cair-net Digest of: get.1501_1600
Topics (messages 1501 through 1600):
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Offer Condolences on Death of Pope
1501 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Hijab Allowed in AAU B-Ball Tourney/Muslim Perspective on
Pope's Legacy
1502 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Jews, Muslims Share Holiday Meal/Muslim Women Step Into
Aquatic World
1503 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islam and Earth Day/Patriot Act Scrutinized/Library Project
Draws to Close
1504 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Revise PATRIOT Act With SAFE Act
1505 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Arizona Textbook Pulled After Uproar Over Islam
1506 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Texas Lawmaker Targeted for 'Looking Muslim'?
1507 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: IL Muslim Family Receives Racist Death Threats
1508 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Clinic Heals Patients, Images of Islam/Can Islam be
Peaceful, Tolerant?
1509 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Terror Knows No Faith/Torture Air/Guilty Until Proven
Innocent
1510 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Leaders Leave Israel Event/U.S. Muslims Making Gains
1511 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Election of Muslims Changes GOP's Image/Muslim Singles
Retreat for Marriage-Minded
1512 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Vatican Rethinking Relations with Islam/Modi Gave Order to
'Eliminate' Muslims
1513 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Outreach to Islamic World Involves No Muslims/Muslim Mayoral
Candidate/'Arabs Lie'
1514 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR, ACLU to Announce Action Against DHS Over NY Detentions
1515 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Spending Millions to Change Islam/U.S. Muslims Welcome
New Pope
1516 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: American Muslims Sue DHS Over Border Detentions
1517 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bank Apologizes to Muslims/Many Americans Believe Torture
Still Prevalent
1518 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for FBI Probe of Colorado Mosque Vandalism
1519 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims, Jews Rehab Home/Muslims Take Part in Passover
Seder/Muslim Women Make a Splash
1520 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Call New Fox Crusader Film 'Balanced'
1521 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Hail Pope's Meeting with Islamic Leaders
1522 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Anwar Ibrahim to Speak at CAIR Conference in DC
1523 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Coalition Calls for Independent Torture Probe
1524 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches Anti-Torture Campaign
1525 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: OR Muslim Worker Harassed/ MI Gov Dedicates Mosque Expansion
1526 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Arab Americans Sue Denny's for Discrimination
1527 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Bus Company Settles Suit/ NY Teacher Demands Rehire
1528 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Kingdom of Heaven'/Muslim Converts Face Bias/'Somali Kits'
Help Teach
1529 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls on Leaders to Repudiate Evangelist's Remarks
1530 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NE Couple Fights to Have Foster Children Returned
1531 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: IL Man Accuses Employer of Bias/GA Mosque Meets Opposition
1532 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Charges Filed in AIPAC Scandal/Muslims and Mother's Day
1533 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Denny's Ignored Anti-Muslim Complaint/Only One Week Left to
Register for CAIR-DC Conference
1534 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Girl Held in NY Terror Inquiry Released
1535 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Report to Show Sharp Jump in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes
1536 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Amnesty Board Chair to Speak at CAIR-DC Conference
1537 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: MD School System Denies Muslim Holiday Request/Canadian
Muslims Call for Censure of Israeli Official
1538 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Jump 52 Percent - Report
1539 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Seeks Probe of Gitmo Quran 'Desecration'
1540 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Leader Sues Boston Media Outlets/Rice Calls Quran
Desecration Abhorrent
1541 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: State Dept. to Speak at CAIR Conference
1542 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslim Group to Offer Free Qurans
1543 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Conference a Success/CAIR Condemns Massacre of Uzbek
Civilians
1544 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Help Educate Your Neighbors About the Quran
1545 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Board Elects New Chairman
1546 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Support H. Res. Condemning Bigotry
1547 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Group to Hand Out the Quran/Quran Ordered Online
Contains Hate Slogans
1548 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Desecrating the Quran/Mosques Reach out to Neighbors
1549 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR-NY to Call for FBI Probes of Beatings
1550 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Student Reports Quran in Calif. Campus Toilet
1551 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Muslims to Meet with FBI, ICE, CBP/FBI Asked to Probe NY
School Incident/DC Race for the Cure Team Members Sought
1552 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: N.C. Church Sign Says 'Koran Needs to be Flushed'
1553 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Educates Ohio National Guard About Islam
1554 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Baptist Leader Condemns Anti-Muslim Church Message
1555 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: N.C. Pastor Apologizes for Anti-Muslim Sign
1556 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Probe Sought for MI Muslim Officer's Bias Claims/WI Muslim
Sues Over Headscarf Incident
1557 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: WI Prisons to Change Headwear Policy/Courts Uphold Right to
Mecca Trip
1558 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canada Asked to Extradite Con Artists Who Targeted Alabama
Muslims
1559 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Miami Islamic Center Vandalized for Second Time
1560 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: AIPAC Staffers to be Indicted/Neo-Nazis Nabbed in Bomb Plot
1561 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: High Court Sides with Inmates on Religion/Muslims, ACLU Seek
FBI Files
1562 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches Muslim Volunteerism Campaign
1563 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canadian Muslims Condemn Attack on Sikh Teen/PA Judge Allows
Muslim Firefighter's Beard
1564 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Thousands of Americans Request Free Qurans
1565 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim for 30 Days on FX Network/Canadian Univ. Shuts Door on
Muslim Prayer
1566 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Gitmo Jailer Splashed Urine on Quran/Muslim Prayer Hall
Burned to Ground in Calif.
1567 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Muslims Voice Concerns to FBI/Islam Behind Bars
1568 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Americans Snap Up Free Qurans, Sponsors Needed
1569 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Islamic Center Vandalized for 3rd Time/CAIR-CAN Seeks
Probe of McGill 'Harassment'/Latinos Turning to Islam
1570 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Call Congress TODAY to Urge Changes in Patriot Act
1571 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canadian Security Agencies Target Muslims/Responding to Hate
Crimes
1572 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC-Area Muslims Asked to Attend Patriot Act Hearing
1573 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Takes Part in DOJ Cultural Training/Camp X-Ray Must
Go/Faith, Finances Collide for Muslim Home Buyers
1574 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Campaign Produces Few Convictions on Terror
Charges/Secret Gitmo Interrogation Log
1575 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Con Man Who Targets U.S. Muslims May Escape
Punishment/Immigration Law as Anti-Terror Tool
1576 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Lodi Muslims Allege 'Harassment' by FBI
1577 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islamic Group Gives Away Free Korans/Muslims Not Happy With
Lodi Inquiry
1578 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR, ACLU to Urge Respect for Rights of Lodi Muslims
1579 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Burned Qurans Left at Virginia Mosque/FOIA Request Filed Over
Lodi 'Harassment'
1580 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Strike at Spouse Abuse/Muslim Air Force Academy
Cadets Allege Bias
1581 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ohio Muslims to Help Clean Burned Church
1582 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Con Artist Seeks to Evade Justice/Judges Question Use of
Quran in Oath
1583 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Asks N.C. Judges to Allow Use of Quran in Oaths
1584 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR to Announce FL Bias Suit/Muslims and Free Markets/Teens
Arrested for Burning CA Mosque
1585 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR to Distribute 'Women Friendly Mosques' Brochure
1586 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Feces-Covered Quran Left at Tenn. Housing Complex
1587 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Applauds Sentencing of TX Mosque Attacker/FL Muslim Sues
Over Scarf/Defaced Koran Angers TN Muslims
1588 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Imams Ousted Over Visa Law/Agency Monitors Quran
Defilement/Docs Aid Gitmo Interrogators
1589 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Mom Says Students Harassed/Material Witness Law
Misused
1590 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CA Muslim Women Learn Their Legal Rights/CAIR-OH Feeds the
Homeless
1591 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Studies Chair a Hot Seat/Quran Desecration Nothing
New/Quran Requests Top 15K
1592 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CA 'Explore the Quran' Open House/CAIR Rep on FX's '30
Days'/Muslims Urge Rights for Women
1593 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: TX Muslims to Help Feed the Homeless/WI Muslim Wins Bias Suit
1594 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islam and Independence Day/NC Muslims Push Quran Oaths
1595 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Trains Law Enforcement Officials in IL, GA
1596 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR, Minn. Muslims to Call for Celestica Prayer
Accommodation
1597 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim is America's Protector in Showtime Series
1598 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Post-9/11 Workplace Bias Continues/Interfaith Leaders Support
Quran Oath
1599 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns 'Barbaric' London Terror Attacks
1600 by: CAIR
---------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS OFFER CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF POPE
CAIR calls John Paul II ‘an advocate for justice’
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/2/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today offered condolences on the death of Pope John Paul
II.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
in a
statement:
“Muslims worldwide respected Pope John Paul II as an advocate for
justice and
human rights. His message of international peace and interfaith
reconciliation
is one that will reverberate for decades to come. We offer our sincere
condolences to members of the Roman Catholic Church and to all those
who seek a
more peaceful world.”
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
-----
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
4/3/05
* VERSE:
The Keys to
Success
* CAIR-FL:
Hijab
Allowed in AAU B-Ball Tourney
* ISLAM-OPED:
A Muslim
Perspective on Pope's Legacy
-
U.S. Muslims
Offer Condolences on Death of
Pope
* IN:
Islam
Teaches Dignity of Every Human
- UT:
Muslims Join LDS to Send
Tsunami Aid
- KY:
Soldiers Learn About
Islam
* ME:
Muslim
Cabbie Targeted Over Race (AP)
* GA:
Muslim Firefighter
Finds Dream in U.S. (AJC)
- GA:
Woman
Illumines Islamic Art (AJC)
* UK:
Hatred
of Muslims on Increase in Youth
-
Report: No Yearning
for Freedom in Mideast
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THE
KEYS TO SUCCESS -
TOP
"Indeed successful are those believers who are humble in their
prayers, who avoid vain talk, who are active in deeds of charity, and who
are mindful of their chastity."
The Holy Quran, 23:1-5
-----
FL
MUSLIM ALLOWED TO WEAR SCARF IN AAU B-BALL TOURNAMENT -
TOP
CAIR intervenes after girl prevented from playing in hijab
(TAMPA, FL, 4/3/05) � The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) announced today that a Tampa Muslim
athlete has been allowed to wear her Islamic head scarf in an Orlando
basketball tournament, after initially being denied that religious
accommodation.
CAIR-FL intervened with officials of an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex after the 12-year-old
Muslim player was told she could not compete while wearing her
religiously-mandated head scarf, or "hijab."
Tournament officials at first cited NCAA rules prohibiting head
coverings, but later agreed to allow the scarf if it was tucked in the
player's uniform. The tournament ended today.
SEE: "Basketball Tournament Relents, Allows Hijab"
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBPVOGK27E.html
"Muslim Athlete Can Wear Scarf"
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/03/Sports/Muslim_athlete_can_we.shtml
"We appreciated the willingness of tournament officials to offer
reasonable religious accommodation for this young athlete," said
CAIR-FL Communications Director Ahmed Bedier.
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: Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506,
abedier@cairfl.org
-----
ISLAM-OPED:
A MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE ON THE POPE'S LEGACY -
TOP
By Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 570
[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.]
As the world bids goodbye to one of its most beloved citizens, Pope John
Paul II, it is natural to reflect on his legacy. That the Pope is beloved
by Catholics is of no surprise. What is remarkable is the respect he
earned from other faiths as he took unprecedented steps to build bridges
of understanding.
Pope John Paul II was the first leader of the Catholic Church to set foot
inside a mosque. In May 2001 the Pope visited the Ummayad Mosque - one of
the oldest mosques in the world - situated in the Syrian capital of
Damascus. Of further significance, the mosque contains the tomb of John
the Baptist. According to the Vatican, this was the first time Muslims
and Christians prayed together in an organized way.
Commenting on this visit, John Wilkins editor of the Catholic newspaper
The Tablet said, "Traditionally, Islam has been tolerant of
Christianity - more tolerant than Christianity has been of Islam."
However, the continued occupation of Muslim lands, the authoritarian rule
in most of Middle East and the accompanying rise of militancy in some
Muslim societies threatens to derail the historic tolerance of Islam
towards people of other faiths.
Muslims will do enormous good by reflecting on some of their great
traditions such as the Prophet Muhammad standing up to pay respect as the
funeral procession of a Jewish man passed or his visiting the sick
regardless of their faith. Also remarkable was Salahuddin Ayubi, the
great Muslim general, sending his personal physician to treat King
Richard at a time when they were warring during the crusades.
Pope John Paul II writing in his 1994 book, "Crossing the Threshold
of Hope," quite understandably disagreed with the theology of Islam
but went on to say: "Nevertheless, the religiosity of Muslims
deserves respect. It is impossible not to admire, for example, their
fidelity to prayer. The image of believers in Allah who, without caring
about time or place, fall to their knees and immerse themselves in prayer
remains a model for all those who invoke the true God, in particular for
those Christians who, having deserted their magnificent cathedrals, pray
only a little or not at all. The Council has also called for the Church
to have a dialogue with followers of the "Prophet," and the
Church has proceeded to do so."
In 1994, under Pope Paul II the Vatican normalized relations with Israel
yet he continued to speak of the "natural rights" of the
Palestinian people to their homeland.
In 2004, the Pope expressing his disagreement with the Iraq war, warned
of the damaging effects of this war in further polarizing religions. The
pontiff urged Washington to have better understanding of the Islamic
world. On this issue, the sentiment of the Pope is no different from
those of many American-Muslims.
Many Muslims will rightfully remember Pope John Paul II as an advocate of
justice, a bridge builder and a visionary leader. The Pope promoted his
own faith without appearing condescending of others. Public figures who
have espoused Islamophobic views in the past could borrow a page of
tolerance from this great Christian leader. Our faith is not any stronger
when we ridicule or denigrate the beliefs of others.
At a time when misunderstandings between faiths threaten world peace, we
must all appropriately reflect upon the legacy of this Pope and work to
continue his crusade of building bridges of understanding.
-- 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 above commentary for publication.
CONTACT:
ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
SEE ALSO:
U.S.
MUSLIMS OFFER CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF POPE -
TOP
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1523&theType=NR
-----
ISLAM TEACHES
DIGNITY OF EVERY HUMAN PERSON -
TOP
Sabah Saud, Journal Gazette, 4/2/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/11295437.htm
Lately a great deal has been said and is being said about Islam,
unfortunately by visitors, onlookers and those driven by their own
prejudices and preconceived concepts of what Islam is or is not. Booklets
and leaflets are being published and distributed in churches all over the
country to educate or miseducate their members about Islam.
Any faith must be judged by its doctrine, the elements of its
foundational belief, its value system and its very development from
inception until today. Other important features of any faith should be
its message, whom the message addresses and the custody of the message.
Through the ages, historical custody and linguistic custody as well as
its conclusions must have a tangible difference in the human social
order.
The essence of Islamic doctrine is that it's absolutely pure monotheist
theology.
"God is one, creator of all things matter and
spirit."
Further, God created man and has no preferences to any chosen people
except through the distinction of deeds in faith such as charity, piety,
commanding justice for all, peace with justice among all, freedom from
all forms of enslavement - enslavement to material things, enslavement by
tyranny or enslavement of man to his fellow man. Man might be the icon of
God's creation, but God did not create man in his image. Islam, in fact,
does not assign any image to God.
"Now when one examines Islamic doctrine through the prism of
political and social democracy, which would have to include equality and
justice, it seems to say that the only governor of the universe treats
all his people on an equal basis and the only way one would distinguish
one's self is through an act of piety," (Quran 49-12).
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS JOIN LDS TO
SEND TSUNAMI AID -
TOP
Erin Stewart, Deseret Morning News, 4/3/05
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600123352,00.html
Salt Lake City's Islamic population is teaming up with leaders of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to keep aid flowing to
Indonesian countries still recovering from December's tsunami and recent
earthquakes.
The Islamic Society of Great Salt Lake donated about $4,000 to the LDS
relief effort for tsunami victims this month, an amount collected in
individual donations from the group's members. (MORE)
---
UNDERSTANDING ISLAM'S IMPACT -
TOP
Fort Campbell combat team takes classes in world religion
AMY RITCHART, The Leaf-Chronicle, 4/2/05
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050402/NEWS01/504020306/1002
Lt. Col. Barry Williams, above, commander of 326th Engineer Battalion,
looks over a prayer mat during a Islam class for the 1st Brigade combat
Team at Fort Campbell.
Soldiers with Fort Campbell's 1st Brigade Combat Team are accustomed to
tactical and operational training, but in anticipation of their future
deployment to Iraq they're also studying world religion.
About 45 of the unit's leaders gather twice a week in a conference room
converted into a college-style classroom to participate in an eight-week
course, "Islam as a World View," taught by Bert Randall, Austin
Peay State University professor of philosophy. (MORE)
-----
STATE
FILES LAWSUIT ALLEGING VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT -
TOP
Associated Press, 4/1/05
http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D896PNFG0-90.shtml
PORTLAND, Maine - The state has filed a lawsuit against two men alleging
that they threatened a Somali taxi driver based on his race, color or
national origin, Attorney General Steven Rowe announced Friday.
The complaint was filed in Cumberland County Superior Court under the
Maine Civil Rights Act against Garrett Powell, 22, of Portland, and
Charles Frechette, 23, of Sebago. It seeks to enjoin Powell and Frechette
from having contact with the victim and from committing future violations
of the Civil Rights Act. (MORE)
-----
FIREFIGHTER FINDS DREAM
IN AMERICA -
TOP
BRIAN FEAGANS, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/3/05
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0405/03kulo.html
When Almedin Kulo applied for a firefighter position in DeKalb County,
friends of the Bosnian immigrant said he was climbing the wrong
ladder.
"You're Muslim," they reminded Kulo, of Snellville. It was the
fall of 2001. Islamic terrorists had just killed hundreds of firefighters
in New York.
Even Kulo's wife, Nermina, was skeptical. She had laughed five years
earlier when Kulo pointed at a fire engine screaming past North DeKalb
Mall - the first American firetruck he'd seen - and declared "that's
what I want to do."
Kulo applied anyway. The thought of being a firefighter in America
thrilled him.
"Everything is possible in this country," he remembers telling
Nermina.
And sure enough, Kulo beat hundreds of other hopefuls for the job. His
first assignment was Station No. 9 near Decatur. He would ride the same
fire engine that had dazzled him in the mall parking lot.
Today Kulo, 30, is a big part of the firefighting family at another
DeKalb station, No. 19, nestled against Mercer University.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WOMAN'S
JOURNEY TO PEACE ILLUMINES ANCIENT ISLAMIC ART -
TOP
CATHERINE FOX, Atlanta Journal, 4/3/05
http://www.accessatlanta.com/arts/content/arts/0405/03back.html
Jimmy Carter Boulevard is not ordinarily the path to enlightenment. This
month, however, it leads to an oasis of spiritual comfort and aesthetic
delight otherwise known as Islamic art.
Tucked in a nondescript office park off the Norcross four-lane, the
Istanbul Cultural Center is hosting an exhibition of classical Turkish
arts by Muhsine Duygu and her students.
Embracing a tradition that dates back at least to the ninth century,
Duygu embellishes book pages and loose sheets of text from the Quran and
the Islamic creed, as well as poetry. The designs are called
illuminations, which are celebrated for their intricacy, delicacy and
refinement.
In keeping with the tenets of her Islamic faith, Duygu eschews figures.
Applying watercolor and gold leaf with the teeniest of brushes, she draws
arabesques, creeping vines dotted with flowers, geometric patterns. The
intertwined lines, which reveal no beginning or end, are intended to
reflect eternal truth. (MORE)
-----
FEAR
AND HATRED OF MUSLIMS ON INCREASE IN YOUNG GENERATION -
TOP
Maxine Frith, The Independent, 4/2/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=625569
Children as young as 13 are displaying signs of Islamophobia and are
voicing their support for the British National Party, researchers have
found.
Young teenagers are increasingly saying they have negative views towards
Muslims and do not want Islamic culture expressed in the classroom. The
study of 1,500 students aged 13 to 24 was presented at the annual
conference of the British Psychological Society in Manchester yesterday.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
REPORT: NO
YEARNING FOR FREEDOM IN MIDEAST -
TOP
United Press International, 4/3/05
A study prepared by a panel advising the Defense Department says that
Muslims do not yearn to be liberated by the United States.
Middle East Newsline, a service covering the Arab world and American
policy there, reports that the Defense Science Board concludes that
"Muslims in dictatorial regimes" do not have the same goals as
and should not be compared to the citizens of former Soviet-bloc
countries in eastern Europe.
"There is no yearning-to-be-liberated-by-the-U.S. groundswell among
Muslim societies -- except to be liberated perhaps from what they see as
apostate tyrannies that the U.S. so determinedly promotes and
defends," the 102-page report said.
The report looks at U.S. information efforts aimed at the Muslim world
and concludes that the country has failed to explain its
policies.
SEE ALSO:
PENTAGON: MUSLIM SOCIETY DOES NOT SEEK FREEDOM
http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2005/april/04_04_4.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 -
4/4/05
* HADITH:
Virtue is a
Treasure
-
VERSE:
The Supreme
Virtue
*
Updated
List of Speakers for CAIR's May 13-15 Conf.
*
CAIR-FL
Meets with Delegation of Indonesian Women
* CAIR-LA:
John Paul II
as Countercultural Hero
-
CAIR-FL Offers Reaction
to Pope's Death
-
CAIR:
Muslim Perspective
on the Pope's Legacy (UPI)
* FL:
Jews,
Muslims Share Holiday Meal (Sun-Sentinel)
- PA:
Interfaith Service Focuses
on Islam
* NE:
Muslim
Women Step Into Aquatic World (Daily Neb)
* VA:
Case
Puts Words of Muslim Leader on Trial (Wash Post)
*
Israel
Plans to Dump Garbage in West Bank (Haaretz)
-
U.S. Says Israel Must Give
Up Nukes (Haaretz)
-
Israel To Adopt 'Lost
Tribe' (Jerusalem Post)
*
Chechnya's Disappeared (Wash
Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
VIRTUE IS A TREASURE -
TOP
One of the supplications of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was:
"O God, I beg of Thee that which inspires Thy mercy and Thy
forgiveness, security against every sin, treasures of every virtue,
achievement of Paradise, and deliverance from the Fire."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 458
VERSE OF THE DAY: THE
SUPREME VIRTUE -
TOP
"We have given the Book as an inheritance to those of Our servants
whom We have chosen, among them there are some who wrong their own souls,
some follow a middle course and some, by God's leave, excel in deeds of
goodness; which is the supreme virtue."
The Holy Quran, 35:32
-----
UPDATED
LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR CAIR'S MAY 13-15 CONFERENCE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA AND
ANTI-AMERICANISM -
TOP
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference: "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism Causes and Remedies," Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May
15, at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Vienna, Va.
TO REGISTER ONLINE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
PANELISTS
* Aminah McCloud, DePaul University
* Anatol Lieven, Carnegie Endowment for Int'l Peace
* Cherif Bassiouni, DePaul University
* Chip Pitts, Amnesty International
* Claude Salhani, United Press International
* David Cole, Georgetown University
* Hafiz Mirazi, Al-Jazeera
* Iqbal Sacranie, Muslim Council of Britain
* Jamal Badawi, St. Mary's University
* John Voll, Georgetown University
* Louay Safi, Islamic Society of North America
* Louis Cantori, Center for Study of Islam and Democracy
* Shanta Premawardhana, National Council of Churches
* Maher Hathout, Muslim Public Affairs Council
* Mary Rose Oakar, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
* Merve Kavaci, Former MP, Turkey
* Mumtaz Ahmad, Hampton University
* Muqtedar Khan, Brookings Institution
* Imam Mostafa Al Qazwini, Islamic Education Center of Orange
County
* Muzammil Siddiqui, Islamic Society of North America
* Richard Cizik, National Association of Evangelicals
* Scott Alexander, Catholic Theological Union
TICKETS Conference fee $129, includes all meals and Saturday banquet.
Banquet only - $50
If you have any questions or would like to make a reservation over the
phone, please call 202-488-8787 or email
events@cair-net.org.
-----
CAIR-FL
MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF INDONESIAN WOMEN -
TOP
Visit part of Women's Democracy Education Program
(TAMPA, FL, 4/4/04) - A representative of the Florida office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today spoke to a diverse
delegation of Indonesian women politicians.
CAIR-FL's presentation addressed democracy in the Muslim world as well as
grassroots organizing and involvement of the American Muslim community in
electoral politics. The delegation of elected officials is in the United
States for a 21-day study tour designed to educate and empower Indonesian
women politicians.
"The issues of political participation and the empowerment of women
are critical to international development and need to be addressed by all
societies," said CAIR-FL Communications Director Ahmed Bedier, who
gave the presentation in today's meeting.
The event was sponsored by the Department of State and the American
Council of Young Political Leaders.
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
-----
JOHN PAUL WAS A
COUNTERCULTURAL HERO -
TOP
Sabiha Khan, Orange County Register, 4/3/05
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/04/03/sections/commentary/article_466953.php
[Sabiha Khan is communications director for the Southern California
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA).]
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim community would
like to offer our sincere condolences on the death of Pope John Paul II
to members of the Roman Catholic Church and to all those who seek a more
peaceful world.
Muslims worldwide respected Pope John Paul II as an advocate for justice
and human rights. He worked tirelessly to build tolerance and
understanding among people of all faiths.
Pope John Paul II was the first top leader of the Catholic Church to set
his foot inside a mosque. In May 2001 the pope visited the Ummayad Mosque
in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The mosque contains the tomb of John
the Baptist.
Pope John Paul II's message of international peace and interfaith
reconciliation is one that will reverberate for decades to come. Though
the world will miss him, his legacy lives on.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL OFFERS
REACTION TO POPE'S DEATH -
TOP
To watch a clip of CAIR-FL's Communications Director Ahmed Bedier give
his reaction to the death of the Pope John Paul II, click on the below
links:
BROADBAND (HIGH-SPEED)
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/bedier_reaction_pope_hi.wmv
DIAL-UP (LOW-SPEED)
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/bedier_reaction_pope_lo.wmv
---
COMMENTARY:
A MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE ON THE POPE'S LEGACY -
TOP
Parvez Ahmed, UPI, 4/4/05
http://religion.upi.com/view.php?StoryID=20050404-085424-9241r
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the world bids goodbye to one of its most beloved
citizens, Pope John Paul II, it is natural to reflect on his legacy. That
the Pope is beloved by Catholics is of no surprise. What is remarkable is
the respect he earned from other faiths as he took unprecedented steps to
build bridges of understanding.
Pope John Paul II was the first leader of the Catholic Church to set foot
inside a mosque. In May 2001 the Pope visited the Ummayad Mosque - one of
the oldest mosques in the world - situated in the Syrian capital of
Damascus. Of further significance, the mosque contains the tomb of John
the Baptist. According to the Vatican, this was the first time Muslims
and Christians prayed together in an organized way.
Commenting on this visit, John Wilkins editor of the Catholic newspaper
The Tablet said, "Traditionally, Islam has been tolerant of
Christianity - more tolerant than Christianity has been of Islam."
However, the continued occupation of Muslim lands, the authoritarian rule
in most of Middle East and the accompanying rise of militancy in some
Muslim societies threatens to derail the historic tolerance of Islam
towards people of other faiths.
Muslims will do enormous good by reflecting on some of their great
traditions such as the Prophet Muhammad standing up to pay respect as the
funeral procession of a Jewish man passed or his visiting the sick
regardless of their faith. Also remarkable was Salahuddin Ayubi, the
great Muslim general, sending his personal physician to treat King
Richard at a time when they were warring during the crusades.
(MORE)
-----
S.
FLORIDA JEWS, MUSLIMS SHARE TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY MEAL TO NURTURE UNITY,
GROWTH -
TOP
Leon Fooksman, Sun-Sentinel, 4/4/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pseder04apr04,0,2818375.story
They sat across tables covered with eggs, celery and bitter herbs,
smiling, listening and trying to sweeten the relations between their
communities.
The upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover served as the backdrop Sunday
afternoon for bringing Jews and Muslims together to better understand
each other's faiths.
About 25 Muslims gathered with about 75 Jews at Temple Torah west of
Boynton Beach to learn about the Seder, the holiday meal recreating the
story of the Jewish Exodus from ancient Egypt. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
INTERFAITH SERVICE
FOCUSES ON ISLAM -
TOP
Steve Mocarsky, Wilkes Barre Times Leader, 4/4/05
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/11305153.htm
WILKES-BARRE - A local physician tried to "clear up some
misconceptions" about Islam during a Sunday service to launch the
Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council's Week of Interfaith Harmony.
Dr. Ebraham Almeky, a prayer leader at Alnoor Masjid mosque on Scott
Street, said that some people inaccurately think that his religion is
"a religion of violence" and "that Islam's god is
different from other (religions') gods.
"The core of the belief is that there is only one God who created
everything," Almeky told about 24 congregants at Unity Church on
South Grant Street.
The Rev. Ann Marie Acacio, the interfaith council's president, said the
purpose of the council's third annual Week of Interfaith Harmony is
"to promote interfaith understanding and mutual respect. The more we
understand about each other and each other's beliefs, the more we'll
respect each other and each other's beliefs."
Tribute was paid at the beginning of the service to the late Pope John
Paul II, who Acacio said was respected for his efforts to unify people of
different faiths.
While explaining the basic concepts of Islam, Almeky touched on beliefs
common to other religions. For example, the six major articles of faith
in Islam include the beliefs that there is one God; God created angels;
God sent prophets and messengers; God gave us books to teach us how to
live according to his will; there will be a day of judgment; and God
knows everyone's destiny. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN
STEP INTO WHOLE NEW AQUATIC WORLD -
TOP
Jenna Johnson, Daily Nebraskan, 4/4/05
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/04/4250ea7b8ba88
Faces framed with light-colored scarves peer through the glass
panes.
The door is locked, as the YWCA is closed Sundays, but Zainab Al-Baaj
comes running to pop it open for the women and young girls waiting
outside.
They giggle, saying hello to one another and switching between speaking
Arabic and English as quickly as they walk through the lobby.
The lobby is where this group of Muslim women, ranging from toddlers to
age 60, transitions from the world outside the YWCA to the world offered
to them on the second floor - at the swimming pool.
In the lobby, long colored scarves, or hijab, are draped over their heads
and their bodies are covered with loose, unfitted clothing. Their Islamic
faith and culture instructs them to be modest in their dress, showing as
little skin as possible when in public or in the presence of
men.
At the pool, away from windows, cameras and men, they can strip off their
layers of clothing, put on colorful swimsuits and enjoy the warm pool
water free of cost for two hours. They talk about their lives, families
and the challenges they face everyday. (MORE)
-----
TERRORISM
CASE PUTS WORDS OF MUSLIM LEADER ON TRIAL IN VA -
TOP
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 4/3/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23697-2005Apr3.html
Islamic spiritual leader Ali Al-Timimi's pen is mightier than his sword,
prosecutors contend. It's not so much his actions but his words that make
him so dangerous, they say.
Less than a week after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Timimi told a group
of Northern Virginia Muslims that it should train for violent jihad
abroad and wage war on the United States, prosecutors say. In 2003, he
celebrated the crash of the space shuttle Columbia in a message that
prosecutors say reflected his view that the United States itself should
be destroyed.
The government says the statements of Timimi -- who goes on trial today
in U.S. District Court in Alexandria -- constitute nothing short of
treason. But some Muslims, who are rallying to Timimi's side through a
Web site and other expressions of support, see a respected religious
leader being prosecuted for his words.
"He is not accused of anything except talking. It's all about him
saying something," said Shaker Elsayed, a member of the executive
committee of Dar Al Hijrah mosque in Falls Church. "If this isn't a
First Amendment issue, I don't know what is."
Although legal experts are as divided on the case as the two sides are,
some said that the case reflects the power of words in the post-Sept. 11
climate -- and that it poses an important test of the free-speech rights
Americans have come to expect since the First Amendment to the
Constitution was ratified in 1791. (MORE)
-----
ISRAEL
PLANS TO DUMP TONS OF GARBAGE IN WEST BANK -
TOP
David Ratner, Haaretz, 4/4/05
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/560414.html
For the first time since 1967, Israel has decided to transfer garbage
beyond the Green Line and dump it in the West Bank.
The project was launched despite international treaties prohibiting an
occupying state from making use of occupied territory unless it benefits
the local population.
In addition, pollution experts say such use of the Kedumim quarry -
located in an old Palestinian quarry between the Kedumim settlement and
Nablus - will jeopardize Palestinian water sources. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
U.S. SAYS ISRAEL MUST
GIVE UP NUKES -
TOP
Amir Oren, Haaretz, 4/3/05
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/560047.html
The State Department yesterday called on Israel to forswear nuclear
weapons and accept international Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all
nuclear activities.
This is the second time in about two weeks that officials in the Bush
administration are putting the nuclear weapons of Israel, India and
Pakistan on a par.
The officials called on the three to act like Ukraine and South Africa,
which in the last decade renounced their nuclear weapons.
The similar phrasing used by the officials refers to Israel's military
nuclear capability, as distinct from "nuclear option," which is
to be rolled back, although not necessarily in the "foreseeable
future."
The rare use of these terms contradicts the custom of senior
administration officials to avoid any possible confirming reference to
Israeli nuclear weapons. (MORE)
---
REPORT: ISRAEL TO
ADOPT 'LOST TRIBE' -
TOP
Jerusalem Post, 4/2/05
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Printer&cid=1112414514231
A special team of rabbis from Israel will soon be sent to the
Indian-Myanmar (Burma) border in order to convert thousands of members of
a local tribe who have been recognized as Jews by Israel's chief Sephardi
Rabbi Shlomo Amar, The Times of London has reported.
According to the report, the tribesmen have been defined as members of
the lost tribe of Menashe. Once converted, they would be able to
immigrate to Israel based on the Law of Return. The mission is reportedly
funded by a group of Christian Evangelicals. (MORE)
-----
CHECHNYA'S DISAPPEARED -
TOP
Washington Post, 4/3/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23869-2005Apr3.html
Now a new report from Human Rights Watch illuminates some of the human
costs of this conflict without apparent end. In the capital of Grozny,
the nonprofit advocacy group reports, full-fledged combat no longer takes
place, but what remains is "worse than a war," according to
many residents. The city remains in ruins, without running water or
electricity, but what makes life truly unbearable there and throughout
the Connecticut-size province is the constant threat of
"disappearances." According to the respected Russian human
rights group Memorial, between 3,000 and 5,000 civilians have
"disappeared" since 1999, when Russian troops moved into
Chechnya for a second time in the decade. Official government statistics
acknowledge more than 2,000 disappearances.
During a January reporting trip to Chechnya, Human Rights Watch
investigators found that the vast majority of abductions are carried out
by Russian or pro-Moscow Chechen security forces. Most of the victims are
men, but increasingly women are being taken also. Security forces, often
armed and hooded, sometimes drunk, typically come to a house and take
someone away without explanation. Some bodies, showing signs of torture,
have been recovered; in most cases, relatives have no idea whether their
loved ones are dead or alive. "According to a Chechen official,
1,814 criminal investigations were opened into enforced disappearances,
yet not a single one has resulted in a conviction," Human Rights
Watch reports. (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 -
4/5/05
* HADITH:
Be
Lenient and Kind-Hearted
* May 13-15 in DC:
'Reasserting
Mainstream Values'
*
Last
Chance to Take Part in CAIR's Library Project
-
CAIR-FL:
Muslim Head Scarf
Debated
-
CAIR-CA:
Day of
Solidarity Open House
* ISLAM-OPED:
Islam
and Earth Day, April 22
*
Islam
Top Concern in Cardinals' Conclave (AP)
*
Foes Say
Patriot Act Too Flawed to Retain (Chicago Trib)
-
Congress
Scrutinizes Patriot Act (MSNBC)
-
'Sneak
And Peek' Searches Double (Boston Globe)
-
Patriot Act
Foes Find Unity (Atlanta Journal)
* NY:
Muslims
Seek Answers for Border Detention (AP)
* MN:
Understanding Islamic
Culture (Minnesota Daily)
- CA:
Forum on Islam Promotes
Tolerance
*
Dozens Attack Mosque
in the Netherlands (AP)
*
Learn Arabic at Al-Azhar
University
* DC:
Tsunami
Benefit Concert with Muslim Performers
-----
HADITH OF
THE DAY: BE LENIENT AND KIND-HEARTED -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The Fire (of Hell)
is forbidden to touch anyone who is close to the people, soft, lenient,
and kind-hearted."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 223
When a group of people spoke harshly to the Prophet Muhammad, and his
wife replied in kind, he cautioned her: "Be calm...for God loves
that one should be kind and lenient in all matters."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 273
-----
MAY
13-15 IN DC: 'Reasserting Mainstream Religious Values' -
TOP
SAMPLE SESSION:
Reasserting Mainstream Religious Values:
* CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush
* Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui, Islamic Society of North America
* Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, Islamic Education Center of Orange
County
* Rev. Dr. Shanta D. Premawardhana, National Council of Churches
* Iqbal Sacranie, Muslim Council of Britain
* Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad, Hampton University
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
LAST
CHANCE TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT -
TOP
Almost 8,000 libraries sponsored, only 80 packages remain
CAIR today announced that the "Explore Islamic Civilization and
Culture" Public Library Project Campaign is drawing to a close.
Fewer than 80 library packages are left to be sponsored. To sponsor a
library, call 1-800-78-ISLAM and ask for the Library Project Coordinator.
(For more information on CAIR's Library Project, or to sponsor online, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/)
The CAIR Library Project campaign aimed to dispel misconceptions by
placing accurate and balanced information about Islam and Muslims in
public libraries nationwide. Almost 8,000 libraries nationwide have
already received this 18-item resource package.
Only full sponsorships of $150 are applicable. If a library that has
already been sponsored is selected, CAIR will make every effort to
sponsor the library you suggest or a nearby library. We may have to send
the package to a different library.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL: MUSLIM HEAD
SCARF DEBATED -
TOP
Sherri Day, St. Petersburg Times, 4/5/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/05/Hillsborough/Muslim_head_scarf_deb.shtml
TAMPA - Briana Canty doesn't regret standing up for her religion. But
last weekend her convictions temporarily sidelined her hoop
dreams.
Briana, a sixth-grade student at Greco Middle School in Temple Terrace,
is Muslim. As a sign of her faith, she wears a hijab, a head covering
worn by many Islamic women after reaching puberty.
Last Friday, at an Amateur Athletic Union basketball tournament in
Orlando, Briana had to choose between her faith and her passion for
basketball.
Tournament officials told her to remove her hijab or sit on the
bench.
For Briana, 12, the decision to sit out was easy.
"It's my religion, and I'd rather follow my religion than to break
it to play basketball," Briana said Monday, reflecting on the
weekend's events. "I was sort of disappointed, but I was still
cheering on the team."
She went to Orlando to play forward for the Tampa Extremes, a local AAU
girls' basketball team. (
Briana played in the team's first game Friday afternoon without incident.
But she sat on the bench for much of the day's second game after
officials cited NCAA rules prohibiting players from wearing head
coverings and jewelry during games.
Her mother, Carla Canty, was outraged.
Canty said she couldn't believe this was happening in America in
2005.
After her initial attempts to negotiate with tournament officials were
unsuccessful, Canty called the Florida Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Tampa.
The group intervened on Briana's behalf. (MORE)
---
CAIR-CA: DAY OF
SOLIDARITY OPEN HOUSE -
TOP
WHAT: The Northern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-SFBA), along with the American Muslim Voice, Amnesty
International, Blue Triangle Network, and many other groups, will host a
day of solidarity open house.
No Forums, No teach-ins and no speeches. Just family and friends
nurturing the seeds of friendship. You bring your family, friends and
chairs, and we will provide free lunch, kids activities and cultural
experience.
WHEN: Saturday, April 16th, 2005 from Noon to 4 PM
WHERE: 120 Park Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
For more information, call 650-387-1994 or e-mail samina_faheem@yahoo.com
by April 10th, 2005 if you are interested in co-sponsoring this event.
Visit:
www.amuslimvoice.org.
Alternate Phone: 408-986-9874, E-mail:
amina@cair.com
-----
ISLAM-OPED: ISLAM
AND EARTH DAY, APRIL 22 -
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)
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from ISLAM-OPED, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-oped/
---
ISLAM AND EARTH DAY
By Joshua Brockwell
WORD COUNT: 634
[Joshua Brockwell is with the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy group. He may be contacted at:
jbrockwell@cair-net.org. For
more information on Earth Day, see:
http://www.earthday.net/]
As American Muslims join in celebrating the 35th anniversary of Earth Day
on April 22, they can recall with pride Islam's stance on
environmentalism.
In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, men and women are viewed as God's
vicegerents on Earth. (2:30) God created nature in a balance
("al-mizan") and mankind's responsibility is to maintain this
fragile equilibrium through wise governance and sound personal
conduct.
The Quran also describes the believing men and women as those who
"walk on the Earth in humility." (25:63) Scholars have
interpreted this verse, and others like it, to mean that Muslims are to
protect nature's many bounties given to them by the Almighty.
Preservation is therefore more than a good policy recommendation - it is
a commandment from God.
There are more than 700 verses in the Quran that exhort believers to
reflect on nature.
For example, the Quran states: "And it is He who spread out the
earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers; and
fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two; He draweth the night
as a veil over the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are signs
for those who consider." (13:3)
According to Islamic beliefs, the Earth is a sanctuary in which mankind
was made to dwell in comfort. The vast oceans, forests and mountains that
make up this bountiful planet have been subdued by God for our enjoyment
and productive use.
Further, God compels Muslims in the Quran to respect and revere the
environment when He says, "Greater indeed than the creation of man
is the creation of the heavens and the earth." (40:57)
The Prophet Muhammad told his followers they would be rewarded by God for
taking care of the Earth. He said: "If any Muslim plants any plant
and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he
had given that much in charity." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8:41) He also
compared Muslims to a "fresh tender plant" that bends, but does
not break, when afflicted with life's inevitable calamities. (Sahih
Al-Bukhari, 7:547)
Another tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, or hadith, quotes him as
saying: "If the Hour (Judgment Day) is about to be established and
one of you is holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one
second before the Hour is established to plant it."
An example of Muslims taking ownership of their divine obligation to
protect the environment was seen recently when the people of Tanzania
reversed a growing trend toward ecological destruction through a policy
of sustainable fishing and environmental preservation based on the
principles of the Quran.
Prior to implementation of the educational program, over-harvesting by
fishermen on the Muslim-majority island of Misali had threatened the
area's aquatic ecosystem. But thanks to an indigenous campaign to remind
local inhabitants of Islam's respect for nature, those who earn their
living from the sea learned the benefits of protecting the region's
biodiversity.
In Islamic history, Ottoman civilization provides us with another example
of the seriousness with which Muslims have traditionally taken their
environmental obligations. Ottoman viziers, or ministers, advising the
sultan on matters of administration and policy regularly encouraged
moratoria on matters deemed potentially damaging to future
generations.
Innovations in technology, for example, were hotly debated among
scholars, all of whom recognized the importance of considering the
long-term impact on both society and the environment.
In Islam, even the Earth has inalienable rights endowed by its
Creator.
Sound ecological principles are not limited to Islam, and should be acted
upon by practitioners of other faiths. Together we can tackle the
environmental problems that besiege our planet.
On this year's Earth Day, people of all faiths should take time to
examine their own faith tradition's advice for taking care of the Earth
that we share.
-----
CARDINALS
SAY ISLAM A TOP CONCERNING HEADING INTO THE CONCLAVE -
TOP
Associated Press, 4/5/05
ROME (AP) - The relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and Islam
is emerging as a top issue among American cardinals as they consider
their vote for the next pope.
Tensions between the competing faiths have often led to violence in parts
of Africa and Asia, and Pope John Paul II tried, with mixed results, to
reach out to Muslim leaders.
"We have to learn to live with Islam," said Washington D.C.,
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, speaking to reporters Tuesday at the North
American College, a leading seminary for U.S. priests. "We have to
learn how to dialogue with Islam." (MORE)
-----
FOES SAY
POST-9/11 TOOL TOO FLAWED TO RETAIN -
TOP
Andrew Zajac, Chicago Tribune, 4/5/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0504050152apr05,1,2052256.story
WASHINGTON - The public face of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales'
campaign to renew the Patriot Act does not belong to an al-Qaida-trained
killer captured using the law.
Instead, it belongs to Jared Bjarnason, an unemployed 30-year-old serving
18 months in a low-security West Texas prison for sending an e-mail
threatening "death and destruction" to an El Paso
mosque.
Gonzales said last month that Bjarnason's arrest was an example of how
"the Patriot Act was used to protect the lives and liberties of
members of the El Paso Islamic Center," because it let investigators
track down Bjarnason before he could carry out his threat.
But closer scrutiny suggests investigators did not see Bjarnason as much
of a threat, the mosque almost didn't report his e-mail, and the
government could have obtained the e-mail records almost as fast without
the Patriot Act.
"It's absurd," said Bill Maynard, a supervisor in the public
defender's office that represented Bjarnason. "The prosecution in no
way demonstrates the effectiveness of the Patriot Act."
A portion of the Patriot Act - the significant increase in police powers
enacted in the jittery days after the Sept. 11 attacks - is due to expire
at the end of the year, and congressional hearings begin Tuesday with
Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller slated to testify before the
Senate Judiciary Committee.
The renewal opens up a debate over the law's effectiveness as the White
House mounts an energetic campaign to persuade Congress to re-enact it.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
CONGRESSIONAL
HEARINGS SCRUTINIZE PATRIOT ACT -
TOP
Has it helped combat terrorists? Attorney general to make the case
Tom Curry, MSNBC, 4/5/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7367499/
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI director Robert Mueller will
supply answers to that question this week as they testify before the
Senate and House Judiciary Committees.
Key parts of the Patriot Act expire at the end of this year and Congress
must decide whether to extend them, as well as whether to alter other
parts of the statute.
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter wants the Patriot Act
legislation passed by late summer. A left-right coalition, including the
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Republican strategist Grover
Norquist, is urging Congress to scale back the law.
The lightning rods for criticism include:
Section 213, which permits judges to delay notifying a person whose home
or property has been searched by federal agents, when delayed
notification is necessary to prevent destruction of evidence,
intimidation of witnesses, or escape of suspects.
Section 215, which empowers a special court, under the 1978 Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), to issue secret orders requiring
businesses or institutions to turn over records concerning terrorists or
foreign agents.
Section 218, which expands the number of cases in which intelligence data
can be given to prosecutors investigating foreign intelligence
activities.
Section 505, which expanded FBI agents' powers to seize certain records
using a "national security letter," a kind of subpoena, without
getting permission from a judge.
Section 802, which defines domestic terrorism.
Sections 215 and 218 expire at the end of this year; the others listed
above do not. (MORE)
---
PATRIOT
ACT'S 'SNEAK AND PEEK' SEARCHES NEARLY DOUBLE -
TOP
Charlie Savage and Rick Klein, Boston Globe, 4/5/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/218816_patriotact05.html
WASHINGTON -- Justice Department investigators nearly doubled the rate at
which they used a controversial new search-and-seizure power allowed
under the USA Patriot Act during the past 22 months, according to data
released by the Bush administration yesterday on the eve of congressional
testimony by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Formally called delayed-notification searches, the warrants are known as
"sneak and peek" because they allow investigators to search a
person's home or business and to seize property without disclosing for
weeks or months that they were there. Although investigators must
convince a judge that there is a "reasonable suspicion" that
the investigation would be harmed if the subject were notified, no judge
has ever denied a request for those searches. (MORE)
---
AS PATRIOT
ACT AWAITS RENEWAL, FOES FIND UNITY -
TOP
Bob Dart, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4/5/05
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_2425e20e56def135008b.html
Washington --- With five state Legislatures in revolt against the
Patriot
Act, Congress begins reconsideration of the sweeping anti-terrorism
legislation today.
Last week, Montana joined four other states that have passed resolutions
urging Congress to curb the broad powers granted to federal law
enforcement agencies six weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
The resolution "protects our state's rights and is what true
Republicans in every red state should be doing," said Montana state
Rep. Rick Maedje, a Republican.
Similar measures have passed in the "blue," or
Democratic-leaning, states of Vermont, Maine and Hawaii, as well as in
Alaska, which like Montana is Republican "red." A coalition to
rein in the Patriot Act is headed by former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, a Georgia
Republican, and has members ranging from the American Civil Liberties
Union to Americans For Tax Reform.
"It's our No. 1 legislative priority," Anthony D. Romero,
executive director of the ACLU, said Monday. (MORE)
------
MUSLIM-AMERICANS
SEEK ANSWERS FOR BORDER DETENTION -
TOP
Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press, 4/5/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--muslimsstopped0404apr04,0,2136478.story
AMHERST, N.Y. -- Muslim-Americans on Monday pressed a Department of
Homeland Security civil rights official to explain why they were
fingerprinted, photographed and held at the border after a religious
conference in Canada, but came away with few answers.
Daniel Sutherland, the department's Washington-based officer for civil
rights and civil liberties, was asked to address the group after
complaints that more than three dozen people who attended the December
conference were held without explanation for as long as six hours while
trying to re-enter the United States by car.
"If you're looking for me to give you the answers A to Z on this,
you're going to be dissatisfied and I know that from the beginning,"
Sutherland told several dozen people at a forum organized by the western
New York Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Dr. Ismael Memon, 70, described how he, his son and a third person were
ushered into a waiting area, where they were made to surrender their
credit cards, cell phones, watches and other belongings before being
searched, questioned, fingerprinted and photographed.
Some in the group were handcuffed.
"Do you have any relations with terrorist organizations?" Memon
said he was asked.
"Of course not," he responded.
"We were treated just like criminals," Memon said through a
statement read on his behalf.
Sutherland said he and others in the department "felt very
uncomfortable" with Memon's and others' stories, but declined to
answer when asked whether he believed individuals' civil rights were
violated. (MORE)
-----
UNDERSTANDING ISLAMIC CULTURE
-
TOP
Minnesota Daily, 4/5/05
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/04/05/63974
As students of the University, we are provided an excellent opportunity
to experience wide diversity on campus. Each week, the campus events
calendar is filled with horizon-broadening events. Last week was the
Asian-American Student Union's spring conference. This week is Islam
Awareness Week, sponsored by Al-Madinah Cultural Center and the Muslim
Students Association.
Diversity at the University spreads beyond religion and cultural
backgrounds to sexual orientation and political viewpoints. This week,
however, provides a special opportunity to learn more about Islam, which
has been grouped together with many negative elements.
During the week, the cultural center will host myriad events to help
better explain Islam. In Minnesota, where only a fraction of the
population is Muslim, mass ignorance can easily lead to a societal
pressure with negative consequences. As the Muslim population grows
rapidly, more tension will develop as long as people do not understand
one another.
Many of the issues that need to be faced by the University as a whole
concern general ignorance of what Islam is. In the wake of Sept. 11,
2001, Islam and its practitioners have been the focus of intense
scrutiny. Unfortunately, many people in the United States have made the
leap to equating Islam with terrorism. Much of the awareness week aims to
combat the extreme portrayals of Islam in the media and celebrate
religious and cultural bonds.
We are provided the opportunity to experience, learn from and get a
deeper understanding about the students around us. Don't understand what
an "hijab" is? Don't understand the Islamic daily prayers you
have spotted some fellow students doing? Uncomfortable around different
students? Islam Awareness Week offers a great opportunity to learn. Even
if you disagree with Islam, this is a perfect opportunity to debate.
Attend some of the events, and ask some questions. See what is going
on.
University students are provided with these chances to experience
diversity; you might as well take advantage of them.
SEE ALSO:
FORUM ON ISLAM PROMOTES
TOLERANCE -
TOP
Mima Mohammed, Daily Stanford, 4/5/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16660&repository=0001_article
To provide a forum for all members of the Stanford community to ask
questions about and acquaint themselves better with the Islamic faith,
two Islamic student groups hosted a panel last night entitled "Islam
Reflections and Perceptions," including both students and Muslim
leaders.
Sponsored by the Muslim Student Awareness Network, or MSAN, in
partnership with the Islamic Society at Stanford University, or ISSU, the
panel featured senior Rania Eltom, MSAN president; doctoral student
Ibrahim Almojel, president of ISSU; Ameena Jandali, secretary of the
Islamic Networks Group - a nonprofit designed to educate the public about
Islam; and Hisham Abdallah, imam of the Muslim Community Association of
Santa Clara. Thom Massey, associate dean of students and cultural
education affairs, moderated the event.
The speakers each described the major tenets of Islam, focusing mainly on
the misperceptions of the religion.
Abdallah outlined the five pillars of Islam: faith in the oneness of God,
daily prayer, charity, fasting and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who
are able.
"Islam is a religion where the main focus is the relationship with
God," Jandali said, adding that many assumptions about Islam are
perpetuated by people who are unfamiliar with the belief
system.
For instance, contrary to some people's suppositions, Muslim women wear
head scarves as a sign of modesty, not because men forced them to, she
said.
"There is so much diversity to Islam," Jandali said.
"There are over 1.2 billion people worldwide who consider themselves
Muslim, yet the media tends to portray only one side of the
religion."
All four speakers highlighted this one-sidedness and the inaccuracies it
leads to.
During the question-and-answer session, one audience member asked why
many of the world's terrorists happen to be Muslim.
Abdallah replied that the actions of terrorists are not in accordance
with the teachings of Islam, especially with the ideal of perfect moral
character. (MORE)
-----
DOZENS ATTACK
MOSQUE IN THE NETHERLANDS -
TOP
Associated Press, 4/3/05
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1112494791790
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A group of youths smashed windows of a mosque in
the southern Netherlands, setting off a street brawl with Muslim
immigrants, police said Sunday.
One person was hurt, and police arrested one man after the Saturday night
disturbance in the city of Venray, police said.
Local media reported the fight involved about 60 Turkish immigrants and
around 20 native Dutch.
A surge of racially motivated attacks hit the Netherlands in the weeks
after the November murder of a Dutch filmmaker, allegedly by an Islamic
extremist. The violence has included dozens of attacks on mosques and
Islamic schools, including several bombings and cases of arson. No one
has been killed in the attacks.
One man suffered unspecified injuries in Saturday's fight and was
hospitalized overnight, police said.
The man who was arrested was identified as a 33-year-old from a
neighboring town who police said "had a large part in the
disturbance at the mosque."
Police said more arrests might follow.
-----
LEARN ARABIC AT
AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY -
TOP
The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences (GSISS), Al-Azhar
University and Al-Ameen Associates present: An Intensive Arabic Immersion
Program in Cairo, Egypt July 1-31, 2005
DETAILS
* $1900 Fee Includes: Roundtrip airfare from NYC, ground transport,
lodging, books and tuition waiver.
* Classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels (16-years-old
and older)
* Classes meet 5 days a week, 6 hours per day
* CEU's and college credit available through GSISS
* Limited number of partial scholarships available.
Applications and further info available at the following link at the
GSISS website:
http://www.siss.edu/Special_Programs/special_programs.htm
Phone: 203-865-9411
-----
RHYTHMS OF PEACE
TSUNAMI BENEFIT CONCERT -
TOP
at The George Washington University Lisner Auditorium
Featured Artists:
* Dawud Wharnsby Ali
* Native Deen
* 786
For tickets
http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/961065/
or email MSA@gwu.edu
WHO: MSA of GWU, DC Council of MSAs, and Islamic Relief USA
WHAT: RHYTHMS OF PEACE '05, Tsunami Benefit Concert, All proceeds will go to Islamic Relief Development Charity
WHEN: Saturday April 23rd, 2:30 pm
WHERE: George Washington University's Lisner's Auditorium
730 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Tel: (202) 994-6800
TICKETS: $12
MORE INFO:
MSA GWU Rika Prodhan 2022710424
MSA GWU Sana Chaudry 2026078968
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful\
CAIR ACTION ALERT #453
REVISE PATRIOT ACT WITH SAFE ACT
(
WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/6/05) - CAIR is urging members of the
American Muslim community and other people of conscience to contact their
elected representatives and ask that they co-sponsor the recently
introduced "Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act,"
designed to repeal unconstitutional sections of the original USA PATRIOT
Act.
The bipartisan bill, which was announced yesterday by Senators Larry
Craig (R-ID) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), addresses mounting concerns
raised by citizens at a grassroots level who have organized to defend the
Bill of Rights.
This week, the Senate and House Judiciary Committees are holding the
first in a series of hearings on the PATRIOT Act, parts of which will
expire by the end of the year without Congressional
reauthorization.
The SAFE Act would:
* Scale back the government's authority to seize personal information
-- credit reports, communications records and financial information --
through National Security Letters without judicial review.
* Narrow the "sneak and peek" provision in the PATRIOT Act,
which allows federal agents to get court authorization to search
Americans' homes without notifying them for weeks or even
months.
* Refine section 215, which allows the FBI to obtain a rubberstamp court
order giving it access to Americans' medical, business, library and even
genetic records without probable cause.
SEE: "Bipartisan Legislation Would Fix Worst Parts of Patriot
Act"
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=17935&c=206
"The PATRIOT Act was passed in haste during a time of national
crisis and now needs to be revised to bring it into conformity with the
Constitution and with American traditions of personal privacy," said
CAIR Governmental Affairs Director Corey Saylor. "The protection of
civil liberties and national security are not mutually exclusive
goals."
ACTION REQUESTED:
CONTACT your elected representatives to ask that they support the
"Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act." GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/ (Enter your
ZIP code.) Ask that they defend the Constitution and American traditions
of personal privacy by making changes to the PATRIOT Act. Tell them we
can protect both national security and civil liberties.
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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 -
4/6/05
ACTION ITEM: Ask your friends, family and colleagues to subscribe
to CAIR-NET.
Tell them to subscribe by going to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
* VERSE:
The Cycle of
Life
-
HADITH: Equality for All
* CAIR-OH:
World
a Better Place Because of Pope
-
CAIR-MI:
Muslims Mourn
Loss of 'Friend'
-
Last Chance
to Sponsor CAIR Library Package
- DC:
Islamophobia,
Anti-Americanism and Policy
* AZ:
Textbook Pulled
After Uproar Over Islam
- NY:
Students
Protest Daniel Pipes' Talk
-
Pipes Supports
Internment of Japanese-Americans
-
Pipes Backs Convicted
French Racist
* PATRIOT ACT:
Justice Delayed (Metro
Times)
-
FBI Seeks Expanded Search
Powers (MSNBC)
* CAIR-Chicago:
9/11
Raised Identity Questions
-
Defying Stereotypes
in Attacks' Aftermath
* MI:
Interfaith
Group Backs Out of Ceremony (AP)
* CA:
Islam is a Religion
Based on Peace (Daily Trojan)
- MI:
MSA
Aims to Bridge Gap between Religions
- CA:
Forum on Islam Promotes
Tolerance
*
US Probes
Whether Troops Hold Iraq Women 'Hostage'
* MD:
American
Muslims Reach Out to Afghan Mosques
-
Afghanistan
to Have Permanent US Military (FT)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THE
CYCLE OF LIFE -
TOP
"O mankind! If you doubt that there is life after death, remember
that We first created you from dust, then from a sperm, then from a
leech-like mass, then from a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly
unformed, so that We may manifest to you Our power. We cause to remain in
the womb whom We wish for an appointed term, and then We bring you forth
as infants; then We nourish you so that you may reach your age of full
strength. There are some of you who die young and some who live on to
their abject old age, when all that they once knew they know no more.
[And if you are still in doubt about life after death] you can see the
land dry and barren; but no sooner do We pour down rain upon it, then it
begins to stir and swell, putting forth every kind of beautiful growth in
pairs."
The Holy Quran, 22:5
ALSO SEE:
HADITH OF THE DAY: EQUALITY FOR ALL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "All people are equal
as the teeth of a comb." (At-Tabarani)
-----
CAIR-OH:
MUSLIMS THANKFUL FOR GOOD RELATIONS -
TOP
Karen Dabdoub, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/5/05
The world is a better place because of Pope John Paul II. As people
around the world mourn his passing, the Muslim community will also miss
his wise counsel and advocacy for peace, justice, human rights and good
interfaith relations.
John Paul not only preached these virtues, he practiced them. He was the
first pope to visit a mosque, thus paving the way for peaceful and
respectful relations between Catholics and Muslims and in fact among
peoples of all faiths.
It is up to all who believe in his message of peace and reconciliation to
continue to carry it out in their own lives. In this way his legacy will
continue to live on, God willing.
Karen Dabdoub is with the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
Ohio Chapter, Cincinnati Office.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-MI: MUSLIMS
MOURN LOSS OF 'FRIEND' -
TOP
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 4/6/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/religion/0504/06/A04-141579.htm
CANTON TOWNSHIP -- Muslims across Metro Detroit are expressing sadness
and concern at the death of Pope John Paul II, who, they say, transcended
the boundaries of different faiths and brought many Christians to a
greater understanding of Islam.
Many said they are saddened by the loss of a great spiritual force and
concerned that the next pope may not be as effective in promoting
cooperation and understanding among faiths.
"More than any religious leader, he made a lot of strides to speak
to all of the faithful, and I think many of his words about the value of
life and the value of family resonated very strongly in the Muslim
community," said Muzammil Ahmed, a surgeon who lives in Canton
Township and who is active in the Canton mosque. "He was very open
to other faiths and met with Muslim leaders and Muslims in other
countries without being judgmental.
"He had a lot of friends in our community."
About 3 percent of Michiganians practice Islam, and the number of Muslims
in Metro Detroit is estimated from 125,000 to 200,000, according to the
Detroit Mosque Study published in 2003 by the Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding in Clinton Township.
Of regular attendees at the 33 mosques throughout Metro Detroit, the
study determined about 45 percent are of South Asian descent, about 30
percent are of Arab descent, about 12 percent are African-American and
the rest are of other or mixed ethnicities.
"I am hearing a lot of discussion among Muslims that the pope was a
man of peace and he was a big advocate of interfaith relations and
forgiveness," said Celena Khatib, director of the local office of
the Council on American Islamic Relations, in Lathrup Village.
"He was a man who many respected, and the loss in both the Catholic
community and the worldwide community is great." (MORE)
LAST
CHANCE TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT -
TOP
Almost 8,000 libraries sponsored, only 80 packages remain
CAIR today announced that the "Explore Islamic Civilization and
Culture" Public Library Project Campaign is drawing to a close.
Fewer than 80 library packages are left to be sponsored. To sponsor a
library, call 1-800-78-ISLAM and ask for the Library Project Coordinator
or go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/
The CAIR Library Project campaign aimed to dispel misconceptions by
placing accurate and balanced information about Islam and Muslims in
public libraries nationwide. Almost 8,000 libraries nationwide have
already received this 18-item resource package.
Only full sponsorships of $150 are applicable. If a library that has
already been sponsored is selected, CAIR will make every effort to
sponsor the library you suggest or a nearby library. We may have to send
the package to a different library.
---
MAY
13-15 IN DC: IMPACT OF ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM ON CIVIL RIGHTS
AND POLICY MAKING' -
TOP
SAMPLE SESSION:
"Impact of Islamophobia and anti-Americanism on Civil Rights and
Policy Making" will discuss how Islamophobia and anti-American
sentiment has affected civil rights and policy making.
PANELISTS:
* CAIR Legal Affairs Director Arsalan Iftikhar
* Amnesty International, Chip Pitts
* Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy, Louis Cantori
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
AZ: TEXT PULLED
AFTER UPROAR OVER ISLAM -
TOP
Andrea Falkenhagen, East Valley Tribune, 4/6/05
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=39120
A world history textbook used by seventh-graders at Scottsdale's Mohave
Middle School was pulled from classrooms mid-semester amid growing
criticism of the book's portrayal of Islam.
The removal came on the heels of a slew of angry emails to Scottsdale
Unified School District officials and entries on conservative Internet
Web logs.
Janie White is a Scottsdale parent who complained about the "History
Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond" textbook, which was being used
on a trial basis at her daughter's school. In a Jan. 25 email to
Superintendent John Baracy, she objected to what she believed was
"religious bias, dogma, and proselytizing."
"I received a significant number of e-mails saying (the book) was
Islamic propaganda and we shouldn't use it," said district governing
board member Christine Schild.
Before the board could take action, the book's publisher requested an end
to its trial license with the district in March, and the district quit
using the materials.
Nancy Bredin, national sales manager at TCI, insists the publishing
company did not pull the license due to the controversy. Instead, she
said, the newly-released state standards do not match the textbook's
focus.
"We pulled out because it became very clear we did not match the
standards," Bredin said. The book is still being tried in schools in
other states, she added.
The textbook covers history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the
fifth century to the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. It devotes
33 pages to Christianity and 42 pages to Islam. Bredin explained the book
is meant to serve as the second in a two-part series.
The previous book in the series does not mention Islam, which was founded
in the seventh century. Yet it devotes 19 pages to Judaism, 13 pages to
Christianity and more than 20 pages to Buddhism and Hinduism.
The lessons about Islam are what concern parents such as White. In her
complaint to Baracy, she referred to the American Textbook Council, a
group that objects to TCI's explanation of concepts such as
jihad.
The book defines jihad as "a struggle within each individual to
please God, but that may also be a physical struggle for protection
against enemies."
David Damrel, a professor at the Arizona State University's Department of
Religious Studies, reviewed several chapters of the book at the Tribune's
request. He said the passages generally did a good job of describing
Muslim attitudes toward jihad in an accurate way.
Complaints about the book started early this year, when White sent a
series of e-mails to Baracy demanding the textbook be removed from her
daughter's classroom.
"I do not want my children trying out Islam, or thinking about
becoming a Muslim now, or in the future," she wrote to Baracy on
Jan. 25. She did say, however, that she approves of including some
information about world religions in history lessons, so long as it is
presented factually and briefly.
She also objected to a classroom activity that led students to rank the
most influential people in history, which she said pit Jesus against
Muhammad.
White could not be reached for comment for this story.
The issue drew national attention when a man claiming to be a Scottsdale
father posted an entry on conservative writer Daniel Pipes' Web site on
Feb. 27.
The man lambasted what he stated was "fake history along with
Islamic religious proselytizing and indoctrination techniques" at
his child's school.
The posting found its way to at least five other Internet log sites, most
of which claim to be politically conservative. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CONTROVERSIAL
MIDDLE EAST, ISLAM SCHOLAR TO TALK AT RIT -
TOP
Matthew Daneman, Democrat and Chronicle, 4/6/05
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050406/NEWS01/504060325/1002/NEWS
HENRIETTA - One of the nation's most controversial commentators on Islam
will give a talk at Rochester Institute of Technology on April
14.
To his supporters, Daniel Pipes is a pre-eminent and prescient thinker on
the Middle East.
To his detractors, Pipes is a racist demagogue. And some RIT students
have begun protesting his appearance.
Last month, the Muslim Students Association and RIT Anti War organized a
conference, "Academic Freedom Under Siege," as a counterpoint.
And a variety of student groups from schools such as the State University
Colleges at Geneseo and Oswego are gathering tonight at RIT to find a way
to challenge Pipes.
"Daniel Pipes is a supporter of Japanese internment camps,
segregation and racial profiling," said Ammar Naqvi, a Long Island
junior and president of the Muslim Students Association. "We should
learn from the mistakes of the past and not allow the freedoms that the
founders of this nation fought so hard for to be trampled over and
dissipated in the mud of racist rhetoric." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
PIPES
SUPPORTS INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS -
TOP
Daniel Pipes: "Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese
Americans in World War II." (12/28/04, on his web site)
---
PIPES BACKS CONVICTED
FRENCH RACIST -
TOP
Daniel Pipes has backed 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.
-----
MI: JUSTICE DELAYED -
TOP
Metro Times, 4/6/05
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7533
The first legal challenge to the USA PATRIOT Act received a lot of press
when it was filed way back in July 2003. Initiated by the Michigan
chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and six advocacy groups -
including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ACCESS), the
Muslim Community of Ann Arbor and the Council on American-Islamic
Relations - the lawsuit is challenging the constitutionality of Section
215 of the act rushed through Congress shortly after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks. That section of the law is particularly troubling because, among
other things, it allows the FBI to search and seize records or personal
belongings without showing probable cause and without notifying the
person being investigated, according to Wendy Wagenheim, spokeswoman for
ACLU-Michigan.
Given the importance of the case, it's not surprising that the media paid
so much attention when attorneys on both sides of the issue made their
arguments before U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood in December
2003.
And then? Nothing. And more nothing as Hood continued to mull the merits
of the case.
"This particular judge is good, but she's got a reputation for being
really slow," Wagenheim says.
So slow, Wagenheim says, that in her nine years with the ACLU she can't
remember a judge ever taking this long to rule in a case.
Hood's office says it can't say when the judge is expected to rule.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
FBI SEEKS EXPANDED SEARCH
POWERS -
TOP
MSNBC, 4/5/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7388717/
WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert Mueller on Tuesday asked lawmakers to
expand the bureau's ability to obtain records without first asking a
judge, and he joined Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in seeking that
every temporary provision of the anti-terrorism Patriot Act be
renewed.
"Now is not the time for us to be engaging in unilateral
disarmament" on the legal weapons now available for fighting
terrorism, Gonzales, for his part, told senators.
He said that some of the most controversial provisions of the Patriot Act
have proven invaluable in fighting terrorism and aiding other
investigations. "It's important that these authorities remain
available," Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Mueller said sections of the law that allow intelligence and law
enforcement agencies to share information are especially
important.
"Experience has taught the FBI that there are no neat dividing lines
that distinguish criminal, terrorist and foreign intelligence
activity," Mueller said in his prepared testimony.
He also asked Congress to expand the FBI's administrative subpoena
powers, which allow the bureau to obtain records without approval or a
judge or grand jury.
"For many years, the FBI has had administrative subpoena authority
for investigations of crimes ranging from drug trafficking to health care
fraud to child exploitation," he stated. "Yet, when it comes to
terrorism investigations, the FBI has no such authority."
(MORE)
----
CAIR-CHICAGO:
REACTION TO ATTACKS RAISED QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY -
TOP
Malavika Jagannathan and Tina Peng, Daily Northwestern, 4/6/05
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/06/4253ab8d6985e
Following Sept. 11, more than 1,200 Arab and Muslim immigrants were
detained and arrested. Thousands more were interrogated, many of them U.S
citizens and permanent residents. In Evanston, police questioned three
Northwestern students after the FBI began requiring background checks for
international students from certain Muslim-dominant countries.
Since then, the spotlight on Muslims has not faded -- Muslims and
Arab-Americans instead have become the focus of suspicion and interest,
inviting scrutiny and curiosity. Some argue that Muslims in American
society have become a feared and misunderstood "other," but
others say the existing misconceptions about Muslims and Arab-Americans
can be erased through education and perseverance&
"I think the majority of Americans are reasonable people," said
Rehab, CAIR's director of communications. "Education can remove
ignorance or malice they might have."
Many organizations began initiatives following Sept. 11 to clarify the
differences between religious and political ideals.
Ghuman's gurdwara started a "huge campaign" to educate people
about the differences between Sikhs and Muslims, she said. The area
religious office met with President Bush, and to this day Ghuman still
participates in interfaith activities. This push for increased awareness
is important because Chicago has a "relatively low"
concentration of Sikhs, she said. According to sikhwomen.com, in 2001
there were 6,000 to 10,000 Sikhs in the metropolitan Chicago
area.
Kasim Arshad, a Weinberg senior and president of the Muslim Cultural
Students Association, said McSA and other organizations began sponsoring
educational events immediately following the 2001 attacks.
"(We) put on events trying to increase awareness about racial
profiling and discrimination and the potential effects of Sept. 11 on the
Middle Eastern, southeast Asian community," he said. "After
Sept. 11, a lot of the programming was focused on clarifying terrorism
and violence in Islam as well as political issues like the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
This year, CAIR started running day-long workshops through local mosques
to acquaint people with Islam through discussions and prayers. Islam was
misunderstood partially because Muslims did not engage discussion in
their communities, a trend that is slowly changing as Muslims are
becoming more "vociferous about their religion publicly," Rehab
said. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
DEFYING
STEREOTYPES IN ATTACKS' AFTERMATH -
TOP
Tina Peng, Daily Northwestern, 4/6/05
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/06/42538bd1d62b2
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Ikram Ahmad picked up his dorm phone.
He said the callers identified themselves as members of a Jewish
fraternity and invited him to dinner.
"Then they said, 'Wait a second, you cannot eat our food because you
are Arab,'" Ahmad said.
Ahmad knew he had been targeted for being Muslim. But the callers didn't
have all their facts right: They misidentified Ahmad, a Malaysian
international student, as an Arab.
"They thought I was an Arab because of my name," said Ahmad,
now a McCormick senior. "It was more based on my name than who I
am."
Sept. 11 forced Ahmad to look more deeply at what it means to be both
Malaysian and Muslim, he said.
Islam is Malaysia's national religion. But most Malaysians do not
resemble the stereotypical Muslim image, so Ahmad initially was not
worried about being personally affected by post-Sept. 11 backlash, he
said. (MORE)
-----
INTERFAITH
GROUP BACKS OUT OF TROY CITY HALL CEREMONY -
TOP
Associated Press, 4/5/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw114024_20050406.htm
TROY, Mich. - An interfaith group that originally asked to be included in
a National Day of Prayer ceremony at City Hall says it is backing out
because of the exclusively Christian nature of the event.
The group includes Hindus, Muslims, Jews and members of other religions.
The group decided that once it was excluded from the Christian-based
event, a private event would be more appropriate, said organizer Padma
Kuppa, a Hindu. The group said it has not chosen a site.
"I wanted to participate in something already existing, as in the
National Day of Prayer," she told The Detroit News for a story
Wednesday. "But once we were out of the confines of something
already existing, we thought we'd be better off in a place of
worship."
Mayor Louise Schilling said she was disappointed in the way the
controversy has divided the Detroit suburb.
"That day should be about bringing the different religious groups
together in unity, not in tearing them apart," Schilling
said.
Last week, the Troy City Council decided to allow the National Day of
Prayer Task Force to hold its event from noon to 1 p.m. May 5 on the
steps of City Hall, followed by the interfaith group from 1-2
p.m.
The decision came after the National Day of Prayer Task Force argued
against an interfaith ceremony. The interfaith group had pressed to be
included in the event.
The task force's Web site says participants in its events must support
the Lausanne Covenant, an evangelical Christian declaration of
belief.
Lori Wagner of the National Day of Prayer Task Force said all faiths are
welcome to attend the service but said that her group is
Christian.
"We organize our speakers who are in alignment with our faith,"
she said.
-----
ISLAM: A RELIGION BASED ON
PEACE -
TOP
Tony Chiorazzi, Daily Trojan, 4/6/05
http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2005/04/06/Lifestyle/Islam.A.Religion.Based.On.Peace-913784.shtml
One of the biggest misconceptions about Islam is that the status of women
is lower than men, said Yolanda Solis, an adviser to the student
association. But she said that this is not the case because a high level
of importance given to women in Islam, she said.
What is the second-largest religion in the United States? Islam. And what
is the nation's fastest-growing religion? You guessed it. The Islamic
movement is on the rise, and its presence is alive and flourishing at
USC.
"Prophet Muhammad prophesized that Islam would become the largest
faith," said Karim Vidhani, president of the Muslim Students
Association, and a junior majoring in computer science. "But it is
also prophesized that there will be an increasing lack of knowledge about
Islam, too."
The Muslim Students Association
Vidhani and the MSA, which describes itself as an association that
"strives to educate Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam," are
intent on moving forward. "We have many goals," Vidhani said.
One of those goals is called dawah, which means informing non-Muslims
about Islam.
"We hold lectures, hand out flyers, pamphlets and basically just
tell people about our faith on campus," Vidhani said. "We
welcome questions about our faith; Islam is not a faith that is without
answers."
A religion of peace?
Yet some might have the question: Is Islam a religion of peace? "The
word Islam means peace in Arabic," said Murat Surucu, a doctoral
candidate in biomedical engineering and president of Muslim Students for
Dialogue, an organization that helps promote Islamic understanding and
interfaith dialogue. "A Muslim can't be a terrorist, and a terrorist
can't be a Muslim. So people who want to terrorize people ... either
don't know Islam or think they are doing something in benefit of Islam,
but, in fact, they are not. They are only damaging Islam."
Aliha Khan, a Muslim and graduate student in electrical engineering, said
it's also wrong to say that Islam was spread by violence or force. For
example, Indonesia, the most populace Muslim nation in the world, was not
converted to Islam through force but, rather, through choice. "And
it's the same way in South Asia," she said. "You can't be
forced to accept Islam; the desire has to come from you."
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MI:
MSA AIMS TO BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN ISLAM, OTHER FAITHS -
TOP
Laura Kraft, Western Herald, 4/6/05
http://www.westernherald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/06/42531be078664
Writer, lecturer and documentary producer Alexander Kronemer will speak
about Muslims in America on Thursday as part of the Western Michigan
University Muslim Student Association's dinner event.
"We wanted someone who would know a lot about American
Muslims," said Shams Khan, MSA president and junior majoring in
biomedical science. "Muslims here are different than Muslims
anywhere else."
Though Kronemer's lecture will focus primarily on Islam and how its
traditions have spread across the world, Khan said it will also shed
light on the similarities between Muslim and non-Muslim
Americans.
"Liberty and justice for all. One nation under God -- those are all
things Muslims believe in," he said.
The event will not only educate Americans about Islamic traditions, but
it will educate Muslims on the traditions of other religions such as
Christianity and Judaism, he said.
"Our main purpose as an organization is to bridge the gap between
Muslims and non-Muslims," he said. "When you understand
something you stop fearing it."
Kahn said MSA holds events throughout the year to further educate WMU's
campus because it's such a diverse community. With a large population of
international students, many of whom hold positions such as teaching
assistants, he said it's important that there is understanding and not
fear. (MORE)
---
FORUM ON ISLAM PROMOTES
TOLERANCE -
TOP
Mima Mohammed, Daily Stanford, 4/5/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16660&repository=0001_article
To provide a forum for all members of the Stanford community to ask
questions about and acquaint themselves better with the Islamic faith,
two Islamic student groups hosted a panel last night entitled "Islam
Reflections and Perceptions," including both students and Muslim
leaders.
Sponsored by the Muslim Student Awareness Network, or MSAN, in
partnership with the Islamic Society at Stanford University, or ISSU, the
panel featured senior Rania Eltom, MSAN president; doctoral student
Ibrahim Almojel, president of ISSU; Ameena Jandali, secretary of the
Islamic Networks Group - a nonprofit designed to educate the public about
Islam; and Hisham Abdallah, imam of the Muslim Community Association of
Santa Clara. Thom Massey, associate dean of students and cultural
education affairs, moderated the event.
The speakers each described the major tenets of Islam, focusing mainly on
the misperceptions of the religion.
Abdallah outlined the five pillars of Islam: faith in the oneness of God,
daily prayer, charity, fasting and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who
are able.
"Islam is a religion where the main focus is the relationship with
God," Jandali said, adding that many assumptions about Islam are
perpetuated by people who are unfamiliar with the belief system.
(MORE)
-----
US
PROBES WHETHER TROOPS HOLD IRAQ WOMEN 'HOSTAGE' -
TOP
Michael Georgy, Reuters, 5/6/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8103383
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military in Baghdad confirmed on Wednesday it was
holding two Iraqi women and was investigating accusations that they were
being held hostage to pressure their fugitive male relatives to
surrender.
A spokesman said the women were detained as insurgent suspects, not
hostages. The latter would be a breach of international law, human rights
experts say; it could, however, be legitimate to hold relatives as
suspects in their own right.
"The U.S. army and Iraqi police did detain two females suspected of
collaboration with anti-Iraqi forces," Major Donn Latimer of the
3rd
Infantry Division told Reuters, using a term employed by U.S. troops to
describe guerrilla insurgents.
"Evidence was found at the residence that indicates clear knowledge
of an intent to harm coalition forces," Latimer said.
"Currently their disposition is under review."
The women's names were not available but details of their detention
indicated they were relatives of Arkan Mukhlif al-Batawi, who has accused
U.S. troops of taking his mother and sister hostage after raiding the
family home on Saturday.
Batawi, who farms at Taji just north of Baghdad, told Reuters on Tuesday
that the women had been arrested to try to pressure him and his brothers
Muhammad and Saddam to surrender themselves to U.S. troops who suspect
them of insurgent attacks.
A handwritten note in Arabic at the house read: "Be a man Muhammad
Mukhlif and give yourself up and then we will release your sisters.
Otherwise they will spend a long time in detention." It was signed
"Bandit 6," apparently U.S. army code, possibly designating a
company commander.
Several neighbours corroborated Batawi's account of events.
When Reuters called a mobile phone number left on the note, an American
who said he was a soldier appeared to be aware of Batawi's accusation but
declined further comment. (MORE)
-----
AMERICAN
MUSLIMS REACH OUT TO AFGHAN MOSQUES -
TOP
Kaukab Jhumra Smith, Maryland Newsline, 3/31/05
http://www.newsline.umd.edu/justice/specialreports/shadowofwar/mosqueproject033105.htm
Part of Maryam Khan's job in Afghanistan last year was to build barracks
for the new Afghan army, including areas for cleansing rites and
prayer.
After five months under heavy U.S. security, Khan, an American, yearned
for more contact with ordinary Afghans.
When she returned home to Ellicott City, Md., last October, she found she
couldn't leave thoughts of them behind.
"I felt like most of the Afghans there were just tired," said
Khan, who works as a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. "They were tired after years of war, and they just wanted
peace."
So when Khan, 23, learned of a volunteer project that would connect
American Muslims with people in Afghanistan, she jumped at the
chance.
She joined forces in late January with Lionel Ifill, 22, a U.S. Army
civil affairs specialist stationed along the eastern Afghan border, to
help bring together neighborhood mosques in the United States with
mosques in Afghanistan.
It's a way of letting Afghans know that people in the United States care
about them, Ifill wrote in an e-mail from Afghanistan.
ALSO SEE:
AFGHANISTAN
LIKELY TO HAVE PERMANENT US MILITARY -
TOP
Peter Spiegel, Financial Times, 4/5/05
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c09c7152-a612-11d9-b67b-00000e2511c8.html
Afghanistan's defence minister on Tuesday gave one of the clearest signs
yet that Kabul is open to permanent basing of US forces in the country,
saying his government was in discussions with the US that could include
air bases in Afghanistan after the current nation-building process
ends.
General Abdul Rahim Wardak said the details of what would constitute a
long-term US presence were still under discussion. But he signalled Kabul
was eager for "enduring arrangements" that could include
permanent air bases or "pre-positioned" military equipment that
would be used by rapidly deployed US forces in a crisis.
"We will certainly seek enduring relations and partnerships with our
international friends," Gen Wardak told a gathering of military
analysts in London. "This will prevent the repetition of the
catastrophic disengagement of the international community from
Afghanistan in the 1990s, which cost us all so dearly."
The discussions have been under way for several months, but both US and
Afghan officials have been reluctant to discuss the issue given
geopolitical sensitivities in the region, particularly in neighbouring
Iran.
Senator John McCain, an influential Republican on defence issues, first
hinted at such a possibility in February, when after a meeting with
Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, he said it was his "personal
view" that permanent joint bases should be established.
Last month, General Richard Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff,
acknowledged during a trip to Afghanistan that the US was considering
such a move. Such comments come as the US continues to expand its
capabilities at its main air base in Bagram, a Soviet-era facility north
of Kabul, where it is building a new runway. Bagram would be the most
likely location of a permanent US presence.
Gen Wardak sought to assuage concerns of neighbouring countries of a
permanent US presence, saying any agreement with the US would come at the
same time Kabul attempted to secure security pacts with regional powers.
(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:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
4/7/05
* HADITH:
Always Tell
the Truth
-
VERSE: Pass with Dignity
* CAIR-FL:
JP II's Legacy of
Tolerance (SP Times)
-
ISLAM-OPED:
Islam and Earth
Day
* TX:
Lawmaker
Targeted for 'Looking Muslim'? (Houston Chron)
* PATRIOT ACT:
Rep. Conyers Seeks
Wider Inquiry (Wash Post)
* CO:
Student
Traces Path to Islam
- VA:
Islam Awareness
Month Kicks Off
- MD:
Islamic Perception
Relies On 'Education'
* OH:
A Muslim Perspective on
Science
*
Arab
Actor Hopes Crusade Film Improves Muslim Image
-
Survey: U.S. Media
Censors Iraq Reporting (UPI)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(Bearing) false
witness has been made equivalent to attributing a partner to God (the
worst sin in Islam)."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1604
VERSE OF THE DAY: PASS WITH DIGNITY
"(The true servants of God are) those who do not bear witness to
falsehood and, whenever they pass by (people engaged in) senseless
frivolity, pass with dignity."
The Holy Quran, 25:72
-----
CAIR-FL: A LEGACY OF
TOLERANCE -
TOP
Ahmed Bedier, St. Petersburg Times, 4/7/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/07/Opinion/A_better_retirement_f.shtml
(Scroll down.)
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim
community, I would like to offer our sincere condolences on the death of
Pope John Paul II to members of the Roman Catholic Church and to all
people of conscience.
Muslims worldwide respected Pope John Paul II as an advocate for peace,
justice and human rights. He worked tirelessly to build tolerance and
understanding among people of all faiths.
Muslims will remember Pope John Paul II as the first Pontiff to visit a
mosque. In May 2001 the pope visited the Ummayad Mosque in the Syrian
capital of Damascus, where he held and kissed a copy of the Koran.
Furthermore, he built bridges between Christians, Jews and Muslims and
encouraged respect for diversity.
The late pontiff understood that ignorance, bigotry and oppression are a
threat to our world and led by example to eradicate them. Religious,
civic and political leaders in the Tampa Bay area and across the world
would benefit by following his model. We look forward to reaching out to
all segments of our society and continue on our mission of building
bridges of understanding.
Pope John Paul II's message of international peace and interfaith
reconciliation is one that will reverberate for generations to come.
Though the world will miss him, his legacy can live on through furthering
his work of building respect and tolerance.
Ahmed Bedier, Central Florida director, Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), Tampa;
abedier@cairfl.org
SEE ALSO:
ISLAM-OPED: ISLAM AND EARTH
DAY -
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.
The commentary below is available for publication.
CONTACT:
ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from ISLAM-OPED, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-oped/
---
ISLAM AND EARTH DAY
Joshua Brockwell, CAIR, 4/7/05
http://islam.about.com/od/activism/a/earth_day.htm
As American Muslims join in celebrating the 35th anniversary of Earth Day
on April 22, they can recall with pride Islam's stance on
environmentalism.
In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, men and women are viewed as God's
vicegerents on Earth. (2:30) God created nature in a balance
("al-mizan") and mankind's responsibility is to maintain this
fragile equilibrium through wise governance and sound personal
conduct.
The Quran also describes the believing men and women as those who
"walk on the Earth in humility." (25:63) Scholars have
interpreted this verse, and others like it, to mean that Muslims are to
protect nature's many bounties given to them by the Almighty.
Preservation is therefore more than a good policy recommendation - it is
a commandment from God.
There are more than 700 verses in the Quran that exhort believers to
reflect on nature. (MORE)
-----
AL
GREEN SAYS HE HAS BEEN TARGETED IN THE PAST FOR 'LOOKING MUSLIM' -
TOP
Robert Crowe, Houston Chronicle, 4/6/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3122304
A Houston lawmaker thinks he may have been the target of ethnic or
religious profiling at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Palm
Sunday as he prepared to fly to Washington, D.C.
Al Green, a Democratic congressman, was pulled out of line by airport
security officers March 20 as he waited to enter the primary security
area.
"It could have been (a random security search), but I cannot say
that it was random," Green said.
Officers escorted him to a separate area, where he was questioned and
searched before being permitted to enter the main security area. The
experience left him with a feeling that he was targeted the way Muslims
say they have been profiled since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"Whether it is real or imagined, I can tell you the perception
exists that there is profiling taking place," he said.
Local Muslims recently met with Green, sharing similar incidents of what
they said was profiling at Bush. At that meeting, he said he had
"been accosted for looking Muslim," in the past.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers handle security for
international flights, while the Transportation Security Administration
oversees security checks for those entering the airport's
gates.
"(Green) could have been selected for a secondary screening based on
travel patterns or, perhaps, a random selection," said Andrea
McCauley, a TSA spokeswoman.
Judy Turner, a local CBP spokeswoman, said Harold Woodward, Port director
for the agency, has addressed concerns of local Muslim groups.
"We have worked very closely to educate the community and learn
about cultural concerns to have our processes both secure and explained
to point out what we do and why we do it," Turner said.
(MORE)
-----
CONYERS SEEKS WIDER INQUIRY -
TOP
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 4/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32447-2005Apr6.html
The Justice Department is acknowledging for the first time that the FBI
used a secret search warrant to copy and seize material -- including DNA
samples -- from the home of Brandon Mayfield, a Portland, Ore., man who
was wrongly arrested and jailed last year in connection with the March
2004 train bombings in Madrid.
In statements and testimony this week, Attorney General Alberto R.
Gonzales and other Justice officials have also said that some of the
special powers used to spy on Mayfield were strengthened by the USA
Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism law facing fresh scrutiny from
Congress.
In a background briefing with reporters Tuesday, two senior Justice
Department officials maintained that the FBI could have taken Mayfield's
belongings and conducted surveillance on him even without the Patriot Act
because he was under suspicion in a prominent international terrorism
case.
But Mayfield's attorney said that may not be true, and the disclosures
prompted Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) to ask the Justice Department's
inspector general to expand his ongoing investigation of the
case.
Mayfield, a convert to Islam, was arrested May 6 after the FBI concluded
that his fingerprint was on a bag of detonators connected to the bombings
two months earlier in Madrid, which killed nearly 200 people. He was
freed two weeks later, after the FBI admitted it had bungled the
fingerprint analysis. Mayfield is suing the federal government.
The Justice Department previously declined to confirm Mayfield's
contention that his house had been ransacked in a covert search.
(MORE)
-----
UNC
STUDENT WHO BECAME MUSLIM, OTHERS GATHER FOR FESTIVAL -
TOP
Doyle Murphy, Greeley Trib, 4/7/05
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20050407/NEWS/104070102/?rs=2
The hardest part was telling her mother.
For almost two years Liz Sealing had been learning more and more about
Islam. A Muslim friend told her about the rules against drinking and
dating. She didn't understand it, but began reading about Islam. She
began to believe what she read. Eventually, she had to make a decision.
She couldn't keep believing and not act. She became a Muslim, and then
had to tell her Christian family.
"I sent them an e-mail explaining it," Sealing said. "I
couldn't call them."
Sealing looks comfortable now. Wearing a long black dress and a
long-sleeved burgundy blouse with a white hijab covering her head, she
moved easily through a festival of Arabian culture Wednesday on the
University of Northern Colorado campus. When members of the Muslim
Student Association gathered for a picture, she giggled and shuffled into
position with the other girls. She covered her hair with a hijab for the
first time at the beginning of this semester, the second of her senior
year at UNC.
Her mom replied right away to Sealing's e-mail. She called later that
night. She'd had no idea her 20-year-old daughter was becoming a Muslim.
She had lots of questions. She was worried. She'd heard Muslims were
violent and they treated women poorly. She still asks Sealing if she's
going to be all right, if there's any possibility she'll get sucked into
some kind of trouble with the government.
Sealing's Arabic teacher, Essam Aldwayan, was at the Arabian Nights
festival Wednesday. He volunteered to teach the class twice a week for
anyone who wants to learn the language. Between 20 and 30 students make
it to one of the sessions each week. Aldwayan, 32, said he's amazed at
Sealing's progress.
"She's doing great," Aldwayan said. "Whenever you're
interested in something you learn really fast."
Sealing's 23-year-old brother still doesn't understand. He points to
violence on the news and asks her about brutality toward women. She just
tells him that's not the way Islam is supposed to be practiced. Sealing's
close to her family, but it can be difficult being around them. They ask
her questions better suited for a scholar. Sealing has been a practicing
Muslim for 51/2 months. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM AWARENESS
MONTH KICKS OFF IN SQUIRES -
TOP
Collegiate Times, 4/7/05
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/index.php?ID=5605
The Muslim Student Association kicked off Islam Awareness Month this week
with festivities to educate students about the faith.
Johari Abdul-Malik, a member of the Muslim Alliance in North America,
spoke in Commonwealth Ballroom last night to discuss this month's topic,
"What are you living for?"
Abdul-Malik acknowledged the audience in a way he said he knew Jesus,
Moses, Muhammad and Noah alike would all greet a crowd.
"With peace," he said.
Abdul-Malik said in the spirit of peace, he wanted everyone to know he
was speaking from a Muslim point of view, and that he didn't want anyone
to be offended.
With assistance from the audience Abdul-Malik noted four ways in which
people learn and acquire a sense of reality: observation,
rationalization, emotions and faith.
"You can try to just use empirical thinking an observations, but it
takes other tools to get the real sense of reality," he
said.
Abdul-Malik cited many analogies in his explanation of what people are
living for, saying that each person was like a machine or tool and Allah
was the manufacturer. He said the Quran was like the manual put in place
to learn how to operate the machine. (MORE)
---
ISLAMIC PERCEPTION
RELIES ON 'EDUCATION' -
TOP
Ben Boehl, The Towerlight, 4/7/05
http://www.thetowerlight.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/07/4254710f45201
The Muslim Student Association kicked off Islamic Awareness Week on
Monday with a motivational lecture by Islamic speaker Abu Omar Irfan
Kabiruddin.
Kabiruddin's message was simple: He wants Muslims to be proud and promote
Islam as a peaceful religion. He expressed frustration with the
perception some people have had with Islam since the terrorist attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001.
"People are scared when a Muslim enters the room and that should not
happen." Kabiruddin said.
Kabiruddin believes the negative perception of Islam comes from the
American media, but he also feels Muslims need to be accountable for
promoting Islam as a peaceful religion. He believes non-Muslims will gain
a sense of comfort toward Islam once they are educated.
"It's all about education. Taking it to them. Telling them about
Islam!," Kabiruddin yelled into the crowd.
Islamic Awareness Week is designed to improve understanding about the
world's second largest religion. The MSA hosted a movie night on Tuesday,
and hosted an evening of "Women United" on Wednesday.
While many Muslims may be frustrated about the stereotyping of Islam in
the United States, Kabiruddin said they should be appreciative of living
in such a tolerable country. He pointed out that Muslims in America can
dress however they want, and suggested that other countries would have
banned Islam and kicked Muslims out of their country following Sept. 11,
2001.
Kabiruddin said being a Muslim was tough after the attacks because of all
the hostility toward the Islamic religion. But he was surprised and
touched by the cards and flowers he was sent from his non-Muslim friends
to still show their support for Kabiruddin and Islam.
Kabiruddin wants Muslims to not to be discouraged about the continuing
terrorist's acts in the Middle East. (MORE)
------
SCIENCE, RELIGION PONDERED -
TOP
Russ Zimmer, BG News, 4/6/05
http://www.bgnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/06/4253e773d7aeb
A minister, a rabbi and an imam walk into Olscamp 101 -- sorry there's no
punchline, only a serious discussion of religion and science.
The Muslim Student Association, in conjunction with CRU and Hillel,
presented "Science and Religion: Friends or Foes" last night
with speakers from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths.
The clergymen spoke on the misconception of a disconnect between faith
and scientific innovation.
"There seems to be a tendency to seperate science and religion and
because of that we find many give up religion for science," Rabbi
Edward Garsek said.
The forum was not set up as a debate to determine which religion is
correct or that science is faulty, but to find where belief in God and
science are interconnected.
"Science can tell us what we can do. Faith tells us what to
do," Minister Steve Rieske said.
Topics ranged from the moral implications of medical technology to God's
wishes for scientific advancement.
Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who led a successful anti-drug campaign in Brooklyn,
N.Y. during the 1980s, made clear the teachings of Islam are compatible
with science. They must be, according to Wahhaj, because Allah is
perfect.
"Religion is not at odds with science. Some religious people are at
odds with science," Wahhaj said. (MORE)
-----
ARAB
ACTOR HOPES CRUSADE FILM IMPROVES MUSLIM IMAGE -
TOP
Tom Perry, Reuters, 4/7/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=8115829
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian actor starring in a new Hollywood
blockbuster set during the Crusades says it will enhance Western
understanding of the Arab and Muslim world rather than underscore old
stereotypes, as some had feared.
Khaled El Nabawy expects "Kingdom of Heaven," which portrays a
12th-century Christian-Muslim battle for Jerusalem, to advance rather
than harm dialogue and understanding between the faiths.
"It's good timing. It's time for the West to know more about
us," said the actor who plays a Muslim religious leader in the film
by "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott due out in May.
"We know more about the West than they know about us. When you don't
know me, you're going to judge me in a bad way, which is risky,"
Nabawy told Reuters in Cairo. "We are not terrorists. We are very
civilized and our history is a witness to this."
Kingdom is being tipped as one of the summer's biggest movie releases and
has a budget estimated at around $130 million.
Some religious figures and academics are concerned that a film about the
Crusades, a term once used by President Bush to describe the war on
terror, will fuel the idea of an intractable clash of civilizations
between East and West.
They say it could fuel animosity toward Islam in the West and heighten
suspicions of the West in the Muslim world, where the invasions of Iraq
and Afghanistan have been portrayed by some as part of a war on Islam.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
SURVEY: U.S.
MEDIA CENSORS IRAQ REPORTING -
TOP
Angela Woodall, United Press International, 4/1/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050405-013342-2175r
The news media are self-censoring reports about Iraq because of concern
for public reaction to graphic images and details about death and
torture, according to a survey of 210 U.S. and international
journalists.
Many reporters and editors chose less-graphic images and explicit
details, or made them less noticeable, according to an online, anonymous
survey conducted between September and October 2004 by two American
University professors. The study was released March 17.
Findings also included how journalists were using the Internet to enhance
coverage of events in Iraq. One-third said they published material --
such as photographic essays, extended interviews and behind-the-scenes
reporters' accounts - that was not used in their reports on their news
organization's Web site.
The survey is a "window on journalists grappling with how to handle
the imagery of war," one of the authors, Jane Hall, a journalism
professor at American University in Washington, told United Press
International.
Journalists from a variety of media outlets were asked about coverage
from March 2003 to September 2004, from the beginning of the war in Iraq
through the first 15 months of the U.S.-led occupation.
This was a period of some of the most violent incidents in Iraq after
President Bush announced the end of major U.S. combat operations there. A
wave of beheadings peaked, four contractors were killed and their charred
bodies hung from a bridge in Fallujah, and explicit images from the Abu
Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal surfaced.
Of the 210 respondents -- out of 1,000 invited by e-mail to participate,
73 were in Iraq during and after the war. Half of that group was embedded
with the U.S. military during all or part of their time in Iraq. The
majority of all the journalists reported to an American audience. The
publications involved were not identified. (MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IL MUSLIM FAMILY RECEIVES RACIST DEATH THREATS
FBI probes caller who threatens to kill 'f**king Arab'
family
(
CHICAGO, IL, 4/8/05) - The Chicago office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today reported that the FBI
is investigating a number of racist phone threats made against a Chicago
Ridge Muslim family.
CAIR-Chicago said the victim told police that, beginning in March, she
received several phone calls from an identified man threatening to kill
her and her baby son if the family does not move away from the
neighborhood.
"I know who you are, if you do not move away from my neighborhood
within a month I will shoot you and kill you and your son," said the
caller, who is thought to be a neighbor living close enough to see who is
in the house.
The caller's most recent death threat came on the cell phone of the
mother, telling her that she is a "f**king Arab" and that he
will not call again, but will kill her and her son if they do not move
away within two weeks. (The Muslim mother is Hispanic. Her husband is of
Middle Eastern origin.) Local law enforcement authorities and the FBI
have been contacted about the case.
"It is important for all people of conscience to speak out against
the growing anti-Muslim rhetoric in America that leads to discrimination,
threats and even violence," said CAIR-Chicago Communications
Director Ahmed Rehab.
Rehab noted that a Chicago-area Muslim family recently filed a civil
rights lawsuit against a man who blew up their van with an explosive
device. The same man was convicted of throwing a brick through the window
of an Arab-owned business two days after the 9/11 attacks.
"We applaud the swift and professional response of local FBI
officials to this and other anti-Muslim incidents in our area," said
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara.
Tabbara said CAIR publishes a "Muslim Community Safety Kit" for
American Muslims, Arab-Americans and those perceived to be "Middle
Eastern" who may face religious or ethnic profiling and hate crimes.
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 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-Chicago, Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725 or 312-212-1520,
E-mail:
director@cairchicago.org;
Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963 or 312-212-1520, E-Mail:
communications@cairchicago.org;
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 - 4/11/05
* VERSE:
Spend in
Charity
-
HADITH: Charity Saves
* CAIR-FL:
Can Islam be
Peaceful, Tolerant? (Tampa Trib)
-
CAIR-TX:
'Faith in
Liberty' Forum
-
CAIR-FL:
Interfaith
Understanding is Pope's Legacy
-
CAIR-DC:
Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism, May 13-15
* MD:
Muslim
Clinic Heals Patients, Images of Islam (Wash Post)
* MI:
Christianity,
Islam Stem from Same Ideas (Western Herald)
- MO:
Prof. Esposito's Perspective on
Islam (Missourian)
- ND:
Making a Move Into
Spotlight (In Forum)
- TX:
Islamic Art Exhibit
Reveals Rich History (DMN)
*
Indian-Americans Look Back
Home (CSM)
* DC:
Muslim
Group to Release New Album with Social Message
*
China
'Smothering' Islam to Control Uighurs (Reuters)
-
REPORT:
Religious Repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang (HRW)
*
Records Give
Voice to Guantanamo Detainees (AP)
*
Palestinians
Slam Bush for Settlement Remark (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SPEND
IN CHARITY -
TOP
"Spend (in charity) out of the sustenance that We have bestowed on
you before that time when death will come to someone, and he shall say:
"O my Lord! If only you would grant me reprieve for a little while,
then I would give in charity, and be among the righteous."
The Holy Quran, 63:10
HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY SAVES
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Save yourself from
hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498
-----
CAN ISLAM BE PEACEFUL
AND TOLERANT? -
TOP
Parvez Ahmed, Tampa Tribune, 4/10/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBHIJ2UB7E.html
[Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., is chairman of the Florida chapter of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil
liberties advocacy group. He may be reached at:
pahmed@cairfl.org.]
Most Americans believe that 9/11 changed the world. Not only have we to
put up with such inconveniences as long lines at the airport, but also we
live in fear, perceived or real, of the next attack.
For American Muslims too, life has changed. In addition to the things
that worry all Americans, Muslims have to put up with increased scrutiny
of their activities and constant second- guessing of their motives, not
to mention discrimination at jobs or profiling by law
enforcement.
A 2004 Pew Foundation poll finds 32 percent of Americans with an
unfavorable view of Muslims; 44 percent believe that Islam is more likely
to encourage violence than other religions. Such negative views leads to
acceptance of discriminatory policies.
A Cornell University poll finds nearly half of all Americans want the
civil liberties of American Muslims to be restricted, while 27 percent
want all American Muslims to register their home addresses with the
federal government, and 29 percent believe undercover agents should
infiltrate Muslim civic organizations.
At the heart of paranoia about Islam and Muslims are two questions: Is
Islam tolerant of other faiths? Can Muslims coexist with people of other
faiths?
Jamal Badawi, a professor of religious studies at Saint Mary's
University, posits that normative Islam is not identical with the actions
of its "followers.'' Like other religions, followers are imperfect,
fallible human beings. At times the actions of Muslims will conform to
the teachings of Islam, while sometimes their actions will be either
independent of or in violation of Islam's normative teachings.
Insiders understand this. Christians do not associate the actions of
abortion clinic bombers with their faith. Likewise, Jews do not associate
the militancy of the settlers with Judaism.
Outsiders, due to either lack of knowledge or inherent bias, are not
always as enlightened. To some, terrorism committed by Muslims seems part
of their faith. However, closer scrutiny reveals that such heinous
actions are often misrepresentation of core religious
teachings.
The Quran in Chapter 2, verse 256 states, "Let there be no
compulsion in religion.'' Another verse states: "Those who believe
[in the Quran], and those who follow the Jewish [Scriptures], and the
Christians, and the Sabians, and who believe in God and the last day and
work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them
shall be no fear nor shall they grieve'' (2:62).
In 628, Prophet Muhammad granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of
St. Catherine Monastery in Mount Sinai. The charter in part stated,
"Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers will defend
them, because Christians are my citizens; neither are their judges to be
removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. Their
churches are to be respected.''
The core message of Islam is peace. Islam literally means peace, and one
of the attributes of God is "peace.'' Paradise is described as the
house of peace, and believers entering paradise are greeted in peace. The
universal greeting of Muslims is "peace be with you.'' Peace is also
a guiding principle of Muslim jurisprudence.
Thus it should not be surprising that the Quran exhorts Muslims to have
positive relationships with people of other faiths on the basis of
equity, kindness, love and respect. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SA JOINS 'FAITH
IN LIBERTY' FORUM -
TOP
(san Antonio, TX, 4/11/05) - On Sunday, April 10th, the San Antonio
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SA)
participated in an interactive symposium, "Faith in Liberty,"
sponsored by the Islamic Society of Southern Texas.
The event, attended by more than 200 people from different faiths, was
designed to bring the community together to discuss issues of public
security and safety. Speakers included the mayor of Corpus Christi, The
Honorable Samuel L. Neil Jr.; FBI Agents Albert J. Hall and Mathew P.
Desmond; CAIR-SA Chairwoman Sarwat Husain, Dr. Haroon Patel; Ivey
Bahloul, and others.
Mayor Neil welcomed the Muslim community to discuss issues of concern,
while law enforcement officials talked about the role of American Muslims
in making the community a safer place to live.
"To make America a truly safe, we all must come together to protect
civil liberties regardless of our different faiths and backgrounds,"
said Sarwat Husain of CAIR-SA.
CONTACT:
sanantonio@cair-net.org
---
INTERFAITH
UNDERSTANDING IS JOHN PAUL II'S LEGACY -
TOP
Ahmed Bedier, Palm Beach Post, 4/9/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2005/04/09/a11a_letters_0409.html
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim
community, I offer our sincere condolences on the death of Pope John Paul
II to members of the Roman Catholic Church and to all people of
conscience. Muslims worldwide respected Pope John Paul II as an advocate
for peace, justice and human rights. He worked tirelessly to build
tolerance and understanding among people of all faiths.
Muslims will remember Pope John Paul II as the first pontiff to visit a
mosque. In May 2001, the pope visited the Omayyad Mosque in the Syrian
capital of Damascus, where he held and kissed a copy of the Quran.
Furthermore, he built bridges between Christians, Jews and Muslims and
encouraged respect for diversity. The late pontiff understood that
ignorance, bigotry and oppression are a threat to our world and led by
example to eradicate them. Religious, civic and political leaders in
Florida and across the world would benefit by following his
model.
Pope John Paul II's message of international peace and interfaith
reconciliation is one that will reverberate for generations to come.
Though the world will miss him, his legacy can live on through furthering
his work of building respect and tolerance.
Ahmed Bedier is the Florida communications director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
---
MAY
13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner
8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna, VA (703-448-1234)
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
MD.
MUSLIM CLINIC WORKS TO HEAL UNINSURED PATIENTS -- AND IMAGES OF ISLAM -
TOP
Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post, 4/11/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42567-2005Apr10.html
Elias Corraya felt his right side slowly slide into numbness. Hours
later, when he could no longer move his right hand, the short,
soft-mannered former bank teller in Silver Spring decided to seek
help.
Like many uninsured immigrants, he had few options. He was unemployed, so
a hospital visit would be too expensive. Language was another obstacle:
He worried that in his halting English, he could not adequately explain
his symptoms.
Abdul Karim Chowdhury, 89, and wife Zahida Banoo, 75, who moved to
Maryland from Bangladesh, leave the Silver Spring clinic after receiving
care. (Photos Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)
After being refused treatment by a doctor, he went to the gold-domed
Muslim Community Center on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, where a
clinic run by Muslim physicians delivers health care to the poor with a
careful regard for Islamic culture. They spoke Urdu, which he speaks
fluently. They treated him with a respect born from ethnic
kinship.
And the care was free.
That was how on a recent Sunday afternoon, physician Asif Qadri, a Muslim
from Pakistan, helped save Corraya, a Christian from Bangladesh who had
suffered a mild stroke. (MORE)
-----
SPEAKER
SAYS CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM STEM FROM SAME IDEAS -
TOP
Macaul Dinges, Western Herald, 4/11/05
http://www.westernherald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/11/4259bf8eb50a9
Spreading diversity and ending discrimination were key concepts the
Muslim Student Association aimed to address Thursday evening through a
public program and keynote speaker.
The event, which was free and open to the public, included a dinner of
international cuisine, student exhibits, open discussions and a lecture
with writer and documentary producer Alexander Kronemer.
Kronemer, who produced a PBS documentary titled "Muhammad: Legacy of
a Prophet," with Michael Wolfe in 2002 focused his lecture on a
program titled "Islam, Muhammad...America?"
Colleges and universities, he said, are the best places -- and sometimes
the only places -- that serve as a melting pot for free
expression.
Miscommunication, animosity and suspicion tend to pull people apart, he
said.
"Students are the future and are shaping the world one way or
another," he said.
Kronemer addressed how Muslim and Christian societies are built upon the
same principles and stem from the same basic concepts.
However, he said snap judgments and stereotypes tend to block people from
seeing the truth. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
A PERSPECTIVE ON ISLAM -
TOP
Professor explains reasons for modern views, policies
Nigel Duara, Columbia Missourian, 4/11/05
http://columbiamissourian.com/utown/story.php?ID=13212
John Esposito loves his work because he never has to change his
tune.
"I have the world's greatest job because I've been saying the same
thing for 30 years," said Esposito, who spoke about
"Understanding Islam" at MU on Thursday evening. "Can
anybody else make that claim?"
A renowned Islam expert and professor at Georgetown University, Esposito
spoke at Keller Auditorium about the difficulties American foreign policy
sustains and creates in the Islamic world. His speech, sponsored by the
College of Arts and Science and the department of religious studies, was
part of Islam Awareness Week on campus.
Speaking with a mild Brooklyn accent and wearing a blue blazer and tennis
shoes, Esposito said his job title has changed often, but his message has
remained the same.
"We've learned about Islam through threatening events, starting with
the oil embargo and the Iranian revolution," he said. "We've
never had context to see (the religion) in."
Speaking to a diverse audience of college students in sweat pants and
community members in suits, Esposito did not avoid controversy. He drew a
distinction between what he called "hatred of America" and
"anti-Americanism."
"When we say, 'They hate America,' that means they hate the people
of America," Esposito said. "That's different from
anti-Americanism, which means they hate our foreign policies, not
us." (MORE)
---
ND: MAKING A MOVE INTO
SPOTLIGHT -
TOP
Sherri Richards, The Forum, 4/11/05
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=88488§ion=News
Organizers hope the state's first Islamic conference will strengthen the
bond among North Dakota's Muslims, as well as with the larger
community.
The conference - 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at North Dakota State
University's Memorial Union - is geared toward Muslims and non-Muslims
wanting to learn more about the faith.
For example, three separate workshops will be held for non-Muslims,
Muslim women and Muslim men at 2 p.m.
Event organizers also hope to encourage dialogue among different faiths,
said Mohamed Fakhr, president of the Fargo-Moorhead Islamic
Society.
"We know it will be tough to do in one conference," said Fakhr,
an NDSU professor. (MORE)
---
ISLAMIC ART
EXHIBIT REVEALS RICH HISTORY -
TOP
Janet Kutner, Dallas Morning News, 4/11/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002236046_islamicart11.html
FORT WORTH, Texas - Mention the Middle East and what images flash by?
Violence, war, deprivation.
But the Kimbell Art Museum's dazzling new exhibit reveals a brighter
picture - of times when people of different faiths and ethnic groups
lived in harmony, producing untold riches in the process.
Resplendent relics from the region that includes Iran, Iraq, Syria,
Turkey and Egypt went on view recently in "Palace and Mosque:
Islamic Art From the Victoria and Albert Museum."
Commonly known as the V&A, the London museum boasts one of the finest
collections of Islamic art outside Cairo or Istanbul. And 100 of its
greatest treasures are touring while the Islamic galleries are being
refurbished. Many are extremely rare, which is why the Kimbell fought to
be one of just three stops on a world tour that started at Washington's
National Gallery of Art and goes to Japan from here. (MORE)
-----
INDIANS IN U.S. LOOK BACK
HOME -
TOP
Ben Arnoldy, Christian Science Monitor, 4/10/05
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0410INDIA-expat10.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, 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: In March the 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.
Influential group
In one sense, the Indian-American community reflects the growing clout of
many expatriate groups in the United States. 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. (MORE)
-----
DC:
NATIVE DEEN TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM, 'DEEN YOU KNOW' -
TOP
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 11 /CNW/ - The name Native Deen is new
but people are about to get a taste first hand of what they are about
with the official release of 'Deen you know' on 18th April
2005.
Hailing from Washington, USA, Joshua Salaam, Naeem Muhammad and Abdul
Malik Ahmed make up this highly charged and dynamic world music group.
"Many have labeled us a rap group, but if you listen to our songs
you will understand that our music encompasses more than one musical
genre," stresses Abdul Malik.
Today, with a new look, a new name and 11 energized songs filled with a
thumping beat, Native Deen get ready to release their much anticipated
debut album under their record label Jamal Records, who specialize in
spiritually uplifting world music.
Joshua explains the motivation behind recording this album, "Our
songs encourage individuals to reflect on their true purpose in life. We
try to remind our selves and all of humanity about the Creator. So it's
cool to be able to groove to it." This album sees Native Deen
express their Muslim values and also share social messages that are
universal to all. Performing songs like 'Drug Free' and 'Paradise' they
raise the discussion on the disorders in society; looking to entertain
but yet also desiring to share a deeper message.
For the first time many will be introduced to Islam described through
genres which to date have very rarely produced songs that instill
positive values in the listener. "The album has a message for
everyday people. This Deen or way of life that is native to us all is the
same no matter what style, genre, or personal experience you
prefer," explains Naeem.
Fans of Native Deen will be able to listen to tracks on line at the
official album website
www.deenyouknow.com.
The group is ready to get back on stage and will be performing at venues
in the USA and abroad throughout this year. To start off they will be
visiting New York, Maryland, Washington DC, Houston Texas, Baltimore and
Boston during April and May '05. Performance dates and details are
updated regularly at:
www.nativedeen.com/pages/events/dates.shtml
NATIVE DEEN: DEEN YOU KNOW released 18th April 2005
For further information: Qutaiba Mahawili or Majid Hussain, Phone number:
+971-4-3902292, press@jamalrecords.com, or visit:
www.jamalrecords.com,
www.deenyouknow.com,
www.nativedeen.com.
-----
CHINA
"SMOTHERING" ISLAM TO CONTROL UIGHURS - REPORT -
TOP
Reuters, 4/12/05
http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=8146074
BEIJING - Two U.S.-based human rights groups have accused China of using
the law heavy-handedly to clamp down on Muslim Uighurs in its restive
western region of Xinjiang in the name of anti-separatism and
counter-terrorism.
Beijing's "wholesale assault" on the Uighurs' faith ranged from
vetting imams and closing mosques to detaining thousands every year and
executions, Human Rights Watch and Human Rights in China said in a report
released on Tuesday entitled "Devastating Blows: Religious
Repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang".
"Systematic repression of religion continues in Xinjiang as a matter
of considered state policy," said the report, based on previously
undisclosed regulations and policies.
The groups echoed charges from other rights watchdogs that China was
using the global war on terrorism to justify a widespread crackdown on
Uighurs.
SEE REPORT:
RELIGIOUS
REPRESSION OF UIGHURS IN XINJIANG -
TOP
http://hrw.org/reports/2005/china0405/
-----
RECORDS GIVE
VOICE TO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES -
TOP
Pete Yost and Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 4/11/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-guantanamo-detainees-stories,1,2285960.story
WASHINGTON - In a development the Bush administration had hoped to avoid,
the stories of about 60 detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
have spilled out in court papers.
A U.S. college-educated detainee asks plaintively in one: "Is it
possible to see the evidence in order to refute it?"
In another transcript, the unidentified president of a U.S. military
tribunal bursts out: "I don't care about international law. I don't
want to hear the words 'international law' again. We are not concerned
with international law."
Expressing defiance in some instances and stoic acceptance of their fate
in others, the once-nameless and still-largely faceless detainees
appeared last year before tribunals that, after quick reviews, declared
they were unlawful enemy combatants who could be held
indefinitely.
The government is holding about 550 terrorism suspects at the Navy base
in Cuba. An additional 214 have been released since the prison opened in
January 2002 -- some into the custody of their home governments, others
freed outright.
Little information about them has been released through official
channels. But stories of 60 or more are spelled out in detail in
thousands of pages of transcripts filed in U.S. District Court in
Washington, where lawsuits challenging their detentions have been
filed.
Omar Rajab Amin, a Kuwaiti who graduated from the University of Nebraska
in 1992, wanted to see the evidence. The tribunal president -- the de
facto judge for the proceeding -- said he could review only unclassified
evidence.
Some of the exchanges grew heated. (MORE)
-----
PALESTINIANS
SLAM BUSH FOR SETTLEMENT REMARK -
TOP
Mohammed Assadi, Reuters, 4/11/05
RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 11 (Reuters) - Palestinians voiced anger and
disappointment on Monday at U.S. President George W. Bush's affirmation
that Israel should be able to keep some West Bank settlement blocs under
a future peace deal.
"This American position gives an unequivocal message to the
Palestinians that the United States still sees itself as a partner for
Israel and Israeli interests rather than an honest broker," Hassan
Abu-Libdeh, a cabinet minister, told Reuters.
Bush told reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon at the presidential ranch in Texas:
"While the United States will not prejudice the outcome of final
status negotiations, those changes on the ground, including existing
major Israeli population centres, must be taken into account in any final
status negotiations."
Bush's commitment, originally made to Sharon last year, broke with
decades of U.S. policy and disappointed Palestinians, who said it
unfairly prejudged the outcome of final status negotiations.
"Legitimacy should not be given to any settlement activity or to any
existing settlements," Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu
-Rdainah said after Bush spoke on Monday. (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 -
4/12/05
* VERSE:
Proclaim This
Truth
* ISLAM-OPED:
Terror Knows
No Faith
- DC:
Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism, May 13-15
-
CAIR-NY
Job
Opening: Civil Rights Coordinator
* QUOTE:
'I
had to kill women, children, old men - everyone'
*
Dark
Side of the War on Terror (LA Times)
-
Torture Air, Incorporated
(Counterpunch)
* NY:
Guilty Until Proven Innocent (NY Times)
*
Studying Islam, Strengthening the Nation (Wash Post)
- CA:
Muslims Hope to Change Perceptions
- IL:
Indian-American Wins Township Race
*
Is Islam a Rival or Partner for Catholics? (NY Times)
* U.N.
Calls for Combating 'Defamation' of Islam (Reuters)
*
Sharon Dismisses Bush Warning (AP)
-
Construction Forges Ahead at Settlements (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PROCLAIM THIS TRUTH -
TOP
"Leave alone those who take their religion to be mere play and
amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But proclaim (to
them) this (truth): that every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own
acts."
The Holy Quran, 6:70
-----
ISLAM-OPED: TERROR KNOWS NO FAITH -
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)
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from ISLAM-OPED, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-oped/
-----
ISLAM-OPED: TERROR KNOWS NO FAITH
American Muslims and the 10th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing
By Ibrahim Hooper
WORD COUNT: 706
[Ibrahim Hooper is national communications director for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He may be
contacted at:
ihooper@cair-net.org.]
On April 19th, Americans of all faiths will mark the 10th anniversary
of the 1995 attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City by
remembering and mourning 168 of their fellow citizens who died so
tragically at the hands of domestic terrorists.
Another victim of that attack will be mourned only by those in what would have been his family.
According to the Daily Oklahoman newspaper: "Sahar Al-Muwsawi, 26,
said...she was watching reports of the bombing on television on April
20 when she heard a car's brakes squeal outside her Oklahoma City home.
Then she heard objects hitting the window and thought people were
shooting at the house. Muwsawi, who was nearly seven months pregnant,
grabbed her 2-year-old daughter and another child in the home and took
them to the bathroom and locked the door. She said she started bleeding
and called her husband, who rushed home and took her to the hospital. A
stillborn baby boy was delivered several hours later." (5/20/95)
That baby boy was named "Salaam," or "peace."
In those first frightening days after the bombing, it was assumed by
many that "Middle Eastern terrorists" had carried out the attack. That
faulty assumption sparked a wave of anti-Muslim hysteria that resulted
in almost 250 incidents of harassment, discrimination and actual
violence against American Muslims or those perceived to be Middle
Eastern.
Incidents ranged from a suspected arson attack on a mosque, to drive-by
shootings at Islamic centers and assaults on Muslim students. Many
Islamic institutions around America also reported phoned bomb threats,
and in one case, a fake bomb was thrown at a Muslim day care facility.
Individual Muslims reported a great increase in harassment by
co-workers and in public. This harassment led to an atmosphere of fear
and intimidation in the Muslim community.
The collective realization that the attack was carried out by
terrorists from the Midwest, not the Mideast, created a teaching moment
in which the entire nation reassessed what it means to be a terrorist,
and redefined terrorism to include people who look like "regular"
Americans.
My organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),
documented the anti-Muslim backlash following the Oklahoma City bombing
in a report called "A Rush to Judgment." That report was the first of
CAIR's now-annual reports on the status of American Muslim civil
rights. (CAIR's latest report is due out in May.)
Unfortunately, the trend lines in each annual report have been up, not
down, with a particularly sharp spike following the 9/11 terror attacks.
From our polling data, and from the daily hate messages we receive, it
is clear that Islam and Muslims are once again being perceived as
intrinsically linked to terrorism and violence. I have almost 3,000
e-mail entries in my "Hate Mail" folder. (Any theme involving pork
products, which are forbidden to Muslims, and how they will be used to
defile Islamic beliefs seems to be a favorite with America's current
crop of Islamophobic bigots.)
One fairly representative e-mail, after using the usual profanities,
simply said: "You all need to be slaughtered." The irony of
recommending wholesale slaughter of innocents in order to prevent or
retaliate for the slaughter of innocents is probably lost on the
senders of such messages.
In our "Not in the Name of Islam" online petition, CAIR seeks to sever
the false link between Islam and violence: "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." (See: http://www.cair.com/)
As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City attack, let us all
remember that the use of violence and terrorism is not the sole
preserve of any race, religion or ethnic group. Let us also redouble
our efforts to understand one another and promote peaceful resolutions
to all conflicts, whether domestic or foreign.
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 that you may know each other (not that you may despise each
other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one
who is most deeply conscious of Him." (49:13)
Indeed, terror knows no faith.
ALSO SEE:
MAY 13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you
to attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna, VA (703-448-1234)
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. Please call 202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more information.
---
CAIR-NY JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR -
TOP
The New York office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY) has an immediate opening for a full-time civil rights
coordinator. The civil rights coordinator will head CAIR-NY's civil
rights department.
The chief duties of this position will include: conducting intake
interviews and screening of individuals with civil rights complaints,
managing civil rights cases, maintaining a network of legal referrals,
assisting clients in navigating legal and administrative processes,
conducting basic legal research, drafting formal complaints and letters
advocating on behalf of clients.
The civil rights coordinator will be expected to fulfill these duties
in collaboration with the CAIR-NY legal advisors and/or staff attorney.
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
* Undergraduate degree, preferably in government, political science, communications, or other related fields
* Prior experience working as a paralegal or in a law office
* Experience working on human rights issues, including civil rights and immigrants' rights
* Demonstrated commitment to public service generally, and service to the Muslim community in particular
* Excellent oral and written communication skills a must
* Knowledge of a second language, preferably Arabic or Urdu
* Ability to work independently with limited supervision
* Strong organizational and management skills
Interested persons should send a resume, list of references, and a brief writing sample to:
CAIR-NY
Attn: Wissam Nasr
475 Riverside Dr., Ste. 246
New York, NY 10115
Fax: 212-870-2020
E-mail:
Director@cair-ny.org
Phone: 212-870-2002
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I HAD TO KILL WOMEN, CHILDREN, OLD MEN - EVERYONE' -
TOP
http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2005/04/02/local/doc424e94a503a1f286702309.txt
Benjamin Jones of Du Quoin, who served in Iraq from January to June
2003, took part in some of the most brutal aspects of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
"I was in the infantry; my job was to fight," Jones said. "We had a lot
of casualties. I had to pick up several of my friends piece by piece. I
had to kill women, children, old men - everyone."
-----
MAN'S CLAIMS MAY BE A LOOK AT DARK SIDE OF WAR ON TERROR -
TOP
Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 4/12/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-masri12apr12,0,1120190.story
ULM, Germany - Khaled el-Masri says his strange and violent trip into the void began with a bus ride on New Year's Eve 2003.
When he returned to this city five months later, his friends didn't
believe the odyssey he recounted. Masri said he was kidnapped in
Macedonia, beaten by masked men, blindfolded, injected with drugs and
flown to Afghanistan, where he was imprisoned and interrogated by U.S.
intelligence agents. He said he was finally dumped in the mountains of
Albania.
"One person told me not to tell this story because it's so unreal, no
one would listen," said Masri, a German citizen who was born in Lebanon.
A Munich prosecutor has launched an investigation and is intent on
questioning U.S. officials about the unemployed car salesman's claim
that he was wrongly targeted as an Islamic militant. Masri's story, if
true, would offer a rare firsthand look at one man's disappearance into
a hidden dimension of the Bush administration's war on terrorism.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S. authorities have used overseas
detention centers and jails to hold or interrogate suspected
terrorists, such as at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Many of the estimated
9,000 prisoners in U.S. military custody were captured in Iraq, but
others, like Masri, were allegedly picked up in another country and
delivered to U.S. authorities in Afghanistan or elsewhere for months of
confinement.
A CIA spokesman declined to comment on Masri's case, but White House,
Justice Department and CIA officials have long argued that U.S. laws
authorize such covert operations. They say U.S. officials have been
given assurances in every case that no one is tortured.
"This is not a rogue agency on these issues," said a former senior CIA
official who is familiar with the practice. "All these programs have
been done under strict supervision, and have saved lives."
The German government is investigating Masri's allegations. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
THE ROAD TO RENDITION -
TOP
Torture Air, Incorporated
Jeffrey St. Clair, Counterpunch, 4/10/05
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair04092005.html
Oregon City, Oregon - A sleek Gulfstream V jet with the tail number
N379P has racked up more international miles than most passenger jets.
Since October 2001, this plane has been spotted in some of the world's
most exotic and forbidding airports: Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Karachi,
Pakistan, Baku, Azerbaijan, Baghdad, Iraq, and Rabat, Morocco.
It has also frequently landed at Dulles International, outside
Washington, DC and enjoys clearance to land at US military air bases in
Scotland, Cyprus and Frankfurt, Germany. Observers around the world
have noticed men in hoods and chains being taken on and off the jet.
The plane is owned by a company called Bayard Marketing, based in
Portland, Oregon. According to FAA records, Bayard's lone corporate
officer is a man called, Leonard T. Bayard. There is no contact
information available for Bayard. Indeed, there's no public record of
Bayard at all. No residential address. No telephone numbers. Nothing.
In fact, Bayard Marketing is a dummy corporation and Leonard Bayard is
a false identity. They were both created by the CIA to conceal an
operation launched after the attacks of September 11, 2001 to kidnap
suspected terrorists and transport them to foreign governments where
they could be interrogated using methods outlawed in the United States
� that is, tortured and sometimes killed.
Bayard Marketing is one of five or six different front companies the
CIA has used to hide its role in the clandestine "rendition" (the term
of art for this process) of suspected terrorists. In this case, the
CIA's desire to keep the program a secret doesn't spring from a need to
protect it from al-Qaeda or other hostile forces, but from public
exposure. The rendition of captives for the purpose of torture violates
international and US law. (MORE)
---
GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT -
TOP
New York Times, 4/12/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/opinion/12tue1.html
The post-9/11 world involves two competing nightmares. One imagines
another terrorist attack that occurs because authorities fail to
respond to signs of danger. The other is about innocent people who are
arrested by mistake and held indefinitely because authorities are too
frightened, or embarrassed, to admit their errors. We have to be
equally vigilant against both.
Right now, two New York City girls, both 16, have been detained and
accused of plotting to become suicide bombers. If there is a real
reason to believe that charge, officials are obviously right to have
acted. But so far, they have said little about the evidence against the
girls, and the girls' friends and families have offered accounts that
suggest the charges could be completely false.
At this point, it's impossible not to worry about a potential
miscarriage of justice, given the number of previous incidents in which
the government has rushed to make a terrorism arrest that turned out to
be baseless.
Details of the cases against the two girls - one from Bangladesh and
the other from Guinea, and both in the country illegally - are sketchy.
According to reporting by Nina Bernstein in The Times, the parents of
the Bangladeshi girl went to the police several weeks ago to file a
complaint about their daughter's defying their authority. When the
dispute was resolved, they tried to withdraw the complaint, but the
police proceeded with an investigation.
The police and federal immigration officials searched her belongings
and are reported to have found an essay on suicide. According to the
family, the essay says suicide is against Islamic law. But detectives
went on to question the girl about her political beliefs before
arresting her. Even less is known about the investigation of the girl
from Guinea. Teachers and students at the high school she attended
expressed outrage at the arrest and at the idea that she could be
plotting terrorism.
The government calls the girls an "imminent threat," and says it has
"evidence that they plan to be suicide bombers." But it has not
described the evidence, insisting that national security requires that
much of it remain secret. Because the girls are here illegally, they
have been put into a deportation system that affords them far fewer
rights than ordinary criminal suspects have. There is no definite limit
on how long they can be held. (MORE)
-----
STUDYING ISLAM, STRENGTHENING THE NATION -
TOP
Peter Berkowitz and Michael McFaul, Washington Post, 4/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45302-2005Apr11.html
It remains painfully true, more than three years after Sept. 11, that
even highly educated Americans know little about the Arab Middle East.
And it is embarrassing how little our universities have changed to
educate our nation and train experts on the wider Middle East.
For believers in a good liberal arts education, it has long been a
source of consternation that faculties in political science, history,
economics and sociology lack scholars who know Arabic or Persian and
understand Islam. Since Sept. 11 it has become clear that this
abdication of responsibility is more than an educational problem: It
also poses a threat to our national security.
The case for bolstering faculty and curriculum resources devoted to the
Muslim Middle East is, of course, obvious from an educational
perspective. The region is vast. Islam represents one of the world's
great religions and provides not only an intellectual feast for
comparative study in the social sciences and humanities but also an
indispensable comparison and contrast for more familiar religions and
ways of life. Particularly in the era of globalization and the
information revolution, there is little excuse for universities'
continuing to betray the liberal ideal of educating students in the
ways of all people.
Our national security interest in this area should also be obvious. As
in the Cold War, the war against Islamic extremism will not be won in
months or years but in decades. And as in the Cold War, the
non-military components of the war will play a crucial role.
To fight the decades-long battle against communism, the United States
invested billions in education and intelligence. The U.S. government
sponsored centers of Soviet studies, provided foreign-language
scholarships in Russian and Eastern European languages, and offered
dual-competency grants to enable graduate students to acquire expertise
both in security issues and in Russian culture.
In the early days of the Cold War, a mere handful of Soviet experts
dominated scholarship and policy debates. Not coincidentally, this was
the time when we made some of our greatest mistakes, such as treating
the communist world as a monolithic bloc and considering all communist
regimes to have the same degree of internal dissent. By the end of the
Cold War, however, the effort to "know the enemy" had resulted in the
training of tens of thousands of professors, government analysts and
policymakers. Every interpretation of Soviet society or Kremlin
behavior triggered an informed and exhaustive debate. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS HOPE TO CHANGE PERCEPTIONS -
TOP
Mike Martinez, Tri-Valley Herald, 4/12/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_2652336
TRACY - After the World Trade Center attacks in 2001, Anees Ghani said there was a lot of backlash against Muslims.
She said people compared the prophet Mohammed - the Islamic messenger
of God - to Adolf Hitler, and the Quran - the Muslim holy book - to
Mein Kampf. Many also said terrorism came from the Quran.
Ghani gathered Muslim-American women who wanted to do some research and check for themselves.
For the past two and a half years, Ghanis group - which averaged about
15 people a week - would rotate their readings from house to house,
with studying for an hour often followed by as much discussion and
eating.
We read the book from A to Z and want to share with our neighbors there
is nothing related to terrorism, Ghani said. It is a message of peace.
It calls for cooperation with people of all beliefs.
On Saturday, Ghanis group is presenting the conclusions theyve spent
the past 30 months reaching. The program, called Getting to Know Your
Neighbor, begins at 2 p.m. at the Tracy Library.
---
INDIAN AMERICAN WINS ILLINOIS TOWNSHIP RACE -
TOP
Indo-Asian News Service, 4/11/05
http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=176738
Moin Moon Khan, an Indian American computer specialist, who once set up
a Bihar Cultural Association, has won the race for trustee of York
Township in Illinois.
Moin Moon Khan, an Indian American computer specialist who once set up
a Bihar Cultural Association, has won the race for trustee of York
Township in Illinois.
Khan, who hails from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, acknowledged that many
people had helped him win the race. He was the first non-Caucasian to
be nominated by the Republican Party in DuPage County and the first
Indian American to win on that party's ticket in the county.
"My passion is politics and interacting with people," Khan said. "My
election will provide political voice to one-fourth of the residents of
York Township, who speak about two dozen languages and practise a dozen
religions, yet they are not represented," Khan had said earlier.
DuPage, within which York Township falls, is a predominantly Republican
county and historically the four trustees have been Republicans.
Trustees are responsible for the township's expenditures, for levying
property taxes, and running seniors programmes, among other
responsibilities.
"We are the new face of the 21st century and we can make it known by working together and making new pragmatic alliances."
Khan, president of the American Muslims for Peaceful Co-existence, is
recognised in the Muslim American and Asian American communities for
his moderate and patriotic views. (MORE)
-----
ISSUE FOR CARDINALS: ISLAM AS RIVAL OR PARTNER IN TALKS -
TOP
Ian Fisher, New York Times, 4/12/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/international/worldspecial2/12islam.html
ROME - One is from Nigeria, a man who grew up among Muslims and says
there is no clash of cultures. Another is from Germany, who believes
that it may be useful to talk to Muslims but that it is better to
revitalize Christianity. Others speak of the need for Muslims in Europe
to integrate better or even to become more secular.
By coincidence or not, many cardinals mentioned as candidates to be the
next pope have strongly expressed positions on Islam, and on whether
the Roman Catholic Church's relations with Muslims should be
conciliatory or a notch more confrontational.
John Paul II had a consistent, even ground-breaking, strategy for
addressing Islam: Talk at all costs, even if there were few concrete
results. But in the Vatican, and especially since the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, his unbudging advocacy of dialogue had spawned
criticism, mostly quiet, as being not muscular enough.
Now, although relations with Islam will not be the decisive issue for
the 115 cardinals who will meet to select the next pope, the debate is
seen as vital because it intersects centrally with other major issues
facing the church: increasing secularism in Europe, contrasting with
the religious revival in the Islamic world; relations with other
religions; and the rising number of Muslim immigrants in Europe...
-----
U.N. CALLS FOR COMBATING "DEFAMATION" OF ISLAM -
TOP
Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters, 4/12/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12649701.htm
GENEVA, April 12 (Reuters) - The United Nations Commission on Human
Rights called on Tuesday for combating defamation of religions,
especially Islam, and condemned discrimination against Muslims in the
West's war on terrorism.
The 53-member state forum adopted a resolution, presented by Pakistan
on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
deploring the intensification of a "campaign of defamation" against
Muslims following the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.
Western countries, including the United States and European Union (EU),
voted against the text, calling it unbalanced for failing to address
problems suffered by other religious groups.
The OIC resolution was adopted by a vote of 31 countries in favour and
16 against, with five abstentions and one delegation absent,
Indonesia's ambassador Makarim Wibisono, who chairs the annual six-week
session, announced after the public vote.
"Stereotyping of any religion as propagating violence or its
association with terrorism constitutes defamation of religion. It
unfortunately breeds a culture of hatred, disharmony and
discrimination," Pakistan's envoy, Masood Khan, said in a speech on
behalf of the OIC, which links 57 Islamic nations.
There was "a growing trend of defamation of Islam and discrimination
faced by Muslims and the people of Arab descent in many parts of the
world", he said, citing attacks on places of worship and religious
symbols.
In a recent report, the U.N. special investigator on racism, Doudou
Diene, cited examples including "Islamophobic violence" after the
murder last November of Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh, and an
"alarming number of expulsions of imams" in Europe. (MORE)
-----
SHARON DISMISSES BUSH WARNING -
TOP
Gavin Rabinowitz, Associated Press, 4/12/05
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050412/D89DN8UO0.html
WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon brushed off a warning
from President Bush not to allow further West Bank settlement growth,
indicating Israel would continue to solidify its hold on areas it
considers of strategic importance.
Sharon, speaking to reporters before flying to Washington for talks
Tuesday with U.S. lawmakers and Jewish leaders, said the dispute was
decades-old and did not mar the meeting between the two leaders, which
he called a great success.
Sharon, who won renewed support for his plan to remove Jewish
settlements from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank at Monday's
joint news conference on Bush's ranch in Texas, also dampened the
president's expectations that the tempo of peace talks would pick up
after the withdrawal.
At the ranch, Bush told Sharon that any further building on the
settlements would be in violation of the internationally backed "road
map" peace plan, which both the Israelis and the Palestinians have
formally accepted, but which has been long dormant with both sides
failing to carry out their initial obligations.
"I've been very clear. Israel has an obligation under the road map. That's no expansion of settlements," Bush said.
But later, Sharon said that while U.S. opposition to the settlements
dated back to when Israel first captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip
in the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has nevertheless continued to build
communities to keep a hold on the land. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CONSTRUCTION FORGES AHEAD AT WEST BANK JEWISH SETTLEMENTS -
TOP
ALON BERNSTEIN, Associated Press, 4/12/05
MAALEH ADUMIM, West Bank (AP) - Bulldozers and cranes were hard at work
Tuesday in the largest West Bank settlement, despite criticism from
U.S. President George W. Bush that clouded a Texas summit with Israel's
prime minister.
Israel says the construction is taking place within existing boundaries
and does not constitute expansion, but that's a distinction lost on the
Palestinians and possibly the Americans, too.
The Bush administration has insisted that Israel stick to a Mideast peace plan that bans all settlement construction. (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 - 4/13/05
* VERSE:
Good and
Evil
-
HADITH: What Is Faith?
*
CAIR Takes
Part in Beliefnet 'Virtual Conclave'
- CAIR
Job Opening:
Development
Coordinator
-
CAIR-DC:
Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism
* CA:
Muslim Leaders Leave
Israel Event (Daily Stanford)
*
Islam and the Power of
the Internet (VOA)
* KS:
U.S. Muslims Making Gains
(Capitol Journal)
- IN:
Group Raises
Awareness of Islam (Purdue Exp)
- AK:
Islam Topic of Day at UA
Seminar (Dem-Gazette)
*
An Islamic Path to
Democracy (Financial Times)
* TORTURE:
Gitmo
Detainee Alleges Abuse (Boston Globe)
*
West Bank Construction
Forges Ahead (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOOD AND
EVIL -
TOP
"Whoever comes (before God) with a good deed shall have something
even better (as a reward); while anyone who brings an evil deed will find
that evildoers will be punished only to the extent of their
misdeeds."
The Holy Quran, 28:84
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT IS FAITH?
A person once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): "What is
faith?" The Prophet replied: "When a good deed becomes a source
of pleasure for you and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust, then
you are a believer." The person then asked: "What is a
sin?" The Prophet replied: "When something pricks your
conscience, give it up."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 8
-----
CAIR TAKES
PART IN BELIEFNET 'VIRTUAL CONCLAVE' -
TOP
http://www.beliefnet.com/features/conclave/virtualConclave.html
Welcome to Beliefnet's Virtual Conclave, where leading Catholics and
non-Catholics debate the future of the Church and who they would like to
see leading it. Our "cardinals" include traditionalists,
liberals, voices from the developing world, and more. From now until the
end of the conclave in Rome, you'll witness their fascinating online
conversations and votes. While we make no claims that the Holy Spirit
will be visiting our proceedings, we expect some inspired
views.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR
JOB OPENING: DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR -
TOP
CAIR has an immediate opening for the position of Development and
Fundraising Coordinator. This position will be based in Washington D.C.
The successful candidate will plan, develop and maintain a comprehensive
private and public sector fund-raising program and actively raise funds
for CAIR.
QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be a creative, self-motivated,
strategic thinker with ability to meet people with ease; ability to write
and edit effectively; ability to communicate the written and spoken work
with tact, diplomacy, and/or authority when necessary; good
organizational skills, well disciplined, able to meet deadlines, self
starter, able to work under pressure of many priorities and deadlines;
ability to work well effectively with volunteers; thorough understanding
of CAIR and its programs and projects, as well as regional and national
markets; knowledge of marketing strategies and techniques; knowledge of
long-range planning process; good managerial skills; Must have highly
developed interpersonal skills.
Minimum of four years experience, including knowledge of annual giving,
capital campaigns, foundation/corporate solicitations, deferred giving,
and special events.
APPLY IMMEDIATELY by sending a resume, references and cover letter (no
calls, please) to:
hr@cair-net.org.
Please mark "Development and Fundraising Coordinator" in the
subject of the e-mail.
---
MAY
13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS LEAVE
ISRAEL EVENT -
TOP
Laura Carwile, Daily Stanford, 4/13/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16808&repository=0001_article
Two leaders in the Stanford Muslim community walked out of a discussion
hosted at the Harold and Libby Ziff Center for Jewish Campus Life Monday
after a heated conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Three employees of the worldwide organization Israel at Heart, a group
that educates college students about life in Israel, discussed their
experiences in and perspectives on the Middle Eastern country where they
have lived for several years.
Merav Mov is a 23-year-old woman who served in the Israeli National
Guard; Shlomit Aylin, also 23, immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia at age
three; and Eytan Schwartz, a 30-year-old game show winner. The three
spoke on both the major social and political issues in Israel today, as
well as what Judaism means to each of them personally.
"We want people to know about the vibrant life in Israel,"
Schwartz said. "The hangouts, the sports, the nightlife, the food -
people don't know about it. We want people to understand how much we love
living in Israel."
The feud between Israelis and Palestinians came up later in the
conversation. Senior Rania Eltom, president of the Muslim Students
Awareness Network, and sophomore Omar Shakir, co-president of the
Coalition for Justice in the Middle East, left the event following
several comments that they said they found disrespectful.
"I was requested to attend the event by organizers the day before,
so I came out of respect for them," Eltom said. "However, when
we entered the event, it was made very obvious that we were outsiders. As
soon as the speakers started generalizing Palestinians as wanting to kill
all soldiers, it hit a nerve within me, especially [since it was] one day
after three Palestinian school kids were shot dead by Israeli
soldiers."
Eltom added that she was very offended when the speakers talked about how
suicide bombers are glorified in Palestinian classrooms.
"I had to leave instead of engaging in an argument that might
compromise my dignity and the event," she said.
Shakir said he was also upset by the atmosphere at the discussion.
(MORE)
-----
ISLAM AND THE POWER OF
THE INTERNET -
TOP
Carolyn Weaver, Voice of America, 4/12/04
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-04-12-voa5.cfm
The Internet has become a vehicle for change in many things. Some
moderate Muslims hope to use it for religious reform, as they engage in
often heated discussions that are reshaping opinions and
agendas.
One of the most popular websites in America is
altmuslim.com, founded by a
married Indian-American business student, a father of two, who grew up in
California. Carolyn Weaver produced the following
"first-person" report:
"My name is Shahed Amanullah, and I created the Website
altmuslim.com. I started the site because I wanted to see some more open
dialogue and discussion and debate about things that are happening in the
Muslim world.
"Before the Internet came around, Muslims lived in relative
isolation and obscurity from each other. They never had to deal with
Muslims of different colors, of different schools of thought, of
different political persuasions. And when the Internet came about and
these people had to find each other and see each other for the first
time, it was really jarring. I mean, Muslim discourse on the Internet for
the first several years was nothing but fiery debates and insults and
things like that. Muslims need to learn together in cyberspace in a way
that's civil and respectful.
"Only now are people starting to get together as Sunni, Sufi, Shia,
without it automatically meaning, 'let's have a theological argument.'
And that change has been happening slowly over time. Friendships have
been happening between these different people, between Muslims in the
West and in the Muslim world, between Shia, Sunni, Sufi, even between
Salafis and progressives. (MORE)
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS MAKING GAINS -
TOP
Phil Anderson, The Capital-Journal, 4/13/05
http://cjonline.com/stories/041305/loc_muslims.shtml
Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad gave an overview Tuesday night of the history of
Islam in the United States, painted a picture of the present and offered
a glimpse into the future.
About 150 people attended the program, the 24th annual King Lecture in
Religious Studies, in Washburn University's Memorial Union.
Haddad said Islam in the United States is seeing a rise of female leaders
and a move toward assimilation and integration into American society by a
younger generation born here.
But many questions remain regarding how Muslims will work out their
relationship in a larger American society dominated in religious terms by
Protestants, Catholics and Jews, Haddad said.
"Is there any room for Muslims in America?" Haddad asked.
"What kind of Islam will America be willing to live with? Because
it's the same question
American Muslims are asking."
Haddad, professor of the History of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., said the events of 9/11
awakened many Americans to the fact that "there are Muslims in the
United States, even though they've been around for quite
awhile."
Migration of Muslims to the United States began in the 1870s, when
immigrants arrived from Lebanon, she said.
The number of immigrants slowed in 1924, when the U.S. government
instituted a quota system whereby only 100 people a year could immigrate
from the Mideast. In 1965, the Asian Exclusion Act was repealed and an
influx of Muslim immigrants resumed.
While some Islamic leaders advised Muslim immigrants to leave the United
States, others encouraged them to stay and become missionaries
here.
Conversions to Islam have been heaviest on college campuses and in
prisons, where many black Americans have converted, Haddad said. Overall,
an estimated 7 million Muslims live in the United States.
Female leadership also is on the rise in America, Haddad said. Many
Muslim women have replaced social gatherings with Quran studies.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
GROUP RAISES
STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF ISLAM -
TOP
Sarah Michalos, Purdue Exponent, 4/12/05
http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2005/04/13§ion=campus&storyid=IslamicAwareness
The vice president of the Muslim Students Association is just hoping for
peace.
"Knowledge leads to understanding, understanding leads to tolerance
and tolerance leads to peace," said Hany Gabal, a senior in the
College of Health Sciences.
The association is presenting Islamic Awareness Week from Monday to
Thursday and the goal is to promote the understanding of Islam.
Every day this week the association has set up an information booth in
the Purdue Mall to pass out information about Islam and raise the campus'
awareness.
"Everyone needs to know about other people's religions," Gabal
said.
The group is also presenting daily programs, such as evening lectures and
videos.
On Monday, a video entitled "Beauty and Wonder in Islam" was
shown.
"This video is about a British man who converted to Islam, and he
discusses the proven existence of a creator and the meaning of
life," Gabal said.
Another highlight of the week is the lecture scheduled for Thursday
evening.
The lecture, "What Everyone Should Know About Islam," will be
presented by Yassir Qadi at 7 p.m. in Beering Hall, Room 2280 and a
question session will follow. (MORE)
---
ISLAM TOPIC OF DAY AT UA
SEMINAR -
TOP
Chris Branam, Arkansas Democrat- Gazette, 4/12/05
http://www.ardemgaz.com/ShowStoryTemplate.asp?Path=ArDemocrat-NW/2005/04/12&ID=Ar01401&Section=Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE - Historian Richard Turner has the same reaction every time
he sees a new book that attacks Islam as it relates to the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
He ignores it.
"I don't read these books," Turner said Monday in an address at
the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Turner is an associate professor of African-American world studies and
religious studies at the University of Iowa and author of Islam in the
African-American Experience.
While his research places Islam in a historical context, Turner doesn't
see that happening in what he said is a current genre of nonfiction that
attacks the religion.
"There's no solid research," he said. "They take advantage
of hysteria."
Turner discussed the history of Islam in the United States during an
afternoon seminar hosted by the university's Al-Islam Students
Association. The association formed after the Sept. 11 attacks to educate
the Fayetteville campus about Islam, said its president, Mutee
Ahmad.
The 30-member association has sponsored seminars in the last three years
on topics that ranged from the role of women in Islam to the
representation of Jesus Christ in the Koran, Islam's holy book.
"Today, Islam is the most misunderstood religion in the world,
especially in the West," said Heba Naseem, treasurer of the
association, to a small group that attended the seminar in the UA student
union. (MORE)
-----
AN ISLAMIC PATH TO DEMOCRACY -
TOP
Oliver Roy, Financial Times, 4/11/05
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4f5ac160-aab3-11d9-98d7-00000e2511c8.html
From the recent torrent of analysis about trends in the Middle East, two
contradictory views have emerged. The first is that the U.S.-led invasion
of Iraq has set off a wave of democratization -- as exemplified by
elections in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, as well
as Lebanon's "cedar revolution."
The alternative view is that Western intervention has fuelled Islamist
extremism; it has underpinned the emergence of a "narco-state"
(Afghanistan) and even a militantly Islamic state (Iraq). Lebanon may be
on the verge of a new civil war, Iran is the big winner of the Iraqi
elections and an overstretched U.S. army is struggling to cope.
Regardless of which narrative one prefers, U.S. military intervention in
the Middle East was a watershed. And there have been at least some
positive long-term effects.
To begin with, democracy is clearly popular among Arabs. Even if many
dislike America's role in promoting it and are suspicious of Washington's
agenda, they are hungry for more freedom.
But the kind of democratization we are talking about has little to do
with the abstract Jeffersonian-style democracy that Washington wanted to
implement in Iraq. Developing a real, working democracy is more
complicated than simply holding elections.
Another myth was the belief that a democratic regime would be
automatically friendly to U.S. interests. In fact, democratization cannot
work without political legitimacy, and this legitimacy in the Middle East
is rooted first in nationalism and Islamic beliefs. The democratization
processes we've seen so far reflect that: Palestinian democrats are no
less nationalist than their more militant counterparts, and
constitutionalist Iraqi Shia clerics are still calling for Islamic sharia
principles in their country's laws.
On a more positive note, the merging of nationalism and democracy is
undermining links between local anti-western movements (whether
nationalist or Islamist) and the internationalist radicals who claim to
support them, such as al-Qaeda. When domestic national agendas dominate
the political scene there is no room for strangers who are pushing only
their internationalist struggle and ignoring local issues.
(MORE)
-----
GUANTANAMO
DETAINEE IS ALLEGING HE WAS BRUTALIZED -
TOP
Charlie Savage, Boston Globe, 4/13/05
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/04/13/guantanamo_detainee_is_alleging_he_was_brutalized/
WASHINGTON -- A Guantanamo Bay detainee said a beating by guards at the
US military prison left his face partially paralyzed and one of his
fingers broken, according to a lawsuit to be filed today in federal court
in Boston.
The complaint will ask a judge to order the military to hand over
documents about its treatment of six Guantanamo detainees arrested in
Bosnia, including medical and psychiatric records. It is the first
Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed in connection with detention
challenges, marking a new tactic in piercing the veil of secrecy that
surrounds ''enemy combatants" at the prison.
''We've been asking for this information since September," said
attorney Stephen Oleskey, a former Massachusetts deputy attorney general.
''It bears on their conditions of confinement and their mental and
physical well-being. The government has made no effort to give it to us
despite the fact that federal law requires it be promptly provided, and
thus we have no alternative but to go to court."
The complaint centers on Mustafa Ait Idir, an Algerian who was arrested
in Bosnia in October 2001. Idir was interviewed in February of this year
during a trip to Guantanamo by two Boston attorneys, Oleskey and Rob
Kirsch, who took on the case of six Algerians suspected of conspiring to
blow up the US embassy in Sarajevo. The United States brought the six to
Guantanamo after Bosnian courts dismissed charges against them for lack
of evidence.
According to a draft of the complaint obtained by the Globe, Idir alleges
he faced torture at Guantanamo: Guards once held his face under water in
his cell's hole-in-floor toilet and flooded his mouth with a hose, making
him feel like he was drowning. He was handcuffed at the time, he
said.
Another time, the complaint said, guards harassed prisoners on religious
grounds by forcing them to give up their pants so they could not pray
according to Muslim custom, which requires that worshipers be fully
covered. Idir refused to disrobe and struggled with guards, who
tear-gassed him. Eventually he was put in handcuffs, after which a guard
bent his finger until it broke.
On a third occasion, the complaint said, guards twisted his right hand
while he was handcuffed, dislocating the middle finger and thumb. They
also pinned him down on gravel and jumped on his head, causing stones to
cut the right side of his face and leaving a scar near his eye.
(MORE)
-----
WEST BANK CONSTRUCTION
FORGES AHEAD -
TOP
Alon Bernstein, Associated Press, 4/13/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/04/13/international/i033550D03.DTL
MAALEH ADUMIM, West Bank (AP) - Construction of new housing proceeded at
full speed in Maaleh Adumim, the largest Jewish settlement in the West
Bank, despite pointed criticism from President Bush that clouded a Texas
summit with Israel's leader.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon deflected Bush's remarks, but the
renewed dispute ruined what Sharon had hoped would be a warm endorsement
of his plan to exit Gaza and part of the West Bank in the summer. Sharon
met Tuesday with Vice President Dick Cheney and Congressional leaders in
Washington.
Israel recently confirmed plans to build an additional 3,650 houses
between Maaleh Adumim and Jerusalem, five miles to the west - effectively
cutting off the Arab section of the city from the rest of the West Bank.
Palestinians say this would make it impossible for them to create a state
in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem as its capital.
At his ranch on Monday, Bush told Sharon that any further building in
settlements would violate the "road map" peace plan. Making the
dispute public at a news conference after their talk, Bush said,
"I've been very clear. Israel has an obligation under the road map.
That's no expansion of settlements." (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 - 4/14/05
* VERSE:
The
Reward of the
Righteous
* CAIR-DC:
The Eric
Rudolph Exception
* CAIR-NY:
Annual
Fundraising Dinner
-
CAIR-FL:
African-American
Islamic Heritage
* IL:
Election
of Muslims Changes GOP's Image
* VA:
Muslim
Singles Retreat for Marriage-Minded
* NY:
Muslims
Watch Case of Detained Girls (Reuters)
- NY:
Detained Without Charge
- NY:
Muslim
Sues AP (Newsday)
* NJ:
Muslims Voice
Goals, Worries Post 9/11
* PATRIOT ACT:
'Trust Me' Just
Doesn't Fly (USA Today)
* NY:
Traffic
Dominates Fears about Muslim Center
- CA:
Plan for Mosque OK'd (CC
Times)
- VT:
Board Approves Muslim
Deli
*
Detainee
Suing for Video of Torture (Wash Post)
*
U.N. Human Rights
Panel Condemns Israel (AP)
-
U.S.
Suspends Israel from Warplane Project
-----
VERSE OF THE
DAY: THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS -
TOP
"Be patient; for God will not let the reward of the righteous be
wasted."
The Holy Quran, 11:115
"No one knows what delights of the eye have been kept hidden for
them as a reward for their good deeds."
The Holy Quran, 32:17
-----
CAIR-DC: THE ERIC
RUDOLPH EXCEPTION -
TOP
By Ibrahim Hooper
[Ibrahim Hooper is national communications director for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He may be
contacted at:
ihooper@cair-net.org.]
Rocky Mountain News columnist Vincent Carroll had the unfortunate luck to
choose Thursday to release an Op-Ed titled "The McVeigh
Exception," which claims Americans are justified in linking Muslims
to violence.
SEE:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/
(Scroll down in Carroll's April 14th commentary.)
Carroll sought to refute my own syndicated commentary, "Terror Knows
No Faith," that attempted to sever the false link between Islam and
terror by reminding readers of the anti-Muslim backlash following the
Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
In that commentary, I said: "As we mark the 10th anniversary of the
Oklahoma City attack, let us all remember that the use of violence and
terrorism is not the sole preserve of any race, religion or ethnic group.
Let us also redouble our efforts to understand one another and promote
peaceful resolutions to all conflicts, whether domestic or
foreign."
SEE: "Terror Knows No faith: American Muslims and the 10th
Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing"
http://religion.upi.com/view.php?StoryID=20050412-124811-1156r
(The commentary above is available for local publication by through
CAIR's free ISLAM-OPED national syndication service. E-Mail
ihooper@cair-net.org for
permission.)
Carroll wrote: "Hooper's thesis is that there are evil people of all
faiths and nationalities (true), that it is vile for vigilantes to target
innocent Muslims (true), and that it is wrong to associate terrorism with
Muslims (dream on, friend)&So long as (Oklahoma City bomber) Timothy
McVeigh is the exception in terrorism cases and the (Muslim) men indicted
this week are the norm, people will do what they always do: draw
conclusions."
Perhaps Mr. Carroll was so busy writing his column that he failed to hear
about the sentencing of Eric Rudolph, a member of the Christian Identity
Movement, to four life sentences without parole for the 1996 Olympic park
bombing in Atlanta and attacks on two abortion clinics and a nightclub.
According to the Associated Press, "Rudolph called himself a Roman
Catholic at war over abortion."
What conclusions would Mr. Carroll have us draw from those facts? I for
one will never blame Christianity, or any other religion, for the
deranged acts of individuals acting outside the boundaries of their
faith.
-----
CAIR-NY
7TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY -
TOP
WHAT: On April 16, the New York office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-NY) will host its 7th annual fundraising dinner and
awards ceremony, "Strength From Within: Community And
Responsibility."
The keynote speaker at the event will be Professor David Cole of
Georgetown University. Special Guests include former military chaplain
James) Yee and Dr. Mohammad Nimer, CAIR National Director of
Research.
WHEN: 6:30 PM April 16TH 2005
WHERE: LaGuardia Marriott, 102-05 Ditmars Boulevard, East Elmhurst, New
York 11369
Please contact CAIR for Tickets
$65 per person, baby-sitting available
Tel: 212-870-2002 or e-mail:
CAIRNYbanquet@aol.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL
HOSTS LECTURE ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN ISLAMIC HERITAGE -
TOP
(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, 4/14/05) - Tonight, the Florida office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), in conjunction with the
African-American Research Library, will present a seminar on
"Exploring Islamic Culture within the African-American
Community."
WHEN: Thursday, April 14
TIME: 6 PM
WHERE: African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650
Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL Tel: 954-625-2800
CAIR Board Member and professor at University of Kentucky Dr. Ihsan Bagby
will discuss the history of African-American Muslims in America.
Following the discussions there will Q&A and light
refreshments.
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: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214,
altaf@cairfl.org; Ahmed Bedier,
813-731-9506,
abedier@cairfl.org
-----
ELECTION
OF MUSLIMS A START TO CHANGING GOP'S IMAGE -
TOP
John Biemer, Chicago Tribune, 4/14/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0504140294apr14,1,5263301.story
No one would mistake a gathering of DuPage County Republicans for the
United Nations, but the party took a significant step last week toward
shaking its image as a party dominated by "old white-haired
men" when Moin Moon Khan and Esin Busche were elected township
trustees.
Party officials say as far as they can tell, Khan, an Indian-born
longtime Chicago-area activist who works as a computer network
administrator, and Busche, a Turkish-born chemist, are the first Muslim
Republicans elected to public office anywhere in the state--and a symbol
of the party's new outreach effort in a rapidly diversifying
county.
"This is a small office, and for me it may be a very small
individual achievement," said Khan. "However, I think it's a
giant milestone for the minority communities in general and the Muslim
American community in particular."
Rasheed Ahmed, coordinator of the Illinois Muslim Political Coordinating
Council, also called their elections "an important milestone,"
but noted that there are hundreds of thousands of Muslims in
Illinois--and an estimated 6 million to 8 million across the United
States.
"It's only natural," he said. "I'm not surprised. One
could say perhaps that it's even late." (MORE)
-----
IMAM
ORGANIZES SINGLES RETREAT FOR MARRIAGE-MINDED -
TOP
By Andrea Useem, DC Examiner, 4/14/05
http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/04/14/features/faith/95faith14companionships.txt
Khadija, wife of the Prophet Mohammed, the 7th-century founder of Islam,
is revered by Muslims for her piety and wisdom. But Imam Mohamed Magid,
speaking to a crowd of Muslim singles last weekend, praised her for
another reason: having the guts to pursue an attractive man.
"He was the best catch, and she made her move," said Mohamed,
explaining how Khadija proposed marriage to the Prophet Mohammed, 20
years her junior. "In Islam, you need to be proactive. There is
nothing wrong with aggressively looking for a spouse."
This counsel from Magid, director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society,
is practical for a number of reasons: For observant Muslims who want to
marry people who share their faith, the pool of potential spouses is
small in a country where Muslims comprise less than 1 percent of the
population. And when bars and nightclubs are off-limits - observant
Muslims try to avoid alcohol and the sexually charged atmosphere often
found in nightclubs - opportunities for meeting members of the opposite
sex are even more limited.
Bringing 100 D.C.-area singles together for a daylong Companionships
retreat in Sterling was a way of filling the gap, said Magid, who
organized the event with his wife and a handful of married couples.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS KEEP
EYE ON CASE OF DETAINED NY GIRLS -
TOP
Reuters, 3/13/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8173250
NEW YORK - Immigrants and Muslim communities watched with concern on
Wednesday as the U.S. government prepared a case against two local
teenage girls detained on immigration charges amid reports that they were
seen as possible suicide bombers.
The two girls, both 16, one born in Bangladesh and one in Guinea, were
being held in federal custody at an immigration center in
Pennsylvania.
While U.S. authorities said the girls were accused of immigration
violations, and there are no other charges against them, initially the
charges seemed dire.
The New York Times cited a government document saying the FBI believed
the girls posed "an imminent threat to the security of the United
States based on evidence that they plan to be suicide
bombers."
The two, who live in New York, were arrested on March 24.
Neighbors, friends and classmates called the suicide-bomber suggestions
absurd.
"This is part of a larger pattern, we feel, that targeted a lot of
vulnerable and innocent people," said Adam Carroll of the Islamic
Circle of North America, who was acting as a family spokesman for the
girl from Bangladesh.
"It is scary and it alarmed a lot of the community here. A lot of
Muslims feel that there is a pattern of over-reaching and guilt by
suspicion," he said. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE -
TOP
Peter Rothberg, The Nation, 4/13/05
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2281&ncid=742&e=5&u=/thenation/20050413/cm_thenation/42322
Several weeks ago, two 16 year-old Muslim girls, one from Bangladesh and
the other from Guinea, were arrested in New York City on the specious
grounds that they were potential suicide bombers. Neither of the girls
has been formally charged with any crime, but both have been detained
indefinitely in facilities far away from their homes and
families.
As Ari Berman reported yesterday, few details about the arrests have been
released. What we do know, however, suggests that the charges could well
be completely unfounded.
While both of the girls are in the United States illegally, both have
also lived here for most of their lives. The lead editorial in
yesterday's New York Times reveals that investigator's suspicions are
curiously based on an essay written by one of the girls in her high
school--an essay arguing that suicide is a violation of Islamic law. And
while investigators maintain that the two suspects are friends who
attended the same radical Mosque where they plotted together, their
families say that they never even met before their arrests.
From the dearth of available information, it seems likely that the case
of the teenage suicide bombers is simply a routine immigration
investigation gone mad. Unfortunately, the rules of immigration hearings
require the girls to prove they aren't suicide bombers, rather than the
government to prove that they are.
A hearing is being held tomorrow, Thursday, April 14, so please click
here to send a letter of support for the girls' lawyers to present to the
court. There's also a rally being planned to support the girls. Check out
and circulate the details and other info about the case on a new blog
created to help defend the girls by clicking here.
---
BUSINESSMAN
WHO GETS MISTAKEN FOR TERROR SUSPECT SUES AP -
TOP
Newsday, 4/13/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--mistakenid0413apr13,0,968353.story
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) _ A businessman who has blamed media organizations
for confusing him with a one-time terrorist suspect alleges in an amended
lawsuit that the errors originated with a mislabeled photograph
circulated by The Associated Press.
Asif Iqbal, 32, a Pakistan-born software consultant who has lived in the
United States for 11 years, bears the same name as a British postal
worker who was freed in March 2004 after more than two years in U.S.
military detention at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Since February 2002, Iqbal has repeatedly been pulled aside for
questioning at airport check-in counters _ and even grilled by police in
front of staring crowds _ because his namesake was on a federal
"no-fly" watch list created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attack.
Last August, Iqbal sued CBS News for mistakenly using his photograph in a
report about his namesake and other Britons freed from Guantanamo. That
lawsuit is still pending in state Supreme Court in Rochester, but Iqbal
amended his complaint Friday to name the AP as a new defendant.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS VOICE GOALS,
WORRIES POST 9/11 -
TOP
Phil Garber, Mt. Olive Chronicle, 4/13/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14338391&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506840&rfi=6
Managing The worshipers file in to the Masonic Lodge in Budd Lake,
quietly smiling as they greet each other with the traditional greeting of
"salaam" or peace.
The men range in age from early 20s to elderly, and are mostly doctors
and engineers or other professionals. Out of respect and tradition, each
removes his shoes until a pile of boots, sneakers and other kinds of
footwear covers a large area of the floor. The men take positions in long
rows on the rug and proceed to kneel, bend over and kiss the ground in
supplication.
Women clothed in "hijabs' or traditional head scarves enter and
proceed to another area, separated from the men by a long, blue tarp
which hangs between the two groups, in the middle of the hall.
Imam Jawad Ahmad, a soft-spoken, black-bearded man wearing a white tunik
and white pants, approaches the podium and begins the sacred, Friday
afternoon service to the gathering of nearly 100 Muslim men and a half
dozen women and children.
The group is part of the Islamic Center of Morris County and represents a
small percentage of a growing Muslim community in Morris County and
elsewhere around the state and nation.
Muslims along with experts in Islam said the Muslim community is in
transition, recovering from the immediate and longer lasting effects of
the subtle and not so subtle discrimination against Arab-Americans
following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. (MORE)
-----
'TRUST ME' JUST DOESN'T FLY -
TOP
USA Today, 4/12/05
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2005-04-12-patriot-act-our_x.htm
When Congress rushed to give unprecedented new powers to law enforcement
in the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, debate was limited and the vote was
overwhelming: 357-66 in the House and 98-1 in the Senate. As portions of
the "USA Patriot Act" law come up for renewal, that's unlikely
to happen again, fortunately.
After three years of Justice Department stonewalling about use of the law
and numerous reports of abuses, an unusual coalition is forming to demand
changes in its most troublesome sections.
Conservative Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, 2004 Democratic
presidential nominee John Kerry, the American Civil Liberties Union and
the American Conservative Union don't work together often. But they're
just a few of the strange political bedfellows calling for a rollback in
provisions that threaten civil liberties and privacy rights.
That span of opposition should be a signal to those who've been trying
for more than two years to ram through legislation making the law
permanent. But many of them still murmur about only "technical
changes" while demanding additional investigative tools that raise
further questions.
The conspiracy indictment disclosed Tuesday of three men already awaiting
trial in England is a reminder that terrorism is a real threat, and most
of the law is non-controversial. Portions of it removed barriers to the
exchange of information among law enforcement and foreign intelligence
agencies. But other sections are far less benign. (MORE)
-----
TRAFFIC
DOMINATES FEARS ABOUT MUSLIM CENTER -
TOP
Rob Ryer, Journal News, 4/14/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050414/NEWS02/504140355/1020/NEWS04
The Yorktown Planning Board could vote on dividing the old Franciscan
High School property, part of which would be used as a mosque and Muslim
center, as soon as May 9.
If the opening of public hearings on plans to turn a former Catholic high
school into a Muslim center were marked with alarm from some in Mohegan
Lake who said it was necessary to question their neighbors in post-9/11
America, the public comment sessions ended calmly this week.
"Everybody should have concerns about terrorism, but standing up and
accusing someone of being a terrorist who you don't even know is not the
way to do it," said Michael Saltzman, a lawyer and 10-year resident
of Strawberry Road who asked his rabbi to reach out to the Muslims.
"They are good-faith people who want to open a place where their
family can pray and teach religious school. We are 60 miles from Ground
Zero, and I think we should be setting an example for the rest of the
country."
Over the recent weeks of dialogue between neighborhood leaders and the
prominent local Arab-American family that wants to open a mosque at the
old Franciscan High School, concerns have moved back to a more familiar
realm - traffic. That worry is not surprising given how burdened northern
Yorktown residents feel about sprawl and congestion.
The closing of the public hearing by the Yorktown Planning Board this
week clears the way for a vote as soon as May 9.
The vote would be whether to permit the property's owner, Mahopac
resident Bill Catucci, to divide the 30-acre campus, selling the school
and seven acres to the family of Muslims who immigrated from the Middle
East starting in the 1950s. The majority of the property, which includes
an old stone mansion and other houses, would remain with Catucci, a
Franciscan High School graduate, who could build as many as 15 homes on
his portion. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
PLAN FOR MOSQUE AT
EX-STORE OK'D -
TOP
Danielle Samaniego, Contra Costa Times, 4/14/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/antioch/11391302.htm
A former downtown grocery store will soon serve as a place of worship for
local Muslims.
The Planning Commission approved plans, 5-0, to convert a commercial
building at East Tenth and Los Medanos streets into an Islamic Center run
by former owners of a defunct grocery store. Planning Commissioners Frank
Gordon and Orlando Dolojan were absent.
It will be the first center of its kind in town. (MORE)
---
BOARD APPROVES MUSLIM DELI -
TOP
Arthur Katz, Townonline, 4/14/05
http://www2.townonline.com/burlington/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=223419
Local Muslim families who wish to abide by Islamic law will no longer
need to go to Boston to buy halal meat.
The Planning Board last Thursday unanimously approved brothers Sayed and
Khundmeer Mohammed's proposal to open an Islamic meat and grocery
business in the 120 Cambridge Street strip mall.
Sayed Mohammed, describing the new venture, emphasized that there would
be no food preparation.
"All the meat will come in from New York by truck, twice a
week," he said. "We will be cutting meat but not further
processing it in any way."
The operation will resemble a delicatessen, according to Mohammed, rather
than a traditional meat market. Currently, he noted, halal meat is
available only from the two shops in Boston that cater to this trade,
necessitating a trip to the city for families wishing to hold to Moslem
traditions.
Muslim dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in
their diet. These rules specify the food that is halal, meaning lawful.
Halal meat must be prepared in the presence of a Muslim. The carcass
bleeds out so as to get rid of impurities. (MORE)
-----
GUANTANAMO
DETAINEE SUING U.S. TO GET VIDEO OF ALLEGED TORTURE -
TOP
Carol Leonnig, Washington Post, 4/14/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51466-2005Apr13
A detainee at a U.S. military prison alleges that U.S. military guards
jumped on his head until he had a stroke that paralyzed his face, nearly
drowned him in a toilet and later broke several of his fingers, according
to a lawsuit filed yesterday in federal court.
The detainee, Mustafa Ait Idr, 34, an Algerian citizen living in Bosnia,
has been held at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for three
years on suspicion that he plotted to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia.
The lawsuit, filed by his attorneys in federal court in Boston, alleges
that the government has probably videotaped Idr's beatings and demands
that it produce any such tapes and all records of alleged torture and
interrogation tactics at the detention facility.
The lawyers asked for the material seven months ago under the Freedom of
Information Act. The lawsuit asserts that the Defense and Justice
departments are refusing to provide the material. (MORE)
-----
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS
PANEL CONDEMNS ISRAEL -
TOP
Sam Cage, Associated Press, 4/14/05
GENEVA - The U.N. Human Rights Commission on Thursday passed a resolution
condemning Israel's settlement of the Palestinian territories, saying
that Jerusalem should reverse the policy.
The resolution, passed by a 39-2 vote with 12 abstentions, says Israel
should "prevent any new installation of settlers in the occupied
territories." It also called for Israel to take measures to
guarantee the safety of Palestinian civilians.
Censure by the U.N. watchdog brings no penalties but spotlights a
government's record, and delegations lobby hard in an effort to avoid it.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
U.S.
SUSPENDS ISRAEL FROM WARPLANE PROJECT - PAPER -
TOP
Reuters, 4/14/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8182881
TEL AVIV - The United States has suspended Israel from joint efforts to
produce a new warplane, in protest at the Jewish state's defence dealings
with China, an Israeli newspaper said on Thursday citing U.S.
sources.
The Pentagon included Israel among foreign partners in developing the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in 2003. Under the deal, Israel was
promised first purchase of the advanced warplanes due out next decade,
ahead of non-partner nations.
But Maariv daily said Washington suspended Israel from the JSF project
after alleging it had violated a U.S. export ban by upgrading China's
fleet of Israeli-supplied Harpy attack drones.
The United States, which gives Israel some $2.9 billion in aid annually,
has opposed past Israeli arms sales to Beijing, citing concern that the
technology could be used against its ally Taiwan in any
conflict.
Officials at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv were not immediately available
for comment on the Maariv report.
Israel had denied wrongdoing in the Harpy deal, calling it routine
repairs.
The Israeli Defence Ministry declined comment on the Maariv report,
saying only that U.S. ties were good.
"Our relations with the United States are solid and we are holding
talks to solve misunderstandings that arose as a result of the Harpy
deal," an ministry spokeswoman.
Industry newspaper Defence News has said the JSF jets, expected to cost
at least $100 million each, would have fighter, bomber and surveillance
capabilities.
-----
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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 - 4/15/05
* VERSE:
Creation
Contains Signs from God
*
CAIR-LA Rep Addresses Sikh
Gathering
-
CAIR-DC:
Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism
*
Vatican
Rethinking Relations with Islam (Wash Post)
*
A Terror Suspect with
Connections (Wash Post)
*
Official:
Modi Gave Order to 'Eliminate'
Muslims
-
Danish Queen:
We
Must Show Opposition to Islam
-----
VERSE OF
THE DAY: CREATION CONTAINS SIGNS FROM GOD -
TOP
"He is the One who made the sun a (source of) radiant light and the
moon a light (reflected), and has determined for it phases so that you
might know how to compute the years and to measure (time). None of this
has God created without (an inner) truth. Clearly does He spell out these
signs to people of (innate) knowledge: for, verily, in the alternation of
night and day, and in all that God has created in the heavens and on
earth, there are signs indeed for people who are conscious of
Him."
The Holy Quran, 10:5-6
-----
CAIR-LA ADDRESSES SIKH
GATHERING -
TOP
Beant Kaur, Sikhe.com, 4/15/05
http://www.sikhe.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1707&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Approximately 15,000 people gathered on Sunday to celebrate Vaisakhi. The
festivities included musical performances and food, and concluded with a
multi-float parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Various
political and Interfaith Community leaders addressed the
multi-denominational gathering.
The event commenced with a police-escorted procession of the Siri Guru
Granth Sahib to the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Keertan Durbar
lasted from 7:30 am to 3 pm. Children's and other various jathas of
Southern Californian Gurudwaras performed. Two of the highlights were the
Aasa di Vaar was performed by the Akal Ustad Keertan Jatha featuring Bhai
Ranjit Singh of the Bhai Mardana Academy, Bhai Amrik Singh of Gurudas
Puri, Bhai Ajit Singh of Buena Park, Bhai Ragbir Singh of Alhambra
Gurudwara and Bhai Jaswant Singh of Riverside Gurudwara and Bhai Dya
Singh of Australia.
Interfaith speakers included Sister Sherrel A Johnson, Community
Relations Coordinator for the Council on American-Islamic relations;
Leland and Elizabeth Stewart, founder of the Unity and Diversity World
Council; Fathers Michael Gabriel and Raphael from Saint Marks Coptic
Church; Bishop Edward R. Turner, founder of Power of Love Christian
Fellowship and Field Deputy to Sheriff Leroy Baca of the Los Angeles
County Sheriff Department, and the Right Reverend Alexei Smith, Director
of the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Los Angeles and President of the Inter-religious Council.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MAY
13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
VATICAN IS
RETHINKING RELATIONS WITH ISLAM -
TOP
Daniel Williams and Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 4/15/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55208-2005Apr14.html
ROME, April 12 -- After two decades of contact and dialogue with the
Islamic world under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican is rethinking an
outreach program that critics say is diluting Catholicism and has brought
almost no benefits to beleaguered Catholic minorities in Muslim
countries.
The late pontiff undertook the drive as part of a broad effort to open
channels to other religions. He applied a personal stamp by stepping into
a mosque in Damascus and meeting with Muslim groups more than 60 times.
He also visited a synagogue in Rome and Jerusalem's Western Wall.
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for
Inter-Religious Dialogue, said the next pope might more emphatically
demand rights for Christian minorities in Islamic countries and the
freedom of all people to choose their faith. (MORE)
-----
A TERROR SUSPECT WITH
CONNECTIONS -
TOP
Eugene Robinson, Washington Post, 4/15/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55031-2005Apr14.html
An accused mass-murdering terrorist has sneaked into the United States
illegally and is skulking around. He is suspected of blowing up a
civilian airliner in flight, directing a string of hotel bombings and
plotting to kill a head of state. He's already escaped from prison once.
You'd expect the Bush administration to ramp up to Threat Level Red, set
the whole Homeland Security Department's hair on fire, rush Dick Cheney
back to his lonely bunker, scour the countryside until the bad guy is
found and then advise the warden at Guantanamo to expect a new
guest.
But, no, it turns out that this is the drill only when the suspect's name
is Mohammed. When his name is Luis Posada Carriles, and he's Cuban, and
his alleged terrorist career was aimed at toppling or killing Fidel
Castro, the procedure is different. You do nothing but wait patiently for
him to surface and apply for political asylum. Oh, and you try to gauge
the impact on presidential brother Jeb Bush and the rest of the
Republican Party in Florida. (MORE)
-----
INDIAN
POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS GUJARAT CHIEF ORDERED HIM TO ACT AGAINST MUSLIMS -
TOP
Agence France Preese, 4/15/05
AHMEDABAD- A top Indian police official has told a tribunal that Gujarat
chief minister Narendra Modi ordered him to "eliminate persons"
belonging to the Muslim community during riots in 2002.
R.B. Sreekumar served as intelligence chief of western Gujarat state
during 2002 riots in which about 2,000 people -- mainly Muslims -- were
killed. He said he received directives from Modi and his government
colleagues to tap telephones and "eliminate persons belonging to the
minority community".
The police officer made the allegations in a written submission to
India's Central Administrative Tribunal which investigates complaints by
civil servants.
The tribunal is investigating Sreekumar's complaint that he was passed
over for promotion because he ignored Modi's orders.
Modi, who has been accused by opposition and human rights groups of doing
little to stop the bloody riots, has until May 9 to file a reply to the
tribunal.
Gujarat state home minister Amit Shah has denied the officer's claims as
"baseless" and said they were levelled by Sreekumar because he
was bitter that he had been passed over for promotion.
The riots were triggered after claims that a Muslim mob torched a train
carrying Hindus at Godhra, killing 59 people. A subsequent official
report said the train fire was an accident. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WE
MUST SHOW OUR OPPOSITION TO ISLAM, SAYS DANISH QUEEN -
TOP
Hannah Cleaver, Telegraph, 4/15/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/15/wqueen15.xml
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has called on the country "to show our
opposition to Islam", regardless of the opprobium such a stance
provokes abroad.
Her comments further undermined the image of Denmark as a liberal haven
for those seeking a new life in northern Europe.
The Danish government has already been accused of fuelling xenophobia by
introducing measures which effectively closed the country to asylum
seekers.
But in overtly political passages from an official biography published
yesterday Queen Margrethe makes comments certain to complicate her
nation's relationship with Muslims.
She said: "We are being challenged by Islam these years - globally
as well as locally. It is a challenge we have to take seriously. We have
let this issue float about for too long because we are tolerant and
lazy.
"We have to show our opposition to Islam and we have to, at times,
run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on us because there are
some things for which we should display no tolerance."
(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 - 4/18/05
*
HADITH: God's
Mercy is Vast
*
INCITEMENT:
Ann Coulter
Says 'Arabs Lie'
*
CAIR-NY:
450 Turn Out for
Fundraising Dinner
-
CAIR-LA
Co-Hosts Training for Public Speakers
-
CAIR-LA Entertainment Night for Civil Rights
*
Outreach to Islamic World Involves No Muslims (Wash Post)
-
State Dept. Eliminating Terrorism Report (KR)
*
No-Fly List Expands to 31,000 (Time)
*
WI:
Muslims Forgo Prom for Religious Beliefs
-
WA:
Faith, Finance Collide For Muslim Home Buyers
*
MN:
Muslim Candidate for Minneapolis Mayor (Star Trib)
*
MN:
Draw Line Between Religion and Terror (Star Trib)
*
Repaying the West's Debt to Islam (Business Week)
*
FL:
Pope Linked Catholics, Muslims (Palm Beach Post)
-
ND:
First Islamic Conference Elicits Dialogue
-
IL:
Muslim, Japanese-American Share Lessons
-
NY:
Jews, Muslims Plan Day of Service
-
WI:
Expansion Planned For Muslim Classes
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S MERCY IS VAST -
TOP
Once during prayers, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) heard a
person shout: "O God! Bestow Your mercy on me and Muhammad only, and do
not bestow it on anybody else along with us." The Prophet later told
that person: "You have limited a very vast (thing)," meaning God's
mercy.
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 39
The Prophet also said: "He who does not have mercy on people, God's mercy will be kept from him."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 93C
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER SAYS 'ARABS LIE' -
TOP
Ann Coulter, Time Magazine, 4/25/05
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050425/story.html
Ann Coulter: "Liberals are about to become the last people to figure out that Arabs lie."
Also: "
Coulter
actually favors discrimination based on skin color in airports. She
argues that airports should establish a separate line for men and boys
whose complexion suggests they could be from the Middle East; they
would be screened more thoroughly than other passengers."
-----
450 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-NY FUNDRAISING DINNER -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/18/2005) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations today said some 450 people, including dozens of officials and
community leaders, turned out for the annual fundraising banquet of its
New York office (CAIR-NY) on Saturday.
Speakers and attendees at the event included New York City
Councilperson John Liu, Georgetown University professor and author
David Cole, National Lawyers Guild of New York President Martin Stolar,
and former Army chaplain James Yee.
Awards were presented to the Center for Constitutional Rights for its
defense of civil rights and to Muslims Weekly for its work in
journalism. Debbie Almontaser, Abdullatif Castrillo, Omar Mohammedi,
and Ghazi Khankan also received awards for the numerous contributions
they have made to the protection of civil liberties.
"We would like to thank our friends and supporters who made Saturday's
dinner such a success," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr.
"Through their generosity, we will be better able to expand our civil
rights and educational efforts and continue our proactive approach to
promoting an accurate image of the American Muslim community and
Islam." Nasr added that attendees received an annual civil rights and
financial report.
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-NY, Wissam Nasr 917-751-1017, E-Mail:
director@cair-ny.org
-----
CAIR-LA CO-HOSTS TRAINING FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS -
TOP
WHAT: On April 24, the Southern California office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and Islamic Outreach (IOF) will
host a training session for those who speak on the subject of Islam.
Learn to more effectively present an accurate portrayal Islam to
students in schools and universities.
WHEN: April 24, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Spaces limited. Reserve your spot today.
For more information please call CAIR at (714) 776-1847, or e-mail:
socal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-LA: ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT TO BENEFIT CIVIL RIGHTS WORK -
TOP
WHAT: Join the Southern California chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Muslim community in a
fun-filled evening to recognize Chaplain Yusuf Yee and Airman Ahmad
Halabi for their courage and dedication to upholding civil rights.
Enjoy the night with comedy and entertainment from: Comedian Ahmed
Ahmed, Comedian Stevie Mack, Native Deen (Performances from their new
album Deen You Know), and Sons of Hagar.
WHEN: May 7, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
WHERE: The Heritage Forum, 201 E. Broadway Ave. Anaheim, CA 92805
Tickets: $15.00, call 714.776.1847 to purchase tickets. All proceeds will go to assist CAIR's civil rights work.
Cosponsors: MSA-UCR, MSA-CSULB, MSA-CSUF, The Muslim Sports and Entertainment Foundation
For more information please call CAIR at (714) 776-1847, or e-mail:
socal@cair.com
-----
U.S. OUTREACH TO ISLAMIC WORLD GETS SLOW START, MINUS LEADERS -
TOP
Effort Involves No Muslims; Hughes Will Not Arrive Until Fall
Robin Wright and Al Kamen, Washington Post, 4/18/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61213-2005Apr17.html
The Bush administration's outreach to the Islamic world is in no hurry. And it includes no Muslims.
Karen Hughes, who was appointed a month ago to craft a bold new
approach for U.S. public diplomacy, is not expected to take the job
until as late as the fall, according to administration and
congressional sources. The delay is already undermining U.S.
credibility, with a well-placed U.S. official warning about "the gap
between rhetoric and reality."
Dina Powell, the new No. 2 official in charge of public diplomacy, is
also not expected to take the job for at least two more months,
administration sources say.
The delay comes as a Government Accountability Office report released
this month criticized the administration for failing to develop a
strategy to improve the image of the United States as "recent polling
data show that anti-Americanism is spreading and deepening around the
world."
"Such anti-American sentiments can increase foreign public support for
terrorism directed at Americans, impact the cost and effectiveness of
military operations, weaken the United States' ability to align with
other nations in pursuit of common policy objectives, and dampen
foreign publics' enthusiasm for U.S. business services and products,"
the report warned.
Despite the administration's repeated pledges of outreach, the State
Department's main program directed at the Islamic world has no Muslim
staff, U.S. officials say. "There's a dearth of Muslims in the State
Department generally," a senior State Department official said. Like
Powell, who is Egyptian American, most Arabs in the administration are
Christians, sources said.
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States and is
expected to become the second-largest religious bloc here in the next
few years, but the government has not tapped into its own community as
part of the global outreach, U.S. officials say. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
BUSH ELIMINATING 19-YEAR-OLD INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM REPORT -
TOP
Jonathan S. Landay, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 4/15/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11407689.htm
WASHINGTON - The State Department decided to stop publishing an annual
report on international terrorism after the government's top terrorism
center concluded that there were more terrorist attacks in 2004 than in
any year since 1985, the first year the publication covered.
Several U.S. officials defended the abrupt decision, saying the
methodology the National Counterterrorism Center used to generate
statistics for the report may have been faulty, such as the inclusion
of incidents that may not have been terrorism.
Last year, the number of incidents in 2003 was undercounted, forcing a revision of the report, "Patterns of Global Terrorism."
But other current and former officials charged that Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice's office ordered "Patterns of Global Terrorism"
eliminated several weeks ago because the 2004 statistics raised
disturbing questions about the Bush's administration's frequent claims
of progress in the war against terrorism. (MORE)
-----
EXTENDING THE NO-FLY ZONE -
TOP
Brian Bennett, Time, 4/17/05
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050224,00.html
The no-fly list created by U.S. authorities, which singles out
passengers who are potential terrorist threats, is the target of
frequent criticism that it's incomplete and unreliable. But that hasn't
stopped it from expanding dramatically. Aviation sources say the list
has grown to more than 31,000, up from 19,000 last September. (MORE)
-----
SOME MUSLIMS FORGO PROM IN HOLDING TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS -
TOP
Sheila B. Lalwani, Journal Sentinel, 4/17/05
http://www.jsonline.com/lifestyle/religion/apr05/319214.asp
Noor Najeeb's friends looked forward to Homestead High School's senior
prom all year. They bought frilly princess gowns. They found dates.
They slipped into high-heel shoes, styled their tresses and perfected
their makeup for one of the most-anticipated social events of the year.
But the 17-year-old is a practicing Muslim who believes going to the
prom would be an affront to Islam. So Najeeb - the president of the
National Honor Society, violinist and active volunteer - decided to
take a pass.
"It's another social event," she said. "It's really important for one to uphold beliefs and values."
With prom season in full swing, Najeeb and her Muslim peers are
learning one of life's lessons: Principles matter more when something
is sacrificed to uphold them.
Each year, many teen Muslims choose not to take part in one of the
hallmark social events of high school. For them, staying true to their
Muslim identity is staying true to themselves, no matter how hard.
Proms - a ritual of dating and intimate dancing that for some is
associated with drinking and sex - conflict with Islamic beliefs. Islam
requires Muslims to dress modestly, abstain from alcohol and avoid
close contact with members of the opposite sex. Such interactions are
considered haram, or forbidden.
Meeting these standards can be an especially tall order for teens
driven by raging hormones, intense curiosity and a fear of alienation.
"It's a challenge," said Naba Mallick, 17, a senior at Divine Savior
Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee, who didn't attend prom last year.
"To be the one who has stayed strong in religious beliefs, it's a big
deal."
To be clear, not all young Muslims skip prom. And among those who do,
they are not alone; many conservative Christian families also frown
upon dancing and dating among teens.
But for many young Muslims in the United States who experience life in
a religiously and socially homogenous society, events such as the prom
compel them to distinguish themselves. (MORE)
---
FAITH AND FINANCE COLLIDE FOR MUSLIM HOME BUYERS -
TOP
Lornet Turnbull, Seattle Times, 4/16/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/religion/11401772.htm
SEATTLE - When he bought his car two years ago, Javed Ahmed saved up enough money to pay with cash.
And every month, the senior analyst at Voyager Capital, a venture firm
in Seattle, pays off his credit-card balance so he doesn't have to pay
interest.
Now, at 29, Ahmed wants to buy his first home.
But as a Muslim, whose religion prohibits earning or paying interest on
borrowed money, he faces a dilemma common to observant followers of the
nation's fastest-growing religion: Can he buy a home without angering
God?
"I'm not going to save up money to buy a house," Ahmed concedes. "That's hardly practical."
Avoiding interest, or riba as it's known in Islam, confounds the
realities of Western society, where few people use cash to make
purchases and Visa and MasterCard rule the day.
There's strong dissension among Muslims over how deep this ban on
interest should reach: Are security investments allowed -- stocks and
bonds? What about retirement accounts or savings that yield a return?
It leaves Muslims who wish to pursue the American dream with just a few
options: Some feel they have no choice but to take on a traditional
mortgage. Others save for years until they have enough cash to buy a
home. And then there are those who believe it's better to perpetually
rent.
Recently, another home-buying option has emerged for Muslims.
Although they differ among institutions, they're typically variations
of lease-to-own contracts and installment purchases. For the benefit of
the buyer, what the lender charges for the loan is called something
other than interest. In reality, the paperwork can be identical to that
of a conventional mortgage.
In some cases, the hybrids -- because of their niche -- cost more.
That bothers Ahmed. (MORE)
-----
GREEN CANDIDATE FOR MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR: I'M NOT A TOKEN -
TOP
Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune, 4/16/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5351480.html
Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem would rather talk about issues in the Minneapolis mayor's race than her religion or gender.
"I don't want to be the token Muslim woman candidate," she said in a
recent interview. "At the same time, I know I'm going to be one of the
few positive role models for women."
But if the membership coordinator for the Girl Scout Council of Greater
Minneapolis bristles at being identified by the groups she belongs to,
she's also used that identity to distinguish herself. Her first piece
of campaign literature shows her speaking into a bullhorn, wearing a
hijab over her head and a T-shirt that reads, "This is what a radical
Muslim feminist looks like."
She is a long shot who plans to offer something different. (MORE)
-----
DRAW FAIR LINE BETWEEN RELIGION AND TERRORISM -
TOP
Tam Saidi, Star Tribune, 4/17/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5351050.html
As a Muslim-American in a post 9/11 world, I have been paying very
close attention to the recent trial of Eric Rudolph and how the local
and national media portrayed him.
It is clear to most Americans that when a Muslim, among the world's 1.5
billion Muslims, happens to be a terrorist, he is often portrayed as an
"Islamic terrorist," "Islamic militant," "Islamic fundamentalist" or an
"Islamist."
I have become very sensitive to these terms, as they imply that a
religion, i.e., Islam, fundamentally supports terrorist actions. Muslim
organizations in the United States and around the world, including the
highest-ranking scholars in the Muslim world, have condemned terrorism
and the killing of innocent civilians in the name of Islam.
Yet Rudolph -- who carried out the fatal bombings at the 1996 Olympics
in Atlanta and at a Birmingham, Ala., women's clinic, as well as the
bombings of a gay nightclub and a second clinic -- was not called a
religious fundamentalist, or a religious militant, or a religious
terrorist. Instead, it appears that the writers spent ample time
coining creative phrases to describe him such as "militant anti-gay,"
anti-abortion extremist, "anti-government extremist" and "fugitive
serial bomber."
There was hardly any mention of Rudolph's religion or the motives
behind his actions. Not until the fourth article that I read did it
mention that he was linked to a "white supremacist Christian Identity
movement" and the "Army of God," a group that advocates killing
abortion providers.
I would say, and most American Christians would agree: This man is not
a representative of the Christian religion, and Christianity should not
be associated with his actions. (MORE)
-----
REPAYING THE WEST'S DEBT TO ISLAM -
TOP
Olga Pikovskaya, Business Week, 3/29/05
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2005/tc20050329_3316.htm
Unless you're a history buff, it can be hard to believe how pivotal
early Islamic civilization was in laying the foundations of modern
science, mathematics, technology, and the arts. Between 600 AD and 1400
AD, Europe was caught in a bleak time, commonly termed the Dark Ages.
During that same period, however, Islamic societies were making
fundamental discoveries.
The contributions of early Islamic people are far too numerous to list.
A few innovations starting with the letter "a" are: acetic acid,
alcohol, almanacs, aloe, and astrolabes. In addition, these people were
adept at improving the technologies and inventions that Muslim traders
brought back from China.
In the sciences, Islamic scholars began converting Greek speculations
into a process for uncovering verifiable facts. They made fundamental
contributions to medicine, astronomy, chemistry, physics, and optics.
In medicine, for example, Muslim scientists developed a hollow needle
for removing cataracts from the eye by suction -- around 1,000 years
ago. And mathematics was a Muslim forte, as seen in the creation of
algebra and the Arabic number system that we use today.
AT ODDS AGAIN. New musical instruments, such as the violin and the
guitar, which most people associate with Western music, owe their
origins to the peoples of North Africa and Asia Minor. Islamic artistic
contributions ranged from architecture and calligraphy to painting and
poetry.
These ideas and discoveries spread outside the Muslim world as a
result, ironically, of the Crusades. Although Europe lost militarily,
the transfer of goods and ideas led directly to the Renaissance. All
this is particularly surprising when juxtaposed with the contemporary
view of Muslim society as being theocratic and backward.
Hundreds of years after the Crusades, the Western and Muslim worlds are
once again at odds. While the West is racing ahead in industrialization
and human rights, the Muslim world seems less eager for change. If
Westernization threatens to undermine their proud history, many Islamic
countries would rather foresake foreign amenities, preserve their
customs and culture, and continue leading a religious life according to
the Quran. (MORE)
-----
POPE LINKED CATHOLICS, MUSLIMS -
TOP
C.B. Hanif, Palm Beach Post, 4/17/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2005/04/17/a2e_hanifcol_0417.html
"Outsiders scoff," The Washington Post's E.J. Dionne wrote last week,
"at the claims we Roman Catholics make that the Holy Spirit guides the
cardinals who will be electing a new pope." Not me. I figure he knows
what he is talking about, just as I know there are plenty of folks who
would scoff at the idea that we Muslims admired Pope John Paul II.
My own regard preceded 2001, when he became the first pontiff known to
have entered a mosque. Lou Salome, a former foreign correspondent for
The Post, told me that the Omayyad mosque in the ancient Syrian city of
Damascus holds the tomb of John the Baptist and is a favorite place for
families of all faiths to picnic, or just be. While in Damascus, the
pope also took a step to heal a rift with the Greek Orthodox Church
dating back to 1095 when Crusaders massacred Jews, Muslims and
Christians. John Paul II, I wrote then, "consistently has sought to
improve relations between the church and non-Catholics during his
nearly 23 years as pope."
My sense of the pope was mostly informed by my favorite imam, W. Deen
Mohammed, and members of my favorite Catholic lay group, the Focolare,
led by the imam's friend, Chiara Lubich. It was at major international
religious conferences that contemporaries such as Pope John Paul II,
the Dalai Lama, "Lady Chiara" and Imam Mohammed, leader of the largest
Muslim community in America, recognized that our values are compatible
and our interests for humanity are the same. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
FIRST NORTH DAKOTA ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ELICITS DIALOGUE -
TOP
Mila Koumpilova, The Forum, 4/17/05
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=89112§ion=News
Sister Yvonne Nelson kicked off the first North Dakota Islamic
conference Saturday with a snapshot of her childhood in small-town
Montana that captured the event's mission.
Her parents were a somewhat unlikely couple - her dad was a
non-practicing Lutheran rancher, and her mom was a Catholic teacher -
who were happily married for 50 years. At her dad's funeral, the
presiding pastor addressed the mystery of their compatibility, "The key
to their successful marriage was communication."
Nelson, a Catholic and the director of the Presentation Peace Studies
Program in Fargo, was a part of an interfaith panel titled "Working
Together for the Common Good," and her message about the importance of
dialogue echoed throughout the panel discussion. The panelists stressed
to an audience of about 100 at North Dakota State University's Memorial
Union that people of different religious in this community need to talk
- and find out they're not all that different.
The conference, which organizers hope will become an annual event, had
a dual goal: to take on local misconceptions about Fargo-Moorhead's
Muslim community of about 4,000 and to encourage that community to
reach out more confidently to their non-Muslim neighbors.
Besides the interfaith panel, the day's lineup included introductory
workshops into Islam for both Muslims and non-Muslims and a panel on
"Joining and Strengthening the Community." According to organizers, 200
Muslims registered for the conference; based on inquiries, they
expected more than 100 non-Muslims to attend. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MINORITIES SHARE LESSONS WITH CHICAGO TEACHERS -
TOP
Lolly Bowean, Chicago Tribune, 4/17/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0504170230apr17,1,820852.story
Chiye Tomihiro, a Japanese-American, was just one month short of
completing high school in 1942 when her father was thrown in jail and
she and her mother were shipped off to an internment camp in Idaho, she
said.
Before Sept. 11, 2001, Abdul Malik Mujahid, who is Muslim, said he felt
free to take pictures of Chicago's historical buildings. But now, he
said he's guarded and careful when in public so no one will think he is
a terrorist, he said.
Tomihiro and Mujahid shared their stories with a group of Chicago
public school teachers at a workshop Saturday to illustrate how some
minorities are treated during times of national crisis. The workshop,
"What It Means to Be American," aims to teach educators how to cover
the sensitive topic in their classrooms.
"If you forget your history, you are bound to repeat it," said Larry
Schectman, the educational chairman for the Chicago chapter of the
Japanese American Citizens League. "Here is a way to tell the story
that your civil rights are always in jeopardy because they are
administered by human beings. Even if you have rights on paper, it
doesn't mean they will be protected."
The workshop was sponsored by the citizens league and was created to
share information about the internment of Japanese-Americans. After
Sept. 11, workshop leaders expanded it after noticing American Muslims
were facing a climate that they felt mirrored the way
Japanese-Americans were treated after the attack on Pearl Harbor. (MORE)
---
JEWS AND MUSLIMS INITIATIVE A DAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE -
TOP
Hudson Valley News, 4/15/05
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Mitzvah_Ihsan-15Apr05.htm
Jewish Family Services of Dutchess County and The Mid-Hudson Islamic
Association are teaming up to provide a day of community service next
month.
The Mitzvah-Ihsan Day will be held on Sunday, May 15th at the Jewish
Community Center in Poughkeepsie and the Masjid Al-Noor Mosque in
Wappingers Falls.
The day will center on doing good deeds for the entire community, said JFS Director Susan Goodman Goldstein.
"The only way our communities will get better is if each individual in
the community thinks of how they can make the community better, and
when a group, or many groups come together, wow," she said. "We have
chances to beautify some places, to clean up places, to create things
for people, to give back to other members of our community, and we are
setting a nice standard for our children to see."
For both communities, the day will be one of prayer in action, for
better Jewish-Muslim relations both locally and globally, and to
recognize the power that comes from joining together," said Goldstein.
---
WI: EXPANSION PLANNED FOR MUSLIM CLASSES -
TOP
J.E. Espino, Post-Crescent, 4/17/05
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_20662601.shtml
APPLETON - With the positive response religious studies held on Sundays
has had at the Islamic Center of Wisconsin, organizers say the time has
come to move forward.
Founders of the center, which opened in September, are in the
preliminary planning stages of setting up a full-time school for
children in kindergarten through high school. It could be operational
in three to four years.
"We just don't want to stay where we are. We want to expand," said
Mohamed Ibrahim, the center's spokesman of the plans for expansion&
Currently, about 50 students, ages 4 to 16, attend the school, which is
staffed by 15 volunteers traveling from as far away as Sheboygan, Fond
du Lac, Oshkosh and Green Bay.
Students enroll in one of six levels at Taqwa Islamic School, depending
on their knowledge of the Quran and Islamic studies. The idea is for
them to get an appreciation for the religion.
Having a full-time imam, or religious minister, in Mohamed Abdelazim opened the gates for the project.
Additionally, the Muslim population is growing, said school Principal
Kalim Saiyed. An estimated 200 Islamic families live in the Fox Valley
area.
The next development at the center will be the arrival of Arabic
language courses for adults. Classes for children and adults will be
open to anyone in the community.
"The least we can do is give them (children) the Islamic teachings, not
what they see people are saying about Islam," Ibrahim said. "What's
happening today has nothing to do with the teachings of Islam."
Already the students have been tested twice, and certificates were awarded Sunday to the top three in each level.
-----
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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 -
CAIR, ACLU TO ANNOUNCE ACTION AGAINST DHS OVER NY DETENTIONS
Muslim citizens returning from Canadian conference
interrogated, fingerprinted
(
WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/19/05) - On Wednesday, April 20, The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the New York Civil
Liberties Union (NYCLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
will hold simultaneous news conferences in New York City and Buffalo,
N.Y., to announce action against the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) over the practice of targeting American citizens participating in
religious conferences outside the United States.
In December of last year, dozens of American Muslim citizens were
detained, interrogated, fingerprinted, and photographed at the
Buffalo-Canadian border as they returned home from an annual Islamic
conference in Toronto.
WHAT: Simultaneous News Conferences in Buffalo and New York City
Announcing CAIR, NYCLU, ACLU Action Against DHS Over NY Border
Detentions
WHERE:
ACLU National Headquarters, 125 Broad Street, New York, NY
NYCLU Western Regional Office, The Ansonia Center, 712 Main Street,
Buffalo, NY
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20, 11:30 a.m.
WHO:
NY CITY:
Detained citizens from Buffalo, NY
Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR National Legal Director
Donna Lieberman, NYCLU Executive Director
Chris Dunn, NYCLU Legal Director
Catherine Kim, ACLU Staff Attorney
BUFFALO:
Detained citizens from Buffalo, NY
Udi Ofer, NYCLU Staff Attorney
Corey Stoughton, ACLU Staff Attorney
Khurrum Wahid, CAIR Legal Advisor
Wedade Abdallah, Immigration Attorney
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.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR - Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or 202-415-0799,
E-Mail:
arsalan@cair-net.org;
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; NYCLU/ACLU
- Sheila Stainback, NYCLU Communications Director, 212-344-3005, ext.
244; 917-573-7880; Jeanne-Noel Mahoney and John Curr,
wro@nyclubuffalo.org,
716-852-4033; Erica Pelletreau,
media@aclu.org, 212-519-7829; Udi
Ofer, 347-645-4333
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 - 4/19/05
*
VERSE:
God's
Hidden Reality
*
U.S. Muslims
Welcome Election of New Pope
-
Dialogue with Muslims
Must Continue (Balt Sun)
*
U.S.
Spending Millions to Change Islam (US News)
-
CAIR:
Bush
Turns To Hughes to Repair Image (VOA)
-
Army Searches for
Arabic Speakers (Balt Sun)
*
10 Years
After OK Attack, Muslim Family Mourns Loss
-
Secret FBI Report
Highlights Domestic Terror (ABC)
-
ISLAM-OPED:
Terror Knows No
Faith
*
'Wish
Lists' of Detainee Tactics Cited (Wash Post)
-
Iraqi
Lawmaker Says U.S. Soldier Grabbed His Throat
*
NJ:
Muslims,
Copts to Sign Anti-Hate Pledge (AP)
*
MI:
Student Wears Burka
for School Project
-
MO:
Open House Educates
About Islam
-
MN:
Somali
Students' Event Shares Culture
*
DC:
Congressional
Resolution on Srebrenica Massacre
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY:
GOD'S HIDDEN REALITY -
TOP
"God alone comprehends the hidden reality of the heavens and the
earth, and everything shall ultimately return to Him for decision. So
worship Him and put your trust in Him."
The Holy Quran, 11:123
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS
WELCOME ELECTION OF NEW POPE -
TOP
Islamic group urges continuation of interfaith efforts
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/19/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today welcomed the election of Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger of Germany as Pope Benedict XVI and urged him to continue his
predecessor's policy of outreach to the Muslim world.
In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) said:
"America's Muslim community welcomes the election of Pope Benedict
XVI and looks forward to working with him and other representatives of
the Roman Catholic Church to advance the cause of peace and justice for
people of all faiths. We encourage the new Pope to build upon John Paul
II's legacy of interfaith outreach and reconciliation based on mutual
respect and religious tolerance."
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:
DIALOGUE WITH
MUSLIM WORLD MUST CONTINUE -
TOP
R. K. Ramazani, Baltimore Sun, 4/19/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.muslims19apr19,1,4606257.story
LET US HOPE that the successor to Pope John Paul II, the first pope in
history to step inside a mosque, will continue his unprecedented policy
of talking to the Muslim world.
Muslim leaders who expressed sympathy after his death did not do so
simply because the pope opposed the invasion of Iraq or spoke out against
the wall of separation in the Israeli-occupied territories. They did so
because the pope believed firmly that Christianity should engage in a
dialogue with Islam. (MORE)
-----
AMERICA
IS SPENDING MILLIONS...TO CHANGE THE VERY FACE OF ISLAM -
TOP
David E. Kaplan, US News, 4/19/05
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/050425/25roots.htm
After repeated missteps since the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government has
embarked on a campaign of political warfare unmatched since the height of
the Cold War. From military psychological-operations teams and CIA covert
operatives to openly funded media and think tanks, Washington is plowing
tens of millions of dollars into a campaign to influence not only Muslim
societies but Islam itself. The previously undisclosed effort was
identified in the course of a four-month U.S. News investigation, based
on more than 100 interviews and a review of a dozen internal reports and
memorandums. Although U.S. officials say they are wary of being drawn
into a theological battle, many have concluded that America can no longer
sit on the sidelines as radicals and moderates fight over the future of a
politicized religion with over a billion followers. The result has been
an extraordinary--and growing--effort to influence what officials
describe as an Islamic reformation. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
BUSH
TURNS TO HUGHES TO REPAIR AMERICAN IMAGE AMONG MUSLIMS -
TOP
Amy Katz, Voice of America, 4/19/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-04-19-voa3.cfm
U.S. President George Bush is turning to one of his most trusted
political advisors - Karen Hughes - to lead the administration's efforts
to repair America's image overseas - among Muslims. The choice indicates
the priority the administration gives to this policy. As the nominee for
post of Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Ms. Hughes now
faces confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate.
"I can think of no individual more suited for this task of telling
America's story to the world, of nurturing America's dialogue with the
world, and advancing universal values for the world, than Karen
Hughes," said Dr. Rice.
When she announced Karen Hughes' nomination to become the new Under
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice said the U.S. needs to do a much better job with public diplomacy.
She also said across the globe, there are too many people who are unaware
of America's values and its efforts to advance democracy. After the
devastation of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United
States acknowledged that it was very unpopular in many places -
especially in the Muslim world. Helle Dale, of the conservative
Washington, DC based think tank The Heritage foundation, says part of the
problem is that the U.S. has not reached out to much of the Muslim world
- including Arab countries, Indonesia, and Pakistan. But, she says, the
U.S. is well known in those countries.
"You can bet that people talk about us. In fact, in some places,
they seem to be positively obsessed. If we don't have a voice in that
discussion about our country, they're going to make up things as they go
along, they're going to rely on images from Hollywood, mass media, which
I think, fine these are our products but it's not the sum total of the
United States as a country," says Helle Dale.
A congressionally-funded advisory group studied the problem. It issued a
report in 2003 suggesting new ways for the U.S. to reach out to the Arab
and Muslim worlds. Ambassador Diana Lady Dougan was a member of that
group. She says the effort needs to be made on the grass roots level -
and it needs to be aimed at young people.
"Over 50% of the Muslim world is 16 {years old} or under. So, among
other things, we need to engage a generation that wasn't born hating.
They weren't born thinking that there's a Muslim world and the other
world," explained Diana Lady Dougan.
When Secretary of State Rice announced her nomination, Karen Hughes
agreed - saying the only way the future will be peaceful is if the
world's children are taught to respect and celebrate each other's
differences.
"This job will be difficult. Perceptions do not change quickly, or
easily. This is a struggle for ideas. Clearly in the world after
September 11, we must do a better job of engaging with the Muslim world.
As the 9-11 commission reported, if the United States does not act
aggressively to define itself, the extremists will glad do the job for
us. Our public diplomacy efforts must also engage the wider world - from
Europe to Latin America," says Karen Hughes.
Ambassador Dougan agrees the U.S. should reach out to Muslims especially
in Europe. "The recognition that Europe has a large and growing
Muslim population makes it logical to have more focus on not just Muslims
who are in the the Middle East, or Indonesia, which happens to be the
largest Muslim country in the world, but also in Europe, is a very
logical extension of reaching out to to an area, and if you will, a
constituency where there's been a great deal of distortion," says
the ambassador.
Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the Council on American--Islamic
Relations, sees it quite differently. He says America is not well liked
in the Muslim world because of its policies, which he says should
change.
"The whole policy towards the Middle East, I think, is the key. We
need to have an even-handed approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
We need to be seen as real, honest brokers. We have traditionally, for
decades, been seen as tremendously one-sided in this dispute and I think
that's the core issue that we need to deal with," says Ibrahim
Hooper.
Mr. Hooper also says he is hopeful Karen Hughes' may be able to influence
U.S. policy, because of her close relationship with President Bush. And
that, he says, puts her in a good position to succeed in promoting a more
positive and balanced image of America in the Muslim world.
(MORE)
---
ARMY STEPS UP
SEARCH FOR ARABIC SPEAKERS -
TOP
Military recruiting Arab-Americans for translators, cultural aides
Tom Bowman, Baltimore Sun, 4/18/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.recruits18apr18,1,7827906.story
WASHINGTON - The Army has begun an intensive campaign to recruit hundreds
of Arab-Americans as cultural advisers and translators. The effort
addresses a significant handicap for the U.S. military, whose troops face
daunting language and culture gaps in working with Iraqi officials and
citizens.
The problem was particularly acute after the fall of Baghdad, with
officers at times resorting to sign language to communicate. But two
years later, the situation is not much better, officials say. One Army
major, who now serves north of Baghdad, said there is only one native
Arabic-speaking U.S. soldier in his brigade, which numbers between 3,000
and 5,000 soldiers.
Native speakers are "critical," said the officer, who requested
anonymity, "especially in this phase of the operation when we are
trying to work with the Iraqi army, police, government and
people."
The program is part of a Pentagon-wide plan to boost language
capabilities in the military. (MORE)
-----
10 YEARS
LATER, FAMILY MOURNS LOSS OF UNBORN BABY -
TOP
Howard Witt, Chicago Tribune, 4/18/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11426915.htm
OKLAHOMA CITY - (KRT) - There is no chair for Salam Mohammad.
One hundred sixty-eight empty bronze chairs line the grassy field where
the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building used to stand, each one a solemn
memorial to an individual killed in the April 19, 1995,
bombing.
Salam did not perish on the day of the bombing. Nor did he die anywhere
near the Murrah building. His name will not be mentioned on Tuesday
morning, when Vice President Dick Cheney and former President Bill
Clinton are scheduled to be among the dignitaries who are to speak at a
10th anniversary commemoration of the Oklahoma City bombing.
But to many here in Oklahoma City's small Muslim community, the 7-month
fetus was a casualty of the attack just the same, one of countless
collateral victims whose hidden stories have never been told.
Salam's pregnant mother, Sahar al-Moswi, was at home in her Oklahoma City
apartment on the morning after the bombing caring for her two young
children, listening to the news and wondering, like everyone else in
America, who could have perpetrated such an awful crime.
The radio and television broadcasts were filled with expert opinions
confidently asserting that the bombing bore all the hallmarks of a Middle
Eastern terrorist attack.
Al-Moswi felt a chill. She and her husband, Haidar al-Saidi, both Shiite
Muslims, had fled the persecution and torture of Saddam Hussein's Iraq in
the early 1990s and, thanks to family ties, had landed in the middle
American tranquility of Oklahoma City.
Like many refugees and immigrants, they had tried to keep a low profile
in their new neighborhood, where they stood out as the only
Muslims.
Suddenly the living room window shattered, sending shards of glass flying
across the room. A rock landed on the carpet.
"I was scared somebody shooting," recalled al-Moswi, now 35.
"I did not see the rock. I heard the noise. The glass is all over
the place...
"I take the kids, and I go to the bathroom," she continued.
"It's hard to move - big stomach and two kids. I go to the bathroom.
I thought I might be safe there. I (feared) people that might come"
and break into the apartment.
Moments later, al-Moswi doubled over in pain and started bleeding. But,
terrified that attackers might be waiting outside the bathroom, she
waited nearly an hour before sending one of her children to get a
portable phone from another room so she could call for help.
The next day in the hospital - about the time authorities were
discovering that they already had the suspected bomber, Timothy McVeigh,
in custody on a traffic charge - al-Moswi suffered a miscarriage.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
SECRET FBI
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS DOMESTIC TERROR -
TOP
Experts Warn of Future Timothy McVeighs
ABC News, 4/18/05
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=681288&page=1
NEW YORK, April 18, 2005 -- A secret FBI report, obtained by ABC News,
identifies 22 domestic terror organizations as the current subjects of
338 active FBI field investigations.
The Aryan Nations, and other white supremacist groups, are cited in the
report for hate crimes, fire bombings, threats via mail, as well as
robberies and murders. The National Alliance, one of the largest neo-Nazi
organizations in the world, is subject to 51 FBI investigations alone,
according to the report.
In fact there are "ticking time bombs," said Brian Levin,
director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at
California State University, San Bernardino, "who have the capacity,
skill and hatred to carry out acts worse that what Timothy McVeigh
carried out 10 years ago."
Levin, and other terrorism experts, say that the Internet has become the
principal recruitment tool, attracting the loners and the disturbed who
boast of finding viable U.S. targets. (MORE)
---
TERROR KNOWS NO FAITH: AMERICAN
MUSLIMS AND THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING -
TOP
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1535&theType=NR
WASHINGTON, DC, April 12 -- On April 19th, Americans of all faiths will
mark the 10th anniversary of the 1995 attack on the Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City by remembering and mourning 168 of their fellow
citizens who died so tragically at the hands of domestic terrorists.
Another victim of that attack will be mourned only by those in what would
have been his family.
According to the Daily Oklahoman newspaper: "Sahar Al-Muwsawi, 26,
said...she was watching reports of the bombing on television on April 20
when she heard a car's brakes squeal outside her Oklahoma City home. Then
she heard objects hitting the window and thought people were shooting at
the house. Muwsawi, who was nearly seven months pregnant, grabbed her
2-year-old daughter and another child in the home and took them to the
bathroom and locked the door. She said she started bleeding and called
her husband, who rushed home and took her to the hospital. A stillborn
baby boy was delivered several hours later." (5/20/95)
That baby boy was named "Salaam," or "peace."
In those first frightening days after the bombing, it was assumed by many
that "Middle Eastern terrorists" had carried out the attack.
That faulty assumption sparked a wave of anti-Muslim hysteria that
resulted in almost 250 incidents of harassment, discrimination and actual
violence against American Muslims or those perceived to be Middle
Eastern.
Incidents ranged from a suspected arson attack on a mosque, to drive-by
shootings at Islamic centers and assaults on Muslim students. Many
Islamic institutions around America also reported phoned bomb threats,
and in one case, a fake bomb was thrown at a Muslim day care facility.
Individual Muslims reported a great increase in harassment by co-workers
and in public. This harassment led to an atmosphere of fear and
intimidation in the Muslim community.
The collective realization that the attack was carried out by terrorists
from the Midwest, not the Mideast, created a teaching moment in which the
entire nation reassessed what it means to be a terrorist, and redefined
terrorism to include people who look like "regular" Americans.
(MORE)
[Ibrahim Hooper is national communications director for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim
civil rights and advocacy group. He may be contacted at:
ihooper@cair-net.org.]
-----
SOLDIERS'
'WISH LISTS' OF DETAINEE TACTICS CITED -
TOP
Josh White, Washington Post, 4/19/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64409-2005Apr18
Army intelligence officials in Iraq developed and circulated "wish
lists" of harsh interrogation techniques they hoped to use on
detainees in August 2003, including tactics such as low-voltage
electrocution, blows with phone books and using dogs and snakes --
suggestions that some soldiers believed spawned abuse and illegal
interrogations.
The discussions, which took place in e-mail messages between
interrogators and Army officials in Baghdad, were used in part to develop
the interrogation rules of engagement approved by Lt. Gen. Ricardo S.
Sanchez, then commander of U.S. troops in Iraq. Two specific cases of
abuse in Iraq occurred soon after.
Army investigative documents released yesterday, as well as court records
and files, suggest that the tactics were used on two detainees: One died
during an interrogation in November 2003 while stuffed into a sleeping
bag, and another was badly beaten by inexperienced interrogators using a
police baton in September 2003. The documents indicate confusion over
what tactics were legal in Iraq, a belief that most detainees were not
covered by Geneva Conventions protections and alleged abuse by
interrogators who had tacit approval to "turn it up a
notch."
In both incidents, a previously disclosed Aug. 14, 2003, e-mail from the
joint task force headquarters in Baghdad to top U.S. human-intelligence
gatherers in Iraq is cited as a potential catalyst.
Capt. William Ponce wrote that "the gloves are coming off"
because casualties were mounting and officers needed better intelligence
to fight the insurgency. Ponce solicited "wish lists" from
interrogators and gave them three days to respond. That message was
forwarded throughout the theater, including to officials at Abu Ghraib,
where notorious abuse followed.
At the 4th Infantry Division's detention facility in Tikrit, the e-mail
caused top intelligence officials to develop a list including open-hand
strikes, closed-fist strikes, using claustrophobic techniques and a
number of "coercive" techniques such as striking with phone
books, low-voltage electrocution and inducing muscle fatigue. The list
was sent back to Baghdad on Aug. 17.
Interrogators used the perception of newfound latitude to interview an
unidentified detainee on Sept. 23, 2003. According to the detainee's
statement, he was made to lie across folding chairs while an interrogator
beat the soles of his feet with a police baton. He said he was later hit
in the back and the buttocks with the baton while in a painful stress
position. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS,
COPTIC CHRISTIANS TO SIGN ANTI-HATE PLEDGE -
TOP
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 4/19/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0418apr18,0,1504068.story
NEWARK, New Jersey - After months of acrimony and failed attempts to
bring both communities together following the slaying of an Egyptian
Christian family, leaders of the Muslim and Christian communities in
northern New Jersey plan to sign a pledge renouncing hate and committing
themselves to greater interfaith harmony.
Wednesday's event at City Hall in Jersey City would be the first small
step forward in healing a rift that polarized many Coptic Christians and
Muslims following the January slaying of the Armanious family in their
Jersey City home. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
IRAQI
LAWMAKER SAYS U.S. SOLDIER GRABBED HIS THROAT -
TOP
Waleed Ibrahim, Reuters, 4/19/05
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050419/2005-04-19T115225Z_01_BAK938020_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-USA-DC.html
BAGHDAD - An Iraqi lawmaker accused a U.S. soldier of grabbing him by the
throat and shoving him to the ground Tuesday after he parked his car in
Baghdad's Green Zone.
Fattah al-Sheikh, an independent, said he had parked his car before a
session of parliament when U.S. troops approached him and told him he
didn't have the right permit.
He said a soldier then kicked his car, insulted him and grabbed him by
the throat with both hands as others looked on, before tying his hands
behind his back with white plastic cuffs and shoving him to the
ground.
"I don't speak English and so I said to the Iraqi translator with
them, 'Tell them that I am a member of parliament,' and he replied, 'To
hell with you, we are Americans,"' Sheikh told parliament, fighting
back tears as he recounted the story.
The U.S. military said it was investigating the incident.
"We are aware of the reported incident involving a member of Iraq's
Transitional National Assembly and we are investigating it at this
time," a military spokesman said.
Sheikh said other members of parliament were present during the scuffle,
which took place at one of the main entrances to the Green Zone, a
fortified compound in central Baghdad that houses the parliament, the
U.S. embassy and other buildings. (MORE)
-----
'NO ONE WANTED TO BE NEAR ME'
-
TOP
Student wears burka throughout winter semester
Kurt Hunt, Eastern Echo, 4/18/05
http://www.easternecho.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?11039
Eastern Michigan student Zoe Piliafas spent the winter semester wearing a
burka, the heavy, concealing garment characteristic of women under the
Taliban in Afghanistan. She kept a daily journal of her experiences and
received independent study credit.
"It felt like no one wanted to be near me."
This is how Eastern Michigan student Zoe Piliafas summed up her winter
semester. Her new isolation wasn't the result of being a bad or
unpleasant person.
It was simply because she was -- at least, for this semester --
different. To her professors and her classmates, she was not Zoe, an
outgoing and outspoken student. She was Zhooda, a student with a soft
Middle Eastern accent who wore a burka (sometimes spelled burqa or
burkha), the heavy, concealing garment that became known to most
Americans only when the media turned it into a symbol of the repression
of women under the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"You're not seeing the body of a female," Piliafas said.
"You're seeing a garment that represents female."
Under the supervision of political science professors Elaine Martin and
James Ivers, Piliafas received independent study credit for wearing the
burka the entire winter semester.
"Zoe kept a daily journal of her experiences," Martin said.
"She met with me several times throughout the semester, wrote and
conducted an e-mail survey for students and professors and turned in a
final paper summing up the experience. She received one credit
hour."
"I thought about this for probably three years," Piliafas said.
"At first I had really strong judgment on it, and I thought, 'Well,
what is this? Why would a woman have to cover herself from head to toe to
stop someone else from looking at her?'
"I thought by telling a woman that she needs to be covered up, we're
telling her that she's basically unworthy," she said. "But I
don't think that's how Muslims view it. I think they view it as one so
worthy that she can't be looked upon." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
OPEN HOUSE EDUCATES ABOUT
ISLAM -
TOP
Jacob Hackman, Columbia Missourian, 4/18/05
http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=13368
Jan DeLasara and her sister, Joy Rushing, came to the Islamic Center of
Central Missouri's open house Sunday with different religious
perspectives. DeLasara considers herself a spiritual person but is not a
member of any organized religion. Rushing is a devout Presbyterian. But
both were interested in learning more about Islam.
"It's an opportunity to get a very close look at a tradition that is
pretty alien to me," DeLasara said.
DeLasara said she has learned that the religion of Islam spans many
different cultures.
"I think it's appropriate for them to stress that they are
inclusive," she said.
Rushing said she was hoping to learn more about the faith so that she can
correct any inaccuracies that non-Muslims may have about Islam.
The open house ran from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Islamic Center usually
has two open houses a year, in the spring and fall. (MORE)
---
SOMALI
STUDENTS' EVENT SHARES CULTURE WITH CAMPUS -
TOP
Elizabeth Cook, MN Daily, 4/18/04
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/04/18/64209
At noon Friday, approximately 200 people met outside Northrop Auditorium
to pray.
The prayer was part of the second annual Somali Culture Day. For this
noon prayer, other Muslim communities from around the campus area were
invited to participate.
Fridays are religious days for Muslims, and they pray at noon on those
days. Because Somali Culture Day fell on a Friday, the Somali Student
Association decided to not have music and dancing like last year, said
University student Abdiweli Ali, a member of the association.
Before the prayer, he spoke about the Somali culture and religion that is
derived from Islam. Somalis are 100 percent Muslim, he said.
For the prayer, shoes had to be removed, Ali said. The title of the
person who gives the prayer is the "imam," he said, and men and
women are separated during the prayer.
"This is to enhance awareness of our culture and to educate others
about our culture," Ali said. (MORE)
-----
CONGRESSIONAL
RESOLUTION ON SREBRENICA MASSACRE -
TOP
In July of 1995, between 7,000 and 10,000 Bosnian men and boys were
killed by Serbian forces.
With the help of the Congress on North American Bosniaks (CNAB),
Congressman Smith (R-NJ) and Congressman Cardin (D-MD) have introduced
House Resolution 199 that states "the policies of aggression and
ethnic cleansing as implemented by Bosnian Serbs forces meet the terms
defining the crime of genocide in the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide..."
To View the resolution, go to:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Search using the term "H.Res 199."
To urge your representatives to support this resolution, visit:
http://wwh.house.gov/writerep/
For more information, visit:
www.bosniak.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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICAN MUSLIMS SUE DHS OVER BORDER DETENTIONS
CAIR: Targeting of Muslim citizens 'unconstitutional and
un-American'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/20/05) - In simultaneous news
conferences held today in New York City and Buffalo, N.Y., the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the New York Civil Liberties Union
(NYCLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced the
filing of a federal lawsuit against the head of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) over the practice of targeting American citizens
participating in religious conferences outside the United
States.
The lawsuit was filed this morning in U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of New York on behalf of five American Muslim citizens who,
along with dozens of other Muslims, were detained, interrogated,
fingerprinted, and photographed at the Buffalo-Canadian border as they
returned home from an annual Islamic conference in Toronto.
SEE: "Five Muslims to Sue U.S. Over Border Detentions"
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/20/nyregion/20detain.html
"Muslim-Americans Sue Over Treatment at Border"
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--muslimsstopped0420apr20,0,1481114.story
"Muslims to Sue Over Detentions at Border"
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050420/1042096.asp
According to documents filed with the court, government officials
violated the plaintiffs' rights under the First and Fourth Amendments of
the U.S. Constitution and under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, Buffalo Port Director Joseph J. Wilson,
and CBP Director of Field Operation in Buffalo Michael D'Ambrosio are
named in the lawsuit, which states in part: "None of the plaintiffs
had engaged in any unlawful conduct nor any other conduct that would
justify the mistreatment to which they were subjected but instead were
subjected to this treatment solely because they had attended the
conference."
To read the entire complaint, go to:
http://www.nyclu.org/pdfs/tabbaa_v_chertoff_complaint.pdf
The lawsuit asks the court to prevent the government from taking similar
actions against other American citizens and seeks the return or removal
from government databases of all information obtained from the plaintiffs
during their detention.
"When American citizens are targeted by their own government and
detained, searched, fingerprinted, and photographed with threat of arrest
for committing no crime, this is not only unacceptable and unlawful, but
also unconstitutional and un-American," said CAIR National Legal
Director Arsalan Iftikhar. (CAIR-NY legal advisor Khurrum Wahid took part
in the Buffalo news conference.)
Other groups involved in the lawsuit offered similar comments.
Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU: "None of the
citizens who were detained had done anything unlawful, nor were they
charged with any unlawful act. It is very troubling that citizens who
were exercising their First Amendment rights were singled out because of
their faith and attending the conference."
Christopher Dunn, NYCLU Associate Legal Director: "American citizens
of all faiths have a right to attend religious conferences without having
the government detaining and interrogating them and without the
government putting their fingerprints and photographs in a database. What
the government is doing is wrong and unconstitutional, and our lawsuit
aims to stop this practice."
Catherine Kim, Staff Attorney of the ACLU: "The government cannot
criminalize American citizens for their religious beliefs. Americans need
to know that they can practice their religion and attend religious
conferences without fear of government reprisals."
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.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR - Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or 202-415-0799,
E-Mail:
arsalan@cair-net.org;
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; NYCLU/ACLU
- Sheila Stainback, NYCLU Communications Director, 212-344-3005, ext.
244; 917-573-7880; Jeanne-Noel Mahoney and John Curr,
wro@nyclubuffalo.org,
716-852-4033; Erica Pelletreau,
media@aclu.org, 212-519-7829; Udi
Ofer, 347-645-4333
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 - 4/20/05
*
VERSE:
The
Prophet's Example
*
CAIR-CAN:
Bank Apologizes to Canadian
Muslims
*
Many
Americans Believe Torture Still Prevalent
*
Pope Benedict XVI on
Islam
-
CAIR
Rep on Today's CNN 'Wolf Blitzer Reports'
-
MI:
Metro Muslims Express
Hope (Det News)
*
LA:
$45K Reward
Offered in Attack on Muslim Woman (Times-Pic)
*
CO:
Islamic Center
Vandalized (Coloradoan)
*
DHS
Omits Threats from Right-Wing Terror Groups (AP)
*
NJ:
Lawyer
Offers Course in Understanding Islamic Faith
-
GA:
Muslims and
Swearing on the Bible in Court (AJC)
*
French
Court Upholds Expulsion of Sikh Students (AP)
*
DC:
CSID
Annual Conference on Democracy and Development
-
NY:
Being
a Muslim Woman During 'War on Terror'
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY:
THE PROPHET'S EXAMPLE -
TOP
"You have indeed, in the (life of the Prophet Muhammad), a beautiful
pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in God and the Final Day,
and who engages much in the praise of God."
The Holy Quran, 33:21
-----
GOOD NEWS ALERT -
TOP
BANK APOLOGIZES TO CANADIAN MUSLIMS FOR 'INSENSITIVE' COMMENTS
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 04/20/2005) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) is pleased to announce that the Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has issued an apology to Canadian Muslims for
comments made by Jeff Rubin, Chief Economist and Chief Strategist of CIBC
World Markets' Economic and Strategy division.
In the April 5, 2005 issue of the Monthly Indicators, Mr. Rubin wrote:
"The first two oil shocks were transitory, as political events
encouraged oil producers to seize full sovereignty over their resources
and temporarily restrict supply. This time around there won't be any tap
that some appeased mullah or sheik can suddenly turn back
on."
In a letter to CIBC World Markets, CAIR-CAN Executive Director Riad
Saloojee wrote: "We are gravely concerned that Mr. Rubin is
promoting stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs in a CIBC publication&We
request that Mr. Rubin and CIBC World Markets issue a letter of apology
and undergo sensitization training regarding Muslims and
Arabs."
In his response, CIBC World Markets Chairman and CEO Brian Shaw stated:
"First, let me state that we take the concerns expressed in your
letter very seriously. While the comments were in no way intentional or
meant to offend anyone in the Muslim or Arab community, we agree that, in
hindsight, the comments were insensitive.
"We have taken immediate steps to address this issue. We have
reviewed all aspects of the matter with Jeff Rubin and we will be
providing him with training to ensure that this situation does not occur
again in the future. In addition, Jeff has withdrawn the research report
from the World Markets website, redrafted the paragraph in question and
reposted the amended report back to the website."
ACTION REQUESTED:
PLEASE contact CIBC World Markets and thank them for issuing an
apology.
E-MAIL:
PresidentCIBCWM@cibc.ca,
ombudsman@cibc.com
COPY TO:
Canada@cair-net.org
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
E-Mail: canada@cair-net.org
URL:
www.caircan.ca
-----
TWO
IN FIVE U.S. ADULTS BELIEVE THAT TORTURE OF PRISONERS BY AMERICANS
STILL PREVALENT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -
TOP
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-20-2005/0003439505&EDATE=
ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 20 -- By a 66 to 32 percent majority the American
public believes that torture of prisoners by Americans has taken place in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Furthermore, 61 percent of those who believe that
torture has taken place (or 41 percent of all U.S. adults) also believe
that it is still happening in spite of the public disclosures of events
that took place in Abu Ghraib prison.
In addition, while six in 10 (60%) adults favor bringing most U.S. troops
home in the next year, similar numbers (58%) do not expect that this will
happen within two years, and a majority of people (55%) are not confident
that Iraq will be successful in developing a stable government.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 1,010 U.S. adults
surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive(R) between April 5 and 10,
2005.
-----
POPE BENEDICT XVI ON ISLAM -
TOP
On Islam: "It is true that the Muslim world is not totally mistaken
when it reproaches the West of Christian tradition of moral decadence and
the manipulation of human life... Islam has also had moments of great
splendor and decadence in the course of its history."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR
REP TO COMMENT ON NEW POPE DURING CNN'S 'WOLF BLITZER REPORTS' -
TOP
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/wolf.blitzer.reports/
The Segment is expected at about 20 minutes into today's
program.
---
METRO MUSLIMS EXPRESS HOPE -
TOP
They anticipate new Catholic leader will continue effort to promote
unity.
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 4/20/05
http://detnews.com/2005/religion/0504/20/A08-156365.htm
DEARBORN -- Like many people of faith, Muslims in Metro Detroit expressed
joy and hope over the selection of Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday,
describing the moment as a universal expression of faith in God and
spirituality.
Although the new pope had previously expressed views that were less
accepting of Islam than the dramatic gestures of Pope John Paul II,
Muslims said they hope that steps toward unity and interfaith cooperation
will continue.
In Metro Detroit, a number of the large and growing Muslim population
said they were watching television broadcasts of Tuesday's historic
events from Vatican City.
"We are really glad, overall, about the selection of the right
person to the right place," said Afthal Alshami, an engineer for
Ford Motor Co.
"And we are hoping for someone who is going to have an understanding
toward other religions, and understand also how different cultures are
involved in other societies, so we can communicate."
For many of the 400,000 Muslims in Metro Detroit, the papacy of John Paul
II was a considerable departure from the long history of strained
relations between the two faiths. (MORE)
-----
$45,000
REWARD OFFERED IN FATAL ATTACK ON WOMAN -
TOP
Michelle Hunter, Times-Picayune, 4/20/05
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1113976558239150.xml
Four months after Iman Muhanna Mohammed was fatally stabbed in her west
Metairie home, the trickle of tips about the attack has all but dried
up.
In hopes of loosening the lips of anyone with clues that could identify
the killer of the pregnant teacher, the West Bank Muslim Association and
Crimestoppers Inc. on Tuesday announced a $45,000 reward for
information.
"Our hearts are still bleeding from this horrible, terrible
crime," said Mohammed's widower, Fakhri Mohammed. "The killer
must come to justice soon."
The reward, increased from $2,500, is the second-largest in the 23-year
history of Crimestoppers' New Orleans area chapter, Executive Director
Darlene Cusanza said. The largest was in a murder case that predates
Cusanza's tenure, and she had no other information about it.
"That's an incredible amount of money," she said. "We're
hoping to encourage anyone to come forward. If they have information, no
matter how small, they need to call us."
Fakhri Mohammed, 45, a taxi driver, found his wife's body the morning of
Dec. 17 after he returned home from taking their children to school at
the Muslim Academy in Harvey. His wife, 42, had been a teacher there for
four years but was on maternity leave.
The couple, both U.S. citizens born in Palestine, had an 8-year-old son
together, and Fakhri Mohammed has a daughter from a previous
marriage.
Iman Mohammed was six months pregnant with a girl when she was stabbed 33
times and left to die in the upstairs bedroom of their home. The fetus
did not survive.
Investigators found no signs of forced entry to the house. And while no
motives have been ruled out, Deputy Chief Fred Williams of the Jefferson
Parish Sheriff's Office said nothing of significant value was taken from
the house. Detectives also have found no indication that the killing was
a hate crime directed at a Muslim, he said.
Authorities fielded some tips from the public just after the killing, but
the number soon tapered off, said Williams, head of criminal
investigations. Despite that, he said, the investigation is
active.
"We're not going to let it get cold on us," he said, adding
that raising the reward money could generate the substantial tips that
investigators need to close the case. (MORE)
---
ISLAMIC CENTER VANDALIZED -
TOP
Sara Reed, Coloradoan, 4/19/05
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050419/NEWS01/504190340/1002
Community members rallied around the Islamic Center on Monday, a day
after a brick was tossed through a window, breaking five panes of the
thick glass and damaging some of the wooden framework.
Though police do not believe the vandalism was a hate crime, the timing
is suspect, coming on the heels of Saturday's "Not in Our Town" forum,
which addresses the causes and effects of bias, discrimination and hate
in the community.
Glass still littered the floor of the prayer room where the brick was
thrown through a window at the center, 900 Peterson St., sometime
between 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
No one was in the building at the time. "There's no indication" the
vandalism was a hate crime, said Fort Collins Sgt. Mike Walker.
In a hate crime, Walker said, there is a message left in addition to
the damage. In the incident at the Islamic Center, no message was left.
On Monday, community members and church leaders gathered at the center
in a show of solidarity. "It is imperative we stand together," said
Rabbi Zvi Ish-Shalom of Congregation Har Shalom in Fort Collins. "If a
brick is thrown at the Islamic Center, it's the same as if a brick were
thrown at the synagogue." (MORE)
-----
HOMELAND SECURITY OMITS THREATS FROM RIGHT-WING TERROR GROUPS, DEMOCRATS SAY -
TOP
Lara Jakes Jordon, Associated Press, 4/20/05
http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=3233743
WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department is focusing on terror
threats from radical environmental and animal rights activists without
also examining risks posed by right-wing extremists, House Democrats
said Tuesday.
A recent internal Homeland Security document lists the Animal
Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front with a handful of
Islamic groups that potentially could support al-Qaida as domestic
terror threats.
The document does not deal with threats posed by white supremacists,
violent militiamen, anti-abortion bombers and other extremists that
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson called "right-wing hate groups." (MORE)
-----
LAWYER OFFERS COURSE IN UNDERSTANDING ISLAMIC FAITH -
TOP
Eman Varoqua, North Jersey.com, 4/19/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0NSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NjY4MTc0NiZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTM
Sohail Mohammed, a Clifton immigration attorney, explaining Muslim
beliefs and culture to supervisors at the Passaic County Courthouse in
Paterson on Monday.
It's something Sohail Mohammed says he'll never understand.
"A person takes a criminal act and manipulates faith around it to do
what he wants," he said, of a North Carolina man who pleaded guilty
last week to exploding bombs at two abortion clinics in the South. "We
all basically say that's a lunatic."
But when similar scenarios play out with someone who is Muslim,
Mohammed says the Islamic faith comes under attack instead of the
person committing the crimes.
On Monday, the Clifton immigration attorney brought his "sensitivity
enhancement" session to 50 supervisors at the Passaic County Courthouse
in Paterson. Since 9/11, he has spoken to more than 5,000 people
ranging from Secret Service officers to secretaries.
Though the number of reported hate crimes against Muslims is down about
10 percent nationwide, many say they are still the targets of ridicule,
harassment and discrimination.
"It's just never going to stop," said Safia Haddid, a practicing Muslim
living in Paterson. "The looks, the attitude, the misunderstanding. And
every time something new happens everyone turns their eyes at all of
us, like we did it. It doesn't make sense."
Mohammed, 42, isn't paid to hold these sessions, and he brings free
copies of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, for everyone - an
out-of-pocket expense.
Instead, Mohammed's payment is the thank-you's and the interest in the subject matter from his audiences.
"My hope is people sitting in this lecture will come out knowing
something they didn't before," he said. "When you give knowledge to a
person, you give them power. People that understand will do the right
thing."
After the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the FBI
began a sweep of intelligence-gathering interviews with Muslims. Two
agents knocked on the door of a Muslim family for an impromptu
interview in South Paterson.
The homeowner agreed, but asked the agents to take their shoes off
before entering. Mohammed said the agents had some harsh words for the
family. The friction tainted the mood for the rest of the evening.
"They weren't trying to be difficult," he said. "It's just that some
families don't walk with shoes on their carpets because they also pray
there." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
JUDGES SEEK WAYS TO BRIDGE ETHNIC GAP IN COURT -
TOP
Mary Lou Pickel, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4/20/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/atlanta_world_24560e120686127100ab.html
Swearing in a witness in Judge Eduardo Padro's courtroom in New York
isn't always easy. The process can grind to a halt when a Muslim
witness is asked to put his hand on the Bible and swear to tell the
truth, the state Supreme Court justice said.
"Some very nicely say, 'I'm sorry, I don't recognize that book,' " he
said. "Others are offended you would assume they would recognize the
Bible."
"What are we supposed to do in these cases?" Padro asked.
The National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts
held its meeting in Atlanta last week. The halls of the Omni Hotel at
the CNN Center buzzed with judges from across the country asking
similar questions about the best way to deal with diverse populations
in the courtroom.
Metro Atlanta, with its growing immigrant population, is grappling with these same problems.
Asifa Quraishi, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin and an
expert on Islamic law, said Muslims don't typically swear on the Quran,
the Muslim holy book, before a court proceeding. The idea of an oath
and a swearing in is part of Islamic legal tradition, though, she said.
(MORE)
-----
FRENCH COURT UPHOLDS EXPULSION OF THREE SIKH TEENS BARRED FROM SCHOOL FOR WEARING TURBANS -
TOP
Sophie Tetrel, Associated Press, 4/20/05
PARIS - A French court Tuesday denied a request by three Sikh students
seeking to return to school after being expelled for refusing to remove
their turbans, their lawyer said.
The students planned to take their fight against France's head scarf
law to a higher appeals court and, if necessary, to the European Court
of Human Rights, said their attorney, Felix de Belloy.
The Sikh boys were suspended from the Louise Michel high school in
Bobigny, northeast of Paris, on Sept. 23, and then expelled at a
disciplinary hearing ordered by a court in November.
"We are going to appeal quickly because each month that passes is
important," said Belloy, contacted by telephone. He said the teenagers
had been following their classes by correspondence.
The case came as France tries to enforce a law banning religious
symbols at public schools that took effect with the start of the school
term in September. The ban includes Islamic head scarves, Jewish
skullcaps and large Christian crosses. (MORE)
-----
CSID HOSTS 6TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT -
TOP
Center for Islam and Democracy (CSID) invites you to attend its 6th
Annual Conference on April 22 and 23 at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel
in Washington DC. The year's conference theme is Democracy and
Development: Challenges for the Islamic World: Challenges for the
Islamic World and speakers include USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios,
IRI President Lorne Craner, NED President Carl Gershman, and Saad
Eddine Ibrahim of Ibn-Khaldoun Center in Cairo, Egypt.
Registration information and the complete conference schedule can be found at
www.islam-democracy.org
For more information, contact: Layla Sein at (202) 942-2185 or
Sein@islam-democracy.org
SEE ALSO:
WOMEN'S MULTIFAITH COMMITTEE ON BEING A MUSLIM WOMAN DURING THE 'WAR ON TERROR' -
TOP
WHAT: The Women's Multifaith Planning Committee of Auburn Theological
Seminary invites the public to attend "Being a Muslim Woman During the
'War on Terror.'"
Panelists include: Ummi Nur-Ali, Admiral Family Circle Islamic
Community; Nurah Jeter Amat'ullah, Muslim Women's Institute for
Research and Development; Aisha al-Adawiya, Women In Islam, Inc.; Rabia
Terri Harris, Muslim Peace Fellowship. Moderator will be Elinor Aishah
Holland.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2005 from 7 to 9 PM
WHERE: The Stewart Room at Auburn Theological Seminary, 3041 Broadway at 121st Street, New York, NY
Program fee: $15 Students with Valid ID: $10
To register or for more information, please contact Nicole de Jes�s at Auburn: (212)662-4315 or
ndj@auburnsem.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 - 4/21/05
*
HADITH:
Praise God
in All Circumstances
*
CAIR-DC:
Tumult in Turkey Over
New Pope
-
CAIR Conf. on Islamophobia,
Anti-Americanism
*
CAIR Calls
for FBI Probe of CO Mosque Vandalism
*
NJ Religious
Leaders Vow Healing (NY Times)
-
NJ:
Christians,
Muslims Pledge Peace (AP)
*
NY:
Muslims
Detained at Border Sue DHS (Wash Post)
-
Muslims Sue Feds in Border Detain (NY Daily News)
-
Muslims Sue Govt for Racial Profiling (Reuters)
*
Reform
Patriot Act to Ensure Civil Liberties (CNN/FindLaw)
*
DC:
2 Senior AIPAC
Employees Fired (Wash Post)
-
AIPAC Sacks
Employees Over Spy Scandal (Haaretz)
*
NJ:
Rutgers Muslims
Celebrate Islamic Life
-
CA:
Panel
Ponders Future of Democracy, Islam
-----
HADITH
OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES -
TOP
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saw something good and
pleasing, he would say: "Praise be to God with whose blessings all
good deeds are perfected." And when he saw something displeasing, he
would say: "Praise and thanks be to God in all
circumstances."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 125A
-----
CAIR-DC: TUMULT IN
TURKEY OVER NEW POPE -
TOP
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/20/turkey.pope/index.html
But in this era of fragile relations between Islam and the West, how will
Muslim advocates receive a pope who spoke in controversial terms about a
cultural divide?
"If he has some concerns about Turkey entering the EU, perhaps
Muslim leaders from around the world can sit with him and try and allay
some of his concerns. But I think the attitude, the basic attitude of
respect and tolerance is one that we hope to see from the new pope,"
says Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
SEE ALSO:
MAY 13-15 IN DC: ISLAMOPHOBIA AND
ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES AND REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
CAIR CALLS
FOR FBI PROBE OF CO MOSQUE VANDALISM -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/21/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today called on the FBI to investigate recent
vandalism at a Colorado mosque as a possible hate crime.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said a
brick was thrown through a window of the Fort Collins Islamic Center on
Sunday. Some community members say the attack is suspicious because it
followed a forum Saturday to introduce a "Not In Our Town"
chapter in that city. "Not In Our Town" is a group formed to
fight hate groups. Police say surveillance cameras captured the
crime.
Local law enforcement authorities have not treated the vandalism as a
hate crime because there was no message left at the scene by the
perpetrators.
SEE: "Surveillance Video Captures Vandalism at Islamic Center
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/4397818/detail.html
"Motive Eyed in Islamic Center Attack"
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2827824,00.html
"It has been our experience that anti-Muslim bigots do not always
leave a calling-card," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim
Hooper. "We urge the FBI to devote its considerable resources to
assist local authorities in this case."
Hooper expressed concern about a series of similar incidents of vandalism
reported in recent months by Muslim individuals and institutions
nationwide. He also noted that CAIR will release its latest annual report
on the status of American Muslim civil rights in May. That report will
outline acts of anti-Muslim discrimination, bias and violence in the past
year.
As a response to these and other anti-Muslim incidents, CAIR published a
"Muslim Community Safety Kit." The safety kit may be obtained
free of charge by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone number when requesting the safety kit.)
CAIR, America's largest 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
-----
IN JERSEY
CITY, RELIGIOUS LEADERS VOW HEALING -
TOP
TINA KELLEY, New York Times, 4/21/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/21/nyregion/21jersey.html
JERSEY CITY, Apr. 20 - Following months of vitriol in the Egyptian
community here between Muslims and Coptic Christians after the slaying of
a Coptic family in January, leaders of more than a dozen religious groups
met in City Hall on Wednesday to sign a pledge of solidarity.
The statement, signed by representatives of local Muslim, Coptic
Christian, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Bahai, Episcopal, Jewish and Lutheran
congregations, said, "We deem it necessary to state unequivocally
that we oppose hate and expressions of hate in all forms" and
promised to "support, encourage and affirm all efforts to build
bridges rather than walls."
They expressed hope that "when times of crisis come, we can support
and view each other with clarity, sincerity and honesty."
The slain family - Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and
their two children, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8 - were found dead in their
Jersey City home on Jan. 14. Rumors quickly spread that the father had
exchanged angry words with a Muslim on the Internet, and the killings
threatened to localize a centuries-old schism between Egyptian Muslims
and Coptic Christians, a minority in Egypt that human rights groups say
faces discrimination there.
Chaos broke out at the family's funeral on Jan. 17, when a Muslim cleric
from Brooklyn came to pay his respects. He had to be escorted away by the
police after he was threatened with violence.
Two former convicts, Edward McDonald, 25, who rented a second-floor
apartment above the family, and Hamilton Sanchez, 30, were charged last
month with killing the family in a robbery that went awry.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CHRISTIANS,
MUSLIMS PLEDGE PEACE AFTER SLAYING OF COPTIC FAMILY -
TOP
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 4/21/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0420apr20,0,6423855.story
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (AP) - Declaring an end to "a period of
agony in our community," Muslim, Christian and other religious
leaders signed a pledge rejecting hatred and promising to build better
interfaith ties in the aftermath of the slaying of an Egyptian Christian
family.
Representatives of Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Hindu,
Baha'i, Episcopal and Lutheran congregations met Wednesday at City Hall
to sign an oversized copy of a pledge not to let the divisions that
followed the murder of the Armanious family happen again.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS
DETAINED AT BORDER SUE U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY -
TOP
Michelle Garcia, Washington Post, 4/21/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6225-2005Apr20.html
NEW YORK, April 20 -- American Muslims detained at the border as they
returned from a religious conference in Toronto sued the Department of
Homeland Security on Wednesday alleging they were targets of ethnic and
religious profiling.
The five Muslims, all U.S. citizens, say customs officials detained
dozens of others from their conference in December, subjecting them to
interrogations, fingerprinting and photographing. Four carried
U.S.-issued passports; the other had a New York state driver's license,
which is an acceptable form of identification at the Canadian
border.
The plaintiffs traveled separately and arrived at the checkpoint
throughout the afternoon and night. Travelers who told agents they had
attended the conference titled "Reviving the Islamic Spirit"
were held for questioning, and women wearing hijab were asked whether
they had attended the conference, according to the lawsuit, filed in U.S.
District Court by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Council for
American-Islamic Relations. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS SUE FEDS IN BORDER DETAIN
LESLIE CASIMIR, NY DAILY NEWS, 4/21/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/301914p-258442c.html
MUSLIM-AMERICANS SUE GOVT FOR RACIAL PROFILING
Larry Fine, Reuters, 4/20/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8243195
-----
REFORM THE PATRIOT ACT TO ENSURE CIVIL LIBERTIES -
TOP
Anita Ramasastry, CNN/FindLaw, 4/20/05
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/20/ramasastry.patriotact/
(FINDLAW) -- On December 31, sixteen portions of the U.S.A. Patriot Act
are set to expire -- or, in legal parlance, "sunset." Congress is
holding hearings on the act and considering, among other issues,
whether to amend it to curb the broad surveillance powers it bestowed
on the federal government.
For example, under the act the government can monitor an individual's
Web surfing records. It can use roving wiretaps to monitor phone calls
made by individuals "proximate" to the primary person being tapped. It
can access Internet service provider records. And it can even monitor
the private records of people involved in legitimate protests.
After September 11, 2001, when the act was passed, the executive argued
that these broader powers would be used to put terrorists behind bars.
In fact, several of the act's provisions can be used to gain
information about Americans in the context of investigations with no
demonstrated link to terrorism.
For this reason, I will argue, the act should be amended. The U.S.A.
Patriot Act as a whole includes important powers. But as written, the
act goes far beyond its justification of terrorism prevention.
In this column, I will focus on just a few of the act's sunsetting
provisions -- each of which, in my view, should be repealed or, at a
minimum, allowed to expire this December. (MORE)
-----
2 SENIOR AIPAC EMPLOYEES OUSTED -
TOP
FBI Investigating if Pair Gave Classified Information to Israel
Dan Eggen and Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 4/21/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6059-2005Apr20.html
Two senior employees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee,
one of Washington's most influential lobbying organizations, have left
their jobs amid an FBI investigation into whether they passed
classified U.S. information to the government of Israel, a source close
to the organization said yesterday.
The source characterized the departures as firings. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
AIPAC SACKS TWO SENIOR EMPLOYEES OVER SPY SCANDAL -
TOP
Haaretz, 4/21/05
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/567970.html
The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has fired two of
its senior officials involved in an investigation over possible spying
for Israel in the United States, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The pro-Israel lobby dismissed its policy director Steve Rosen and its
senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman, who had both been previously
suspended for the duration of the investigation.
The FBI investigation started last year after suspicions arose that
Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin transferred classified information
about U.S. policy on Iran to members of AIPAC.
AIPAC, whose ties with the U.S. administration were badly hurt, is
apparently trying to distance itself from the on-going FBI
investigation. In December, FBI agents raided the AIPAC offices and
issued subpoenas to four top executives who were later questioned at
length. (MORE)
-----
SOCIETY CELEBRATES ISLAMIC LIFE -
TOP
Arielle Gomberg, Daily Targum, 4/21/05
http://www.dailytargum.com/news/2005/04/21/PageOne/Society.Celebrates.Islamic.Life-932363.shtml
Members of the Islamic Society of Rutgers University are talking about
the purpose of life, the existence of God and the misconceptions about
Islam at Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus this week - Islam
Awareness Week.
The group is also serving cold drinks and crunchy snacks inside its
mosque-inspired tent, where ISRU has set up games and information
tables for students to learn about Islam. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
PANEL PONDERS FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY, ISLAM -
TOP
Charles Burress, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/21/05
Is marriage in the future for Islam and democracy? That question will face intense scrutiny at a UC Berkeley conference Friday.
The "Democracy and Global Islam" conference seeks to restore scholarly
expertise to a public debate that, in the view of conference
organizers, has been relegated to journalists and security experts
since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Free and open to all, the conference will examine emerging forms of
transnational Islam and radical Islam, and whether they are children of
globalization more than of traditional Islam.
The international lineup of experts includes professors from several
fields, diplomats and Islamic and Christian religious leaders. It will
be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Lipman Room on the eighth floor of
Barrows Hall. More information is available at
http://igov.berkeley.edu/conferences/.
-----
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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 - 4/22/05
*
HADITH:
Love One
Another
*
NEW $75
Day-Rate for CAIR Conference in DC
*
CAIR-DFW:
Islam is
'Submission to God,' Not
Tyrants
-
CAIR-CA
Job Openings
*
CO:
CAIR Urges FBI
Probe in Fort Collins (Denver Post)
*
NY:
Muslim Border
Hassles Sound Familiar (Dem & Chron)
-
Muslims'
Lawsuit Upholds Liberties for All (Buffalo News)
*
CA:
Islam
Gives Basic Human Rights to All (VC Star)
*
MO:
Islamic Center
Sponsors Open House
-
NE:
Muslim
Women Make a Splash for Companionship
-
MD:
Muslims, Jews,
Join to Rehab Home (Jewish Times)
-
IL:
Muslims
Take Part in Passover Seder (Chicago Trib)
-
NY:
RIT Muslim Poetry Slam
*
TX:
American
Spending Won't Sway Arabs (SA Express-News)
-
CA:
MidEast
Delegation Urges Muslim-Christian Dialogue
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE
ONE ANOTHER -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There are people
from among the servants of God who are neither prophets nor martyrs,
(yet) the prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Resurrection
because of the (high rank they are given by God)." The people then
asked the Prophet who these people are, and he replied: "They are
people who love one another for the spirit of God."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1563
The Prophet also said: "You will not believe as long as you do not
love one another."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 19
-----
NEW $75 DAY-RATE
FOR CAIR CONFERENCE IN DC -
TOP
WHAT: A new $75 one-day rate has been announced for CAIR's 2005 Annual
Conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and
Remedies." The $75 cost will include all lectures and two meals on
Saturday, May 14. Registration begins at 8 a.m., first session begins at
9 a.m. E-mail
events@cair-net.org call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, to register for the single-day rate.
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
ALSO: The new hotel room rate is now $89/night. Please call 703-448-1234
to reserve your room. Remember to ask for the CAIR conference rate. Rate
is available up to May 1, 2005. Register early to guarantee this
rate.
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
------
CAIR-DFW:
ISLAM IS 'SUBMISSION TO GOD,' NOT TYRANTS -
TOP
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/042205dnedifriletters.33f6f4f6.html
Re: "Arab Self-Evaluation - U.N. report calls for social, political
changes," April 8 Editorials.
This editorial claims that Arab governments, tradition, tribalism and
Islam are the major causes for human suffering in the Arab world. The
editorial's author spins the results of the Arab Human Development Report
2004 to blame Islam as a main element for "their miserable
condition."
The report itself convincingly explains that the real reason for the
failings of democracy in several Arab countries is not because of its
culture but in the people's inability to remove authoritarian and
totalitarian secular regimes.
The presence of dictatorships in the Middle East is not an expression of
Islam. It is disappointing that The Dallas Morning News misrepresented
Islam by inserting an incomplete definition of Islam in the wrong
context. Islam's definition is "submission to God alone"; not
to tyrants or to one's clan, as the editorial implied.
The report quotes that "the dominant trend in Islamic jurisprudence
supports freedom" and that "no Arab thinker today doubts that
freedom is a vital and a necessary condition." This report does not
lay the blame at the feet of the Arab society but rather on the despotic
governments that have been holding back their own citizens for
decades.
The News would serve its readership better with complete research and
accurate reporting.
Saffia Meek, Council on American Islamic Relations D/FW, Dallas (She can
be reached at
info@cairdfw.org.)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-SFBA
SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ADMIN. ASSISTANT -
TOP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Office, Santa Clara, CA
This position will entail being the focal point for communications,
activities, and programs emanating from the San Francisco and Santa Clara
area.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
The ideal candidate will play a central role in keeping daily
operations/activities organized, on track and moving forward.
Interested candidates in either position should send a comprehensive
resume stating education, work history, references, along with copies of
relevant academic certificates to:
E-Mail:
NOCAL@cair.com
Mail to:
CAIR-SFBA
Attn: President
3000 Scott Blvd, Ste 212
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: 408-986-9874
-----
ISLAMIC GROUP
URGES FBI PROBE IN FORT COLLINS -
TOP
Monte Whaley, Denver Post, 4/22/05
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2829481,00.html
A national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group Thursday called on the
FBI to investigate whether Sunday's vandalism of a mosque in Fort Collins
was a hate crime.
The Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said the
FBI has the resources to bring to this type of case that local police
lack.
A brick was thrown through a window of the Fort Collins Islamic Center on
Sunday. Some community leaders say the timing of the attack is suspicious
because it followed a Saturday forum aimed at setting up an anti-hate
group in the city and an appearance by an Islamic cleric who spoke at
Colorado State University about terrorism.
Fort Collins police say there is no evidence that the damage done to the
building was motivated by racism because there was no message left by the
perpetrator.
"It has been our experience that anti-Muslim bigots do not always
leave a calling card," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
council. (MORE)
-----
BORDER HASSLES SOUND FAMILIAR
-
TOP
Area Muslims say they can relate to experiences detailed in a
lawsuit.
Marketta Gregory, Democrat and Chronicle, 4/21/05
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050421/NEWS01/504210358/1002/NEWS
(April 21, 2005) - A lawsuit filed Wednesday claiming that five Muslims
were unlawfully detained at the Canadian border has struck close to home
for local Muslims, who say they feel that they, too, have been treated
like criminals at the border.
The five Muslims were searched, fingerprinted, questioned and held for as
long as 6 1/2 hours by U.S. border agents upon their return from a
religious conference in Toronto in December, according to the suit
against the federal Department of Homeland Security.
The suit in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn alleges that the government
violated the Muslims' constitutional rights to practice religion and
against unlawful searches. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS'
LAWSUIT INVOLVES UPHOLDING RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES FOR ALL, LAWYER SAYS -
TOP
GENE WARNER Buffalo News
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050421/1029564.asp
A civil liberties attorney posed a question Wednesday in trying to
explain how offended Muslim-Americans felt when they were detained for
hours at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge while returning from a religious
conference in Toronto:
How would the community react, Udi Ofer wondered, if local Catholics were
detained for hours and fingerprinted upon returning from the installation
of Pope Benedict XVI?
"It is the same First Amendment-protected rights of free speech,
association and religious expression," Ofer, an attorney with the
New York Civil Liberties Union, said in announcing the federal lawsuit
filed Wednesday on behalf of five Muslim-Americans.
"It's easy to fall into the trap that this doesn't pertain to me,
because I'm not Muslim and I don't attend Muslim conferences," Ofer
explained. "But it's a slippery slope. Today American Muslims are
being targeted. Tomorrow, it could be Catholic Americans. That's why it's
important to (protect) the constitutional rights of free speech and
religious expression."
The New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union
and the Council on American-Islamic Relations held simultaneous news
conferences Wednesday in Buffalo and New York City to announce the
lawsuit.
It charges the Department of Homeland Security with detaining,
interrogating, fingerprinting and photographing five Muslims solely
because they attended the Islamic conference. The five, all American
citizens, were among about 40 Muslims detained for up to 61/2 hours last
Dec. 26 and 27. (MORE)
-----
ISLAM
GIVES BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS TO ALL, FORBIDS TERRORISM -
TOP
Imam Ahmed Patel, Ventura County Star
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/co_valley/article/0,1375,VCS_166_3720657,00.html
Since the day God created humans, God bestowed upon them their basic
rights. Any God-fearing and sound-minded person would understand the
importance of this fundamental God-given right. But unfortunately in many
parts of the world people have forgotten this principle. Many times
questions have been raised about human rights in Islam, whether or not
there is a comprehensive concept in Islam about human rights. In light of
the present situation in many Muslim countries, it is important to
explain the Islamic perspective on human rights.
Islam has made human rights a fundamental part of the religion, and no
one can be a Muslim without respecting the rights of all the humans.
Islam gives five basic fundamental rights to every human being: (1)
protection of life, (2) protection of wealth and property, (3) protection
of honor, (4) protection of belief and (5) protection of the means of
livelihood. These represent man's five basic necessities of life. Islam
has made the above mentioned principles part of the religious
requirement. (MORE)
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER SPONSORS
OPEN HOUSE -
TOP
Ikuru Kuwajima, Maneater, 4/19/05
http://www.themaneater.com/article.php?id=21318
The Islamic Center of Central Missouri held an open house Sunday to
inform Columbia residents about Muslim culture. The purpose was to clear
some of the misconceptions about Islam. More than 200 Columbia residents,
including MU students, came to the mosque to learn the religion and
culture.
"This event is to educate the community about Muslims and let them
learn about the religion," said Rashed Nizam, Islamic Center
president.
The center holds an open house once or twice a year every year, he
said.
Muslim communities have good relationships with different communities in
Columbia, Nizam said.
"The center is open to people, and we have visitors from churches
and lawmakers in the mosque every weekend," he said. "We have
good relationships with other religions." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM
WOMEN MAKE A SPLASH FOR COMPANIONSHIP, HEALTH, FUN -
TOP
JONNIE TATE' FINN, Lincoln Journal Star, 4/22/05
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/04/22/local/doc426838e13514b434587681.txt
Nejiba Bouzid felt trapped. For 10 years she was ailed by pain in her
back, her only peace coming from daily medication her doctors said was
the only treatment. She could exercise, they said, to strengthen her
muscles and ease the pain.
But that was practically impossible, she thought. Where could she, a
Muslim woman whose faith requires total-body cover - face and hands
excluded - exercise?
The woman from Tunisia in northern Africa almost surrendered to a
lifetime of daily medication and chronic pain before a friend told her
about a program designed for women seeking a place to exercise privately,
away from the public - and away from men.
The program was organized in September by the YWCA and Faces of the
Middle East, a local group helping immigrants from that area. It lets
Muslim women swim for two hours every Sunday for free. There they play,
learn to swim and are taught water aerobics. (MORE)
---
MUSLIMS, JEWS, JOIN TO
REHAB HOME -
TOP
Andrew Scherr, Jewish Times, 4/22/05
http://www.jewishtimes.com/News/4666.stm
While they may not always agree on American foreign policy matters,
members of the Baltimore Jewish Council and the Maryland Muslim Council
dialogue group concur that helping the local community is quite
important.
Last Sunday, April 17, nine volunteers from the BJC and the MMC went to
the Pen Lucy neighborhood in North Baltimore to rehab a rowhome for the
home-building, non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity.
That morning, at 934 Cator Ave., Jews and Muslims worked side by side to
improve the city they co-habit. "It makes all of us feel good to
help somebody in need of a better home," Shabbir Ahmed, coordinator
of the MMC, said from his perch on a wooden ladder.
Mr. Ahmed was in the midst of scraping old paint from a back porch awning
along with Erica Hobby, director of domestic concerns for the BJC. Ms.
Hobby said their efforts "do a lot of good for the greater
community, [which is] very rewarding."
The volunteers spent a little more than six hours stripping and
repainting the front and back porches, the porch railings and the
basement walls, with a short lunch break. As they worked together, the
volunteers often schmoozed and joked with each another.
"We can be more productive working together than fighting each
other," said Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-11th), one of the Jewish
volunteers. "Deep down inside, we all want the same thing, which is
to live in safe and meaningful communities." (MORE)
---
DIFFERENT
FAITHS GET TASTE OF UNITY AT PASSOVER TABLE -
TOP
Margaret Ramirez, Chicago Tribune, 4/22/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0504220159apr22,1,4346021.story
Inside the basement auditorium of a Chicago labor union headquarters,
Jewish community leaders broke matzo at a model Passover seder in the
unlikely company of Muslim lawyers, Latino workers and African-American
supermarket employees.
The invited Muslims sipped grape juice instead of the traditional red
wine and shifted nervously in their seats. But by the end of the seder,
the guests discovered a striking connection to the Jewish
people.
"I thought it was important to be here and share the discrimination
and suffering that Muslim immigrants are facing," said Kamran Memon,
a Muslim civil rights attorney who attended the Immigrant Justice Freedom
Seder last week. "I saw parallels between the way Jews suffered in
the past and other groups today. It came out clearly."
(MORE)
---
MUSLIM POETRY SLAM -
TOP
Ben Foster, Reporter Magazine, 4/22/05
http://www.reportermag.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/22/4266d24321ca7
Poetry by its nature is a brutally honest medium. Each line and verse has
an emotional origin within the writer. Listening to a culture's poetry,
then, can give you a sense of what is important to their way of
life.
Last Friday, April 15, RIT students had such an opportunity to understand
a culture through its poetry, in this case Muslim Americans. Their
culture is often misunderstood, and even feared in today's society.
However, when you listen to the writings of Muslim Americans, you do not
simply hear anger at a government they disagree with politically, but you
hear compassion and their humanity. This effect was intensified at the
Muslim poetry slam, as each of the three poets was not only Muslim, but
also a woman. Poems about motherhood juxtaposed with poems about war and
God made a jarring mix for someone unaccustomed to this culture and their
poetry.
The audience was less surprised then I was. The Muslim Student
Association, the Women's Center, and the College of Liberal Arts hosted
the event itself; perhaps unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the
audience was Muslim. They seemed familiar with the mix of politics with
God and family. Before the readings began, a student went to the front of
the auditorium and recited a prayer from the Koran in Arabic and then in
English. The audience responded with the appropriate words and I felt a
little out of place. Things were about to get a lot more accessible,
though, as the first poet took the stage. (MORE)
-----
AMERICAN SPENDING WON'T
SWAY ARABS -
TOP
Mansour El-Kikhia, San Antonio Express-News, 4/22/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/melkikhia/stories/MYSA042205.07B.mansour.1fdf31ea1.html
My major fear is of this administration's foreign policy, particularly
toward the Middle East and Islam. It is embarking on an ideological war
that will make the Crusades appear like child's play. According to the
April 26 issue of U.S. News & World Report, the Bush administration
"has embarked on a campaign of political warfare unmatched since the
height of the Cold War." It appears the neocons feel threatened by a
growing religion with more than 1.2 billion adherents.
The White House dubbed the strategy "Muslim World Outreach" and
aims to win the hearts and minds of Muslims with money and covert
operations. The CIA and other security agencies have been receiving
funding for activities in the Muslim world that would put the United
States in a pleasant light.
The major emphasis is on infiltrating Islamic organizations and
countering Islamic teaching perceived as incompatible with Western
thought.
To make it more palatable to Muslims, the U.S. government is funding the
rebuilding of mosques, gathering of ancient Korans and arranging for
conferences to discuss the benefits of Western thought and a new version
of Islam.
Initially, the areas of operations are the non-Arab areas of the Islamic
world. In the Arab world, the United States will depend on direct foreign
aid and two media outlets, Al-Hurra TV and Radio Sawa. Both are music
outlets interspersed by news. They are estimated to reach 20 percent to
30 percent of Arab viewers and listeners.
It's amazing how the most intelligent country in the world can produce so
many unintelligent policy-makers. I hate to burst their bubble, but they
seem to believe their own lies and delusions.
Watching or listening to an Arab version of MTV won't make Muslim kids
any less Muslim. More important, Muslims are not stupid and many do know
when they are being taken for a buggy ride. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MIDDLE
EAST DELEGATION TO U.S. IN L.A. THIS WEEK, URGING MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN
DIALOGUE -
TOP
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=46276
Members of a four-country Middle East delegation now touring the U.S. are
in Los Angeles through this weekend, hoping to build better interfaith
relations- and counter prevailing American stereotypes of Muslims and
Arabs as invariably pitted against Christians in a "clash of
civilizations."
The delegates -- Christian, Muslim and Druze academics, policy and
interfaith leaders from Lebanon, Egypt and Syria -- are in the U.S. under
the auspices of global humanitarian agency Church World Service's Middle
East Forum.
On the heels of presentations in Chicago earlier this week, delegates now
in L.A. are scheduled to present and hold dialogues in college and
congregational settings with area Christians, particularly conservative
Christians, and Arab American Christians and Muslims. (MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS CALL NEW FOX CRUSADER FILM 'BALANCED'
CAIR says 'Kingdom of Heaven' avoids negative
stereotypes
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/25/05) - A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group said today that the new 20th Century Fox
epic "Kingdom of Heaven" is a "balanced" portrayal of
the Crusades, despite earlier concerns that the film might offer
stereotypical portrayals of Islam or Muslims.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) based its judgment on a
private screening of the Sir Ridley Scott film at Fox studios in Los
Angeles. "Kingdom" is scheduled to open in theaters nationwide
May 6th.
To watch a trailer of the film, go to:
http://www.kingdomofheavenmovie.com/trailer.html
Representatives of CAIR's Southern California office (CAIR-LA) and the
group's national headquarters took part in the screening. They said the
film, which focuses on the 12th century period between the Second and
Third Crusades, highlights the humanity of characters on both sides of
that centuries-long conflict.
"Our overall impression is that 'Kingdom of Heaven' is a balanced
and positive depiction of Islamic culture during the Crusades," said
CAIR-LA Communications Director Sabiha Khan. "Muslims are shown as
dignified and proud people whose lives are based on ethics and
morality." Khan said one of the film's positive messages, that
Muslims and Christians can live together in peace, will provide an
opportunity for increased interfaith dialogue.
"It is unfortunately a rare occasion when a Muslim filmgoer can
leave the theater feeling good about a movie's portrayal of Islam,"
said CAIR National Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, who also
attended the Los Angles screening. "This film managed to show the
horrors of war without associating those horrors with a particular faith
or culture." Ahmed thanked Fox for its screening of the film and for
taking care to avoid religious stereotypes.
Earlier this year, CAIR met with Fox television network officials over
concerns about the depiction of a "Muslim" family at the heart
of a terror plot in the drama series "24."
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; 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;
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 -
4/25/05
* VERSE:
Not For
Sport
* CAIR:
Muslims
Hail Pope's Meeting With Islamic Leaders
-
CAIR-Chicago:
Mosques
Face Hard Road in Suburbs
-
CAIR-GA:
Who Speaks For
Muslims?
-
CAIR-FL:
Interfaith Outreach
(SP Times)
-
CAIR-DC:
Internship
Program Deadline Extended
* TX:
Muslim
Activist Gives Back to Community (Dallas News)
- IN:
Comic
Wants To Build Bridges with Laughter
-
CA:
Converts Say Islam Allows Them to Better Lives
* NC:
Are Islam And
Democracy Compatible? (Charlotte Observer)
* MI
Home
To the First US Arab-American Museum (Free Press)
- NY:
Muslim Students Need Space (NYU
News)
*
Closer
Look at Rumsfeld Role in Abuses (NY Times)
-
Soldiers
Still Killing Civilians in Iraq (Indep)
-
Group:
150 Possible US Torture Sites (LA Times)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NOT FOR
SPORT -
TOP
"Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and
all that is between."
The Holy Quran, 21:16
-----
CAIR-DC:
MUSLIMS HAIL NEW POPE'S MEETING WITH ISLAMIC LEADERS -
TOP
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 4/25/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--pope-muslims0425apr25,0,5412066.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- Muslims in the U.S. hailed Pope Benedict XVI's meeting
with Islamic leaders at the Vatican on Monday, saying they are
increasingly confident the new pontiff wants better ties between the
world's two largest religions.
The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, chosen last week to succeed Pope
John Paul II, met with Islamic leaders who had attended his installation
Mass the day before, promising to work toward building "bridges of
friendship" between Catholics and Muslims.
"It is encouraging to note that a meeting with Muslims was one of
the first official acts of Pope Benedict XVI," said Ibrahim Hooper,
a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations. "We hope that this initial positive step is a sign that
he intends to build on Pope John Paul II's legacy of interfaith dialogue
and reconciliation."
The new pontiff said growing dialogue between the religions is a step
toward fostering peace.
"It is therefore imperative to engage in authentic and sincere
dialogue, built on respect for the dignity of every human person, created
as we Christians firmly believe, in the image and likeness of God,"
said Pope Benedict XVI.
Those words were heartening to Muslims who were carefully watching the
new pontiff for signs of how he will approach relations with Islam.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO:
MOSQUES, ISLAMIC SCHOOLS FACE HARD ROAD IN SUBURBS
-
TOP
Carolyn Starks, Chicago Tribune, 4/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0504240396apr24,1,5146237.story
Invitations were delivered to every neighbor along Old Orchard Road in
Harvard. But when the day arrived to meet the likely new owners of the
brick church at the end of their street, no one showed up.
Hamid and Mazher Ahmed sat for hours inside the vacant church on a recent
Saturday. The buffet of home-cooked Indian food grew cold, and they grew
weary of trying to make an impression.
It was a sign, they said, that the plan to convert the former Episcopal
church into an Islamic boarding school would face high hurdles. The
neighbors hired an attorney to block the plan, and last week the city's
Planning and Zoning Commission denied their request for a permit to open
the school.
"We even went knocking door to door, but no one came out to talk
with us," Mazher Ahmed said a few days after the commission's
decision. "Maybe they weren't home."
As more Muslims make the suburbs their home--an estimated 400,000 in the
Chicago area--they are clashing with their new neighbors over where to
build mosques and schools. In Morton Grove, residents dragged out
approval of a mosque for more than a year, leaving bruised feelings that
have yet to heal. In Orland Park, some residents said they would not
re-elect the mayor if he supported building a mosque.
Though the objections take the form of zoning concerns, some Muslim
groups say such arguments are not merely not-in-my-back-yard sentiments
but also the residue of Sept. 11, 2001, and the fear that mosques are
sanctuaries for terrorists.
"I think more often than not, opposition to the construction of
schools or mosques is Islamophobia, even though obviously no one will say
that that is their reason," said Ahmed Rehab, a spokesman for the
Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
(MORE)
---
WHO SPEAKS FOR MUSLIMS -
TOP
(PRWEB) April 19, 2005 -- "Islam is one of the fastest growing
religions in the world, and yet, Muslims may be some of the most
misunderstood people in the world," said Luqman Jai who serves on a
team of organizers for an upcoming conference called "Who Speaks for
Muslims?" He added, "One of the reasons we are not understood
is because of how the media presents us and helps define us for the
world."
Muslims of Atlanta and throughout the United States will unite in
Atlanta, Georgia Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 27, 28, and 29 to
discuss and answer the question "Who Speaks for Muslims".
Organized by Taqwa Productions Inc. of Atlanta, an Islamic television
production company, this weekend Muslim Media Dawah Conference will bring
together Muslim radio and television producers, film writers and
producers, spoken word artists, web designers, dawah (Arabic for
propagation) leaders, political leaders, and others whose presence and
works help inform or promote an understanding of the religion of
Al-Islam.
The Muslim Media Dawah Conference will include workshops, film screening,
a youth camp, and most importantly, a symposium featuring some of the
great national Muslim leaders of the U.S. who will speak to the media
about the question "Who Speaks for Muslims" and what they
should be saying.
The conference is open to any Muslim involved in or interesting in the
image of Muslims and helping others to understand the Islamic faith and
religion. Nearly two dozen workshops are scheduled, including "How
to Present Muslims to the Public," "How to Get Your Program on
Bridges TV," "People to People Dawah," "Power of the
Media", "Web Design", "How to Finance Your
Project", and more. Confirmed presenters are from organizations such
as CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), Muslim Journal, the
all-new Islamic cable station Bridges TV, Sound Vision, Azizah Magazine,
ICNA (Islamic Council of North America), Mosque Cares, and
more.
For more information, contact Taqwa Productions, Inc. at 404-378-0306,
www.taqwatv.org.
Media contact: Hassan Shakir, 404-378-0306
---
CAIR-FL: INTERFAITH OUTREACH -
TOP
St Petersburg Times, 4/23/05
www.sptimes.com
(Search using the term "Bedier.")
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim
community, we welcome the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of
Germany as Pope Benedict XVI. American Muslims look forward to working
with him and other representatives of the Roman Catholic Church to
advance the cause of peace and justice for people of all
faiths.
Furthermore, we encourage the new pope and the Roman Catholic Church
leadership to build upon John Paul II's legacy of interfaith outreach and
reconciliation based on mutual respect and religious tolerance.
Ahmed Bedier, Central Florida director, Council on American-Islamic
Relations, Tampa, ahmedb@cair.com
---
CAIR-DC:
2005 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED -
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.
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 first week in June to the
third week in August 2005, 40 hours per week minimum commitment.
Application deadline: May 15, 2005. For an Application, Contact: Asma
Gheyoub at
internship@cair-net.org or
202-488-8787, ext. 6052.
-----
'I FELT I SHOULD
GIVE BACK WHATEVER I CAN' -
TOP
Dallas News, 4/24/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/042305dnrelconnections.353680b4.html
Dr. M. Basheer Ahmed is a psychiatrist and founder of the Muslim
Community Center for Human Services in North Richland Hills. Dr. Ahmed's
work was recently featured in the book Inspired to Serve by Mark H. Mass�
(Indiana University Press, $45). In recent years he has organized
conferences on domestic violence, the role of religion in promoting world
peace and Muslim contributions to civilization. He recently spoke with
Special Contributor Mary A. Jacobs. Here are excerpts.
Question: Tell me about your vision for the community center.
Answer: The immigrant population - from Iraq, Southeast Asia, Somalia,
and the Middle East - was having difficulty getting public services
because of the cultural differences and difficulties with language. So,
in 1995, we started as a telephone helpline, where people could call
about various problems and we would direct them where to go. Initially, a
lot of calls came in for common medical problems, like diabetes or minor
infections. If people go to Parkland they have to wait five or six hours,
and if they don't take anybody who speaks English with them, they have
difficulty. So we started a free clinic in 1998 with about 15 Muslim
doctors who volunteer their time.
Then we built a relationship with the Tarrant County United Way.
African-Americans, Hispanics and a few Anglos started to come to our
clinic. So it's not exclusively for Muslims. We take everybody who comes
to our door.
We also held the health fairs in places where a lot of Muslim immigrants
go, like the mosques and community centers. We've been doing this every
year for about eight years and we get about 500 people every time. We
also have a helpline where people can call about issues like marital
problems, childbearing issues or domestic violence. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM
COMIC WANTS TO BUILD BRIDGES AS HE DRAWS LAUGHTER
-
TOP
Indy Star, 4/25/05
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050423/LIVING/504230335/1007/LIVING
During the first year of the Official Muslim Comedy Tour, Preacher Moss
has sometimes been asked how to stop terrorism.
The comedian responds, "Hey, that's easy. Feed a child. Just think
about it. If you eat five pieces of chicken, a couple pieces of turkey,
potato salad and cake, you're not interested in blowing up anything.
You're too full. You're worried about blowing out."
Moss says that combination of humor and social message marks the approach
of the "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy tour that will play here
Friday.
The tour is the brainchild of Moss, a 38-year-old comedian who has
written comedy for George Lopez, Damon Wayans and Bill Maher.
"It's been a tough time being a Muslim in America in the past few
years," Moss says. "Yet all the evidence from 9/11 showed there
was no involvement from American Muslims. I talk about the experience of
being an African-American Muslim. Which means I'm black and I'm Muslim.
So when I get pulled over (by the police), I get two
tickets."
Moss laughs when he delivers that line. He does the same when he adds,
"I talk about how racism is the reason you've never seen a Nation of
Islam weatherman. Because I don't think people want to wake up to
Minister James XXX delivering the weather."
During the show, Moss shares the stage with two other comedians. Azhar
Usman is a former lawyer. Azeem (no last name as a performer) is a
comedian who also founded Azeem's Kids Foundation, a charity that helps
children in foster and juvenile care.
Since hitting the road in May, the trio has crossed the country,
performing 45 shows. (MORE)
---
CONVERTS
SAY ISLAM ALLOWS THEM TO BETTER LIVE AND EXPRESS THEIR SPIRITUALITY -
TOP
Howard Lachtman, Record, 4/23/05
http://www.recordnet.com/daily/lifestyle/articles/042305-l-1.php
Thomas Lee Williams was never comfortable with a religion that didn't
allow him to question or even to discuss matters of faith.
That's one of the reasons why in 1976 he broke with his Baptist
upbringing, studied Islam and changed his name to Thomas
Abdul-Salaam.
Today, the Stockton-based human resource consultant looks back on 30
years of life as a Muslim and the opportunities it has given him to
improve himself educationally and spiritually.
"At a very early age, I began to have my own questions about
religion," he said. "I wanted to ask the minister about the
concept of God having a son, but in Christianity at that time,
questioning faith was not something you did."
He drifted away from the church, met representatives from the Nation of
Islam in 1968, began reading about the faith and set himself on the path
to conversion.
Islam is based on the words and religious system founded by the prophet
Muhammad (570-632 A.D.) and taught by the Koran, the basic principle of
which is submission to God (Allah). Islam means "submission to
God," and Muslim translates as "a person who submits."
Lifelong study and interpretation of the Koran is encouraged, along with
knowledge of the prophet's teachings, personal charity and service to
family and community.
"I knew Islam was what I wanted for my life, because it gave me a
better approach to God," said Abdul-Salaam, 52. "It brought me
the sense of importance of going to school and educating myself to be a
responsible, respectful person."
Lockeford resident Lateefah Ali, 47, said she had never even heard of
Muslims, let alone Islam, until a classmate at San Joaquin Delta College
talked to her and loaned her a Koran. Reading it showed her a path to
understanding. She converted in 1978.
"It was a way of life," Ali said. "It wasn't confusing.
There was an answer to every question."
It made sense to Ali to pray to God every day instead of only on Sunday.
Her prayer life and study soon began to transform her sense of self.
(MORE)
-----
ARE ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY
COMPATIBLE? -
TOP
Carlin Ramano, Charlotte Observer, 4/25/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/11481728.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 Quran
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...; establishing
a nonautocratic, consultative method of government; and
institutionalizing mercy and compassion in social
interactions...."
"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. 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.
He writes, for instance: "A fundamental Quranic idea is that God
vested all of humanity with a kind of divinity by making every person the
viceroy of God on this earth."
Al-Qaida agitprop insists that because many Iraqis killed by car bombs
supported or sought jobs with the government, it's OK to target them.
Just one problem -- Islam doesn't accept that callous thinking. Those
would-be cops are also Allah's vice-regents on Earth.
And what of the quality of "mercy" -- certainly not a notion
widely associated with Islam these days?
Listen at length to an Islamic scholar who, unlike Osama, did not spend
his youth in Western nightclubs, or making big money in
construction.
In the Quran, Abou El Fadl writes, "God describes God's self as
inherently just, and the Quran asserts that God has decreed mercy upon
God's self.... Furthermore, the very purpose of entrusting the divine
message to the Prophet Muhammad was a gift of mercy to human beings.
(MORE)
-----
DEARBORN
IS HOME TO THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ARAB-AMERICAN MUSEUM, A $15-MILLION SOURCE
OF PRIDE -
TOP
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 4/24/05
http://www.freep.com/entertainment/newsandreviews/museum24e_20050424.htm
Anan Ameri, museum director, left, and Saad Shafie of Livonia scan the
display that honors contributors to the new facility for Shafie's
name.
One display at the new museum shows Arab Americans in their role of
service in the armed forces.
Who knew?
That question may pop in your head often as you tour the nation's first
museum dedicated to Arab Americans, their culture and their
contributions.
From sports figures like Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie
to labor leaders like the late Stephen Yokich, Americans of Arab descent
have played major roles in shaping the nation. But until now, their
stories have been invisible to many. The Arab American National Museum
aims to change that.
Scheduled to open May 5, the $15-million, three-story museum -- on the
site of a former furniture store -- stands near the corner of Michigan
Avenue and Schaefer Road in Dearborn, right across from City Hall. The
Islamic-style dome that tops it off is now part of the city skyline, in
its own right a striking symbol of how far Arab Americans have come.
Despite the difficult climate after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the
community was determined to establish a showcase in Dearborn, a city
where nearly 1 of out of every 3 residents claims Arab ancestry --the
highest percentage in the country. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM STUDENTS NEED SPACE -
TOP
Carman Leone, NYU News, 4/25/05
http://www.nyunews.com/features/campuslife/9543.html
Carefully keeping his ironed khakis dry, Mohammed Umar gracefully raises
his bare right foot to the lavatory sink, allowing the running water to
clean away any impurities. He moves quickly and with precision; it's as
if he has been through this motion a thousand times - in fact, he
probably has.
Umar, a CAS senior and president of the student-run Islamic Center at
NYU, washes his feet, along with his face, arms, neck and ears, five
times every day. The cleansing ritual is part of the preparation for
prayer that Muslims perform at dawn, early afternoon, late afternoon,
sunset and evening. But washing one's feet is only one of the many
rituals religious Muslim students on campus follow. There are a host of
rites they perform, as well as a host of problems they face, one of the
biggest being the lack of space for prayer.
"Although I try to schedule my classes around the times I know I
have prayers, it's hard because they are always fluctuating depending on
the time of the year," Umar said. "If I do have class, say in
Silver, I will pray in the halls near the elevators that aren't in
operation so I won't be disturbed. Sometimes I get looked at funny, but I
don't care, I only have to answer to God."
Finding places to pray has been a growing problem of the Islamic
community here. With the lease of their current space in the basement of
the Catholic Center at NYU expiring, finding a new space for prayer,
religious services and social gatherings poses a significant
challenge.
The problem is exacerbated by the lack of an Islamic chaplain or an
official to serve as a liaison between the students and the NYU
administration. (MORE)
-----
CLOSER
LOOK AT RUMSFELD, TENET ROLES IN ABUSES URGED
-
TOP
David Johnston, New York Times, 4/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0504240258apr24,1,5918889.story
WASHINGTON -- A human-rights group issued a report Saturday calling for a
special prosecutor to examine the conduct of Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld and the former director of central intelligence, George Tenet,
in issues related to the abuse of detainees.
Drawing largely on news reports and military reviews, the group, Human
Rights Watch, concluded there was "overwhelming evidence that U.S.
mistreatment and torture of Muslim prisoners took place not merely at Abu
Ghraib but at facilities throughout Afghanistan and Iraq as well as at
Guantanamo, Cuba, and at `secret locations' around the world."The
report found no indication that Rumsfeld warned those under his command
to halt abusive treatment of detainees and said he should be investigated
for abuses under a doctrine of "command responsibility."
Rumsfeld has said he made it clear to subordinates that he did not
condone mistreatment.
The report found that Tenet had been responsible for policies that sent
detainees to countries where they were tortured, which made him
potentially liable as an accomplice to torture. Tenet has not addressed
the issue publicly, but CIA officials have long said that Tenet insisted
that agency personnel carefully follow the law.
A special prosecutor is needed to investigate these matters, the report
said, because Alberto Gonzales, the attorney general, has a conflict of
interest as he "was himself deeply involved in the policies leading
to these alleged crimes."
The report said that of seven investigations by the Pentagon, none had
critically examined the role of the civilian leaders with ultimate
authority. Investigations into case-by-case abuses have largely focused
on lower-level personnel.
Bush administration officials have repeatedly said that the government's
policies prohibit civilian and military personnel from engaging in
torture and that anyone found to have used abusive procedures would be
held accountable and would face prosecution.
So far, the government has shown no interest in an independent inquiry.
Republicans in Congress have blocked requests by Democrats to examine
allegations of detainee abuse, and the Justice Department has ignored
requests to appoint a special prosecutor. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
TERRIFIED
US SOLDIERS ARE STILL KILLING CIVILIANS WITH IMPUNITY, WHILE THE DEAD GO
UNCOUNTED -
TOP
Patrick Cockburn, Independent, 4/24/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=632439
An American patrol roared past us with the soldiers gesturing furiously
with their guns for traffic to keep back on an overpass in central
Baghdad. A black car with three young men in it did not stop in time and
a soldier fired several shots from his machine gun into its
engine.
The driver and his friends were not hit, but many Iraqis do not survive
casual encounters with US soldiers. It is very easy to be accidentally
killed in Iraq. US soldiers treat everybody as a potential suicide
bomber. If they are right they have saved their lives and if they are
wrong they face no penalty.
"We should end the immunity of US soldiers here," says Dr
Mahmoud Othman, a veteran Kurdish politician who argues that the failure
to prosecute American soldiers who have killed civilians is one of the
reasons why the occupation became so unpopular so fast. He admits,
however, that this is extremely unlikely to happen given the US attitude
to any sanctions against its own forces.
Every Iraqi has stories of friends or relatives killed by US troops for
no adequate reason. Often they do not know if they were shot by regular
soldiers or by members of western security companies whose burly
employees, usually ex-soldiers, are everywhere in Iraq.
A member of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmed Chalabi's party, was
passing through an American checkpoint last year when a single shot rang
out from a sniper. No US soldier was hit, but the troops at the
checkpoint hosed down the area with fire, wounding the INC member and
killing his driver.
The rector of Al-Nahrain University in south Baghdad was travelling to a
degree ceremony on the other side of the city when white men in a
four-wheel drive suddenly opened fire, hitting him in the stomach.
Presumably they thought he was on a suicide mission. (MORE)
---
GROUP
SAYS U.S. SENT UP TO 150 TO POSSIBLE TORTURE SITES -
TOP
Richard A. Serrano, Los Angeles Times, 4/24/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-renditions24apr24,1,3934831.story
WASHINGTON - A civil liberties group investigating allegations of
prisoner abuse will report today that since the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S.
agents have secretly transported up to 150 detainees to countries that
may practice torture.
Such transporting, known as rendition, is more widespread than the
government has reported, according to Human Rights Watch. In a report
issued a year after the earliest revelations of the Abu Ghraib prison
abuse scandal, the group said the renditions, along with abuses of
foreign detainees by U.S. forces, were possible violations of
international law.
The group also said an Army investigation clearing top U.S. military
commanders of wrongdoing in the scandal at Abu Ghraib in Baghdad
established the need for an outside inquiry.
"This just proves the military can't investigate itself," said
Reed Brody, a lawyer for Human Rights Watch, which monitors civil rights
issues around the world. "It seems like another in a long line of
attempts at self-absolution."
Brody's organization and the American Civil Liberties Union are among the
groups that have sought the appointment of a special counsel to
investigate U.S. detention practices since a string of Pentagon inquiries
found few cases of wrongdoing, especially in higher military ranks or
among civilian officials.
Revelations on Friday that an upcoming report by the Army inspector
general would exonerate Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former chief U.S.
commander in Iraq, and three other top officers proves the inadequacy of
the military's probes, the rights groups said.
"These findings only show that the president must appoint a special
counsel - who is not beholden by rank or party and who is able to look up
the military chain of command," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony
D. Romero in a statement Saturday.
The Human Rights Watch report comes amid growing concern on Capitol Hill
over sending prisoners to countries such as Syria and Egypt, which are
widely believed to torture prisoners for interrogation
purposes.
The Bush administration has acknowledged that renditions have occurred,
but officials at the CIA and elsewhere have not definitively said how
many captives may have been detained by the United States in one country,
then clandestinely flown to a third nation.
Former CIA Director George J. Tenet has said his agency took part in more
than 70 renditions before Sept. 11, but he has not made clear whether any
involved sending detainees to countries that permitted torture.
His successor, CIA Director Porter J. Goss, testified in February before
the Senate Intelligence Committee that experts did not believe prisoner
abuse was an effective way to get information. (MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #454
ANWAR IBRAHIM TO SPEAK AT CAIR CONFERENCE IN DC
New registration option offered for single-day
attendees
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/26/05) - CAIR is pleased to announce that
former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim will be the
keynote speaker at its
"Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and Remedies" conference in Washington, D.C. Ibrahim will speak
at the May 14th conference banquet.
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005 (Conference Banquet,
Saturday, May 14)
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~
Vienna, VA (703-448-1234)
To view a complete conference program or to register 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
NEW REGISTRATION OPTION:
$75 Single-Day - A new $75 day-rate has been announced for CAIR's
2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and Remedies." The $75 cost will include the full May 14th program,
two meals and the Anwar Ibrahim address. E-mail
events@cair-net.org call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, to register for the single-day rate.
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. To
REGISTER for the full conference, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
2. To register for
THE $75 SINGLE-DAY RATE, E-mail
events@cair-net.org call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050.
3.
VOLUNTEERS are also needed for CAIR's Conference. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail
events@cair-net.org for more
information.
4.
BOOK NOW FOR BEST HOTEL RATE: The new hotel room rate is now
$89/night. Please call 703-448-1234 to reserve your room. Remember to ask
for the CAIR conference rate. Rate is available up to May 1, 2005.
Register early to guarantee this rate.
- 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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION CALLS INDEPENDENT TORTURE PROBE
Commission would examine use of torture by U.S.
personnel
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/26/05) - A coalition of religious,
minority and civil liberties group* today issued a joint statement
calling for the formation of a independent bi-partisan commission,
similar to the one that investigated the 9/11 attacks, to examine the use
and instigation of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
(CID) by American military, security and intelligence personnel
worldwide.
Release of the statement by the Anti-Torture Coalition (ATC) is designed
to coincide with the anniversary this week of revelations of torture and
abuse at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
An editorial on the Abu Ghraib abuses in today's Washington Post states:
"Because there has never been a truly thorough or independent
investigation -- the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress have
repeatedly rejected calls for a commission or a special prosecutor -- we
may never fully know how such widespread and serious war crimes came
about."
SEE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/25/AR2005042501352.html
The ATC's Call for an Independent Bi-Partisan Commission on Torture
and CID:
"As gruesome revelations of abuse and torture of detainees held by
the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and America
prisons continue to surface, our elected officials and law enforcement
authorities have not held accountable those at the highest levels of
responsibility. Some officials have even sought to justify these brutal
actions on national security grounds.
"The United Nations Convention against Torture, of which the United
States is a signatory, clearly states that 'no exceptional circumstances
whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political
instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a
justification of torture.'
"The torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners
must end because:
"1. Torture and CID are wrong. Human instinct repels at the image of
bound and naked prisoners being subjected to whatever cruelties the mind
can construct. It does not take a legal scholar to recognize that forcing
a prisoner's head under water, hanging him by his wrists or threatening
rape by dogs must be prohibited by any civilized society.
"2. Torture and CID not useful. Throughout history, it has been
clearly demonstrated that torture does not produce useful information for
interrogators. It did not uncover 'heretics' in the Inquisition and it
will not ensure public safety today. A recent letter to Congress from
twelve retired high ranking military officials, including former chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili, noted that the
use of torture is not supported by established military doctrine and that
'such interrogation methods produce unreliable results and often impede
further intelligence collection.'
"3. Torture and CID dehumanize those who use it. No human being or
society that engages in or allows torture can maintain respect for either
human life or the rule of law.
"4. Torture and CID place all prisoners everywhere in danger. The
use of torture by one side in a conflict is often used by the other side
as a false justification for retaliation in kind. Americans worldwide are
thus placed in greater danger of being tortured.
"5. Torture and CID harm America's image and interests. We cannot
expect people in other nations to accept our statements in support of
human rights and freedom as long as we use torture or acquiesce in the
use of torture by other nations.
"6. Torture and CID being used most often against prisoners of one
faith. Every revelation of the use of torture by American personnel
appears to involve a prisoner of the Muslim faith. This fact does not go
unnoticed in an Islamic world already suspicious of American intentions
toward Islam and Muslims.
"Along with an end to the use of torture and CID by American
personnel, there must be an end to so-called 'renditions,' or sending
prisoners to other nations with the understanding that they will be
tortured. This practice not only violates American and international laws
and norms, it decreases respect worldwide for our nation's values and
goals.
"We therefore urge that an independent bi-partisan commission, with
subpoena powers, be established to inform the American people about the
extent of this stain on our national honor and to bring our nation's
actions into compliance with the Constitution, international law and
long-standing American values of justice and respect for human
dignity."
- END -
*
Signatories to the joint statement include:
Amnesty International, USA
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Muslim American Political Action Committee (MAPAC)
National Immigration Forum
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Veterans for Common Sense
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR LAUNCHES ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN
Visitors to website may contact officials to support
campaign
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/27/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group today launched a website designed to support a
call for the formation of an independent bi-partisan commission to
examine the use and instigation of torture and cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment (CID) by American personnel worldwide.
The site, sponsored by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), allows visitors to contact their elected
representatives to support a statement calling for the formation of that
commission issued yesterday by the Anti-Torture Coalition
(ATC).
To learn more about CAIR's anti-torture campaign and to read ATC's full
statement, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
CAIR's website also contains background information on the issue of
torture and will be updated regularly with news articles and other
initiatives on the topic.
"Polls indicated that the majority of Americans reject the use of
torture or abuse, yet our nation's policies do not adequately reflect
that fact," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar. "The use
of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by American
personnel is unfortunately still an important issue one year after the
Abu Ghraib prison abuses were made public."
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: Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or 202-415-0799, E-Mail:
arsalan@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 - 4/27/05
*
HADITH:
Who
Is A Poor
Person?
*
OR:
Muslim Worker
Harassed (Portland Press)
*
MI:
Gov.
to Dedicate Mosque Expansion (Wood TV)
-
MI:
Oldest Mosque to Celebrate Expansion (Free Press)
-
Town Should Celebrate Mosque and Diversity (Phoenix)
-
PA:
Design Changes Clears Way for Mosque (Phil Inq)
*
UN Investigator Who Exposed US Abuse Loses Job (Indep)
- MA:
Arabs Americans Misrepresented, Misunderstood (Daily Press)
-
TX:
Americans Don't Understand Islam (The Battalion)
*
Popularity Of Muslim Banks Grows (Cox News Service)
*
DC:
Arab Folklife Festival In Need Of Volunteers
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHO IS A POOR PERSON? -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Do you know who is a
poor person? A poor person in my community is someone who will come on
the Day of Resurrection backed with prayers, fasting, regular charity,
and pilgrimage, but also with a number of injustices to others, such as
abusing this one, taking the property of that one, slandering someone,
hitting another, or shedding the blood of someone else. Thereafter,
(that person s) good deeds will be taken one after one and will be
given to (those) who were wronged by him.
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1179
-----
WA: MUSLIM HECKLED, NOT HURT -
TOP
Gregory D. Kesich, Portland Press, 4/27/05
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/050427lawsuit.shtml
A federal jury in Portland found that a Muslim employee of Jordan's
Meats Inc. was subject to illegal racial and religious harassment, but
was not entitled to money damages from the company.
The lawyer for Abdul Azimi, a former meat packer at the Portland plant,
said he was confounded by the split decision and is looking into his
client's options for appeal.
"If the verdict means what it says, it's quite troubling," said John
Lemieux of the Farris Law Firm in Gardiner. "It doesn't send a very
good message about the value of his dignity and emotional well-being."
Azimi was subject to steady harassment from co-workers and supervisors
at the now closed Jordan's plant on India Street in Portland, according
to testimony at the six-day civil rights trial in U.S. District Court.
Azimi said that at various times over two years, he found a threatening
letter in his locker, his boots in a toilet and his pockets stuffed
with pork, which under Islamic dietary law he is forbidden to eat.
Azimi said he made his complaints known to management but they failed
to stop the abuse. The jury found that Azimi had been harassed and the
company knew or should have known about it. But they also found that
Azimi did not prove that he was damaged physically or emotionally.
"We find that incomprehensible," Lemieux said. "There was a lot of harassment here, a lot of indignity." (MORE)
-----
GOVERNOR TO HELP DEDICATE $1.8 MILLION MOSQUE EXPANSION -
TOP
WoodTV, 4/27/05
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3265273
DEARBORN, Mich. Governor Granholm is joining other dignitaries Friday
to help southeastern Michigan Muslims dedicate a one-point-eight (M)
million-dollar mosque expansion.
The American Moslem Society is Michigan's oldest mosque.
It was founded in Highland Park in 1924 and moved to Dearborn in 1937.
The congregation draws thousands from around the area for services
during Ramadan, Eid (EED) al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and has faced
increasing crowding.
The new mosque complex has a library and media room, conference rooms
and 16 classrooms where 600 students study Arabic and Islam during two
daily shifts.
Senator Debbie Stabenow also is expected to attend Friday's ceremony.
ALSO SEE:
MICHIGAN'S OLDEST MOSQUE TO CELEBRATE EXPANSION -
TOP
Detroit Free Press, 4/27/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw114988_20050427.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Thirteen years of fund-raising and five years of
bricks-and-mortar work have doubled the size of the oldest mosque in
Michigan.
The $1.8 million expansion of the American Moslem Society will be
celebrated Friday. Gov. Jennifer Granholm. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow,
D-Mich., Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido and other officials and
dignitaries are expected to attend, joining Detroit-area Muslims who
trace their roots to Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and other
countries.
"Everyone is accepted, here," Mahdi Ali, president of the society, told
The Detroit News for a Wednesday story. "Please tell people that even
if you are not Muslim, please come here on any day. And if you are just
curious about Islam, come and sit in the new library and read our books
in Arabic and English and Spanish for Muslims and non-Muslims and watch
some of our videos.
"You can come and read whatever you want to read, whatever interests you."
Besides the mosque, the complex includes the library and media room,
new conference rooms, 16 classrooms that teach 600 students and a new
activities room that can hold 300 people.
Some of the first Muslim families to immigrate to metropolitan Detroit
established the mosque in 1924 in Highland Park, where many of them
worked on the Ford Model T assembly lines. Henry Ford later moved his
car-making operations to the River Rouge plant in Dearborn and the
mosque was re-established there in 1937. (MORE)
---
TOWN SHOULD CELEBRATE MOSQUE AND DIVERSITY -
TOP
Muskogee Phoenix, 4/25/05
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050425/OPINION01/50425001/1014
Best wishes to those who opened the The Masjid of Muskogee, the area s first mosque, earlier this month.
Establishing the mosque is, as one founder stated, an opportunity for
Muslims who live in the area to share their faith and, as a group, to
give to the community to which they belong and in which they have a
stake.
Muskogee is a very diverse community, and the mosque simply highlights
that diversity, something that has been a part of America s heritage
from the very first settlements.
Christianity is certainly the dominant religion in America, but Native
American beliefs and philosophy were expressed on this continent for
centuries, and native people were often integral parts of and
contributors to the first white settlements in the colonies. Some of
the first ships to America brought not only Europeans, but also African
people with their own views of the world and religions. The early
settlements of the American West included immigrants from China.
Immigrants continue to come from all over the world to America because
of the freedom offered here, and the fact that Muslims can open a
mosque in Muskogee is a testimony to the principles by which we all
live.
This really shouldn t have to be discussed, but of course, conflicts in
the Middle East and terrorists attacks have generated suspicion and
fear among Americans, as well as among those of the Muslim faith from
many countries.
But mosques are not new to American communities. For years, they have
contributed in other places, and in Muskogee, we should welcome what
those of the Muslim faith and fellow Americans have to offer.
---
ERASING TWEAKS IN DESIGN CLEARS THE WAY FOR MOSQUE -
TOP
Edward Colimore, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/25/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/11481982.htm
Zia Rahman thought the worst was behind him last summer.
After more than a year of controversy over the proposed construction of
a mosque in Voorhees, Rahman was celebrating the building's
groundbreaking with local Muslims, leaders of other faiths, and state
and township officials.
He and the congregation had faced difficult challenges, including the
circulation of an anonymous flyer warning residents of "extremists"
with possible "connections to terrorists." And they persevered through
long, sometimes emotional, zoning board hearings, traffic studies, and
site-plan questioning.
Then, in the last several months, progress was delayed by proposed
amendments to the mosque plans. The 15-family congregation wanted to
add a basement, a cupola, a second-floor mechanical room, and a higher
roof - all within the originally planned footprint of the building.
That meant more township scrutiny, more public hearings, more time before construction could get under way.
Last week, Rahman, managing trustee of the Muslim American Community
Association, withdrew the application for changes in advance of a
zoning board meeting.
"The general way we want to approach things is not to create any
conflict, even if we have to give in and give up," Rahman said. "You do
it for the overall interests of harmony. (MORE)
----
UN INVESTIGATOR WHO EXPOSED US ARMY ABUSE FORCED OUT OF HIS JOB -
TOP
Nick Meo, Independent, 4/25/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=632719
The UN's top human rights investigator in Afghanistan has been forced
out under American pressure just days after he presented a report
criticising the US military for detaining suspects without trial and
holding them in secret prisons.
Cherif Bassiouni had needled the US military since his appointment a
year ago, repeatedly trying, without success, to interview alleged
Taliban and al-Qa'ida prisoners at the two biggest US bases in
Afghanistan, Kandahar and Bagram.
Mr Bassiouni's report had highlighted America's policy of detaining
prisoners without trial and lambasted coalition officials for barring
independent human rights monitors from its bases.
Prisoners captured in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region are held
at US bases, often before being shipped to Guantanamo Bay. Human Rights
Watch called on Saturday for a US special prosecutor to investigate the
Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, and Charles Tenet, the former-CIA
director, for torture and abuse of detainees in jails around the world,
including Abu Ghraib in Iraq. They should be held responsible under the
doctrine of "command responsibility," it said.
On Friday, the US army investigation into the torture of prisoners at
Abu Ghraib cleared four out of five top officers of responsibility for
the scandal which shocked the world when it broke a year ago. The only
officer recommended for punishment is Brigadier General Janis
Karpinski, who was in charge of Iraqi prisons at the time.
The UN eliminated Mr Bassiouni's job last week after Washington had
pressed for his mandate to be changed so that it would no longer cover
the US military.
Just days earlier, the Egyptian-born law professor, now based in
Chicago, had presented his criticisms in a 24-page report to the UN
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
The report, based on a year spent travelling around Afghanistan
interviewing Afghans, international agency staff and the Afghan Human
Rights Commission, estimated that around 1,000 Afghans had been
detained and accused US troops of breaking into homes, arresting
residents and abusing them.
ALSO SEE:
U.S.: ABU GHRAIB ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG -
TOP
Human Rights Watch, 2/27/05
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/04/27/usint10545.htm
(New York, April 27, 2005) The crimes at Abu Ghraib are part of a
larger pattern of abuses against Muslim detainees around the world,
Human Rights Watch said on the eve of the April 28 anniversary of the
first pictures of U.S. soldiers brutalizing prisoners at the Iraqi jail.
Abu Ghraib was only the tip of the iceberg. It s now clear that abuse
of detainees has happened all over from Afghanistan to Guant�namo Bay
to a lot of third-country dungeons where the United States has sent
prisoners. And probably quite a few other places we don t even know
about.
Human Rights Watch released a summary (below) of evidence of U.S. abuse
of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, as well as
of the programs of secret CIA detention, extraordinary renditions, and
reverse renditions.
Abu Ghraib was only the tip of the iceberg, said Reed Brody, special
counsel for Human Rights Watch. It s now clear that abuse of detainees
has happened all over from Afghanistan to Guant�namo Bay to a lot of
third-country dungeons where the United States has sent prisoners. And
probably quite a few other places we don t even know about.
Human Rights Watch called this week for the appointment of a special
prosecutor to investigate the culpability of Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld and ex-CIA Director George Tenet, as well as Lt. Gen.
Ricardo Sanchez, formerly the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Gen.
Geoffrey Miller, the former commander of the prison camp at Guant�namo
Bay, Cuba in cases of crimes against detainees. It rejected last week s
report by the Army Inspector General which was said to absolve Gen.
Sanchez of responsibility.
General Sanchez gave the troops at Abu Ghraib the green light to use
dogs to terrorize detainees, and they did, and we know what happened,
said Brody. And while mayhem went on under his nose for three months,
Sanchez didn t step in to halt it. (MORE)
-----
ARABS IN AMERICAN: MISREPRESENTED AND MISUNDERSTOOD -
TOP
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Daily Free Press, 4/26/05
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/2005/04/26/Opinion/Arabs.In.American.Misrepresented.And.Misunderstood-937772.shtml
As thousands of Lebanese citizens take to the streets demanding
democracy, it is important to correct the misconception concerning
Arabs in this nation.
According to a 2004 poll released by the Council on American Islamic
Relations, one in four Americans believe that Muslims value human life
less than others and teach their children to hate. As an Arab, I feel
compelled to justify my heritage. As an American, I am offended by this
problematic statistic.
Arab culture is consistently portrayed in American media as intolerant
and divided, although it is previously responsible for uniting Muslims,
Christians and Jews. By focusing on the failures of the Arab world, the
Bush administration overshadows the historical significance and value
of Arab civilization, which has provided the world with a plethora of
knowledge in mathematics, medicine and philosophy. By emphasizing Arab
and Islamic aggression, the administration successfully uses fear as a
political device to manipulate public opinion.
America's interest in the Arab world is inevitably dependent on the
abundant wealth of oil in the region. While oil may not be the sole
interest, it is a determining factor of America's foreign policy in the
region. Controlling the world's oil supply not only serves America's
foreign and domestic interests, but was a principal reason for the
decision to declare war on Iraq. In his first address to the Iraqi
people, President Bush advised, "Do not destroy oil wells, a source of
wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people."
Time after time, the Bush Administration has criticized Arab nations on
their lack of democracy, women's rights and freedoms to facilitate the
justification of a complete disregard to the sovereignty and cultural
infrastructure of Arab Nations. Top U.S. officials denounce the Arab
world and Islamic religion in a direct effort to provoke fear from
American citizens. Kenneth Adelman, who serves on the Bush Pentagon's
Defense Policy Board, was quoted as saying, "The more you examine the
religion, the more militaristic it seems. After all, its founder,
Mohammed, was a warrior, not a peace advocate like Jesus." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
AMERICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND ISLAM -
TOP
Tim Aylsworth, The Battalion, 4/26/05
http://www.thebatt.com/main.cfm
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- A nationwide poll from the Council on
American-Islamic relations found that one out of every four Americans
believes that Islam teaches children to hate, does not value human life
and is the source of a nationwide conspiracy to take over America.
Furthermore, the poll showed that nearly half of all Americans support
restrictions on the civil rights of Muslims. There is a broad
misunderstanding of Arabs, Muslims and the Quran. These
misunderstandings are not harmless. Aside from proliferating intolerant
stereotypes, these views create a high incidence of hate crimes against
innocent Muslim-Americans.
The number of hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims skyrocketed after
Sept. 11 - a report from the FBI indicated an increase of these
incidents by 1,600 percent. Aggravated assault shot up dramatically,
and growing tensions are not showing signs of stopping.
One source of this bigotry is fallacious racial profiling. Most
terrorists claim to be Muslims. To say that this transfers to the
belief that most Muslims are terrorists is the fallacy of affirming the
consequent. Ironically, the nation's intellectual pundits and leaders
have no problem following such erroneous thinking.
Not surprisingly, Ann Coulter, a political pundit, was glad to fall
into the trench of bigotry and hatred. According to Coulter's blog, "We
should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to
Christianity." When asked if she converted her Muslim ex-boyfriend to
Christianity, she told Time Magazine, "No, I was just happy he wasn't
killing anyone."
Furthermore, the media constantly throws around terms such as "Islamic
radicals," which can have a lasting effect on the average citizen. The
sentiment is not being diminished, when the supposed intellectuals
perpetuate the stereotypes and ignorance that inspire hate crime.
No one seems to notice that the vast majority of Muslim leaders and
theologians dispel these false notions. Islam is not a violent
religion. The men who commit atrocities such as the Sept. 11 attacks
are heretics to their own religion. They are no more representative of
the Quran than Jim Jones, the maniacal cult leader, was of the Bible.
(MORE)
-----
POPULARITY OF MUSLIM BANKS GROWS -
TOP
Cox News Service, 4/25/05
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782377288
LONDON - Imagine a world of interest-free mortgages, car loans and
overdrafts. It's not imaginary, and it may soon be coming to a bank
near you
Islamic banking - which follows rules that bar the paying or taking of
interest - is booming, with banks racing to attract Muslims and
non-Muslims alike with products conforming to Islamic laws.
"We have plans to make our products widely available in cities
throughout the United States," said Amjid Ali, the head of HSBC's
Islamic banking unit HSBC Amanah, which began operations in New York in
2002.
Such banks as HSBC have hailed Islamic banking as finally coming into
the mainstream as they prepare to target not only the estimated 6
million Muslims in America - with a wealthy middle class that's growing
in size - but members of other faiths as well.
Already, Islamic banking has been established in more than 100
countries, with an estimated $300 billion in assets that are increasing
by 15 percent a year, according to the Asian Banker, a
financial-services consultancy.
Islamic banking bans interest because the Koran prohibits investors
from making a guaranteed profit on capital. The rules also prohibit
investments in pork, alcohol, gambling or areas subject to speculation.
Traditionally, Islamic banking has been based on trade, and profit and
loss are typically shared. Customers - or shareholders - receive
dividends when banks turn a profit, and suffer losses when banks do.
Muslims have long been divided over how far the ban on interest should
go. For example, some believe that stocks and bonds should be allowed,
while others don't.
For mortgages or car loans, the bank typically buys the home or car for
the customer, who in turn leases the items back from the bank.
----
ARAB FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS -
TOP
WHAT: The Smithsonian provides a renowned Folklife Festival each year
that consumes the entire National Mall providing interactive
opportunities for the public to fully immerse in different cultures by
way of artisans, academics, musicians, storytellers, tradesmen, cooks
and other bearers of diverse traditions. This is the first Arab nation
to be featured at the Folklife Festival and as such, this is a
remarkable opportunity to learn, to teach, to reach out, and to remove
barriers.
This year, the Festival features a primary focus on the people and
culture of Oman and we are in need of Arabic-speaking volunteers who
can assist us with over 100 Omani participants.
We have a need of 200 volunteers (about 20 per day) to perform various
functions during the Festival as well as prior to the Festival.
While about 30% of the participants in the Omani segment of the
Festival speak English, they cannot provide all the translation needs
and cultural assistance we are projecting for the Festival per se. As
such, we also need Arabic-speakers who have excellent people skills and
sensitivities to assist the Omani participants in presentation areas,
artisan areas, etc. during the Festival.
WHEN: The Festival runs for two "long weekends": June 23 - 27 and June 30 - July 4.
Any interested individuals should access our website at
www.folklife.si.edu (
http://www.folklife.si.edu/),
fill out the Volunteer Questionnaire, and return the completed
Questionnaire as an attachment to me at BogaRoshB@si/edu. We ask as a
formality that all our volunteers complete this questionnaire so that
we may know their interests, skills and dates of availability.
For more information, contact Barbara BogaRosh at 202-275-2003
-----
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 -
4/28/05
* HADITH:
Good
Behavior
* CAIR:
Tale Is
History, but Conflict Is Now (Ottawa Citizen)
-
CAIR:
Film-Maker Defends
Crusades Epic (BBC)
-
CAIR-DFW:
Muslims
Finding It's Hard To Give
-
CAIR-NY:
Fields Opposes
Patriot Act (NY Sun)
* FL:
Arab
Americans Sue Denny's for Discrimination (PB Post)
* MI:
Muslim
Center Opens Its Doors to the Public (Det News)
-
The West Needs To
Understand Muslims (UPI)
*
Domestic
Terrorists Seen As Viable U.S. Threat (IPS)
-
State
Department Releases Terror Data (Miami Herald)
* OR:
FBI Unit to Part Ways
(LA Times)
* MD:
Stain of Torture Lingers
(Baltimore Sun)
-
Falluja: This is our Guernica
(Guardian)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD
BEHAVIOR -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Nothing is weightier in
the scales of a believer on the Day of Judgment than his good behavior.
God treats with displeasure a person who is given to loose and vulgar
talk.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 215
-----
CAIR:
THE TALE IS HISTORY, BUT THE CONFLICT IS NOW -
TOP
Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen, 4/28/05
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=eb203833-cf80-4892-8cf7-1d5ed91131a2
Muslims and Christians clash in the desert. There are bloody battles,
power struggles and even gruesome decapitations, all in the name of
faith.
Familiar as this may seem to any consumer of the nightly news, this is
Gladiator director Ridley Scott's tale Kingdom of Heaven, to be splashed
across the big screen starting next week. The film is about the Crusades,
a centuries-old subject that is history to most Westerners, but is still
an open wound to many Muslims.
Kingdom of Heaven focuses on the events between 1185 and 1187. After a
period of peaceful Christian-Muslim coexistence in the Holy Land, the
militant Knights Templar began attacking Muslim caravans. In response,
the brilliant Muslim general Saladin and his vast army laid siege to
Jerusalem.
Orlando Bloom stars as the French knight Balian, a fictionalized version
of a historic figure who defends Jerusalem, but loses against
Saladin.
The film is expected to be a blockbuster.
Mr. Scott has said he wants the film to show that religious fanaticism
destroyed the balance of peace.
Ghassan Massoud, the Syrian actor who plays Saladin, has defended the
film, insisting that he couldn't get involved in a production that would
perpetuate negative Muslim stereotypes. He said he wanted to show the
facets of Saladin, a figure who is revered by Muslims and admired by many
Western historians...
Last week, members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations were
offered a sneak peak at the final version of Kingdom of Heaven. The
scenes that so disturbed Mr. Abou El Fadl were not in the final
version.
The council had already fielded a number of concerned phone calls from
American Muslims who feared the film would expose them to hatred and
ridicule, said spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed.
The film they viewed had been cut down to two hours and 22 minutes from
the original three hours and 40 minutes. Ms. Ahmed concluded that the
Muslim filmgoer could leave the theatre feeling good about the portrayal
of Islam.
And part of that, aside from the removal of the scenes flagged by Mr.
Abou El Fadl as inflammatory, was the portrayal of Saladin as a humane
and complex individual, said Ms. Ahmed.
ALSO SEE:
FILM-MAKER DEFENDS
CRUSADES EPIC -
TOP
Neil Smith, BBC News, 4/28/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4492625.stm
Kingdom of Heaven, a $130m (�69m) epic directed by British film-maker Sir
Ridley Scott, has its US premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Orlando Bloom plays Balian, a young blacksmith turned crusader
But it has already attracted criticism for its recreation of the 12th
Century battle for Jerusalem between Christian crusaders and the Muslim
leader Saladin.
With films like Blade Runner, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, Sir Ridley
has taken audiences on epic journeys into space, the past and the
future.
But his latest project has uncomfortable resonances in the present,
probing as it does the roots of the Middle East conflict and evoking
parallels with the US-led campaign to depose Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein.
"Battles raging in wind-whipped deserts, ancient cities under siege
and civilians cowering... Doesn't it sound like recent news from
Iraq?" wrote Alan Riding in the New York Times this week.
'Showdown'
Other Crusades experts go further, claiming the film promotes the idea of
"a civilisational showdown between Islamic and Christian
culture".
Ask the director himself, however, and he defends his work to the
hilt.
"I showed the film to one very important Muslim in New York, a
lecturer from Columbia, and he said it was the best portrayal of Saladin
he's ever seen," says the 67-year-old veteran.
"The characters portrayed in the film are so important in Muslim
culture that I knew we had to do it absolutely properly and
correctly.
"Saladin is second only to Mohammed in the Arab world. He was a
great man and leader - a general, a politician and a religious
icon."
Scott's words are supported by Ghassan Massoud, the Syrian actor chosen
to play the role.
"Saladin fights battles, but he also enters into dialogue," he
said. "We want to show that dialogue can be much better than
war..."
And it is conjecture that has found favour in at least one quarter, with
the Council on American-Islamic Relations declaring the film to be
"a balanced and positive depiction of Islamic culture during the
Crusades".
---
CAIR-DFW:
MUSLIMS FINDING IT'S HARD TO GIVE -
TOP
Michelle Mittelstadt, Dallas Morning News, 4/27/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/042805dnnatcharities.534be30f.html
WASHINGTON Khalid Hamideh used to help support a Palestinian widow and
her eight children. But the Dallas lawyer's monthly contributions stopped
abruptly after the 2001 raid on the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development, the Muslim charity through which he made his
donations.
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has shut down
several major Islamic charities, alleging some of their money went to
al-Qaeda, Hamas or other terrorist organizations.
The crackdown has caused tremendous anxiety among Muslims, with many
fearful that a simple act of charity could lead to federal agents
knocking at their door.
"The number one thing that has happened in our community since 9-11
is everybody is just scared," said Mr. Hamideh, who attends the
Dallas Central Mosque. "There is overwhelming fear that 'If I
contribute to anything and that group turns out to be on the government's
... hit list, am I going to get prosecuted?' "
Faced with the government's refusal to vet charities, national Muslim
leaders are taking matters into their own hands. During a recent Chicago
meeting, they established a council that will set standards for its
member charities, mosques and other nonprofits.
In the meantime, Muslims have adapted their giving patterns, says Amaney
Jamal, a Princeton University professor who has surveyed Arab-American
communities in Dearborn, Mich., and Brooklyn, N.Y.
Many make donations in cash rather than by check or credit card. Others
have turned away from groups that provide aid overseas, giving instead to
local causes or groups considered safe, like the Red Cross or Red
Crescent.
The government's focus on Islamic charities is part of a broader effort
since 9-11 to disrupt terrorist financing. To date, the U.S. and allies
have frozen more than $147 million worldwide.
"The unfortunate reality of the post-9/11 world is that terrorist
groups like al-Qaeda and Hamas have abused charitable organizations to
finance their lethal schemes," Juan Zarate, the Treasury
Department's assistant secretary for terrorist financing, wrote in a
recent opinion piece.
The squeeze on charities has posed a quandary for Muslims, whose faith
requires them to perform zakat, that is to donate 2.5 percent of their
income each year to the poor or needy.
"If we close these organizations, then we are making it harder on
the people who are giving this money away, which is zakat, which is
obligatory," said Iyas Maleh, president of the Dallas-Fort Worth
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
---
CAIR-NY: FIELDS OPPOSES
PATRIOT ACT -
TOP
Julia Levy, New York Sun, 4/27/05
http://www.nysun.com/article/12914
The Manhattan borough president, C. Virginia Fields, told Muslim leaders
yesterday afternoon that she opposes the Patriot Act and as mayor would
create a more inclusive New York City, in which Muslims would have more
of a voice.
She told the American Muslim Taskforce that she does not support the
Patriot Act because it "violates civil rights."
"Coming out of the segregated South, I know what segregation is
about. I know what racism is about," Ms. Fields, one of four
Democratic candidates for mayor, said. "Discrimination, pre-9/11,
post-9/11, is unacceptable. All of us have an obligation to make sure
that policies are in place to make sure it doesn't
happen."
As mayor, she said, she would reach out to the Muslim community, making
it easier for its members to build new schools, get awarded city
contracts, and expand small businesses.
Although the Taskforce, an umbrella group for Muslim organizations,
invited all of the mayoral candidates, only Ms. Fields, City Council
Speaker Gifford Miller, and Mayor Bloomberg said they would come. As the
event drew to a close, the moderator, Debbie Al-Muntasir, said Messrs.
Miller and Bloomberg were tied up at City Hall.
The general secretary of the Arab Muslim American Federation, Wael
Mousfar, said it was "disappointing" that only one candidate
attended.
"We'd like to see them again," he said. "We've been trying
to do this for a long time, and it takes time for people to recognize us
and pay attention."
The executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations New
York, Wissam Nasr, said he didn't feel "slighted" by the
turnout. He said the Islamic community should continue to forge bonds
internally and talk to the leaders of the city about their concerns,
including hate crimes and discrimination...
-----
FL:
SEVEN ARAB AMERICANS SUE DENNY'S OWNER ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION -
TOP
Palm Beach Post, 4/28/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/gen/ap/FL_Dennys_Lawsuit.html
MIAMI Seven men of Middle Eastern descent have sued a South Florida
Denny's restaurant franchisee and one of its managers for $28 million,
saying they were kicked out because of their ancestry and compared to
Osama Bin Laden.
The men, who are all U.S. citizens, are seeking $4 million each from
Restaurant Collection Inc., which owns the Denny's franchise, and shift
manager Eduardo Ascano, whom they say compared them to the Al-Qaida
terrorist leader.
"This was a terrible act against Arab Americans," Alan C.
Kauffman, one of the attorneys for the group, said Wednesday.
The seven men are of Egyptian, Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian descent
and include a doctor, a real estate agent, an insurance broker and a
restaurant owner. They live in Broward and Palm Beach counties. They
filed suit last week in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court. No trial date
has been set.
Restaurant Collection's owner, Alfonso Fernandez, said in a statement
Wednesday that the men's allegations are false.
"We are truly committed to treating all of our guests with respect,
and we take every guest concern seriously," Fernandez wrote.
"These allegations of discrimination were immediately and thoroughly
investigated by an independent, outside agency that found no evidence
whatsoever to support the guests' claims."
Fernandez did not identify the agency. However, an investigation by the
Florida Commission on Human Rights said "reasonable cause does
exist" to support the discrimination claim.
The seven men say they went to Fernandez's restaurant in Florida City, on
the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, about 2 a.m. Jan. 11, 2004.
They say they were seated, given menus and received their drink orders.
But an hour later, their food hadn't arrived. One of the men Ehab
Albaradi approached Ascano and inquired about the group's order, the
lawsuit says. (MORE)
-----
MI: MUSLIM
CENTER OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
-
TOP
Joe Menard, Detroit News, 4/28/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/oakland/0504/28/B04-164490.htm
BLOOMFIELD HILLS -- For Ahmed Abdullah, the Muslim Unity Center is more
than just a place to pray.
The 39-year-old construction worker from West Bloomfield plays
basketball, socializes and drops his son off for day care at the mosque
and community center he has attended for more than 10 years.
"It's a good magnet for the community," he said. "It
serves a lot of purposes."
The center recently completed $4.3 million in renovations, including a
new 2,500-square-foot prayer hall, a banquet center and expanded
basketball court, and plans to show them off to the community at an open
house this weekend. Organizers of the event hope to attract a broad
spectrum of community members of all faiths to build relationships and
understanding of Muslims and their religion.
"One of the goals of this center is to build bridges between Muslims
and non-Muslims," said Imam Mohammad Musa, the center's religious
leader. "We'd like to build bridges to better understand each
other."
The open house will feature an exhibit of artwork by local Muslim
artists, traditional food, children's activities, tours of the facility
and lectures on Islam.
The event's goal is to teach people about the Islamic faith and customs,
not to preach or try to convert, said Mouhib Ayas, who is organizing the
open house.
"We don't want to impose on people. We want them to come and feel we
are an open community," he said. "We are part of this community
and have a contribution to give to the community. We have our own
heritage that we are proud of."
Unity Center members said they are proud of the expanded facilities,
which have made worship easier and attracted scores of new
members.
Prayers used to be held in classrooms at the former Pontiac School
District elementary school.
"It was definitely a makeshift arrangement," said Safwan Badr,
a member of the center's board of directors. "It was not designed as
a house of worship."
The new two-story prayer hall accommodates the more than 100 members who
come to pray on Fridays -- an Islamic holy day -- and the more than 250
people who come to worship on holidays such as Ramadan. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
THE WEST NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND MUSLIMS -
TOP
Anwar Iqbal, UPI, 4/27/05
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050427-052915-1298r.htm
Washington, DC -- Political disputes and not religion, begat violence,
says John Esposito, a widely respected American professor and author on
the Islamic world, known for his moderate views on Islam.
Esposito was awarded Pakistan's highest civil honor, the
Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam, at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
"Prof. Esposito has done more than any other individual in the last
three or four decades to promote a better understanding between the
Islamic and Western worlds," said Pakistan's ambassador Jehangir
Karamat.
Esposito used the award ceremony to urge people living in the two worlds
to make a better effort towards understanding each other.
He argued that:
In the West, particularly the United States, when people talk about
moderate Muslims, the underlying assumption is that the majority is not
moderate. Some people even talk about moderating the religion itself,
assuming that there's something in the religion that promotes violence
and extremism.
Similarly, when some Americans ask 'why they hate us,' they assume that
the majority in the Muslim world hates America. What they fail to see is
that those who have disagreements with the U.S. foreign policy do not
necessarily hate America.
"If you had Palestines and Northern Irelands in other places, you
would have violence in those places as well," said
Esposito.
-----
DOMESTIC
TERRORISTS SEEN AS VIABLE U.S. THREAT
-
TOP
William Fisher, IPS, 4/27/05
http://www.ipsnews.net/new_nota.asp?idnews=28478
NEW YORK - Domestic terrorism remains a clear and present danger to the
United States, rights groups and government agencies warn amid a number
of fresh reminders of homegrown terrorism's toll on the U.S.
public.
In recent weeks, people throughout the country have witnessed Eric
Rudolph's sentencing to four life sentences without parole for the deadly
1996 Olympic park bombing in Atlanta and attacks at two abortion clinics
and a gay nightclub.
They also marked the tenth anniversary of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred
P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. In May 2001, Timothy McVeigh
was executed for the bombing and his accomplice, Terry Nichols, is
serving a life sentence without possibility of parole.
April also is the month in which the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an
advocacy organization focusing primarily on anti-Semitism, says that U.S.
extremist groups step up activity in commemoration of Adolf Hitler's
birthday. Key groups involved include the neo-Nazi National Alliance and
local chapters of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan, according to the
ADL.
Homegrown terrorism appears to be resurging as extremists have added
Islam to their list of targets. Since the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks on New
York and Washington, Justice Department reports a dramatic increase in
hate crimes directed against people perceived to be Arabs. Sikhs and
Hindus frequently are attacked because to their attackers, they look like
they might be of Middle Eastern descent...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it received reports
of 1,019 anti-Muslim incidents during 2003, a nearly 70 percent increase
from the previous year and the highest number of civil-rights complaints
from those of the Islamic faith in the nine years the group has been
tracking them.
CAIR, in a report, said hate crimes against Arabs, Muslims, Sikhs, and
South Asian Americans perceived to be Muslims jumped 121 percent that
same year.
ALSO SEE:
IN SHIFT,
STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASES TERROR DATA -
TOP
Frank Davies, Miami Herald, 4/28/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/11508077.htm
Under pressure from Congress, the Bush administration reversed gears
Wednesday and released a report showing an upsurge in terrorist attacks
worldwide in 2004 after first withholding the statistics from the
public.
The number of ''significant attacks'' grew to about 651 last year, from
208 in 2003, according to statistics released by the National
Counterterrorism Center. The 2004 total included 201 attacks in
Iraq.
The totals raised questions about the administration's claims that it's
winning the war on terrorism. A counterterrorism official, however, said
new reporting methods made year-to-year comparisons
meaningless.
The annual report on global terrorism, compiled by the State Department,
warned that while al Qaeda leaders have been hurt by military operations,
local groups inspired by the terrorism network were able to launch deadly
attacks in Spain, Indonesia and elsewhere.
The State Department said last week that it was ending the practice of
including the statistics in its annual report about terrorism trends.
Congress requires the State Department to produce the report.
Critics on Capitol Hill accused the department of holding back
embarrassing numbers that showed an increase in terrorism in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Europe.
''This is very disturbing,'' said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., at a
Wednesday hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee. ''Suddenly we
read the State Department has decided they're no longer going to tell the
American people what the numbers were.''
The totals include only attacks on noncombatants by terrorists, so the
201 attacks in Iraq don't include roadside bombs that killed U.S. and
coalition soldiers. There were 22 terrorist attacks in Iraq in 2003,
following the U.S. invasion. (MORE)
-----
PORTLAND, FBI UNIT TO PART
WAYS -
TOP
Tomas Alex Tizon, Los Angeles Times, 4/28/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-portland28apr28,0,7390969.story?coll=la-home-nation
PORTLAND, Ore. - This city is expected today to become the first in the
nation to pull out of an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, following a
series of disagreements between Portland leaders and federal
investigators.
Mayor Tom Potter and several city commissioners, frustrated by the FBI's
refusal to grant them full access to classified information, say the
withdrawal will signal Portland's commitment to the protection of
individual civil rights.
High-profile cases such as the detention of Muslim lawyer Brandon
Mayfield, who was wrongfully arrested last year as a suspect in the
Madrid train bombings, prompted city leaders to request more oversight of
Portland officers involved in the group.
The move, predicted to pass by a 4-1 vote of the City Council, would make
official what has been anticipated for months at City Hall. Some fear the
decision might encourage other cities to follow suit.
"I hope other cities do start asking questions," said Randy
Leonard, a Portland city commissioner and chief backer of the withdrawal.
"It's important for cities to know how their police officers are
being used. Here in Portland, we are not willing to give up individual
liberties in order to have a perception of safety."
The FBI heads 100 of the task forces across the country -- teams made up
of federal, state and local law enforcement agents working together to
prevent terrorist attacks. The task force in Portland, formed in 1997,
was responsible for the convictions last year of six local residents who
conspired against U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The two city police
officers who have served as part of the team will be
reassigned.
Critics say Portland's withdrawal could make the region more vulnerable
to terrorist attack.
"Portland is a hub city," said Rob Drake, mayor of neighboring
Beaverton. "If you take Portland out, it's basically a hole in the
doughnut, and that hole could represent a gap in communication and
intelligence."
"The primary lesson of 9/11 was that we need greater coordination,
greater sharing of information between federal and state and local
agencies," said John R. Kroger, an assistant U.S. attorney in New
York at the time of the terrorist attacks. Kroger teaches criminal law at
Lewis & Clark University law school here.
"The decision to pull Portland out takes us in the opposite
direction," Kroger said. "We're not tearing down the walls
[between government agencies]. We're building them back even
higher."
Kroger criticized the FBI's handling of the Mayfield case, but the answer
for Portland wasn't "to pick up your marbles and go
home."
Mayfield, a Portland-area lawyer and convert to Islam, was linked -- via
a single fingerprint -- to the terrorist bombings that killed 191 people
in Spain last year. He spent two weeks in detention before Spanish
authorities informed the FBI that the incriminating print did not belong
to him. The FBI called it a technical error and cleared the lawyer, who
is suing the federal government.
Mayfield has said the FBI conducted illegal "sneak and peek"
searches, in which agents broke into his house and gathered information
without the proper authority.
"Why is the FBI so afraid of oversight?" Mayfield's lawyer,
Gerry Spence, said in a phone interview from Santa Barbara. "If what
they're doing is legal and proper, why should they be afraid of the mayor
wanting to know what's going on in his city?" (MORE)
-----
STAIN OF TORTURE LINGERS -
TOP
Reed Brody, Baltimore Sun, 4/28/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.torture28apr28,1,6502211.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines
IT HAS NOW been one year since the appearance of the first pictures of
U.S. soldiers humiliating and torturing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in
Iraq.
When the pictures first stunned the world, Washington sought to portray
them as an isolated incident, the work of a few "bad apples."
President Bush spoke of "disgraceful conduct by a few American
troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our
values."
We now know, however, that the only truly exceptional aspect of the
horrors at Abu Ghraib was that they were photographed.
Abu Ghraib was, in fact, only the tip of the iceberg.
Around the world, in a long archipelago of recognized and secret
detention centers, the United States is brutalizing Muslim detainees in
the name of the war on terror.
The United States must investigate the role of top officials, such as
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and former CIA Director George J.
Tenet, in this scandal that has done so much to harm the reputation and
interests of the country. If Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, who is
involved in these policies, will not begin such a probe, a special
prosecutor should be appointed.
At Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, reports have recently emerged about FBI agents
who witnessed chained detainees forced to sit in their own excrement,
adding to accounts of painful stress positions, female interrogators
humiliating detainees and prolonged exposure to extremes of heat and
cold.
In Afghanistan, where at least nine prisoners have died in U.S. custody,
detainees have been beaten severely by guards and interrogators, deprived
of sleep for extended periods and intentionally exposed to extreme
cold.
At least 11 al-Qaida suspects, and most likely many more, have simply
"disappeared." The CIA is holding them in undisclosed
locations, with no notification to their families, no access to the
International Committee of the Red Cross and no oversight of their
treatment, effectively placing them beyond the protection of the law. One
detainee, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, an alleged architect of 9/11, was
reportedly "waterboarded" - strapped down, forcibly pushed
under water and made to believe he might drown.
About 100 to 150 detainees have been "rendered" to countries
where torture is routine. For example, Maher Arar, a Canadian in airplane
transit in New York, was detained and sent to Syria. On his release 10
months later, he described repeated torture, often with cables and
electrical cords. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
THIS IS OUR GUERNICA
-
TOP
Jonathan Steele and Dahr Jamail, Guardian, 4/27/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1471169,00.html
Robert Zoellick is the archetypal US government insider, a man with a
brilliant technical mind but zero experience of any coalface or war
front. Sliding effortlessly between ivy league academia, the US treasury
and corporate boardrooms (including an advisory post with the scandalous
Enron), his latest position is the number-two slot at the state
department.
Yet this ultimate "man of the suites" did something earlier
this month that put the prime minister and the foreign secretary to
shame. On their numerous visits to Iraq, neither has ever dared to go
outside the heavily fortified green zones of Baghdad and Basra to see
life as Iraqis have to live it. They come home after photo opportunities,
briefings and pep talks with British troops and claim to know what is
going on in the country they invaded, when in fact they have seen almost
nothing.
Zoellick, by contrast, on his first trip to Iraq, asked to see Falluja.
Remember Falluja? A city of some 300,000, which was alleged to be the
stronghold of armed resistance to the occupation.
Two US attempts were made to destroy this symbol of defiance last year.
The first, in April, fizzled out after Iraqi politicians, including many
who supported the invasion of their country, condemned the use of air
strikes to terrorise an entire city. The Americans called off the attack,
but not before hundreds of families had fled and more than 600 people had
been killed.
Six months later the Americans tried again. This time Washington's allies
had been talked to in advance. Consistent US propaganda about the
presence in Falluja of a top al-Qaida figure, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was
used to create a climate of acquiescence in the US-appointed Iraqi
government. Shia leaders were told that bringing Falluja under control
was the only way to prevent a Sunni-inspired civil war.
Blair was invited to share responsibility by sending British troops to
block escape routes from Falluja and prevent supplies entering once the
siege began.
Warnings of the onslaught prompted the vast majority of Falluja's 300,000
people to flee. The city was then declared a free-fire zone on the
grounds that the only people left behind must be
"terrorists".
Three weeks after the attack was launched last November, the Americans
claimed victory. They say they killed about 1,300 people; one week into
the siege, a BBC reporter put the unofficial death toll at 2,000. But
details of what happened and who the dead were remain obscure. Were many
unarmed civilians, as Baghdad-based human rights groups report? Even if
they were trying to defend their homes by fighting the Americans, does
that make them "terrorists"? (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 -
4/29/05
* VERSE:
Honor Each
Other
* CAIR-DC:
New $75
Day-Rate for CAIR Conference
-
CAIR-DC:
Summer
Internship Deadline Extended
* FL:
Bus Company
Settles Discrimination Suit (Biz Journal)
- NY:
Teacher's Job-Fight Protest
(NY Daily News)
* DC:
Muslim
Chaplain Resigns after 2 Decades of Service
*
Ex-Afghan Rights Chief
Attacks US (BBC)
*
Amnesty: Torture
Continuing In Iraq (Al Jazeera)
-
Interrogations
Faked At Guantanamo (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: HONOR
EACH OTHER -
TOP
O mankind! We created you from a male and female and made you into nation
and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should
despise each other). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God
is the most righteous.
The Holy Quran, Chapter 49, Verse 13
------
NEW $75 DAY-RATE
FOR CAIR CONFERENCE IN DC -
TOP
WHAT: A new $75 one-day rate has been announced for CAIR's 2005 Annual
Conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and
Remedies." The $75 cost will include all lectures and two meals on
Saturday, May 14. Registration begins at 8 a.m., first session begins at
9 a.m. E-mail events@cair-net.org call 202-488-8787 ext. 6050, to
register for the single-day rate.
Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will be the keynote speaker at its
May 14th conference banquet.
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
ALSO: The new hotel room rate is now $89/night. Please call 703-448-1234
to reserve your room. Remember to ask for the CAIR conference rate. Rate
is available up to May 1, 2005. Register early to guarantee this
rate.
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. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail events@cair-net.org for more
information.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-DC:
2005 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED -
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.
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 first week in June to the
third week in August 2005, 40 hours per week minimum commitment.
Application deadline: May 15, 2005. For an Application, Contact: Asma
Gheyoub at internship@cair-net.org or 202-488-8787, ext. 6052.
-----
BUS COMPANY SETTLES
DISCRIMINATION SUIT -
TOP
Jacksonville Business Journal, 4/28/05
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2005/04/25/daily27.html
A company accused of discriminating against Muslim students on a Duval
County school bus in October 2003 admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to
establish new antidiscrimination training policies and make monetary
payments of about $35,000, according to settlement documents.
Allegations that an employee of First Student Inc., who was driving a
Duval County school bus, forcibly removed the Muslim students from a bus
and made derogatory statements on Oct. 29, 2003, were investigated by
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist's Office. According to the January
2005 settlement, First Student Inc. denies that the driver acted in a
discriminatory manner and was justified in refusing to drive the students
home because the Muslim students posed a threat of imminent danger to the
driver.
According to the settlement contract, First Student agreed to have
Florida employees do training such as attending a three- to four-hour
educational program concerning discrimination at least once a year for
five years. Also a section of the Florida Educational Equity Act shall be
posted on all First Student school buses operating in Florida.
Monetary payments included a $10,000 donation to a Communities in Schools
Program that aims to keep children in school, according to the contract.
Another $26,885 payment was made to Crist's office for attorney's fees
and costs.
ALSO SEE:
TEACHER'S JOB-FIGHT PROTEST -
TOP
Warren Woodberry Jr. NY Daily News, 4/28/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/304200p-260346c.html
A long-time teacher who alleges she was fired because she is Muslim and
refused to convert to Christianity yesterday demanded her job back during
a protest outside the Woodside school where she worked for 11
years.
Until she was terminated eight months ago, Shahensha Begum was an
assistant teacher at the Rainbow Christian Preschool and Kindergarten,
run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church and school are at
72-01 43rd Ave.
Begum, 57, of Elmhurst, said that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks, some of her colleagues discriminated against her and labeled her
a terrorist. Begum said that when she complained to the school's
director, Cleide Willik Capelozza, the only response was that her
workload became heavier.
"She [Capelozza] said, 'If you don't like it, you can quit the job.'
Then all of a sudden they suspended me," said Begum. "What was
the reason? Because I'm Muslim."
Begum added that Capelozza tried to encourage her to read Bibles and
other religious books that did not agree with her religious
beliefs.
"She wants me to be a Christian, but I refused that," said
Begum.
Begum said she was fired after she requested a fair hearing from the
church advisory board. The teacher, who immigrated to the U.S. alone,
said that since then she has been unable to collect unemployment and has
depended on friends for support.
The Rev. Cathy Rosenholtz, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church -
whose motto is "A Church for People of All Nations" - said
Begum was fired because she had become "a problem" to her
co-workers.
"The conduct was a problem almost the entire time she was
working," said Rosenholtz, who added that Begum was ultimately
terminated after unacceptable behavior in front of a group of
students.
"The school has really bent over backwards to be as sympathetic as
possible," the pastor added.
-----
HOWARD
UNIVERSITY MUSLIM CHAPLAIN RESIGNS AFTER TWO DECADES OF SERVICE -
TOP
After over two decades of service to the Howard University community,
Imam Johari Abdul-Malik will resign his duties as the Muslim chaplain at
the end of this semester.
Imam Johari came to Howard University in 1974 and subsequently earned
degrees in chemistry and genetics. During graduate school he converted to
Islam. His work with Muslims on campus began as sympathizer supporting
programs and activities. Soon after his conversion he became the
president of the Muslim Student Association of Howard University. As a
graduate student, he served as an advisor and faith leader. And for more
than ten years, starting in 1988, he has served as the first Muslim
chaplain at Howard University.
Under his guiding hand, many students, both Muslim and people of other
faiths, have come to know more about Islam and its people.
The chaplaincy has established a number of programs in conjunction with
other programs and departments on- and off-campus. Many students,
faculty, staff and alumni have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj
through a program established by Imam Johari. And countless number of
students have taken advantage of summer study abroad programs fostered by
the Imam s efforts. His wise counsel, coupled with practical fundraising
abilities, have helped scores of students reach their ultimate goals in
higher education.
Over his tenure, Imam Johari has become a leader of national and
international stature, visiting many Muslim countries to foster peace and
better understanding of Islam in America and to promote peace. His
articles and interviews are too numerous to quote.
As he leaves this post, recently establishing the Yarrow Mamout
Scholarship Fund, he remains committed to working with the Howard
University community and Muslim Alumni Association.
Among his many other duties, Imam Johari also serves as the Outreach
Director at The Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Falls Church, VA; President
of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations of Greater
Washington; President of the Muslim Society of Washington; and directs
government relations for the Muslim Alliance in North America.
For more information contact: 202-345-5233
-----
EX-AFGHAN RIGHTS CHIEF
ATTACKS US -
TOP
Pam O'Toole, BBC News, 4/29/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4491163.stm
The former United Nations human rights envoy to Afghanistan, Cherif
Bassiouni, has said he lost his job because of pressure from the United
States.
The UN Human Rights Commission ended Professor Bassiouni's mandate at a
meeting in Geneva last week.
American officials said Afghanistan's human rights situation had
improved.
But Prof Bassiouni said it was because US defence officials did not want
investigations into the way people were detained without trial by US
forces.
Prof Bassiouni has spent the past year investigating allegations of human
rights violations in Afghanistan for the commission. (MORE)
-----
AMNESTY: TORTURE
CONTINUING IN IRAQ -
TOP
Al Jazeera, 4/28/05
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F5C8C42F-4A93-4E97-9166-
Amnesty International has said there are signs of fresh torture and
sexual abuse in Iraq by prison authorities.
The human rights group on Thursday also blasted the United States for
failing to launch an independent investigation into the Abu Ghraib prison
scandal, a year after images of abused detainees first shocked the
world.
"People around the world will be recalling the horrific images they
saw a year ago and wondering what happened to those prisoners,"
Amnesty secretary-general Irene Khan said, pointing out that only a
handful of low-ranking US soldiers had been prosecuted or disciplined
over the outrage.
"But what was the role of those higher up, including for example,
the US secretary of defence?" she demanded, referring to Donald
Rumsfeld.
A year after the scandal broke, only five of seven US guards have been
punished. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
INTERROGATIONS
FAKED AT GUANTANAMO, WITNESS SAYS -
TOP
Reuters, 4/28/05
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&story
NEW YORK - Authorities at Guantanamo Bay staged interrogations of
detainees for visiting politicians and generals to give the impression
that valuable intelligence was regularly being gathered, according to a
former Army translator at the camp.
Former Army Sgt. Erik Saar told CBS television show 60 Minutes that he
believes "only a few dozen" of the 600 detainees at the camp
were terrorists and that little information was obtained from
them.
"Interrogations were set up so the VIPs could come and witness an
interrogation ... a mock interrogation, basically," Saar told the
program, to air on Sunday.
"They would find a detainee that they knew to have been cooperative.
They would ask the interrogator to go back over the same
information," he said, calling it "a fictitious world"
created for the visitors.
Saar worked at Guantanamo from December 2002 to June 2003.
U.S. Southern Command spokesman Col. David McWilliams said the military
allows visiting politicians and others who need to understand the process
to view interrogations but insisted, "We do not stage interrogations
for VIP visits."
Saar also recalled interrogation techniques he witnessed at Guantanamo,
including one previously reported incident where a female officer behaved
in an overtly sexual fashion while interrogating a devout Muslim, at one
point smearing ink which she told the detainee was her menstrual blood on
his face.
McWilliams declined to comment on that claim, saying it was similar to
another incident detailed in leaked FBI memos that are the subject of a
military investigation. (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 - 4/30/05
* ISLAM-OPED: 'Kingdom of Heaven' May Aid Interfaith Dialogue
- Muslims Call New Fox Crusader Film 'Balanced' (CAIR)
* CAIR-LA: Muslims Celebrate Civil Rights with Comedy
- MI: Muslims to Host Interfaith Dinner (Flint Journal)
* NY: Muslim Converts Find Discrimination (NY Times)
- NY: Immigrants Wary of Complaining of Bias (NYT)
* MN: St. Paul Educators Use 'Somali Kits' to Teach Culture
* AIPAC Scandal Stymies Israeli Effort to Pressure Tehran (Forward)
-----
ISLAM-OPED: 'KINGDOM OF HEAVEN' MAY AID INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
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 commentary below for
publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
---
'KINGDOM OF HEAVEN' MAY AID INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
By Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 565
[Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., is a national board member of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
liberties and advocacy group. He may be reached at pahmed@cairfl.org.]
Because Sir Ridely Scott's new epic "Kingdom of Heaven" was filmed
against
the backdrop of the Crusades, it is likely to stir up religious
passions
still associated with that centuries-long conflict. ("Kingdom" is
scheduled
to open in theaters nationwide May 6.)
Many Muslims were concerned about the possibility of religious or
ethnic
stereotyping when they first heard that yet another Hollywood movie
would
feature Arab-Muslim characters. That concern was not without valid
precedent.
In his exemplary book "Reel Bad Arabs," Professor Jack Shaheen notes
that
only Native Americans outdistance Arabs and Muslims in being vilified
by
Hollywood. Dr. Shaheen details a sad history of stereotypes in films
that
portray Arab-Muslims as terrorists ("Black Sunday," "The Siege"), greed
mongers intent on controlling U.S. banks ("Rollover") or bumbling comic
foils ("Ishtar," "Protocol," "Jewel of the Nile"). He notes that only a
handful of films have portrayed Arabs and Muslims with any sympathy
("Three
Kings," "The 13th Warrior").
Bucking the general trend, "Kingdom of Heaven" provides a balanced
portrayal of a painful historical conflict. It refrains from the usual
stereotyping or dehumanizing of Muslims.
American Muslim representatives recently took part in a screening of
"Kingdom." They said the film is a "positive" depiction of Islamic
culture
during the Crusades. They also said that one of the film's most
striking
messages, that Muslims and Christians can live together in peace, will
provide an opportunity for increased interfaith dialogue.
In the film, the bad guys are not all Muslims and the Christians are
not
all angels. Perhaps "Kingdom of Heaven" will do for Muslims that Kevin
Costner's "Dances with Wolves" did for Native Americans, humanize a
perceived "other."
Unfortunately, Internet chat rooms and talk radio shows are already
abuzz
with the concerns of those who cannot fathom how Muslims can be
portrayed
as dignified, proud and humane people for whom the ends did not justify
the
means. Media reports indicated that some conservative Christian are
"marshalling their forces" against the film, claiming it is "insulting
and
unfair."
Perhaps all of us could take a lesson or two from Salahuddin Ayubi the
great Muslim general depicted in the film who, even when attacked,
upheld
Islamic traditions of hospitality, prohibiting the killing of
non-combatants and advocating kindness to people of other faiths.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text states: "Fight in God's cause against
those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for,
verily,
God does not love aggressors." (2:190) And also: "As for those who do
not
fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you
forth
from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and
to
behave towards them with full equity: for, verily, God loves those who
act
equitably." (60:8)
Stereotypes about Islam and Muslims used to rally the Crusaders persist
to
this day. These misperceptions are not mere footnotes in history, they
continue to have a negative impact, sometimes influencing our nation's
policies when dealing with Muslims both at home and abroad.
If nothing else, "Kingdom of Heaven" may spark renewed efforts to
promote
interfaith understanding and reconciliation based on an appreciation
for
the real history of that violent period in the histories of both
Christianity and Islam.
We must all take advantage of this film to take whatever constructive
steps
are necessary to ensure that we learn from, and do not repeat, the
mistakes
of the past.
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS CALL NEW FOX CRUSADER FILM 'BALANCED'
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1551&theType=NR
-----
CAIR-LA: MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CIVIL RIGHTS WITH COMEDY, ENTERTAINMENT
Event designed to recognize courage of Ahmad Halabi and Yusuf Yee
(ANAHEIM, CA, 4/30/05) - On May 7, the Southern California office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Muslim
community
will hold a fun-filled evening to recognize former military chaplain
Yusuf
Yee and Airman Ahmad Halabi for their courage and dedication in
upholding
civil rights.
The 'Entertainment Night to Benefit Civil Rights Work' will also
feature
comedy and songs from Muslim entertainers: comedian Ahmed Ahmed,
comedian
Stevie Mack, and musical artists Native Deen (performing from their new
album 'Deen You Know') and Sons of Hagar.
WHEN: Saturday, May 7, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
WHERE: The Heritage Forum, 201 E. Broadway Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805
TICKETS: $15.00, call 714.776.1847 to purchase tickets. (Note: No
charge
for media - please RSVP before the event.)
CONTACT: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
All proceeds will go to assist CAIR's civil rights work
COSPONSORS: Muslim Student Association (MSA) - University, of
California,
Riverside, MSA-California State University Long Beach, MSA-California
State
University, Fullerton, Muslim Sports and Entertainment Foundation
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS TO HOST DINNER
George Jaksa, Flint Journal, 4/30/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1114865402107350.xml
Muslim House of Flint will host talks by Muslim and Christian
representatives and a dinner today in the International Institute, 515
Stevens St.
The event begins at 4 p.m. with talks by Muslim teachers and area
Christian
clergy. A multicultural dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for a $5
donation.
The program is an effort by Muslim House, 804 King Ave., to teach the
public about Muslim beliefs and practices, according to a statement by
the
local group.
-----
IN A SUSPICIOUS U.S., MUSLIM CONVERTS FIND DISCRIMINATION
ANDREA ELLIOTT, New York Times, 4/30/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/04/30/nyregion/30converts.html
In the wake of 9/11, Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Egypt and other
countries have found themselves living in a newly suspicious America.
Many
of their businesses and mosques have been closely monitored by federal
agents, thousands of men have been deported and some have simply been
swept
away -- ''rendered'' in the language of the C.I.A. -- to be
interrogated or
jailed overseas.
But Muslim immigrants are not alone in experiencing the change. It is
now
touching the lives of some American converts: men and women raised in
this
country, whose only tie to the Middle East or Southeast Asia is one of
faith. Khalid Hakim, born Charles Karolik in Milwaukee, could not renew
the
document required to work as a merchant mariner because he refused to
remove his kufi, a round knitted cap, for an identity photograph last
year.
Yet for nearly three decades Mr. Hakim's cap had posed no problem with
the
same New York City office of the Coast Guard.
In Brooklyn, Dierdre Small and Stephanie Lewis drove New York City
Transit
buses for years wearing their hijabs, or head scarves, with no protest
from
supervisors. After 9/11 the women were ordered to remove the religious
garments. They refused, and were transferred, along with two other
Muslim
converts, out of the public eye -- to jobs vacuuming, cleaning and
parking
buses, said the women, who are suing the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority and New York City Transit.
"I'm a U.S. citizen and I'm supposed to be protected," Ms. Lewis, 55,
said
with tears in her eyes. "On 9/11 I was scheduled to take policemen to
that
site. I felt compassion like everyone else. And now you're singling me
out
because I'm a Muslim?"
New York City Transit officials said they would not comment because the
case is in litigation.
Regardless of how their cases play out legally, Mr. Hakim, Ms. Lewis
and
other converts have come to view America after 9/11 through a singular
lens. An estimated 25 percent of American Muslims are converts. Some
came
of age as Americans first and discovered Islam as adults. In the years
since 9/11, many have faced a contest of loyalties between their nation
and
their faith…
SEE ALSO:
IMMIGRANTS WARY OF COMPLAINING OF BIAS, ADVOCATES SAY
ANDREA ELLIOTT, New York Times, 4/30/05
http://nytimes.com/2005/04/30/nyregion/30cases.html
Discrimination cases involving Muslims in the workplace, at school and
in
airports increased markedly after Sept. 11 but are most commonly
brought by
American-born Muslims because immigrants are reluctant to take legal
action, lawyers and civil rights advocates say. A fear of retaliation
by
employers or more extreme outcomes, like deportation, drives many
Muslim
immigrants to stay quiet…
-----
WHERE'S SOMALIA?
St. Paul educators begin using 'Somali kits' to teach the basics of the
country and its culture to elementary students in the city's diverse
schools.
DOUG BELDEN, Pioneer Press, 4/30/05
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/11529667.htm
As soon as Paulette Parenteau showed her kindergarten class a photo of
a
Somali girl wearing a hijaab, or traditional Muslim head covering, a
voice
rang out from the back row.
"It looks like my sister!" said Nimo Abdi.
Abdi and the seven other Somali students in Parenteau's afternoon class
at
Highwood Hills Elementary School in St. Paul had several excited
moments of
recognition like that Wednesday.
They and their classmates were among the first to see pieces of the
district's new "Somali kit," a collection of lesson plans, books,
tapes,
clothing and other items aimed at helping teachers integrate
information
about Somali culture into their K-3 classrooms.
Somali students started entering St. Paul schools in significant
numbers
about six years ago, and now there are more than 650, the
second-highest
population of any district in the state after Minneapolis.
And Highwood Hills has more Somali students than just about any
district
elementary school -- 75 in grades K-6, or about 20 percent of its
student body.
"For any teacher who has Somali kids," said Parenteau, the kit is
"absolutely essential."
But the purpose goes beyond fostering cultural pride among students
from
the East African country, say administrators in the district's English
Language Learners department, which developed the curriculum. They hope
the
kits promote an appreciation of other cultures among all students…
-----
SCANDAL STYMIES ISRAELI EFFORT TO PRESSURE TEHRAN
Aipac Shakeup Hurts Advocates of Tough U.S. Stance on Iran Nukes
Ori Nir, Forward, 4/29/05
http://forward.com/articles/3096
WASHINGTON - Israeli efforts to secure swift American action against
Iran's
nuclear program are being threatened by a stalled presidential
nomination
and the sudden dismissal of two officials at the country's most
influential
pro-Israel lobbying organization.
Last week the Forward and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that
the
lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, was
pushing
out two of its top officials - Steve Rosen, the organization's policy
director, and Keith Weissman, its senior analyst on Iran. The two men,
who
are reportedly being investigated by the FBI for allegedly passing
classified documents to Israel, were Aipac's point men in lobbying the
White House on Iran-related issues.
Also last week, with mounting opposition toward Bush's choice of John
Bolton to serve as America's ambassador to the United Nations, the
Senate
Foreign Relations Committee postponed its vote on the nomination. A
neoconservative ally of Vice President Richard Cheney and the State
Department's top official on arms control, Bolton is known as a strong
supporter of Israel's position that Tehran is coming alarmingly close
to
being able to weaponize its nuclear material - a view rejected by other
top
Bush administration officials.
Pro-Israel activists in Washington are privately worrying that the
shakeup
at Aipac, as well as Bolton's troubles, will make it even harder for
Jerusalem to convince the White House that quick action must be taken
against Iran.
"It would sure help to have Bolton in the U.N. and credible
[pro-Israel]
lobbyists in Washington," said a senior official with a major national
Jewish organization, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "This is a
crucial point in time" to impact America's policy on Iran, the
organizational official 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
5/2/05
* HADITH:
Those Sheltered by
God
*
CAIR
Calls on Leaders to Repudiate Evangelist's
Remarks
-
CAIR-DC:
Evangelist
Fears Muslims in Government
-
CAIR-CA:
Finally, a
Film Sheds Stereotypes (CSM)
-
CAIR:
Conf.
on Islamophobia, Anti-Americanism
* NY:
From 'Gook' To 'Raghead'
(NY Times)
-
Boot Camp,
Guns - And Farsi Lessons? (CSM)
*
England Pleads Guilty
To Abuse Charges (AP)
-
Inquiry Finds Abuses at
Guant�namo Bay (NY Times)
* NY:
Bridging Gaps
Decoratively (Newsday)
- OR:
Bridging a Cultural Divide
(Mail Tribune)
* MO:
Muslims are Hopeful despite Pope's Past Writings
- MI:
Some Muslims Worry about New Pope (Det News)
* DC:
A Taste for Halal Meat (Wash Post)
* IL:
Vigil Honors Fallen Cab Drivers (CBS 2)
-----
HADITH: THOSE SHELTERED BY GOD -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Seven kinds of people
will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of
Judgment&They are: a just ruler, a young man who passed his youth
in the worship and service of God&one who heart is attached to the
mosque&two people who love each other for the sake of God&a man
who is invited to sin&but declines, saying I fear God &one who
spends his charity in secret, without making show&and one who
remembers God in solitude so that his eyes overflow.
Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 376
------
CAIR CALLS ON MAINSTREAM LEADERS TO REPUDIATE EVANGELIST'S REMARKS -
TOP
Pat Robertson says Muslims should not serve in the Cabinet, judiciary
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/2/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today called on mainstream political and religious
leaders to repudiate "hate-filled" remarks by evangelist Pat Robertson
who said on Sunday that Muslims should not serve in the Cabinet or
judiciary.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
Pat Robertson told "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" he would be
wary of appointing Muslims to positions in the U.S. government,
including judgeships.
SEE:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-robertson2may02,1,7606032.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
"This type of hate-filled rhetoric deserves repudiation from all who
respect America's long-standing tradition of pluralism," said Rabiah
Ahmed, CAIR's communication coordinator. Ahmed added that many Muslims
already serve with distinction in many levels of government, including
judgeships at the state and local level.
In the past, Robertson has made similar hateful comments toward Islam
and Muslims. During a 2002 appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity
& Colmes" program, Robertson smeared both Islam and the Prophet
Muhammad. About Muhammad, Robertson said: "This man was an absolute
wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say that these
terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out Islam...I mean, this man
(Muhammad) was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion
is fraudulent." Robertson also called Islam "a monumental scam" and
claimed the Quran, Islam's revealed text, "is strictly a theft of
Jewish theology."
Robertson has also repeatedly defamed Islam and Muslims on his
Christian Broadcasting Network "700 Club" program. He called Islam the
"religion of the slavers" and said Americans who converted to Islam
exhibited "insanity."
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission
is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect
civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that
promote justice and mutual understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR - Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or 202-415-0799,
E-Mail: arsalan@cair-net.org.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-DC: EVANGELIST FEARS MUSLIMS IN GOVERNMENT -
TOP
Tom Hamburger, Los Angeles Times, 5/2/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0505020136may02,1,2707617.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
WASHINGTON -- Televangelist and onetime presidential candidate Pat
Robertson said Sunday that he would be wary of appointing Muslims to
top positions in the U.S. government, including judgeships.
His comments on ABC's "This Week" drew heated responses from Muslim leaders who decried them as racist and inaccurate.
Robertson, who helped found the Christian Coalition and launched a
brief presidential bid in 1988, said that if he were ever elected
president he would not appoint Muslims to serve in his Cabinet and that
he doesn't favor Muslims serving as judges.
"They have said in the Koran there's a war against all the infidels,"
he said. "Do you want somebody like that sitting as a judge? I
wouldn't."
The comments drew fire immediately from Muslim organizations.
"Pat Robertson has taken his far-right-wing rhetoric to absurd levels,"
said Arsalan Iftikhar, national legal director for the Council on
American Islamic Relations. "He is trying to perpetuate this notion
that Islam is a monolithic entity inherently at odds with modernity and
democracy.
"That is absolutely false. ... American Muslims have long been
contributing members of American society, and I guarantee to Mr.
Robertson that Muslims will one day become part of the federal
bench--whether or not he likes it." (MORE)
---
CAIR-CA: FINALLY, A FILM SHEDS MUSLIM STEREOTYPES -
TOP
Gloria Goodale, Christian Science Monitor, 5/1/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0502/p12s01-almo.html
LAS VEGAS From Arab sheikhs and Muslim terrorists to belly dancers and
mysterious women swathed in burqas, Hollywood depictions of Muslims
don't generally ring true. But a film opening this Friday may offer a
less clich�d view of Muslims, even as it embellishes history.
In Ridley Scott's new medieval epic, "Kingdom of Heaven," after Muslim
forces have retaken Jerusalem from the Christians, their leader Saladin
strides through a room full of battle debris, only to stop at the sight
of a fallen cross. He gently picks up the Christian altarpiece and sets
it on a table.
This gesture, as much as any fights or dialogue in the film, delivers a
key message about the Crusades: Muslims were human beings, as capable
of honor and faith as any Christian in that period, and by implication,
says Mr. Scott, in today's world, as well.
"Given that [President] Bush has used the word 'crusades,' "
understanding the subtext of the film is important, says the British
director. "It is kind of an ambassador asking the question: 'Why can't
we all live together?' "
The film's complex and human portrayal of both Christians and Muslims
is cause for a small sigh of relief among Muslim scholars and activists
in the United States, many of whom say Hollywood just can't get it
right when it comes to portraying Middle Easterners.
"Western films usually don't depict Arabs and Muslims as having full
lives, families, personalities, or emotions," says William Russell
Melton, author of "The New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving
Overseas in the Post-9/11 World." In films ranging from "Aladdin" to
"The Mummy" to "Rules of Engagement," Muslims are usually "portrayed as
simplistic, illiterate, one- dimensional, angry, hateful, untrustworthy
and, of course, dirty," he says.
Even before 9/11, says Sabiha Khan, communications director for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Los Angeles, "when
Muslims or Arabs are portrayed on-screen, there are usually gross
stereotypes like the wealthy sheikh, the oppressed women, the Muslim
terrorist." After the screening of "Kingdom of Heaven" last week, CAIR
issued a national statement of support for Scott's film. (MORE)
---
CAIR CONF. ON ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES, REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you
to attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
Sessions will cover topics such as "Building Bridges of Understanding" and "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism in the Media."
Speakers will include: Sulaiman Nyang-Howard University, M. Cherif
Bassiouni-International Human Rights Law Institute; Hafiz Mirazi,
Al-Jazeera; Claude Salhani, United Press International; and Samer
Shahata, Georgetown University.
(To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/)
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna, VA (703-448-1234)
Volunteers are also needed for CAIR's Conference. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
NY: FROM 'GOOK' TO 'RAGHEAD'
TOP
Bob Hebert, New York Times, 5/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02herbert.html?hp
I spent some time recently with Aidan Delgado, a 23-year-old religion
major at New College of Florida, a small, highly selective school in
Sarasota.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, before hearing anything about the
terror attacks that would change the direction of American history, Mr.
Delgado enlisted as a private in the Army Reserve. Suddenly, in ways he
had never anticipated, the military took over his life. He was trained
as a mechanic and assigned to the 320th Military Police Company in St.
Petersburg. By the spring of 2003, he was in Iraq. Eventually he would
be stationed at the prison compound in Abu Ghraib.
Mr. Delgado's background is unusual. He is an American citizen, but
because his father was in the diplomatic corps, he grew up overseas. He
spent eight years in Egypt, speaks Arabic and knows a great deal about
the various cultures of the Middle East. He wasn't happy when, even
before his unit left the states, a top officer made wisecracks about
the soldiers heading off to Iraq to kill some ragheads and burn some
turbans.
''He laughed,'' Mr. Delgado said, ''and everybody in the unit laughed with him.''
The officer's comment was a harbinger of the gratuitous violence that,
according to Mr. Delgado, is routinely inflicted by American soldiers
on ordinary Iraqis. He said: ''Guys in my unit, particularly the
younger guys, would drive by in their Humvee and shatter bottles over
the heads of Iraqi civilians passing by. They'd keep a bunch of empty
Coke bottles in the Humvee to break over people's heads.''
He said he had confronted guys who were his friends about this
practice. ''I said to them: 'What the hell are you doing? Like, what
does this accomplish?' And they responded just completely openly. They
said: 'Look, I hate being in Iraq. I hate being stuck here. And I hate
being surrounded by hajis.'''
''Haji'' is the troops' term of choice for an Iraqi. It's used the way ''gook'' or ''Charlie'' was used in Vietnam.
Mr. Delgado said he had witnessed incidents in which an Army sergeant
lashed a group of children with a steel Humvee antenna, and a Marine
corporal planted a vicious kick in the chest of a kid about 6 years
old. There were many occasions, he said, when soldiers or marines would
yell and curse and point their guns at Iraqis who had done nothing
wrong.
He said he believes that the absence of any real understanding of Arab
or Muslim culture by most G.I.'s, combined with a lack of proper
training and the unrelieved tension of life in a war zone, contributes
to levels of fear and rage that lead to frequent instances of
unnecessary violence. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
BOOT CAMP, CAMOUFLAGE, GUNS - AND FARSI LESSONS? -
TOP
Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 5/2/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0502/p02s01-usmi.html
MONTEREY, CALIF. - The Defense Language Institute is at the forefront
of the Pentagon's growing emphasis on linguistic and cultural skills.
The Pentagon makes no secret of the fact that Staff Sgt. Aaron Jarvis
will soon be one of its most valuable assets in the war on terror. Yet
the most important part of his daily training does not involve a
fighter jet, a rifle, or an obstacle course. It involves only a
classroom and constant conversation, as Sergeant Jarvis unravels the
peculiar pronunciations and subtle scrawlings of Dari, one of the two
official Afghan tongues.
To Jarvis, a one-time pizza-store manager who has already learned
Serbo- Croatian as an Air Force linguist, the switch to Dari is just
another assignment here at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). But
more broadly, it is part of a fundamental shift at the Pentagon, as
leaders increasingly see foreign-language skills not as a peripheral
part of the military's mission, but as crucial to the success of
American forces abroad.
In the future, officers could be required to have some familiarity with
a second language; enlistees might receive language instruction during
basic training. No decisions have yet been made. Yet when the Pentagon
released its Defense Language Transformation Roadmap last month, it
made clear its view that security in a post-Sept. 11 world requires not
only a military capable of deploying to the remotest corner of the
world at a moment's notice, but also soldiers capable of coping with
the cultural and linguistic challenges they meet when they arrive there.
"We think this is, in the end, an essential war-fighting skill for the
military of the future," says David Chu, undersecretary of personnel.
(MORE)
-----
ENGLAND PLEADS GUILTY TO ABUSE CHARGES -
TOP
T.A. BADGER, Associated Press, 5/2/05
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PRISONER_ABUSE_ENGLAND?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Pfc. Lynndie England, who appeared in some of the
most graphic photographs depicting physical mistreatment and sexual
humiliation of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, pleaded guilty
Monday to charges arising from her role in the abuse scandal.
The 22-year-old Army reservist entered her pleas to two counts of
conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, four counts of maltreating prisoners
and one count of committing an indecent act.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop another count of committing an indecent act and one count of dereliction of duty.
If the plea agreement is accepted by the judge, Col. James Pohl, a jury
of officers and enlisted soldiers will decide her punishment following
a sentencing hearing expected to last several days.
ALSO SEE:
INQUIRY FINDS ABUSES AT GUANT�NAMO BAY -
TOP
Neil A. Lewis and Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 5/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/national/nationalspecial3/01gitmo.html
WASHINGTON- A high-level military investigation into accusations of
detainee abuse at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, has concluded that several
prisoners were mistreated or humiliated, perhaps illegally, as a result
of efforts to devise innovative methods to gain information, senior
military and Pentagon officials say.
The report on the investigation, which is still a few weeks from being
completed and released, will deal with accounts by agents for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation who complained after witnessing
detainees subjected to several forms of harsh treatment.
The F.B.I. agents wrote in memorandums that were never meant to be
disclosed publicly that they had seen female interrogators forcibly
squeeze male prisoners' genitals, and that they had witnessed other
detainees stripped and shackled low to the floor for many hours.
Although the Pentagon has issued other reports about accusations of
abuse in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guant�namo, the new investigation, by
Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt of the Air Force, is intended to be the
first major inquiry devoted solely to determining what interrogation
practices were used at Guant�namo. The investigation was initiated in
response to the disclosure of F.B.I. messages that especially concerned
Pentagon officials because the bureau's complaints carried great
credibility. (MORE)
-----
NY: BRIDGING GAPS DECORATIVELY -
TOP
Nedra Rhone, Newsday, 5/2/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liisla024242280may02,0,7130838.story?coll=ny-main-tabheads
It was a symbolic gesture, one which no one expected to have
international resonance, but one that here among the communities of
Long Island, brought two disparate worlds just a bit closer.
With the cutting yesterday of a gossamer gold ribbon, the Islamic
Center of Long Island in Westbury celebrated the opening of its new
office space and publicly acknowledged the donation of furniture by
Irwin Horwitz, a Jewish philanthropist and owner of several Ethan Allen
stores.
"I'm Jewish, and of course the mosque is not, but I became involved in
their outreach program and I thought that was a wonderful thing," said
Horwitz, 74, who could not attend the afternoon ceremony because of
illness. "If the Jews and Muslims can get along in this country, why
can't they get along in the rest of the world?"
The center, said many among the multi-ethnic and multi-faith guests who
attended the ceremony, has done a lot to bridge the gaps between
cultures. "The center is a wonderful asset to Long Island. It does a
lot of education and cultural events that help to educate the community
in diversity," said Frank Shih, dean of students at the City University
of New York School of Law at Queens College in Flushing.
Several months ago, Horwitz began attending meetings at the center on
Brushhollow Road. "He recognizes what we are doing and said he would
like to make a contribution," said Faroque Khan, president of the
Islamic Center.
Diane Cullinan, lead designer at Horwitz's Huntington store, outfitted
the new space with about $8,000 in furniture, including a brown leather
sofa, rugs, wooden tables and tapestry covered chairs.
But the furniture, said Horwitz, was ancillary. "I think if you take
from the community, you should give back. I try to support things," he
said
ALSO SEE:
BRIDGING A CULTURAL DIVIDE -
TOP
John Darling, Mail Tribune, 4/30/05
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0430/local/stories/05local.htm
ASHLAND Wearing a veil and Islamic dress in the age of 9/11 may not
seem the best way to win friends on U.S. soil, but one local woman says
it s helping her get across a message of peace and interfaith
understanding.
Saying she s "appalled" at how the media paints mainstream Muslims with
the same brush it uses on Arab terrorists, Southern Oregon University
student Raya Shokatfard is delivering a series of lectures on Islamic
culture and religion at the SOU library on Sundays through May 29. The
first session, which summarizes those that follow, is this weekend. All
the sessions will end with time for questions and answers.
"As members of the three major monotheistic religions, we re all
cousins and we should concentrate on our unity rather than
differences," said Shokatfard, 58, a former real estate broker in
California and now a senior in communication, hoping to go into
journalism.
Although dressed in traditional female Islamic garb with head shawl,
Shokatfard has encountered no prejudice or disrespect in her year on
SOU s campus. Following the tenets of her faith, she excuses herself
from classes that show salacious or suggestive images or play pop music
and also to pray at appropriate hours.
Shokatfard immigrated from Iran to the United States with her family in
1969. She adopted Western ways, enjoying a successful career in real
estate in Southern California, slowly returning to Islam while living
in Mount Shasta in the 1980s, she said. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS ARE HOPEFUL DESPITE NEW POPE'S PAST WRITINGS -
TOP
Tim Townsend, Post-Dispatch, 5/1/05
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/
In the week between Pope John Paul II's funeral and the conclave to
elect a new pope, cardinals and commentators alike listed the Roman
Catholic church's relationship with Islam as one of the most important
issues the next pope would have to confront.
They said John Paul had laid the necessary groundwork by encouraging
dialogue with Muslims around the world, supporting Palestinian rights
and becoming the first pope to visit a mosque.
Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, told Catholic News Service,
before the conclave, that John Paul had refused to become a
"crusader-in-chief" and that the next pope would have to continue John
Paul's work to keep up a dialogue with the Islamic world in order to
encourage and strengthen moderate Islam.
"We're going to have to do everything we can to encourage the moderate
Muslims and to sustain them in their struggle for political power," the
cardinal said.
By naming Islamic relations as one of the main challenges facing the
next pope, such cardinals and commentators were, in effect, raising the
prospect of a new pontiff who would be intimately familiar with Islam.
Cardinals Francis Arinze of Nigeria and Julius Darmaatmadja of
Indonesia were mentioned as papal prospects, partly for their
experiences with Muslims.
But in the fastest conclave in nearly a century, the College of
Cardinals turned instead to a German intellectual whose theology on
interfaith relations seemed clear -- and clearly not what fans of
interfaith dialogue were hoping for in a new pope&
Gulten Ilhan, a professor at St. Louis Community College and vice
president of the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, said the pope's actions last week toward Muslims "was not
just the right step, but an encouraging start." Reaction from Muslims
around the world sounded similar in the days after Benedict's election
and installation. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
METRO DETROIT MUSLIMS WORRY ABOUT NEW POPE -
TOP
Kim Kozlowski, Detroit News, 5/1/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/editorial/0505/01/A13-167219.htm
When Pope Benedict XVI gave his inaugural homily last Sunday, some
Metro Detroit Muslims felt slighted that he made reference to Jews as
brothers and sisters, but he failed to mention Muslims.
It was the first signal to one of the world's largest faiths how
Benedict, elected to the papacy last month, might continue the church's
dialogue with Islam that Pope John Paul II began during his 26-year
tenure. It followed critical reports of statements about Muslims that
Benedict made when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and left some
Muslims fearing that the new pope would not be friendly to Islam in the
future.
But after his inaugural homily, Benedict soon met with a delegation of
Muslim leaders, which has given more hope to Muslims that bridges will
continue to be built between the two faiths that many say will foster
more peace, understanding and tolerance, especially in a post-September
11 world.
"John Paul II did a great deal to improve the relationship between the
Muslims and the Christians of the world," says Osama Siblani, editor of
the Arab American News in Dearborn. "It's in the interest of the new
pope and Roman Catholic Church to maintain good relations with
one-fifth of the world's population."
With the rapid growth of Islam locally, relations with the faith are
expected to be critical in Pope Benedict XVI's administration. Nowhere
could the issue be more visible in the United States than in Metro
Detroit, where 1.5 million Catholics live with one of largest
concentration of Muslims in the nation, along with the country's
largest mosque, which will open May 12 in Dearborn.
Detroit Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida is encouraged by Benedict's
outreach to Muslims, and Jews as well, and he plans to continue to be
an ambassador locally, says Ned McGrath, spokesman for the Archdiocese
of Detroit.
"It punctuated what we've tried to do here, which is to maintain very
good relations with the Muslim and Jewish community," McGrath says.
"The cardinal is very encouraged, and we will take that lead and will
continue to work at it more diligently."
Tensions were high between Christians and Muslims four years ago
following the September 11, 2001, attacks by Muslim extremists on New
York's World Trade Center buildings which left thousands dead. After
the attacks, Detroit Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida made his first
visit to a local mosque, the Islamic Center of America, at the request
of the late Pope John Paul II.
Other Christians and Jews also reached out to Muslims with interfaith dialogues and relations have since grown. (MORE)
-----
A TASTE FOR HALAL MEAT -
TOP
Dina ElBoghdady, Washington Post, 5/2/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/01/AR2005050100463.html
For three hours, Imad Rababe helped slit the throats of more than 100
goats and lambs at his white cinderblock slaughterhouse near
Hagerstown, murmuring a quick blessing to Allah with each flick of his
sharpened knife then immediately hoisting the animals by their feet on
hooks to drain the blood.
It's a tough business, Rababe said. Turnover is high among his eight
employees, most of them Muslim immigrants who could not find other
jobs. In addition to teaching them the Islamic style of slaughter,
Rababe must also shop for livestock, drum up business, track orders and
collect payments -- often using his limited English to communicate with
customers who do not speak Arabic.
But as the Washington area's Muslim population grows, so do Rababe's
moneymaking opportunities. Because the Koran instructs mankind to eat
meat that is "halal," the Arabic word for lawful, devout Muslims are
willing to pay a premium for the type of product Rababe sells at his
Hamzah Slaughter House LLC in Williamsport.
These days, more than 140 of the region's restaurants and grocery
stores advertise themselves as halal, according to Zabihah.com, a Web
site that posts reviews of halal food establishments across the
country. When Rababe, a native of Lebanon, arrived in the United States
in 1978, only a few did. Now at least three major halal meat suppliers
serve the region, including Rababe, who says he slaughters 500 to 700
animals a week for his wholesale and retail customers.
"Look, I'm not from Harvard. I have no high school education, no
nothing," said Rababe, a practicing Muslim who learned the trade from
his father in Lebanon. "But this is the business I know best. It serves
the Muslim community, and it makes me financially comfortable."
The fledgling halal business remains far less established than the
kosher trade, its Jewish cousin, and there are no reliable estimates of
how much halal meat is sold in the Washington area. But it is no longer
relegated to traditional kabob houses or ethnic grocery stores either,
as new immigrants and others seek out products consistent with their
religious practice.
Pizza Roma in College Park serves pizzas with halal meat toppings, and
Double A Burgers & Shakes in Springfield Mall offers "homemade,
halal burgers hot off the grill." Some Giant Food and Shoppers Food
Warehouse stores stock frozen halal chicken nuggets and other products
from Al Safa Halal Inc. in Canada. Even the White House does its part,
ordering halal for visiting Muslim dignitaries. (MORE)
------
IL: VIGIL HONORS FALLEN CAB DRIVERS -
TOP
Joanie Lum, CBS 2, 5/1/05
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_121204235.html
CHICAGO - It was an unimaginable crime a taxi cab driver run over with his own car in a dispute over a fare.
Unfortunately, Haroon Paryani isn t the only Chicago who has been killed on the job.
And on Sunday, a vigil was held in their honor. The council of Islamic
organizations held the event to encourage better treatment of cab
drivers.
The names of 50 Chicago cab drivers killed on the job were read aloud
at the vigil. Most were shot during robberies, but the most shocking
was the murder of Haroon Paryani, who argues with a customer over
payment and was run over in the street with his on cab on Feb. 4.
Paryani s grown children displayed photographs of their father and wept at the memorial held near the place where he died.
Haroon Paryani was my father, Aamir Paryani said through a translator. I can t believe my father is gone.
Thirty-seven-year-old Michael L. Jackson bonded out of jail for the
murder, but was arrested again after allegedly spitting at and trying
to punch a Downer s Grove Hospital nurse.
Paryani s family says those actions prove Jackson should not have been allowed to post bail.
-----
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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
- 5/3/05
* HADITH:
Guidelines for
Life
* CAIR-OH:
2005
Leadership Conference A Success
-
CAIR
Conf. on Islamophobia/Anti-Americanism
* NE:
Couple
Fights to Have Foster Children Returned (Omaha Channel)
- WA:
Home Buyers
Juggle Faith, Finance (Seattle Times)
- TX:
Chaplain
Discusses Religious Similarities (Shorthorn)
*
Robertson Assailed
For Comments on Islam (Record)
- FL:
Vines'
Retiring Stirs Mixed Emotions (Times Union)
* FL:
Al-Arian Seeks Change
of Venue (St. Pete Times)
-----
HADITH: GUIDELINES FOR LIFE -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "God has forbidden
you to be undutiful to your mothers, to withhold (what you should give),
or demand (what you do not deserve), and to bury your daughters alive [a
pre-Islamic practice]. And God has disliked that you talk too much about
others, ask too many questions and waste your property."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 6
------
CAIR-OHIO:
2005 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE A SUCCESS -
TOP
(Columbus, 5/2/05) The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-Ohio) held its 2005 Leadership Conference on Saturday,
April 30. The conference, held at Sunrise Academy in Columbus, drew
approximately 60 attendees from various cities across the state of
Ohio.
The event featured distinguished speakers such as Daniel Tokaji, Ohio
State University Professor of Law; Kris Long, Ohio Senate Minority Chief
of Staff; Bob Fitrakis of the Free Press; Mike Curtain, President &
CEO of the Columbus Dispatch; Steve Abbot, Communications Professor at
Columbus State Community College; and Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director
of CAIR-Southern California.
The objective of the conference was to motivate participants to become
more active on issues of concern to the Muslim community through
communicating with elected officials and the media, building and
organizing coalitions, and a more thorough understanding of civil rights,
said CAIR-Ohio President, Ahmad Al-Akhras. I am confident that events
such as these will make the Muslim community more assertive in exercising
their rights and making their voices heard in the political arena.
Similar events will be held in the coming months at the Cleveland and
Cincinnati offices of CAIR-Ohio. For more information, see
www.cair-ohio.com.
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.
- END -
CONTACT: Jennifer Nimer, CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Director, 614-451-3232,
jennifer@cair-ohio.com; Ahmad Al-Akhras, CAIR-Ohio Board President,
614-989-5916, ahmad@cair-ohio.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR
CONF. ON ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: CAUSES, REMEDIES -
TOP
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend its 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies."
Sessions will cover topics such as "Anti-Americanism and US Foreign
Policy" which will define the meaning and substance of
anti-Americanism, distinguish anti-Americanism from legitimate social and
political viewpoints, explore links between US foreign policy and rising
anti-Americanism.
Speakers for this panel will include: Merve Kavakci, Former MP, Turkey;
Anatol Leiven, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Muqtedar Khan,
Brookings; Asma Afsaruddin, Notre Dame; and Mumtaz Ahmad, Hampton
University.
(To view a complete program or to register for the conference, go
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/)
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005
Conference Banquet, Saturday, May 14
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234)
Volunteers are also needed for CAIR's Conference. Please call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050, or e-mail events@cair-net.org for more
information.
-----
NE:
COUPLE FIGHTING TO HAVE THEIR FOSTER CHILDREN RETURNED -
TOP
Omaha Channel, 4/28/05
http://www.theomahachannel.com/family/4428635/detail.html
OMAHA, Neb. -- An Omaha couple said they lost custody of their foster
children because of religious discrimination, but they are fighting
back.
Fa'iz and Thurayya Rab have filed special motions to try to get their
foster children -- in this case their niece and nephew -- back home.
Their attorney, Jackie Madara-Campbell, said it's believed to be the
first time these motions have ever been filed by foster parents in
Nebraska.
Thurayya and Fa'iz Rab
The Rabs' 2-year-old and 3-year-old children are asking where their
foster siblings went. The answer is, they were taken from the Rabs by the
state last summer. They had been with Thurayya and Fa'iz since the oldest
was a baby.
"You raise children that you think you are going to adopt, and you
love them like your own, and then they're ripped out of your home,"
Thurayya Rab said.
Despite evidence to the contrary, the Rabs lost their foster son and
daughter on charges they physically disciplined them. The children are
now wards of the state. The Rabs -- who are Muslims -- believe religious
discrimination played a part. The couple said they discovered court
testimony that branded them as terrorists.
"Whatever religion I follow has no place in the courtroom,"
said Fa'iz Rab, who with his wife, has chosen to escalate the court
battle to get the children back. "A lot of our options were running
out and we faced a lot of obstacles from the opposing
parties."
The opposing parties include the Nebraska Department of Health and Human
Services. The Rabs' attorney filed special motions against the
department.
"The evil act of a minority of zealots continues to cast unwarranted
suspicion on the majority of faithful Muslims, the Rabs being the latest
victims of this ignorance," Madara-Campbell said.
An HHS spokesperson said the department can't comment on the motions or
the custody case. The motions, which are rarely used in foster cases,
emphasize the Rabs' status as relatives of the children. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
WA: MUSLIM
HOME BUYERS JUGGLE FAITH, FINANCE -
TOP
Lornet Turnbull, Seattle Times, 4/28/05
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/home/11529645.htm
SEATTLE - When he bought his car two years ago, Javed Ahmed saved up
enough money so he could pay for it with cash.
And every month, the senior analyst at Voyager Capital, a venture firm in
Seattle, pays off his credit-card balance so he doesn't have to pay
interest.
Now, at 29, Ahmed wants to buy his first home.
But as a Muslim, whose religion prohibits earning or paying interest on
borrowed money, he faces a dilemma common to observant followers of the
nation's fastest-growing religion: Can he buy a home without angering
God?
"I'm not going to save up money to buy a house," Ahmed
concedes. That's hardly practical -- at least not in Seattle.
So "right now I'm on the fence," he said. "I'm not sure
what the right thing is to do."
Avoiding interest, or riba as it's known in Islam, confounds the
realities of Western society, where few people use cash to make purchases
and Visa and MasterCard rule the day.
There's strong dissension among Muslims over how deep this ban on
interest should reach: Are security investments allowed -- stocks and
bonds? What about retirement accounts or savings that yield a
return?
The battle between finance and faith is not limited to Islam; the
restriction on interest has roots in many religions, including
Christianity and Judaism, to ensure that the wealthy don't take unfair
advantage of the poor. Only Islam still adheres to this strict
interpretation -- at least in the United States.
It leaves Muslim followers who wish to pursue the American Dream with
just a few options: Some, like Ahmed's parents, felt they had no choice
but to take on a traditional mortgage when they bought their home in
Portland, where he grew up.
Others save for years until they have enough cash to buy a home outright.
(MORE)
---
TX: CHAPLAIN
DISCUSSES RELIGIOUS SIMILARITIES -
TOP
Richard-Michael Manuel, The Shorthorn, 5/29/05
http://www.theshorthorn.com/archive/2005/spring/05-apr-29/n042905-06.html
People view salvation s meaning in different ways through their beliefs,
but a former Christian minister showed 98 people here Thursday how two
religious texts share similarities and clarified misconceptions about the
Islamic faith.
Chaplain Yusuf Estes lectured about the Quran and the Bible in his
discussion, which will be available today at
http://www.islamtomorrow.com,
focused on theological truths shared by the texts.
For example, he said one major similarity is the use of the name Adam in
Jewish, Christian and Muslim texts.
We call our God by a different name, but we call our grandfather the same
thing, he said.
Estes, who last visited the campus in 1992, said he had read the Quran in
1991 and began sharing his experiences with others throughout the United
States.
He said the way in which believers find their relationship with God is
the major difference in finding salvation among the three religions. The
Jewish religion is linked to a shared history, and the Christian religion
is linked to accepting and loving God, and Islam is about obedience,
Estes said.
Anyone can become a Muslim through declaring his or her faith and
following Islamic principals. These include occasional fasting, daily
prayer and a pilgrimage to Mecca, which are considered the pillars of
Muslim spiritual life.
The Muslim Student Association invited Estes, who led a prayer for
Muslims before his speech. (MORE)
-----
ROBERTSON ASSAILED
FOR COMMENTS ON ISLAM -
TOP
Record, 5/2/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16607_1.html
WASHINGTON - Fundamentalist televangelist and onetime presidential
candidate Pat Robertson said Sunday that he would be wary of appointing
Muslims to top positions in the U.S. government, including
judgeships.
Robertson, who helped found the Christian Coalition, made his comments on
ABC's "This Week."
The remarks drew heated responses from Muslim leaders, who decried them
as racist and inaccurate.
Robertson, who launched a brief presidential bid in 1988, said that if he
were president, he would not appoint Muslims to serve in his Cabinet and
that he did not favor Muslims serving as judges.
"They have said in the Quran there's a war against all the
infidels," he said. "Do you want somebody like that sitting as
a judge? I wouldn't."
Reaction from the Muslim community was swift.
"Pat Robertson has taken his far-right-wing rhetoric to absurd
levels," said Arsalan Iftikhar, national legal director for the
Council on American Islamic Relations.
"He is trying to perpetuate this notion that Islam is a monolithic
entity inherently at odds with modernity and democracy. That is
absolutely false. ... American Muslims have long been contributing
members of American society and I guarantee to Mr. Robertson that Muslims
will one day become part of the federal bench - whether or not he likes
it."
ALSO SEE:
FL:
VINES' RETIRING SADDENS FLOCK, SATISFIES CRITICS -
TOP
Jeff Brumley, Times-Union, 5/3/05
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050305/met_18638143.shtml
Sadness, shock and even satisfaction greeted the news Monday that the
Rev. Jerry Vines plans to retire as the pastor of First Baptist Church of
Jacksonville.
"This is a sad time," church member Barbara Champlin said after
hearing Vines' announcement Sunday night that he will retire in
February.
"He's a dynamic person and he believes in what he preaches,"
she said. "He walks the talk."
At the other end of the spectrum was Imam Zaid Malik, spiritual leader of
the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville. Malik sounded
downright happy to hear Vines plans to leave the city's largest
church.
"I am thankful to God that he decided to resign," Malik
said.
Malik and some other Muslims are still upset over Vines' 2002 statement
calling their religion's founder, the prophet Muhammad, a
"demon-possessed pedophile."
"He became very unpopular in the Muslim community when he said what
he said about Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him," Malik said.
(MORE)
-----
FL: AL-ARIAN SEEKS
CHANGE OF VENUE -
TOP
Brady Dennis, St. Petersburg Times, 5/3/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/03/Hillsborough/Al_Arian_seeks_change.shtml
TAMPA - Attorneys for Sami Al-Arian, the former University of South
Florida professor accused of raising money for a Palestinian terrorist
group, have asked a federal judge to move the upcoming trial out of
Florida.
Citing the constant barrage of news coverage, the recent U.S. Senate
campaign in which Al-Arian became a central topic of debate, and evidence
of "serious bias and prejudice"
among potential jurors, attorneys said their client could not receive a
fair trial in Tampa.
"The pressure to convict him in this community would be
tremendous," the attorneys wrote in the filing to U.S. District
Judge James Moody.
Attorneys William Moffitt and Linda Moreno said in their motion that
during the past 10 years, "the print media in Tampa has associated
Dr. Al-Arian with every act of terrorism that has occurred on American
soil."
They claim that because of this "media harangue," "a
significant portion of the community believe him to be
guilty."
Moffitt and Moreno said the recent U.S. Senate campaign drew even more
attention to Al- Arian's case. The references began during the Democratic
primaries between Betty Castor and Peter Deutsch, when the Deutsch
campaign began referring to USF as "Jihad University" and
making allegations that Castor failed to take action when she found
"a terrorist in her midst."
The negative publicity grew more intense, the motion claims, when Castor
faced Republican Mel Martinez in the general election and local airwaves
were saturated with ads featuring Al-Arian. During the first televised
debate of the campaign, NBC's Tim Russert spent one-third of the time
asking the candidates about Al-Arian.
And then came the questionnaires.
Al-Arian's attorneys claim that prejudice is rampant in the answers to
surveys the court sent to prospective jurors. Of 328 potential jurors who
returned the questionnaires, 155 already have been dismissed after saying
that they had made up their minds that Al-Arian was guilty or because
they made prejudicial comments about Muslims and people of Arab descent.
(MORE)
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
5/4/05
* HADITH/VERSE:
All
Prophets are Brothers
* CAIR-CAN:
Arar
Lawyers Call For Independent Fact-Finder (CP)
-
Arar Was a Victim,
Federal Lawyer Admits (CBS)
*
CAIR-Ohio
Testifies Before Ohio House Committee
* CA:
Academics,
Community Teach On Torture (Berkeley Daily)
-
Shackled In the Land of the
Free (M & G)
* IL:
Man
Accuses Former Employer of Discrimination (AP)
-
GA:
Islamic Mosque Meets
Opposition (WTVC)
* '
Kingdom Of Heaven'
Avoids Muslim Outcry (AP)
-
Kingdom Of Heaven Ignites
Debate (IOL)
-----
HADITH/VERSE
OF THE DAY: ALL PROPHETS ARE BROTHERS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Both in this world and in
the Hereafter, I am nearest of all you people to Jesus, the son of Mary.
The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but
their religion is one.
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 652
Say ye: We believe in God and that which is revealed to us; and that
which was revealed to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma il (Ishmael), Ishaq
(Isaac), Ya qoob (Jacob) and their descendants, and that which was given
to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and other Prophets from their Lord. We make
no distinction between any of them, and it is unto them, and it is unto
them that we surrender ourselves.
The Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 136
-----
CAIR-CAN:
ARAR LAWYERS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT FACT-FINDER -
TOP
Stephen Thorne, Canadian Press, 5/3/05
http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/story.html?id=ca5859a6-538e-4a5d-a637-0690d40c3fe8
OTTAWA -- Lawyers for Maher Arar, the Canadian who says he was tortured
in Syria after U.S. authorities sent him there on suspicion of terrorist
links, have asked the head of an inquiry to appoint an independent
fact-finder to present his side of the story.
The rapporteur should be allowed to gather information from all parties
who have given evidence at the inquiry, including police and government
officials whose secret evidence prevents Arar from testifying, they said
Tuesday.
He should also be allowed to interview three other Muslim Canadians whose
cases bear "alarming similarities'' to Arar's, said Riad Saloojee,
executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations
(Canada).
Abdullah Almalki, Ahmed Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin were all imprisoned
in the same Syrian jail about the same time as Arar.
"The similarities between these cases are uncanny and alarming and
must warrant serious exploration,'' Saloojee told the commissioner,
Justice Dennis O'Connor.
"As with Arar, there are troubling, unanswered questions about the
role of our security agencies in these men's detention and alleged
torture.'' (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
ARAR WAS A VICTIM,
FEDERAL LAWYER ADMITS -
TOP
CBC News, 5/4/05
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/03/arar-inquiry050503.html
OTTAWA - A government lawyer has admitted that Maher Arar was a victim
when he was deported on terrorism accusations and detained in Syria but
she did not declare his innocence.
Barbara McIsaac, a lawyer for the federal attorney general, made the
comment Tuesday as the Arar inquiry met in public for the first time in
more than eight months. McIsaac stopped short of saying that Canadian
officials did anything wrong.
She also argued that if Arar wants to testify at the inquiry into his
case, he won't be allowed to see evidence that had been available to
other witnesses.
The reason for this, says McIsaac, is because Arar isn't under
investigation.
Most of the testimony at the Arar inquiry has been given in
secret.
Arar's lawyer, Marlys Edwardh, says it's unfair to allow Arar to testify
and be cross-examined without knowing what government witnesses have said
about him in secret hearings.
Edwardh wants the inquiry to appoint an independent fact-finder with
security clearance to take Arar's testimony in private.
That person would have access to testimony given to date at the inquiry,
including secret evidence provided by police and government
officials.
McIsaac said such a fact-finder is not necessary because this is an
inquiry, not a criminal trial in which Arar must defend himself. She
added that the head of the Arar inquiry, Justice Dennis O'Connor, is
fulfilling the fact-finding role.
In September 2002, Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained in New York
on suspicion of being involved in the al-Qaeda network. The U.S. then
deported him to Syria, where Arar says he was brutalized by Syrian
officials.
-----
CAIR-OHIO
TESTIFIES BEFORE
OHIO HOUSE
COMMITTEE -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, 5/4/2005) -The Director of Civil Rights of the Ohio
Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) testified
today on Senate Bill 9 before the Ohio House Committee on Transportation,
Public Safety & Homeland Security.
"We recognize the difficulty of drafting legislation that addresses
sensitive issues such as terrorism," said Jennifer Nimer, director
of Civil Rights of CAIR-Ohio. "We feel that Sub. Senate Bill 9 still
lends itself to being used in a discriminatory manner against Muslims and
immigrants."
CAIR-Ohio president, Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras shared Muslims' concerns with
Senate Bill 9 at a press conference organized by the ACLU of Ohio
yesterday, May 3.
CAIR-Ohio has three offices: Columbus, Cleveland and
Cincinnati.
-- END --
CONTACT: Jennifer Nimer, CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Director, 614-451-3232,
jennifer@cair-ohio.com; Ahmad
Al-Akhras, CAIR-Ohio Board President, 614-989-5916,
ahmad@cair-ohio.com.
-----
CA:
ACADEMICS, COMMUNITY TEACH ON TORTURE, LOOK FOR ANSWERS -
TOP
Berkeley Daily, 5/3/05
http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=05-03-05&storyID=21295
Electro-shock, unmuzzled dogs, extreme temperatures, sexual humiliation,
sodomy U.S. torture didn t begin or end with the abuse portrayed in
shocking photographs coming out of Abu Ghraib one year ago, nor has U.S.
torture been restricted to prisons on foreign soil, according to speakers
at Thursday s Teach-in on Torture, sponsored by UC Berkeley s Ethnic
Studies, Asian Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies
departments.
The America of my imagination seems to have turned into a nightmare, L.
Ling-chi Wang, associate professor in the Ethnic Studies Department, told
an audience of about 50 people at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in
downtown Berkeley. I see neither courage nor outrage in the halls of
congress. I ve seen no serious investigation into these practices. I ve
seen cover-ups, contempt for laws. I see hopelessness, helplessness among
my colleagues.
Wang s profound disappointment in the country where he chose to become a
citizen more than three decades ago has not sapped his will to fight
back. He co-coordinated the teach-in with Dr. Mark Sapir, a local
physician, that began with a rally in the rain at Sproul Plaza.
U.S. responsibility for torture didn t start in Abu Ghraib, in
Afghanistan or Guantanamo, Carlos Mauricio told the 60 or so gathered
under umbrellas. Tortured in his native El Salvador in the early 1980s,
Mauricio said his captors were instructed in torture methods at the
School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. He said his torture was
similar to that endured by U.S. prisoners today.
Torture at home was a theme repeated in afternoon and evening
presentations and discussions. Erin Callahan, Western Regional director
for Amnesty International, talked about police and prison guard abuse,
citing Taser-gun deaths of a 4-year-old boy and 71-year old grandmother,
sexual abuse of women locked up in U.S. prisons, and beatings and locking
up children 23-hours a day in the California Youth Authority.
On a similar note, Andrea Pritchett of Berkeley s Copwatch said police
abuse paved the way for acceptance of torture in Abu Ghraib. Instead of
using dialogue, conversation and tactics of de-escalation, local police
use pepper spray, the Taser gun and pain compliance, she said.
The photos coming from Abu Ghraib were important in jarring officials and
the public out of denial, just as the video of the Rodney King beating
had done. However, just as police abuse was not confined to King,
prisoner abuse did not begin and end in Abu Ghraib.
Before Abu Ghraib, much documentation was submitted to the Bush
administration and ignored, said Marjorie Cohn, National Lawyers Guild
vice president. Documentation has come from Amnesty International, the
International Red Cross, the UN Human Rights Commission and from the FBI
itself.
In August, 2003, Rumsfeld approved physical coercion, Cohn said.
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
SHACKLED IN THE LAND OF
THE FREE -
TOP
Ferial Haffajee, Mail & Guardian Online, 5/3/05
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=236904&area=/insight/insight__comment_and_analysis/
Being a bit of a drama queen and a kugel too, I burst into tears when the
young black United States Customs and Immigration man at JFK airport held
my hand in a tight grip and rolled my fingers round and round, every one,
to allow the computer to take accurate fingerprints.
Right then, the drama queen in me imagined myself in Guantanamo Bay,
blindfolded and crouching. And orange is just not my colour.
My tears discomforted the young man, who told me, My first name s Muslim
and I get stopped all the time too, he said, looking less than dry-eyed
himself. If that was meant to comfort, it didn t for it made me sadder
still to realise how he had become used to his oppression in his own
country. The USA Patriot Act, under which US Muslims are questioned and
detained, is an oppressive law eroding the civil rights that, until
recently, had made the country a beacon. It is an Act which now makes
human rights in the US a charade.
My tears confounded me. We d regularly been roughed up and fingerprinted
at school and later; these guys were pussycats by comparison. Thinking
later about bawling like a baby, I realised that the indignation and
anger came because I have become used to my freedom. I am no longer used
to having my rights stripped, my bags searched, my freedom of movement
curtailed. I kicked up a terrible racket, taking notes, asking for my
suitcases, asking to make calls since the detention centre (a
mangy-looking office with outdated computer equipment and jaded
immigration officers) cuts off cellphone access.
The super-visor was astounded in an American it s-all-gonna-be-all-right,
lady kind of way. He handed me a US customs and border protection Comment
Card with its pledge to travellers all part of the illusion of fair
procedure in the great democracy. We pledge, it said, to cordially greet
and welcome you to the United States. What a strange greeting. As I stood
in the queue, the same young man had asked for my passport, looked at it
and shouted across the lines of visitors: I ve got her. All the time we
ve been looking for a man. (MORE)
-----
IL:
MUSLIM
MAN ACCUSES FORMER EMPLOYER OF DISCRIMINATION -
TOP
Associated Press, 5/4/05
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/11560901.htm
CHICAGO - Federal officials have filed a discrimination lawsuit on
behalf of a Muslim man who claims his former employer harassed him
about his religious observance and eventually fired him.
Amer Mirza, 25, of Aurora accuses his bosses at Specialty Publishing
Co. in Carol Stream of violating his civil rights by discriminating
against his national origin and religion. The Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Monday.
David Smedley, part owner of Specialty Publishing, denied Mirza's accusations.
"We look forward to proving our innocence in court," Smedley said Wednesday.
Mirza, a U.S. citizen who emigrated from India in 1994, said his boss
threatened to fire him for regularly leaving on his lunch break to
attend Friday prayer service. He said the alleged harassment grew worse
in early 2003 as the United States prepared to invade Iraq.
"It seems like I could just feel the hate building over there," Mirza said Tuesday. "I feel it was very unjust."
Mirza, who worked as a Web developer, was fired in September 2003, according to the lawsuit.
ALSO SEE:
GA: ISLAMIC MOSQUE MEETS OPPOSITION -
TOP
Jessica Morris, WTVC, 5/2/05
http://www.wtvc.com/engine.pl?station=wtvc&id=1045&template=breakout_story1.shtml&dateformat=%M+%e,%Y
A building proposal for an Islamic mosque is stirring up heated debate in Whitfield County, Georgia.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing Monday night.
The Dalton Islamic Center has been in town since 1992, and it wants to
expand from its current location on McAfee Street to an available tract
of land on Dug Gap Road.
But many residents don't want the mosque in their neighborhood, and they came out in droves to let the county leaders know.
We just believe we shouldn't have it in our community. Kids get
involved in it, get off worse in things than what they are now, said
Ray Hobbs, Whitfield County resident.
We believe in the Bible, 100% in the church. We believe that God didn't ordain that.
People packed the Whitfield County Courthouse, many concerned, even frightened, by the Dalton Islamic Center's plans to expand.
When I lay down to bed at night, I don't wanna think about being blown up, said LaQuita Brewster.
According to the Islamic center, its outgrown its McAfee Street
facility, and it's found an 11-acre track of land on Dug Gap Road where
it can build a larger community mosque.
LaQuita Brewster often visits family on that road and says the idea of an Islamic center next door is unsettling.
Look what they done at 9-11, and that bothers me. That she's going to
be on a road with that, it upsets me. I mean, we don't know what
they're going to do, said Brewster.
We, in the past since 1992, have never been involved in any illicit
activities, DIC spokesperson Tipu Keen told the board. We respect the
laws of the lands, and we are a peaceful and friendly congregation.
Muslim supporters said they practice their religion with the same goal as other religions like Christianity. (MORE)
-----
'KINGDOM OF HEAVEN' AVOIDS MUSLIM OUTCRY -
TOP
David Germain, Associated Press, 5/3/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/11554838.htm
In these uneasy times, you'd think a Hollywood epic about the Crusades
would spark a major revival of hard feelings over the medieval
religious wars in the Middle East.
Yet Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven" is hitting theaters in
comparative quiet, without the sort of uproar provoked by President
Bush's post-Sept. 11 "crusade" gaffe or Mel Gibson's crucifixion saga
"The Passion of the Christ."
There were uneasy rumblings among Arab groups that obtained an early
treatment of the script a year or so ago. They found the film
potentially fraught with stereotypes about 12th century Muslims
fighting Christians for control of Jerusalem, negative images that
might have inflamed anti-Muslim sentiment.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was among those worried
groups, but half a dozen members came away greatly relieved after a
"Kingdom of Heaven" screening arranged for them by Scott.
"It's one of the better representations of Muslims we've seen out of
Hollywood," said Laila Al-Qatami, a spokeswoman for the
Washington-based group. "We thought that he did a good job tackling a
potentially volatile subject and avoided doing a simplified,
stereotyped story of Muslim vs. Christian."
The Crusades ebbed and flowed over a 200-year period starting in the
11th century as European knights traveled to the Mideast, proclaiming
they were doing God's work in trying to reassert Christian rule in the
Holy Land.
Behind the supposed religious compulsions were more pragmatic motives.
Land, wealth and personal glory all drove the Crusades. Europe's
leaders also sought to give knights squabbling among each other a
common enemy to fight. Muslims were easy targets. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IGNITES DEBATE -
TOP
Independent Online, 5/4/05
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=22&art_id=qw1114939980939R131
Arabs have not generally fared well in Hollywood blockbusters, where
they are usually cast as blood-thirsty terrorists and savages intent on
spilling the blood of innocent Westerners.
So in the current climate of conflict between the West and the Arab
world, it was natural for Muslims to feel more than a little concern
about a Hollywood blockbuster featuring their legendary warrior and
leader Saladin in deadly battle with Christian knights.
Initial reactions to the $140-million (about R850-million) movie
Kingdom of Heaven have included expressions of outrage - but not from
Muslim groups.
Instead, it is Christians who are up in arms, accusing the film of
falsely portraying Saladin as an exemplary humanist while the Christian
crusaders are seen as ruthless, blood-thirsty extremists.
The movie, which had its premier in Hollywood on Thursday and opens in
wide distribution on May 6, is the work of Gladiator director Ridley
Scott.
Shot in Morocco and Spain, the movie stars Orlando Bloom as the knight
Balian, who eventually surrenders Jerusalem to Saladin, played by
veteran Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud, to save the lives of the city's
inhabitants.
The movie aspires to be historically accurate, focusing on a tumultuous
time in the late 12th century when Baldwin IV, the king of Jerusalem,
brought peace to the region by opening the city to all faiths.
But after Baldwin's death in 1185, militant Knights Templar began
attacking Muslim desert convoys, and Saladin laid siege to Jerusalem
with an army of 200 000. Eventually, Balian surrenders, and Saladin
grants the crusaders safe passage back to Europe.
Some scholars have voiced concern that the story could deepen animosity
during the current conflict in which devout Muslim fighters are again
battling Western invaders.
Khaled Abou el-Fadl, a renowned Islamic jurist at the University of
California in Los Angeles, said he believes the film promotes the idea
of "a civilisational showdown between Islamic and Christian culture".
"In my view, it is inevitable that there will be hate crimes committed
directly because of it," he told Scotland's Herald newspaper.
But Scott said he made every effort to give the film the opposite
message. He even invented a mythical order in which Jews, Christians
and Muslims co-operated.
"The characters portrayed in the film are so important in Muslim
culture that I knew we had to do it absolutely properly and correctly,"
he said. "Saladin fights battles, but he also enters into dialogue. We
want to show that dialogue can be much better than war."
"It's not like a stupid Hollywood movie," said the movie's leading
actress, Eva Green. "It's very clever and brave, and I hope it will
wake up people in America to be more tolerant, more open towards the
Arab people."
That message seems to have gotten through to Muslims, who have taken
the rare step of approving a Hollywood movie. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations declared the film to be "a balanced and
positive depiction of Islamic culture during the Crusades" while
postings to alt.muslim, an interactive online news and discussion
community, have been largely positive. (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 -
5/5/05
* HADITH:
Mothers
Deserve Kindness
*
CAIR-Chicago Moves
to Larger Office
* ISLAM-OPED:
Muslims and
Mother's Day
*
Charges
Filed in AIPAC Scandal (NY Times)
-
FBI: Pentagon Analyst
Passed Secret Info (AP)
*
Senate Probes
Bolton's Pro-Israel Efforts (Forward)
* MI:
Faith
Matters for Metro Arabs (Free Press)
*
Religious
Leaders Denounce Robertson Comments (RNS)
-
When Powerful
People Say Dumb Things (CSM)
*
Rep.
Conyers Opposes Anti-Immigrant Legislation
-
Muslims are Targets of
Paranoid U.S. (Seattle P-I)
* CA:
Bay
Area Islamic Educator and Author Passes
* CA:
Neocons Lay Siege
to the Ivory Towers (LA Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE
DAY: MOTHERS DESERVE KINDNESS -
TOP
A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to whom he
should show the most kindness. The Prophet replied: "Your mother,
next your mother, next your mother, and then your father."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2438
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO
MOVES OFFICE TO LARGER SUITE -
TOP
In order to accommodate a growing body of staff, interns and volunteers,
CAIR-Chicago is moving to a larger suite in the same building (28 E.
Jackson). Please note the new address:
28 E Jackson Blvd, Suite 405
Chicago IL. 60604
-----
ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS
AND MOTHER'S DAY -
TOP
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues. ISLAM-OPED
commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each
market area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
first-come-first-served basis.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
---
PARADISE IS AT THE FEET OF MOTHERS
By Joshua Brockwell
WORD COUNT: 603
[Joshua Brockwell is with the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy group. He may be contacted at:
jbrockwell@cair-net.org.]
A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad about taking part in a military
campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When
told that she was alive, the Prophet said: "(Then) stay with her,
for Paradise is at her feet." (Al-Tirmidhi)
On another occasion, the Prophet said: "God has forbidden for you to
be undutiful to your mothers." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
One of the things I have always appreciated about my adopted faith is not
only its emphasis on maintaining the bonds of kinship, but also the high
regard in which women, particularly mothers, are held. The Quran, Islam's
revealed text, states: "And revere the wombs that bore you, for God
is ever watchful over you." (4:1)
It should be obvious that our parents deserve our utmost respect and
devotion - second only to God. Speaking in the Quran, God says:
"Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final
Goal." (31:14)
The fact that God has mentioned parents in the same verse as Himself
shows the extent to which we should strive in our efforts to serve the
mothers and fathers who sacrificed so much for us. Doing so will help us
to become better people.
In that same verse, God says: "We have enjoined on man (to be good)
to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear
him."
In other words, the debt we owe to our mothers is magnified due to the
difficult nature of pregnancy - not to mention the nurturing and
attention paid to us in infancy.
Another narration, or "Hadith," from the life of the Prophet
Muhammad again shows us just how much we owe to our mothers.
A man once asked the Prophet to whom he should show the most kindness.
The Prophet replied: "Your mother, next your mother, next your
mother, and then your father." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood) In other words,
we must treat our mothers in a manner befitting their exalted position -
and, again, revere the wombs that bore us.
The Arabic word for womb is "rahem." Rahem is derived from the
word for mercy. In Islamic tradition, one of God's 99 names is
"Al-Raheem," or "the Most Merciful."
There exists, therefore, a unique connection between God and the
womb.
Through the womb, we get a glimpse of the Almighty's qualities and
attributes. It nurtures, feeds and shelters us in the early stages of
life. The womb can be viewed as one manifestation of divinity in the
world.
One cannot help but make the parallel between a Loving God and a
compassionate Mother. Interestingly, the Quran does not portray God as
exclusively male or female. As a matter of fact, by revering our mothers,
we are paying respect to God.
Each of us should appreciate what we have in our mothers. They are our
teachers and our role models. Every day with them is an opportunity to
grow as a person. Every day away from them is a missed
opportunity.
I lost my own mother to breast cancer on April 19, 2003. Though the pain
of losing her is still with me and her memory lives on in my siblings and
me, I sometimes worry that I might forget what a blessing she was for
me.
For me, Islam is the best reminder of my mother's presence. With daily
encouragement from the Quran and the living example of the Prophet
Muhammad, I know I will always keep her memory close to my heart. She is
my rahem, my connection to the divine. On this Mother's Day, I am
grateful for the occasion to reflect on that.
-----
PENTAGON
ANALYST CHARGED WITH DISCLOSING MILITARY SECRETS -
TOP
DAVID JOHNSTON and ERIC LICHTBLAU, New York Times, 5/5/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/05/politics/05spy.html
WASHINGTON, May 4 - Federal agents arrested a Pentagon analyst on
Wednesday, accusing him of illegally disclosing highly classified
information about possible attacks on American forces in Iraq to two
employees of a pro-Israel lobbying group.
The analyst, Lawrence A. Franklin, turned himself in to the authorities
on Wednesday morning in a case that has stirred unusually anxious debate
in influential political circles in the capital even though it has
focused on a midlevel Pentagon employee.
The inquiry has cast a cloud over the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, which employed the two men who are said to have received the
classified information from Mr. Franklin. The group, also known as Aipac,
has close ties to senior policymakers in the Bush administration, among
them Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is expected to appear later
this month at the group's annual meeting.
The investigation has proven awkward as well for a group of conservative
Republicans, who held high-level civilian jobs at the Pentagon during
President Bush's first term and the buildup toward the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq, and who were also close to Aipac.
They were led by Paul D. Wolfowitz, the former deputy defense secretary
who has been named president of the World Bank. Mr. Franklin once worked
in the office of one of Mr. Wolfowitz's allies, Douglas J. Feith, the
under secretary for policy at the Pentagon, who has also said he is
leaving the administration later this year. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
FBI: PENTAGON
ANALYST PASSED SECRET INFO -
TOP
MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press, 5/5/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/05/04/national/w230439D10.DTL
A four-year investigation into whether Israel improperly obtained U.S.
secrets produced its first criminal charge with the arrest of a Pentagon
analyst. Authorities are trying to determine whether any classified
information reached Israel.
Larry Franklin was charged Wednesday with providing top-secret
information about potential attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq to two
executives of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the
influential pro-Israel lobbying group.
Franklin is a 58-year-old Air Force Reserve colonel who once worked for
the Defense Department's No. 3 official. A search of his West Virginia
home turned up 83 classified documents, an FBI agent said.
An FBI agent's affidavit that accompanied the criminal complaint against
Franklin does not suggest that the disclosure endangered U.S. troops. But
it said intelligence sources could have been compromised.
(MORE)
-----
SENATE PROBES
BOLTON'S PRO-ISRAEL EFFORTS -
TOP
Ori Nir, Forward, 5/6/05
http://www.forward.com/articles/3133
WASHINGTON - John Bolton, President Bush's embattled choice to serve
as
American ambassador at the United Nations, is widely seen in Washington
as a strong supporter of Israel. But recent media reports suggest that
his support for the Jewish state goes further than previously
believed.
Senate staffers are reportedly probing many allegations regarding
Bolton's management style, including claims that Bolton took part in
unauthorized meetings with Israeli officials and prevented a State
Department memo accusing Israel of violating American arms-export laws
from reaching the desk of then secretary of state Colin Powell.
Two weeks ago, with opposition toward Bolton mounting, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee postponed its vote on the nomination.
Bolton, the State Department's top official on arms control, is known as
a strong supporter of Israel's position that Tehran is coming alarmingly
close to being able to weaponize its nuclear material. He gained the
respect of pro-Israel activists in 1991 when, as assistant secretary of
state for international organizations, he masterminded and steered the
successful initiative to repeal the U.N. resolution that equated Zionism
with racism.
According to a report in U.S. News & World Report, senate staffers
are investigating suspicions that Bolton, in his current position of
under secretary of state for arms control, shelved the memo suggesting
that Israel violated American laws with its July 23, 2000, assassination
of
Salah Shehada, a senior Hamas activist in Gaza City.
Israel's air force used an American-made F-16 bomber to drop a one-ton
bomb on a house in a densely populated part of Gaza, where Shehada was
staying.
The bomb killed him, as well as 14 civilians, and injured more than 100
people. According to U.S. News, several offices of the State Department,
including the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the legal office, issued
a report saying that the attack represented a violation of America's Arms
Export Control Act, which prohibits American weapons from being used for
nondefensive purposes.
Bolton reportedly disagreed with that judgment, and had officials draft a
"split memo" for Secretary of State Colin Powell presenting
both positions. (MORE)
-----
DEVELOPING
AN IDENTITY: FAITH MATTERS FOR METRO ARABS -
TOP
Many of them define selves more by religion than ethnicity
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 5/5/05
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/identity5e_20050505.htm
Inside a Detroit mosque Friday night, gaggles of teens shuffled into the
main hall for soda and cake to celebrate the birthday of the prophet
Muhammad. Most were U.S.-raised and of Arab descent; the Islamic
headscarves on some women meshed comfortably with baggy football
jerseys.
They are, in many ways, the future of Arab America. But when asked how
they primarily see themselves, most reply: Muslim or Muslim
American.
"Islam is a priority for me," said Ali Fawaz, a 23-year-old
Dearborn resident of Lebanese descent who helped organize the gathering
at the Islamic Center of America. "It comes before my ethnicity.
Islam unites me with people of different races, nationalities, different
cultures."
The view is shared by a number of young Arab Americans across metro
Detroit who are choosing to identify themselves mainly by their religion.
It's a view that reflects changes in both the United States and the
Middle East, where Islam holds greater sway over younger generations.
Still, the Arab-American identity remains strong in metro Detroit, and
for many, the idea of being Arab, Muslim and American coexist in an image
cobbled together by diverse experiences.
The opening of the Arab American National Museum today will be a striking
symbol of how much the idea of being an Arab American has developed.
There are numerous Arab-American business associations, political
outfits, and even a nurses group. But the notion of being an Arab
American is a relatively new concept. And now, it's overlapping with the
pull of Islam.
Part of the museum deals with religion, noting that Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam originated in what is today the Arab world. The
contributions of Christian priests of Arab descent are also duly noted.
But the first floor emphasizes how closely linked Islam and Arabs are.
Today, that relationship still exists, with many Arab Americans now
embracing their Islamic beliefs.
"They see themselves as American Muslims," said Imam Hassan
Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center, which plans to open a new mosque in
Dearborn next week. "I think the new generation doesn't care as much
about ethnicity." (MORE)
-----
RELIGIOUS
LEADERS DENOUNCE ROBERTSON COMMENTS, ADS TO FOLLOW -
TOP
Helena Andrews, Religion News Service
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16622_1.html
Washington, May 4 - Religious leaders, left-leaning political activists
and victims of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York joined Wednesday (May 4)
to denounce recent comments Pat Robertson made about the escalating
battle over the federal judiciary.
MoveOnPAC, a progressive group that provides financial backing to
congressional candidates, said it's launching a TV ad campaign
repudiating the religious broadcaster's Sunday (May 1) comments on ABC's
"This Week."
Robertson, who had a brief 1988 GOP presidential bid, told "This
Week" host George Stephanopoulos that federal jurists were a more
serious threat to America than "a few bearded terrorists who fly
into buildings" and that Muslims were unfit to hold federal
judgeships.
"And they have said in the Quran there's a war against all
infidels," Robertson said. "Do you want somebody like that
sitting as a judge? I wouldn't."
In a telephone news conference, the Rev. Jim Wallis, evangelical editor
of Sojourners magazine and the author of "God's Politics: Why the
Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," said Robertson's
remarks were "irresponsible, extreme and hurtful."
He added that Robertson's claims that "all Muslims want to kill
us" were particularly destructive to the healing process happening
in the Islamic community.
Leading Islamic civil rights groups agreed.
"Not only is it hurtful, but it is actually inaccurate that all
Islam is a monolithic entity," said Arsalan Iftikhar, the national
legal director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations, also participating in the news conference. "There are
over a billion Muslims on Earth."
Iftikhar said the American Muslim community is trying to build bridges of
tolerance between the United States and the Muslim world.
"Inflammatory statements only go towards burning the bridges, not
building them," Iftikhar said. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
WHEN POWERFUL
PEOPLE SAY REALLY DUMB THINGS -
TOP
Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor, 5/5/05
http://blogs.csmonitor.com/my_american_experience/2005/05/
All of us have, no doubt, at one time or another, said something really
dumb. I know I certainly have.
You know, the kind of statement that can bring an entire room of chatting
people to dead silence. Almost as soon as the words leave your lips, you
realize, "I shouldn't have said that."
Perhaps it was anger, or ignorance, or incomplete information. Whatever
the reason, you have that "D'ohhh" moment and wish you could
take it back, because it often makes you look really
ridiculous.
Apparently, however, evangelist Pat Robertson, one of the founders of the
Christian Coalition and the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), never
has one of these "D'ohh" moments after saying something really
dumb.
Take his two most recent statements that fall into this category. He made
both of them last Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George
Stephanopoulos."
First, he said that no Muslims should be allowed to serve either as
judges in the US (which, of course, violates Article VI, Section 3 of the
US Constitution which states: "no religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the
United States") - or in the president's cabinet, for that
matter.
Then he said that "the out-of-control judiciary" is the
greatest threat that America has faced in the last 400 years - a greater
threat than the Civil War, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, and Al
Qaeda.
And when Mr. Stephanopoulos gave Robertson the chance to backtrack, or to
say that his remarks were "taken out of context" (always a
favorite fallback), he said no, he really believed that. (MORE)
-----
REP.
CONYERS URGES OPPOSITION TO ANTI-IMMIGRANT LEGISLATION -
TOP
(Washington, DC)- Congressman John Conyers, Jr. issued the following
statement today in opposition to the inclusion of the controversial Real
ID Act in the Emergency Supplemental Bill:
"I rise in strong opposition to this supplemental appropriations
bill and the anti-immigrant legislation it contains.
If we truly believe all the rhetoric we hear about the importance of
freedom and liberty from the president and others, we will vote down this
bill, which denies so much freedom and liberty to immigrants in our own
country.
H.R. 1268 includes numerous provisions limiting the rights of refugees,
imposing onerous new driver's license requirements on the states, making
it easier to deport legal immigrants, waiving all federal laws concerning
the construction of fences and barriers anywhere within the United
States, and denying immigrants long standing habeas corpus
rights.
If enacted into law, this legislation will close America's doors to
religious minorities escaping religious persecution and women fleeing sex
trafficking and rape.
We have been down this road of overreaction in the past. During the Civil
War, General Grant sought to expel the Jews from the South. The aftermath
of World War I brought about the notorious Red Scare and the
anti-immigrant Palmer raids. World War II led to the unconscionable
internment of Japanese Americans.
In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, and even after the Patriot Act, this
legislation would further target immigrants for crimes they have not
committed, and sins they are not responsible for. At some point, we have
to treat terrorism as a problem that requires an intelligence response,
as opposed to an excuse to scapegoat immigrants.
It is for all these reasons that so many groups strongly oppose this
bill, including groups concerned about immigrant rights, civil rights and
liberties, privacy rights; Labor rights; the environment; Native-American
rights; state rights, and international human rights.
I urge Members to oppose this legislation. We cannot and should not close
ourselves off to the most vulnerable members of our
society."
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS ARE TARGETS OF
PARANOID U.S. -
TOP
JEFF SIDDIQUI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/5/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/222841_patriot05.html
As portions of the USA Patriot Act come up for review, it behooves us to
review where we are today in the United States and where we are
heading.
In March, two 16-year-old Muslim girls were imprisoned by the FBI on the
assertion (no charges, mind you) that they are "an imminent threat
to the security of the United States based on evidence that they plan to
be suicide bombers." The FBI stories unraveled as fast as they were
created.
The FBI said the two girls knew each other and were planning by the time
they were imprisoned. Actually, they met after the FBI held them after
their parents were detained on immigration charges. The girls, one from
Bangladesh living in Queens and the other a Guinean girl living in East
Harlem, had only age and Islam in common. The only "connection"
to suicide bombing was an essay the Bangladeshi girl had written stating
suicide is forbidden in Islam. It is strange that while the girls were
being accused of preparing to blow up indeterminate targets, the FBI did
not open their school lockers.
Now the girls are being held, in the words of the immigration
authorities, "purely on immigration charges, that's it" and,
according to the U.S. attorney, "there are absolutely no other
criminal charges."
Muslims are increasingly the target of a "shoot first and ask
questions later" policy by our government. Americans vary in their
responses, from saying nothing to murmuring words of disapproval to
condoning such repressive policies. The hard work of our Founding Fathers
and the work of our great leaders of freedom seem to be going down the
drain after a challenge to our nation by a handful of terrorists.
(MORE)
-----
AMATULLAH
AL MARWANI -- BAY AREA ISLAMIC EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR -
TOP
Michael Taylor, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/5/05
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=Amatullah+Al+Barwani+--+Bay+Area+Islamic+educator+and+author
Amatullah Al Marwani, an author and educator who was one of the strong
moderating voices of the Bay Area Islamic community in the days after the
Sept. 11 attacks, died at Stanford Hospital on Friday after a long battle
with leukemia. She was 34.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the Al Qaeda-sponsored attacks on New
York's World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, Ms. Al Marwani,
executive secretary of the Islamic Society, was one of three women at
prayer services at the San Francisco mosque.
Dressed in traditional garb and clearly in pain over the devastating
news, she told The Chronicle, "This is my country. These are my
people. It is a double-edged sword because I know when people look at me,
they won't see that. They'll just see that I'm one of
them."
Less than a week later, Ms. Al Marwani was one of the featured speakers
at San Francisco's "Day of Remembrance" memorial event at Bill
Graham Civic Auditorium. Because the crowd was so huge -- mushrooming
into the thousands -- it spilled outdoors, to Civic Center
Plaza.
Escorted to the podium by then-Mayor Willie Brown, Ms. Al Marwani said,
"It is good to know that hatred and intolerance in this country is
not shared by everyone. We do not believe there will be any holy reward
for these acts of violence; nor do we endorse terrorism at any time, or
any place."
Ms. Al Marwani was born Kristina Sue Martinez in Hagerstown, Md., and
grew up in Maryland and Virginia. Her family moved to San Francisco when
she was 13. She attended Galileo High School, then later went to a trade
school to learn about computers. In 1996, while living in San Francisco,
she met her neighbor, Mohamad Zaro, a native of Jordan, and the two fell
in love, Zaro said. At the time, both were going through divorces. They
married in 1997, the year Ms. Al Marwani converted to Islam. Her leukemia
was diagnosed in 2000.
After chemotherapy, the disease went into remission, and she became
pregnant with their son, Zaahir, who is now 3 years old. Later, Ms.
Al
Marwani became sick again.
A few weeks before she died, Ms. Al Marwani was interviewed by Rising
Star, a monthly Web-based
(
www.ourrisingstar.org)
publication originally titled Islamic Journal. Seriously ill and facing a
bone-marrow transplant, Ms. Al Marwani said, "Sometimes you can
clearly see Allah's design, and sometimes it's hidden in the patterns of
life we take for granted. Whenever I feel overwhelmed and afraid of the
choices I'm up against, I kiss our son."
Ms. Al Marwani was a librarian and educator at the Granada Islamic School
in Santa Clara and was the author of Islamic faith children's books, such
as "Zaahir and Jamel the Camel at the Hajj."
In addition to her husband and son of Mountain View, Ms. Al Marwani is
survived by her 14-year-old daughter, Amira; her mother, Mary Ellen
Maffitt of Hagerstown, Md.; two sisters, Kara McBryde of Pensacola, Fla.,
and Edi Swearingen of Keene, N.H.; and a stepbrother, Paul Lemon of
Fresno.
Services have been held. The family suggests donations to the
Muslim
Community Association, 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054.
-----
NEOCONS LAY SIEGE TO
THE IVORY TOWERS -
TOP
Saree Makdisi, Los Angeles Times, 5/4/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-makdisi4may04,0,1186970.story
[Saree Makdisi is a professor of English literature at UCLA.]
In the months ahead, the state Senate Committee on Education will
consider a bill that pretends to strike a blow for intellectual honesty,
truth and freedom, but in reality poses a profound threat to academic
freedom in the United States.
Peddled under the benign name "An Academic Bill of Rights," SB
5 is in fact part of a wide assault on universities, professors and
teaching across the country. Similar bills are pending in more than a
dozen state legislatures and at the federal level, all calling for
government intrusion into pedagogical matters, such as text assignments
and course syllabuses, that neither legislators nor bureaucrats are
competent to address.
The language of the California bill -- which was blocked in committee
last week but will be reconsidered later in the legislative session -- is
extraordinarily disingenuous, even Orwellian. Declaring that "free
inquiry and free speech are indispensable" in "the pursuit of
truth," it argues that "intellectual independence means the
protection of students from the imposition of any orthodoxy of a
political, religious or ideological nature." Professors should
"not take unfair advantage of their position of power over a student
by indoctrinating him or her with the teacher's own opinions before a
student has had an opportunity fairly to examine other opinions upon the
matters in question."
To protect students from what one might (mistakenly) suppose to be an
epidemic of indoctrination, the bill mandates that students be graded on
the basis of their "reasoned answers" rather than their
political beliefs.
Reading lists should "respect the uncertainty and unsettled
character of all human knowledge." Speakers brought to campus should
"promote intellectual pluralism," and faculty should eschew
political, religious or "anti-religious" bias.
Notwithstanding its contorted syntax, the bill may sound reasonable. But,
in fact, it has nothing to do with balance and everything to do with
promoting a neoconservative agenda. For one thing, the proposed
"safeguards" to "protect" students from faculty
intimidation are already in place at all universities, which have
procedures to encourage students' feedback and evaluate their grievances.
Despite a lot of noise from the right about liberal bias on campus, there
are simply no meaningful data to suggest that any of these procedures
have failed. (MORE)
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 5/6/05
*
HADITH:
God
Meets All Needs
*
CAIR-CAN Dinner a
Huge
Success
*
DC:
Islamophobia/Anti-Americanism
Conf: Only 1 Week Left!
*
CAIR-FL:
'
Heaven'
Gives Entree to Muslim Hero (SP Times)
-
ISLAM-OPED:
Film May
Spark Dialogue (Tampa Trib)
*
FL:
Denny's
Ignored Anti-Muslim Complaint (Boca Raton News)
-
CA:
Muslim to Press
Civil Rights Suit
-
IL:
Bias in
Rejection of Muslim School? (Chicago Trib)
*
CA:
Event to Aid
Muslim Women's Shelter (Mercury News)
*
More
Charges to Come in AIPAC Affair? (CSM)
-
Israeli Linked to
AIPAC Probe to Leave Post (Haaretz)
*
CT:
Terror Suspect
Gets Bush Invite (AP)
*
Al-Arian Case: An Honest Tampa
Tribune? (Weekly Planet)
*
IA:
Islam Growing in
Central Iowa
*
DC:
Muslims
in the U.S.: Influence and Innovation
-
VA:
MAS-FF
Annual Standing for Justice Dinner
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
GOD MEETS ALL NEEDS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When you go to bed,
say, 'Praise is due to God Who fed us, provided us drink, met our (other)
needs, and provided us with shelter. For many people there is no one to
meet their needs and no one to provide shelter.'"
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1255
-----
CAIR-CAN DINNER
IN TORONTO A HUGE SUCCESS -
TOP
(OTTAWA, CANADA � 05/6/05) � Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to God),
CAIR-CAN's Third Annual Fundraising Dinner in Toronto this past weekend
was a huge success. A sold-out crowd of over 700 people came to honor the
past five years of CAIR-CAN's human rights, media and political advocacy
work, and donated $140,000 to continue supporting it.
Keynote speakers included: Senator Mobina Jaffer who spoke about her
experiences as a Canadian Muslim; Lloyd Axworthy, a Former Minister of
Foreign Affairs, addressed the crowd with a speech about his political
work in Canada and abroad; and Maher Arar, a human rights activist, moved
the audience to tears with his heartfelt speech and acceptance of an
award from CAIR-CAN for his tireless fight for justice. The night ended
with the comedy of Azhar Usman.
"CAIR-CAN would like to thank everyone who came to the dinner and
supported us with their generous donations. May Allah bless all of the
donors and volunteers, both in this world and the hereafter," stated
Riad Saloojee, the executive director of CAIR-CAN.
For more information, visit:
www.caircan.ca
-----
CAIR-DC
ISLAMOPHOBIA/ANTI-AMERICANISM CONF: ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT! -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/6/05) - Register now for CAIR's "Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies" conference in Washington,
D.C. There is only one week left!
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005 (Conference Banquet,
Saturday, May 14)
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234) To view a complete conference program or to register
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 NEW
REGISTRATION OPTION: $75 Single-Day - A new $75 day-rate has been
announced for CAIR's 2005 Annual Conference, "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies." The $75 cost will include the
full May 14th program, two meals and the Anwar Ibrahim address. E-mail
events@cair-net.org call 202-488-8787 ext. 6050, to register for the single-day rate.
-----
COMMENTARY: "HEAVEN' GIVES ENTREE TO MUSLIM HERO -
TOP
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times, 5/5/05
http://www.sptimes.com/Opinion.shtml
The victor in Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven is wise and
compassionate, and by the time we see his nation's emblem raised above
the spoils - the city of Jerusalem - many viewers will feel deep
respect for this hero.
His name is Saleh El Din, or Saladin in Westernized form, and he's fighting for Islam against Christian invaders.
Any resemblance to today's war in Iraq isn't coincidental in Scott's
version of the third Crusade. The 12th and 21st centuries mirror more
than their numerals. What is remarkable, possibly controversial, is the
film's uncommonly balanced portraits of heroes on both sides of a
conflict still raging today. They're antagonists by definition, yet
equals in terms of representing religious values that others proclaim
in vain.
Saladin's counterpart among crusaders is Balian of Ibelin, played by
Orlando Bloom, a blacksmith whose personal crises initially make him
indifferent to the continuing tensions of the Crusades. He's a
typically handsome European hero for such sword-and-shield epics, with
a strong sense of honor when he adopts a knight's code to preserve and
protect. When Balian leads Jerusalem's defense, he urges the fight to
save citizens, not the city. He's a moderate among warmongers.
Saladin, played charismatically by Ghassan Massoud, isn't the scary
villain type that Hollywood often uses to portray Muslims. Saladin's
chivalry with his foes, his charity to allow Christian survivors to
exit Jerusalem after crusaders massacred Muslims under similar
circumstances, is still revered in the Muslim world. He and Balian are
closer in spirit than their theologies allow.
The characterization is a remarkable creative choice for any filmmaker today.
Some Americans may resent a film dealing with Middle Eastern warfare
against Christians that doesn't paint Muslims as evil, especially when
Scott's parallels to today are so obvious, and so much U.S. policy and
rhetoric is colored by religion. Or maybe they've been conditioned by
Hollywood to expect anyone of Muslim culture in movies to be terrorists
or comic relief.
From the wild-eyed anarchists of True Lies and Delta Force, to the
yammering fools of Ishtar and a suburban terrorist cell on the TV show
24, Muslims and Arabs have been convenient villains for screenwriters.
The trend slowed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the
United States while positive portrayals remained nearly invisible.
Kingdom of Heaven is Scott's bold attempt to reverse such stereotypes.
It's surprisingly successful, having earned praise from advocacy groups
that regularly protest Hollywood's portrayals of Arabs and Muslims.
Sabiha Khan, communications director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, called Kingdom of Heaven a "balanced and positive depiction"
of Muslims as "dignified and proud people whose lives are based on
ethics and morality."
CAIR's Central Florida director, Ahmed Bedier, attended a recent Tampa
screening of Kingdom of Heaven. He was impressed with the film's
portrayal of Saladin, and that Scott makes the reinstallation of the
crescent of Islam over Jerusalem a climactic, almost feel-good moment.
"Some people will be unusually surprised at that," he said. "Right now,
when some people see the sign of the crescent, they think: the enemy.
It's similar to the way they used to see the emblem of the Soviet Union.
"As a Muslim, I was happy to see that; not that he beat the Christians, but he was shown in a positive way." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
FILM MAY SPARK INTERFAITH DIALOGUE -
TOP
Parvez Ahmed, Tampa Trib, 5/6/05
http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGB8YIGLD8E.html
[Parvez Ahmed is a national board member and chairs the Florida chapter
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest
Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group. E-mail: pahmed@cairfl.org]
Because Sir Ridley Scott's new epic ``Kingdom of Heaven'' - scheduled
to open today in theaters nationwide - was filmed against the backdrop
of the Crusades, it is likely to stir up religious passions still
associated with that centuries-long conflict.
Many Muslims were concerned about the possibility of religious or
ethnic stereotyping when they heard that yet another Hollywood movie
would feature Arab-Muslim characters. That concern was not without
valid precedent. (MORE)
-----
DENNY'S IGNORED ANTI-MUSLIM COMPLAINT, SAYS BOCA PLAINTIFF -
TOP
Sean Salai, Boca Raton News, 5/5/05
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&category=Local%20News&prid=11533
The Denny's Corporation refused to take responsibility for a racial
discrimination complaint against one of its South Florida franchises,
ignoring the seven alleged Muslim victims for 11 months, a Boca Raton
plaintiff said Wednesday.
Ehab Mohamed, an Egyptian-born Muslim and insurance broker who lives in
Boca with his American wife, said he and his six friends in their $28
million lawsuit would fiercely dispute last week's statement by Denny's
president Nelson Marchioli that the corporation immediately
investigated and discounted their January 2004 complaint to the Florida
Commission on Human Relations - a state agency that recently found
probable cause for discrimination in its own yearlong investigation.
"The president of Denny's is lying to the entire world," said Mohamed,
31. "I'm disgusted because it was a full 11 months before Robert
Morris, a private investigator hired by Denny's, contacted us to begin
his investigation."
Alan C. Kauffman, the Boca lawyer representing Mohamed's group in the
suit filed last week, said a June 1, 2004 letter from Denny's
litigation coordinator Angela Pressley was the first and only
correspondence his clients received from the Denny's corporate office
about the incident at a Florida City restaurant.
Pressley's letter simply stated that the Florida City franchise owner
would handle the complaint and that Kauffman's clients should direct
"all future correspondence or questions regarding this matter" there
instead of to the corporate office.
"When you talk about denial of civil rights, and the way Denny's
refused to take responsibility for this complaint, our case definitely
goes to a threshold issue," Kauffman said Wednesday. "Looking at past
litigation in Texas, I think it's fair of us to ask for $28 million.
It's consistent with past jury decisions." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM TO PRESS CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT -
TOP
Matt O'Brien, Daily Review, 5/6/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_2709624
HAYWARD - City attorneys were unable to settle a civil rights lawsuit
on Wednesday involving a Muslim businessman who says Hayward police
officers made derogatory remarks about his religion.
Easa Begzad, 49, a longtime Hayward candy manufacturer, traveled to
U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Wednesday in an effort to reach
a settlement with the city.
But his lawyer, Salim Khawaja of Fremont, said more than two hours of
court-mandated settlement talks failed to bring any agreement between
Begzad and the city, meaning the case will likely go to trial in June.
Begzad's complaint stems from an emergency call his property manager
made to the police department in May 2002, according to court records.
The manager told police that Begzad was acting suicidal, threatening bold acts of violence that would make the news.
Khawaja said police officers arrived at Begzad's Foley Street candy
factory, which the Afghan man had decorated inside with religious
posters and tapestries.
"They said, 'What's this garbage?'" Khawaja said of the officers.
"There were some pictures of Mecca and other religious writings, Arabic
writing."
Begzad claims that police falsely imprisoned him, denied him due
process when they took him to a mental hospital, intentionally
inflicted emotional distress and discriminated against him on the basis
of his religion.
The Hayward Police Department, through the city attorney's office, has flatly denied all of Begzad's allegations.
The only people present in the office when police made the welfare
check were Begzad, the two police officers and a woman who worked with
Begzad, Khawaja said. (MORE)
---
HARVARD REJECTS PLAN FOR MUSLIM SCHOOL -
TOP
Tim Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5/6/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northshore/chi-0505060104may06,1,3987385.story
The Harvard City Council this week rejected a request to open a Muslim
boarding school in the northwest McHenry County town, saying it wasn't
compatible with nearby residences.
After about 10 minutes of discussion, the council denied the bid by the
Ibrahim Education Foundation to convert an old church into a boarding
school for Muslim boys.
After Wednesday's vote, foundation representatives said the school was rejected because of bias against Islam.
But Mayor Jay Nolan, who lives across the street from the site, said
the council was merely following a Planning Commission recommendation
to oppose it.
"Nothing biased about it," said Nolan, who was sworn in as mayor Tuesday.
The foundation sought to relocate the school from 6355 N. Claremont
Ave. in Chicago to a former Episcopal church in the 600 block of Old
Orchard Road. The school would have had 34 boys, ages 8 to 13, the
foundation said.
Bias was the reason for the rejection, said Mazher Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of the foundation at Wednesday's meeting. (MORE)
-----
PALO ALTO EVENT TO AID MUSLIM WOMEN'S SHELTER-
TOP
Lisa Fernandez, Mercury News, 5/6/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/peninsula/11578830.htm
When a Muslim woman in the Bay Area is abused, her only refuge is a secular shelter, such as Next Door Solutions in San Jose.
While that agency is a safe haven, observant Muslim women have specific
religious needs -- such as eating halal meat and praying five times a
day -- that mainstream battered women's shelters simply can't
accommodate.
On Saturday evening in Palo Alto, a fundraiser will be held in hope of
raising at least $150,000 to pay one year's rent for the Bay Area's
first shelter tailored for Muslim women, said Reshma Hyder, 33, of
Saratoga, the spokeswoman for the North American Islamic Shelter for
the Abused, or NISA. The ultimate goal, she added, is to raise $800,000
to buy a four-bedroom house on the Peninsula to permanently house
Muslim women who are the victims of violent abuse. (MORE)
------
MORE CHARGES TO COME IN PENTAGON ANALYST AFFAIR? -
TOP
Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor, 5/5/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0505/dailyUpdate.html
Supporters of two recently fired senior staff members of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) say they are worried that the
two men will be soon charged as part of the FBI's investigation into
Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin.
The New York Times reports that the two men (Steven Rosen, formerly
AIPAC's director of foreign policy issues, and Keith Weissman, formerly
AIPAC's senior Middle East analyst) were not specifically named in the
charges brought Wednesday against Mr. Franklin for illegally disclosing
highly classified information. But they were later identified by
sources as the other two people present at the meeting where Franklin
allegedly disclosed the information.
The Times also reports that the charges against Franklin have "cast a
cloud" over AIPAC, and are creating difficulties for some members, past
and present, of the Bush administration.
The investigation has proved awkward as well for a group of
conservative Republicans who held high-level civilian jobs at the
Pentagon during President Bush's first term and the buildup toward the
wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who were also close to AIPAC.
They were led by Paul Wolfowitz, the former deputy defense secretary
who has been named president of the World Bank. Franklin once worked in
the office of one of Wolfowitz's allies, Douglas Feith, the
undersecretary for policy at the Pentagon, who has also said he is
leaving the administration later this year.
The New York Post reports that Mr. Franklin "coughed up" information
about attacks on US troops in Iraq to two employees of AIPAC. The Post
also notes, however, that this case bears little resemblance to more
serious espionage cases such as the Jonathon Pollard case. Pollard was
"an intelligence analyst for the Navy who pleaded guilty to spying for
Israel in the 1980s."
Israel said Wednesday it has no involvement with Franklin and had received no secrets. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELI LINKED TO AIPAC PROBE TO LEAVE POST -
TOP
Nathan Guttman, Haaretz, 5/7/05
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/573046.html
WASHINGTON - Naor Gilon, the head of the political department at the
Israeli Embassy in Washington, whose name has been linked to the
Pentagon analyst charged with passing classified information to
unauthorized personnel, will leave his post during the summer.
According to reports from Israel, Gilon is the Israeli representative
who received classified information from two employees of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The AIPAC officials allegedly
received the information during conversations with Larry Franklin, the
Pentagon analyst who was charged by the FBI on Wednesday.
Gilon has been at the embassy for the past three years, and a spokesman
in Washington said that he was leaving "for personal reasons." No
employee of the Israeli Embassy has been quizzed in the affair, U.S.
authorities have not notified the embassy itself about the inquiry and
no one there has been asked to cooperate with detectives. That said,
Israeli officials in Washington say that since the affair was made
public last year, work relations with their American counterparts have
become strained, and there is a new guardedness in conversations with
U.S. officials. (MORE)
-----
TERROR SUSPECT GETS BUSH INVITE -
TOP
Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press, 5/5/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--oddinvitation0505may05,0,2228409.story
HARTFORD, Conn. -- A year after FBI and Homeland Security agents raided
his home in a terrorism investigation, Muslim businessman Syed Maswood
is lucky to get on an airplane without being detained and searched.
But that didn't stop him from getting an invitation to dine with President Bush.
Maswood, a nuclear engineer who has not been charged with any crime and
has been trying for months to get his name off no-fly lists, received
an invitation to serve as an honorary chairman at the President's
Dinner, a Republican fundraiser with Bush in Washington next month.
A Republican who has donated money over the years to GOP campaigns,
Maswood said he briefly considered attending but his wife refused to
fly. The last time they were in Washington, he said, they were held for
hours at the airport.
"I didn't want to go stag," Maswood said, "and she's absolutely adamant."
Agents raised Maswood's suburban Hartford home last year because he
donated money to the Benevolence International Foundation, a once
IRS-approved charity that was accused of supporting terrorism.
Investigators also said they uncovered an e-mail Maswood sent
indicating support for Islamic rebels in Chechnya, but Maswood said he
was simply trying to help humanitarian workers in the war-torn region.
A Bangladeshi immigrant who became an American citizen in 1997, Maswood
said he believes he's being targeted because he is Muslim. He spent
much of the past year writing letters demanding to know why he is
detained whenever he travels. The U.S. attorney's office in Connecticut
had no comment Thursday.
The President's Dinner, the National Republican Congressional
Committee's largest annual fundraiser, will be held next month at a
Washington convention center. Only guests who pay for a photo with Bush
are required to undergo security checks, said Carl Forti, spokesman for
the NRCC.
He said he does not believe Maswood's invitation is a problem. (MORE)
-----
AN HONEST TAMPA TRIBUNE? -
TOP
Al-Arian's attorneys say that would be a good idea
John Sugg, Weekly Planet, 5/6/05
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/sugg_blog.html
Tampa Tribune news boss Janet Weaver had to eat crow last week: A
reporter had fantasized part of a story on towing companies. The
scribe's head is now spiked as a warning to other Tribfolk.
Weaver, in a front page mea culpa, declared that her newspaper longs
"to be truthful, to be fair, to be credible." Passing off fiction as
fact is certainly untruthful. Carrying water for, say, a foreign
government and its disinformation agents -- while claiming objectivity
-- is likewise dishonest. So is not reporting all of the truth or
distorting the truth.
Weaver and her predecessors have never told readers about reporter
Michael Fechter's journalistically unholy alliance with another
nation's spooks and professional liars -- including, as I've disclosed,
that Israeli officials were broadcasting specifics of Fechter's
reporting weeks before publication.
Nor did Weaver address the Trib's most enduring example of distortion,
Fechter's coverage of Sami Al-Arian. If she had, she would have had to
explain a motion filed for the Trib on April 20 by attorney Gregg
Thomas. The newspaper has somehow overlooked reporting on its own legal
foray.
The motion seeks access to juror questionnaires in the Al-Arian case.
"The public perception of these defendants, indeed of entire
ethnicities and religions, reflected in these responses, is of immense
public importance," Thomas intoned.
Al-Arian's defense filed a motion for a change of venue on Friday. It
argues that the media -- the Trib and Fechter most egregiously -- have
poisoned public perceptions of Arabs, Muslims and Al-Arian, who along
with three codefendants, is slated for trial later this month. (MORE)
------
ISLAM GROWING IN CENTRAL IOWA -
TOP
WHOTV, 5/5/05
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3305110
Des Moines - Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United
States. Here in Iowa, it seems to be no different, and there are few
reasons why so many Iowans are connecting with this faith.
The Islamic Center of Des Moines is one of three Muslim mosques in the
metro, so it may suprise you that an estimated twelve thousand Muslims
live in the metro area. One of the most well-known of them is Ako
Abdul-Samad. He's says people moving into Iowa are helping the religion
grow. "You have a large Bosnian population, about fifteen thousand in
Des Moines. Ninety-nine percent of them are Muslim."
In fact, the Bosnian community just purchased a former day care center
to build a new mosque to accommodate all the growth, and the very first
Islamic grade school opened its doors in Des Moines this year. Some
native Iowans are also converting to the faith. After 9-11, Ako says
people living in Des Moines seemed to become more educated about Islam.
He believes they learned it is a religion of peace. "When people saw
that, we started getting converts left and right. People were saying,
'I like what I hear.'"
In the future, Ako expects more people will want to take a closer look
at Islam, and he thinks Des Moines, a mostly Christian town, will
accept that.
A Muslim from Sioux City is running for Governor this year, and the
Islamic Center of Des Moines plans to expand its grade school next year.
-----
CONFERENCE ON MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES: INFLUENCE AND INNOVATION -
TOP
WHAT: The Division of United States Studies at the Woodrow Wilson
International Center for Scholars the International Institute for
Islamic Thought invite you to a conference "Muslims in the United
States: Influence and Innovation."
Speakers include: Osman Bakar, Georgetown University; Tamara Sonn,
College of William and Mary; Joseph Lumbard, The Royal Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan; Gholamreza Aavani, Iranian Institute of Philosophy;
Ibrahim Kalin, Asst. Professor of Islamic Studies, College of the Holy
Cross; Seyyed Hossein Nasr, George Washington University; Amira
el-Azhary Sonbol, Georgetown University; Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons,
University of Florida; Ali Asani, Harvard University; and Jane Smith ,
Hartford Seminary.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 11, 2005
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004-3027
The conference is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and RSVPs are required. Respond with acceptances only to
www.wilsoncenter.org/usstudies. For a map and directions, please see
www.wilsoncenter.org/directions.
ALSO SEE:
MAS-FF, MCRC 2ND ANNUAL STANDING FOR JUSTICE FUNDRAISING DINNER -
TOP
WHAT: MAS Freedom Foundation and Muslim Civil Rights Center (MCRC)'s 2nd Annual Standing for Justice Fundraising Dinner.
WHEN: Sunday, May 22, 2005 from 6-10 p.m.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner
8661 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22182
Tickets: Student $30, Couple $75, Single $40
-----
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 - 5/8/05
*
Still Time to
Register for CAIR Conf. in DC
*
CAIR-FL:
Christians,
Muslim Watch 'Kingdom of Heaven'
*
NY:
Girl
Held in Terror Inquiry Released (NYT)
*
TX:
Windows on
Worship - Islam Welcomes (Express-News)
-
MN:
Muslim
Couple's Love Got a Nudge from Friends
*
NY:
Catholics, Muslims
Celebrate Connections
*
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:
Islamic
Life in the United States
*
Soldier Lifts Lid on Camp
Delta (Observer)
-
Dismay at US Koran
'Desecration' (BBC)
-----
STILL TIME TO
REGISTER FOR CAIR CONF. IN DC -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
Hear from:
* Anwar Ibrahim
* Cherif Bassiouni
* Hafiz Mirazi, Al-Jazeera
* Chip Pitts, Amnesty International
* Jamal Badawi
* Merve Kavakci
* And many more!
-----
CHRISTIANS,
MUSLIM GET TOGETHER TO WATCH 'KINGDOM OF HEAVEN' -
TOP
James D. Davis, Sun-Sentinel, 5/7/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-likingdom07may07,0,6067681.story
Maybe it's a good sign that Christians and Muslims can sit and eat
popcorn while watching a movie about the Crusades.
Three South Florida friends -- a Protestant pastor, a Muslim activist, a
Catholic priest -- watched an advance screening of Kingdom of Heaven this
week, then talked out their widely diverging feelings.
"I felt the film's message to people of all faiths, Jews, Christians
and Muslims," Altaf Ali says. "We all have to see how religion
played a role in those times. We have the opportunity not to make the
same mistakes."
Father Paul Edwards hated it. "Just another blood-and-guts war
movie, with no value for interfaith relations," he says.
The Rev. Jeffrey Frantz felt a stinging message in the film. "It's a
reminder of how barbaric we've been to each other, even in our own times.
I don't know if our attack on Iraq was any better."
That they can talk like this about a movie that shows their spiritual
ancestors killing each other, though, indicates how far they've already
come. The three have become acquainted through joint services and an
occasional lunch. Frantz and Ali rode together to the Fort Lauderdale
theater.
Opening nationwide Friday, the lush, violent Kingdom of Heaven deals with
a 12th century battle for Jerusalem, with Crusaders defending it against
the legendary general Saladin. Although it's mainly an epic
action-adventure, director Ridley Scott also used it to preach a message
of tolerance and respect for all religions.
Orlando Bloom, who plays the Christian leader of Jerusalem's forces,
states that the city should belong to all. "The Kingdom of Heaven is
not stones," he says, then points to his head and heart: "It is
here, and here."
Leaders of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an American
advocacy group, praised Kingdom of Heaven as positive toward Islamic
culture after a private screening in Los Angeles. A spokesperson says the
movie "managed to show the horrors of war without associating those
horrors with a particular faith or culture."
Ali, CAIR's Florida director, says he tensed up when he heard about the
movie's release.
"I thought, `Here we go again, another movie that vilifies
Muslims,'" he says. "Then I saw it had a balanced portrayal of
the historical facts, on both sides." (MORE)
-----
ELATION
IN HARLEM AS GIRL HELD IN TERROR INQUIRY IS RELEASED -
TOP
NINA BERNSTEIN, New York Times, 5/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/07/nyregion/07suicide.html
It began with two 16-year-old immigrant girls arrested at dawn, detained
far from home, and, in a chilling government assertion, called would-be
suicide bombers who posed "an imminent threat to the security of the
United States."
But now, after holding the girls for six weeks in a Pennsylvania
detention center, the government has quietly released one of the girls
and is allowing the other to leave the country with her family.
One girl, an immigrant from Guinea, was back in her East Harlem high
school yesterday among the jubilant friends and teachers who have
insisted all along that the accusation was absurd. The other girl, who
grew up in Queens, was still in detention, but was granted an order from
an immigration judge that will allow her and her parents to return to
their native Bangladesh as soon as the trip can be arranged.
Many questions remain unanswered in a case that has been marked from the
start by secrecy, including closed hearings, sealed F.B.I. declarations,
and orders barring the lawyers from disclosing government information.
James Margolin, an F.B.I. spokesman, did not return calls seeking comment
on the latest developments, and earlier had said he could not discuss the
cases.
But Natasha Pierre, the lawyer for the Guinean girl, Adama Bah, said the
outcome spoke for itself. "She should never have been detained in
the first place," Ms. Pierre said of her client, who was not yet 2
when she arrived in New York with her parents, Muslims who have a trinket
shop near a subway stop in Bushwick, Brooklyn. "I'm still under a
gag order and I have to be very careful not to cross the line. All I can
say is she's innocent - she's more than innocent. The girl doesn't know
anything." (MORE)
-----
WINDOWS ON WORSHIP:
ISLAM WELCOMES -
TOP
Abe Levy, Express-News, 5/7/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA050705.1R.wow_masjid_bilal.24ab00c59.html
An interior window divides the main reading room from a smaller room
where Masjid Bilal meets weekly for a prayer service.
This Muslim congregation of some 19 families likes the public setting
that the East Side's Carver Branch Library provides.
They seek to be visible and connected to the city in as many ways as
possible. It's one way to overcome what they believe to be historic
misperceptions of the predominantly African American Muslim
congregation.
"We want to let them know we're all right," Imam Omar Shakir
said with a smile. "We're their friends." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
LOVE GOT A NUDGE FROM
FRIENDS, FAMILY -
TOP
MOLLY MILLETT, Pioneer Press, 5/8/05
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/living/11573609.htm
Asma Haidri and Kashif Saroya have some determined teenage matchmakers to
thank for nudging them together.
As devout Muslims, Asma and Kashif did not "date" in the
traditional sense. The twenty-somethings first saw each other -- in
passing -- in Iowa, at an Islamic conference. Later, they were introduced
at the Islamic Center of Minnesota, after Asma moved here from Iowa and
Kashif from Madison, Wis. Kashif asked Asma to serve as a camp counselor
at a Muslim summer camp for kids he organized last year.
"We got to know each other a little more," says Kashif, a
systems analyst with Ecolab. "I saw that she was so calm and patient
with the kids. They felt so comfortable with her."
"I think there are different levels of love, and even before that
summer at camp, when we would talk on the phone to organize things, I saw
his commitment to the camp. He gave up a whole week of work just to be
there, just to volunteer," says Asma, a senior at the College of St.
Catherine. "We did not talk personally, but we were kind of friends,
and I think there was some kind of love there, and it just
grew."
After camp, Asma and Kashif went their separate ways. Not for long,
though.
"In October, a couple of the girls from camp approached me and
asked, 'Do you like Kashif?' They're teenagers, I thought they were just
joking around," says Asma.
"But then I told my sister and my friend at Sunday school. I said I
was going to drop it, that if he was interested, he'll do something about
it. But they said, 'No, what if he's shy, you have to find out.' So, my
friend e-mailed him and said, 'The girls approached Asma about this, is
it coming from you?' "
"The girls had approached me, too, after camp," says Kashif.
"They said, 'You know, Kashif, you should get married. We have a
sister in mind for you.' I said, 'OK, you guys, take it easy. I don't
know what you're up to, but let me know before you start.'
"
But Kashif was happy to receive the e-mail.
"Before, I did not think about her on that level; I didn't know her
situation, she could have already been engaged," says Kashif.
"But when they told me, it did not feel that out of the blue, like I
did not know this person."
They proceeded cautiously and sought out their families' involvement.
Kashif had moved to the United States during college, and his family
remains in Pakistan. Asma grew up in Iowa in a family with traditional
Muslim roots. Families get involved in the courtship process to serve as
a neutral third party, "because it might be that we are overlooking
something in the excitement," says Kashif.
In this case, approval came fast. When it's love and it's a good match,
sometimes it's obvious to everyone. Especially mothers. (MORE)
-----
CATHOLICS, MUSLIMS
CELEBRATE CONNECTIONS -
TOP
Alan Morrell, Democrat & Chronicle, 5/7/05
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050507/NEWS01/505070326/1002/NEWS
(May 7, 2005) - Area Catholics and Muslims celebrated together Friday
night at Sacred Heart Cathedral in commemoration of their landmark
alliance.
"Look around," said J. Patrick O'Connor, a diocesan
representative of the Christian-Muslim Commission, to the audience of
about 200 people. "How many places in the world could ever do what
we're doing now, here?"
Friday's event was the second anniversary of the signing of the Muslim
Catholic Agreement of Understanding and Cooperation. It is thought to be
the only such agreement signed by Muslims and Catholics in the
nation.
The guest speakers were Dr. Sayyid Syeed, secretary general and CEO of
the Islamic Society of North America; and the Rev. Francis Tiso,
associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious
Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. They spoke of mutual
respect, cooperation and dignity. They embraced, to loud applause, after
their speeches.
"There is not anything inherent in the religions that would keep
them apart," said Syeed, who is based in Indianapolis. "We want
people to go out and embrace others. ... Our religion says you should go
out and invite people of the Book - the Bible - and find common
ground." (MORE)
-----
REQUESTS
FOR GRANT PROPOSALS: ISLAMIC LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES -
TOP
http://www.exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/may23arfgp.htm
Announcement Type: New Grant
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-05-61
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000
Application Deadline: May 23, 2005
Executive Summary:
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for one
grant to support an international exchange project under the rubric
"Islam: Scholarship and Practice in the United States." Public
and private non-profit organizations or consortia of such organizations
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to develop and implement a multi-phased
exchange involving the travel of scholars and clerics from Egypt, Jordan,
and one or more additional countries of the Middle East to the United
States and of reciprocal visits to the Middle East by American scholars
of religion, scholars of Islamic studies, and clerics.
-----
SOLDIER LIFTS LID ON CAMP
DELTA -
TOP
Paul Harris, Observer, 5/8/05
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1479040,00.html
An American soldier has revealed shocking new details of abuse and sexual
torture of prisoners at Guant�namo Bay in the first high-profile
whistleblowing account to emerge from inside the top-secret
base.
Erik Saar, an Arabic speaker who was a translator in interrogation
sessions, has produced a searing first-hand account of working at
Guant�namo. It will prove a damaging blow to a White House still
struggling to recover from the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib jail in
Iraq.
In an exclusive interview, Saar told The Observer that prisoners were
physically assaulted by 'snatch squads' and subjected to sexual
interrogation techniques and that the Geneva Conventions were
deliberately ignored by the US military.
He also said that soldiers staged fake interrogations to impress visiting
administration and military officials. Saar believes that the great
majority of prisoners at Guant�namo have no terrorist links and little
worthwhile intelligence information has emerged from the base despite its
prominent role in America's war on terror.
Saar paints a picture of a base where interrogations of often innocent
prisoners have spiralled out of control, doing massive damage to
America's image in the Muslim world.
Saar said events at Guant�namo were a disaster for US foreign policy. 'We
are trying to promote democracy worldwide. I don't see how you can do
that and run a place like Guant�namo Bay. This is now a rallying cry to
the Muslim world,' he said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
DISMAY AT US KORAN
'DESECRATION' -
TOP
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4525941.stm
Pakistani officials say they are "deeply dismayed" over reports
that the Koran was desecrated at the US detention facility in Guantanamo
Bay.
The latest edition of the American Newsweek magazine said such tactics
were used to rattle suspects.
It says that US personnel on one occasion flushed a copy of Islam's most
holy book "down the toilet". (MORE)
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5/9/05
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
REPORT TO SHOW SHARP JUMP IN ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIMES
CAIR: 11-year high in number of reported Muslim civil
rights cases
WHAT: On Wednesday, May 11, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) will hold a noon news conference in the nation's capital
to release its 10th annual report, titled
"Unequal
Protection," on the status of Muslim civil rights in the United
States.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group's report -
the only annual study of its kind - will show a significant increase in
anti-Muslim hate crimes during 2004 and an 11-year high in the total
number of reported cases. (States with the largest numbers of reported
incidents include California, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Texas,
Florida, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, and Illinois.)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 11, 2005, Noon (Eastern)
WHERE: National Press Club Building, 13th Floor, Zenger Room, 529
14th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
The report's authors believe at least some of the sharp rise in
anti-Muslim incidents can be attributed to growing Islamophobia in
American society. That disturbing phenomenon will be addressed at a CAIR
conference, called "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and
Remedies," to be held this weekend in Washington, D.C. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, began documenting
anti-Muslim incidents following the 1995 attack on the Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called
CAIR-NET,
receive news releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim
positions on issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
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
DC: AMNESTY BOARD CHAIR TO SPEAK AT CAIR CONFERENCE
Chip Pitts joins Anwar Ibrahim and Cherif Bassiouni at
weekend event
(
WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/9/05) - The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that Amnesty
International USA Board Chair Chip Pitts will speak at a Saturday
luncheon during its
"Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and Remedies" conference this weekend in Washington, D.C. SEE:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/about/chippitts.html
Other keynote speakers at CAIR's conference include former Malaysian
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Anwar Ibrahim (Saturday evening banquet) and
Professor Cherif Bassiouni (Friday evening dinner), an
internationally-acclaimed law professor who was until recently the United
Nations' top investigator on human rights in Afghanistan. To view a
complete conference program or to register online, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
(Online registration ends Thursday. There will be no on-site registration.)
WHEN: Conference begins Friday, May 13, and lasts until Sunday, May 15, 2005
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna, VA
CAIR's 2005 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
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding. To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core
Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called
CAIR-NET, receive news releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
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 - 5/10/05
*
HADITH:
Do Not Oppress
One Another
*
Canadian
Muslims Call for Censure of Israeli Official
*
CAIR-MI to Hold 4th
Annual Banquet
*
MD:
School
System Denies Muslim Holiday Request (Balt Sun)
-
NC:
Farmer
to Build Slaughterhouse for Muslims (AP)
*
MA:
Muslim
Teen Turns Incident into Opportunity
-
FL:
Muslim Student Earns
Science Prize (Tampa Trib)
-
FL:
Muslim's Study
Earns 1st Place in Science Fair
*
NJ:
Festival
Educates About Turkish Culture (Record)
*
CT:
First
Muslim Chaplain at Trinity College
*
Signs
That AIPAC Scandal Probe Widens (Forward)
*
NJ:
Islam 101
Seminar for Journalists
*
Christian Rock for Muslims
(NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE
DAY: DO NOT OPPRESS ONE ANOTHER -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) quoted God as saying: "O My
servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it
forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another."
Hadith Qudsi 17
-----
CANADIAN
MUSLIMS CALL FOR CENSURE OF ISRAELI OFFICIAL -
TOP
Israeli Consul General says that the majority of Muslims support
extremism
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 5/10/05) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today called on Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre
Pettigrew to censure Israeli Consul General Ya'acov Brosh for his
comments at the recent Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish
Understanding, held at the Temple Har Zion Synagogue in
Toronto.
Mr. Brosh stated that most terrorists today are Muslims and that the
majority of Muslims support extremism. Mr. Brosh noted that one of the
most popular names in the Muslim world is "Osama."
The event was organized by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for
Holocaust Studies.
In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN said:
"The comments made by Israeli Consul General Ya'acov Brosh fosters
hate and bigotry against Canadian Muslims.
"Mr. Brosh's comments, made as they were by an Israeli official in
Canada, cannot be allowed to stand without a response from the Canadian
government.
"We are calling on Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew to
censure Mr. Brosh and indicate to him such Islamophobia will not be
tolerated in Canada."
In December of last year, CAIR-CAN called on the Friends of Simon
Wiesenthal Center to publicly condemn Islamophobic comments made by an
invited keynote speaker at a conference sponsored by the group and held
at the University of Toronto.
See:
http://www.caircan.ca/itn_more.php?id=P1288_0_2_0_C
At that event, the speaker stated that "Islamic terrorism is based
on Islam," and that Islam was "immoderate" and
"totalitarian."
CONTACT: Halima Mautbur at 613-254-9704; Cell:
613-795-2012
-----
CAIR-MI TO HOLD 4TH
ANNUAL BANQUET -
TOP
(LATHRUP VILLAGE, MI, 5/09/05) - On May 11, the Michigan office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) will hold its Fourth
Annual Fundraising Banquet, with the theme of "Grassroots Activism:
Protecting your Civil Liberties."
The event will be held at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn,
Mich. Speakers include CAIR-MI Board Member Haaris Ahmad and former Army
Chaplain James "Yusuf" Yee.
CAIR-MI will also outline its work over the last year and its vision for
the coming year.
WHAT: CAIR-MI 4th Annual Banquet
WHEN: Wednesday, May 11, Registration 6 p.m., Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bint Jebail Cultural Center, 6220 Miller Road, Dearborn
CONTACT: Misbah Shahid, 734-673-9430,
cairmichigan@yahoo.com;
Celena Khatib, 734-306-9507,
cairmichigan@yahoo.com
-----
PLANNED
BALTO. CO. SCHOOL CALENDAR DENIES MUSLIM REQUEST -
TOP
Sara Neufeld, Baltimore Sun, 5/10/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.calendar10may10,1,7736820.story
The Baltimore County school system has proposed a calendar for the
2006-2007 academic year that does not include days off for the two most
religious Muslim holidays, despite more than a year of lobbying by the
Muslim community.
The proposed calendar, which does include a day off for the Jewish
holiday of Yom Kippur, will be presented to the school board tonight. The
board is scheduled to vote on the proposal next month.
Bash Pharoan, president of the Baltimore County Muslim Council, said he
would continue fighting for the schools to close for Muslim
holidays.
"I probably will have hope until the minute the board will approve
or disapprove the calendar," he said yesterday.
Pharoan, who sits on the 26-member calendar committee that advises
Baltimore County schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston, said the
committee did not vote on a proposed calendar and was not encouraged to
reach consensus this year -- moves he felt were meant to silence
him.
"I told the superintendent, `What are we meeting for?'" he
said.
Pharoan said he was also upset that Hairston has not appointed a task
force to study how the calendar is created, as he said he would in
January after a request by school board member Michael P. Kennedy.
Kennedy has said the purpose of such a task force would be to find common
ground with the Muslim community.
School system spokesman Charles A. Herndon said Hairston was "moving
with deliberate speed" to appoint a committee, but "there
really is no timetable set up at this point."
Herndon said Hairston did consider the viewpoints of everyone on the
calendar committee in developing the proposal.
Since early last year, Muslim parents, students and community activists
have turned out at every county school board meeting asking the district
to close school on Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, and
Eid al-Adha, which celebrates the Quranic account of God's allowing
Abraham to sacrifice a sheep instead of his son. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
HOG
FARMER TO BUILD SLAUGHTERHOUSE FOR MUSLIM TRADITION -
TOP
Associated Press, 5/10/05
http://www.the-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050510/APN/505100781&cachetime=5
SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- One local hog farmer is gearing up for a growing
market: raising lambs and goats to be slaughtered according to Muslim
tradition.
Johnston County commissioners recently approved the rezoning request
Kenneth Rowe needed to build a slaughterhouse on his Princeton hog farm
to slaughter animals according to guidelines known to Muslims as halal.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIM
TEEN TURNS SECURITY INCIDENT INTO OPPORTUNITY -
TOP
Tenley Woodman, Boston Herald, 5/7/05
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/teenNews/view.bg?articleid=82265
Hala Saadeh, a senior at Fitchburg High School, tutors, teaches Sunday
school and watches the occasional sitcom after finishing her
homework.
She doesn't fit the profile of a national security threat, but during the
Democratic National Convention last summer, Saadeh was taken off a
commuter rail train for being a suspicious person.
Saadeh, a Muslim, was wearing a head scarf. She was on her way to a
summer class when the train made an unscheduled stop.
"It wasn't as much the stopping me as it was the ignorance of other
people and the lack of protocol," she said. "(If I was
suspicious) they should have stopped me before I got on."
Her story alerted the American Civil Liberties Union, and the
organization recently awarded her a $4,000 scholarship for speaking out
against injustice. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
STUDENT EARNS SCIENCE PRIZE -
TOP
Kathy Steele, Tampa Tribune, 5/5/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBO2E86C8E.html
TAMPA - Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief to be a first- place
winner in the state science fair. Ayman Mageed, 13, fizzed and bubbled
three brands of antacids to find out which was most effective in knocking
out stomach acids without causing iron deficiency.
The experiments of the eighth-grader from Young Middle Magnet School won
first prize in the junior chemistry division at the 50th annual State
Science and Engineering Fair in Orlando in April. (MORE)
---
STUDY EARNS
TEEN FIRST PLACE IN SCIENCE FAIR -
TOP
Liz Best, Palm Beach Post, 5/4/05
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/royalpalmbeach/content/neighborhood/royalpalmbeach/epaper/2005/05/04/npr5_moustafapro_0504.html
Zaki Moustafa likes having balance in his life and he seems to be an
expert at achieving it.
Moustafa, of Royal Palm Beach, is a pianist, a soccer player, a paintball
gun enthusiast and a budding young scientist. He's an experienced
snorkeler and will be a certified scuba diver before he enters 10th grade
next year.
But mostly, Moustafa is a humble kid with a pretty big accomplishment
under his belt: He won first place and the grand prize for biological
sciences for the senior division at the State Science Fair in Orlando
last month. He leaves Saturday for the Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair in Phoenix. (MORE)
-----
FESTIVAL
IS CHANCE FOR TURKS TO EDUCATE ABOUT THEIR CULTURE -
TOP
Prashant Gopal, The Record, 5/9/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0NSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NjY5MTM3OSZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTM=
TEANECK - A new cultural association wants to educate North Jerseyans
about Turkish culture and history and correct those who mistake Turkey
for a fundamentalist nation.
Turkey is, in fact, a secular Muslim country that, for more than 80
years, has been a democracy based on the principle of separation of
church and state.
On Sunday, the year-old Hudson Turkish American Cultural Association put
on its second annual festival at Fairleigh Dickinson University. The
400-member organization will soon open a 4,000-square-foot cultural
center in Ridgefield, where it will offer Turkish cooking classes and
English and Turkish language lessons.
"Our goal is to represent the whole Turkish community in New Jersey
and form a bridge with other organizations," said Guvene Kulen of
Palisades Park, the group's president. "We believe enemies in the
world become enemies because they don't know each other. We believe
there's a lot of misunderstanding about Turks and Islam, our
religion."
The group is organizing a trip to Turkey this month for 25 non-Turkish
Americans. The idea is to give the travelers a taste of Turkey's
diversity and tolerance, Kulen said. The itinerary includes visits with
Jewish and Christian leaders, he said.
The trip was organized, in part, in response to the recent portrayal of
Turks as fundamentalists and terrorists in two American television
programs, NBC's "The West Wing" and Fox's
"24."
An episode of the "West Wing," for instance, depicted Turkey as
a country that beheaded women who commit adultery.
Elshan Gasimov, 20, a Turk from Azerbaijan who moved to the United States
last year, said Americans know very little about his culture.
"When I came here, I got a lot of strange questions," Gasimov
said. "Someone asked me, 'Do you guys have cars?'-"
But Arzu Karagulle, a 21-year-old Manhattan College student who moved to
West New York from Turkey 2 1/2 years ago, says she got a much different
reaction.
"They say they want to come to Turkey and they'd love to learn about
our culture," Karagulle said.
Sunday's festival featured a large spread of Turkish dishes, carpets,
books and crafts. (MORE)
-----
A CONNECTICUT
MUSLIM IN KING JAMES'S COURT -
TOP
John L. Pulley, Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/13/05
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v51/i36/36a04801.htm
Hartford, Conn. - On a blustery, mid-March afternoon, a solitary man
crosses the campus of Trinity College here. With his dark hair and beard,
thick black rectangular eyeglasses, and a shirt that looks like a Nehru
jacket, he resembles an earnest beatnik.
He approaches a massive stone chapel of Gothic design, a testament to the
institution's Christian roots. Gusts of wind roil flakes of snow that
intermittently knit heaven to earth.
The man is Sohaib Nazeer Sultan, Trinity's first Muslim chaplain. The
college hopes that Mr. Sultan, 24, who has been on the job since January,
will open minds on the campus and chip away at the barriers that isolate
Muslims here.
"A lot of work needs to be done to tear down biases and
stereotypes," says the Rev. Daniel R. Heischman, who oversees
religious life at Trinity, including half a dozen or so chaplains and
religious advisers who minister to followers of Judaism, Roman
Catholicism, Protestantism, and Zen Buddhism.
And now Islam, the second-largest religion in the world. Its more than
one billion believers recognize a number of holy cities. Hartford is not
among them. Of the college's 2,100 students, perhaps two dozen openly
identify themselves as adherents of Islam. If there are others, Mr.
Sultan says, they keep their heads down.
Practicing Islam on a campus with almost 200 years of Christian tradition
repeatedly tests one's forbearance. Like during Ramadan, Islam's holy
month of fasting, when the faithful do not eat or drink during daylight
hours -- but the campus dining hall doesn't open before sunup. Or when
they attempt to observe Islam's requirement to pray five times daily. Or
when someone of the opposite sex extends a hand to shake, a violation of
Islam's teachings on modesty and respect between the genders.
And trying to explain oneself can be a challenge -- whether responding to
a misinformed professor's comment in class or answering complex
theological and political questions lobbed by well-meaning inquisitors.
"It's intimidating for many students to take on that role and have
to answer for other Muslims," says Mr. Sultan. (MORE)
-----
U.S.
AIDE ARRESTED AMID SIGNS THAT LOBBY PROBE WIDENS
-
TOP
Ori Nir, Forward, 5/6/05
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=nir20050504953
WASHINGTON - A recent FBI interrogation of an Israeli defense expert may
indicate that the Justice Department's investigation into the contacts
between America's pro-Israel lobby and a Pentagon analyst is broader in
scope than previously believed.
The expert, Uzi Arad, head of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at
Israel's Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, said that two months ago FBI
agents interviewed him about his contacts with the Pentagon Iran
specialist, Larry Franklin. During the hour-long interview, he said, the
FBI agents brought up the name of an American Jewish Committee official,
Eran Lerman, who is a former senior official in Israeli military
intelligence.
Franklin was arrested and charged Wednesday with "disclosing
classified information related to potential attacks upon U.S. forces in
Iraq to individuals not entitled to receive the information." The
Justice Department did not name the individuals who allegedly received
the classified information from Franklin, but media reports claim they
are Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, two former officials at the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee who were recently dismissed by the
pro-Israel lobbying organization.
Arad's comments, an unusual disclosure of a small wrinkle in the
otherwise ultrasecretive FBI investigation, may suggest that the FBI is
investigating more than the alleged unlawful contacts between Franklin
and Aipac officials. Franklin is the first person to be indicted in the
FBI investigation. Rosen and Weissman have not been charged.
Initially, press reports said that Rosen and Weissman's alleged transfer
of secret information by Israeli diplomats was the focus of the
investigation.
The questioning of Arad may confirm speculation by some in the Jewish
community that the investigation is related to a larger inquiry into
Israeli or pro-Israeli attempts to influence America's security
establishment and its policy in the Middle East. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS
FOUNDATION MEDIA SEMINAR -
TOP
The Muslim Leaders Foundation invites you to a professional development
seminar for journalists and media professionals:
"CLEARING THE LENS ON ISLAM"
WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2005, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ 07094
WORKSHOP LEADERS:
* Imam W. Deen Shareef
Masjid Waarith ud Deen & Waris Cultural Research and Development
Center\
* Dr. Amaney Jamal
Professor, Department of Politics, Princeton University
* Ari Goldman
Assistant Dean, Columbia School of Journalism
* Ghazi Khankan
Council on American-Islamic Relations
* Anisa Mehdi
Producer, PBS Frontline Special "Muslims" and National
Geographic Special "Inside Mecca"
Topics include:
* Major tenets of Islam
* Muslim society in the U.S. and Europe
* Perspectives on jihad, suicide bombing and terror
* Women in Islam
Reading lists, contact lists, glossary of terms, and other resources
provided.
Registration:
* Early bird fee is $125.00 before June 5th.
* Each additional guest from your organization is $95.00.
* Contact us for a group rate for 5 or more individuals from your
organization.
* Registration includes breakfast and lunch.
To register visit:
www.muslimleaders.us
For more information, please call: (908)420-6361
-----
CHRISTIAN ROCK FOR MUSLIMS -
TOP
Samuel Lowenberg, New York Times, 5/10/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/arts/music/10chri.html
MARRAKESH, Morocco - In a sprawling open space alongside the Royal Palace
here last Saturday night, Baimik Youness and his friend Salahe Boudde
were jumping with excitement, about to see their first American rock
concert. The Moroccan students had never heard of the band, Rock 'n' Roll
Worship Circus. Nor had they realized that the three-day concert they
were attending was a Christian rock festival.
Students and Muslims at Friendship Fest, a three-day concert in Morocco
featuring American Christian bands and Moroccan groups.
"It's not my business," said Mr. Youness, an 18-year-old Muslim
and heavy-metal fan. "I just want to listen to the
music."
But Mr. Boudde had a question: "What are
'evangelicals'?"
Last weekend's concert, organized by several American evangelical groups
and the Moroccan government and called the Friendship Fest, was staged
despite criticism from Moroccan Islamic groups and opposition political
parties. Seven American Christian bands alternated with Moroccan groups.
The event drew more than 15,000 Moroccans a day, police officials
estimated, as well as dozens of evangelical Christians from around the
United States.
The concert was about more than power chords for Jesus. From the
evangelists' perspective, it was an opportunity to gain a foothold in a
relatively liberal Muslim country and give religious priorities a more
central role into American foreign policy.
"We see ourselves as doing important foreign policy work that the
Bush Administration is not doing," said the Rev. Richard Cizik of
the National Association of Evangelicals, a Christian-values lobbying
group in Washington and one of the organizers of the festival.
"As followers of Jesus, we should, in our civic capacity, work to
reduce conflict by promoting international understanding," he
said.
From the Moroccan government's point of view, it was a chance to
interact with what is perceived to be a politically influential group in
American politics at a time when the country has been criticized on its
human rights record and continues to grapple with a longstanding dispute
over the status of Western Sahara.
Some media commentators in Morocco said that by befriending the
evangelicals, the government was attempting to curry favor with American
political leaders. The magazine Telquel said the government's embrace of
the festival was intended to "sell the image of Morocco to the
neo-conservative lobby in America." (MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REPORT: ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIMES JUMP 52
PERCENT
Total number of Muslim civil rights cases tops 1,500 in
2004
(
WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/11/05) - A report released today by a
prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group indicates that
anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States increased by more than 50
percent in the past year, from 93 cases in 2003 to 141 in 2004.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) report - the only
annual study of its kind - outlines 1522 incidents and experiences of
anti-Muslim violence, discrimination and harassment in 2004, the highest
number of Muslim civil rights cases ever recorded in the Washington-based
group's annual report. (Hundreds of anti-Muslim incidents reported
immediately following the 9/11 attack were detailed in a separate
report.) According to the study, called "Unequal Protection,"
that figure is a 49 percent jump over the preceding year.
CAIR said factors contributing to the sharp increase in reported
incidents included the lingering impact of post-9/11 fears, increased
awareness of civil rights issues in the Muslim community, a general
increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric, growth in the number of local CAIR
chapters reporting cases, and abuses associated with the implementation
of national security policies. (The complete report may be viewed at:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/2005CivilRightsReport.pdf)
Ten states accounted for almost 79 percent of all incidents reported to
CAIR in 2004. Those states include: California (20 percent), New York (10
percent), Arizona (9 percent), Virginia (7 percent), Texas (7 percent),
Florida (7 percent), Ohio (5 percent), Maryland (5 percent), New Jersey
(5 percent), and Illinois (3 percent). (All figures are rounded to the
nearest whole number.)
By far the greatest increase over last year, in both real and
proportional terms, occurred in the areas of unreasonable arrests,
detentions, searches/seizures, and interrogations. In 2003, complaints
concerning law enforcement agencies accounted for only seven percent of
all reported incidents. In 2004, however, these reports rose to almost 26
percent of all cases.
There were drops in certain categories from the previous year's report.
For example, workplace discrimination complaints constituted nearly 23
percent of complaints in 2003, but dropped to just under 18 percent of
total complaints in 2004. Complaints involving governmental agencies
decreased from 29 percent in 2003 to 19 percent in 2004.
"These disturbing figures come as no surprise given growing
Islamophobic sentiments and a general misperception of Islam and
Muslims," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar, the report's
author. Iftikhar said the phenomenon of Islamophobia will be addressed at
a CAIR conference, called "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and Remedies," to be held this weekend in Washington, D.C. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
"We call on President Bush, whose statements after the 9/11 attacks
were so important in helping to protect the well-being of the American
Muslim community, to once again speak out against Islamophobic
attitudes," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. Awad also
called on Congress to hold hearings on the findings of CAIR's
report.
CAIR began documenting anti-Muslim incidents following the 1995 attack on
the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The council is America's
largest Islamic civil liberties group, with 31 regional 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: Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or 202-415-0799, E-Mail:
arsalan@cair-net.org; Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from
CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
ACTION ALERT #445
CAIR SEEKS PROBE OF GITMO QURAN 'DESECRATION'
Four die in Afghan protests after Quran flushed down
toilet
(
WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/11/05) - CAIR is urging American Muslims and
other people of conscience to contact the White House in support of a
public investigation into reports that interrogators at the U.S.
detention center in Guantanamo Bay flushed a Quran down a
toilet.
At least four people were killed today in Afghanistan during protests
over the alleged desecration. SEE: "Afghan Protest Over Quran Turns
Deadly,"
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=748366
The allegation was first reported in the May 9 issue of Newsweek
magazine. The magazine said: "Investigators probing interrogation
abuses at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay have confirmed some
infractions alleged in internal FBI e-mails that surfaced late last year.
Among the previously unreported cases, sources tell NEWSWEEK:
interrogators, in an attempt to rattle suspects, flushed a Qur'an down a
toilet and led a detainee around with a collar and dog leash." SEE:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7693014/site/newsweek/
In its statement, CAIR said:
"The allegations, if true, can only serve to fuel anti-American
sentiment. Vague assurances of a military investigation are insufficient
to keep this incident from being used to further harm relations with the
Muslim world. We urge President Bush to initiate an open probe of the
incident, make public its findings and punish those
responsible."
The twin phenomena of
Islamophobia and anti-Americanism will be
addressed at a CAIR conference to be held this weekend in Washington,
D.C. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
CAIR recently launched a website designed to help end the use and
instigation of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (CID)
by American personnel worldwide.
To learn more about CAIR's
anti-torture campaign, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
Contact the White House:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
TEL: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL:
president@whitehouse.gov,
vice.president@whitehouse.gov
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:
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 - 5/12/05
*
HADITH:
Rewards
of Worship Continue During Illness
-
VERSE: Nothing to Fear or Regret
*
CAIR-PHILLY
Sponsors Program on Jesus in Islam
-
CAIR-NY JOB
OPENING: Director of Civil Rights
*
MA:
Muslim Leader
Sues Boston Media Outlets (Boston Globe)
*
GA:
Mosque Faces
Opposition (Times Free Press)
- MI:
Expansion
of Mosques Marks Deepening Bonds
- MI:
Visiting a Mosque (Detroit Free
Press)
*
NY:
Muslim
Girls Released After Bomb Scare Arrests (AP)
-
FL:
Growing Up Al-Arian (SP
Times)
*
MT:
Scholar Links
Islam with Healing (Gazette)
*
MEDIA COVERAGE
OF CAIR'S CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT:
-
Internet, Radio Blamed For Discrimination (AP)
- Fear
of Islam on the Rise - Muslim Group (IPS)
-
Tensions between U.S., Muslims Reaching New Highs (CP)
- TX:
Group Ranks TX Fifth In Rights Abuses (SA Express)
- FL:
103 Anti-Muslim Incidents Last Year
- NJ:
Bias Incidents against Muslims Up (AP)
- U.S.
Muslims Report More Attacks (Wash Post)
*
CANADA:
Hate-Crime Charges
Follow Ryerson Incidents (G&M)
*
Terror
Suspects Sent To Egypt by the Dozens (NY Times)
*
Rice
Calls Koran Desecration Abhorrent (Reuters)
-
CAIR Seeks
Probe of Gitmo Quran Desecration
-----
HADITH
OF THE DAY: REWARDS OF WORSHIP CONTINUE DURING ILLNESS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When a servant of
God is accustomed to worship Him in a good manner, then becomes (unable
to so because of illness), the angel who watches over him is told to
record (good) deeds equivalent to those that he did when he was well,
until God sets him free from his illness or takes him in
death."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 472
ALSO SEE:
VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTHING TO FEAR OR REGRET
"Whoever submits himself entirely to God and is good to others will
be rewarded by his Lord; he will have nothing to fear or to
regret."
The Holy Quran, 2:112
-----
CAIR-PHILLY
SPONSORS PROGRAM ON JESUS IN ISLAM -
TOP
(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 5/12/05) - "Who is Jesus in Islam? - A Review of
the Quranic Perspectives on Jesus" is the theme for the centerpiece
program in a Diversity Series hosted by St. John's Episcopal Church in
Huntingdon Valley on Saturday, May 21, from 9:45 a.m. to noon.
The Muslim-Christian dialogue features Iftekhar Hussain, who received
popular acclaim for his presentations in two recent study series
sponsored by the Glenside Ministerium; Rob Eyre, a community organizer
with extensive experience in interfaith study programs; and the Rev. Dr.
Guy Collins, rector of St. John's. (Iftekhar Hussain is a board member of
the Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
[CAIR], a co-sponsor of the event.)
The program begins with a presentation about the Muslim view of Jesus,
the basic tenets of Islam and the points of intersection between the
Muslim and Christian faiths.
There will be a follow-up conversation with Rob Eyre and Dr. Collins, and
then the audience will be invited to ask questions and offer feedback.
Refreshments and fellowship will follow. All members of the community are
invited to attend.
WHAT: Who is Jesus in Islam?
WHEN: Saturday May 21, 2005, 9:45 AM - 12:00 PM
WHERE: St. John's Episcopal Church, 1333 Old Welsh Rd., Huntington
Valley, PA 19006
COST: FREE
CONTACT: The parish office at St. Johns: 215-947-3212, CAIR-Philly:
215-592-0509, E-Mail:
cairphilly@yahoo.com
-----
CAIR-NY JOB
OPENING: DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS -
TOP
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY) has a job opening for the position of Director of Civil Rights.
An ideal candidate should have a university degree and background in law,
public service, or civil rights.
Interested parties should send a resume, cover letter and writing sample
to
director@cair-ny.org.
-----
CHANNEL 25, HERALD FACE
LIBEL SUIT -
TOP
Mark Jurkowitz, Boston Globe, 5/12/05
http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2005/05/12/channel_25_herald_facelibel_suit
The chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Society of Boston
filed a defamation suit yesterday against the Boston Herald and WFXT-TV
(Channel 25), marking the second time in three months an official of that
group said he had been unfairly harmed by news reports linking him to
terrorism.
In the suit filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Osama Kandil, a biomedical
researcher and a US citizen residing in Egypt, alleges that a series of
Herald stories that began in October 2003 and a Channel 25 broadcast in
November 2004 destroyed his reputation "by sensationalizing a story
that Dr. Kandil . . . was linked to radical Islamic terrorists and that
both he and the ISB [Islamic Society of Boston] presented a danger to the
community."
On Feb. 23, Dr. Yousef Abou-Allaban, chairman of the board of directors
of the Islamic Society of Boston, sued Channel 25 for identifying him as
a member of the terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood. That suit alleged
that the TV story was part of a pattern of anti-Muslim bias in the
media.
According to Kandil's suit, one crucial Herald story was a front-page
article from Oct. 29, 2003, that reported the plaintiff was allegedly
linked to a network suspected by investigators of supporting Islamic
terrorists and that he was a leader of an Indiana-based group "known
for its anti-Western rhetoric." The headline read: "Under
Suspicion: Hub mosque leader tied to radical groups." A front-page
Herald story on Jan. 14, 2004, reported that Kandil has "deeper
involvement with organizations and individuals suspected of funding
terrorism than previously disclosed."
"I have taken the step of filing this lawsuit because the
defendants' false reporting to the public that I am linked to or support
terrorism or an anti-American agenda has unfairly destroyed my
reputation," Kandil said in a statement made yesterday through his
attorney Howard Cooper. "I am a faithful citizen of the United
States, and I love this country and what it stands for . . . I believe in
a moderate and tolerant Islam, and we at the Islamic Society of Boston
have worked hard to make that our agenda in Boston."
Spokeswomen for both the Herald and Channel 25 declined to comment on the
lawsuit, saying they had not yet examined it.
Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based advocacy group, said
yesterday that his organization was concerned about the depiction of
Muslims in the US media.
"Not speaking to the specifics of the case, unfortunately there is a
growing cottage industry of those who seek to create false links between
terrorism and American Muslim leaders and organizations," he said.
"They got a boost in the post-9/11 era. . . . It's something
American Muslims are learning to live with."
(For more information, contact Kandil's attorney, Albert L. Farrah, Jr.,
at 617-742-7766.)
-----
GA: WHITFIELD DEBATES NEW
MOSQUE -
TOP
Cady Van Dolson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 5/11/05
http://www.timesfreepress.com/
DALTON, Ga. - In the 10 years Mohammed Hassan has lived in Dalton, he
says he's never had a problem living in the predominantly Christian
city.
Even after some local residents called their hoped-for new mosque a
"terrorist hideout" during a public hearing last week, Mr.
Hassan, 28, and other Muslims say they still feel welcome in Whitfield
County.
"What happened in court doesn't represent the majority in Whitfield
County," Mr. Hassan said about the zoning hearing. "Even after
(the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks) they were very understanding. I
was never subjected to anything."
Tareq Elsayed, 29, said he was shocked about the "terrorist
hideout" comment and other things people said in the zoning
hearing.
"After Sept. 11, most people think that because we're Muslim, we're
terrorists," Mr. Elsayed said. "It's just a personal act. It
has nothing to do with Islam."
Despite the Zoning Board's unanimous recommendation of approval,
Whitfield County commissioners voted unanimously to table the Dalton
Islamic Center's request to rezone 11.15 acres at 2054 Dug Gap Road to
build a mosque.
Commissioners cited sewage and safety issues.
They are expected to take up the issue on either June 13 or Sept. 12,
depending on whether they want a traffic study completed before they make
a decision, said Bradley Arnold, county administrator.
"I'm still optimistic," Mr. Hassan said after Monday night's
vote. "We have good faith. None of us are upset. We wanted it to be
done today, but I'm sure there are a lot of pressures."
(MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MI:
EXPANSION OF METRO DETROIT MOSQUES MARKS DEEPENING BONDS FOR MUSLIMS -
TOP
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 5/11/05
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/mosque11e_20050511.htm
Building the cathedral of Michigan's mosques -- a towering $14-million
slice of Middle Eastern design called the Islamic Center of America --
was relatively easy. The larger challenge facing Muslims across southeast
Michigan is building a community that will hold together from one
generation to the next.
It's a challenge familiar to the Irish, Italian, German and Polish
immigrants who decades earlier sacrificed to build their own landmark
houses of worship.
"With God's grace, we are finishing our new mosque with no serious
problems," Imam Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader of the Islamic
Center of America, said as he prepared for the ribbon cutting Thursday.
"But the real challenge for us starts on the day we open the doors.
We have to make sure we build a true community and not just a beautiful
museum."
That's the leading concern across the entire Muslim community in
southeast Michigan where at least a half-dozen mosques have expanded.
(MORE)
---
MI: VISITING A MOSQUE -
TOP
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 5/11/05
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/mosque-box111e_20050511.htm
Like other houses of worship, Muslim centers welcome visitors. If you'd
like to visit a local mosque, it's best to call in advance. Some mosques
have special open houses throughout the year. Here's what else you'll
need to know:
Dress modestly. Shirts and long pants are fine for men. Women should
cover their hair with a scarf and wear clothing that covers arms and
legs. After entering the building, but before entering the main mosque,
everyone is expected to remove their shoes.
Muslims may stop in washrooms to perform ritual cleaning of face, hands
and feet, but visitors are not required to do this.
Men and women form straight lines for prayer, facing the qiblah
(KIB-lah), the closest direction to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. The
qiblah often is marked by a mihrab (MIH-rab), a decorative niche in the
wall. Near the mihrab, many mosques also have a minbar (MIN-bar), a
raised platform imams may use for their sermons.
Non-Muslims should not try to join the lines of praying men and women.
Sit along the sides of the room and watch quietly. Because Muslim prayer
involves bending the entire body until the forehead touches the floor,
women pray in a separate area out of concern for modesty, typically just
behind the lines of men. (MORE)
-----
NY:
TWO MUSLIM TEENAGE GIRLS RELEASED AFTER NEW YORK SUICIDE BOMB SCARE
ARRESTS -
TOP
Associated Press, 5/12/05
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/WarOnTerrorism/2005/05/12/1035827-ap.html
NEW YORK (AP) - Immigration authorities have released two 16-year-old
Muslim girls who were detained for six weeks amid reports they were
potential recruits for a suicide bomb plot that never
materialized.
The girls - one from Bangladesh, the other from Guinea - were taken into
custody separately in New York on March 24 and held at a detention
center.
The Bangladeshi girl, her mother and two brothers left the country
voluntarily on Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
spokesman Manny Van Pelt said Wednesday.
The Guinean girl was released last week and was allowed to remain in the
city but still faces removal proceedings, Van Pelt said in Washington,
D.C.
Details about the case, first reported last month by The New York Times,
remain sketchy.
The Times cited a government document that said the FBI believed the
girls posed ``an imminent threat to the security of the United States
based upon evidence that they plan to be suicide bombers.'' Federal
officials have refused to elaborate.
The girls' supporters insisted they were innocent. At a news conference
on Wednesday on the steps of City Hall, human rights advocates demanded
an apology. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GROWING UP AL-ARIAN -
TOP
Vanessa Gezari, St. Petersburg Times, 5/12/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/12/Floridian/Growing_up_Al_Arian.shtml
TAMPA - Ali is at the computer, reading about an Internet hoax. A man is
threatening to eat a pet rabbit unless he gets $50,000.
"We have to go," Leena says. "You're coming with
me."
"Since when?" Ali is 14, Leena is about to turn 20 and their
mother is out of town. Leena is in charge.
"You have to think of something to say," she tells him. Their
father will ask about her thesis, the last thing standing between her and
a degree from the University of South Florida. She doesn't want to talk
about it. She has been pulling all-nighters, downing so much coffee that
it has lost its power to stimulate her brain. She is about to blow her
deadline. Again.
Ali glances down at his clothes: black shorts, green T-shirt. He gets a
long-sleeved shirt from his bedroom. Leena eyes the back of his head as
he walks down the stairs. He needs a haircut.
In the car, he falls asleep to National Public Radio. She nudges him
awake. They line up in the jail lobby behind a man with a missing tooth
and a Confederate flag bandanna. A woman in a green uniform asks who they
want to see.
Leena says the name quickly, running the words together:
"Samialarian."
The woman scans her list. She hands them two laminated cards. They pass
through one blue metal door, and another, and run up a flight of
stairs.
Leena was 10 the first time the FBI raided her house. At 12, she was
drawing signs that said "Free Mazen Now!" Her uncle, Mazen
Al-Najjar, was arrested in 1997, held for 31/2 years and deported after
the government couldn't prove he had links to terrorists. Last year, they
indicted him again. (MORE)
-----
SCHOLAR LINKS ISLAM WITH
HEALING -
TOP
Susan Olp, Billings Gazette, 5/11/05
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/11/build/local/53-islam-healing.inc
Healing is part of Islam, Seth Ward told an audience Tuesday at a talk
titled "Islam: History and Healing."
Ward spoke to 20 people at the lunchtime talk at the Mansfield Health
Education Center. The presentation, sponsored by St. Vincent Healthcare,
is part of a series on caring for people of different faiths.
Ward, visiting associate professor of religious studies at the University
of Wyoming, told the group that "Islam firmly believes in medical
treatment."
"The prophet Muhammad said, 'There is no disease that Allah has
created, except that he has created a treatment,' " Ward said of the
man who founded the faith in the seventh century.
Ward proceeded to provide his audience with an overview of Islam and
specifics on Muslim people and medical care. Allah, he said, is not a
name specific to Islam, but a name that refers to a monotheistic
God.
"As such, no Christians, who are also monotheistic, should have a
problem calling God 'Allah,' " Ward said.
Allay revealed the Quran, or Koran, to Muhammad over 22 years, Ward said.
It includes 114 chapters.
The five pillars of Islam include testimony that there is no God but God,
prayer, giving alms, fasting during Ramadan and a pilgrimage to Mecca
once in a lifetime, when it is physically and financially possible.
(MORE)
-----
MEDIA COVERAGE
OF CAIR'S CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT -
TOP
INTERNET, RADIO BLAMED FOR DISCRIMINATION
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 5/11/05
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=748686
WASHINGTON May 11, 2005 - Anti-Muslim Internet traffic and radio
broadcasts are fueling an atmosphere of hate and contributing to
increased discrimination, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said
Wednesday.
Hate crimes against Muslims rose 52 percent to 141 last year compared
with 2003, and civil rights violations reported to the council jumped 49
percent to 1,522.
"Whenever there is a beheading or act of terrorism overseas that
involves Muslims, we see a rise in reported incidents here," said
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the council.
The trend is toward "rising Islamophobic rhetoric in American
society," said Arsalan Iftikhar, the council's legal
director.
The organization has become so concerned about anti-Muslim talk that it
has launched an awareness campaign so people can contact advertisers
about their concerns and file complaints with the Federal Communications
Commission.
Some Muslim leaders were surprised by the council's findings, contained
in a report entitled "Unequal Protection."
"I thought we were through with the high point after 9/11,"
said Yaser El-Menshawy, chairman of New Jersey's council of mosques.
"My gut feeling is it may be a combination of the war in Iraq and
mounting casualties, and that we're getting better at collecting this
kind of data."
The report divided alleged abuse into 14 categories, from unreasonable
arrest the highest number of complaints with 385 to Internet
discrimination, with four.
Among the most prevalent complaints: There were 225 alleging religious
discrimination such as community opposition to the presence of a mosque;
196 asserting employment discrimination; and 190 reported instances of
verbal harassment.
ALSO SEE:
FEAR OF ISLAM ON THE RISE - MUSLIM GROUP -
TOP
Jim Lobe, IPS, 5/11/05
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=28643
WASHINGTON, May 11 (IPS) - Reported incidents of anti-Muslim bias
including hate crimes, discrimination, and harassment rose sharply in the
United States last year, according to a new report by a major Islamic
group.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in a report released
Wednesday, said it received 141 reports of actual or planned violence
against Muslims or mosques nationwide, a 52 percent increase over the 93
reports the group received in 2003 and the 42 it received in
2002.
In addition, the number of incidents reportedly involving some form of
police or law-enforcement abuse, such as unreasonable arrests, detentions
and searches, rose sharply in 2004, constituting more than one-fourth of
all cases of abuse or discrimination, according to the report, 'Unequal
Protection: The Status of Muslim Civil Rights in the United States
2005'.
Such cases constituted only seven percent of reported incidents in 2003,
according CAIR, which stressed that its report could not be considered
scientific because it relied on voluntary reporting by alleged victims or
witnesses.
Altogether, it said, more than 1,900 incidents of abuse and
discrimination were reported to CAIR, of which 1,522 were deemed
sufficiently credible to be included in the tally. That total was 49
percent greater than the 2003 totals.
"These disturbing figures come as no surprise given growing
Islamophobic sentiments and a general misperception of Islam and
Muslims," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar, who wrote the
62-page report.
---
TENSIONS BETWEEN U.S. AND MUSLIMS REACHING NEW HIGHS, SAY ANALYSTS -
TOP
Canadian Press, 5/11/05
http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/WorldNews/w051189A.htm
WASHINGTON (CP) - Far from abating since the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11, 2001, tensions between the United States and Muslims appear to be
reaching a fever pitch. A new report Wednesday documented a sharp
increase last year in hate crimes and civil rights violations against
Muslims living in the country.
And allegations that American soldiers desecrated Islam's holy book by
flushing a Qur'an down a toilet at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, provoked deadly protests in Afghanistan.
There are also new allegations of sexual abuse and degrading treatment of
Guantanamo prisoners this week, fuelling perceptions provoked by last
year's scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison that there's broad support in
the U.S. military for torturing detainees in the war on terror.
Author and academic Muqtedar Khan, on staff at the Institute for Social
Policy and Understanding in Clinton, Mich., says favourability ratings
toward Muslims among Americans were not significantly negative for some
time after the Sept. 11 attacks but started going down in 2003.
He blames increasingly tense relations on anti-Islamic rhetoric from
right-wing religious groups in the U.S. and a small segment of Muslims
bent on reinforcing violent stereotypes.
"Sometimes I'm really frightened when I see all this hate speech out
there. The Internet is full of it," said Khan.
"Somebody has to stand up and challenge the extremist rhetoric in
every community. And Republicans should be telling the Christian right to
stop demonizing Islam."
The backdrop for Americans is widespread fear of another big hit. There
was a false alarm Wednesday when military jets scrambled to intercept a
plane that mistakenly veered into restricted airspace near the White
House.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Wednesday that hate crimes
against Muslims rose 52 per cent to 141 last year and civil rights
violations jumped 49 per cent to 1,522.
The council also blames anti-Muslim Internet traffic and radio broadcasts
for fuelling an atmosphere of hate that's leading to more complaints of
unreasonable arrests, verbal harassment, employment discrimination and
religious discrimination like community opposition to mosques.
"Whenever there is a beheading or an act of terrorism overseas that
involves Muslims, we see a rise in reported incidents here," said
spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. (MORE)
---
GROUP RANKS TEXAS FIFTH IN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST MUSLIMS -
TOP
Lisa Marie G�mez, San Antonio Express, 5/11/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA051105.hatecrimes.en.2642e662d.html
Anti-Muslim civil rights discrimination and harassment incidents have
sharply risen since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, according to a report
released today.
The report, put together by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Washington, shows that Texas is ranked fifth among the 10 states where
the majority of civil rights cases have been reported in the
country.
"Texas has been one of the hot beds for hate crime violence,"
said Arsalan T. Iftikhar, the national legal director of CAIR in
Washington and the author of the report.
CAIR is a non-profit civil rights and advocacy organization aimed at
enhancing a general understanding of the Islamic perspective on issues to
the American public.
In its 11-year history of documenting Muslim civil rights cases, the
number of reported cases last year spiked to 1,522. That's up by 503
cases, or a 49 percent increase, over 2003. In 2002, 602 cases were
reported.
The incidents ranged from physical violence to harassment cases, such as
the one in California, where a woman wearing a hijab was pushing a
stroller with her baby on a sidewalk and man in a truck almost ran over
them.
When the woman said, "You almost killed me and my baby!" the
man replied, "It wouldn't have been a big loss."
Incidents also included mosque vandalisms and attacks on Muslin-owned
businesses.
"Since the 9-11 attacks, the most disturbing legal trend is the
growing disparity in how American Muslims are being treated under the law
on many different levels," the report states. (MORE)
---
103 ANTI-MUSLIM INCIDENTS IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO REPORT -
TOP
Associated Press, 5/11/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0511muslimreport,0,1504358.story
ORLANDO -- There were 103 anti-Muslim incidents reported in Florida last
year, an 18 percent increase over the previous year, according to a
report released Wednesday by the Florida Chapter of Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
Even though Florida ranked No. 7 in the nation for anti-Muslim incidents,
the rate of increase was smaller than the rest of the nation. But Muslim
leaders in Florida were concerned about the increase in hate crimes,
which rose to 15 in 2004 from 2 in 2003, said Ahmed Bedier, central
Florida director of CAIR.
Bedier attributed the hate crimes spike to the beheadings in the Middle
East that occurred last year.
``After 911, we thought as we moved away from that time, the number of
incidents would decline,'' Bedier said. ``But we've seen an opposite
trend. The bias and the stereotypes is settling in. People are becoming
accepting to the notion that Islam is the enemy of America. It's not
said, but people feel it.''
Twenty-four incidents of discriminatory application of the law, the
largest category of anti-Muslim incidents, were reported. But the figure
was slightly less than last year.
Bedier said he hopes the report causes public officials to speak out
against ``Islamphobia.'' (MORE)
---
BIAS INCIDENTS AGAINST MUSLIMS UP IN NJ -
TOP
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 5/11/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--muslims-bias0511may11,0,4101320.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- Cases of discrimination and bias against Muslims in New
Jersey rose sharply last year, according to a survey released Wednesday
by a national Islamic group.
The survey by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations
counted 69 incidents of discrimination or bias crimes committed against
New Jersey Muslims in 2004, up from 40 incidents in 2003 _ an increase of
more than 72 percent.
The figures include incidents reported directly to the group by
individuals or organizations.
New Jersey cases included taunts and death threats made against a Muslim
van passenger in Paterson, the tossing of liquor bottles at a Union City
mosque while congregants were inside mourning an Arab-American teenager
who had been killed in a car crash, and the vandalism of a mosque under
construction in Toms River, including the spray-painting of Nazi
graffiti.
"We all try to close our eyes and hope it's getting better, but it's
not," said Mohamed Younes, an elder in Paterson's Arab-American
community. (MORE)
---
MUSLIMS REPORT 50% INCREASE IN BIAS CRIMES -
TOP
Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 5/12/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/nyregion/12hate.html
Reported hate crimes against Muslims in the United States increased by
more than 50 percent last year, with New York State ranking second
nationally in the number of bias cases, according to a study released
yesterday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic
advocacy group in Washington.
The report outlined more than 1,500 cases of harassment and anti-Muslim
violence around the country in 2004, including 141 hate crimes, compared
with 1,019 cases and 93 hate crimes in 2003. Reasons for the increase
were unclear, but may include more of a willingness by Muslims to report
crimes, said Arsalan Iftikhar, national legal director of the council and
the author of the study. A fear of Muslims after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks and a growing use of anti-Muslim language by public figures were
also likely contributors, he said.
"A lot of it has to do with basic misconceptions people have about
Islam," Mr. Iftikhar said. "Once people realize that American
Muslims are their neighbors, students and doctors, it will really
humanize this community and show that we are contributing members of this
society."
The study was based on bias cases reported directly to the council and
its 31 chapters around the country by the victims or community leaders,
as well as on some news reports of hate crimes. The organization said it
verified the legitimacy of a reported crime before including it in its
annual study, which it began in 1995, after the Oklahoma City bombing.
Almost all the hate crimes were reported to the police, Mr. Iftikhar
said, but not all led to arrests. (MORE)
---
U.S. MUSLIMS REPORT MORE ATTACKS -
TOP
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 5/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101901.html
U.S. Muslims reported about 1,500 cases of hate crimes, unreasonable
arrest, harassment and other alleged civil rights violations last year, a
50 percent increase over the previous year's total, according to a report
released yesterday by a major Islamic advocacy group.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations attributed the jump, in part,
to continued suspicions of Muslims and Arab Americans since the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks. But it said the rise also could reflect greater
reporting of such incidents by Muslims.
"You would figure, four years removed from a tragic event like 9/11,
things would tend to normalize. Unfortunately, this report shows this is
not the case yet," said Arsalan Iftikhar, the group's legal
director.
He said the Council on American-Islamic Relations received about 1,900
complaints of alleged abuses last year and found it could substantiate
1,522 of them. (MORE)
-----
HATE-CRIME
CHARGES FOLLOW RYERSON INCIDENTS -
TOP
Oliver Moore, Globe and Mail, 5/12/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050512/TORBRIEFS12-1/TPNational/
Two hate-crime charges have been laid against a man accused of
spray-painting "Die Muslim Die" at Ryerson University. The
incident was one of many last summer and fall targeting Middle Easterners
at the school.
Kevin Haas, not a student at the school, was initially charged in October
with mischief and threatening death. Two charges of promotion of hatred
were filed against him this week, police announced yesterday.
The incidents occurred between June and October of last year, police
said. They included slurs against Muslims, Arabs and Jews.
The anti-Muslim spray-painting was the first known incident. According to
those at the school, others included pamphlets threatening the president
of the Muslim association, notices on bulletin boards urging the public
to "kill these Islamic infidels" and a letter slipped under the
door of the Arab and Muslim student offices that said: "Those who
follow Islam need to be killed in the worst possible way
imaginable."
Mr. Haas, 22, comes from a Jewish household. (MORE)
-----
TERROR
SUSPECTS SENT TO EGYPT BY THE DOZENS, PANEL REPORTS -
TOP
David Johnston, New York Times, 5/11/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/politics/12detain.html
WASHINGTON, May 11 - The United States and other countries have forcibly
sent dozens of terror suspects to Egypt, according to a report released
Wednesday by Human Rights Watch. The rights group and the State
Department have both said Egypt regularly uses extreme interrogation
methods on detainees.
The group said it had documented 63 cases since 1994 in which suspected
Islamic militants were sent to Egypt for detention and interrogation. The
figures do not include people seized after the attacks of September 2001
who were sent mainly by Middle East countries and American intelligence
authorities.
The report said the total number sent to Egypt since the Sept. 11 attacks
could be as high as 200 people. American officials have not disputed that
people have been sent to countries where detainees are subjected to
extreme interrogation tactics but have denied that anyone had been sent
to another country for the purpose of torture. Among other countries to
which the United States has sent detainees are Jordan, Morocco, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen and Syria.
Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said
sending someone to a country where he was likely to be tortured was
banned under international law. ''Egypt's terrible record of torturing
prisoners means that no country should forcibly send a suspect there,''
he said.
The United States began sending terror suspects to Egypt in the
mid-1990's when the practice, known formally as rendition, began to play
a larger role in counterterrorism, according to officials from the
Clinton administration.
But since September 2001, the transfers have accelerated in part because
Egypt has been willing to accept the detainees as part of its effort to
root out Islamic militants inside Egypt, a campaign that has extended to
countries where extremists have taken refuge. Almost all those sent to
Egypt are Egyptian citizens or were born there, the report said.
(MORE)
-----
Rice
urges calm, calls Koran desecration abhorrent -
top
WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
urged Muslims around the world on Thursday to resist calls for violence
from people outraged by allegations that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay
had desecrated the Koran.
Reports that interrogators at the U.S. military prison in Cuba put Korans
in toilets and in at least one case flushed the holy book down the toilet
have triggered violent demonstrations in Afghanistan as well as official
protests in Pakistan.
"We have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their
concerns on this matter. We understand and we share their concerns. Sadly
some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations," Rice
said, alluding to reports that at least seven people had died in Afghan
protests this week.
"I am asking that all our friends around the world reject incitement
to violence by those who would mischaracterize our intentions," she
added in a surprise statement at the start of testimony to U.S.
lawmakers.
"I want to speak directly to Muslims in America and throughout the
world. Disrespect for the Holy Koran is not now, nor has it ever been,
nor will it ever be tolerated by the United States," she said.
"Disrespect for the Holy Koran is abhorrent to us
all."
SEE ALSO:
U.S.
Muslims Seek Probe of Gitmo Quran Desecration -
TOP
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1573&theType=NR
-----
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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 -
5/13/05
* HADITH:
No Racial
Superiority
* CAIR-DC:
State Dept
to Speak at Islamophobia/Anti-Americanism Conf.
- CAIR-CA:
Former
Guantanamo Bay Chaplain to Address Event
* MA:
Muslims Girls Play Ball in League
(Sun Chronicle)
- KS:
Festival of Muslim Cultures
(Wichita Eagle)
* ME:
Family Taken
off Diverted Plane from Paris (AP)
* FL:
Send a Clear
Signal: Torture not Tolerated (Miami Herald)
-
3 Die in Afghans' Anti-US
Protests (LA Times)
*
U.S.
Had Doubts about Case against Terror Suspects (NY Times)
* CA:
Hostage Family
Plans to Run ads in Iraq (SF Chronicle)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
NO RACIAL SUPERIORITY -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to a companion:
"You are not better than people (of other races) unless you excel
them in piety."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1361
-----
STATE
DEPARTMENT TO SPEAK AT CAIR CONFERENCE IN DC -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/13/05) - CAIR is pleased to announce that Gerald
Michael Feierstein, director of of the Office of Regional Affairs, Bureau
of Near East Affairs, will be speaking at its "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies" conference in Washington,
D.C. Feierstein will speak at the May 14th panel "Anti-Americanism
and U.S. Foreign Policy."
WHEN: Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15, 2005 (Conference Banquet,
Saturday, May 14)
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike ~ Vienna,
VA (703-448-1234) To view a complete conference program or to register
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 NEW
- - 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.
ALSO SEE:
FORMER
GUANTANAMO BAY CHAPLAIN TO ADDRESS SACRAMENTO EVENT -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 5/13/05) - The Asian Pacific Islander (API) and Muslim
Community to hold a joint fundraiser for the Chaplain James Yee Defense
Fund. James Yee, former Chaplain at Camp Delta in Guantanamo Bay will
address the audience.
WHAT: API-Muslim Community Fundraiser for The Chaplain James Yee Defense Fund
WHEN: May 14th, 2005 from 6:00-8:00 PM
WHERE: Shahrazad Restaurant
2931 Sunrise Blvd
Rancho Cordova, CA
Sponsoring organizations: APAPA (Asian Pacific Islander American Public
Affairs Association); CAPITAL (Council on Asian Pacific Islanders
Together for Advocacy and Leadership); CAIR (Council on American
Islamic Relations-Sacramento Valley); JACL (Japanese American Citizens
League-Florin Chapter); OCA (Organization of Chinese
Americans-Sacramento Chapter) For more information on Chaplain James
Yee visit:
www.justiceforyee.com
-
- END-
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, 916-289-3748
-----
LEAPS OF FAITH -
TOP
Gloria La Bounty, Sun Chronicle, 5/12/05
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2005/05/12/reports/special04.txt
FOXBORO -- It's time for girls' basketball at Mass. Premier Courts in Foxboro, and it's easy to tell one team from the other.
Players on one side are dressed in the traditional way -- wearing
shorts and sleeveless shirts with their hair tied in pony tails.
Players on the other side wear ankle-length sport pants and
long-sleeved shirts, and cover their hair with scarves.
It's the Christians of New Testament School in Norton versus the
Muslims of Al-Noor Academy in Mansfield, but on the court they're all
just kids playing a game to win.
Friday was the first time the two schools played each other in an
informal basketball league of boys' and girls' teams from private and
mostly Christian schools.
Al-Noor, the only Muslim school of the group, moved from Quincy to
Mansfield last March and is now in its first basketball season of 11
games against schools in various parts of the state.
The faith differences don't matter, said Al-Noor Athletic Director Aminah Muhammad.
`` We just want to play,'' she said, and the school therefore took advantage of the opportunity to be part of the league. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
KS:
FESTIVAL OF MUSLIM CULTURES -
TOP
Wichita Eagle, 5/13/05
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/11597817.htm
Festival of Muslim Cultures, art and artifacts, ancient handicrafts and
jewelry, Middle Eastern and South Asian fashion show, live
entertainment, food, noon-4 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church,
Second and Clifton. Free. Information, 461-5306.
-----
FAMILY
TAKEN OFF DIVERTED PLANE FROM PARIS -
TOP
Glenn Adams, Associated Press, 5/21/05
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=753288
BANGOR, Maine - An Air France jetliner en route from Paris to Boston
was diverted to Maine to check on a passenger with nearly the same name
and birthdate as a person on a no-fly list suspected of terror
connections, officials said.
The flight Thursday continued to Boston less than two hours later
without the passenger of interest and three of his family members, said
Rebecca Hupp, director of the Bangor airport.
"You had a match of the name save for slight deviation in spelling and
the exact date of birth," said Mark Hatfield, spokesman for the
Transportation Security Administration. Hatfield did not release the
name, but said the man on the list is "a serious bad actor" with
connections to terrorism.
When the Airbus A-330, carrying 169 passengers, landed in Maine,
federal officials escorted a man, a woman, a young child and a baby
off. They were detained by federal immigration officials, said Ann
Davis, spokeswoman for the TSA in Boston.
The four were later released and allowed to continue their trip after
officials determined the man was not the one on the no-fly list,
Hatfield said.
"In the end, we're explaining a minor inconvenience rather than a major tragedy," Hatfield said.
Air France and Federal Aviation Administration officials reported nothing else unusual about the flight.
Sabiha Bishara said the family boarded the flight at the same time as
she did in Egypt before they flew to Paris, and she spoke to them in
Arabic.
"They were sitting next to me, they were very normal people, there was
nothing fishy about them," said Bishara, who was headed to the Boston
area to attend her son's college graduation. "When the customs agents
boarded, the wife was very surprised."
Federal law requires airlines to transmit to the Homeland Security
Department the passenger lists for flights bound for the U.S. within 15
minutes of takeoff. Officials then check the names against terrorist
watch lists.
Bangor International Airport has a well-earned reputation as a stopping
off point for trans-Atlantic flights. It is the last major U.S. airport
for jets headed across the Atlantic and the first for incoming flights.
(MORE)
-----
SEND
A CLEAR SIGNAL: TORTURE NOT TOLERATED -
TOP
Miami Herald, 5/13/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/11635074.htm
U.S. military leadership is ultimately responsible for the failures
that led to abuses of wartime captives in places as far flung as
Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said as much after the graphic Abu Ghraib photos surfaced.
''These events occurred on my watch,'' he said. ''I am responsible.''
As we await the release of an investigation into interrogation
practices at the Guantanamo Bay prison, it's high time that Mr.
Rumsfeld and others in the chain of command finally be held accountable
for what went wrong. Low-level soldiers shouldn't be the only ones to
face consequences.
Too many soldiers abused captives in too many places to treat the cases
as isolated instances, alone. The lessons learned, moreover, should
ensure that the military doesn't repeat such mistakes.
Whether these were failures of policy or training or command, there is
much evidence that U.S. soldiers and interrogators mistreated
detainees, to the extent of torture in some cases.
Intended or not, abuse of captives has seriously damaged U.S.
credibility as it attempts to promote a human-rights agenda
internationally.
Such practices have also put the United States at greater risk. Witness
the violent anti-American protests this week in Afghanistan. The angry
mob reportedly reacted to a recent Newsweek article that U.S.
interrogators had flushed a Koran down a toilet at the Guantanamo Bay
detention center.
Using religious desecration, sexual humiliation and torture on captives
is more likely to make Muslims sympathize with those who hate the
United States than to cooperate with U.S. efforts to deter terrorists.
The most recent accounts of prisoner abuse come in the new book Inside
the Wire by former Army Sgt. Erik Saar, an interpreter who helped
interrogate captives at Guantanamo. Mr. Saar describes the systematic
use of sexual humiliation to break devout Muslims.
One female interrogator, for example, interviewed a Saudi detainee in a
thong and bra. Another smeared fake menstrual blood on a detainee's
face. Such practices debase interrogator and prisoner alike. (More)
ALSO SEE:
3
DIE IN AFGHANS' ANTI-US PROTESTS -
TOP
Halima Kazem, Los Angeles Times, 5/13/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan13may13,1,1490338.story?coll=la-headlines-world
KABUL, Afghanistan - Three people were killed and dozens were wounded
in anti-American demonstrations Thursday, the third day of protests
that followed reports of interrogators desecrating copies of Islam's
holy book at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Thursday's rallies were by far the biggest anti-American protests in
Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Officials
said two people were killed in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar
province when police tried to disperse protesters and keep them from
marching to Jalalabad, where four people were killed in similar
demonstrations Wednesday.
Another person was killed in the capital of Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, as mobs clashed with police.
In neighboring Lowgar province, rioters ransacked the offices of CARE
International, one of the largest aid groups in Afghanistan.
"A couple of our staff members were beat up and some of our computers
were broken," said Paul Barker, the CARE director in Afghanistan. "But
luckily no one was killed."
CARE evacuated its Lowgar staff to Kabul. Newsweek magazine recently
reported that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo in at least one instance
flushed a copy of the Koran down a toilet. Pakistan has formally
protested the alleged desecration.
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the reports
were being investigated by military authorities, and "if they are
proven true, we will take appropriate action."
Rice urged Muslims to resist calls for violence. Her statements came at the start of testimony to U.S. lawmakers.
"We have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their
concerns on this matter. We understand and we share their concerns.
Sadly, some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations,"
she said.
"I want to speak directly to Muslims in America and throughout the
world. Disrespect for the Holy Koran is not now, nor has it ever been,
nor will it ever be, tolerated by the United States," she said. (MORE)
-----
U
.S. HAD DOUBTS ABOUT LESSER CASE AGAINST TERROR SUSPECTS -
TOP
Eric Lictblau, New York Times, 5/12/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/politics/13terror.html
WASHINGTON, May 12 - Last December, after a high-profile federal
terrorism prosecution in Detroit collapsed amid accusations of
government misconduct, the Justice Department resorted to a backup
plan. Prosecutors brought much less serious charges of insurance fraud
against a pair of one-time terror suspects from Morocco, accusing the
men of falsely reporting injuries in a minor car accident.
Prosecutors said at the time that they viewed the insurance scam as a
serious offense. But internal Justice Department memorandums show that
senior prosecutors had serious doubts about the strength of the case
and recommended against bringing it, only to have the department go
ahead with the lesser charges.
Bringing the fraud case ''would appear to be vindictive,'' a senior
federal prosecutor in Detroit wrote in an e-mail memorandum to senior
Justice Department officials in 2003. The same prosecutor wrote that
the F.B.I. believed that the move would harm counterterrorism efforts
among Muslims and ''may actually encourage extremists.''
The e-mail messages shed light on the internal wrangling in a case that
many critics of the Justice Department see as a low mark in its pursuit
of terrorism prosecutions since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Some lawyers involved in the case also contend that the department
should have turned over the material to the defense under rules of
discovery in criminal cases, which generally require prosecutors to
divulge exculpatory material.
The e-mail messages were provided to The New York Times by an official
in the case who asked for anonymity because of a judge's order against
talking to the news media about the case and pending criminal
investigations in the case.
When asked about the Justice Department e-mail messages earlier,
Richard M. Helfrick, a defense lawyer in the case, said earlier this
week that he was unaware of the messages and that prosecutors had not
given him access to the material as part of the discovery process in
the pending fraud case against his client. (MORE)
-----
HOSTAGE
FAMILY PLANS TO RUN ADS IN IRAQ -
TOP
Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/13/05
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/national/article/0,1406,KNS_350_3775335,00.html
The family of an East Bay engineer held hostage in Iraq plans to appeal
to his captors with advertisements in newspapers and on television in
the country, even after the passage of a deadline set by the kidnappers.
There was no word Thursday on the status of Douglas Wood, 63, an
Australian citizen who lives with his wife in Alamo. His captors, in a
video released last week, set a Monday deadline for Australia to pull
troops out of Iraq -- a demand that was rejected.
Wood's family has made a far-reaching effort to relay messages to the
captors that humanize Wood and attempt to distance him from the
politics of the war in Iraq.
The family has created a Web site (
www.thewoodfamily.info)
with messages in English and Arabic, photos and a list of his required
medications. It has also aligned itself with Australia's top Muslim
cleric, who is now in Baghdad and says he is trying to contact the
kidnappers.
"We appeal to those who have taken him hostage to release him, because
he is not involved in politics and he is a man simply working to
support his family," Wood's family wrote in an advertisement in an
Arabic newspaper, according to a translation by Reuters.
Mark Juergensmeyer, director of the Global and International Studies
department at UC Santa Barbara, said Thursday that the effort to free
Wood might "ratchet up a general sense in Iraqi society that these acts
are hurting Iraq." (MORE)
-----
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5/16/05
- MEDIA ADVISORY-
U.S. MUSLIM GROUP TO OFFER FREE QURANS
Gitmo Quran desecration controversy prompts campaign
WHAT: On Tuesday, May 17, the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), will hold a news conference at the nation's capital to launch a
campaign to offer free Qurans to the American public. The campaign by the
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is in response
to a recent controversy generated by a Newsweek article alleging that
Islam's holy text was flushed down a toilet.
CAIR's campaign, called "Explore the Quran" involves the
community sponsored distribution of Islam's revealed text to Americans
nationwide.
"We are initiating this campaign as an attempt to turn a negative
incident into something more positive," said CAIR Executive Director
Nihad Awad. "It is our belief that greater access to Islam's holy
book will help foster a better appreciation and understanding of Islam by
ordinary Americans."
WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey, SE,
Washington D.C., 20003
WHEN: 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17.
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-439-1441, e-mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-744-7726, e-mail: ihooper@cair-net.org
- END-
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS
5/16/05
* HADITH:
The Importance of
Charity
*
CAIR-DC Conference a
Success
-
CAIR
Condemns Massacre of Uzbek Civilians
*
Newsweek Got Gitmo Right
(Antiwar.com)
-
Islam as
Interrogation Tool: Need for Limits? (CSM)
-
Newsweek Backs off
Quran Desecration Story (CNN)
*
Quran Has Changed
the Course of History (Daily Facts)
* IA:
Running Covered, But Free
(DM Register)
- NY:
Doctor
Puts Faith in Medications, God (AP)
* CA:
Muslim
Youth Persevere To Find Time, Place to Pray
- OH:
Kids' Books Help Share
Muslim Faith (Enquirer)
-----
HADITH: THE IMPORTANCE OF
CHARITY -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The believer s shade on
the Day of Resurrection will be his charity. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith
604.
The Prophet also said: Every act of goodness is charity. Sahih Muslim,
Hadith 496.
------
CAIR S DC CONFERENCE A
SUCCESS -
TOP
More than 300 people turn out for sold-out conference
(Washington, D.C. 5/16/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said over 300 people turned out for its "Islamophobia
and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies" conference in Washington,
D.C. this past weekend. The conference brought 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.
Speakers at the event included: former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim; Amnesty International USA Board Chair Chip Pitts; Gerald
Michael Feierstein, director of the Office of Regional Affairs, Bureau of
Near East Affairs; and Cherif Bassiouni, law professor at DePaul
University.
"It was gratifying to see such genuine interest by participants from
across the US in a conference aimed at tackling the complex issues
of
Islamophobia and anti-Americanism, " said Fouad Khatib, CAIR board
member. "We are confident this will enable CAIR to play an active
role in formulating positive solutions to check these destructive
trends."
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.
-
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.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR
CONDEMNS MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS IN UZBEKISTAN -
TOP
U.S. group calls for action by Bush administration
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/16/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned the recent massacre of more than 500 Uzbek
civilians and called on the Bush administration to intervene in order to
prevent further killings.
Media reports indicate that security forces fired on protesters last week
many of whom were women and children killing more than 500 people and
wounding 2000 in the region bordering Kyrgyzstan.
In its statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy
group said:
"The real test of our commitment to freedom and democracy comes when
massive human rights violations are committed by nations we regard as our
allies. We condemn this brutal attack on Uzbek civilians and urge the
Bush administration to take action in order to prevent further killings.
Red Cross and foreign observers should also be allowed entry into
Uzbekistan to check the reports that hundreds have been killed in the
clashes.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 30 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: cair@cair-net.org.
-----
NEWSWEEK GOT GITMO RIGHT -
TOP
Calgacus*, antiwar.com, 5/16/05
http://www.antiwar.com/news/?articleid=5959
[*Calgacus has been employed as a researcher in the national security
field for 20 years.]
Contrary to White House spin, the allegations of religious desecration at
Guantanamo published by Newsweek on May 9, 2005, are common among
ex-prisoners and have been widely reported outside the United States.
Several former detainees at the Guantanamo and Bagram prisons have
reported instances of their handlers sitting or standing on the Koran,
throwing or kicking it in toilets, and urinating on it. Prior to the
Newsweek article, the New York Times reported a Guantanamo insider
asserting that the commander of the facility was compelled by prisoner
protests to address the problem and issue an apology.
One such incident (during which the Koran was allegedly thrown in a pile
and stepped on) prompted a hunger strike among Guantanamo detainees in
March 2002. Regarding this, the New York Times in a May 1, 2005, article
interviewed a former detainee, Nasser Nijer Naser al-Mutairi, who said
the protest ended with a senior officer delivering an apology to the
entire camp. And the Times reports: "A former interrogator at
Guantanamo, in an interview with the Times, confirmed the accounts of the
hunger strikes, including the public expression of regret over the
treatment of the Korans." (Neil A. Lewis and Eric Schmitt,
"Inquiry Finds Abuses at Guantanamo Bay," New York Times, May
1, 2005.)
The hunger strike and apology story is also confirmed by another former
detainee, Shafiq Rasul, interviewed by the UK Guardian in 2003 (James
Meek, "The People the Law Forgot," Dec. 3, 2003). It was also
confirmed by former prisoner Jamal al-Harith in an interview with the
Daily Mirror (Rosa Prince and Gary Jones, "My Hell in Camp
X-Ray," Daily Mirror, March 12, 2004).
The toilet incident was reported in the Washington Post in a 2003
interview with a former detainee from Afghanistan:
"Ehsannullah, 29, said American soldiers who initially questioned
him in Kandahar before shipping him to Guantanamo hit him and taunted him
by dumping the Koran in a toilet. 'It was a very bad situation for us,'
said Ehsannullah, who comes from the home region of the Taliban leader,
Mohammad Omar. 'We cried so much and shouted, "Please do not do that
to the Holy Koran."' (Marc Kaufman and April Witt, "Out of
Legal Limbo, Some Tell of Mistreatment," Washington Post, March 26,
2003.)
Also citing the toilet incident is testimony by Asif Iqbal, a former
Guantanamo detainee who was released to British custody in March 2004 and
subsequently freed without charge:
"The behavior of the guards towards our religious practices as well
as the Koran was also, in my view, designed to cause us as much distress
as possible. They would kick the Koran, throw it into the toilet, and
generally disrespect it." (Center for Constitutional Rights [.pdf],
Aug. 4, 2004.)
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM AS
INTERROGATION TOOL: NEED FOR LIMITS? -
TOP
Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, 5/15/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0516/p11s02-usmi.html
Army Sgt. Erik Saar couldn't wait to get to Guant�namo Bay to help ferret
information from the terrorists being held there. When the intelligence
linguist arrived, however, he was startled to hear the Muslim call to
prayer. Why, he wondered, would America make such a "concession to
the religious zealotry" of the detainees?
Yet as he worked as an interpreter in the cell blocks and interrogation
rooms, Sergeant Saar's attitude changed. Methods that demeaned Islamic
beliefs and tried to make detainees feel separate from God struck him as
counterproductive. They not only failed to produce information, he says,
but also fueled the sense there and abroad that the US is at war with
Islam.
"We say we're trying to win the hearts and minds of Muslim people
around the world, yet they can see we are using their religion against
them," says Saar in a phone interview. "I don't think that's in
line with our values."
Religious disrespect - or even a perception of disrespect - can be an
explosive matter in Islamic countries. In recent days, thousands took to
the streets in violent protests in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and at least
three other nations, reacting to a news report, not yet substantiated,
that American personnel desecrated the Koran during interrogations at
Guant�namo. The US has promised an investigation and insists disrespect
for the Koran will not be tolerated.
---
NEWSWEEK BACKS
OFF QURAN DESECRATION STORY -
TOP
CNN, 5/16/05
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/15/newsweek.quran/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Newsweek magazine backed away Sunday from a report
that U.S. interrogators desecrated copies of the Quran while questioning
prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay naval base -- an account blamed for
sparking violent riots in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured last week when
thousands of demonstrators marched in Afghanistan and other parts of the
Muslim world, officials and eyewitnesses said.
"We regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our
sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in
its midst," Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker wrote in the magazine's
May 23 issue, out Sunday.
In an article assessing its coverage, the magazine wrote, "How did
Newsweek get its facts wrong? And how did the story feed into serious
international unrest?"
The Pentagon said last week it was unable to corroborate any case in
which interrogators at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
defiled the Muslim holy book, as Newsweek reported in its May 9
issue.
"Top administration officials have promised to continue looking into
the charges, and so will we," Whitaker said.
-----
QURAN HAS CHANGED
THE COURSE OF HISTORY -
TOP
Gregory Elder, Daily Facts, 5/16/05
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/Stories/0,1413,209~22484~2866271,00.html
If they were asked to list the names of the most important books ever
written, many of my students would certainly list the Bible, Shakespeare,
Milton, Homer, Dante and Plato among the greatest. Indeed, if they do not
list these as the greats, I will certainly fail them.
But to this list of great books, perhaps we should also add another
volume. This is the Holy Quran, or Koran, the holy book of Islam. Its
role in history has been great, and for good or ill, it is the spiritual
adviser to more than 1 billion members of the human race. Along with the
Holy Bible, it is one of the most quoted, commented on and trusted
volumes in the history of the world.
In the traditional Islamic world, the authority of the Quran is absolute
in all matters of faith, morals and doctrine. It is the absolute word of
God, written in heaven by Allah and revealed to the Prophet Muhammed in
the Arabic language. Muslims do not believe that the prophet himself
wrote the book, but rather it was revealed to him and he recited it to
the faithful who wrote it down. The faithful decorate their homes and
mosques with its declarations in calligraphy and carvings.
Before the prophet's death in A.D. 632, he was very concerned about the
collection of the Quran and he had several assistants who helped him
organize the revelations into the Suras. We do not know the state of the
recordings at the time of the prophet's death, but we do know that he was
very careful about their preservation.
One of his secretaries was a young man named Zayd ibn Thabit who
preserved many of the passages and knew of other men who had also
collected them. In the age of the Caliph Uthman, who presided over the
community not long after the death of the prophet, a final edition was
published, which abides to this day.
If we are to look at the book, what do we find? In its English prose
translations it is about one inch thick in a paperback edition. It
contains 114 chapters, called "suras" or "readings,"
which are arranged in order of length, beginning with the longest and
ending with the shortest. The Suras all begin with the same phrase,
"In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the
Merciful."
By way of comparison, the Epistles of Paul were arranged in the New
Testament in the same manner, of longest to shortest, for the custom was
common in the ancient world. But Muslims would be quick to point out that
the ordering is of divine origin, and they would also add that the true
Quran cannot be translated, for all translation is imperfect and creates
a need for interpretation by the translator. The true Quran is always in
Arabic and it is always in the poetry of its revelation rather than
prose. (MORE)
-----
RUNNING COVERED, BUT FREE -
TOP
Sean Keeler, Des Moines Register, 5/15/05
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050515/SPORTS05/505150349/1016
Ames, Ia. - She'd made it. The end of the road. Heba Kamal slowed to a
jog, lifted her arms high and gently set moist hands on either side of
the black scarf atop her head. At first, the breaths came short and hard,
like the gulps of a fish just plucked from the water. Her sides
burned.
Then she heard them.
"A couple of teenagers sitting there," the Ames High School
senior says quietly. "They just laughed when I ended the race. They
were all looking at me. It just made me angry. Is it funny because I'm
running while I'm covered?"
She doesn't mind if you ask. What she minds is if you assume.
Yes, Heba Kamal is Muslim. Yes, she prays five times a day.
She also loves watching "The Simpsons." Profile at your
peril.
"I don't really blame people for not knowing too much," Heba
says. "Once you talk to them, they're very understanding. What's
frustrating is people who judge you right away."
D'oh!
Heba, 17, has run with Ames' junior varsity girls' track team each of the
last two springs. She does this while wearing a headscarf known as a
hijab, long sleeves and long pants.
Always. Rain or shine.
"The first two things I'll hear at meets are usually what religion
and why," Ames track coach Kirk Schmaltz explains. "But the
third comment was usually, 'Hey, that's pretty neat. I'm really glad she
had enough courage to come out and do this.'
"In athletics, you're in an arena, you're in a showcase- type thing.
To be able to say, 'Hey, this is who I am and this is what I'm doing and
it's OK,' hopefully other faiths will say, 'We can be accepted. We're
being treated right.' "
Heba is a Sunni. She was born in Canada to Egyptian parents. She was
raised in English and Arabic. Her education began at an American school
in Kuwait, where her father taught computer and electrical engineering at
a local university. When he got a job at Iowa State in 2001, the family
moved to Ames.
Some women of Islamic faith traditionally cover themselves as a sign of
modesty. Most girls wait until they're 16 or 17 years old before they're
comfortable with a hijab; Heba began wearing hers at 11.
"People think it was really early for me," she says. "I
was starting to grow up. I felt I was ready. My mother told me,
'Remember, you're going to have to do it at some point in your life.' But
I was the one who decided when to do it. She didn't have to force
me."
Schmaltz calls Heba an inspiration. Not because she ran a 41.28 in the
200 at the Jim Duea Invitational.
Because she ran. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
FIREFIGHTER'S
DOCTOR PUTS FAITH IN MEDICATIONS, GOD -
TOP
Malcolm Ritter, Associated Press, 5/15/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--braindoctor0515may15,0,1070703.story
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Soon after Dr. Jamil Ahmed stood before TV cameras two
weeks ago and told how his brain-injured patient had snapped out of a
stupor lasting almost 10 years, the telephone calls and e-mails started
pouring in.
Everybody wants a word with Ahmed, 43, who's just three years removed
from his residency training in Boston after earning a medical degree in
Pakistan.
There are doctors calling about patients. There are family members of
brain-injured people asking if Ahmed can talk to their doctors. And just
what drugs was the brain-injured former firefighter, Donald Herbert,
taking when he turned from being barely aware and almost mute into a
virtual chatterbox for 14 hours with his astounded family and
friends?
"Why don't you just tell me the medications?" Ahmed recalls one
woman demanding. "You just tell me the name of the medications and
I'm not going to be calling you again."
Ahmed, who has been asked by Herbert's family not to identify the drugs,
has returned a few phone calls, explaining his medication strategy in
general terms and warning, "There is no guarantee."
That's for sure. Ahmed was treading in largely untested waters when he
put Herbert on a combination of drugs usually used to treat Parkinson's
disease, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder.
But, he said, he'd seen such drugs help his other brain-injury patients
at the Erie County Medical Center regain focus, memory and powers of
concentration, and become less agitated or irritable. He'd even seen such
drugs bring people out of comas _ the eyes-closed state of complete
unawareness _ and other kinds of impaired consciousness, although not
after nearly 10 years like Herbert.
So when he heard that Herbert had improved, "I was not
surprised," Ahmed, a genial rehabilitation specialist, said the
other day. "I was expecting from the beginning he should make a
change."
In the days since, the 44-year-old patient has continued to have sporadic
conversations and has even played catch with a soccer ball.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIM
YOUTH PERSEVERE TO FIND TIME, PLACE TO PRAY -
TOP
Jennifer McLain, Inside Bay Area, 5/15/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_2735038
FREMONT Many Americans this month celebrated the national day of
prayer.
But for Muslims, every day is a day of prayer.
In many Muslim countries, believers are called to prayer five times a day
from sunrise until about 9 p.m. on a loudspeaker from a mosque. In the
United States, however, it is up to individuals to fit the five daily
prayers into their routine, said Pakistani native Parvez Khan.
Khan, a Fremont resident, said the 5- to 15-minute prayers are essential
to a Muslim's life and he expects his 9- and 13-year-old children to pray
five times a day when they are older.
But, for some American-Muslim students, doing so can be a challenge,
especially if they are at high school during a required prayer.
American High School student Zaneb Rizvi has found a way to work prayer
into her school schedule.
"Because there is no designated place to pray, I just wait until
school is out to catch the prayer time thatstarts at about 1 p.m. and
goes (to about) 5 p.m.," Rizvi said.
She thinks other Muslims handle the 1 p.m. prayer the same way.
"I haven't seen any Muslim student praying during school. I think
they may be embarrassed, or it might be because we don't have a place to
pray," she said.
Rizvi, who wears a Muslim head scarf, said she wishes there were a place
to pray at American High because going home to pray cuts into her
homework time after school. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
KIDS' BOOKS HELP SHARE
MUSLIM FAITH -
TOP
Karen Vance, Enquirer, 5/16/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/NEWS01/505140379/1056/news01
For Freda Crane-Shamma of Indian Hill, sharing her Muslim faith through
children's literature has become a rewarding experience.
Crane-Shamma, 62, co-wrote "Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs, A
Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents." The book,
released last year, was awarded the Aesop Prize by the American Folklore
Society.
"(The book) has something for everyone; it's wisdom. Whether you're
coming at it from a Christian or a Jewish or an Islamic perspective, it
has morality," Crane-Shamma said.
It was published by Eastern Washington University Press in Spokane,
Wash., and is part of a series done by a Washington schoolteacher, Sarah
Conover.
"As a parent and an educator, I had trouble finding what I wanted to
expose my children to other faiths," Conover said. "So I
searched on my own."
She wrote a similar work on Buddhism. And she sought out a Muslim expert
to help with the book.
Crane-Shamma, who converted to Islam in 1969 and married a Muslim, has
been collecting English translations of Muslim literature since then. She
also has a doctorate in education and curriculum and develops curriculum
for Muslim schools.
Among her favorite stories in the book is one mirrored in nearly every
Muslim country, including references to it in China. In the story, a man,
his son and his donkey learn that pleasing God is more important than
pleasing other people.
"It's been really exciting to find these stories," she said.
(MORE)
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR Action Alert #455
HELP EDUCATE YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE QURAN
CAIR urges Muslims to sponsor its "Explore the Quran"
campaign
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/17/05) - CAIR today announced that it would offer
free copies of the Quran to the American public in response to the recent
controversy generated by a Newsweek article alleging that Islam's holy
text was flushed down a toilet.
An item in the May 9 issue of Newsweek reported that investigators
probing interrogation abuses at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo
Bay have confirmed that interrogators, in an attempt to rattle suspects,
flushed a Qur'an down a toilet and led a detainee around with a collar
and dog leash.
Subsequently, the report of the Quran desecration sparked protests in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Gaza, where 16 people were killed
and more than 100 injured, according to news reports.
Although Newsweek has since then retracted its statement and offered an
apology, other news reports show that allegations of religious
desecration at Guantanamo are common among ex-prisoners and have been
widely reported outside the United States. SEE:
http://rawstory.com/exclusives/newsweek_koran_report_516.htm
In response, CAIR is urging Muslims to help promote a better appreciation
and understanding of their faith by donating to the "Explore the
Quran" project. CAIR's "Explore the Quran" campaign
encourages Muslim individuals, mosques and Islamic organizations to
sponsor copies of the Quran, which will then be distributed to interested
individuals nationwide.
The $25 packages include a copy of the Quran with Yusaf Ali's English
translation and guidelines on how to handle the Quran.
"In today's climate of heightened religious sensitivities and
cultural clashes, now is the time for people of all faiths to better
acquaint themselves with Islam's sacred text, the Holy Qur'an," said
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The 'Explore the Qur'an'
campaign allows the book to speak for itself and educate those of other
faith traditions about the beautiful religion of Islam."
Muslim communities and individuals can donate to the project by visiting
CAIR's "Explore the Quran" web site at
http://www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/.
Those who wish to obtain a free copy of the Quran, can also submit a
request on the same website or call 1-800-78-ISLAM (47526).
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Go
http://www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/
to donate generously to the "Explore the Quran" project.
2) Publicize CAIR's "Explore the Quran" project in your local mosques and Islamic Centers and encourage others to participate.
3) Organize "Explore the Quran" workshops at your local mosques,
encouraging your neighbors to come and learn about Islam's holy text.
- 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
CAIR BOARD ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN
Founding Chairman Omar Ahmad Retires after 11 years of
Service
(Washington DC, 5/17/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) announced on Saturday at its annual conference the election of Dr.
Parvez Ahmed as the new incoming Chairman of the Board for CAIR National.
Assisting the new Chair will be Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras as the Vice Chairman
of the Board.
Omar Ahmad will be retiring as CAIR's Founding Chairman after 11 years of
exemplary and dedicated service to the American Muslim
community.
"Part of being an institution is that there must be regular changes
in leadership and this change must be seamless. After a decade of service
to the community, I have come to the end of one road," said Omar
Ahmad, CAIR's outgoing chairman.
"It is my belief that this change in leadership will benefit the
organization and the cause of American Muslims. The new leadership will
bring fresh ideas to the table and invigorate the organization with
renewed spirit and enthusiasm," added Ahmad.
CAIR's Executive Director Nihad Awad expressed his heartfelt appreciation
for Ahmad's dedication and wished the best for Ahmad and his
family.
"Following in the footsteps of a trailblazer will be a hard act to
follow. The Board of Directors placed this responsibility on my shoulders
and it is a responsibility that I accept with a great deal of humility
and appreciation for the enormous task ahead," said Parvez Ahmed,
CAIR's new Chairman of Board.
Prior to his election as CAIR National Board Chairman, Dr. Parvez Ahmed
was Chairman of the Board for the Florida Chapter of CAIR and a CAIR
National Board member. Dr. Ahmed resides in Jacksonville, Florida where
he teaches finance at a university. He also writes editorials dispelling
stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. His editorials have been published
in The Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle,
Miami Herald, New York Newsday, and Seattle Times among many
others.
Dr. Al-Akhras is a Columbus, Ohio resident and a registered professional
engineer. Prior to his election he served as the Founding Chairman of the
Board for the Ohio Chapter of CAIR. He is also a recent inductee to the
Leadership Columbus Hall of Fame.
CAIR is America's largest civil liberties group, with 31 regional offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. To read CAIR's mission and vision
statement, go to
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- 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
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS -
5/18/05
* HADITH:
Spend
Righteously, Teach Wisdom
* ACTION ALERT:
Support
H. Res. Condemning Religious Bigotry
-
US
Muslim Group to Offer Copies of the Quran (VOA)
-
Quran Holds Holiest Place
(RNS)
-
It's a Matter of Sensitivity (NY Daily News)
* CAIR-DC:
Newsweek Retracts Story on Qur'an (CP)
- CAIR-DC:
Newsweek Backtracks On Koran Report
-
Blaming the Messenger (Wash Post)
-
Queen Noor on Quran controversy, Mid-East Politics
* GA:
Muslims Want State to Regulate Meat Markets (AJC)
* IL:
Mosque Cites Bias in Failed Land Sale (Chicago Trib)
- IL:
Mosque Group Didn't Need Our Ok
- DC:
Journalists Criticize Post 9/11 Media (UPI)
* IL:
New FBI Agent Meets With Muslims (Daily Southtown)
* FL:
Al-Arian Jury Pool Slowly Pared (SP Times)
* NY:
Malcolm X Memorabilia on Display
- NM:
Dar Al Islam Offers Deen Intensive Program
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SPEND RIGHTEOUSLY, TEACH WISDOM -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: There are two (kinds of)
people worth envying: Someone whom God has made rich and who spends his
money righteously; and someone whom God has given wisdom and who acts
according to it and teaches it to others.
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 255
-----
SUPPORT CONYERS HOUSE RES. CONDEMNING RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY -
TOP
(Washington, DC, 5/18/2005) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called for people of conscience to support a resolution
that "recognizes that the Qur'an as any other holy book of any
religion, should be treated with dignity and respect."
To be introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the resolution also
"condemns bigotry and intolerance against any religious group,
including our friends, neighbors and citizens of the Islamic faith."
"This resolution expresses America's respect for the holy texts of all
faiths. If passed, it will also reiterate our nation's condemnation of
bigoted behavior and religious intolerance," said Corey Saylor, CAIR's
government affairs director. "It's a winner on every front."
Saylor also noted that while Newsweek has retracted its piece asserting
that U.S. interrogators threw a Quran in a toilet, former Guantanamo
detainees, as well as former detainees in Afghanistan, have made
similar allegations in other media reports.
A resolution of this type does not have the force of law; however, it
is the expression of the opinion of the U.S. House of Representatives.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and has 31 offices nationwide and in Canada.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact your Representative in the U.S. House (not your Senators) and
ask him or her to sign-on to the Conyers resolution condemning bigotry
and religious intolerance. (No number has been assigned to the
resolution at the time of this release.)
1) Tell them the allegations of Quran desecration, now withdrawn by
Newsweek, hurt America's image overseas. Strong support for this
resolution will demonstrate America's intolerance of bigotry and
disrespect toward any religious group.
2) Ask them to contact Ameer Gopalani in Rep. John Conyers' office at ameer.gopalani@mail.house.gov or 202-223-9307 to sign-on.
3.) SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=issuesAndLegislations
ALSO SEE:
US MUSLIM GROUP TO OFFER FREE COPIES OF QURAN TO PUBLIC -
TOP
Joe De Capua, Voice of America, 5/17/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2005-05-17-voa47.cfm
A Washington-based Muslim group is reacting to the controversy caused
by a recent Newsweek magazine article by giving away copies of the
Quran.
The story, which was later retracted by Newsweek, said US interrogators
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had flushed a copy of the Quran down a toilet.
However, media around the world picked up the story.
Now, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR, has announced it
will give a copy of the Quran to anyone requesting one. Rabiah Ahmed is
the communications coordinator for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. She tells English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua why the
group is taking the action.
She says, We feel that it is an opportunity for Muslims to share the
Quran with the general American public so that they could appreciate it
and respect it just as Muslims do.
She says CAIR has made it easy for anyone to request a copy. We ll be launching a website, which will be linked to our website,
www.cair-net.org,
and it will allow Muslims to sponsor copies of the Quran. Each Quran
will approximately cost $25.00 each. So, we re asking Muslims in the
community to donate money to pay for the printing and the shipping and
handling... And the other element of the website will be for Americans
to register to get a Quran free of charge in the mail.
What does CAIR hope to accomplish? Ms. Ahmed says, Well, we re trying
to take a negative situation and turn it into something a bit more
positive. In the post 9/11 climate there is a lot of misunderstanding
about Islam and there have been a lot anti-Muslim incidents. And surely
we feel the best way to tackle the ignorance is through education and
hopefully this project will help to do that.
ALSO SEE:
QURAN HOLDS HOLIEST PLACE -
TOP
Holly Lebowitz Rossi and Heather Horiuchi, Religion News Service, 5/17/05
http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~21474~2874116,00.html
WASHINGTON If a Quran is accidentally dropped on the floor, the person
who dropped it makes a contribution to charity in atonement. Copies are
never placed at the bottom of a pile of books, and because the toilet
is considered an impure place, the Quran is never taken into the
bathroom.
This reverence for the Islamic holy text helps explain the explosive
international reaction to a Newsweek report since retracted because it
was erroneous that copies of the Quran had been flushed down the toilet
in the course of interrogating detainees at an American prison in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"This is the ultimate spiritual torture,' said Muqtedar Khan, a
nonresident fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution who
studies Islam and world politics. If this was done, it is the ultimate
blow&'
Some U.S. Muslim groups see the Newsweek controversy as a moment to
educate the American public about Islam. The Washington-based Council
on American-Islamic Relations launched its "Exploring the Quran'
program Tuesday.
The nonprofit group is distributing free copies of the Quran, with
English and Arabic translations, featuring the commentary of the late
Indian scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali, a renowned translator of the Quran
who died in 1953.
"We are initiating this campaign as an attempt to turn a negative
incident into something more positive,' said Nihad Awad, CAIR's
executive director.
But Awad added that there is no undoing the damage of the Newsweek
story, because it is perceived as just the latest in a string of
anti-Muslim actions and policies by Americans and their government.
Awad said that after Sept. 11, international support for the United
States had been high, but many Muslims now see it "as a nation of
hypocrisy.' He said a country that prides itself on being a champion of
human rights is becoming the "most hated nation in the world.'
---
IT'S A MATTER OF SENSITIVITY -
TOP
Corky Siemaszko, New York Daily News, 5/18/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/05-18-2005/news/story/310585p-265729c.html
WHY WOULD a report that Korans were thrown into toilets at the Guantanamo Bay terror prison cause angry Muslims to riot?
Because to even touch Islam's holy book without first ritually washing is considered a desecration, an expert said yesterday.
"There isn't a great understanding of what the Koran means to Muslims,"
said Rabiah Ahmed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Even
Muslims handle the Koran very carefully. They have to be cleansed
physically before they handle it."
Just as the Bible is for Christians, the Koran is to Muslims "the holy
word of God," Ahmed said. "But in Islam there are rules for handling
the Koran."
Among other things, a person handling a Koran has to perform wudhu (washing). It is also taboo to place it on the floor.
"We don't condone violence," Ahmed said. "But you have to understand
that Muslims revere the Koran. And to have it treated like this
angers&Muslims."
The rules for handling the Koran are so specific that two years ago the
Pentagon issued a memo requiring soldiers to treat the book "like a
fragile piece of delicate art." The three-page memorandum, dated Jan.
19, 2003, and obtained by The Washington Post, said only Muslim
chaplains and interpreters could handle the holy book - and only after
putting on clean gloves in full view of detainees.
-----
NEWSWEEK RETRACTS STORY ON QUR'AN ABUSED THAT SPARKED PROTESTS -
TOP
Canadian Press, 5/16/05
http://www.940news.com/nouvelles.php?cat=10&id=w051687A
WASHINGTON (CP) - Newsweek magazine retracted its story Monday on U.S.
soldiers abusing the Qur'an after the report was blamed for igniting
deadly protests in Afghanistan, causing outrage across the Muslim world
and providing another major setback to America's image.
After a year of horrific revelations about U.S. soldiers abusing
prisoners in the war on terror, Newsweek reported in early May that
investigators found evidence the Qur'an was desecrated by American
interrogators at the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The short article touched off a firestorm of violence in Afghanistan
that left at least 15 people dead and injured dozens more. The chaotic
images are still playing non-stop on North American TV networks.
"Based on what we know now, we are retracting our original story that
an internal military investigation has uncovered Qur'an abuse at
Guantanamo Bay," Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker said in a surprise
statement late Monday&
"I guess we'll never know what the truth is," said Rabiah Ahmed, a
spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is
still calling for a general public investigation into suggestions that
abusing the religion of Islam has become a routine interrogation
technique.
"But the fact is, these kind of allegations are quite believable, which
is very telling and sad when we are trying to win the hearts and minds
of Muslims," she said.
"If we want to be seen as a legitimate power in the world, we need to address the perception that these things have happened."
ALSO SEE:
NEWSWEEK BACKTRACKS ON KORAN REPORT -
TOP
Richard B. Schmitt, Los Angeles Times, 5/16/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-newsweek16may16,1,6904617.story
WASHINGTON - Newsweek magazine acknowledged Sunday that there were
errors in a story reporting that U.S. interrogators had desecrated the
Koran while attempting to extract intelligence from Muslim prisoners at
the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The report led to a series of
violent anti-American protests and at least 14 deaths in Afghanistan.
In its issue set to hit U.S. newsstands today, Newsweek said its source
for the story backed away from an assertion that investigators had
concluded that military personnel had flushed a Koran down a toilet.
The finding was supposedly included in an upcoming report.
Newsweek apologized and expressed regret about the violence that
followed the story. But the magazine defended its reporting and said it
was continuing to investigate allegations that U.S. personnel had
desecrated the Muslim holy book.
"We regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our
sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught
in its midst," Mark Whitaker, Newsweek's editor, wrote in a separate
note in today's issue.
The admission is likely to focus further scrutiny on the American
press, already suffering from revelations that reporters for major
publications fabricated material, lifted quotations or used
questionable material from unidentified sources.
In an interview, Whitaker said the magazine had gone to unusual lengths
to ensure the accuracy of the original article, including showing a
prepublication draft to a U.S. official, who chose to neither confirm
nor deny the essence of the story. He added that Newsweek didn't plan
to discipline anyone as a consequence of the episode.
But the disclosure triggered a strong rebuke from the Bush
administration, which has been dealing with the fallout since the
magazine's May 9 report&
Some representatives of the Muslim community said Newsweek's new account did not alleviate their concerns.
"Unfortunately relations are so bad at this point that the perception
will linger, no matter what the truth of the matter is," said Ibrahim
Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Many people won't
believe it. They'll believe the magazine was pressured into doing a
retraction."
---
BLAMING THE MESSENGER -
TOP
Anne Applebaum, Washington Post, 5/18/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051800869.html
"It's appalling that this story got out there," said the secretary of
state. "Shaky from the very get-go," thundered the White House
spokesman. "We've not found any wrongdoing on the part of U.S.
servicemembers," declared the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Outrage
filled the airwaves this week as administration officials took turns
denouncing Newsweek's brief report of alleged desecrations of the Koran
at Guantanamo Bay. But among the many declarations of shock, shock,
shock, among the multiple expressions of self-righteous horror at the
riots the story sparked in Afghanistan, only one reflected any hint of
self-reflection, any sense that this story might be more than just
another mainstream media screw-up. "People need to be very careful
about what they say," said the secretary of defense, "just as they need
to be very careful about what they do."
Now, it is possible that no interrogator at Guantanamo Bay ever flushed
pages of the Koran down the toilet, as the now-retracted Newsweek story
reported -- although several former Guantanamo detainees have alleged
just that. It is also possible that Newsweek reporters relied too much
on an uncertain source, or that the magazine confused the story with
(confirmed) reports that prisoners themselves used Korans to block
toilets as a form of protest.
But surely the larger point is not the story itself but that it was so
eminently plausible, in Pakistan, Afghanistan and everywhere else. And
it was plausible precisely because interrogation techniques designed to
be offensive to Muslims were used in Iraq and Guantanamo, as
administration and military officials have also confirmed. (MORE)
---
QUEEN NOOR PLAYS HARDBALL -
TOP
Hardball, 5/17/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
The American-born Queen of Jordan is arguably one of the best links
between the two cultures. She joins Hardball host Chris Matthews to
talk about Arab-American relations and her new book. (MORE)
-----
GA: AREA MUSLIMS WANT STATE TO REGULATE MEAT MARKETS -
TOP
Sonia Jacobs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/18/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/atlanta_world_24a86a0917c231c700b7.html
For the past eight years, Yusuf Faisthalab and his family have had
their meats delivered to their home in Lilburn from a butcher shop
about 35 miles away, in Atlanta's East Lake neighborhood.
The South African native takes such pains because he wants to ensure
that the family's beef, chicken and other meats are "halal" ---
permissible for consumption under Islamic law. He trusts the owners of
Almadina Halal meat market, one of several grocery stores that cater to
metro Atlanta's burgeoning Islamic population.
But Faisthalab and other Muslims say they don't have the same
confidence in all restaurants and markets that claim to sell halal food
products. They are concerned that some are misrepresenting non-halal
foods as acceptable for Muslims to eat. They are pushing Georgia
lawmakers to regulate the industry and punish unscrupulous business
owners. But their efforts at the state Capitol have stalled so far.
"With the growing number of Muslims, we want to make sure we are
protected," Faisthalab said. "We do not want to go somewhere and be
told the food is halal and it's not, just because someone wants to make
a quick buck." (MORE)
-----
MOSQUE CITES BIAS IN FAILED LAND SALE -
TOP
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 5/18/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0505180241may18,1,1970735.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed
In a day of testimony rife with allegations of anti-Muslim bias, Palos
Heights officials were accused Tuesday of purposely throwing up
obstacles to prevent Al Salam Mosque Foundation from buying a Christian
church to convert to a mosque and school.
Rouhy Shalabi, the foundation's lawyer, told the jury in U.S. District
Court that city officials kept zoning rules vague in 2000 to prevent
the foundation from following through on a deal to buy the Reformed
Church of Palos Heights and threatened to use eminent domain if the
sale occurred. At least one alderman told him a mosque did not qualify
as a church, the generic term used to zone houses of worship, he said.
"Either way, you're not getting the church," Shalabi said officials told him.
Lawyers for Palos Heights are arguing in the civil rights trial that
the foundation never needed city approval to buy the property at 6600
W. 127th St. and characterized the aborted March 2000 sale as a "real
estate deal that didn't go through" for reasons that had nothing to do
with the city.
"All they had to do was complete the deal," said attorney Richard Ryan,
representing Palos Heights. "They could have just moved in."
The foundation accuses the city of violating its worshipers' 1st
Amendment rights by thwarting plans to convert the church. The deal
touched off a firestorm of protest and tense meetings at which
protesters carried signs opposing the mosque and hecklers disrupted
committee testimony.
Shalabi told the jury the foundation drew up a contract with the
Reformed Church to buy the property for $2.1 million. The contract
included a contingency stipulating the deal would occur only after the
foundation verified that the city would allow it to operate a mosque
and a school there.
He said he called the city to request a zoning application and was told
to send a letter explaining the foundation's intended use for the
property. Weeks later, he said, Mayor Dean Koldenhoven called and
advised him to attend a hearing because some Zoning Board members
didn't want a mosque in the community. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MOSQUE GROUP DIDN'T NEED OUR OK -
TOP
Chris Hack, Daily Southtown, 5/17/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/171nd1.htm
Lawyers for Palos Heights told a federal jury Monday a group of Muslims
seeking to set up a mosque five years ago never needed the city's
permission to do so, and mistakenly allowed municipal government as
well as some admittedly bigoted reactions to influence what should have
been a simple real estate transaction.
The city is accused in a federal lawsuit of violating the Muslim
group's First Amendment right of religious freedom by thwarting plans
to convert a church to a mosque in 2000. The plans for the mosque
ignited a political firestorm: Some city council members initially
balked at giving the group permission to buy the church, then claimed
the city needed the same piece of land, and ultimately offered to give
the Muslims money to go away.
Lawyers for the mosque group placed much of the blame on former Palos
Heights Mayor Dean Koldenhoven, who publicly supported the mosque plan
and has since received national recognition and a prestigious award for
his role in the controversy. (MORE)
---
JOURNALISTS CRITICIZE POST-SEPT. 11 MEDIA -
TOP
Jason Motlagh, United Press International, 5/16/05
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050516-111434-4092r.htm
Washington, DC -- Veteran Arab and U.S. journalists gathered in
Washington over the weekend to address rising currents of Islamophobia
and anti-Americanism, which they called a dangerous cocktail for global
political instability.
Participants agreed Saturday that ignorance and "lazy" media coverage
following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks fueled an "illogical reaction"
among people in the United States and the pan-Muslim world and held the
phenomenon has been compounded by stereotypes that still permeate
mainstream media channels on both sides.
Hafiz al-Mirazi, the Washington bureau chief for the Qatar-based
satellite television station al-Jazeera, said many American journalists
were guilty of "lazy journalism" in which they failed to "distinguish
between a group of Muslims and the faith itself."
-----
NEW FBI AGENT MEETS WITH LOCAL MUSLIMS -
TOP
William Lee, Daily Southtown, 5/17/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/177nd1.htm
Sitting over Middle Eastern delicacies such as shawarma, shish kabob
and shish tawook, some members of the local Muslim-American community
broke pita with the FBI's new local agent to discuss concerns and fears
in their community.
Robert Grant, special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago office, met
with several local businessmen and members of the United Arab American
League in the dining room of the Baladi restaurant in Bridgeview on
Monday.
Organizers said the dinner was a step toward improved relations between Muslim-Americans and law enforcement.
The dinner, which featured fewer then 10 people, included Muslim-American activists, educators and businessmen.
The group spoke on a variety of topics, ranging from Islamic charities to differences among Muslim-Americans.
Muslim-Americans said they are worried they are routinely tied to
terrorism and publicly persecuted. Grant explained his role of
thwarting any threats of terrorism.
-----
AL-ARIAN JURY POOL SLOWLY PARED -
TOP
Billl Varian, St. Petersburg Times, 5/17/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/17/State/Al_Arian_jury_pool_sl.shtml
TAMPA - Prospective juror No. 66 said he thinks the government wouldn't
have spent so much time investigating Sami Al-Arian if he hadn't done
something wrong.
And prospective juror No. 84 thought Betty Castor had her head in the
sand about Al-Arian when she was president of the University of South
Florida.
Still, both said their opinions wouldn't sway them, so they made the
first cut Monday in the opening day of jury selection in the
long-anticipated trial of Al-Arian and three co-defendants who are
accused of aiding a Palestinian terrorist group.
The jury questioning came as a defense attorney for Al-Arian restated
his call to move the trial because of a bias against his client.
Attorneys for news organizations urged the judge to lift his ban on
describing jurors.
U.S. District Judge James Moody will wait until after prospective
jurors are questioned before deciding whether to move the trial. He
also delayed ruling on the news media request, while saying his initial
order was mainly aimed at keeping the name, address and employer of
potential jurors from the public so they don't face outside pressure.
William Moffitt, Al-Arian's normally chatty co-counsel, made few remarks after nearly eight hours of courtroom jockeying.
"We can't afford to be accused of screaming outside the courthouse and
contributing to the pretrial publicity," Moffitt said. (MORE)
-----
MALCOLM X MEMORABILIA ON DISPLAY
TOP
Los Angeles Times, 5/18/05
http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-malcolmx18may18,2,1630657.story
NEW YORK - Documents, photos and memorabilia from the life of Malcolm X
- his eighth-grade memo book, his application for a Nation of Islam
name, the shells from the shotgun that killed him - went on display
here this week in observance of what would have been his 80th birthday.
Many of the exhibits are being seen in public for the first time,
having nearly been lost to an online auction when the rent wasn't paid
on a storage locker in Florida, said Joseph Fleming, who represented
Malcolm X's six daughters in the effort to win back the archive.
The daughters have given the documents to the New York Public Library
for 75 years, and a tiny percentage has been organized into an exhibit,
"Malcolm X: A Search for Truth," at the Schomburg Center for Research
in Black Culture, which is on Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem. The
exhibit runs through Dec. 31.
Many of the photos in the exhibit are family photos, showing Malcolm X
praying, traveling in Egypt or playing with his children, rather than
the more familiar news photos documenting his public life as one of the
best-known and most controversial black leaders of the 20th century.
But those pictures are there, too: Malcolm X with Adam Clayton Powell
Jr., with Dick Gregory, with Fidel Castro, with Muhammad Ali, with Redd
Foxx. Huge rallies in Harlem. His body being wheeled out of the Audubon
Ballroom. His wife, behind a black veil, at his funeral in 1965.
The papers, many of them handwritten, include letters to and from Malcolm X, some from his teenage years. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
DAR AL ISLAM OFFERS DEEN INTENSIVE PROGRAM -
TOP
Abiquiu, NM May 18, 2005 Dar al Islam, an organization promoting
classical Islamic education, is holding a deen intensive program from
August 7-21 at its picturesque site in Abiquiu, New Mexico. This year s
theme is entitled Being Muslim in America: Practicing Islam as a
Minority. The program will address the legal and sociological issues
surrounding practicing Islam in America.
Confirmed scholars include Shaykh Abdullah Adhami, a prominent
Syrian-American scholar of Sharifian descent, Shaykh Jamal Zahabi of
Masjid al-Aman in Middletown, New Jersey, Imam Mohamed Magid of the
Adams Center in Arlington, Virginia, Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Howard
University Professor of African Studies, Shaykh Abdurrahman Ibn Yusuf
Mangera, Imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara, Imam Isam Rajab
of the Islamic Center of New Mexico and Dr. Mohammad Shafi, Chairman of
Dar al Islam.
The curriculum will cover both traditional Islamic sciences and
understanding of Muslim interaction in contemporary American society.
In both cases, the emphasis is on the practical aspects of living as a
Muslim in America. Specific subjects to be taught include Hanafi,
Maliki and Shafi i jurisprudence (fiqh), methodology of jurisprudence
(usul al-fiqh), Hadith, Qur anic recitation (tajweed), Qur anic
exegesis (tafsir), spiritual excellence (ihsan) and the history and
sociology of Islam in America.
For information and application:
www.daralislam.org or
Contact: zakariya@stanfordalumni.org
Phone: 718-942-5464
-----
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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
5/19/05
* HADITH:
Restrain Your
Anger
* CAIR-Fl:
Muslim
Group Will Hand Out Quran (Sun Sentinel)
-
CAIR-DC:
To Muslims, Not Just A
Book (CSM)
-
CAIR-DC:
Free Korans (Wash Times)
-
Quran More than A Book for
Muslims
*
Koran Ordered
Online Contains Hate Slogans (LA Times)
-
Red
Cross Told U.S. Of Disrespect at Guantanamo (AP)
* INCITEMENT WATCH:
NY
Post Compares Muslims to Excrement
*
2
Officers Punished In 2003 for Abusing Detainees (AP)
*
Ex-Official Denies
Blocking Mosque (Chicago Trib)
*
GOP Aides Say New
Patriot Act Obliges Bush (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
RESTRAIN YOUR ANGER -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: No one has swallowed
anything more excellent in the sight of God&than the anger he
restrains, seeking to please God most high.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1324
-----
REACHING
OUT TO FELLOW AMERICANS, MUSLIM GROUP WILL HAND OUT QURAN -
TOP
James D. Davis, Sun Sentinel, 5/19/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cquran19may19,0,6229690.story?coll=sfla-news-broward
An American Muslim organization, reacting to controversy generated by the
alleged desecration of the Quran, has offered to give a free copy of the
holy book to any American.
The giveaway, which, depending on demand, could go as high as 100,000
copies, comes after a recent Newsweek article alleging that the text was
flushed down a toilet, said leaders of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"We want to turn a negative image into a positive one," said
Altaf Ali, the council's Florida director, at a news conference on
Wednesday at the Nur-ul-Islam mosque in Cooper City. "America's
image is taking a beating, and it's affecting us all, of different
faiths."
Respondents who call the council's national toll-free line, 800-784-7526,
can get a free copy of the holy book, Ali said. Local Muslim communities
around the country will be asked to underwrite the campaign.
Dozens of samples of the English translation of the Quran, both hardcover
and paperback, were on display at the news conference.
The Quran giveaway follows Newsweek's claim this month that federal
officials at the Guantanamo prison tried to flush a Quran in order to
demoralize Muslim inmates suspected of terrorist activities. The magazine
retracted the story on Monday, saying the report's unnamed source had
retracted his statement; but by then, outrage leading to riots in
Afghanistan and Pakistan had claimed 17 lives.
However, the religious leaders at the Cooper City gathering noted there
have been other reports alleging quranic desecrations for years. Ali said
the council wanted a full investigation of the alleged misdeeds at
Guantanamo. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
TO MUSLIMS, NOT JUST A BOOK-
TOP
Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, 5/19/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0519/p11s02-lire.html
At the birth of a Muslim child, verses of the Koran are recited into the
ear of the newborn, signifying a blessing and a hope that the holy book
will resonate strongly in that child's life.
From then on, the words of the Muslim scripture structure and shape that
life. The child learns Arabic in order to read the Koran in the original
language, perform the five daily prayers, repeat key phrases before all
significant acts and events, and make it the guide for daily
living.
"In a way, the soul of the traditional Muslim is like a mosaic made
up of phrases of the Quran," writes renowned scholar Seyyed Hossein
Nasr in "The Heart of Islam."
For one-fifth of the world's population, those scriptures are the literal
word of God, revealed to the prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel (Koran
means "recitation").
"It is as close as you can get to the transcendent.... To use one
analogy, the Koran is to Islam what Jesus is to Christianity,"
explains John Esposito, university professor at Georgetown University in
Washington, D.C., in an interview.
That begins to explain the intensity of street protests last week in
several Muslim countries after reports (later retracted) that US military
interrogators had desecrated the Koran. It was a reaction that, to
American sensibilities, may seem puzzling.
But Dr. Esposito says that is due partly to Western secularization and a
lost sensitivity to degrees of sacredness.
"While we've become a more religious nation in one sense, we have
also become, in our sense of the sacred, less sensitive and aware,"
says the author of "What Everyone Needs to Know About
Islam&"
While most Muslims don't take to the streets, they are pained by the
disdain for Islam any desecration would entail.
"The potency of the Koran for Muslims worldwide can't be
denied," says Arsalan Iftikhar, legal counsel for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR.) Part of the problem, he says, is that
Muslims sense that many Americans still haven't distinguished between
extremism and mainstream Islam, and that they fail to recognize it as one
of the world's great religions, treasured by millions. (MORE)
---
FREE KORANS
-
TOP
Washington Times, 5/19/05
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050517-115016-8007r.htm
While controversy reached the boiling point surrounding Newsweek's
now-retracted report that U.S. interrogators purportedly desecrated a
copy of the Koran, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Washington was hosting an audience of 300 for its "Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies" conference.
Chief reason for the conference -- attended by U.S. government officials,
scholars and religious leaders alike -- was to discuss the "twin
phenomena" of growing anti-Muslim "bigotry" in the West
and increasing anti-American sentiments in the Islamic world, which grew
worse after Newsweek's accusations.
Yesterday, meanwhile, a campaign was started by the council to offer free
Korans to Americans "as an attempt to turn a negative incident into
something more positive," says CAIR Executive Director Nihad
Awad.
"It is our belief that greater access to Islam's holy book will help
foster a better appreciation and understanding of Islam by ordinary
Americans," he says.
---
QURAN MORE THAN A BOOK
FOR MUSLIMS -
TOP
Jeffrey Weiss, Dallas Morning News, 5/19/05
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/05/19/sections/nation_world/asia_pacificrim/article_525844.php
DALLAS _ Almost daily, there's a new unconfirmed accusation that American
soldiers or interrogators have mistreated Muslims. But what pushed
thousands of Muslims into deadly demonstrations last week was a
now-discredited report about the mistreatment of a book.
The Newsweek account of a Quran flushed down the toilet was the final
straw for many in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other mostly Muslim
countries, some experts say.
It was also an exceptionally large straw.
"It's not like just knocking down a religious leader or a priest or
a rabbi," said John Esposito, a professor at the Center for
Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
Muslim tradition holds that the Quran is more than a sacred book: It's
the physical embodiment of the literal words of God that were dictated to
Muhammad by the angel Gabriel about 1,300 years ago. The book is held in
even higher regard by many Muslims than most Christians have for the
physical form of the Bible.
For traditional Muslims, a Quran used for prayer can't be written in,
can't be placed on the floor and can't be put beneath other books.
Particularly observant Muslims will keep it on a high shelf. It's never
supposed to be brought into a bathroom.
Reverence for the book itself is even higher for religiously
conservative, illiterate Muslims, said Nazif Shahrani, an anthropologist
at Indiana University who grew up in Afghanistan. The mystery of the
unreadable Arabic gives the text an additional sacred aura, he
said.
"It's kept in the nicest place in the house and wrapped in the
nicest cloth," he said. "The Quran is not a book. It's
comparable to the body of
Christ for Christians."
-----
KORAN ORDERED
ONLINE CONTAINS HATE SLOGANS -
TOP
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times,
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-koran19may19,1,3898798.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
A Culver City woman said Wednesday that a secondhand Koran she ordered
through a book dealer working with Amazon.com contained anti-Islamic hate
messages, including profanity and "Death to all
Muslims!"
Azza Basarudin, a 30-year-old UCLA graduate student, said Amazon
apologized, sent a new book and offered her a refund and gift
certificate. But she and the Muslim Public Affairs Council called on the
online bookseller to do more, including issuing a public condemnation of
anti-Muslim hate speech and cutting commercial ties with the
Pennsylvania-based book dealer that sent the Koran.
Holding up the book to display the messages at a news conference
Wednesday, Basarudin said the incident resurrected the fear she felt
after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when anxiety about anti-Muslim
sentiment made her reluctant to leave her apartment for two
weeks.
"I was taken back to 9/11, my fear that somebody is going to hurt
me," Basarudin said at the Islamic Center of Southern California in
Los Angeles. "I felt that fear coming back. It really hurt
me."
Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith called the incident "appalling."
She said the Seattle-based firm had worked with the book dealer,
Bellwether Books, to strengthen quality-control checks and suspended it
from selling Korans on Amazon's website.
"We're deeply sorry and we think we've taken all appropriate steps
to make sure this is not done again," Smith said.
The Los Angeles-based Muslim council also released a hate message left on
the voicemail of the Islamic Center on Saturday. In a taunting tone, the
caller said he had just used the Koran in the bathroom and flushed it
down the toilet.
The Southern California incidents followed an international furor over
reports that U.S. military interrogators had flushed a Koran down the
toilet to unnerve prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. The
reports, which Newsweek magazine first reported then retracted this week,
helped spark anti-American violence that led to deaths in
Afghanistan.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations released a study last week that
showed reported hate crimes against Muslims nationwide in 2004 increased
52% over the previous year, to 141 incidents. There was also a 49%
increase in alleged civil rights violations, to 1,522. (MORE)
-----
RED
CROSS TOLD U.S. OF DISRESPECT OF QURAN AT GUANTANAMO -
TOP
Sam Cage, Associated Press, 5/19/05
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/13907.html
GENEVA (AP) - The international Red Cross told U.S. authorities
about
American personnel at the Guantanamo Bay detention center showing
disrespect to Islam's holy book, the Quran, a spokesman said
Thursday.
Delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross informed the
relevant U.S. authorities, who took action to stop the abuse, said
spokesman Simon Schorno, who declined to specify the nature of the
incidents.
``We believe that since, U.S. authorities have taken the corrective
measures that we required in our interventions,'' Schorno told The
Associated Press. ``We believe in this case this issue was actually
followed through.''
The Geneva-based ICRC confidentially reported the incidents to U.S.
authorities in 2002 and 2003, and has since been able to verify that such
incidents have been stopped.
``That's our understanding based on the information that we collected
in
Guantanamo in subsequent visits,'' Schorno said by telephone from
Washington, D.C. ``We brought it to their attention and we believe there
was a reaction, and that's really the objective of our reporting and
interaction with the authorities.''
-----
INCITEMENT
WATCH: NY POST COMPARES MUSLIMS TO
EXCREMENT
-
TOP
The May 17 edition of the New York Post contained a headline, Holy
Shiite- Newsweek Retracts its Deadly Toilet Tale.
Please contact the editors at the New York Post, questioning the
appropriateness of comparing Muslims to excrement.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: letters@nypost.com and cshaw@nypost.com
COPY TO cair@cair-net.or
-----
2
OFFICERS PUNISHED IN 2003 FOR ABUSING IRAQI DETAINEES -
TOP
Associated Press, 5/18/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/18/international/middleeast/18abuse.html
WASHINGTON - Two Army officers staged mock executions of Iraqi prisoners
in 2003 and were given career-ending punishments, according to military
officials and newly released documents.
Mock executions, in which a prisoner is made to believe that his death is
imminent, are prohibited by the Army as a form of torture.
The details of the investigations were described in documents sought by
the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Army provided the documents on Tuesday.
In one case, on July 13, 2003, a captain with the Third Armored Cavalry
Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo., took an Iraqi welder out to the
desert and had him dig his own grave before staging an attempt to shoot
him, according to documents. The captain was looking for information on a
bombing two days before. (MORE)
-----
EX-OFFICIAL DENIES
BLOCKING MOSQUE; -
TOP
Palos Heights needed rec center, jury told
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 5/19/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0505190157may19,1,1850841.story
A former Palos Heights alderman testified Wednesday that she wanted the
city to buy out a Chicago-based Muslim organization to keep it from
purchasing a local church, but denied allegations it was to dissuade
Muslim worshipers.
"Absolutely not true," Julie Corsi told a U.S. District Court
jury when asked if she was trying to prevent the Al Salam Mosque
Foundation from bringing worshipers to Palos Heights in 2000.
During roughly an hour of often confrontational questioning by the
foundation's lawyers, Corsi, former chairwoman of the city's Planning and
Zoning Committee, acknowledged suggesting that Palos Heights condemn the
church property at 6600 W. 127th St.
"I felt the city needed this property for a recreation center, and
we would pay the going rate [to the foundation]," Corsi said in the
trial on a lawsuit brought by the foundation against the City of Palos
Heights.
The foundation is alleging the city violated its worshipers' 1st
Amendment
rights by thwarting their plans to buy the Reformed Church of Palos
Heights and convert it into a mosque and school. The March 2000 sale was
eventually aborted after heated committee meetings at which some
participants used racial slurs, witnesses for the mosque
testified.
The city contends the foundation never needed the city's approval to buy
the property. Instead, the foundation "tried to drag the city into
the deal" by including a provision in the sales contract that
required written verification from city officials that the foundation
would be allowed to operate a mosque, said Richard Ryan, an attorney for
Palos Heights.
The trial, which began Monday, is expected to continue through the
week.
-----
GOP AIDES SAY
NEW PATRIOT ACT OBLIGES BUSH -
TOP
Mark Sherman, Associated Press, 5/18/05
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050519/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act_1
WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee is working
on a bill that would renew the Patriot Act and expand government powers
in the name of fighting terrorism, letting the
FBI subpoena records without permission from a judge or grand
jury.
Much of the debate in Congress has concerned possibly limiting some of
the powers in the anti-terrorism law passed 45 days after the attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001.
But the measure being written by Sen. Pat Roberts (news, bio, voting
record), R-Kan., would give the FBI new power to issue administrative
subpoenas, which are not reviewed by a judge or grand jury, for quickly
obtaining records, electronic data or other evidence in terrorism
investigations, according to aides for the GOP majority on the committee
who briefed reporters Wednesday.
Recipients could challenge the subpoenas in court and the Bush
administration would have to report to Congress twice a year exactly how
it was using this investigatory power, the aides said.
The administration has sought this power for two years, but so far been
rebuffed by lawmakers. It is far from certain that Congress will give the
administration everything it wants this year.
Roberts' planned bill also would make it easier for prosecutors to use
special court-approved warrants for secret wiretaps and searches of
suspected terrorists and spies in criminal cases, the committee aides
said.
Eight expiring sections of the law that deal with foreign intelligence
investigations would become permanent, they said.
So, too, would a provision that authorizes wiretapping of suspected
terrorists who operate without clear ties to a particular terrorist
network. (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 – 5/20/05
* HADITH: Intention
* CAIR-FL: Coalition Calls for Venue Change In Al-Arian Case
- Jury Is Ready; Motion Lingers To Move Trial
* In U.S. Report, Details of Inmates' Deaths (NY Times)
- VA: Doctors Corroborate Torture Claims in Terror Case
* ISLAM-OPED: Desecrating the Qur'an
- Religious Humiliation of Muslim Detainees Widespread
- Muslim Perceptions Hurting U.S. Brands
* MD: Interfaith Program on Jerusalem (Baltimore Sun)
- MI: Mosques Reach Out To Neighbors (Free Press)
- IL: Muslims Accuse Ex-Mayor (Daily Southtown)
* U.S. Satellite Company to Carry Muslim TV Channel (AP)
- Proms: How Religious Teens Party (Beliefnet.com)
* Muslim Community: Large But Invisible (Owings Mills)
* For God and Country by James Yee
* KAC Cautiously Optimistic About Latest CBMS
- Interfaith Worker Justice National Conference
- Malcolm X Celebration Planned For Tonight
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: INTENTION
The Prophet Muhamamd (pbuh) said: “The reward of deeds depend upon the
intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he
has
intended.”
'Umar bin Al-Khattab, Vol. 8, Book 78, Number 680
-----
CAIR-FL: COALITION CALLS FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE IN AL-ARIAN CASE
Independent data indicates high negative pre-trial publicity and
anti-Muslim
bias in Tampa
(TAMPA, FL, 5/19/05) - A coalition of religious, human rights and civil
liberties group* today issued a joint statement at a Tampa news
conference,
calling for a change of venue in the trial of Sami Al-Arian, Sameeh
Hamooudeh,
Hatim Fariz and Chassan Ballut. The coalition highlighted findings of
a recent
survey and research that indicated an alarming level of negative
pre-trial
publicity, high anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias and presumption of guilt
by most
residents of the Tampa Bay community.
The random survey which included a sample size of 400 and conducted by
The Florida Survey Research Center (University of Florida, Gainesville)
showed
that a total of 95.5% (382 of 400) recognized Al-Arian or his case.
The survey
also indicated that the total prejudgment of guilt percentage of the
400 survey
respondents is 55%. Furthermore 46% (184 of 400) Tampa survey
respondents said
that the Islamic religion is more likely to encourage violence among
its
believers." and 15% even wrongly believed that Palestinians were
responsible
for the attack on the U.S. on Sept. 11.
Other research conducted by Professor Edward J. Bronson (California
State
Univ., Chico) found an alarming number of pre-trial newspaper articles
about
Al-Arian between 2001-2005. Bronson s research found a total of 973
articles
during that period, 476 appeared in the Tampa Tribune and 497 appeared
in the
St. Petersburg Times. For the full report see: Docket number: 994
http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/Al-Arian/8-03-cr-00077-JSM-TBM/docs/2100513/MultiDoc.html>http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/Al-Arian/8-03-cr-00077-JSM-TBM/docs/2100513/MultiDoc.html
The coalition also cited the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) 2005
annual civil rights report showing that anti-Muslim incidents continue
to
surge. Florida ranks 6th in the nation in reported anti-Muslim
incidents and
hate crimes. See:
http://www.cair.com/asp/execsum2005.asp>http://www.cair.com/asp/execsum2005.asp
“In America we do things by the law. Our law requires that every
accused person
be treated as innocent until proven guilty in court” said John Arnaldi,
spokesman for the Friends of Human Rights, a Florida based organization
said at
today's news conference.
“As a civil right organization, we have a fundamental belief in the
right to
due
process, fairness, and individual s 6th amendment right to an impartial
jury
for all Americans,” said Ahmed Bedier, central Florida director for
CAIR-FL.
“We will continue to monitor this trial to insure that what happens in
the
court room does not have a negative backlash on the American Muslim
Community.”
Other speakers at the news conference included Tampa civil rights
activist
Dwight Lawton and Father Chuck Leigh, of the Christ the servant
Apostolic
Catholic Church, Tampa, FL. Both speakers raised concerns about the
defendant's right to a fair trial and favored a change of venue.
- END -
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, CAIR-FL 813-731-9506,abedier@cairfl.org; John
Arnaldi,
Friends of Human Rights, (813) 974-7363,jarnaldi@earthlink.net
ALSO SEE:
JURY IS READY; MOTION LINGERS TO MOVE TRIAL
Bill Varian, St. Petersburg Times, 5/20/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/20/Hillsborough/Jury_is_ready_motion_.shtml
TAMPA - A jury has been selected to consider charges that former
University of
South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian supported terrorism, but his
attorneys
still say the trial should be moved.
Attorney William Moffitt has argued that there is a widespread bias
against his
client around the Tampa Bay region that will be reflected in any jury
selected
here.
"There's nothing that happened in there that dissipated my view of it,"
Moffitt
said outside the federal courthouse in downtown Tampa on Thursday, at
the end
of four days of jury selection.
"It is a panel that I believe has some preconceptions about my client,"
he
said.
U.S. District Judge James Moody has yet to rule on the request by
Al-Arian and
one of his three co-defendants to move the trial out of Tampa. He may
rule as
soon as today. The trial is scheduled to begin June 6 if Moody rejects
the
request.
After exercising a series of strikes to remove potential jurors,
attorneys
chose
12 from a pool that had been whittled to 89 people from an original
field of
500.
The jury consists of six men and six women, including four people who
have
either served in the military or have family members who have. One
woman has a
brother currently serving in Iraq. (MORE)
-----
IN U.S. REPORT, BRUTAL DETAILS OF 2 AFGHAN INMATES' DEATHS
Tim Golden, New York Times, 5/20/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/20abuse.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=8701738ac057aebe&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his American
jailers
continued to torment him.
The prisoner, a slight, 22-year-old taxi driver known only as Dilawar,
was
hauled from his cell at the detention center in Bagram, Afghanistan, at
around
2 a.m. to answer questions about a rocket attack on an American base.
When he
arrived in the interrogation room, an interpreter who was present said,
his
legs were bouncing uncontrollably in the plastic chair and his hands
were numb.
He had been chained by the wrists to the top of his cell for much of
the
previous four days.
Dilawar was an Afghan farmer and taxi driver who died while in custody
of
American troops.
Mr. Dilawar asked for a drink of water, and one of the two
interrogators,
Specialist Joshua R. Claus, 21, picked up a large plastic bottle. But
first he
punched a hole in the bottom, the interpreter said, so as the prisoner
fumbled
weakly with the cap, the water poured out over his orange prison
scrubs. The
soldier then grabbed the bottle back and began squirting the water
forcefully
into Mr. Dilawar's face.
"Come on, drink!" the interpreter said Specialist Claus had shouted, as
the
prisoner gagged on the spray. "Drink!"
At the interrogators' behest, a guard tried to force the young man to
his
knees.
But his legs, which had been pummeled by guards for several days, could
no
longer bend. An interrogator told Mr. Dilawar that he could see a
doctor after
they finished with him. When he was finally sent back to his cell,
though, the
guards were instructed only to chain the prisoner back to the ceiling.
"Leave him up," one of the guards quoted Specialist Claus as saying.
Several hours passed before an emergency room doctor finally saw Mr.
Dilawar.
By
then he was dead, his body beginning to stiffen. It would be many
months before
Army investigators learned a final horrific detail: Most of the
interrogators
had believed Mr. Dilawar was an innocent man who simply drove his taxi
past the
American base at the wrong time.
The story of Mr. Dilawar's brutal death at the Bagram Collection Point
- and
that of another detainee, Habibullah, who died there six days earlier
in
December 2002 - emerge from a nearly 2,000-page confidential file of
the Army's
criminal investigation into the case, a copy of which was obtained by
The New
York Times. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
DEFENSE: DOCTORS CORROBORATE TORTURE CLAIMS IN TERROR CASE
Matthew Barakat, Associated Press, 5/19/05
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050519-1325-saudidetainee-bushplot.html
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two doctors who examined a Virginia man accused of
joining
al-Qaeda and plotting to assassinate President Bush have concluded that
he was
tortured while in Saudi custody, according to defense lawyers.
The torture resulted in Ahmed Omar Abu Ali giving a false confession to
Saudi
authorities, according to the lawyers, who are seeking to have the
statement
thrown out.
"The physical and psychological abuse that Abu Ali suffered over a
two-year
period critically impaired his capacity for self-determination and
overcame his
will," wrote defense lawyer Ashraf Nubani. "It resulted in him making
involuntary, false statements to alleviate his suffering and appease
his
interrogators."
Federal prosecutors have consistently denied that Abu Ali was tortured.
Nubani also accused the U.S. government of complicity in the Saudis'
alleged
torture of Abu Ali.
The court filings do not include details of the doctors' examinations
of Abu
Ali, who has said he has the scars on his back as proof of whippings.
But a defense motion indicates that the doctors hired by the defense –
Allen
Keller, a professor at New York University and director of the
Bellevue/NYU
Program for Survivors of Torture; and Lynne Gaby, a psychiatrist at
George
Washington University – concluded that Abu Ali had been physically and
psychologically tortured.
Abu Ali, 24, of Falls Church, is accused of joining al-Qaeda while
attending
college in Saudi Arabia in 2001. The government contends that he
discussed
numerous possible attacks, including plans to assassinate Bush or
members of
Congress.
-----
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim perspective on
current
political, social and religious issues. ISLAM-OPED commentaries are
offered
free-of-charge to one media outlet in each market area. Permission for
publication will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.
CONTACT:
ihooper@cair-net.org TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
(c) Please
consider the following commentary for publication.
ISLAM-OPED: DESECRATING THE QUR'AN
[By Dr. Mohamed Nimer, Author, The North American Muslim Resource
Guide: Muslim
Community Life in the United States and Canada; Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi,
Director
of Islamic Society of Orange County and Chairman of the Shura Council
of
Southern California; Sayed Mostafa Al Qazwini, Imam, Islamic Education
Center
of Orange County, California. Word count: 848]
The Newsweek story of U.S. soldiers in Guantanamo Bay flushing pages of
the
Qur’an down the toilet provoked deep emotions and resulted in varied
responses.
While some Muslims in war-torn Afghanistan rioted and unfortunately
died in
response, others in Pakistan and the Middle East chose peaceful methods
of
demonstration to express their outrage. Still, Western Muslims have
attempted
to inject some hope in an otherwise gloomy story by offering
complimentary
copies of the Qur’an to any interested members of the public.
In many other parts of the Muslim world the Qur’an desecration incident
took a
back seat to the more important challenges in life. Uzbeks for example
have
mourned 300 citizens after their political uprising was brutally
squashed by an
unrepentant dictator, unfortunately an all too familiar scene in many
Muslim-majority countries. In America, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations held an unprecedented conference to discuss the causes and
remedies
to the twin scourge of Islamophobia and anti-Americanism, as both
issues played
out once more in the full glare of public scrutiny.
But many media outlets seem fixated on the story of the emotional
Afghani
rioters, with the all-too-familiar images of the shouting men wearing
turbans
and long beards. Why is it that the uncontrolled, reactionary
activities of the
few are deemed more important, or even sensational, than a political
crisis
that claimed the lives of hundreds and a historic meeting that promoted
reflective thinking among Muslims, Christians, Jews, liberals and
conservatives?
The Los Angeles Times chose to respond to the riot story by publishing
unfortunate remarks (Irshad Manji, “Do Riots Save Islam’s Honor?” May
17, 2005)
that not only condemned the riots, but also suggested that Muslims
didn’t have
a good reason to feel indignant in the first place because their claim
to an
authentic scripture may be false. This pitiful dismissal of the
sacredness of
the Qur’an only fuels Islamophobic and anti-American tendencies.
From the very inception of revelation, Muslims engaged in a process of
recording
the scripture, using tree leaves, animal bones, cloth, and perhaps most
importantly human memory. Many companions of the Prophet committed the
Qur’an
to memory and reviewed the recorded verses of the Qur’an with the
Prophet
Muhammad during his lifetime. The Qur’an is unique in its structure,
grammar
and melody. The words of the Prophet Muhammad, known as Hadith, are
distinguishable from Qur’an. Still, Prophet Muhammad did not allow his
companions to write down Hadith until much of the Qur’an was revealed,
recorded
and memorized. Questions of interpretation aside, there has been no
debate
among Muslims regarding the possibility of omission, incorrect
insertions or
any other forms of editing in the text.
After the Prophet Muhammad passed away, he left behind not only records
of the
scripture but also a newly formed social class called Huffaz al-Qur’an
(Qur’an
memorizers), a group of learned individuals who were known for their
graphic
memory and literacy. The conscious activity of preserving the scripture
became
a project under Abu Bakr, the caliph who succeeded the Prophet in
political
leadership. Abu Bakr commissioned half a dozen Qur’an memorizers with
the task
of collecting the various writings in one volume. Once this task had
been
completed, the scribes checked the accuracy of the collection against
the
original records. All this was done within two years following the
death of the
Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims have always been conscientious about the integrity of the
Qur’anic
text.
When later Islam spread throughout Arabia and people produced copies of
the
Qur’an using their own dialects in writing its words, Caliph Othman
initiated a
project to make sure that all copies of the Qur’an are written in the
dialect
spoken by the Prophet Muhammad. Until today, people use all the ten
dialects of
Arabia in recitation; however, they all read the same text.
Based on these historical facts, Muslims believe that the scripture
they have
today contains the same divine words that the Prophet Muhammad conveyed
to the
early Muslim community. All Muslim groups, Sunnis or Shi’a, hold the
same
Qur’an without any difference and there are millions who know it by
heart.
We the mainstream Muslims would want others to know that our belief in
the
Qur'an is not so fragile to be shaken by purported offensive behavior
of any
individual or group. We feel offended when our holy book is desecrated,
but we
believe the right response is education, not violence. We also want
others to
know that Islam calls us to respect the scriptures of all faith groups.
We are also confident that the American people will uphold our
cherished
tradition of freedom of religion and urge their members of congress to
support
Congressman Conyers' (D-MI) resolution reaffirming America's respect
for all
religious beliefs.
Despite our outrage at the Qur’an desecration incident, we will not
want our
policy makers to be distracted from the more important tasks of policy
reforms,
which are at the heart of the outrage and anti-American sentiments
sweeping
through the Muslim world. For our part, we American Muslims are ready
to help
in the work of building bridges of understanding between America and
the Muslim
world.
-----
U.S.: RELIGIOUS HUMILIATION OF MUSLIM DETAINEES WIDESPREAD
Human Rights Watch, 5/19/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/d7d227aedfa4892cef6e86680f0caecd.htm
(New York, May 19, 2005)-U.S. interrogators have repeatedly sought to
offend
the
religious beliefs of Muslim detainees as part of their interrogation
strategy,
Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch said that the dispute over the retracted allegations
in
Newsweek that U.S. interrogators had desecrated a Koran at Guant�namo
Bay,
Cuba, has overshadowed the fact that religious humiliation of detainees
at
Guant�namo and elsewhere has been widespread.
"In detention centers around the world, the United States has been
humiliating
Muslim prisoners by offending their religious beliefs," said Reed
Brody,
special counsel for Human Rights Watch.
On December 2, 2002, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
authorized a
list
of techniques for interrogation of prisoners at Guant�namo, which
included
"removal of all comfort items (including religious items)," "forced
grooming
(shaving of facial hair, etc.)," and "removal of clothing." Each of
these
practices is considered offensive to many Muslims. These techniques
were later
applied in Afghanistan and Iraq as well.
The purpose of these techniques, Human Rights Watch said, is to inflict
humiliation on detainees, which is strictly prohibited by the Geneva
Conventions.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM PERCEPTIONS HURTING U.S. BRANDS
Akron Beacon Journal, 5/20/05
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/11693665.htm
Negative opinions of the United States are rising in Muslim countries
and
threaten the performance of American brands such as McDonald's and
Coca-Cola
overseas, according to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations.
The U.S. could change opinions by doing more to publicize aid programs
such as
tsunami relief in Indonesia, support for reform such as the Iraqi
election and
the American role in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, the report
recommended.
FirstEnergy Corp. has begun a corporate restructuring to separate power
generation units from the electricity distribution portion of the
business.
The move is made necessary by Ohio's new deregulation laws. All of the
moves,
which were disclosed in a government filing on Thursday, are within
FirstEnergy
Corp. and will not affect power generation at the plants.
The power generation arms of the company will be in two units; the
coal-fired
plants in FirstEnergy Generation Corp. (GENCO) and the nuclear
generating units
will be in FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation Corp. The generating
corporations
will be subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. (MORE)
-----
INTERFAITH PROGRAM ON JERUSALEM AT KOL AMI;
Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives will participate.
Molly Knight, Baltimore Sun, 5/20/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.kolami20may20,1,1229361.story?coll=bal-local-arundel
What does Jerusalem mean to you?
To many, it's a divisive question. But to the handful of religious
leaders who
will gather Sunday at Congregation Kol Ami in Annapolis, it also has
the
potential to unite.
That's why the congregation is holding the roundtable discussion
"Jerusalem:
The
Disputed Holy City: What Christians, Jews and Muslims Say About the
World's
Most Contested Property."
Representatives of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths will
participate.
Panelists will spend an hour sharing views on the city and what it
means to
their religious community.
"Jerusalem is a city with great religious significance to Muslims,
Christians
and Jews," said moderator Ira Rifkin, a member of Kol Ami and a
religion
reporter. "It's also a political hot button, so it's a nice way to get
people
talking - there's plenty to say." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MOSQUES REACH OUT TO NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY REACHES BACK
David Crimm, Detroit Free Press, 5/20/05
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/crumm20e_20050520.htm
For months, Jasmine Snell watched the walls of an enormous white
building rise
near her home at Davison and Woodrow Wilson in Detroit. When it opened
in
January, the buzz around the neighborhood was that the new building
contained a
gymnasium that sometimes was open to neighborhood kids for basketball.
This was a dream come true for Jasmine, 17, a Central High School
junior who's
not much taller than 5 feet, but who loves shooting hoops, especially
going toe
to toe with guys who tower over her on the court. That's why Snell, a
Baptist,
dared to take her first step inside a mosque.
"I just had to check this out," she told me Tuesday night at the Muslim
Center
of Detroit after making an impressive basket, shooting right over the
heads of
guys trying to block her shot. She zipped past bigger ball players, her
grin
widening with each shot she nailed.
That's when I realized I was glimpsing a major milestone in metro
Detroit's
religious history. For decades, an almost universal desire among local
Muslim
families has been that, one day, they would be accepted as part of the
mainstream religious landscape.
Muslims and their non-Muslim friends certainly have worked hard on
this. I've
attended countless interfaith conferences, open houses and field trips
to
mosques. But, until this recent period of multimillion-dollar
expansions at a
half-dozen local mosques, the Muslim community remained a fairly exotic
corner
of our religious world. That was partly due to cramped quarters and a
general
lack of amenities that might draw non-Muslim neighbors.
Not anymore. (MORE)
---
MUSLIMS ACCUSE EX-MAYOR
Chris Hack, Daily Southtown, 5/19/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsindex/19-ds1.htm
The leader of a Muslim foundation that tried to set up a mosque in
Palos
Heights
five years ago suggested in federal court Wednesday that former Mayor
Dean
Koldenhoven may have joined with other city leaders in a mean-spirited
"game"
to ruin the group's plans.
Koldenhoven has received national recognition and a prestigious award
for
publicly supporting the mosque plan and later killing a city council
bid to
give the group money to leave town. But Abdallah Elsheikh, president of
the Al
Salam Mosque Foundation, testified that Koldenhoven's move was nothing
more
than a calculated final "slap in the face" to the Muslims because they
wanted
the money.
The foundation's federal lawsuit against Palos Heights alleges the city
violated
the group's First Amendment rights by thwarting the group's plan to buy
a
church and convert it to a mosque in 2000. Palos Heights lawyers insist
the
foundation never needed to ask for the city's permission, and should
have
simply bought the church and moved in.
Elsheikh said his group, founded in 1997, had been worshipping at a
mosque at
63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue on the Southwest Side, but the small
rented space
had become too small for a congregation of 200, and most of the
foundation's
members had migrated to the suburbs. In the spring of 2000, the group
signed a
contract to buy the Reformed Church of Palos Heights at 6600 W. 127th
St. for
$2.1 million.
"We said we were going to follow our congregation," Elsheikh said. "Our
people
live between Burbank and Orland Park — and this was right in the
middle. It was
a perfect fit."
The 18,000-square-foot church, built in 1962, had a modern-style
circular
sanctuary; only the pews would have to be removed to create the central
prayer
space for a mosque. Elsheikh said leaders also were pleased the church
had a
dozen classrooms for an Islamic school and a gym that could be used for
overflow worshippers on Fridays.
"It looked like it was perfect at that time," Elsheikh said. (MORE)
-----
U.S. SATELLITE COMPANY TO CARRY MUSLIM TELEVISION CHANNEL
Associated Press, 5/20/05
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/5/20/latest/20050520141422&sec=Latest
DENVER (AP) - EchoStar Communications Corp. will broadcast a new
24-hour
lifestyle network aimed at American Muslims called Bridges TV.
The network will air on EchoStar's DISH Network and will feature
English-language programming including a daily morning show and
newscast as
well
as sitcoms, cartoons and movies, the nation's No. 2 satellite
television
company announced Thursday.
One show called ``Each Other,'' spotlights a Muslim woman trying to
succeed as
a
big-city reporter.
The channel will serve a ``traditionally underserved, but steadily
growing
generation of American Muslims,'' Eric Sahl, vice president of
programming at
EchoStar, said in a statement.
ALSO SEE:
PRIM PROMS: HOW RELIGIOUS TEENS PARTY
Ellen Leventry, Beliefnet.com, 5/20/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16692_1.html
There is nothing modest about the American high school prom. From the
gowns to
the limos to the day-long spa treatments, prom is an exercise in
adolescent
excess, generating an estimated three billion dollars in revenues this
year.
And while many parents and students balk at the immodest price tag,
many
conservative religious parents--and teens--worry about the skimpy dress
and
intermingling of the sexes typical of proms.
Not to mention the underage drinking, rented hotel rooms and some very
immodest
debauchery. “Prom,” says the Reverend Bill Petterson of Brookfield
Presbyterian
Church outside of Milwaukee, “is now a cross between 'coming out’ and
'coming
on.’”
For most partygoers, picking out the perfect dress or renting the right
limo is
the extent of any spiritual crisis related to the prom. But for the
more
conservative Christian, Jewish, or Muslim student, deciding whether or
not to
attend prom can be a real test of faith.
To observant Muslims, the traditional prom is a triple threat of music,
dancing
and mingling with the opposite sex--all of which are “haram,” or
forbidden, in
Islam. And while at least one Muslim high school, the Clara Mohammad
School in
Milwaukee, has entertained the idea of a prom-like event, parents and
students
are often not comfortable with the idea.
“The idea of going out with friends is not a problem; but going out to
mixed
areas where the primary purpose is to go with a guy is the issue,”
explains
Lubna Malik, now a student at Princeton University. “At ‘dances’ you
generally
dance with guys. Even if you were just dancing with girls, there would
still be
guys watching.”
----
MUSLIM COMMUNITY: LARGE BUT INVISIBLE
County group hopes to foster understanding
Bob Allen, Owings Mills, 5/18/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=809&NewsID=633316&CategoryID=5830&show=localnews&om=1
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.
Since the events of Sept. 11, 2001, these efforts, according to
Pharoan, have
taken on an urgency. (MORE)
-----
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY BY JAMES YEE
Former Muslim Chaplain at Guantanamo Bay writes about journey
In 2001, Captain James Yusuf Yee was commissioned as one of the first
Muslim chaplains in the United States Army. After the tragic attacks of
September 11, 2001, he became a frequent government spokesman, helping
to
educate soldiers about Islam and build understanding throughout the
military. Subsequently, Chaplain Yee was selected to serve as the
Muslim
Chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where nearly 700 detainees captured
in the
war on terror were being held as unlawful combatants.
In September 2003, after serving at Guantanamo for ten months in a role
that gave him unrestricted access to the detainees--and after receiving
numerous awards for his service there--Chaplain Yee was secretly
arrested on
his
way to meet his wife and daughter for a routine two-week leave. He was
locked
away in a navy prison, subject to much of the same treatment that had
been
imposed on the Guantanamo detainees.
Wrongfully accused of spying, and aiding the Taliban and Al Qaeda, Yee
spent 76
excruciating days in solitary confinement and was threatened with the
death
penalty.
After the government determined they had made a grave mistake in their
original allegations, they vindictively charged him with adultery and
computer pornography. In the end all criminal charges were dropped and
Chaplain Yee's record wiped clean. But his reputation was tarnished,
and what
was a promising military career was left in ruins.
A third-generation Chinese-American and a 1990 graduate of West Point,
Chaplain Yee served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, including a tour in
Saudi Arabia during the aftermath of the first Gulf War. His spiritual
conversion to Islam in 1991 guided his travels to Damascus, Syria,
where he
studied for four years. He twice traveled to Mecca to make the Haj, the
sacred
Muslim pilgrimage.
Depicting a journey of faith and service, Chaplain Yee's FOR GOD AND
COUNTRY is the story of a pioneering officer in the U.S. Army, who
became a
victim of the post-September 11 paranoia that gripped a starkly fearful
nation.
And it poses a fundamental question: If our country cannot be loyal to
even the
most patriotic Americans, can it remain loyal to itself?
For further information, please contact Gene Taft at 212/397-6666 x234
Or gene.taft@perseusbooks.com
-----
KAC CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LATEST CBMS
(Washington, D.C. May 19, 2005) - Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive
Director of the Kashmiri American Council (KAC) stated that the Board
of
Directors of the KAC discussed the latest peace moves in the region of
South
Asia and adopted the following policy statement.
The Washington-based Kashmiri American Council (KAC) is a
non-denominational,
independent organization, dedicated to promoting the right of
self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The KAC
focuses its
efforts on encouraging American policy-making agencies and
personalities to
support a resolution of the Kashmir problem in accordance with justice
and the
wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The KAC has no official
affiliation with any government, entity or organization currently
operating in
Jammu and Kashmir. However, the KAC maintains contacts with Kashmiri
leaders
seeking to strengthen efforts so that a resolution acceptable to the
Kashmiri
masses is reached in a speedy time frame.
We, in the KAC are cautiously optimistic about the recent confidence
building
measures (CBMs) taken between India and Pakistan, and eagerly
await their application on the ground in Kashmir. It is however, a
tragic fact
that there has been no evidence so far of any reduction in human rights
abuses,
killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions and the like. Significantly,
the
recent developments between the two countries have yet to reach the
people of
Kashmir in terms of peace and security. While we support the recently
instituted bus service, we take
it as but one step on the long journey towards a just settlement of the
Kashmir problem.
The KAC has yet to see the involvement of the genuine leadership of the
Kashmiri resistance to the foreign occupation in the peace process.
India
should be well aware that without the full engagement of the legitimate
and
accredited leadership, the peace process would be a non-starter.
The KAC feels that it is incumbent upon the leadership to resolve their
differences rationally and amicably. We only wish that they establish
and
maintain a cohesive platform. A nation awaits emergence of a unified,
structured and accountable leadership that will represent Kashmiris in
ultimate
negotiations with India and Pakistan. Bilateral agreements whether
between
India and Pakistan, or between India and former claimants of Kashmiri
leadership have clearly failed. A tripartite approach is essential to
resolving the issue. Let there be no doubt that an ostensible
solution, which
is reached without the participation of the Kashmiri leadership, will
simply
not work.
For more information, contact: Kashmiri American Council at:
733 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-628-6789 / Fax: 202-393-0062
E-mail: <mailto:kac@kashmiri.com>kac@kashmiri.com
ALSO SEE:
INTERFAITH WORKER JUSTICE 2005 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
http://www.interfaithworkerjustice.org/2005Conference.html
WHAT: The conference will provide an opportunity to: 
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