cair-net Digest of: get.1401_1500
Topics (messages 1401 through 1500):
CAIR-NET: Muslims Launch Quake Appeal/US Latinas Seek Answers in Islam
1401 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Urged to Help Tsunami Survivors
1402 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Meet Congressman to Protest Imam's Detention
1403 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: American Muslims Fingerprinted by U.S. at Canadian Border
1404 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Asked to Pray for Tsunami Victims
1405 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Govt Admits Detaining Muslim Conference Attendees
1406 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Pray For, Aid Tsunami Victims
1407 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Christians, Jews Reach Out to MA Muslims/Lifetime Detention
Sought
1408 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: IL Muslim Files Bias Suit/Prof Slams Pipes on Internment
1409 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Seeks Answers on Fingerprinting of Hajjis
1410 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: AZ Court to Hear Anti-Muslim Letter Case
1411 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Hajj Publicity Resource Kit
1412 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Mosques to Tally Funds for Tsunami Relief
1413 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Yee to Leave Military/Muslims Join Relief Effort
1414 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Missionaries Exploit Tsunami Suffering/Watch '24' Tonight on
Fox
1415 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: New Financing for Muslim Homebuyers/CA Police Learn About
Islam
1416 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CA Coalition to Hold Prayer for Muslim Rights/FL Mosques Pool
Tsunami Aid
1417 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims to Meet With Fox Over Depictions in '24'
1418 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Missionaries Relocate Muslim Orphans/CAIR Meets with State
Dept. Officials
1419 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Encouraged by Fox '24' Meeting
1420 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Teacher Suspended Over Quran Remark
1421 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Says Exploitation of Tsunami Aid Hurts America's Image
1422 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Hajj Headache for Returning U.S. Muslims?
1423 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening CAIR
1424 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims Seek Recognition of Holidays
1425 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims, Christians to Show Interfaith Solidarity
1426 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR-LA Launches Eid Radio Ads/CAIR-FL Seeks Equal Treatment
for Eids
1427 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Quran Mentioned in Inaugural Address/NJ Slayings Spur
Anti-Islam Bias
1428 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Eid and Abraham/Eids and the School Calendar/20 Years for
Al-Arian Case?
1429 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Nightline' Invites Muslims to Iraq Town Hall Meeting
1430 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NY Radio Station Sorry for Mocking Tsunami Victims
1431 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Latinos Convert to Islam/CAIR-Philly Kickoff/TN Islam Class
Canceled
1432 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CA Muslims Demand Release of Iraq Hostage/ Islamophobic
Graffiti Sprayed on MO Home
1433 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Calif. Museum Urged to Reject Extremist Group
1434 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Sex, Muslims and Interrogations/EEOC Sues Firm for
Anti-Muslim Bias
1435 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Prof Who Defended Muslim Awarded $1.5 Million/ Secret Gitmo
Hearings
1436 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Facts Ought to Dispel Mistrust of U.S. Muslims
1437 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Videos Show Gitmo Abuse/Dunkin' Donuts Allows Hijab
1438 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Thank Sens. Kennedy, Feinstein for Rejecting Torture
1439 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR 'Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism' Conference
1440 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. General Says Shooting People is 'Fun'
1441 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Charity Targeted/General 'Counseled' for Comments/REAL
ID Act
1442 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Whistle-Blower's View of DHS Nominee/'Fascism' Card and Islam
1443 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Banks Offer Usury-Free Mortgages/The Hellish World of Gitmo
1444 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: KKK Protests Hijab/Fox to Air '24' Disclaimer Tonight
1445 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Outsourcing Torture/View Fox's '24' Disclaimer/Shop CAIR
Online
1446 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ohio Bill Threatens Academic Freedom/Border Incident Angers
Muslims
1447 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: VT Landlords Discriminate Against Muslims/FL Mosque Sign
Vandalized
1448 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Fla. Christian Radio Station Drops Muslim Ad
1449 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims, Christians Reject Hate/Clergy Silent on Torture
1450 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Hariri Assassination/Iraqi-American Alleges
Abuse
1451 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Yusuf Islam Gets Libel Damages/CAIR-GA 'Know Your Rights'
Workshop
1452 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Falwell's New Dean Offends Muslims/Iraq Contractors Allege
Abuses
1453 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Respond to Freedom House Report/Bias Suit Settled for
$40K
1454 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Students Lose Prayer Room/'Palestinian Hanging' Kills
Iraqi
1455 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Teacher Threatens Muslim Student/NE Hijab Suit Settled
1456 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Brooklyn's Abu Ghraib'/Guilty Plea to Battery of Muslim
1457 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ahmed Abu Ali Released, to be Indicted in VA
1458 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Decry Closure of NJ Mosque's Bank Account
1459 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask State Dept. to Block Entry of Gujarat Massacre Figure
1460 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Halal Goes Mainstream in NJ/PA Mosques Tie African Muslims to
Faith
1461 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Leader Sues Boston TV Station for Defamation
1462 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Pipes Plans 'Islamic' Institute/Con Artist Strikes Again
1463 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Some Feds Think Govt Won't Win Abu Ali Case
1464 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims and the Ten Commandments Debate/Traveling While
Muslim
1465 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Texas Terrorist Handed 30-Year Sentence
1466 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: State Dept. Critical of Abuses Used by U.S.
1467 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Gujarat Official Linked with Book Praising Hitler to Speak in
FL, NY
1468 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ten Commandments Mirror Islamic Values/Police Seek
Translators
1469 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CIA Avoids Scrutiny of Detainee Treatment
1470 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Applaud Arrests in Slaying of NJ Family
1471 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Gitmo Captives Allege Religious Abuse/CIA 'Renditions'
1472 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Wary of OH Security Bill/Fired TX Worker Wins
$150K/FL Muslims Seek Recognition of Islamic Holidays
1473 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL 'Ramadi Madness' Video Shows U.S. Abuse
1474 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Hardball' Host Withdraws From Controversial FL Event
1475 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Halal Slaughterhouse is 'Deeply American'/A Smarter Way to
Fight for Muslim Women
1476 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Dell Fires 30 Muslims Over Maghrib Prayer
1477 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: No Sleeper Cells Found in U.S./FL Teacher Fired for Mocking
Muslim Student
1478 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Canadian Muslims Denounce Xenophobic Comments
1479 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Prison Staff Mistreated Muslims/Muslims Say Dell Forbade
Prayers
1480 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Islamic Schools See Enrollment Surge/First U.S. Mosque
Rebuilt
1481 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 21 Dell Employees Retain CAIR as Legal Counsel
1482 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Ask AmEx to Withdraw Sponsorship of FL Event
1483 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Neocon Mag Promotes Anti-Muslim Hate Literature
1484 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Reach Settlement with Dell, Spherion on Workplace
Prayer
1485 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Applauds Denial of Visa to Narendra Modi
1486 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Comic on 'Nightline'/Modi Visa Denial Follows Campaign
1487 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Church Drops Mission Over Muslim Servers/ Indian-Americans
Exert Clout
1488 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Conference to Tackle Islamophobia, Anti-Americanism
1489 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask Neocon Magazine to Repudiate Anti-Muslim Hate
1490 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Man Charged for Anti-Arab Taunts/Canadian Muslims May Double
by 2017
1491 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslim Voters Wooed/AmEx Drops FL Event/TX Mosque
Firebombing/IL Muslim Dies in Custody
1492 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Bill Would Accommodate Muslim Burials/National Review Silent
on Anti-Muslim Hate
1493 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims See Employment Bias/Muslim Firefighter Fights Ban on
Beards
1494 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Contact Boeing About National Review's Attack on Prophet
Muhammad
1495 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Right-Wing Groups Omitted From DHS Terror List
1496 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: National Review Removes Books Attacking Islam
1497 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Latinas Embrace Islam/Muslim-Friendly Hospitals/Journalist's
Guide to Islam
1498 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: IN Muslim Trucker's Hazmat Rights Restored/CT Muslims Meet
with DMV on Religious Accommodation
1499 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'After This Movie, There May Be Hate Crimes'/Police Offered
Training on Islam
1500 by: cair.cair-net.org
---------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/26/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TEARS ARE A MERCY
- Verse of the Day: Patience in Adversity
* CAIR ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS SHOULD REACH OUT (Gazette-Mail)
- CAIR-St. Louis Helps Those in Need (Post-Dispatch)
* ISLAMIC RELIEF LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
- ICNA Relief Update
* US LATINAS SEEK ANSWERS IN ISLAM (Christian Science Monitor)
* MI: MUSLIMS REACH OUT AT INTERFAITH SERVICES (Det News)
- NY: A Muslim's Gift to an Interfaith Group (NY Times)
- CA: Muslim Volunteers Run Free Clinic (Press-Ent)
- MD: 'Floating Holidays' Urged For Schools (Wash Post)
* CAIR: TENN. MUSLIMS FACE RESISTANCE TO CEMETERY PLANS (AP)
- CAIR-FL: Muslim in America (Orlando Weekly)
* FL: SPEAK UP ABOUT BIAS TOWARD MUSLIMS (Bradenton Herald)
- Scary Intolerance (Wash Post)
* MI: GIFTS TO ISRAELI ARMY CHARITY UNFAIR (Free Press)
* CANADIAN MUSLIM TRAVELER CLAIMS PROFILING (Winnipeg Sun)
* FURTHER DETAINEE ABUSE ALLEGED (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TEARS ARE A MERCY
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was questioned about
weeping
following the death of his granddaughter, he said: "(Weeping) is the
mercy
that God has placed in the hearts of His servants. And surely God
bestows
mercy upon those who are merciful (to others)."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 21
VERSE OF THE DAY: PATIENCE IN ADVERSITY
"And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger,
and
loss of worldly goods, of lives and of [labor's] fruits. But give glad
tidings unto those who are patient in adversity - who, when calamity
befalls them, say, 'Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him
we
shall return.' It is they upon whom their Sustainer's blessings and
grace
are bestowed."
The Holy Quran, 2:155-157
-----
CAIR ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS SHOULD REACH OUT
Familiarity will breed understanding, not contempt
Omar Ahmad, Charleston Gazette, 12/26/04
http://wvgazette.com/section/Perspective/200412256
[Omar Ahmad is a California entrepreneur and is national board chairman
of
the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, the
nation's
largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be reached at
omar@cair-net.org.]
A recent report by Cornell University indicated that 44 percent of
Americans would curtail Muslim civil liberties in some way, including
having them register their location with the federal government.
Similarly, a survey by my organization, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), showed that one in four Americans believes
anti-Muslim
stereotypes. And poll after poll in the Muslim world reveals rampant
anti-American attitudes.
This disturbing trend deserves a response from all those who are
concerned
about the kind of world our children will inherit.
But what can one person do to reverse the hardening of views on all
sides
of an apparently widening religious and cultural divide in this country
and
around the world?
Two findings in the CAIR survey seem to indicate the direction we
should
take. Researchers found that those who had more basic knowledge about
Islam
tended to have less bias, as did those who had Muslim friends or
colleagues.
And consider the fact that the Muslims with the greatest attachment to
American values, members of this nation's Islamic community, are the
very
ones who know those values best and see them put into practice every
day.
Familiarity apparently does not breed contempt. In interfaith relations
at
least, it leads to greater understanding and a decrease in hostility.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O mankind! We created you
from a
single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and
tribes so
that you might come to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in
the
sight of God is the one who is the most righteous." (49:13)
Muslims appreciate the fact that God did not make us all into
cookie-cutter
automatons who look the same or believe the same things. Our
differences
create a God-given opportunity to "come to know one another" in a
spirit of
mutual respect.
It is this mutual respect that is a prerequisite for true understanding
and
acceptance. We cannot really accept someone as long as we maintain
attitudes of religious, ethnic or cultural triumphalism.
A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad whether love of one's own
people
is an indication of unhealthy partisanship. The Prophet replied: "No,
but
when a man helps his people in an unjust cause, it indicates
partisanship."
In other words, you can love those who share your ethnicity or beliefs,
but
that love should not be used as an excuse for wrongdoing or intolerance
of
others.
There are some practical steps we all can take to help decrease
interfaith
hostility.
Reach out to people of other faiths. Your Muslim co-worker will not be
insulted if you ask him or her about Islam. Muslims enjoy a good
religious
discussion and would rather have you ask difficult questions in a
respectful manner than to have you harbor myths and stereotypes.
Muslims
should also be open to learning more about other faiths.
Speak out against religious or racial bigotry. Muslims are obviously
sensitive to Islamophobic bigotry and discrimination, but we also need
to
be just as sensitive to discrimination against others.
Teach your children to be open and tolerant. It is our children who
will
inherit a world that is either increasingly divided or one that is
moving
toward peace and reconciliation.
Despite the depression and powerlessness that can be caused by watching
the
violence and hatred on the nightly news, we all have a role to play in
making this world a better place to live.
The future is in our hands.
SEE ALSO:
MANY JEWS AND MUSLIMS DO VOLUNTEER WORK ON CHRISTMAS
Aisha Sultan, Post-Dispatch, 12/25/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/6E
0374B30F2DE46C86256F760008CE0A?OpenDocument&Headline=Many+Jews+and+Muslims+d
o+volunteer+work+on+Christmas
Though they may not have been opening presents or singing carols, many
St.
Louis-area Jews and Muslims spent Christmas Day spreading holiday
cheer.
Followers of the three Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and
Islam -
share some religious roots and similar community values.
Gulten Ilhan, a Muslim in West County, agreed that giving back to the
community was a key priority for area Muslims, as well. She spent
Christmas
Day delivering meals to the elderly with her two young daughters. The
service group Faith Beyond Walls runs the program and called on the St.
Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to help out
this
year. People from all religious backgrounds participate in the program.
Ilhan said the Council on American-Islamic Relations was told that many
Jewish organizations usually participate, but the Sabbath may prevent
some
of those individuals from coming.
"Of course, we would love to help out," she said. "Muslims revere Jesus
as
a beloved prophet of God." Plus, she wanted to teach her daughters the
importance of caring for the elderly.
Waldman said many families brought their children to the fire stations
on
Christmas Eve for the cookie deliveries. The children tried on toy hats
and
climbed on the fire trucks, he said. The congregants adopted the
program as
a way to show their appreciation for local heroes who have to work
during
the holidays, he said.
Ilhan said visiting the elderly made a big impression on her
children...
CONTACT: CAIR-St. Louis, 314-602-3794
-----
MAGNITUDE 9.0 - OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/
ISLAMIC RELIEF LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
http://www.irw.org/asiaquake/
BURBANK, California (December 26, 2004) - Islamic Relief Worldwide has
responded to the most powerful earthquake to hit the earth in 40 years,
measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, by launching an initial $1,350,000
appeal to assist the victims.
The earthquake struck deep in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of
Sumatra on Sunday, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that
obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six countries across
southern
Asia. An estimated 10,000 people have been reported killed thus far in
the
devastation. At least 4,185 have been reported killed in Indonesia, and
at
least 3,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, which is 1,000 miles west
of
the epicenter.
In addition, about 2,300 were reported dead along the southern coasts
of
India, at least 289 in Thailand, 42 in Malaysia and two in Bangladesh.
As
more information comes in from different countries, officials are
expecting
the death toll to rise.
Islamic Relief Worldwide Response
IRW has launched an initial $1,350,000 appeal to assist the victims.
This
includes an initial $270,650 for relief and rehabilitation intervention
in
the region, and $27,000 to meet the immediate needs of victims in Sri
Lanka.
IRW is constantly monitoring events and making contact with those on
the
ground in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. Our representative in Sri
Lanka
is performing a needs assessment. An Emergency Response Team will be
operational in Sri Lanka within the next 5 to 7 days.
An assessment team from our Indonesia office is leaving for Aceh,
Indonesia
tomorrow morning and our partners in India are on their way to Chennai
for
an assessment.
The victims of the disaster are in need of medical supplies, tents and
sanitation facilities. Islamic Relief USA will continue to send updates
as
additional information becomes available.
Media Contacts:
Arif Shaikh
Director, Media and Public Relations
Islamic Relief USA
arif@irw.org
(310) 351-3931 mobile
(818) 238-9520 office
(818) 238-9521 fax
SEE ALSO:
ICNA RELIEF UPDATE
The world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered massive
tidal
waves that slammed into villages and coastal lines across southern and
southeast Asia, killing thousands of people in six countries,
Indonesia,
India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. This devastating
earthquake also left thousands injured and hundreds of thousands
homeless.
ICNA Relief is in process of collecting more information and to find
out
how to help the victims of this Earthquake immediately and effectively.
SEE: http://www.reliefonline.org/
-----
US LATINAS SEEK ANSWERS IN ISLAM
Christine Armario, Christian Science Monitor, 12/27/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1227/p11s02-ussc.html
UNION CITY, N.J. - Jasmine Pinet sits on the steps outside a mosque
here,
tucking in strands of her burgundy hair beneath a white head scarf, and
explaining why she, a young Latina, feels that she has found greater
respect as a woman by converting to Islam.
"They're not gonna say, 'Hey mami, how are you?'" Ms. Pinet says of
Muslim
men. "Usually they say, 'Hello, sister.' And they don't look at you
like a
sex object."
While some Latinas her age try to emulate the tight clothes and
wiggling
hips of stars like Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera, Ms. Pinet and
others are adopting a more conservative lifestyle and converting to
Islam.
At this Union City, N.J., mosque, women account for more than half of
the
Latino Muslims who attend services here. Nationwide, there are about
40,000
Latino Muslims in the United States, according to the Islamic Society
of
North America.
Many of the Latina converts say that their belief that women are
treated
better in Islam was a significant factor in converting. Critics may
protest
that wearing the veil marks a woman as property, but some Latina
converts
say they welcome the fact that they are no longer whistled at walking
down
a street. "People have an innate response that I'm a religious person,
and
they give [me] more respect," says Jenny Yanez, another Latina Muslim.
"You're not judged if you're in fashion or out of fashion."
Other Latina Muslims say they also like the religion's emphasis on
fidelity
to one's spouse and family.
But for many family members and friends, these conversions come as a
surprise - often an unwelcome one. They may know little of Islam other
than
what they have heard of the Taliban and other extremist groups.
That creates an inaccurate image, insists Leila Ahmed, a professor of
women's studies and religion at Harvard University. "It astounds me,
the
extent to which people think Afghanistan and the Taliban represent
women
and Islam." What's really going on, she says, is a reshaping of the
relationship between women and Islam. "We're in the early stages of a
major
rethinking of Islam that will open Islam for women. [Muslim scholars]
are
rereading the core texts of Islam - from the Koran to legal texts - in
every possible way."
New views of women and Islam may be more prevalent in countries like
the
US, where women read the Koran themselves and rely less on patriarchal
interpretations.
"I think the women here are asserting more their rights and their
privileges," says Zahid Bukhari, director of the American-Muslim
Studies
Program at Georgetown University. "
Some Latina Muslims say they harbored stereotypes about Muslim women
before
deciding to convert, but changed their minds once becoming close
friends
with a Muslim.
"I always thought, geez, I feel sorry for women who have to wear those
veils," says Pinet. Then she met her Muslim boyfriend and began
studying
the Koran with a group of Muslim women. She says she was impressed with
the
respect they received.
"A women is respected because she is the mother, she takes care of the
children, and she's the one that enforces the rules," Pinet says.
"They're
the ones who are sacred."
Critics of the decisions of Latinas to convert to Islam say they are
adopting a religion just as patriarchical as the Roman Catholic faith
that
many are leaving behind.
"While it's true the Latino culture tends to be more male-dominated,
and
there's a tendency toward more machismo, I would venture to say it
exists
[in Islam] as well," says Edwin Hernandez, director of the Center for
the
Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre Dame.
Latinos account for six percent of the 20,000 Muslim conversions in the
United States each year, according to a report published by the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. Anecdotal evidence suggests this number may
be
rising…
-----
FAITHFUL REACH OUT AT SERVICES
Shante� Woodards and Christine MacDonald News, Detroit News, 12/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0412/26/D01-42138.htm
DEARBORN -- Booming organ music filled downtown Detroit's Fort Street
Presbyterian Church on Friday night as worshippers packed pews to
celebrate
one of the holiest of Christian holidays.
Among them was Eide Alawan of Dearborn, a Muslim, who since the
September
11 attacks has worked to strengthen relationships among faiths, making
it a
point each Christmas to reach out to Christians.
"Where else but in America?" asked Alawan as he listened to the
church's
Christmas Eve organ concert, featuring songs like "Ava Maria." "I don't
think it would happen anywhere else.
"I want to feel the spirituality of someone else's faith."
For a week, he had been sending e-mails to fellow Muslims, inviting
them to
attend the services with him. He has noticed more Christians and Jews
visiting mosques to learn more about Islam, but hasn't seen as much
interest the other way around. Last year about six Muslims came with
him to
various services.
He was disappointed to see that none came this year: "I just continue
to
work on it."
"Right after September 11, I felt that I had to engage within the
interfaith community and better understand it," said Alawan, who works
with
the Islamic Center of America. "It's an opportunity not only to learn
about
faith traditions, but an opportunity to have spiritual
understanding..."
ALSO SEE:
A MUSLIM SANTA'S GIFT TO AN INTERFAITH GROUP: FREE RENT
Joseph Berger, New York Times, 12/24/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/nyregion/24faith.html
As the onetime dean of the cavernous Cathedral of St. John the Divine,
the
Very Rev. James Parks Morton cheerlessly savored the reversal of
fortune.
There he was, two weeks before Christmas, no longer able to afford to
shelter the small interfaith group that has been his passion for the
past
eight years. He and his scrappy staff in Midtown Manhattan were,
without
over-roasting a Christmas chestnut, about to be as homeless as a
certain
family of yore.
But in irrepressible holiday tradition, an unlikely gift appeared from
an
unexpected source. Dean Morton's group, the Interfaith Center of New
York,
found its manger in the Bronx - rent free - and its benefactor is a
Muslim
immigrant, Sheikh Moussa Drammeh.
"Santa is from Senegal," is the way Timur Yuskaev, a staff member, put
it.
In the story of a Muslim helping a Christian find offices in which to
plan
conferences for Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and others, Dean Morton
sees
a moral that validates the interfaith enterprise.
"Everyone recognizes it's a time of gifts, and we've received an
amazing
gift," he said. "After all, the wise men who brought their gold,
frankincense and myrrh were probably Persians - Zoroastrians. It was
not a
Christian Christmas party. It was a global Christmas party."
The gently rumpled Dean Morton, 74, was more than the administrator of
St.
John the Divine, at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, for 25 years. He
was
its impresario, turning a staid seat for the Episcopal bishop of New
York
into a place that had a resident tightrope walker, Philippe Petit, a
pet
Hudson River blue crab as an environmental statement, free-roaming
peacocks
for whimsy and a stonecutting program for neighborhood youths.
He started the Interfaith Center after resigning from the cathedral
post in
1997. Through conferences and other events, the center brings together
priests, rabbis, imams and other clergy to work on urban problems like
navigating the judicial system.
For the past five years, the Interfaith Center was ensconced in what
had
been a Persian rug emporium on East 30th Street in Manhattan. But in
October, Dean Morton learned that two major donors were cutting their
annual contributions by half. That month he could not pay the $20,000
rent...
---
CA: MUSLIM VOLUNTEERS RUN A MUSCOY MEDICAL FACILITY FOR THOSE WITHOUT
INSURANCE
Bettye Wells Miller, Press-Enterprise, 12/23/04
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_alshifa23.58312.h
tml
SAN BERNARDINO - Margaret McNichols was in pain.
Four cavities. Three broken teeth. No dental insurance.
The 52-year-old student teacher from Mira Loma said she didn't know how
she
would get her teeth repaired until she saw a flier for Al-Shifa Dental
Clinic, where volunteer dentists provide care at no cost two days a
week.
"To hear of a place where I could come, I'm so excited," the full-time
student at Azusa Pacific University said as she filled out a medical
information form at the Muscoy clinic. "This is a real blessing."
Dental services are the newest offering of Al-Shifa Clinic, which a
group
of Muslim physicians started in March 2000 to provide free medical care
for
people with no health insurance. The dental clinic opened in July.
Both clinics are located in a portable building on Mallory Street on
land
owned by the Dar-al-Uloom Al-Islamiya of America mosque...
Al-Shifa Clinic
What: Free medical and dental care
Where: 2034 B Mallory St., San Bernardino
Information: (909) 473-0600 or www.alshifafreeclinic.org
---
'FLOATING HOLIDAYS' URGED FOR SCHOOLS
Muslim Activists Lobby Md. Panel
Daniel de Vise, Washington Post, 12/25/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24989-2004Dec24.html
Schools across the Washington region sat empty yesterday in observance
of
Christmas, a Christian holiday, just as many shut down on Sept. 16 this
year to mark Judaism's Rosh Hashanah.
Some local Muslims want to know why Nov. 15, Eid al-Fitr, the
celebratory
conclusion of Ramadan, doesn't merit equal treatment.
Complaints from Muslim leaders in Baltimore County this week prompted
an
obscure state education committee to recommend that all Maryland
students
be given two floating holidays for religious observance. Students could
use
those days to mark the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha,
the
feast that follows the pilgrimage to Mecca -- or other religious
holidays
-- without fear of being marked absent or penalized for missing a test.
Bash Pharoan, a surgeon who leads the Baltimore County Muslim Council,
brought public speakers to school board meetings in every county this
year
to lobby for an official Islamic holiday in the schools. Although the
Muslim parents failed in that venue, they attracted the interest of a
22-member group called the Achievement Initiative for Maryland's
Minority
Students Steering Committee. The group's recommendation awaits review
by
State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick…
-----
TENN. MUSLIMS FACE RESISTANCE TO PLANS
Woody Baird, Associated Press, 12/24/04
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/nation/10500228.htm
SOMERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Muslims planned to turn an old sod farm near
Memphis into a cemetery, but angry neighbors protested, complaining the
burial ground could become a staging ground for terrorists or spread
disease from unembalmed bodies.
It was not the first time a group faced opposition when trying to build
a
cemetery or a mosque, but the dispute stood out for the clarity of its
anti-Muslim rhetoric.
``We know for a fact that Muslim mosques have been used as terrorist
hideouts and centers for terrorist activities,'' farmer John Wilson
told
members of a planning commission last month.
Similar disputes have arisen elsewhere when Muslim groups sought to
develop
mosques or cemeteries, which are often the first Islamic institutions
in
some communities.
Opponents of a proposal to open a mosque in Voorhees, N.J., distributed
an
anonymous flier warning that Islamic worshippers might include
``extremists
and radicals.'' Arguments over a proposed Muslim cemetery near Atlanta
persisted for more then a year before officials approved preliminary
plans.
Critics of the projects generally complain about potential damage to
the
environment, reduced property values and traffic congestion, but many
also
associate Islam with terrorism.
Rabiah Ahmed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said she
noticed
more protests of Muslim building proposals after the 2001 terrorist
attacks, so she was not surprised by the cemetery critics near Memphis…
SEE: TENNESSEE MUSLIMS DENIED RIGHT TO CEMETERY
http://cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1337&page=NR
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM IN AMERICA
Orlando Weekly, Leigh de Armas, Orlando Weekly, 12/23/2004
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/Story.asp?ID=4748
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Clermont resident Imam Abdurrahman
Sykes
flew into Washington, D.C., just behind history. Four minutes before
his
flight's landing gear touched the asphalt of the Washington Dulles
International Airport runway, American Flight 77 had crashed into the
Pentagon a few miles away. Wearing the same type of clothing he had
proudly
worn for 20 years - a long, calf-length shirt traditionally worn by
religious Arab Muslim males (known as a galabiya), and a long, thick
beard
- Sykes casually walked to the airport's main terminal along with
dozens of
other travelers, unaware that the nation had been attacked.
A few yards away, Sykes noticed a large crowd of people gathered around
an
airport restaurant's television. But it was the grief-stricken and
angry
faces within the crowd that caused Sykes to quicken his pace and join
them.
The blur on the television set became clearer, and he was confronted
with
the images of the attacks.
Filled with confusion and immense sadness, Sykes immediately thought of
his
wife and four young children in North Carolina. The family had been
separated for a few months while Sykes was finishing school in
Washington,
D.C., and preparing a new home for them in Clermont. He was making his
weekly commute to attend classes at the Graduate School of Islamic and
Social Scientists in Leesburg, Va., 30 minutes outside of the nation's
capital. He was working on a master's degree to secure a job as a
religious
chaplain at a Florida prison.
Sykes dialed his home number but could not break through the busy
signal on
the other end. He had no idea that a misinformed friend of the family
was
mistakenly telling his wife that her husband was on the flight that
crashed
into the Pentagon, and that he was dead.
As Sykes stood frozen in front of the television, the TV reporter told
the
nation that America was being attacked by terrorists who were Muslim
extremists. Sykes began to notice uneasy stares in his direction. He
was
wearing the same long beard and Arab clothing as the terrorists on the
screen.
But Sykes is no terrorist. Nor is he a foreigner. He is the son of two
Christian farmers from North Carolina who had converted to Islam two
decades before. For the first time in his life, Sykes was terrified to
tell
anyone his name
It isn't an unusual story. Muslim Americans throughout this country
have
watched their lives change since Sept. 11, and according to the Florida
Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Florida
has
been a center for anti-Muslim activity.
Ahmed Bedier, spokesperson for the Tampa center, has seen the
after-effects
of hate crimes in Central Florida, including the vandalism of the
Community
Education Center in Lutz, an Islamic center in a Tampa suburb. In June,
a
group of vandals broke into the center and scrawled anti-Muslim phrases
on
the walls in red lettering - "Kill all Muslims!!!" and "You killed my
sister and now I seek to kill you." Bedier was devastated by the act.
"This is very offensive," he said in an interview with the Tampa
Tribune.
"It makes me so sad and upset. When Muslims see this, they feel
intimidated
and helpless. Clearly this was done by a bunch of ignorant people, a
bunch
of bigots who have a lot of hatred in their hearts..."
-----
SPEAK UP ABOUT BIAS TOWARD MUSLIMS
Ute Forsythe, Bradenton Herald, 12/26/04
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/10499648.htm
". . .But I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Socialist or Communist
or a
Jew or a Catholic and so when they came for me, there was no one left
to
speak up for me."
This is part of the powerful quote by Pastor Martin Niemoller which
tells
of his failure to stand up during the Third Reich when the Nazis
arrested,
tortured and killed innocent people. The former World War I U-bonotat
commander and Protestant pastor spoke up too late and was sent to
various
concentration camps and was ultimately freed by German soldiers in
southern
Tyrol at the end of World War II.
It is time for me and all the people in this country to speak up to
what is
happening to our democracy and to those among us who are of Middle
Eastern
heritage and to those who are Muslims. When I read the article in your
Dec.
18 edition quoting a survey that claims that 44 percent of Americans
want
to restrict the civil liberties of Muslim-Americans, and the story of
AmSouth bank closing accounts of customers of Middle Eastern descent, I
was
struck by the parallels. For the first time I started to feel fear -
fear
that our civil liberties are indeed endangered. But not from an outside
foreign enemy - rather from the hysterical, paranoid confusion created
by
the Patriot Act. How much longer until an order will be issued to
create
internment camps for all Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent?
Don't be afraid to stand up now or it will be too late when they come
for
you.
---
SCARY INTOLERANCE
Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Washington Post, 12/26/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26069-2004Dec25.html
I was flabbergasted by an item about an opinion poll in the Dec. 18
Nation
in Brief column, which said, "Nearly half of Americans believe the
government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans."
What happened to the America where tolerance is valued?
The article also said, "Pollsters found that Republicans and people who
described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support
curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who say
they
are less religious."
Are these the "moral values" that got President Bush reelected?
This poll further gave more ammunition to terrorists who say that
America
is waging a new crusade against Islam. Doesn't the Constitution mean
anything anymore?
-----
GIFTS TO ISRAELI DEFENSE CHARITY CALLED UNFAIR
Jewel Gopwani and Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 12/24/04
http://www.freep.com/money/business/banks24e_20041224.htm
Some in metro Detroit's Arab-American community are wondering why five
local banks recently donated to a nonprofit group that aids Israeli
soldiers.
The group, part of a national nonprofit that raises money for social,
educational and recreational programs for Israeli soldiers and their
families, took out a full-page ad in an October issue of the Detroit
Jewish
News, naming Comerica Bank, Bank One, Huntington National Bank,
National
City and Standard Federal Bank among dozens of companies as generous
sponsors.
The ad prompted a community leader to send letters to banks asking why
they
made the tax-deductible donations to a group associated with what many
Arab-Americans consider an occupying force in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
The donations also resulted in protests last week at some of the banks
in
Ann Arbor and a prominent article about the issue in the Arab American
News.
The donations give the appearance of a double standard, said Imad
Hamad,
regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
who
is convinced the same institutions wouldn't donate to groups associated
with Arab defense forces.
"These financial institutions should be more careful, more sensitive
not to
put their nose in the middle of unnecessary debate because
unfortunately,
it's a losing situation to them," Hamad said.
But the Michigan Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces has nothing to
do
with military action, so it shouldn't be an issue, said Tamir
Oppenheim,
executive director of the group.
"We are taking care of the welfare of the Israeli soldiers. We are not
taking care of anything that concerns with military action or
violence,"
Oppenheim said. "We are not buying any ammunition, any bullets. We are
taking care of widows. We are taking care of children who lost their
fathers."
The group's Web site shows its capital projects include cultural
centers,
briefing rooms, as well as sports and recreation centers for
soldiers...
-----
U.S. BARS WINNIPEG TRAVELLER
Paul Turenne, Winnipeg Sun, 12/23/04
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2004/12/23/794427-sun.html
A Winnipeg man who was denied entry to the United States last month
says
American customs officers detained him for five hours, strip-searched
and
fingerprinted him and photographed the contents of his wallet before
sending him home with no explanation. Youssouf Gandega, 28, fears he
may
have been the victim of post-9/11 profiling.
"I know I didn't do anything. I'm clear. I don't have a criminal
record,"
said Gandega, who is originally from the North African country of
Mauritania but is now a Canadian citizen. "I'm Muslim and my name on my
passport is Youssouf, a Muslim name. I think that's the reason, but
they
didn't want to tell me the truth."
"I understand they have to protect the U.S. citizens from terrorists,
but I
am not one of them," he said.
On Nov. 30, Gandega was supposed to fly from Winnipeg to Chicago and on
to
Paris for a family visit. It was cheaper to fly through Chicago than
any
Canadian cities, he said.
When he tried to clear U.S. customs in Winnipeg, his problems began.
"(The officer) checked my passport, then told me to wait," said
Gandega.
"He came back with his boss and his boss told me to follow him."
The officers then searched his bags and told him they were waiting for
a
fax from Washington.
The fax arrived hours later...
-----
FURTHER DETAINEE ABUSE ALLEGED
Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 12/25/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25962-2004Dec25.html
At least 10 current and former detainees at the U.S. military prison in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have lodged allegations of abuse similar to the
incidents described by FBI agents in newly released documents, claims
that
were denied by the government but gained credibility with the reports
from
the agents, their attorneys say.
In public statements after their release and in documents filed with
federal courts, the detainees have said they were beaten before and
during
interrogations, "short-shackled" to the floor and otherwise mistreated
as
part of the effort to get them to confess to being members of al Qaeda
or
the Taliban.
Even some of the detainees' attorneys acknowledged that they were
initially
skeptical, mainly because there has been little evidence that captors
at
Guantanamo Bay engaged in the kind of abuse discovered at Iraq's Abu
Ghraib
prison. But last Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union released
FBI
memos, which it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit,
in
which agents described witnessing or learning of serious mistreatment
of
detainees.
"On a couple of occasions, I entered interview rooms to find a detainee
chained hand and foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair,
food
or water," an unidentified agent wrote on Aug. 2, 2004, for example.
"Most
times they had urinated or defecated on themselves, and had been left
there
for 18, 24 hours or more."
Brent Mickum, a Washington attorney for one of the detainees, said that
"now there's no question these guys have been tortured. When we first
got
involved in this case, I wondered whether this could all be true. But
every
allegation that I've heard has now come to pass and been confirmed by
the
government's own papers."
A Pentagon spokesman has said the military has an ongoing investigation
of
torture claims and takes credible allegations seriously. Pentagon
officials
and lawyers say the military has been careful not to abuse detainees
and
has complied with treaties on the handling of enemy prisoners "to the
extent possible" in the middle of a war.
The detainees who made public claims of torture at Guantanamo Bay
describe
a prison camp in which abuse is employed as a coordinated tool to aid
interrogators and as punishment for minor offenses that irked prison
guards. They say military personnel beat and kicked them while they had
hoods on their heads and tight shackles on their legs, left them in
freezing temperatures and stifling heat, subjected them to repeated,
prolonged rectal exams and paraded them naked around the prison as
military
police snapped pictures...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS URGED TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
(Washington, D.C., 12/27/04) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR)
today asked members of the American Muslim community and all people of
conscience worldwide to offer humanitarian assistance and pray for the
victims
in Sunday’s tsunamis in southern Asia.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group also
expressed
condolences to the families of the victims.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy in southern Asia,"
said CAIR
Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the
families of
those killed and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured as a
result of
the earthquake. CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations
that will
provide aid to the affected areas."
The underwater tremor - the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years -
struck deep
in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra, triggering tidal
waves up to
30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six
countries
across southern Asia.
An estimated 20,000 people have been reported killed thus far in the
devastation. As more information comes in from different countries,
officials
are expecting the death toll to rise.
HOW TO HELP
The following organizations have announced that they will take part in
relief
efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:
ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE RESPONSE launched an effort to get medical
supplies,
tents and sanitations facilities for the victims of the earthquake. To
donate,
send checks to Islamic Relief, 1919 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506,
call
(888) 479-4968, or visit: www.irw.org
ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting
donations of
nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami
in Sri
Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop
off
donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.
Contact
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.
ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an
Indonesia,
India & Seri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes,
tents &
other urgently needed supplies. To donate, visit www.ReliefOnLine.org
or send
checks to 166-26 89th Ave Jamaica, NY 11432, Tel.718-68-7028.
The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia
have begun
to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with the
immediate
needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached
some of
the affected areas.
Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund
may be
sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red
Cross
International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet
users can make a secure online contribution by visiting
www.redcross.org.
CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are
traveling
to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be
made
through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or by
phoning
1-800-020-046.
Other relief organizations that have established similar funds should
notify
CAIR by sending an e-mail to: cair@cair-net.org. Additional names will
be added
to a list on CAIR’s website, www.cair.com.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and in
Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,
E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
----------------------------------------------------------------
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/28/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
* CA: MUSLIMS MEET CONGRESSMAN TO PROTEST IMAM'S DETENTION (LA Times)
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS TO HOLD PRAYER SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- CAIR-MD & VA: Groups Mobilize to Help Tsunami Survivors (AP)
- Many Nations Move Swiftly to Help Tsunami Victims (SHN)
- NY: Muslims Pray for Tsunami Victims (Democrat & Chron)
- CAIR-FL: Temple, Mosque Offer Support (Miami Herald)
- CAIR-FL: Floridians Await Word of Loved Ones (Sun Sentinel)
* TN: CENTER CLASS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS (Tennessean)
* TX: MAN SENTENCED FOR ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT (El Paso Times)
* US, BRITAIN HOLDING 10,000 PRISONERS IN IRAQ (ABC)
* JET IS AN OPEN SECRET IN TERROR WAR (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The Compassionate One
[God] has
mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on
earth,
He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2322
-----
MUSLIMS MEET CONGRESSMAN TO PROTEST IMAM'S DETENTION
Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, 12/28/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-muslim28dec28,1,1886945.story
Members of the Muslim community, including the family of a jailed
Islamic leader
who has been held at a federal detention facility since Nov. 4, met
Monday with
Rep. Christopher Cox to protest alleged violations of due process by
immigration officials.
About two dozen community members delivered a petition signed by more
than 1,000
people and asked Cox, a Newport Beach Republican who is chairman of the
Select
Committee on Homeland Security, to investigate the case of Wagdy
Mohamed
Ghoneim, an Egyptian immigrant who serves as an imam at the Islamic
Institute
of Orange County.
Ghoneim was arrested at his Anaheim home and has been held at a federal
detention facility in San Pedro on suspicion of being in the country
illegally.
His attorneys have said he had a valid visa. A bond hearing is
scheduled for
today.
His 17-year-old daughter, Afnan, said the situation had been stressful.
"We
cried a lot," she said. "We can visit him, but only with glass between
us. You
cannot even hug him and touch him."
Last week, he was taken to a hospital after becoming ill. But family
members
were not told which hospital and were not allowed to visit or speak to
him.
Later, he told them that he was chained to his hospital bed at the
ankles and
wrists.
"He is a peaceful person," said Sabry Aziz, an Anaheim accountant who
attended
the meeting with Cox. "He never said anything against the United
States."
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, said
she could not discuss details of the case but said administrative
procedures
were being followed.
"He's going before an immigration judge, being represented by an
attorney and he
will have a chance to state his case," she said. "This plays out dozens
of
times a day throughout the greater Los Angeles area. I would argue that
that is
due process."
During their meeting with Cox, representatives from the Muslim Public
Affairs
Council and the Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized an
earlier
hearing held for Ghoneim, during which the government suggested that
the imam
is a national security risk and presented information from anti-Islamic
websites that mentioned his name...
-----
FL MUSLIMS TO HOLD PRAYER SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(MIAMI, FL., 12/28/2004) The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a prayer service today to pray for those
killed
and affected by Sunday's tsunamis in southern Asia.
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group also
expresses
condolences to the families of the victims and appeals to members of
the
American Muslim community and all people of conscience worldwide to
offer
humanitarian assistance.
SEE: "U.S. Muslims Urged to Help Tsunami Survivors" at
http://www.cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1368&page=NR
WHAT: A prayer service by the South Florida Muslim leaders
WHEN: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 5:00PM
WHERE: Miami Gardens Mosque, 4305 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL. 33055
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490, 954-298-8214; Email:
altaf@cair-florida.org
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and in
Canada. This event is co-sponsored by all south Florida mosques and
will be
attended by all the Imams in the south Florida area.
- END -
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org; Ahmed Bedier,
813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org
ALSO SEE:
MARYLAND GROUPS MOBILIZE TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Associated Press, 12/28/04
http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=373946&nid=25
BALTIMORE - Relief agencies in Maryland are working to provide
assistance to the
countries devastated by Sunday's earthquake and tsunami waves in
southern Asia
and Africa.
Groups pledged money, contacted organizations in the affected areas and
mobilized employees. Buddhist temples asked members for donations and
prayers.
And one man quickly set up an organization to help his native Sri
Lanka
Rizwan Mowlana of Gaithersburg created Asia Relief, a group dedicated
specifically to relief efforts in his native Sri Lanka.
Mowlana said he lost about 30 members of his family in the earthquake,
cousins
and aunts and uncles who were at the beach in southern Sri Lanka on
vacation.
The body of one was washed ashore. The rest are missing.
He said he was supposed to go on his annual trip to Sri Lanka this
month and
probably would have been at his beach house in the south when the
earthquake
struck.
Instead, he found himself on Monday pledging to help his
poverty-stricken
homeland. He hopes to work through the United Nations Relief Agency and
wants
to go to Sri Lanka next month to meet with government officials.
The civil war in Sri Lanka will make the logistics of relief more
difficult, he
said.
"I don't trust any politicians there at the moment," said Mowlana, who
is also
executive director of the Maryland and Virginia office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. "And I don't know how we're going to get
relief to
the northeast," which is controlled by a rebel, separatist group, the
Tamil
Tigers.
---
MANY NATIONS MOVE SWIFTLY TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Lisa Hofffman, Scripps Howard News Service, 12/27/04
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=TSUNAMI-AID-12-27-04&cat=WW
- Italy is sending a portable field hospital. The Czech Republic has
dispatched
eight tons of drinking water. Israel has sent a planeload of baby food,
medicine and doctors.
And the United States is making a $15 million initial contribution of
search
aircraft, 21 evaluation teams and emergency cash to governments of the
10
nations that suffered from Sunday's tragic tsunami disaster in the
Indian Ocean
region.
Although the recovery of bodies and a full count of the dead could take
weeks,
the number of victims Monday remains short of the estimated 30,000
killed
exactly a year ago by an earthquake in Bam, Iran. But tens of thousands
- if
not many more - have been left homeless and vulnerable to disease and
hunger in
the Asian and African countries hit Sunday.
Amidst some grumbling at the United Nations that the United States has
been
miserly with emergency aid, U.N. Undersecretary-General Jan Egeland
said Monday
that the earthquake is expected to be the most costly in world history.
"The effects may be the biggest ever because many more people live in
exposed
areas than ever before," Egeland told reporters, estimating a total of
"several
billion" dollars.
The rescue response, both short- and long-term, is also likely to be
the globe's
biggest humanitarian mobilization
And the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the American
Muslim
community to offer humanitarian aid and prayers.
"CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations that will provide
aid," the
Washington, D.C.-based organization announced.
---
NY: LOCAL MUSLIMS PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Matthew Daneman, Democrat and Chronicle, 12/28/04
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041228/NEWS01/412280336/1002/NEWS
BRIGHTON More than 23,000 killed, with the death toll mounting. A
million
people left homeless, with that number sure to climb as well.
In the face of a natural disaster such as the Indian Ocean earthquake
and
tsunami, where the word "tragedy" seems pale and meaningless, sometimes
all
there is left to do is pray.
"Please help them. Help those people, Allah," said Muhammad Shafiq,
imam and
executive director of the Islamic Center of Rochester, as he knelt
Monday night
in prayer.
A small crowd of about a dozen worshippers came on short notice to the
Westfall
Road center for a quick, informal prayer service for the victims and
survivors
of Sunday's disaster.
"Any human tragedy, especially with such a large size, it really pains
everyone," said worshipper Shoaeb Razvi, a software engineer and native
of
India now living in Henrietta.
Monday night's service also marked the unofficial start of a
fundraising effort
for disaster relief by the Rochester area's Muslim community, Shafiq
said.
Yasir Mohamed, 23 and a management information systems major at
Rochester
Institute of Technology, is a native of Somalia.
And while none of his family or friends was harmed in the tsunami, he
can
identify and empathize with the losses there. Raising money to help in
the
disaster relief, "that's the least we can do," Mohamed said after the
service.
The local Muslim community raised thousands of dollars early this year
for the
survivors of the earthquake that killed 35,000 Iranians in December
2003
---
TEMPLE, MOSQUE OFFER SUPPORT
Nikki Waller, Miami Herald, 12/28/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/10510558.htm
In the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunamis that swept across the
Indian
Ocean, South Floridians with roots in South Asia worked Monday to find
facts
and send help to their devastated homelands.
South Floridians sought news through 24-hour coverage on Indian
satellite
channels.
As the hours went by, they learned the extent of the destruction, but
not the
more personal, vital details: who was spared and who wasn't.
''People are obviously very distraught. They're still not able to
communicate
with family members in the affected areas,'' said Ramanuja Iyengar,
incoming
president and one of the founders of Shiva Vishnu Temple of South
Florida in
Southwest Ranches.
Many of Shiva Vishnu's congregants hail from Sri Lanka and India's
Tamil Nadu
state, two of the hardest-hit areas.
A Sunday evening gathering at Iyengar's Pembroke Pines home became an
impromptu
news exchange. Nearly all 20 families invited had relatives in Tamil
Nadu.
''Even back home, people aren't sure what is what,'' he said. ''I'm
sure there
will be families who have lost relatives and close friends.''
The temple plans to organize a condolence service and will soon begin
collecting
donations for relief efforts.
Many of the area's 50,000 Muslims also hail from the regions struck by
Sunday's
earthquake, said Altaf Ali, a member of the Florida Council on
American-Islamic
Relations.
Area Muslims gather tonight for a 5 p.m. service at a Masjid Miami
Gardens, 4305
NW 183rd Street.
Recent closures of Islamic charities in the area have made Muslims
leery of
donating money to similar charities, said Ali, but local and national
organizations are working to establish funds
---
S. FLORIDIANS AWAIT WORD OF LOVED ONES AS TSUNAMI TOLL EXCEEDS 40,000
Jamie Malernee, Doreen Hemlock and Chris Kahn, Sun Sentinel, 12/28/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cquakelocal28dec28,0,3891173.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
The tsunami should have made her an orphan.
But Deerfield Beach resident Sukanti Iyne-Husain, a native of India, is
raising
money for the victims of Sunday's disaster instead of being one. Her
entire
family was headed to the beach in Sri Lanka before an earthquake sent a
wall of
water through the area. One thing saved them.
"My father just happened to lose his keys, and they were delayed," she
said,
describing the scene they saw as they approached the beach later in the
day:
"They heard people shouting that the sea was coming in and saw they
were
carrying children and pets, running in the streets. It was
pandemonium."
Her parents turned the car around, but her uncle and his parents were
in a
separate car and kept going to see more.
"[They said] it looked like the sea had just drawn back. A lot of coral
was
exposed. It was beautiful. They say a lot of children went out to try
and pick
up the fish," said Iyne-Husain, 29. "Then they were just floating; the
car was
floating at a 180-degree angle."
But somehow, her uncle got the car to safety. "It was a really close
call," she
said.
Many were not so lucky, and now their friends and relatives in South
Florida are
feeling the effects as the death toll climbed past 40,000 in India,
Indonesia,
Thailand and South Asian countries. Selva Selvendran, an engineer in
Boynton
Beach who also has family in Sri Lanka, already knows of three friends
who
died
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today
will
conduct a prayer service for the tsunami victims. It will be at 5 p.m.
at Miami
Gardens Mosque, Northwest 183rd Street in Miami. A majority of the
imams in
South Florida are expected to be there.
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER CLASS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FAITH
Holly Edwards, Tennessean, 12/27/04
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/12/63400747.shtml?Element_ID=63400747
When Awadh Binhazim holds diversity training in the Nashville area, he
asks his
students what comes to mind when they hear the word Muslim.
Many say ''murderer,'' ''terrorist'' or ''bad religion.''
To counter these beliefs, Binhazim and other leaders of the Islamic
Center of
Nashville will hold free weekly classes on Islam at Tennessee State
University
starting next month. As outreach director of the center, it's
Binhazim's job to
promote understanding of the Islamic faith in the community one of
the
center's primary missions.
''We want to say to people that they can't use the actions of a few to
judge the
faith of 1.5 billion people,'' Binhazim said. ''Our religion does not
pro- mote
violence and doesn't accept anything related to terrorism.''
Leaders of the center say misunderstanding and a lack of knowledge have
contributed to the negative views some have of Muslims.
The first step toward eliminating the misunderstandings surrounding
Islam is to
''open the doors of dialogue with non-Muslims,'' said Amir Arain, an
Islamic
Center board member and Vanderbilt University neurology professor.
''The most common misconception is that Islam preaches terrorism and
intolerance
and teaches violence, which are quite contrary to Islamic beliefs,''
Arain
said. ''People think it's a closed society and we don't want to
assimilate. But
Islam teaches peace, justice and peaceful coexistence.''
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, two local mosques were
vandalized
and some local Muslims were harassed in public, Binhazim said. Since
then, he
said that outward hostility has waned but negative views of Muslims
persist
-----
MAN SENTENCED FOR ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT
Tammy Fonce-Olivas, El Paso Times, 12/28/04
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20041228-5062.shtml
A 30-year-old man who sent a threatening e-mail to the Islamic Center
of El Paso
on April 18 was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Dec. 21, the
Office of
U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton reported.
Jared Bjarnason pleaded guilty in September to one count of sending a
threatening interstate communication and to making a threat against a
religious
property.
By his guilty plea, Bjarnason admitted to sending an e-mail threatening
to burn
down the center if hostages held in Iraq were not freed within three
days.
-----
US, BRITAIN HOLDING 10,000 PRISONERS IN IRAQ
ABC, 12/27/04
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1273053.htm
Over 350 foreigners are among about 10,000 detainees being held in
US-run
prisons in Iraq, Iraq's Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin Over says.
"US forces told us on December 23 that they are holding 353 foreign
terrorists,"
Mr Amin said.
He says they include: 61 Egyptians, 59 Saudis, 56 Syrians, 40
Jordanians, 35
Sudanese, 22 Iranians, 10 Tunisians, 10 Yemenis, eight Palestinians and
five
Lebanese, among others.
US military detainee operations spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Barry
Johnston
refused to comment on the figures.
"I will not confirm numbers of specific nationalities held among
foreign
fighters," Lt Col Johnston said.
"As a matter of policy, we only share those numbers with government
officials."
Both the Iraqi and US governments blame foreigners mainly from Syria
and Iran
for much of the violence in the country.
Mr Amin says 4,691 prisoners were being held in Camp Bucca near the
southern
port city of Umm Qasr, 3,411 in Abu Ghraib west of Baghdad and 818 in
Al-Shuaiba British controlled Basra.
He also says that 104 are being held in Camp Cropper, near Baghdad's
airport,
where Saddam and other so-called "high-value" detainees are located
-----
JET IS AN OPEN SECRET IN TERROR WAR
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 12/27/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27826-2004Dec26.html
The airplane is a Gulfstream V turbojet, the sort favored by CEOs and
celebrities. But since 2001 it has been seen at military airports from
Pakistan
to Indonesia to Jordan, sometimes being boarded by hooded and
handcuffed
passengers.
The plane's owner of record, Premier Executive Transport Services Inc.,
lists
directors and officers who appear to exist only on paper. And each one
of those
directors and officers has a recently issued Social Security number and
an
address consisting only of a post office box, according to an extensive
search
of state, federal and commercial records.
This Gulfstream V turbojet is believed to be used to transport
suspected
terrorists to other countries for interrogation -- a practice called
rendition.
(Special To The Washington Post)
Bryan P. Dyess, Steven E. Kent, Timothy R. Sperling and Audrey M.
Tailor are
names without residential, work, telephone or corporate histories --
just the
kind of "sterile identities," said current and former intelligence
officials,
that the CIA uses to conceal involvement in clandestine operations. In
this
case, the agency is flying captured terrorist suspects from one country
to
another for detention and interrogation.
The CIA calls this activity "rendition." Premier Executive's Gulfstream
helps
make it possible. According to civilian aircraft landing permits, the
jet has
permission to use U.S. military airfields worldwide.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, secret renditions have become a principal weapon
in the
CIA's arsenal against suspected al Qaeda terrorists, according to
congressional
testimony by CIA officials. But as the practice has grown, the agency
has had
significantly more difficulty keeping it secret...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FINGERPRINTED BY U.S. AT CANADIAN BORDER
CAIR calls for probe of 'profiling,' says incident chills religious
freedom
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/29/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today called for a formal investigation by the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into an incident at the Canadian
border in which American Muslim citizens were apparently singled out
for
special security checks based on their attendance at an Islamic
conference
and then held until they agreed to be fingerprinted.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
the
incident was a disturbing example of religious profiling that would
have a
chilling effect on the constitutional rights of American Muslims,
particularly the right to the free exercise of religion, freedom of
speech,
peaceful assembly, and the right to be "secure in their persons…against
unreasonable searches."
A number of the up to 40 Muslims who were singled out for questioning
and
fingerprinting told CAIR that they were returning from a weekend
Islamic
conference of more than 10,000 in Toronto when they were stopped by
U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Lewiston Bridge
crossing near Niagara Falls, N.Y. (CBP is part of the Department of
Homeland Security. For conference details, see:
http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/)
Several of the Muslim citizens held at the border for up to six hours
on
Sunday night and Monday morning told CAIR they objected strenuously to
being fingerprinted, but were informed by CBP representatives that "you
have no rights" and that they would be held until they agreed to the
fingerprinting procedure. One person was allegedly threatened with
arrest
if she attempted to leave the detention area without being
fingerprinted.
CBP officials on the scene cited "orders from above" to justify their
actions. One CBP official reportedly agreed with a Muslim traveler that
"it
would not look good" if the news media saw the detention area filled
exclusively with Muslims in Islamic attire. CAIR is investigating
similar
reports of demands for fingerprinting of conference attendees at other
border crossings.
When contacted by CAIR, a CBP spokesman in Washington, D.C., initially
said
fingerprinting of American citizens would be a "violation of policy."
He
later said fingerprinting would be allowed "if there was a law
enforcement
reason for doing so," but would not state what that reason might be.
Media reports on the incident quote CBP officials as saying some of the
Muslim citizens who were fingerprinted had names similar to those on
watch
lists. But that claim does not explain why everyone in the group of
conference attendees, even Muslim converts, were fingerprinted.
SEE: "Muslim-Americans Say Border Inspections Were Unwarranted"
http://www.wkbw.com/morenews/morenews.asp#8
Local DHS officials now say they will hold a community meeting next
week to
address the concerns of those who were forced to be fingerprinted.
"The image of a room full of American Muslim citizens apparently being
held
solely because of their faith and the fact that they attended an
Islamic
conference is one that should be disturbing to all Americans who value
religious freedom," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This
incident
must be investigated to determine what the policy on fingerprinting
Muslim
citizens is and who is behind it."
Awad also urged anyone treated in a similar manner to contact CAIR's
Civil
Rights Department by calling 202-488-8787 or e-mailing
civilrights@cair-net.org.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/29/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
* U.S. MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- Sample Press Release
- CAIR-FL: Tampa Bay Religious Leaders to Hold Interfaith
Service
- CAIR-OH: Central Ohio Muslims to Pray For Those Killed
* CAIR-FL: HELP, HOWEVER THEY CAN (The Star)
- CAIR-FL: Wallets Open To Aid Relief Effort (Tampa Trib)
- CAIR-FL: Drive Launched For Tsunami Victims (Sun Sentinel)
- CAIR: Faiths Offer Prayers for Victims (RNS)
- CAIR-MD & VA on American Muslim Relief Efforts (CNN)
- PA: Local Immigrant Groups Organizing Relief (Post-Gazette)
- NY: Fundraising Efforts Help Tsunami Victims (WOKR13.tv)
* CAIR-CAN: RIGHTS AND SECURITY: WE MUST HAVE BOTH (Toronto Star)
* BUILDING BRIDGES OF FAITH (News Review)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER ‘TO THE PEOPLE OF ISLAM’
- No Muslims on Israeli Soccer Team (Haaretz)
* WHY'S THE FBI BLOWING UP BUSES? (Weekly Planet)
* IL: TWO FIRMS SUPPLYS JEWISH, ISLAMIC MILITARY MEMBERS (KWQC)
- Kosher Firm Finds Military Niche (Chicago Trib)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent Mu’adh and Abu Musa to
Yemen,
telling them: “Treat the people with ease don’t be hard on them; give
them glad
tidings and don’t fill them aversions (to good deeds); love each other,
and
don’t disagree.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 275
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/29/04) - CAIR is calling on mosques and Islamic
centers
around North America to hold special prayers this Friday for those who
died as
a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The prayers,
called
salat al-ghaib, are performed for those who have died in a distant
place.
(NOTE: Normally, Islamic funeral prayers would be performed by the
local Muslim
community. Given the devastating nature of the tsunami, local prayers
may not
be possible and victims may not be recovered or identified.)
A sample news release is provided below for local Muslim communities.
CAIR also repeats its call for humanitarian relief for the survivors.
HOW TO HELP
The following organizations have announced that they will take part in
relief
efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:
ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE RESPONSE launched an effort to get medical
supplies,
tents and sanitations facilities for the victims of the earthquake. To
donate,
send checks to Islamic Relief, 1919 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506,
call
(888) 479-4968, or visit: www.irw.org
ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting
donations of
nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami
in Sri
Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop
off
donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.
Contact
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.
ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an
Indonesia,
India & Seri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes,
tents &
other urgently needed supplies. To donate, visit www.ReliefOnLine.org
or send
checks to 166-26 89th Ave Jamaica, NY 11432, Tel.718-68-7028.
The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia
have begun
to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with the
immediate
needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached
some of
the affected areas.
Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund
may be
sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red
Cross
International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet
users can make a secure online contribution by visiting
www.redcross.org.
CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are
traveling
to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be
made
through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or call
1-800-020-046.
LIFE FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT is sending drinking water, food,
hygiene kits,
tents and blankets. LIFE will work on sending more emergency items in
the days
to come.
To make a donation, visit LIFE’s website at www.lifeusa.org or call
1-800-827-3543
ALSO SEE:
SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE
(NOTE: Modify the press release below by using local information. Then,
call
your local newspapers, TV and radio stations to find out the
appropriate person
to send the press release to. Also send a copy to the Daybook editor at
the
nearest Associated Press office. Visit www.ap.org for more details.)
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR THOSE KILLED IN TSUNAMI
WHAT: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in [your city or state] will
offer prayers
for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in
Asia.
The prayers, called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers
for those
who have died in a distant place," will be held following the regular
Friday
Jum'ah prayers at [location].
WHEN: Friday, December 21. Jum'ah prayers begin at [time].
WHERE: [location, address and directions]
CONTACT: [names and phone numbers of contact people]
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
of both
sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get
into
position for the best shots. Photographers are also advised not to step
directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-up
shots.
---
TAMPA BAY RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO HOLD INTERFAITH SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI
VICTIMS
(TAMPA, 12/29/04) The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) will join other religious groups in remembering
Tsunami
victims. A special Interfaith Service of Remembrance will held on
Thursday,
Dec. 30 and hosted by the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.
WHAT: Interfaith Service for Tsunami Victims
WHEN: Thursday, December 30, 7:00PM
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road,
Clearwater, FL
Participants include Ahmed Bedier, Council on American-Islamic
Relations(CAIR),
Rev. Leddy Hammock from Unity, Mr. Aziz Merchant from the Dunedin
Mosque,
Rabbis David Weizman and Danielle Upbin from Temple Beth Shalom, Bhante
Dhammawansha from the Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Meditation Center, Rev.
Abhi
Janamanchi from the Unitarian Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater and
other
faith leaders.
A special offering (donations) will be received to support relief and
rehabilitation efforts in South Asia.
Contact: Rev. Abhi Janamanchi 727-531-7704; Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506
---
CENTRAL OHIO MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR THOSE KILLED IN TSUNAMI
WHAT: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Columbus will offer prayers
for those
who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The
prayers,
called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers for those who
have died
in a distant place," will be held following the regular Friday Jum'ah
prayers
at the Islamic Center of Columbus and other area mosques.
WHEN: Friday, December 21. Jum'ah prayers begin at 12:45 -- salat al-
ghaib will be around 1:15 pm following the Jum'ah prayer.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Columbus
1428 E Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
CONTACT: Siraj Haji, 614-805-0001 or Ahmad Al-Akhras, CAIR-Ohio
president, 614-989-5916
-----
CAIR-FL: HELP, HOWEVER THEY CAN
Shanno Tan, The Star, 12/29/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1103802174272&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
TAMPA - She held out hope that her sister was alive, perhaps lying in a
hospital
somewhere in Sri Lanka. But Yasanthi Wedande learned Tuesday that the
bodies of
her sister and her sister's 3-year-old son had been found.
They were vacationing in a hotel along the coast when the waves came,
Wedande
said.
Jayantha Mallikarachchi's first cousin and his family were driving
along the
coast in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit. Their car was swept away. Only
one
body was found.
Wedande and Mallikarachchi were among several dozen mourners at a
special
service Tuesday night at the Florida Buddhist Vihara in Tampa. They
carried
flowers and offered prayers for the more than 58,000 people who died in
Sunday's disaster.
"We are grieving for the entire nation," said Vinita Witanachchi, 45,
of New
Tampa.
Sitting cross-legged on a rust-colored carpet, they chanted and prayed
for the
dead, who came from more than 11 countries.
"That's the only thing we can do now," said Renu Mallikarachchi, 37,
who lost
two relatives when their vehicle overturned. "What else?"
They poured water from a jug into a glass until the glass overflowed.
By doing
this, the good deeds they have performed in this life will transfer to
their
relatives who were killed.
Shanthi Paranawithana's sister in Sri Lanka got caught in the waves but
was
rescued. But her sister's mother-in-law and sister-in-law were washed
out to
sea.
The home she grew up in was flattened. Bodies were hanging from the
branches of
trees.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL: LOCAL WALLETS OPEN TO AID RELIEF EFFORT
Sherri Ackerman, Tampa Trib, 12/29/04
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBW5PV2B3E.html
TAMPA - Randall Knowles stares at a 5-year-old snapshot of him and a
Japanese
tourist in Phuket, Thailand.
They are smiling and posing amid shops and restaurants at Patong Beach
- exactly
where Knowles planned to be the day a deadly tsunami hit, leaving
thousands of
tourists and residents dead or missing.
``You kind of get dizzy,'' said the south Tampa man who runs Royal
Palace Thai
Restaurant on Howard Avenue with his wife, Tapanee Damrongwatanasuk.
``We
would've been right there.''
Knowles, 44, wanted to spend Christmas on the Southeast Asian island
with a
college friend, but a torn knee ligament kept the restaurateur home.
Now Knowles and his wife, whose family members in northern Thailand
were
unharmed, want to help any way they can. They have set up an account at
Bank of
America and a box inside the restaurant for donations toward relief
efforts.
They plan to deliver the money in person in February.
They are not alone in their support. From ethnic restaurants and
markets to
temples, mosques and churches, Tampa Bay area residents are working to
aid
countries affected by one of the world's worst disasters.
Customers stream into Thailand Restaurant on South Dale Mabry Avenue
asking
owner Amnuay Thambundit what they can do.
Some have visited the middle-class coastal area, where Europeans love
to
vacation, said Thambundit, a Bangkok native. Others are longtime
clients moved
by Internet and news accounts of the devastation.
Thambundit said he would like to have a donation box in his restaurant,
but
``I'm not a nonprofit.''
Instead, he tells his customers to call Wat Mongkolratanaram, the
Buddhist
Temple of Florida, in Tampa.
With about 500 members in the Tampa Bay area, the temple on Palm River
Road has
organized a fundraising drive with six Thai restaurants along with a
special
day of prayer and meditation.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, anyone wishing to donate money or
offer prayers
is welcome to attend the service, spokeswoman Chantana Turchany said.
Collections have just begun, she said, with the temple receiving many
telephone
calls from people wanting to know what they should do.
``Nothing like this has ever happened before,'' said Turchany, so
organizers are
still planning how to get the money to the Thai Army Relief Center in
Thailand
for distribution.
She worries that with the hurricanes this year, residents might not be
able to
give donations. But ``this is the giving season,'' Turchany said. ``So
hopefully they'll still have that generosity in mind.''
If they can't give a financial donation or come to the temple Saturday,
``please
say a special prayer,'' she said.
Ahmed Bedier, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
office in
Tampa, said there will be a special prayer for the victims and a
collection at
mosques on Friday. Local donations can be dropped off at the Islamic
Society of
Tampa Bay Area at 7326 E. Sligh Ave. or at the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations office at 8056 N. 56th St.
Muslims in the Bay area are grieving, Bedier said. About 50 percent of
the Sri
Lankan casualties were Muslims…
---
CAIR-FL: S. FLORIDA ASIANS LAUNCH DONATION DRIVE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Madeline Bar� Diaz and Lori Sykes, Sun Sentinel, 12/29/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-dquakeservice29dec29,0,6389628.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
South Floridians with ties to the South Asian countries devastated by
the
tsunami gathered Tuesday at a mosque in Miami-Dade County and a Hindu
Temple in
Davie to pray for the victims and appeal for donations.
At the Miami Gardens Mosque, an Islamic house of worship in northwest
Miami-Dade
County that is one of the largest and oldest mosques in South Florida,
Muslim
leaders launched relief efforts in South Florida's Muslim community.
"As believers, we believe this could be a test from God, to see how we
behave,
how we act, how we help each other," said Abdul Hamid Samra, imam of
the Miami
Gardens Mosque, late Tuesday afternoon. "We believe this is part of our
religion. These are good deeds. These are righteous deeds."
Some of the worshippers that go to Samra's mosque come from countries
affected,
such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia, he said. Although he had not
heard if
any of them were related to victims of the tsunami, Samra said he
expected to
hear more in the next few days.
When Ibrahim Dremali, imam of the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, heard
about the
massive earthquake and wave, he knew how devastating it could be. He
teaches
geology and oceanography at Broward Community College.
"I was completely shocked," he said. "This is a real disaster."
On Tuesday Dremali looked for the religious meaning behind the
geological
phenomenon.
"God puts people in tests all the time," he said.
That was a sentiment shared by the other imams and worshippers who
gathered at
the mosque. They said at a time like this, Muslims must step up and
show they
care about other human beings.
"It is our responsibility for each individual Muslim to carry this
mission,"
Dremali said. "All of us need to be very united, especially in this
kind of
disaster."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida, known as CAIR,
distributed
a list of places that will be accepting donations. CAIR executive
director
Altaf Ali said the hope was that the imams would speak to their
worshippers at
Friday prayers this week about the importance of helping the tsunami
victims.
"They will take this message back to their community," he said.
"Whenever
calamity befalls humanity, people of faith must come together…"
---
FAITHS OFFER PRAYERS FOR VICTIMS OF SOUTH ASIAN EARTHQUAKE, FLOODS
Religion News Service, 12/28/04
As relief organizations collect aid for the South Asian victims
devastated by
Sunday's (Dec. 26) earthquake and tidal waves, religious groups are
holding
services for families in the United States who have lost relatives in
the
disaster.
The Washington Buddhist Vihara, whose members are mostly from Sri Lanka
-- home
to an estimated 18,000 of the 44,000 victims -- will hold a memorial
service on
Friday (Jan. 31).
Katugastota Vidura, a monk at the Washington temple, said he and other
monks
have been visited by many families and conducted funeral services for
their
relatives who died in Sri Lanka. The rites include "transference"
ceremonies to
release the positive energy of the deceased's life work. The Vihara is
also
collecting funds to send to survivors.
Some of the hardest-hit American Muslims are those with relatives in
Indonesia,
the world's most populous Muslim nation, where the 9.0 earthquake
originated
off the coast of the island of Sumatra.
"Our chapters in various states are organizing prayer services for
those who
have lost loved ones," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. "There is a prayer that Muslims engage in
for those
who have lost loved ones in a distant land, in the absence of the body.
On
Friday, many mosques, I'm sure will be asking people to pray and give
aid…"
---
CAIR-MD & VA ON AMERICAN MUSLIM RELIEF EFFORTS
Bob Franken, CNN, 12/29/04
FRANKEN: Rizwan Mowlana says he has lost more than 30 members of his
family
after the tsunami slammed into his native Sri Lanka. But now he's
trying to
turn his personal grief into help from afar.
MOWLANA: I'm in a place, in a position, better position than most
people. And I
think it's my -- it's incumbent on me to do something (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: As word of Mowlana's effort has spread, strangers are
gathering what
they can and bringing it here to his home, hoping to fill a container
that will
be shipped to Sri Lanka and fill their need to be involved.
MOWLANA: It was one of the ways that I thought that we could assist in
this
horrendous disaster
VERONICA MCFADDEN, CONTRIBUTOR: Everyone is tested at some time in
their life.
And I think it's part of -- part of your life to affect others and give
what
you can.
FRANKEN: Mowlana works for the Council on American-Islamic relations,
but this
relief effort, he says, reaches beyond any one group.
MOWLANA: It doesn't matter if you are Jewish or Christians or Hindus or
Buddhists. Times of calamity, you've got to be out there. Otherwise,
you know,
you are less than human being. FRANKEN (on camera): There are obvious
questions
about these individual efforts, particularly with established, credible
organizations sending relief, massive relief.
(voice-over): But Mowlana explains this is his personal way to provide
assistance from this country to help the devastated one he left.
---
LOCAL IMMIGRANT GROUPS ORGANIZING RELIEF
Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/28/04
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04363/433495.stm
The tidal waves that swept from South Asia to East Africa Sunday
morning have
riveted the attention of every major relief agency -- and may bring new
attention to relief efforts by minority communities in the United
States.
V. Velpari of Monroeville could picture the devastation in southeast
India even
before he saw it on satellite television. He is from Tamil Nadu, a
state hit
hard by the tsunami. And, as treasurer of the Southwestern Pennsylvania
Chapter
of the Tamil Nadu Foundation, which runs relief programs in that
region, he
knew he would be involved in the response.
His native city of Chennai -- formerly known as Madras -- is just
inland from
the fishing villages that were obliterated by the towering wall of
water.
Sunday mornings are a popular time for people to gather on the beach
and
purchase fresh fish from boatmen who have been on the water all night.
The wave
could not have hit at a worse time, he said.
Although Chennai has prospered through India's technology boom, the
fishing
villages have not shared the wealth.
"Most of the people who got killed are poor people," he said.
The Tamil Nadu Foundation will be collecting relief funds. The group
has a
social service center in Chennai that will determine how the money is
used.
Donations can be sent to the Tamil Nadu Foundation. USA, 1500 Scenery
Ridge
Road, Pittsburgh 15241…
Donations for both the International Red Crescent and International Red
Cross
should be made through the Pittsburgh office of the American Red Cross
at 225
Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. They should be marked
"International
Response Fund." Islamic Relief Worldwide, www.irw.org/asiaquake/, is
channeling
donations to the victims…
-----
NY: FUNDRAISING EFFORTS SEEK TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
WOKR13.TV, 12/29/04
http://www.wokr13.tv/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=88E95D78-2BFA-40C3-B372-633B80B13D5D
Rochester, NY - Islamic groups in cities across upstate New York are
rallying to
help the victims and survivors of the Indian Ocean earthquake and
devastating
tsunami.
More than 22,000 people were killed and a million were left homeless in
the
disaster that struck on Sunday.
At the Islamic Center of Rochester, about a dozen worshippers gathered
for an
informal prayer service Monday night. The service marked the start of a
fund-raising effort for the victims and survivors.
The local Muslim community raised thousands of dollars early this year
for the
survivors of the earthquake that killed 35,000 Iranians in December
2003.
On Monday, Governor George Pataki urged New Yorkers to donate to the
Red Cross
relief effort.
-----
CAIR-CAN: RIGHTS AND SECURITY: WE MUST HAVE BOTH
Riad Saloojee, Toronto Star, 12/29/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1103802174272&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
Eight to one. That margin represented an overwhelming repudiation by
Britain's high court when it ruled recently that the London government
cannot
detain foreign suspects indefinitely without bringing them to trial.
Nine Muslims launched the appeal after being held for nearly three
years under
the country's Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act.
In its ruling the court stressed both the disproportionality of the
measures -
"draconian measures" that "cannot strictly be required by the
exigencies of the
situation" - and their clear and present violation of the rule of the
law.
The British ruling rings familiar. In June of this year, the U.S.
Supreme Court
held, 6-3, that Guantanamo Bay prisoners are entitled to due process
"no less
than American citizens" to challenge the evidence against them, among
other
rights.
In Canada, the issues ring familiar. Five Muslim non-citizens have
waited a
combined total of more than 174 months - about 14 years - in Canadian
jail
cells under what might be the country's dirtiest little secret:
security
certificates.
The men have languished in a legal black hole, without bail or charge
and unable
to respond to the evidence against them. All face the risk of
deportation to
torture.
Much to the shock of human rights advocates, the Federal Court of
Appeal
recently upheld the use of secret evidence and the differential
treatment of
non-citizens. The case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The decisions underscore a key intellectual battle of our times that is
usually
presented as a take-it or leave-it binary: security or human rights.
In Canada, as in a number of other countries, the victor has been an
expansive
security agenda that has seen a host of legislation passed with much
still in
the works. The loser has been both a number of fundamental rights - the
right
of an open trial, to due process, to see the evidence against you, to
be free
from torture, not to be held without cause - and the rule of law, with
its
insistence that state actions cannot be arbitrary, discriminatory or
without
accountability…
Riad Saloojee is executive director of the Canadian Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
-----
BUILDING BRIDGES OF FAITH
Paul Craig, News Review, 12/28/04
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20041228/NEWS/112280007
Roseburg United Methodist pastor Robert Flaherty will lead a class on
Christianity and Islam starting Monday.
The Rev. Robert Flaherty once had a Muslim man in Saudi Arabia call him
"the
closest thing I've ever seen to a Muslim in a Christian."
That feeling of brotherhood and humanity is what Flaherty hopes to
convey with a
series of classes on Christianity and Islam beginning Jan. 3.
Flaherty, pastor at Roseburg's First United Methodist Church, will lead
the
five-class discussion on the two philosophies. While they have
coexisted as two
of the world's oldest known religions, they are often characterized by
their
differences.
Flaherty even put that to a test on an Internet message board. He asked
Christians there what the word Islam made them think. Answers included,
"terrorist," "Shiite," "Taliban" and "jihad."
"Until we, on both sides, are willing to stop these negative
characterizations
... we're just perpetuating animosity," Flaherty said.
Flaherty has firsthand knowledge of many religions, including Islam. He
helped
organize a "gathering of many faiths" for more than a year in Roseburg,
through
May 2004.
In July, he attended the Parliament of the World's Religions in
Barcelona,
Spain. Around 8,000 people attended and Flaherty said he learned about
spirituality, fundamentalism and Islam.
Flaherty also served as an active duty Army chaplain for nine years,
acting as
supervisor for all religions, including the Muslim community.
It was in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War that Flaherty encountered
the
aforementioned Muslim man who accepted him, even calling him his
"Muslim
brother…"
WHAT: Five-week series of classes on Christianity and Islam, presented
by the
Rev. Robert Flaherty.
WHERE: First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 1771 W. Harvard
Ave.,
Roseburg.
WHEN: 7 p.m., Mondays from Jan. 3 through Jan. 31. The class agenda
will be
repeated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Jan. 5 through Feb. 2.
RESERVATIONS: The class is free and nondenominational, but please call
672-1629
to reserve a space.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER “TO THE PEOPLE OF ISLAM”
Washington Post, 12/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32621-2004Dec28.html
And we leave you with a belated and un-Christmasy Christmas thought
given to us
by none other than that the liberal-blasting, knock-you-off-your-seat
Ann
Coulter, as posted on her Web site last week. Stand back, people, here
it
comes: "To The People Of Islam: Just think: If we'd invaded your
countries,
killed your leaders and converted you to Christianity YOU'D ALL BE
OPENING
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS RIGHT ABOUT NOW! Merry Christmas." When we asked
Coulter
what the response was to this little ditty, she e-mailed us: "It's a
big hit!"
We bet.
ALSO SEE:
NO MUSLIMS AT BETAR, FANS WARN
Itzik Ganish, Haaretz, 12/29/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520409.html
Two months after Nigerian defender Ibrahim Nadala departed from Betar
Jerusalem
after fans verbally harassed him for being a Muslim, some fans are
voicing
similar feelings about a possible Betar signing of Ghanaian forward
Ismail
Ido.
Two Betar fans made calls to this reporter on his cellular phone at
Hadashot
Netanya yesterday, inquiring about Ido's religious background. Ido
played for
Maccabi Netanya in the past.
The first caller, who identified himself as Yisrael, said: "They told
us in
Jerusalem that you could help us."
Reporter: "How?"
"Do you know if Ismail is Muslim or Christian?"
"I'm not sure."
"Check for us, b'hayat rabak (by the life of God), before our
management screws
up again. I'll get back to you. Check, do me a favor, so there won't be
any
mistakes.
"Why? What difference does it make?"
"What do you mean? If he's Muslim, then we veto him, [Betar chairman
Meir]
Fenigil will have a veto on his hands. You know, it's serious, I'm
asking
you."
An hour and a half later, another fan called:
"My name is Lior. I'm with some Betar fans, we called you earlier to
find out if
Ismail Ido is an Arab or a Christian. Can you let us know?"
"He's Christian. He even has a cross, and before he goes out on the
field he
crosses himself…"
-----
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ORKIN? WHY'S THE FBI BLOWING UP BUSES?
John F. Sugg, Weekly Planet, 12/29/04
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/news_feature2.html
Ah, the end of December. Time to tie up some loose ends on stories I've
written
in the past year. First, some New Year's debugging.
In September, I wrote about curious affairs involving America's
best-known pest
terminator, Orkin. The Atlanta-based company promises to inspect
properties
annually after treating them for termites. If more wood-eating vermin
are
found, Orkin vows (depending on the contract) either to re-treat the
property
or to repair any damage.
In a pesky swarm of litigation throughout the South, customers claimed
that
Orkin violated its pledges. Orkin's response was that the lawsuits
represented
isolated incidents. Even with several million-dollar-plus judgments,
the
company's $671 million in revenues last year ($36 million in profits)
was
hardly threatened.
That may change.
A Florida judge on Dec. 16 pinned a giant target on the red diamond
Orkin
emblem. The judge said there were sufficient facts to transform
individual
lawsuits into a "class action." Now, instead of customers seeking
relatively
minor sums to settle complaints, Orkin faces a bill that could run as
high as
$150 million.
The question that the Planet raised in our earlier report -- and one
that Orkin
won't answer -- is how did a company known for quality and integrity
descend
into activities that reflect the worst of corporate America?
For example, I disclosed internal Orkin memos where executives fretted
that
"fraud, theft and forgery" by company employees were getting out of
hand.
Depositions by ex-employees documented that properties weren't
re-inspected,
and thousands of customers' signatures were forged on re-inspection
forms. More
critical, in cases ranging from a Baptist church in the hamlet of
Winton, N.C.,
to apartment houses in Tampa, to homeowners throughout the South,
evidence
supports claims that the company hid termite devastation from customers
and,
rather than repair damage, merely covered it up.
Orkin's new boss, Glen Rollins, gives every indication of wanting to
clean up
the nastiness that occurred under his father, Gary. In an October
deposition,
Gary Rollins essentially admitted many of the company's faults -- but
insisted
policies and procedures were rectifying the problems. However, such
reform has
yet to extend to notifying customers that in the past they may have
been
scammed and victimized.
Now those customers are likely to get the word, despite Orkin's furious
legal
efforts to keep its disputes quiet. Floridians who have called the
Orkin Man
now will get letters from the Anti-Orkin Men -- the lawyers who have
won
class-action status for their lawsuits.
In Tampa, state Circuit Court Judge Emmett Battles ruled that
litigation brought
by two homeowners qualified for class-action status. A conservative
estimate
contained in the judge's order is that 60,000 Florida customers are
covered by
the "class."
-----
IL: TWO CHICAGO FIRMS SUPPLY MRES FOR JEWISH, ISLAMIC MILITARY MEMBERS
KWQC, 12/29/04
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=2742783
CHICAGO - There was a time when military members who adhered to Jewish
or
Islamic dietary requirements often faced the choice of violating their
consciences or lugging their own rations in their duffel bags.
But now observant Jewish or Muslim troops in places like Afghanistan
and Iraq
can dine guilt-free on meals from two Chicago companies that produce
military
rations.
The kosher firm My Own Meals Incorporated and its Islamic counterpart,
J-and-M
Company, are the military's sole providers of Meals Ready to Eat that
meet the
standards of the Jewish and Muslim diets.
The meals are produced under the eye of Jewish or Muslim inspectors.
They adhere
to religious requirements, like not cooking with alcohol for Muslims,
or not
combining dairy and meat for Jewish soldiers.
ALSO SEE:
KOSHER FIRM FINDS MILITARY NICHE;
Russell Working, Chicago Tribune, 12/29/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0412290261dec29,1,6395998.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
There was a time when military members who adhered to Jewish or Islamic
dietary
requirements often faced the choice of violating their consciences or
lugging
their own rations in their duffel bags.
But nowadays observant Jewish and Muslim troops in places such as
Afghanistan and Iraq can dine guilt-free on meals such as chicken
Mediterranean
or Florentine lasagna from two Chicago companies that produce military
rations.
The kosher firm My Own Meals Inc. and its Islamic-oriented spinoff, J&M
Co., are the military's sole providers of Meals Ready to Eat--a form of
prepackaged rations--that meet the standards of the Jewish and Muslim
diets.
Produced under the eye of Jewish or Muslim inspectors, the meals have
found a
market niche in serving troops whose needs the Pentagon had overlooked
until
the mid-1990s.
The military long ago abandoned its much-maligned C rations in favor of
MREs, which feature dinners like pork ribs and beef enchiladas. These
don't have
to be refrigerated and can be heated in a pouch with a chemical element
that
boils when water is added.
But Muslims and kosher-eating Jews can't consume pork, and there are
other
requirements. For example, Muslims may not consume food prepared with
alcohol,
while Jews may not eat shellfish, or dairy and meat together…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/30/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE KEYS TO PARADISE
* CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDRAISING DRIVE
- ICNA-Houston Host Tsunami Fundraiser
- IMRC Tsunami Relief Efforts
* CAIR: ISLAMIC GROUP PROTESTS DETENTION AT BORDER (AP)
- Muslims Seek Probe on Being Fingerprinted (Buffalo News)
- 38 Muslims Stopped After Local Conference (Toronto Star)
* INTIMIDATION, PROFILING: INEFFECTIVE TERRORISM TOOLS (Miami Herald)
* MUSLIMS DECRY '24' DEPICTION (NY Daily News)
- FOX'S 24 Angers Muslim Group (B & C)
* DON'T HAVE TO BE CHRISTIAN TO RESPECT CHRISTIANITY (Post Dispatch)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE KEYS TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “O people, Greet others
in peace,
feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly to your relatives, offer
prayer when
others are asleep, and (thus) enter Paradise in peace.”
Al- Tirmidhi, Hadith 269
-----
CAIR-SV: MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO LAUNCH TWO WEEK LONG TSUNAMI RELIEF
FUNDRAISING
DRIVE
WHAT: Special Prayers: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Sacramento
Valley will
offer prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake
and
tsunami in Asia. The prayers, called salat al-ghaib
(sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or
"prayers for those who have died in a distant place," will be held
following
the regular Friday Jum'ah prayers at various Sacramento Valley area
Mosques
(See below).
Tsunami Relief Fundraising Drive: The Imams will speak on the Tsunami
tragedy in
Juma Khutba (Friday Congregational Prayer Sermon) and encourage
worshippers to
contribute to the relief efforts. This will begin a two week long
Tsunami
Relief Fundraising Drive by the Muslim Community.
WHEN: Friday, December 31. Jum'ah prayers begin at 1:00 PM.
WHERE: Area Mosques. For location, address and directions, please
contact
CAIR-SV
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, 916-289-3748, E-Mail: sacval@cair.com
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
of both
sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get
into
position for the best shots. Photographers are also advised not to step
directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-up
shots.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 28 offices nationwide and in Canada.
ALSO SEE:
ICNA-HOUSTON HOST TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Houston Chapter invites the
whole
Houstonian Community to the "Tsunami Fundraiser" on Saturday, January
15, 2005
between 7PM.-10PM. at Islamic Dawah Center Downtown located at Travis
and
Franklin.
A team of ICNA Relief volunteers soon after will take the funds raised
at this
occasion on a "Tsunami Disaster Recuperation Effort" visit to
Indonesia, India
& Sri Lanka.
ICNA Relief has done similar assistance work in the past in several
countries
hit by natural disasters and/or war.
More information on ICNA Relief can be received from the website:
www.ICNA.Org
More details will soon be announced about this fund-raising effort.
In the mean time, if you have suggestions and/or questions, please call
for more
information Hanif Harris at 713-298-6811 or Ayub Badat at 832-276-9850.
---
INDIAN MUSLIM RELIEF & CHARITES TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS
WHAT: Emergency relief work is underway in 3 areas in India: Andhra
Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu & the Andaman/ Nicobar Islands.
The immediate work is to identify dead bodies, especially those of the
Muslims,
in the mortuaries and other locations to arrange appropriate burials.
At this
time, distributing basic foodstuffs such as rice, bread and other
necessities
such as drinking water, clothing, medicine and utensils is the
immediate
priority. 100% of your donation goes to the victims.
IMRC’s goal is to raise $250,000 within the next 10 days.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Please help us reach our goal by donating generously to IMRC in
order to
enable us to help the unfortunate people who have been affected by this
calamity. Contributions to IMRC (Tax-Id #: 27-0058132) can be made
through
secure online credit-card deductions via IMRC's website
(http://www.imrc.ws).
Please indicate that your contribution is for "Tsunami Relief". Checks
made out
to "IMRC" can also be mailed to: IMRC, 800 San Antonio Road Ste #1 Palo
Alto CA
94303
2. Please spread the word among your friends, family and the community.
a. Help make announcements at your local masjid, distribute copies of
this
appeal and collect help for the victims. A khutba on this topic would
be
great.
3. See if your employer has donation matching program and make use of
it. Please
contact your human resources department for such information.
For additional information, please call (650) 856-0440 or email
info@imrc.ws
-----
CAIR: ISLAMIC GROUP PROTESTS DETENTION AT BORDER
Associated Press, 12/29/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/30/nyregion/30muslim.html
BUFFALO - An Islamic civil rights group accused United States border
agents on
Wednesday of religious profiling after dozens of American Muslims were
searched, fingerprinted and photographed while returning from a
religious
conference in Toronto.
Some of those stopped said they were held at the Lewiston-Queenston
Bridge for
six hours or more with no explanation.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and
Border
Protection bureau, Kristie Clemens, said that agents had detained
anyone who
said they attended the three-day convention, titled "Reviving the
Islamic
Spirit." She said that such gatherings could be a means for terrorists
to
promote their cause.
Galeb Rizek, 32, who was born in the United States and attended the
conference, said that being detained, "you really feel like a criminal,
and you
haven't done anything wrong."
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations demanded an
investigation by Homeland Security officials.
"The image of a room full of American Muslim citizens apparently being
held
solely because of their faith and the fact that they attended an
Islamic
conference is one that should be disturbing to all Americans who value
religious freedom," said Nihad Awad, the council's executive director…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS SEEK PROBE ON BEING FINGERPRINTED
Buffalo News, 12/30/04
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041230/1022459.asp
NIAGARA FALLS - The fingerprinting of Muslims returning from a
religious
conference in Canada has prompted calls for an investigation from an
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group.
The Washington, D.C.,-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said
the
incident is a disturbing example of religious profiling that would have
a
chilling effect on the constitutional rights of American Muslims.
It happened earlier this month, when Muslims returning from an Islamic
conference in Toronto were detained at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
until they
agreed to be fingerprinted. Some said they were held for as long as six
hours.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection
said agents
stopped anyone who said they attended the three-day convention,
"Reviving the
Islamic Spirit," based on information that such gatherings can be a
means for
terrorists to promote their cause.
A Customs and border spokeswoman, Kristie Clemens, said 34 people were
stopped
at the Lewiston bridge and four others were checked at the Rainbow
Bridge in
Niagara Falls. They were held for an average of 21/2 hours and offered
coffee
and tea, she said.
Clemens acknowledged the inconvenience over the additional security
measures but
said with the threat of terrorism, there was no room for error.
"As the front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity
of
individuals - including U.S. citizens - and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting," Clemens said.
The Muslim group is demanding an investigation by homeland security
officials…
---
38 MUSLIMS STOPPED AFTER LOCAL CONFERENCE
Hicham Safieddine, Toronto Star, 12/30/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1104362424911&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
A Muslim civil rights group is calling for an investigation by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security after nearly 40 American Muslims were
detained,
photographed or fingerprinted upon returning to the United States after
attending a religious conference in Toronto last weekend.
The Council on American Islamic Relations said the group was singled
out at
Canadian border crossings Sunday night and Monday morning on their way
back
from the three-day Reviving Islamic Spirit conference at SkyDome.
"It is absolutely outrageous that American citizens are being forced to
undergo
such unwarranted inspection," Washington-based council spokesperson
Ibrahim
Hooper said yesterday.
Kristie Clemens, a spokesperson for Homeland Security's Customs and
Border
Protection, said 34 people were stopped at the Lewiston crossing and
four
others were checked at the nearby Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. They
were
held for an average of 21/2 hours and offered coffee and tea. "We have
ongoing
credible information that conferences such as the one that these 34
individuals
just left in Toronto may be used by terrorist organizations to promote
terrorist activities, which includes travelling and fundraising,"
Clemens
said.
"As the front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity
of
individuals - including U.S. citizens - and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting."
Hamza Yusuf, a keynote speaker at the conference attended by thousands
of North
American Muslims, had met with U.S. President George W. Bush after the
Sept. 11
attacks. He was detained and interrogated for several hours by U.S.
Customs
officials at Pearson airport Tuesday afternoon before boarding his
flight to
San Francisco.
"They asked me about the religion of my family and wanted to make
photocopies of
my notebook and other material without being able to tell me what I was
accused
for.
"When I said I have rights as an American citizen, they said they don't
apply at the border…"
"If anyone is to blame, it is those who are giving orders, not the
people
following them," he said after arriving in California.
-----
INTIMIDATION, PROFILING ARE INEFFECTIVE TERRORISM TOOLS
Miami Herald, 12/30/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/10527068.htm
Two new reports on post-9/11 treatment of immigrants by the U.S.
government
question how effectively immigration officials are dealing with the
threat of
terrorism posed by foreign nationals.
A report from the American Civil Liberties Union documents the
devastating
effects of the 2002 rule requiring men from Arab and Muslim countries
to
register with the Department of Homeland Security. The program, which
has since
been dropped, didn't ferret out any terrorists. But it did result in
the
indefinite detention of 5,000 Muslim men for no legitimate reasons and
deportation of thousands of men for minor immigration violations. The
deportations split families and emptied predominantly Muslim
communities of
businesses and workers.
Increased vigilance
The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center report says that federal
officials in
Florida intimidate undocumented migrants and wrongly detain Haitian
refugees
seeking asylum. Immigration officials say that's not true, that they
simply
carry out their duties as defined by U.S. laws.
In truth, we can't fault them for increased vigilance. U.S. immigration
and
customs officials crack down on illegal immigration to safeguard our
borders.
However, U.S. officials deserve censure for using intimidation tactics
and
targeting distinct groups for Gestapo-like treatment.
The Muslim-and-Arab registration program succeeded only in alienating
Muslim
communities at a time when the U.S. government needed their support to
find
real terrorist plotters. Men were held without charges and without
access to
lawyers for months and even held long after their cases were decided in
their
favor. The majority of the deportees were law-abiding, taxpaying
residents who
had minor immigration infractions. Their deportations did nothing but
fuel
resentment against the United States…
-----
MUSLIMS DECRY '24' DEPICTION
Richard Huff, Daily News, 12/30/04
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/266720p-228238c.html
Kiefer Sutherland of '24.'
The first new episode this season of Fox's "24" has yet to hit the
screen and
already the network has offended a Muslim group.
After viewing a portion of the first episode included on a DVD in
Entertainment
Weekly, officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations
expressed
dismay at the depiction of a Muslim family.
"At first I was shocked," organization spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed told
the Daily
News. "In this particular case, they show an American-Muslim family and
they
portray them as terrorists."
Ahmed was alerted to the 24-minute promotional DVD earlier this week.
At issue is a scene in which a teenager helps his parents plot to kill
Americans.
"What we will accomplish today will change the world," the father tells
the son
over breakfast. "We are fortunate that our family has been chosen to do
this."
Ahmed said the scene "casts a cloud of suspicion over every
American-Muslim
family out there."
A Fox spokesman said the company had no comment.
Ahmed acknowledged the possibility that in the remaining half of the
first
episode - which was not on the promotional DVD - the story line could
have
indicated this was not a typical family.
In fact, based on preview episodes sent to critics for the start of the
"24"
season, while the family appears traditional on the surface, they turn
out to
be a sleeper terrorist cell.
Such a story line is not unusual for "24," which centers on Kiefer
Sutherland,
as Jack Bauer, an counterterrorism agent who works for the secretary of
defense.
ALSO SEE:
FOX'S 24 ANGERS MUSLIM GROUP
Jim Finkle, 12/29/04
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA490488?display=Breaking+News
Fox is under fire from at least one group for scenes in the Jan. 9
debut of
drama 24 that portray a Muslim teen-ager and his parents as members of
a
terrorist cell plotting a mass attack on Americans.
It’s the second Fox show to generate controversy in the past two weeks,
following demands by the National Council for Adoption that Fox cancel
Who’s
Your Daddy, a guess-your-birthfather reality special the network may
develop
into a series.
Concerns about 24 were raised by a preview of the Jan. 9 season-opener
in a DVD
sent to some general entertainment magazine subscribers..
On of the villains is a Walkman-toting, bubble-gum-chewing teenager who
fights
with his conservative Dad about dating an American girl and talking on
the
phone.
The young man also helps his parents mastermind a plot to kill large
numbers of
Americans that begins with an attack on a train.
Over the breakfast table, the father tells his son: “What we will
accomplish
today will change the world. We are fortunate that that our family has
been
chosen to do this. “Yes, father,” his son replies.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights and advocacy
group,
plans to bring their concerns about the episode to Fox, says group
spokeswoman
Rabiah Ahmed.
That group has previously received complaints about the depiction of
Muslims on
24, but this episode is particularly egregious, she said.
“They are taking everyday American Muslim families and making them
suspects;
they’re making it seem like families are co-conspirators in this
terrorist
plot." In another scene, she says, a terrorist is shown coming out of a
mosque.
The way the episode depicts Muslims creates an atmosphere in which many
Americans look at all Muslims as suspects in the war on terror, she
adds. “It’s
very dangerous and very disturbing.”
Hate crimes and civil rights abuses against Muslims have soared since
the Sept.
11 attacks. Surveys commissioned by the council show that more than 40%
of
Americans believe it’s appropriate to curb the civil rights of Muslims
as part
of the war on terror…
------
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CHRISTIAN TO RESPECT CHRISTIANITY
Eric Mink, Post-Dispatch, 12/29/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/ericmink/story/52C8DAB903B0E9EA86256F790037B517?OpenDocument&Headline=RELIGION%3A+You+don't+have+to+be+Christian+to+respect+Christia&highlight=2%2Cmink
People of different faiths coexist respectfully and have much in
common; shared
moral, ethical and religious values transcend religious labels.
Last week, this commentary page carried an opinion piece by Ibrahim
Hooper, who
represents the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Reflecting the season's sentiments of peace and good will, Hooper wrote
of the
commonalties of Islam and Christianity. Among other things, he noted
that
"disrespect toward Jesus, something we have seen all too often in our
society,
is very offensive to Muslims."
For some Christian readers, however, it was Hooper's comments that gave
offense. "Can anything be more disrespectful," wrote an Illinois man,
"than the
Quran's denying that (Jesus) was crucified and raised from the dead?"
Others
noted that Islam does not accept Jesus' divinity.
These reactions - the article didn't provoke a lot of response, but the
references above are representative - disturbed me deeply. Not for
their
personal testimonies of faith, certainly, but because by the criteria
they set
forth, the only way to show respect for Christianity is to be a
Christian.
They have every right to feel that way, of course, but with 2 billion
Christians and 4.4 billion non-Christians in the world, it is a formula
for
conflict and hostility without end. If they regard affirmations of
other
beliefs as declarations of contempt for theirs, they are left no basis
on which
to seek common ground and shared values and no incentive to embrace,
much less
practice, tolerance.
I am not a Christian. I am Jewish. I do not believe that Jesus was the
son of
God or that he rose from the dead. I do not believe that he was the
messiah
prophesied in the Old Testament or that the New Testament is a holy
text…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/1/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: EVERYONE RETURNS TO GOD
* CAIR-FL REP HONORED (Tampa Tribune)
- CAIR-Chicago: Prayers, Pledges from Chicago (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR-LA: Bush Boosts U.S. Aid Tenfold (LA Times)
* DANIEL PIPES CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON MUSLIM CIVIL LIBERTIES (E&P)
- PIPES: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
- Respect American Muslims (Washington Post)
* U.S. MUSLIMS PRAY FOR, AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- FL: Muslims Share in Grief (Orlando Sentinel)
- NY: Muslims Pray for Tsunami Victims (Poughkeepsie Journal)
- UT: Mormons, Muslims Team Up for Airlift (Salt Lake Tribune)
- KY: Muslims Pray for Victims of Tsunamis (Courier-Journal)
- FL: Prayers Said for Quake Victims (Miami Herald)
- IL: Muslims Raise Funds for Tsunami Survivors (Journal-Reg)
- CT: Muslims Organize Help for Tsunami Victims (WTNH)
- TX: Wichita Falls Muslims to Pray for Dead (Times Record News)
- GA: Muslims Will Pray for Tsunami Victims (Banner Herald)
- WV: Muslims Raising Funds, Praying for Victims (Daily Mail)
* CA: HIDAYA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES COLLECTION DRIVE FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
* MOHAMMED IS HAVING AN ALL-STAR SEASON (New York Times)
* JUSTICE DEPT. TOUGHENS RULE ON TORTURE (New York Times)
- Torture Akin to Terror (Palm Beach Post)
* WILL AIPAC BE FORCED TO FILE AS 'FOREIGN AGENT'? (Forward)
* UT: MOSQUE HELPS BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER (Deseret Morning News)
- KS: First Permanent Mosque Opens in Overland Park (KC Star)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: EVERYONE RETURNS TO GOD
"Every human being is bound to taste death. We test you (all) through
the
bad and the good (things of life) by way of trial. And unto Us you all
must
return."
The Holy Quran, 21:35
-----
CAIR-FL REP HONORED
TAMPA BAY'S 25 PEOPLE TO WATCH
Tampa Tribune, 1/1/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBTLX98F3E.html
AHMED BEDIER
If it involves Hillsborough County's Muslim community, Bedier probably
will
be on the front lines. The director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations office in Tampa spoke out on a University of South Florida
basketball player's right to wear Muslim attire on the court and asked
the
Hillsborough County school board to recognize Islamic holidays. The
media
frequently tap Bedier, 30, for views on the backlash against the
Islamic
community stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.
AHNED BEDIER QUOTE:
St. Petersburg Times, 1/1/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/01/Northpinellas/Congregations_gather_.shtml
Ahmed Bedier, communications director of the Tampa office of the
Council on
American Islamic Relations, said the disaster served as a reminder that
life is short, precious and fragile.
"All of us at one time or another will taste death," he said. "To a
Muslim,
death is not the end of a journey. This is a temporary life."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO: PRAYERS, PLEDGES FROM CHICAGO
Gayle Worland, Chicago Tribune, 1/1/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0501010241jan01,1,5780991.story
In Islam, the traditional funeral prayer is called Salat Al-Janazah.
But during their regular Jumu'ah prayer services at mosques across the
Chicago area Friday, congregations instead said Salat Al-Ghaib.
As the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia climbed
past the 121,000 mark Friday, religious communities responded with
sacred
rituals to remember the dead and looked for ways to help survivors…
During Friday prayers at the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook,
spiritual leader Imam Senad Agic urged members to do something
different
Jan. 20 as they observe Eid-ul-Adha, a holiday during which Muslims
traditionally donate money to buy meat for the poor.
This year, he suggested, they might consider directing their gifts to
help
feed survivors of the tsunami. The center also has set up accounts in
three
Asian countries to speed the delivery of cash to those who need it,
said
Ahmed Rehab, communications director for the Chicago office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations.
Rehab, who attended services at the center Friday, said funds from the
congregation will be collected over time, and no total was immediately
available. "I did overhear one doctor giving $25,000," he said…
---
CAIR-LA: BUSH BOOSTS U.S. AID TENFOLD
Edwin Chen, Maggie Farley and Elizabeth Shogren, LA Times, 1/1/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-quake1jan01,0,4678680.story
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush announced a tenfold increase Friday in
U.S. aid to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, pledging $350 million
to
address an "epic disaster" that he said could require still greater
sums.
The leap in assistance marked the fourth consecutive day in which the
Bush
administration has widened its response to the Asian catastrophe amid
criticism that the U.S. reacted to the burgeoning humanitarian crisis
with
too little and too late…
In spite of Bush administration efforts to convey a deep involvement in
the
crisis, Muslim community leaders said that the White House's early
inaction
would be remembered, especially by those who see U.S. war outlays as an
indicator of Bush's priorities.
"If we can afford to spend hundreds of billions of dollars waging war,
I'm
sure we can do more to help alleviate the suffering of millions of
people
in that part of the world," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of
the
Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
which represents a community of 600,000.
Ayloush called Friday's commitment of $350 million "a good start," but
added, "I have no doubt in my mind that the American people will give
more
in private donations."
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, said Bush needed to continue trying to make up for a
slow
start.
"I think even the president's advisors recognize now that he was a
little
late about speaking out about the dimensions of the disaster, and the
United States was a bit tardy in real material assistance," Hooper
said.
"I'm hoping they're going to make up for initial perception and aid
those
in need, whoever they are…"
-----
COLUMNIST PIPES CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL LIBERTIES FOR ALL
MUSLIM-AMERICANS
Editor & Publisher, 12/31/04
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000744193
NEW YORK When an opinion survey released by Cornell University last
week
found that 44% of Americans wanted to curtail the civil liberties of
all
Muslim-Americans, with better than one in four saying they should all
be
required to register their location with the federal government, many
commentators expressed concern. Not syndicated columnist Daniel Pipes,
however.
In his latest column he declares that he was "encouraged" by the
Cornell
survey, calling it "good news." But he also identifies "the bad news,"
which he describes as "the near-universal disapproval of this realism.
Leftist and Islamist organizations have so successfully influenced
public
opinion that polite society shies away from endorsing a focus on
Muslims."
In addition to those who want all Muslim-Americans to register, 29%
agree
that law enforcement agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and
volunteer
organizations, and 22% said the federal government should profile
citizens
as potential threats based on the fact that they are Muslim or have
Middle
Eastern heritage…
He hailed the recent work of columnist Michelle Malkin, who supports
the
Japanese internment and claims the apology by President Ronald Reagan
in
1988, plus the nearly $1.65 billion in reparations paid to former
internees, was premised on faulty scholarship.
According to Pipes: "Malkin has done the singular service of breaking
the
academic single-note scholarship on a critical subject, cutting through
a
shabby, stultifying consensus to reveal how, given what was known and
not
known at the time,' FDR and his staff did the right thing…
SEE: "Why the Japanese Internment Still Matters"
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCommentary.asp?Page=\Commentary\archive\200412\COM20041227b.html
SEE ALSO: "44 Percent of Americans Queried in Cornell National Poll
Favor
Curtailing Some Liberties for Muslim Americans"
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec04/Muslim.Poll.bpf.html
TO VIEW THE CORNELL STUDY, GO TO:
http://www.comm.cornell.edu/msrg/report1a.pdf
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…"
From Daniel Pipes' website, 12/28/04
---
RESPECT AMERICA'S MUSLIMS
Washington Post, 1/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40049-2004Dec31.html
Regarding the Dec. 27 news story "Plan for Muslim Cemetery Met With
Fear":
America is supposed to be the beacon of hope for the weak and
defenseless.
That any American would equate innocent Muslims with Islamic extremism
is
reprehensible. It is the same thing that happened to the Japanese in
World
War II: We were at war with Japan, so we locked up innocent Japanese
Americans. Now, it would seem many Americans wish to do the same to
innocent American Muslims…
I hope that America can return to its roots as the defender and
protector
of the weak and defenseless. Until then, I will pray that America does
not
do to Muslims what others have done to the Jews, Japanese, Gypsies and
countless others.
MICHAEL MAKOVI
Silver Spring
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS PRAY FOR, AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS
MUSLIMS SHARE IN GRIEF
Robert Perez, Orlando Sentinel, 1/1/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locmosques01010105jan01,1,4359822.story
Aafaq Sheikh made a donation Friday afternoon to the tsunami relief
fund at
the Islamic Society of Central Florida, but it failed to soothe the
sorrow
and frustration he feels.
Images of the destruction and the growing death toll have dominated
Sheikh's thoughts since Sunday's killer waves swept over South Asia,
leaving more than 121,000 dead and millions homeless from Sumatra to
Somalia.
"I have sorrow and sadness for the families of the dead and the people
who
survived," he said. "Most of them didn't have much to begin with."
Sheikh was one of thousands of Florida Muslims who attended Friday
prayer
services and donated to tsunami relief. Contributions were sought at
all
seven Central Florida mosques, said Muhammad Musri, president of the
Islamic Society of Central Florida…
---
MUSLIMS PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Poughkeepsie Journal, 1/1/05
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo010105s1.shtml
---
MORMONS, MUSLIMS TEAM UP FOR AIRLIFT
Salt Lake Tribune, 1/1/05
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2507136
---
MUSLIMS PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMIS
Courier-Journal, 1/1/05
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2005/01/01ky/B1-muslim0101-5041.html
---
PRAYERS SAID FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
Miami Herald, 1/1/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10541122.htm
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Journal-Register, 1/1/05
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/43961.asp
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS ORGANIZE HELP FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=2748864&nav=3YeXUgnH
---
WICHITA FALLS MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR DEAD
Times Record News, 12/31/04
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/local_news/article/0,1891,TRN_5784_3437062,00.html
---
MUSLIMS WILL PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Athens Banner Herald, 12/31/04
http://onlineathens.com/stories/123104/new_20041231025.shtml
---
AREA MUSLIM COMMUNITY RAISING FUNDS, PRAYING FOR DISASTER VICTIMS
Charleston Daily Mail, 12/20/04
http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2004123031/
-----
Hidaya Foundation
1765 Scott Blvd. Suite 115
Santa Clara, CA 95050
http:// www.hidaya.org
E-mail: mail@hidaya.org
Phone (408) 244-3282
Phone (866) 244-3292
Fax (866) 344-3292
For Immediate Release:
HIDAYA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES COLLECTION DRIVE FOR ASIA QUAKE AND TIDAL
DISASTER VICTIMS:
Santa Clara, California, USA, December 29, 2004. Hidaya Foundation
(www.hidaya.org) has started collecting in-kind donations for the
victims
of the Tidal Wave Disaster caused by a 9.0 Richter scale earthquake off
the
coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Tidal waves up to 30ft tall caused much
devastation in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand and several
other
countries. Over 100,000 people have died; tens of thousands more are
still
missing. Several million people have become homeless in more than 12
countries.
Hidaya Foundation has initiated relief efforts in Sri Lanka and is
planning
to also work with organizations in India and Indonesia to provide funds
for
medical supplies, temporary shelters, and particularly long term
rehabilitation for victims of the disaster.
Hidaya Foundation has collected more than $30,000 in cash donations
since
the drive began on Monday, December 27, 2004. Hidaya Foundation is now
announcing an emergency re-routing of its container program to deliver
relief supplies to Sri Lanka. On January 10th, 2005 Hidaya Foundation
will
ship a 40 ft container stocked with relief supplies for victims in Sri
Lanka.
Hidaya Foundation is requesting people of all denominations and faiths
to
donate generously to help alleviate the victims of this tragedy of
unprecedented human suffering. In addition to monetary donations, we
are
currently collecting new and used blankets, clothes, shoes, medical
supplies, bottled water, plastic sheeting, computers, toys, and other
emergency supplies. We are requesting all donations intended for Sri
Lanka
be delivered by January 9th, 2005 at our Milpitas collection facility.
Cash donations may be made online at our website at
http://www.hidaya.org
by credit card or by checks payable to "Hidaya Foundation" and should
be
mailed to:
Hidaya Foundation
P.O. Box 5481
Santa Clara, CA 95056-5481
In-kind donations may be dropped off at our collection facility
Saturdays
and Sundays from 12:00PM-4:00PM at:
91 Montague Expressway
Milpitas, CA 95035.
Ph: (866) 244 3292 Toll Free or (408) 244 3282 (Pl. call to schedule an
off-hour drop-off.)
-----
MOHAMMED IS HAVING AN ALL-STAR SEASON
HOWARD BECK, New York Times, 12/31/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/31/sports/basketball/31knicks.html
Nazr Mohammed has never given himself a clever nickname or made a rap
CD,
and he would not know how to start a superstar feud. Shaquille O'Neal
he is
not.
But Mohammed has, unexpectedly, become perhaps the best Eastern
Conference
center not residing in south Florida. Or the most consistently
productive
one, anyway.
Mohammed, the Knicks' starting center, is averaging career highs of
12.5
points and 9.3 rebounds. He is also shooting 53.2 percent from the
field.
His hustle and grit have helped the Knicks (16-13) to first place in
the
Atlantic Division. And his steady production has put him squarely in
the
conversation about who should back up O'Neal in the All-Star Game on
Feb.
20 in Denver…
In the first two weeks of the regular season, Mohammed often looked
passive
and sometimes lethargic. It was not until mid-November when Mohammed, a
devout Muslim, revealed he had been fasting for Ramadan and had lost
seven
or eight pounds. His game took off after that. In the nine games from
Nov.
13 to 30, he averaged 15.8 points and 11.2 rebounds. Those are All-Star
numbers…
-----
JUSTICE DEPT. TOUGHENS RULE ON TORTURE
NEIL A. LEWIS, New York Times, 1/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/politics/01torture.html
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 - The Justice Department has broadened its
definition
of torture, significantly retreating from a memorandum in August 2002
that
defined torture extremely narrowly and said President Bush could ignore
domestic and international prohibitions against torture in the name of
national security.
The new definition was in a memorandum posted on the department's Web
site
late Thursday night with no public announcement. It comes one week
before
the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to question Alberto R. Gonzales,
the
White House counsel and nominee for attorney general, about his role in
formulating legal policies that critics have said led to abuses at Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq and at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba.
The new memorandum, first reported in The Wall Street Journal and The
Washington Post, largely dismisses the August 2002 definition,
especially
the part that asserted that mistreatment rose to the level of torture
only
if it produced severe pain equivalent to that associated with organ
failure
or death.
"Torture is abhorrent both to American law and values and to
international
norms," said the new memorandum written by Daniel Levin, the acting
assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel,
which
had produced the earlier definition.
Mr. Gonzales, who will go before the Senate committee for confirmation
hearings, served as a supervisor and coordinator inside the
administration
as lawyers drafted new approaches on the limits of coercive techniques
in
interrogations and the scope of the president's authority in fighting a
war
against terrorists.
A memorandum in January 2002 to President Bush that Mr. Gonzales signed
sided with the Justice Department in asserting that the Geneva
Conventions
did not bind the United States in its treatment of detainees captured
in
the fighting in Afghanistan...
SEE ALSO:
TORTURE AKIN TO TERROR
Palm Beach Post, 12/30/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2004/12/30/a20a_guantanamoedit_1230.html
Even some defense attorneys doubted the horror stories their clients
told
them about the interrogation tactics at the Guantanamo Bay prison. Then
human rights groups sued for government documents, and reports from FBI
agents confirmed the worst claims of abuse.
The recently released FBI accounts describe often-sadistic treatment of
detainees - chaining prisoners in the fetal position for hours, leaving
them in their own feces and urine, threatening them with growling dogs.
Sleep deprivation and exposure to extreme temperatures were
commonplace.
What the FBI agents witnessed parallels the complaints filed in federal
courts by more than 60 of the 550 men still detained. The Pentagon had
no
trouble dismissing the prisoners' stories as fiction, but assailing the
credibility of the FBI is another matter. The government's own papers
substantiate the government's abuses…
The abuses seriously damage the U.S. struggle against terror, in Iraq
and
around the globe. A strategy of denial and coverup makes the impact
worse.
So does the failure to hold any policymakers accountable.
Until now, Congress has reacted to the torture charges with
indifference
and deference to the Bush administration. Were it not for the
intercession
of the courts, Americans still would believe their government always is
committed to upholding human rights and following international law.
It's
up to Congress to lay out the disturbing truth for the nation once and
for all.
-----
LEADERS FEAR PROBE WILL FORCE PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY TO FILE AS 'FOREIGN
AGENT'
COULD FUEL DUAL LOYALTY TALK
Ori Nir, Forward, 12/30/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?id=2460
WASHINGTON = As the Department of Justice intensifies its investigation
of
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jewish communal leaders
fear
that the goal of the probe is to compel the powerful lobbying
organization
to register as a "foreign agent" representing the government of another
country.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential organizations on Capitol
Hill, Aipac is registered with Congress as a lobbying group. Under
American
law, registering as a foreign agent would require Aipac to provide
significantly more detailed information about its aims and activities
to
the government - thereby robbing the group of a key weapon: the ability
to
operate behind the scenes...
-----
UTAH COUNTY MOSQUE HELPS BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Marin Decker, Deseret Morning News, 1/1/05
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view2/1,4382,600101431,00.html
OREM -- Utah County isn't exactly lacking in church buildings --
chapels
frequented by members of the LDS Church can be found on practically
every
corner.
Until recently, however, Lindon resident Usama Baioumy had to travel to
a
Salt Lake mosque to practice his faith, Islam.
Baioumy talked about the lack of a mosque when he was interviewed for a
newspaper story about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a man
came
forward to offer him a space to rent.
Thus was born the first and only mosque in Utah County…
SEE ALSO:
COUNTY'S FIRST PERMANENT MOSQUE OPENS IN OVERLAND PARK
LINDSAY HANSON, Kansas City Star, 1/1/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/local/states/kansas/counties/johnson_county/cities_neighborhoods/shawnee/10539868.htm
It's been a long wait, but the Islamic Center of Johnson County has
found a
permanent home.
The site at 9001 W. 151st St. in Overland Park smells of fresh lumber,
drywall and tile grout. A rough pine stairway weaves from the upper
floor's
classrooms to the former garage, which now houses an ablution area,
with 10
tiled washing stations for cleansing before prayer.
The exterior of the former four-bedroom home shows few indications of
the
building's new religious purpose, other than a makeshift, leaning sign
at
the driveway entrance. The modesty of the new mosque shields its
founders'
grandiose intentions.
It is a school to its children, a center for community outreach and a
place
of worship. Mostly, though, Johnson County's first permanent mosque
symbolizes the establishment of the Muslim community.
"It's a place where our families can get together and our children can
grow
up together," said Wohaib Hasan, the secretary of the center's board of
trustees…
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/3/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CERTAINTY OF FAITH
* CAIR-NY JOB OPENING/INTERNSHIP
- CAIR-SV: Muslims Mourn Death of Rep. Matsui
* MA: CHRISTIANS, JEWS REACH OUT TO MUSLIMS
- KY: Meeting Muslims Dispels Fear (Lex Herald)
* MUSLIMS DETAINED WHILE RETURNING FROM CANADA (Epoch Times)
- 38 Muslims Stopped After Local Conference
* FRESH DETAILS EMERGE ON HARSH METHODS AT GITMO (NY Times)
- Lifetime Detention Sought For Suspects (Wash Post)
- Gitmo Detainee Punished for Reciting Quran (Observer)
* OH: FAMILY GROWS APART AS ABSENCE LENGTHENS (Beacon Journal)
* NJ: YOUNG MUSLIMS PROMOTE LEADERSHIP (Newhouse)
- FL: Muslim Youth Serving the Homeless (Herald Trib)
* IN: MUSLIMS SAY PRAYERS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS (SB Tribune)
- IL: Special Prayers for Quake Victims (Journal Star)
- CAIR-FL on US Aid for Victims (Baynews9)
* S. CALIF. THAI MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT
- MO: Islamic Foundation Raises $65,000 (Post Dispatch)
- IMRC Relief Work Underway
- TN: Muslim Pray For Tsunami Victims
- Islamic Relief Sends Plane with Emergency Supplies
- HI: Muslims Appeal for Relief (Honolulu Ad)
- NJ Mosques Raise $250,000 for Victims (AP)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: FIGHT NASTY WAR ACCORDINGLY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CERTAINTY OF FAITH
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, apportion to us
such...certainty (of faith) that the calamities of this world will be
made
easy for us by Thee."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 783
-----
CAIR-NY JOB OPENING/OFFICE ASSISTANT
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY)
has a part-time position available for an executive/office assistant:
* Perform administrative tasks
* Update website (no knowledge of HTML is required)
* Must have excellent written skills (writing sample required)
* Morning hours: 9 a.m. -1 p.m.
CAIR-NY Internships: Assist with: Civil rights, fundraising, outreach,
etc.
Please contact Wissam Nasr, Executive Director, CAIR-NY at
director@cair-ny.org.
------
MUSLIMS MOURN THE DEATH OF REP. MATSUI
Longtime leader remembered for his fight for Civil liberties
The Muslim Community of Sacramento Valley mourns the death of our
Congressman, the Honorable Robert T. Matsui. With his passing, our
country
has lost a great leader. For 26 years in the US House of
Representatives,
Matsui, a survivor of WWII Internment Camps, fought for civil rights of
all
Americans. With dignity and passion, Bob Matsui served his community
and
his country. He will be sorely missed and long remembered. Our thoughts
and
prayers are with his family and the Japanese American Community of
Sacramento.
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, 916-289-3748, E-Mail: sacval@cair.com
-----
CHRISTIANS, JEWS REACH OUT TO MASS. MUSLIMS
SERVICE REACHES OUT TO MUSLIMS
Natalia Munoz, Republican, 1/3/05
http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-6/11047421
46166280.xml
SPRINGFIELD - The Al-Baqi Islamic Center ended the year in flames, but
yesterday a different fire burned for the mosque as some 50 people from
all
denominations showed support for the Muslims who lost their house of
worship.
"We just wanted to do something to let you know how important you are
to
us," said The Rev. Karen Rucks, executive director of the Council of
Churches of Springfield. The Council spearheaded a fund-raising effort
as
well as last night's special service of prayer and support for the
mosque
at Wesley United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Cordella J. Brown, who immediately upon being asked opened her
church for the special service, said, "They are a community of faith.
To be
Muslim is to worship the same God as Christians and Jews."
The Rev. Robert Loesch of the United Church of Christ, in charge of the
fund-raising campaign, read a letter of support from the United Church
of
Christ congregation in Williamstown, about 90 miles away.
"You still remain very close to us in our hearts and our spirit," read
the
letter signed by the church's pastor, the Rev. Caroline Bail. That
congregation had reached out to the mosque after Sept. 11 in an effort
to
establish ties with Muslims. Since then, both houses of worship have
collaborated at interfaith events.
The mosque was severely damaged by fire Dec. 8. Seven youths have been
charged with arson…
ALSO SEE:
MEETING MUSLIM NEIGHBORS DISPELS UNFOUNDED FEAR
Michael Longinow, Lexington Herald Leader, 1/2/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/10535587.htm
I'll admit I was nervous -- and felt ashamed for it.
I had been invited by a man I trust to a Ramadan fast-breaking meal at
Tates Creek Country Club. I know the place fairly well, yet as I
approached
the door, I felt a cold shiver. Too many action movies, too many news
clips
showing Middle-Eastern-looking men doing scary things with automatic
weapons and explosives.
I told myself that overcoming that shiver was part of why I was here
and
stepped through the doors.
Inside, a long, gray folding table was set up near the entrance to a
narrow
ballroom. Round tables with markers on them were spread along its
length,
and after I'd picked up a name tag, I was assigned a table near the
door.
Other non-Arabic-looking people were standing around, but they were the
minority. Most of the men in the big room were dark-haired,
olive-skinned
and well-dressed. Some had beards; others were clean-shaven. Many were
speaking languages I couldn't understand. They were trying not to stare
--
like me.
All the non-guest women -- not all of whom looked Middle Eastern --
wore
head-coverings and long-sleeved robes that brushed their shoes. They
were
moving fast, conferring with caterers in a far room, with men near the
registration table and with one another.
I found out later that more people were showing up than had been
expected.
The women were scrambling for chairs and tables for everyone and doing
the
math on portions of food and beverage for the growing crowd.
What struck me as I watched the scene was that these men and women,
along
with their teenagers and younger children, lived all around me in the
Bluegrass region but I had never known that they, or their way of life,
were there. I'd been too busy figuring out my own routine…
Michael Longinow of Wilmore is a journalism professor at Asbury
College.
-----
MUSLIM AMERICANS DETAINED WHILE RETURNING FROM CANADA
Evan Mantyk, The Epoch Times, 1/3/05
http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-1-3/25411.html
NEW YORK-Last week 38 Muslim Americans were detained while traveling
back
to the United States from an Islamic conference in Toronto, Canada.
"This is the most blatant case of religious profiling," said Mr. Wissam
Nasr of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Inc (CAIR). Nasr
said
that there was no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or
smuggling.
He attributes the search to the fact that they were identified as
Muslims
from the head scarves the women wore.
Kristie Clemens, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland
Security's
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said agents stopped anyone who
said
they attended the three-day convention, titled "Reviving the Islamic
Spirit," based on information that such gatherings can be a means for
terrorists to promote their cause.
Attendees say the conference was about spirituality and Islamic unity.
"[The conference] had scholars from all over North America speaking
about,
among other things, how Muslims should reach out to non-Muslims in
light of
9-11, in order to help remove the ignorance many people have about
Islam,"
said Nasr.
Included in the 38 detained were four college students. Among them,
Noha
Solaman and her younger sister-both born and raised in the United
States-were detained for six hours without explanation. According to
Solaman, after watching other detained Muslims get released within two
hours, she asked when she would be too. A DHS agent gave her a dirty
look
and said, "We're not in McDonald's."
CBP spokesperson Clemens said 34 people were stopped at the Lewiston,
New
York crossing and four others were checked at the nearby Rainbow Bridge
in
Niagara Falls. They were held for an average of 2-1/2 hours and offered
coffee and tea. Clemens acknowledged the inconvenience of the
additional
security measures, but said that with the threat of terrorism, there
was no
room for error.
"We have ongoing credible information that conferences such as the one
that
these 34 individuals just left in Toronto may be used by terrorist
organizations to promote terrorist activities," Clemens said. "As the
front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity of
individuals-including U.S. citizens-and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting."
On Thursday, CAIR filed formal complaints and is demanding a complete
investigation by the DHS. Nasr said they want to find out where the
order
to detain attendees of the Islamic conference came from. They are also
considering filing a class-action lawsuit…
ALSO SEE:
38 MUSLIMS STOPPED AFTER LOCAL CONFERENCE
The Toronto Star, 1/3/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1104521199375
After attending the "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference last
weekend
at the SkyDome, I was astonished to read that American citizens were
detained while trying to return to their homes.
Kristie Clemens of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection
stated
that such conferences "may be used by terrorist organizations to
promote
terrorist activities..."
I would like to inform her that this conference was one of the most
peaceful events I have attended. Not one of the lectures or sessions
promoted any type of terrorism activity or group.
It would be nice if those responsible for Homeland Security would do
their
research before inconveniencing their own citizens.
-----
FRESH DETAILS EMERGE ON HARSH METHODS AT GUANT�NAMO
Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 1/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/national/01gitmo.html
WASHINGTON - Sometime after Mohamed al-Kahtani was imprisoned at
Guant�namo
around the beginning of 2003, military officials believed they had a
prize
on their hands - someone who was perhaps intended to have been a
hijacker
in the Sept. 11 plot.
But his interrogation was not yielding much, so they decided in the
middle
of 2003 to try a new tactic. Mr. Kahtani, a Saudi, was given a
tranquilizer, put in sensory deprivation garb with blackened goggles,
and
hustled aboard a plane that was supposedly taking him to the Middle
East.
After hours in the air, the plane landed back at the United States
naval
base at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, where he was not returned to the regular
prison compound but put in an isolation cell in the base's brig. There,
he
was subjected to harsh interrogation procedures that he was encouraged
to
believe were being conducted by Egyptian national security operatives.
The account of Mr. Kahtani's treatment given to The New York Times
recently
by military intelligence officials and interrogators is the latest of
several developments that have severely damaged the military's
longstanding
public version of how the detention and interrogation center at
Guant�namo
operated.
Interviews with former intelligence officers and interrogators provided
new
details and confirmed earlier accounts of inmates being shackled for
hours
and left to soil themselves while exposed to blaring music or the
insistent
meowing of a cat-food commercial. In addition, some may have been
forcibly
given enemas as punishment…
ALSO SEE:
LONG-TERM PLAN SOUGHT FOR TERROR SUSPECTS
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 1/2/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41475-2005Jan1?language=printer
Administration officials are preparing long-range plans for
indefinitely
imprisoning suspected terrorists whom they do not want to set free or
turn
over to courts in the United States or other countries, according to
intelligence, defense and diplomatic officials.
The Pentagon and the CIA have asked the White House to decide on a more
permanent approach for potentially lifetime detentions, including for
hundreds of people now in military and CIA custody whom the government
does
not have enough evidence to charge in courts. The outcome of the
review,
which also involves the State Department, would also affect those
expected
to be captured in the course of future counterterrorism operations…
---
GUANTANAMO BRITON 'IN HANDCUFF TORTURE'
Observer, 1/2/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1382132,00.html
A British detainee at Guantanamo Bay has told his lawyer he was
tortured
using the 'strappado', a technique common in Latin American
dictatorships
in which a prisoner is left suspended from a bar with handcuffs until
they
cut deeply into his wrists.
The reason, the prisoner says, was that he was caught reciting the
Koran at
a time when talking was banned…
-----
FAMILY GROWS APART AS ABSENCE LENGTHENS
Muslim couple unhappy that foster homes teach different customs to kids
Andale Gross, Beacon Journal, 1/3/05
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/10553510.htm
Glenda and Herbert Hill have found a more livable home but still don't
have
what they want most: their nine children.
It's been 10 months since the Hills' five daughters and four sons were
taken from their care amid allegations of neglect. The tall,
mosque-looking
house in North Akron where the Hills lived had exposed electrical
wires,
windows with glass missing and damaged floors and ceilings.
Social workers and police, who removed the children last February and
put
them in county custody, also thought the house was too dirty and didn't
have enough food. So the house was declared unfit, and Glenda and
Herbert
Hill each were convicted of child endangering and sentenced to
probation.
Today, the Hills still deny neglecting their children, who range in age
from 5 to 16. They say their money may be limited, but they're more
than
capable parents…
-----
YOUNG MUSLIMS PROMOTE LEADERSHIP
Development as a whole is emphasized
Raviya H. Ismail, Newhouse, 1/3/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-0/110475784158360.xml
In 1998, three college students actively involved in Muslim student
associations on their campuses determined there was no forum for
professional development, leadership training and spiritual development
for
Muslims after college. So they came up with their own.
"Once you graduate, you are lost," said Amber Malik Sheikh, 31, of
Secaucus, a founding member of the Secaucus-based Muslim Leaders
organization. "There's no place for Muslim professionals to go to
either
network or learn."
In November, the group held its held sixth annual conference - part
career
fair, leadership training and spiritual education for college-age and
young
professional Muslims. Hundreds of participants attended the three-day
event
in Franklin Township…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM YOUTH SERVING THE HOMELESS IN PORT CHARLOTTE
Betsy Williams, Herald Tribune, 1/3/05
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005501030563
Following a long tradition, youngsters from the Islamic community are
following in their mothers' footsteps.
"We are here to help the less fortunate," 10-year-old Nadia Kemal said.
"In our religion, you are to help every chance you get."
Nadia and others youngsters have been spending one night a month
serving
food at the Genesis Center Homeless Coalition.
While their mothers fill the plates of food from the steam table, the
young
servers carry the trays to every person who shows up for a meal.
When dinner is over, they help clean up and do whatever other jobs need
doing.
Their help is much appreciated and their young, smiling faces help
bring a
smile to those dining at the center.
-----
AREA MUSLIMS SAY ADDITIONAL PRAYERS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
'Salat al-ghaib' offered for those who died in a distant place.
Sara Toth, South Bend Tribune, 1/2/05
http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/01/01/local.20050101-sbt-MWKA-A
1-Area_Muslims_say_add.sto
SOUTH BEND -- Friday prayers at the mosque are simply part of life's
routine for Abul and Parveen Basher and their children.
But this Friday, after some of Abul Basher's distant relatives and a
friend
in his hometown of Chennai, India, died along with at least 135,000
others
in Sunday's tsunami disaster, the power and significance of prayer in
Islam
were more deeply appreciated.
The Basher family, of Granger, comprised six of the approximately 125
people who filled the mosque to pray Friday afternoon at the Islamic
Society of Michiana, 3310 Hepler St. The imam, Mohammad Sirajuddin, led
worshippers in regular Friday prayers as well as the "salat al-ghaib,"
or
prayers for people who have died in a distant place.
"It means a lot to us, praying for people who died in the tragedy
because
tragedy can happen to any one of us," Abul Basher said. "At the same
time,
we support those there in the tragedy."
For both the regular prayer and the prayer for the dead, men and women,
on
their respective sides of a room, formed lines and talked to God with a
series of bows, prostrations and chants.
In his message, Sirajuddin tied the emerging new year with the
tsunamis'
destruction.
Both events remind us that life on earth is short and temporary; time
is
always passing, he said.
"Life is only a few days," he said. "You should never waste it on
something
that will not benefit you."
Time comes in three parts, he said: the past, present and future. The
past
is for learning from. The present is for thanking God and using his
gifts.
And the future is for hoping…
ALSO SEE:
SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
Muslims' silent thoughts travel to faraway places
Matt Buedel, Journal Star, 1/2/05
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/010105/TRI_B55VNPB7.053.shtml
---
CAIR-FL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AHMED BEDIER APPEARED ON BAYNEWS9 TO
OFFER
PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF U.S. AID TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS.
Follow the below links to view video:
IGH SPEED / BROADBAND
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/041230_baynews9_bedier_on_tsunami_relief_h
i.wmv
LOW SPEED / DIAL-UP
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/041230_baynews9_bedier_on_tsunami_relief_l
o.wmv
-----
S. CALIF. THAI MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT
Mosque seeks to build homes for people on devastated island
(AZUSA, CA, 1/3/05) - Southern California Muslims of Thai heritage have
launched an emergency fundraising appeal for survivors of the recent
tsunami that struck Thailand, leaving thousands dead and many others
homeless or in need of relief supplies.
Masjid Al-Fatiha in Azusa, Calif., launched the relief effort to help
the
people of Thailand's Phi Phi Island, which was virtually wiped out by
the
tsunami that hit coastal areas across South Asia on December 26.
Rahmat Phyakul, the religious leader (Imam) of Masjid Al-Fatiha, said
he is
in direct contact with community leaders on Phi Phi Island who told him
the
greatest need is for immediate supplies of food and water, followed by
a
long-term need for new homes and boats for the island's fisherman.
He added: "One Imam on the island has 250 tsunami survivors under his
care,
mainly small children and women. Many of the surviving children do not
have
immediate relatives who can care for them. A number of men are still
missing and feared dead. Unfortunately, due to the remote location of
the
island, relief supplies have not arrived in sufficient quantities."
Imam Phyakul said he has been told that each rebuilt home will cost
$4,000.
He said the local Thai Muslim community has set a goal of rebuilding 50
homes.
DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: (Make check payable to the "Relief Fund of
Southern Thailand."
Relief Fund of Southern Thailand
c/o Masjid Al-Fatiha
210 N. Citrus Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Donations may be wired to the following Trust Fund Account:
Bank of Whittier (Tel: 562-945-7553)
Routing Number: 122 239 542
Account Number: 1022 512
Beneficiary: Masjid Al-Fatiha
References: Relief Fund of Southern Thailand
- END -
CONTACT: Imam Rahmat Phyakul at 626-359-9292, E-Mail:
rhphyakul@yahoo.com
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION HAS RAISED $65,000 FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Jo Mannies, Post-Dispatch, 12/1/05
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/2E0A64A8E3
B8993D86256F7D000EC1CB?OpenDocument&Headline=Islamic+foundation+has+raised+$
65,000+for+Tsunami+victims+
With so many children among the tsunamis' victims, it seemed fitting
that
children here are among those seeking to help.
Eight-year-old Katherine Wolter and two friends - Kirston Doty, 10, and
Lara Yeast, 7 - were among a group of children who collected $151 in
their
Frontenac neighborhood on Friday. On Saturday, the three girls brought
the
money in a purple pitcher to an interfaith prayer service and
fund-raiser
held at the headquarters for the Islamic Foundation of Greater St.
Louis,
at 517 Weidman Road in west St. Louis County.
Belal Ahmed, 8, of Ellisville, carried to the podium his entire week's
allowance of $5 to aid the cause.
About 150 people attended the event, co-sponsored by the foundation and
the
Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis. Since Tuesday, the
foundation has raised more than $65,000, said foundation spokeswoman
Ghazala Hayat. The money is being forwarded to the Red Crescent-Red
Cross,
she said.
The foundation is among several groups here collecting aid for the
countries in Asia and Africa hit hardest by last week's tidal waves.
Chandra Gamlath, president of the local Sri Lanka Association, said his
group has collected $6,500 so far, and plans to donate most of that to
a
medical aid effort run by Doctors Without Borders.
Gamlath emphasized that money and medical supplies are the only
donations
being sought, because it's too expensive to ship clothes and heavier
items
overseas. It's cheaper and more efficient to purchase such supplies
near
the affected areas, he said.
Sri Lanka was among the countries reporting the most victims. But so
far,
most of the region's 80 or so Sri Lankan families are reporting that
their
relatives back home appear to have survived, Gamlath said. On Saturday,
Gamlath was among those attending a special Buddhist service in Augusta
in
memory of the victims.
At the Islamic Foundation's interfaith service, attendees heard words
or
written messages from local representatives for various religions,
reflecting the religious diversity of the devastated countries and the
victims. Behind the speakers, a large screen projected images of the
tsunamis' destruction.
Among those in the audience was Maheen Malik, 46, of Chesterfield.
Originally from Pakistan, she's now a U.S. citizen. Malik noted that
her
native country was little affected by the tsunamis, but added that she
was
pleased that the effort to help appeared to transcend religious and
geographic divisions around the globe.
"This is the type of calamity you read about in the Bible or the
Quran,"
she said. "There are no words for it, it is so devastating."
Contributions may be sent to:
Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, 517 Weidman Road, Manchester,
Mo.
63011.
Sri Lanka Association, 1456 Shagbark Court, Chesterfield, Mo. 63017…
---
IMRC EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK UNDERWAY IN THE ANDAMAN/NICOBAR ISLANDS AND
SOUTHERN INDIA.
As the impact of this disaster unravels in front of us, it is still
beyond
comprehension. According to our field partner Zubair Ahmed in South
Andamans - only 8,000 people have been rescued from the Nicobar islands
which had a population of over 50,000 people. We are learning of
similar
tragedies all over.
At IMRC, we immediately launched emergency relief work in the areas
where
we already had field workers. Working on the ground are teams
coordinated
by Abbadullah in Andhra Pradesh, P.K. Hamza and Mohammed Ali in
Andaman/
Nicobar islands and Shuaib Musvee in Tamil Nadu.
We are distributing essentials for survival: drinking water, blankets,
utensils, food grains and medicines. Rehabilitation work will be taken
up
later. IMRC has already disbursed $60,000 so far. We will be sending
money
on an ongoing basis as we receive it. Our goal is to raise $250,000
within
the next 10 days.
We look forward to your generosity to help as many helpless victims of
this
calamity as possible.
YOU CAN DO A LOT. IF ONLY YOU DON'T PUT IT OFF FOR A LATER TIME.
o Donate generously to send critical help to the survivors. 100% of
your
contributions reach the people in need. You can go online to our secure
website (http://www.imrc.ws) or call us with credit card information at
650
856-0440. You can write checks made out to "IMRC" and mail them to
IMRC,
800 San Antonio Road, Ste. #1, Palo Alto CA 94303. Please write
"Tsunami
Relief" in the memo.
o Please raise funds among your friends and family. Help raise funds at
your local Masajid. Distribute copies of this appeal and collect help
for
the victims. A juma khutba on this topic would be great. You can
download
material from our web site and print it before juma for distribution.
---
NASHVILLE MUSLIM PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMI
On Friday, December 31, Muslims at Islamic Center of Nashville offered
prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and
tsunami
in Asia. Imam Abdulhakim Muhammad spoke on the Tsunami tragedy in Juma
Khutba (Friday Congregational Prayer Sermon) and encouraged worshippers
to
contribute generously to the relief efforts. This started the Tsunami
Relief Fundraising Drive by the Muslim Community.
The worshippers donated generously and $22,786 were collected for the
victims. The Islamic Center is collecting donations for the affected
people
in the current tragedy. People can donate to the victims through the
Islamic Center of Nashville. Please send your donations to:
Islamic Center of Nashville
P.O. Box 120953
Nashville, TN 37212
CONTACT: Amir Arain, M.D. 668-4381
---
ISLAMIC RELIEF USA SENDS PLANE WITH 160,000 POUNDS OF EMERGENCY
SUPPLIES
Islamic Relief USA sent an airplane filled with 160,000 pounds of
emergency
aid materials to Indonesia. The shipment left for Jakarta, Indonesia
from
from Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, January 1, 2005.
The supplies were shipped in cooperation with the Church of Jesus
Christ of
Ladder-day Saints. Islamic Relief USA provided an air cargo charter
flight
filled with goods from the Church's welfare and humanitarian
storehouses,
including medical supplies, food supplies, high-protein milk powder,
hygiene kits and soap.
The contents of the shipment include:
40,000 pounds of medical supplies:
surgical tools, medical devices, gloves, sponges, bandages, gowns, test
tubes, blood pressure cuffs, etc.
20,000 pounds of first aid supplies:
bandages, aspirin, disinfectants, etc.
28,000 individual hygiene kits:
soap, toothpaste, combs, washcloths, etc.
40,000 pounds of clothing and shoes
Islamic Relief Action in Indonesia
Islamic Relief began distributing emergency aid on December 29, and the
distribution is ongoing. Items distributed include mineral water, food,
oil, disinfectants, flashlights and candles.
Islamic Relief is providing immediate emergency assistance to
approximately
50,000 displaced people (12,500 families) in the Aceh province. This
assistance includes shelter, repair for water and sanitation, food
distribution, education and agriculture projects.
Islamic Relief Action in Sri Lanka
Islamic Relief Worldwide is focusing relief efforts in the Eastern
Province, particularly in the Ampara district, where a needs assessment
was
performed on December 30 and 31. Islamic Relief Worldwide is currently
in
the process of distributing 1,000 hygiene kits. Relief efforts will
also
include distribution of emergency supplies to 10,000 families,
reconstruction materials to 2,000 displaced families, as well as
sanitation
supplies to over 50 camps.
Islamic Relief Action in India
IRW is working in Chennai, India with its partners to implement
emergency
projects in the next few days.
Islamic Relief USA's Efforts Covered Extensively in the Media
Islamic Relief
1919 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91506
(888) 479-4968
http://www.irw.org/
info@irw.org
Tax ID#: 95-4453134
---
MUSLIMS IN HAWAI'I APPEAL FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
Will Hoover, Honolulu Advertiser, 1/1/05
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jan/01/ln/ln09p.html
---
NJ MOSQUES RAISE $250,000 IN 24 HOURS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Associated Press, 1/3/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--tsunami-njmosques0103jan03
,0,7572556.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey
NEWARK, N.J. - Less than 24 hours after appealing for help for victims
of
the Asian tsunamis, New Jersey's mosques raised $250,000.
The Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of mosques,
issued
a call for assistance Thursday. By the end of Friday afternoon prayers,
the
$250,000 in cash was received, along with donations of clothing.
"Governments and people the world over are compelled by compassion to
assist in the relief effort," said Yaser El-Menshawy, the council's
chairman. "New Jersey's Muslims have also answered the call to aid the
millions suffering and displaced by the worst natural disaster in
recent
history."
Imams across the state reminded their congregations that generosity and
giving to those in need are integral parts of Islam, he said.
The largest amounts were raised at Dar-ul-Islah in Teaneck ($55,000);
the
Islamic Center of Passaic County, Paterson ($50,000); the Islamic
Society
of Central Jersey, South Brunswick ($50,000); the Institute of Islamic
Studies, West Windsor ($25,000) and Masjid Al-Amaan, Middletown
($23,000).
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: FIGHT NASTY WAR ACCORDINGLY
Gary Cooper, Enterprise Record, 1/3/05
http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135~27922~2631970,00.html
A recent letter in response to mine intrigued me. The writer asked how
we
should treat our local Muslim population given that I stated we are in
World War III with most of them.
No, don't take the baby's candy or run them off the road. Just realize
our
country is at war and the odds of an attack from someone in that
community
is virtually 100 percent. Racial profiling is acceptable to me. Having
picture IDs of both men and women without scarves is mandatory. Any
Muslim
here illegally should be jailed. All Muslim organizations must respect
that
the freedoms granted to us all under our constitution trumps their
religious rights and refusal to submit to this fact would be grounds to
declare that organization "terrorist."
I do not hate all Muslims. But my country is at war with the majority
of
them. There is no prejudice or discrimination by our country in taking
reasonable efforts to identify our enemy to protect our loved ones from
them. This is by definition a clandestine war with our enemy embedded
in
our country like never before in history and must be fought
accordingly. To
not do so because of some liberal bunch of politically correct nonsense
is
unfair to our population as a whole and insane.
To our Muslim population who don't like it, move back to that hellhole
Mideast pit that your radical Muslim brothers have created for you.
Don't
bring it here because it ain't welcome.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS THROUGH:
http://www2.chicoer.com/siteservices/letters.php
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/4/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: AFTER DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF
- Hadith of the Day: Help Alleviate Suffering
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: UGLY TRUTHS ABOUT GITMO (Wash Post)
- QUOTE: Aid Can Help U.S. Image (Baltimore Sun)
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
* CAIR-CHICAGO: ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER FILES BIAS SUIT
- Muslim Charges Bias Led To Firing (Chicago Trib)
* NJ: MUSLIM IMAGE-BUILDER (Star-Ledger)
- LA: Muslims and Jews Seek Common Ground (LA Weekly)
* BACKING GONZALES IS BACKING TORTURE (LA Times)
- Iraq Exhostage Says U.S. Troops Tortured Him (UPI)
* CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT (Rocky Mtn News)
* INDIAN MOSQUE OPENS DOORS TO HINDUS (WSJ)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: AFTER DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF
"God puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. After a
difficulty, God will soon grant relief."
The Holy Quran, 65:7
HADITH OF THE DAY: HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the
suffering of a brother (in this) world, God will alleviate his
(suffering)
of the Day of Resurrection. He who finds relief for one who is hard
pressed, God will make things easy for him in the Hereafter."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: UGLY TRUTHS ABOUT GUANTANAMO
Richard Cohen, Washington Post, 1/4/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45936-2005Jan3.html
The revelations coming out of Guantanamo are hideous. The ordinary
abuse of
prisoners, the madness instilled by gruesome incarcerations, the
incessant
lying of the authorities, plus the mock interrogations staged for the
media, in which detainees and their interrogators share milkshakes --
all
this soils us as a nation. It's as if the government is ahistorical,
unaware of how communists and fascists also strained language and
ushered
the world into torture chambers made pretty for the occasion. We now
keep
some pretty bad company...
SEE ALSO:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: AID CAN HELP U.S. IMAGE
2 FORMER PRESIDENTS TO RAISE AID FOR ASIA
Robert Timberg, Baltimore Sun, 1/4/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.image04jan04,1,4774808.story
At the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spokesman Ibrahim Hooper
agreed that it was too early to determine if the American effort on
behalf
of Muslims in South Asia would pay a goodwill dividend, but he held out
hope that it might.
"If negative images of our troops in Iraq have helped cause problems,
images of our troops handing out relief supplies will help," he said.
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
GOOD CAUSES
San Antonio Express-News, 1/2/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA010205.8P.goodcauses.5a304b6f
.html
Thursday - CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Memorial Branch Library, 3222 Culebra Road. The San Antonio office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations is presenting a series of
lectures at
area libraries to promote a better understanding of Muslims in
America...As
part of the "Islam in America" lecture series, each participating
library
will receive books, DVDs and other educational materials having to do
with
Islam and Muslims. Sarwat Husain, (210) 378-9528.
-----
ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER FILES BIAS SUIT
Employee allegedly called 'terrorist,' told he would be shot
(CHICAGO, IL, 1/4/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim
worker of Pakistani origin in Illinois has filed a religious and
national
origin discrimination lawsuit against AFI Industries.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Illinois (Eastern Division), alleges that other employees of AFI
Industries
called the Muslim plaintiff "Terrorist #1," "Al-Qaida" and Osama bin
Laden's "cousin."
A supervisor allegedly told the plaintiff that the FBI and CIA were
looking
for him, that his home would be broken into and that he would be shot.
The
last comment was allegedly made while the supervisor made a gun shape
of
his hand and "fired" toward the plaintiff. The supervisor also
allegedly
asked the plaintiff if he was going to kill his co-workers.
Similar incidents of harassment continued despite what the lawsuit said
were the plaintiff's repeated objections to supervisors. In fact, the
suit
alleges that a company manager engaged in severe verbal abuse of the
plaintiff when he received his complaints.
On March 3, 2003, the worker was terminated. On May 28, 2003, the
Muslim
employee filed a charge of religion and national origin discrimination
with
the EEOC.
The lawsuit announced today seeks reinstatement of the Muslim employee,
back wages, as well as other compensatory and punitive damages.
"This case is particularly disturbing because supervisory personnel
were
allegedly involved in the discriminatory behavior," said CAIR-Chicago
Executive Director Yaser Tabbara.
"The plaintiff in this case suffered severe emotional distress as a
result
of the psychological abuse he suffered," said attorney Kamran Memon,
who is
representing the Muslim worker. "We hope this lawsuit helps to educate
American Muslims about their rights in the workplace."
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago, Yaser Tabbara, 312-212-1520 or 312-718-3725,
E-Mail:
director@cairchicago.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CHARGES BIAS LED TO FIRING
Matt O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 1/4/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0501040033jan04,1,2496936.story
A Muslim-American who formerly worked for a suburban manufacturer filed
a
federal lawsuit Monday alleging he was fired after he complained of
harassment by co-workers and supervisors after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks.
The suit by Syed Abbas, a native of Pakistan, said one co-worker at AFI
Industries Inc. repeatedly called him a terrorist while a supervisor
drew
laughter at the factory when he made a crude drawing of Abbas and
labeled
it a "wanted" poster.
In a telephone interview, Abbas, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives
in
Carol Stream, said he was so alarmed when one supervisor told him he
was
under government surveillance that he sold his house at a loss and
moved
his family in with relatives.
The same supervisor had warned Abbas that someone would break into
Abbas'
house and shoot him, the suit said.
"They took advantage of him because they knew they could play on his
fears," said Kamran Memon, one of Abbas' attorneys. "They picked a guy
who
they knew was vulnerable."
A company official was faxed a copy of the lawsuit but had no comment
Monday on the allegations. AFI Industries, based in Carol Stream, makes
screws and other fasteners.
The number of cases alleging workplace discrimination based on religion
has
increased significantly since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the
federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission…
-----
MUSLIM IMAGE-BUILDER
SULEMAN DIN, Star-Ledger, 1/4/05
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1104852613304710
.xml
On Thursday, Sherine El-Abd received an e-mail from the
Majlis-Ash-Shura of
New Jersey, the state's council of mosques, appealing for aid for the
victims of the tsunami.
"I picked up the phone, made a few calls and forwarded the appeal" to
her
many contacts in the Muslim and Arab-American communities, she said.
Within 24 hours, the organization raised $250,000 at the five mosques
in
the organization.
El-Abd downplayed her role in the fund-raising efforts and credited
Yasser
El-Menshawy, head of the Shura, for making it all happen.
But El-Menshawy knows El-Abd is the best political insider the
Arab-American community has.
"I know she's very active in politics and I knew she would help
wherever
and whenever possible," said El-Menshawy.
El-Abd, an Edison resident, is a member of the state's Commission on
Civil
Rights, a governor-appointed advisory panel for the Attorney General's
office. The commission also reports to the governor and the
Legislature.
She worries about the image of Muslims in the country today. A recent
national poll by Cornell University shows that 44 percent of
respondents
believed some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for American
Muslims in the interest of domestic safety.
"Islam is a hot-button issue to people who don't know what it is,"
El-Abd
said.
But, she says, the burden rests with Muslims and Arab-Americans to
clear
misconceptions, she said.
"They have to talk to people on an individual level, invite their
neighbors
over during Ramadan and to weddings, to see how we celebrate," she
said.
"Let them see us as we are, as mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers…"
SEE ALSO:
LOCAL MUSLIMS AND JEWS SEEK COMMON GROUND
Louisiana Weekly, 1/3/05
http://www.louisianaweekly.com/cgi-bin/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20051203h
On the weekend of January 14-16, members of Touro Synagogue and
Masjidur
Raheem (Mosque of the Merciful) will come together for a weekend of
joint
prayer, education, community service, fellowship and athletics entitled
"Weekend of Peace and Friendship." The Muslim and Jewish congregations
will
take the first steps towards earning a mutual trust and respect for
each
other, while putting aside their historically controversial views.
The weekend will begin with members of Touro attending a Friday
afternoon
worship at the Masjidur Raheem. Afterwards, members of the Mosque will
attend an evening service at Touro Synagogue followed by a panel
discussion
to promote the understanding of both religions.
Saturday afternoon, Jan. 15, the congregations will host a community
service event for inner-city families complete with games, food and a
clothing giveaway. The weekend events will come to an end on Sunday,
Jan.
16, with basketball games at the Jewish Community Center involving
youths
from both congregations.
"This event is aimed at having these two congregations share bonds of
friendship and explore the commonalities of our respective religions,"
said
Rabbi David Goldstein of Touro Synagogue. "I hope it will be the first
of
many and that from it there will develop a relationship that can become
a
model of what is possible."
"Our faithful congregation is excited and honored to be participating
in
what should turn out to be one of the most important events in the
Mosque's
history," said Imam Rafeeq H. Nu 'Man of Masjidur Raheem. "We look
forward
to opening our doors to the members of Touro and spending a meaning
weekend
of mutual understanding with them."
Touro Synagogue was founded in 1828 and is the oldest Jewish house of
worship in America beyond the original thirteen colonies. Located on
historic St. Charles Avenue, the Synagogue today is a vital and
progressive
center of Jewish life, and a growing and living community of Jewish
families.
Masjidur Raheem was founded under the leadership of Imam Rafeeq Nu'Man
in
1988 when several families purchased a blighted house and set out to
reclaim a neighborhood threatened by drugs and crime. The masjid, which
now
serves over 300 practitioners, has acquired adjoining properties,
started a
prison ministry, an on-the-street ministry, a Sunday Morning Breakfast
Program and an active Interfaith Program.
-----
BACKING GONZALES IS BACKING TORTURE
Robert Scheer, Los Angeles Times, 1/4/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-scheer4jan04,1,3906032.
column
Is there bipartisan congressional support for torture?
That is the central question the Senate Judiciary Committee faces
Thursday
as it begins hearings on the confirmation of White House Counsel
Alberto
Gonzales as the next attorney general of the United States. At stake is
whether Congress wants to conveniently absolve Gonzales of his clear
attempt to have the president subvert U.S. law in order to whitewash
barbaric practices performed by U.S. interrogators in the name of
national
security.
Gonzales ignored the objections of State Department and military
lawyers to
strongly endorse the determination of Justice Department lawyers that
neither the Geneva Convention nor corresponding U.S. laws on prisoner
protections should be applied in the "war on terror."
"In my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict
limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some
of
its provisions," Gonzales wrote in a legal memo to President Bush on
Jan.
25, 2002. Declaring the war-on-terror prisoners exempt from the Geneva
Convention, he argued, "substantially reduces the threat of domestic
criminal prosecution under the War Crimes Act."
Acting like a sleazy attorney advising a client on how not to be
convicted
of an ongoing crime, Gonzales was apparently not worried about
irrational
foreign courts or high-minded jurists in The Hague, but rather U.S.
prosecutors who might enforce federal laws that ban torture of foreign
prisoners of war. Indeed, Gonzales made the case for a legal end run
around
the 1996 War Crimes Act, which mandates criminal penalties, including
the
death sentence, for any U.S. military or other personnel who engage in
crimes of torture.
"It is difficult to predict the motives of [U.S.] prosecutors and
[U.S.]
independent counsels who may in the future decide to pursue unwarranted
charges based on Section 2441" of the act, Gonzales wrote. "Your
determination [that Geneva protections are not applicable] would create
a
reasonable basis in law that Section 2441 does not apply, which would
provide a solid defense to any future prosecution."
In light of what we have learned since about the rationalization and
use of
torture by U.S. interrogators over the last three years, it is
difficult to
ignore the possibility that Gonzales already had knowledge that such
violations had occurred and expected more.
In fact, Gonzales in his memo singles out language from the Geneva
Convention (and incorporated into U.S. law) that explicitly brands as a
war
crime "outrages against personal dignity" -- a perfect description of
the
pattern of mental, sexual and physical degradation of U.S. detainees
that
has been reported by prisoners, military whistle-blowers and even FBI
agents in recent months. Many of those rounded up in Muslim countries
by
U.S. military and intelligence personnel have reportedly been subjected
to
dog attacks, being chained in fetal positions in their own excrement or
placed in degrading sexual postures...
SEE ALSO:
IRAQ EXHOSTAGE SAYS TROOPS TORTURED HIM
United Press International, 1/4/05
The driver of two ex-French hostages is filing war-crimes charges
against
U.S. forces in Iraq.
Syrian driver Mohammed Al-Joundi filed charges of "torture and war
crimes"
against Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of U.S. marines in Fallujah,
at a
Paris court Tuesday morning, Le Parisien reports.
Al-Joundi was also taken hostage by the Islamic Army in Iraq last
summer,
along with French reporters Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot.
U.S. soldiers found al-Joundi at a house in Fallujah this fall.
He claims American forces tortured him with electric shocks and staged
three mock executions before releasing him half naked, the newspaper
said…
-----
CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
A DANGEROUS ARGUMENT
Paul Campos, Rocky Mountain News, 1/4/05
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86
_3442925,00.html
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)
Daniel Pipes, the well-known neoconservative intellectual and director
of
the Middle East Forum, has just published an opinion piece in which he
implies that the wholesale relocation of American citizens of the
Muslim
faith to internment camps might be a good idea.
Pipes doesn't actually come right out and support internment camps for
American Muslims, but his article (published originally in The New York
Sun
and reprinted in various other papers) casts a nostalgic glance back at
the
internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and hints that we
ought to consider similar steps in the context of the war on terrorism.
The immediate object of Pipes' affections is a new book by Michelle
Malkin,
In Defense of Internment, which applauds the roundup and imprisonment
of
more than 120,000 ethnic Japanese, most of them American citizens, as a
reasonable security measure in time of war.
Malkin's book is an odious exercise in revisionist history, with a
distinctly fascist tinge. She defends policies that have long been
considered completely indefensible, using arguments that are often
absurd
on their face.
For instance, Malkin claims the previously uncontroversial view that
the
internment of Japanese- Americans was driven by racism is actually a
product of left-wing distortions. Yet here is a typical quote from Gen.
John DeWitt, the main proponent and organizer of the internment: "The
Japanese race is an enemy race and while many second and third
generation
Japanese, born on United States soil, possessed of United States
citizenship have become Americanized, the racial strains are undiluted.
. .
. It therefore follows that along the Pacific Coast over 112,000
potential
enemies of Japanese extraction are at large today…"
Paul Campos is a professor of law at the University of Colorado. He can
be
reached at paul.campos@colorado.edu
-----
MOSQUE OPENS DOORS TO HINDUS
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/05
http://www.wsj.com/
PARANGIPETTAI, India -- For 45 minutes last week, N. Arunugan, a Hindu
fisherman, hung from the top of a cashew tree to escape the fury of the
tsunami waves that swamped his village. But on returning safely to
earth,
Mr. Arunugan found refuge in a mosque led by Mohamed Yunoos.
"These men are like brothers to me," says Mr. Arunugan. He is living
now in
a wedding hall that has been turned into a makeshift refugee camp at
Mr.
Yunoos's Islamic religious complex in this village in Tamil Nadu, the
worst-hit region in southern India. "They don't think about Muslim,
Hindu,
only that they helped me."
Mr. Yunoos and his Muslim welfare organization, the United Islamic
Jamaath,
offer one sign of hope born of the catastrophe that has devastated
South
and Southeast Asia. The region has been wracked by sectarian conflicts
in
recent years, including Hindu-Muslim rioting in the Indian state of
Gujarat
in 2002 that left thousands dead. That was also the year India and
majority-Muslim Pakistan flirted with a nuclear war in a frightening
escalation of their almost-60-year struggle for control of Kashmir.
Across much of India and Southeast Asia, people of various faiths live
peacefully together. But ethnic and religious strife also has a long
history in countries affected by the tsunami. Sri Lanka has been
seeking
respite from a decades-old civil war pitting an ethnic-Tamil Hindu
minority
against the predominately Buddhist population…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #444
CAIR SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJIS
'Hajji Hotline' created for returning pilgrims who face possible
harassment
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/5/05) - CAIR today called on the Bush
administration
to clarify whether American Muslims participating in this year's Hajj,
or
pilgrimage to Mecca, will be fingerprinted or singled out for special
security measures based on their participation in the annual religious
rite.
To assist returning pilgrims, CAIR also created a "Hajji Hotline" and a
downloadable incident report form for those who believe their
constitutional rights are being violated by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officials. (Some 10,000 American Muslims go on Hajj
each
year.)
CAIR's actions follow reports that dozens of American Muslim citizens
were
singled out recently for security checks and fingerprinting based on
their
attendance at an Islamic conference in Canada. Several of the Muslim
detainees told CAIR they objected strenuously to being fingerprinted,
but
were informed by CBP representatives that "you have no rights" and that
they would be held until they agreed to the fingerprinting procedure.
An
agency spokesperson later admitted that the Muslim citizens were
fingerprinted because of their participation in the Canadian
conference.
CAIR called for an investigation of that incident, saying it was a
disturbing example of religious profiling that would have a chilling
effect
on the constitutional rights of American Muslims.
SEE: "Muslims Seek Probe on Being Fingerprinted"
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041230/1022459.asp
Despite repeated requests for clarification from the Department of
Homeland
Security (DHS) and CBP, no clear response has been given as to whether
mere
participation in Islamic religious activities is now being viewed as
"probable cause" for increased security checks or forced fingerprinting
of
U.S. citizens. In a letter to the DHS civil rights office, CAIR Legal
Director Arsalan Iftikhar asked the following questions:
"1. Under what U.S. law(s) are border and customs agents given broad
authority or discretion to fingerprint and detain American citizens
with
the threat of arrest for noncompliance? 2. If fingerprinting and
detention
are refused by an American citizen, what are the legal repercussions of
such a refusal? 3. Does mere attendance at an Islamic conference
constitute
sufficient 'probable cause' of a criminal act to justify a detention
which
could be legally tantamount to an arrest?"
ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Any returning pilgrims who believe their constitutional rights have
been
violated should call CAIR's "Hajji Hotline" at 1-800-784-7526. During
business hours, the hotline number rolls over to CAIR's Washington,
D.C.,
switchboard. After hours during the Hajj, a recording will give cell
phone
numbers for CAIR civil rights staff and the latest information on the
legal
rights of U.S. citizens at border crossings.
2. Those going on Hajj should download an incident report form from
http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/hajji.pdf and to keep it handy for
the
return trip to the United States. CAIR's Civil Rights Department can
also
be reached by e-mailing civilrights@cair-net.org.
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/5/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY
* CINCINNATI MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- Aid Alone Unlikely to Repair Tattered Image (Reuters)
- MD: Interfaith Prayers Said For Victims (Wash Post)
* AZ COURT TO HEAR ANTI-MUSLIM LETTER CASE (AP)
* BUSH'S COUNSEL SOUGHT RULING ABOUT TORTURE (NY Times)
- Rewarding Mr. Gonzales (NY Times)
- Palliatives for Prisoners (Wash Post)
- Does The Right Remember Abu Ghraib? (Wash Post)
- Iraq Abuse "Went On Until July" (Reuters)
- U.S. Investigates Gitmo Abuse Allegations (Reuters)
* TX: COUNCIL APPROVES FIRST MOSQUE (Dallas News)
* NV: NEW TRIAL DENIED IN RENO MOSQUE BEATING (AP)
* IL: MUSLIM SAYS BIAS WAS BEHIND FIRING (Daily Herald)
* DEATH IN FALLUJAH RISING, DOCTORS SAY (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first to be
summoned to
Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in
(both)
prosperity and adversity."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 730
-----
CINCINNATI MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(CINCINNATI, 1/4/05) Muslims in the Cincinnati area recently offered
prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and
tsunami
in Asia. Cincinnati's Muslim organizations have also begun to work on
the
relief effort and are collecting funds to send to the disaster areas.
The
organizations cooperating in this effort are the Islamic Association of
Cincinnati, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati
Islamic Center, Muslim American Society, and the Muslim Student
Association.
Fundraising efforts will continue for a two-week-long Tsunami Relief
Fundraising Drive by the Muslim community. Donations may be sent to
Fifth
Third Bank, account #7021484477, Tsunami Victims Relief Fund
Culminating events are planned for Saturday, January 15, 2005, a
fundraising dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Greater
Cincinnati in West Chester and an Open House on Sunday, January 16,
2005,
3-5 p.m. at the Islamic Association of Cincinnati in Clifton. The final
tally from the fundraising effort will be announced at that time.
What: Tsunami Relief Fundraising Drive
WHEN: January 4 to January 17, 2005
WHO: Cincinnati Area Mosques and Muslim organizations
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, CAIR-Ohio Cincinnati Office, 513-281-8200
ALSO SEE:
TSUNAMI AID ALONE UNLIKELY TO REPAIR TATTERED U.S. IMAGE
Carol Giacomo, Reuters, 1/5/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04453006.htm
WASHINGTON - The devastating Asian tsunami has given America a chance
to
begin repairing its tattered international reputation but will not by
itself overcome hostility toward U.S. policies in Iraq and the Middle
East.
Shifting gears from three years of post-Sept 11 combat operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. troops are delivering millions of dollars of
relief supplies in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to survivors of
the
most lethal natural disaster in recent memory.
As the world's richest nation and only superpower, much is expected of
the
United States when calamity strikes and usually much is given.
President
George W. Bush, who was criticized for initially offering just $15
million,
has now pledged $350 million. Private groups are doing even more.
But America's image as a force for good has suffered profoundly --
especially in the Arab and Muslim worlds -- from its occupation of Iraq
and
its unwillingness to play a more balanced peacemaking role between
Israel
and the Palestinians.
Although some Muslims will benefit from the U.S. aid, "having just
worked
in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm uncertain whether or not the U.S. can
overcome
the obstacles it faces in those places and the Middle East in general
by
demonstrating generosity," said Ray Salvatore Jennings, former head of
conflict management programs in Iraq for the United States Institute of
Peace…
"They definitely got off to slow start with the pledges of $15 million
and
then $35 million but I think they soon realized the perception was very
negative and more had to be done," said Ibrahim Hooper of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations.
"I think they realized this wasn't just a public relations exercise.
The
perception of our response to this world-class disaster could have a
real
impact on American policies around the world," he added…
---
INTERFAITH PRAYERS SAID FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMI
Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48988-2005Jan5.html
The faithful of many faiths gathered last night in Montgomery County to
speak words of peace and welcome in Arabic, to chant Buddhist prayers
and
read Old Testament Psalms. They spoke in many tongues, but all called
out
to God for the same purpose: relief for the victims of the deadly South
Asian tsunami.
Gathering at an interfaith prayer service at the Muslim Community
Center in
Colesville, worshipers who included representatives of the Hindu,
Hebrew,
Muslim and Christian traditions sat side by side to hear sacred texts
and
listen to words of unity and encouragement in the face of catastrophe.
The service drew people of various religions, including the Hindu,
Hebrew,
Muslim, and Christian faiths. Prayers were offered in several languages
for
victims of the devastating tsunami in South Asia.
"When tragedy strikes, it doesn't discriminate with certain kinds of
faith," said Faraz Zubairi, a director at the Muslim center, who
presided.
Spiritual leaders, male and female, reminded their audience that
although
prayer serves always to unite believers, this is especially true in
times
of tragedy and disaster.
Clad in robes of gold and orange, three Buddhist monks offered sonorous
chants, their voices sounding as one. A Ukrainian Orthodox priest
reminded
the crowd of more than 100 that unity should not wait for times of
trouble.
Speakers and listeners seemed to form a United Nations of costume and
ornament: robes, saris, burqas and crosses. They walked in tennis
shoes, or
with the aid of canes. Their faces were white and brown, light and
dark.
All seemed somber as they bowed their heads in prayer. The United
Nations
has estimated that the number of dead will exceed 150,000…
-----
ARIZONA SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON LAWSUIT OVER IRAQ LETTER
Paul Davenport, Associated Press, 1/5/05
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/010505citizen_suit.html
PHOENIX - The Arizona Supreme Court said Wednesday it will decide
whether a
newspaper can be sued for publishing a letter suggesting that American
soldiers in Iraq respond to attacks by killing Muslims at nearby
mosques.
The Supreme Court agreed without comment to hear the Tucson Citizen's
appeal of a judge's decision to hold a trial in a lawsuit accusing the
newspaper of distressing residents by printing the letter.
The Supreme Court ordered legal briefs filed within 30 days. No date
was
set for oral arguments.
Two Tucson men filed a class-action lawsuit against the Gannett Co.
newspaper in January 2004 over a letter printed Dec. 2, 2003, as deadly
attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq mounted.
The letter prompted some fearful Tucson Muslims to keep their children
home
from religious schools and resulted in protests from readers and a
published apology by the Citizen, which also sent staff members to meet
with members of a local mosque…
Judge Leslie Miller of Pima County Superior Court in Tucson on May 10
allowed the lawsuit's claim of intentional infliction of emotional
distress
to stand, setting the stage for pretrial fact-finding now put on hold
during the appeal to the Supreme Court.
"Clearly, reasonable minds could differ in determining whether the
publication of the letter rose to the level of extreme and outrageous
conduct," Miller wrote.
-----
BUSH'S COUNSEL SOUGHT RULING ABOUT TORTURE
David Johnston and Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 1/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/politics/05gonzales.html
WASHINGTON - Alberto R. Gonzales, the White House counsel, intervened
directly with Justice Department lawyers in 2002 to obtain a legal
ruling
on the extent of the president's authority to permit extreme
interrogation
practices in the name of national security, current and former
administration officials said Tuesday.
Mr. Gonzales's role in seeking a legal opinion on the definition of
torture
and the legal limits on the force that could be used on terrorist
suspects
in captivity is expected to be a central issue in the Senate Judiciary
Committee confirmation hearings scheduled to begin on Thursday on Mr.
Gonzales's nomination to be attorney general.
The request by Mr. Gonzales produced the much-debated Justice
Department
memorandum of Aug. 1, 2002, which defined torture narrowly and said
that
Mr. Bush could circumvent domestic and international prohibitions
against
torture in the name of national security.
Until now, administration officials have been unwilling to provide
details
about the role Mr. Gonzales had in the production of the memorandum by
the
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Mr. Gonzales has spoken
of
the memorandum as a response to questions, without saying that most of
the
questions were his.
Current and former officials who talked about the memorandum have been
provided with firsthand accounts about how it was prepared. Some
discussed
it in an effort to clear up what they viewed as a murky record in
advance
of Mr. Gonzales's confirmation hearings. Others spoke of the matter
apparently believing that the Justice Department had unfairly taken the
blame for the memorandum.
ALSO SEE:
REWARDING MR. GONZALES
New York Times, 1/5/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/opinion/05wed1.html
Last week, the Bush administration put another spin on the twisted
legal
reasoning behind the brutalization of prisoners at military jails,
apparently in hopes of smoothing the promotion of Alberto Gonzales, the
White House counsel. Mr. Gonzales, who oversaw earlier memos condoning
what
amounts to torture and scoffed at the Geneva Conventions, is being
rewarded
with the job of attorney general.
But the document only underscored the poor choice Mr. Bush made when he
decided to elevate a man so closely identified with the scandal of Abu
Ghraib, the contempt for due process at Guant�namo Bay and the
seemingly
unending revelations of the abuse of Afghan and Iraqi prisoners by
American
soldiers. Like Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the other chief
architect
of these policies, Mr. Gonzales shamed the nation and endangered
American
soldiers who may be taken prisoner in the future by condoning the sort
of
atrocious acts the United States has always condemned.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will question Mr. Gonzales tomorrow,
even
though the White House has not released documents that are essential to
a
serious hearing. The committee has an obligation to demand these
documents,
and to compel Mr. Gonzales to account for administration policies,
before
giving him the top law-enforcement job.
After Sept. 11, 2001, with Americans intent on punishing those behind
the
terrorist attacks and preventing another calamity at home, the Bush
administration had its lawyers review the legal status of Taliban and
Al
Qaeda prisoners, with an eye to getting around the Geneva Conventions,
other international accords and United States law on the treatment of
prisoners.
Mr. Gonzales was the center of this effort. On Jan. 25, 2002, he sent
Mr.
Bush a letter assuring him that the war on terror "renders obsolete
Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners." That
August, Mr. Gonzales got a legal opinion from Jay Bybee, then the
assistant
attorney general, arguing that the president could suspend the Geneva
Conventions at will and that some forms of torture "may be justified."
Mr.
Rumsfeld's lawyers produced documents justifying the abuse of prisoners
sent from Afghanistan to Guant�namo Bay. Mr. Gonzales approved those
memos
or didn't object. We don't know which because the White House won't
release
the documents…
---
PALLIATIVES FOR PRISONERS
Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48628-2005Jan4.html
THOUGH IT has yet to acknowledge any error, the Bush administration
appears
to understand that its handling of foreign detainees has caused
enormous
damage to America's standing around the world, and even to relations
with
close allies. In the past week, two measures it has devised to
alleviate
the problem have become public. The Justice Department has repudiated a
2002 legal opinion that authorized the use of torture, and it has
issued a
brief that returns U.S. policy closer to international standards. The
Defense Department, in turn, has developed plans for new facilities and
procedures at the Guantanamo Bay prison that will allow long-term
detainees
to be held in more humane conditions. Both steps are welcome. However,
by
themselves they are not sufficient to end the systematic violations of
domestic and international human rights laws that the administration
has
committed since 2001.
The new torture opinion appeared just a week before tomorrow's
scheduled
opening of Senate hearings on President Bush's nomination of White
House
Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales to be attorney general. That's probably not
a
coincidence, since Mr. Gonzales was deeply involved in the legal review
that led to the drafting of the original memo. Significantly, the new
policy sets aside the earlier finding that Mr. Bush was empowered as
commander in chief to override U.S. laws and international treaties
prohibiting torture. It also revises what was an extremely narrow
definition of torture; the Justice Department now concedes that some
practices that cause pain short of death or organ failure could be
considered illegal. The new standard, however, is vague. So while the
extreme and embarrassing previous policy is disposed of, it's unclear
that
the new one requires any change in the actual treatment of prisoners.
The evolving plans for Guantanamo could provide better conditions for
those
detainees -- more than half the total prisoner population -- who are no
longer being interrogated but whom the administration is not prepared
to
release. Officials say they intend to expand the privileges of those
detainees in part by constructing a new, penitentiary-like facility
that
would allow for group exercise and other facilities normally provided
to
prisoners of war. Those prisoners would not be charged with crimes or
tried
before military tribunals, but -- thanks to last year's Supreme Court
ruling -- they could challenge their detentions in federal court and
will
receive an annual review of their status. The administration still
lacks a
mechanism for determining, in the likely absence of a battlefield
surrender
or peace treaty, when the war on terrorism will be over and when these
prisoners will be subject to general release…
---
DOES THE RIGHT REMEMBER ABU GHRAIB?
Anne Applebaum, Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48618-2005Jan4.html
During the past eight months there have been many news cycles, many
front-page stories, many events. There have been elections. There have
been
hurricanes and tidal waves. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of
things,
eight months is not a very long time. In most of the world, something
that
happened eight months ago is considered "recent." In Washington,
however,
it seems that eight months ago is considered "ancient." How else to
explain
the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the post of attorney general of
the
United States?
Or, more to the point: How else to explain the widespread assumption
that
Gonzales -- who commissioned the "torture memo" of August 2002,
following a
meeting in his office -- will be decisively confirmed? After all, eight
months ago, much of the country -- and much of the Republican Party --
was
gripped by horror and embarrassment after the publication of
photographs
from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Those photographs haven't gone away: As
I
write this, I need only click on my computer's Internet Explorer icon
and
there is Lynndie England, grinning and giving a thumbs-up behind a pile
of
naked men.
If the pictures haven't gone away, the value system that led to Abu
Ghraib
hasn't gone away either. Last month -- really recently -- lawsuits
filed by
American human rights groups forced the government to release thousands
of
pages of documents showing that the abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo
Naval
Base long preceded the Abu Ghraib photographs, and that abuse has
continued
since then too. U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have, according
to
the administration's own records and my colleagues' reporting, used
beatings, suffocation, sleep deprivation, electric shocks and dogs
during
interrogations. They probably still do.
Although many people bear some responsibility for these abuses, Alberto
Gonzales, along with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is among those
who
bear the most responsibility. It was Gonzales who led the
administration's
internal discussion of what qualified as torture. It was Gonzales who
advised the president that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to
people
captured in Afghanistan. It was Gonzales who helped craft some of the
administration's worst domestic decisions, including the indefinite
detention, without access to lawyers, of U.S. citizens Jose Padilla and
Yaser Esam Hamdi…
---
IRAQ ABUSE "WENT ON UNTIL JULY"
Reuters, 1/5/04
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5447628
LOS ANGELES - Sexual and physical abuse of Iraqi prisoners continued at
least three months after the Abu Ghraib scandal was revealed, according
to
accounts by alleged victims published in the latest issue of Vanity
Fair
magazine.
Vanity Fair writer Donovan Webster, in a report on 60 hours of
interviews
he conducted with 10 former detainees including a 15-year-old boy,
quoted
several accounts of mistreatment that included Iraqi prisoners being
sexually assaulted by American soldiers or being hooded, beaten,
subjected
to electric shock and kept in cages or crates.
One man said he was hung naked from handcuffs in a frigid room while
soldiers threw buckets of ice water on him.
Webster added that several of the people he interviewed said their
mistreatment took place in July, three months after the Abu Ghraib
prisoner
abuse scandal broke in late April.
The article published on Tuesday said the former detainees interviewed
by
Webster are suing two American companies that provided translators and
interrogators to forces in Iraq and that their firsthand accounts
comprise
"hundreds, if not thousands, of separate Geneva Convention violations."
Vanity Fair said that the accounts of abuses were impossible to
independently verify. The magazine quoted a U.S. military spokesman for
detainee operations in Iraq as dismissing the assertions that prisoners
were held illegally, kept in wooden boxes, handcuffed and blindfolded
and
subjected to sexual threats, abuse and assault.
In one example cited in the article, a 15-year-old Iraqi identified
only as
N said he was pulled from a wooden crate he'd been forced to crouch
inside,
wearing handcuffs and blacked-out ski goggles, for 11 days and taken to
the
bathroom against his will where he was sexually assaulted.
He said he was again sexually assaulted two days later in the prison
north
of Baghdad but let go later in the day when a soldier apologized to him
for
being illegally detained and gave him $50 (27 pounds). N had been held
with
several members of his family who also said they were mistreated.
---
U.S. INVESTIGATES GUANTANAMO ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
Jane Sutton, Reuters, 1/5/05
MIAMI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. military's regional command in Miami
launched an investigation on Wednesday into FBI agents' allegations
that
interrogators tortured prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
The military's Southern Command, which has jurisdiction over the U.S.
base
in eastern Cuba, ordered two officers to investigate the abuse
allegations
contained in FBI e-mails made public last month.
The FBI e-mails described Guantanamo prisoners being shackled hand and
foot
in a fetal position on the floor for 18 to 24 hours, and left to
urinate
and defecate on themselves.
One FBI agent reported seeing a barely conscious prisoner who had torn
out
his hair after being left overnight in a sweltering room. Another told
of
an interrogation in which a prisoner was wrapped in an Israeli flag and
bombarded with loud music and strobe lights.
SouthCom officials said an Army general and a Navy captain would travel
to
Guantanamo this week to begin investigating the allegations…
-----
COUNCIL APPROVES FIRST MOSQUE
Islamic group to move from motel to converted house
Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 1/04/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/denton/stories/010505dndenmosque.58521.html
Cultivating a sense of community from rented space at a highway motel
has
been a challenge for Ali Khan.
His Islamic Association of Lewisville/Flower Mound has held prayer
services
weekly at the Super8 Motel for the last three years.
But that is about to change. Mr. Khan's nonprofit group recently won
approval from the Flower Mound Town Council to convert a house it owns
into
a 1,940-square-foot mosque called Masjid Al-Noor.
Mr. Khan's long-term goal is to build a full-fledged Islamic center on
19,000 square feet of land north of Flower Mound High School that the
association has owned for about four years.
The association first has to upgrade its existing building on Peters
Colony
Road so that prayer services can be held there and expanded to more
than
once a week. Work will include adding access for people with
disabilities,
parking, utilities, a water-retention pond, landscaping and a fire
alarm
system. It will cost about $155,000.
Once completed, the building would be the only mosque in southern
Denton
County, said Mr. Khan, one of the association's founders.
Phase two, to begin after the house is upgraded, will involve
constructing
a large Islamic center with a research library, office space, an
Islamic
school, a prayer facility and a community center.
"It would be a formal facility geared toward worship and taking care of
the
community," said Mr. Khan, one of the group's founders. "We're hoping
that
once phase one is completed, people will be excited and donate money to
the
project."
The various features could also be added in phases, as money from the
community becomes available, he said...
-----
NEW TRIAL DENIED IN RENO MOSQUE BEATING
Associated Press, 1/4/05
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/jan/04/010410358.html
RENO, Nev. - A judge has denied a new trial for one of two teenagers
convicted of beating a doctor outside a Reno mosque.
David Nolette's lawyer, Karla Butko, said the Dec. 28 ruling would be
appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Nolette, who was 15 at the time, was sentenced to 40 years in prison
for
the robbery and beating of Dr. El Tag Mirghani and his friend, Mohammed
Sanad in March 2001.
Mirghani was beaten unconscious and suffered brain damage. He underwent
several surgeries and was forced to close his medical practice.
Nolette and Scott Cannady, then 17, were charged with attempted murder,
conspiracy and robbery and battery with a deadly weapon.
Nolette pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and guilty to the other
charges. A jury acquitted him on the single attempted murder count.
A jury convicted Cannady of battery and robbery, but deadlocked on the
attempted murder charge.
Butko argued Nolette's trial lawyer gave him bad legal advice and
should be
granted a new trial or given a reduced sentence.
But Washoe District Judge James Hardesty, who was assumed a seat on the
state's high court Monday, rejected those arguments and other claims.
-----
MAN SAYS DISCRIMINATION WAS BEHIND FIRING CAROL STREAM MAN FILES SUIT
CLAIMING
Christy Gutowski, Daily Herald, 1/5/04
http://www.dailyherald.com/mchenry/main_story.asp?intID=38357152
A Carol Stream man fired from a manufacturing company is accusing his
former employer of religious discrimination in retaliation for the
Sept. 11
terrorist attacks.
Syed Abbas filed a federal lawsuit this week alleging his dismissal on
March 3, 2003, was motivated by prejudice rather than job performance.
The 40-year-old man began working for AFI Industries in Carol Stream in
May
1994 shortly after arriving in the United States from Pakistan. Abbas
maintains he was a hard worker who often put in overtime.
The harassment began, he alleges, after Sept. 11, 2001, when a
co-worker
repeatedly called him a terrorist while his supervisor drew laughs at
the
factory by creating a drawing of Abbas labeled "wanted."
The supervisor even threatened that the CIA and FBI were watching him
and
warned that someone would break into his home and shoot him, the suit
alleges.
"I felt so alone," Abbas said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "I felt
scared ... and very stressed a lot."
An official with AFI Industries declined comment. The company makes
screws
and other fasteners.
Abbas, a father of four children, ages 12 to 8, said he came to the
United
States for a "better future." He made about $45,000 a year before his
dismissal. Things were fine at work, he said, but that changed after
Sept. 11.
A supervisor repeatedly told him he was dangerous and that no more
Pakistanis would be hired full time, the suit alleges. He also
maintains
his boss gave him more difficult assignments and reduced overtime
hours.
At that time, Abbas had a part-time job delivering pizzas. A supervisor
asked him if he delivered "anthrax pizza" and "poison pizza," the
lawsuit
alleges. A co-worker left him notes containing words such as
"terrorist"
and "Al Qaida…"
-----
IRAQ: DEATH IN FALLUJAH RISING, DOCTORS SAY
Reuters, 1/4/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/121b671d950efc3ac031b54b55118d85.htm
FALLUJAH - "It was really distressing picking up dead bodies from
destroyed
homes, especially children. It is the most depressing situation I have
ever
been in since the war started," Dr Rafa'ah al-Iyssaue, director of the
main
hospital in Fallujah city, some 60 km west of Baghdad, told IRIN.
According to al-Iyssaue, the hospital emergency team has recovered more
than 700 bodies from rubble where houses and shops once stood, adding
that
more than 550 were women and children. He said a very small number of
men
were found in these places and most were elderly.
Doctors at the hospital claim that many bodies had been found in a
mutilated condition, some without legs or arms. Two babies were found
at
their homes, who are believed to have died from malnutrition, according
to
a specialist at the hospital.
Al-Iyssaue added these numbers were only from nine neighbourhoods of
the
city and that 18 others had not yet been reached, as they were waiting
for
help from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to make it easier for
them
to enter.
He explained that many of the dead had been already buried by civilians
from the Garma and Amirya districts of Fallujah after approval from
US-led
forces nearly three weeks ago, and those bodies had not been counted…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
HAJJ PUBLICITY RESOURCE KIT
The following publicity materials may be modified and used by local
communities to publicize Hajj. When modifying the news releases,
include
references to local Hajj activities and contact information for local
spokespeople. Send to the newspaper "city editor," television station
"assignment editors" and radio station "news directors." Just call each
media outlet to get the contact information. Also send to the "daybook
editor" at the nearest Associated Press bureau.
CONTENTS:
* U.S. MUSLIMS LEAVE FOR PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
* HAJJ Q&A
* SAMPLE EID MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE MEDIA ADVISORY
* STEPS NECESSARY TO HOLD A MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
* WELCOME TO OUR MOSQUE BROCHURE
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS LEAVE FOR PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/6/2005) - Thousands of American Muslims will soon
take
part in religious observances associated with the annual Hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is one of the "five pillars" of the Islamic
faith. (The other pillars include a declaration of faith, daily
prayers,
offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.)
Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the
physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.
When the main portion of the pilgrimage is completed, Muslims worldwide
gather for communal prayers on the first day (January 21*) of Eid
ul-Adha
(eed-al-ODD-ha), the second of the two major Muslim holidays.
The obligatory and optional activities of Hajj include:
* Entrance into a state of self-control called ihram, during which
pilgrims
are forbidden to harm living creatures, even insects or plants, or
raise
the voice in anger. The state of ihram is signified (for men) by the
wearing of two pieces of unsewn white cloth. This clothing signifies
the
equality of all before God. No specific clothing is prescribed for
female
pilgrims.
* Circling of the Ka'aba (Tawaf), the stone building Muslims believe
was
originally built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Ka'aba is viewed
as
the first sanctuary on earth dedicated to the worship of the One God.
It is
a symbol of unity for Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are
performed, are oriented in the direction of the Ka'aba.
* The Sa'i, or "hastening" between two small hills near the Ka'aba, to
commemorate Hagar's search for water to offer her son Ishmael.
* The "Day of Arafah" on January 20.* Arafah is a mountain and its
surrounding empty plain near Mecca. On this day, the climax of the Hajj
season, pilgrims assemble for supplication to God.
* The stoning of three pillars representing Satan's temptation of
Abraham.
The stoning indicates the pilgrim's rejection of evil deeds.
* Cutting the hair to symbolize the completion of Hajj.
* Sacrifice of an animal to help the poor, and in remembrance of
Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. The meat is
distributed to relatives and to the needy.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
(* Because the beginning of Islamic lunar months depends on the actual
sighting of the new moon, the start date for Hajj and Eid ul-Adha may
vary.)
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
---
HAJJ Q&A
Q: WHAT DOES THE QURAN SAY ABOUT HAJJ?
A: In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, God says: "Thus We settled
Abraham
at the site of the House (the Ka'aba) [saying]: 'Do not associate
anything
with Me, and purify My house for those who walk around it, and those
who
stand there (praying), and those who bow down on their knees in
worship.
Proclaim the pilgrimage among mankind: they will come to you on foot
and on
every lean (beast of burden); Let them come from every deep ravine, to
bear
witness to the advantages they have, and to mention God's name on
appointed
days..." Chapter 22, verses 26-28
Q: WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE THEY GAIN FROM HAJJ?
A: The main benefit of Hajj for many people is the sense of
purification,
repentance and spiritual renewal it instills. After his Hajj, Malcolm X
wrote in his autobiography: "...I have eaten from the same plate, drank
from the same glass, and slept in the same bed (or on the same rug) -
while
praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims whose eyes were bluest of
the
blue, whose hair was blondest of the blonde and whose skin was whitest
of
the white. And in the words and in the actions and in the deeds of the
white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among black
African
Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana...In the past I permitted myself to
be
used to make sweeping indictments of...the entire white race...Because
of
the spiritual enlightenment which I was blessed to receive as a result
of
my recent pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, I no longer subscribe
to
the sweeping indictments of any one race. I am now striving to live the
life of a true Muslim."
Q: WHY DOES HAJJ BEGIN ON A DIFFERENT DAY EACH YEAR?
A: Because Dhul-Hijjah is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days
earlier each year.
Q: WHY DO MUSLIMS SACRIFICE A LAMB OR OTHER ANIMAL DURING THE FESTIVAL
OF
EID UL-ADHA?
A: The sacrifice commemorates the Prophet Abraham's readiness to
sacrifice
his son, identified in Islam as Ishmael, at God's request. This is not
a
blood offering. In the Quran God states: "Neither their meat nor their
blood ever reaches God, but heedfulness on your part does reach Him."
(Chapter 22, verse 37) The meat is distributed to relatives and to the
needy.
Q: IS HAJJ AN OBLIGATION ON ALL MUSLIMS?
A: Yes, but only for those who are physically and financially able to
make
the trip.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST VISUALLY STRIKING ASPECTS OF HAJJ?
A: All pilgrims must do tawaf, or circling the Ka'aba. This obligation
creates a stunning scene as thousands of people circle the building at
all
times of the day and night. Also, the standing at Arafah on the 9th day
of
the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah presents a scene in which several
million
people all dressed alike and with the same intention to worship God,
gather
on a barren plain.
Q: HOW SHOULD NON-MUSLIM FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS INTERACT WITH SOMEONE
WHO
IS GOING ON HAJJ OR CELEBRATING AT HOME?
A: Hajj is a high point in a Muslim's life. Questions are welcome and
congratulations are in order. Most communities welcome visitors at Eid
ul-Adha prayers. Just ask a Muslim friend to act as an escort and
guide.
---
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO HOLD MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
Event to feature food, tours and exhibits for people of all faiths
WHAT: On January ___, the Muslim community in [name of local community]
will celebrate the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with
a
mosque open house. The open house is scheduled to coincide with the
Islamic
holiday of Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice,"
which comes at the end of the pilgrimage. At the evening event, people
of
all faiths will be able to sample foods from around the Muslim world,
take
a guided tour of the mosque and browse through informational displays
of
books and other items explaining the basics of Islam.
Eid ul-Adha commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice
his
son Ishmael at God's command. The holiday is celebrated with the
prayers,
small gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy and social
gatherings. During this holiday, Muslims exchange the greeting "Eid
Mubarak" or "blessed Eid."
(Each year, more than two million Muslims go on Hajj. There are
[number] of
Muslims in [local community], an estimated seven million in America and
some 1.2 billion worldwide.)
WHEN: January ___, [Time Period]
WHERE: [Address and Directions]
COST: Free of Charge
CONTACT: For information, call [local contact].
NOTE: Because this is a house of worship, reporters and photographers
of
both sexes should dress modestly. That means no shorts for men or short
skirts for women. Female reporters and photographers may be asked to
put a
scarf over their hair while in the actual prayer area. Photographers
are
advised not to step directly in front of worshipers and to ask
permission
for close-up shots.
---
STEPS NECESSARY TO HOLD A MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
1. PREPARE the members of your local community by explaining the
necessity
of building a positive image of the mosque in the surrounding area. Let
them know that experience of other communities has shown that a
positive
neighborhood image offers many benefits. Ask for input concerning the
details of when and at what time the open house should be held. There
are
no hard and fast rules for such things.
2. INVITE local community leaders, clergy, law enforcement officials,
activists, and government officials. Remember to invite the mayor,
congressional representatives, the chief of police and members of the
city
council. These people should all receive written invitations. Follow up
with a personal phone call. Letters are not enough.
3. PUBLICIZE the event by sending a well-written news release (see
sample)
to the local media. You may also place paid advertisements in the local
newspaper. Send the news release to the religion calendar editor, the
city
editor and the feature editor at the newspaper. Send a release to the
assignment editor at the local television stations. Also send copies to
news directors at the local radio stations. Send announcements to local
churches.
4. INFORM your guests of mosque etiquette before they arrive (see
"Welcome
to Our Mosque" brochure). This will make them feel at ease and avoid
embarrassment. Be ready to answer questions about prayer, separation of
men
and women and other common issues.
5. CLEAN the mosque. The first impression is one that will last. Make
sure
bathrooms are spotless. Have a mosque clean up day prior to the open
house.
6. SET UP a reception area where guests can be received, told about
mosque
etiquette and served refreshments. Have greeters at the door to direct
arriving guests. Have knowledgeable people conduct tours of the
facility.
Do not leave guests alone to wander about the mosque. Give each guest a
name tag. Make sure sisters are available to make female guests feel
welcome.
7. SELECT literature to be given to the guests. Do not push materials
on
guests. Let them select what they wish to read.
8. POST signs at appropriate locations in the facility.
9. PRAY that your efforts will open the hearts of your guests.
-----
WELCOME TO OUR MOSQUE
We hope you enjoy your visit.
Q: WHAT IS A MOSQUE?
A: A mosque is a place of worship used by Muslims. The English word
"mosque" is derived from its Arabic equivalent, masjid, which means
"place
of prostration." It is in the mosque that Muslims perform their
prayers, a
part of which includes placing the forehead on the floor.
Q: HOW IS A MOSQUE USED?
A: Mosques play a vital role in the lives of Muslims in North America.
The
primary function of the mosque is to provide a place where Muslims may
perform Islam's obligatory five daily prayers as a congregation. A
mosque
also provides sufficient space in which to hold prayers on Fridays, the
Muslim day of communal prayer, and on the two Muslim holidays, called
Eids,
or "festivals."
Q: IS A MOSQUE A HOLY PLACE?
A: A mosque is a place that is specifically dedicated as a place of
prayer.
However, there is nothing sacred about the building or the place
itself.
There is no equivalent of an altar in a mosque. A Muslim may pray on
any
clean surface. Muslims often pray in public places.
Q: HOW BIG ARE MOSQUES?
A: In North America, mosques vary in size from tiny storefronts serving
a
handful of worshippers, to large Islamic centers that can accommodate
thousands.
Q: DO MOSQUES WELCOME VISITORS?
A: Mosques in North America welcome visitors. Tours can be arranged at
most
facilities. It is always best to call mosque administrators before
arrival.
They will want to make sure your visit is enjoyable.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF A MOSQUE?
A: The musalla, or prayer hall, in each mosque is oriented in the
direction of Mecca, toward which Muslims face during prayers. In North
America, Muslim worshippers face northeast. Prayer halls are open and
uncluttered to accommodate lines of worshippers who stand and bow in
unison. There are no pews or chairs. Members of the congregation sit on
the
floor.
Because Muslim men and women form separate lines when they stand in
prayers, some mosques will have a balcony reserved for the use of
women.
Other mosques will accommodate men and women in the same musalla, or
they
may have two separate areas for men and women.
Q: WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PRAYER AREA?
A: All mosques have some sort of mihrab, or niche, that indicates which
wall of the mosque faces Mecca. The mihrab is often decorated with
Arabic
calligraphy. Its curved shape helps reflect the voice of the imam, or
prayer leader, back toward the congregation. Many mosques also have a
minbar, or pulpit, to the right of the mihrab. During the Friday prayer
service, the imam delivers a sermon from the minbar.
Q: WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN IN THE PRAYER AREA?
A: Children will often be present during prayers, whether
participating,
watching or imitating the movements of their elders. Their presence
continues the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, who behaved tenderly
toward children. The Prophet sometimes carried one of his grandchildren
on
his shoulder while leading the prayer and was also known to shorten the
prayer if he heard a baby cry.
Q: WHAT MIGHT I HEAR DURING MY VISIT?
A: You might hear Muslims exchanging the Islamic greeting, the Arabic
phrase "as-salaam alaykum" ("peace be with you"). Muslims return this
greeting by saying, "wa alaykum as-salaam" ("and with you be peace").
You might also hear the call to prayer. The call, or adhan, contains
the
following phrases (in Arabic):
God is most great, God is most great.
God is most great, God is most great.
I bear witness that there is no god but God.
I bear witness that there is no god but God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is a messenger of God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is a messenger of God.
Hasten to prayer, Hasten to prayer.
Hasten to success, Hasten to success.
God is most great, God is most great.
There is no god but [the One] God.
All Muslim prayers begin with recitation of Al-Fatihah, the opening
chapter
of the Qur'an:
In the name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.
The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
Ruler of the Day of Judgment.
Only You do we worship, Only You we ask for help.
Show us the straight path.
The path of those whom You have favored,
not that of those who earn Your anger, nor those who go astray.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE BUILDING?
A: Many mosques have a minaret, the large tower used to issue the call
to
prayer five times each day. In North America, the minaret is largely
decorative. Facilities to perform wudu, or ablutions, can be found in
all
mosques. Muslims wash their hands, faces and feet before prayers as a
way
to purify and prepare themselves to stand before God. Wudu facilities
range
from wash basins to specially designed areas with built-in benches,
floor
drains and faucets.
Bookshelves are found in most mosques. They contain works of Islamic
philosophy, theology and law, as well as collections of the traditions
and
sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed
text, are always available to worshippers.
Calligraphy is used to decorate nearly every mosque. Arabic quotations
from
the Quran invite contemplation of the revealed Word of God. Other
common
features found in the mosque are clocks or schedules displaying the
times
of the five daily prayers and large rugs or carpets covering the
musalla
floor. Many American mosques also have administrative offices.
Q: IS A MOSQUE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PRAYER?
A: Though its main function is as a place of prayer, the mosque plays a
variety of roles, especially in North America. Many mosques are
associated
with Islamic schools and day care centers. Mosques also provide diverse
services such as Sunday schools, Arabic classes, Quranic instruction,
and
youth activities.
Marriages and funerals, potluck dinners during the fasting month of
Ramadan, and Eid prayers and carnivals are all to be found in North
American mosques. They are also sites for interfaith dialogues and
community activism.
Many mosques serve as recreational centers for the Muslim community and
may
have a gymnasium, game room and weight equipment, as well as a library
and
classrooms.
Q: DO MOSQUES HAVE SPECIAL RULES?
A: Men and women should always dress conservatively when visiting a
mosque,
covering their arms and legs. Examples of inappropriate clothing would
be
shorts for men and short skirts for women.
Shoes are always left at the entrance to the prayer area so as not to
soil
the rugs or carpets. Shelves are usually provided to hold shoes. Women
may
be asked to cover their hair when visiting a mosque. Many mosques have
scarves on hand for visitors to borrow, but it is better to bring a
head
covering in case none are available.
Visitors to mosques should behave as they would when visiting any
religious
institution, but they should feel free to ask questions about the
mosque,
its architecture, furnishings, and activities. Muslims are happy to
answer
questions about their religion.
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/6/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
- Hadith: Kindness Leads to Paradise
* CAIR-FL: MOSQUES TO TALLY FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
* CAIR-CA: THE TSUNAMI AND GOD'S ROLE IN IT (SF Chron)
- IL: Muslims Help Tsunami Victims (Daily Herald)
- CA: Islamic Leader Urges Tsunami Relief (CC Times)
* ARKANSAS MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
* GROUP FEARS PILGRIMS WILL BE SINGLED OUT (CNS News)
- Hajj: Spiritual Cleansing (Herald News)
* NY: SUBWAY WORKER TURBAN FLAP (NY Daily News)
- ME: Status of Women in Islam (Morning Star)
* ARMY DOCTORS IMPLICATED IN ABUSE (Wash Post)
- The Gonzales Record (Wash Post)
- Terror Suspect Alleges Torture (Wash Post)
- We Are All Torturers Now (NY Times)
- Don't Torture Yourself (NY Times)
* 'UNFAIR' TO BLAME EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM ON MUSLIMS (RNS)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
"Do not forget to show kindness to each other. Surely God observes your
actions."
The Holy Quran, 2:237
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS LEADS TO PARADISE
"Acts of kindness protect one from ruin wrought by evil...The first of
those who shall enter Paradise are the people who do acts of kindness."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 97B
-----
CAIR-FL: ISLAMIC CENTERS TO TALLY FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
(MIAMI, FL., 01/6/05) - On Monday, January 10, representatives of
several
South Florida Islamic centers will gather at a Miami mosque to tally
funds
collected for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia. The
total amount collected will be announced at the end of Monday's
meeting.
Local elected officials will also be present to recognize the
humanitarian
relief efforts of the South Florida Muslim community.
WHEN: Monday, January 10, 7 p.m.
WHERE: 4305 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL. 33055
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490,
954-298-8214,
E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org
Participating Islamic Centers include: Nurul Islam Masjid; Miami
Gardens
Mosque; Islamic Movement of Florida; Masjid Al - Ansar, Islamic Center
of
Boca Raton; Masjid Al-Fayza; Masjid Jama Al-Mumineen; Assadiq Islamic
Educational Foundation; Darul Uloom Institute; Masjid Al-Ihsan; Masjid
Mutaqeen; Masjid Shamsuddin; Muslim Community of West Palm Beach;
Islamic
Foundation of South Florida; Masjid Al-Iman; Masjid An-Noor; and
Islamic
Center of South Florida.
-----
CAIR-CA: THE TSUNAMI AND GOD'S ROLE IN IT
Joan Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/6/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/06/BAGF6ALB071.DTL
In the aftermath of the southern Asia tsunami that took more than
150,000
lives, people ask: "Why did this horror happen? Why did God allow it?"
I
hesitate to raise the questions at all, knowing the answers will raise
only
more questions. But an event of this scale - - biblical, some have said
--
has even nonreligious people grappling with the nature of God and the
purpose of suffering. I posed the questions to followers of different
faiths...
Baslim Elkarra of Sacramento, a Muslim with the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, said a colleague at CAIR in Maryland lost 30 family members
in
the tsunami. Elkarra has reminded himself of a passage in the Quran in
which one line is repeated twice: "Verily with difficulty comes ease."
"Life is not supposed to be easy," he said. "How we respond is the test
of
our faith. Here in the West people ask, How could God do this? Over
there,
they turn to God even more, asking for his mercy…"
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC COUNCIL DINNER TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Kathryn Grondin Daily Herald, 1/6/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/dupage/main_story.asp?intID=3835824
As millions of followers of the Islamic faith prepare to make their
once-in-a-lifetime journeys to Mecca, hundreds of suburban Muslims are
demonstrating one tenet the pilgrimage aims to strengthen: caring for
others.
The Lombard-based Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
is
holding a fund-raiser Saturday to benefit tsunami relief efforts in
Asia.
The dinner, jointly sponsored by Islamic Relief Worldwide, will be at
7:15
p.m. at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park.
It is timely that Muslims are being reminded to help the rest of
humanity
as they prepare to embark on their hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for
five to
seven days of rituals and prayer beginning Jan. 15, said Kareem Irfan,
chairman of the council.
"It goes back to the fundamentals of the faith," he said. "When you go
out
and see suffering, you are obligated to alleviate it."
The tsunami, triggered by a powerful earthquake, ravaged 3,000 miles of
Asian and African coastlines, killed nearly 150,000 and left millions
homeless.
Irfan and other suburban Muslims stressed they're not acting merely
because
one of the countries hardest hit, Indonesia, has a Muslim population of
more than 238 million.
"We're not the fundamentalists," said Hisham Hussain, a college student
from Barrington. "We're human. We're just like you. We're uniting just
like
the rest of the world. Everyone comes together."
Asma Khan, project coordinator for the council, noted the money being
forwarded to Islamic Relief Worldwide will be disbursed regardless of
victims' religion, nationality or race…
---
ISLAMIC CENTER'S FOUNDER URGES TSUNAMI RELIEF
Rowena Coetsee, Contra Costa Times, 1/6/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/antioch/10579007.htm
ANTIOCH - In the wake of last month's tsunami, Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry
decided to scrap the sermon he had planned.
Instead, he presented fellow believers with a simple, emphatic message:
Empty your pockets.
"I said that money must go to those people," said Chaudhry, founder of
Antioch's Islamic Center of East Bay.
And the approximately six dozen Muslims who had come for Friday prayers
responded by digging deep.
There and then they came up with $662, which Chaudhry has turned over
to
the American Red Cross.
During his talk that night, Chaudhry reminded his congregation that
just as
tragedy makes no distinction among those it affects, neither should
those
who would offer comfort.
"(Tragedies) destroy whosoever comes in their way," he said. "They
don't
know any religion, they don't discriminate between the rich and the
poor,
the children and adults, between races."
In the same way, Chaudhry said Muslims should think of the tsunami's
victims as human beings first and members of God's family…
-----
ARKANSAS MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
(LITTLE ROCK, AK, 1/6/05) - The Islamic Center of Little Rock in Little
Rock, Ark., announced today that it collected $3500 for tsunami
disaster
during last week's Friday prayers, or Jummah. The sermon on that day
focused on praying for the victims and survivors, and on the need to
donate
generously.
The funds will be distributed to:
1. ICNA RELIEF
2. Indian Muslim Relief Charities
3. The International Red Crescent & Red Cross
CONTACT: Dr. Saif Siddiqui, 501-565-4930
-----
GROUP FEARS MUSLIM PILGRIMS WILL BE SINGLED OUT
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 1/6/05
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200501%5CNAT20050106b.html
(CNSNews.com) - An Islamic advocacy group wants the Bush administration
to
clarify whether American Muslims participating in this year's Hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca, will be fingerprinted or singled out for special
security measures based on their participation in the annual religious
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has set up a "Hajji Hotline"
and
a downloadable incident report form for Muslims who believe their
constitutional rights are being violated by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection officials, CAIR announced in a press release…
CAIR said it has repeatedly requested clarification from the Department
of
Homeland Security and the CBP, but "no clear response has been given as
to
whether mere participation in Islamic religious activities is now being
viewed as 'probable cause' for increased security checks or forced
fingerprinting of U.S. citizens…"
SEE ALSO:
SPIRITUAL CLEANSING
MAKEBA SCOTT HUNTER, HERALD NEWS, 1/6/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2MzYyMjEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
For the past five years, Khodr Elatab has been planning for the trip of
his
lifetime.
Since 2000, the North Haledon realtor has saved money, paid off all his
debt and asked forgiveness of those he may have wronged.
"I'm ready now," he said.
Next Tuesday, the 57-year-old husband and father-of-two will join more
than
two million Muslims from around the world in the annual pilgrimage to
Mecca, known as the Hajj.
The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam, and all Muslims who
are
able are required to make the pilgrimage at least once in their life...
-----
'PATCHING' MTA TURBAN FLAP
Kevin Harrington, New York Daily News, 1/5/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/268504p-229957c.html
A Sikh subway motorman reluctantly put an MTA logo on his turban
yesterday
after transit officials told him he would otherwise be reassigned to
moving
trains in a yard.
"I feel violated," Kevin Harrington, 53, said yesterday morning. "I
feel
degraded. I feel they have no respect for my religion or the Sikh
community."
But Harrington, who had worn a turban to work in the subway for more
than
two decades without incident, said switching assignments would throw
his
schedule into chaos and make it impossible for him to tend his two
young
children after school.
Transit Authority spokesman Charles Seaton said the patch is part of
the
TA's effort to accommodate Harrington while enforcing a dress code that
requires workers in the public eye to wear TA hats or nothing at all on
their heads.
Female Muslim employees who wear head scarfs have been offered head
coverings, known as khimars, with the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority
logo embossed in the blue material, or logos to be pinned on personal
scarfs.
SEE ALSO:
STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM
Noor Al Haqq, Magic City Morning Star, 1/6/05
http://magic-city-news.com/article_2694.shtml
The main question people seem to ask, is "How could you, an educated
American woman convert to Islam--a religion that oppresses women?" They
are
quick to try and equate the rights of women in Afghanistan with the
rights
of Muslim women everywhere. Basically, what I tell them, is that the
Qur'an
gives women more rights than the Bible does--in print. That was one of
the
things that first drew me to Islam. Unfortunately today, Islam is no
longer
the leader in women's rights. I had a choice--deny what I believe (i.e.
that There is only one God, and that Muhammed is a Prophet of God)...or
accept what I believe, but work to change the problems that exist
within
the Muslim community. I chose the latter…
-----
ARMY DOCTORS IMPLICATED IN ABUSE
Medical Workers Helped Tailor Interrogations of Detainees, Article Says
Joe Stephens, Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51032-2005Jan5.html
U.S. Army doctors violated the Geneva Conventions by helping
intelligence
officers carry out abusive interrogations at military detention
centers,
perhaps participating in torture, according to an article in today's
edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medical personnel helped tailor interrogations to the physical and
mental
conditions of individual detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the
U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to the article.
It
says that medical workers gave interrogators access to patient medical
files, and that psychiatrists and other physicians collaborated with
interrogators and guards who, in turn, deprived detainees of sleep,
restricted them to diets of bread and water and exposed them to extreme
heat and cold.
"Clearly, the medical personnel who helped to develop and execute
aggressive counter-resistance plans thereby breached the laws of war,"
says
the four-page article labeled "Perspective."
"The conclusion that doctors participated in torture is premature, but
there is probable cause for suspecting it…"
ALSO SEE:
THE GONZALES RECORD
Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51885-2005Jan5.html
THE SENATE JUDICIARY Committee begins confirmation hearings today for
Alberto R. Gonzales, President Bush's choice to head the Justice
Department. Mr. Gonzales is in some respects an attractive nominee: His
life story is compelling, his views on some issues are comparatively
moderate and his calm demeanor would be a reassuring change from that
of
his predecessor, John D. Ashcroft. Yet senators must scrutinize Mr.
Gonzales's record. The man who has served as White House counsel these
past
four years must not become attorney general without clarifying his role
in
decisions that helped lead to the prisoner abuse scandal and to
restrictions of civil liberties. More broadly, the Senate should ask
whether Mr. Gonzales is capable of giving Mr. Bush dispassionate legal
advice, rather than -- as he seems to have done so often in the past --
telling the president what he wants to hear.
The concerns about Mr. Gonzales begin with his having urged Mr. Bush to
deny that the Geneva Conventions apply in Afghanistan. The "new
paradigm"
of the war on terrorism, reads a January 2002 draft memorandum written
in
his name, "renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning
of
enemy prisoners." Mr. Gonzales's aggressive advice was directly counter
to
that of both the State Department and the military brass. And while Mr.
Bush eventually declared that the conventions did apply, he followed
Mr.
Gonzales's advice not to fully comply with them. Rather, he took the
unnecessary step of declaring all detainees "unlawful combatants," and
therefore beyond the conventions' protection, without complying with
the
process international law contemplates for that judgment. This move
proved
fateful when the headquarters of Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, citing
the
president's position on "unlawful combatants," approved such
interrogation
techniques in Iraq as hooding, forcing prisoners into "stress
positions"
and menacing detainees with dogs.
Mr. Gonzales commissioned the now-infamous torture memorandum from the
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. The memo followed a
meeting
in his office regarding the interrogation of a key al Qaeda detainee,
in
which participants discussed such methods as "waterboarding," mock
burial
and slapping…
---
TERROR SUSPECT ALLEGES TORTURE
Detainee Says U.S. Sent Him to Egypt Before Guantanamo
Dana Priest and Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51726-2005Jan5.html
U.S. authorities in late 2001 forcibly transferred an Australian
citizen to
Egypt, where, he alleges, he was tortured for six months before being
flown
to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to court
papers made public yesterday in a petition seeking to halt U.S. plans
to
return him to Egypt.
Egyptian-born Mamdouh Habib, who was detained in Pakistan in October
2001
as a suspected al Qaeda trainer, alleges that while under Egyptian
detention he was hung by his arms from hooks, repeatedly shocked,
nearly
drowned and brutally beaten, and he contends that U.S. and
international
law prohibits sending him back.
Habib's case is only the second to describe a secret practice called
"rendition," under which the CIA has sent suspected terrorists to be
interrogated in countries where torture has been well documented. It is
unclear which U.S. agency transferred Habib to Egypt...
---
WE ARE ALL TORTURERS NOW
Mark Danner, New York Times, 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/opinion/06danner.html
AT least since Watergate, Americans have come to take for granted a
certain
story line of scandal, in which revelation is followed by
investigation,
adjudication and expiation. Together, Congress and the courts
investigate
high-level wrongdoing and place it in a carefully constructed
narrative, in
which crimes are charted, malfeasance is explicated and punishment is
apportioned as the final step in the journey back to order, justice and
propriety.
When Alberto Gonzales takes his seat before the Senate Judiciary
Committee
today for hearings to confirm whether he will become attorney general
of
the United States, Americans will bid farewell to that comforting story
line. The senators are likely to give full legitimacy to a path that
the
Bush administration set the country on more than three years ago, a
path
that has transformed the United States from a country that condemned
torture and forbade its use to one that practices torture routinely.
Through a process of redefinition largely overseen by Mr. Gonzales
himself,
a practice that was once a clear and abhorrent violation of the law has
become in effect the law of the land.
Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Americans began torturing prisoners,
and
they have never really stopped. However much these words have about
them
the ring of accusation, they must by now be accepted as fact. From Red
Cross reports, Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba's inquiry, James R.
Schlesinger's Pentagon-sanctioned commission and other government and
independent investigations, we have in our possession hundreds of
accounts
of "cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment - to use a phrase of the
Red
Cross - "tantamount to torture…"
---
DON'T TORTURE YOURSELF (THAT'S HIS JOB)
Maureen Dowd, New York Times 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/opinion/06dowd.html
The Associated Press headline that came over the wire yesterday said it
all: "Gonzales Will Follow Non-Torture Policies."
You know how bad the situation is when the president's choice for
attorney
general has to formally pledge not to support torture anymore.
Alberto Gonzales may have been willing to legally justify something
that
was abhorrent to everything America stands for, but it's all relative.
Given that Mr. Gonzales is replacing the odious John Ashcroft,
Democrats
didn't seem inclined to try to derail the Hispanic nominee, even though
his
memo fostered the atmosphere that led to disgusting scandals in Abu
Ghraib
and Guant�namo.
Just to get things started on the right foot, though, Mr. Gonzales
planned
to go the extra mile and offer the quaint, obsolete Senate Democrats a
more
nuanced explanation of why he called the Geneva Conventions "quaint"
and
"obsolete."
Before he helped President Bush circumvent the accords and reserve the
right to do so "in this or future conflicts," you had to tune in to an
old
movie with Nazi generals or Vietcong guards if you wanted to see
someone
sneeringly shrug off the international treaty protecting prisoners from
abuse. ("You worthless running dog Chuck Norris! What do we care about
your
silly Geneva Conventions?")
How are you to believe Mr. Gonzales when he says he's through with
torture?
His mission is clearly to do whatever he thinks Mr. Bush wants…
-----
JEWISH, MUSLIM GROUPS REACT TO REPORT OF RISING ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
Religion News Service, 1/5/05
http://www.religionnews.com/
A U.S. State Department report to Congress detailing a rising number of
incidents of anti-Semitism in Europe is being applauded by U.S. Jewish
groups as an important example of American leadership.
Muslim groups, however, are disappointed that the report correlated the
problem with Europe's rising Muslim population. The report also
identified
skinheads and other radical political fringe groups as responsible for
anti-Semitic acts.
The report, released Wednesday (Jan. 5), was mandated by the Global
Anti-Semitism Review Act and will be published annually. It chronicles
anti-Semitic incidents in eastern Europe, France and Germany, as well
as
places like Pakistan and Syria, where local media inflame anti-Semitic
sentiment…
A leading U.S. Muslim group took exception to the report's citing of
Muslim
anti-Semitism as a rising problem in Europe, distinct from traditional
anti-Semitic sentiment.
"I think there's a real problem overall in Europe with racism and
bigotry,
and I think it's unfair to put it at the feet of the Muslim community,"
said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based civil liberties
organization.
Hooper cited French laws that ban Muslim girls from wearing traditional
headscarves and attacks on mosques as examples of a broader problem
with
bigotry…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/7/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A GOOD WORD
* CAIR-SV: 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM' INTERFAITH EVENT
- CAIR-SV: Muslims Help With Disaster Relief Telethon
- Positive Feedback on CAIR Educator's Guide
* NC: MUSLIMS JOIN RELIEF EFFORT (State)
- WI: Milwaukee Muslims Raise $60k for Tsunami Relief
- Saudi Telethon Raises $82 Million for Tsunami Victims (AP)
* CHAPLAIN ACCUSED OF SPYING TO LEAVE U.S. MILITARY (Reuters)
- Cat Stevens Still Barred From U.S. (AP)
* MR. GONZALES'S TESTIMONY (Washington Post)
- Mr. Gonzales Speaks (New York Times)
* NAME 'MUHAMMAD' IS GROWING POPULAR IN BRITAIN (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A GOOD WORD
"Art thou not aware how God sets forth the parable of a good word? [It
is]
like a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches
towards
the sky, yielding its fruit at all times by its Sustainer's leave. And
[thus it is that] God propounds parables unto men, in order that they
may
receive admonition."
The Holy Quran, 14:24-25
-----
CAIR-SV: 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM' INTERFAITH EVENT
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/7/2005) - On Sunday, January 9, the local faith
communities of Davis and Woodland will gather to observe the second
annual
"Celebration of Abraham," a gathering of the three Abrahamic traditions
-
Jewish, Christian and Muslim - to learn more about each other.
The annual event, launched in September of 2003, is an attempt to build
bridges among the three faith communities and an effort to increase
understanding and awareness of the three monotheistic faith traditions.
The event is co-sponsored by Council on American Islamic Relations of
Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV).
WHAT: Celebration of Abraham
WHEN: January 9, 2005, 3-5 PM
WHERE: St. James Catholic Church, 200 West 14th Street (14th and B
Streets), Davis, California
CONTACT: For more information, contact Hamza EL-Nakhal, 530-756-9124
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS HELP WITH DISASTER RELIEF TELETHON
$1.1 million raised for American Red Cross Relief Efforts
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/7/2005) On Tuesday January 4, KCRA Channel 3 held a
fundraising telethon from 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM, to help aid Asia Tsunami
victims. Muslim community was invited to help with the telethon and
more
than 35 Sacramento Valley Muslims volunteered to take phone pledges for
the
American Red Cross.
Over $1.1 Million were raised during the telethon. All funds went to
the
American Red Cross International Response Fund.
Millicent Ozdaglar, Special Projects Producer, KCRA News said "I am
truly
touched by the Muslim Community's response to our invitation to join
the
KCRA 3/Red Cross Tsunami Disaster Relief Telethon. I thought staffing
an 18
hour telethon in two days was going to be a challenge, but the Muslim
Community's dedication to humanity and community service made it a
simple
task. The volunteers showed both professional and personal integrity."
Maren Shawesh, CAIR-SV Secretary noted, "The Asia Tsunami was a tragedy
that moved people globally. The efforts of KCRA Channel 3, in
organizing
this humanitarian effort and the generosity of Northern California
communities are to be commended. The Muslim community is thankful to be
a
part of this effort."
CONTACT: Maren Shawesh, 916-441-6269
---
POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON CAIR EDUCATOR'S GUIDE
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices." The booklet is available by e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org
(Include name, address and phone number when requesting the booklet.)
Below is an excerpt from an e-mail received by CAIR:
"I am the principal of ----------------. Recently, one of my parents
shared
your guide for educators with me regarding Muslim students. I found the
literature to be quite helpful with a focus on providing information to
educators not on promoting the Muslim faith. I am working with this
parent
to order 60 more copies so that I can share it with my staff. So often,
people take time to write feedback that is not positive; however, I
wanted
to take just a moment to let you know that I found the literature
helpful.
I also learned a few things!"
-----
MIDLANDS MUSLIMS JOIN RELIEF EFFORT
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS, The State, 1/7/05
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/10586442.htm
Members of the Muslim community in the Midlands are organizing
fund-raising
efforts for the nations hit hard by the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster.
Indonesia, the country with the largest death toll from the earthquake
and
tsunami, also has the largest population of Muslims in the world, with
more
than 170 million Indonesians who follow Islam.
Fund-raising efforts at area mosques and in the Muslim community are
focusing on getting relief to all the affected areas, not just
Indonesia,
organizers say.
"Any loss of a human life is a loss to everyone, and everybody feels
the
effect," said Mirza Baig, a member of the Islamic Center of Columbia,
also
known as Masjid Al-Muslimmin, on Gervais Street in Columbia. "Some
members
of our mosque originally come from Indonesia, so they really cause us
to
relate to the faces on the news, but everyone has been praying for the
souls of all the people who were lost."
Baig said special prayers were offered for tsunami victims at Friday
prayer
services last week, and funds were collected from members to send to
the
International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, Islamic Relief
and
other relief organizations.
Baig said the next step will be for members of the Islamic Center to
develop ongoing fund-raising efforts for long-range relief in the
tsunami-ravaged countries...
SEE ALSO:
MILWAUKEE MUSLIMS RAISE $60K FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
MILWAUKEEANS MOVED TO GIVE FROM HEART
ANNYSA JOHNSON, Milwaukee Journal, 1/6/05
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan05/290870.asp
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee has raised $60,000 in money and
pledges,
much of that at congregational prayers last Friday. The Archdiocese of
Milwaukee has received about $27,000, but more is expected through a
second
collection this weekend.
---
SAUDI TELETHON RAISES US$82 MILLION FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Associated Press, 1/7/05
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A schoolboy donated his pocket money and
King
Fahd donated millions. When the gifts were added up Friday, the Saudis
had
raised US$82 million for the tsunami victims in a telethon staged by
the
government after accusations that the oil-rich kingdom was not doing
enough
for the south Asian disaster.
People filed into a Riyadh stadium and television studio to drop cash
and
even gold jewelry into glass boxes. State television broadcast the
12-hour
telethon live, switching between shots of donors at the boxes,
interviews
with prominent personalities, and scenes of the devastation and
suffering
left by the tsunami.
A woman in black robes walked into the stadium carrying her child. When
she
got to the boxes, she took off her gold bracelets and dropped them in.
A
boy in primary school, who refused to give his name, gave his daily
allowance of US$ 1.3…
-----
CHAPLAIN ACCUSED OF SPYING TO LEAVE U.S. MILITARY
Reuters, 1/7/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Capt. James Yee, the Muslim Guantanamo
Bay
chaplain accused of espionage but later fully exonerated, will leave
the
U.S. Army on Friday when his honorable discharge takes effect, his
lawyer said.
"As a West Point graduate, he leaves the Army with great sadness. The
fact
that he was imprisoned for a prolonged period for no valid reason
remains
indefensible," Eugene Fidell, Yee's lawyer, said in a statement late on
Thursday.
Yee, who ministered to foreign terrorism suspects imprisoned at the
U.S.
naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was arrested September 2003 in
Florida
as he returned from the base. He spent 76 days in a Navy brig.
In March 2004, the Army dropped all criminal charges against Yee,
abandoning a case that once included accusations in court documents of
spying, mutiny, sedition, aiding the enemy and espionage…
SEE ALSO:
CAT STEVENS STILL BARRED FROM U.S.
Associated Press, 1/6/05
WASHINGTON - The singer formerly known as Cat Stevens is still barred
from
entering the United States because of terror intelligence that
identifies
him as a security threat.
"The intelligence is the same. The reasons we rejected him several
months
ago still exist in my mind," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said
Thursday of Yusuf Islam, the "Peace Train" singer who largely gave up
music
after converting to Islam in the late 1970s.
Yusuf Islam was removed from a London-to-Washington flight in September
because of suspected links to terrorists - a claim he has strongly
denied...
-----
MR. GONZALES'S TESTIMONY
Washington Post, 1/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54854-2005Jan6.html
ALBERTO R. GONZALES missed an important opportunity yesterday to
rectify
his position, and that of President Bush, on the imprisonment and
interrogation of foreign detainees. At the Senate Judiciary Committee's
hearing on his nomination to be attorney general, Mr. Gonzales
repeatedly
was offered the chance to repudiate a legal judgment that the president
is
empowered to order torture in violation of U.S. law and immunize
torturers
from punishment. He declined to do so. He was invited to reject a 2002
ruling made under his direction that the infliction of pain short of
serious physical injury, organ failure or death did not constitute
torture.
He answered: "I don't have a disagreement with the conclusions then
reached." Nor did he condemn torture techniques, such as simulated
drowning, that were discussed and approved during meetings in his
office.
"It is not my job," he said, to decide if they were proper. He was
prompted
to reflect on whether departing from the Geneva Conventions had been a
mistake, in light of the shocking human rights abuses that have since
been
reported in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Guantanamo Bay prison and that
continue even now. Mr. Gonzales demurred. The error, he answered, was
not
of administration policy but of "a failure of training and oversight."
The message Mr. Gonzales left with senators was unmistakable: As
attorney
general, he will seek no change in practices that have led to the
torture
and killing of scores of detainees and to the blackening of U.S. moral
authority around the world…
SEE ALSO:
MR. GONZALES SPEAKS
New York Times, 1/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/opinion/07fri1.html
Blaming a faulty memory, Mr. Gonzales would not provide anything close
to a
clear account of his role in the formulation of the policy on the
treatment
of prisoners. At one point, he said the 2002 memo was just the opinion
of
the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Then he called it the
"binding interpretation" of anti-torture statutes and treaties. Later,
Mr.
Gonzales called it "an arguable interpretation of the law."
Even his vows of allegiance to the rule of law were rather peculiar. He
said that as White House counsel, he had represented "only the White
House," while as attorney general, he "would have a far broader
responsibility: to pursue justice for all the people of our great
nation,
to see that the laws are enforced in a fair and impartial manner for
all
Americans." We thought that was also the obligation of the president
and
his staff.
Mr. Gonzales is said to face a sure confirmation. But thanks to the
members
of the committee, including some Republicans, who met their duty to
question Mr. Gonzales aggressively, the hearing served to confirm that
Mr.
Bush had made the wrong choice when he rewarded Mr. Gonzales for his
loyalty. The nation deserves an attorney general who is not the public
face
for inhumane, illegal and clearly un-American policies.
-----
'MUHAMMAD' IS GROWING POPULAR IN BRITAIN
Reuters, 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/international/europe/07britain.html
Muhammad joined the perennial favorites Jack and Joshua in 2004 as one
of
the most popular names given to British boys, a sign of growing ethnic
diversity and a legacy of Muslim immigration decades ago.
The Office of National Statistics said Thursday that Muhammad, meaning
''one who is praiseworthy'' or ''exalted,'' had moved up two places, to
enter the top 20 for the first time.
''It is all about demographics,'' said Dr. Jamil Sherif, of the Muslim
Council of Britain, an umbrella group of 400 organizations. ''There are
now
more Muslims being born in Britain than previously. About 40 percent of
Muslims here are under 25; there are a lot of young families.''
Immigration
from Asia and Africa surged during the 1960's and 70's and Britain,
with
about 61 million people, is home to about 1.6 million Muslims…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/9/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FACE MISFORTUNE WITH FAITH
* ACTION ITEM: WATCH '24' TONIGHT ON FOX
- Muslim Group Decries Terror Depiction
- '24' Actress First Refused the Role (Newsday)
* TO MECCA, BY WAY OF MADISON AVE. (New York Times)
- Muslims See U.S. Support for Hajj (UPI)
- U.S. Muslims Seek Answers on Fingerprinting of Pilgrims
- NC Muslims Make Mecca Pilgrimage (RM Telegram)
- Hajj an Answer to Prayers (Kansas City Star)
* CAIR-FL: STUDENTS MIGHT GET MUSLIM HOLY DAY OFF (Tampa Trib)
* VA: MISSIONARIES EXPLOIT TSUNAMI SUFFERING (Agape Press)
- Christians Spread Supplies - and the Word (Phil. Inquirer)
- Islamic Response to Tsunami Suffering (Newsday)
- CO: Muslims Give But Wary of What They Fund (Denver Post)
- S. Calif. Muslim Council Holds Tsunami Fundraiser
* U.S. WATCHDOG GROUP HOUNDS MIDEAST SCHOLARS (Globe and Mail)
* PLEA DEAL SIGNALS TROUBLE WITH CASE AGAINST TRANSLATOR (Globe)
* PENTAGON MAY PUT ASSASSINATION TEAMS IN IRAQ (Newsweek)
* U.S. SAYS AIRSTRIKE ON IRAQ HOUSE KILLS 5 (AP)
- U.S. Troops Kill 5 After Roadside Bombing (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FACE MISFORTUNE WITH FAITH
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) departed from a group of
people, he would often say: "O God! Grant us enough fear (of
displeasing
Thee) that it may serve as a barrier between us and our sins…and grant
us
enough faith that it may help us to face the misfortunes of this world
easily."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 265
-----
ACTION ITEM: WATCH '24' TONIGHT ON FOX
http://www.fox.com/24/
Watch to program, and then send polite comments to: askfox@foxinc.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
MUSLIM GROUP DECRIES TERROR DEPICTION
Richard Huff, Edmonton Journal, 1/9/05
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/index.html
The first new episode this season of Fox's 24 has yet to hit the screen
and
already the network has offended a Muslim group.
After viewing a portion of the first episode included on a DVD in
Entertainment Weekly, officials from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations expressed dismay at the depiction of a Muslim family.
"At first I was shocked," organization spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed told
the
New York Daily News. "In this particular case, they show an
American-Muslim
family and they portray them as terrorists..."
"What we will accomplish today will change the world," the father tells
the
son over breakfast. "We are fortunate that our family has been chosen
to do
this."
Ahmed said the scene "casts a cloud of suspicion over every
American-Muslim
family out there."
A Fox spokesman said the company had no comment.
Ahmed acknowledged the possibility that in the remaining half of the
first
episode -- which was not on the promotional DVD -- the storyline could
have
indicated this was not a typical family…
---
AN OFFER SHE FIRST REFUSED
Diane Werts, Newsday, 1/9/05
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-fftv4105182jan09,0,3804584.story
Scroll down.
Shohreh Aghdashloo fled the Islamic revolution in her native Iran 25
years
ago. She spent a decade as a commentator on American Farsi-language
media
railing against the strict fundamentalism of her homeland…
So why is she now coming to the attention of most Americans in the
fourth
season of the Fox smash "24" by playing - you guessed it - a Middle
Eastern
terrorist?
"When I was offered the role, I didn't accept it. I refused it," she
says
by phone from the California home she shares with her husband, Iranian
exile playwright-actor Houshang Touzie ("Sweet Smell of Love"), and
their
teenage daughter, Tara. "I obviously had my own issues with playing a
terrorist. But the creators and the executive producers requested a
meeting
hoping to convince me. And yet I couldn't make up my mind..."
These people [writing '24'] are going to pay attention to her and how
they
write her character and her situation. I realized how important it is
to
show the whole world who these people are. I thought I have to come out
and
expose these people, sort of study them and what's going on, and why
they're doing it, and what is their cause and why do they feel their
cause
is so justified."
Her steely portrayal of a suburban Los Angeles mother at the heart of
what
seems to be a high-level terror operation is a stunning one. Her
character
goes so far as to hand a gun to her teenage son (played by Jonathan
Ahdout,
also her son in "House of Sand and Fog") so he can "take care of" an
American girlfriend who knows too much…
Perhaps that will come out as her character moves beyond the household
environment of this week's first four episodes (Sunday-Monday at 8
p.m.,
Fox/5) and into the larger arena of counterterrorist efforts by Kiefer
Sutherland's series hero, Jack Bauer…
-----
TO MECCA, BY WAY OF MADISON AVE.
JENNIFER BLEYER, New York Times, 1/9/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/nyregion/thecity/09hajj.html
At a time of year when many travel agents are busy selling Caribbean
getaways, Moustafa Ahmed is similarly occupied. His Madison Avenue
agency,
Dar El Salam Travel, was buzzing late into the night recently, as
clients
arrived to confirm their bookings on tours that ranged from $3,500 to
upward of $7,000.
But Dar El Salam is not your average travel agency. An enlarged
photograph
of Mecca shares wall space with a flurry of Post-it notes.
Gold-embossed
Korans lie beside the fax machines.
Dar El Salam sends people mainly to one location - Saudi Arabia, for
the
annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj. Able-bodied
Muslims
are expected to make such a journey at least once in their lives, and
this
year, three million pilgrims are expected to converge on Mecca on Jan.
20.
Mr. Ahmed, who is Egyptian, founded Dar El Salam in 1989, when he took
20
travelers on the hajj. The company's reputation spread by word of
mouth,
gradually establishing it as the city's biggest hajj tour operator. For
the
2005 hajj, 1,800 people booked trips through Dar El Salam, many of them
well-heeled Muslim professionals who live throughout the United States.
(About 10,000 Muslims living in America go on hajj each year, according
to
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.)
Mr. Ahmed stressed that the hajj is a test of spiritual purity,
including a
person's attitude toward the trip itself. "Sometimes you tell a person
his
flight is changed, and he will say, 'O.K., alhamdulillah,'" said Mr.
Ahmed,
using the Arabic phrase meaning "Praise God." "But some people say: 'I
must
have my room cleaned. I must have this and that.' At hajj, he may not
pass
the test…"
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS SEEK U.S. SUPPORT FOR HAJJ
United Press International, 1/8/05
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050108-012155-6087r.htm
Washington, DC, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A prominent U.S. Muslim advocacy group
has
urged the Bush administration not to single out Muslim pilgrims for
extra
security.
An estimated 10,000 American Muslims go to the holy Muslim city of
Mecca
every year for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins later this
month…
The appeal followed complaints by American Muslims that some of them
who
went to a recent religious congregation in Canada were fingerprinted
and
had to go through lengthy interrogations.
CAIR created a telephone hotline and a downloadable incident report
form
for those who believe their constitutional rights were violated by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officials.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1379&page=NR
---
ROCKY MOUNT MUSLIMS MAKE MECCA PILGRIMAGE
FRED MARION, Rocky Mount Telegram, 1/8/05
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/featr/content/features/stories/2005/01/08/
20050108RMTHajj.html
---
HAJJ AN ANSWER TO PRAYERS
HELEN T. GRAY, Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10591163.htm?1c
-----
STUDENTS MIGHT GET MUSLIM HOLY DAY OFF
COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, Tampa Tribune, 1/8/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBV9INDP3E.html
TAMPA - Hillsborough County's Muslim students won't automatically get
their
holy days off next school year, but their families' requests might
prompt a
school district policy to make sure students aren't penalized for
taking
time off for their faiths.
School board members postponed a decision last month after members of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations' Tampa chapter requested a day
off
for all students on Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Board members asked the calendar committee to research the matter. The
committee includes about two- dozen administrators, teachers, parents
and
students, who met Friday and decided to monitor attendance figures on
Eid
al-Fitr, which falls on Nov. 4 this year.
They will return their original calendar recommendation for 2005-06 to
the
board for Jan. 18 approval.
Joan Mulrennan Zaki, a parent who represented CAIR's concerns on the
committee, said a nonstudent day - when students don't come to school
but
some staff members do - coinciding with Eid al-Fitr could build bridges
in
the county…
-----
VA MISSIONARIES EXPLOIT TSUNAMI SUFFERING
MINISTRY JOINS TSUNAMI RESPONSE, BRINGING PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AID
Chad Groening, Agape Press, 1/7/04
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/72005d.asp
(AgapePress) - A Virginia-based missions ministry has dispatched teams
to
several of the Asian countries devastated by the December 26th tsunami
and
is helping to fulfill disaster victims' needs even as it works to
fulfill
the Great Commission.
Advancing Native Missions (ANM), based in Charlottesville, was already
doing work in many of the countries hardest hit by the tsunami.
Therefore,
according to ministry representative Oliver Asher, it was easy to
dispatch
teams to the affected areas. "Right now, we have teams that are in
India,
helping out there, teams in Sri Lanka and teams in Indonesia," Asher
says.
"So we do have folks on the ground." ANM also has teams in the somewhat
less devastated areas, he adds, such as in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and
Thailand...
"When they're passing out a bottle of water, a blanket, a lanter, a
candle,
they're passing out gospel tracts with them," the ministry spokesman
says.
"So they are definitely taking this opportunity to be a witness of the
love
of Jesus Christ to the Hindus, to the Muslims, to whoever was affected,
certainly fulfilling the commandment to take the gospel to everybody."
SEE ALSO:
SOME CHRISTIAN GROUPS SPREAD SUPPLIES - AND THE WORD
Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/9/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/10598841.htm?1c
As Western humanitarian organizations unleash an armada of relief
supplies
and workers into Asia's crisis zone, some evangelical Christian groups
aim
to bring the Gospel to the victims, as well.
Religious groups promise to be a major presence in the massive relief
and
reconstruction effort. InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based
nongovernment organizations, reports that of its 55 member agencies
providing tsunami aid, 22 are faith-based.
Most of the religious players, including the Red Cross, the American
Jewish
World Service, and Lutheran World Relief, have rules against
proselytizing.
At the same time, though, evangelical groups active in Asia, including
the
Southern Baptists' International Mission Board, Gospel for Asia, and
the
Christian and Missionary Alliance, say the Bible always impels them to
create converts to the faith.
"This [disaster] is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us
to
share his love with people," said K.P. Yohannan, president of the
Texas-based Gospel for Asia. In an interview, Yohannan said his 14,500
"native missionaries" in India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands are
giving survivors Bibles and booklets about "how to find hope in this
time
through the word of God…"
---
ISLAMIC RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI SUFFERING
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-liserm09,0,4620006.story
"Nothing happens without the permission of God," said Imam Naeem M.
Baig,
secretary general of Islamic Circle of North America in Jamaica,
Queens.
While the Quran teaches that God punishes nations or people who don't
obey
or listen to the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad, Baig said he would
rather interpret the tsunami as God using a tragic event to test people
on
earth.
"I am having a difficult time associating punishment with these people.
These are the poorest of the poor trying to live day by day," he said.
Disasters have always challenged mankind to question the meaning of
their
existence, noted Faroque Khan, president of the Islamic Center of Long
Island in Westbury. For Muslims, he said, it serves as a reminder of
Islam's basic tenet: Life on earth is transitory.
"Muslims believe that victims of disasters like this are given
martyrdom
status." So when the day of accountability arrives, as Muslims believe
it
will, these victims "will be in good standing" in the eyes of Allah…
---
MUSLIMS CALLED TO GIVE BUT WARY OF WHAT THEY FUND
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 1/9/05
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2643419,00.html
The tsunami disaster has generated a massive outpouring of money and
aid
from around the world. At the same time, the U.S. government's
increased
scrutiny of Muslim charities after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks
has made American Muslims more cautious about their checks and cash.
That
change has become apparent as Muslim donors and groups in Colorado and
nationwide respond to a tragedy that dealt the harshest blow to
Indonesia,
the world's most populous Muslim nation.
---
S. CALIF. MUSLIM COUNCIL HOLDS TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and Islamic Relief
will
hold a fundraiser dinner. $25. 5:30 p.m. Anaheim Hilton, 777 W.
Convention
Way. (949) 394-2171.
-----
U.S. WATCHDOG GROUP HOUNDS MIDDLE EAST SCHOLARS
SARAH RICHARDS, The Globe and Mail, 1/8/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Like any �migr� to the United States, Tariq Ramadan was dependent on
the
stamp of somebody, somewhere, deep inside the Department of Homeland
Security. His life was governed by waiting for one letter to set things
in
motion - packed bags, plane ticket, new job teaching at the University
of
Notre Dame in Indiana.
But after waiting seven months in vain for a visa, Mr. Ramadan decided
to
throw in the towel. "You know, I have kids here," he said. "We are in
limbo, we don't know what will be our future, and I said, 'Okay, it's
not
going to work like that.' "
Mr. Ramadan was speaking from his apartment in Geneva in December. He
had
resigned his two Notre Dame positions, including one as the Henry R.
Luce
Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding at the Joan B. Kroc
Institute for International Peace Studies.
He never saw a student or even made it to the United States, because
his
visa was revoked days before he was to arrive in August. A second visa
application proved fruitless…
Mr. Ramadan's story is one of several struggles going on over how
American
students will study the Middle East. Over the past few years,
newspapers
have included headlines such as "Witch hunt at Columbia," or "FBI
charges
Florida professor with terrorist activities."
For some, these headlines herald government meddling with academic
freedom.
But for others, they signal new balance in a field they believe is
dominated by anti-American, anti-Israeli professors.
Daniel Pipes subscribes to the latter school of thought, and not
lightly.
He is the founder of Campus Watch, an organization that monitors and
critiques Middle East studies in North America…
But to academics such as Juan Cole, a professor of modern Middle
Eastern
and South Asian history at the University of Michigan, Mr. Pipes's
Campus
Watch would be better named Campus Witch Hunt. He has accused the
organization of encouraging spying on academics and publishing "skewed
and
largely false diatribes" against them.
"Academics deal with bias by open debate and rigorous scholarship, not
by
shutting people up," Prof. Cole commented by e-mail.
Depending on how you look at things, open debate is - or isn't - what's
happing at Columbia University in New York. There, a non-tenured
professor
who has been critical of Israel is being held up as another example of
what
is wrong with Middle Eastern studies.
With New York home to the country's largest Jewish population, the
controversy surrounding Professor Joseph Massad has received a great
deal
of media coverage. Congressman Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New
York,
even asked that Prof. Massad be fired. The New York Civil Liberties
Union
asked Mr. Weiner and other non-academics to butt out of Columbia's
affairs.
The drama has led some to believe that there is indeed a need for the
International Studies in Education Act, which was passed by the House
but
died before it could be passed by the Senate last year.
The legislation would have reauthorized government funding for
international studies, but also established an advisory board to
monitor
those programs - Middle Eastern studies included. Two people on the
seven-member board would have represented federal agencies with
national
security responsibilities.
This idea was first proposed about a year ago by Stanley Kurtz, a
research
fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University.
But Amy Newhall, executive director of the Middle East Studies
Association,
is worried that the advisory board will end up policing academic
institutions. She is waiting for the legislation to be reintroduced in
Congress.
"If it's more of a board that's given these extraordinary powers - as
was
envisioned in this last version - then that will again be a problem,"
Prof.
Newhall said…
-----
PLEA DEAL SIGNALS TROUBLE WITH CASE AGAINST TRANSLATOR
By Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe, 1/8/05
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/08/plea_deal_si
gnals_trouble_with_case_against_translator/
A former Arabic translator at the federal prison camp at Guantanamo Bay
has
agreed to plead guilty Monday to taking classified material from the
base
and lying to investigators, under a deal with prosecutors that would
make
him a free man in a few months.
Ahmed Fathy Mehalba, 32, an Egyptian-born US citizen, will be sentenced
to
20 months in prison if US District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock accepts a
plea
agreement that federal prosecutors filed in US District Court in Boston
yesterday.
The resolution of Mehalba's case would mark the end of a series of
high-profile prosecutions of translators and military officers at
Guantanamo Bay that began with accusations of espionage and treason and
ended with far lesser charges or none at all.
Mehalba, a civilian translator, was one of four men arrested in summer
and
fall 2003 amid separate investigations into whether they had links to
Muslim militants or were leaking information about interrogations or
detainees at the camp, where the US government has detained hundreds on
suspicion of links to Al Qaeda or the ousted Taliban regime in
Afghanistan.
But no charges of spying or having terrorist ties remained against any
of
the four. In Mehalba's case, he will plead guilty to everything he was
ultimately charged with: having taken information off the base he
should
not have had and lying about it.
"He's not a terrorist, not a spy," said Boston lawyer Joseph Savage,
one of
Mehalba's attorneys. "We think the agreement we're proposing is the
right
result."
-----
PENTAGON MAY PUT SPECIAL-FORCES-LED ASSASSINATION OR KIDNAPPING TEAMS
IN
IRAQ
Michael Hirsh and John Barry, Newsweek, 1/8/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6802629/site/newsweek/
Now, NEWSWEEK has learned, the Pentagon is intensively debating an
option
that dates back to a still-secret strategy in the Reagan
administration's
battle against the leftist guerrilla insurgency in El Salvador in the
early
1980s. Then, faced with a losing war against Salvadoran rebels, the
U.S.
government funded or supported "nationalist" forces that allegedly
included
so-called death squads directed to hunt down and kill rebel leaders and
sympathizers. Eventually the insurgency was quelled, and many U.S.
conservatives consider the policy to have been a success-despite the
deaths
of innocent civilians and the subsequent Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages
scandal. (Among the current administration officials who dealt with
Central
America back then is John Negroponte, who is today the U.S. ambassador
to
Iraq. Under Reagan, he was ambassador to Honduras.)
Following that model, one Pentagon proposal would send Special Forces
teams
to advise, support and possibly train Iraqi squads, most likely
hand-picked
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Shiite militiamen, to target Sunni
insurgents and their sympathizers, even across the border into Syria,
according to military insiders familiar with the discussions. It
remains
unclear, however, whether this would be a policy of assassination or
so-called "snatch" operations, in which the targets are sent to secret
facilities for interrogation. The current thinking is that while U.S.
Special Forces would lead operations in, say, Syria, activities inside
Iraq
itself would be carried out by Iraqi paramilitaries, officials tell
NEWSWEEK…
-----
U.S. SAYS AIRSTRIKE ON IRAQ HOUSE KILLS 5
NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press, 1/8/05
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The United States military acknowledged dropping a
500-pound bomb on the wrong house outside the northern city of Mosul on
Saturday, killing five people. But the man who owned the house said the
bomb killed 14 people - including seven children…
Late Saturday, a U.S. military statement said an F-16 jet dropped a
500-pound GPS-guided bomb on a house that was meant to be searched
during
an operation to capture ``an anti-Iraqi force cell leader.''
"The house was not the intended target for the airstrike. The intended
target was another location nearby," the military said in a statement.
The homeowner, Ali Yousef, told Associated Press Television News that
the
airstrike happened at about 2:30 a.m., and American troops immediately
surrounded the area, blocking access for four hours. The brick house
was
reduced to a pile of rubble, according to an Associated Press
photographer
at the scene.
An Associated Press photographer said from the scene that 14 members of
the
same family - seven children, four women and three men - were killed,
and
six people were wounded, including another child.
SEE ALSO:
U.S. TROOPS KILL 5 AFTER ROADSIDE BOMBING
BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press, 1/9/09
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - American troops opened fire after their convoy was
struck by a roadside bomb at a checkpoint south of Baghdad, killing at
least two policemen and three civilians, police said Sunday, a day
after
the U.S. military acknowledged five people were killed when it bombed
the
wrong house during a search operation in northern Iraq...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/10/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TRIALS LEAD TO GOOD
* CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING TO SACRAMENTO POLICE
- CAIR-Chicago Co-Sponsors Eid Program for Needy
* NEW FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSLIM HOMEBUYERS (PRNewswire)
* U.S. REP. COBLE SAYS IRAQ PULLOUT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED (AP)
- Why Most Embeds Don't Tell All (Editor & Publisher)
* CANADIAN MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
* 100 MUSLIM GRAVE MARKERS VANDALIZED IN DANISH CAPITAL (AP)
- Gaza Family Loses 7 Boys to Israeli Fire (NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TRIALS LEAD TO GOOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If God wants to do good
for
somebody, He afflicts him with trials."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 548
-----
CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING TO SACRAMENTO POLICE
Graduates learn about Islamic beliefs, practices and culture
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/9/2005) - The Sacramento Valley office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) recently conducted diversity
training
for more than 40 police academy graduates.
CAIR-SV's training session, held at the California Highway Patrol
Academy
in West Sacramento, included a presentation designed to make the
graduates
aware of issues they might face when dealing with the diverse Muslim
community in Sacramento.
Topics addressed in the presentation included the basic tenets of the
Islamic faith, the diversity of the American Muslim community and ways
in
which area Muslims can promote better relations with law enforcement
authorities.
CAIR-SV also gave each graduate a booklet, called "A Law Enforcement
Official's Guide to the Muslim Community," which covers issues such as
religiously-sensitive techniques for body searches, proper etiquette
for
entering Muslim homes and outreach to the Muslim community. (The
booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
"Diversity training is important for our staff so that they can learn
about
other cultures and religions," said Corporal Dee Tyndale of the
Sacramento
Police Department. "Muslims form a big part of the Sacramento Community
and
the Police Department represents and works for all."
"We appreciate the opportunity to provide objective information to
those
who will protect our families and our community," said CAIR-SV
President
Rashid Ahmad.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-SV President Rashid Ahmad, 916-825-0027
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO CO-SPONSORS EID PROGRAM FOR NEEDY
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/10/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) has announced that is
co-sponsoring a project to donate 50,000 pounds of meat to those in
need
during the upcoming Eid-ul Adha holiday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
http://chicagomuslims.com/sacrifice/
-----
DEVON BANK, FREDDIE MAC ANNOUNCE EXPANDED FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MUSLIM HOMEBUYERS
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-10
-2005/0002815043&EDATE=
CHICAGO, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Devon Bank today announced
it
would begin selling its Islamic home financing products to Freddie Mac,
effectively expanding opportunities for Muslims living in Illinois and
nine
other states to become homeowners while observing traditional Islamic
restrictions on paying interest on mortgages and other types of debt.
Based
in McLean, Va., Freddie Mac is one of the nation's largest investors in
mortgages and Islamic home financing products.
Devon Bank's Islamic housing finance model uses carefully tailored real
estate financing documents, in accordance with state and local law, and
functions similarly to a conventional Freddie Mac mortgage. They employ
the
Islamic "murabaha" trade model to avoid religiously objectionable
concepts
present in traditional loans…
Devon Bank's suite of Islamic financing products comply with both
Islamic
and U.S. law and include residential and commercial real estate
financing,
financing for business equipment and trade goods, stand-by letters of
credit and some construction financing. (Specific information is
available
at http://www.devonbank.com/Islamic/ …
Freddie Mac's agreement to invest in the mortgages underscores its
mission
to expand homeownership opportunities for all of America's households,
including the nation's estimated 2.5 million Muslim households…
Web site: http://www.freddiemac.com/
http://www.devonbank.com/Islamic
-----
U.S. REP. COBLE SAYS IRAQ PULLOUT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
Associated Press, 1/9/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/10604843.htm
GREENSBORO, N.C. - U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, a Greensboro Republican and
close ally of President Bush, says the United States should consider
pulling out of war-ravaged Iraq.
Coble is one of the first members of Congress to suggest a withdrawal
publicly.
The 10-term congressman said in an interview with the News & Record of
Greensboro that he's "fed up with picking up the newspaper and reading
that
we've lost another five or 10 of our young men and women in Iraq."
Support among Coble's 6th District constituents has also waned, his
office
said.
The dean of the state's congressional delegation said he arrived at his
position only after many months of searching in vain for evidence that
the
Bush administration had a post-invasion strategy to deal with the
transition to Iraqi self-government.
Coble, who has represented the 6th District since 1984, says he voted
to
give Bush sweeping war-making powers assuming the administration had a
post-invasion strategy.
"If there was, I wish someone would tell me what it is or show it to
me,"
he said. "I'd like to see it."
The congressman said he thought Bush was correct in attacking Iraq, and
that he and most of his constituents still believe it was the right
decision because "we've done a lot of good over there."
That includes capturing Saddam Hussein, "the international terrorist,
the
tyrant, the snake," he said.
But a troop withdrawal should be an option if the Iraqi government is
unable or unwilling to "shoulder more of the heavy lifting" for its own
security, Coble said…
ALSO SEE:
WHY MOST EMBEDS DON'T TELL ALL
Greg Mitchell, Editor and Publisher, 1/7/05
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?v
nu_content_id=1000748529
Has it really been two full years since the run-up to the Iraq war?
Time,
and a lot of hope, has flown. Who expected us to be bogged down there
two
years later? Certainly not the president, his Pentagon chief, nor, I
suspect, most editors and war correspondents.
Yet here we are, in January 2005, with dozens of embeds and other
reporters
heading back to Baghdad in another kind of run-up: this time to the
national (or at least regional) elections. On Wednesday, I wrote about
one
of the current embeds, Mike Francis of The Oregonian in Portland, who
is
shipping out today. But the question remains: What is the relationship
between excellent reporters like Francis and a full picture of what's
really going on in Iraq?
An article written by another embed this week quotes an unnamed Marine
lieutenant in Ramadi: "If anyone gets too close to us we fucking waste
them. It's kind of a shame, because it means we've killed a lot of
innocent
people." This came from a British reporter, traveling with American
forces,
writing for the respected magazine The Economist. Few American embeds
have
passed along a quote like that, and I wonder why.
In another passage, the Economist embed observes that bystanders to an
ambush are liable to be killed by Marines, who sometimes hide near the
body
of a dead insurgent and kill whoever comes to collect it. According to
that
same Marine lieutenant, commenting on the general situation in Iraq:
"It
gets to the point where you can't wait to see guys with guns, so you
start
shooting everybody. It gets to the point where you don't mind the bad
stuff
you do."
The embed (whose work, like most in the magazine, appears without a
byline)
points out that the Americans are superb fighting machines, but at
peacekeeping or policing "they are often inept." He mentions an
18-year-old
Texan in Mosul who, confronted by jeering school kids, shot canisters
of
buckshot at them, then explained: "It's not good, dude, it could be
fatal,
but you gotta do it."
Then there are the soldiers who seem to enjoy kicking down doors and
calling the Iraqi women they find "Bitch."
The question is: Do American soldiers only talk and act like this
around
foreign journalists, or are our embeds only telling half the story?...
-----
MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Larry Johnsrude, Edmonton Journal, 1/10/05
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/index.html
EDMONTON - The devastating tsunami in south Asia has united people of
all
ethnic and religious backgrounds in a common humanitarian cause, a
fundraiser by Edmonton's Muslim community was told Sunday.
"The cruelest earthquake in 40 years has drawn the world closer for all
human beings," Edmonton MP David Kilgour said.
"Will we finally start to see ourselves as brothers and sisters? Will
we
begin to work to end world hunger and disease?"
He said the disaster has prompted a debate among theologians.
"Some ask how a loving God could permit this to happen," he said.
"Others
say God made his presence known by our humanitarian acts that followed
it."
The dinner, organized by the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities,
raised
about $50,000 for disaster relief. More than 600 people attended.
Edmonton organizations have raised more than $1 million for victims of
the
Dec. 26 disaster. Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky said the provincial
government is considering increasing its $5-million commitment. A
special
cabinet meeting set for today will review the amount and look at other
ways
to help, he said…
-----
SOME 100 MUSLIM GRAVE MARKERS VANDALIZED IN DANISH CAPITAL
Associated Press, 1/10/05
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Some 100 Muslim grave markers and tombs were
vandalized in the capital over the weekend, with several of them broken
into pieces, police said Monday.
The vandalism happened Saturday night, despite the fierce wind and
driving
rain that blanketed the city, police said, adding that tools were used
to
deface the markers. No arrests have been made.
The Muslim tombs stand in a corner of the 537,000 square-meter (5.7
million
square-foot) Vestre Kirkegaard cemetery in western Copenhagen. The
Christian cemetery also has a Jewish section…
SEE ALSO:
A FAMILY REELS AFTER LOSING 7 BOYS TO ISRAELI FIRE
Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 1/9/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/international/middleeast/09gaza.html
EIT LAHIYA, Gaza - The neighbors had heard that Muhammad Ghaben, 18,
had
died in the hospital during the night, but no one wanted to tell his
mother.
"How can we tell her?" asked Im Yehya Fadoos, walking along a muddy
path
between the poor houses and the strawberry fields of northern Gaza.
"She
was kissing him last night in the hospital. She's lost so much."
Three sons of Mariam Ghaben, 50, died Tuesday, all at once. They were
blown
apart by a single Israeli tank shell that was aimed at militants firing
mortars toward Israel. In all, seven boys from the extended Ghaben
family,
ages 11 to 17, died in the explosion.
Mrs. Fadoos did not tell Ms. Ghaben that Muhammad had died, and as it
turned out, he is still alive. But his legs and a hand were blown off
and
he lost an eye, and doctors say he is in critical condition, along with
three others of the six Palestinians wounded in the same explosion.
On Friday, Ms. Ghaben was already in shock, sitting with her
daughter-in-law, whose own son, Rajeh, 12, died in the explosion, and
another relative, Halima al-Kaseh, who lost her son, Jibril, 17, while
her
two other children, 12 and 15, are badly wounded.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/11/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PROCLAIM THE HAJJ
- HADITH: Hajj Removes Sins
- HADITH: No Need for Suffering in Hajj
* CAIR-LA: COALITION TO HOLD PRAYER FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS
- CAIR Creates Hotline for Hajj Returnees (RNS)
* STUDENT LEADER JOINS CAIR BOARD
* CAIR-FL: MOSQUES POOL TSUNAMI AID (Sun-Sentinel)
- CA: Islamic Giving (Press-Enterprise)
- OH: Mosque Raises Funds for Victims (Journal News)
- U.S. Muslims Aid Tsunami Survivors (Wash File)
- NY: Mosque Mourns Family Lost in Tsunami (Newsday)
* SOME GROUPS MIX MISSIONARY WORK WITH AID (Balt. Sun)
* BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE DANIEL PIPES (Forward)
- Pipes: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
- Prof Slams Daniel Pipes on Internment (Rocky Mtn News)
* YEE: A WITNESS COMES FORWARD (Seattle Times)
- Suspicion in the Ranks (Seattle Times)
- No Conspiracy in Case of Gitmo Translator (LA Times)
* FALLUJAH RESIDENTS ANGRY OVER DESTRUCTION (AP)
- Christian Group Opposes Iraq Death Squads
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PROCLAIM THE HAJJ
"And proclaim the Hajj to mankind. They will come to thee on foot and
(mounted) on every kind of camel lean on account of journeys through
deep
and distant mountain highways."
The Holy Quran, 22:27
HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ REMOVES SINS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Make the Hajj and the
Umrah
(lesser pilgrimage) follow each other closely, for they remove poverty
and
sins as a blacksmith's bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and
silver."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 795
HADITH OF THE DAY: NO NEED FOR SUFFERING IN HAJJ
A man once told the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "My sister
has
taken a vow to perform Hajj on foot." The Prophet replied: "God
receives no
good from the affliction your sister has imposed on herself, so let her
perform Hajj riding."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1458
-----
CAIR-LA: COALITION TO HOLD PRAYER FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS
RELIGIOUS LEADERS, HOLOCAUST & JAPANESE INTERNMENT SURVIVORS RESPOND TO
THE
VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS
Religious Coalition Decries Selective Enforcement of the Law
WHAT: In response to the human cost of the recent pattern of unjust
arrests, detentions and harassment of Muslims, a broad coalition of
religious leaders and victims of civil liberties violations will visit
detained Muslims, present grocery baskets to families of detained
Muslims
and hold a prayer service for the civil rights of Muslims.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 12th, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: In front of the Statue of the Japanese Internment Camp Detainees
on
Terminal Island, 1/2 block before the gate to the Immigration Customs
Enforcement Detention Center at: 1299 Seaside Ave, San Pedro (Terminal
Island)
WHO:
* Rev. Peter Laarman, Progressive Christians Uniting
* Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference
* Stephen Rohde, Progressive Jewish Alliance
* Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic
Relations
* Shaikh Sadullah Khan, Director of Muslim Affairs, USC
* Salam Al Marayati, Executive Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council
* Families of detainees and Muslim individuals whose rights have been
violated
* Clergy who have visited detained Muslims
* Japanese Internment Camp survivors
* Children of Holocaust survivors
CONTACT: Thia Stephan (626) 683-9004; Alexia Salvatierra (213) 219-2449
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace is a three-year-old
Los
Angeles-based interfaith organization whose mission statement is:
Religious
Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence.
CONTACT CAIR-LA: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM GROUP CREATES HOTLINE FOR FINGERPRINTED HAJJ RETURNEES
Religion News Service, 1/11/05
http://www.religionnews.com/
A Muslim advocacy group has created a 24-hour hotline for Muslims who
may
face fingerprinting or detention upon their return from the hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) set up the hotline
following reports that dozens of American Muslims were fingerprinted
after
attending an Islamic conference in Canada.
CAIR has called for an investigation of that incident, but said it has
not
yet received word from the Department of Homeland Security or U.S.
Customs
and Border Patrol about whether attending an Islamic event flags a
person
for fingerprinting…
CAIR legal director Arsalan Iftikhar has written to the Department of
Homeland Security asking for an accounting of the laws under which
Muslims
are being fingerprinted, as well as asking what the legal repercussions
are
if a Muslim refuses to be fingerprinted or detained.
The hotline will be available for Muslims to call upon their return if
they
feel their constitutional rights have been violated. In addition, CAIR
has
posted an incident report form on its Web site, and recommends that
Muslims
download it and keep it with them in case they need to fill it out.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1379&theType=NR
-----
STUDENT LEADER JOINS CAIR BOARD
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/11/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), the nation's leading Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
announced today that it has elected Hadia Mubarak to its board.
Mubarak is the current president of the Muslim Student Association -
National (MSA), the first female to serve in that post. She is
currently
pursuing her Master's degree in Contemporary Arab Studies with a
concentration in Women and Gender at Georgetown University's School of
Foreign Service.
Prior to becoming the President of MSA National, Mubarak was the chair
of
the Political Action Taskforce of MSA National during the 2003-2004
academic year and a full-time intern at the Brookings Institute's Saban
Center for Middle East Policy. She also served as a member of the
Brookings
Institute's organizing committee of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in
Doha,
Qatar.
"CAIR is delighted with the election of Hadia Mubarak to its Board,"
said
CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We are confident that her perspective
and
contributions will enhance CAIR's ability to empower American Muslims,
defend civil liberties and promote an accurate portrayal of Islam."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
-----
MOSQUES POOL TSUNAMI AID DONATIONS
Noaki Schwartz, Sun-Sentinel, 1/11/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-dtsunami11jan11,0,2049150.s
tory
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has announced that South
Florida
mosques have raised more than $102,000 for tsunami victims in Asia.
Thirteen mosques from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties
collected
the donations from many of the estimated 50,000 Muslims who live in
South
Florida. The money is being given to a number of agencies providing
tsunami
relief, including the American Red Cross, CARE Australia, Islamic
Circle of
North America and Islamic Relief Worldwide. On Monday evening, the
Council
of American-Islamic Relations of Florida, known as CAIR, gathered to
tally
the donations.
The Islamic centers began accepting donations three days after the Dec.
26
tsunami. CAIR asked all the mosques to designate Dec. 29 a tsunami
relief
day, offering special prayers for the victims.
Helping the afflicted is an important part of being a good Muslim, said
Altaf Ali, CAIR's executive director. He said Muslims are expected to
donate 2.5 percent of their wealth every year.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490,
954-298-8214,
E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC GIVING
Press-Enterprise, 1/8/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_op_09
_ed_islamcharity2.a1a1c.html
Muslims are often criticized for not doing enough to promote peace and
goodwill in this era of terror. All the more reason to hail Inland and
Southern California Muslims for taking such an active role in the South
Asian tsunami relief effort.
Their efforts prove, again, that the bond of humanity transcends
religious
differences.
In mosques across the southland, Muslim clerics are urging
congregations to
give as much as they can to aid relief efforts in Indonesia, Sri Lanka
and
India - all of which have large Muslim populations. And 1,500 people of
all
faiths are expected to attend a fund-raiser sponsored by Islamic Relief
USA
in Anaheim tonight to help buy emergency supplies for the tsunami
victims.
Others are donating their expertise. Four Muslim doctors from Southern
California, including Rancho Cucamonga physician Rahmi Mowjood, left
for
Sri Lanka on Thursday to provide whatever medical assistance they can.
They're working on behalf of a Jewish charity called VeAhavta, which is
Hebrew for "You Shall Love..."
---
ISLAMIC CENTER RAISES FUNDS FOR DISASTER VICTIMS
Benjamin Poston, Journal News, 1/7/05
http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/01/07/HJN0108mosq
ue_s.html
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP - Ahmad Maulana and his 16 cousins were driving
along
the coast near Hambantota, Sri Lanka, in a passenger van Dec. 26 when a
giant tsunami wave swept all to their death.
And in that instant, Ali Salahuddin lost 17 family members.
"The sea took all of them," Ali Salahuddin said, choking back tears.
"Seventeen people all gone. I just pray to Allah that they are in
paradise."
Ali Salahuddin, a Sri Lanka native, lives with his wife, Fatima
Salahuddin,
in West Chester Township, where he is resident caretaker at the Islamic
Center of Greater Cincinnati off Tylersville Road.
As part of a school vacation trip, the van was en route from the
capital of
Colombo to the southeast coast of Sri Lanka that was heaviest hit when
a
tsunami wave hit southeast Asia, killing an estimated 150,000.
Ali Salahuddin was among 350 Islamics in attendance Friday for a
traditional jumma service at the Islamic Center. The sermon, or khutba,
was
focused on death and preparation for dying.
Majed Dabdoub, Islamic Center tsunami relief committee chairman, said
the
message of the khutba was clear: Our time on this earth is fleeting.
"This life is temporary, we don't know when we are going to die, it
could
happen anywhere at any time," Dabdoub said. "We need to prepare for the
day
of judgement. It serves as a lesson for us to help the needy. Our
religion
tells that if you help someone who is in need, God will help you in the
hereafter."
Shakilia Ahmad, an Islamic Center trustee, said the center has joined
forces with other Muslim organizations in Cincinnati in a fund-raising
effort for tsunami victims. The Islamic Center raised roughly $80,000
for
victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and Dabdoub said he hopes to collect as
much for the tsunami relief…
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS JOIN HANDS TO AID TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Afzal Khan, Washington File, 1/10/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=J
anuary&x=20050110191213cpataruk0.9371759&t=sa/sa-latest.html
Washington - Muslim communities across the United States have taken
action
to aid the survivors of the tsunami disaster in southern Asia.
On Friday, December 31, following the disaster on December 26, special
prayers for the tsunami dead were performed in hundreds of mosques
across
the United States. Cash donations for the survivors were collected.
American Muslim relief and charity organizations sent out appeals,
collecting donations in cash and supplies -- not only from Muslims, but
also from Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists eager to help. The
leading
American Muslim civil rights organization, Washington DC-based Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), monitored aid efforts on its
website, in
addition to sending out appeals of donations…
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
---
MOSQUE COMMUNITY MOURNS FAMILY LOST IN TSUNAMI
Carol Eisenberg, Newsday, 1/12/05
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-mos0110,0,4373645.story
Husin Saleh sits in Masjid Al-Hikmah with a glazed and lost look, his
eyes
red from crying and lack of sleep.
"I just want to find my mom," says the 32-year-old limousine driver
from
Elmhurst, when asked what would console him. "I've been calling,
calling,
calling. But the phones don't work. The whole village was wiped out."
Convulsed by sobs, Saleh tells how two brothers and a sister, as well
as
his mother, lived in Meulaboh, a village in Aceh province leveled Dec.
26
by the waves that swallowed whole villages in Aceh province. No one has
heard or seen any of them since.
If there is a ground zero for grieving relatives of tsunami victims in
New
York City, then Masjid Al-Hikmah is it. Fifteen families from this
close-knit, Indonesian mosque in working-class Queens are grieving the
loss
of hundreds of family members, indeed, sometimes whole villages that
have
been virtually wiped out.
Many also describe a daily hell of trying to get word on mothers,
fathers,
brothers and sisters still listed as missing two weeks after the
disaster.
A few have gone home to canvas refugee camps and search for lost family
themselves.
"I have nothing left," says Ismet Salim, 31, speaking almost in a
monotone
about the loss of more than 40 family members in Banda Aceh, including
his
mother, father, brother, sister-in-law and their two children.
Salim says he had planned to go home at the end of the year to marry
and
run a store with his father. "Now," he says, shrugging, "It's all gone.
I
can't eat. I can't sleep. I can only pray."
It is some consolation that he doesn't pray alone. Five or six members
of
the mosque show up at his basement apartment several times a week with
food
and condolences. And now as he tells his story to a stranger, fellow
congregants hover close by…
-----
SOME ORGANIZATIONS MIX MISSIONARY WORK WITH AID
Janice D'Arcy, Baltimore Sun, 1/8/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.md.missionary08jan08,1,6
917267.story
Some evangelical groups are mixing Christian missionary work with
humanitarian aid in countries ravaged by the tsunamis and earthquake, a
provocative approach shunned by the majority of faith-based relief
organizations.
Spreading faith this way can antagonize the people they're trying to
help,
and there's evidence of concern among Muslims, Hindus and others. But
evangelical leaders say they define humanitarian aid as having a
spiritual
component.
Aid should "share the love of Christ," said the Rev. Franklin Graham,
son
of the Rev. Billy Graham and the outspoken leader of Samaritan's Purse,
which is shipping shelter materials and other emergency donations to
Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Of the victims and their families, he said
Wednesday in an interview, "I would hope that they would come to know
the
God I know."
The notion of sharing "the love of Christ" can take many forms:
adoptions
of orphaned children, religious pamphlets tucked into relief kits.
Sometimes it's establishing relationships in the hope of future
influence.
"They will not give up the goal of church planting," said Scott Moreau,
editor of Evangelical Missions Quarterly and a Wheaton College
professor.
Baltimore-based World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National
Association of Evangelicals, is focused on humanitarian aid while
looking
for opportunities to later encourage conversions in southern Asia…
On one message group for Southeast Asians this week, a Minnesota Hindu
proposed a protest of a benefit that would send proceeds to a Christian
group - even though the group, World Vision, does not proselytize.
That is precisely what relief workers fear most.
'Not good on both sides'
"It's not good on both sides," said Rizwan Mowlana, a Gaithersburg
Muslim
who said he lost 42 members of his family when the tsunami flooded Sri
Lanka.
Mowlana works with the Council on American-Islamic Relations and has
also
established his own nondenominational relief agency in the tsunami
aftermath. He calls the proselytizing groups "predatory," but he said
it
may be best to ignore them.
"It's not something we should talk about because people may get scared
and
stop donating."
-----
BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE DANIEL PIPES
BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE SCHOLAR OPPOSED BY MUSLIMS AND LIBERALS
Forward, 1/10/05
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=kessler20050110451
In an apparent victory for radical Muslims and the left-wing of the
American foreign policy establishment, President Bush has failed to
take
any action to re-nominate Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes to the board
of
the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Bush appointed Pipes, a conservative Middle East analyst and syndicated
columnist who has drawn the ire of some Muslims, to the publicly-funded
institution on August 23, 2003 after a Senate hearing on the matter
ended
without the presence of a quorum necessary for a confirmation vote. The
controversial recess appointment ended in early December with the
closing
of the previous Congress. The institute has removed Pipes's name from
the
list of board of directors posted on its Web site.
Pipes told the Forward that he has not asked to be re-nominated by the
president and had not queried the White House about its intentions.
"My time there is finished," he said of the institute.
The White House had nothing to add on the matter.
"When there's an announcement, we'll go ahead and make one," said
spokeswoman Maria Tamburri…
The nomination of Pipes, who has made a career out of identifying and
denouncing what he sees as radical Muslim penetration of American
institutions, was opposed by Senators Edward Kennedy, Tom Harkin and
Christopher Dodd, all Democrats; Arab and Muslim groups including the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Arab American
Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Middle East analysts Judith Kipper
of
the Center for Strategic and International Studies and William Quandt
of
the University of Virginia. It was supported by many
conservative-leaning
newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and
The
New York Sun.
Several Jewish communal agencies, including the American Jewish
Committee
and the Zionist Organization of America supported Pipes...
Pipes did not have a peaceful tenure at the institute, which was
created by
Congress "to support the development, transmission, and use of
knowledge to
promote peace and curb violent international conflict," according to
USIP's
mission statement. Last March, he clashed with the organization,
lambasting
it in his column for hosting a conference with a group, the Center for
the
Study of Islam and Democracy, that Pipes charged employs personnel who
are
Muslim "radicals."
The institute's director of congressional and public affairs, Kay King,
responded to the criticism…
"The Institute was aware of and took seriously the accusations made
against
CSID and some of the speakers at the event," King wrote. "These
allegations
were investigated carefully with credible private individuals and U.S.
government agencies and found to be without merit. The public criticism
of
CSID and the speakers was found to be based on quotes taken out of
context,
guilt by association, errors of fact, and innuendo…"
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…"
From Daniel Pipes' website, 12/28/04
---
CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
A DANGEROUS ARGUMENT
Paul Campos, Rocky Mountain News, 1/4/05
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86
_3442925,00.html
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)
Daniel Pipes, the well-known neoconservative intellectual and director
of
the Middle East Forum, has just published an opinion piece in which he
implies that the wholesale relocation of American citizens of the
Muslim
faith to internment camps might be a good idea.
Pipes doesn't actually come right out and support internment camps for
American Muslims, but his article (published originally in The New York
Sun
and reprinted in various other papers) casts a nostalgic glance back at
the
internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and hints that we
ought to consider similar steps in the context of the war on terrorism.
The immediate object of Pipes' affections is a new book by Michelle
Malkin,
In Defense of Internment, which applauds the roundup and imprisonment
of
more than 120,000 ethnic Japanese, most of them American citizens, as a
reasonable security measure in time of war.
Malkin's book is an odious exercise in revisionist history, with a
distinctly fascist tinge. She defends policies that have long been
considered completely indefensible, using arguments that are often
absurd
on their face.
For instance, Malkin claims the previously uncontroversial view that
the
internment of Japanese- Americans was driven by racism is actually a
product of left-wing distortions. Yet here is a typical quote from Gen.
John DeWitt, the main proponent and organizer of the internment: "The
Japanese race is an enemy race and while many second and third
generation
Japanese, born on United States soil, possessed of United States
citizenship have become Americanized, the racial strains are undiluted.
. .
. It therefore follows that along the Pacific Coast over 112,000
potential
enemies of Japanese extraction are at large today…"
Paul Campos is a professor of law at the University of Colorado. He can
be
reached at paul.campos@colorado.edu
-----
A WITNESS COMES FORWARD
Seattle Times, 1/10/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002147296_yeechapter4.htm
l
Capt. Jason Orlich marched into the counterintelligence office with one
of
his most trusted Arabic translators. They had news about Chaplain James
Yee.
The linguist, a Syrian-born Christian, claimed he had overheard Yee
speaking in Arabic to a detainee at the prison hospital, ridiculing the
camp's psychological-operations posters.
The posters depicted images such as an Afghanistan landscape at sunset.
A
Pashtu caption beneath it stated: "Find your way home / Truth will land
you
there." Another poster showed boys in a schoolroom, above the words:
"The
time is now for cooperation / Return and join the future of
Afghanistan."
The camp's counterintelligence office was run by Theo Polet, a
40-year-old
National Guard captain from Florida. He led a small team of agents
responsible for investigating subversive behavior at Guant�namo.
Polet already had received information about Yee from Orlich's
intelligence
section. Most of it was third-hand. But today was different.
This time, they had a witness.
Polet and Orlich saw the alleged incident as a clear attempt to
undermine
interrogations, or at least embolden an enemy combatant. Polet
considered
it a "watershed moment..."
ALSO SEE:
SUSPICION IN THE RANKS
Inside the spy investigation of Capt. James Yee
Ray Rivera, Seattle Times, 1/9/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002146253_yeechapter3.htm
l
---
TRANSLATOR PLEADS GUILTY TO TAKING DOCUMENTS
Elizabeth Meheren, Los Angeles Times, 1/11/05
http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-na-translate11jan11,1,464301
3.story
BOSTON - A former Arabic translator at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp
pleaded guilty Monday to taking classified material from the U.S. naval
base and lying to investigators.
Ahmed Fathy Mehalba's plea in U.S. district court here marked the end
of a
widely publicized investigation into a possible spy ring at the
American
military installation in Cuba, where more than 500 prisoners captured
in
the war on terrorism are being held.
No espionage conspiracy was uncovered, and federal prosecutors were
left to
bring significantly reduced charges or to drop the charges entirely
against
Mehalba and three others.
Mehalba, 32, pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment. Under a plea
agreement crafted by federal prosecutors and Mehalba's lawyers, the
Egyptian-born U.S. citizen is expected to be sentenced in March to 20
months in prison.
Counting time served since his arrest in September 2003, Mehalba should
be
freed shortly thereafter.
If convicted of the original spying charges, he could have faced up to
15
years in prison and a $1-million fine.
U.S. Atty. Michael J. Sullivan on Monday called the plea deal "a proper
and
fair result," explaining: "These charges were brought to redress
serious
breaches in security and Mr. Mehalba's failure when first interviewed
to
honestly acknowledge them."
But Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations - a civil rights and advocacy group in Washington - took a
broader view of the outcome.
"We are glad to see this whole, sad scenario come to a conclusion," he
said. "All of these cases were very troubling to the American Muslim
community, because they seemed to be based more on anti-Muslim hysteria
than they were on the actual facts..."
-----
FALLUJAH RESIDENTS ANGRY OVER DESTRUCTION
Abdul-Qadar Saadi, Associated Press, 1/10/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slu
g=Angry%20Fallujah
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - When Ahmed Hussein Nasser returned to Fallujah
weeks
after a devastating U.S.-led campaign to retake the city from
insurgents,
he could barely recognize the city where he had spent all 66 years of
his
life.
His anger against the Americans and Iraqi forces allied with them has
only
grown since his return - a worrisome sign for U.S. officials letting
people
back into Fallujah, a one-time insurgent stronghold where the
population
was generally believed to support the fighters.
``When I see Americans in Fallujah I feel as if I am seeing devils in
front
of me,'' he said.
On Dec. 23, the first people allowed into the city were residents of
the
western neighborhood of Andalus. The Iraqi government announced over
the
weekend that all the city's neighborhoods will be open for returnees
this
Friday. The government said so far some 60,000 people have returned to
the
city.
Few houses escaped damage from the intense American air raids late last
year and the insurgent bombings and shootings that followed. Work teams
have cleared rubble from the streets, but it is still tangled with
downed
power lines. Craters cut off access to side streets, and some buildings
have walls or ceilings missing if they weren't simply destroyed.
There were suggestions before people began to return that they would
have
no idea of the devastation the campaign wrought. Some Marines south of
the
city reported people told them they thought Fallujah was practically
unscathed.
Alaa Sabri Hardan, a 20-year-old agriculture student, said he lost his
most
valuable possessions - photo albums.
``I did not regret losing anything in my burnt house as much as I
regret
losing the 250 photographs of my childhood and my late parents,'' he
said.
American officials have characterized their November battle as a fight
to
liberate Fallujah and have said the people returning have generally
welcomed being free from the grip of the insurgents…
SEE ALSO:
CHRISTIAN GROUP OPPOSES IRAQ ASSASSINATION SQUADS
UUSC STOP CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON 'SALVADORAN OPTION'
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=41501
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today
by
The UUSC Committee on the "Salvador Option" proposed by the Pentagon:
"The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), wishes to express
its
profound opposition to the "Salvador Option" now proposed by the
Pentagon
for utilization in Iraq. We remember with great clarity and pain the
horrors inflicted upon the people of Central America by the U.S.-backed
death squads throughout the 1980s. This shameful and deadly chapter of
our
history must never be repeated.
"If we are serious about freedom for Iraq, then we must, at all costs,
protect its citizenry from all acts of torture, terror and
assassination.
Democracy imposed by us at gunpoint is poorly disguised tyranny indeed.
On
moral grounds alone, we must categorically reject the use of
U.S.-sponsored
death squads. Torture and terror by proxy is still torture and
terror...
For information contact, Jennifer Harbury, 800-388-3920, 512-751-5852
(cellular), or at jharbury(At)hotmail.com. UUSC is an international
human
rights agency based in Cambridge, Mass., and directs the STOP (Stop
Torture
Permanently) Campaign.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/12/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ BRINGS FORGIVENESS
* CAIR-CA PARTICIPATES IN 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM'
- ISLAM-OPED: Muslim Holiday Honors Abraham
* MUSLIMS TO MEET WITH FOX OVER DEPICTIONS IN '24' (CAIR)
- Probes of U.S. Muslims Turn Up Little Terror (NCR)
- 24: Letting Stereotypes Slip By (Harvard Crimson)
* MI: DEARBORN TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER QURAN REMARK (AP)
- MD: Muslim Students Seek Exam Changes (Wash Post)
* NOMINEE CRITICIZED OVER POST-9/11 POLICIES (Wash Post)
- The Torture Myth (Washington Post)
* STUDENT VISAS A CURE FOR US-ARAB TENSIONS (CS Monitor)
- White House Says Iraq Weapons Search Over (AP)
- UK: Police Ban Muslims from Carrying Flags (PA)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ BRINGS FORGIVENESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When you meet someone
who
has performed the pilgrimage, greet him, shake hands with him and tell
him
to ask forgiveness for you before he enters his house, for he has been
forgiven."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 802
-----
CAIR-SV PARTICIPATES IN 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM'
Members of Abrahamic faiths share perspective, build bridges
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/12/2005) The Sacramento Valley office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) recently co-sponsored a
"Celebration
of Abraham" interfaith event in Davis, Calif., that drew more than 500
members of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.
The event included readings from scriptures of the various faith
traditions
and culminated with the attendees breaking bread in a symbolic gesture
of
friendship.
Dr. Hamza ElNakhal, a member of Celebration of Abraham Committee, said,
"Interfaith events are important in shedding misconceptions about other
and
help develop understanding among people."
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Secretary, Maren Shawesh 916-441-6269
SEE ALSO:
ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIM HOLIDAY HONORS ABRAHAM
[NOTE: Muslim communities are encouraged to submit the commentary below
for
publication in a local newspaper.]
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED
commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each
market
area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
first-come-first-served basis. To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-OPED, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-oped/
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
NOTE: Eid ul-Adha is expected to begin January 21, depending on the
sighting of the new crescent moon.
MUSLIM HOLIDAY HONORS ABRAHAM
By Nihad Awad
Word Count: 610
When Muslims mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj,
later
this month, the central figure in their religious celebrations will be
the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith.
Each year, Muslims in American and around the world conclude their Hajj
with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha (eed-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the
sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha signifies not only the end of the pilgrimage,
which
is expected to include some 10,000 American Muslims among 2-3 million
pilgrims, it also commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his
son
at God's command. (Muslims believe it was Ishmael that God asked to be
sacrificed.)
One of the central rites of Hajj, the largest and oldest annual
gatherings
on earth, is the stoning by the pilgrims of three pillars representing
Satan's temptation of Abraham and his rejection of that enticement. The
stoning indicates the pilgrim's similar rejection of evil deeds.
Other Hajj rites also focus on Abraham and his family. Pilgrims circle
the
Kaaba, the simple stone building Muslims believe was originally built
by
Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Kaaba is viewed as the first sanctuary
on
earth dedicated to the worship of the One God. It is a symbol of unity
for
Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are performed, are oriented
in
its direction.
Pilgrims also perform the Sa'i, or "hastening" between two small hills
near
the Kaaba, to commemorate Hagar's desperate search for water to offer
her
son Ishmael.
Muslims call Abraham the "friend" of God. The Quran, Islam's revealed
text,
states: "Who can be better in faith than one who submits his whole self
to
God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in faith? For
God
did take Abraham for a friend." (4:125)
Another verse in the Quran portrays Abraham as the "father" of all
believers. "Strive in the way of God as you ought to strive with
sincerity
and discipline. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any
hardship in
the observance of your faith - the faith of your father Abraham."
(22:78)
Yet another verse confirms that Abraham is part of the brotherhood of
God's
prophets. "(O Muhammad), We have sent revelations to you just as We
sent to
Noah and the Prophets who came after him. We also sent revelations to
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, his descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah,
Aaron,
and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms." (4:163)
Muslims also mention Abraham along with the Prophet Muhammad in their
daily
prayers.
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
As always, it is up to people of good will to avoid easy answers and
instead do the hard work of confronting the kind of ignorance that can
lead
to religious bigotry.
Through Hajj, Abraham has united Muslims from all over the world for
more
than 14 centuries. The real challenge is for all of Abraham's children
-
Muslims, Christians and Jews - to unite for the common good of
humanity.
Nihad Awad is executive director of the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights
and advocacy group. He may be contacted at: nawad@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS TO MEET WITH FOX OVER DEPICTIONS IN '24'
[NOTE: Later today, representatives of CAIR-National, CAIR-LA, the
Muslim
Public Affairs Council, and the Southern California Muslim community
will
meet with Fox officials and the co-creator of "24."]
CONTACT: CAIR-National Spokesperson, Rabiah Ahmed, 202-439-1441;
CAIR-LA
Communications Director, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334,
CAIR-LA
Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, 714-776-1847
'24'S' LATEST PLOT TWIST PAINS SOME MUSLIMS
Dana Parsons, Los Angles Time, 1/12/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-parsons12jan12,1,301488.column
Premiering against the backdrop of post-Sept. 11 America, "24" has
always
been about figuring out terrorist plots, but this year it will test
viewers
in a different way.
The story line so far: A seemingly normal, upscale Muslim family is a
sleeper terrorist cell. We've learned that Mom and Dad are knee-deep in
a
plot that has resulted in a train derailment and the kidnapping of the
U.S.
defense secretary. And that they've actively involved their teenage
son.
Not to mention that in Monday's episode, they ordered him to shoot his
non-Muslim girlfriend because she stumbled onto information that could
prove dangerous to them.
"24" comes through again. Can't wait till next week.
Then again, I'm not the Muslim living next door. I'm a blue-eyed boy
from
Nebraska, immune to cultural stereotypes.
Thus, the test. In an era where Americans are fearful of attack from
Islamic fundamentalists, will a TV show depicting "normal" people as
terrorists deepen our paranoia? Will it lead to violence against
Muslims or
Middle Easterners?...
The easy answer is to say that of course, everyone realizes that. But
it's
not quite that simple, says Sabiha Khan, a spokeswoman for the local
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, headquartered in
Anaheim.
She's not a "24" fan but has seen this year's episodes and is worried.
Today, in fact, she and other CAIR officials will take their concerns
to
Fox in Los Angeles.
CAIR doesn't want to curtail Fox's creative license, Khan says.
However,
CAIR is concerned that the depiction "will contribute to an atmosphere
that
it's OK to harm and discriminate against Muslims. This could actually
hurt
real-life people."
CAIR doesn't expect Fox to dump the story line but might ask that it
consider ways to mitigate it in future episodes. "We're realistic,"
Khan
says. "We're not asking for something that can't be done."
It would be naive to dismiss Khan's concerns. At this point in American
history, it's an unfortunate fact of life that some people harbor
unfair
suspicions of Muslims in our midst.
So while I tout "24," how does my favorite show look like through
Khan's eyes?
"It was almost like a heart-sinking, crashing feeling down to the
floor,"
she says. "Just being attacked, seeing your religion attacked, which,
if it
is the essence of your being, is a very difficult thing to take. You
feel
mixed emotions - anger, disappointment, hurt."
The "24" terrorist family, she says, "is not a family I've ever known.
None
of the 9/11 hijackers had that kind of family…. It's not really based
on
any reality of what we [in America] are going through..."
SEE ALSO:
INVESTIGATIONS OF U.S. MUSLIMS TURN UP LITTLE TERROR
JOHN TIRMAN, National Catholic Reporter, 1/14/05
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2005a/011405/011405a.php
One of the mysteries surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the frequent
terrorist alerts ever since is the role played, if any, by American
Muslims
in supporting al-Qaeda operations. The U.S. government acts as if there
is
a support base of some kind. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card
told a
CNN reporter during the Republican convention, "We know there are
al-Qaeda
cells" operating inside the country. During the early August scare
about
terrorists targeting financial institutions, newspaper reports often
alluded to, but did not identify or describe, a support network or
individuals living in the United States.
For the 5 million or so Muslims in the United States, a large majority
of
whom are U.S. citizens, such implications are troubling. Their
communities
across the country have been shaken by the post-9/11 antiterrorist
campaign: Law enforcement agents have interviewed nearly 200,000
Muslims
and others from predominantly Muslim countries; hundreds have been
deported
or detained for long periods; thousands were subject to a "special
registration," and now some hundreds have been indicted in widely
publicized "terrorist" prosecutions. Charities and other social
institutions have been shut down or disabled, and surveillance in these
communities is now a given. But the cardinal question of whether or not
domestic Muslim populations actually pose a security threat remains
unanswered, indeed, unarticulated, in public discourse and official
pronouncements…
The evidence thus far, however, indicates that Muslims living in
America
have not constituted a social base for al-Qaeda. It is striking, in
fact,
that so little illegality has been uncovered in a population so
thoroughly
investigated and watched. The prosecutions of alleged terrorist-related
activities, which should represent the most definitive picture of how
the
government views the internal threat, have established very little --
if
anything -- that could be described as evidence of al-Qaeda cells
operating
in the United States. Nothing else in the publicly known record of this
massive law enforcement and intelligence effort suggests that a
conspiracy
exists, a remarkably clean bill for these communities...
John Tirman is coauthor and editor of The Maze of Fear: Security and
Migration After 9/11 (The New Press), and is executive director of the
Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
---
LETTING STEREOTYPES SLIP BY
JADE JURDI and MAGDEY A. ABDALLAH, Harvard Crimson, 1/12/05
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=505315
This past week, the Undergraduate Council presented an advance
screening of
the first three episodes of Fox's popular television show, "24." In
doing
so, the council insensitively aired an offensive portrayal of Middle
Eastern Americans. Given the simplistic depiction of Middle Eastern
Americans in Fox's "24," the show was inconsistent with the values of
cultural awareness and diversity that the Undergraduate Council and the
University seek to promote...
-----
DEARBORN TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER REPORTED QURAN REMARK
Associated Press, 1/12/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw109929_20050112.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- A middle school history teacher in a heavily
Arab
Detroit suburb has been suspended while officials investigate a report
he
told students that Bedouin Arabs used the Quran as toilet paper, a
newspaper said Wednesday.
A closed hearing on the teacher's status was held Tuesday, The Detroit
News
said. It said Superintendent John Artis was expected to decide the case
this week. The teacher was suspended with pay…
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
CONTACT: CAIR-Michigan, 248-569-2203
SEE ALSO:
CONTACT: CAIR-MD/VA, 301-986-1900
MUSLIM STUDENTS SEEK EXAM CHANGES
Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64493-2005Jan10.html
Scroll down.
Several Muslim students protested Montgomery County's final exam
schedule
yesterday, saying it interferes with a religious holiday.
Zainab El Radi, a senior at Gaithersburg High School and a member of
its
Muslim Student Association, said that her anatomy and physiology exam
overlaps with the start of Eid ul-Adha, or the Festival of the
Sacrifice,
which begins in two weeks. She and two other Muslim students asked the
county school board at its regular meeting to reconsider the schedule.
Muslim students have an excused absence that day, the students said.
But
Samira Hussein, a Gaithersburg mother of four, said it is not enough.
"They
always fall behind one or two days," she said. "We're tired of making
up."
------
NOMINEE CRITICIZED OVER POST-9/11 POLICIES
John Mintz, Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2102-2005Jan11
Michael Chertoff, President Bush's nominee to be secretary of homeland
security, is widely hailed for his intellectual heft and tireless work
habits as a federal prosecutor and judge. But he also faces criticism
as an
architect of some of the most controversial elements of the Bush
administration's domestic war on terrorism that followed the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks.
As an assistant attorney general in the months after the attacks,
Chertoff
helped oversee the detention of 762 foreign nationals for immigration
violations; none of them was charged with terrorism-related crimes. A
subsequent report by the Justice Department's inspector general
determined
that Justice's "no bond" policy for the detainees -- a tactic whose
legality was questioned at the time by immigration officials -- led to
lengthy delays in releasing them from prison, where some faced "a
pattern
of physical and verbal abuse..."
SEE ALSO:
THE TORTURE MYTH
Anne Applebaum, Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2302-2005Jan11.html
Just for a moment, let's pretend that there is no moral, legal or
constitutional problem with torture. Let's also imagine a clear-cut
case: a
terrorist who knows where bombs are about to explode in Iraq. To stop
him,
it seems that a wide range of Americans would be prepared to endorse
"cruel
and unusual" methods. In advance of confirmation hearings for Attorney
General-designate Alberto Gonzales last week, the Wall Street Journal
argued that such scenarios must be debated, since "what's at stake in
this
controversy is nothing less than the ability of U.S. forces to
interrogate
enemies who want to murder innocent civilians." Alan Dershowitz, the
liberal legal scholar, has argued in the past that interrogators in
such a
case should get a "torture warrant" from a judge. Both of these
arguments
rest on an assumption: that torture -- defined as physical pressure
during
interrogation -- can be used to extract useful information.
But does torture work? The question has been asked many times since
Sept.
11, 2001. I'm repeating it, however, because the Gonzales hearings
inspired
more articles about our lax methods ("Too Nice for Our Own Good" was
one
headline), because similar comments may follow this week's trial of
Spec.
Charles Graner, the alleged Abu Ghraib ringleader, and because I still
cannot find a positive answer. I've heard it said that the Syrians and
the
Egyptians "really know how to get these things done." I've heard the
Israelis mentioned, without proof. I've heard Algeria mentioned, too,
but
Darius Rejali, an academic who recently trolled through French
archives,
found no clear examples of how torture helped the French in Algeria --
and
they lost that war anyway. "Liberals," argued an article in the liberal
online magazine Slate a few months ago, "have a tendency to accept, all
too
eagerly, the argument that torture is ineffective." But it's also true
that
"realists," whether liberal or conservative, have a tendency to accept,
all
too eagerly, fictitious accounts of effective torture carried out by
someone else…
Given the overwhelmingly negative evidence, the really interesting
question
is not whether torture works but why so many people in our society want
to
believe that it works. At the moment, there is a myth in circulation, a
fable that goes something like this: Radical terrorists will take
advantage
of our fussy legality, so we may have to suspend it to beat them.
Radical
terrorists mock our namby-pamby prisons, so we must make them tougher.
Radical terrorists are nasty, so to defeat them we have to be nastier.
Perhaps it's reassuring to tell ourselves tales about the new forms of
"toughness" we need, or to talk about the special rules we will create
to
defeat this special enemy. Unfortunately, that toughness is
self-deceptive
and self-destructive. Ultimately it will be self-defeating as well.
-----
CURE FOR US-ARAB TENSIONS: MORE STUDENT VISAS
John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor, 1/12/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0112/p09s01-cojh.html
The overall number of such students is down 2.4 percent this year, with
graduate students down 6 percent. In part, there is a perception that
America is less hospitable than before 9/11, but there are horror
stories
of bureaucratic delays in processing visas, and even the granting of
reentry visas to students who have studied in the US for years.
American families are generous and kindly to international visitors and
hundreds of thousands of them return to their countries with positive
memories of American lifestyles, ideas, and principles. As Secretary of
State Colin Powell once said: "I can think of no more valuable asset to
our
country than the friendship of future world leaders who have been
educated
here." Half the Jordanian cabinet, for example, was educated in the
US...
In the past, a key part of US public diplomacy was the encouragement of
thousands of journalists, artists, budding politicians, teachers, and
opinion leaders to visit America for varying periods of time, to
observe it
and its people firsthand. Students, especially if they pursue graduate
studies, spend five or six or more years living in American communities
and
rarely return to their homelands unchanged by that experience...
o John Hughes, a former editor of the Monitor, is editor and chief
operating officer of the Deseret Morning News.
SEE ALSO:
WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAQ WEAPONS SEARCH OVER
Associated Press, 1/12/05
WASHINGTON (AP) - The search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
has
quietly concluded without any evidence of the banned weapons that
President
Bush cited as justification for going to war, the White House said
Wednesday.
The Iraq Survey Group, made up of some 1,200 military and intelligence
specialists and support staff, spent nearly two years searching
military
installations, factories and laboratories whose equipment and products
might be converted quickly to making weapons.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said there no longer is an
active search for weapons. ``There may be a couple, a few people, that
are
focused on that'' but that it has largely concluded, he said…
---
POLICE BAN MUSLIMS FROM CARRYING NATIONAL FLAGS
Nick Allen, Press Association, 1/12/05
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3991151
Police have banned Muslims from carrying national flags at a series of
celebrations later this month, it emerged today.
They claimed the waving of flags during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations in
Southall, London would increase tensions and said those who persisted
may
be arrested for breaching the peace.
The move was criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain. Sadiq Khan,
chairman of the council's legal affairs committee, said: "This is the
first
time I can recall someone being prohibited from waving a national flag
in a
public place, other than a sports occasion, in the mainland UK.
"I can't see the legal justification for this. If it is the case that
the
police are concerned to prevent anti-social behaviour then the way to
do
that is to stop people firing fireworks after midnight or beeping their
horns late at night.
"I'm unclear how the carrying of national flags causes anti-social
behaviour and I think it's slightly odd. Whether you agree or disagree
with
the way people celebrate a festival they are not doing anything against
the
law…"
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/13/05
* HADITH/VERSE OF THE DAY: CARE FOR ORPHANS
* CAIR-NJ: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TRAVELER
- CAIR: Tenn. Muslim Student Allowed to Wear Hijab
- ISLAM-OPED: Hajj Shows Similarities in Religions
* U.S. MUSLIMS MEET WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS (CAIR)
* U.S. MISSIONARIES RELOCATE 300 INDONESIAN MUSLIM ORPHANS
- Calif. Muslims to Hold Tsunami Relief Fundraiser
- GA: Activists Red-Flag Hindu Charity (Atlanta Journal)
* POLL: MOST AMERICANS REJECT USE OF TORTURE (USA Today)
* FL: 400 MUSLIMS TO ATTEND LOCAL CONFERENCE (Miami Herald)
- UT: Orem Mosque Gathers Faithful (Daily Universe)
- NH: Judge Removes Roadblock to Mosque (Union Leader)
- CA: Mosque Member Seeks to Inform (CC Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CARE FOR ORPHANS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone strokes an
orphan's head, doing so only for God's sake, he will have blessings for
every hair over which his hand passes. And if anyone treats well an
orphan
girl or boy under his care, he and I shall be like these two in
Paradise,"
while putting two of his fingers together.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1282
VERSE OF THE DAY: BE KIND TO ORPHANS
"Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgment? It is he who
drives
away the orphan with harshness and does not encourage the feeding of
the
poor."
The Holy Quran, 107:1-3
-----
CAIR-NJ: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TRAVELER
CAIR'S New Jersey office (CAIR-NJ) will hold a "Know Your Rights as a
Traveler" workshop this Sunday at the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
LOCATION: Islamic Center Of Passaic County, 152 Derrom Avenue,
Paterson, NJ
DATE/TIME: Sunday, January 16, 7 p.m.
CONTACT: Council on American-Islamic Relations, New Jersey Chapter,
Tel:
973-785-3050, E-Mail: cair@cair-nj.org, or Mohamed Elfilali, ICPC at
(973)
278-7070
SEE ALSO:
TENN. MUSLIM STUDENT ALLOWED TO WEAR HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/13/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today announced that a Muslim student at East Ridge High School
in
Chattanooga, Tenn., will now be allowed to wear her Islamic head scarf,
or
hijab, in school. The student had previously been told she could not
wear
her religiously-mandated head scarf because it was against the school
dress
code.
The school's decision to allow the head scarf came after intervention
by
CAIR's Civil Rights Department.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada.
Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions
that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman at 202-488-8787, ext.
6033
---
ISLAM-OPED: HAJJ ACTS ILLUSTRATE SIMILARITIES IN RELIGIONS
NIHAD AWAD, Sun News, 1/13/05
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/10632731.htm
[Nihad Awad is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.]
When Muslims mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or hajj,
later
this month, the central figure in their religious celebrations will be
the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith...
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
Through hajj, Abraham has united Muslims for more than 14 centuries.
The
real challenge is for all of Abraham's children - Muslims, Christians
and
Jews - to unite for the common good of humanity.
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS MEET WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
CAIR offers proposal to challenge Islamophobia, anti-Americanism
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/13/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) and several other Muslim and Arab-American groups met yesterday
with
top State Department officials to discuss a number of issues related to
American foreign policy.
In that meeting, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad presented Assistant
Secretary Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Assistant Secretary Richard A.
Boucher and Ambassador William Joseph Burns with a proposal for
cooperative
efforts to challenge both Islamophobia and anti-Americanism.
The CAIR proposal includes such measures as producing a report on the
growing phenomenon of Islamophobia, conferences in this country and in
the
Muslim world to discuss both Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism and
domestic
and international "goodwill ambassadors" who can speak about both
topics.
CAIR's proposal stated in part: "By challenging anti-Muslim bigotry, we
can
help reduce anti-American attitudes in the Islamic world. And by having
American Muslims speak out in support of their nation's values, while
at
the same time maintaining essential credibility on issues of importance
to
Muslims worldwide, we undercut growing Islamophobic views in our
society…CAIR stands ready to offer whatever help we can in decreasing
worldwide tensions and promoting an accurate image of America in the
Islamic world."
Awad described yesterday's meeting as "open and forward-looking."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org
-----
U.S. MISSIONARIES RELOCATE 300 INDONESIAN MUSLIM ORPHANS
VA. MISSIONARIES TALK OF RAISING MUSLIM TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN CHRISTIAN
HOME
Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 1/13/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5018-2005Jan12.html
A Virginia-based missionary group said this week that it has airlifted
300
"tsunami orphans" from the Muslim province of Banda Aceh to Jakarta,
the
Indonesian capital, where it plans to raise them in a Christian
children's
home.
The missionary group, WorldHelp, is one of dozens of Christian, Muslim
and
Jewish charities providing humanitarian relief to victims of the Dec.
26
earthquake and tsunami that devastated countries around the Indian
Ocean,
taking more than 150,000 lives...
"Normally, Banda Aceh is closed to foreigners and closed to the gospel.
But, because of this catastrophe, our partners there are earning the
right
to be heard and providing entrance for the gospel," WorldHelp said in
an
appeal for funds on its Web site this week.
The appeal said WorldHelp was working with native-born Christians in
Indonesia who want to "plant Christian principles as early as possible"
in
the 300 Muslim children, all younger than 12, who lost their parents in
the
tsunami.
"These children are homeless, destitute, traumatized, orphaned, with
nowhere to go, nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat. If we can place
them in
a Christian children's home, their faith in Christ could become the
foothold to reach the Aceh people," it said…
Brewer, a Baptist minister, was the first person to graduate from the
Rev.
Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., in 1971…
SEE ALSO:
CALIF. MUSLIMS TO HOLD TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDRAISER
Event sponsored by area Mosques/Islamic centers will conclude two-week
long
fundraising drive.
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/13/2005) - The 2-week long fundraising campaign by
the
local Islamic Centers will culminate on Friday January 14, 2005 with a
major fundraiser to aid the victims of the South Asian Tsunami. The
fundraiser is organized by the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic
Organizations (COSVIO). The local community is urged to support this
humanitarian effort. Over $90,000 have already been raised for Tsunami
relief. Final figures will be reported at the conclusion of fundraising
campaign.
Telephone donations: During the hours of fundraiser, donations may also
be
made by telephone by calling (916) 802-9873
To encourage donations, the US Congress declared that any donations
given
toward the Tsunami relief effort by the end of January can be counted
as a
tax deduction for the 2004 tax year.
Please see the advertisement in the Metro section of The Sacramento
Bee,
January 13, 2005 edition.
WHAT: Muslim Community Fundraiser for Asia Tsunami Relief
WHEN: January 14, 2005 @ 6:00 PM
WHERE: La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Rd., Carmichael, CA
For more information, contact your local Mosque or Farouk Fakira
President
of COSVIO at (916) 717-1006
---
ACTIVISTS RED-FLAG HINDU CHARITY
Hate-group watchdogs say parent company funneled donations to
fundamentalists.
BRIAN FEAGANS, The Atlanta Journal, 1/13/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/metro/gwinnett/0105/13sewa.html
A largely dormant relief organization based in Duluth sprang to life
just
days after the South Asian tsunami disaster.
Using its contacts in the Indian-American community, Sewa International
USA
began soliciting donations in a dozen different states to finance
tsunami
aid. Teams of teenagers held phone-a-thons. Next month, the charity
plans
to hold a volleyball fund-raiser at Mercer University called the
"Tsunami
Cup." And Sewa International USA says that's just the beginning.
"We want to be big," said Srikanth Konda, a Duluth resident and the
nonprofit group's national organizer.
But the grand humanitarian aims and Konda's easy smile belie
accusations
dogging Sewa International, Sewa International USA's sister charity in
India.
Two hate-group watchdogs --- a U.S.-based network of activists called
the
Campaign to Stop Funding Hate and the British group Awaaz-South Asia
Watch
--- have warned donors to steer clear of any group affiliated with Sewa
International or its parent, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. They say the
groups
are part of an umbrella organization that has funneled relief donations
into the hands of Hindu fundamentalists following past natural
disasters in
India…
A February 2004 report by Awaaz-South Asia Watch alleged widespread
misuse
of funds collected by India-based Sewa International for victims of a
1999
cyclone and a 2001 earthquake.
The money actually helped fund Hindu nationalist schools with
anti-Muslim,
anti-Christian teachings, according to the report from Awaaz, a
coalition
of Indian academics and attorneys in Britain. Temples were rebuilt
while
mosques were left in ruins, Awaaz said. And the funds fomented
sectarian
hatreds that fed riots in Gujarat in 2002, Awaaz concluded. Nearly
2,000
people died, mostly Muslims, after a Muslim mob attacked a train full
of
Hindus in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Ra Ravishankar, a spokesman for the Campaign to Stop Funding Hate, said
Sewa International is one of several groups affiliated with the
Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh, which has supporters at all levels of government in
India. He said RSS fronts have a history of using natural disasters to
raise money…
-----
POLL: MOST OBJECT TO EXTREME INTERROGATION TACTICS
Toni Locy, USA TODAY, 1/13/05
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050113/a_interrogate13.art.htm
WASHINGTON - Americans strongly disapprove of harsh interrogation
tactics
the U.S. government has used to try to extract information about
possible
terrorist attacks from detainees held in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cuba, a
new
USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll says.
The poll, conducted Friday-Sunday, found that sizable majorities of
Americans disagree with tactics ranging from leaving prisoners naked
and
chained in uncomfortable positions for hours, to trying to make a
prisoner
think he was being drowned.
Most Americans surveyed also said they believe the abuse and sexual
humiliation of Iraqi detainees by U.S. Army reservists at Baghdad's Abu
Ghraib prison have damaged the USA's reputation as a protector of civil
liberties - and made it more likely that U.S. soldiers captured by
America's enemies will be tortured.
In part, the results reflect how interrogation methods exposed by the
Abu
Ghraib scandal have raised questions about the Bush administration's
efforts to get information about terrorist plots…
Americans' uneasiness with such tactics is clear: In USA TODAY's poll,
79%
said chaining naked prisoners in cold rooms was wrong; 85% were against
female interrogators touching male Muslim captives during religious
observances, and 48% opposed depriving captives of sleep...
-----
400 MUSLIMS TO ATTEND LOCAL CONFERENCE
BEA L. HINES, Miami Herald, 1/13/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miam
i-dade/cities_neighborhoods/northcentral/10623513.htm
Some 400 Muslims from across the state will gather in Miami this
weekend
for the annual Florida Conference of Muslim Americans.
Masjid Al-Ansar, a mosque at 5245 NW Seventh Ave. in Liberty City, will
host the meeting, at which issues like youth and young adults, women,
leadership and economic projects will be discussed.
Delegates at the meetings try to follow the directions set by Wallace
D.
Muhammad, son of the late Elijah Muhammad, who founded the Nation of
Islam,
said Fred Nuriddin, the assistant imam or prayer leader at Masjid
Al-Ansar.
''His economic programs are to establish Muslim businesses, communities
and
educational institutions of higher learning in our own local areas,''
Nuriddin said. ''Whatever he is doing nationally, he wants us to do
locally.''
Muhammad, he said, encourages Muslims, for example, to set up their own
meat processing plants and to have their own grocery stores, because of
dietary restrictions imposed by Islam, and also to have economic
dignity.
''I am Muslim, but I am also an African American. And right now, other
people are providing those things for us. We have a responsibility to
lead
our own people to economic freedom,'' Nuriddin said…
SEE ALSO:
OREM MOSQUE GATHERS FAITHFUL
Eric McDonald, Daily Universe, 1/12/05
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/53963
Imagine getting up for church at 6 in the morning every day before
attending a full of class. Pashar Sader does it without a single
complaint.
Sader is just one of approximately 50 practicing Muslims in Utah
County,
most of who are BYU students. Attending prayer meetings at a mosque in
Orem
may require sacrifice, but it is a very worthwhile sacrifice, they say.
The mosque functions like an LDS chapel where prayer meetings are
organized, but the major difference is there are five prayer meetings
each
day…
---
NH: JUDGE REMOVES ROADBLOCK TO MOSQUE
NANCY MEERSMAN, Union Leader, 1/12/05
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bbj8o9aab.0.lhfxo9aab.k7h77xn6.160&p=http%3A%2F%2Fww
w.theunionleader.com%2Farticles_showfast.html%3Farticle%3D49508
MANCHESTER - A Hillsborough County Superior Court judge has removed a
legal
roadblock that stood in the way of construction of New Hampshire's
first
Islamic mosque, on Karatzas Avenue off Wellington Road.
The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester, which has been trying to
build a
mosque since 1999, obtained city permits in 2003 to build a
13,085-square-foot mosque on a site it owns on Bald Hill.
But abutters Milton and Sally Healy Argeriou, 300 Karatzas Ave.,
contested
the approval in court, claiming the mosque site did not meet setback
requirements...
---
MOSQUE MEMBER SEEKS TO INFORM
Danielle McNamara, Contra Costa Times, 1/13/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/cou
nties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/antioch/10634227.htm
Baber Pasha is spreading the word.
Pasha, a member of the Dar-Us-Salam or House of Peace mosque in Bay
Point,
donated a dozen books to the local library to make more information
about
Islam available.
Pasha said he plans to visit other libraries in the county and donate a
similar collection to each branch. The mosque at 520 Pacific Ave. has a
fund for the donations.
Questions abound about jihad, segregation of the sexes and other
issues,
Pasha said. He hopes having accessible information about Islam will
help
clear up confusion.
"Sometimes people ask about things that are cultural and not religious.
I
try to clarify those things," he said. "My family and I get asked
questions
about Islam frequently.
Carolina Montufar, who supervises the Bay Point Library, said the books
are
a needed addition to the library's collection because the religion
section
is limited.
The books include one about the philosophy of the teachings of Islam,
selected verses of the Koran and selected sayings of the prophet
Mohammed.
Typically books about Islam must come through inter-library loan.
Interest
in books about Islam has risen in the past year, Montufar said…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS ENCOURAGED BY FOX '24' MEETING
Network asks affiliates nationwide to air CAIR PSA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/14/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said that it is encouraged by a recent meeting in Los
Angeles
with representatives of the Fox television network to discuss Muslim
concerns about the drama series "24." SEE: http://www.fox.com/24/
CAIR called for Wednesday's meeting to address the depiction of a
"Muslim"
family that is at the heart of a terror plot in the popular program.
The
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is concerned
that
the portrayal of the family as a terrorist "sleeper cell" may cast a
shadow
of suspicion over ordinary American Muslims and could increase
Islamophobic
stereotyping and bias.
At the meeting, which included representatives from CAIR's Southern
California office and from the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs
Council, Fox officials said they would distribute a CAIR public service
announcement (PSA) to network affiliates and ask that it be aired in
proximity to "24."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
SEE ALSO: "US TV to Screen Pro-Muslim Spots"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4173647.stm
FOX also gave meeting participants assurances that the program will be
balanced in its portrayal of Muslims. Network representatives said that
they had already reviewed existing episodes and removed some aspects
that
could potentially be viewed as stereotypical.
"We thank Fox for the opportunity to address the Muslim community's
concerns and for the willingness of network officials to take those
concerns seriously in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation,"
said CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed. She added that CAIR
looks forward to working with Fox in the future.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim advocacy group, has 30 offices and
chapters
nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of
Islam,
encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims,
and
build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-National Spokesperson, Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441; CAIR-LA Communications Director, Sabiha Khan,
714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, 714-776-1847
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/14/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY IS THE BEST HAJJ PROVISION
* CAIR-NJ: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
* CNN SEGMENT ON AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MUSLIMS
* MI: TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER QURAN REMARK (CNN)
- TN: School Allows Muslim Headscarves (AP)
* CHRISTIAN GROUP DROPS INDONESIA ORPHANAGE PLAN (Reuters)
- TX: Muslims Raising Tsunami Funds (Dallas Morning News)
- Victim Says His Survival Is Gift of Allah (AP)
* MN: ISLAMIC CENTER SEEKS TO SOOTHE EXPANSION FEARS (Star Trib)
- FL: Concern About Plans for Mosque (News Gazette)
* CAIR-OH: PROMISED LAND, BY THE SQUARE FOOT (Columbus Disp)
* CONGRESS KILLED MEASURES TO BAN U.S. USE OF TORTURE (NYT)
- Iraq New Terror Breeding Ground (Wash Post)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY IS THE BEST HAJJ PROVISION
"Whoever undertakes the Hajj must abstain from lewd speech, from all
wicked
conduct and from quarrelling. Whatever good you may do, God is aware of
it.
And take provisions (with you) for the journey, but (remember that)
piety
is the best of provisions."
The Holy Quran, 2:197
------
CAIR-NJ: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is
looking for an intern to be a part-time Research Associate. The intern
will
be responsible for conducting directed researches at CAIR-NJ for one
year.
Those interested should send a resume as an application to:
Internship@cair-nj.org
-----
NOTE TO WATCH: CNN SEGMENT AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MUSLIMS
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/paula.zahn.now/
On Friday, January 15, CNN's Paula Zahn Now will air a segment on
American
Muslims' responses to a Cornell University study indicating that 44
percent
of Americans were in favor of curbing their civil rights. The program
airs
at 8 p.m. EST.
-----
TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER REPORTED ANTI-ARAB REMARK
Associated Press, 1/12/05
http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/01/12/teacher.suspended.ap/
DEARBORN, Michigan -- A middle school teacher has been suspended with
pay
while officials investigate a report he told his students that Bedouin
Arabs used the Quran as toilet paper.
The teacher is on the faculty of Woodworth Middle School in Dearborn, a
Detroit suburb of 100,000. About 30,000 Dearborn residents are
Arab-American.
Bedouins are members of historically nomadic tribes and make up about
10
percent of the population of the Middle East. The Quran is the Muslim
holy
book.
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
ALSO SEE:
TENN. SCHOOL ALLOWS MUSLIM HEADSCARVES
Bill Poovey, Associated Press, 1/15/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-muslim-headscarf-school,0,3688861.story
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A public high school changed its dress code to
allow
religious headscarves after a national civil rights group for Muslims
complained to the principal on behalf of a student.
A spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Emily
Smith, 18, a senior at Chattanooga's East Ridge High School, wore her
headscarf, or hijab, on campus for the first time Thursday.
Smith said that although friends and a few teachers offered
congratulations, "I wanted to keep it as low-key as possible."
Khadija Athman, civil rights manager for the Washington, D.C.-based
council, said the group sent the school principal a letter Jan. 6,
three
days after the student e-mailed the council asking about her rights...
-----
CHRISTIAN GROUP DROPS INDONESIA ORPHANAGE PLAN
Reuters, 1/13/05
WASHINGTON - An evangelical Christian charity has dropped plans to
settle
50 Muslim children orphaned by the Asian tsunami in a Christian-run
home
after the Indonesian government blocked the move, the group said on
Thursday.
Virginia-based World Help has raised $70,000 to place Muslim children
in a
Christian orphanage near Jakarta. But the group's president, the Rev.
Vernon Brewer said it suspended fund-raising on Wednesday after
Indonesia
said Muslim children could not be raised in a non-Muslim home.
"Once we realized that the government was not going to grant permission
yesterday we took that fund-raising appeal off of our Web site," Brewer
said in a telephone interview with Reuters.
The plan drew criticism from Muslim groups which said it would take
advantage of people in a position of need. Many religious charities
prohibit mixing relief efforts with proselytizing.
"This confirms some of our worst fears that certain missionary groups
would
exploit the tragedy and the earthquake to enter into these areas and
convert people through use of a disproportionate power relationship,"
said
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"How many incidents of this type are taking place that we don't hear
about?" Hooper said…
ALSO SEE:
AREA MUSLIMS RAISING TSUNAMI FUNDS
N. Texas mosques are also sending medicine, volunteers
Esther WU, Dallas Morning News, 1/13/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/011405dnmettsunamimosques.27bc6.html
When news of the catastrophic tsunamis reached North Texas, Arshad Syed
was
one of several members of the Dallas Central Mosque who initially
appealed
to the congregation to help.
"There is nothing we can do to take away their sorrows," said Mr. Syed,
a
trustee at the mosque. "The least we can do is to help with our
charitable
contributions and to pray for them."
That initial effort garnered $25,000 and led the Islamic Association of
North Texas, which oversees the Dallas mosque, to coordinate efforts
with
the major local mosques - including those in Irving, Plano, Arlington
and
Fort Worth.
The group has collected more than $177,000, and collections continue.
The
group is expected to have a news conference today to discuss how the
money
will be disbursed.
"And we are blessed to have many doctors within our community who are
also
collecting medicine for us. Also, some volunteers are flying to Sri
Lanka
in the next few days to help," Mr. Syed said.
Maria Casas-Seker, the mosque's administration specialist, is still
getting
inquiries daily.
"Most are those wanting to drop off clothing," she said.
"Unfortunately, we
are just concentrating on monetary donations now."
There are more than 150,000 Muslims in North Texas.
"It is only natural that we play a role in this effort," Mr. Syed said.
"Many Muslims were impacted, and that has touched many of us. But this
effort is more than a moral obligation. It is part of our religion to
help
those in need. We want to do as much as we can."
Donations may be sent to IANT, P.O. Box 83310, Richardson, Texas 75083.
Make checks payable to IANT, and write "AERF" or "EARTHQUAKE" in the
memo
section. Donations may also be made online at www.iant.com.
---
TSUNAMI VICTIM RESCUED AFTER 15 DAYS AT SEA SAYS HIS SURVIVAL IS GIFT
OF ALLAH
Vijay Joshi, Associated Press, 1/14/04
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/11/international1358EST0610.DTL
KLANG, Malaysia (AP) - Lying prone on the bobbing wooden plank, Ari
Afrizal
looked left and saw the fiery red sun dipping into the watery horizon.
Weakly, he turned his face the other way and saw a pearly white full
moon
rising in the east.
All around him, the sea looked like it was sprinkled with chopped
leaves of
gold, shimmering in the sun's glow. Ari had never seen a more wondrous
sight. ``It was beautiful, but it was sad,'' he said.
It was dusk on Dec. 26, and Ari had been adrift in the Indian Ocean for
about eight hours, plucked from a beach side construction site in the
Indonesian province of Aceh by the waves of a demonic tsunami and
hurled
into the unforgiving sea.
Ari survived that night. And for the next 14 days, the devout Muslim
lived
on coconuts and prayers until he was rescued Sunday by a container ship
heading from Oman to Malaysia. His ordeal, recounted in an exclusive
interview with The Associated Press, is the longest known of any
tsunami
survivor at sea…
Ari calls his survival a gift from Allah, the fruit of his devotion.
With very little to do for 15 days except to think about his family and
girlfriend Ayi Melia, Ari said he prayed.
"Allah I seek your forgiveness and I seek your help for myself and my
parents and Ayi," he would recite again and again in the Malay
language,
spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia. "Please give me life. Please give me
life…"
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER SEEKS TO SOOTHE EXPANSION FEARS
Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune, 1/14/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5185950.html
As the Islamic Center of Minnesota prepares to expand its school this
spring, center officials said they will do their best to mend fences
with
Fridley neighbors who oppose the addition.
The center, a focal point of the Muslim community in the Twin Cities,
addressed some objections from city officials and neighbors by revising
its
building plans, said center vice president Anwar Abdel-Karim.
And before construction begins this spring, the center plans to offer a
90-minute class explaining the religion of Islam and Islamic culture.
"We are a good neighbor and would like a good relationship with all of
our
neighbors, and will do the best we can to get our relationship back to
where it was," Abdel-Karim said.
The Fridley City Council voted 3-2 last week to allow the center to
proceed
with the expansion, which will include 14 new classrooms this year and
a
gym, locker rooms, bookstore and library in five to 10 years.
The expansion would add up to 200 students to Al-Amal School, a
combined
grade school and high school that has an enrollment of about 350.
Many neighbors said the council should approve just one phase of the
project at a time, while others expressed concerns that the plans will
enlarge the school beyond its original scope and erode peace and quiet…
ALSO SEE:
INTERCESSION CITY RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT PLANS FOR MOSQUE
Marvin G. Cortner, OSC News Gazette, 1/13/05
http://www.oscnewsgazette.com/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=9914
Residents along U.S. 17-92 midway between Campbell City and
Intercession
City are worried that a proposed mosque would increase traffic and
reduce
property values in their neighborhood.
Baker Mohammad has applied for a conditional use for a 6-acre-site
owned by
the Albir Islamic Association Inc., on the south side of Old Tampa
Highway
north of U.S. 17-92 and west of Delores Road. The site is in the Cherub
Homes subdivision and the new mosque would serve as a new location for
an
existing Islamic congregation.
The Osceola County Commission had the issue on its agenda Jan. 3 but
the
request was returned to the Osceola County Planning Commission for
further
review Jan. 6.
According to letters sent by residents to the Osceola County Growth
Management Department, the most-often cited complaints are that the
mosque
would be inappropriate in a residential neighborhood, it would increase
traffic in the subdivision and overflow parking would end up on
residential
streets.
The height of the proposed mosque, according to residents' letters,
would
be at least 40 feet high - inappropriate for an area with predominantly
single-story structures. The size of the proposed mosque would be
15,000
square feet...
-----
FOR SALE: PROMISED LAND, BY THE SQUARE FOOT
Randy Ludlow, Columbus Dispatch, 1/14/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/01/14/20050114-E1-02.html
DELAWARE, Ohio -- Mira Whitney and Yoni Hanegbi set up shop in the
William
Street United Methodist Church hoping to ''sell'' square-foot plots in
Jerusalem and the West Bank to Christians.
There were cookies and coffee, a gospel singer belting out Christian
classics, renditions of the American and Israeli national anthems and a
27-minute video about the Promised Land Project.
What was lacking were prospective purchasers. No one attended the
Monday-night session, save for a reporter and photographer.
Reclaiming the West Bank -- a square foot at a time -- is proving a
tough
sell for the pair of Israelis touring the Columbus area in search of
spiritual and financial support from non-Jews.
The Promised Land Project Inc., a nonprofit recently incorporated in
Hollywood, Fla., is ''selling'' square-foot plots in the
Israeli-occupied
West Bank and Jerusalem for $18 and $36, respectively.
The group asks purchasers of the plots to turn them over to a trust in
Israel that will compile land purchased from Palestinians to create
parks,
health clinics and other public places to serve Jews and Muslims alike.
Palestinians are willing to sell land along the ''green line'' dividing
the
West Bank from Israel but would confront potential retaliation if they
sold
to Jews, said Whitney, director of the Promised Land Project.
The answer: Ask Christians to ''buy'' the land to spare Palestinians
from
reprisals by terrorists…
Jad Humeidan, executive director of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said would-be donors to the nonprofit
should
determine why Palestinians are willing to sell land in the West Bank.
''It's because (Israeli) settlers refuse to allow farmers to harvest
their
land and with the checkpoints, people can't care for their land. When
people say Palestinians are willing to sell their land, it's like
putting a
gun to people's head and saying, 'Give me your wallet.' It's another
form
of robbery, really,'' he said.
Humeidan said his family lost its 100-acre-plus olive plantation near
its
home in the West Bank in the early 1980s when the Israeli government
seized
the land to build a settlement of more than 400 homes...
-----
CONGRESS KILLED MEASURES TO BAN U.S. USE OF TORTURE
Douglas Jehl and David Johnston, New York Times, 1/14/05
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/13/news/ban.html
WASHINGTON At the urging of the White House, congressional leaders
scrapped
a legislative measure last month that would have imposed new
restrictions
on the use of extreme interrogation measures by U.S. intelligence
officers,
congressional officials say.
The defeat of the proposal affects one of the most shadowy arenas of
the
war on terrorism, involving the CIA's secret detention and
interrogation of
top terror leaders like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the
September 2001 attacks, and about three dozen other senior members of
Al
Qaeda and its offshoots.
The Senate had approved the new restrictions, by a 96-2 vote, as part
of
the intelligence reform legislation. The restrictions would have
explicitly
extended to intelligence officers a prohibition against the use of
torture
or inhumane treatment, and it would have required the CIA as well as
the
Pentagon to report to Congress about the methods they were using.
But in intense, closed-door negotiations, according to congressional
officials, four senior lawmakers from the House and Senate deleted the
restrictions from the final bill after the White House expressed
opposition
to the measure. Two congressional negotiators said in interviews that
lawmakers had ultimately decided that the question of whether to extend
the
restrictions to intelligence officers was too complex to be included in
the
legislation.
In a letter to members of Congress, sent in October and made available
by
the White House on Wednesday, Condoleezza Rice, the national security
adviser, expressed opposition to the measure on the ground that it
"provides legal protections to foreign prisoners to which they are not
now
entitled under applicable law and policy."
Earlier, in objecting to a similar measure included in a Senate version
of
the defense authorization bill, the Pentagon sent a letter saying that
it
"strongly urges the Senate against passing new legislation concerning
detention and interrogation in the war on terrorism."
The Senate restrictions had not been contained in House versions of the
defense or intelligence bills. The congressional negotiators who
commented
on their talks were Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican, and
Representative Jane Harman of California, a Democrat…
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ NEW TERROR BREEDING GROUND
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 1/14/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7460-2005Jan13
Iraq has replaced Afghanistan as the training ground for the next
generation of "professionalized" terrorists, according to a report
released
yesterday by the National Intelligence Council, the CIA director's
think tank.
Iraq provides terrorists with "a training ground, a recruitment ground,
the
opportunity for enhancing technical skills," said David B. Low, the
national intelligence officer for transnational threats. "There is
even,
under the best scenario, over time, the likelihood that some of the
jihadists who are not killed there will, in a sense, go home, wherever
home
is, and will therefore disperse to various other countries."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/16/05
* CAIR-DFW: MUSLIMS SPEAK THEIR PEACE (Dallas Morning News)
- CAIR TV Spots Balance '24' Plotline (AP)
* CAIR-CHICAGO: MOSQUE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE (Daily Southtown)
* CAIR: EXPLOITATION OF TSUNAMI AID HURTS AMERICA'S IMAGE
* VA: MOSQUE TO HOST BEGINNING HOMESCHOOLING SEMINAR
* IL: A PILGRIMAGE IN TRAGIC TIMES (Daily Herald)
- KY: Trip to Mecca is like Rebirth (Herald leader)
- IN: A Connection with God (Indy Star)
- MN: Journey of a Lifetime (Duluth News Tribune)
* WV: MUSLIMS TO SEEK TSUNAMI AID DURING EID (WV Gazette)
- Canadian Muslims Dig Deep For Victims (Free Press)
* FL: AL-ARIAN ATTORNEY SEEKS PARTIAL DISMISSAL (Tampa Trib)
* MUSLIM MAN SUES MILLER BREWING AFTER 9/11 REMARK (AP)
- MI: Teacher Transferred Over Quran Remark (AP)
* AMERICAN MUSLIMS GET A COOL RAP (AP)
* MUSLIMS TALK ABOUT THE PAST, FUTURE (St. Pete Times)
- WA: Muslim Columnist Added at Seattle Times
* U.S. CONDUCTING SECRET MISSIONS INSIDE IRAN-REPORT (Reuters)
-----
MUSLIMS SPEAK THEIR PEACE FOR LETTER WRITER
Dallas News, 11/15/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/all/stor
ies/011605dnmetblow.40d13.html
I really like this development of using Martin Luther King Jr. Day to
foster dialogue and understanding � not just between blacks and whites
but
among groups of all kinds.
In that spirit, I offer a discussion today in one area of greatest
tension
� Muslim extremism.
Recent columns on the subject prompted strong responses. After reading
one
of the most strident ones, I decided to ask three local residents for
their
thoughts.
Here's the original letter. The writer requested anonymity.
You still don't get it. The reason you see no Muslim outrage at their
terrorist acts is because they are not outraged. I wrote you earlier
that
there are two kinds of Muslims � those who murder innocents and those
who
stand and cheer…
Saffia Meek, 36, grew up in Lewisville. As a student at the University
of
Nebraska, she converted to Islam and now heads the local office of
CAIR,
the Council on American-Islamic Relations:
Obviously this person has never met a Muslim in his life � and probably
wouldn't open his mind to a conversation if he ever did.
Islam is a religion of peace. But in every religion there is a
difference
between what it teaches and how some individuals behave. Sadly, evil
acts
have been done in the name of virtually every religion. But that
doesn't
make the religion evil…
SEE ALSO:
FOX OFFERS PSA IN RESPONSE TO '24' CONTROVERSY
Associated Press, 1/14/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6827304/
NEW YORK - In response to the portrayal of Muslims on Fox's "24," the
network is offering its stations two public service announcements that
show
Muslims in a positive light.
The PSAs were produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
with
whom Fox representatives met Wednesday. The 30- and 60-second spots
showcase a diverse group of individuals, who in turn share personal
descriptions and identify themselves as American Muslims...
The spots are being made available by Fox to both its owned and
affiliated
stations for airing throughout the broadcast day at the discretion of
each
station's management, said Fox spokesman Scott Grogin.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Washington-based CAIR, voiced hope
that
Fox stations would slot the PSAs adjacent to "24," now airing every
Monday,
to "offer competing images of American Muslims…"
Ahmed described the meeting with Fox as "constructive," while Grogin
called
it "the first step in the dialogue that has been opened between CAIR
and
'24.'"
-----
ORLAND PARK'S MOSQUE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
Dan Lovie, Daily Southtown, 1/16/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/165syt1.htm
Orland Park's controversial mosque is rising out of the dark mud of its
site along 104th Avenue.
More than three months after the developer broke ground, the foundation
has
been placed and steel bars are being installed for the walls of the
Orland
Park Prayer Center.
"It really does feel great," mosque backer and spokesman Malik Ali
said.
"It's awesome. The project is right on schedule and moving full speed
ahead."
Mosque officials still expect it to be open by the holy month of
Ramadan,
which begins in early October.
The mosque is likely to draw a congregation from the growing Muslim
community in Orland Park and surrounding towns. Many local Muslims will
welcome the convenience of no longer having to make the 20-minute drive
to
the mosque in Bridgeview for services, according to the Orland Park
mosque
organizers.
Muslims throughout the region and the nation have been watching the
development of the mosque, said Yaser Tabara, executive director of the
Council of American Islamic Relations -- Chicago.
He said Chicago-area Muslims intently followed the controversy that
swelled
around the mosque proposal, including anti-mosque petition drives and
hundreds of residents packing village board meetings to oppose the
mosque.
Tabara said seeing the mosque finally take shape is a gratifying
experience
for a religious community that has often felt under siege since the
Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks...
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS SAY EXPLOITATION OF TSUNAMI AID HURTS AMERICA'S IMAGE
CAIR calls on president to repudiate Jerry Falwell's misuse of
suffering
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/16/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today called on the Bush administration to repudiate
missionary groups that harm America's international image by seeking to
exploit suffering caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in South
Asia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) made that request
following revelations of a second attempt by U.S. missionaries to use
the
vulnerability of tsunami survivors as a vehicle for religious
conversion.
In a January 12 "Falwell Confidential" e-mail obtained by CAIR,
Virginia-based Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell makes a plea
for
donations to support relief work in "India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Indonesia." The e-mail states that "in this heavily Muslim part of the
world, millions have never even heard of Jesus Christ."
(NOTE: Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet of God. The Quran, Islam's
revealed text, states: "Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God giveth
thee
glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son
of
Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company
of)
those nearest to God.'" [3:45])
According to the e-mail, Liberty University's "Director of
International
Crusades" will head a team sent to the region to distribute relief
supplies. "In addition we will be presenting the Gospel to tens of
thousands of persons through distribution of Gospel tracts written in
the
native languages of the area…Our ultimate purpose for this first
mission is
to set the stage for many other missions trips to this Asian region by
hundreds of Liberty students in the months to come," said the e-mail.
(In 2002, Falwell sparked international controversy when he called the
Prophet Muhammad a "terrorist" on the CBS program "60 Minutes.")
"Just when our nation's image in the Islamic world was improving as a
result of the outpouring of American aid in the tsunami disaster area,
we
hear from those who would exploit the tragedy to advance their own
extremist agenda," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "It is
inappropriate and immoral for any religious group, whether Christian,
Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist, to use badly-needed humanitarian relief as
cover for conversion efforts."
Awad said the Bush administration and mainstream Christians need to
speak
out on this issue to maintain the credibility of American humanitarian
groups that do not misuse the access they are granted to vulnerable
populations.
Last week, the Washington Post reported that another Virginia
missionary
group had airlifted 300 Muslim orphans from the Indonesian province of
Aceh
to Jakarta, where it planned to raise them in a Christian children's
home.
"If we can place them in a Christian children's home, their faith in
Christ
could become the foothold to reach the Aceh people," said the group.
After
an international outcry, the same organization now says it never had
custody of the children.
SEE: "MISSIONARY GROUP BACKS OFF PLAN FOR TSUNAMI CHILDREN"
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6824143/
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
VA MOSQUE TO HOST BEGINNING HOMESCHOOLING SEMINAR
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/hs-seminar.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Seminar@VaHomeschoolers.org
Find answers to your questions and the information you need to begin
homeschooling at Va Homeschoolers's Beginning Homeschooling Seminar.
Learn
about the legal avenues for homeschooling in Virginia, and get the full
scoop on filing papers, homeschooling methods, curriculum options,
common
mistakes, options for testing and assessments, homeschooling teens, and
more!
Presented by Va Homeschoolers/VaHomeschoolers, your fully inclusive,
all
volunteer, member directed state homeschool organization. Homeschooling
is
our only focus.
Topics include:
* Benefits of Homeschooling: academic, social and personal
* Virginia Law: overview of the state Home Instruction statute
* Methods: the variety of homeschool styles and how to tell which ones
might best suit your family
* How to Start: what papers to file, and when
* Support: where to find local and e-mail support and activities
* Resources: publications, Web sites and other helpful sources of
information
* Testing & Assessments: options and the pros and cons of each
* Q & A: to assure your questions are answered
WHEN
Saturday, January 29, 2005
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE
All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS Center), 46903 Sugarland Road,
Sterling, VA
COST
Members: $5 per person or parental couple
Non-Members:$25 per person or parental couple
SAVE! Join Va Homeschoolers/VaHomeschoolers for $15, and get the
seminar
for $5.
Registration fee includes seminar, refreshments, handouts, and forms;
all
you need to get started with homeschooling.
REGISTRATION
Online: Register now with a major credit card.
By Mail: Download the registration form and mail with your check or
money
order.
At the Door: Speed at-the-door registration when you download the form
in
the link above, print, and bring it to the seminar with your cash,
check,
or money order. At the door registration will available, but space is
limited, so pre-register for guaranteed admission.
DIRECTIONS to ADAMS Center:
ADAMS Center is located near the intersection of Dranesville and
Sugarland
off of Rt. 7. Map courtesy of ADAMS Center.
-----
A PILGRIMAGE IN TRAGIC TIMES
Stacey St. Clair, Daily Herald, 1/16/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/news_story.asp?intid=38368302
As they wait in the airport check-in line, the travelers flip through
their
guide books for last-minute instruction.
Except for Rana Irfan.
The Naperville woman stands next to her suitcase with a serene smile.
There's no anxiety, no fear of what lies ahead.
This is her third pilgrimage to Mecca, an often life-altering journey
known
as the hajj.
The suburban mother knows exactly what she'll find in the holy city.
And
she knows exactly what she'll ask for when she gets there.
"I will pray for peace and solidarity," she said. "I'll have a more
humanitarian cause."
Irfan will join 10,000 other Americans this week in Saudi Arabia for
the
hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage. The journey, which all able-bodied
Muslims
who can afford it are expected to complete once in their lifetime,
takes
place this year amid escalating Middle East tensions and in the wake of
southeast Asia's deadly tsunamis…
ALSO SEE:
FOR MUSLIMS, TRIP TO MECCA IS LIKE REBIRTH
Karla Ward, Herald Leader, 1/15/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/living/religion/10642179.htm
---
A CONNECTION WITH GOD
John J. Shaughnessy, Indianapolis Star, 1/15/05
http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/209491-7125-047.html
---
JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME
Linda Hanson, Duluth News-Tribune, 1/15/05
http://a2gay.org.uk/portal/article.php/20050114185356331
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO SEEK TSUNAMI AID DURING EID
West Virginia Gazette, 1/15/05
http://wvgazette.com/section/Faith%20&%20Community/2005011432
Local Muslim leaders will urge the faithful to donate generously to the
Tsunami Relief Fund when Muslims gather at 10 am. Friday at the Islamic
Center, corner of Kanawha Turnpike and Valley Drive in South
Charleston, to
celebrate the holiday of Eid ul-Adha.
Muslims across America will celebrate the holiday Eid ul-Adha
(pronounced
eed-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice," with congregational
prayers...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS DIG DEEP FOR VICTIMS
Melinda Dalton, London Free Press, 1/15/05
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/01/15/899286-sun.htm
l
London Muslims showed support for tsunami victims yesterday by making a
$51,500 donation to relief efforts. The money was raised by members of
five
Islamic organizations -- the Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, the Al-Mehdi
Almuntathar Islamic Union, the London Muslim Mosque, the
Canadian-Bosnian
Islamic Centre and the Islamic Centre of Southwestern Ontario.
The money will be directed to International Development Relief
Foundation,
a Toronto-based organization...
-----
AL-ARIAN ATTORNEY SEEKS PARTIAL DISMISSAL
Elaine Silvestrini, Tampa Tribune, 1/15/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBHDXX5Z3E.html
TAMPA - An attorney for a former University of South Florida professor
accused federal prosecutors Friday of destroying evidence, including
proof
that Sami Al-Arian had contact with congressional staffers as part of
his
political advocacy.
Attorney William Moffitt on Friday urged U.S. Magistrate Thomas B.
McCoun
III to dismiss parts of the indictment on the grounds that evidence was
destroyed and that the indictment was delayed for years while
prosecutors
maintain the violent crimes were occurring.
Moffitt said either law enforcement acted irresponsibly by not stopping
the
activity, or prosecutors are exaggerating the nature of what
happened...
-----
MUSLIM MAN SUES MILLER BREWING AFTER 9/11 REMARK
Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press, 1/15/05
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/10647920.htm
MILWAUKEE - A Muslim former employee has sued Miller Brewing Co. for
wrongful dismissal after he complained of discrimination after the
Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks, his lawyer said Friday.
Syed Alam, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, alleged in the suit his
supervisor at Miller confronted him after the attacks and asked him if
he
sympathized with the attackers…
ALSO SEE:
DEARBORN TEACHER TRANSFERRED OVER QURAN-BEDOUINS REMARK
Associated Press, 1/14/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110059_20050114.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- A middle school history teacher in a heavily
Arab
Detroit suburb has been transferred for telling students that Bedouin
Arabs
used the Quran as toilet paper.
The Woodworth Middle School teacher had been under paid suspension
since
last month as school officials investigated and considered how to
discipline him, said Dearborn schools Superintendent John Artis.
The teacher, whose name was not released, was transferred on Wednesday
after his suspension ended. The name of the school was also not
disclosed,
the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News said…
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIMS GET A COOL RAP
Anna Johnson, Associated Press, 1/15/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/10642845.htm
When David Kelly -- aka ''Capital D'' -- raps, he doesn't follow the
mainstream mantra of women, cars and jewelry.
Instead, the Chicago rapper uses his rhymes to dish out praise for
Allah,
criticize the war in Iraq and blast corporate America.
Kelly is among a new group of Muslim rap artists gaining popularity
among
Muslim Americans looking for entertainment that reflects both their
mainstream tastes and religious beliefs...
-----
MUSLIMS TALK ABOUT THE PAST, FUTURE
Jean Johnson, St. Petersburg Times, 1/15/05
http://www.sptimes.com
SPRING HILL - Last week the Islamic community of Hernando County hosted
a
dinner seminar led by two guests of honor: Michael Wolfe, poet,
novelist,
and historical and travel writer, and Dr. Salah As-Sawy, secretary
general
of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America. As-Sawy presented a video
about the pilgrimage to Mecca, the hajj…
SEE ALSO:
5 NEW COLUMNISTS WILL SHARE INSIGHTS
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 1/15/05
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=d073c4d55e1caddd&cat=a1327f7c4
068c2fd
Next Saturday marks the launch of Faith & Values, The Seattle Times'
revamped weekly page on faith, religion, spirituality and values.
The page will continue to feature a main religious-themed story most
weeks.
But other elements will be new or different, including the introduction
of
five new columnists...
Aziz Junejo
Junejo is the host of "Focus on Islam," a 30-minute weekly show on
cable
TCI's Public Access Channel. The show, which has run for 15 years,
recently
was picked up by Bridges TV, a television network aimed at American
Muslims
nationwide.
Junejo's family was one of the first Muslim families in Seattle. His
father
was born in India and moved to Pakistan in 1948; his mother, who grew
up in
Indiana, converted to Islam shortly before they married. They arrived
in
Seattle in 1962.
Junejo, a Sunni Muslim, sees the column as an opportunity "to give
people a
window into a Muslim American, someone who's grown up in his country."
He
hopes to give readers "a better perspective on how a Muslim thinks and
feels about the world around him or her."
Junejo, who also works at a local printing and publishing company,
graduated from the University of Washington. He has traveled
extensively
throughout the Muslim world, delivering humanitarian aid to Bosnia in
the
early 1990s, and traveling to the Middle East, India, Pakistan and
Malaysia.
He is married to Seema Junejo. They have three children and are
expecting a
fourth.
-----
U.S. CONDUCTING SECRET MISSIONS INSIDE IRAN-REPORT
Reuters, 1/16/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The United States has been conducting
secret
reconnaissance missions inside Iran to help identify potential nuclear,
chemical and missile targets, The New Yorker magazine reported on
Sunday.
The article, by award-winning reporter Seymour Hersh, said the secret
missions have been going on at least since last summer with the goal of
identifying target information for three dozen or more suspected sites.
Hersh quotes one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon
as
saying, "The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy
as
much of the military infrastructure as possible."
One former high-level intelligence official told The New Yorker, "This
is a
war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush
administration is looking at this as a huge war zone. Next, we're going
to
have the Iranian campaign."
The White House said Iran is a concern and a threat that needs to be
taken
seriously. But it disputed the report by Hersh, who last year exposed
the
extent of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
"We obviously have a concern about Iran. The whole world has a concern
about Iran," Dan Bartlett, a top aide to President George W. Bush, told
CNN's "Late Edition."
Of The New Yorker report, he said: "I think it's riddled with
inaccuracies,
and I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based
on
fact."
Bartlett said the administration "will continue to work through the
diplomatic initiatives" to convince Iran -- which Bush once called part
of
an "axis of evil" -- not to pursue nuclear weapons.
"No president, at any juncture in history, has ever taken military
options
off the table," Bartlett added. "But what President Bush has shown is
that
he believes we can emphasize the diplomatic initiatives that are
underway
right now..."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/17/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PILGRIMS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
* CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
* CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS HONOR MLK
- CAIR-MI: Transfer of Teacher Inadequate (AA News)
* HAJJ HEADACHE FOR RETURNING U.S. MUSLIMS? (Newsweek)
- CAIR Seeks Answers on Fingerprinting of Pilgrims
- CA: Customs Delay Imam Who Advised Bush (Oakland Trib)
- NY: American Muslims in 'Precarious Position' (Newsday)
* '24' MAKING NICE WITH MUSLIMS (E! Online)
- View CAIR's 'I am an American Muslim' PSA
* PROSELYTIZING DURING RELIEF EFFORTS DIVIDES (Denver Post)
- CAIR-CA: God and the Tsunami (Vallejo Times-Herald)
* IN AMERICA'S SECRET PRISON NETWORK (Salon.com)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PILGRIMS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Pilgrims…are God's
guests.
Their prayers are answered and their supplications for forgiveness are
granted."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 5, Number 3
-----
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
(TOTOWA, NJ, 1/17/05) - The New Jersey office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on law enforcement
authorities to do everything in their power to apprehend those
responsible
for the brutal murders of four members of an Arab-American family in
Jersey
City.
The bodies of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their
two
children, Monica, 8, and Sylvia, 15, were found in their home on
Friday.
The victims, Coptic Christians from Egypt, died of multiple stab
wounds. No
suspect has been identified.
Investigators are focusing robbery as a possible motive because no
money or
jewels were found in the home. Relatives say they suspect a religious
argument on the Internet may have prompted the killings.
SEE: POLICE KEY ON ROBBERY AS MOTIVE IN SLAYINGS
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1105942512295720.xml
CAIR-NJ also offered condolences to the loved ones of the family and to
the
local Egyptian Coptic community.
"May God give comfort to the family and friends of the victims,"
CAIR-NJ
President Magdy Mahmoud. He added that the possible bias motive should
be
thoroughly investigated.
Mahmoud said CAIR-NJ has been working to build better relations between
the
Muslim and Coptic communities in that state.
CAIR's national office also called for a stepped-up probe into the
similarly-brutal murder of a pregnant Muslim teacher, Iman Muhanna
Mohammed, who was stabbed to death in her Louisiana home last December.
There was no sign of forced entry and no evidence of a robbery. The FBI
investigated that murder as a possible hate crime, but no motive has
been
established. The Washington-based group has been in touch with
investigators about that case.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
-----
CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS HONOR MLK
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/17/2005) - The Sacramento office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) co-sponsored the recent Martin
Luther
King Jr. Celebration in that city attended by some 1200 guests,
including
state, county and city officials and community leaders. Local Muslim
religious, community and youth leaders also helped organize the event.
Fahizah Alim, the award-winning writer for the Sacramento Bee
newspaper,
was presented with the Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award at the
MLK
celebration. The award is named after the late Congressman Robert T.
Matsui, a major force behind the annual event.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV President Rashid Ahmad, 916-825-0027
SEE ALSO:
TRANSFER OF TEACHER WHO INSULTED ISLAM IS INADEQUATE, LEADERS SAY
THEY'RE ASKING FOR TERMINATION
Danielle Smith, Arab American News
http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=1498
Dearborn -. Barry Talent, the Woodworth Middle School history teacher
who
last month reportedly told his students that ancient Bedouin tribes
used
pages of the Holy Qur'an as toilet paper, will be transferred out of
his
position into a smaller setting with better supervision, according to
Dearborn Schools Superintendent Dr. John Artis, who made the
announcement
on Wednesday, January 12th. Talent had been on paid suspension
following
the alleged incident. But many members of the Arab American and
American
Muslim communities are upset with this decision and believe a transfer
is
an insufficient response. It is believed this was not the first
incident of
its kind that Talent has been involved in.
"The teacher in question will not be returning to Woodworth Middle
School.
He will be reassigned," Dr. Artis told The Arab American News. When
asked
if that was passing the buck to another school, Dr. Artis replied, "We
are
not passing the buck. The decision will allow the teacher to be in a
smaller system and have new supervision." He went on to say, "As
superintendent I invoked my right to reassign the teacher. The steps I
have
taken are within the bounds of the contracts. We followed the policies
and
guidelines. These steps we have taken are clearly established steps
(that
must be taken) prior to the point of dismissal."
He added, "You are never satisfied in a situation like this. I wish it
never happened, but we have protected and supported the students and
teachers. We made a decision that was in the best interests of the
community and of Woodworth Middle School."
Arab American Political Action Committee President Abed Hammoud, said
"I am
aware of the contractual limitations (on) disciplinary action, yet I do
not
want this man teaching Arabic children or any children for that matter.
If
he remains teaching he will continue spreading hatred and racism. He
should
not be teaching in Dearborn or anywhere else."
Celena Khatib, Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said, "We are pleased the Dearborn
school
system reacted promptly and listened to the parents and community
concerns.
CAIR Michigan is relieved that the teacher in question is out of
Woodworth,
yet concerned about his history of racist remarks and the fact he
remains
in the Dearborn public school system."
CONTACT: CAIR-Michigan, 248-569-2203
-----
MUSLIMS: HAJJ HEADACHE?
Daren Briscoe, Newsweek, 1/24/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6827279/site/newsweek/
Jan. 24 issue - Muslim advocates are concerned that thousands of
American
Muslims now in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual hajj pilgrimage may
be
subjected to what they consider unfair scrutiny upon return. Their
worry
stems from a December incident in which 40 American Muslims coming back
from an Islamic conference in Canada were held at the U.S. border. They
were asked to submit to fingerprinting because the U.S. Customs and
Border
Protection says it has information that terrorists may try to use such
events as cover for travel, transporting fraudulent documents or
fund-raising.
The CBP has "credible information that these conferences have [been]
and
will be used" for such activities, says spokeswoman Kristi Clemens.
(She
says the conference attendees coming home from Canada weren't detained,
but
were subjected to a "secondary screening.") There are no plans to have
additional CBP agents in place for the end of the pilgrimage, which
comes
Friday, but Clemens says large groups could be delayed. Says Ibrahim
Hooper
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations: "You can look at the hajj
as
the ultimate Islamic conference."
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
CAIR SEEKS ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1379&theType=NR
---
CUSTOMS DELAY IMAM WHO ADVISED BUSH
Ian Hoffman, Oakland Tribune, 1/16/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/news/ci_2527182
Inside the Toronto SkyDome with more than 10,000 fellow Muslims, Shaykh
Hamza Yusuf presided over new conversions, translated an ancient poem
and
gave a scholarly talk on the Prophet Isa, Islam's analog to Jesus.
Then the bespectacled imam turned for home and his institute in Hayward
feeling uplifted.
But when Yusuf handed over his passport at the Toronto airport, two
U.S.
Customs agents led him to an interrogation room and detained him three
hours for questioning. It wasn't Yusuf's demeanor or appearance.
As the son of two American academics and a convert to Islam almost 30
years
ago, the most influential Islamic scholar in North America travels in a
business suit, no headdress or flowing robe. His adopted Muslim name
was
flagged on a Department of Homeland Security computer, and the two
agents
questioning him wouldn't say why.
Yusuf soon stopped answering their questions. It was, he told them, a
scene
worthy of Kafka. What about his right to attend a spiritual conference,
his
right to free speech and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure?
"The rules are different now," one agent said.
That December day, at least 38 other U.S. citizens who attended the
"Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference were held up to six hours at
bridges crossing the U.S.-Canada border, according to Homeland Security
officials and civil rights activists.
The detainees, ranging from an infant to teenagers to men and women in
their 50s, were kept from about 11:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. They were
questioned, photographed and fingerprinted.
Agents asked a woman who said she was seven months pregnant to prove it
by
lifting her shirt. Some women cried as agents pressed their hands to
digital fingerprint scanners.
After three hours, one woman with children became agitated and
suggested
she was going to leave. "We're going to send a car after you to get
you,"
the officers said, according to officials at the Washington-based
Council
on American-Islamic Relations.
Here at the border, the Muslims were told, "you have no rights."
A few hours later, U.S. Customs officers at the airport detained a
University of Chicago academic and made jokes about Muslims.
But the men who detained Yusuf were "very polite and, I think, very
bored.
I think they literally were doing what the computer told them."
"You might as well answer our questions," one told him. "You're not
going
anywhere."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities say the stops
technically
were not detentions or arrests.
Officers had been instructed to watch for Americans coming from Islamic
conferences and confirm their identities beyond their passports, said
Kristi Clemens, a Customs and Border Protection assistant commissioner.
"We had ongoing, credible intelligence that conferences such as this
one in
Toronto had been used, are being used and will be used by terrorists to
transmit fraudulent documents, to fund-raise and also to mask the
travel of
terrorists," Clemens said. "Based on that information, we decided to
have
individuals verify they were who they said they were."
Yusuf's detention in Toronto - his third in two months - is a
remarkable
turn for a moderate Muslim who advised President Bush after the 9/11
attacks and whose steady condemnation of Islamic terrorism has earned
him,
in some Muslim circles, criticism as a U.S. propagandist and derision
as
"Bush's pet."
At the same time, Yusuf's experience reflects the frustratingly vague
intelligence that feeds the nation's domestic security agencies and
their
dilemma: how to turn non-specific information into action without
damaging
the civil liberties of individuals…
Some Muslim civil-rights advocates say Bay Area Muslims are fortunate.
The
San Francisco FBI office is trying to build trust with Muslims; unlike
elsewhere, its agents haven't shown up at Muslims' workplaces demanding
interviews and arousing employer suspicions…
Meanwhile, American Muslim activists are uncertain what the new
detentions
mean for the world's largest Islamic conference. This week, more than
10,000 American Muslims are expected back from Hajj, the annual
pilgrimage
to Mecca.
Customs officials declined to say whether Muslims will be detained,
photographed and fingerprinted on their return…
The pilgrimage is "the granddaddy of all Islamic conferences," said
Arsalan
Iftikahar, legal director for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
"These are citizens. Imagine how we treat non-citizens. There has to
some
semblance of respect for their human and civil rights," he said. "Such
blanket treatment of a group of lawful and contributing American
citizens
really should give pause to all Americans who cherish their civil
liberties."
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN 'PRECARIOUS POSITION'
CAROL EISENBERG, Newsday, 1/15/05
http://www.nwherald.com/StyleSection/308332753332736.php
NEW YORK - Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid tells the story of a young
black
Muslim asked what it's like living in post-Sept. 11 America.
"It's like being black," he quotes him. "Twice."
The line invariably gets laughs. But it produces a positive roar of
appreciation here in the oldest Orthodox Muslim congregation in Harlem,
in
a makeshift mosque reclaimed almost 25 years ago from a junkies'
shooting
gallery, and now called "The Great Pyramid" after the Egyptian-granite
pillars out front.
If there is an American iteration of Islam - and worshipers here insist
there is - the Mosque of the Islamic Brotherhood on the corner of 113th
Street and St. Nicholas Avenue is it. This thriving, mostly black
congregation is a place where Islam has no foreign accent, and where
notions of Islam vs. the West lose all buoyancy against a backdrop of
Boy
Scout meetings, breast cancer fund-raisers and programs to combat AIDS
and
homelessness…
-----
"24" MAKING NICE WITH MUSLIMS
Bridget Byrne, E! Online, 1/16/05
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,15718,00.html
Jack Bauer's going to have to call in the reinforcements to get through
this one.
Facing heat over how Muslims are depicted in its countdown thriller
series
24, Fox is working to mend fences before time's up.
The latest season of the Fox drama, which kicked off a week ago, stars
Kiefer Sutherland as special agent Bauer. His latest race against the
clock
to save the world from terrorism has angered America's Muslim community
by
its portrayal of a Muslim family as a sleeper cell at the heart of a
dastardly plot.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
told Broadcasting and Cable that the show is "taking everyday American
Muslim families and making them suspects...It's very dangerous and very
disturbing."
In response to the complaints, the network has agreed to a modest mea
culpa--offering a public service spot to its affiliates that depicts
the
American Muslim community in a positive light.
"We met with representatives of CAIR on Wednesday and found the meeting
productive and informative and we look forward to working with them in
the
future," Fox said in a brief statement.
On its Website, www.cair-net.org, CAIR thanked Fox for "the opportunity
to
address the Muslim community's concerns and for the willingness of
network
officials to take those concerns seriously in an atmosphere of mutual
respect and co-operation…"
CAIR rep Ahmed says the group wants to avoid stereotyping of Muslims,
which
could translate into ill-will and even civil rights abuses or hate
crimes.
Ahmed reports that, per surveys conducted by CAIR, most Americans
believe
it's okay to curb Muslim's civil rights during the war on terror.
The show's creative and executive production team attended the meeting
along with Fox network representatives. (Producers referred all calls
back
to Fox.)
CAIR, which is sponsoring the PSAs, has requested the 30- and 60-spots
be
broadcast before, during or after 24, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m.
ET/PT.
However, it will ultimately be up to local station managers to choose
if
and when to run the PSAs, which feature the line: "Muslims are part of
the
fabric of this great country and are working to build a better
America."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
-----
PROSELYTIZING DURING RELIEF EFFORTS DIVIDES
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 1/17/05
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2657661,00.html
Some U.S. groups - including the relief arms of the Catholic,
Episcopal,
Lutheran and Methodist churches - follow a Red Cross code of conduct
against furthering a particular religious or political viewpoint.
Generally, these groups believe their works, rather than their words,
sufficiently show how faith moves them.
Many evangelical Christian groups, which put a stronger emphasis on
winning
new converts, believe relief can be packaged with religion as long as
immediate needs are addressed first. After all, they say, this is when
people are asking life's deepest questions.
That logic motivated Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family to
include
excerpts from a book written by Dobson, founder of the influential
media
ministry, in 300,000 survival packets bound for the region.
The convergence of these opposing philosophies could lead to conflict,
some
relief workers say. The agencies that shun evangelization say those
that
follow other rules risk undermining everyone's work with locals and
government officials…
While Focus on the Family is not a relief group, the ministry is
seeking to
raise $1 million for survival staple kits to be distributed by partner
agencies and churches, said Glenn Williams, vice president of
international
and cultural ministry. The goal is to meet immediate needs, not
evangelize,
Williams said.
Even so, excerpts from Dobson's "When God Doesn't Make Sense" will be
bundled with the food, water and medicine.
"You have a lot of people who have serious questions at the moment,
feeling
a tremendous sense of loss and asking, 'Where was God in this?"'
Williams said.
The very mission of the Colorado Springs-based International Bible
Society
is to publish and distribute Scripture. So when the tsunami struck, the
group prepared the distribution of 100,000 texts, including a book
translated into Thai, "When Your Whole World Changes."
"We believe the Bible or Scripture booklets present relevant answers to
problems people are facing," said Judy Billings, an IBS spokeswoman.
"With
the disaster, people are open to God's word. They're in a crisis."
Not all evangelical Christian groups share that view.
The child-sponsorship group Compassion International, also based in
Colorado Springs, is providing emergency relief in India and Indonesia.
Though the organization does not camouflage its Christian identity,
neither
will it be passing out religious literature, said David Dahlin, chief
operating officer and senior vice president.
"People could wonder whether you have ulterior motives, that it's not a
genuine compassionate response," Dahlin said. "Or they might feel as,
if
they are a strong adherent to a different faith, they might be
reluctant to
take aid. We don't want that..."
Kathryn Wolford, president of Lutheran World Relief, said organizations
that strongly push a religious message risk undermining all relief
groups'
standing abroad, especially when diverse faiths and cultures collide.
"It can create conflict and resistance because in that kind of
situation
people don't necessarily distinguish one (relief) group from another,"
she
said.
So far, few conflicts have come to light. A Virginia-based evangelical
Christian charity, WorldHelp, dropped plans last week to adopt Muslim
tsunami orphans into a Christian children's home after the Indonesian
government protested.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations characterized the incident as
confirmation that some evangelical groups hope to exploit the tragedy.
SEE ALSO:
GOD AND THE TSUNAMI TRAGEDY
Joan Ryan, Vallejo Times-Herald, 1/16/05
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31504~2657187,00.html
Hasem Bazian, a lecturer on Islam at UC Berkeley, quoted the prophet
Hadith
to me. "If God loves a servant, he sends tribulation upon him," echoing
the
story of Job from the Old Testament and similar parables from other
religions.
"In Islam, all those who die in a natural catastrophe die in a state of
martyrdom," Bazian said. They are not held accountable for their sins
in
life; they are given passage directly into paradise. For those left
behind,
he said, a tragedy of this scope is a reminder of God's power and our
own
mortality.
"It's a recognition of the need to walk lightly upon this Earth with a
sense of humility and respect for the divine," Bazian said. "And to be
thankful for the blessings you have."
Baslim Elkarra of Sacramento, a Muslim with the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations [CAIR], said a colleague at CAIR in Maryland lost 30 family
members in the tsunami. Elkarra has reminded himself of a passage in
the
Quran in which one line is repeated twice: "Verily with difficulty
comes ease."
"Life is not supposed to be easy," he said. "How we respond is the test
of
our faith. Here in the West people ask, 'How could God do this?' Over
there, they turn to God even more, asking for his mercy."
-----
IN AMERICA'S SECRET PRISON NETWORK
A German car salesman says that a year ago he was kidnapped in Europe,
beaten and flown to a U.S. jail in Afghanistan. Now his government is
collecting evidence to back up his story.
James Meek, Salon.com, 1/14/05
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/14/prisoner_story/
Jan. 14, 2005 | A man is walking alone along a mountain path in the
darkness. He is carrying a suitcase. He seems frightened, tired and
confused. He has long hair and a long beard, but they are untidy, as if
he
did not grow them voluntarily. He turns a bend and meets three men
carrying
Kalashnikovs.
The man shows them his passport. It indicates that he is a German
citizen,
born in Lebanon, called Khaled el-Masri. Using poor English, he tells
them
that he does not know where he is. They tell him that he is on the
Albanian
border, close to Serbia and Macedonia and that he is there illegally,
since
he doesn't have an Albanian stamp in his passport.
The story that el-Masri tells them by way of explanation, on this
evening
in late May 2004, is extraordinary: a story of how an unemployed German
car
salesman from the town of Ulm went on a New Year's holiday to
Macedonia,
was seized by Macedonian police at the border, held incommunicado for
weeks
without charge, then beaten, stripped, shackled and blindfolded and
flown
to a jail in Afghanistan, run by Afghans but controlled by Americans.
Five
months after first being seized, he says, still with no explanation or
charge, he was flown back to Europe and dumped in an unknown country
that
turned out to be Albania.
What really happened? With no way to prove his story, el-Masri's
account
remains in the balance, a terrifying snapshot of America's "war on
terror."
It is certain that he returned home to Ulm from Albania in May 2004,
and
that he was taken off a bus from Germany at the Macedonian border on
New
Year's Eve 2003. The only person who has offered a clear explanation
for
what happened in the five months in between is el-Masri himself. Yet
that
may change.
The German authorities are now taking his allegations very seriously.
They
are subjecting a sample from el-Masri's hair to radioisotope analysis,
which can reveal, down to a particular country, the source of a
person's
food and drink over a period of time. Discussions are also underway
about
bringing to Germany two men whom el-Masri has identified as being with
him
in the Afghan prison, and who were also subsequently released. The fact
that the German authorities do regard Ulm as an area of potentially
dangerous radical Islamic activity -- a number of premises were raided
and
alleged Islamic activists were arrested on Wednesday -- only emphasizes
the
concern that Germany has over the el-Masri case.
So far U.S. authorities have neither confirmed nor denied el-Masri's
story,
although German investigators first requested information about the
case in
autumn. The FBI office in the U.S. Embassy in Berlin did not return
calls
Thursday…
If true, the abduction would add to our understanding of a pattern of
U.S.
behavior frightening in its implications both for America and for the
rest
of the world. The former director of the CIA, George Tenet, told the
9/11
Commission last year that even before Sept. 11 the United States had
abducted more than 70 foreigners it considered terrorists -- a process
Washington has declared legal under the label "extraordinary
rendition…"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEVADA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATENING DC MUSLIM GROUP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/18/05) - A Nevada man has pleaded guilty to a
federal
civil rights violation resulting from threatening e-mail messages he
sent
to a prominent Washington-based Islamic advocacy group.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received the e-mailed
threats in 2003 from an insurance broker in Reno, Nev. One e-mail
stated:
"We can deal with you easily especially because you are on our soil.
You
have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the receiver."
Another message said: "You are making a lot of people angry and you
idiots
are sitting ducks."
Under the plea agreement, the man will serve one year's probation and
must
perform 50 hours of community service for "interfering with federally
protected activities." (18 USC 245[b])
"Threats of physical violence, unlike legitimate public debate, must
never
be tolerated, and all such threatening messages will be turned over to
federal authorities for investigation," said CAIR Legal Affairs
Director
Arsalan Iftikhar. "We thank all those in the U.S. Attorney's office who
worked hard to prosecute this case." He offered special thanks to
Assistant
United States Attorney Paul Pugliese.
Iftikhar added that a number of other threats received by CAIR are
currently under investigation by the FBI. He said that even those who
use
fake e-mail addresses to make threats leave an electronic trail that
investigators can follow.
Recent polls have indicated that 1-in-4 Americans holds anti-Muslim
views
and that 44 percent of Americans would agree to curtail Muslim civil
liberties in some manner. Last year, CAIR announced a campaign designed
to
counter prejudice prompted by Islamophobic rhetoric in American
society.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR Legal Affairs Director Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or
202-415-0799; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/18/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION
* HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL FOX STATIONS
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS SEEK RECOGNITION OF HOLIDAYS (SP Times)
- The New Role of Muslim Chaplains (CSM)
- VA: Imam to Open State Senate with Prayer
* NJ: MUSLIMS DENOUNCE KILLING OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY (AP)
- CAIR-NJ Offers Condolences to Coptic Community
- Rage Explodes at Egyptian Family's Funeral (NY Times)
* PA: MOVIE USED TO SHOW "DISTURBING TRUTH" (Pitt News)
* CANADA: MUSLIM KIDS KILLED IN ARSON FIRE (Calgary Herald)
* WHAT IS THE HAJJ? (BBC)
- India Train Fire 'Not Mob Attack' (BBC)
- Islam's Claim in Spain (LA Times)
- Neocons Turn Their Attention to Iran (FT)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION
"Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from
error.
Whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most
trustworthy
hand-hold that never breaks."
The Holy Quran, 2:256
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #445
HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL FOX STATIONS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/18/05) - CAIR is calling on Muslims nationwide to
contact local Fox TV stations to ask that they air the CAIR "I am an
American Muslim" public service announcement (PSA).
In a letter sent to all stations last Saturday, Fox encouraged local
affiliates nationwide to place the PSA as close as possible to the
airing
of the popular "24" drama series.
This move came after CAIR met with Fox officials last week to address
the
depiction of a "Muslim" family that is at the heart of a terror plot in
the
program.
CAIR is concerned that the portrayal of the family as a terrorist
"sleeper
cell" may cast a shadow of suspicion over ordinary American Muslims and
suggested airing a positive PSA about Muslims to help balance the
negative
images of Muslims on the program.
The CAIR PSA, which is designed to challenge anti-Muslim bias, features
American Muslims of European, African-American, Hispanic, and Native
American heritage. Each person in the PSA states how they and their
families have served America and ends by saying, "I am an American
Muslim."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Please call each of your local Fox television stations and ask to
speak
to the person who handles public service announcements and/or
programming.
That person is usually, but not always, the "Public Service Director."
2. Explain to that person why it is important to help reduce
anti-Muslim
bias in our society and how this PSA could assist in that goal.
3. Also contact Gail Berman, President of Entertainment of Fox
Broadcasting, to express appreciation for working with the Muslim
community
to challenge stereotyping.
Gail Berman
President of Entertainment
Fox Broadcasting Company
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CAIR 900035
FAX: 210-969-0546
E-MAIL: jonathan.hogan@fox.com
COPY TO: askfox@foxinc.com, cair@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS SEEK SCHOOL RECOGNITION OF HOLIDAYS
Jeffrey S. Solochek, St. Petersburg Times, 1/18/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/18/Hillsborough/Muslims_seek_school_r.shtml
TAMPA - Local Muslims are asking the Hillsborough School Board for a
little
understanding.
Every year, the school district gives all students days off for the
Jewish
holiday of Yom Kippur and the Christian holiday of Good Friday, said
Ahmed
Bedier, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Tampa.
Muslims would like the same consideration given to Eid Al-Fitr, a
holiday
marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Bedier said.
"That request is made in the interest of diversity and inclusiveness,"
he said.
CAIR members also want the board to consider putting Eid al-Fitr and
Eid
al-Adha, the celebration that ends the yearly Hajj to Mecca, on the
district's master calendar so teachers can plan assignments and
activities
around them.
And they are seeking to hold Muslim students blameless for being absent
on
those holidays, rather than lose exam exemptions or perfect attendance
recognition for observing their faith.
More than 30 people sent letters to board members in support of those
ideas
after the school board delayed adopting its 2005-06 and tentative
2006-07
calendars when the requests came up. The board will reconsider the
calendars today.
The Hillsborough Islamic community includes about 30,000 people, Bedier
said, though he did not know how many attend public schools…
ALSO SEE:
THE NEW ROLE OF MUSLIM CHAPLAINS
Teresa M�ndez, Christian Science Monitor, 1/18/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0118/p14s02-legn.html
HARTFORD, CONN. - When Trinity College students return to their
snow-bitten
campus next week, for the first time they will discover a Muslim
chaplain
working there.
Sohaib Nazeer Sultan is one of only a handful of Muslim chaplains at
colleges and universities across the country.
But as the number of Muslim college students continues to grow - along
with
the desire to understand religious and cultural complexities at play in
a
post-9/11 world - more schools are hiring Muslim chaplains.
Mr. Sultan is a slight man with a soothing demeanor. In khaki pants, a
navy
tunic, and square, dark-rimmed glasses he could easily pass for a young
graduate student.
In many ways, he seems older and wiser than his 24 years. He has
already
written a book - "The Koran for Dummies" - published last year. He
speaks
of the need to create a culture not just of tolerance, but of
acceptance.
He sees his job as a Muslim chaplain as a divine calling.
Yet he's also down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and compassionate when
he
discusses the many obstacles - both spiritual and secular - that young
Muslims on their own for the first time are likely to encounter.
In 1999 Georgetown University hired Yahya Hendi - the first full-time
Muslim chaplain at an American university. Today, the Muslim Students
Association (MSA) estimates that 14 institutions of higher education
provide for a Muslim chaplain…
---
VA IMAM TO OPEN SENATE WITH PRAYER
An invitation has been extended to Imam Vernon M. Fareed to offer the
invocation for the Virginia Senate on Wednesday January 19, 2005. The
Senate session will convene promptly at 12:00 noon in the Senate
Chamber of
the Capitol building. Imam Fareed is the Resident Imam [Leader] of
"Masjid
(Mosque) William Salaam" in Norfolk, Va.
-----
MUSLIMS DENOUNCE KILLING OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 1/18/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0118jan18,0,4137021.story
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- As religious tension continued to boil here
following
the murder of an Egyptian Christian family, Muslim groups denounced the
killings and prayed for the victims.
Prosecutors continued to investigate the possibility that Hossam
Armanious,
47, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15,
and
Monica, 8, were slain by a Muslim angered over postings that Armanious,
a
Coptic Christian, wrote in an Internet chat room.
The bodies were found bound and gagged Friday, their throats and heads
stabbed repeatedly. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon.
But prosecutors stressed there is strong evidence that robbery might
have
been the motive for the killings.
"Money was not found at the scene," said First Assistant Hudson County
Prosecutor Gaetano Gregory. "Mr. Armanious' pockets had been turned out
and
his wallet was emptied. A pocketbook had been emptied. Drawers had been
rifled in the home."
He would not comment on the possibility of religious animosity as a
motive
in the slayings. Investigators have taken a computer from the
children's
bedroom.
"We continue to review several theories," Gregory said. "Our goal is to
identify the killers. We believe that when the killers are identified,
the
motive for this wanton and vile crime will be revealed.
"We continue to explore any theory that is supported by evidence
recovered
at the scene," he said. "Speculation as to motive will not advance our
inquiry."
The killings have created enormous tension between Coptic Christians,
mainly immigrants from Egypt, and Muslims in this city still reeling
from a
wave of anti-Muslim bias after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks...
Before, during and after Monday's funeral for the family, protesters
screamed anti-Islam slogans and carried signs comparing the murders to
Middle East terrorism. Mourners scuffled in the streets as emotions ran
high.
"No one who believes in God could have done this, no matter what
religion
they are," Ahmed Sheded, president of the Islamic Center of Jersey
City,
said of the slayings after attending the funeral.
The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee denounced the killings
as
"senseless and horrible…"
Likewise, the Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the
killings and offered condolences to the Coptic community. Religious
leaders
said Muslims were keeping the family in their prayers.
"May God give comfort to the family and friends of the victim," said
Magdy
Mahmoud, president of the group's New Jersey chapter. He said the
possible
bias angle should be thoroughly investigated.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
---
RAGE EXPLODES AT EGYPTIAN FAMILY'S FUNERAL
Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 1/18/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/nyregion/18jersey.html
JERSEY CITY, Jan. 17 - The funeral for an Egyptian immigrant family
found
slain in their home here erupted into a scene of chaos and roiling
emotion
on Monday, with some mourners jumping on top of cars, shoving each
other
and threatening to beat a Muslim cleric who was escorted to safety by
the
police.
The source of the disruption at the Coptic Christian service appeared
to be
the presence of Muslims, who said they had come to pay their respects.
In the days since the victims, Hossam Armanious, 46; his wife, Amal
Garas,
36; and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8, were found stabbed
to
death in their home early on Friday, speculation that the slayings were
a
hate crime has led to loud recriminations by Christian Egyptians,
expressed
in news interviews and at a demonstration here on Sunday.
Muslims and Christians have a long and violent history in Egypt, where
Muslims are the majority, but relations between the groups had never
soured
locally, several Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders said. Although the
case brought new tension to the Egyptian community, the Jersey City
police
have refused to say whether they believe the slayings were the result
of
religious hatred…
Dozens of other Muslims, many of them community leaders, canceled plans
to
attend the funeral after seeing television reports about the mounting
friction, said Debbie Almontaser, a Muslim community activist in
Brooklyn.
The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
released
a statement Monday saying that the organization had called on law
enforcement authorities to do everything in their power to apprehend
those
responsible for the murders…
-----
MOVIE USED TO SHOW "EMERGING AND DISTURBING TRUTH"
MICHAEL MASTROIANNI, The Pitt News, 1/18/05
http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/18/41ec936fba370
Life imitates art.
At least, that's what members of the American Civil Liberties Union
fear.
Thursday night, members of the ACLU and the Islamic Center of
Pittsburgh
used fiction to illustrate what one called "an emerging and disturbing
truth."
The ACLU hosted a screening of the 1998 film "The Siege," starring
Denzel
Washington and Bruce Willis. The movie is set in New York City during a
string of terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists. The result is martial
law
and a "witch hunt" by armed forces for Arabs who might be involved in
planning other attacks.
After the film, Omar Shafer, an ACLU board member, spoke about the
consequences of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act.
Shafer
is also president of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, an organization
whose mission includes spreading "clear and accurate information about
Muslims." Nusrath Ainapore, outreach director of the Islamic Center,
spoke
briefly before Shafer.
"I saw 'The Siege' when I was at Pitt, and I did not believe anything
like
it was possible when I first saw the film," Ainapore said.
She quoted a survey conducted last month by the Boston Globe, which
reported that 44 percent of U.S. citizens believe Muslims should have
their
civil liberties curbed to protect the United States.
"Fortunately, a majority of Americans disagree," Ainapore said. Quoting
the
Quran, the holy text of Islam, she urged people to "be just, for this
is
the closest to being conscious to God."
-----
NEIGHBOURS SHOCKED ARSON KILLED TWO KIDS: CALGARY MUSLIMS ANXIOUS TO
SEE
CASE CRACKED
Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald, 1/18/05
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/index.html
A deliberately set fire that killed two children is mind-numbing, say
neighbours with kids of their own on Applewood Lane S.E.
"It's pretty scary. I've got two kids and it's amazing to see if it's
deliberate, or why someone would do it," said Tonya Oswald, who lives a
few
doors down from the townhouse destroyed in the Nov. 18 blaze.
Salima Barih jumped to safety from a second-floor window and her
husband,
Tahsin Al Mayahi, was working at the time of the fire.
Their children -- six-year-old Ali and four-year-old Saja -- perished
in
the blaze.
News that arson investigators have turned the case over to the homicide
unit Monday is making Oswald and other parents who live next door
uneasy,
she said.
Police are hoping word that the fire was set by outsiders will spread
quickly, and that others will help lead them to whoever is responsible.
"We're hoping members of the public know who these people are," said
Staff
Sgt. Barry Cochran of the homicide unit.
The Muslim community is anxious to see police resolve the matter, said
family friend Sattar Al Taee, who is also the president of the Iraqi
Islamic Cultural Society.
Police say the investigation is focusing on two men who knocked on the
family's front door asking for someone who didn't live there about 10
days
before the fire…
-----
WHAT IS THE HAJJ?
BBC, 1/18/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4180965.stm
The Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, which every adult Muslim must
undertake at least once in their life if they can afford it and are
physically able.
Every year about two million Muslims converge on Mecca - the holiest
place
in Islam - to take part in an event which combines piety and passion.
Many Muslims save for years in order to perform the pilgrimage. They
often
have to travel thousands of miles.
Then, once they arrive, they must brave vast crowds and the fierce heat
of
the desert as they perform the Hajj rituals.
Saudi custodians
For the host country, Saudi Arabia, the event has a special importance.
Saudi rulers are acutely conscious of their responsibility as
custodians of
the Muslim holy places…
The sheer number of pilgrims poses formidable problems. In recent years
hundreds have died as a result of demonstrations, fires, stampedes - or
just sunstroke and exhaustion.
The Saudi authorities have introduced a quota system to keep down the
numbers of pilgrims. They have also tried, and failed, to keep politics
out
of the Hajj…
SEE ALSO:
INDIA TRAIN FIRE 'NOT MOB ATTACK'
BBC, 1/15/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180885.stm
An Indian train fire that killed 59 Hindus and provoked deadly
religious
riots in 2002 was started by accident, a government inquiry has said.
Evidence suggests the fire began inside the train, not that it was
fire-bombed, an investigating judge decided.
Most accounts from the time and since said a Muslim mob threw petrol
bombs
at the train, starting the blaze.
The incident set off days of rioting in Gujarat state in which at least
1,000 people, most of them Muslims, died.
The possibility of an inflammable liquid having been used is completely
ruled out…
---
ISLAM'S CLAIM ON SPAIN
Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 1/18/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-granada18jan18,0,4557979.story
GRANADA, Spain - Across a valley of fragrant cedars and orange trees,
worshipers at the pristine Great Mosque of Granada look out at the
Alhambra, the 700-year-old citadel and monument to the heyday of
Islamic glory.
Granada's Muslims chose the hilltop location precisely with the view,
and
its unmistakable symbolism, in mind.
It took them more than 20 years to build the mosque, the first erected
here
in half a millennium, after they conquered the objections of city
leaders
and agreed, ultimately, to keep the minaret shorter than the steeple on
the
Catholic Iglesia de San Nicolas next door.
Cloistered nuns on the other side of the mosque added a few feet to the
wall enclosing their convent, as if to say they wanted neither to be
seen
nor to see.
Many of Spain's Muslims long for an Islamic revival to reclaim their
legendary history, and inaugurating the Great Mosque last year was the
most
visible gesture. But horrific bombings by Muslim extremists that killed
nearly 200 people in Madrid on March 11 have forced Spain's Muslims and
non-Muslims to reassess their relationship, and turned historical
assumptions on their head.
"We are a people trying to return to our roots," said Anwar Gonzalez,
34, a
Granada native who converted to Islam 17 years ago. "But it's a bad
time to
be a Muslim."
Spain has a long, rich and complex history interwoven with the Muslim
and
Arab world, from its position as the center of Islamic Europe in the
last
millennium to today's confrontation with a vast influx of Muslim
immigrants.
For more than seven centuries of Moorish rule, "Al Andalus," or
Andalusia,
was governed by Muslim caliphs who oversaw a splendid flourishing of
art,
architecture and learning that ended when Granada fell to Christian
monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in 1492.
Muslims were expelled or exterminated in the Inquisition that followed,
but
the legacy of the Moors is seen throughout Andalusia, Spain's southern
tier, in its language, palaces like the Alhambra, and food…
---
NEOCONS TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO IRAN
Guy Dinmore, Financial Times, 1/18/05
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/90ab5f5a-68e4-11d9-9183-00000e2511c8.html
Having adopted legislation in the past aimed at Cuba and Iraq, similar
groups of Republicans and Democrats in Congress are currently setting
their
sights on promoting "regime change" in Iran.
As a result, new exiled Iranian opposition groups backed by some of
Washington's neoconservatives are springing up in the hope of seeing
large
doses of US funding.
One such group the Alliance for Democracy in Iran is taking shape,
strategically located in the heart of the capital's think-tank quarter.
Activists described it as an opposition umbrella group that would act
as a
"clearing house" for US taxpayers' money dedicated to advancing the
cause
of democracy.
"Our true purpose is to empower the Iranian people, to change the
regime to
become more democratic," explained Kamal Azari, its president,
stressing
that the group renounced violence. Its aim is a referendum on whether
to
restore the monarchy under the ousted Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who
lives
in Virginia.
Its board members are relatively obscure; some of them are monarchists.
Its
Oxford-educated chairman, Bahman Batmanghelidj, (known as "Batman"),
opened
a ski resort near Tehran before the 1979 Islamic revolution. A property
magnate in Virginia, he filed for personal bankruptcy protection in
1996.
The group has an Accountability Project to identify friends and foes in
the
US. Alix Boucher, spokeswoman, fires off letters to editors and
academic
institutions to denounce advocates of engagement with the Islamic
regime…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
NJ MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS TO SHOW INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY
News conference designed to defuse religious tensions
(JERSEY CITY, NJ, 1/19/05) - On Wednesday, January 19, the New Jersey
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), along
with
other local Christian and Muslim groups,* will hold a noon news
conference
in Jersey City to issue a call for interfaith solidarity following the
brutal murder of an Egyptian Coptic Christian family.
WHAT: MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY NEWS CONFERENCE
WHEN: Wednesday, January 19, Noon
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, 2 Exchange Place,
Jersey
City, New Jersey (SEE: http://jerseycity.hyatt.com/ )
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
(* Groups scheduled or invited to take part in the news conference
include:
CAIR-NJ, CAIR-New York, American Muslim Union, National Council of
Churches, United Methodist Church, North American Coptic Orthodox
Church,
Islamic Circle of North America, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee-NJ, and the Egyptian American Group.)
The bodies of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their
two
children, Monica, 8, and Sylvia, 15, were found in their home last
Friday.
The victims died of multiple stab wounds. No suspect has been
identified.
Investigators are focusing robbery as a possible motive because no
money or
jewels were found in the home. Relatives say they suspect a religious
argument on the Internet may have prompted the killings. A funeral for
the
family on Monday included disturbing displays of religious hostility.
SEE: RAGE EXPLODES AT EGYPTIAN FAMILY'S FUNERAL
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/nyregion/18jersey.html
On Monday, CAIR-NJ offered condolences to the loved ones of the family
and
asked that the possible bias motive be thoroughly investigated.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/19/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER
* EID GREETINGS FROM CAIR
* CAIR-LA LAUNCHES EID RADIO ADS
- Eid: A Movable Feast Day (LA Times)
* IL: MUSLIMS USE EID TO HELP FEED NEEDY (Sun-Times)
* CAIR-FL SEEKS EQUAL TREATMENT FOR MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
- TN: School Board Members Against Allowing Hijab
* MI: MUSLIM CLEARED IN DEATH THAT COST HER 3 CHILDREN (AP)
* TX: MUSLIM CHARITY SUSPENDS ACTIVITY OVER GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
- NY: Muslims Call for Tsunami Aid (Journal News)
* MORE MUSLIMS USE ONLINE MATCH-MAKING (CSM)
- KY: Exhibit of Islamic Art and Lifestyle
- GA: Muslim Trio Finds Humor in Stereotypes (AJC)
* '24' CO-CREATOR SPEAKS ABOUT MUSLIM PROTESTS (AJC)
* NV: RENO MAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR ISLAMIC THREATS (AP)
- Man Gets Probation for Threat (Gazette Journal)
* ISRAEL TO KILL IN U.S., ALLIED NATIONS (UPI)
- US Official Confirms Allawi Shot Six Dead (SMH)
- U.S. Court Dismisses Saudi Arabia from 9/11 Suits
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'MOHAMMED LIED'
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER
"There are some who say: 'Our Lord! Give us abundance in this world.'
Such
people will not have any share in the hereafter. But there are others
who
say: 'Our Lord! Give us the good life, both in this world and in the
Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.' Such people shall
have
their due share in both worlds according to what they have earned."
The Holy Quran, 2:200-2002
-----
EID GREETINGS FROM THE CAIR
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wishes everyone a
blessed
Eid ul-Adha. On this holiday, CAIR joins some seven million American
Muslims in praying for peace and unity.
-----
SOUTHERN CALIF. MUSLIMS LAUNCH EID RADIO ADS
American Muslim community urged to support ads
(ANAHEIM, CA - 1/19/2005) - The Southern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the launch of a
radio ad campaign designed to educate the public about Hajj and
Eid-ul-Adha.
The twenty-four 60-second spots will air on 980 AM KFWB from Thursday,
January 20 to Sunday, January 23 throughout the day.
These radio ads are a continuation of the Ramadan radio ads that were
aired
in October, 2004. They are just one part of CAIR's effort to educate
fellow
Americans about Islam and Muslims. Other campaigns include placing ads
in
newspapers, sending books and videotapes to libraries across the
country
and placing educational messages on billboards.
The CAIR Eid radio ads begin with the Muslim praises of God (Takbeerat)
and
continue with a message about different aspects of Eid.
Recent CAIR research has shown that as many as 1-in-4 Americans holds
anti-Muslim views. That same research indicates that anti-Muslim
prejudice
decreases when people have access to accurate information about Islam
and
relate to ordinary Muslims.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/pollresults.pdf
The following are the transcripts of the ads:
"Abraham"
On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded the
annual
pilgrimage to Mecca, "the Hajj", with Islam's most important holiday
called
Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice."
The central figure in this religious celebration is Prophet Abraham.
Muslims believe that Abraham built the first House of Worship to God,
known
as the Kaaba. The Hajj commemorates Abraham's prayers at the Kaaba.
The
Qur'an, Islam's holy book, states: "Who can be better in faith than one
who
submits his whole self to God, does good and follows the way of
Abraham,
the true in faith?"
This fact offers an excellent opportunity for all of Abraham's children
-
Muslims, Christians and Jews - to recognize and cherish their shared
religious heritage and to promote a harmonious future as people of
faith.
To learn more about Islam and the Muslim community, please visit
www.cair.com
---
"Malcolm X"
"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world.
They
were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans.
But
we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of
unity
and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe
never
could exist between the white and non-white."
Those were the famous words of the late American civil rights leader
Malcolm X in his letter to America after returning from Hajj, or annual
pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is the largest and the oldest annual
spiritual
gathering on earth. Every Muslim aspires to perform Hajj once in his or
her
lifetime.
On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded Hajj
with
a holiday called Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice." The
greeting
for this holiday is "Eid Mubarak" which means "Blessed Holiday". The
Muslim
community wishes you and your family "Eid Mubarak!"
---
"Prayer"
This week, two million Muslims from America and around the world
concluded
the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj. Hajj is the largest and the
oldest
annual spiritual gathering on earth that every Muslim aspires to
perform
once in his or her lifetime.
Hajj is concluded with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha, or "festival of
the
sacrifice," which is celebrated by all Muslims around the world.
During
this holy season, Muslims offer their devotion to God and ask Him for
forgiveness of their past sins and guidance for the future.
In these difficult times of division, wars and natural disasters,
prayers
such as these are needed more than ever. Hajj is a time to pray for
God's
mercy and guidance, and for the ability to love and extend compassion
to
all peoples...
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Support Eid-ul-Adha/Hajj Ads. Your support is necessary for this
important project. CAIR is asking the Muslim community to sponsor the
Eid-ul-Adha ads. Each ad will cost $250, on average, to broadcast.
CAIR-LA invites the Muslim community (individuals, businesses, and
Islamic
centers) to help sponsor the Ramadan ads. Please help continue
educating
the larger community about the truth about Islam. Send your support
today.
To donate contact CAIR-LA at 714-776-1847, or E-Mail: socal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
A MOVABLE FEAST DAY
Festive Afghan dishes are among the foods prepared by Muslims worldwide
to
celebrate the Eid-al-Adha.
Charles Perry, Los Angeles Times, 1/19/05
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-muslim19jan19,1,511780.story
Tomorrow night is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday
corresponding to the final day of the Mecca pilgrimage. Non-Muslims are
probably more familiar with Eid al-Fitr, which ends the Ramadan fast,
but
Eid al-Adha - the Feast of the Sacrifice - is actually the more
important
celebration. It's also known as the Great Feast (Eid al-Kabir).
Over the three-day holiday, Muslims around the world gather with family
and
friends, sitting down to tables laden with special-occasion dishes,
turning
their thoughts to the pilgrims in Mecca, performing acts of charity and
welcoming visitors.
It's an important food holiday, but the celebratory menu varies widely,
with dishes particular to each region on the family tables - curries in
Bangladesh, pilafs in Iran, red-stewed lamb in China, whole roast lamb
in
Iraq. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, Muslim holidays don't fall in
the
same season every year, so even in the same place, the menu may change
from
year to year.
With the success of its recent elections, Afghanistan is much in the
news
lately, so I talked to some Southland Afghans about their Eid al-Adha
culinary traditions.
There may not be many of them in this country, but Afghans are proud of
their cuisine, and surprisingly often they open restaurants. Relatives
of
newly elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai run restaurants on the East
Coast. It's an attractive cuisine, a little like Persian and a little
like
Indian, but with a number of pastas and a distinctive taste for
seasoning
meat with yogurt...
-----
MUSLIMS HERE USE EID FEAST TO HELP FEED AREA'S NEEDY
Rummana Hussain, Sun-Times, 1/19/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-meat19.html
Local mosques have teamed up with the Greater Chicago Food Depository
to
distribute nearly 16,000 pounds of ground beef donated by Muslims as
part
of their religious requirement to feed the hungry for the Eid-ul-Adha
holiday this week.
Chicago's estimated 400,000 Muslims usually pass out meat for family,
friends and other poor people of the Islamic faith.
But this is the first time for a collective effort to feed mostly
non-Muslims through the depository, which usually has a shortage of
protein-based donations.
"There are words in Quran that say if you see a person who denies God,
he's
a person who does not encourage people to feed the needy," said imam
Abdul
Malik Mujahid, who initiated the project. "It's a duty of faith…"
-----
CAIR-FL SEEKS EQUAL CONSIDERATION FOR MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
EQUAL CONSIDERATION
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/1/19/68481.html
Hillsborough County School Board members agreed to explore adding Ahmed
Bedir of CAIR was pleased the school board listened to a proposal for
Muslim holidays.
They told the school administration's calendar committee to take a
thorough
look at vacation days for the 2006-2007 school year, including an
examination of religious holidays for various faiths.
Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) in Tampa, said he hopes the door has opened to some
day
having a student day off timed with a Muslim holiday. He also believes
people of other faiths may also benefit.
"It is important, because at the end of the day these are children that
you're alienating,'' Bedier said."When they attend school and see
Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever other religious holiday being
recognized
and theirs is ignored, they feel like they don't count."
Several members of the Muslim community recently asked the board to
grant
the holidays off, and to also include the days on the school system's
master calendar so that teachers will not schedule assignments and
activities on those days.
Board members said effective immediately the district's calendar will
list
the Muslim holidays so that teachers and principals can take them into
account.
They vowed a renewed commitment to an existing policy that allows
students
to take time off for religious holidays, with proper notice, without
affecting exam exemptions and perfect attendance honors…
VIEW THE VIDEO:
BROADBAND:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/0501_baynews9_hillsschools_hi.wmv
DIAL-UP:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/0501_baynews9_hillsschools_lo.wmv
SEE ALSO:
RHONDA THURMAN SAYS ALLOWING ISLAMIC HEAD SCARF WAS WRONG DECISION
Chattanoogan Times, 1/18/05
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61195.asp
County School Board member Rhonda Thurman said it was the wrong
decision to
allow a Muslim student at East Ridge High School to wear her Islamic
head
scarf, or hijab, in school.
Ms. Thurman said Board Chairman Chip Baker has agreed that the board
can
discuss the issue at its meeting on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Tyner
Academy.
Ms. Thurman said, "This was a policy decision that the school board
needed
to discuss. I am not happy with the decision made by the
administration.
"I think it opens up a Pandora's box for us. You may have Jewish
students
asking to wear yarmulkes and students from other religions making
requests.
"I think we should stick to the dress code."
The student had previously been told she could not wear her
religiously-mandated head scarf because it was against the school dress
code.
The school's decision to allow the head scarf came after intervention
by a
Muslim civil rights group based in Washington, D.C., and after school
officials conferred with legal counsel.
The girl said she converted to the Muslim faith about a year ago after
studying the Koran.
She said wearing the scarf keeps her mind of her religious faith and
following its tenets.
----
MICHIGAN JUDGE CLEARS MUSLIM WOMAN IN DEATH THAT COST HER THREE
CHILDREN
Detroit Free Press, 1/19/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110282_20050119.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. - A Muslim immigrant from Lebanon has been cleared of
responsibility for her 2-year-old son's 1985 death, which led Michigan
authorities to give her three young children for adoption by an
evangelical
Christian couple.
The children, now ages 22, 21 and 18, have been trained to be Christian
missionaries, their birth father says.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Edward Thomas in Detroit on Tuesday ordered
that
the death certificate for Samier Amer be changed to say that his death
was
an accident, not a homicide. The ruling came after the county settled a
lawsuit brought by the parents.
The family says that Samier had a rare brittle bone disorder and died
after
falling in the bathtub and fracturing his skull.
"I think now God has spoken," said the mother, Rehab Amer. "I did not
kill
my son. My son cried from the grave for justice."
The state took the children into protective custody after the agency
accused Amer and her husband Ahmed of child abuse.
A jury found Rehab Amer not guilty of second-degree murder, but
Michigan's
welfare department refused to return the surviving children to their
parents.
In 1989, the couple lost parental rights to the children, who were
adopted
in 1990 by a Pentecostal Christian couple. The Amers say authorities
were
biased against them…
-----
MUSLIM CHARITY SUSPENDS ACTIVITY OVER GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
http://www.kinderusa.org/donorletter.htm
The following is an open letter to members of the community regarding
the
suspension KinderUSA's activities.
Dear Respected Donors,
Assalaamu alaikum (Peace be unto you),
In early 2002, KinderUSA was formed in response to dual challenges
posed by
the state of Muslim charities in America and the rapidly deteriorating
humanitarian picture in Palestine. Through the generosity of our
donors, we
have successfully raised and disbursed more than four million dollars
on
needy children and their families in slightly under three years of
existence.
At KinderUSA, our central concerns remain that your charitable
contributions are utilized in the manner intended and that those in
need
continue to receive the humanitarian assistance they deserve. Since our
inception, KinderUSA has been committed to transparency and due
diligence
on all levels.
As a standard business practice, we have conducted annual audits,
issued
annual reports, and had an independent expert evaluate our programs and
operations in Gaza in terms of effectiveness, transparency and
accountability. In accordance with rules governing non-profit
organizations, we have filed returns with appropriate state and federal
agencies, extending every effort to comply with all federal laws
regulating
the operation of charities, including the 2002 Treasury Department's
"Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for
US-Based
Charities." We have engaged directly with the Treasury Dept. on a
regular
basis to ensure that the interests of American Muslim donors are
respected
and that American Muslim charities receive fair treatment under the
law.
Despite all of our efforts, in recent weeks we have discovered that the
federal government has targeted KinderUSA for investigation. This has
taken
the form of unwarranted and obtrusive surveillance by the FBI,
wiretapping,
attempts to bribe and subvert our employees (which has caused them to
resign in fear), spreading of malicious disinformation about the
organization, and the possible invasion of our office space.
In the current environment, we cannot in good faith continue to solicit
donations when there are no safeguards in place to guarantee that the
federal government will not seize these funds and divert them from
their
intended, legitimate destination. We have approached the government
seeking
an explanation to help us understand the basis of this investigation
and
are currently awaiting a response.
Rest assured that your recent donations have made it to their intended
destination with the Ramadan project feeding needy children while
helping
farmers in cooperation with Agricultural Relief Committee; our ongoing
psychosocial support center for the severely traumatized implemented by
Terre des hommes; and distributing milk to needy pre-schoolers with
ANERA.
Our forthcoming newsletter will provide full details regarding our
activities during the last quarter.
We feel it is in the best interests of the beneficiaries, donors and
the
foundation to enter into a period of evaluation and review of our
options
during the calendar year of 2005. Once we conclude this period of
review,
we will inform you of any further developments. With the necessary
assurances from the US government, we will be able to continue our
important work, God-willing.
May God bless you for all of your efforts on behalf of those in
greatest need.
For the children,
The Board of Directors
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS CALL FOR TSUNAMI AID
Gary Stern, Journal News, 1/18/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/011805/b0118muslimprayers.html
MOUNT VERNON - Muslim leaders who gathered to pray last night for the
victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami sounded what may become a familiar
theme: Financial aid to South Asia will have to be continued for long
after
the disaster fades from headlines.
"It may take 20 or 30 years of relief efforts to get these communities
established," said Abdus-Salaam Musa, an official with INCA Relief, a
Muslim humanitarian group that has sent workers and supplies to several
of
the affected countries.
The American Muslim Women's Association, a Westchester-based group,
organized last night's hastily planned service at the Westchester
Muslim
Center to spur Muslims to reflect on the meaning of the tsunami - and
to
plant the seed that donations will be necessary for years.
"A catastrophe like this has to wake us up," said Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan
of
Pleasantville, chairwoman of the American Muslim Women's Association.
"Have
we changed our lives in any way since the tsunami happened or have we
gone
back to our old ways? It has shown us that life is so precious, so
short,
it can be gone in a blink of an eye."
Yasser El-Safadi, president of the Thornwood-based Upper Westchester
Muslim
Society, said that the tsunami should be a wake-up call to individuals
and
nations.
"If you are the same before and after, you have missed something
important," he said.
The tsunami is very much a Muslim tragedy, as the most devastated
nation is
Indonesia, home to more Muslims than any other nation. About 185
million of
the country's 220 million people are Muslim.
Indonesia lost more than 115,000 people. Overall, the tsunami killed
163,000 people in 11 countries.
Many regions of Indonesia are known to be very religious. Despite the
chaos
caused by the tsunami, an estimated 200,000 Indonesians are this week
making the hajj, the great Muslim pilgrimage through the holy cities of
Medina and Mecca.
Dr. Shafi Bezar, chairman of the Westchester Muslim Center, which has
raised $10,000 in donations so far, said that people of all faiths
should
find common ground in aiding survivors of the disaster.
"This is a human tragedy," he said…
-----
MORE MUSLIMS FIND ONLINE DATING A GOOD MATCH
Christine Armario, Christian Science Monitor, 1/19/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0119/p16s01-lifp.html
Setting aside the Muslim tradition of family-arranged marriages,
Abdullah
Yahya decided to choose a wife on his own. He went online and
discovered a
Muslim matchmaking service. Within months he met a woman from Dubai, in
the
United Arab Emirates, whom he planned to marry.
But in a clash of culture and technology, Mr. Yahya traveled from San
Francisco to Dubai, only to discover that the woman's parents did not
approve of him and wanted her to marry a cousin instead.
"It became a big mess," says Yahya, a computer programmer. "We just
couldn't go through with it. I flew back to America."
Still, the experience did not dishearten him. He began his own
matchmaking
service, muslimmatcher.com, and has helped more than 6,000 subscribers
find
other single Muslims to date, with the intention of marrying.
"It's hard to meet other Muslims, and personally, I'm not an advocate
of
going straight through the family thing," says Yahya. "I'd rather get
to
know the person first."
His website is one of several online Muslim matchmaking services that
have
sprung up in the United States and internationally in recent years.
They
are used by hundreds of thousands of Muslims worldwide, most of whom
live
away from families willing to arrange a marriage, or who prefer to find
a
spouse by themselves.
This is part of an ongoing shift in the way younger Muslims approach
marriage. Influenced by their non-Muslim peers, many are dating and
marrying outside their religion, without the consent of their parents.
But for those who want to marry another Muslim, the Internet can bridge
a
divide, allowing them to do things previously forbidden, such as
communicate privately before marriage…
ALSO SEE:
EXHIBIT OF ISLAMIC ART AND LIFESTYLE
Kentucky.com, 1/19/005
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/living/community/10657857.htm
The Berea Arts Council is featuring an exhibit of Islamic life and
prayer
titled May Peace and Love Come to All Who Pass by Here through Jan. 27
at
ArtSpace, 116 Main Street. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Lester Pross, retired
member
of the Berea College Art Department, will host a slide show on "Design
and
Context in Islamic Art" at ArtSpace, with a reception to follow. The
exhibit is a joint presentation of the Berea College International
Center
and the Berea Arts Council. The items on exhibit were gathered from
Berea
College students, faculty, staff, and the general community, including
part
of the extensive Middle Eastern art collection of Lester and Mary Lou
Pross. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Call
(859) 985-9317.
---
MUSLIM TRIO FINDS HUMOR IN STEREOTYPES
Sheila M. Poole, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/19/05
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/atlanta_world_14decb93449152a900f7.html
It's said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
For comedian Azhar Usman, a good chuckle can also bridge the gap
between
religions and cultures. It's a way to overcome stereotypes about
Muslims
and to take a humorous look at life before and after Sept. 11, 2001.
"Everywhere I go these days, the FBI follows me. In fact, they're
probably
here tonight, so let me go on record and clarify a few things. First of
all, I am not a member of al-Qaida, nor am I a member of the Taliban. I
just play one on TV."
Usman, who was born in Chicago and is of Indian ancestry, is part of
the
three-man comedy show "Allah Made Me Funny --- The Official Muslim
Comedy
Tour," which comes to Atlanta's private W.D. Mohammed High School on
Saturday and Sunday. It's a fund-raiser for the Mohammed Schools of
Atlanta.
The tour features comedians Usman, Azeem and Preacher Moss, executive
producer of the tour and a former writer for "The George Lopez Show"
and
Damon Wayans.
Moss, who worked with troubled youths before heading for Hollywood,
said
the idea for the show grew out of a need to address the isolation of
Muslims and to tackle such stereotypes as that Muslims can't be funny.
The trio pokes fun at Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and few subjects
are
hands-off. They even deal with the touchy subject of relations between
African-American Muslims and immigrant Muslims.
"I don't insult people, but I talk about issues," Moss said. "The
legacy
[being African-American and Muslim] allows me to talk about a lot of
things…"
-----
'24' CO-CREATOR SPEAKS ABOUT MUSLIM PROTESTS
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/19/05
www.ajc.com
At a "24" panel, co-creator Robert Cochran addressed protests from the
Muslim community about the Fox series' plotline featuring a
family-centered
Muslim terrorist cell in Los Angeles.
"We have a legitimate interest in telling stories that are grounded in
reality," he said. "Terrorist acts by extremist Muslim groups [are]
part of
the reality we face. . . . The vast, vast, overwhelming majority of
Muslim-Americans don't condone terrorism. . . and are law-abiding U.S.
citizens like everyone else."
Iranian-born actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, who plays the mother in the
terrorist family, said, "Although not all the Muslims are terrorists,
unfortunately most terrorists are Muslim." Nevertheless, she cautioned
against jumping to conclusions about the trajectory of the new season
of
"24," which is still young: "Things may not appear as they seem."
-----
RENO MAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR ISLAMIC THREATS
Associated Press, 1/18/05
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/jan/18/011810358.html
RENO, Nev. - A Nevada insurance broker accused of sending threatening
e-mail to a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil rights group has been
sentenced to one year probation.
Dale T. Ehrgott of Reno was indicted by a federal grand jury last year
on
charges of threatening members of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in retaliation for terrorist attacks on Americans.
"You have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the
receiver,"
read one e-mail sent in 2003, according to case records.
After his indictment was made public, Ehrgott told The Associated Press
he
meant no harm.
"It wasn't a threat, just a nasty e-mail," Ehrgott told the AP at the
time.
Under an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ehrgott pleaded
guilty
to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with federally protected
activities.
Besides probation, he also must perform 50 hours of community service
under
the sentence imposed Jan. 13 by U.S. Magistrate Robert McQuaid.
Arsalan Iftikhar, legal affairs director for the Islamic group, praised
prosecutors for the their handling of the case.
"Threats of physical violence, unlike legitimate public debate, must
never
be tolerated," he said.
Iftikhar added, "All such threatening messages will be turned over to
federal authorities for investigation."
ALSO SEE:
RENO MAN GETS PROBATION IN E-MAIL THREAT TO MUSLIM GROUP
Geralda Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal, 1/18/05
http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2005/01/18/90101.php
A Reno man accused of sending a threatening e-mail to the largest
Muslim
civil rights organization in the United States has been sentenced to a
year
of probation.
After negotiations with the U.S. attorney's office, Dale T. Ehrgott was
sentenced Thursday to one count of interference with a federally
protected
activity, a misdemeanor.
Ehrgott was indicted by a federal grand jury last year on two counts of
transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, said Natalie Collins,
spokeswoman for the office. The September trial resulted in a hung
jury.
"We accept your holy war. Looking forward to it very much," said the
e-mail
Ehrgott sent in October 2003 to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"We can deal with you easily, especially because you are on our soil.
You
have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the receiver."
Ehrgott also must perform 50 hours of community service and undergo
stringent monitoring by the federal probation system, Collins said.
Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's national legal director, said he has sent the
Justice Department many examples of hate mail and this was the first
time
officials there have sought to prosecute a threat as a violation of
civil
rights laws…
-----
ISRAEL TO KILL IN U.S., ALLIED NATIONS
Richard Sale, UPI, 1/15/04
http://www.sierratimes.com/05/01/18/upi_israel.htm
Israel is embarking upon a more aggressive approach to the war on
terror
that will include staging targeted killings in the United States and
other
friendly countries, former Israeli intelligence officials told United
Press
International.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has forbidden the practice until
now,
these sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Israeli statements were confirmed by more than a half dozen former
and
currently serving U.S. foreign policy and intelligence officials in
interviews with United Press International.
But an official at the Israeli Embassy in Washington told UPI: "That is
rubbish. It is completely untrue. Israel and the United States have
such a
close and co-operative intelligence relationship, especially in the
field
of counter-terrorism, that the assertion is ludicrous."
With the appointment of Meir Dagan, the new director of Israel's Mossad
secret intelligence service, Sharon is preparing "a huge budget"
increase
for the spy agency as part of "a tougher stance in fighting global
jihad
(or holy war)," one Israeli official said.
Since Sharon became Israeli prime minister, Tel Aviv has mainly limited
its
practice of targeted killings to the West Bank and Gaza because "no one
wanted such operations on their territory," a former Israeli
intelligence
official said…
SEE ALSO:
US OFFICIAL CONFIRMS ALLAWI SHOT SIX DEAD
Sydney Morning Herald, 1/19/05
http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/18/1105810916006.html?oneclick=true
A former Jordanian government minister has told The New Yorker that an
American official confirmed to him that the Iraqi interim Prime
Minister,
Iyad Allawi, executed six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police
station
last year.
The claim is in an extensive profile of Dr Allawi written for this
week's
issue of the magazine by an American journalist, Jon Lee Anderson, the
author of The Fall of Baghdad and a regular Baghdad correspondent for
The
New Yorker.
Writing about his research in Jordan in December, Anderson says: "A
well-known former government minister told me that an American official
had
confirmed that the killings took place, saying to him, 'What a mess
we're
in - we got rid of one son of a bitch only to get another one'."
The New Yorker also revealed that Anderson was present during an
interview
conducted by the Herald's chief correspondent, Paul McGeough, in late
June,
with a man who said he witnessed the executions by Dr Allawi.
Dr Allawi denied the allegations when they were published in the Herald
last July.
Anderson writes: "The man ... described how Allawi had been taken to
seven
suspects, who were made to stand against a wall in a courtyard of the
police station, their faces covered. After being told of their alleged
crimes by a police official, Allawi had asked for a pistol, and then
shot
each prisoner in the head. [One of the men survived.] Afterward, the
witness said, Allawi had declared to those present, 'This is how we
must
deal with the terrorists.' The witness said he approved of Allawi's
act,
adding that, in any case, the terrorists were better off dead, for they
had
been tortured for days."
---
U.S. COURT DISMISSES SAUDI ARABIA FROM 9/11 SUITS
Reuters, 1/18/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7361202
NEW YORK - Saudi Arabia, its defense minister and its ambassador to
Britain
won a ruling in a U.S. court on Tuesday dismissing them as defendants
in
massive litigation growing out of the September 11th attacks on
America.
U.S. District Judge Richard Casey ruled in a lengthy written order that
Saudi Arabia, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Prince Turki
al-Faisal,
the country's ambassador to Britain, all have immunity from the
litigation.
The judge also dismissed a number of other parties as defendants
including
Arab Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, and Saudi American Bank.
The rulings stemmed from eight cases that were consolidated before the
Manhattan federal judge, who is considering pre-trial matters. The
complaints alleged that more than 200 defendants helped support and
fund
Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network.
The cases were filed on behalf of more than 3,000 plaintiffs including
representatives and family members of those killed in the Sept. 11,
2001
attacks as well as survivors and insurance carriers.
The plaintiffs alleged that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi
Royal
Family and people prominent in Saudi society made it possible for al
Qaeda
to grow into a "sophisticated global terrorist network."
The plaintiffs also charged that Saudi Arabia maintained and controlled
charities within al Qaeda's structure.
Saudi Arabia responded to the suits saying that it has worked with the
United States to share information in the fight against terrorism and
that
the U.S. State Department has not designated the Kingdom as a state
sponsor
of terrorism.
It also said that the 9/11 Commission in the United States had found no
evidence that Saudi Arabia supported those who attacked the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon.
In his ruling, the judge refused to immediately throw out allegations
against National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest, which the
plaintiffs say bin Laden and al Qaeda used for their operations.
The bank, which is mainly state-owned, contends that it has immunity as
agent of the government, but the judge said further information was
needed
to determine its status.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'MOHAMMED LIED'
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary%5C17093.html
"Mohammed lied, and the trust and faith Muslims have in his revelations
is
a fraud. The faith Muslims have in Mohammed's immortality and paradise
is
faith in a hustler. This faith is not fair to these people who have had
false doctrine instilled into their culture for hundreds of years
through
domineering religious dogma."
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: karen.trout@roanoke.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/20/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CELEBRATE ON EID DAYS
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN MENTIONED IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
- Inaugural Becoming Forum on Religious Expression (PE)
* CAIR-CHICAGO LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE CENTER
- CAIR-MD/VA: Islamic Group Has New Office (Wash Post)
* NJ: SLAYINGS SPUR NEW WAVE OF ANTI-ISLAM BIAS (AP)
* CAIR-NJ/NY: MUSLIMS CONDEMN FAMILY'S MURDER (Record)
- Groups Call for Restraint and Calm (Star-Ledger)
- Pleas For Calm (Jersey Journal)
- Muslims Show Respect for Slain NJ Clan (Daily News)
* CAIR-CT: EQUAL TIME ON `24'? (Hartford Courant)
* CA: RHYTHM NATION OF ISLAM (East Bay Express)
* IL: PILGRIMAGE SPAWNS A BUSINESS NICHE (Chicago Tribune)
- Pilgrims Bring Cosmopolitan Air to Mecca (NYT)
* SURVEY: AMERICANS OPPOSE IRAN INVASION (UPI)
- Another Poll Finds War Support Eroding (E&P)
- Gonzales Excludes CIA From Rules on Prisoners (NYT)
- 'Why Did They Shoot? We Have No Weapons' (Independent)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: MUSLIMS SEEK 'CONTROL OF THE WORLD'
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CELEBRATE ON EID DAYS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approved of celebrations on
religious holidays such as Eid ul-Adha when he said: "(Islam) is
spacious
(and has room for relaxation), and I have been sent with an easy and
straightforward religion."
The Prophet also said: "The days of (Eid) are days of eating and
drinking
(non-alcoholic drinks) and of remembering God, the Exalted."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 153
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN MENTIONED IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
"In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private
character -- on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of
conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the
governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families,
supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national
life
by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the
Koran,
and the varied faiths of our people."
Inaugural Address of President George W. Bush, 1/20/05
SEE ALSO:
INAUGURAL BECOMING FORUM ON RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
BETTYE WELLS MILLER, Press-Enterprise, 1/20/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_inaug20.a14bc.html
Plans for the inauguration of President George W. Bush have encountered
unexpected controversy over religious expression.
But Inland residents and national experts say that religious expression
has
a place in presidential inaugurations…
Jesus Revered in Islam
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, D.C., said Muslims generally would not object to
references
to Jesus during the inauguration.
"We happen to revere Jesus as a prophet of God," he said by phone. "Any
president has the right to pick whoever he feels is appropriate for
prayer
or an invocation, but we would also hope he wouldn't pick anyone who is
divisive. We would hope there would be an American Muslim represented
both
at the inauguration itself and at any interfaith events…"
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE CENTER
Website Features Press Center, Community News & Announcements
(CHICAGO, IL, 1/20/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today launched its new online
center: http://www.cairchicago.org/
The new website will be a central repository of information about
Chicago
Muslims and issues of relevance to the local community.
The site will archive action alerts, press releases, press statements,
and
media advisories issued by CAIR Chicago, as well as Chicago Muslim
community news and announcements. It will also advertise important
community events and developments.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest
Muslim
civil liberties group, has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago's executive director, Yaser Tabbara,
312-718-3725,
312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org; or director of communications,
Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963, communications@cairchicago.org
SEE ALSO:
ISLAMIC GROUP HAS NEW OFFICE
Branch in Herndon To Focus on Rights Cases
C. Woodrow Irvin, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19888-2005Jan19.html
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a District-based civil
rights
group, has opened its first Northern Virginia office in Herndon, a
center
of the Muslim community in western Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
Many Muslims in Northern Virginia have reported hate crimes,
discrimination
and harassment, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks…
Although the council's mid-Atlantic chapter offices are in Bethesda,
more
than half of its cases originate in Northern Virginia, officials said,
prompting the need for a satellite office…
The Herndon office will be staffed by two full-time employees who,
Mowlana
said, will focus on casework and mediation related to discrimination
complaints. In addition, the office will serve as a training center for
teaching volunteers how to work with the media to project a positive
image
of Islam, council officials said.
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
JERSEY CITY SLAYING SPURS NEW WAVE OF ANTI-ISLAM BIAS
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 1/20/05
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The dirty looks and shouted slurs started in 1993
after
Muslims living here helped plan the bombing of the World Trade Center.
They
intensified on Sept. 11, 2001, when Muslim hijackers brought down the
twin
towers just across the Hudson River.
Now a third wave of anti-Muslim sentiment is washing over New Jersey's
second-largest city, sparked this time by reports that the murders of
an
Egyptian Christian man, his wife and two young daughters might have
been
carried out by Muslims angered over postings the man made in an
Internet
chat room.
The strife is particularly distressing in light of efforts the area's
Muslim community made to reach out to other faiths and strengthen ties
after the 9/11 attacks. Imams visited churches and synagogues. Joint
prayer
breakfasts and open houses were held. Muslim merchants visited the
homes of
their Christian and Jewish counterparts, and strongly denounced the
terror
attacks.
"We've been working for three years on getting Christians together with
Muslims," said Mohamed Younes, president of the American Muslim Union.
"Now
much of that progress is gone. It is definitely going to be set back.
"I'm just sorry we weren't able to do more before this happened," he
said.
"If we had a stronger relationship, something like this would never
have
happened because then you'd have a window to talk to the other side…"
Although prosecutors have stressed that robbery remains a possible
motive
in the case, many in this city's sizable Egyptian population believe
the
killings were religiously motivated...
After the killings, Muslims tried anew to mend fences, but the results
were
mixed, at best. Several attended the family's funeral, but a New York
cleric had to be escorted from the church hall for his own protection
after
a heckler started shouting at him. Mourners engaged in several scuffles
before and after the funeral, including one in which about 35 people
pushed, shoved and traded punches in the street as others yelled
anti-Islam
slogans.
A few days later, Muslim leaders called a press conference designed as
an
interfaith rally to try to calm religious tensions, but Christian
groups
who were invited did not attend, citing a religious holiday of their
own. A
similar interfaith event planned for this Sunday, which had been in the
works for months, had to be postponed due to expected bad weather...
-----
MUSLIMS CONDEMN FAMILY'S MURDER
TOM TRONCONE, Record, 1/20/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDIxMzQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
JERSEY CITY - A group of Muslim leaders on Wednesday condemned the
murder
of a Coptic Orthodox family and called for solidarity across religious
lines in the wake of the grisly slayings.
Leaders of more than a half-dozen Islamic organizations asked the
public
and media to refrain from speculating about whether religion may have
played a role in the murders of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal
Garas,
37, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8 - who were found
bound
and stabbed to death in their city home last week.
"We condemn this horrible crime," said Ghazi Khankan, the executive
director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in New York.
"While
we understand the anger and frustration ... we ask that individuals of
both
the Muslim and Christian community to refrain from inflaming the
situation…"
SEE ALSO:
JERSEY CITY GROUPS CALL FOR RESTRAINT AND CALM
BRIAN DONOHUE, Star-Ledger, 1/20/05
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/firstglance/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1106189406134610.xml
---
PLEA FOR CALM
Bonnie Friedman, Jersey Journal, 1/20/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/110621605273120.xml
---
RESPECT FOR SLAIN N.J. CLAN
TAMER EL-GHOBASHY, NY DAILY NEWS, 1/20/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/273038p-233782c.html
MUSLIMS IN the Egyptian hometown of the Coptic Christian family found
slain
in Jersey City reportedly have canceled celebrations of a major holiday
today out of respect for the victims.
The gesture strikes a remarkable contrast to the animosity that has
surfaced locally after some Copts asserted that a Muslim must have
killed
the family over anti-Islamic statements the dad posted in an Internet
chat
room…
In Luxor, where the family lived before immigrating to Jersey City in
1997,
Muslim friends and neighbors are refraining from baking sweets, buying
gifts and other festivities common in observing Eid al-Adha, according
to
an Egyptian newspaper…
Al-Wafd, one of Egypt's largest independent dailies, also reported
yesterday that a memorial service for the Armanious family was heavily
attended by Muslims, who were welcomed by the slain family's relatives…
-----
CAIR-CT: EQUAL TIME ON `24'?
ROGER CATLIN, Hartford Courant, 1/20/05
http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/tv/hc-foxmuslim.artjan20,1,6140142.story
The Fox network is facing controversy again, this time for the
depiction of
a Muslim family as aiding terrorists in "24."
To address complaints about the family's portrayal, Fox agreed this
week to
offer free advertising to Islamic groups angered by the early episodes
of
the fourth season of the show.
In "24," a Muslim family is part of a terror group that kidnaps the
U.S.
Secretary of Defense. "What we will accomplish today will change the
world," the father tells the son over breakfast. "We are fortunate that
our
family has been chosen to do this."
The Council on American- Islamic Relations issued a statement that the
initial episodes "confirmed our concerns that the story was going in a
dangerous direction: casting a shadow of suspicion on ordinary American
Muslims."
The council met with Fox officials last week, and the network agreed to
make available to its affiliates two public-service announcements that
show
Muslims in a positive light. The spots end by stating "Muslims are part
of
the fabric of this country and are working to build a better America…"
The show's executive producer, Robert Cochran, this week called the
talks
with CAIR representatives "very cordial. It was very calm, very
productive.
Both sides listened. Both sides spoke, and I think both sides felt that
a
resolution - it is happening." Still, he said, "We have a legitimate
interest in telling stories that are grounded in reality, at least to a
considerable extent grounded in reality," and he called "terrorists
acts by
extremist Muslim groups "part of the reality we face.
"It's also true that the Muslim groups that have spoken up have a
legitimate interest in making it clear to the American people that the
vast, overwhelming majority of Muslim Americans don't condone
terrorism,
don't support terrorism, are loyal, law-abiding citizens like everybody
else," he said.
Badr Malik, executive director of New London-based CAIR Connecticut,
echoed
that sentiment.
"There are 10 million American Muslims right now," he says. "What it
proves
is most of American Muslims are peaceful people who are working and
raising
families. This show is not presenting the lives of real American
Muslims..."
CONTACT: CAIR-CT, CAIR - Connecticut, 860-995-6628 or 860-995-6628
-----
RHYTHM NATION OF ISLAM
Eric K. Arnold, East Bay Express, 1/9/05
http://music.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-01-19/music/close2thaedge.html
"I think that Islam itself is the unofficial religion of hip-hop,"
proclaims Adisa Banjoko, the San Jose-based writer, publicist, radio
show
host of One Mic on KNEW-AM, and student of Gracie-style Brazilian
jujitsu.
"So much hip-hop has come to be that has referenced Islam, that many of
the
people themselves don't even recognize it. Like, why is it that Biggie
Smalls was going on about From Mecca to Medina? He's not talking about
Saudi Arabia…"
-----
PILGRIMAGE SPAWNS A BUSINESS NICHE
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 1/20/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0501200262jan20,1,74763.story
Zubair and Aisha Khan wanted to make the spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca,
to
circle the black stone shrine in the glistening Saudi desert and become
"hajjis," a title bestowed on Muslims who make the sacred journey to
Islam's holiest city.
So the Chicago couple slapped down roughly $7,000 last year to Barakah
Hajj
& Umrah, an Oak Brook-based company that plans every detail of the
annual
religious rite, from the airfare to the air-conditioned tents that
house
pilgrims during one leg of the journey.
For that lump sum, the Khans got airline seats, stays in four-star
hotels
and tents, three meals a day, bus rides, religious seminars and help in
obtaining Hajj visas from the Saudi government.
"It was as if we were going on a trip," Zubair Khan, a 28-year-old
lawyer,
said of the package deal that organized the nuts and bolts of a
life-changing religious experience. "For me, the price was very
competitive."
The trek to Mecca, which every able-bodied Muslim is expected to do
once in
a lifetime if he or she can afford it, has typically been a group
affair.
For decades, a local official called a mutawwif, or helper, assigned to
the
group has facilitated a perilous journey that often exposed travelers
to
bandits and disease.
But as more and more American Muslims seek the experience, they are
quietly
helping to transform the sojourn into a multimillion-dollar industry,
fueled by a desire to commune with God without giving up modern
amenities.
As Islam and the wealth of the Muslim community in America grows, so
does
demand for Hajj tour services.
Dozens of companies now cater to an estimated 10,000 pilgrims from U.S.
cities who trek to Mecca annually during the Hajj, including roughly
600
from Chicago for this year's pilgrimage, which ends with the three-day
feast that began Thursday…
SEE ALSO:
ISLAMIC PILGRIMS BRING COSMOPOLITAN AIR TO UNLIKELY CITY
HASSAN M. FATTAH, New York Times, 1/20/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/international/middleeast/20mecca.html
The two-hour panel presentation on ''Mecca: The Cultural Capital of
Islam''
was pretty dry but things got rolling in the question and answer
session,
in a way that was quintessentially Meccan.
One by one, audience members, a surprising number of them women, came
to
the microphone and tossed out questions that few others would dare ask
publicly…
The session soon grew into a raucous series of debates about the
critical
issues facing Muslims -- disunity, extremism, leadership. And soon the
meeting's organizer, Abubaker Bagader, a sociology professor at King
Abdul
Aziz University, had to step in to admonish them -- not for being too
argumentative but for veering from the subject.
Rare in most of the Muslim world, the willingness to debate and raise
seemingly taboo questions is standard here in the birthplace of Islam
and
the site of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage beginning Wednesday that
attracts about 1.5 million Muslims from all corners of the world for
five
days of meditation, prayer and, often, vigorous debate.
In workshops and meeting rooms, at schools and mosques in the city, the
freewheeling discussion of theology, history and politics lives on. And
if
this intellectual melee was any indicator, the debate is quite
civilized --
no raised voices, no threats, no personal attacks.
In Mecca, Dr. Bagader said later, that is the way. ''This city is a
stage
where people from all over the world can come and find an audience to
listen to them,'' says Dr. Bagader, a Meccan native. ''There is an
acceptance of being different here...''
-----
SURVEY: AMERICANS OPPOSE IRAN INVASION
Anwar Iqbal, United Press International, 1/20/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050119-032203-2848r
WASHINGTON -- A major new national opinion survey of 1,608 American
voters
released this week shows that only 42 percent would support the U.S.
invasion of Iran to stop its nuclear program.
Nearly half -- 47 percent -- of U.S. voters would oppose such a move
and 11
percent are unsure.
The survey was conducted by the Washington-based Opinion Research
Corporation for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Results For America,
which is
a project of the Civil Society Institute.
The survey comes amid media reports that the United States was
contemplating military actions against Iran's nuclear sites…
SEE ALSO:
ANOTHER POLL, THIS ONE FOR 'LAT,' FINDS WAR SUPPORT ERODING
Editor & Publisher, 1/19/05
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000767889
NEW YORK Another major poll, this one from the Los Angeles Times, shows
support for America's Iraq adventure continuing to slip.
The poll, conducted Saturday through Monday, found that the percentage
of
Americans who believe the situation in Iraq was "worth going to war
over"
has sunk to a new low of 39%, down 5% since October.
The Times also reported that 37% of the public advocates withdrawing at
least some troops now, a position very few newspaper editorial pages
have
endorsed. Fifty-two percent want to wait and see what happens after the
Iraqi elections. Just 4% would like to send more troops, a position
supported by many newspapers, including The New York Times, along with
legislators such as Sen. John McCain.
In addition, 47% said they would like to see most of the troops out
within
a year...
---
GONZALES EXCLUDES CIA FROM RULES ON PRISONERS
Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, 1/20/05
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/19/news/abuse.html
WASHINGTON Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other
nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive
issued by
President George W. Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners
in
U.S. custody, Alberto Gonzales, the White House counsel, said in a
document.
In written responses to questions posed by senators as part of their
consideration of his nomination to be attorney general, Gonzales also
said
a separate congressional ban on cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment
had
"a limited reach" and did not apply in all cases to "aliens overseas."
That position has clear implications for prisoners held in U.S. custody
at
Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, and in Iraq, legal analysts said…
---
'WHY DID THEY SHOOT? WE HAVE NO WEAPONS'
Chris Hondros, Independent, 1/20/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=602608
It was a routine foot patrol. As we made our way up a broad boulevard,
in
the distance I could see a car making its way toward us. As a defence
against potential car bombs, it is now standard practice for foot
patrols
to stop oncoming vehicles, particularly after dark.
"We have a car coming," someone called out, as we entered an
intersection.
We could see the car about 100 metres away. It kept coming; I could
hear
its engine now, a high whine that sounded more like acceleration than
slowing down. It was maybe 50 yards away now. "Stop that car!" someone
shouted out, seemingly simultaneously with someone firing what sounded
like
warning shots - a staccato measured burst.
The car continued coming. And then, perhaps less than a second later, a
cacophony of fire, shots rattling off in a chaotic overlapping din. The
car
entered the intersection on its momentum and still shots were
penetrating
it and slicing it. Finally the shooting stopped, the car drifted
listlessly, clearly no longer being steered, and came to a rest on a
kerb.
Soldiers began to approach it warily. The sound of children crying came
from the car. I walked up to the car and a teenaged girl with her head
covered emerged from the back, wailing and gesturing wildly. After her
came
a boy, tumbling on to the ground from the seat, already leaving a pool
of
blood.
"Civilians!" someone shouted, and soldiers ran up. More children - it
ended
up being six all told - started emerging, crying, their faces mottled
with
blood in long streaks. The troops carried them all off to a nearby
sidewalk…
From the pavement I could see into the bullet-mottled windshield more
clearly, the driver of the car, a man, was penetrated by so many
bullets
that his skull had collapsed, leaving his body grotesquely disfigured.
A
woman also lay dead in the front, still covered in her Muslim clothing
and
harder to see.
Meanwhile, the children continued to wail and scream, huddled against a
wall, sandwiched between soldiers either binding their wounds or trying
to
comfort them. The Army's translator later told me that this was a
Turkoman
family and that the teenaged girl kept shouting, "Why did they shoot
us? We
have no weapons! We were just going home!" After a delay in getting the
armoured vehicles lined up and ready, the convoy moved to the main Tal
Afar
hospital…
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: MUSLIMS SEEK 'CONTROL OF THE WORLD'
PROF SETS FORTH 'HOW ISLAM PLANS TO CHANGE THE WORLD'
Lauri Arnold, Baptist Press, 1/19/05
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19939
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)--In the weeks and months that followed Sept.
11,
2001, churches across America reported a high increase in the number of
attendees -- and so did mosques across America.
"9/11 was a wakeup call. Suddenly people began to say, 'What is Islam?'
and
it was quite amazing after 9/11 that Muslims began saying, 'Come to the
mosque and find out what Islam is,'" said William Wagner, professor of
missions at Golden Gate Theological Seminary and author of "How Islam
Plans
to Change the World," a new book from Kregel Publications.
Wagner writes in his book that Islam has grown in America as a result
of a
detailed strategy that was already in place long before radical
Islamists
associated with Osama Bin Laden perpetrated the tragedies of Sept. 11.
"Islam is a world religion with a well-defined culture and a developed
strategy for taking control of the world," Wagner writes in the preface
of
the book.
One example Wagner noted was that those who went to the mosques
following
Sept. 11 were told that Islam "is a religion of peace, love and
forgiveness
and that there were few real terrorists in their faith," as Wagner put
it.
"They did such a convincing job that some converted and others became
vocal
supporters of tolerance for Islam in their communities..."
"In reading Khomeini's Islamic Government, one has a tendency to
compare it
to Adolph Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'," Wagner writes. "Both state clearly
their
grand ideas of world conquest, but people today do not take such
writings
seriously. The key difference between the two is that Hitler was an
atheist
while Khomeini claimed to be a man of God."
Wagner identifies three specific tools that are utilized today in order
to
keep the overall Islamic strategy in place and ultimately advance the
spread of the faith: jihad (holy war), da'wah (missions) and the
building
of mosques. Wagner said now he also identifies immigration as a fourth
tool
that is used, though it is not included in the book.
Wagner noted that it may seem strange to some people that the Muslim
faith
is growing, both in America and beyond in light of the faith's link
with
Sept. 11, but he said the faith is growing "because they know what they
are
doing."
"I think that we need to be aware that they really are a threat to us
and
that if we don't wake up, one of these days it is going to be too
late…"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/21/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY REACHES GOD
* CAIR: EID RECALLS ABRAHAM'S SUBMISSION TO GOD
- CAIR-LA: Muslims Celebrate Christian, Judaism Ties
- IL: Muslims' Ritual Helps Feed the Needy (Chicago Trib)
* EVANGELIST'S TSUNAMI EFFORTS STIR US MUSLIM GROUP (Reuters)
- Christian Aid Shows Power of the Pulpit (AP)
* NJ: WHERE CALM IS NEEDED (Bergen Record)
- CAIR-NJ Offers Condolences to Coptic Community
* CAIR-HOUSTON: FORM PITS TEXAS CHRISTIANS AGAINST MUSLIMS (FOX)
- TX: Group Questions 'Spread of Islam in America' (CAIR)
- CT: Church Distributes Anti-Muslim Tracts (Rep-American)
- TN: Metro Worker Forwards Anti-Muslim E-Mail (Tennessean)
* MD: MUSLIMS SEEK INPUT INTO SCHOOL CALENDAR (Baltimore Sun)
- TN: Board Backs Allowing Girl to Wear Head Scarf
* FL: WHY 20 YEARS TO BUILD THE AL-ARIAN CASE? (Weekly Planet)
* IL: MUSLIM WOMEN CONFRONT MISCONCEPTIONS (Daily NW)
- CA: Head Scarf is Liberating (Los Angeles Times)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY REACHES GOD
"For every nation We prescribed a way of sacrifice so that they may
pronounce the name of God over the animals that He has given them for
food.
But the object is one and the same: to remember that your God is one
God.
So submit yourselves to Him, and O Prophet (Muhammad), give good news
to
the humble, whose hearts tremble at the mention of God, who endure
adversity with patience, who establish prayer and spend in charity out
of
what we have given them…
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God; it is your
piety that reaches Him. Thus, He has subjected these animals to you so
that
you may glorify God for giving you guidance, and O Prophet, give good
news
to those who do good to others."
The Holy Quran, 22:34-35, 37
NOTE: Each year on the holiday of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims sacrifice an
animal
in remembrance of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at
God's command. The meat is distributed to relatives and to the needy.
-----
HOLIDAY RECALLS PROPHET ABRAHAM'S SUBMISSION TO GOD
Nihad Awad, Columbus Dispatch, 1/21/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/01/21/20050121-E2-01.html
[Nihad Awad is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil-rights and advocacy group.
He
may be reached at nawad@cair-net.org.]
When Muslims marked the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj,
yesterday, the central figure in their religious celebrations was the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith.
Each year, Muslims in American and around the world conclude the Hajj
with
a holiday called Eid ul-Adha (eedal-ODD-ha), or ''Festival of the
Sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha not only signifies the end of the pilgrimage,
which
this year included an estimated 10,000 American Muslims among 2 million
to
3 million faithful, it also commemorates Abraham's willingness to
sacrifice
his son at God's command. (Muslims believe it was Ishmael that God
asked to
be sacrificed.)
One of the central rites of the Hajj, the largest and oldest annual
gathering on Earth, is the stoning by the pilgrims of three pillars
representing Satan's temptation of Abraham and his rejection of that
enticement. The stoning indicates the pilgrim's similar rejection of
evil
deeds...
Muslims call Abraham the ''friend" of God. The Quran, Islam's revealed
text, states: ''Who can be better in faith than one who submits his
whole
self to God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in
faith?
For God did take Abraham for a friend" (4:125).
Another verse portrays Abraham as the ''father" of all believers.
''Strive
in the way of God as you ought to strive with sincerity and discipline.
He
has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance
of
your faith - the faith of your father Abraham" (22:78).
Yet another verse confirms that Abraham is part of the brotherhood of
God's
prophets. ''(O Muhammad), we have sent revelations to you just as we
sent
to Noah and the prophets who came after him. We also sent revelations
to
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, his descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah,
Aaron
and Solomon, and to David we gave the Psalms" (4:163)...
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
As always, it is up to people of good will to avoid easy answers and
instead do the hard work of confronting the kind of ignorance that can
lead
to religious bigotry.
Through the Hajj, Abraham has united Muslims from all over the world
for
more than 14 centuries. The real challenge is for all of Abraham's
children
- Muslims, Christians and Jews - to unite for the common good of
humanity.
SEE ALSO:
LOCAL MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CHRISTIAN, JUDAISM TIES
Marshall Allen, Star News, 1/20/05
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2665585,00.html
SAN GABRIEL -- As local Muslims on Thursday celebrated the holiday
recognizing Islam's historic connection to Judaism and Christianity,
some
say they feel increasingly marginalized in the U.S. Others are using
the
event as an opportunity to educate Americans about Islam.
Eid ul-Adha, or "festival of the sacrifice," commemorates Abraham's
obedience to God's command to offer his son as a sacrifice. The holiday
is
the second most important on the Muslim calendar and arrives each year
as
Muslims conclude the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj...
As Muslims recognized their historic connection with Jews and
Christians,
some said recent events have made them feel less welcome in the U.S.
American Muslims have been thrust into the spotlight in recent years by
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults on the U.S. and violent attacks in
other
countries. The attention has often led to implied connections to
Islamic
extremism that make moderately minded Muslims feel exposed.
Local Muslims cited polls that have increased their discomfort…
Sabiha Khan said she sees the poll numbers as an opportunity to educate
Americans about Islam. According to the polls, the majority of
Americans
support Muslims' civil rights and don't believe the negative
stereotypes of
Islam, she said. But in the same studies about 60 percent of
respondents
say they are not familiar with the religion.
"This shows people are willing to be convinced," she said. "People are
open
minded."
CAIR is using Eid ul-Adha to educate radio listeners through an ad
campaign
that started Thursday and will air through Sunday on 980 AM-KFWB.
The holiday "offers an excellent opportunity for all of Abraham's
children
-- Muslims, Christians and Jews -- to recognize and cherish their
shared
religious heritage and to promote a harmonious future as people of
faith,"
one of the ads says.
---
MUSLIMS' RITUAL HELPS PUT FOOD ON NEEDY TABLES
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 1/21/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0501210304jan21,1,1939544.story
As millions of Muslim pilgrims complete the final rituals of hajj
Friday in
Saudi Arabia, Sulejman Dzananovic will enter a Minnesota
slaughterhouse,
raise a newly sharpened blade and perform 66 ceremonial sacrifices to
God…
This year local Muslims are taking the rite of sacrifice one step
further.
Through a campaign called "Sacrifice This Eid For Our Neighbors,"
Chicago-area families contributed more than $64,000 to buy cows to be
killed by Dzananovic. Processed as 4-pound packages of frozen ground
beef,
the entire yield from the slaughter will go to feed Chicago's hungry,
regardless of their faith…
-----
EVANGELIST'S TSUNAMI EFFORTS STIR US MUSLIM GROUP
Manuela Badawy, Reuters, 1/20/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7388094
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. Muslim group on Thursday accused
evangelist Jerry Falwell of using money donated for tsunami relief to
convert people in South Asia to Christianity and called on the Bush
administration to denounce his actions.
In an e-mailed weekly newsletter called "Falwell Confidential," which
was
obtained by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the evangelist
said:
"Hundreds of thousands are in dire need of medical attention and
personal
counseling. And in this heavily Muslim part of the world, millions have
never even heard of Jesus Christ."
The newsletter, which is distributed by Jerry Falwell Ministries, said
donations would be used to distribute food and Gospel tracts in the
region.
A Muslim who received the e-mail passed it on to the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.
According to a statement on www.falwell.com and Liberty University's
Web
site, the school is preparing a team to travel to India, Sri Lanka and
other countries in South Asia. Falwell founded Liberty University.
"Distribution of food and medical supplies, along with the
dissemination of
thousands of Gospel tracts in the language of the people will be the
primary tasks of the team," the Web sites said. "Mission trips to the
Asian
region by many (Liberty University) students will follow in the months,
and
perhaps years, to come."
But Dr. Eddie Pate, professor and leader of Liberty's tsunami aid
effort,
said he did not plan to take "any materials or pass anything out." He
said
the team is going to South Asia to work with local Christian groups
that
are distributing food and medicine, and helping small businesses
restart.
Falwell's office declined comment. The evangelist sparked controversy
in
2002 when he called Muslims' prophet Muhammad a "terrorist" during a
television interview.
"This is not the first time we hear about this kind of proselytism,"
Hooper
said. "This has a negative impact, first, on interfaith relations, and
second, on the trust and work of legitimate institutions working
there."
Hooper said missionaries acting as relief groups could hurt rather than
help these vulnerable societies.
"It would make work for legitimate institutions more difficult. It also
harms America's image, which is already pretty tarnished in the rest of
the
world…"
SEE ALSO:
FLOW OF CHRISTIAN AID SHOWS SHIFTING POWER OF THE PULPIT
BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press, 1/21/05
DATELINE: LADONG, Indonesia - The Americans in matching T-shirts were
greeted as heroes when they arrived one afternoon with clean water and
medical care. But how the help got here was something the tsunami
survivors
could scarcely comprehend.
The forces of faith, fund-raising and globe-trotting volunteerism have
opened a stream of private Christian aid to one of the most religiously
conservative corners of Muslim Indonesia.
From the volunteers in a Ladong palm grove to aid provided by
Samaritan's
Purse, a group run by the son of evangelist Billy Graham, the
initiatives
show the power of church congregations to gather donations when tragedy
strikes.
It also highlights the rising aspirations among a new style of
Christian
relief leagues mostly linked to evangelists and activists in the United
States…
Some of the conservative Christian leaders who have outraged Muslims
also
have mounted aid campaigns to Indonesia.
Evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of veteran preacher Billy Graham,
called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion" following the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks. His Samaritan's Purse relief organization sent a 747
cargo
jet with medical and humanitarian supplies as part of a $10 million aid
effort. The younger Graham toured battered coastal towns in Sri Lanka
and
Indonesia this week.
A team from evangelist Jerry Falwell's Liberty University plans to
travel
to regions hit by the tsunami to bring supplies and "thousands of
Gospel
tracts in the language of the people," according to an announcement. In
2002, Falwell called the Prophet Mohammad a "terrorist" but later
apologized.
Smaller Christian groups linked to evangelical churches also have
joined
the flow of tsunami help.
"Just when our nation's image in the Islamic world was improving as a
result of the outpouring of American aid in the tsunami disaster area,
we
hear from those who would exploit the tragedy to advance their own
extremist agenda," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington…
-----
WHERE CALM IS NEEDED
THE RECORD, 1/21/05
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzOTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDI2MTgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNA==
THE murder of a Jersey City couple and their two young daughters last
week
was horrifying. And the news that the Coptic Christian family might
have
been slain by Muslim fanatics is disturbing.
But it is also troubling that these reports have led some Coptic
Christian
leaders to make anti-Muslim statements and ill-informed
characterizations
about Islam.
We urge public officials in Jersey City and leaders of America's Coptic
Christians to denounce this hate speech against Muslims and to plead
with
people to remain calm no matter what is discovered to be the cause of
these
murders.
Police are considering the possibility that Hossam Armanious and his
wife
and children were killed because of heated exchanges he |had about
Islam in
an Internet chat room…
To be sure, there are tensions. But incidents of hate and violence are
the
exception, not the rule.
It's also important to remember that Islamic terrorists do not
represent
the religion or the views of most Muslims. The vast majority of the
world's
Muslims, like those of other religions, are peaceful people trying to
lead
normal lives.
New Jersey Muslim leaders emphasized that point in a press conference
this
week on the Armanious family killings. Islam condemns such violent acts
or,
as one Muslim leader put it: "To kill one innocent is to kill the whole
world."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
-----
FORM PITS TEXAS CHRISTIANS AGAINST MUSLIMS
Foxnews.com, 1/19/05
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144847,00.html
HOUSTON - An application form to join a parochial schools group that
was
sent to Texas Islamic schools has created misunderstanding and anger
between local Muslims and Christians.
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (search), which
is
90 percent Christian, sent 10 questions to the Dar-ul-Arqam school
(search)
in Houston after the group applied to join the association.
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (search), which runs
Dar-ul-Arqam
schools at three locations, wanted students to be able to compete with
other parochial schools in extracurricular events.
One question that upset Dar-ul-Arqam administrators focused on
perceived
intolerance: "The Koran clearly tells you not to mix with (and even
eliminate) the infidels. Christians and Jews fall into this category.
Why
do you wish to join an organization whose membership is basically in
total
disagreement with your religious beliefs?"
Iesa Galloway, Houston Executive Director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (search) said the questionnaire was "rooted
in
deep-seeded ignorance of the religion of Islam and the Muslim people…"
SEE ALSO:
TEXAS SCHOOL GROUP QUESTIONS 'SPREAD OF ISLAM IN AMERICA'
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1366&theType=NR
---
CHURCH DISTRIBUTES ANTI-MUSLIM TRACTS ON DOWNTOWN GREEN
Steve Gambini, Republican-American, 1/21/05
http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=15820
WATERBURY -- Members of a city mosque were troubled recently to
discover
that members of a small Christian church were on the downtown Green
distributing tracts ridiculing Islam.
"We don't want them to defame and distort the religion this way," said
Majeed Sharif, president of the United Muslim Mosque on Prospect
Street.
"If you don't know something, you should call somebody and ask rather
than
just going out and doing something like this."
The tract in question is titled "Allah Had No Son," a publication from
California-based Chick Publications.
Chick Publications markets dozens of titles to evangelical churches
that
cast Islam as a demonic creation of the Roman Catholic Church. The
churches
then typically distribute the small, comic-book formatted tracts as
part of
their evangelism.
The copies of the tract distributed on the Green appear to have been
downloaded from the Chick Publications Web site and photocopied, not
purchased from the publisher.
After a copy of the tract found its way to the mosque, Sharif called
the
Rev. Earle Sanford, president of the board of the Greater Waterbury
Interfaith Ministries.
"It's humiliating and debasing," Sanford said of the tract, which
portrays
Muslims haranguing a Christian about the Bible and then having the
tables
turned on them. The publication alleges that Allah is actually a
derivative
of a pagan "moon god."
Sharif said he was particularly disturbed by allegations in the
pamphlet
that Muslims believe the Bible is "corrupt."
"One thing you will never find is a Muslim who would print something
like
this about Jesus and Moses," Sharif said. "The prophets who are
mentioned
in Koran are mentioned as great and noble people and great prophets."
Initially the mosque and Interfaith Ministries had planned a press
conference to denounce distribution of the tracts by the Bride of
Christ
Church, which operates out of a shopping plaza on Thomaston Avenue.
However, Sanford said he was reluctant to follow through with that idea
for
fear of legitimizing the ideas in the pamphlet…
---
METRO WORKER FORWARDS ANTI-MUSLIM E-MAIL
BRAD SCHRADE, Tennessean, 1/21/05
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/01/64452043.shtml?Element_ID=64452043
This is a cautionary tale for anyone forwarding chain e-mails.
Remember,
that message eventually could be traced back to you.
That's what happened to a Metro employee who could face disciplinary
action
for forwarding an e-mail that makes derogatory comments about young
Muslim
men and their alleged ties to crimes and terrorist activities over the
past
thirty-plus years. The forwarding of the message violated a Metro
e-mail
policy that prohibits using city e-mail for sending offensive
information.
The message is a sarcastic multiple-choice test listing 12 historic
incidents, many of them attacks against Americans, including 9/11 and
the
taking of hostages in Iran and other attacks on U.S. citizens and
embassies
overseas.
In each case, there are throwaway answers blaming figures such as
Scooby
Doo and Bugs Bunny, with a letter D answer blaming Muslims.
The chain e-mail was received by Lori Lazo-Bell, an employee of the
city's
finance department, and she forwarded it to several people on Jan. 13
using
her Metro e-mail account.
By Monday, the e-mail had been passed on to a West Virginia man, who
sent
it to Mayor Bill Purcell's office and some Nashville news media.
The man was outraged by the contents, and Purcell asked for a review by
Metro Finance Director David Manning, who sent an apology to the man,
whose
e-mail was signed Jim Castleman.
Manning said the employee used ''poor judgment'' in forwarding ''such
an
inappropriate message…''
-----
MUSLIMS SEEK INPUT INTO SCHOOL CALENDAR
Hanah Cho, Baltimore Sun, 1/21/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.holiday21jan21,1,3804816.story
While her friends stress over their midterms today, Aisha Hasan won't
be
with them in school. Instead, the 15-year-old sophomore at River Hill
High
School in Clarksville will be at home observing a sacred Muslim holiday
that marks the end of pilgrimage to Mecca.
This year, the three-day Eid al-Adha celebration, which began
yesterday,
falls on midterm week for Howard County high school students such as
Aisha.
It is one example of Muslim students in the Baltimore area balancing
academic commitments and their faith.
"I was worried because I didn't want to choose between having to stay
and
take the exams or going to prayers and not knowing whether I could
retake
the test at a later date," said Aisha. "Friday is pretty important.
It's
our holy day. You go to religious prayers in the morning, and then you
celebrate with friends and family throughout the day. It's like
Christmas."
In Howard County, Muslim students can make up missed exams next week,
although confusion over the policy prompted worried parents to lobby
the
school board. Leaders of the Howard County Muslim Council, which
estimates
that 3,000 to 4,000 Muslim students attend Howard schools, are working
with
school officials to avoid such scheduling conflicts - and confusion -
in
the future.
In recent years, a growing number of Muslim parents and students have
been
lobbying Baltimore-area school districts to adjust school policies to
accommodate their religious practices, including the types of school
lunches served and the times and places students can pray.
At the forefront has been a push to close schools on the Islamic
faith's
most sacred observances, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates
the
end of Ramadan. Baltimore County Muslims have been spearheading calls
to
close school, attending every school board meeting for the past year…
SEE ALSO:
BOARD BACKS ADMINISTRATION ON ALLOWING GIRL TO WEAR HEAD SCARF
Chattanoogan, 1/20/05
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61358.asp
County School board members on Thursday backed the administration on
allowing a female Muslim student at East Ridge High School to wear a
head
scarf.
Scott Bennett, an attorney for the board, said the East Ridge High
principal acted correctly in allowing the scarf.
Board member Rhonda Thurman had said she disagreed, saying the school
system should not waver from the dress code.
Attorney Bennett said there is not an overall county school dress code.
He
said individual schools and communities make that decision.
He also said there is "a tradition in Hamilton County" of allowing
individuals to express their religious beliefs…
Marty Puryear, another board member, said, "A lot more can be hidden in
a
school back pack than under a yarmulke."
Ms. Thurmond said she was still upset that the board had earlier not
allowed the sale of a brick that said "To the Glory of God."
She also complained that board members are not kept abreast of current
issues, saying she had learned about the East Ridge matter on the
national
news.
-----
WHY 20 YEARS TO BUILD THE AL-ARIAN CASE? MAYBE THE EVIDENCE WASN'T
THERE.
JOHN F. SUGG, Weekly Planet, 1/19/05
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/2005-01-19/news_feature.html
Sami Al-Arian must pose a very serious threat to the United States.
After
all, the government has spent tens of millions of your dollars over two
decades trying to trap the wily former University of South Florida
professor. And, shucks, the Tampa Tribune has been calling him a
terrorist
for a decade, so it must be true.
Well, maybe not.
The government has termed as irrelevant the government's own analysis
that
the group Al-Arian is accused of supporting has never targeted America.
And
despite lurid recounting of 14 terrorist actions in the Feb. 2003
indictment of Al-Arian, there is no proof offered - or even an
allegation
made - that the academic sponsored, funded, planned, participated in or
had
advance knowledge of the violent acts.
Strange doings, and as we'll see, the feds' case looks weaker at every
hearing prior to the scheduled April trial of Al-Arian and three
co-defendants…
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN CONFRONT MODERN MISCONCEPTIONS
Marcy Miranda, Daily Northwestern, 1/20/05
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/20/41ef5d5606963
Most Americans have misconceptions about Muslim women because of
misleading
portrayals, in the media, said Ingrid Mattson Tuesday in an Islam
Awareness
Week speech.
About 85 people attended the event sponsored by the Muslim-cultural
Students Association, "Women in Islam: Embracing Modernity with Faith."
It
was the third event in a one-week series designed to spread awareness
about
Muslim culture at Northwestern.
"(Islam) is about faith and God and bringing people closer to God,"
Mattson
said.
Mattson, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America,
converted
to Islam in college. She said Muslim women face "many misunderstandings
and
many challenges."
Some of the challenges include barriers preventing Muslim women from
fully
developing their relationships with God, misunderstandings regarding
women's rights in Islam and negative portrayals of Muslim women in
comparison to other modern American women.
"(Difficulties result) because of the information being presented in an
incorrect fashion or because there is not enough information out
there,"
she said. "There is a misconception that Islam is a barrier for women
to
live in modern life and that misconception stems from people making a
broad
generalization from people they know..."
Mattson added that American standards of modernity may not apply to
Muslim
women.
"We create a standard of modernity precisely according to our own
current
lifestyle and exclude anyone who does not share that same standard,"
Mattson said.
She also spoke about ancient scholars who misinterpreted passages in
the
Quran.
"Muslim women throughout history have tried to prevent the use of Islam
from oppressing them," Mattson said. "It's not unique to Muslim women.
It's
a human struggle…"
SEE ALSO:
FOR HER, THE HEAD SCARF IS LIBERATING
Los Angeles Times, 1/21/05
Charles K. Sergis wrote that your Jan. 12 story about the hijab was a
"positive spin about the slavish Muslim dress code for women" (letter,
Jan.
17). I am a Muslim American woman who, at the age of 30, began wearing
the
head scarf, and I have to say one has to try it for oneself to know how
it
really feels.
It really does feel liberating, but narrow-minded people simply don't
understand something that they have no firsthand knowledge about. I
have
been raised since I was a child in England and then here in the U.S. by
thoroughly secularized parents. My mother and younger sister do not
wear
the head scarf, but I do and I very much regret not having worn it much
sooner in my life. Sadly, many people just don't want to believe us
Muslim
women if our opinions and experiences clash with their view.
Shereen Sabet
Huntington Beach
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/23/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
- Hadith: God is With You When You Remember Him
* 'NIGHTLINE' INVITES DC-Area MUSLIMS TO IRAQ TOWN HALL MTG
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: HUMILIATION AT BORDER CHECKS (Express-News)
- CAIR-Houston: A Texan's Pilgrimage (Houston Chron)
- CAIR-CA: Churches' Tsunami Efforts Raise Concerns (SacBee)
* NJ MURDER CASE: WHEN RUMOR SWAMPS FACT
* CHICAGO POLICE VIDEOS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO FAITHS (NY Times)
- Post-9/11 Arrests Dog Chertoff (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* TX: READER SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT (Star-Telegram)
- Pipes: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
* 'ISLAM FOR DUMMIES' AUTHOR DISPELS MISCONCEPTIONS (Balt Sun)
* PRESIDENT BUSH SENDS EID GREETINGS TO ISLAMIC WORLD
* CT: MUSLIM CHARITIES IN TOUGH SPOT (New Haven Register)
* CRITICS SAY SOME CHRISTIANS SPREAD AID AND GOSPEL (Chicago Trib)
- Mix of Quake Aid and Preaching Stirs Concern (NY Times)
- People of Aceh Do Not Blame or Reject God (Knight Ridder)
* IN ONE NIGHT, IRAQI TURNS FROM FRIEND TO FOE (Washington Post)
- Analysis: Iraqi Insurgency Growing Larger (Knight Ridder)
* TRINIDAD: MUSLIM LAWYER'S EID CLOTHES LAND HIM IN HOT WATER
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
"Remember Me, and I will remember you."
The Holy Quran, 2:152
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU REMEMBER HIM
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God says: 'I am to my
servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me. If he
remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself, and if he
remembers me
in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his, and if he
draws nearer to Me a hand's span, I draw nearer to him an arm's length,
and
if he draws nearer to Me an arm's length, I draw nearer to him a fathom
length, and if he comes to me walking, I rush to him at (great) speed.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 99
-----
'NIGHTLINE' INVITES DC-AREA MUSLIMS TO IRAQ TOWN HALL MTG
On Thursday, January 27th, three days before Iraqis go to the polls,
ABC
News Nightline will broadcast a Town Hall Meeting examining the
questions
of "What Now?" and "Why Stay?" in reference to Iraq. This is a
follow-up to
a Nightline Town Meeting prior to the war's beginning 2 years ago, in
which
the question "Why Now?" was explored.
The town hall meeting will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church
across
the street from the White House. The discussion will be moderated by
Ted
Koppel. We will pretape the 90-minute broadcast at 8:00 pm, and we will
air
nationally on a special edition of Nightline later that evening. There
will
most likely be six panelists including Congressional leaders,
diplomats,
military, and people from the world of intelligence.
We are inviting people to come and participate (to be in the audience,
although there may be an opportunity to ask a question of the
panelists).
We have limited seating, so please if you plan to attend, you need to
speak
directly to myself or another Nightline producer. Doors open at 6 PM
and
close at 7:15 PM. We can be reached at the numbers below.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I am available at
Diana.A.Pierce@abc.com and at 202-222-7359 direct. I hope you are able
to
join us on the 27th.
Thanks so much,
Sincerely,
Dianna Pierce
Senior Live Segment Producer
ABC News/NIGHTLINE
202/222-7000 main
202/222-7359 direct
-----
MUSLIMS' JUBILATION TURNS INTO HUMILIATION AT BORDER CHECKS
Sarwat Husain, Express-News, 1/22/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA012205.1R.rel_column.2f11155e.html
[Sarwat Husain is chairwoman of the Council on American Islamic
Relations-San Antonio. She can be reached at sanantonio@cair-net.org.]
The hajj is supposed to be a time of exhilaration for the 10,000 U.S.
Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year.
Muslims feel the closest to the Almighty as they leave all their
worldly
luxuries behind to go through hardships to prove to God there is
nothing
more important than pleasing him.
But this year these hajjis left the United States with fear and concern
over what they might have to go through to get back into their
homeland.
Muslims, many of them famous, have had a tough time entering or leaving
this country in the past year because of customs and airport
security...
Hajjis should not suffer for trying to fulfill the once-in-a-lifetime
requirement of the fifth pillar of Islam.
The war against terror cannot be fought successfully without partnering
with good people, who make up the majority of Islam. Why not make
alliances
with them and work as a team made without regard to race, religion,
color,
gender and status. Then our government could serve our country for the
sake
of our country.
SEE ALSO:
A TEXAN'S PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
IESA GALLOWAY, Houston Chronicle, 1/22/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3004084
[Iesa Galloway is the executive director of Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) Houston. He may be contacted at:
iesa.galloway@cairhouston.org]
Should I go to Mecca to perform Hajj? Would I find both my place and my
place in my faith?
As an American Muslim, these weren't just idle questions. I understood
this
as I pondered a surprise invitation to go to Hajj - a pilgrimage that
is a
pillar of my faith.
Only two things stood in my way. First the issues of terrorism,
Islamophobia and the State Department warning that Americans should not
travel in the region.
Second, I wondered how I would be accepted. Yes, Muslims are supposed
to be
tied to one another in a bond stronger and nobler than other kinships.
This
bond is rooted in prayer and reflected through every aspect of Islamic
life. But how would other Muslims performing Hajj treat me, an
American?
Would I be accepted, with my biracial background - Anglo and Hispanic
American - as one of them, and one with them?
Would the bond that I enjoy here be felt among Muslims there,
regardless of
nationality, international conflicts and propaganda?
To find my answers, I was soon on my way - halfway around the world to
Mecca, the heart of nearly 1.9 billion believers of the one, and, as we
believe, only God, the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.
The experience was all extremely surreal, as if I couldn't experience
it
enough. Everywhere I turned, there were people from far off lands.
Everyone
was unique, yet exactly the same. We were all wrapped in our two white
sheets, the rich and the poor, from all different races and
backgrounds,
performing the same acts of worship, with the same purpose, to build
our
relationship with God.
I experience a micro-version of this every time I go to the mosque, but
the
sheer magnitude of nearly 3 million people moving in harmony is
breathtaking…
Over the days, a pattern in the conversations quickly developed. It
started
with, "Where are you from?" - meaning, "What country?" My answer was
always
"Texas." Then again, "Where are you from?" - this time meaning, "What
is
your origin?"
My answer proudly this time, was again, "Texas…"
---
CHURCHES' TSUNAMI EFFORTS RAISE CONCERNS
Jennifer Garza, Sacramento Bee, 1/22/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/12096136p-12966206c.html
But in recent weeks, there has been a growing concern that some groups
are
offering more than secular aid, and their primary intention is to share
their religious beliefs and seek converts among the victims, who are
mostly
Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist.
Most of the larger relief agencies, such as Catholic Relief Services
and
the Red Cross, have policies against proselytizing. But others,
particularly those who practice religions that emphasize conversion,
say it
is their duty to share their beliefs...
"I don't like the idea of anyone - Muslims or non-Muslims - taking
advantage of someone in difficult conditions," says Rashid Ahmad,
president
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley. "They
should preach by their actions, not by their tongues..."
-----
WHEN RUMOR SWAMPS FACT
MIKE KELLY, North Jersey, 1/23/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNjMmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDMzNTEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5
IN OUR great land, where freedom of religious expression is supposed to
be
an honorable pastime, something very sad took place last week. A group
of
Muslim-American clerics and community leaders felt the need to call a
press
conference in Jersey City to declare that members of their faith were
not
ruthless killers.
It was a pathetic moment. But it was necessary nonetheless after a week
of
continuing rumors that the brutal murders of four members of an
Egyptian-American family in Jersey City was the work of Muslim
extremists -
indeed, that the act was a ritualistic execution of Christian
"infidels" by
Islamic enforcers.
Police were quick to say that there was no credible evidence to back up
such rumors. But it did not matter. When you mix a real murder with
centuries-old fears of religious extremism rooted in the old ways of an
ancient Middle East homeland, strange things can happen on an American
street.
Consider the scene outside an Egyptian Coptic Church on Jersey City's
Bergen Avenue last Sunday. Two days earlier in a nearby home, police
discovered the bodies of church members Hossam Armanious, 47, his
37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and
Monica,
8. By Sunday night, hundreds of Egyptian-American Copts stood outside
the
church while members of the American Coptic Association announced that
the
murders were really an "execution" similar to those by anti-American
terrorists in Iraq...
None of the reports on Copts.com carried a single credible source for
its
information, not even a name of a police official. But it did not
matter.
At this point, the line between rumor and fact had blurred so much that
even the most casual observer could be forgiven for believing that that
the
mere rumor of a gang of Islamic killers on the loose had become gospel
truth. In fact, casual observers could be forgiven if they missed some
key
facts amid all the rumors.
Consider the autopsy results, released Tuesday. It turns out, for
example,
the Sylvia's cross tattoo on her wrist had not been touched. Wrist
tattoos
are common among Coptic Christians, so this was important news. So was
the
news that none of the cross tattoos on the other family members had
been
defaced by the killers.
As for throats being slit - well, that was not exactly true either. It
turns out that none of the victims' throats had been slit. Each member
of
the Armanious family had been stabbed in the neck, head and torso, but
their throats had not been slit in some sick ritualistic execution.
It may seem like a small point - the family, after all, had been
viciously
stabbed. But the throat-slitting rumor helped fuel the contention that
the
murders were the work of Muslims following some misguided
interpretation of
the Koran...
Against this backdrop came the mid-week press conference with Muslim
clerics and other Islamic-American community leaders seeking to put an
end
to rumors. The event was billed as an "interfaith solidarity" news
conference, but invited representatives of the Coptic community could
not
attend. They said the press conference took place during one of their
own
religious holidays.
And so a moment to dispel rumor was lost. "We need to build more
trust,"
said one of the Islamic leaders.
Well said. But for now, on this case, trust is still just a rumor.
-----
CHICAGO POLICE VIDEOS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO VARIOUS FAITHS
STEPHEN KINZER, New York Times, 1/23/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/national/23video.html
CHICAGO, Jan. 22 - Many men of the Sikh faith wear a small sword under
their clothing. Orthodox Jews often refuse to move illegally parked
cars on
Saturdays. Outsiders may photograph statues in Buddhist temples, but
not in
Hindu ones.
These are some of the insights in a series of videos the Chicago Police
Department uses to train its officers in dealing with non-Christians.
Community leaders say the videos have substantially improved relations
between various religious groups and police officers.
"This is not just a superficial thing," said Kareem M. Irfan, chairman
of
the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. "It has
changed
our community's relationship with the police to the extent that people
are
beginning to see the Chicago Police Department as an ally rather than
an
opposing force."
The five videos, each about 10 minutes, have been produced over the
last
two years as part of the department's desire to communicate more
effectively with religious groups after the Sept. 11 attacks. They
focus on
Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus. Each contains scenes shot
inside homes and houses of worship, as well as interviews in which
religious and community leaders explain aspects of their faiths…
SEE ALSO:
POST-9/11 ARRESTS DOG CHERTOFF
Wendy Ruderman, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/23/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/10709286.htm
The man President Bush wants as homeland security chief is now in the
crosshairs of civil-rights advocates who say he eroded freedoms in
pursuit
of terrorists.
But, before 9/11, Michael Chertoff was a powerful ally in the battle
against racial profiling in the pursuit of drug traffickers.
"I think in evaluating Mike's record, you need to look not only at his
handling of the war on terrorism in 9/11, but also at the role he
played in
dealing with racial profiling in New Jersey - very different roles at
very
different times," said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Mintz,
who
worked under Chertoff in the early 1990s.
The contrasts between Chertoff's pre- and post-9/11 personas illustrate
America's ongoing struggle to strike a balance between liberty and
security
in times of crisis.
If confirmed by the Senate as expected, Chertoff will lead the
Department
of Homeland Security, overseeing 22 federal agencies and 180,000
employees.
The 51-year-old North Jersey native is a judge on the U.S. Court of
Appeals
for the Third Circuit, based in Philadelphia.
On the day hijacked planes smashed into the World Trade Center and
Pentagon, Chertoff was in charge of the Justice Department's criminal
division.
After 9/11, Chertoff's tactics in ferreting out terrorists drew
criticism
from the very people who had applauded his crusade to expose racial
profiling on New Jersey's highways.
Some of that criticism came after Chertoff directed the arrests of 762
illegal immigrants, most of whom later turned out to have no ties to
terrorism.
"Are we being aggressive and hard-nosed? You bet," Chertoff told a U.S.
Senate committee on Nov. 28, 2001. "In the aftermath of Sept. 11, how
could
we not be?"
But Chertoff stressed that the antiterrorism tactics were valid under
the
Constitution and federal law.
Most of detainees were arrested on criminal and immigration charges,
many
of them relatively minor and some rarely enforced before 9/11. The vast
majority were from the Middle East.
The arrests grew out of investigative leads ranging from information
gleaned from searches of the hijackers' car to anonymous tips from
people
who were suspicious of the odd hours kept by their Arab and Muslim
neighbors.
In June 2003, Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine
released a
report criticizing federal authorities, saying they had made little
effort
to distinguish real terrorist suspects from harmless foreigners
inadvertently swept up in the dragnet. Though many were jailed for
months,
only one of the 762 detainees - Zacarias Moussaoui - was charged with a
terrorism crime, the report found.
Civil-rights advocates argue that the war on terror has become a kind
of
war on immigrants, not unlike the way the war on drugs morphed into a
war
on black and Latino motorists.
The legality of those 762 arrests is besides the point, said David
Harris,
a critic of racial profiling and a criminal law professor at University
of
Toledo in Ohio.
The question, Harris said, is whether the spirit or intent of the
nation's
laws is being violated…
-----
TX: READER SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
INTERNMENT REVISITED
Fort-Worth Star-Telegram, 1/23/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/local2/10708382.htm
I read Daniel Pipes' Dec. 30 commentary supporting the internment of
people
who are threats to the American way of life, and I was especially taken
by
his effort to justify internment of Japanese-Americans during World War
II.
At first, I didn't think much of his idea. But then I read the letters
on
his commentary, particularly those by R.H. Gruy and Harold Moore, who
supported Pipes' proposal. (See Jan. 7 letters, "A debate on
internment.")
I then realized that my objection to the idea of interning threats to
America was based entirely on how Pipes proposed it, merely as an idea
for
discussion. Once I began to apply the idea to some real threats to
America,
it became clear how good it really is.
So in the interest of making the idea less theoretical and more
concrete,
let me provide a short, initial list of who should immediately be
interned
in order to protect the rest of us:
Daniel Pipes.
Gruy and Moore.
The editor who authorized publishing Pipes' commentary.
All of these people apparently support the arbitrary and indefinite
internment of people who are presumed to be threats to America, so I'm
sure
that we need only write to them and tell them where to report. It
should be
easy to administer, and America would be much safer without them on the
streets.
As I say, the idea becomes much more interesting once some real people
are
considered.
Richard BrewerFort Worth
A plaque in front of the Manzanar camp (California Registered
Historical
Landmark No. 850) reads as follows:
"In the early part of WWII, 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were
interned in relocation centers by Executive Order No. 9066, issued
February
19, 1942. Manzanar was the first of ten such concentration camps. It
was
bounded by barbed wire and guard towers, confining 10,000 persons, the
majority being American citizens. May the injustices and humiliation
suffered here as a result of hysteria, racism and economic exploitation
never emerge again."
Anyone who thinks that Daniel Pipes has a legitimate point of view
should
read firsthand accounts written by Japanese-Americans about their
experiences of internment in the United States. And given that Pipes is
talking about "registering" people based on religious affiliation,
Night by
Elie Wiesel is also a must-read.
Unless we safeguard the liberties of all our citizens, the Pledge of
Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence mean about as much as a
plastic flag bumper sticker.
Jaime MooreKeller
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…the
U.S. government made the correct and sensible decisions."
Daniel Pipes' web site, 12/28/04
-----
'ISLAM FOR DUMMIES' AUTHOR HOPES TO DISPEL, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS
Jonathan Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 1/23/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal-as.clark23jan23,1,2644571.story
Professor Malcolm Clark taught world religion for 36 years before
retiring
from Indiana's Butler University in 2002. But his influence may be felt
most profoundly starting next month, when Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines
takes
over as the United States' new ground commander in Iraq. Vines has
asked
his senior officers to read eight books on Islam before their tour
begins,
and Clark's Islam for Dummies (Wiley, 2003) is at the top of the list.
Though Clark's specialty is the Old Testament, his Islam classes were
so
successful that a former student recommended him to editors of the
Indiana-based book series best known for its bumblebee-colored covers -
and
for clarifying topics from dating to home repair.
Explaining a complex religion wasn't easy. "I had to bone up," Clark
admitted as he discussed his book's new prominence from his home in
Mammoth
Lakes, Calif. "I'd just retired, and here I was, working full-time, on
deadline, for six straight months. I learned a lot. As to whether my
book
is better than its rival, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam - I'd
better
withhold comment…"
-----
BUSH SENDS EID AL-ADHA GREETINGS TO ISLAMIC WORLD
Praises Muslim contribution to U.S. religious and cultural heritage
http://usinfo.state.gov/
President Bush sent greetings for Eid al-Adha to Muslims around the
world
and said the charity accompanying the holiday exemplifies a
compassionate
spirit that makes the world a better place.
In remarks released January 21, the president praised Muslim
contributions
to the religious and cultural heritage of the United States.
"Your values of family, service, and community enrich our society and
reflect the ideals on which our country was founded," he said.
Following is the text of President Bush's Eid al-Adha greetings:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, DC
January 21, 2005
I send greetings to Muslims around the world as you celebrate Eid
al-Adha.
Abraham's sacrifice and service to God teach us the importance of
devotion,
and God's mercy encourages us to share His blessings with others. The
kindness and charity practiced by Muslims during this holiday
strengthen
friendships, help those in need, and exemplify the compassionate spirit
that makes America and the world a better place.
As Americans of Muslim faith celebrate Eid al-Adha, our Nation is
reminded
of the contributions that Muslim Americans have made to our religious
and
cultural heritage. Your values of family, service, and community
enrich
our society and reflect the ideals on which our country was founded.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a joyous celebration.
GEORGE W. BUSH
-----
MUSLIM CHARITIES IN TOUGH SPOT
Mark Zaretsky, New Haven Register, 1/23/05
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13805648&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=6
With 172,000 tsunami victims now believed to be dead in Indonesia, the
most
populous Muslim country in the world, and an estimated 617,000 people
believed homeless in the northern section of Indonesia's Sumatra island
alone, one might think that Muslim charities would be at the forefront
of
the relief effort.
Many American Muslims are in fact working hard to provide relief for
the
disaster, which has killed an estimated 240,000 people on two
continents.
But that effort has been hampered by leftover emotional and political
baggage from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, after which a number of Muslim
charities saw their assets frozen because of alleged ties to terrorism…
"Post-9/11, we feel a little bit like the deer in the headlights," said
Jimmy E. Jones, associate professor of world religions and African
studies
at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and educational
coordinator at
the Masjid al-Islam mosque in New Haven...
"You have the guilt-by-association thing," said Jones, whose university
work includes research on Muslim-American identity.
Still, "when this thing happened, there was a visceral reaction by
Muslims," he said. "Prior to that, there was a visceral reaction to the
hurricanes in Florida - because it's part of our faith to be giving …
and
helping to make it right."
The freezing of funds post-9/11 "has been a problem," said Majeed
Sharif, a
Wolcott real estate agent who is president of the United Muslim Mosque
in
Waterbury. "A lot of the agencies are closed and funds are frozen. … A
lot
of Muslims are afraid to give money to the organizations they gave
funds to
in the past, or even organizations that are working now.
"It really is putting a strain on, shutting down these charities," he
said.
"A lot of children are in need.
"But still, we've found that Muslims are generous people," said Sharif,
who
in recent weeks took part in two fund-raising efforts.
One, organized by the Muslim Foundation of America on behalf of members
of
the Indonesian community in Queens, N.Y., raised about $13,500 for
tsunami
relief, Sharif said.
Sharif and other Connecticut Muslims, in a bit of interfaith
cooperation,
also helped raise $5,000 for tsunami relief in a joint effort with the
United Methodist Church of Woodbury, he said. The money went to an
organization called United Methodist Overseas Relief, said Sharif, who
also
has helped raised money to aid orphans in Africa.
"I didn't go with them because of any fear or anything," said Sharif, a
member of the Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, of the effort. "It's
just
that we've been working with them on other things."
Sharif pointed out that the list of charities recommended by former
Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush did not include any Muslim
charities, though it did include several affiliated with other faiths.
However, other Muslims have seen some signs of progress since the
latest
disaster unfolded…
-----
ANNUAL CONFERENCE TACKLES MUSLIM ISSUES
MAMIE WARD, Miami Herald, 1/23/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/northcentral/10706625.htm
A vision of small communities across the nation united in Islamic faith
and
leadership brought top Islamic leaders and other Muslim-Americans from
around the state to Miami for the ninth annual Florida Conference of
Muslim
Americans.
The three-day conference highlight was a gala dinner and awards
ceremony
Jan. 15 at Florida Memorial College.
''We want to build model communities,'' said Nasir Ahmad, the imam or
prayer leader of the Liberty City-based Masjid Al-Ansar, which hosted
the
Jan. 14-16 gathering. ''We feel there is a void in the collective
subconscious of African-American people that evolved during slavery.''
Building model communities and ending intolerance toward Muslim
Americans
were the focus of the dinner and awards ceremony. Proceeds from the
banquet
-- about $4,000 -- were donated to the Clara Muhammad Schools, run by
the
mosque.
Opening remarks from the keynote speaker, Ibrahim Pasha, associate imam
of
the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, echoed the ideal of model communities.
He
also said a lot of children need help.
Creating the model communities would mean changing people's attitudes
but
that is not something that is new to the delegates who attended the
conference.
As followers of Imam W. Deen Muhammad, son of the late controversial
leader
Elijah Muhammad, they and others belong to a national organization of
Muslim Americans that found its way through a mental shift in its
teachings
away from racial separatism to racial inclusion…
-----
CRITICS SAY SOME CHRISTIANS SPREAD AID AND GOSPEL
Kim Barker, Chicago Tribune, 1/22/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501220303jan22,1,4612744.story
AKKARAIPETTAI, India - The Christian evangelists came in the morning,
wearing fluorescent yellow T-shirts emblazoned with "Believers Church"
on
the back and "Gospel for Asia" on the front. They loaded up hundreds of
villagers, mostly Hindus, in vans and trucks and drove them 6 miles
away.
There, away from the eyes of village officials, each tsunami survivor
received relief supplies--a sleeping mat, a plate, a sari, a 55-pound
bag
of rice and, in the bottom of a white plastic bag proclaiming
"Believers
Church Tsunami Relief," a book containing biblical verses warning
against
the dangers of alcohol.
"What do I do?" asked Muthammal, 35, who uses one name like many in
southern India and wears the red bindi on her forehead showing she's
Hindu.
Like many here, she cannot read. "They are asking us to come all this
way.
It is so difficult."
Members of the Believers Church also have handed out Bibles to tsunami
survivors on the streets and in relief camps. They set up an orphanage
for
108 children, including many Hindus, and asked the children to recite
Christian prayers six times a day. The Protestant church did not
register
the orphanage with the government, authorities said. K.P. Yohannan, the
leader of Believers Church and Gospel for Asia, said the church had
tried
to get government permission.
Since the Dec. 26 tsunami killed more than 157,000 people and left
millions
homeless, relief groups have flooded into Asia, from Sri Lanka to
Thailand.
As in any crisis, many aid groups are religious, and they consider it
their
duty to minister to the needy. Most shun proselytizing and make little
reference to what they believe.
But in parts of Asia, some religious groups have sparked controversy.
They
are accused of spreading a message as they hand out rice and other
supplies. They are accused of exploiting tsunami victims…
SEE ALSO:
MIX OF QUAKE AID AND PREACHING STIRS CONCERN
DAVID ROHDE, New York Times, 1/22/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/international/worldspecial4/22preach.html
W.L.P. Wilson, 38, a disabled fisherman with a sixth-grade education,
said
he allowed the Americans to pray three times for the healing of his
paralyzed lower leg because he was desperate to provide for his wife
and
three children again. Mr. Wilson, a Buddhist, said that he believed
that
the Americans were trying to convert him to Christianity but that he
was in
''a helpless situation now'' and needed aid.
"They told me to always think about God and about Jesus and you will be
healed," he said. "Whenever I ask for help they always mention God, but
they do not give any money for treatment."
---
TSUNAMI SURVIVORS TURN TO RELIGION IN COPING
The people of Aceh do not blame or reject God; their belief is unshaken
amid the devastation left by the natural disasters.
BEN STOCKING, KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS, 1/23/05
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthtribune/news/nation/10713513.htm
The biblical devastation unleashed across northwestern Sumatra by the
Dec.
26 tsunami sent the people of Aceh province to a predictable place:
their
religion. As people have done through the centuries, the Acehnese are
turning to their faith as a tool to help them fathom the unfathomable
--
and to endure the unendurable.
"Throughout history, whenever there is a calamity of this magnitude,
people
turn to religion and God," said Amjad Mehboob, chief executive of the
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. "They turn to the creator
for
help and for mercy."
The tsunami tragedy raises an age-old question and seeming
contradiction.
How can a beneficent God inflict something so horrible on so many
thousands
of people?
For the people of Aceh, almost all of whom are Muslim, there is no
contradiction. Allah is all-compassionate, and also all-knowing…
The tsunami tossed huge chunks of concrete; being submerged in it was
like
being in a washing machine full of bricks. The raging waters tossed
Yusrizal on top of a coconut palm, leaving him with a broken neck. Last
week, he lay in a Banda Aceh hospital bed. "I feel sad, but I accept my
fate," Yusrizal said. "I put myself in God's hands."
-----
IN ONE NIGHT, IRAQI TURNS FROM FRIEND TO FOE
Jackie Spinner, Washington Post, 1/23/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29400-2005Jan22
By all accounts, Imaad, 32, was a typical, mild-mannered college
graduate
who spoke English well and had quietly supported the U.S. presence in
Iraq
-- until Jan. 5, the night the soldiers came.
His story about that night, told days later in his small living room,
is
the story of how the U.S. military made an enemy of one man during a
20-minute encounter…
On the night of Jan. 5, Imaad and his mother, Um Imaad -- both of whom
declined to give their full names for fear of retribution -- were
watching
a movie in the living room. As in most other parts of the capital for
the
past two months, their Adhimiya neighborhood has electricity about two
hours a day. So the generators outside were humming at about 9 that
night,
and the television was turned up so they could hear.
Imaad said they were startled by a loud banging at the door. He went
quickly to open it. When he did, Imaad said, there were about a dozen
U.S.
soldiers standing with their guns pointed at his head.
Imaad and his mother said the soldiers rushed in, ordering them to sit
together while they searched the house. "You look poor," Imaad recalled
one
of the soldiers saying. "Why?"
Imaad answered in English: "I have not been able to find a job,
although
I'm a graduate of the College of Arts." His heart was pounding, Imaad
said.
His mother, a chatty widow who adores her son, sat next to him,
shaking.
The soldiers went to search his bedroom. He heard laughing, and then
they
called for him, he said. Imaad went to his room and saw that the
soldiers
had found several magazines he kept hidden from his mother. They had
pictures of girls in swimsuits and erotic poses. Imaad said the
soldiers
spread the magazines on his bed and put his Koran in the middle.
"This is a good match," Imaad said one of the soldiers told him.
"It was a nightmare," he said. "I will never forget those bad soldiers
when
they put the Koran among the magazines..."
SEE ALSO:
ANALYSIS: IRAQI INSURGENCY GROWING LARGER, MORE EFFECTIVE
Tom Lasseter and Jonathan S. Landay, Knight Ridder, 1/21/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10703534.htm
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United States is steadily losing ground to the
Iraqi
insurgency, according to every key military yardstick.
A Knight Ridder analysis of U.S. government statistics shows that
through
all the major turning points that raised hopes of peace in Iraq,
including
the arrest of Saddam Hussein and the handover of sovereignty at the end
of
June, the insurgency, led mainly by Sunni Muslims, has become deadlier
and
more effective.
The analysis suggests that unless something dramatic changes - such as
a
newfound will by Iraqis to reject the insurgency or a large escalation
of
U.S. troop strength - the United States won't win the war. It's
axiomatic
among military thinkers that insurgencies are especially hard to defeat
because the insurgents' goal isn't to win in a conventional sense but
merely to survive until the will of the occupying power is sapped.
Recent
polls already suggest an erosion of support among Americans for the
war…
-----
LAWYER'S 'COURT CLOTHES' LAND HIM IN HOT WATER
Hayden Mills, Trinida Express, 1/22/05
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=56413880
Senior Counsel Israel Khan was yesterday forced to change his
Nehru-collar
suit when he stood before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls.
He was before McNicolls in the Port of Spain Eighth Magistrates' Court
for
the inquest into the death of Morvant resident Galene Bonadie.
When the matter was called and Khan stood to address McNicolls, the
magistrate asked him: "Your attire is different today?"
Khan said he was wearing the Nehru-collar suit in recognition of a
celebrated Muslim festival yesterday.
When the Express spoke with Khan, a Muslim, he said he was referring to
Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice celebrated by the Muslim world
as a
commemoration of the Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to
sacrifice
his son for God.
Khan...attired in a jacket and tie on his way back to the Galene
Bonadie
Inquest yesterday after he was forced to change by Chief Magistrate
Sherman
McNicolls.
Khan said he had never worn the garb in court before and it was because
of
the occasion.
In court, Khan told McNicolls that he was denying him the right to wear
his
ethnic wear and initially he insisted on wearing it.
"I was not going to be difficult, but I insist on wearing it." Khan
said…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/24/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S HELP IS NEAR
- Hadith: Help Alleviate Suffering
* NY RADIO STATION SORRY FOR MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
* CAIR-MD/VA: SNAGS HAMPER MISSION OF MERCY (Wash Post)
* CAIR: MUSLIMS OBJECT TO BORDER SCRUTINY (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR Creates 'Hajji Hotline' for Returning Pilgrims
* DEFINING THE FACE OF EVIL IN FOX'S '24' (NorthJersey.com)
- Muslims Encouraged by Fox '24' Meeting (CAIR)
* MN: EVENT AT U CELEBRATES ISLAMIC HOLIDAY (MN Daily)
- PA: College Muslims Celebrate Eid (Collegian)
- TX: Muslims Mark End of Hajj (Daily Texan)
- CA: Muslims to Educate with Awareness Week (Daily Bruin)
* TX: WHY'S AND HOW'S OF ISLAM (Star-Telegram)
- MD: Jews and Muslims in America
* U.S. CLAIMS CANADIAN'S SUIT A RISK TO SECURITY (Star)
* IN BATTERED FALLUJA, FEW IRAQIS THINK OF VOTING (Reuters)
- Ancient Iraqi Minaret is US Army Snipers' Nest (Reuters)
* ISRAEL SEIZES TRACTS OF LAND IN JERUSALEM (AP)
- Israel Resumes Building West Bank Barrier (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S HELP IS NEAR
"God's help is (always) near."
The Holy Quran, 2:214
HADITH OF THE DAY: HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the
suffering of a brother…God will alleviate his (suffering on) the Day of
Resurrection."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
NY RADIO STATION SORRY FOR MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON D.C., 1/25/05) - A New York radio station has issued an
apology
for a song it aired that mocked victims of the recent tsunami in South
Asia.
That song, played on HOT 97 FM, included lyrics like: "And all at once,
You
could hear the screaming chinks, And no on was safe from the wave,
There
are Africans drowning, Little Chinamen swept away, You could hear God
laughing, 'Swim, you bi****es, swim.'"
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
contacted
the station on Friday after receiving a complaint about the song from a
concerned Muslim.
TO HEAR THE SONG, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/usa_for_indonesia_lo.ram
Friday's apology by HOT 97 FM stated in part: "HOT 97 regrets the
airing of
material that made light of a serious and tragic event. We apologize to
our
listeners and anyone who was offended."
TO READ THE RADIO STATION'S APOLOGY, GO TO:
http://www.hot97.com/airstaff/morningshowTsunami.aspx
"There is nothing funny about the massive death and destruction we all
witnessed so recently in South Asia," said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. "If this was an attempt at humor, it was poorly
conceived
and badly executed."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-MD/VA: SNAGS HAMPER MISSION OF MERCY
Gaithersburg Man Encounters Delays, Bureaucracy in Sri Lanka
Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post, 1/24/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31192-2005Jan23
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Rizwan Mowlana hadn't expected that doing his
part to
save a half-drowned country would involve finding four cows to be
sacrificed.
But here was the Gaithersburg man -- who had gathered more than $1
million
in cash and donated goods for his devastated homeland -- chasing
through
rural southern Sri Lanka in a rented Toyota Land Cruiser, in search of
the
local cattle broker.
"You think collecting money is hard?" he said. "Giving it away is even
more
difficult."
The challenge of rushing aid to a region so thoroughly laid to waste
has
been daunting even for the big international agencies that specialize
in
emergency relief. For a freelance operator such as Mowlana, who counted
on
his passion to trump his inexperience, coping with ponderous
bureaucracies
and corrupt officials has been downright exasperating.
So Mowlana had promised to achieve something quite simple: purchase
four
cows for local Muslim fishermen who were crushed by the tsunami, losing
homes, belongings and -- most of all -- their children.
About 150 were living in tents amid their smashed community along the
sea
in downtown Hambantota, cooking on one fly-covered hot plate. When
Mowlana
had stopped by, they had gathered around him in the hot sun, shouting.
They
were running out of food and water, they said. The government was doing
nothing to help.
But Mowlana didn't have much to offer. The 1,000 pounds of donated food
and
medical supplies that he'd brought was still stuck at the airport,
despite
the fact that he'd paid thousands of dollars in bribes. Other supplies
he'd
collected were still at sea.
So Mowlana had offered to purchase four cows they could sacrifice at a
festival to mark the end of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The
fishermen could feed the meat to their families.
But after a half-hour ride to the cattle broker's house, Mowlana found
that
the man was away.
Mowlana slumped back in this seat, his normal buoyancy ebbing away.
"What a waste of time," he said grimly. He forced out a weak laugh.
Another
hard lesson had been learned.
The quest to do good had led Mowlana -- a 47-year-old Sri Lankan native
who
has lived in the United States with his wife, Naz, for the past two
decades
-- from Gaithersburg to a cow broker's home in Sri Lanka…
Mowlana, director of the Maryland and Virginia offices of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations, was jubilant. With all this aid, and more
to
come, Asia Relief could care for orphans, construct a hospital, rebuild
villages. He said he and his family would load supplies into a jeep in
Sri
Lanka and deliver it to the refugee camps…
-----
MUSLIMS IN U.S. RAISE AN OUTCRY
Frank James, Chicago Tribune, 1/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501240215jan24,1,6775438.story
WASHINGTON -- Software salesman Shadab Aziz of Houston was preparing
recently to catch the first flight on his long journey to Saudi Arabia
for
the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca expected at least once in a lifetime
of
all able Muslims. But his mind was partly on what could happen when he
returned to the United States.
A U.S. citizen, Aziz wondered if American border officials would make
him
provide his fingerprints before allowing him to re-enter the country.
That
had been the case weeks earlier for a group of Muslim-Americans
returning
from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
"My concern is that I be treated like any other citizen of this country
and
that I'm not discriminated unfairly against because of my religion,"
said
Aziz, 27. "If an Anglo-Saxon male or female who's coming back into the
country doesn't have to be fingerprinted, I see no reason why I have to
be
treated any differently."
U.S. citizens typically are not fingerprinted on their return from
abroad.
That usually is reserved for visiting foreigners as part of the
US-VISIT
program that went into full effect last year.
But when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, part of the
Homeland Security Department, demanded fingerprints from about three
dozen
Muslim-Americans returning from Toronto, photographing some as well, it
set
off alarm bells throughout the Muslim community. Officials said the
additional screening was intended to prevent terrorists from entering
the
country.
With an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 American Muslims having gone on the
hajj
this year, and with many returning this week, a lot of the pilgrims
fear
they will face the same treatment before being allowed to re-enter the
United States.
Muslim-Americans say it would be another case of their rights being
trampled on, more collateral damage in the war on terrorism.
Specifically,
many contend that their constitutional rights to free exercise of
religion
and assembly, due process and security from unreasonable searches and
seizures have been violated...
The council has written to the Homeland Security Department and the
Customs
and Border Protection agency, Iftikhar said, to ask what permitted
them--in
the case of the Muslims returning from Canada--to "detain and
fingerprint
American citizens with threats of arrest for non-compliance."
"Does mere attendance at an Islamic conference or religious acts of
worship
constitute probable cause for a criminal act that justifies this sort
of
attention?" he asked.
The federal government has yet to officially respond, Iftikhar said…
Muslims are skeptical about the government's position that it was the
event, not religion, that prompted the scrutiny.
"It's like saying we're only stopping people coming from the hajj, not
the
Muslims," said Omar Ahmad, a California software industry executive and
chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "But only
Muslims go
to hajj. Yes, that's profiling…"
SEE ALSO:
'HAJJI HOTLINE' CREATED FOR RETURNING PILGRIMS WHO FACE POSSIBLE
HARASSMENT
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=211&theType=AA
-----
DEFINING THE FACE OF EVIL
Virginia Rohan, NorthJersey.com, 1/23/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNzImZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDMyMzAmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5
On the surface, Navi and Dina Araz appear to be an immigrant version of
Ozzie and Harriet.
They live in an impeccable suburban Los Angeles home with teenage son
Behrooz, who is clean-cut, remarkably obedient and so polite his
girlfriend's mother commends his parents on his upbringing.
But this dutiful boy just can't carry out one parental order: to kill
his
sweet non-Muslim girlfriend, who may have seen something she shouldn't
have. So, Behrooz's mother takes care of the girl - with a fatal dose
of
poison.
This Muslim family - the chilling terrorist sleeper cell on Fox's "24"
this
season - has drawn protests from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
Already fearful that Muslims are becoming Hollywood's favorite new Bad
Guys, CAIR believes that "24" takes things to a disturbing new level.
No longer are Muslim extremists portrayed as antisocial fanatics trying
to
keep a low profile in seedy highway motels. "Now, there's a new
stereotype
where the neighbor next door could be a terrorist. Your normal
everyday,
average-looking kid could be in a plot to kill everybody," says Sabiha
Khan, communications director for CAIR-Southern California, whose
representatives met with Fox representatives and "24" producers about
the
depiction. "I don't know any families like that. What I hear all the
time
in the mosques is the denouncing of terrorism. That's the reality we
live.
TV doesn't pick up on it."
Shohreh Aghdashloo, the Iranian actress who plays the ruthless Araz
matriarch, offered a different perspective to television critics
gathered
in Los Angeles last week.
"Although not all Muslims are terrorists, unfortunately, in today's
world,
most of the terrorists are Muslim," said Aghdashloo, who urged against
a
rush to judgment. "Wait for the series to finish and then jump to the
conclusion. ... Things may not appear as they seem."
The Araz clan has touched off a debate about television's portrayal of
Muslims that may ultimately result in a meaningful blueprint for future
characterizations. It will definitely lead to some changes on "24,"
according to executive producer Howard Gordon.
"We discussed reasonable steps, like weaving into the story so-called
good
Muslims, who are innocent of this, or themselves are victims of this,
or
even some who are assisting the good guys at CTU," Gordon says. Among
the
possibilities are Muslim analysts or agents, who will show up before
season's end.
Fox has also agreed to offer its affiliates CAIR-produced
public-service
ads that feature American Muslims from different ethnic backgrounds.
They
state how they and their families have served America and end by
saying, "I
am an American Muslim." "24" star Kiefer Sutherland is also recording a
PSA
with a message of tolerance, according to Gordon.
"We absolutely heard their grievances and don't disagree with them,"
Gordon
says. "By the same token we are a show about terrorism. We don't want
to
ignore the fact that most of the terrorists that we have been
confronting
have been Muslim ... but we don't want to stoke the flames of
xenophobia."
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS ENCOURAGED BY FOX '24' MEETING
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1395&theType=NR
-----
EVENT AT U CELEBRATES ISLAMIC HOLIDAY
Liala Helal, MN Daily, 1/24/05
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/01/24/62884
The University's Al-Madinah Cultural Center sponsored an event Saturday
celebrating the Islamic holiday Eid Al-Adha. The event, called Eid
Rageous,
educated others about the holiday and the different ways various
cultures
celebrate it.
Approximately 250 people attended the event, which featured a free
dinner
that included food from many Islamic countries…
ALSO SEE:
PENN STATE, STATE COLLEGE MUSLIMS CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF EID
Kristin Colella, Collegian, 1/24/05
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/01/01-24-05tdc/01-24-05dnews-07.asp
While January is often considered the end of the holiday season, for
Muslims it is the time of their most important celebration, which
commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for
God.
According to the Bible, God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son as a
test
of his devotion. When Abraham complied, God spared the son's life and
instead ordered Abraham to sacrifice a goat.
This weekend, Muslims celebrated the Festival of Eid over a three-day
period to honor Abraham's loyalty to God and celebrate the Islamic
values
of patience, resilience and fortitude in the face of God…
---
MUSLIMS MARK END OF HAJJ
Megan Headley, Daily Texan, 1/24/05
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/01/24/TopStories/Muslims.Mark.End.Of.Hajj-839377.shtml
Mohammad Albedaiwi, right, vice president of the North Austin Muslim
Community Center, prays during during Hajj, the celebration of the end
of
the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca.
Thousands of Austin's Muslims gathered Friday morning at the Crockett
Center in East Austin to celebrate the end of Hajj, the yearly
pilgrimage
to Mecca...
---
MUSLIMS HOPE TO EDUCATE WITH AWARENESS WEEK
Sara Taylor, DAILY BRUIN, 1/24/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31620
The terms "Islamic terrorist" and "Muslim extremist" are common in the
news
and public arena these days.
Not so often heard is the view of Islam that the Muslim Student
Association
will present to the UCLA campus this week.
During Islamic Awareness Week, which begins today and will last through
Friday, Muslim students will present their religion as a tolerant, just
one
and highlight the contribution Islam has made to society…
-----
WORKING THROUGH WHY'S AND HOW'S
J.R. Labbe, Star-Telegram, 1/23/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/10708359.htm
The New Testament expert was talking about redemption to the packed
fellowship hall at Fort Worth's First United Methodist Church.
I struggled to fit what he was saying into my Lutheran understanding of
Christian teachings on the subject.
Daryl Schmidt offered nary a word about the blood of Christ.
This came on the heels of the TCU religion professor's defining
Christianity as a creedal religion. That had Baptists cocking their
heads
in puzzlement.
I had gone to hear a discussion about how Christians can co-exist with
Islam, yet I wondered if the Muslims in the audience were experiencing
the
same disconnect with some of what the Islamic scholar said that I was
having with Schmidt. As a Christian, I really wanted to believe
everything
that Yushau Sodiq said about Islam.
The only picture that many non-Muslim Americans have of Islam is the
one
painted by pop culture, movies and Western media coverage of
extremists.
The faith tradition that Sodiq, a Sunni Muslim from Nigeria, explained
was
decidedly contrary to the violent, indiscriminate killer so often
portrayed
as the face of modern Islam.
"Extremists are found in every religion," said Sodiq, an associate
professor of religion at Texas Christian University. He went on to
outline
the commonalities between the two religions -- worship of one deity,
heaven
as the ultimate reward for following God's will, the idea that faith
should
be put to work for good on Earth…
ALSO SEE:
JEWS AND MUSLIMS IN AMERICA
WHAT: The Maryland Muslim Council & Muslim Community Center (MCC) will
host
a Muslim-Jewish Dialogue.
WHEN: Wednesday Jan, 26, 2005 from 7-9 P M at
WHERE: Jewish Community Center, 6125 Montrose Road Room 140 Rockville
MD,
(301-770-0881)
FOR INFORMATION, CALL: 1-866-866-9966
-----
U.S. CLAIMS ARAR SUIT A RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Michelle Shephard, The Star, 1/22/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106349012240&call_pageid=970599119419
The United States government is attempting to dismiss a lawsuit brought
by
Syrian-Canadian Maher Arar, claiming the litigation would jeopardize
national security.
Invoking the rarely used "state secrets privilege," U.S. Department of
Justice lawyers filed a motion with the New York eastern district court
this week, stating that the release of any information concerning the
U.S.'s involvement in Arar's deportation to Syria could jeopardize
"intelligence, foreign policy and national security interests of the
United
States."
Lawyers with New York's Centre for Constitutional Rights, who filed the
lawsuit on Arar's behalf a year ago, said the government is abusing
claims
of national security in order to avoid a review of its policies and
handling of terrorism suspects.
"They're asking the court to sanction their cover-up basically," lawyer
Maria LaHood said yesterday.
Arar was detained by immigration officials at New York's JFK airport on
Sept. 26, 2002, and subsequently held as a terrorism suspect in a
Brooklyn
jail, where he says he repeatedly asked to be sent back to Canada. On
Oct.
8 he was flown on a private jet to Syria, via Jordan. Arar says he was
tortured and held without charges for a year before returning to
Canada.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights launched Arar's lawsuit last
January
alleging that former attorney-general John Ashcroft, former homeland
security secretary Tom Ridge and other officials within President
George W.
Bush's administration knew Arar would be tortured when he was deported.
Arar alleges he was a victim of the government's controversial policy
of
"extraordinary rendition," where American authorities can circumvent
their
own restraints on interrogations by sending suspects to countries that
employ harsh tactics.
-----
IN BATTERED FALLUJA, FEW IRAQIS THINK OF VOTING
Michael Georgy, Reuters, 1/24/05
FALLUJA, Iraq - Election posters promise Falluja a brighter future. But
few
locals believe ballot boxes can help them rebuild after a U.S.
offensive,
and even those interested in voting have no idea who the candidates
are.
"Is this the democracy that the elections will bring?" asked Majid
Muhammad, pointing to buildings that were reduced to rubble when U.S.
and
Iraqi forces crushed rebels in their assault on Falluja in November.
"How can we vote after all this destruction? We have no faith in
politics.
I don't think anyone will vote in Falluja."
A U.S.-led assault in November was designed to root out insurgents and
encourage Iraq's most rebellious city to embrace the Jan. 30 polls.
Rebels bent on sabotaging the elections were driven from Falluja and
the
city has been secured by U.S. and Iraqi forces.
A solid turnout in Falluja would boost the credibility of the polls and
bolster the U.S.-backed interim government's assertions that democracy
will
defeat a raging insurgency.
But democracy is a hard sell in a mostly anti-American city where most
people are concentrating on rebuilding bombed-out and burned homes, not
party lists…
ALSO SEE:
ANCIENT IRAQI MINARET IS U.S. ARMY SNIPERS' NEST
Ibon Villelabeitia, Reuters, 1/24/05
SAMARRA, Iraq - Two U.S. army snipers sit on the top of an ancient
minaret
in the Iraqi city of Samarra, scanning for rebels who might try to
plant
bombs on a nearby road, and braving rain, sun and winds in long, lonely
shifts.
Crouched behind sandbags, the soldiers say guerrillas bent on
sabotaging
the Jan. 30 elections frequently shoot at them with small-arms fire,
mortars and rockets, sometimes hitting the 52-metre-tall minaret, built
over 1,000 years ago.
"We get shot at all the time," said Sgt. Steve Langelier, 25, from
Newport,
Rhode Island.
"We are very busy. Scanning the city takes all day. It only slows down
after the curfew," said Langelier, as he eyed the city below with the
scope
of his .50 caliber-rifle.
The snipers from the 1st Battalion 26th Infantry Regiment, work in
24-hour
two-man shifts, taking turns to eat and sleep.
They were posted on top of the distinctive spiral minaret -- the
highest
vantage point in this violent Sunni Muslim city -- after U.S. and Iraqi
forces overran Samarra in October and wrested it from the control of
insurgents.
Before that, the U.S. army says, the insurgents used the minaret, part
of a
sprawling 9th century mosque, to shoot at U.S. troops and to
orchestrate
mortar attacks against U.S. bases outside town.
They say the number of roadside bombs -- a constant danger for U.S.
vehicles patrolling this city of 200,000 -- has dropped dramatically
since
the snipers roosted in the minaret.
As the landmark elections approach, the strategic importance of the
minaret
has soared, with U.S. and Iraqi forces stepping up efforts to safeguard
the
vote, the first in Iraq since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam
Hussein in
2003…
-----
ISRAEL SEIZES TRACTS OF LAND IN JERUSALEM
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 1/23/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31140-2005Jan23.html
JERUSALEM - Israel has quietly seized large tracts of Jerusalem land
owned
by Palestinian residents of the West Bank after they were cut off from
their property by Israel's separation barrier, lawyers of the
landowners said.
The land was taken after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government
decided
several months ago to enforce a long-dormant law that allows Israel to
seize lands of Palestinians who fled or were driven out during the
1948-49
Mideast war that followed Israel's creation.
The new policy, first reported in the Israeli daily Haaretz, could
affect
hundreds of Palestinians who own property in Jerusalem and is sure to
raise
the stakes in the stormy battle over the city, which Israel and the
Palestinians both claim as their capital.
The landowners affected so far live in the West Bank towns of Bethlehem
and
Beit Jalla, just south of Jerusalem. Their land was taken in August,
after
Israel's West Bank separation barrier cut them off from their land in
the city.
According to documents from Israel's Finance and Justice ministries,
the
land was transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property, a body
formed
by a 1950 law that allowed the seizure of property of Palestinians who
had
left Israel during the 1948 war.
Bethlehem resident Johnny Atik said Sunday that he lost eight acres of
olive groves within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries as a result of the
new
policy. The land is just 100 yards away from his home, on the other
side of
an electronic fence and patrol road that are part of the separation
barrier.
``The olives fall on the ground,'' he said. ``We see them, but we can't
get
to them...''
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL RESUMES BUILDING WEST BANK BARRIER
Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Reuters, 1/24/05
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=659757
JERUSALEM - Israel has resumed building one of the most controversial
parts
of its West Bank barrier, deep in occupied land, in a move Palestinians
say
clouds new President Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to revive peacemaking.
Israel's attorney-general approved construction of the 4-km (2.5 mile)
segment along a new route near the large Jewish settlement of Ariel
after
residents of the adjacent Palestinian village of Salfit petitioned a
court
against land expropriation.
"How we are going to convince our people and factions that we are
trying to
end Israeli occupation while Israel is imposing facts on the ground,"
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said.
"This will have a deep and negative impact on our efforts to reach a
ceasefire…"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/25/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
* CAIR-PHILLY KICKOFF TO FOCUS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES
- CAIR-OH: Muslims Meet with Law Enforcement Reps
- CAIR-Chicago: Law Professor to Speak at Event
- CAIR-San Antonio Lecture on Islam (Express-News)
* TN: ISLAM CLASS CANCELED AFTER LETTER FROM CHRISTIAN DEAN
- Islamic Center Offers 2 Sessions (Tennessean)
* TX: LATINOS CONVERT TO ISLAM (San Antonio Express News)
* NY: STATION STIRS FUROR BY MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS (Reuters)
- Radio Station Apologizes For Mocking Victims (CNSNews)
* ARE WE FEEDING XENOPHOBIA WITH FOX'S `24'? (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR-FL Comments on Fox '24' PSA
- CAIR-NJ: No Proof Hatred to Blame for Murders (AP)
- MN: FBI, Muslims Build Trust to Fight Terror (WCCO-TV)
* TORTURE IN IRAQ STILL ROUTINE, REPORT SAYS (Wash Post)
* MD: CAMP MUSLIM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
- DC: American Muslims and the U.S.-Muslim Divide (USIP)
- CA: "American Muslims Counter Extremism"
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A person once went to
visit
his brother in another town, and God sent an Angel to wait for him on
his
way. The angel met the man and said to him: 'Where do you intend to
go?'
The man said: 'I intend to go to my brother in this town.' The angel
then
said: 'Have you done any favor for him (the repayment of which you
intend
to receive)?' The man replied: 'No, except that I love him for the sake
of
God, the Exalted and Glorious.' Thereupon the angel said: 'I am a
messenger
to you from God (to inform you) that God loves you as you love him (for
His
sake).'"
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1170
-----
CAIR-PHILLY KICKOFF TO FOCUS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES
(PHILADELPHIA, 01/25/04) - On Sunday, January 30, the newly established
Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-Philly) will hold a panel discussion on civil liberties and human
rights in the post-9/11 era. The discussion will also focus on
America's
response to prison abuse scandals in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq.
WHAT: "Civil Liberties and Human Rights in the Post-9/11 Era"
WHEN: Sunday, January 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Temple University, Student Activities Center, Room 217,
Philadelphia, PA
CONTACT: CAIR-Philly, 215-896-4872 or 267-808-4906, E-Mail:
cairphilly@yahoo.com
Speakers include Michael Ratner, with the Center for Constitutional
Rights,
Philadelphia-based human rights lawyer Susan Burke, Michigan civil
rights
attorney Shereef Akeel, and CAIR National Legal Affairs Director
Arsalan
Iftikhar.
Sponsoring organizations include: National Lawyers Guild (NLG) of
Temple
University School of Law, Muslim Students Association (MSA) at Temple
University and the Muslim Bar Association of Philadelphia.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
SEE ALSO:
OHIO MUSLIMS MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
(CLEVELAND, OH, 1/25/05) - Leaders of Northeast Ohio Muslim and
Arab-American communities met recently with federal law enforcement
officials from Michigan and Ohio to discuss ongoing civil liberties and
immigration concerns.
The meeting included officials from the Department of Justice, FBI and
Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) and the investigation unit of Immigration and
Customs
Enforcement (ICE).
At the meeting, Muslim leaders voiced strong opposition to the recent
fingerprinting of Muslim citizens at the Canadian border.
Muslim and Arab-American groups represented at the meeting included the
Islamic Society of Akron and Kent, Islamic Center of Cleveland, Beit
Hanina, First Cleveland Mosque, Uqbah Mosque Foundation, and the Ohio
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH).
CAIR-OH and local Muslim organizations also announced the formation of
a
Muslim community advisory group that will meet regularly with law
enforcement agencies to discuss issues of mutual concern, as well as to
be
prepared in the event of a crisis.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or
216-440-2247,
E-Mail: Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916, E-Mail:
ahmad@cair-ohio.com
---
CAIR-CHICAGO: LAW PROFESSOR TO SPEAK AT EVENT
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 1/24/05
DePaul University College of Law Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni, the
director of DePaul's International Human Rights Law Institute, is
scheduled
to deliver the keynote address to a gathering of the Chicago chapter of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations on Feb. 26 at the Islamic
Foundation
of Villa Park, 300 W. Highridge Road.
A reception will at 6:30 p.m., and dinner at 7:30 p.m.
The Council describes itself as the U.S.' largest Muslim civil rights
and
advocacy group in America with 30 chapters and offices nationwide.
Tickets to the event cost $30. For more information or to make a
reservation, call (312) 212-1530 or visit the Web site at
www.cairchicago.org.
---
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY LECTURE ON ISLAM
San Antonio Express-News, 1/23/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA010205.8P.goodcauses.5a304b6f.html
CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam, 6:30-9:30 p.m. San Antonio
Central and Cody branch libraries. The San Antonio office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations is presenting a series of lectures at area
libraries to promote a better understanding of Muslims in America. Free
admission. As part of the "Islam in America" lecture series, each
participating library will receive books, DVDs and educational
materials on
Islam and Muslims. For more information, contact: Sarwat Husain, (210)
378-9528.
-----
VU TAKES IN CLASS ON ISLAM AFTER TSU CANCELS ITS ROOM
Holly Edwards, Tennessean, 1/25/05
http://www.tennessean.com/education/archives/05/01/64599695.shtml?Element_ID=64599695
One week before the scheduled start of a free course on Islam at
Tennessee
State University, members of the Islamic Center of Nashville have been
told
they won't be able to use a room at the campus, a mosque leader said
yesterday.
TSU officials could not immediately explain why the invitation was
reversed.
But the cancellation came one week after the dean of Tennessee Bible
College in Cookeville sent a letter to TSU President James Hefner
questioning the use of a government-funded university for a course on
religion.
''Are you not using government money to promote religion - a single
religion?'' Dean Kerry Duke wrote in his Jan. 14 letter, which was also
sent to The Tennessean. ''Would you allow me to lecture at TSU on
Christianity?...''
In an interview yesterday, Duke, the Bible college dean, said he
believed
that Islam promotes violence against non-Muslims. He scoffed at
assertions
that Islam is a peaceful religion and accused Muslims of watering down
the
true nature of their beliefs.
''I've been to the mosque several times and I'm well aware of the
teachings
of the Koran,'' Duke said. ''I disagree with their claims that their
religion does not promote violence, and I can show there are statements
in
the Koran that encourage violence to non-Muslims…''
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC CENTER OFFERS 2 SESSIONS
Tennessean, 1/25/05
http://www.tennessean.com/education/archives/05/01/64599708.shtml?Element_ID=64599708
A free course on Islam will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday and will be held
every
Sunday through May 8.
Because of the large number of people who have registered, two sessions
will be held at times to be announced after the first class, said Awadh
Binhazim, outreach director of the Islamic Center of Nashville, which
is
sponsoring the course.
The class will meet at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Room
G23 on
the first floor…
To register for the class, call Binhazim at 482-2838 or send an e-mail
to
hadhramut@hotmail.com. Further information is available on the Islamic
Center's Web site, www.muslimeen.org.
-----
CURIOSITY SPAWNED BY 9-11 LEADS SOME LATINOS TO CONVERT TO ISLAM
Hern�n Rozemberg, Express-News, 1/25/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA012505.1A.latino.muslims.3f873650.html
Like most youngsters growing up around his West San Antonio
neighborhood,
Jes�s Villarreal was raised Catholic. He went to church every Sunday,
took
Communion and attended catechism classes.
But he eventually strayed from the church, remaining in religious limbo
for
years until stumbling upon an unexpected answer - Islam.
Indeed, thousands of Latinos across the country - both U.S.-born and
immigrants - have been converting to Islam since the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks sparked massive U.S. societal interest in the religion and its
billion followers worldwide.
No definitive research exists on the ethnic breakdown of the U.S.
Muslim
population, estimated by the Islamic Society of North America at 8
million
to 10 million people. Most surveys identify African Americans as the
largest group, but little is known about Latino conversion patterns.
"It's a small religious phenomenon," said Edwin Hern�ndez, director of
the
Center for the Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre
Dame.
"There's a lot we don't know. It's on our radar screen."
A 2001 study by the Council on American-Islamic Relations estimated 6
percent of 20,000 annual converts to Islam are Latinos. Studies
variously
list 25,000 to 75,000 Latino Muslims in the United States; most concur
there are roughly 40,000…
-----
N.Y. STATION STIRS FUROR WITH SONG MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Mark Egan, Reuters, 1/25/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33987-2005Jan24.html
NEW YORK -- A radio station here apologized Monday for repeatedly
airing a
joke song that ridiculed victims of the recent tsunami in South Asia
and
used racial slurs.
WQHT-FM, known as HOT 97, ran the segment on its "Miss Jones in the
Morning" show. The piece used racial slurs to describe people swept
away in
the disaster and made jokes about child slavery and people watching
their
mothers die.
"You can hear God laughing, 'Swim, you bitches, swim,' " was one line
in
the song.
The hip-hop and R&B station, known for its "shock jocks," apologized on
its
Web site, saying it "regrets the airing of material that made light of
a
serious and tragic event. We apologize to our listeners and anyone who
was
offended."
WQHT's program director and deejay Tarsha Nicole Jones, who uses the
on-air
name Miss Jones, apologized on the program and said the segment should
not
have been broadcast.
The piece drew wide criticism from New York's City Hall to the capitol
in
Albany, with many lawmakers calling on the Federal Communications
Commission to fine HOT 97.
"At a time when virtually the entire world has come together to help in
the
tsunami tragedy relief, employees of HOT 97 have come up with this
song,"
said New York State Assembly member Jimmy Meng, a Democrat from Queens.
"We
are disgusted and demand immediate action by the FCC."
An FCC spokesman had no immediate comment.
The piece was also denounced by the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, which said it had received calls from
offended
Muslims. ..
ALSO SEE:
RADIO STATION APOLOGIZES FOR SONG MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 1/25/05
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200501%5CCUL20050125a.html
-----
AS FOX'S `24' IDENTIFIES TERRORISM WITH ISLAM, ARE WE FEEDING AMERICAN
XENOPHOBIA?
Deborah Hornblow, Hartford Courant, 1/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/hc-arabdemons.artjan24,1,5698554.story
Team America: World Police" started it.
Now the contagion has spread to "24."
Yes folks, the American entertainment industry has begun to shift into
combat mode. The enemy of our current wartime nightmare is popping up
on
screens big and wide. In last year's mad marionette political satire
"Team
America," creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker depicted evil in the form
of
Islamic extremists, puppets offensively rendered as literal "towel
heads.
"Now, on the Fox network's new season of its beat-the-clock crisis
jamboree
"24," America's evil du jour appears in the person of the jihadists
next
door. Inside a swell suburban home in America lurks a Turkish family
whose
hearts belong to an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism. They may
share
your zip code, your paperboy, your cable line and your lawn-care
specialist. But behind closed doors, they are plotting to bring America
to
its knees.
"This year we deal with it," the show's co-creator Joel Surnow told
Frank
Rich of The New York Times. "This is what we fear - Islamic terrorism.
This
is what we are fighting.
"What strikes you about Surnow's comment is not so much its
relationship to
the truth, which cannot be argued, but its combat readiness.
Call it state-of-siege license.
In choosing to capitalize on Americans' fears of Islamic
fundamentalists,
the "24" creators have accomplished two things: One is to draw a
critical
outcry from interest groups, including the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. The other is to boldly lay claim to America's (and the rest
of
the world's, for that matter) not-so-proud history of demonizing
various
ethnic groups for the sake of our national amusement…
Each week, Americans are tuning in to see their biggest fears unfold in
carefully selected colors. As the spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations worries about a show that is "casting a
shadow
of suspicion on ordinary American Muslims," Americans of paler
complexion
don't seem to mind too much. If they do, they are not speaking up very
loud…
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL COMMENTS ON FOX '24' PSA
CAIR-FL Representative Ahmed Bedier appeared on Fox Tampa affiliate
WTVT to
discuss the recent decision by FOX to air CAIR PSA's to counter the
negative effects of the show '24.'
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO:
HIGH SPEED/BROADBAND:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/050124_wtvt_bedier_on_24_hi.wmv
LOW SPEED/DIAL-UP:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/050124_wtvt_bedier_on_24_lo.wmv
---
NO PROOF RELIGIOUS HATRED TO BLAME FOR FAMILY'S MURDER
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 1/24/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0124jan24,0,2891831.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- Authorities investigating the stabbing deaths of an
Egyptian immigrant family said Monday they have not found any evidence
so
far indicating the four Jersey City residents were slain over a
religious
dispute.
The possibility of a religious grudge, which has strained relations
between
Muslims and Christians in the area, still is being investigated, said
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
He added that the brutal slayings of Hossam Armanious, a 47-year-old
Coptic
Christian, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters,
Sylvia,
15, and Monica, 8, do not appear to stem from a simple robbery.
"Certainly, based on the viciousness of the attacks, we think there's
more
than taking the money that was in the apartment," DeFazio said.
Shortly after the bound and gagged bodies were found Jan. 14, friends
of
the family circulated word that Armanious had angered Muslims with
Internet
postings in a religious chat room.
The claims led to widespread tension between Christians and Muslims in
Jersey City, which led to numerous scuffles at the family's funeral
earlier
this month. But authorities said nothing so far supports the theory.
"Is it possible? Yes," DeFazio said. "Do we have anything that gives us
reason to believe this is what it was, factually? No. Nothing indicates
that was the prime motivation for this. That we can clearly say."
Magdy Mahmoud, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations'
New
Jersey chapter, was one of about a dozen Muslim leaders who called on
the
community last week to refrain from speculating on a motive in the
killings.
On Monday he said he was pleased to hear that no evidence of religious
bias
had been found.
"We expected this to be the case," Mahmoud said. "As we said last week,
all
religious groups should stand in solidarity, especially in times like
this
when fear and grief are being spread among the community…"
---
FBI, MUSLIMS BUILD TRUST TO FIGHT TERROR
WCCO-TV, 1/24/05
http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_024233924.html
(WCCO) Hassan Mohamud, like other native Somalis, learned hard lessons
about authority before he came to Minnesota.
"If you ask a question, you will be arrested," Mohamud recalled. "If
you
ask a question, you will be killed."
Mohamud is an "imam" -- a spiritual and political leader. He is also an
immigration attorney.
"This is a beautiful system," he said, "because (Somali-Americans)
don't
want to let any other person destroy the system. Because this is the
system
that helps us to be equal."
But that doesn't mean authorities aren't watching them here, too.
In the war on terror, part of the FBI's focus is to seek information
from
some of Minnesota's 140,000 Muslims. About half are from Somalia, where
al-Qaeda is known to have operated.
On a daily basis, federal agents are out doing interviews. But they
aren't
just asking questions -- they're taking them from the community as
well.
"They have the opportunity to work with us in preventing another
terrorist
attack," said Mark Post, acting supervisor of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation office in Minneapolis.
Under orders from Washington, Post's staff searched for and identified
the
most trusted leaders in the Muslim community: imams such as Hassan
Mohamud.
The government began listening to and responding to concerns. By
August,
they all sat together for the first time…
-----
TORTURE IN IRAQ STILL ROUTINE, REPORT SAYS
Doug Struck, Washington Post, 1/25/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33349-2005Jan24.html
BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 -- Twenty months after Saddam Hussein's government was
toppled and its torture chambers unlocked, Iraqis are again being
routinely
beaten, hung by their wrists and shocked with electrical wires,
according
to a report by a human rights organization.
Iraqi police, jailers and intelligence agents, many of them holding the
same jobs they had under Hussein, are "committing systematic torture
and
other abuses" of detainees, Human Rights Watch said in a report to be
released Tuesday.
Legal safeguards are being ignored, political opponents are targeted
for
arrest, and the government of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi
"appears
to be actively taking part, or is at least complicit, in these grave
violations of fundamental human rights," the report concludes.
A spokesman for Allawi declined to comment, Monday and said "I will put
this report on the prime minister's desk tomorrow to see if he has any
reaction."
Ibrahim Jafari, an interim vice president, said in an interview that
security forces needed to be tougher to combat the campaign of violence
by
opponents of the election.
"I think the security people are not arresting enough and are releasing
them too quickly," Jafari said. "And many of the security people are
cooperating with the criminals. I think we have to put security as our
priority."
The Human Rights Watch report acknowledged that Iraq was "in the throes
of
a significant insurgency" in which 1,300 police officers and thousands
of
civilians were killed in the last four months of 2004. But it argued
that
"no government, not Saddam Hussein's, not the occupying powers and not
the
Iraqi Interim Government, can justify ill-treatment of persons in
custody
in the name of security."
The report was based on interviews with 90 current and former detainees
in
Iraq conducted between July and October last year, many of them
interviewed
when they were brought to court for initial proceedings. Of those, 72
said
they were "tortured or ill-treated," the report says. It recounts
numerous
individual cases of torture, and says the victims often had fresh scars
or
bruises.
"I was beaten with cables and suspended by my hands tied behind my
back,"
Dhia Fawzi Shaid, 30, a resident of Baghdad, told the human rights
investigators, according to the report. "I saw young men there lying on
the
floor while police [stepped] on their heads with boots. It was worse
than
Saddam's regime..."
-----
MD: CAMP MUSLIM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
The Council of American Muslim Professionals (CAMP International) in
collaboration with MSA National, University of Maryland MSA & MWM, and
the
local Masjid Youth Committees would like to invite you to our 1st
Annual
Muslim Leadership Summit in College Park, Maryland all day Saturday,
February 5th and Sunday, February 6th, 2005 from 10am - 2:30pm.
The purpose of this Muslim Leadership Summit is two fold: one, to
creating
a partnership between CAMP International and high school based,
university
based, and other professionally based organizations in the US, Canada,
and
the UK; two, to offer Muslim leaders in the US, Canada, and the UK the
opportunity to learn from each other and experts in the field through a
weekend-long interactive leadership retreat.
To register for CAMP International's 1st Annual Muslim Leadership
Summit,
please RSVP via our evite at http://evite.com/camp_dc@yahoo.com/summit
AND
complete the registration form via CAMP's website at:
http://dc.CAMPnet.net/summit.html
Please note to attend this event, an RSVP is needed via evite AND a
completed registration form via CAMP's website.
CAMP International is a community of students, employees, employers,
entrepreneurs, skilled individuals, and interested community members.
We
come from all levels, backgrounds, and industries offering a central
environment to exchange information through professional networking
events,
community outreach efforts, and exciting interactive educational
opportunities to foster personal and professional growth for our
members to
be strong and successful collectively as Muslim Americans, Canadians, &
Europeans and leaders of tomorrow.
SEE ALSO:
THE ROLE OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN BRIDGING THE U.S.-MUSLIM DIVIDE
WHEN: Friday, January 28, 2005, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Beacon Hotel, Cabinet Room, 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Fawaz Gerges
Dr. Muqtedar Khan
Mr. Duncan MacInnes
Mr. Farid Senzai
Chair: Dr. Abdeslam Maghraoui, Associate Director of Research and
Studies
for the Muslim World, United States Institute of Peace.
This event is open to the public but RSVPs are REQUIRED. Please RSVP to
mwi@usip.org with your name and affiliation.
---
"AMERICAN MUSLIMS COUNTER EXTREMISM"
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) - 1/25/05
- Symposium: The School of Religion and the School of Politics and
Economics at Claremont Graduate University and the Muslim Public
Affairs
Council will present a symposium on "American Muslims Counter
Extremism"
from noon to 1 p.m. at Albrecht Auditorium, Stauffer Hall, Claremont
Graduate University, corner of Tenth Street and Dartmouth Avenue,
Claremont. Speakers will include Salam Al-Marayati, executive director
and
cofounder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Maher Hathout,
senior
adviser and cofounder of MPAC. The event is free and open to the
public.
Information: [909] 607-3673.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/26/05
* HADITH: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* CALIF. MUSLIMS DEMAND RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
* CAIR REP DISCUSSES TSUNAMI AID ON O'REILLY SHOW
- TX: Missionaries Should Put Aid First (Dallas News)
- WA: Faiths' Tenets Propel Aid Efforts (Seattle Times)
* CAIR-HOUSTON MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- CAIR-Houston: Workshop on Employment Discrimination
* MO: ISLAMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI SPRAYED ON HOME (Fox 4)
- Muslims: Making Enemies (Newsweek)
* GONZALES: THE WRONG ATTORNEY GENERAL (NY Times)
- A Degrading Policy (Wash Post)
- Treaty Doesn't Bar `Cruel, Inhuman' Tactics (KR)
* CA: LECTURE LOOKS AT JESUS AS ISLAM PROPHET (Daily Bruin)
- MN: How to Say Minnesota Nice In Arabic (Star Trib)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "You will not believe as
long as you do not love one another."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 19
-----
CALIF. MUSLIMS DEMAND RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
Islamic civil rights group condemns targeting of civilians
(ANAHEIM, CA, 1/26/05) - The Southern California office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called for the immediate
release
of an American contractor who was kidnapped along with a Filipino
co-worker
in Iraq last November.
A videotape aired on Tuesday showed 56-year-old Roy Hallums with a gun
held
to his head and pleading for his life. His daughter and former wife
both
reside in Southern California.
In its statement, the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:
"We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Roy Hallums. We
also call for the release of every other hostage currently held in Iraq
and
urge all parties to the conflict to refrain from any actions that may
harm
civilians."
The Lancet, a respected British medical journal, recently estimated
that
civilian casualties resulting from the war in Iraq have topped 100,000.
SEE: "Mortality Before and After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq"
http://pdf.thelancet.com/pdfdownload?uid=llan.364.9448.primary_research.31264.1&x=x.pdf
CAIR recently launched an online petition drive, called "Not in the
Name of
Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few
Muslims.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA
The "Not in the Name of Islam" petition states:
"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who
commit
acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only
destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the
faith
they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify
the
massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the
cause
of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group
or
individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to
allow
our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority
acting outside the teachings of both the Qur'an and the Prophet
Muhammad,
peace be upon him."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
-----
CAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THE O'REILLY SHOW
Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor, 1/25/05
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135164,00.html
O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly.
In "The Factor" "Follow-Up" Segment tonight, a clash of religions in
the
tsunami relief zone.
On January 12, Jerry Falwell appealed for tsunami aid in an e-mail to
the
Moral Majority and Liberty Alliance Members.
The e-mail said in part, "We will be delivering 80 tons of rice plus
medical supplies. Relief efforts are being organized using hundreds of
local Christian workers. In addition, we will be presenting the gospel
to
tens of thousands of persons through distribution of gospel tracts
written
in the native languages of the area."
That has angered some Muslims.
Joining us now from Lynchburg, Virginia, is the Reverend Jerry Falwell.
And here in the studio, Nihad Awad, the executive director of the
Center
(sic) on American-Islamic Relations.
All right. So what's the beef here? You know that Reverend Falwell and
a
lot of evangelical Christians go out and try to convert people as part
of
their mission. What's the problem?
NIHAD AWAD, C.A.I.R. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Well, first of all, thank you
for
having me.
O'REILLY: My pleasure.
AWAD: …And our objection rises from the fact that Jerry Falwell and
others
are trying to prey on the victims, the victims who are suffering and
hurting. Those people who are suffering will have no choice but to
accept
what you offer them. If you offer them your religious belief before the
aid, that's taking advantage of people who are under -- you know, who
are
vulnerable...
ALSO SEE:
TEMPERING EVANGELISM: TSUNAMI MISSIONARIES SHOULD PUT AID FIRST
Dallas Morning News, 1/24/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/012505dnedievangelists.d7421.html
Zeal for converting non-Christians sets evangelical Christianity apart
from
other expressions of the Christian faith. You will find evangelicals
all
over the world, teaching, preaching and healing broken bodies and
broken
lives. They do much good.
Indonesia struggles to count tsunami dead
Editorial: Tsunami missionaries should put aid first
But sometimes they go too far. We are dismayed at the furor ignited by
members of Waco's Antioch Community Church, which sent a relief team
into
tsunami-stricken Sri Lanka. According to The New York Times, the Waco
evangelicals have outraged Sri Lankan Christians and non-Christians by
aggressively proselytizing among the country's Hindus, Muslims and
Buddhists. Some native pastors complain that the Texans are putting all
the
country's Christians in peril from militant Buddhist factions.
The Rev. Duleep Fernando, a Sri Lankan Methodist, told The Times that
the
Texans induced him to bring them into a refugee camp, pretending to be
merely a humanitarian group. "We have told them this is not right, but
now
we don't have any control over them," the sadder-but-wiser pastor says
now.
Aid to the poor and oppressed is a central tenet of Christianity, and
missionary efforts over the centuries have often mixed material aid
with
subtle or not-so-subtle invitations to convert. It is difficult to draw
a
bright line between what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
But deception - hiding one's evangelical aims - is wrong. And so is
imperiling the lives of Christians who can't hop a plane bound for D/FW
if
non-Christian militants turn violent.
Even absent that, the internal damage to a society can be profound.
"Soupers" in Ireland and "rice Christians" in Asia are some of the
epithets
that reflect the bitter resentment toward people who are perceived to
have
abandoned their historical faith in return for handouts from
proselytizing
sects.
That's why many Christian aid organizations today try to separate
humanitarian efforts from evangelism outreach. But the Waco church
explicitly rejects that strategy. One paralyzed Buddhist fisherman told
The
Times he believes the Waco team is trying to convert him, but that he
is
"in a helpless situation," and feels he has no choice but to submit to
their ministrations. How can Christians be proud of that?
---
FAITHS' TENETS PROPEL AID EFFORTS
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 1/25/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/10737901.htm
SEATTLE _ Arun Sharma, a Boeing engineer from Everett, Wash., is
working
with fellow Hindus, collecting money and clothes for tsunami survivors.
Marlina Soerakoesoemah of Redmond, Wash., co-founder of a magazine for
Islamic women, works with other local Muslims and Indonesians, and the
larger community, to buy women's hygiene products to send to Indonesia.
And John Roberts of Bellevue, Wash., director of a regional Buddhist
organization, spends much of his time working with fellow Buddhists
here to
raise money to build 100 houses in Sri Lanka.
For all three, the decision to help stems both from their respective
faiths
and from their ties to countries hit hardest by the tsunami _
Indonesia,
with the world's largest Muslim population; Sri Lanka, primarily
Buddhist
with a sizable Hindu population; and India, primarily Hindu with a
sizable
Muslim population.
"The love of the land is still very much alive," said Sharma, who
emigrated
from India in 1991. "We all feel the pain."
While one need not ascribe to a certain faith to want to help _ as is
attested to by the multitudes who have given time, money and labor
these
past few weeks _ for these three, the tenets of their religions have
shaped
both the way they view what happened and what they're doing about it…
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
WHAT: CAIR-Houston along with the MAS-Freedom Foundation, League of
United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and others invites you to glimpse into
the
history of this struggle, and learn from the experience of our brothers
in
humanity, as we look into the civil rights struggles of our fellow
Americans to reflect and learn.
This event is entitled "Unity, Diversity and Wisdom" in honor of Black
History Month. We invite you to take a glimpse into the history of this
important struggle. This proactive educational endeavor will be geared
towards raising awareness and educating our community of the steps we
can
take to help make our country a better place.
WHEN: Feb. 5th, 2005 2 to 4:30pm
WHERE: Islamic Dawah Center, located at 202 Main Street.
WHO: Confirmed Key Note Speakers: Johnny Mata (President of
LULAC-Houston);
Mahdi Bray (Executive Director of MAS Freedom Foundation); and Marvin
Mohammed (Houston Masjid of Islam).
LUNCH: Available for RSVP's only. RSVP's must be made no later than
Feb.
2nd, 2005
This program is open and free to the public and members of the media
are
expected. For reservations email info@cairhouston.org subject
"Honorable
Past, Noble Future" or for more information please visit the
CAIR-Houston
web site www.cairhouston.org or call 713-838-CAIR (2247).
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-HOUSTON OFFERS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: CAIR-Houston, in conjunction with the Equal Employment
Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-TX) will
host presentations on civil liberties and employment discrimination.
The EEOC will discuss how to avoid employment discrimination at the
workplace and how to react to it if it should occur. The ACLU-TX focus
on
knowing your rights, travel & airport security and FBI interviews.
WHEN: All events will be on Saturday Nights with various times,
WHERE: At local masajids in the Houston area.
For more information on events and timings, please contact CAIR-Houston
at
all 713-838-CAIR (2247).
-----
ISLAMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI SPRAYED ON HOME
MUSLIM LEADERS WORRY TV SHOW COULD LEAD TO VIOLENCE
Fox 4 News, 1/28/05
http://www.wdaftv.com/fullstory.asp?ID=7323
Kansas City, MO -- Someone spray-painted foul language on a northland
house
aimed at the Muslim owner. "It was just spray paint, but next time it
could
be something worse," said Mahnaz Shabbir, President of the Heartland
Muslim
Council. "There shouldn't be any reason for anyone to take out a
hateful
crime, even if it's just kids. They should be educated to know that
this is
wrong." On Monday's Fox drama "24", a Muslim mother poisoned her son's
non-Muslim girlfriend because she posed a threat to the terror cell's
plans. Shabbir says episodes like that perpetuate the stereotype that
all
Muslims are terrorists. "It doesn't help when we have a national show
that
continues to portray a stereotype towards us. That doesn't help us.
It's
like you take one step forward and this show takes us five steps
backwards." Shabbir says viewers should remember not everything they
see on
TV is reality. "What we want is for people to understand it's just a
television show. It's not about reality. It's a drama. It's fiction."
But
for one northland family, the hate has become a harsh reality.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS: MAKING ENEMIES
Lorraine Ali and Ramin Setoodeh
Newsweek, 1/31/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6857230/site/newsweek/
Fox's hit series "24" kicks off its fourth season with a disturbing
story
line: a seemingly normal, suburban American Muslim family is actually a
sleeper terrorist cell bent on destroying Western society. The mother,
played by Oscar-nominated Shohreh Aghdashloo, is so evil she kills her
son's cute blond girlfriend to make sure she doesn't blow the family's
cover. The Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) protested the
show
and eventually met with the network. Fox called the meeting
"educational
and informative," and released this statement: "We are providing CAIR's
PSAs [public-service announcements] to the affiliates. It is their
decision
whether or not to run them." In case you never see them, the 30- and
60-second spots include the line, "Muslims are part of the fabric of
this
great country."
Critics, like author Jack Shaheen who catalogs Arab and Muslim images
in
the U.S. media, worry that "24" represents a new trend, where even the
Muslim or Arab next door is a potential threat. Consider the WWE's
newest
bad guy, Muhammad Hassan, an Arab-American: he wears Arab garb in the
ring
and vows revenge for post-9/11 discrimination as the audience chants,
"U.S.A.!" Shaheen says, "To present a truly balanced image, why don't
Fox
and other networks create some Arab or Muslim characters who aren't
building bombs? Maybe they're just an everyday family, like the
Cosbys."
Actress Aghdashloo (who does not apologize for her role in "24") is
waiting
for that day. "As a Middle Eastern actress, I wish to God that there
would
be more roles--not just the terrorist or the battered woman. I'd love
to be
on 'Will & Grace'."
-----
THE WRONG ATTORNEY GENERAL
New York Times, 1/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/opinion/26wed1.html
Alberto Gonzales's nomination as attorney general goes before the
Senate at
a time when the Republican majority is eager to provide newly elected
President Bush with the cabinet of his choice, and the Democrats are
leery
of exposing their weakened status by taking fruitless stands against
the
inevitable. None of that is an excuse for giving Mr. Gonzales a pass.
The
attorney general does not merely head up the Justice Department. He is
responsible for ensuring that America is a nation in which justice
prevails. Mr. Gonzales's record makes him unqualified to take on this
role
or to represent the American justice system to the rest of the world.
The
Senate should reject his nomination.
The biggest strike against Mr. Gonzales is the now repudiated memo that
gave a disturbingly narrow definition of torture, limiting it to
physical
abuse that produced pain of the kind associated with organ failure or
death. Mr. Gonzales's attempts to distance himself from the memo have
been
unconvincing, especially since it turns out he was the one who
requested
that it be written. Earlier the same year, Mr. Gonzales himself sent
President Bush a letter telling him that the war on terror made the
Geneva
Conventions' strict limitations on the questioning of enemy prisoners
"obsolete."
These actions created the legal climate that made possible the horrific
mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners being held in Abu Ghraib prison. The
Bush
administration often talks about its desire to mend fences with the
rest of
the world, particularly the Muslim world. Making Mr. Gonzales the
nation's
chief law enforcement officer would set this effort back substantially.
Other parts of Mr. Gonzales's record are also troubling. As counsel to
George Bush when he was governor of Texas, Mr. Gonzales did a
shockingly
poor job of laying out the legal issues raised by the clemency
petitions
from prisoners on death row. And questions have been raised about Mr.
Gonzales's account of how he got his boss out of jury duty in 1996,
which
allowed Mr. Bush to avoid stating publicly that he had been convicted
of
drunken driving.
Senate Democrats, who are trying to define their role after the
setbacks of
the 2004 election, should stand on principle and hold out for a more
suitable attorney general. Republicans also have reason to oppose this
nomination. At the confirmation hearings, Senator Lindsey Graham,
Republican of South Carolina, warned that the administration's flawed
legal
policies and mistreatment of detainees had hurt the country's standing
and
"dramatically undermined" the war on terror. Given the stakes in that
war,
senators of both parties should want an attorney general who does not
come
with this nominee's substantial shortcomings.
ALSO SEE:
A DEGRADING POLICY
Washington Post, 1/26/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36718-2005Jan25.html
ALBERTO R. GONZALES was vague, unresponsive and misleading in his
testimony
to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Bush administration's
detention
of foreign prisoners. In his written answers to questions from the
committee, prepared in anticipation of today's vote on his nomination
as
attorney general, Mr. Gonzales was clearer -- disturbingly so, as it
turns
out. According to President Bush's closest legal adviser, this
administration continues to assert its right to indefinitely hold
foreigners in secret locations without any legal process; to deny them
access to the International Red Cross; to transport them to countries
where
torture is practiced; and to subject them to treatment that is "cruel,
inhumane or degrading," even though such abuse is banned by an
international treaty that the United States has ratified. In effect,
Mr.
Gonzales has confirmed that the Bush administration is violating human
rights as a matter of policy.
Mr. Gonzales stated at his hearing that he and Mr. Bush oppose "torture
and
abuse." But his written testimony to the committee makes clear that
"abuse"
is, in fact, permissible -- provided that it is practiced by the
Central
Intelligence Agency on foreigners held outside the United States. The
Convention Against Torture, which the United States ratified in 1994,
prohibits not only torture but "cruel, inhumane or degrading
treatment."
The Senate defined such treatment as abuse that would violate the
Fifth,
Eighth or 14th amendments to the Constitution -- a standard that the
Bush
administration formally accepted in 2003.
But Mr. Gonzales revealed that during his tenure as White House
counsel,
the administration twisted this straightforward standard to make it
possible for the CIA to subject detainees to such practices as sensory
deprivation, mock execution and simulated drowning. The constitutional
amendments, he told the committee, technically do not apply to
foreigners
held abroad; therefore, in the administration's view the torture treaty
does not bind intelligence interrogators operating on foreign soil.
"The
Department of Justice has concluded," he wrote, that "there is no legal
prohibition under the Convention Against Torture on cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment with respect to aliens overseas."
According to most legal experts, this is a gross distortion of the law.
The
Senate cited the constitutional amendments in ratifying the treaty
precisely to set a clear standard that could be applied to foreigners.
Nevertheless, Mr. Gonzales uses this false loophole to justify
practices
that contravene fundamental American standards. He was asked if there
were
any legal prohibition against U.S. personnel using simulated drowning
and
mock executions as well as sleep deprivation, dogs to inspire fear,
hooding, forced nudity, the forced injection of mood-altering drugs and
the
threat of sending a detainee to another country for torture, among
other
abuses. He answered: "Some might . . . be permissible in certain
circumstances."
This is not a theoretical matter. The CIA today is holding an
undetermined
number of prisoners, believed to be in the dozens, in secret facilities
in
foreign countries. It has provided no account of them or their
treatment to
any outside body, and it has allowed no visits by the Red Cross.
According
to numerous media reports, it has subjected the prisoners to many of
the
abuses Mr. Gonzales said "might be permissible." It has practiced such
mistreatment in Iraq, even though detainees there are covered by the
Geneva
Conventions; according to official investigations by the Pentagon, CIA
treatment of prisoners there and in Afghanistan contributed to the
adoption
of illegal methods by military interrogators…
---
TORTURE TREATY DOESN'T BAR `CRUEL, INHUMAN' TACTICS, GONZALES SAYS
Frank Davies, Knight Ridder, 1/26/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10732654.htm
WASHINGTON - Alberto Gonzales has asserted to the Senate committee
weighing
his nomination to be attorney general that there's a legal rationale
for
harsh treatment of foreign prisoners by U.S. forces.
In more than 200 pages of written responses to members of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, who plan to vote Wednesday on his nomination,
Gonzales
told senators that laws and treaties prohibit torture by any U.S. agent
without exception.
But he said the Convention Against Torture treaty, as ratified by the
Senate, doesn't prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading"
tactics
on non-U.S. citizens who are captured abroad, in Iraq or elsewhere.
Gonzales, White House counsel and a close Bush adviser, described
recent
reports of prisoner abuse as "shocking and deeply troubling." But he
refused to answer questions from senators about whether interrogation
tactics witnessed by FBI agents were unlawful.
He warned that any public discussion about interrogation tactics would
help
al-Qaida terrorists by giving them "a road map" of what to expect when
captured.
He also said the administration was conducting a comprehensive legal
review
of all practices and that the Justice Department, so far, had concluded
that the tactics were lawful.
The committee, with 10 Republican and eight Democrats, is expected to
send
Gonzales' nomination to the full Senate on Wednesday. He would replace
Attorney General John Ashcroft, who bade farewell to the department
Monday. ..
-----
LECTURE LOOKS AT JESUS AS ISLAM PROPHET
Heather Rabkin, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31660
Hisham Mahmoud is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA, and has studied in Egypt,
Mauritania, Spain, and speaks more than four languages. He came to UCLA
Tuesday evening not as a student, but as a lecturer of the program
called
Jesus: The Prophet of Islam, From the Miraculous Birth to His Final
Return.
His lecture occurred in conjunction with Islamic Awareness Week, which
is
organized by the Muslim Student Association.
"This is definitely one of our most interesting topics, because we live
in
a society that is a majority Christian and Jewish," said Adam Elsayed,
a
third-year political science transfer student and member of MSA who
helped
organize the week's events.
"Islam is not the foreign religion people think it is," he said.
The week has already sparked interest in religious groups, and
Tuesday's
event has been welcomed by members of the UCLA religious community.
"I think it's good that Muslim students are looking at these things and
examining their faith; it would be good for the Christians to examine
their
own faith. I think anything about deepening religious awareness is
good,"
said Ted Vierra, the interim director of the University Catholic
Center.
"Superficial understandings of religion by Muslims or Christians can
lead
to extremism."
Mahmoud brought textual evidence from both Christian and Islamic
documents
together to provide background information for his ideas.
He began by showing how connected these two religions are, though most
people might not realize it.
"Two-fifths of the world population, two billion people, share much
more
than what we had in mind. Two-fifths of the world accept Jesus' virgin
birth and his miracles," Mahmoud said.
"With so much in common, one would wonder why there is such a divide
between us," he said...
ALSO SEE:
HOW TO SAY MINNESOTA NICE IN ARABIC
Sarah McCann, Star Tribune, 1/25/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/142/5199976.html
Peace be upon you, or As-salaamn Alay-Kum in Arabic.
That's a good icebreaker and a friendly greeting for Muslims, Zafar
Siddiqui told a group of non-Muslims gathered at the Fridley Community
Center last week. Siddiqui is president of the Islamic Resource Group,
which holds classes to improve understanding of Muslims.
Luann Woeltge of Shoreview was one of about 30 people who attended the
free
class. "I have lots of students who are Muslim, and I don't know much
about
the culture," said Woeltge, a Mounds View school district social
worker. "I
want to learn more, especially about traditions and holidays, so that
we
can be more inclusive."
Others attended because they have Muslim neighbors or friends, live
near
Al-Amal School in Fridley or simply want to know more.
"These classes are very effective in educating people about their
Muslim
neighbors, in breaking down stereotypes, removing the fear of the
unknown
and building bridges of understanding," Siddiqui said. A group of
volunteers has made close to 1,000 similar presentations in Minnesota
in
the past three years.
The class begins with an overview of some basics. For example, Muslim
means
one who submits to God. The religion, Islam, worships one god, the same
god
Abraham worshipped. Muslims believe in angels, holy books, a day of
judgment and prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the
last
prophet, Mohammed.
Siddiqui said some misunderstandings come from confusing culture with
Islam. For instance, Saudi Arabia doesn't allow women to drive cars,
but
that is the country's culture and has nothing to do with Islam.
"I see the commonalities between Islam and other Abrahamic religions
far
outweigh the differences," he said…
WHAT: The "Get to know your Muslim neighbor" class will be presented
again
in February. It focuses on Muslim culture, practices and beliefs.
WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8
WHERE: Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St. NE.
COST: Free
CALL: 763-502-5100
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE URGED TO REJECT EXTREMIST GROUP
Promoter of museum display says 'moderate' Muslims don't follow Quran
(ANAHEIM, CA, 1/26/05) - The Southern California office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on the Simon
Wiesenthal
Center Museum of Tolerance (MOT) in Los Angeles to pull its sponsorship
from an event prompted by the efforts of a group known to advocate
extremist and Islamophobic views.
During the January 30th MOT event, an Israeli bus involved in a suicide
bombing and now owned by the Jerusalem Connection, formerly known as
Christians for Israel, will be displayed.
SEE: http://www.standwithus.com/flyers/bus19a.pdf
Jerusalem Connection President Dr. James M. Hutchens, is quoted today
in
the Los Angeles Jewish Journal as saying moderate Muslims "don't take
the
Quran seriously…because the Quran calls for the destruction of the
infidel."
[In fact, the Quran states: "It may well be that God will bring about
love
(and friendship) between you and those with whom you are now at
odds…God
does not forbid you to show kindness and deal justly with those who
neither
fight against your faith nor drive you out of your homes: for God loves
the
just." (60:7-8) It also states: "Those who follow the Jewish faith, and
the
Christians…all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous
deeds -
shall have their reward with their Lord. They will have nothing to fear
or
to regret. (2:62)]
SEE: BUS NO. 19 MAKING CONTROVERSIAL STOP
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=13569
Hutchens has in the past spoken out strongly against the Middle East
peace
process, the creation of a Palestinian state and Israeli withdrawal
from
the Occupied Territories. He has even suggested that there is no such
thing
as a "Palestinian people."
He wrote in one commentary: "In a word, the Palestinians do not qualify
for
the protections to be given to those under Israel's God-ordained
governance…those who promote a Palestinian state have placed themselves
in
alliance against God."
In a letter to Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Museum of Tolerance,
CAIR-LA
requested that the museum disassociate itself from such an intolerant
group.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush wrote:
"...[T]he bus tour will increase animosity and incite hatred against
the
American Muslim and Arab communities. Unfortunately, this often
translates
into hate crimes and hate incidents against innocent people.
"...Those intolerant views, widely rejected by even the most extremist
groups in Israel, serve to dehumanize and demonize all Palestinians and
all
Muslims...Such rhetoric poisons the atmosphere of cooperation and
reconciliation at a time when both parties, Israelis and Palestinians,
are
coming together to forge a better future.
"Given the troubling nature of the Jerusalem Connection, we call upon
the
Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, as a center dedicated to
tolerance and peace, refrain from giving legitimacy and support to such
a
hate-filled group and withdraw its moral and monetary support to the
Jerusalem Connection and all its activities."
In December of last year, CAIR-LA called on the Simon Wiesenthal Center
to
repudiate Islamophobic comments blaming the faith of Islam for terror
made
by a speaker at a conference sponsored by the center's Canadian branch.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/27/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL THINGS PRAISE GOD
* CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
* INCITEMENT WATCH: WHY ISLAM DOES NOT BELONG IN AMERICA
* SEX, MUSLIMS AND INTERROGATIONS (AP)
* WA: EEOC SUES COMPANY FOR ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS (SPI)
- NY: Hot 97 Suspends Crew over Tsunami 'Parody' (AP)
- UK Muslim Group Attacks TV Drama 24 (BBC)
* CA: ISLAM CONVERTS STAY THEIR PATHS (Daily Bruin)
* IN: ISLAMIC SCHOLARS SPEAKING AT UNIVERSITY FORUM (Post Trib)
- CA: Islamic Scholars Face Visa Issues (Daily Bruin)
- LA: Workshop Focuses on Muslim Culture (Times Picayune)
* ND: EID BRINGS MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER (Bismarck Trib)
- MD: Muslims Continue Lobbying Schools for Holidays Off
* FL: AL-ARIAN'S PRISON CONDITIONS DETERIORATE (TBCJP)
- NJ: Not Discounting Vendetta in Killings (JJ)
- Prostitute Used in Habib Torture (SMH)
* USAF PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE GAME OVER IRAN (UPI)
- Israel Refuses to Rule Out Attack on Iran (Independent)
* OCCUPATION TURNS IRAQIS AGAINST U.S. (Chic Trib)
- Anger Over Iraqi War Dead on Internet (Herald Sun)
- Kennedy Calls for U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq (Reuters)
------
VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL THINGS PRAISE GOD
"Do you not see that God is the one who is praised by all beings in the
heavens and on earth? Even the birds praise Him as they spread out
their
wings. Each (being) knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise."
The Holy Quran, 24:41
"(The) heavens, and the earth and all beings therein declare His glory.
There is not a (single) thing that does not celebrate His praise. And
yet
you do not understand how they declare His glory."
The Holy Quran, 17:44
-----
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest
American Muslim civil liberties organization, is seeking a full-time
civil
rights staff attorney in Washington DC.
The ideal candidate is a licensed attorney who has background and
experience in the fields of civil rights, immigration, constitutional
and
employment law. Working knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(especially Title VII) and other constitutionally protected activities
is
required.
Qualifications: Law degree from an ABA accredited school required.
Licensed
to practice law (Virginia, Maryland and DC highly preferred). 1-2 years
experience in the area of civil rights/employment/immigration law
highly
recommended. Good interpersonal, communication skills and a team
player.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
CONTACT: Resume and cover letter including salary history by February
18 to:
Arsalan Iftikhar
National Legal Director
CAIR
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
Fax (202) 488-0833
arsalan@cair-net.org
CAIR is an EOE employer. No phone calls please.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: WHY ISLAM DOES NOT BELONG IN AMERICA
Worldnetdaily.com, 1/27/05
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42585
The concept of culture seems to have eluded the political left in
America.
By this I don't mean good music, art and cinema - although a quick
glance
at what passes for entertainment today certainly reinforces such a
judgment. I mean culture in the wider sense, for it is culture that
underlies and therefore determines the values and manner in which the
majority of people in a nation live their daily lives.
The culture of the Western world grew out of Christian values. Among
these
are the immense value and significance of each human life, as
demonstrated
by God's willingness to sacrifice his own son, Jesus, rather than
destroy
humanity because it had failed to meet His standards. Another is the
concept of human equality: Our differences shrink to insignificance
when
confronted with the glory, power, holiness and majesty of God. Thus
with
the widespread growth of Christianity, earthly kings suddenly found
themselves accountable to God for the governing decisions they made.
"Lex
Rex" turned the world on its head, and ultimately helped give birth to
America.
Today, there is another culture vying for America's attention. The
values
underlying this culture are watered from the deep springs of Islam. We
see
it expressed in "honor killings," forced religious conversions, women
held
as property and the slaughter of noncombatants to generate a day's
headlines...
-----
SEX, MUSLIMS AND INTERROGATIONS
Paisley Dodds, Associated Press, 1/27/04
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/27/national/main669845.shtml
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Female interrogators tried to break Muslim
detainees at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay by touching them
sexually, wearing skimpy clothing such as a miniskirt and thong
underwear
and in one case smearing a Saudi man's face with fake menstrual blood,
according to an insider's written account…
"His female interrogator decided that she needed to turn up the heat,"
Saar
writes, saying she repeatedly asked the detainee who had sent him to
Arizona, telling him he could "cooperate" or "have no hope whatsoever
of
ever leaving this place or talking to a lawyer."'
The man closed his eyes and began to pray, Saar writes.
The female interrogator wanted to "break him," Saar adds, describing
how
she removed her uniform top to expose a tight-fitting T-shirt and began
taunting the detainee, touching her breasts, rubbing them against the
prisoner's back and commenting on his apparent erection.
The detainee looked up and spat in her face, the manuscript recounts.
The interrogator left the room to ask a Muslim linguist how she could
break
the prisoner's reliance on God. The linguist told her to tell the
detainee
that she was menstruating, touch him, then make sure to turn off the
water
in his cell so he couldn't wash...
"She then wiped the red ink on his face. He shouted at the top of his
lungs, spat at her and lunged forward" -- so fiercely that he broke
loose
from one ankle shackle.
"He began to cry like a baby," the draft says, noting the interrogator
left
saying, "Have a fun night in your cell without any water to clean
yourself..."
-----
OBERTO SAUSAGE SUED FOR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/26/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/209457_oberto26.html
A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against Oberto Sausage Co. of
Seattle
accusing it of religious discrimination.
The suit, brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
alleges
that Oberto failed to accommodate the religious needs of six employees,
as
required by federal law, and then illegally fired them.
The employees involved, who are Somali and speak limited English,
worked on
an assembly line at Oberto, a maker of sausage and jerky. They are
devout
Muslims who do not eat or drink anything during the daylight hours of
the
holy month of Ramadan. This daily fast is broken at sunset, with a sip
of
water and short prayer.
The Muslim employees at Oberto expressed concern, through an
interpreter,
about needing to take a few minutes to break their daily Ramadan fast.
They
offered to take time for the break from their usual breaks earlier in
the
day, or to have the breaks deducted from their pay. The EEOC says
Oberto
rejected these suggestions.
The suit, filed Jan. 5 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, charges that
when
the employees proceeded to take the short breaks despite the employer's
position, they were fired…
ALSO SEE:
HOT 97 SUSPENDS MORNING CREW OVER TSUNAMI 'PARODY'
Larry McShane, Associated Press, 1/26/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ny--tsunami-radiosusp0126jan26,0,153199.story
NEW YORK -- The host of a New York morning radio show and the rest of
her
on-air crew were suspended indefinitely Wednesday for airing a
tasteless
song parody that mocked victims of the catastrophic south Asia tsunami.
"What happened is morally and socially indefensible," said Rick
Cummings,
president of Emmis Radio, in announcing the disciplinary action. "All
involved, myself included, are ashamed and deeply sorry. I know the
members
of the morning team are contrite. They know their actions here are
inexcusable."
The song, a parody of the charity single "We Are the World," aired last
Friday on Emmis station WQHT-FM, known locally as Hot 97. The station
was
subsequently flooded with thousands of angry phone calls demanding the
firing of morning show host Tarsha Jones, known on air as Miss Jones.
The DJ offered an on-air apology, and the station initially announced
that
she and a half-dozen other members of the morning team would donate a
week's salary to tsunami relief. The station, in a statement posted on
its
Web site, said management later decided "stronger action was necessary
to
demonstrate the severity of the situation."
The song included references to "screaming chinks" and orphaned
children
"sold into child slavery." The chorus began, "So now you're screwed,
it's a
tsunami, you'd better run ... go find your mommy."
The decision to suspend the DJ and her crew was immediately hailed by
groups upset over the song.
"I think this is definitely a step in the right direction," said
Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations. "The egregious nature of this offense mandated something
beyond
a week's pay…"
---
MUSLIM GROUP ATTACKS TV DRAMA 24
BBC, 1/25/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4210299.stm
Kiefer Sutherland plays a counter-terrorism agent in the hit series
A British Muslim group has criticised the new series of US drama 24,
which
is about to be aired on Sky One, claiming it portrays Islam unfairly.
The Muslim Council of Britain has complained to broadcasting watchdog
Ofcom. It says the programme breaches editorial guidelines.
The group's members met with Sky executives on Tuesday after viewing
previews of the first five episodes.
The drama, now in its fourth series, begins on Sunday evening.
The new series portrays a Muslim family as a sleeper terrorist cell.
The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement: "We are greatly
concerned by the unremittingly hostile and unbalanced portrayal of
Muslims
in this series of 24 based upon a preview of the first five episodes
that
we have seen."
"There is not a single positive Muslim character in the storyline to
date.
At a time when negative stereotypes of Muslims are on the increase we
feel
that Sky - as a major UK broadcaster - has a responsibility to
challenge
these insidious views, not help to reinforce them."
But Sky denied the programme breached broadcasting guidelines.
A spokesperson said: "During a useful meeting yesterday, Sky listened
to
the concerns raised by representatives of the council. Sky does not
believe
that the episodes that it has reviewed to date breach Ofcom's programme
code."
Fox TV, which shows the series in the US, is broadcasting public
service
announcements showing Muslims in a positive light after complaints
about
the series.
-----
ISLAM CONVERTS STAY THEIR PATHS DESPITE HARDSHIPS
Sara Taylor, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31695
Thirty-five years ago, at age 12, Reymund Nur converted to Islam while
still living in his parents' Methodist household.
Five years ago, Boni Bee was a young Hindu woman seeking clarity and
purpose in her life.
Last spring, Leilani Downing was reading the Christian Bible and
looking
for meaning in Christianity, her birth religion.
Today, all three are Muslims and live their lives according to the laws
of
Islam.
A common stereotype is that of the Arab Muslim, when in reality Islam
draws
from many different ethnicities.
"The majority of people feel that all Muslims are Arab, but in reality
only
a small percent - 15 percent - are of Arab descent," said Faryah
Humkar, a
member of the UCLA Muslim Student Association.
The Muslim population, she added, includes people from many different
backgrounds and ethnicities…
-----
TWO ISLAMIC SCHOLARS SPEAKING AT VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY FORUM
Post-Tribune, 1/25/05
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/01-27-05_z1_news_20.html
VALPARAISO - Young Muslims worldwide are being drawn to radical
movements
within the religion, leading some of them to violent actions.
Understanding this shift and outlining ways to change it will be the
focus
of a session tonight at Valparaiso University featuring two of the
world's
leading Islamic scholars.
"For a long time, no one was aware of fundamentalism in Islam," said
Nelly
Van Doorn-Harder, associate professor of theology at VU.
"But we know today that we need to understand why some young Muslims
feel
attracted to this radicalism and what can be done to change that
mindset."
She helped arrange the lecture that will feature A. Rashied Omar and
Johannes Jansen…
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC SCHOLARS FACE VISA ISSUES
Officials say troubles encountered by visiting professors not common at
UCLA
Jennifer Mishory, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31662
Scholars traveling to UCLA from the Islamic world have faced few
problems
since Sept. 11, 2001. But others within the Islamic studies community
maintain that obtaining visas for Islamic scholars has become more
difficult in recent years.
Amy Newhall, executive director of the Middle East Studies Association,
a
national organization, recalls three scholars invited to the
association's
annual conference who were not able to obtain visas.
"One scholar from the West Bank (who) had been here many times before
...
was denied a visa," Newhall said.
The Iranian Studies Association is having similar troubles, Newhall
said.
"They had invited about 30 scholars from Iran, and only three of those
30
got visas."
In a recent case, a professor who was supposed to be teaching a class
on
Arab calligraphy has had his visa delayed for a month. The embassy had
him
come back every week. He showed up Tuesday only to find that his visa
had
not been stamped due to confusion regarding his last name, Newhall
said.
The scholars are not told why they are denied a visa, which can "cause
bad
will," she said.
While maintaining that "the free exchange of ideas has been
tremendously
affected," Newhall acknowledges the care with which the consulates must
treat each case.
"(Scholars) must meet the same requirements as any other visa
applicant,"
said Department of State spokesman Lou Fintor...
---
WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON MUSLIM CULTURE
Session designed to aid understanding
Rob Nelson, Times-Picayune, 1/27/05
http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1106810079144150.xml?nola
If a Muslim or Arab family is slow to respond to a note sent home by a
school or is running late for a teacher conference, school officials
should
not feel snubbed but should understand the cultural influences behind
that
behavior.
That's been the message delivered this week to about 250 Jefferson
Parish
public school teachers and administrators as part of a four-day
workshop
designed to help them work better with Muslim and Arab families in the
school system.
The seminar, which comes after an incident last year in which a teacher
was
accused of using religious slurs against a Muslim high school student,
focused not only on religious tenets but also on the geographical and
cultural aspects of Muslim life.
"I want them to be able to better understand their Arab and Muslim
students
and their families," said Audrey Sabbas, a nationally known speaker on
Middle Eastern culture who ran the workshop Wednesday for about 50
teachers
and principals.
Sabbas, who is married to an Arab man and converted to Islam decades
ago,
discussed a list of values that guide Muslim life, including
family-based
support systems, a need to build trust with those with whom they work
and a
strong respect for authorities, especially educators and doctors.
Those values can affect practical, everyday matters, Sabbas said.
Because Muslims like to build trust, verbal communication tends to get
better results than written documents, she said. Correspondence sent
home
by schools is the "least effective" way to communicate as opposed to a
phone call or visit, Sabbas said.
"They want to develop a sense of you before getting down to business,"
she
said.
-----
ISLAMIC HOLIDAY BRINGS MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Karen Herzog, Bismarck Tribune, 1/27/05
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2005/01/27/news/life/lif01.txt
The place of prayer is not what is important, it's the unity of the
community, said Dr. Narim Koleilat of Bismarck.
Though the Muslim community here is not yet big enough to have its own
worship space, about 40 men, women and children, taking a hour or so
out of
their day, gathered Friday in Bismarck's World War Memorial Building
gymnasium as Koleilat led prayers and lessons marking the festival
called
Eid al-Adha, one of two primary Muslim holidays during the year, the
other
being Ramadan. Regular Friday prayers are held in the chapel at St.
Alexius
Medical Center, he said.
Eid al-Adha, called the Feast of Sacrifice, is the culmination of the
time
of Hajj, when Muslims from all over the world make a pilgrimage to
Mecca.
The symbol of that gathering is equality, said Abdullah Ali, of Mandan,
who
with his family was among the first Muslim families in the community,
arriving almost 30 years ago from Kurdistan.
Pilgrims on Hajj, gathered together at the birthplace of Islam, all
wear
the same white garment. No one can tell who you are, rich or poor, man
or
woman, "all meet in the world as one family," Ali said.
The Muslims here also are from diverse ethnic and national groups,
Koleilat
said, from Jordan to Pakistan to Kurdistan to Kosovo to Palestine, and
are
establishing themselves as a community.
It's hard to put a number to the community, Ali said, because medical
professionals, who make up a good share of Muslims here, move in and
out.
But religious occasions will bring anywhere from 40, Ali said, to 60 or
70,
Koleilat said.
But the community has grown noticeably in the past five or six years,
Ali
said. When he and his family arrived, they were almost the only Muslim
people here.
This community has been welcoming for the most part, Koleilat said,
aside
from the occasional comment that women wearing the hijab -- scarf --
may
hear at the mall…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS CONTINUE LOBBYING SCHOOLS FOR HOLIDAYS OFF
Jennifer Przydzial, 1/26/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=659&NewsID=606122&CategoryID=1840&show=localnews&om=1
For the last year, Baltimore County Muslims have been lobbying the
school
board to close schools on two important Islamic holidays.
"For the 40 years I have been here, I have been celebrating Christmas
with
my friends," said Sanaullah Kirmani at the Dec. 21 school board
meeting.
"I want my boys' friends to celebrate with us," said Kirmani, whose two
sons attend Towson High School.
On Jan. 21, Muslims celebrated Eid ul-Adha, which commemorates
Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The day is spent in prayer and
in
the evening Muslims celebrate with family and friends sharing a meal.
Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr, which occurs in late fall, are the two
most
important holidays for Muslims.
The Baltimore County Muslim Council wants those days designated as
holidays
on the school calendar, just as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are.
Bash Pharoan, the council president, said that the current school
calendar
sends a message that only Christian and Jewish holidays are acceptable.
"If you give a holiday to an ethic group, you must give that right to
all
other groups," Pharoan told the board. "We ask you to treat us
equally…"
-----
DR. AL-ARIAN'S PRISON CONDITIONS DETERIORATE
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 1/26/05
The punitive prison conditions at Coleman Federal Penitentiary have
deteriorated drastically over the past month, since Dr. Sami Al-Arian's
return from a brief stay at the local Orient Road Jail in Tampa, where
he
was able to attend hearings, examine evidence, and have regular visits
and
telephone calls with attorneys and family.
As it is, the conditions at Coleman deny Dr. Al-Arian regular access to
attorneys, give him limited family visits, and almost no medical
attention,
as he is confined to a tiny cell for 23 hours a day.
Last week, however, Coleman officials announced a lockdown of the
prison
�the second one in a month. During this period, usually caused by a
disturbance among inmates, the entire prison is shut down and closed
off to
visitors. In the Special Housing Unit where Dr. Al-Arian is confined
(and
is permanently in a quasi-lockdown state), the 23 hour solitary
confinement
is extended to 24 hours, denying him his one hour of recreation, and
forcing him to spend as long as ten days without leaving his cell.
Moreover, in the last 46 days, Dr. Al-Arian, who is a diabetic, has
only
had his condition checked two times. By contrast, when he is at Orient
Road
Jail, his health is checked twice per day. The lockdown also means that
laundry service is suspended and therefore inmates are not given a
change
of garments for the duration of this period.
Regular food service is also interrupted, and prisoners are
consequently
denied any fresh or cooked food. This presents an added hardship on Dr.
Al-Arian, since he is the only person denied access to the commissary,
where he can supplement his diet by purchasing food items not readily
available. The prison has never given any justification for these
excessively punitive measures, and the singling out of Dr. Al-Arian,
who as
it happens, is the sole detainee still awaiting his trial at the
facility. This treatment suggests that not only has he been denied any
presumption of innocence, but that he is somehow even more deserving of
punishment than anyone else at the prison...
CONTACT: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com
ALSO SEE:
NOT DISCOUNTING VENDETTA IN PROBE OF FAMILY'S KILLINGS
Michelangelo Conte, Jersey Journal, 1/26/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1106734287245610.xml
The possibility of a vendetta with roots in Egypt is among many
possible
motives in the slaying of a Coptic Christian family of four in their
Jersey
City home, officials said.
"Could it be a vendetta? Yes," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio
said
of the family, who moved to the United States from Luxor, Egypt, in
1997.
"Are we looking into that? Yes."
But DeFazio said city, county and federal investigators are looking
into a
number of possible motives for the Jan. 11 killing of Hossam Armanious,
47,
his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their two daughters, Sylvia Armanious,
16,
and Monica Armanious, 9.
They were bound, gagged, and had bled to death from multiple stab
wounds,
including wounds to their throats, before they were found two days
later,
DeFazio said.
Although the family was robbed of cash during the killings, jewelry was
not
taken and investigators say they do not know the primary motive for the
murders. The FBI and the federal office of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement are assisting in the investigation, DeFazio said.
"Based on what we found at the scene, we think there was more to it,"
he said.
Some family friends say they believe the deaths were related to a
threat
Hossam Armanious received after making an anti-Islam comment in an
Internet
chat room he administered on the PalTalk Web site.
But DeFazio said religious items in the victims' home were not
desecrated,
there was no mutilation of the bodies, and that no religious message
was
left at the scene.
"We have more work to do, including on the computer angle, the
financial
profile and history of the family, including any information on the
family
or associated people in Egypt. All of that is being done, but it's
taking
time."
Hossam Armanious worked as a banquet waiter at a Westin Hotel in
Princeton,
Amal Garas worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Kearny as a mail
handler,
Sylvia attended Dickinson High School and Monica went to School 6.
Yesterday, people continued to visit a shrine in front of the family's
Oakland Avenue home near St. Paul's Avenue, and an investigator again
visited the home, leaving with an armful of manila envelopes.
---
PROSTITUTE USED IN HABIB TORTURE: LAWYER
Tamara McLean, Sydney Morning Herald, 1/27/05
http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/26/1106415668003.html?oneclick=true
Mamdouh Habib was the victim of atrocities fit for a concentration
camp,
including being tied to the ground while a prostitute menstruated on
him,
his lawyer said yesterday.
Interrogators at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay had also told the
Sydney man they had killed his family and superimposed animal heads on
photos of his wife and children, Steven Hopper said.
At an Australia Day forum in Sydney, Mr Hopper gave more details of
atrocities allegedly endured by his client while held at the US base in
Cuba.
The Federal Government said it was aware of similar allegations of
torture
made by former British detainees at Guantanamo Bay but it was the first
time the Government had heard the claims involving Mr Habib.
Mr Habib is due back in Sydney within a fortnight after the US said it
would release him without charge despite holding him for more than
three
years on suspicion he knew about the September 11 attacks and had
trained
with al-Qaeda.
Mr Hopper said yesterday: "The Americans used prostitutes as tools in
their
interrogations. They'd say to detainees 'If you co-operate with us,
we'll
let you at this woman for the night'. And if they wouldn't agree they'd
use
them in other ways."
He said detainees held at the base with Mr Habib reported that a
prostitute
was told to stand over him and menstruate on him.
"[We believe] one of the prostitutes stood over him naked while he was
strapped to the floor and menstruated on him," he said.
Mr Hopper said officials at the base also defaced photos of Mr Habib's
wife, Maha, and their four children.
"The Americans in their wisdom have taken the heads off the pictures,
enlarged them and superimposed them with the heads of animals and then
strung them up all over the walls of the interrogation room," he said…
-----
USAF PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE GAME OVER IRAN
Richard Sale, UPI, 1/26/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050126-045615-4690r
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Air Force is playing a dangerous game of cat and
mouse
with Iran's ayatollahs, flying American combat aircraft into Iranian
airspace in an attempt to lure Tehran into turning on air defense
radars,
thus allowing U.S. pilots to grid the system for use in future
targeting
data, administration officials said.
"We have to know which targets to attack and how to attack them," said
one,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
The flights, which have been going on for weeks, are being launched
from
sites in Afghanistan and Iraq and are part of Bush administration
attempts
collect badly needed intelligence on Iran's possible nuclear weapons
development sites, these sources said, speaking on condition of strict
anonymity.
"These Iranian air defense positions are not just being observed,
they're
being 'templated,'" an administration official said, explaining that
the
flights are part of a U.S. effort to develop "an electronic order of
battle
for Iran" in case of actual conflict.
In the event of an actual clash, Iran's air defense radars would be
targeted for destruction by air-fired U.S. anti-radiation or ARM
missiles,
he said.
A serving U.S. intelligence official added: "You need to know what
proportion of your initial air strikes are going to have to be devoted
to
air defense suppression."
A CentCom official told United Press International that in the event of
a
real military strikes, U.S. military forces would be using jamming,
deception, and physical attack of Iran's sensors and its Command,
Control
and Intelligence (C3 systems)….
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL REFUSES TO RULE OUT ATTACK ON IRAN
Anne Penketh, Independent, 1/27/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=604945
Israel's Defence Minister refused to rule out a pre-empt-ive strike on
Iran
yesterday, claiming that Tehran was "close to a point of no return" on
its
suspected development of a nuclear weapon.
At a meeting with journalists in London, Shaul Mofaz did little to
dispel
the sense of unease caused by comments last week by the US
Vice-President,
Dick Cheney, who suggested Israel might "decide to act first" to end
Iran's
nuclear threat.
Mr Mofaz said: "I believe that none of the Western countries can live
with
Iran having a nuclear capability - not the US, not the European
countries
and nor other countries."
But he stressed that the "first step" should be through diplomatic
channels
to resolve the standoff with Iran, suspected by the US and Israel of
using
its civilian programme as a cover for weapons development.
"The way to stop Iran is by the leadership of the US, supported by
European
countries and taking this issue to the UN, and using the diplomatic
channel
with sanctions as a tool and a very deep inspection regime and full
transparency."
Asked what Israel would do if diplomatic channels failed, Mr Mofaz went
on:
"The US is a strong power that can stop any kind of nuclear programme,
especially in the hands of an extreme regime."
The Israeli minister left no doubt, however, he was sceptical about the
outcome of negotiations with the Iranian government, which he said had
been
"buying time" through talks with Britain, France and Germany.
He warned that Tehran was "less than a year" from enriching uranium,
which
he described as the "point of no return" towards making a nuclear
weapon.
He echoed comments by the Mossad intelligence agency, which said that
Iran
could have developed a nuclear bomb in three years, a statement
dismissed
by Iran as baseless. Mr Mofaz rejected Iranian assertions that it was
working on a peaceful civilian programme, saying that there was "no
goal by
the Iranian side for a civilian programme. Their goal is to achieve a
military programme".
Pressure on Iran has been increasing recently in the form of aggressive
statements from the Bush administration, branding the Tehran regime an
"outpost of tyranny". Mr Cheney said Iran's nuclear programme put it at
the
"top of the list" of global issues…
-----
REPORTER WATCHES OPTIMISM DRY UP AS OCCUPATION TURNS IRAQIS AGAINST
U.S.
Evan Osnos, Chicago Tribune, 1/26/05
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/world/10737882.htm
BAGHDAD, Iraq - (KRT) - Santa Claus lumbered into the chow-hall tent in
combat boots and a faux belly. He ho-ho-hoed through rows of plastic
tables, leaning to sniff trays of colorless Christmas turkey and doing
his
best to divert attention from the fact that he and thousands of other
young
men and women around him in the sterile desert of northern Kuwait would
soon be going to war.
But other than the setting, Christmas Day 2002 - three months before
the
U.S. invaded Iraq - was anything but bleak. The soldiers radiated
confidence. The Kuwaiti badlands were alive with energy, a growing
sliver
of America fed by adrenaline and optimism. They were there to wage war
in
the name of American-financed freedom. For all those I met on that
cold,
clear evening, the sacrifices so far seemed a small price to pay to be
part
of history.
My mind returns to that night whenever I stop to take stock of all that
has
happened in the last two years, all that has been won and lost. In
Baghdad
this winter, finishing my last month in Iraq for a while, I can't help
but
be most aware of the losses - how little of America's painful encounter
with Iraq has matched the expectations from that heady Christmas in the
desert, how little remains of the hope we had for that country and it
had
of us.
Memory is marked less by the public calendar - the day the Saddam
statue
fell, say, or the official return to sovereignty - than by a more
private
timeline, the moments of insight and elation and despair.
This is not a story about policy, about what went right and what went
wrong. This is a story about what it feels like to watch a nation and a
people in turmoil. It is written in moments no weightier than a wisp of
conversation or an expression on a face.
Days after Baghdad fell, I headed south from the capital, still clad in
grimy clothes from weeks embedded with the Marines. I squeezed into a
small
dented sedan with another reporter and an Iraqi translator and driver.
We
were looking for stories, but mostly just absorbing the images of a
city
pillaging itself. Boys waved gleefully at U.S. tanks and armored
vehicles,
while pushing carts overloaded with computers and copper wiring and
whatever else they could strip from unguarded buildings.
On the capital's dusty edge, we turned onto a narrow dirt road. I had
been
here a week earlier, I realized. I had bumped along in a Marine troop
carrier, winding among the charred hulks of Iraqi army vehicles still
smoldering from a brutal fight. The Marines swerved to avoid the body
of a
dead Iraqi in the road, but gave up swerving after the first one. A
week
later, the road was clear and quiet…
ALSO SEE:
ANGER OVER IRAQI WAR DEAD ON INTERNET
Mark Dunn, Herald Sun, 1/27/05
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12059792%255E663,00.html
THE US Defence Department has been asked to investigate a website being
used by American soldiers to post grisly pictures of Iraqi war dead.
The site, which has been operating for more than a year, describes
itself
as "an online archive of soldiers' photos".
Dozens of pictures of decapitated and limbless bodies are featured on
the
site with tasteless captions, purportedly sent in by soldiers.
Captions include "plastic surgery needed", "road kill" and "I said
dead".
Australian expat Iraqis, most of whom supported the overthrow of Saddam
Hussein, have been angered by the website and called on the US
government
to ensure it was taken down.
US President George Bush in 2003 demanded the Iraqi military not
release
photographs of US war prisoners for publication and the Pentagon has
banned
publication of pictures of coffins containing US war dead being
transported
back to America.
Australian Iraqi Forum president Dr Riadh al-Mahaidi said: "It is
abhorrent
to see gruesome pictures of dead bodies in Iraq posted on this
offending
website.
"It is no less cruel and sickening than web postings by terrorist
groups of
decapitated bodies of kidnapped victims."
---
KENNEDY CALLS FOR U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
Vicki Allen, Reuters, 1/27/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States should start to
withdraw
militarily and politically from Iraq and aim to pull out all troops as
early as possible next year, Sen. Edward Kennedy said on Thursday.
After Sunday's Iraqi elections, Kennedy said President George W. Bush
should state he intends to negotiate a timetable with the new Iraqi
government to draw down U.S. forces.
At least 12,000 U.S. troops should leave at once, Kennedy said, "to
send a
stronger signal about our intentions to ease the pervasive sense of
occupation."
The Massachusetts Democrat, who opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq,
became
the first senator to lay out a plan for Bush to start withdrawing
troops a
day after the Pentagon warned lawmakers that strikes by insurgents may
increase after Sunday's elections.
Besides ending its military presence, Kennedy said the United States
must
stop making political decisions in Iraq and turn over full authority to
the
United Nations to help Baghdad set up a new government.
He said an international meeting led by the United Nations and Iraq
should
be convened immediately in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East to
start
that process.
"We now have no choice but to make the best we can of the disaster we
have
created in Iraq," Kennedy in a speech to the Johns Hopkins School of
Advanced International Studies. "The current course is only making the
crisis worse…"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/28/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS
- Hadith of the Day: Be Humble
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FORUM
- CAIR-CAN: Storming the Harvard Bastion (G&M)
- CAIR-CA: Marghoob Quraishi (1931-2005)
* CO: PROF WHO DEFENDED MUSLIM AWARDED $1.54 MILLION (AP)
* SECRET HEARINGS AT GITMO PRISON CAMP (AP)
* ISLAM AND AMERICA, THREE YEARS AFTER 9/11 (Beliefnet)
- KS: Stereotypes of Arranged Marriages (Kansan)
- NY: Arab-American Bank Accounts Closed (Buffalo News)
* DANIEL PIPES' APPEARANCE SPARKS DEBATE (Dartmouth)
* TX: SLAUGHTER WAS RELIGIOUS CEREMONY (Amarillo Globe)
- IL: Muslims to Deliver Meat to Food Depository
- TX: Market Caters To Muslims during Holiday (Star-Tel)
* MI: SCHOOLS SEEK MORE ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS (Free Press)
* TN: THIS IS KURD COUNTRY (AJC)
* TX: IRAQI DEATHS IGNORED (Houston Chronicle)
- Veterans Paint Grim Picture of War's Toll (Sun-Times)
* ISLAM THE KEY TO SOOTHING TSUNAMI (Reuters)
- Cat Stevens Hosts Indonesia Fundraiser (BBC)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS
"Say (O Muhammad): 'O mankind! The truth has come to you from your
Lord.
Those who receive guidance do so for the good of their own souls. Those
who
stray do so to their own loss. For I am not a custodian over you.'"
The Holy Quran, 10:108
HADITH OF THE DAY: BE HUMBLE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God has revealed to me
that
you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another or boasts over
another."
Sunan 0f Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2294
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FORUM
WHEN: Friday, February 18 from 7 to 10 pm (registration begins at 6 pm)
and
Saturday, February 10 from 9 am to 1 pm, and 2 to 5 pm (Registration
begins
at 8 am)
WHERE: Texas A & M University Corpus Christi
Classroom Instruction Building (CI)
WHAT: Texas A & M University Corpus Christi College of Arts and
Humanities
in conjunction with South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice Corpus
Christi TIKKUN Community, Texans for Peace, and Texas Veterans for
Peace
will be hosting an interfaith community forum on issues of peace and
reconciliation in the Middle East. Keynote Address will be given Friday
by
Marc H. Ellis, Center for American and Jewish Studies, Baylor
University.
Featured speakers also include Sarwat Husain, Council on
American/Islamic
Relations and Carolyn Schneider, Texas Lutheran University.
For more information, email: peace@stpeace.org or visit
www.stpeace.org.
Tuition will be $10, students are free
-----
STORMING THE HARVARD BASTION
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 1/28/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050128/COSHEEMA28/TPComment/TopStories
[Sheema Khan is the chair of Council on American-Islamic Relations-
Canada
(CAIR-CAN). E-Mail: canada@cair-net.org URL: www.caircan.ca]
The recent comments by Harvard president Lawrence Summers about
"innate"
gender differences in the mathematical sciences may have caused
outrage,
but they weren't all that surprising. Like golf, Harvard and the "hard"
sciences have been the bastion of men for quite some time. It is only
in
the past few decades that women have significantly entered into a zone
previously considered forbidden.
I entered Harvard graduate school in 1983 to pursue a PhD in chemical
physics. At the time, only a handful of female students formed the
incoming
class of about 25. The only female faculty member in chemistry was an
assistant professor. Rumour had it that one big-name prof in organic
chemistry refused to take any female graduate students. In my six years
there, his research group remained an exclusive men's club. He later
went
on to win a Nobel Prize.
One of my classmates was a whiz, entering Harvard at 20 and leaving
with a
PhD at 24. She was also an exceptional seamstress and baseball player.
I
wonder where she would fit into Dr. Summers's view of the world.
We never felt inferior -- or superior -- to our male counterparts. We
just
loved science. Somewhere along the line, we had been inspired to pursue
our
dreams, and given the opportunity to do so. And to use our God-given
inquisitiveness to explore the wonders of creation. The naysayers only
served to strengthen our resolve to seek knowledge...
In my case, the criticism also came from a few men of the Harvard
Islamic
Society. "A good Muslim woman," one male PhD candidate told me,
"shouldn't
study for a PhD." He also occasionally gave the Friday sermon. As the
only
woman in attendance for a number of years, I would hear, on one hand,
how
Islam honoured women and, on the other, how we were created inferior to
men.
At one point, I thought that, if my religion relegated me to
second-class
status as a human being by virtue of the way I was created, then I
wanted
no part of such an unjust view. Inherently, I knew God was just. After
much
soul-searching and reading, I came to realize that the chauvinistic
views
held by some Muslims were in direct conflict with the teachings of
Islam
and the example of the first generation of Muslims, considered as the
best…
---
CAIR-CA: MARGHOOB AHMAD QURAISHI (1931-2005)
(SANTA CLARA, CA, 1/28/05) - The Northern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations today offered condolences on the passing
of
well-known community activist and leader Marghoob Quraishi, who died on
Wednesday, January 26.
Marghoob Quraishi was born in India and moved to Pakistan soon after
the
partition of the subcontinent. After obtaining his undergraduate degree
from Pakistan, he came to California in 1960, via London and Montreal,
for
his graduate studies in business and finance at Stanford University. He
started his own firm in the area of business and financial consulting.
Mr. Quraishi's social activism dated back to his college days. His
prime
concern was social issues facing the Muslim world in general and the
American Muslim community in particular. Over the past 45 years, he was
involved in founding and organizing a host of American Muslim
institutions
throughout the US, especially in California. He was one of the founders
of
the Muslim Students Association, the United Muslims of America
organization
and the Muslim Student Network internship program in Washington, DC. In
addition, he founded the summer Muslim Youth Camp and the Islamic
School at
Stanford, both of which have been in operation for the last 40 years.
He
established and was the Executive Director of the Strategic Research
Foundation, a major Muslim think tank. He edited Muslim journals,
Al-Manar
and Geopolitic Reviews.
Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Quraishi was an exemplary and
self-effacing
pioneer of the American Muslim community. He is survived by his wife,
Renae
Iffat Quraishi, who has been an active equal partner, three daughters,
one
son, and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 29th, 2005 at Zuhr
time
at the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara.
CAIR - Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area)
3000 Scott Blvd. Ste. 104
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Main Telephone: 408-986-9874
Fax Number: 408-986-9875
E-Mail: nocal@cair.com
Website: http://www.cair-california.org
-----
CU AGREES TO PAY FIRED PROFESSOR $1.54 MILLION
Associated Press, 1/28/05
http://www.casperstartribune.net/apdata/wire_detail.php?wire_num=193360
The University of Colorado has paid a psychiatrist $1.54 million to
settle
his claim that he was wrongly fired.
The settlement with Dr. Gordon Neligh includes a $300,000 he won from a
federal jury after filing a civil suit, along with back pay, missed
future
pay and other components.
The settlement was finalized last week.
Neligh filed the lawsuit after the CU Health Sciences Center in Denver
declined to renew his annual contract in 1998. He claimed it was
retaliation because he stood up for his administrative assistant, a
Muslim
woman, when she was harassed by her peers.
CU contended it was a work performance issue.
A jury awarded Neligh $600,000 in 2003, but U.S. District Judge Wiley
Daniel reduced the amount to $300,000, the maximum allowed by federal
law.
-----
GUANTANAMO HOLDS SECRET HEARINGS AT U.S. PRISON CAMP AS MORE
ALLEGATIONS OF
MISTREATMENT SURFACE
Associated Press, 1/28/05
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Secretive proceedings aimed at determining
whether terror suspects at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay pose
a
threat or hold valuable intelligence are continuing without media
access,
prompting fresh criticism of the camp after an insider described how
female
interrogators used sexual innuendo to break Muslim prisoners.
With two more hearings scheduled for Friday, the Administrative Review
Boards started more than two months ago to decide whether detainees
still
pose a threat to the United States or have intelligence value. Those
that
don't meet either criteria could be freed.
The military has acknowledged holding 16 hearings - with six prisoners
refusing to attend - but no other information is being provided and
journalists have been barred.
``The policy is under review,'' said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Daryl Borgquist, a
Pentagon spokesman.
The secrecy has drawn fresh criticism from rights organizations who say
the
545 detainees from more than 40 countries at the U.S. outpost in Cuba
are
being put through a process that is neither just nor transparent. Many
of
the prisoners have been held for more than three years without charge,
access to attorneys or contact with the outside world.
Abuse allegations have also raised questions about the detention
mission,
the latest coming from a former Army linguist who detailed how the U.S.
military used women as part of tougher physical and psychological
interrogation tactics to get Muslim prisoners to talk.
In one case, a female interrogator rubbed up against a Muslim detainee
and
smeared his face with fake menstrual blood, trying to capitalize on
strict
interpretation of Islamic law that forbids physical contact with women
on
their periods, former Army Sgt. Erik R. Saar, 29, wrote in a draft
manuscript, portions of which were obtained by The Associated Press.
``The situation with the hearings and the torture reflects very badly
on
the image of the United States and only serves to further the
perception
among Muslims in the world that somehow America is targeting Islam and
targeting Muslims,'' said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
``When religious sensitivities are used to break down prisoners, all
people
of faith, whether they are Muslim or Christian or Jewish should be
concerned…''
-----
ISLAM AND AMERICA, THREE YEARS AFTER 9/11
Laura Sheahen, Beliefnet.com, 1/28/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/159/story_15999_1.html
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is the Imam of Masjid al-Farah in New York City
and
the founder of the American Sufi Muslim Association. A popular
interfaith
speaker, he teaches Islam and Sufism at the Center for Religious
Inquiry at
St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan and at the New York Seminary. He
spoke with Beliefnet recently about his book "What's Right with Islam:
A
New Vision for Muslims and the West."
The name of your book is "What's Right with Islam," and sections of it
address "What's Right with America." What is right with both?
What's right with Islam is what's right with America, in the sense that
the
fundamental ideals of Islam, the idea of what the right society should
be,
are very similar to what the American idea of what the ideal society
should
be, as expressed in our founding documents.
When Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments, he said "love
God
with all your heart" and, co-equal to that, "love thy neighbor."
Islamic jurors basically expanded it. They said all the law--how God
wants
us to live--is to protect and further five fundamental human rights:
the
right to life, freedom of religion, family, property, and mental
wellbeing.
What I do in the book is map that to the American Declaration of
Independence.
It's interesting that you call America a sharia-compliant state.
It really means there's a religious commandment to build the right
society,
to have a sense of social justice and a social safety net, to have laws
that take care of human beings, that aren't prejudiced against people.
You say that, contrary to what some non-Muslim Americans believe about
Muslim countries, such societies can be religious and yet respect other
religions and not be dominated by one religion...
ALSO SEE:
KU STUDENTS DISPEL THE STEREOTYPES OF ARRANGED MARRIAGES
Samara Nazir, Kansan, 1/27/05
http://www.kansan.com/stories/2005/jan/27/jayplay_contact_marriage/
For Sheba Shaffie, a psychiatrist in Overland Park, the marriage
process
all happened so fast. Her soon-to-be husband Khalid was visiting
Pakistan
with the intention of finding a wife. His sister-in-law recommended
Shaffie, who was interning at the hospital where she worked. Khalid
visited
Shaffie at the hospital on Feb. 2, 1978, and 15 days later, once both
families had made the final arrangements, Shaffie and Khalid were
married.
In a predominately love-marriage society, the concept of an arranged
marriage may seem startling. But, a majority of people in several
Middle
Eastern, South and East Asian countries prefer the process. Women are
usually not forced into arranged marriages but agree to them for family
values and religious, cultural and even personal beliefs.
Shaffie defines arranged marriages as a process without courtship,
where an
agreement of marriage is made but not forced upon either side. Arranged
marriages hold both cultural and religious significance. Arranged
marriage
is the process preferred by the Pakistani community where Sheba grew up
in,
so she learned to understand and accept it.
In fact Shaffie even recommends arranged marriages. She says parents,
who
are making the decision, are the ones who know you the best and go
through
particular care in picking someone for you.
"When you go to buy a shirt, you look at it from every angle," Shaffie
says. "You try it on, show it to your friends and family and are always
willing to get an experts advice." Why not take the same care with
marriage?...
---
ARAB-AMERICANS CRYING FOUL OVER BANKS' RECENT CLOSURES OF SELECTED
BUSINESS
ACCOUNTS
Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News, 1/27/05
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050127/1065280.asp
Some Arab-American-owned groceries and other businesses that do a lot
of
cash business are being told by their banks to take their business
elsewhere.
Banks in Western New York and across the nation say they are reacting
to
tighter federal enforcement of laws aimed at tracking large cash
transactions.
But the business owners feel that the banks are discriminating against
them
solely because of their Middle Eastern names and ancestry during a time
of
heightened fear of terrorism.
"I've never been arrested. I've never done anything wrong, and they
make me
feel like I've done something wrong," said Abdulsalam Shuaibee, one of
three co-owners of the Golden Farm Market on Kensington Avenue in
Buffalo.
The store's accounts at M&T Bank were closed in November with just 10
days'
notice.
Shuaibee is a U.S. citizen who came to the United States from Yemen in
January 1990. "They make me feel like I'm not American," he said.
It's not happening only in Western New York. Similar cases have been
reported in New York City, Boston, and in Mississippi.
Banks say the issue isn't who owns the accounts, but how they're being
used
- especially how often there are large transactions and how much cash
is
going through them.
"The laws, regulations and their enforcement are all stricter in the
post-9/11 world," said M&T Bank Corp. spokesman C. Michael Zabel, who
acknowledged that some accounts have been closed. "Regulators have been
more rigorous not only in enforcing the reporting requirements but in
encouraging banks to cease relationships with customers whom the bank
identifies as engaging in repetitive, reportable suspicious
transactions."
The banks deny discriminating against Arab-American business owners…
-----
PIPES APPEARANCE SPARKS DEBATE
Jessica Peet, The Dartmouth, 1/27/05
http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012701010
Daniel Pipes, a New York Sun columnist who once argued that
Muslim-Americans should be placed in internment camps, will bring his
contentious views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Dartmouth Hall
on
Thursday. Pipes' presence on campus is provoking strong feelings among
students and faculty on both sides of the issue.
Muslim students expressed concern about Pipes' speech, which is
sponsored
by Chabad, the Dartmouth Israel Public Awareness Committee, the Jewish
studies department and the Ufurazra Campus Fund. They said his views
are
not credible.
"He has such a bias that it's hard for me to call him an expert," said
Dale
Correa '06, president of Al-Nur.
Correa said she felt Pipes' work has promoted "Islamophobia." She cited
examples where Pipes allegedly referred to 10 to 15 percent of all
Muslims
as "potential killers."
A prize-winning columnist and a frequent guest on television broadcasts
including CNN's "Crossfire," Pipes has earned praise and drawn ire for
his
extensive work in Middle-Eastern studies. After receiving his doctorate
from Harvard University, Pipes has since devoted his career to studying
the
conflict in the Middle East.
"If Pipes's admonitions had been heeded, there might never have been a
9/11," Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby wrote in a June 2003 article.
Jewish students defended the choice to bring Pipes to campus and add to
the
debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…
-----
SOME SAY SLAUGHTER WAS A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
Greg Cunningham, Amarillo Globe-News, 1/28/05
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/012805/new_1132754.shtml
The controversy over two veterinarians slaughtering a lamb at a state
laboratory in Amarillo might come down to whether or not the slaughter
qualifies as a religious ceremony.
Some employees of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
have
stepped forward to say they feel the slaughter, which was conducted
Jan. 21
at the lab by two staff veterinarians in preparation for the Muslim
holiday
Feast of the Sacrifice, was a religious ceremony.
Other sources say it had no religious component whatsoever.
Jessica Gillis, a histology technician at the lab, said that no matter
how
much lab officials try to portray the incident as innocuous, she
recognizes
a religious event when she sees it.
"A lot of people are very upset because this clearly had a religious
purpose," Gillis said. "If they are doing it as part of a religious
holiday, how could it not be religious?"
On the other hand, Dr. Lal Almas, assistant professor of agriculture
business and economics at West Texas A&M University, said preparing the
lamb for the feast is more akin to going to the grocery store prior to
Christmas dinner than any sort of religious event.
Almas, a practicing Muslim, pointed out that the true religious part of
the
holiday happens at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the feast, when Muslims
gather to pray…
ALSO SEE:
CHICAGO MUSLIMS TO DELIVER 23,000 POUNDS OF MEAT TO FOOD DEPOSITORY
Eid Observance Inspired Collective Donation by Area Mosques,
Muslim Organizations
(CHICAGO) - On Tuesday, Feb. 1, local Muslim leaders will join
Greater Chicago Food Depository executives and staff from a
Muslim-run
food pantry as more than 23,000 pounds of high-quality ground beef are
delivered to Chicago's food bank for eventual distribution to soup
kitchens, food pantries and shelters in Cook County.
The collective donation effort by Chicago-area Muslims marked
the community's preparation and observance of the recent four-day
Eid-ul-Adha holiday -- the "Festival of Sacrifice" -- which encourages
faithful to feed the hungry of all faiths. The meat was processed in
accordance with Islamic law and will be available to all member
agencies of
the Food Depository.
Meat items are always in high-demand by the Food Depository, because
they
are perishable, higher priced items. Large quantity donations of meat
are
unusual, and this represents a significant donation of more than
122,600
individual servings.
PHOTOS & INTERVIEWS: Pictures or footage of a tractor-trailer pulling
up
to the Food Depository's receiving area and pallets of meat being
unloaded
by forklifts. Inside individual boxes, the five-pound beef portions
will
be labeled Donated by Chicago Muslims.
WHEN: Tuesday, February, Delivery is scheduled for 1 p.m.
WHERE: Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place
(formerly 42nd Place), Chicago
For more information, visit http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call
Ruth Igoe, 773.843.2843 (Cell: 773.447.0697) or email: reigoe@gcfd.org
SEE ALSO:
MARKET CATERS TO MUSLIMS DURING RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY
Barry Shlachter, Star-Telegram, 1/30/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/
MANSFIELD--Hayes Farm takes on special importance to the region's
Muslim
community as a major source of livestock for Eid al-Adwa, the festival
of
sacrifice, during which sheep and goats are ritually slaughtered, with
the
meat shared among family, friends and the poor.
The market basically shuts down for the festival's three days to
specially
cater to the needs of observant Muslims.
An animal to be ritually slaughtered during any of the three days --
preferably the first day -- must be healthy, should be kept in clean
conditions and not be stressed, said Sikander Hashmi, an Islamic
seminary
graduate in Montreal.
In North America, the animal is usually sheep at least 6 months old,
goats
1 year old or older, and cows or bulls at least 2 years of age, said
Hashmi, founder and editor of www.eat-halal.com, a Web site that
explains
Islamic dietary laws and traditions. It should be gently laid down in
the
direction of Mecca with the neck over a drain for the blood to flow
into.
The killing must be swift, using a sharp knife to make it as painless
as
possible, Hashmi said.
The animal should not witness the slaughter of another, or even view
the
knife that will be used, he said. The prayer, "In the name of God, God
is
great," must be recited immediately before the slaughter to denote that
the
animal is being sacrificed to God.
A third of the meat should be given to the poor and the rest consumed
by
one's immediate family and given to other relatives and friends, Hashmi
said.
------
HIGHLAND PARK SCHOOLS SEEK MORE ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS
Cecil Angel, Detroit Free Press, 1/28/05
http://www.freep.com/news/education/recruit28e_20050128.htm
Highland Park school officials have begun a recruiting campaign to lure
Arab-American and Muslim students from Hamtramck and Detroit.
They have hired an Arab-American consultant who is helping to add
Arabic
language, history and culture classes to the curriculum for the 2005-06
school year.
They hired EPIC/MRA, the Lansing-based polling firm, to gauge
residents'
attitudes about diversity and Arab Americans. Seventy-one percent of
300
respondents said they favored the district's efforts to attract Arab
Americans to the city's schools.
"We are also trying to attract families to reside in Highland Park, not
just to send their children here," said Yahya Alkebsi, the consultant
for
the school district.
A new housing development of 153 ranch and colonial style homes named
North
Pointe Village may prove to be an enticement to get families to move to
the
district, Alkebsi said.
District officials say they know it's going to be a tough sell.
Highland
Park is virtually all black, overwhelmingly Christian and has one of
the
worst rates of crime and poverty in the state.
"It will not come overnight. It will need hard work. It will need
patience," Alkebsi said. It also will not come without some resistance.
The
Hamtramck and Detroit public school districts, which have seen charter
schools decimate their enrollments, are studying ways to retain
students.
Paul Stamatakis, superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, said a
committee is researching the viability of offering classes in Arabic
and
Bengali.
"As your population changes, you need to meet the needs and
requirements
the population brings forth," Stamatakis said.
A spokesman for Detroit Public Schools said he was not concerned about
Highland Park's plans.
"We welcome the competition," Ken Coleman said. "It encourages us to
improve our delivery system. At the end of the day, it's about
improving
student achievement and performance..."
-----
NASHVILLE: THIS IS KURD COUNTRY
Drew Jubera, Atlanta Journal, 1/28/05
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0105/28nashkurds.html
Nashville --- Six miles south of the Country Music Hall of Fame ---
home to
artifacts like Naomi Judd's wringer washing machine and the cornfield
from
TV's "Hee Haw" --- there's a strip mall that exhibits a newer, changing
Nashville.
Its tenants represent a world atlas of ethnic groups: an Indian and
Pakistani grocery, a Mexican butcher, a Nigerian restaurant, a Chinese
market.
Next door is practically a small Iraqi village: a
warehouse-turned-mosque
and two grocery stores, one run by an Iraqi Kurd, the other by an Iraqi
Arab. On Fridays, following afternoon prayers, as many as 600 people
mingle
within a tiny block.
"I moved here from Arizona to open a business because I knew there were
a
lot of Kurds," said Nick Aref, 27, who fled Kurdish northern Iraq eight
years ago and owns a bakery next to the mosque.
Indeed, "Music City" is better known in this part of town as "Little
Kurdistan," home to the nation's largest Kurdish population, estimated
at
about 7,000.
Much of the country expressed surprise when Nashville became one of
five
U.S. cities chosen to hold balloting for this weekend's Iraqi
elections.
(The others: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and Detroit, which has
the
nation's largest Iraqi Arab population.)…
-----
RESEARCHERS WHO RUSHED INTO PRINT A STUDY OF IRAQI CIVILIAN DEATHS NOW
WONDER WHY IT WAS IGNORED
Lila Guterman, Houston Chronicle, 1/27/05
http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=6g87s8d900q52bjppa5m3h7noo5ikert
When more than 200,000 people died in a tsunami caused by an Asian
earthquake in December, the immediate reaction in the United States was
an
outpouring of grief and philanthropy, prompted by extensive coverage in
the
news media.
Two months earlier, the reaction in the United States to news of
another
large-scale human tragedy was much quieter. In late October, a study
was
published in The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal,
concluding
that about 100,000 civilians had been killed in Iraq since it was
invaded
by a United States-led coalition in March 2003. On the eve of a
contentious
presidential election -- fought in part over U.S. policy on Iraq --
many
American newspapers and television news programs ignored the study or
buried reports about it far from the top headlines.
The paper, written by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University,
Columbia
University, and Baghdad's Al-Mustansiriya University, was based on a
door-to-door survey in September of nearly 8,000 people in 33 randomly
selected locations in Iraq. It was dangerous work, and the team of
researchers was lucky to emerge from the survey unharmed.
The paper that they published carried some caveats. For instance, the
researchers admitted that many of the dead might have been combatants.
They
also acknowledged that the true number of deaths could fall anywhere
within
a range of 8,000 to 194,000, a function of the researchers' having
extrapolated their survey to a country of 25 million.
But the statistics do point to a number in the middle of that range.
And
the raw numbers upon which the researchers' extrapolation was based are
undeniable: Since the invasion, the No. 1 cause of death among
households
surveyed was violence. The risk of death due to violence had increased
58-fold since before the war. And more than half of the people who had
died
from violence and its aftermath since the invasion began were women and
children…
ALSO SEE:
RETURNING VETERANS PAINT GRIM PICTURE OF WAR'S TOLL
Cheryl L. Reed, Sun Times, 1/27/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-iraqvets27.html
Soldiers recently returned from Iraq gave an unfiltered and
unflattering
assessment of the war's human toll as they detailed their war
experiences
to a crowd of Oakton Community College students and faculty Wednesday
in
Des Plaines.
One officer lost more than 38 pounds in the Iraqi desert when his unit
ran
low on food and water. Another was sent to the front lines without body
armor. They witnessed soldiers blown to bits and mourned the loss of
others
who killed themselves when they returned home -- often excluded from
the
government's official body count.
And they've been frustrated with buddies who have had to wait months
for
medical services or for their claims to be decided by the Veterans
Affairs
Department.
'People are unaware'
"There's a tremendous human cost of this war, and America isn't
prepared
for it," said Paul Rieckhoff, a former Army infantry platoon leader
from
New York and founder of Operation Truth, a national soldier
organization
that is touring college campuses to present an alternative view of the
war.
Rieckhoff criticized the military for not releasing the entire number
of
those killed or injured in Iraq, a figure he said is far greater than
the
1,416 listed as killed and 10,622 listed as wounded by the Defense
Department.
"It takes guys like us to embarrass [Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld
before things get changed," he said. "The military is being run into
the
ground, and the American people are unaware of what's really going on."
The group showed a documentary in which former soldiers from Iraq --
many
of them amputees -- were angry about how the government treated them
once
they returned, complaining they were met with a "nightmare of
paperwork" to
get medical and disability benefits…
-----
ISLAM THE KEY TO SOOTHING TSUNAMI DESPAIR IN ACEH
Tomi Soetjipto, Reuters, 1/28/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B318293.htm
KRUENG RAYA, Indonesia - Sitting cross-legged outside a makeshift camp
where he now lives, Ridwan Syamsuddin looks more like a jovial
story-teller
than a despairing Indonesian victim of last month's killer tsunami.
Wearing an oversized cowboy hat and a sarong, Syamsuddin animatedly and
eloquently quotes religious stories featured in the Koran -- from the
story
of Noah's Ark to Moses' Revelations. Half a dozen relatives sit on the
grass listening outside the camp in this town in the province of Aceh.
Syamsuddin, 57, a fisherman, tells his listeners that, like many
Acehnese,
he has sought solace in Islam and that religion will see them through
their
hardship. Syamsuddin lost his wife and three children to the monster
waves
on Dec. 26.
"We are the chosen people. We are special because Allah knows we are
strong. There is no need to be afraid," Syamsuddin tells his listeners.
Acehnese are among the most devout Muslims in Indonesia, the world's
most
populous Muslim nation. Indeed, Islam appears to be a glue helping to
hold
many communities together.
Asked later if he felt sad, Syamsuddin said: "Not any more. As a Muslim
we
have to accept this, it's fate."
Just hours after the waves crashed ashore, residents in the provincial
capital, Banda Aceh, recalled hearing the call to prayer from mosques
even
as corpses piled up inside such sanctuaries.
Before long, clerics in virtually every functioning mosque were using
loudspeakers to recite verses from the Koran related to calamities and
ways
to overcome difficulties.
Many residents now gather in the debris of their former homes to hold
Koran
recitals, remembering lost loved ones…
ALSO SEE:
CAT STEVENS HOSTS INDONESIA GIG
BBC, 1/28/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4215141.stm
Singer Yusef Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is to host a concert
in
Indonesia for victims of the tsunami.
The concert in Jakarta on 31 January will feature a host of local
artists
coming together to raise money for the devastated province of Aceh.
The star has also written a charity single called Indian Ocean, with a
number of other recording artists.
While in Indonesia, folk singer Islam, 56, will open a regional office
of
his Small Kindness charity.
"Like everyone else, I was so shaken by the enormity of this human
tragedy,
and the song just came without effort," Islam said in the statement on
his
website.
"It is my contribution towards helping to rebuild the broken spirits of
the
victims of the disaster."
The Aceh province in Indonesia was devastated by the tsunami
The charity record, composed by Islam, also features musicians
including
Indian composer AR Rahman, A-Ha's Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer
Neil
Primrose.
They recorded the single in London and it is due for release in
February to
raise money for children orphaned by the disaster…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/31/05
* VERSES OF THE DAY: PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
* CAIR-CA JOB OPENING: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR
- CAIR-OH: Islam is Compatible With Democracy
* NY: MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY BORDER TREATMENT (Buffalo News)
- CAIR: Muslims Fingerprinted at Canadian Border
* FACTS OUGHT TO DISPEL MISTRUST OF U.S. MUSLIMS (CS Monitor)
- NJ: Judge Character, Not Religion (Toledo Blade)
* DOUBTS ABOUT DHS NOMINEE'S POST-9/11 ROLE (Wash Post)
- DHS Nominee Gave Advice to CIA on Torture (NYT)
- Dowd: Gitmo Torture Chicks Gone Wild (NY Times)
* TX: MUSLIMS, JEWS WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD HABITAT HOUSE
* DISASTER AID FURTHERS FEARS OF PROSELYTIZING (CS Monitor)
- Israel to Raze Palestinian Homes for Wall (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
"Say: 'O people of the Book! Let us come together on what is common
between
us and you: that we shall worship none but God; that we shall not
associate
any partners with Him; (and) that we shall not take from among
ourselves
any lords other than God.'"
The Holy Quran, 3:64
-----
CAIR-CA JOB OPENING: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR
The California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has
an
immediate job opening for its office in Anaheim for the position of
Government Relations Coordinator.
The government relations coordinator will be responsible for developing
and
coordinating non-partisan government relations activities for CAIR
Southern
California.
This shall include but not limited to: working with elected officials
on
issues important to the Muslim community, network with other
politically
active groups, setting up forums and town hall meetings, and promoting
political activism within the Muslim community.
The ideal candidate should have a college degree (Political Science or
Public Policy preferred), good computer skills and good interpersonal
and
communications skills with a track record of dealing with people. Must
be a
self-starter and demonstrate the ability to learn in a self-directed
manner. Experience of working with political or non-profit
organizations
and Muslim groups will be a plus.
Interested candidates should apply with a comprehensive resume stating
education, work history, references, along with copies of relevant
academic
certificates to:
CAIR Southern California
HR Department
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
Fax: 714-776-8340
E-Mail: socal@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: ISLAM IS COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY
IRAQIS ARE WINNERS JUST BY VOTING
Enquirer, 1/30/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050130/EDIT03/501300308/1023/EDIT
A woman of faith Karen Dabdoub, director of the Cincinnati office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, hopes today's elections will let
Americans know that Islam is compatible with democratic government.
"There seems to me to be a bias in American perceptions against any
members
of the new Iraqi government being influenced by their faith. I would
really
hope that since our military is saying we are over there to promote
democracy and freedom that we actually give the Iraqis the freedom to
choose the type of government that they want for themselves, even if
that
means that they choose members of Islamic parties."
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY TREATMENT AT BORDER
Jay Tokasz, Buffalo News, 1/31/05
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050131/1062162.asp
Buffalo-area Muslims detained, interrogated and fingerprinted at the
U.S.-Canada border in December still do not know why they were held for
as
long as six hours.
About 40 Muslims, most of them American citizens with valid passports,
were
stopped at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the Peace Bridge on Dec.
26
and 27 while returning from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
University at Buffalo freshman Hassan Shibly, 18, recalled being led by
three armed officers into a separate room for questioning and
fingerprinting.
In the room, he was told to stand face-first against the wall and
spread
his legs apart for a pat-down search.
"I was just forced to go along," Shibly said. "I refused, but they said
legally I had no choice. We weren't treated as American citizens. We
were
treated as suspects."
Border agents initially told Shibly that his vehicle was being stopped
as
part of a random check. But when he stepped inside the Border Patrol
offices, he noticed that the other people there were also Muslims who
had
been at the conference.
Shibly's mother, Dr. Sawsan Tabbaa, an orthodontist and UB instructor,
described the fingerprinting experience as humiliating.
"This was something I thought was only for criminals," said Tabbaa, who
also had her three other children - ages 14, 11 and 3 - with her at the
time.
Abeer Rizek, seven months' pregnant and suffering from the flu, was
crossing into the United States to visit her parents in Williamsville.
During a search, she said, border agents lifted her blouse to make
certain
that she was pregnant.
"They patted everyone down. The whole thing was embarrassing, the whole
ordeal," she said.
Dawn Stefaniak and her husband, Dr. Zulkharnain, were stopped at the
Peace
Bridge late the night of Dec. 26, fingerprinted and held for about 90
minutes.
The day before, they had returned to Buffalo from the Islamic
conference
without incident, she said.
"This is dangerous - singling out Muslims," said Dr. Othman Shibly,
husband
of Tabbaa…
SEE ALSO:
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FINGERPRINTED BY U.S. AT CANADIAN BORDER
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1371&theType=NR
-----
A FOCUS ON FACTS OUGHT TO DISPEL MISTRUST OF US MUSLIMS
John Tirman, Christian Science Monitor, 1/31/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0131/p09s02-coop.html
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - One of the mysteries surrounding the 9/11 attacks
and
the frequent terrorist alerts ever since is the role played, if any, by
American Muslims in supporting Al Qaeda operations. The US government
acts
as if there is a support base of some kind. White House Chief of Staff
Andrew Card told a CNN reporter during the Republican convention, "We
know
there are Al Qaeda cells" operating inside the country. During the
early
August scare about terrorists targeting financial institutions,
newspaper
reports often alluded to, but did not identify or describe, a support
network or individuals living in the US.
The antiterror campaign has shaken the 5 million or so Muslims in the
US, a
large majority of whom are American citizens. Law enforcement agents
have
interviewed nearly 200,000 Muslims and others from predominantly
Islamic
countries; hundreds have been deported or detained for long periods;
thousands were subject to a "special registration," and now hundreds
have
been indicted in widely publicized "terrorist" prosecutions. Charities
and
other social institutions have been shut down or disabled, and
surveillance
in these communities is now a given.
But the cardinal question of whether domestic Muslim populations
actually
pose a security threat remains unanswered - indeed, unarticulated - in
public discourse and official pronouncements.
The question is neither impolite nor unimportant. We know that most
politically violent groups require a "social base" - knowing supporters
who
don't participate directly in militant operations. Such a base is
likely to
exist where such groups carry out attacks. Diasporas often support such
groups with money, communications, and political access. None of this
is
particularly new, but before 9/11 the violence was always somewhere
else -
Northern Ireland, Palestine, South Africa, and the like.
Now the nexus of threat is here, and the rules of the game are altered.
There is no territorial struggle, and the numbers of ethnic and
national
populations involved number two dozen or more. International migration
has
created enormous flows of people. Muslims, like many immigrants before
them, tend to gravitate toward one another into neighborhoods where
mosques, common language, social networks, and opportunities exist.
It is these communities in Brooklyn, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, and
elsewhere that have attracted law enforcement attention.
Are radical imams preaching violence against America? Are Koranic
schools
training future terrorists? Are charities really supporting Al Qaeda,
Hamas, or Chechen murderers? Most Americans would probably consider
these
as legitimate concerns in the wake of 9/11.
The evidence thus far, however, indicates that Muslims living in
America
haven't constituted a social base for Al Qaeda. It is striking, in
fact,
that so little illegality has been uncovered in a population so
thoroughly
investigated. Prosecutions of alleged terrorist-related activities,
which
should represent the most definitive picture of the internal threat,
have
established very little - if any - evidence of domestic Al Qaeda cells.
Nothing else in the public record of this massive law enforcement and
intelligence effort suggests that a conspiracy exists - a remarkably
clean
bill for these communities…
[John Tirman is executive director of the Center for International
Studies
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is coauthor and editor
of
the book 'The Maze of Fear: Security and Migration After 9/11.']
ALSO SEE:
NJ: JUDGE CHARACTER, NOT RELIGION
A JOB FOR JERSEY CITY
Toledo Blade, 1/31/05
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050131/OPINION02/501310327
Despite the best efforts of Muslim leaders, anti-Muslim sentiment is
sweeping Jersey City, N.J. for the third time, and it's going to take
more
than the involvement of Muslim and Christian leaders to quell the
discord.
The first outbreak came after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, when
Jersey City residents learned that some of the culprits had been living
among them. The next wave of hatred was, predictably, after 9/11. Now,
the
latest has been spurred by events closer to home. An Egyptian Christian
family of four was found brutally murdered in their home earlier this
month. No arrests have been made, but some have, unfortunately, blamed
the
deaths on Muslims.
Regardless of the background of the killer or killers, no city can
afford
to ignore such a situation, and Jersey City officials need to
aggressively
address the tension. The sheer savagery of the murders of Coptic
Christians
Hossam Armaniouis, 47, his wife, 37, and their daughters, 15 and 8, and
knowledge that he had argued with Muslims in an Internet chat room have
fueled speculation that Muslims were involved.
Officials say robbery is a possible motive. However, that didn't stop
scuffling at the funerals or prevent anti-Islam hecklers. As a result,
much
of the post 9/11 progress in repairing relations between Muslims,
Christians, and Jews in the area has been lost. That is too bad, and
leaders of the various parties and faiths need to unite and remind
Jersey
City that this is America, where we don't make such sweeping judgments.
Even if Muslims are eventually charged in the deaths, all of Islam
cannot
and must not be blamed. Remember, in our nation, a person is supposed
to be
judged by the content of his character, not his religion.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
-----
AMID PRAISE, DOUBTS ABOUT NOMINEE'S POST-9/11 ROLE
Michael Powell and Michelle Garcia, Washington Post, 1/31/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49950-2005Jan30.html
On Nov. 28, 2001, then-Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff took
a
seat before a Senate committee and offered reassurance on two fronts:
The
Justice Department was unrelenting in pursuit of terrorists. And none
of
its tactics had trampled the Constitution or federal law.
Every detainee has been charged, Chertoff told the senators. Every
detainee
has a lawyer. No one is held incommunicado.
"Are we being aggressive and hard-nosed? You bet." Chertoff leaned into
the
microphone. "But let me emphasize that every step that we have taken
satisfies the Constitution and federal law as it existed both before
and
after September 11th."
It was classic Chertoff, eloquent and unyielding and intense, his body
coiled like a middleweight boxer's. He returned again and again to his
bottom line: The World Trade Center and a portion of the Pentagon were
in
ruins; two letters had arrived at the Senate laden with billions of
anthrax
microbes. Osama bin Laden had declared war on the United States -- what
would you have us do?
Few questioned Chertoff's urgency, but his critics contend that he was
not
candid with the senators, and was perhaps misleading about the nature
of
the tactics he pursued. The Justice Department ordered the detention of
more than 700 Arab and South Asian men for immigration violations,
holding
them without charges or access to lawyers for an average of three
months.
Many remained in prison much longer, according to a 2003 report by
Justice
Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine.
Some officials questioned the legality of the detentions, noting that
immigration rules entitle detainees to call a lawyer. But the Justice
Department ignored such warnings, according to the inspector general.
"Muslim men were rounded up and blocked from getting lawyers, and
essentially Chertoff's testimony to the Senate was a coverup," said
Michael
Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has challenged
the
government's detention policies.
Chertoff, President Bush's nominee to be the next secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security, could bring coherence to a sprawling
new
agency still riven by turf battles, supporters and detractors agree.
The
51-year-old federal appellate judge has a laser-like intensity, ran the
Justice Department's criminal division during what many liken to
wartime,
and has worked for Democrats and Republicans during his career. Lawyers
who
have squared off against him praise his skills and ferocity…
ALSO SEE:
SECURITY NOMINEE GAVE ADVICE TO THE C.I.A. ON TORTURE LAWS
David Johnston, Neil A. Lewis and Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 1/29/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/29/politics/29home.html
WASHINGTON - Michael Chertoff, who has been picked by President Bush to
be
the homeland security secretary, advised the Central Intelligence
Agency on
the legality of coercive interrogation methods on terror suspects under
the
federal anti-torture statute, current and former administration
officials
said this week.
Depending on the circumstances, he told the intelligence agency, some
coercive methods could be legal, but he advised against others, the
officials said.
Mr. Chertoff's previously undisclosed involvement in evaluating how far
interrogators could go took place in 2002 and 2003 when he headed the
Justice Department's criminal division. The advice came in the form of
responses to agency inquiries asking whether C.I.A. employees risked
being
charged with crimes if particular interrogation techniques were used on
specific detainees.
Asked about the interaction between the C.I.A. and Mr. Chertoff, now a
federal appeals court judge, Erin Healy, a White House spokeswoman,
said,
"Judge Chertoff did not approve interrogation techniques as head of the
criminal division."
She added, "We're not aware that anyone in the criminal division was
involved in approving techniques because that responsibility would have
belonged in the Office of Legal Counsel," another Justice Department
unit.
One current and two former senior officials with firsthand knowledge of
the
interaction between the C.I.A. and the Justice Department said that
while
the criminal division did not explicitly approve any requests by the
agency, it did discuss what conditions could protect agency personnel
from
prosecution.
Mr. Chertoff's division was asked on several occasions by the
intelligence
agency on whether its officers risked prosecution by using particular
techniques. The officials said the C.I.A. wanted as much legal
protection
as it could obtain while the department sought to avoid giving
unconditional approval…
---
TORTURE CHICKS GONE WILD
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 1/30/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/opinion/30dowd.html
By the time House Republicans were finished with him, Bill Clinton must
have thought of a thong as a torture device.
For the Bush administration, it actually is.
A former American Army sergeant who worked as an Arabic interpreter at
Gitmo has written a book pulling back the veil on the astounding ways
female interrogators used a toxic combination of sex and religion to
try to
break Muslim detainees at the U.S. prison camp in Cuba. It's not merely
disgusting. It's beyond belief.
The Bush administration never worries about anything. But these
missionaries and zealous protectors of values should be worried about
the
American soul. The president never mentions Osama, but he continues to
use
9/11 as an excuse for American policies that bend the rules and play to
our
worst instincts.
"I have really struggled with this because the detainees, their
families
and much of the world will think this is a religious war based on some
of
the techniques used, even though it is not the case," the former
sergeant,
Erik R. Saar, 29, told The Associated Press. The A.P. got a manuscript
of
his book, deemed classified pending a Pentagon review.
What good is it for President Bush to speak respectfully of Islam and
claim
Iraq is not a religious war if the Pentagon denigrates Islamic law -
allowing its female interrogators to try to make Muslim men talk in
late-night sessions featuring sexual touching, displays of fake
menstrual
blood, and parading in miniskirt, tight T-shirt, bra and thong
underwear?
It's like a bad porn movie, "The Geneva Monologues." All S and no M…
-----
MUSLIMS, JEWS WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD HABITAT HOUSE IN TYLER
KLTV, 1/29/05
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2873991
TYLER, Texas Anwar Khalifa and Neal Katz laugh and joke as close
friends do.
The Egyptian-born Muslim developer and the Virginia-born rabbi share
meals
at each other's Tyler homes.
They reflect on the similarities in Arabic and Hebrew -- and they
respectfully agree to disagree on politics.
Khalifa says he considers Katz "a friend, not the rabbi or a Jew," and
feels he can depend on him in his times of need.
The unlikely friendship has produced an unusual East Texas partnership.
Tyler's Muslim and Jewish communities are working together to build a
house
with the nonprofit, Christian housing charity Habitat for Humanity.
Tamiko Seward is a single mother who will live in the
eleven-hundred-square-foot house. She has a three-year-old son.
Both are Baptist.
The 26-year-old secretary says the Muslim and Jewish volunteer builders
get
along so well, it's impossible to tell who is from what religion.
For Khalifa and Katz, that's the point.
-----
DISASTER AID FURTHERS FEARS OF PROSELYTIZING
Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, 1/31/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0131/p11s01-lire.html
For countries with thousands left homeless and bereft by the tsunami,
the
outpouring of help from around the world is a godsend. Yet in some
nations,
the growing presence of faith-based agencies dispensing the aid is
posing
another challenge - stirring tensions already simmering around
evangelism
and anti-Christian violence.
In Sri Lanka, for example, prior to the tsunami, two anti-conversion
bills
that would make "unethical conversions" illegal were introduced into
parliament. Reacting to a perceived increase in Christian
proselytizing,
the bill proposed by a militant Buddhist party would impose fines and
five
to seven years imprisonment for anyone who gives material aid to
someone of
another faith.
Omalpe Sobitha, a Buddhist monk member of parliament, charged aid
groups
with offering money, food, employment, or other inducements to convert
people to Christianity.
A week before the tsunami hit, a church in Sri Lanka was burned to the
ground - the latest in more than 160 violent attacks against churches
and
pastors in the past two years. In November 2003, the office of World
Vision, a global Christian aid agency active in Sri Lanka since 1977,
was
firebombed.
"World Vision was mentioned specifically in parliamentary debates on
the
legislation, though we don't seek to convert anyone," says Dean Owen,
its
director of communications. Like several major organizations with faith
connections, World Vision follows a Red Cross code of conduct that bans
proselytizing.
But since 2000, Evangelical Christians across the globe have mounted a
missionary effort targeting the "10/40 Window" - the Muslim, Hindu, and
Buddhist nations between 10 degrees and 40 degrees north latitude. East
Asians, such as Koreans, as well as Westerners are active in several
countries.
But now the tsunami has drawn a host of smaller Christian groups to the
region. They see the tragedy as an opportunity to present their
spiritual
message along with material aid.
There are reports in Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka of groups handing
out
Christian tracts purporting to explain the tragedy, seeking to move
Muslim
children into Christian orphanages, or urging those they provide with
goods
to attend prayer meetings…
SEE ALSO:
ISRAEL TO RAZE PALESTINIAN HOMES TO PROTECT FENCE
Cynthia Johnston, Reuters, 1/31/05
JERUSALEM - Israel, in a move certain to fuel Palestinian anger, plans
to
demolish dozens of Palestinian homes to carve out a buffer zone to
protect
a controversial barrier it is building around Jerusalem.
Israel wants to clear a 500-metre (yard) strip around a wire section of
its
West Bank barrier in an Arab village on Jerusalem's outskirts to
prevent
infiltrations by Palestinian militants, an Israeli police spokesman
said.
He said more buffer zones would be also needed elsewhere in Jerusalem
along
the barrier, which Israel says is necessary to keep suicide bombers out
of
the Jewish state. But he could not say how big they would be or if more
homes would have to go.
Palestinians said the plan was part of a series of unilateral Israeli
steps
in Arab East Jerusalem that were counterproductive to peace. The status
of
the holy city is among the most sensitive issues in the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
But Israel said security was the only issue. It also considers the
homes
illegal because they were built without permits that Palestinians say
are
nearly impossible to obtain.
"We need protection for the fence, and to make sure infiltration into
Jerusalem is difficult," police spokesman Gil Kleiman said. "We do plan
to
clear illegal buildings."
He said "tens of houses" would be destroyed…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/1/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PROPHETS BRING GOOD NEWS
* CAIR-CHICAGO EXTENDS LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
- CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam
* CAIR-FL: COOPERATION IS CATALYST FOR PEACE
- CAIR-FL: South Florida Fundraising Dinner
* CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS: DE DUNKIN' DONUTS ALLOWS HIJAB
- CAIR: Hijab is 'Expression of Faith' (Newsweek)
* JUDGE RULES DETAINEE TRIBUNALS ILLEGAL (Wash Post)
- Torture Tactics Should Be Upsetting (Boston Globe)
- CAIR-DC: Videos Show Gitmo Prisoner Abuse (AP)
- Rights Wronged (Tucson Weekly)
* MI: ABRAHAMIC PROJECT STRESSES SHARED HERITAGE (Gazette)
- CAIR-CAN: Traditions of Mourning (The Star)
* CANADA: MUSLIM FEAST BOOSTS FOOD BANK (The Star)
* CA: THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN AT UCI (New University)
* MN: FEAR FUELS BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS (Pioneer Press)
- Headscarf Hate Mail Shocks Belgium (BBC)
- Canada: Council Calls for Probe of Hijab Settlement
- LA: Suit Filed Over Class Scarf Incident (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PROPHETS BRING GOOD NEWS
"We send messengers only to give good news and to warn. So all who
believe
and live righteously shall have nothing to fear or to regret."
The Holy Quran, 6:48
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO EXTENDS LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
'Building Bridges to Islam' events co-hosted by Edlerhostel
(CHICAGO, IL, 2/1/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that, because
of
poplar demand, it is extending the "Building Bridges to Islam" lecture
series currently being offered in cooperation with Elderhostel, the
nation's largest educational and travel organization for older adults.
Each day-long event, held in a local mosque, includes lectures focusing
on
the Quran, Islamic law, Muslims in America, women's rights, and
misconceptions about Islam. Participants are also taken on a tour of
the
mosque, observe an Islamic prayer and sample foods from around the
Muslim
world.
WHAT: CAIR-Chicago/Elderhostel "Building Bridges to Islam" Lecture
Series
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Every Wednesday until March 9
WHERE: Islamic Cultural Center (ICC), 1810 N. Pfingsten Road,
Northbrook, IL
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications Ahmed Rehab,
847-971-3963;
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725,
312-212-1520
"Our goal is to demystify Islam and to show the reality of the American
Muslim experience," said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara.
"Outreach to other faith communities is one way American Muslims can
help
build the bridges of understanding that foster better interfaith
relations."
Tabbara said the lecture series was extended from four weeks to eight
because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the first session.
Each week's program hosts up to 80 participants.
"This is the type of community-level initiative that America needs as
we
try to understand each other and the world around us," CAIR-Chicago
Communications Director Ahmed Rehab.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications Ahmed Rehab,
847-971-3963,
communications@cairchicago.org; CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser
Tabbara, 312-718-3725, 312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY LECTURES ON ISLAM
WHAT: The San Antonio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
is hosting a library lecture on Islam to promote a better understanding
of
Muslims in America. This is the last of a series of lectures presented
by
the CAIR-San Antonio. As part of the "Islam in America" series, each
participating library will receive books, DVDs and educational
materials on
Islam and Muslims. Free admission.
WHEN: February 9, 2005 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Cody Branch Library, 11441 Vance Jackson.
For more information, call Sarwat Husain at (210) 378-9528.
-----
CAIR-FL: RELIGION: COOPERATION IS A CATALYST FOR PEACE
Parvez Ahmed, Times Union, 2/1/05
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012905/opl_17815218.shtml
[PARVEZ AHMED is board chair of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
Jacksonville.]
The world community has united to provide more than $7 billion in
emergency
relief for the epic tsunami disaster that devastated parts of Asia.
Billions more have been pledged in developmental aid.
The U.S. government has provided $350 million in emergency aid, and
American private sector aid is expected to top $700 million.
From students organizing car washes to mothers doing bake sales, all
of
these efforts point to the incredible generosity of ordinary Americans.
However, this outpouring of help has not stopped people from exploiting
the
disaster in appealing to the darker side of humanity.
Some misguided members of the faiths represented in the disaster region
even blamed the tsunami on the actions of perceived enemies or on the
wrath
of a vengeful God…
Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and knee-jerk anti-Americanism are
expressions
of misunderstanding and close-mindedness.
The cure lies in meaningful cooperation in furthering the common causes
of
peace and justice.
Glimpses of hope can be seen in media reports of the Church of Jesus
Christ
of Latter-day Saints collaborating with Islamic Relief Services to send
70
tons of relief supplies to Indonesia.
This sentiment of cooperation can be a catalyst for bringing a
polarized
world closer together.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: 5TH ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA FUNDRAISING BANQUET
WHAT: On Saturday, March 6, the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations will host its 5th Annual South Florida
Fundraising Banquet. Speakers at the banquet include Abdulla Idris Ali,
Former President of ISNA; Chip Pitts, Chair of Amnesty International;
Omar
Ahmad, Chairman of CAIR National; and James Yee, former military
chaplain.
WHERE: Bonaventure Hotel
WHEN: Saturday, March 6, 2005. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and dinner
starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets $40 ($50 after March 15 and $60 at the door). Limited space.
Last
banquet sold out.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW, DON'T DELAY!
http://www.cairfl.org/banquet
-----
CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS: DE DUNKIN' DONUTS ALLOWS HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, DC, 2/1/05) - Following intervention by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim Dunkin' Donuts employee in
Delaware is now being allowed to wear her religiously-mandated head
scarf
to work. The employee recently accepted Islam and requested permission
to
wear the scarf. Her request was denied and she was allegedly threatened
with termination. CAIR's Civil Rights Department sent a letter to the
company explaining the legal requirement to provide reasonable
religious
accommodation in the workplace.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman, 202-488-8787, ext.
6033
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-DC: A MUSLIM 'EXPRESSION OF FAITH'
Arsalan Iftikhar, Newsweek, 2/1/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6884659/site/newsweek/
[Arsalan Iftikhar is the National Legal Director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations is Washington, D.C.]
Your Dec. 20 article "rocking the Casbah" unfairly equates the
mainstream
Islamic religious practice of wearing modest attire with "slavery" and
"masochism." The article states, "the Islamic 'scarf' has become a
masochistic symbol of identity for many Muslim women and girls, even in
Europe and the United States, as if a slave holding up his chain could
point to it proudly and say, 'This is who I am'."
Millions of Muslim women in Europe and America choose to wear an
Islamic
headscarf as an expression of their faith. It is hardly "masochistic"
when
a Muslim woman chooses to be judged based on her character, instead of
on
often-objectified physical characteristics.
For Muslim women and men, modest attire is an important part of their
faith. When we see a Roman Catholic nun covered from head to toe in a
black
habit, we commend her on her faith in God.
Why does it automatically follow that when we see a Muslim woman
wearing a
headscarf, she is somehow oppressed?
-----
JUDGE RULES DETAINEE TRIBUNALS ILLEGAL
Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 2/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51007-2005Jan31.html
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Bush administration must allow
prisoners at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to contest
their
detention in U.S. courts, concluding that special military reviews
established by the Pentagon as an alternative are illegal.
U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green said that the approximately 550
men
held as "enemy combatants" are entitled to the advice of lawyers and to
confront the evidence against them in those proceedings. But, she
found,
the Defense Department has largely denied them these "most basic
fundamental rights" during the reviews conducted at Guantanamo Bay, in
the
name of protecting the United States from terrorism.
Green's ruling directly conflicts with one issued by another federal
court
judge in Washington two weeks ago. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon,
who
heard the case of a smaller group of detainees, wrote that their bid
for
freedom is supported by "no viable legal theory." Green went beyond the
question of whether detainees had rights and found the "combatant
status
review tribunals" illegal.
The conflict will now head to higher courts. Still, Green's decision
was a
legal victory for the detainees and for the civil liberties groups that
filed claims on their behalf last summer. It underscored the ongoing
legal
battle over how to implement a landmark Supreme Court ruling last
summer
that gave the detainees the right to contest U.S. accusations and
challenge
their indefinite detentions.
Green, who is overseeing more than 60 legal claims from detainees
challenging their imprisonment, said some captives may indeed be
Taliban or
al Qaeda fighters, as the U.S. military argues. But, she said, the
reviews
designed to determine that are so stacked against them that their
findings
cannot be trusted. Because of the imbalance, she said, she cannot
dismiss
the detainees' claims, as the government had asked.
"Although this nation unquestionably must take strong action under the
leadership of the commander in chief to protect itself against enormous
and
unprecedented threats, that necessity cannot negate the existence of
the
most basic fundamental rights for which the people of this country have
fought and died for well over two hundred years," Green wrote…
ALSO SEE:
TORTURE TACTICS SHOULD BE UPSETTING
Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe, 2/1/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_2547298
THE latest allegation of prisoner abuse by the U.S. military comes from
Erik Saar, a former Army sergeant and translator at the American naval
base
at Guantanamo. In a forthcoming book, Saar describes the use of female
sexuality as a tactic against Muslim detainees, for many of whom
modesty
between the sexes is a deeply ingrained religious requirement.
According to the Associated Press, Saar writes of one female
interrogator
who attempted to "break" a devout Saudi prisoner. She taunted the man
by
fondling herself, rubbing her breasts against his back and commenting
on
his erection. Then, she smeared red ink on her fingers and pretended it
was
menstrual blood.
"As she circled around him he could see that she was taking her hand
out of
her pants. When it became visible, the detainee saw what appeared to be
red
blood on her hand. ... She then wiped the red ink on his face. He
shouted
at the top of his lungs, spat at her, and lunged forward." Then he
began to
cry, prompting the interrogator to mock him: "Have a fun night in your
cell
without any water to clean yourself."
Writes Saar: "The concept was to make the detainee feel that ... he was
unclean and was unable to go before his God in prayer and gain
strength."
Are Americans OK with using religious humiliation as tools of war? How
about religious torture?
In Abu Ghraib, the cruelties inflicted on prisoners by Specialist
Charles
Graner and his little band of sadists weren't limited to the sexual.
Inmates said they were forced to swallow pork and liquor - forbidden to
Muslims - and to denounce Islam.
"They stripped me naked," said a detainee named Ameen Saeed Al-Sheik.
"They
asked me, 'Do you pray to Allah?' I said yes. They said, '(Expletive)
you.
And (expletive) him.' They ordered me to curse Islam and because they
started to hit my broken leg, I cursed my religion. They ordered me to
thank Jesus that I'm alive. And I did what they ordered me. This is
against
my belief."
Graner has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes,
and
four other Abu Ghraib soldiers have pleaded guilty. But the charges
keep
spilling forth…
---
CAIR-DC: VIDEOS SHOW GUANTANAMO PRISONER ABUSE
Associated Press, 2/1/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10788831.htm
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Videotapes of riot squads subduing
troublesome
terror suspects at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay show the
guards
punching some detainees, tying one to a gurney for questioning and
forcing
a dozen to strip from the waist down, according to a secret report. One
squad was all-female, traumatizing some Muslim prisoners.
Investigators from U.S. Southern Command in Miami, which oversees the
camp
in Cuba, wrote the report that was obtained by The Associated Press
after
spending a little over a week in June reviewing 20 of some 500 hours of
videotapes involving ``Immediate Reaction Forces.''
The camp's layout prevented videotaping in all the cells where the
five-person teams - also known as ``Immediate Response Forces'' -
operated,
the report said...
``The obvious problem with our armed forces is their inability to
comply
with international law,'' said Arsalan T. Iftikhar, national legal
director
for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
``Many of us thought that the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq was going to
shake
us into awakening but it seems like the things we keep learning about
Guantanamo indicate there was, in fact, systematic abuse.''
---
RIGHTS WRONGED
Norah Booth, Tucson Weekly, 2/1/05
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid%3A65046
During his 13 years with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement
(ICE), Special Agent Greg Miller averaged one service award every two
years. Because of his undercover work, high-profile criminals and
persons
who posed a threat to the United States were thwarted and imprisoned.
Miller had his dream career, a substantial salary and was slated for
promotion.
Today, all of that is memory. He is without a steady job or pension and
says he is suffering from a stress-related illness. And all of this, he
says, is the result of whistle blowing on two of his superiors for
allegedly violating of the civil rights of a Muslim.
Miller's troubles began Sept. 10, 2002, almost one year to the day
after
Sept. 11. That's when a SWAT team invaded the Tucson home of a
Middle-Eastern man without, according to Miller, his agency considering
its
own Use of Force Policy.
The terrified man ended up face down in his driveway.
Miller claims that items seized in the raid were not listed in the
warrant.
Property--including a computer and engineering textbooks--were
confiscated
and to date have not been returned. The man was fingerprinted and
photographed without being charged with any crime. Furthermore, Miller
says, he witnessed the bruises the man received at the hands of
government
agents, and says that Customs justified its actions by labeling the man
a
terrorist…
-----
CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM PROJECT STRESSES SHARED HERITAGE AMONG JEWS,
CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS
Kalamazoo Gazette, 1/31/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1107188417278240.xml
The message was simple: People really are not so different, regardless
of
religion, race and culture.
A diverse cast of students in The Children of Abraham Project presented
a
dramatic performance of their differences, similarities and hopes
Sunday on
the campus of Western Michigan University.
Written by 16 teenagers from the Mosaic Youth Theater in Detroit, it
was a
drawing together of Christian, Muslim and Jewish perspectives toward a
single goal of living together peacefully. The central point of the
performance was that the Koran, Torah and Bible all recognize Abraham
as
the father of the followers of all three faith traditions.
"This is a reality that says that we are one, that we are not separated
by
fear, that we can be deeply related and we can be drawn together by
love,"
said Thomas Beech, president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute, which
helped
bring the performance to Kalamazoo.
Members of the cast presented their own experiences with discrimination
and
persecution.
"People have so many misconceptions about what it is to be Muslim," one
of
the performers said. "It's not always safe being me, but that won't
stop me
from being proud of who I am."
They also discussed how some of their own fears and prejudices fell
away
and were replaced by friendships after getting to know one another
through
The Children of Abraham Project.
"The eruption of violence is the work of Satan," said another
performer.
"Satan knows that if the children if Isaac and the children of Ishmael
unite, there will be nothing left for him. No prophet is greater than
the
other. The only battle is between brothers."
That there could be more than one truth was another key point in the
performance.
A panel of local religious leaders commented about the performance's
impact
on them afterward…
ALSO SEE:
THE TRADITIONS OF MOURNING
I. John Harvey, The Star, 2/1/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107086464888&call_pageid=970599119419
No one likes going to funerals - least of all me.
As a reporter I've covered many funerals, some small and private while
others were standing-room only affairs piped to crowds huddled outside.
And
I've been to my share of services for family and friends.
Death is a fact of life. Everyone dies and we all mourn, but, because
I'm
socially inept, I always expect I'm going to say or do the wrong thing
-
even in my own culture, yet alone a multicultural city like Toronto.
The
chance of attending a funeral for a friend, neighbour or co-worker
outside
our own culture is good. And I'm at that stage of life where I'll soon
be
attending more funerals than weddings.
Time, I decide, to get some advice…
Like their South Asian compatriots, Muslims don't delay burial either.
"There's a ritual washing of the body, which is a community thing: men
wash
men, women, women," says Riad Saloojee, of the Council of American
Islamic
Religions. "Then it is wrapped in white cloth, placed in a simple
coffin.
Prayers are said over the body and at the mosque, then at burial. It's
very
quick."
In Muslim culture, death is held up as a constant reminder that
adherents
have a limited time to be "responsible, accountable human beings," he
says.
Non-Muslims are welcome to attend prayers at the burial or even mosque,
though simple modest dress is advised for both men and women. Long
skirts
and long sleeve blouses are suggested and while women don't have to
wear a
scarf, it wouldn't hurt.
There's no visitation, no flowers and generally no reception, through
with
44 ethnicities within the Muslim faith, there are lots of regional
variations, he says. Friends and colleagues visit the family at home
following the services, often bringing food.
"The one thing, though, is that while crying is okay, extreme displays,
wailing and tearing of hair is frowned on," Saloojee says, adding that
death is at God's will and animated protestations are seen as a
confrontation of that decision.
-----
MUSLIM FEAST BOOSTS FOOD BANK
Emily Mathieu, The Star, 2/1/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107213016718&call_pageid=970599119419
Toronto's Muslim community has set the table for thousands of needy
families by donating over two tonnes of beef to the Daily Bread Food
Bank.
The gift was presented to the Toronto food bank yesterday in
celebration of
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice.
"In our way we are contributing to the Canadian way of life," said Shah
Husain, the treasurer for DawaNet, a Toronto Muslim network that
arranged
to collect the funds for the meat on http://www.torontomuslims.com.
The four-day celebration of Eid al-Adha commemorates the prophet
Ibrahim's
willingness to sacrifice his own son as a proof of his devotion to God,
Husain said, explaining that because Ibrahim was willing to give his
son's
life, God allowed him to substitute a ram.
As a reminder of the importance of personal sacrifice, Muslim families
contribute toward the sacrifice of a ram, calf, sheep or goat, and
donate a
portion of the meat to the poor.
"Usually we were sending money to our home countries," said Husain. He
said
traditionally the millions of Muslims who take part in haj, an annual
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, buy tickets to help pay for the
slaughter of animals for the needy.
"This year, we said we were going to do this for all communities," said
Husain. For $135, Toronto Muslims could purchase one-seventh of an
animal
to be donated to the food bank. Offers poured in from across Toronto,
along
with a few donations from Newfoundland and the United States, and 2,200
kilograms of beef were purchased.
"For many years, Muslims at the end of the haj have donated meat," said
Sue
Cox from the Daily Bread Food Bank, who called the gift "an enormously
generous gesture."
"Food banks are always kind of short of protein, so we are very happy
about
this," Cox said.
The donated beef is halal, slaughtered according to Islamic dietary
laws.
Three slaughterhouses in Guelph and Peterborough prepared the 2,200
individual one-kilogram packages of beef presented to the food bank.
Each
package is frozen and labelled "A gift from a Muslim Canadian."
-----
THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN AT UCI
Taraneh Arhamsadr, New University, 2/1/05
http://horus.vcsa.uci.edu/article.php?id=3230
Shaikley and her practicing Muslim friends wish to express that their
faith
does not make them much different from other busy college students.
The UC Irvine community has long been characterized by a high level of
diversity and an equally impressive degree of identification within
cultural and religious groups. As with a lot of college campuses, UCI
is a
place where people holding a wide spectrum of beliefs can come together
for
similar educational pursuits.
With active clubs such as the Muslim Student Union, there is also a
strong
Islamic identity on our campus. In the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy,
daily
life has unfortunately become more challenging for Muslim Americans
everywhere, as many people wrongfully identified them with the
terrorists
who committed the horrific acts. But at that point, and up to today,
the
Muslim community endured, holding on to their beliefs despite rapid
shifts
in the public sentiment.
This brings us to some important questions: What is it like for our
generation of Muslim students, who have gone through life identifying
strongly with a faith that is often misunderstood?
How does our world at UCI embrace those students who are distinctively
Muslim-specifically, women who have chosen to wear a hijab? And so we
set
out to explore these questions.
Layla Shaikley, a second-year political science major, has made a
conscious
choice to make Islam a part of her life, and with thatce comes certain
responsibilities.
"My faith is more of a way of life rather than a once-a-week ritual,"
Shaikley said. "My faith delegates how I dress, how I eat, how I
interact
with others, how I spend my money and my personality. Also, as a result
of
my faith, I wear a hijab on my head that automatically makes me
different
through my appearance."
Muslim women wear the hijab and dress modestly because of an important
message within the Islamic faith: A woman's intellect is to be valued
over
her physical beauty. This fact contradicts the misconception that
Islamic
values are backward or oppressing to women.
"In my opinion, being a sex object is oppression," Shaikley said. "To
be
known for the size of my curves would be oppressing…"
-----
FEAR FUELS BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS
Harlan Cohen, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 2/1/05
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/10781239.htm
Dear Harlan: I'm a young Muslim American male going through rough times
since the Sept. 11 attacks. I'm very sensitive when it comes to my
religion. Almost every time a person finds out I'm a Muslim, the
person's
reactions toward me change. Many times, I have caught some of my
co-workers
saying bad stuff about Muslims and my religion. It bothers me to the
point
where I can't sleep at times. I know from the bottom of my heart that
the
Sept. 11 attacks had nothing to do with Islam and Muslims. Our religion
never supported terrorist activities, and that's what upsets me the
most --
knowing that people are misjudging us. How do I handle such situations?
My
life has changed until the day I die.
Dear Changed: I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. It's so unfair.
I think a big problem is that a lot of people in America are still
scared.
Images of peace-loving young Muslim Americans like you don't exactly
make
headlines -- it's mostly the extremist radicals committing heinous
crimes
in the name of religion (so they say). As a result, people get scared.
And
scared people either go on the attack or hide.
Your job, although you never asked for it, is to help stop the
ignorance by
educating those around you (your letter has already helped). When you
feel
someone is reacting based on religion, mention something. Share your
story
and explain that the vast majority of Muslims are gentle, peaceful,
loving
people. Should your words and actions fall upon deaf ears, at least you
can
sleep at night knowing you tried. Hope that those who know you will
help
educate others. In the meantime, surround yourself with friends and
family
who understand you. As far as work goes, when confronting hate or
bigotry
in the workplace, approach a supervisor. Express your concerns in
writing.
ALSO SEE:
HEADSCARF HATE MAIL SHOCKS BELGIUM
Alan Quartly, BBC News, 2/1/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4223307.stm
Naima Amzil is fully integrated in Belgian society
"You are a bad Belgian and you have signed your own death warrant."
That was the message to factory owner Rik Remmery when he opened his
mail
one morning just before Christmas.
For ex-policeman Rik it was only the start of an angry and chilling
tirade
of threatening post.
Further letters put a 250,000 euro ($326,000; �173,000) price on his
head
and a final package contained a bullet.
By now the letters were coming to his family home as well as his
factory.
"December," another letter read "will be a nightmare." The death
threats
against Rik were caused by one simple fact - he employed a Muslim woman
who
wore a headscarf to work.
Somebody, somewhere in the small town of Ledegem in West Flanders did
not
like that and was prepared to take extreme action unless Rik sacked
Naima
Amzil.
But Rik stood firm.
"She's worked here for eight years. I accepted her with a headscarf and
I
will not change my mind because of one sick person," he said.
Removing the scarf
Naima was horrified when she found out about the threats. She could not
believe someone would react to her simple white headscarf in such a
manner.
Originally from Morocco, she had done everything possible to integrate
into
Belgian society - speaking French and Dutch and carrying a Belgian
passport…
---
MUSLIM COUNCIL CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO HIJAB SETTLEMENT
Jeff Heinrich, The Gazette, 2/15/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/index.html
Accusing it of having an "immoral laissez-faire attitude," the Muslim
Council of Montreal yesterday called for an inquiry into how the Quebec
Human Rights Commission handles complaints about the banning of the
hijab
in private schools.
The Muslims are upset that the rights watchdog in November allowed a
Montreal-area school to settle a complaint privately with the family of
a
student it had expelled for wearing the head scarf for Muslim females.
The council's ire was renewed Friday after Radio-Canada television
revealed
a confidential report that appeared to show the commission has known
for
some time where it stands on the hijab issue but has done nothing.
Drafted in September, the internal report suggested it would be a
"reasonable accommodation" under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for
private schools to allow some students to wear the hijab.
By seemingly ignoring its own report, the commission betrayed the trust
of
Muslim Quebecers who rely on it to protect their rights, council
chairperson Salam Elmenyawi said yesterday.
"This is not only an unacceptable abdication of (the commission's)
statutory responsibility, but also an immoral laissez-faire attitude
that
forces victims of racism and anti-Muslim discrimination to suffer
emotionally, psychologically, socially and financially," he said in a
statement…
---
SUIT FILED OVER SCARF-PULLING INCIDENT IN CLASS
Associated Press, 2/1/05
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050201/APN/502010721&cachetime=3&template=dateline
GRETNA, La. - A suburban New Orleans school system and a former high
school
teacher have been sued by a Muslim teenager who contends that the board
and
teacher failed to adequately resolve her claims that the teacher used
religious slurs against her and yanked off her religiously mandated
head
scarf last year.
Maryam Motar, who filed the suit Friday in state district court, is
seeking
unspecified damages from Wes Mix and the Jefferson Parish School Board.
She
complains about the handling of a November hearing to resolve her
complaints.
School board members defended their behavior during the hearing and
Mix's
attorney, Larry Samuel of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers, blasted
the
lawsuit as financially motivated.
"It's just what we thought," Samuel said. "This has been about money
all
along."
Last February, Motar accused Mix of pulling off her head scarf, or
hijab,
during a world history class at West Jefferson High School and saying,
"I
hope God punishes you. No, I'm sorry. I hope Allah punishes you."
Superintendent Diane Roussel recommended Mix's termination in July, but
the
board overruled that decision after a closed-door hearing. It opted to
suspend Mix without pay for several weeks and require him to attend
sensitivity training before returning to another school in the fall. He
was
also required to apologize to Motar.
Samuel said Mix apologized to Motar in a letter sent out last year. But
Motar's attorney, Henry Kinney, said she has not received any letter.
School board attorney Michael Fanning said that he was not surprised by
the
lawsuit.
The suit claims the board failed to take the matter seriously, with
only
five of nine members attending. Two members were joking or talking on a
cellular telephone during Motar's testimony, the suit claimed…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #446
THANK SENS. KENNEDY, FEINSTEIN FOR REJECTING TORTURE
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/2/05) - CAIR today called on American Muslims and
other people of conscience to thank Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their principled stance against the use of
torture in U.S. detention centers around the world.
Kennedy raised the issue of torture during Senate debate yesterday on
the
nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales to be U.S. attorney general. He said:
"Torture is contrary to all that we stand for as Americans. It violates
our
basic values. It is alien to our military's longstanding rules and
traditions. We send our men and women in the Armed Services into battle
to
stop torture in other countries, not to participate in it themselves.
"These values did not change, or become less relevant, after 9/11.
Americans did not resolve to set aside our values, or the Constitution,
after those vicious attacks. We didn't decide as a nation to stoop to
the
level of the terrorists.
"To the contrary, Americans have been united in the belief that an
essential part of winning the war on terrorism and protecting the
country
for the future is safeguarding the ideals and values that America
stands
for here at home and around the world."
SEE: http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/05/1/2005201A51.html
In her prepared remarks for the Senate debate, Sen. Feinstein said: "If
there is a single issue that defines this confirmation process, it is
what
Judge Gonzales thinks about torture and brutal interrogation
practices…For
me, in addition to its clear legal and moral importance, the issue of
torture became the main way for assessing the next Attorney General…"
"We commend those courageous lawmakers who are taking a principled
stand
against torture and abuse of prisoners," said CAIR Executive Director
Nihad
Awad. "The nation and the world need to hear that our elected
representatives reject this vile practice." Awad said polls indicate
that
the vast majority of Americans are against the use of torture in any
circumstance.
SEE: MOST OBJECT TO EXTREME INTERROGATION TACTICS
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050113/a_interrogate13.art.htm
ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please take a moment to thank Sens. Kenney and Feinstein for their
principled stance against torture.
Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
E-Mail: http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
United States Senate
315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4543
Fax: (202) 224-2417
E-Mail: senator@kennedy.senate.gov
2. Other senators, including Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), are also
addressing the issue of torture during the ongoing debate. Contact
their
offices as well, particularly if they represent your state.
To e-mail Sen. Byrd, go to:
http://www.byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html
To obtain contact information for other senators, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=contactYourRep
Copy all correspondence to CAIR at: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/2/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF RETURN
* CAIR 'ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM' CONFERENCE
- CAIR-Chicago Holds Annual Dinner
- CAIR-CAN Commentary Broadcast on CBC Radio
- Rep. Dingell (D-MI) Praises CAIR's Work
* FL: FEDS PUT AN END TO MOSQUE INQUIRY (Herald Tribune)
* PIPES: 'INTOLERANCE PERSONIFIED' (The Dartmouth)
* CO: MEDIA GROUP PULLS AD OF PALESTINIAN GIRL (Denver Post)
- NY: Tsunami Parody Sends Duo to Unemployment Line
* ARE AMERICAN MOSQUES PROMOTING HATE? (Altmuslim.com)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF RETURN
"Those who believe and do righteous deeds are destined for joy (in this
world) and a beautiful place of return (in the next)."
The Holy Quran, 13:29
-----
SAVE THIS DATE!
CAIR 'ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM' CONFERENCE MAY 13-15
On May 13-15, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will
host
its first annual conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and
Remedies," in Tysons Corner, Va. Please save this date in your personal
calendar. More information to follow.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO HOLDS ANNUAL EVENT DINNER
WHAT: On February 26, the Chicago chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold its annual event
dinner
with keynote speaker Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni.
WHERE: Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, 300 Highridge Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, February 26th, 2005
Tickets are $30. To RSVP, call CAIR-Chicago at 312-212-1520.
URL: http://www.cairchicago.org/
---
CAIR-CAN COMMENTARY BROADCAST NATIONALLY ON CBC RADIO
(OTTAWA, CANADA � 02/01/2005) � Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to
God),
CAIR-CAN chair Sheema Khan today appeared on CBC Radio's program
"Commentary, heard across Canada every morning. Her commentary,
reproduced
at the end of the alert, is entitled, "Prejudice & Fear OverUse Of
Islamic
Law In Family Disputes."
To listen to the commentary, please visit:
http://www.cbc.ca/insite/COMMENTARY/2005/2/1.html
-----
REP. DINGELL (D-MI) PRAISES CAIR'S WORK
Dear Friends,
As the new Congress gets underway and the President begins his second
term,
there are many issues that will affect the Islamic community and CAIR
will
continue to be a strong and effective advocate for Muslim Americans in
Lansing and in Washington, DC. CAIR and I have a long history of
cooperation and my office door is always open to my friends so that I
can
be of assistance to the causes that CAIR promotes.
In 2005, Congress will debate the reauthorization and expansion of the
PATRIOT Act. This law enforcement surveillance overhaul undermined
many of
our nation's civil liberties in one broad sweep. Many of the more
controversial and obtrusive measures in the act are set to
expire. However, President Bush and many Republican Member's of
Congress
pushing to have them indefinitely extended.
After consulting with my constituents, including friends at CAIR, I
voted
against the PATRIOT Act the first time and I have become increasingly
skeptical about the Act since. While portions of the Act were needed to
bring law enforcement into the twenty-first century, the disregard for
Constitutional protections, and the diminution of judicial oversight
are
all egregious violations of our rights and liberties as Americans.
In addition to the PATRIOT Act, another significant issue that you will
hear a lot about this year will be Social Security reform. While a
specific
plan has yet to be laid out by the White House, I expect that a plan
for
Social Security privatization and the reduction of benefits is on the
horizon. Even though President Bush talks about a Social Security
"crisis,"
his math is quite inexact. Social Security is sound and those who stand
to
benefit from Bush's reform are not those who actually draw on Social
Security, but instead the Wall Street bankers who would reap billions
from
the privatization of our most successful government program.
No update from Washington can be complete without mentioning the
ongoing
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Americans from all faiths have given
their
lives in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am afraid
that
too many Americans have used these conflicts to validate their own
anti-Islamic prejudices. That is wrong. The First Amendment makes
America
a country where all are welcome to worship as they see fit. Let's pray
that
successful elections in Afghanistan and elections in Iraq will go a
long
way in providing a modicum of much needed stability in both those
nations.
The year 2005 likely will be a contentious one in Washington as we
assess
and debate our domestic and international challenges. You can be
assured
that my office door is always open to CAIR and I plan to work closely
with
my friends to ensure that your concerns are properly addressed. Please
feel
free to contact my office anytime by calling locally at (313) 278-2936.
You
can also always get updates on issues of importance on my website at
www.house.gov/dingell
-----
FEDS PUT AN END TO MOSQUE INQUIRY
Jeremy Wallace, Herald Tribune,
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050202/NEWS/502020358/1006/SPORTS
The federal Department of Justice is dropping its investigation into
whether Sarasota County discriminated against a group of Muslims by
limiting the height of a proposed mosque.
In a terse one-page letter, Justice Department officials simply said
the
seven-month-long inquiry is over.
"We will be taking no further action on the matter," said Justin
Dillon, an
attorney with the department, in the letter.
In July the agency began what it called a preliminary investigation
into a
county decision a year ago to limit the height of a proposed mosque on
Lockwood Ridge Road to 40 feet.
Of 14 other churches and synagogues that had gone before the county
commission over the previous two years, none had a similar restriction.
Commissioner Jon Thaxton said Tuesday that he was happy to hear the
Justice
Department was dropping the issue. He said the decision imposed on the
Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton was purely about what fit the
neighborhood.
The Islamic Society has been meeting in a nondescript house on Lockwood
Ridge Road for the past 10 years. But with a growing congregation, the
group sought permission to build a 13,500-square-foot mosque based on
ancient Islamic traditions, including two 80-foot-high minarets and a
62-foot-high ornamental domed prayer hall.
After neighbors complained, the Islamic Society dropped the minarets
from
the plan during the commission hearings. But the society still wanted
the
62-foot-high main prayer building.
The commissioners approved the project, but with the caveat that no
portion
of it could be higher than 40 feet.
"We thought there was some sort of bias," said Ahmed Bedier, a
spokesman
for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Tampa.
Bedier's group, the largest Islamic civil liberties group in the
nation,
helped the Sarasota group assist the Justice Department in its
investigation.
Mosque supporters and Islamic-American groups have questioned the
county's
motives in restricting the height. They said they feared the county's
actions were prompted by stereotypes of Muslims since the 9/11
terrorist
attacks…
-----
PIPES: "INTOLERANCE PERSONIFIED"
The Dartmouth, 1/27/05
http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012702010&sheadline=&sauthor=&stext=Daniel%20Pipes
We have a visitor today who once said, "Western European societies are
unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking
strange foods and maintaining different standards of hygiene … All
immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are
more
troublesome than most."
I speak for all of Al-Nur, the Muslim student association on this
campus,
and for other concerned students when I say that it is troublesome that
Daniel Pipes, to whom the above quote is attributed, is visiting
Dartmouth.
He is the nation's leading Islamophobe and he is not welcome. He has
exploited the Japanese internment laws of the 1940s to justify his
views
advocating racial profiling and he promotes an extensive infringement
on
the civil rights of Arab-American and Muslim-American citizens. Today,
Pipes is slated to speak to the Dartmouth community, an event that was
only
recently publicized, it seems, because of the controversial character
of
the speaker's inflammatory views.
In an institution that prides itself on fostering dialogue on aspects
of
individual and social identity such as race and religion, it is
disturbing
that any college organization or academic department heeding to this
creed,
under the guise of promoting discussion, would invite someone who has
been
identified by many as a hatemonger. Pipes' bigoted views will
marginalize
and breed suspicion and distrust toward students, faculty, and
administrators who are Arab or Muslim; his visit will do little to
foster
dialogue.
In pursuing his crusade to focus security measures on Muslims, Pipes
resorts to defending rampantly racist author Michelle Malkin's views in
her
book "In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World
War
II and the War on Terror." In support of Malkin, Pipes outlines her
arguments as she calmly compares concentration camps in Japan to
American
"relocation camps" for the Japanese and declares that the latter were
in
comparison to the former: "Spartan facilities that were for the most
part
administered humanely."
Pipes continues to delineate other baseless and humiliating comments
from
Malkin including a claim that the Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians of 1981-83 was biased in its conclusions and
that
the Presidential apology and reparations awarded to former internees
resulted from faulty logic. Pipes chimes echoing Malkin's vitriolic
tune,
concluding that in wartime, "threat profiling" based on nationality,
ethnicity and religious affiliation is expedient and necessary. Pipes
has
also warned against the enfranchisement of American Muslims, as this
would
"present true dangers to American Jews."
He contends Islam should not be portrayed in a good light in our
schools
and in our media. With claims of possessing a mental "filter" with
which he
can detect all those who want to "create a Muslim state in America,"
Pipes
has also labeled 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims as "potential
killers."
Each of these claims is crudely based on anecdotal evidence. On the
issue
of Israel and Palestine, Pipes has said that "The Palestinians are a
miserable people … and they deserve to be…"
-----
CLARITY MEDIA GROUP PULLS AD OF PALESTINIAN GIRL
Tom McGhee, Denver Post, 2/2/05
http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2680307,00.html
Denver financier Philip Anschutz's Clarity Media Group has yanked an ad
promoting its Washington, D.C., and San Francisco newspapers amid
criticism
the advertisement demonized Palestinian children.
The advertisement in the Jan. 24 edition of the media trade publication
MediaWeek showed a girl playing a violin on one side and a Palestinian
girl
carrying an assault rifle on the other. Superimposed over the two
pictures
were the words "PTA to PLO."
The ad, which was meant to attract advertisers, went on to say: "No
local
newspaper has ever delivered news of this scope."
The Electronic Intifada, a not-for-profit website formed to provide
news
and information from a Palestinian perspective, asked its readers to
contact Examiner vice president of advertising Mark Wurzer and San
Francisco Examiner managing editor Jim Pimentel to request that they
pull
the ad.
"The implication is clear: the girl with the rifle is supposed to
represent
a Palestinian girl and embody what the PLO stands for," the group said
on
its website.
Clarity, located in Denver, pulled the ad on Thursday, said Ali
AbuNimah,
co-founder of Chicago-based Electronic Intifada.
San Francisco Examiner publisher Scott McKibben apologized for the ad.
"It has been brought to our attention that a recent advertisement
published
in MediaWeek promoting The Examiner has caused concern and offence
(sic) to
readers. On behalf of Clarity Media Group and The Examiner in
Washington
and San Francisco, we sincerely apologize," McKibben said…
ALSO SEE:
TSUNAMI PARODY SENDS HOT 97 DUO TO UNEMPLOYMENT LINE
Diversity Inc, 2/2/05
http://www.diversityinc.com/members/login.cfm?hpage=11852.cfm
Facing incessant rage from some of New York City's Asian-American
leaders,
Hot 97's parent company fired two of the staffers involved. But
morning-show leader Miss Jones will be back on the air…
-----
ARE AMERICAN MOSQUES PROMOTING HATE IDEOLOGY?
By Junaid M. Afeef, Altmuslim.com, 2/2/05
http://www.altmuslim.com/news_comments.php?id=1389_0_24_0_C
A new study entitled "Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Fill American
Mosques" (download full .pdf version here) was recently released by the
conservative watchdog organization Freedom House. Whether the study is
accurate or not, it will certainly invite greater governmental scrutiny
on
the American-Muslim community.
The stated purpose of the study is to "probe in detail the content of
the
Wahhabi ideology that the Saudi government has worked to propagate
through
books and other publications within [U.S.] borders." Its conclusions
and
recommendations are of vital concern to the American Muslim community.
The
American-Muslim leadership in particular needs to analyze the study and
to
respond quickly and effectively.
If this study's conclusions are accurate, then the American-Muslim
community needs to undertake a monumental overhaul of its institutions
and
the management of its resources and infrastructure. On the other hand,
if
there are errors, inaccuracies, methodological problems or additional
relevant facts not considered in the study, then it behooves the
American-Muslim leadership to correct the record…
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS CALL FOR PENTAGON ACTION OVER GENERAL'S REMARKS
Commander of Marine division in Iraq says shooting people is 'fun'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/3/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on the Pentagon to discipline a top general who
earlier
this week said it is "fun to shoot some people."
At a public event in San Diego, Calif., Lt. Gen. James Mattis said:
"Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a
hoot…You
go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years
because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no
manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." The
audience applauded the general's remarks.
Mattis leads the 1st Marine Division in Iraq. He is based in Quantico,
Va.
SEE: TOP MARINE GENERAL'S BLUNT COMMENTS DRAW FIRE
http://www.nbc4.tv/politics/4155808/detail.html
(Video of the general's remarks is available at this site.)
"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a
sporting
event," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "These disturbing
remarks
are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life."
Awad urged that "appropriate disciplinary action" be taken against Gen.
Mattis.
In 2003, CAIR called for similar action against Lt. Gen. William G.
Boykin,
who told church audiences that he is in "the army of God" and claimed
Muslims worship an "idol." A Pentagon investigation of Boykin's remarks
concluded that he violated regulations by failing to make clear he was
not
speaking in an official capacity and did not obtain prior clearance for
the
remarks.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/3/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: TEACH TRUTH
* ACTION ALERT: VOICE YOUR CONCERN OVER 'REAL ID ACT'
* MARINE GENERAL 'COUNSELED' FOR COMMENTS (AP)
* CAIR-HOUSTON: ROLE OF RELIGION IN HEALTH CARE
- CAIR-NY: Muslims to Hold Tsunami Memorial
- MA: Tsunami Response May Bridge Gap Between Faiths
- CAIR-DC: 24's Culture Clash (TV Guide)
- CAIR-DC: Pope Promotes Mideast Peace (AP/RNS)
- CAIR-MD/VA Attends Community Forum
* IL: MUSLIM ALLEGES BIAS BY CHICAGO EATERY (Chicago Trib)
- OK: Female Muslims at OU Endure Stereotypes (OU Daily)
* MD: MUSLIMS AVAILABLE TO LEAD COUNCIL PRAYERS (Gazette)
- MI: Panel Examines Muslim Perceptions of America
* TX: MUSLIM CHARITY SAYS IT IS UNFAIRLY TARGETED (DMN)
* CHERTOFF AND TORTURE (The Nation)
- Chertoff: No Remorse for Post-9/11 Round-Up (ACLU)
- U.S. Asks Saudis to Indict or Return Suspect (WP)
* MD: LT. GOVERNOR TO SPEAK AT MUSLIM FORUM
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: TEACH TRUTH
"By (the token of) time (through the ages). Verily mankind is in (a
state
of) loss, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and (join
together) in the mutual teaching of truth and patience."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 103
-----
ACTION ALERT: VOICE YOUR CONCERN OVER 'REAL ID ACT'
New legislation designates PLO representatives as 'terrorists,' may
harm
asylum seekers
(WASHINGTON, DC - 2/3/05) - CAIR is urging all persons of conscience to
voice their concern over the recently-introduced REAL ID Act. House
Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) bill is
composed of provisions that were deemed too controversial and stripped
from
last year's intelligence reform bill.
The bill makes it harder for people fleeing persecution to gain asylum
in
the U.S. In some cases, it may create a situation where an asylum
seeker
needs documents from the very government they are fleeing to prove
their case.
The bill also states: "An alien who is an officer, official,
representative
or spokesman of the Palestine Liberation Organization is considered,
for
purposes of this Act, to be engaged in a terrorist activity." If
enacted,
this would terminate the current high hopes that the new situation in
the
Palestinian Territories can lead to a just peace.
Last year, House leadership promised Sensenbrenner that his provisions
would be attached to the first piece of "must pass" legislation, such
as
that providing aid for countries devastated by recent tsunami or
funding
military operations in Iraq, to come before Congress.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact your elected officials and ask that they oppose the REAL ID
Act:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=issuesAndLegislations
To read the bill's text, go to thomas.loc.gov and type "HR 418"
(without
the quotation marks) into the search field.
For more information, go to:
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/media/2005_alerts/asy_0126_sens.htm
-----
MARINE GENERAL COUNSELED FOR COMMENTS
JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press, 2/3/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4776428,00.html
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Marine general who has commanded troops in
Afghanistan
and Iraq told a forum, "It's fun to shoot some people." The commandant
of
the Marine Corps said Thursday he has counseled Lt. Gen. James Mattis
about
choosing his words more carefully…
Thursday, Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a
statement saying, "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of
candor. I have counseled him concerning his remarks and he agrees he
should
have chosen his words more carefully…"
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
said he
would let Mattis address his comments himself. But, he said, "All of us
who
are leaders have a responsibility in our words and our actions to
provide
the right example all the time for those who look to us for
leadership..."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties
group,
called on the Pentagon to discipline Mattis for the remarks.
"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a
sporting
event," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad in a statement. "These
disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the
value
of human life…"
According to Mattis' biography, he commanded, as a lieutenant colonel,
an
assault battalion during the first war with Iraq. During the war in
Afghanistan, he commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; in the
second war in Iraq, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the
invasion and when the unit returned to Iraq for counterinsurgency
operations last year.
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON: ROLE OF RELIGION IN HEALTH CARE
(HOUSTON, TX, 2/3/05) - On February 1, a representative of the Houston
office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) joined
with
Buddhist and Catholic speakers to discuss the role of religion in
health
care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway told the group of some 25
physician assistant students about the Muslim perspectives on illness,
medical treatment, gender relations, and the sanctity of human life in
Islam.
"Thank you so much for taking time to speak with our students yesterday
afternoon. I've already gotten positive feedback from several of our
students regarding the information you presented to them yesterday,"
said
Yvonne Baier of Baylor College of Medicine's Allied Health Sciences
Physicians Assistant Program.
Attendees received CAIR publication, "A Health Care Professionals Guide
to
Islamic Religious Practices." (The booklet may be requested by
e-mailing
pubs@cair-net.org. Include name, address and phone number.)
Galloway recently gave a similar presentation on Islam and American
Muslims
to the Seabrook, Texas, Rotary Club. CAIR-Houston speakers are
available to
educators, clubs and other organizations, please submit your request
online
at: http://www.cairhouston.org/speaker.htm
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-656-0449
---
CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS TO HOLD TSUNAMI MEMORIAL AND FUNDRAISER
WHAT: New Yorkers of all ethnicities and faiths will join religious
leaders
and public officials in an interfaith memorial service and fundraiser
for
those who have been directly impacted by the tsunami in Asia and
Africa.
The event is sponsored by Muslim New Yorkers for Tsunami Remembrance
and
Relief, a broad coalition of area mosques and community organizations.
Representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist,
Afro-Caribbean, Native American and other communities will be present.
WHEN: Sunday, February 13th, 2005 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: The Riverside Church, Riverside Drive at 120th street, New York,
NY.
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr at (917) 751-1017
---
TSUNAMI RESPONSE MAY BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN FAITHS
Margaret Smith, Wilmington Advocate, 2/3/05
http://www2.townonline.com/wilmington/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=176891
At the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, worshippers have remembered
the
victims and survivors of the South Asia tsunami both in prayers and in
bake
sales organized by Sunday school classes...
In the worldwide response to the tsunami, some see hope for more
dialogue
between Muslims and non-Muslims and easing conflicts in some of the
hardest-hit countries…
---
24'S CULTURE CLASH
Rochell D. Thomas, TV Guide, 2/3/05
http://www.tvguide.com/news/insider/050203b.asp
There's a controversy brewing on 24. And its name is Dina Araz.
Brilliantly
played by Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo - an Oscar nominee for
2003's
House of Sand and Fog - Dina heads a family of sleeper terrorist agents
hell-bent on attacking the Yankee Empire.
How determined is she? After her son's girlfriend discovered their
lair,
Dina ordered him to "take care of this." Knowing that he wouldn't shoot
her, Dina preemptively poisoned the girl's tea. "I am so disappointed
in
you," she hissed at her son.
It was one of 24's trademark cold-blooded moments. But it's scenes like
that one that have outraged members of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), which has protested the series' portrayal of
American-Muslims. "They're showing an entire family - the mother, the
father, the son - all involved in a terrorist plot," says CAIR
spokeswoman
Rabiah Ahmed. "There's danger in that. Especially when you have Muslims
constantly being portrayed as terrorists..."
---
FAITHFUL PAUSE TO OFFER PRAYERS FOR AILING POPE
Associated Press and Religion News Service, 2/3/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002168922_pope03.html
Muslim and Jewish groups expressed concern for the pope's health and
gratitude for his work in reaching out to people of other faiths.
"The pope has been a strong advocate for justice in the Middle East and
Muslims recognize that," said Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the
Washington-based Council on American Islamic Relations…
-----
CAIR-MD/VA ATTENDS COMMUNITY FORUM
On January 25, CAIR-MD/VA attended a VA-SCOPE Community Forum with
Fairfax
County Police Chief David Rohrer and Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors
Gerry Connolly to discuss law enforcement issues impacting the
immigrant
communities of Fairfax County. Local district supervisor Penelope Gross
was
also present along with several local police officers and
representatives
from Fairfax County Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and
the
Herndon Police Department.
For more information, please contact: info@cairmd.org
-----
MUSLIM WOMAN ALLEGES BIAS BY CHICAGO MEXICAN EATERY
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 2/3/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502030318feb03,1,1874002.story
A Muslim woman filed a discrimination complaint this week against a
Mexican
restaurant in Chicago, alleging an employee refused to serve her
because of
her Islamic religion and mode of dress.
Shaihla Sultana, a Lincolnwood resident born in India, alleged in a
complaint filed Tuesday with the Illinois Department of Human Rights
that
the employee of Chipotle Mexican Grill grabbed her wrist, pushed her
away
and said, "I don't want to serve you" after Sultana requested a
vegetarian
meal due to Muslim dietary rules…
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications Ahmed Rehab,
847-971-3963,
communications@cairchicago.org; CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser
Tabbara, 312-718-3725, 312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org
SEE ALSO:
FEMALE MUSLIMS AT OU ENDURE STEREOTYPES AS THEY OBSERVE RELIGIOUS
TRADITION
Bonnie Thompson, OU Daily, 2/2/05
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/02/420059594e4b7
Houda Elyazgi said she often recalls a Stephen Hawking quote: "The
greatest
enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
For Elyazgi, public relations sophomore, this idea is scary because she
is
reminded of it on a daily basis.
"You believe that you know and what you know is right," Elyazgi said.
"That
is a scary thing because it can damage a society."
The illusion of knowledge Elyazgi fears is misconceptions about her
religion, culture and lifestyle. Elyazgi is one of many Muslim students
at
OU who deal with being misunderstood by their peers.
The source of many misconceptions seems to be the hijab, or headscarf,
Muslim women wear to promote modesty and humility, Elyazgi said.
She said many people think the scarf is a symbol associated with a
nationality.
"You can be born in Norman, Okla., and raised here all your life and
still,
you'll still have that label of being a foreigner," Elyazgi said...
-----
MUSLIMS SAY THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO LEAD COUNTY COUNCIL PRAYERS
Gazette, 2/3/05
http://www.gazette.net/200505/princegeorgescty/county/258202-1.html
The Gazette recently reported that no Muslim leaders led the invocation
at
County Council opening sessions because county coordinators could not
find
available imams.
Not so, said a Muslim leader.
Dawud Abdur-Rahman, who heads of the Islamic Society of Prince George's
County, a group that worships in the Davie Unitarian Universalist
Church in
Temple Hills and promotes inter-faith dialogue, said he is available to
lead invocations and he can provide a list of other Prince George's
Muslim
leaders who may be available.
"I can offer my name in the hat, and send them an e-mail with some of
the
other imam's information," Abdur-Rahman said when contacted by this
week...
The County Council's senior receptionist Brenda Simms, who is a Muslim,
recommended Imam Ahmed Lamptey, a member of the Islamic Research and
Humanitarian Services of America, Inc., based in Capitol Heights.
"We were trying to get some other [religious leaders], so this is
perfect,"
Johnson said.
SEE ALSO:
PANEL EXAMINES MUSLIM PERCEPTIONS OF AMERICA
http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2005/02/007.html
KALAMAZOO--Muslim perceptions of America after Sept. 11, 2001, will be
the
subject of a panel discussion Friday, Feb. 4, featuring several Western
Michigan University professors and other scholars and students.
Sponsored
by the WMU Department of Political Science's Institute of Government
and
Politics, the event is 3 to 6 p.m. in Room 210 of the WMU Bernhard
Center.
Taking part will be panel chairperson Dr. Mustafa Mirzeler, assistant
professor of Africana studies; keynote speaker Dr. Mushtaq Luqmani,
professor of marketing; and discussant panelist Dr. Sisay Asefa,
professor
of economics. Other speakers include professors Aqshin Ceferov and
Julia
Harmon, attorney Sait Pektas, Alper Dede and Christopher Speaks.
Scholars and students from various countries will examine the impact of
Muslims' changing perceptions toward America. For more information,
call
Dr. Gunther Hega, associate professor of political science and director
of
the Institute of Government and Politics, at (269) 387-5885.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu
WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news
-----
CHARITY'S OFFICIALS SAY IT IS UNFAIRLY UNDER INVESTIGATION
MARK WROLSTAD, Dallas Morning News, 2/5/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/dallas/stories/020305dnmetkinderusa.25130.html
An international Islamic charity based in Dallas has suspended
operations,
saying it's unfairly become the target of an investigation by the U.S.
government.
Federal authorities refused to confirm whether KinderUSA was under
investigation for financing terrorism. The 3-year-old organization has
personnel ties to the defunct Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development, which was shut down in December 2001 after it was accused
of
being the primary American fund-raiser for the Palestinian group Hamas,
which has been accused of terrorism.
In recent postings on Kinder- USA's Web site, board members accused
federal
investigators of using illegal tactics. They also said they feared the
government would seize the group's donations, as has happened several
times
since the U.S. crackdown on Muslim charities after the terrorist
attacks of
September 2001.
KinderUSA's staff in Dallas and the group's chairwoman, Dr. Laila
Al-Marayati, declined to comment about the shutdown, its rationale or
the
potential fallout.
Dr. Al-Marayati's husband, Salam, who runs a nationwide Muslim-American
advocacy group with no affiliation to KinderUSA, said the charity's
closure
has been painful and upsetting for the Muslim community and donors.
"They're very troubled as well, and they would like to see it resolved
in
the best interests of all parties," said Mr. Al-Marayati, director of
the
Muslim Public Affairs Council based in Los Angeles. "We would like to
know
what's going on."
In its statement to "respected donors," the board said that despite
efforts
to be transparent and accountable and comply with all laws, "in recent
weeks we have discovered that the federal government has targeted
KinderUSA
for investigation."
The charity said it had distributed more than $4 million since its
founding
and listed more than $1 million in assets as of 2003. But it said it
had no
choice but to halt operations during "a period of evaluation" this
year.
"We cannot in good faith continue to solicit donations when there are
no
safeguards in place to guarantee that the federal government will not
seize
these funds and divert them from their intended, legitimate
destination,"
the board wrote.
In a separate message, the board said its monthly sponsorship programs
for
needy Palestinian children also would be terminated Jan. 31, but
sponsors
could continue donating through the international charity Islamic
Relief.
The charity posted financial statements and annual reports online and
said
it met federal guidelines, including anti-terrorist financing practices
set
up by the Treasury Department in 2002.
In its online statement, KinderUSA made accusations of "unwarranted and
obtrusive surveillance by the FBI, wiretapping, attempts to bribe and
subvert our employees [which has caused them to resign in fear],
spreading
of malicious disinformation ... and the possible invasion of our office
space."
The group has asked the government to explain the investigation and
said
that "with the necessary assurances from the U.S. government" it hoped
to
continue its work.
Lori Bailey, spokeswoman for the FBI's Dallas office, wouldn't confirm
an
investigation but said, "That's quite a strong statement there…
-----
CHERTOFF AND TORTURE
DAVE LINDORFF, The Nation, 2/14/05
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20050214&s=lindorff
Back on Friday, June 12, 2002, the Defense Department had a big
problem:
Its new policy on torture of captives in the "war on terror" was about
to
be exposed. John Walker Lindh, the young Californian captured in
Afghanistan in December 2001 and touted by John Ashcroft as an
"American
Taliban," was scheduled to take the stand the following Monday in an
evidence suppression hearing regarding a confession he had signed.
There he
would tell, under oath, about how he signed the document only after
being
tortured for days by US soldiers. Federal District Judge T.S. Ellis had
already said he was likely to allow Lindh, at trial, to put on the
stand
military officers and even Guant�namo detainees who were witnesses to
or
participants in his alleged abuse.
The Defense Department, which we now know had in late 2001 begun a
secret,
presidentially approved program of torture of Afghan and Al Qaeda
captives
at Bagram Air Base and other locations, had made it clear to the
Justice
Department that it wanted the suppression hearing blocked. American
torture
at that point was still just a troubling rumor, and the Bush
Administration
clearly wanted to keep it that way. Accordingly, Michael Chertoff, who
as
head of the Justice Department's criminal division was overseeing all
the
department's terrorism prosecutions, had his prosecution team offer a
deal.
All the serious charges against Lindh--terrorism, attempted murder,
conspiracy to kill Americans, etc.--would be dropped and he could plead
guilty just to the technical charges of "providing assistance" to an
"enemy
of the U.S." and of "carrying a weapon…"
But Chertoff went further, according to one of Lindh's attorneys,
George
Harris. Chertoff (now an appeals court judge in New Jersey)
demanded--reportedly at Defense Department insistence, according to
what
defense attorneys were told--that Lindh sign a statement swearing he
had
"not been intentionally mistreated" by his US captors and waiving any
future right to claim mistreatment or torture. Further, Chertoff
attached a
"special administrative measure," essentially a gag order, barring
Lindh
from talking about his experience for the duration of his sentence…
SEE ALSO:
CHERTOFF SHOWS NO REMORSE FOR ROUND-UP OF ARAB, MUSLIM AND SOUTH ASIAN
MEN
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=17408&c=206
WASHINGTON - Michael Chertoff, nominee for Secretary of Homeland
Security
and the force behind the unprovoked detention of hundreds of Arab,
South
Asian and Muslim men after 9/11, showed no regrets for that roundup
during
his Senate confirmation hearing today. He also acknowledged he was
consulted on the development and implementation of a notorious Justice
Department torture memo…
---
U.S. ASKS SAUDI ARABIA TO INDICT OR RETURN TERRORISM SUSPECT
Dana Priest and Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 2/3/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58638-2005Feb2.html
The State Department has asked Saudi Arabia to either indict a U.S.
citizen
it is holding on suspicion of terrorist activities or allow the Justice
Department to return him to the United States.
The move represents a victory for the parents and supporters of Ahmed
Abu
Ali, 23, of Falls Church, who has been held without charges in Saudi
Arabia
since June 2003…
The family has said that the government asked Saudi Arabia to detain
him.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates scheduled a Feb. 11
hearing to
determine the process for deciding what information the U.S. government
will have to disclose about its possible role in the detention.
During the hearing, Bates hinted that the government might have a
development in the case soon…
-----
MD LT. GOVERNOR TO SPEAK AT MUSLIM FORUM
Howard County Muslim Council Invite you to a Civil Liberties forum,
called
"Dreams of American Children: Living the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr."
Speakers
* Lt. Governor Michael Steele
* Senator Allan Kittleman
* Congressman Elijah Cummings
* Honorable MP Wajid Ali Khan
On
Friday February 11th 6:00 PM
At
Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
RSVP 410-750-2739
Email: IMALIK54@HOTMAIL.COM
Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB)
Tel: (410) 747-4869
Email: info@isb.org
Web: www.alrahmah.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/4/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: NEVER TOO PROUD
* CAIR-CA CO-HOSTS 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' FORUM
- CAIR Rep Discusses General's Remarks on CBS News
* A WHISTLE-BLOWER'S VIEW OF DHS NOMINEE (LA Times)
* THE SENATE AND MR. GONZALES (NY Times)
- Our Battered Constitution (NY Times)
- UN: Detainees May Develop Psychosis (AP)
* KORANIC DUELS EASE TERROR (Christian Science Monitor)
* HOW THE RIGHT PLAYED FASCISM CARD AGAINST ISLAM (Guardian)
* HAS '24' GONE TOO FAR? (Entertainment Weekly)
- Some Claim New Movie Is Anti-Islam (Herald-Trib)
* MO: VANDALS TARGET MUSLIM HOME (KC Star)
* MI: MUSLIM DINNER OFFERS MUSIC, COMEDY (State News)
* MO: 'GENDER, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ISLAM' (Record)
- IN: Muslim to Speak in Churches (Plain Dealer)
- MI: Rabbi to Speak On Islam (Free Press)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NEVER TOO PROUD
"Surely those who are close to your Lord are never too proud to worship
Him."
The Holy Quran, 7:206
-----
CAIR-NCA AND BAAML HOST 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' FORUM
WHAT: On February 4, the Northern California office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NCA) and the Bay Area Association of
Muslim Lawyers (BAAML) will host a "Know Your Rights" forum, including
a
panel on government surveillance, immigration and discrimination.
Dinner is complimentary. Donations are welcome. This is a program for
the
whole community. There are parallel sessions for youth and children.
Child-Care (3-5 years old) will be provided.
WHEN: Friday, Feb 4th, 2005, 6:30 PM
6:30 PM: Dinner & Socialization
7:30 PM: Isha Prayer
8:00 PM: Presentations
10:00 PM: Dua
WHERE: 325 N. Third Street, San Jose, CA (Ph: 408/947/9389)
Contact Person: Mahbub Khan, E-Mail: mahbubkhan@ieee.org.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR REP DISCUSSES GENERAL'S REMARKS ON CBS EVENING NEWS
U.S. GENERAL'S REMARKS STIR CONTROVERSY
CBS Evening News, 2/3/05
DAN RATHER: A senior decorated combat general of the United States
Marine
Corps who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan is taking sharp
criticism
for suggesting that shooting people in combat can be fun. CBS' David
Martin
has more on what the general said and the reaction to it in and out of
the
military.
DAVID MARTIN: Lieutenant General James Mattis is one of the Marine
Corps'
top combat generals. But comments he made this week sound downright
trigger-happy.
LT. GENERAL JAMES MATTIS (USMC): Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight
them,
you know? It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people, I'll be
right up front with you. I like brawling.' MARTIN: Talking to defense
contractors in San Diego, he also made it sound as if he particularly
enjoyed shooting Muslims who mistreat women.
LT. GENERAL JAMES MATTIS (USMC): Guys like that ain't got no manhood
left
anyway, so it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them.
MARTIN: The Commandant of the Marine Corps rushed out a statement
saying he
had counseled Mattis. But the leader of one Islamic group says that's
not
enough.
NIHAD AWAD (Council on American-Islamic Relations): We see this, you
know,
less than a slap on the wrist, and it sends a very negative message to
the
Muslim world that U.S. generals do not care about human life.
MARTIN: Mattis commanded Marines during the battle for Fallujah last
Spring. Then, he sounded anything but trigger-happy.
LT. GENERAL JAMES MATTIS (USMC): If, in order to take out a terrorist,
you
have to hit, you know, shoot and kill innocent women and children,
don't
take the shot. Wait for another day.
MARTIN: And anything but insensitive to Muslim culture.
LT. GENERAL JAMES MATTIS (USMC): We had Arabists come in and teach
culture
classes just so people are aware of what we're doing, we don't
inadvertently do something dumb.
MARTIN: Mattis might not have done anything dumb, but he knows he said
something dumb. And admits he should have chosen his words more
carefully.
-----
A WHISTLE-BLOWER'S INSIDE VIEW OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY NOMINEE
Jesselyn Radack, Los Angeles Times, 2/4/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-radack4feb04,0,1777879.story
On Wednesday, in hearings on his nomination to be head of Homeland
Security, Michael Chertoff had this to say: "If you are dealing with
something that makes you nervous, you'd better make sure that you are
doing
the right thing. And you'd better check it out.... You had better be
very
careful to make sure that whatever it is you decide to do falls well
within
what is required by the law."
I could hardly believe my ears.
In 2001, Chertoff was the head of the Criminal Division of the Justice
Department and I was legal advisor to the department on matters of
ethics.
When I "did the right thing," and gave the department advice that
conflicted with what it wanted to hear, I was forced out of my job,
fired
from my subsequent private sector job at the government's behest,
placed
under criminal investigation without any charges ever being brought,
referred for disciplinary action to the state bars where I'm licensed
as a
lawyer, and, so I've been told as I've been searched time and again at
airports, put on the "no fly" list.
Here's what happened. In 2001, I was a legal advisor in the Justice
Department's Professional Responsibility Advisory Office. On Dec. 7, I
fielded a call from a criminal division attorney named John DePue. He
wanted to know about the ethical propriety of interrogating "American
Talib" John Walker Lindh without a lawyer being present. DePue told me
that
Lindh's father had retained counsel for his son.
I advised him that Lindh should not be questioned without his lawyer.
That
was on a Friday. Over the weekend, the FBI interviewed him anyway.
DePue
called back on Monday asking what to do now.
I advised that the interview might have to be sealed and used only for
intelligence-gathering or national security purposes, not criminal
prosecution. Again, my advice was ignored.
Three weeks later, on Jan. 15, 2002, then-Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft
announced that a criminal complaint was being filed against Lindh. "The
subject here is entitled to choose his own lawyer," he said, "and to
our
knowledge, has not chosen a lawyer at this time." I knew that wasn't
true.
Three weeks later, Ashcroft announced Lindh's indictment, saying his
rights
"have been carefully, scrupulously honored." Again, I knew that wasn't
true…
[Jesselyn Radack writes on legal ethics. She has filed a whistle-blower
lawsuit against the Justice Department. Her website is www.cradl.info.]
-----
THE SENATE AND MR. GONZALES
New York Times, 2/4/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/04/opinion/4fri1.html
The confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as attorney general yesterday was
depressing. The president deserves a great deal of leeway in choosing
his
own cabinet. But beyond his other failings, Mr. Gonzales has come to
represent the administration's role in paving the way for the abuse and
torture of prisoners by American soldiers and intelligence agents.
Giving
him the nation's top legal post is a terrible signal to send the rest
of
the world, and to American citizens concerned with human rights.
The 60-to-36 vote for confirmation was also preceded by a depressing
debate. There was the usual comic opera of these Senate votes, with the
president's party piously denouncing all opposition as outrageous
politicking and the opposition piously denying it. But this debate had
a
sinister overtone as well: in a ham-handed way, the Republicans tried
to
portray a vote against Mr. Gonzales as an act of bigotry.
Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, declaring that "I love the Hispanic
people,"
warned that Hispanic Americans were "sensing there's something unfair
going
on." Using that "more in sorrow than in anger" tone that senators
reserve
for their most blatantly political comments, he added, "I suspect
there's
more than politics being played here."
Mr. Gonzales has the kind of life story that all Americans should
admire,
and that many can find in their families. The value of diversity in the
cabinet is indisputable. But it is also irrelevant here. Mr. Gonzales
was a
bad choice for attorney general because of his record, not his ethnic
background.
It was Mr. Gonzales who asked for the original legal advice from the
Justice Department on the treatment of prisoners in the "war on
terror."
There was no need to go through that exercise; the rules were clear.
But
Mr. Gonzales gave the president the flexibility he wanted, first in the
Justice Department memo outlining ways to make torture seem legal, and
then
by offering the Orwellian argument that the president can declare
himself
above the law and can order illegal actions like detaining prisoners
without a hearing and authorizing torture…
ALSO SEE:
OUR BATTERED CONSTITUTION
Bob Herbert, New York Times, 2/4/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/04/opinion/4herbert.html
The Constitution? Forget about it.
Only about half of America's high school students think newspapers
should
be allowed to publish freely, without government approval of their
stories.
And a third say the free speech guarantees of the First Amendment go
"too far."
This has thrown a lot of noses out of joint. Hodding Carter III,
president
of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which financed a
two-year
study of high school attitudes about First Amendment freedoms, said,
"These
results are not only disturbing - they are dangerous."
But maybe we shouldn't be so hard on the youngsters. After all, they've
been set a terrible example by a presidential administration that has
left
no doubt about its contempt for a number of our supposedly most
cherished
constitutional guarantees.
In an important decision on Monday, a federal judge in Washington ruled
that the Bush administration cannot be allowed to defy the Constitution
and
an order of the Supreme Court in its treatment of the hundreds of
prisoners
it is holding at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba. The judge, Joyce Hens Green,
said
the administration must permit the detainees it is holding as "enemy
combatants" to challenge their detention in federal courts.
The administration has tried mightily to establish its right to treat
anyone who it determines is an "enemy combatant" any way it chooses. It
has
argued that it can hold such detainees for a lifetime - without
charging
them, without giving them access to lawyers, without showing them the
evidence against them and without allowing them to challenge their
detention.
Administration officials are adamant on this matter, and yesterday they
were granted a stay of Judge Green's decision, pending an appeal…
---
U.N.: DETAINEES MAY DEVELOP PSYCHOSIS
Associated Press, 2/4/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=UN%20Guantanamo
GENEVA (AP) - U.N. human rights experts Friday expressed concern about
possible "irreversible psychiatric symptoms" developing among suspected
terrorists entering a fourth year of virtual solitary confinement at
the
U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The experts on arbitrary detention noted allegations that detainees at
Guantanamo may be subject to ``inhuman and degrading treatment.''
Human rights officials have expressed concern about the treatment of
prisoners at Guantanamo.
A secret report obtained by The Associated Press found that guards
punched
some detainees, tied one to a gurney for questioning and forced a dozen
to
strip from the waist down. One squad was all-female, traumatizing some
Muslim prisoners, according to the report that summarized what
investigators saw when they viewed 20 hours of videotapes of the
squads.
"The conditions of detention, especially of those in solitary
confinement,
place the detainees at significant risk of psychiatric deterioration,
possibly including the development of irreversible psychiatric
symptoms,"
the U.N. experts said in a statement. "Many of the inmates are
completing
their third year of virtually incommunicado detention, without legal
assistance or information as to the expected duration of their
detention."
-----
KORANIC DUELS EASE TERROR
James Brandon, Christian Science Monitor, 2/4/05
http://csmonitor.com/2005/0204/p01s04-wome.html
SANAA, YEMEN - When Judge Hamoud al-Hitar announced that he and four
other
Islamic scholars would challenge Yemen's Al Qaeda prisoners to a
theological contest, Western antiterrorism experts warned that this
high-stakes gamble would end in disaster.
Nervous as he faced five captured, yet defiant, Al Qaeda members in a
Sanaa
prison, Judge Hitar was inclined to agree. But banishing his doubts,
the
youthful cleric threw down the gauntlet, in the hope of bringing peace
to
his troubled homeland.
"If you can convince us that your ideas are justified by the Koran,
then we
will join you in your struggle," Hitar told the militants. "But if we
succeed in convincing you of our ideas, then you must agree to renounce
violence."
The prisoners eagerly agreed.
Now, two years later, not only have those prisoners been released, but
a
relative peace reigns in Yemen. And the same Western experts who
doubted
this experiment are courting Hitar, eager to hear how his "theological
dialogues" with captured Islamic militants have helped pacify this wild
and
mountainous country, previously seen by the US as a failed state, like
Iraq
and Afghanistan.
"Since December 2002, when the first round of the dialogues ended,
there
have been no terrorist attacks here, even though many people thought
that
Yemen would become terror's capital," says Hitar, eyes glinting
shrewdly
from beneath his emerald-green turban. "Three hundred and sixty-four
young
men have been released after going through the dialogues and none of
these
have left Yemen to fight anywhere else."
"Yemen's strategy has been unconventional certainly, but it has
achieved
results that we could never have hoped for," says one European
diplomat,
who did not want to be named. "Yemen has gone from being a potential
enemy
to becoming an indispensable ally in the war on terror."
To be sure, the prisoner-release program is not solely responsible for
the
absence of attacks in Yemen. The government has undertaken a range of
measures to combat terrorism from closing down extreme madrassahs, the
Islamic schools sometimes accused of breeding hate, to deporting
foreign
militants...
-----
HOW THE RIGHT PLAYED THE FASCISM CARD AGAINST ISLAM
Albert Scardino, Guardian, 2/4/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1405605,00.html
Fascism is coming back into fashion, at least in the propaganda wars.
For
the right, it comes in the shape of a new word: "islamofascism". That
conflates all the elements into one image: suicide bombs, kidnappings
and
the Qur'an; the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; Iranian clerics and
Hitler.
The term seems to have appeared first in the Washington Times in a
reference to Islamist fundamentalists. Coined by Khalid Duran, a Muslim
scholar seeking to explain Islam to Jews, the word was meant as a
criticism
of hyper-traditionalist clerics - who in turn denounced Duran as a
traitor
to the faith.
Usage has gathered momentum among commentators and academics who seek a
verbal missile to debilitate those who disagree with them. They have
adopted it as a sort of Judeo-Christian war cry - look for it soon in
the
title of a neo-conservative think tank conference.
For the left, the term "fascist" lost its power in the 1970s, when it
was
sprayed on every authority figure in sight, from the Nixon-Kissinger
White
House to university provosts to the neighbourhood cop.
To make Bush-Hitler comparisons work requires more nuanced historical
references - to the night of the long knives, for example, as Sidney
Blumenthal did about the dismissal of Colin Powell. Unfortunately for
liberals, those references don't work as efficiently as islamofascism
does
for the right, because to imagine the appropriately creepy picture
requires
a familiarity with German history of the 1920s and 30s. Nazism is
better
known for its death camps than for Leni Riefenstahl or the Reichstag
fire,
so analogies between the Nazis' early years and current Republican
party
behaviour seem hollow, no matter how strong some parallels might be.
Christopher Hitchens, a former socialist who now sits on the other end
of
the political see-saw, sprinkles islamofascism about like paprika. He
and
Andrew Sullivan, a voice of the right, both wrongly receive credit in
some
quarters for coining the term.
Long before September 11 2001, Duran was commissioned by the American
Jewish Committee to produce one side of an interfaith project. Duran
responded to attacks on his book, Children of Abraham, by deriding
those
who sought "to impose religious orthodoxy on the state and the
citizenry".
In that sense, he said, extreme islamism is "islamofascism…"
-----
HAS '24' GONE TOO FAR?
Its most gripping season is also its most controversial.
Jeff Jensen; Lynette Rice, Entertainment Weekly, 2/11/05
http://www.ew.com/ew/
APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING--dangerously so--on Fox's 24. Especially
with
the current fourth season, in which the family next door might be
foreign
extremists plotting nuclear holocaust. Coming off a limp year that saw
hero
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battle cliched Mexican drug lords, 24
has
upped its ratings 36 percent from this point last season and spiked its
crackerjack quotient by re-embracing the war on terror. The Jan. 24
episode, in which Bauer rescued the secretary of defense (William
Devane)
from execution, reestablished the series as TV's foremost
roller-coaster
ride and political provocateur.
Yet some believe 24's renewed vitality comes with dangerous
stereotypes.
Like those neighbors from hell, the Araz family--a Muslim clan whose
breakfast chatter can toggle between "Pass the jelly" and "How's the
jihad
going?" with unsettling ease. That and its penchant for wicked women
have
made the series the subject of hot-button questions:
Is 24 pandering to anti--Arab-American sentiment? Playing the Middle
Eastern terrorist card is actually unusual for the series. When the
stereotype has been indulged, as in season 2, the extremists were
ultimately revealed to be pawns in a military-industrial- complex
conspiracy. But with newspapers filled with reports of bombings and
beheadings in Iraq, the producers decided to speculatively rip from the
headlines…
Still, there've been no news flashes on terror cells masquerading as
law-abiding families in the U.S.--which is why the Council on
American-Islamic Relations is so upset. Says spokesperson Rabiah Ahmed:
"They are creating a new stereotype. We have enough already." After
hearing
CAIR's concerns, Fox is planning to air a tolerance-touting PSA. CAIR
also
says it was assured that the evolving story line would eventually offer
a
balanced view of Arab Americans. The group's still waiting: In a recent
episode, the Araz matriarch (House of Sand and Fog's Shohreh
Aghdashloo)
poisoned her son's Anglo girlfriend…
ALSO SEE:
SOME CLAIM 'KINGDOM' IS ANTI-ISLAM
Glenn Lovell, Herald Tribune, 2/4/05
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050204/COLUMNIST49/502040575/1064/POLITICS10
Have you seen the trailer for 20th Century Fox's oddly timed "Kingdom
of
Heaven," which pits Christians against Muslims in a Holy War?
Looks terrific, doesn't it -- brimming with romance, action, palace
intrigue. Obviously, director Ridley Scott is leaving nothing to
chance. He
wants that best director Oscar many believed should have been his for
"Gladiator."
Now there's just that nagging question of political correctness. Is
"Kingdom" anti-Islamic, as some have already conjectured?
Jack Shaheen, author of "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a
People,"
has his suspicions. Three months ago, he offered his services to Fox as
an
independent scholar. At first, he says, the studio was "extremely
enthused"
about his offer.
But now as the epic nears its May 6 opening, they won't return his
calls or
e-mails.
"They've gone from very anxious to meet with me to no contact
whatsoever,"
reported Shaheen, in L.A. to consult on a new George Clooney film.
"That
means they're trying to hide something. Have they made another
Hollywood
film that pits Christianity against the Muslim hordes? I worry about
that."
-----
BIAS CRIME
Glen E. Rice, KC Star, 2/3/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/10801604.htm
Kansas City police are investigating what they consider a bias crime
aimed
at a Muslim family in the Northland.
The family alerted police recently after they discovered that someone
had
spray-painted a foul message on their home in the 5400 block of
Northwest
Walden Avenue. No other damage was reported, said Capt. Rich Lockhart,
police spokesman.
Lockhart said no arrests have been made. Investigators think the
incident
may have been isolated.
-----
MUSLIM DINNER OFFERS MUSIC, COMEDY
Josh Jarman, The State News, 2/4/05
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=28201
Members of the Muslim Student Association practice songs celebrating
Islam
and the prophet Mohammed on Wednesday night at the Hannah Community
Center,
819 Abbott Road. The group of nine men are performing for Eid, which
celebrates the sacrifice of Abraham on the tenth day during the
pilgrimage
to Mecca.
Laughter, song and the aroma of Middle Eastern cuisine will fill the
Hannah
Community Center today.
The Muslim Students' Association, or MSA, will host its fifth annual
Eid
dinner at 7 p.m. in the center, 819 Abbott Road.
This time, however, the group will add a little extra flavor to the
menu.
"We wanted to do something new," Siddique Farooqi, a first-year Cooley
Law
School student said. "We wanted fellow students to see us up here."
New entertainment planned for the event includes comedy skits and the
singing of traditional Islamic devotional songs called anasheeds, sung
in
Arabic.
Farooqi said the songs celebrate Islam and the life of the Muslim
prophet
Muhammad. They will be performed by nine members of the group. The
association members have been practicing for weeks, since few of them
speak
Arabic…
-----
'GENDER, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ISLAM' PANEL DISCUSSION
Neil Schoenherr, Record, 2/4/05
http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/4637.html
A panel discussion titled "Gender, Human Rights and Islam," featuring
Shaheen S. Ali, visiting professor in the School of Law, will be held
at
4:15 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom of Anheuser-Busch
Hall.
Ali will present "Application of Islamic Law in Diasporic Communities:
A
Feminist Perspective."
Ali is a professor of law at the University of Warwick in the United
Kingdom. She is teaching a course at WUSTL called "Gender, Islam and
Human
Rights."
A native of Pakistan, Ali served as minister for health for that
country's
Northwest Frontier Province in 2001. She has written five books and
more
than two dozen articles on human rights, family law, alternative
dispute
resolution, women's rights, ethnic minority issues in Pakistan, and
gender,
law and development.
Also scheduled to present during the panel discussion are:
Ahmet T. Karamustafa, Ph.D., director of Jewish, Islamic and Near
Eastern
Studies and associate professor of history and of Religious Studies,
all in
Arts & Sciences. He will address "Islamic Law and Modernity." Stephen
T.
Legomsky, Ph.D., the Charles F. Nagel Professor of International and
Comparative Law. His topic is "Religion, Gender and Asylum." Sunita A.
Parikh, Ph.D., associate professor of political science in Arts &
Sciences,
who will speak on "Religious Law, Custom and Gender in South Asia."
Leila Nadya Sadat, J.D., the Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law. She
will
talk about "Religion, Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy."
John R. Bowen, Ph.D., the Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor in Arts & Sciences
and
professor of anthropology in Arts & Sciences, who will address "Islamic
Norms in Europe: The State of Debate." The panel discussion is
sponsored by
the Pluralism, Politics & Religion Initiative in Arts & Sciences and
the
Whitney R. Harris Institute for Global Legal Studies.
For more information, call 935-5252.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM PEACE ACTIVIST TO SPEAK IN CHURCHES, COLLEGE STUDENTS
Plain Dealer, 2/2/05
http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2005/02/03/local_news/local2.txt
NORTH MANCHESTER - Muslim peace activist Ibrahim Malik Abdil-Mu'id
Ramey
will speak to area Church of the Brethren congregations and Manchester
College students in the next week.
The public is invited to all of the events for Ramey, who coordinates
the
Peace and Disarmament program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
The fellowship is the nation's oldest interfaith peace and social
justice
organization. Ramey is on a speaking tour to discuss the impact of the
U.S.
war machine on Third World communities within the United States and
globally.
The North Manchester Church of the Brethren will host Ramey at the
coffeehouse on Sunday. Ramey's presentation on the World Social Forum
in
Brazil will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The public also is invited to a reception for Ramey at the Manchester
College Intercultural Center from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday. Ramey will
discuss demilitarization and peace at the Kenapocomoco gathering at 9
p.m.
Monday in the Helman Hall Great Room on campus. Ramey's visit is
co-sponsored by the Manchester College Peace Studies Institute,
Kenapocomoco Coalition, Manchester Church of the Brethren and
Manchester
Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Ramey will travel to Fort Wayne on Feb. 5 to discuss the Fellowship of
Reconciliation at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren. The potluck
dinner
begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program at 7.
A native of Virginia, Ramey served on the staff of the Philadelphia
Black
Economic Development Conference and has presented at international
conferences in Tanzania, Libya, Sweden, North Korea, South Africa and
India.
He is a board member for the Muslim Women's Institute for Research and
Development, the Westchester (N.Y.) Martin Luther King Jr. Institute
for
Nonviolence and the Muslim Peace Fellowship and the Temple of
Understanding...
---
RABBI TO SPEAK ON ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM
Detroit Free Press, 2/4/05
http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/northfaith4n_20050204.htm
Temple Beth El: 7400 Telegraph, Bloomfield Twp. 248-851-1100. Rabbi
Marc
Saperstein will be the Scholar-in-Residence at the 63rd annual Rabbi B.
Benedict and Ada S. Glazer Institute on Judaism for Christian, Eastern
Orthodox, Muslim and Protestant clergy on Feb. 11. "Jews Under
Christianity
and Islam: What Does the Historical Record Show?" at 9:30 & 10:45 a.m.
Free. Drop-in. Shabbat service topic, "Jews and Muslims: Contacts
Through
the Centuries" at 7:30 p.m. Saperstein will speak on "How Golden Was
the
Golden Age in Spain" at Shabbat services, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 12.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/6/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A MIGHTY REWARD
- Hadith of the Day: Continuing Rewards
* CAIR-ST. LOUIS: THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
- CAIR-LA Co-Sponsors Civil Liberties Forum
- CAIR-FL: Muslim Donate Generously (Free Lance Star)
- CAIR Calls for Action Against General (Stars & Stripes)
- CAIR Civil Rights: DE Head-Wrap Dispute Has Happy Ending
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: FOR EVERY MOSQUE LEADER IN AMERICA
- INCITEMENT WATCH: Islam Stands in Way of Freedom
* IL: BANKS OFFER MUSLIMS USURY-FREE MORTGAGES (Chicago Trib)
* WI: MUSLIM MARRIAGE A MEETING OF MINDS (Cap Times)
- Influence of Muslim Literature Grows in U.S. (SF Chron)
- MI: Calligraphy Sheds Light on Islamic Culture (AA News)
- Did God Intend for Us to Eat Animals? (KC Star)
* RABBIS, IMAMS FIND COMMON GROUND (Jewish Journal)
- Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf: New Vision for Islam (Phil Inq)
- MI: The Way We Worship - Flint Islamic Center
* I ENTERED THE HELLISH WORLD OF GITMO (Observer)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A MIGHTY REWARD
"Rest assured that God does not wrong anyone by even as much as an
atom's
weight. If someone does a good deed, He will multiply it and bestow out
of
His grace a mighty reward."
The Holy Quran, 4:40
HADITH OF THE DAY: CONTINUING REWARDS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, what a believer
continues to receive (in the form of reward) for his action and his
virtues
after his death is the knowledge that he acquired and then
disseminated,
the pious (child) that he left behind, a copy of the Quran that he left
as
a legacy, the mosques that he built, the inn that he built for the use
of
travelers, the canal that he caused to flow, or charity that he gave
while
he was healthy and alive. (These are the acts of goodness the reward of
which) reaches him even after his death."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 90
-----
CAIR-ST. LOUIS: THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
(ST. LOUIS, MO, 2/6/05) - On February 8, the St. Louis office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-St. Louis) will host a
lecture
and dinner, with the theme "Hate Hurts," focusing on the struggle for
human
rights in this country and around the world.
Speakers include holocaust survivor Hedi Epstein, Japanese-American
WWII
internee Robert Mitori, former CAIR-St. Louis Chairman James Hacking,
and
Imam Samuel Ansari of Al-Mu'Minoun Mosque and Islamic Center.
WHEN: Tuesday February 8, 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: Darul Ilsam Masjid
The cost is free. To make reservations, e-mail cairstl_events@yahoo.com
or
call 636-207-8882.
-----
CAIR-LA CO-SPONSORS CIVIL LIBERTIES FORUM
WHAT: On February 7, CAIR-LA will co-sponsor a forum, "And Then They
Came
For Me: Civil Liberties...History, Now and Tomorrow."
The Moderator will be Stephen Rohde, Civil Liberties lawyer and author
of
"American Words of Freedom," with a keynote address by Rev. James
Lawson.
other speakers include: Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director, Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA); Arif Shaikh, Public Relations &
Media
Director, Islamic Relief Worldwide; Yaman Hamdan, daughter of detainee,
Imam Abdul-Jabbar Hamdan; Jim Matsuoka, survivor of the World War II
Japanese American Internment.
WHEN: Monday February 7, 2005, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: SGI-LA Friendship Center, 5899 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles
For more information, contact: Interfaith Communities United for
Justice
and Peace at (626)683-9004 or visit www.icujp.org.
-----
CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS DONATED GENEROUSLY
Cooperation among religions can grow out of relief efforts.
Parvez Ahmed, Free Lance Star, 2/6/05
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/022005/02062005/1644692
[PARVEZ AHMED is a board member of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.]
WASHINGTON--The response of the world community to the epic tsunami
disaster continues to be impressive. Nations and private citizens alike
have been galvanized to provide emergency relief of more than $7
billion.
At the United Nations-sponsored disaster conference, billions more are
being pledged as developmental aid.
The United States government has provided $350 million in emergency aid
and
U.S. private- sector aid is expected to total more than $700 million.
Missing from the numbers are people's empathy and emotions. From
students
organizing car washes to mothers doing bake sales, all point to the
incredible generosity of Americans.
Although the world today is more polarized than ever, crisis spurs us
to
transcend our political differences. Fortunately our milk of human
kindness
did not dry up in the sweltering heat of our passionate disagreements.
However, this outpouring of help has not stopped the conspiracy
theorists,
propagandists, and proselytizers from exploiting the tsunami disaster
in
appealing to the dark side of humanity.
The conspiracy theorists, often very anti-American in their viewpoints,
have as usual blamed America first. An Egyptian opposition weekly, Al
Usbua, claimed that the earthquake was a result of a joint
India-Israel-U.S. nuclear experiment, which brought about the movement
of
the tectonic plates located underneath the ocean.
The propagandists also seized the moment. A Muslim cleric explained the
coincidence of the disaster being one day after Christmas as God taking
the
life of Christians as they reveled in their "immorality." The
sermonizer
failed to grasp the reality that his views are not supported by the
Quran
and more Muslims than Christians died.
Contrary to swirling Islamophobic rumors, Muslims, just like their
Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist counterparts, have been
incredibly
generous. In India, a Muslim welfare organization mobilized its
grassroots
to provide relief to Hindu fishermen, including allowing the use of its
mosque as a shelter for the homeless…
----
U.S. ISLAMIC GROUP CALLS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST GENERAL FOR
REMARKS
Jon R. Anderson, Stars and Stripes, 2/5/05
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26996
ARLINGTON, Va. - A major U.S. Islamic group has called for "appropriate
disciplinary action" for the Marine general who said, "It's fun to
shoot
some people."
"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a
sporting
event," Nihad Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said in a statement. "These disturbing remarks are indicative of an
apparent indifference to the value of human life."
The Washington-based CAIR's stated mission is "to enhance understanding
of
Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding."
Lt. Gen James Mattis, the commander of the Marine Corps Combat
Development
Command in Quantico, Va., offered no public apologies for his comments
in
the wake of a media dust-up.
Marine Corps officials at the Pentagon said they've received about a
dozen
calls and e-mails complaining about Mattis' comments as well, but said
there were no plans for disciplinary measures.
"As far as we're concerned, the issue is closed," said a spokesman.
"We see this so-called counseling as less than a slap on the wrist,"
said
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for CAIR. "There should at least be some
kind
of formal reprimand. If the Pentagon wants to be seen as taking this
seriously, they have to take serious action.
"I think the great military leaders throughout history has always
viewed
killing as necessary evil, not as source of pleasure," Hooper
continued.
"And in this case he's talking about killing Muslims. I don't think
this
helps America's image in the Muslim world…"
---
CAIRCIVIL RIGHTS: HEAD-WRAP DISPUTE HAS HAPPY ENDING
Muslim worker allowed to wear scarf at Dunkin' Donuts
Robin Brown, Delaware Online, 2/6/05
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/02/06headwrapdispute.html
When Renee Brown's supervisor told her she couldn't wear her Muslim
head-wrap to work, the Wilmington resident wrestled with what to do.
She
mulled over the prospect of unemployment in a bad economy and her
responsibilities to her 8-year-old son, Javour.
The next day, Brown reported for work at the Dunkin' Donuts shop on
U.S. 13
near New Castle without her head-wrap.
She said she felt "personally uncomfortable," aching with a feeling
that
she was betraying her faith. As many Muslim women do, Brown wears the
head-wrap or kimar, like the more elaborate scarf called a hijab, to
honor
Islam's tenet of personal modesty.
Nonetheless, she understood the doughnut shop management's point of
view
that all workers must wear the same uniform, including an official
Dunkin'
Donuts hat.
"It was a hard choice to make, but in the end, I had to take it off,"
she
said last week. "That's my source of income, and I have to feed my
family."
The 28-year-old single mother, who is studying for a high school
diploma,
said she turned for support to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in
Washington, D.C. Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman said that office
receives about one head-scarf complaint weekly, with more fielded by 31
chapters across the country and in Canada.
"The very same day, we intervened on her behalf," Athman said…
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: FOR EVERY MOSQUE LEADER IN AMERICA
BRIDGING CULTURAL DIVIDE
Chris Mazzolini, Daily News, 2/6/05
http://www.jdnews.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=29398&Section=News
On Saturday, the Jacksonville chapter of Aglow International, a
Christian
women's group, listened to the story of Shannon Breeden, an Aglow
member
who recently converted from Islam…
"The major thing was separation," she said. "(In the mosque) the women
got
to sit on the floor in a hot room with a ceiling fan. The men got to
sit on
cushions in a room with air conditioning..."
ALSO SEE:
INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM STANDS IN WAY OF FREEDOM
Michael J. Hurd, The Reporter, 2/6/05
http://www.thereporter.com/letters/ci_2552146
The majority of people in the Middle East have adopted the philosophy
and
psychology of Islam, which is a religion is untamed by any hint of
secularism or, politically speaking, separation of church and state.
The
degree to which this view dominates a society is the degree to which
that
society, if given a chance to vote, will certainly vote into office
religious fanatics.
If the Iraqi people want a happy, fulfilling and productive life and
are
willing to work for it, then democracy will be a useful tool for
them, so
long as it is grounded in a respect for individual rights and basic
freedoms such as separation of church and state. These are not values
that
the Americans can pound into their hearts, minds or psyches. American
foreign policy should be about pounding and destroying dangerous
regimes
that threaten us.
However, we cannot make people want freedom. We can only protect
ourselves
and, in the process, anyone interested in freedom.
Unless or until the people of the Middle East tame and curb their
Islam,
freedom and prosperity are out of the question.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: letters@TheReporter.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
FAITH, FINANCE
Two city banks offer devout Muslims a way to buy homes without
violating
usury beliefs
Dennis Rodkin, Chicago Tribune, 2/6/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/realestate/chi-0502060481feb06,1,7422831.story
O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear
Allah;
so that you may be successful.
3-130 Surah Al-Imran Verses
Taj Khan had resigned himself to renting a home for his family of three
for
a very long time. Devout in his practice of Islam, the 28-year-old
computer
network administrator is particularly concerned about avoiding any
business
transactions that entail charging or paying interest.
"Interest is one of the biggest things we are specifically told to
avoid,"
Khan says, "so I wasn't going to be able to buy a house. I wanted to
buy,
but my religious belief was stopping me."
He was trying to save toward an all-cash purchase, but the pressures of
supporting a young family kept him from putting much away. So Khan
figured
he and his wife, Seemab, would go on renting part of his father's
Hanover
Park house indefinitely.
"If I couldn't find a way to buy in a religiously good way," he says,
"I
would just keep on renting."
Then last year Khan heard through friends about an interest-free
Islamic
home-buying program that was launching at Chicago's Devon Bank. Instead
of
buying a house and taking a mortgage from a bank to pay for it, under
this
program the buyer picks a house, but the bank buys it and immediately
sells
it to the buyer at a sizable markup.
The bank calculates its markup based on prevailing interest rates.
Thus,
because the total price with markup is the same as what the buyer would
have paid on a 30-year loan with interest, the buyer is agreeing to pay
just as much as a homeowner with a standard mortgage would pay. The
difference is that it's a credit sale for a set total price, not an
interest-bearing transaction.
But that's only true of the transaction between the home buyer and the
bank. When Devon Bank later sells the loan to Freddie Mac, as many
mortgage
lenders do, what it sells is a standard interest-bearing loan, with the
same profit structure for both sides. Essentially, the bank has wrapped
a
standard mortgage in non-standard terminology that satisfies Islamic
teachings.
Although it might sound like a paperwork trick, it finesses a fine
point in
Islamic law, or shari'ah, that makes all the difference to Khan and
other
U.S. Muslims who want to own homes but decline to get into any
financial
transactions that charge interest.
Khan bought a four-bedroom house in Bartlett last summer, confident
that
the purchase was in compliance with his faith because of the structure
of
the deal. He picked a house whose price was $295,000. Devon Bank bought
it,
and accepted a $60,000 down payment from Khan. His agreement with the
bank
calls for 360 monthly payments of $1,338. In the end, with all payments
and
the down payment, he will have spent a total of $540,000 for the house.
Had he bought with a standard, interest-bearing mortgage, his 30-year
total
would have been approximately the same.
"From a financial standpoint there may not be much difference, but what
matters is the way you conduct the transaction," says Salman Ibrahim, a
member of the Shari'ah Supervisory Board of America, a West Rogers Park
panel of 10 Islamic scholars that monitors financial products targeting
Muslims and gave its approval to Devon Bank's program. "The taste of a
chicken does not change whether it is zabiah [slaughtered according to
Islamic practices] or non-zabiah; what changes is the way you slaughter
it."
Two Chicago banks -- Devon Bank and Broadway Bank, both small North
Side
institutions in neighborhoods where large numbers of Muslims live --
both
started shari'ah-sanctioned home-buying programs in 2004. Neither
bank's
officials will say how many Islamic home transactions they have
conducted,
though both say the programs have been received well by their
customers.
"For us, it's a service issue," says Demetris Giannoulias, chief
financial
officer of Broadway Bank. "There is a demand for this kind of thing in
the
community we serve, and if it requires us to do a little extra amount
of
service to make home buying more palatable to the customer, we'll do
that."
In January the larger of the two banks, Devon Bank, took a big step
forward
when it announced that national mortgage investor Freddie Mac will buy
its
Islamic home deals, giving the bank the leverage to offer its Islamic
products in other states. By mid-January, Devon Bank had begun offering
the
products in 10 states outside Illinois, with more states to be lined up
soon, according to the bank's corporate counsel, David Loundy.
A measure of the pent-up desire for this religiously appropriate method
for
Muslims to buy houses: "When he heard about it, a guy from Connecticut
started calling us three or four times a day until we got approval
there
and could say yes to him," says Nazir Gurukambal, Devon Bank's vice
president in charge of the Islamic home-buying program. (The bank is
awaiting final regulatory approval to offer its program in
Connecticut.)
-----
MUSLIM MARRIAGE CEREMONY A MEETING OF MINDS, CULTURES
Samara Kalk Derby, Capital Times, 2/4/05
http://www.madison.com/tct/home/photo/index.php?ntid=27268&ntpid=0
At the end of the ceremony there was no kissing of the bride.
Afterward,
there was no cake, alcohol, music or dancing.
Instead, the marriage of Ilham Sunhaji and Nik Jazland Nik Azmi, who
are
both from Malaysia, was an educational and culturally enriching
experience
for many of the couple's friends who come from outside of the Muslim
faith.
"Where should we go? What should we do? Can I take pictures? Can I hug
her?" asked the bride's friend, Marla Delgado, shortly after she
arrived.
"I'm going to cry, you know that," Delgado said after she first caught
sight of the petite Sunhaji, 23, draped in a delicate white dress and
head
scarf that she purchased in Malaysia.
About 75 friends, many of them UW-Madison students, attended the
ceremony
Thursday night at the Islamic Center of Madison, just north of Regent
Street. Raad Saleh, an active member of the Islamic Center, said news
media
were invited to give the broader community some insight into Muslim and
Malaysian customs. There are about 1,000 Muslim families in the Madison
area, he added. Those familiar with Islam said it was unusual for a
couple
to marry without their extended families in attendance.
"Usually in Malaysia when you get married, there would be both families
and
it would be a huge wedding. But since they are at school here and far
away,
it's a small, very small wedding," said Ali Gardo, a friend of the
couple
and a UW senior majoring in math.
According to various accounts, Azmi asked Sunhaji to marry him shortly
after they met in Madison more than three years ago, when Sunhaji was
only
a freshman. She replied by saying nothing…
ALSO SEE:
THE INFLUENCE OF MUSLIM LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS GROWN
STRONGER
SINCE THE SEPT. 11 ATTACKS
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/06/INGH7B3FM31.DTL
America's best-selling poet is not Billy Collins, whose folksy,
humorous
work won him two terms as U.S. poet laureate. It's not Robert Frost,
the
four-time Pulitzer Prize winner whose reading at John F. Kennedy's 1961
inauguration is still studied by students. ("The land was ours before
we
were the land's ...") And it's not Edgar Allan Poe, whose "The Raven"
has
been called "the best-known poem in the Western Hemisphere."
If you want to meet the most popular poet in the United States, you
must
board a plane and fly to Konya, Turkey, where you'll find the mausoleum
of
Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi, who is better known by his Westernized
name,
Rumi.
Born in the early 13th century in what is now Afghanistan, Rumi was a
Muslim religious leader whose name in Arabic means "greatness of
faith."
Thanks to the faith of Rumi's U.S. fans, his books have sold more than
500,000 copies in the past 10 years. Rumi calendars, Rumi CDs, Rumi
posters, Rumi T-shirts, even Rumi coffee mugs have also found a market
in
the United States.
Madonna, Demi Moore, Goldie Hawn, Martin Sheen, Debra Winger and Rosa
Parks
are among the big names who have publicly proclaimed Rumi's greatness
as a
poet.
Americans' fascination with Rumi is just one way in which Muslim
literature
and writing, from "A Thousand and One Nights" to the Quran, has
influenced
readers in this country seeking heightened spiritual awareness,
approaches
to the dilemmas and mysteries of life, or just a good read. An ironic
fallout of Sept. 11 has been an even greater interest in Islamic
writing --
not just among university students and general readers, but in the
American
military.
Lt. Gen. John Vines, who takes over command of U.S. ground forces in
Iraq
this month, has required his top officers to read several books on
Muslim
culture, including "Islam for Dummies" (which has a chapter on the
Quran)
and "Islam: A Short History."
Rumi's poetry refers often to God, but many of his poems aren't overtly
religious. Rather, they could be classified as "spiritual" or
"soulful..."
---
CALLIGRAPHY AS EXALTED ART SHEDS LIGHT ON ISLAMIC CULTURE
ROGER GREEN, Ann Arbor News, 2/6/05
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/aanews/index.ssf?/base/features-0/110768826419421.xml
Could any exhibit be more timely? "The Art of the Written Word in the
Middle East" illuminates the culture of a geographic area much
discussed
but little understood today. Communication, the exhibit's subject and
aim,
could help to correct that imbalance.
On view at the University of Michigan Museum of Art through June 6, the
exhibit combines selections from its own Middle Eastern holdings with
items
from the U-M library's Special Collections and from private sources. In
addition to isolated pages from manuscripts, the exhibit includes bound
prayer books, domestic items in ceramic and metal, and architectural
fragments of painted wood. Fields for calligraphy, these richly
embellished
works come from present-day Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Iran. They date
from
the 8th century A.D. to our time…
---
DID GOD INTEND FOR US TO EAT ANIMALS?
Rushdy El-Ghussein, Kansas City Star, 2/5/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10818601.htm
As a Muslim, I believe that all is created by God and that God has a
reason
for his creations. However, we are entrusted with this world and the
environment we live in; therefore, we will be held accountable for our
use
of it. We must act as safe-guarders of our world and environment.
The world has been created for humankind's usage; therefore, both
plants
and animals can be consumed by humankind. Kindness is the rule, and so
in
Islam, animal slaughter has its own rules and regulations to ensure
that
humane treatment occurs.
In Islam, everything is allowed unless it is specifically prohibited.
This
rule applies to food as well, and there are a few foods God has stated
are
not allowed. Having said most foods are allowed, this does not mean one
must eat things that he or she does not like or things that one deems
unhealthy. Just because it is allowed does not require it. What is
required
is to disallow the prohibited, and, Islamically, both animals and
plants
can provide the required sustenance for humankind.
We should be thankful for the abundance in this world and in the
options
from which we have to choose. We need not limit ourselves more than God
limits us, but, if we choose to do so, these limits we place on
ourselves
should not be imposed on others.
[Rushdy El-Ghussein, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater
Kansas City.]
-----
RABBIS, IMAMS FIND COMMON GROUND
Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Jewish Journal, 2/4/05
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=13616
I recently returned from an extraordinary meeting that took place last
month in Brussels. One hundred imams and rabbis from 20 different
countries
came together for four days of discussion about religion, peace,
justice
and dignity. Meeting in plenary sessions and breakout groups, over
meals
and during evening cultural programs, this conference was a public
attestation of the possible.
It wasn't easy for any of us. There was plenty of politicking and
internal
politicking within the religious communities as well. In one of the
many
remarkable public statements, the Orthodox rabbinic contingent agreed
to
participate together publicly with the fully honored representation of
Conservative and Reform rabbis.
I had the privilege of leading a breakout session in which we were
mandated
to brainstorm about "sharing and transmitting without proselytizing."
We
began with the standard sharing go-around, in which we were asked to
share
why we came to this conference. I was riveted by two stories.
One was told by an African imam dressed in white ceremonial robes,
complete
with a matching embroidered cap. I learned later that he held a high
religious post in Tanzania.
Once, while visiting a Congolese friend living in South Africa, he
became
quite ill and felt that he was having symptoms of heart disease. The
friend
suggested that he see a doctor friend of his - a Jewish doctor. The
imam
wouldn't consider it, because he was certain that a Jewish doctor would
use
his professional skills to kill him, a Muslim. As he put it, "Perhaps
he
wouldn't kill me outright, but he would prescribe something that would
poison me undetected." He therefore decided to wait until he could see
his
personal physician when he returned home to Tanzania. But his symptoms
persisted, so one day, he went to his friend's house and knocked on the
door. But the friend was not home. Who should answer the door but the
Jewish doctor.
The doctor questioned the sick man, and discovered that the medication
the
imam had been taking for migraine headaches could cause a very serious
heart ailment, and that was most certainly the imam's problem. The
physician explained quite clearly that if he continued to take the
medicine
it would kill him. The imam had to choose between very bad headaches or
a
heart attack. The choice, said the imam, was an easy one. And the
doctor
also prescribed a different medication that helped to relieve the
migraine
symptoms.
When asked if that experience had anything to do with him coming to the
conference, the imam's answer was that it had everything to do with it.
It
was his responsibility to come and to "clear the air," as he put it…
SEE ALSO:
NEW VISION FOR ISLAM
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/5/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/10822333.htm
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf of New York, founder of the American Sufi Muslim
Association and author of What's Right With Islam: A New Vision for
Muslims
and the West, will give a free public talk Tuesday at Villanova
University
sponsored by the school's Center for Arab and Islamic Studies.
Rauf is drafter of the Cordoba Initiative, which calls on moderate U.S.
Muslims to organize talks with interfaith leaders and Muslims abroad on
issues including democracy, theology, pluralism and Mideast peace.
His talk, "Turning Around the Relationship Between America and the
Muslim
World Within 10 Years," is the first in the center's spring lecture
series.
It is set for 7 p.m. in the St. Augustine Center on the campus, 800
Lancaster Ave., Villanova. Information: 610-519-4610.
---
FLINT ISLAMIC CENTER MASJID
Jean Douglas Clarkson, Flint Journal, 2/5/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1107609651177530.xml
CLAYTON TWP. - When Dr. Abdelmajid I. Jondy moved to the area in 1972,
Flint had no center for Islamic worship. By 1985, there were enough
Muslims
in the area to open a center on Dyewood Drive that is still available
for
prayer.
Jondy, a surgeon and president of the Flint Islamic Center, explained
that
Islam means peace.
"We are encouraged in Islam to pray together, close to others," he
said.
"The reward is 25 times more than praying by yourself."
The Muslim community built the current light stucco center in 1995. In
2000, it added space for Genesee Academy, an Islamic school for
kindergarten through eighth grade. About 10 percent of children in the
worshipping community attend school here. Classrooms and a gymnasium
were
added last year, expanding the building to 42,000 square feet.
Services take place in an inner room called a masjid, which means
"where we
worship," and also called Biet Allah, "In the House of God." Group
prayer
is held five times a day: at dawn, midday, midtime, sunset and 11/2
hours
after sunset. A teaching session may be given on Friday after the last
evening prayer.
"On Ramadan holy day, the place is packed," Jondy said. "The overflow
prays
outside the hall."
The room holds 400. Attendance ranges from 400-500 at 1:45 p.m. Friday,
the
primary service. About 10 percent are women. Many women prefer to hold
worship and teaching sessions at home. Group prayer is encouraged. At
night, families may pray together, asking forgiveness, mercy, guidance.
Before every prayer time, worshippers prepare with ablution, called
wodooa.
They wash their hands, mouth, nose and ears, face and arms, wipe their
heads and wash their feet.
"When we bow or prostrate, we glorify Allah, God. We read the Holy
Quran
while we stand between prayers," Jondy said. Imam Syyad serves part
time,
leading morning and evening prayer. Imams often memorize all 114
chapters
of the Holy Quran, Jondy said. People want their son or daughter to
memorize the Quran because the reward is great, he said...
-----
I ENTERED THE HELLISH WORLD OF GUANTANAMO BAY
David Rose, Observer, 2/6/05
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1406987,00.html
Martin Mubanga can date the low point of his 33 months at Guant�namo
Bay:
15 June, 2004. That sweltering Cuban morning, he was taken from the
cellblock he was sharing with speakers of the Afghan language Pashto,
none
of whom knew English, for what had become his almost daily
interrogation.
As usual, his hands were shackled in rigid, metal cuffs attached to a
body
belt; another set of chains ran to his ankles, severely restricting his
ability to move his legs. Trussed in this fashion, he was lying on the
interrogation booth floor.
The seemingly interminable questioning had already lasted for hours. 'I
needed the toilet,' Mubanga said, 'and I asked the interrogator to let
me
go. But he just said, "you'll go when I say so". I told him he had five
minutes to get me to the toilet or I was going to go on the floor. He
left
the room. Finally, I squirmed across the floor and did it in the
corner,
trying to minimise the mess. I suppose he was watching through a
one-way
mirror or the CCTV camera. He comes back with a mop and dips it in the
pool
of urine. Then he starts covering me with my own waste, like he's using
a
big paintbrush, working methodically, beginning with my feet and ankles
and
working his way up my legs. All the while he's racially abusing me,
cussing
me: "Oh, the poor little negro, the poor little nigger." He seemed to
think
it was funny.'
A few days later, Mubanga said, the same interrogator began to question
him
in one of the camp's 'hot rooms', where the heating was turned up to
almost
100F. 'When you went for interrogation, you never knew whether they
were
going to take you to a booth where the air conditioning was turned up
to
the max, so it was really cold, or a hot room,' Mubanga said. 'This
made
life very difficult, because you only had two T-shirts in your cell,
and if
you wore just one in a cold room you'd be freezing, but wearing two in
a
hot room was almost unbearable. The thing was, once you were in there
in
your chains, it was impossible to take one off.'
After several hours of questioning, Mubanga felt severely dehydrated
and
begged for a bottle of water. Once again he was lying on the floor: the
interrogation booth chair had been removed. As he tried to drink and
cool
himself by spraying a little water around his face and hair, Mubanga
said,
the interrogator turned violent: 'The guy started kneeling on me, and I
was
wriggling backwards to get away from him, trying to get in the line of
sight of the CCTV camera so someone might see what was going on. Of
course,
he didn't want to let me do that, so he stood on my hair. It was
painful,
but I tried to keep moving. Then he stood on the leg chain, so my
shackles
dug in really deeply, cutting into my legs. But I just took the pain.
I'm
looking at him, the pain's getting worse but I wouldn't scream out. I
just
kept looking at him. From that day on, I refused to talk to any
interrogator. I said nothing at all for the next seven months...'
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/7/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FAITH AND SIN
* CAIR-PHILLY OFFERS 8-WEEK COURSE ON ISLAM
* FOX TO AIR '24' DISCLAIMER TONIGHT
* KKK PROTESTS HIJAB IN KENTUCKY (AP)
- KY: Muslim Garb Spurs Dress-Code Protest
* CA: MUSLIMS CHAFING UNDER 9/11 MEASURES (LA Times)
- Would-Be Citizens Stuck in Limbo (Wash Post)
- US Losing Race to Engage Muslims (CS Monitor)
* STORIES FROM INSIDE GITMO (NY Times)
- The Abu Ghraib Scandal You Don't Know (Time)
- U.S. Guards Threw Mudwrestling Party (Reuters)
* NY: RAISING AWARENESS (The Leader)
- VA: New Mosque Slated For Construction
* ISRAELIS TO ENCIRCLE EAST JERUSALEM (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FAITH AND SIN
A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is
faith?" He replied: "When a good deed becomes a source of pleasure for
you
and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust for you, then you are a
believer." The person then asked: "What is a sin?" The Prophet said:
"When
something pricks your conscience, give it up."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 8
-----
CAIR-PHILLY OFFERS 8-WEEK COURSE ON ISLAM
(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 2/7/05) - Beginning March 8, the newly established
Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-Philly) will offer a course on Islam, called "Understanding Islam
&
Muslims through History."
The 8-week course will approach Islam from a historical perspective,
covering the foundations of the religion and then building on the
economic,
political and cultural institutions that arose in Muslim societies. It
will
also cover the Golden Age of Muslim civilization and discuss its
decline.
Contemporary issues faced by Islam and Muslims will be covered. A final
unit will focus on the involvement of the U.S. in the Islamic world and
the
ramifications of that involvement.
WHAT: Course: SC 1225: Understanding Islam & Muslims through History
WHEN: Tuesday 7-8:30 p.m., 3/8/05 - 5/3/05 (No Class on 3/22/05)
WHERE: Room 119, Great Valley Middle School, 255 North Phoenixville
Pike,
Malvern, PA 19355 SEE: http://www.chestercountynightschool.org
REGISTER AT: Chester County Night School, 610-692-1964
COST: $69
CONTACT: CCNS: 610-692-1964, CAIR-Philly: 215-896-4872 or 267-808-4906,
E-Mail: cairphilly@yahoo.com
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
-----
FOX TO AIR '24' DISCLAIMER TONIGHT
Kiefer Sutherland will say U.S. Muslims reject terror
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/8/05) - CAIR announced today that the Fox
television
network will air a disclaimer this evening during its drama series "24"
stating that American Muslims reject terrorism.
SEE: http://www.fox.com/24/
The disclaimer, read by actor Kiefer Sutherland, will state:
"I'm Kiefer Sutherland. I play counter-terrorist Jack Bauer on Fox's
24.
While terrorism is obviously one of the most critical challenges facing
our
nation and the world, it's important to recognize that the American
Muslim
community stands firmly beside their fellow Americans in denouncing and
resisting terrorism in every form."
Fox consulted with CAIR on the text of the disclaimer, which is
scheduled
to air in the first ten minutes of tonight's program.
CAIR, along with the Muslim Public Affairs Council, recently met with
representatives of Fox and the show's producers to address the
depiction of
a "Muslim" family that is at the heart of a terror plot in the popular
program. Many Muslims are concerned that the portrayal of the family as
a
terrorist "sleeper cell" may cast a shadow of suspicion over ordinary
American Muslims and could increase Islamophobic stereotyping and bias.
After meeting with CAIR, Fox officials said they would distribute a
CAIR
public service announcement (PSA) to network affiliates.
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-Kentucky, Abdul Quayyum, 859-221-9081, E-Mail:
cairky@cairky.org
KKK PROTESTS HIJAB IN KENTUCKY
MOTHER PROTESTS SCHOOL'S DRESS CODE
Associated Press, 2/7/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/10835604.htm
SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. - A mother has pulled her son out of Bullitt
Central
High School after protesting what she believes is an unfair application
of
the school's dress code.
Lisa Whiteside began protesting outside Bullitt Central last week after
learning that two Muslim students who had enrolled after winter break
had
been allowed to wear a hijab, a traditional head scarf that covers the
hair
and neck.
Whiteside said her son, a senior, was given in-school suspension for
wearing a white button-down shirt.
School board attorney Eric Farris said that school records indicated
that
the student wasn't disciplined, but received a warning Sept. 1 that his
shirt was a violation of the school's dress code, which requires
students
to wear polo-style shirts.
The dress code also prohibits "headwear," including hats, visors,
bandannas
and sunglasses.
But Farris said federal protections of such religious garments as
hijabs
override the dress code.
Whiteside said her son was turned away from the school Thursday when he
wore a T-shirt with the words "FBI" and "Firm Believer In Christ" on
it.
Farris said Whiteside and her son went to the school office and asked
administrators if he could wear the shirt.
When they said no, she told them she would remove him from the school,
he said.
Bullitt Central's dress code prohibits T-shirts of any kind, unless
they
feature the school's logo. It also requires students to wear khaki,
black
or navy pants, skirts or walking shorts. Students may wear jeans on
special
days scheduled by administrators.
Whiteside said she transferred her son to the school district's adult
learning center, in part, because of a disagreement with Bullitt
Central
administrators over her son's writing portfolio.
School officials and students said Whiteside's protests attracted the
attention of the Ku Klux Klan. She was joined outside the school by
other
men and women, some of whom were clad in white robes and carried
Confederate flags and white-supremacist regalia.
Whiteside said she didn't organize any involvement with the KKK, adding
that her concerns were being misconstrued by students and school
officials
as racially driven…
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM GARB SPURS DRESS-CODE PROTEST
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050207/NEWS01/502070346
------
MUSLIMS CHAFING UNDER 9/11 MEASURES
A clash with homeland security's main enforcement agency over its
practices
is strongest in the Southland, activists say.
H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times, 2/7/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-muslim7feb07,1,3028470.story
Angry and frightened, the Riverside businessman was complaining that he
was
not allowed to board a flight to Pakistan in December.
His story had a familiar ring for Hussam Ayloush, executive director of
the
Southern California chapter of the Council on American Islamic
Relations.
Based in Anaheim, it is the largest chapter of the nation's most
aggressive
Islamic civil rights group.
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ayloush's phone rings
constantly as Muslims throughout the Southland seek his help with
problems
of all kinds with the federal government. There are an estimated
500,000
Muslims in Southern California.
The businessman, a U.S. citizen, was calling about the federal
government's
no-fly list, which bars some U.S. Muslims from flying because their
names
are similar to known terrorists'. Ayloush spoke reassuringly and with
compassion.
"This isn't how your country wants to treat you," he told the caller,
who
asked not to be identified. "This is how the Department of Homeland
Security wants to treat you."
"Be patient. This will pass."
While the war continues unabated overseas, there is a clash in this
country
between Muslims and homeland security's main enforcement agency, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The domestic conflict, which some
say
is rooted in miscommunication and mistrust, hampers the U.S. war
against
Islamic extremists, Islamic leaders and some government officials say…
ALSO SEE:
SOME WOULD-BE CITIZENS LANGUISH FOR YEARS IN SECURITY-CHECK LIMBO
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 2/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3355-2005Feb6.html
Rafed al Janabi, an Iraqi refugee living in Gaithersburg, was so
grateful
for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein that he quit his restaurant job and
joined the U.S. Army. He was sent last year to Iraq to translate for a
Special Forces unit.
But he soon ran into an obstacle. Janabi lacked a clearance for
classified
work, something available only to U.S. citizens. To qualify for
citizenship, he simply needs to pass a routine security check -- but it
has
dragged on for nearly two years.
"I don't see any point. I'm holding a gun in my hand, defending this
country. And I can't be a citizen?" asked Janabi, who said he was
excluded
from many Special Forces missions because of his lack of a clearance.
Janabi is one of a small but growing number of people facing extreme
delays
in becoming citizens or permanent residents, according to immigrant
advocates. People from Arab and Muslim countries appear to be
especially
affected, many said.
It is occurring even as the overall backlog for immigration documents
is
shrinking. On average, it takes eight months to be naturalized, down
from
14 months in October 2003, according to an immigration spokesman. But
those
whose names trigger a "hit" in the security check can be stuck in limbo
for
years…
---
US LOSING THE RACE TO ENGAGE MUSLIMS
Russ Feingold, Christian Science Monitor, 2/7/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0207/p09s01-coop.html
WASHINGTON - Just days ago, I folded myself into a US embassy vehicle
in
Bamako, Mali, fresh off the plane from Timbuktu, the historic center of
Islamic learning and trans-Saharan trade in the north of the country.
Looking out the car window, I saw that thousands of cheering Malians
were
lining the streets of this city, which had been cleared for VIP travel.
I
admit, I was stunned by this outpouring of enthusiasm for the American
ambassador and an American senator.
Then I realized that they weren't there for us. They were waiting to
cheer
the motorcade of Iranian President Mohamad Khatami, whose plane had
just
landed at the airport.
Bamako's reception for the Iranian president should be a wake-up call
for
US policymakers. We need to do much more to reach out to struggling
countries like Mali. If we don't, other influences may step in to fill
the
void.
Driving into Bamako, I had been mulling over the meetings I'd had in
Timbuktu with imams and local officials to hear their views of the
terrorist threat that has emerged in their region, to listen to their
concerns about US policies, and to find out how we can work together.
The
Malians I met, like the Algerians and Nigerians and Kenyans I have met,
do
not hate the US, although many have grave concerns about some of our
policies. Malians I spoke with had concerns about everything from the
invasion of Iraq to the effect of US trade policies on Mali's textile
industry. They are happy to discuss their views on issues of terrorism.
But
they're even more interested in talking about their own priority: the
fight
against poverty, the struggle for a reason to hope that life for their
children will be better than life is today.
The generous outpouring of American support for tsunami victims in
South
Asia is a credit to our nation, but it doesn't make up for our neglect
of
many other regions. That neglect has serious implications for our
security
in the post-9/11 world. The US is in a long-term fight against a
radical
ideological movement in the Islamic world, yet our policy toward many
struggling Muslim nations is either shortsighted, underfunded, or both.
From Somalia, where we have no policy at all, to Tanzania, where we
have
no ambassador (despite the fact that terrorists attacked our embassy
there
in 1998), the US is not rising to the policy challenge. Our
indifference
can create a vacuum that others - whose interests may clash with our
own -
can easily fill…
-----
STORIES FROM THE INSIDE
Bob Herbert, New York Times, 2/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/07/opinion/7herbert.html
During the whole time we were at Guant�namo," said Shafiq Rasul, "we
were
at a high level of fear. When we first got there the level was
sky-high. At
the beginning we were terrified that we might be killed at any minute.
The
guards would say to us, 'We could kill you at any time.' They would
say,
'The world doesn't know you're here. Nobody knows you're here. All they
know is that you're missing, and we could kill you and no one would
know.' "
The horror stories from the scandalous interrogation camp that the
United
States is operating at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, are coming to light with
increased frequency. At some point the whole shameful tale of this
exercise
in extreme human degradation will be told. For the time being we have
to
piece together what we can from a variety of accounts that have escaped
the
government's obsessively reinforced barriers of secrecy.
We know that people were kept in cells that in some cases were the
equivalent of animal cages, and that some detainees, disoriented and
despairing, have been shackled like slaves and left to soil themselves
with
their own urine and feces. Detainees are frequently kicked, punched,
beaten
and sexually humiliated. Extremely long periods of psychologically
damaging
isolation are routine.
This is all being done in the name of fighting terror. But the best
evidence seems to show that many of the people rounded up and dumped
without formal charges into Guant�namo had nothing to do with terror.
They
just happened to be unfortunate enough to get caught in one of Uncle
Sam's
depressingly indiscriminate sweeps. Which is what happened to Shafiq
Rasul,
who was released from Guant�namo about a year ago. His story is
instructive, and has not been told widely enough.
Mr. Rasul was one of three young men, all friends, from the British
town of
Tipton who were among thousands of people seized in Afghanistan in the
aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. They had been there, he said, to
distribute
food and medical supplies to impoverished Afghans.
The three were interviewed soon after their release by Michael Ratner,
president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has been in
the
forefront of efforts to secure legal representation for Guant�namo
detainees…
ALSO SEE
THE ABU GHRAIB SCANDAL YOU DON'T KNOW
Adam Zagorin, Time, 2/14/05
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1025139,00.html
American soldiers often have a tough time with Arabic names, so to
guards,
he was just "Gus.'' To the world outside Abu Ghraib prison, he became
an
iconic figure, a naked, prostrate Iraqi prisoner crawling on the end of
a
leash held by Private Lynndie England, the pixyish Army Reserve clerk
who
posed in several of the infamous photographs that made the name Abu
Ghraib
synonymous with torture. Now, it emerges, there may be another
dimension to
Gus' story and certainly to the horrors of Abu Ghraib. In what amounted
to
a perversion of the traditional doctor's creed of "first, do no harm,"
the
medical system at the prison became an instrument of abuse, by design
and
by neglect. As uncovered by legal scholars M. Gregg Bloche and Jonathan
Marks, who conducted an inquiry published by the New England Journal of
Medicine, not only were some military doctors at Abu Ghraib enlisted to
help inflict distress on the prisoners, but also the scarcity of basic
medical care was at times so severe that it created another kind of
torture.
Medical personnel and others who worked at the prison tell TIME that,
with
straitjackets unavailable, tethers--like the leash on Gus--were put to
use
at Abu Ghraib to control unruly or mentally disturbed detainees,
sometimes
with the concurrence of a doctor. That such a restraint-- which is
supposed
to be placed around legs, arms or torsos--ended up instead around a
man's
neck seems to be a case of a medically condoned practice degenerating
into
abuse. But there was also medical disarray at the prison: amputations
performed by nondoctors, chest tubes recycled from the dead to the
living,
a medic ordered, by one account, to cover up a homicide. That in itself
would have made Abu Ghraib a scandal even without the acts of torture
inflicted on the inmates by their guards.
In most cases, U.S. frontline troops in Iraq have received top-quality
medical care, producing the lowest death rate of any military conflict
in
history. But the care at Abu Ghraib has often been at the other end of
the
scale of humane treatment, at least until recently. Although the prison
was
at times crowded with as many as 7,000 detainees, no U.S. doctor was in
residence for most of 2003. Military officials say a few Iraqi doctors
saw
to minor illnesses but not major traumas. In a statement obtained by
the
American Civil Liberties Union, an Army medic based at Abu Ghraib spoke
of
examining from 800 to 900 detainees daily as they were admitted. If he
worked a 12-hour day, that gave him less than a minute for each exam.
Ken
Davis, an MP who served at Abu Ghraib in late 2003, told TIME that he
once
escorted a prisoner who had broken his foot the day before and had
still
not received treatment. "He was in terrible pain," Davis recalled.
"There
was no doctor and really nothing we could do."
---
U.S. GUARDS THREW MUDWRESTLING PARTY AT IRAQI CAMP
Reuters, 2/7/05
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20050207-0634-iraq-mudwrestling.html
BAGHDAD - U.S. military police threw a mudwrestling party at a prison
camp
in Iraq and a woman who took part has been found guilty of indecent
exposure and demoted, the U.S. military said on Monday.
At least three female guards stripped to their underwear and wrestled
each
other in a paddling pool full of mud in the grounds of Camp Bucca, the
biggest U.S. camp for detainees in Iraq, Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said.
Several guards who watched the wrestling have been reprimanded for
failing
to intervene.
The party took place on Oct. 30 last year, when one U.S. military
police
battalion, the 160th, was about to hand over responsibility to another,
the
105th.
Officers from both battalions were involved and photographs were taken.
A
prison guard found the photos sometime later and handed them over to
the
camp's commanders.
-----
RAISING AWARENESS
Mary Perham, The Leader, 2/6/05
http://www.the-leader.com/articles/2005/02/06/local_news/local07.txt
They're professionals, entrepreneurs, employees and neighbors. They
raise
their children, honor the American flag and believe God is great and
Mohammed is his prophet.
"We're not terrorists," said Irfan Mehr, a Hornell pharmacist. A native
of
Pakistan, Mehr has lived in Steuben County for decades. "We are people,
just like everyone else."
Mehr and other local Islamic leaders will bring that message to county
employees Wednesday in a workshop designed to stimulate questions and
build
understanding of Muslims and their culture.
"I anticipate a lot of questions to begin with. That's what we're
hoping
for," said workshop sponsor, county Legislator Kenneth Isaman,
R-Hornellsville. "I've gone to a number of Islamic functions, social,
religious. And yet there are questions I've hesitated to ask - for, I
don't
know, fearing of offending them somehow, I suppose. Like, is it rude to
shake your wife's hand? ... Or what is the difference between Sunnis
and
Shiites?"
A significant number of men, women and children from India, Pakistan,
Sri
Lanka and the Middle East have settled throughout Steuben during the
past
20 years. They are physicians, pharmacists, technicians, business
owners,
engineers, teachers and scientists. But, with the rare exception of the
late civil rights and political activist Ishrat Mustafa of Corning,
local
Muslims have not run for political office or taken many public stands.
In
that respect, they are like many other county residents.
But unlike most county residents - especially since the events of Sept.
11,
2001 - they are subject to sideways looks, guarded friendships,
outright
suspicion and prolonged searches at local airports.
Ironically, when news of the terrorists attacks on the World Trade
Center
and Pentagon first broke three years ago, Isaman said he immediately
received calls from people concerned about the safety of his daughter
in
Jersey City…
ALSO SEE:
NEW MOSQUE SLATED FOR CONSTRUCTION
Keith Walker, Potomac News, 2/7/05
http://www.manassasjm.com
Construction has begun on a new mosque and community center near the
intersection of Hoadly Road and Prince William Parkway, said Jake
Zargarpur, chairman of the board of directors of the Muslim Association
of
Virginia.
The 12,000-square-foot Dar Alnoor Islamic Center should be completed by
October, Zargarpur said.
Since Dar Alsalaam was founded in 1993, Zargarpur estimates the Prince
William Muslim community has grown to about 2,000 families.
Muslims who live in eastern Prince William and wish to attend Friday
services must travel to the Manassas Mosque, rented prayer spaces in
Manassas and Woodbridge or to a mosque in Springfield...
-----
ISRAELIS ACT TO ENCIRCLE EAST JERUSALEM
John Ward Anderson, Washington Post, 2/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3263-2005Feb6.html
JERUSALEM - The Israeli government and private Jewish groups are
working in
concert to build a human cordon around Jerusalem's Old City and its
disputed holy sites, moving Jewish residents into Arab neighborhoods to
consolidate their grip on strategic locations, according to critics of
the
effort and a Washington Post investigation.
The goal is to establish Jewish enclaves in and around Arab-dominated
East
Jerusalem and eventually link them to form a ring around the city, a
key
battleground in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict because
of
its Jewish and Muslim holy sites, according to activists involved in
the
effort and critics of the campaign.
The Israeli government has sometimes violated its own laws and
regulations
to advance the encircling effort, the Post investigation found. Critics
of
the plan charge that the government is subsidizing and protecting
Jewish
groups that are deliberately scuttling peace efforts by establishing
Jewish
enclaves in overwhelmingly Palestinian neighborhoods.
As part of the effort, the Israeli government began work on expanding
the
West Bank's largest settlement, Maleh Adumim, without required building
permits and in violation of the settlement's master development plan.
The
work was ordered stopped in September after Post inquires about the
project.
In addition, Israeli security forces seized a Palestinian-owned hotel
on
the border of eastern Jerusalem after expelling its owners and
declaring
them absentee. Nearby, a private Jewish organization has bought and
occupied two illegal houses that the Israeli government is paying
private
security guards to protect…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/8/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND
* NEW CAIR ONLINE SHOPPING CART
* VIEW FOX'S '24' DISCLAIMER
- The '24' Conundrum (St Louis Today)
* OUTSOURCING TORTURE (New Yorker)
- Paper Trail to the Roots of Torture (NY Times)
- Guantanamo Captives Claim False Confessions (AP)
- Lawyer: U.S. Forces Abused Kuwaiti Prisoners (Reuters)
* DANIEL PIPES' ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC IS UNHELPFUL (The Age)
- NYC Station Reeling From Tsunami Parody (AP)
* GA: CULTURAL CENTER FOLLOWS BOSNIANS (Atlanta Journal)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND
"(O Prophet Muhammad), We have revealed to you the Book, setting forth
the
truth for (the benefit of all) mankind. Whoever receives guidance
benefits
his own soul, but whoever goes astray injures his own soul. You are not
set
up as a guardian over them."
The Holy Quran, 39:41
-----
NEW CAIR ONLINE SHOPPING CART
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_index.asp
Now it is even easier to order CAIR publications, reports and gift
items
online.
-----
FOX AIRS '24' DISCLAIMER
Kiefer Sutherland says U.S. Muslims reject terror
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/8/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said that the Fox television network aired a disclaimer
Monday
night during its drama series "24" stating that American Muslims reject
terrorism. SEE: http://www.fox.com/24/
Fox's disclaimer, read by actor Kiefer Sutherland, stated:
"Hi. My name is Kiefer Sutherland. And I play counter-terrorist agent
Jack
Bauer on Fox's 24. I would like to take a moment to talk to you about
something that I think is very important. Now while terrorism is
obviously
one of the most critical challenges facing our nation and the world, it
is
important to recognize that the American Muslim community stands firmly
beside their fellow Americans in denouncing and resisting all forms of
terrorism. So in watching 24, please, bear that in mind."
TO VIEW THE DISCLAIMER, GO TO:
Hi Res (Hi Speed Internet):
http://www.cair-net.org/video/disclaimer-hi.ram
Lo Res (Dialup Internet):
http://www.cair-net.org/video/disclaimer-lo.ram
Fox consulted with CAIR on the text of the disclaimer.
CAIR, along with the Muslim Public Affairs Council, recently met with
representatives of Fox and the show's producers to address the
depiction of
a "Muslim" family that is at the heart of a terror plot in the popular
program. The group is concerned that the portrayal of the family as a
terrorist "sleeper cell" may cast a shadow of suspicion over ordinary
American Muslims and could increase Islamophobic stereotyping and bias.
After meeting with CAIR, Fox officials said they would distribute a
CAIR
public service announcement (PSA) to network affiliates.
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
"We appreciate Fox's willingness to address Muslim concerns and to tell
viewers that American Muslims repudiate terror," said CAIR
Communications
Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
THE "24" CONUNDRUM
Kamran Memom, St, Louis Today, 2/7/05
http://www.stltoday.com/
Search using the term "Kamran."
As an American, I root for Jack Bauer to stop the bad guys. As a
Muslim, I
realize people may think I'm one of them.
I'm an American Muslim, and I root for Jack Bauer on Monday nights. But
on
Tuesday mornings, I worry about strangers giving me suspicious glances
because I look kind of like the terrorists plotting to nuke American
cities
on the Fox TV series "24" the night before.
Many Americans absorb information about Islam and Muslims from media,
so
American Muslims always have been concerned about TV shows and movies
that
portray them mostly as terrorists. Fox's "24" causes more concern,
because
it portrays a suburban Muslim mother, father and teenager as a
terrorist
sleeper cell that has been activated after years of just living next
door.
This plot line is of particular concern to American Muslims, who fear
that
innocent Muslim moms and kids might be viewed with suspicion and
subjected
to abuse in an already highly charged environment.
It is the case, unfortunately, that some angry Americans don't
distinguish
between terrorists and law-abiding American Muslims: "They all look the
same." American Muslims who had nothing to do with the attacks on Sept.
11,
2001, have been beaten and killed. Mosques have been attacked and
burned
down. I've represented several American Muslims who have been harassed
and
fired by employers angry about 9/11 and others who have been mistreated
by
businesses they patronized.
So why would an American Muslim cheer for Jack Bauer in his fight
against
terrorists? Because he wants to keep our country safe. He wants to
protect
the people he loves. He's not racist or anti-Muslim; he goes after the
bad
guys, whoever they are.
Would I prefer it if the bad guys this season weren't Muslim? Sure. But
Osama bin Laden has declared war on the United States, and it's logical
for
"24" to rip plot lines from the headlines. Would I prefer it if there
were
positive Muslim characters on "24," maybe a Muslim member of Jack
Bauer's
counter-terrorist unit, CTU? Of course. In the real world, American
Muslims
have served in the Secret Service and FBI and police forces around the
country, so why not at the fictional CTU?...
Kamran Memon is a civil rights attorney in Chicago.
-----
OUTSOURCING TORTURE
The secret history of America's "extraordinary rendition" program.
JANE MAYER, New Yorker, 2/14/05
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050214fa_fact6
On January 27th, President Bush, in an interview with the Times,
assured
the world that "torture is never acceptable, nor do we hand over people
to
countries that do torture." Maher Arar, a Canadian engineer who was
born in
Syria, was surprised to learn of Bush's statement. Two and a half years
ago, American officials, suspecting Arar of being a terrorist,
apprehended
him in New York and sent him back to Syria, where he endured months of
brutal interrogation, including torture. When Arar described his
experience
in a phone interview recently, he invoked an Arabic expression. The
pain
was so unbearable, he said, that "you forget the milk that you have
been
fed from the breast of your mother…"
Rendition was originally carried out on a limited basis, but after
September 11th, when President Bush declared a global war on terrorism,
the
program expanded beyond recognition-becoming, according to a former
C.I.A.
official, "an abomination." What began as a program aimed at a small,
discrete set of suspects-people against whom there were outstanding
foreign
arrest warrants-came to include a wide and ill-defined population that
the
Administration terms "illegal enemy combatants." Many of them have
never
been publicly charged with any crime. Scott Horton, an expert on
international law who helped prepare a report on renditions issued by
N.Y.U. Law School and the New York City Bar Association, estimates that
a
hundred and fifty people have been rendered since 2001. Representative
Ed
Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts and a member of the Select
Committee
on Homeland Security, said that a more precise number was impossible to
obtain. "I've asked people at the C.I.A. for numbers," he said. "They
refuse to answer. All they will say is that they're in compliance with
the
law."
Although the full scope of the extraordinary-rendition program isn't
known,
several recent cases have come to light that may well violate U.S. law.
In
1998, Congress passed legislation declaring that it is "the policy of
the
United States not to expel, extradite, or otherwise effect the
involuntary
return of any person to a country in which there are substantial
grounds
for believing the person would be in danger of being subjected to
torture,
regardless of whether the person is physically present in the United
States…"
SEE ALSO:
FOLLOWING A PAPER TRAIL TO THE ROOTS OF TORTURE
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 2/8/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/books/08kaku.html
As soon as the repugnant photos of torture at Abu Ghraib prison - the
pyramid of naked prisoners, the groveling man on a dog leash, the
hooded
man with outstretched arms - hit the airwaves and newspaper stands,
they
became iconic images: gruesome symbols of what went wrong with the war
and
postwar occupation of Iraq, and for many in the Muslim world, the very
embodiment of their worst fears about American hegemony.
They have become a potent propaganda tool for terrorists, and at the
same
time, they remain so repellant and perverse that they have served to
bolster the "few bad apples" argument - the suggestion not only that
the
photographed abuses were perpetrated by "a kind of 'Animal House' on
the
night shift," in one investigator's words, but also that the larger
problem
was confined, as the Bush administration has asserted, to a few
soldiers
acting on their own.
"The Torture Papers," the new compendium of government memos and
reports
chronicling the road to Abu Ghraib and its aftermath, definitively
blows
such arguments to pieces. In fact, the book provides a damning paper
trail
that reveals, in uninflected bureaucratic prose, the roots that those
terrible images had in decisions made at the highest levels of the Bush
administration - decisions that started the torture snowball rolling
down
the slippery slope of precedent by asserting that the United States
need
not abide by the Geneva Conventions in its war on terror.
Many of the documents here have been published before (most notably in
Mark
Danner's incisive 2004 volume "Torture and Truth"), but "The Torture
Papers" contains some material not collected in earlier books. More
important, the minutely detailed chronological narrative embodied in
this
volume, which has appeared piecemeal in other publications, possesses
an
awful and powerful cumulative weight. As one of its editors. Karen J.
Greenberg, executive director of the Center on Law and Security at the
New
York University School of Law, observes, it leaves the reader with "a
clear
sense of the systematic decision to alter the use of methods of
coercion
and torture that lay outside of accepted and legal norms."
The book is necessary, if grueling, reading for anyone interested in
understanding the back story to those terrible photos from Saddam
Hussein's
former prison, and abuses at other American detention facilities…
---
GUANTANAMO CAPTIVES CLAIM FALSE CONFESSIONS
Associated Press, 2/8/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6929947/
Nearly a dozen prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp contend they
were wrongly imprisoned after repeated abuse by U.S. troops in
Afghanistan
and Pakistan, including beatings with chains, electric shock and
sodomy,
their lawyer said Monday.
"These are classic stories of men who ended up in Guantanamo by
mistake,"
charged attorney Tom Wilner, who represents 11 Kuwaiti prisoners held
in
the detention center at the U.S. Navy base in eastern Cuba.
Most of his clients say they falsely confessed to belonging to
Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terrorist network
as a
way to stop the abuse, Wilner said. He said one is too angry over his
treatment to discuss details of his case, but all argue their
detentions
are unjustified.
Human rights groups and defense lawyers have long charged that some
information used as the basis for incarcerations at Guantanamo Bay
resulted
from abuse or torture. Many of the 545 prisoners there have been held
for
more than three years, most without charge. About 150 have been let go,
but
officials have not given explanations for their release…
---
LAWYER SAYS U.S. FORCES ABUSED KUWAITI PRISONERS
Will Dunham, Reuters, 2/7/05
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5522469
WASHINGTON - U.S. forces abused several Kuwaiti prisoners now held at
Guantanamo Bay by beating them with chains, sodomizing them and giving
them
electrical shocks, the detainees' lawyer said on Monday.
Human rights lawyer Tom Wilner, who represents the 11 Kuwaitis locked
up as
foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba,
described the abuses in notes after meeting with the men last month.
The notes -- declassified by the U.S. government -- detailed
conversations
with six of the men, and said the other five recounted similar
treatment.
Maj. Michael Shavers, a Pentagon spokesman, would not offer a
point-by-point rebuttal of the allegations. But he said, "It is
important
to note that al Qaeda training manuals emphasize the tactic of making
false
abuse allegations."
The worst of the abuse, which Wilner labeled torture, took place at the
hands of U.S. forces at detention facilities in Afghanistan and
Pakistan
before the men were taken to Guantanamo, first used to detain terrorism
suspects in January 2002, he said.
"All of them were hung from their wrists and beaten, sometimes beaten
with
chains. At least one was hung upside from his ankles and beaten. They
were
all beaten, they said, until they would pass out," Wilner said.
"They were stripped naked and kept naked for extended periods of time.
They
were taunted while naked by female guards. At least one of them was
sodomized. At least two of them were subjected to electric shocks while
hanging from their wrists," Wilner added, with the shocks applied using
metal paddles placed under the men's arms.
Wilner said the Kuwaitis were chained in painful positions for such
long
periods of time that they would urinate and defecate on themselves…
-----
ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC FROM THE LIKES OF DANIEL PIPES IS UNHELPFUL
Maher Mughrabi, The Age, 2/8/05
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Opinion/This-is-not-the-way-to-tackle-antiSemitism/2005/02/07/1107625135855.html
Daniel Pipes is a rhetorical bomb-maker, and last weekend he struck in
Melbourne. Combining his audience's horrific memories of the Holocaust
with
present fears of Iranian weapons programs, he stood back and waited for
a
publicity explosion.
At Monash University's conference on anti-Semitism, the American
academic
and commentator warned that preparations were under way for a "second
Holocaust". The Muslim world had Israel in its sights, and to prove it
Pipes picked a 2001 remark by a former Iranian president. But it is
worth
providing the former president's quote in full:
"If a day comes when the world of Islam is duly equipped with the arms
Israel has in its possession, the strategy of colonialism would face a
stalemate because application of an atomic bomb would not leave
anything in
Israel but the same thing would just produce damages in the Muslim
world."
Does this sound like a man threatening a second Holocaust, or one
pointing
out the obvious, which is that Muslim acquisition of nuclear weapons
would
change the strategic balance in the region? Is "stalemate" really
another
word for "mass murder"?
Anti-Semitism is a serious and enduring problem, which must be tackled
through education and exchange at every level of society. It may be
that
Pipes has something to teach us about its range and character today.
But I
wonder about placing him front and centre at an anti-Semitism
conference,
for a number of reasons.
That he still commands audiences might surprise those who remember that
in
1987 he urged the United States to supply Saddam Hussein with better
weapons and intelligence, on the basis that the Baathist leadership was
an
important force for moderation and US security in the region. That
Saddam
was the aggressor did not seem to matter; what was important was that
Iran
should be utterly defeated.
In 1987 he urged the United States to supply Saddam Hussein with better
weapons and intelligence. Pipes' stance on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict
also hinges on the need for a complete military defeat of one side.
Believing that "what war had achieved for Israel, diplomacy has
undone", he
has long opposed a two-state solution of the kind proposed by George
Bush
and the international community and to which even Israeli Prime
Minister
Ariel Sharon now pays lip service…
Maher Mughrabi is an Age journalist.
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: "Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans
in
World War II." (From his website, 12/28/04)
---
NYC STATION REELING FROM TSUNAMI PARODY
Larry Mc Shane, Associated Press, 2/5/07
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--radio-tsunami0207feb07%2C0%2C1663880.story
NEW YORK - The music swelled, sounding the familiar first notes of the
vintage charity hit ``We Are the World.'' Then the lyrics kicked in - a
torrent of bad taste, ethnic slurs and cruel insults about the killer
south
Asia tsunami.
The ``parody,'' aired during morning drive time on New York radio's
WQHT-FM, lasted three short minutes. Nearly three long weeks later, the
self-proclaimed ``premier hip-hop station in America'' is still
reeling:
one of its morning co-hosts was fired, the show's producer was dumped,
and
five other employees remain suspended…
Asian-American and Muslim groups were among those infuriated by the
song,
which mocked victims of the tsunami. (Estimates of the overall death
toll
from 11 tsunami-hit nations ranged Monday from about 152,000 to
178,000.)
The controversy was a slow starter, with word of the song spreading on
Jan.
21. Executives at both the station, which calls itself Hot 97, and
parent
company Emmis Radio did not immediately return phone calls for comment,
and
it seemed the protest disappeared over the weekend.
But the anger didn't dissipate; it grew. By the middle of the following
week, the station suspended its entire morning show staff, announcing
their
salaries would go to tsunami relief.
The move failed to appease the protesters…
-----
CULTURAL CENTER FOLLOWS BOSNIANS TO SNELLVILLE
Brian Feagans, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/8/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/gwinnett_2480165ba2b120dd10c0.html
Dozens of Bosnians are expected to squeeze into a converted two-story
house
in Snellville on Saturday for the dedication of an Islamic cultural
center.
The yet-to-be-named center is nestled behind a woodsy flank of
Centerville
Highway south of Highpoint Road. The center will offer classes in
Bosnian,
the Koran and Bosnian history, said Ismet Zejnelovic, the center's
imam.
The Bosnian Islamic center should help keep teenagers off the street
and
serve as a spiritual compass for immigrants building a new home in
America,
Zejnelovic said.
"We want to be here like a big family," he said. "In our tradition,
family
is most important."
The first wave of Bosnian refugees who came to the region nearly a
decade
ago settled in DeKalb County. But Gwinnett has quickly grown into the
most
popular address for Bosnians who fled bloodshed in the Balkans. And it
was
only a matter of time before the community dropped a cultural anchor
here
as well.
The 2000 census counted 4,542 Bosnians living in metro Atlanta. But
Zejnelovic and other community leaders estimate the figure is at 10,000
now, with about 70 percent living in Gwinnett, largely the
Lawrenceville
and Snellville areas. Most are ethnic Muslims.
Almedin "Dino" Kulo, 30, personifies the community's shift to Gwinnett.
In
1997, Kulo settled right around the corner from the Bosnian community
center in Clarkston. But in a quest for better public schools, he moved
the
nearly 20 miles to Snellville 2 1/2 years ago. Now the cultural center
is
following, and Kulo couldn't be happier.
"It's right here, in front of my door again," said Kulo, a DeKalb
firefighter…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/9/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S WORDS ARE NEVER EXHAUSTED
* CAIR-OHIO: SENATE BILL THREATENS ACADEMIC FREEDOM
* NY: BORDER INCIDENT ANGERS MUSLIMS (USA Today)
- Muslims Fingerprinted at Canadian Border (CAIR)
* IA: HATE OF MUSLIMS IS NOT AMERICAN (Quad-City Times)
- CAIR-CAN: Jews, Muslims Honor Police Chief (Jewish News)
* MI: MUSLIMS AWAIT GRAND MOSQUE
- WA: Uzbek Scholar Brings Muslim Perspective to EWU
- PA: Hajj is Journey of a Lifetime (Inquirer)
* MI: MUSLIM RAPPER CHOOSES FAMILY, SPIRITUALITY (Metro Times)
* GROUP CONDEMNS FATAL PRISON RIOT SHOOTINGS (AP)
- Canadian Alleges Torture at Gitmo (National Post)
- Moroccans Claim Guantanamo Abuse (BBC)
* AZ: ISLAMIC SOCIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S WORDS ARE NEVER EXHAUSTED
"If all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean was (made of) ink,
replenished by seven more oceans (of ink), the writing of God's Words
(His
wonderful signs and creations) would not be exhausted: for God is
exalted
in power, full of wisdom."
The Holy Quran, 31:27
-----
CAIR-OHIO: SENATE BILL THREATENS ACADEMIC FREEDOM
(COLUMBUS, OH, 2/9/05) - CAIR-Ohio is urging all persons of conscience
to
voice their concern over the recently-introduced Ohio Senate Bill 24.
If enacted, Senate Bill 24 will censor Ohio colleges and universities.
The
so-called "Academic Bill of Rights" is truly a misnomer, as it is
really an
"academic bill of restrictions."
CAIR, along with the ACLU and other civil rights organizations, opposes
passage of this bill because it could be used to curtail academic
freedom
and to encourage thought policing in our institutes of higher
education.
The bill would have a chilling effect on freedom of inquiry on Ohio's
campuses.
For example:
* The bill forces the board of trustees, of both public and private
schools, to adopt policies about what can and cannot be taught.
* Under the bill, faculty would be discouraged from teaching anything
"controversial" - a vaguely defined term that could pertain to any
number
of topics including evolution, history, or religion.
* If they do raise controversial issues, teachers would have to present
alternative views regardless of the merits of those views or their own
beliefs about them.
* Senate Bill 24 would shift the responsibility for course content and
student evaluation from highly trained faculty to the state government
or
the courts, a prospect that is highly offensive to many college
professors.
TO VIEW THE TEXT OF THE BILL, GO TO:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_0024
In a commentary about the bill, William T. Lyons Jr., the director of
the
Center for Conflict Management at the University of Akron, said:
"The best way to combat ideas we do not like, or policies we do not
support, is by coming up with better ideas and persuading others that
our
ideas have merit. Trying to outlaw ideas we do not approve of, even in
the
name of free expression, is a cure far worse than the disease."
Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, a professor at Youngstown State University,
wrote
in a letter to the editor:
"Senate Bill 24 is not a bill of academic rights but a bill of
statutory
requirements that if passed will have wide and adverse effects upon the
academic profession and upon all public and private colleges and
universities in the State - statutory requirements that have no
rational
basis."
The "Academic Bill of Rights" is a concept being promoted in state
legislatures nationwide by leftist-turned-conservative David Horowitz.
Horowitz formed a group called Students for Academic Freedom to combat
what
he says is the grip that liberals have exercised at universities since
the
'60s. SEE: http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/
Horowitz is editor-in-chief of a web site, www.frontpagemag.com, that
has
published articles with titles such as, "Why Islam Can't Join the
Modern
World," "Why Islam Hates Democracy," "Islam Uber Alles," "Islam's
Immigrant
Invasion of Europe," "Kerry's Secret Muslim Connections," "US Muslims
Stalk
More Infidels," and "Black Muslim Traitors." Horowitz is also the
author of
"Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left."
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED - Contact your elected officials to ask that
they oppose Senate Bill 24. Messages from college students, parents,
faculty, and administrators would be especially helpful.
TO LOCATE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, GO TO:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/
TO VIEW THE ACLU'S SUGGESTED LETTER OR E-MAIL, GO TO:
http://www.acluohio.org/issues/free_speech/sb24samplelanguage.htm
COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
jennifer@cair-ohio.com
Members of the Senate Education Committee:
Chair: Joy Padgett
Clerk: Grant Earlich
Regular Meetings: North Hearing Rm.
Partisan Breakdown: 6 Republicans, 3 Democrats
Republican
Chair Sen. Joy Padgett
Vice Chair Sen. Gary Cates
Sen. John Carey
Sen. Randy Gardner
Sen. Jeff Jacobson
Sen. Larry Mumper
Democrat
Ranking Minority Member Sen. Teresa Fedor
Sen. Eric Fingerhut
Sen. Ray Miller
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-OH President Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916,
ahmad@cair-ohio.com; CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Director Jennifer Nimer,
614-451-3232, jennifer@cair-ohio.com
-----
BORDER INCIDENT ANGERS MUSLIMS
Kevin Johnson, USA Today, 2/8/05
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-08-muslims-border_x.htm
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security is examining the
detentions and interrogations of dozens of Muslims who were stopped at
border crossings in Upstate New York while returning to the USA from
Canada
in December, DHS spokeswoman Kristi Clemens said Tuesday.
The moves by the DHS' civil rights and inspector general's offices come
after an emotional meeting last week in Buffalo between members of the
local Muslim Public Affairs Council and Michael Battle, the U.S.
attorney
there.
Khalid Qazi, president of the Muslim group, said several Buffalo-area
Muslims complained that they were unnecessarily held, fingerprinted and
questioned by border agents for more than four hours. He said it was
"degrading, humiliating and dishonorable."
The DHS inquiries will examine whether U.S. border agents incorrectly
detained the Muslims by misusing a government database that is aimed at
identifying potential terrorism suspects and violent gang members.
The list, which is kept by the FBI and is known as the Violent Gang and
Terrorist Organization File (VGTOF), is part of a network of databases
that
have been compiled by U.S. agencies since the Sept. 11 attacks to
monitor
traffic at border crossings and airports.
The VGTOF list includes hundreds of names. It has been expanded during
the
past three years to include "associates" of suspected terrorists and
gang
leaders. The FBI acknowledges that in some cases, people have been
flagged
for increased scrutiny only because their names are similar to someone
who
has been targeted for surveillance, or because they unwittingly have
had
contact with the targets.
Under federal guidelines, such "associates" are not supposed to be
detained
or questioned. U.S. agents who come across them are merely supposed to
make
note of them as possible contacts in investigations.
But recently, the FBI has received complaints that people with no
apparent
links to terrorism or gangs are being held for hours with little or no
explanation at border crossings in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y…
SEE ALSO:
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FINGERPRINTED BY U.S. AT CANADIAN BORDER
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1371&theType=NR
-----
HATE OF MUSLIMS IS NOT AMERICAN
Lisa Zaynab Killinger and Henry Karp, Quad-City Times, 2/8/05
http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?t=Search&doc=/2005/02/09/stories/letters/1045187.txt
Last month the Quad-Cities Anti-Hate Coalition reviewed a transcript
from
Don Imus' radio show broadcast by MSNBC. During his program, his guest
referred to Palestinians as "filthy animals" and made several
derogatory
and inflammatory comments about Muslims and people from the Middle
East.
Several hundred Muslim families, (mostly physicians and professionals)
and
many Palestinians (both Christian and Muslim), live and work peacefully
here in the Quad-Cities among their neighbors of all faiths. The
comments
made in Don Imus' broadcast should be offensive to us all. Sadly, in
today's political climate, many Muslims and Middle Easterners dare not
speak out for fear of attacks on their homes and families, or worse
yet,
fear of being "detained" with no particular charges against them. It is
sad
that anyone in America could be left so vulnerable to verbal abuse and
violations of civil rights, and yet feel it is unsafe to respond.
As members of the Quad-Cities Anti-Hate Coalition, we found Don Imus'
broadcast to be intolerant, bigoted and ignorant. Our organization,
dedicated to fostering a community environment of tolerance, encourages
everyone to be vigilant for bigotry and hatred in our community and
nationally, and to speak out against it whenever it occurs. We will not
support programming that is so blatantly bigoted against any group, and
hope that any American respectful of the diversity of their nation's
community will do the same.
SEE ALSO:
JEWS AND MUSLIMS HONOUR YORK REGION POLICE CHIEF
CAROLYN BLACKMAN, Canadian Jewish News, 2/10/05
http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=5535
About 300 Jews and Muslims gathered recently to honour York Region
police
chief Armand La Barge for promoting race relations in the region.
The evening was organized by Temple Har Zion and the Islamic Shia
Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Toronto (ISIJ), with support from the Mosaic
Group,
an interfaith organization…
Other speakers included Susan Kadis, MP for Thornhill; Mario Racco,
Thornhill MPP; Glenn MacDonnell, C.E.O. Ontario Special Olympics; Jack
Clancey, state deputy, Knights of Columbus; and Faisal Kutty from the
Canadian Council of American-Islamic Relations.
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA (CAIR-CAN)
P.O.Box 13219, Ottawa, ON
Canada, K2K 1X4
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Local: (613) 254-9704
Fax: (613) 254-9810
Email: canada@cair-net.org
URL: www.caircan.ca
-----
MI: MUSLIMS AWAIT GRAND MOSQUE
Darren A. Nichols, The Detroit News, 2/9/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/wayne/0502/09/B03-84000.htm
DEARBORN -- Metro Detroit's sizable Muslim population will soon have a
mosque large enough to accommodate its needs.
The Islamic Center of America is set to open May 12. The $12 million
project will provide the Islamic Center's 3,000 members with more room
to
worship and have community activities. Its current facility in Detroit
--
which the group has occupied for about 40 years -- is too cramped to
meet
all their needs.
"It means a transition for us to a much larger facility that will allow
us
to serve our community that much more," said Kassem Allie,
administrator
for the Islamic Center of America.
When it opens, the Islamic Center of America -- which will be among the
largest mosques in the country -- will be a 120,000-square-foot complex
that includes the mosque, the Muslim American Youth Academy, an
auditorium
and library. For local Muslims such as Zana Macki, the new mosque on
Ford
Road, which is located next to an Armenian church and a Christian
church,
stands as a reminder of the diverse religions in the area.
"Where else can you have such a diversity of religions?" said Macki, a
Dearborn Heights resident. "When I see the floodlights at night, and
it's
illuminated, I feel closer to God. It's almost like the Holy land. It's
a
reminder of how fortunate I am to live in the United State, and that I
can
very freely practice my religion."
There are about 500,000 Arab-Americans in Metro Detroit. About 30,000
Dearborn residents -- about one-third of the city's population -- are
of
Arab descent. The Islamic Center's existing mosque in Detroit began as
the
Islamic Center of Detroit in 1963. Imam Mohammad Jawad Chirri founded
the
17,000-square-foot facility after rallying the local Arab community and
his
contacts throughout the Middle East. When the decision was made to
build
the new mosque, members of the group's construction committee talked to
many people in the community and visited mosques in Cleveland, Toronto
and
Toledo to see what type of facility would best fit their needs in
Dearborn.
The facility's construction is significant because mosques often run
out of
room for religious and cultural events. It also doesn't help that many
of
the facilities are former storefronts and stores that are transformed
into
mosques…
SEE ALSO:
AZIMOVA SELECTED TO BRING MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE TO EWU
Thomas Coghlan, Easterner Online, 2/8/05
http://www.easterneronline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/08/4209be47cd660
Next fall, a Muslim scholar will be actively educating students and
faculty
in the community on the Muslim world.
Jerry Galm, anthropology professor since 1981, received a grant to
bring a
scholar to the campus to add to the cultural awareness.
"This is a time of great misunderstanding between the Muslim world and
the
rest of the world," said Galm.
The scholar selected Jan. 21 was Norida Azimova, a professor of
anthropology and sociology from Uzbekistan.
Although the exact plan is not set in stone, she will contribute her
knowledge of Islam to students and faculty alike.
"Her presence on campus, and her interaction with the community at
large,
will help us do what we need to do, to bring that portion of the world
to
our course offerings here," said Galm.
With the events of Sept. 11 and the current war in Iraq, the gulf
between
the Muslim world and America has become far more pronounced. With all
of
the focus on the violent extremist groups, the rest of the Muslim world
has
gotten a bad name.
"It is a world dominated by moderates," said Galm…
---
THE HAJJ: JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/9/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/10718195.htm
Something momentous has happened to some residents of this region -
something they waited for all their lives. That experience is the hajj,
the
pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam obliges every able Muslim to journey to
Mecca at
least once during his or her lifetime. This year, the hajj occurred in
January and attracted more than 2.4 million pilgrims to Mecca, in Saudi
Arabia. Mustapha and Hassan Elbanna, members of the Al-Aqsa Islamic
Society
in Philadelphia, recently returned from the hajj. The Elbanna brothers
were
born in Lebanon of Palestinian parents and came to the United States in
the
1980s. As their friend Nabil Khalil of Philadelphia looked on, they
spoke
with The Inquirer about the sights, sounds and significance of what
Mustapha calls "a life-transforming event."
The Inquirer: What are the logistics of planning for the hajj?
Mustapha Elbanna: It's an easy matter. You can go with your mosque or
group. There are a variety of Muslim travel agencies in the United
States,
and we went with a company called EasyHajj. We flew from JFK to Medina,
and
went from there to Mecca.
Inquirer: And do people spend years planning this, saving their life's
savings? How did you plan it?
Mustapha Elbanna: People do plan it like that, yes, but I'll be honest
with
you, in our case, it was just the moment. It came to me, my brother
wanted
to go, too, and it was the spirit of the moment.
Inquirer: What was it that made you decide?
Mustapha Elbanna: You have to feel ready inside your heart. Because
once
you've performed the hajj, you're supposed to be reborn. Once you've
done
it, you have to protect what you're about, or you become the typical
hypocrite and will waste your hajj for nothing. You have to set an
example.
I'm no saint. Sometimes I am an impatient person, sometimes I have
cursed,
and I feel as if I can bring these things down now, almost to nothing.
I
feel I can become a new person and shake off bad habits. In fact, I
have to
do that. It's not an easy thing, and that's why you don't go until you
feel
ready in your heart. That is why God doesn't require us to go every
year,
but only once in a lifetime, because it is meant to be a life-changing
event…
-----
YPSI'S ONE BE LO CHOOSES FAMILY AND SPIRITUALITY
Metro Times, 2/9/05
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7289
As many of his rhymes suggest, Lo's down with altruistic causes. Life
changed for him during a three-year prison stint he did for armed
robbery.
He converted to Islam before his 1997 release and recently changed from
his
birth name, Raland Scruggs, to Nashid Sulaiman…
As Lo's popularity grew, he admits that his spirituality was in crisis;
life as a budding rap star wasn't so sympathetic to his Islamic
lifestyle…
On wax, Lo has often steered away from Islamic messages, though at
times,
he says, it's difficult to be totally honest without rapping about his
faith.
When recalling his jail stint on the track "I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings" (from Masters of the Universe), Lo spits: "All praises due to
Allah,
I used to scheme/Till He showed me the straight way/Sirat
al-mustaqeem."
The rhyme may have baffled secular fans but fellow Muslims thought it
bold
to admit in song how Islam had changed his life...
------
GROUP CONDEMNS FATAL PRISON RIOT SHOOTINGS
Associated Press, 2/9/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Iraq%20Prison%20Riot
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A major Sunni Muslim party on Tuesday condemned
the
fatal shooting of four Iraqi security detainees by American guards
during a
riot last week at a U.S. military prison and demanded that those
responsible be brought to trial.
In a statement, the Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the country's largest
Sunni
political factions, condemned the killings at the U.S. military's Camp
Bucca in the southern Iraqi city of Umm Qasr.
On Jan. 31, guards opened fire on detainees after non-lethal means
failed
to quell the rioting, which erupted during a routine search for
contraband,
the U.S. command said. Four Iraqi prisoners were killed and six others
were
injured.
Prisoners hurled rocks at their American jailers and fashioned weapons
from
materials inside their living quarters, the military said.
The U.S. command said the use of lethal force by guards would be
investigated.
On Monday, a group of Sunni clerics said it received letters from
detainees
at the camp detailing allegations of abuse that included prisoners
having
their legs broken by American guards…
SEE ALSO:
KHADR ALLEGES U.S. TORTURE AT GUANTANAMO
Michael Friscolanti, National Post, 2/9/05
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=6e05657d-bed1-4714-b54e-ec431329cf20
TORONTO - A Canadian terror suspect being held by the United States at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says American interrogators have repeatedly
beaten
him, spiked his drinks with mind-altering drugs and threatened him with
rape unless he co-operated.
During one interview with authorities, Omar Khadr claims he was forced
to
roll around in his own urine, then denied a change of clothes for two
days.
The 18-year-old, who was born in Toronto but later lived in the same
Afghan
compound as Osama bin Laden, also says U.S. officials spat in his face,
locked him in isolation for a month, and abused him to the point where
he
contemplated suicide.
The detailed allegations are outlined in a sworn affidavit written by
two
U.S. lawyers who visited Mr. Khadr in November.
Under a pre-arranged deal, the attorneys were forbidden to publicize
his
accusations until the Pentagon reviewed their statement and authorized
its
release.
Obtained by the National Post, the affidavit marks the first time Mr.
Khadr
has accused the U.S. military of torture, although it remains to be
seen
whether his allegations will generate any significant public sympathy.
The affidavit has not been independently corroborated, and many
Canadians
are well aware of his family's close ties to terrorism and their open
contempt for the Western world…
---
MOROCCANS CLAIM GUANTANAMO ABUSE
Pascale Harter, BBC News, 2/9/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4246147.stm
This the first trial of Guantanamo prisoners in an Arab country
Fresh accusations of torture at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in
Cuba have emerged during the trial of five detainees transferred to
Morocco.
The five men, all Moroccans, appeared in court in the capital Rabat on
Monday after being handed over by the US in August last year.
The trial was later adjourned until the end of the month.
This is the first trial of former Guantanamo Bay prisoners to be held
in an
Arab country.
'Blindfolded'
The five defendants claim that on numerous occasions while in detention
at
Guantanamo Bay, they were stripped naked and handcuffed before having
dogs
set upon them.
Each time the defendants brought up instances of torture during their
two-year detention at Guantanamo, they were silenced by the Moroccan
judge.
"This court is not concerned with what happened elsewhere," he said…
-----
6TH ANNUAL ISSA CONFERENCE "ISLAMIC SOCIAL SERVICES: CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
WHAT: Social workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental
health professionals, volunteers, students, imams and other religious
leaders are invited to attend the 6th annual ISSA conference, titled
"Islamic Social Services: Challenges and Opportunities."
WHEN: Friday, June 17 � Sunday, June 19, 2005
WHERE: Holiday Inn, 915 East Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ 85281 Tel: (480)
968-3451
Register Online at www.issausa.org. For more information please contact
us
at phone: 1-888-415-9920 or Email: conference@issausa.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/10/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE THE POOR
- Verse of the Day: Feed the Needy
* CAIR-FL: TAMPA CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS TO DISCUSS JESUS
- DC: CAIR Civil Rights Dept. Offers EEOC Workshop
- 260 Students Attend CAIR-San Antonio Conference
- CAIR-CAN Wants Global to Match Fox TV's Disclaimer (CP)
- CAIR: Gen. Mattis Should Apologize (Toledo Blade)
- CAIR-NY: Exec. Assistant/Membership Coordinator Needed
* NC: FOX AFFILIATE APOLOGIZES TO MUSLIMS (Charlotte Observer)
* ALMOST HALF OF VT LANDLORDS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MUSLIMS
- FL Mosque Sign Vandalized Again (Boca Raton News)
* REAL ID, REAL PROBLEMS (Washington Post)
- Action Alert: Voice Your Concern Over 'Real ID Act'
* IMAM'S ROLE IN MEETING NEEDS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES (APA)
* GOVT CONFIRMS SEXUAL TACTICS AT GITMO (Wash Post)
* NY: CORNELL PROGRAM HELPS ILLUSTRATE ISLAM (Ithaca Journal)
- Canada: Congregation Studies Islam During Lent
* CA: HAJJ IS MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR LOCAL MUSLIMS (Union Trib)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE THE POOR
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God! I ask You for
the
means to do good, to avoid evil and to love the poor."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 13A
VERSE OF THE DAY: FEED THE NEEDY
(On the Day of Judgment) every human being will be held in pledge for
whatever (evil) he has wrought - save those who shall have attained to
righteousness: (dwelling) in gardens (of paradise), they will inquire
of
those who were lost in sin: "What has brought you into hell-fire?" They
will answer: "We were not among those who prayed; and neither did we
feed
the needy."
The Holy Quran, 74:38-44
-----
CAIR-FL: TAMPA CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS TO DISCUSS JESUS
(TAMPA, FL, 02/10/2003) � On February 12, the Florida office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), in cooperation with the Muslim
Student Association (MSA) at the University of South Florida, will host
an
interfaith dialogue focusing on Jesus and how he is viewed by both
faiths.
The event is free and open to the public. SEE:
http://www.cairfl.org/jesus
WHAT: Muslim-Christian Dialogue "Jesus -� Biblical and Quranic
Perspectives"
WHEN: Saturday, February 12, 2005, 7 p.m.
WHERE: University of South Florida, Tampa Campus, University Lecture
Hall (ULH)
Speakers include Rev. Dr. Duncan Ferguson, Director of the Center for
Spiritual Life at Eckerd College, and Dr. Jamal Badawi, professor at
St.
Mary's University in Canada.
"Islam exhorts us to engage in dialogue with others and to build good
relations with our neighbors," said Ahmed Bedier, Central Florida
director
of CAIR. "The Tampa interfaith community is fortunate to have leaders
who
seek dialogue and preach tolerance."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org; Altaf Ali
954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS DEPT. OFFERS EEOC WORKSHOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/10/05) - CAIR's Civil Rights Department yesterday
conducted a workshop, titled "Workplace Issues that Confront the Arab
and
Muslim Communities," at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission
(EEOC) in Washington, D.C.
The works shop, which was organized by the Alternative Dispute
Resolution
(ADR) unit of the EEOC, was designed to address critical issues in the
area
of labor employment
CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman presented the workshop, which
focused on basic Islamic beliefs, issues of discrimination that
confront
the American Muslim community, the root causes of labor/employment
conflicts that adversely affects American Muslims, and potential
remedies
for these issues.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the EEOC's
Investigative
Unit, Alternate Dispute Resolution Unit and Charge Receipt and
Technical
Assistant Unit. Others in attendance included members of Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Raytheon, and Howard University
Law
School.
---
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: 260 STUDENTS ATTEND CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
(SAN ANTONIO, 2/10/05) - The San Antonio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Antonio) said today that more than
260
students attended its conference on Islam at the Providence High School
on
Wednesday, February 9.
The conference, an all day event, started off with a local Islamic
religious leader (Imam) reciting from the Quran, Islam's revealed text,
and
then a CAIR-San Antonio representative reciting the pledge of
allegiance,
both of which were broadcast in each classroom in the school.
Students attended lectures on Islam throughout the day and participated
in
discussions on a variety of topics. Islamic displays and food were also
available.
"It was a beautiful day," said Sarwat Hussain, executive director of
CAIR-San Antonio. "Many teachers and interfaith leaders also
participated
in the event and deemed it a great success!"
CONTACT: Sarwat Hussain, 210-378-9528, sarwat@nazirh.com
---
CAIR-CAN: CANADIAN ISLAMIC GROUP WANTS GLOBAL TO MATCH FOX TV'S NEW
RACIAL
DISCLAIMER
John Mckay, Canadian Press, 2/10/05
http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=a2a8f0f0-2ece-42cf-8eef-836af0020e7e
TORONTO (CP) - "Hi, my name is Kiefer Sutherland and I play
counterterrorist agent Jack Bauer on Fox's 24."
So begins a new public service announcement that aired Monday night
during
this week's episode of the hit action series. In his on-camera
appearance
with a city skyline in the background, Sutherland goes on to say that
while
terrorism is a critical challenge to America and the world, it is also
important to know that the American Muslim community denounces and
resists
all forms of terrorism, too.
"So, in watching 24, please bear that in mind."
The disclaimer is Fox TV's latest effort to appease an American Muslim
community upset over 24's ongoing plotline this year in which a
ruthless
Middle Eastern-looking family is seen conspiring to engineer a
devastating
meltdown at several U.S. nuclear power plants.
The ad is a second step in Fox's equal-time campaign. Last month, the
network agreed to send two other PSAs - produced by the
Washington-based
lobby group Council on American-Islamic Relations - to its own and
affiliate stations to air either within or in proximity to the weekly
24
telecast. In those ads, ordinary citizens identify themselves as
American
Muslims and assure that they are "part of the fabric of this great
country
and are working to build a better America..."
But now the Canadian branch of CAIR says it is firing off a letter to
Global asking the broadcaster to carry the Sutherland PSA or to produce
something similar in this country, preferably also by Sutherland, who
is
Canadian.
Riad Saloojee, executive director of CAIR Canada in Ottawa, concedes it
has
not been as involved as its U.S. counterpart in the stereotype issue
but
that it's clear the potential negative effect of the portrayal of
American
Muslims on shows like 24 might also affect Canadian Muslims.
"Much of the imagery and sometimes even the raw atmosphere in the
United
States does percolate down to Canada," Saloojee said Wednesday. "It
certainly hasn't been as serious as it has been in the United States in
terms of discrimination of Muslims in Canada. But much of the concerns
are
parallel..."
TO VIEW THE FOX DISCLAIMER, GO TO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1434&theType=NR
---
CAIR-DC: GEN. MATTIS SHOULD APOLOGIZE
Toledo Blade, 2/10/05
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050210/OPINION02/502100393/-1/OPINION
IS IT any wonder that most of the Muslim world regards Americans as
clueless on the cultural divides that separate them from others when a
top
American warrior muses aloud about the thrill of killing in Afghanistan
and
Iraq?
What exactly is the Islamic community to conclude when military brass,
who
have commanded troops against warring religious factions on the way to
Kabul and Baghdad, utter wisecracks about the manhood of the people
they
enjoyed killing there?
The remarks didn't come from an infantry soldier muttering asides to a
colleague crouching in the same foxhole. The crass comments came from a
Marine general at a recent San Diego forum on strategies for the war on
terrorism. Lt. Gen. James Mattis went for a cheap laugh - and got it.
General Mattis, who led an assault battalion during the first war with
Iraq
and commanded Marine brigades and divisions in Afghanistan and during
the
second war in Iraq, was on a roll when he said what "a hoot" it was "to
shoot some people." By "some people" the commanding general of the
Marine
Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., apparently meant the
"guys" in Afghanistan who abuse women "because they didn't wear a
veil."
There was more. "You know," Lt. Gen. Mattis continued, "guys like that
ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to
shoot
them." His commanding officers seemed to shrug off the reprehensible
remarks of their colleague as just a poor choice of words from someone
who
has a propensity for too much candor in public settings.
"His actions and those of his troops clearly show that he understands
the
value of proper leadership and the value of human life," said Marine
Gen.
Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Not
surprisingly,
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties
group,
had a different take. "These disturbing remarks are indicative of an
apparent indifference to the value of human life," said Nihad Awad,
CAIR
executive director…
-----
CAIR-NY JOB OPENING: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
CAIR-NY is looking for an executive assistant/membership coordinator.
This position is part-time, but full-time candidates will also be
considered.
The candidate should:
1. Either be in college or graduated from college.
2. Have excellent written skills (writing sample required).
3. Have excellent interpersonal skills in order to communicate with and
motivate our members.
4. Know a second language.
5. Have the ability to manage office resources, and have working
knowledge
of MS Office applications.
All resumes and cover letters to be sent to Wissam Nasr, Executive
Director, at director@cair-ny.org>director@cair-ny.org or fax to
212.870.2020
-----
NC: FOX AFFILIATE APOLOGIZES TO MUSLIMS
References to holy city for story on snobbery led to complaints
Mark Washburn, Charlotte Observer, 2/10/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/10861295.htm
Fox Charlotte (WCCB, Channel 18) apologized Wednesday for airing a
spoof on
the Muslim tradition of visiting Mecca.
Promoting a news story about elitism and snobbery at upscale SouthPark
mall, the station used images of pilgrims coming to Mecca, one of the
world's holiest religious sites.
"The hajj, a pilgrimage Muslims take to the holy city of Mecca," the
promo
said. "Members of Charlotte's elite make a similar pilgrimage to the
corporate altar of brand-name merchandise -- SouthPark mall, where
believers gather to be among their kind," said a voice-over on the
spot,
which then showed the mall and the word "Mecca."
"The thing that struck me most was the superimposing of the world
`Mecca'
over a shot of the front of the mall," said Scott Darden, a Charlotte
logistics analyst and a Muslim. "It just didn't sit well."
Islam obliges physically and financially able Muslims to come to Mecca
at
least once during their lives in a pilgrimage called the hajj. This
year's
hajj was in January, when more than 2 million pilgrims made the journey
to
the sacred sites in Saudi Arabia.
The trip is considered the culmination of spiritual life for Muslims,
who
number about 1.2 billion and comprise the world's second-largest
religion.
"Those are very emotional images for Muslims because everyone is eager
to
complete that duty," said Darden, who moved to Charlotte from Atlanta
in
October.
WCCB logged about 10 complaints Wednesday from viewers, said Jeff
Arrowood,
the station's program director and promotion manager.
Arrowood said WCCB strives for memorable promos to break through the
advertising clutter. "Sometimes we misfire," he said.
-----
ALMOST HALF OF VT LANDLORDS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MUSLIMS
LITMUS TEST FOR LANDLORDS
WCAX TC, 2/8/05
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=2920981&nav=4QcSW97Z
Burlington, Vermont - There are signs it's less of a landlord's
market-- as
more and more vacant apartments become available in Vermont. They're
ready
to rent, but not to everyone. A year-long study at the Fair Housing
Project
tested landlords in Vermont. The group found nearly 50% illegally
discriminated against Islamic immigrants.
"A lot want to think of Vermont as an open, progressive place and this
doesn't happen here," says Willa Darley Chapin of the Fair Housing
Project.
The project used two testers to call rental properties. One caller
sounded
American, the other sounded Muslim. Both had identical incomes and were
the
same gender.
"The only significant difference between them was their national
origin,"
explains Chapin.
27 calls were made to landlords in Lamoille, Washington and Chittenden
Counties. The American tester was successful. But about half the time,
the
foreign tester was told the property was not available, there were fees
attached, or the phone call was simply not returned.
For immigrants, like Muhaideen Batah, the reason is simple: 9-11.
"The individuals who did this-- the horrific 9-11-- they do not
represent
me as a Muslim or my faith," says Batah. "It's not fair to say we all
the
same the Muslims. We came here to this country for a better future for
us
and for our kids."
"Does discrimination happen? Yes. On this scale? No, certainly not,"
says
Stuart Bennett of the Vt. Apartment Owners Association.
The Association questions the study's validity. They say such a small
test
sample does not indicate widespread discrimination in the state.
"Such a low sample over a long period of time doesn't mean anything,"
says
Bennett. "27 calls to 27 people in the state of Vermont is completely
insignificant..."
ALSO SEE:
BOCA MOSQUE SIGN VANDALIZED AGAIN
Sean Salai, Boca Raton News, 2/10/05
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&category=Local%20News&prid=10814
The sign for a new Boca Raton mosque has been vandalized with an
anti-Islamic slur, the first reported hate crime at the Assalam Center
construction site since the same sign was burned repeatedly in 2003,
according to police.
Although Boca police confirmed they were investigating the defaced sign
as
an anti-Islamic hate crime, they would not say whether they had ruled
out
George Aboujawdeh as a suspect. The Lebanese-born Christian served one
month in jail for setting the same sign on fire repeatedly after the
mosque
broke ground in January 2003.
"It's a crime that we take very seriously," Sgt. Robert DeNeve, public
information officer, told the Boca News. "The investigation is
ongoing."
According to the police report filed Tuesday, the vandalism was phoned
in
by mosque member Saif El Hassan and occurred sometime between last
Saturday
night and Sunday morning. The graffiti, written with a black marker in
Arabic and English, read, "f-- all Moslems."
Hassan, a self-employed wood finisher who lives in Boca, said he hoped
the
crime did not herald a new wave of anti-Islamic bias in the area.
"I hope it was an isolated incident, or the work of a child rather than
a
mature individual," Hassan told the Boca News. "This kind of
destruction
doesn't mean anything good. I don't understand why we've been targeted
like
this, because we haven't done anything to deserve it."
Assalam Center spokesman Reda Abdel-Fattah said workers on Friday had
resumed construction and put the mosque sign back up for the first time
since Aboujawdeh last burned it down. The restored sign and sudden
presence
of bulldozers might have provoked the vandals to strike, he said.
"There was nothing wrong until that point," Dr. Abdel-Fattah told the
Boca
News. "The justice system took care of the last person, so we really
have
no idea who wrote the hate language. Fortunately, I can tell you the
person
left behind very good evidence for the police that will be enough to
convict him. There is no perfect crime…"
-----
REAL ID, REAL PROBLEMS
Washington Post, 2/10/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12490-2005Feb9.html
THE HOUSE of Representatives is to vote today on the REAL ID Act of
2005.
As championed by Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner
Jr.
(R-Wis.), the bill's principal purpose is to establish federal security
controls over driver's licenses issued by states, so that federal
officials
at airports and elsewhere can have confidence that they know whom
they're
dealing with. While some civil libertarians worry about establishing a
national identification system, the basic idea seems reasonable. But
the
bill has serious problems; unless they are addressed, the act should
not
become law…
SEE ALSO:
ACTION ALERT: VOICE YOUR CONCERN OVER 'REAL ID ACT'
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=217&theType=AA
-----
THE IMAM'S ROLE IN MEETING THE COUNSELING NEEDS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES
IN
THE UNITED STATES
Osman M. Ali, M.D., Glen Milstein, Ph.D. and Peter M. Marzuk, M.D.,
American Psychiatric Association, 2/10/05
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/56/2/202
OBJECTIVE: Muslims are one of the most rapidly growing minority groups
in
the United States and have experienced increased stress since September
11,
2001. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the roles of imams,
Islamic clergy, in meeting the counseling needs of their communities.
METHODS: An anonymous self-report questionnaire was mailed to 730
mosques
across the United States.
RESULTS: Sixty-two responses were received from a diverse group of
imams,
few of whom had received formal counseling training. Imams reported
that
their congregants came to them most often for religious or spiritual
guidance and relationship or marital concerns. Imams reported that
since
September 11, 2001, there has been an increased need to counsel persons
for
discrimination. An increased need to counsel persons who were
discriminated
against was reported by all imams with congregations in which a
majority
are Arab American, 60 percent of imams with congregations in which a
majority are South Asian American, and 50 percent of imams with
congregations in which a majority are African American.
CONCLUSIONS: Although imams have little formal training in counseling,
they
are asked to help congregants who come to them with mental health and
social service issues. Imams need more support from mental health
professionals to fulfill a potentially vital role in improving access
to
services for minority Muslim communities in which there currently
appear to
be unmet psychosocial needs.
-----
PENTAGON INQUIRY IS SAID TO CONFIRM MUSLIMS' ACCOUNTS OF SEXUAL TACTICS
AT
GUANTANAMO
Carol D. Leonnig and Dana Priest, Washington Post, 2/10/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A12431-2005Feb9
Female interrogators repeatedly used sexually suggestive tactics to try
to
humiliate and pry information from devout Muslim men held at the U.S.
military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to a military
investigation not yet public and newly declassified accounts from
detainees.
The prisoners have told their lawyers, who compiled the accounts, that
female interrogators regularly violated Muslim taboos about sex and
contact
with women. The women rubbed their bodies against the men, wore skimpy
clothes in front of them, made sexually explicit remarks and touched
them
provocatively, at least eight detainees said in documents or through
their
attorneys.
A wide-ranging Pentagon investigation, which has not yet been released,
generally confirms the detainees' allegations, according to a senior
Defense Department official familiar with the report. While isolated
accounts of such tactics have emerged in recent weeks, the new
allegations
and the findings of the Pentagon investigation indicate that sexually
oriented tactics may have been part of the fabric of Guantanamo
interrogations, especially in 2003.
The inquiry uncovered numerous instances in which female interrogators,
using dye, pretended to spread menstrual blood on Muslim men, the
official
said. Separately, in court papers and public statements, three
detainees
say that women smeared them with blood.
The military investigation of U.S. detention and interrogation
practices
worldwide, led by Vice Adm. Albert T. Church III, confirmed one case in
which an Army interrogator took off her uniform top and paraded around
in a
tight T-shirt to make a Guantanamo detainee uncomfortable, and other
cases
in which interrogators touched the detainees suggestively, the senior
Pentagon official said.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the
report
has not yet been made public, said the fake blood was used on Muslim
men
before they intended to pray, because some Muslims believe that "if a
woman
touches him prior to prayer, then he's dirty and can't pray." Muslim
men
also believe that contact with women other than their wives diminishes
religious purity…
-----
PROGRAM SET AT CORNELL HELPS ILLUSTRATE ISLAM
Anne Ju, Ithaca Journal, 2/10/05
http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20050210/localnews/1974246.html
ITHACA -- To open Islam Awareness Week, Cornell University is inviting
the
public to attend a film screening and talk Friday, to hear the personal
perspective of an American female professor convert to Islam.
The event, entitled "An American Woman's Jihad," is scheduled at 7 p.m.
Friday in Goldwin Smith Hall's Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium on the
Cornell
Arts Quad. It is free and open to the public.
Other events in the week ahead include workshops, film showings and
lectures.
On Friday, a screening of the National Geographic documentary film,
"Inside
Mecca" will be followed by a talk by Fidelma O'Leary, a neuroscience
professor from St. Edwards University in Texas. In the film, O'Leary
and
two other Muslim women are depicted in a ritual journey to Mecca, Saudi
Arabia. O'Leary is an Irish-American woman who converted to Islam
several
years ago.
Wasi Syed, a Cornell graduate student and Islam Week coordinator, said
he
hopes people will leave with a better understanding of the ritual
pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, which is an annual mass migration of
two
million people.
In a larger sense, the purpose of Islam Week is to clear up
misconceptions
about Islam that are perpetuated in the national media.
One of those misconceptions is the idea of "jihad," which does not mean
"holy war."
"The literal term is in Arabic, and is a term of spiritual struggle by
an
individual to better themselves for the sake of God," Syed explained.
O'Leary's talk, entitled "Searching for God," will end with a
question-and-answer session with the audience.
"An American Woman's Jihad" is being sponsored by the Near Eastern
Studies
Department at Cornell, and by the Muslim Educational and Cultural
Association, and the International Student Programming Board.
ALSO SEE:
ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION STUDIES ISLAM DURING LENT
Alycia Ambroziak, The Gazette, 2/10/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/westisland/story.html?id=6d9969a1-9d05-4166-b8b7-908508041347
At first glance, it may seem a little odd for members of a Christian
church
to be studying Islam during Lent.
But as far as Rev. Frank Giffen is concerned, nothing could be more
natural.
"The themes of those Sunday services and Wednesday evening meetings
will be
salam, salat and zakat - Arabic for peace, prayer and giving offerings
to
the poor," said Giffen, reverend at St. John's United Church in Pointe
Claire, adding that the idea was inspired by a newly published United
Church document titled That They May Know Each Other.
"The phrase 'That they may know each other' is a quotation from the
Koran
and speaks for all the peoples of the Earth to know each other, for the
unity of the human race," Giffen added.
Asked if the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, spurred an increased
interest in Islam among his parishioners, Giffen replied: "Some of the
reaction of 9/11 has emphasized the need for understanding between
Christians and Muslims - and for that matter, understanding among all
religions."
Lent began yesterday on Ash Wednesday. Easter Sunday will be celebrated
this year on March 27.
"It's an important season of the year for worship in the church ... and
it
is very important that we come to a better understanding of the things
we
hold in common with the faith of Islam," Giffen said.
Giffen said guest speakers will participate in the morning worship
services
on Feb. 20, 27 and March 6. Throughout the same period, gatherings will
take place for four consecutive Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m., beginning
Feb. 23.
Guest speakers will include Stewart Brown, the new director of the
Ecumenical Centre in Montreal, on Feb. 20. "He has a strong background
in
Islam, having lived in Africa for a long time," Giffen said.
On Feb. 27, Munir Mian, a religious leader in the Montreal-area Muslim
community, will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service.
"The United Church is urging their members to offer a hand of
friendship to
those who practise Islam," Mian, said, adding that in a sense, the
events
of 9/11 have "opened a new window of opportunity for Muslims. ... It's
unfortunate that this window was opened by a tragedy."
Mian said there has been a "certain amount of alienation" between
Muslims
and Christians. "The situation has changed dramatically in the last
four or
five years.
"But I see this as great opportunity for Muslims to teach that the
religions of Islam represents peace, harmony and brotherhood for all,
regardless of where they come from."
The guest speaker on March 6 has yet to be determined.
St. John's United Church is at 98 Aurora Ave. in Pointe Claire. The
telephone number is (514) 697-6459.
-----
A PILGRIMAGE TO ISLAM'S HOLY SITES IS A MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR LOCAL
MUSLIMS
Hala Ali Aryan, Union-Tribune, 2/10/05
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20050210-9999-lz1c10hajj.html
Fatima and Seyfulla Oguz of University City went on hajj this year,
following generations of Muslims before them.
When Amr El-Sheikh reached the plains of Mount Arafat on the second day
of
the Muslim pilgrimage known as hajj, it was as if Islam's holy book had
come alive in front of his eyes.
"Proclaim to mankind the pilgrimage," God tells Abraham in the Koran.
"They
will come to you on foot and on every beast, they will come from every
deep
and distant mountain highway to perform hajj."
"That is actually what you see on the day of Arafat," said El-Sheikh, a
La
Costa resident. "People rode buses, small cars, little animals, walked.
It
deepened my faith of how this whole experience came alive in that day."
A record 2.56 million Muslims from all over the world flocked to Saudi
Arabia last month for hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Islam's holy sites
of
Mecca, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
"It was an amazing time, and not something any of us can forget," said
El-Sheikh, who went for the first time…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/11/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS WATCHING
* POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON CAIR-TX EVENT
- CAIR-LA: Visit CNN and Learn the News Process
- CAIR-LA: Mattis - General Distaste (Press-Enter)
* CAIR-FL: RADIO STATION DROPS MUSLIM AD (Tampa Trib)
- Action Alert: Contact Salem Communications (AP)
* OH: ISLAM IS REGION'S SECOND-LARGEST FAITH (Columbus Disp)
* DC: MUSLIM COMEDY TSUNAMI RELIEF SHOW
* U.S. BANKS OFFER ISLAM-FRIENDLY FINANCING (NPR)
- Islamic Perspectives on Worker Justice
- U.S. Muslims on the 9/11 Recommendations (CCMO)
* TX: WAS HAKEEM IN DARK? BEST BELIEVE IT (Houston Chron)
* TORTURE, AMERICAN STYLE (New York Times)
- VA: Judge Questions Gov't Response to Detainee (AP)
* IL: MUSLIM STUDENTS REACT TO PROFILE (Chicago Trib)
* NEW CONCERN ON POLIO AMONG MECCA PILGRIMS (NY Times)
- UN Downplays Fears of Polio Outbreak (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS WATCHING
"Be steadfast in prayer and regular in (giving) charity. For whatever
good
you send ahead of you to the Hereafter for yourselves, you shall find
it
with God. Surely God is watching all your actions."
The Holy Quran, 2:110
-----
POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON CAIR-TX EVENT
On Wednesday, February 9, the San Antonio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Antonio) held an all day
conference on
Islam at a local high school. The following is feedback from a student
who
attended the conference:
"I recently attended the presentation of Muslims in America and aboard
the
world to help me and others better understand the meaning of true
Islam. I
found it very helpful to attend…
"Terrorist have nothing to do with Islam was a good understanding I got
from the meeting. True Islam does not seek out 'Infidels' and says to
kill
every American or Westerner we tend to hear in the media."
CONTACT: Sarwat Hussain, 210-378-9528, sarwat@nazirh.com
SEE: CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: 260 STUDENTS ATTEND CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1439&theType=NR
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-LA: VISIT CNN AND LEARN THE NEWS PROCESS
WHAT: The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-LA) invites college and high school students to attend:
"Making the News: Visit CNN and Learn the News Process."
This is a great opportunity for students to learn what it takes to be a
journalist, observe how news is compiled and get a chance to meet
journalists and editors at the CNN studios in Los Angeles. Be a part of
the
media and learn how to use your voice to speak for justice by receiving
information on internships and job opportunities.
WHEN: March 9, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.
ADMISSION FREE (No Door Admission) VERY LIMITED SEATING! RESERVE YOUR
SEAT
ASAP!
Please RSVP by March 1, 2004
Contact: CAIR-LA at Tel: (714) 776-1847, Email: socal@cair.com
---
CAIR-LA: GENERAL DISTASTE
Press-Enterprise, 2/11/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_op_0211_letters.f47b.html
Regarding "Don't vilify general" (Your Views, Feb. 7): Since when do
our
armed forces think that shooting people is "fun"? As an American
organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is deeply
disturbed
by Marine Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis' remarks because they tell the world
that Americans are not interested in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." These kinds of statements falsely portray our armed forces
as
bloodthirsty savages, and help us lose the hearts and minds of the rest
of
the world.
CAIR and every mainstream Muslim leader in the world have repeatedly
gone
on record condemning the taking of any civilian life, be it Iraqi or
American. It behooves every American to stand up for our ideals of
justice
and make our leaders accountable for what they say and do in our name.
Sometimes the most patriotic thing one can do for our country is to
correct
our leaders.
HUSSAM AYLOUSH
Executive director
CAIR, Southern California
Corona
------
RADIO STATION DROPS AD FROM MUSLIM GROUP
Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, 2/11/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/MGB92DCT15E.html
TAMPA - A Christian radio station canceled its advertising contract
with a
Muslim organization this week on the grounds that the content "did not
serve our Christian constituency."
The 30-second spot promoted a Saturday event at the University of South
Florida - a Christian-Muslim dialogue.
TO LISTEN TO THE AD, GO TO:
http://www.cairfl.org/video/cair-fl_jesus_promo.wma
"This is exactly why we need to be doing programs like this," said
Ahmed
Bedier, director of the Central Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. "There's a lot of misinformation about
Islam,
and relations are strained. Not only here, but all around the world."
Christopher Gould Sr., general manager at WTBN, 910 AM, said Thursday
that
it was unfortunate a contract had been signed, but the company reserves
the
right to reject advertising after it reviews the content.
The station will refund the Islamic council's $300, he said.
"We run advertising that is aimed at our audience," Gould said. "This
isn't
the first time we've had to reject something. It could be another
religion
trying to promote people to its faith, or for an alcoholic beverage or
a
gentleman's club. We have to draw the line as to what is acceptable."
The contract had been signed by a sales manager when the promotions
department reviewed the ad. Gould said he checked out the council's Web
site and concluded the group is "clearly interested in recruiting
people"
to Islam...
That is not the group's intent, Bedier said.
Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions
that promote justice and mutual understanding, its Web site says. The
organization has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
"We don't aspire to go out and convert," Bedier said.
The radio spot invites the public to attend a Muslim-Christian
interfaith
event titled "Jesus: Biblical and Quranic Perspectives." It is
sponsored by
CAIR-Florida and the Muslim Student Association at USF, and includes
Christian and Islamic scholars. SEE: http://www.cair-florida.org/jesus/
A narrator opens the spot with: "Our world today is torn apart by
mistrust
and misunderstanding. We have a choice: live in ignorance of each other
or
work to create harmony and tolerance..."
The event will show that the two religions have more in common than
differences, particularly among conservative worshippers, Bedier
said...
Bedier also said Islam is the only other major religion that believes
Jesus
was sent by God.
WTBN is owned by Salem Communications, a radio broadcasting company
with
Christian and family-themed programming. The chain owns 104 stations
nationwide.
Gould said his decision is in keeping with the company's philosophy.
"It's nothing against this particular religion," he said. "If the
Church
[of Jesus Christ] of Latter-day Saints or [Jehovah's] Witnesses wanted
to
run a spot promoting their religion, we'd do the same thing. We're here
to
serve evangelical Christians."
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
Mr. Edward G. Atsinger III
President and Chief Executive Officer
Salem Communications
4880 San Rosa Road
Camarillo, CA 93012
FAX: 805-987-6072
E-Mail: edwarda@salem.cc, DeniseD@salem.cc
COPY TO: abedier@cair-florida.org
CONTACT CAIR-FL: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org;
Altaf
Ali
954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org
-----
RISING VOICE
With 35,000 followers, Islam has become region's second-largest major
faith
Felix Hoover, Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), 2/11/05
http://www.dispatch.com/
Central Ohio's Muslim community has grown so fast that the number of
local
mosques now exceeds the number of worshippers who established Columbus'
first mosque in 1976.
Franklin County's estimated 35,000 Muslims now can pray, study and
socialize in at least 14 mosques.
All of them are Sunni, though a few Shiites worship in them. Some are
small, such as the Masjid Abu-Bakr al-Siddique on Sullivant Avenue,
just
west of Demorest Road. Others are much larger, such as the Masjid ibn
Taymia & Islamic Center on Mock Road.
But none is big enough for Fridays, when Muslims meet for midday
communal
prayers, or for their two major holidays, at the end of the Ramadan
fast
and at the end of the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.
For Friday prayers, space is rented at the McDonald Athletic Complex on
Olentangy River Road and at the Willis Athletic Complex on Mock Road.
For
the holiday eids, or feasts, the Ohio Expo Center serves as the main
prayer
location.
What once was an almost invisible population has joined the community's
mainstream at work, shopping and in other activities, often in dress
that
identifies its religion.
What formerly was a silent group is increasingly being heard, often in
one
voice, though overtones reflect the tongues of many nationalities as
spoken
by people of many hues.
-----
MUSLIM COMEDY TSUNAMI RELIEF SHOW IN DC
WHAT: "Allah Made Me Funny - The Official Muslim Comedy Tour," which
has
been touring throughout the U.S. promoting cross-cultural tolerance
using
humor as the delivery vehicle, will make a special one-night only stop
in
Washington D.C. to hold a comedy performance benefiting Tsunami relief
efforts in Southeast Asia.
Come see comedians Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss and Azeem light up the
stage
and also help millions of needy people in Southeast Asia. (No alcohol
will
be served during the performance.)
WHEN: Tuesday, February 15, 2005, Doors open at 7 PM; Show 8:30PM
WHERE: Washington DC, Improv Comedy Club, 1140 Connecticut Avenue,
Washington DC
Tickets: www.symfonee.com
Tickets are $25/piece
Call (202) 296-7008 for reservations and more information.
-----
U.S. BANKS OFFER ISLAM-FRIENDLY FINANCING
Mike Pesca, NPR, 2/10/05
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4493862&sourceCode=RSS
Under Shariah, the laws of Islam, Muslims are forbidden to charge or
pay
interest. Now, some American banks are finding ways around the
restrictions
by offering Koran-compatible services. NPR's Mike Pesca reports…
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES ON WORKER JUSTICE
WHAT: Confirmed Speakers: Dr. Ingrid Matteson, Imam Ali Siddiqui, Imam
Mahdi Bray, Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Imam Johari Abul-Malik, Ahmed Nassef,
Rami
el-Amine, Junaid Ahmad
Workshops will include: Immigration and the Labor Force from a Muslim
Perspective, Broadening the scope of action in Islam, Labor and
Religious
Leaders, Muslims in Organizing and Activism
WHEN: Sunday, February 20, 2005 10am-6pm
WHERE: The George Washington University Cloyd Heck Marvin Center
Continental Ballroom, 800 21st Street, NW
For more information, please contact: Emily Harry, Organizer
Religious Perspectives on Work, Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) at
(773)
728-8400 ex. 12 or email: eharry@nicwj.org
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS ON THE 9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS: A CALL FOR INCLUSION AND
DIALOGUE
WHAT: Standing in solidarity with the Families of 9/11 Victims, the
Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO) announces the
release
of its publication: First Impressions: American Muslim Perspectives on
the
9/11 Report.
Holding a press conference to highlight the need for an independent
American Muslim voice in the current dialogue on civil rights,
immigration,
national security, and the well-being of our country. Release of First
Impressions: American Muslim Perspectives on the 9/11 Report.
WHEN: Monday Feb. 14, at 12:15 p.m.
WHERE: The National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
WHO: CCMO - Task Force on the 9/11 Commission Report.
CCMO, a non-profit organization, is a broad-based union of Muslim
organizations located in the Greater Washington metropolitan area.
Founded
in 1987, CCMO is a 45-member federated body that represents the more
than
200,000 Muslims who live and work in the area. Among its members are
the
area's largest mosques and Islamic centers, community service centers,
full-time Islamic schools and institutions of higher education, civil
rights groups, and professional associations.
Contact: Maliha Balala of Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations
of
Greater Washington Area, 703-582-2454; Web: http://www.ccmo-911.net
-----
WAS HAKEEM IN DARK? BEST BELIEVE IT
John P. Lopez, Houston Chronicle, 2/10/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3032881
On the near north side of town, there's a restaurant owned in part by
Hakeem Olajuwon.
If you've ever been there late at night - say, after a big time out on
the
town - you may have seen your share of seedy characters stumbling into
the
place and making everyone uncomfortable.
Rest assured, Olajuwon wouldn't want his name associated with them, but
he
probably has no idea.
You don't condemn Olajuwon for owning a Denny's. You don't blame
Olajuwon
for the derelict at the counter making a fool of himself over a plate
of
Moons Over My Hammy.
After all, shirt and shoes are the only stated requirements for
service.
Thus, even though the characters are a million times more devious and
the
threat a million times more diabolical, we should take Wednesday's news
of
Olajuwon's name being associated with charitable fronts for terrorist
groups the same way.
He just didn't know. You don't blame Olajuwon. You don't question his
word.
To put it in terms Rockets fans should well remember, Believe It.
Believe Olajuwon when he says he had no idea the $80,000 his Islamic
Da'Wah
Center on Main Street donated to charities actually was being funneled
to
the terrorist groups al-Qaida and Hamas.
I must admit my heart sank when the headline - "Olajuwon mosque linked
to
terrorists" - flickered across the computer screen Wednesday morning.
For a
moment, I thought of Olajuwon not as the graceful and kind gentleman he
is,
but as a Muslim who secretly sympathized with terror groups.
In my mind, I painted him into a box, in the same way maybe too many of
us
are too quick to characterize Muslims. I stereotyped. I linked his
faith
with the world's greatest villains. Maybe you did the same thing.
I felt embarrassed and sorry only moments later when I read the details
of
the federal investigation, which is not targeting Olajuwon. I called a
friend of Olajuwon, and that friend explained the pain this simple
mistake
is causing the former Rockets great…
-----
TORTURE, AMERICAN STYLE
Bob Herbert, New York Times, 2/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/opinion/11herbert.htm
Maher Arar is a 34-year-old native of Syria who emigrated to Canada as
a
teenager. On Sept. 26, 2002, as he was returning from a family vacation
in
Tunisia, he was seized by American authorities at Kennedy Airport in
New
York, where he was in the process of changing planes.
Mr. Arar, a Canadian citizen, was not charged with a crime. But, as
Jane
Mayer tells us in a compelling and deeply disturbing article in the
current
issue of The New Yorker, he "was placed in handcuffs and leg irons by
plainclothes officials and transferred to an executive jet."
In an instant, Mr. Arar was swept into an increasingly common
nightmare,
courtesy of the United States of America. The plane that took off with
him
from Kennedy "flew to Washington, continued to Portland, Maine, stopped
in
Rome, Italy, then landed in Amman, Jordan."
Any rights Mr. Arar might have thought he had, either as a Canadian
citizen
or a human being, had been left behind. At times during the trip, Mr.
Arar
heard the pilots and crew identify themselves in radio communications
as
members of "the Special Removal Unit." He was being taken, on the
orders of
the U.S. government, to Syria, where he would be tortured.
The title of Ms. Mayer's article is "Outsourcing Torture." It's a
detailed
account of the frightening and extremely secretive U.S. program known
as
"extraordinary rendition."
This is one of the great euphemisms of our time. Extraordinary
rendition is
the name that's been given to the policy of seizing individuals without
even the semblance of due process and sending them off to be
interrogated
by regimes known to practice torture. In terms of bad behavior, it
stands
side by side with contract killings…
SEE ALSO:
JUDGE QUESTIONS GOV'T RESPONSE TO DETAINEE
PETE YOST, Associated Press, 2/11/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-saudi-detainee,0,5896396.story
WASHINGTON (AP) - Concerned about government secrecy in a terrorism
case, a
federal judge expressed skepticism Friday at the Bush administration's
request to dismiss a lawsuit on behalf of a Virginia man held in Saudi
Arabia.
The government is bolstering its effort to get the case thrown out by
submitting classified information to U.S. District Judge John Bates
that is
unavailable to lawyers for imprisoned terrorist suspect Ahmed Abu Ali.
``This is about as close to a state secrets shutdown'' of a case
without
the executive branch of government actually doing so, the judge said at
a
hearing.
One of Abu Ali's lawyers, David Cole, argued that ``the government
would
throw the adversarial process out the window'' with classified
information
that the other side is not allowed to see.
The suit by Abu Ali's family marks the latest instance in which the
Bush
administration is trying to keep terrorism suspects beyond the reach of
U.S. courts.
Abu Ali's family wants an American judge to order him returned to the
United States, where he might face charges as part of an alleged
terrorism
training ring in Virginia.
Legal experts say the lawsuit by Abu Ali's parents is the first on
behalf
of an American citizen detained in a third country at the U.S.
government's
request. Bates has said Abu Ali's family provided considerable evidence
that the U.S. government orchestrated his capture.
Abu Ali, 23, was born in Houston, was valedictorian of his high school
class in Falls Church, Va., and was imprisoned while attending a Saudi
university on June 11, 2003. A federal prosecutor in Virginia has said
Abu
Ali joined an al-Qaida cell in Saudi Arabia in 2001…
-----
MUSLIM STUDENTS REACT TO PROFILE
Shaheen Baig, President; Jawad Pervaiz, Publicity chair, Muslim
Students
Association, Loyola University, Chicago Tribune, 2/11/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0502110391feb11,1,950842.story
Chicago - A spotlight was directed toward the Muslim Students
Association
of Loyola University Chicago when it was profiled by Tribune staff
reporter
Barbara Brotman in "Muslim youth forge own path in America" (Page 1,
Dec.
23). With the spring semester under way, the MSA's Executive Board has
been
deluged with reactions from fellow students and the Muslim community at
large, several from beyond the U.S.
On behalf of the board, it is in light of this fallout that we pose our
response.
The reactions have varied as greatly as the students featured in the
article. A few of us have been accused of being too conservative in our
Islam (regarding the solution to the mosque space issue), while others
have
deemed us liberal for the lifestyles portrayed by some of our members.
These diverse reactions underscore the fact that the Muslim community
is
not monolithic, that Muslims practice their religion to varying degrees
just as the faithful of all religions do.
It is fallacious to deduce the piety of the MSA as a whole from the
handful
of Muslim students depicted. The MSA only encompasses those Muslims on
campus who choose to participate in the organization. For every one
person
who actively takes part, there are several others who have little
association with the MSA, if at all.
The Muslims characterized in the article represent those along two
sides of
the spectrum, but by no means are they illustrative of the whole…
-----
NEW CONCERN ON POLIO AMONG MECCA PILGRIMS
Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 2/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/health/11polio.html
A case of polio reached Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Islam's holy city, just
before two million Muslims made the annual pilgrimage there last month,
and
World Health Organization officials now say the disease could spread to
other countries, carried by returning pilgrims.
In crowded nations with spotty vaccination coverage like Bangladesh and
Indonesia, "there could be substantial consequences," Dr. Bruce
Aylward,
coordinator of the health organization's Global Polio Eradication
Initiative, said in an interview from Geneva.
"This is a crucial point," he added. "We're staring at the whites of
the
eyes of this thing."
A spokesman at the Saudi Embassy in Washington said his country had
feared
the arrival of polio this year and started vaccinating 800,000 people
in
September, hoping to head it off before the height of the hajj, or
pilgrimage, in late January.
SEE ALSO:
UNITED NATIONS DOWNPLAYS FEARS THAT ISLAMIC PILGRIMAGE FUELED SAUDI
POLIO
OUTBREAK
JONATHAN FOWLER, Associated Press, 2/11/05
GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. health agency played down fears of a major polio
outbreak in Saudi Arabia fueled by Islamic pilgrims from African
nations
still in the grip of the disease.
Saudi authorities have reported three cases of polio, including one
this
week in a boy from Nigeria, where a vaccine boycott by hard-line Muslim
clerics in the country's north spawned a resurgence of the disease
across
Africa, infecting children in formerly polio-free nations.
"This isn't a major setback," said Bruce Aylward, who coordinates the
World
Health Organization's anti-polio initiative.
The WHO also said it was on track in its worldwide campaign to
eradicate
the crippling and sometimes fatal disease…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/13/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUTH AND JUSTICE
* MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS REJECT HATE IN NJ (AP)
- CAIR-NJ Offers Condolences to Coptic Community
- CA: Bid to Deepen Interfaith Harmony (LA Times)
- TX: American Woman Recalls Warmth of Muslims
* IN: UNVEILING SECRETS BEHIND THE HIJAB (Journal Gazette)
- MA: Wrapped in Faith (MetroWest Daily News)
* AUSTRALIAN DETAINEE TORTURED IN U.S. CUSTODY (NY Times)
- UK: Briton Tortured by US officers (Independent)
- VA: Abu Ali Case - Outsourcing Prisoners (SP Times)
- Interrogator's Defenders Cite Bush (NY Times)
- ME: Clergy Noticeably Silent on Torture (Morning Sent)
* U.S. QUESTIONING IRAQI SHIITE LEADERS ON TIES TO IRAN (AP)
- Iraq: Winners Allied With Iran Opposite of U.S. Vision
* ARMY'S IMAM: LACK OF RESPECT COST U.S. LIVES (Telegraph)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUTH AND JUSTICE
"The Word of thy Lord doth find its fulfillment in truth and in
justice."
The Holy Quran, 6:115
-----
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS REJECT HATE FOLLOWING MURDER OF JERSEY CITY FAMILY
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 2/13/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0213feb13,0,1770779.story
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. -- Appealing for calm and understanding after
the
murder of an Egyptian Christian family last month, Muslim and Christian
leaders rejected religious hatred and called for unity Sunday,
emphasizing
common ground over differences.
Although the gathering was planned months in advance, the murders of
Hossam
Armanious, his wife and two young children weighed heavily on the minds
of
many participants at the American Muslim Union's annual community
brunch.
Prosecutors are investigating whether Armanious, a Coptic Christian,
might
have angered Muslims with his postings under the name "I Love Jesus" in
an
Internet chat room, leading to the killings. But they also caution that
finances might have been a motive in the killing, noting that no solid
evidence tying the crimes to religious hatred has yet been established.
"Whoever is putting the idea out that it was a Muslim who did this has
their own agenda," said Fuad Issa of Piscataway. "I don't believe it
for a
second. There's nothing right about creating dissension; I don't
understand
those motives."
Likewise, the Rev. Randall Day, pastor of St. Mark's Episcopal Church
in
Teaneck and vice president of the Teaneck Clergy Council, said the
killings
have damaged goodwill between Muslims and Christians that took
generations
to build up…
"As children of the prophet Abraham, we all need to make the effort to
find
out what we have in common and not our differences," said Mohammed
Younes,
president of the American Muslim Union and an elder in Paterson's
Muslim
community. "America stands for freedom of faith and worship. It is time
for
all of us _ Jewish, Christian or Muslim _ to stand up against anyone
that
tries to separate us by our beliefs."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
---
A DELICATE, DARING BID TO DEEPEN INTERFAITH HARMONY
Jews, Christians, Muslims join in L.A. group's pilgrimage to the Holy
Land.
Organizers take pains to keep politics out.
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles times, 2/12/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs12feb12,1,1586672.story
Mahmoud Abdel-Baset was scared.
As director of religious affairs for the Islamic Center of Southern
California in Los Angeles, he and his interfaith partners had condemned
the
Taliban's destruction of precious Buddhist statues in Afghanistan.
He had participated in prayer vigils after the Los Angeles riots and
the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
He had helped lead countless discussions about the intersection of
Judaism,
Christianity and Islam.
But last year, when his partners at the Wilshire Center Interfaith
Council
proposed a joint pilgrimage to Israel, Abdel-Baset gulped. How, he
wondered, could he sell this trip to the Muslim community at the height
of
conflict between Israelis and Palestinians? Could they separate raging
political emotions from religious belief?
"With so much bloodshed and suicide bombings, it was the least
opportune
time to talk to my community about this," Abdel-Baset recalled. "I
didn't
know how to break it to my board."
But he did. And some members of his mosque agreed to take the trip. In
the
euphoria of that achievement, Abdel-Baset's early fears vanished.
On Thursday, after months of delicate preparation, he and 45 other
Muslims,
Christians and Jews left Los Angeles for an 11-day visit to Israel and
Jordan in what they say is one of the first pilgrimages from Southern
California to the Holy Land that includes all three Abrahamic faiths…
---
AMERICAN WOMAN RECALLS WARMTH OF MUSLIMS, NOT VIOLENCE
Cara Anna, Austin American-Statesman, 2/13/05
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/insight_24d08ba231b1e09c00d0.html
I've just returned from six months of living in Pakistan, and I have
only
negative things to say:
I was not shot at.
I was not kidnapped.
I did not bump into al Qaeda, or even the hunt for al Qaeda, as the
armed
hunt is in an area of Pakistan so remote that foreigners are not
allowed to
go.
I was never threatened.
I was never harassed.
I did not feel in danger.
(And I wasn't lying and saying I was Canadian.)
I have never seen such hospitality, especially as that extended by the
people in one of Pakistan's most conservative areas, the rural,
northwestern district of Chitral, next to the Afghan border…
-----
IN: UNVEILING SECRETS BEHIND THE HIJAB
Zeeba Anarwala, Journal Gazette, 2/12/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/10885135.htm
There is nothing "behind the veil."
My mind and personality are the same as they were before I started
wearing
the hijab as a freshman in college. I didn't go through a long
self-discovery process before I put it on for the first time. When I
began
reading about Islam and the importance of modesty, I realized that to
be a
better Muslim and follow God's orders, I needed to wear it. With so
many
new experiences in my life, I figured this would be the easiest time to
start.
Before I put on the head scarf, I was nervous, worried people would
stare
at me. Being on a diverse college campus made the experience much
easier,
as I was not the only one with a head scarf and students were more
tolerant
of diversity than the population at large. Although it was
nerve-racking to
think about what it would feel like to wear it, once I actually did, I
forgot I was wearing it. And after a while, the thought of going
outside
without it felt alien…
SEE ALSO:
WRAPPED IN FAITH
Claudia Torrens, MetroWest Daily News, 2/13/05
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/artsCulture/view.bg?articleid=90526
Laila Murad woke up one morning, put on a head scarf and decided she
would
never take it off.
While for many this would be a strange decision to make, for Murad it
was a
way of telling the world who she was.
"It was my own choice. Nobody told me to do it," said the 14-year-old,
a
freshman at Framingham High School. "My dad told me I did not have to
wear
it. But I wanted to do it."
To cover her head with a veil meant two things for her: that she was
Muslim
and that she was a respectful, modest young woman protected from the
looks
of men.
The teen -- who has an American mother and an Iraqi father -- is one of
an
increasing number of young Muslim women in the region who decide to
wear a
head scarf, called hijab, to differentiate themselves from a western
lifestyle...
-----
DETAINEE SAYS HE WAS TORTURED WHILE IN U.S. CUSTODY
RAYMOND BONNER, 2/13/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/international/middleeast/13habib.html
SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 12 - Mamdouh Habib still has a bruise on his
lower
back. He says it is a sign of the beatings he endured in a prison in
Egypt.
Interrogators there put out cigarettes on his chest, he says, and he
lifts
his shirt to show the marks. He says he got the dark spot on his
forehead
when Americans hit his head against the floor at the prison at
Guant�namo
Bay, Cuba.
After being arrested in Pakistan in the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, he
was
held as a terror suspect by the Americans for 40 months. Back home now,
Mr.
Habib alleges that at every step of his detention - from Pakistan, to
Egypt, to Afghanistan, to Guant�namo - he endured physical and
psychological abuse.
The physical abuse, he said, ranged from a kick "that nearly killed me"
to
electric shocks administered through a wired helmet that he said
interrogators told him could detect whether he was lying…
SEE ALSO:
MINISTERS BELIEVE BRITON WAS TORTURED BY US OFFICERS
Severin Carrell, Independent, 2/13/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/story.jsp?story=610606
British ministers believe US interrogators could be guilty of torturing
and
abusing Moazzam Begg, one of the Britons released from Guantanamo Bay
last
month, The Independent on Sunday has learned.
Britain has rejected initial claims by the Pentagon that Mr Begg's
allegations are unfounded, and has insisted that the US launches a
second,
more intensive, inquiry into his case.
The Foreign Office believes that Mr Begg, a former bookseller from
Birmingham, has made "credible" allegations that he was severely ill
treated by US intelligence officers at Bagram air base in Afghanistan
three
years ago. A source said: "There is genuine concern about the
allegations
which have been made. We want a proper investigation."
It has also emerged that ministers have complained in private to the US
and
Iraqi authorities about alleged abuses of Iraqi civilians and
prisoners,
after highly critical Red Cross reports and the scandal over sexual
assaults at Abu Ghraib prison came to light...
---
THE OUTSOURCING OF PRISONERS
ROBYN E. BLUMNER, St. Petersburg Times, 2/13/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/13/Columns/The_outsourcing_of_pr.shtml
Some things you read about the Bush administration make you feel as
though
the ground has shifted under your feet, that time-tested rules about
the
limits of government are no longer valid and that who we are as
Americans
has been irreversibly altered.
That's the feeling I get when reading about Ahmed Abu Ali, an American
citizen who, by all accounts, sits in a Saudi Arabian prison without
charge
at the direction of the American government while his parents and
human-rights lawyers desperately try to gain some measure of due
process
for him...
This outsourcing of prisoners is the new paradigm of American justice.
An
estimated 150 terrorist suspects, presumably mostly noncitizens, have
been
"rendered" to foreign prisons at the behest of our intelligence
services.
Their detention is secret and unaccounted for, even to Congress…
The president is cutting down the trees that gave root to our freedoms
and
sheltered us from arbitrary government. Americans will soon have no
place
to hide from the devil that is the imperial presidency, and we will
wonder
how the ground shifted so seismically when all we were doing was
standing
still.
---
INTERROGATOR'S DEFENDERS CITE BUSH
The New York Times, 2/12/05
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/11/news/defense.html
WASHINGTON An interrogator under contract with the Central Intelligence
Agency, charged with beating an Afghan prisoner who died the next day,
is
basing his defense in part on statements by President George W. Bush
and
other officials that called for tough action to prevent terrorist
attacks
and protect American lives.
Documents unsealed in the past week in federal court in Raleigh, North
Carolina, show that the interrogator, David Passaro, 38, might cite top
officials' written legal justifications for harsh interrogation
techniques
and a Congressional resolution passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
on
New York and the Pentagon calling on the president "to use all
necessary
and appropriate force" to thwart further terrorism.
Passaro's lawyers contend in court filings that in passing the
legislation
under which their client is charged, Congress "cannot have
contemplated"
the use of the law to "provide grounds for criminal prosecution of a
battlefield interrogation of a suspected terrorist linked to constant
rocket attacks."
Thomas McNamara, Passaro's lead defense lawyer, has officially notified
the
government that he will pursue a "public authority defense." Such a
defense
involves a claim that the defendant believed, even if incorrectly, that
he
was acting with the authority and approval of the government…
---
CLERGY NOTICEABLY SILENT ON TORTURE
Morning Sentinel, 2/12/05
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/view/letters/1364494.shtml
One more mystery in our national torture crisis is the silence of the
majority of clergy. Silence from Jewish or Muslim clergy may be laid to
fear or to a sense of futility. But Christian ministers, pastors and
preachers don't have that excuse.
Our administration balks at adhering (or even paying lip-service) to
the
phrase "no cruel or unusual punishments." They fail the Constitution
they
have sworn to uphold and betray the basics of the religion they believe
won
them the election. What have the spokesmen of such religion to say?
Neither our Congress nor our religious leaders are showing
understanding or
courage or a sense of shame. Each of us is alone with uneasy
conscience,
each despising himself or herself for inaction and silence. When young
women and men trained for wolverines of the detention cell come home
among
us, will we be a more moral majority?
To Christians let it be said: Silence gives consent. If for you there
is a
Christ hanging on the crossed beams of human fault, consent is
hammering
home the nails. If you believe nothing, fret on about the sex life of
imaginary cartoon characters.
Richard Sewell
Waterville
-----
AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE QUESTIONING IRAQI SHIITE LEADERS ABOUT THEIR
LEVEL
OF TIES TO IRAN
HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press, 2/134/05
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - With a Shiite coalition set to take power in Iraq,
American officials have begun grilling top Iraqi Shiite politicians to
try
to gauge the extent of their relationship with neighboring Iran, a
predominantly Shiite nation ruled by its clergy.
The nature of the Shiite coalition's ties to Iran has become a crucial
issue now that the cleric-backed alliance has emerged as the leading
faction in the new Iraqi parliament and at a time when the United
States
and Iran are engaged in a war of words over Iran's nuclear program.
In recent talks, U.S. diplomats have bluntly asked the leaders how a
Shiite-dominated government would react if Iran came under attack by an
outside power because of its suspected nuclear weapons program,
according
to a high-ranking member of one Shiite party…
SEE ALSO:
IRAQ WINNERS ALLIED WITH IRAN ARE THE OPPOSITE OF U.S. VISION
Robin Wright, Washington Post, 2/14/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21679-2005Feb13.html
When the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq two years ago, it
envisioned a quick handover to handpicked allies in a secular
government
that would be the antithesis of Iran's theocracy -- potentially even a
foil
to Tehran's regional ambitions.
But, in one of the greatest ironies of the U.S. intervention, Iraqis
instead went to the polls and elected a government with a strong
religious
base -- and very close ties to the Islamic republic next door. It is
the
last thing the administration expected from its costly Iraq policy --
$300
billion and counting, U.S. and regional analysts say.
Yesterday, the White House heralded the election and credited the U.S.
role. In a statement, President Bush praised Iraqis "for defying
terrorist
threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom.
And
I congratulate every candidate who stood for election and those who
will
take office once the results are certified."
Yet the top two winning parties -- which together won more than 70
percent
of the vote and are expected to name Iraq's new prime minister and
president -- are Iran's closest allies in Iraq.
Thousands of members of the United Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite-dominated
slate
that won almost half of the 8.5 million votes and will name the prime
minister, spent decades in exile in Iran. Most of the militia members
in
its largest faction were trained in Shiite-dominated Iran.
And the winning Kurdish alliance, whose co-leader Jalal Talabani is the
top
nominee for president, has roots in a province abutting Iran, which
long
served as its economic and political lifeline.
"This is a government that will have very good relations with Iran. The
Kurdish victory reinforces this conclusion. Talabani is very close to
Tehran," said Juan Cole, a University of Michigan expert on Iraq. "In
terms
of regional geopolitics, this is not the outcome that the United States
was
hoping for."
-----
ARMY'S ONLY MUSLIM CLERIC SAYS LACK OF RESPECT HAS COST US LIVES
Toby Harnden, Telegraph, 2/13/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/13/wirq13.xml
The US Army's only Muslim chaplain in Iraq has described his struggle
to
"educate" soldiers to respect Muslims and how he helped free an
innocent
Iraqi from American custody after he had been framed by the coalition's
Kurdish allies.
Captain Abdullah Hulwe, a Syrian-born Sunni who also said that his wife
had
experienced discrimination at military bases in America, told The
Telegraph
that US troops had made many mistakes and were only slowly learning how
to
put things right…
The army's failure to shift from its war-fighting mentality had led to
American deaths, he said. "The better you act, the safer this area will
be.
If nothing else you'll not give a reason for someone who is neutral to
go
and join the insurgents."
As he sat in a hut surrounded by sandbags in a ramshackle base on the
outskirts of Hawija, Capt Hulwe, 42, who joined the US Army as a
mechanic,
condemned what he saw as unnecessarily heavy-handed tactics by some
American troops.
His remarks will make uncomfortable reading in the Pentagon. "You don't
force people off the road when you are driving," he said. "If you're
saying
you're a guest you have to behave like a guest. There is no need to
cuss
people out. We've never had any problem with women so we should not
search
and harass them…
He said his own family had been mistreated after the September 11
attacks.
His wife, who wears a traditional Muslim hijab, was searched every time
she
entered the base in Texas where he was stationed. "The soldier stopping
her
said he was only searching every 15th car," Capt Hulwe said. "I said,
'That's baloney. Are you telling me my wife is unlucky every time?' "
Capt Hulwe, who is being posted back to the US with his battalion this
month, is uncertain of long-term success in Iraq. "When we came a year
ago
it was maybe minus 17 degrees and now it's minus five. Is it a bit less
cold? Yes. But it's going to take a long time to achieve a warm
embrace."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/14/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: YOU WILL BE WITH THOSE YOU LOVE
* CAIR CONDEMNS HARIRI ASSASSINATION
* CAIR-OH JOB OPENINGS
* NJ: MUSLIMS SEEK TOLERANCE (NewJersey.com)
- NJ: Officials Zero in On Family's Killing (NJ.com)
- Imam Speaks California Church (Ventura County Star)
* WA: IRAQI-AMERICAN RECOUNTS ABUSE BY U.S. SOLDIERS (AP)
- Allawi, U.S. May Have Erred At Polls (Knight Ridder)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: YOU WILL BE WITH THOSE YOU LOVE
A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "When will
the
Hour (of the Day of Judgment) be established?" The Prophet replied:
"What
have you prepared for it?" The man said: "I haven't prepared for it
very
much (by way) of prayers or fasting or charitable giving, but I love
God
and His Apostle." The Prophet then said: "You will be with those you
love."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 192
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS HARIRI ASSASSINATION
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/14/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today condemned the assassination of Lebanon's former
Prime
Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Hariri, along with at least nine other
people,
died today when his motorcade was bombed in Beirut.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
in a
statement:
"American Muslims, along with all who seek peace and stability in
Lebanon,
condemn this brutal attack and call for the swift apprehension of the
perpetrators. We also offer sincere condolences to the family of Mr.
Hariri
and to the families of all those who were killed in today's attack."
The Embassy of Lebanon in Washington announced that it will open a
register
of condolences at the residence of the Ambassador (2841 McGill Terrace
NW,
Washington, D.C.) from Tuesday February 15 through Thursday February
17,
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-OH JOB OPENINGS
The Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-Ohio)
has immediate openings for three experienced and motivated individuals
to
fill the following positions: Director for Columbus Office, Executive
Assistant for Columbus Office and Executive Assistant for Cleveland
Office.
For job descriptions and qualifications, please contact CAIR-OH at
614-451-3232.
When sending resume via e-mail or fax, please specify "CAIR-Ohio Job
Opportunity" in the e-mail subject line at president@cair-ohio.com, fax
(614)451-3222.
By mail: CAIR-Ohio
Job Opportunity
4700 Reed Road, Suite B
Columbus, Ohio 43220
------
MUSLIMS SEEK TOLERANCE
Hugh R. Morley, North Jersey.com, 2/14/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NTM1MTkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
Speakers at an annual Islamic brunch on Sunday called for greater
understanding and tolerance, saying Muslims face constant threats to
the
kind of everyday existence that other Americans take for granted.
Opening the event, Waheed Khalid, chairman of the Bergen County Chapter
of
the American Muslim Union, said that 3� years after the 9/11 attacks on
the
World Trade Center, Muslims are still feeling the aftershocks.
"The American Muslim community has never felt so insecure and
apprehensive
due to discrimination and intolerance," Khalid said. "Our government's
actions following 9/11 have impacted and continue to impact tens of
thousands of individuals in ways which seriously violate our
Constitution.
They include ethnically and religiously based interrogations,
detentions,
raids and closures of Muslim charities."
His remarks drew a warm reception from some 400 people - predominantly
Muslims - gathered in Hasbrouck Heights for the annual Islamic
community
brunch. The event aims to fight discrimination and misinformation about
the
Islamic faith by reaching out to, and creating links with, other
communities.
Among the speakers were U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine, D-N.J.; Rep. Bill
Pascrell, D-Paterson, and Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck.
Also
present were Christian and Jewish leaders.
Though the event came just one month after the slaying of four members
of a
Coptic Orthodox family in Jersey City, that incident was hardly
mentioned.
After the killings, a police source said that one of several leads
being
pursued was the possibility that the deaths were carried out by
religious
extremists.
Muslim leaders decried the suggestion and condemned the killings, while
calling for solidarity across all religions. Authorities have yet to
arrest
anyone or publicly offer a motive for the killings.
The religious tension sparked by the slayings was on the minds of some
in
the audience…
ALSO SEE:
OFFICIALS ZERO IN ON ANSWERS IN FAMILY'S KILLING
Tom Troncone, North Jersey Media, 2/14/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NjUzNTMyJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==
One month ago today, Jersey City police walked into a blood bath and
ended
up in a case rife with international intrigue.
The killings of Hossam Armanious, his wife Amal Garas, and their two
young
daughters have spawned news stories across the globe, spurred religious
tension in an American inner city and captured President Bush's
attention.
The case has taken investigators from Africa to cyberspace and inside
the
teachings of Islam. It's put them at the uncomfortable crossroads of a
centuries-old ideological battle between Egyptian Christians and
Egyptian
Muslims. And it's left them at the core of a potential political
firestorm.
In recent days, it has also brought them closer to possibly solving the
slayings, which they now believe are likely about money and not the
sectarian violence feared by many Coptic Orthodox community members.
"We're getting somewhere that hopefully is going to give us a clear
indication as to what the motive is," said Hudson County Prosecutor
Edward
DeFazio. "And once you have motive, that helps lead you to the people
involved."
DeFazio still won't discuss the intricate details of the case or
explain
why investigators are leaning toward a financial motive for the
killings.
But he did provide a glimpse into the probe, which has included
assistance
from an FBI profiler.
"The FBI does not think that, based on the information gleaned from the
scene, it's based on religious extremism," the prosecutor said, without
elaborating…
----
IMAM SPEAKS AT WESTLAKE CHURCH
Islam, other faiths similar, he says
Sue Davis, Ventura County Star, 2/14/05
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/sv/article/0,1375,VCS_239_3546542,00.html
An Islamic imam seeking to increase understanding of his faith faced a
tough but respectful audience of Christians at a Westlake Village
church
Sunday night.
Imam Ahmed Patel spoke to about 40 members of the United Methodist
Church
of Westlake Village on the differences and similarities among Islam,
Christianity and Judaism.
"The first similarity is in our beliefs," said Patel, who is imam of
the
Islamic Center of the Conejo Valley in Newbury Park. "We have
similarities
in our laws, in our God, in our people and in our culture."
After a 45-minute talk, Patel answered questions for another hour.
The talk was a continuation of a dialogue with Muslims the church began
in
1999, said Lee Irvine, who organized the event for the church's
outreach
and social concerns committee.
Irvine said the church has hosted speakers about Islam several times,
including Patel, who gave the congregation an overview of Islam in
September.
"We try to bring the attention of the congregation to world issues that
we,
as people of faith, should be concerned about," said Irvine…
-----
IRAQI RECOUNTS ABUSE BY U.S. SOLDIERS
Associated Press, 2/13/04
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050213/northwest/87310.shtml
EVERETT -- An Iraqi refugee who returned home to visit relatives says
he
was detained and severely mistreated by U.S. soldiers for more than a
week.
Jawad al-Hamid, 34, of Everett told The Herald newspaper the soldiers
didn't feed him or let him use a restroom for several days, fastened
his
handcuffs so tight that he was left with scars on his wrists and pushed
him
to the floor of his tiny cell. Al-Hamid said he was in Iraq from Oct.
23 to
Jan. 19 to visit family in Basra.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Johnson told the newspaper by telephone
from
Baghdad that he could not comment on the allegations until the Army
conducts an investigation.
Al-Hamid showed a Herald reporter a black-and-white videotape of his
wrists, which appeared to be marked by deep gashes and dried blood. The
video was shot in Basra two to three days after his release from Army
detention, he said.
Al-Hamid then pulled up his sleeves to reveal scars, which he said are
the
permanent marks of his mistreatment.
Al-Hamid said he flew from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Oct.
23
with a friend from Seattle. During stops in Chicago and Amman, Jordan,
they
met two other U.S. Iraqis who were returning to their homeland to visit
their families, he said.
The four agreed to rent a car and driver once they arrived at their
final
stop, Damascus, Syria. They crossed into Iraq from Syria, and several
hours
later arrived at an Army checkpoint near al-Ramadi, al-Hamid said…
SEE ALSO:
ALLAWI, U.S. MAY HAVE ERRED AT POLLS
Tom Lasseter, Knight Ridder, 2/14/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/10895708.htm
Sunday's election results suggest that interim Prime Minister Iyad
Allawi
and the U.S. administration that backed him made a bad bet.
Allawi's political ticket, which had said it expected to finish strong,
ended up a distant third with about 1.2 million votes, far behind the
Shiite cleric-led United Iraqi Alliance, which got about 4 million.
A coalition of Kurdish parties nearly doubled Allawi's ticket's total.
What happened? Many Iraqi politicians think that Allawi, a longtime
exile
who was once a member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, spent so much
time
with Americans, behind barricades, that he never connected with the
people
of Iraq.
Allawi's gamble was that Iraqis wanted a strongman willing to call for
U.S.
tanks to suppress uprisings, a leader who rode around in expensive
armored
SUVs, even a leader whose followers had once taken CIA money.
Other exiles, including top officials in the Iraqi Alliance, failed to
connect with fellow-Iraqis, too, when they first came home. But the
winners
quickly used the shared religion of Shiite Islam to build bridges.
Though a Shiite, Allawi never went out of his way to profess his faith
in
public or seek the favor of Shiite ayatollahs.
Although it's too early to write his political obituary -- Allawi is
nothing if not a crafty politician -- he plainly miscalculated in
thinking
that a strong-willed nationalist could win against a Shiite population
whose clerics wanted a more devout leader.
Iraqi voters agreed, and that was no surprise to Sadoun Dulame,
director of
the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic Studies, a Baghdad think
tank
and polling center.
Dulame's organization's polls showed that Iraqis backed Allawi as an
individual politician, but supported more fervently the Alliance and
its
ultimate leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
The Jan. 30 election, while officially a vote for a national assembly
to
choose an interim government and draft a constitution, turned out to be
more a referendum on religion than politics, Dulame said.
It was a dynamic that Allawi did not see until it was too late, he
added…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/15/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUTHFUL IN WORD AND DEED
- Hadith: Truthfulness Leads to Paradise
* CAIR-GA TO HOLD 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP
- CAIR-Ohio Co-Hosts Civil Rights Forum
* CAIR-DC: FOX OFFERS DISCLAIMER FOR '24'(NPR)
- CAIR Rep to Discuss '24' on 'Wolf Blitzer Reports'
* YUSUF ISLAM GETS LIBEL DAMAGES (BBC)
- Newspapers to Pay Islam Libel Damages (PRNewswire)
* BUSH URGES RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT (AP)
* PRISONER ABUSE: SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS (NY Times)
- Briton Claims Torture (Independent)
- Germany: US Accused of Kidnapping (Der Spiegel)
* NY: AN AMERICAN WOMAN'S JIHAD (Cornell Sun)
- CA: Women Told to Reclaim Islam (Daily Stanford)
- CA: Abrahamic Celebration (Enterprise)
* NY: MATCHMAKERS HELP MUSLIMS FIND LOVE (Journal News)
- WI: FAITH IN A DREAM (Milwaukee Journal)
* ISRAEL PLANS NEW SETTLEMENT AFTER GAZA EXIT (Reuters)
- Israelis Act to Encircle Jerusalem (Wash Post)
------
VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUTHFUL IN WORD AND DEED
"O believers! Remain conscious of God, and be with those who are
truthful
in word and deed."
The Holy Quran, 9:119
HADITH OF THE DAY: TRUTHFULNESS LEADS TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Truthfulness leads to
righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 116
-----
CAIR-GA TO HOLD 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP
WHAT: On February 19, the North Georgia office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA) will hold a "Know Your Rights"
workshop designed to help the local Muslim Community better understand
issues related to civil rights and the political process.
WHEN: SATURDAY, February 19, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Dar Un-Noor School, 434 14th St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, PH:
404-876-5051 (Near the intersection of 14th Street and Northside
Drive.)
CONTACT: CAIR-GA, Yusof Burke, 404-542-1209; Jabril Alexander,
678-937-1495; Mary Hixson, 678-768-6641
CAIR-GA has documented reports of Muslims in the Metro-Atlanta area who
have experienced employment-related and other forms of discrimination
or bias.
"We believe that many incidents of Islamophobic discrimination can be
prevented if American Muslims understand their legal rights and play an
active and constructive role in their local communities," said CAIR-GA
Executive Director Yusof Burke.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-OHIO CO-HOSTS CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM
Meeting prompted by seizure of Muslim financial records
(CLEVELAND, OH, 2/15/05) - On Sunday, February 13, the Ohio office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), in cooperation with
Beit
Hanina Social Club, held a "Know Your Rights" forum in Cleveland.
The forum was in response to the recent federal search and seizures
conducted at the office of a prominent certified public accountant,
whose
firm housed the financial records of hundreds of Muslim businesses and
individuals in the Greater Cleveland area.
At the forum, prominent civil and immigration rights attorneys
highlighted
challenges facing the Muslim community in post-9/11 America. Citing
recent
FBI questioning about people's political views, civil rights attorney
Terry
Gilbert said, "Fear and paranoia have replaced reason and common
sense." On
a positive note, Gilbert cited the courts as the "last bastion" and
praised
a judicial system where people can "still get relief when the other
branches of government fail them."
An ACLU spokesperson criticized a series of measures that abridge civil
rights, including selective enforcement of immigration law, detention
without charge, no-fly lists, and the Patriot Act. He said the general
attitude toward Muslims in America now is that they are "guilty until
proven innocent."
Nationally-known immigration attorney David Leopold told Muslims that
they
must be vigilant in protecting their rights. He raised strong concerns
about the recent passage of HR 418, a bill that strips the rights of
immigrants and makes it virtually impossible for asylum seekers to win
refuge in this country.
Overall, the panel called for members of the Muslim community to unite
in
defense of their rights. Leopold said that "Muslim Americans should
call
their public officials and voice opposition to discriminatory
legislation."
He said, "Government and public officials are our servants and they
need to
be reminded that they work for us."
In speaking of the possibility of an FBI visit at his home, one
audience
member said, "When something like that happens, it is a very lonely
world
for you and your family." Panelists were quick to point to resources
available in such situations. "Know Your Rights" pamphlets were
distributed, along with a worksheet to be filled out in case of a visit
by
law enforcement. More than 100 people attended the meeting. Leaders
agreed
to form coalitions and to hold additional educational seminars.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
-----
CAIR-DC: FOX OFFERS DISCLAIMER FOR PORTRAYAL OF MUSLIMS ON '24'
Steve Inskeep, NPR, 2/15/05
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4499656
In an episode of the Fox TV series 24, Islamic terrorists attack a
nuclear
power plant in the United States. Along with the episode, Fox produced
an
on-air disclaimer, reminding viewers that the Muslim-Americans
community
renounces terrorism. That disclaimer came about after the TV series
caught
the attention of Muslim rights groups.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR REP TO DISCUSS '24' TODAY ON CNN'S 'WOLF BLITZER REPORTS'
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/wolf.blitzer.reports/
-----
SINGER ISLAM GETS LIBEL DAMAGES
BBC, 2/15/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4268651.stm
Yusuf Islam, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, has won
substantial
damages by two UK newspapers which falsely claimed he supported
terrorism.
The Sun and Sunday Times also published apologies after they made the
false
allegations in two articles in October.
The papers claimed the US authorities had been right to refuse Mr Islam
entry into the country in September.
Mr Islam said the settlement cleared his good name, and the damages
would
help victims of the Asian tsunami.
Both newspapers have now acknowledged that Mr Islam is not, and never
has
been, involved in or supported terrorism, and that he abhors all such
activities…
---
THE SUN AND SUNDAY TIMES AGREE TO PAY SUBSTANTIAL LIBEL DAMAGES TO
YUSUF ISLAM
IT News, 2/15/05
http://www.itnews.it/risorse/EuroNews,Zj0xMTc1NjY3
LONDON -- The UK's Sunday Times and Sun newspapers have agreed to pay
Yusuf
Islam (formerly known as the singer Cat Stevens) substantial damages in
respect of articles published on 17th and 19th October 2004.
Both reports falsely alleged that Yusuf Islam was or had been involved
in
supporting terrorism and suggested that, as a result, the US
authorities
had been right to refuse Mr Islam entry into the United States in
September
2004.
As well as agreeing to pay substantial damages in relation to these
false
and highly defamatory allegations, both newspapers also published
prominent
apologies in which they acknowledged that Mr Islam is not, and never
has
been, involved in or supported terrorism, and that he abhors all such
activities. Indeed, in apologising to Mr Islam both newspapers also
pointed
out that Mr Islam was recently presented with the "Man for Peace" award
by
a group of Nobel peace Laureates. The newspapers have undertaken not to
repeat these false allegations and also agreed to pay Mr Islam's legal
costs.
Mr Islam said: "It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these
days to
make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly
impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist. The
harm
done is often difficult to repair. However, I am delighted by the
settlement, which helps vindicate my character and good name."
Yusuf Islam intends to contribute the damages from both newspapers to
relief projects for orphans which he has started in tsunami-hit South
East
Asia. He visited Indonesia in January and is set to release a charity
single entitled Indian Ocean later this month, the proceeds of which
will
go to the same children's fund…
-----
BUSH URGES RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT
Nedra Pickler, Associated Press, 2/14/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10897332.htm
WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday urged Congress to reauthorize the
USA
Patriot Act, the Justice Department's widely criticized anti-terrorism
law.
"We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to
weaken
our resolve in this new war" on terrorism, Bush said at a swearing-in
ceremony for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the Justice
Department.
The president also argued that the Senate must give his nominees for
the
federal bench up-or-down votes without delay to fill vacancies in the
courts.
The Patriot Act, passed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
bolstered FBI surveillance and law-enforcement powers in terror cases,
increased use of material witness warrants to hold suspects
incommunicado
for months, and allowed secret proceedings in immigration cases.
Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates lambasted the law because
they
said it undermines freedom. But Bush said the act "has been vital to
our
success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans." He noted
that
many key elements of the law are set to expire at the end of the year
and
said Congress must act quickly to renew it.
The Patriot Act was pushed by Gonzales' predecessor, John Ashcroft, who
was
in the audience as Gonzales took his oath from Supreme Court Justice
Sandra
Day O'Connor. Bush lauded Ashcroft's tireless efforts to make America
safer
as he oversaw a drop in violent crime besides his counterterrorism
work.
Gonzales, who served as White House counsel during the last four years,
said he would be a part of Bush's team but his first allegiance will be
to
the Constitution.
"I am confident that in the days and years ahead we in the department
will
work together tirelessly to address terrorism and other threats to our
nation and to confront injustice with integrity and devotion to our
highest
ideals," Gonzales said.
-----
SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS
New York Times, 2/15/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/15/opinion/15tue1.html
New evidence about the torture of prisoners by American soldiers and
intelligence agents - and by foreign governments working secretly for
the
United States - is appalling for all the obvious reasons. This kind of
brutality violates both American law and international treaties. It
endangers American soldiers who may in the future find themselves
captives
of a hostile nation. It debases the nation at home and abroad.
Now it is also becoming increasingly clear that this extensive, random
prisoner abuse is a wretched failure that does nothing to aid the war
on
terror.
Report after report shows that a vast majority of those swept up in
American anti-terrorism campaigns were innocent. Those who may have
been
guilty produced little if any useful information - and now cannot be
put on
trial and punished because they were illegally detained and tortured.
Others simply lied under duress, providing an ample supply of
disinformation purchased at the cost of American self-respect. Military
doctrine says that interrogation becomes pointless after a few days,
while
torture produces false confessions.
Jane Mayer wrote recently in The New Yorker about Maher Arar, a
Syrian-born
citizen of Canada arrested by American agents on vague suspicions of
terrorist ties. He says he was shipped to Syria, a country routinely
denounced by Washington for its brutality, and tortured for a year. Ms.
Mayer wrote that Mr. Arar "eventually confessed to anything his
tormentors
wanted him to say," but the Syrians said they had found no terrorist
link.
In Sunday's Times, Raymond Bonner wrote about Mamdouh Habib, accused of
helping to train some of the 9/11 hijackers. Even if he is guilty,
he'll
never be charged. Mr. Habib says he was beaten by American jailors at
Guant�namo Bay, where a female interrogator threw what seemed to be
menstrual blood at him. He was then shipped to Egypt, where, he said,
he
was beaten and burned.
These accounts cannot be dismissed as tales concocted by the nation's
enemies; they fit right into patterns documented by witnesses, the
International Red Cross and the American government's own
investigations.
The Bush administration still clings to the policy of "extraordinary
rendition," the bureaucratic euphemism for sending prisoners to
countries
where the public and the press don't kick up a fuss about torture. The
new
attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, defended it in his recent
confirmation
hearings in the Senate…
ALSO SEE:
BRITON CHARGED WITH BOMB PLOT CLAIMS TORTURE
Jason Bennetto, Independent, 2/15/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=611208
A British man accused of plotting to cause an explosion in the United
Kingdom claimed yesterday that he had been tortured by British,
American
and Pakistani intelligence officers after being arrested abroad…
---
US STANDS ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING
Georg Mascolo and Holger Stark, Spiegel Online, 2/14/05
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,341636,00.html
The case is extremely sensitive. A German citizen may have been
kidnapped
by American agents and illegally taken to Afghanistan. Now, German
authorities are quietly investigating the case. But no one here wants
it to
interfere with US-German rapprochement…
-----
AN AMERICAN WOMAN'S JIHAD
Muslim convert recounts spiritual journey
Mary Chu, Cornell Sun, 2/14/05
http://www.cornellsun.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/14/42104e5ee7474
"As adults we must each own our own beliefs," said Prof. Fidelma
O'Leary,
biology, St. Edward's University, to a packed auditorium in Goldwin
Smith
on Friday night. Her lecture, "An American Woman's Jihad," detailed her
spiritual journey as an Irish-American Muslim.
"Islam [is] a development of the faith that I already had... Islam
worked
for me and I was completely at peace with my religion. [But it was] a
long
journey filled with jihad [and] a struggle to surrender my will to the
will
of God," said O'Leary, who was raised as a strict Catholic in Ireland
before converting to Islam and moving to the United States.
"I was raised in a culture where thinking about religion was taboo. I
was a
teenager, so naturally I rebelled: I started thinking," she added. She
started to have questions about the religious beliefs and practices she
was
raised on and she began to study religion.
O'Leary became a "person of faith, searching" for an answer. When she
came
across the Qur'an, she "fully related to it."
The transition to Islam was one filled with obstacles for O'Leary. She
refers to the rift between herself and her family caused by her
religious
beliefs as her "first jihad and first painful struggle as a Muslim..."
ALSO SEE:
SPEAKER TELLS WOMEN TO RECLAIM ISLAM
Jennifer Liu, Daily Stanford, 2/14/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16117&repository=0001_article
Interpreting of the holy texts is one of the most important ways for
Muslim
women to assert their rights, said Ingrid Mattson, professor of Islamic
Studies at Hartford Seminary, last night at an event titled "Clearing
the
Path to God: Women Reclaiming Islam."
The talk was the first of a series of four during Islamic Awareness
Month
designed to raise awareness about misconceptions of the Islamic
religion, a
collaboration between the Muslim Student Awareness Network, or MSAN,
and
the Islamic Society of Stanford University, or ISSU.
"We're essentially introducing the religious community," said event
coordinator and MSAN officer Ali Kemal Okyay, a fourth-year graduate
student in electrical engineering. "The talks will introduce what
Muslims
believe, what we practice, and why we do it. We hope this event will
foster
greater understanding about Muslims and Islam…"
---
ABRAHAM CELEBRATION SET, INCORPORATING THREE FAITHS
Larry Mitchell, Enterprise Record, 2/15/05
http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135~25088~2712227,00.html
Anyone with an interest is welcome to share a meal and learn about
three
religions Sunday at Chico's Celebration of Abraham.
The event will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 667
East
First Ave.
Participants will hear brief talks on Judaism, Christianity and Islam
along
with selections from sacred music and chant. Speakers will be Rabbi
Julie
Danan of Congregation Beth Israel, the Rev. Peg Schultz-Akerson of
Faith
Lutheran, and a member of the Islamic Center of Chico.
The free event features a supper of soup and bread. Donations to help
offset the costs will be accepted.
Those attending are asked to bring bread to share with others. Several
types of soup are to be prepared, including one that will be
vegetarian.
Celebrations of Abraham, which try to build understanding and
friendship
among members of the three religions, have been held in cities up and
down
California's Central Valley over the last three years.
"We're focused on recognizing our commonality and respecting our
differences," said Rabbi Danan.
-----
MATCHMAKERS HELP MUSLIMS FIND LOVE, MARRIAGE IN NEW WAYS
Khurram Saeed, Journal News, 2/14/05
http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/021405/a0114valentinerock.html
Soon after Saleem Qureshi and Fatima Fasihuddin were married on
Valentine's
Day 2003, they realized they had few married couples to hang around
with.
So that fall, the Manhattan couple started Zariya, a matchmaking
service
primarily aimed at young professional Muslims who have been raised in
the
United States. "Zariya" means "source" in Urdu, the language of
Pakistan...
ALSO SEE:
FAITH IN A DREAM
Mary Louise Schumacher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/15/05
http://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/movies/feb05/301659.asp
Filmmakers hope to tell story of Muslims growing up in city
When Qudsia Sethi was 11, she was invited to a swimming party. Her
parents
were hesitant but gave her permission to go.
She wouldn't be allowed to wear a bathing suit, however. That would be
strictly against her Muslim upbringing, her father told her. Instead,
she
would wear something akin to a stretchy jumpsuit that would be covered
further still with sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt.
It seemed an impossible situation. She could try to explain to her
father
how ludicrous she would look in front of her friends, possibly
offending
him, or forgo the party, which she had her heart set on.
What she did, instead, was borrow a girlfriend's swimsuit. Then she
dunked
the approved get-up in water, wrung it out and took it home so it
appeared
she'd followed the dictates.
It is that kind of story, of coming of age as a Muslim in Milwaukee,
that
inspired Sethi to plan an independent film on the subject. The story is
fiction but is inspired by her own experiences as the daughter of a
Pakistani father who married an American convert to Islam, and those of
several friends. She plans to call the film "Rite of Expression."
"The generations before us didn't go through this," says Sethi, now 33,
adding that many of her father's contemporaries came to the United
States
for the first time in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. "Hundreds of years of
tradition change in, like, 20 years."
-----
ISRAEL PLANS NEW W.BANK SETTLEMENT AFTER GAZA EXIT
Dan Williams, Reuters, 2/15/05
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=990858&tw=wn_wire_story
JERUSALEM - Israel intends to build a new settlement in the West Bank
that
could take in settlers uprooted from Gaza, officials said on Tuesday,
drawing swift protest from Palestinians who fear losing land for a
state
they seek.
Gvaot, planned as an extension to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc,
appeared
to fall within the cracks of a U.S.-led "road map" peace plan whose
final
vision is hotly disputed as Israel and the Palestinians try to
stabilise a
tentative ceasefire.
The road map requires a halt to settlement-building on land Israel
captured
in 1967 and where Palestinians want statehood. But President George W.
Bush
said in 2004 that Israel could expect to keep some of the West Bank
land
under an accord.
Disclosing the Gvaot project, Housing Minister Isaac Herzog said Jewish
settlers slated for evacuation from Gaza this year would be encouraged
to
relocate to sparsely populated areas of Israel, but could also go to
the
West Bank if they chose.
"I cannot prevent an individual who wants to use his compensation to
buy a
house in Gush Etzion from doing so," he told Reuters. "This would be
totally within his rights."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon aims to remove 8,500 settlers from Gaza
under
his plan to "disengage" from conflict with Palestinians, while
cementing
Israel's hold on swathes of the larger West Bank where 230,000 settlers
live.
Gush Etzion, about 20 km (12 miles) south of Jerusalem, has about
15,000
settlers alone and is among several sprawling enclaves Sharon regards
as
strategic assets not to be ceded.
Palestinian officials, engaged in security coordination talks with
Israel
since President Mahmoud Abbas and Sharon declared a ceasefire at a
summit
in Egypt last week, cried foul over the new settlement plan…
SEE ALSO:
ISRAELIS ACT TO ENCIRCLE EAST JERUSALEM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3263-2005Feb6.html
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/16/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: QUESTIONS FOR JUDGMENT DAY
* CAIR-CAN: TORONTO FUNDRAISING DINNER
* TRANSCRIPT OF CAIR REP ON CNN'S WOLF BLITZER REPORTS
- CAIR-FL Rep on Fox's Hannity & Colmes
* INCITEMENT: FALWELL'S NEW DEAN HAS OFFENDED MUSLIMS (RNS)
* U.S. CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ ALLEGE ABUSES (NBC)
- Why Torture Hasn't Had Political Traction (MSNBC)
- ACLU Urges Investigation of Detainee Abuse (Wash Post)
* OH: MUSLIM BASKETBALL PLAYER OVERCOMES DOUBTERS (AP)
- Olajuwon Defends Donations, Blasts Media (USA Today)
* FAULTY GENERALIZATIONS IN FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT (Altmuslim)
* NJ: COLLEGE HOSTING TALK ON WOMEN AND ISLAM (APP.com)
- CA: Events Highlight Islamic Diversity (Daily Stanford)
* CAUGHT UP IN THE AURA OF A SENEGALESE SAINT (NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: QUESTIONS FOR JUDGMENT DAY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A servant of God will
remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his
life and how he lived it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it;
about
his wealth and how he acquired and spent it; and about his body and how
he
used it."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148
-----
CAIR-CAN'S 2005 ANNUAL TORONTO FUNDRAISING DINNER
WHEN: Saturday, April 30th, 5:30pm
WHERE: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road
CAIR-CAN is looking for volunteers and sponsors for the dinner. For
interested individuals and more information, should contact Toronto
representative Maryam Dadabhoy at maryamdadabhoy@caircan.ca.
-----
CAIR REP ON CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0502/15/wbr.01.html
(Scroll down.)
BLITZER: Ever since its debut three years ago, the Fox television show
"24"
has been a big hit. This year is no exception. But not everybody is
happy
with the new season because of those who are portrayed as terrorists.
CNN's Brian Todd joining us now with the latest on the fallout --
Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, "24" has depicted terrorists from
several different ethnic groups, but one of those group has growing
political muscle in this country. And it appears they just flexed it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): The intrepid Jack Bauer, counterterror agent,
central
character of "24," Fox's monster hit where one harrowing day unfolds
over
the course of a whole season, one thrilling hour each week. This
season,
some viewers less thrilled than others.
RABIAH AHMED, CAIR: The main concern about "24" is its portrayal of
American Muslims as terrorists. What's uniquely disturbing about this
season is the family as a sleeper terror cell.
TODD: Including a father willing to kill his wife and son for
compromising
the mission. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "24")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I give you my word, my wife and son will be dead by
the
end of this day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: The Council on American-Islamic Relations took one look at this
plot
and pressed Fox executives and show producers for a meeting. Then last
week, out came this public service announcement during the regular
airing
of "24" featuring star Kiefer Sutherland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, ACTOR: It's important to recognize that the
American-Muslim community stands firmly beside their fellow Americans
in
denouncing and resisting all forms of terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: The PSA aired once and only once. Neither Fox, nor the producers
of
"24" would comment for this story. "24," now in its fourth season, has
portrayed Eastern Europeans, as well as black and white Americans, as
terrorists.
AHMED: Those portrayals in the past seasons have been very generic and
murky. American Muslims are in a unique situation. They are the
community
that is facing a backlash post-9/11.
TODD: CAIR insists it was not trying to curb Fox's creative license and
denies that it even applied pressure to the network to change the
storyline. CAIR said that Fox did not show them the script, but
promised
that the portrayal of Muslims would balance out. Observers say it
speaks to
the growing concern of the Muslim constituency in America.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: If you don't speak up,
nobody
will pay any attention to you. Muslims discovered that rule very
quickly
and they're speaking up and people are paying attention…
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL REP ON HANNITY & COLMES
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147800,00.html
COLMES: Welcome back to "Hannity & Colmes." I'm Alan Colmes. A
Christian
radio station in Florida has pulled an ad sponsored by the Muslim
group,
Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CARE, claiming it didn't
serve
their listeners. The ad was for an event promoting dialogue between
Christians and Muslims.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our world today is torn apart by mistrust and
misunderstanding. We have a choice: live in ignorance much each other
or
work to create harmony and tolerance. The Council on American- Islamic
Relations invites you to an historic dialogue between Christians and
Muslims. Join us this Saturday, February 12, at USF, where renowned
Christian and Islamic scholars will share their perspective about
Jesus.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COLMES: The station has declined to appear on the program but provided
us
with this statement: "This ad request was treated no differently than
any
other. It was received by a salesperson who listened to it with
management
and decided that it was not appropriate for our radio station
audience."
Joining us now from Tampa is the Florida communications director of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ahmed Dabir -- or Bedier,
forgive me.
Mr. Bedier, thank you for being with us.
As I understand it, there was a contract signed, correct?
AHMED BEDIER, FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-
ISLAMIC
RELATIONS: Yes, that is correct.
COLMES: And they backtracked and decided not to air it. And they are
claiming that it was because you were proselytizing and there was an
attempt to get people to convert and that was the reason they did not
want
it on their air?
BEDIER: Well, that's unfortunate that they chose to do that. We
explained
to them that our mission and vision is not convert anyone or preach.
We're
not a missionary group. We're America's largest Muslim civil rights
organization. And we work to foster understanding and build bridges
between
communities.
COLMES: Right.
BEDIER: And we explained that information to them.
COLMES: Right. I looked at the mission statement, and I don't see
anything
that says anything about converting. And also, there are Christian and
Muslim scholars, I understand, at this event to have this dialogue.
BEDIER: This event was a complete success. It was attended by hundreds
of
Muslims and Christians, who came together to dialogue and left with a
spirit of -- a wonderful spirit of understanding. And that's what we
were
trying to do, foster that spirit...
-----
FALWELL'S NEW DEAN HAS OFFENDED MUSLIMS
Holly Lebowitz Rossi, Religion News Service, 2/16/05
http://www.religionnews.com/
The Rev. Jerry Falwell's new seminary dean is a scholar who has
advanced
the controversial claim that the prophet Muhammad was a pedophile who
had
at one time been possessed by demons.
The Feb. 4 appointment of Ergun Caner as dean of Falwell's Liberty
Baptist
Theological Seminary is garnering concern from at least two Muslim
leaders
and an evangelical scholar because it could increase tensions between
the
two groups…
Muslim leaders responded to Caner's promotion from professor of
religion to
seminary dean by expressing concern that the appointment may aggravate
already-fragile relations between evangelical Christians and American
Muslims.
"If this appointment is just a ploy to exacerbate tensions and continue
the
mud-slinging, I don't think it serves Christianity, Islam or America,"
said
Salam al-Marayati, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim
Public Affairs Council…
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said that he has experienced a
reticence
from the evangelical community to engage in genuine dialogue.
"Muslims are always open to dialogue," Hooper said, "but I sense no
desire
for dialogue among certain segments of the evangelical community."
Specifically, Hooper referenced a Christian radio station in Tampa,
Fla.,
that canceled an advertising contract with CAIR for a 30-second ad
promoting a Muslim-Christian dialogue session. According to The Tampa
Tribune, the station, WTBN, said that it canceled the ad because its
content "did not serve our Christian constituency."
At least one evangelical who has been working toward establishing good
relations with Muslims also expressed concern that the appointment
might
damage evangelical efforts to make connections with Muslims even as
they
disagree with them theologically.
"Insulting Muslims, insulting anyone, is not a very good strategy for
developing relations with them," said Paul Marshall, a senior fellow at
Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom in Washington.
Marshall, who participated in a 2003 meeting on evangelical-Muslim
relations hosted by the National Association of Evangelicals, added,
"One
of the things that evangelicals do need is to develop relations and
contacts and dialogue with Muslims."
-----
U.S. CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ ALLEGE ABUSES
Lisa Myers, NBC, 2/15/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6947745/
There are new allegations that heavily armed private security
contractors
in Iraq are brutalizing Iraqi civilians. In an exclusive interview,
four
former security contractors told NBC News that they watched as innocent
Iraqi civilians were fired upon, and one crushed by a truck. The
contractors worked for an American company paid by U.S. taxpayers. The
Army
is looking into the allegations.
The four men are all retired military veterans: Capt. Bill Craun, Army
Rangers; Sgt. Jim Errante, military police; Cpl. Ernest Colling, U.S.
Army;
and Will Hough, U.S. Marines. All went to Iraq months ago as private
security contractors.
"I went there for the money," says Hough.
"I'm a patriot," says Craun.
"You can't turn off being a soldier," says Colling.
They worked for an American company named Custer Battles, hired by the
Pentagon to conduct dangerous missions guarding supply convoys. They
were
so upset by what they saw, three quit after only one or two missions.
"What we saw, I know the American population wouldn't stand for," says
Craun.
They claim heavily armed security operators on Custer Battles' missions
-
among them poorly trained young Kurds, who have historical resentments
against other Iraqis - terrorized civilians, shooting indiscriminately
as
they ran for cover, smashing into and shooting up cars.
On a mission on Nov. 8, escorting ammunition and equipment for the
Iraqi
army, they claim a Kurd guarding the convoy allegedly shot into a
passenger
car to clear a traffic jam.
"[He] sighted down his AK-47 and started firing," says Colling. "It
went
through the window. As far as I could see, it hit a passenger. And they
didn't even know we were there."
Later, the convoy came upon two teenagers by the road. One allegedly
was
gunned down...
SEE ALSO:
WHY TORTURE ISSUE HASN'T HAD POLITICAL TRACTION
Tom Curry, MSNBC, 2/15/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6970081/
WASHINGTON - Why have the allegations of torture and abuse of prisoners
at
Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, at the Guantanamo Bay Navy base and in
Afghanistan not damaged the Bush administration in purely political
terms
more than they have?
The torture charges fueled Democrats' efforts to defeat President
Bush's
nomination of Alberto Gonzales as attorney general.
Citing a now-famous Aug. 1, 2002, memo solicited by Gonzales and
written by
Jay Bybee and John Yoo in the Justice Department's Office of Legal
Counsel
(OLC), Democratic senators accused Gonzales of "creating a permissive
atmosphere" that led American soldiers to abuse prisoners.
But the Senate voted to confirm Gonzales after Democrats decided that
the
torture issue was not worth a filibuster…
---
ACLU URGES INVESTIGATION OF DETAINEE ABUSE
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 2/16/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A27222-2005Feb15?language=printer
The American Civil Liberties Union asked new Attorney General Alberto
R.
Gonzales yesterday to appoint a special counsel to investigate the
mistreatment of detainees in the war on terrorism, citing what it
claimed
was Gonzales's "unavoidable conflict of interest in fully investigating
and
prosecuting wrongdoing by civilians in this matter."
ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero said in a letter to Gonzales
that
memos written or requested by him during his tenure as White House
counsel
show that "top government officials considered and eventually ordered
the
removal of protections against" abuse…
-----
OLAJUWON DEFENDS GIFTS FOR RELIEF, BLASTS MEDIA
Roscoe Nance, USA Today, 2/15/05
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-02-16-olajuwon-charity_x.htm
Former Houston Rockets All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon emphasized again
Tuesday that his mosque was supporting humanitarian relief when it made
donations to groups later accused of having terrorist ties.
Olajuwon, who spoke to members of the media on a conference call from
Jordan, where he is studying Arabic, also said the Associated Press
took
information out of context in its report.
"I find it upsetting when someone is doing honest work and someone can
take
it and mislead the public," Olajuwon said.
Shareef Akeel, an attorney for the Islamic American Relief Agency -
known
as the Islamic African Relief Agency for 15 years before changing its
name
in 2000 - says the donations went to the American-based group, not the
African-based group with ties to terrorism as was reported.
"There is confusion," Akeel says. "Somehow the article is trying to
link
the Dream (Olajuwon) to terror, which is misleading and inappropriate.
Someone's character is basically being assassinated. He donated to
IARA-USA, the one in Columbia, Mo."
The mosque that Olajuwon founded, the Islamic Da'Wah Center in Houston,
gave more than $60,000 in 2000 and $20,000 in 2002 to the Islamic
African
Relief Agency for medical relief and more than $2,000 to the Holy Land
Foundation (HLF) in 2000 for an orphan program. The U.S. government
shut
down IARA, based in the Sudan, in October, saying it supported Osama
bin
Laden and al-Qaeda.
It also froze the assets of IARA-USA, contending the groups are
connected.
IARA-USA has filed suit. The U.S. government shut down HLF in 2000,
accusing it of sending money to Hamas.
Olajuwon said the incident won't make him hesitant to support various
humanitarian efforts.
"I just have to be more careful," he said. "We were careful. We have to
be
extra careful. As long as we know we can make a difference in people's
lives (we will)."
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM BASKETBALL PLAYER OVERCOMES DOUBTERS
Joe Kay, Associated Press, 2/15/05
CINCINNATI (AP) - During an idle moment before a human development
class,
two University of Cincinnati students struck up a conversation about
the
basketball team's new point guard.
They weren't interested in his statistics or accomplishments. They
couldn't
get past his name: Jihad Muhammad.
``I heard one person say, 'Isn't that supposed to mean holy war or
something?''' said Anwar Salahuddin, a junior sitting nearby.
It wasn't the first time someone had wondered aloud about the
distinctive
name. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the dreadlocked point guard
from New Jersey has wound up explaining himself to fans who think the
worst.
``They're like, 'Ooh, Jihad,''' said Muhammad, sitting in an interview
room
off the Bearcats' court after practice. ``It's just the name, just the
word
that's scaring people. They really don't have a good understanding of
it.''
Few know what it's like to be a high-profile Muslim player in a country
where insecurity rises and falls with color-coded alerts. The NCAA
doesn't
keep track of religious affiliation, so there's no count of Muslim
players.
Only a handful play major-college basketball.
Muhammad grew up in an Islamic community and attended Plainfield High
School in New Jersey. The most unusual thing about his upbringing was
the
size of his family - six brothers, seven sisters. He was the youngest
boy.
``Basically, you learn to share,'' he said. ``You learn how to relate
to
different personalities. Before I left home, I learned how to relate to
13
personalities…''
-----
FAULTY GENERALIZATIONS: FREEDOM HOUSE CRIES WOLF
Dr. Louay M. Safi, AltMuslim.com, 2/15/05
http://www.altmuslim.com/opinion_comments.php?id=1396_0_25_0_C
How would the Christian or Jewish communities feel if a research group
of
some repute visits a dozen of churches or synagogues, finds few books
out
of several thousands that includes questionable statements about people
of
other faiths, and then produces a report entitled "Hate Ideology Fills
American Churches and Synagogues?" I am sure Christians and Jews would
be
outraged by such a sloppy and irresponsible conclusion.
This is exactly what the Freedom House has done in a recent publication
entitled "Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Fill American Mosques."
The
Freedom House Report confuses two separate questions: (1) are there
Muslims
who espouse bigoted views? And (2) are these views widespread or are
they
confined to a minority within the Muslim community? In failing to make
this
distinction, the Freedom House unfairly smear all mosques and all
mosque
goers in the United States.
American Muslims are aware of the shallow understanding of Islam that
characterizes some of the writings that comes out from Saudi religious
scholars. These writings speak more to the peculiar socio-cultural
experience, and the lack of meaningful exposure to the rich experience
of
diverse societies by some Saudi writers, than to Islamic teachings. One
of
the most known and respected Muslim scholars of the 20th century, the
late
Muhammad Al-Ghazali, labeled such writings on Islamic law as the
"Bedouin
jurisprudence," a decade prior to the critical review Wahhabism
received in
recent days. Most American Muslims abhor and reject the bigoted and
mean-spirited statements cited in the Report.
I personally experienced such bigotry in the mid-1980s, when a group of
Wahhabi-leaning students vigorously protested the inclusion of a Shi'a
religious scholar on a panel addressing a large Muslim gathering, and
tried
to oust me from my position as the president of the Muslim Students
Association in Detroit. There design was ultimately defeated by the
Association's general body that rejected their bigoted views.
But to say that Muslims, like any other religious community, have their
own
bigots is far cry from claiming that hate literature fill all mosques
in
America, and implying that mosque goers tolerate hate and bigotry. The
Freedom House Report fails in making this important distinction.
I was puzzled, as I was going through the report's findings, as to how
can
any one who took an introductory course in research methods, let alone
professional researchers hired by an organization that sets criteria
for
deciding who is free and who is not throughout the world. I kept asking
myself how could anyone conclude that "Saudi publications on hate
ideology
fill American mosques" after discovering few copies of Saudi
publications
in 15 Mosques throughout the nation. There are more than 2000 mosques
in
the United States. 15 out of 2000 mosques constitute less than 1% of
all
mosques in the country. How could such insignificant number allow
anyone to
claim that Saudi hate publications are "spread from coast to coast and
now
fill the libraries and study halls of some of America's main mosques."
Many of the sloppy statements and erroneous conclusions are the result
of
failing to consult with mainstream Muslim organizations, and neglecting
to
understand the dynamics within the American Muslim community. The
authors
of the Report are unable to distinguish between main and obscure
mosques in
the American Muslim community. The King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles is a
large and well-endowed mosque, but is hardly representative of the LA
Muslim community. Mosques that are part of the main stream American
Muslim
community in LA would include the Islamic Center of Southern
California,
the Islamic Center of Orange County, and the Islamic Center for
Riverside,
but hardly just the King Fahd Mosque.
-----
COLLEGE HOSTING TALK ON WOMEN AND ISLAM
APP.com, 2/15/05
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050216/NEWS01/502160360/1004
MIDDLETOWN: Brookdale Community College's International Center will
host
"Women and Islam: Demystifying the Veil" from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Tuesday in Twin Lights Room I of the Donald D. Warner Student Life
Center.
Parking is most convenient in Lot 1.
At the free presentation, history professor Jane Scimeca will give
insight
into the veil that Muslim women wear. Topics will include why women
cover,
different types of Islamic dress by country, and choice versus force in
Islamic dress.
ALSO SEE:
EVENTS HIGHLIGHT ISLAMIC DIVERSITY
Johanna Sophie Santos Bassetti, Daily Stanford, 2/15/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16159&repository=0001_article
Islam Awareness Month kicked off last Sunday with the first of four
dinner
and lecture events in a series titled "A Taste of Islam 2005."
Organizers
from both the Muslim Student Awareness Network, or MSAN, and the
Islamic
Society of Stanford University, or ISSU, said they hope that the events
will dispel misconceptions that people may have about the religion and
highlight the diversity of Islamic cultures.
Each of the dinners in the series will spotlight different Islamic
countries, including Egypt, China, Ethiopia and the United States.
Organizers said they hope the themed dinners will help defy media
portrayals that all Muslims are Arabs and vice versa.
The first speaker event addressed the role of women in the religion,
and
the events to come will address the concept of Jihad, what it means to
be
Muslim and the Muslim-American experience.
Sophomore Shelley Cheung, vice president of MSAN and an organizer of
Islam
Awareness Month, cited a poster for the month's events at Tresidder
Memorial Union that was graffitied to say "Terrorism = Jihad," to
stress
that there are still many myths about the Islamic faith that need to be
countered.
"I was extremely saddened by this incident but optimistic that Islam
Awareness Month will change the perspectives of many here in our
Stanford
community in a positive manner," Cheung said.
MSAN began organizing Islam Awareness weeks in 1997 and since then, it
has
not only become an annual tradition, but has expanded to encompass more
information…
-----
CAUGHT UP IN THE AURA OF A SENEGALESE SAINT
Holland Cotter, New York Times, 2/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/arts/design/16sufi.html
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 11 - Listen, if you haven't yet, to the great
pop
stars of Senegal: Youssou N'Dour, Cheikh Lo, Baaba Maal. You'll adore
what
you hear and discover what they have in common, like the hustle and
ping of
their sound, etched with koras and horns. The other is what they sing
about: transfixing passion, not for earthly lovers but for the holy
men,
marabouts, the Sufi saints of Islam. Theirs is a Higher Love, so high
it's
out of sight.
Among the saints' names, one recurs, over and over: Sheikh Amadou
Bamba,
founder of the African Sufi movement known as the Mouride Way. And far
from
being out of sight, his white-robed, dark-skinned figure is visible
everywhere in the modern city of Dakar: inside homes, shops, in public
murals, in paintings and prints sold in markets, in amulets worn around
the
neck.
He's also omnipresent now at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art here, in
the
traveling show ''A Saint in the City: Sufi Arts of Urban Senegal.''
Like
Bamba himself, it's out of the ordinary, an event. Its heady mix of
materials -- high and low, sacred and profane -- is a joy to the eye.
But
more important, it introduces us to an art we don't know, an Africa and
an
Islam we don't know.
When I say ''African art,'' what do you think? Villages, carved masks,
''primitive''? But Mouride art is cosmopolitan and modern, portrait
painting and history painting, calligraphy and photography. How about
''Islam''? Fundamentalist? Anti-Western? Dangerous? Well, there are
many
Islams, and Sufism, mystical and pacific, is one. The plan for living
Bamba
prescribed is based on tolerance, generosity and hard work, values most
Americans treasure.
Bamba was born in Senegal in 1853 and became a spiritual leader and, by
default, a potent political figure at the height of French colonialism.
The
French tried hard to make him disappear; they kept him under house
arrest
until his death in 1927.
But their efforts only intensified his charisma, which continues today,
through a proliferation of images, almost all variations on the only
known
photograph of him, taken in 1913…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/17/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
- Verse of the Day: Invite to Righteousness
* DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
* CAIR-FL: READERS SUPPORT INTERFAITH RADIO AD
- CAIR-FL Briefs NCC on PATRIOT Act
* IL: MUSLIM'S BIAS SUIT SETTLED FOR $40K (Chicago Trib)
- NY: Afghan Mother Faces Deportation (Newsday)
* IL: MUSLIMS RESPOND TO FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT (Chicago Trib)
- In Defense of Libraries
* WAR HELPS RECRUIT TERRORISTS, HILL TOLD (Wash Post)
- UK Muslim 'Blinded at Guantanamo'
* CA: COMMUNITY FORUM ON 'SAVING' MUSLIM CHARITIES
* ISLAM IS LENTEN TOPIC AT CT CHURCH (E. Hartford Gazette)
- FL: Prof - Islam Respects Women (Bradenton Herald)
- IL: Unifying Christians and Muslims (Northern Star)
* RUSSIA RULES BY TERROR IN CHECHNYA (Independent)
- Eco-Islam Hits Zanzibar Fishermen (BBC)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Someone who calls
(people)
to righteousness will be granted a reward (from God) equal to the
reward
given to those who adhered to (the righteous conduct), without (either
of)
their rewards being diminished in any respect."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1231
VERSE OF THE DAY: INVITE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
"Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite (others) to
righteousness, (who) enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong. They
are
the ones who shall be successful."
The Holy Quran, 2:177
-----
DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
-----
CAIR-FL: READERS SUPPORT INTERFAITH RADIO AD
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
RADIO STATION DROPS AD FROM MUSLIM GROUP
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB92DCT15E.html
`What Hypocrites!'
http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBSK6HDA5E.html
Let's see now. Who was that renowned teacher who implored us to love
one
another?
Are the alleged Christians at WTBN so insecure in their religion that
they
do not dare to learn about Islam or meet with Muslims for fear they may
be
converted? Are there no other religious groups they would meet with to
create a better understanding of one another? Or is understanding and
respect what they want to avoid?
Imagine! Evangelical Christians who do not want to talk about Jesus to
others who might have different views. Why isn't it a marvelous idea to
discuss the similarities and differences in the way Christians and
Muslims
regard and honor Jesus? What hypocrites!
BETTY MOLCHANY
Front Royal, Va.
---
Misuse Of Airwaves
http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBHW5HDA5E.html
So the ``Christian'' commercial radio station turned down a paid
advertisement for a Christian-Muslim dialogue and indicated that it
would
turn down similar ads from Christian bodies it deemed heretical. It is
time
that it relinquish its hold on a public airwaves frequency and go to a
``members only'' site on the Internet. The station's action says it is
retreating from public dialogue and the public good.
BRYAN OGBURN, Austin, Texas
---
Much In Common
http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBEX7HDA5E.html
Regarding ``We're Right! You're Wrong! Now Go Away!'' (Metro, Feb. 13):
In Steve Otto's column, it seems that he is confident of his
intelligence
and his religion to welcome intelligent understanding of another
religion's
perspective about Jesus. He criticized the local Christian radio
station
when it refused to air an ad inviting listeners to a USF-sponsored
dialogue
titled ``Jesus: Biblical and Koranic Perspectives.''
I still wonder how many Christians know how the Koran speaks of Jesus
and
his mother, Mary. I wonder if they know that all Muslims do revere both
Jesus and Mary and that any Muslim would be angry at and would fight
back
anyone who speaks negatively about Jesus or Mary.
MOHAMMED GHABOUR, Valrico
SEE ALSO:
NCC WEIGHS IN, AGAIN, ON DUE PROCESS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY DETAINEES
http://www.ncccusa.org/news/05.02.16governingboard.html
(Scroll down.)
The National Council of Churches USA Feb. 15 heard a concern expressed
by
the NCC's Interfaith Relations Commission on the effects of the USA
PATRIOT
Act on civil rights and due process for Muslim people…
The Interfaith Relations Commission, in meetings last weekend in St.
Petersburg, Fla., with representatives of a Florida social advocacy
organization, HOPE (Hillsboro Organization for Peace and Equality) and
the
Tampa chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR),
heard
about the case of Dr. Sami Al-Arian.
Emphatically noting that it is not taking any stand on Dr. Al-Arian's
guilt
or innocence but rather on his right to due process and humane
treatment,
the Council resolved to make known the plight of the former professor
at
Florida State University, arrested in February 2003.
CAIR "shared with us statistics and concerns about civil rights in the
Muslim community since the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act," the
Commission
reported. "The Muslim community came to us as an authoritative
Christian
body and said, 'We are hurting over this. Please stand up and be
counted,'"
said Betty Gamble, a member of the NCC Interfaith Relations Commission.
-----
WEST SIDE HOSPITAL SETTLES BIAS LAWSUIT FOR $40,000
Chicago Tribune, 2/17/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502170342feb17,1,4626521.story
Norwegian American Hospital has agreed to pay $40,000 to settle a
harassment lawsuit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed on
behalf of a Muslim midwife.
The midwife alleged she suffered harassment on the job because of her
religion. The hospital denied the allegations and reached the
settlement
without admitting any liability.
Rashidah Abdullah had been the target of on-the-job harassment before
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, but the situation worsened afterward,
said
commission attorney Richard Mrizek. The federal agency said the
hospital
also retaliated against Abdullah for complaining about the harassment
and
eventually fired her.
Since 9/11, the commission has received nearly 1,000 complaints about
discriminatory backlash at the workplace, Mrizek said.
SEE ALSO:
AFGHAN WOMAN AWAITS DECISION ON DEPORTATION
ROBERT POLNER, Newsday, 2/16/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/nyc-afgh0217,0,110490.story
Samira Rahman, a married mother of two young U.S.-born sons who fled
Afghanistan from Taliban rule in 1997, sits in the immigration
detention
facility in Elizabeth, N.J., facing the prospect of deportation.
Five weeks ago, federal immigration agents arrested Rahman, 30, at 5
a.m.
at her Long Island home, said her husband, Abdul Rahman, a sidewalk
coffee
vendor in the financial district, who was working at the time.
Since Sept. 11, the unannounced knock at the front door in the middle
of
the night is a much-feared thing among New York area immigrants from
Arab
countries.
But Muslim women, as opposed to their husbands or sons, rarely have
been
the focus of nationally tightened enforcement of immigration laws…
All the same, immigration authorities are seeking to deport Samira
Rahman.
Her attorney, Darryl Wynn, asked U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement
two weeks ago to consider releasing her on humanitarian grounds. Wynn's
request mentioned that his client has young children -- ages 1 and 2 --
and
would face dangers as a lone female with "absolutely no family ties in
Afghanistan…"
-----
WATCHDOG GROUP ASSAILS MOSQUE'S SAUDI BOOKS
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 2/17/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502170330feb17,1,3381334.story
Concerned about Saudi Arabian influence on American religious life, a
Washington-based international watchdog group visited 15 American
mosques
to check for Saudi-published tracts, magazines and books.
The researchers found the literature in all 15 mosques, including the
Muslim Community Center on the North Side. In all, they documented more
than 200 pieces of literature promoting Wahhabism, a puritanical Muslim
movement that dominates Saudi Arabia, denounces democracy and
criticizes
other faiths, including moderate forms of Islam...
But Muslim leaders and scholars in Chicago call the study an amateur
and
unfair attack on American Muslims, saying the Saudi texts quoted in the
report do not reflect the prevailing ideology of the American Muslim
community or that of the 35-year-old North Side congregation.
"We don't receive any books; we don't receive scholars; we don't
receive
any funding [from Saudi Arabia]," said Mohammed Kaiseruddin, president
of
the Muslim Community Center, 4380 N. Elston Ave. "If we received
anything,
we'd look at them, we'd review them. If they are contrary to our
practice
of promoting harmony between faiths, then we will not use those books."
He said mosque members have so far been unable to find any of the
titles
allegedly discovered at the Chicago center. If they do, they will
conduct
their own study of the books and their content before returning them to
the
shelves, he said...
Yaser Tabbara, executive director of Chicago's Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, questions the motivation and methodology of the study.
"Are there Muslims who espouse bigoted views? The answer to that
question
is `yes,' just like any other minority of any other faith," said
Tabbara.
"What Freedom House is doing is unfortunately smearing all mosques in
the
United States and all mosque-goers by extension."
If the researchers broadened their study, controversial literature
would
likely also turn up in other houses of worship, Kaiseruddin suggested.
"We are aware that there are books written with a little inflammatory
language," he said. "I don't think books on Islam have a monopoly on
those.
There are books on other faiths that use inflammatory language. I don't
know that they can be classified as promoting hate.
"The only thing we've received from Saudi Arabia is a package of dates
during the month of Ramadan," he added. "We don't reject that. We
distribute it and we eat them. I don't know that promotes any hatred
among
anybody."
SEE ALSO:
IN DEFENSE OF LIBRARIES
Ben Daniel, The Revealer, 2/17/05
http://www.therevealer.org/archives/main_story_001670.php
It is clear from reading the report that Freedom House sees the content
of
the libraries in American mosques as a potential battleground in the
war on
terror...
As the spiritual leader of a religious institution I am troubled by the
report. I doubt that anything good can come of removing materials of
any
kind from libraries of any kind, and I am especially troubled when
libraries in houses of worship and religious institutions are targeted
for
censorship.
It simply cannot be assumed that a mosque whose library has
objectionable
reading materials will become a cauldron of terror. That's not how
libraries work…
By advocating the removal of offensive materials from mosque libraries,
Freedom House is giving in to the fear that the purveyors of such
hatred
may actually have ideas that will stand the test of time-seductive
ideas
that must be erased before they deflower the innocence of the
uninformed,
making terrorists of otherwise healthy and balanced Muslims. And so the
war
on terror contemplates an assault upon mosque libraries.
It's a bad idea. To defend America's freedom of religion and to promote
tolerance by censoring the libraries in houses of worship is to create
a
situation whose irony certainly won't be missed by America's detractors
abroad and it should not be tolerated by Americas defenders at home.
A graduate of Westmont College and Princeton Theological Seminary, Ben
Daniel is the pastor of Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose,
California. His writing has appeared in many local, regional and
national
publications. His last contribution to The Revealer was "A
Misunderstanding
Between Friends."
-----
WAR HELPS RECRUIT TERRORISTS, HILL TOLD
Dana Priest and Josh White, Washington Post, 2/17/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28876-2005Feb16.html
The insurgency in Iraq continues to baffle the U.S. military and
intelligence communities, and the U.S. occupation has become a potent
recruiting tool for al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, top U.S.
national
security officials told Congress yesterday.
"Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new
anti-U.S. jihadists," CIA Director Porter J. Goss told the Senate
Select
Committee on Intelligence.
"These jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced and focused on
acts of urban terrorism," he said. "They represent a potential pool of
contacts to build transnational terrorist cells, groups and networks in
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries…"
SEE ALSO:
MAN 'BLINDED AT GUANTANAMO'
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/16680139?source=PA
A British resident has been blinded in one eye by American military
police
at Guantanamo Bay, his lawyer claimed today.
Omar Deghayes' family appealed for the British Government to intervene
and
secure his release, almost 25 years to the day since his father was
assassinated by Colonel Gaddafi's regime in Libya.
Mr Deghayes mother Zohra Zewawi, from Brighton, wept as lawyer Clive
Stafford Smith described the injuries the detainee has allegedly
suffered
at the Cuban base.
"In March 2004 the Emergency Reaction Force in Camp Delta came into his
cell," he said.
"They brought their pepper spray and held him down.
"They held both of his eyes open and sprayed it into his eyes and later
took a towel soaked in pepper spray and rubbed it in his eyes.
"Omar could not see from either eye for two weeks but he gradually got
sight back in one eye.
"He's totally blind in the right eye. I can report that his right eye
is
all white and milky - he can't see out of it because he has been
blinded by
the US in Guantanamo."
Mr Stafford Smith added that one of the officers also pushed his finger
into Mr Deghayes' eye.
It was a combination of the pepper spray and the gouging which led to
loss
of his sight, the lawyer claimed…
-----
'SAVE OUR CHARITIES'
A Community Forum on Securing Donor Rights
On Friday, February 18, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the
Islamic
Institute of Orange County (CA) will host a community forum to address
concerns raised by the post-9/11 closure of over 25 American Muslim
charities
MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati and Bill Cooper,
Communications
Director for Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), will discuss what we can do
to
"Save Our Charities" and ensure American Muslims' right to fulfill
their
Islamic duty of zakat (almsgiving).
WHAT: "Save Our Charities" Community Forum
WHEN: Friday, February 18, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Institute of Orange County, 1220 N. State College Blvd,
Anaheim, CA 92806
For more information, call MPAC at (213) 383-3443
-----
ISLAM LENTEN TOPIC AT ST, JOHN'S EPISCOPAL
East Hartford Gazette, 2/17/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13978156&BRD=1642&PAG=461&dept_id=10299&rfi=6
On Wednesday nights during Lent, St. John's Episcopal Church is
exploring
the basic tenets of Islamic faith, spiritual tradition, culture and
history.
Sponsored by the Greater Hartford Regional Ministry and Faith Lutheran
Church. Entitled "Islamic Faith: An Introduction to Understanding A
2005
Lenten Series" the goal is to build bridges of understanding between
religions and people of faith…
SEE ALSO:
PROFESSOR EMPHASIZES ISLAM'S RESPECT FOR WOMEN
ROBERTA C. NELSON, Bradenton Herald, 2/17/05
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/10919355.htm
SARASOTA - In West Africa, as in the United States, or anywhere in the
world, religious doctrine is a matter of interpretation of the holy
text, a
Senegalese scholar said Wednesday.
And, perhaps most important of all, is the identity of the interpreter,
according to Fatou Diop, a Muslim and visiting Fulbright specialist at
New
College of Florida.
Because men are nearly always the dominant group in a culture, they
will -
to a greater or lesser degree - favor interpretations that give them
advantage in the culture, she said.
"Men are the more powerful everywhere, and say, 'These are the facts,'
when
they are not the facts," Diop said. "It is important to separate
religion
from the culture, and see that the link between patriarchy and gender
equality crosses religious and national boundaries…"
---
SEEKING TO UNIFY CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS
Northern Star, 2/17/05
http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=5435
In its discussion panel Wednesday night, the Muslim Student Association
sought to build bridges between Islamic and Christian faiths.
The panel, titled "Building Bridges Between Neighbors," addressed a
need
for education and unity of faiths to coincide with Muslim Awareness
Week.
Keynote speakers included Rita Root, reverend for the Federated Church
of
Sycamore, and Karen Danielson, head of public education and outreach
for
the Muslim American Society in Chicago.
They spoke to an audience of about 30 students and DeKalb residents in
the
Holmes Student Center's Lincoln Room.
The panel began with a traditional Muslim prayer read from the Qur'an,
then
led to presentations from both panelists. The two speakers presented
for
about 40 minutes, then led into a question and answer session...
Hanan Hagezi, a visitor from Egypt, was among the crowd.
"I think it is very important for American society to be able to learn
more
about Islam. It's important to narrow the gap," she said. "After Sept.
11,
there was a lot of tension and growing hostility."
-----
RUSSIA IS ACCUSED OF BACKING RULE BY TERROR IN CHECHNYA
Andrew Osborn, Independent, 2/17/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=611775
Russia has been accused of presiding over an orgy of kidnapping,
torture
and murder in the breakaway republic of Chechnya and of forcing the
region's cowed inhabitants to live in a climate of "fear and
intimidation".
Chechen civilians were being abducted at the rate of two a day by the
authorities for interrogation purposes, Human Rights Watch alleged
yesterday, and, in many cases, simply disappeared without trace.
In the past the kidnap targets were young men but now they are said to
be
society's most vulnerable: the old, young women and teenagers. Some
civilians are simply dragged from their homes and shot in the street,
it
was claimed, while others are drugged and tortured.
The shocking allegations will enrage the Kremlin and Chechnya's
Moscow-backed government which fiercely denies any involvement in the
daily
abductions. The official line is that life in Chechnya is getting back
to
normal, that federal money is being poured into its difficult
renaissance
and that law and order - of some sort - prevails…
SEE ALSO:
ECO-ISLAM HITS ZANZIBAR FISHERMEN
Daniel Dickinson, BBC, 2/17/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4271519.stm
The Koran is not widely known as a source of guidance on environmental
and
conservation issues, but that has not stopped one development
organisation
in Tanzania from using it to help conserve an island marine park.
Religious leaders have been asked to promote conservation messages
using
the texts of the Koran - an approach which has proved a great deal more
successful than government regulations…
Salum Haji has fished these waters for as long as he can remember.
"There have been a lot of bad things happening here," he says.
"People have used dynamite and guns to fish here. This has destroyed
the
coral.
"I am happy that now we have learnt that the Koran tells us to protect
everything in this world, including the environment.
"I am more dedicated to protecting the environment now and a more
committed
Muslim as well…"
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/18/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FAST ON ASHOURA REMOVES SINS
- Tears and Pain Part of Ashoura (Chicago Trib)
* DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
* CAIR-CAN: MUSLIM STUDENTS TO LOSE PRAYER ROOM (CanWest)
* AP: IRAQI DIED WHILE HANGING BY HIS WRISTS
- Our Friends, the Torturers (New York Times)
- Army Files Cite Abuse of Afghans (Wash Post)
- Secret History of 'Extraordinary Rendition'
- US Tortured Australian Gitmo Detainee (AFP)
* GROUPS PREPARING NEW PUSH AGAINST IRAQ WAR (Wash Post)
* TX: BASKETBALL STAR UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT (Star-Telegram)
- FL: Muslim Twins Make a Basketball Odyssey (OS)
* MA: IMAM TALAL EID A STEADY PRESENCE (Patriot Ledger)
* OR: FBI AGENT STANDS BY 'JIHADIST' COMMENT (Oregonian)
- MD: Jewish, Islamic Groups Given Security Grant
* 'AMERICA WOULD BACK ISRAEL ATTACK ON IRAN' (Telegraph)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FAST ON ASHOURA REMOVES SINS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting the day of
Ashoura
is an expiation for (sins committed in) the year preceding it." (It is
also
reported that the Prophet maintained the fast on Ashoura throughout his
life.)
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 124C
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
TEARS AND PAIN ARE PART OF ASHOURA
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502180213feb18,1,3840088.story
On Saturday many Muslims will observe the holy day of Ashoura, the 10th
day
of the first month in the Islamic calendar. Following the example of
the
Prophet Muhammad, they will fast on that day to reflect on Moses'
successful flight from Egypt.
But the holiday is particularly significant for Shiite Muslims, who
will
commemorate a defining moment for their sect: the martyrdom of Imam
Hussein, grandson of the prophet…
-----
DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-CAN, Abdurahman Salman, 613-254-9704; 613-795-2012,
E-mail:
canada@cair-net.org, URL: www.caircan.ca
CAIR-CAN: MCGILL MUSLIMS TO LOSE PRAYER ROOM
Peggy Curran, CanWest News Service, 2/18/05
http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=50470dfb-f495-40dc-a364-254531f4e041
MONTREAL - At intervals throughout the day, students enter the
windowless,
L-shaped room, alone or in clusters, to pray, meditate and turn their
eyes
to Mecca. Linen curtains separate the men from the women, who have
their
own "Sisters" door, notice board and bookshelves stacked with holy
texts.
Five plastic clocks in neon colours announce times for communal prayer
during the winter months -- 5:55 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:15, 5:40 and 7:30 p.m.
Now, however, a battle is brewing between McGill University and Muslim
students over the fate of the non-descript room in the basement of
Peterson
Hall. McGill says it needs the area for an archeology lab. But
prinicipal
Heather Munroe-Blum is also asserting the university's status as a
secular
institution, one with no obligation to provide prayer space on campus.
The Muslim Students Association is reluctant to speak while
negotiations
are underway. But a national Islamic organization acting on the
students'
behalf says it expects to file a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights
Commission for discrimination if McGill refuses to bend.
"The law is crystal clear on this," said Riad Saloojee, executive
director
of the Canadian Council on Islamic American Relations (CAIR-CAN.) A
lawyer,
Mr. Saloojee said human rights legislation says institutions have an
obligation "up to undue hardship" to accomodate the special needs of
their
clientele. "McGill cannot shirk that responsibility…"
-----
AP: IRAQI DIED WHILE HANGING BY HIS WRISTS
Seth Hettena, Associated Press, 2/18/05
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05049/459347.stm
SAN DIEGO (AP) - An Iraqi whose corpse was photographed with grinning
U.S.
soldiers at Abu Ghraib died under CIA interrogation while in a position
condemned by human rights groups as torture - suspended by his wrists,
with
his hands cuffed behind his back, according to reports reviewed by The
Associated Press.
The death of the prisoner, Manadel al-Jamadi, became known last year
when
the Abu Ghraib prison scandal broke. The U.S. military said back then
that
the death had been ruled a homicide. But the exact circumstances under
which the man died were not disclosed at the time.
The prisoner died in a position known as "Palestinian hanging," the
documents reviewed by The AP show. It is unclear whether that position
was
approved by the Bush administration for use in CIA interrogations.
The spy agency, which faces congressional scrutiny over its detention
and
interrogation of terror suspects at the Baghdad prison and elsewhere,
declined to comment for this story, as did the Justice Department.
Al-Jamadi was one of the CIA's "ghost" detainees at Abu Ghraib -
prisoners
being held secretly by the agency.
His death in November 2003 became public with the release of photos of
Abu
Ghraib guards giving a thumbs-up over his bruised and puffy-faced
corpse,
which had been packed in ice. One of those guards was Pvt. Charles
Graner,
who last month received 10 years in a military prison for abusing
detainees.
Al-Jamadi died in a prison shower room during about a half-hour of
questioning, before interrogators could extract any information,
according
to the documents, which consist of statements from Army prison guards
to
investigators with the military and the CIA's Inspector General's
office.
One Army guard, Sgt. Jeffery Frost, said the prisoner's arms were
stretched
behind him in a way he had never before seen. Frost told investigators
he
was surprised al-Jamadi's arms "didn't pop out of their sockets,"
according
to a summary of his interview...
Dr. Vincent Iacopino, director of research for Physicians for Human
Rights,
called the hyper-extension of the arms behind the back "clear and
simple
torture." The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of
torture
in 1996 in a case of Palestinian hanging - a technique Iacopino said is
used worldwide but named for its alleged use by Israel in the
Palestinian
territories…
SEE ALSO:
OUR FRIENDS, THE TORTURERS
BOB HERBERT, New York Times, 2/18/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/opinion/18herbert.html
The United States has long purported to be outraged over Syria's bad
behavior, the latest flash point being the possible Syrian involvement
in
the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri.
From the U.S. perspective, Syria is led by a gangster regime that has,
among other things, sponsored terrorism, aided the insurgency in Iraq
and
engaged in torture. So here's the question. If Syria is such a bad
actor -
and it is - why would the Bush administration seize a Canadian citizen
at
Kennedy Airport in New York, put him on an executive jet, fly him in
shackles to the Middle East and then hand him over to the Syrians, who
promptly tortured him?...
Government officials know that this kind of activity is not just wrong
but
reprehensible, which is why they won't admit publicly to the policy
that
permits them to kidnap individuals like Mr. Arar and send them off to
regimes known to engage in torture. The policy is known as
extraordinary
rendition, which is an extreme variation of a little-known but
longstanding
legal principle called rendition. Rendition most commonly refers to the
extrajudicial transfer of individuals from a foreign country to the
United
States for the purpose of answering criminal charges…
In extraordinary rendition there are no rules. The person seized,
presumably a terror suspect, is thrust into a highly secret zone of
utter
lawlessness, with no rights whatever. The entire point of this
atrocious
exercise is to transfer the suspect to a regime skilled in the art of
torture. It's as if a cop picked up a suspect on the street and handed
him
over to the Mafia to extract a confession. One's guilt or innocence is
not
relevant. No legal defense is permitted. If a mistake is made, too bad…
Extraordinary rendition is antithetical to everything Americans are
supposed to believe in. It violates American law. It violates
international
law. And it is a profound violation of our own most fundamental moral
imperative - that there are limits to the way we treat other human
beings,
even in a time of war and great fear.
---
ARMY FILES CITE ABUSE OF AFGHANS
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 2/18/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A33178-2005Feb17
Members of an Army Special Forces unit allegedly punched, slapped,
kicked
and beat Afghan civilians in two villages southeast of the capital of
Kabul
last May, prompting official complaints from two senior Army
psychological
operations officers who were present and said they witnessed the
incidents.
The allegation is detailed in internal Army criminal files, released
yesterday, that also document other allegations of abuse in Afghanistan
as
recent as last year. Previous abuse allegations have mostly concerned
U.S.
military activities in Iraq in 2003; these documents detail parallel
conduct in Afghanistan in 2004…
---
THE SECRET HISTORY OF AMERICA'S "EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION"
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/17/1530242
Journalist Jane Mayer outlines her major new article in The New Yorker
on
the practice known as "extraordinary rendition," where prisoners, such
as
Maher Arar, are shipped to countries known for their poor human rights
records and history of torture.
---
US PROBABLY TORTURED FREED AUSTRALIAN GUANTANAMO DETAINEE: PSYCHIATRIST
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1512&ncid=733&e=2&u=/afp/20050217/wl_afp/australiaattackshabib
SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Mamdouh
Habib,
has received support in his effort to dispel allegations of his being
an
Al-Qaeda agent, after a respected psychiatrist backed his assertions he
had
been tortured in US custody.
Christopher Tennant, a professor of psychiatry at Sydney University,
said
Habib showed clear signs of suffering from post-traumatic stress
disorder
probably resulting from torture during his three years in custody.
"He has evidence of having been exposed to very significant and
unpleasant
events, probably torture, in that he was significantly depressed and
had
post-traumatic stress disorder," Tennant told ABC radio…
-----
GROUPS PREPARING NEW PUSH AGAINST IRAQ WAR
Evelyn Nieves, Washington Post, 2/18/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A32902-2005Feb17
Peace groups have been relatively quiet in recent months, especially
after
President Bush's reelection. But antiwar leaders say they are on the
verge
of reemerging. Leaders of dozens of peace groups plan to meet in St.
Louis
this weekend to plot strategies for a new push against the war, from ad
campaigns to long-term, grass-roots organizing. They plan to use March
19
and 20, the anniversary weekend of the war's start, as the beginning of
an
all-out effort to convince the public that the best course for
Americans
and Iraqis is for the war to end and the troops to come home…
-----
FORMER BASKETBALL STAR UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT
Bob Ray Sanders, Star-Telegram, 2/18/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/10933360.htm
If basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon is guilty of supporting terrorism,
then I suppose I am, too.
For the record, Olajuwon has not been accused of doing anything wrong,
nor
is he under investigation for any illegal activity. But his name has
been
linked to organizations that the government says provided financial aid
to
terrorists abroad.
Olajuwon, a star center for the Houston Rockets for 17 seasons until he
retired in 2002, is a devout Muslim, a generous human being and one of
the
most gentle spirits to walk this earth.
Unfortunately, he is living in a time when many Americans, implicitly
trusting government reports or actions, are quick to make negative
assumptions about individuals based on "associations" -- intimate or
casual.
I once thought this country had gotten past that nonsense. After all, a
half-century has passed since Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the great defender
of
America against communists and their sympathizers, was exposed as a
depraved crackpot.
But the wretched acts of a handful of terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001,
scared
many Americans, including government agents, so much that they now rely
on
suspicion, fear and prejudice in judging all people in certain groups.
Since 9-11, federal authorities have cast suspicion on many individuals
and
groups as possible supporters of America's enemies in particular, and
foes
of peace and freedom in general.
Numerous people have been detained or deported, and several nonprofit
organizations have been shut down or had their bank accounts frozen.
What does this have to do with Olajuwon -- or with me, for that matter?
Last week, The Associated Press reported that Olajuwon, through a
Houston
mosque he established and funded, had given money to charities that the
government now says were fronts for groups such as al Qaeda and Hamas,
notorious terrorist organizations.
According to the AP and the tax records it consulted, the Islamic
Da'Wah
Center in Houston "gave more than $60,000 in 2000 and $20,000 in 2002
to
the Islamic African Relief Agency," which the government shut down in
October, "saying it gave money and other support to Osama bin Laden and
al
Qaeda."
The AP report continued: Olajuwon "participated in a 1999 celebrity
bowling
tournament for the Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development, which the government shut down in 2001, accusing it of
sending
money to Hamas. The Da'Wah Center gave more than $2,000 to Holy Land in
2000, according to its tax returns."
"All of the donations came before the government designated Holy Land
and
the Islamic African Relief Agency as terrorist fronts."
Many people, including some North Texas politicians, also donated time
and
money to the Holy Land Foundation.
I participated in that 1999 bowling tournament in Dallas, which
included
Olajuwon and other "celebrities" who believed in the charitable work
the
Holy Land Foundation said it was doing.
Olajuwon and I led teams that bowled on adjacent lanes.
I watched as the huge, real-life celebrity spent time with so-called
common
people. He talked with eager children and adults. He never put on airs.
We were there for the same purpose: to raise money for a "good
cause..."
SEE ALSO:
WEST OAKS TWINS MAKE A BASKETBALL ODYSSEY
Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 2/18/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/orl-spthscenter18021805feb18,1,3012525.story
For almost 14 hours, Rashad Ab-dul-Aleem wrestled with the steering
wheel,
straining to keep a rented trailer from yanking his vehicle off the
road as
he drove from north Georgia into Florida.
The trailer swayed every time he reached highway speed. It was like
rocking
in a small boat, as if only wind and waves would decide his family's
destination.
They pulled up roots to seek a new home. In reality, what they were
searching for was a uniform. Abdul-Aleem was looking for a place where
his
twin sons, Musa and Muhammad, could become basketball stars in a state
that
allows home-schoolers to play high-school ball.
Georgia, where the boys won youth-league basketball titles with dad as
their coach, does not. Neither does Mississippi, where the twins were
born.
Nor does New York City, where Rashad grew up going against playground
legends and former NBA stars such as Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld.
"We didn't know where we were going to end up," Rashad remembers. "We
were
thinking Orlando, . . . but when I saw the sign for Tampa [on
Interstate
75], I told my boys we're giving this up. Tampa sounds good."
It wasn't good enough, and a year after that fateful trip, the
Abdul-Aleems
have washed ashore again, this time at tiny West Oaks Academy in
Orlando.
They have slept on the floor of a motel room. They have cleaned
restaurants
for food. They say they have been ridiculed as home-schoolers and
Muslims
and rudely asked to remove the Kufis from their heads.
They are without many friends, without much money.
But they are back on the basketball court, and -- their father believes
--
back on the road to college stardom and possibly the NBA…
-----
IMAM TALAL EID A STEADY PRESENCE
The Patriot Ledger, 2/18/05
http://www.patriotledger.com/articles/2005/02/18/opinion/opin01.txt
The work of Imam Talal Eid, in Quincy and Sharon and well beyond, will
be
remembered long after he leaves his post as spiritual director of the
Islamic Center of New England.
Imam Eid was far more than head of the Muslim center in Quincy and
founder
of the larger center built in Sharon a decade ago. Long before Sept.
11, he
was the voice and the face of Muslims in a community where the roots
and
tenets of Islam are little known.
Quietly, under his tutelage, the Islamic Center outgrew the quarters it
occupied in Quincy Point and Imam Eid led the way to a new center that
found a welcoming home in Sharon, a town known for its religious
diversity...
Imam Eid, who is finishing a doctorate at Harvard Divinity School, will
go
on to other things. But his considerable presence here will long be
remembered.
-----
FBI AGENT STANDS BY 'JIHADIST' COMMENT
NOELLE CROMBIE, Oregonian, 2/18/05
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1108645211151200.xml
The top FBI agent in Oregon told local Muslims and other community
members
that he won't retract, explain or apologize for his recent comments
that
jihad-trained fighters are in Oregon, according to an ACLU
representative
who heard the agent's talk.
On Tuesday, Robert Jordan, special agent in charge of the FBI in
Oregon,
addressed a gathering of several dozen Muslims, other religious leaders
and
a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon at the
Bilal Mosque Association in Beaverton.
A mosque leader asked The Oregonian to attend the event, but that
invitation was abruptly withdrawn minutes before the meeting Tuesday
night.
Shahriar Ahmed, president of the association, did not offer an
explanation.
Jordan, however, made it clear in the meeting that he would not talk to
reporters about his recent remarks to The Associated Press, according
to
Andrea Meyer, legislative director for the ACLU of Oregon. She said
Jordan
blamed reporters for choosing to publicize those remarks in particular,
even though they were made in the context of longer interviews that
covered
a range of topics…
Meyer said the meeting featured a presentation by the secretary of the
mosque who talked about how Jordan's "jihad" comments have appeared in
inflammatory Internet chats targeting Muslims and Arab Americans.
"I don't think Mr. Jordan fully acknowledged the effect on the
community of
that word," Meyer said.
The ACLU's position is that Jordan used "purposely inflammatory
language"
as part of a public relations campaign to prompt the Portland City
Council
to continue its participation in the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Meyer
said. She accused the agent of trying to alarm the community and then
being
"unwilling to provide any more information to any of us as to what he
really means…"
SEE ALSO:
JEWISH, ISLAMIC GROUPS GIVEN SECURITY GRANT
Lisa Rosato, Owings Mill Times, 2/16/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=809&NewsID=611600&CategoryID=5830&show=localnews&om=1
Ten Baltimore County nonprofit organizations - nine Jewish
organizations in
the county's northwest area, and the Islamic Society of Baltimore in
Catonsville - will share a $400,000 federal homeland security fund
grant.
On Feb. 11, Baltimore County Executive James Smith announced the grant
which will be used to boost security at at-risk organizations…
-----
'AMERICA WOULD BACK ISRAEL ATTACK ON IRAN'
Francis Harris, Telegraph, 2/18/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/18/wiran18.xml
President George W Bush added a new twist to the international tension
over
Iran's nuclear programme last night by pledging to support Israel if it
tries to destroy the Islamic regime's capacity to make an atomic bomb.
Asked whether he would back Israel if it raided Teheran's nuclear
facilities, Mr Bush first expressed cautious solidarity with European
efforts, led by Britain, France and Germany, to negotiate with Iran.
But he quickly qualified himself, adding that all nations should be
concerned about whether Iran could make nuclear weapons.
"Clearly, if I was the leader of Israel and I'd listened to some of the
statements by the Iranian ayatollahs that regarded the security of my
country, I'd be concerned about Iran having a nuclear weapon as well.
And
in that Israel is our ally, and in that we've made a very strong
commitment
to support Israel, we will support Israel if her security is
threatened."
His comments appeared to be a departure from the administration's line
that
there are no plans to attack at present and that Washington backs
European
diplomatic efforts. The remarks may have reflected Mr Bush's personal
thinking on an issue causing deep concern in Washington.
Moments later, Mr Bush was asked another question on Iran and appeared
to
return to his script - this time emphasising the need for a diplomatic
effort…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/19/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS REMOVES SIN
- Verse of the Day: Be Kind to Your Parents
* CAIR-HOUSTON TEACHES MEDICAL PERSONNEL ABOUT ISLAM
* CAIR-FL: TEACHER THREATENS MUSLIM STUDENT (Tampa Trib)
- CAIR-FL: Centuries of Memory - Ashura (Miami Herald)
- CAIR-LA: Muslim Paper Hits Newsstands (OC Register)
* NEB. WOMAN SETTLES MUSLIM GARB LAWSUIT (AP)
* CA: 1942-STYLE BIGOTRY TARGETS U.S. MUSLIMS (LA Times)
- WA: Yee Injustice Mustn't be Swept Under Rug (Herald)
* LA: ROTARY HEARS FROM MUSLIM LEADER (Bogalusa Daily News)
- MO: Muslim Leader Understands Need for Balance (KC Star)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS REMOVES SIN
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and said: "I
have
committed a serious sin. Can I do any act of penitence?" The Prophet
asked
the man if he had a mother, and when he replied that he had not, he
asked
if he had a maternal aunt. On his replying that he had, the Prophet
said:
"Then be kind to her."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1274
VERSE OF THE DAY: BE KIND TO YOUR PARENTS
"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him and that ye be kind
to
parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say
not to
them a word of contempt nor repel them, but address them in terms of
honor.
And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility and say: 'My
Lord!
Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.'"
The Holy Quran, 17:23-24
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON TEACHES MEDICAL PERSONNEL ABOUT ISLAM
(HOUSTON, TX, 2/19/05) - A representative of the Houston office of
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) recently offered a
presentation on the basics of the Islamic faith and common
misconceptions
about Islam and Muslims at the University of Texas Medical Branch's
Dental
School. The February 17 event was hosted by the Muslim Health
Professionals
Society.
CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway told the group of
doctors,
dentists, medical chaplains, medical students, and other professionals
about the Muslim perspective on issues such as interfaith relations,
the
status of women and Islam's rejection of terrorism and violence.
"I thought the event was well-prepared they had good food, a beautiful
summary of the presentation tenets of Islam…The question and answer
session
was informative and was a refreshing perspective," said one event
attendee.
CAIR publishes a booklet for medical personnel called "A Health Care
Professional's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices." The booklet may
be
requested by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number in the request.)
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-656-0449
-----
POLICE REMOVE TEACHER AFTER DISTURBANCE WITH MUSLIM STUDENT
LAURA KINSLER, Tampa Tribune, 2/19/05
http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGB3URNCD5E.html
TEMPLE TERRACE - "If I make one phone call, you will not see the light
of
day."
It sounds like a line from "The Sopranos," but a class of sixth-graders
at
Greco Middle School said it was their substitute teacher who uttered
the
threat against a Muslim student Tuesday.
School Principal Janet Spence called Temple Terrace police to remove
the
first-year teacher, Shari Deanna Wilson, from school grounds…
The child's parents, who asked that their last name not be published,
said
Wilson made discriminatory remarks about their son, whose first name is
Islam, in front of the class. He told Spence that when he confronted
the
teacher, she threatened him.
Linda Cobbe, public affairs coordinator for the Hillsborough County
school
district, said the Office of Professional Standards took disciplinary
action against Wilson, but the case would be sealed for at least 10
days.
At a minimum, Wilson appears to have violated the district's rules of
civility. The student handbook defines threats and intimidation of a
student as a zero-tolerance violation.
The boy's family reported the incident to the local chapter of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations. The family says they fear for the boy's
safety and have kept him home from school.
"They're really concerned for the future safety of their son," council
Director Ahmed Bedier said. "They're afraid that this person will
retaliate."
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org
SEE ALSO:
CENTURIES OF MEMORY
ALEXANDRA ALTER, Miami Herald, 2/19/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/religion/10931482.htm
Fourteen centuries have passed since the Prophet Mohammed's grandson
was
murdered in Karbala, Iraq, but for local Shiite Muslims marking the
anniversary of his death this weekend, the wounds still feel raw…
Here in South Florida, where Shiites also are a minority of the
region's
some 50,000 Muslims, the two sects have maintained a friendly distance
while worshiping separately. Recently, some Muslim leaders have worked
to
bring the groups together, said Altaf Ali of South Florida's Council
for
American-Islamic Relations. Qazwini has spoken about Shiite Islam at a
Sunni mosque in Pompano Beach, and Ali said he has invited Shiite
leaders
to an upcoming banquet hosted by CAIR.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490,
954-298-8214,
E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org
---
MUSLIM PAPER HITS NEWSSTANDS
ELEEZA V. AGOPIAN, Orange County Register, 2/17/05
http://www.ocregister.com/
Asma Ahmad may be a computer scientist by training, but she's a
journalist
at heart.
That's why the 26-year-old Ahmad has spent the past three months
preparing
the launch of Southern California In Focus, a newspaper aimed at the
local
Muslim community.
The monthly paper, which is operating out of an office in the Council
on
American Islamic Relations headquarters in Anaheim, had its first run
print
edition on Feb. 4.
Ahmad said she hopes the newspaper will offer Muslims and non-Muslims
perspectives on issues in the Muslim community, as well as provide
information about events and gatherings, profile interesting
personalities
and serve as a forum for the broader Muslim community…
CONTACT: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
-----
NEB. WOMAN SETTLES MUSLIM GARB LAWSUIT
KEVIN O'HANLON, Associated Press, 2/19/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10938250.htm
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Muslim woman who was barred from accompanying
her
children to a public swimming pool because she was fully clothed
settled a
lawsuit Friday against the city of Omaha.
The city said it amended its swimming pool dress code to accommodate
religious or medical needs. Other details of the settlement with Lubna
Hussein were not made public.
"My little girls have been waiting for a chance to try out the water
slides, and they'll finally get the opportunity this summer," Hussein
said.
"We're happy to feel like part of the community again."
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the federal lawsuit last year,
alleging Hussein, who wanted to accompany her three children to the
pool,
was twice turned away in 2003 after she told employees she couldn't
wear a
bathing suit because of her religious beliefs.
Hussein is required by her religion to keep her body covered, except
her
face and hands, while in public. Common clothing for Muslim women
includes
long robe-like dresses and head scarves.
Hussein told pool workers she did not intend to swim, but they said she
could not be in the pool area in street clothes, according to the
lawsuit.
Hussein claimed other people in the pool area were not wearing bathing
suits when she was turned away…
-----
1942-STYLE BIGOTRY TARGETS MUSLIMS IN THE U.S. TODAY
Lillian Nakano, Los Angeles Times, 2/19/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-vo-nakano19feb19,0,5062741.story
Lillian Nakano is a third-generation Japanese American from Hawaii and
was
active in the redress campaign as a member of Nikkei for Civil Rights
and
Redress. She lives in Torrance.
Feb. 19, 1942, was a day that changed the lives of Japanese Americans
forever. I was a teenager growing up in Hawaii when President Franklin
D.
Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which set into motion the
removal
and incarceration of more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry in
inland concentration camps.
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a tense atmosphere of suspicion and
hysteria engulfed the West Coast and Hawaii. Decades of anti-Japanese
and
anti-Asian legislation and racism had already laid the foundation for
the
events that soon took place. We were rounded up without due process
even
though we had nothing to do with the attack. Our family was shipped to
California, then to Arkansas and finally to Wyoming, where we spent the
duration of the war.
Upon our release from the camps, Japanese Americans began to pick up
the
pieces of wrecked lives, in the face of continuing racism and
hostility.
For years, we suppressed our anger, bitterness and shame about the
unfair
treatment we got.
Today, many in the Japanese American community will attend the annual
Day
of Remembrance events in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities,
with
the goal of teaching new generations the lessons from that painful
time.
Some of my fellow Americans are now being targeted because they are
Muslim,
Arab or Middle Eastern. When the attacks of Sept. 11 happened, I
mourned
for the innocent lives that were lost. But I also began to identify and
sympathize with the innocent Muslim Americans who immediately became
victims of the same kind of stereotyping and scapegoating we faced 63
years
ago. They too have become targets of suspicion, hate crimes, vandalism
and
violence, all in the name of patriotism and national security...
Some ideologues on the right seek to rewrite history in order to
justify
government policy and racial profiling. One example is Michelle
Malkin's
2004 book, "In Defense of Internment: The Case for 'Racial Profiling'
in
World War II and the War on Terror," which not only rehashes the
untruths
that Japanese Americans have heard for years but also asserts: "The
most
damaging legacy of this apologia and compensation package [redress won
by
Japanese Americans] has been its impact on national security efforts.
The
ethnic grievance industry and civil liberties Chicken Littles wield the
reparations law like a bludgeon over the War on Terror debate."
There is no justification for racism or denial of civil liberties - not
in
1942 and not in 2005.
SEE ALSO:
YEE INJUSTICE MUSTN'T BE SWEPT UNDER RUG
Shabbir Bala, Daily Herald, 2/18/05
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/02/19/100opi_bala001.cfm
On Sept. 10, 2003, a grave injustice was committed by the U.S.
government
against a Muslim Chaplain in the U.S. Army. Capt. James Yee was
arrested on
espionage charges. These charges carried a potential death penalty.
Yee was held in solitary confinement for 76 days. In a short time, the
government's case crumbled. On April 14, 2004, all charges against Yee
were
dropped. No apology was given and Yee was not allowed to tell his side
of
the story. His career and reputation destroyed, Capt. Yee resigned from
the
military last month.
As an American Muslim, I am appalled at the treatment of Capt. Yee. The
only reason for this shameful episode was that he is a Muslim, and of
Chinese ancestry. As the concerned father of a cadet at West Point, I
want
to make sure these kinds of unfounded and bigoted accusations are never
allowed to foster and grow in any agency of the U.S. government…
-----
FRANKLINTON ROTARY HEARS FROM BATON ROUGE ISLAMIC CENTER LEADER
ELEANOR EVANS, DAILY NEWS, 2/18/05
http://www.edailynews.info/articles/2005/02/18/news/news06.txt
FRANKLINTON n "Many of us fear what we don't know," Imam Jehad Mahmoud
said
yesterday to members and guests of the Franklinton Rotary Club.
Mahmoud, who serves as president of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge,
spoke to the Rotarians yesterday to provide a brief lesson on the
foundations of the Islamic faith n and in hopes of putting common myths
and
misconceptions of the faith to rest.
"If I talk about Islam, I'll be talking about Christianity, I'll be
talking
about Judaism…" Mahmoud said. "We are all the same…"
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM LEADER UNDERSTANDS NEED FOR BALANCE IN POST-9/11 WORLD
BILL TAMMEUS, Kansas City Star, 2/19/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10935747.htm
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, American Muslims have
experienced reactions ranging from hate to friendliness.
But these Muslims are not a monolithic group. Many are immigrants from
the
Middle East and other parts of the world, but many are African-American
converts whose families have been in this country for hundreds of
years.
The Al-Inshirah Islamic Center at 3664 Troost is a mosque that attracts
primarily such converts. Its leader, or imam, is N. Bilal Muhammed, who
converted to Islam about 25 years ago and has been the mosque's imam
for 14
years. He's also employed full time as a firefighter for Olathe...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/21/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: MERCY TO MANKIND
* DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
* CAIR-GA DISCUSSES POST-9/11 DISCRIMINATION
- IL: Woman Pleads Guilty to Battery of Muslim
- NJ: Somali Immigrants Face Challenges
* NY: NEW MUSLIM DETAINEE SUIT (NY Daily News)
- 'Brooklyn's Abu Ghraib' (NY Daily News)
- Aboard Air C.I.A. (Newsweek)
- Abu Ali Case: Injustice, in Secret (Wash Post)
* AL: MEDIA'S MUSLIMS BEAR LITTLE RESEMBLANCE TO REALITY
* NY: MUSEUM TO TAKE SECOND LOOK AT MALCOLM X (AP)
- VA: Muslim Women Sponsor Film on Malcolm X
* CA: MOSQUE MAKEOVER REFLECTS GROWING PRIDE (Pasadena S-N)
- MO: Local Muslims Participate in Hajj (KC Star)
* VA: MUSLIM WOMEN SPONSOR FILM SERIES
* ARSONISTS ATTACK DUTCH MUSLIM SCHOOL (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MERCY TO MANKIND
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God will not be
merciful to
those who are not merciful to mankind."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 473
-----
DONATE TO CAIR ONLINE
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
-----
CAIR-GA: ISLAMIC GROUP DISCUSSES DISCRIMINATION IN POST-SEPT. 11 WORLD
DANIEL YEE, Associated Press, 2/19/05
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/10944353.htm
ATLANTA - Occasionally Sophia Moiz has heard other Americans say
derogatory
things about Islam, her religion, or about Muslim people.
The Woodstock, Ga., woman wonders why some people would do that.
"Nobody will dare to make a (negative) comment versus a Jewish person
or a
black person," Moiz said. "When people say negative things about Islam,
if
you don't feel comfortable, it's important for people to say 'That's
not
cool.'"
The Muslim community in Georgia has been working to educate the public
about their faith in the years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks.
The Council on American Islamic Relations of Georgia held a forum on
Saturday so American Muslims could ask questions about law enforcement
practices or workplace situations.
"The last two years have not been the best of times in the Muslim
community
in the United States because of things beyond our control," said Dr.
Rashid
Naim, a board member of the council.
Naim said Muslims in Georgia have faced discrimination by employers and
those in positions of authority.
And people have committed hate crimes against Muslims. Of the 890 hate
crimes against Muslims in the United States following the 2001
terrorist
attacks, there have been under a half-dozen hate crimes directed
against
Muslims in Georgia, said Gregory Jones, special agent in charge of the
FBI
branch in Atlanta.
"In many cases we've found we didn't know where to go when these things
happen," Naim said.
Jones explained to the audience of about 50 people that the FBI must
balance protecting the U.S. Constitution and civil rights versus the
agency's role of protecting the country from threats.
"The FBI today is much more responsive and attuned to the
constitutional
limits of our authority," Jones said.
Abdul Muhammed, 32, of Atlanta, said he has not experienced any
discrimination but said sometimes Muslims and non-Muslims can have
preconceived notions of each other. But the groups share similar views,
he
said.
"We believe in the same thing - we believe in peace and we work for
peace,"
he added.
CONTACT: CAIR-GA, Yusof Burke, 404-542-1209; Jabril Alexander,
678-937-1495; Mary Hixson, 678-768-6641
SEE ALSO:
IL: WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BATTERY OF MUSLIM
MORRIS PLEADS GUILTY TO SIMPLE BATTERY
Travis Morse, Journal-Standard, 2/18/05
http://www.journalstandard.com/articles/2005/02/17/local_news/news03.txt
FREEPORT - A Freeport woman charged with felony aggravated battery for
striking a local Muslim on the street pleaded guilty Thursday to a
lesser
misdemeanor battery charge, after a plea agreement was reached between
the
prosecution and defense…
Montes-Vivas. Initially, Morris was charged with misdemeanor battery,
but
then former Stephenson County State's Attorney Michael Bald augmented
the
charges to felony aggravated battery because the conflict took place on
a
public street.
Following the incident, Montes-Vivas urged law enforcement to charge
Morris
with a hate crime and to charge the other two individuals allegedly
involved in the incident, which Montes-Vivas, who recently converted to
Islam, claimed was motivated by her religious faith.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE CAIR'S 2004 NEW RELEASE:
MUSLIMS ASSAULTED IN ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA
Perpetrators allegedly shout racist, anti-Muslim slurs
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/30/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today urged state and federal law enforcement
authorities to
treat attacks on a Muslim woman driver in Illinois and on a Muslim
shopper
in California as hate crimes.
The driver in Illinois, a Muslim convert who wears an Islamic head
scarf,
told the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
that
she was attacked June 26 after being approached by a group of two women
and
one man at a stop sign in Freeport, Ill. She said the attackers began
kicking her car and shouting anti-Muslim slurs after asking for a
"light."
One of the attackers allegedly shouted: "Stupid Muslims…F***ing
Muslims…Go
back to your country." When the victim got out of her car, she was
allegedly punched a number of times, resulting in trauma to her head.
Her
head scarf was also torn off during the assault.
One of the female attackers was charged with misdemeanor battery, but
law
enforcement authorities tell CAIR that the charge may be upgraded to a
felony based on the allegations of a bias motive…
---
SOMALIAN IMMIGRANTS FACE MANY CHALLENGES
Chad Klimack, Newark Advocate, 2/20/05
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20050220/localnews/2009392.html
BLACKLICK -- Imagine one day packing your bags, buying an airline
ticket
and moving to Somalia. Once you crossed the Atlantic, you would need to
adjust to a foreign language, a different climate, strange foods, new
cultural mores and more.
That is what many of the Somalian immigrants now living in the area
have to
cope with on a daily basis. They also have to find work, support
themselves
and secure an education for their children. It can be difficult, said
Asili
Omar, who moved from Somalia to the United States 11 years ago.
"It's not easy when you come here," said Omar, 35, who lived in
Washington,
D.C., before moving to Columbus.
Today, Omar lives in Blacklick with her family. And while she feels
comfortable living in the United States, she still faces new challenges
on
a daily basis…
American people are very friendly," Omar said.
Omar is particularly happy with the education her daughter is receiving
at
Summit Primary. The district offers an English as a Second Language
program, and school officials have tried to accommodate students from
other
countries, particularly those from Somalia.
For example, most Muslims abstain from eating pork, so Licking Heights
uses
a menu that lists pork products. Licking Heights also allows Muslim
students to miss school for Islamic holidays, and Somalian girls are
allowed to observe their religion by wearing head scarves…
-----
NEW MUSLIM DETAINEE SUIT
LARRY COHLER-ESSES, NY DAILY NEWS, 2/21/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/282902p-242453c.html
A suit alleging a Muslim detainee was abused at Manhattan's
Metropolitan
Correctional Center following 9/11 echoes complaints from suspects held
in
a Brooklyn federal prison that were largely backed by a federal probe.
The attorney for Osama Awadallah, 24, who filed the suit, names two
other
clients who are former detainees, now deported, who were also allegedly
abused by guards. Awadallah, Yazeed Al-Salmi and Mohdar Abdullah allege
that MCC guards subjected them to freezing temperatures and beatings,
according to San Diego lawyer Randall Hamud.
As with the suspects held in Brooklyn, the Manhattan detainees, who
were
never charged in the terror attacks, say they were strip-searched and
subjected to sexual taunts in front of female guards…
Many of the allegations mirror charges substantiated by the Justice
Department's inspector general in two 2003 reports on the treatment of
Muslim terror suspects in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center…
SEE ALSO:
'BROOKLYN'S ABU GHRAIB'
http://www.nydailynews.com/02-20-2005/news/story/282568p-242172c.html
Defense attorneys call it Brooklyn's Abu Ghraib. On the ninth floor of
the
federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park, terrorism
suspects
swept off the streets after the Sept. 11 attacks were repeatedly
stripped
naked and frequently were physically abused, the Justice Department's
inspector general has found.
The detainees - none of whom were ultimately charged with anything
related
to terrorism - alleged in sworn affidavits and in interviews with
Justice
Department officials that correction officers:
* Humiliated them by making fun of - and sometimes painfully squeezing
-
their genitals.
* Deprived them of regular sleep for weeks or months.
* Shackled their hands and feet before smashing them repeatedly
face-first
into concrete walls - within sight of the Statue of Liberty.
* Forced them in winter to stand outdoors at dawn while dressed in
light
cotton prison garb and no shoes, sometimes for hours.
---
ABOARD AIR C.I.A.
The agency ran a secret charter service, shuttling detainees to
interrogation facilities worldwide. Was it legal? What's next?
Michael Hirsh, Mark Hosenball and John Barry, Newsweek, 2/28/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6999272/site/newsweek/
Like many detainees with tales of abuse, Khaled el-Masri had a hard
time
getting people to believe him. Even his wife didn't know what to make
of
his abrupt, five-month disappearance last year. Masri, a German citizen
of
Lebanese descent, says he was taken off a bus in Macedonia in
south-central
Europe while on holiday on Dec. 31, 2003, then whisked in handcuffs to
a
motel outside the capital city of Skopje. Three weeks later, on the
evening
of Jan. 23, 2004, he was brought blindfolded aboard a jet with engines
noisily revving, according to his lawyer, Manfred Gnjidic. Masri says
he
climbed high stairs "like onto a regular passenger airplane" and was
chained to clamps on the bare metal floor and wall of the jet.
Masri says he was then flown to Afghanistan, where at a U.S. prison
facility he was shackled, repeatedly punched and questioned about
extremists at his mosque in Ulm, Germany. Finally released months
later,
the still-mystified Masri was deposited on a deserted road leading into
Macedonia, where he brokenly tried to describe his nightmarish odyssey
to a
border guard. "The man was laughing at me," Masri told The New York
Times,
which disclosed his story last month. "He said: 'Don't tell that story
to
anyone because no one will believe it. Everyone will laugh.' "
No one's laughing these days, least of all the CIA. NEWSWEEK has
obtained
previously unpublished flight plans indicating the agency has been
operating a Boeing 737 as part of a top-secret global charter servicing
clandestine interrogation facilities used in the war on terror…
U.S. officials insist the CIA has stopped rendering suspects to
countries
where they believe torture occurs. NEWSWEEK has learned that shortly
after
a Canadian jihadi suspect of Syrian origin, Maher Arar, was shipped
back to
Syria in September 2002, officials began having grave second thoughts
about
rendering suspects to that nation. As a result, the administration made
a
secret decision to stop sending suspects to Syria. But officials
acknowledge that such scruples are being ignored when it comes to
rendering
suspects to allies like Egypt and Jordan, even though some officials do
not
believe "assurances" from these nations that they were not mistreating
prisoners. Now the CIA may have to supply many more assurances - and
Khaled
el-Masri, among others, is waiting for them…
---
INJUSTICE, IN SECRET
Washington Post, 2/21/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40624-2005Feb20.html
ATTORNEYS FOR the Justice Department appeared before a federal judge in
Washington this month and asked him to dismiss a lawsuit over the
detention
of a U.S. citizen, basing their request not merely on secret evidence
but
also on secret legal arguments. The government contends that the legal
theory by which it would defend its behavior should be immune from
debate
in court. This position is alien to the history and premise of
Anglo-American jurisprudence, which assumes that opposing lawyers will
challenge one another's arguments.
Ahmed Abu Ali was arrested in June 2003 in Saudi Arabia. He and his
family
claim the arrest took place at the behest of U.S. officials who, though
unable to bring a case against him, have encouraged the Saudis to keep
him
locked up…
Since then, the U.S. government has acted to frustrate all reasonable
searches for answers. It has moved to stay discovery based on secret
evidence…
In this case, the liberty of a U.S. citizen is at stake. It is not
clear
what role the U.S. government played in his arrest, nor that he is
innocent. What is clear is that Mr. Abu Ali has been held for 20 months
without being charged and that, as Judge Bates wrote in December, his
lawyers "have presented some unrebutted evidence that [his] detention
is at
the behest and ongoing direction of United States officials." It should
be
unthinkable that the courts would resolve this matter without hearing
from
both sides on key legal questions. It should have been unthinkable for
the
government to propose such a step.
-----
ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA'S MUSLIMS BEAR LITTLE RESEMBLANCE TO REALITY
Darryn Simmons, Montgomery Advertiser, 2/18/05
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5Islam18w.htm
A Muslim family sits in their middle-class American home and over
breakfast
calmly discusses kidnapping the Secretary of Defense.
They aren't real. They are fictional characters on the Fox TV hit "24."
But sometimes William Abdullah, leader of Masjid Qasim B El-Amin in
Montgomery, and other area Muslims wonder whether most of the people
watching "24" realize this…
Abdullah is frustrated that his religion is portrayed that way, but
there
is little that can be done about it.
"The things you hear and see (about Muslims) these days are not very
truthful," Abdullah said. "It's a sad thing, but there's nothing we can
do
-- we don't control the media."
Still, they are trying to do what they can.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) took Fox to task about
the
"24" episode in the publication Broadcasting and Cable.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for CAIR, said that the show is "taking
everyday
American Muslim families and making them suspects ... it's very
dangerous
and very disturbing."
Fox distributed a public service spot to its affiliates that discusses
facts about American Muslims.
Local Fox affiliate WCOV-TV Fox 20 has aired the spot during their
broadcast of the show even though the station's general manager David
Woods
said he received no complaints from area Muslims about the show…
-----
MUSEUM TO TAKE SECOND LOOK AT MALCOLM X
MADISON J. GRAY, Associated Press, 2/21/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mal21.html
He was one of the most charismatic and feared figures in the civil
rights
movement, a former convict who abandoned his "slavemaster name,"
energized
the Nation of Islam and met a violent end at 39.
Four decades after his death, Malcolm X has inspired another movement
by
his family, friends and scholars - one aimed at re-examining and
preserving
his legacy.
Leading the way are Malcolm X's daughters, who plan to convert the
Audubon
Ballroom in upper Manhattan - the scene of his assassination on Feb.
21,
1965 - into a history center that would catalogue his life and work,
and
seek to convince people he was a champion of human rights.
"It's our responsibility to make sure that we do preserve and document
our
history to empower future generations," said Ilyasah Shabazz, the third
of
six daughters born to Malcolm X and wife Betty Shabazz...
The official opening of The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial
and
Education Center at the Audubon is slated for May 19, on what would
have
been his 80th birthday.
The center will house a multimedia environment containing documents
about
Malcolm X's life, including memoirs, notes, speeches and other personal
items rescued by his family and now held by the Schomburg Center for
Research in Black Culture.
"There has been a lot of paraphrasing, now there will be a lot of
clarity,"
said Malaak Shabazz, whose mother was pregnant with her and her twin
sister
Malikah, when Malcolm X was slain. "This collection really is going to
enlighten a lot of people."
In his autobiography, Malcolm X said the media, the government and even
other black leaders characterized him as a demagogue. But his family
said
the presentations will dispel that portrayal…
SEE ALSO:
VA: MUSLIM WOMEN SPONSOR FILM ON MALCOLM X
The Association of Muslim Women in America at VCU will sponsor a series
of
film presentations from February 25 to May 2, 2005, at Virginia
Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
The films deal with a variety of subjects, ranging from the daily lives
of
American Muslim converts, to the experiences of Muslim women in the
Middle
East and Africa. A special film series on the legacy of Malcolm X has
also
been scheduled for February 25 in recognition of Black History Month.
All film showings will occur in the second floor salons of the
University
Student Commons complex located at Cherry and Main Streets, Richmond,
Virginia. For more information regarding the film series or other AMWA
activities, please contact AMWA at info@amwanet.org.
Date: (F) 02/25, 7p-9:30p,
Room: Richmond Salon III, Black History Month activity
Event: The Legacy of Malik Al Shabazz, Guest Speaker - Benjamin Kareem
-----
MOSQUE MAKEOVER REFLECTS GROWING PRIDE
Marshall Allen, Pasadena Star-News, 2/21/05
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2723461,00.html
SAN GABRIEL -- Masjid Gabriel is undergoing a transformation that will
add
a minaret and domed roof traditional elements of Islamic architecture
to
the mosque.
But the changes are more than cosmetic.
The renovation also illustrates the changing nature of the
American-Muslim
identity, mosque leaders say. It reflects the pride Muslims share in
their
religion, a commitment to rediscover their historic roots and teachings
and
a desire to ensure Islam is passed to the next generation.
"We are doing this for the children who come here so they can identify
themselves with their faith and their symbols," said Imam Nissar Hai.
"We
may be immigrants, but they were born here and they have to feel that
they
belong here and to their faith and this is a symbol of our faith..."
SEE ALSO:
MORE THAN 40 AREA MUSLIMS PARTICIPATE IN TREK TO HOLY SITES
KIMBERLY SWEET, Kansas City Star, 2/19/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10938129.htm
When she carries out her daily prayers, Shahwar Latif faces the
direction
of Mecca and imagines praying toward the Kaaba, a stone building
Muslims
believe was built by Abraham and his son, Ishmael.
But after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca with her husband,
Muhammad,
Latif doesn't have to work so hard to get an image in her head of what
she
is praying to.
"You feel closer to the Kaaba," she said. "I can actually imagine the
Kaaba
right there in the middle."
Latif was one of more than 40 people from the Kansas City area who made
the
hajj, or annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrimage is one of the five
pillars of Islam and is required once for every Muslim who has the
physical
and financial means…
-----
ARSONISTS ATTACK MUSLIM SCHOOL IN DUTCH TOWN
AMSTERDAM, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Arsonists tried to set fire to an Islamic
school in the Netherlands overnight, a reminder of the wave of attacks
seen
after the murder in November of a Dutch filmmaker critical of Islam.
Dutch police said on Monday they were investigating the incident at the
school in the town of Haarlem, west of Amsterdam. There was little
damage
to the school.
"We are looking for witnesses. The children could continue their
classes in
a nearby building," the spokesman said.
Dozens of mosques and Muslim schools were attacked after filmmaker Theo
van
Gogh was shot and stabbed as he cycled to work in Amsterdam on Nov. 2.
His
criticism of Islam had enraged many Muslims…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS - 2/21/05
AHMED ABU ALI RELEASED, TO BE INDICTED IN VA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/21/05) - The family of Ahmed Abu Ali, a U.S.
citizen
held without charge in Saudi Arabia since June of 2003, today informed
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that their son has been
released and is en route to the United States.
According to family representatives, Abu Ali will be arraigned on
Tuesday
in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in
Alexandria, Va., based on a sealed indictment. The family is asking
members
of the local community to attend the arraignment. (No specific time or
room
number for Tuesday's arraignment is currently available. Check
http://www.masnet.org/ early Tuesday for updates.)
Abu Ali's case was the subject of an editorial today by the Washington
Post.
SEE:
INJUSTICE, IN SECRET
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40624-2005Feb20.html
SEE ALSO:
U.S. OFFERS JUDGE SECRET EVIDENCE TO DECIDE CASE
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17498-2005Feb11.html
JUDGE QUESTIONS GOVT'S ATTEMPT TO DISMISS DETAINEE'S SUIT
http://www.nylawyer.com/news/05/02/021405a.html
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/22/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE
* CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS DECRY CLOSURE OF MOSQUE'S ACCOUNT (AP)
- ACTION ALERT: Ask HUB to Probe IEC Account Closure
* CAIR-NY SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR COMMUNITY AWARDS
* CAIR-CAN: RENOWNED MUSLIM SCHOLAR VISITS CANADA
- Scholar Banned in U.S. to Speak in Canada
* PRISONER ABUSE: FROM BAGRAM TO ABU GHRAIB (Mother Jones)
- Churches Say U.S. Violates Law at Gitmo (Reuters)
- U.S. Interrogations Demean Women (Newsday)
* NY: MALCOLM X'S LEGACY HONORED (Newsday)
- VA: Islam and the Development of African-Americans
* AKBAR AHMED HONORED AT WASHINGTON CATHEDRAL (Daily Times)
* IL: DR. FARZANA F. HAMID (1941-2005)
* VANDALS SCRAWL NAZI MARK ON PARIS MOSQUE (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know who is most
generous?...God is the Most Generous, then I am most generous to
mankind,
and the most generous people after me will be those who will acquire
knowledge and then disseminate it. (They) will come on the Day of
Resurrection singly, like a ruler."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 93
-----
CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS DECRY CLOSURE OF ISLAMIC CENTER'S BANK ACCOUNT
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 2/22/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--bank-islamicaccou0222feb22,0,6837675.story
NEWARK, N.J. - Muslim groups want to know why a North Jersey bank
closed an
Islamic Center's bank account.
Hudson United Bank closed the Islamic Educational Center of North
Hudson's
account just before last month's hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. That
action created difficulties for Muslims seeking to pay for hotel rooms
and
other travel needs, according to Yousef Abdalla, the Union City
center's
outreach director.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a nationwide civil rights
group
based in Washington, has written to the bank asking for an explanation
of
the closure, but has not received a response.
"The seemingly arbitrary nature of the decision to close the account is
of
concern to the Muslim community in New Jersey," said Magdy Mahmoud,
president of the group's New Jersey chapter. "Hudson United Bank should
launch an immediate internal investigation of this incident to
eliminate
the possibility that anti-Muslim bias played a role in the decision."
Kenneth T. Neilson, president and CEO of Mahwah-based Hudson United
Bancorp, did not return three messages left with his office seeking
comment
since Friday. Likewise, e-mails to the bank's investor relations
department
and five senior executives, including Neilson, went unanswered on
Tuesday.
In a Dec. 14 letter to the Islamic Center, the bank wrote that it "has
recently performed a review of the above-referenced account and,
unfortunately, will no longer be able to service your financial needs.
As
Hudson United Bank reserves the right to close an account at any time,
we
are requesting that you provide us with written instructions to
transfer
your account within thirty days of the date of this letter."
Abdallah said the bank claimed "there was a discrepancy in the names of
one
of the officers." He said that should not justify closing an account
for a
center that has "never so much as bounced a check..."
Abdallah said the center transferred its money, totaling about
$100,000, to
a different bank that was happy to have its business.
ACTION ALERT: ASK HUDSON UNITED BANK TO PROBE ACCOUNT CLOSURE
Send a POLITE note to Hudson United Bank requesting an investigation
into
the closure of the Islamic Educational Center's account.
CONTACT:
Mr. Kenneth T. Neilson
President & CEO
Hudson United Bancorp
1000 Macarthur Blvd.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
TEL: 201-236-2631
FAX: 201-236-2639
E-MAIL: vicki.freund@hudsonunitedbank.com,
investor.relations@hudsonunitedbank.com
COPY TO: sarah_issa@cair-nj.org
CONTACT CAIR-NJ: Sarah Issa, 908-938-5990, E-Mail:
sarah_issa@cair-nj.org;
Magdy Mahmoud, 973-785-3050, E-Mail: Magdy@cair-nj.org
-----
CAIR-NY SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR COMMUNITY AWARDS
(NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 2/22/05) - The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) is seeking nominations for the
following awards: Community Rights Activist of the Year, Civil Rights
Activist of the Year, Media Justice, Public Servant of the Year, and
Academic Achievement.
The nominations should be submitted to the selection committee by March
25,
2005, via fax, e-mail or mail.
Please include a brief explanation of your nomination. The awards will
be
presented at CAIR-NY's annual banquet.
SEND NOMINATIONS TO: CAIR-NY, 475 Riverside Drive Suite 246, NY 10027,
E-Mail CAIRNYbanquet@aol.com, Tel 212-870-2002, Fax 212-870-2020
-----
CAIR-CAN: RENOWNED MUSLIM SCHOLAR VISITS CANADA
Tariq Ramadan to speak on citizenship, 'vivre ensemble'
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 22/02/2005) - Distinguished Islamic scholar Dr. Tariq
Ramadan will be in Ottawa to speak in a three-part symposium on the
Ethics
of Citizenship, Democracy and the Future of Islam.
Dr. Ramadan's visit is organized by Muslim Presence Ottawa, and his
final
lecture, "Facing the Common Challenges of the Contemporary World," is
co-sponsored by CAIR-CAN and will feature CAIR-CAN Executive Director
Riad
Saloojee as a guest speaker.
Dr. Ramadan was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the most
influential thinkers of our time. His most recent book, Western
Muslims
and the Future of Islam, was listed by the Christian Science Monitor as
the
best non-fiction book of 2004.
"This symposium is geared towards those who accept the challenges of
the
'vivre-ensemble,'" said Dr. Ramadan. "It will require self-criticism,
dialogue, respect for diversity and an expression of common values --
the
biggest challenge we face post-9/11."
In a joint statement, Muslim Presence and CAIR-CAN added that the
symposium
will deal with the fundamental question of how Canadian Muslims can
participate fully in the civic life of Canadian society while remaining
faithful to the universal principles that form the basis of the Islamic
faith.
CONTACT: Shelina Merani at 613-254-7177; E-mail:
muslimpresence_ott@yahoo.ca, For more information, see:
www.presencemusulmane.org
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
Symposium Dates (All events will be held at the University of Ottawa,
Marion Hall, 140 Louis Pasteur and 365 Nicholas):
Jeudi 24 Fevrier, 7 pm - 10 pm
Sujet: "Experience spirituelle: promesse de paix"
A public lecture (in French) in partnership with the Outaouais Islamic
Center (OIC)
Friday February 25th, 9 am - 12:30 pm
Topic: "Building upon our shared experiences post 9-11: Strategies for
working with the Muslim Community"
A service providers' event in partnership with the Ottawa Police
Service.
Guest moderator: Veteran journalist Eric Sorensen from CBC-TV
Friday February 25th, 7 pm - 10 pm
Topic: "Western Muslims and the Future of Islam"
A public lecture. Guest moderator: Award-winning journalist, Ken
Rockburn,
from Canada's Political Affairs Channel (CPAC)
Saturday February 26th, 7 pm - 10 pm
Topic: "Facing the Common Challenges of the Contemporary World"
A public Lecture in partnership with the Canadian Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN). Guest speaker: Riad Saloojee,
Executive Director of CAIR-CAN.
ALSO SEE:
BANNED IN U.S., CONTROVERSIAL ISLAMIC SCHOLAR TO SPEAK HERE
Vito Pilieci, The Ottawa Citizen, 2/22/05
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=710c81fb-6e95-4b70-93dc-88d456ea337c
A controversial Islamic scholar who has been barred from entering
France
and the United States, will be arriving in Ottawa later this week to
speak
at a Muslim symposium.
Tariq Ramadan, a professor of philosophy at the College of Geneva, will
be
attending Citizenship, Democracy and the Future of Islam, a three-part
symposium that is being put on by the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Canada, Muslim Presence Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service.
During the symposium, which begins on Thursday, Mr. Ramadan will be the
keynote speaker on a panel discussing the challenges that face Muslims
in
the post-Sept. 11 world. He will also discuss ways that Canadian
Muslims
can participate in Canadian society while remaining loyal to their
Islamic
faith.
"This symposium is geared towards those who accept the challenges of
the
'vivre-ensemble'," said Mr. Ramadan in a press release. "It will
require
self-criticism, dialouge, respect for diversity and an expression of
common
values -- the biggest challenge we face post 9/11."
Mr. Ramadan's thoughts and comments regarding both the conference and
his
talk to Ottawa police show the side of a man who is portrayed in a
starkly
different manner in the American media...
The professor had his American work visa revoked and was barred from
entering the U.S. in July after a Department of Homeland Security
investigation found that some of Mr. Ramadan's beliefs and previous
comments were in violation of the Patriot Act, which was enacted in
late
2001 to help protect the U.S. against terror threats…
-----
FROM BAGRAM TO ABU GHRAIB
Emily Bazelon, Mother Jones, March/April 2005 Issue
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/03/03_2005_Bazelon.html
HUSSAIN YOUSSOUF MUSTAFA stepped off the bus outside a law office on a
busy
street in Amman, Jordan, on a bright day in November. The 51-year-old
wore
a white kaffiyeh and a white robe with square-rimmed glasses and a
salt-and-pepper beard. Inside, he sat down at a table that faced a map
of
the Middle East, and over eight hours and two days answered questions
about
his two years in American captivity.
Mustafa, who is Palestinian, said he earned a master's degree in
Islamic
law in Saudi Arabia, but as a young teacher he had trouble making a
living
in the West Bank. In 1985, he heard that Pakistan was setting up
schools
for Afghans who were fleeing the Soviet occupation. Mustafa and his
wife
moved to Peshawar, a city of 1 million near the Pakistani-Afghan
border,
and for 17 years they lived there and raised eight children, with
Mustafa
teaching Arabic and the tenets of Islam at a government-run school.
After the American invasion of Afghanistan in the winter of 2001,
Mustafa
said, Peshawar became tense, with periodic police roundups of suspected
militants, although he had no run-ins with the authorities and felt no
threat from them. Then, on May 25, 2002, at about 8 p.m., their
doorbell
rang. Mustafa asked Ibrahim, his youngest son, to answer the door. The
boy
yelled, "Police!" and ran back into the house, several Pakistani police
officers behind him with guns drawn. They took Mustafa in for
questioning
along with two of his sons, 18-year-old Mohammed and 23-year-old
Abdullah.
The young men were released later that night. But their father was
blindfolded, tightly shackled, and flown to Bagram Air Base in
Afghanistan…
As he told his story, Mustafa refused to be led by Clive Stafford
Smith,
the human rights lawyer who interviewed him. Had he been beaten when he
arrived at Bagram, Stafford Smith asked through a translator; had he
been
threatened with guns? Mustafa firmly answered no. It was only on the
second
day of the interview, after Stafford Smith had stopped pressing, that
his
account turned grim. "Perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to
me
took place at Bagram," he began…
Americans, and the world, have become accustomed to accounts like
Mustafa's
in connection with Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. But his story hints at
another
scandal-one that has received little sustained media attention and
sparked
no public outrage...
ALSO SEE
WORLD CHURCHES SAY U.S. VIOLATES LAW AT GUANTANAMO
Reuters, 2/21/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7688944
GENEVA - The World Council of Churches (WCC), the main global body
uniting
non-Catholic Christians, accused the United States on Monday of
violating
international law in its treatment of detainees at its Guantanamo naval
base.
The Council, which includes many U.S. churches in its 342-church
membership, also called on the administration of President Bush to
grant
full legal rights to the some 600 foreign nationals detained at a camp
on
the base in Cuba.
The prisoners there "are held without due process and in total
violation of
the norms and standards of international humanitarian and human rights
law," a statement issued by the Council's Central Committee declared.
The statement was supported by the U.S. National Council of Churches
(NCC),
which links 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Afro-American communities
across
the country and has been campaigning for the detainees to be granted
due
legal process.
Bush is a fervent Christian, and the backing of evangelical Christians
in
several key states helped secure his re-election last November.
The Council statement, issued after a session of its steering Central
Committee, also called on the administration to allow the NCC to visit
the
detainees -- many held since the end of 2001 as part of the
administration's "war on terror."
It also called on all NCC churches to educate their congregations on
the
situation of those held at the base and to urge believers to call "for
the
release of those being held in detention under inhuman conditions..."
---
U.S. INTERROGATIONS DEMEAN WOMEN
Marie Cocco, Newsday, 2/22/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-vpcoc224153663feb22,0,3514822.column?coll=ny-news-columnists
We know as much about the women as we do about the men. That is almost
nothing.
We do not know who the woman is who approached a Yemeni detainee at the
U.S. prison camp at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, wearing a tight T-shirt and
taunting him about sex. "You are a young man and have needs," she
reportedly suggested, bending so her breasts fell toward the table.
"What
do you like?"
We do not know who has touched detainees suggestively, or strutted
around
in lacy bras and panties.
We don't know who pretended to be menstruating and smeared something
meant
to be taken as blood - perhaps red ink? - on the Muslim detainees. We
know
this was meant to break the men down by violating a religious taboo
against
contact with women and with menstruating women in particular. It is
considered unclean and makes Muslim men unfit to pray.
We do not know if the women are U.S. military personnel or contractors
working at the Guant�namo holding pen. We know the Pentagon has
confirmed
that this sexual degradation has taken place, and it continues to be
investigated.
And we have heard no official voice - not from Congress, not from the
White
House - that has abhorred the use of American women as sexual teases in
the
war on terror.
Even if you accept, which I do not, the premise that anything goes in
this
war - that detainees can be held indefinitely without charge, or
physically
abused, or secretly shipped off to distant countries where torture is
routine - does that mean the honor of American women is to be
sacrificed, too?
The sexual humiliation of the detainees is sexual humiliation of the
women
as well…
-----
MALCOLM X'S LEGACY HONORED
Curtis L. Taylor and Brian Boyd, Newsday, 2/22/05
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm2931_20050221.htm
Family and friends of slain black Muslim leader Malcolm X packed the
Audubon Ballroom in upper Manhattan last night to remember him in the
place
where he was assassinated exactly 40 years ago.
"Malcolm felt that he did not need laws to make him a human being, that
he
did not have to beg for civil rights," Rep. Charles Rangel
(D-Manhattan)
told the crowd.
Others at the ceremony recalled Malcolm X as a charismatic leader,
whose
teachings of black empowerment and self-sufficiency made him an icon to
blacks and a symbol of hope for others. Malcolm X renounced his racial
separatist teachings to embrace all after an Islamic pilgrimage to
Mecca,
where he worshiped alongside Muslims of all colors.
Sharpton said that while Malcolm X had been dismissed in the past,
there
was a growing understanding and appreciation of his teachings.
"Tonight, a billionaire white mayor had to come and respect his
memory,"
Sharpton said.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said if the minister were alive today, he would
have broadened his message.
"He would have wanted to make sure that our city was open to everyone,"
Bloomberg said.
His daughter Ilyasah Shabazz said the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz
Memorial and Education Center would open later this year at the site
where
her father was shot and killed by Nation of Islam rivals.
ALSO SEE:
SPEAKER RELATES ISLAMIC CULTURE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK AMERICANS
Angela Kim, Collegiate Times, 2/22/05
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/index.php?ID=5204
The Muslim Student Association and Theta Nu Xi Sorority sponsored a
discussion with Dr. Sylviane Diouf, author of "Servants of Allah:
African
Muslims Enslaved in the Americas" last night in Squires' Black Cultural
Center.
Diouf spoke about ways African Americans have been affected by Islamic
culture.
"A lot is unknown about African Muslim slaves. People don't usually
think
about Muslims when they think about slaves," Diouf said.
Diouf said African American slaves were directly connected to Islamic
culture. Of the approximate 10 million African slaves that were traded
into
the Americas during the 16th century, 10 percent of them were Muslim,
Diouf
said.
Traditions of Muslim culture focus on the unity of their followers.
While African Americans were being enslaved in Western Africa, Muslim
clerics had set up safe havens for Muslims, Diouf said. Thus, only 10
percent of the African slaves were Muslim. Diouf continued to emphasize
the
unity of Muslims by revealing that after the Rwandan genocides, the
Muslim
population in Rwanda had doubled, she said.
Diouf said many Rwandans saw the unity of the Muslims, and converted to
Islam.
-----
AKBAR AHMED HONOURED AT WASHINGTON CATHEDRAL
Khalid Hasan, Daily Times, 2/22/05
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-2-2005_pg7_38
WASHINGTON: Last Sunday's evensong - a special evening prayer - at the
National Cathedral was dedicated to Dr Akbar Ahmed in recognition of
his
work towards inter-faith understanding.
The ceremony started with the reading of a message from the Chief Rabbi
of
the United Kingdom, while Bishop John Chane of the Cathedral in his
remarks
called the event unprecedented in church history, and arranged to
promote
harmony and understanding between different faiths. Senior Rabbi Bruce
Lustig credited the Pakistani academic with emphasising the commonality
between all Abrahamic religions. Dr Ahmed started with a recitation of
Sura
Fateha and spoke about the difficult times the world was passing
through.
In his speech, Dr Ahmed said 9/11 had created immense challenges and
cultural rifts, but also an opportunity to reach out and build bridges.
He
had come to realise, he explained, how close the Judaic and Christian
traditions were to Islam. The great Biblical figures are equally
revered
and loved in Islam, he said. Abraham has a special place in Muslim
prayer
and affection, seen as he is as a revered patriarch and prophet.
-----
DR. FARZANA F. HAMID (1941-2005)
(ADDISON, IL) - Dr. Farzana F. Hamid's unexpected and sudden death on
February 18, 2005, leaves a void in a community that she deeply
impacted.
Born in Bareilly, India, Dr. Hamid was a visionary who believed that
good
ideas had to be translated into action to make an impact in the lives
of
individuals. Dr. Hamid's many important accomplishments addressing
violence
against women and the disparities facing underserved communities are
her
legacy. Her example will provide an inspiration for the next generation
of
social activists. She summarized her philosophy in 2001 by stating,
"From
the day when I was a young girl growing up, I always saw the tradition
of
thinking beyond oneself and thinking of others. I saw the tradition of
giving and sharing, and I have internalized those values from a very
early
stage in my life. This profession comes naturally…"
Dr. Hamid is survived by her husband, Dr. Mohammad Hamid, Chairman of
the
Hamdard Center Board of Directors; son Adnaan Hamid and his wife Elissa
Efroymson Hamid; son Ferhan Hamid and his wife Fauzia Abbasi; and their
granddaughter Jaydra Efroymson Hamid.
The Hamid family has established the Dr. Farzana F. Hamid Memorial Fund
for
the benefit of the Hamdard Center. Those who wish to contribute should
send
donations to: Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services, 228 East
Lake
Street, Addison, Illinois 60101 (630- 835-1432).
For more information, contact Dr. Mohammad Hamid at 847-372-7076
-----
VANDALS SCRAWL NAZI MARK ON PARIS MOSQUE
Associated Press, 2/21/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10955916.htm
PARIS (AP) - Vandals scrawled swastikas and other Nazi references on
the
walls of the Grand Mosque of Paris, the best-known Muslim religious
site in
France, religious leaders said Monday.
The vandalism by unknown assailants, discovered Monday, comes as
officials
have stepped up security around Jewish and Muslim sites in France amid
an
increase in such attacks in recent years…
The vandals, writing in what appeared to be ink from a black marker,
scrawled about a dozen swastikas, other Nazi references and "Get Out"
on
the white walls around the imposing, decades-old mosque in southeastern
Paris.
Mosque officials filed a complaint with local police, who were
investigating the incident…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #447
ASK STATE DEPT. TO BLOCK ENTRY OF GUJARAT MASSACRE FIGURE
Indian official accused of complicity in riots that left 1,000+ Muslims
dead
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/23/05) - CAIR today called on the Bush
administration
to block the entry of an Indian official accused of complicity in the
massacre of more than 1,000 Muslim civilians.
Narendra Modi, chief minister of India's state of Gujarat, is the
"chief
guest" of the Asian American Hotel Owner Association (AAHOA) at its
annual
convention next month in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
SEE: http://www.aahoa.com/events/Narendra_Modi.asp
CAIR is seeking to block Modi's entry based on a section (Sec. 604) of
the
International Religious Freedom Act that makes any foreign official who
has
engaged in "particularly severe violations of religious freedom"
inadmissible to the United States.
SEE: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/laws/majorlaw/intlrel.htm
Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002, senior officials in Gujarat told
human
rights activists that they had been directed by Modi to allow the
massacres
to run their course. Modi allegedly called the riots "anticipated Hindu
reaction" and "a natural outpouring." (Christian Science Monitor,
7/23/04,
9/15/03) India's National Human Rights Commission reported a
"comprehensive
failure of the State to protect the Constitutional rights of the people
of
Gujarat."
SEE: http://www.nhrc.nic.in/Gujarat.htm
FOR BACKGROUND ON THE 2002 GUJARAT MASSACRES, GO To:
http://hrw.org/reports/2003/india0703/Gujarat-02.htm
The Washington Post said, "Human rights investigators found that the
anti-Muslim violence had been encouraged and in some cases assisted by
(Modi's) government." (Washington Post, 4/19/04) A citizens panel,
which
included retired Indian Supreme Court judges, said the anti-Muslim
rioters
had acted "with the deliberate connivance and support" of the Gujarat
state
government. (Washington Post, 12/16/02)
Modi is also a key proponent of the militant and exclusivist Hindutva
(Hindu-ness) philosophy "that aims to unite Hindus, and consolidate
their
votes, largely around fear of Muslims." (New York Times, 12/12/02)
Those opposed to Modi's entry into the United States have formed a
group,
the Coalition Against Genocide (CAG), to press for action by the AAHOA
and
by U.S. government officials.
SEE: http://www.imc-usa.org/ and
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/
"Our nation should not reward a man accused of complicity in the
massacre
of civilians by granting him a visa or a place of honor at a
convention,"
said CAIR Board Member Parvez Ahmed. CAIR outlined its concerns in a
letter
to Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John
Hanford.
ACTIONS REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
1. Contact Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to as that Narendra Modi
be
ruled inadmissible to the United States based on Section 604 of the
International Religious Freedom Act, which bars entry to any foreign
official who has engaged in "particularly severe violations of
religious
freedom."
CONTACT:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Department of State
2201 C St NW
Washington, DC 20520
E-Mail:
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html
Web Site: www.state.gov Phone: (202) 647-4000 Fax: (202) 647-2283
COPY TO: president@whitehouse.gov, info@aahoa.com, roccacb@state.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
2. Contact your elected representatives to make them aware of your
concerns.
GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/
3. SEND COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/23/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
- Hadith: 'I am to my servant as he expects of Me'
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: ATTACK ON IRAN 'RIDICULOUS' - NOT
* ISLAM-OPED: ISLAM AND THE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT
* VA: FAMILY DENOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST `PIOUS MAN' (Balt Sun)
* NC: MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS HOLD GATHERING (Charlotte Obs)
- CA: Celebration of Abraham (Enterprise Record)
* NJ: HALAL GOES MAINSTREAM (Record)
- PA: Mosques Tie African Muslims to Faith, Community (AP)
* PENTAGON PROBES RAPE CHARGE VS. SOLDIER (AP)
- Iraqi Women No Better Off Post-Saddam (Reuters)
* FRENCH MUSLIM GRAVES DESECRATED WITH NAZI SLOGANS (Reuters)
- Christian Body Backs Divestment from Israel (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
"Remember me, and I shall remember you."
The Holy Quran, 2.152
HADITH OF THE DAY: 'I AM TO MY SERVANT AS HE EXPECTS OF ME'
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God says: 'I am to my
servant as he expects of Me. I am with him when he remembers Me. If he
remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself. If he remembers me
in
an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his. If he draws
nearer to Me a hand's span, I draw nearer to him an arm's length. If he
draws nearer to Me an arm's length, I draw nearer to him (an even
greater)
length. And if he comes to me walking, I rush to him at (great)
speed.'"
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 99
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: ATTACK ON IRAN 'RIDICULOUS' - NOT
"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is
simply ridiculous," Bush told a news conference after talks with
European
Union leaders. "Having said that, all options are on the table," he
added,
drawing laughter at a clear reference to military action.
-----
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED
commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each
market
area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
first-come-first-served basis.
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
ISLAM AND THE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT
Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 615
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=36139&theType=NB
Results from the Iraqi election are finally in and there is
considerable
unease about the makeup of the new Iraqi government. The United Iraqi
Alliance (UIA), a party with Islamic leanings and tacit backing of
Iraq's
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani won the most votes, although not a clear
majority. The sense of unease comes from a misconception that Islamic
leaning parties are an anathema to democracy.
The challenge facing Iraq's new rulers will be to form a government
that
integrates the aspirations of all its minorities including those who
stayed
out of the election process. Regional experts say UIA is a
politically-mature group that has a fair chance to form an inclusive
government.
At the core of a growing unease about the election results lay Islam's
role
in the new government and the drafting of a new constitution. This
despite
the fact that majority of Muslims around the world live peacefully
under
democracies some even upholding democracy as being intrinsic to Islam.
The Quran, in verses 42:38, and 3:159, instructs that the basic
principle
of governance should be based on "mutual consultation," or shura.
Islamic
scholars say shura contains three essential elements - equal rights for
all
citizens, majority rule for public policy and the promotion of justice
and
human dignity...
Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., is a board member of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy
group. He may be contacted at: pahmed@cairfl.org
-----
FAMILY, FRIENDS DENOUNCE CHARGES AGAINST `PIOUS MAN'
Ellen Gamerman, Baltimore Sun, 2/23/0
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.abuali23feb23,1,5432509.story
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - By the U.S. government's account, Ahmed Omar Abu
Ali
used his time studying in Saudi Arabia to plot the assassination of
President Bush. But to supporters here, the young man's studies at
Saudi
Arabia's University of Medina were nothing more than a spiritual break
before a settled life in American suburbia.
Two divergent stories about Abu Ali emerged yesterday as the
23-year-old
student from Northern Virginia sat in federal custody.
To U.S. officials, the young man is a shadowy would-be assassin who
hatched
a plan with an al-Qaida member in 2002 and 2003 to shoot the president
or
kill him with a car bomb. To friends and family, the U.S. citizen is a
high
school valedictorian who dreamed of marrying an American, perhaps
working
as an engineer and teaching the Koran.
In the family's Falls Church home at the top of a 10-story high rise,
Faten
Abu Ali, the suspect's mother, was still processing the news that her
son
was suspected of attempting to kill the president and facing a string
of
charges. She said she heard the charges for the first time in court
yesterday.
"I laughed on every count," she said. "I know the government is lying."
But U.S. officials are taking this case seriously.
"After the devastating terrorist attack and murders of Sept. 11, the
defendant turned his back on America and joined the cause of al Qaida,"
U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said in a statement. "He now stands
charged
with some of the most serious offenses our nation can bring against
supporters of terrorism."
After the court appearance yesterday, Abu Ali's relatives said they
were
eager to see him for the first time since he was detained in Saudi
Arabia
without charges in June 2003. The family has been fighting for his
return;
a lawsuit on his behalf contends the U.S. government encouraged Saudi
officials to hold him there for interrogation…
"We believe in the U.S. justice system. We believe this country is
based on
good morals."
-----
MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS HOLD MONTHLY GATHERING
Charlotte Observer, 2/23/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/gaston/10967653.htm
The Islamic Society of Gastonia will host a Prayer Vigil for Peace at 7
p.m. Thursday at 4020 Titman Road in Gastonia. The nondenominational
vigil
group has met every 30 days since March 2003 in various Gaston County
religious centers.
The Islamic Society's imam, Saed Elrahen, will lead the service in
prayer,
discussion and silent reflection. Mosque members will conclude the
service
with a traditional Muslim prayer at 8 p.m.
Guests are asked to dress modestly; no shorts or short skirts are
permitted.
The next prayer vigil will be April 14 at Christ United Methodist
Church in
Gastonia...
ALSO SEE:
CA: BIG CROWD GATHERS FOR CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM EVENT
Larry Mitchell, Enterprise Record, 2/23/05
http://media.mnginteractive.com
A crowd twice as big as hoped for showed up at Chico's Celebration of
Abraham Sunday.
Even so, there was enough soup and bread to go around.
More than 200 people packed the social hall at Faith Lutheran Church
for a
program and meal designed to promote understanding among Jews,
Christians
and Muslims.
"Father Abraham is looking down right now and feeling very happy for
his
children," Rabbi Julie Danan told those attending. "You see the great
yearning of people to reach out to one another and connect..."
-----
HALAL GOES MAINSTREAM
Brian Spadora, North Jersey.com, 2/22/05
http://www.northjersey.com/
Search using the term "halal."
CLIFTON - The regulars at City Grill have passed under the sign that
promises "Charcoal Broil Steaks Hamburgers Chicken'' more times than
anybody knows.
Last month, new customers were drawn in by a sign that stands out on
the
fa�ade of the joint known for its Texas wieners.
The white sign with red Arabic lettering advertises City Grill's new
buffet
service that features Middle Eastern, Italian and typical American
foods -
all halal, or prepared according to Islamic laws governing food, said
grill
owner Adnan "Eddie" Asfour.
Asfour, 48, decided to add a halal buffet when he saw college students
lining up for Middle Eastern take-out food in New York. A Palestinian
who
came to the United States 35 years ago, Asfour said he started the
halal
buffet to offer customers more options - not just Middle-Eastern food.
"To satisfy a customer is hard," said Asfour, who has owned City Grill
for
eight years. "I think the more you add, the better off you are."
Sohail Mohammed, a Clifton attorney who helped draft state guidelines
on
the labeling of halal products, said many non-Muslim consumers have
begun
eating halal for health reasons. One particular aspect of halal that
attracts the health-conscious is the requirement that all blood be
allowed
to drain from an animal when it is slaughtered, Mohammed said.
"I've heard a lot of non-Muslim individuals who have said, 'Gee, that's
good, because a lot of the bacteria that's in the blood if they're
cooked,
they could cause health problems,'" he said.
City Grill chef Naji Shalabi, 40, prepares the Middle Eastern food and
oversees the entire buffet to ensure that it's halal. That means no
pork or
animal blood; that none of the food is prepared on the same surface
used to
cook pork; and no use of alcohol, such as cooking wine. Shalabi buys
all of
the ingredients, and he doesn't buy chicken, lamb or beef from a
butcher
that also sells pork.
Asfour said halal food, particularly the Middle Eastern vegetarian
items,
are an added attraction to anyone looking to eat healthy. It's worked,
he
said - the halal buffet has brought new customers, and not just from
the
Arab and Middle Eastern communities…
ALSO SEE:
PHILADELPHIA MOSQUES TIE WEST AFRICAN MUSLIMS TO FAITH AND COMMUNITY
Stasia Demarco, Voice of America, 2/23/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-02-23-voa30.cfm
The streets of West Philadelphia bustle with shoppers mingling at
African
markets, restaurants, music stores and hair salons. Several times a
week,
residents crowd into the half-dozen or so mosques set up in otherwise
non-descript row homes on tree-lined side streets. For the several
thousand
West African Muslims in this city that is home to more than 55,000
Africans, the mosque is the place where they can stay connected - not
just
to their religion, but to their culture and identity.
Imam Yusef Doumbouya moved to Philadelphia from Ivory Coast two years
ago,
when another Ivorian Imam asked him to help guide a growing
congregation
that numbered more than 500. "They figured out that we have a lot of
African Muslims here in Philadelphia, so they figured out they needed
two
Imams not only one Imam." When he arrived, though, he realized
Philadelphia's Muslims needed religious education in addition to
religious
guidance. Many of those from Ivory Coast, Senegal and other Francophone
countries still spoke mostly French, and without English they had
difficulty connecting with other Americans including other African
immigrants. Imam Doumbouya also recognized that the language barrier
hindered their understanding and practice of Islam. So he began
offering
weekly religion classes in French and Arabic, weeknights for adults and
on
Saturday for children.
Imam Doumbouya's emphasis on teaching the basic tenets of Islam to his
congregation is shared by other West African imams in the community.
Liberian Imam Sheikh Abubakar Sheriff, who has lived in Philadelphia
for 10
years, said their priority is "to educate them, to engage them … so
people
can be 'Islamically-sound.'" He said he was amazed to learn how many in
his
congregation of more than 400 West Africans and Black Americans did not
know how to correctly practice the rituals of Islam. "A lot of people,
they just don't know their religion yet," he says, shaking his head
sadly.
"They don't know the practices. They don't know how to make the Salat.
They
don't know how to fast correctly. They don't know how to go to Hajj
correctly. They don't know how to believe in the oneness of Allah."
Imam
Sheriff uses his weekly sermons to teach what he thinks his congregants
should know...
-----
PENTAGON PROBES RAPE CHARGE VS. SOLDIER
Associated Press, 2/23/05
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050223/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_us_rape_allegation
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon (news - web sites) is investigating an
allegation
that a U.S. soldier raped an Iraqi female prisoner while she was in
U.S.
military custody, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Tuesday.
The allegation has not yet been substantiated, he said. He gave no
details.
Another rape allegation against a U.S. soldier by an Iraqi woman was
dismissed for lack of evidence, Whitman said.
They are the only two rape allegations that have been made against U.S.
troops by Iraqi women, the spokesman said.
During testimony last week on Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Donald H.
Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
were pressed for information about rape allegations against U.S. forces
in
Iraq. Rumsfeld promised to look into the matter and report his
findings.
ALSO SEE:
IRAQI WOMEN NO BETTER OFF POST-SADDAM - AMNESTY
Jeremy Lovell, Reuters, 2/22/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21687827.htm
LONDON - Nearly two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, women
there
are no better off than under the rule of ousted dictator Saddam
Hussein,
the human rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday.
In a report entitled "Iraq -- Decades of Suffering," it said that while
the
systematic repression under Saddam had ended, it had been replaced by
increased murders, and sexual abuse -- including by U.S. forces.
Washington promised that the overthrow of Saddam would free the Iraqi
people from years of oppression and set them on the road to democracy.
But
Amnesty said post-war insecurity had left women at risk of violence and
curtailed their freedoms.
"The lawlessness and increased killings, abductions and rapes that
followed
the overthrow of the government of Saddam Hussein have restricted
women's
freedom of movement and their ability to go to school or to work,"
Amnesty
said.
"Women have been subjected to sexual threats by members of the U.S.-led
forces and some women detained by U.S. forces have been sexually
abused,
possibly raped," it added.
Amnesty said several women detained by U.S. troops had spoken in
interviews
with them of beatings, threats of rape, humiliating treatment and long
periods of solitary confinement...
-----
FRENCH MUSLIM GRAVES DESECRATED WITH NAZI SLOGANS
Reuters, 2/23/05
LILLE, France, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Vandals have desecrated four Muslim
graves in a cemetery in northern France, painting a swastika on one and
the
words "Adolf Hitler" on three others, police said on Wednesday. Dalil
Boubakeur, who heads the French Council of the Muslim Faith and the
Grand
Mosque in Paris, denounced the attack as a "disgraceful profanation"
and
urged the authorities to track down those responsible and punish them
severely.
"The Grand Mosque of Paris condemns very strongly this attack on the
dignity of the Muslim faith," Boubakeur said in a statement.
The desecration in a suburb of the northern city of Lille was the
latest in
a series of attacks on Muslim, Jewish and Christian property in France.
On Monday, Muslim officials at the Grand Mosque in Paris found a dozen
swastikas and the SS initials of Adolf Hitler's guard daubed in black
paint
over its outer wall, Boubakeur said.
-----
WORLD CHRISTIAN BODY BACKS DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAEL
Tom Heneghan, Reuters, 2/23/05
PARIS - The World Council of Churches (WCC), the main global body
uniting
non-Catholic Christians, has encouraged members to sell off investments
in
companies profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinian
territories.
The Council's Central Committee, meeting in Geneva, praised the
Presbyterian Church (USA) for examining the possibility of divestment
in
Israel similar to the financial boycott it used against the apartheid
regime in South Africa two decades ago.
The Presbyterian threat, which echoes divestment debates at some U.S.
universities, has set off a wave of dissent in the church and angered
American Jewish leaders.
But the Central Committee, in a document approved at a week-long
meeting at
WCC headquarters that ended on Tuesday, highlighted the divestment push
and
encouraged other member churches to consider doing the same.
"This action is commendable in both method and manner, uses criteria
rooted
in faith and calls members to do the 'things that make for peace'," it
declared, quoting St Luke's Gospel.
"Economic pressure, appropriately and openly applied, is one such means
of
action."
It was not clear how many of the WCC's 342 Protestant and Orthodox
member
churches would heed the call…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/24/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD
* CAIR-HOUSTON CONDEMNS ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS
- Bassiouni, Yee to Speak at CAIR-Chicago Dinner
* MA: MUSLIM LEADER SUES TV STATION FOR DEFAMATION (BGlobe)
* ND: JUVENILES THROW ROCK THROUGH MOSQUE WINDOW (Forum)
- IL: Religious Leaders Decry Taxi Attacks (Chicago Trib)
* MODI SPEECH AT FL CONVENTION DRAWS CRITICISM (Sun-Sentinel)
- DOS Asked to Block Entry of Gujarat Massacre Figure (CAIR)
* THE CASE OF AHMED OMAR ABU ALI (NY Times)
- Unveiling a Terrorism Case (Wash Post)
- Accomplice in Assassination Plot Died in 2003 (NYT)
- U.S. and Mr. Abu Ali (Balt Sun)
* TORTURE: THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN HUMAN RIGHTS, GOVT
- Congress Dozes While Detainees are Tortured (VV)
* NO CHARGES IN UNARMED IRAQI DEATH (CBS)
* MUSLIM GROUPS ADDRESS GENDER DISCRIMINATION (Boston Globe)
- Muslim Women Fight for Equal Treatment in the Mosque
- MA: Wearing Hijab Makes You No Less American (Crimson)
- VA: Professor Traces Rights in Islamic Law (W&M News)
* WA: AMANA FUNDS INVESTS ACCORDING TO ISLAM (Seattle Times)
* EUROPE'S RISING CLASS OF BELIEVERS: MUSLIMS (CSM)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD
"Those who are patient, seek the pleasure of their Lord, establish
regular
prayers, spend secretly and openly out of the sustenance that We have
provided for them, and repel evil with good - they are the ones for
whom
there is a home in the hereafter."
The Holy Quran, 13:22
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON CONDEMNS ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS
(HOUSTON, TX, 2/24/05) - The Houston office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today condemned a recent rash
of
anti-Semitic incidents in that city.
SEE: "Rash of Anti-Semitic Vandalism and Threats"
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3054025
CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway said:
"Americans must work together to counter hate in all its
manifestations,
including the disturbing rise in anti-Semitic incidents targeting the
Houston Jewish community. People of all faiths in Houston and
throughout
Texas must come together to send the message that we will not tolerate
bias
or intimidation against any of our neighbors."
Galloway added that those who threaten one minority group usually
represent
a threat to all minorities. He said there have been a number of similar
incidents targeting Muslims in Texas.
In response to anti-Muslim incidents nationwide, 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 Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Iesa Galloway, 713-838-2247, 832-656-0449, E-Mail:
info@cairhouston.org
SEE ALSO:
BASSIOUNI, YEE TO SPEAK AT CAIR-CHICAGO DINNER
WHAT: On Saturday, February 26, the Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations will hold its annual dinner with keynote
speakers Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni and former military chaplain
James Yee.
WHEN: Saturday, February 26, 2005
Reception 6:30 pm - Dinner 7:30 pm
WHERE: he Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, 300 W. Highridge Rd.
Tickets: $30. RSVP at http://www.cairchicago.org/rsvp2005.php
-----
ISLAMIC LEADER SUES WFXT FOR DEFAMATION
Mark Jurkowitz, Boston Globe, 2/24/05
http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2005/02/24/islamic_leader_sues_wfxt_for_defamation/
The chairman of the board of the Islamic Society of Boston filed a
defamation suit yesterday against WFXT-TV (Channel 25), claiming that
an
investigative report identifying him as a member of a terrorist group
is
part of a pattern of anti-Muslim bias in the media.
The suit, filed in Suffolk Superior court by Dr. Yousef Abou-Allaban,
41, a
Syrian-born psychiatrist who is a US citizen, alleges that he was
defamed
by a November 2004 story and promotional spots describing him as a
member
of the Muslim Brotherhood, a violent terrorist group with links to Al
Qaeda, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas.
The suit names Channel 25, its parent company, Fox Television Stations
Inc., reporter Michael Beaudet, and producer Jonathan Wells as
defendants.
"I felt I was victimized," Abou-Allaban said in an interview. "There
have
been many people in the Muslim community who have been demonized and
lost
their businesses. I felt my reputation had been tarnished. . . . I felt
I
became a walking criminal associated with a criminal like Osama bin
Laden."
Abou-Allaban said he began to recognize the potential impact of the
story
when a longtime patient told him: "I never expected you to be an Al
Qaeda
member."
A spokeswoman for WFXT said the station had not seen the suit, and
refused
comment. Wells and Beaudet also declined comment. A spokeswoman for Fox
Television Stations Inc. said she could not talk about a pending
lawsuit.
In the suit, the plaintiff says that the sole source for the assertion
that
Abou-Allaban is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood is Dr. Ahmed Elkadi,
a
man "purported to have been the president of the Muslim Brotherhood in
the
United States prior to 1995," and who "is totally and permanently
disabled"
and whose "neurological status is that of severe impairment..."
Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
a Washington-based nonprofit group that works to enhance the image of
Islam, said the portrayal of Muslims in the media "is definitely an
issue
of rising concern for us," after the Sept. 11 attacks.
In January, CAIR officials met with Fox broadcast network officials to
express concern about a plot in the "24" antiterrorism drama series
that
featured a Muslim family as a sleeper cell. After that meeting, "24"
star
Keifer Sutherland, delivered an on-air disclaimer saying: "While
terrorism
is obviously one of the most critical challenges facing our nation and
the
world, it is important to recognize that the American Muslim community
stands firmly beside their fellow Americans…"
------
ND: JUVENILES THROW ROCK THROUGH MOSQUE WINDOW
Forum, 2/24/05
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=84148§ion=News
Two 15-year-old boys have been referred to juvenile court after a rock
was
thrown through a window at Fargo's mosque.
Police were dispatched to the mosque, 2102 6th Ave. S., at 9:40 p.m.
Saturday.
Officers followed footprints in the snow to a home where they
interviewed
the teenagers, Sgt. Wayne Jorgenson said.
A meeting was being held at the mosque when the vandalism occurred,
said
Mohammed Fakhr, president of the Islamic Society of Fargo-Moorhead.
He described the rock as a third of a brick, and said it damaged a wall
in
the bathroom after coming through the window.
A member of the mosque was in the bathroom when the rock was thrown,
Fakhr
said. He wasn't injured.
"Twenty seconds earlier, he probably would have been hit," Fakhr said.
In October, vandals smeared feces on the door of the mosque, sticking
toilet paper to it and spitting tobacco juice on the doorknob. Police
did
not find the person responsible for that incident, Fakhr said.
At the time, Fakhr thought the incident was isolated. Now, he feels the
mosque has been targeted.
While the Fargo community is supportive, he said the Muslim community
is a
little shaken by the incident.
ALSO SEE:
RELIGIOUS LEADERS DECRY TAXI ATTACKS
Oscar Avila, Chicago Tribune, 2/23/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050223taxi,1,99896.story
Spurred by the death of a Pakistani cab driver this month in an
apparent
dispute over a fare, religious leaders today urged Chicagoans to end
the
"culture of disrespect" against taxi drivers that they say results in
abuse
and violence.
Meeting at the Downtown Islamic Center, an interfaith coalition said
Haroon
Paryani's death showed city officials must do more to protect and
empower
taxi drivers, many of whom are immigrants.
Paryani was run over several times by his own taxi Feb. 4 in what
police
said was a dispute over an $8 fare. Michael L. Jackson, a city health
official, was charged in the case. Jackson's attorneys contend their
client
acted in self-defense after a confrontation with Paryani.
The religious leaders, including representatives of groups that promote
labor rights, urged the city to compile and release detailed data about
violence against, and abusive treatment of, taxi drivers.
"It is sad that blood has to be spilled in this city in order for us to
recognize the value of these people that serve us everyday," said Rev.
Kazi
Joshua, a board member with the National Interfaith Committee for
Workers
Justice.
The Council of Islamic Organizations plans to organize English classes
for
taxi drivers and workshops on conflict management for dealing with
angry
and drunk customers, council Chairman Abdul Malik Mujahid said…
-----
INDIAN MINISTER'S SPEECH AT FORT LAUDERDALE CONVENTION DRAWS CRITICISM
Ruth Morris, Sun-Sentinel, 2/24/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-chotel24feb24,0,5976703.story
Human rights groups criticize chief minister of an Indian state.
The Asian-American Hotel Owners Association on Wednesday refused to
withdraw its invitation to controversial Indian statesman Narendra Modi
to
speak at a Fort Lauderdale hospitality conference next month.
In a brewing debate imported from a far-flung Indian state and imbued
with
ethnic tensions, the association is coming under increasing pressure to
cancel Modi's visit as guest speaker at the group's annual convention,
running from March 24- 26. Human rights monitors charge that Modi,
chief
minister of the western Gujarat state, turned a blind eye in 2002 as
Hindu
nationalists rampaged against Muslims and that his government later
obstructed investigations into the atrocity.
Almost all the 9,700 members of the Asian-American Hotel Owners
Association
also hail from Gujarat.
Speaking by phone from the association's Atlanta headquarters,
President
Fred Schwartz said the group was standing by its decision to bring Modi
to
the conference.
"We invited him from a business perspective, to discuss investing in
Gujarat ... regarding infrastructure and the socio-economic situation,"
Schwartz said.
Asked about allegations that the association was being influenced by an
exclusivist agenda of Hindu operatives based in Gujarat, he said, "We
recognize the concerns over the tragic events that took place in
Gujarat in
2002," but, "We're a business group. We're not a political group."
Opposition to Modi's visit centers on his role in a massacre that was
sparked in late February 2002, when attackers set fire to two train
cars
carrying Hindu activists in the town of Godhra. Fifty-eight people died
in
the blaze, many of them women and children.
In the days that followed, Hindu nationalists rampaged through the
state
capital and then into outlying villages. Seeking revenge, they left a
trail
of corpses, burned businesses and razed mosques. Washington-based Human
Rights Watch put the death count near 2,000, mostly Muslims, and
reported
that Muslim girls and women were raped and mutilated in Gujarat before
being killed.
Human rights monitors also have accused the state government of failing
to
prevent the violence, and even encouraging it. In the aftermath, Modi
was
reported to have claimed that Gujarat's largely Hindu population had
"shown
remarkable restraint under grave provocation."
Among those opposing Modi's visit is the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, which wrote a letter Wednesday to Secretary
of
State Condoleezza Rice asking the White House to deny U.S. entry to
Modi…
SEE ALSO:
ASK STATE DEPT. TO BLOCK ENTRY OF GUJARAT MASSACRE FIGURE
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=220&theType=AA
-----
THE CASE OF AHMED OMAR ABU ALI
New York Times, 2/24/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/opinion/24thu2.html
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, the American citizen accused of plotting with Al
Qaeda
to assassinate President Bush, will have his guilt judged in an
American
court. What we can say now is that his case seems to be another
demonstration of what has gone wrong in the federal war on terror.
Mr. Abu Ali, 23, was arrested by Saudi officials in a crackdown after
terrorist bombings in Riyadh in 2003. But the Saudis have never shown
much
interest in actually charging him with a crime. His parents claimed
that he
was being held at the behest of the United States, and sued in court to
get
him returned to this country. A federal judge has said that "there has
been
at least some circumstantial evidence that Abu Ali has been tortured
during
interrogations with the knowledge of the United States."
The Justice Department says Mr. Abu Ali, who went to Saudi Arabia to
continue his religious studies, got Al Qaeda training and money from
terrorist associates to buy a laptop computer and books. The indictment
also says Mr. Abu Ali talked about assassinating Mr. Bush either by
getting
"close enough to the president to shoot him on the street" or figuring
out
a way to kill him with a car bomb.
If the Justice Department believed that Mr. Abu Ali was a serious
terrorist, he should have been brought back here long ago for trial.
Instead, he became part of an unknown number of prisoners who were
swept up
by American officials or foreign governments working with Americans and
questioned in the wake of Sept. 11. Many were then held indefinitely
and,
in some cases, tortured in hopes that they would provide information.
The civil liberties issues have always been evident, but now the
practical
consequences are becoming clearer as well.
In an undisciplined attempt to wring statements out of any conceivable
suspect, American officials have worked with countries like Saudi
Arabia, a
nation whose attitude toward human rights is deplorable, and Syria,
which
is counted by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism. And now these
officials are faced with the problem of what to do with these
prisoners,
most of whom have proved to be no use to interrogators, but who remain
on
America's conscience.
ALSO SEE:
UNVEILING A TERRORISM CASE
Washington Post, 2/24/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48689-2005Feb23.html
Mr. Abu Ali's indictment remedies one disturbing feature of his case:
He is
no longer being held without charge by a regime with little regard for
human rights, but by his own government under an indictment that must
be
proven in a court of law. If U.S. officials played an improper role in
initiating or sustaining his detention, a judicial forum now exists in
which to air those allegations. His case can be adjudicated in the
regular
order, without the alarming secrecy the Bush administration has
employed to
date…
Moreover, even as Mr. Abu Ali's indictment solves one problem, it
potentially creates another. Mr. Abu Ali has alleged that he was
tortured
by the Saudis; federal prosecutors denied this claim yesterday, but,
according to Post staff writers Jerry Markon and Steve Coll, Saudi
security
officials confirmed the use of some physical and psychological pressure
tactics. An examination of the indictment does not reveal what
evidence, if
any, was gleaned directly or indirectly from coerced statements. But
the
timing of the indictment, nearly two years after the arrest, suggests
that
U.S. authorities may be relying on evidence provided by the Saudis.
This is
not necessarily inappropriate. But the courts need to ensure that no
evidence obtained by torture -- with or without the connivance of the
U.S.
government -- is used to convict people in U.S. courts.
---
PROSECUTORS SAY ACCOMPLICE IN ASSASSINATION PLOT DIED IN 2003 SHOOTOUT
Eric Lictblau and Neela Banerjee, New York Times, 2/24/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/national/24terror.html
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 - A suspected member of Al Qaeda who prosecutors
say
once talked with Ahmed Omar Abu Ali about assassinating President Bush
was
killed by Saudi authorities in a shootout 17 months ago, the Justice
Department disclosed on Wednesday.
The disclosure that a potential witness in the case is dead could
complicate the prosecution of Mr. Abu Ali on terrorism charges in an
indictment against him that was unsealed in Virginia on Tuesday.
It came as prosecutors called Mr. Abu Ali a danger to society and urged
that he be held without bail.
The discussions in Saudi Arabia about killing Mr. Bush were used in the
indictment of Mr. Abu Ali, an American who had traveled there to study.
He
was arrested there in 2003 and was held there without charges until
this week.
''It now turns out the only other witness to these supposed
conversations
about killing the president is dead, and that raises questions about
how
the government is going to prove its case,'' said Edward B. MacMahon
Jr., a
lawyer for Mr. Abu Ali. ''I think they've got a problem…''
---
THE U.S. AND MR. ABU ALI
Baltimore Sun, 2/24/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.saudi24feb24,1,1953530.story
BY UNSEALING a federal indictment against Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, the U.S.
government garnered headlines about an alleged terrorist plot, instead
of
the unexplained imprisonment of an American citizen in Saudi Arabia. By
producing the 23-year-old Islamic student in a federal court in
Virginia on
charges he conspired to kill the president, it portrayed Mr. Abu Ali
has
someone other than a victim of torture. The government may think its
secret
is safe. But it isn't.
The detention of Mr. Abu Ali by the Saudis needs a full airing. A
lawsuit
filed by Mr. Abu Ali's parents to win his release charged that his
imprisonment was at the behest of the U.S. government. But more
disturbing
is the allegation that the young man was tortured and the United States
government knew about it. That would suggest the Abu Ali case is a
variation on a U.S. policy known as "extraordinary rendition." The
policy
basically allows for the contracting out of interrogation of terror
suspects to allies whose methods would be illegal here. In other words,
torture…
-----
IN THE WAR ON TERROR, ISSUES SUCH AS TORTURE ILLUSTRATE THE DISCONNECT
BETWEEN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
Adam Foxman, Daily Bruin, 2/23/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=32154
Since the release of photos in April 2004 of detainees being tortured
by
U.S. troops at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, international human
rights
groups have criticized what they say is the Bush administration's
inadequate response to evidence of torture at U.S.-run prisons abroad.
At recent meetings of the board of Human Rights Watch, there has been
"a
lot of unhappiness" about the Pentagon's refusal to submit to scrutiny,
said Khaled Abou el Fadl, a UCLA law professor and a member of the
board of
Human Rights Watch.
Also a presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom and a scholar of Islamic law, Abou el Fadl said human
rights organizations are frustrated by the administration's insistence
on
investigating allegations of torture by U.S. soldiers internally.
Spokesmen for the Bush administration maintain that the government has
many
of the same objectives as human rights groups, and say all allegations
of
abuse are investigated.
This disagreement is indicative of the stark disconnect that exists
between
human rights organizations and the current administration.
The Department of Defense says internal investigations and prosecutions
show it is committed to preventing torture and poor treatment of
prisoners,
but human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human
Rights
Watch and Physicians for Human Rights continue to level sharp
criticisms at
the Pentagon.
Human rights groups allege that the use of torture by U.S.
interrogators
was widespread at the detention centers in Guant�namo Bay, Abu Ghraib
and
others. And new allegations of abuse continue to surface. The British
newspaper The Guardian published an article Feb. 18 which alleged -
based
on documents from U.S. military investigations - that there is evidence
of
torture and rape of detainees by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and of a
subsequent cover-up.
ALSO SEE:
CONGRESS DOZES WHILE DETAINEES ARE SENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO BE
TORTURED
Nat Hentoff, Village Voice, 2/22/05
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0508,hentoff,61345,6.html
For three years, there have been sporadic reports in some of the media,
including this column, of the CIA's sending detainees (prisoners
without
charges or lawyers) to countries (among them are Egypt, Syria,
Pakistan,
Jordan, Morocco, and Uzbekistan) where the CIA knows they will be
tortured
to extract information the CIA can't dig out of them.
The Washington Post has done the most revealing investigative
reporting,
along with furious editorials, on this brutal form of kidnapping. And
in
these columns, I have tried to add to the story from other sources:
human
rights organizations and reporters around the world. In the February 11
New
York Times, Bob Herbert put these actions by our government-in flagrant
violation of American and international law-plainly:
"Jettisoning the rule of law to permit such acts of evil as kidnapping
and
torture is not a defensible policy for a civilized nation. It's wrong.
And
nothing good can come from it."
Now, in the February 14 New Yorker, there is a long, detailed, clearly
documented story, "Outsourcing Torture"-the most important piece run by
The
New Yorker since John Hersey's internationally resounding essay on what
we
did to Hiroshima in Japan with the first atomic bomb ever used in
warfare.
This report by Jane Mayer should be read by every member of Congress,
which
has yet to conduct a substantive investigation-with subpoena
powers-into
these horrific practices. There's talk of only a cursory "review." Much
more is needed. The extraditions are so secret that even the 9-11
Commission members were not allowed to ask questions about these
"extraordinary renditions," as the CIA bureaucratically calls them…
------
NO CHARGES IN UNARMED IRAQI DEATH
CBS, 2/23/05
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/23/eveningnews/main676101.shtml
It was a striking -- some said chilling -- moment in the battle for
Iraq,
captured on videotape: a wounded, un-armed Iraqi, shot to death by a
U.S.
Marine.
CBS News has learned that military investigators conclude there is not
enough evidence to formally charge that Marine.
As CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports, it happened during
the
bloody fight for Fallujah last fall. The Marines were engaged in bitter
house-to-house combat with dug-in enemy fighters.
When Marines ran into a mosque seeking the source of insurgent fire,
they
found several Iraqis wrapped in blankets.
One Marine thought he saw one of them move.
Marine: "He's F***ing faking he's dead."
Second Marine: "And he's breathing."
Marine: "He's faking he's f***ing dead!"
Navy investigators have concluded what happened next may have been
justified in the heat of battle.
In a moment too graphic to show, one of the Americans fired.
"He's dead now."
The insurgents, it turned out, were unarmed -- but investigators say
the
Iraqi the Marine thought he saw moving could have been going for a
weapon.
At the very least, Navy legal experts believe the situation is
ambiguous
enough that no prosecutor could get a conviction.
The original video added to popular anger over the Fallujah crackdown.
Many
Iraqis felt Fallujah's unarmed civilians bore the brunt of the U.S.
campaign…
-----
MUSLIM GROUPS ADDRESS GENDER DISCRIMINATION
Vanessa E. Jones, Boston Globe, 2/24/05
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/02/24/forum_for_change/
Here's what some national Muslim organizations are doing to address the
issue of gender discrimination in mosques:
ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
One of the subjects this organization's Leadership Development Center
tackles in its upcoming brochure ''Guidelines for Best Practices of
Islamic
Centers" is women's rights.
''Our intention," says Ingrid Mattson, vice president of the ISNA, ''is
ultimately to try to get as many mosques as possible to . . . commit to
these best practices and maybe even identify a few communities that are
model communities and maybe publicize how they dealt with it."
Mattson emphasizes that suggesting change and making change are two
different things.
''The thing with our organization," says Mattson, ''[is] we're not in a
position to give orders or directives to communities. That's not what
we're
interested in. What we do want to do is educate the community and try
to
establish goals and standards and get communities to plan for their
growth
and development. What do they want to look like and be in this
society?..."
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS
This organization will release a brochure for mosque leaders on how to
create ''a sister-friendly environment," says spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
It
will be based on the work of Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic
Social Services Association in Canada, who's at the forefront of the
push
in North America for Muslim women's rights.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM WOMEN ARE FIGHTING FOR EQUAL TREATMENT IN THE MOSQUE
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/02/24/let_us_pray_together/
---
SONN TRACES RIGHTS IN ISLAMIC LAW
http://www.wm.edu/news/index.php?id=4309
Though often misrepresented and misunderstood in the West, Islamic law
has
always contained elements of human rights. The very concept of
essential
rights for all members of the community can be traced back to the
origins
of Islamic law, Tamara Sonn, the College's Kenan Professor of
Humanities in
the department of religious studies, said in a recent lecture at the
Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
"The reality remains that those Muslims who are joining with people of
all
traditions in the search for justice and universal human rights have a
fertile source for supporting arguments in their own classical legal
traditions," Sonn said.
---
WEARING A HIJAB MAKES YOU NO LESS AMERICAN
Hebah M. Ismail, The Crimson, 2/24/05
http://www.thecrimson.com/today/article505951.html
"Go back where you came from!"
Growing up, I had heard this phrase yelled at me so many times that it
shook my faith in being an American. Sometimes I had trouble believing
I
was really from the United States, born and bred in New Jersey.
After Sept. 11th, I heard renewed demands that I would be better off at
"home," and that I should return there at once. The irony of it all was
that most of the yells were almost indiscernible due to thick immigrant
accents. From my perspective, I thought I was already home.
But all this I could forgive. It was only natural that people who feel
hopeless in the presence of so much loss and suffering would need a way
to
vent. And I was an easy target. If yelling at me, a Muslim clad in a
hijab
(an Islamic head scarf), to "go back home" helped people deal with
their
loss, then by all means, let them yell until their throats got hoarse.
By
that time, I knew full well that I was an American. A few people
yelling at
me furtively before I could see their faces was not enough for me to
question my identity.
And while all the anonymous "recommendations" did not faze me, one
completely casual exchange with a high school teacher did.
During my senior year of high school, a teacher I had known for four
years
asked me off-hand where I had learned my English. He was so impressed
that
I managed to rid myself of all traces of an Arab accent. After an
awkward
pause, as it slowly dawned on me that no, he was not joking, and yes,
he
really thought I was an immigrant, I had to explain to him that I had
been
born 10 minutes away from the school building. The reason my English
was so
accent-less was because I really was an American, even with my hijab
on.
Do many people refuse to believe that I cannot be an American simply
because I wear a hijab? Sadly, the answer is yes. And I'm not alone.
There are an estimated 7 million Muslims in America of varying ethnic
backgrounds. American Muslims can be found in all 50 states, in every
walk
of life. Many of the women wear hijabs, garb that has attracted a lot
of
attention, and some of it negative. In 2002, it was estimated that 13
percent of reported discrimination incidents against Muslims involved a
woman in hijab…
-----
AMANA FUNDS INVESTS ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES
Melissa Allison, Seattle Times, 2/24/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002188513_amana24.html
State employee Shaheed Nuriddin and his wife, Fatima Mbarki, are
investing
for the college education of daughter Hanan Nuriddin, 4, using the
Amana
Funds, a Bellingham-based mutual-funds group that follows Islamic
principles in its investment philosophy.
They are forbidden - or haram - stocks for the Amana Funds, an $81
million-asset mutual-fund family in Bellingham that invests according
to
Islamic principles.
The funds stay away from alcohol, pornography, tobacco and gambling,
just
as observant Muslims do in their personal lives.
For many Muslims, U.S. banks fall into the same category, because
Islamic
law forbids borrowing or lending money with interest.
Investing in insurance companies is also off limits, because insurers
invest in debt instruments like bonds. Even companies with too much
debt
are forbidden investments.
Since launching a marketing campaign in 2001, the Amana Funds has more
than
doubled in assets, catering to people who have few choices for
investing in
a financial system not geared to their beliefs concerning what is
halal, or
permissible…
-----
EUROPE'S RISING CLASS OF BELIEVERS: MUSLIMS
Peter Ford, Christian Science Monitor, 2/24/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0224/p10s01-woeu.html
PARIS - As the three young North African women talked about their
Muslim
faith at a cafe here one recent evening, they could not help noticing
how
patrons at the next table were reacting.
One French man leaned so far back in his chair to hear the animated
discussion that he almost joined the group. Suspicion and disapproval
darkened his look.
Nadia Mirad, a psychology student who works at a children's activity
center, knows that look. Last year, she recalled, when she asked for a
day
off to celebrate the end of the annual Ramadan fast, her boss exploded.
"She said I was being unprofessional," Ms. Mirad explained, sipping a
Coke.
"She said the world didn't stop turning just for a Muslim holiday. I'm
French, but I felt I was not a full French citizen at that moment. I
really
did not feel at home."
Her two student friends, both of them also born and raised in France,
nodded in sympathy. "We feel as French as France will let us feel,"
said
Boutha�na Gargouri. "But it's true, I can't live my religion fully
here."
None of them, for example, wears a head scarf, though they all say they
would like to do so one day. Making such a visible show of their
religion,
however, would make it almost impossible for them to get a job, they
agreed.
"I can't afford to put up barriers to what I want to be," said Le�la
Bouste�la, who hopes to become an interpreter for deaf mutes.
Religion's place in public life has shot to the top of the agenda in
France, and in the rest of Europe, for one reason: Islam, and the
growing
millions of people on the Continent who practice it.
Shocked by the discovery of Islamic terrorist networks on their soil,
Europeans have suddenly woken up to the existence of an often
marginalized
Muslim minority that takes religion more seriously than they do.
Today, the relationship between native Europeans and their Muslim
neighbors
is fraught with tension. Mistrust on both sides threatens to explode
into
violence. Late last year, arsonists destroyed two mosques and a Muslim
school in the Netherlands after an Islamic radical there was arrested
for
murdering filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who had criticized Muslim treatment
of
women…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/25/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* CAIR-OH: SECRET SEARCHES VIOLATE RIGHTS (Plain Dealer)
- CAIR-CAN: Strange Legal Logic (Globe and Mail)
- CAIR-NY to Hold Annual Banquet
- CAIR-NJ Holds Leadership Training Workshop
- CAIR-FL Meets with Foreign Journalists
* CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN BELGIUM
- View Photo of Alleged Con Artist
* DANIEL PIPES PLANS 'ISLAMIC' INSTITUTE (IPS)
* IL: HATE MAIL TARGETS DEAD TEENS' FAMILIES (Chicago Trib)
- IL: Racist Letter Spurs Outrage (Daily Southtown)
* CA: MUSLIMS REALIZE DREAM OF ISLAMIC LOANS (USA Today)
* NY: BUS AD INVITES ALL TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM
* AZ: WHAT NEXT…INTERNMENT CAMPS? (Arizona Republic)
* PROTESTS PLANNED FOR IRAQ WAR ANNIVERSARY (IPS)
- Israel Plans 6K W. Bank Settlement Homes (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God will say on the Day
of
Resurrection, 'Where are those who have mutual love for My (sake)?
Today I
shall shelter them in My shadow.'"
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1169
-----
CAIR-CLEVELAND: SECRET SEARCHES VIOLATE RIGHTS OF LOCAL MUSLIMS
Julia A. Shearson, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/24/05
http://www.cleveland.com/lorain/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1109241136221150.xml
Americans want their government to investigate unlawful conduct, but we
expect investigations to stay within constitutional limits. When an
affidavit used as the basis of a search is sealed, the public cannot
know
if the search is overly broad or if the seized items are beyond the
scope
of the warrant.
After a truckload of computers and documents were carted away, the
government left a parting gift: a list of clients whose files had been
"sneaked and peeked at" five months earlier. Now that we know, we can
invoke our rights. That is, if the Fourth Amendment right against
unreasonable searches and seizures is still the law of the land.
[Shearson is director of the Cleveland office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.]
CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN: STRANGE LEGAL LOGIC
Abdurahman Salman, Globe and Mail, 2/25/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050225/LETTERS25-12/TPComment/?query=Strange+legal+logic+
Two recent Globe and Mail editorials defend the use of
national-security
certificates in Canada.
The Feb 19 editorial (The Release On Bail Of Adil Charkaoui) questioned
Mr.
Justice Simon No�l's recent decision in granting bail to Adil
Charkaoui,
one of five Muslim non-citizens who have waited a combined total of
more
than 176 months in jail under the security-certificate process.
Two days later you asserted that Canada should take up the case of Omar
Khadr (Omar Khadr Should Be Given Due Process - Feb. 21). You call on
our
government to press for due process, yet fall short in assessing
Canada's
own record in applying it.
In listing the choices available to Canada in dealing with suspects who
are
non-citizens, The Globe seems to waver on the importance of due
process.
The suggestion that due process can allow indefinite detention of
suspects
is one that contradicts the basics of Canadian and international law,
such
as the right to an open trial and the right to see the evidence against
you
- all of which are absent in the security-certificate process as well
as at
Guantanamo Bay.
Jailing non-citizens under security certificates in Canada is a flawed
process and equally as repugnant as holding Mr. Khadr and others at
Guantanamo Bay. They both disregard the most basic principles of law as
we
know it.
[Abdurahman Salman is the communications director, Canadian Council on
American-Islamic Relations.]
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-NY TO HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET
On Saturday, April 16, the New York office of the Council on American
Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) will hold its annual fundraising banquet
and
awards ceremony.
WHEN: Saturday, April 16th, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: LaGuardia Marriott, 102-05 Ditmars Boulevard, East Elmhurst, New
York
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr, (212) 870.2002,
E-Mail:
CAIRNYbanquet@aol.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-NJ LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP
WHAT: Are Leaders Born or Made? Management vs. Leadership, which is
more
important? How to influence People? Please attend CAIR's Leadership
Factory
workshop for answers that are both Islamic and beneficial.
WHEN: 7 pm, Sunday, 3/5/05
WHERE: Islamic Center Of Passaic County, 152 Derrom Avenue, Paterson,
NJ,
(973) 278-7070 X 15
For more information, visit:
http://www.cair-nj.org/events/Leadership%20Factory-ICPC.pdf
---
CAIR-FL MEETS WITH FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
(JACKSONVILLE, FL, 2/25/05) - A representative of the Florida office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) met yesterday with a
group
of foreign journalists sponsored by the International Visitors Corp of
Jacksonville Journalists and the State Department.
The journalists are in the United States to discuss foreign policy and
counterterrorism issues. Nations represented at the meeting, hosted by
the
University of North Florida's Institute of Government, included the
Czech
Republic, Malaysia and Nigeria.
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org; Altaf Ali
954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org
-----
CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN BELGIUM
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
is
warning Muslims in Europe and elsewhere about a con artist who seeks
money
by impersonating well-known personalities in the Muslim world. (Muslims
in
the United States and Canada have also been targeted recently.)
The con artist calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with a
respected Islamic institution. He claims that he and others are coming
to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport and asks for emergency cash to be wired to
him
at Western Union or a similar facility.
A person using this same con game was arrested in Canada two years ago
(see
article below), but was later released. NOTE: The impostor may use many
variations of this scam.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please ANNOUNCE AT JUMA'A and other functions - several hundred
Muslims
have been targeted in the past.
2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming to be stranded in an airport.
3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, the local office of the FBI (ask
for
a fraud investigator) and to local police. Obtain a copy of the
complaint.
4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer
documents to CAIR so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX:
202-488-0833)
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE THE FOLLOWING CAIR ALERT:
CON-ARTIST WHO DEFRAUDED MUSLIMS CAUGHT
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=125&page=AA
TO VIEW A PHOTO OF THE ALLEGED CON ARTIST, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/conartist.pdf
-----
'ANTI-ISLAMIST' CRUSADER PLANTS NEW SEEDS
Jim Lobe, IPS News, 2/25/05
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27615
Despite the apparent decision by President George W. Bush against
re-nominating him to the board of the United States Institute of Peace
(USIP), "anti-Islamist" activist Daniel Pipes is working as diligently
as
ever to protect the United States and the Western world from the
influence
of radical Islamists.
He has proposed the creation of a new Anti-Islamist Institute (AII)
designed to expose legal "political activities" of "Islamists," such as
"prohibiting families from sending pork or pork byproducts to U.S.
soldiers
serving in Iraq," which nonetheless, in his view, serve the interests
of
radical Islam.
"In the long term...the legal activities of Islamists pose as much or
even
a greater set of challenges than the illegal ones," according to the
draft
of a grant proposal by Pipes' Middle East Forum (MEF) obtained by IPS.
Pipes is also working with Stephen Schwartz on a new Center for Islamic
Pluralism (CIP) whose aims are to "promote moderate Islam in the U.S.
and
globally" and "to oppose the influence of militant Islam, and, in
particular, the Saudi-funded Wahhabi sect of Islam, among American
Muslims,
in the America media, in American education…and with U.S. governmental
bodies…"
The CIP proposal, which says it expects to receive funding from
contributors in the "American Shia community" and in "Sunni mosques
once
liberated from Wahhabi influence," also boasts "strong links" with
Deputy
Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and other notable neoconservatives,
such
as former Central Intelligence (CIA) director James Woolsey and the
vice
president for foreign policy programming at the American Enterprise
Institute (AEI), Danielle Pletka, as well as with Pipes himself...
Long before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, he
also raised alarms about the immigration of foreign Muslims, suggesting
that they constituted a serious threat to the political clout of U.S.
Jews,
as well as a potential "fifth column" for radical Islamists.
In addition, Pipes has been a fierce opponent of Palestinian
nationalism.
He told Australian television earlier this month, for example, that
Israeli
Prime Minister's Gaza disengagement plan and his agreement to negotiate
with the new Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, were a "mistake"
because
80 percent of the Palestinian population, including Abbas, still favor
Israel's destruction.
In 2002, Pipes launched Campus Watch, a group dedicated to monitoring
and
exposing alleged anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and/or
Islamist bias in teachers of Middle Eastern studies at U.S. colleges
and
universities…
Pipes' nomination by Bush in 2003 to serve as a director on the board
of
the quasi-governmental USIP, a government-funded think tank set up in
1984
to "promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of
international conflicts," moved the controversy over his work from
academia
into the U.S. Senate where such appointments are virtually always
approved
without controversy.
Pipes' nomination, however, offered a striking exception. Backed by
major
Muslim, Arab-American, and several academic groups, Democratic
senators,
led by Edward Kennedy, Christopher Dodd, and Tom Harkin, strongly
opposed
the nomination as inappropriate, particularly in light of some of his
past
writings, including one asserting that that Muslim immigrants were
"brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and not exactly
maintaining
Germanic standards of hygiene."
Several Republican senators subsequently warned Bush that they would
oppose
the nomination if it came to a vote, and, in the end, the president
made a
"recess appointment" that gave him a limited term lasting only until
the
end of 2004. It appears now that, despite the enhanced Republican
majority
in the Senate, Bush does not intend to re-nominate him.
Indeed, both the USIP and Bush now probably regret having nominated him
in
the first place. During his board tenure, Pipes blasted USIP for
hosting a
conference with the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy,
charging
that it employed Muslim "radicals" on its staff.
That accusation was publicly refuted by the USIP itself, which echoed
the
complaints of his longtime critics, accusing him of relying on "quotes
taken out of context, guilt by association, errors of fact, and
innuendo."
AII's goal, it goes on, "is the delegitimation of the Islamists. We
seek to
have them shunned by the government, the media, the churches, the
academy
and the corporate world."
Pipes' complementary goal - to enhance the influence of "moderate"
Muslims
- is to guide the work of Schwartz's CIP, which is "headed by one born
Muslim (its President) and a 'new Muslim', i.e. an American not born in
the
faith, as its Executive Director. This is the best combination for
leading
such an effort..."
In achieving its goal, CIP cites the help it can expect from its
"strong
links" to Wolfowitz, Woolsey, and Pletka; as well as Senators Charles
Schumer and Sen. Jon Kyl, among others, "terrorism experts" Steven
Emerson
of the Investigative Project, Paul Marshall of Freedom House, and Glen
Howard of the Jamestown Foundation; and journalists such as Fox News
anchors David Asman, Brit Hume, and Greta van Susteren, Dale Hurd of
the
Christian Broadcasting Network; and editors at the New York Post, the
Los
Angeles Times, and the Toronto Globe and Mail…
-----
HATE MAIL TARGETS DEAD TEENS' FAMILIES
Chicago Tribune, 2/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050224hatemail,1,5009442.story
Families of two teenagers killed in a car crash involving an off-duty
Chicago police officer were the targets this week of a hate letter
filled
with racial slurs and profanities, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.
"It was designed to intimidate the family from testifying, seeking
damages
in the civil case and from testifying in any criminal case" against the
officer, attorney Robert Fioretti told WGN.
The letter arrived Wednesday morning at the Orland Park home of the
family
of Mohammed Shuaibi, 17. It was addressed to the families of Shuaibi
and
Ahmad Shaban, 16, friends killed earlier this month in the Tinley Park
crash.
Fioretti, who is representing the Shuaibi family, told WGN he has asked
police, the FBI and the offices of the Cook and Will County state's
attorneys to investigate the letter as a hate crime.
The profanity-laced letter is filled with anti-Arab slurs and says in
part,
"You (expletive) don't care about life, only money and greed," and,
"For
your actions you all will serve in hell," WGN reported…
ALSO SEE:
RACIST LETTER SPURS OUTRAGE
William Lee, Daily Southtown, 2/24/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/241syt7.htm
-----
DREAM FULFILLED HELPS MUSLIMS REALIZE THEIRS
Elliot Blair Smith, USA Today, 2/25/05
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/general/2005-02-24-islamic-finance-usat_x.htm
PASADENA, Calif. - On a sunny afternoon, Yahia Abdul-Rahman ignores the
broken air conditioner in his mortgage-finance company's cramped
Southern
California office. Around him, three-dozen employees, some of them
Muslim
women veiled in scarves, toil amid the rising heat and stacks of paper
clutter.
Chief lending officer Syed Rehman, 64, his crumpled white shirt rolled
up
to the elbows, is attempting to close a loan in Urdu, the language of
his
native Pakistan. In English, he complains that his crowded corner,
which he
shares with two assistants, is "boiling."
But the boss, Abdul-Rahman, 60, is as cool as his blue-green eyes. The
CEO
and founder of American Finance House-Lariba already has succeeded in
two
previous careers, as a chemical engineer and financial planner. Now, he
is
creating his legacy in a third: Lariba is among a handful of lenders
that
dominate this country's small but growing $600 million Muslim mortgage
market.
Governed by the Islamic religion's sharia laws, which prohibit earning
or
paying interest on borrowed money, the market is expected to double in
the
next few years as American Muslims with conventional home loans look to
refinance with Islamic products.
Lariba's interest-free mortgages resemble lease-to-own contracts.
Buyers
build equity while paying rent and principal. One difference: Lariba
homeowners immediately take title while the finance company retains a
lien.
Its competitors offer variations.
"We are not run-of-the mill marketing people who find a niche and run
with
it," says Abdul-Rahman, elegantly attired in a dark suit and sleek tie.
"We
are humble servants of the community."
Under Islam's sharia law, which guides moral conduct, interest-bearing
income and debt are considered sinful. But financing may be arranged to
incorporate negotiated profit margins and fees rather than compounded
interest…
-----
BUS AD INVITES ALL TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM
Krista J. Karch, Observer-Dispatch, 2/24/05
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2005/02/24/news/20902.html
UTICA -- It's just one bus in the city's fleet of 33, but the city-wide
route was exactly what Shahid Farooqi was seeking.
Everyone sees the bus, and that means everyone sees the New Hartford
resident's advertisement -- a large poster on the back of the bus,
urging
the pious, the seeking and the just plain curious to go to
www.WhyIslam.org
or call (877) WHY-ISLAM.
There, according to the Web site, "Associates are standing by ..." to
answer any and all queries about one of the world's fastest-growing
faiths.
Drivers stuck behind the bus as it slowly rolls along slush-covered
roads
have little left to do but stare at the star-spangled sign that
advises,
"Misled about Islam? Get the facts."
"Some ask whether Islam promotes terrorism and violence, and some ask
about
women's rights," said Tariq Zamir, one of the hot line's New
Jersey-based
volunteers.
Others ask where they can find a mosque or request copies of the Quran,
the
Muslim holy book. Still others ask to be led in a profession of faith
in
Allah.
Then, Farooqi said, there are those who call just to let off a little
steam. Filled with anger against Muslims, they swear and use profane
names
toward whoever answers the phone.
"We get all kinds," he said.
The hot line is part of a national "WhyIslam?" campaign led by the
Islamic
Circle of North America, a Kingston-based nonprofit organization.
Farooqi
is ICNA's northeast regional coordinator…
-----
WHAT NEXT? INTERNMENT CAMPS?
Stephen May, Arizona Republic, 2/25/05
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0225frilets253.html
Regarding "Asleep about terror cells" (Opinions, Tuesday):
I have known for years that Cal Thomas was somewhere to the right of
Genghis Khan politically, but I was still shocked when I read his
proposal
to close "the mosques and radical Islamic schools that foment
terrorism."
Perhaps Thomas would have us round up all Muslims and put them in
internment camps where we can be safe from them. Oh, wait! We already
did
that with the Japanese in World War II and decided it was against our
national principles.
The fear-mongering and "the end justifies the means" mentality
promulgated
by Cal Thomas and his ilk threatens our basic freedoms as Americans.
-----
PEACE MOVEMENT GEARS UP FOR GLOBAL PROTESTS ON WAR ANNIVERSARY
Katherine Stapp, IPS, 2/24/05
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27609
NEW YORK - At Fort Bragg, the largest U.S. army installation in the
world
and home to the famed 82nd Airborne Division, the mood is not exactly
buoyant.
''There are people here who are being deployed for the third time,''
said
Lou Plummer, a veteran with a son on active duty. ''At least 50 people
from
the base have been killed in Iraq.''
The total U.S. death toll since the start of the war is now 1,480,
according to Pentagon officials. As for the number of civilians killed,
the
British group Iraq Body Count estimates a figure between 16,000 and
18,000.
In a sign of mounting discontent, the military also concedes that about
5,500 servicemen have deserted, although Plummer believes the real
number
is probably much higher.
This picture is somewhat bleaker than the one painted a year ago by
Army
Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack, Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne --
also
known as ''America's Guard of Honour'' -- who brightly told reporters
in
Baghdad that ''we're on a glide-path toward success.''
''We have turned the corner, and now we can accelerate down the
straightaway,'' he said in a Jan. 6, 2004 briefing. ''There's still a
long
way to go before the finish line, but the final outcome is known.''
Not so fast, say anti-war activists like Plummer, who is helping to
organise a mass protest rally near the base in Fayetteville, North
Carolina
on Mar. 19 to coincide with the second anniversary of the U.S.
invasion…
SEE ALSO:
ISRAEL PLANS 6,000 W. BANK SETTLEMENT HOMES-REPORT
Reuters, 2/25/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7738670
JERUSALEM - Israel plans to build more than 6,000 homes in Jewish
settlements in the West Bank this year, a sharp boost in its
construction
in the occupied territory, an Israeli newspaper reported on Friday.
The reported settlement expansion project by the Israel Lands
Administration (ILA), a government agency, would coincide with Israel's
plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip this summer and defy U.S. calls for
a
freeze in "settlement activity."
The U.S.-backed road map requires a halt to settlement building on land
Israel captured in 1967 and where Palestinians want statehood.
Palestinians
are worried that Israel wants to quit Gaza only to annex areas around
more
populous West Bank settlement blocs.
The international community regards settlements as illegal under
international law.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/27/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: READ
* INCITEMENT: COULTER CALLS HELEN THOMAS 'OLD ARAB'
* CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY BANK'S DECISION
- CAIR-CAN: Distrust Divides Canadians, Muslims
* SOME FEDS THINK GOVT WON'T WIN ABU ALI CASE (Newsweek)
- Shame on Bush for Rights Violation (Newsday)
- VA: Case Adds to Outrage for Muslims (NY Times)
* IL: LOOKING BEYOND THE VEIL (Daily Herald)
* MN: MUSLIM TO KEYNOTE EVENT AT CAPITOL (Pioneer Press)
- MI: Calls to Prayer Signal Change (Detroit News)
- CA: Exhibit to Feature a Range of Muslim Art (SJMN)
* N.Y. SCHOOL BOARD BANS A ARAB PROFESSOR (Forward)
* MA: MUSLIM LEADER SUES FOX-25 FOR DEFAMATION
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: READ
"Read! In the name of your Lord Who created - created man from a
leechlike
mass. Read! Your Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught by the pen,
taught
man what he knew not."
The Holy Quran, 96:1-5
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: COULTER CALLS HELEN THOMAS 'OLD ARAB'
http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=43
"Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows
that
old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president."
-----
CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY BANK'S DECISION
Civil rights groups see Sept. 11 backlash
SAM ALI, Star-Ledger, 2/27/05
http://www.nj.com/business/ledger/index.ssf?/base/business-9/1109482220280650.xml
The one-page form letter arrived without warning.
After almost 13 years as a Hudson United Bank customer, the Islamic
Education Center of North Hudson was told its accounts were being
closed
and it had 30 days to take its business elsewhere.
The bank gave the IEC, a Muslim community center based in Union City,
no
reason for its decision, according to spokesman Yusuf Abdullah. He said
repeated phone calls to the bank and a letter to Chief Executive Ken
Neilson seeking information about Hudson United's decision went
unanswered.
In fact, banks don't have to give customers a reason. Under the law,
financial institutions are permitted to shut down accounts at any time,
for
any reason, and not tell the account holders why, according to the
American
Bankers Association, a Washington-based trade group.
Across the country, more and more banks are taking a "better safe than
sorry" approach when it comes to what they deem "high risk" customers
by
closing their accounts and, in some cases, filing suspicious-activity
reports with regulators, John Byrne, director of the ABA's Center for
Regulatory Compliance, said…
The Hudson United Bank case is not an isolated one. Since the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, civil rights groups say they have fielded
numerous complaints about financial institutions canceling accounts of
American Muslims or of customers with Middle Eastern- sounding names.
"It appears to be somewhat of a pattern where Muslims or Arab-Americans
are
actually having their accounts closed and, in some cases, being denied
loans," said Sarah Issa, spokeswoman for the New Jersey chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim
civil
rights group. "When a customer of good standing who has had no prior
problems with a bank abruptly has their account closed, it is rather
suspicious…"
SEE ALSO:
DISTRUST, FEAR DIVIDE CANADIANS, MUSLIMS: SCHOLAR
Bruce Ward, Ottawa Citizen, 2/26/05
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/index.html
A controversial Muslim scholar who has been barred from entering the
United
States and France says Muslims and mainstream Canadians have a kind of
"binary vision" that fosters mutual distrust and fear.
"We live together, but we don't know each other," Tariq Ramadan said
yesterday in a lecture at the University of Ottawa.
"There is a lack of trust. To tell you the truth, what I am feeling
when
travelling in the West is that this is real deep. This mutual lack of
trust
is adding to the confusion, misunderstanding and ignorance. And the
picture
is really, really bad if we don't work together," said Mr. Ramadan,
author
of Western Muslims and the Future of Islam.
This mutual mistrust is compounded by mutual fear, he added. "When you
speak with Muslims, the first thing they say is, 'They don't know us,
they
don't like us, they don't like Islam."
At the same time, mainstream Canadians are concerned Muslims are out to
"Islamize Canada," he said. "So you have a mentality of us versus them
coming from both sides. This is the worst you can have. We have to get
rid
of this binary vision of reality, this mentality of us and them."
Mr. Ramadan's lecture opened a three-day symposium on citizenship,
democracy and the future of Islam. The symposium is sponsored by Muslim
Presence Canada and CAIR CAN, the Council of American-Islamic
Relations,
Canada…
-----
TERROR: A TANGLED WEB
Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, 3/7/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7037619/site/newsweek/
Newsweek March 7 issue - The confession came quickly, and it sounded
damning. After a few days of allegedly rough interrogation, Ahmed Omar
Abu
Ali-a soft-spoken high-school valedictorian from the Washington, D.C.,
suburbs-either cracked or simply told his questioners what they wanted
to
hear. While studying in the holy city of Medina, Saudi Arabia, Abu Ali
said, he had met with a Qaeda operative and offered to set up a sleeper
cell in the United States to organize terror attacks. He wanted to be
like
September 11 ringleader Muhammad Atta, Abu Ali added in his confession.
The
young Muslim American even talked about an assassination plot. The
purported target: President George W. Bush. Abu Ali allegedly suggested
that Bush could either be shot on the street or blown up in a car-bomb
attack.
An open-and-shut case, you might think. The problem with this Perry
Mason
moment, however, is that it occurred in a Saudi Arabian prison, where
no
U.S. officials were present and where, according to human-rights
groups,
suspects are often physically abused. One of Abu Ali's lawyers, Edward
MacMahon, said after the suspect's first court hearing last week that
he
personally saw "multiple scars" all over Abu Ali's back, looking
"exactly
like somebody who has been whipped." Prosecutors deny this, but even
U.S.
law-enforcement officials admit there is a good chance Abu Ali could
eventually walk out of prison a free man. The indictment of Abu Ali
shows
how the administration's aggressive pursuit of the global war on terror
is
increasingly getting tangled up in legal constraints at home…
Even if the case ultimately collapses, an aggressive prosecution might
be
able to delay for years the day when Abu Ali will be able to "walk
free,"
the official explained.
SEE ALSO:
SHAME ON BUSH FOR RIGHTS VIOLATION
Newsday, 2/27/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-editorialb4159329feb27,0,7096382.story
An American citizen jailed and maybe tortured in Saudi Arabia for 20
months, possibly at the behest of the U.S. government, is the latest
outrage in a litany of detention excesses in the war on terror.
That list of shame includes ghost detainees kept off the books by the
CIA,
captives abused in U.S.-run prisons abroad and prisoners designated
enemy
combatants and denied basic due process.
President George W. Bush should show more respect for the Constitution.
Ceding the moral high ground on rights will do little to help the war
effort and much to destroy the nation's standing as a champion of
freedom…
Abu Ali may or may not be what officials say he is, a terrorist wannabe
who
conspired to assassinate Bush. That will be judged in a court of law
now,
as it should be.
The nation needs to be aggressive in preventing terrorism. But pulling
an
end run around the Constitution, as it seems the administration did, is
abominable. It erodes important elements of what makes this nation
special:
Its respect for the rule of law and individual rights.
---
CASE ADDS TO OUTRAGE FOR MUSLIMS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
JAMES DAO and ERIC LICHTBLAU, New York Times, 2/27/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/national/nationalspecial3/27terror.html
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 25 - When the Saudi police burst into a
classroom
at the Islamic University of Medina during final exams two years ago
and
whisked away an American exchange student named Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, his
imprisonment swiftly reverberated among Muslims in this Washington
suburb.
Mr. Abu Ali was never charged, and he spent 20 months in a Saudi prison
where his family says he was whipped, tortured and starved. This week,
he
was finally returned to Virginia - only to face an accusation by
American
prosecutors that he had plotted with members of Al Qaeda to assassinate
President Bush.
The charge has outraged members of Northern Virginia's growing Muslim
population and escalated a conflict with federal law enforcement
authorities over terrorism investigations into religious leaders,
mosques,
businesses and private Islamic schools in the region.
"Our whole community is under siege," said Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, a
spokesman for the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, where Mr. Abu
Ali
and his family worshiped. "They don't see this as a case of
criminality.
They see it as a civil rights case. As a frontal attack on their
community…"
-----
LOOKING BEYOND THE VEIL
Nadia Malik, Daily Herald, 2/27/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/news_story.asp?intid=3841058
The three mannequins draw stares, some puzzled, some pitying, as they
pose
in the lobby of the Harper College student center.
Shrouded head-to-toe in black or red, their eyes peer out from behind
Islamic veils. One stands in a paint bucket as punishment, a sign says,
for
not dressing modestly enough in Iran.
The college sponsored the exhibit to call attention to "hijab," the
veil
the Iranian government forces all women to wear.
The exhibit, a collection of clothing and photographs taken by
journalism
students in Tehran, does not hide its disgust for the veil. Through
their
lenses, the photographers see a symbol of female oppression and
degradation.
The message isn't lost on anyone viewing the exhibit in Palatine,
including
myself. But I look through a different lens.
I can feel the other visitors looking at me, wondering whether I'm
offended
or enlightened by the political statement. One man is curious enough to
ask.
Steven Peskind, a rabbi and a professor of world religions at Harper,
chooses his words carefully so as not to offend.
"I'm interested in your opinion of this," he says. "I'd like to know
what
you think as someone who wears the veil."
The inquiry is simple enough, but it requires a complex answer.
How can I explain to people who see hijab as a tool of oppression that
it
was one of the most liberating experiences of my life? How can I
convince
the rabbi that this yard of fabric strengthens my identity?
Perhaps if he knew my story…
-----
MN: MUSLIM TO KEYNOTE EVENT AT CAPITOL
Pioneer Press, 2/27/05
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/10995532.htm
A Muslim for the first time will be the keynote speaker at Tuesday's
annual
Day on the Hill, when members of religious congregations learn how to
become citizen-lobbyists.
This is the first year that the Islamic Center of Minnesota has been a
full
member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, which has
sponsored
Day on the Hill since the early 1970s. Imam Makram El-Amin of Masjid
An-Nur
in Minneapolis will give the keynote speech in the Capitol Rotunda at
11:30
a.m.
Participants, who last year numbered 900, will gather at 8:30 a.m. at
the
St. Paul RiverCentre to get briefings on nine state issues: housing,
budget, child care, environment, gambling, health care, minimum wage,
taxes
and the "safety net.''
From 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. they will be at the Capitol to hear
El-Amin,
have lunch and meet with legislators.
Other full members of the JRLC are the Minnesota Catholic Conference,
the
Minnesota Council of Churches, and the Jewish Community Relations
Council
of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
SEE ALSO:
MI: MOSQUE'S CALLS TO PRAYER SIGNAL HAMTRAMCK CHANGE
Tony Manolatos, Detroit News, 2/25/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/religion/0502/23/B01-98280.htm
Call to Prayer
Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. I bear witness that there
is
no God but Allah. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah. I bear
witness that Muhammad is messenger of Allah. I bear witness that
Muhammad
is messenger of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to prayer. Come to success.
Come to success. (Only in morning call: Prayer is better than sleep.
Prayer
is better than sleep.) Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest.
There
is no God but Allah.
Source: Al-Islah Islamic Center
HAMTRAMCK -- The New Martha Washington Bakery sells paczki around the
clock
on Fat Tuesday, one of the old-world traditions that help define this
town.
This year, as Christians arrived at the bakery to prepare for the
Lenten
season, they were reminded of how much the community has changed. As it
has
since May, the Al-Islah Islamic Center on Caniff was broadcasting a
call
for prayer five times a day in Arabic.
Nearly a year after the call-to-prayer controversy thrust Hamtramck
into
the center of a national debate, some non-Muslim residents say they
don't
mind the two-minute broadcasts. Others fear a loss of the community's
roots
as a home to Christian Eastern European immigrants...
Things have quieted down, both sides say. There are no protests or
angry
outbursts outside the mosque, but there are raised eyebrows in the
neighborhood.
The city initially turned down the mosque's request in 2003, said Abdul
Motlib, president of the Al-Islah Islamic Center. When it was approved
last
March, residents packed the City Council chambers for a public hearing.
The
broadcasts started in May, but the conflict grew. "Oh, last year at
this
time, Hamtramck was hot, hot, hot," Motlib said Tuesday. "But now,
everything is cool."
Motlib and members of his congregation said they have few critics who
haven't caused any problems.
The city hasn't received any formal complaints since the vote, the
clerk's
office said.
"Nobody bothers us, and we follow the rules and regulations -- our
volume
is regulated," said Muhammed Muyeen Uddin, the mosque's imam…
---
SAN JOSE EXHIBIT TO FEATURE A RANGE OF MUSLIM ARTWORK
San Jose Mercury News, 2/26/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/10998679.htm?1c
More than 50 modern Islamic art and calligraphy pieces will be on
display
March 12 in the South Bay's first modern Islamic art exhibit.
The free exhibit, sponsored by the South Bay Islamic Association in San
Jose, includes a Muslim poetry reading and features dinnerware,
candles,
glass etchings, and computer-generated and hand renderings from Muslim
artists around the world. In the Muslim world, calligraphy is a focus
of
artistic expression found on works both sacred and secular, in
manuscripts
and on palaces as well as on metalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood and
textiles…
The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 12 at the center,
325
N. Third St., San Jose. Refreshments will be served during the main
program, from 2 to 4 p.m., which features spoken word poetry by Muslim
poets from around the Bay Area. For more information, see www.sbia.net
-----
N.Y. SCHOOL BOARD BANS A CONTROVERSIAL ARAB PROFESSOR
Forward, 2/25/05
http://www.forward.com/articles/2741
A pro-Palestinian professor at Columbia University, hailed by some
Jewish
students as a model instructor, is being barred by the New York City
Board
of Education from lecturing public-school teachers.
A spokesman for the school board attributed the move against Rashid
Khalidi, the Arab-American director of Columbia's Middle East
Institute, to
"past statements" on the Middle East. Khalidi "should not have been
included" in a 12-week course for public-school teachers on teaching
about
the Middle East - and "he won't be participating in the future," the
spokesman said.
The school board's decision was praised by some New York lawmakers with
ties to the Jewish community, as well as by the American Jewish
Committee.
A number of other organizations and individuals, however, including
Columbia University and the American Jewish Congress, have questioned
the
school board's decision.
The school board's decision appeared to be taken in reaction to an
article
in The New York Sun, which pointed to Khalidi's participation in the
program and wrote that Khalidi had "called Israel a 'racist' state with
an
'apartheid system.'"
Khalidi and his supporters reject that characterization of his views.
Free
speech experts have said that whatever Khalidi's political opinions,
the
school board may have violated his constitutional rights.
"They made a mistake in saying he can't teach because of his political
views," said Nat Hentoff, a journalist and free-speech expert. Hentoff
has
been a strong supporter of Jewish students at Columbia who have alleged
that they have been subject to intimidation by several Middle East
studies
professors. "That is a clear violation of his free-speech rights, and
his
academic freedom rights."
With the concerns the school board had, Hentoff said, "the school board
should have brought in a team teacher for the course so that it
wouldn't be
one-sided indoctrination…"
The enrichment course that Khalidi was barred from taking part in is a
12-week program with a different Columbia professor talking about a
different aspect of the Middle East each week. The course is organized
by
the school district, but the professors are paid by Columbia University
as
part of their community outreach. A spokeswoman for Columbia, Susan
Brown,
criticized the school board's decision. "The fact that a respected
professor and scholar would be summarily judged and dismissed, without
consultation or discussion with him, or with us, is an issue of great
concern..."
The school board's decision was immediately hailed last week by New
York
mayoral candidate Rep. Anthony Weiner and by the American Jewish
Committee,
which issued a press release saying that Khalidi should not have been
offered the platform given his "record of brazen, openly biased and
distorted statements about Israel."
When asked what statements of Khalidi's had been problematic, David
Harris,
executive director of the American Jewish Committee, declined to point
to
any specific statements and said that the problem was "where he stands
on
Arab-Israeli issues."
Wiener, when asked to identify objectionable statements, said, "I am by
no
means an expert on the guy's work, but what I have seen anecdotally on
the
guy is troubling."
The director of legal affairs at the American Jewish Congress, Marc
Stern,
said he did not agree with the tack chosen by these communal leaders
and
political officials. "It's not as if we're rejoicing that Khalidi gets
an
audience," Stern said. "But we don't think the way to go about it is by
treating Khalidi as if he is not qualified to teach on the Middle
East…"
The Sun published a column last year by Martin Kramer, a leader in a
campaign against pro-Palestinian professors, in which he slammed
Khalidi
for warning Arab intellectuals against participating in events
organized by
the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank supported
heavily by pro-Israel donors and now run by former U.S. Middle East
envoy
Dennis Ross.
"Its basic function is to spread lies and falsehoods about the Arab
world,
of course under an academic, scholarly veneer," Khalidi was quoted as
saying during a panel discussion broadcast on Al-Jazeera. "Basically,
this
is the most important Zionist propaganda tool in the United States…"
On the issue of whether Israel is racist, Khalidi says there are
"scholars
who will not talk about these things without using the word 'racist,'
but I
am not one of them." He said, "I do not think Zionism is racist. When
we
talk about some of the contemporary laws, there are policies that I
consider racist and discriminatory…"
-----
LOCAL MUSLIM LEADER SUES FOX-25 FOR DEFAMATION
Geoff Mosher, Daily News Transcript, 2/25/05
http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=51837
A local Muslim leader and physician whose practice is based in Walpole
is
suing FOX-25 News for defamation and violating his civil rights after a
story the network aired claimed he was a member of an international
terrorist organization.
The lawsuit, filed against the Dedham-based station Wednesday in
Suffolk
Superior Court, alleges that Dr. Yousef Abou-Allaban, chairman of the
Board
of Directors of the Islamic Society of Boston, was falsely purported to
be
a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an international terrorist group
with
branches in more than 70 countries and reputed links to Osama bin
Laden…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/28/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID EVIL SPEECH
- Hadith: The Key to Paradise
- Verse: Call to God and Righteousness
* ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS DEBATE
- Ten Commandments Reach the Supreme Court (NYT)
* IT'S CALLED TORTURE (NY Times)
- The Rough Justice of War (Time)
* TRAVELING WHILE MUSLIM (Indy Star)
* MI: SCHOOLS CATER TO HALAL DIETARY NEEDS (Detroit News)
- PA: Prof Helps Bridge Culture Gap (Daily News)
- AZ: Muslims, Jews Relish Unity (AZ Daily Star)
* NJ: FUNDS WITHDRAWN AFTER COPTIC FAMILY'S MURDER (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID EVIL SPEECH
The Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) once encountered a pig on the
road.
He said to it: "Go in peace." Someone then asked: "(Why) do you say
this to
a pig?" Jesus replied: "I (said it so as not to) accustom my tongue to
evil
speech."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 56, Number 4
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE KEY TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever guarantees me
(control of his speech and sexual passions), I will guarantee him
Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 799
VERSE OF THE DAY: CALL TO GOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
"Who is better in speech than one who calls (mankind) to God, works
righteousness, and says, 'I am of those who have surrendered themselves
to
God?'"
The Holy Quran, 41:33
-----
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED
commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each
market
area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
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Please consider the following commentary for publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
---
ISLAM-OPED: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - GOD'S LAW, MAN'S CHOICE
Arsalan Iftikhar
WORD COUNT: 547
[Arsalan Iftikhar, is national legal director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights
and advocacy group. He may be reached at arsalan@cair-net.org.]
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether a monument
engraved
with the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol "is
an
impermissible establishment of religion in violation of the First
Amendment."
Reaction from religious groups is mixed - Jewish and Christian groups
seem
divided and Muslims are largely absent from the debate.
Muslim silence on the issue should not be misconstrued as ambivalence
toward the Ten Commandments. In fact, the Quran, Islam's revealed text,
contains injunctions similar to all ten commandments.
A few examples:
Commandment: Thou shall have no other gods before Me.
Quran: Know therefore that there is no god but God. (47:19) Do not
associate another deity with God. (17:22)
Commandment: Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.
Quran: No visions can encompass Him, but He encompasses all visions.
(6:103)
Commandment: Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Quran: Glorify the name of your Lord morning and evening. (76:25)
Remember
the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him exclusively. (73:8) Do
not
use God's name in your oaths as an excuse to prevent you from dealing
justly. (2:224)
Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother.
Quran: You shall be kind to your parents. If one or both of them live
to
their old age in your lifetime, you shall not say to them any word of
contempt nor repel them, and you shall address them in kind words. You
shall lower to them the wing of humility and pray: "O Lord! Bestow on
them
Your blessings just as they cherished me when I was a little child."
(17:23-24)
Commandment: Thou shall not kill.
Quran: And do not take any human being's life - [the life] that God has
willed to be sacred - other than in [the pursuit of] justice." (17:33)
Commandment: Thou shall not commit adultery.
Quran: You shall not commit adultery. Surely it is a shameful deed and
an
evil way (opening the door to other evils). (17:32)
Commandment: Thou shall not bear false witness.
Quran: And (know that the true servants of God are) those who do not
bear
witness to falsehood. (25:72)
Commandment: Thou shall not covet.
Quran: Do not covet the bounties that God has bestowed more abundantly
on
some of you than on others. (4:32)
Such remarkable similarities are not surprising, because Muslims
believe
that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all originate from the same God.
God's
laws are universal, but their adoption is a matter of choice. The
Quranic
order that there be "no compulsion in religion" (2:256) reverberates in
James Madison's, "The religion then of every man must be left to the
conviction and conscience of every man."
Opposition to the public display of the Ten Commandments should not
imply
disavowal of their validity, just as support for their display should
not
be an excuse for religious exclusivity.
I love all Ten Commandments, for their values are my values as a
Muslim. I
also respect the Constitution and its support for religious pluralism.
Just
as I want my government to not establish a particular religion, I also
desire that they not prohibit its free exercise. It is a delicate
balancing
act. Getting that balance right is what makes American freedom unique
and
enviable.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REACH THE SUPREME COURT
LINDA GREENHOUSE, New York Times, 2/27/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/politics/27commandments.html
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 - One federal court upheld them as a symbol of the
country's devotion to its legal heritage. Another federal court ordered
them removed as an illicit message of religious endorsement. Fifteen
months
ago, Alabama's chief justice lost his job over them, and the two-ton
granite monument that once sat in the rotunda of the state courthouse
is
now the star of a national tour. The profile of the Ten Commandments,
it
seems, has rarely been higher, or their ability to attract lawsuits
greater.
Now, as with all great controversies in American life, this one has
finally
reached the Supreme Court. In two cases to be argued on Wednesday, the
basic question for the justices will be: what does it mean for the
government to display a copy of the Ten Commandments?
-----
IT'S CALLED TORTURE
Bob Herbert, New York Times, 2/28/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/opinion/28herbert.html
As a nation, does the United States have a conscience? Or is anything
and
everything O.K. in post-9/11 America? If torture and the denial of due
process are O.K., why not murder? When the government can just make
people
vanish - which it can, and which it does - where is the line that we,
as a
nation, dare not cross?
When I interviewed Maher Arar in Ottawa last week, it seemed clear that
however thoughtful his comments, I was talking with the frightened,
shaky
successor of a once robust and fully functioning human being. Torture
does
that to a person. It's an unspeakable crime, an affront to one's
humanity
that can rob you of a portion of your being as surely as acid can
destroy
your flesh…
Mr. Arar was the victim of an American policy that is known as
extraordinary rendition. That's a euphemism. What it means is that the
United States seizes individuals, presumably terror suspects, and sends
them off without even a nod in the direction of due process to
countries
known to practice torture.
ALSO SEE:
THE ROUGH JUSTICE OF WAR
Daniel Eisenberg, Time Magazine, 2/4/05
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1032355,00.html
THE CASE OF ALLEGED TERRORIST ABU ALI
At least Abu Ali can now have his day in court--an American court. The
charges the U.S. filed against him, detailed in a six-count federal
indictment unsealed last week, certainly sounded explosive, centering
on
the young man's alleged talk that he was ready to kill the President,
by
either shooting him in the street or setting off a car bomb. But like a
number of other high-profile U.S. terrorism prosecutions since 9/11
that
have grabbed big headlines only to quietly fizzle or stall in
trial--from
alleged terrorist flight student Zacarias Moussaoui and accused dirty
bomber Jose Padilla to the Detroit sleeper cell and former enemy
combatant
Yaser Hamdi--the case against Abu Ali may not play out so dramatically.
"He
fell in with some bad people but probably never did much himself but
talk,"
says a source in the Middle East who has knowledge of the case.
"Prosecutors have an uphill battle."
Perhaps their toughest yet. Though U.S. and Saudi investigators say
they
have strong suspicions that Abu Ali was a committed al-Qaeda believer
keen
to plan terrorist attacks, neither country could tie him to a specific
operation in the works. The circumstances of his Saudi detention will
also
be an issue. Once the Saudis decided they didn't have much of a case,
they
believed they were doing the U.S. a favor by letting the FBI park Abu
Ali
there, says a source close to the case. The Americans insist the Saudis
were not merely keeping Abu Ali on ice but, in the words of a State
Department official, "wanted this guy. They thought they could charge
him."
Either way, the situation came to a head when federal District Judge
John
Bates ruled that the U.S. might have to disclose its role in the
detention.
The Abu Ali case appears to be based largely on evidence gathered by
the
foreign-intelligence service of a Saudi regime that has scant regard
for
human rights. The best witnesses against Abu Ali, who vehemently denies
all
the charges, are other prisoners in Saudi jails or members of the Saudi
domestic-security service who conducted the interrogations. But,
acknowledges a senior U.S. counterterrorism official, "it's unlikely
we'll
ever get them here to testify." One key witness is dead: the al-Qaeda
operative with whom Abu Ali allegedly discussed assassinating Bush was
killed in a shootout with the Saudis in September 2003. And the trial
will
be complicated by rising public criticism of Washington's policy of
having
terrorism suspects interrogated in third-party countries like Egypt and
Jordan, where governments use methods of persuasion not allowed in the
U.S…
-----
TRAVELING WHILE MUSLIM
Ruben Navarrette, Indy Star, 2/28/05
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/225566-6566-021.html
SAN DIEGO -- It used to be that in this country, issues of criminal
justice
weren't so complicated. There were rules and guidelines about how
people
were to be treated.
Before law enforcement officers could single out someone for scrutiny
they
had to have "probable cause" to believe that a crime had been
committed.
And while there were still instances of alleged racial and ethnic
profiling, you didn't often hear Americans defend the practice. In
fact,
President Bush said explicitly that profiling was wrong. So did former
Attorney General John Ashcroft, who civil rights groups feared wouldn't
be
sensitive to the issue. Of course, it's worth noting that the debate
over
profiling, for the most part, had been limited to the treatment of
African
Americans and Latinos.
Then the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks occurred. After that, polls showed
that
solid majorities of Americans -- including many African Americans and
Latinos who, frankly, should know better -- felt that it was OK to
subject
some of their fellow Americans to heightened scrutiny based on little
more
than their ethnicity or national origin.
It is at the bottom of that slippery slope that we find the disturbing
story of the dozens of Muslim Americans who were interrogated,
fingerprinted and detained for more than four hours at the
U.S.-Canadian
border in late December. These were U.S. citizens and residents of the
U.S.
who were heading home from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
Those plans hit a snag at border checkpoints in Buffalo and Niagara
Falls,
N.Y. You may recall that this part of the country made headlines after
9/11
when authorities broke up what they claimed was a terrorist cell
operating
in upstate New York.
In an experience that one of the Muslim Americans detained called
"degrading, humiliating and dishonorable," Border Patrol agents pulled
them
aside for questioning. When the travelers asked why they were being
grilled, they were ignored and not given any explanation.
Their offense? It was probably nothing more complex than this:
traveling
while Muslim…
-----
SCHOOLS CATER TO DIETARY NEEDS
Doug Guthrie, The Detroit News, 2/28/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0502/28/C01-102426.htm
DEARBORN HEIGHTS -- Eighth-grader William Collins pulled a "fish
extreme"
from between rows of similarly foil-wrapped chicken sandwiches on a
warming
tray at Oakley W. Best Middle School in Dearborn Heights.
"You aren't supposed to eat meat during Lent," said the 14-year-old who
attends services at nearby St. Albert Catholic Church.
"This one's new," he said taking a bite, "and, hey, I think it's cod!
This
is OK."
Increasingly, Metro Detroit schools are meeting student and faculty
demands
for meals that meet their religious requirements. Some make special
efforts
for Christians during Lent, some have added halal diet menus for Muslim
students. In Detroit, halal items are part of a broader effort to
prevent
students from leaving the financially troubled district.
Detroit Public Schools started serving halal items last fall in two
schools
and will add a third next month. Dearborn and Hamtramck public schools
put
specially prepared and blessed halal items on lunchroom menus last
year.
"What made us change is we wanted to keep kids in the district. These
are
simply more customers we want to please," said Teresa Ulrich, director
of
support services in the food services office of Detroit Public Schools
and
a registered dietitian. "We were invited to a Bangladeshi community
meeting
last April and they really wanted halal items."
Chicken patties and chicken hotdogs are staples of halal school lunch
menus.
The birds must be slaughtered and processed according to Islamic
dictate.
The techniques are similar to kosher standards of food preparation
followed
by Jews. The halal diet also avoids pork.
Halal offerings started in October at Detroit's Gardner Elementary,
near
Dearborn…
SEE ALSO:
VISITING PROFESSOR HELPS BRIDGE CULTURE GAP
CELANIE POLANICK, Daily News, 2/28/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?brd=1282&dept_id=182114
Dr. Abdul Mawjoud R. Dardery, a visiting professor and Fulbright
Scholar
from Egypt, is winding up a six-week stay at Seton Hill University in
Greensburg. (Daily News)
Abdul Mawjoud R. Dardery has many identities.
To the Fulbright Scholar Program, he's a master of academic discourse,
culture, and diplomacy. To the Muslim community, he's a family man who
takes his faith seriously. To some Americans caught up in the cultural
and
racial war between Christianity and Islam, he might look like a
terrorist.
To the students he taught this semester at Seton Hill University in
Greensburg, however, he's a beacon of truth about the Muslim people
they
have been taught to fear...
---
TUCSON'S MUSLIMS, JEWS RELISH THEIR UNITY
Anne Minard, Arizona Daily Star, 2/28/05
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/63331.php
It's not so surprising that Dina Afek of Tucson had tears in her eyes
Sunday as she spoke about her mother's passing two weeks to the day
after
it happened.
What's unusual is the gratitude that fueled her emotion. Afek marvels
that
local Muslims and Jews are seeing her through her grief - a result, she
says, of two years of working together to organize the PeaceWalk, a
crosstown march with members of both faiths that happened for the
second
time in Tucson on Sunday…
-----
THOUSANDS WITHDRAWN FROM BANK ACCOUNT AFTER FAMILY'S MURDER
Associated Press, 2/28/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11009999.htm
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Someone using a slain man's ATM card withdrew
thousands
of dollars from his bank account in the days after he and his family
were
found dead inside their home last month, according to Hudson County
Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
The ATM card was used on "a number of different occasions" at banks in
the
Heights section of Jersey City, where Hossam Armanious lived, and in
Midtown Manhattan, DeFazio told The Star-Ledger of Newark. Whoever used
the
card also knew Armanious' access code, he said.
Armanious, 47; his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their children - Sylvia,
15,
and Monica, 8 - were found Jan. 14, but authorities believe they were
killed three days earlier. Police went to the home after relatives were
unable to contact the family for a few days, and all four victims were
found bound and gagged with puncture wounds to their throats.
The victims were devout Coptic Christians and, soon after their bodies
were
found, some community members speculated that Armanious had angered
Muslims
with Internet postings in a religious chat room. Those claims led to
widespread tension between Christians and Muslims in Jersey City, which
sparked numerous scuffles at the family's funeral.
However, authorities say the withdrawals make it appear that robbery
may
have been the motive for the slayings…
-----
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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
TEXAS TERRORIST HANDED 30-YEAR SENTENCE
CAIR applauds sentencing of arsonist who targeted Muslims
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/1/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today applauded the prison sentence given to a Texas man
who
torched several Muslim-owned businesses in San Antonio during 2003 and
2004.
Thomas Carroll, 33, received a 30-year sentence that was enhanced by
Texas
hate crime legislation. When handing down the sentence, Judge Phil
Kazen
entered findings that Carroll committed the offenses because of his
bias
against a group identified by national origin and ancestry. (In 2002,
Carroll was arrested for ramming his Toyota Land Cruiser into a
Muslim-owned gas station.)
"Terrorists commit crimes based on hatred of a people or a religion and
such acts will not be tolerated and will be dealt with firmly," said
Bexar
County District Attorney Susan D. Reed.
SEE: MAN SENTENCED IN HATE CRIME ARSON CASES
http://www.co.bexar.tx.us/da2/PressRelease/2005/2282005a.htm
"The stiff sentence handed down in this case sends a positive message
to
the American Muslim community that bias-motivated attacks will be
prosecuted with vigor," said CAIR-San Antonio Chairwoman Sarwat Husain.
Husain also thanked all those involved in the investigation and
prosecution
of the case for their professionalism and dedication to the pursuit of
justice.
In April of last year, CAIR-San Antonio held a "community solidarity"
news
conference in reaction to the arson attacks. Participants in the news
conference included local elected officials and representatives from a
number of civil liberties organizations, minority groups and law
enforcement agencies.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Sarwat Husain, 210-378-9528, sanantonio@cair-net.org; Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@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 - 3/1/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: BLESSINGS OF THE POOR
* CAIR-OH: HEARING ON OHIO VERSION OF PATRIOT ACT (Dispatch)
- CAIR Urges Probe of Possible Bias Motive in CA Attack
- CAIR-TX: Man Gets 30 Years for Muslim Business Fires
* STATE DEPT. STUDY CRITICAL OF ABUSES USED BY U.S. (Wash Post)
- Rumsfeld Sued Over Abuse (Reuters)
- U.S. Cites Array of Abuses by Iraqi Govt (IHT)
- Privatization of U.S. Interrogations (Democracy Now)
* VA: SUSPECT MUST SHOW HE'S NO DANGER TO MAKE BAIL (Wash Post)
- FL: Al-Arian's Attorneys Ask for Delay in Trial (AP)
- AG Urges Renewal of PATRIOT Act (Wash Post)
* MA: SPEAKERS HIGHLIGHT AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ISLAMIC TIES (Crimson)
- SC: Islamic Scholar to Discuss Sexual Ethics (IM)
* NJ: INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON USE OF SLAIN FAMILY'S ATM CARD (NYT)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: BLESSINGS OF THE POOR
Once when a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
expressed
the thought that he was superior to those who were below him in rank,
the
Prophet told him: "You gain no victory or livelihood except through
(the
blessings and invocations of) the poor."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 145
The Prophet also said: "The poor will enter paradise (long) before the
rich."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1375
-----
CAIR-OH: FORUM, HEARING SCHEDULED ON OHIO VERSION OF PATRIOT ACT
Columbus Dispatch, 3/1/05
http://www.dispatch.com/
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations Columbus has scheduled a program to address
Senate Bill 9, Ohio's version of the USA Patriot Act.
The public discussion will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunrise Academy,
5657
Scioto Darby Rd., Hilliard.
The Senate Judiciary and Criminal Justice Committee plans a fifth
hearing
on the measure at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Among other requirements, people would have to provide their name,
address
or date of birth to a law-enforcement officer or private guard who
suspects
they have committed or are about to commit a crime.
Christine Link, executive director of the ACLU of Ohio, said the bill
"requires that people incriminate themselves and it invades our
privacy,
all without doing anything to make us safer or more secure."
CONTACT: CAIR-OH, Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247,
E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
SEE ALSO:
CAIR URGES PROBE OF POSSIBLE BIAS MOTIVE IN CALIF. ATTACK
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/1/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on California law enforcement authorities to
investigate a recent attack on the wife of a nationally-known Muslim
leader
as a possible hate crime.
A window in a vehicle driven by Ameena Saeed, wife of American Muslim
Alliance (AMA) Chairman Dr. Agha Saeed, was shattered by a projectile
on
February 23 as she approached a freeway entrance ramp in Berkeley,
Calif.
Saeed told CAIR that she heard people speaking in a nearby vehicle, and
then heard loud bang. It is not clear whether the bang was caused by
the
firing of a weapon or by the projectile's impact on the car window.
CAIR has contacted the Berkeley Police Department to urge that bias be
considered as a possible motive in the incident.
---
TEXAS MAN GETS 30 YEARS FOR MUSLIM BUSINESS FIRES
Reuters, 3/1/05
http://reuters.com/
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 1 (Reuters) - A Texas man has been sentenced
to
30 years in prison for setting a string of fires at Muslim-owned
businesses
in San Antonio in 2003 and 2004, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Thomas Carroll, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson that were
classified as hate crimes in a deal with Bexar County District Attorney
Susan Reed.
Carroll set fire to businesses that were owned or operated by
immigrants
from India and Pakistan, said Reed in a statement. No one was hurt, but
the
businesses were badly damaged or destroyed...
Carroll was out on bail at the time of the fires for ramming his Toyota
SUV
into a Muslim-owned gasoline station…
Sarwat Husain, the head of the Council on American Islamic Relations
chapter in San Antonio, praised the sentence for Carroll.
"The stiff sentence handed down in this case sends a positive message
to
the American Muslim community that bias-motivated attacks will be
prosecuted with vigor," Husain said.
CONTACT: Sarwat Husain, 210-378-9528, sanantonio@cair-net.org; Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org
-----
STATE DEPT. STUDY CITES TORTURE OF PRISONERS
Rumsfeld Approved Similar Practices
Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 3/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60540-2005Feb28
The State Department's annual human rights report released yesterday
criticized countries for a range of interrogation practices it labeled
as
torture, including sleep deprivation for detainees, confining prisoners
in
contorted positions, stripping and blindfolding them and threatening
them
with dogs -- methods similar to those approved at times by the Bush
administration for use on detainees in U.S. custody.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved in December 2002 a number
of
severe measures, including the stripping of prisoners at Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba, and using dogs to frighten them. He later rescinded those tactics
and
signed off on a shorter list of "exceptional techniques," including
20-hour
interrogations, face slapping, stripping detainees to create "a feeling
of
helplessness and dependence," and using dogs to increase anxiety…
SEE ALSO:
ACLU, EX-DETAINEES TO SUE RUMSFELD OVER ABUSE
Will Dunham, Reuters, 3/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61840-2005Mar1.html
WASHINGTON - Human rights lawyers will file a lawsuit in federal court
on
Tuesday against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on behalf of eight
men
who say they were tortured by U.S. forces in custody in Iraq and
Afghanistan, sources familiar with the case said.
The lawsuit charges that officials at the highest levels of the U.S.
government shoulder ultimate responsibility for the physical and
psychological injuries sustained by the men while in American custody.
It was the latest development in a scandal over ill-treatment of U.S.
war
prisoners that has drawn criticism from around the world.
The case will be filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human
Rights First in U.S. District Court. The two groups scheduled a news
conference later on Tuesday to announce details.
The groups did not state who would be named in the lawsuit, but sources
familiar with the case said it was Rumsfeld.
"The men represented in the lawsuit were incarcerated in U.S. detention
facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they were subjected to
torture
and other cruel and degrading treatment, including severe and repeated
beatings, cutting with knives, sexual humiliation and assault, mock
executions, death threats, and restraint in contorted and excruciating
positions," the two groups said in a statement...
---
U.S. CITES ARRAY OF RIGHTS ABUSES BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IN 2004
Brian Knowlton, International Herald Tribune, 3/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01rights.html
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 - The State Department on Monday detailed an array
of
human rights abuses last year by the Iraqi government, including
torture,
rape and illegal detentions by police officers and functionaries of the
interim administration that took power in June.
In the Bush administration's bluntest description of human rights
transgressions by the American-supported government, the report said
the
Iraqis "generally respected human rights, but serious problems
remained" as
the government and American-led foreign forces fought a violent
insurgency.
It cited "reports of arbitrary deprivation of life, torture, impunity,
poor
prison conditions - particularly in pretrial detention facilities - and
arbitrary arrest and detention."
---
THE PRIVATIZATION OF U.S. INTERROGATIONS AT ABU GHRAIB, GUANTANAMO AND
AFGHANISTAN
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/28/1456248
We look at how private contractors are now working at almost every
level of
the so-called war on terror, specifically in military interrogations at
Abu
Ghraib, Guantanamo and Afghanistan. We speak with investigative
journalist
Pratap Chatterjee. He is author of "Iraq, Inc." and his latest article
is
called "Intelligence Inc.: Military Interrogation Training Gets
Privatized."
Since the Bush administration launched its so-called war on terror four
years ago, places like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo have become household
names. And the conduct of the US military and intelligence agencies
have
come under increasing scrutiny for their conduct while detaining and
interrogating prisoners.
Over the past several months on this program, we have reported
extensively
on the US government's extraordinary rendition policy, where prisoners
are
sent to countries that have poor human rights records where they are
tortured. But it is not just foreign governments that the US is using.
Private contractors are now working at almost every level of the
so-called
war on terror.
-----
VA. TERROR SUSPECT MUST SHOW HE'S NO DANGER TO MAKE BAIL
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 3/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A61341-2005Feb28
It is a premise as old as the American legal system: The government has
the
burden of proof in criminal cases, and the accused is not required to
say a
word in his defense.
But when an American student charged in an al Qaeda plot to kill
President
Bush appears in court today seeking his release on bail, it is Ahmed
Omar
Abu Ali who will have to show that he is not a danger to his Northern
Virginia community.
That's because of a little-noticed provision in the broad intelligence
package Congress approved late last year. The measure makes it easier
for
judges to detain terrorism suspects, saying they will be denied bail
unless
they can show they are not a danger or a flight risk.
Abu Ali's detention hearing today in U.S. District Court in Alexandria
is
the first test of the revised law. Ali, who had been detained in Saudi
Arabia for nearly two years, was charged in an indictment unsealed last
week with plotting to kill Bush and to establish an al Qaeda cell in
the
United States. It was the first major terrorism case filed domestically
since the intelligence measure was approved.
The Justice Department sought the bail revision as part of the
crackdown on
terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It passed as part of
intelligence agency changes proposed by the commission that
investigated
those attacks. But the package also includes a series of anti-terrorism
measures, including provisions to loosen standards for FBI surveillance
warrants and expand the sharing of U.S. grand jury information with
foreign
governments in urgent cases.
Federal prosecutors in Alexandria cited the law last week in court
papers
arguing that Abu Ali is a "grave danger" to the United States and
should be
detained without trial. But civil liberties advocates yesterday blasted
the
bail provisions, saying they essentially shift the burden of proof from
the
government to the defense and could allow the government to detain
people
indefinitely in future terrorism cases...
ALSO SEE:
AL-ARIAN'S ATTORNEYS ASK FOR ANOTHER DELAY IN TRIAL
Associated Press, 3/1/05
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=12209
TAMPA, Fla. - Attorneys for a former professor who stands accused of
financing terrorists have asked for another three-month delay in his
trial
and said they probably will request that the proceedings be moved out
of Tampa.
Sami Al-Arian's defense attorneys have filed court documents saying
they
need time to review hundreds of juror questionnaires ahead of his
trial,
which already has been delayed from January until April by U.S.
District
Judge James Moody.
The court motions ask Moody to postpone the trial until July to allow
lawyers to assess the potential jurors' responses, some of which
displayed
an attitude of "virulent racism" against the former University of South
Florida professor, defense attorneys wrote.
"One potential juror wanted to give sodium Pentothal to Dr. Al-Arian to
'get the whole truth out,"' the defense motion states.
Other jurors commented "on the color and hygiene of 'Arabs,"' the
motion
states.
Because of such responses, defense attorneys will probably ask for a
change
of venue, the motion states.
Al-Arian's attorneys have received 322 completed juror questionnaires,
totaling more than 7,500 pages, court documents showed. They will
discuss
the questionnaires with Moody in court Thursday and Friday.
Al-Arian and three other men face racketeering charges that allege they
were the North American leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which
has
been linked to more than 100 deaths in Israel. They face life in prison
if
convicted.
---
ATTORNEY GENERAL URGES RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT
Gonzales Gives First Policy Speech
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 3/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60683-2005Feb28
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales yesterday affirmed his support for
controversial anti-terrorism legislation due for congressional renewal
this
year but indicated he is willing to consider changing some of its
provisions to ensure their continuation.
Making his first policy speech since his swearing-in three weeks ago,
Gonzales told a conference sponsored by Stanford University's Hoover
Institution that the USA Patriot Act, passed in 2001, "has helped
prevent
additional terrorist attacks" and that he shares Congress's goal of
"giving
law enforcement the tools they need to keep America safe while honoring
our
values."
More than a dozen surveillance-related provisions of the law are
scheduled
to expire this year unless they are renewed, a prospect that provoked a
political campaign by Gonzales's predecessor, John D. Ashcroft, for
reauthorization of each provision. Although Gonzales did not delve into
specifics, he opened the door to potential modifications by saying, "I
am
willing to support improvements to our laws that make America safer."
-----
SPEAKERS HIGHLIGHT TIES BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ISLAMIC
COMMUNITIES
Joshua P. Rogers, Crimson 3/1/05
http://www.thecrimson.com/today/article506089.html
About 40 students turned out last night for the kickoff event of
Islamic
Awareness Week-a structured discourse called "Islam, Hip-Hop and Black
America," featuring two speakers who discussed the relationship between
modern Islam and the African-American community.
The event was co-sponsored by the Harvard Islamic Society, the Harvard
Foundation, the Black Students Association, the Association of Black
Harvard Women, and the Black Men's Forum.
Adisa Banjoko, a provocative hip-hop journalist and author of Lyrical
Swords, gave a 45-minute speech about Islamic influence on hip-hop
cultures.
Banjoko explained that the rise in popularity of hip-hop was a result
of
social pressures of the early 1970s and the aftermath of 1960s civil
rights
movements.
Banjoko also attributed hip-hop's rise to cutbacks in the funding for
art
programs in the "education establishment," which inspired
African-American
youth to create new forms of art as self-expression and rebellion.
"If you're not going to teach us poetry, I'm going to teach myself
poetry
my own way with my own rhythms," Banjoko said.
But Banjoko said that African-American Christian churches immediately
began
to attack the fledgling hip-hop movement, creating tension between
African-American youth and traditional Christianity.
"Most African-American males do not relate to the Bible and do not
trust
the Bible," Banjoko said, a fact which enabled Islam to appeal to a
greater
segment of the population.
This fissure, according to Banjoko, produced an explosion of Islamic
themes
and lyrics in rap music…
ALSO SEE:
SC: ISLAMIC SCHOLAR TO DISCUSS SEXUAL ETHICS
Independent-Mail, 2/28/05
http://www.independentmail.com/and/news/article/0,1886,AND_8203_3583755,00.html
CLEMSON - Islamic law scholar Kecia Ali will speak about sexual ethics
and
Islam Thursday at 7 p.m. at Clemson University's Strom Thurmond
Institute
as part of the Women and the Sacred Lecture Series.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Ms. Ali works as a Mellon
post-doctoral fellow in Islamic studies and women's studies at Brandeis
University. She received her doctorate in religion from Duke University
and
is working on a collection of essays about sexual ethics in Islamic
scripture, tradition and law.
-----
INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON USE OF SLAIN FAMILY'S A.T.M. CARD
Tina Kelley, New York Times, 3/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/nyregion/01jersey.html
Hudson County investigators are studying video surveillance tapes made
at
automated teller machines where money was withdrawn from the account of
a
Jersey City man after the man and his family were stabbed to death in
their
home, the Hudson County prosecutor said yesterday.
The prosecutor, Edward J. De Fazio, said withdrawals were made numerous
times over five or six days from the account of Hossam Armanious, 47,
after
he, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and
Monica,
8, were killed. They were found dead on Jan. 14, after worried
relatives
called the police. The police said the four were each bound and stabbed
to
death.
''The A.T.M. card of Mr. Armanious was used fraudulently on a number of
occasions after the murders took place,'' said Mr. De Fazio. ''We
believe
the fraudulent use began the day after the murders.''
The withdrawals have bolstered a possible robbery motive for the
killings,
which have sent shock waves through the Egyptian community in the
region
and raised allegations about a possible religious feud.
The family belonged to the Coptic Orthodox Church, the principal
Christian
church in Egypt, and Mr. Armanious was said to have been threatened
with
death by someone in an Internet chat room during an argument about
Christianity and Islam.
''Nothing has been discounted,'' Mr. De Fazio said of the possibility
of a
religious feud. But, he added, ''We have found no substantial
corroboration
of the chat room Internet angle.''
Investigators had previously said that drawers in the house had been
rifled, that Mr. Armonious's wallet was empty and that essentially no
money
was found in the home.
''Certainly we believe that the financial motivation exists, that's
fact,''
he said.
Mr. De Fazio said the card was used, with Mr. Armanious's personal
identification number, to take out thousands of dollars from a number
of
locations in the Heights section of Jersey City and in Midtown
Manhattan.
He would not say how many times it had been used, or exactly how much
money
had been taken from the combined checking, equity and savings account,
nor
would he say which bank had held the money.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #448
GUJARAT OFFICIAL LINKED WITH BOOK PRAISING HITLER TO SPEAK IN FL, NY
Urge Bush administration to deny visa for Narendra Modi
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/2/05) - CAIR today renewed its call to block the
entry
of an Indian official accused of complicity in the massacre of Muslim
civilians, following revelations that the official's administration
distributed a social studies textbook praising Adolf Hitler.
The book was introduced in the Indian state of Gujarat by the
government of
Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the start of the academic year last
June.
According to Agence France Presse (10/18/04): "In a chapter titled
'Internal Achievements of Nazism,' the book states: 'Hitler lent
dignity
and prestige to the German government within a short time establishing
a
strong administrative set up.' 'Hitler instilled a spirit of adventure
in
the common people,' it added." India's The Statesman newspaper wrote:
"Only
in Narendra Modi's Gujarat can school textbooks glorify Nazi Germany."
(10/2/04) The book was later withdrawn under public pressure.
Modi is a keynote speaker at the annual convention of the Asian
American
Hotel Owner Association (AAHOA) later this month in Ft. Lauderdale,
Fla.
(SEE: http://www.aahoa.com/events/Narendra_Modi.asp The site has
recently
been password protected, but the original page may be viewed in cached
memory by using: www.google.com ) The group has rejected requests to
disinvite Modi.
Modi is also scheduled to speak in New York on March 20th.
SEE: http://www.narendramodi.net/agenda.htm
Last week, CAIR called on the Bush administration to block Modi's entry
based on a section (Sec. 604) of the International Religious Freedom
Act
that makes any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly severe
violations of religious freedom" inadmissible to the United States.
SEE: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/laws/majorlaw/intlrel.htm
Another group, the Indian Muslim Council-USA is also calling on MSNBC
"Hardball" host Chris Matthews to cancel his scheduled address to the
AAHOA
convention.
SEE: http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/actionAlert.cfm?aaid=28
Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002, senior officials in Gujarat told
human
rights activists that they had been directed by Modi to allow the
massacres
to run their course. Modi allegedly called the riots "anticipated Hindu
reaction" and "a natural outpouring." (Christian Science Monitor,
7/23/04,
9/15/03) India's National Human Rights Commission reported a
"comprehensive
failure of the State to protect the Constitutional rights of the people
of
Gujarat."
SEE: http://www.nhrc.nic.in/Gujarat.htm
For background on the 2002 Gujarat massacres, go to:
http://hrw.org/reports/2003/india0703/Gujarat-02.htm
"Someone who facilitated distribution of a book praising the
perpetrator of
the Holocaust deserves to be repudiated, not honored or granted entry
to
America," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.
ACTIONS REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
1. Contact Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to ask that Narendra
Modi be
ruled inadmissible to the United States based on his links to a book
praising Hitler and on Section 604 of the International Religious
Freedom
Act, which bars entry to any foreign official who has engaged in
"particularly severe violations of religious freedom."
CONTACT:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Department of State
2201 C St NW
Washington, DC 20520
E-Mail:
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html
Web Site: www.state.gov
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Fax: (202) 647-2283
COPY TO: president@whitehouse.gov, info@aahoa.com, roccacb@state.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
2. Contact your elected representatives to make them aware of your
concerns.
GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/home/
3. SEND COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/2/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD ANSWERS THE OPPRESSED
- Hadith of the Day: The Cry of the Oppressed
* ISLAM-OPED: TEN COMMANDMENTS MIRROR ISLAMIC VALUES
- CAIR-CAN: Arar to Speak on Muslims in the Media
- CAIR-CAN Joins Panel on Sharia Law and Muslim Women
- CAIR Job Opening: Civil Rights Staff Attorney
- CAIR-OH Holds Community Mtg on Legislation
- CAIR-Cincinnati Annual Meeting, Fundraiser
* NY: POLICE COMB THEIR RANKS FOR TRANSLATORS (WSJ)
- TV Demonizes U.S. Arabs (Augusta Chronicle)
* CA: MUSLIM STUDENT HARDLY HANDICAPPED (Daily Bruin)
* CANADA: LET'S NOT SHAKE ON IT (Globe and Mail)
- NJ: Muslim Women Offer a Glimpse Behind Veil (Indep)
- UK Muslim Girl Wins School Dress Case (CNN)
* TX: MUSLIMS JOIN TRASH CLEAN-UP DAY
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD ANSWERS THE OPPRESSED
"Just think who answers the oppressed person when he cries out to Him
and
relieves his affliction, and makes you, O mankind, inheritors of the
earth?
Is there another god besides God?"
The Holy Quran, 27:62
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE CRY OF THE OPPRESSED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told a newly-appointed
official: "Fear the cry of the oppressed, for there is no barrier
between
it and God."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 1
-----
ISLAM-OPED: ISLAMIC VALUES EQUATE TO BIBLE'S; TEN COMMANDMENTS
Arsalan Iftikhar, Myrtle Beach Sun-News, 3/2/05
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/11028301.htm
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether a monument
engraved
with the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol "is
an
impermissible establishment of religion in violation of the First
Amendment."
Reaction from religious groups is mixed - Jewish and Christian groups
seem
divided, and Muslims are largely absent from the debate.
Muslim silence on the issue should not be misconstrued as ambivalence
toward the Ten Commandments. In fact, the Quran, Islam's revealed text,
contains injunctions similar to all the commandments.
A few examples:
Commandment: Thou shall have no other gods before Me.
Quran: Know therefore that there is no god but God. (47:19) Do not
associate another deity with God. (17:22)
Commandment: Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.
Quran: No visions can encompass Him, but He encompasses all visions.
(6:103)
Commandment: Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Quran: Glorify the name of your Lord morning and evening. (76:25) Do
not
use God's name in your oaths as an excuse to prevent you from dealing
justly. (2:224)
Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother.
Quran: You shall be kind to your parents. ... You shall lower to them
the
wing of humility and pray: "O Lord! Bestow on them Your blessings just
as
they cherished me when I was a little child." (17:23-24)…
Such remarkable similarities are not surprising, because Muslims
believe
that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all originate from the same God.
God's
laws are universal but their adoption is a matter of choice. The
Quranic
order that there be "no compulsion in religion" (2:256) reverberates in
James Madison's, "The religion then of every man must be left to the
conviction and conscience of every man."
Opposition to the public display of the Ten Commandments should not
imply
disavowal of their validity, just as support for the display should not
be
an excuse for religious exclusivity.
I love all the commandments, for their values are my values as a
Muslim. I
also respect the Constitution and its support for religious pluralism.
Just
as I want my government to not establish a particular religion, I also
desire that they not prohibit its free exercise. It is a delicate
balancing
act. Getting that balance right is what makes American freedom unique
and
enviable.
Contact Iftikhar, national legal director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, at arsalan@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN: MAHER ARAR TO SPEAK ON HOW MUSLIMS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE
MEDIA
Ottawa Start, 3/2/05
http://ottawastart.com/story/1445.php
WHAT: The Carleton Journalists for Human Rights present Maher Arar and
Riad
Saloojee, in "The Representation of Muslims in the Media."
MAHER ARAR is currently the subject of a public inquiry. Mr. Arar will
discuss his experience with the media during his ordeal.
RIAD SALOOJEE is the executive director of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations-Canada. His organization specializes in the areas of media
relations, anti-discrimination and political advocacy. CAIR-CAN aims to
educate Canadians and empower Canadian Muslims to avoid
misrepresentations
of Islam. He has been continually involved with Mr. Arar's case. Mr.
Saloojee will discuss the case as well as the media"s representation of
Muslims.
WHEN: 7:00pm, TUESDAY MARCH 8
WHERE: Carleton University, 102 Azrieli Theatre
To learn more visit www.maherarar.ca or www.caircan.ca
---
PANEL: 'SHARIA LAW AND ONTARIO MUSLIM WOMEN'
http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2005/march/2/listings/
Panel: "Sharia Law and Ontario Muslim Women" Dunton Tower 2017,
Carleton
University, 1125 Colonel By Drive. (613-520-2600; www.carleton.ca) 2:30
�
4:30 p.m. "Sharia Law and the Implications of the Ontario Arbitration
Act
for Muslim Women" is the topic of discussion between panelists Alia
Hogben,
Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW); Dr.
Sheema Khan, Chair of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-CAN); and Dr. Farhang Rajaee, Political Science and Humanities
Professor at Carleton.
---
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
CAIR is seeking a full-time civil rights staff attorney in Washington
DC.
The ideal candidate is a licensed attorney who has background and
experience in the fields of civil rights, immigration, constitutional
and
employment law. Working knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(especially Title VII) and other constitutionally protected activities
is
required.
CONTACT: Resume and cover letter including salary history by March 31
to:
Arsalan Iftikhar
National Legal Director
CAIR
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
Fax (202) 488-0833
E-Mail: arsalan@cair-net.org
For more information on this and other positions, please visit
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=Jobs
CAIR is an EOE employer. No phone calls please.
-----
CAIR-OH HOLDS COMMUNITY MTG ON LEGISLATION
(CINCINNATI, 3/2/05) - On Sunday, March 6, the Cincinnati office of
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) will hold a community meeting
to
discuss Ohio Senate Bills 9 & 24.
Speakers include Karen Dabdoub, director of the CAIR-Ohio Cincinnati
office, as well as Gary Daniels of ACLU-Ohio, a co-sponsor of the
event.
Ohio Senator Mark Mallory also will be present to share his views.
The UC Muslim Student Association is co-sponsoring this event. The
meeting
will be held at Lindner Hall, Room 112, on the University of Cincinnati
campus from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Senate Bill 9, currently before the Ohio Senate, creates an Ohio
version of
the USA PATRIOT Act. If passed, citizens would be required to furnish
ID to
a police office who suspects that they have or are about to commit a
crime.
The Ohio Senate is also considering Senate Bill 24 that would censor
Ohio
colleges and universities. This legislation could be used to curtail
academic freedom and to encourage thought policing in our institutes of
higher education. The bill would have a chilling effect on freedom of
inquiry on Ohio s campuses.
CAIR, America s largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 31 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail: karen@cair-ohio.com
---
CAIR-CINCINNATI HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING, FUNDRAISER
(CINCINNATI, 3/2/05) - On March 12, the Cincinnati office of Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) will hold its Third Annual
Fundraising
Dinner at the RSVP Banquet Center in Loveland, Ohio.
The theme for the event this year is "Uniting the Nation." Speakers
include
Christine Link, Executive Director of ACLU-Ohio and Army chaplain James
"Yusuf" Yee. Link will address the current status of civil liberties in
America. Yee will speak about his experience of being falsely accused
of
espionage at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail: cincinnati@cair-ohio.com,
Zeinab Schwen, Dinner Co-Chair 513-489-4726, E-mail: zschwen@fuse.net
-----
POLICE COMB THEIR RANKS FOR TRANSLATORS
Gary Fields, Wall Street Journal, 3/2/05
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB110973072807367954,00.html?mod=todays_free_feature
NEW YORK -- Andy Sipowicz, the gruff New York detective on "NYPD Blue,"
the
TV series that ended its 12-year run last night, was known for being a
xenophobe. The real NYPD, though, is reaching out to immigrants to
prevent
terrorism.
At a time when federal agencies have a backlog of untranslated
documents
and data from the war against terror, the New York Police Department
has
developed a foreign-language program through which undercover officers
get
intelligence on potential terror plots, as well as instantly translate
news
events and documents from countries thousands of miles away.
The Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, recognizing the NYPD's
expertise, has borrowed 17 officers fluent in Arabic to help with
translation and interpretation.
The success of the program illustrates how some local police forces
have an
advantage over federal agencies in recruiting speakers of foreign
languages. For recruiters, New York's melting pot is a local pool of
people
with varying ethnic backgrounds, some of whom are suspicious of the
Federal
Bureau of Investigation, especially after roundups of Muslim immigrants
following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
A few months after those attacks, Raymond W. Kelly, the police
commissioner, and David Cohen, now the head of the NYPD's intelligence
division and a former deputy director of the Central Intelligence
Agency,
huddled to think of ways to prevent another attack. One idea: finding
out
what people around the world were saying about the Big Apple. That
meant
identifying employees proficient in languages from regions where there
was
strong animosity toward the U.S…
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for Council on American-Islamic Relations,
said
the FBI has tried to recruit from within the Muslim community, but has
had
little success because of a "mistrust" the community has for the agency
as
a result of its actions after the Sept. 11 attacks. "They feel they are
profiled or targeted because of ethnicity," she said.
With the NYPD, some immigrant groups feel the mission of local law
enforcement is more direct. "You're working to defend your community
and
your family," said Ms. Ahmed…
SEE ALSO:
TELEVISION DEMONIZES U.S. ARABS
Jack Shaheen, The Augusta Chronicle, 3/1/05
http://www.augustachronicle.com
The entertainment industry's boogeyman is on the loose again.
On the critically acclaimed TV show 24, American Muslims and American
Arabs
are being demonized once more.
It all started with the 2002 CBS movie The President's Man: A Line In
the
Sand, where American Arabs and some Arabs who aren't citizens get
together
to nuke Texas.
Then Fox struck, cramming 13 episodes of 24, into its 2002-2003 season.
The
show embellished The President's Man storyline, showing Arab-American
and
Arab terrorists out to nuke Los Angeles.
Now, 24, is rehashing the same biased plot - American Muslims out to
nuke
our country, killing neighbors in the process. So far the protagonist,
Jack
Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, has gunned down 100 Muslim American
"fanatics."
Fox isn't alone.
FAMILY LAW, Judging Amy, The District and The Practice have had
storylines
that imply that airlines should discriminate against us, that we should
be
jailed without due process, and that we burn down our own mosques and
abuse
our children.
Third Watch has shown us making radioactive bombs, and pitted us
against
the NYPD. JAG, Navy NCIS, The Agency, Sue Thomas FB Eye and other shows
have portrayed us as traitors and terrorists who run sleeper cells in
mosques.
To their credit, programs like Boston Public, Jack and Bobby, 7th
Heaven
and Strong Medicine have reflected positive images of American Arabs
that
help to unite us. But overall, television writers and network producers
are
making their message clear: American Arabs are dangerous terrorists and
should be feared.
Until recently, we American Arabs - all 3 million of us - were
invisible on
TV screens. Only Danny Thomas (Make Room for Daddy) and Jamie Farr
(M*A*S*H) portrayed likable Arab-American characters.
Oh, to be invisible now.
TODAY, AMERICAN Arabs and American Muslims have gone from being
invisible
to being all over the tube.
We have been assaulted by more than 50 programs searing into viewers'
hearts and minds the notion that we are Osama's cohorts, despicable
terrorist ragheads.
Unfortunately, these powerful stereotypes injure innocent people and
have a
terrible impact on our society…
-----
HARDLY HANDICAPPED
Atif Moon hasn't let his disability stop him from being a tennis smash
hit
Andrew Finley, Daily Bruin, 3/2/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=32250
Circling around the parking lot at a local Torrance gym, Atif Moon
pulled
into the handicapped spot, not necessarily thinking twice about the
fact
that he didn't have a placard. After finishing his workout and finding
a
ticket pressed against his car's windshield, he was obviously
frustrated.
After all, it's not often that lifelong paraplegics get ticketed for
parking in handicapped spots. Yet that wasn't what upset Moon. Nor was
he
upset at the fact that he had left his handicap placard at home that
day.
The sophomore was angry that he hadn't parked in one of the regular
spaces.
Since he first stepped onto a tennis court at the age of six, Moon has
been
raised to believe that he is not any different than any other student.
Though paralyzed from the waist down since birth because of a spinal
cord
injury and confined to a wheelchair his entire life, Moon doesn't see
himself as limited in the least bit.
"I don't really think about it much," he said of what life would be
like
with functional legs. "Certain things would be cool, but I realize I
can do
a lot of things with my disability."
Chief among those activities is tennis. In 2004, he finished the year
ranked seventh in the nation among Junior Wheelchair Open players.
Without
a steady coach or a regular practice schedule since enrolling at UCLA,
he
has succeeded by playing during his spare time with able-bodied
partners.
And it's not as though his friends and family are doing him favors by
hitting with him. He's quite capable of keeping up.
"His disability allows him to maneuver better than other people I've
worked
with," said Michael Watson, who began coaching Moon when he was eight
and
has worked with other disabled students for 20 years. "It's easy to
work
with Atif because you tell him something and he understands what you're
saying right away."
Moon's father, Munir, and stepmother, Elena, always wanted their son to
have the same experiences able-bodied children had. Tennis became the
first
activity that ensured that was possible.
"We were looking for easy things to get him involved with," Munir said.
"The whole goal was to keep him busy in some kind of sport so he didn't
feel disappointed or depressed…"
-----
LET'S NOT SHAKE ON IT
Muhammad Athar Lila, The Globe and Mail, 3/2/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050302/FACTS02/TPComment/Features
Imagine, for a moment, that you're on your way to the most important
job
interview of your life. You've spent the previous two weeks preparing
for
it, anticipating the questions, memorizing the answers, and figuring
out
ways to impress your prospective employer.
You're escorted into an empty room and told to wait until the boss
arrives.
After a few minutes, the door opens. In walks a tall, welcoming,
attractive
woman. Your knees starting to wobble. She smiles, approaches you,
sticks
out her hand, and says: "Hi, nice to finally meet you."
You stand there, frozen, staring at her outstretched hand. The lump in
your
throat is starting to grow. She's confused, as though she's done
something
wrong. After a few awkward moments, you finally muster the courage to
respond the only way you know how.
"Uhhhh, sorry, I don't shake hands with women."
Offensive? Absurd? Chauvinistic? Welcome to the dilemma that is my
life.
As a Muslim, I try to practice my religion to the best of my ability.
For
me, that includes not shaking hands with women other than those with
whom I
have a blood relationship. And I'm not alone. Thousands of Canadian
Muslims
face the same problem. In our schools, community centres, hospitals,
places
of work -- you name it -- we face the same challenge everyday: To shake
or
not to shake?..
Muhammad Athar Lila lives in Toronto where he is a producer at
iChannel.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM WOMEN OFFER A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE VEIL
Lecture at Brookdale addresses garment's cultural significance
Michelle Rosenberg, Independent, 3/1/05
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2005/0301/Front_Page/004.html
MIDDLETOWN - People often use clothing as a means of self-expression.
For some, clothing is a way of letting others know what kind of music
they
listen to, or how much money they have.
For others, clothing is used as a religious statement. A priest or nun
can
be identified immediately based on their clothing, and a man in a
yarmulke
is recognized immediately as Jewish.
Furthermore, a woman in a veil is automatically deemed a Muslim. The
Islamic veil, however, is more than a religious statement to many of
the
women who wear it, but is a way of life.
This was the topic of discussion during a lecture at Brookdale
Community
College last Tuesday. Roughly 100 people showed up for "Women and
Islam:
Demystifying the Veil."
It was a two-part lecture, with the first 45 minutes going to history
professor Jane Scimeca, who gave a presentation on the Islamic veil and
what it means to Muslim women. Following her presentation, those in
attendance listened to the personal experiences of three Muslim women,
all
of whom wear the hejab, which is one type of veil.
Scimeca said that it is important to understand that there are
differences
between Islamic societies, and "Islam" does not describe all Muslims.
She
said that there are 1 billion Muslims in the world.
She said Americans often have a hard time understanding Islamic
culture,
and often cast judgments on women who use a veil to cover.
"We need to try to understand Islam and the veil with a sense of
relativism," Scimeca said.
She said that one way for Americans to be more open-minded is to avoid
looking at themselves as "normal" and label people who do things
differently as "abnormal."
Scimeca said that women in America do many strange things to their
appearance, such as plastic surgery, which the rest of the world
doesn't
judge, so Americans shouldn't judge others.
Scimeca also discussed the historical context of the veil. She said
that
before the Islamic religion, there was no veiling in Arabia. Now, there
are
certain Middle Eastern countries, such as Turkey, Syria and Egypt, in
which
women are not allowed to cover, and others, such as Iran, Afghanistan
and
Saudi Arabia, where women must cover.
Veiling became a custom during Islamic expansion, when countries
adopted
Muslim customs. She said the purpose of covering is to protect women
from
men outside the family…
---
MUSLIM GIRL WINS SCHOOL DRESS CASE
CNN, 3/2/05
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/02/muslim.court/
Begum called the ruling "a victory for all Muslims who wish to preserve
their identity and values despite prejudice."
LONDON, England -- A 16-year-old British Muslim girl has won the right
to
wear full Islamic dress at school.
Britain's Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that Shabina Begum had been
"unlawfully denied ... the right to manifest her religion."
Begum was sent home from Denbigh High School in Luton, north of London,
in
September 2002 for wearing a jilbab, which covers the body except for
the
hands and face.
The school said the jilbab posed a health and safety risk and might
cause
divisions among pupils. Eighty percent of Denbigh's 1,000 pupils are
Muslim, and the school feared those who wore traditional dress might be
seen as "better Muslims" than others.
The school denied acting in a discriminatory manner and said it had a
flexible school uniform policy that took into account all faiths and
cultures. Pupils are allowed to wear trousers, skirts or a traditional
shalwar kameez, consisting of trousers and a tunic.
Begum took the case to Britain's High Court, arguing she was being
denied
her right to education and to manifest her religious beliefs.
Last June, the High Court ruled the dress code was a "reasoned,
balanced,
proportionate policy" and that Begum's human rights had not been
violated,
The Associated Press reported.
Begum appealed that ruling to the Court of Appeal, citing Article 9 of
the
European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees "freedom to
manifest
one's religion or beliefs."
On Wednesday, Judge Scott Baker said, "What went wrong in this case was
that the school failed to appreciate that by its action it was
infringing
on the claimant's Article 9 right to manifest her religion…"
-----
TX: MUSLIMS JOIN TRASH CLEAN-UP DAY
Muslims of Dallas/Fort Worth area will be getting together on April 2nd
to
observe the annual litter-free day of Texas Department of
Transportation
called "Don't Mess with Texas Trash-off" day.
About 30 volunteers will help to clean the environment by picking up
litter
along a 2 miles long patch of State Highway 78 in Garland, suburb of
Dallas. The 2 miles long section of the highway has been adopted by
Islamic
Association of North Texas through the State's Adopt-a-Highway program.
For more information, contact the Outreach Department of Islamic
Association of North Texas by email at outreach@iant.com or by phone at
972.231.5698 x109 or by visiting http://www.muslim-calendar.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/3/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: MAN AND WOMAN
* LAWYER: MUSLIMS DON'T ACCEPT TEN COMMANDMENTS
* CAIR-CLEVELAND TO HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET
- 650 Turn Out for CAIR-Chicago Banquet
- CAIR-LA: Forum on Muslim Civil Rights
- CAIR-LA Spring Internship Deadline 3/15
- CAIR-TX Praises Arson Sentence (Houston Chron)
* CIA AVOIDS SCRUTINY OF DETAINEE TREATMENT (Wash Post)
- Looking the Other Way on Abuse (NY Times)
- Torture: Struggling with Our Inhumanity (SF Chron)
- Poll: 39 Percent of Americans Back Torture (E&P)
- CIA May Have Snatched Italian Imam (LA Times)
- Expert: Foreigners Targeted by DHS
* REPORT: UNDERSTANDING ISLAMISM (ME/NA Report)
* DETROIT YOUTH TROUPE UNITES FAITHS ON STAGE (AP)
- AZ: Afghans Find Home in America (Daily Star)
* BELGIUM: MUSLIM WOMAN QUITS AFTER THREATS (BBC)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: MAN AND WOMAN
"(God) created you (all) from a single soul, and out of it brought into
being its mate, so that man might incline (with love) toward woman."
The Holy Quran, 7:189
-----
LAWYER: MUSLIMS DON'T ACCEPT TEN COMMANDMENTS
RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS DEBATED IN COURT
Guy Taylor, Washington Times, 3/3/05
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050303-123754-6576r.htm
Opponents of government displays of the Ten Commandments told the
Supreme
Court yesterday that such monuments are an endorsement of Christianity,
while state officials and their supporters maintain that the displays
are
historical and acknowledge the roots of U.S. law…
The government can erect religious symbols such as the Ten
Commandments,
but "it must do so in a way that does not endorse or support any
particular
religion," said Erwin Chemerinsky, the lawyer arguing that the Texas
monument is unconstitutional.
"Here you have a monument that claims not only is there a God, but God
has
dictated 10 rules for behavior," he said…
One exchange centered on the thoughts of a Muslim who enters a U.S.
court
and sees a carving of the Ten Commandments on the wall.
"Imagine the Buddhist or Muslim who walks into the Supreme Court. He
will
realize this is not his government," Mr. Chemerinsky said.
"I thought that Muslims accept the Ten Commandments," Justice Scalia
said.
"No, your honor, they don't," Mr. Chemerinsky responded.
However, in an editorial published yesterday, Arsalan Iftikhar, the
national legal director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
said, "The Quran, Islam's revealed text, contains injunctions similar
to
all the commandments…"
SEE: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - GOD'S LAW, MAN'S CHOICE
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=36188&theType=NB
-----
CAIR-CLEVELAND TO HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET
(CLEVELAND, 3/3/05) - On March 26, the Cleveland office of Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) will hold its Third Annual
Dinner and Fundraiser, with the theme "Standing for Mercy, Kindness and
Justice."
Michael Ratner, renowned international human rights lawyer and
President of
the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, will speak about the
Guantanamo Bay detainees' legal challenges to detention, the government
"rendition" program, Abu Ghraib abuses, and the work of the center.
WHAT: CAIR-OHIO, Cleveland Office, 3rd Annual Dinner & Fundraiser
WHERE: Saturday, March 26, 2005 from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence,
Ohio
CAIR's National Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad will give
a
briefing on the state of civil rights for Muslims in America and CAIR's
vision and mission for the coming years. Art and Peggy Gish of
Christian
Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will receive an I-CAIR Justice Award for their
peace
and justice work in Iraq and the West Bank.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
ALSO SEE:
650 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-CHICAGO ANNUAL BANQUET
(CHICAGO, IL, 3/3/05)- More than 650 people, including officials and
community leaders, attended CAIR-Chicago's annual banquet on Saturday
at
the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park.
The program included dinner, speeches and other presentations. A short
film, titled "Professional Muslim Activism," showcased the work of
CAIR-Chicago and featured testimonials by Illinois Coalition for
Immigrant
and Refugee Rights Executive Director Joshua Hoyt; DePaul University
Professor of Islamic Studies Aminah McCloud; and Distinguished Research
professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law M. Cherif
Bassiouni,
who was also one of the keynote speakers.
Keynote speeches were delivered by former Guantanamo U.S. Army Chaplain
Captain James Yee and Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni, who was introduced
by
Dr. Shakeela Hassan.
"Judging by the turnout and audience feedback, we believe our event was
a
resounding success," said Yaser Tabbara, executive director of
CAIR-Chicago.
For more info or to see some pictures of the event please visit:
http://www.cairchicago.org/event2005pics.php
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725,
312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org
-----
CAIR-LA: FORUM ON THE STATUS OF AMERICAN MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS
The Islamic Institute of Orange County (IIOC) and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA) invite you
to:
"An Update on the Civil Rights of Muslims in America"
The Muslim and Arab American communities have endured many challenges,
it
is important for us to understand those challenges and work together to
deal with them.
SPEAKER: Hussam Ayloush - Executive Director, CAIR-LA
WHEN: Friday, March 4, 2005, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Institute of Orange County, 1220 N. State College Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92806 Tel: (714) 533-6271
Coordinated by Public Relations Committee at IIOC
publicrelations@masjidomar.com
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
---
CAIR-LA SPRING INTERNSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 15
CAIR-LA is seeking applicants for its spring internship program (March
28 -
June 10). The program is open to college or university students age 18
and
older who have legal status in the U.S. 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 March 15, 2005.
Interested and qualified applicants should contact Alia Aboul-Nasr at
aliaa@cair.com. For more information please call 714-776-1847.
---
ARSON SENTENCES PRAISED BY GROUP
Houston Chronicle, 3/2/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3065852
SAN ANTONIO - An Islamic civil rights group praised the lengthy prison
sentences given to a man convicted of setting fires in at least three
convenience stores operated by immigrants from India and Pakistan.
Thomas Carroll, 33, on Monday received the 30-year concurrent sentences
from state District Judge Phil Kazen, who enhanced the punishments
under
the 2001 James Byrd Hate Crime Act.
Carroll pleaded no contest to the scattered arsons on Feb. 3. There
were no
injuries, but the fires set in 2003-04 caused extensive damage. A
restitution amount for Carroll to pay will be set later, District
Attorney
Susan Reed said.
A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations praised
prosecutors for pursuing the cases, which had alarmed immigrant
merchants.
-----
CIA AVOIDS SCRUTINY OF DETAINEE TREATMENT
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 3/3/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2576-2005Mar2.html
In November 2002, a newly minted CIA case officer in charge of a secret
prison just north of Kabul allegedly ordered guards to strip naked an
uncooperative young Afghan detainee, chain him to the concrete floor
and
leave him there overnight without blankets, according to four U.S.
government officials aware of the case.
The Afghan guards -- paid by the CIA and working under CIA supervision
in
an abandoned warehouse code-named the Salt Pit -- dragged their captive
around on the concrete floor, bruising and scraping his skin, before
putting him in his cell, two of the officials said.
As night fell, so, predictably, did the temperature.
By morning, the Afghan man had frozen to death.
After a quick autopsy by a CIA medic -- "hypothermia" was listed as the
cause of death -- the guards buried the Afghan, who was in his
twenties, in
an unmarked, unacknowledged cemetery used by Afghan forces, officials
said.
The captive's family has never been notified; his remains have never
been
returned for burial. He is on no one's registry of captives, not even
as a
"ghost detainee," the term for CIA captives held in military prisons
but
not registered on the books, they said.
"He just disappeared from the face of the earth," said one U.S.
government
official with knowledge of the case.
The CIA case officer, meanwhile, has been promoted, two of the
officials
said, who like others interviewed for this article spoke on the
condition
of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk about the matter.
The
case is under investigation by the CIA inspector general.
The fact that the Salt Pit case has remained secret for more than two
years
reflects how little is known about the CIA's treatment of detainees and
its
handling of allegations of abuse. The public airing of abuse at Abu
Ghraib
prompted the Pentagon to undertake and release scathing reports about
conduct by military personnel, to revise rules for handling prisoners,
and
to prosecute soldiers accused of wrongdoing. There has been no
comparable
public scrutiny of the CIA, whose operations and briefings to Congress
are
kept classified by the administration...
ALSO SEE:
LOOKING THE OTHER WAY
New York Times, 3/3/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/03/opinion/03thu1.html
The Bush administration enthusiastically congratulated itself this week
for
including abuses by Iraqi authorities in its annual report on human
rights
violations. One State Department official called it proof that "we
don't
look the other way." But the report did look away - from American
involvement in the mistreatment it decried. In the end it was another
sad
reminder of the heavy price the nation has paid for ignoring
fundamental
human rights in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guant�namo; in the secret cells
where
the C.I.A. holds its unaccounted-for prisoners; and at home, where
President Bush continues to claim the power to hold Americans in jail
indefinitely without the right to trial.
The administration's refusal to remedy these abuses - or even
acknowledge
most of them - leaves the 2004 human rights report heavy with irony and
saps its authority. Not only did the report fail to mention that the
Iraqi
government it criticized was appointed and controlled by the United
States,
but it also chastised the local security forces for the same kinds of
arbitrary detentions, abusive treatment and torture that have been
widespread in American military and intelligence prison camps. Indeed,
some
of the practices the report labeled as torture when employed by foreign
governments were approved at one point for American detention centers
by
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld…
---
STRUGGLING WITH OUR OWN INHUMANITY
Uwe Jacobs, San Francisco Gate, 3/2/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/03/02/EDGAMBID291.DTL
Torture is currently enjoying its 15 minutes of fame, courtesy of the
war
on terrorism. But, as we are all unfortunately learning, torture
American-style is refusing to make a graceful exit from the public
stage.
According to the Bush administration -- in the words of Secretary of
State
Condoleezza Rice, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the president
himself -- the Abu Ghraib horrors were an anomaly, a deplorable and
isolated case of misconduct among a few in the lower ranks.
Yet, as that scandal fades from view, we are confronted with new
revelations. Writing last month in the New Yorker, Jane Mayer reports
on a
secretive U.S. government program in which U.S. agents kidnap terror
suspects and then turn them over to foreign nations so that they may be
interrogated with methods that would be prohibited in the United
States,
including torture. A Pentagon investigation has confirmed that U.S.
interrogators at Guantanamo Bay have used sexual humiliation to coerce
information from prisoners. Women interrogators fondled prisoners,
flaunted
their breasts, teased them about sex. Using dye, they pretended to
smear
menstrual blood on the Muslim men, a profound cultural violation…
The techniques employed by the American torturers in Iraq and
Guantanamo
Bay are among the most insidious and effective. Sexual abuse, whatever
form
it takes, is an extremely damaging form of torture. For tormentors to
penetrate this most private realm produces deep feelings of despair and
self-loathing; I have heard survivors say they would have preferred to
be
beaten. When they are forced into humiliating acts, they can feel
responsible for participating in their own degradation. The shame they
feel
eats away at them forever…
---
POLL: 39 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BACK TORTURE
ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS WOULD USE NUKES AGAINST TERRORISTS, GALLUP FINDS
Greg Mitchell, Editor and Publisher, 3/1/05
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000819252
NEW YORK More than one in four Americans would go so far as to utilize
nuclear bombs if need be in the fight against terrorism, according to a
national survey reported today by The Gallup Organization.
Gallup asked Americans whether they would be willing or not willing "to
have the U.S. government do each of the following" and then listed an
array
of options.
For example, "assassinate known terrorists" drew the support of 65% of
all
adults. "Torture known terrorists if they know details about future
terrorist attacks in the U.S." won the backing of 39%.
Finally, the option of using "nuclear weapons to attack terrorist
facilities" drew the support of 27% of adults, with 72% opposing, which
would shatter the taboo on using these weapons militarily since the
attacks
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Experts agree that the power of today's
weapons,
their range of damage and the peril of drifting radioactive fallout far
exceeds the bombs used against Japan. That support has declined 7%
since
2001, however.
---
MISSING IMAM'S TRAIL SAID TO LEAD FROM ITALY TO CIA
Tracy Wilkinson and Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 2/3/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-vanished3mar03,0,1450260.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines
ROME - When Hassan Osama Nasr, a controversial Egyptian-born imam,
vanished
from the streets of Milan two years ago, his friends and family
insisted
he'd been kidnapped by American agents. Few people listened. But today
it
appears Italian judicial authorities may agree with them.
A leading prosecutor in Milan has opened an investigation into the
February
2003 disappearance, which has the hallmarks of a so-called
extraordinary
rendition, in which American counter-terrorism agents seize and
transport
suspects to third countries without seeking court permission.
---
EXPERT: FOREIGNERS TARGETED BY HOMELAND SECURITY
Jeff Fichner, Kentucky Kernel, 3/2/05
http://www.kykernel.com/news/2005/03/02/CampusNews/Expert.Foreigners.Targeted.By.Homeland.Security-882143.shtml
America has unjustly detained more than 5,000 foreign nationalists
since
December 2001, without charging any of them with a terroristic crime,
said
David Cole, a law professor at Georgetown University.
"Our government says, 'We will sacrifice foreign nationals' rights,
Arabs
and Muslims most notably, for Americans' security,'" said Cole of the
U.S.
Preventive Detention Campaign.
Cole spoke about homeland security and issues surrounding the human
rights
of foreign nationalists in America after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
in
the Student Center's Center Theatre last night.
-----
REPORT: UNDERSTANDING ISLAMISM
Middle East/North Africa Report, 3/2/05
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3301&l=1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Reacting to the spectacular and violent events of 11
September 2001, many Western observers and policy-makers have tended to
lump all forms of Islamism together, brand them as radical and treat
them
as hostile. That approach is fundamentally misconceived. Islamism -- or
Islamic activism (we treat these terms as synonymous) -- has a number
of
very different streams, only a few of them violent and only a small
minority justifying a confrontational response. The West needs a
discriminating strategy that takes account of the diversity of outlooks
within political Islamism; that accepts that even the most modernist of
Islamists are deeply opposed to current U.S. policies and committed to
renegotiating their relations with the West; and that understands that
the
festering Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war occupation of Iraq, and
the
way in which the "war against terrorism" is being waged all
significantly
strengthen the appeal of the most virulent and dangerous jihadi
tendencies.
-----
DETROIT YOUTH TROUPE UNITES FAITHS ON STAGE
Associated Press, 3/3/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw112462_20050303.htm
DETROIT (AP) -- A local play that casts Christian, Jewish and Muslim
young
people as characters who wrestle with religious bigotry is drawing
nationwide attention.
On stage, there's singing and dancing -- but the players also argue,
call
each other names and tell stories of pain and anger. And in the end,
they
remember that all their faiths descend from the ancient patriarch
Abraham.
After a year of taking "The Children of Abraham" on the road across
Michigan, the young performers from the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
are
drawing nationwide attention, thanks to CBS-TV, the University of
Michigan
and the Fetzer Foundation in Kalamazoo.
SEE ALSO:
AFGHANS FIND A HOME IN AMERICA
AZ Daily Star, 3/2/05
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/63661.php
In another country, another time, he might be a doctor by now, healing
the
sick.
Instead, Said Hosseyni, 33, is running a restaurant in a town thousands
of
miles from his home in Afghanistan.
Still, it beats keeping the grass green, or driving a cab - two of his
previous occupations since coming to America.
On his first night as a Tucson cabdriver, he made $20 in a 12-hour
shift -
but it cost him $35 to lease the taxi that night.
It gets worse. "The first call they gave me, I could not get out of
Downtown," says Hosseyni. "I did not know the city. I was an hour
late."
Today, he's holding forth from the old Coco's on West Drachman Street,
which has been transformed into something out of Arabian Nights. Well,
sort
of.
It's the same old carpet, the same old booths and counter stools. But
Middle Eastern music now wafts through the sound system, and some of
the
booths are canopied in veils.
The Sultan Palace, as it's now called, has also been painted and new
curtains hung, courtesy of Hosseyni's partner, Diba Kushkaki, 35, also
born
in Afghanistan.
"It took me two months to make those curtains," says Kushkaki, who
cooks
the Afghan entrees featured on the menu.
A mother of four, this is her first venture as a business owner. "I
love to
cook," says Kushkaki, who's also catered to the throngs attending the
annual gem and mineral show.
At the urging of friends, she linked up with Hosseyni and a third
partner,
Rabani Doost, also from Afghanistan.
"It took us about a year to find the right place," says Kushkaki. "We
had
to replace everything. Even the ovens were missing."
Though slow at first, business has been picking up at the restaurant,
open
since January…
-----
MUSLIM WOMAN QUITS AFTER THREATS
Chris Morris, BBC, 3/3/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4315837.stm
A Muslim woman in Belgium who received national attention after her
employer was targeted with death threats has left her job. Naima Amzil
resigned after another threatening letter arrived.
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said he was disappointed and he
vowed that the people responsible for the threats would be caught.
Ms Amzil is originally from Morocco. She has been singled out because
she
is a Muslim and she wears a headscarf.
The latest in a series of letters sent to her employer from a group
calling
itself New Free Flanders was too much for her…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/4/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LAMPS OF GUIDANCE
- Verse: Good News for the Humble
* CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS APPLAUD ARRESTS IN SLAYING OF NJ FAMILY
* CAIR-CAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF SLAIN OFFICERS
- CAIR-CAN Makes Submission on Arar Inquiry
- CAIR-CA Participates in Educator Conference
- CAIR-Houston Discusses Hajj at Church Gathering
* HOTELIERS BACK MODI'S US VISIT AMID PROTESTS
- FL: Protests Planned Against Modi (India West)
- ACTION ALERT: Protest Modi's Visit and Visa
* NB: MUSLIM GIRLS' EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOLS (Nebraskan)
- IL: Health Care for Muslim Women in U.S.
* IA: POINTING FINGER AT ISLAM MISSES THE POINT (DM Reg)
- MI: Malcolm X's Impact Felt Across Area (Free Press)
* AMERICAN JAILS IN IRAQ ARE BURSTING WITH DETAINEES (NYT)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: DANIEL PIPES BACKS CONVICTED RACIST
- Far-Right Leader's Conviction Upheld
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LAMPS OF GUIDANCE
"God loves the upright, pious and retiring ones who are not missed when
they are absent, and are not given invitations or treated with honor
when
they are present. Their hearts are the lamps of guidance, and they come
forth from every dusty and dark place."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1418
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOOD NEWS FOR THE HUMBLE
"(O Prophet,) give good news to the humble, whose hearts tremble (with
awe)
at the mention of God; who endure adversity with patience, who
establish
prayer and spend in charity out of what we have given them."
The Holy Quran, 22:35
-----
CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS APPLAUD ARRESTS IN SLAYING OF NJ FAMILY
(TOTOWA, NJ, 3/4/05) - The New Jersey office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today applauded the arrest of two
suspects in the case of an Arab-American Christian family murdered
earlier
this year in Jersey City.
The bodies of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their
two
children, Monica, 8, and Sylvia, 15, were found in their home in
January.
The victims, Coptic Christians from Egypt, died of multiple stab
wounds.
The upstairs neighbor of the family and another man were charged today.
Edward McDonald, 25, pleaded not guilty to four counts of felony
murder.
Hamilton Sanchez, 30, faces similar charges and also pleaded not
guilty.
SEE: TWO CHARGED IN SLAYING OF EGYPTIAN FAMILY
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-family-slain,0,7361248.story
The case caused religious tension resulting from unsubstantiated claims
that the murders were perpetrated by Muslims motivated by
anti-Christian
bias. Investigators now tell CAIR-NJ that the alleged motive was
robbery,
not religious hatred.
"All those involved in the investigation of this brutal crime deserve
praise for their diligence and for resisting efforts by hate-mongers
from
outside our state to use the tragedy as a way to damage interfaith
relations," said CAIR-NJ President Magdy Mahmoud. Mahmoud said he hopes
the
arrests will bring closure to this disturbing case.
At the time of the murders, CAIR-NJ offered condolences to the loved
ones
of the family and to the local Egyptian Coptic community. The Muslim
civil
rights and advocacy group also asked that the possible bias motive be
thoroughly investigated and held a news conference to call for
interfaith
solidarity.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 908-209-7440, 908-938-5990, E-Mail:
cairnj@comcast.net,
media@cair-nj.org
-----
CAIR-CAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF SLAIN OFFICERS
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 04/03/2005) - The Canadian Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today offered condolences to the RCMP and the
families
of the four Alberta RCMP officers who were killed yesterday during an
investigation of a marijuana growing operation near Mayerthorpe,
Alberta.
In its letter sent to RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, CAIR-CAN
wrote:
"No words can describe the sadness and grief generated by the deaths of
so
many brave and dedicated RCMP officers.
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and
the
RCMP.
"Canadian Muslims recognize the important sacrifices that RCMP officers
make everyday in serving and protecting Canadians."
CONTACT: CAIR-CAN, Abdurahman Salman at 613-254-9704; 613-795-2012
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN AND CAF MAKE SUBMISSIONS ON RCMP OVERSIGHT TO ARAR INQUIRY
(TORONTO, OTTAWA - 3/4/2005)- The Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) and
the
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) recently made
submissions to the Arar inquiry regarding an independent, arm's-length
review mechanism for the RCMP's activities involving national security.
The
submissions were made as part of the Policy Review mandate of the
inquiry,
which runs concurrently with an ongoing Factual Inquiry into the
Canadian
government's involvement in the Maher Arar affair.
The submissions to the inquiry focused both on the need to protect
essential rights and freedoms and the importance of ensuring
transparency
and accountability of RCMP investigations involving national security.
On the issue of protecting rights and freedoms, the submission
describes
the context within which RCMP abuses of rights and freedoms of Arab and
Muslim communities have occurred, and provides nine recommendations on
how
such abuses may be curtailed. On the issue of accountability, the
submission calls for the creation of an RCMP review body that is
independent, has investigative, adjudicative, remedial and reporting
functions, and is accountable to the public through Parliament. In
addition, the submission calls for the creation of a special
parliamentary
committee to review all Canadian national security and intelligence
activities.
The entire submission may be viewed at:
www.caircan.ca/downloads/PRS-AC-02212005.pdf
"It is our profound hope that the Commission will begin to right the
wrongs
done to Canadian Arabs and Muslims in recent years by advancing
recommendations that redefine the security paradigm and re-invigorate
civil
rights and freedoms," said Omar Alghabra, CAF president. "While it is
critical that we all find out what has transpired with regards to Mr.
Arar,
this inquiry is in essence about preserving the rights of all
Canadians."
"The Arar case has eroded the legitimacy of the RCMP as a Canadian
institution in the eyes of many Canadians and current accountability
mechanisms have proven inadequate in answering the troubling questions
regarding Arar's deportation and torture," said CAIR-CAN Executive
Director
Riad Saloojee. "A transparent and effective oversight mechanism is
critical
in restoring the confidence in our national police service."
Recently, Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the
RCMP,
Shirley Heafey, underscored the same concerns in her report to the Arar
Commission and stated that "effective, ongoing review is a key aspect
of
police accountability [and] that there is an urgent need for reform if
we
are to have effective civilian review of RCMP conduct."
CONTACT: Omar Alghabra, CAF president, (905) 302-6787; Riad Saloojee,
CAIR-CAN Executive Director, (613) 254-9704; (613) 795-2012.
---
CAIR-NOCAL PARTICIPATES IN STATEWIDE EDUCATOR CONFERENCE
WHAT: The Northern California office of the Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR-NOCAL) will participate today and tomorrow in the
California Teacher's Association (CTA) Educator's Conference.
CTA Conference Objectives and Action Items include informing educators
about the special needs of Muslim students in public and private
schools,
and bringing about better understanding and positive relations among
different communities in America.
WHEN: Friday, March 4 to Saturday, March 5, 2005.
Set up time is Friday, March 4th at 4:00 pm
Exhibit times are: Friday, March 4th from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm and
Saturday,
March 5th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
WHERE: Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA
Volunteers are needed to visit with conference participants and speak
about
CAIR programs every conference day (Friday & Saturday).
If you are interested in taking part in this event, please contact the
CAIR
office at 408-986-9875 or e-mail amina@cair.com
---
CAIR-HOUSTON DISCUSSES HAJJ AT CHURCH GATHERING
(HOUSTON, TX, 3/4/05) - On March 2, a representative of the Houston
office
of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) discussed the
basics of Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, at the Memorial Drive United
Methodist Church.
CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway gave a presentation to
the
group of some 60 parishioners that covered basic Islamic beliefs,
statistics about American Muslims and about the rituals of Hajj.
"It is heartwarming to have sincere dialogue with people of faith who
are
seeking to recognize and build on common ground," said Iesa Galloway.
"This
event reaffirmed my confidence that friendship and mutual understanding
will continue to grow among Americans."
Roger Daniels, event organizer said, "The presentation was very
informative
and gave the group a better understanding of the basic tenets of Islam
as
well as the rites and rituals of Hajj."
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-656-0449
The event was in response to a recently-published article, "A Texans
Pilgrimage to Mecca," by Galloway about his personal journey performing
the
Hajj.
SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=35829&theType=NB
-----
GUJARATI HOTELIERS BACK MODI'S US VISIT AMID PROTESTS
S Rajagopalan, Hindustan Times, 3/1/05
http://www.hindustantimes.com/2005/Mar/03/181_1264269,00050001.htm
Washington - Narendra Modi's visit to the US this month could turn out
to
be a stormy affair. A host of secular groups have locked horns with the
Gujarati-dominated Asian-American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA),
which
has invited Modi to be the chief guest at its annual convention.
But the hoteliers are sticking to their guns. Brushing aside the
protests
by the secular groups, many of which have petitioned Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to bar Modi's entry, the AAHOA has rejected demands
that
it withdraw the invitation to Modi.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times on Wednesday, AAHOA treasurer Danny
Patel
said: "We have invited Modi to our annual convention at Fort
Lauderdale,
Florida, from March 24 to 26. And we will honour it. There is no
question
of cancelling it now."
"We are inviting the Chief Minister of Gujarat, who may be any
individual.
We have nothing to do with politics. We want to hear him on investment
opportunities in the state. After all, 95 per cent of AAHOA members are
of
Gujarati origin," said Patel, who runs 14 hotels in Georgia.
But there is no let-up in the protests against Modi's visit. After the
Institute on Religion and Public Policy fired the first salvo, several
groups have pitched in. They include a formation, calling itself the
'Coalition Against Genocide'. The Indian Muslims Council-USA and the
Council on American-Islamic Relations have also come to the fore.
The protesting groups, branding Modi an "egregious violator" of
religious
freedom, want him denied a visa in line with the US's International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998…
ALSO SEE:
PROTESTS PLANNED AT AAHOA MEET AGAINST NARENDRA MODI
Viji Sundaram, India-West, 3/3/05
http://www.indiawest.com/cgi-bin/news/viewNews.cgi?article=1109894465&Department=Coverpage
A coalition of Indian American activists is vowing to stage a protest
at
the upcoming Asian American Hotel Owners Association annual convention
if
it does not drop its plans to have Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
as
its chief guest. No major Indian American community organization,
however,
has joined the protest.
"It's a morally wrong decision and doesn't make economic sense either
to
invite a man such as Modi to speak to the future of Asian American
business," asserted Angana Chatterji, a member of the newly formed
Coalition Against Genocide, and an associate professor of Social and
Cultural Anthropology at the San Francisco-based California Institute
of
Integral Studies…
---
ACTION ALERT: URGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DENY VISA FOR MODI
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
-----
AUTHOR EXPLORES MUSLIM GIRLS' EXPERIENCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Danielle Welty, Daily Nebraskan, 3/4/05
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/04/4227f5ef608cb
Members of the audience gasped and whispered after Loukia Sarroub read
a
portion of her book that depicted the confusing lives of Yemeni girls
living in the United States.
Sarroub spoke about the girls' experiences in school situations -- gym
class, for example.
Each time a boy passed by the girls' gym class, the female students
would
stop their running exercise; Yemeni men aren't supposed to see women
move
in anything besides a moderate walk.
Their gym teacher didn't understand -- she berated them for being lazy
and
made them run more as punishment.
Sarroub, an assistant professor of education at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln read selected sections from her new book "All American
Yemeni Girls: Being Muslim in a Public School."
More than 40 people filled the chairs set up in the middle of
University
Bookstore while more stood in the back for the reading and book signing
event Thursday.
"It was a cultural eye-opener," said Gina Luedtke, a senior
broadcasting
major who came to the book reading to get extra credit for a class.
The book follows six Yemeni girls through public schools from
1997-2002.
Both before and after Sept. 11, 2001, the girls were torn between
American
norms and their religious beliefs as well as traditional expectations
of
their parents and peers, Sarroub said.
Sarroub said that through their struggles, they managed to succeed
beyond
many expectations…
ALSO SEE:
CONFERENCE LOOKS AT HEALTH CARE FOR MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE U.S.
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20050303.124105&time=12%2047%20PST&year=2005&public=0
CHICAGO -- "Patient-centered Health Care for Muslim Women in the United
States" is the topic of a conference March 4 and 5 at the University of
Illinois at Chicago that brings together consumers, providers and
national
experts to discuss culturally appropriate health care for Muslim women.
Dr. Memoona Hasnain, director of research and assistant professor of
public
health in family medicine at UIC, is the principal conference
organizer.
From her own experiences as a Muslim woman and a physician, as well as
from published studies and an informal survey of female Muslim students
and
family medicine providers at UIC, Hasnain concluded that there is a
need
for ongoing discussion and additional research on the subject.
"The religious and cultural beliefs of Muslim women impact their health
care needs, and they face major barriers while seeking health care that
the
rest of the population, particularly health care providers, often are
unaware of," she said.
Modesty, for example, is a key concept in Muslim women's lives.
Observant
Muslim women prefer to avoid unnecessary close contact with men, and
most
choose to wear clothing that covers their bodies. They need female
health
care providers and have dietary restrictions, special needs during
fasting,
and personal hygiene needs related to daily prayers, Hasnain said…
-----
POINTING FINGER AT ISLAM, MUSLIMS MISSES THE POINT
Stephen Aigner, Sana Akili, and Hsain Ilahiane, Des Moines Register,
3/3/05
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050303/OPINION01/503030460/1035/OPINION
On a recent edition of the "Iowa Press" television show, Representative
Jim
Leach was asked to reflect on the Iraqi elections and the looming
shadow of
Iran in the Mideast.
Twice he referred to an ideological point of view known as the "clash
of
civilizations." We are very concerned that an Iowan and a moderate
Republican who is a highly respected member of the House International
Relations Committee would employ such an ideology as his foreign-policy
framework.
The clash framework helped to persuade the political leaders of the
United
States to invade Iraq preemptively, to risk a protracted armed conflict
that may endanger the future of the world and may financially burden
generations to come. If Iowans, including a U.S. House member, accept
the
clash between West and Islam without further analysis, then we have
fallen
into the same trap Osama bin Laden uses to stereotype and demonize the
"other" as a monster…
History is replete with examples of the three Abrahamic faiths - Jews,
Christians and Muslims - living together peacefully and tolerantly. It
is
not Islamic civilization or culture that's the problem. In fact,
sociologists and cultural anthropologists do not even agree on what
those
terms mean. The clash argument selectively uses historical events to
manipulate concepts like culture and civilization to construct an
enemy…
STEPHEN AIGNER, SANA AKILI AND HSAIN ILAHIANE are faculty members at
Iowa
State University and members of the board of directors of Darul Arqum
Islamic Center of Ames.
ALSO SEE:
MALCOLM X'S IMPACT FELT ACROSS AREA
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 3/4/05
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/malcolm4e_20050304.htm
He was born to Muslim immigrants from Pakistan.
But after the Ypsilanti teenager descended into alcohol abuse, he was
lifted up by the words of Malcolm X -- a man usually seen as a paragon
of
black nationalism.
"I'm the product of his legacy," said Muddasar Tawakkul, now an
assistant
corporation counsel for Wayne County. "I went from smoking and drinking
...
to cleaning myself up and disciplining myself."
It might seem surprising for Asian Americans and Arabs to follow a man
who
focused primarily on the empowerment of African-Americans. But Malcolm
X
was also a Muslim who increasingly sought connections with the Middle
East
and Asia in the last year of his life as he moved towards mainline
Islam.
And so today, a number of nonblack Muslims have turned toward the words
of
the Michigan-raised leader assassinated 40 years ago last month.
Tawakkual admires Malcolm X so much that he came up with the idea for a
seminar on Malcolm's influence on Islam and America. It will be held
Saturday in Detroit and features Ilyasah Shabazz, a daughter of the
slain
leader who has become a visible spokesperson for his family. Benjamin
Karim, Malcolm's chief assistant at the time of his death, also plans
to
speak. It's an event that resonates for many in metro Detroit, where
its
large black, Arab and Muslim populations often intersect, especially
when
it involves the memory of Malcolm.
His message has particular resonance in a post Sept. 11 climate where
some
American Muslims, especially immigrants, find themselves under siege by
what they see as a hostile government.
"His message was to stand up for your rights," said Masood Rab, a
Muslim
immigrant from India who lives in Livonia. "Today, these lessons apply
not
just for African Americans, but to Muslims and Muslim Americans growing
up
here."
Still, many African Americans view the legacy of Malcolm X primarily
through a cultural or ethnic lens.
At the Malcolm X Academy, a public school in Detroit, teachers and
administrators "refer more to him as an African American" than as a
Muslim,
said the principal, Freda Dawson…
------
AMERICAN JAILS IN IRAQ ARE BURSTING WITH DETAINEES
Edward Wong, New York Times, 3/4/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/middleeast/04detain.html
ABU GHRAIB, Iraq, March 2 - The American military's major detention
centers
in Iraq have swelled to capacity and are holding more people than ever,
senior military officials say.
The growing detainee population reflects recent changes in how the
military
has been waging the war and in its policies toward detainees, the
officials
say.
The military swept up many Iraqis before the Jan. 30 elections in an
attempt to curb violence and halted all releases before the vote. Other
detainees have been captured in ambitious recent offensives across the
Sunni Triangle, from Samarra to Falluja to the Euphrates River valley
south
of Baghdad.
The Abu Ghraib abuse scandal also forced changes in the system, with
the
military working quickly last summer to try and weed out detainees who
obviously did not belong in prison. Many of the ones remaining are more
likely to be denied release by review boards, military officials say.
As of this week, the military is holding at least 8,900 detainees in
the
three major prisons, 1,000 more than in late January. Here in Abu
Ghraib,
where eight American soldiers were charged last year with abusing
detainees, 3,160 people are being kept, well above the 2,500 level
considered ideal, said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for the
detainee
system. The largest center, Camp Bucca in the south, has at least 5,640
detainees.
One hundred so-called high-value detainees, including Saddam Hussein
and
his closest aides, are being held at Camp Cropper, near the Baghdad
airport.
"We're very close to capacity now," Colonel Johnson said.
The surging numbers of prisoners pose important challenges for the
military. The Abu Ghraib scandal revealed that the military was using
poorly trained interrogators even as more detainees were swept into
prison
in the fall of 2003.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: DANIEL PIPES BACKS CONVICTED RACIST
Daniel Pipes, considered by many Muslims to be America's leading
Islamophobe, recently expressed support for French far-right racist
Jean-Marie Le Pen. On his web site, Pipes said Le Pen's extremist views
"represent an important outlook in the national debate over immigration
and
Islam."
An appeals court in France recently upheld Le Pen's conviction for
inciting
anti-Muslim hatred in a newspaper interview. Le Pen has been convicted
of
racism or anti-Semitism at least six times in the past.
SEE: FAR-RIGHT LEADER'S CONVICTION UPHELD
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/34191.html
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/6/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: HOLD FAST TO GOD
* CAIR-HOUSTON: MUSLIMS AID WOMEN'S SHELTER
* CIA SENDS SUSPECTS TO FOREIGN JAILS (NY Times)
- CIA Abuse in Secret (Washington Post)
- Gitmo Captives Allege Religious Abuse (Miami Herald)
* ITALIAN JOURNALIST REJECTS U.S. ACCOUNT (NY Times)
* CAIR-NJ: COPTS AND MUSLIMS LOOK FOR HEALING (JJ)
- NJ: Arrests Fail to Mend Muslim-Christian Rift (NYT)
* CA: DONATIONS FUND ISLAMIC SOCIETY PROJECT (PE)
- CA: Muslims Renewed After Hajj (Sac Bee)
- MI: Man Recounts Scene at Mecca (AA News)
* MUSLIMS SLAM PORTRAYAL IN '24' (AP)
- VA: Student Complains of Profiling (Roanoke Times)
* WHAT ISLAM SAYS ABOUT DEMOCRACY (Phil Inq)
* 5TH ANNUAL IOWA CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
- NY: ICNA Fundraiser for Local Programs
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: HOLD FAST TO GOD
"Strive in the way of God as you ought to strive (with sincerity and
discipline). (God) has chosen you (to carry His message) and has
imposed no
hardship in the observance of your faith - the faith of your father
Abraham. It is He who named you 'those who have surrendered themselves
to
God' both before (in prior scriptures) and in this (Quran), so that the
Apostle may bear witness to the truth for you, and that you may bear
witness to it for all mankind. So establish regular prayer, give
regular
charity and hold fast to God."
The Holy Quran, 22:78
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON: MUSLIMS AID WOMEN'S SHELTER
(HOUSTON, 3/6/05) - On Saturday March 5, Houston-area Muslims joined
the
Houston Area Women's Shelter in the Race Against Violence 5K. Proceeds
from
the event are to benefit the Houston Area Women's Shelter.
"I believe helping the Women's Shelter is important because it is an
institution that gives support to women in times of need," said one
Muslim
participant.
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, 713-838-2247, 832-656-0449
-----
RULE CHANGE LETS C.I.A. FREELY SEND SUSPECTS ABROAD TO JAILS
DOUGLAS JEHL and DAVID JOHNSTON, New York Times, 3/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/06/politics/06intel.html
WASHINGTON, March 5 - The Bush administration's secret program to
transfer
suspected terrorists to foreign countries for interrogation has been
carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency under broad authority
that
has allowed it to act without case-by-case approval from the White
House or
the State or Justice Departments, according to current and former
government officials.
The unusually expansive authority for the C.I.A. to operate
independently
was provided by the White House under a still-classified directive
signed
by President Bush within days of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the
World
Trade Center and the Pentagon, the officials said.
The process, known as rendition, has been central in the government's
efforts to disrupt terrorism, but has been bitterly criticized by human
rights groups on grounds that the practice has violated the Bush
administration's public pledge to provide safeguards against torture.
In providing a detailed description of the program, a senior United
States
official said that it had been aimed only at those suspected of knowing
about terrorist operations, and emphasized that the C.I.A. had gone to
great lengths to ensure that they were detained under humane conditions
and
not tortured.
The official would not discuss any legal directive under which the
agency
operated, but said that the "C.I.A. has existing authorities to
lawfully
conduct these operations."
The official declined to be named but agreed to discuss the program to
rebut the assertions that the United States used the program to
secretly
send people to other countries for the purpose of torture. The
transfers
were portrayed as an alternative to what American officials have said
is
the costly, manpower-intensive process of housing them in the United
States
or in American-run facilities in other countries.
In recent weeks, several former detainees have described being
subjected to
coercive interrogation techniques and brutal treatment during months
spent
in detention under the program in Egypt and other countries. The
official
would not discuss specific cases, but did not dispute that there had
been
instances in which prisoners were mistreated. The official said none
had died.
The official said the C.I.A.'s inspector general was reviewing the
rendition program as one of at least a half-dozen inquiries within the
agency of possible misconduct involving the detention, interrogation
and
rendition of suspected terrorists.
In public, the Bush administration has refused to confirm that the
rendition program exists, saying only in response to questions about it
that the United States did not hand over people to face torture.
SEE ALSO:
ABUSE IN SECRET
Washington Post, 3/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8746-2005Mar4.html
In clandestine prisons in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and in detention
facilities maintained by authoritarian allies such as Egypt, the CIA is
holding dozens of detainees without any legal process, outside review,
family notification or monitoring by the Red Cross and other human
rights
groups. In effect, these prisoners have "disappeared," like the
domestic
opponents of dictatorships that the State Department annually critiques
in
its human rights report. Many may have been tortured. As Attorney
General
Alberto R. Gonzales confirmed in January, the administration has
authorized
CIA interrogators to subject these detainees to "cruel, inhumane and
degrading" treatment banned by an international treaty that has been
ratified by the United States…
---
CAPTIVES ALLEGE RELIGIOUS ABUSE
Carol Rosenberg, Miami Herald, 3/6/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/11062864.htm
Captives at the Guantanamo Bay prison are alleging that guards kicked
and
stomped on Korans and cursed Allah, and that interrogators punished
them by
taking away their pants, knowing that would prevent them from praying.
Guards also mocked captives at prayer and censored Islamic books, the
captives allege. And in one incident, they say, a prison barber cut a
cross-shaped patch of hair on an inmate's head.
Most of the complaints come from the recently declassified notes of
defense
lawyers' interviews with prisoners, which Guantanamo officials
initially
stamped ''secret.'' Under a federal court procedure for due-process
appeals
by about 100 inmates, portions are now being declassified.
The allegations of religious abuses contradict Pentagon portrayals of
the
Guantanamo prison for Taliban and al Qaeda suspects as respectful of
Islam.
Commanders at the base in Cuba have showcased the presence of Muslim
chaplains and the issuance of Korans, prayer rugs, caps and beads and
religiously correct meals.
Army Col. David McWilliams, the spokesman for the Miami-based Southern
Command, which supervises the prison, said he could not confirm or deny
the
specific complaints. They could not be independently investigated
because
the U.S. military bans reporters from interviewing detainees.
But McWilliams denied any policy of religious abuse…
The accounts of religious indignities and abuses come from at least two
dozen captives and a range of attorneys -- from U.S. military lawyers
assigned to defend prisoners to activist law professors and private
corporate lawyers who have sued since the Supreme Court ruled in June
that
the captives can contest their detention in U.S. courts…
-----
ITALIAN JOURNALIST SHOT IN IRAQ REJECTS U.S. ACCOUNT
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 3/6/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/06/international/europe/06cnd-italy.html
ROME, March 6 - The Italian reporter wounded when American troops
opened
fire on the car carrying her and Italian secret service officers to the
Baghdad airport just hours after her release from kidnappers rejected
today
the United States' version of the incident and refused to rule out that
she
was intentionally targeted.
"The fact that the Americans don't want negotiations to free the
hostages
is known," Ms. Sgrena said in a telephone interview with Sky TG24
television. "The fact that they do everything to prevent the adoption
of
this practice to save the lives of people held hostages, everybody
knows
that. So I don't see why I should rule out that I could have been the
target."
The White House called the shooting a "horrific accident" and promised
a
full investigation…
-----
CAIR-NJ: BOTH COPTS AND MUSLIMS EXPRESS RELIEF, LOOK FOR HEALING
Maria Zingaro Conte, Jersey Journal, 3/5/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1110017454231210.xml
As word spread yesterday that the two men allegedly responsible for the
January slaying of a Coptic Christian family in Jersey City had been
taken
into custody and arraigned, reactions in the Coptic community ranged
from
shock to relief.
The arrests put an end to weeks of speculation that the brutal killings
had
been religiously motivated, fueled by a centuries-old rift between
Coptic
and Muslim Egyptians. The development brought some measure of relief to
members of both religious groups.
"We are very relieved that the perpetrators are brought to justice and
we
hope that they will be severely punished," said Michael Meunier,
president
of the U.S. Copts Association. "We continue to endorse good relations
between Egyptian Muslim and Christian communities both in New Jersey
and
abroad."
Prosecutors allege that Edward McDonald and Hamilton Sanchez, both
convicted drug dealers, robbed and then killed the four-member
Armanious
family and used their ATM card to withdraw about $3,000 from the
family's
bank accounts.
At the time of the murders, McDonald was a tenant in the Armanious'
two-family house…
Sarah Issa, the director of media relations for the Council on American
Islamic Relations-New Jersey, said there were important lessons to be
learned from the outcome of the case.
"It was really a disappointment and a pity that we didn't wait and give
a
period of time and let the authorities first come to conclusions before
we
first jumped to speculations and accusations," she said.
"But even though the Islamic community was blamed, it's still
understood
that the tragedy is kind of what prompted this, and that is really a
lesson
for all of us to try to reach some common sense and wait for the
authorities to come to the bottom of it before we start accusing
others."
She also expressed optimism that relations between the two religious
groups
in Jersey City can be repaired and said her organization plans to work
to
bring the Egyptian community in Jersey City back together…
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 908-209-7440, 908-938-5990, E-Mail:
cairnj@comcast.net,
media@cair-nj.org
ALSO SEE:
ARRESTS FAIL TO MEND MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN RIFT
Anthony Ramirez, New York Times, 3/5/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/05/nyregion/05divide.html
For Egyptian-Americans in New Jersey, the nightmare seemed to come true
in
January. A Christian family of four was found slaughtered in their
Jersey
City home. It was rumored that the father had exchanged angry words
with a
Muslim on the Internet.
Egyptian Muslims and Egyptian Coptic Christians are at brutal odds with
each other in their homeland, but those who had immigrated to the
United
States had nonetheless managed to live peacefully.
Now they seemed as if they could be headed toward a Muslim-Christian
face-off.
Yesterday, two suspects, both of them non-Egyptian and non-Muslim, were
charged with murder: an upstairs neighbor, Edward McDonald, and his
friend,
Hamilton Sanchez. The two men pleaded not guilty in the deaths of
Hossam
Armanious, his wife and their two school-age children.
Coptic Christians and Muslims alike expressed relief yesterday, but
suspicions linger. Fred Ayad, 69, a former deputy mayor of Jersey City,
expressed a sense of relief that many Copts were feeling.
"Thank God, it's not a religious matter," he said, biting his words.
"If
they had been Egyptian or Muslim, we would have had…"
-----
CA: ISLAMIC SOCIETY PROJECT FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS
Melanie C. Johnson, Press Enterprise, 3/6/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/corona/stories/PE_News_Local_C_cmosque06.f108.html
CORONA - Members at a mosque in town will soon have more room to
worship.
The Islamic Society of Corona-Norco is putting the finishing touches on
a
$1.3 million school and a multipurpose building at a site on Santana
Way
near Santana Regional Park.
The initial 6,800-square-foot building is phase one of a two-phase
project
that will eventually include a formal mosque. For now, members will use
the
multipurpose room to worship.
"It's a struggle," said Rafe Husain, the society's board president.
"It's a
lot of work."
The Corona mosque is one of a handful in the Inland area, according to
the
Anaheim-based Council on American Islamic Relations. Two are in San
Bernardino, with others in Riverside, Hemet, Coachella Valley and
Rancho
Cucamonga.
The most difficult thing about getting the religious center built has
been
securing the money needed, Husain said. The project was built mainly
with
donations from members of the mosque, with many giving materials or
providing labor to get the initial phase done, he said.
Husain said the society was able to save more than $800,000 in
construction
costs because members pitched in…
SEE ALSO:
MODESTANS RETURN RENEWED AFTER PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
Amy White, Modesto Bee, 3/5/05
http://www.modbee.com/life/faithvalues/story/10071844p-10899192c.html
For Nasser Shama, going on the hajj -- the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
--
was a true test of patience. He joined more than 2 million pilgrims
along a
15-mile stretch between holy sites in Saudi Arabia, experiencing the
crush
of crowds and streets choked with buses.
Misfortune befell the pilgrims, whether it was broken-down buses,
rainstorms that caused floods, mosquito swarms or the sheer amount of
time
it took to get from one place to another.
And yet, Shama, a 31-year-old mechanic shop manager from Modesto, felt
calm, patient and humbled. The scene was not chaotic, he said...
ALSO SEE
LOCAL MAN RECOUNTS SCENE AT MECCA DURING PILGRIMAGE
Marianne Rzepka, Ann Arbor News, 3/6/05
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/aanews/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1110107612124671.xml
-----
MUSLIMS SLAM THEIR PORTRAYAL AS TERRORISTS IN '24' TV SHOW
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 3/6/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--24-muslims0306mar06,0,1929447.story
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- A plate of spicy stuffed cabbage leaves
and a
cup of mint tea before him, Yosry Bekhiet sat down and turned on the
television for a late dinner one recent Monday night. On the screen, he
saw
Muslim terrorists gain control of a nuclear plant, causing it to melt
down.
One of the leaders of the plot shot his own wife and tried to shoot his
son, fearing they would thwart his plans. (And this was after
kidnapping
the United States Secretary of Defense and trying to behead him live on
the
Internet.)
Bekhiet was watching "24," the popular Fox action series starring
Kiefer
Sutherland as a government agent who battles bloodthirsty Islamic
terrorists. The show has garnered high ratings, but also has angered
Muslims across the nation over the way their community is portrayed.
"It's disgusting," Bekhiet said after watching an episode with an
Associated Press reporter. "My own kids, if they see this show, they
might
hate me."
Bekhiet, an engineer with the state Department of Transportation, is
worried that the fictional Araz family is the image most of America
will
have of Muslims.
"In Wisconsin and Nevada and North Dakota, this is what people see
about
Muslims," he said. "It seems like on television, everybody has their
turn
as the bad guys: It happened to the Italians, the Russians. Now it's
our
turn."
In January, a nationwide Muslim civil rights group, the
Washington-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations met with Fox executives to
complain
about the show. A compromise was reached in which the network agreed to
distribute CAIR's public service announcements to local affiliates. And
last month, Sutherland himself appeared in a commercial during the
broadcast urging viewers to realize that the show's villains are not
representative of Muslims.
"While terrorism is obviously one of the most critical challenges
facing
our nation and the world, it is important to recognize that the
American
Muslim community stands firmly beside their fellow Americans in
denouncing
and resisting all forms of terrorism," Sutherland said. "So in watching
24,
please, bear that in mind."
Fox spokesman Scott Grogin said the network would not comment on Muslim
reaction to the show other than to note the meeting with the council
and
the distribution of the public service announcements.
"We've listened to their concerns and tried to work with them," he
said.
Rabiah Ahmed, a council official who attended the meeting with the
network
executives, said Muslims are concerned with how others view them,
particularly in the mass media.
"For us it's a sensitive and urgent situation because we are facing a
backlash after Sept. 11 and we need to defend our interests and our
image.
We understand that it's entertainment and fiction. Our concern is that
others may not."
She said Fox promised that positive Muslim characters will emerge in
future
episodes…
ALSO SEE:
VA: STUDENT COMPLAINS OF PROFILING
Jen McCaffery, Roanoke Times, 3/5/05
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/19589.html
"Your cultural background and your interest in flying raised a red
flag,"
he says an FBI agent told him.
Virginia Tech graduate student Rammy Haija has been enthusiastic about
airplanes since he was a freshman in college and spent a weekend with
an
uncle who is an aerospace engineer.
Haija dreamed of one day building his own plane and getting a private
pilot's license. After moving to Blacksburg to pursue his doctorate in
sociology in mid-January, Haija contacted the Air Force Auxiliary
there.
Haija recalled that he told the squadron leader that he wanted to
combine
his love of airplanes with his commitment to serve his country by
volunteering for the auxiliary.
He also recalled that he told the squadron leader that he hoped to
enroll
in flight school and asked if he knew of any local schools. The leader
was
very helpful and invited him to future meetings, recalled Haija, 23.
Not long after that, Haija got a call from an agent with the Federal
Bureau
of Investigation in Roanoke. The agent asked to meet him at a fast-food
restaurant for voluntary questioning, according to Haija.
Haija agreed to come in for an interview at the FBI office in Roanoke -
with an attorney, despite his recollection that the agent repeatedly
told
him he wouldn't need one.
"Five years ago, we wouldn't have brought you in," Haija recalls the
agent
telling him. "But in post 9/11, your cultural background and your
interest
in flying raised a red flag." The FBI will not say who brought Haija to
the
FBI's attention or why. But they confirmed that the meeting took place.
Haija maintains he was profiled because of his ethnicity - he is a
Palestinian-American who was born in Texas and raised in the United
States.
He does not claim that he was profiled on the basis of his religion,
which
he declined to name.
-----
WHAT ISLAM SAYS OF DEMOCRACY
Scholar shows terrorists' perversion.
Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/5/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/entertainment/11051095.htm
In a just world, Khaled Abou El Fadl would get as much publicity as
Osama
bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Bin Laden and Zarqawi blow up buildings and slaughter fellow Muslims.
Abou
El Fadl blows up everything those two terrorists supposedly believe in.
A UCLA law professor trained in Islam's jurisprudential traditions,
Abou El
Fadl specializes in exploring Islam's humane and democratic elements. A
few
years ago, in the brisk The Place of Tolerance in Islam, he explained
why
Islamic and tolerant aren't contradictory, despite terrorists who
suggest
that Islam stands for nothing but hatred and violence.
Now, with demands for democracy resonating in the Mideast - among Iraqi
voters, Lebanese demonstrators, even the right and left lobes of
Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak - observers might turn to Abou El Fadl's Islam
and
the Challenge of Democracy for a crash course on the basics.
The book's key message? Democracy isn't a great challenge for Islam -
at
least doctrinally.
According to Abou El Fadl, "classical Muslim scholars embraced core
elements of modern democratic practice." Although "the Qur'an itself
does
not specify a particular form of government," it does, he argues,
pinpoint
values central to any Muslim state: "pursuing justice through social
cooperation and mutual assistance (49:13, 11:119); establishing a
nonautocratic, consultative method of government; and
institutionalizing
mercy and compassion in social interactions (6:12, 6:54, 21:107, 27:77,
29:51, 45:20)."
"Institutionalizing mercy and compassion"? No, such values don't seem
to be
within a light-year of exploding car bombs that wipe out hundreds of
fellow
Muslims.
Reading Abou El Fadl should anger every Muslim and non-Muslim. Why?
Because
he demonstrates not just the brutality but the idiocy of so-called
Islamic
fascism - "so-called" because it's really 99 percent fascist, and
Islamic
only in its rhetorical propaganda. As the author sets out Islam's
authentic
theses, the gap between them and their perversions grows ever clearer…
------
5TH ANNUAL IOWA CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
WHAT: Iowa State will be hosting its 5th annual conference on Islam,
"Quraan: A Book of Life, Guidance to Humanity."
WHEN: March 18 - 20, 2005
WHERE: Iowa State University
Free and Open to the Public! For questions about the conference, please
email: questions@IowaMuslims.org
REGISTER ONLINE, IT'S FREE
http://www.IowaMuslims.org
ALSO SEE:
ICNA FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS
WHAT: The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief will host a
fundraiser for the following local programs: 9/11 Civil Liberties
Family
Assistance and Crisis Counseling, United Muslim Movement Against
Homelessness (UMMAH), Muslim Women's Help Network (MWHN).
Guest Speakers include: Omar Mohammedi, NYC Human Rights Commissioner;
Ibrahim Nejm, Imam Masjid Hamza, Professor St. John's University;
Mohamed
Tariqur Rahman, Executive Director, ICNA Relief; Jawed Anwar, Owner &
Editor In Chief, Muslim Weekly.
WHEN: Sunday, March 20, 2005 from 5-7 p.m.
WHERE: SAGAR Restaurant
40-26 28th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
Cost: $25 per person (includes Dinner & Refreshment)
For more info call 718 523 5100!
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/7/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PATH OF PEACE
* CAIR LAUNCHES INTERNSHIP PROBRAM WEBSITE
- CAIR-NY/NJ Leadership Conference
- CAIR-Philly Offers Class on Islam
- CAIR Job Openings: Webmaster, Attorney
* CAIR-OH: MUSLIMS WARY OF OHIO SECURITY BILL (Enquirer)
* TX: FIRED EGYPTIAN WORKER WINS $150k (EEOC)
- Order CAIR's Employer's Guide to Islam
* FL: MUSLIMS SEEK RECOGNITION OF ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS (SPT)
* U.S. CHECKPOINTS RAISE IRE IN IRAQ (NY Times)
- Shootings at Checkpoints Questioned (Wash Post)
* MA: PLANS PROGRESS FOR NEW MOSQUE (Mass Live)
- NJ: Arrests Unlikely To End Religious Strife (JJ)
* IN: FAITHS UNITE UNDER HABITAT ROOF (Courier & Press)
- IN: Devout Dad Puts Trust in Medicine (Indy Star)
* ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS 'SPREADS' IN EU (BBC)
* MPAC/ISNA TO HOLD AMERICAN MUSLIM POLICY FORUM
- VA: Exhibit Explores Islamic Influences in Art
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PATH OF PEACE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught the supplication: "O
God,
join our hearts, mend our social relationships, guide us to the path of
peace, bring us from darkness to light, (and) save us from obscenities
(both) outward or inward."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 367
----
CAIR-DC LAUNCHES NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WEBSITE
http://www.cair-net.org/internship/default.asp
CAIR has today announced the launch of a new online internship center
to
assist Muslim youth who are interested in interning this summer at
CAIR's
Washington, D.C., headquarters.
Last summer, CAIR interns participated in several important projects,
such
as surveying social and political trends in the American Muslim
community
for the 2004 election, editing a Media Relations Handbook for Muslim
activists, and researching stereotyping of Muslims and Islam in the
media.
CAIR interns have also met with elected officials and congressional
staffers, organized conferences on issues significant to American
Muslims,
visited major national and international media outlets, and learned
from
and interacting with researchers and the local Muslim community.
For more information, please visit CAIR's online internship center or
contact the CAIR internship Department at 202-488-8787, e-mail
internship@cair-net.org.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NY/NJ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
WHAT: On April 2, the New York and New Jersey offices of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY, CAIR-NJ) will host a leadership
conference for Muslim activists. The conference is designed to provide
an
overview of the issues and solutions to operating a non-profit Muslim
organization.
WHEN: Saturday April 2, 2005, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: 475 Riverside drive (on 120th St.), New YorK, NY
For more information, call 212-870-2002.
-----
CAIR-PHILLY OFFERS CLASS ON ISLAM
(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 3/7/05) - Beginning May 5, the Philadelphia office
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philly) will offer a
class,
titled "Understanding Islam & Muslims through History," at the
Unitarian
Universalist Church of Delaware County.
WHAT: Course: Understanding Islam & Muslims through History
WHEN: Thursday 7:00 -9:00 PM, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose
Tree
Road, Media, PA 19063
Cost: $35.00 (check made out to UUCDC)
REGISTER AT: Kate Ramos at kateramos@cs.com or Rina Jurceka at
uucdc@msn.com or at 610-566-4853
CONTACT: UUCDC: 610-566-4853, CAIR-Philly: 215-896-4872 or
267-808-4906,
E-Mail: cairphilly@yahoo.com
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
Job Opening Ref #2004-17
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR's website.
All those interested and eligible to work in the US (Citizens or work
visa
holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via e-mail to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax (202.488.0833). When applying via e-mail,
please
ensure to write the position title "Webmaster" in the subject of the
email.
No phone calls please.
---
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
Job Opening Ref #2004-15
Position: Full time permanent salaried position.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Start Date: Immediately.
This position reports to: CAIR National Legal Director
Compensation and salary: Negotiable and Commensurate with
Qualifications
CAIR is seeking a full-time civil rights staff attorney in Washington,
D.C.
The ideal candidate is a licensed attorney who has background and
experience in the fields of civil rights, immigration, constitutional
and
employment law. Working knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(especially Title VII) and other constitutionally protected activities
is
required.
Qualifications: Law degree from an ABA accredited school required.
Licensed
to practice law (Virginia, Maryland and DC preferred). 1-2 years
experience
in the area of civil rights/employment/immigration law highly
recommended.
Good interpersonal, communication skills and a team player. Excellent
verbal and written communications skills
CONTACT: Resume and cover letter including salary history by March 31
to:
Arsalan Iftikhar
CAIR National Legal Director
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
Fax (202) 488-0833
arsalan@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-OH: OHIO SECURITY BILL HAS MUSLIMS WARY
ACLU rep critical of 'terrorism law'
Maggie Downs, Enquirer, 3/7/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050307/NEWS01/503070346
WEST CHESTER - Ohio Senate Bill 9 troubles Majed Dabdoub.
"And all Americans should be worried," added the Montgomery resident.
"My
concern is that we will see more arrests of innocent people."
Senate Bill 9 is a state version of the Patriot Act. The measure is
sponsored by Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Dayton Republican.
Proponents of the bill say it would make the country safer and help
uncover
terrorist activity in Ohio. Critics say the bill contains vague
language
and could be an assault on individual freedoms.
The bill was the focus Sunday at the Islamic Center of Cincinnati,
which
has weekly lectures for the community.
Gary Daniels, Ohio litigation coordinator for the ACLU, was the guest
speaker Sunday to the crowd of about 50.
"Normally this program brings in about a half-dozen people. I think the
turnout alone says something about how concerned people in the
community
are," said Karen Dabdoub, director of the Cincinnati office for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations…
CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Cincinnati Office Director Karen Dabdoub,
513-281-8200,
E-Mail: cincinnati@cair-ohio.com
-----
PESCE LTD. TO PAY $150,000 FOR NATIONAL ORIGIN BIAS AGAINST EGYPTIAN
MANAGER OF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
EEOC Litigation Alleged Post-9/11 Backlash Discrimination
EEOC, 3/7/05
HOUSTON - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today
announced the settlement of an employment discrimination lawsuit
against
Pesce, Ltd. (Pesce), which operated an upscale seafood restaurant in
Houston, for $150,000 on behalf of an Egyptian general manager who was
fired due to his national origin following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The EEOC's lawsuit asserted that, shortly after September 11, 2001,
Pesce's
then co-owner, Damian C. Mandola, began making repeated references in
front
of the restaurant staff and patrons that general manager Karim El-Raheb
could "pass for Hispanic" and should change his name to "something
Latin."
Moreover, the suit alleged that Mandola fired El-Raheb in November 2001
after openly speculating that his Egyptian name and physical appearance
were to blame for a decline in earnings in the weeks following the
terrorist attacks. The EEOC filed suit under Title VII of the 1964
Civil
Rights Act in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
on
July 10, 2003, after its efforts to reach a voluntary pre-litigation
settlement proved futile…
Since September 11, 2001, EEOC has received nearly 1,000 charges
nationwide
alleging backlash discrimination against individuals who are - or who
are
perceived to be - Muslim, Arabic, Middle Eastern, South Asian or Sikh.
The two most common issues alleged were harassment and discharge. The
Commission has also been at the forefront of the federal government's
efforts in conducting vigorous outreach and education to both the
employer
and labor communities at the national and grassroots levels to prevent
such
discrimination and promote voluntary compliance with the law.
National origin discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act
of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race,
color,
religion, sex (including sexual harassment or pregnancy) or national
origin
and protects employees who complain about such offenses from
retaliation.
Further information about the Commission is available on the agency's
web
site at www.eeoc.gov.
SEE ALSO:
ORDER CAIR'S 'AN EMPLOYER'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES'
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3
-----
REVIEW OF SCHOOL CALENDAR TO EMBRACE STUDENT DIVERSITY
Letitia Stein, St. Petersburg Times, 3/7/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/07/Tampabay/Review_of_school_cale.shtml
TAMPA - Most public schools in east Hillsborough County are closed
today.
Strawberries have sidelined academics.
The day off for the Florida Strawberry Festival marks a spring ritual
for
two dozen schools. The rest took a holiday for the state fair last
month.
But traditions change. The Islamic community is seeking the same
recognition that Hillsborough schools grant to festivals - and to
Christians, Jews, veterans and admirers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
That request has cracked open the entire calendar to debate.
The traditional school calendar, geared to agricultural events and
Christian holidays, is being scrutinized for relevance in a changing
society. If the Friday before Easter merits a day off, why not Eid
al-Fitr,
a Muslim holiday? Do city kids really need a day off to visit the state
fair, or Plant City a break for the Strawberry Festival?
How does a diverse community decide?
"Society is moving ahead, but our school calendars haven't," said
Charles
Ballinger, executive director emeritus for the National Association for
Year-Round Education in San Diego, which would shorten summer breaks
once
essential to farming…
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org; Altaf Ali
954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org
-----
U.S. CHECKPOINTS RAISE IRE IN IRAQ
John F. Burns, New York Times, 3/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/07/international/middleeast/07patrols.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 6 - When an Italian journalist was driven up
Baghdad's
airport road toward an American military checkpoint on Friday night,
she
was driving into a situation fraught with hazards thousands of Iraqis
face
every day.
The journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, 56, ran into fierce American gunfire
that
left her with a shrapnel wound to her shoulder and killed the Italian
intelligence agent sitting beside her in the rear seat. She had been
released only 35 minutes earlier by Iraqi kidnappers who had held her
hostage for a month, and the car carrying them to the airport was
driving
in pitch dark.
But the conditions for the journey, up a road that is considered the
most
dangerous in Iraq, were broadly the same as those facing all civilian
drivers approaching American checkpoints or convoys. American soldiers
operate under rules of engagement that give them authority to open fire
whenever they have reason to believe that they or others in their unit
may
be at risk of suicide bombings or other insurgent attacks.
Next to the scandal of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, no other aspect of
the
American military presence in Iraq has caused such widespread dismay
and
anger among Iraqis, judging by their frequent outbursts on the subject.
Daily reports compiled by Western security companies chronicle many
incidents in which Iraqis with no apparent connection to the insurgency
are
killed or wounded by American troops who have opened fire on suspicion
that
the Iraqis were engaged in a terrorist attack.
Accounts of the incidents vary widely, as they have in the incident
involving Ms. Sgrena, with the American command emphasizing aspects of
drivers' behavior that aroused legitimate concerns, and survivors
saying,
often, that they were doing nothing threatening. Since few of the
incidents
are ever formally investigated, many families are left with unresolved
feelings of bitterness.
ALSO SEE:
SHOOTINGS BY U.S. AT IRAQ CHECKPOINTS QUESTIONED
R. Jeffrey Smith and Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post, 3/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12507-2005Mar6.html
The deadly shooting of an Italian intelligence officer by U.S. troops
at a
checkpoint near Baghdad on Friday was one of many incidents in which
civilians have been killed by mistake at checkpoints in Iraq, including
local police officers, women and children, according to military
records,
U.S. officials and human rights groups.
U.S. soldiers have fired on the occupants of many cars approaching
their
positions over the past year and a half, only to discover that the
people
they killed were not suicide bombers or attackers but Iraqi civilians.
They
did so while operating under rules of engagement that the military has
classified and under a legal doctrine that grants U.S. troops immunity
from
civil liability for misjudgment.
Human rights groups have complained that the military's rules of
engagement
for handling local citizens at checkpoints are too permissive. The
groups
have accused U.S. forces of making inadequate efforts to safeguard
civilians and to comply with laws of war that prohibit the use of
excessive
or indiscriminate force and permit deadly action only when soldiers'
lives
are clearly threatened.
-----
PLANS PROGRESS FOR NEW MOSQUE
Patrick Johnson, Mass Live, 3/6/05
http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/111001276221220.xml
SPRINGFIELD - Rasul F. Seifullah said he has been thinking about forest
fires lately.
Seifullah, the imam or spiritual leader for the Al-Baqi Islamic Center,
the
Sunni Al-Islam mosque on Union Street destroyed by arson three months
ago,
said that just as a forest fire clears the way for new growth, the Dec.
8
blaze will lead to the center's renewal.
"Spring is here - regardless of the date," he said.
Seifullah, speaking at his home Thursday, said the last three months
have
shown how little control people have of their surroundings.
"To make it through this trial and tribulation you have to have
patience
and perseverance, and you have to believe," he said. "And belief should
come first."
The mosque recently received an insurance settlement, but Seifullah
declined to say for how much.
The amount, he said, is about half of the estimated $2.5 million needed
to
rebuild the mosque, a former school constructed in 1878, exactly as it
was.
The mosque plans a fund-raising campaign with a goal of raising
$250,000
toward construction, he said.
Seifullah said he intends to meet with an architect and construction
consultant to discuss ideas for a new facility to meet future needs and
get
a sense of the cost…
ALSO SEE:
ARRESTS SEEN UNLIKELY TO END RELIGIOUS STRIFE
Molly Bloom, New Jersey Journal, 3/7/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1110190339146560.xml
Tense feelings between Coptic Orthodox Christians and Muslims over the
mid-January killings of four Egyptian-American Christians in Jersey
City
seem unlikely to vanish quickly, despite the arrests of two men who
authorities say murdered the family to cover up a robbery.
Many Muslims and Copts expressed relief after prosecutors Friday
announced
the arrests of two convicted drug dealers and said the motive was
money,
not religion.
Some in the Coptic community said they will withhold judgment until
more
information comes out or the defendants are convicted. Area Muslims,
meanwhile, remain upset after being put on the defensive for the last
seven
weeks as many Copts and even some national commentators speculated that
Muslim extremists were behind the killings.
The arrests, said Mohamed Younef, president of the American Muslim
Union, a
New Jersey group, "should . get people to understand they should not
jump
to conclusions so quickly and try to accuse before seeing what the
facts
are is."
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 908-209-7440, 908-938-5990, E-Mail:
cairnj@comcast.net,
media@cair-nj.org
-----
FAITHS UNITE UNDER HABITAT ROOF
Phillip Elliott, Courier & Press, 3/6/05
http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_3598611,00.html
When work begins at the Habitat for Humanity house at 1719 S. Garvin
St.,
the volunteers will build more than a home. They will build bonds with
other faiths.
Representatives from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities in
Evansville are set to begin work in May on the area's first interfaith
build. The volunteers already have started meeting for meals, hoping to
increase awareness and understanding among their groups.
"This is a project that will not just put one family under one roof,
but
also all of us here together under one roof," said Dr. Mohammed Allaw,
president of the Islamic Center. "It's not about the house. It's about
bringing together these three religions."
And still three months away, leaders already are brimming with the
potential.
"I'm so excited about this, I'm sure the excitement will only grow,"
Rabbi
Barry Friedman said.
The project is funded through a bequest from Mary and Charles Sperry,
lifelong supporters of fair housing practices and Evansville residents.
"They like Habitat and left it enough money to build a house," said
Wendy
McCormick, pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
They were longtime associates of First Presbyterian. It took a year to
finalize the details of the cooperation, but the funds are available to
start this spring. Because of the gift, organizers can avoid the
awkward
and sometimes uncomfortable task of raising money.
"Usually at this time of gathering, we would start passing a hat,"
McCormick said, following the meal.
This is the first interfaith home built in Evansville.
"I think the great thing about this interfaith build is the opportunity
to
get together," said Matt Bertram, Habitat's executive director.
"It's a chance for us to learn a little bit about each other's faiths…"
ALSO SEE:
IN: DEVOUT DAD PUTS TRUST IN MEDICINE
Diana Penner, Indy Star, 3/7/05
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/227308-4356-009.html
At least five times a day, Hakim Gul Wardak unrolls his prayer rug,
covers
his head and faces east toward Mecca.
In prayer, he also faces the blinking monitors and tree of intravenous
tubes connected to his son in a crib at Riley Hospital for Children. In
the
room, nurses go about their work tending to the child.
Wardak, a devout Muslim from the mountains of Afghanistan, is putting
his
trust in the Riley doctors to mend 15-month-old Qudrat Ullah's
defective heart.
His faith, however, is in Allah.
On Tuesday, he'll need trust and faith when Dr. Mark Turrentine, a
cardiovascular surgeon at Riley, and his team are scheduled to perform
risky open heart surgery on the baby.
The operation is probably Qudrat's only chance at growing up to fulfill
the
dreams of his father and mother, Tajbara. They, like millions of
Afghans,
have survived a generation of war and turmoil as refugees. Now, they
hope,
their tiny boy, born in a refugee camp in Pakistan, will have
opportunities
they did not.
Tajbara Wardak remains in a camp near Kabul in the family's two-room
home
of mud walls and canvas-and-wood roof. Though Wardak has not spoken to
his
wife, he has been able to talk by cell phone to other family members
who
relay how the baby is doing.
Qudrat, pronounced "koo-drawt," has a condition called "transposition
of
the great vessels," meaning the blood vessel that is supposed to carry
blood from the heart to the lungs is reversed with another vessel
designed
to carry oxygen-rich blood to the body.
The baby's condition was too much for doctors in Afghanistan to
diagnose,
much less to treat.
Health care in Afghanistan is woefully inadequate after a generation of
war
and plundering, said Dr. Ajmal Wardak, an Indianapolis dentist who left
his
homeland in 1997 and has returned to offer aid several times in the
past
three years. "People are dying from simple things," said the
31-year-old
Indiana University School of Dentistry graduate…
-----
ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS 'SPREADS' IN EU
BBC, 3/6/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4325225.stm
Attitudes towards Muslims 'have worsened' since 11 September
Muslims in Europe have faced increased discrimination since the 11
September attacks, according to a new report.
The study by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
(IHF)
covers 11 EU members states.
In France, it says the headscarf ban exacerbated intolerance against
Muslim
women, with some unable to marry, vote or take exams in a headscarf.
In the UK, the media reported "Muslim terrorists" being held - yet only
three out of hundreds have been convicted.
"In the aftermath of 11 September, Muslim minorities in the EU have
experienced growing distrust and hostility," says Aaron Rhodes, IHF
executive director.
"As the fight against terrorism has been stepped up and the perceived
threat of religious extremism has become a major focus of public
debate,
pre-existing patterns of prejudice and discrimination have been
reinforced
and Muslims have increasingly felt that they are stigmatised because of
their beliefs."
The IHF has a consultative status with the UN and the Council of
Europe.
Its report is based on second-hand information, including statements by
Muslim and anti-racist groups, human rights organisations material,
media
reports and official documents.
SEE: http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=4029
IHF Report "Intolerance and Discrimination Against Muslims in the EU -
Developments Since September 11"
-----
MPAC & ISNA TO HOLD AMERICAN MUSLIM POLICY FORUM AT 6TH ANNUAL ISNA
EDUCATION FORUM
(Washington, DC - 3/7/05) -- On March 26, the Muslim Public Affairs
Council
will host an American Muslim Policy Forum in Chicago, IL in conjunction
with the Islamic Society of North America's 6th annual Education Forum.
In an effort to increase dialogue between community leaders and
government
officials on critical issues facing the American Muslim community, the
Forum will feature prominent speakers who will address the abuse of
American Muslim organizations and share their experiences in reaching
out
to the American Muslim community. Confirmed speakers include Juan
Zarate,
Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing in the Department of
Treasury,
and Eric Treene, Special Counsel for Post 9-11 Religious Discrimination
in
the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights of the
Department of Justice.
THE AMERICAN MUSLIM POLICY FORUM
at ISNA's 6th Annual Education Forum
March 25-26, 2005
Chicago Westin O'Hare Hotel
Join MPAC and ISNA for this important event! Register for the ISNA
Education Forum at www.isna.net. Also visit www.mpac.org for more
information.
CONTACT: Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443, communications@mpac.org
-----
NCECA EXHIBITION EXPLORES ISLAMIC INFLUENCES IN CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS
WHAT: Fertile Earth: Islamic Influences in Contemporary Ceramics.
Across-cultural exhibition featuring works by some of the most lauded
ceramic artists working today in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the
United
States. These artists use decoration and techniques from the rich
artistic
heritage of Islam and keep ancient styles and methods alive.
Sponsors include CAIR National and CAIR-MD/VA; The Adams Center in
Northern
Virginia; Lebanese Taverna Restaurant; the American-Turkish Association
of
Washington; and the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The
exhibition is part of the National Council on Education in the Ceramic
Arts
(NCECA) conference, an annual event that brings thousands of artists
and
educators to the host region, which this year is Baltimore/Washington,
DC.
A digital catalogue of the exhibition is available through the gallery.
WHEN: March 16 through April 24, 2005.
OPENING RECEPTION: SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 5-8 PM, featuring cuisine by
Lebanese Taverna and a PANEL DISCUSSION on Islamic Influences on the
Creative Arts (6PM). FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WHERE: Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North
Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. 703.838.4565 x4
At the MARCH 20 event, in addition to the Cultural Exchange in Food
presentation by Lebanese Taverna and the Islamic Influence in the Arts
panel discussion, all 14 ceramic studios and galleries in the Torpedo
Factory will be open for visitors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.torpedofactory.org or contact Claire Huschle
at
703.838.4565 x 4.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/8/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUE IN WORD AND DEED
- Hadith of the Day: Islam and Modesty
* CAIR-OH: ANT-MUSLIM RHETORIC ON THE RISE (Enquirer)
- CAIR-Cincinnati to Hold Annual Meeting
* FL: 'RAMADI MADNESS' VIDEO SHOWS U.S. ABUSE (Reuters)
- Guard's PR Man Reported Video (Palm Beach Post)
- 'Ramadi Madness': Scene by Scene (PB Post)
* CONGRESS SHOULD PROBE PRISONER ABUSE (Miami Herald)
- Rendition: Torture by Proxy (NY Times)
- The Strange Case of Ahmed Abu Ali (FindLaw)
- Is U.S. Losing Moral Authority? (CSM)
* AZ: REP URGES RICE TO BAR MODI FROM ENTERING U.S.
- FL/NY: Official Linked with Book Praising Hitler
* NJ: MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS TRY TO REPAIR RELATIONS (AP)
* MI: ANN COULTER INSULT SPARKS PROTESTS (Free Press)
* SETTLER OUTPOSTS GROW WITH ISRAELI AID (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: TRUE IN WORD AND DEED
"O you who believe! Remain conscious of God and be with those who are
true
(in word and deed)."
The Holy Quran, 9:119
HADITH OF THE DAY: ISLAM AND MODESTY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every faith has an
innate
character. The character of Islam is modesty."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Number 9
-----
CAIR-OH: FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF ANTI-MUSLIM HATE
Karen J. Dabdoub, Enquirer, 3/8/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050308/EDIT02/503080311
[Karen J. Dabdoub is director of the Cincinnati office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations-Ohio.]
Hateful, negative rhetoric regarding Muslims is on the increase both in
tone and frequency. It has almost become socially acceptable to engage
in
bigoted and racist speech about Muslims. More frightening is the
reality
that the hateful thoughts and speech can turn into hateful, even
violent
action, either of which can ruin an innocent person's life. This is
what
happened to James Yee.
Not too long ago, hate and fear turned into hateful action that will
permanently affect the life of Yee, a third generation
Chinese-American. A
convert to Islam and an Islamic scholar, Yee was an Army chaplain who,
post-9/11, served in the military with great distinction. Despite his
outstanding work at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, the military became
suspicious of Yee's daily routine of prayer, reading Scripture and
spending
time with his fellow co-religionists…
Yee was a victim of injustice, but he is only one of many. In the
post-9/11
climate, many innocent American Muslims have been unjustly detained for
long periods, in some cases years, without being charged or having an
attorney. Many Muslims have been unjustly tortured while in U.S.
military
detention. Recent investigations have made it clear that this kind of
illegal and unconstitutional treatment of prisoners has been sanctioned
at
the highest levels of our government.
We, as a country, must realize that removing justice from our actions
as a
nation or even as individuals does not make us safe, nor does it keep
us
free. It is only when we as a nation exhibit justice that we are all
truly
safe and free. And only when we live up to the high ideals of our own
democracy will the urging of democracy on other nations be taken
seriously.
As Martin Luther King Jr. once said: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CINCINNATI HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING, FUNDRAISER
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1462&theType=NR
-----
VIDEO SHOWS U.S. SOLDIERS IN 'RAMADI MADNESS' ABUSE
Will Dunham, Reuters, 3/7/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7832463
WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq filmed
themselves kicking a gravely wounded prisoner in the face and making
the
arm of a corpse appear to wave, then titled the effort "Ramadi Madness"
after the city where it was made.
The video, made public on Monday, was shot by Florida National Guard
soldiers. They edited and compiled it into a DVD in January 2004, with
various sections bearing titles such as "Those Crafty Little Bastards"
and
"Another Day, Another Mission, Another Scumbag."
The soldiers' unit served in the restive Sunni Muslim city Ramadi,
about 70
miles (110 km) west of Baghdad, before returning home a year ago.
The video's existence had been revealed in Army documents obtained by
the
American Civil Liberties Union under court order through the Freedom of
Information Act.
The Pentagon did not release the video, saying it believed it had been
destroyed. But a Florida newspaper, The Palm Beach Post, obtained it
and
posted some of it on its Web site on Monday…
SEE ALSO:
GUARD'S PR MAN REPORTED VIDEO
John Pacenti, Thomas R. Collins and Paul Lomartire, Palm Beach Post,
3/8/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/news/epaper/2005/03/08/m1a_ramadi_0308.html
A Gulf War veteran who handles public relations for the Florida
National
Guard alerted the Army to Ramadi Madness, fearing the soldier-shot
video
was disturbing evidence of Iraqi prisoner abuse.
Investigative files released by the Army show that the initial
complaint
came from Jon Myatt, a civilian public affairs officer who handles
feature
articles and photographs of West Palm Beach-based reservists for a
monthly
National Guard newsletter.
"I was just doing my job, just as leadership would do when something
that
looked out of the ordinary," Myatt said of his role in the probe, which
ultimately cleared the soldiers under scrutiny. "The system worked."
Myatt, who also acts as a spokesman for the National Guard, served nine
months in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm in 1991. On July 14, he was
in
the orderly room of the suburban West Palm Beach armory, preparing a
video
for a conference.
Also in the room were members of Bravo Company of the 124th Infantry
Regiment who had just finished drills. They were huddled around a
computer
viewing a video that lasted nearly 27 minutes.
Myatt told Army investigators he was troubled by what they were
watching
and joking about: footage of a soldier kicking a wounded and moaning
Iraqi
prisoner; another soldier manipulating a corpse to wave "hi" to the
camera;
a group of soldiers joy-riding in an Iraqi van shouting at Iraqis on
the
street; and what appeared to him to be a soldier taking the butt of his
rifle to a detainee.
---
'RAMADI MADNESS': SCENE BY SCENE
Palm Beach Post, 3/6/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/03/06/m16a_videoscene_0305.html
The 26-minute, 47-second video is a compilation of scenes in Iraq
captured
by members of the West Palm Beach-based Bravo Company, 1st Battalion,
124th
Infantry Regiment. The scenes range from routine to poignant to
macabre.
Scene 1: Titled 'The Truck Incident'
Nighttime outdoors. Soldiers shine lights into the driver-side window
of a
truck. The driver is dead. Soldier moves driver's hand and says,
"Hold on, I'm going to make him say 'Hi…' "
ALSO SEE:
CONGRESS SHOULD INVESTIGATE PRISONER ABUSE
Miami Herald, 3/8/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/11077241.htm
There seems no end to the complaints about abuses at U.S. military
prisons.
Thank federal courts and defense lawyers for bringing to light the
latest
allegations of religious abuse of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay
Naval
Base. Add this to the questionable treatment that should be
investigated
there, a prison that, unlike Abu Ghraib, was tightly controlled by the
Pentagon from its inception.
Respect Islam
The allegations raise concerns about what the military says in public
and
does in private. Military authorities consistently have described
prisoner
treatment at Guantanamo Bay as being respectful of Islam, the faith of
accused Taliban and al Qaeda captives. Though these men were supposed
to be
the ''worst of the worst'' terror suspects, they were issued Korans and
prayer rugs, called to prayers five times a day and provided a
Muslim-appropriate diet. The point was to demonstrate America's
religious
tolerance and project U.S. understanding that a few, violent, religious
zealots don't define Islam or its practitioners.
Yet recently declassified court documents allege that, as far back as
2002,
some of Guantanamo's staff cursed Allah, threw Korans into toilets,
mocked
prisoners during prayers and deliberately took away prisoners' pants
knowing that Muslims can't pray unless covered. Imagine a U.S. prisoner
of
war who is a devout Christian having his Bible tossed into the toilet
or
his rosary taken away. The U.S. government would rightly denounce such
offenses as human-rights violations…
---
TORTURE BY PROXY
New York Times, 3/8/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/08/opinion/08tue1.html
One of the biggest nonsecrets in Washington these days is the Central
Intelligence Agency's top-secret program for sending terrorism suspects
to
countries where concern for human rights and the rule of law don't pose
obstacles to torturing prisoners. For months, the Bush administration
has
refused to comment on these operations, which make the United States
the
partner of some of the world's most repressive regimes…
---
THE STRANGE CASE OF AHMED OMAR ABU ALI:
Troubling Questions about the Government's Motives and Tactics
Elaine Cassel, FindLaw, 3/7/05
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/cassel/20050307.html
Twenty-three-year-old, Houston-born American citizen Ahmed Omar Abu Ali
has
been returned to Virginia after twenty months in solitary confinement
in a
Saudi Arabian prison. But he returned only to face arraignment, on
February
22, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.
The charge is that he conspired to commit terrorism- and, indeed, the
FBI
says that he admitted as much in the course of interrogations in Saudi
prison. He is alleged to have plotted to assassinate President Bush -
but
is not charged with that conspiracy.
The case is far from as open-and-shut as the FBI might suggest. Indeed,
a
number of aspects of the prosecution are deeply troubling…
-----
IS US LOSING MORAL AUTHORITY ON HUMAN RIGHTS?
Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor, 3/7/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0307/dailyUpdate.html
Experts say prisoner abuses, war in Iraq undermine effectiveness of
State
Department human rights report.
Normally when the US State Department issues its annual report on human
rights abuses around the world, those nations named in the report can
be
counted on to dismiss any claims made in the report. But the chorus of
those damning the State Department's effort this year have been much
louder
and more aggressive because of one country these critics claim the
report
excluded - the United States itself.
The Washington Post reported last week that countries like China,
Russia,
Mexico and others accused the US of a double-standard in talking about
human rights abuses, after a year that saw the abuse of prisoners at
Abu
Ghraib and Guantanamo, as well as questions raised about the level of
force
used by US troops in Iraq in dealing with journalists and Iraqi
civilians.
'The US State Department in its human rights report blames countries
such
as Egypt and Syria for using torture; however, there is not even a
mention
of the incidents in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq,' complained the
mainstream
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. 'Of course, there is no mention of
Guantanamo,
either…'
-----
REP URGES RICE TO BAR MODI FROM ENTERING U.S.
Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ, http://www.house.gov/franks/ )
circulated
the letter below to fellow colleagues, urging Congress to call for the
denial of a visa for Narendra Modi, Minister of the State of Gujarat,
India, for his engagement in severe violations of religious freedom.
The
letter was later sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Dear Madame Secretary:
We are writing to encourage the denial of a visa for Narendra Modi,
Chief
Minister of the State of Gujarat, India, in accordance with the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)),
for
his repeated engagement in particularly severe violations of religious
freedom. Mr. Modi is the planned chief guest of the 2005 Annual
Convention
and Trade Show of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida to be held on March 24-26, 2005.
Since taking office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001,
Mr.
Modi has pursued a campaign of extremism targeting religious
minorities. The most egregious violation of religious freedom engaged
in
by Mr. Modi was the orchestrated attacks in Gujarat, 2002, where
approximately 2,000 Muslims were killed. The aftermath of the riots
further demonstrates that Mr. Modi and his BJP government are not in
compliance with the spirit or the standards of the International
Religious
Freedom Act. Of particular note is the statement by the Supreme Court
of
India in 2004 that trials surrounding Gujarat will never be fairly held
due
to Mr. Modi's state leadership. Furthermore, the investigation into
the
impetus for the riots! - a train fire that killed dozens, mostly Hindus
-
found that it was not planned or executed by religiously-motivated
Muslims. That conclusion, announced in January 2005, was contrary to
what
the Gujarat government had widely propagated in order to incite the
people,
and lends credence to the theory that Mr. Modi's government planned and
assisted in the execution of the riots. Mr. Modi's government
involvement
is also supported by the State Department's 2003 and 2004 International
Religious Freedom reports.
The following are just a few examples of Mr. Modi's violations of
religious
rights over the past 24 months as listed in the 2004 and 2003 reports
published by the International Religious Freedom office at the State
Department:
2004
The Gujarat State Higher Secondary Board, to which nearly 98 percent of
schools in Gujarat belong, requires the use of certain textbooks in
which
Nazism is condoned. In the Standard 10 social studies textbook, the
"charismatic personality" of "Hitler the Supremo" and the "achievements
of
Nazism" are described at length. The textbook does not acknowledge
Nazi
extermination policies or concentration camps except for a passing
reference to "a policy of opposition towards the Jewish people and
[advocacy for] the supremacy of the German race."
2003
During the period covered by this report, the states of Tamil Nadu and
Gujarat passed anticonversion laws. Under both laws, those "forcing"
or
"alluring" people to convert are subject to criminal action. Since
that
which constitutes forced conversions or allurement is not specified,
human
rights groups, Christian religious leaders, and Dalits have expressed
concern that authorities will use these laws selectively in the future
to
shut down educational, medical, and other social services provided by
Christian groups to Dalits and "tribals".
The Gujarat state government aggressively surveyed Christian families
and
Christian agencies during the reporting period, allegedly under the
orders
of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The survey activities were carried
out by
police, often in the middle of the night. The survey was first
implemented
in February and continued through May, even after the Gujarat High
Court
ruled in March that the survey was illegal.
Madame Secretary Rice, we ask that you do not allow this egregious
violator
the privilege of entering the United States, in keeping with the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Narendra Modi's planned
campaign of religious violence and persecution has been evidenced
through
his leadership and is due cause for him to be denied a visa.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
GUJARAT OFFICIAL LINKED WITH BOOK PRAISING HITLER TO SPEAK IN FL, NY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
-----
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS TRY TO REPAIR RELATIONS AFTER ARRESTS IN FAMILY'S
MURDER
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 3/7/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0307mar07,0,7931189.story
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- With two drug dealers behind bars and religious
animosity ruled out as a motive in the killing of a Christian Egyptian
family, Muslims and Christians set about the difficult task of trying
to
repair relations that were severely strained by speculation that Muslim
fanatics were responsible for the deaths.
Two men were arrested Friday and charged with the brutal slaying of the
Coptic Christian family that came to the United States in 1997. Edward
McDonald, 25, who rented a second-floor apartment above the Armanious
family, and an acquaintance, Hamilton Sanchez, 30, pleaded not guilty
to
four counts of felony murder _ killings that took place during the
commission of another crime.
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said robbery was the motive
behind
the slayings: The pair allegedly drained the family's bank account of
about
$3,000 in the days after the killings. He said authorities found no
evidence to support claims by friends of the family that Islamic
militants
might have been responsible for the murders.
"Our community is very emotionally upset," said Ahmed Shedeed, director
of
The Islamic Center of Jersey City. "We had a feeling it wasn't someone
from
our community. We really have to work on healing."
But exactly how to go about it remained unclear. Sohail Mohammed, the
attorney for the American Muslim Union, said his community is still
smarting from the abuse it took, and unsure how to respond to the
arrests.
"Some people think there should be a unity rally, while others think we
should denounce what was said about us," he said.
-----
INSULT OF THOMAS SPARKS PROTESTS
Congress, Arab group say comments racist
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 3/8/05
http://www.freep.com/news/politics/thomas8e_20050308.htm
For most of Helen Thomas' 60-plus years in White House journalism, her
Arab
ethnicity never was an issue.
But according to political commentator Ann Coulter, the ancestry of the
Detroit native makes her an "old Arab" and thus a security threat to
President George W. Bush.
In a recent column, Coulter writes about the controversy over whether
it's
too easy to get media access to the White House.
"Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows
that
old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president," wrote
Coulter,
who once argued the United States should invade Muslim countries and
"convert them to Christianity..."
Coulter's comments in her Feb. 23 column have sparked concern from
metro
Detroit's Arab-American communities and 26 U.S. members of Congress,
led by
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat. The representatives sent a
letter of protest last week to Coulter's distributor, Universal Press
Syndicate.
"Just as we would expect that similar slights against African
Americans,
Jews, or Hispanics would not be tolerated, equal disapproval should be
shown toward these repeated slanders directed at Arab Americans," the
letter said. It also said that despite facing increased discrimination
since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, "loyal Arab Americans have made
heroic
contributions to our military, intelligence, and Homeland Security
efforts…"
After Coulter submitted her column to Universal Press Syndicate, an
editor
deleted the word "Arab" and rewrote it to read "dyspeptic, old Helen
Thomas…"
-----
W. BANK SETTLER OUTPOSTS GROW WITH STATE AID -REPORT
Mark Heinrich, Reuters, 3/8/05
JERUSALEM - Unauthorised Jewish settler outposts have spread in the
West
Bank with state funding despite Israel's pledge to remove them under a
U.S.-backed peace plan, a report commissioned by Israel's government
said
on Tuesday.
"It seems as if blatant violations of the law have become institutional
and
institutionalised...that no ones seriously intends to enforce (it),"
said
the report, leaked to Reuters by justice sources before it was to be
given
to Sharon on Tuesday.
A government official said there would be no comment on the report
until
Sharon had read it.
The study by a former chief state prosecutor detailed involvement by
the
housing ministry, Israel's immigrant agency and the army in providing
funds
and infrastructure needed to erect settler outposts, some on
Palestinian
private property.
"The process of outpost expansion is profoundly under way," the report
said. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has repeatedly promised to dismantle
scores of the caravan clusters erected in occupied territory by
ultra-nationalist Jews.
"The state of Israel finances at least some of these outposts," the
report
said.
The international community views all the settlements as illegal. The
outposts are unauthorised even by Israel.
The "road map" peace plan calls in part for the removal of outposts and
a
freeze on building in established, suburban-style settlements to help
enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and
Gaza
Strip.
Israel's failure to fulfil either condition has irked U.S. President
George
W. Bush but pressure for compliance appears to have abated as Sharon
pursues a plan to evacuate all 8,500 settlers from Gaza later this
year.
-----
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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
'HARDBALL' HOST WITHDRAWS FROM CONTROVERSIAL FL EVENT
Convention will honor Indian official linked to Gujarat massacre
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/9/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today applauded MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews'
decision not to speak at a Florida convention that will honor an Indian
official accused of complicity in the massacre of Muslim civilians.
SEE:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
A representative for Matthews told the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that a "scheduling conflict" will
prevent
him from attending the annual convention of the Asian American Hotel
Owners
Association (AAHOA) later this month in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Narendra
Modi,
Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, is a keynote speaker at
the
convention.
Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002 that left more than 1000 civilians
dead, senior officials in Gujarat said they had been directed by Modi
to
allow the massacres to run their course. Modi allegedly called the
riots
"anticipated Hindu reaction" and "a natural outpouring." Last Week,
CAIR
revealed that Modi's administration distributed a social studies
textbook
praising Adolf Hitler.
(Modi is also scheduled to speak in New York on March 20th. SEE:
http://www.narendramodi.net/agenda.htm )
The Indian Muslim Council-USA and the newly-formed Coalition Against
Genocide (CAG) had asked Matthews to withdraw from the Florida event.
CAG
is also planning protests in New York on March 20th and in Florida on
March
24th. SEE: http://www.imc-usa.org/ and
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/
CAIR is urging the Bush administration to block Modi's entry based on a
section (Sec. 604) of the International Religious Freedom Act that
makes
any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly severe violations
of
religious freedom" inadmissible to the United States.
SEE: U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK TO BLOCK ENTRY OF GUJARAT MASSACRE FIGURE
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1451&theType=NR
URGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DENY VISA FOR NARENDRA MODI
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
"We are pleased that Mr. Matthews and MSNBC will not be associated with
a
person accused of complicity in mass murder," said CAIR Executive
Director
Nihad Awad.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to 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 - 3/9/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: RAISED TO LIFE AGAIN?
- Hadith of the Day: Charity Encouraged
* CAIR-CAN: ARAR PRAISES MEDIA (Ottawa Citizen)
* NJ: HALAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS 'DEEPLY AMERICAN' (NYT)
* A SMARTER WAY TO FIGHT FOR MUSLIM WOMEN (The Age)
* FL: STATE TERRORIST VISITS AMERICAN HOTELIERS
- Muslims Seek to Block Modi's Entry (CAIR)
* U.S. URGED TO SHOW MUSLIMS WE CARE (Sun Times)
- MI: Students Join Muslims for 'Day in the Life'
* 'RENDITION' REALITIES (Wash Post)
- Gonzales Defends Rendition (Wash Post)
* CA: THREATS AGAINST MUSLIMS, SIKHS SPAWN FORUM (Argus)
- Census: Arabs in U.S. Tend To Be Affluent (AP)
* GA: VICTIM DECRIES SECURITY 'MISTAKE' (UPI)
- U.S. Citizens' Release in Pakistan Sought (AP)
* DATA IS LACKING ON IRAN'S ARMS (NYT)
- Dismantling of Israeli Settlements Sought (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: RAISED TO LIFE AGAIN?
"Man says: 'What! Once I am dead, shall I be raised to life again?'
Does
man not remember that We created him before out of nothing?"
The Holy Quran, 19:66-67
HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY ENCOURAGED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The believer's shade on
the
Day of Resurrection will be (the charity he or she has given)."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604
The Prophet also said: "The most excellent (form of) charity consists
of
satisfying a hungry stomach."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 608
-----
MAHER ARAR PRAISES MEDIA FOR ROLE IN HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON
Ottawa Citizen, 3/9/05
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/index.html
Maher Arar told a room of Carleton University students that the media
were
instrumental in helping him gain his freedom from a Syrian prison in
2002.
Mr. Arar was speaking to the group as part of a talk about how Muslims
are
represented by the media last night. He was joined by Riad Saloojee,
the
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Canada...
Both Mr. Arar and Mr. Saloojee said that since Sept. 11, 2001, the
media
have been excellent in helping Muslims to express their thoughts about
world events through opinion pieces and articles.
However, Mr. Saloojee said the media need to do more digging and
prodding
to dig up evidence and put an end to the practice of racial profiling,
which he believes is counter-productive.
-----
A HALAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE PROVIDES NOURISHMENT FOR A FAR-FLUNG CULTURE
Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 3/9/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/nyregion/09butcher.html
The slaughterhouse is a fortress in the rusty industrial landscape of
east
Newark. Its windowless brick exterior reveals nothing of the scene
inside.
Only the words Mecca Halal Meat, printed on a truck outside, hint at
the
world behind the steel doors.
Another clue comes with the call to prayer. It slips out through a
vent,
blending with the drone of the New Jersey Turnpike. Inside, the voice
moves
from room to room, where chickens, bulls and goats arrive daily to meet
their death. Blasted from loudspeakers, the sound hovers over the head
butcher, Jaci DaSilva, a Brazilian immigrant who converted to Islam a
decade ago.
The call reaches into another room where Saleh, a 52-year-old Nigerian,
deftly slits the throat of a spotted guinea hen while mouthing the
words
that make the bird halal, or lawful in Islam: ''Bismillah, Allahu
akbar.''
In the name of God, God is great. Standing sentry near the entrance is
Omar
Mady, one of two Egyptian bosses. And driving away with a van full of
skinned goats is a sandy-haired Albanian, Muhamed Beqiri, who feeds the
thriving Muslim market of Paterson, N.J.
American Halal Meat, on Raymond Boulevard, is a small but telling
monument
to the growing presence of Muslims in the United States, now estimated
to
number more than seven million. The animals killed here each day --
thousands a week in one of the region's biggest operations -- are
shipped
to butchers and restaurants as far away as Philadelphia and Albany,
feeding
people who have long lived on America's cultural margins.
Yet the slaughterhouse is as deeply American as it is Muslim. It is a
place
where spirituality mixes with commerce, and where business
relationships
are conducted with an American efficiency but rise and fall on a sense
of
brotherhood…
-----
A SMARTER WAY TO FIGHT FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
Waleed Aly, The Age, 3/9/05
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Opinion/A-smarter-way-to-fight-for-Muslim-women/2005/03/08/1110160824806.html
On occasions such as International Women's Day, which was marked around
the
world yesterday, the Muslim world never escapes negative attention. Nor
should it. As a Muslim who is deeply troubled by the kinds of abuses
that
women infamously endure in some parts of the Muslim world, I think it
would
be profoundly immoral to ignore such injustice. It should be
unapologetically confronted. Reform is badly needed.
To this end, it is vital that any discourse seeking to initiate change
in
the Muslim world has traction among mainstream Muslims. It is otherwise
doomed to irrelevance.
This is where Western discussions in general, and Western secular
feminist
discourses in particular, hit a mighty roadblock. Even among Muslims
seriously committed to gender reform, Western feminism has often
presented
more of a hindrance than a help.
In simple terms this is because, to the Muslim ear, feminist discourse
smacks of colonial imperialism. It echoes a broader historical polemic
between the Muslim world and the West in which Western prescriptions
for
Muslim reform were often egocentric and hypocritical. Here one could
cite
Lord Cromer, the 19th century British consul-general in Egypt who
advocated
Egyptian women's unveiling while simultaneously being president of the
men's league for opposing women's suffrage in England…
-----
A STATE TERRORIST VISITS AMERICAN HOTELIERS
VIJAY PRASHAD, Counterpunch, 3/9/05
http://www.counterpunch.org/
For a business sector that likes to call itself the "hospitality
industry,"
it is painful that the chief guest at its March 2005 gathering will be
a
man who many claim to be a mass murderer. Hardly hospitable!
Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of the economically dynamic state of
Gujarat, will travel to Florida to deliver the keynote address for the
Asian American Hotel Owner's Association's 2005 Annual Convention and
Trade
Show…
SEE ALSO:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK TO BLOCK ENTRY OF GUJARAT MASSACRE FIGURE
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1451&theType=NR
URGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DENY VISA FOR NARENDRA MODI
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
-----
U.S. URGED TO SHOW MUSLIMS WE CARE
Rummana Hussain, Sun-Times, 3/9/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-terror09.html
Hosting student exchange programs with Muslim nations and hiring
Arabic-speaking public affairs officers at U.S. embassies are just two
ways
the government can use public diplomacy to combat terrorism.
Lee Hamilton, vice chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist
Attacks
upon the United States, told the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
on
Tuesday the United States has to do a better job to show the Muslim
world
it is on "its side."
Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana, said it was
useless
to build "fortresses" overseas with Americans who can't even speak the
language to discuss foreign policy issues and combat hatred toward the
United States.
"You can't win the war on ideas from the far side of the moat,"
Hamilton
said in a speech at the Fairmont Hotel.
He focused on how terrorism can be combatted by what he described as
the
"Five I's:" identifying the enemy -- in this case Al-Qaida and radical,
politicized Islamic ideology -- integrating all tools of American
power;
international cooperation; intelligence; and implementation of all
government plans and procedures.
ALSO SEE:
STUDENTS JOIN MUSLIMS FOR 'DAY IN THE LIFE'
Amber Colvin, Michigan Daily, 3/9/05
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/09/422eada4d6296
Instead of learning it in a lecture hall or reading it in a textbook,
students can participate in Muslim rituals and experience Muslim
culture
through a "A Day in the Life," presented by the Muslim Students'
Association. The program pairs non-Muslim students with a "buddy" from
MSA
with whom they will be in contact and attend events from today until
Friday.
Over the course of the three days, participants will view an Islamic
calligraphy exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, attend
prayer in a mosque at the Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor and
have the option to wear a cap as some Muslim men do or the scarf as
some
Muslim women choose to wear.
"It's a more informal, personal experience," said MSA Vice President
Aisha
Jukaku. "You get to have a better perspective of what it's like (to be
a
Muslim) and ask questions in a more comfortable setting."
Amjad Tarsin, LSA junior and Islam awareness chair for MSA, said the
purpose of the program is to allow non-Muslims to gain insight into
spiritual and religious practices they would not be able to see
otherwise.
"The goal of it is to build cultural and educational bridges and clear
misconceptions portrayed by the media," Tarsin said.
Azmat Khan, LSA sophomore and social chair for the Pakistani Students'
Association, echoed Tarsin, saying that while people can see a Muslim
kneeling to pray on television, experiencing it in person can offer a
better understanding of what the prayer actually means.
"It definitely gives students the opportunity to experience the private
aspects of the religion that aren't often seen," Khan said…
-----
'RENDITION' REALITIES
David Ignatius, Washington Post, 3/9/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18709-2005Mar8.html
Torture is immoral and illegal, and the refusal to allow cruel
interrogation techniques is one measure of a civilized society. But
this
ironclad moral argument doesn't necessarily apply to the practice known
as
"extraordinary rendition."
Rendition is the CIA's antiseptic term for its practice of sending
captured
terrorist suspects to other countries for interrogation. Because some
of
those countries torture prisoners -- and because some of the suspected
terrorists "rendered" by the CIA say they were in fact tortured -- the
debate has tended to lump rendition and torture together. The
implication
is that the CIA is sending people to Egypt, Jordan or other Middle
Eastern
countries because they can be tortured there and coerced into providing
information they wouldn't give up otherwise.
The problem with this argument is that it assumes that the CIA believes
that torture works. But in 30 years of writing about intelligence, I've
never encountered a spook who didn't realize that torture is usually
counterproductive. Professional intelligence officers know that
prisoners
will confess to anything under intense pain. Information obtained
through
torture thus tends to be unreliable, in addition to being immoral.
The unreliability of torture as an interrogation technique was conveyed
powerfully by Jane Mayer in an article in the New Yorker last month.
She
cited the case of a Syrian-born terrorist suspect named Maher Arar, who
was
seized at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport in September 2002 as he
was
traveling back to his home in Canada. He was then sent to Syria under
the
CIA's program of "extraordinary rendition" and, by his account, whipped
repeatedly on the hands with two-inch-thick electrical cables.
"Although he initially tried to assert his innocence, he eventually
confessed to anything his tormentors wanted him to say," wrote Mayer.
She
quoted Arar as explaining his false confession this way: "You just give
up.
You become like an animal." The Syrians eventually concluded that Arar
was
innocent. He was released without charges.
Such stories rightly shock the conscience, and they make you wonder how
anyone could ever advocate rendition. But in conversations over the
past
several years with senior CIA officials and the heads of several Arab
intelligence services, I've heard explanations for why the practice is
used. These arguments for rendition at least ought to be understood as
Congress and the public struggle with the moral issues involved…
ALSO SEE:
GONZALES DEFENDS TRANSFER OF DETAINEES
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 3/8/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A15130-2005Mar7
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales yesterday defended the practice of
"extraordinary rendition," the process under which the United States
sometimes transfers detainees in the war on terrorism to other nations
where they may undergo harsh interrogation, trial or imprisonment.
The government has not said how many detainees have been transferred
and
has not articulated the precise legal basis for the practice, but the
persistence of such transfers has been demonstrated by frequent flights
of
a plane the intelligence community uses to transport the prisoners.
U.S. officials have privately described the threat of rendition as a
powerful tool in prying loose information from suspects who fear
torture by
foreign countries. But Gonzales, speaking to reporters at the Justice
Department yesterday, said that U.S. policy is not to send detainees
"to
countries where we believe or we know that they're going to be
tortured."
-----
THREATS AGAINST MUSLIMS AND SIKHS SINCE 9/11 SPAWN TRI-CITY FORUM
Chris Lau, The Argus, 3/8/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_2600440
The free event - open to the public and titled "Our Community - Who
Belongs?" - is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Valhalla Theatre on the
campus
of Irvington High School.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will serve as the keynote
speaker.
The event also will feature personal testimonies from several Irvington
students and representatives from the Sikh and Muslim communities.
Sikh men and Muslim women are most vulnerable to hate crimes because of
their physical resemblance to the Arab terrorists seen on television,
said
Kavneet Singh, Western regional director of the Sikh American Legal
Defense
and Education Fund, who will speak Thursday on the Sikh perspective.
Sikh men are obligated by their faith to keep their beards and wear
turbans, which are the scarves that are rolled up as headwear.
Likewise,
Muslim women must wear hijabs to cover their hair and faces.
Even Sikhs and Muslims who don't conform to traditional dress are
targets,
Singh said, because of their skin tones.
Hate crimes against Sikhs and Muslims traditionally have spiked during
times of Middle Eastern conflict, Singh continued. The Islamic
Revolution
of Iran in the late 1970s and the Persian Gulf War in the 1980s both
led to
increases in race-motivated attacks in America…
ALSO SEE:
CENSUS: ARABS IN U.S. TEND TO BE AFFLUENT
Genaro C. Armas, Associated Press, 3/8/05
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_re_us/arab_americans
WASHINGTON - People of Arab descent living in the United States tend to
be
better educated and wealthier than other Americans, the Census Bureau
(news
- web sites) says.
There are about 1.2 million U.S. residents whose ancestry is solely or
partly Arab, less than a half-percent of all Americans. The details in
Tuesday's report covered the 850,000 people who identified themselves
in
the 2000 census as having only Arab ancestries.
Arabs are nearly twice as likely as the typical U.S. resident to
possess a
college degree - 41 percent to 24 percent. Better education typically
translates into higher income, and that was highlighted in the report:
The
median income for an Arab family was $52,300, about $2,300 more than
the
median income for all U.S. families.
The proportion of U.S. Arabs working in management jobs was higher than
the
U.S. average, 42 percent to 34 percent.
Since the data stops at 2000, it was not possible to measure the impact
of
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Helen Samhan, executive director of the Arab American Institute
Foundation,
lauded the bureau for a report that shows "how integrated Arabs are in
American life. It is a community that is well-rooted and well-invested
in
the United States."
"That is something that many Americans don't pay attention to when
usually
the Arab community is only covered in a negative sense," she said.
The findings cover those who responded to the 2000 census "long form"
questionnaire as having an ancestry from a predominantly
Arabic-speaking
country or area of the world…
-----
GA: VICTIM DECRIES SECURITY 'MISTAKE'
Shaun Waterman, United Press International, 3/9/05
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050306-113013-1431r.htm
After his license to transport hazardous materials was withdrawn on
national security grounds, Bilal Mahmud found himself trapped in a
situation of not knowing what he was suspected of having done, or by
whom.
"When the letter arrived, I thought, 'This has got to be a mistake,"
said
Mr. Mahmud, who lives in Atlanta and made his living as a truck driver.
The July 30, 2004, letter from the Transportation Security
Administration
informed him that the endorsement on his commercial driver's license
that
entitled him to haul hazardous materials was being withdrawn forthwith,
because they were not available to people the agency "determines or
suspects ... of being a threat to national security, transportation
security or terrorism."
SEE ALSO:
U.S. CITIZENS' RELEASE IN PAKISTAN SOUGHT
Sadaqat Jan, Associated Press, 3/9/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/11088354.htm
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - An international human rights group has called on
Pakistan to immediately release or charge two American citizens, both
brothers, who were allegedly picked up by Pakistani intelligence agents
last year in Karachi for links to Islamic militants and have not been
heard
from since.
New York-based Human Rights Watch also demanded that the U.S.
government
clarify its involvement in the case in a press release Tuesday. It said
the
men are "being held at its (Washington's) behest in Pakistan or
elsewhere."
The brothers - both of Pakistani origin and identified as Zain Afzal,
23,
and Kashan Afzal, 25, - are known to be "Islamist sympathizers" who
trained
in Pakistan as guerrilla fighters with Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen, a Muslim
militant group, the rights group said.
Sara Zain, the wife of Afzal, told The Associated Press on Wednesday
that
she has tried for months to find out where her husband was being held,
or
if he is even alive, but has come up empty.
"I have knocked on every door but nobody is listening," she said in a
telephone interview from Islamabad. "They should tell me, for God's
sake,
where are my husband and brother-in-law. I just want to know their
whereabouts."
Government officials were not immediately available for comment.
Several
calls by AP to Pakistan's Interior and Information Ministries were not
returned. Greg Crouch, a spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad,
said
he could not comment on the case due to "Privacy Act considerations…"
-----
DATA IS LACKING ON IRAN'S ARMS, U.S. PANEL SAYS
Douglas Jehl and Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 3/9/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/09/international/09weapons.html
WASHINGTON, March 8 - A commission due to report to President Bush this
month will describe American intelligence on Iran as inadequate to
allow
firm judgments about Iran's weapons programs, according to people who
have
been briefed on the panel's work.
The report comes as intelligence agencies prepare a new formal
assessment
on Iran, and follows a 14-month review by the panel, which Mr. Bush
ordered
last year to assess the quality of overall intelligence about the
proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
The Bush administration has been issuing increasingly sharp warnings
about
what it says are Iran's efforts to build nuclear weapons. The warnings
have
been met with firm denials in Tehran, which says its nuclear program is
intended purely for civilian purposes.
The most complete recent statement by American agencies about Iran and
its
weapons, in an unclassified report sent to Congress in November by
Porter
J. Goss, director of central intelligence, said Iran continued "to
vigorously pursue indigenous programs to produce nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons."
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been conducting
inspections in Iran for two years, has said it has not found evidence
of
any weapons program. But the agency has also expressed skepticism about
Iran's insistence that its nuclear activities are strictly civilian.
-----
DISMANTLING OF ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS SOUGHT
Amy Teibel, Associated Press, 3/9/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4851873,00.html
JERUSALEM (AP) - An inquiry into the establishment of unauthorized West
Bank settlement outposts found widespread complicity of successive
Israeli
governments and recommended Wednesday that prosecutors consider
investigations some of those involved.
The government-sponsored study was conducted by former state prosecutor
Talia Sasson, who presented her findings at a news conference
Wednesday.
Sasson said ``drastic steps'' are needed to remedy the situation and
safeguard Israel's democracy. Israel's Cabinet is to discuss the report
Sunday.
The study described the secret cooperation of various ministries and
official institutions in channeling money to the outposts, which
settlers
began setting up more than a decade ago to break up the Palestinian
areas
and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Sasson said the Housing Ministry, for example, was actively involved in
setting up outposts. She said the ministry supplied more than 400
mobile
homes for outposts and that the ministry did not check who owned the
land
on which the enclaves were set up. ``Some of the outposts, built by the
Housing Ministry, were unfortunately built on privately owned
Palestinian
land,'' she said.
She also said the ministry had created a budget for ``various
developments'' amounting to $4 million in 2000 and $8 million in 2001
and
that some of that money went to outposts.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had repeatedly promised the United States
to
dismantle the more than 100 outposts, one of Israel's first obligations
under the internationally backed ``road map'' peace plan. However,
since
accepting the road map in 2003, Israel has only removed a few outposts,
citing legal difficulties.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #449
DELL FIRES 30 MUSLIMS OVER MAGHRIB PRAYER
Contact Dell to urge rehiring of workers, mediation
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/10/05) - CAIR today called on Dell Computers to
rehire
30 Muslims workers allegedly fired from a plant in Tennessee for
seeking to
perform Islamic prayers in the workplace, and offered to help the
company
and its employees reach a mutually-agreeable solution to the dispute.
CAIR said the workers were fired from a Dell facility in Nashville,
Tenn.,
after they sought to perform the Maghrib prayer each day after sunset.
(Because the Maghrib prayer is tied to a particular time of day, it
requires greater flexibility and creativity on the part of employers
and
workers.)
SEE: 30 MUSLIM WORKERS FIRED FOR PRAYING ON JOB AT DELL
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/66733769.shtml
"Given sufficient goodwill on the part of all those involved, both the
employees' legal right to reasonable religious accommodation and the
employer's right to maintain smooth operations in the workplace can be
maintained," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar.
In a letter sent today to Dell President and CEO Kevin B. Rollins,
Iftikhar
asked that the Muslim workers be rehired pending resolution of the
issues
involved. He said CAIR staffers who have experience dealing with
workplace
religious accommodation are available to act as mediators between the
Muslim workers and Dell.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of
1964 requires an employer to accommodate religious practices unless it
causes an "undue hardship."
ACTIONS REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Contact Dell to request that they re-hire the Muslim workers pending a
mutually-agreeable resolution of the dispute.
CONTACT:
Mr. Kevin B. Rollins
President and CEO
Dell Computers
One Dell Way
Round Rock, TX 78682
TEL: 512-338-4400
FAX: 512-283-2299
E-MAIL: Investor_Relations@dell.com, tr_reid@dell.com,
kevin_rollins@dell.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/10/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A SUPPLY OF EVERY VIRTUE
* CAIR-FL: TEACHER TO BE FIRED FOR MOCKING MUSLIM STUDENT
- CAIR-CA Participates in Educators Conference
- CAIR-DC Launches New Internship Program Website
- CAIR Job Openings: Webmaster, Civil Rights Attorney
* NO 'TRUE' SLEEPER AGENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN U.S. (ABC News)
* MD: IMAM IS FIRST TO LEAD COUNTY INVOCATION (Gazette)
* MATTHEWS RETREATS FROM SPEECH AFTER MUSLIM PROTEST (NY Sun)
- CAIR: Modi Must Be Denied Entry
* ANALYSIS: RENDITION A ROUTINE PRACTICE (UPI)
- Ex-CIA Lawyer Calls For Law on Rendition (UPI)
- New Interrogation Rules Set For Detainees (NY Times)
- Lawyers: Detained Turk Tortured at Gitmo (AP)
* NJ: MUSLIM LEADERS SEEK BIAS CRIMES PROBE FOR COMMENTS (AP)
- NJ: It's Time to Bury Rumors (NewJersey.com)
- NJ: Muslim-Coptic Tension Persists (RNS)
- NJ: Muslims Seek To Ease Strife with Copts (Record)
* KS: STUDENTS MEET WITH AFRICAN MUSLIMS (Ft. Lamp)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A SUPPLY OF EVERY VIRTUE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended that people
supplicate
to God saying: "I ask Thee for words that will guarantee Thy mercy,
actions
that will make certain Thy forgiveness, a supply of every virtue, and
freedom from every offence. Do not leave me a sin that Thou dost not
pardon, a care that Thou dost not remove, or a want that meets with Thy
pleasure that Thou dost not supply."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 401
The Prophet also said: "God has created nothing on the face of the
earth
dearer to Him than emancipation."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 969
-----
FL TEACHER TO BE FIRED FOR MOCKING MUSLIM STUDENT
CAIR-FL commends school district for 'swift and appropriate action'
(TAMPA, FL, 3/10/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and
advocacy group today commended a Florida school district for the
expected
firing of a teacher who allegedly mocked and threatened a Muslim middle
school student last month.
The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-FL)
said the School District of Hillsborough County has recommended the
termination of the teacher who was under investigation for the alleged
harassment. That school district's decision apparently came after the
teacher refused to cooperate with investigators.
SEE: TEACHER TO BE FIRED IN MUSLIM STUDENT CASE
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBDEMUD46E.html
SUBSTITUTE GETS BANNED FROM SCHOOLS
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/10/Hillsborough/Substitute_gets_banne.shtml
The Muslim student said that the teacher mocked and made discriminatory
remarks in front of his class because his name is Islam. He also said
the
teacher threatened him when he objected by saying, "If I make one phone
call, you will not see the light of day." The student's story was later
corroborated by the school's principal and by other students in his
class,
CAIR-FL sent a letter to school district Superintendent Earl Lennard
asking
for an investigation and disciplinary action against Wilson.
"We commend the swift and appropriate action of the School District of
Hillsborough County," said CAIR-FL Chairman Parvez Ahmed. "The
district's
actions send a strong message that discrimination and threats will not
be
tolerated in our schools."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, abedier@cairfl.org; Altaf Ali,
954-298-8214, altaf@cairfl.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SFBA PARTICIPATES IN STATEWIDE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE
(SANTA CLARA, CA)- On Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th,
representatives of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) dialogued with over 600 K-12
grade
teachers who attended the annual California Teacher's Association (CTA)
conference.
CAIR representatives informed educators about the special needs of
Muslim
students in public and private schools and distributed flyers, booklets
and
Educators' Guides. CAIR's Sensitivity Training program and Library
Project
were also promoted.
Several participants offered positive feedback and commented how
important
it was for Muslims to be present at such conferences to address Muslim
students and parents' needs.
Several teachers shared stories about their Muslim students and any
experience or interaction they've had with Muslims, while others, with
little or no interaction with Muslims, were thankful for the
opportunity to
learn more about a religion often misunderstood.
For more information, please contact: amina@cair.com
---
CAIR-DC LAUNCHES NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WEBSITE
http://www.cair-net.org/internship/default.asp
CAIR has launched a new online internship center to assist Muslim youth
who
are interested in interning this summer at CAIR's Washington, D.C.,
headquarters.
Last summer, CAIR interns participated in several important projects,
such
as surveying social and political trends in the American Muslim
community
for the 2004 election, editing a Media Relations Handbook for Muslim
activists and researching stereotyping of Muslims and Islam in the
media.
CAIR interns also met with elected officials and congressional
staffers,
organized conferences on issues significant to American Muslims,
visited
major national and international media outlets, and learned from and
interacting with researchers and the local Muslim community.
For more information, please visit CAIR's online internship center or
contact the CAIR internship Department at 202-488-8787, e-mail
internship@cair-net.org.
---
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
Job Opening Ref #2004-17
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR's website.
All those interested and eligible to work in the US (Citizens or work
visa
holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via e-mail to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax (202.488.0833). When applying via e-mail,
please
ensure to write the position title "Webmaster" in the subject of the
email.
No phone calls please.
---
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
Job Opening Ref #2004-15
Position: Full time permanent salaried position.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Start Date: Immediately.
This position reports to: CAIR National Legal Director Compensation and
salary: Negotiable and Commensurate with Qualifications
CAIR is seeking a full-time civil rights staff attorney in Washington,
D.C.
The ideal candidate is a licensed attorney who has background and
experience in the fields of civil rights, immigration, constitutional
and
employment law. Working knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(especially Title VII) and other constitutionally protected activities
is
required.
Qualifications: Law degree from an ABA accredited school required.
Licensed
to practice law (Virginia, Maryland and DC preferred). 1-2 years
experience
in the area of civil rights/employment/immigration law highly
recommended.
Good interpersonal, communication skills and a team player. Excellent
verbal and written communications skills
CONTACT: Resume and cover letter including salary history by March 31
to:
Arsalan Iftikhar
CAIR National Legal Director
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
Fax (202) 488-0833
arsalan@cair-net.org
-----
NO 'TRUE' AL QAEDA SLEEPER AGENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN U.S.
ABCNEWS.com, 3/9/05
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=566425&page=1
A secret FBI report obtained by ABC News concludes that while there is
no
doubt al Qaeda wants to hit the United States, its capability to do so
is
unclear.
"Al-Qa'ida leadership's intention to attack the United States is not in
question," the report reads. (All spellings are as rendered in the
original
report.) "However, their capability to do so is unclear, particularly
in
regard to 'spectacular' operations. We believe al-Qa'ida's capability
to
launch attacks within the United States is dependent on its ability to
infiltrate and maintain operatives in the United States."
And for all the worry about Osama bin Laden's sleeper cells or agents
in
the United States, a secret FBI assessment concludes it knows of none.
The 32-page assessment says flatly, "To date, we have not identified
any
true 'sleeper' agents in the US," seemingly contradicting the "sleeper
cell" description prosecutors assigned to seven men in Lackawanna,
N.Y., in
2002.
Overblown Sleeper Cell Threat?
"Limited reporting since March indicates al-Qa'ida has sought to
recruit
and train individuals to conduct attacks in the United States, but is
inconclusive as to whether they have succeeded in placing operatives in
this country," the report reads. "US Government efforts to date also
have
not revealed evidence of concealed cells or networks acting in the
homeland
as sleepers."
It also differs from testimony given by FBI Director Robert Mueller,
who
warned in the past that several sleeper cells were probably in place.
"Our greatest threat is from al Qaeda cells in the United States that
we
have not yet been able to identify," Mueller said at a Senate Select
Intelligence Committee hearing in February 2003. "Finding and rooting
out
al Qaeda members once they have entered the United States and have had
time
to establish themselves is our most serious intelligence and law
enforcement challenge."
When the secret report was issued last month, on Feb. 16, Mueller
testified
at a hearing before the same committee that the lack of evidence
concerned
him. "I am concerned about what we are not seeing," he said.
-----
MUSLIM LEADER IS FIRST TO LEAD COUNTY COUNCIL INVOCATION
Gazette, 3/10/05
http://www.gazette.net/200510/princegeorgescty/county/264177-1.html
Imam Ahmed Lamptey, assistant imam at the Islamic Research and
Humanitarian
Services Center of America based in Capitol Heights, on Tuesday became
the
first Muslim to lead the invocation opening a County Council session.
Lamptey, a Landover resident, began with a recitation of The Fatiha,
the
opening prayer that begins all Muslim prayers, then offered the English
rendition. The Fatiha is a prayer seeking guidance for correct action.
Lamptey concluded with a prayer for county officials to work with
compassion and to work in unity.
"I was going to share some views on trust from the Koran," Lamptey said
in
an interview afterward. "All the officeholders have a responsibility to
uphold that moral trust. And the people of Prince George's County have
a
responsibility to obey the laws set up by the elected officials."
Brenda Simms, a public service aide at the County Administration
Building
who attended the council session, was elated.
"This is our first. This is a wonder. This is a blessing," said Simms,
who
is Muslim. "This puts us on the map."
District Heights Mayor Carol Johnson, who also coordinates council
invocations, had been trying for years to diversify invocation leaders.
In
a recent Gazette article, she acknowledged difficulty getting leaders
other
than Christian ministers. She had contacted Muslim ministers before,
but
could not get them in, she said.
"This was wonderful. They didn't respond before. But this was
wonderful,"
Johnson said.
-----
MATTHEWS OF 'HARDBALL' RETREATS FROM SPEECH AFTER MUSLIM PROTEST
Josh Gerstein, New York Sun, 3/10/05
http://www.nysun.com/article/10338
A prominent talk show host has canceled a speech to a conference of
Indian-American hoteliers after coming under pressure from Muslim
organizations and human-rights groups, who said another speaker invited
to
the meeting has a record of condoning anti-Muslim violence.
The host of MSNBC's "Hardball," Chris Matthews, announced yesterday
that he
would not appear as planned on March 24 at the Asian-American Hotel
Owners
Association meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Due to a scheduling conflict, Chris Matthews has canceled this
appearance," an MSNBC spokesman, Jeremy Gaines, said. He would not
elaborate on the nature of the conflict.
In recent days, Muslim activists and others flooded the network with
calls,
letters, and e-mail urging Mr. Matthews to distance himself from the
group.
An Indian official billed as the "chief guest" at the meeting, Narendra
Modi, has been accused of tolerating anti-Muslim violence in the state
of
Gujarat, where he is chief minister.
The president of the Indian Muslim Council-USA, Dr. Ashwini Rao of New
York, said he does not credit the official explanation for Mr.
Matthews's
action. "Most likely, that's not correct, because we've been talking to
him
for the last week and a half, at least, and they've never said it's a
scheduling conflict," Dr. Rao said. "I was hoping he'd take a more
moral
stance."
Mr. Modi has been condemned by various human rights groups for failing
to
rein in anti-Muslim riots in 2002 that led to the deaths of more than
1,000
Gujarat residents.
The Indian governor was "directly involved in this pogrom and this
hatred,"
Dr. Rao asserted. He said Mr. Modi espouses a supremacist philosophy
known
as Hindutva. "This is an ideology that was inspired by Mussolini and
Hitler. They want to have the same thing in India, where India is
solely
for upper-caste Hindus," Dr. Rao said…
ALSO SEE:
CONTROVERSIAL INDIAN POLITICIAN MUST BE DENIED ENTRY TO U.S.
Parvez Ahmed, American Reporter, 3/8/05
http://www.american-reporter.com/2,597/2.html>http://www.american-reporter.com/2,597/2.html
WASHINGTON -- Indian politician Narendra Modi must be prevented from
entering the United States for his "campaign of extremism." Section 604
of
the International Religious Freedom Act allows the State Department to
bar
the entry of any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly
severe
violations of religious freedom." Modi will be a good test case for
this law.
If we care about America's image as an exemplar of human rights, then
preventing the entry of this controversial politician is in our vital
interest. Already reeling from the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo scandals,
America's image can scant afford any further blemish.
Who is Narendra Modi and why must he be stopped from entering the U.S.?
Narendra Modi is the chief minister of India's western state of
Gujarat.
He belongs to a right wing Hindu party known for its extreme rhetoric
towards India's minorities, both Muslims and Christians. The main
charge
against him is that his police force idly stood by as marauding Hindu
mobs
burned out entire Muslim communities and desecrated mosques. The riots
left
several thousands dead, hundreds of thousands homeless and were
correctly
described as "genocide."
Published newspaper reports cite that Modi's government in 2004
introduced
a school textbook that stated, 'Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the
German government' and 'Hitler instilled a spirit of adventure in the
common people...'
Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D. is a board member for the Council on
American-Islamic
elations, (CAIR). Visit them at
htp://www.cair.com/>http://www.cair.com.
CAIR is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has 28 offices nationwide.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy group. Write
Parvez at pahmed@cairfl.org.
-----
ANALYSIS: RENDITION A ROUTINE PRACTICE
Shaun Waterman, United Press International, 3/9/05
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=82336
Rendition - the quasi-legal procedure by which the United States hands
terror suspects over to foreign governments for interrogation or trial
-
has been practiced by the CIA for nearly two decades, and long prior to
Sept. 11 was a routine, publicly acknowledged counter-terrorism
technique
conducted more than a dozen times a year.
One former intelligence official with detailed knowledge of the
practice
pre-Sept. 11 told United Press International that decisions about who
should be handed over were sometimes made by junior officials and that,
in
certain cases, the CIA neither sought nor received assurances that
suspected terrorists would not be tortured.
Other former and serving officials said that although both the
authorities
and the frequency of the practice have been dramatically expanded since
Sept. 11, 2001, CIA rendition dates to 1986 and the establishment under
President Reagan of the agency's Counterterrorist Center.
"It was a fairly routine practice," said Jeffrey Smith, who was general
counsel to the CIA 1995-96.
The practice has recently become the subject of controversy, with
allegations from human-rights groups and some Democratic lawmakers that
the
United States is deliberately sending suspected terrorists to countries
where they will be tortured. Administration officials deny the charge.
"We neither use nor condone torture," a CIA official authorized to
speak
for the agency told United Press International Monday. The official,
like
others in the administration, declined further comment.
But the United States was not always so coy about the practice.
On Feb. 2, 2000, CIA Director George Tenet told the Senate Select
Committee
on Intelligence that "working with foreign governments worldwide, we
have
helped to render more than two dozen terrorists to justice" since July
1998. More than half, he added, were members of al-Qaida.
"These renditions have shattered terrorist cells and networks, thwarted
terrorist plans, and in some cases even prevented attacks from
occurring,"
Tenet boasted.
Though he did not say so, it is clear that the majority of those he was
speaking about were sent to Egypt or Jordan, where - for suspected
terrorists at least - torture was commonplace.
The former intelligence official called the pre-Sept. 11 rendition
process
"very informal…"
ALSO SEE:
EX-CIA LAWYER CALLS FOR LAW ON RENDITION
Shaun Waterman, United Press International, 3/9/05
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=82337
A former general counsel of the CIA is calling for Congress to
legislate on
three controversial areas of the war on terror: interrogation,
detention
and rendition, in which suspected terrorists are handed over to third
countries.
Jeffrey Smith, who was the CIA's top lawyer from 1994 to '95, told
United
Press International that it was time to end the uncertainty and secrecy
surrounding these three practices and provide a legislative basis for
them.
Smith, who was an adviser to the campaign of 2004 Democratic
presidential
nominee John Kerry, argues that it is time for Congress to "step up to
the
plate…"
---
NEW INTERROGATION RULES SET FOR DETAINEES IN IRAQ
Eric Scmitt, New York Times, 3/10/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/10/politics/10abuse.html
WASHINGTON- After clashing with Afghan rebels at the village of Miam Do
one
year ago, American soldiers detained the village's entire population
for
four days, and an officer beat and choked several residents while
screening
them and trying to identify local militants, according to a new
Pentagon
report that was given to Congress late Monday night.
Although the officer, an Army lieutenant colonel attached to the
Defense
Intelligence Agency, was disciplined and suspended from further
involvement
with detainees, he faced no further action beyond a reprimand.
The episode, described only briefly in a summary of the report reviewed
by
The New York Times, was one example of how little control was exerted
over
some conduct of interrogations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the subject of
an
exhaustive review just completed by Vice Adm. Albert T. Church, the
naval
inspector general.
The report finds that early warning signs of serious abuses did not
receive
enough high-level attention as the abuses unfolded, and that unit
commanders did not get clear instructions that might have halted the
abuses.
---
LAWYERS: DETAINED TURK TORTURED AT GITMO
Imke Zimmermann, Associated Press, 3/9/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11093163.htm
BREMEN, Germany - A German-born Turkish man held at the U.S. prison
camp
for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay had his head forced under
water,
was tortured with electric shocks and was sexually humiliated by female
interrogators, his attorneys said Wednesday.
Lawyers for Murat Kurnaz, 22, said recently obtained declassified U.S.
intelligence documents point to his innocence and show that their
client is
being held even though the United States knows he has no connection to
al-Qaida.
Baher Azmy, who said he has met with Kurnaz for 30 hours during the
past
few months, urged the German government to press for his release.
Kurnaz is
believed to have been captured in Pakistan after traveling there in
October
2001.
Kurnaz's description of alleged torture while in Guantanamo and
Afghanistan
matched information given by other detainees, Azmy said.
"They dunked his head in a bucket of water to simulate drowning," Azmy
said
at a press conference. "They gave him electric shocks through his feet.
Once an officer pointed a rifle at his head to force him to confess to
being an associate of Mohamed Atta," the lead Sept. 11 hijacker, who
lived
and studied in Hamburg.
Another time, three female interrogators entered his cell wearing
underwear
while he was restrained, according to Azmy and Germany attorney
Bernhard
Docke. One of them, they said, put her arms around him from behind and
put
her hand inside his shirt.
She asked if he wanted to "have fun," the lawyers said. When he threw
his
head back at her, knocking her down, a riot-helmeted security team
entered
and took him to solitary confinement, where he was kept with his hands
restrained behind his back, they said.
Kurnaz also claimed to have been kept without food for six days, the
lawyers said…
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS SEEK BIAS CRIMES PROSECUTION IN ANTI-ISLAM COMMENTS
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 3/9/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0309mar09,0,848704.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- Leaders of the Muslim community in northern New Jersey
want
the state attorney general to determine whether anti-Islam comments
made by
some Coptic Christians implicating Muslims in the killings of a Jersey
City
family should be prosecuted as bias crimes.
Sohail Mohammed, the lawyer for the American Muslim Union, wrote to
Attorney General Peter Harvey Wednesday seeking an investigation of
comments made by some in the Coptic community in the days following the
slaying of the Armanious family in January.
Mohammed said those comments might have been designed to dissuade
Muslims
from attending the funeral, and could have been intended to stir up
anti-Muslim sentiment.
He noted that many Muslim leaders stayed away from the funeral. The
handful
who did attend were greeted with abuse and several had to be escorted
by
police officers from the church hall where the funeral was being held
for
their own safety, he said.
"We are concerned that those comments were deliberately intended to
incite
the public," Mohammed said. "If it was intentional, we want Mr. Harvey
to
do an investigation and determine if it was a bias crime. If there was
bias
related to it, it becomes a bias crime."
Lee Moore, a spokesman for the attorney general, said Wednesday his
office
had received Mohammeds letter, but added Harvey had not had a chance to
review it. Moore declined further comment…
ALSO SEE:
IT'S TIME TO BURY RUMORS
Mike Kelly, North Jersey.com, 3/8/05
http://www.northjersey.com/
In Jersey City, we are watching a morality tale of murder, rumor and
the
power of age-old fear. This tale needs to end.
The story began on a cold Friday two months ago, when police discovered
the
bodies of four members of an Egyptian Coptic family. Almost
immediately, a
rumor floated that the murderers were Islamic terrorists.
That rumor should have died last week with the arrest of two guys who
hardly fit the al-Qaida profile: Edward McDonald and Hamilton Sanchez.
Police say it wasn't religious fanaticism that drove them. It was
robbery.
But what does Jersey City's Egyptian community say now about the rumors
and
finger-pointing? How about an apology?
The murders of Hossam Armanious; his wife, Amal Garas, and the couple's
daughters, 15-year-old Sylvia and 8-year-old Monica touched off ripples
of
pain, not just in Jersey City's tight-knit Egyptian community, but
worldwide.
That's not the problem. The problem is what happened next. Fueled by
centuries-old fears of Muslim persecution in Egypt, Coptic leaders in
America did little to stop another painful story that turned out to be
pure
fiction - namely, that the killers were Muslim fanatics.
Hours after the bodies were discovered on Jan. 14, some Coptic
activists
took to the streets, claiming the killings were the work of Muslim
terrorists. One leader described the stabbings as "executions."
That was only the beginning…
---
MUSLIM-COPTIC TENSION PERSISTS DESPITE MURDER ARRESTS OF DRUG DEALERS
Jeff Diamant, Religion News Service, 3/9/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/162/story_16205_1.html
Tense feelings between Coptic Orthodox Christians and Muslims over the
mid-January killings of four Egyptian-American Christians in Jersey
City,
N.J., seem unlikely to vanish quickly despite the arrests of two men
authorities say murdered the family to cover up a robbery.
Many Muslims and Copts expressed relief after prosecutors Friday (March
4)
announced the arrests of two convicted drug dealers and said the motive
was
money, not religion.
Some in the Coptic community said they will withhold judgment until
more
information comes out or the defendants are convicted. Area Muslims,
meanwhile, remain upset after being put on the defensive for the last
seven
weeks as many Copts and even some national commentators speculated that
Muslim extremists were behind the killings…
"There was a great hue and cry," said Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy.
"It
was based on prejudice, hysteria and everything else. Not that I blame
these Coptics. Apparently they have thousands of years of persecution
and
they jumped to a short-sighted conclusion…"
---
MUSLIMS SEEK TO EASE STRIFE WITH COPTS
Appeal to attorney general in Jersey City case
Elise Young, The Record, 3/10/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NjQxNDkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
Muslim leaders are seeking a meeting with the state Attorney General's
Office to "help quell the tension" between Coptic Christians and
followers
of Islam in Jersey City.
The request followed nearly two months of speculation that Muslim
extremists had slain a Coptic family - Hossam Armanious, his wife and
their
two daughters - because Armanious had posted anti-Muslim messages on
the
Internet. The two religions have a history of discord in the Armanious'
native Egypt.
The rumors abated somewhat last week, with the arrests of the family's
former tenant and an alleged accomplice. The pair - who had no apparent
connection to the Muslim community - killed the family after robbing
them,
prosecutors said. Each was charged with murder.
Some Copts publicly have said they still suspect Muslims were involved…
-----
CGSC STUDENTS MEET WITH AFRICAN MUSLIMS
Bob Kerr, Ft Leavenworth Lamp, 3/10/05
http://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/articles/2005/03/10/news/news2.txt
African Muslims from the University of Kansas met with students in the
Command and General Staff Officer Course's "Introduction to Islam"
course
Monday to discuss Muslims in the contemporary world.
The visitors from KU included Dr. Khalid El-Hassan of Sudan,
coordinator of
the Kansas African Resource Center at KU; political science student
Abdiraham Gutale of Somalia; and graduate student Alassane Fall of
Senegal,
an outreach assistant at the KARC. Joining them on the panel was CGSOC
international student Lt. Col. Mohammed Al-Shamisi of the United Arab
Emirates.
Panel members discussed a range of issues affecting the Muslim world
with
an emphasis on Islam's influence on Sub-Saharan Africa. Each was given
the
opportunity to share his personal story of growing up in Islamic
culture
and coming to the United States. During the question and answer session
with the students, the panel members shared their thoughts on a wide
range
of topics, including terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism, human rights in
the
Islamic world, and personal spirituality...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/11/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT NO EYE HAS SEEN
* CAIR-CAN DENOUNCES XENOPHOBIC COMMENTS
* CAIR CONDEMNS MOSUL FUNERAL BOMBING
- DC-Area Muslims Slam Suicide Bombing (Wash Times)
* CAIR CONFERENCE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM
* CAIR-LA HOSTS PANEL ON IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS
- CAIR-SV and Jewish Council Discuss Civil Rights
- CAIR-SV Sponsors Children's Play
* CAIR: MUSLIM GROUP AIMS TO MEDIATE WITH DELL (Boston Globe)
- Nashville Probes Firing of Muslim Workers (Reuters)
* PENTAGON SEEKS TO TRANSFER MORE DETAINEES (NY Times)
- Abu Ghraib, Whitewashed Again (NY Times)
- Prisoners at Abu Ghraib Said Included Kids (AP)
- Alleged Abuse of Muslim Inmate Probed (AP)
* NJ: MUSLIM, COPTIC LEADERS PLAN MEETING (WNBC)
- NJ: Civic Leaders Should Heal Rift (Record)
- NY: Jewish, Muslim Comedians Team Up (Daily Orange)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT NO EYE HAS SEEN
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) quoted God as saying: "I have
prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has
heard, nor has it occurred to the human heart. Thus recite if you wish:
'No
one knows what delights of the eye have been kept hidden (in reserve)
for
them as a reward for their good deeds.'" (The Holy Quran, 32:17).
Hadith Qudsi 37
-----
CAIR-CAN DENOUNCES XENOPHOBIC COMMENTS BY QUEBEC POLITICIANS
Organization to address comments in public lecture in Montreal
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 11/03/2005) - The Canadian Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) will address recent comments made by members of
Quebec's provincial assembly on faith-based arbitration at a Montreal
lecture tonight.
The Montreal gazette today reported that prominent Quebec politicians
stated that Islamic family law arbitration has no place in Canada and
that
Muslim immigrants who favour such a system should be denied entry into
Canada.
SEE: KEEP ISLAMIC LAW OUT OF CANADA, QUEBEC POLITICIANS URGE
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=3934ac7a-d844-4318-a19d-d1d65110c8bc
CAIR-CAN today denounced the comments as bordering on xenophobia and
betraying a deep ignorance of the law as it relates to faith-based
arbitration. It also asked the MNAs whether they could deny entry to
Jewish
and Christian immigrants who would choose to abide by faith-based
arbitration.
CAIR-CAN today called on Quebec Premier Jean Charest to assure Muslims
of
this province that they will be welcome as fellow Quebecers without
having
to give up their faith.
WHAT: Lecture - Myths and Realities: Islamic Tribunals in Canada
Speakers: Dr. Jamal Badawi & Riad Saloojee, LLB
WHEN: Friday March 11 @ 7:00pm
WHERE: Montreal, Concordia University, Hall Building, Room 110
CONTACT: Abdurahman Salman at 613-254-9704; Cell: 613-795-2012
Note: CAIR-CAN Executive Director Riad Saloojee will be available for
commentary prior to the lecture.
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS MOSUL FUNERAL BOMBING
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/11/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today condemned the bombing of a funeral gathering
yesterday
near a mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul that killed dozens of
mourners.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
in a
statement:
"No cause could possibly justify the killing of innocent people
gathered to
mourn at a house of worship. We condemn yesterday's attack in the
strongest
possible terms and pray for those who were killed or injured. We also
offer
sincere condolences to the families of the victims."
CAIR recently launched an online petition drive, called "Not in the
Name of
Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few
Muslims. (SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA )
The
"Not in the Name of Islam" petition states:
"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who
commit
acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only
destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the
faith
they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify
the
massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the
cause
of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group
or
individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to
allow
our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority
acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet
Muhammad,
peace be upon him."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
AREA MUSLIMS SLAM SUICIDE BOMBING
Jon Ward, Washington Times, 3/11/05
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050310-105612-1198r.htm
Muslim leaders in the Washington area condemned yesterday's suicide
bombing
at a Shi'ite mosque in northern Iraq, saying such actions violate the
heart
and soul of Islam.
"This does not help the Iraqis, it does not help Islam, and it does not
help the children of Iraq looking for a future," said Imam Mohamed
Magid,
leader of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), one of the area's
largest Sunni mosques...
-----
SAVE THE DATE: CAIR CONFERENCE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM
On May 13-15, CAIR will host its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia
and
Anti-Americanism Causes and Remedies," at the Sheraton Premiere at
Tysons
Corner, Vienna, VA.
Online registration will be offered in the near future.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the
conference, please call 202-488-8787 or e-mail events@cair.com.
-----
CAIR-LA HOSTS PANEL ON IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 3/11/05) - On March 13, the Islamic Society of Orange
County (ISOC), the Arab American Council, and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA) will host a
panel discussion on immigration and civil rights concerns.
The panel is designed to help attendees to learn about current
immigration
laws, understand how to protect your civil rights and find out how to
enhance better understanding and relations between law enforcement and
the
Muslim community.
Panelists include: Janna Evans, Director of Community Liaison, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security;
Matt
McLaughlin, Special Projects Supervisor (FBI); Kathryn Terry, A
Certified
Specialist Attorney in the U.S. Immigration and Nationality law; and
Ra'id
Faraj, Public Relations Director (CAIR-LA).
WHEN: Sunday, March 13, 2005, 1:30p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Society of Orange (ISOC), 9752 13th Street, Garden
Grove, CA
For More Information Contact: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or
E-Mail:
socal@cair.com; or ISOC, Sabiha Quidwai, 714-531-1515
NOTE: Attendance is free and open to all community members.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SV AND JEWISH COUNCIL DISCUSS CIVIL RIGHTS
Meeting designed to explore areas of mutual cooperation
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/11/05) - A delegation from the Sacramento Valley
office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) met recently
with
leaders of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Sacramento
to
discuss ways to foster mutual cooperation between the two communities.
Meeting participants exchanged information about the Muslim and Jewish
communities in the Sacramento area and discussed the need for
interfaith
educational programs and for joint efforts of the two communities on
the
issue of civil rights.
"We were pleased to meet with members of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations and to begin to forge a relationship," said Marcia Levy
Rosenstein, co-chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, a
service
of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region.
"We look forward to working together on key issues, including the
battle
against hate crimes and for greater understanding between people of
diverse
backgrounds."
"We thank JCRC for the invitation and look forward to joint efforts to
fight hate crimes, defend civil rights and promote interfaith harmony,"
said CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, 916-441-6269
---
CAIR-SV SPONSORS CHILDREN'S PLAY
Performance promotes respect for human dignity
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/2/05) - The Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) recently sponsored a special
performance of "The Beggars' Strike," a play by the Children's Theatre
of
California.
The play by renowned playwright Carlyle Brown is based on a novel by
Senegalese author Aminata Sow Fall. Its main themes are the promotion
of
tolerance and respect for human dignity.
Set in an Islamic West African community, the play follows a daughter's
desire to keep her family together in a time of change. Her
career-minded
father gets involved in a government effort to increase tourism by
clearing
the streets of the beloved and comical "begging bowl" children. When
his
daughter falls in with the beggars, the father learns that family and
community can be greater forces than bureaucracy and commerce.
For more information about performances, visit:
http://www.bstreettheatre.org/
"CAIR's endorsement of the production and sponsorship of additional
shows
is validation of our aspirations, and for this we are very grateful,"
says
Buck Busfield, Director of B Street Theatre and Children's Theatre of
California
"The Muslim community applauds B-Street Theatre and Children's Theatre
of
California for showing 'The Beggar's Strike," said CAIR-SV President
Dr.
Hamza ElNakhal. "The play simultaneously entertains, educates and
promotes
the values of tolerance, charity and respect for human dignity."
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, 916-441-6269
-----
MUSLIM GROUP AIMS TO MEDIATE WITH DELL
Dispute focuses on denial of break for workers to pray
Diane E. Lewis, Boston Globe, 3/11/05
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/03/11/muslim_group_aims_to_mediate_with_dell/
A national Muslim organization says it wants to mediate with Dell Inc,
over
30 Somali workers who are at the center of a dispute over prayer at
work.
The Council on American and Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C. sent
an
e-mail and letter yesterday to Dell president and chief executive Kevin
B.
Rollins after the Nashville newspaper, The Tennessean, reported that
the
workers walked off their jobs last month because they were forced to
''choose between their faith and their employment.''
The workers, who loaded boxes or operated forklifts at Dell's Nashville
plant, requested time off to pray at sunset and were told they could
not,
said Ibrahim Hooper, executive director of the council.
Dell spokesman T.R. Reid said the Texas-based computer manufacturing
firm
has a longstanding policy of accommodating workers of different
religious
faiths. He said Dell is working with the Metropolitan Human Relations
Commission in Nashville ''to better understand and resolve the issue.''
''There were some contract employees at our operation there who
evidently
were involved in something that was an anomaly in terms of a dispute
with
their manager over prayer breaks,'' said Reid.
Specialists say such disputes are becoming more commonplace as diverse
groups of people enter the workplace, bringing different forms of
worship.
In addition, companies like Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., are
permitting prayer at work as part of their diversity programs as long
as
praying does not disrupt work and participants in prayer groups do not
force their beliefs on co-workers…
ALSO SEE:
DELL FIRES 30 TENN. MUSLIMS OVER WORKPLACE PRAYER
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1479&theType=NR
---
NASHVILLE PROBES FIRING OF DELL MUSLIM WORKERS
Eric Auchard, Reuters, 3/11/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7874615
SAN FRANCISCO - A local agency in Nashville, Tennessee, is
investigating
whether 30 Muslim contract workers were unfairly fired by Dell Inc. for
taking unscheduled breaks to pray, a city official said on Thursday.
A Dell spokesman said no workers had filed complaints in what was a
"misunderstanding" and the company had policies to safeguard religious
practices.
The temporary employees at Dell's logistics facility in Nashville were
fired in early February, according to a preliminary investigation by
the
human relations commission for the metropolitan region surrounding
Nashville.
The dispute involved the timing of breaks for sunset prayers by the 30,
all
Somali immigrants, who were employed by staffing agency Spherion Corp.
(SFN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on a temporary basis at Dell, the
world's
largest personal computer maker.
"The workers were told: 'Choose work or choose faith,"' said Kelvin
Jones,
executive director of the Metro Human Relations Commission for the
greater
Nashville area. "They didn't see an option: They chose not to work."
Dell spokesman David Frink said, "We had some contract workers who left
Dell basically on a misunderstanding of our religious (policies)."
He added, "Our long practice has been to accommodate religious belief,
including time for prayers."
Dell aimed to resolve the issue "beneficially" and several workers have
since returned to work at Dell, he said.
Dell operations include a major production center in Penang, in the
majority Muslim nation of Malaysia, and facilities in Singapore and
Bangalore, India, each with large Muslim populations.
A spokesman at Spherion, a $2 billion-a-year staffing agency, was not
available for comment…
-----
PENTAGON SEEKS TO TRANSFER MORE DETAINEES FROM BASE IN CUBA
Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 3/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/11/politics/11detain.html
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is seeking to enlist help from the State
Department and other agencies in a plan to cut by more than half the
population at its detention facility in Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, in part
by
transferring hundreds of suspected terrorists to prisons in Saudi
Arabia,
Afghanistan and Yemen, according to senior administration officials.
The transfers would be similar to the renditions, or transfers of
captives
to other countries, carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency, but
are
subject to stricter approval within the government, and face potential
opposition from the C.I.A. as well as the State and Justice
Departments,
the officials said.
Administration officials say those agencies have resisted some previous
handovers, out of concern that transferring the prisoners to foreign
governments could harm American security or subject the prisoners to
mistreatment.
A Feb. 5 memorandum from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld calls for
broader interagency support for the plan, starting with efforts to work
out
a significant transfer of prisoners to Afghanistan, the officials said.
The
proposal is part of a Pentagon effort to cut a Guant�namo population
that
stands at about 540 detainees by releasing some outright and by
transferring others for continued detention elsewhere.
ALSO SEE:
ABU GHRAIB, WHITEWASHED AGAIN
New York Times, 3/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/11/opinion/11fri2.html
It was good to learn yesterday that the military commander in Iraq has
issued definitive rules about how to treat captives in American prison
camps. Unfortunately, that was about the only good news in the newest
Pentagon report on prisoner abuse, actually a 21-page summary of a
larger,
classified study by the Navy inspector general of interrogation rules
in
Guant�namo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Just consider that it took more than a year after the military says it
first learned of the nightmare at Abu Ghraib to issue the new rules.
And
don't ask what they are, because they're classified. The report spoke
of
the regulations approvingly. But its author, Vice Admiral Albert Church
III, now director of the Navy staff, admitted yesterday that, well, he
had
not actually read them.
This whitewash is typical of the reports issued by the Bush
administration
on the abuse, humiliation and torture of prisoners at camps run by the
military and the Central Intelligence Agency. Like the others, the
Church
report concludes that only the lowest-ranking soldiers are to be held
accountable, not their commanders or their civilian overseers.
It conveniently ignores President Bush's declaration that terrorists
are
not covered by the Geneva Conventions and that Iraq is part of the war
against terror. Mr. Bush later said the conventions would cover Iraqi
military prisoners, but the Church report said military commanders in
Iraq
had never been given guidance on handling prisoners, a vast majority of
whom were not soldiers. Still, the report tossed this off as merely a
"missed opportunity." It overlooked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's
approval of interrogation techniques for Guant�namo that violated the
Geneva Conventions. It glossed over the way military lawyers who were
drafting later rules were ordered to ignore their own legal opinions
and
instead follow Justice Department memos on how to make torture seem
legal...
We're not holding out much hope that the White House will step into the
breach because Mr. Bush has rewarded many of the officials responsible
for
the prison policies - one of them now serves as attorney general.
Still,
the only real solution is for Mr. Bush to follow the American Bar
Association's advice and appoint an independent, bipartisan commission.
---
PRISONERS AT ABU GHRAIB SAID INCLUDED KIDS
Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 3/11/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-iraq-child-detainees,0,3977462.story
WASHINGTON -- A boy no older than 11 was among the children held by the
Army at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, the former U.S. commander of the
facility
told a general investigating abuses at the prison.
Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski did not say what happened to the boy or why
he
was imprisoned, according to a transcript of her interview with Maj.
Gen.
George Fay that was released by the American Civil Liberties Union.
---
ALLEGED ABUSE OF MUSLIM INMATE PROBED
Mark Sherman, Associated Press, 3/11/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1152&slug=Justice%20Abuse%20Investigation
WASHINGTON- The Justice Department's watchdog office said Friday it is
investigating a complaint from a Muslim inmate who says he was abused
by
federal prison guards who also allowed other inmates to assault him.
The allegations at the unidentified prison is the only new
investigation
opened in the last half of 2004 by the agency's inspector general,
Glenn A.
Fine, into potential civil rights or civil liberties violations by the
Justice Department.
The report stems from a provision of the anti-terror Patriot Act
authorizing the inspector general to review complaints about civil
liberties and civil rights abuses involving Justice Department
personnel.
-----
MUSLIM, COPTIC LEADERS PLAN MEETING AFTER N.J. FAMILY SLAIN
Muslim Leaders Ask Whether Coptics' Statements Are Bias Crimes
WNBC, 3/10/05
http://www.wnbc.com/news/4274582/detail.html
TRENTON, N.J. -- Representatives of the state Attorney General's Office
will meet soon with leaders of the northern New Jersey Muslim and
Coptic
Christian communities to "discuss issues of mutual concern," a state
spokesman said Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after Muslim leaders in northern Jersey
asked
the state to determine whether comments made by Coptic Christians
implicating Muslims in the killings of a Jersey City family in January
should be prosecuted as bias crimes.
Attorney General Peter C. Harvey has instructed his bias crimes and
community relations panel to convene a meeting with representatives of
both
communities, spokesman Paul Loriquet said.
ALSO SEE:
COPTS AND MUSLIMS; CIVIC LEADERS SHOULD HELP HEAL RIFT
The Record, 3/11/05
http://www.bergenrecord.com/
YOU can't blame New Jersey Muslims for feeling mad. After a Coptic
Christian family in Jersey City was slain in January, the most
oft-aired
theory was that Muslim extremists were to blame.
Now, two non-Muslims are in custody for the killings, and police say
robbery, not religious hatred, was the motive.
Nonetheless, some Coptic leaders who helped spread the rumors that
Islamic
terrorists were involved refuse to fully back away from that notion.
So here's a message to them: Get over it. It's time to admit you were
wrong
about this being a religious hate crime, and to apologize for the harm
and
pain your irresponsible comments have caused…
---
JEWISH, MUSLIM COMEDIANS TEAM UP AGAINST HATE
Dan Poster, Daily Orange, 3/10/05
http://www.dailyorange.com/news/2005/03/10/Pulp/Jewish.Muslim.Comedians.Team.Up.Against.Hate-890804.shtml
Did you hear the one about the Jew and the Muslim who teamed up to make
audiences around the country laugh about their religions?
Because several dozen Jewish and Muslim students at Syracuse University
did, and they thought it was hilarious.
Bob Alper, a reform rabbi who loves Chinese food, and Ahmed Ahmed, a
Muslim
who must have been named once for each time he's successfully boarded
an
aircraft, took their light-hearted comedy routine to Goldstein
Auditorium
last night as part of their continuing effort to diffuse Jewish-Muslim
relations though laughter.
"I read this thing after Sept. 11 that said hate crimes against Arabs
and
Muslims were at an all-time high," Ahmed said, feigning seriousness.
"Turns
out that still puts us in fourth place behind blacks, gays and Jews. We
can't even win in hatred."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/12/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WORKERS RIGHTS
* MISTREATMENT OF MUSLIM INMATES CITED (Boston Globe)
- Report: Prison Staff Mistreated Muslims (AP)
* MUSLIMS SAY DELL FORBADE THEM TO PRAY AT WORK (Wash Post)
- Dell, Islamic Workers in Dispute on Prayers (AP)
- CAIR: Contact Dell to Urge Rehiring of Workers, Mediation
* DALLAS BILLBOARD ASKS: 'WHY ISLAM?' (WFAA-TV)
- U.S. Muslim TV Channel Meets with Success (Wash File)
* 2 DIED AFTER '02 BEATINGS BY U.S. SOLDIERS (Wash Post)
- Army Details Abuse of Prisoners in Afghan Jail (NYT)
- Torture by Proxy (Los Angeles Times)
- Vet Says U.S. Unaware of Realities of Iraq War (BDH)
- FL: Home Movies From Iraq Show Real War (PB Post)
* AMERICAN EXPRESS ASKED TO WITHDRAW FROM MODI EVENT (IMC-USA)
- Urge Bush Administration to Deny Modi Visa (CAIR)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WORKERS RIGHTS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Give the worker his
wages
before his sweat dries."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 888
The Prophet also said: "There was a merchant who used to lend to the
people, and whenever his debtor was in straitened circumstances, he
would
say to his employees, 'Forgive him (his debt) so that God may forgive
us.'
So, God forgave him."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 292
-----
MISTREATMENT OF MUSLIM INMATES CITED
Inspector's report faults US prison
Charlie Savage, Boston Globe, 3/12/05
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/03/12/mistreatment_of_muslim_inmates_cited/
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General
said
yesterday it had "found a disturbing pattern of discriminatory and
retaliatory actions against Muslim inmates" by the warden and guards at
an
unnamed federal prison, one in a series of criticisms the internal
watchdog
leveled against the federal Bureau of Prisons in connection with its
treatment of Muslims.
Inspector General Glenn A. Fine also disclosed that an FBI agent sent
an
e-mail to field offices ''identifying the names and addresses of the
proprietors and customers of a Muslim-based website," along with
instructions to ''take whatever action it deemed appropriate" against
any
local people on the list. The FBI later conceded the e-mail was
probably
illegal, he said.
The report was the latest in a series of semiannual reviews of civil
rights
and civil liberties violations required by a provision of the USA
Patriot
Act, the law enforcement powers enacted after the terrorist attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001…
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
an Islamic civil rights and advocacy group based in Washington, said
that
the findings of the report were ''disturbing," but that he was
heartened
that they were being examined.
"We're obviously concerned that these abuses occurred in the first
place,
but we're also pleased that they're being investigated thoroughly,"
Cooper
said…
SEE ALSO:
REPORT: PRISON STAFF MISTREATED MUSLIMS
Associated Press, 3/11/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7162088/
WASHINGTON - The warden and guards at a federal prison discriminated
and
retaliated against Muslim inmates, the Justice Department's inspector
general said Friday in a report that also detailed allegations of
mistreatment of Muslims at other U.S. lockups.
In one instance at the unidentified federal prison, the warden
"unjustly
and inappropriately" ordered an inmate transferred to special housing
similar to solitary confinement for more than four months, Inspector
General Glenn A. Fine said. The move came five days after the inmate
talked
to Fine's investigators.
Federal prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges against the
warden,
and the incident was referred to the federal Bureau of Prisons, he
said.
The treatment of Muslim prisoners was part of a semiannual report Fine
produces about possible civil rights or civil liberties violations by
the
Justice Department.
The inspector general began one new investigation in the last half of
2004.
It involves allegations that guards at another federal prison abused a
Muslim inmate and allowed other inmates to assault him.
Fine also noted that the federal prison officials have yet to
discipline
anyone for the abuse more than a year after he documented the
mistreatment
of Arabs and Muslims detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in
Brooklyn, N.Y., after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks…
-----
MUSLIMS SAY DELL FORBADE THEM TO PRAY AT WORK
Mike Musgrove, Washington Post, 3/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28616-2005Mar11.html
Abdi Halane, a Somali refugee living in Nashville, is looking for a new
job
this month.
In February, Halane was one of 30 Muslim assembly-line workers who
walked
away from their jobs building computers at a Dell Inc. facility after
they
were told to make a choice between prayers mandated by Islam and their
job,
according to Halane and another worker from the facility.
It's a conflict between Islam's devotional requirements, which call for
adherents to pray five times a day, and the efficient manufacturing
processes of the world's largest PC maker -- which have assembly-line
workers plugging parts into hundred of computers an hour.
For Halane, he said, the ultimatum came as a surprise at a 1 a.m.
meeting,
in the middle of his usual overnight shift, when he and his Muslim
co-workers were called into the plant's cafeteria.
"They said, 'From now on, you have to stay without praying, or you are
terminated,'" Halane said in a telephone interview. "'If you want to
leave,
leave, if you want.' We put down our badges and left." Halane said he
has
not heard from Dell or Spherion Corp., the labor-placement agency that
employed him at the Dell facility, since that day, Feb. 4.
David Frink, a Dell spokesman, disputed that the Muslim workers, who
come
from Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan, had been terminated and said
yesterday
that the computer maker is working to resolve the issue with the
workers
and with Spherion. Frink said he did not know why the issue of Muslim
employee prayer became a problem at the plant.
"They absolutely were not fired," he said. "What we've got is, frankly,
a
misunderstanding. We're working with the employees to resolve this."
Frink
said Dell has not received a formal complaint about the matter.
Nashville's
Human Relations Commission, which will be mediating the dispute, is
expected to receive formal complaints from the workers next week.
Byrne K. Mulrooney, president of staffing and workforce solutions at
Dell
contractor Spherion, would not say whether the company is considering
making accommodations for its Muslim workers who want to conduct their
regular prayers at work.
Mulrooney said a few workers had already returned to the facility,
though
it was unclear yesterday how many workers had done so.
"We're very aware of the concerns that have been raised and are taking
them
very seriously," he said. "We're very confident that our policies met
and
exceed what is required of us by law."
Islam's five daily prayers only take a few minutes, and most can take
place
within a span of a few hours. The daily devotion at sunset, however,
must
be completed within a 20- to 30-minute window. This is the prayer that
sparked the conflict at the Dell plant. Before last month's standoff,
Muslim workers there employed a system in which Muslim co-workers would
stand in for each other on the line as their colleagues took a few
minutes
to pray in a quiet spot away from the floor of the plant.
Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director at the
Washington-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations, said this is not the first time
Muslim assembly-line workers have run into a conflict between their job
and
their faith.
"It's a problem for recent immigrant Muslims because they often do
manufacturing and production work," Hooper said. "It tends to be a
first-generation issue."
Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an employer must accommodate an
employee's religious practices unless doing so would impose an undue
hardship on the company…
SEE ALSO:
DELL AND ISLAMIC WORKERS IN DISPUTE ON SUNSET PRAYERS
GARY TANNER, Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3081479
NASHVILLE, TENN. - Thirty Muslims walked off the job at a Dell plant
after
alleging the company refused to let them pray at sunset - the latest
dispute over prayer between an American business and its Islamic
employees.
The Muslim workers, who were packaging Dell computers through a
temporary
labor agency, are taking the dispute to mediation, both sides said
Friday.
Most of the employees are from Somalia.
Abdirizak Hassan, executive director of the Somali Community Center of
Nashville, said the workers walked out of the company's Nashville plant
last month because they were not allowed time for prayers.
The question of how to integrate Islamic prayers into the American
workplace is becoming far more common, with many companies using a "tag
out" system to accommodate the prayers, said Ibrahim Hooper of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations. The policy allows workers to step away a
few
at a time for sunset prayers.
Muslims are required by their faith to pray five times a day. Most of
the
prayer times are flexible, but the sunset prayers must be said at dusk…
---
CONTACT DELL TO URGE REHIRING OF WORKERS, MEDIATION
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=223&theType=AA
-----
DALLAS BILLBOARD ASKS: 'WHY ISLAM?'
BYRON HARRIS, WFAA-TV, 3/12/05
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa050311_am_whyislam.12b578d28.html
The way to religious tolerance is through a billboard - or at least
that's
the idea behind a display for tens of thousands of commuters in North
Dallas each day.
It's not a question a lot of people ask themselves on the way to work.
But
there it is, hanging above westbound LBJ Freeway near Webb Chapel: "Why
Islam?"
The sign also offers a Web site address and a toll-free phone number in
New
Jersey.
"When the call comes in, it transfers to the team of volunteers," said
Adnan Fyed of the Islamic Circle of North America. "And those
volunteers
they will call you back and they can pick up the phone at the same
time…
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM AMERICAN TV CHANNEL MEETS WITH EARLY SUCCESS
Bridges TV is first Muslim channel conceived and funded in U.S.
Afzal Khan, Washington File, 3/11/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=March&x=20050311181010cpataruk0.3221247&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
Washington - An English-language cable television channel for Muslim
Americans launched in late 2004 has met with early success and has
plans to
spread to major metropolitan areas in the United States. Bridges TV,
which
began broadcasting on November 30, 2004, seeks to attract not only the
estimated five to seven million Muslim Americans, but also mainstream
Americans who want to be informed about Islam and Muslims in America.
-----
2 DIED AFTER '02 BEATINGS BY U.S. SOLDIERS
Josh White, Washington Post, 3/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28737-2005Mar12.html
Two detainees held at the U.S. detention facility in Bagram,
Afghanistan,
died within a week of each other in December 2002 after military police
guards and military intelligence interrogators brutally beat them and
left
them chained to the ceiling in standing positions, according to Army
documents obtained by a human rights group.
The documents, which detail the investigations into the deaths of two
Afghan detainees named Mullah Habibullah and Dilawar, describe the
repeated
harsh treatment of the two prisoners and identify more than a dozen
soldiers believed to be responsible for the abuse. The documents also
blame
military interrogators for using harsh and unapproved tactics against
detainees, including kicks to the groin and legs, shoving or slamming
detainees into walls and tables, forcing detainees to maintain painful
contorted body positions during interviews, and forcing water in their
mouths until they could not breathe…
SEE ALSO:
ARMY DETAILS SCALE OF ABUSE OF PRISONERS IN AN AFGHAN JAIL
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/12/politics/12detain.html
---
TORTURE BY PROXY
Los Angeles Times, 3/11/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-torture11mar11,0,4002618.story
President Bush declared in his State of the Union address, "Torture is
never acceptable, nor do we hand over people to countries that do
torture."
Considering what's come to light since then, the most charitable
conclusion
is that Bush is completely out of the loop.
In recent weeks, past and present administration officials have
confirmed
that since September 2001 the Central Intelligence Agency has
dispatched
between 100 and 150 terror suspects to countries where fine points of
law
and human rights don't stop beatings, drugging or long isolation.
Before the 9/11 attacks, the CIA occasionally engaged in this
indefensible
practice, known as "extraordinary rendition." But afterward, Bush gave
the
agency wider license to export prisoners in terror-related cases who
hadn't
been tried or even charged with any crime. Despite his State of the
Union
declaration, the president has apparently not revoked that authority…
The more haunting problem with Bush's war on terrorism remains the
moral
one: A nation that considers itself a beacon of freedom seems unable to
practice the respect for law and human rights it ardently preaches to
others.
---
U.S. UNAWARE OF REALITIES OF IRAQ WAR, VET SAYS
By Stu Woo, Brown Daily Herald, 3/11/05
http://www.browndailyherald.com/news/2005/03/11/CampusNews/U.Unaware.Of.Realities.Of.Iraq.War.Vet.Says-892406.shtml
Critical of the U.S. media and Bush administration, a veteran of the
war in
Iraq spoke Thursday night about the realities of the conflict, saying
that
U.S. soldiers there were ill-equipped, poorly trained and largely
unsupportive of the war…
---
HOME MOVIES FROM IRAQ SHOW NATION THE REAL WAR
Palm Beach Post Editorial, 3/9/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2005/03/09/m14a_iraqvideoedit_0309.html
Soldiers who have served in Iraq don't need to see Ramadi Madness and
The
Haj Files. Iraqis don't need to see the video, either. Like the
soldiers,
they've lived it.
But Americans - including members of Congress - who have only a vague
idea
of the situation in Iraq or are unwilling to acknowledge it can benefit
from seeing or reading about the incidents depicted in what essentially
is
a home movie from the front lines of the Iraqi insurgency.
-----
IMC-USA REQUESTS AMERICAN EXPRESS TO WITHDRAW SPONSORSHIP OF AAHOA
EVENT
HONORING MODI
http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/actionAlert.cfm?AAID=29
SEE ALSO:
URGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DENY VISA FOR NARENDRA MODI
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/14/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS WITH THE GOOD
- Hadith of the Day: Never Stop Doing Good
* CAIR JOB OPENING: MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT COORDINATOR
- CAIR-Cincinnati Dinner a Success
- CAIR-CAN Decries Hostility to Sharia Arbitration
* MI: ISLAMIC SCHOOLS SEE ENROLLMENT SURGE (Detroit News)
- Arabic Language in Demand Across U.S. (USA Today)
* ND: FIRST U.S. MOSQUE REBUILT (AP)
- ND: Mosque to Be Dedicated
* '24' BRINGS ISSUE OF TORTURE HOME (USA Today)
- NY: Post-9/11 Detainee Jail Tapes Found (Newsday)
* CA: CHARITIES DENY TIES TO RADICAL HINDUS (Mercury News)
- NY: Demonstration Against Modi's Visit
* MUSLIMS WARY ABOUT DISPLAY OF COMMANDMENTS (Balt Sun)
* BUSH TAPS EGYPTIAN AMERICAN FOR STATE JOB (Reuters)
* VA: MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLAMIC STUDIES (SISS)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS WITH THE GOOD
"God is with those who are conscious of Him and do what is good."
The Holy Quran, 16:128
HADITH OF THE DAY: NEVER STOP DOING GOOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A believer never has
his
fill of good deeds until he ends up in Paradise."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 421
-----
CAIR JOB OPENING: MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT COORDINATOR
CAIR has an immediate position available for a Membership Support
Coordinator. The position entails data entry, filing, preparing deposit
slips, charging credit cards, filing reports, generating receipts,
reconciling records, and working on special projects as assigned. The
successful candidate must follow accounting procedures that include
monthly
reconciliation of bank statements.
QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will have a minimum of high school
diploma, with an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft applications,
particularly Access database. Knowledge of other database applications
is
an asset. Must have attention to detail and be a creative,
self-motivated,
strategic thinker with good writing skills.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: CAIR offers an attractive salary and benefit
package.
APPLY IMMEDIATELY by sending a resume, references and cover letter (no
calls, please) to: hr@cair-net.org. Please mark "Membership Support
Coordinator" in the Subject of the e-mail.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CINCINNATI DINNER A SUCCESS
(CINCINNATI, OH, 3/14/05) - The Cincinnati chapter of Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cincinnati) said today that more than
150
people turned out on Saturday for its Third Annual Meeting and
Fundraiser.
The keynote speaker for the event was former Army Chaplain James
"Yusuf"
Yee. Other speakers included Gary Daniels, litigation coordinator for
the
ACLU of Ohio and CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras.
"This event offered us an opportunity to celebrate CAIR's community
advocacy work, to share the successes we have had and to outline our
plans
for the future," said CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub.
The Cincinnati chapter is one of three in CAIR-Ohio. CAIR has 31
offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail:
karen@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
---
CAIR-CAN: MUSLIM LEADERS LIKEN SHARIA TO CANADA'S ARBITRATION SYSTEM
Decry opposition to faith-based tribunal. Reaction to Ontario efforts
criticized as ignorant, misinformed and plain racist
Kazi Stastna, The Gazette, 3/12/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=2addbee5-8515-4c99-8fec-c81941cd5ffa
Government reactions to the prospect of granting Ontario's Muslim
community
the right to conduct arbitration tribunals based on sharia law have
been
arrogant, condescending, misinformed and plain racist.
That was the message Muslim leaders Jamal Badawi and Riad Saloojee
delivered to a crowd of about 150 students and members of the public at
Concordia University last night.
Arbitration has been used in Canada for decades - to settle labour
disputes, for example. Settling family and personal disputes according
to
sharia, the canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran, would be
no
different, said Badawi, who teaches industrial relations and theology
at
St. Mary's University in Halifax.
What's more, other religions and aboriginal communities have been using
arbitration for years without the outcry that met the recent attempt by
Muslims to avail themselves of the same rights, Badawi said.
The reaction to former Ontario attorney-general Marion Boyd's
recommendation to allow sharia arbitration has not only been biased but
grossly misinformed - about sharia, the rules governing arbitration and
Canadian law, the speakers said.
Raising the spectre of beheadings and amputations in Saudi Arabia and
other
Islamic countries shows an alarming ignorance rooted in fear and
prejudice,
Badawi said.
"What do we have to do with what happens in Sudan or Afghanistan? Did
any
one say we have to apply the laws of (those countries) in Canada?"
Sharia tribunals, just like any other arbitration proceedings, would
have
to comply with the Arbitration Act that has existed in Ontario since
1991.
They would be voluntary, subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
and
all other Canadian laws, and contain an appeal process, Badawi said.
Comments made by Quebec International Relations Minister Monique
Gagnon-Tremblay, who said sharia was not welcome in Canada and
suggested
the social contract for immigrants might need to be reworked if the
change
goes ahead, reflects the biased scaremongering that has prevailed in
the
media, said Saloojee, director of the Muslim lobby group CAIR-CAN.
"I wonder if she would tell Jews or Christians they should not be
allowed
in the country if they believe in faith-based arbitration," he said…
----
METRO ISLAMIC SCHOOLS SEE ENROLLMENT SURGE
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 3/14/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0503/14/A01-116550.htm
DEARBORN -- As she patrols the aisles amid the desks of her 10 pupils
at
the Muslim American Youth Academy, Hala Hazimi spots a problem.
It is not that any of the fifth-graders are squirmy or inattentive.
This is
an Islamic school, and like other parochial schools, there are strict
rules
about working hard.
Hazimi notices that her students are having a little trouble grasping
the
day's math lesson. Alternately cajoling and encouraging, she makes her
way
from desk to desk, bending over the work of each student. After several
minutes, they all get it.
"Good, children! Good!" Hazimi gushes, with evident relief. "This is
much
better! Much better!"
Enrollments at Islamic schools in Metro Detroit and Michigan are
booming.
Parents say they are attracted by the discipline, the values-based
religious instruction and the stress on academic achievement that
includes
individual attention and smaller class sizes. The local communities of
Arab
and south Asian descent -- which comprise most of the estimated 125,000
to
200,000 Muslims in the area -- have grown to the point that they can
financially support the growth of the 11 Islamic schools in Metro
Detroit.
Some Muslim parents and students say that they prefer the more worldly
aspects of a public school education.
But more are choosing Islamic schools for at least part of their
children's
schooling, which is leading to increased enrollments but not more
schools.
"I care about education, and I care about discipline," said Sam
Baydoun, a
prominent Realtor who enrolled his daughter, Angela, 9, in the Muslim
American Youth Academy on Ford Road. "I feel that if children are
exposed
to religion -- and in my case, I am Muslim -- they will stay away from
all
of the bad habits. Kids are kids, you know? So I am always on the
lookout..."
In the past three years, the number of Islamic schools nationally has
grown
from 194 to about 220, according to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations…
ALSO SEE:
ARABIC LANGUAGE IS IN DEMAND ACROSS USA, SCHOOLS RUSH TO MEET NEED
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, USA Today, 3/14/05
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-03-13-arabic-language_x.htm
Across the USA, a surge of student curiosity about Arabic after the
attacks
of Sept. 11, 2001, is maturing into a demand for more courses,
especially
upper-level classes as novices resolve to master the language. A full
73%
of 640 Arabic-language students surveyed at 37 institutions in 2004
said
they were "determined to achieve a level of proficiency in Arabic that
would allow me to function in it comfortably in my professional
activities," according to the National Middle East Language Resource
Center
at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah…
------
[NOTE: Several Muslim communities claim the status of having the first
mosque in America. SEE: "Muslims in North America established their
first
mosques in the early decades of the twentieth century. In 1915,
Albanian
immigrants in Maine established the first mosque community in the
United
States…The oldest existing mosque community in North America was the
Islamic Cultural Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa founded in 1925. Later,
the
community built its current mosque structure and renamed the
organization
Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids. The original structure, nicknamed
Mother
Mosque, has been designated a historic landmark by the State of Iowa."
Mohamed Nimer, The North American Muslim Resource Guide (New York, NY:
Routledge, 2002) pp.39-40. Dr. Nimer is CAIR's research director.]
RECONSTRUCTION OF MOSQUE IN ROSS NEARING COMPLETION
Associated Press, 3/13/05
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/state/11127828.htm
ROSS, N.D. - Work to reconstruct a Muslim mosque here is nearing
completion.
Zinie Peterson of Bismarck said the mosque, which was dismantled in the
1970s, was the oldest Muslim mosque constructed in North America.
The building located on the Muslim cemetery near Ross will include a
dome
and minarets once completed this summer.
Peterson, whose family initiated the project, said the mosque is being
built over the site of a previous mosque. Various Muslim organizations
recognize the mosque as the first of its kind.
Earlier mosques that existed were in converted buildings. The Ross
mosque
was built around 1929 to serve Lebanese Muslims.
The building didn't survive the toll of weather and neglect as the
faithful
moved on or assimilated into the Christian culture. Rodent and water
damage
led the cemetery committee to dismantle the building some 30 years ago.
All
that remained were ground indentations that indicated where the walls
once
were.
It was her late mother's dream to see the mosque rebuilt, Peterson
said.
"We thought it was such a terrific idea," Peterson said. "She would be
so
thrilled because this little thing is being built not only by her
family,
not only by her Muslim friends, but her Jewish friends and her
Christian
friends have all donated…"
ALSO SEE:
ND: MOSQUE TO BE DEDICATED
Jill Schramm, Minot Daily News, 3/13/05
http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0313202005_new13news2.asp
ROSS � The finishing touches are all that remain on a mosque near Ross
that
will be dedicated in a ceremony this summer, according to a Bismarck
woman
whose family has spearheaded the project.
Although a small, plain structure now, the building located on the
Muslim
cemetery near Ross will include a dome and minarets once completed.
Zinie Peterson, whose family initiated the project, said the mosque is
being built over the site of a previous mosque, acknowledged in the
Muslim
community as the first mosque built in North America. Earlier mosques
that
existed were in converted buildings.
The Ross mosque was built around 1929 to serve Lebanese Muslims near
Ross.
The building didn't survive the toll of weather and neglect as the
faithful
moved on or assimilated into the Christian culture. Rodent and water
damage
led the cemetery committee to dismantle the building in the late 1970s.
It was her late mother's dream to see the mosque rebuilt, Peterson
said.
Her family grabbed hold of that dream…
-----
FICTIONAL '24' BRINGS REAL ISSUE OF TORTURE HOME
Bill Keveney, USA Today, 3/14/05
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-03-13-24-torture_x.htm
In the post-9/11 world, torture has hit the public radar in news
reports
about Abu Ghraib, congressional questioning of Cabinet nominees and,
increasingly, as a featured interrogation tactic on Fox's serial
thriller 24.
As politicians, pundits and the public debate extreme interrogation, 24
--
which is enjoying a surge in critical praise and a 32% jump in viewers
this
season -- has jumped to action.
To thwart a terrorist plot, hero Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and his
Counter Terrorist Unit have shot a suspect in the leg while
interrogating
him; subjected the son of the defense secretary to high-tech sensory
disorientation; stun-gunned a suspected but innocent colleague; and
used a
lamp cord to shock information from a businessman.
For 24's producers, in their fourth season of constructing a
save-the-world
scenario that must be completed in one day, the use of torture is about
"real-time" drama, not politics.
"It goes with the 24 conceit that we need information and don't have
days
to break this person. Sometimes we don't even have hours," executive
producer Howard Gordon says.
24's writers aren't taking a political stand, but they know that the
real-world debate, with its pros and cons, is in the public
consciousness,
Gordon says. The substance of an upcoming episode will hinge on whether
the
president allows a suspect's torture, he says.
Outsiders have drawn connections between the real world and the
fictional
24. The Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized the depiction
of
Muslim terrorists; a New York Times column compared 24's focus on
domestic
terror threats to the Bush administration's focus on Iraq; and Karen
Greenberg, co-editor of The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib,
mentioned the series in a Baltimore Sun column about U.S. torture
policy…
ALSO SEE:
MORE JAIL TAPES FOUND
Tom Brune, Newsday, 3/12/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usdoj124173460mar12,0,6513464.story
WASHINGTON -- More than 140 previously undisclosed videotapes of 9/11
detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn recently
were
discovered and turned over to authorities probing physical and verbal
abuses at the jail, a federal report and attorneys for the detainees
said
Friday.
Justice Department officials are still reviewing the 143 tapes, which
include instances in which detention center staff recorded video and
audio
of detainees meeting with their attorneys, a violation of the law, the
report and the attorneys said.
The existence of the additional tapes - taken from hand-held cameras
used
by detention center staff in late 2001 and 2002 to videotape detainees
held
at the request of the FBI after the Sept. 11 attacks - came as a
surprise
to Justice officials and the attorneys.
Detention center officials previously provided hundreds of videotapes
in
response to an investigation by the Justice Department's independent
watchdog agency, the Office of Inspector General, and to discovery
requests
for a lawsuit filed on behalf of detainees by attorneys at the Center
for
Constitutional Rights in New York City.
Justice's Inspector General Glenn Fine said in the report issued Friday
that his office and officials of the federal Bureau of Prisons have
launched an investigation "to determine why the MDC had not previously
provided these videotapes."
Matthew Strugar, an attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights,
which
was notified by Justice attorneys about the tapes last week, said,
"This is
outrageous that they have kept this hidden from us. We've been
litigating
this case for three years..."
------
INDIAN CHARITIES FACE QUESTIONS
GROUPS DENY TIES TO RADICAL HINDUS
Brandon Bailey and Lisa Fernandez, Mercury News, 3/13/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/11125411.htm
The crowd at a recent tsunami fundraiser represented a swath of the Bay
Area's Indo-American community: Engineers and other professionals,
Hindus
and Muslims and people of various political views rubbed shoulders
around
the buffet tables and swayed to the music of a Fiji Islands band.
But if the turnout was typical of Silicon Valley's easygoing diversity,
some critics say the event at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple was tainted by
episodes of sectarian violence half a world away.
The two U.S.-based non-profit organizations that sponsored the Feb. 27
event have drawn fire from a loose network of left-wing activists, both
here and abroad. They say the charities are using good works and good
intentions to build grass-roots support for a nationalist movement that
has
been linked to attacks against India's non-Hindu minorities in recent
years.
Both charities deny those allegations. And for those who attended the
recent fundraiser, the ambiguities of a religious and political dispute
in
India seemed even hazier when viewed from afar. Many said the event was
a
chance to connect with friends in busy Silicon Valley, while sending
aid to
another part of the world where they still have ties. They either
weren't
aware of the allegations involving the charities or didn't believe
them.
``I have never heard about the controversy,'' said Jeevan Zutshi, a
Fremont
engineer and real estate agent who was among about 350 people in
attendance. Zutshi said he doesn't believe the charities -- Sewa
International USA and the India Development and Relief Fund -- are
supporting intolerance.
``They have a track record of sending 100 percent of their money to
help,''
he said. ``If I had any inclination that they were hard-core
fundamentalists, I wouldn't be here.''
Don't discriminate
Representatives for both charities say they don't discriminate on the
basis
of religion or politics.
But human rights activists in the United States and Britain have
focused on
the charities' relations with other groups associated with a
nationalist
political movement that views India primarily as a Hindu state.
Extremists
within that movement have been blamed for episodes such as the 2002
riots
in Gujurat province, which led to the deaths of 900 people, mostly
Muslims.
Although there is no evidence the charities have intentionally promoted
violence, the activists accuse them of giving money to Indian groups
that
encourage intolerance toward Muslims, Christians and other minorities.
Those groups may use the U.S. charities' funding for legitimate relief
work, but their critics say the work helps the nationalists build
support
for their own agenda…
ALSO SEE:
NY: COALITION AGAINST GENOCIDE PROTESTS MODI
WHAT: The Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) will host a demonstration in
New
York against the visit to the United States of Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi.
WHERE: Outside Madison Square Gardens, 7th Ave and 31st Street, New
York, NY
WHEN: SUNDAY, March 20, 4 p.m.
For more information go to: www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org or call
443-927-9039 or send e-mail: info@coalitionagainstgenocide.org
------
U.S. MUSLIMS WARY ABOUT PUBLIC DISPLAY OF COMMANDMENTS
Kamran Memon, Baltimore Sun, 3/13/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.muslims13mar13,1,1853730.story
PEOPLE OF FAITH have mixed feelings about the posting of the Ten
Commandments in government facilities, and American Muslims are no
exception.
The opening clause of the First Amendment has been debated throughout
American history. Does it mean that government cannot prefer religion
over
secularism? Does it mean that government cannot prefer one religion
over
other religions? Or does it just mean that the government can't set up
a
state religion?
The Ten Commandments come from the Hebrew Scriptures, or Old Testament.
Some of the Commandments are purely religious (believing in God,
observing
the Sabbath and not worshipping idols), while others are moral in
nature
(prohibiting murder, theft and perjury).
The Ten Commandments have been posted for decades by various government
officials, who sometimes deny any religious motivation. By posting the
Ten
Commandments, these officials are not declaring Judaism or Christianity
to
be the state religion, but they are certainly demonstrating a
preference
for religion over secularism and for Judaism and Christianity over
other
faiths.
Is it permissible under the First Amendment for government officials to
post a biblical document? That's the issue the U.S. Supreme Court is
wrestling with following recent oral arguments.
The First Amendment is supposed to protect religious minorities, such
as
American Muslims, from second-class citizenship. So should American
Muslims
be concerned about governmental posting of the Ten Commandments?
The Quran tells the story of Moses receiving tablets from God with
guidance
for his people. Muslims believe Moses was a prophet of God, and they
believe in the message of the Ten Commandments. It can't hurt for
Americans
to be reminded about God and morality, can it?
But what if, next time, a government official wants to post something
that
makes me feel uncomfortable? Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet
of
God, but what if a government official wants to post a declaration that
Jesus was divine, or that Muslims are infidels? This potentially
slippery
slope leads me to sympathize with opponents of governmental posting of
religious documents…
Kamran Memon, who grew up in Bethesda, is a Chicago civil rights
attorney
and a founder of the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago.
-----
BUSH TAPS EGYPTIAN AMERICAN WOMAN FOR TOP STATE JOB
Reuters, 3/14/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7894519
WASHINGTON - Dina Powell, an American of Egyptian descent who speaks
fluent
Arabic, will be named to a top State Department public diplomacy job on
Monday as the White House seeks to improve its image in the Arab world,
U.S. officials said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will announce the choice of Powell,
head of personnel at the White House, to be assistant secretary of
state
for educational and cultural affairs and deputy under secretary of
state
for public diplomacy at noon (1700 GMT), the officials said.
Powell, who came to the United States from Egypt as a child, will serve
as
deputy to Karen Hughes, a long-time confidante to President George W.
Bush
who was to be officially tapped for under secretary of state for public
diplomacy at the same State Department ceremony on Monday.
The choices of one of Bush's closest advisers and of an Arabic speaker
illustrate the emphasis the White House attaches to trying to improve
the
way Arabs view the United States, long seen by Arabs as favoring Israel
in
the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and resented for supporting repressive
Arab
regimes.
-----
MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES: ISLAMIC STUDIES
The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Ashburn, Virginia
is
accepting applications for the second year of its new intensive
graduate
degree in Social Studies: Islamic Studies. The program offers the
opportunity for students to complete a 36 credit hour MA degree program
in
ten months of full-time study, beginning in September of each year. The
program is designed for a cohort of students who attend consecutive,
accelerated courses.
The focus of the program is to develop a strong background in Islamic
sources and their relationship with social sciences. This background is
presented in an environment intended to nurture and develop
open-minded,
integrated, well-adjusted and morally upright students. The program
prepares graduates for a career in community service, education or
non-profit organizations. The program is also intended for specialists
in
social studies who would like to explore the broad possibilities, which
an
Islamic worldview based upon Quranic principles can illuminate in their
respective fields.
Tuition waivers, financial aid and a limited number of competitive
fellowship stipends are available for the 2005 - 2006 academic year.
For more information: http://www.siss.edu
Ann Puleo, Director of Enrollment
The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences
45150 Russell Branch Parkway, Suite 303, Ashburn, VA 20147
Telephone: 571-223-0500 x 502
Facsimile: 571-223-0544
apuleo@siss.edu
-----
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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 - 3/15/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
- Hadith: Kindness Leads to Paradise
* BECOME A MEMBER OF CAIR TODAY
* 21 DELL EMPLOYEES RETAIN CAIR AS LEGAL COUNSEL
* MUSLIM AMERICAN: A NEW IDENTITY? (BBC)
* CA: MUSLIM WOMAN HEADS JUSTICE CENTER (Pasadena Star News)
* MODI'S U.S. TOUR PLANS RUN INTO TROUBLE (Times of India)
- Amnesty Contacts American Express on Modi Visit
* U.S. SOLDIERS 'URINATED' ON BAHRAINI DETAINEE (Al-Jazeera)
- Fox's '24' Torture-O-Rama (SF Chronicle)
* NY: MUSLIM WORKERS FACE DOUBLE STANDARD ON HEADWEAR
* DC: HUMANISTIC TRADITION IN ISLAM AND THE WEST
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
"Do not forget to show kindness to each other. Surely God observes your
actions."
The Holy Quran, 2:237
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS LEADS TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Acts of kindness
protect
one from ruin wrought by evil...The first of those who shall enter
Paradise
are the people who do acts of kindness."
Figh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 97B
The Prophet once told his wife: "Verily God is kind and He loves
kindness."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1186
-----
BECOME A MEMBER OF CAIR TODAY
--- CLIP AND E-MAIL/FAX/MAIL ---
YES, I would like to support CAIR's important work by donating
$___________. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR. Basic CAIR
membership
is just $10 per year.
Name:
Address:
City:
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Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: CAIR Membership Dept., 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington,
D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
21 DELL EMPLOYEES RETAIN CAIR AS LEGAL COUNSEL
Group seeks settlement for Muslim workers barred from prayer
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/15/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today announced that it has been retained as legal
counsel
by 21 of the 30 Muslim employees recently forced from their jobs at a
Dell
Inc. plant in Nashville, Tenn., for seeking to perform
religiously-mandated
prayers in the workplace.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the workers, who
were
forced to choose between performing the prayers and keeping their jobs,
signed the retainer agreements in a meeting with CAIR in Nashville on
Saturday.
SEE: "Muslims Say Dell Forbade Them to Pray at Work"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28616-2005Mar11.html
"Federal law requires that followers of all faiths be offered
reasonable
religious accommodation in the workplace," said CAIR Legal Director
Arsalan
Iftikhar. "An employee should not be forced to choose between his or
her
faith and continued employment."
Iftikhar said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires an
employer to accommodate religious practices unless it causes an "undue
hardship." He said hundreds of Muslims from across North America and
around
the world have contacted Dell in response to a CAIR "Action Alert."
SEE: "Contact Dell to Urge Rehiring of Workers, Mediation"
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=223&theType=AA
Last week, CAIR asked that the Muslim workers who were forced from
their
jobs be rehired pending resolution of the issues involved. The group
also
offered to mediate a mutually-agreeable settlement to the dispute.
(CAIR
has helped resolve hundreds of religious accommodation cases involving
American Muslim workers.)
"Muslims worldwide are very concerned about this case and wish to see a
satisfactory resolution that takes into account both the disruption to
the
workers' lives and respect for religious practices," said CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad, who met with the workers on Saturday.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
The Washington-based group has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and
in
Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. To read
CAIR's
Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIM AMERICAN: A NEW IDENTITY?
Ruhi Hamid, BBC, 3/15/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/4347061.stm
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US, yet one in four
Americans
regard Muslims living among them with suspicion. What does it mean to
be
both Muslim and American?...
There is a stirring in Muslim communities. A new breed of activists
driven
by anger and injustice against Muslims, both at home and abroad, is on
the
move.
The US election in 2004 captured the attention of Muslim Americans like
never before and brought them back into politics
The war on terror at home, the invasion of Iraq and the Abu Ghraib
scandal
are just some of the issues that drive them.
In the aftermath of the terror attacks, Muslims retreated from local
and
state politics to an astonishing degree: more than 90% of Muslim
politicians were no longer in office by 2002.
However, the US election in 2004 captured the attention of this
community
like never before and brought them back into politics.
Mosques and Islamic organisations were urging Muslims to exercise their
right to vote…
-----
JUSTICE CENTER FINDS LEADER
New director brings wealth of international experience to her job
Emanuel Parker, Pasadena Star News, 3/15/05
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2758435,00.html
PASADENA -- She's spent her life fostering conflict resolution, so it
seemed like fate when Najeeba Syeed-Miller and the Western Justice
Center
Foundation in Pasadena found each other.
Syeed-Miller has been the center's executive director since November,
charged with fulfilling its goals of working with communities, courts,
governments and schools to promote conflict resolution and helping
courts
and administrative agencies improve access to justice.
She supervises a staff of four that can expand to do special projects…
A South Asian American Muslim, Syeed-Miller has a degree in psychology
from
Gilford College and is a graduate of the Indiana University School of
Law,
where she was awarded several fellowships for achievements in the field
of
conflict resolution...
-----
MODI'S US TOUR PLANS RUN INTO TROUBLE
Times of India, 3/14/05
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1051711.cms
GANDHINAGAR: Faced with internal dissension within the BJP and growing
protests in the US, doubts are surfacing on whether Narendra Modi will
embark upon his proposed trip to the US later this month, his first
ever as
chief minister.
The refusal of Chris Matthews, a top-ranking talk-show host, to share
the
platform with Modi on March 24 at the Asian-American Hotel Owners'
Association (AAHOA) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has come as a
jolt
to the Modi establishment here.
While a spokesperson for Matthews, who features on MSNBC's 'Hardball'
programme, has announced that his boss would not share platform "due to
scheduling conflict", it is learnt that human rights activists had
flooded
Matthews with e-mails, urging him to distance himself from Modi for
"alleged culpability in the Gujarat riots".
American Express, the chief sponsor of the AAHOA event, too has been
flooded with e-mails to withdraw itself from the programme...
ALSO SEE:
CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIAN STATE CITED FOR FAILURE TO AVERT CRIMES
AGAINST
HUMANITY
American Express Sponsors Florida Event Featuring Narendra Modi
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=CD4AC4E1E57C594D85256FC500519B38
(New York) -- Amnesty International has written to American Express
regarding its sponsorship of an event featuring Narendra Modi, Chief
Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. The Asian-American Hotel
Owners
Association (AAHOA) has invited Chief Minister Modi to address their
conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on March 24.
Amnesty International has cited the Gujarat authorities, headed by
Modi,
for failing to protect Muslims during violence in February 2002 during
which more than 2,000 people died. During the violence, which followed
state government officials blaming a train fire on Muslims, several
hundred
girls and women were stripped naked, raped or gang-raped, had their
wombs
slashed and were thrown into fires, some while still alive. The state
government took no steps to prevent or stop these widespread and
systematic
attacks on members of the Muslim minority, and during the attacks,
police
stood by or even joined in the violence. Amnesty International has
concluded that many of the abuses constitute crimes against humanity.
In Amnesty International's January 2005 report, "India: Justice, the
victim
- Gujarat state fails to protect women from violence," Bilqis Yakoob
Rasool, herself a victim of gang-rape who lost 14 family members
reported:
"They started molesting the girls and tore off their clothes. Our naked
girls were raped in front of the crowd. They killed Shamin's baby who
was
two days old. They killed my maternal uncle and my father's sister and
her
husband too.
After raping the women they killed all of them... They killed my baby
too.
They threw her in the air and she hit a rock. After raping me, one of
the
men kept a foot on my neck and hit me."
"Amnesty International takes no position on whether a particular
speaker
ought to be invited for a particular event, but American Express should
not
ignore the consequences of its association with this speech, delivered
by a
man who bears responsibility for a climate of fear endured by Gujarat's
minorities," said Govind Acharya, Amnesty International USA's India
Country
Specialist. "We urge American Express to consider the human rights
implications of its relationship to this event, and whether there are
more
constructive opportunities for the company's support that would
contribute
to curtailing violence against women and minorities in India."
---
GO TO www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org for more details on the response
to
Modi's visit.
-----
U.S. SOLDIERS URINATED ON BAHRAINI DETAINEE - LAWYERS
Al-Jazeera, 3/14/05
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=7421
A Bahraini detainee said that he was tortured by U.S. guards during his
detention in Afghanistan.
The lawyers of a Bahraini detainee at Guantanamo Bay said that he was
tortured and abused by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Abdulla Majid Al Nuaimi was arrested in Pakistan in 2001 and
transferred to
Kandahar in Afghanistan and then to the U.S. naval base at Guanatanmo
Bay,
Cuba.
Al Nuaimi detailed the abuse accusations last October during an
interview
with his lawyers at Guanatanmo.
The accusations were made public after the U.S. Defense Department
reviewed
the lawyer's documents and ruled that the information isn't classified.
Al Nuaimi said that he was abused and tortured inside a large tent in
the
detention facility in Kandahar.
He told his lawyers that the prisoners were forced to kneel on the
ground
and that he heard the soldiers' zippers being unzipped.
"He then felt liquid on his head but he was unable to determine whether
the
soldiers had urinated on him or had pretended to do so," the lawyers
said…
ALSO SEE:
FOX'S '24' AND TORTURE
Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/15/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/03/15/DDGAMBKNK71.DTL
It seems pretty much established that we, as a nation, don't mind
torture
all that much. Abu Ghraib was, of course, a scandal, but the reaction
from
the masses was underwhelming. The Pentagon as usual scapegoated a
couple of
grunts, and the whole thing went away.
Guantanamo Bay is pretty clearly a hellhole of illegal and/or repulsive
activities (female interrogators saying, "I've got my period! This is
my
blood! Ick, eh?"), and yet it continues to continue. The new attorney
general thinks that some portions of the Geneva Convention are quaint.
President Bush personally approved shipping unnamed prisoners to
undisclosed prisons in compliant Third World countries, where we can
just
keep them until they rot and beat them at will.
I don't know that those actions are going on, of course, but I see no
reason to think they're not. Openness to torture has been a feature of
this
administration for at least three years…
There are two problems with torture, besides the obvious one. One, it
doesn't work. John McCain was tortured for six years, and never said a
thing. Do you think that Islamic radicals believe in their cause less
than
John McCain believed in his? And here's the second problem: You can't
be
sure you're torturing the right guy. If someone says, "I don't know,"
and
he really doesn't know, then you've spent a lot of precious torture
time
for nothing.
And it is in this context that I want to mention Fox's torture-o-rama
television program, "24." This show is not one of those cookie-cutter
cop/forensics shows. This show is like doing nine lines of cocaine and
washing it down with a dozen Red Bulls. This show is like nothing else
on
television. This show makes no sense...
-----
HAT'S NOT FAIR, FEDS WARN TA
Pete Donohue, Daily News, 3/15/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/289986p-248265c.html
THE TRANSIT Authority may be cracking down on workers wearing turbans,
but
the agency is ignoring secular headgear - everything from Russian-style
winter hats to Mets caps to do-rags, a federal survey has found.
Conducting surveillance at subway stations, bus stops and terminals,
the
Justice Department, which has accused the TA of discrimination, spotted
208
TA employees blatantly violating dress-code regulations, the Daily News
has
learned.
The offenders wore hats that were not issued by the TA and lacked the
agency logo.
The TA, meanwhile, has penalized a Sikh worker who wears turbans and
Muslim
employees clad in head scarves called khimars.
"These observations confirm that the TA has gone [and continues to go]
out
of its way to selectively enforce its uniform policies against a
handful of
Muslim and Sikh employees, while ignoring rampant and easily observable
violations by a large contingent of its employees," a Justice
Department
lawyer wrote to the TA late last week.
Of the 208 workers observed violating the policy in January and
February,
103 wore Russian-style winter hats. A handful wore Yankee or Mets caps.
One
employee sported a beret while another opted for the do-rag.
The feds last year filed a discrimination lawsuit against the TA,
charging
the agency unfairly bumped Muslim and Sikh workers who insisted on
wearing
religious head garb to lower-paying posts out of public view.
The practice started in early 2002, the feds claimed, citing the cases
of
five workers: a Sikh motorman who wears a turban and four female bus
drivers who wear khimars. The workers either refused to remove the
headgear
or cover it with TA caps.
"There's definitely two sets of rules," said Lonnie Hart, a lawyer
representing three of the bus drivers, all of whom have filed separate
discrimination lawsuits against the TA. "One for Muslim and Sikhs, and
the
other for those who are not of those specific faiths..."
-----
MSA LECTURE ON HUMANISTIC TRADITION IN ISLAM AND THE WEST
Georgetown University's Campus Ministry, Muslim Students Association,
Theology Department, and the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
cordially
invite you to a lecture titled, "Civilizational Synergies: The
Humanistic
Tradition in Islam and the West" by Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah.
Dr. Abd-Allah is a nationally renowned scholar who has spoken all
across
the country and at numerous conferences. He currently works as the
general
director of the Nawawi Foundation and in conjunction with this
position,
teaches courses on Islam and conducts research in Islamic studies and
cognate fields. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from the University
of
Chicago.
WHEN: Friday, March 18, 2005 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: WGR 201 A
Further Updates Possible. Please check http://msa.georgetown.edu
-----
SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/16/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST JIHAD
- Verse: God Intends No Injustice
* CAIR-GA HOSTS PANEL DISCUSSION ON MODI VISIT
- CAIR-CAN Annual Toronto Fundraising Dinner
- CAIR-CAN: Islam and Stereotypes
- CAIR-FL: Dedicated Doctor Remembered (SP Times)
* MUSLIMS ASK AMEX TO WITHDRAW SPONSORSHIP OF FL EVENT
* BUSH SEEKS TO BAN NATIONS FROM ALL NUCLEAR TECH (NYT)
- Groups Plan to Mark Anniversary of US Invasion (AFP)
* 26 INMATE DEATHS MAY BE HOMICIDE (NY Times)
- Disciplined Interrogator Now Teaching Soldiers
* 'KINGDOM OF HEAVEN' - HOLLYWOOD DOES HOLY WAR (Daily Star)
- MI: Cable Adds Channel Aimed at U.S. Muslims
* VA: EVANGELISTS FOCUS ON CONVERTING MUSLIMS (VA Pilot)
- Push to Convert Muslims (Herald Sun)
* CHAT LIVE WITH EXPERTS ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST JIHAD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best (jihad) in the
path of God is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2040
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD INTENDS NO INJUSTICE
"God intends no injustice to any of His creatures."
The Holy Quran, 3:108
-----
CAIR-GA HOSTS PANEL DISCUSSION ON MODI VISIT
WHAT: On March 17, the Georgia office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-GA), along with members of the Atlanta India and
Pakistani
communities, will host a public forum on the planned visit to the
United
States by Narendra Modi. (See news release below for background.)
Participants will hear the latest updates on the controversy from Prof.
Angana Chatterji, Associate Professor of Social and Cultural
Anthropology
at California Institute of Integral Studies.
WHEN: March 17, 2005, Thursday, 7 PM
WHERE: Impact Hall, Global Mall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross, GA
30071
Dinner: Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian will be served.
COST: $15 / person
For further Information, please contact: Dr. Rajesh Chakrabarti
(404-894-5109) or CAIR-GA, Yusof Burke (770-220-0082)
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-CAN'S THIRD ANNUAL TORONTO FUNDRAISING DINNER
"Investing in a Better Tomorrow - Celebrating Five Years of Service"
WHAT: On April 30, the Canada office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) will host its annual fundraising dinner in
Toronto.
Confirmed speakers include: Human Rights Activist Maher Arar,
University of
Winnipeg; President and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd
Axworthy,
Senator; Mobina Jaffer, Riad Saloojee, LLB and Dr. Sheema Khan.
A special message from Dr. Tariq Ramadan will also be aired and
Comedian
Azhar Usman will perform.
WHEN: Saturday, April 30th, 2005, 5:30 p.m. Registration, 6 p.m. Dinner
WHERE: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road
Tickets: $40 in advance, $60 at the door Limited childcare available
with
advance registration
CAIR-CAN is looking for volunteers and sponsors for the dinner.
Interested
individuals should contact Toronto representative Maryam Dadabhoy at
maryamdadabhoy@caircan.ca.
---
CAIR-CAN: ISLAM AND STEREOTYPES
WHAT: The Muslim Coalition and York Federation of Students will host
"Islam
is not a bomb and 8 wives." Speakers include Faisal Kutty, lawyer and
CAIR-CAN board member and Diana Ralph, sociology professor at Carleton
University.
WHEN: Wednesday March 16 @ 4 p.m.
WHERE: Room 152, Founders Assembly Hall, University of York
---
CAIR-FL: DEDICATED DOCTOR REMEMBERED
Mary Spicuzza, St. Petersburg Times, 3/16/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/16/Hernando/Dedicated_doctor_reme.shtml
SPRING HILL - It was one year ago that Dr. Mohamed-Nagi Hassan
Salam-Kadri
was on his way home to Orlando when his private plane crashed in
northern
Pasco County.
On Tuesday, a crowd of family and friends came together to honor his
memory
in Spring Hill. They gathered just off State Road 50 near Oak Hill
Hospital, where a road, Kadri Boulevard, has been named in his honor.
"It's going to be a landmark that people can relate to and hopefully
remember his kindness, his humanity, his compassion," his friend Dr.
Adel
M. Eldin said. "He will be remembered for the legacy of good deeds that
will carry on for generations to come."
Dr. Kadri was medical director for Brooksville Healthcare and also
worked
at HealthSouth Rehab and Bayonet Point. A native of Egypt, he was also
a
member of the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations…
-----
MUSLIMS ASK AMEX TO WITHDRAW SPONSORSHIP OF FL EVENT
Convention will honor Indian official linked to Gujarat massacre
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/16/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today called on American Express to withdraw its
sponsorship
of a Florida convention that will honor an Indian official accused of
complicity in the massacre of Muslim civilians.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, is a
keynote
speaker at the annual convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners
Association (AAHOA) to be held later this month in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002 that left more than 1000 civilians
dead, senior officials in Gujarat said they had been directed by Modi
to
allow the massacres to run their course. Modi allegedly called the
riots
"anticipated Hindu reaction" and "a natural outpouring." Last Week,
CAIR
also revealed that Modi's administration distributed a social studies
textbook praising Adolf Hitler.
Earlier this month, MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews cited a
"scheduling conflict" in withdrawing from a speech to the AAHOA
convention.
The Indian Muslim Council-USA and a newly-formed group, the Coalition
Against Genocide (CAG), asked both Matthews and American Express to
withdraw from the Florida event. CAG is also planning protests a
planned
Modi visit to New York on March 20th and plans a similar demonstration
in
Florida on March 24th. SEE: http://www.imc-usa.org/ and
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/
CAIR is urging the Bush administration to block Modi's entry based on a
section (Sec. 604) of the International Religious Freedom Act that
makes
any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly severe violations
of
religious freedom" inadmissible to the United States.
SEE: U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK TO BLOCK ENTRY OF GUJARAT MASSACRE FIGURE
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1451&theType=NR
URGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DENY VISA FOR NARENDRA MODI
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=221&theType=AA
"American Express needs to disassociate itself and its customers from
an
event honoring a man accused of complicity in mass murder," said CAIR
Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
BUSH SEEKS TO BAN SOME NATIONS FROM ALL NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
David E. Sanger, New York Times, 3/15/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/politics/15treaty.html
WASHINGTON, March 14 - Behind President Bush's recent shift in dealing
with
Iran's nuclear program lies a less visible goal: to rewrite, in effect,
the
main treaty governing the spread of nuclear technology, without
actually
renegotiating it.
In their public statements and background briefings in recent days, Mr.
Bush's aides have acknowledged that Iran appears to have the right - on
paper, at least - to enrich uranium to produce electric power. But Mr.
Bush
has managed to convince his reluctant European allies that the only
acceptable outcome of their negotiations with Iran is that it must give
up
that right.
In what amounts to a reinterpretation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty, Mr. Bush now argues that there is a new class of nations that
simply cannot be trusted with the technology to produce nuclear
material
even if the treaty itself makes no such distinction.
So far the administration has not declared publicly that its larger
goal
beyond Iran is to remake a treaty whose intellectual roots date back to
the
Eisenhower administration, under the cold war banner of "Atoms for
Peace."
To state publicly that Iran is really a test case of Mr. Bush's broader
effort, one senior administration official said, "would complicate
what's
already a pretty messy negotiation."
ALSO SEE:
ANTI-WAR GROUPS PLAN TO MARK SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF US INVASION OF IRAQ
Agence France Presse, 3/15/05
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050315/ts_alt_afp/usiraqprotests
NEW YORK (AFP) - Anti-war groups say they are gearing up for a series
of
national demonstrations, including acts of civil disobedience, to mark
the
second anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq (news - web sites),
spokespeople said.
In New York, protesters are planning to march to Times Square and also
have
plans to picket and bar entry to three army recruitment centers,
according
to the War Resisters League. The planned events will also call on
Washington to pull US troops out of Iraq.
"We don't expect a huge big city protest, but rather some visible
activity,
in all 50 states," said Bill Dobbs, a spokesman for the United For
Peace
and Justice coalition which has organized other large anti-war
protests.
-----
U.S. MILITARY SAYS 26 INMATE DEATHS MAY BE HOMICIDE
Douglas Jehl and Eric Scmitt, New York Times, 3/16/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/16/politics/16abuse.htm
WASHINGTON, March 15 - At least 26 prisoners have died in American
custody
in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002 in what Army and Navy investigators
have
concluded or suspect were acts of criminal homicide, according to
military
officials.
The number of confirmed or suspected cases is much higher than any
accounting the military has previously reported. A Pentagon report sent
to
Congress last week cited only six prisoner deaths caused by abuse, but
that
partial tally was limited to what the author, Vice Adm. Albert T.
Church
III of the Navy, called "closed, substantiated abuse cases" as of last
September.
The new figure of 26 was provided by the Army and Navy this week after
repeated inquiries. In 18 cases reviewed by the Army and Navy,
investigators have now closed their inquiries and have recommended them
for
prosecution or referred them to other agencies for action, Army and
Navy
officials said. Eight cases are still under investigation but are
listed by
the Army as confirmed or suspected criminal homicides, the officials
said.
SEE ALSO:
INTERROGATOR DISCIPLINED OVER TECHNIQUES NOW TEACHING SOLDIERS
James Gordon Meek, Daily News, 3/16/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/11147494.htm
WASHINGTON _ An ex-Army interrogator punished for sexually humiliating
detainees at the Guantanamo prison is now teaching soldiers
interrogation
techniques, the New York Daily News has learned.
Former Staff Sgt. Jeannette Arocho-Burkart, 37, is an instructor at the
Army Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., despite being
reprimanded
in 2003 for her sexually taunting tactics that included smearing fake
menstrual blood on terror suspects, according to four sources who knew
her
there.
"She did get in trouble," confirmed one former colleague at Gitmo.
"Huachuca could probably do better."
The source said that Arocho-Burkart was a "competent" interrogator, but
"she fudged the line to an uncomfortable level."
"It wasn't torture, but touching the detainee inappropriately to
humiliate
him," the source said.
Besides wearing skimpy clothing to make Muslim men uncomfortable during
questioning, Arocho-Burkart allegedly smeared red ink on a detainee's
face,
saying it was her menstrual blood _ an act that got her punished.
Last week, Vice Adm. Albert Church, in a Pentagon report that cited
only
three cases of "substantiated" abuse at Gitmo, wrote that "two female
interrogators...touched and spoke to detainees in a sexually suggestive
manner...to incur stress based on the detainees' religious beliefs..."
-----
SALADIN AND SIR RIDLEY: HOLLYWOOD DOES HOLY WAR
Award-winning director of "Gladiator" brings the Crusades and an Arab
hero
to the screen in "Kingdom of Heaven," but does he get it right?
Ramsay Short, Daily Star, 3/16/05
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4&article_id=13445
LONDON: "It is better to live in peace together than to perpetuate war.
It
sounds simple but we don't seem to be able to manage it today," Ridley
Scott, who was knighted for his services to the British film industry
in
2003, explains during an interview after a partial screening of his
latest
film in the VUE multiplex cinema in London's Leicester Square.
"That's what "Kingdom Of Heaven" is about, the journey of a boy
becoming a
man without ever losing his integrity."
On the screen behind Scott, a vast column of Christian soldiers is on
the
march, the Knights Templar, about to do battle with the great Muslim
army
of Saladin in the Holy Land of the late 12th century.
It is a magnificent sight but inevitably one which is likely to draw
much
comment in the days and weeks running up to the movie's release in May
-
and much comment after - not least because of the parallels with events
in
the Middle East today.
Then Frankish King of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, did battle with Saracen
leader
Saladin, who led Muslim armies from Damascus. Today the Syrian capital
is
once again finding itself under fire from the West as well as from
people
in the region itself - not least from many Christian descendants of the
Crusaders themselves in Lebanon and the born-again Christian, U.S.
President George W. Bush…
ALSO SEE:
WIDE OPEN WEST ADDS CHANNEL AIMED AT U.S. MUSLIMS
Michelle Martinez, Crains Detroit, 3/15/05
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=5609
Cable television provider Wide Open West on Tuesday said Bridges TV,
the
first English language cable channel aimed at U.S. Muslims, will be
offered
as a premium channel in Southeast Michigan on WOW's digital cable
system.
Southeast Michigan has one of the largest Muslim populations in the
nation.
The channel will cost $14.99 a month and air news, travel, health, talk
and
children's programming to counter images of Muslims as extremists or
terrorists, WOW said. Bridges TV expects about 3,000 subscribers in
Southeast Michigan.
"Bridges TV airs the stories that get lost, the ones that you don't see
on
mainstream TV," said Bridges President Muzzammil Hassan.
"A lot of people have questioned where the American Muslim voice was in
response to recent world events," said Imam Hasan Qazwini of the
Detroit-based Islamic Center of America. "Bridges TV can be that voice
because it is a platform for discussion and an outlet for the American
Muslim community..."
-----
EVANGELISTS FOCUS EFFORTS ON CONVERTING MUSLIMS
Steven G. Vegh, Virginian-Pilot, 3/16/05
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=83595&ran=3791
VIRGINIA BEACH - There are few books Kevin Greeson likes better than
the
Quran, Islam's holiest scripture.
Greeson, a Christian missionary in South Asia, said the Quran's mention
of
Jesus is a perfect starting point for engaging Muslims in dialogue that
eventually can lead to their conversion to Christianity.
"It is the most effective evangelistic tool I've seen," said Greeson,
who
works for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Conference. "I don't mean to say Muslims are our enemy, but using the
Quran
as a bridge has allowed us to go deep, deep, deep into enemy
territory."
The world's approximately 1.2 billion Muslims are the top target of
evangelical efforts to spread Christianity, and Greeson is among
mission
professionals who discussed strategies Tuesday at a four-day
conference,
"Breakthrough Among Muslims," held at Regent University. The Alliance
for
Missions Advancement sponsored the event.
Open to debate is whether such evangelization builds or burns bridges,
especially when the United States is at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In its March 7 report, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic
and
International Studies found that an overwhelming number of Arab leaders
think the United States is "engaged in a war with the Arab world or
Islam
itself."
The situation is so grave that on Monday, President Bush gave his
adviser
Karen Hughes the job of improving America's image globally and among
Muslim
nations in particular.
Mohammad Amir, an Old Dominion University engineering student who is
Muslim, said that back home in India, many have reservations about the
United States' intentions in the Middle East.
The appearance of American missionaries promoting Christianity, Amir
said,
might add to the "negative image people have about the policies of this
country."
"If someone would come and try to approach Muslims and understand them
and
seek common ground, that would be accepted," said Abdulla Bazaraa,
director
of the Egyptian Cultural and Education Bureau in Washington, D.C. "To
convert them, I would say, is not welcome..."
ALSO SEE:
PUSH TO CONVERT MUSLIMS
Mary Bolling, Herald Sun, 2/16/05
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12568862%255E663,00.html
US preacher Franklin Graham, who described Islam as a wicked religion,
has
invited Muslims to his Melbourne convention.
The evangelist is speaking at the Festival Victoria faith meeting this
weekend, and organisers are hoping 100,000 people will attend the
Telstra
Dome event.
The Rev Graham is the son of preacher Billy Graham, who attracted
130,000
people to his 1959 crusade at the MCG.
The Christian evangelist, 52, has previously said Islam was a wicked
and
violent religion.
But yesterday he said Muslims, as well as Buddhists, Hindus and
non-believers, were welcome at the festival.
"Much of my evangelical work has been in Muslim countries, and I love
the
Muslim people, and I want those people to know God the way I know God,"
Mr
Graham said.
"I want them to realise that God sent his son, and his name is Jesus
Christ."
Australian Muslim Public Affairs Committee executive director Amir
Butler
said Melbourne's Muslims were unlikely to attend…
-----
CHAT LIVE WITH EXPERTS ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
The Department will host a live on-live chat on Wednesday, March 16,
2005
at 3 p.m. This forum provides an opportunity for dialogue with
Department
officials on the role of the US in international affairs. This unique
program will enable you to express your views and ask questions about
America's foreign policy objectives. Charlotte Ponticelli, Senior
Coordinator, International Women's issues will be available live for
the
online chat.
To participate, visit: www.chats.state.gov
-----
SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/15/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REAL CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN
* NEOCON MAG PROMOTES ANTI-MUSLIM HATE LITERATURE
- IL: Hate Crime Suit Filed in Anti-Muslim Bombing
* TN: CAIR HELPS MUSLIMS WHO LEFT DELL (NBJ)
* CAIR-CA 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP
- Save The Date for the CAIR-MD/VA Dinner
- CAIR Job Openings: Membership Coordinator, Webmaster
* ABC NEWS 'NIGHTLINE' PROFILES MUSLIM COMEDIAN
* CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION CONDEMNS MODI
- Conyers Condemns Modi in House Resolution
- US Congressmen Demand Denial of Visa to Modi
- CAIR-NY Co-Sponsors March 20 Modi Protest
* CAIR: MIXED REACTIONS TO HUGHES' APPOINTMENT (RNS)
- CIA'S Assurances on Transferred Suspects Doubted (WP)
* ACLU SEEKS DOCS IN DENIALS OF VISAS TO SCHOLARS (AP)
- SC: Groups Seek Opposition to PATRIOT Act (State)
* MI: MUSLIM CLERIC CORRECTS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REAL CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN
"God will never change the condition of a people until they change it
themselves (with their own souls)."
The Holy Quran, 13:11
-----
NEOCON MAG PROMOTES ANTI-MUSLIM HATE LITERATURE
CAIR seeks clarification, apology from National Review
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/17/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on a prominent national neoconservative magazine to
clarify its policy on anti-Muslim hate following revelations that the
publication distributed an Internet advertisement for an virulently
Islamophobic book.
CAIR's request came in response to a complaint from a member of the
National Review's e-mail list who received a message promoting an
apparently self-published book that, according to the magazine, is a
"guide
into the dark mind of [the Prophet] Mohammed."
The National Review's review of the book states: "[The author] explains
why
Mohammed couldn't possibly be a true prophet, and reveals the true
sources
of his 'revelations.'"
It quotes the author as claiming: "Mohammed posed as the apostle of
God…while his life is marked by innumerable marriages; and great
licentiousness, deeds of rapine, warfare, conquests, unmerciful
butcheries,
all the time invoking God's holy name to sanction his evil deeds."
According to the National Review, the book shows how "Mohammed again
and
again justified his rapine and licentiousness with new 'divine
revelations.'"
"This anti-Muslim screed is the literary equivalent of 'The Protocols
of
the Elders of Zion' and should not be promoted by a publication that
has
any sense of decency," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim
Hooper.
"The National Review must clarify its position on Islamophobic hate
speech
and offer a public apology for promoting a book that so viciously
attacks
the faith of one-fifth of the world's population."
Hooper said anti-Muslim rhetoric often leads to discrimination and even
violence. (See news release below.)
(NOTE: In 2002, CAIR called on an Arab-American publication to
apologize
for publishing excerpts from "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a
19th
century anti-Semitic forgery used to justify the persecution of Jews.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
HATE CRIME LAWSUIT FILED IN ANTI-MUSLIM BOMBING
(CHICAGO) - On Thursday, March 17th Abbas Salmi and his family filed a
lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Eric K. Nix for bombing
the
family s van in Burbank, IL on March 21, 2003. According to the
lawsuit,
Nix threw a large, mortar-type firework into the Salmi family s van
parked
in front of their home. The bomb exploded, causing irreparable damage
to
the vehicle and terrifying family members who were home at the time,
including Salmi, his wife, two small children, sister, and parents.
The Plaintiffs, Muslim-Americans of Palestinian descent, allege they
were
attacked because of their ancestry, nationality and/or religion. The
lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for loss of civil
rights,
emotional distress and property damage. In September 2003, Nix pled
guilty
to arson and hate crime charges for the bombing. The 26-year-old was
also
convicted of criminal damage to property in 2001 for vandalizing an
Arab-owned furniture store two days after the 9/11 attacks.
"Bombing an innocent family s property because of their religion or
ethnicity is unconscionable and terrorizes entire communities," said
Diana
M. Lin, Chicago Lawyers= Committee Equal Justice Works Fellow. AAll
Americans grieved after the 9/11 attack, including Muslim and Arab
Americans.
The Salmi family is represented by Betsy Shuman-Moore and Diana M. Lin
of
the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. and pro
bono
attorneys Russell E. Cass and Brian McAleenan of Sidley Austin Brown &
Wood
LLP. "We hope to obtain just compensation for the Salmis for the
suffering
they have endured, and the damage to their van, said Shuman-Moore, Aas
well
as deter others from committing violent hate crimes, the most extreme
form
of racism and discrimination.
For 35 years, the Chicago Lawyers Committee, through its 40-plus member
law
firms, staff and legal team, has provided free legal services to
challenge
discrimination and other civil rights violations in both the public and
private sectors. For further information about the Chicago Lawyers=
Committee, contact Clyde Murphy at 312-630-9744, or visit
http://www.clccrul.org
For further information, contact: Betsy Shuman-Moore, Chicago Lawyers
Committee, 312-630-9744, bshuman-moore@clccrul.org
-----
MUSLIMS WHO LEFT DELL JOBS GETTING HELP FROM ADVOCACY GROUP
Nashville Business Journal, 3/16/05
http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2005/03/14/daily23.html?jst=b_ln_hl
Twenty-one of 30 Muslim assembly line workers who quit their jobs last
month in Dell Inc.'s Nashville plant because they were allegedly told
they
couldn't stop working to pray are now being represented by Islamic
civil
rights and advocacy group the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The 21 former employees signed retainer agreements with CAIR in
Nashville
on Saturday.
"Federal law requires that followers of all faiths be offered
reasonable
religious accommodation in the workplace," said Arsalan Iftikhar, legal
director for CAIR, through a statement released Wednesday. Efforts to
contact Iftikhar for comment were unsuccessful.
Devotional requirements of Islam call for prayer five times a day.
The statement from CAIR didn't doesn't mention plans to sue Dell, and
mentions that the organization has offered to mediate a settlement
between
the company and the workers. Last week, CAIR requested that the company
rehire the workers pending a resolution of the issues involved in the
apparent dispute.
Efforts to contact Dell officials for comment about the dispute were
unsuccessful...
-----
CAIR-CA HOSTS 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP
WHAT: The northern California chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-NCA) and the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers
(BAAML)
present a "Know Your Rights Workshop: A Panel on Government
Surveillance,
Immigration, And Discrimination."
Panelists attorneys and advocates, including: Marwa Elzankaly,
attorney,
McManus, Faulkner and Morgan; Saad Ahmad, immigration attorney, Minter
and
Ahmad; Matthew Rafat, employment attorney; Shirin Sinnar, attorney,
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and others.
WHEN: Friday, March 19th, 2005 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
WHERE: Yaseen Foundation, 621 Masonic Way, Belmont
For more information, please contact the CAIR-NCA office at
408-986-9874,
e-mail: nocal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE CAIR-MD/VA DINNER
On June 4, the Maryland and Virginia chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD/VA) will host its annual banquet
and
fundraiser at the
Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner, Vienna, Va.
For more information, contact: 301-986-1900
-----
CAIR JOB OPENING: MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT COORDINATOR
CAIR has an immediate position available for a Membership Support
Coordinator. The position entails data entry, filing, preparing deposit
slips, charging credit cards, filing reports, generating receipts,
reconciling records, and working on special projects as assigned. The
successful candidate must follow accounting procedures that include
monthly
reconciliation of bank statements.
QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will have a minimum of high school
diploma, with an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft applications,
particularly Access database. Knowledge of other database applications
is
an asset. Must have attention to detail and be a creative,
self-motivated,
strategic thinker with good writing skills.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: CAIR offers an attractive salary and benefit
package.
APPLY IMMEDIATELY by sending a resume, references and cover letter (no
calls, please) to: hr@cair-net.org. Please mark "Membership Support
Coordinator" in the Subject of the e-mail.
---
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
Job Opening Ref #2004-17
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR's website.
All those interested and eligible to work in the US (Citizens or work
visa
holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via e-mail to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax (202.488.0833). When applying via e-mail,
please
ensure to write the position title "Webmaster" in the subject of the
email.
No phone calls please.
-----
ABC NEWS 'NIGHTLINE' PROFILES MUSLIM COMEDIAN
ABC News Nightline profiles a Muslim-American man trying to make it as
a
stand-up comic in Chicago. A former attorney, Azhar Usman s stand-up
routine uses humor to address political and cultural issues facing the
Muslim-American community. The program will air on Nightline on Friday,
March 18, 2005 at 11:35 p.m. (ET).
Nightline is anchored by Ted Koppel and airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m.
(ET)
on the ABC Television Network.
-----
REPS. CONYERS, PITTS LEGISLATION CONDEMNS PERSECUTION BY INDIAN
OFFICIAL
US Fed News
WASHINGTON - Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, R-Pa. (16th CD), issued the
following
press release:
Reps. John Conyers (D, MI-14) and Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today will
introduce
legislation condemning the actions of Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of
Gujarat, India, and calling on the United States government to do the
same.
The legislation cites repeated attacks by Mr. Modi against Christian,
Muslim, and tribal populations in Gujarat.
"Mr. Modi has not been shy about proudly professing his anti-Christian,
anti-Muslim, and anti-tribal stances. He has repeatedly dehumanized the
Muslim population of his state by accusing them of treachery; he has
actively sought to interfere in the practice of the Christian faith in
Gujarat, and he has caused wide-scale displacement of indigenous
populations in the State in the face of stiff popular resistance," said
Congressman Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary
Committee
and the Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.
"The evidence is clear. Mr. Modi persecutes religious minorities in
Gujarat. Our government should speak with one voice in condemning these
policies and the actions of the Modi administration that has led to the
death, torture, and imprisonment of thousands in Gujarat," said
Congressman
Pitts, a member of the India Caucus and the Congressional Human Rights
Caucus.
Introduced just days before Mr. Modi is scheduled to speak at several
events in the United States, the legislation -
Condemns the conduct of Chief Minister Narendra for condoning or
inciting
bigotry and intolerance against any religious group in India, including
people of the Christian and Islamic faiths; and
Urges the United States to condemn violations of religious freedom, and
to
promote and assist other governments in the promotion of, the
fundamental
right to freedom of religion in India...
ALSO SEE:
CONYERS CONDEMNS MODI'S ACTION IN HOUSE RESOLUTION
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Search using the term "Modi."
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) submitted the following House resolution which
was
referred to the Committee on International Relations Condemning the
conduct
of Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his actions to incite religious
persecution and urging the United States to condemn all violations of
religious freedom in India.
RESOLUTION
Condemning the conduct of Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his actions
to
incite religious persecution and urging the United States to condemn
all
violations of religious freedom in India.
Whereas India is the largest democracy in the world, with a
Constitution
that protects religious freedom and the fundamental rights of all
citizens;
Whereas the United States appreciates the commitment of India's present
government to preserving pluralism and religious diversity in India;
Whereas Narendra Modi is the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a Western
Indian
state, and a member of a Hindu religious party known as the `Baratiya
Janata Party' (BJP), who is responsible for the law and order and all
administrative work within the Gujarat state;
Whereas the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) has confirmed in its May 2004 report that since the political
party of Chief Minister Modi took office in 1998, there have been
`hundreds
of attacks on Christian leaders, worshipers, and churches throughout
India,' including killings, torture, rape and harassment of church
staff,
destruction of church property, and disruption of church events;
Whereas the USCIRF has confirmed in its May 2004 report that the state
government in Gujarat led by Chief Minister Modi has been widely
accused of
being reluctant to bring the perpetrators of the killings of Muslims
and
non-Hindus to justice;
Whereas the Supreme Court of India has reported that those arrested in
connection with the bombings and retaliatory attacks on Hindus in India
have claimed that they carried out their actions `in revenge for the
state-assisted killings of Muslims in Gujarat';
Whereas the Supreme Court of India has admonished Chief Minister Modi
and
other government authorities in the State of Gujarat for their
complacency
and actions in connection with the attacks on non-Hindu groups;
Whereas India's National Human Rights Commission, an official body,
found
evidence of premeditation in the killings of non-Hindu groups,
complicity
by Gujarat state government officials, and police inaction in the midst
of
attacks on Muslims and Christians in India;
Whereas the United States Department of State has discussed in one of
its
reports the role of Chief Minister Modi and his government in promoting
attitudes of racial supremacy, racial hatred, and the legacy of Nazism
through his government's support of school textbooks in which Nazism is
glorified;
Whereas the United States Department of State has found that Chief
Minister
Modi revised the text of high school social studies textbooks in
Gujarat
schools to describe the `charismatic personality' of `Hitler the
Supremo',
and the `achievements' of Nazism at great length, while failing to
acknowledge the Nazi extermination policies, the concentration camps,
and
the religious persecution that occurred under the Nazi regime;
Whereas in section 2(2) of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998
(22 U.S.C. 6401(2)), Congress made the following finding: `Freedom of
religious belief and practice is a universal human right and
fundamental
freedom articulated in numerous international instruments, including
the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil
and Political Rights, the Helsinki Accords, the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on
Religion or Belief, the United Nations Charter, and the European
Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms'; and
Whereas such conduct by such a high ranking foreign official undermines
internationally recognized fundamental human rights and the directives
of
Congress under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998: Now
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the conduct of Chief Minister Narendra Modi for condoning
or
inciting bigotry and intolerance against any religious group in India,
including people of the Christian and Islamic faiths; and
(2) urges the United States--
(A) to condemn violations of religious freedom; and
(B) to promote and assist other governments in the promotion of the
fundamental right to freedom of religion.
---
US CONGRESSMEN DEMAND DENIAL OF VISA TO MODI
Press Trust of India, 3/16/05
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1282192,00050001.htm
Ahead of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United
States,
demands have been made for denial of visa to him for the visit.
Two American Congressmen also said they are introducing a resolution
condemning policies and actions of his state administration and urging
the
US government to do the same.
"The US has to decide whether or not a visa should be granted to Mr
Modi to
travel to the US this week," Democratic Congressman John Conyers and
Republican Joe Pitts said in a press release faxed to correspondents.
"The resolution (by Conyers and Pitts) cites repeated attacks against
Christian, Muslim and tribal populations in Gujarat," the release said.
Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and the
Dean
of the Congressional Black Caucus, representing all the Black members
in
Congress, charged: "Mr Modi has not been shy about proudly professing
his
anti-Christian, anti-Muslim and anti-tribal stances..."
---
CAIR-NY CO-SPONSORS MODI PROTEST
CAIR-NY, along with of a number of other human rights and minority
organizations, will hold a demonstration outside Madison Square Gardens
to
coincide with Chief Minister Modi's March 20 appearance.
WHEN: March 20, 4-6 pm
WHERE: Outside Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
For more information:
Indian Muslim Council-USA
Ph. 516-567-0783, info@imc-usa.org, http://www.imc-usa.org/
Coalition Against Genocide
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/protest/nyc.20mar2005.php
or, contact the CAIR-NY office at Ph. 212-870-2002
Transportation may be available for those coming from New Jersey.
Contact
the CAIR-NY office for more information.
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS HAVE MIXED REACTIONS TO HUGHES' APPOINTMENT
Holly Lebowitz Rossi, Religion News Service, 3/17/04
http://www.religionnews.com/
U.S. Muslim leaders are hopeful, if somewhat skeptical, about the
appointment of Karen Hughes to a post designed to improve the image of
the
United States in the Muslim world…
"We hope that her appointment will lead to the improvement of America's
image in the Muslim world," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington, DC-based advocacy
group.
"The only direction we have to go is up in our perception worldwide,"
Hooper said, adding that CAIR plans to send Hughes a letter offering to
help her in developing her campaign...
ALSO SEE:
CIA'S ASSURANCES ON TRANSFERRED SUSPECTS DOUBTED
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 3/17/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42072-2005Mar16.html
The system the CIA relies on to ensure that the suspected terrorists it
transfers to other countries will not be tortured has been ineffective
and
virtually impossible to monitor, according to current and former
intelligence officers and lawyers, as well as counterterrorism
officials
who have participated in or reviewed the practice.
To comply with anti-torture laws that bar sending people to countries
where
they are likely to be tortured, the CIA's office of general counsel
requires a verbal assurance from each nation that detainees will be
treated
humanely, according to several recently retired CIA officials familiar
with
such transfers, known as renditions.
But the effectiveness of the assurances and the legality of the
rendition
practice are increasingly being questioned by rights groups and others,
as
freed detainees have alleged that they were mistreated by interrogators
after the CIA secretly delivered them to countries with well-documented
records of abuse.
President Bush weighed in on the matter for the first time yesterday,
defending renditions as vital to the nation's defense.
In "the post-9/11 world, the United States must make sure we protect
our
people and our friends from attack," he said at a news conference. "And
one
way to do so is to arrest people and send them back to their country of
origin with the promise that they won't be tortured. That's the promise
we
receive. This country does not believe in torture. We do believe in
protecting ourselves." One CIA officer involved with renditions,
however,
called the assurances from other countries "a farce…"
-----
ACLU SEEKS DOCUMENTS IN DENIALS OF VISAS TO FOREIGN SCHOLARS
Mark Sherman, Associated Press, 3/16/05
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050316-1416-aclu-visadenials.html
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union asked the Bush
administration on Wednesday to turn over documents detailing the use of
immigration laws to bar foreign scholars from the United States because
of
their purported support of terrorism or on other ideological grounds.
Citing three prominent cases in the past year, the ACLU said the
administration appears to be denying visas to Muslim and Hispanic
academics
because it disagrees with their political views.
The civil liberties group filed a Freedom of Information Act request
with
several federal agencies seeking records about the decisions to keep
the
scholars out of the country.
An FOI request from the group earlier produced thousands of pages
documenting abuse of detainees in U.S. custody in Iraq and Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba. The group also has filed suit against the CIA, seeking additional
records about treatment of prisoners.
In the current matter, the ACLU asked whether the visa denials were
based
on a provision of the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act allowing the
government to refuse visas to people who use their "position of
prominence
to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or to persuade others to
support
terrorist activity."
State Department officials declined to comment, consistent with the
department's policy on not discussing visa applications. A CIA
spokesperson
said the agency responds to all freedom of information requests.
Officials at the Justice Department and Homeland Security Department
did
not immediately comment.
The most recent incident cited by the ACLU is the denial of a visa to
former Nicaraguan Sandinista leader Dora Maria Tellez, who was to have
taught a course this spring at Harvard Divinity School. Tellez said
last
month the visa had been unfairly denied on security grounds.
"They have every right to deny me a visa, but they have done it on
anti-terror grounds," Tellez said at the time. "I'm not going to accept
a
foreign government accusing me of terrorism."
Tellez, a historian, participated in a famous attack by Sandinista
rebels
on Managua's congress building in 1978 during the revolt that toppled
dictator Anastasio Somoza a year later. She leads a party allied with
the
Sandinistas.
The ACLU said the Patriot Act also appears to have been invoked in the
case
of Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen and Muslim scholar whose work visa
was
revoked last year just days before he was to begin teaching at the
University of Notre Dame. The Department of Homeland Security cited
security concerns but released no specifics...
ALSO SEE:
SC: GROUPS ASK COLUMBIA TO OPPOSE PATRIOT ACT
Police powers are directed away from local problems, coalition argues
John C. Drake, The State, 3/17/05
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11156013.htm
A coalition of local political activists wants Columbia City Council to
pass a symbolic resolution opposing the USA Patriot Act.
"The act creates an unfunded mandate," said Denyse Williams, president
of
the S.C. branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Police power is
directed away from local problems to enforcing the act."
More than 370 cities and four states have passed resolutions in
opposition
to the Patriot Act, according to a national advocacy group leading the
effort...
Other organizations supporting the effort include local chapters of the
NAACP, the AFL-CIO, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the
Carolina Peace Resource Center.
Williams said similar efforts are under way in Beaufort and Charleston.
-----
MUSLIM CLERIC CORRECTS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
Julia Elliot, Hometown Life, 3/16/05
http://hometownlife.com/SterlingHeights/News.asp?pageType=StoryCurrent&StoryArchiveID=92407&StoryID=8633
Muslim cleric Iman Qazwini of Detroit's Islamic Center of America has
been
like an ambassador of Islam since the 9_11 terrorist attack brought the
World Trade Center to the ground and his faith into question by
millions of
Americans. For nearly four years, he's spoken at more than 170
churches,
colleges and universities to educate people about Islam and clear up
some
common misconceptions…
-----
SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS - Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God.)
MUSLIMS REACH SETTLEMENT WITH DELL, SPHERION ON WORKPLACE PRAYER
Deal includes reinstatement, back pay and religious accommodation
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/17/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today announced that Muslim contract employees at a Dell
Inc. plant in Nashville, Tenn., have reached a settlement with the
computer
giant on issues related to a recent dispute over prayer in the
workplace.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the 31 Muslim
employees, who left work last month in a disagreement over Islamic
prayers,
will be reinstated, receive back pay and be granted religious
accommodation. Managers will also receive additional training on
existing
religious accommodation policies and practices. Other terms of the
settlement will not be made public.
Announcement of the settlement came following a meeting today between
representatives of CAIR, Dell, the Muslim workers, the Nashville Metro
Human Relations Commission, and Spherion Corp., the company that
provided
the workers to Dell. (In a meeting on Saturday, most of the Muslim
workers
retained CAIR as their legal counsel.)
FOR BACKGROUND ON THE CASE, SEE:
"Muslims Say Dell Forbade Them to Pray at Work"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28616-2005Mar11.html
"We are pleased with both the terms of the settlement and with the
cooperative attitude of all parties in the negotiations," said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We thank everyone from around the world
who
contacted Dell to express their support for reasonable religious
accommodation in the workplace."
Awad also thanked the Nashville Metro Human Relations Commission and
local
Muslim community leaders for their efforts to help achieve a
mutually-agreeable settlement.
"This settlement can be used as model by other production facilities
that
employ large numbers of Muslim workers," said CAIR Legal Director
Arsalan
Iftikhar, who also participated in today's negotiations.
"I would like to thank God first of all and then CAIR for helping us
resolve this and other important local cases," said Abdishakur Ibrahim,
Imam of Al-Farooq Mosque in Nashville. "CAIR is always there when we
need
them."
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of
1964 requires an employer to accommodate religious practices unless it
causes an "undue hardship."
The Washington-based group has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and
in
Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to 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
GOOD NEWS ALERT
CAIR APPLAUDS DENIAL OF VISA TO NARENDRA MODI
U.S. cites Indian official's role in Gujarat massacre
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/18/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today applauded a decision by the United States to deny a visa
to an
Indian official accused of complicity in the massacre of Muslim
civilians.
CAIR said U.S. officials cited the role of Narendra Modi, Chief
Minister of
the Indian state of Gujarat, in 2002 anti-Muslim riots that left more
than
1000 dead. Modi was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the annual
convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) to be
held later this month in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
SEE: "U.S. Cancels Narendra Modi's Visa"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7942917
In recent weeks, CAIR and other groups joined forces to block Modi's
entry
to the United States. CAIR urged the Bush administration to deny Modi a
visa based on a section (Sec. 604) of the International Religious
Freedom
Act that makes any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly
severe
violations of religious freedom" inadmissible to the United States.
Media
reports indicate that U.S. officials used that provision to revoke his
visa.
Earlier this week, CAIR called on American Express to withdraw its
sponsorship from the Florida convention. CAIR also lobbied Congress to
urge
a denial of Modi's visa and CAIR offices in New York and Georgia hosted
or
planned events designed to heighten awareness of the issue.
SEE: "U.S. Muslims Seek to Block Entry of Gujarat Massacre Figure"
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1451&theType=NR
"Muslims Ask AmEx to Withdraw Sponsorship of FL Event"
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1492&theType=NR
"This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when Muslim, human
rights
and minority groups work together for a common purpose," said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We would like to thank those groups and
the
thousands of people worldwide who took action by contacting the State
Department, the White House, Congress, and the media in defense of the
victims of Gujarat."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to thank her for denying a
visa
to Narendra Modi.
CONTACT:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Department of State
2201 C St NW
Washington, DC 20520
E-Mail:
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html
Web Site: www.state.gov
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Fax: (202) 647-2283
COPY TO: president@whitehouse.gov, 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
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/18/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A LIFE THAT IS GOOD AND PURE
* US VISA DENIAL FOLLOWS ANTI-MODI CAMPAIGN
- U.S. Embassy Pulls Modi's Visa (AP)
- Muslim Group Applauds Refusal to Grant Visa (AFP)
* MUSLIMS REACH SETTLEMENT WITH DELL ON PRAYER AT WORK (AP)
- Thank Dell for Reaching Prayer Settlement
- Bill Supports Religious Accommodation (NY Sun)
* MUSLIM COMIC TO BE FEATURED ON ABC'S 'NIGHTLINE'
- CA: Muslim To Receive Honors (SJ Mercury News)
* ACLU SUES AGENTS OVER IRAQI REFUGEE'S ARREST (AP)
* U.N. RIGHTS CHIEF SOUNDS ALARM OVER TORTURE (Reuters)
- Swastikas Daubed on French Mosque (AFP)
* VA: GALLERY FEATURES ISLAMIC INFLUENCES IN CERAMICS
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A LIFE THAT IS GOOD AND PURE
"Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, and has faith,
verily
to him (or her) will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure,
and
We will bestow on (them a) reward according to the best of their
actions."
The Holy Quran, 16:97
-----
US VISA DENIAL FOLLOWS ANTI-MODI CAMPAIGN
Indo-Asian News Service, 3/18/05
http://www.eians.com/
New York, March 18 -- The denial of a US visa to Chief Minister
Narendra
Modi Friday follows a relentless campaign by a coalition of American
and
Indian American religious leaders and rights activists who accused him
of
persecuting religion minorities in Gujarat.
Barely a month after the coalition demanded that Modi be stopped from
entering the US for his "campaign of extremism", the chief minister has
indeed been denied the visa.
Joesph K. Grieboski, president of the International Institute on
Religion
and Public Policy who was the prime mover of a petition to Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice, had told IANS earlier: "Under the International
Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the US can deny visas to those
involved in religious persecution..."
Hindu groups across the US began a counter-campaign soon after the
coalition lined up several liberal and Christian, Muslim and Sikh
religious
groups in support of its petition.
Local Indian American newspapers took out full-page advertisements from
Modi's supporters, mainly sympathisers of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)
and Hindu groups, in Modi's favour. One advertisement described him as
the
"lion of Gujarat."
But the coalition had written to Rice "to encourage the denial of a
visa
or, should he already have a visa, bar entrance into the country".
"Since taking office as chief minister of Gujarat Oct 7, 2001, Modi has
pursued a campaign of extremism targeting religious minorities in
Gujarat."
"The most egregious violation of religious freedom engaged by Modi -
the
orchestrated attacks in Gujarat in 2002 in which more than 2,000
Muslims
were killed during government condoned riots - unfortunately falls
outside
the consideration of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
The
aftermath of the riots, however, has demonstrated that Modi and his BJP
government are not in compliance with the spirit and standards of
IRFA."
"The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 was established as a
tool
to advance freedom of religion globally on the one hand and to punish
those
individuals and regimes responsible for reprehensible acts of
persecution
and discrimination on the other," Grieboski said.
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which claims to be
the
largest advocacy group for Muslims in the US, also sent out an "Action
Alert" urging members to send letters to the State Department to block
Modi's entry into the US.
Those opposed to Modi's entry into the US formed a group, the Coalition
Against Genocide (CAG), to press for action by the AAHOA and by US
government officials…
SEE ALSO:
U.S. EMBASSY PULLS INDIA OFFICIAL'S VISA
Ashok Sharma, Associated Press
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=593020
The U.S. Embassy on Friday denied a visa to the Hindu nationalist chief
minister of India's western Gujarat state over his role in 2002
religious
riots. India slammed the decision, saying it showed a "lack of courtesy
and
sensitivity."
Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a leader of India's main opposition
Bharatiya
Janata Party, was denied a diplomatic visa to travel to the United
States
and his existing tourist/business visa was revoked, a U.S. embassy
spokesman said.
With the U.S. ambassador to India out of town, Indian officials
summoned
his deputy Robert Blake "to lodge a strong protest ... and to request
an
urgent reconsideration," the External Affairs ministry said.
"This action ... is uncalled for and displays lack of courtesy and
sensitivity toward a constitutionally elected chief minister of a state
of
India," the ministry said in a statement, expressing the government's
"deep
concern and regret."
Modi called the decision an insult to India…
---
MUSLIM GROUP APPLAUDS US REFUSAL TO GRANT VISA TO FIERY HINDU LEADER
Agence France Presse, 3/18/05
WASHINGTON, March 18 (AFP) - The largest US Muslim civil liberties
group on
Friday applauded Washington's decision to deny an entry visa to
hardline
Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi, who is accused of complicity in
a
massacre of Muslims.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it had lobbied
the
administration of President George W. Bush and the US Congress to deny
entry to Modi.
The controversial Modi, chief minister of India's western Gujarat
state,
was to visit Florida next week at the invitation of a
Gujarati-dominated
hotel owners' association...
"This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when Muslim, human
rights
and minority groups work together for a common purpose," CAIR executive
director Nihad Awad said in a statement…
-----
MUSLIMS REACH SETTLEMENT WITH DELL ON PRAYER AT WORK
Associated Press, 3/18/05
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/67109708.shtml
Muslim contract employees at the Dell Inc. plant in Nashville reached a
settlement with the company on issues related to a dispute over prayer
in
the workplace, a national Islamic civil rights advocacy group announced
yesterday in Washington.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said the 31 Muslim employees,
who
left work last month in a disagreement over Islamic prayers, will be
reinstated, receive back pay, and be granted religious accommodation.
Managers also will also receive additional training on existing
religious
accommodation policies and practices.
Other terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
The settlement came following a meeting yesterday between
representatives
of the council, Dell, the Muslim workers, the Metro Human Relations
Commission and Spherion Corp., the company that provided the workers to
Dell.
"We are pleased with both the terms of the settlement and with the
cooperative attitude of all parties in the negotiations," CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad said. "We thank everyone from around the world who
contacted Dell to express their support for reasonable religious
accommodation in the workplace..."
SEE ALSO:
THANK DELL FOR REACHING PRAYER SETTLEMENT
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send a note of appreciation to Dell for the company's willingness to
resolve this issue.
CONTACT:
Mr. Kevin B. Rollins
President and CEO
Dell Computers
One Dell Way
Round Rock, TX 78682
TEL: 512-338-4400
FAX: 512-283-2299
E-MAIL: Investor_Relations@dell.com, tr_reid@dell.com,
kevin_rollins@dell.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
BIPARTISAN UNITY FOR BILL SUPPORTING WORKPLACE RELIGION
Luiza Ch. Savage, New York Sun, 3/18/05
http://www.nysun.com/article/10776
WASHINGTON - A bill that would place a heavier burden on employers to
accommodate the religious practices of their employees has a good
chance of
becoming law this year, a bipartisan group of its backers in Congress
said.
Senator Kerry, a Democrat of Massachusetts, and Senator Santorum, a
conservative Pennsylvania Republican, yesterday reintroduced the
Workplace
Religious Freedom Act in the Senate, where Mr. Kerry predicted
"overwhelming support" for the legislation.
Mr. Kerry has been pushing the bill for almost a decade, since he was
contacted by "two Catholic ladies who lost their jobs because they
couldn't
work on Christmas," he said at a press conference yesterday. "No
American
should ever have to choose between keeping a job and keeping faith with
their cherished religious beliefs and traditions," he said.
Senators Schumer and Clinton also support the bill.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat of New York, and Rep. Mark Souder, a
Republican of Indiana, are championing the bill in the House. Its
supporters also include Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat of Queens, who
is
running for mayor of New York City…
-----
MUSLIM COMIC AZHAR USMAN TO BE FEATURED ON ABC'S 'NIGHTLINE'
'Allah Made Me Funny' Highlights Contributions of American Muslims
(Chicago, IL, 3/18/2005) - American Muslim standup comedian Azhar
Usman,
who has been touring across the U.S. and Canada as one of the
headlining
comics on the "Allah Made Me Funny - Official Muslim Comedy Tour," will
be
featured on ABC NEWS Nightline with Ted Koppel on Friday, March 18,
2005 at
11:35pm EST.
The program takes an in-depth look at one man's hopes and challenges as
an
American Muslim comic in post-9/11 America, underscoring the importance
of
the ever-present cultural hurdles faced by minority groups throughout
U.S.
history-acculturation, assimilation, and Americanization.
According to comedian Azhar Usman, "Muslims in the media today are
generally seen in an unfavorable light. The Nightline story is a move
in
the right direction as it highlights some of the positive contributions
of
American Muslims. Since 9/11, the Muslim culture has been defined by
assumptions and stereotypes that only work to enhance cultural gaps and
misunderstandings. We are reaching out as a matter of
self-determination
and self-definition, rather than letting others define us." He added,
"We
are of course indebted today to community advocacy organizations like
CAIR
that work tirelessly with the media to make such positive coverage of
Muslims possible."
According to Arsalan Iftikhar, National Legal Director for CAIR, "The
history of American standup comedy is inextricably linked to the
history of
the American civil rights struggle. From Dick Gregory, to Lenny Bruce,
to
Richard Pryor, Azhar Usman and the 'Allah Made Me Funny' tour are
taking
their cues from the very best of the American comic tradition."
'Allah Made Me Funny-The Official Muslim Comedy Tour' launched in May
2004
and has landed in over 30 cities across the U.S. and Canada, has
received
international and national media attention including the BBC,
Washington
Post, TIME, Newsweek, Atlanta Journal Constitution, LA Times, King
Magazine, numerous ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates, as well as Comedy
Central's
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." For more information on the tour,
please
visit www.allahmademefunny.com.
CONTACT: Seth Fuller, 'Allah Made Me Funny' Tour, 416-484-6363 x161,
seth@wordofmouthpr.com
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM ADVOCATE TO RECEIVE 'CITIZEN OF THE YEAR' HONORS
San Jose Mercury News, 3/18/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/11168518.htm
Syed Zafar Mohsin, outreach director of a new group called American
Muslim
Voice, is poised to receive the ''Citizen of the Year'' award on
Saturday
from Milpitas -- the first Muslim in city history to win such an honor.
According to American Muslim Voice founder Samina Sundas of Palo Alto,
Mohsin is credited with being active in a variety of community
activities,
including helping get a new school playground built, and being a leader
in
his homeowners association.
Mohsin serves as vice chairman of the Milpitas Community Advisory
Commission. And he recently graduated from a program to help Milpitas
residents in a disaster.
He serves on the American Muslim Voice board of directors and is a
member
of the executive committee of the American Muslim Alliance. He is also
a
member of Pakistan Association of San Francisco.
Mohsin, a Milpitas resident of 17 years, has a wife and two college-age
daughters. He has a mechanical engineering degree and works for an
Internet
company.
Mohsin will be honored with Dave Morris and Douglas Richardson, police
officer and firefighter of the year, respectively.
------
ACLU SUES AGENTS OVER IRAQI REFUGEE'S ARREST
Associated Press, 3/18/05
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050318/NEWS01/503180309/1002
GREAT FALLS, Montana (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union has
filed a
lawsuit against two federal border agents in Havre, accusing them of
interrogating, arresting and threatening to deport an Iraqi refugee who
was
legally in the country and had not broken any laws.
The ACLU in both Washington state and Montana, along with the ACLU
Immigrants' Rights Project filed the lawsuit in federal court in Great
Falls on Thursday. The lawsuit says because of the detention, Abdul
Ameer
Yousef Habeeb lost his job and suffered humiliation and emotional
distress.
``The way Mr. Habeeb was treated in this case is the inevitable outcome
of
a program that targets people for suspicion and mistreatment based on
where
they were born or what they look like, rather than individualized
conduct,'' Robin Goldfaden, staff counsel with the ACLU Immigrants'
Rights
Project, said in a written statement.
David Bernard, assistant chief patrol agent with U.S. Customs and
Border
Protection, declined comment Thursday.
Habeeb was traveling on an Amtrak train from Kent, Washington, to
Washington, D.C. where he was to begin a new job with an
Arabic-language
newspaper when the train stopped in Havre on April 1, 2003. He got off
the
train with other passengers during the 30-minute stop.
The lawsuit alleges that the two U.S. Customs and Border Protection
agents
asked where he was from. Habeeb told them he was from Iraq and showed
them
a copy of a form saying he was admitted into the United States as a
refugee.
The lawsuit says Agents Thomas Castloo and Darryl Essing asked whether
Habeeb had gone through ``special registration,'' which required men
and
boys from 25 predominantly Muslim countries to be fingerprinted and
photographed. However, the lawsuit said because of Habeeb's refugee
status,
he was not required to register under that program.
Habeeb was questioned by customs and FBI agents and detained overnight,
the
lawsuit says. The next day, Essing initiated deportation proceedings
against Habeeb based on the charge that he failed to appear for special
registration.
Habeeb was detained for three nights at the Hill County Jail in Havre,
then
flown to Seattle where he spent four more nights in a detention
facility.
The deportation proceedings against him were not formally terminated
until
May 16, 2003, the lawsuit says.
The ACLU attorneys say Habeeb's brother was executed by Saddam
Hussein's
regime in 1982 and his father was killed in a suspicious car crash in
1999.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees determined that Habeeb had a
well-founded fear of political persecution in Iraq and granted him
refugee
status. He was admitted to the United States in July 2002.
-----
U.N. RIGHTS CHIEF SOUNDS ALARM OVER TORTURE
Reuters, 3/18/05
http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=7946538
GENEVA - The U.N. human rights chief warned on Friday that
international
respect for key rights treaties was being eroded, with the complete ban
on
torture, in particular, being questioned.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour
mentioned
no names, but the United States has come in for criticism from
activists
over military interrogation techniques of foreign detainees they say
amount
to inhumane treatment.
"We are witnessing in some quarters an erosion of some of the clearest
and
most well-established of the human rights norms," said Arbour, a former
Canadian supreme court judge.
"Recently ... well-publicised instances give the impression ... that
the
very existence of the absolute prohibition on the use of torture is
being
questioned," she said in a report to the annual session of the U.N.
Commission on Human Rights.
"We must insist that states implement their international legal
obligation
not to torture and to prevent others from torturing," she told the
53-member state forum in Geneva.
Washington denies it condones torture in detention centres such as
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where some 500 suspected members of al Qaeda and
other militant Islamic groups are being held.
But it has admitted that some prisoners detained in Afghanistan or Iraq
have been sent for questioning in countries such as Egypt or Saudi
Arabia,
where security forces are often accused of using torture.
-----
SWASTIKAS DAUBED ON MOSQUE, SCHOOL IN EASTERN FRANCE
Agence France Presse, 3/18/05
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=18194&name=Swastikas+daubed+on+French+mosque+and+schools
STRASBOURG - Vandals scrawled dozens of swastikas and racial slurs on
the
walls of a mosque and two schools in eastern France, police said
Friday.
Early Friday, police in the town of Soultz, located south of
Strasbourg,
discovered five swastikas and racial slurs written in black marker on
the
bulletin board of the local mosque.
Local Muslim leader Abdelhaq Nabaoui denounced the incident, saying:
"These
criminal schemes come on top of numerous acts in recent months that
have
directly targeted Alsacians who are practicing Muslims."
"This has to stop," Nabaoui added, calling on local authorities to find
the
guilty parties and bring them to justice.
In the nearby town of Guebwiller, intruders used black marker to daub
four
dozen swastikas, as well as racial epithets, on the walls of a middle
school in the early hours of Thursday, police said.
A few more swastikas were scrawled on the walls of a nearby high school
and
a bus shelter in a neighboring town, probably by the same vandals, whom
police described as teenagers "who are not necessarily linked to
neo-Nazi
groups".
Police said the incident could be a "silly provocation" aimed at German
exchange students attending classes in the two schools.
The offending graffiti was removed on Thursday.
For the past year, eastern France has been the scene of numerous racist
and
anti-Semitic acts, notably the desecration of graves in both Jewish and
Muslim cemeteries.
-----
VA GALLERY FEATURES ISLAMIC INFLUENCES IN CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS
The opening reception for the Target Gallery exhibition Fertile Earth:
Islamic Influences in Contemporary Ceramics, will be held this Sunday,
March 20, from 5-8 PM.
A panel discussion, Cultural Exchange in the Creative Arts, will be
held
starting at approximately 6 PM. Panelists include: Dr. Nermin Kura,
Visual
Artist and Art Historian; Joshua Salaam, Musician and member of the
Muslim
Hip-Hop group Native Deen (www.nativedeen.com); Dr. Liora Moriel,
Comparative Literature and Film Historian; Lebanese Taverna, opening
their
newest establishment on Union Street in Old Town soon, will provide a
sampling of food.
In conjunction with the annual NCECA conference and this reception,
Scope
Ceramic Gallery and the ceramic studios of the Torpedo Factory Art
Center
will be open and will host receptions from 4-6 PM.
All March 20 events are free of charge and open to the public.
Fertile Earth will run through Sunday, April 24. Regular Target Gallery
hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5. For more information, call
703-838-4565 x 4, or visit www.torpedofactory.org.
Fertile Earth and its related programs are made possible by the
generous
support and partnership of the Adams Center, a Muslim community center
in
Northern Virginia; Robert & Irene Sinclair; the national and regional
offices of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's
largest Muslim civil liberties group; the American-Turkish Association
of
Washington, D.C.; Lebanese Taverna Restaurant; and members of the
Friends
of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a non-profit organization supporting
the
outreach programs of the art center.
------
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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
MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/21/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTHING TO FEAR OR REGRET
- Hadith of the Day: Glad Tidings
* CAIR-NY/NJ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
- CAIR-CAN: Let Us Pray at McGill
- CAIR-Cleveland to Hold Annual Banquet
- CAIR: Tenn. Prayer Settlement Seen as Fair
* NC: CHURCH DROPS MISSION OVER MUSLIM SERVERS (AP)
- Church Cuts Ties Over Catholics, Muslims (AP)
* TX: MUSLIM RUNNER WON'T COMPROMISE BELIEFS OR ATHLETICS
- CA: Finding My Religion (SF Gate)
* INDIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY EXERTS GROWING CLOUT (CSM)
- IMC-USA Participates in Pluralism Rally
- Controversy Comes to N.Y. (Bergen Record)
- Indian Official's Visa Denial Criticized (AP)
- Denial of Visa to Modi Gives Comfort (Sun-Sent)
* NY: TEACHERS GET LESSONS ON ISLAM (Journal News)
- NY: Muslims to Create Center (Journal News)
- PA: Fortifying Faith at Islamic Academy (MC)
* PA: MOSQUE OPENS TO ALL, NOT JUST MUSLIMS (Sentinel)
- IA: Conference Dispels Myths about Islam (DM Reg)
* IL: RED SOX PARTNER'S PLANE TIED TO 'REDITIONS'?
* ISRAEL PLANS 3,500 NEW WEST BANK HOMES (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTHING TO FEAR OR REGRET
"We send (Our) message-bearers only as heralds of glad tidings and as
warners: so all who believe and live righteously shall have nothing to
fear
or to regret."
The Holy Quran, 6:48
HADITH OF THE DAY: GLAD TIDINGS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Make things easy for
people
(concerning religious matters), do not make it hard for them, give them
glad tidings, and do not make them run away (from faith)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 69
-----
CAIR NY/NJ ACTIVIST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2005
WHAT: A conference designed to provide leaders of mosques and other
Islamic
institution with an overview of the issues related to operating a
non-profit organization. A lunch will be served after Zuhr prayer.
WHEN: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Saturday April 2, 2005.
WHERE: 475 Riverside drive (on 120th St), New York City, NY
Contact: 212.870.2002 (Office) or 917.751.1017 (Cell)
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-CAN: LET US PRAY AT MCGILL
Riad Saloojeee, Gazette, 3/21/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=1b80019c-2ba9-4489-bdfb-d17f69bc2b79
[Riad Saloojee is executive director of the Ottawa-based Canadian
Council
on American-Islamic Relations.]
In what is fast shaping up to be a modern-day David and Goliath drama,
McGill University recently threatened to evict the Muslim Students'
Association from the on-campus basement room that it's prayed in since
2002.
In an e-mail to every student on campus, McGill principal Heather
Munroe-Blum reversed the policy of McGill's previous administration in
providing a prayer space to Muslim students. "McGill," she stated, "is
a
non-denominational, non-sectarian academic institution" that "does not
provide designated prayer space for any religious practice."
The response was the administration's point-blank denial to requests by
the
MSA for religious accommodation in accordance with Quebec's human
rights
legislation.
McGill has side-stepped all discussion of its obligation to provide
accommodation as a service provider under the legislation. Boasting one
of
the premiere law schools in the country, the university ought to know
that
the law is crystal clear: Federal and provincial human rights
legislation
imposes on service-providers - whether secular or sacred - an
affirmative
duty to accommodate, among other things, religious needs…
---
CAIR-CLEVELAND TO HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET
(CLEVELAND, 3/21/05) - On March 26, the Cleveland office of Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) will hold its Third Annual
Dinner and Fundraiser, with the theme "Standing for Mercy, Kindness and
Justice."
WHAT: CAIR-OHIO, Cleveland Office, 3rd Annual Dinner & Fundraiser
WHERE: Saturday, March 26, 2005 from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence,
Ohio
Michael Ratner, renowned international human rights lawyer and
President of
the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, will speak about the
Guantanamo Bay detainees' legal challenges to detention, the government
"rendition" program, Abu Ghraib abuses, and the work of the center.
CAIR National Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad, will also
give
a briefing on the state of civil rights for Muslims in America and
CAIR's
vision and mission for the coming years. Art and Peggy Gish of
Christian
Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will receive an I-CAIR Justice Award for their
peace
and justice work in Iraq and the West Bank.
CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916
---
SETTLEMENT OVER PRAYERS AT DELL SEEN AS FAIR FOR ALL
Rob Johnson, Tennessean, 3/21/05
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/67159824.shtml
All sides in a Nashville imbroglio over ancient Islamic practices and
modern production-line demands were busy yesterday congratulating each
other for resolving a workplace dispute before it festered into
something
far more confrontational.
More than 30 Muslim workers, who say they had no choice but to quit
their
jobs at Dell Computer after receiving a ''work or pray'' edict, will
get to
return to their seasonal jobs packing boxes and driving forklifts under
an
agreement brokered this week…
The workers and the companies hammered out one agreement with the Human
Relations Commission, but over the weekend, attorneys from the
Washington,
D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations became involved…
-----
CHURCH DROPS MISSION OVER MUSLIM SERVERS
CHURCH APOLOGIZES FOR STANCE ON CATHOLICS
Associated Press, 3/21/05
http://www.the-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050321/APN/503210530
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The pastor of Central Church of God says the huge
Charlotte church will continue supporting two ministries it had decided
to
quit helping because of the presence of Catholics.
"I'm apologizing," the Rev. Loran Livingston said at the second of two
Palm
Sunday services. "I'm telling all the people for the hurt, 'I'm sorry'
As
long as we can, we're going to help until the Lord tells us to redirect
our
wealth."
Livingston's apology made to overflow crowds of 6,000-plus worshippers
at
two services partially reverses an earlier decision.
But Livingston said the church would no longer support Charlotte Rescue
Mission, citing in part the involvement of three Muslim students who
helped
serve a meal there.
The Pentecostal church had recently decided to quit backing four local
ministries because they also had support from Catholics. The ministries
were Loaves & Fishes, Charlotte Rescue Mission, Crisis Assistance
Ministry
and Love INC ("In the Name of Christ")…
SEE ALSO:
CHURCH CUTS TIES TO FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE OF CATHOLICS
Associated Press, 3/18/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/11177445.htm
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A church has withdrawn its support for a food pantry
serving the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.
Central Church of God explained its decision in a letter March 1 from
minister of evangelism Shannon Burton to Loaves & Fishes in Charlotte.
"As a Christian church, we feel it is our responsibility to follow
closely
the (principles) and commands of Scripture," the letter said.
"To do this best, we feel we should abstain from any ministry that
partners
with or promotes Catholicism, or for that matter, any other
denomination
promoting a works-based salvation."
Loaves & Fishes isn't the only ministry with which the large church has
cut
ties, and Catholics have not been the only reason they've given.
The Rev. Tony Marciano, executive director of Charlotte Rescue Mission,
said Burton told him the church could no longer support the agency
after it
allowed three Muslim students from UNC Charlotte to help serve a
meal...
-----
RUNNING WITH, NOT FROM, FAITH
Sophomore won't compromise beliefs or athletics
Matt Jacob, Dallas Morning Mews, 3/19/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/032005dnricjacob.6bb02.html
Another blustery afternoon practice awaits the Berkner girls track
team. As
the runners trot off in unison for their warmup laps, the wind has
become a
noticeable factor - leaving the girls' long-flowing locks in a state of
disarray.
Some try to hold down their hair in mid-stride, but their efforts are
futile. All the while, sophomore Natasha von Ross isn't fazed a bit. A
square, black-cotton scarf - known as a hijab - shields her hair from
the
elements.
This simple article of clothing might be nothing more than a fashion
accessory for some. But in accordance with her Muslim faith, von Ross
has
incorporated it into every facet of her life - even while running for
her
school.
"It's been a part of me since the seventh grade," said von Ross, who
runs
the 800 meters for Berkner's junior varsity team. "I do everything I
can
with it, and it doesn't hold me back at all. Anyone who wears it
shouldn't
feel that it does. It makes me the person who I am, and I wouldn't feel
the
same without it."
If anything, von Ross, 15, said wearing her hijab is empowering. It
represents a conscious decision that she is mentally mature enough to
follow other Muslim women in the practice. Tenets of Islam mandate that
women cover all parts of their bodies except their faces and hands - a
way
to depict themselves as modest. The only time it is to be taken off is
when
von Ross is at home with her family or only in front of other women.
Her choice to wear the hijab on the track - von Ross first did so in
the
seventh grade at Liberty Junior High - represents a meshing of two
cultures. While her religion will always be a focal point in her life,
von
Ross also feels passionate about running. In her mind, she should never
be
forced to choose one over the other...
ALSO SEE:
FINDING MY RELIGION
After 9/11, Azadeh Zainab Sharif started wearing the hajib
David Ian Miller, San Francisco Gate, 3/21/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2005/03/21/findrelig.DTL
The fear that gripped Americans following 9/11 filled many Muslims in
this
country with an added sense of dread. They not only felt anxiety about
terrorism on U.S. soil but also had to worry about religious
discrimination.
Rather than wrapping herself in an American flag, however, Azadeh
Zainab
Sharif, a Muslim student at San Francisco State University who grew up
in
San Diego but lived for several years in her father's native Iran,
decided
it was time to bring her religious identity out in the open. After
9/11,
she began wearing a hijab, the scarf worn by many Muslim women around
the
world.
For Sharif, now 22, putting the scarf on coincided with her spiritual
awakening as a devout Muslim, but it was also a reaction to what she
perceived as growing fear among Muslims in this country…
-----
INDIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY EXERTS GROWING CLOUT BACK HOME
Ben Arnoldy, Christian Science Monitor, 3/21/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0321/p03s01-ussc.html
When Nishrin Hussain moved to the United States in 1990, she left her
parents behind in India. But her American life was tragically
interrupted
when her father, a Muslim, was burned alive by a Hindu mob during the
2002
riots that shook India's Gujarat state.
Since then, she has become a force in Indian politics - from her home
in
Delaware. Like a growing number of other Indian-Americans, Ms. Hussain
is
using the considerable power of the pocketbook and other forms of
political
activism to influence events half a world away.
And their efforts can have an impact: Last week the US State Department
-
largely because of the protests of Indian Americans - canceled an
upcoming
tour in the United States by Narendra Modi, Gujarat's chief minister,
for
the role he played in the riots three years ago.
In one sense, the Indian American community reflects the growing clout
of
many expatriate groups in the US. From Mexican-Americans to immigrants
from
the Muslim world, they are becoming more aware of their influence back
home
and are trying to capitalize on it. Irish-Americans have influenced
events
in their homeland for decades.
SEE ALSO:
INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL-USA PARTICIPATES IN PLURALISM RALLY
Demands Supporters of Modi to stop fueling Anti-American Hatred
New York, NY- Braving snow and rain, over 300 activists and
representatives
of 50 organizations held a press conference and rally outside Madison
Square Gardens, New York to endorse the US State Department's
revocation of
Narendra Modi's Visa and condemn his anti-American incitements. Having
been
barred from entering the United States, Modi was expected to deliver a
speech from Gujarat via a satellite link to his supporters at the
Madison
Square Gardens.
The rally and press conference were extensively covered by Indian and
American media…
Addressing the rally, several speakers countered Modi's claim about the
denial of his visa being an insult to India. Dr. Shaik Ubaid, President
of
Indian Muslim Council-USA said "It was Modi and his human rights
abuses,
not the revocation of his visa, which brought shame to India. If
supporters
of militant Hindutva had the interests of India close to their heart,
they
would not have invited a fanatic like Modi to the United States."
Dr. Ubaid denounced Modi's incitements and hate speeches against the
United
States and the subsequent destruction of American business in Gujarat
by
Modi supporters. He demanded that the Association of Indian Americans
in
North America (AIANA) not add further fuel to this anti-Americanism by
supporting Modi and demanding the reinstatement of his Visa. Supporters
of
Modi had destroyed several American businesses in Gujarat after Modi
addressed a rally in India lambasting United States.
Smita Narula, a former Asia specialist at Human Rights Watch, who
authored
the damning HRW report "We Have No Orders To Save You" spoke at length
about the complicity of Modi's administration in the massacres of 2002
and
the subsequent policies of religious persecution adopted by his
administration…
Biju Matthew, member of the Coalition Agianst genocide (CAG) and
coordinator for the rally, spoke about the major victories of CAG in
its
campaign against Modi. Among the accomplishments of the coalition, he
cited
the withdrawal of MSNBC Hardball host, Chris Matthews' from the Asian
American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)'s convention where Modi was
invited to speak. American Express, one of the cosponsors of the AAHOA
convention also withdrew its sponsorship...
Contact: M. A. Khan Director of Outreach, IMC-USA at 516-567-0783 or
media@imc-usa.org.
---
CONTROVERSY COMES TO N.Y., EVEN THOUGH INDIAN LEADER DOESN'T
ADRIENNE LU, Bergen Record, 3/21/05
http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NjY4NzQw
NEW YORK - Everywhere Narendra Modi goes, controversy follows.
It was no different Sunday at Madison Square Garden, where several
thousand
Indian-Americans from throughout the area came to hear Modi, the chief
minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, speak via a live
videoconference.
Outside, a group of about 100 people gathered to protest…
But inside Madison Square Garden on Sunday, the crowd was uniformly in
favor of Modi, cheering wildly for speakers who called him "a great son
of
India..."
Outside Madison Square Garden, a group with vastly different opinions
from
the audience inside gathered with signs and loudspeakers. "Narendra
Modi is
Butcher of Thousands of Christians in India," one sign read. "Modi, you
are
not welcome here. You are wanted at Nuremberg," read another.
Ashwini Rao of New York was among those who braved a cold drizzle to
register his protest. He is one of the organizers of Coalition Against
Genocide, a collection of groups working to demand "accountability and
justice for the genocide in Gujarat," according to a press release.
"There is no question in anybody's mind that [Modi] was complicit in"
the
violence against Muslims, Rao said. "I don't know why supporters feel
you
need a conviction."
Another protester, Lakshmi Rajagopal, who is with a New Brunswick group
working for the rights of South Asian women, came to protest what she
called the "state sponsored rape and sexual mutilation of women." She
said
many Indians, including Hindus, disapprove of Modi…
---
INDIAN OFFICIAL'S VISA DENIAL CRITICIZED
Chris Newmarker, Associated Press, 3/21/05
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=596720
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - Indian-American leaders Saturday
criticized
the U.S. government's decision to deny a visa to a high-ranking Indian
official, calling it an insult to the world's largest democracy…
Despite the criticism from Modi supporters, the Washington-based
Council on
American-Islamic Relations said that it has received messages from
Indians
of all religious backgrounds supporting the decision to reject his visa
application.
"He's a controversial figure because of his past, and that cannot be
ignored," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the council, which had
lobbied for the visa denial.
---
DENIAL OF VISA TO MODI GIVES COMFORT TO MANY
Zahir Janmohamed, Sun-Sentinel, 3/21/05.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-27forum21mar21,0,2937732.story
While working in Gujarat, India, during the communal violence of 2002,
I
met a young Muslim woman who had fled to the Shah Alam relief camp
after
her husband was burned alive by an angry mob. Inside the cramped
confines
of the camp, which housed 12,000 displaced Muslims, she gave birth to a
baby girl and named her Asha, or hope in Hindi.
When I left Gujarat in the summer of 2002, after six months in the
relief
camp, I struggled to share her optimism. It was my first visit to
Gujarat
and my trip was tinged with a desire to understand, and feel a part of,
the
land that gave birth to my grandparents. Instead, I witnessed what
human
rights groups have rightfully called a state-sponsored pogrom in which
2,000 Muslims were killed and 98,000 displaced.
Three years later, the injustices linger. According to Brad Adams,
executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, "Gujarat's
police
and justice system are protecting the guilty and are undermining
activists,
lawyers and even the National Human Rights Commission."
But today, however, I have found hope. After the Asian American Hotel
Owners Association invited Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to its
annual convention in Fort Lauderdale on March 26, a grassroots effort
was
formed to protest. A consortium of over 20 NGOs, called the Coalition
Against Genocide, included Indians of all ethnicities and religious
backgrounds…
-----
NY: TEACHERS GET LESSONS ON ISLAM AND ARAB WORLD
Hanan Adely, Journal News, 3/20/04
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050320/NEWS02/503200352/1018
The teachers were gathered at round tables, answering a quiz about the
Jewish scripture, the New Testament and the Quran. They were asked to
match
the holy book with the quotations, which included references to Adam in
the
garden, Moses parting the sea and the immaculate conception of Mary. To
the
surprise of some, the correct match for all of the above was the Quran,
the
Islamic holy book.
"For most people, this quiz serves as a wake-up call," said Audrey
Shabbas,
who led the workshop, "Teaching about the Arab World and Islam," at
Manhattanville College in Purchase yesterday. "When talking about
Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, we're talking about connections, not just
similarities."
Shabbas' organization, the Arab World and Islamic Resources, conducts
workshops nationwide to help educators understand Arab culture and
history,
as well as Islamic faith, and to bring that knowledge into the
classroom.
ALSO SEE:
NY: MUSLIMS WANT TO CREATE RELIGIOUS CENTER AT FORMER SCHOOL
Rob Ryser, Journal News, 3/21/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050321/NEWS02/503210314/1018
YORKTOWN - Joy Melville squinted in the late morning sun as she looked
across Strawberry Road to an old Franciscan High School campus,
considering
what it would take for the neighborhood to stop fearing the worst about
plans to build a Muslim center there.
"People are afraid. They are scared of what, I don't know," said
Melville,
who built the raised ranch she lives in with her husband, Ed, in 1967.
Since then, she has watched the school change from a girls academy in
the
1960s to a co-ed Catholic school in the 1970s to its present vacancy
under
the ownership of Mahopac's Bill Catucci. Two years ago, Catucci, a
Franciscan High School graduate, bought the school...
The good news for Melville and similarly disposed residents of Mohegan
Lake
is that their inquiry won't take them far: The group proposing the
Muslim
center is a large and prosperous family of Americans from Jordan,
Kuwait
and Israel's West Bank now deep into the second generation, which has
settled in million-dollar and upper-middle class homes in Brewster,
Mahopac, Putnam Valley, Cold Spring and Yorktown,,,
---
FORTIFYING FAITH, IDENTITY AT MALV ISLAMIC ACADEMY
Romy Varghese, The Morning Call, 3/21/05
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5schoolmar21,0,6135131.story
The children were starting a busy day. In one room, kindergartners and
first-graders were describing the family photos they brought to their
Whitehall Township school. Next door, pre-kindergartners squirmed on a
bright rug as their teacher read aloud a children's story, ''Tikki
Tikki
Tembo.''
Then, a woman walked in and interrupted each class with a warm
greeting.
Thoraia Mohamed, the religion teacher, briskly led the children in a
prayer, their voices mimicking her inflections. ''Amin,'' they repeated
after her at the prayer's end, wiping their faces with their uplifted
palms
- a typical prayer gesture - before returning to work. Afterward,
Mohamed
said the short prayer, performed every morning, lets them ''start the
day
with something good.''
That prayer to Allah is just one way the MALV Islamic Academy is
different
from any other school in the Lehigh Valley. Set up by the Muslim
Association of the Lehigh Valley, it is the area's first full-time
Islamic
school certified by the state. In its first year, the school is
educating
21 students with curriculum provided by the Parkland School District.
But
Islamic values also figure prominently. Students learn Arabic; the
Quran,
Islam's holy book; and the teachings and history of the prophet
Muhammad.
The area's other major Muslim congregation, in South Whitehall
Township,
plans to start a state-certified Islamic school for younger grades by
September 2006, if not this fall, officials there said.
The emergence of these schools is similar to that of Catholic and other
Christian schools generations ago. They are part of the natural growth
of
the Muslim community, filling a need for parents who want to reinforce
their children's faith and identity…
-----
PA: LOCAL MOSQUE OPENS TO ALL, NOT JUST MUSLIMS
Kristin Wilson, The Sentinel, 3/20/05
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/03/20/news/news02.txt
For just over a year, The Peace Center, a mosque carved out of a North
Middleton Township home has provided a place of worship and community
to
Muslims in south-central Pennsylvania. For the 20 to 30 families who
use
the mosque, it is a God-send.
"Before we could not worship here at all," says Williams.
The Peace Center opened in 2004. Before that "you'd have to go to
Harrisburg," explains Aishah's husband, Mike Williams.
"And that you can't do every day. It's highly desirable to pray five
times
a day. It's hard to describe the worth" of having a place where prayers
can
be offered, he says.
More than a place to pray
But The Peace Center is so much more than a place to pray.
"We're open to everybody, not just Muslims," explains Williams. "We
want to
foster communication and contact. We're hoping to have some classes,
like
Islamic 101-type classes...
ALSO SEE:
AMES CONFERENCE TRIES TO DISPEL MYTHS ABOUT ISLAM
Jeff Eckhoff, Des Moines Register, 3/20/05
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050320/LIFE05/503200332/1039/LIFE
Between the fanaticism in the Mideast and out-of-context quotations by
far-right Christian preachers, Mohammad Mujeeb sometimes worries that
his
Central Iowa neighbors misunderstand the peaceful religion that he
follows.
"We're doing our best to get out the real Islam," said Mujeeb, board
chairman of the Darul Arqum Islamic Center in Ames. "We're trying our
best
to compete" with inaccurate representations.
This weekend, that competition took the form of speakers, prayer and
fellowship as part of a statewide conference held on the Iowa State
University campus in Ames.
The fifth Iowa Conference on Islam, sponsored by a consortium of Muslim
student organizations, drew roughly 100 participants Saturday. Food,
prayer
and fellowship were available for the faithful. But organizers said a
majority of the participants, for the first time, were non-Muslims...
-----
JET'S TRAVELS CLOAKED IN MYSTERY
Red Sox partner's plane hits spots U.S. sent terror suspects
John Crewdson and Tom Hundley, Chicago Tribune, 3/20/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0503200504mar20,1,7955088.story
Last June, the Boston Red Sox chartered an executive jet to help their
manager make a quick visit home in the midst of the team's championship
season.
But what was the very same Gulfstream--owned by one of the Red Sox's
partners, but presumably without the team's logo on its fuselage--doing
in
Cairo on Feb. 18, 2003?
Perhaps by coincidence, Feb. 18, 2003, was the day an Islamic preacher
known as Abu Omar, who had been abducted in Italy the previous day and
forced aboard a small plane, also arrived at the Cairo airport.
Omar, whose given name is Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, was imprisoned by
the
Egyptians and, he claims, brutally tortured. The public prosecutor in
Milan, Armando Spataro, who is investigating Omar's apparent
kidnapping,
expects to file charges within a few days, according to an Italian
official
who spoke on condition of anonymity…
-----
ISRAEL PLANS 3,500 NEW WEST BANK HOMES
Reuters, 3/21/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7954769
JERUSALEM - Israel plans to build 3,500 new homes on occupied West Bank
land for a residential complex connecting a major Jewish settlement to
Jerusalem, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.
It said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the construction of two
neighbourhoods between Maaleh Adumim and Arab East Jerusalem last week
under proposals to cement Israel's hold on "Greater Jerusalem."
Israel captured Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and calls the
city
its capital.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state and
have
demanded that Israel abide by its commitment under a U.S.-backed peace
"road map" to freeze all settlement construction.
President Bush has backed an Israeli plan to keep large West Bank
settlement blocs round Jerusalem as part of any final peace accord.
No immediate comment was available from Israeli or Palestinian
officials on
the report.
-----
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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 CONFERENCE TO TACKLE ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM
Online registration now available for 'unique and timely' DC event
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/05) - Beginning May 13, 2005, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host a unique and timely
three-day
conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies,"
in
Washington, D.C.
Registration for the conference is now available online.
Go to: http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
CAIR's 2005 annual conference brings together scholars, researchers,
religious leaders, and community activists to discuss issues related to
the
twin phenomena of growing anti-Muslim bigotry in the West and
increasing
anti-American sentiments in the Islamic world.
Conference participants will take part in sessions focusing on:
* Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism in the Media
* The Impact of Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism on Civil Rights and
Policy-Making
* Anti-Americanism and U.S. Foreign Policy
* Islam and American Relations with the Muslim World
* Misconceptions about Christians and Muslims in Public Discourse
* Reasserting Mainstream Religious Values
To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
"CAIR's long-term vision is to be a leading advocate for justice and
mutual
understanding," said CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad. "What better way
to
achieve that goal than to examine two of the most problematic
phenomena,
Islamophobia and anti-Americanism, that we face in our world today."
Ahmad said both issues are among the root causes of worldwide mistrust
and
misunderstanding that often lead to religious conflict and political
instability.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to 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 -
3/22/04
*
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD
ANSWERS PRAYERS
-
Hadith: Call
On God in Times of Ease
*
ACTION
ALERT: ASK NEOCON MAG TO REPUDIATE ANTI-MUSLIM HATE
*
TN:
DELL PRAYER INCIDENT DELL REFLECTS CHANGES IN NASHVILLE
*
IL: FAITHS
PRAY AT PEACE POLE DEDICATION EVENT
*
ARAB-AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
-
Positive
Stories Needed for Book on Muslim Marriage
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD
ANSWERS PRAYERS -
TOP
"I answer the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on
Me."
The Holy Quran, 2:186
HADITH OF
THE DAY: CALL ON GOD IN TIMES OF EASE -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wants God to
answer his prayers during difficult times, should supplicate to Him
(often) in times of ease."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 109
-----
ASK
NATIONAL REVIEW TO REPUDIATE ANTI-MUSLIM HATE -
TOP
Neocon magazine silent on promoting Islamophobic hate
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/05) - CAIR today urged American Muslims and other
people of conscience to contact editors of the National Review magazine
and ask that they repudiate Islamophobia and remove a book attacking the
Prophet Muhammad from their online store.
Last week, CAIR called on the prominent national neoconservative magazine
to clarify its policy on anti-Muslim hate following revelations that the
publication distributed an Internet advertisement for a virulently
Islamophobic book that, according to the magazine, is a "guide into
the dark mind of [the Prophet] Mohammed" and the "world's most
violent religion."
The National Review's review of the book states: "[The author]
explains why Mohammed couldn't possibly be a true prophet, and reveals
the true sources of his 'revelations.'"
It quotes the author as claiming: "Mohammed posed as the apostle of
God&while his life is marked by innumerable marriages; and great
licentiousness, deeds of rapine, warfare, conquests, unmerciful
butcheries, all the time invoking God's holy name to sanction his evil
deeds."
According to the National Review, the book shows how "Mohammed again
and again justified his rapine and licentiousness with new 'divine
revelations.'"
CAIR said the book "is the literary equivalent of 'The Protocols of
the Elders of Zion.'" (NOTE: In 2002, CAIR called on an
Arab-American publication to apologize for publishing excerpts from
"The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a 19th century
anti-Semitic forgery used to justify the persecution of Jews.)
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. National Review WILL use any
hostile comments to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
Contact National Review to respectfully that they reconsider promoting a
book that attacks the faith of one-fifth of the world's population and
harms America's image in the Muslim world.
CONTACT:
Mr. Richard Lowry
Editor
National Review
215 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10016
TEL: 212-679-7330
FAX: 212-849-2835
E-MAIL: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com, nronline@nationalreview.com,
JonahNRO@aol.com, klopez@nationalreview.com,
comments.kurtz@nationalreview.com, letters@nationalreview.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
RECENT
PRAYER INCIDENT AT DELL REFLECTS CHANGES IN NASHVILLE -
TOP
Don Mooradian, Nashville City Paper, 3/21/05
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=10&screen=news&news_id=40086
The return of 31 Muslim contract workers to Dell's Nashville fulfillment
facility was called a win-win situation by several people involved in
negotiating the settlement.
"We are pleased," said Kelvin Jones, executive director of the
Nashville Metro Human Relations Commission, "and believe this is a
win-win for Nashville."
In early February, the workers, mostly from Somalia, left their jobs when
they believed they were being forced to choose between working or saying
their sunset prayers (called Magrhib), as prescribed in their Islam
faith...
"The situation reflects that there has been a growing immigrant
population in the community and it is more diverse than it was even 10
years ago," Jones said.
A number of parties helped work out a settlement, and the entire affair
is being called by some as a misunderstanding of employment laws and
company policies...
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations also was
involved in the settlement process.
The group publishes a booklet called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices" that is designed to prevent just such
incidents. The booklet is available by e-mailing
pubs@cair-net.org.
-----
IL: FAITHS
PRAY AT PEACE POLE DEDICATION EVENT -
TOP
JOHN FROEHLING, Daily Ledger
http://www.cantondailyledger.com/articles/2005/03/21/news/news1.txt
Christian, Islamic and other faiths were represented Saturday at a
ceremony to dedicate a Peace Pole and Peace Garden at a Canton church.
The event was scheduled to coincide with the second anniversary of the
U.S. invasion of Iraq...
-----
FIRST
HALA FOUNDATION ARAB-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM -
TOP
The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership will be
holding its first Arab-American leadership training program this spring
from May 30-June 3, 2005, in Washington, DC. The Hala Foundation was
established by the late Arab American leader and ADC President Hala
Salaam Maksoud in her will, in order to promote the training and
development of leadership in the Arab-American community.
The training will be lead and coordinated by Hala Foundation Executive
Director Hussein Ibish.
The Leadership Training Program is designed to create a cadre of highly
trained, informed and focused young Arab-American professionals equipped
to take on the advocacy and organizational efforts required for community
leadership.
The Leadership Program provides extensive training in:
* Command of the Issues: mastery of both information and arguments
* Presentation Skills: making the case effectively
* Interpersonal Skills: making friends and influencing people
* Organizational Skills: mobilizing the community
* Collaborative Skills: building effective teams
* Coalition Building Techniques: finding unexpected allies
* Continuous Improvement: developing long-term relationships with
trainees
Applications are sought for the first training program or from those who
wish to be considered for future training sessions.
Applicants should be young (22-40) Arab-American professionals who have
completed their education and have already begun their professional
careers, or those in the final stages of a Ph.D. program.
They should have a demonstrable commitment to advocacy on behalf of
Arab-American concerns, and a desire to devote substantial time and
effort to leadership on behalf of the community.
Applicants should send a letter of interest explaining their desire to
become community leaders or activists, a CV, and a writing sample or any
other relevant materiel by April 20, 2005, to:
The Hala Foundation
815 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC
20006
Please visit
http://www.halafoundation.org
for more details.
Email director@halafoundation.org with any questions.
ALSO SEE:
POSITIVE STORIES NEEDED FOR BOOK ON MUSLIM MARRIAGE -
TOP
A group of Harvard graduates is currently working on a book about
Muslim marriages. They are looking for positive stories related to
Muslim marriages - your own, or someone you know. A couple of broad
"categories" to think about:
1. How couples chose to get married in the first instance (happy stories are, of course, the emphasis here);
2. How couples have been successful while being married (Note: The
standard to be satisfied here is not just longevity - although that's
clearly relevant. We want stories where people are actually HAPPY and
doing well);
3. Stories that do not fall within the traditional framework (one idea,
for instance, is older Muslims who re-marry for whatever reason);
4. Stories related to groups traditionally under-represented in
Muslim-oriented literature (you can fill in the blanks here as you
wish. Almost by definition we can't envision all of the groups within
this category).
If people could follow up by e-mail at shahzad@post.harvard.edu with
anything that might be helpful, we would very much appreciate any
assistance.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/23/05
*
HADITH: Avoid
Backbiting
*
CAIR
Conference: Islamophobia, Anti-Americanism
*
CAIR-FL Holds
Annual Banquet
-
CAIR-CA Summer
Internship
-
CAIR-CA
'Know Your Rights' Workshops
*
ISLAM-OPED:
Muslim Women Help Make History
*
CANADA:
Muslim Community May Double by 2017
*
CA:
Indo-Americans Stirred by Modi Visa Denial (SJMN)
-
GA: Modi Visa Flap Divides Indians
(AJC)
*
CT: Man Charged for
Anti-Arab Taunts (Conn Post)
*
AZ: Muslims Celebrate Culture
(Temple News)
-
CANADA: Islamophobia
Conference Educates
*
FBI
Memo Criticizing Gitmo Methods Released (NYT)
*
AZ: Islamic Social Services
Conference
-
CA: Islamic Networks Group
Dinner
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
AVOID BACKBITING -
TOP
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) defined backbiting, he
said: "Backbiting means talking about your brother in a manner that
he does not like." He was then asked: "What if I actually find
in my brother the failing I mentioned?" The Prophet replied:
"If (that failing) is actually found (in him) you backbited him, and
if it is not in him, it is a slander."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1183
The Prophet also said: "The atonement for backbiting (and slander)
is to pray for forgiveness of the person who was slandered and to say, 'O
God, forgive us and him.'"
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 107B
-----
CAIR
CONFERENCE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Beginning May 13, 2005, CAIR will host a unique and
timely three-day conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism:
Causes and Remedies," in Washington, D.C.
To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
-----
CAIR-FL HOLDS 5TH
ANNUAL SOUTH FL BANQUET -
TOP
(FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, 3/23/05) - On March 26, the Florida office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold its Fifth
Annual Fundraising Banquet, with the theme of "Building A Better
America." The event will be held at the Bonaventure Resort in
Weston, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Speakers include CAIR National Board Chairman Omar Ahmad, Imam Hassan
Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America, Army Chaplain James
"Yusuf" Yee, and Chip Pitts, chair of Amnesty
International.
WHAT: CAIR-FL 5th Annual South Florida Banquet
WHEN: Saturday, March 26, Registration 5 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Bonaventure Resort, 250 Racquet Club Rd, Weston, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL
REGISTER ONLINE OR BY PHONE:
http://www.cairfl.org/banquet
or 954-272-0490
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490, altaf@cairfl.org; Ahmed Bedier, 813-514-1414, abedier@cairfl.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SFBA SUMMER INTERNSHIP -
TOP
The San Francisco Bay area office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-SFBA) is seeking applicants for its summer internship
program (June 1 - August 16, 2005). 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 April 12, 2005.
Interested and qualified applicants should contact Amina Ansari at
amina@cair.com. For more information please call 408-986-9874.
---
CAIR-SFBA HOSTS SERIES OF 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOPS -
TOP
WHAT: The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) and the Bay Area Association of
Muslim Lawyers (BAAML) present a "Know Your Rights Workshop: A Panel on
Government Surveillance, Immigration, And Discrimination."
Panelists include attorneys Marwa Elzankaly, Saad Ahmad, Matthew Rafat, and Shirin Sinnar.
WHEN: Sunday, April 3, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Society of San Francisco, 20 Jones St., San Francisco, CA
For more information, please contact the CAIR-SFBA office at 408-986-9874 or e-mail: amina@cair.com
-----
ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIM WOMEN HELP MAKE HISTORY -
TOP
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet
in each market area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
first-come-first-served basis.
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
---
MUSLIM WOMEN HELP MAKE HISTORY
Saffia Meek
WORD COUNT: 682
[Saffia Meek is director of the Dallas/Fort Worth office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest Islamic civil
liberties group. She can be reached at info@cairdfw.org.]
This month is the 25th anniversary of the Multicultural Women's History
Movement. With all the confusion and misunderstanding these days about
the role of Muslim women, it seems appropriate to look at some of the
ways that they have contributed to the world.
Many people have a stereotypical image of Muslim women as quiet,
subservient and male-dominated, with no active role in building society.
This stereotype does not reflect the past, present or future role of women in Islam.
More than 1400 years ago, Islam eliminated the chattel status of women,
prohibited the pre-Islamic practice of female infanticide and gave
women control over their wealth.
Other rights granted to women by Islam include the right of inheritance
and the right to own a business. The first martyr in Islam was a woman,
as was the first person to accept the Prophet Muhammad's message.
Islam also grants women the right to equality before the law, to
participate in political affairs, to seek an education, and to be free
of spousal abuse.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, repeatedly reinforces the spiritual
equality of men and women. "And their Lord hath accepted of them and
answered them: 'Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you,
be he male or female: you are the offspring of one another.'" (Quran
3:195)
During the time of the Prophet Mohammed, women were in the forefront of
all aspects of life. Khadijah, a leading businesswoman and first wife
of the Prophet, owned and ran her own trading company, which was
successful enough to make her independently wealthy.
Aisha, a wife of the Prophet, is known as the woman who memorized the
largest number of Hadith, or traditions of what he said or did in his
lifetime. She is counted as one of the noted scholars who both men and
women went to for religious knowledge.
Clearly, if women face obstacles to progress in the Muslim world, it is in spite of Islam, not because of it.
Contemporary Muslim women around the world are engaged in politics,
education, business ownership, engineering, medicine, and many other
fields. They are actively contributing to the development of medical
and technological advancements, improvements to our public education
systems, awareness of the need for political and civic involvement,
civil rights protection, and building interfaith relations.
Shirin Ebadi - a lawyer, judge, writer, and activist - was not only the
first female judge in Iran but was the first Iranian to ever receive
the Nobel Peace Prize. She was awarded the prize in 2003 for her
efforts on building democracy and improving human rights. Ebadi helped
found the Society for Protecting Child's Rights in Iran and wrote a
book entitled "History and Documentation of Human Rights in Iran."
Muslim women reporters on Arab satellite stations, some wearing Islamic
head scarves, interview international leaders, confront controversial
subjects and openly debate current issues. Several women have been
heads of state in Muslim nations.
Merve Kavakci, a pioneer of the women's political movement in Turkey,
was elected to the Turkish Parliament but not allowed to take the oath
of office because of her Islamic scarf. After returning to the United
States, she began lobbying for women's rights in Turkey.
On the local level, women are on the boards of mosques and Islamic
organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
A woman heads the nation's largest Muslim student group. Strong and
dynamic women are enhancing the effectiveness of these organizations by
addressing a variety of issues in the local Muslim community.
Perhaps these few examples will spark a new appreciation for the many
accomplishments of women around the world who just happen to be Muslim.
Women's History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements
and contributions that women make to our personal lives, our
communities, our countries, and to humankind. It also offers a chance
to share some achievements and contributions of Muslim women to our
world.
We all contribute to the world in our own personal way. Let us
celebrate these female pioneers and encourage young women to be the
leaders of their generation.
-----
STATS CANADA REPORT SHOWS ISLAM GROWING: NUMBERS DOUBLED IN '90S -
TOP
Bob Harvey, National Post, 3/23/05
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/index.html
Immigration has always determined which religious group is the largest
in the country, and, if Muslim immigration continues at its current
rate, the late 21st century could belong to Islam.
While the number of Canadians describing themselves as Christians fell
from 90% of the population in 1981 to 72% in 2001, those who are
Muslims doubled from 253,200 to 579,600 during the 1990s. They already
outnumber Presbyterians, Jews, Pentecostals and Mormons, and are fast
catching up to Lutherans.
Yesterday, Statistics Canada released a report suggesting the Muslim population could more than double to 1.4 million by 2017.
-----
DENIAL OF OFFICIAL'S VISA CAUSES STIR AMONG INDO-AMERICANS -
TOP
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, 3/23/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/11208026.htm
An international spat involving a controversial politician in India and
a convention of hotel owners in Florida is causing a major uproar in
Silicon Valley, the heart of the nation's Indo-American community.
Indians of all creeds are in a tizzy about the U.S. refusal to allow
Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, to come to Fort Lauderdale to
speak at this week's conference organized by the Asian American Hotel
Owners Association, many of them Indo-Americans from Gujarat. Modi is
expected to speak instead by video on Saturday.
ALSO SEE:
VISA FLAP DIVIDES INDIANS -
TOP
Fallout over barred speaker reaches from Gwinnett to Gujarat
Sheila M. Poole, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/23/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/atlanta_world_24044d5e947f116a005d.html
A decision by the Atlanta-based Asian-American Hotel Owners Association
to invite a controversial Indian politician to its annual meeting has
sparked an international incident whose aftermath is reverberating
through the metro area's South Asian community.
-----
BIAS CHARGED IN NEIGHBORS' 2-YEAR FEUD -
TOP
Frank Juliani, Connecticut Post, 3/22/05
http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_2617306
MILFORD - A man involved in a long-running feud with his neighbor was
charged with intimidation based on bigotry or bias for allegedly using
racial slurs.
Christian Kozlowski, 46, of Joy Road was arrested on a warrant Friday
in connection with the Jan. 20 incident. He was released on a promise
to appear April 5 in Milford Superior Court.
The two men were cleaning off their cars after a snowstorm when
Kozlowski called his neighbor, who is of Middle Eastern origin, "a
camel-faced Arab," according to the warrant.
The suspect told police that he has been unable to get along with his
neighbor for the past two years and that he recently had the neighbor's
son arrested for shooting out a window in their condominium complex
with a BB gun.
When the two men got into an argument on Jan. 20, Kozlowski told police
that he wished that the neighbor had hit him so that they could fight.
Instead, the neighbor went into his house and brought out a
tape-recorder, which he used to record the suspect's profanity-filled
tirade, police said.
-----
MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CULTURE -
TOP
Dafney Tales, Temple News, 3/22/05
http://www.temple-news.com/news/2005/03/22/News/Muslims.Celebrate.Culture-899812.shtml
A rap song, an informational presentation and a henna tattoo stand were
a few of the features showcased at the Temple Muslim Student
Association's first annual Culture Day last Monday night. Dozens were
in attendance for its premiere as a part of Islamic Awareness Week, the
first in a series of programs scheduled.
Mubeen Husain, the Islamic education chair, said the event was one of significance for their organization.
"It's important to put the Temple community and the Muslim community
together," she said. "We want people to know we're still here."
MSA was established more than 20 years ago in hopes of broadening cultural awareness for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Serving his second term as president, senior Shahid Mohiuddin said he
sees an optimistic future for MSA. Committed to the cause of improving
the Muslim community within Temple and North Philadelphia, Mohiuddin
said he strives to erase images about Islamic religion.
"We're not all hyper and radical as people think. Breaking down misconceptions about Muslims is our main goal," Mohiuddin said.
According to Mohiuddin, the program was to stimulate thought and encompass understanding toward Islamic and Muslim culture.
Changing from a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans to a traditional outfit,
Mohiuddin, a biology major, began the evening with a visual
presentation of different mosques around the world. As music played,
two female Muslim students tattooed intricate details onto the wrists
and hands of guests. The event's main objective was not only to
entertain, but to educate as well. One of the important issues
addressed by Mohiuddin was presenting the facts about the Islamic
religion and customs.
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMOPHOBIA CONFERENCE EDUCATES -
TOP
Zac Smith, Excalibur Online, 3/23/05
http://www.excal.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=501&Itemid=2
Speakers, rapper, call for racial tolerance post-9/11
Last Wednesday, the Muslim Coalition, a coalition of six campus-based
Muslim organizations, and the York Federation of Students teamed up to
present "Islam is NOT a Bomb and 8 Wives," an event that focused on
Islamophobia in society and politics, particularly in the wake of the
US-led war on terror.
"We're really hoping this becomes an annual awareness concert," says
Rabia Siddiqui, event organizer and outgoing vice-president finance of
the YFS.
"The only images that we see [representing Islam] are the most militant
ones, those of tyrannical regimes and terrorism. We feel that a
campaign in an academic institution is an excellent way to challenge
these ideas," she says.
The well-attended event featured poetry, speakers, a cultural exhibit and a performance by Iraqi rapper Euphrates.
Diana Ralph, a professor at Carleton University and coordinator of the
campaign Stop Secret Trials in Canada, was the first to speak.
"Islamophobia is the key [type of] racism this generation must address," she said.
She alleged that this new form of racism was being used to hold Muslim
men in custody without charge, violate fundamental human rights and
help advance politically motivated agendas.
"The war on terrorism has nothing to do with making the world safer,"
she asserted. "As policy analysts have already noted, the
'anti-terrorist' operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have increased the
threat of terror."
Faisal Kutty, a lawyer for the Canadian Muslim Liberties Association
and member of the Council on American Islamic Relations, was also
concerned with what he says is the proliferation of intelligence
operations directed against Muslims.
"Since September 11th [2001], Canadian intelligence programs have led
to the infiltration and monitoring of people and mosques have led to
the arrests and detentions many of whom are as yet uncharged," he
alleged.
-----
MORE OF F.B.I. MEMO CRITICIZING GUANT�NAMO METHODS IS RELEASED -
TOP
David Johnston, New York Times, 3/22/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/politics/22detain.html
WASHINGTON, March 21 - The Justice Department on Monday released an
F.B.I. memorandum dated May 10, 2004, in which departmental lawyers
dismissed intelligence obtained by coercive methods used by the
military at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, as "suspect at best."
The existence of the memorandum has been known for months. But when it
was first made public by the government, the memorandum was released in
heavily edited form, in response to a Freedom of Information Act
request by the American Civil Liberties Union.
In February, Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan, asked the
Justice Department to restore the deleted parts of the document after
confirmation hearings on Michael Chertoff's nomination to be secretary
of the Department of Homeland Security.
"The facts related to interrogation practices used against some
detainees are slowly being forced to the surface, and we will keep
pushing for more," Mr. Levin said in a statement in which he referred
to the Department of Defense as D.O.D. "Today we were able to obtain
some information that had previously been blacked out in an F.B.I.
document critical of D.O.D. interrogation practices. As I suspected,
the previously withheld information had nothing to do with protecting
intelligence sources or methods, and everything to do with protecting
D.O.D. from embarrassment."
Mr. Chertoff said at his confirmation hearing that he did not engage in
detailed discussions of interrogation policies and never offered
specific advice when he headed the criminal division at the Justice
Department from 2001 to 2003, when he left the department to take an
appointment to a federal appeals court.
-----
6TH ANNUAL ISSA CONFERENCE -
TOP
WHAT: It is time to register for the upcoming Islamic Social Services
Association Conference. The sixth annual conference theme is: "Islamic
Social Services: Challenges and Opportunities."
The keynote speakers for this year's conference are Abdul Malik Mujahid
of Soundvision, Chicago, Illinois and Imam Siraj Wahajj of Masjid at
Taqwa, Brooklyn, New York.
Session topics are expected to include counseling in the Muslim
community, cultural competency with Indians and Pakistanis, research on
Muslim opinions regarding the delivery of social services, mental
health issues among Muslim refugees, addressing hunger among low income
Muslims, The Faith Based Initiative as a funding resource for programs
to serve the Muslims, research regarding Islamic Identity among Young
American Muslims, social services with African American Muslims, and
ways Imams can address issues of domestic violence as well as promote
Islamically-sensitive social services.
Conference participants are expected to include students interested in
careers in human services, volunteers, imams and other religious
leaders, social workers and other human service professionals dedicated
to helping to address the social service and mental health concerns of
Muslims in North America.
WHEN: Friday June 17-Sunday June 19
WHERE: Tempe, Arizona
To register go to the ISSA website at
www.issausa.org. To become a supporter/sponsor or for more information, please contact us at info@issausa.org or 1-888-415-9920.
----
ING SPRING SUPPORTERS DINNER -
TOP
WHAT: For the last twelve years Islamic Networks Group (ING) has been
providing education about Islam and Muslims to Americans of other
faiths and public institutions, while addressing stereotypes, and
combating prejudice. This benefits us all by preventing hate crimes, as
well as achieving accommodations for religious practices in places like
hospitals, corporations, and law enforcement agencies. ING's work also
allows Muslims to define their own identity, rather than having others
define it for them. ING delivers about 800 of these presentations a
year in the Bay Area alone.
To support ING's work, it will be hosting its Spring supporters dinner,
"THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN AMERICA'S PUBLIC SQUARE." Keynote speaker will
be Dr. Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar & Director, First Amendment
Center.
Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of an
"Excellence in Cultural Diversity Education" award to a few Bay Area
schools, and a "Building Bridges" award to an outstanding individual
who has worked towards solidarity with the Muslim community. The award
this year will go to no other than Herman Rosenbaum, who worked
tirelessly recently to organize the anti-Hate Forum in Fremont on March
10th.
WHEN: Saturday, April 16th, 2005 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara, CA
Don't miss this great opportunity to network with teachers, members of
the community, and special guests. Seats are limited, so reserve your
place today. All fundraising will be from ticket sales themselves:
Cost: $50/individual.
To reserve your ticket, just reply to this email and I'll make the
reservations for you, or call ING at (408) 296-7312 or visit our
website at
http://www.ing.org.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/24/05
* VERSE:
No
Compulsion in Faith
* CAIR-DC:
Volunteers Needed
for Conference
* CAIR-DC:
AmEx,
Home Depot Withdraw From Modi Event
-
Hindu
Foundation to Launch Campaign (RNS)
* CAIR-NJ:
Muslim
Voters Wooed By Candidates (AP)
* CAIR-CAN:
Rep
Profiled on Multicultural Marriage (G&M)
- CAIR-DFW:
Muslim
Women Help Make History (UPI)
* IL:
Muslims
Protest Death of Woman in Jail (AP)
- IL:
Questions
Over Muslim Who Died in Custody (ABC)
* TX:
Man
Pleads Guilty to Firebombing of Mosque (AP)
* CAN:
Lawyer
Sues Over Terror Allegations (RM News)
-
Handling of Suspects
Questioned (Boston Globe)
* VA:
Islamic
Law Class Prepares Students (W&M News)
- MN:
Mpls Hosts Muslim
Convention (Star Trib)
- DC:
Studying the MidEast
Firsthand (Wash Post)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY:
NO COMPULSION IN FAITH -
TOP
"If it had been the will of your Lord that all the people of the
world should be believers, all the people of the earth would have
believed! Would you then compel mankind against their will to
believe?"
The Holy Quran, 10:99
-----
CAIR-DC:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CONFERENCE -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Volunteers are needed for CAIR's "Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies" conference May 13-15 in
Washington, D.C.
Please call 202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org
To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
-----
AMEX,
HOME DEPOT WITHDRAW FROM FL EVENT LINKED TO MODI -
TOP
CAIR applauds decisions to avoid event linked to massacre
figure
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/24/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today applauded the decisions of both American Express
and The Home Depot Supply to withdraw corporate sponsorship of a Florida
convention that sought to honor an Indian official accused of complicity
in the massacre of Muslim civilians.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
recently issued a call for American Express to withdraw its sponsorship
from the annual convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association
(AAHOA) that begins today in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., because of the
scheduled participation of Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of the Indian
state of Gujarat.
(CAIR's request for American Express to withdraw from the convention
echoed that of the Indian Muslim Council-USA and the Coalition Against
Genocide. SEE: http://www.imc-usa.org/ and
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/ )
Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002 that left up to 2,000 civilians dead,
senior officials in Gujarat said they had been directed by Modi to allow
the massacres to run their course. Last week, U.S. officials denied a
visa that would have allowed him to travel to the Florida
convention.
An e-mail sent to those who contacted American Express about the
controversy stated: "Unfortunately, a conference that was intended
to help promote travel and tourism has become the object of partisan
political contention. Therefore, we have chosen to withdraw from the
conference."
Earlier this week, The Home Deport Supply, a business-to-business
division of The Home Deport, informed CAIR of its decision to withdraw
from the convention.
"By withdrawing from this event, American Express and Home Deport
demonstrate a commitment to corporate responsibility and respect for
their customers' concerns," said CAIR Government Affairs Director
Corey Saylor.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
ALLEGING
'HINDUPHOBIC' AGENDA, FOUNDATION WILL LAUNCH CAMPAIGN -
TOP
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Religion News Service, 3/24/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/162/story_16299_1.html
Hindus angered by recent initiatives in Congress are protesting what they
see as an effort to "systematically promote a Hinduphobic and
anti-India agenda within the United States."
The Hindu American Foundation said Monday (March 21) it will launch a
campaign to educate the nation's 2 million Hindus about risks posed by
"a small minority...in the House of Representatives, Islamist groups
and radical communist groups."
In particular, the group is objecting to two initiatives targeting a
Hindu-led province in India that has experienced religious
violence.
On March 15, Reps. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., and John Conyers, D-Mich.,
introduced a resolution condemning the conduct of Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi "for condoning or inciting bigotry and intolerance
against any religious group in India, including people of the Christian
and Islamic faiths." Three days later, the U.S. State Department
revoked Modi's visa on the eve of a visit to the United States, labeling
him a foreign official "believed to have responsibility for serious
violations of religious freedom." (MORE)
-----
ARABS,
MUSLIMS BEING WOOED BY NJ GOVERNOR CANDIDATES -
TOP
Associated Press, 3/24/05
http://www.dailyrecord.com/midday/midday1-update0323.htm
NEWARK -- From a living room festooned with dozens of elephants in all
shapes and sizes, Sherine El-Abd is busily raising money for
gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler, whose call for lower property
taxes she loves.
It's only March, but the Edison woman, an Egyptian immigrant and
Republican organizer, is already planning candidate forums for
October.
In Denville, Aref Assaf is supporting U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, warming to
his willingness to include more Arabs and Muslims in his administration
and to fight what the Democrat considers the excesses of the USA Patriot
Act.
Three and a half years after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon, the Arab-American and Muslim communities are important
to candidates for the New Jersey governor's office. The growing political
organization -- and prodigious fund-raising potential -- of Arabs and
Muslims in New Jersey make them an appealing source of votes and campaign
cash&
With an estimated 250,000 Arab-Americans and an additional non-Arab
Muslim population of about 450,000 in New Jersey, these communities could
prove decisive in a close election, said Magdy Mahmoud, president of the
New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
The council and other organizations and mosques held numerous voter
registration drives last year before the presidential election, adding
thousands of new Muslim voters in New Jersey. This will be the second
major election in which they can participate, and many will be eager to
do so, Mahmoud said. (MORE)
-----
HOW THE LINES
BETWEEN RACES ARE BLURRING -
TOP
Jill Mahoney and Caroline Alphonso, Globe and Mail, 3/24/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050324/VISIBLE24/TPNational/TopStories
When the Saloojee family gathers for dinner, their table turns into a
miniature United Nations. The parents and their three sons are Indians.
The daughters-in-law have Romanian, British and Egyptian
backgrounds.
"When you look at the family . . . in pictures, it's difficult to
tell sometimes whether people are related," said Riad Saloojee, the
eldest son. "It's a very diverse family. I don't think my parents
would have ever conceived that it would be so diverse."
The Saloojee family stands at the forefront of the changing face of
Canada. As the country becomes increasingly diverse, the number of
racially mixed marriages will continue to climb. This week, Statistics
Canada said it expects the population of visible minorities will double
to about one in five people by 2017, when more than half the residents of
greater Toronto and Vancouver will be non-white.
The growing trend of intermarriage is concrete evidence that
multiculturalism is working in Canada, many believe, because mixed unions
-- and biracial children -- break down racial barriers on perhaps the
most personal of levels.
"As the population changes . . . the concept of race, I don't think,
will be as important as it was perhaps when it was white versus others,
or another group versus others," said Madeline Kalbach, a University
of Calgary sociologist and expert in ethnic intermarriage.
In the Saloojees' Ottawa household, issues of race are irrelevant, said
Mr. Saloojee, who was born in South Africa. At 33, he has been married
for 10 years to Paula Popescu, a Romanian Canadian. The first of their
three daughters, five-year-old Safiya, is a carbon copy of her mother.
Tayiba, 2, has a darker complexion. And he said there is an "ongoing
debate" as to whom one-month-old Aisha resembles.
Mr. Saloojee, who is executive director of the Canadian Council on
American-Islamic Relations, acknowledges he was nervous about how his
parents would react to him marrying a Romanian.
"When we got married, I didn't think that they would be that
gracious and that welcoming. But they really surprised me. They were very
open-minded." So much so, he said, that his brothers didn't feel
compelled to marry within their ethnic circle. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM
LEADERS PROTEST DEATH OF ALGERIAN WOMAN IN JAIL -
TOP
Tara Burghart, Associated Press, 3/24/05
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3118291
CHICAGO - A Muslim leader called for a federal investigation into the
death of an Algerian woman who authorities say committed suicide while
being held in a county jail on immigration issues.
The family of Hassiba Belbachir, 28, said she was happy when she talked
on the phone to her older sister just hours before her March 17 death and
had promised to call back that afternoon.
Meanwhile, Abdul Malik Mujahid - chairman of the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Greater Chicago - said Wednesday that the family
deserves clearer answers. He raised the issue of Belbachir's death to
protest what he sees as the warehousing of innocent Muslims in county
jails.
The McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility has a contract with the
federal government to hold illegal immigrants awaiting hearings. It
usually holds between 50 and 60 detainees, said Sheriff Keith
Nygren.
The sheriff said he could not discuss the specifics of Belbachir's
immigration problems, and a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services service did not return calls for comment.
But Belbachir's family said she was an undocumented immigrant who had
lived in Chicago for about three months. She was attempting to travel to
Spain - where she had attended college - through England when she was
questioned by British authorities. They sent her back to Chicago, and she
was sent to the McHenry County jail about a week before her death, her
family said. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
QUESTIONS
OVER CHICAGO MUSLIM WOMAN WHO DIED IN CUSTODY -
TOP
ABC, 3/23/05
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/032305_ns_muslim_death.html
There are two different stories about what happened to a Chicago Muslim
woman who died while in police custody. Hassiba Belbechir was mourned by
friends and loved ones Wednesday afternoon at her funeral.
Belbechir's family says she was traveling to Algeria earlier this month
when she was sent back to the US by British authorities.
Belbechir was detained by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and
placed in a McHenry county jail. She died a week later.
Police say Hassiba killed herself in jail.
Wednesday, Chicago's largest Muslim organization called for a federal
investigation into her death
"It's very important for the image of America itself, that we
investigate all this thoroughly instead of dismissing it at a lower
level," said Abdul Malik Mujahid, Council of Islamic
Organizations.
United States Immigration and Customs says Belbechir entered the US
asking for asylum and authorities followed procedures when they took her
into custody. (MORE)
-----
TX:
MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED FIREBOMBING OF ISLAMIC CENTER -
TOP
Associated Press, 3/23/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/11212471.htm
WASHINGTON - A man pleaded guilty to throwing a Molotov cocktail at an
Islamic center in West Texas, the Justice Department announced
Wednesday.
Antonio Flores also admitted to placing a second, similar device near a
gas meter on the property of the center in El Paso, Texas, in the hate
crime committed last September. He appeared Tuesday in U.S. District
Court in El Paso.
Flores told police he became angry after watching a program about the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and wanted to scare Muslims, according to
court documents obtained by the El Paso Times under the Texas Public
Information Act.
Flores faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for damaging
religious property and for using an explosive device in the commission of
a major crime.
The Justice Department says it has investigated more than 600 incidents
of backlash since the Sept. 11 attacks and that it has won convictions
against 22 of the 27 defendants it has charged in 22 cases.
State and local authorities have brought nearly 150 criminal prosecutions
with help from the federal investigators, the department said.
(MORE)
-----
CANADIAN
LAWYER FILES SUIT OVER TERRORIST ALLEGATIONS -
TOP
Karen Abbott, Rocky Mountain News, 3/23/05
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_3643076,00.html
A Canadian lawyer has sued Commercial Federal Bank and a credit-checking
firm in federal court for denying him a checking account on grounds he is
a terrorist.
The plaintiff is of East Indian descent. His name is Qusair
Mohamedbhai.
"This is a case addressing blatant racial profiling, slander, and
race-based refusal of service," said the lawsuit, filed
Monday.
A spokeswoman at Commercial Federal's headquarters in Omaha, said Tuesday
that bank officials would be unable to comment on the case until
today.
At the credit-checking firm, Colorado Cheque Connection Inc., a man
answering the telephone gave his name only as Anthony and declined to
provide any further information. He said he was not the manager or owner
but refused to identify who he was.
Mohamedbhai's lawsuit claims that Genevieve Babcock-Elder of Colorado
Cheque Connection told an audience of about a dozen people at a seminar
on banking safety at the Brown Palace that Mohamed- bhai is a terrorist
and she had blocked his effort to open a checking account at Commercial
Federal.
The lawsuit said Babcock-Elder spelled Mohamedbhai's name for the
audience.
Witnesses at the seminar have alleged that "Ms. Babcock-Elder
asserted that, because Mr. Mohamedbhai had a Social Security number from
Florida, which is where the September 11th terrorists learned to fly, and
because he looked Arab, she had 'profiled' him and caused Commercial
Federal Bank to refuse him a checking account," the lawsuit
said.
"Ms. Babcock-Elder further commented that Mr. Mohamedbhai had with
him a white American female and that terrorists 'do that to try to give
the appearance that they are on the up and up,' " it said.
The lawsuit said Mohamedbhai is a legal permanent resident of the United
States, was born in Canada and has Canadian citizenship. He attended law
schools in Florida and Wyoming, passed the bar examinations of both
Colorado and Wyoming in February 2004 and is a licensed attorney in good
standing, it said. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
US HANDLING OF
TERROR SUSPECTS QUESTIONED -
TOP
Farah Stockman, Boston Globe, 3/24/05
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/03/24/us_handling_of_terror_suspects_questioned/
WASHINGTON - The former British ambassador to Uzbekistan says that over
the past three years, the United States has routinely handed over dozens
of low-level terrorism suspects to Uzbekistan, an authoritarian regime
that systematically uses torture to obtain terrorist confessions during
interrogations.
The former ambassador, Craig Murray, also contends that the CIA and
the
British intelligence agency MI6 routinely cited information in their
regular intelligence briefings that has been passed on by Uzbek
authorities and was almost certainly obtained under torture.
Murray's assertions, made in a telephone interview with the Globe and in
a series of confidential memos to the British Foreign Office, raise
questions about the close cooperation between the United States and
war-on-terror allies such as Uzbekistan. The State Department's annual
human rights reports detail how Uzbek authorities routinely use torture
to elicit confessions, allegedly burning one man on his genitals, killing
another with a pair of pliers, and apparently boiling two prisoners
alive. (MORE)
-----
ISLAMIC
LAW CLASS PREPARES STUDENTS FOR A GLOBALIZED WORLD -
TOP
Brian Whitson, W&M News, 3/23/05
http://www.wm.edu/news/index.php?id=4394
William and Mary law professor Christie Warren is just minutes into her
course on Islamic law when a debate on the day's topic has already
captivated the class.
Warren's students, packed into one of the smaller classrooms in the north
wing of the Law School, were given advanced reading assignments. But it's
obvious they went beyond the required preparation and were anxious to
discuss the future of Islamic law.
Questions are lobbed from all directions. Who should be allowed to
interpret Islamic law? How can the Arabic region make Islamic laws more
relevant to the modern world? How do you teach people to recognize an
educated scholar of Islam? Should the Western world even be involved with
helping others interpret Islamic law? (MORE)
ALSO SEE
MINNEAPOLIS HOSTING
MUSLIM CONVENTION -
TOP
Star Tribune, 3/24/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5310210.html
As many as 20,000 Muslims from 40 countries will gather at the
Minneapolis Convention Center this weekend in the second annual
convention of the Muslim American Association of Minnesota.
"This is kind of our once a year opportunity for speaking about
ourselves and letting people know who we are," said Hesham Hussein,
the group's president.
But the convention, "Nurturing a Muslim American Generation,"
also gives Muslims a chance to get to know each other, he said, and to
learn how to become activists, working on issues of importance to the
Muslim community.
They'll get advice on political participation from former Vice President
Walter Mondale, Attorney General Mike Hatch, Hennepin County attorney Amy
Klobuchar, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Rep. Matt Entenza, D-St.
Paul, minority leader of the Minnesota House of
Representatives.
As many as 20 Islamic scholars and other speakers also will address the
gathering.
There will be a bazaar, halal meals, sporting events, youth programs, an
Islamic film festival and a performance by the Allah Made Me Funny comedy
troupe.
Sessions will focus on topics ranging from spirituality to financing
homes. Programs will be presented in four languages: English, Arabic,
Somali and Oromo.
Muslims have "lots of opportunities as well as challenges facing
them," Hussein said. "We're trying to work together to make
sure that people are able to live and maintain their values and
identities as Muslims but at the same time be positive participants in
the American fabric." (MORE)
---
STUDYING THE MIDDLE EAST
FIRSTHAND -
TOP
Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post, 3/24/05
www.washingtonpost.com
More than 6,000 miles and many centuries of history, culture, religion
and language separate a small, private middle school just off Dupont
Circle from Doha, Qatar and Amman, Jordan.
Sixteen seventh- and eighth-graders from Rock Creek International School
attempted to bridge that gap with a 10-day trip earlier this month to the
Middle East. It was an unusual destination, even for a school dedicated
to foreign language proficiency, with a student body that includes
children of diplomats as well as children who have never left their D.C.
hometown.
The students found that the differences between the Muslim and
Judeo-Christian heritages were not as vast as they had heard.
"I'm never really going to think of the Middle East without thinking
of the stereotypes I had, without seeing how much in common people in the
world really have," said Caitlin Sneff, interviewed last week at the
school. (MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/25/05
* HADITH:
A Cheerful
Face/Good Character
* CAIR-DC:
Islamophobia/Anti-Americanism
Conference
* CAIR-OH:
Jewish-Muslim
Values (Plain Dealer)
- VT:
Bill
Would Accommodate Muslim Burials (AP)
* ACTION:
National
Review Silent on Anti-Muslim Hate
* NJ:
Muslim Women
Speak Out (Record)
- CA:
W. Deen Mohammed to Speak in
S.F.
* CAIR-MI:
Rep.
Conyers Helps Keep Modi Out (Free Press)
-
Modi Calls
Off UK Trip (Reuters)
*
U.S. Detains,
Deports Indian Shia Cleric
- OR:
Son of Muslim
Leader Blocked From Flying
- NY:
'No Fly'
Lists Still Work in Progress (CSM)
*
FBI Probe
Takes Aim at AIPAC (Haaretz)
* SC:
Bantu
Resettlement and Interfaith Cooperation
* IL:
Ali
Dedicates Muslim TV Network (Chicago Trib)
*
Federal
Bureau of Prisons Seeks Muslim Chaplains
-
Amnesty
Seeks Mid-East Advocacy Director
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A
CHEERFUL FACE -
TOP
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked to give a person
some advice, he said: "Do not abuse anyone. Do not look down upon
any good work, and when you speak to your brother, show him a cheerful
face."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
Muadh ibn Jabal said: "The last advice the (Prophet Muhammad) gave
me when I put my foot in the stirrup (to begin a journey) was, 'Make your
character good for the people, Muadh ibn Jabal!'"
Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Number 1
-----
CAIR-OH: JEWISH-MUSLIM VALUES
-
TOP
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/25/05
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1111746673181900.xml
A banquet Saturday night supports the local Muslim community, but it also
supports civil rights. That's a cause bigger than any one faith,
organizers say.
And so a Jewish lawyer, who hails from one of Cleveland's most prominent
families, will deliver the keynote address at the annual banquet of the
Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or
CAIR.
Michael Ratner, who represents many of the Muslim men imprisoned at the
U.S. naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will talk about the rule of
law in times of national crisis.
Ratner grew up in Shaker Heights, the nephew of the founder of Forest
City Enterprises. As president of the Center for Constitutional Rights in
New York City, he has been challenging the U.S. government's right to
jail people without charges.
"These are not Muslim community issues. These are issues that
concern all of us as Americans," Julia Shearson, CAIR Cleveland's
executive director, said.
The banquet, a fund-raiser for CAIR, begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the
Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence. For reservations, call
216-830-2247.
ALSO SEE:
LEGISLATURE
CONSIDERING ACCOMMODATING MUSLIM BURIALS -
TOP
Associated Press, 3/25/05
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=3124675
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont Legislature is considering a bill that
would accommodate the Muslim funeral tradition of burying the dead in a
shroud rather than a casket.
Some members of Vermont's Muslim community are upset about current law
that requires the dead to be buried in a casket, which is in turn sealed
in an airtight concrete vault.
"I was shocked the first time I went to a funeral," said
Muhaideen Batah, a Palestinian native of Nazareth, Israel, who lives in
Waitsfield. "Really, personally, it bothers me."
Members of Vermont's Muslim community -- made up of at least 210 families
from Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa -- have had
to compromise at some cemeteries and give up the traditional burial
practice of placing bodies in the earth wrapped only in a
shroud.
The bill would remove prohibitions on the burial of bodies without a
casket.
"There's no place in Vermont that allows Muslims to bury their dead
directly into the ground," said Rep. Robert Kiss, P-Burlington. The
bill "isn't definitive but it certainly opens up the possibility to
have a better discussion about practices in Vermont."
Waell Murray, the Palestinian-born owner of Burlington's Global Markets,
said a Muslim burial that strictly follows Shariah calls for the body to
be washed and cleaned soon after death and never embalmed or adorned with
makeup.
Ideally, burial should be hours, not days, after the person's death,
Murray said, out of respect for the deceased. He said mourners can use a
coffin to transport the dead to a specific burial ground. The
shroud-wrapped body should be placed directly into the grave, Murray
said, resting on its side and facing Mecca. (MORE)
-----
ACTION ALERT:
NATIONAL
REVIEW SILENT ON ANTI-MUSLIM HATE -
TOP
3/25/05 UPDATE: The National Review magazine continues to promote a
virulently Islamophobic book attacking the Prophet Muhammad on their
Internet store. Last week, CAIR called on the prominent national
neoconservative magazine to clarify its policy on anti-Muslim hate
following revelations that the publication distributed an Internet
advertisement for the book that, according to the magazine, is a "guide
into the dark mind of [the Prophet] Mohammed" and the "world's most
violent religion."
The National Review's online promotional materials state: "[The author]
explains why Mohammed couldn't possibly be a true prophet, and reveals
the true sources of his 'revelations.'" It quotes the author as
claiming: "Mohammed posed as the apostle of God&while his life is
marked by innumerable marriages; and great licentiousness, deeds of
rapine, warfare, conquests, unmerciful butcheries, all the time
invoking God's holy name to sanction his evil deeds."
According to the National Review, the book shows how "Mohammed again
and again justified his rapine and licentiousness with new 'divine
revelations.'" CAIR said the book "is the literary equivalent of 'The
Protocols of the Elders of Zion.'" (NOTE: In 2002, CAIR called on an
Arab-American publication to apologize for publishing excerpts from
"The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a 19th century anti-Semitic
forgery used to justify the persecution of Jews.)
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. National Review WILL use any hostile comments to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
Contact National Review again to respectfully request that they
reconsider promoting a book that attacks the faith of one-fifth of the
world's population and harms America's image in the Muslim world.
CONTACT:
Mr. Richard Lowry
Editor
National Review
215 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10016
TEL: 212-679-7330
FAX: 212-849-2835
E-MAIL: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com, nronline@nationalreview.com,
JonahNRO@aol.com, klopez@nationalreview.com,
comments.kurtz@nationalreview.com, letters@nationalreview.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
THE VEILS ARE LIFTED AS MUSLIM WOMEN SPEAK -
TOP
VERA LAWLOR, THE RECORD
http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NjcwMDQw
WHAT: "Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out," a panel discussion revolving around a book by the same title.
WHERE: Montclair State University, Valley Road, Montclair; (973) 655-4000.
WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday.
HOW MUCH: Free.
Do you think of Muslim women as veiled, oppressed and silent? Think again.
Muslim women who are doctors, lawyers, scholars and journalists have
been speaking out for years, but few people have been listening, said
Fawzia Afzal-Khan, an Islamic feminist, actor and poet.
Why? "Because these women were speaking out against their own
fundamentalist governments that are oppressive toward women, as well as
against the United States, which in many cases supported these
dictators," said Afzal-Khan, who is also a professor at Montclair State
University.
It doesn't help that women have earned jail time in their countries for speaking out, she said.
Four Muslim women, including Afzal-Khan, will talk about the lives of
Muslim women Thursday at Montclair State University. The other
participants are Barbara Nimri Azis of WBAI Radio, who frequently
reports live from Iraq; Maniza Naqvi, a novelist and poet employed by
the World Bank in Washington, and Zohra Saed, a writer who lives in
Brooklyn. The program is part of Women's History Month celebrations at
the college. The panelists will read from and discuss the recently
released book "Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out"
(Interlink Press, 2005), as well as sharing their personal stories.
"I grew up in Pakistan in the '70s and I was educated at the Convent of
Jesus and Mary, a wonderful Catholic school. I loved my nuns - I still
see them today," said Afzal-Khan, who has lived in the United States
for 25 years. "I was Muslim but grew up in a multicultural society."
It was the struggle for power and wealth, and not religion, that led to
the oppression of Muslim women in today's Pakistan, Afzal-Khan said.
"To say that it's Islam that is oppressing women is ridiculous,"
Afzal-Khan said. "To me Islam is a religion that preaches social and
economic justice for all. The oppression of women is against the
teachings of Islam." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM LEADER TO SPEAK IN S.F. -
TOP
Elijah Mohammed's son helping with bid for mosque funds
Jason B. Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/25/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/25/BAGGVBUMLK1.DTL
When the longtime leader of one of the nation's largest Muslim groups
addresses a gathering in San Francisco on Saturday, he will seek to
inspire followers of a movement that once drew the likes of Malcolm X
and heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.
W. Deen Mohammed stepped down over a year ago as head of the 1.5
million- member American Society of Muslims, 30 years after embracing
mainstream Sunni Islam and turning away from the extremist ideology of
his father, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Mohammed.
W. Deen Mohammed, who remains the spiritual head of the movement, will
speak at St. Mary's Cathedral Conference Center to help raise money for
an ambitious San Francisco mosque and community center development
plan. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-MI: CONYERS HELPS MUSLIMS KEEP OFFICIAL OUT OF U.S. -
TOP
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 3/25/05
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/conyers25e_20050325.htm
Michigan Muslims of Indian descent are hailing the U.S. government's
decision to deny a prominent Indian minister entry into the country
because of his intolerance toward religious minorities.
The State Department's move came after U.S. Rep. John Conyers,
D-Detroit, sponsored a congressional resolution last week to condemn
Narendra Modi, chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. In 2002,
anti-Muslim riots broke out in his state after a train carrying Hindu
activists was attacked. Some Muslim and human-rights groups said Modi
failed to stop the violence and has allowed a culture of intolerance to
take hold in the state where Mohandas Gandhi was born.
"This guy represented the ugly face of India, not the beautiful place I
loved," Victor Begg, an Indian-born Muslim who lives in Bloomfield
Hills, said Thursday.
After Begg and other Muslims found out that Modi was planning to visit
the United States, they lobbied elected officials -- including Conyers,
who has long been supported by Muslim groups -- to speak out against
Modi.
Conyers said Thursday that he was urged to action by the Council on
American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, an advocacy group based in
Washington, D.C.
Modi had been invited to speak in New York City and in Florida at the
annual convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, many
of whose members come from Gujarat. But the State Department revoked
Modi's visa March 18, citing a section of immigration law that
prohibits the entry of any foreign government official responsible for
"serious violations of religious freedom."
The decision brought protests from some Indian Americans and the Indian
government, which asked the United States to reconsider, noting that
Modi was a democratically elected official and should have been given
the respect afforded elected officials.
But Muslims in Michigan said the move was the right one.
Some local Indian-Americans had family businesses in Gujarat burned
down and employees killed during the anti-Muslim riots, said Haaris
Ahmad, a Muslim attorney partly of Indian descent who works with CAIR.
But they are afraid to speak out because they fear the Gujarat
government will retaliate.
"He was encouraging an atmosphere of intolerance and discrimination against minorities," Ahmad said of Modi. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
INDIAN HINDU NATIONALIST LEADER CALLS OFF UK TRIP -
TOP
Kamil Zaheer, Reuters, 3/25/05
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/March/subcontinent_March781.xml§ion=subcontinent
NEW DELHI - The Hindu nationalist leader of India's Gujarat state
cancelled a trip to Britain after New Delhi expressed concerns for his
security, officials said on Friday, days after the United States
revoked his visa.
The revoking of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's U.S. travel
permit last week triggered sharp protests from India's powerful Hindu
right.
Modi, slammed by India's Supreme Court for ignoring killings of
minority Muslims during religious riots three years ago in Gujarat, had
planned to travel to Britain late this week to meet expatriate
Gujaratis and businessmen.
But Muslim and human rights groups in Britain had launched a vocal
campaign against his trip. Though London did not follow the U.S. action
and cancel Modi's British visa, it said no British official would meet
him. (MORE)
-----
US DETAINS, DEPORTS LUCKNOW SHIA CLERIC -
TOP
Atiq Khan, Indian Express, 3/25/05
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=67096&headline=US~detains,~deports~Lucknow~Muslim~cleric
LUCKNOW - The US has refused entry to noted Shia cleric and
vice-chairman of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kalbe
Sadiq. Sadiq, who landed at the Chicago airport on March 17, was
detained at the airport and deported to London on March 19.
Talking to The Indian Express, his son Kalbe Husain said: ''He was
handed a piece of paper by the officials which listed INS section 235
(6) (1) related to terrorist activities. This was despite the fact that
he held a multiple-entry visa which is due to expire in 2006.'' Husain
said his father has visited the US several times even after 9/11.
Fellow cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad said: ''Why did the US grant visa to
the Maulana if the intention was to humiliate and harass him at the
airport? This is a well-chalked out strategy of the Americans to
demoralise Muslims.''
Sadiq, who is also the president of the Lucknow-based Tauheedul
Muslimeen Trust, visits several countries, including the US, during
Moharram and Ramzan for delivering religious discourses. Though a Shia,
the Maulana's followers also include Sunni Muslims. He is likely to
return to India in the third week of April. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
OR
: SON OF PDX MUSLIM LEADER BLOCKED FROM FLYING -
TOP
Teresa Bell, kgw.com, 3/25/05
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_032405_news_portland_nofly.16cce8eeb.html
The son of a prominent Muslim leader in the Portland area was told he
could not fly home to Portland because he's on a list that airports use
to identify suspected terrorists.
Now his family wants to know why.
"All of a sudden I'm on the watch list. I've flown before and this has never happened before," Shehab Ahmed told KGW Wednesday.
Ahmed first thought it was a mistake. Then, he was so shocked, he didn't know what to say.
The 18-year-old UCLA freshman was at Los Angeles International Airport
trying to catch a ride home for spring break when a ticket agent told
him his name was on the government's "no fly" list.
"I've heard stories where they question you& the Oregon connection,
the Portland six. I didn't know if they'd know I attend the same mosque
as those guys," Ahmed said.
The news stunned Ahmed's father, Shahriar. He is a well-known leader in Portland's Muslim community.
Shahriar Ahmed talks to KGW reporter Nicole Doll in an exclusive interview.
"It's as if someone could have pulled a rug under my feet, and I said
'what?' and then the fear starts going through... 'what if he is held
there?' 'what lawyers do I know?'"
The airline eventually allowed Ahmed to board a later flight.
A spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration told KGW
Newschannel 8 that people are put on the list if law enforcement of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation views them as a threat to aviation.
But sometimes a person may be detained if their name is similar to other names on the list. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WELL AFTER 9/11, 'NO FLY' LISTS A WORK IN PROGRESS -
TOP
Alexandra Marks, Christian Science Monitor, 3/24/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0324/p02s02-usgn.html
NEW YORK - Tom Burke recently tried to print out a boarding pass from home before one of the frequent flights he takes.
He couldn't. When the San Francisco lawyer got to the airport, he was
told the reason: His name, or one similar to it, is now on one of the
Transportation Security Administration's terrorist watch lists.
"There was a certain irony to it," says Mr. Burke, a First Amendment
expert who is suing the federal government on behalf of others who have
found themselves on either the TSA's "no fly" or "selectee" list.
Almost 3-1/2 years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a year and
a half after Congress ordered law-enforcement agencies to consolidate
and coordinate its terrorist screening processes, the status of the
watch lists remains uncertain and is a cause of frustration for
thousands of travelers as well as the nation's airlines. (MORE)
-----
FBI PROBE INTO LEAKED SECRETS TAKES AIM AT AIPAC -
TOP
Nathan Guttman, Haaretz, 3/25/05
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/556679.html
WASHINGTON - Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin was reinstated a few weeks
ago, after sitting at home for half a year and being barred from
returning to his job on the Iranian desk in the Department of Defense's
policy division. Franklin was at the center of a lengthy FBI
investigation after suspicions arose that he transfered classified
information about U.S. policy on Iran to members of the pro-Israel
lobby AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee).
In the seven months since the affair made headlines on the CBS evening
news, the investigation has been kept under tight wraps, but its
ramifications are already being felt.
While Franklin is back at work, and, say well-placed sources, is
expected to reach a plea bargain, the spotlight has moved to the AIPAC
officials - two senior members were suspended for the duration of the
case and four other senior officials were forced to testify at length
before the special investigative jury in Virginia (whose proceedings
are classified) appointed for the case.
Even if the investigation is nowhere near completion, it has definitely
reached a crossroads, at which investigators must decide on the
suspects in the case - Larry Franklin alone; Franklin and two AIPAC
officials, Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman; or whether, on top of those
three, the entire AIPAC organization has acted unlawfully.
Sources close to the investigation suggested recently that it would end
in a plea bargain. Franklin would plead to a lesser crime of
unauthorized transfer of information, Rosen and Weissman would be
charged with receiving classified information unlawfully, and AIPAC
would remain unstained. Franklin's lawyer, Plato Cacheris, yesterday
denied the reports, stating: "We have not entered any plea of defense
with the Justice Department."
AIPAC refused to say anything about the possibility of a plea bargain. (MORE)
-----
BANTU RESETTLEMENT LEADS TO CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM COOPERATION -
TOP
WIS TV, 3/24/05
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3118091&nav=0RaPXrQ5
In the days following 9-11, Christians and Muslims were separated by
suspicion and fear, but the effort to resettle 120 Bantu refugees has
provided common ground for those groups here in the Midlands.
They arrived a year ago at Columbia Metro Airport. It was a day Muhamud Ali Tumbo and his family will never forget.
Now the family has settled into homes at Columbia's Rutledge Forest
Apartments. And while English is still a struggle, refugees like Rukiya
Sheygo know what they like about America, "No knife, no gun. She has,
America, government. Africa, no government. Somali, no government."
The refugees have also created something by coming here. The Bantus are
Muslims. Their presence has led to cooperation, even affection, between
Christian churches and Columbia's Islamic community.
Debbie McDowell is one of many volunteers working with churches
sponsoring the Bantu resettlement, "We've been in the mosques several
times. Some of the Bantu families have been to Christian churches. We
have learned about Ramadan and celebrated Ramadan with the Bantu
families and then they have come and learned about Easter and
Christmas."
Dr. Mirza Baig represents the Islamic center of Columbia, "Once you
know the people, you really understand how much we have commonality.
How many things are common. And basically we are the same people."
(MORE)
-----
ALI ATTENDS DEDICATION OF MUSLIM TELEVISION NETWORK -
TOP
Michael Hirsley, Chicago Tribune, 3/25/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/11223100.htm
CHICAGO - Muhammad Ali demonstrated again Thursday why he is both a
highly persuasive and highly unorthodox spokesman for any cause.
The three-time heavyweight champion, arguably most charismatic athlete
of all time, enthralled the audience at the official Chicago-area
launch of an American Muslim television network.
And the 63-year-old Ali did it without saying a single word.
Despite an unsteady hand with his Parkinson's symptoms, he signed
autographs and clowned with everyone from children to Naperville Police
Chief Dave Dial. (MORE)
-----
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS SEEKS MUSLIM CHAPLAINS -
TOP
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is looking for religious professionals who can make a difference.
To learn more, contact:
Chaplaincy Services, Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street,, N.W. Suite 516
Washington, D.C. 20534
Phone: 202-514-9740
www.bop.gov
ALSO SEE:
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SEEKS ADVOCACY DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST -
TOP
http://www.amnestyusa.org/about/employment.do#129
Amnesty International seeks candidates for the senior position of
Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Based in
Washington, D.C., this position takes the lead in raising Amnesty
International's human rights concerns with the U.S. Congress and
Presidential administration, carries out media relations, and
facilitates grassroots pressure with the end of elevating the priority
of human rights within U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Advocacy Director also works on various thematic human rights
issues that are global in scope. Qualifications include experience
working with or detailed knowledge of the US Government and Congress,
strong analytical and writing skills, advocacy experience, grassroots
or equivalent experience. Functions include tracking, monitoring, and
analyzing USG and Congressional policies and actions; working with
volunteer leaders to develop and implement a strategy for effective
advocacy; informing and facilitating activity of AIUSA members,
volunteers, and others; serving as a spokesperson to the media,
membership groups, and others; supporting the work of relevant AIUSA
working groups. The Advocacy Director reports to the Director of
Government Relations.
QUALIFICATIONS: Requirements: excellent knowledge of the region and
Middle East policy background, experience working with congressional
offices and U.S. government officials, experience organizing grassroots
members, Master's degree and regional language skills. Strongly
preferred: familiarity with Amnesty International and DC lobbying work.
CONTACT: Send resume and cover letter, including salary history, to
AIUSA, 5 Penn Plaza, NY, NY 10001 or fax 212-627-1451. AIUSA is an EOE.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/27/05
* VERSE:
Jesus, Son of
Mary
* DC:
Muslims
Still See Employment Bias (Wash Post)
- PA:
Muslim Firefighter
Fights Ban on Beards
-
CAIR's
Employer's
Guide to Islam and Muslims
* CAIR-DC:
'Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism' Conference
* ISLAM-OPED:
Celebrate
Muslim Contributions (Sun News)
-
Subscribe to ISLAM-OPED
-
CAIR-FL:
James
Yee Speaks in Florida (Sun Sent)
-
CAIR-OH:
Lawyer
Defends Civil Rights (Plain Dealer)
-
CAIR-LA:
Religion in
Iraq's Government (LA Times)
-
CAIR-CA:
Islam Focus of
Next Chapter
-
CAIR-TX:
University Drops
'Crusaders'
-
CAIR-DC:
NH Muslims
to Build Mosque (AP)
-
Locate a
CAIR Chapter
* TORTURE:
US Admits Wider
Abuse of Iraqis (AP)
-
No
Charges for Soldiers Implicated in Deaths (NYT)
-
Blows
That Led to Detainee's Death Were Common (KR)
-
Panel Ignored Evidence on
Detainee (Wash Post)
* MN:
Muslims
Urged to Participate in Politics (Star Trib)
- DC:
AIPAC Works to Preserve
Clout (Haartez)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY:
JESUS, SON OF MARY -
TOP
"After (Noah and Abraham) We sent other messengers, one after the
other, and followed them with Jesus the son of Mary. We gave him the
Gospel, and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of his
followers."
The Holy Quran, 57:27
"Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a
Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in
honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those
nearest to God.'"
The Holy Quran, 3:45
-----
YEARS
AFTER 9/11 ATTACKS, BIAS IS STILL PERCEIVED -
TOP
S. Mitra Kalita, Washington Post, 3/26/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2352-2005Mar25.html
His name is Muhammad. The name appears nowhere on his r�sum�.
He arrived on Dec. 22, 2001, to a post-Sept. 11 America. Fearing a
backlash, he turned the prophet's name into a lone letter.
And so "M. Ayaz Qureshi" is what he became, a Pakistani
immigrant who found a job at Wal-Mart, who converted dollars earned to
rupees sent home, who wondered if he'd ever wear a suit to work
again.
Yesterday, surrounded by country brethren doing the same, Qureshi handed
out r�sum�s and explained his situation to prospective employers
assembled at a job fair in Falls Church for immigrants like
him.
At a time when Muslims are filing more religious discrimination
complaints than any other group, the Pakistan American Business
Association sponsored the fair to link Pakistani immigrants with
companies eager to hire them. Two years ago, the association held the
first such event in response to complaints about workplaces hostile to
hijabs, beards and praying five times a day.
"The people felt very nervous and scared," said M. Siddique
Sheikh, the president of the Burke-based association and owner of five
service stations in Northern Virginia. "It's not as much as it was
then. If back then, it was 90 percent of people facing discrimination,
now maybe it's 15 or 20 percent."
Data provided by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show
that complaints spiked in the year after the terrorist attacks and have
since leveled off. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
FIREFIGHTER FIGHTS
RULE AGAINST BEARDS -
TOP
Regina Median, Philadelphia News, 3/26/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/11236868.htm
A Muslim city firefighter refuses to shave his facial hair for religious
reasons, prompting his suspension and an upcoming hearing in Common Pleas
court.
Meanwhile, his lawyer has filed for an emergency injunction to prevent
his firing.
Curtis De Veaux, 25, a two-year veteran with the department and a married
father with a two-year-old daughter, says he isn't trying to prove
anything by keeping his beard.
"I want to be able to work and still be a Muslim," said De
Veaux, who has been suspended without pay since Feb. 3. "I am not
looking to make a statement or prove anything."
Nonetheless, his case will be noteworthy. It's the first case in the
state under the state's Religious Freedom Protection Act of 2002. The law
basically states that government policy must accommodate a person's
religious practice unless it can establish a compelling reason not to,
said Mary Catherine Roper, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Pennsylvania
who represents De Veaux.
Attempts to reach fire department officials for comment were
unsuccessful.
At issue is an 20-year-old rule that no firefighter is allowed to have a
beard because it may interfere with the suction seal of a face mask.
(MORE)
---
CAIR'S
'EMPLOYER'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES' -
TOP
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices." The booklet is available by e-mailing
pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name,
address and phone number when requesting the booklet.)
-----
CAIR
CONFERENCE TO TACKLE ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM -
TOP
Online registration now available for 'unique and timely' DC
event
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Beginning May 13, 2005, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host a unique and timely three-day
conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and
Remedies," in Washington, D.C.
To view the full program for the conference, or to register, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
-----
ISLAM-OPED:
CELEBRATE MUSLIM LEADERS, CONTRIBUTIONS -
TOP
Saffia Meek, Sun News, 3/27/05
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/11242483.htm
[Saffia Meek is director of the Dallas/Fort Worth office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations. She may be contacted at
info@cairdfw.org.]
This month is the 25th anniversary of the Multicultural Women's History
Movement. With all the confusion and misunderstanding these days about
the role of Muslim women, it seems appropriate to look at some of the
ways that they have contributed to the world.
Many people have a stereotypical image of Muslim women as quiet,
subservient and male-dominated, with no active role in building society.
This stereotype does not reflect the past, present or future role of
women in Islam.
More than 1,400 years ago, Islam eliminated the chattel status of women,
prohibited the pre-Islamic practice of female infanticide and gave women
control over their wealth.
Other rights granted to women by Islam include the right of inheritance
and the right to own a business. The first martyr in Islam was a woman,
as was the first person to accept the Prophet Muhammad's
message.
Islam also grants women the right to equality before the law, to
participate in political affairs, to seek an education, and to be free of
spousal abuse.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, repeatedly reinforces the spiritual
equality of men and women. "And their Lord hath accepted of them and
answered them: 'Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be
he male or female: you are the offspring of one another.'" (Quran
3:195). (MORE)
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
SUBSCRIBE TO ISLAM-OPED -
TOP
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL:
EX-ARMY CHAPLAIN HELD ON SPY CHARGES TALKS IN CORAL SPRINGS -
TOP
Rafael A. Olmeda, Sun-Sentinel, 3/27/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cyee27mar27,0,6839124.story
Coral Springs � Former U.S. Army Captain James Yee, who spent 76 days in
a Navy brig in late 2003 on espionage charges that never materialized,
visited the Coral Springs Chinese Community Center on Saturday, and
almost immediately apologized to the three dozen audience members who
showed up to hear him speak.
"I'm not going to talk about what happened to me," he said,
adding that he would only repeat what was already known about his case --
how he was arrested in Jacksonville in September 2003, detained for
carrying documents that detailed the layout at Guantanamo Bay, where Yee
was serving as a Muslim chaplain, and put into solitary confinement for
76 days.
"I was being accused of things like spying, espionage," he
said. During a time of war, the allegations were as serious as they could
get. "The punishment for those things is death," he
said.
By March 2004, all the charges against Yee were dropped. At the time the
army said national security issues would arise if the evidence against
Yee were presented in open court. Yee returned to active duty at Fort
Lewis, Wash., under orders not to discuss the ordeal in any way that
would be interpreted as critical of the military.
It was unclear Saturday whether those orders still applied. Yee, 37,
wouldn't answer questions about the orders during the discussion, put
together by the Organization of Chinese Americans South Florida Chapter
and the Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
---
CAIR-OH:
LAWYER'S BELIEF IN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADS HIM TO DEFEND DETAINEES -
TOP
Angela D. Chatman, Plain Dealer, 3/27/05
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/111191941589700.xml
Michael Ratner believes he is continuing his father's legacy, even though
he did not go into the family business.
The human rights lawyer says his commitment to people is rooted in the
late Harry Ratner's generosity to people in need. The elder Ratner, a
brother of the founders of Forest City Enterprises, believed in
charity.
"He imbued us with a tremendous amount of charitable
interests," says Ratner, president of the New York-based Center for
Constitutional Rights, who once was asked to join the family's real
estate business in Cleveland.
His large, close-knit immigrant family also gave him the emotional
security to do what he believes is right - even if it means representing
people who probably have widely different views from his own, as he has
with Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Ratner, 61, made his remarks Saturday during an interview before a
keynote address at a fund-raising banquet for the Cleveland office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations. The event was held at the Embassy
Suites Hotel in Independence.
Ratner said that civil rights groups such as CAIR are key to building
community support.
"What we've been lacking in the country,&post-9/11, is a Muslim
civil rights organization that fights for fundamental civil rights for
people," he said&
-----
CAIR-LA: RELIGION IN
IRAQ'S GOVERNMENT -
TOP
Sabiha Khan, Los Angeles Times, 3/26/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-sharia26.2mar26,0,6748161.story
Re "Sharia: Iraq's Dark Cloud," Commentary, March 21: If we are
truly interested in bringing or at least promoting democracy in Iraq, it
behooves us to let the people of Iraq freely choose their
government.
It is hypocritical to demand democracy from other countries and then
oppose it when this democracy brings people into power who are not
necessarily a perfect reflection of our views or obedient puppets to our
policies.
Let's have faith in the Iraqis. For Susan Jacoby to imply that she knows
what is best for Iraqis, more than Iraqis themselves, is nothing short of
a typical colonialist attitude.
How would we feel if Iraqis start to dictate to us a new constitution to
replace the one we have today?
Sabiha Khan is Communications Director for the Councn American-Islamic
Relations So. California chapter in Anaheim.
---
CAIR-CA: ISLAM FOCUS
OF NEXT CHAPTER -
TOP
Daily Democrat, 3/27/05
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/Stories/0,1413,136~32730~2785249,00.html
The next program presented by the Advocates for the Next Chapter
Bookstore will be on "Islam and America" Sunday, April 3 at 2
p.m.
The program will feature Dina El Nakhal, an Egyptian-American who
represents the Islamic Center of Davis. She is a civil engineer for the
state of California and a graduate of UC Davis. She also does civil
rights work for the Council on American Islamic Relations.
The program will cover the differences of Shiite and Sunni Moslems, what
it means when a Muslim cleric issues a Fatwah, what the Koran says about
jihad and the role of women in Islam. It will also explore what there is
in American culture, values and governmental policies that seem to create
such intense antagonisms among some Muslims and what post 9-11 life is
like for Islamic Americans.
---
CAIR-TX: CASH WILL
CONQUER CRUSADERS -
TOP
Tom Orsborn, Express-News, 3/26/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA032605.1A.UIW_mascot.1748eae9e.html
University of the Incarnate Word officials have discovered it's not easy
being politically correct without a little extra pocket
change&
School officials last year shelved "Crusaders," contending the
term is offensive to Muslims and inappropriate for a Catholic institution
with a multicultural mission&
Those who advocated a name change pointed out the deaths of thousands of
Muslims during the Crusades, religious wars fought during the 11th, 12th
and 13th centuries over Christian holy places in the Middle
East.
In on-line voting, UIW students last May chose Cardinals as the school's
new nickname.
Members of the city's Islamic community have applauded the school's
decision to change nicknames. Some say they understand the delay in
changing the name on athletic apparel.
"We were very happy and appreciative that they made the
change," said Sarwat Husain, executive director of the local chapter
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "I am a graduate of
the school and it made me feel very proud.
"As far as the uniforms go, we understand that it is a process.
(MORE)
---
N.H.
MUSLIMS PREPARE TO BUILD MOSQUE FROM GROUND UP -
TOP
Beverley Wang, Associated Press, 3/26/05
http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D892R2PO1-84.shtml
The U.S. Census Bureau doesn�t ask people their religious affiliation,
but national Islamic American groups say the largest Muslim populations
are in California and New York. Populations in northern New England are
not easy to track, but the Vermont Islamic Society counts about 1,000
members, Manchester 80, and about 20 Afghan Muslims go to the Portland
mosque. There is also a Somali Muslim community in Lewiston,
Maine.
But the region has an unusual distinction in Islamic American history _ a
congregation formed by Albanians in Biddeford, Maine, in 1915 is believed
to have been the first in the United States.
"That was an informal congregation," said Mohamed Nimer,
director of research for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The
congregation did not last long, either _ "People moved and then they
never established a permanent mosque," he said.
As New Hampshire Muslims prepare to build the region�s first mosque from
the ground up, Vermont Muslims are pursuing another goal _ they are
shopping for land to establish a cemetery. (MORE)
---
TOP -
CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR CAIR CHAPTERS MAY BE FOUND AT:
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=chapters
-----
TORTURE:
US ADMITS WIDER
ABUSE OF IRAQIS -
TOP
Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 3/25/05
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2005/03/27/us_admits_wider_abuse_of_iraqis/
WASHINGTON -- Government documents released last week say the abuse of
prisoners in Iraq by US forces was more widespread than has been
reported.
An officer found that detainees "were being systematically and
intentionally mistreated" at a holding facility near Mosul in
December 2003. The 311th Military Intelligence Battalion of the Army's
101st Airborne Division ran the lockup. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
PENTAGON
WILL NOT TRY 17 G.I.'S IMPLICATED IN PRISONERS' DEATHS -
TOP
Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 3/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/26/politics/26abuse.html
WASHINGTON - Despite recommendations by Army investigators, commanders
have decided not to prosecute 17 American soldiers implicated in the
deaths of three prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004,
according to a new accounting released Friday by the Army.
Investigators had recommended that all 17 soldiers be charged in the
cases, according to the accounting by the Army Criminal Investigation
Command. The charges included murder, conspiracy and negligent homicide.
While none of the 17 will face any prosecution, one received a letter of
reprimand and another was discharged after the investigations.
(MORE)
---
BLOWS
THAT LED TO DETAINEE'S DEATH WERE COMMON PRACTICE, RESERVIST SAYS -
TOP
Elise Ackerman, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 3/26/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11232122.htm
FORT BLISS, Texas - An Army reservist accused of killing a detainee in
Afghanistan told investigators that the blows that caused the man's death
were commonly used to deal with uncooperative prisoners and that his
superiors approved of the technique.
Other soldiers testified at a hearing here that they were taught to
administer the so-called "compliance blows" in an Army course
covering non-lethal tactics and that the blows became an accepted way of
dealing with detainees who were considered
"combative."
The statement from Pfc. Willie Brand and the testimony from his fellow
soldiers provide new evidence that prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq
may have been the result of interrogation and detention practices adopted
for the war on terrorism. (MORE)
---
PANEL IGNORED EVIDENCE
ON DETAINEE -
TOP
Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 3/27/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A3868-2005Mar26
A military tribunal determined last fall that Murat Kurnaz, a German
national seized in Pakistan in 2001, was a member of al Qaeda and an
enemy combatant whom the government could detain indefinitely at the U.S.
military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The three military officers on the panel, whose identities are kept
secret, said in papers filed in federal court that they reached their
conclusion based largely on classified evidence that was too sensitive to
release to the public.
In fact, that evidence, recently declassified and obtained by The
Washington Post, shows that U.S. military intelligence and German law
enforcement authorities had largely concluded there was no information
that linked Kurnaz to al Qaeda, any other terrorist organization or
terrorist activities. (MORE)
-----
MINNESOTA
LEADERS URGE MUSLIM PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS -
TOP
Terry Fiedler, Star Tribune, 3/27/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5314615.html
Challenges for Muslim Americans in the post-9/11 world dominated a
discussion Saturday about citizenship among a panel that included Muslim
leaders and public officials, including former Vice President Walter
Mondale.
"There is a constant tension between those who spread fear and are
afraid and those who have faith in our country's justice system,"
said Mondale, who likened the detention of some Muslims without due
process in recent years to the internment of Japanese-Americans during
World War II. "Ultimately, America has come down on the side of
faith. Liberty is available to everyone. We have to believe in it and act
on it."
He spoke at the regional convention of the Muslim American Society this
weekend in Minneapolis. The group's goal is to "encourage the
participation of Muslims in building a virtuous and moral America."
The Minnesota chapter and its affiliates help run mosques, schools and
advocacy and youth programs.
State Rep. Keith Ellison, DFL-Minneapolis, who is a Muslim, said the
community has to become more active to improve its situation. Many have
been reluctant to get involved in the political process because they had
bad experiences in countries they left or they have been told that
American politics is "dirty." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
AIPAC WORKS TO
PRESERVE CLOUT IN U.S. -
TOP
Nathan Guttman, Haartez, 3/25/05
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/557051.html
WASHINGTON - In the seven months since Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin
was accused of passing classified documents to the American-Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israel lobby has been struggling in
two arenas: First, to extricate itself from the investigation without any
indictments being issued, and second, to preserve its political clout in
Washington's corridors of power.
The second arena is the more problematic one. "AIPAC has lost a lot
of its power," says a Capitol Hill source who follows AIPAC closely.
But the fact that the source refused to be identified by name means that
AIPAC is still a force to be reckoned with in the capital's political
industry. (MORE)
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #451
CONTACT BOEING ABOUT NATIONAL REVIEW'S ATTACK ON PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Urge aerospace giant to withdraw ads from neocon magazine
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/28/05) - CAIR is calling on American Muslims and
other
people of conscience to contact aerospace giant Boeing Co. about its
advertisements in a magazine that is actively promoting virulently
anti-Muslim books that attack Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
Despite messages of outrage from hundreds of concerned Muslims,
National
Review magazine continues to promote "The Life and Religion of
Mohammed" on
its Internet store. The magazine claims the book exposes "the ugly
truth
about the founder of the world's most violent religion."
SEE:
http://www.nrbookservice.com/bookpage.asp?prod_cd=C6614&sour_cd=NRE039301
According to the promotional materials, the book is a "guide into the
dark
mind of [the Prophet] Mohammed." The online review states: "[The
author]
explains why Mohammed couldn't possibly be a true prophet, and reveals
the
true sources of his 'revelations.'" It quotes the author as claiming:
"Mohammed posed as the apostle of God…while his life is marked by
innumerable marriages; and great licentiousness, deeds of rapine,
warfare,
conquests, unmerciful butcheries, all the time invoking God's holy name
to
sanction his evil deeds…Mohammed again and again justified his rapine
and
licentiousness with new 'divine revelations.'"
Another book being promoted by National Review, "The Sword of the
Prophet,"
is described as: "What Muslims, multiculturalists, and the media hope
you
never find out about Islam." The magazine's review claims that the book
"gives us the unvarnished, 'politically incorrect' truth about Islam --
including the shocking facts about its founder, Mohammed; its rise
through
bloody conquest; its sanctioning of theft, deceit, lust and murder."
SEE: http://www.nrbookservice.com/bookpage.asp?prod_cd=C6077
In a letter sent today to Boeing CEO James A. Bell, CAIR Executive
Director
Nihad Awad wrote: "I would therefore respectfully request that Boeing
address the concerns of Muslims worldwide by withdrawing its
advertising
support from a magazine that actively promotes anti-Muslim hate." A
copy of
that letter will be sent to ambassadors of Muslim and Arab nations in
Washington, D.C. (Boeing has a full back-page ad in the latest issue of
National Review.) Awad noted that just today, Boeing announced the
delivery
of the first two Boeing 777-300ER airplanes to Emirates airlines.
SEE: http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2005/q1/nr_050328g.html
To view an article outlining Boeing's interests in the Middle East, go
to:
http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2004/december/mainfeature.html
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and WILL
be
used to further defame Muslims and Islam.)
CONTACT BOEING to request that it reconsider advertising in a magazine
that
actively promotes anti-Muslim hate and defames the Prophet Muhammad.
Remind
company executives that Boeing does, or hopes to do billions of dollars
worth of business with the Muslim world.
CONTACT:
Mr. James A. Bell
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Boeing Company
100 North Riverside, Chicago IL 60606
TEL: 312-544-2000
FAX: 312-544-2121
E-MAIL: James.A.Bell@boeing.com, john.dern@boeing.com,
larry.mccracken@boeing.com, carol.l.waitse@boeing.com,
wwwmail.boeing2@boeing.com, nonexecutivechair@boeing.com,
govchair@boeing.com, shareholderservices@boeing.com,
anne.f.eisele@boeing.com, john.craig@boeing.com,
Brian.Walker@boeing.com
COPY TO: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com,
nronline@nationalreview.com,
JonahNRO@aol.com, klopez@nationalreview.com,
comments.kurtz@nationalreview.com, letters@nationalreview.com,
stuttafordNRO@aol.com, cair@cair-net.org
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/29/05
* HADITH:
Marriage is Half
of Faith
* CAIR:
Islamophobia,
Anti-Americanism and the Media
-
CAIR-NY:
Mayor
Improves Race Relations (Newsday)
* DC:
Right-Wing
Groups Omitted from DHS Terror List (CQ)
* CAIR:
TV
Should Reflect Reality of Muslim Life (PE)
* TN:
Prison
Shaving Policy Trumps Religious Beliefs
-
CAIR:
Correctional
Institution's Guide to Islam
* TX:
MSA Educates SMU Campus
on Islam
* CANADA:
Daniel
Pipes' Condemned for 'Racist' Speeches
-
Pipes
Supports Internment of Japanese-Americans
* DC:
AIPAC Staffers Go to
Grand Jury (JTA)
* Yusuf Islam:
'Music is Part
of God's Universe' (Guardian)
-
Arsonists Target Dutch
Islamic School Again
-----
HADITH OF THE
DAY: MARRIAGE IS HALF OF FAITH -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When a man marries,
he has fulfilled half of (his) faith. So let him remain conscious of God
regarding the remaining half."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 924
The Prophet also said: "The marriage that produces the most blessing
is that which involves the least burden," and "(There is)
nothing like marriage for increasing the love (between) two
people."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 921, 925
-----
CAIR
DC CONFERENCE: ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM AND THE MEDIA -
TOP
Online registration now available for 'unique and timely' DC
event
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Beginning May 13, 2005, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host a unique and timely three-day
conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and
Remedies," in Washington, D.C.
One panel, titled "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism in the
Media," will discuss whether or not the media have reinforced fear
of Islam among Americans and has fueled anti-Americanism among
Muslims.
To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
Volunteers are also needed for CAIR's Conference. On Saturday, April 2,
there will be a meeting for interested volunteers from 11 a.m. to noon at
CAIR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Please call 202-488-8787 ext.
6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NY:
MAYOR BLOOMBERG IMPROVES RACE RELATIONS -
TOP
MIXED RECORD ON RACE
BRYAN VIRASAMI, Newsday, 3/28/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nymino284193900mar28,0,1982310.story
Another post-Sept. 11 issue that won the mayor accolades, however, is the
view by some Muslims that he listens to their concerns.
Wissam Nasr, executive director of the New York chapter of the Council on
American Islamic Relations, a nonprofit advocacy group, was
supportive.
"I would say Bloomberg would enjoy generous support from the Muslim
community as long as Bloomberg keeps the door open for Muslims to engage
the government," Nasr said. (MORE)
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr, (212) 870-2002, E-Mail:
cair-ny@cair-ny.com
-----
RIGHT-WING
TERROR MOVEMENTS OMITTED FROM DHS TERRORIST LIST -
TOP
Justin Rood, Congressional Quarterly, 3/28/05
http://page15.com/2005/03/right-wing-terror-movements-omitted.html
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not list right-wing
domestic terrorists and terrorist groups on a document that appears to be
an internal list of threats to the nation's security.
According to the list - part of a draft planning document obtained by CQ
Homeland Security - between now and 2011 DHS expects to contend primarily
with adversaries such as al Qaeda and other foreign entities affiliated
with the Islamic Jihad movement, as well as domestic radical Islamist
groups.
It also lists left-wing domestic groups, such as the Animal Liberation
Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), as terrorist threats,
but it does not mention anti-government groups, white supremacists and
other radical right-wing movements, which have staged numerous terrorist
attacks that have killed scores of Americans. Recent attacks on cars,
businesses and property in Virginia, Oregon and California have been
attributed to ELF.
DHS did not respond to repeated requests for comment or confirmation of
the document's authenticity. (MORE)
-----
CAIR: TV
SHOULD REFLECT REALITY OF MUSLIM LIFE -
TOP
AHMED '24' CENTERPIECE 2
Rabiah Ahmed, Press Enterprise, 2/26/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_0327_24ahmed.a17af.html
[Rabiah Ahmed is Communications Coordinator for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. She may be reached at
rahmed@cair-net.org.]
The recent controversy surrounding the depiction of an American Muslim
family as a terrorist sleeper cell in Fox's television drama
"24" has brought light to an issue of ongoing concern for
American Muslims: the way their community is portrayed in the
entertainment industry.
Since the late '70s, American Muslims have taken issue with Hollywood's
vilification of Islam and its adherents. Writers and producers alike have
made Muslims America's favorite new "Bad Guys" by consistently
casting them as bloodthirsty, religious fanatics bent on Western
destruction. Movies like "The Siege," "True Lies" and
"Executive Decision" are all prime examples of this.
But no matter how commonplace, it is something to which we, as a nation,
should not be desensitized or leave unchallenged, especially in the
post-Sept. 11 climate where American Muslims are facing an alarming
backlash.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations' 2004 report on the status of
American Muslim civil rights shows that harassment, violence and
discriminatory treatment increased nearly 70 percent since 2002 -- the
year after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Hate crimes increased by 121
percent during this same period.
Other polls show that one in four Americans holds anti-Muslim views, such
as a belief that Islam teaches violence and hatred. Forty-four percent of
Americans believe the government should restrict the civil liberties of
American Muslims and nearly one in three Americans say the government
should engage in racial profiling, according to a recent Cornell
University study. In a climate such as this, it is imperative for
Hollywood to be socially responsible and avoid fostering a climate of
intolerance and bigotry in our society by demonizing ethnic groups for
the sake of television entertainment.
Critics would like to frame this as an issue of freedom of expression,
but that is an oversimplification. American Muslims embrace freedom of
expression and the idea of a true marketplace of ideas, where competing
messages can vie for acceptance.
The reality, however, is that American Muslims, like many other
minorities in our country's history, do not yet have access to this
coveted marketplace. American Muslims are only now entering the fields of
film and television. Visibly positive or, at best, neutral Muslim actors
and actresses on television are still few and far between.
(MORE)
-----
TN: SHAVING
POLICY TRUMPS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS -
TOP
James L. Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat, 3/28/05
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/11246733.htm
Akeem Muhammad, a Muslim serving a life sentence in state prison, said he
shouldn't be handcuffed and shaved against his will just because he
doesn't want to.
In fact, Muhammad believes "shaving one's face violates the tenets
of Islam," he said in a letter to the Tallahassee
Democrat.
"It's horrible," Muhammad said of the forced shaving.
"It's corporal punishment."
Sorry, said a prison system spokeswoman, being clean-shaven is department
policy - no religious exceptions granted.
And Islamic scholars question whether the religion requires beards in the
first place.
"Religious beliefs do not justify violation of department rules and
regulations," said Debbie Buchanan, Department of Corrections
spokeswoman. "Our concern is inmates can hide contraband in beards,
such as shanks (handmade knives) or drugs."
That's not to say the department doesn't accommodate Muslims. Alternate
meals are available when a prison serves pork, Buchanan said, and Muslim
prisoners are free to pray when they need to during the day.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR:
'CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES' -
TOP
CAIR publishes a booklet called "A Correctional Institution's Guide
to Islamic Religious Practices." The booklet may be obtained at:
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6
-----
TX: MSA EDUCATES CAMPUS ON
ISLAM -
TOP
Yasmin Awad, SMU Daily Campus, 3/29/05
http://www.smudailycampus.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/29/4248e36d74129
Last week, the Muslim Student Association held SMU's 9th Islam Awareness
Week, a celebration of culture and informing students about Islam. A
display of fact filled posters, artwork, cultural finger foods,
literature and speakers were presented daily inside the Hughes-Trigg
Commons.
Islam Awareness Week is a nationally recognized event held by Muslim
Student Associations at universities and colleges nationwide.
Monday's theme was titled "WWMD" or "What Would Muhammad
Do," analogous to the Christian WWJD motto. It featured displays
about the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who spread the
message of Islam and whose character and manners are followed by Muslims
all over the world. (MORE)
-----
U.S.
SCHOLAR CONDEMNED IN AN OPEN LETTER FOR 'RACIST' SPEECHES -
TOP
Caroline Alphonso, Globe and Mail, 3/29/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050329/PIPES29/TPNational/Toronto
A visit today to the University of Toronto by a controversial U.S.
scholar of the Middle East is causing an uproar among academics and
students, who say that "hate, prejudice and fear-mongering" do
not have a place on campus.
A university spokeswoman said that arrangements are in place for a
"safe event" this evening, when the school plays host to Daniel
Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum and a
pro-Israeli academic. The Middle East Forum at U of T, a new student
group, invited Mr. Pipes.
In an unusual move, more than 80 professors and graduate students wrote
an open letter pointing out that Mr. Pipes has a "long record of
xenophobic, racist and sexist [speeches] that goes back to
1990."
"Genuine academic debate requires an open and free exchange of ideas
in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance. We . . . are committed
to academic freedom and we affirm Pipes' right to speak at our
university," the letter states. "However, we strongly believe
that hate, prejudice, and fear-mongering have no place on this
campus."
Mr. Pipes, who has written 12 books, is described in his biography as
"one of the few analysts who understood the threat of militant
Islam." He is the creator of Campus Watch, a controversial website
that reviews and critiques Middle East studies in North
America.
In 2003, under heavy police protection, he told an audience of 180
students at York University that Arab rejection of Israel's right to
exist is the root cause of violence in the Middle East, and that Western
university campuses are becoming increasingly intolerant of pro-Israeli
views.
Mr. Pipes also drew criticism when he suggested, following the report
into the 2001 attacks on the United States, that Islam is the enemy in
the war on terrorism. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL
PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS' -
TOP
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II&" From Daniel Pipes' website, 12/28/04
-----
AIPAC STAFFERS GO TO GRAND
JURY -
TOP
Edwin Black, JTA, 3/27/05
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=AIPAC%20staffers%20go%20to%20grand%20jury&intcategoryid=3
WASHINGTON - Top officials at the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee have appeared before a grand jury and two senior staffers have
been placed on paid leave in the latest developments in the federal
investigation of the pro-Israel lobby for allegedly passing classified
information to Israel, according to multiple sources with direct
knowledge of the case.
At the same time, the Pentagon staffer at the center of the allegations,
accused of espionage by the FBI and then pressured into an alleged FBI
"sting" against AIPAC, has been quietly rehired by the
Pentagon, over the FBI's objections.
Sources close to the investigation, while confirming these details, say
they do not foresee an imminent resolution before AIPAC's annual policy
conference, which begins May 22. Rumors that something might happen
sooner have been swirling around Washington in recent weeks.
(MORE)
-----
YUSUF ISLAM:
'MUSIC IS PART OF GOD'S UNIVERSE' -
TOP
The Guardian, 3/29/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1447120,00.html
Yusuf Islam doesn't look like a threat to anyone's national security. As
he bounds into the room dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, he looks
strikingly like a slightly older version of the gentle singer-songwriter
we used to know as Cat Stevens. And yet, in September last year he was
escorted off a flight from London to Washington and grilled by the FBI,
which then deported him as a security threat. Since then, he has been
wrongly accused of supporting terrorist groups by the Sunday Times and
the Sun, who were last month forced to pay damages. "Ever since I
became a Muslim, I've had to deal with attempts to damage my reputation
and countless insinuations seeking to cast doubt on my character and
trying to connect me to causes which I do not subscribe to," he
grumbled after the out-of-court settlement.
The newspapers apologised, but there has been no contrition or apology on
the part of the US government. "They still haven't even given me a
satisfactory explanation," he says with a shake of his beard. He was
on his way to Nashville to discuss "musical ideas" with a
record company when he was refused entry and he would like to return.
"But I'm not begging to go back until they sort it out and give me
an apology. It's scary how wrong they can get it." Then, with more
emollience, he adds: "But all things can be forgiven if we can
progress." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
ARSONISTS TARGET
ISLAMIC SCHOOL AGAIN -
TOP
Expatica, 3/29/05
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=18479
AMSTERDAM - A suspected arson attack has targeted an Islamic primary
school in Uden. The same school was destroyed in a deliberate blaze as
part of the series of retaliatory attacks in the wake of the murder of
Theo van Gogh last November.
The latest fire broke out on Sunday night, but the damage was restricted
to two chairs. On Monday morning, investigators found a bottle which is
believed to have contained a Molotov cocktail.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old Uden boy in connection with the fire
and further arrests have not been ruled out. Muslims have expressed
heightened concerns about the latest incident. (MORE)
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
GOOD NEWS ALERT - #452
NATIONAL REVIEW REMOVES BOOKS ATTACKING PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Hundreds contact Boeing to urge withdrawal of magazine ads
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/29/05) - Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), CAIR
today
announced that National Review magazine has apparently removed
advertisements for two virulently anti-Muslim books attacking the
Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) from its online store.
The removal of the promotional materials for "The Life and Religion of
Mohammed" and "The Sword of the Prophet" came after hundreds of
concerned
Muslims contacted the magazine and Boeing Co., one of the magazine's
advertisers, to express their concerns about the Islamophobic views in
both
books. The previous links to each book, which were working as late as
this
afternoon, state "Record not found for product."
SEE: http://www.nrbookservice.com/bookpage.asp?prod_cd=C6614
http://www.nrbookservice.com/bookpage.asp?prod_cd=C6077
Yesterday, CAIR issued an action alert calling on Muslims and other
people
of conscience to urge that Boeing withdraw advertising support from
National Review because of its promotion of anti-Muslim hate. Boeing
representatives say they were "inundated" with faxes, e-mails and
calls.
SEE: "Contact Boeing About National Review's Attack On Prophet
Muhammad"
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=224&theType=AA
"We would like to thank all those who took the time to contact both
National Review and Boeing to defend Islam and the Prophet Muhammad
from
defamation," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Once again, your
calls, e-mails and faxes have truly made a difference."
Help CAIR meet its monthly online fundraising goal of $25,000. GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp (Or use the form below.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/30/05
* HADITH:
Success
in This Life and the Next
* CAIR-FL:
Latinas Embrace
Islam (Tampa Trib)
-
CAIR-FL:
Workshop
for Journalists
-
CAIR-KY:
Making
Hospitals More Muslim-Friendly
-
CAIR-LA:
Muslim
Newspaper Tackles Diverse Topics
-
CAIR:
AMT
Town Hall Meeting in New York
-
CAIR-CA:
American Muslims
Honor Cesar Chavez
* CAIR-CHICAGO:
Seniors Get
Look at Islam (Chicago Trib)
- TX:
Muslim Women Speak
of Their Role in Society
- CA:
Why I Wear Hijab (PNS)
- MD:
Muslim
Council Seeks to Dispel Misconceptions
- MN:
The Food of Peace (Duluth News
Trib)
* TORTURE:
Memo Shows
U.S. Interrogation Plans In Iraq
-
Interrogation Tactics Draw
Fire (CSM)
-
U.S. Holds 10,500
Prisoners in Iraq (AP)
-
Group
Details 'Reverse Rendition' (Reuters)
* OR:
Government
Used Patriot Act in Mayfield Case (AP)
-
Case
Shows U.S. 'Secret Arrests' (LA Times)
* CAIR-CA:
Modi
Prevented From Speaking (Daily 49er)
- DC:
Indians-Americans
Call for Doc's Ouster
-----
HADITH
OF THE DAY: SUCCESS IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT -
TOP
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and asked:
"Which is the best supplication (to God)?" The Prophet replied:
"Supplicate to your Lord for forgiveness and security in this world
and in the Hereafter." The man came again the next day, and then
again on the following day, and asked the same question. The Prophet gave
him the same answer, and then said: "If you are given forgiveness
and security in this world and in the Hereafter you have attained
success."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 112C
VERSE OF THE DAY: ULTIMATE SUCCESS
"You should know that ultimate success is for the
righteous."
The Holy Quran, 7:128
-----
CAIR-FL: LATINAS EMBRACE
ISLAM -
TOP
Cloe Carbera, Tampa Tribune, 3/30/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBUW0G2X6E.html
TAMPA - As a child, Amy Perez attended different Christian churches,
praying at Catholic Masses and singing at Baptist revivals. But she never
felt satisfied with the answers those faiths provided to her
questions.
At 12, Perez left Webb Middle School for the Universal Academy of
Florida, a Muslim school in Tampa, because she did not like the cliques
and social scene at Webb. And she wanted to learn more about
Islam.
Perez read about the Muslim faith and asked her classmates
questions.
After much research and contemplation, Perez took the Shahada, the
declaration of faith to become Muslim&
Perez's sentiments seem to resonate with U.S. Latinas, who are embracing
Islam in increasing numbers. They join a faith dominated in the United
States by blacks, who make up about half the estimated 6 million
followers, according to a 1990 study by the American Muslim Council, the
most recent available. Followers of South Asian and Arab descent
constitute about 35 percent.
Numbers of Muslims are difficult to determine since faith is not included
in the U.S. census, but there is abundant anecdotal evidence that more
Hispanic women are adopting Islam.
"We're definitely seeing more Latina converts," said Ahmed
Bedier, director of the Central Florida Office of the Council on American
Islamic Relations. "It's really a phenomenon because the stereotype
is that Islam oppresses women, so why would they want to choose a
religion that would restrict their lifestyle?"
Helping fuel the growth is an increase of information available to
Hispanic converts, Bedier said&
Korans written in Spanish and other works are available, and distribution
has been on the rise, he said.
There is support online for Hispanic Muslims from groups such as the
Latino American Dawah Organization and
Hispanicmuslims.com.
(MORE)
ACTION REQUESTED: Send a letter of appreciation to thank the reporter and
editor of this article by writing to:
tribletters@tampatrib.com
ccabrera@tampatrib.com
Please cc:
tampa@cairfl.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL
TO HOLD DIVERSITY WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS AT U OF F -
TOP
(TAMPA, FL, 3/30/05)- On March 31, the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) in cooperation with Islam on Campus
at the University of Florida will hold a diversity training workshop for
journalists, "A Journalist's Guide to Covering Islam: Going Beyond
the Stereotypes."
The workshop aims to empower journalists and journalism students to
accurately cover Islam and Muslims. Attendees will learn the basic facts
and beliefs relating to Islam and learn how to better communicate and
interact with the American Muslim community.
WHAT: Workshop, A Journalist's Guide to Covering Islam
WHEN: Thursday, March 31, 5:30 pm
WHERE: Florida Gym Room 270, University of Florida, Gainesville
LOCAL CONTACT: Sakil, Islam on Campus, 352-256-8623
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506,
abedier@cairfl.org; Altaf Ali,
954-298-8214,
altaf@cairfl.org
---
CAIR-KY:
MAKING HOSPITALS MORE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY -
TOP
Karla Ward, Herald-Leader, 3/30/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/11263451.htm
In response to a growing Muslim population in Central Kentucky, the
University of Kentucky Hospital is offering a workshop to help employees
better understand Islam so they can treat Muslim patients with respect
for their religion.
Yesterday, Chih Ian Lee, a training specialist for UK's Human Resource
Development office, led 14 attendees in a discussion of end-of-life,
dietary, gender and other concerns as part of the seminar Health Care and
the Muslim Patient.
"Islam is more than a religion," Lee said. "It really is a
way of life."
He reminded participants that pork and alcohol are forbidden, so the
hospital should strive to provide meals and medication that are free of
those ingredients.
And he pointed out that Muslims pray five times daily while facing Mecca,
the holy city in Saudi Arabia.
Lee distributed maps of the medical center campus that Muslim patients
could be given to help them orient themselves for prayer in their
hospital rooms, with an arrow showing which way to face.
He encouraged the staff to respect their patients' need for modesty by
providing a caregiver of the same sex and by not exposing more of the
body than necessary during examinations.
And he explained some of the religious beliefs that might influence the
way followers of the Quran react to illness.
"Muslims greet news of illness with patience and with prayers,"
Lee said. "It's a reliance on God."
Abdul Quayyum, chairman of the Kentucky chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, applauded the hospital's efforts.
"We are very happy," he said, adding that his organization is
preparing a similar training opportunity for Lexington police.
CAIR:
'A
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS
PRACTICES'
---
CAIR-LA:
NEWSPAPER TO TACKLE DIVERSE TOPICS FOR READERS -
TOP
H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times, 3/30/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-muslim30mar30,1,3656423.story
The life of Asma Ahmad, a Pakistani who grew up in Saudi Arabia attending
American-run schools, has long been a cross-cultural event.
Now 26, she lives in Orange County and wears the flowing robes and a
scarf more in favor with Muslim women in the Middle East than with her
neighbors in Irvine.
While wearing the traditional attire, she works in a tiny Anaheim office
not far from Disneyland. Ahmad is the editor of Southern California in
Focus, an Islamic newspaper launched earlier this year to cover the
growing and diverse Muslim community. In most Islamic countries, her job
would be usually filled by men.
"It's a newspaper for American Muslims," she said. "We
want to bring out a diversity of issues that are important to the
community and write about the contributions that non-Muslims are
making."
Ahmad is targeting a wide audience. Southern California has an estimated
500,000 Muslims living from Santa Barbara to San Diego. "The Muslim
community is diverse and rich in the background of its members," she
said. "Muslims come in different colors and speak different
languages."
What sets Ahmad's fledgling publication apart from a handful of papers
that serve local Muslims is its broad coverage, including news,
obituaries, short profiles of Muslim artists and investment advice for
Muslims, whose religion prohibits usury. Also, all of the articles are in
English. Most papers that serve the community are in both English and
Arabic.
"This is what the community needed. There's a lot of Muslims who
don't read Arabic, and English is the common language among Muslims here.
It seems that the paper is going to be very active in covering the
community. Plus it will help non-Muslims understand us better," said
Garden Grove bookstore owner Jarir Saadoun.
Ahmad said her parents encouraged her to expand her horizons through
education, and that brought her to America. She is a Canadian citizen,
but, having been around Americans all of her life, her world is also
colored with American values.
In a recent meeting with a visiting newsman at her paper's office, Ahmad
talked about a bridge between the Islamic world and the West.
She offered her visitor a warm greeting, but her hands were clasped
behind her back, a sign that she follows the traditional Muslim practice
of not shaking hands with men. But Ahmad quickly pointed out that the
paper was not traditional in its coverage.
The February issue carried a story about a hip-hop concert in the San
Fernando Valley featuring the Muslim group Native Deen. Hip-hop is a
legitimate story for the paper because "a lot of Muslim kids listen
to the music," she said.
In Focus is an Islamic newspaper but not a publication about Islam, Ahmad
said.
A monthly tabloid of about 20 pages, it began publishing in February. The
Council on American Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights
group in the United States, subsidizes the paper. CAIR's Southern
California chapter provides office space for In Focus, but Ahmad said the
publication was editorially independent. (MORE)
---
CAIR:
AMERICAN MUSLIM TASKFORCE TOWN HALL MEETING -
TOP
WHAT: American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a
coalition of 10 national Muslim organizations, will hold a town hall
meeting for the 2006 & 2008 elections.
Speakers include: Dr. Agha Saeed (Chairperson of AMT), Br. Shafquat
Chaudhary (AMA), Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras (CAIR), Br. Ashrafuz Zaman Khan
(ICNA), Dr. Faroque A Khan (ISNA), Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdul Rashid
(MANA), Br. Magdy Mansour (MAS-N), Br. Aktar Hossain (MUNA), Br. Kalim
Khwaja (UMA) & Representatives of MAS and Project Hope.
WHEN: Saturday, April 2, 2005 from 6 - 9 p.m.
(Dinner will be served)
WHERE: 36-05, 37th Avenue, Long Island City, NY
For more information please contact:
Br. Arman Chaudhury 347-683-6413, Br. Ashrafuz Zaman Khan 917-238-9744,
Br. Ghazi Khankan 516-889-0005, Br. Omar Farooq 917-302-3406
---
CAIR-CA: MUSLIMS HONOR
CESAR CHAVEZ -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/30/2005) - As the state of California observes Cesar
Chavez Day on Thursday, March 31st, the California office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) calls on the American Muslim
community to draw inspiration from Chavez's work in challenging
injustice.
A statement issued by CAIR-CA, said in part:
"Cesar Chavez worked tirelessly to unite, educate and empower the
Latino, Filipino and Middle Eastern farm worker community and to win a
measure of dignity and respect for them. In this struggle, he was
transformed from a farm labor union leader to a spiritual legend whose
non-violent struggle for human rights continues to inspire succeeding
generations.
"Today, the life of Cesar Chavez has special relevance to American
Muslims -- many of whom are immigrants themselves, and are struggling for
their civil rights.
"His words, 'You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride,' will
be a continued source of strength and inspiration for millions of
Americans."
CONTACT: CAIR-Sacramento Valley Executive Director Basim Elkarra,
916-441-6269
------
SENIORS GET LOOK INTO
WAY OF ISLAM -
TOP
Margaret Ramirez, Chicago Tribune, 3/30/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0503300253mar30,1,6789220.story
Under the silver dome of the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, the
young boy lifted his hands to his ears and raised his voice sounding the
afternoon call to prayer. Slowly, a group of about 80 older adults filed
to the back of the mosque and watched as the Muslims bowed their heads to
the floor in devotion to God.
Bill Southwick, 66, said it was his first time in a mosque. But, even at
first glance, the Presbyterian minister said he could feel the solemnity
of the faith.
"I found the ritual very engrossing," said Southwick, of Oak
Park. "I know very little about Islam. But to see it and then listen
to an explanation made things more clear."
Southwick was one of nearly 600 seniors from Illinois, Indiana and
Wisconsin who recently participated in a daylong educational program
called Building Bridges to Islam at the Islamic Cultural
Center.
Sponsored jointly by the travel group Elderhostel and the Chicago chapter
of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the program was slated to
run on four consecutive Wednesdays for groups of about 75 to 80 people
each. But demand proved so popular--with more than 300 people on a
waiting list--that the program was expanded to two more dates.
The immense interest in Islam by America's eldest generation is being
mirrored in other cities, such as Pittsburgh, Seattle and West Palm
Beach, Fla., where Elderhostel and Muslim groups are holding similar
seminars and close to 5,000 people have enrolled. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM WOMEN
SPEAK OF THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY -
TOP
Tony Gutierrez, North Texas Daily, 3/30/05
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/30/424a505b089b0
The Muslim Student Association hosted a conference Tuesday about the role
of women in Islam.
Bassima Dandan, a member of the Board of Directors for the Islamic
Association of North Texas, presented the lecture.
Dandan began the lecture by praying and asking God to guide her in what
she was about to say. She said the media presents a different view of
Muslim women than history.
"Historically, we find how Islam changed the status of women when it
was founded," Dandan said.
Before Islam, it was a common practice in the Middle East to bury infant
girls alive.
According to Dandan, this was because social belief of the time said
girls brought shame to the family.
"Islam came to give them position, to give them equality,"
Dandan said. "If a society does not allow women to participate, that
society goes backwards." (MORE)
---
CA: WHY I WEAR THE HIJAB -
TOP
Souheila Al-Jadda, Pacific News Service, 3/30/05
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=ef69716dbd269baf681e1cda5c4ab58a
Editor's Note: A young American woman with Middle Eastern heritage
chooses to wear a head scarf as protection against vanity and the lustful
gaze of men. By carefully combining the hijab with Western fashion, she
finds she can express individual creativity, too.
SAN JOSE, Calif.--"What beautiful eyes you have!"
People often say this to me, although, as a Muslim woman, I am covered
from head-to-toe except for my face and hands.
I have hazel-colored, almond-shaped eyes, usually lined with thick black
eyeliner and mascara.
When I hear this, I turn, flush and whisper, "Thank you." Part
of me is flattered, another part reserved.
Several years ago, I decided to wear the Islamic veil ("hijab"
in Arabic) to demonstrate my modesty. The aim of the hijab, usually worn
as headscarf, is to hide a woman's beauty. All Muslim women are required
to wear the hijab according to Islam. But, with the exception of Iran and
Saudi Arabia, women in Muslim countries have the freedom to choose to
whether to wear it or not. They cannot be forced by their husbands or
fathers.
The hijab is an act of worship and protection against the lustful looks
of others. When I interact with others, people judge me by my intellect
and character, not my looks. The hijab also helps keep me from infusing
sex into any interaction. (MORE)
---
MD:
MUSLIM COUNCIL SEEKS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS -
TOP
Bob Allen, Townson Times, 3/3/0/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=659&NewsID=621344&CategoryID=1840&show=localnews&om=1
Dr. Bash Pharoan, a Timonium resident and surgeon who heads up teh
Baltimore County Muslim Council, points to his wife in an old family
photograph. Photo by Valerie Roche.
Dr. Bash Pharoan, a Timonium resident and president and co-founder of the
Baltimore County Muslim Council, says the county's Muslim community is,
considering its size, relatively invisible. To most countians, it remains
a mystery.
"We are your next-door neighbors," said Pharoan, who estimates
the number of Muslims in Baltimore County to be "in the tens of
thousands."
"We are physicians, pharmacists, engineers, state employees,
7-Eleven workers and gas station workers. We are scattered
everywhere."
Pharoan, a private practice surgeon and critical-care physician with
offices in Parkville and at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and a dozen
or so other local professionals of the Muslim faith founded the Muslim
Council in 2000. It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization two
years later.
The council's mission statement, then and now, is to "improve the
lives of Muslim-Americans in the county, foster a better understanding of
Islam and Muslims in the county school system and the state government
and the nation at large."
In other words, the council wants to make the community more visible and
dispel whatever mysteries or misconceptions might still exist about it.
(MORE)
---
MN: THE FOOD OF PEACE -
TOP
Candace Renalls, Duluth News-Tribune, 3/30/05
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/living/food/11260780.htm
Kishwar Feroz threaded the skewers with precision, alternating chunks of
raw chicken with pieces of green pepper and onion.
"It will start with chicken and end with chicken," she said,
noting the final count on each skewer: five pieces of chicken, two pieces
of green pepper and two pieces of onion.
"Leave a little space between so it gets cooked well," Feroz
instructed three other Muslim women helping make kawabs at her Duluth
home.
In no time, 15 kawabs -- the Indian version of kababs -- were ready for
broiling. Eight minutes on one side, 6 to 7 minutes on the other side and
the tasty morsels marinated in coriander, ginger and other spices were
ready for dipping in a spicy yogurt cucumber dip.
The kawabs and dip are examples of authentic dishes from Islamic cultures
that will be featured at Salaam (Peace) Northland Dinner at Peace United
Church of Christ in Duluth on April 9. For the fourth year, the Twin
Ports Islamic Community and India Palace restaurant are holding the
community dinner to raise money for Churches United in Ministry's
programs that help the poor and homeless.
"It's a way to give something back to our community," said
Shahla Rahman of Duluth, one of the event's coordinators and cooks.
"Lot of people don't even know about Islam. This was a way to put a
face on this community. Like everybody else, we're teachers and
doctors."
Rahman estimated Northeastern Minnesota's Islamic community at 200 to
300, including students at local colleges. Followers of Islam are called
Muslims. (MORE)
-----
MEMO
SHOWS U.S. INMATE INTERROGATION PLANS IN IRAQ -
TOP
Will Dunhan, Reuters, 3/29/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8029710
WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in Iraq authorized prisoner
interrogation tactics more harsh than accepted Army practice, including
using guard dogs to exploit "Arab fear of dogs," a memo made
public on Tuesday showed.
The Sept. 14, 2003, memo by Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, then the
senior commander in Iraq, was released by the American Civil Liberties
Union, which obtained it from the government under court order through
the Freedom of Information Act.
"The memo clearly establishes that Gen. Sanchez authorized unlawful
interrogation techniques for use in Iraq, and in particular these
techniques violate the Geneva Conventions and the Army's own field manual
governing interrogations," ACLU lawyer Amrit Singh said in an
interview. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
INTERROGATION TACTICS DRAW
FIRE -
TOP
Faye Bowers, Christian Science Monitor, 3/30/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0330/p02s01-usju.html
WASHINGTON - As more details emerge from detainees sent by the United
States to countries that allegedly engage in torture, the CIA is under
growing pressure to account for some of its top-secret actions in the war
on terror - especially its interrogation techniques.
The controversy is leading to a rare moral debate about the methods and
effectiveness of some of the agency's most shadowy ways of extracting
information. (MORE)
---
U.S. HOLDS ABOUT
10,500 PRISONERS IN IRAQ -
TOP
Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 3/30/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/30/national/w050735S04.DTL
WASHINGTON - The United States is holding about 10,500 prisoners in Iraq,
more than double the number held in October, the military says.
About 100 of those prisoners are under age 18, said Army Lt. Col. Guy
Rudisill, a spokesman for detention operations in Iraq.
Five months ago, the military said it was holding about 4,300 prisoners
in Iraq. The growth in the prison population has come amid a lingering
insurgency in Iraq and despite the formal transfer of power to an interim
Iraqi government last June.
The number of U.S.-held prisoners in Iraq declined last summer after
international outrage over abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
Revelations of abuse have continued since then; on Friday, the Army
released documents detailing a half-dozen prison abuse investigations in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
The reports said soldiers had stripped prisoners naked and released them
to walk home, beaten detainees with their fists and feet, broke a
prisoner's jaw and forced detainees to exercise to the point of
exhaustion. One investigator concluded prisoners at a temporary jail near
Mosul were systematically mistreated and possibly tortured in December
2003.
Spokesmen for U.S. Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan did not respond
Monday and Tuesday to e-mailed questions about the number of prisoners
there. The military estimated in January that it was holding about 500
people in Afghanistan.
A human rights group was issuing a report Wednesday saying the rising
number of detainees increases the risk that the prisoners will be
mistreated. The report from New York-based Human Rights First says
secrecy about the prisoners is also increasing, citing the refusal of
military officials to discuss the number of prisoners in Afghanistan
since January.
``We're seriously concerned about overburdening of what the Pentagon has
called transient facilities, the field prisons,'' Human Rights First
lawyer Deborah Pearlstein said Tuesday. ``These are places where
conditions are terrible, where the worst abuses occurred from 2002 to
2004, and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) access is
limited to nonexistent.''
About 1,200 of the prisoners in Iraq are being held at temporary
facilities at forward bases, Rudisill said. He said the other 9,300 are
held in three permanent prisons: the Abu Ghraib jail near Baghdad, Camp
Cropper at the Baghdad International Airport and Camp Bucca in southern
Iraq.
In December, U.S. officials said they were holding about 65 prisoners age
16 and under. The 100 or so under-18 prisoners in custody now are being
held separately from adult prisoners, Rudisill said.
In an interview transcript made public earlier this month, the former
head of prison operations in Iraq described meeting an imprisoned boy who
said he was 11 years old but looked more like an 8-year-old. Brig. Gen.
Janis Karpinski said the boy was crying for his mother, but did not say
what happened to him.
---
RIGHTS
GROUP DETAILS U.S. 'REVERSE RENDITION' CASE -
TOP
Will Dunham, Reuters, 3/2/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8028367
WASHINGTON - A Yemeni intelligence officer was kidnapped by Egyptian
authorities in Cairo in 2002 and sent to U.S. jails in Afghanistan and
Cuba entirely outside the rule of law, a human rights group said on
Tuesday.
Human Rights Watch called the case of Abd al-Salam Ali al-Hila a
"reverse rendition," a twist on the U.S. government practice of
"rendering" certain prisoners to third nations for
interrogation and, in the view of rights activists, torture.
Al-Hila was the latest of about 10 known cases of men seized by other
countries not on a battlefield and handed over to the United States for
indefinite detention as an "enemy combatant" without legal
process, Human Rights Watch military affairs researcher John Sifton said.
(MORE)
-----
GOVERNMENT
ACKNOWLEDGES USING PATRIOT ACT IN MAYFIELD CASE -
TOP
Rukmini Callimachi, Associated Press, 3/30/05
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1112152713288170.xml&storylist=orlocal
PORTLAND, Oregon - FBI agents used provisions of the USA Patriot Act
during their investigation last year of a Portland attorney who was
wrongly jailed for two weeks on suspicion of involvement in the Madrid
train bombings, according to a Justice Department letter.
The Patriot Act allows for covert searches of homes, without conventional
search warrants.
Brandon Mayfield, who is a Muslim, was jailed last May after his
fingerprint was incorrectly matched to one found on a bag of detonators
near the scene of the March 11, 2004, Madrid attack, which killed 191
people. He was released after the FBI admitted its mistake.
Mayfield has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, contending his
rights were violated by his arrest and by the investigation against him.
He also contents the Patriot Act is unconstitutional.
While preparing the case, Mayfield's attorneys sent a letter to the
Justice Department in February seeking an order compelling the U.S.
Attorney General to inform Mayfield about any electronic surveillance
that was conducted during the investigation and any secret
searches.
In response, the Justice Department sent a letter acknowledging FBI
agents searched Mayfield's house under provisions of the Patriot
Act.
The letter provides new details about the investigation against Mayfield,
stating that agents seized three hard drives, 10 DNA samples preserved on
cotton swabs and took 335 digital photographs of personal effects in his
home.
He was also the target of "other physical searches," the letter
states, without elaboration.
In court papers filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland,
Mayfield's attorneys called for the government to disclose more details
about the search. The attorneys are seeking information on how the DNA
samples were analyzed, where wiretaps were placed, copies of existing
transcripts and information on the specific images taken.
Calls to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and to the U.S.
Attorney's office in Portland late Tuesday were not returned.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
CASE
ALLEGEDLY SHOWS U.S. PRACTICE OF SECRET ARRESTS -
TOP
Megan K. Stack, Los Angeles Times, 3/30/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-yemeni30mar30,0,7286359.story
SANA, Yemen - He was writing from prison, but at least he was alive. The
smuggled letter from Abdel Salem Hila was the first his family had heard
from him since he had vanished 19 months earlier.
It was, in a way, good news.
"I am writing this letter from a dark prison," the letter
began. "I don't know why I am imprisoned.... I'm imprisoned in
Afghanistan by the Americans."
Hila's family had seen him off in September 2002, when he'd left on a
business trip to Egypt. Upon landing in Cairo, Hila checked into a
downtown hotel, later placed a nervous telephone call to his family in
Yemen -- and disappeared.
When Hila turned up again, he was in solitary confinement at the U.S.-run
Bagram air base in Afghanistan. The journey was so disorienting, he said,
it took him four months to realize what country he was in. He was later
moved to the American detention center at the U.S. naval base in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to his letters to family
members.
Hila's case is apparently part of a broader pattern of secret
"renditions," a process by which U.S. agents covertly force
foreign suspects from one country to another outside the bounds of
international law. The United States began to use renditions during the
Reagan administration, and the practice is believed to have mushroomed
after the Sept. 11 attacks. (MORE)
-----
INDIAN
MINISTER PREVENTED FROM SPEAKING AT CAL STATE-LONG BEACH -
TOP
Jennifer Frehn, Daily 49er, 3/29/05
http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/archives/2005/spring/volLVno94/
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, India, was
scheduled to speak at several locations across the United States this
month, including California State University-Long Beach.
He had just one problem--his visa was revoked.
Modi, invited to inaugurate the Yadunandan Center for Indian Studies on
campus March 22, was the center of much protest from the Indian
community, as well as other minority groups, who put pressure on the U.S.
government to halt his entry into the United States because of his
involvement in the mass murder of Muslims in his own state.
Under the leadership of Modi, more than 2,000 people of Gujarat, mostly
Muslims, were killed between Feb. 28 and March 2, 2002, as part of what
has been called a politically motivated attack on minorities. The attack
came after a train carrying mostly Hindus was set on fire, killing 60
Hindus. Even though the cause of the fire was not certain at that time,
many Hindus blamed the Muslims and used it as a reason to begin attacking
the Muslim community. Recent reports have shown that the fire was most
likely started from inside of the train, making it unlikely that the
perpetrator was a Muslim.
Since then, the European Union and every major Indian and international
human rights organization have condemned the role of the Gujarat
government in the attacks&
Sabiha Khan, a spokeswoman for CAIR, was also glad that the event did not
unfold.
"I think our government recognized the seriousness of the issue and
how horrific this person is," Khan said. She also compared Modi to
Hitler and said it would in essence be the same situation.
"I don't think anyone would think twice about revoking [Hitler's]
visa if that were the case today," Khan said.
ALSO SEE:
INDIAN-AMERICANS
CALL FOR DOCTOR'S OUSTER FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY PANEL -
TOP
Josh Gerstein, New York Sun, 3/30/05
http://www.nysun.com/article/11352
Several Indian-American organizations are asking the White House to
remove a Florida doctor from a federal advisory panel after he defended
an Indian official who was denied an American visa on the grounds that he
condoned anti-Muslim riots.
The groups are seeking the ouster of Dr. Akshay Desai, who was appointed
by President Bush to the advisory commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders. In a March 18 letter to a top Bush adviser, Karl Rove,
Dr. Desai suggested the administration had fallen victim to a
"systematic 'smear campaign'" when it rebuffed the request by
the chief minister of India's Gujarat Province, Narendra Modi, to deliver
speeches in New York, Florida, and California.
Dr. Desai painted the situation largely in religious terms." Mr.
Modi is a Hindu by religion and has been accused by some Muslim
organizations of being anti-Muslim," wrote the physician, an
internist who runs a managed care organization. "As you know, India
has over 800 millions [sic] practicing Hindus and the previous
Hindu-dominated BJP government of India and its leaders were and are very
close to our administration. The Indian American community in the USA is
also predominantly Hindu and would feel humiliated," Dr. Desai wrote
in a late attempt to reverse the State Department's decision on the
visa.
Dr. Desai's letter, which was posted on Web sites frequented by
Indian-Americans, drew the ire of Mr. Modi's critics, who blame the
Indian official for failing to act against riots that killed about 2,000
Muslims in Gujarat in 2002.
"Dr. Akshay Desai speaks only for marginal populace who espouse a
militant supremacist ideology known as Hindutva," eight
organizations wrote in an open letter to Mr. Rove last week. "Far
from being a Muslim versus Hindu issue, the opposition to Modi's visit
comes from a wide and diverse section of mainstream Indian Americans that
include Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, women's groups and
human rights organizations," the groups wrote.
One of the letter's writers, Reverend Bernard Mallick of the Federation
of Indian-American Christian Organizations of North America, said Dr.
Desai should be removed because his arguments were overly sectarian.
"There was a tone to that that was Hindus versus Muslims," said
Reverend Mallick, who lives in Wilmington, Del. "It's not that way.
There was a big persecution there in '97-'98 against
Christians."
Human rights officials at the State Department have accused Mr. Modi's
government of condoning violence against religious minorities. Rev.
Mallick said Dr. Desai should heed that analysis or get off the White
House panel. "If he's trying to publicly differ with President
Bush's policy, then he shouldn't be there," the minister
said.
The president of the Indian Muslim Coalition-USA, Dr. Shaik Ubaid, also
accused Dr. Desai of religious bias. "He's not there on the panel as
a Hindu," Dr. Ubaid said. "He's not speaking for all Asians and
is trying to take side of people who commit genocide and rape."
(MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
3/31/05
* VERSE:
God is Close
* CAIR-DC:
Anti-Americanism
and U.S. Foreign Policy
* INCITEMENT:
Allah, God Are
Not the Same
* CAIR:
Indiana Muslim
Trucker's Hazmat Rights Restored
-
CAIR-CT
Meets with DMV on Religious Accommodation
* NY:
DHS to
Address Delay of Muslims at Border (Newsday)
* NY:
Columbia
Panel Clears Profs of Anti-Semitism (NYT)
-
'Academic
Bill Of Rights' Picks Up Steam (Forward)
* NC:
Growth
Leads to Mosque Expansion (Daily Reflector)
- MI:
Woman Vital To Black
Muslims (Free Press)
- MI:
Expert on Muhammad
and Islam Speaks at WMU
- DC:
Exhibition of Muslim Women
Artists (Wash Post)
* CANADA:
Arabic
Second Language in as Quebec Schools
-
Followers of Islam Increasing in
Quebec
* AZ:
Confinement
Subject of 'Guantanamo' Drama (Daily Star)
-
Suit
by Arar Finds Support in Jet's Log (NYT)
* REPORT:
'Large-Scale'
Abuses in Chechnya (AP)
-
INDONESIA:
Muslims,
Christians Bond After Disaster
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS
CLOSE -
TOP
"Verily, it is We who created man, and We know what his innermost
self whispers within him: for We are closer to him than his jugular
vein."
The Holy Quran, 50:16
-----
ISLAMOPHOBIA
AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHEN: Friday, May 13 - Sunday, May 15, 2005
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner
8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna, VA (703-448-1234)
SAMPLE SESSION:
ANTI-AMERICANISM AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Moderator: Dr. Mohamed Nimer (CAIR)
Merve Kavakci, Former MP, Turkey
Dr. Anatol Lieven, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Brookings Institution
Prof. Asma Afsaruddin, University of Notre Dame
To view the full program, or to register, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
-----
INCITEMENT
WATCH: ALLAH, GOD ARE NOT THE SAME -
TOP
Fort Wayne News Sentinel, 3/31/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/11276952.htm
(Scroll down.)
An ecumenical movement promotes the idea that Muslims and Christians
worship the same God. This is not so.
Historically, the name Allah was used as the personal name of the moon
god who was the chief god of many gods worshiped long before Mohammed was
born. He simply eliminated the other gods.
According to the Koran, Allah is so removed from man that it is
impossible to know him in a personal way. There is no savior, according
to the Koran. To Muslims, salvation comes by submitting to the will of
Allah through works, which never carry an assurance of being good enough.
Of the many names of God in Islam, not one is "Father" or has a
personal connotation.
According to the Bible, God is spoken of as a personal being with
intellect, emotion and will. God is knowable. The Bible speaks much of
the grace of God in providing a free salvation for man through a savior.
God created man with the capacity to freely choose whether to obey
God.
When you compare the God revealed in the Bible to the Allah who is
described in the Koran, it is obvious they are not one and the
same.
Ken Blinco
Shipshewana
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Send polite and constructive comments to:
nsletters@news-sentinel.com
COPY TO:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
INDIANA
MUSLIM TRUCKER'S HAZMAT RIGHTS RESTORED -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today announced that an Indiana Muslim truck diver's
right to haul hazardous materials has been restored by the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) after an eight-month effort.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the Muslim trucker,
an American citizen who lives in Indianapolis, received an "Initial
Notification of Threat Assessment" last July claiming he posed a
security threat and making him ineligible to handle hazardous materials.
(He became a truck driver in 1996, and shortly thereafter obtained a
hazardous materials endorsement.)
CAIR contacted the TSA to request justification for the revocation of the
hazardous materials endorsement. In a letter to the TSA, CAIR Legal
Director Arsalan Iftikhar stated: "[The driver] avers that the TSA
has no basis to consider him a threat except for the fact that he is an
Arab and a Muslim."
This week, TSA officials issued a letter telling the driver he does not
pose a security threat and advising the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
to reinstate the his hazardous materials endorsement. No reason was given
for the TSA's previous actions.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CT
MEETS WITH DMV ON RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION -
TOP
(WATERBURY, CT, 3/31/05) - Representatives of the Connecticut office of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) met yesterday with
officials of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the
Connecticut Association of Affirmative Action Professionals (CTAAAP) to
discuss issues related to religious accommodation.
The meeting was prompted by an incident in which a Connecticut Muslim
woman was initially denied the right to wear her Islamic headscarf in a
driver's license photograph. After discussions between CAIR-CT and DMV
officials, the woman was permitted to have her photograph taken with the
religiously-mandated scarf.
(Connecticut law permits religious head-coverings in driver's license
photos. The applicant must sign an oath attesting to the religious
requirement.)
Meeting participants agreed to work together to broaden understanding of
Islamic practices and make Muslims feel more comfortable about reporting
cases of religious discrimination.
"We were very pleased by the cooperative attitude expressed by all
those involved in the meeting," said CAIR-CT Executive Director Badr
Malik. "It is through this type of positive interaction that we may
build bridges of understanding and mutual respect."
Malik said CAIR-CT is planning religious sensitivity training workshops
later this year with both the DMV and CTAAAP. CAIR-CT Director of Civil
Rights Hamza Collins also took part in Wednesday's meeting.
Last year, CAIR issued a nationwide review of religious accommodation in
requirements for driver's license photographs. The report, titled
"Religious Accommodation in Driver's License Photographs: A Review
of Codes, Policies and Practices in the 50 States," was prompted by
complaints from Muslim women drivers who faced difficulties wearing
Islamic head scarves in license photographs. The full report may be
obtained at:
http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/driversphoto.pdf
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: CAIR-CT Director of Civil Rights Hamza Collins,
860-995-6628
-----
DHS
ADVISER TO ADDRESS DELAY OF MUSLIMS AT BORDER -
TOP
Newsday, 3/30/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--muslimsstopped0330mar30,0,1546648.story
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Department of Homeland Security will send a civil
rights adviser to Buffalo to respond to concerns by Muslim-Americans who
were held for hours at the border upon their return from a religious
conference in Canada in December.
Daniel Sutherland, officer for civil rights and civil liberties, is
expected to meet with leaders of local Muslim groups and participate in a
forum at the University at Buffalo on Monday and Tuesday.
U.S. Attorney Michael Battle was among those who requested the visit
after area Muslim-Americans expressed outrage over the treatment of
dozens of people who attended an Islamic conference in Toronto. As they
re-entered the United States, those who said they had been at the
conference were searched, fingerprinted, photographed and delayed for as
long as six hours.
Homeland Security officials have said 34 people were stopped at the
Queenston-Lewiston Bridge and four others at the Rainbow Bridge in
Niagara Falls.
Civil rights activists accused U.S. border agents of religious profiling.
(MORE)
----
COLUMBIA
PANEL CLEARS PROFESSORS OF ANTI-SEMITISM -
TOP
Karen W. Arenson, New York Times, 3/31/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/31/education/31columbia.html
An ad hoc faculty committee charged with investigating complaints that
pro-Israel Jewish students were harassed by pro-Palestinian professors at
Columbia University said it had found one instance in which a professor
''exceeded commonly accepted bounds'' of behavior when he became angry at
a student who he believed was defending Israel's conduct toward
Palestinians.
But the report, obtained by The New York Times and scheduled for release
today, said it had found ''no evidence of any statements made by the
faculty that could reasonably be construed as anti-Semitic.''
It did, however, describe a broader environment of incivility on campus,
with pro-Israel students disrupting lectures on Middle Eastern studies
and some faculty members feeling that they were being spied on.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CONSERVATIVE
'ACADEMIC BILL OF RIGHTS' PICKS UP STEAM -
TOP
Nathaniel Popper, Forward, 4/1/05
http://www.forward.com/articles/2914
Urged on by conservative provocateur David Horowitz, lawmakers in several
states are pushing legislation requiring unprecedented government
oversight of teaching on college campuses.
In Florida last week, a key legislative committee approved the so-called
"Academic Bill of Rights" in an 8-2 vote. The decision came
after the bill's Republican sponsor inveighed against "leftist
totalitarianism" among professors, which he said had led to
conservative students losing their academic freedom.
If passed by the full legislature, the bill would potentially allow
students in Florida to sue if they feel that a university is not
providing "balanced exposure to significant theories and thoughtful
viewpoints." Another clause restricts the ability of professors to
introduce "controversial material" into the
classroom.
At least a dozen other states, as well as the U.S. Congress, have seen
similar legislation introduced in recent months. The text of almost all
these bills is based on language drawn up by Horowitz, an arch
liberal-turned-conservative commentator; and in most cases it has been
Republican legislators who have introduced the bills and provided the
core of support. Democrats, meanwhile, have lined up with the academic
community to argue that the Florida bill and others like it would limit
the academic freedom of professors. (MORE)
-----
NC:
GROWTH IN PITT MUSLIM COMMUNITY LEADS TO LARGE MOSQUE EXPANSION -
TOP
Paul Dunn, Daily Reflector, 3/30/05
http://www.reflector.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/03/30/3302005GDRmosque.html
When Yousef Alsharqawi and Aiman Khrybeh concluded their afternoon prayer
at the Al-Masjid Islamic Center and Mosque recently, their stocking-clad
feet were silent on the carpeted floor as they walked across the prayer
room.
Traffic on Evans Street was clearly audible through the room's brick
walls, however. And revving engines and tires on pavement aren't the only
noises competing these days for the attention of the Mosque's faithful.
Pounding hammers, creaking ladders and the scratch of aluminum electrical
tubes snaking through two-by-fours play a staccato melody to the
traffic's humming bass line.
After a decade of continual growth in the Pitt County Muslim community, a
4,200-square-foot addition to the mosque is rising where a barren field
once sat adjacent the current center. Mosque elders hope the added space
will help alleviate severe overcrowding the center has experienced the
past few years. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
DETROIT WOMAN VITAL TO
BLACK MUSLIMS -
TOP
Desiree Cooper, Detroit Free Press, 3/31/05
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/cooper31e_20050331.htm
On April 17, 1934, a squad of Detroit police officers converged upon a
school at 3408 Hastings. They approached carefully, even cutting the
building's telephone wires.
Once inside, Mary Almanza and 12 other teachers were booked for
contributing to the delinquency of minors and subversion.
The name of the school was the University of Islam, established by
Detroit's newly formed Nation of Islam.
Almanza, one of its founding members, died in February at the age of 109,
having lived to see her faith grow from a marginalized anomaly to one of
the most influential movements in African-American history&
By the 1950s, Fard had left the Nation of Islam in the hands of Elijah
Muhammad. Muhammad died in 1975, and was succeeded by his son, W.D.
Muhammad, who aligned the faith more closely with orthodox Sunni
Islam.
"My mother accepted the changes, because she wanted to follow the
truth," said Osman Almanza.
For the past decade, Mary Almanza attended Masjid Saaliheen on Detroit's
west side. (MORE)
---
EXPERT ON
MUHAMMAD AND ISLAM SPEAKS AT WMU -
TOP
WMU News, 3/30/05
http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2005/03/084.html
KALAMAZOO--Writer, lecturer and documentary producer Alexander Kronemer
addresses "Islam, Muhammad...America?" in a program presented
by the Muslim Student Association at Western Michigan University at 6
p.m. Thursday, April 7, in the North Ballroom of the Bernhard
Center.
The free, public program includes a dinner of international cuisine,
student exhibits, the lecture and an open discussion. Seating is limited
and reservations are required by Friday, April 1. To make reservations,
visit MSA on the Web at
www.msa-wmu.org/events/alexander_kronemer.
Together with Michael Wolfe, Kronemer created and produced the 2002 PBS
documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet." In his April 7
talk, Kronemer will discuss how, long after Muhammad's death, his
cultural traditions and values spread throughout the Eastern world. The
major content of Kronemer's speech will deal with the Prophet Muhammad's
traditions--now known collectively as Islam--and their impact on the
Western world, specifically the United States. (MORE)
---
EXHIBITION OF MUSLIM
WOMEN ARTISTS -
TOP
The Washington Post, 3/31/05
MUSLIM WOMEN ARTISTS -- The sixth annual Exhibition of the Muslim Women
in the Arts features work by Batool Al-Fekaiki, Siham Eldadah, Hanan S.
Musa, Karma Shaath Massoud, Maryam Niloofar Rahimi, Ann C. Saunders and
Gulen F. Tangoren, Tuesday through April 30. Montgomery County Executive
Office Building Lobby Gallery, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Call for times.
240-777-2500.
-----
ARABIC
OVERTAKING ENGLISH AS QUEBEC SCHOOLS' SECOND LANGUAGE -
TOP
Jeff Heinrich, Calgary Herald, 3/31/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=b2d0dd54-340a-46dc-91bf-a4b296da73ae
MONTREAL - A quick quiz: What is the second most common mother tongue of
students in Quebec's French-language school system, after French
itself?
If you answered English, you're right. But it won't be for long, new
Education Department enrolment figures show.
By 2006 at the earliest, the most common mother tongue in schools after
French will be Arabic.
Not Spanish -- Arabic outpaced it already four years ago. Not Italian,
either, or Creole, or any of the Chinese languages.
Though still far behind the language of Moliere, the language of Mohammed
is about to overtake the language of Milton in Quebec's francophone
primary and secondary schools.
Hobbled by immigration policies that increasingly favour applicants from
Arabic-speaking countries of the Francophonie, like Morocco, Algeria and
Lebanon, and by education policies that send most immigrants to
French-language schools, English hasn't been able to keep up.
This year, 18,649 students in the French system speak English as their
mother tongue, compared with 17,313 in 1999 -- only a modest increase of
about eight per cent in five years, according to 2004-2005 enrolment
figures the Education Department released last week.
By contrast, Arabic as a mother tongue has jumped more than five times as
fast, by 42 per cent. It's now spoken by 18,084 students, compared with
12,731 in 1999.
In the English system, Spanish still outpaces Arabic -- 971 to 631 in the
current school year -- but that masks the deeper reality: Spanish is in
decline while Arabic is on the increase, an analysis by the Association
for Canadian Studies shows. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS INCREASING IN QUEBEC -
TOP
Jeff Heinrich, The Gazette, 3/31/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=b447e4fa-4435-47f8-9ba0-e641a809c5ef
Most of the 77,000 Arab-mother-tongue speakers in Quebec are followers of
Islam, and its adherents are growing exponentially in number here and
across Canada.
In the 2001 federal census, a total of 103,900 Quebecers said they were
Muslim - making it the province's third most widely practised religion,
after Catholicism and Protestantism.
According to Statistics Canada projections detailed yesterday by the
Association for Canadian Studies, that number will more than double by
2017, to 247,600.
In Montreal, Muslims outnumber Jews - 96,200 to 92,200 in 2001.
The number of Jews is expected to keep diminishing while the number of
Muslims continues to rise.
The only other religious group expected to increase by that extent by
2017 is Sikhs, but their numbers are still relatively small: 7,100 in
2001, going up to a projected 15,300 in 2017. (MORE)
-----
NIGHTMARE
CONFINEMENT SUBJECT OF 'GUANTANAMO' DRAMA -
TOP
Kathleen Allen, Arizona Daily Star, 3/30/05
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/caliente/67960.php
Imagine this:
You are an Iraqi Muslim who fled the repressive regime in that country
and settled in London.
After many years, you decide to go to Gambia in Western Africa to start a
business that will benefit both you and the people who live
there.
Your brother tags along, buying a round-trip ticket that'll give him four
weeks there to help you out.
But 9/11 happens. War in Afghanistan breaks out. Everything
changes.
You and your brother are arrested, detained, questioned and eventually
end up in cells at Guantanamo in Cuba. And you never know why.
Hard to imagine?
It happened to Wahab al-Rawi and his brother, Bisher.
The two, and several others, are key figures in "Guantanamo: Honor
Bound to Defend Freedom," which Borderlands Theater opens Friday.
The play opened in London last May, was a hit and moved on to New York in
August. Today there are productions onstage or in the works around the
world.
"Guantanamo," in the style of "The Exonerated" and
"The Laramie Project," is pulled directly from interviews,
letters and speeches. The sources: freed prisoners, family members of
prisoners, government officials, speeches and letters.
It was the brainchild of Nicolas Kent of London's Tricycle Theatre. The
company has a track record of producing documentary plays pulled directly
from court transcripts.
But there were no court hearings on the Muslim prisoners brought to
Guantanamo after 9/11. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
SUIT
BY DETAINEE ON TRANSFER TO SYRIA FINDS SUPPORT IN JET'S LOG -
TOP
Scott Shane, New York Times, 3/30/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/30/international/americas/30plane.html
WASHINGTON, March 29 - Maher Arar, a 35-year-old Canadian engineer, is
suing the United States, saying American officials grabbed him in 2002 as
he changed planes in New York and transported him to Syria where, he
says, he was held for 10 months in a dank, tiny cell and brutally beaten
with a metal cable.
Now federal aviation records examined by The New York Times appear to
corroborate Mr. Arar's account of his flight, during which, he says, he
sat chained on the leather seats of a luxury executive jet as his
American guards watched movies and ignored his protests. (MORE)
---
RUSSIA'S
OMBUDSMAN DENOUNCES 'LARGE-SCALE' ABUSES IN CHECHNYA -
TOP
Henry Meyer, Associated Press, 3/31/05
MOSCOW - Russia's top human rights official denounced large-scale
violations in Chechnya by all sides in the conflict, and called for
action to stop the abuses in a report published Thursday.
Russia's human rights commissioner, Vladimir Lukin, said in annual report
published in the government daily Rossiskaya Gazeta that authorities'
refusal to negotiate with rebel leaders in the war-ravaged southern
territory should not mean that rights violations by Russian forces go
unpunished.
"It is common knowledge that all parties involved in the conflict
are responsible for flagrant and large-scale violations of human
rights," he said in the report.
"Not only the unity and integrity of Russia, but also the protection
of fundamental rights and freedoms inside and outside the conflict zone
should become priorities," Lukin said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS
BOND AFTER DISASTER -
TOP
Chris Brummitt, Associated Press, 3/31/05
http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_2631668
GUNUNG SITOLI, Indonesia - In the hours after a devastating earthquake
shook Nias island, Farid Mushaf risked his life pulling a dead Christian
neighbor from the rubble of his shop.
The 56-year-old Muslim then loaded the corpse onto the back of his truck
and took it to the Santa Maria Cathedral, which is being used as a morgue
by Christians.
Unlike other places in Indonesia, islanders on mostly Roman Catholic Nias
have always lived in peace, an example of religious tolerance in a nation
better known for interfaith clashes than harmony.
Elsewhere on this sprawling archipelago - the world's most populous
Muslim nation - religious violence, mainly between a fringe of Islamic
extremists and pockets of Christians, has left thousands dead in recent
years.
But Monday's devastating earthquake has deepened the ties on Nias and
forced members of different religions to help each other in ways they
could never have imagined. (MORE)
-----
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To reach the ISLAM-INFONET list moderator, send a message to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
4/1/05
* HADITH:
Lying Is No
Joke
* May 13-15 in DC:
Islamophobia,
Anti-Americanism Conf.
-
CAIR-DC:
Summer
Internship Program
*
CAIR-OH
Offers Diversity Training to Cleveland Police
-
CAIR-OH
Leadership
Conference April 30
-
CAIR-TX:
'Women's Day
to Speak'
* CAIR-OH:
Muslim
View of Changes to Social Security
* IL:
Conferences Trace
Cultural Face of Islam
*
'After
This Movie, There May Be Hate Crimes'
-
Culture,
Cleanliness - Muslims Were
Superior
* RESOURCES:
Contact TSA
Office of Civil Rights
-
Screening
Considerations for Religious Needs
-
TSA Watch Lists Clearance
Procedures
* MI:
Women
Dispel Stereotypes about Hijab (MI Daily)
- TX:
ROTC Cadets Learn About
Islam (Daily Texan)
*
Powell Criticizes Bush on
Iraq (Australian)
*
Soldiers
Accused of Rape Not Prosecuted (Democracy Now)
-
Soldier
Convicted of Killing Iraqi Walks Free
*
FBI
at Crossroads in Probe of AIPAC (CS Monitor)
-
World
Council of Churches Critical of Israel (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
LYING IS NO JOKE -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "I guarantee a house
in the surroundings of paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if
he is in the right, a house in the middle of paradise for a man who
avoids lying even if he is joking, and a house in the upper part of
paradise for a man who makes his character good."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2235
-----
MAY
13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-AMERICANISM CONF. -
TOP
SAMPLE SESSION:
ISLAM AND AMERICAN RELATIONS WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD
Moderator: Nihad Awad (CAIR)
Dr. Maher Hathout, Muslim Public Affairs Council
Prof. John O. Voll, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown
University
Dr. Louis J. Cantori, Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy
Dr. Louay M. Safi, Islamic Society of North America
To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
Volunteers are also needed for CAIR's Conference. On Saturday, April 2,
there will be a meeting for interested volunteers from 11 a.m. to noon at
CAIR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Please call 202-488-8787 ext.
6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-DC: 2005
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM -
TOP
WHAT: Exciting, 10 week paid internship opportunity available at
America's largest Muslim advocacy group. Program focuses on civil rights,
public relations, research, community outreach, and development.
SEE CAIR INTERNSHIP WEB SITE:
http://www.cair-net.org/internship/default.asp
WHO: CAIR is looking for dedicated persons, age 17 or older, who want to
become the next generation of Muslim leaders in America. To receive a
stipend, applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or have
the appropriate Visas and/or work permits.
WHERE: CAIR National headquarters on Capitol Hill.
WHEN: The internship program runs from the 1st week in June to the 3rd
week in August 2005, 40 hours per week minimum commitment. Application
deadline: April 30, 2005
For an Application, Contact: Asma Gheyoub at
internship@cair-net.org or
202-488-8787, ext. 6052.
-----
CAIR-OH
OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING TO CLEVELAND POLICE -
TOP
Officers learn about Islamic beliefs, practices, culture
(CLEVELAND, OH, 4/1/05) The Cleveland office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently conducted diversity
training for more than 20 members of the Cleveland police
department.
The four-hour training session addressed the basic tenets of the Islamic
faith, diversity of the American Muslim community and the negative impact
of religious and ethnic stereotyping. Officers were also provided with
information on Islamic concepts of law and justice, gender relations in
the Muslim community, hate crimes, religious profiling, domestic
violence, and techniques for improving community relations.
Participants were given educational materials including
"
A
Law Enforcement Official s Guide to the Muslim Community," which
covers issues such as religiously-sensitive techniques for body searches,
proper etiquette for entering Muslim homes and outreach to the Muslim
community. The booklet may be obtained at:
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1
"We are grateful for the opportunity to help build mutual
understanding between the Muslim community and our local police
officers," said Isam Zaiem, Chair of CAIR-Cleveland.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad
Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916, E-Mail:
ahmad@cair-ohio.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-OHIO 2005
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE -
TOP
WHAT: On April 30, the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-OH) will host its 2005 leadership conference on media
relations, public speaking, civil rights, and community
organizing.
Speakers include: Mike Curtin, President, Columbus Dispatch; Hussam
Ayloush, Executive Director, CAIR-Southern California; Jennifer Nimer,
Director of Civil Rights, CAIR-Ohio.
COST: $25 - includes dinner
WHEN: Saturday, April 30; 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Includes Dinner)
WHERE: Sunrise Academy, 5657 Scioto-Darby Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026
REGISTRATION: By email
conference@cair-ohio.com -
please include your name, address, telephone, and number of seats needed.
CAIR-Ohio will send you a confirmation with instructions for
payment.
By phone: 614-451-3232,
By mail: 4700 Reed Road, Suite B, Columbus, OH 43220
---
CAIR-SA TO
SPEAK AT UTSA 'WOMEN'S DAY TO SPEAK' -
TOP
WHAT: The executive director of the San Antonio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SA), Sarwat Hussain, will be one of
three speakers at the University of Texas at San Antonio's "Women's
Day to Speak" event.
The panel will include prominent community members who will discuss
women's issues and their role in politics. The event is designed to
motivate, educate and empower women to get involved in
politics.
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, April 4
WHERE: Sombrilla Plaza at the 1604 Campus.
-----
MUSLIM VIEW OF
CHANGES TO SOCIAL SECURITY -
TOP
CHANGES IN SOCIAL SECURITY TRIGGER MORAL REASSESSMENT
Felix Hoover, Columbus Dispatch, 4/1/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/04/01/20050401-E1-00.html
The continuing debate over changing Social Security goes beyond whether
the system is nearing crisis and how much money will be required to fuel
it.
Proposed changes also have stimulated discussions about what Americans
owe one another, especially in serving the least among us, and have
prompted religious leaders and social commentators to examine how society
can maintain its integrity in the face of change&
Under Islamic law, Muslims are not permitted to receive or pay interest,
so certain types of investments, such as secured bonds, are prohibited.
But Muslims are encouraged to invest in stocks as long as they aren't for
things prohibited in Islam, such as alcohol, gambling and sexually
oriented entities.
"You accept the fact that there is risk, but you trust that in the
end God will look after you," said Norma Tarazi, a member of the
board of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
Muslims aren't permitted to hoard, but must instead share their wealth
with the community, especially those who are sick, needy, orphaned or
widowed. Such a belief suggests that Social Security is compatible with
Islamic teachings, but Muslims haven't talked about Social Security
enough to reach a consensus, Tarazi said. (MORE)
-----
TRACING CULTURAL FACE OF
ISLAM -
TOP
Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 4/1/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0504010231apr01,1,4036704.story
Once, two sprawling religious communities sat side by side. One revered
the Greek classics upon which Western civilization is based. It subjected
articles of faith to rigorous philosophical examination and was accepting
of religious minorities. The other was quite the opposite: Ignorant of
ancient learning, its theology scarcely rose above the level of
superstition. Anyone who didn't subscribe to its doctrines was persecuted
as a heretic.
The latter religion was Christianity. The first was Islam.
In the 8th and 9th Centuries, literacy reached a such low point in the
Christian West that its mightiest ruler, the Emperor Charlemagne, was
barely able to sign his name. But his counterparts in the Islamic East,
the Abbasid caliphs, sponsored a brilliant cultural renaissance--five
centuries before the European Renaissance celebrated in Western
textbooks.
"The story of the Abbasids reminds us there have been other
important cultural centers besides Western Europe and the United
States," noted Daniel Goffman, a professor of Islamic studies at
DePaul University, which on April 9 to 10 will host the first in a series
of conferences on the cultural achievements of the Abbasid period.
(MORE)
-----
'AFTER
THIS MOVIE, THERE MAY BE HATE CRIMES COMMITTED' -
TOP
Beth Pearson, The Herald, 3/31/05
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/36340.html
SEVERAL months have passed since Dr Khaled Abou El Fadl first read the
shooting script for Sir Ridley Scott's forth-coming epic about the
Crusades, Kingdom of Heaven, but he speaks as though his anger is
fresh.
"There's no doubt in my mind people are going to come out of this
movie disliking Muslims and Arabs more than they already dislike
them," says the professor of Islamic law at the University of
California.
"In my view, it is inevitable - I'm willing to risk my reputation on
this - that after this movie is released there will be hate crimes
committed directly because of it. People will go see it on a weekend and
decide to teach some turbanhead a lesson."
Scott has said he intended to make a film about a noble knight and
settled on Balian of Ibelin, portrayed by Orlando Bloom. In 1187, Balian
defended Jerusalem against the Muslim leader, Saladin, played by Ghassan
Massoud, and lost. However, the religious context of Balian's story
dominated discussion of the production and, as soon as the script for the
�75m production became available, the New York Times passed copies to
five experts on the Crusades, one of them Abou El Fadl.
One expert has defended the script, saying it contains nothing that
should upset Christians or Muslims, but criticisms from others range from
historical inaccuracies to character and cultural misrepresentations and
claims of insensitivity to current perceptions of Islam in the western
world. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
CULTURE,
CUSTOM AND CLEANLINESS - THE MUSLIMS WERE SUPERIOR -
TOP
Beth Pearson, The Herald, 4/1/05
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/36421.html
MANY of the charges levelled against Ridley Scott's forthcoming Kingdom
of Heaven centre on its telling of the Crusades from a western
perspective. In this it is not alone: most accounts of the Crusades have
been told from a western point of view as scholarship from the Muslim
viewpoint is in relative infancy.
Understanding why this is requires a leap in perspective. While icons
such as Richard the Lionheart featured in childhood adventure stories and
ideals of chivalry and honour are important to how we see our culture,
Muslims do not single out the Crusades as an unprecedented,
identity-defining event in their history. (MORE)
-----
RESOURCES:
CONTACT TSA OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS -
TOP
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=0900051980100546
Members of the traveling public who believe that they have been
unlawfully discriminated against by a TSA employee may contact the
External Compliance Division in the Office of Civil Rights to have their
concerns addressed, by sending an E-mail to
TSA.OCR-ExternalCompliance@dhs.gov
or by calling the Office of Civil Rights.
The Office of Civil Rights can be reached toll free at 1-877-EEO-4-TSA (1-877-336-4872) or (866) 536-9679 (TTY), by E-mail at
TSA.CivilRights@dhs.gov, or by mail using the following address:
Transportation Security Administration
Office of Civil Rights
TSA-6
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202
SEE ALSO:
GENERAL SCREENING CONSIDERATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL NEEDS -
TOP
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198004a86e
TSA WATCH LISTS CLEARANCE PROCEDURES -
TOP
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=157&content=09000519800fb8af
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN DISPEL STEREOTYPES ABOUT ISLAMIC DRESS -
TOP
Christina Hildreth, Michigan Daily, 3/31/05
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/31/424be0fe99023
Every morning before walking out the door, Business junior Aisha Jukaku
looks in the mirror, skillfully pinning her scarf to make sure her
hair, ears and neck are carefully tucked away. Like millions of Muslim
women across the world, Jukaku's colorful scarf is part of her daily
wardrobe.
Jukaku's scarves, along with her long-sleeved shirts and long pants,
are part of her hijab, - the Islamic dress code for women - which she
wears in observance of the Islamic law of modesty. Her faith requires
that she cover every part of her body except her feet, face and hands.
There is also a separate law of modesty for men, although this law is
not as noticeable because it only requires them to be covered from the
navel to the knee, she said.
Nadine Naber, a professor of women's studies and anthropology, said
there has been a lot of discussion about hijab in western society, and
images of women in hijab have been used to demonstrate the so-called
backwardness of Muslim culture. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
ROTC CADETS LEARN ABOUT ISLAM -
TOP
Marie Delahoussaye, Daily Texan, 4/1/05
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/04/01/University/Rotc-Cadets.Learn.About.Islam-909185.shtml
A roomful of ROTC cadets listened attentively to three Muslim sheikhs
describe the fundamentals of Islam in Russell Steindam Hall on Thursday.
The Islamic orientation was conceived and coordinated by Battalion
Cadet Executive Officer Ahsar Nasar, who is also the vice president of
the Islamic Center of Greater Austin.
"Both sides really want to understand each other," Nasar said. "The pieces were all already there."
At the orientation, Sheikh Sahmuddeen, Sheikh Khalid Syed and Sheikh
Umer Ibrahim, representatives of three Austin-area mosques, explained
fundamentals such as the five pillars of Islam and the six pillars of
faith. (MORE)
-----
POWELL CRITICISES BUSH ON IRAQ -
TOP
Geoff Elliott, The Australian, 3/1/05
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12718206%5E2703,00.html
FORMER US secretary of state Colin Powell claims he is "furious and
angry" about being misinformed over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
and has criticised George W.Bush and Donald Rumsfeld for their clumsy
rhetoric in the lead-up to the war.
In a candid magazine interview, Mr Powell hinted that his infamous
testimony to the UN Security Council in February 2003, when he built
the case for the coalition invasion of Iraq, left him a political lame
duck.
"Hundreds of millions followed it on television," Mr Powell said of his testimony. "I will always be the one who presented it.
"I have to live with that..." (MORE)
-----
U.S. SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF RAPING IRAQI WOMEN ESCAPE PROSECUTION -
TOP
Democracy Now, 3/29/05
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/29/153242
On International Women's Day, Guardian reporter Suzanne Goldenberg
broke the story about how soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Brigade
accused of rape were able to escape the charges. The soldiers were from
the same military unit whose troops fired on the car carrying freed
Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena.
Suzanne Goldenberg's article appeared in the Guardian newspaper. It
began: "Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Brigade -- the same military
unit whose troops fired on the car carrying freed Italian hostage
Giuliana Sgrena -- were under investigation last year for raping Iraqi
women, U.S. Army documents reveal. Four soldiers were alleged to have
raped two women while on guard duty in a Baghdad shopping precinct. A
U.S. Army investigator interviewed several soldiers from the military
unit, the 1-15th battalion of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, but did not
locate or interview the Iraqi women involved before shutting down the
inquiry for lack of evidence. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
U.S. SOLDIER CONVICTED OF KILLING IRAQI WALKS FREE -
TOP
Reuters, 4/1/05
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=632613
BERLIN - A U.S. army tank company commander convicted of shooting dead
a wounded Iraqi walked free from court on Friday, although he was
dismissed from the army for what he called a "mercy killing."
Army Captain Rogelio Maynulet had faced up to 10 years in jail after a
court martial at a U.S. army base in Wiesbaden, Germany, found him
guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter.
"He was sentenced with dismissal from the United States Army ... there will be no confinement time," a military spokesman said.
Prosecutors had pressed for conviction on a more serious charge of
assault with intent to commit murder, which carries a maximum 20-year
jail sentence. (MORE)
------
FBI AT CROSSROADS IN PROBE OF PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY GROUP AIPAC -
TOP
Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor.com, 3/31/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0331/dailyUpdate.html
The ongoing investigation into allegations that a Pentagon staffer named
Larry Franklin passed on classified government documents to two members
of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel
lobby group, continues but with several new twists.
Over the past weekend, several Israeli papers carried a report by JTA,
the Jewish news service, that top officials of the lobby group had
appeared in front of a grand jury in "late January or early February,"
and that the two staff members who had contact with Franklin - Steve
Rosen, of AIPAC's research department, and Keith Weissman, AIPAC's
deputy director of foreign policy issues - have been placed on paid
leave.
The same report also said that Mr. Franklin had been "quietly" rehired
at the Pentagon over the "FBI's objections." Franklin, however, was not
given back his previous position in the Iran section, but instead
placed in a "non-sensitive" area which the report didn't specify.
The FBI's investigations into Franklin's actions became public last
August when CBS reported that a "suspected mole" at the Pentagon had
passed along government documents to AIPAC staffers. The "suspected
mole" was later revealed to be Mr. Franklin.
Time reported last December that government sources said the
investigations into AIPAC had been ongoing for about two years, looking
into allegations that AIPAC was "obtaining sensitive data and passing
it along to the Israeli government."
United Press International reported on December 9 that the initial
investigations began when the FBI discovered "new, 'massive' Israeli
spying operations in the East Coast, including New York and New Jersey."
It was later reported in the Jerusalem Post that Franklin had agreed to
help in an FBI sting. Ha'aretz reported that Franklin was told to tell
the AIPAC staffers that "Iran was planning to attack Israelis operating
in the Kurdish region in Iraq." The two men then "rushed to pass it on
to Israeli diplomats, thereby falling into the FBI trap." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
WORLD CHURCHES SAY ISRAEL PRE-EMPTS JERUSALEM DEAL -
TOP
Reuters, 4/1/05
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8062599
GENEVA - The World Council of Churches (WCC) on Friday called on Israel
to halt all measures that would prevent Jerusalem becoming a city
sharing sovereignty and citizenship between the Jewish and a future
Palestine.
The call came in an open letter posted on the Geneva-based WCC's Web
site from its international affairs commission expressing alarm at what
it called Israeli actions that would pre-determine the status of the
city under any peace accord.
These actions, the letter said, threatened the achievement of a just
peace between Israel and the Palestinians "by pre-empting negotiations
on the final status of Jerusalem within the framework of international
law."
While world attention was focused on the Israeli plans to withdraw from
Gaza, the letter said, the government of Ariel Sharon "has intensified
unilateral programmes to consolidate control over Jerusalem and other
occupied territory". (MORE)
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