," Dr. Muzaffar told D'Amuro, citing a Pakistani-American who was
recently accused of taking surveillance photos for use in terrorist
operations. The man was eventually cleared of those charges.
Taking questions from the audience, D'Amuro unexpectedly stumbled onto
a
touchy subject when he used the term "Sunni extremists" in one of his
responses.
Several audience members spoke out to alert him of their sensitivity to
that term. They said associating Sunni -- the largest denomination of
Islam
-- with extremists created an implication that a majority of Muslims
are
extremists, or terrorists.
"For him to say 'Sunni extremists,' you can't use those terms and get
away
with it," said Dr. Abdul Rehman, director of religious affairs for the
mosque.
But Dr. Rehman added that this was precisely why the meetings were
important: Both groups still need to learn about one another, and to
keep
building up a level of trust…
-----
MUSLIM ACCUSES AIRPORT CONTRACTOR OF BIAS
The Associated Press, 7/17/04
HEBRON, Ky. (AP) - A Muslim is accusing a contractor at
Cincinnati/Northern
Kentucky International Airport of denying him a security job based on
his
religion and national origin.
Ahmed Mohamed, 29, filed the discrimination lawsuit July 9 against Air
Serv
Corp., an Atlanta-based contractor to Delta Air Lines.
Mohamed, a native of Mauritania, said he initially filed a complaint
with
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after applying for a
security
job checking airline cabins. He was offered a janitorial position
instead.
"Typically, we don't comment on things that are litigated," Air Serv
chief
financial officer Paul Freischlag said Friday.
The lawsuit seeks the job offer Mohamed says he was denied, back pay to
October 2003 and unspecified damages…
-----
MUSLIM GROUPS TAKE OUT NEWSPAPER ADS TO CONDEMN TERRORISM
Associated Press, 7/17/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--muslimanti-terror0717jul17,0,7273640.story
WEST PATERSON, N.J. -- Five Muslim organizations and seven mosques have
taken out advertisements in three New Jersey newspapers to condemn acts
of
terrorism.
The ads, which featured a banner "Not in the Name of Islam," said the
killing of Americans does not represent Islam, just as the Iraqi
prisoner
abuse scandal does not represent America or Christianity.
"No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the killing of innocent
people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam," the
ad's
text read. "We repudiate and disassociate ourselves from any group or
individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts."
Waheed Khalid, chairman of the state chapter of the American Muslim
Union,
said the ads that appeared in newspapers Friday were needed following
the
beheadings of Americans in Saudi Arabia and Iraq...
The ads, which cost a combined $14,000, appeared in the Herald News,
The
Record of Bergen County and The Star-Ledger of Newark.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR LAUNCHES 'NOT IN THE NAME OF ISLAM' PETITION DRIVE
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1071&page=NR
SIGN THE PETITION
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA
-----
NEW GRAD TO LAUNCH YOUTH GROUP FOR MUSLIMS
George Jaksa, Flint Journal, 7/18/04
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1090059649319700.xml
FLINT TWP. - Aishah Aslam wants to start a support group for Muslims in
public schools to help them remain faithful to Islam.
"I am hoping to start something to support Muslim youth who may be
tempted
to waver from Islamic teachings because of other influences," said
Aslam,
who graduated with high honors from Carman-Ainsworth High School June.
Aslam, 18, should know. She attended Genesee Academy, an elementary
school
in the same Clayton Township building as the Flint Islamic Center,
before
transferring to Carman-Ainsworth as a ninth-grader. She said if
students
coming out of the protected environment of the school aren't careful,
they
may slide away from the principles of their faith.
While at Carman-Ainsworth, Aslam was a member of the school's Muslim
student association. She also was part of the Islamic Center's youth
group,
which did community service, including helping to repaint a Salem
Housing
Community Development Corp. house near downtown Flint…
SEE ALSO:
SCOUTS' MISSION BASED ON FAITH
MICHAEL D. WAMBLE, Daily Press, 7/17/04
http://www.dailypress.com/features/religion/dp-42508sy0jul17,1,4769248.story
Aboard the USS Wisconsin, seven boys and two girls talk before their
Saturday morning Sea Scout meeting.
Scaffolding blocks the teens from using their usual room on the docked
battleship. With the ship undergoing repairs, they gather under a white
tent that shields them from the noontime sun and choppy winds.
Decked out in their dress blacks or seafaring summer whites, they
unroll a
map of the Norfolk Harbor and the Elizabeth River and answer questions
about navigating these waters. It's less exciting, says Montez Burton,
15,
than the previous week when the group, Sea Scout Ship 671, learned
rescue
techniques from the Virginia Beach Power Squadron.
The meeting ends with a prayer from the chaplain aide. Abdul Malik
Squire,
12, of Hampton bows his head and closes his eyes, as he begins the
Al-Fatiha, the opening prayer of the Qu'ran.
The prayer, and the crescent-and-star emblem on Squire's uniform, are
signs
that he's not just a Sea Scout, he's an Islamic Sea Scout, says adult
scout
leader Abdul S. Al-Um'matallah.
First chartered by the Tidewater Council of Boy Scouts of America in
2002,
this Sea Scout unit is one of eight such units in the Tidewater and
Colonial Councils. It is the area's only Sea Scout unit sponsored by a
Muslim group.
The unit is simultaneously part of a national shift in scouting and a
return to a founding pillar of Boy Scouts of America.
Boy Scouts founder Lord Baden-Powell once said of scouting, "There is
no
religious 'side' of the movement. The whole of it is based on religion,
that is, on the realization and service of God."
Matthew Tucker, a district executive of the Tidewater Council, said the
faith-based mission of scouting is sometimes discounted, but it
shouldn't be.
"We are a youth ministry," Tucker said.
If so, it is a youth ministry among a variety of different religions -
Judaism, Islam, Buddhism - that have emblems representing their
beliefs.
Christian groups also have denomination-specific emblems.
Most of the sponsors in the Tidewater Council are churches. The same is
true for the Colonial Council of Boys Scouts of America, which extends
from
the Peninsula into Mathews County.
"We don't define religious beliefs," said Dick Collins, scout executive
of
the Colonial Council. "But we do require our members have a belief in a
Supreme Being."
That's the case for Sea Scout Unit 671, whose charter partner is
Muslims
and Friends in Scouting, ICS United Community of Chesapeake...
-----
HAMTRAMCK TO VOTE THIS WEEK ON MOSQUE'S CALL TO PRAYER
Associated Press, 7/18/04
HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Residents of this historically Polish enclave plan
to
vote Tuesday on whether to reverse the City Council's decision to allow
the
Islamic call to prayer to be broadcast by mosques.
The referendum was added to a previously scheduled recall election
ballot,
The Detroit News reported.
The controversy began after members of the predominantly Bangladeshi
al-Islah mosque approached City Council for permission to begin
broadcasting the two-minute Arabic chant from loudspeakers. Some
residents
argued it would create too much noise while others contended that being
forced to hear an Islamic declaration of faith would be a violation of
their own freedom of religion as Christians.
In April, City Council unanimously approved an amendment to Hamtramck's
noise ordinance allowing the call to prayer, which is traditionally
performed five times a day. But a petition signed by more than 630
people
opposing the amendment meant that the change was suspended until
residents
could vote on the issue…
-----
IRAQ'S PM ALLAWI SHOT SIX BLINDFOLDED PRISONERS 'AS EXAMPLE', SAY
WITNESSES
David Pratt, Foreign Editor, and Torcuil Crichton, Sunday Herald,
7/18/04
http://www.sundayherald.com/43458
Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi shot dead as many as six suspected
insurgents last month, just days before Washington handed political
control
over to his new government.
Two separate witnesses said that the prisoners, blindfolded and
handcuffed,
were lined up against a wall in a courtyard next to a maximum security
cell
at al-Amariyah prison in Baghdad. Allawi then pulled out a pistol and
shot
them in the head, telling policemen that he was setting an example on
how
to deal with resistance fighters. Allawi is said to have told onlookers
that the men "deserved worse than death".
Some 30 witnesses are said to have been present in the compound when
Allawi
paid a surprise visit to the security facility to reassure police
officers
that they would be protected from reprisals if they killed insurgents
in
the course of their duty.
The claims, first published in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday and
written by the distinguished Australian journalist Paul McGeough, have
raised fears that Dr Allawi is returning to the cold-blooded tactics of
his
predecessor, Saddam Hussein, and has led to urgent calls for the Red
Cross
to launch an investigation…
SEE ALSO:
SPECIAL REPORT: IYAD ALLAWI
Sunday Herald, 7/18/04
http://www.sundayherald.com/43475
Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and
executed
as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just
days
before Washington handed control of the country to his interim
government,
according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings.
They say the prisoners handcuffed and blindfolded were lined up
against
a wall in a courtyard adjacent to the maximum- security cell block in
which
they were held at the Al-Amariyah security centre, in the city's
southwestern suburbs.
They say Dr Allawi told onlookers the victims had each killed as many
as 50
Iraqis and they "deserved worse than death".
The Prime Minister's office has denied the entirety of the witness
accounts
in a written statement to The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia,
saying Dr
Allawi had never visited the centre and he did not carry a gun. But the
informants told the newspaper that Dr Allawi shot each young man in the
head as about a dozen Iraqi policemen and four Americans from the Prime
Minister's personal security team watched in stunned silence.
Iraq's Interior Minister, Falah al-Naqib, is said to have looked on and
congratulated him when the job was done. Mr al-Naqib's office has
issued a
verbal denial.
The names of three of the alleged victims have been obtained by the
Sydney
Morning Herald. One of the witnesses claimed that before killing the
prisoners Dr Allawi had told those around him that he wanted to send a
clear message to the police on how to deal with insurgents.
"The prisoners were against the wall and we were standing in the
courtyard
when the Interior Minister said that he would like to kill them all on
the
spot. Allawi said that they deserved worse than death but then he
pulled
the pistol from his belt and started shooting them."
Re-enacting the killings, one witness stood three to four metres in
front
of a wall and swung his outstretched arm in an even arc, left to right,
jerking his wrist to mimic the recoil as each bullet was fired. Then he
raised a hand to his brow, saying: "He was very close. Each was shot in
the
head."
The witnesses said seven prisoners had been brought to the courtyard,
but
the last man in line was only wounded in the neck, said one witness;
in
the chest, said the other.
Given Dr Allawi's role as the leader of the US experiment in planting a
model democracy in the Middle East, allegations of a return to the
cold-blooded tactics of his predecessor are likely to stir a simmering
debate on how well Washington knows its man in Baghdad, and precisely
what
he envisages for the new Iraq.
There is much debate and rumour in Baghdad about the Prime Minister's
capacity for brutality, but this is the first time eyewitness accounts
have
been obtained.
A former CIA officer, Vincent Cannistraro, recently told The New
Yorker:
"If you're asking me if Allawi has blood on his hands from his days in
London, the answer is yes, he does. He was a paid Mukhabarat
[intelligence]
agent for the Iraqis, and he was involved in dirty stuff."
In Baghdad, varying accounts of the shootings are interpreted by
observers
as useful to a little-known politician who, after 33 years in exile,
needs
to prove his leadership credentials as a "strongman" in a war-ravaged
country that has no experience of democracy.
Dr Allawi's statement dismissed the allegations as rumours instigated
by
enemies of his interim government.
But in a sharp reminder of the Iraqi hunger for security above all
else,
the witnesses did not perceive themselves as whistle-blowers. In
interviews
with the Sydney Morning Herald they were enthusiastic about such
killings,
with one of them arguing: "These criminals were terrorists. They are
the
ones who plant the bombs."
Before the shootings, the 58-year-old Prime Minister is said to have
told
the policemen they must have courage in their work and that he would
shield
them from any repercussions if they killed insurgents in the course of
their duty. The witnesses said the Iraqi police observers were "shocked
and
surprised". But asked what message they might take from such an act,
one
said: "Any terrorists in Iraq should have the same destiny. This is the
new
Iraq.
"Allawi wanted to send a message to his policemen and soldiers not to
be
scared if they kill anyone especially, they are not to worry about
tribal
revenge. He said there would be an order from him and the Interior
Ministry
that all would be fully protected.
"He told them: 'We must destroy anyone who wants to destroy Iraq and
kill
our people.' At first they were surprised. I was scared but now the
police seem to be very happy about this. There was no anger at all,
because
so many policemen have been killed by these criminals."
Dr Allawi had made a surprise visit to the complex, they said.
Neither witness could give a specific date for the killings. But their
accounts narrowed the time frame to on or around the third weekend in
June
about a week before the rushed handover of power in Iraq and more
than
three weeks after Dr Allawi was named as the interim Prime Minister.
They said that as many as five of the dead prisoners were Iraqis, two
of
whom came from Samarra, a volatile town to the north of the capital,
where
an attack by insurgents on the home of Mr Al-Naqib killed four of the
Interior Minister's bodyguards on June 19.
The Sydney Morning Herald established the names of three of the
prisoners
alleged to have been killed. Two names connote ties to Syrian-based
Arab
tribes, suggesting they were foreign fighters: Ahmed Abdulah Ahsamey
and
Amer Lutfi Mohammed Ahmed al-Kutsia.
The third was Walid Mehdi Ahmed al-Samarrai. The last word of his name
indicates he was one of the two said to come from Samarra in the
Sunni
Triangle.
The three names were provided to the Interior Ministry, where senior
adviser Sabah Khadum undertook to provide a status report on each. He
was
asked if they were prisoners, were they alive or had they died in
custody.
But the next day he cut short an interview by hanging up the phone,
saying
only: "I have no information I don't want to comment on that specific
matter."
All seven were described as young men. One of the witnesses spoke of
the
distinctive appearance of four as "Wahabbi", the colloquial Iraqi term
for
the foreign fundamentalist insurgency fighters and their Iraqi
followers.
He said: "The Wahabbis had long beards, very short hair and they were
wearing dishdashas [the kaftan-like garment worn by Iraqi men]."
Raising the hem of his own dishdasha to reveal the cotton pantaloons
usually worn beneath, he said: "The other three were just wearing these
they looked normal."
One witness justified the shootings as an unintended act of mercy:
"They
were happy to die because they had already been beaten by the police
for
two to eight hours a day to make them talk."
After the removal of the bodies, the officer in charge of the complex,
General Raad Abdullah, is said to have called a meeting of the
policemen
and told them not to talk outside the station about what had happened.
"He
said it was a security issue," a witness said.
One of the Al-Amariyah witnesses said he watched as Iraqis among the
Prime
Minister's bodyguards piled the prisoners' bodies into the back of a
Nissan
utility vehicle and drove off. He did not know what became of them. But
the
other witness said the bodies were buried west of Baghdad, in open
desert
country near Abu Ghraib.
That would place their burial near the notorious prison, which was used
by
Saddam Hussein's security forces to torture and kill thousands of
Iraqis.
Subsequently it was revealed as the setting for the still-unfolding
prisoner abuse scandal involving US troops.
The Sydney Morning Herald has established that as many as 30 people,
including the victims, may have been in the courtyard. One of the
witnesses
said there were five or six civilian-clad American security men in a
convoy
of five or six late model four-wheel-drive vehicles that was
shepherding Dr
Allawi's entourage on the day. The US military and Dr Allawi's office
refused to respond to questions about the composition of his security
team.
It is understood that the core of his protection unit is drawn from US
Special Forces units.
The security establishment where the killings are said to have happened
is
on open ground on the border of the Al-Amariyah and Al-Kudra
neighbourhoods
in Baghdad.
About 90 policemen are stationed at the complex, which processes
insurgents
and more hardened offenders among those captured in the struggle
against a
wave of murder, robbery and kidnapping in post-invasion Iraq.
The Interior Ministry denied permission for the Sydney Morning Herald
to
enter the heavily fortified police complex.
The two witnesses were independently and separately found by the Sydney
Morning Herald. Neither approached the newspaper. They were interviewed
on
different days in a private home in Baghdad, without being told the
other
had spoken. A condition of the co-operation of each man was that no
personal information would be published.
Both interviews lasted more than 90 minutes and were conducted through
an
interpreter, with another journalist present for one of the meetings.
The
witnesses were not paid for the interviews...
-----
CORRECTION: FBI OFFICIAL'S NAME MISSPELLED
The name of an FBI official was misspelled in a CAIR news release,
headlined "Sacramento Valley Muslims Meet with FBI," issued on Friday.
The
official's correct name and title are: Special Agent In Charge Keith
Slotter.
-----
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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
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM but POLITE.)
Contact Red Lobster to ask that they repudiate the bigoted views
expressed
by their employees and resolve this incident to the satisfaction of the
Muslim employee.
CONTACT:
Mr. Kim Lopdrup
President
Red Lobster USA
5900 Lake Ellenor Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
TEL: 407-245-4000
FAX: 407-245-5290
E-MAIL: klopdrup@redlobster.com
COPY TO: jlee@darden.com, llasita@darden.com, cair@cair-net.org
-----
ASK RED LOBSTER TO RESOLVE MUSLIM BIAS CLAIM
South Carolina worker allegedly harassed following 9/11 attacks
(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/19/04) - CAIR today called on American Muslims and
other
people of conscience to ask Red Lobster, the nation's largest seafood
restaurant chain, to resolve a case of alleged religious discrimination
against a Muslim employee in South Carolina.
The employee, a U.S. citizen and graduate in hospitality management who
worked for Red Lobster for almost a decade, told CAIR that co-workers
began
harassing him following the 9/11 terror attacks.
In the period leading up to the invasion of Iraq, two Red Lobster
staffers
allegedly made fun of the man's name and accent, suggested that he came
to
America to study aviation in order to blow up buildings and ridiculed
his
faith and ethnicity. (The Muslim employee was born in Morocco.) Red
Lobster
management reportedly told the Muslim worker to just ignore the
discriminatory comments.
Following repeated harassing behavior, the Muslim employee told CAIR he
got
into a shouting match with a co-worker. Both workers were reprimanded,
but
only the Muslim employee was terminated, despite Red Lobster's prior
knowledge of the hostile work environment. The case is currently in
court-mandated mediation.
"What this worker experienced is unacceptable and should be addressed
by
upper management in Red Lobster and in its parent company, Darden
Restaurants," said CAIR Civil Rights Attorney Engy Abdelkader. "No one
should face harassment in the workplace because of their faith or
ethnicity."
Abdelkader requested that Red Lobster resolve the case to the
satisfaction
of the Muslim employee, clarify its policy on religious discrimination
in
the workplace and institute sensitivity training for company staff.
Red Lobster has more than 670 restaurants and 63,000 employees in the
United States and Canada. The chain is operated by Darden Restaurants,
Inc.
SEE: http://www.redlobster.com/ and http://www.darden.com/
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/19/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD SOFTENS THE HEART
* IOWA TERROR ARRESTS APPEAR DOUBTFUL (DM Reg)
* CAIR-SA LEADER CHALLENGES HATE (San Antonio Express)
- CAIR-CAN: Vandalism at Canadian Mosque Denounced
- CAIR-Albany: Incident Unsettles Muslim Family (TU)
- CAIR-SC Quarterly Meeting August 7
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS RECOIL AT REVIVED SCRUTINY (Orlando Sent)
- VA: The Imam and the Agent (Review Appeal)
* OR: ISLAM REVERES THE `TIES OF THE WOMBS' (Reg-Guard)
* FL: FEW U.S. HOSTS WELCOME MUSLIMS (Tampa Trib)
- ME: Muslims Want Place to Bury Their Dead (Sun Journal)
* MI: HAMTRAMCK INTERFAITH PARTNERS CALL FOR DAY OF PRAYER
* REPORTER ALLEGES SODOMY AT ABU GHRAIB (Wash Times)
- 3 in Afghan Abuse Case Claim U.S. Link (AP)
- 'Enemy Contact. Kill 'Em, Kill 'Em.' (LA Times)
* IRAQI MINISTER TO INVESTIGATE ALLAWI EXECUTION CLAIMS (ABC)
- Media Kills Story about Iraqi PM (Daily Times)
* CAN ISRAEL BE SAVED? (Salon.com)
* MORE CANADIAN REFUGEES TO BE 'REMOVED' TO U.S. (Gazette)
* SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING ON ISLAMIC BANKING
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD SOFTENS THE HEART
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(Too) much talk without
mention of God produces hardness of heart, and the person farthest from
God
is someone who has a hard heart."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 720
-----
IA: U.S. LINKS 35 ARRESTS IN IOWA TO TERROR
But most defendants' ties to violence appear doubtful
Bert Dalmer, Des Moines Register, 7/18/04
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040718/NEWS01/407180386/1001/NEWS&lead=1
The terrorism arrest statistics in this article came from the
Transactional
Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, which is affiliated with
Syracuse
University.
TRAC receives monthly information from a U.S. Justice Department
database
that includes entries for every law-enforcement case referred to
various
U.S. attorney offices for prosecution.
The database includes no defendants' names or case numbers. But it does
include lead charges, charge dates, attorneys' names, judges' names and
sentencing information. The cases also include type-of-crime categories
assigned by the Justice Department.
Those pieces of information were used by the Des Moines Sunday Register
to
identify 27 defendants using court records. Eight other Iowa cases
could
not be identified by the newspaper based on information contained in
the
database. Court officials speculated that those cases were sealed from
public inspection, most likely because the suspects had not yet been
arrested.
The Justice Department recently stopped providing TRAC with charge and
type-of-crime information, believing that it could tip off would-be
terrorists to an investigation. TRAC has sued the department to force
release of the data, but that case is pending...
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: AMERICAN ISLAMIC COUNCIL LEADER OFFERS HER VIEWS ON
HATE
Aretha Williams, San Antonio Express News, 7/19/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/columnists/awilliams/stories/MYSA071904.09P.Williams.15244f84.html
Dear Readers: A few weeks ago, I ran a series on preventing and
responding
to hate crimes in our community.
It was inspired by the string of fires set at Muslim-run businesses in
San Antonio.
This week, Sarwat Husain, local chapter chairwoman of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, writes in to share her perspective on the
issue.
She reminds us, "Hate crimes against Muslims after 9-11 include
individual
murders, beatings, burning of mosques and businesses, beating of
children
in the schools, shouting slurs, throwing eggs and rocks on their cars,
hate
messages/threats on the phones and e-mails, personal attacks. Job
discrimination and harassment are also very common.
"Hate crimes are committed against Muslims because of real or perceived
differences of the religion, and culture. They are mainly racial and
religion-based.
"These misunderstandings are coming from the irresponsible behavior of
some
of the media outlets (radio, print and TV), right-wing Christian
politicians and clergy.
"Especially after 9-11 terrorist attacks, these people intentionally
create
Islamophobic hysteria in the public, for their own agendas...for
instance,
Lt. Gen. William Boykin, an evangelical Christian, said (of a 1993
battle
with a Muslim militia leader in Somalia): 'I knew that my God was
bigger
than his. I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol.'
The resentment is fueled by the stereotypes.
"These racial and religious conflicts can be resolved by educating the
public through media, places of worship, educational
institutions, community-relations groups and of course a change in the
government policies. Law enforcement, community leaders, educators,
researchers and policy-makers must work together to overcome this
problem.
"Punishment for hate criminals must be severe to send a very clear
message
that this kind of criminal behavior should not be tolerated toward any
individual or group of people.
"Individual communities should launch an all-out effort to encourage
broader intercultural understanding and appreciation to reduce
hostility to
dispel minority stereotyping.
"Schools should start anti-bias teachings at a very early age and to be
continued through the high school. School administrators/teachers must
intervene against bias-related incidents."
We must also keep in mind that we all have a personal responsibility to
root out feelings of prejudice within ourselves...
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN: MUSLIM GROUP DENOUNCES VANDALISM AT MOSQUE
Natalie Alcoba, Hamilton Spectator, 7/19/04
http://www.thespec.com
A national Muslim group has denounced reports of vandalism on a
Hamilton
mosque and asked police to treat it as a possible hate crime.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada (CAIR-CAN), a
grassroots
organization that works against discrimination, released a statement
Wednesday condemning three incidents at the Umar Mosque on Rennie
Street.
Eggs have been thrown at the building in the past two weeks, twice
during
Friday prayer.
"I think the fact the mosque was targeted three times in two weeks does
provide strong evidence that it was a hate crime," said CAIR-CAN
executive
director Riad Saloojee.
"Hate crime investigations tend to be a lot more thorough and treated
more
serious than run-of-the-mill vandalism investigations," Saloojee said.
The incidents are being investigated by Hamilton police...
Since September 2001, CAIR-CAN has documented hate-motivated incidents
at
16 Islamic institutions and mosques in Canada, including attempted
arson
and graffiti threats.
Saloojee said 90 per cent of hate crimes go unreported.
---
NY: INCIDENT UNSETTLES MUSLIM FAMILY
Brendan Lyons, Times Union, 7/19/04
http://www.timesunion.com/aspstories/story.asp?storyID=267537
The terrifying memories of a shattered childhood in war-torn
Afghanistan
gripped Yasin Amin momentarily last month when the Colonie Center
security
guards ran toward him.
The guards -- Amin thinks there were about four -- hovered close by as
Amin
and his brother-in-law, and Amin's wife and three young children
watched in
disbelief. They were in Sears, looking for a DVD player, but cut their
plans short because the guards' suffocating stares unnerved them.
"We were there to shop, but it came to a point where my wife said:
'Let's
just go,' " Amin said.
Outside, the situation grew more disconcerting. At least three Colonie
police cars, emergency lights flashing, were parked around the family's
car.
"I said: 'What do you guys want to talk to me about?'" said Amin, who
works
for an Internet search company that caters to engineers.
The Colonie cops told Amin security officers had called them after Amin
and
his brother-in-law were spotted praying in a parking lot before
entering
the mall. But it was just after sunset, Amin said he told them, and
their
Islamic faith requires they pray at that moment every day -- no matter
where they are.
"The police officer said: 'We know what you were doing and we're sorry,
and
these people need to be educated on your religion,' " Amin said,
crediting
the officers for their handling of the situation.
But in an era of heightened fear of terrorism, Muslims say public
misconceptions of their customs are resulting in unfair profiling...
"We want to make sure something like this doesn't happen again, and we
want
to educate the community," said Nizar Yaghi, president of the newly
formed
Albany chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Just
because
someone is praying in a non-familiar way doesn't mean this is a
precursor
to a terrorist attack."
CONTACT: CAIR-Albany, Nizar Yaghi, 518-527-4335
---
CAIR-SC QUARTERLY MEETING AUGUST 7
On Saturday, August 7, 2004, CAIR's South Carolina office will hold its
annual meeting from noon-3 p.m. at the Williams-Brice Building,
University
of South Carolina.
For more information, please contact:
Minhaj Arastu, Chairperson
Council on American-Islamic Relations-Columbia, SC
221 Rolling Rock Road, Columbia, SC 29212
Phone: (803) 750-1236 E-mail: cair-sc@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS RECOIL AT REVIVED SCRUTINY
Lisa Emmerich, Orlando Sentinel, 7/19/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locmuslims18071904jul19,1,3746035.story
Central Florida Muslims and Arab-Americans say they are feeling a
renewed
sense of dread as FBI agents kick up efforts to prevent terrorist
attacks
with a batch of interviews similar to those conducted after Sept. 11,
2001.
Local Muslim leaders said several people in Florida had already been
questioned, leading many to stay out of the public eye and hesitate
before
answering their phones...
The government introduced the new interview program in May amid concern
that terrorists could target national political conventions this summer
or
the general election in November. The program didn't get off the ground
until recently, Muslim advocacy groups said, when FBI officials began
questioning people in Florida, New York, California and Virginia, among
other states. FBI officials did not return calls for comment by Sunday
night.
FBI officials interviewed thousands of Muslims and Arab-Americans after
the
2001 terrorist attacks and before the Iraq war, leading to accusations
of
racial profiling. FBI officials said in May that they would work to
ensure
that neither race nor ethnicity motivated the new interview process.
Instead, they said, they would try to target interviews to those
thought to
have information about possible plots.
The Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations received
about 10 calls from Florida residents who had been questioned, said
Ahmed
Bedier, a council spokesman. Three of those calls were from the Orlando
area, Bedier said. He said most of the calls were complaints that
investigators had asked personal questions about politics or taxes,
which
had nothing to do with national security.
"We are for security and we are for strong law enforcement," Bedier
said.
"At the same time, we don't want to do that at the expense of our civil
rights and our privacy. The act of canvassing different communities
across
the country, that's just going to alienate people."
Bedier said federal officials should engage Muslim community leaders to
help avoid targeting innocent people. What seems suspicious to a
law-enforcement official could be an easily explainable religious
custom,
he said...
ALSO SEE:
VA: THE IMAM AND THE AGENT
Steve and Cokie Roberts, Review Appeal, 7/14/04
http://reviewappeal.midsouthnews.com/news.ez?viewStory=23640
STERLING, Va. - Imam Mohammed Magid, the head of a large mosque in this
Washington, D.C., suburb, was recently approached by a young Muslim man
who
wanted to join the FBI. The man was shocked when the imam replied,
"Good
for you."
His friends had told him that the imam would oppose the idea, and Magid
agreed that his advice was unusual: "I think some other imams would
have
said, 'Don't do it.'" In fact, Magid told us sadly, the fear and
hostility
toward the American government is so great in the Muslim community that
some religious leaders counsel their followers to avoid all contact
with
official agencies.
The imam's comments reflect a critical obstacle hampering the campaign
against terrorism: a severe shortage of law enforcement and
intelligence
agents who speak Arabic and fit comfortably into the Muslim world both
here
and abroad. The scathing report by the Senate Intelligence Committee
last
week was only the latest indictment of the government's failure to
develop
this human side of intelligence gathering.
In reaction to this failure, the FBI and other agencies have made a
major
recruitment effort, sending speakers to mosques like the one in
Sterling
and manning booths at Muslim community events. But they've run into
huge
problems, admits Mike Mason of the FBI's Washington field office, and
one
reason is simple history.
The resistance exists "particularly for those (American Muslims) who
are
first-generation," Mason explained. "Their parents come from an
environment
where law enforcement is not trusted at all." Intelligence services are
even more despised, "because any form of contact is likely to mean that
a
family member is going to disappear." The result, says Mason, is that
recruiters are trying to change "a hard dynamic, to have people trust
you..."
-----
MUSLIM TEACHING REVERES THE `TIES OF THE WOMBS'
Patricia Adi, Register-Guard, 7/17/04
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/07/17/f4.rel.trimcol.0717.html
I'm working on a family mystery. My grandmother of eight generations
ago,
Aggathy, might have been an American Indian princess named Little
Flower.
Some of us wanted to prove it with a DNA test. The test is interesting.
It
can only be performed on a woman from an unbroken chain of women linked
to
the grandmother.
My mother took the test, but the result was inconclusive. The testers
have
DNA on file from many Indian tribes, but none matched hers. We were
told
that my grandmother's tribe might even be extinct.
A nation extinct! Woe to us if our bad actions are the cause, for we
are
breaking the family ties, and thus, the promise to our creator.
The creator of all life, God, has many names expressing excellence and
perfection; some say 99 names. Allah is the name for God in the Arabic
language, al-Baari (the Creator), al-Hi-yy (the Living), al-Qayyoom
(Always
in Charge), al-Malik (the King), al-Wadood (the Loving), as-Salaam
(Never
Unjust).
Muslims believe that nothing and nobody resembles God. When we use the
grammatical pronoun "he," it does not imply that God is male, nor that
he
is human in any way. Arabic-speaking people understand this.
God has many excellent names, but the greatest of all is a-Rahman, the
one
who gives mercy, the one who nurtures life beyond anything we can
imagine.
God is different than any being...
-----
FL: FEW U.S. HOSTS WELCOME MUSLIMS
Monica Scandlen, Tampa Tribune, 7/19/04
http://tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBGJ21LSWD.html
The 16-year-old plays football and basketball and likes driving cars.
He
wants to be an engineer or physician. He has three sisters and three
brothers.
Shko Bakir Abdulkadir, a Kurd who lives in Irbil, a city in
northeastern
Iraq, is one of hundreds of students from countries with significant
Muslim
populations who is looking for a host family in the United States.
``I think my future in [the] U.S. will be better than in Iraq,'' he
writes
in his application to Youth Exchange and Study, a high school
scholarship
program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
However, agencies that work with exchange students, like ASSE
International, are having trouble finding U.S. families willing to host
students such as Shko. ``Being Middle Eastern and also being Muslim is
a
real challenge for placing children,'' said Joan Soderqvist, ASSE's
state
coordinator for Florida, Georgia and North Carolina...
Ahmed Bedier, Florida communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said student exchange programs are a good
step
toward changing the way the United States is viewed overseas,
especially in
Muslim countries.
``Eventually, those students will be the leaders of those countries,''
Bedier said. ``They're the future generations.''
The council, a Washington D.C.-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy
group, strives to build bridges between Muslims and others.
``Once you actually interact with individuals, you figure out, `Hey,
they're just like me. They eat and they sleep just like me,' '' Bedier
said. ``These kind of programs are important, and I think we need more
of
them.''
-----
ME: LOCAL MUSLIMS WANT A PLACE TO BURY THEIR DEAD
Lisa Chmelecki, Sun Journal, 7/19/04
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/city/20040719075.php
LEWISTON - Somali immigrants have done many things to improve their
lives
in Lewiston-Auburn. They have set up comfortable homes, found jobs,
opened
businesses and established a sacred place to pray.
"Life is good for many of us," said Said Mohamud.
Now, Mohamud and other members of the African Immigrant Association are
focusing their attention on what happens to local Somalis after their
lives
are over.
Among the group's many plans is to find the money and land to create a
graveyard for local Muslims.
"The people who are here, they are scared," Mohamud said. "They don't
know
what to do with their dead bodies."
So far, it hasn't been a big problem.
According to several people in the community, only two local Somalis
have
died. Both were newborns whose bodies were taken to a section of a
cemetery
in Portland reserved for Muslims.
But local Somalis know it is only a matter of time before others need
to be
buried...
-----
MI: HAMTRAMCK INTERFAITH PARTNERS CALL FOR A DAY OF PRAYER
To demonstrate the solidarity among the various faith-based traditions
in
Hamtramck and their respect for the freedom of religious expression.
Spokespeople from the Christian and Muslim faiths represented in
Hamtramck
will be available to express their positions on the amendment to the
noise
ordinance scheduled for a community vote that day.
CONTACTS
Rev. Sharon A. Buttry, Hamtramck Interfaith Association
(313)355-5561/(313)
729-8559/cell; Victor Ghalib Begg, Vice Chair, Council of Islamic
Organizations of Michigan (248) 334-9225, or (586) 808-2464 (cell); Dr.
Dan
Krichbaum, Executive Director, NCCJ (National Conference for Community
and
Justice) (313) 567-6625
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
8 a.m. News Conference - Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, 1725
Caniff
Avenue, Hamtramck. (313) 868-7664. Statements of Hamtramck Interfaith
Leaders will be presented, defending freedom of religious expression
and in
support of the respectful broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer in
Hamtramck, MI. Speakers include Rev. Dr. Joseph Jordan, Pastor,
Corinthian
Missionary Baptist Church. Abdul Motlib, President of the Board of
Directors, Al Islah Mosque, and Rev. Sharon A. Buttry, Executive
Director
of Friendship House
2:15 p.m. Interfaith Prayer Service (follows Muslim mid-day prayers)
Al-Islah Mosque 2733 Caniff Avenue, Hamtramck. (313) 727-9118. Abdul
Motlib, Mosque President will lead the prayer service that will follow
a
theme of unity and community peace. Participants will be from all
faiths.
8 p.m. Interfaith Potluck Fellowship Dinner, Friendship House
Montessori Center, 2031 Caniff Avenue, Hamtramck. (313) 355-5561.
Representatives from all faiths and their families in Hamtramck will
share
a meal in a communal setting, hosted by Rev. Dan and Rev. Sharon
Buttry.
HAMTRAMCK INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION
Established to peacefully resolve the issue of the Muslim community's
desire to establish a daily call to prayer, this association is
comprised
of representatives from the religious congregations in Hamtramck with
support from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan and the
Interfaith Partners of NCCJ. The group is committed to helping the
diverse
community of Hamtramck develop a deeper appreciation of one-another
through
prayer, dialogue, education and community projects.
-----
REPORTER ALLEGES SODOMY AT ABU GHRAIB
Washington Times, 7/17/04
http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040717-082858-3675r.htm
Baghdad, Iraq - American journalist Seymour Hersh has said there are
videotapes of American soldiers sodomizing young Iraqi boys at Abu
Ghraib
prison.
The investigative journalist, one of the first to break the story of
prisoner abuses, said the Bush administration is holding the tapes of
these
acts, Aljazeera.net reported Saturday.
"The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling, and the worst part
is
the soundtrack, of the boys shrieking. And this is your government at
war,"
he said.
There was "a massive amount of criminal wrongdoing that was covered up
at
the highest command out there, and higher," he said.
ALSO SEE:
3 IN AFGHAN ABUSE CASE CLAIM U.S. LINK
Stephen Graham, Associated Press, 7/18/04
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=1898&e=2&u=/ap/20040718/ap_on_re_as/afghan_us_vigilantes_5
KABUL, Afghanistan - Three Americans accused of detaining and abusing
Afghans on an independent hunt for terrorists appeared in court Sunday,
insisting they had contacts with the U.S. Defense Department, a senior
judge said.
The group's leader, a former U.S. soldier called Jonathan K. Idema,
acknowledged operating a private jail outside of Afghan law, presiding
judge Abdul Baset Bakhtyari said.
But Idema insisted his team had rounded up Taliban and al-Qaida
suspects in
their makeshift jail until their arrest two weeks ago, and that
al-Qaida
chief Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) wanted him dead.
"Bin Laden has half a million dollars on my head," Idema shouted at an
Associated Press Television News reporter who tried to film him during
the
preliminary hearing. The reporter had to leave.
Afghan authorities have charged the Americans and four Afghan
accomplices
with hostage-taking and assault for allegedly detaining and abusing 11
men
in a house in the capital. They face up to 20 years in jail if
convicted.
U.S. and Afghan authorities deny any links to the self-styled task
force,
describing them as vigilantes on a personal quest to fight terrorism.
The
men wore military gear and fooled both Afghan police and NATO
peacekeepers
into thinking they were legitimate...
---
'ENEMY CONTACT. KILL 'EM, KILL 'EM.'
Charles Duhigg, Los Angeles Times, 7/19/04
http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-killing18jul18,1,1755382.story
NAJAF, Iraq - Tucked behind a gleaming machine gun, Sgt. Joseph Hall
grins
at his two companions in the Humvee.
"I want to know if I killed that guy yesterday," Hall says. "I saw
blood
spurt from his leg, but I want to be sure I killed him."
The vehicle goes silent as the driver, Spc. Joshua Dubois, swerves
around
asphalt previously uprooted by a blast.
"I'm confused about how I should feel about killing," says Dubois, who
has
a toddler back home. "The first time I shot someone, it was the most
exhilarating thing I'd ever felt."
Dubois turns back to the road. "We talk about killing all the time," he
says. "I never used to talk this way. I'm not proud of it, but it's
like I
can't stop. I'm worried what I will be like when I get home."
The men aren't Special Forces soldiers. They're just ordinary troops
with
the Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment serving their 14th month in
Iraq,
much of it in daily battles. In 20 minutes, they will come under
attack.
Many GIs and Army psychiatrists say these constant conversations about
death help troops come to grips with the trauma of combat. But mental
health professionals within and outside the military point to the
chatter
as evidence of preventable anguish.
Soldiers are untrained, experts say, for the trauma of killing. Forty
years
after lessons learned about combat stress in Vietnam, experts charge
that
avoidable psychological damage goes unchecked because military
officials
don't include emotional preparation in basic training.
Troops, returning home with untreated and little-understood mental
health
issues, put themselves and their families at risk for suicide and
domestic
violence, experts say. Twenty-three U.S. troops in Iraq took their
lives
last year, according to the Defense Department - an unusually high
number,
one official acknowledged.
On patrol, however, all that is available is talk...
-----
IRAQI MINISTER TO INVESTIGATE ALLAWI EXECUTION CLAIMS
Geoff Thompson, ABC, 7/19/04
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200407/s1156598.htm
Iraq's Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin says he will investigate
allegations that Iraq's interim Prime Minister personally executed
suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station last month.
Mr Amin described the allegation as very serious, referring to reports
in
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, sourced to two unnamed men, that
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi had personally executed at
least
six suspected insurgents in Baghdad last month.
"This is not the Iyad Allawi I know" he said.
"He is not a killer and he does not carry a gun".
Mr Amin committed his Human Rights Ministry to investigating the
allegations but added that the reports could draw defamation litigation
in
Australia if they were found not to be true.
"Well, these are serious allegations and if that shows it's a false… I
believe that it's a false allegation, and it's a defamation, and the
one
who writes these things has a major responsibility in front of the
court
systems of their own country as well," he said.
Mr Amin said that he would not wish to work for Dr Allawi if the
allegations were true...
ALSO SEE:
US MEDIA KILLS STORY THAT IRAQI PM EXECUTED 6 PRISONERS
Khalid Hasan, Daily Times, 7/19/04
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_19-7-2004_pg1_2
WASHINGTON: The US media has surprisingly failed to pick up the
shocking
disclosure by Sydney Morning Herald, Australia's leading newspaper,
that
the Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi personally executed six suspected
insurgents in a Baghdad police station.
The story by award-winning Australian journalist Paul McGeough said
that
the prisoners were handcuffed and blindfolded, lined up against a
courtyard
wall and shot by the Iraqi PM. Dr Allawi is alleged to have told those
around him that he wanted to send a clear message to the police on how
to
deal with insurgents. Two people allege they witnessed the killings and
there are also claims the Iraqi interior minister and four American men
were present.
An Australian television channel interviewed the reporter who is in
Iraq
telling him that the Allawi family had denied the story. He replied,
"Well
it's a very contentious issue. What you have is two very solid
eyewitness
accounts. Each witness is not aware that the other spoke."
The Australian journalist said, "Well, I'll take you through what the
two
witnesses said to give you the full chronology as I understand it.
There
was a surprise visit at about 10:30am to the police centre. The PM
talked
to policemen and then toured the complex. They came to a courtyard
where
six, sorry seven prisoners were lined up against a wall. They were
blindfolded, they were described to me as an Iraqi colloquialism for
the
fundamentalist foreign fighters who came to Baghdad. They have that
classic
look that you see with many of the Osama Bin Laden associates of the
scraggly beard and the very short hair and they were a sort of ... took
place in front of them as they were up against this wall was an
exchange
between the interior minister and Dr Allawi, saying that he felt like
killing them on the spot...
-----
CAN ISRAEL BE SAVED?
Richard Ben Cramer talks about "How Israel Lost," his exploration of
how
the occupation of Palestinian land has corrupted the soul of the Jewish
state he loves.
Gary Kamiya, Salon.com, 7/19/04
http://www.salon.com/books/int/2004/07/19/ben_cramer/index.html
July 19, 2004 | Richard Ben Cramer is not afraid of sacred cows. He
bulldozed one of America's icons, Joe DiMaggio, in a bestselling
biography,
and peeped into the stinky hopper in which the sausage of democracy is
ground in his classic study of the 1988 presidential campaign, "What It
Takes." With "How Israel Lost: The Four Questions," Cramer, who won a
Pulitzer Prize for Middle East reporting in 1979, has taken on perhaps
the
most explosive, emotion-laden subject in America: Israel.
"How Israel Lost" is a mournful, passionate, hilarious lament for the
endangered soul of a nation he loves. In a style that slips from the
wisecracking cadences of a Miami Beach hondler to the dispassionate
observations of a veteran journalist to the moral outrage of a
world-weary
humanist, Cramer argues that in the 20-plus years since he originally
lived
there, the Jewish state has suffered a cataclysmic sea-change, a blow
to
its spirit all the more tragic for being self-inflicted.
The cause of Israel's malaise, Cramer writes, is very simple: Its
37-year
occupation of Palestinian land. The occupation, Cramer argues, is a
gross
and continuing injustice that has coarsened Israel's moral fiber,
corrupted
her politics and economy, and split Israeli Jews into bitterly opposed,
self-interested tribes who have lost all sense of allegiance to
anything
beyond their own needs. The occupation has also had a deadly effect on
Palestinians, stomping out the last embers of hope and creating a
generation of sad, hardened children who know Israelis only as soldiers
with guns.
"[T]here are no lives in Israel or Palestine that have not been heated
or
hardened," Cramer writes. "On the Palestinian side, there are so many
lives
and dreams on hold ('We are under occupation -- what can we do?') that
the
conflict has more or less replaced life -- or cooked it to a
standstill.
The only consolation is that everything can be (and is) blamed on
Israel.
Among the Jews, the effects are harder to pinpoint -- and, to me, more
insidious -- because the whole point of Israel was to create a place
where
Jews could live the best life -- and liveliest -- according to their
values."
Cramer acknowledges that many Israelis deny that the occupation is
responsible for the woes that have befallen Israeli society, including
domestic abuse, suspicion and school violence. But he says: "To me,
it's an
open-and-shut case: You can't ask two generations of your boys to act
in
the territories as the brutal kings of all they survey ('Break their
bones,' was the order to his troops from the sainted Yitzhak Rabin,
during
the first Intifada -- six years before he became Israel's martyr to
peace)
-- and then expect those boys to come home, and live in lamblike
gentleness
as citizens, husbands, dads."
After the 1967 war, Cramer argues, Israelis were intoxicated by their
success and by the epic transformation they had performed, turning the
once-victimized Jew into "a fighter, a stoic, a Spartan ... Occupation
--
they would make a new kind of occupation, too, the best the world had
ever
seen -- the Arabs would be grateful! ... And it never occurred to them
that
they -- their country, them, inside -- could be affected by being the
occupiers. No, not these men of steel..."
To support his thesis, Cramer tells endless stories -- poignant and
powerful ones, narrated with verve and passion and controlled outrage.
One
is about an Israeli journalist of integrity, an editor for a big news
show,
forced to work around propagandistic demands from his superiors that he
not
interview Palestinian leaders and that all shows saying anything about
Arabs take proper account of "their murderous nature." (He was fired.)
Another is about a Palestinian named Yusuf Abu Awad who "caught some
bad
luck at a checkpoint outside his village in the hills near Hebron."
Awad
was stopped by Israeli troops on the road, not even at a checkpoint, as
Israeli troops have the right to do at any time. One of the soldiers,
for
no reason, started throwing rocks at his car. Yusuf complained. The
soldier
cursed him. The argument got intense.
Yusuf was ordered back into his car. But he couldn't let it drop.
"There is
no curfew. There's no demonstration. You're the only one throwing
stones..."
Cramer writes, "The soldier shot from a distance of about four feet.
His
gun had bullets that enter the target, then explode. Later, in the
morgue,
Yusuf's face was perfectly all right, but the top of his forehead,
crown of
his skull and his hair were simply gone. He was 31 years old. He left a
wife, aged 25, a daughter of 6 and a son of 5."
An officer arrived, screaming, "What are you, crazy? Why'd you have to
shoot him down? What could he do to you?" After the family filed a
complaint (with the help of the Israeli human rights group B'tselem)
the
army investigated -- but "it emerged that Yusuf was accused of trying
to
take the soldier's weapon ... so, of course, the shooting was
self-defense." Cramer does not reveal what happened to the soldier, but
as
B'tselem has revealed, the vast majority of such cases end with the
soldiers receiving no more than a slap on the wrist, if that…
-----
MORE REFUGEE CLAIMANTS TO BE 'REMOVED' TO U.S.
Catherine Solyom, Gazette, 7/19/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/index.html
The Syeds were among hundreds of Pakistani families to land in the
United
States after 9/11, then cross the border at Lacolle into Canada.
The push to register and/or detain Muslim visitors in the United States
had
sent fear throughout the Muslim community.
Two and a half years later, the Syeds are among many who will take the
same
route home - though this time with a police escort, perhaps stopping
off in
a U.S. detention centre on the way.
Nahida Syed, her husband Gulfraz and their three girls - two of them
born
in Montreal - are scheduled to be "removed" to the United States
Thursday.
They say Canada is probably sending them to their deaths in Kashmir -
all
because they caught the wrong judge at the Immigration and Refugee
Board,
and lost the "lottery" that is the refugee determination system.
"We hear there is no chance of getting asylum in the U.S.," said Nahida
Syed, who worked as a microbiologist at Universite de Quebec a
Montreal.
"If Canada rejects us, how would the U.S. accept us? This is not a
joke.
It's about people's lives."
During the 2003-2004 fiscal year, 928 refugee claims from Pakistanis in
Montreal were rejected, compared with 782 accepted. On March 31, 826
Pakistanis were still waiting for a decision...
-----
SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING ON ISLAMIC BANKING
http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=127
WHAT: The International Trade and Finance Subcommittee under the Senate
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will be hosting a hearing
on
"Islamic Banking." Mahmoud Amin El-Gamal, resident Islamic scholar,
Treasury Department, will be participating.
WHERE: 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., July 21, 2004
CONTACT: 202-224-7391
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/20/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS TO PARENTS
* INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM TO BE BANNED IN NORWAY?
* CAIR-DC HOSTS MIDDLE EASTERN JOURNALISTS
* CAIR-HOUSTON CO-SPONSORS BLOOD DRIVE
- CAIR-FL: FBI Interviews Intimidating (AP)
* FROM IMMIGRANTS, STORIES OF SCRUTINY (NY Times)
- Were My African-American Ancestors Muslims? (GN)
* KS: PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUM (MPAC)
* DID ALLAWI SHOOT IRAQI PRISONERS? (CS Monitor)
* TRAGEDY IN SUDAN (Islamic Relief)
- Humanitarian Disaster in Darfur, Sudan (ICNA)
* VA: MUSLIM GIRLS YOUTH FIELD TRIP (MAS)
* MD: SIXTH ANNUAL ISLAMIC HISTORY DAY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS TO PARENTS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was once asked: "Is there any
kindness that I can do for my parents after their death?" He replied:
"Yes,
you can invoke blessings on them, seek forgiveness for them, carry out
their final instructions after their death, join ties of relationship
that
are dependent on them, and honor their friends."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2440
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM TO BE BANNED IN NORWAY?
RIGHT-WING POLITICIANS WANT TO BAN ISLAM
Carin Pettersson, Nettavisen, 7/19/04
http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/english/article254421.ece
Central members of Kristiansand Progress party claims Hitler's "Mein
Kampf"
and the Koran are one of the same, and they want Islam banned in
Norway.
According to the Norwegian paper Dagbladet, central figures in
Kristiansand
Progress party (Frp) wants to ban Islam in Norway.
"We are not the only ones demanding this ban," said Halvor Hulaas,
chairperson in Krstiansand Frp to the paper. "This is an opinion that
is
well established in Scandinavian countries. We are now importing people
with a religion that is practiced in the same way it was practiced when
it
was established in year 600. The freedom we have in Norway may be taken
away from us if we do not start to have some demands to these
immigrants."
Karina Udnæs, deputy leader of the Progress party's city council group
in
Kristiansand is pushing it even further.
"It is about high time Norway and Europe make the ideology Islam and
the
practice of this, illegal and punishable in the same way as Nazism,"
Udnæs
said. "The prophet Muhammad urged them to kill everyone infidel."
"Udnæs' comparison of Nazism and Islam is supported by many in Frp,"
Hulaas
said. "The religion as it is practiced is a threat against our social
system and way of life."
He said that Kristiansand now lives under the threat of getting a large
mosque in town.
"Of course, we are aware of what these mosques are used for," Hulaas
said.
-----
CAIR-DC HOSTS MIDDLE EASTERN JOURNALISTS
CAIR today hosted a delegation of journalists from the Middle East
touring
the United States under the sponsorship of the Department of State
Foreign
Press Center. The journalists are examining the American political
system
during the 2004 elections.
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON CO-SPONSORS BLOOD DRIVE
Organizers seek to increase understand and promote community service
WHAT: The Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Al-Farouq Masjid
Foundation
and the Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-Houston) invite fellow Houstonians to participate in a blood
drive
administered by Gulf Coast Blood Center.
WHEN: Saturday, July 24, 2004 from Noon - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Community Hall, 1207 Conrad Sauer, Houston, Texas
CONTACTS: Shariq Abdul Ghani, Crescent Youth Event Coordinator,
shariq@crescentyouth.net
SEE ALSO:
NEW FBI INTERVIEWS AMOUNT TO INTIMIDATION, CAIR LEADER SAYS
Mike Schneider, Associated Press, 7/19/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9192431.htm
ORLANDO - Interviews by FBI agents in a new round of questioning aimed
at
preventing terrorist attacks amount to intimidation, the Florida leader
of
a national Islamic group said Monday.
At least a dozen Arab Americans or Muslim Americans in Florida have
been
interviewed. After the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI interviewed hundreds
of
Arab Americans and Muslim Americans around the nation, leading to
accusations of racial profiling.
"It's appalling that this is happening again," said Altaf Aali,
executive
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Florida in Fort
Lauderdale. "This is deja vu all over again."
FBI spokeswoman Sara Oates said similar interviews are being conducted
around the nation in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks. Agents
have
been reaching out to leaders around the state to assure them that hate
crimes will be investigated and their civil rights concerns will be
addressed, she said.
"We have conducted the interviews and the purpose ... is to seek
information that can help us prevent a major terrorist attacks during
this
period," Oates said. "For the most part, the people who have been
contacted
have no issues and have been very cooperative and have been helpful."
CAIR has been contacted by seven people in central Florida and five
people
in South Florida who had been interviewed by FBI agents in the past
month,
although the figure is probably higher because some people don't want
to
come forward, Aali said.
"Some of the questions they asked were 'What mosque do you go to? Is
there
extremism being preached there? Do you know anyone in the congregation
who
is suspicious in nature? Has anybody asked for donations or distributed
money at the mosque?'" Aali said…
-----
FROM IMMIGRANTS, STORIES OF SCRUTINY, AND STRUGGLE
Nina Bernstein, New York Times, 7/20/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/nyregion/20immigrant.html
As a Muslim immigrant growing up in New York, Navila Ali, 20, felt safe
and
almost American until Sept. 11, 2001, she said yesterday, speaking out
at
an unusual public hearing led by the bishop of Brooklyn to highlight
the
impact of enforcement crackdowns on the city's immigrants.
Ms. Ali's father, a bookseller, was required to register with the
government simply because he was from Bangladesh. He dutifully reported
to
immigration authorities, she said, and like thousands of other Muslim
or
Arab men, he was detained and deported last year. His family stayed
behind.
"I'm the oldest of three children, so everything is on me," said Ms.
Ali, a
college student, breaking down at the microphone as she faced the
bishop,
Nicholas DiMarzio, and a phalanx of community organizations. "I've been
here 12 years, and I always thought in my soul and heart, I'm American.
I
thought this was the best place for protection. But I don't feel that
way
anymore."
Such sentiments are sweeping immigrant communities in New York, Bishop
DiMarzio said, and not only among Muslims, who have borne the brunt of
antiterrorism measures. A wide spectrum of foreign-born residents feel
the
ripple effects, from ballooning immigration application backlogs to the
denial of driver's licenses for longtime immigrant workers who cannot
prove
that they are working legally.
"Things are worse than they've ever been, and I've been involved in
immigration for 30 years," the bishop said in an interview before the
three-hour forum, at St. Francis College in downtown Brooklyn. The
forum
was co-sponsored by the New York Immigration Coalition, an umbrella
group
and advocacy voice for more than 200 organizations that work with
newcomers
and support more lenient immigration laws.
"The human impact is the issue - people are suffering," the bishop
said.
"Some of it is the unintended consequences of 9/11, but we have to do
something about it. It's immoral. It's just wrong."…
ALSO SEE:
WERE MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN ANCESTORS MUSLIMS?
Nathan W. Murphy, Genealogy News, 7/19/04
http://news.genealogytoday.com/inbox/2004/gweek0716.html
Ever wondered what religious practices your African ancestors followed
before arriving in America? While many observed indigenous tribal
beliefs,
Islamic historians estimate that between 7 and 30 percent of African
slaves
brought to America were Muslims. As a classic example, in the
television
series Roots, Alex Haley portrays his black immigrant ancestor as a
follower of Muhammad. Historians recognized this interesting and little
known fact by identifying historic American texts written in Arabic,
pinpointing the location of prominent slave recruiting grounds in
Africa,
identifying Muslim given names amongst American slaves, and uncovering
personal accounts of prominent Islamic African-Americans.
At the time Columbus discovered America, Islamic Empires held greater
power
in the Western World than European kingdoms. They controlled the
overland
trading routes that transported oriental goods from the Far East to
Europe,
ruling from India to Western Africa. According to Allan D. Austin in
African Muslims in Antebellum America, Islam had penetrated areas such
as
Senegal, Timbuktu, and the Lake Chad area in Africa by 1100 C.E. From
these
localities westward to the Atlantic Ocean, slave traders kidnapped the
majority of their victims. The rise of European maritime trade in the
16th
and 17th centuries triggered the decline of Islamic political supremacy
and
introduced new nations as world leaders.
Historians have identified many authentic Arabic texts written in the
United States before the Civil War. Many of these manuscripts have been
reproduced in the books listed below. When translated, most turn out to
be
memorized sections of the Qu'ran, revealing slaves' struggles to
maintain
differing religious beliefs in an oppressive Christian nation. These
writings also reveal high levels of education attained by the authors
in
Africa prior to enslavement and forced emigration. Unfortunately
slavery
has largely silenced our present knowledge of these educated people. It
is
known that slave masters often placed Muslim slaves as supervisors over
their fellow bondsmen...
-----
PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUM
WHAT: Primary Election Candidate Forum
This is your chance to ask candidates questions about issues that are
important to you. Candidates for the Kansas Senate and House along with
various judicial races in Sedgwick County are invited to present their
positions to the public.
Some candidates committed to appear include former Wichita Mayor, Bob
Knight and opponent incumbent Senator Susan Wagle for senate seat from
district 27; co-host and challenger Abdul Arif, and opponent incumbent
Representative Oleatha Faust-Godeau for 84th house district seat, Don
Betts
and Treatha Foster as well as several other candidates from other
districts
and Sedgwick county judge positions.
Program begins at 6 p.m. with candidate social hour, including free
food
and drinks, followed by candidate statements, and a Q&A session until 9
p.m.
FREE FOOD & DRINKS
Hosted by Wichita chapter of Muslim Public Affairs Council
WHERE: Muslim Community Center, 6655 E. 34th St. N., Wichita, Kansas
WHEN: Friday July 23, 2004, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact Dr. Nabil Seyam at (316) 630-9222.
-----
DID ALLAWI SHOOT IRAQI PRISONERS?
Tom Regan, CS Monitor, 7/19/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0719/dailyUpdate.html
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports Monday that Iraq's
Human
Rights Minister Bakhtiyar Amin said he will investigate claims that
Iraq's
new Prime Minister Iyad Allawi killed six prisoners just days before he
took office. Mr. Amin said he does not believe they are true.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age of Melbourne, two of Australia's
top
newspapers, ran the story about the alleged incident on Saturday,
prompting
a furious round of denials from Mr. Allawi's office, which said Allawi
doesn't carry a gun and never visited the detention center in question.
Australian journalist Paul McGeough, who broke the story, and then left
Iraq for Jordan because of safety fears, stood by his report.
In his report Saturday, Mr. McGeough quoted two unnamed witnesses who
say
they were at the prison southwest of Baghdad when Allawi pulled a
pistol
and "executed as many as six suspected insurgents ..." At least five of
the
prisoners shot were Iraqis, the witnesses said.
One of the witnesses claimed that before killing the prisoners - and
they
name three of the people alleged to have been executed - Dr. Allawi had
told them he wanted to send a clear message to the police on how to
deal
with insurgents. "The prisoners were against the wall and we were
standing
in the courtyard when the Interior Minister said that he would like to
kill
them all on the spot. Allawi said that they deserved worse than death -
but
then he pulled the pistol from his belt and started shooting them," one
of
the witnesses said.
The Herald article also report that almost a dozen Iraqi policemen and
four
Americans from the Allawi's personal security team "watched in stunned
silence" as the alleged event unfolded. Iraq's Interior Minister, Falah
al-Naqib, is said to have looked on and congratulated Allawi when the
job
was done. The article also points out that the two witnesses quoted in
the
article supported Allawi's actions…
-----
TRAGEDY IN SUDAN
300,000 Could Die in Darfur, Sudan Crisis
Islamic Relief beneficiary in Sudan
http://www.irw.org/sudan/
As many as 300,000 people in Sudan could die due to the current crisis
in
the West Darfur region, according to reports from the United States
Agency
for International Development (USAID). The feared toll was based on
studies
of malnutrition and mortality rates in Sudan.
Civil war has crippled Darfur for the past year, and innocent
civilians,
who have become refugees due to the current crisis, are the most
serious
victims. Over one million people have fled their homes and abandoned
farms,
mostly to avoid the "janjaweed" gangs, which U.N. officials have
accused of
ethnic cleansing. The refugees' plight is certain to become more
desperate
with this month's onset of the rainy season, which their current living
conditions will not be able to withstand.
Tens of thousands have died or been injured as a direct result of the
conflict, with many more deaths as a result of conflict-related
diseases.
Jan Egeland from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reports, "It is a race against the
clock.
The biggest human drama anywhere in the world is unfolding in Darfur."
With
over one million people displaced, the United Nations has called Darfur
"the world's greatest humanitarian crisis."
Islamic Relief Action
Islamic Relief USA staff is monitoring the humanitarian crisis in the
western Sudanese region of Darfur. According to the United Nations, the
crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur is currently the worst
humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in the world. The United
Nations
has estimated that, out of a pre-conflict population in Darfur of 6.5
million, approximately 1 million people have been internally displaced
within Sudan and more than 110,000 people have fled across the border
into
neighboring Chad as a result of this conflict.
Because of the unstable security situation on the ground, delivery of
humanitarian assistance to the conflict-affected populations has been
severely impeded. On April 8 the government of Sudan and the opposition
Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM)
signed a 45-day renewable ceasefire agreement which includes a pledge
to
guarantee safe passage of humanitarian aid to Darfur.
A delegation from Islamic Relief offices in the United States, United
Kingdom and France recently visited Darfur to monitor the situation.
Two
Islamic Relief USA representatives, Anwar Khan and Arif Shaikh returned
from Sudan this week. According to Shaikh, "The living conditions of
the
displaced people are simply shocking. Thousands of people have been
living
in huts made of 4 pieces of straw for several months. As the rainy
season
approaches, their situation will only get worse, as their current
shelter
will not be able to withstand the rain. Due to the poor living
conditions,
there are also very serious health problems in the region, including a
meningitis epidemic."
Islamic Relief Worldwide has five offices in Sudan and has been working
in
the country for over 20 years. IRW currently operates Internally
Displaced
People (IDP) camps in Darfur, in addition to other emergency projects.
Please rush your donation today to help save lives.
DONATE: https://www.islamic-relief.com/usa_donations/
ALSO SEE:
HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN DARFUR, SUDAN
http://www.reliefonline.org/
More than a million people displaced by fighting in the Darfur region
of
Sudan. Food, water and other life-saving help to the victims of this
crisis
are immediately needed. The violence has forced thousands to flee
across
the border into the neighboring nation of Chad. Fighting has forced
approximately 1.2 million, mostly villagers, from their homes.
It's estimated that nearly 30,000 people have died in Darfur over the
past
year as a result of this violence. Over 130,000 have fled to the
neighboring country of Chad as refugees, while more than a million
remain
homeless in Darfur.
Per United Nations estimates, Now thousands of families lost everything
-
homes, belongings, livestock and crops. Homeless and scattered across
Darfur's barren desert, these families are struggling to meet their
daily
needs. Farmlands and livestock are being destroyed in the conflict
badly
affecting the livelihood of people.
To donate generously, call 1-866-637-4357
-----
VA: MUSLIM GIRLS YOUTH FIELD TRIP
WHAT: All Girls Ages 14-25 are encouraged to participate in "Outdoors
Day"
including pedal boating, lunch, sports, group games, and sister
bonding!
WHEN: Sunday, July 25th
WHERE: Pohick Bay Park "Shelter #3"
Registration Fee: $5 (Covers food, pedal boating and other activities)
Limited transportation available from Dar Al-Hijrah.
To register for the program, and inquire about transportation, e-mail:
masdcyouth@yahoo.com.
SEE ALSO:
MD: SIXTH ANNUAL ISLAMIC HISTORY DAY
WHAT: Speakers will include Aftab Ahmad Khan, Sulayman S. Nyang, Imad
A.
Ahmad, Amin Ezziddin, among many others. Lunch will be served.
WHEN: Sunday, July 25, 2004 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Three Sessions,
attend
all or any)
WHERE: Muslim Community Center, 15200 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20905
Further information, Contact MCC: 301-384-3454, mcc@mccmd.org
Sabir A. Rahman 301-260-9452 sabirrahman@mris.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR WEEKLY ELECTION UPDATE #13: MIDEAST POLICY
The latest issue of CAIR's ELECTION 2004 UPDATE is now available
online.
CAIR's weekly election updates are designed to promote American Muslim
political empowerment. Updates focus on issues of importance to the
American Muslim community and outline the candidates' positions on
those
issues.
TO READ THE FULL UPDATE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/jul202004.asp
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1) RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Foreign Policy
- Kerry Calls for Reform of Intelligence Services
- Public Support Slips for Iraq Policy
- Bush, Kerry Aim for Balance on Israel
- Kerry Walks Tightrope on Middle East Policy
Outreach
- Bush Campaign Announces its African Americans for Bush National
- Bush Skips NAACP, Kerry Promises Dialogue
- Early Signs of a 'Values' Campaign
- On trail, Bush Stays Close to Right Wing
- Young Voters Courted, but Many Stay Turned Off
Economy
- Bush Campaign: Economic Confidence Hits Six Month High
- Kerry campaign: Bush Economy Leaves Families Less Secure
Health Care
- Badnarik: How to Make Health Care Affordable?
- Kerry's Plan to Lower Health Care Costs
Family
- Bush Extends Debate on Values to Children
Education:
- Kerry Highlights His Education Plan
2) COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
- Democratic Leader Calls for Ending Racial Profiling of US Muslims
- Arab-American Voters Overwhelmingly Back Kerry
Recent Events:
- Muslims Meet with House Democratic Leader
- NY: FBI official, Muslim leaders meet
Upcoming Events:
To announce your upcoming American Muslim local event, please contact:
politics@cair-net.org
3) NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL
- FBI Starts to Question Muslims in U.S. About Possible Attacks
- Ridge Calls Patriot Act Key to Fighting Terror
- U.S. Attorney General Defends Patriot Act Use
- Washington Post: More Patriot Act Games
- OH: Democratic Candidate for Congress Wants Patriot Act Changes
- New Law Adds 2 Years to Prison Sentences for Identity Theft
- U.S. House Deplores International Court of Justice's Ruling on
Israel's wall
- House Cuts Aid to Saudis from Bill
- House Rejects Cut in Military Aid to Egypt
- Senators Block Initiative to Ban Same-Sex Unions
- FL: Penelas Says Iraq War Wrong, United States Should Get Out
- PA: Money, War Top Voters' Concerns
To send local news stories, feedback, and comments please e-mail:
politics@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CALIFORNIA MUSLIM DETAINED IN EGYPT
Islamic civil rights group seeks info from U.S., Egypt
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/21/04) - On Thursday, July 22, the Southern
California
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) will hold
a
news conference at which it will call on American and Egyptian
authorities
to offer information about the recent detention of a Muslim U.S.
citizen in
Cairo.
WHEN: Thursday, July 22, 11 a.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: CAIR-LA's Office, 2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F, Anaheim,
Calif.
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847, 714-390-0334, Hussam
Ayloush,
714-814-4444
According to friends and family members, the 26-year-old resident of
Culver
City, Calif., was detained on Friday at Cairo airport by Egyptian
security
personnel. He had been in Egypt studying Arabic and was on his way home
when detained. (Family members of the detained man, along with local
community leaders, will attend the news conference.)
CAIR officials have contacted the U.S. Department of State, the
American
embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C., but no
information about the man's detention has yet been released.
"We are concerned that an American citizen can be detained under
mysterious
circumstances by a close ally, and that our own government is not able
to
provide any answers," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush.
Ayloush said the American Muslim community needs to know why the man
was
detained and who is behind his detention.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/21/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WASH AWAY SINS
* SAVE THE DATE - CAIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - 10/2/04
- Help Get CAIR's PSA on Local TV Stations
- CAIR-NJ: Muslims Discuss Civil Rights with State Agency
- CAIR-FL: FBI Visit Shakes Up Local Muslim (FL Today)
* MA TOWN HALL MTG: MUSLIMS AND THE 2004 ELECTIONS
- Boston Islamic Community Hosts Muslim DNC Delegates
- GA: Cynthia McKinney Storms to Win (AJC)
* OH: RALLY TO PUBLICIZE PLIGHT OF DETAINEES (Beacon Journal)
* THE HYSTERICAL SKIES (Salon.Com)
- VA: Group Uses TV to Fight Bias (Times-Dispatch)
* MI: VOTERS FAIL TO QUELL MUSLIM PRAYER CALL (Detroit News)
* CA: CULTURES CLASH ON ROAD TRIP (SF Chron)
- Remove Wall, Israel Is Told By the UN (NY Times)
* THE GHOST PRISONERS (Village Voice)
- Afghans Try Americans on Torture Charges (AP)
* NEOCONS - NEVER APOLOGIZE, NEVER EXPLAIN (SL Dispatch)
- Among Soldiers, Growing Doubts about Mission (Phil Inq)
- Fisk: A Better and Safer Place (Indep)
* IL: IMC-USA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS
* WASHINGTON AREA MUSLIM YOUTH CAMP
* DC: MSN 11TH ANNUAL MUSLIM STUDENT NETWORK BANQUET
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WASH AWAY SINS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When a (person performs
the
ritual ablution prior to prayer), every sin he contemplated with his
eyes
will be washed away along with water…when he washes his hands, every
sin
they wrought will be effaced with the water…and when he washes his
feet,
every sin towards which his feet have walked will be washed away with
the
water…with the result that he is free of all sin."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 108
-----
SAVE THE DATE - CAIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - 10/2/04
CAIR invites you to attend its 10th anniversary banquet, "Building A
Better
America: A Decade of Dedication," on Saturday, October 2, 2004, at the
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in Washington, D.C.
CAIR also invites you to attend its 4th annual conference, "Building A
Better America: Defining the American-Muslim Role," to be held Sunday,
October 3 through Tuesday, October 5, 2004, in Washington, D.C.
Volunteers are needed for both events, please contact:
events@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL TV STATIONS
PSA part of effort to reduce anti-Muslim stereotyping
CAIR is asking for the help of local Muslim activists to promote the
distribution and broadcast of the "I am an American Muslim" television
public service announcement (PSA).
TO VIEW THE PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
CAIR's 30 and 60-second PSA, which is designed to challenged
anti-Muslim
bias, features American Muslims of European, African-American,
Hispanic,
and Native American heritage. Each person in the PSA states how they
and
their families have served America and ends by saying, "I am an
American
Muslim."
The PSA was first distributed by satellite to television public service
directors in June. It will be rebroadcast to television stations
nationwide
on Thursday, July 22, 2004
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Please call each of your local television stations and ask to speak
to
the person who handles public service announcements.
2. Explain to that person why it is important to help reduce
anti-Muslim
bias in our society and how this PSA could assist in that goal.
3. Ask that the PSA be recorded from the following satellite feed:
DATE: Thursday, July 22
TIME: 2 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. (EDT), 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. (PDT)
SATELLITE COORDINATES: C-Band, Intelsat Americas 6, Transponder 15, D/L
4000V
4. Contact Rabiah Ahmed (rahmed@cair-net.org, 202-488-8787,
202-439-1441)
if the public service director requires a hard copy of the PSA or if
you
need more information about the campaign.
-----
NJ MUSLIMS DISCUSS CIVIL RIGHTS WITH STATE AGENCY
Meeting designed to begin dialogue on discrimination
(TOTOWA, NJ, 7/21/04) - Muslim and Arab-American leaders in New Jersey
met
yesterday with representatives of that state's Division on Civil Rights
(DCR) to begin a dialogue on issues of concern to both communities,
particularly religious and ethnic discrimination.
The round-table discussion with the DCR, a state agency operating under
the
office of the New Jersey Attorney General, was co-hosted by the Jersey
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ). It was
the
agency's first formal meeting with Muslim and Arab-American leaders.
"Unlike hate crimes, discrimination is a subtler, yet more prevalent
phenomenon that negatively impacts members of many minority
communities,
including Muslims and Arab-Americans," said CAIR-NJ Executive Director
Faiza Ali. "By its very nature, it is harder to detect but may
ultimately
cause more damage to individuals and their families."
Ali welcomed the opportunity to work with the DCR to address religious
discrimination and the protection of civil liberties.
Groups that took part in the meeting included the New Jersey office of
the
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Human Rights and
Education
Law Project, the Islamic Center of Passaic County, the Islamic
Educational
Center of North Hudson, and the Islamic Center of Central Jersey. DCR
representatives included Director J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo and Assistant
Directors Gary LoCassio and Philip Freeman.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Faiza Ali, Executive Director, 908-209-7440, E-MAIL:
fali@cair-nj.org
-----
FL: FBI VISIT SHAKES UP LOCAL MUSLIM
J.D. Gallop, Florida Today, 7/20/04
http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryN0721MUSLIM.htm
PALM BAY -- On any given day, Mahmoud Alzebak can be found ringing up
orders at the specialty food store or readying a tray of freshly baked
spinach pies for customers at the lunch counter.
Is the FBI infringing on the rights of Muslims by asking them questions
they claim will help prevent terrorist attacks?
But nearly three weeks ago, the 24-year-old Palestinian found himself
answering questions -- not about food, but about ties to political or
militant groups during two rounds of interviews with a pair of curious
FBI
agents.
"They asked me about Hamas, did I know them or if I knew of anyone that
would do America harm," said Alzebak, a newlywed who recently moved
from
Chicago to Palm Bay to work with his cousins at the Holy Land Food
store.
"I was shocked . . . it was the first time in my life I've ever been
through anything like that."
Alzebak was one of several Muslim men recently questioned in Florida by
the
FBI following reports of increased "chatter" among groups plotting
another
terrorist strike on U.S. soil.
A similar sweep of interviews occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks
with federal agents interviewing at least 5,000 Muslim men across the
country. There were at least 30 people questioned then in Brevard, but
FBI
officials would not say how many were questioned this time...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has fielded at least half a
dozen
complaints about such interviews in Central Florida.
"Some of these measures are counterproductive," said Ahmed Bedier, the
state spokesman for the Counsel on American Islamic Relations in Tampa.
"You alienate the people you're trying to get help from, and they feel
like
you're targeting them..."
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIM ALLIANCE TOWN HALL MEETING
Can Muslim Americans Make a Difference in 2004 Presidential Elections?
AGENDA:
1. Civic Education
- American Political System An Overview
- The Two-Main Party System
- The Electoral College
- Issues and Challenges
2. Town Hall Meeting
- AMT* ELECTION PLAN
- Open Discussion
- Oral and Written Feedback
3. Fundraising
SPEAKERS:
Presidential Candidate (Green Party): David Cobb
Ralph Naders' running mate - Vice Presidential Candidate: Peter Camejo
Dr. Agha Saeed: AMA National and AMT* chairman
Katie Quinn: Former State Committee/ Campaign Manager for - Congressman
McGovern and State Senator Pam Resor.
WHERE: Wyndham Hotel - Westboro, MA (Refreshments available - Admission
FREE)
WHEN: Sunday, July 25
TIME: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Contacts: Anwar Kazmi (617-751-1812); Farooq Ansari (508-326-0812);
Muttasem Razzaq (508-757-0537); Tahir Ali (774-696-0537)
* The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), is
a
US-wide coalition of American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA),
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance of North
America
(MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council
(MPAC), Muslim Student Association National (MSA-N), and Project
Islamic
Hope (PIH).
SEE ALSO:
BOSTON ISLAMIC COMMUNITY HOSTS MUSLIM DNC DELEGATES
CAMBRIDGE, MA - Muslims in the Boston area will host Muslim delegates
from
across America who will be attending the 2004 Democratic National
Convention (DNC) in Boston during the last week of July. A reception
will
be held on Tuesday July 27th, starting at 11:30AM, at the Islamic
Society
of Boston's (ISB) mosque located at 204 Prospect Street, Cambridge,
Massachusetts. SEE: http://www.isboston.org
The 2004 DNC will be drawing over 5000 delegates from all 50 states
across
the nation. The American Muslim population has been taking a greater
role
in mainstream American politics for the past decade; there are about 40
Muslim delegates expected to participate in this years Convention.
Invitations for the July 27th reception have been sent to all the
Muslim
delegates. In addition to the delegates, the Mayor of Cambridge,
Michael
Sullivan and State Representative Alice K. Wolf will be in attendance
at
the reception. There will also be participation from leaders of the
greater
Boston area Muslim community.
The program will begin at 11:30 AM with presentations from the Muslim
community leaders and also from the various government officials in
attendance. After a break for prayers, the program will resume with a
luncheon for the delegates.
The reception will present a networking opportunity for Muslims leaders
from across the country to form stronger alliances through which they
can
pursue common goals in a more organized, cohesive manner. American
Muslims,
particularly first generation immigrants, face a severe lack of
representation in all facets of the American society. American Muslims
are
making continuous efforts to dispel false images and stereotypes that
tend
to overshadow the realities of Muslims and Islam.
This reception has been organized through the efforts of Muslims
serving on
the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, Mushtaque A. Mirza, Hanif
Butt and also Parwez Wahid, Secretary of the Democratic Town Committee
in
Framingham, Massachusetts. Salma Kazmi of the Islamic Society of Boston
has
arranged to make facilities at the ISB available for the reception.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: mushtaquealikhan@yahoo.com
PHONE: 617-876-4267
---
MCKINNEY STORMS TO WIN
Jim Galloway, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/21/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0704nation/21main.html
Democrat Cynthia McKinney, whose tirades against President Bush helped
get
her tossed out two years ago, appeared headed back to Washington on
Tuesday, while Johnny Isakson cruised to victory without a runoff in
the
Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
On the Democratic side of that race, U.S. Rep. Denise Majette led seven
contenders but failed in her effort to stay clear of a runoff against
millionaire Cliff Oxford, who poured more than $1 million of his own
money
in the contest.
Supreme Court Justice Leah Sears - who next year could become the high
court's first female chief justice - was the biggest vote-getter of the
night. She easily fended off challenger Grant Brantley, who was backed
by
Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue and religious conservatives, deflecting
criticisms of her "activism" and allegations that she looked favorably
on
gay marriage.
"I think it's a good night for moderation in politics," said Atlanta
Mayor
Shirley Franklin, who countered Perdue's involvement in the Supreme
Court
race with her support for Sears.
With good weather and a light to medium turnout that state officials
said
would reach 30 percent, voters also sent at least two of four hotly
contested congressional races toward three more weeks of campaigning
and an
Aug. 10 deciding vote.
In north metro Atlanta's 6th District, state Sens. Tom Price and Robert
Lamutt landed in a runoff, as did state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and
Dylan
Glenn in the Southside's 8th district.
But it was the likely return of McKinney in the 4th District that
represented the starkest shift in Georgia politics. McKinney finished
just
above the magic 50 percent-plus-one mark. The district has strongly
favored
Democratic candidates over Republicans in recent years, giving McKinney
a
substantial edge over Republican Catherine Davis in November...
Tuesday night, McKinney called her primary victory "one of the greatest
political comebacks in history."
ALSO SEE:
http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/contact.html
-----
RALLY TO PUBLICIZE PLIGHT OF DETAINEES
Stephen Dyer, Beacon Journal, 7/20/04
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/9196095.htm
After nearly two years fighting for his freedom from indefinite
detention
in a Pennsylvania prison, former Kent resident Ashraf Al-Jailani will
get a
little help from his friends this week.
A Cleveland immigrant advocacy group will hold a rally for him at noon
Wednesday at the Federal Building at Sixth Street and Lakeside Avenue
in
downtown Cleveland.
Organizers expect between 50 and 100 people.
The purpose is to publicize the case of Al-Jailani and others around
the
country -- mostly men of Middle Eastern descent, who are being detained
in
the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Greater
Cleveland
Immigrant Support Network says many of these detentions are
unwarranted.
``Due process is being violated,'' said Brian Fry, justice coordinator
for
Cleveland's Congregation of St. Joseph, a local convent.
Al-Jailani is a prime example, Fry and others claim.
Al-Jailani, 40, was arrested in October 2002 and accused of being an
al-Qaeda operative -- a so-called ``first stringer'' -- who planned to
blow
up Akron's GOJO Industries. But every court that has heard the U.S.
government's case on those terrorism allegations has cleared Al-Jailani
of
any terror links.
He has yet to face a criminal charge...
-----
THE HYSTERICAL SKIES
Patrick Smith, Salon.com, 7/21/04
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2004/07/21/askthepilot95/
In this space was supposed to be installment No. 6 of my multiweek
dissertation on airports and terminals. The topic is being usurped by
one
of those nagging, Web-borne issues of the moment, in this case a
reactionary scare story making the cyber-rounds during the past week.
The piece in question, "Terror in the Skies, Again?" is the work of
Annie
Jacobsen, a writer for WomensWallStreet.com. Jacobsen shares the
account of
the emotional meltdown she and her fellow passengers experienced when,
aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Detroit to Los Angeles, a group
of
Middle Eastern passengers proceeded to act "suspiciously." I'll invite
you
to experience "Terror" yourself, but be warned it's quite long. It
needs to
be, I suppose, since ultimately it's a story about nothing, puffed and
aggrandized to appear important.
The editors get the drama cooking with some foreboding music: "You are
about to read an account of what happened," counsels a 70-word
preamble.
"The WWS Editorial Team debated long and hard about how to handle this
information and ultimately we decided it was something that should be
shared ... Here is Annie's story" [insert lower-octave piano chord
here].
What follows are six pages of the worst grade-school prose,
spring-loaded
with mindless hysterics and bigoted provocation.
Fourteen dark-skinned men from Syria board Northwest's flight 327,
seated
in two separate groups. Some are carrying oddly shaped bags and wearing
track suits with Arabic script across the back. During the flight the
men
socialize, gesture to one another, move about the cabin with pieces of
their luggage, and, most ominous of all, repeatedly make trips to the
bathroom. The author links the men's apparently irritable bladders to a
report published in the Observer (U.K.) warning of terrorist plots to
smuggle bomb components onto airplanes one piece at a time, to be
secretly
assembled in lavatories.
"What I experienced during that flight," breathes Jacobsen, "has caused
me
to question whether the United States of America can realistically
uphold
the civil liberties of every individual, even non-citizens, and protect
its
citizens from terrorist threats..."
ALSO SEE:
VA: GROUP USES TV COMMERCIALS TO FIGHT BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS, OTHERS
Bob Rayner, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/21/04
It may be the new American nightmare.
A man in a suit and tie, blond hair neatly combed, makes his way down
the
aisle of a passenger jet. He smiles nervously at his seatmate, a
brown-skinned man wearing a turban.
"Say, are you from Pakistan?" the blond man asks.
"Actually, I'm from Pittsburgh," his seatmate responds.
"Pittsburgh? Ha-ha! Pittsburgh?" the blond guy screams, cackling like a
madman as he jumps from his seat.
"Come on, look what he's got on his head. … How many people from
Pittsburgh
look like that?" he asks another passenger.
"Ahhh, look at him," he says, pointing. "He's a sleeper. Bam! We're all
gonna die! ... He's gonna blow us all to kingdom come!"
So whose bad dream is this, anyway?
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks may have been a double tragedy for
Americans
who are Muslim or of South Asian heritage. Their country was attacked
that
day. And in the days that have followed, at least some of their
countrymen
have treated them with suspicion, or worse.
A nonprofit Richmond group, A More Perfect Union, was formed last year
to
fight what it sees as subtle bias against Muslims and others of South
Asian
ethnicity.
It's a big message, and the group doesn't have a lot of money to spread
the
word.
"At the very least, we want to plant a seed to get people to think
about
the experiences of others," said Jonathan Zur, the director of AMPU,
which
works out of the chaplain's office at the University of Richmond.
But planting seeds in a mass-market society usually takes big bucks.
If you don't have the money, your best bet may be to latch on to some
serious marketing expertise. Siddall, a downtown Richmond advertising
agency, has supplied plenty of that in the past year.
The result: a couple of television commercials, produced with the help
of
some major-league Hollywood talent, that look and sound like they cost
a
fortune, but didn't.
The blond man on the plane is an actor. The verbal rampage is all in
his
character's head. The man playing his unfortunate seatmate, Opi Singh,
is a
Sikh who volunteered his time before the cameras. The plane is really
just
a set, safely on the ground in Los Angeles...
But the real energy focused on creating an advertising campaign, one
that
would promote the group's message and drive people to its Web site:
www.amoreperfectunion.info
To view the PSAs, go to:
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/student/life/chaplaincy/AMPU/ampu.html
(Click on "Media.")
-----
VOTERS IN HAMTRAMCK FAIL TO QUELL MUSLIM PRAYER CALL
Christopher Singer, Detroit News, 7/21/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0407/21/metro-218797.htm
HAMTRAMCK -- Voters on Tuesday narrowly upheld a law allowing the
city's
Islamic mosques to have amplified calls to prayer, 1,462 to 1,200.
"I feel wonderful," said Abdul Motlib, president of the Al-Islah
Islamic
Center. "Now we truly have approval from the residents of the city. We
can
feel proud of Hamtramck."
But Willy Jones, 67, voted against allowing the calls to prayer.
"It's a noise hazard," he said after voting at a Catholic school across
the
street from the Al-Islah mosque.
The City Council in April unanimously amended Hamtramck's noise
ordinance,
making the adhan -- the Islamic call to prayer -- protected speech. The
amendment allows the call to prayer but regulates its volume and
timing.
Jones questioned the assertion by Muslim leaders that the calls are no
different from church bells.
"The church has been doing this for years. This is not calling people
to
prayer. It's (giving) the time of day," he said...
In the special election, about 29 percent of the city's 9,179
registered
voters who went to the polls also recalled three school board members
who
were accused of barring the public from parts of board meetings...
-----
CA: CULTURES CLASH ON ROAD TRIP
Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/21/04
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/21/BAGTS7OQAD19.DTL
Their pairing sounds like a half-baked Hollywood pitch for a reality
show:
She's an Israeli Jew, he's a Muslim from Jordan. Let's pack them in a
car
and head them down the West Coast on that most American of pastimes,
the
summer road trip.
But while the Sierra Club-sponsored roadie that stopped Tuesday in San
Francisco is ostensibly about hyping hybrid cars to the 18- to
24-year-old
demographic, its reality hasn't been a complete joyride through the
redwoods.
At least, not when decades of Middle Eastern political history gets
thick
inside the Toyota Prius.
"He's the mediator," said Ilana Meallem, the 26-year-old Israeli,
referring
to Brendan Bell, their Sierra Club chaperone and an American Christian.
"And of course, as a typical American mediator," 26-year-old Jordanian
Mohammad Taher said dryly, "he always sides with Israel."
Uh, pass the Fritos.
Meallem and Taher may view some things differently politically, but
both
realize that their generation must cooperate to tackle a common
regional
problem: environmental issues. They live in a place where water is the
stuff of wars.
To that end, both are students at the Arava Institute for Environmental
Studies. Located on an Israeli kibbutz near the Jordanian and Egyptian
borders, Arava brings together Muslim, Christian and Jewish students in
an
attempt to break down the political and cultural barriers that get in
the
way of solving environmental problems.
As part of their graduate studies, six Arava students are spending the
summer working at Bay Area nonprofits. Meallem and Taher are at the
Sierra
Club, paired to preach the hybrid gospel during a 14-day road trip from
Seattle to San Diego.
Theirs is a road trip unlike many others. The British-born Meallem is
effervescent, smiling easily and engaging with the crowds she's seen.
Sporting dreadlocks and a nose stud, she's a poster child for those
young
drivers the campaign is seeking...
ALSO SEE:
REMOVE WALL, ISRAEL IS TOLD BY THE U.N.
Warren Hoge, New York Times, 7/21/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/21/international/middleeast/21nati.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 20 - The General Assembly approved a resolution
overwhelmingly on Tuesday evening demanding that Israel obey a World
Court
ruling that it abandon and dismantle its separation barrier on the West
Bank and pay compensation to Palestinians affected by its construction.
The vote was 150 in favor and 6 against - including the United States -
with 10 abstentions. Last-minute amendments accepted by the Arab
sponsors
of the measure during a hastily called two-hour recess succeeded in
gaining
the support of all 25 members of the European Union and more than 30
other
nations that had abstained the last time the matter came before the
assembly. In that vote - on Dec. 8, 2003, on a resolution that asked
the
international court to rule on the barrier's legality - there were 74
abstentions, with 90 votes in favor and 8 against.
"Thank God that the fate of Israel and of the Jewish people is not
decided
in this hall," Israel's ambassador, Dan Gillerman, told the delegates
after
the vote on Tuesday night was posted on the electronic board next to
the dais.
Nasser al-Kidwa, the Palestinian observer to the United Nations, hailed
the
outcome as "magnificent," saying: "The debate is completed. It is now
time
for implementation and compliance, and at a later stage for additional
measures."
Resolutions from the 191-member General Assembly are nonbinding and
largely
symbolic, unlike those passed by the 15-member Security Council. Israel
said in advance that the vote would not alter its resolve to continue
building the barrier.
James B. Cunningham, the deputy American ambassador, said the United
States
voted against the measure because it was "unbalanced" and erred in
assigning a problem to the courts that rightly should be solved through
political negotiations...
-----
THE GHOST PRISONERS
Nat Hentoff, Village Voice, 7/19/04
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0429/hentoff.php
Battered by national and international outrage at photographs of the
naked,
contorted bodies of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the Bush
administration
selectively released hundreds of classified documents on June 22,
purporting to show that the previously leaked Justice Department and
Defense Department memoranda justifying torture were just "scholarly"
ruminations never to be actually implemented on human beings.
The next day, deep into a front-page New York Times story on this
bumbling
three-card-monte ploy by the Bush team, there was this key paragraph:
"None of the documents released Tuesday sheds any light on the legal
thinking behind the detention of a small number of high-level Qaeda
operatives who have been detained by the Central Intelligence Agency at
secret locations around the world and who have been subjected to
coercive
interrogations without access to lawyers or human rights groups."
A major error by the Times limits these ghost prisoners to "a small
number." I too was at fault in a previous column, "Disappearing
Prisoners"
(July 7-13), because, when writing it, I had not yet seen a 43-page,
painstakingly annotated report, "Ending Secret Detentions," by an
invaluable organization, Human Rights First (formerly named the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights).
The group's previous extensively detailed analyses of the Bush
administration's shadow Constitution that is bypassing the Bill of
Rights
and the separation of powers have been vital to my research for these
columns and for my book The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering
Resistance (Seven Stories Press).
The headline on Human Rights First's press release about this new
report,
which is now reverberating in news media around the world, is "U.S.
Holding
Prisoners in More Than Two Dozen Secret Detention Facilities
Worldwide." It
adds that "at least half of these operate in total secrecy." These
offshore
prisons are "beyond the reach of adequate supervision, accountability,
or
law [and the Geneva Conventions]. . . . Human Rights First calls on the
Administration to give the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC)
immediate access to all those it is holding in custody in the 'war on
terror.' "
On June 18, National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg reported, on
National
Public Radio (a persistently useful source on these abuses of
international
law): "The Red Cross, according to knowledgeable sources, has
repeatedly
warned administration officials that they were not complying with
international law in the treatment of prisoners."
But Donald Rumsfeld, echoing the commander in chief's hollow homilies,
said
at the Pentagon on June 17: "I have high confidence that I have not
seen
anything that suggests that a senior civilian or military official of
the
United States of America has acted in a manner that's inconsistent with
the
president's request that everyone be treated humanely."
What about the more than 24 secret interrogation centers around the
world?...
ALSO SEE:
AFGHANS TRY AMERICANS ON TORTURE CHARGES
Associated Press, 7/21/04
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040721_1029.html
KABUL, Afghanistan - Three Americans accused of torturing Afghans in a
private jail during a freelance counterterror mission went on trial
Wednesday, with their ringleader denying any wrongdoing and claiming
U.S.
government support.
Jonathan K. Idema, Brett Bennett and Edward Caraballo were arrested
when
Afghan security forces raided their makeshift jail in a house in Kabul
on
July 5. American and Afghan authorities say they were vigilantes posing
as
U.S. special forces and had no official backing.
Appearing before a three-judge panel in a national security court, the
trio
listened quietly to the charges - including hostage-taking and torture,
and
as three of their ex-detainees described how they were beaten, doused
with
boiling water and deprived of food.
The Americans didn't testify. But Idema said afterward that the abuse
allegations were invented. He also said he was in regular phone and
e-mail
contact with Pentagon officials "at the highest level."
Idema named a Pentagon official who allegedly asked the group to go
"under
contract" - an offer they refused.
"The American authorities absolutely condoned what we did, they
absolutely
supported what we did," he told reporters crowding round the dock.
The trial comes at an awkward time for American officials trying to
contain
a widening scandal over abuse in official U.S. military prisons in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
-----
NEOCONSERVATIVES - NEVER APOLOGIZE, NEVER EXPLAIN
Kevin Horrigan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/20/04
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/9197135.htm
I like a guy who won't quit.
I like the Black Knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," his arm
whacked off with a broadsword, saying, "It's just a flesh wound."
I like Wile E. Coyote.
I like Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke," letting George Kennedy beat the
snot out of him.
I like Roy McAvoy, Kevin Costner's character in "Tin Cup," who only
needs
to lay up on the 18th hole to win the U.S. Open but decides to drive
over
the water to the green. And splashes a dozen balls. "Greatness courts
failure," says Tin Cup.
And I like William Kristol, the editor of The Weekly Standard, the
Rupert
Murdoch-owned neoconservative newsweekly. Undaunted by the polls,
undaunted
by the events of the past year, Kristol forges on in defense of the war
in
Iraq that he and his neocon pals so desperately wanted.
"What the Bush campaign must do is remind Americans that the Iraq war
was
no mistake - that the case for the war was and is compelling, and that
it
used to be bipartisan," Kristol writes in the Standard's July 19 issue.
I love that. Committees and commissions in this country and Great
Britain
stumble over themselves plumbing the depths of the Iraq mistake, and
Kristol stands tall. He could take the easy way out, like Democrats,
and
say he was lied to. He could weasel like Republicans and blame it on
the
CIA. But no, he stands tall...
ALSO SEE:
AMONG SOLDIERS, GROWING DOUBTS ABOUT MISSION
Tom Lasseter, Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/21/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/9201795.htm
RAMADI, Iraq - Scaling back the military and political goals in Iraq's
Anbar province has hurt morale among U.S. soldiers stationed there, and
some have begun to question openly not only their mission but also the
leaders who sent them to Iraq in the first place.
It is not just buck privates. Several sergeants - the backbone of the
enlisted military - said they felt the same way.
Instead of neighborhood patrols, most of the convoys these days that
leave
the bases in Ramadi, 60 miles west of Baghdad, are on their way to
guard
main roads and the government building downtown. There are also
observation
posts throughout the city, where soldiers sit and watch, waiting for
something to happen.
To carry food from one base to the next, a matter of a few blocks,
takes
four vehicles - armored humvees and trucks - all with .50-caliber
machine
guns mounted on top.
"I'm tired of every time we go out the gate, someone tries to kill me,"
Staff Sgt. Sheldon Rivers said.
Asked whether most Americans had an idea of how bad the security
situation
was in Ramadi, Sgt. Maj. John Jones said recently that he was annoyed
every
time he heard analysis about Iraq from politicians and journalists on
TV.
"When people come over here, where do they stay? In the Green Zone. I
call
it the Safe Zone," he said, referring to the secure area in Baghdad
where
the government is housed. "They miss the full picture."
What is the full picture?
"It's just like the West," Jones said, "when we were trying to settle
it
with the Indians."
He would not elaborate.
"It means that we have to kill all of them," said a captain standing
nearby, half-joking.
Jones shrugged.
Sgt. First Class James Tilley was on patrol on the road outside Ramadi
later that afternoon, sitting in his humvee for an hour or two in one
spot
- sweating profusely in the 105-degree heat - before moving a few
hundred
yards down the road to another place. The patrol is designed to prevent
insurgents from putting bombs in the road.
"A lot of times, I look at this place and wonder what have we really
done,"
Tilley said. "... What the hell am I here for?..."
---
A BETTER AND SAFER PLACE
Robert Fisk, Independent, 7/20/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/story.jsp
For mile after mile south of Baghdad yesterday, the story was the same:
empty police posts, abandoned Iraqi army and police checkpoints and a
litter of burnt-out American fuel tankers and rocket-smashed police
vehicles down the main highway to Hillah and Najaf. It was Afghanistan
Mk2.
Iraqi government officials and Western diplomats tell journalists to
avoid
driving out of Baghdad; now I understand why. It is dangerous. But my
own
fearful journey far down Highway 8 - scene of the murder of at least 15
Westerners - proved that the US-appointed Iraqi government controls
little
of the land south of the capital. Only in the Sunni Muslim town of
Mahmoudiya - where a car bomb exploded outside an Iraqi military
recruiting
centre last week - did I see Iraqi policemen.
They were in a convoy of 11 battered white pick-ups, pointing
Kalashnikovs
at the crowds around them, driving on to the wrong side of the road
when
they became tangled in a traffic jam, screaming at motorists to clear
their
path at rifle point. This was not a frightened American column - this
was
Iraq's own new blue-uniformed police force, rifles also directed at the
windows of homes and shops and at the crowd of Iraqis which surged
around
them. In Iskanderia, I saw two gunmen near the road. I don't know why
they
bothered to stand there. The police had already left their post a few
metres away.
Yes, it is a shameful reflection on our invasion of Iraq - let us
solemnly
remember "weapons of mass destruction" - but it is, above all, a
tragedy
for the Iraqis. They endured the repulsive Saddam. They endured our
shameful UN sanctions. They endured our invasion. And now they must
endure
the anarchy we call freedom...
-----
IMC-USA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICES
http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/PressRelease.cfm?PRID=83
Indian Muslim Council-USA, a US based advocacy group, has announced the
much awaited list of its annual awards for excellence in services to
humanity in different fields.
The awards will be awarded at the IMC-USA annual convention in Chicago
on
August 7th to be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington Heights in the
greater Chicago area.
According to Dr. Shaik Ubaid, President of IMC-USA, the awards for 2004
are:
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jowhar Award in Journalism
For best in-depth coverage of Indian diaspora in the US
Jerome McDonnell and Andrea Wenzel
Worldview/Chicago Public Radio
Bahadur Shah Zafar Award
For promoting pluralism and communal harmony in India
Shri Kumar Poddar
Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment, Michigan
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award in Humanitarian work
For self-less service towards the upliftment of the poor and the
oppressed
classes in India
Dr. A.R. Nakadar
Former President, American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin,
Michigan
Altaf Hussain Hali Award in Humanitarian work
For self-less service towards the upliftment of Muslims in India
Kaleem Kawaja
Former President, Association of Indian Muslims, Maryland
Tipu Sultan Award
For courageously serving India and India's interests
Prabhudoss John
Executive Director, Policy Institute for Religion and State,
Washington, DC
Indian Muslim Council - USA
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award for excelling in education
To be announced for Chicago Area Student
IMC-USA's 2004 annual convention will focus on India's Muslims, the
largest
minority group in the world, and the highly focused activities and
workgroups will address the contributions, present day issues and the
future direction for Indian Muslims (and other minorities) to thwart
the
menace of Hindutva. The full day event with the theme, "Indian Muslims:
Past, Present and Future", will be addressed by prominent scholars,
historians, journalists, human rights activists and social scientists.
Leaders and representatives of Dalit, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and
Indian-Christian communities will also address the convention.
For more information and to register, delegates and journalists can do
the
following:
Visit: http://www.imc-usa.org/convention2004
Phone: 630-926-2881
E-mail: chicago@imc-usa.org
-----
WASHINGTON AREA MUSLIM YOUTH CAMP
WHAT: Come and be apart of the longest-running Muslim camp in the
region.
Stay in cabins all week, 5 daily prayers, 2 daily lectures, along with
fun
& games and sports sessions, lots of good food and snacks 3 times a
day.
COST is $175 per camper for boys who are between the ages of 7-18
WHEN: Saturday July 24 thru July 31, 2004
WHERE: Prince Williams Forrest Park, VA
For more information contact:
Br. Mohammed Dawood/703-531-2908 and
Br. Basil Vanderhall/301-590-2679
Sponsored by Dar Al Hijrah / Muslim Sports Club/ ICM
-----
MSN 11TH ANNUAL MUSLIM STUDENT NETWORK BANQUET
WHAT: Muslim Student Network cordially invites you to the MSN 11th
annual
Muslim student network banquet with keynote speaker, J. Adam Ereli,
Deputy
Spokesman, US Department of State.
WHEN: Saturday, July 24th, at 6:30 PM
WHERE: United States House of Representatives, Cannon House Office
Building, Caucus Room 345, MAP - http://www.aoc.gov/cc/cc_map.htm
$25 Suggested Donation
Please RSVP to Sarah Munshi at (512) 785-7384 or email
MSNbanquet@yahoo.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/22/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD
* CAIR CONGRATULATES MCKINNEY ON PRIMARY WIN
- McKinney Wins Democratic Primary in GA (JTA)
* MUSLIM HOSPITALITY SUITE AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
- MN Muslims Say Farewell to DNC Delegate
* CAIR-LA: CALIFORNIA MUSLIM RELEASED IN EGYPT
- CA: Culver City Man Held in Egypt (LA Times)
* CAIR-TX: MUSLIMS DONATE BUS FOR NATIVE-AMERICANS
* MUSLIM WOMEN SEEKING A PLACE IN THE MOSQUE (NY Times)
- LA: Teacher Fired in Scarf Case (Times Picayune)
* NC: ISLAMIC LEADER TO GIVE TALKS (Herald Sun)
* AMERICAN ON TRIAL FOR PRIVATE "WAR ON TERROR" (AFP)
- US Admits 'Bounty Hunter' Contact (BBC)
* LAVON AFFAIR STILL SPARKS DEBATE IN ISRAEL (JTA)
* NORWEGIAN MUSLIM SAYS ISLAM SAFE
* VA: QURAN MEMORIZATION COMPETITION FOR GIRLS
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD
"[Since] good and evil cannot be equal. Repel [evil] with something
that is
better. Then you will see that he with whom you had enmity, will become
your close friend."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 41, Verse 34
-----
CAIR CONGRATULATES MCKINNEY ON PRIMARY WIN
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/22/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today offered congratulations to Cynthia McKinney for her win in
Georgia's 4th Congressional District primary on Tuesday.
SEE: http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/
McKinney beat five other Democrats with enough votes to avoid a runoff.
She
is favored to win election to Congress in her heavily Democratic
district
this November.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said in a
statement:
"We congratulate Cynthia McKinney on her strong showing in Tuesday's
primary. Throughout her political career, she has been a consistent
friend
of the American Muslim community and a strong advocate for issues of
concern to Muslims, particularly the promotion of social justice and
the
defense of civil liberties.
"Ms. McKinney's integrity has long been reflected in her commitment to
the
concerns of ordinary Americans and her promotion of balanced and
forward-looking foreign policies."
ALSO SEE:
CYNTHIA MCKINNEY, CRITIC OF ISRAEL, WINS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN GEORGIA
Matthew E. Berger, JTA, 7/21/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=McKinney+wins+in+Georgia&intcategoryid=3&SearchOptimize=Jewish+News
WASHINGTON - Cynthia McKinney is one step closer to returning to
Congress.
The former Georgia lawmaker, who has been targeted by Jewish donors in
the
past because she is perceived as anti-Israel, surprised many by
avoiding a
runoff and winning outright Tuesday's six-person Democratic primary for
her
old seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jewish donors, concerned about McKinney's re-emergence, had anticipated
backing McKinney's opponent in a runoff next month, but now are faced
with
the likelihood that McKinney will return to Washington after winning in
November in a heavily Democratic district.
McKinney, who represented the 4th congressional district for 10 years
before losing to Denise Majette in the primary two years ago, received
51
percent of the vote Tuesday.
Liane Levetan, a Jewish state senator, received 21 percent, and Cathy
Woolard, a former Atlanta city council president, garnered 19 percent…
-----
MUSLIM HOSPITALITY SUITE AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
WHAT: The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT)
will host a hospitality suite during the Democratic Convention. The
suite
will be available on Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 28, from noon
to
midnight.
An AMT reception for American Muslim Democratic Convention delegates
will
be held on Tuesday, July 27 at 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Holiday Inn - Select, Blossom Street, Boston, MA. 02116, (617)
742-7630
For more information, please contact Tahir Ali (774-696-0537) or Agha
Saeed
510-299-9313, if you are planning to attend the convention/hospitality
suite.
The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections is an
umbrella
organization representing American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA),
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance of North
America
(MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council
(MPAC), Muslim Student Association -- National (MSA-N), and Project
Islamic
Hope (PIH).
SEE: http://www.americanmuslimvoter.net/
SEE ALSO:
MN MUSLIMS TO HOLD FAREWELL CELEBRATION FOR DNC DELEGATE
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (July 22, 2004) - Minnesota's Muslim Community
invites media and concerned citizens to a farewell for the Muslim
community's first ever delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
The
party for Asad Zaman, a long time Islamic activist and member of the
Democratic party, will be held at 7:00pm this Friday evening at the
Islamic
Information Office at 315 East Lake Street in Minneapolis.
CONTACT: Mohamad Elmasry, 651-442-5166, elma0001@umn.edu
-----
CALIFORNIA MUSLIM RELEASED IN EGYPT
CAIR thanks LA community, Egyptian embassy
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/22/04) - The Southern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) announced today that a Muslim
U.S.
citizen held in Egypt since last Friday has been released.
Officials with the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C., told CAIR that
Culver City, Calif., resident Abdul Ghafoor Mahboob, 26, is reportedly
on
his way back to the United States.
The news of Mahboob's release came one hour before CAIR-LA held a press
conference to protest his detention and call for his immediate release.
Yesterday, CAIR-LA called on the U.S. and Egyptian governments to
release
information about Mahboob's detention. CAIR officials had been in
contact
with the U.S. Department of State, the American embassy in Cairo and
the
Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C.
"We thank all those who assisted in resolving this case, particularly
members of the Southern California Muslim community, officials at the
Egyptian embassy in Washington and the offices of Representative Jane
Harman and Senator Diane Feinstein," said CAIR-LA Executive Director
Hussam
Ayloush.
"We share the family's joy and are happy that Mr. Mahboob will soon be
reunited with his family," said Ayloush.
According to friends and family members, Mahboob was detained at Cairo
airport by Egyptian security personnel on Friday. He had been in Egypt
studying Arabic and was on his way home when detained.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACTS: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-MAIL:
socal@cair.com; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CA: CULVER CITY MAN APPARENTLY IS HELD IN EGYPT
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 7/22/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-detention22jul22,1,314181.story
Family members and friends of a Culver City man of Afghan descent are
protesting his apparent detention by officials in Egypt and calling for
more vigorous U.S. action to find and free him.
Abdul Ghafoor Mahboob, a 26-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen who until
last year worked for an Islamic relief organization, apparently was
detained Friday at the Cairo airport as he prepared to return to
California
after having studied Arabic there since December. According to his
brother,
Mostafa, he managed to call a friend in Egypt to let him know he was
being
detained; the friend relayed the news to his family in Culver City.
An official with the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs confirmed that the
office was investigating reports of Mahboob's detention. Rep. Jane
Harman
(D-Venice), whose congressional district includes Mahboob's home, also
was
looking into the case. The Egyptian Embassy in Washington did not
return
calls for comment.
The Anaheim office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations planned
to
hold a news conference today to protest what it says is insufficient
action
by U.S. officials on the case. Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said
U.S.
officials have given the case only "lip service" and questioned whether
Mahboob's Islamic faith and Afghan descent marked him for
discriminatory
treatment.
Mahboob's detention has mystified and outraged some local Muslims.
Friends
and family members said he was well-known and widely liked, describing
him
as a nonpolitical activist dedicated to humanitarian work, youth
activities
and religious learning. His mother, Shahbibi Mahboob, said her son was
so
devoted that he would kiss her feet, following Afghan custom, and
promised
he would cook for her when he returned from his studies.
"He would never harm anyone," his mother said as she dabbed her
reddened
eyes with a handkerchief in the family's tidy two-bedroom Culver City
apartment. "Everyone who knows him knows he is a happy person who was
always smiling..."
-----
TEXAS MUSLIMS DONATE BUS FOR NATIVE-AMERICANS
The Houston Muslim community has committed to raise $9,000 to benefit
the
Jumano Apache Indian Tribe located in Redford, Texas. The funds will
pay
for a used school bus, with any remaining funds donated for school
supplies.
Tribal elders say some children have missed school due to the need for
transportation.
Donations can be sent to the local ICNA Relief account in Houston. Any
checks for donations can be made out to "ICNA Relief" please write in
the
memo section "Apache Indian Bus Fund." ICNA will make arrangements to
pick
up your donation from a place and time of your convenience. Please
contact
us if you need more information or would like us to work out a date and
time to pick up your donation.
For more information, or to donate, call Jim Coates, ICNA-Houston
Outreach
Coordinator at 281-793-5073 or email: brjimc@sbcglobal.net
Sponsors:
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston)
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH)
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN SEEKING A PLACE IN THE MOSQUE
Laurie Goodstein, New York Times, 7/22/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/22/national/22muslim.html
The last time Nasreen Aboobaker attended communal prayers with other
Muslims was on the major holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The local mosque in
Fremont, Calif., had rented space in a nearby Hilton Hotel to
accommodate
the crowd. As the men congregated in the spacious ballroom, Mrs.
Aboobaker
said she and the other women were ushered into a small conference room
and
told to follow along with the prayers piped in from the men's space.
After the women waited about an hour for the prayers to begin, the door
to
their room flew open and husbands arrived to take their wives home. "We
did
not even know the prayer had ended," said Mrs. Aboobaker, explaining
that
the sound system had failed. "We were locked up like sheep and cows."
Since that incident last November, Mrs. Aboobaker prays only at home,
shunning the segregated mosque. But she is not the only Muslim woman
who is
beginning to bridle at the men's club culture of many American mosques.
Gradually and with mixed success, a small number of Muslim women are
challenging the lack of inclusion of women in worship and communal
life. In
Morgantown, W. Va.; Prince George's County, Md., and the San Francisco
Bay
Area, women have pushed to remove partitions or walls - or simply the
rules
- that prevent women worshipers from seeing or hearing the imam.
Another group of women led by a social worker in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is
about to introduce a guide to making mosques more "sister friendly,''
proposing such measures as creating prayer space that does not exclude
women, allowing women access to lectures, bulletin boards and donation
boxes, and providing child care during mosque events.
Though they include college students and grandmothers, they represent a
new
generation of Muslim women raised and educated in North America. They
include immigrants and the descendents of immigrants from the Middle
East,
South Asia and elsewhere, as well as African-American and Anglo
converts to
the faith. Some of the younger women in their 20's and 30's, and their
male
supporters, identify themselves as "progressive Muslims" - a loose but
growing network of activists and writers linked by books, Web sites and
Listservs…
ALSO SEE:
TEACHER FIRED IN SCARF CASE
Rob Nelson, Times-Picayune, 7/22/04
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1090486664254090.xml
The Jefferson Parish school system has fired a West Jefferson High
School
teacher accused of using religious slurs against a Muslim student and
pulling off her head scarf, a school system source said this week.
Superintendent Diane Roussel would not confirm that teacher Wes Mix has
been fired, but said she approved on Tuesday a recommendation from the
system's personnel office, ending months of in-house investigation
triggered by the Jan. 30 incident. The source said the recommendation
is to
fire Mix, though he has one more chance to fight for his job.
Mix, who could not be reached for comment, was sent a certified letter
this
week informing him of the district's decision, Roussel said.
Because he is a tenured employee, Mix has a right to a public or
private
hearing before the School Board if Roussel terminated him, said
Assistant
Superintendent Ronald Ceruti, who is in charge of personnel. The board
can
then uphold, amend or scrap Roussel's action, Ceruti said.
In February, then-sophomore Maryam Motar, 17, said that Mix, her world
history teacher at the Harvey school, pulled back her culturally
mandated
head scarf and said, "I hope God punishes you. No, I'm sorry, I hope
Allah
punishes you."
According to Motar, Mix also said, "I didn't know you had hair under
there."
The remarks were part of a string of ethnically charged jokes Mix used
in
his classes toward her, said Motar, whose family enlisted the support
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
Motar said Wednesday she would be pleased if the recommendation was
made to
fire Mix. "He needs to be punished for what he did," she said.
Mix, a six-year veteran of the system and a professional musician, was
transferred Feb. 2 from West Jefferson to Helen Cox Junior High School
in
Harvey, prompting complaints from Motar's family that the district
allowed
him to keep teaching. Days later, the system decided to put Mix on an
indefinite paid suspension, pending the results of an internal
investigation.
At the time, Mix downplayed the controversy as a "nonissue" and a
"bunch of
craziness," and said that "all of this has been resolved..."
-----
ISLAMIC LEADER TO GIVE TALKS
Herald Sun, 7/21/04
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-503446.html
DURHAM - Imam E. Abdulmalik Mohammed, a national spokesman for Imam W.
Deen
Mohammed, the son of Elijah Mohammed, will give four local talks this
weekend.
Abdulmalik is credited with helping to arrange a meeting between
Mohammed
and Pope John Paul II, and he works to establish relationships and
dialogue
between people of different races, nationalities and religions on
Mohammed's behalf.
Abdulmalik will begin his visit to the Triangle at 1:30 p.m. Friday,
when
he plans to lead the weekly services at Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center,
located
1009 W. Chapel Hill St. Then, at 1 p.m. Saturday, he will lead a
community
discussion at the Islamic Center on "Researching Our Faith and
Supporting
Business Life in Our Neighborhoods."
At 10 a.m. Sunday, Abdulmalik and Rabbi Raachel Jurovics will make a
presentation at Temple Beth Or, located at 5315 Creedmoor Road in
Raleigh.
The topic will be: "Presenting The Correct Pictures of Two Faiths."
Also on Sunday, Abdulmalik will talk about "Presenting the Correct
Picture
of Islam" at Vital Link East, 1214 E. Lenoir St. (corner of Rock Quarry
Road) in Raleigh.
For more information about the free, public events, contact Imam
Abdul-hafeez Waheed at (919) 225-1729.
-----
AMERICAN ON TRIAL FOR PRIVATE "WAR ON TERROR" CLAIMS RUMSFELD LINK
Agence France Presse, 7/21/04
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/96885/1/.html
KABUL - A US citizen in court charged with running a private "war on
terror" in Afghanistan claimed he and two other Americans were working
with
the full knowledge of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Jonathan Idema, who denies charges he detained and tortured Afghan
citizens
without US government consent, said they were hunting terrorists under
the
auspices of the Pentagon and said they had since been abandoned by US
authorities.
"The American authorities absolutely condoned what we did, they
absolutely
supported what we did. We have extensive evidence of that," said Idema,
who
is on trial with his subordinates Brent Bennett and Edward Caraballo.
US-led coalition forces have disavowed all ties with Idema, while
international peacekeeping troops said they were duped into helping
Idema's
team, who wore US-style uniforms, believing they were legitimate
special
forces operatives.
Judge Abdul Baset Bahktiari allowed the three men and four Afghan
associates on trial with them to delay proceedings for up to 20 days to
allow them to prepare a better defense and find adequate translators.
The adjournment came after two Afghan interpreters struggled to
translate
comments from the judge, prosecution and witnesses, and Idema protested
that he and his associates would not be able to get a fair trial.
"It is impossible for us to know what's happening," he said.
US and Afghan authorities allege that Idema's freelance counter-terror
cell
illegally jailed and tortured eight Afghan citizens without government
authority.
The three US men and four Afghans face jail sentences of between 16 and
20
years if found guilty...
SEE ALSO:
US ADMITS 'BOUNTY HUNTER' CONTACT
BBC, 7/22/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3916075.stm
The US military has admitted it detained an Afghan man handed over by a
US
citizen accused of running a freelance counter-terrorism operation.
A military spokesman said the prisoner was handed over by the American,
Jonathan K Idema, in May.
A BBC correspondent in Kabul says that the disclosure is embarrassing
for
the US, which said it had had no links with the alleged American
mercenary.
He is facing charges of torture, kidnapping and running a private jail.
'Mercenary' allegation
"We did receive a detainee from Mr Idema or his party," said Major Jon
Siepmann, spokesman for the coalition forces.
"The reason we received this person was that we believed that he was
someone that we had identified as a potential terrorist and we wanted
him
for questioning," he said.
But forces strenuously deny that Mr Idema was working for the military
in
any official capacity and insist that he is a mercenary.
They argue that they were not aware of Mr Idema's "full track record"
prior
to his arrest earlier this month along with two other Americans and
four
Afghans.
Eight prisoners were freed from a makeshift jail in Kabul they are
alleged
to have run.
Mr Idema and his co-accused argue that they have been abandoned by the
US
authorities
Mr Idema argues that he was working with the knowledge of the US
defence
secretary, and that the US government had abandoned him…
-----
50 YEARS ON, LAVON AFFAIR STILL SPARKS PUBLIC DEBATE IN ISRAEL
Dan Baron, JTA, 7/20/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=%26%238216%3BLavon+Affair%26%238217%3B+still+riles+Israel&intcategoryid=5
JERUSALEM - Israeli military historians call it Operation Shoshana.
Scholars of political intrigue know it as the Lavon Affair.
But to veterans of Israel's first - and perhaps worst - intelligence
bungle, the 50-year-old episode whose unseemly details are only now
being
discussed openly has another name: the Raw Deal.
It was 1954, and the fledgling Jewish state watched with worry as
Egyptian
dictator Gamal Abdel Nasser made clear his goal of nationalizing the
Suez
Canal after decades of British control. Knowing that Nasser planned to
turn
Egypt's frequent blockade of Israeli shipping into a permanent policy,
Israeli spy masters set about finding a way to keep British forces in
charge.
Within weeks, an Israeli military intelligence unit known by its
code-number, 131, recruited nine young Egyptian Jews to stage terrorist
attacks that, they thought, would be blamed on local insurgents and
would
discredit Nasser's rule.
Seen as a potential bulwark against Soviet influence in the Middle
East,
Nasser enjoyed the quiet backing of the United States. But Israel
wanted to
prevent Washington from becoming too friendly with the Cairo junta,
which
was spearheading Arab hostility to the Jewish state.
The Egyptian Jewish spy cell firebombed American-linked sites -
libraries,
post offices, cinemas - in Cairo and Alexandria, causing some
consternation
but no casualties.
And then the plot backfired, literally. A bomb exploded in the pocket
of
one of the recruits, Philip Natanzon, before he could plant it in an
Alexandria movie house, setting his clothes on fire in the middle of
the
bustling port city.
Arrested and brutally interrogated, Natanzon led Egyptian police to his
accomplices. Two cell leaders were hanged, another committed suicide
before
trial and six agents received lengthy prison terms...
That faith survived - despite the jailhouse beatings, even despite
Israel's
failure to demand that its spies be released as part of prisoner
exchanges
with Egypt after the 1956 Suez Campaign and the 1967 Six Day War...
-----
NORWEGIAN MUSLIM SAYS ISLAM SAFE
CAIR received the following e-mail from a Norwegian Muslim in response
to a
recent Incitement Watch:
SEE: Incitement Watch: Islam to be Banned in Norway?
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=34052&page=NB
I write this to you, only so that you may provide my fellow Muslims in
North America of balanced and neutral view of the above mentioned
article
in one of your news briefs. I think that as a Norwegian Muslim, I would
want everyone to know this, as I am very proud of the Muslim Community
in
Norway, and I am proud of the forthcoming nature of the Norwegian
Government to the most recent Muslims immigration to this country
compared
on an international level. I hope that you will print this on your
publications and on your website…
The politicians mentioned in the article, hold no parliamentary seats.
No
seats that will ever have anything to do with the Politics of Norway at
large. They belong to a Right Wing party, called the Frp, which has
historically been against immigration. The party has never held a
significant position in the government of Norway, and they have yet to
place their party leader in the Prime Minister role, in oh say, the
last
100 years or so, if I'm not mistaken.
The people mentioned in the article hold a chairperson and deputy
leader
position in the Frp parties Kristiandsand wing. They are so to say,
insignificant in the larger picture really.
The parties President, who actually sits in Parliament, denies the
allegations, AND, made a public statement after the incident that the
view
of these people, did NOT reflect the view of the Political agenda of
the
Party.
Their views, were only their own, and personal, and had NOTHING to do
with
the party's view, according to the President of the Party himself...
Here are some facts to consider about Muslims in Norway:
1. 85% of the Muslim population in Norway resides in Oslo.
2. There are about 3 major mosques in Downtown Oslo, within a 5 mile
radius.
3. The largest mosque is located right downtown, where Adhan is given 5
times a day through a loud speaker system from the Minarets.
4. On Eid, schools allow Muslim kids to get the day off, without major
hassles or problems.
5. Muslims represent a major asset to the Norwegian work force.
6. Islam is the MOST practiced religion in Norway. Only about 5% of
Christian Norwegians are regular church goers. Registered Christians
represent less than 15% of the population to my recollection…
InshaAllah, May Allah be pleased with the efforts of the Muslims in
Norway,
and bless them and help them continue to grow in the same positive
manner
they have so far. Ameen.
Your Brother In Islam
-----
QURAN MEMORIZATION COMPETITION FOR GIRLS
Great Prizes for All Contestants
$100 Gold Prize: Surat Ar-Rum (1st Place)
$75 Silver Prize: Surat Muhammad (1st Place)
$50 Bronze Prize: Surat At-Tahrim (1st Place)
WHEN: Saturday 9/11/04 @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Dar Al-Hijrah, Computer Room
WHO: All Girls 25 and Younger
Valuable prizes for 2nd and 3rd place winners. Acceptable Tajweed
required.
For more information contact: masdcyouth@yahoo.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/23/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A FRIENDLY WORD
* CAIR MID-ATLANTIC MEETS WITH FBI
* CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS HELP CA COUNTY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
* CAIR-AZ: AUTHORITIES HOLD 'CHATS' WITH MUSLIMS (Daily Star)
* CAIR-KY: TAKING AIM AT ETHNIC HATE CRIMES (Snitch)
- PA: Even Shopping Can Turn Ugly For Muslims (City Paper)
* MI: U.S. CITY GRAPPLES WITH ANTI-ARABIC MOOD (UPI)
- Poll Shows Growing Arab Rancor at U.S. (Wash Post)
* CIA STEPS UP RECRUITMENT OF ARAB-AMERICAN AGENTS (Free Press)
- FBI Outreach to Muslims Comes Amid Interviews (Oregonian)
* OH: UNCHARGED PRISONERS GET SUPPORT (Beacon Journal)
- Army Report on Prison Abuse Sets off UPROAR (NY Times)
* WA: SOMALI BUSINESSES SETTLE FOR $100,000 (Seattle Post)
* TRIP TO MECCA HELP MUSLIMS APPRECIATE ROOTS (Ottawa Citizen)
* JEWISH SETTLEMENTS, OUTPOSTS EXPANDING DESPITE PLEDGES (Wash Post)
* AS CRISIS IN SUDAN INTENSIFIES, RELIEF WORLDWIDE INCREASES (IRW)
* DC: YOUNG MUSLIMS CAMP 2004
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A FRIENDLY WORD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions: "Save
yourselves from (Hell) even if with half of a date (given in charity),
and
if that is not available, then (save yourselves) by saying a friendly
word."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 52
-----
CAIR MID-ATLANTIC MEETS WITH FBI
Representatives of CAIR's Maryland-Virginia office (CAIR-Mid-Atlantic)
this
week met with leadership of the Maryland and Virginia/D.C. FBI offices.
The
purpose of the meetings was to discuss issues facing the Muslim
communities
living in Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington metro area. Among the
main
concerns were current civil rights issues and the importance of
sensitivity
training for FBI agents and officials.
The meeting also focused on how CAIR Mid-Atlantic could offer religious
and
cultural sensitivity training to all members of the FBI and other law
enforcement agencies in the Mid-Atlantic region.
-----
MUSLIMS HELP CALIF. COUNTY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
SACRAMENTO - On July 20, 2004, leaders from the South Sacramento Muslim
community met with Sacramento County official Bobbe Dworkis, Project
Lead
of the South Sacramento Community Initiative (SSCI), to identify issues
that are important to the community. The meeting was part of a process
to
develop a community vision and strategic plan for South Sacramento.
The goal of the SSCI is to empower the South Sacramento community to
improve their quality of life. An important focus will be to identify
assets in the community and to engage residents in addressing issues
that
impact their lives.
The meeting, facilitated by the Sacramento Valley chapter of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV), addressed a wide range of issues,
including education, neighborhoods, safety, economic development and
community leadership.
-----
AUTHORITIES HOLD 'CHATS' WITH LOCAL MUSLIMS
Joseph Barrios, Arizona Daily Star, 7/23/04
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/31189.php
Terrorism investigators have questioned about a dozen Tucson-area
Muslims,
saying they're trying to prevent any attacks during an October
presidential
debate in Tempe.
The "chats," conducted by FBI agents and other investigators from the
state's joint terrorism task force with members of Arizona's Muslim
community, started last month.
FBI officials in Washington, D.C., announced July 9 that the country's
56
field offices were ordered to increase their contacts with Muslim, Sikh
and
Arab-American leaders to hear any concerns they might have as
investigators
try to collect leads about possible attacks and terrorism suspects.
Attorney General John Ashcroft reiterated that intelligence indicates
al-Qaida is planning an attack intended to disrupt the democratic
process.
The third and final presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 13 at
Arizona
State University.
The interviews alarmed some members of the state's Muslim community,
said
Deedra Abboud, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
While most interviews took place in the Phoenix area, she estimates
about a
dozen have been conducted in Tucson. Two of those interviewed called
Abboud
with concerns.
"Whenever the FBI contacts you, you assume you're under investigation,"
Abboud said…
------
TAKING AIM AT ETHNIC HATE CRIMES
Candi Carter, Snitch, 7/21/04
http://louisville.snitch.com/2004/07/21/muslim
Imam Ali Mian during Friday prayers at the Louisville Islamic Society,
located on River Road.
The FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list contains just 22 men. But every
single name on the list sounds like it's of Arabic descent; from Osama
bin
Laden to Ayman Al-Zawahiri to Abdulla Ahmed Abdullah.
For Muslim, Sikh and Arab-American communities, those faces and names
are
perhaps the hardest obstacles to overcome in trying to establish
relationships with their communities and combat the hate crimes that
have
dogged them since 9/11.
"Some people are giving Islam a very bad name out there, and people are
failing to realize that it's not all of Islam," said Abdul Quayyum,
chairman of the newly founded Kentucky chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relationships, or CAIR. "It's not Islam. This is just
a
bunch of bad apples."
Those communities, though, aren't going to stand by and let the "bad
apples" ruin their community and image in America. They're reaching out
to
law enforcement agencies in their communities to establish
relationships,
educate people on their religions and offer aid in helping to fight
terrorism.
In turn, police are reaching back to help make religious and ethnic
minorities feel comfortable working with them…
Since 9/11, three ethnic minorities have endured hate crimes and
scrutiny
here in America: those of Arabic descent, Sikhs and Muslims…
ALSO SEE:
EVEN A SHOPPING TRIP CAN TURN UGLY FOR LOCAL MUSLIMS
Chris Potter, Pittsburgh City Paper, 7/22/04
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/
In many respects, Dalia Mogahed couldn't have looked more American on
that
Tuesday afternoon in late June. She was shopping at Target with her
4-year-old son, who needed a new pair of shoes. But while Mogahed was
engaged in this most patriotic of acts -- one endorsed after 9/11 by
President Bush himself, you may recall -- her head-scarf attracted the
ire
of a female customer.
"Why don't you go to Iraq with the rest of the motherf***ers who keep
chopping someone's head off every time you turn on the news?" Mogahed
says
the woman demanded.
Mogahed does outreach for the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh but
says "This didn't seem like an opportunity" for it. The woman had a
large
man walking with her, and so Mogahed says she "just walked away. I
pretended I didn't hear, because I did not want her to be provoked even
by
my turning around. But to do that so openly -- despite the fact that I
had
a 4-year-old in my cart -- was kind of amazing."
Her son had to wait for those new shoes.
Mogahed has heard of similar incidents in the area, like the woman who
"was
in a Pittsburgh mall and a woman actually came up to her and said, 'Is
that
a bomb under your clothes, or are you just fat?'" The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) documented 93 hate crimes nationwide
against Muslims in 2003, a small number but more than double the year
before. The incidents range from minor to murderous, but it's striking
to
see an increase two years after 9/11. Either Muslims are becoming more
assertive about reporting such crimes, or invading two largely Muslim
countries hasn't satisfied some people's taste for revenge.
The irony is that Mogahed and other Muslims have denounced the
beheadings
as loudly as anyone. When the first victim, Philadelphia contractor
Nick
Berg, was beheaded, Mogahed's group issued a statement echoing the
sentiments expressed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations: "We
condemn this cold-blooded murder and repudiate all those who commit
such
acts of mindless violence in the name of religion..."
-----
U.S. CITY GRAPPLES WITH ANTI-ARABIC MOOD
UPI, 7/23/04
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040722-014826-8551r.htm
Dearborn Heights - The suburban Detroit city of Dearborn Heights is
struggling to suppress anti-Arabic sentiment in a community split
geographically.
The city's dividing line is an east-west route called Ford Road, south
of
which a steadily growing number of Arabic families live, the Detroit
News
said Thursday.
In the suburb, the Arabic population has increased 400 percent since
1990,
sparking some social discord.
Controversies in a local school district over a Muslim holiday and the
serving of halal, or Islamic-blessed food, to students helped drive a
huge
voter turnout for the school board race in June...
ALSO SEE:
POLL SHOWS GROWING ARAB RANCOR AT U.S.
Dafna Linzer, Washington Post, 7/23/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7080-2004Jul22.html
Arab views of the United States, shaped largely by the Iraq war and a
post-Sept. 11 climate of fear, have worsened in the past two years to
such
an extent that in Egypt -- an important ally in the region -- nearly
100
percent of the population now holds an unfavorable opinion of the
country,
according to two polls due out today.
Both surveys were conducted in June by Zogby International and polled
Arab
men and women in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and the
United Arab Emirates.
The findings reflect the concerns raised in the Sept. 11 commission
report
released yesterday, which emphasized a losing battle for public
opinion.
"Support for the United States has plummeted," the commissioners wrote.
"What we're seeing now is a disturbing sympathy with al Qaeda coupled
with
resentment toward the United States, and we ought to be extremely
troubled
by that," said Shibley Telhami, a University of Maryland professor who
commissioned one of the surveys.
The other survey, titled "Impressions of America," charts a dramatic
overall decline in positive views by comparing current attitudes with
those
sampled in April 2002.
"In 2002, the single policy issue that drove opinion was the
Palestinians;
now it's Iraq and America's treatment, here and abroad, of Arabs and
Muslims," said James Zogby, who commissioned the report with the Arab
American Institute.
In Zogby's 2002 survey, 76 percent of Egyptians had a negative attitude
toward the United States, compared with 98 percent this year. In
Morocco,
61 percent viewed the country unfavorably in 2002, but in two years,
that
number has jumped to 88 percent. In Saudi Arabia, such responses rose
from
87 percent in 2002 to 94 percent in June. Attitudes were virtually
unchanged in Lebanon but improved slightly in the UAE, from 87 percent
who
said in 2002 that they disliked the United States to 73 percent this
year.
Those polled said their opinions were shaped by U.S. policies, rather
than
by values or culture. When asked: "What is the first thought when you
hear
'America'?" respondents overwhelmingly said: "Unfair foreign policy."
And when asked what the United States could do to improve its image in
the
Arab world, the most frequently provided answers were "Stop supporting
Israel" and "Change your Middle East policy."…
-----
CIA STEPS UP RECRUITMENT OF ARAB-AMERICAN AGENTS
Niraj Warikoo, Free Press, 7/23/04
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/cia23_20040723.htm
At the Arab Festival in Dearborn this summer, you could spot the
familiar
logos of the usual corporate sponsors like Ford and Comerica on a
banner
that draped the main stage.
But there was a new symbol on display this year, one that caught the
eye of
curious Arab Americans: the logo of the CIA.
It was a striking example of how the nation's intelligence agencies are
pushing hard to recruit agents and translators in metro Detroit's large
Arab and Muslim communities.
In recent weeks, the CIA has also taken out ads in local newspapers
that
feature a photo of the Statue of Liberty with the words: "For over 100
years, Arab Americans have served the nation. Today we need you more
than
ever." And the agency is offering bonuses of up to $25,000 for new
hires
who are fluent in Arabic and other crucial languages.
The moves by the CIA come at a time when members of Congress and
intelligence officials are pointing to a severe shortage of Arabic
speakers
in U.S. security agencies. Almost three years after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terror attacks, the country is still not equipped with enough linguists
to
fight the war on terror, they say.
On Thursday, the 9/11 commission released a report that bemoaned how a
lack
of Arabic speakers at the FBI led to "a significant backlog of
untranslated
intercepts."
At the U.S. State Department, there are only five speakers fluent
enough in
Arabic to speak on Middle Eastern TV stations like Al-Jazeera, said a
congressionally mandated report released last year. And the
1,400-member
Iraqi Survey Group that was looking for weapons of mass destruction
could
count on one hand the number of members who spoke Arabic, said U.S.
Rep.
Rush Holt, D-NJ..
"Too little, too late," is how Myriam Met, acting director of the
National
Foreign Language Center in Maryland, describes the government's efforts
to
get Arabic speakers. "Americans think that everyone else speaks
English, so
why bother?"
The CIA and other security agencies say they are aware of the
shortfall,
but add that they are aggressively reaching out to speakers of Arabic
and
other tongues common in the Muslim world like Pashto, Urdu, and
Kashmiri…
ALSO SEE:
FBI OUTREACH TO MUSLIMS COMES AMID INTERVIEWS
Noelle Crombie, Oregonian, 7/22/04
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1090497682207680.xml
The FBI in Oregon is trying to mend relations with the Muslim community
in
the aftermath of the bungled Brandon Mayfield case at the same time
federal
agents across the country are interviewing Muslims because of a new
terror
threat.
Robert Jordan, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon, said
he is
talking to Muslim leaders and will appear this weekend on an Arab radio
program.
As the former leader of the agency's civil rights section, Jordan was
the
FBI's key contact for Muslim, Arab and Sikh groups after the Sept. 11
terror attacks. Jordan said that within weeks of his arrival last year,
he
started quietly reaching out to Portland area Muslim leaders. He also
began
training his agents in Muslim and Arab customs.
"I have stuck my hand out there and my face out there," Jordan said
this week.
In spite of those efforts and the FBI's apology to Mayfield, some local
Muslims still fear being wrongly accused of a terror-related crime.
"If guards weren't up, they are up now," said Shaaban Naim of the
Islamic
Society of Southwest Washington. "It hit the wrong way, but at least
for
the first time in history, the FBI came and apologized, which is really
good. But does that mean that is going to help?"
Mayfield, a 38-year-old father of three, was held in a county jail for
two
weeks in May in connection with the deadly bombings in Madrid, Spain.
Federal authorities mistakenly linked his fingerprint to one found on a
bag
near the bombing site.
The Mayfield case, Naim said, showed that even the innocent can be
taken
into custody.
"That is a really very, very scary feeling," he said…
-----
UNCHARGED PRISONERS GET SUPPORT
Stephen Dyer, Beacon Journal, 7/22/04
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/local/states/ohio/counties/summit_county/9213357.htm
CLEVELAND - For an hour during the heat of a sweltering Ohio summer
day,
Sister Mary Ann Logan stood on a granite plaza in a white choir robe
and a
make-shift cardboard crown behind a cardboard jail cell. The whole
time,
she held aloft a torch with paper flames.
She was Lady Liberty standing in front of the Anthony J. Celebreeze
Federal
Building. She did it because people she has never met -- most of whom
believe in a religion different from the one to which she has dedicated
her
life -- remain held, uncharged, in American prisons.
``I believe in this cause,'' she explained. ``This is an opportunity to
bring about justice for people.''
The exercise was particularly significant for former Kent resident
Ashraf
Al-Jailani, who last week marked the 21st month he has spent in a York,
Pa., prison held without charges or bail.
Most of the dozen or so speakers at Wednesday's rally, which drew a
group
of about 25 people at its largest, referred to Al-Jailani's case as the
epitome of a government gone ``mad'' in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks.
``This is bipartisan madness,'' said El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan, director
of
the Peace and Justice Foundation, who then referred to Michael Moore's
controversial new film. ``Fahrenheit 9/11 was just a glimpse into the
madness,'' he said.
The government originally claimed Al-Jailani -- a Yemeni national --
was an
al-Qaeda ``first stringer,'' planning to blow up Akron's GOJO
Industries.
Two courts in four different legal opinions have found those
allegations to
be without merit…
ALSO SEE:
ARMY REPORT ON PRISON ABUSE SETS OFF PARTISAN UPROAR
Eric Schmitt, NY Times, 7/22/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/22/politics/22CND-ABUS.html
WASHINGTON- A new Army report concludes that military detention
operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered from poor training, haphazard
organization
and outmoded policies, but that these flaws did not directly contribute
to
the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison.
The report, by Lt. Gen. Paul T. Mikolashek, the Army inspector general,
found no evidence that any systemic problems caused the abuses.
Instead,
his five-month inquiry blamed the "unauthorized actions taken by a few
individuals, coupled with the failure of a few leaders to provide
adequate
monitoring, supervision and leadership over those soldiers."
The 321-page report, the first of at least seven military inquiries
into
prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan to be released in the next few
months, left many contentious issues still to be addressed by Army
criminal
investigators and the other inquiries.
When presented at a hastily called Senate hearing today, the inspector
general's findings set off a partisan uproar. Some Democrats virtually
accused General Mikolashek of a whitewash. "General, I just think the
premise of your report that there's been no systemic problems is
undercut
by the fact that you didn't look at some systematic problems," Senator
Jack
Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, noting that the inquiry did not examine
the
military's practice of keeping high-value detainees off Abu Ghraib's
rolls.
Republicans rushed to defend the Army, and the Pentagon's longstanding
argument that a handful of rogue jailers were responsible for the
misconduct at Abu Ghraib. ``We should not overreact,'' said Senator
Jeff
Sessions, an Alabama Republican. ``We want our soldiers, right up to
the
limit of what they legally can do, to obtain good intelligence, to help
save lives.''
The report is likely to inflame debate over how far up the chain of
command
culpability extends. Its findings contradict those of an earlier Army
inquiry, by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who concluded military police at
Abu
Ghraib conducted "systemic and illegal abuse of detainees." A report by
the
International Committee of the Red Cross in February found that
"methods of
ill treatment" were "used in a systematic way" by the United States
military in Iraq….
-----
SOMALI BUSINESSES SETTLE FOR $100,000
FEDERAL AGENTS' RAID IN WAKE OF 9/11 IS CALLED 'UNFORTUNATE'
Paul Shukovsky, Seattle Post, 7/23/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/183312_somali23.html
Two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal agents without
a
search warrant raided a Rainier Valley money-transfer office suspected
of
funding al-Qaida. The agents also stripped the stock of a grocery and
gift
shop in the same building -- carting off everything from frozen meat to
toilet paper.
Apparently, it was all a mistake.
In a settlement reached last week, the government agreed to pay the
Somali
immigrants who owned the stores $100,000. The settlement does not
include
an apology or an admission of liability.
No criminal charges were ever filed as a result of the raid. Now the
government says the raid represented the "unfortunate consequences" of
the
war against terrorism.
Several days after the Nov. 7, 2001, raid, the government told
Abdinasir
Ali Nur, owner of the Maka Mini Market, and Abdinasir Khalif Farah,
owner
of the gift shop, that they could come collect their goods from a
warehouse. But by then, the meat had been dumped and much of the food
was
spoiled. Other merchandise was damaged. The pair rented trucks at their
own
expense and, with the help of Somali friends, began the arduous process
of
putting their stores back together again.
The grocery, despite sustaining thousands of dollars in damage, is
still in
business. But the gift-shop owner "had to go out of business," said his
attorney, James Donohue. "From his perspective, he was forced out of
business," said Donohue, who represented Farah for free as a
representative
of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Through the ACLU, the two Somali men released a statement yesterday
saying
that the settlement is "a matter of fairness."
"The government raided our businesses even though we had done nothing
wrong. Our stores were closed, our goods were spoiled and our
reputations
were damaged. Receiving compensation cannot make up for all of this,
but we
do feel that some justice has been done," they said…
-----
TRIP TO MECCA HELP MUSLIM GRADS APPRECIATE THEIR ROOTS
Carrie Kristal-Schroder, Ottawa Citizen, 7/28/04
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/index.html
The first high school graduates of the Ottawa Islamic School achieved
another milestone after arriving home from Mecca in Saudi Arabia this
week.
"This was the first time in Canada that any Muslim graduating class had
a
chance to go to the holy places to do an Umra (a mini-Hadj) that had
been
arranged by the school and the community," said Ahmed Hassan, president
of
the school's board of directors.
Of the seven graduating students, four were able to participate in the
trip
to Mecca and Medina, which is considered Islam's second-most holy city.
The students were accompanied on the 15-day trip by several parents,
teachers and community leaders.
None of the four graduates had ever been overseas; all were raised in
Canada. However, they said their trip to Mecca felt very much like a
homecoming.
"It was amazing," said Sadia Jama. "In Canada, religion is a personal
thing, but in Mecca, it was the whole society."
Sadia said the trip allowed the students to become "more spiritually
empowered." She marvelled at the people she met from every part of the
world who came to Mecca to worship.
"Each time I was in the mosque to pray, I met thousands of people. They
were all Muslims, but they came from countries around the world, with
different cultures, different languages, different viewpoints -- it was
a
really indescribable experience."
Fellow students Saeed Hashi, Ahmed Hashi (no relation) and Younis
Younis
agreed the trip was a major event in their lives.
Saeed said the trip had a life-altering effect.
"It has made me want to be more spiritual, to improve my life."
And while a senior trip for most graduates means round-the-clock
partying
at destinations such as Florida or Mexico, these young Muslims said
they
did not feel deprived…
-----
JEWISH SETTLEMENTS, OUTPOSTS EXPANDING DESPITE PLEDGES
John Ward Anderson, Washington Post, 7/23/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6224-2004Jul22.html
JERUSALEM- Jewish settlements and outposts are growing rapidly in the
West
Bank and Gaza Strip, despite Israeli pledges to the United States to
stop
the expansion of such communities and dismantle some of them, according
to
Israeli government statistics and a report released Thursday by
settlement
opponents.
The growth is particularly pronounced in the Gaza Strip, where Israel's
prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has proposed removing all Jewish settlers
and
the Israeli soldiers protecting them by the end of 2005. A little more
than
8,000 settlers occupy approximately 40 percent of the land in the Gaza
Strip; about 1.3 million Palestinians live on the remaining 60 percent.
According to a new report by the anti-settlement group Peace Now,
Israeli
settlements and outposts grew by more than 100 acres -- with at least
65
acres added in the West Bank and about 47 in the much smaller Gaza
Strip --
in March, April and May this year. At least 3,100 apartments are being
built in the settlements, "in addition to the preparation of areas for
construction of thousands of further housing" units, the report says.
The study included more than 50 satellite photographs and other
pictures
showing construction work and expansion between February and July at
settlements and at outposts, which are generally smaller than
settlements
and do not have the same government approval. Before-and-after
satellite
images show the clearing of land, the construction of roads and the
addition of greenhouses, trailers and homes.
The pictures "show without a shadow of doubt how these illegal outposts
were expanded and asphalt roads paved and new prefab houses brought in,
and
in some places real brick houses have started to be built," Ephraim
Sneh, a
member of parliament from the main opposition Labor Party, said in a
recent
interview. "It shows that the government not only isn't dismantling
settlements, it's expanding them with government funds."
"There is no expansion of existing settlements," said Sharon spokesman
Raanan Gissin, who added that Israel believed it was permitted to build
within existing settlement boundaries. As for outposts, Gissin said:
"Everything that is unauthorized and illegal will be removed once the
legal
proceedings are over. . . . We are going to continue with our
relentless
effort to take them down, but in a way that's without causing
bloodshed..."
------
AS CRISIS IN DARFUR, SUDAN INTENSIFIES, ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE
INCREASES EMERGENCY AID PROJECTS - 7/22/04
http://irw.org/
BURBANK-Heavy rainfall in the Darfur region has begun, further
worsening
the humanitarian crisis that the United Nations has called the 'world's
greatest.' Over one million people are currently displaced in Darfur,
and
another 130,000 people have sought shelter in camps in neighboring
Chad.
Aid agencies in the region have estimated that as many as 300,000 may
die
by December due to starvation and disease.
The humanitarian need in Darfur is enormous. Many of the displaced
people
have no shelter at all, while others are living under trees or simple
straw
mats. Child malnutrition is on the rise as food is scarce, and even the
locals have exhausted food stocks. The current rainy season is adding
to
the misery of the displaced people. There are no sanitation facilities
in
the camps, increasing the potential for diseases such as dysentery and
cholera.
Islamic Relief Worldwide has set up an emergency field office in the
town
of Al-Junaynah (also spelled 'El Geneina') in West Darfur, where it is
managing the Al-Riyadh Internally Displaced People camp. In that
particular
camp, around seventy percent of the households are headed by women. The
population of camp is steadily increasing, and is expected to hold
around
40,000 people. Islamic Relief Worldwide is currently providing food,
shelter, education, and water and sanitation to the displaced
population…
-----
YOUNG MUSLIMS CAMP 2004
www.ymsite.com
WHAT: Muslims youth camp titled: "Towards Understanding the Qur'an."
WHERE: Tippecanoe River State Park (100 Miles East of Chicago)
WHEN: Aug 11 - Aug 15
Fee: $150
Registration
Chicago: Aimen Jaleel (312)617-7768
Windsor: Bilal Khan (519) 890-4469
Houston: (281)235-0063
Activities: Canoeing; Camping; Sports;
Speeches by: Sh. Ibrahim Negm, Abdullah Yusuf Madyun, Tayyab Yunus,
Faisal
Hamouda, Sheikh Abdool Rahman Khan, Abdul-Sattar Ahmed
Topic and Lessons on: Sciences of the Quran, Parables of the Quran,
Prophets of the Quran, The Sunnah: Quran's Companion, Tafsir of the
Quran,
Brothers of High Schools and Colleges Only.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/25/04
* CAIR SEEKS MEDICAL EXPERT ON BRAIN INJURIES
* CAIR-LA: DETAINED CALIF. MUSLIM ARRIVES AT LAX
- Calif. Man Claims Abuse in Egyptian Jail (AP)
* CA: MISSING UCLA COLLEGE STUDENT: FAMILY ASKS FOR HELP
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS FACE NEW WAVE OF HARRASSMENT (AP)
- Woman Confronted After National Interview (local6.com)
* CAIR-FL: MOTION SEEKS REMOVAL FOR BIAS (Sun-Sentinel)
* CAIR-MO: IMAM HELD ON VISA CHARGE NEARS RELEASE (Post Dispatch)
* CAIR-AZ: FBI QUESTIONING SOME MUSLIMS AS DEBATE NEARS (AP)
* IL: MOSQUE'S FOES SEEK TO CHANGE ELECTION (Chicago Trib)
* CAIR-SC: TAKING ACTION IN THE TRUE CHARACTER OF ISLAM (The State)
- Scholars: Beheading Innocents Not Islam (SL Dispatch)
-----
CAIR SEEKS MEDICAL EXPERT ON BRAIN INJURIES
CAIR is seeking a medical expert who has experience in interpreting CT
scans related to brain injuries. Anyone who would like to volunteer
their
expertise should contact CAIR Civil Rights Attorney Engy Abdelkader at:
ekader@cair-net.org
-----
DETAINED CALIFORNIA MUSLIM ARRIVES AT LAX
Culver City Man alleges beating during detention
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/25/04) – The Southern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the local Muslim community
will
hold a news conference today to welcome back the American Muslim
citizen
who was recently released from Egypt.
WHEN: Press Conference today, July 25, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: Outside of baggage claim, Bradley International Terminal, LAX
Airport FLIGHT INFO: British Airways Flight 283 (Scheduled to arrive at
2:55 p.m. Call British Airways for up-to-date information.)
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847, 714-390-0334
SEE: AMERICAN DETAILS EGYPT DETENTION
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-culvercity24jul24,1,6267512.story
CAIR-LA announced the release of Abdul Ghafoor Mahboob on Thursday,
July 22. He had been held illegally be Egyptian officials since
Friday,
July 16.
CAIR-LA called on the U.S. and Egyptian governments to release
information
about Mahboob's detention. CAIR officials were in contact with the U.S.
Department of State, the American embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian
embassy
in Washington, D.C.
According to Mahboob, he was detained at Cairo airport by Egyptian
security
personnel. He had been in Egypt studying Arabic and was on his way home
when detained.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACTS: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-MAIL:
socal@cair.com; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441, EMAIL: rahmed@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CALIF. MAN CLAIMS ABUSE IN EGYPTIAN JAIL
Associated Press, 7/25/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/9236825.htm
LOS ANGELES - A California man who was detained in Egypt for nearly a
week
says he was beaten and questioned before authorities released him
without
explanation.
Abdul Ghafoor Mahboob, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in the Los
Angeles suburb of Culver City, said he was repeatedly beaten with a
stick
on his thighs and punched in the stomach and head.
"Without my prayers, I would have gone crazy," Mahboob told the Los
Angeles
Times in a phone interview from London on Friday.
Mahboob, 26, said he was at the Cairo airport July 16, on his way home
after spending the last seven months studying Arabic, when guards
stopped
him for what they said was a routine security check.
Mahboob said the officials handcuffed and blindfolded him and drove him
to
a prison.
Mahboob said he was asked questions about his family, education, work
and
mosque affiliation in the United States, but not about his political
views.
He was released Thursday. Mahboob said that when he asked Egyptian
officials why they had detained him, he was told, "We don't know."
Mahboob, who is of Afghan descent, emigrated to the United States in
1988.
Until last year he worked as a fund-raiser for an Islamic relief
organization, the Times reported.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which campaigned for
Mahboob's
release, said Friday it planned to file a complaint with the U.S. State
Department and the Egyptian Embassy.
An Egyptian Interior Ministry official in Cairo declined to comment on
the
matter Saturday.
The nation's embassy in Washington was closed Saturday and no one could
be
reached. A U.S. State Department spokesman said he was not aware of
Mahboob's claims.
-----
FAMILY OF MISSING UCLA COLLEGE STUDENT SEEKS HELP
(ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 25, 2004) - An Anaheim family is asking the public
for
any information they may have about the disappearance of a University
of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) student who has been missing since
Friday,
July 23, 2004.
[Contacts: Shakeel Syed (family friend) 310-384-7791; Sulayman Arain
(brother) 714-473-6855; Mrs. Arain (mother) 714-322-8574; Note: The
family
(mother, brother, and sister) is available for interviews.]
Ahmad Arain, 20 years old, was last known to be boarding an MTA bus
from
Anaheim, California at the Disneyland bus stop on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
He
was on his way to an appointment with an academic counselor at UCLA who
confirmed that Ahmad never showed up. He was last in touch with his
mother
by cell phone around 10 a.m. that morning. He was scheduled to return
home
at 5:30 p.m. the same day.
The FBI has placed him on the national network of Missing Persons. An
official case has been filed with the UCLA Police Department (Case No:
01-04-001993) and the incident and case number has been reported to the
Anaheim Police Department.
Volunteers have called area hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange County
-
with no luck. They have also placed flyers near the MTA Main station in
downtown LA. Special prayers have also been held at some area mosques
for
his safety.
Contacts: Shakeel Syed (family friend) 310-384-7791; Sulayman Arain
(brother) 714-473-6855; Mrs. Arain (mother) 714-322-8574
----
FL: MUSLIMS FACE NEW WAVE OF HARRASSMENT
Associated Press, 7/25/04
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/florida/news-article.aspx?storyid=21878
ORLANDO, FL -- Areej Zufari makes regular T-V appearances as a
spokeswoman
for an Islamic civil-rights.
But after the beheading of an American hostage in Saudi Arabia, she
says
she was cornered by two obscenity-spewing men at a convenience store in
Orlando.
Islamic leaders say the recent beheadings of foreigners by Islamic
militants have prompted a rash of hate crimes against Muslims in
America.
The U-S Justice Department reports more than 500 Islamic-related hate
crimes nationally since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations says there were more than a thousand 1,000
incidents of harassment or hate crimes against Muslims last year.
That's up
from 600 in 2002.
ALSO SEE:
ORLANDO WOMAN CONFRONTED AFTER NATIONAL INTERVIEW
Local 6.com, 7/22/04
http://www.local6.com/news/3565167/detail.html
MIAMI -- As a spokeswoman for an Islamic civil-rights organization in
central Florida, it's not unusual for Areej Zufari (pictured, left) to
appear on television news shows to talk about hate crimes and other
issues
affecting the Muslim community. But she wasn't prepared for what
happened
after a recent interview on national TV.
After appearing on Fox News and local television in Orlando and urging
Americans not to blame Muslims for the beheading of American
businessman
Nicholas Berg by Al-Qaida-linked militants in Iraq in May, Zufari
became a
victim of the hate she had tried to discourage.
Two men confronted her inside a gas station's convenience store in
Orlando,
spewing out a string of vulgarities and sexually inappropriate remarks.
"They didn't touch me but they cornered me in the store," recalled
Zufari,
a spokeswoman for the Islamic Society of Central Florida. "I think they
stopped me because they were angry. They saw me as a Muslim."
Islamic leaders say the recent beheadings of foreigners by Islamic
militants in Iraq and Saudi Arabia have prompted a rash of hate crimes
against Muslims in America, despite efforts to educate the public that
those actions don't represent the values of the Muslim religion.
Muslims have faced a mounting backlash since the Sept. 11 terrorists
attacks. Through March 2, the U.S. Justice Department has investigated
549
alleged "backlash" crimes since the terrorist attacks. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic
civil-rights
group, said there have been more than 1,000 incidents of harassment or
hate
crimes against Muslims last year, up from about 600 in 2002.
CAIR officials say such incidents are likely to be higher this year,
but
they won't have any statistics until later. Meanwhile, the Florida CAIR
office said there have been 32 anti-Muslim incidents in Florida so far
this
year.
"It is getting worse and worse," said Altaf Ali, executive director of
the
Florida CAIR. "Before it was normal discrimination for Muslims in
places of
employment. Now I'm seeing more hate crimes and vandalism in places of
worship, and there is still a lot of profiling of Muslims at
airports..."
-----
FL: MOTION SEEKS JUDGE'S REMOVAL FOR BIAS IN SYRIAN MAN'S CASE
Kevin Smith, Sun-Sentinel, 7/25/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cnobond24jul24,0,1205273.
story?coll=sfla-news-broward
Attorneys for the Syrian man arrested for allegedly threatening to
"blow
up" a Plantation electronics store filed a motion on Friday asking a
judge
be removed from the case, arguing the judge showed bias in a demand
their
client take a psychological evaluation.
The defense motion came days after an appellate court ordered Taiser
Okashah be released from jail. Circuit Court Judge Stanton Kaplan had
ordered Okashah, a Davie resident, be held without bond, but the
appellate
court found the facts didn't support Kaplan's decision.
In the motion, attorneys Frank Rubio and Rodney Bryson said Kaplan
exceeded
his authority by attaching a no-bond order to an arrest warrant and
resisted attempts to hold a prompt bond hearing.
"If you look at all of those things, taken together, I think you'll see
this defendant had a well-founded fear -- whether from prejudice or
bias, I
don't know -- that he's not going to get a fair trial here," Bryson
said.
Kaplan was on medical leave this week and unavailable for comment.
Rubio and Bryson contended before the state's 4th District Court of
Appeal
there was no reason to believe Okashah was mentally unstable, writing,
"Certainly he [Okashah] questions whether his natural origin is part of
the
equation."
The question was raised by the local Council on American-Islamic
Relations
three days after Okashah's arrest. The group questioned if Okashah's
Middle
Eastern appearance might have influenced the conversation and its
interpretation.
-----
MO: IMAM HELD ON VISA CHARGE NEARS RELEASE
Aisha Sultan, Post-Dispatch, 7/25/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+Co
unty/1FC9C3DBCDFE736B86256EDB001F57D7?OpenDocument&Headline=Imam+held+on+vis
a+charge+nears+release
Moustapha Seck says he came to America from Africa to tend to the
religious
needs of Senegalese Muslims, visit old friends and connect with family,
as
he has done for many years. Back home, his supporters say, he's
considered
the Billy Graham of the small, West African nation. He is an imam or
religious leader, a scholar and a farmer.
But at Lambert Field on June 10, Seck says a tear in his carry-on
luggage
triggered a chain of events in which he was treated as a security
threat.
Instead of spreading blessings, he found himself spending the next six
weeks in a Missouri jail. For a time, his friends and family had no
idea
what had become of him. Seck is still in jail. But his release is now
imminent because he has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of violating
the
rules of his visa by fund raising at mosques. Seck insists he's
innocent of
that charge - in fact, he can barely speak English - but he needs to go
home…
When he failed to show up and wasn't heard from for several days, his
friends contacted the Council on American Islamic Relations, an
advocacy
and civil rights group for Muslims. The chapter in New York contacted
attorney Jim Hacking, the executive director of the council's chapter
in
St. Louis. Hacking located Seck 150 miles from Lambert, in Charleston,
Mo.,
at the Mississippi County Detention Center.
-----
AZ: FBI, INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONING SOME MUSLIMS AS DEBATE NEARS
Associated Press, 7/24/04
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=91160
TUCSON -- About one dozen Tucson-area Muslims have been questioned by
FBI
agents and other investigators trying to prevent any terrorism attack
during the scheduled October presidential debate in Arizona. The
interviews
have alarmed some members of the state's Muslim community, but FBI
officials said investigators are simply looking for help in identifying
potential threats to the United States.
"We don't have any specific information that there will be any kind of
attempt to disrupt the debates here locally," said Susan Herskovits, a
spokeswoman for the FBI in Phoenix…
Deedra Abboud, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
said
she was told that the FBI is trying to talk with those who may have
crossed
paths with people who are currently or at one time were under
investigation.
"There's a lot of fear or misperception or misconception," she said.
"We
wanted to try to find a way to work with the FBI to help them get the
information they need and help our community feel less targeted..."
-----
MOSQUE'S FOES SEEK TO CHANGE ELECTION OF ORLAND TRUSTEES
Chicago Tribune, 7/25/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0407230295jul23,1,29834
.story
Orland Park, IL - A political storm is quietly brewing in Orland Park,
where controversy over recent approval of a new mosque has been
followed by
an effort to change how trustees are elected. At the same time, some
residents are searching for a candidate to challenge Mayor Dan
McLaughlin,
who supported the mosque and has voted for other projects opposed by
some
village residents. Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Gorman's name is
being floated as a potential challenger next spring.
-----
TAKING ACTION IN THE TRUE CHARACTER OF ISLAM
Minhaj Arastu, The State, 7/24/04
http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/news/opinion/9232083.htm
When Muslims hear the name of Prophet Muhammad we say, "peace and
blessings
of God be upon him." But recently, men bearing this name have committed
acts that were neither peaceful nor blessed. So I was surprised to read
in
the newspaper a couple of weeks ago that someone with the name Muhammad
had
committed an unprovoked, wanton act of ... kindness.
Muhammad Saadeddin, the owner of Al-Amir Restaurant, offered to help
distribute 600 boxes of pita bread that could not be delivered and
would
have been discarded. What does he think he is -- an Islamic
philanthrop-ist? Was he acting alone? Or is he part of a network of
Muslims
who are practicing the true meaning of jihad -- struggle in God's Way?
In fact, Muhammad Saadeddin was not acting alone. Since May, almost
700,000
Americans have signed a petition that begins, "We, the undersigned
Muslims,
wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and
cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives,
but
are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent."
(See
the full text at www.cair-net.org
Here are the stories of four more Islamic philanthropists who live in
Columbia. Their acts are motivated by the essence of Islam, which
reminds
us constantly to perform deeds of compassion and mercy...
Mr. Arastu is chairman of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations-Columbia and a history teacher.
ALSO SEE:
SCHOLARS: BEHEADING INNOCENTS NOT ISLAM
Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/25/04
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/9238440.h
tm
A spokesman for a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy
group
says executions differ from murders.
"In Islam, capital punishment is allowed, but premeditated murder is
not,"
says the spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. He notes that the same holds true in many American states.
Capital punishment is also allowed for some federal crimes.
Hooper goes on to say, "The prophet Muhammad said, 'The worst sins are
to
join others as partners in worship with God, to murder a human being,
to be
undutiful to one's parents and to bear false witness.'"
Many Islamist killers cite the word of God for their own purpose. To
justify their beheadings, they quote the Quran's passage that says,
"When
you meet in battle those who have disbelieved, smite their necks."
Hooper says: "That verse is often used by Muslim-bashers to say that
Islam
is intrinsically violent. But it's clear to any Muslim that the verse
was a
revelation about events occurring at the time of the prophet
[Muhammad]"-
the seventh century.
At that time, Hooper says, Muslims "were engaged in battle with people
who
were trying to destroy the Muslim community."
Today, Hooper says, "That verse is clearly not taken as an order to
kill
all those of a different faith."
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #429
RADIO HOST CALLS ISLAM A 'MURDEROUS ORGANIZATION'
CAIR urges radio network to apologize, offer Muslim viewpoint
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/26/04) - CAIR is calling on the nation's largest
radio
network to apologize for anti-Islam remarks by talk show host and
comedian
Jackie Mason, who recently called "the whole Muslim religion" a
"murderous
organization" that teaches "hate, terrorism and murder."
Mason, who is also known for his right-wing and pro-Israel political
commentaries, made the remarks as guest host on a recent broadcast of
the
Jim Bohannon Show, syndicated nationally by Westwood One.
SEE: The Jim Bohannon Show,
http://www.westwoodone.com/talk_bohannon.htm
Jackie Mason's Home Page, http://www.jackiemason.com/
During the broadcast, New York lawyer Raoul Felder, who is a frequent
co-author of Mason's commentaries, attacked the character of Islam's
Prophet Muhammad. He also said: "This (Islam) is a religion of hate,
this
is a religion of murder."
Mason responded by amplifying Felder's bigotry.
He said: "This is amazing information that almost nobody is aware
of...everyone thinks that it's a legitimate religion that preaches love
and
brotherhood…the truth of the matter is (that terrorists) are reflecting
the
religion and following the religion…they are following the orders of
the
religion directly from the Quran…in plain English, the whole Muslim
religion is preaching and teaching hate, terrorism and murder, and
nobody
knows it, and its about time they found out about it…The Quran…is 50
versions of hate, venom, hostility, and murder…dedicated to terrorism…I
don't know how we can call it a religion in the traditional sense. It
should be called a murderous organization that's out to kill people."
In a letter to Westwood One, CAIR demanded a public apology to the
Muslim
community and an opportunity to refute Mason's Islamophobic smears. The
letter stated: "It is this type of hate-filled propaganda that was used
by
the Nazis as justification for their persecution of the Jewish
community in
Germany." (CAIR also filed a complaint with the FCC.)
Earlier this year, CAIR announced a campaign designed to counter
anti-Islamic hate on talk radio. The campaign, called "Hate Hurts
America,"
is based on the premise that the increasing attacks on Islam by talk
show
hosts harm the United States by creating a downward spiral of
interfaith
mistrust and hostility. As part of that campaign, Muslims were given
step-by-step instructions on how to monitor local and syndicated radio
programs, report anti-Muslim hate, file FCC complaints, and contact
advertisers to register their concerns. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/
Reports of anti-Muslim hate may be filed at:
http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/hatewatch.asp
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED: (As always, be firm, but POLITE.)
CONTACT Westwood One to demand that they 1) issue a formal and public
apology to the American Muslim community and 2) invite a Muslim guest
on
the Jim Bohannon Show to refute Mason's defamatory remarks and to
provide
accurate information about Islam.
CONTACT:
Mr. Shane Coppola
President and CEO
Westwood One
40 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
TEL: 212-641-2101
FAX: 212-641-2167
E-MAIL: scoppola@westwoodone.com, thaut@westwoodone.com
COPY TO: fccinfo@fcc.gov, cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEWISH LEADER WARNS OF ‘GROWING US MOSLEM COMMUNITY’
CAIR calls on Hoenlein to step down from leadership of umbrella group
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/26/04) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on Malcolm Hoenlein, director of the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, to step down from
his
post following revelations that he made anti-Muslim comments to an
Israeli
media outlet.
In an interview with Israel’s Maariv newspaper, Hoenlein seemed to
indicate
that he viewed the growth of the Muslim community in America as a
threat.
Hoenlein said: “Europe is the current Moslem battlefield, but America
is
their ultimate goal. There are already 10 Moslem schools in New York,
and
my feeling is that despite growing post-9/11 awareness, there is still
a
degree of naiveté among Americans. I warned against the growing US
Moslem
community 10 years ago, but nobody understood it then. It is estimated
that
there are currently around 10 million Moslems in the US illegally and
the
authorities are finding it very difficult to find them. It's like a
game of
cat and mouse.”
SEE:
http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=printArticle&articleID=10192
“These bigoted and inflammatory remarks, which label all American
Muslims
as a threat to our nation, are unworthy of a person who represents a
community that has itself been persecuted because of such hate-filled
stereotypes,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Mr. Hoenlein
must
either disavow the quoted statements, or he should immediately step
down
from his leadership post.”
Awad said failure to remove Hoenlein from his position would indicate
that
Islamophobic propaganda is accepted by the organizations he represents.
“Interfaith leaders and elected officials must repudiate Mr. Hoenlein’s
remark for giving aid and comfort to hate-mongers. Religious freedom
and
ethnic diversity helped make American what it is today. Voices of
division
must be condemned by all people of goodwill.” said Awad.
CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/26/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN
* INCITEMENT WATCH: PROBE MUSLIMS IN MILITARY (NY Post)
* CAIR-OH: JOB OPENINGS
* MUSLIM DELEGATES GATHER AT DNC EVENT (MetroWest Daily News)
- Dems Woo Jewish Vote in Close Race (UPI)
- Arab-Americans Unsure About Kerry (Daily Star)
* FL MUSLIMS FACE NEW WAVE OF BACKLASH (Tallahassee Democrat)
* TN: ISLAMIC CENTER CULTURE'S FOUND IN A YARD SALE (Tennessean)
- WI: Diversity in a Small Town (Journal Sentinel)
- UT: Muslim Festival a Family Celebration (Salt Lake Trib)
* VA: ONE-MONTH INTENSIVE COURSE ON QURANIC ARABIC
* ISRAELI RADICAL SEEKS REMOVAL OF JERUSALEM MOSQUE (Reuters)
- US Grants 'Protected Status' to Terror Group (Reuters)
- Sudan Rebels Blocking Peace, Observers Say (Reuters)
- Honor-Killing Book Fabricated (Globe and Mail)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to Wabisah ibn Ma'bad:
"Have
you come to ask about righteousness and sin, Wabisah?...Righteousness
is
that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin
is
that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the
breast,
even if people give you a decision in its favor."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 842
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: PROBE MUSLIMS IN MILITARY
Brad Hamilton, New York Post, 7/25/04
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/28021.htm
A Republican running for Congress in Westchester says Muslims in the
U.S.
military should be investigated immediately for possible terror ties.
Richard Hoffman, a 33-year-old longshot to unseat four-term incumbent
Rep.
Nita Lowey, cited four examples of trouble involving Muslims, including
the
recent disappearance of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, who went
missing in
Iraq and then turned up in Beirut.
"One or two, it's a coincidence, but over and over again, we're
starting to
see a pattern," said Hoffman.
Hoffman, who's running a distant second in the 18th Congressional
District,
which covers Westchester plus part of the Bronx and Rockland County,
said
Arabs in the armed forces could be working to undermine national
security.
"We want to make sure that these people aren't infiltrating the
military as
some kind of sleeper cell," he said.
But his controversial comments have received a thumbs-down - from his
own
party.
"I have never heard anyone call for such a thing," said Bo Harmon, a
spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
"It's certainly not something the party would pursue or support."
His stance got an even worse review from Lowey's camp.
"Mr. Hoffman's comments demonstrate that he is clearly unfit for
office,"
said Lowey's spokesman Howard Wolfson…
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: letters@nypost.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-OHIO JOB OPENINGS
RECEPTIONIST/EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:
CAIR-Ohio has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic,
enthusiastic, motivated person to fill the position of
Receptionist/Executive Secretary.
The position involves communications, organizational work, answering
phone
calls and emails, processing data, and typing.
CIVIL RIGHTS CASEWORKER:
CAIR-Ohio has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic,
enthusiastic, motivated person to fill the position of Civil Rights
Caseworker.
The position involves the following:
* Receive the initial complaints from clients.
* Initiate communication between different parties (client, the other
party, legal advisors)
* Implement the action plan set by legal advisors, e.g. letters, calls,
public pressure campaigns....etc.
* Documents all of the above for future reporting and review.
* Represents CAIR-Ohio in hearing and testimonials.
* Represent CAIR-Ohio in different coalitions of human rights and
advocacy
groups.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
jad@cair-ohio.com or by fax 614-451-3222. When applying via email
please
ensure to write the position title in the subject line of the email.)
-----
MUSLIM DELEGATES GATHER AT DNC EVENT
Claudia Torrens, MetroWest Daily News, 7/26/04
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=74026
FRAMINGHAM - Muslims expect to have their voices heard at the
Democratic
National Convention.
Forty Muslim delegates from across America have come to Boston to have
their say during the convention and express their support for Kerry's
campaign. The majority, along with local Muslim leaders, plan to also
take
part in events outside the FleetCenter.
Shahid Khan, national finance co-chairman of the John Kerry for
President
Committee, lives in Framingham and will attend a reception tomorrow
hosting
Muslim delegates at the Islamic Society of Boston.
"We want to mobilize American Muslims in the community and show our
support
to the Democratic Party," said Khan. "We also hope to interact with
local
politicians, as a kind of networking opportunity for Muslim leaders."
The reception will begin at 11:30 a.m., with presentations from Muslim
community leaders and government officials. The mayor of Cambridge,
Michael
Sullivan, and state Rep. Alice Wolf, D-Cambridge, plan to attend the
event.
After taking a break for prayers, there will be a luncheon and speeches
about the necessity of having Muslims work together for Kerry's victory
in
the next election.
"We are fragmented as a community because we are all spread out. This
is
one of the few opportunities we have to communicate and form stronger
alliances," said Parwez Wahid, secretary of the Democratic Town
Committee
in Framingham and one of the organizers of the event. "We will all be
there
to support the victory in 2004 for Kerry's ticket."…
SEE ALSO:
ANALYSIS: DEMS WOO JEWISH VOTE IN CLOSE RACE
Martin Sieff, United Press International, 7/26/04
BOSTON - America's Jews have flocked to the Democrats for more than 70
years, but the Dems gathered in Boston for their national convention
this
week aren't taking that support for granted -- they know it could be
decisive come November.
That's why a phalanx of political heavyweights turned out for a "Salute
to
Israel" Sunday at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center. Sens. Hillary
Rodham
Clinton of New York and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, House Minority
Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California and Gov. Bill Richardson of New
Mexico led the speakers, and the "roll call" of elected Democrats
attending
included five sitting governors, eight senators and more than 70
members of
congress, or around one-third of total Democratic strength in the House
of
Representatives.
The loudest whoops and cheers of the gathering by far went to Sen.
Clinton,
who sounded more convinced of presumptive Democratic presidential
nominee
Sen. John Kerry's qualifications for the Oval Office than the retiring
Kerry has often sounded himself. "I am so strongly in favor of John
Kerry
because he is a serious man for a serious job," she said.
Kerry himself did not attend but signaled his support by sending two of
the
people closest to him: his brother Cameron and his campaign manager
Mary
Beth Cahill.
Pelosi won the cheers of committed Jewish Democrats by emphasizing the
party's commitment to "the separation of church and state" -- a subject
that the predominantly liberal mainstream Jewish community has always
felt
exceptionally strongly over.
The gathering was deliberately designed to emphasize the unanimity and
political clout of the organized American Jewish community in support
of
Israel. It was organized by five groups: the United Jewish Communities
of
North America, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the National Jewish
Democratic Council, the Jewish Community Relations Council of greater
Boston and the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC -- the
most
powerful foreign-policy lobbying group in Washington that has been
called
"the 700 pound gorilla on Capitol Hill."…
---
ARAB-AMERICANS UNSURE ABOUT KERRY
Hussein Ibish, Daily Star, 7/24/04
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_ID=10&article_ID=6572&categ_id=2
WASHINGTON - Although the appeal of Democratic presidential nominee
Senator
John Kerry has been eroded by some of his Middle East policies, his
campaign is continuing to receive substantial support in the
Arab-American
community.
Concern about these policies is even being echoed by senior
Arab-American
Democratic Party activists who have delayed the official introduction
of an
"Arab-Americans for Kerry" organization in hopes of gaining
clarification
on the candidate's policies toward Israel and the Palestinians. A
serious
effort to address these concerns has yet to emerge from the Kerry
campaign.
A group of influential Arab-American Democrats met in May with senior
leaders of the Kerry campaign, including campaign manager Mary Beth
Cahill
and national security adviser Rand Beers, the first such meeting the
Kerry
team held with an ethnic group. Participants said they felt that the
campaign had acknowledged the community's perspective and the need to
make
outreach efforts to Arab-Americans.
A number of subsequent developments have given rise to the new
concerns.
Particularly damaging were talking points attributed to Kerry's adviser
for
Jewish affairs, Jay Footlik, which took an extremely pro-Israel stance
somewhat at odds with Kerry's previously stated positions.
Several of the Arab-American Democrats who attended the meeting have
reportedly sent a letter to the Kerry-Edwards campaign stressing the
importance of the Arab-American vote in key swing states and expressing
concern about the positions outlined in the talking points…
-----
MUSLIMS FACE NEW WAVE OF BACKLASH
Aetna Smith, Tallahassee Democrat, 7/26/04
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/9243179.htm
Muhammad Ghaffari, an environmental scientist, said he's never
experienced
a hate-based crime in Tallahassee.
"But it's very hard to express yourself openly," he said Friday
afternoon,
as he stepped outside the Islamic Center of Tallahassee on Pensacola
Street
after his prayers. "I'm a U.S. citizen, but I'm still a foreigner."
Ghaffari, who is originally from India, said local Muslim and American
relations seem better compared with the early months after the Sept. 11
terrorists attacks.
In contrast, Islamic leaders say the recent beheadings of foreigners by
Islamic militants in Iraq and Saudi Arabia have prompted a rash of hate
crimes against Muslims in America, despite efforts to educate the
public
that those actions don't represent the values of the Muslim religion.
"Just because (the militants) were wrong, does not mean every Muslim is
wrong," Ghaffari said.
Muslims have faced a mounting backlash since Sept. 11, 2001. Through
March
2, the U.S. Justice Department has investigated 549 alleged "backlash"
crimes since the terrorist attacks.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based
Islamic
civil-rights group, said there were more than 1,000 incidents of
harassment
or hate crimes against Muslims last year, up from about 600 in 2002.
CAIR officials say such anti-Muslim incidents are likely to be higher
this
year, but they won't have any statistics until later. The CAIR Florida
office said 32 incidents have occurred in the state this year.
"It is getting worse and worse," said Altaf Ali, executive director of
CAIR
Florida. "Before it was normal discrimination for Muslims in places of
employment. Now I'm seeing more hate crimes and vandalism in places of
worship, and there is still a lot of profiling of Muslims at airports."
In Leon County in 2002, the one reported hate crime involved a man who
crashed his truck into the entrance of the Islamic Center, causing
thousands of dollars in damage. Although Naielah Ackbarali has not been
the
target of a hate crime in the Big Bend area, she doesn't take any
chances…
-----
AT ISLAMIC CENTER, CULTURE'S FOUND IN A YARD SALE
Chasity Gunn, Tennessean, 7/25/04
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/07/54854891.shtml?Element_ID=54854891
This wasn't a typical yard sale. It was almost like a trip to another
country.
Women were dressed in long, loose dresses and flowing head scarves.
The sound of children's laughter could be heard. The children ran
around
playing with one another, giggling and squirting water guns. One girl
ran
up to her mother, lightly tugged her dress and asked for another dollar
to
buy a toy. The mother, who couldn't say no to her daughter's smiling
face,
reached into her purse and pulled out a dollar.
They have laid out their world, heritage and culture to share with
others.
It's not a different country - it's 2515 12th Ave. S., at the fourth
annual
International Yard Sale at the Islamic Center of Nashville.
In the back parking lot, there were heaps of clothing and toys, tables
with
jewelry and appliances, and racks of Middle Eastern clothing.
This yard sale had another twist - a food table giving customers a
taste of
India and other countries with traditional dishes.
Customers didn't have to travel halfway across the world or bring a
pocket
full of money to experience the international culture. With clothing
and
food cheaply priced, a few dollars went a long way.
Much of the merchandise was donated by members of the Islamic Center.
Last
year, they raised about $4,000.
It keeps increasing each year, said Sabina Mohyuddin, a member of the
Islamic Center of Nashville. She said she hopes the cycle will continue
this year.
Last year, the proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity. This year, they
will
be used for renovations of the mosque…
SEE ALSO:
DIVERSITY AND GROWING PAINS COME TO SMALL-TOWN WISCONSIN
Mark Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/24/04
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul04/246311.asp
BARRON - Barron started as a logging camp in 1860, grew into a
lumbering
center, then an agricultural trading center, and today it bills itself
as
the turkey capital of Wisconsin.
But after decades of almost glacial transformation, this conservative
city
of 3,400 in the northwest part of the state has gone through a dramatic
change, one that has tested America's reputation as a haven for those
fleeing strife-torn homelands.
In less than a decade, a river of refugees from Somalia has flowed into
Barron, lured by good-paying meatpacking jobs at the Jennie-O Turkey
plant,
the city's largest employer. Today, 12% of Barron's population is from
Somalia, a small East African nation on the Indian Ocean.
The city's transformation can be seen in the Somali women dressed in
traditional veil-like hijabs sitting at library computers and scanning
online newspapers for reports from their homeland. It is evident in the
teamwork of Somalis and locals on the high school's new soccer team, a
regional tournament winner the past two years and a source of pride at
a
school that once struggled with racial tensions.
It is evident too as the high school's Class of 2004 walks across the
stage
to receive diplomas. Of the 125 graduates, 15 come from Somalia. As the
female Somali graduates approach, District Administrator Monti Hallberg
takes care to say "Congratulations" but not extend his hand.
"You don't reach out and shake a Muslim woman's hand," said Hallberg,
who
came to the Barron schools after 11 years of teaching in Saudi Arabia
and
five years in Pakistan. "Muslim culture discourages touching between
men
and women who aren't married."
Until recently Barron was hardly a case study in diversity…
---
MUSLIM FESTIVAL A FAMILY CELEBRATION
Salt Lake Tribune, 7/23/04
http://www.sltrib.com/features/ci_2380693
The 2004 Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival is scheduled to
begin
at 11 a.m. on July 31 at the Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main St., Salt
Lake City.
This year's festival, to be inaugurated by Utah State Attorney General
Mark
Shurtleff, celebrates the American ideals of diversity, inclusion, and
tolerance by presenting a diverse set of talented cultural performers
and
vendors, says organizer Ghulam H. Hasnain. It is a free, fun, family
celebration with Islamic values in mind, with 'halal' food and an
alcohol-free environment where Muslims can meet each other and the
community at large…
-----
ONE-MONTH INTENSIVE COURSE ON QURANIC ARABIC
Taught By Dr. Mamdouh N. Mohamed, the Author of Arabic: a Bridge to
Islamic
Culture
From July 26- August 25 at George Mason University, Robinson B Room
224
All classes are offered at 7pm-9pm
Level one: Meets on Tu+ Th+ Sa
Level Two: Meets on Mon+Wed+Fri
Only for $150
To register call (703) 597-1065 or register on Monday July 26 at 6:30
PM at
George Mason University, Robinson B Room 224
NB: This class is not for young children.
-----
ISRAELI RADICAL SEEKS REMOVAL OF JERUSALEM MOSQUE
Corinne Heller, Reuters, 7/26/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5773491
JERUSALEM - A Jewish radical leader said Monday a Jerusalem mosque
compound
that is one of Islam's holiest sites should be removed, shortly after
an
Israeli minister warned of a threat of an attack on the shrine.
Citing intelligence reports, Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said there
was
a growing threat of a Jewish ultranationalist attack on the mosque
complex
known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and revered by
Jews as Temple Mount.
"Israel has to return to the Temple Mount and it will. It doesn't have
to
be tomorrow but it has to happen. Islam must remove its hands from the
Temple Mount and descend from it," former Jewish underground leader
Yehuda
Etzion told Reuters amid a series of Israeli media interviews.
Etzion has been banned from the complex since 1984, when he was
arrested
and imprisoned for plotting to blow it up, but has continued to call
for
Jews to reclaim the site of two demolished biblical temples that he
sees as
part of their birthright.
The Islamic trust that oversees the complex in Jerusalem's Old City
voiced
alarm at Etzion's latest comments.
"We are worried," Adnan al-Husseini, director of the Waqf trust said.
"Plotting against al-Haram al-Sharif is escalating. This subject is at
the
heart of the beliefs of Muslims all over the world."…
SEE ALSO:
US GRANTS PROTECTION FOR ANTI-TEHRAN GROUP IN IRAQ
Reuters, 7/26/04
PARIS - The U.S. military has granted "protected status" under the
Geneva
Convention to members of an exiled Iranian opposition group interned in
Iraq, France-based opponents of Tehran said in a statement.
The U.S. head of detainee operations in Iraq, Major-General Geoffrey
Miller, told the People's Mujahideen Organisation (MKO) its members
held at
a base in eastern Iraq had been recognised as "protected persons under
the
Fourth Geneva Convention," the statement said.
The decision -- announced in a letter to the group last week -- will
allow
detainees from the group access to the International Committee of the
Red
Cross and the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR.
"(This is a) triumph for the Iranian Resistance and the Iranian
people,"
Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
(NCRI),
said in a statement.
The MKO, which has previously been branded a terrorist group by the
United
States and Europe, is the military affiliate of the NCRI, whose
headquarters are near Paris.
Iran regards the roughly 3,800 MKO fighters in Iraq as one of its
biggest
external threats and wants the group's members to be handed over.
Diplomats say Tehran has offered to exchange some al Qaeda prisoners it
is
holding for MKO leaders. Washington has refused the swap, the diplomats
say.
Iranian government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh said the U.S. move
to
grant the MKO protected status undermined Washington's claims to be
fighting terrorist groups…
---
SUDAN REBELS BLOCKING DARFUR PEACE, OBSERVERS SAY
Nima Elbagir, Reuters, 7/25/04
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040725/wl_nm/sudan_dc_25
KHARTOUM - Rebels in west Sudan are obstructing efforts to stop
fighting in
the expectation that the plight of thousands of refugees will force the
international community to intervene, observers said on Sunday.
Attempts to reach a political solution in Sudan's arid western Darfur
region stumbled last week when the two rebel groups refused to take
part in
talks after the government turned down six preconditions.
A key rebel demand is the disarmament of Arab militia fighters, also
known
as Janjaweed. The rebels accuse the Janjaweed of killing and raping
villagers and then looting and razing their homes. The rebels say the
government armed the mounted Arab militia, though Khartoum calls them
outlaws.
"It is obvious that the rebels feel that if they agitate enough they
can
force the hand of the international community and bring about an
intervention on the ground," said a Western observer in Khartoum who
declined to be named.
Khartoum has said it is improving security and aid distribution in the
area
as it comes under increased international pressure to end fighting the
United Nations says triggered the world's worst current humanitarian
crisis
and forced 1.2 million people out of their homes.
Abdel-Wahid Mohammed Ahmed el-Nur, a leader of the rebel Sudan
Liberation
Movement (SLM), called for international military forces to be sent to
Darfur.
"The United States, U.N., European Union and the African Union must
come to
Darfur because the Janjaweed are still attacking civilians and blocking
relief supplies" he told Reuters by satellite telephone from Darfur…
---
ACCLAIMED HONOR-KILLING BOOK FABRICATED, NEWSPAPER REPORTS
Rebecca Caldwell, Globe and Mail, 7/24/04
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040724/AUTHOR24/TPInternational/TopStories
A critically acclaimed book that told the story of a Jordanian woman's
honour killing at the hand of her father has been branded a fabrication
by
an Australian newspaper.
The Sydney Morning Herald says in today's editions that author Norma
Khouri
invented the tale of Dalia, her lifelong friend and partner in a hair
salon, who purportedly was stabbed to death in 1996 by her Muslim
father
over her relationship with a Christian man.
In Honor Lost: Love and Death in Modern-Day Jordan, which appeared last
year, Ms. Khouri wrote a detailed account of growing up in Jordan under
a
regime oppressive to women. She said her friend's father escaped
prosecution.
The book was a bestseller in Australia, where Ms. Khouri now lives, and
was
published in several other countries, including Canada. Interviews with
Ms.
Khouri and favourable reviews appeared in several publications,
including
The Globe and Mail.
But in today's Morning Herald, literary editor Malcolm Knox says Ms.
Khouri, who is now 34, left Jordan when she was three years old and
lived
in Chicago until 2000.
"The truth is that she didn't live in Jordan at all," Mr. Knox said in
an
interview last night…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FBI PROBE SOUGHT FOR ATTACK ON NY MUSLIMS
Attackers shout ethnic slurs, injure teen with car
(NEW YORK, NY, 7/27/04) - The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on the FBI to
investigate
an attack on two Muslim teenagers in Buffalo as a possible hate crime.
The Muslim teens, sisters who wear Islamic head scarves, say they were
targeted Sunday by white teenagers who shouted ethnic slurs and then
tried
to hit the girls with their car. One of the teens pushed her sister out
of
the path of the car, but was herself injured when the car ran over her
foot. Local law enforcement authorities are treating the attack as a
possible bias-related crime.
SEE: "Erie County D.A. Investigating Possible Hate Crime"
http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=2091379&nav=0RapPCWO
"Muslim women should be able to walk down a street in America without
fear
of attack or harassment," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr.
"FBI
involvement in this case will send the message that bias crimes
targeting
American Muslims are taken seriously at the highest levels of
government."
Nasr also said the FBI has resources that may be useful in the
investigation.
Incidents targeting Muslim individuals and Islamic institutions have
occurred recently across America. A Muslim woman driver in Illinois and
a
Muslim shopper in California were assaulted at the end of June by
attackers
shouting anti-Muslim and racist slurs.
In Florida, vandals wrote "Kill all Muslims" inside the Islamic
Community
Center in the Tampa suburb of Lutz. The FBI is also investigating
vandalism
and threatening messages targeting the Islamic Community of Southwest
Florida in Charlotte Harbor. In Missouri, vandals painted a Nazi
swastika
and the word "die" on an addition under construction at the Islamic
Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Three Miami Islamic centers were
vandalized.
Earlier this year in Texas, a man was arrested for threatening an El
Paso
Islamic center, an arson suspect was arrested at the scene of a fire at
a
Muslim business in San Antonio and vandals scrawled racist graffiti on
the
interior of a Lubbock mosque. White crosses and "F U Arab" were
spray-painted inside a Middle Eastern grocery store targeted by
arsonists
in Everett, Wash. A home-made bomb exploded in the mailbox of a
Houston,
Texas, Islamic center.
In response to anti-Muslim incidents, CAIR published a "Muslim
Community
Safety Kit." The safety kit may be obtained free of charge by e-mailing
pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and phone number when
requesting
the safety kit.)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-NY, Wissam Nasr, 212-870-2002, 917-751-1017;
CAIR-National,
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org;
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org;
Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/27/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT
* MUSLIM TO OFFER PRAYER AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
* KERRY CAN'T TAKE MUSLIM VOTE FOR GRANTED (Newshouse)
- CAIR-FL: Kerry Must Protect My Civil Rights (ST)
- Jewish, Arab Voters Watching Kerry (Winnipeg Free Press)
* TX: MUSLIMS PURSUE PEACE IN BUSH'S BIBLE BELT (Reuters)
* CAIR TO MONITOR HLF INDICTMENTS
- Charity Says FBI Falsified Evidence (New York Times)
* CAIR-SL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS
* NEW US MUSLIM CAMPAIGN AGAINST MISCONCEPTIONS (Islamonline)
- NC: Muslims, Jews Bring Communities Together (WRAL)
* OH: ICGT ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(The comparison of)
this
world to the next is similar to when one of you dips his finger…in the
ocean and then looks at (the amount of water) stuck to it."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1330
-----
MUSLIM TO OFFER PRAYER AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
(WASHINGTON D.C., 7/27/04) - An American Muslim religious leader will
offer
the benediction this evening at the Democratic National Convention in
Boston.
Imam Yahya Hendi, the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University in
Washington, D.C., will offer the prayer following a speech by Teresa
Heinz
Kerry, wife of presidential candidate John Kerry.
-----
KERRY CAN'T TAKE MUSLIM VOTE FOR GRANTED
Chuck McCutcheon, Newhouse News Service, 7/26/2004
http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/mccutcheon072704.html
BOSTON -- Muslim voters appear less inclined to support President Bush
in
November than they did in 2000, but that doesn't mean they
automatically
back Democrat John Kerry.
Several of the roughly 40 Muslim delegates attending this week's
Democratic
National Convention said they are waiting for the Kerry campaign to
show
its concern for Muslim voters and acknowledge they can make a
difference at
the polls, especially in such key states as Michigan, Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
"My sense is that 75 percent of the Muslim leadership is behind Kerry;
however, the public is not," said Asad Zaman, a school principal and
convention delegate from Inver Grove, Minn., whose family is from
Bangladesh. "They have to do their homework. He needs to visit mosques
the
way he visits synagogues."
Spokesmen for the Kerry campaign and the Democratic National Committee
say
they are ramping up their efforts to reach Muslims during and after the
convention.
"We will continue building bridges to the Muslim community around the
country," said Mona Mohib, a Muslim of Indian descent who serves as
vice
chair of the DNC's Asian-Pacific Island caucus.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., recently hosted a
gathering
of national Muslim groups, calling it "only the first in an ongoing
dialogue between congressional Democrats and Muslim Americans."
Estimates vary on how many Muslims are registered to vote. Agha Saeed,
founder and national chairman of the American Muslim Alliance, puts the
figure at more than 4 million, a total that includes African-American
Muslims, Muslims with Arab roots and Muslims with South Asian roots.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington Islamic civil
rights group, asked subscribers to its e-mail list last month about
their
political preferences. Among the more than 1,100 responses, 54 percent
backed Kerry, 26 percent Ralph Nader, 2 percent Bush, 2 percent
"other"; 14
percent were undecided and 1 percent didn't answer that question...
SEE ALSO:
TO EARN MY VOTE, KERRY MUST PROTECT MY CIVIL RIGHTS
Parvez Ahmed, Seattle Times, 7/27/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001988904_ahmed27.html
[Parvez Ahmed is a board member of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, headquartered in Washington, D.C. CAIR is the country's
largest
Muslim civil-liberties advocacy group. E-mail:
pahmed@cair-flor-ida.org]
Millions of Americans will tune in as John Kerry accepts his nomination
to
be the Democratic Party's candidate for president. It will be the most
anticipated speech of his lifetime, a life with a remarkable record of
courage, patriotism and service. Kerry the person has earned my
respect.
Will Kerry the candidate earn my vote, too?
As we tune in, each one of us will like to hear about something that is
most dear to our hearts. For many voters like me it will be civil
rights.
Early on during the Democratic primaries, Kerry voiced his displeasure
about the Patriot Act. However, since being the presumptive nominee,
his
silence on this issue has been deafening.
Preserving our liberal democracy is perhaps the single-most-important
issue
facing Americans this election, although polls suggest otherwise.
Public
silence confirms an uncomfortable truth that since 9-11, the civil
rights
of some Americans have been compromised while the majority remains
oblivious to the dangers that lurk around the corner.
Fighting terrorism is important. But this fight cannot take place at
the
expense of civil liberties. At the end of the day, if we cannot protect
the
very fabric that unites us as a nation, then what is it that we are
fighting for?
Right after the ill-fated day of Sept. 11, 2001, a majority of
Americans,
despite the historical admonition of Ben Franklin to not do so, were
willing to give up a little bit of liberty for a little bit of
security. A
vigorous debate on this issue might have yielded some answers as to
exactly
which rights Americans were willing to give up to be a little bit more
secure. This did not happen and the Patriot Act was rushed through
Congress
in record legislative time.
The onus of a severe curb on civil liberties fell largely on Muslims
and
Arabs, many of whom were nonvoters. A voiceless and defenseless group
of
people was soon to become the collateral damage of the war on terror.
Since 9-11, this group has been subjected to special interviews,
registrations, automatic detentions and deportations. Many have been
tried
in secret, while others had no trials afforded to them. Some have been
detained based on their political opinions, others for their political
associations with disfavored groups. Some Muslim charities have been
shut
down and many have been intimidated into silence.
American-Muslims now live with the dread of a knock at the door often
at
wee hours of the night or early morning. Many are coping with the
reality
of racial profiling at airports, discrimination at places of work,
verbal
abuse in public and hate crimes at places of worship. A recent poll
showed
nearly 88 percent of Muslims saying that they knew of at least one
person
who suffered anti-Muslim bias or discrimination…
---
JEWISH, ARAB VOTERS WATCHING KERRY
Samuel Segev, Winnipeg Free Press, 7/27/04
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
WITH the expected formal nomination on Thursday, of four-term Senator
John
Forbes Kerry as the Democratic candidate in the November presidential
elections, the four million registered Arab and Muslim American voters
are
facing a real dilemma.
Up until two months ago, such a dilemma didn't exist. President George
W.
Bush's written commitments to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
regarding
the final settlement with the Palestinians did not leave them many
choices.
Many of them appeared to be determined to help unseat Bush and bring
back
the Democrats to the White House.
Since then, however, many things have changed. In an effort to win the
"Jewish vote," Kerry defined his positions in terms almost identical
with
those of Bush. Democrats in both houses of Congress, have coalesced
with
their Republican colleagues and have endorsed Bush's commitments to
Sharon,
thus making them binding on any future administration...
Those pro-Israel Kerry statements have confused the Arab-American
electorate. In a survey published on June 30, by the Washington-based
Council on American-Islamic relations (CAIR), some 54 per cent of
eligible
Arab and Islamic voters said that they will still vote for Kerry, while
26
per cent said they will vote for Ralph Nader, who is an American of
Lebanese descent.
Nevertheless, the picture is not so clear. Nihad Awad, the executive
director of CAIR, maintains that Arab and Muslim voters could become
the
"swing vote" in such states as Ohio, Michigan and Florida. Although in
the
2000 elections, many Arab Americans voted for Bush, there has not been
in
the past -- and there doesn't appear to be now -- a "bloc vote" by Arab
and
Muslim Americans. Hence, in the next elections in November, Arab
Americans
who are traditionally more conservative, will have to decide what comes
first: their traditional positions on such hot topics as abortion and
same
sex marriages; or their sympathies for the Palestinians.
Agha Said, one of the activists in the Washington-based American-Muslim
Alliance (AMA), said that for conservative Arab families, the issue of
gay
and lesbian rights takes precedence. Therefore, and since there is
really
no difference between Bush and Kerry on the Arab-Israeli conflict, many
Arab voters might prefer Bush over Kerry. In Agha Said's view, Bush's
views
on same-sex marriage and on abortion, appeal to American Arabs more
than
the liberal positions of Kerry...
-----
MUSLIMS PURSUE PEACE IN BUSH'S BIBLE BELT IN TEXAS
David Morgan, Reuters, 7/27/04
WACO, Texas - Down the road from the Texas ranch where U.S. President
George W. Bush held meetings to plan the invasion of Iraq, Muslim
leader
Afzal Siddiq has become something of an Islamic peace envoy to the
Bible
Belt Christians of Bush country.
A Pakistani-born U.S. citizen who founded the only permanent mosque in
Bush's McLennan County, Siddiq has spoken about Islam at more than 30
churches since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that set the White House on
the
road to war in Muslim Afghanistan and Iraq.
He writes a religion column for the local newspaper and has persuaded
his
fellow Sunni Muslims to open their services to students from
Baptist-affiliated Baylor University.
"The Christian people really opened their doors to us after Sept. 11.
They
invited us to their churches because they wanted to know about
Muslims,"
said Siddiq, a former U.S. Army officer who studied engineering at the
University of Texas before moving to Waco to help run a family
convenience
store.
"It surprises them that we have similar beliefs. I explain to them that
'Allah' is simply the Arabic name for God. It's not a different God,"
he
added...
But other measures paint a more disturbing picture. Data from the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which includes federal crime
reports,
show 36 threats or acts of violence against an estimated 500,000 Texas
Muslims in 2002, rising to 57 incidents in 2003.
"There appears to have been an upswing in Texas in recent months," said
CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper, noting a surge of incidents since the
grisly
murder and mutilation of U.S. military contractors in the Iraqi town of
Falluja last spring.
-----
CAIR TO MONITOR HLF INDICTMENTS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/27/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) said it would monitor the cases of seven men charged today with
supporting Palestinian militants to make sure they are granted all
their
legal rights.
The men were all associated with the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation
for
Relief and Development (HLF), shut down by the government in 2001.
The charity had been targeted by pro-Israel organizations and
individuals
for several years because of what they said was the group's support for
terrorism. HLF officials consistently denied those charges.
Today's New York Times reports that HLF officials claim the FBI
falsified
evidence against it and based its indictment on "distorted"
translations of
Israeli intelligence materials. HLF officials cited 67 translation
errors
in an FBI document used in the case.
SEE: "ISLAMIC CHARITY SAYS F.B.I. FALSIFIED EVIDENCE AGAINST IT"
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/27/politics/27muslim.html
In its statement, CAIR said: "We will monitor the progress of these
indictments to help ensure that the defendants are accorded all of
their
constitutional rights. The government should not use evidence
apparently
tainted by foreign intelligence sources from a nation that has its own
political agenda."
-----
CAIR-SL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS
(ST. LOUIS - 7/27/2004) - CAIR-St. Louis Executive Director James
Hacking
met today with a group of foreign journalists as part of the U.S. State
Department's International Visitor Program to discuss grassroots
organizing
and the participation of Muslims in the U.S. political process.
Hacking was asked to meet with the delegation of journalists as part of
the
State Department's program entitled "Journalism, Society and the
Political
Process in the United States."
The discussion focused on increased participation of local Muslims in
politics, the local CAIR Chapter's media watchdog efforts, the
portrayal of
Islam in the media, and CAIR's national voter registration drive.
CONTACT: CAIR-St. Louis, James Hacking, 314-602-3794, E-mail:
admin@cair-stl.org
-----
NEW US MUSLIM CAMPAIGN AGAINST MISCONCEPTIONS
Islam Online, Islam Online, 7/26/04
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-07/26/article05.shtml
CAIRO - As hate crimes against community members continue unabated, US
Muslim leaders and organizations have launched a campaign to dispel
misconceptions among Americans that actions of extremists represent
Muslim
beliefs, an American newspaper said Monday, July 26.
The Miami Herald said on its website that Islamic groups have tried to
convey to the American public, through appearances in the media, that
Muslims abhor the actions of terrorists.
In New Jersey, Islamic groups recently took out newspaper
advertisements to
condemn terrorism and dissociate their faith from those horrific acts.
"No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the killing of innocent
people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam," the
ad's
text read.
"We repudiate and disassociate ourselves from any group or individual
who
commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts."
The ads came after the beheading of American businessman Nicholas Berg
in
Iraq in May, and the decapitation of his compatriot Paul Johnson in
Saudi
Arabia in June.
"We talk about the good things in Islam," Ahmed Kabani, president of
Florida's American Muslim Alliance, told the American paper.
"We are not preaching religion. We try to promote the right perception
of
Islam as opposed to what people have from terrorists."
Taleb Salhab, president of the Arab American Community Center in
Orlando,
told the paper that Islamic organizations have held forums with
schools,
law enforcement groups and non-Muslims to sensitize them to Muslim
concerns
and issues.
"Hopefully this will alleviate some of the problems of a lack of
awareness
and understanding of (Islam and) Muslims..."
-----
RALEIGH MUSLIMS, JEWS HAVE FAITH IN BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
WRAL News, WRAL News, 7/26/04
http://www.wral.com/news/3577046/detail.html
RALEIGH. - Jewish and Muslim communities in the Triangle are working to
get
past their differences and to understand each other better.
"One of the things we have in common is peace and the preservation of
human
life on this planet," said Imam Oliver Mohammed of the As-Salaam
Islamic
Center.
Muslims from the Islamic Center spent Sunday morning with Jews at
Temple
Beth Or in Raleigh. The National Leader of the American Society of
Muslims
addressed the group. Omam Earl Mohammed first visited the Temple in
November 2002. "Much of what the faithful in Judaism hold dear is also
held
dear by Muslims," he said.
Sunday's participants spent most of their time speaking to each other.
"This is one of the few places on the planet where true religious
pluralism
can be played out, and it is one of the places where there is the
maximum
level of interfaith mutuality and respect," Rabbi Raachel Jurovics of
Temple Beth Or said.
"As opposed to following the terrible trends that we see in the world
of
Muslims and Jews fighting and people of faith in general, that some
sanity
needs to be dropped into the picture," Imam Oliver Mohammed said...
-----
ICGT ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo will be holding their 4th Annual
International Festival on Sat and Sun, Aug 21-22, 2004.
There will be booths selling foods from India, Pakistan, Lebanon,
Egypt,
Turkey and many other countries. There will be games and rides for the
children. There will be vendors selling jewelry, books and videos and
there
will be a Coffee House hosted by our seniors. There will be food
preparation demonstrations. A local artist will be on hand to do
personalized Caricatures. There will also be a Classic Car Show on Sat.
Tours of the
Center will be given throughout the Festival. The hours for the
Festival
are Sat 11 am - 9 pm and Sun noon - 6 pm. There is a $3 parking fee
that
includes a program book. There is NO entrance fee. This is a good
Muslim
family environment. If you would like further information, please call
the
Islamic Center at (419) 874-3500 and visit our website at
http://www.icgt.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/28/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: OBAMA ADDRESSES DETENTIONS
* 'ALIENATED' ARAB-AMERICANS FLOCK TO KERRY (Wash Times)
- An Awakening for US Muslims (Globe)
- Arabs, Muslims Seek a Voice at U.S. Convention (RFE)
- Saudi Woman Carves Us Political Career (AFP)
- Muslim Delegates Uneasy in Bush's America (Scripps)
* CAIR-LA: FAMILY OF MISSING STUDENT OFFERS REWARD
- Search for Missing UCLA Student Continues (LA Times)
* SUIT CHALLENGES DETENTION OF AMERICAN (AP)
- Another Charge Against Airman Dropped (Reuters)
- CAIR-St. Loius: Imam Leaves Jail for Senegal (Post-Disp)
- Short Fuses on 9-11 (Village Voice)
* HLF CASE: INTERNMENT IN THE MODERN ERA (Star Telegram)
- CA Muslims Hold Silent Protest for HLF Official
* WRONG DEFINITION FOR A WAR (Wash Post)
- Americans Are Less Safe Under Bush Policies
* MS: I AM A 'NORMAL' TEENAGER, WITH A DIFFERENCE (Sun Herald)
* HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR FINDS ISRAELI WALL TROUBLING (KC Star)
* LAUGHING UK TROOPS TORTURED IRAQIS, COURT TOLD (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No man loves another
for
God’s sake without his Lord…honoring him."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1301
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: OBAMA ADDRESSES DETENTIONS
BOSTON - The following is a transcript of a speech by Barack Obama at
the
Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, July 27, 2004:
“If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that
matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen
somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between
medicine and the rent that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my
grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up
without
benefit of an attorney or due process that threatens my civil
liberties.
It's that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my
sisters'
keeper -- that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue
our
individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family.
"E
pluribus unum." Out of many, one.”
-----
'ALIENATED' ARAB-AMERICANS FLOCK TO KERRY CAMPAIGN
Amy Fagan, Washington Times, 7/28/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040728-121518-8142r.htm
BOSTON — Arab-American delegates, attending the Democratic National
Convention in their greatest numbers in years, say many in their
community
will vote for Sen. John Kerry because they are disillusioned with the
current administration.
The Arab-American vote went overwhelmingly to George W. Bush in 2000,
but
unhappiness with the president's post-September 11 policies is turning
those voters to Mr. Kerry, the delegates say.
"He has alienated so many of us," said Newman Abuissa, an Arab-American
delegate from Iowa who voted for Mr. Bush in 2000 but became so upset
at
the administration that he began actively campaigning for the
Massachusetts
Democrat and eventually ended up here at the convention.
Arab-American "numbers this year look like they'll be the exact
opposite"
from the 2000 election, said Taleb Salhab, a Florida delegate of
Palestinian descent.
He said roughly 70 percent of Arab-Americans voted for Mr. Bush in 2000
and
30 percent voted for Al Gore, but said this time Mr. Kerry will garner
the
majority of votes, possibly enough to tip the scales in battleground
states
such as his own.
There are 46 Arab-American delegates at the Democratic convention this
year, the highest number since the 1988 convention..
---
AN AWAKENING FOR US MUSLIMS
Derrick Z. Jackson, Globe, 7/28/04
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/07/28/
will_muslims_flee_the_gop/
HASHIM RAZA is a 38-year-old physician from St. Louis who, like a
majority
of Arab-Americans, voted for President Bush in 2000. Raza has voted
Republican in every presidential election starting with Ronald Reagan
in
1984. "I was always attracted to the Republican message of
self-accountability, personal responsibility, low taxes, and staying
out of
international affairs," Raza said. This year he will vote for John
Kerry.
"After 9/11, things started adding up," he said at a reception
yesterday
for Muslim attendees to the Democratic National Convention hosted by
the
Islamic Society of Boston. "Muslims were unfairly targeted; we were
presumed guilty; Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, and Cheney acted like they have no
use
for Muslims. The Republican Party has become a refuge for far-right
religious extremists. I believe people like Bush senior were moderates.
But
now I feel the party has excluded me."
A year ago, Arif Gafur, a 52-year-old engineer for Shell Oil in
Houston,
did not know anything about being a delegate to the convention. Before
9/11, he and many of his professional friends were never involved in
politics. But the aftermath of the terrorist attacks where many Muslims
were detained, made him concerned. "America is the best country in the
world, but it's not easy to be a Muslim," he said.
The invasion of Iraq, which Gafur said was "unnecessary," pushed him
and
several other South Asian Muslims to register 1,000 voters and elect
delegates to district, state, and national delegations. Of the about
5,000
delegates to the convention, about 40 are Muslim and six are from
Texas,
including himself.
"Sometimes on Middle East policy, Kerry seems to come across as Bush
Lite,"
Gafur said. "But on domestic policy, with the Patriot Act and the
racial
profiling of Muslims, the Muslim community was awakened to the fact
that we
had to get involved."
The Arab-American awakening could play a significant part in the
Democrats'
drive to put the Bush presidency to sleep. In the 2000 elections, Bush
pledged to end profiling of Arab-Americans. Other Arab-Americans were
put
off by Gore's choice of Joe Lieberman, who is Jewish, as his running
mate,
fearing the choice signaled an unacceptable pro-Israel tilt by the
Democrats. "To many Muslims, Bush just seemed to work harder for our
vote,"
Gafur said…
---
U.S.: ARABS, MUSLIMS SEEK A VOICE AT U.S. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Robert McMahon, Radio Free Europe, 7/28/04
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/07/116b7a8e-e516-4aa7-9915-71549e9
147da.html
(Arab- and Muslim-Americans constitute a small but potentially
influential
electoral bloc in this year's U.S. presidential elections. They are
clearly
a more visible presence at the Democratic National Convention in Boston
than in past party gatherings. But they appear to be more galvanized
against Republican President George W. Bush than demonstrably for the
policies espoused by presumptive Democratic Party candidate John
Kerry.)
The first time Maya Berry attended a national convention of the
Democratic
Party 12 years ago, she carried a banner proclaiming the right of
Palestinians to self-determination.
That earned Berry, an Arab-Muslim American, the close surveillance of
convention security guards and, she says, a sense of alienation from
fellow
delegates:
"When I was here in 1992, I was certainly much younger and less
seasoned
politically," Berry said. "But at the same time, I felt considerably
isolated in terms of being Arab-American at the convention. It just was
very different than it is now."
At this year's convention, support of Palestinian statehood is part of
the
Democrats' platform for the first time. Arab-Americans are now an
established ethnic caucus of the party, with 43 delegates attending the
convention. They are seen as an influential voting bloc in several key
states where President Bush and Senator Kerry are close in opinion
polls.
Berry, a delegate from Michigan, says there is much more inclusiveness
of
Arab-Americans this year than in past conventions. But the party must
work
hard, she said, to attract a loyal voting bloc in key states where many
ethnic Arabs live, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.
There
are more than 2 million Muslims eligible to vote in the United States,
but
only about 57 percent of them are registered...
---
FROM MECCA TO ELECTION, SAUDI WOMAN CARVES US POLITICAL CAREER
Agence France Presse, 7/28/04
BOSTON, Massachusetts - Can a woman born in the conservative kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, in the holy city of Mecca no less, really be elected to
public office in the United States after September 11?
Ferial Masry thinks she can.
"My story is a great American success story," the bubbly 55-year-old
told
AFP on the sidelines of the Democratic national convention in Boston.
"I
always had a dream, but here is where the dream became real."
Masry hopes voters in her upmarket California region outside Los
Angeles
will extend that dream and send her to the state assembly in November,
becoming the first Saudi-born man or woman ever to win an election in
the
United States.
Masry and her Democratic backers are quick to say it's a long shot --
her
district has a long history of voting Republican -- but her
high-profile
campaign is a sign of the growing visibility of Arab-Americans in US
life.
Arab-Americans say they have had an uneasy time in the United States
since
the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Most of the attackers came
from
Saudi Arabia, and all of them were Arabs.
"Almost everyone in the community has been touched in some way," said
Jean
AbiNader, a US-born Christian of Lebanese descent and a board member of
the
Arab-American Institute.
He said visa problems, social wariness toward Arabs and the tightened
restrictions set into law by George W. Bush's controversial Patriot Act
all
affected Arab families here.
Meanwhile strained relations with Saudi Arabia, a longtime US ally
whose
cooperation in Bush's war on terror has come under question, cannot do
much
to help Masry's chances.
But with Democratic challenger John Kerry pledging to rebuild US
relations
with allies angered by the war in Iraq, the election of a Saudi woman
--
even to a modest state post -- would be a public relations coup.
Masry paints herself as someone who has integrated into American
society in
the best possible way, retaining enough of her culture not to lose her
identity but nevertheless becoming a 100 percent-loyal US citizen.
Her son served with US forces in Iraq, and she says she wants to help
Arabs
migrating to the United States avoid getting sucked into a cultural
isolation that could breed fundamentalist, anti-US feeling.
"I want to help those who are coming here with fear, those afraid of
losing
their identities if they integrate," Masry said.
At the same time, she says, her story has served as an inspiration for
women and moderates in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East,
giving them a dual sign that the United States is welcoming -- and that
home-grown extremism is not the only option for the future...
---
MUSLIM DELEGATES UNEASY IN BUSH'S AMERICA
Lance Gay, Scripps Howard News, 7/27/04
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=DEMS-MUSLIMS-07-27-04&cat=PP
BOSTON - Muslim delegates to the Democratic National Convention here
said
Tuesday they are furious about the erosion of civil liberties since the
9/11 attacks and alarmed at what they see as a needlessly reckless and
divisive war in Iraq that is spreading hatred across the Islamic world.
"This is the most important moment of my life, and I just became an
American citizen," said Gulten Ilhan, a philosophy professor at St.
Louis
Community College, who is a delegate representing Missouri.
Ilhan, born in Turkey, said she is alarmed and angry about Bush's
foreign
policy. "After 9/11 we had the support of the world. Now three years
later,
he's turned the whole world against us ... Never in my life do I feel
as
unsafe as I do now," she said.
Parwez Wahid, a 44-year-old Massachusetts software developer and
Democratic
Party secretary in Framingham, Mass., said he followed the
recommendations
of Muslim leaders in 2000 and voted for George Bush after Al Gore
refused
to meet with Muslim leaders.
Wahid said he has regretted that vote ever since.
About 70 percent of the Muslim vote went for Bush in 2000. The American
Muslim Alliance estimates there are more than 4 million Muslim-American
voters in the United States.
"Even if the devil was running against George Bush, I would vote for
the
devil," Wahid said.
About 40 American Muslims are delegates at this year's Democratic
National
Convention - a reflection, Wahid said, of organized efforts by local
Islamic groups across the country to get Muslims more involved in
American
politics. The party does not keep records on the religious breakdown of
delegates, but Wahid said the Muslim presence at the Boston convention
is
larger than at previous party events.
"We're trying to become mainstream," Wahid said. "If Muslims want a
greater
influence, then there's a role they have to play in American politics…"
Missouri delegate Asad Zaman, a 32-year-old principal of a St. Paul
elementary school originally from Bangladesh, said he got involved in
politics because he sees the 2004 election "as a fight for the soul of
our
country."
"I am an American by choice. I chose an America that would guarantee my
freedom, and an America that would guarantee my rights," Zaman said.
"This
is sad. This is not the America we wanted it to be…"
-----
FAMILY OF MISSING UCLA COLLEGE STUDENT ANNOUNCES $10,000 CASH AWARD
Anaheim - The Anaheim family searching for Ahmad Yaseen Arain, the
missing
UCLA student since Friday, July 23rd, today announced a $10,000 cash
award
leading to his safe return.
The friends of Ahmad Arain’s family are offering this award hoping it
will
trigger leads that may help the investigations further.
ALSO SEE:
SEARCH FOR MISSING UCLA STUDENT CONTINUES
Joel Rubin, Los Angeles Times, 7/28/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-missing27jul27,1,7204438.story?coll=
la-headlines-california
Police continued searching Monday for a UCLA student who vanished
Friday
while traveling between his Orange County home and the university.
Ahmad Yaseen Arain, 20, a bookish computer science student, hurriedly
left
his family's home in Orange on Friday morning to catch a bus for a
meeting
with an academic counselor. He was last seen by his younger brother,
who
dropped him off at a Harbor Boulevard bus stop in Anaheim about 8:30
a.m.
After interviewing family members Monday morning, University of
California
police — who are leading the investigation — left with Arain's personal
computer and expect to review surveillance videos and interview drivers
from the buses Arain might have ridden. Police filed a missing-person
report with national, state and local authorities late Friday after
receiving a call from Arain's family.
Zahida Arain, Ahmad's mother, said she last spoke to her eldest son on
his
cellphone about 9:30 Friday morning as he was presumably traveling on a
Los
Angeles MTA bus to downtown Los Angeles, where he planned to transfer
to
another bus bound for UCLA.
She said she admonished him for leaving the house without eating
breakfast,
and he told her he would buy a late breakfast after his meeting at
11:30.
Arain, who rents an apartment near campus during the school year, had
returned home for the summer. It was his first time making the bus
journey
from Anaheim to UCLA, his brother said.
The mother first grew worried Friday when she telephoned Arain a second
time about 11 a.m. and found that his phone had been turned off —
something
that rarely happened. The family became increasingly concerned
throughout
the day after Arain missed his appointment, did not attend afternoon
Muslim
prayers at the school, and did not return home that night…
-----
SUIT CHALLENGES DETENTION OF AMERICAN
Anne Gearan, Associated Press, 7/28/04
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=37578
WASHINGTON - The parents of an American jailed without charges in Saudi
Arabia are suing the United States in what lawyers say is the first
lawsuit
filed on behalf of a U.S. citizen detained in a third country at the
U.S.
government's request.
The parents claim his being held in Saudi Arabia is a deliberate
attempt to
keep him out of U.S. courts and in the hands of jailers who could abuse
or
torture him for information.
The family's lawyers cite last month's Supreme Court rulings that
alleged
enemy combatants held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
can
take their claims to U.S. courts.
Ahmed Abu Ali was arrested 13 months ago in Saudi Arabia as part of an
American anti-terrorism investigation. The U.S. government ordered the
arrest and has refused to say when or if Abu Ali would be charged or
released, the family alleged in a suit to be filed Wednesday in federal
court in Washington.
The family wants an American judge to order Abu Ali returned to the
United
States, where he might face charges as part of an alleged terrorism
training ring in Virginia. The suit names Attorney General John
Ashcroft,
Secretary of State Colin Powell and others and cites the Supreme Court
rulings last month that outlined legal rights for citizens and
non-citizens
detained in the war on terrorism.
``Although petitioner Ahmed Abu Ali presently is physically confined in
Saudi Arabia, (the U.S. government) directed and conspired with Saudi
co-conspirators to carry out his arrest and indefinite detention in
that
country without due process protections and in violation of other
statutory
and constitutional standards,'' lawyers for Abu Ali's family wrote...
ALSO SEE:
ANOTHER CHARGE AGAINST U.S.-SYRIAN AIRMAN DROPPED
Adam Tanner, Reuters, 7/27/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5791332
SAN FRANCISCO- Prosecutors dropped another charge on Tuesday against a
Syrian-American airman accused of espionage at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
and
his lawyer said a key prosecutor in the case now facing unrelated
charges
had himself mishandled more sensitive documents.
Maj. Jamie Key, attorney for Senior Airman Ahmad al-Halabi, said Air
Force
prosecutors withdrew a charge of bank fraud alleging that he had
submitted
false information on credit card applications.
He still faces 16 of 30 charges originally filed against him including
carrying jail maps, letters and other documents from U.S. prison at
Guantanamo Bay where terrorism suspects are held. Halabi is expected to
go
to trial in mid-September.
In an interview, Key complained that Technical Sgt. Marc Palmosina, 37,
who
once oversaw the spy probe against Halabi, had himself committed
serious
violations.
An official Air Force charge sheet from late May accused Palmosina with
"failing to safeguard some number of classified documents and/or
failing to
store some number of classified documents only in authorized
locations."
Halabi spent ten months in pretrial confinement before he won release
in
May pending trial. Key said he found it troubling that his client
appeared
to face tougher pretrial standards than his investigator...
SEE ALSO: JUSTICE FOR AHMAD AL-HALABI
http://www.civilrightsfund.org/halabijustice/
---
IMAM LEAVES JAIL FOR SENEGAL
Aisha Sultan, Post-Dispatch, 7/26/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+Co
unty/671AAED85824B39286256EDE001D2A48?OpenDocument&Headline=Imam+leaves+jail
+for+Senegal+
A West African imam who was detained in an immigration jail for six
weeks
left St. Louis on Monday to head back to Senegal, federal officials
said.
Moustapha Seck, a prominent religious figure in his native country, was
stopped June 10 at Lambert Field when he tried to board a flight to
Rhode
Island.
Seck speaks limited English and asserted later that the translator used
by
the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encouraged him to admit to
a
visa violation that he says he didn't commit. He also alleged that
federal
agents had mistreated him and pressured him into saying he had raised
money
at mosques - a charge to which he pleaded guilty in court.
He denied the fund raising but says challenging the charge would have
kept
him in jail for several more months. He needed to return to Senegal to
tend
to his crops, he said.
Marilu Cabrera, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
said
Monday that she was trying to track down the translator used by the St.
Louis special agents. Last week, Cabrera said she had no knowledge of
any
allegations concerning mistreatment.
A judge granted Seck's request to voluntarily leave the country several
weeks ago, but his return had been delayed due to travel arrangements,
Cabrera said. "He was granted voluntary departure by the judge, so that
was
the plan for him all along, to go back home," she said...
---
SHORT FUSES ON 9-11
Tom Robbins, Village Voice, 7/27/04
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0430/robbins.php
If not for his untrimmed beard and knit kufi skullcap, Muhamed
Pjetrovic
could be standard-issue, New York blue-collar tradesman. He is short
with a
barrel chest and the rough hands of the electrician he has been for
almost
25 years. He has a quick grin and cracks the little jokes that manual
workers use to get through the day. He has three baseball-loving sons
whom
he ferries to school every morning. He is a registered voter who goes
to
the polls on election days. Since 1981 he has held a membership card in
Local 3 of the electrical workers' union, and the good wages it brought
helped him buy a home in New Jersey and an upstate bungalow. There, he
liked to go back in the woods and bang away at cans with a .22, a hobby
that led him to join the NRA.
But none of those otherwise healthy American traits seemed to count for
much after 9-11, when Pjetrovic was barred as a security threat from
the
downtown computer center where he had worked since 1986. After he was
fired
from his $25 per hour job, he found himself abandoned: His union
declined
to take his case to arbitration, and the firms he approached for new
jobs
turned him away.
In a lawsuit now pending in Manhattan federal court, Pjetrovic
(pronounced
Pee-yetro-vich) claims that Merrill Lynch & Co., the investment giant
whose
generators and power lines he tended for more than two decades, and his
direct employer, a contractor named Knight Electrical Services, had
discriminated against him as a Muslim and wrongly accused him of
disrupting
the workplace.
"In many respects, he's an All-American guy who came under suspicion
only
because he has different beliefs," said attorney Robert Perry, who,
along
with lawyer Yasser Helal, represents Pjetrovic.
The defendants declined to discuss the case, but in court papers they
say
that they responded properly to a potential security risk and did not
discriminate…
-----
INTERNMENT IN THE MODERN ERA
Noor Elashi, Star-Telegram, 7/28/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/9261401.htm
My 5-year-old cousin's simple, yet powerful plea continues to pound in
my
head.
"I miss my dad," she says.
What makes her statement distinct is that her father's only crime is
being
a Muslim Arab-American. Her father, along with his four brothers, was
taken
into custody Dec. 18, 2002, in Richardson.
The arrests were based on indictments accusing the brothers of shipping
computer parts to "terrorist" countries: Syria and Libya. They were
convicted July 7 by jurors in federal court and will be sentenced in
October.
But for one brother -- my father, Ghassan Elashi -- even more trouble
is
ahead.
He has been named in a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday that accuses
the
Holy Land Foundation, a charity for which he once served as chairman,
of
aiding terrorism by sending money to Hamas.
The Elashi brothers -- Ghassan, Bayan, Basman, Ihsan and Hazim -- came
to
America from Palestine nearly 26 years ago to seek their master's
degrees,
acquire jobs and enjoy a better life. In that pursuit, they became
victims
of America's war on terrorism.
Too far-fetched?
A few weeks after the destruction of the twin towers, about 800 Arabs
and
Muslims were arrested without access to attorneys and, most
astonishingly,
without any charges.
There were many instances of physical violence against Arab- and
Muslim-Americans that included weapon assaults, beatings, a firebomb
thrown
at an Arab-American community center and shots fired at several
mosques.
Tragically, the USA Patriot Act, an enormous infringement on our basic
civil liberties, was passed with little debate...
SEE ALSO:
CA MUSLIM HOLD SILENT PROTEST FOR HLF OFFICIAL
WHAT: The Muslim community will hold a silent protest for the release
of Abdul Jabbar Hamdan currently held in custody by federal authorities
on alleged immigration charges in connection to the Holy Land
Foundation
case.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 12 noon
WHERE: Outside Santa Ana Federal Building, 34 Civic Center Plaza
Federal
Building, Santa Ana, CA
CONTACT: Ibrahim Subeih, 714-590-3268
-----
WRONG DEFINITION FOR A WAR
Caleb Carr, Washington Post, 7/28/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19728-2004Jul27.html
Toward the end of its widely praised report, the Sept. 11 commission
offers
a prescriptive chapter titled "What to Do?" There, it makes an
assertion
that is genuinely shocking. It says that in our current conflict, "the
enemy is not just 'terrorism,' some generic evil. This vagueness blurs
the
strategy. The catastrophic threat at this moment in history is more
specific. It is the threat posed by Islamist terrorism [the report's
emphasis] -- especially the al Qaeda network, its affiliates, and its
ideology."
At a stroke, in other words, the members of the commission have tried
to
rewrite the terms of the global war on terrorism and turn it into a
global
war on Islamist terrorism alone.
It seems almost incredible that we could have been at war this long
without
defining precisely who or what we are at war with. But such is the
case,
and it has never seemed an urgent matter to lawmakers. When I appeared
before a congressional subcommittee studying strategies for the war on
terrorism in 2002 and suggested that the first step should be the
promulgation of just such a uniform definition, the members were
momentarily dumbstruck. To their credit, they soon recovered and we
began
to discuss the issue, but a comprehensive definition of terrorism for
the
use of the American government and the education of the American people
never emerged. Now, however, the president and his supporters are
apparently ready to instantly approve the radical definition set
forward by
the commission.
Terrorism, as defined by military historians, has been a constant, ugly
feature of warfare, an aberrant tactic akin to slavery, piracy and
genocide. One of the reasons that some of us argued throughout the
1990s
for undertaking of genuine war on terrorism (involving the military in
addition to intelligence and law enforcement) was the notion that we
might
finally declare the tactic -- like those other aberrant belligerent
methods
-- to be out of bounds, for the armed forces of civilized nations and
non-state organizations alike.
It's true that both slavery and piracy are still practiced, but only in
remote corners of the world; certainly genocide is still with us, but
its
employment is now cause for immediate sanction and forceful reaction
(theoretically, at any rate) by the United Nations. Banning such
tactics
and actively stamping out their practice has been the work of some of
the
great political and military minds and leaders of the past two
centuries.
Now it is time -- past time, really -- for terrorism to take its place
as a
similarly proscribed and anachronistic practice…
SEE ALSO:
STATEMENT ON DIPLOMATS AND MILITARY COMMANDERS FOR CHANGE ON WHY
AMERICANS
ARE LESS SAFE UNDER BUSH ADMINISTRATION POLICIES
US Newswire, 7/28/04
http://www.usnewswire.com
President Bush asserts that America is safer as a result of the war in
Iraq. But, according to recent Gallup, CBS and NBC polls, Americans
increasingly feel less secure because of the war. They are right. While
the
president declared victory in Afghanistan after the major battles with
Al
Qaeda, it is clear Al Qaeda is still active, and according to senior
Bush
administration officials is currently plotting new attacks against the
US
from the Afghan-Pakistan border. Al Qaeda has also worked successfully
to
help new terrorist organizations and activities around the world -
Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Spain -- as well as Iraq.
In Afghanistan, the US has been diverted by war in Iraq into a woefully
inadequate investment of military, financial and political resources -
including the leadership needed to mobilize strong international
support.
Military and reconstruction assistance levels per capita by the US and
its
NATO allies are about one tenth of that for Bosnia and Kosovo. As a
result,
security has declined, opium production is soaring (90 percent of world
total), Taliban has made a comeback, planned parliamentary elections
for
October have been postponed, and international assistance workers have
ceased to operate in many provinces. After two and one half years of
trumpeting victory, we are bogged down. Our enemies are encouraged.
In Iraq, we are also bogged down in insurgency and terrorism. The
mission
has not been accomplished, despite political changes and a belated role
for
the United Nations. American and Iraqi casualties continue to mount.
Security is highly problematic and the political future is murky.
The US Occupation of an Islamic country is seen by most in the Muslim
world
as comparable to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Muslim fighters flock
to
Iraq as they once did to Afghanistan. Our friends are discouraged and
unwilling to contribute the needed additional resources, even to
protect
the new UN Representative. Some countries and companies have pulled
out,
under threat. Our enemies around the world are heartened.
The perception of US military strength is being eroded, as equipment
and
personnel and budgets are strained to the limit in Iraq. Once again, as
in
Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia, highly superior US forces are now seen as
vulnerable to guerilla warfare and terrorism. The deterrent value of US
military might has been weakened.
Iran and North Korea, the other two members of the "Axis of Evil", have
not
been intimidated by threats of unilateral US preemptive action. Nor
have
they responded to ambivalent United States diplomacy. As a result,
North
Korea is apparently producing more nuclear weapons and Iran has
continued
to develop its nuclear capacity. Due to the situation in Iraq, Iran is
also
assuming an increasingly powerful regional role.
Absent a truly serious visible effort to resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian
conflict or restrain the aggressive Israeli tactics on the ground, the
US
is increasingly identified in the Arab world as totally supportive of
Israeli PM Sharon's policies. This further exacerbates worldwide Muslim
anger at the US over Iraq, undercuts efforts at reform, and increases
likelihood of future anti-US terrorism among young people.
In short, progress in the struggle against terrorism has been offset by
faulty policy. The overall result is that the Bush Administration's war
in
Iraq leaves the United States less secure rather than more.
It is time for a change.
Five members of Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change are
available
for the news media today at the convention:
-- William Harrop - former Ambassador to Israel and former Inspector
General of the State Dept and Foreign Service.
-- Princeton C. Lyman - former Ambassador to South Africa and former
Asst.
Sec. of State for International Organization Affairs.
-- George Moose - former Ambassador to Senegal and former Asst. Sec. of
State for African Affairs.
-- James D. Phillips - former Ambassador to Congo and Burundi and
Diplomat-in-Residence at the Carter Center.
-- Michael Sterner - former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and
former Dep. Asst. Sec. of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
-----
I AM A 'NORMAL' AMERICAN TEENAGER, WITH A DIFFERENCE
Eba Hamid, Sun Herald, 7/28/04
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/editorial/9258816.htm
Growing up as a Muslim female in America, life was not always as sweet
as
apple pie for me.
In Head Start and kindergarten, making friends was easy. No one really
cared what you looked like or what religion you were as long as you
were
quick enough to twirl the merry-go-round or play tag on the playground.
As I got older, though, I realized I was different. I constantly heard
my
classmates talking about church and Jesus, things I never heard around
my
house.
My family went to the mosque and read the Quran. We fasted during
Ramadan
and prayed five times a day. I didn't date, and I didn't attend
sleepovers
or parties. The prevalent language in my house wasn't English, but
Arabic,
and Friday was our equivalent to the Christian Sunday. We didn't
celebrate
Easter or Christmas or any other holiday except the Islamic holiday,
Eid,
which is twice a year. We also focused on the five pillars of Islam:
prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage and Shahadah, or confession of
faith.
I told this to one of my fifth-grade friends one day, and the first
thing
she did was invite me to attend church with her the next Sunday so I
could
see "how wrong my religion was." Here I was, only 11 years old, and I
encountered my first taste of how Islam is misunderstood and disdained
in
the views of many Americans.
Five years later, I saw more and more of those views surface. On Sept.
11,
2001, I was in the school library, and I watched as the second hijacked
plane hit the towers. I remember the librarian giving me a hug, with
tears
in her eyes.
I suddenly had many people asking me questions about Islam.
Occasionally, I
got a few hateful comments or one of my friends would say their parents
did
not want us to be friends anymore, but for the most part, people were
just
confused and wanted answers.
Many of those questions were about Islam in general: What was the main
difference between Islam and Christianity? Why didn't I wear a hijab,
or
head scarf? I always explained it to them carefully, and they left
knowing
more about a religion they were once oblivious about.
-----
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR FINDS WEST BANK BARRIER ‘DEEPLY, DEEPLY TROUBLING'
Catherine Matacic, Kansas City Star, 7/28/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/9242772.htm
Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein is used to being called anti-Semitic.
She
is also used to being called a “self-hating Jew.”
Those are some of the responses the 79-year-old from St. Louis gets for
traveling to Israel to protest government policies toward Palestinians,
she
said Sunday in a speech at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
“Jews as a whole know what suffering is … and now it seems that the
Holocaust victims and their children or grandchildren are becoming the
victimizers,” Epstein said. “That is deeply, deeply troubling.”
In June, Epstein joined a group called Women of a Certain Age to visit
towns affected by the security barrier Israel is building in the West
Bank.
Proponents say the concrete-and-barbed wire barrier, which will
eventually
stretch for 425 miles, is key to preventing terrorist attacks in
Israel.
Those who oppose what they call “the wall” say its location will be
devastating for Palestinians living in its path, isolating them in
islands
surrounded by security checkpoints on all sides…
-----
LAUGHING UK TROOPS TORTURED IRAQIS, COURT TOLD
Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters, 7/28/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5800438
LONDON - Laughing British soldiers tortured Iraqi detainees by beating
and
kicking them, pouring freezing water on their heads and forcing them to
recite names of English and Dutch football stars, a court heard on
Wednesday.
The accusations -- which throw the spotlight back on troop behaviour in
the
U.S.-led occupation -- came from an Iraqi witness at London's High
Court
where families of six dead civilians have launched a test case against
UK
soldiers.
"The soldiers appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as the
beating
was accompanied by laughter," said Kifah Taha al-Mutari. He was
arrested in
September, 2003, along with one of the six dead Iraqis, Baha Mousa, in
a
raid on a hotel in Basra.
Mousa later died in custody after alleged severe beatings.
"I could hear him moaning through the walls," added Mutari, whose
statement
was read out in his presence. "I heard him say 'I am dying ... blood
...
blood.' I heard nothing further."
Relatives of the Iraqi civilians who died, represented by British
lawyer
Phil Shiner, are demanding that judges force Tony Blair's government to
open independent probes.
The case is expected to last to the end of the week...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CA MUSLIMS DECRY 'PRESSURE TACTICS' USED ON DETAINEE
24-year-resident threatened with deportation unless he 'talks'
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/29/04) - On Friday, July 30, the Southern
California
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) will hold
a
news conference to outline concerns about allegations that a local
Muslim
is being threatened with deportation as a "pressure tactic" to gain
information about an Islamic charity.
The news conference, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles/Orange County
chapter
of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-LA/OC), will be
followed by an Islamic Friday congregational prayer (Jumah) and rally
sponsored by the local Muslim community.
WHEN: Friday, July 30, 12:15 p.m. (Pacific), Prayer and rally begin at
12:45 p.m.
WHERE: Outside Santa Ana Federal Building, 34 Civic Center Plaza, Santa
Ana, CA
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847, 714-390-0334
Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan, a 44-year-old resident of Buena Park, Calif., was
detained on Tuesday, the same day that several former officials of the
Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) were
arrested for allegedly funneling charitable donations to Palestinian
militants, a charge they consistently deny. Hamdan's family and
attorney
say the 24-year U.S. resident, who has six U.S.-born children, is being
told he and his wife will be deported unless he offers information in
the
HLF case.
SEE: "Immigration Status Cited in Detention of Man Who Worked for
Charity
Under Probe"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-hamdan29jul29,1,5606415.story
"Muslims Protest Man's Arrest"
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/07/29/sections/local/local/article_183699
.php
"Our legal and immigration systems should be used to punish criminals
and
protect our borders, not as psychological thumb-screws to extract
information," said CAIR-LA Communications Director Sabiha Khan.
Ban Al-Wardi, Hamdan's immigration attorney, said her client has
cooperated
fully with federal officials on three separate occasions and has
offered
any and all information he has on the HLF case. Al-Wardi is also
president
of the ADC-LA/OC.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847, 714-390-0334; Ibrahim
Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed,
202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/29/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
* ELECTION UPDATE #14: MUSLIMS AND THE DNC/9-11 COMMISSION
- CAIR-SEATTLE: Mosque Voter Registration Project
- CAIR-AZ: American Muslims Questioned by FBI (NPR)
* FL: FEDS WARN COUNTY ABOUT LIMITS ON MOSQUE (AP)
* U.S. MUSLIM GROUPS DECRY 9/11 REPORT INPUT (AP)
* TX: MUSLIMS MAKING POLITICAL WAVES (Star-Tel)
- Muslim Democrats Hopeful But Wary (Daily Star)
- Muslims More Politically Active Post 9/11 (Cap News)
* MI: ARAB-AMERICANS REPORT ABUSE (Wash Post)
- MI: Arab-Americans Are Diverse (Detroit Free Press)
* CAIR-FL: FALSE ALARM SHUTS PORT FOR HOURS (Sun-Sentinel)
- NY: 5 Charged for Beating Sikh (Indolink)
* TX: MUSLIMS REACT TO HOLY LAND INDICTMENTS (Star-Telegram)
* WHY THE US GRANTED 'PROTECTED' STATUS TO TERRORISTS (CSM)
* FL: MUSLIM COMMUNITY HAS PERMANENT HOUSE OF WORSHIP (PBP)
- TN: Community Seeks Training for Schools
* ELECTRONICS MAKERS DEVELOP DEVICES FOR MUSLIMS (FEER)
* IL: LATINO MUSLIMS JOIN FIESTA DEL SOL
- GA: Muslim Day 2004 in Atlanta
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'FOLLOWING THE METHOD OF MOHAMMAD'
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
Verily, (God) most Gracious will bestow Love on those who have faith
and
work deeds of righteousness.
The Holy Quran, 19:96
-----
CAIR WEEKLY ELECTION UPDATE #14: MUSLIMS AND THE DNC/9-11 COMMISSION
The latest issue of CAIR's ELECTION 2004 UPDATE is now available
online.
CAIR's weekly election updates are designed to promote American Muslim
political empowerment. Updates focus on issues of importance to the
American Muslim community and outline the candidates' positions on
those
issues.
TO READ THE FULL UPDATE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/jul292004.asp
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1) RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Democratic National Convention
- Edwards Mixes Optimism and Criticism
- Democrats Focus on Healing Divisions
- Clinton Assails Bush as Democrats Open Convention
- GOP: Democrats Broke Their 'Positive' Promise
9/11 Report
- 9/11 Panel Proposes Liberties Watchdog
- Kerry Says 9/11 Commission Recommendations Require Urgent Action
- Bush May Move Soon on 9/11 Report
- Badnarik: Most Effective Way to Prevent Terrorism is Missing from
9/11 Report
- U.S. Muslim Groups Decry 9/11 Report Input
Foreign Policy
- Cheney Defends Policy on War in Iraq
- Kerry's Worldview: How Big a Change?
Economy
- Economy is Growing, Jobs are Being Created, But Wages Don't Keep Up
- Bush Campaign: Consumer Confidence at Two-Year High
Civil Rights
- NPR Compares Bush and Kerry on the Patriot Act
Stem Cell Research
- Bush Campaign: Bush Administration First to Fund Embryonic Stem Cell
Research
Family
- Pro-lifers Insist on 'Inclusion' in the Democratic Party
Outreach
- Democrats are Trying Not to Upset Swing Voters
2) COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
- Muslims, Arab Americans Making Political Waves
- Muslim Delegates Gather at DNC Event
- An Awakening for US Muslims
- In Post-9/11 America, Muslims Get Political
- Kerry Can't Take Muslim Vote for Granted
- Muslim Democrats Hopeful But Wary
- Muslim Delegates Uneasy in Bush's America
- Patriot Act, Abuses Cost Bush Support of Arab-Americans
- 'Alienated' Arab-Americans Flock to Kerry Campaign
- The Arab American Delegation to the Democratic National Convention
- Arab Americans Opt for Kerry
- Islamic Group Congratulates McKinney on Primary Win
- FL: Islamic Leader Calls FBI Interviews Intimidation
- Voters in Hamtramck Fail to Quell Muslim Prayer Call
- Pakistanis Raise $1 Million for John Kerry
Upcoming Events:
To announce your upcoming American Muslim local event, please contact:
politics@cair-net.org
3) NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL
- GA: Cynthia McKinney, Critic of Israel, Wins Democratic Primary in
Georgia
- FL: Group Critical of Castor over Al-Arian Case Places Full-page
Newspaper Ads
- RI: GOP Senator Criticizes Bush for Iraq War
- VA: New Law Reaffirms Virginia's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
- OH: Rally to Publicize Plight of Detainees
- Many Cities React to Provisions of USA Patriot Act
- IA: City Council passes resolution opposing Patriot Act
To send local news stories, feedback, and comments please email:
politics@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
WA: MOSQUES PARTICIPATE IN VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT
State's Muslims urged to vote in upcoming elections
On Friday, July 30, a dozen mosques throughout Washington State will
deliver a sermon with a common theme: Muslims should participate in the
political process in the United States. Imams in Lynwood, Mountlake
Terrace, Olympia, Seattle, Sea Tac and University Place will discuss
the
need for Muslims to vote and to take an active role in their
communities.
Volunteers will be on hand at each of these locations to register
eligible
people to vote.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Seattle (CAIR-Seattle) and
Hate Free Zone Washington have sponsored this coordinated effort to
encourage Muslims to vote in the upcoming elections. These two
organizations have undertaken a voter registration project with a goal
of
registering 10,000 Muslim voters before the November 2nd election. So
far,
the group has registered over 1,500 new voters.
CONTACT: Michaela Corning (CAIR), (206) 321-5769; Mubarak Elamin,
425-417-0138
CAIR-Seattle
Council on American-Islamic Relations
12351 Lake City Way NE, Suite 103
Seattle, WA 98125
Tel: (206) 465-0977
Fax: (206) 774-0436
E-mail: info@cair-seattle.org
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS QUESTIONED BY FBI
All Things Considered audio, 7/29/04
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3627231
The FBI is conducting a new round of interviews with Muslims and Arab
Americans living in the United States. Officials say they are seeking
information that can be used to detect terrorist plots. In some cases,
those being questioned say the interviews leave them frightened or
irritated. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.
-----
FEDS WARN COUNTY ABOUT LIMITS ON MOSQUE
Associated Press, 7/29/04
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice has warned
Sarasota
County officials that they may have acted unfairly against a Muslim
group
by limiting the height of their proposed mosque.
The County Commission ruled in February that the mosque could be no
taller
than 40 feet - a restriction not placed on 14 other houses of worship
approved by the county since 2002.
The Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton, which for 10 years has
met
in a private home, has a growing congregation and wants to build a
13,500-square-foot mosque it says is based on Islamic traditions that
include two 80-foot-high minarets.
In a July 6 letter, the Justice Department said its investigation is
``preliminary in nature,'' but that it has received information that
the
county may have imposed ``a substantial burden on the religious
exercise''
of the Islamic Society.
Islamic Society members say they had not complained to the federal
government, but are celebrating the Justice Department's involvement.
``We are very pleased,'' society spokesman Hytham Bakr, told the
Sarasota
Herald-Tribune. ``We believe in God and believe God was watching over
us.''
County officials said their decision had nothing to do with religion.
The
county is preparing its response to the government, assistant county
attorney Gary Oldehoff said…
-----
U.S. MUSLIM GROUPS DECRY 9/11 REPORT INPUT
HOPE YEN, Associated Press, 7/29/04
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/terror29e_20040729.htm
WASHINGTON - U.S. Muslim groups' representatives said Wednesday that
they
should have had more input on the Sept. 11 commission's final report,
which
they say fails to lay out a comprehensive plan to win the hearts and
minds
of Muslims overseas.
``Why would they fail to consult a key group who could help them
understand
what's going on in the Muslim world?'' said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman
for
the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The groups, reacting to the commission's final report, called the
recommendations a ``step in the right direction,'' but ultimately
inadequate in addressing terrorism's root causes. Many Muslims abroad
resent Americans because they think U.S. actions don't match the
rhetoric
of freedom, they said...
The groups cited the report's failure to explore the impact of U.S.
policy
toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as whether the war in
Iraq
has made the Middle East and United States safer or at greater risk to
terrorism...
-----
MUSLIMS, ARAB AMERICANS MAKING POLITICAL WAVES
Diane Smith and Leila Fadel, Star-Telegram, 7/29/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/9266365.htm
Syed Hassan of Arlington will vote in a presidential election for the
first
time in November, but he's no political neophyte.
The naturalized citizen pledged allegiance to the United States in 2001
--
a week before the Sept. 11 attacks. At age 41, he cast the first ballot
of
his life in an Arlington City Council election. At 43, the Pakistan
native
is a delegate to this week's Democratic National Convention in Boston.
"If you can imagine, a person who came from a Third World country --
and
people chose me to represent them in a national forum. This story,
whenever
I go to Pakistan, I tell this story -- the American people who chose
me,"
said Hassan, one of two Tarrant County Muslims who are delegates in
Boston.
This year, he said, it is particularly important for Muslims and Middle
Eastern Americans to put their clout to use at the ballot box.
Registering
to vote and becoming civically active are paramount for the
communities,
members said, as they try to protect their civil rights in the
aftermath of
Sept. 11, 2001...
While there is some demographic overlap between Muslims and Middle
Eastern
Americans, they are distinct communities. Their clout increased in the
2000
election through voter registration drives and participation in
political
conventions. The American Muslim Political Coordination Council
endorsed
George W. Bush after he spoke against the use of secret evidence in law
enforcement.
But community leaders said 9/11 exposed their gains as marginal. Though
they care deeply about kitchen-table issues such as the economy, health
care, education and tax cuts, civil rights has become the cause that
unites
Muslims and Middle Eastern Americans.
"More American Muslims wanted to have a say in who they put in office,"
said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the national Council on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
CAIR is still conducting national voter registration drives, and the
Dallas-Fort Worth chapter registers voters at area mosques...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM DEMOCRATS HOPEFUL BUT WARY
Ashraf Fahim, The Daily Star, 7/29/04
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=
6734
NEW YORK: Maya Berry remembers a time when, as an Arab-American
delegate to
the 1992 Democratic convention, she held aloft a placard that read -
"Palestinian Self-Determination" - and was trailed by security guards
bearing walkie-talkies for her troubles. That incident came at a time
when
Arab-Americans were struggling to get onto the political map.
"To be frank, I felt fairly unwelcome," recalls Berry, a Michigan
delegate
to this week's Democratic convention in Boston, Massachusetts. "And now
it's like night and day. The Democratic Party organizes around ethnic
constituencies and we've become part of that coalition."
With issues like Iraq and civil liberties at the heart of the
Democrats'
critique of the Bush administration, and even a formal recognition of
the
right of Palestinians to a state in the party platform, Berry and the
over
70 other Arab and Muslim delegates (out of 4,300-plus) at the
convention
feel slightly more at home than in the past.
"Our issues are the national issues when it comes to the presidential
race
for the first time ever," says Berry. "Now everybody's talking about
Iraq,
everybody's talking about the Patriot Act, everybody's talking about
the
Palestinian-Israeli problem."
Indeed, numerous speakers at the convention have attacked President
Bush's
Iraq policy, and in his Monday night speech former President Carter
criticized Bush for failing to attempt "to secure a comprehensive peace
for
Israel with hope and justice for the Palestinians..."
As momentum builds toward the November election, polls suggest most
Arab
and Muslim voters - many of whom live in "battleground" states like
Florida
and Michigan, where the tight presidential race is expected to be
decided -
are inclined toward the same pragmatism shown by their delegates in
Boston.
Recent surveys by the Arab-American Institute (AAI) and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations put support for Kerry above 50 percent among
those overlapping constituencies...
---
U.S. MUSLIMS GROW MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN WAKE OF SEPT. 11
Kaukab J. Smith, Capital News Service, 7/29/04
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9271
311.htm
BOSTON - Provoked by what they see as civil-rights violations after the
terrorist attacks of 2001, U.S. Muslims are growing more politically
active
and sophisticated.
The number of Muslim delegates to this year's Democratic National
Convention has grown by 60 percent. Forty Muslim delegates, including a
Maryland woman, are representing 20 states at the 2004 convention, up
from
25 Muslims at the Democratic convention four years ago.
The selection of Erum Malik, 43, of Ellicott City, Md., is an example
of
how greater numbers of Muslims are engaging in shaping public policy
through grass-roots lobbying, voter registration drives, fund-raising
and
running for office since Sept. 11, 2001, community leaders said.
"There has been a historic and unprecedented under-representation of
Muslims in government in America, from the county to the federal
level,"
said Saqib Ali of North Potomac, Md., a computer engineer active with
the
nonpartisan Montgomery County, Md., Muslim Council.
"We have been a politically immature community," Ali said.
The terrorist attacks "jolted people out of their complacency," he
said.
Before Sept. 11, 2001, Muslim groups were "naive" about the workings of
the
American political system, said Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, president of the
Minaret of Freedom Institute, an Islamic think-tank in Bethesda, Md.
Ahmad said he believes strong Muslim support helped deliver Florida to
George Bush in 2000, with exit polls showing an overwhelming percentage
of
Florida Muslims voted Republican.
Many Muslims came to regret their support for the Bush campaign when
they
became subject to profiling, arrest and registration after the attacks,
Ahmad said...
-----
MI: ARAB AMERICANS REPORT ABUSE
Peter Slevin, Washington Post, 7/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21888-2004Jul28.html
Fifteen percent of Arab Americans in the Detroit area said they have
experienced harassment or intimidation since the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks,
and a significant number wish other Americans understood them better,
according to a University of Michigan report to be released today.
Derogatory comments -- "Go back where you came from!" or "Ooh, are you
a
member of al Qaeda?" -- were the most common form of abuse. Others
alleged
job discrimination and a small number reported physical assault,
researchers said.
Forty-two percent of Muslim Arabs interviewed for the survey in Detroit
--
an area with one of the largest concentrations of Arab Americans in the
nation -- feel their religion is not respected by mainstream society.
Nearly 60 percent said they worry more about their families' future
than
before the attacks.
The report comes as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, among
other
groups, relays a steady stream of allegations of poor treatment of
Muslims
in this country. Many Muslims have complained that harassment and
unfair
law enforcement tactics are byproducts of the Bush administration's
battle
against terrorism...
ALSO SEE:
ARAB AMERICANS ARE DIVERSE, SETTLED, AT HOME IN U.S.
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 7/29/04
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/arab29_20040729.htm
A two-year, $1-million study of metro Detroit Arab Americans concludes
that
these thousands of families are far more diverse, more settled and more
eager to embrace American life than many observers around the world had
assumed.
"Some of these findings are astounding. It's a real landmark. We've
never
had anything like this to help us look at this complex community that
so
many people are trying to understand," said Ron Stockton, a professor
of
political science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and an
architect
of the study, released today.
"This information is priceless," said Siham Awada Jaafar of Dearborn
Heights, an official with several Arab-American groups who served on a
U-M
advisory panel throughout the study. "Even those of us who work with
the
community are learning a lot."
The study focused on in-depth interviews with 1,016 men and women whose
families came from Arabic-speaking countries, including several hundred
Chaldeans -- Catholics from Iraq.
The U-M researchers did not conduct an ethnic census, so they do not
estimate how many Arab Americans live in metro Detroit. But the study
offers a vivid snapshot of how these families fit into American life.
Contrary to stereotypes of an oppressed community, isolated by language
and
tradition and largely Muslim, the study showed that 58 percent of Arab
Americans in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are Christian. And,
although 75 percent of the Arab Americans living here were born outside
the
United States, 79 percent now are U.S. citizens, and 80 percent are
fluent
in English.
While long associated with the Dearborn area, nearly half of the
community
now lives in Oakland and Macomb counties.
Generally, these families report getting along comfortably with their
neighbors.
Some were hit with painful ethnic slurs after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terror
attacks, which left nearly half of Arab Americans feeling insecure. But
the
U-M scholars were surprised to find that 33 percent of Arab Americans
received expressions of support from non-Arabs in late 2001. That was
far
more than the 15 percent who reported slurs and other bad experiences.
Now, nearly 9 of 10 Arab Americans say they feel at home in this
country.
-----
FALSE ALARM SHUTS PORT FOR HOURS
Jennifer Peltz, Akilah Johnson & Missy Stoddard, Sun-Sentinel, 7/29/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pport29xjul29,0,2673564
.story
RIVIERA BEACH · Authorities swarmed the Port of Palm Beach on Wednesday
afternoon, closing the port and evacuating the surrounding neighborhood
for
several hours as they investigated a feared terrorist threat that
turned
out to be a case of misunderstanding and mistaken identity.
The incident appeared to be a false alarm, but local officials saw it
as a
reminder of the possibility of real threats. New federal security rules
took effect this month at the Port of Palm Beach and other ports around
the
country, and many officials praised the handling of Wednesday's alert.
"We had to be cautious, because we didn't know," Port Commission
Chairwoman
Priscilla A. Taylor said. "We just have to reiterate that security is
real.
It's important. We have to be vigilant about what's going on around
us."
The incident began about 3:30 p.m., when two Riviera Beach police
officers
pulled over a car near the port, according to Chief Clarence Williams.
The
car was speeding, he said.
Police did not release the identities of the two men inside.
Authorities eventually determined that the men were U.S. citizens who
have
been in the shipping business for 20 years. The two were looking to
make "a
routine transaction" to send a shipment from the port, FBI spokeswoman
Judy
Orihuela said.
But when stopped by police, the men gave inconsistent information about
a
shipment they had just arranged at the port, city officials said. One
of
their names, apparently Arabic, appeared to match the name of someone
federal authorities had identified as a "person of interest," Williams
said...
Wednesday's incident saddened Florida Arab-American advocate Altaf Ali
but
didn't surprise him.
Many Arab-Americans in Florida and elsewhere in the country complained
of
being singled out for inquiries and investigations after the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks. Ali says he has heard similar stories in recent months
as
the presidential campaign, warnings of another potential major attack
this
summer and other developments trained a spotlight on national and
homeland
security.
"We have been bracing ourself for these kinds of incidents," said Ali,
the
director in Florida for the Council for American-Islamic Relations. "
...
We feel that all this increase in vigilance has to do with the
presidential
race and has nothing to do with safety."
ALSO SEE:
5 CHARGED WITH HARASSING, BEATING UP SIKH IN NEW YORK
Indolink, 7/29/04
http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=072804110936
New York- In yet another case of growing 'hate crime' in the United
States, the police have charged five persons with harassing and beating
an
elderly Sikh in a suburb of New York, after hurling insults on him and
his
companion. In the July 12 incident, Rajinder Singh Khalsa, 54, suffered
multiple cuts, bruises and broken nose in Richmond section of Queens, a
suburb of New York, which has substantial immigrant population.
Khalsa, along with his cousin Gurcharan Singh, was walking towards a
restaurant, Tandoori Express, owned by Singh after parking their car,
when
they were confronted by apparently drunken men who ridiculed their
turbans
calling them 'dirty curtain' and asking them to take them off.
When Khalsa, had migrated from India with his family in mid 1990s,
tried to
explain that they were Sikhs and their turbans were their religious
symbol,
the accused started beating, kicking and hitting him till he fell
unconscious.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the arrested men,
identified as
Nicholas Maceli, 22, Victor Cosentino, 58, Terence Lyons, 53, Ryan
Meehan,
18, and Salvatore Maceli, 26, have been charged with multiple counts,
including second-degree assault.
The five accused could get up to 15 years in prisons if convicted.
It is worth mentioning here that since September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks
on the US, Sikhs have suffered several attacks and verbal abuses as
they
are mistaken for Muslims because of their beard and turban.
The Sikh organisations had launched a major media campaign to correct
the
impression and some even wore a button saying "I am a Sikh."
HATE CRIMES RISING: Meanwhile, the recent incidents of beheading of
foreigners by militants in Iraq and Saudi Arabia have prompted hate
crimes
against Muslims in the United States, according to a media report.
The beheadings and hostage-taking in Iraq and Saudi Arabia evoked a new
wave of hate crimes against Muslims in America despite efforts to
educate
the public that those actions did not represent the values of the
Muslim
religion, Islamic leaders were quoted as saying by The Tallahassee
Democrat.
"It is getting worse and worse", Altaf Ali, executive director of
Council
of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-DC based Islamic
civil
rights group, said referring to incidents of the hate-based crimes...
As per the CAIR, there were more than 1000 incidents of harassment or
hate
crimes against Muslims last year, up from about 600 in 2002.
CAIR officials said such anti-Muslim incidents were likely to be higher
this year.
The first such wave was witnessed after the September 11, 2001 terror
attacks in the US.
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS REACT TO HOLY LAND INDICTMENTS
Diane Smith and Darren Barbee, Star-Telegram Staff Writer, 7/29/04
http://www.dfw.com%2Fmld%2Fdfw%2Fnews%2F9264801.htm
Local Muslims say they don't know whether the Holy Land Foundation
funneled
charity money to terrorists, but they worry that the U.S. government is
targeting Islamic organizations.
The Richardson-based charity and seven of its leaders are accused in a
42-count federal indictment of funneling $12.4 million to support the
Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, including money for the
families
of suicide bombers.
As news of the indictments reverberated throughout the North Texas
Muslim
community, reactions ranged from skepticism to concern about the future
of
other Islamic charities.
Dr. Robbie Hashem, a Colleyville dentist who donated money to the
foundation for an orphanage, said the allegations are shocking if true.
"Unfortunately, we now live in a day when ... you don't know who you're
donating to," he said.
The courts will decide whether the foundation is guilty, but the FBI
seems
to be targeting Islamic organizations and Muslims, said Hashem, who was
born in Palestine.
"The FBI and John Ashcroft are on a witch hunt on anything tied to
Muslims," he said…
-----
WHY THE US GRANTED 'PROTECTED' STATUS TO IRANIAN TERRORISTS
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7/29/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0729/p07s01-wome.html
The US State Department officially considers a group of 3,800 Marxist
Iranian rebels - who once killed several Americans and was supported by
Saddam Hussein - "terrorists."
But the same group, under American guard in an Iraqi camp, was just
accorded a new status by the Pentagon: "protected persons" under the
Geneva
Convention.
This strange twist, analysts say, underscores the divisions in
Washington
over US strategy in the Middle East and the war against terrorism. It's
also a function of the swiftly deteriorating US-Iran dynamic, and a
victory
for US hawks who favor using the Mujahideen-e Khalq Organization (MKO)
or
"People's Holy Warriors," as a tool against Iran's clerical regime.
"How is it that [the MKO] get the Geneva Convention, and the people in
Guantánamo Bay don't get it? It's a huge contradiction," says Ali
Ansari, a
British expert on Iran. "This will be interpreted in Iran as another
link
in the chain of the US determination to move onto Iran next" in the US
war
on terror.
For months, Tehran has quietly signaled that it would turn over
high-ranking Al Qaeda members in exchange for MKO members now in Iraq.
The
MKO's new status likely puts an end to any such deal.
The shift also comes as momentum builds in Washington to take some
action
against the Islamic republic. Wednesday, it was reported that Tehran
has
broken United Nations inventory seals and may resume work on
constructing
centrifuges - the machines used for enriching uranium.
Senior European diplomats - who brokered a private deal with Iran last
October that included halting suspected nuclear weapons programs, in
exchange for Western nuclear power expertise - are expected to secretly
meet Iranian counterparts Thursday in London or Paris to see what can
be
salvaged of their agreement...
-----
MUSLIM COMMUNITY HAS PERMANENT HOUSE OF WORSHIP
L.J. Margolis, Palm Beach Post, 7/28/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/royalpalmbeach/content/auto/epaper/editions/wed
nesday/royal_palm_beach_1460358c159200010058.html
Here, where many people have lived most, if not all, of their lives,
County
Road 880 is best known as "the old road to West Palm."
And sure enough, on that old road, east of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard
in Belle Glade, sits the new mosque. Well, sort of new.
The mosque was completed about a year ago. It took almost four years to
raise the money to build it, according to Leila Sa'ad, whose husband
Odee,
president of the Muslim Community of Belle Glade, often delivers the
Friday
sermons. Sa'ad is an attractive, intelligent woman with a serene smile,
successfully juggling work as she handles her husband's business in his
absence, and as mother to a 3-year-old son.
In the late 60s and early 70s, Sa'ad tells me, Muslims began to arrive
in
the Glades. The first few started successful businesses, and others
followed. Since then, there has always been a mosque in Belle Glade,
usually a rented place or space donated by a member of the Muslim
community. "But it was important for us to have a real, physical mosque
of
our own," Sa'ad says. "We needed a permanent location for prayers, for
meetings and celebrations, and for our children."
Listening to her, it's clear that Muslim worshipers are just like any
other
worshipers. We all need a place with which to identify, a place where
we
can teach our children to incorporate their faith into their daily
lives in
America.
The Muslim community is politically active, so the new mosque has
already
been the setting for politicians' speeches. Muslim children attend
religion
and Arabic classes. Books and pamphlets are available for non-Muslims
interested in learning about Islam. Prayers are held five times daily:
before dawn, early afternoon, late afternoon, evening and night. Friday
prayers are mandatory for men, but many women also attend. Just like
any
house of worship, the mosque has classroom and meeting space as well as
worship and prayer space.
"We want our community to know us, to understand us," Sa'ad says.
"We're
just people, not some media image. We have children, jobs, lives. The
mosque is a place where everyone is welcome to come and ask questions,
get
information, find out more about us..."
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC COMMUNITY SEEKS SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS
Yolanda Putman, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/29/04
www.timesfreepress.com
Members of the Islamic community are asking Hamilton County Schools
officials to consider sensitivity training before violent crimes
against
Muslims, particularly Arab-Americans, become a problem locally.
Members of the local Islamic community want to meet with schools
officials
before school starts to discuss sensitivity training for teachers and
school administrators, a spokesman said.
"We want to recommend material and textbooks that can help eliminate
misinformation," said Khalid Hashmi, a spokesman for the Annour Islamic
community in Chattanooga.
Warren Hill, director of primary education for the Hamilton County
Schools,
said he wasn't aware there was a need for training.
"I haven't heard the first thing about that from anybody, hadn't had
any
complaints or phone calls from anybody," he said.
Mr. Hashmi said at least 10 parents called the North Chattanooga
Islamic
Center last school year to complain about other students calling their
children terrorists or making fun of their head coverings. He said
residents reported the incidents to the school system but not the
police.
He said he had firsthand experience with people misunderstanding
Islamic
culture last year when a student called his 10-year-old son a terrorist
and
said that the ball with which he played was a bomb.
Mr. Hashmi said he reported the matter to the school system. Schools
officials met with him and counseled the student who made the
accusation,
he said.
Members of the Islamic community want to address misunderstandings
about
Arab-Americans and Muslims before any major incidences happen locally,
he
said...
In one year, the number of discrimination and hate crime complaints
concerning Muslim- Americans increased nationally by 70 percent,
according
to officials with the Washington, D.C.,- based Council on
American-Islamic
Relations organization...
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the beheading of civilians
in
Iraq earlier this year have led to Islam being portrayed as a "violent,
backward religion," said Rabiah Ahmed, education coordinator with the
Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Sensitivity training "helps people differentiate between terrorists and
Muslims who have families and care about their country and who are just
as
human as anyone else," Ms. Ahmed said.
She said training implemented by the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
is interactive and usually lasts about 2 to 4 hours. It's worth the
effort,
Ms. Ahmed said.
"Training puts a human face to the religion," she said. "A lot of times
all
people know is what they see on TV..."
Ms. Ahmed said training prices are determined by the number of
participants
and the length of the training. Sessions are offered lasting from two
hours
to three days, she said.
-----
ELECTRONICS MAKERS ARE TURNING TO ISLAM BY DEVELOPING SPECIAL DEVICES
FOR
MUSLIMS
Jeremy Wagstaff, Far Eastern Economic Review, 8/5/04
WHEN SOUTH KOREAN appliances giant LG Electronics was looking for a way
to
catch up with its competitors selling gadgets to the Islamic world, it
turned to Mecca.
Seeking an edge over its rivals, LGE hit on packing features into a
cellphone to help Muslims fulfil their daily prayer obligations. The
most
obvious way: determining the direction of Ka'aba, the House of Allah in
Mecca. So LGE's G5300 cellphone, marketed last September in the Middle
East, features a dangling compass which, after setting it to north and
inputting some local information, enables the user to pinpoint the
direction in which to pray. The phone, says LGE's assistant
public-relations manager Karen Park, has been a hit and an upgraded
model
went on sale last month.
LGE is not alone. Technology companies are waking up to the global
consumer
potential of more than 1 billion Muslims. Dubai-based
mobile-telecommunications company Ilkone in April launched its Ilkone
i800,
a $400 phone that recites the Islamic call to prayer, provides prayer
times
for more than 5,000 cities and has a digital compass indicating the
direction of Mecca. Korea-based PenMan Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary
of
Hosan Corp., which makes automatic doors and vacuum toilets for trains,
has
found a niche selling a range of hand-held electronic devices for
Muslims.
They include a $120 digital version of the Koran in Arabic and English
with
full recordings of the Holy Book and earphones and a digital compass
indicating the direction of Mecca, complete with alarms for prayer
times in
250 cities.
While the Middle East is a promising market, sizeable Islamic
populations
in Asia are also potentially lucrative. LGE's upgraded model, the
F7100,
will go on sale in Indonesia -- which has the world's largest Muslim
population -- and Malaysia later this year. Ilkone recently set up a
Singapore subsidiary to market its i800 across Southeast Asia. PenMan
already has offices in Singapore and distributors around the region.
On-line retail outlets are also sprouting up. Malaysia-based
TravellingMuslim.com, for example, offers a Prayer Watch, which gives
prayer times, a Qiblat Direction Finder that shows the direction to
Mecca,
and an Electronic Tasbih, which counts prayer recitations.
It's too early to say whether this first wave of Islamic-oriented
products
will spur more gadgets aimed at Muslim consumers. LGE, for one, says it
has
no current plans for more models. And some companies privately
acknowledge
that such gadgets may not appeal to all Muslims, as some prefer to keep
their religion in more traditional forms or don't want to parade their
beliefs in public.
Still, there's a sign that the gadgets are catching on: Cheap
Chinese-made
copies of some of PenMan's range of Islamic gadgets are already
appearing
on the market, says overseas-marketing manager Lee Rince.
But producing for the Muslim market presents pirate manufacturers with
some
unique problems. Making a gadget for Muslims is not just a question of
ripping off a design and adding an Arabic logo.
The biggest problem is ensuring you don't offend, says Rince: "The
Koran is
a very sensitive issue." The text and recitations must be checked for
errors and any translation that could be controversial to any branch of
Islam. Advertising also must be modest and adapted to local tastes. And
packaging should be in keeping with the religious message of the
content.
-----
IL: LATINO MUSLIMS JOIN FIESTA DEL SOL
http://www.latinomuslims.com/
Members of the Chicago Association of Latino-American Muslims will be
at
the Fiesta Del Sol, a Mexican festival, held in the Pilsen neighborhood
of
South Chicago. We'll be handing out free literature and answering
questions
about Islam and the Latino-American Muslim community. Fiesta Del Sol
will
be held at 1400 West Cermak Rd. between Throop St. and Morgan St. We
will
be there on Thursday July 29, 2004 from 4:00PM to 8:30PM and Sunday
August
1, 2004 from 10:00AM to 8:30PM.
Place
1400 West Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL
Dates/Times
Thursday, July 29, 2004
4:00PM to 8:30PM
Sunday, August 1, 2004
10:00AM to 8:30PM
SEE ALSO:
GA: MUSLIM DAY 2004 IN ATLANTA
WHEN: Sunday, August 1
WHERE: Grant Park/Zoo, Atlanta, GA
INFO: http://www.muslimday.org
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'FOLLOWING THE METHOD OF MOHAMMAD'
Following the Method of Mohammad: Jihadist Strategies in the War on
Terror
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Events/EV081204A.cfm
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/30/04
* VERSES/HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS ONE
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
- CAIR-KY Meets with FBI, Police Chief
* CAIR-CAN: YOU CAN'T PIGEONHOLE 1.2 BILLION MUSLIMS (G&M)
- Daniel Pipes's Toxic Hatred (Gazette)
- Attack on Islam (Gazette)
* DHS GIVEN CENSUS DATA ON ARAB-AMERICANS (NY Times)
- Arabs Feel Squeezed By Tighter Security (CS Monitor)
* FL: JURY AWARDS ARAB-AMERICAN OFFICIAL $305K (Sun-Sentinel)
* NY POLICE LIFT TURBAN BAN FOR SIKH TRAFFIC COP (Reuters)
- Detained Sikh Says Turban Triggered Stop (Boston Globe)
- Canada: Walk a Mile in My Hijab (Calgary Herald)
* 'PALACE AND MOSQUE': BEAUTY TO TRUMP BIGOTRY (Wash Post)
* PARTNER HELPS MUSLIM INVESTORS (NY Lawyer)
* PAKISTANIS FACE DEPORTATION FROM CANADA (PakTribune)
* MUSLIM ON U.S. OLYMPIC ROWING TEAM (Sports Illustrated)
-----
VERSES/HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS ONE
"Say ye: 'We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to
Abraham,
Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and
Jesus,
and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no
distinction
between any of them, and it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.'"
(The
Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 136)
"Those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish
(scriptures), and the Christians...and (all) who believe in God and the
last day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their
Lord;
on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 62
"And dispute not with the People of the Book (Christians and
Jews)...but
say, 'We believe in the Revelation that came down to us and in that
which
came down to you. Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we
(all)
surrender ourselves.'"
The Holy Quran, Chapter 29, Verse 46
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Both in this world and
in
the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of
Mary.
The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but
their
religion is one."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 652
-----
FLORIDA MUSLIMS MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
Effort part of ongoing dialogue to promote cooperation
(MIAMI, FL, 7/30/04) - The Florida office of the Washington-based
Council
on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) met Wednesday with the FBI's
Miami
Division to discuss ways to promote better relations between law
enforcement and the state's Muslim and Arab-American Communities.
Officials from the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Broward Sheriff's
Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement,
and the Intergovernmental Bureau of Homeland Security also took part in
the
meeting.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Clements informed CAIR-FL that his
office will not tolerate any hate crimes against the Muslim community
and
stressed that Americans of all faiths have the right to enjoy freedom
and
must work together to protect America.
There was a broad agreement at the meeting that Muslim advocacy
organizations like CAIR-FL must be more involved in providing cultural
and
sensitivity training to law enforcement officials. CAIR-FL and other
Islamic organizations represented at Wednesday's meeting pledged to do
their utmost in helping to make Florida and America more secure.
"We welcome the opportunity to do our share in protecting America,"
said
CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali. "Security need not be achieved at
the
expense of civil liberties."
In a letter to CAIR-FL, City of Miami Police Department Commander Mario
A.
Garcia wrote: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for
the
educational experience which you and the rest of the Muslim Americans
provide me with at yesterday's meeting. I was impressed with your
presentation, your convictions as well as the loyalty and devotion
which
you and the rest displayed not only towards the Muslim faith but also
your
love for America."
"In this period of heightened security because of an increasing
terrorism
threat, the FBI is convinced that the cooperation of all Americans, of
all
faiths, is vitally important to preventing the next act of terrorism
against our homeland. That cooperation must be based on mutual respect
and
understanding," said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Frank
Figliuzzi.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org; Ahmed Bedier,
813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-KY MEETS WITH FBI, POLICE CHIEF
Representatives of CAIR's Kentucky office (CAIR-KY) recently met with
the
Lexington FBI and the Chief of Lexington Police. The meetings focused
on
how CAIR-KY can help protect and safeguard the community and what
concerns
Muslims have about a variety of issues.
Participants in both meetings agreed in principal to attend a town hall
event with the Muslim community and law enforcement agencies in
Kentucky.
CONTACT: CAIR-Kentucky, Abdul Quayyum, 859-221-9081
-----
SUCH ARROGANCE: YOU CAN'T PIGEONHOLE 1.2 BILLION MUSLIMS
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 7/30/04
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040730/COSHEEMA30/TPComment/TopStories
[Shemma Khan is the chair of CAIR-CAN.]
The mass murder of 9/11 jolted Americans to the reality that ignorance
of
their government's foreign policy is not bliss. Some asked, "Why do the
terrorists hate us?" Others blithely answered, "Because we love
freedom."
How to manage it? Call in Madison Avenue to "sell" America to skeptical
Muslims around the world. After all, image is everything. The campaign
failed miserably, especially once it was aided and abetted by the
invasion
of Iraq.
The 9/11 commission report is the latest study to examine the U.S.
response
to threats posed by "Islamist terrorism." Its authors point out that
military excursions, while important, will be secondary to the
ideological
battle against the extremist interpretations of Islam espoused by
al-Qaeda
and its ilk…
So how should America get involved in the war of ideas?
According to the commission, by doing a better job of selling American
values to Muslims worldwide through mass media and academic/cultural
exchanges. Incredibly, the commission's report is silent on educating
Americans about Islam.
The report characterizes the roots of al-Qaeda's ideology as "a long
tradition of extreme intolerance within a minority strain of Islam,"
suggesting that the faith has always been a source for extremism. It
states
that the enemy is not Islam, but "Islamism" -- a nebulous term that
defies
exact definition. The distinction between Islam and Islamism will be
lost
on most people, thus providing ample opportunity for exploitation by
Islamophobes. On Tuesday, Daniel Pipes did just that on this page.
The report points out the need for reformation within the Muslim world.
Throughout the 20th century, calls were made for Islamic reformation.
During their imperial dominance, both Britain and France took great
interest in the inner workings of Muslim institutions and authority,
seeking to influence them to their advantage. This interest was
understandable, given that both empires sought to exert control over
large
numbers of Muslims.
Since 9/11, the call has been made with renewed vigour. The argument is
deceptively simple: The prime reason for violence in the name of Islam
is
that Islam has not changed since its inception. To eliminate the threat
of
terror, Islam must modernize itself so its adherents can join the ranks
of
the "civilized."
There are two problems with this approach, often presented by people
like
Mr. Pipes.
The first is that it ignores centuries of solid scholarship within
Islam
itself that seeks to ensure that principles of the faith are able to
address issues of modernity. We often hear that Islam divides the world
into the "House of Islam," where Muslims dominate, and the "House of
War,"
where Muslims want to dominate.
But too infrequently do we hear about Muslim scholars who have rejected
this binary world view, arguing, instead, that a genuine Islamic vision
supports a global co-operative model rather than a unilateral
state-centric
one. Such scholarship sits squarely in the mainstream of Islam.
This leads to the second problem. The assumption underlying the
argument
for reformation is that, once "reformed," the new Islamic outlook will
be
subservient to the wishes of the civilized West. Yet sovereign nations
make
sovereign decisions, such as refusing to join in unjust wars and doing
what
is best for their own economies rather than what is best for an alien
power.
Given the stakes, it seems improbable that the United States will
remain a
bystander in the reformation efforts.
Already, the Rand Corp. has issued a report on ways to engineer Islamic
reform by advocating the support of secularists, even though such
leaders
are often autocratic and repressive, while using traditionalists to
keep
the extremists in check.
This study tries to pigeonhole 1.2 billion Muslims into distinct groups
based on their degree of Islamic practice and interpretation of key
Islamic
texts. The tone of this reductionist analysis is arrogant, making
cultural
domination its final goal…
CAIR-CAN
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA
P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ONT, K2K 1X4
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Fax: 613-254-9810
URL: www.caircan.ca
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES'S TOXIC HATRED
Sadia Virk, Gazette, 7/30/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/letters/story.html?id=83bdeada-f372-43d3-9502-b2e25236978e
The enemy isn't Islamism, as Daniel Pipes would have you believe
(Opinion,
July 27); the enemy is hatred, bigotry and racism.
Pipes's article spews unadulterated toxic hatred against Islam and
Muslims.
His barefaced bias and lack of objectivity reveal his own extremism and
fanaticism.
Rather than inform, elucidate or entertain, the writings of Pipes only
serve to spread Islamophobia and intolerance. It's a mystery to me why
The
Gazette would print such trash and participate in the propagation of
this
hate-mongering.
A greater mystery still is why I continue to subscribe to The Gazette.
ALSO SEE:
ATTACK ON ISLAM
Naved Bakali, Gazette, 7/30/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/letters/story.html?id=c5a4cc22-89d5-49c0-bed5-25230a2defbe
Daniel Pipes's ridiculously biased and inappropriate article (Opinion,
July
27, ''The enemy is Islamism'') is a clear attack on the religion of
Islam
and equates the teachings of Islam with extremism. This article is a
clear
incitement for hatred toward Muslims.
-----
HOMELAND SECURITY GIVEN DATA ON ARAB-AMERICANS
Lynette Clemetson, NY Times, 7/30/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/30/politics/30census.html
WASHINGTON - The Census Bureau has provided specially tabulated
population
statistics on Arab-Americans to the Department of Homeland Security,
including detailed information on how many people of Arab backgrounds
live
in certain ZIP codes.
The assistance is legal, but civil liberties groups and Arab-American
advocacy organizations say it is a dangerous breach of public trust and
liken it to the Census Bureau's compilation of similar information
about
Japanese-Americans during World War II.
The tabulations were produced in August 2002 and December 2003 in
response
to requests from what is now the Customs and Border Protection division
of
the Department of Homeland Security. One set listed cities with more
than
1,000 Arab-Americans. The second, far more detailed, provided
ZIP-code-level breakdowns of Arab-American populations, sorted by
country
of origin. The categories provided were Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian,
Lebanese, Moroccan, Palestinian, Syrian and two general categories,
"Arab/Arabic" and "Other Arab."
Hermann Habermann, deputy director of the Census Bureau, said such
cooperation was standard practice. "We are required to provide
information
to other federal agencies," he said. "This is not a cabal calculating
secret tabulations."
But Mr. Habermann also expressed concern over application of the data,
adding: "We do worry about how information will be used. However, we
have
not been given the authority to determine which organization gets which
information."
Census tabulations of specialized data are legal as long as they do not
identify any individual.
Christiana Halsey, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection,
said
the requests were made to help the agency identify in which airports to
post signs and pamphlets in Arabic. "The information is not in any way
being used for law enforcement purposes," she said. "It's being used to
educate the traveler. We're simply using basic demographic information
to
help us communicate U.S. laws and regulations to the traveling public."
But critics of the information sharing said general demographic
snapshots
could be derived without such detailed information and that the
ZIP-code-level data with its breakdowns of ancestral origin seemed
particularly excessive because for all of the groups only English or
Arabic
need be used…
ALSO SEE:
US ARABS FEEL SQUEEZED BY TIGHTER SECURITY
Ron Scherer and Carly Baldwin, Christian Science Monitor, 7/30/04
http://csmonitor.com/2004/0730/p02s02-usgn.html
NEW YORK - In the past three weeks, the FBI has been calling in
Arab-Americans and other Muslims to ask them about their travels and
whom
they might know.
"People are calling us and saying, 'The FBI wants to talk to me,' "
says
Laila al-Qatami, communications director of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in Washington."We're not saying not
to
cooperate, just to know your rights."
The FBI's increased interest coincides with worries that terrorists
will
try to disrupt or influence this fall's presidential election, the
first
since Sept. 11. Arab-Americans, who have worked hard to develop a
relationship with the FBI and other agencies, say the questioning is
emblematic of their vulnerability.
Yesterday, for example, the University of Michigan released a new
survey of
the Arab-American and Chaldean population in the Detroit area that
found 15
percent have had a "bad experience" since Sept. 11that they attribute
to
their ethnicity.
"Where there are domestic or international events, we feel the impact
on
our community," says Monica Tarazi of the ADC in New York.
The FBI's inquiries, even though low key, are something of a surprise
to
the community - which had formed an advisory council that meets with
the
FBI on a regular basis. "They didn't say it was going to happen," says
Ms.
Qatami.
This month, Attorney General John Ashcroft said the FBI would be
conducting
some interviews to see if it could identify any threats. An FBI
spokeswoman, Donna Spiser, says those interviews are all "intelligence
driven" - that is, there is some specific information to cause the
interview to take place. "We're hoping to identify any kind of valid
threat
if there is one," says Ms. Spiser, a supervisor special agent…
-----
JURY AWARDS ARAB-AMERICAN PORT OFFICIAL $305,000
Missy Stoddard, Sun-Sentinel, 7/30/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pverdict30jul30,0,2174576.story
A federal jury in Palm Beach County this week awarded $305,000 to an
Arab-American immigration official who once directed operations at Port
Everglades in Broward County.
Last year, Simon Abi Nader sued the federal government for
discrimination
and retaliation, alleging that his supervisors had harassed him based
on
his Lebanese national origin and his Arab-American race. From 1992 to
2002,
Nader ran operations at Port Everglades.
His attorney, Rod Hannah, said Thursday that during the five-day trial,
jurors heard testimony about Nader's supervisor making remarks to Nader
about "camels" and "tents in the desert," as well as asking Nader about
his
prayer rug. Nader, a naturalized American citizen, is Catholic, not
Muslim,
and has never owned a prayer rug, Hannah said.
During meetings, another supervisor mimicked Nader's middle-eastern
accent,
Hannah said. Nader was humiliated when he was kept from attending a
ceremony with the agency's commissioner in 2002 to dedicate a new
terminal
Nader had been instrumental in getting built, his attorney said.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service, which has since become part
of
the Department of Homeland Security, eventually reassigned Nader to a
community relations position in Davie, Hannah said. Though his salary
remained the same, Nader has been "stripped of all his supervisory
responsibilities," Hannah said…
-----
NY POLICE LIFT TURBAN BAN FOR SIKH TRAFFIC COP
Greg Brosnan, Reuters, 7/30/04
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2987491a12,00.html
NEW YORK - A Sikh New York traffic officer forced to quit because of
his
turban will be reinstated and allowed to wear his religious headdress,
police said on Thursday, in a victory for a group targeted since the
Sept.
11 attacks.
Jasjit Singh Jaggi filed suit with the New York City Commission on
Human
Rights in 2002 after being forced to quit for insisting on wearing his
turban and a long beard.
The New York police department said traffic officers must wear white
caps
and keep their beards short. Jaggi said those restrictions would
violate
his religious beliefs.
The commission said the police department had until Thursday to appeal
its
order to reinstate Jaggi and allow him to leave his beard long and wear
his
turban while working.
A police spokesman said he would be reinstated.
Sikhs living in and around New York have repeatedly been subject to
hostility and violence by people embittered by the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks
who confuse them with Islamic fundamentalists.
"People see the beard and the turban and they think of Osama bin Laden
with
his beard and turban," said Prabhjot Singh, director of New York's Sikh
Coalition.
In the most recent attack, a 54-year-old Sikh limousine driver and
local
spiritual leader was ridiculed and beaten unconscious in the New York
borough of Queens on July 11.
"It is my sincere hope that New York and America will associate my
turban
with what it is, a symbol of piety, respect, hope and courage," said
Jaggi,
36, an Indian who arrived in New York in 1985…
ALSO SEE:
SIKH STUDENT DETAINED BY SECRET SERVICE
Ralph Ranalli, Boston Globe, 7/30/04
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/07/30/sikh_student_detained_by_secret_service/
A Boston College student leader who wears a turban and full beard in
accord
with his Sikh religion says he was detained and interrogated for seven
hours Saturday night by Secret Service agents for doing nothing more
than
taking photographs of the campus.
Sundeep Sahni, a senior with a double major in computer science and
finance, said the Secret Service agents, who were staying on campus
during
the Democratic National Convention, suggested that he was a criminal,
searched him and his car for weapons and bombs, and even had him sign a
release form during the ordeal that gave them access to his psychiatric
records.
Sahni, 21, said he believes he was singled out because of his
appearance.
At one point during the searches, he said, an agent told him: "I don't
want
you pulling an Uzi from your turban."
"It was the most humiliating experience of my life," Sahni said.
Boston College officials said they are giving Sahni their full support
and
are attempting to arrange a meeting between the student and the Secret
Service.
"We want to arrange a conversation, which we hope will result in an
apology," said Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn.
A Secret Service spokesman, however, said there will be no such meeting
or
apology.
"During the course of the DNC, law enforcement is in a heightened state
of
awareness in response to suspicious activity," Secret Service spokesman
Charles Bopp said. "He [Sahni] was interviewed, and our security
concerns
were addressed. The case is closed. There are no charges; there is no
further investigation."
Bopp declined to address any of Sahni's specific allegations yesterday,
except to say that Secret Service records show that the incident lasted
five hours, rather than seven. He declined even to confirm that Secret
Service agents were staying on the Boston College campus…
Ralph Ranalli can be reached at ranalli@globe.com.
---
WALK A MILE IN MY HIJAB
Shelley Boettcher, Calgary Herald, 7/30/04
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/index.html
Every where she goes, people stare at her.
Some are simply curious. They may not ask questions, but they're not
used
to seeing someone that looks like her.
Others are downright hostile. They swear and scream, telling her to go
back
to where she came from.
"But where's that?" asks Dena Kassem. She was, after all, born and
raised
here in Calgary.
Life as a Muslim woman in this city isn't always easy, especially for
one
who has chosen to wear a hijab, a traditional Muslim woman's head
scarf.
Worn as a sign of modesty, it marks its wearer as being "other," as
being
part of a visible minority.
I recently met Kassem, 18, who started wearing a hijab a year and a
half
ago. During our talk, she told me stories about what it's like to be a
visibly Muslim woman in Calgary.
Some anecdotes were small, almost amusing. Kassem talked about shopping
at
a discount department store, only to have the clerk slowly and loudly
count
her change -- despite the young woman's flawless, accentless English.
Others pretend they don't understand her, even though she's speaking
English.
"Maybe I talk too fast," she says with a laugh.
But some of her stories were scarier. Every week or two, men in cars
lean
out their windows and yell vicious racial slurs. Strangers whisper rude
comments as they walk past.
Recently, she and her mother had a run-in with a fellow driver, who,
screaming and swearing, tried to force their car into another lane with
his
vehicle.
Was it simply an isolated case of road rage?
Or did the man blow up at the women because they wore the hijab? Kassem
doesn't know…
-----
'PALACE AND MOSQUE': BEAUTY TO TRUMP BIGOTRY
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 7/30/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24548-2004Jul29.html
SMALLER, MORE narrowly focused and with less of a sense of humor than
the
Baltimore Museum of Art's 1997 "A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria
and
Albert Museum" (a lavish smorgasbord of stuff that included a pair of
silly-looking shoes designed by Vivienne Westwood), the National
Gallery of
Art's "Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art From the Victoria and Albert
Museum"
could not have come at a better time. Sent out from its home museum for
an
extended world tour while the V&A develops a new gallery in which to
display items from its 10,000-object collection of Islamic art of the
Middle East, this traveling show of 106 objects has a none-too-subtle
PR
subtext that is worth noting.
With significant financial support from Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi
Arabia's ambassador to the United States, "Palace and Mosque" seems
mainly
to want to make one quiet but plain point among others. It's about
tolerance, something that occasionally seems to be in short supply
between
the West and the Middle East these days.
To wit, one of the show's themes is that Islam is a religion known for
its
historically peaceful coexistence with Christianity and Judaism. This
is
illustrated by such artifacts as a Turkish plate from the 18th century
made
for an Armenian priest, and by a church vestment dating from the early
17th
century depicting scenes of the Annunciation and Crucifixion. Made,
obviously, for practitioners of a non-Muslim faith, such objects are,
at
least from the standpoint of this exhibition, culturally "Islamic" (in
the
sense that they were created for communities under Muslim rule).
This message is clear, and clearly meant as a kind of antidote to the
news
reports we've been hearing about violence against Western "infidels" --
and
vice versa. Whether it will work to defuse tension, prejudice and
misunderstanding, in either direction, is another matter.
It wouldn't be the first time, at any rate, that beauty has been placed
in
the service of cultural diplomacy.
And there's no short supply of beauty here. Drawn from two worlds --
the
secular world of the palace and the somewhat more somber one of the
mosque
(with shrines and churches thrown in as a kind of goodwill gesture),
the
exhibition is visually splendid, if somewhat less ostentatious than
many
decorative arts shows, by virtue of its heavy emphasis on religious
artifacts. Nevertheless, it debunks one commonly held myth about the
Muslim
prohibition against representations of the figure in art. While it's
true
that the vast majority of Islamic objects (and here I mean Islamic in
the
religious sense) involve mainly calligraphy and non-figurative design,
"Palace and Mosque" makes a point that this taboo was far from hard and
fast.
As with any show that's half devoted to courtly arts and half to faith,
as
much here is meant to advertise power, wealth and prestige as devotion.
Carved ivories, rich textiles and, in a particularly stunning example
of
if-you've-got-it-flaunt-it, a 16th-century gold-inlaid steel sword
belonging to Shah Tahmasp I of Iran are all basically status symbols.
They're beautiful examples of craftsmanship and design, yet as with
other
shows of this sort, where the works of art exist to reinforce class
distinctions, they're somewhat unsubtle reminders of inequality…
-----
PARTNER FINDS NICHE HELPING MUSLIM INVESTORS EARN WHILE KEEPING THE
FAITH
Brenda Sapino Jeffreys, New York Lawyer, 7/30/04
http://www.nylawyer.com/news/04/07/072904o.html
Muslim investors are not allowed to earn interest on their money or pay
interest. So working on deals involving Muslims isn't the easiest
practice
area. Nevertheless, Bracewell & Patterson finance and real estate
partner
Alfred G. "Al" Kyle is developing a niche practice of representing
banks in
deals financed in part with money from Muslim investors.
Kyle's first Muslim-money deal closed in 2000, when Kyle represented
client
KeyBank NA in a real estate transaction in Texas.
"My only job was to make sure the deal complied with the unique Texas
issues," Kyle recalls about the apartment deal in Austin, in which
Middle
Eastern investors provided some of the equity.
But since then, Kyle has worked on six similar deals involving Muslim
money, although he says the process became more difficult following
Sept.
11, 2001, and the resulting need to ensure that the deals comply with
the
USA Patriot Act and that they don't benefit terrorists.
"We've got to constantly monitor new borrowers [and investors] to make
sure
they aren't on the list of terrorist organizations," Kyle says…
-----
PAKISTANIS FACE DEPORTATION THREAT AS CANADA REJECTS OVER 80 PC ASYLUM
PLEAS
PakTribune, 7/30/04
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=72403
TORONTO, July 30 (Online): Foreigners especially Pakistanis, who are
trying
to seek political asylum in Canada are facing great hardships due to
new
strict immigration laws and almost 80 per cent applications in this
regard
have been rejected by local courts, so far.
According to the Voice of America, thousands of Pakistanis whose
applications for political asylum were dismissed by Canadian
authorities,
are also facing threat of deportation.
After enforcement of strict immigration laws, the Canadian Immigration
Minister, Juddy Grow, said the government would deport all those whose
applications for asylum on political grounds had been rejected by local
courts.
She said after rejection of their asylum applications, people often
tried
to take refuge in churches.
The Minister, however, said the administration of churches had been
strictly directed not to shelter foreigners whose applications for
asylum
were dismissed by the Canadian courts.
It may be recalled that about 53,000 people had applied for political
asylum in Canada this year and the courts had given its verdict on
almost
20,000 applications, so far.
The Canadian immigration lawyers said more than 80 per cent
applications
for political asylum had been rejected by courts.
The lawyers further said most of the applicants belonged to Pakistan
and
they came to the country from United States during last few months…
-----
MUSLIM ON U.S. OLYMPIC ROWING TEAM
Julia Morrill, Sports Illustrated, 8/2/04
www.si.com
PIONEERS --Aquil Abdullah, 31, is the first black man to make the U.S.
Olympic rowing team. The son of a Catholic mother and a Muslim father,
he
grew up in Washington, D.C., and is a George Washington alum. He now
lives
in Princeton, N.J., and is a freelance computer programmer.
-----
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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 - 8/1/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: HOUSES OF WORSHIP
* CAIR CONDEMNS IRAQ CHURCH BOMBINGS
* CAIR-SEATTLE: MOSQUES HOST VOTER REGISTRATION (PI)
- Mission to Make Muslim Vote Matter (Seattle Times)
* CAIR-LA: MUSLIMS RALLY AROUND DETAINEE (AP)
- Struggle Continues Over Jailing of Muslim (LA Times)
- Al-Arian: A Political Arrest, After All (St. Pete Times)
* CAIR-AZ: ARIZONA MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
- CAIR-FL: DOJ to Look Into Mosque Height Limit (B Herald)
* MUSLIMS IN LAS VEGAS (Los Angeles Times)
* GA ISLAMIC CENTER FIRE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION
* DOCTORS AND TORTURE (New England Journal of Medicine)
- FISK: Can't Blair, Bush See Iraq is About to Explode?
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: HOUSES OF WORSHIP
"Who could be more wicked than those who bar the mention of God's name
from
(any of) His houses of worship and strive for their ruin…For them, in
this
world, there is ignominy in store, and for them, in the life to come,
awesome suffering."
The Holy Quran, 2:114
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS IRAQ CHURCH BOMBINGS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/1/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today condemned bombings at five churches in Iraq that
left
at least 11 people dead and many more wounded. The attacks were carried
out
during Sunday evening services.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:
"We condemn these vicious attacks in the strongest terms possible. The
identity of the perpetrators is not known, but their motive of creating
religious divisions is obvious. Harming those engaged in worship
violates
the principles of all faiths. Religiously and historically, Islam
mandated
the protection of churches and synagogues. The Prophet Muhammad and his
successors sought to protect houses of worship and the communities they
serve. We offer condolences to the families of those killed and
injured,
and call for increased security measures at all religious sites in
Iraq."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 28 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
MOSQUES HOSTING ELECTORAL REGISTRATION
VANESSA HO, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/31/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/184399_muslimvote31.html
Every Friday at their mosque, Muslims listen to a khutba, or sermon.
They're reminded of the importance of memorizing the Quran, for
example, or
the benefit of sending a blessing to the prophet Mohammed.
Yesterday, sermons at local mosques had an earthier, but no less urgent
message: Get out and vote.
About eight mosques from Olympia to Lynnwood participated in a national
campaign to encourage Muslims, many of whom are immigrants, to register
to
vote as a first step in becoming politically active.
"We think Muslims have a lot of positive things to contribute to the
political process. The first step is registering people to vote, then
it's
becoming a delegate or affecting policy," said Michaela Corning,
manager of
the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil
rights and advocacy group.
The national group launched a drive to encourage Muslims to vote last
year.
In the Seattle area, the local chapter recently joined Hate Free Zone,
an
anti-discrimination group, in a campaign to register 10,000 Muslims by
the
November general election.
Nationally, polls show that registered Muslims have tended to vote at
higher rates than the national average, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman
for
the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
But because so many political issues affect and interest them -- the
Patriot Act, the war in Iraq, the rebuilding of Afghanistan -- Hooper
said
it was important to reach all Muslims eligible to vote.
"We're a minority, and as a minority, every vote counts," he said. "Not
just voting, but working on campaigns, forming political-action
committees,
inviting candidates to speak to the people in the mosque…"
SEE ALSO:
HIS MISSION IS TO MAKE THE MUSLIM VOTE MATTER
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 7/31/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001993750_muslimvote31m.html
It was a blazing summer afternoon as Abdullahi Jama, a former attorney
and
college professor from Somalia, stood outside a local mosque, asking
the
same question over and over: "Are you citizens?"
Sometimes the 51-year-old Skyway resident was ignored. Other times he
was
pulled into debates with Muslims who fear or mistrust the federal
government, don't believe their vote would make a difference, or feel
it's
wrong to back a candidate who might do something that runs contrary to
Islamic principles.
Yet Jama persisted. "I tell them: 'If you want them to listen to your
concerns, you have to vote.' "
Jama is heading a voter-registration drive on behalf of Hate Free Zone
Campaign of Washington, a civil-rights advocacy group, and the Seattle
branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Seattle). The
groups are hoping to reach as many as 10,000 Muslims statewide - either
new
voters or those who've registered but are not on the mailing list of
either
group.
Yesterday, imams and leaders at a dozen local mosques spoke about the
importance of political participation, part of a nationwide effort
among
Islamic groups to get Muslims to the polls this presidential election
year.
"This is a critical moment for the Muslim community in North America,"
said
Ibrahim Mohamed, a CAIR-Seattle board adviser who spoke at Lynnwood's
Dar
Al Arqam Mosque.
Muslims in America are being targeted, he said - detained for months at
a
time, their homes searched by federal agents. "This is a critical time
to
make sure we are counted, that we matter..."
-----
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MUSLIMS RALLY AROUND DETAINED FUND-RAISER
BEN FOX, Associated Press, 7/31/04
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/07/31/state2015EDT0147.DTL
DATELINE: SANTA ANA, Calif. - Protesters condemned the threatened
deportation of a man who used to work for a Muslim charity that has
been
accused of sending millions of dollars to the Hamas terrorist group.
The U.S. government is trying to pressure Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan into
providing information about Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief
and
Development, said Sabiha Khan of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"We have been assured that ... Hamdan has told investigators everything
he
knows. It is outrageous that immigration officials are pressuring him
in
such a manner," Khan said Friday as dozens of demonstrators waved
protest
placards and prayed outside a federal office building.
Khan said the threat to deport Hamdan and his wife to Jordan because of
alleged immigration violations was "un-American and hypocritical."
Hamdan, a 44-year-old father of six U.S.-born children who lives in
Buena
Park, was detained Tuesday - the same day authorities arrested seven
former
employees of the Holy Land Foundation…
Hamdan's immigration attorney, Ban al-Wardi, said authorities detained
him
for violating the terms of the student visa he used to enter the United
States in 1979.
"They started off saying, 'If you just cooperate with us to the level
that
we're looking for, then we will make all of this go away,"' al-Wardi
said.
Hamdan's criminal attorney, Federico Sayre, said authorities told him
that
Hamdan may be among the targets of a second wave of indictments if he
doesn't provide useful information.
SEE ALSO:
STRUGGLE CONTINUES OVER JAILING OF MUSLIM MAN
Kevin Pang, Los Angeles Times, 7/31/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hamdan31jul31,1,3830975.story
Several hundred Muslims rallied Friday in Santa Ana to demand the
release
of an Orange County man who they say is being unfairly held for
violating
immigration laws in an attempt by authorities to pressure him to
testify
against an indicted Islamic charity where he once worked.
Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan, 44, of Buena Park was arrested by federal agents
Tuesday, the same day seven members of the Texas-based Holy Land
Foundation
were charged with funneling millions to Hamas, the Palestinian group
that
the U.S. government calls a terrorist organization.
Hamdan, a 24-year resident of the United States who is being held
without
bail, once worked as a paid fundraiser for the charity but was not
named in
the indictment.
Hamdan's lawyer, Ban Al-Wardi, said her client is accused of
overstaying
his student visa after 1986. But she said Hamdan has been living here
with
his wife and six children under a work permit, which was renewed in
May.
Hamdan is a Muslim born in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Middle
East.
Al-Wardi said the arrest is a move by the government to pressure Hamdan
to
testify against the Holy Land Foundation. But a spokeswoman for the
federal
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Hamdan was "in violation of
immigration law" but would not discuss details.
At the Civic Center prayer vigil, Hamdan's wife, Entesar, spoke as her
two
youngest sons stood at her side.
"If my husband is unjustly deported, our family and our lives will be
destroyed," she said. "I appeal to all people who support fairness and
justice to help free my husband so he can come back to his children and
family…"
---
A POLITICAL ARREST, AFTER ALL
By LAILA and LEENA AL-ARIAN, St. Petersburg Times, 8/1/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/01/Perspective/A_political_arrest__a.shtml
"It's all about politics," our father, professor Sami Al-Arian, told
the
world when he was arrested Feb. 20, 2003, on charges that he alledgedly
supported terrorists. In the past 18 months, our family has witnessed
our
father condemned by an attorney general who holds no regard for due
process. We have seen firsthand his slow deterioration from the
excessive
conditions of his pretrial detention and the way he has been unfairly
maligned in the press. Now, he is being used as a pawn in a high-stakes
political race. A year and a half later, it is clearer than ever that
the
case against him has always been politically motivated…
Much to our dismay, what has been lost in this highly charged debate is
the
fact that our father, who has not yet been to trial, has never been
given
the presumption of innocence. He is being judged by unsubstantiated
accusations, not by any evidence against him.
Anyone who has closely followed court proceedings over the past few
months
would know that the government has yet to present any case against our
father. It is clear that their approach was to arrest him first and
build
their case later, a tactic more fitting for a police state.
Now the government has even stated its intent to circumvent due process
of
law by introducing secret evidence in court. Apparently an 11-year
investigation that has yielded over 20,000 hours of wiretapped
conversations, 700 videotapes and tens of thousands of documents has
not
been enough to form a solid case.
This is not surprising considering the court has been presented with
numerous glaring inaccuracies in the government's case over the past 18
months. What's more, federal authorities' continuous harassment of
Tampa's
Muslim community demonstrates that the case has been sloppily put
together
and largely politically motivated.
Perhaps the most obvious indication of this is the state of our
father's
pretrial detention. Only a month after his arrest, he was moved to
Coleman
Federal Penitentiary, where he is the only pretrial detainee. There, he
has
been kept in solitary confinement and subject to humiliating treatment
by
prison guards, including frequent unnecessary strip searches. He is
only
given one 15-minute phone call per month. While we witness felons
hugging
their wives and children, we are allowed to see our father only through
a
glass partition. We find ourselves at a loss for words when our younger
siblings ask us why we are treated differently.
In Coleman, our father is denied the right to attend religious
services,
not given adequate medical treatment and prohibited from using the law
library. Even more appalling is the fact that he has extremely limited
contact with his attorneys and cannot examine evidence in the case kept
here in Tampa.
A number of concerned individuals and organizations have condemned
these
conditions, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National
Council of Churches and Amnesty International, which has called them
"gratuitously punitive."
Under these circumstances, we are left to wonder if a fair trial is
possible. Even in this Senate race, our father's political opponents
have
somehow found a way to further malign his character. These shameless
attempts have only reconfirmed our father's words from that fateful
morning
that his case is politically driven.
This traumatic experience has had a devastating effect on us, our
mother
and our three siblings. No family should have to suffer the loss of a
loving father and husband, especially one who has also contributed so
much
to the betterment of the society around him and has always taught us to
do
the same.
As a family, we are confident that, if given his day in court, our
father
will ultimately be exonerated of all unfounded accusations against him.
However, until that day, no one, be it members of the media or
politicians,
should pass judgment or treat his fate as a foregone conclusion. That
is
simply un-American.
Laila Al-Arian is a journalist working in Washington, D.C., and Leena
is a
senior this fall at the University of South Florida.
-----
ARIZONA MUSLIMS MEET WITH FBI
CAIR-Arizona and ICT initiate positive dialogue
(TUCSON, AZ, 8/1/04)- The Arizona office of Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-AZ) and representatives from the Islamic Center of
Tucson
(ICT) met with FBI officials on Thursday to discuss issues of mutual
concern, including protection against anti-Muslim hate crimes, the
FBI's
counterterrorism efforts and ways of increasing cooperation between law
enforcement and the American Muslim community. Suggestions about how to
improve communication between law enforcement and the Muslim community
were
also discussed.
The meeting included two top officials of the Tucson Resident Agency of
the
FBI, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Roland J. Mignone and
Supervisory
Special Agent Brian D. Filbert of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The meeting was one of many CAIR-AZ is conducting with various law
enforcement agencies to build constructive relationships and to voice
the
Muslim community's concerns. CAIR-AZ plans hold town hall meetings
between
the Muslim community and the FBI throughout Arizona.
CONTACT: CAIR-AZ, 602-262-2247, 602-790-9319
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO MOSQUE HEIGHT LIMIT
MELISSA FOLLOWELL, Herald Staff, 7/31/04
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/9287878.htm
SARASOTA - The Sarasota County Commissioners' decision to put a height
restriction on a mosque has attracted the attention of the U.S.
Department
of Justice.
The Civil Rights Division is investigating why county commissioners
have
placed height restrictions on the Islamic Society of Sarasota and
Bradenton's proposed mosque, to be built at 4350 Lockwood Ridge Road.
Department of Justice Spokesman Eric Holland confirmed that there is an
investigation underway but said he cannot comment.
"It is Department of Justice policy not to comment while the
investigation
is still underway," Holland said.
In a modest house on Lockwood Ridge Road, Muslims from Manatee and
Sarasota
counties gather to worship in close quarters.
As the congregation of the Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton
grows,
so does the need for a larger facility.
Sarasota County's Planning Commission approved the Society's plans for
a
13,500-square-foot worship facility and two out buildings, but when the
plans got to county commissioners, issues with the structure's proposed
height arose.
Commission Chairman Jon Thaxton said the board granted a special
exception
permit for the organization after examining traffic, storm water and
environmental issues. Even the mass of the building was not a problem
for
county commissioners.
"The only thing we couldn't fit in there was the height," Thaxton said.
Assistant County Attorney Gary Oldehoff said the original proposal was
for
a 50-foot-tall building with two 85-foot minarets.
According to Thaxton, standards allow buildings as tall as 35 feet and
the
commission approved the structure for over 40 feet.
Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Florida Office of the
Council
of American-Islamic Relations, said his organization worried that there
might have been unfair treatment in the county's decision.
"In the post-9/11 climate, Muslims are being discriminated against and
mistreated at all levels, including local government," Bedier said.
Thaxton said religion had nothing to do with the decision…
-----
MUSLIMS IN LAS VEGAS
Peter H. King, Los Angeles Times, 8/1/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vegas1aug01.story
LAS VEGAS - There must be easier places for a Muslim to follow the
straight
path to paradise. Islam forbids gambling, alcohol, public nudity,
fornication. Las Vegas banks on them, promoting its Sin City reputation
as
vigorously as Southern California boosters once pitched sunshine and
oranges.
"What happens here, stays here," winks the Las Vegas Convention and
Visitors Authority in a national advertising campaign. The cityscape is
awash in straightforward invitations to adult frolic. Seminude vixens
beckon from freeway billboards, taxicab placards and newspaper racks,
taking seductive bites out of apples, coiling themselves around
serpents,
posing seven across, hip to bare hip, buttocks flexed.
What's a good Muslim to do?
"Lower your gaze," an imam intoned in his sermon, or khutbah, before
prayers one Friday last spring. "Especially you young brothers. Out
there"
- he pointed vaguely in the direction of the Strip - "you must lower
your
gaze."
There are about 10,000 Muslims in Las Vegas, and they come from all
over.
In the mosques on any Friday, one can find well-to-do doctors from the
Indian subcontinent, barrel-chested circus tumblers from Tangier,
cabdrivers from Compton, war widows from Kabul...
These are awkward times for the people of Islam here and across
America.
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent military campaigns in the
predominantly Muslim countries of Afghanistan and Iraq have brought new
uncertainties and complications to everyday life.
Many perceive that their loyalty has come under question, their
American
welcome suspended, if not revoked. Sometimes this message arrives in
overt
ways - an unannounced visit from FBI agents, an anti-Muslim epithet
scrawled inside a portable toilet at the mosque. More often it takes
subtler forms - a long stare from a stranger on an airplane, a clicking
sound on the telephone that might or might not mean a law enforcement
eavesdropper has come on the line.
"Did you hear that?" asked Aziz Eddebbarh, a hydraulic engineer who
serves
as a liaison of sorts between Las Vegas Muslims and the rest of the
city,
midway through what had been a rather innocuous telephone conversation
about the Islamic calendar.
"What?"
"Those clicks. Look, can you call me back at my other number? Do you
understand?"
Las Vegas, population 933,000, is one of the nation's fastest-growing
cities, and Muslims are attracted to it by the same amenities that draw
all
newcomers: economic opportunity, relatively inexpensive real estate, a
tolerable - in certain seasons even spectacular - desert climate.
The first Muslims to settle in Las Vegas, according to mosque lore,
were
three acrobats from Morocco who came to perform on the Strip in the
early
1960s. One of them remains a mosque regular, but he shyly declines when
asked to cast light on a popular, perhaps apocryphal, side plot to this
pioneer story.
The three acrobats, the story goes, were offered a chance in those days
to
purchase property beyond what were then the far limits of the Strip.
They
declined, convinced that $5,000 was too much to pay for what they
considered an unpromising piece of real estate - the very same ground
where
Caesars Palace now stands. No wonder the man might not want to talk
about it.
Muslims who live here will insist - as do Mormons, Catholics, Baptists,
Jews, agnostics and all the rest - that they can exist almost
completely
apart from the Las Vegas of gambling and long-legged entertainment and
its
ever-present shadow population of 250,000 tourists and conventioneers.
They
might take a visiting relative to one of the tamer stage shows or a
breakfast buffet, but that's all.
"I have never put a quarter in any of the machines in Las Vegas," said
Dr.
Mohammed A. Shafi, a 40-year-old internist from India, "and I have
never
tasted alcohol in my entire life."
Still, for some Muslims, the parallel cities, by necessity, do overlap.
Immigrants seeking entry-level jobs find them most easily in the hotels
and
casinos, and at Friday prayers those who work around alcohol are
reminded
not to enter the mosque with even a drop on their skin or clothing…
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER FIRE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION
Robert Branch, Savannah Morning News, 7/30/04
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/073004/2340294.shtml
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said his office's
investigation into a fire that destroyed the Islamic Center of Savannah
last August has been closed due to lack of evidence. But local police
say a
separate, joint investigation remains open…
Worshipers at the Islamic Center said just before last year's fire they
found bullet holes in one of the building's doors. And a member's
nearby
apartment was burglarized and a threatening note left behind, warning
Islamic Center members to leave town, saying they were being watched.
James Newman, ATF agent, said the agency is normally called in to
investigate when a fire at a house of worship is believed to be
suspicious.
"It remains open in our files," he said, calling it an ongoing joint
investigation between ATF, FBI, the Savannah Fire Department and
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.
However, agents in the Savannah offices of the ATF and the FBI said
they've
received no new information related to the case…
-----
DOCTORS AND TORTURE
Robert Jay Lifton, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine, 7/29/04
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/351/5/415
There is increasing evidence that U.S. doctors, nurses, and medics have
been complicit in torture and other illegal procedures in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay. Such medical complicity suggests still
another disturbing dimension of this broadening scandal.
We know that medical personnel have failed to report to higher
authorities
wounds that were clearly caused by torture and that they have neglected
to
take steps to interrupt this torture. In addition, they have turned
over
prisoners' medical records to interrogators who could use them to
exploit
the prisoners' weaknesses or vulnerabilities. We have not yet learned
the
extent of medical involvement in delaying and possibly falsifying the
death
certificates of prisoners who have been killed by torturers.
A May 22 article on Abu Ghraib in the New York Times states that "much
of
the evidence of abuse at the prison came from medical documents" and
that
records and statements "showed doctors and medics reporting to the area
of
the prison where the abuse occurred several times to stitch wounds,
tend to
collapsed prisoners or see patients with bruised or reddened
genitals."1
According to the article, two doctors who gave a painkiller to a
prisoner
for a dislocated shoulder and sent him to an outside hospital
recognized
that the injury was caused by his arms being handcuffed and held over
his
head for "a long period," but they did not report any suspicions of
abuse.
A staff sergeant-medic who had seen the prisoner in that position later
told investigators that he had instructed a military policeman to free
the
man but that he did not do so. A nurse, when called to attend to a
prisoner
who was having a panic attack, saw naked Iraqis in a human pyramid with
sandbags over their heads but did not report it until an investigation
was
held several months later.
A June 10 article in the Washington Post tells of a long-standing
policy at
the Guantanamo Bay facility whereby military interrogators were given
access to the medical records of individual prisoners.2 The policy was
maintained despite complaints by the Red Cross that such records "are
being
used by interrogators to gain information in developing an
interrogation
plan." A civilian psychiatrist who was part of a medical review team
was
"disturbed" about not having been told about the practice and said that
it
would give interrogators "tremendous power" over prisoners.
Other reports, though sketchier, suggest that the death certificates of
prisoners who might have been killed by various forms of mistreatment
have
not only been delayed but may have camouflaged the fatal abuse by
attributing deaths to conditions such as cardiovascular disease.3
Various medical protocols - notably, the World Medical Association
Declaration of Tokyo in 1975 - prohibit all three of these forms of
medical
complicity in torture. Moreover, the Hippocratic Oath declares, "I will
use
treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but
never
with a view to injury and wrongdoing…"
-----
CAN'T BLAIR SEE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE? CAN'T BUSH?'
ROBERT FISK, Independent on Sunday (London), 8/1/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/story.jsp?story=546763
The Prime Minister has accused some journalists of almost wanting a
disaster to happen in Iraq. Robert Fisk, who has spent the past five
weeks
reporting from the deteriorating and devastated country, says the
disaster
has already happened, over and over again
The war is a fraud. I'm not talking about the weapons of mass
destruction
that didn't exist. Nor the links between Saddam Hussein and al-Qa'ida
which
didn't exist. Nor all the other lies upon which we went to war. I'm
talking
about the new lies.
For just as, before the war, our governments warned us of threats that
did
not exist, now they hide from us the threats that do exist. Much of
Iraq
has fallen outside the control of America's puppet government in
Baghdad
but we are not told. Hundreds of attacks are made against US troops
every
month. But unless an American dies, we are not told. This month's death
toll of Iraqis in Baghdad alone has now reached 700 - the worst month
since
the invasion ended. But we are not told.
The stage management of this catastrophe in Iraq was all too evident at
Saddam Hussein's "trial". Not only did the US military censor the tapes
of
the event. Not only did they effectively delete all sound of the 11
other
defendants. But the Americans led Saddam Hussein to believe - until he
reached the courtroom - that he was on his way to his execution.
Indeed,
when he entered the room he believed that the judge was there to
condemn
him to death. This, after all, was the way Saddam ran his own state
security courts. No wonder he initially looked "disorientated" - CNN's
helpful description - because, of course, he was meant to look that
way. We
had made sure of that. Which is why Saddam asked Judge Juhi: "Are you a
lawyer? ... Is this a trial?" And swiftly, as he realised that this
really
was an initial court hearing - not a preliminary to his own hanging -
he
quickly adopted an attitude of belligerence.
But don't think we're going to learn much more about Saddam's future
court
appearances. Salem Chalabi, the brother of convicted fraudster Ahmad
and
the man entrusted by the Americans with the tribunal, told the Iraqi
press
two weeks ago that all media would be excluded from future court
hearings.
And I can see why. Because if Saddam does a Milosevic, he'll want to
talk
about the real intelligence and military connections of his regime -
which
were primarily with the United States.
Living in Iraq these past few weeks is a weird as well as dangerous
experience. I drive down to Najaf. Highway 8 is one of the worst in
Iraq.
Westerners are murdered there. It is littered with burnt-out police
vehicles and American trucks. Every police post for 70 miles has been
abandoned. Yet a few hours later, I am sitting in my room in Baghdad
watching Tony Blair, grinning in the House of Commons as if he is the
hero
of a school debating competition; so much for the Butler report.
Indeed, watching any Western television station in Baghdad these days
is
like tuning in to Planet Mars. Doesn't Blair realise that Iraq is about
to
implode? Doesn't Bush realise this? The American-appointed "government"
controls only parts of Baghdad - and even there its ministers and civil
servants are car-bombed and assassinated. Baquba, Samara, Kut,
Mahmoudiya,
Hilla, Fallujah, Ramadi, all are outside government authority. Iyad
Allawi,
the "Prime Minister", is little more than mayor of Baghdad. "Some
journalists," Blair announces, "almost want there to be a disaster in
Iraq." He doesn't get it. The disaster exists now…
"Deadly force is authorised," it says on checkpoints all over Baghdad.
Authorised by whom? There is no accountability. Repeatedly, on the
great
highways out of the city US soldiers shriek at motorists and open fire
at
the least suspicion. "We had some Navy Seals down at our checkpoint the
other day," a 1st Cavalry sergeant says to me. "They asked if we were
having any trouble. I said, yes, they've been shooting at us from a
house
over there. One of them asked: That house?' We said yes. So they have
these
three SUVs and a lot of weapons made of titanium and they drive off
towards
the house. And later they come back and say We've taken care of that'.
And
we didn't get shot at any more…"
What, indeed, are we to make of a war which is turned into a fantasy by
those who started it? As foreign workers pour out of Iraq for fear of
their
lives, US Secretary of State Colin Powell tells a press conference that
hostage-taking is having an "effect" on reconstruction. Effect! Oil
pipeline explosions are now as regular as power cuts. In parts of
Baghdad
now, they have only four hours of electricity a day; the streets swarm
with
foreign mercenaries, guns poking from windows, shouting abusively at
Iraqis
who don't clear the way for them. This is the "safer" Iraq which Mr
Blair
was boasting of the other day. What world does the British Government
exist in?
Take the Saddam trial. The entire Arab press - including the Baghdad
papers
- prints the judge's name. Indeed, the same judge has given interviews
about his charges of murder against Muqtada Sadr. He has posed for
newspaper pictures. But when I mention his name in The Independent, I
was
solemnly censured by the British Government's spokesman. Salem Chalabi
threatened to prosecute me. So let me get this right. We illegally
invade
Iraq. We kill up to 11,000 Iraqis. And Mr Chalabi, appointed by the
Americans, says I'm guilty of "incitement to murder". That just about
says
it all.
-----
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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 - 8/2/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: LIGHT UPON LIGHT
* NJ MUSLIMS SQUIRM UNDER TERROR THREAT SCRUTINY (AP)
- MS: New FBI Chief Reaches Out to Muslims (AP)
* AL-HALABI: AIR FORCE PREVENTS WORSHIP IN MOSQUE (DFP)
- Canadian Inmates to Get Imam (Ottawa Citizen)
* TX: SEARCH FOR HLF DEFENDANTS COUNSEL (Law.com)
- NY: Jailhouse Interview (Post-Standard)
* UT: MUSLIMS GATHER AT FESTIVAL (Salt Lake Tribune)
* NV: ISLAM IN LAS VEGAS, PART 2 (LA Times)
- Canada: Muslim, Jewish Students Feed Homeless
* MA: ISLAMIC ACADEMY MOVES TO MANSFIELD (Sun Chron)
- MA: Planned Mosque Will Hold 1,700 (AP)
- NJ: A Community Built By a Show of Faith (Phil Inq)
* NY: MUSLIM STORE OWNERS CALL FOR ACTION (WROC-TV)
* ISRAEL RENEGES ON UNDERTAKING TO US (Maariv)
- LA City Attorney Flacks For Israel (Daily News)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: LIGHT UPON LIGHT
God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light
is
as if there were a Niche, and within it a lamp; the Lamp enclosed in
Glass;
the glass a brilliant star, lit from a blessed Tree...Light upon Light!
God
doth guide whom He will to His Light.
The Holy Quran, 24:35
-----
NJ MUSLIMS SQUIRM UNDER RENEWED TERROR THREAT SCRUTINY
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 8/2/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--terrorthreat-musl0802aug02,0,4511907.story
PATERSON, N.J. -- Everything seemed normal Monday morning on Main
Street in
the heart of New Jersey's Arab-American community: Bakeries sold sticky
sweet pastries, storefront restaurants ground chick peas for falafel
sandwiches and women shoppers in head scarfs drifted along the
sidewalk.
But under the surface, there was renewed fear and anxiety in this
northern
New Jersey community where as many as six of the Sept. 11 hijackers
lived
or spent time shortly before the attacks.
With federal authorities raising the terror threat level to orange,
citing
specific threats against the Prudential building in Newark, Muslims are
once again feeling uneasy, fearing the larger community _ and law
enforcement _ might view them as potential terrorists.
"Our community feels under siege," said Sohail Mohammed, an immigration
attorney who has represented scores of men detained as part of the
post-9/11 investigation. "Every time there's an increase in the color
level, there's an anxiety increase among Muslims.
"We have had people yell at us, `Go home!' and use curses against us,"
he
said. "It happens every time the level changes. We get dirty looks from
people, racial slurs. It's not pleasant, particularly if you are with
young
children."
"These things agitate the sense of belonging for American Muslims,"
added
Nabil Abbassi, a board member of the Islamic Center of Passaic County,
one
of the state's most influential mosques.
"There's a sense of insecurity in the air this morning," he said.
It is not a groundless fear; the number of anti-Muslim bias incidents
in
New Jersey tripled last year from 12 in 2002 to 40 in 2003. Nationwide,
bias complaints to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations rose from 602 in 2002 to 1,019 last year…
ALSO SEE:
MISSISSIPPI'S NEW FBI CHIEF REACHES OUT TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Denise Grones, Associated Press, 8/2/04
JACKSON, Miss. - The new FBI chief in Mississippi is reaching out to
the
Muslim community - both to protect it from possible hate crimes in the
aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and perhaps to share
information in times of need.
Muslims are caught in catch-22 situation, said Robert J. Garrity, head
of
the FBI in the state, because they are the focus of the war on
terrorism
after the attacks.
The FBI is asking citizens to be vigilant and to look for and report
suspicious activity, which helps the fight against terrorism. But for
Arabs, Muslims and others who aren't terrorists but who could be
mistaken
for them, it can make life difficult.
"No one is looking for blue-eyed blond Norwegians to be conducting
terrorism here," Garrity said last week in an interview with The
Associated
Press. "And whether you call it profiling, whether you call it looking
at
one particular group, whatever the word is you give it, we are not
looking
for blue-eyed blond Norwegians. It just doesn't fit the mold. And
within
the Muslim community, that's a concern for them."
Garrity brought a program to Mississippi when he arrived in June. He
started it in Dallas to build a close working relationship with the
Muslim
community and Islamic leaders.
Garrity, a FBI veteran of nearly 30 years, has extensive experience in
the
fields of counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism.
He said he met with four Mississippi Muslim Association board members,
who
represent about 2,000 Muslims in the state.
"We want them to know us. We want to know them," he said. "I was
heartened
to hear that they have not been victimized as in other parts of the
country
where Muslims have been victimized…
-----
AIR FORCE DEFENDS ITS STAND ON WORSHIP
Mariem Qamruzzaman, Free Press, 8/2/04
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/pray2_20040802.htm
The U.S. Air Force is defending its position to prevent a senior airman
from Dearborn from worshiping in a mosque as he awaits a September
trial on
attempted espionage charges.
Ahmad Al-Halabi, who worked as a translator at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is
accused of attempted spying and mishandling classified information. He
was
arrested in July 2003. Since May 12, he has been detained at Travis Air
Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. There is no mosque on base and
officials
have refused to allow him to pray in one in the community.
The 25-year-old Muslim maintains his innocence, but government
officials
have accused him of trying to send more than 180 e-mails from detainees
to
Syria, where Al-Halabi was born. They also said he failed to report
contacts with the Syrian Embassy to his U.S. superiors and lied to Air
Force investigators.
A formal religious discrimination complaint was filed in July.
Speaking on behalf of Travis Air Force Base, a spokesman at the Air
Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois said letting
Al-Halabi
off the base could be risky, even with a military escort.
Officials said they want to make sure Al-Halabi shows up for trial and
they
say keeping him on the base guarantees national security and his own
safety. No trial date has been set.
But the officials said they did make an effort to have two Islamic
clerics
visit the base to help Al-Halabi fulfill his religious obligation of
praying because there are no Muslim chaplains or qualified lay leaders
on
the base.
They said Al-Halabi refused the visitations, saying he wanted to
participate in Jumah prayers, which requires a congregation.
Al-Halabi's lawyers insist that he did not decline the military's offer
to
have a local religious leader visit him on base. They say Al-Halabi
merely
made it clear that his preference was to attend a mosque.
A citizens committee, the Airman Halabi Justice Committee, has formed
in
California to help raise money for his defense fund and provide updates
about his case.
The group has raised more than $45,000 toward his defense; its goal is
$50,000.
The money is in a bank account set up by the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, known as CAIR.
While not being heavily involved, CAIR is offering support to the
group,
said Sabiha Khan, a spokeswomen for CAIR's Los Angeles chapter…
SEE: JUSTICE FOR AHMAD AL-HALABI
http://www.civilrightsfund.org/halabijustice/
ALSO SEE:
ONTARIO FEDERAL INMATES TO GET IMAM
Jennifer Chen, the Ottawa Citizen, 8/2/04
http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=6ecaca70-ab01-4bae-b62e-bca644a97170
Ottawa - The federal prison system has set its sights on hiring a
full-time
Muslim chaplain in Ontario for the first time.
The decision came after a review last June by human rights advocates,
correctional staff and various members of minority religious
communities,
said Hugh Kirkegaard, the Ontario region's institutional chaplain for
the
Correctional Service of Canada.
"Partly it's just kind of the evolution of things," he said, and the
federal system's "attempt to take minority groups more seriously."
Muslims currently make up the second largest self-labelled religious
group
among Ontario's prisoners.
Nationally, more than 460 inmates identified themselves as Muslim this
year.
More than 130 are incarcerated in Ontario, while about 240 are in
Quebec.
"Prisons are a mirror of society," Mr. Kirkegaard said. The Muslim
population in Canada swelled from about 250,000 in 1991 to 580,000 in
2001,
according to Statistics Canada. More than half that number live in
Ontario.
Hiring an imam on a full-time basis is a move that's based on numbers,
said
Christina Guest, the correctional service's chaplaincy branch programs
officer.
So far, the federal institutions have no established standards on
providing
religious services across the country, Mr. Kirkegaard said.
This would signal a step toward establishing such standards, he added…
-----
INDICTMENT TRIGGERS SCRAMBLE TO FIND COUNSEL FOR HLF DEFENDANTS
Miriam Rozen, Law.com, 8/2/04
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1090180207113
When federal agents knocked on the door of his Richardson, Texas, home
on
July 27 at 7 a.m., Ghassan Elashi was sleeping in his bed, says his
lawyer,
Tim Evans.
"Although we always knew this was a possibility, I didn't think this
was
likely," says Evans, a partner in Fort Worth's Evans, Gandy, Daniel &
Moore.
In a 42-count federal indictment, filed in the Northern District of
Texas
on July 26, prosecutors allege that the Richardson-based Holy Land
Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), Elashi and six other men
linked to HLF funneled $12.4 million over six years to Hamas, a
Palestinian
group in Israel that the U.S. government has declared a terrorist
organization. They are charged with engaging in prohibited financial
transactions with a government-designated terrorist, money laundering,
conspiracy and filing false tax returns, among other things.
Elashi and the others deny the government's allegations, which first
surfaced in 2001 when federal agents raided HLF's offices and froze the
assets of the Muslim charity, which at the time ranked itself as the
largest such charity in the nation.
Surprised by the recent indictment, Evans says, he does not know who
will
help defend the seven men named in the indictment -- including HLF
chairman
Elashi and its president Shukri Abu Baker -- against what promises to
be a
massive, high-visibility and high-dollar prosecutorial effort. Nor does
he
know how the HLF defendants will finance their defense. The HLF
representatives, Evans says, have had trouble finding jobs and have
dwindling financial resources to pay for a defense.
"Now we are having to scramble to find ways to defend this case, and
it's
going to take a considerable amount of money," Evans says.
The Fort Worth lawyer expects that some of the defendants in the case,
United States of America v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development, et al., will claim indigency and ask the court to appoint
lawyers.
But Evans and Ira Kirkendoll, a federal public defender in the Northern
District, say court-appointed lawyers will face substantive
restrictions in
terms of financing a defense, as outlined under 18 U.S.C. 3006A.
Specifically, those rules call for a lawyer to receive a maximum of
$5,200
for representing a defendant charged with a felony, unless a judge
allows
for an exception. Typically, Kirkendoll says, even when a judge allows
for
an exception, the appointed lawyers on an expensive case can expect the
government to delay payments because the federal judiciary's budget for
appointed counsel frequently falls short...
ALSO SEE:
JAILHOUSE INTERVIEW
Renee K. Gadoua, Post-Standard, 8/1/04
http://www.syracuse.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-17/109134953778900.xml
Dr. Rafil Dhafir, accused of violating U.S. sanctions against Iraq,
says
the government and media have misinterpreted his motivation and
actions,
painting him as manipulative and dishonest, and implying he has ties to
terrorist groups.
Dhafir said the prosecution's case relies on fear and anti-Muslim
sentiment
in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"They don't have to use the T-word," Dhafir said. "It is there. We have
ample evidence this is what they're after."
Dhafir wouldn't say what evidence. He made his remarks during an
interview
in the Onondaga County Correctional Facility in Jamesville.
He has been denied bail four times and has been jailed since his arrest
in
February 2003.
Federal prosecutors say Dhafir raised more than $5 million for the Help
the
Needy charity since 1995. He was indicted Feb. 26, 2003, on charges he
violated U.S. sanctions against Iraq by sending money there without a
license.
Prosecutors say at least some of the money he raised did not go to help
oppressed Iraqis. He is accused of using at least $300,000 to buy
income
properties in Syracuse.
He has also been accused of Medicare fraud, tax evasion, mail fraud and
wire fraud.
During the 90-minuteinterview Wednesday, Dhafir, 56, of 5408 Springview
Drive, Manlius, denied all charges against him and the charity, but
refused
to answer questions about the charges he faces...
-----
MUSLIMS GATHER TO 'SEE AND BE SEEN' AT SALT LAKE CITY FESTIVAL
Nicole Warburton, Salt Lake Tribune, 8/1/04
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2385999
Maryam Shahrebani wears her religion like a flag, openly stating who
she is
and what she believes.
"I'm proud of being a Muslim, and I've never been shy about it," says
the
18-year-old University of Utah student. "I want to be out there in
public.
As a Muslim woman I want to have a say."
Sitting in one of the few patches of shade at Salt Lake City's Gallivan
Center on Saturday, Shahrebani speaks of her beliefs. No question is
offensive, she says, because it's better to foster understanding than
ignorance.
"It's ignorant people that think Muslim women are [not] outspoken and
liberated," Shahrebani says, shielding her eyes framed by a hijab - or
head
scarf - from the sun.
"People need to be open-minded. They need to look to different sources
[on
Islam] other than the media."
And that is why Shahrebani says Muslims from across the Salt Lake
Valley
came to Gallivan Plaza to share a message of culture and community at
the
2nd annual Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival.
"This is an effort for [Muslims] to see and be seen," said Ghulam
Hosnain,
an organizer of the event.
But even deeper, Shahrebani says, it is an event to build understanding
and
community and share the message that even though Muslims may be
different,
they are "not so different" from most cultures and religions...
---
NV: ISLAM AND HOW TO LIVE IT: ONE FAITH, MANY BELIEFS
Peter H. King, Los Angeles Times, 8/2/04
http://www.latimes.com/services/site/premium/access-registered.intercept
Las Vegas - Friday afternoon prayers at the mosques of Las Vegas tend
to
draw late-arriving crowds. The ritual call to prayer has been recited,
the
weekly sermon has been launched, and still the stragglers stream in,
kicking off their shoes and scurrying to find a place on the prayer
rug.
Nobody seems to take much notice. Nonetheless, Muslim worshipers who
show
up after the Islamic equivalent of the first pitch do forfeit an
opportunity for enhanced reward in the afterlife.
"There is a tradition," said Zafar A. Anjum, imam at the Jama Masjid
mosque
on Desert Inn Road, "that on Fridays angels come to the door of the
mosque
and make records. The one who comes in first, Allah gives him a reward
equal to that person who sacrifices the camel, and who gives away the
meat
of the camel as a charity."
The second Muslim, Anjum went on, receives the same reward as one who
has
sacrificed and donated a cow, the third a goat, the fourth a chicken,
and
so on down the sacrificial food chain. The last to arrive on time for
prayers earns a chit for paradise equivalent to that of giving away an
egg.
"After that," he said, "when the speeches start, these angels close
their
records, the books. Those who come after that, their names are not
written.
They don't get any rewards."
In the course of a year of visits, Las Vegas Muslims would prove to be
passionate instructors in the intricacies of Islam. They would weigh
in,
when asked, on the war, geopolitics and terrorism. What seemed to
animate
them most, however, were questions that got to the heart of what it
meant
to be a Muslim.
Their thoughts on the afterlife, on arranged marriages, on traditional
Islamic dress, on dream interpretation and beards and angels --
whatever
the topic, most did their best to tackle it. The tutorials were given
in
the entry halls and parking lots of mosques, around dinner tables, in
office conference rooms and, late one night last July, from behind the
wheel of Muhammad Hayat's well-worn Mercedes-Benz...
ALSO SEE:
JEWISH, MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
JOIN
FORCES TO MAKE SANDWICHES FOR THE HOMELESS
Mirko Petricevic, Record, 7/31/04
http://www.therecord.com/
A Star of David dangles from Marci Ullman's neck as she slathers peanut
butter on a slice of white bread.
A black head scarf conceals Karen Gaffar's hair as she stands nearby
and
scoops jam from a jar.
And Ashley Nix wanders around two long tables, at the University of
Waterloo's Student Life Centre, making sure everyone has what they need
to
make sandwiches -- and to bridge their differences.
It's not a scene that immediately comes to mind when one ponders
Jewish-Muslim relations at university campuses in Canada.
In the fall of 2002, students at Concordia University in Montreal
clashed
after pro-Palestinian students blocked a speech by former Israeli prime
minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police quelled the melee with pepper spray
and
arrested five people before the lecture was cancelled. Four months
later,
Jewish students at York University in Toronto organized a lecture by
outspoken American commentator Daniel Pipes.
About 100 people protested Pipes' lecture. Muslim students accused him
of
being racist because of his staunch pro-Israel stand.
At the University of Toronto late last year, police stepped in between
pro-Israel demonstrators and pro-Palestinian protesters over a
cancelled
conference on the Middle East. And last month, someone spray-painted
the
words "die Muslim die" in a multi-faith prayer room at Ryerson
University
in Toronto.
But except for a single incident last year, relations between Jewish
and
Muslim students attending the University of Waterloo have been
relatively
quiet. Tensions rose briefly last June after various clubs organized a
lecture by a controversial U.S. author, Norman Finkelstein...
-----
ISLAMIC ACADEMY MOVES TO MANSFIELD
Michael Gelbwasser, Sun Chronicle, 8/2/04
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2004/08/01/city/city6.txt
MANSFIELD - Full-time Muslim elementary, middle and high school classes
will be under one Church Street roof in September, six months after the
high school moved there from Quincy.
The Islamic Academy of New England has leased seven classrooms from
Al-Noor
Academy, Al-Noor Principal Robert Mond said.
The Islamic Academy, which serves students in kindergarten through
Grade 8,
had rented space in Sharon, Mond said.
The private school, founded in September 1996, serves students in
Greater
Boston and northern Rhode Island, according to its Web site,
www.iane.org .
The school has 100 to 125 students, Mond said.
Al-Noor has about 50 students from area communities, including
Mansfield
and Foxboro.
The school moved to Mansfield from rented space in Quincy. The school
had
been in Quincy since it was founded in September 2000…
-----
PLANNED MOSQUE IN WORCESTER WILL HOLD 1,700
Associated Press, 8/2/04
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040801/APN/408010745
WORCESTER - A planned three-story mosque that will serve the city's
growing
Muslim population will hold as many as 1,700 people and house a school,
gymnasium and prayer hall.
The 41,000-square-foot building is expected to be one of the largest
Islamic centers in New England when it is completed in November, said
Ihab
Dabbagh, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester, which
is
funding the project.
"It will be much more than a mosque," Dabbagh said. "We'll have
lectures
and other events we've never been able to host in our old building."
Since 1979, Muslims have met for Friday prayers in a renovated Lutheran
church that holds only 300 people. The local Muslim community has
outgrown
the center and needs more space and parking, Dabbagh said.
The center also will serve as the new home of the Alhuda Academy, which
now
offers education covering kindgergarten through grade 12 at a site in
Northboro.
Work began on the center in April 2003 and was to have been completed
months ago, the Telegram & Gazette reported Sunday. Since the project
is
being funded through donations, it has taken time to collect money,
Dabbagh
said…
---
A COMMUNITY IN VOORHEES BUILT BY A SHOW OF FAITH
Edward Colimore, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/2/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/9290819.htm
VOORHEES - The construction of a mosque here was once the subject of an
anonymous flyer warning residents about Muslim "extremists" with
possible
"connections to terrorists."
It was the focus of long, sometimes emotional, zoning board hearings,
exhaustive traffic studies, and detailed site plans.
But with township approvals in place and the controversy fading, local
Muslims yesterday marked a happy milestone: the groundbreaking for the
mosque.
They also looked back over a struggle that brought people of many
faiths
together in defense of the proposed mosque. About 30 of their new
friends
helped them celebrate yesterday.
"I think this has been a very big unifying force," Zia Rahman, managing
trustee of the Muslim American Community Association, said of the
mosque
project. "... The mosque has become an excuse to bring people
together."
Muslims seeking to build mosques in the United States have often met
resistance, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, said academics
who
have tracked their efforts before local governments.
But mosque proponents, neighbors and politicians who came to the
groundbreaking said the early opposition was replaced by growing
support…
-----
MUSLIM STORE OWNERS CALL FOR ACTION
Nicole Johnson, WROC-TV, 7/31/04
http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=14490&r=l
Dozens of neighborhood grocery stores in Rochester shut their doors
Saturday, mourning the death of Fadhle Hussein, a Yemeni store owner
shot
to death early Friday.
The shooting sparked outrage among dozens of Arab store owners who
closed
more than 65 shops in protest.
In the past two years at least two other store owners were also shot to
death. Arab owners say police aren't doing enough to protect them from
drug
dealers they say loiter outside their stores. Hussein's death is
causing
some to fear for their lives.
Jamil Shahibi said, "sometimes we try to kick out the hangers from the
store but we need help from the city; we worry and wonder who is
next."…
-----
ISRAEL RENEGES ON UNDERTAKING TO US
Llil Shahar, Maariv International, 8/2/04
http://www.maarivenglish.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=printArticle&articleID=10409
The PM and Defense Minister have approved plans to begin construction
of an
additional 600 homes in the large West Bank settlement city of Ma'aleh
Adumim, a suburb of Jerusalem approximately 10 miles from the capital.
The new construction will add about 2,000 inhabitants to the city, an
increase of around seven percent.
Ma'aleh Adumim is considered a "consensus settlement", on which there
is a
large consensus within Israeli society that it will remain a part of
Israel. Other "consensus settlements" include the Jerusalem suburbs of
Gush
Ezion (Ezion block) and Givat Zeev, and towns adjacent to the Green
Line
such as Oranit, Sha'arei Tikvah, Elkanah, Beit Aryeh and Alfei Menashe.
A Defense ministry source confirmed that the construction is part of
the
policy to increase the size of the large Jewish settlements, which
Israel
plans on keeping after the unilateral disengagement, under the "secure
and
safe borders" paragraph of relevant UN resolutions. The US affirmed its
support for this position in the undertakings President Bush gave PM
Sharon
as part of the disengagement support package…
ALSO SEE:
LA CITY ATTORNEY FLACKS FOR ISRAEL
ROCKY: FROM JUNKETEER TO PITCHMAN
Chris Weinkopf, Daily News, 8/2/04
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E21662%257E2306760,00.html
For politicians, a sweet perk of the profession is the junket -- an all
expense-paid vacation, paid for by wealthy benefactors. These trips,
elected officials tell us, are just happy, informational visits, with
no
favors expected in return. But does anyone believe that?
Consider just one example -- the 10-day junket Los Angeles City
Attorney
Rocky Delgadillo took to Israel last fall.
Last week, Delgadillo submitted an op-ed to the Daily News reflecting
on
the trip, which he took, along with City Councilmen Alex Padilla and
Jack
Weiss, at the "invitation of the government of Israel and the Jewish
Federation" of Greater Los Angeles. We declined to publish the piece on
the
op-ed page opinion column, mostly because it read like something that
belonged in a paper's travel section -- among the advertisements. For
example:
"(Israel's) airline, El Al, is the safest in the world and has set the
global aviation industry's standards for security and safety....Every
tourist destination in Israel including hotels, restaurants, shopping
malls, museums, and sporting arenas, is well guarded by highly skilled
security personnel."
"Israel is not -- and will never be -- fairly characterized by what
appears
in the pages of our newspapers. Indeed ... the best, if not the only
perspective ... comes to life only by visiting and experiencing the
place
for oneself. My trip to Israel uplifted my spirit, my soul and my
perspective."
All that was missing was the "visit Israel" URL and 800 number.
Delgadillo's praise -- which also touted Israel's industries, diversity
and
youth -- sounded like something that could have been written by the
Israeli
Ministry of Tourism.
And apparently, it was.
Curiously, the piece hadn't come from Delgadillo's office, but a New
Jersey-based public-relations firm, the MWW Group, best known in these
parts as the flaks for Browning Ferris Industries, operators of the
Sunshine Canyon Landfill. Among MWW's accounts is a three-year, $6
million
deal with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
Had MWW written the piece on the city attorney's behalf? I put a call
Into
Delgadillo to ask him, but he was in Boston for the Democratic National
Convention, and unavailable for comment. But his aide, Jennifer
Krieger,
assured me that Delgadillo was the lone author of the piece. MWW merely
handled distribution because, with "all the work we're doing,"
Delgadillo's
PR staff was too busy to, um, handle Delgadillo's PR.
The folks over at MWW told a different story....
-----
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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 JOINS 'CALL TO ACTION' ON DARFUR CRISIS
Statement seeks to raise public awareness of suffering
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/3/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today announced that it has joined with more than 70 other
faith-based, humanitarian and human rights groups in signing a "Unity
Statement and Call to Action" in response to the ongoing humanitarian
crisis in Darfur, Sudan.
The statement, issued by the Save Darfur Coalition, seeks to raise
public
awareness and to mobilize North Americans and members of the
international
community to help end the crisis in and around Darfur that threatens
the
lives of two million people.
After outlining the suffering faced by the people of Darfur, the
statement
calls for specific actions that include worldwide efforts to stop
population displacement and end crimes against humanity, governmental
humanitarian support and access to match the need, support for relief
organizations providing aid, the rebuilding of villages and the return
of
those displaced, and the creation of a UN commission of inquiry.
"It is important that Americans of all faiths first understand the
misery
felt by the people of Darfur and then act to help alleviate their
suffering," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. Hooper
also
cautioned against portraying the crisis in terms of ethnic stereotypes
or
allowing exploitation of the suffering to promote political or
religious
agendas.
CAIR has urged American Muslims to send donations to Islamic relief
organizations working in Darfur. SEE: http://www.reliefonline.org/ and
http://www.irw.org/sudan/
Other Muslim groups signing the statement include the Islamic Circle of
North America, Islamic American Relief Agency, Muslim American Society
Freedom Foundation, and the American Sufi Muslim Association.
In addition to the statement, the Save Darfur Coalition is sponsoring a
national Interfaith Day of Conscience on Wednesday, August 25, in
churches,
synagogues, mosques, and community centers nationwide.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/3/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: SAY THE TRUTH
* CAIR-NY FORMS MUSLIM BUSINESS NETWORK
* USE OF 'ISLAMIST' OVERLOOKS REAL THREATS (Dallas MN)
- Terror Alert Reports Were Years Old (NY Times)
- The Spread of Racial Profiling (Village Voice)
* NV: MUSLIMS IN LAS VEGAS, PART 3 (LA Times)
- FL: Knock at the Door (Florida Times)
* MUSLIM CHAPLAIN CLEARED IN PROBE RESIGNS (AP)
- NC: Teens Found Guilty of Intimidation (Herald Sun)
* TX: AMERICAN MOSQUE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE (Star-Telegram)
* MALAYSIAN PM: MUSLIMS FEAR 'WAR AGAINST ISLAM' (AP)
- Guantanamo Guards Mocked Islam (ME Online)
- Iraq's Child Prisoners (Sunday Herald)
* IL: IMC TO FEATURE IRFAN PATHAN'S AUTOGRAPHED BATS
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SAY THE TRUTH
"O you who believe! Remain conscious of God and (always) say what is
just
and true."
The Holy Quran, 33:70
-----
CAIR-NY FORMS MUSLIM BUSINESS NETWORK
If you own or manage a business and would be interested in networking
with
other Muslim entrepreneurs, please contact CAIR-NY at 212-870-2002 or
by
e-mail at wnasr@cair-ny.com.
-----
CONSTANT USE OF 'ISLAMIST' OVERLOOKS REAL THREATS
Arsalan T. Iftikhar, Dallas Morning News, 8/3/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/080304dnedicairtalk.a194b.html
[Arsalan T. Iftikhar is legal director for the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, the nation's largest American Muslim civil rights and
advocacy
group, based in Washington, D.C. His e-mail address is
arsalan@cair-net.org.]
With the anticipation of a New York Times best seller, the 9-11
Commission
report did not disappoint an eager audience. The report chronicles in
acute
detail the chain of events leading up to the horrendous crimes
perpetrated
on Sept. 11, 2001.
In addition to practical recommendations, the commission stated a goal
of
preventing the growth of "Islamist terrorism." The commission concluded
that the threat posed to the United States is not just "terrorism," but
more specifically, "the catastrophic threat ... posed by Islamist
terrorism."
At times, the report seems to contradict its claims, stating that
"Islam is
not the enemy," that Islam "is not synonymous with terror" and that
America
"and its friends oppose a perversion of Islam." Nonetheless, the
commission
seems to stigmatize anyone with ties to Islam.
A good portion of the commission's sentiments are completely
understandable. Deviant criminals, proclaiming to act under the banner
of
any faith, should be swiftly brought to justice. Extremists who commit
criminal acts and purport to be acting under Islamic tenets should be
condemned by all of humanity.
Nonetheless, by associating the ill-defined "Islamist" modifier to
define
"terrorism," the commission has overlooked numerous precedents that
show an
entirely different historical record.
Prior to Sept. 11, the most catastrophic terrorist attack on American
soil
occurred on April 19, 1995, when Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. According to The Washington
Post,
investigators believe Eric Rudolph, the terrorist responsible for the
1996
Atlanta Olympics bombing, was associated with the violent Christian
Identity movement, which asserts that North European whites are "God's
chosen people."
According to Professor Michael Barkun, author of Religion and the
Racist
Right, the apocalyptic and racist philosophy to which Eric Rudolph
adhered
"is practiced by more than 50,000 people in the United States alone;
[and]
is prevalent among many right-wing extremist groups and has been called
the
'glue' of the racist right."
In April 2003, William Krar of Noonday, Texas, was caught with an
arsenal
containing fully automatic machine guns, remote-controlled explosive
devices disguised as briefcases, 60 pipe bombs and neo-Nazi literature.
Mr.
Krar possessed an actual chemical weapon - a cyanide bomb - big enough
to
kill everyone in a 30,000-square-foot building. Paul Krugman of The New
York Times noted, "It's hard to believe that William Krar wouldn't have
become a household name if he had been a Muslim."
The American Muslim community has always condemned and will continue to
denounce terrorism in all of its forms, especially criminal acts
committed
in the "name" of Islam. We will continue to help protect our nation
from
all criminals and protect our faith from fringe elements. However, the
term
"Islamist terrorism" is nothing more than an oversimplification of our
complex and kaleidoscopic national security paradigm.
As Americans, we must mobilize to help prevent acts of "terror" against
our
country based on criminal acts, not on demographic associations. If we
keep
our enthralled focus solely on terms such as "Islamist," it gives me
great
pause to then imagine the William Krars, Eric Rudolphs and Timothy
McVeighs
of our nation hiding in the corner, laughing at all of us and licking
their
terrorist chops.
SEE ALSO:
REPORTS THAT LED TO TERROR ALERT WERE YEARS OLD, OFFICIALS SAY
Douglas Jehl and David Johnston, New York Times, 8/3/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/03/politics/03intel.html
WASHINGTON - Much of the information that led the authorities to raise
the
terror alert at several large financial institutions in the New York
City
and Washington areas was three or four years old, intelligence and law
enforcement officials said on Monday. They reported that they had not
yet
found concrete evidence that a terrorist plot or preparatory
surveillance
operations were still under way.
But the officials continued to regard the information as significant
and
troubling because the reconnaissance already conducted has provided Al
Qaeda with the knowledge necessary to carry out attacks against the
sites
in Manhattan, Washington and Newark. They said Al Qaeda had often
struck
years after its operatives began surveillance of an intended target.
Taken together with a separate, more general stream of intelligence,
which
indicates that Al Qaeda intends to strike in the United States this
year,
possibly in New York or Washington, the officials said even the dated
but
highly detailed evidence of surveillance was sufficient to prompt the
authorities to undertake a global effort to track down the unidentified
suspects involved in the surveillance operations.
"You could say that the bulk of this information is old, but we know
that
Al Qaeda collects, collects, collects until they're comfortable,'' said
one
senior government official. "Only then do they carry out an operation.
And
there are signs that some of this may have been updated or may be more
recent.''…
---
CIVIL RIGHTS ROLLBACK: THE SPREAD OF RACIAL PROFILING SINCE 9-11
Chisun Lee, Village Voice, 8/3/04
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0431/lee.php
Four years ago the nation stood at the cusp of a major civil rights
victory. Activists from across the country rallied in Washington, D.C.,
to
end racial profiling. Polls showed a majority of Americans opposed the
practice. Al Gore vowed that as president he would make a law banning
it,
"the first civil rights act of the 21st century."
George W. Bush agreed with his opponent. "I can't imagine what it would
be
like to be singled out because of race and stopped and harassed," he
said
during one 2000 debate. "That's just flat wrong." Then he did Gore one
better: "There is other forms of racial profiling that goes on in
America.
Arab Americans are racially profiled. . . . People are stopped, and we
got
to do something about that."
But today his administration's reaction to the 2001 terrorist attacks
has
not only betrayed Bush's own rhetoric, but worse, it has undermined the
political force of the anti-profiling movement in general-the force
that
made it a profound civil rights cause, not just a policy debate. By
couching group-based profiling as necessary to homeland security, the
government has traded the principles of universal equality and
individual
dignity for the presumption of safety. Nearly no one this election year
has
been bold enough to hint at the outrage that once powered a bipartisan
movement. It has become impossible to be righteous about racial
profiling
without encountering the inevitable "But what about 9-11?"
What about it? Three years out, the question demands more than a
knee-jerk
nod. A thoughtful look will show that the terrorist attacks did not
make
such profiling any less wrong than it was on September 10, 2001. In
fact,
it is all the more insidious today, because the war on terrorism has
lent
profiling the veneer of legitimacy-even urgency, after alerts such as
the
one regarding financial centers last weekend. As this modern civil
rights
movement begins to put itself back together, with a renewed push for
federal legislation, it is important to realize that racial profiling
has
not gotten any less wrong-the government is just more willing to do the
wrong thing. And to be willing to do the wrong thing is a devastating
rejection of the values of American life...
For 9-11-related-profiling victims, the element of "foreignness" gives
discrimination a special twist, says Volpp. "People who look a certain
way
are assumed not to be citizens to begin with," but rather un-welcome
outsiders, she says. That perception makes them especially vulnerable,
not
just to government intrusions but to private acts of violence.
Over a thousand 9-11-related bias incidents, including harassment and
physical attacks, have been recorded since 2001 by groups such as the
Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Sikh Coalition, and by
the
Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. They have included
assaults,
arson, and even killings. And those are just the incidents that have
been
reported by people confident or informed enough to seek out these
resources...
-----
STILL LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF A SEPTEMBER DAY
Peter H. King, LA Times, 8/3/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vegas3aug03.story
LAS VEGAS - ...Most of the Muslims of Las Vegas seem to have
encountered
some form of hostility - a stare-down at the gas station, anti-Muslim
epithets at work, uttered just loud enough for them to hear - and yet
many
of them are quick to point out that matters could have been much worse.
Unlike Japanese Americans in World War II, they note, Muslim Americans
were
not rounded up and railed out to internment camps at some distant
Manzanar.
And for every threatening call made to the mosques, they say, there
have
been dozens more expressing support.
On Sept. 11, neighbors brought flowers to a few Muslim families,
anticipating they might be in for an ordeal. FBI agents and leaders of
local law enforcement have made appearances at Friday prayers and
mosque
events, promising to protect Las Vegas Muslims against hate crimes.
Dr. Saleha Baig, originally from Pakistan, is a psychiatrist who
conducts
her business wearing a scarf and gown. She described the reaction she
received from non-Muslim patients as "the opposite of what I expected.
For
me it was like: 'Oh, Dr. Baig, are you OK? Is your family OK?' They
were
sending me cards. They are asking: 'Can I have a hug? We don't want you
to
go.' "
Such demonstrations of support provide solace, but they cannot erase
the
sense among many Muslims that they are to be considered suspicious
until
proven innocent. They assume that telephones are tapped, that
charitable
and political contributions are under scrutiny. They grumble about
provisions of the Patriot Act, about a program of re-registration for
lawful immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries.
As a Muslim professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas put it:
"Every
nation has a right to know who is within its borders and keep track of
these people. But it would be fairer and better, from a security point
of
view, to have it for every nationality and not just for people from
Islamic
countries."
On another level, though, Las Vegas Muslims applaud the heightened
diligence by anti-terrorism investigators, airport security personnel
and
the like. The most commonly expressed fear is that a second major
terrorist
strike will occur on U.S. soil - unleashing far more severe
repercussions.
"If it happens again," one Muslim leader said he was told by a lawyer
in
town, "we won't be nice..."
SEE ALSO:
KNOCK AT THE DOOR
Florida Times, 8/3/04
http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/opedstory0802WMUSLIMS.htm
When does the questioning of Muslims and Arabs in America go from
prudent
inquiry to a threat against basic Constitutional rights?
And when does such examination become harassment that works against the
good relations the federal government claims it's trying to develop
with
the Muslim community?
>From the reports of dozens of Muslims and Arabs subjected to a new
round
of scrutiny by the FBI, the answer isn't good news.
The program, announced in late May, follows what U.S. Attorney General
John
Ashcroft said are indications of a planned attack in the United States.
But if, as Ashcroft said, the questioning are designed to "reach out to
our
partners in the Muslim and Arab-American communities for any
information
they may have," it's a heavy- handed approach.
Aside from generating basic concerns about its constitutionality, the
fear
generated in some by such visits is having the opposite effect.
No one doubts the necessity of investigators to seek information to
stave
off an attack, or shut down terrorist activity.
But the current interviews of Muslims and Arabs -- including at least a
half dozen in Central Florida and at least one in Palm Bay -- are as
likely
to intimidate and frighten as they are to glean relevant information.
And while the FBI calls the sessions "voluntary," some of those
questioned
said they were shaken, shocked, and fearful of losing their jobs as a
result of suspicion created by an FBI visit.
And fearful too, in light of the deportation of 11,000 foreigners after
Sept. 11, of what disasters might follow…
-----
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN CLEARED IN PROBE RESIGNS
Associated Press, 8/2/04
http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_2386384
SEATTLE - A Muslim chaplain cleared after being imprisoned for 76 days
in
an espionage probe submitted a letter of resignation to the Army on
Monday,
saying officials never apologized to him or allowed him to retrieve his
belongings from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Capt. James Yee, 35, ministered to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay naval
station, where the military is holding suspected Muslim terrorists. He
was
taken into custody after the military initially linked him to a
possible
espionage ring at Guantanamo.
``Those unfounded allegations - which were leaked to the media -
irreparably injured my personal and professional reputation and
destroyed
my prospects for a career in the United States Army,'' Yee wrote in his
resignation letter.
Yee asked to be discharged on Jan. 7. The Army must approve his
resignation, but Yee's lawyer, Eugene R. Fidell, said he did not
believe
Yee's wishes would be opposed. Fort Lewis spokesman Lt. Col. Bill
Costello
said he did not know when Yee might get an answer.
The Army arrested him last September carrying what authorities said
were
classified documents. He was eventually charged with mishandling
classified
material, failing to obey an order, making a false official statement,
adultery and conduct unbecoming an officer.
ALSO SEE:
TEENS FOUND GUILTY OF INTIMIDATION
Beth Velliquette, Herald-Sun, 8/3/04
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-505025.html
HILLSBOROUGH -- Three local teenagers were found guilty of ethnic
intimidation and assault inflicting serious injury for attacking two
UNC
students after one of the teens called one of the students "Osama."
One of the victims, Gagandeep Bindra, an Indian Sikh who has brown
skin, a
beard and wore his hair wrapped in a scarf called a Patka at the time
of
the assault, testified during the trial in Orange County District Court
on
Monday that Kenneth Perry passed by him in March on Franklin Street in
Chapel Hill and called him "Osama."
Bindra said he responded by saying "your mama" to the teenager, and
then
the teenagers turned and followed them. The teens then hit Bindra and
his
friend, Sean Michnowicz, who tried to intervene after Perry threw the
first
punch.
Perry, 19, of 2534-A Gemena Road, Chapel Hill, did not have an attorney
and
did not actively participate in the trial. District Court Judge Alonzo
Coleman sentenced him to 75 days in jail for assault inflicting serious
injury for the assault against Michnowicz, followed by 45 days in jail
for
ethnic intimidation for the assault against Bindra.
Because he is appealing the case to Superior Court, Perry remains free.
His
first court date in Superior Court is Aug. 17.
Perry's younger brother, Frederick Perry, 17, of the same address and
the
other co-defendant, Antonio Maurice Burnette, 18, of 311-A Lindsay St.,
Chapel Hill, were sentenced to 60 days each in jail for the assault
inflicting serious injury, followed by 45 days in jail for ethnic
intimidation. Their sentences were suspended, and they were placed on
supervised probation for 18 months.
Coleman told them they each had to stay in high school and graduate and
also read a book about "different ethnic groups and how we should be
treated," and write book reports about them.
The teenagers' attorneys, Don Dickerson and Caitlin Fenhagen, said they
also would file an appeal to have the cases heard in Superior Court in
front of a jury.
Bindra, 24, testified Monday that he and two friends were walking about
12:35 a.m. on March 28 from East Franklin Street to a restaurant on
West
Franklin Street when they crossed paths with three teenagers who were
walking in the opposite direction. As they passed, Kenneth Perry said
"Osama" to Bindra...
-----
AMERICAN MOSQUE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Darren Barbee, Star-Telegram, 8/2/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/states/texas/northeast/9308041.htm
COLLEYVILLE - Immigrant fathers and mothers spoke in accented English
beneath the nearly completed mosque's domes.
Teen-agers ate cheese pizza and their parents ate kebab rolls during a
summer picnic underneath two minarets, pointed towers colored
Statue-of-Liberty green.
The Islamic Association of the Mid Cities' new mosque, aligned so its
worshippers face Mecca, is a work intended for the future.
And its 25-year-old imam, Abdul Nasir Jangda, is prepared to lead it
there.
Unlike his fellow imams, Jangda needs no time to immerse himself in
American culture or to make the difficult transition to English.
Because he
was born in Arlington and was trained in a traditional Islamic seminary
in
Pakistan, he represents a different kind of imam, or teacher.
"Our goal is really to build an institution primarily for American-born
Muslims or American converts," said Mohammad Peracha, chairman of the
Islamic association.
Peracha said he believes that more Muslims will follow the
association's
example by employing a spiritual leader who is a second-generation
American.
"We wanted to be on the front edge of this," he said.
Nearly two years ago, with shovels striking dirt and a blueprint rolled
out
on a car hood, local Muslims began work on their $1.2 million vision at
500
Cheek-Sparger Road.
Association officials now hope to move from a rented wedding chapel in
Hurst to the new mosque by mid-October, just in time for the holy month
of
Ramadan.
To do so, they will have to raise about $250,000 to finish the interior
of
the building, a sum that will cover remaining electrical and mechanical
work, tiling and marble fixtures. Because of Islamic prohibitions
against
paying interest, and to avoid debt, they are paying as they go.
If the mosque is for future generations of Northeast Tarrant County
Muslims, then Jangda, wearing a traditional beard, plain robe and head
covering, gives it a young face…
-----
MUSLIMS FEAR CHRISTIANS ARE WAGING "WAR AGAINST ISLAM"
Sean Yoong, Associated Press, 8/2/04
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/2588.html
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Muslims worldwide fear Christians are waging a
"war against Islam," Malaysia's leader said Tuesday, blaming the
campaign
against terror for increased tensions between the religions.
In an emotional speech to the World Council of Churches, Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the events that followed the Sept. 11, 2001
attacks in the United States, including the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq
and
Afghanistan, "have all taken religious undertones."
"In the eyes of many Muslims, events in the last three years seem to
lend
credence to the view that the Christian West is, once again, at war
with
the Muslim world," Abdullah told representatives from Protestant,
Orthodox
and Anglican churches.
It was the first time that a prime minister in this moderate,
predominantly
Muslim country - which chairs the 57-member Organization of the Islamic
Conference - was addressing an exclusively Christian audience,
Malaysian
officials said.
Abdullah begged Christians and Muslims to "work together for the sake
of
peace and justice."
"We cannot stand before a compassionate God while there is so much we
have
left undone because we are disunited," he said, wiping away tears as
his
voice began to crack.
Abdullah said there was "less trust and goodwill between Islam and
Christianity than there was a few years ago…"
SEE ALSO:
GUANTANAMO GUARDS MOCKED ISLAM, MADE JOKES ABOUT KORAN
Middle East Online, 8/3/04
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=10846
LONDON - Guards at the United States's Guantanamo Bay prison mocked and
cursed Islam, made jokes about the Koran and neglected to call
prisoners to
prayer, a freed British detainee alleged on Tuesday.
In a lengthy statement released through his lawyer, Tarek Dergoul, 26,
a
former care worker from London, also said that guards beat him and
forced
him to look at pornographic magazines.
Dergoul was one of five Britons released in March from the naval base
in
Cuba used to incarcerate hundreds of suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban
supporters without charge.
Along with other freed Britons, Dergoul had previously alleged that
prison
guards beat and mistreated him, but Tuesday's statement went into far
greater detail, notably with regards to claims of religious mockery.
"One interrogator grabbed the Koran with his feet up on the table and
read
it like he was reading a magazine. He made jokes about the Koran," the
statement said, recounting one interrogation session.
"The guards would swear at Muslims and curse Allah and the prophet
Mohammed," Dergoul said, adding that on several occasions he joined
other
inmates on hunger strike to protest at the treatment of the Koran…
Also alleging beatings, including one in which he was knocked
unconscious,
Dergoul said interrogators routinely used intimidation.
"They threatened to send me to Morocco and Egypt, where I would be
tortured. They played US music very loud during interrogations. They
brought pictures of naked women and dirty magazines and put them on the
floor," he said.
Dergoul's lawyer, Louise Christian, said the allegations appeared to
show a
culture of abuse at the centre.
"The picture which emerged from Tarek Dergoul's signed witness
statement is
one of a systematic regime of abuses directed and ordered by the top
command and aimed at forcing detainees to make false statements in
interrogations," she said…
---
IRAQ'S CHILD PRISONERS
Neil Mackay, Sunday Herald, 8/1/04
http://www.sundayherald.com/43796
A Sunday Herald investigation has discovered that coalition forces are
holding more than 100 children in jails such as Abu Ghraib. Witnesses
claim
that the detainees - some as young as 10 - are also being subjected to
rape
and torture.
It was early last October that Kasim Mehaddi Hilas says he witnessed
the
rape of a boy prisoner aged about 15 in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison
in
Iraq. "The kid was hurting very bad and they covered all the doors with
sheets," he said in a statement given to investigators probing prisoner
abuse in Abu Ghraib. "Then, when I heard the screaming I climbed the
door
... and I saw [the soldier's name is deleted] who was wearing a
military
uniform." Hilas, who was himself threatened with being sexually
assaulted
in Abu Graib, then describes in horrific detail how the soldier raped
"the
little kid".
In another witness statement, passed to the Sunday Herald, former
prisoner
Thaar Salman Dawod said: "[I saw] two boys naked and they were cuffed
together face to face and [a US soldier] was beating them and a group
of
guards were watching and taking pictures and there was three female
soldiers laughing at the prisoners. The prisoners, two of them, were
young."
It's not certain exactly how many children are being held by coalition
forces in Iraq, but a Sunday Herald investigation suggests there are up
to
107. Their names are not known, nor is where they are being kept, how
long
they will be held or what has happened to them during their detention.
Proof of the widespread arrest and detention of children in Iraq by US
and
UK forces is contained in an internal Unicef report written in June.
The
report has - surprisingly - not been made public. A key section on
child
protection, headed "Children in Conflict with the Law or with Coalition
Forces", reads: "In July and August 2003, several meetings were
conducted
with CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) ... and Ministry of Justice
to
address issues related to juvenile justice and the situation of
children
detained by the coalition forces ... Unicef is working through a
variety of
channels to try and learn more about conditions for children who are
imprisoned or detained, and to ensure that their rights are respected."
Another section reads: "Information on the number, age, gender and
conditions of incarceration is limited. In Basra and Karbala children
arrested for alleged activities targeting the occupying forces are
reported
to be routinely transferred to an internee facility in Um Qasr.
The categorization of these children as 'internees' is worrying since
it
implies indefinite holding without contact with family, expectation of
trial or due process..."
-----
IMC-USA'S CONVENTION TO FEATURE IRFAN PATHAN'S AUTOGRAPHED BATS
http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/PressRelease.cfm?PRID=85
Chicago, IL: The August 7th Chicago convention being held by IMC-USA
will
feature cricket bats specially sent by the Indian cricket icon Irfan
Pathan
for the convention audience. These bats will be available in the
banquet
session. In a message sent to IMC-USA, in reference to its convention,
Irfan Pathan wrote, "First of all please accept my hearty
congratulations
for making such an endeavor to inculcate the ideology of universal
Brotherhood, plural thinking and mutual respect and tolerance with
various
religions and beliefs. Please convey my wholehearted support and good
wishes for this Noble thought and movement to all those who share it".
Pathan's gesture is being appreciated by his many fans, including
leading
fans such as the members of the Chicago area Gujarati Muslim
Association of
America (GMAA). "It is exciting to know that Irfan Pathan's autographed
bats are available at the 2nd IMC-USA annual convention in Chicago,"
said a
lifetime cricket fan. He also added "It is an evidence of how a sport
like
cricket can teach us that communal harmony is fundamental to India's
success whether it be in sports or any other aspect of the society".
The convention has brought together activists and leaders of the Indian
Diaspora from all backgrounds. There will be focused sessions on human
rights and updates on the struggle to get justice for the victims of
Gujarat genocide. The convention includes a session dealing with the
issues
of female empowerment and women as the worst victims of communal
violence....
The convention is expected to become an annual tradition for scholars,
activists and those concerned about protecting India's pluralism and
promoting her prosperity. According to Khalid Khan, member of the
publicity
committee and president of Innovia Designs, the convention is gathering
significant buzz in the Chicago area.
For more information and to register, delegates and journalists may
visit:
http://www.imc-usa.org/convention2004
Phone: 630-926-2881
E-mail: chicago@imc-usa.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 - 8/4/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: BE JUST
* MUSLIM VOTER SHIFT COULD HURT BUSH (IHT)
- CAIR-Seattle: U.S. Sends Muslims Mixed Messages
* CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #15: 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT
* CAIR-SV AWARDS JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
- CAIR-LA Fall Internship Program
- CAIR-NY: Job Opening for Staff Attorney
* AL-ARIAN DEFENSE CHARGES 'SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT' (DP)
* MO: HOMELAND SECURITY - A CAUTIONARY TALE (SL Post)
- DC: Israelis Train Capitol Hill Police (Wash Post)
* CA: NEW INFO TO BE RELEASED ON MISSING UCLA STUDENT
* INCITEMENT WATCH: MARTYRS, VIRGINS AND GRAPES (NY Times)
* FL: MOSQUE CASE MAY HAVE BIAS (Herald Tribune)
- TN: Iraqis on Tour Banned From Memphis Hall (AP)
* NV: MUSLIMS IN LAS VEGAS, PART 4 (LA Times)
- GA: Muslim Day Out In Atlanta (AJC)
- NC Muslim Athlete Jumping to the Forefront (FC)
* SUSPECTED ISRAELI SPY USES CANADIAN PASSPORT (CBC)
* IL: IMAN SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR DAY LABORER CAMPAIGN
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: BE JUST
"Be steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in
all
equity, and never let the hatred of others to you make you swerve to
wrong
and depart from justice. Be just: (for) that is closest to Piety…God
has
promised forgiveness and a great reward to those who believe and do
deeds
of righteousness."
The Holy Quran, 5:8-9
-----
IN OHIO, SMALL SHIFTS THAT COULD HURT BUSH
Roger Cohen, International Herald Tribune, 8/4/04
http://www.iht.com/articles/532362.htm
BOSTON- Zeba Khan, 23, missed her flight to the Democratic National
Convention last week. Her father, a 62-year-old retired civil engineer,
was
detained for questioning at the airport in Toledo, Ohio. Perhaps his
name,
recognizably Muslim, was suspicious. Or the way he looked. Or
something.
The Khans, U.S. citizens who came to the United States from India, are
used
to such incidents. "Endless inconvenience" is how Zeba Khan
characterizes
their lives since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the passing of the
Patriot Act. The treatment has spurred them from passivity to political
activism. "No Muslim American will vote for Bush," she says.
That is an exaggeration. But since the last election in 2000, when the
Muslim community endorsed George W. Bush, the approximately six million
Muslims in the United States have awakened to a new political identity
forged in anger. Harassment, the Iraq war and the Bush administration's
embrace of Ariel Sharon's Israel have all contributed to this shift.
Khan, who has just returned from a year studying Arabic in Damascus as
a
Fulbright scholar, did not bother to vote in 2000. She was at the
University of Chicago; registering to vote was a hassle. Voting, she
thought, would not change much anyway. "I can't forgive myself for that
now," she says.
This time, she will devote the next three months to working for the
Democratic candidate, John Kerry, in the Toledo area. Call the activism
"I'm going to give it everything" a kind of atonement...
SEE ALSO:
U.S. SENDS MUSLIMS MIXED MESSAGES
Robert L. Jamieson Jr., Seattle Post, 08/04/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/184759_robert04.html
What's a good Muslim American or Arab American to do when the country
he or
she loves, pays taxes in and would die for sends terribly mixed
signals?
The U.S. government says it wants these decent Americans to get out and
vote.
At the same time, Uncle Sam says we need to keep tabs on them and know
where they live -- just in case they turn out to be terrorists.
So, are Muslim and Arab Americans with us -- as they've shown time and
again -- or against us -- as recent government actions suggest they
could
be?
They say they're with the United States, as a matter of patriotism, if
not
always in agreement with the country's foreign or domestic policies.
Over the weekend, from Olympia to Lynnwood, local Muslims, including
people
of Arab heritage, exhibited red, white and blue fervor by taking part
in a
national campaign to get more people from those communities registered
to
vote.
That is a boost for democracy, which is about bringing more people
under
the big tent to participate in the political process and shape local
and
national policy.
But days before the voter drive, news bubbled up that the Census Bureau
had
given special, tabulated population data on Arab Americans to the
Department of Homeland Security.
The data included specific information on how many people of Arab
backgrounds live in certain cities and ZIP codes, and it goes so far as
to
sort folks by country of origin...
Samia El-Moslimany, board chairwoman of the Seattle office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations, said the census actions could have "a
chilling effect" that works against getting more Muslims registered to
vote. Who wants to voluntarily engage in a democratic system they
perceive
as working against them?
"But the bottom line is people need to get involved in the political
process to impact things like this," El-Moslimany said of census data
sharing. "To make this unacceptable. For too long, we have been sitting
and
whining. To be proactive, you have to be politically active."
-----
CAIR ELECTION UPDATE #15: 9/11 COMMISSION
The latest issue of CAIR's ELECTION 2004 UPDATE is now available
online.
CAIR's weekly election updates are designed to promote American Muslim
political empowerment. Updates focus on issues of importance to the
American Muslim community and outline the candidates' positions on
those
issues.
TO READ THE FULL UPDATE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/aug032004.asp
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1) RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
National Security
- Bush Campaign: Progress on Homeland Security
- Kerry Challenges Bush on Terrorism and Security
- Kerry: Bush Acts Breeding Terrorists
9/11 Commission
- Bush Supports Intelligence Director Post
- Congress Faces Hurdles on Sept. 11 Reform
Iraq
- Kerry Pledges Major Troop Reduction in Iraq
- President Says War Was 'Right'
Outreach
- Jews Warn Kerry Campaign: Don't Take Us for Granted
- Kerry, Bush Compete for a Few Undecided Voters
- Kerry Leans Right
Economy
- Kerry and Edwards Pledge to Restore Fiscal Responsibility
Health Care
- Badnarik Campaign: How to Slash Pharmaceutical Prices Virtually
Overnight
2) COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
- U.S. Census Bureau Watching Arab-Americans
- WA: Mosques Hosting Electoral Registration
Upcoming Events:
To announce your upcoming American Muslim local event, please contact:
politics@cair-net.org
3) NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL
- ACLU Backs Out of Program, Citing Patriot Act
- Groups Try to Block Florida Abortion Vote
- MO: Missouri Vote First Battle in Marriage War
To send local news stories, feedback, and comments please email:
politics@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-SV AWARDS JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP TO MUSLIM STUDENT
Asian-American group co-sponsors awards for general education
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 8/4/04) - The Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) today announced the award of six
scholarships to Northern California Muslim college students. CAIR-SV
officials say five of the scholarships will be used in general
education,
while one will be used for studies in journalism and mass
communication.
CAIR-SV joined with the Council of Asian, Pacific Islanders Together
for
Advocacy, and Leadership (CAPITAL) - an umbrella for more than 90
organizations - in awarding five $1,000 general education CAIR-CAPITAL
scholarships to:
* Samia Malik of Eldorado Hills - University of California, Los Angeles
(Medicine/Biology)
* Samia Ghaffar of Davis - University of California, Davis (Bio
Science)
* Eisha Zaid of Davis - University of California, Davis (Genetics)
* Mustafa Siddique of Folsom - University of California, Davis (Bio
Science)
* Sadia Ghaffar of Davis - University of California, Davis (Genetics,
Religious Std.)
A CAIR-SV Journalism/Mass Communication Scholarship ($2,500) is being
awarded to Zaki Hasan, a graduate student in Mass Communication at
California State University, San Jose. Hasan has produced several films
on
diverse topics, including the life of American Muslim post-9/11.
"We thank CAPITAL for their support of the joint scholarship program
and
congratulate the recipients of the scholarships," said CAIR-SV
Executive
Director Basim Elkarra.
The scholarship awards fulfill a pledge made by CAIR-SV at its 2003
Annual
Banquet. CAIR-SV plans to promote the study of journalism with an
annual
scholarship program.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 28 offices nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, CAIR-SV (916) 289-3748
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-LA FALL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Southern California (CAIR-LA)
is
seeking applicants for its fall internship program (September 7-
November
19). The program is open to Muslim college or university students age
18
and older who have legal status in the U.S. to receive a monthly
stipend.
CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and training
in
Community Outreach, Education, Governmental Relations, Lobbying, Public
and
Media Relations,
Legal and Civil Rights, Research and Leadership Training. The
application
deadline is August 27, 2004.
Interested and qualified applicants should contact Alia Aboul-Nasr at
aliaa@cair.com or call 714-776-1847 for an application.
-----
CAIR-NY: JOB OPENING FOR STAFF ATTORNEY
For more information, call 212-870-2002, or e-mail: wnasr@cair-ny.com
-----
THE AL-ARIAN DEFENSE MAKES A NEW CHARGE: SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT
John Sugg, Daily Planet, 8/4/04
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/scene_herd2.html
'One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" is an argument
that
has been espoused by the likes of George H.W. Bush, Oliver North and
Margaret Thatcher. Now that thinking -- on the part of the U.S. Justice
Department -- could result in freedom for Tampa's best-known alleged
terrorist (or freedom fighter), Sami Al-Arian, and three co-defendants
scheduled to go on trial next January. Federal authorities prosecute
some
groups for terrorism while ignoring identical or similar activities by
other groups, according to court documents filed on behalf of Al-Arian
and
Hatim Naji Fariz. The motions describe a long list of terrorist
activities
in the United States by Cambodian, Irish and Jewish groups that either
have
not been prosecuted by federal authorities or have received only
slap-on-the-wrist attention. Many of the groups have direct links to
bloodshed, while the government has stipulated that Al-Arian and his
associates were not involved in violent attacks or any actions aimed at
the
United States.
Fariz's federal public defender, Kevin Beck, said that "100 percent of
terrorism prosecutions" he located under the same law that's been
applied
to Al-Arian were of Muslims and Arabs. "Obviously this is not fair. The
prosecution is driven by politics, domestic policy and a foreign
government
[Israel]."
Ironically, one alleged terrorism supporter who has escaped the
interest of
federal prosecutors is himself a federal prosecutor in Tampa. The
Weekly
Planet has reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office's chief criminal
prosecutor, Robert O'Neill, is part owner of a Hyde Park bar, Four
Green
Fields, that has hosted fundraisers for Sinn Fein, which the U.S. State
Department describes as a front for the Irish Republican Army. The IRA
has
murdered at least 650 civilians since the 1970s, and in recent years
has
built bombs for Palestinian groups and aided Colombian
narco-terrorists.
"O'Neill appears to have been involved in doing the same thing as
Al-Arian,
all at a time when he was supposed to be investigating Al-Arian,"
veteran
federal prosecutor Jeffrey Del Fuoco wrote in a confidential Aug. 29,
2003,
Justice Department memo that was obtained by the Planet. "I can think
of
several disastrous problems associated with this, to include defense
allegations of 'selective prosecution'."
Terry Zitek, the lead prosecutor against Al-Arian, did not return phone
calls or respond to detailed messages on the subject of selective
enforcement.
Fariz and Al-Arian's motions list a number of groups that are clearly
terrorist but have not been prosecuted, including: * Kach and Kahane
Chai.
These are Israeli terrorist groups that openly operate and raise money
in
New York. "Law enforcement agencies rarely bother them and generally
ignore
their activities," Fariz's motion states...
-----
HOMELAND SECURITY: A CAUTIONARY TALE
St Louis Post Dispatch, 08/04/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/emaf.nsf/Popup?ReadForm&db=stltoday%5C
news%5Cstories.nsf&docid=1384B7E5668B446686256EE600374A0B
It may have been a case of U.S. Customs Service officials wanting to be
safe rather than sorry when they detained a Senegalese Muslim at
Lambert
Field in early June. Still, there was no excuse for turning this
encounter
into a six-week ordeal.
Moustapha Seck, a prominent religious figure in his native Senegal, was
detained at Lambert Field apparently on a suspicion that he may have
links
with al-Qaida, according to stories by Post-Dispatch reporter
Aisha Sultan. Cultural differences and a breakdown in communications
led to
a six-week stay in an immigration jail. Finally, he was allowed to head
home after pleading guilty - under pressure, he says - to a relatively
minor visa violation.
Mr. Seck's troubles began after he bought a stapler at the airport to
patch
a torn flight bag. Discovery of the stapler prompted airport security
workers to search his luggage…
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELIS TRAIN CAPITOL HILL POLICE
Sari Horwitz, Washington Post, 08/04/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37872-2004Aug3.html
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer has taken several
aggressive
steps in recent months to heighten security around the Capitol,
including
retraining officers to shoot a suspected suicide bomber in the head if
other efforts to stop an attack fail.
Gainer's decision Monday to close a major thoroughfare and impose 14
vehicle checkpoints on Capitol Hill was one piece of a much larger
security
strategy…
-----
NEW INFORMATION TO BE RELEASED ON MISSING UCLA STUDENT
ANAHEIM, CA - The family of the missing University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) student, Ahmed Arain, will hold a press conference
outside
their home today to talk about new pictures released of Arain boarding
a
bus to UCLA and to give an update on police and volunteer work. There
will
also be a candle light vigil with neighbors and friends in the evening.
Arain has been missing since Friday, July 23, 2004 when he was on his
way
to an academic counseling appointment at UCLA.
WHAT: Press Conference regarding new information on Ahmed Arain,
missing
UCLA student
WHEN: Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Outside Arain home, 2862 N. Cottonwood, Orange, CA 92865
CONTACTS: Shakeel Syed (family friend) 310-384-7791; Sulayman Arain
(brother) 714-473-6855; Mrs. Arain (mother) 714-322-8574; Note: The
family
(mother, brother, and sister) is available for interviews.
UCLA police discovered Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
videotape footage of Arain boarding a bus south of LA toward UCLA.
Arain's
mother will be viewing these tapes tomorrow to see if she can identify
any
more people or clues to his disappearance.
UCLA police are currently releasing some pictures to the media. Ahmad
Arain, 20 years old, boarded an MTA bus from Anaheim, California at the
Disneyland bus stop on July 23rd at 8:30 a.m.
He was on his way to an appointment with an academic counselor at UCLA
who
confirmed that Ahmad never showed up. He was last in touch with his
mother
by cell phone around 10 a.m. that morning. He was scheduled to return
home
at 5:30 p.m. the same day.
The FBI has placed him on the national network of Missing Persons. An
official case has been filed with the UCLA Police Department (Case
No:01-04-001993) and the incident and case number has been reported to
the
Anaheim Police Department.
Volunteers have called area hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange County
-
with no luck. They have also placed flyers near the MTA Main station in
downtown LA. Special prayers have also been held at some area mosques
for
his safety.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: MARTYRS, VIRGINS AND GRAPES
Nicholas D. Kristof, NY Times, 08/04/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/04/opinion/04krist.html
"The virgins are calling you," Mohamed Atta wrote reassuringly to his
fellow hijackers just before 9/11.
It has long been a staple of Islam that Muslim martyrs will go to
paradise
and marry 72 black-eyed virgins. But a growing body of rigorous
scholarship
on the Koran points to a less sensual paradise - and, more important,
may
offer a step away from fundamentalism and toward a reawakening of the
Islamic world.
Some Islamic theologians protest that the point was companionship,
never
heavenly sex. Others have interpreted the pleasures quite explicitly;
one,
al-Suyuti, wrote that sex in paradise is pretty much continual and so
glorious that "were you to experience it in this world you would
faint."
But now the same tools that historians, linguists and archaeologists
have
applied to the Bible for about 150 years are beginning to be applied to
the
Koran. The results are explosive.
The Koran is beautifully written, but often obscure. One reason is that
the
Arabic language was born as a written language with the Koran, and
there's
growing evidence that many of the words were Syriac or Aramaic...
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Send constructive and polite comments to the New York Times.
Letters for publication should be no longer than 150 words, must refer
to
an article that has appeared within the last seven days, and must
include
the writer's address and phone numbers. No attachments, please.
Writers of those letters selected for publication will be notified
within a
week. Letters may be shortened for space requirements. To e-mail a
letter
to the editor, write to letters@nytimes.com.
You may also send your letter to:
Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Fax: (212) 556-3622
-----
COMPLAINANT IN MOSQUE CASE MAY HAVE SINCERE CONCERN ABOUT BIAS
Tom Lyons, Herald Tribune, 08/04/04
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040803/COLUMNIST36
/408030367
The conservative local columnist who appears in this section twice a
week
just charged someone with trying to be divisive and destructive.
But how does he know?
Rod Thomson's column on Monday ripped whoever it is that filed a
certain
civil rights complaint, one being looked into by the U.S. Justice
Department. That complaint says Sarasota County showed bias against a
Muslim group that hoped to build a largish mosque with 80-foot prayer
towers in a Sarasota neighborhood.
The county gave some concessions to the Muslim group, but didn't allow
the
building or the towers to be nearly as tall as requested.
That seemed to me like a reasonable call. Like Thomson, I don't see
bias in
the decision, which seems to be based on the neighborhood and the size
of
the lot.
But Thomson now insists that the person who complained and charged bias
is
out to "gin up controversy and feelings of discrimination" and that the
result could be "destructive divisiveness that obviously someone
desires."
To me, that is just Thomson being destructively divisive and ginning up
feelings of discrimination.
He doesn't even know who filed the complaint. So he can't know what the
motives were…
ALSO SEE:
IRAQIS ON TOUR BANNED FROM MEMPHIS HALL
Associated Press, 08/04/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Ira
qis%20Unwelcome
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Iraqis visiting on a civil rights tour were barred
from
city hall after the city council chairman said it was too dangerous to
let
them in.
The seven Iraqi civic and community leaders are in the midst of a
three-week American tour, sponsored by the State Department to learn
more
about the process of government. The trip also includes stops in
Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago.
The Iraqis were scheduled to meet with a city council member, but Joe
Brown, the council chair, said he feared the group was dangerous.
"We don't know exactly what's going on. Who knows about the delegation,
and
has the FBI been informed?" Brown said. "We must secure and protect all
the
employees in that building."
Elisabeth Silverman, the group's host and head of the Memphis Council
for
International Visitors, said Brown told her he would "evacuate the
building
and bring in the bomb squads" if the group entered.
"They are in charge of setting up processes in their country. They have
to
educate themselves about how it works in this country," Silverman said…
-----
THEIR SPIRITUAL THIRST FOUND A DESERT SPRING
Peter H. King, Los Angeles Times, 08/04/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vegas4aug04,1,6599969.s
tory
One grew up on a farm in Pakistan, the other was a child of Detroit.
One
was born into Islam, the other was brought up a Baptist. From these
disparate starting points, Iqbal Khan and Mustafa Yunis Richards set
out as
young men to explore the most fundamental questions of faith.
They took different paths. One wandered the world as a seaman, the
other
bounced from one belief system to the next. In the end, oddly enough,
both
wound up here, working in the casinos of Las Vegas, praying in the
city's
mosques - strangers to each other, but in spirit the closest of travel
companions.
"I wanted to find all the truths," said Khan, a 53-year-old security
guard
at the Main Street Casino. "I wanted to see all the holy places.
Growing up
in Muslim society, I was kept like in a cave, in life's cave, even
though I
was from a very educated family. It's a cave that had no information
from
the outside: What's right? What's wrong? How can you verify?"
For years Khan toiled in the engine rooms of commercial ships that
supplied
U.S. military bases overseas. On shore leave he would hunt for used
books
on history and religion and make visits to the landmark shrines of all
faiths. While at sea he studied the texts and also taught himself
languages
- German, Greek, Arabic - preparing to converse with people he
encountered
at ports of call.
"I checked everything," he said. "I talked to people. I learned about
humans. I learned about their livings, their religions, how they act. I
started going to churches. I went to synagogues. I learned about
Catholics,
about Orthodox, Protestants. All of that."
He frowned.
"I still don't know a lot about Mormons."
Richards, a soft-spoken, 52-year-old black man, worked as a bellhop at
the
Imperial Palace hotel and casino on the Strip until circulatory disease
forced him into early retirement a few years ago. He has been a
practicing
Muslim for a decade, the last leg of a journey that began in his late
teens
with a visit to a Detroit synagogue.
Richards was a physical presence back then, weighing a well-muscled 215
pounds. As he stepped into the doorway, the rabbi thrust his hands into
the
air, as if expecting to be robbed…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM DAY OUT IN ATLANTA
Shelia M. Poole, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 08/04/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/atlanta_world/0804/04muslim.html
Thousands of Muslims - Syrians, Egyptians, Indians and
African-Americans -
recently gathered in Atlanta's Grant Park to celebrate diversity in
Islam
and bring that community in Atlanta closer.
Events included a sports competition, picnic, international
marketplace,
food vendors, recitations from the Quran and an Islamic quiz contest.
A Street of Cultures provided a peek into the global diversity of Islam
as
well as the local community.
"This was a time to come out and get to know each other," said
Pakistani-born Amjad Taufique, one of the organizers. He said
non-Muslims
were also invited…
---
NC MUSLIM ATHLETE: JUMPING TO THE FOREFRONT
Chuck McShane, Fayetteville Observer, 8/4/04
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/printer-search.php?storyId=956338&year=2004
Aminah Ghaffar has been setting the pace for the newly formed Angel
Elite
track club this summer. The 9-year-old won two gold medals at the AAU
Region 3A Track Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., in July.
She set a regional record in the triathlon with a score of 787, then
beat
her personal record set at last year's regionals with a long jump of 11
feet, 113/4 inches.
With the two gold medals, Aminah qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic
Nationals this week in Des Moines, Iowa.
Aminah's no stranger to the winner's circle. She won the gold medal in
the
long jump at the 2003 AAU Region 3A meet with a 10-4 jump.
She isn't the only Angel Elite member going to nationals. Shot putter
Jaynell Brown and 100-meter sprinter Wynola Cain also qualified. But
Aminah
is the most versatile.
She competes in the triathlon, which includes the high jump, shot put
and
200 meter, and the long jump. She also ran the 100 meters at this
year's
regionals and finished just short of qualifying...
-----
SUSPECTED ISRAELI SPY ALLEGED TO BE USING CANADIAN PASSPORT
CBC NEWS, 8/04/04
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/08/04/israel_passport040804.htm
l
OTTAWA - Canadian authorities are investigating reports that a
suspected
Israeli spy is using a stolen Canadian passport to travel through Asia.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Reynald Doiron confirmed that Ottawa is
investigating allegations that Zev William Barkan is using a Canadian
passport under the name Kevin William Hunter.
Barkan is alleged to be one of three suspected Israeli agents who tried
to
illegally obtain a New Zealand passport.
Two Israeli men were sentenced last month to six months in prison for
their
part in the New Zealand passport scheme. But they denied they belong to
Mossad, Israel's secret service.
New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel following the
incident.
The passport allegedly being used by Barkan was reported stolen in
China in
April…
-----
IMAN SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR DAY LABORER CAMPAIGN
Over the last four months IMAN has been paving the way to become the
first
Muslim community organization to play an active and significant role in
a
very important city-wide campaign struggling for Day Laborers' rights.
In
standing along side other organizations like the Union Latina, CIME,
CCH
and ICIRR, IMAN intends to demonstrate to the Latino community and
larger
society that Muslims are committed and concerned about the issues that
affect the vulnerable and disenfranchised segments of our city. IMAN
urgently needs Muslim volunteers to join this effort.
Please contact us or just come to the volunteer meeting:
Sunday, August 15, 12:00 pm
IMAN Office - 3344 W. 63rd Street
Chicago, IL
For More Information Contact:
Adalberto Madrigal
IMAN Latino Outreach Organizer
E-Mail: daylaborer@imancentral.org
Tel: (773)434-4626
Web: http://www.imancentral.org/
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CALLS ALLEGED NY MISSILE PLOT 'DEEPLY TROUBLING'
Group says case should not be used to associate Islam with violence
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/5/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today said an alleged plot by two men associated with an
Albany, N.Y., mosque to help purchase a shoulder-fired missile from an
FBI
informant is a "deeply troubling" development that should not be used
to
associate all American Muslims with violence.
In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) said:
"The government's allegations against the two men are deeply troubling
to
the American Muslim community. We strongly support any legal efforts to
ensure the safety and security of our nation. As the investigation goes
forward, we must all remember that every defendant is presumed innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law and that the alleged actions of
individuals should not be used to tar an entire community with the
brush of
terrorism.
"All too often, these types of cases are used by those with political
or
religious agendas to smear Muslims and to demonize Islam. We should
stick
to the facts of the case and avoid generalizations and stereotypes that
only serve to create societal divisions and promote anti-Muslim
bigotry."
CAIR's statement noted that Federal agents today arrested a Chicago man
for
allegedly plotting to blow up a federal courthouse with a fertilizer
truck
bomb. The Associated Press reports that Gale William Nettles, 66, was
arrested with a pickup truck containing 1,500 pounds of fertilizer he
allegedly thought was ammonium nitrate, the same substance used to blow
up
the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. Prosecutors say Nettles
apparently had a grudge against the court system and did not belong to
any
political group.
"Allegations of terrorist activity should be treated equally, whatever
the
faith or ethnicity of the alleged perpetrators," said CAIR.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name Of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/5/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TEACH GOODNESS
* CAIR-NY: JOB OPENING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR
* MI: PRO-ISLAM RESOLUTION SPARKS DEBATE (Detroit FP)
- MI: Anger Over Charlie Daniels Appearance (AP)
* CAIR-LA: MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO RALLY FOR DETAINEE
- CA: Many Faiths Voice Support for El-Mazain
* ARAB AMERICANS MULL PRESIDENTIAL RACE (Forward)
- Kerry: Building Bridges to the Muslim Community
* PENTAGON TO PROBE TREATMENT OF MUSLIM CHAPLAIN (AP)
- Collateral Damage (Oregonian)
- Honda: Investigation Granted into Chaplain Yee Case
* NV: MUSLIMS IN LAS VEGAS, PART 5 (Los Angeles Times)
* ISRAEL MOVES TOWARD SETTLEMENT EXPANSION (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TEACH GOODNESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God and His angels, the
dwellers of the Heavens and of the Earth, even an ant in its hole and
fish
(in the depths of the sea), invoke blessings on (a scholar) who teaches
people goodness."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 70
-----
CAIR-NY: JOB OPENING FOR CIVIL RIGHT COORDINATOR
The New York office of the Council on American-Islamic Relation
(CAIR-NY)
has an opening for the part-time position of civil rights coordinator.
The
ideal candidate will be an undergraduate degree holder (students
welcomed
to apply) with a familiarity issues related to civil rights/liberties
atmosphere.
Ideal candidates will have a dedication to attention to detail and will
be
persistent in the pursuit of justice.
CONTACT Wissam Nasr or Feroze Abdul-Munim at (212) 870-2002.
-----
PRO-ISLAM RESOLUTION SPARKS DEBATE
NIRAJ WARIKOO, Detroit Free Press, 8/5/04
http://www.freep.com/news/cfp/11/kislam5_20040805.htm
The idea was a simple one, said Dearborn Heights City Councilman Bob
Constan: to honor Islam and the growing Muslim population with a
special
council resolution.
But Constan's plan has stirred emotions in Dearborn Heights and
generated a
complex debate about the role of religion in public life.
It also has drawn attention to a 2001 council election tainted by an
anti-Arab poll done for his campaign.
At a recent council meeting, Constan introduced a resolution that said
the
city "recognizes the Islamic Holidays and the Holy Month of Ramadan,
and
encourages all residents of the City of Dearborn Heights to come to
know
and to better understand the Islamic Faith."
The resolution also said that Islam is a "Religion of Peace, Family,
Community and Wisdom." If passed, the resolution would not cost any
money
or require any action; it would basically be for symbolic value.
But a number of residents, both Christian and Muslim, said Constan's
resolution was unnecessary and violated America's tradition of
separation
of church and state. Others on the seven-member council spoke against
the
resolution.
City residents "don't need seven politicians telling them to love thy
neighbor," said Councilwoman Catherine Heise. "That's why we have the
Bible. That's why we have the Koran."
After an intense debate, the resolution was tabled and sent to a study
committee. Constan said he's working on revising the resolution and
might
reintroduce it later.
But some people say Constan's move is an attempt to make up for his
actions
during a council race in 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks.
In the fall election of 2001, Constan, an attorney, ran for City
Council
against two incumbent councilmen, Jumanah Judeh and David Turfe, who
are
both of Arab descent. Turfe is also Muslim.
In the weeks after Sept. 11, a man claiming to be a pollster made calls
to
residents in Dearborn Heights. It is unusual for a pollster to be used
for
a City Council race, residents say.
And the pollster's questions had more to do with pointing out Judeh's
and
Turfe's ethnicity and religion than with asking traditional questions.
According to some residents who contacted the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, the pollster's questions included: "Are
you
aware that two of the candidates this year are Arab American? Are you
aware
that one of the candidates is Muslim?
"In light of the Sept. 11 attacks, are you comfortable with a Muslim
serving on the City Council? Are you afraid that a Muslim will fairly
represent our values in light of the Sept. 11 attacks?"
Constan won the election; Judeh and Turfe were defeated…
SEE ALSO:
ANGER OVER CHARLIE DANIELS APPEARANCE IN HEAVILY ARAB CITY
Associated Press, 8/5/04
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw102275_20040805.htm
DEARBORN - Charlie Daniels, the man who wrote and sang "This Ain't No
Rag,
It's a Flag," is drawing heat from Arab-Americans who say it refers to
a
derogatory term used against them.
Daniels, 67, is scheduled to perform Saturday in Dearborn, the center
of
southeastern Michigan's 300,000-member Arab-American community.
After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Daniels wrote and recorded the song,
which became a country hit.
It begins:
"This ain't no rag, it's a flag and we don't wear it on our heads. It's
a
symbol of the land where the good guys live. Are you listening to what
I
said?"
On Saturday, the Charlie Daniels Band will perform at the
city-sponsored
Homecoming Festival.
"Someone who is trying to get popular through bigotry, bias and hatred
should not be welcome, especially in a city like Dearborn with its rich
diversity," Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, told the Detroit Free Press.
City spokeswoman Mary Laundroche said no formal complaints have been
received about the performance and the show will go on.
"Ragheads" is a slur used against Arabs, Muslims and others who wear
turbans or cover their heads.
Daniels says the song is not directed at Arab and Muslims in general,
just
at turbaned terrorists like Osama bin Laden…
-----
CAIR-LA: MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO HOLD RALLY FOR DETAINEE
WHAT: The Muslim community will hold a rally following Friday prayers
(Jumah) to call for the fair treatment and release of Abdul Jabbar
Hamdan
currently held in custody by federal authorities on alleged immigration
charges. The community is concerned about allegations that Hamdan is
being
threatened with deportation as a "pressure tactic" to gain information
about an Islamic charity, the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation. (See
article below.)
Ban Al-Wardi, Hamdan's immigration attorney, said her client has
cooperated
fully with federal officials on three separate occasions and has
offered
any and all information.
WHEN: Friday, August 6, 2004; Prayer at 12:45 p.m., Protest to follow
prayer.
WHERE: Santa Ana Federal Building, 34 Civic Center Plaza Federal
Building
Santa Ana, CA; Prayer will be held in the Plaza of the Flags.
CONTACT: West Coast Islamic Society - Ibrahim Subeih - 714-590-3268
COSPONSORS: West Coast Islamic Society, Council on American-Islamic
Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA); Islamic Shura Council of
Southern California
SEE ALSO:
PEOPLE OF MANY FAITHS VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR EL-MAZAIN
Kelly Thornton, Union-Tribune, 8/4/04
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20040803-2228-hamas-staff.h
tml
Supporters of Mohammad El-Mezain listened as attorney Alex Landon spoke
outside federal court in San Diego yesterday. El-Mezain, charged with
funneling $12.4 million to the terrorist group Hamas, agreed to go to
Texas
to face the charges.
Scores of people crowded the federal courthouse yesterday in support of
a
prominent San Diego Muslim cleric whose arrest on terrorism charges
inspired Jewish, Catholic and Protestant community leaders to come to
his
defense. Mohammad El-Mezain, a former chairman of a Muslim charity shut
down by the U.S. government, was charged last week with funneling $12.4
million to the terrorist group Hamas since 1995.
The indictments of El-Mezain, the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for
Relief and Development, and six other directors were announced last
week by
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. El-Mezain, 51, a legal U.S.
resident,
was arrested July 27 in Scripps Ranch as he returned home from morning
prayers at a local mosque.
He has been held without bond. At yesterday's hearing in San Diego,
El-Mezain agreed to go to Dallas to face grand jury charges and to
postpone
his bond hearing until he arrives in Texas. He will plead not guilty
and
ask a judge to allow him to post bond after he arrives in Texas, said
his
lawyer, Alex Landon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Skerlos said
El-Mezain
no longer was considered a danger to the community but remains a flight
risk and should be denied bond. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday in
Dallas…
Landon gave the judge a package containing about 20 letters from
friends
and community leaders, praising El-Mazain for his efforts to bring
together
people of different faiths after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
and
for his spiritual leadership in the community.
One letter was signed by Roland Lanoue of the National Conference for
the
Community and Justice, formerly the National Conference of Christians
and
Jews.
"In countless meetings, meals and car trips together, Mr. El-Mezain
never
said anything or acted uncharitable when he, as a Palestinian and
Jordanian, and I as an American Jew, discussed Israel and Palestine. I
know
him to be a man of compassion," the letter from Lanoue said…
After the hearing, El-Mezain's supporters rallied with cheers, sermons
and
prayers for his release.
"Everybody loves him," said a friend, Kifah Samara. "This person has
been
here, not only for our community, but for all communities."
The Rev. Art Cribbs of Christian Fellowship United Church of Christ in
Emerald Hills delivered what sounded like a sermon before television
cameras and a bouquet of microphones.
"We have prayed together on these very steps, we have been in mosques,
in
churches and cathedrals!" Cribbs said. "He is a deeply loving, a deeply
scholarly, a deeply generous person.
"I do not believe these charges that have been brought against him,
this
human being, this father, this religious person, this imam. I do not
believe!" Cribbs said to a cheering crowd…
-----
ARAB AMERICANS MULL PRESIDENTIAL RACE
E.J. Kessler, Forward, 8/6/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=kessler200408041111
BOSTON - As the campaigns of President Bush and Senator John Kerry try
to
outdo each other in outreach to the Jewish community, Arab American
voters
are feeling screwed to the wall.
While Arab Americans gave a strong plurality of their vote to George W.
Bush in 2000, many now say they are repelled by his decision to launch
the
Iraq war and his support for the USA Patriot Act, as well as his
perceived
tilt toward Israel. Distress over the administration's Middle East
policy
has led many Arabs to abandon their support of the president and to
switch
their allegiances to the Democratic ticket, a number of polls have
found.
But the Arab American community also is feeling extremely frustrated by
the
strongly pro-Israel rhetoric of John Kerry's presidential campaign,
according to Arab American activists interviewed here last week during
the
Democratic National Convention or by telephone beforehand. As a result,
they said, many voters could end up casting their ballots for
independent
presidential candidate Ralph Nader, himself an Arab American, or
staying
home.
"You have to win Florida and New York, so you cater to the [community]
that
wins you Florida and New York," said Ali Dagher, an Arab American
lawyer
from Dearborn, Mich., who attended the convention as part of a
contingent
of activists from the Arab American Institute, referring to the Jewish
community. "But you also have to have a formula for winning Michigan
and
Ohio," he added, referring to two states with large Arab American
populations.
Bush "lied and made commitments and promises that never came true, and
Republican Arab Americans are completely disillusioned with the Bush
campaign," Dagher said. "But at this point you can't be certain people
will
vote for Kerry, either. Nader's doing well. How do you get that vote?
The
Democratic ticket has to do something to give an incentive to go to the
polls..."
ALSO SEE:
BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE MUSLIM AMERICAN COMMUNITY
(From the Kerry/Edwards Campaign)
John Kerry and John Edwards recognize the many contributions that
Muslim
Americans have made to our nation and will work to protect and defend
the
civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Muslim
Americans. They support rigorous enforcement of our nation s civil
rights
laws so that all Americans, including Muslims, can live, work, learn,
worship, and gather without fear or discrimination. A Kerry-Edwards
administration will not tolerate the targeting of Muslim Americans for
threats, violence or discrimination based on their religion.
End the Era of John Ashcroft: The Ashcroft Justice Department has
unfairly
targeted Muslim and Arab Americans and has selectively enforced the
immigration laws against these communities. John Kerry and John Edwards
will uphold constitutional rights and protections, and civil rights
laws.
They will also strengthen terrorism laws that work, including sharing
information with local law enforcement. And they will ensure that
American
citizens held as detainees receive access to counsel, an opportunity
for
judicial review and at least minimal constitutional safeguards.
Amend the USA PATRIOT Act: While John Kerry and John Edwards support
the
majority of the PATRIOT Act, they, along with a growing number of both
Democrats and Republicans, believe that certain provisions should be
modified. They support efforts, such as the bipartisan-sponsored
Security
and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act, to amend the PATRIOT Act to set
reasonable
limits on access to library, medical, and other records containing the
sensitive, personal details of the lives of law-abiding Americans and
on
the conduct of so-called sneak and peek searches.
End Racial Profiling: As a former prosecutor, John Kerry knows that
racial
profiling is nothing more than ineffective law enforcement and must be
prohibited. He and John Edwards support the End Racial Profiling Act,
which would ban racial profiling and require federal, state, and local
law
enforcement to take steps to end and prevent racial profiling.
Strengthen Hate Crime Laws: John Kerry and John Edwards support strong
enforcement and equal justice for all victims of hate violence. Both
support expansion of our nation s hate crimes law and Kerry has
consistently voted for the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, also
known as the hate crimes bill.
Promoting Mutual Cultural Understanding: Kerry and Edwards will
support
the establishment of study centers within American universities, expand
development of American corners in educational and cultural
institutions in
Muslim countries, and launch a significant translation project. They
will
work with the private sector and international institutions to help
civil
society groups and governments aid democracy, public participation,
free
expression, transparency and efficient economic management.
Protect Workplace Religious Freedom: John Kerry has led the fight for
the
Workplace Religious Freedom Act which will ensure that no American is
forced to choose between the job they need and the faith that sustains
them.
-----
PENTAGON INSPECTOR GENERAL TO PROBE TREATMENT OF MUSLIM CHAPLAIN
Erica Werner, Associated Press, 8/5/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9320393.htm
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon's inspector general will investigate the
treatment of a Muslim chaplain imprisoned in solitary confinement for
76
days and then cleared in an espionage probe at Guantanamo Bay,
according to
a letter to lawmakers.
House and Senate Democrats have been pushing for the probe of the case
of
Capt. James Yee, who submitted his resignation to the Army on Monday.
Yee
is now based at Fort Lewis, Wash.
Yee was arrested last year and charged with mishandling classified
material
and other crimes in a suspected espionage ring at the Naval base prison
in
Cuba, but the criminal charges were later dropped. He was then
reprimanded
for adultery and downloading pornography, but an Army general threw out
that reprimand.
"We will conduct an investigation into the issues raised with respect
to
your correspondence," John R. Crane, an assistant inspector general,
wrote
in a July 29 letter to House Democrats who sought the investigation.
The
letter was released Wednesday. He wrote that because of "other ongoing
and
urgent matters" the investigation would start in the fall rather than
immediately.
Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rose-Ann Lynch confirmed the contents of
the
letter but declined to comment further.
Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, welcomed the development.
"I am deeply concerned that Chaplain Yee did not receive appropriate
legal
treatment by the U.S. Army in its investigation into his alleged
wrongdoings," Honda said. "For many members of the Asian American and
Pacific Islander American community, this case has elements that are
painfully reminiscent of the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, who suffered
character
assassination as a result of false allegations brought against him."…
ALSO SEE:
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Oregonian, 8/4/04
http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/109
1621010167640.xml
Capt. James Yee was proud to be one of the first Muslim chaplains ever
appointed to the U.S. armed forces, and his pride showed, according to
a
copy of his performance review obtained by The Seattle Times. Yee's
work at
the Guantanamo Bay prison camp won the highest possible marks.
Yee was "instrumental in making this detainee operation successful,"
his
Sept. 8 evaluation states. "Yee is an asset to the Army and should be
promoted at the first opportunity."
Just two days later, however, Yee was accused of being a traitor. He
was
arrested Sept. 10 on suspicion of mutiny and sedition, espionage and
aiding
the enemy. For a soldier, it doesn't get much worse. Yee's lawyers were
told he would face the death penalty.
But while he was sitting in solitary confinement for 76 days, a strange
thing happened to the charges against him -- they shrank. When the Army
couldn't make the original charges stick, he was accused of mishandling
classified information and some lesser offenses. In March, these were
dismissed, as well.
As if to ensure that Yee would be humiliated if nothing else, the Army
also
accused Yee of the noncriminal offenses of adultery and downloading
pornography. Although he was found guilty of these tangents and
reprimanded, even this final stain on his record was removed in April.
But this week, he submitted a letter of resignation, effective in
January,
admitting defeat. Despite the fact that he has prevailed in court
against
his accusers, he wrote, his reputation and his prospects in the Army
are
ruined…
---
HONDA: INVESTIGATION GRANTED INTO CHAPLAIN YEE CASE
Inspector General Agrees to Request for Formal Inquiry
Washington, DC - US Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) today announced that
the
Inspector General (IG) of the US Department of Defense has agreed to
his
formal request for an investigation into the US Army's court martial of
James Yee, the Muslim chaplain who resigned from the Army on August 2
after
being subjected to months of questionable military legal procedures.
"Chaplain Yee's treatment by the US Army clearly warrants an
investigation
into the handling of his entire case, including whether his detention
was
supported by adequate evidence and appropriate legal charges,"
Congressman
Honda said. "I have grave concerns about the government's track record
of
unsubstantiated charges - most notably in the case of Wen Ho Lee - and
Chaplain Yee's case raises serious questions about the way the military
administers justice."
Citing "irreparabl[e] injur[ies]" to his personal and professional
reputation due to the Army's "unfounded allegations," Chaplain Yee on
August 2 submitted a letter of resignation to the Army, requesting
formal
discharge as of January 7, 2005.
The issue stems from the September 10, 2003 arrest of US Army Chaplain
Yee,
a commissioned officer of Islamic faith whom Army officials held in
solitary confinement for 76 days on a variety of charges ranging from
treason to mishandling classified documents. The Army later dropped
all
criminal charges, opting to pursue a non-judicial punishment that
Chaplain
successfully fought on appeal before his full reinstatement.
In response to allegations that the Army denied Chaplain Yee the
military
courtesies commensurate with his rank and targeted him because of his
religious affiliation with Islam, Rep. Honda publicly called for an
investigation into the matter to ensure that the Army complies with
accepted rules of law…
-----
PRIVATE MOMENTS IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Peter H. King, Los Angeles Times, 8/5/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vegas5aug05,1,7058723.s
tory
LAS VEGAS - A full year had passed and it was time for a final visit to
the
Muslims of Las Vegas. April to April, spring to spring, the world had
coughed up one arresting image after another, from the fire-streaked
thunderclouds of shock and awe to the charred body parts of Americans
dangling from a bridge in Iraq.
And every day, it seemed, a fresh body count from the war -- one, two,
three more Americans dead. And every month or so, another front-page
picture of rubble and ripped limbs, another dateline marking the latest
large-scale terrorist assault -- Riyadh, Casablanca, Jakarta, Istanbul,
Moscow, Madrid.
While these calamitous events translated into more unease, more
muttered
comments from co-workers, more hard looks in airports, they were not,
in
fact, the touchstone moments by which Las Vegas Muslims measured the
previous 12 months.
Rather, like people everywhere, the landmarks they looked back on
tended to
involve the universal turns of everyday life: a death in the family, a
business venture gone bust, a child who made the honor roll, a new
house, a
memorable trip.
Muhammad Ali, the car lot philosopher who had suggested that heightened
scrutiny of Muslims since Sept. 11 was only natural -- "If you are
bitten
by a snake, you are going to be afraid of a rope" -- did not seem
himself
as he sat down in his tiny office off the showroom floor.
He had proved over the course of many conversations to be a man of good
humor and wit. At home one Sunday, he had punctuated a family
discussion
about patriarchal customs by breaking into an Archie Bunker
impersonation.
At the lot, he had laughed along with colleagues when they warned
customers
that, if they didn't buy a truck, "Muhammad will light his shoe..."
-----
ISRAEL MOVES TOWARD SETTLEMENT EXPANSION
PETER ENAV, Associated Press, 8/5/04
MAALEH ADUMIM, West Bank (AP) - Israeli bulldozers churned across a
West
Bank hill Thursday gouging a rough road needed for a government plan to
build housing in an area it hopes to make a permanent part of the
Jewish
state, despite strong objections from both the Palestinian leadership
and
the Bush administration.
The road would link the sprawling Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim to
Jerusalem, four miles away, and officials confirmed Thursday that they
foresee thousands of new homes along the route - despite a provision of
the
internationally supported ``road map'' peace plan that calls for a halt
to
growth of Israeli settlements.
In another development, Israeli officials decided to allow Palestinian
police to carry weapons again, which could help shore up the prestige
of
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and improve security in
Palestinian
areas.
Underlining growing lawlessness in those areas, masked gunmen forced
three
Palestinian Cabinet ministers to stop speaking at a news conference in
the
Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on Thursday and forced them to leave
town.
Israel has already built an elaborate system of roads linking Jerusalem
to
Maaleh Adumim, where 31,000 Israelis live, and the latest project is
seen
as part of a government effort to win over hardline lawmakers opposed
to
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
White House envoy Elliot Abrams met with Sharon on Thursday and was
expected to restate U.S. opposition to the expansion of settlements in
the
West Bank. Earlier this week, the State Department objected to a
separate
plan to build 600 more housing units inside the current boundaries of
Maaleh Adumim.
Israeli media reported that Sharon told Abrams there were no current
plans
to link Maaleh Adumim and Jerusalem. The reports said Sharon told the
envoy
that a plan to build hotels in the area dates to 1994.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Palestinian Prime
Minister
Ahmed Qureia discussed the Maaleh Adumim plan at a meeting with Abrams
earlier Thursday. Erekat called it a ``land grab'' meant to deny the
Palestinians the state envisioned for them under the road map.
The U.S. administration has insisted Israel abide by the terms of that
plan, which calls for an end to four years of violence and creation of
a
Palestinian state. In the first phase, the plan states that Israel
``freezes all settlement activity.''
Palestinians from nearby neighborhoods watched as bulldozers and
mechanical
shovels dug into the parched, rocky soil of a hill across from Maaleh
Adumim. Palestinians, who claim all the West Bank, are concerned that
roads
like this would make it impossible for them to create a viable state.
At a shopping mall in the center of Maaleh Adumim, residents expressed
strong support for the proposed new housing…
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR AND ACLU OFFER LEGAL HELP TO FBI INTERVIEWEES
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/6/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today announced that it is teaming up with the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to offer free legal advice and support to
Muslims who are approached by the FBI for voluntary interviews.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says
it
will work with ACLU offices nationwide to provide access to local
attorneys
for those targeted during the FBI's current round of counter-terrorism
interviews.
"CAIR's partnership with the ACLU will help Muslims who are unaware of
their legal rights or who just have concerns about being approached by
the
FBI," said CAIR Civil Rights Director Engy Abdelkader. She added that
if
anyone is aware of actual terror-related activities in their community,
they should immediately contact the nearest FBI Field Office. SEE:
http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
Abdelkader said American Muslims who wish to obtain free legal advice,
support or referrals may call 202-488-8787 or e-mail
ekader@cair-net.org.
SEE: "ACLU OFFERS MUSLIMS LEGAL HELP"
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040805-010603-7320r.htm
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regional
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name Of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/6/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL BELIEVERS ARE BROTHERS
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: MUSLIMS AND MUD-WRESTLING WOMEN
* CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS HONOR AUTHOR OF HATE CRIMES RESOLUTION
- CAIR-FL: Church Condemns Anti-Muslim Bias
* FL: GOP REP REGRETS BOGUS TERROR PLOT CLAIM (AP)
- Tall Tale of Terror (Herald Tribune)
* FL: JUDGE RAISES BURDEN OF PROOF IN AL-ARIAN CASE (AP)
- ABA Report: Immigrants Denied Due Process (UPI)
* NY: SECURITY ISSUES AT WORK (Newsday)
- NY: Muslim Merchants Air Fears (D & C)
* AMERICAN MUSLIM CONVERTS WITH DAILY PHONE TEXT MESSAGE (AP)
* FL: GROUP PUTS IN OFFER FOR CHURCH (Orlando Sentinel)
* CZECHS PROTEST PLANS TO BUILD MOSQUE (AP)
- New Mass Grave of Muslims Found in Bosnia (AP)
- France: Vandals Paint Swastikas on Muslim Graves (AP)
- UK: Row Over 'Black Heart of Islam' (Guardian)
* A NEW RACIST REALITY FOR THE ARABS OF SAFED (Haaretz)
* IL: MUSLIM YOUTH COLLECT CLOTHING FOR THE POOR
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL BELIEVERS ARE BROTHERS
"All believers are but brethren. Hence [whenever they are at odds,]
make
peace between your two brethren, and remain conscious of God, so that
you
might be graced with his mercy."
The Holy Quran, 49:10
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MUSLIMS AND MUD-WRESTLING WOMEN
Bill O'Reilly, Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor, 8/5/04
O'REILLY: OK, we have been attacked more viciously than any channel in
the
history of American television. So you must have tough guys at the
door,
bouncers if you will, because these people are blatantly... you know
the
smear merchant stole video from us, stole video over an eight year
period
and put it out. I could make you, Mr. Block, look like a communist, a
fascist, a Muslim, or a mud-wrestling woman if I get eight years of
video
and cut and paste it. You know what I'm talking about here.
-----
CA MUSLIMS HONOR AUTHOR OF HATE CRIMES RESOLUTION
CAIR-SV hosts community reception for supporters of AJR64
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 8/6/04) - The Sacramento Valley office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) hosted a reception this week to
honor
Assembly Member Dr. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), the author of Assembly
Joint Resolution 64 (AJR64). The reception also honored legislators,
government officials, law enforcement authorities, community leaders,
and
organizations that supported the anti-hate crimes resolution.
AJR64, which targeted bias-motivated crimes against Arab Americans,
Muslim
Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikhs, was adopted by the
California
State Assembly (72-0) on April 1, 2004 and by the California State
Senate
(33-0) on June 16, 2004. The measure was sponsored by CAIR-California
and
co-sponsored by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer. It received
the
enthusiastic support of over fifty-five public officials, law
enforcement
leaders, and community organizations. California is the first state in
the
United States to adopt such a resolution.
"AJR64 sends a strong message that California as a state will not
tolerate
hate crimes against the Muslim-American, Sikh-American, Arab-American
and
South Asian American communities," said Assembly Member Dr. Judy Chu.
"Today's gathering of state legislators, locally elected officials, and
local law enforcement agencies reflects our commitment to work together
to
protect all Californians from hate motivated incidents. This resolution
is
one step in our efforts to eliminate the continuing backlash of hate
violence post 9-11," Chu added.
"As the author of the first hate crimes law in California, Attorney
General
Lockyer urges all prosecutors to join him in ensuring that the civil
rights
of all Californians are vigorously protected and that those who prey on
others because of their race, color, ancestry or religion are
prosecuted to
the fullest extent of the law," said Mark Chekal-Bain, Legislative
Advocate
for Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
"AJR64 is an important statement by California legislators that
reflects
their commitment to fight hate," said Dr. Hamza ElNakhal of CAIR-SV's
Executive Committee. "Muslim Californians welcome this action by the
legislature, and are grateful for the support from California Attorney
General Bill Lockyer, local public officials, and community
organizations."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 28 offices nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, CAIR-SV, (916) 289-3748
-----
GOOD NEWS: FL CHURCH CONDEMNS ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS
The following is a letter received by the Florida office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations in response to a recent incident of
anti-Muslim
bias.
"I am writing on behalf of the leaders of the Woodlawn Presbyterian
Church
who at their most recent session meeting voted unanimously to send this
letter of encouragement to you and the families of the Community
Education
Center.
"We are saddened that students and staff of the school were the victims
of
a crime and an act of hate earlier this month, when someone scrawled
terrible messages on the walls of your Islamic educational center in
Lutz.
"Please know that we condemn this awful behavior and it does not
represent
the values of the majority of our community. We condemn bigotry and
hate
in all its forms. Our Christian beliefs compel us to speak out against
this
crime.
As Christians and Americans we believe in freedom of religion and
firmly
believe that all Americans should be able to worship God as they choose
without concern for intimidation and threats. We believe that the acts
of
vandalism and hate were cowardly acts by people who do not understand
nor
practice the true values of our country.
In response to this incident, you were quoted in the St. Pete Times as
saying, 'Our faith does not teach violence.' We agree and add that our
faith, also, does not teach violence. We call upon all people of faith
to
stand together in Tampa Bay for peace and justice for all. People of
faith
must speak up for freedom of religion in our own community, our country
and
in the world. We pray that some good will may be a positive outcome
following this unfortunate and terrible incident."
-----
HARRIS REGRETS BOGUS TERROR PLOT CLAIM
Associated Press, 8/4/04
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040804_2183.html
WASHINGTON Aug. 4, 2004 - Republican Rep. Katherine Harris said
Wednesday
she regrets concerns caused by her claim that a plot existed to blow up
the
power grid in Carmel, Ind. City officials disputed the claims of a
plot.
"I was told in an open, group setting that a recent situation
threatened a
Midwestern community and that it had been diffused," Harris said
Wednesday.
"I regret that I had no knowledge of the sensitive nature of this
situation
and any undue concern this may have caused."
But the Florida lawmaker stands by her statement that the United States
has
thwarted more than 100 potential terrorist attacks.
Harris, who was at the center of the political storm over the disputed
2000
presidential election, made the comments about terrorism and the plot
on
Monday at a rally for President Bush in Venice, Fla., and a subsequent
interview with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
She told the audience that while in the Midwest recently, a mayor told
her
about a plot in Carmel and how a man of Middle Eastern heritage had
been
arrested and hundreds of pounds of explosives were found in his home.
"He had plans to blow up the area's entire power grid," she said,
according
to the newspaper.
City officials in Carmel said they know of no such plot...
SEE ALSO:
TALL TALE OF TERROR
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040806/OPINION/408060388/1030/OPINION01
As a member of Congress, with the nation engaged in a war on terror,
Katherine Harris should be careful of what she says and certain about
her
facts.
People already on edge from high alerts and suspicious of
foreign-looking
neighbors don't need their congresswoman ratcheting up their fears.
Tales
of sinister plots should not be spun for political gain.
Unfortunately, Harris, R-Longboat Key, showed neither discretion nor
good
sense in her recent public statements about a purported terrorist plot
in
Indiana.
In a speech to Republican supporters Monday in Venice, Harris extolled
President Bush's record in the war on terror. As an example, she told
of a
plot by an man of Middle Eastern heritage to blow up a Midwestern power
grid. The plot, she said, was thwarted and the man arrested.
The trouble is, there appears to be no record of such a plot, and no
one
who can confirm Harris' story. Neither the mayor nor the police chief
of
Carmel, Ind., which Harris said was at the center of the plot, knows
anything about it. Neither do counterterrorism officials in Indiana nor
anyone in the governor's office.
Harris says she heard the story "secondhand" from another mayor in
Indiana,
but she has refused to name that person or to provide more details to
support her story…
-----
TAMPA JUDGE RAISES GOVERNMENT'S BURDEN OF PROOF IN AL-ARIAN CASE
Vickie Chacere, Associated Press, 08/06/04
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040805/APN/408051063
Tampa - Prosecutors putting a former professor on trial on charges he
raised money for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad will have to prove
financial
contributions to the group were used for terrorist attacks rather than
charitable purposes, a federal judge has ruled.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge James Moody was applauded Thursday
by
defense attorneys for former University of South Florida professor Sami
Al-Arian. They said it will make the government's allegations that
Al-Arian
used a charity as a fund-raising front for the Islamic Jihad more
difficult
to prove.
Al-Arian and three others face a 50-count racketeering indictment which
accuses Al-Arian of being the North American head of the Islamic Jihad.
Al-Arian denies that either the charity or academic think tank he
created
were fund-raising fronts for the group's terrorist attacks, which have
claimed more than 100 lives in Israel.
"It's a monumental victory because the government's posture in this
case
was all you have to do was be a member of one of these organizations
and
that was sufficient for them to charge you with conspiracy," said
William
Moffitt, one of Al-Arian's defense attorneys. "The government has a
much
tougher row to hoe."
Stephen Bernstein, the attorney for co-defendant Sammeeh Hammoudeh,
said
Moody "hit the nail on the head."
"He found exactly what this case is going to turn on," said Bernstein.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa declined to comment on the ruling,
which was delivered to attorneys late Wednesday.
Moody's 20-page order comes after the government asked him to
reconsider a
March ruling that essentially set the standard for the government's
case
against Al-Arian, Hammoudeh and two other men scheduled to go to trial
in
January.
In March, Moody turned down a request from Al-Arian's defense attorneys
that the charges against him be dismissed, arguing the charges involved
acts of fund-raising and freedom of association which are protected
under
the First Amendment.
But Moody said to avoid constitutional concerns, the government would
have
to prove Al-Arian and the others sought to support the Islamic Jihad's
criminal activities.
Moody wrote in the ruling that those limits "does not, will not, and
should
not hamper the government's anti-terrorism efforts."
"The court reiterates that it is in no way creating a safe harbor for
terrorist or their supporters to try to avoid prosecution through
utilization of shell 'charitable organizations' or by directing money
through the memo line of a check toward lawful activities," Moody
wrote…
ALSO SEE:
ABA REPORT: IMMIGRANTS DENIED DUE PROCESS
United Press International, 8/6/04
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040804-053534-2733r.htm
Washington, DC - Sweeping changes in immigration laws have eroded the
due
process protection afforded to immigrants, an American Bar Association
report said Wednesday. Due process, or fair and complete legal
proceedings,
is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The report was produced jointly by the ABA and the Leadership
Conference on
Civil Rights Education Fund.
The ABA said the report, "American Justice Through Immigrants' Eyes,"
details how "seven years of changes in the nation's immigration laws
have
created a two-tiered justice system for American immigrants, and
recommends
ways to restore immigrants' due process rights…"
-----
SECURITY ISSUES AT WORK; APPLICANTS FACE MORE SCRUTINY
Maryann James and Christopher Latham, Newsday, 8/6/04
http://www.newsday.com/business/local/newyork/ny-bzterr063920117aug06,0,947509.story
Is the guy sitting in the next cubicle some kind of terrorist?
That's the question a lot of employers have been asking ever since the
9/11
attacks - a question brought into sharp focus this week amid
speculation
that al-Qaida might have planted employees at major financial companies
to
plan an attack. By some accounts, an increasing number of employers
have
been doing background checks on potential hires.
But the increased scrutiny creates a delicate balancing act for
employers,
who are supposed to avoid discrimination based on religion or ethnic
and
national origin. Apparently, not all of them are succeeding, say
lawyers
and advocates for Muslim and Arab employees.
"Companies get worried," said Wissam Nasr, executive director of the
New
York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "They don't
want
any of their transactions to be misconstrued as providing direct or
indirect support of terrorism. Sometimes they might be overzealous..."
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM MERCHANTS AIR FEARS
Alan Morrell, Democrat and Chronicle, 8/6/04
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/08054E551IP_news.shtml
Rochester - The Rochester Police Department's massive reorganization -
consolidating seven patrol sections into two - went into effect in June
with the goal of reducing crime.
By many accounts, the change has succeeded. But on Wednesday the leader
of
a group of Muslim store owners said the revamping has created problems
that
need addressing.
"We used to know the officers; now you don't know who is coming when
you
call," said Shakeel Cheema, owner of MLK Grand Market at 202 Grand Ave.
and
president of the Rochester Muslim Business Association. "You get
(police)
who are not familiar with the territory. Eighty percent of the time,
you
get someone you don't know. We used to have community policing. To me,
it
has changed for the worse."
Cheema and about a dozen other Muslims met with Chief Robert Duffy and
members of his command staff Wednesday to discuss safety issues. The
meeting was in response to the July 30 shooting death of Fadhle
Hussein,
who was shot to death inside of Hudson Grocery, a store he owned at 515
Hudson Ave.
After the fatal shooting, Muslim store owners and employees complained
that
police leave them vulnerable to violent drug dealers who congregate
outside
their businesses.
Wednesday's meeting was the first of what Duffy said would be monthly
meetings with the store owners...
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIM CONVERTS WITH DAILY PHONE TEXT MESSAGE
Associated Press, 8/6/04
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/technology/080504_aptech_muslim.html
JAKARTA, Indonesia- An American Muslim convert has found a new way to
reach
believers in cell-phone crazy Indonesia: He sends them a daily text
message
containing the teachings of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
The popularity of Craig Abdurrahim Owensby's service underscores a
growing
religious revival in Indonesia, where practice of the faith has
traditionally been less rigid than in other Islamic countries.
More than 100,000 people have signed up so far. They also get a number
to
call to hear sermons from moderate preachers in the world's most
populous
Muslim nation.
"It's a little oasis of calmness," said Uray Fitri Yani, a 27-year-old
financial consultant who subscribes to the service. "The messages give
me
hope."
The service, which starts at about 11 cents a day, is likely to grow,
as
cell phone users in this 210-million strong nation are small but rising
fast. Like many Southeast Asians, Indonesians like text messaging
because
it is cheaper than making a voice call on their cell phone…
-----
FL: MUSLIM GROUP PUTS IN OFFER FOR OCOEE CHURCH BUILDING
Sandra Mathers, Orlando Sentinel, 08/06/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-locchurch06080604aug06,1,6091489.story
OCOEE - Mayor Scott Vandergrift likes to tout his once-rural city's
growing
ethnic diversity by listing a variety of nationalities that call Ocoee
home.
Now the city's changing face may be getting a new -- and more visible
--
symbol of that diversity: a Muslim mosque.
The Foundation of Lights, a Muslim organization, has signed a contract
to
buy the Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church for $600,000 and has raised
about half the $200,000 down paymen
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