cair-net Digest of: get.2001_2100

Topics (messages 2001 through 2100):

CAIR-NET: US Terror Suspects Not Muslim / Muslims Attend Speech by FBI 
Director / Man Runs Amok at Canadian Mosque / U.S. to Decide if Muslim 
Scholar Can Enter
	2001 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: No Prosecution for Saudi Students in FL / The Blinkered 
Belligerence of Wafa Sultan / AZ Imam Angry at Delay in Getting Green Card
	2002 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Military Will Not Punish 'Hadji Girl' Marine / Don't Tar 
All Muslims with Brush of Terror / CAIR Capitol Hill Panel Calls for 
Gitmo Closure
	2003 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Says Targeting of Gaza Infrastructure a 'War Crime'
	2004 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls Ruling Against Gitmo Trials 'Victory for Rule of 
Law'
	2005 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Condemn Kidnapping of Palestinian Officials / 
Muslim Candidate Seeks MN House Seat
	2006 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: VA Muslims Receive Dietary Help with New Law / Minnesotan 
Hopes to be 1st Muslim Congressman
	2007 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Western Union Blocks Muslim Money Transfers / IL Muslim 
Family Receives Hate Letter
	2008 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Pig's Head Thrown Into ME Mosque During Prayers
	2009 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Muslim Group Decries Desecration of ME Mosque / Western Media 
Expand Into Arabic Market
	2010 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Bigotry on Display in Mosque Incident / Muslim Women to 
Convene / The War Over Israel's Influence
	2011 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Heeding Call to Volunteerism / Hate Crime 
Suspected in OH Fire
	2012 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: FBI Asked to Probe Vandalism at Indiana Mosque
	2013 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Jeb Bush Ally Slams Islam / IN Mosque Vandalism a 'Systematic 
Hate Crime' / NC Muslims, Christians, Jews Protest Israel's Policies
	2014 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: More U.S. Muslims Going Into Law / MN Somalis Turn to Islam / 
UN Blames Israel for Humanitarian Crisis
	2015 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Video Shows Bullet-Riddled Quran Thrown at Tenn. Mosque
	2016 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: NY Muslims Welcome Bill Preventing Exams on Religious 
Holidays / FBI Probes Web Site Showing Shooting of Quran
	2017 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Mumbai Bombings / Con Man Who Targeted Muslims 
Receives Two Years / U.S. Muslim Coalition Condemns Israeli Actions
	2018 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: FL Pastor Won't Apologize for Remarks on Islam / Episcopal 
Chief to Protest Israeli Actions
	2019 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Canadian Muslims Challenge Entry of Franklin Graham / 
Anti-Muslim Bigotry from Some Pulpits
	2020 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Urge Elected Officials to Condemn Israeli Attacks on 
Civilians
	2021 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Blast at OH Arab-American Restaurant 'Suspicious' / 
ISLAM-OPED: Moral Values Must Guide Our Mideast Policy / Vatican Condemns Israel 
for Attacks on Lebanon
	2022 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Asks Bush to Demand that Israel Allow Evacuation of 
Americans in Lebanon
	2023 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Condemn Israeli 'Massacre' of Lebanese Civilians
	2024 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Israeli Strike Kills 8 Canadians / The Truth About the Israel 
Lobby / Muslim Women in U.S. Feel Empowered
	2025 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Tax Dollars Sent to Israel Buy Enemies for U.S. / Fleeing 
Lebanese Speak of Indiscriminate Bombing / Latino Muslims Seek Answers
	2026 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims to Ask that Bush Protect Relatives in Lebanon, 
Gaza
	2027 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: New Threats Against OH Mosque Damaged By Bombs / Israel 
Violates Law on U.S. Weapons
	2028 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Bodies of 55 Lebanese Children Stacked in Truck / Lebanon 
Evacuees Treated Like Black Katrina Victims / MS Demonstrators Destroy 
Quran
	2029 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Speak Out Against Mideast Violence / Burning of 
MS Quran 'Hateful' / TN Mosque Incident Suspect Identified / Maine AG 
Goes to Court Over Mosque Pig's Head Incident
	2030 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Seeks Reports of Americans Killed, Injured in Lebanon
	2031 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: IL Man Who Threatened CAIR Sentenced / Senator's Use of 
'Islamic Fascism' Empowers Extremists / Judge Says MA Islamic Society 
Defamation Suit Can Proceed
	2032 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls Rushed U.S. Bomb Deliveries to Israel 
'Unconscionable'
	2033 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Former Army Muslim Chaplain Unfairly Detained / Outcry Over 
US Bombs to Israel / Plans for NY Muslim Centers Stir Concerns
	2034 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Help Ease the Suffering in Lebanon and Palestine
	2035 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Vigil Set for Vandalized IN Islamic Center / Controversy Over 
Graffiti by Israeli Kids / Private Swim Sessions for NJ Muslim Women
	2036 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Israel Targets Ambulances, Uses Cluster and Phosphorous 
Munitions / VA Muslims Find Cultural Bridge in Scouting
	2037 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Lebanese Ambassador Briefs CAIR on Aid Efforts
	2038 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: TX Rep Calls for 'Humanitarian Corridor' in Lebanon / Israeli 
Bombing Causes Massive Oil Spill / Investor's Business Daily Retracts 
CA Mosque Smear
	2039 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Asks Bush to Protect Americans Under Attack by Israel
	2040 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Pro-Israel Lobby Targets Georgia Democrat / Door Slams Hard 
on Any Who Criticize Israel / U.S. Muslims Seek Understanding, 
Acceptance
	2041 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Israeli Missile Wounds NJ Teen in Lebanon / Israel to Destroy 
S. Lebanon Villages / Fire Destroys VA Mosque / U.S. Muslims Lobby for 
Mideast Peace, Aid
	2042 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Rally for Lebanon and Palestine Aug. 12 in DC
	2043 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Attack on Seattle Jewish Center
	2044 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Demands End to Israeli 'Terror' After 57 Civilians 
Killed
	2045 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Pro-Israeli Driver Tries to Run Down Arab-American Protester 
/ Quote: 'I'm Willing to Kill as Many People as it Requires'
	2046 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: MI Family Flees Israeli Attacks / Human Rights Watch Calls 
Israeli Bombing a 'War Crime' / Pro-Palestinian GA Rep Faces Opponent 
with Jewish Backing / CO Mosque Adapting to Diversity
	2047 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Thank Sen. Hagel for Demanding Mideast Cease-Fire
	2048 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CA Assailant May Have Mistaken Sikh for Muslim / ACLU, CAIR 
Demand End to Citizenship Delays / Israeli Rabbis Say Enemy Has No 
'Innocents'
	2049 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Michigan Muslims Wounded in Lebanon / Israeli Bond Sales in 
U.S. Criticized / 'Prince Among Slaves' to Begin Filming
	2050 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Urge U.N. to Enforce Mideast Cease-Fire
	2051 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR to Release Poll on Demand for Mideast Cease-Fire
	2052 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Aug. 6 White House Vigil to Protest Lebanon Invasion / HRW 
Report: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks on Civilians
	2053 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Poll: Americans Support Mideast Cease-Fire
	2054 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Bush Asked to Condemn Latest Israeli Massacre / Join the 
White House Vigil to Protest Lebanon Invasion
	2055 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: LA Mayor Apologizes to Muslim Leaders / Life as Muslims and 
Marines / Muslims Pressured to Name Names
	2056 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Hate Messages Target MI Muslims / Violence Stifles 
Muslim-Jewish Dialogue / GA Candidate Refers to 'Arab Surnames' of Donors
	2057 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Ask GA Candidate to Meet with Muslims Over 'Terrorist' 
Remarks
	2058 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslim Charities Say Fear Dams Money Flow / US Sailor 
Spied for Israel, Russia / A Guide to U.S. Experts on Islam
	2059 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims to React to Alleged Airline Terror Plot
	2060 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Statement on Alleged Airline Terror Plot
	2061 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Concerned About Bush's Use of 'Islamic Fascists' 
/ Outreach Helps Muslims Make Inroads / Unconditional Support for 
Israel is a Liability for U.S.
	2062 by: CAIR

An Urgent Appeal From CAIR
	2063 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Israel Asks U.S. to Ship Rockets with Wide Blast / VA Town 
Hall Mtg on Mideast Crisis / DC Panel: 'The War in Lebanon and the War on 
Terror'
	2064 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: S. Calif. Mosque Vandalized / Americans Favor IDs for Muslims 
/ Bush Insists on 'Islamic Fascists'
	2065 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Maryland Protester Targets Faith, Home of Muslim Candidate / 
'Islamofascist' Ignites Strong Feelings / Quran Burning Fuels Terror? / 
What the Israel Lobby Wants, It Too Often Gets
	2066 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CA Mosque Vandalized Twice in One Week / CAIR Calls for 
Release of Fox Journalists in Gaza / US Involved in Planning Israel's 
Operations in Lebanon
	2067 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: John Bolton Grants Interview to Anti-Islam Hate Site / CAIR 
Welcomes Dropping of 'Terror-Phone' Charges / CAIR Rep Discusses 
'Islamic Fascists' on 'O'Reilly Factor'
	2068 by: CAIR
	2069 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: NY Candidate Favors Profiling Muslims / Christian Right Tries 
to Muscle FL Muslims / FBI Counsels Mosques
	2070 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Welcomes Ruling on NSA Wiretaps / Decision a 'Victory 
for the Constitution'
	2071 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Homeland Security Chair Eyes Profiling / GOP Candidate Says 
Look for Travelers with 'Turbans' / CA Mosque Destroyed by Fire
	2072 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: 'Israel Lobby' Authors to Speak at DC Press Club Forum
	2073 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Vandals Hit NY Mosque / Muslim MD Falsely ID'd as Terrorist, 
Forced Off Flight / IL USPS Investigates Possible Sabotage of Muslim 
Mailing
	2074 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: IL Mosque Vandalized / Hate Site Suggests Ways to 'Punish' 
Muslims / Decision on Assault by Pro-Israeli Driver Pending / Praising 
Allah - In Spanish
	2075 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Show Few Signs of Radicalism / Schools Compete 
for Saudis / CAIR Rep on C-SPAN / 'Jihad' Defined / Muslim Boy Scouts
	2076 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: 3rd GOP Candidate Calls for Profiling of Muslims / CAIR-NY to 
Protest 'Profiling' at JFK Airport
	2077 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Muslim Pilot Ordered Off Continental Flight / Arab-American 
Rep Attacked for Stance on Israel / CA Gov Meets with Muslims / Lebanese 
Villages 'Carpeted' with Cluster Bombs
	2078 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: MI Muslims to Address 'Surge' In Profiling / IL Man Who 
Bombed Muslims' Van Returns to Jail / Amnesty Accuses Israel of War Crimes
	2079 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR to Host Dinner for Former President of Iran
	2080 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Hospitals Create Muslim Prayer Areas / Muslim Marriage 
Contracts Help Women Assert Rights
	2081 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: American Women Embrace Islam / CA Gov's Cold Shoulder to 
Muslims / Inquiry Opened Into Israeli Use of U.S. Bombs
	2082 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for FBI Probe of MN Mosque Arson
	2083 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: C-SPAN to Air CAIR 'Israel Lobby' Panel Live / Muslim 
Citizens Refused Entry Back Into U.S.
	2084 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Correction - 'Israel Lobby' Panel to Air at 1 p.m. on C-SPAN
	2085 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR-KY Offers Condolences to Families of Crash Victims / 
'Israel Lobby' Panel to be Re-Broadcast by C-SPAN / CAIR's Khatami Dinner 
to Open Lines of Communication
	2086 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: National Faith Leaders to Mark 9/11 with DC 'Unity Walk'
	2087 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Poll: 'Middle Eastern' Travelers Should be Singled Out / 
Pro-Israel Lobby Warps U.S. Policy / Khatami Will Get Visa to Visit
	2088 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: 'Israel Lobby' Panel Transcript Now Online / CAIR Board 
Member Avoided Doomed Plane / Students Offered Discount for Khatami Dinner
	2089 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Disabled Muslims Seek Access to Mosques / CAIR Slams Senator 
for 'Taxi' Comments / Muslim Chaplains in Military Gaining Acceptance
	2090 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches New Brand Identity and Logo
	2091 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Criticize Israel? You're an Anti-Semite! / 5 Years After 
9/11, Fear in U.S. Muslim Communities
	2092 by: CAIR
	2093 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: 5 Years After 9/11: Typecasting Muslims as a Race / U.S. 
Muslims Insist They're American Too
	2094 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Young U.S. Muslims Strive for Harmony / Muslims See a Growing 
Internet Media Bias / MI Policy Lets Muslims Cover Up in Pools
	2095 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Says Bush Speech Grants Extremists 'Undeserved 
Legitimacy'
	2096 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Al-Qaeda Tape Distorts Islam / CAIR Seeks Applicants for Rosa 
Parks Scholarship / Mosque 'Pig's Head' Stunt Raises Broader Issues
	2097 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: TX Muslims React to Dropping of Charges in Cell Phone Case / 
Muslim Team Competes on CBS's 'Amazing Race'
	2098 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: CAIR Supports Award for CA Muslim Leader / Life for U.S. 
Muslims Very Different After 9/11 / CAIR-CAN Seeks Apology for Jewish 
Traveler Kicked Off Plane
	2099 by: CAIR

CAIR-NET: Islam-Haters an Enemy Within / CNN Host Warns Muslims of 
'Razor Wire Fence' / Adult Bookstore Near MN Mosque Will Remain Open
	2100 by: CAIR

 
---------------------------------
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(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.
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<br><p> 

<hr size=1>We won't tell. Get more on <a 
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49980/*http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265
">shows you hate to love</a><br>(and love to hate): <a 
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/25/06

* Hadith: A Key for Good and a Lock for Evil
* CAIR DC Panel: 'Should the U.S. Shut Down Gitmo?'
* CAIR-Philly: 'People of the Book: Exploring Faith'
            - CAIR-OH: Muslims Attend Speech by FBI Director
* CAIR: Don't Link Terrorism Suspects to Islam (Sun-Sent)
            - Muslim Group: US Terror Suspects Not Muslim (VOA)
            - CAIR-Chicago: Plotters a 'Cultist Group' (AP)
            - CAIR-Chicago: Muslim Leaders Denounce 7 Suspects
            - A Blend of Faiths, a Dash of Martial Arts
* Canada: Man Runs Amok at Islamic Centre (CanWest)
* Judge Orders U.S. to Decide if Muslim Scholar Can Enter (NYT)
* VA: Islamic-Food Law to Take Effect July 1 (Times-Dispatch)
            - NJ: Muslim Girls Pair Fashion, Faith in Hijab Choices
            - CA: American Muslim Alliance to Launch TV Show
            - GA: Conference Aims to Educate About Muslim Faith (AJC)
            - WA: Camp Brings Muslim, Jewish, Christian Kids Together
* TX: U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in Houston (Chronicle)

-----

HADITH OF THE DAY: KEY FOR GOOD AND A LOCK FOR EVIL - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Blessed is the person who God has made a key for good and a lock for evil."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1366

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

-----

CAIR CAPITOL HILL PANEL: 'SHOULD THE U.S. SHUT DOWN GITMO?' - TOP

The Washington Daybook
Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc./Agence France-Presse

SPONSOR: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

TOPIC/SUBJECT: "Should the U.S. Shut Down Gitmo?"

PARTICIPANTS: James Yee, former Guantanamo Bay Muslim Chaplain and Gene Fidell of Feldsman, Tucker, Leifer and Fidell

DATE: June 27, 2006 (12-1:30 p.m.)

LOCATION: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building

CONTACT: 202-488-8787

-----

CAIR-PHILLY CO-SPONSORS 'PEOPLE OF THE BOOK: EXPLORING FAITH' - TOP

(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 6/25/06) - Beginning July 5, the Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philly) will co-sponsor an interfaith, inter-community program called "People of the Book: Exploring Faith."

The program is free and open to the public and will take place on Wednesday evenings, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Easton Road and Mt. Carmel Avenue in Glenside.

On the first three evenings of the series, a presenter from one of each of the three Abrahamic traditions will explore the role of sacred texts and what they say about the nature of God and God's relationship to human beings. There will be opportunity for audience participation.

WHAT: Four-Part Interfaith Series: "People of the Book: Exploring Faith"
WHEN: July 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
WHERE: St. Paul's Lutheran Church: 120 S. Easton Rd; Glenside, PA 19038
CONTACT: Jeanne Kyle, 215-572-0128

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-OH: FBI CHIEF WARNS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISTS IN CITY CLUB SPEECH - TOP
Mike Tobin, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/24/06

Domestic terrorism cells like the one broken up in Miami pose a threat potentially bigger than al-Qaida, FBI Director Robert Mueller said Friday in a speech at the City Club of Cleveland. . .

Leaders of Cleveland's Muslim community attended Mueller's speech, and local Muslims made up a sizable contingent of the 250 people at the sold-out speech.

Mueller was careful to stress that the war against terror is not a war against Islam. But he asked members of the Muslim community to help law enforcement stop future attacks.

"There are those who view the FBI with suspicion and we must build bridges to bridge that gap," he said. "That said, we must reach the point where you are willing to come forward and say, 'We have seen something that you need to know.'

"Radicalization can only be broken if we stand together."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations bought five tables for the speech, and organized a prayer service at the City Club following the speech, which coincided with traditional Friday prayers. (MORE)

-----

CAIR: DON'T LINK TERRORISM SUSPECTS TO US, MUSLIM LEADERS SAY - TOP
Ruth Morris, Sun-Sentinel, 6/24/06
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0624muslims,0,584506.story

Minutes after U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta announced indictments on Friday against an alleged terror cell, a Muslim leader took to the steps of the city's federal courthouse and said the suspects "were not known" at either of two mosques near the warehouse in the Liberty City neighborhood where authorities arrested them.

Ahmed Bedier, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he and other Muslims feared some would try to connect Islam and the men's alleged plot to blow up a slew of federal buildings and the Sears Tower in Chicago.

"This seems like some kind of cult group that shares nothing with our community," Bedier told reporters of the suspects.

He asked the news media not to refer to the suspects as Muslims. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

MUSLIM GROUP: US TERROR SUSPECTS NOT MUSLIM - TOP
VOA News, 6/24/06
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-24-voa28.cfm

An Islamic civil rights group says the seven terror suspects indicted Friday in the United States should not be referred to as "Muslims."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations says the men accused of plotting attacks on Chicago's Sears tower and several federal buildings are not Muslims because they study a mix of Islamic, Christian and Jewish teachings.

The statement calls the Seas of David sect a "bizarre group" that has nothing to do with Islam. It notes their meeting place is called a "temple" and that they study the Bible -- the Christian holy book.

It also cautioned against using Arabic terms to describe their actions. The federal indictment against the men refers to their attack plans as "a violent jihad."

The group also called on police departments nationwide to protect mosques and other Islamic institutions from possible backlash violence prompted by the idea that the terror suspects are Muslim. (MORE)

---

ADVOCATE FOR MUSLIMS CALLS ACCUSED PLOTTERS A 'CULTIST GROUP' - TOP
Associated Press, 6/23/06
http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=5071556&nav=1sW7

An advocate for better understanding of Muslims and their religion says the men accused of conspiring to blow up the Sears Tower are "a bizarre, cultist group."

Ahmed Rehab is executive director for the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He says the accused plotters have nothing to do with Islam. . .

"I think there has been some reluctance to step up and say that these individuals are indeed non-representative Muslims," Rehab says, "because certain commentators may see that as whitewashing or watering down our fight against terrorism."

Rehab spoke today at a news conference held at his group's downtown Chicago office.

---

CAIR-CHICAGO: MUSLIM LEADERS DENOUNCE 7 SUSPECTS - TOP
Margaret Ramirez, Chicago Tribune, 6/24/06
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0606240165jun24,1,2571736.story

Muslim leaders on Friday denounced the seven men arrested in Florida as members of a religious cult and implored the media not to refer to them as Muslims.

"The case of this bizarre, cultist group is evidence that the phenomenon of terrorism is not monolithic," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "They have broken the laws of this country as well as the laws of the religion of Islam. As such, they are to be condemned." (MORE)

---

A BLEND OF FAITHS, A DASH OF MARTIAL ARTS - TOP
Charles Rabin and Alexandra Alter, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 6/24/06
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003082533_plotside24.html

MIAMI - The seven men accused of plotting terrorism claim to follow teachings of the Moorish Science Temple of America, a religion that blends aspects of Christianity, Judaism and Islam and stresses self-discipline through martial arts, a close friend of one of the arrested men said Friday.

Sylvain Plantin, 30, a distant cousin and friend of indicted group member Stanley Grant Phanor, said the group's leader, Narseal Batiste, followed the religious teachings of the Prophet Noble Drew Ali, who founded the Moorish Science Temple.

"I never joined the group, but I went to a couple of Bible studies" at the warehouse that was raided by federal agents, Plantin said. . .

The Moorish Science Temple of America was founded in 1913 as a sect of Islam but incorporates teachings from Judaism and Christianity, said Aminah Beverly McCloud, a professor of religious studies at DePaul University in Chicago who has written about the group.

Moorish Temple members say they trace their ancestry to Morocco and often wear fezzes and use the titles "Bey" or "El." According to the indictment, suspect Lyglenson Lemorin used the alias "Brother Levi-El.". . .

Leaders of South Florida's Muslim community said Friday that the seven suspects had no connection to area mosques. "As far as we're concerned, they have no relation to our community," said Ahmed Bedier, spokesman for the Council for American Islamic Relations in South Florida.

Bedier said members of the group "should not be called Muslims."

-----

MAN RUNS AMOK AT ISLAMIC CENTRE - TOP
CanWest News Service, 6/23/06

CALGARY (CNS) -- A city Islamic centre has seen its third attack in one month after a man burst into the building and started shouting at children on Wednesday night.

Police say a drunk male stumbled into the building and started screaming and swearing.

About 50 children were inside studying the Qur'an.

"Children were scared," said Malik Ashraf, president of the Al-Madinah Islamic Centre on Thursday, adding it terrified three young women and a senior volunteering inside.

Ashraf worries the many families that flock to the centre won't feel safe in the building anymore.

"Will Muslim people still be coming to the Islamic Centre?" he asked.

"This is the third incident in the last month." Witnesses say when the man finally left, he tried to attack family getting out of their car. At this point, the police arrived and put the man in the back of their car. He then kicked out side window of the police car.

Police are investigating.

-----

JUDGE ORDERS U.S. TO DECIDE IF MUSLIM SCHOLAR CAN ENTER - TOP
ANTHONY RAMIREZ, New York Times, 6/24/06
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/nyregion/24scholar.html

A federal judge in New York yesterday ordered the Bush administration to decide by September whether to grant an entry visa to a prominent Muslim scholar. The scholar has been barred from entering the United States for nearly two years, first because of supposed ties to terrorism, then for unspecified national security reasons.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit on behalf of three academic groups, including the PEN American Center, which had invited the scholar, Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen, to speak at its meetings.

-----

VA: ISLAMIC-FOOD LAW TO TAKE EFFECT JULY 1 - TOP
Richmond Times-Dispatch, 6/24/06
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188710967&path=!news&s=1045855934842

Muslims will be able to make sure that the food they buy conforms with the dietary laws of their religion under a state law that takes effect next Saturday. . .

The General Assembly adopted legislation this year that was known as the "halal food bill," sponsored by Del. Kenneth C. Alexander, D-Norfolk. The bill requires businesses to verify that foods advertised as halal have been prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary requirements.

SEE ALSO:

NJ: MUSLIM GIRLS PAIR FASHION, FAITH IN HIJAB CHOICES - TOP
Deborah Lynn Blumberg, Hattiesburg American, 6/24/06
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060624/LIFESTYLE/606240322/1024

Many non-Muslims interpret the headscarves Islamic women wear as a symbol of oppression. But for Itidal Hashif, 17, and other Muslim youth, covering their heads is a show of faith that can enhance character over physical beauty.

"It's a huge responsibility," said Hashif, a student whose family is from Palestine and who attends the Noor-UI-Iman school in South Brunswick, N.J.

Most conservative Muslim-American girls wear a headscarf full time once they reach puberty. In Arabic, the word "hijab" means covering or barrier and describes the concept of modest dress and behavior written about in the Quran and Hadith, which are the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammed.

In Western countries, the word "hijab" has become synonymous with "headscarf."

With scarves that vary in design, shape and size, and with multiple ways of securing them, with decorative pins and creative layering and wrapping technique, hijab is a religious commitment, but it's also an accessory, the girls say.

"You have to match the headscarf with everything you're wearing," said Hashif, who adds that scarves become part of a woman's outfit. "Wearing hijab becomes like putting on your shoes," Hashif said. "It feels so normal." (MORE)

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AMERICAN MUSLIM ALLIANCE TO LAUNCH TV SHOW - TOP
Viji Sundaram, New America Media, 6/23/06
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=83bb3d4de3246f837cc052d082a0bba4

The American Muslim Alliance plans to launch a weekly television show called "Global Forum," modeled along the lines of the "Jim Lehrer News Hour" and the "Charlie Rose Show."

The hour-long program will kick off with a summary of the week's important domestic and international news and then move on to examine a slew of different issues affecting the lives of ordinary people around the world, including those living in the United States, says AMA's national chairman Aga Saeed, who conceived of the show. Topics under consideration for the early shows include education, the environment, immigration and civil rights. (MORE)

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GA: CONFERENCE AIMS TO EDUCATE ABOUT MUSLIM FAITH - TOP
BRANDY WILSON, Atlanta Journal, 6/24/06
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/gwinnett_44c9ed75761910be003b.html

Perhaps one of the biggest tragedies of the Sept. 11 attacks, other of course than the thousands of innocent lives lost, is how the actions of a few gave some people a negative impression of the entire Muslim religion.

These days, it's not unusual for a Muslim to be unfairly profiled as a terrorist or person with disdain for this country. Most, however, don't share those beliefs.

In an effort to foster understanding of the Muslim religion, the Atlanta Vineyard Church, 6920 Jimmy Carter Blvd. in Norcross, will offer the "Freedom from Fear: Ministering to Muslims" conference. The conference will feature guest speakers discussing the issue, a visit to a local mosque, a concert and more. (MORE)

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WA: INTERFAITH CAMP HAS NATURE WALKS AND HONEST TALK - TOP
Kathleen Merryman, The News Tribune, 6/24/06
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/merryman/story/5865668p-5206902c.html

Jun. 24--The middle schoolers who hope to spend Aug. 27 through Sept. 1 at the first session of Puget Sound Interfaith Youth Camp at Camp Seymour want more than the usual from their summer camp experience.

Sure, they want boating, campfires and hiking. They also want to talk about the Bible, the Torah and the Koran. They want to run around and be silly, and they want to discuss their faith and understand their friends' beliefs.

There are 50 spots for boys and girls going into the seventh and eighth grades, and applications will be accepted until they are filled. The goal is to have an even mix of religions represented. The camp is free, though there is a refundable $50 application fee. (To find out more, click onto www.sound interfaithcamp.org.) (MORE)

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TX: U.S.-ARAB ECONOMIC FORUM - TOP
JENALIA MORENO and BILL HENSEL JR., Houston Chronicle, 6/24/06
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3998074.html

LEADERS from Baghdad, Cairo, Djibouti and across the Arab world are gathering in Houston this week for the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in an effort to bolster the relationship between the U.S. and the Middle East.

"We're trying to build understanding one handshake at a time," said Nasser Beydoun, organizer of the forum and chairman of the Dearborn, Mich.-based American Arab Chamber of Commerce.

To that end, heavy hitters like presidential confidante Karen Hughes, CEOs such as ConocoPhillips' James Mulva and dignitaries like Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal are expected to speak. About 800 people are registered to attend three days of discussions on topics from breaking the oil addiction to health care in the Arab world. (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/26/06

* Hadith: Do Not Oppress One Another
* CAIR-FL: No Prosecution for Saudi Students Who Rode Bus
            - CAIR-LA: The Truth About Islam (Orange County Register)
            - CAIR-CAN: Changes Would Weaken Human Rights Commission (Star)
            - CAIR-Philly: Understanding Islam & Muslims (KYW)
* The Blinkered Belligerence of Wafa Sultan (Los Angeles Times)
* AZ: Imam Angry at Delay in Getting Green Card (Arizona Republic)
            - NH: Is Parking or Bias Cause for Opposition to Mosque?
* 2 U.S. Soldiers Charged in Iraq Killing (AP)
            - War's Iraqi Death Toll Tops 50,000 (Los Angeles Times)

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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

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS WELCOME DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE SAUDI STUDENTS - TOP
College students arrested last month for riding a public school bus

(TAMPA, FL, 06/26/2006) - On Monday, June 26, the Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a news conference in Tampa to welcome a decision by the State Attorney's office not to prosecute two Saudi college students who made headlines nationwide last month when they were arrested for riding a Hillsborough County school bus.

WHAT: CAIR-FL News Conference on case of USF Saudi students
WHEN: Monday, June 26 at 11:30 AM
WHERE: CAIR Tampa office, 8056 N 56th Street, Tampa, FL
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cairfl.org

Last month, the Saudi students were charged with trespassing on school property when they mistakenly boarded a school bus. A day after the arrest, a judge revoked their $250 bail to give law enforcement officials additional time to insure the two men were not a threat. CAIR helped advocate for the rights and release of the students.

SEE: FL Judge Orders Release of Saudi Students Who Rode School Bus

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 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.

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CAIR-LA: THE TRUTH ABOUT ISLAM - TOP
Hussam Ayloush, Orange County Register, 6/25/06
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/atoz/article_1191410.php

[Hussam Ayloush is Executive Director of the Southern California office of the Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Anaheim.]

A recent book review by Orange County Register senior editorial writer Steven Greenhut praised a book that argues that the minority of Muslim extremists who are involved in terrorism are not a deviation from, but rather a "natural result of following the actual teachings of Muhammad and the Quran" ["Islam, without blinders," Commentary, June 11].

Such a conclusion reflects either a distressing ignorance about Islam or, more worrisome, an unrepentant Islamophobia.

No religion should bear the responsibility of the actions of an extremist few who twist its teachings. No religion should be judged through a selective reading of its scripture. In every scripture, extremists can find justification for their acts. Verses from the Bible were manipulated by extremists to justify the Crusades, the killing of hundreds of thousands of Eastern Christians and Muslims, the Inquisition, the enslavement of Africans and African-Americans, the blessing of German Nazi soldiers, apartheid in South Africa, the Catholic-Protestant pogrom cycle in Europe, the displacement of Palestinians and the bombing of abortion clinics.

Muslims do not judge Christianity or Judaism by those acts, but rather by the message of peace and justice taught by Moses and Jesus. Similarly, Islam should be judged by its message of justice and equality as followed by most of its 1.3 billion followers. (MORE)

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CAIR-CAN: GOOD INTENTIONS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH - TOP
Proposed changes weaken the enforcement powers of Human Rights Commission
Faisal Kutty, The Star, 6/26/06
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1151099410250&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795

[Faisal Kutty, a lawyer, is vice-chair of the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations and general counsel for the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association.]

At the time of its enactment in 1962, the Ontario Human Rights Code was ahead of its time in prohibiting discrimination and harassment on enumerated grounds - now numbering 16.

Sadly, the system that consists of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Tribunal has not kept pace with the demands of a changing society. In fact, over the past 15 years, numerous studies, reports and consultations have concluded the system is broken.

Faisal Kutty, a lawyer, is vice-chair of the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations and general counsel for the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association. (MORE)

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CAIR-PHILLY: UNDERSTANDING ISLAM & MUSLIMS - TOP
Nancy Griffin, KYW Radio, 6/25/06
http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/50085.php

A grassroots organization is using education to lift the veil of misunderstanding about American Muslims.

Adeeba al-Zaman teaches a 10-part course, "Understanding Islam & Muslims." It is sponsored by the Philadelphia Office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). . .

"This class, "Understanding Islam and Muslims" is really going to help give you the tools to understand the context of the world around us. So when we turn on the news and we listen to the news, and we hear about an incident that happened, at least we know for sure that is something that individual is doing -- even if they say they're doing it in the name of Islam -- it's something that's not condoned in that text."

For information people can go to the web at www.cairphilly.org or call 215-592-0509.

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ISLAM'S ANN COULTER - TOP
The seductive and blinkered belligerence of Wafa Sultan.
Stephen Julius Stein, Los Angeles Times, 6/25/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-stein25jun25,1,7803731.story

RECENTLY I WAS one of about 100 L.A. Jews invited to attend a fundraiser for a Jewish organization that seeks to counteract anti-Israel disinformation and propaganda. The guest speaker was Wafa Sultan, the Syrian American woman who in February gave a now legendary interview on Al Jazeera television, during which she said that "the Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations" and "I don't believe you can reform Islam." . . .

My disappointment in and disagreement with Sultan turned into dismay. She never alluded to any healthy, peaceful Islamic alternative. Why, for example, didn't this Southern California resident mention the groundbreaking efforts of the Islamic Center of Southern California, the leading exemplar of progressive Muslim American life in the United States? Why didn't she bring up the New Horizon School-Pasadena that the center started, the first Muslim American school honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School?. . .

As I experienced the fervor sparked by Sultan's anti-Muslim tirade and stoked by a roomful of apparently unsuspecting Jews, I thought: What if down the street there was a roomful of Muslims listening to a self-loathing Jew, cheering her on as she spoke of the evils inherent in the Torah, in which it is commanded that a child must be stoned to death if he insults his parents, in which Israelites are ordered by God to conquer cities and, in so doing, to kill all women and children - and this imagined Jew completely ignored all of what Judaism teaches afterward?

In a world far too often dominated by politicians imbued with religious fundamentalism of all flavors - Jewish, Christian, Muslim - we need the thoughtfulness, self-awareness and subtlety that comes from progressive religious expression. We have that in Judaism, in Christianity - and in Islam, right in our backyard. If only Sultan, applauded in many quarters yet miscast as a voice of reason and reform in Islam, were paying attention.

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AZ: IMAM ANGRY AT DELAY IN GETTING GREEN CARD - TOP
Daniel Gonzalez, Arizona Republic, 6/26/06

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0626imam0622.html

Sheik Latif Al-Khafaji hobbled back from his kitchen carrying a tray of sodas, jostling slightly from side to side because of a limp.

For the past hour, Khafaji, the Iraqi spiritual leader of the Valley's 5,000 Shiite Muslims, had explained how he was tortured for opposing Saddam Hussein's regime. How he came to the United States six years ago as a refugee believing this country was a land of freedom and justice. And how he now feels as though the government is treating him unfairly.

The problem, he said, is getting his green card, allowing the holder to live and work permanently in the United States, and the first step toward becoming a citizen. He first applied for the card in 2001 but still is waiting, unable to clear an FBI background check.

It's a problem shared by thousands of other immigrants and refugees with Middle Eastern and Arab-sounding names, mostly men, immigrant advocates say. Government officials acknowledge the delays, saying it is the cost of national security. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

NH: PARKING HAS MOSQUE AT ODDS WITH NEIGHBORS - TOP
By RILEY YATES, Union Leader, 6/26/06
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=c7d3fd11-073f-40dc-a831-4abb6e8d24c4

MANCHESTER - Turf battles on Karatzas Avenue are continuing between homeowners and a planned mosque.

Neighbors are calling for the strict enforcement of on-street parking bans, which has mosque officials charging they are being targeted.

Construction manager Nermin Cejvan said workers occasionally park two or three cars on the street when they can't be accommodated elsewhere. In response, residents regularly call police, he said.

The dispute made it to City Hall last week when homeowners sent aldermen a petition demanding parking remain prohibited on both sides of the road.

"We're not making this a mosque issue," said Blaise Blouin, the neighbor who started the petition. "We're making this a no parking issue."

But Cejvan and a state representative said residents are trying to hinder the project because a mosque is being built.

"I wish that that wasn't the reason, but I think that it is," said Cejvan, who is heading the all-volunteer construction effort. He said only a handful of cars drive on Karatzas Avenue each day, making parking a minor issue.

"They should show some generosity," Rep. Saghir Tahir said. "This is harassment." (MORE)

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2 U.S. SOLDIERS CHARGED IN IRAQ KILLING - TOP
The Associated Press, 6/25/06

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Two U.S. soldiers have been charged in the February killing of an unarmed Iraqi civilian near the city of Ramadi, the military said Sunday.

Spc. Nathan B. Lynn was charged with one count of voluntary manslaughter for allegedly shooting and killing the man on Feb. 15.

He and Sgt. Milton Ortiz Jr. also were charged with one count of obstructing justice for allegedly conspiring with another soldier to put an AK-47 near the body to make it look as though he was an insurgent.

The soldiers had been out in an operation near the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi and some were in a house questioning someone when they heard shots outside where Lynn was providing security, the military said.

The Iraqi man was found shot in the front yard. But witnesses did not see the weapon by the body until later, leading to allegations that it had been planted there to make the man look like he was an attacker, the military said.

SEE ALSO:

WAR'S IRAQI DEATH TOLL TOPS 50,000 - TOP
Higher than the U.S. estimate but thought to be undercounted, the tally is equivalent to 570,000 Americans killed in three years.
Louise Roug and Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6/24/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fg-deathtoll25jun25,0,7571477.story

BAGHDAD - At least 50,000 Iraqis have died violently since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, according to statistics from the Baghdad morgue, the Iraqi Health Ministry and other agencies - a toll 20,000 higher than previously acknowledged by the Bush administration.

Many more Iraqis are believed to have been killed but not counted because of serious lapses in recording deaths in the chaotic first year after the invasion, when there was no functioning Iraqi government, and continued spotty reporting nationwide since.

The toll, which is mostly of civilians but probably also includes some security forces and insurgents, is daunting: Proportionately, it is equivalent to 570,000 Americans being killed nationwide in the last three years. (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/27/06

* Hadith: Kindness Leads to Paradise
* CAIR Capitol Hill Panel Calls for Gitmo Closure
* CAIR-Chicago: Muslims Build Better Relations with CBP
* CAIR-MI: Don't Tar All Muslims with Brush of Terror
            - CAIR: Miami Terror Suspects are Not Muslims
* CAIR-FL: Saudis to Write Ending to School Bus Adventure
* U.S. Military Will Not Punish Marine for Song About Killing Iraqis
            - CAIR: 'Hadji Girl' Marine Apologizes to Muslims
* U.S. Muslims Face Rising Suspicion, New Opportunities
            - MA: Ex-Friendly's to Become a Mosque

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HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS LEADS TO PARADISE - TOP

Narrated Aisha (a wife of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him): "A poor woman came to me along with her daughters. I gave her three dates. She gave a date to each of them and then she took up one date and brought that to her mouth. . .but her daughters expressed desire to eat it. She then divided the date that she intended to eat between them. This (kind) treatment impressed me and I mentioned what she did to (the Prophet Muhammad) He then said: 'Verily God has assured Paradise for her because of (this act of kindness).'"

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR CAPITOL HILL PANEL CALLS FOR GITMO CLOSURE - TOP

(WASHINGTON, DC, 6/27/2006) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today hosted a Capitol Hill panel entitled "Should the US Shut Down Gitmo." An audience that filled the room to capacity heard two speakers outline reasons for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

James Yee, a former Muslim Chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, discussed ways in which religion was used against detainees. He described how abuse of the Quran, and other behavior by guards and interrogators, was counterproductive to intelligence gathering because detainees protested abuse by refusing to cooperate.

Yee noted that American Muslims who were serving in Guantanamo, primarily as translators, were viewed with suspicion merely for practicing their faith.

Eugene Fidell, an attorney who has worked on cases involving Guantanamo Bay inmates, outlined several reasons to close the base, including concerns that many of the prisoners have not been charged with any crimes and the American judicial system is capable of handling the cases.

He noted that after four years, the value of any further intelligence garnered from these prisoners is probably minimal.

Fidell also raised questions about the future of the Guantanamo base in light of a probable change in Cuba's government, given Castro's advanced age.

"It is time to bite the bullet so that no further harm is done to our nation's reputation," said Fidell.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor, 571-278-4658, E-Mail: csaylor@cair-net.org

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CAIR-CHICAGO: MUSLIMS BUILD BETTER RELATIONS WITH CBP - TOP

(CHICAGO, IL, 6/27/06) - On Wednesday, June 21, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, along with other leaders in the Chicago Muslim Community, took part in a tour of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations at O'Hare International Airport.

The meeting was part of an effort to build relations between the Muslim community and different government and security organizations in order to facilitate communication, avoid cultural misunderstandings and help to educate travelers about the ways that they may avoid unwanted delays at the airport.

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CAIR-MI: DON'T TAR ALL MUSLIMS WITH BRUSH OF TERROR EXTREMISM - TOP
Dawud Walid, Detroit News, 6/27/06
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060627/OPINION01/606270304/1008

Seven terror suspects were arrested last week in Miami, allegedly planning to attack the Sears Tower in Chicago. Their belief? A blend of Islamic, Christian and Jewish tradition.

When asked by CNN why group members refer to themselves as "soldiers," a "Brother Corey" said: "Because we study and we train through the Bible -- not only physical, but mentally."

Group members also worship in a "temple," not in an Islamic mosque, according to media reports.

All religions have fringe elements. However, these elements do not represent the beliefs or practices of the vast majority of that faith's followers -- whether they are Jewish, Christian or Muslim. (MORE)

[Dawud Walid is executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Lathrup Village.]

SEE ALSO:

MUSLIM GROUP: MIAMI TERROR SUSPECTS ARE NOT MUSLIMS - TOP
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Religion News Service, 6/26/06
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/194/story_19420_1.html

June 26 - Days after federal authorities charged seven men with plotting terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, a Muslim advocacy group is insisting the men were not Muslims and shouldn't be described as such in news reports.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) bases its claim on a June 22 CNN interview. In it, a Miami man claims to belong to the same Seas of David group that apparently counts the suspects as members, and he tells of their religious practice. "We study and we train through the bible," Brother Corey says in a CNN transcript. He also refers to the group's habit of worshiping in a "temple," not a mosque.

"Given that the reported beliefs of this bizarre group have nothing to do with Islam, we ask members of the media to refrain from calling them 'Muslims,'" said CAIR spokesperson Ahmed Bedier. (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: SAUDIS TO WRITE ENDING TO SCHOOL BUS ADVENTURE - TOP
BRADY DENNIS, St. Petersburg Times, 6/27/06
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/27/Hillsborough/Saudis_to_write_endin.shtml

TAMPA - Two Saudi Arabian men who climbed aboard a Hillsborough County school bus bound for Wharton High School in May will not be prosecuted, but they must complete a unique homework assignment from the State Attorney's Office.

"They have to write an essay in English documenting their experience," said state attorney's spokeswoman Pam Bondi, adding that it would "aid other students from other cultures" by showing them "what is allowable and acceptable in our country."

The assignment, along with a promise to avoid any future trouble with the law, make up the pretrial intervention program to which the two men agreed. Such a program is common among first-time offenders. . .

"We've said all along this was a mistake and a misunderstanding," said Ahmed Bedier, director of the Central Florida Council on American-Islamic Relations. "They are very naive as to how the system works here. They didn't mean any harm."

While Bedier didn't object to the essay assignment, he still seemed upset by the initial treatment of Almanajam and Alsidran - namely, the days they spent in jail without bail and the assumption that they were considering a terrorist attack.

"People were jumping to conclusions," Bedier said. "This incident exposed the bias and the climate that exist for Muslims living in this country." (MORE)

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US MARINE EXONERATED FOR SONG ABOUT KILLING IRAQIS - TOP
Will Dunham, Reuters, 6/27/06
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-06-27T170606Z_01_N27397428_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-SONG.xml

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military will not punish a Marine who performed an obscenity-laced song to a laughing and cheering crowd of fellow troops in Iraq making light of killing Iraqis, the Marine Corps said on Tuesday.

The Marines two weeks ago launched a preliminary inquiry into whether Cpl. Joshua Belile, who returned home from Iraq in March, violated military law or rules in singing the song, a four-minute video of which was posted on the Internet.

In the song, titled "hadji girl," Belile sang to fellow troops at a base in Iraq about encountering an Iraqi woman and her family.

"I grabbed her little sister and put her in front of me. As the bullets began to fly, the blood sprayed from between her eyes, and then I laughed maniacally," he sang. Laughing, clapping and cheers can be heard in the background.

"The preliminary inquiry has been concluded. No punitive action will be taken against Corporal Belile. And there will be no further investigation," said Maj. Shawn Haney, a spokeswoman at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.

Haney said the inquiry ruled out any violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Another Marine Corps official, who asked not to be named because details of the inquiry are private, said poor taste, poor judgment and poor timing, not to mention offensive lyrics, do not necessarily amount to criminal conduct. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR: 'HADJI GIRL' MARINE APOLOGIZES TO MUSLIMS - TOP
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2188&theType=NR

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MUSLIMS IN AMERICA - TOP
They face rising public suspicion but new opportunities
MARGOT PATTERSON, 6/30/06
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006b/063006/063006a.php

Being an American Muslim means facing mountains of bad publicity. It also means discovering growing numbers of companions for the journey.

The American Muslim population continues to grow, even as polls show that Muslims in the United States today are facing a rising tide of negative public opinion. A Washington Post-ABC News poll, taken during the controversy over the Dubai ports deal, found that 46 percent of respondents reported negative views of Islam, seven points higher than polls taken in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A recent survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that about a quarter of all Americans think "the Muslim religion teaches violence and hatred." A CBS poll taken in April reports that fewer than one in five Americans have a favorable impression of Islam.

But if American Muslims live under a cloud of suspicion today, many say the new attention to Islam has also triggered a surge of American converts to Islam and greater knowledge of Islam among the population at large.

"There's a lot of anti-propaganda. Before Sept. 11, it was difficult to find any book on Islam in any mainstream bookstore. But now if you go to Borders or Barnes & Noble, you will find several books," said Dr. Zahid H. Bukhari, a fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.

R. Kevin Jaques, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Indiana, notes that more Latinos and Native Americans are now embracing Islam.

What's leading Americans to Islam?

Jaques said that as the United States is changing, churches are failing in their traditional role. Converts are looking for something the church isn't giving them, he remarked.

"Especially for second- and third-generation Latinos, they're looking for a religious tradition that gives them a bigger sense of community. One of the things you hear in mosques is community, community, community. That's a major attraction for a lot of people." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

MA: EX-FRIENDLY'S TO BECOME A MOSQUE - TOP
D. Craig MacCormack, Daily News, 6/27/06
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=133930

FRAMINGHAM -- The downtown eatery once known for serving frosty treats on hot days now will be the new home of the Islamic Society of Framingham.

The society bought the former Friendly's Ice Cream shop on Union Avenue on May 31 and plans to move its mosque from its South Street location after putting the building through about $75,000 in renovations.

The refurbishing likely will include stripping out much of the industrial equipment in the building and replacing the booths with a carpeted floor.

Fareed Siddiqui, a founding member of the society, said people should not expect the former scoop shop to be replaced by an ornate building.

"We're growing so there's a need for a bigger place," said Siddiqui. "Our religion tries to make things simple. The only thing we need is a nice, clean place where we can congregate and worship. (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/28/06

* Hadith: Be Gentle and Calm
* CAIR: Targeting of Gaza Infrastructure a 'War Crime'
* CAIR-OH: Editorial on Terror Simplistic (Dispatch)
            - CAIR: Former Gitmo Chaplain Calls for Camp Closure
* CAIR: Military Won't Discipline Marine Over 'Hadji Girl'
            - CAIR: Marine Won't Face Prosecution for Song (AP)
* MA: Immigrant Admits Role in Massacre of Bosnian Muslims?
* Book: 'The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America'

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HADITH OF THE DAY: BE GENTLE AND CALM - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Be gentle and calm. . .because God likes gentleness in all affairs."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 404

The Prophet also said: "Anyone who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2238

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR SAYS TARGETING OF GAZA INFRASTRUCTURE A 'WAR CRIME' - TOP
Bush administration urged to condemn attacks on bridges, electrical supply

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/28/06) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today said Israel's targeting of the Palestinian civilian infrastructure is a "war crime" that should be condemned by the Bush administration.

Following a Palestinian attack on a military post, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at the Gaza Strip's only power station, cutting electricity to most of Gaza. Israel also targeted three Gaza Strip bridges. Palestinian officials say the cut in power will impact water supplies and health services.

SEE: Israelis Knock Out Power, Water in Gaza

In reaction to the Israeli strikes, a White House spokesman said: "In any actions the government of Israel may undertake, the United States urges that it ensures that innocent civilians are not harmed, and also that it avoid the unnecessary destruction of property and infrastructure."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement released today: "Mild rebukes for the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure in Gaza will not stop Israeli missiles. The Bush administration should condemn these war crimes and demand that Israel stop using American taxpayer-funded weapons to carry out attacks that will only serve to intensify the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

CAIR recently called on President Bush to help end the Israeli and international "siege" imposed on the Palestinians because of the results of democratic elections.

The Washington-based group also condemned Israel's killings of Palestinian civilians and has repeatedly condemned Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR-OH: 'DISPATCH' EDITORIAL ON TERRORISM SIMPLISTIC - TOP
Ahmad Al-Akhras, Columbus Dispatch, 6/28/06
http://dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/28/20060628-A12-03.html

[Ahmad Al-Akhras of Columbus is vice chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.]

I respond to the June 20 Dispatch editorial "Out of the frying pan."

What has happened in Somalia, for the majority of Somalis inside and those who are abroad, is a positive change. I truly suggest that we should not prejudge this change, or any change for that matter, based on the religious affiliation of those in power.

It seems to me that there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to Muslims, Islam, Arabs and Palestinian issues. A view of the big picture seems to be missing.

The assertion in the editorial, "President Bush is right to be concerned about these developments. Regions of strict Muslim control and haters of Western culture tend to breed terrorists," is overly simplistic. The line they hate us and our way of life has really become old. This is a ridiculous and simplistic response to a complex problem of major magnitude.

A report from the CATO Institute titled, "Does U.S. intervention overseas breed terrorism? The Historical Record," presents a much more logical understanding of events. See www.cato.org/pubs/fpbriefs/fpb-050es.html

The gist of the theory is that "the numerous incidents cataloged suggest that the United States could reduce the chances of such devastating, and potentially catastrophic, terrorist attacks by adopting a policy of military restraint overseas." The gulag at Guantanamo Bay breeds terrorism. The torture at Abu Ghraib and extraordinary renditions breed terrorism. Occupation of others' lands breeds terrorism. Imposing unlawful, punitive and inhumane sanctions on the whole Palestinian population for electing their own government breeds terrorism. An Israeli bombing that killed a whole family on the Gaza beach breeds terrorism.

Promoting the fallacy of the "clash of civilizations" will not help our community. As Graham Fuller, former vice chairman of the Central Intelligence Council at the CIA, said: "I repeatedly heard that the Muslim world 'hates American values,' a view that is dangerously wrong. . . . It is not our values to which Muslims are hostile; it is their perception of our unwillingness to share these values that brings forth anger." I truly hope that we understand the real issues.

SEE ALSO:

FORMER GITMO CHAPLAIN CALLS FOR CAMP CLOSURE - TOP
Monisha Bansal, CNSNews.com, 6/28/06
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200606/NAT20060628c.html

(CNSNews.com) - A former Muslim chaplain at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp who was accused of espionage and aiding the enemy before being cleared in 2004, said the prison remains a "potent symbol" for questioning the U.S. commitment to human rights and should be closed.

"If we close Guantanamo it would be a great first step," James Yee said at a Capitol Hill news conference Tuesday sponsored by the Council for American Islamic Relations. Yee was a Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay from November 2002 to September 2003, at which point he was arrested, charged and taken to a Navy brig in South Carolina. He was cleared of all charges six months later.

The Cuban prison camp, Yee said, is a "potent symbol" that "perhaps the United States -- our government, our nation, is not the leader of human rights that it should be, or maybe that we've lost that status and we're not abiding by the rule of law and international law." He said of the 460 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, many have not been charged with a crime and none has yet to have a full trial.

Yee said that in addition to torture, "Gitmo's secret weapon" is to use religion against prisoners. He said American interrogators painted satanic circular symbols on the ground and made some detainees kneel inside of the circles. Female interrogators, Yee said, inappropriately touched the male detainees. And he alleged that copies of the Quran at times were mishandled by guards with pages falling out and interrogators stepping on and kicking the Muslim holy book.

Interrogators also occasionally wrapped detainees in the Israeli flag to frustrate them.

All of this, he said, has led to "mass suicide attempts." Three prisoners - two Saudis and a Yemeni -- hanged themselves with clothes and sheets on June 10.

The suicides, Yee said, "Were only a matter of time." (MORE)

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MILITARY SAYS IT WON'T DISCIPLINE MARINE OVER CONTROVERSIAL 'HADJI GIRL' SONG - TOP
Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes, 6/28/06
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=38261

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Marine Corps has decided not to take disciplinary action against a Marine whose song "Hadji Girl" drew condemnation from a Muslim-American advocacy group and spawned a preliminary inquiry, according to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

In a video posted on the Internet, Cpl. Joshua Belile sang a love song about a Marine who falls in love with an Iraqi girl, and is taken to meet her family. The girl's family shoots her and then attacks the Marine, who uses her younger sister as a shield and watches blood spray from her head.

The song was slammed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which demanded an investigation by Congress and the Pentagon.

Belile, who is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., apologized for the song in a local newspaper and vowed never to sing it again.

"I apologize for any feelings that may have been hurt in the Muslim community. This song was written in good humor and not aimed at any party, foreign or domestic," he told The Daily News of Jacksonville, N.C. . .

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has already accepted Belile's apology and left the question as to whether Belile should be disciplined up to the Marine Corps, said group spokesman Corey Saylor

"If that's the decision they've made, we accept that," he said.

SEE ALSO:

MARINE WON'T FACE PROSECUTION FOR SONG - TOP
Associated Press, 6/28/06
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0628iraq-marine0628.html

RALEIGH, N.C. - A corporal who sang in a homemade video about killing members of an Iraqi family didn't violate military law and won't be court-martialed, the Marine Corps said Tuesday.

"The bottom line is there was no violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," said a spokeswoman, Maj. Shawn Haney of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. "We do stand by our original statement that we feel the lyrics were inappropriate."

Commanders of Cpl. Joshua Belile, 23, will handle the matter administratively, which can include informal counseling about his actions, military officials said.

Belile has said the video was intended as a joke and not related to allegations of Marine involvement in the deaths at Haditha, Iraq, last year of unarmed civilians. That case still is being investigated.

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group never expected criminal action against the Marine and considered the matter resolved.

"We did say we would leave it up to them, so that brings the whole situation to a conclusion for us," Hooper said. (MORE)

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CHILLING TESTIMONY IN IMMIGRANT FRAUD CASE - TOP
MEGAN TENCH, Boston Globe, 6/28/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/06/28/chilling_custody_in_immigrant_fraud_case/

Marko Boskic, a Bosnian immigrant living in Peabody, kept a gruesome secret from US government officials who accepted him as a refugee from the war-torn Balkans, prosecutors said yesterday.

The local construction worker was formerly a soldier in the Serbian military's 10th Sabotage Detachment, which forced 1,200 Muslim men and boys onto buses, unloaded them on a farm outside Srebrenica, lined them up in groups of 10, and shot them as part of a horrific campaign of "ethnic cleansing" in Bosnia in the 1990s, prosecutors said on the opening day of Boskic's trial in US District Court in Boston.

Boskic, 41, was charged in 2004 with five counts of lying to federal officials and concealing his role in the 10th Sabotage unit on the portion of the US immigration form that asks whether he had ever persecuted anyone on the basis of their religion or ethnicity. If convicted, he could face prison and deportation. (MORE)

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AUTHOR LOOKS AT THE REASONS BEHIND AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMEN CHOOSING TO BE VEILED - TOP
Mary Delach Leonard, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/27/08
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/books/story/C92FEE9A8FEC68D38625719A0070EA3A?OpenDocument

"The Face Behind the Veil: The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America" by Donna Gehrke-white

Are they veils or chains?

It is a question that Muslim women who wear traditional Islamic head coverings often face in the United States. They know that many Americans do not understand such veiling or consider it repressive - not an unexpected reaction in a society in which women spent the better part of a century casting off social restrictions, along with floor-length skirts and corsets. (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

-----

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR CALLS RULING AGAINST GITMO TRIALS 'VICTORY FOR RULE OF LAW'

(WASHINGTON, DC, 6/29/06) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that President Bush exceeded his authority in ordering military tribunals for Guantanamo Bay detainees.

In a 5-3 decision, the court said the proposed trials were illegal under U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions. The ruling also raises questions about the legal status of those being held at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

SEE: US Guantanamo Tribunals 'Illegal' (BBC)

"Today's Supreme Court decision is a victory for the rule of law that will help to improve our nation's deteriorating image worldwide," said Corey Saylor, government affairs director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor, 202-488-8787 or 571-278-4658, E-Mail: csaylor@cair-net.org

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/29/06

* Hadith: The Most Grateful Servant of God
* CAIR: U.S. Muslims Condemn Kidnapping of Palestinian Officials
* CAIR-San Antonio: Blame Game Won't Save Lives in Iraq
* CAIR-OH: Muslims Meet with Political Candidates
            - MN: Muslim Candidate Seeks House Seat (AP)
* CAIR-CAN Seeks Freedom for Rights Activist Held in China
            - CAIR-CAN: We All Share the Fight Against Extremists
* LA: Two Held in Arson at Muslim Home (Times-Picayune)
            - FL: Tampa Loses Muslim Role Model (Tampa Tribune)
* New Book: Questions Doctors' Roles in Torture (NPR)
* Cultural Ignorance Leads to Misuse of Islamic Terms

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HADITH OF THE DAY: THE MOST GRATEFUL SERVANT OF GOD - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to stand for long periods at night offering prayers. His wife Ayesha once asked him: "Why do you stand so long in prayer when God has (already) forgiven your past and future sins?" The Prophet replied: "Then may I not become the most grateful servant of God?"

Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 98

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN KIDNAPPING OF PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS - TOP
CAIR urges international community to repudiate Israeli 'state terror'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/29/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the United States and the international community to repudiate Israel's kidnapping of dozens of democratically-elected Palestinian officials and cabinet ministers, including the deputy prime minister. CAIR called Israel's hostage-taking a form of "state terror."

In a joint statement, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other G8 foreign ministers today said: "The detention of elected members of the Palestinian government and legislature raises particular concerns."

"Again we see Israel carrying out acts of state terror and the international community offering only a mild and indirect response that will be taken as a 'green light' by Israeli officials," said CAIR Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed. "America's push for democracy in the Muslim world may be dead in the water unless the Bush administration pressures Israel to release the hostages and end its collective punishment of the Palestinian people."

Ahmed said Israel has a history of taking hostages to be used as "bargaining chips." Abdel Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani were kidnapped by Israel from southern Lebanon and held for a number of years in an attempt to gain the release of an Israeli airman shot down over Lebanon in 1986.

Yesterday, CAIR said Israel's targeting of the Palestinian civilian infrastructure is a war crime that must be condemned by the Bush administration.

As it turns out, a Palestinian power plant bombed by Israel on Tuesday is insured by a U.S. government agency, and American funds may be used to pay for the damage. The destruction of the power plant may also lead to a humanitarian disaster because the plant's electricity is essential for pumps that provide water to Gaza.

SEE: Gaza Power Plant Hit by Israeli Airstrike is Insured by US Agency (Boston Globe)

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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BLAME GAME WON'T SAVE LIVES, BUT WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ WILL - TOP
Sarwat Husain, San Antonio Express, 6/29/06
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA062906.2O.husaincomment.7ac1a7.html

[Sarwat Husain is president of the Council on American Islamic Relations-San Antonio.]

The recent deaths of the two young American soldiers in Iraq are another extremely painful reminder of the unnecessary war we are fighting in Iraq and its tragic consequences.

On behalf of the American Muslim community, I extend our sincerest condolences to the families of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, and Pfc. Thomas Tucker, 25, for their tragic loss.

We are deeply disturbed by the way they were barbarically tortured and killed. We do not know for sure who perpetrated these crimes or who the killers were. They could be insurgents, al-Qaida affiliates or just petty criminals. Regardless, there is no doubt that they are cold-blooded murderers.

As soon as the news reports of the slayings appeared, the Muslim community started receiving blame, accusations of collective guilt and demands for apologies. If such apologies and condemnation statements, which Muslim organizations and groups issue each time any such crime is committed against coalition soldiers, would prevent further killings, these latest murders would not have taken place.

Instead of this juvenile blame game, which does not achieve any constructive understanding, let all of us Americans join hands and truly start working together to stop any more loss of lives. (MORE)

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CAIR-OH: MUSLIMS MEET WITH POLITICAL CANDIDATES - TOP

(CLEVELAND, OH, 6/29/06) � The Cleveland office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently organized a meeting with Rep. Sherrod Brown. Members of the Ohio Muslim and Arab American communities gathered at a special breakfast event to discuss civil rights issues in the post-9/11 era. The candidate also discussed the political ramifications of his votes against the Patriot Act and the Iraq War and his criticism of the NSA warrantless wiretapping.

Similar events have included meetings with Rep. Ted Strickland and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who are both running for Ohio Governor.

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail: cleveland@cair-ohio.com; Adnan Mirza, 614-451-3232, E-Mail: director@cair-ohio.com

SEE ALSO:

MN: MUSLIM KEITH ELLISON SEEKS HOUSE SEAT - TOP
Precedent possible as Muslim Keith Ellison seeks House seat
PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press, 6/29/06
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/29/ap/politics/mainD8IHOJ5O0.shtml

Keith Ellison is hoping that this city of mostly white Christians is ready to make a black Muslim its next congressman.

Ellison, a state representative and criminal defense lawyer, is the state-party endorsed Democratic candidate in the liberal-leaning 5th Congressional District. That makes him the favorite in his quest to become the first Muslim member of Congress.

But Ellison is dogged by questions about his faith, particularly after disclosures about his past associations with the Nation of Islam, a group led by Louis Farrakhan.

While Ellison has since denounced Farrakhan, Jewish leaders say the candidate's ties to the organization remain an issue.

"For Jews, there's no ambiguity when it comes to the Nation of Islam," said Stephen Silberfarb, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. "It's a group that hates the Jewish people."

Around 1990, Ellison _ then a University of Minnesota law student known as Keith E. Hakim _ wrote several columns in the student newspaper that are getting a second look.

One column defended Farrakhan against charges of anti-Semitism; a second suggested the creation of a state for black residents. In 1995, Ellison helped organize a delegation to Farrakhan's Million Man March in Washington.

Ellison, 42, said he was never an enrolled member of the Nation of Islam. He got involved to help improve the lives of black men, he said, and did not fully grasp concerns about Farrakhan's anti-Semitism until after the 1995 march.

"There are legitimate concerns in the Jewish community. That's why I'm happy to answer them," Ellison said. But, he added, "I do also think there are people out there who are fear-mongering, who are trying to scare the Jewish community and manipulate this issue." . . .

Sumbal Mahmud, a corporate lawyer and spokeswoman for the Islamic Center of Minnesota, said the years since the Sept. 11 attacks have been difficult for Muslims in America, and Ellison's candidacy is an important sign on the road back to acceptance.

"Hopefully it will mobilize the Muslim community to become more engaged in civic life," she said. "We all need to see politicians who speak to our own experiences."

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CANADIAN MUSLIMS SEEK FREEDOM FOR RIGHTS ACTIVIST HELD IN CHINA - TOP

(OTTAWA, CANADA � 29/06/06) � CAIR-CAN is calling on the Canadian government to increase its efforts to secure the release of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian Muslim who faces execution after being imprisoned in China this week.

"The Canadian government must use every avenue of recourse to secure the release of this Canadian citizen," said Karl Nickner, CAIR-CAN's executive director, adding that Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay could utilize his trip to Moscow on Thursday to seek the assistance of Russian officials.

According to reports, Celil was transferred from Uzbekistan to China this week, where he faces possible execution. Celil had first been detained in Uzbekistan in March 2006 for deportation to China, a country he fled as a refugee in 2001. He had been imprisoned in China after advocating for the rights of China's Uighur Muslim minority.

Celil's wife and supporters had been advocating for the Canadian government to send a high ranking official to Uzbekistan to secure his release.

"It is very disappointing that the Canadian government failed to send a suitable official to Uzbekistan when there was a much better chance of having Mr. Celil returned to Canada. The situation in now far more dire and it is imperative that the Canadian government engage in much more strenuous efforts to secure Mr. Celil's release," says Halima Mautbur, CAIR-CAN's human rights coordinator.

CONTACT: Halima Mautbur at 613.254.9704 or 613.795.2012

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-CAN: WE ALL SHARE THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISTS - TOP
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 6/27/06
http://www.caircan.ca/oped_more.php?id=2544_0_10_0_C

[Sheema Khan is the former chair of CAIR-CAN.]

First, there was "driving while black," the expression that summarized racial profiling employed by some American police officers. Then came "flying while Arab" to denote the suspicion that followed 9/11.

Now, since the arrest of 17 alleged terrorists in Toronto, we have "Canadian while Muslim."

Not a month has passed since the arrest of the Toronto 17 and reaction has ranged from the sublime (rescind multiculturalism) to the ridiculous (ban burkas). Racist language and thinly veiled Islamophobia have laced many media commentaries. One columnist said the young men arrested were "bearded in the Taliban fashion," though the facial hair, based on courtroom drawings, looked alarmingly similar to beards sported during the recent NHL playoffs. Suspects were often described as "brown skinned," and there frequently followed the mantras of "homegrown threat" and "the enemy within." (MORE)

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LA: TWO HELD IN ARSON AT HOME IN KENNER - TOP
Fires set in April; house not damaged
Mary Swerczek, Times-Picayune, 6/29/06
http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/library-106/1151567602128240.xml?ZZLIBB&coll=1

Two Jefferson Parish teen-agers were booked with simple arson in an incident where two bottles were set on fire outside a Kenner home in April, authorities said.

Originally thought, at least by the victim, to be a hate crime because the resident of the house is Muslim and had reported several earlier incidents of vandalism, police now believe the motive behind the April incident was "mischief," said Capt. James Gallagher, Kenner Police Department spokesman.

Gino P. Holmes, 19, of 3013 Independence Ave., Apt. B, Metairie, and Brook Ranshi, 17, of 3340 Maine Ave., Kenner, who lives near the vandalized house, are suspected of setting the fires.

They allegedly removed a welcome mat from in front of a door of the house on Maine Avenue and placed it on the driveway topped with a plastic bottle of flammable liquid set on fire, Gallagher said.

A second plastic bottle containing a flammable liquid was set on fire on the sidewalk leading up to the home, Gallagher said.

There was no damage to the residence.

Holmes and Ranshi have not been charged in the previous incidents of vandalism reported by the homeowner.

In March, the resident reported that vandals threw eggs, bacon and condiments at his front door and car Muslims are forbidden to eat bacon.

The resident also reported on Jan. 15 that eggs were thrown against his house and fireworks were set off on his front porch. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

FL: TAMPA LOSES ROLE MODEL - TOP
CLOE CABRERA, Tampa Tribune, 6/28/06
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBDUA24ZOE.html

TAMPA - Carl and Clinton Smalls were teenagers when his uncle, Ali Akbar, hired them to work for him at 4 J's Metal Fabrication in Seminole Heights.

Akbar told the teens to be on the job at 7 a.m.

The two arrived a few minutes late.

"He sent us home," said Smalls, now 36. "He had six jobs in the field, and he still sent us home. He told us, 'Punctuality is very important. When you show up on time it shows responsibility. Let's try this again tomorrow.'"

A community activist who helped found the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association to benefit youngsters living in and around Tampa Heights, Akbar died Sunday of lung cancer. He was 54.

"I haven't been late to work since he sent me home that day," said Smalls, who still works part-time at his uncle's business. "Back then, kids my age were always looking for a role model. I always had a great role model in my uncle. Even the kids that weren't related to him, he always taught them the ingredients of life." (MORE)

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'OATH BETRAYED' QUESTIONS DOCTORS' ROLES IN TORTURE - TOP
Steve Inskeep, NPR, 6/28/06
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5516533

Morning Edition, June 28, 2006 � In the spring of 2004, when Americans were horrified by the pictures of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, medical ethics expert Steven Miles had just one question: Where were the doctors?

Miles, a doctor and medical ethics expert who has treated victims of torture throughout the world, had just one question: Where were the doctors?

To answer that question he poured through records of army criminal investigations, FBI notes on debriefings of prisoners, autopsy reports, and prisoners' medical records.

The result is his new book -- Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity and the War on Terror, in which Miles -- who has treated victims of torture throughout the world -- indicts the medical profession for failing to perform its role as protector. (MORE)

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LOOSELY INTERPRETED ARABIC TERMS CAN PROMOTE ENEMY IDEOLOGY - TOP
Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service, 6/29/06
http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/tester/11_26/national_news/42189-1.html

BAGHDAD - The pen is mightier than the sword, and sometimes in the war of words we unwittingly give the advantage to the enemy.

In dealing with Islamic extremists, the West may be giving them the advantage due to cultural ignorance, maintain Dr. Douglas E. Streusand and Army Lt. Col. Harry D. Tunnell IV. The men work at the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.

The two believe the right words can help fight the global war on terror. "American leaders misuse language to such a degree that they unintentionally wind up promoting the ideology of the groups the United States is fighting," the men wrote in an article titled "Choosing Words Carefully: Language to Help Fight Islamic Terrorism."

A case in point is the term "jihadist." Many leaders use the term jihadist or jihadi as a synonym for Islamic extremist. Jihad has been commonly adapted in English as meaning "holy war." But to Muslims it means much more. In their article, Steusand and Tunnell said in Arabic - the language of the Koran - jihad "literally means striving and generally occurs as part of the expression 'jihad fi sabil illah,' striving in the path of God."

This is a good thing for all Muslims. "Calling our enemies jihadis and their movement a global jihad thus indicates that we recognize their doctrines and actions as being in the path of God and, for Muslims, legitimate," they wrote. By countering jihadis, the West and moderate Muslims are enemies of true Islam.

The men asked Muslim scholars what the correct term for Islamic extremists would be and they came up with "hirabah." This word specifically refers to those engaged in sinful warfare, warfare contrary to Islamic law. "We should describe the Islamic totalitarian movement as the global hirabah, not the global jihad," they wrote. (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

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 6/30/06

* Hadith: A Supply of Every Virtue
            - Verse: The Truly Virtuous
* US Muslim Group Demands Condemnation of Israel (AFP)
* CAIR-San Diego: Islamophobia Has No Place in San Diego
            - CAIR-Chicago Meets with Delegation of Danish Youth
* Minnesotan Hopes to be 1st Muslim Congressman (Chicago Trib)
            - Jesse Jackson to Appear at Ellison Rally (AP)
* VA: Muslims Receive Dietary Help with New Law (Times-Disp)
* Teaching Islamic Studies - Post-9/11 (CS Monitor)
            - Canada: 'Islamophobia' Fears Cited (CP)
* U.S. to Bolster Foes of Islamic Group in Somalia (NY Times)
            - U.S. Troops Accused of Killing Iraq Family (AP)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: A SUPPLY OF EVERY VIRTUE - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended the supplication: "Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe. I ask Thee for words that will guarantee Thy mercy, actions which will make certain Thy forgiveness, a supply of every virtue, and freedom from every offense. Do not leave me a sin that Thou dost not pardon, a care that Thou dost not remove, or a want that meets with Thy pleasure that Thou dost not supply, O Most Merciful of the merciful ones."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 401

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

VERSE OF THE DAY: THE TRULY VIRTUOUS - TOP

"You should know that guardian angels have indeed been appointed to protect you, kind and honorable writing down (your deeds). They know (and understand) all that you do. As for the truly virtuous, they will surely be in bliss (in the life to come)."

The Holy Quran, 82:10-13

To obtain or sponsor a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

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US MUSLIM GROUP DEMANDS STRONGER CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL - TOP
Agence France Presse, 6/29/06
http://www.afp.com/english/home/

A US Islamic civil rights and advocacy group urged world leaders Thursday to be far more critical of Israel following its detention of top Palestinian ministers and Gaza Strip incursions.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's expression of "concern" over the Israeli action too lenient on the Jewish state.

"Again we see Israel carrying out acts of state terror and the international community offering only a mild and indirect response that will be taken as a 'green light' by Israeli officials," CAIR board chairman Parvez Ahmed said in a statement.

Ahmed said such an approach undermined President George W. Bush's efforts to introduce democracy throughout the Middle East.

"America's push for democracy in the Muslim world may be dead in the water unless the Bush administration pressures Israel to release the hostages and end its collective punishment of the Palestinian people." (MORE)

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CAIR-SAN DIEGO: ISLAMOPHOBIA HAS NO PLACE IN SAN DIEGO - TOP
Edgar Hopida, San Diego Daily Transcript, 6/29/06
http://www.sddt.com/Search/article.cfm?SourceCode=20060629tzc

[Edgar Hopida is the director of public relations for the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego). He may be contacted at: ehopida@cair.com]

A recent opinion piece by columnist Larry Stirling ("The Blue Scarf Society," June 27, The Daily Transcript) shows that just as extremist fringe groups can misinterpret the Quran and Islamic law, anti-Muslim polemicists can do so as well. Observations and conclusions that were mentioned in his piece show us that Mr. Stirling is either painfully ignorant about the religion of Islam or is a true Islamophobe. (MORE)

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CAIR-CHICAGO MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF DANISH YOUTH - TOP

(CHICAGO, IL, 6/30/06) - A delegation of eight young leaders from Denmark recently visited CAIR-Chicago's downtown office.

The delegation came to Chicago through the State Department's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). That program, administered by the Meridian International Center, seeks to introduce participants to American community organizations that effectively address local social and educational issues. It also seeks to establish long-term ties between Danish and American community activists to facilitate an on-going dialogue on grassroots activism, cultural pluralism, and political engagement.

"It is important for western Muslim communities in the United States and Europe to share their experiences and learn from each other," said Dina Rehab, Outreach Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago plans to meet with other international delegations this year, including delegations from Kyrgyzstan and India. CAIR-Chicago met with a delegation from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Southern Philippines on June 8th.

CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963, E-Mail: director@cairchicago.org

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MINNESOTAN HOPES TO BE THE 1ST MUSLIM ELECTED TO CONGRESS - TOP
Tim Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6/30/06
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0606300131jun30,1,5656742.story

By his own choosing, Keith Ellison works in the rough, defending accused murderers and gang-bangers and associating with people who would likely not be on the list of invited speakers to, say, the Rotary Club.

A career of controversy has served the 42-year-old Minneapolis defense lawyer and state representative well, but comments he has made and people he has met now loom as potential obstacles in Ellison's bid to move to a much bigger and decidedly more risk-averse stage --as the first Muslim elected to Congress.

Since Ellison, a Detroit native, won the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement for the solidly Democratic 5th Congressional District, he has been forced to explain his relationship with the Nation of Islam and its leader, Louis Farrakhan.

Minneapolis-area blogs have dug up past statements by Ellison, such as his defense in 2000 of Symbionese Liberation Army member Kathleen Soliah, who later pleaded guilty to murder. All of this has put the candidate on the defensive.

The Ellison candidacy comes as Muslim Americans are trying to regain their political footing after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In 2000, about 700 Muslim Americans ran for public office, according to the American Muslim Alliance. That figure plummeted to 70 in 2002 and recovered somewhat in 2004, to 100 candidates. . .

Ellison responded to Jewish concerns in a letter to the Jewish Community Relations Committee of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

"I wrongly dismissed concerns that they [Farrakhan remarks] were anti-Semitic. They were and are anti-Semitic and I should have come to that conclusion earlier than I did," he said in the May 28 letter.

"But at no time did I ever share their hateful views or repeat or approve of their hateful statements directed at Jews, gays or any other group," Ellison said.

Brian Melendez, the chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said he does not expect the controversy to be an issue in the primary, but he does expect Republicans to "hang it around the necks" of Democrats.

"There are people in this world who hear Muslim and think terrorist. They're bigots who wouldn't vote for Ellison anyway," Melendez said.

Ellison complains that the media focus on his now-severed ties to the Nation of Islam and his religion have overshadowed his legislative accomplishments and the heart of his congressional campaign--the immediate pullout of American troops from Iraq.

He characterized the attacks against him as being "swift-boated," in reference to the Vietnam War veterans who opposed Democratic Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

Rep. Frank Hornstein, who sits next to Ellison in the Minnesota House, called him "a very gifted public servant who has a deep concern for social issues." Hornstein, who is Jewish, dismissed Ellison's ties to the Nation of Islam, saying, "I think that people do grow and evolve." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

JESSE JACKSON TO APPEAR AT ELLISON RALLY - TOP
Associated Press, 6/30/06
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/14939424.htm

MINNEAPOLIS - The Reverend Jesse Jackson attends a campaign rally today in north Minneapolis for congressional candidate Keith Ellison.

Ellison won D-F-L endorsement for the Fifth District seat being vacated by longtime D-F-L U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo. But Ellison faces several challengers in the party's September primary. (MORE)

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VA: MUSLIMS RECEIVE DIETARY HELP - TOP
Law requires certification of foods labeled as meeting limits; it begins Saturday
Robin Farmer, Times-Dispatch, 6/29/06
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?s=1045855935235&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188817700&pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&path=!health!healthology

Starting Saturday, Virginia's growing Muslim population can shop with confidence as a new state law makes it a class-3 misdemeanor for businesses to falsely advertise food as halal or kosher.

The law, which could result in a $500 fine for violators, requires vendors to provide certification information or a toll-free number or Web site to access it. (MORE)

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TEACHING ISLAMIC STUDIES - POST-9/11 - TOP
Kristin Zahra Sands, Christian Science Monitor, 6/30/06
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0630/p09s01-coop.html

What is needed in this avalanche of images and soundbites is a greater emphasis on low-tech, unglamorous, and labor-intensive education. Teaching Islamic studies post-9/11, as I have, is much more challenging than in previous years. Although my non-Muslim students freely acknowledge their ignorance of Islam and the Muslim world at the beginning of my classes, they carry with them the baggage of years of media images portraying the "veils and violence" of Islam.

It takes time and patience to avoid apologetics, to avoid Islam bashing, and to demonstrate instead, example by example, the richness and variety of Muslim cultures and peoples, past and present. It takes time to learn foreign languages. It takes time to encourage critical thinking, not only of written texts, but also of visual and multimedia products. It takes time to address the complexities of the relationships between religious, ethnic, and political communities. But it is time wellspent.

Creating an environment conducive to dialogue, debate, and deliberate action requires patience and persistence. It may not be as spectacular as the controversies that periodically grab our attention, but it works, one student at a time.

SEE ALSO:

CANADA: 'ISLAMOPHOBIA' FEARS CITED - TOP
The Ontario Human Rights Commission is concerned by a rise in discrimination.
JENNIFER GRAHAM, CP, 6/30/06
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/06/30/1660793-sun.html

TORONTO -- Smashed mosque windows and workers losing their jobs because of their ethnic background are among the signs that anti-Arab sentiment is on the rise in Ontario, the Ontario Human Rights Commission said yesterday.

Chief commissioner Barbara Hall expressed dismay at an increase in "Islamophobia" in Ontario as she released the commission's annual report at the Ontario legislature.

"We continue to hear . . . from Arab and Muslim communities on increasing incidents of discrimination," Hall said.

"We know from events around the world and . . . at home that tensions between groups can quickly become much bigger problems."

Chief among Hall's concerns was an attack on a Toronto mosque by vandals just two days after police arrested 12 men and five youths earlier this month who were allegedly planning to stage a series of terrorist attacks throughout southern Ontario.

Hall also cited a group of cases in which complainants with dual citizenship from countries other than the United States claimed they were discriminated against by employees at a company that makes defence equipment for several countries, including the U.S. (MORE)

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U.S. SEEKING TO BOLSTER FOES OF ISLAMISTS IN SOMALIA - TOP
MARK MAZZETTI, New York Times, 6/30/06
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/washington/30somalia.html

The Bush administration will work to bolster the police force and other security troops of Somalia's government in exile in the hope of marginalizing the Islamic militias now controlling much of the war-torn country, a senior American official told Congress on Thursday.

Jendayi E. Frazer, the State Department's top Africa official, said the United States had no intention of holding direct talks with the leaders of the Council of the Islamic Courts, which took control of Mogadishu, the capital, earlier this month after prolonged clashes with Somali warlords secretly backed by the C.I.A. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

U.S. TROOPS ACCUSED OF KILLING IRAQ FAMILY - TOP
RYAN LENZ, Associated Press, 6/30/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063000495.html

BEIJI, Iraq (AP) - Five U.S. Army soldiers are being investigated for allegedly raping a young woman, then killing her and three members of her family in Iraq, a U.S. military official told The Associated Press on Friday.

The soldiers also allegedly burned the body of the woman they are accused of raping. (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

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/2/06

* Verse: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
* CAIR: Western Union Blocks Muslim Money Transfers (AP)
* IL: Muslim Family Receives Hate Letter (Daily Southtown)
* CAIR-Chicago Rep to Join Danish Forum on Islam-West Relations
            - CAIR-MI: Alleged Sears Tower Plotters Not Muslim
* GA: Muslim Women are Not Oppressed (Atlanta Journal)
            - CA: Sufi Islamic Conference to be Held
            - IL: 'The Art of Islamic Bookmaking'
* NJ: Senator Apologizes for Dubai 'Devil' Remark (JTA)
* Palestinian Moderates are Israel's Real Enemies (Guardian)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB - TOP

"And call to mind Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, (all of them) endowed with inner strength and vision. Verily, We purified them by means of a thought most pure: the remembrance of the life to come. And, behold, in Our sight they were indeed among the elect, the truly good."

The Holy Quran, 38:45-47

To obtain or sponsor a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

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U.S. RULES FORCE WESTERN UNION TO BLOCK MONEY TRANSFERS BY MUSLIMS - TOP
ANJAN SUNDARAM, Associated Press, 7/2/06
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201850,00.html

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Money transfer agencies like Western Union have delayed or blocked thousands of cash deliveries on suspicion of terrorist connections simply because senders or recipients have names like Mohammed or Ahmed, company officials said.

In one example, an Indian driver here said Western Union prevented him from sending US$120 (euro96) to a friend at home this month because the recipient's name was Mohammed.

"Western Union told me that if I send money to Sahir Mohammed, the money will be blocked because of his name," said 36-year-old Abdul Rahman Maruthayil, who later sent the money through UAE Exchange, a Dubai-based money transfer service.

In a similar case, Pakistani Qadir Khan said Western Union blocked his attempt this month to wire money to his brother, Mohammed, for a cataract operation.

"Every Mohammed is a terrorist now?" Khan asked.

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., an American company based in Colorado, said its clerks simply are following U.S. Treasury Department guidelines that aim to scrutinize cash flows for terrorist links. Most of the flagged transactions are delayed a few hours. Some are blocked entirely.

In many cases, would-be customers like Maruthayil simply find another way to send the funds - often through informal exchanges with less stringent monitoring.

But critics of the program say it is far too broad. The number of people inconvenienced in the Emirates alone, which closely cooperates with U.S. counterterror operations, is thought to be significant. One Western Union clerk said about 300 money transfers from a single Dubai franchise were blocked or delayed each day - none of which ever turned up a terrorist link. . .

At the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, spokesman Corey Saylor said Treasury needs to reform its rules.

"The Treasury program interferes with even the most innocent transactions," Saylor said. "Just because Ahmed is a common name on their list, everyone with that name is suddenly stuck."

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IL: MUSLIM FAMILY RECEIVES ANONYMOUS HATE LETTER - TOP
Jennifer Golz, Daily Southtown, 7/2/06
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/023abn1.htm

Just a month after the Mashni family lost a son, it now must deal with a new kind of grief.

The Tinley Park family on Thursday received an anonymous hate letter in the mail, postmarked Wednesday from the Bedford Park regional post office.

It reads, "Muslims go home to your country. You are not welcome in our community. Is your weekends training for making bombs? How many bomb experts you have living with you? Muslims get out NOW." (MORE)

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CAIR-CHICAGO REP TO JOIN DANISH FORUM ON ISLAM-WEST RELATIONS - TOP

(CHICAGO, IL, 7/2/06) - CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Sultan Muhammad is scheduled to participate in the second "Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow" forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 7 to July 9, along with some 100 other young Muslims from 15 nations to discuss what they can do to improve relations between the West and the Muslim world.

Convening the forum are two U.S. organizations dedicated to bridging the divide between Muslims and the West, the Cordoba Initiative ( www.cordobainitiative.org) and the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA, www.asmasociety.org).

Among the participants are prominent Western Muslim scholars such as Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, author of "What's Right with Islam," Tariq Ramadan, author of "To be a European Muslim," acclaimed Turkish cartoonist Salih Memecan, and Muslim comic Azhar Usman. CAIR-Chicago's Sultan Muhammad will participate in a roundtable conference themed "Media and its Portrayal of Islam."

SEE ALSO:

LOCAL MUSLIMS CONDEMN SEARS TOWER PLOT, NOTE MEN NOT MUSLIM - TOP
Aatif Ali Bokhari, Arab American News, 6/30/06
http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=5676

DETROIT - The Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Michigan) held a press conference here on Friday, June 23, 2006, to condemn an alleged plot to blow up government buildings and the Sears Tower in Chicago and to be sure the media understood that the perpetrators were "not Muslims."

The notion that the individuals caught were Muslims clearly irked Dawud Walid, Executive Director of CAIR-Michigan, as well as other Muslim community leaders, who gathered at the Muslim Center of Detroit.

A press release distributed by CAIR-Michigan at the event stated, "the individuals were not Muslims, and noted, "They are a group that has blended Christianity with Islam as evident from statements that they study the Bible. We ask media outlets not to refer to the individuals as Muslims." (MORE)

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GA: MUSLIM WOMEN ARE NOT OPPRESSED - TOP
UMAIR GAUHAR, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1/06
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_445a7d1943eac1d11010.html

I want to congratulate you on your insight ["Maybe modesty really trumps bare- it-all freedom" by Lorraine V. Murray, June 24, Faith & Values] and thank you for an intelligent reply to the critics of modesty.

I am a practicing Muslim and am very proud of my faith and religious values. My wife is also a practicing Muslim and she wears a head scarf in accordance with our religious teachings. We are not living in Afghanistan under the Taliban, and no one forced her to wear a head scarf. She wears it because she wants to.

I am tired of watching the so called "Middle East experts" go on and on about how "oppressed the women are in Muslim countries because they are ordered to cover up." Maybe it's time for these "experts" to get an expert opinion from those women who are happy and proud to follow the teachings of their faith. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CA: SUFI ISLAMIC CONFERENCE TO BE HELD - TOP
Mystical tradition stresses spiritual enlightenment
Jonathan Jones, Tri-Valley Herald, 7/2/06
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_4005076

FREMONT - Each Sunday evening, Ayyaz Yousaf gets together with roughly 30 to 40 people in Fremont for a spiritual gathering.

Known as a zikr, this weekly session or ritual meditation begins with an opening recitation from the Quran, reading poems and prayers, and group chants in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, followed by a free dinner open to the public.

The gatherings are held by the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center, a group that professes Sufism, the classical tradition of Islamic mysticism focusing on love and spiritual healing. (MORE)

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IL: 'THE ART OF ISLAMIC BOOKMAKING' - TOP

CHICAGO -- Art Institute opens an exhibit, "Work of Many Hands: The Art of Islamic Bookmaking." Runs through Aug. 28. 10 a.m. 111 S. Michigan. Contact: 312-443-3626.

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LAUTENBERG APOLOGIZES FOR DUBAI REMARK - TOP
Jewish Telegraph Agency, 6/30/06
http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=3372

A Jewish senator apologized to an Arab American group for comparing Dubai to the devil.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) was among lawmakers who helped defeat a plan to hand management of six major U.S. ports to a Dubai-owned company. "We wouldn't transfer the title to the devil; we're not going to transfer it to Dubai," Lautenberg said earlier this year. He apologized in a letter to the Arab American Institute after meeting with its representatives.

"I have respect for our Arab American community and want to work to foster a positive relationship," the letter said. "I believe our discussion clearly confirmed that we have a great deal in common regarding our families, our security policies, and our country."

Another Jewish lawmaker, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), compared the proposed sale to dealing with skinheads. He has refused AAI's calls on him to apologize.

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ANYTHING BUT NEGOTIATION - TOP
Palestinian moderates are Israel's real enemies, so it deliberately drives them from the scene
Patrick Seale, The Guardian, 7/3/06
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1811229,00.html

By using vastly disproportionate force against Gaza, Israel has once again demonstrated its contempt for international law and its indifference to human suffering. America's blind support may give Israel immunity in the short term, but the longer-term consequences of such irresponsible behaviour can only be dire. . .

Israel will do everything to avoid a negotiation. Hence, it deliberately inflicts inhumane hardships on the Palestinians in order to radicalise them and drive the moderates from the scene. Moderates, who are prepared to talk, are Israel's real enemies.

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/4/06

* Hadith: All the Earth is a Place of Prayer
* CAIR: Pig's Head Thrown Into ME Mosque During Prayers
            - Paris Mosque Plastered with Racist Graffiti (AP)
            - Russian Mosque Destroyed in Terror Attack
* MA: Interfaith Leaders Try to Mediate Mosque Dispute (Globe)
* Poll: 54% of U.S. Voters Say No to Muslim President (LA Times)
            - US Muslims 'Alienated by Patriot Act' (BBC)
* CA: Sunnis, Shiites Find Common Ground (SF Chron)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: ALL THE EARTH IS A PLACE OF PRAYER - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Wherever you may be at the time of prayer, you may pray (there), because (all the earth) is a mosque."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 67

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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PIG'S HEAD THROWN INTO MAINE MOSQUE DURING PRAYERS - TOP
CAIR calls for stepped up outreach to educate about Islam

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/4/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called for stepped up outreach efforts by the Muslim community in Maine after a severed pig's head was thrown into one of that state's mosques during prayers.

CAIR said the frozen pig's head was rolled into the Lewiston Auburn Islamic Center late Monday as worshipers bowed in prayer. The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the use of pigs or pork products is a favorite theme of Islamophobic bigots who wish to attack or insult Muslims. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork.

A 33-year-old Lewiston man told police on Tuesday that he had thrown the head into the mosque. He was charged with desecration of a church, a misdemeanor, and is out on bail.

SEE: Severed Pig's Head Thrown Into Mosque During Prayer Session (AP)

"All Americans should be able to offer prayers in their houses of worship without fear of attack or intimidation," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We urge Muslims in Maine to increase their outreach efforts to educate people of other faiths about Islam."

Hooper suggested a mosque open house and participation in CAIR's "Explore the Quran" and "Explore the Life of Muhammad" campaigns. He said CAIR's research shows that anti-Muslim prejudice decreases when people get to know ordinary Muslims and when they have access to accurate information about Islam.

Lewiston is home to some 2,500 Somali Muslim refugees. Somalis began moving to the state in 2001 in search of safer streets and cheaper housing. In 2002, the mayor of Lewiston set off a national controversy by asking Somali community leaders to stop the influx.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

SEE ALSO:

PARIS MOSQUE PLASTERED WITH RACIST GRAFFITI, SWASTIKAS - TOP
Associated Press, 7/3/06
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/734168.html

Vandals painted swastikas and anti-Muslim slogans on a mosque in the Parisian suburb of Courcouronnes, a mosque official said Monday.

Abderrahmane Ammari said "extremists" attacked the walls of the mosque early Sunday, covering the exterior walls with slogans including "Islam go home," "France is white" and "We fight against Islam" early Sunday morning. (MORE)

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MOSQUE DESTROYED IN TERROR ATTACK NEAR RUSSIAN CAPITAL - TOP
MosNews, 7/4/06
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/07/04/mosqueblast.shtml

The blast occurred in the town of Yakhroma, northwards from the capital. The building of the mosque was seriously damaged, a senior Muslim cleric told IslamNews news agency. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the explosion. Investigation into the attack has been launched.

A mosque employee told the agency that the blast had entirely destroyed the main entrance, windows were broken. "Judging by the damage inflicted the explosive device was much more powerful than a grenade," he said. (MORE)

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MA: MEDIATING THE MOSQUE DISPUTE - TOP
Charles A. Radin, Boston Globe, 7/4/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/04/mediating_the_mosque_dispute/

A group of prominent Christian and Jewish leaders has begun trying to settle quietly a bitter dispute over construction of a mosque in Roxbury that has deeply strained relations between Muslims and Jews in Greater Boston.

40-member panel of ministers, priests, rabbis, and laymen has talked with both sides in the battle: a Jewish group that accuses the mosque's developers of anti-Semitic views and terrorist sympathies, and the Muslim group building the mosque, which has sued the Jewish group and several of its allies for defamation and conspiracy.

Each side presented its case to the panel and was told that court was not the place to resolve the dispute, according to participants in the reconciliation effort.

The religious leaders fear that the acrimony and public posturing that have accompanied complex legal maneuvers will poison interreligious relations in the wider community and create resentment that will endure even if the disagreements are resolved in the courts. (MORE)

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A MORMON FOR PRESIDENT? VOTERS BALK - TOP
More than twice as many say they'd oppose a Muslim or a Latter-day Saint than a Jew or a Catholic. Mitt Romney could have a problem.
Elizabeth Mehren, Los Angeles Times, 7/3/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mormonpoll3jul03,0,4806405.story

Most traditional barriers to religion in presidential elections have toppled, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found. In particular, the survey released today shows that anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism are fading among voters.

But uneasiness about some religions persists. Thirty-seven percent of those questioned said they would not vote for a Mormon presidential candidate, and 54% said no to the prospect of a Muslim in the White House. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

US MUSLIMS 'ALIENATED BY PATRIOT ACT' - TOP
Jenny Cuffe, 7/4/06
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/file_on_4/5145970.stm

For US citizens, 4 July - Independence Day - is the most patriotic day in the calendar but for Sabri Ben Kahla and many of the country's six million Muslims, the word patriot has taken on a more sinister meaning.

Some US Muslims feel they are being unfairly targeted

The 30-year-old graduate from Falls Church, Virginia, who once aspired to serving his country as a diplomat, has fallen foul of the US Patriot Act, an acronym for Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.

Since 11 September 2001, when more than 3,000 people lost their lives on US soil, the federal government has adopted a raft of new powers which include phone tapping and search without warrants as well as surveillance of bank accounts, internet records and even library lending lists.

Arabs and Muslims believe they are being indiscriminately targeted and suffer from an over-zealous use of the law.

Next week Ben Kahla is due to appear in court on two indictments of perjury before a grand jury.

In 2004, he was acquitted on a charge of training to fight with the Taleban and firing weapons in Afghanistan.

Now he maintains he is being tried a second time in a "vindictive" prosecution . . .

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has seen a steady rise in civil rights abuse cases since 11 September.

It received 1,522 reports of abuse in 2004, and the number of unreported cases is likely to be far higher. (MORE)

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CA: BAY AREA SUNNIS, SHIITES FIND COMMON GROUND - TOP
Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/3/06
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/03/MNGCDJOE0P1.DTL

Oceans away from the sectarian violence in Iraq, the theological differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, though muted, exist in the Bay Area.

The centuries-old divide follows no easy pattern.

On the UC Berkeley campus, for years, some Sunni members of the Muslim Students Association refused to participate in prayers if they were led by a Shiite, also known as Shia. The two factions held separate prayers until the 2004-05 school year -- an uncomfortable incongruence in a faith where praying as one is valued.

Yet Sunnis regularly pray at a largely Iranian Shiite mosque in Oakland. And Shiites pray at the Sunni-led Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara, where there are no prohibitions against a Shiite giving the sermon, the khutbah, though leaders concede they can't remember a time a Shiite actually did.

"There is sectarianism within the Muslim community, despite the fact that in terms of theology, we have more in common than differences," said Maha ElGenaidi, president and chief executive of the Islamic Networks Group, a San Jose nonprofit that "strives to inform the American public about misconceptions and the beliefs of Islam."

With Sunni-Shiite relations in global focus because of the violence in Iraq, Shiite-Sunni unity is a popular theme now in the Bay Area. Muslim youth spearheaded a "Muslim Unity Day" event last year at Great America, and the Islamic Society of San Francisco in the Tenderloin hosted a joint prayer with Shiites last year. But tensions are real. (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

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/5/06

* Verse: None Shall Be Wronged
* CAIR: Muslim Group Decries Desecration of ME Mosque (AP)
* CAIR-Philly: Islamic Foundation's Expansion Fought (Inquirer)
            - CAIR-NY: Former Gitmo Muslim Chaplain to Speak
* CA: Muslim School Reaches Out to Community (LA Times)
* Western News Operations Expand Into Arabic Market (NY Times)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: NONE SHALL BE WRONGED - TOP

"(On the Day of Judgment) the Earth will shine with the glory of its Lord. The record (of everyone's deeds) will be laid bare, the Prophets and other witnesses will be brought forward, and justice shall be done between people with all fairness. None shall be wronged. And every soul will be paid in full according to its deeds."

The Holy Quran, 39:69-70

To obtain or sponsor a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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MUSLIM GROUP DECRIES DESECRATION OF MOSQUE - TOP
Associated Press, 7/5/06
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO22143/

LEWISTON, Maine -- An Islamic civil liberties group is decrying an episode in Lewiston in which a man threw a pig's head into a mosque.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for stepped up outreach by Maine's Muslim community to educate people about their faith to promote greater understanding.

The incident happened Monday night at the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center. Police arrested 33-year-old Brent Matthews of Lewiston, who told police it was a "joke." He's charged with the misdemeanor crime of desecrating a church. . .

Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says outreach is important. He says anti-Islam prejudice decreases when people get to know ordinary Muslims.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR-PHILLY: NEIGHBORS FIGHT ISLAMIC FOUNDATION'S EXPANSION - TOP
Jeff Price, Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/5/06
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/14969266.htm

Like good fences, good covenants make good neighbors.

Broken covenants - well, they can sow anger and mistrust.

When the Foundation for Islamic Education took over a 23-acre college campus in Villanova in 1994, Muslim leaders overcame neighborhood opposition by agreeing to abide by an array of restrictions, including limits on traffic, permanent residents, religious retreats and noise.

Now, as the foundation seeks zoning permission to expand operations after 12 years of growth, it has had to admit it violated not only those covenants but also the original 1994 zoning order.

Foundation leaders are pledging to be better neighbors from here on, but residents are proving a tougher sell this time.

The Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board took up the expansion proposal in November. After a second hearing in May, James Greenfield, attorney for 26 neighborhood families, asked the board to reject the zoning application, saying: "The foundation clearly will not police itself and has no qualms about expanding its use without regard for governmental regulation. The board must, therefore, regard this institution as a threat to the surrounding community." . . .

Adeeba al-Zaman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Philadelphia office said foundation officials had been "very open with their neighbors." They have held open houses during Ramadan, she said. "They are very warm and welcoming."

Although the neighborhood, according to residents, is roughly 50 percent Jewish, no one cited religion as an issue.

"It has very little to do with the fact it is an Islamic institution," said Township Commissioner Phil Rosenzweig, who has been heavily involved in working to bring both groups together. "It could be a church, a synagogue, a mosque, a day camp, any institution. It's about following the rules and being a good neighbor." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-NY: FORMER GITMO MUSLIM CHAPLAIN TO SPEAK - TOP

July 5, Noon - Former Guantanamo Bay Muslim chaplain James Yee speaks about prison conditions and the Department of Defense investigation into his 2003 arrest; Council on American Islamic Relations-NY office, 475 Riverside Drive.

Contact: Wayne Lum, 347-400-1656; Nadia Mohammad, 212-870-2002.

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CA: MUSLIM SCHOOL REACHES OUT TO ITS COMMUNITY - TOP
Hemmy So, Los Angeles Times, 7/5/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newhorizon5jul05,1,5099382.story

In the wake of 9/11, New Horizon School in Pasadena has faced tough challenges in asserting itself as a progressive Muslim campus.

Enrollment numbers dropped. Parents, teachers and students were regarded with suspicion. And right-wing commentators bashed the school's pledge of allegiance, which begins:

"As an American Muslim, I pledge allegiance to God and His prophet. I respect and love my family and my community, and I dedicate my life to serving the cause of truth and justice."

But rather than revert to isolation, the school has aggressively sought to shape its image through high academic performance and community outreach. (MORE)

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WESTERN NEWS OPERATIONS EXPAND INTO ARABIC MARKET - TOP
DOREEN CARVAJAL, New York Times, 7/5/06
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/business/worldbusiness/05arabic.html

PARIS - A media competition for minds and market share in the Middle East is evolving as a crowd of Western news organizations prepares to deliver headlines - and geopolitical views - in the language of the Koran.

Backed by government financing, Germany's public international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, is poised to beam as much as 24 hours of daily news programming in Arabic this autumn. France's yet-to-be-named CNN-style channel is in development for a year-end opening, along with a Web site in Arabic and later in 2007 an Arabic television version. And the state-owned Russia Today has similar plans for an Arabic Web site and television presence.

From the United States, CNN is watching the development of its Arabic Web site, which attracts more than 300,000 unique visitors monthly, before it decides whether to pursue television plans.

"I'm losing track," said Jerry Timmins, head of the BBC World Service's operations in Africa and the Middle East. "There's pretty much of an announcement a week." (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/6/06

* Verse: A Reward Without Measure
            - Action: Become a CAIR Member/Donate to CAIR
* CAIR Participates in Dialogue on Migration in Italy
* CAIR-OH Offers 'Know Your Rights' Workshop
            - OH: Muslim, Arab-American Groups Deserve Credit
* CAIR-AZ Media Director Profiled by Newspaper (AZ Rep)
            - CAIR-Houston Meets with Palestinian Ambassador
            - CAIR-NY: Yee Calls for Closure of Gitmo Prison
            - CAIR-San Diego: Interfaith Service at Immigration Hearing
* CAIR: ME Muslims Urge Respect After Hate Crime (Press Herald)
            - Editorial: Bigotry on Display in Mosque Incident
            - Video: Mosque Attack (WGME-TV)
* CAIR: Talk Show Host to Record Marine's Song (AP)
* NY: Muslim Women to Convene (Post-Standard)
* The War Over Israel's Influence (Foreign Policy)
            - U.S. Seen Backing Israeli Moves (Forward)
            - U.N. Rights Council: Israel Breaking Humanitarian Law
* More Victims Found as Srebrenica Anniversary Looms (Reuters)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: A REWARD WITHOUT MEASURE - TOP

"Ultimate good awaits those who persevere in doing good in this world. And (remember,) God's earth is spacious. Those who are patient in adversity will be given a reward without measure."

The Holy Quran, 39:10

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks God if good comes to him, and praises God and shows endurance (in times of hardship). The believer is rewarded for (every good action), even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 537

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

SEE ALSO:

BECOME A CAIR MEMBER/DONATE TO CAIR - TOP

Become a CAIR Member
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp

Donate to CAIR
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp

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CAIR REP PARTICIPATES IN DIALOGUE ON MIGRATION IN ITALY - TOP

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/6/2006) A representative of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) recently took part in a week-long symposium on migration issues at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Study and Conference Center at Lake Como, Italy.

At the symposium, co-sponsored by the German Marshall Fund (GMF) and Rockefeller Foundation, CAIR National Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar took part in a panel discussion on "Law Enforcement and Community Relations."

Speakers at the event included representatives of the European Union, Georgetown University, the United Nations and other international leaders, academics and intellectuals.

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CAIR-OH OFFERS 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP - TOP

(COLUMBUS, OH, 7/6/06) - The Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) recently offered a "Know Your Rights" workshop at the Cooke Road Masjid in Columbus, Ohio. Some 60 members of the local community attended the presentation offered by CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Coordinator Romin Iqbal.

The event was a part of the ongoing series of presentations by CAIR-Ohio to educate the Muslim community on issues related to civil rights, such as religious discrimination in employment, housing and schools. It also dealt with the rights of individuals when interacting with law enforcement authorities.

CONTACT: Romin Iqbal, 614-451-3232, E-Mail: office@cair-ohio.com

SEE ALSO:

ARABS DESERVE CREDIT FOR HELP WITH ARRESTS - TOP
Columbus Dispatch, 7/6/06
http://dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/06/20060706-A18-03.html

As I sat watching the "Miami Seven" alleged terrorist-cell arrest unfold on national television, I held my breath and hoped and prayed that they were not Middle Eastern.

I thanked God when I learned that the seven suspected terrorists were neither Muslims nor Arabs. This group never worshiped in an Islamic mosque, and there is no affiliation whatsoever between them and any Muslim or Arab group. In fact, the seven were a bunch of losers with only gangster affiliations.

Sources in Miami confirmed that it was with the help of an Arab-speaking contact in Miami, who presented himself as an al-Qaida operative, that these would-be terrorists were arrested. The man was actually cooperating with the authorities.

Why doesn't our government and the media spell it out? Simply state the obvious: It was a Muslim or an Arab who infiltrated the Miami Seven terror cell to protect our homeland security. America's Arab and Muslim communities are always questioned for their reaction only when violent or tragic events take place here and abroad, thereby equating them in people's minds with violence, instead of positive contributions. . .

Regardless of whether America's Arab and Muslim communities are recognized for their contributions or not, our government, news media and the public should take more seriously the efforts of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Arab American Institute and the Arab American Anti-Discrimination committee in this area.

CAIR National Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed said it best the day after the Miami arrest: "The American Muslim community stands with local and national law-enforcement bodies in seeking to keep our nation safe and secure."

MAHMOUD EL-YOUSSEPH, Westerville

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CAIR-AZ MEDIA DIRECTOR PROFILED BY NEWSPAPER - TOP

NURE ELATARI, 25, SCOTTSDALE
Angela Cara Pancrazio, Arizona Republic, 7/3/06
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0703a-fourth0703intro.html

In high school, with her olive skin and dark hair and eyes, her classmates assumed she was Greek or Italian. It didn't matter to her that nobody knew her Arab background or about her Muslim faith.

"I liked it that way," Elatari, 25, said. "I really was different from my classmates, and I felt it.". . .

After high school, Elatari started wearing a head scarf, or hijab.

Her mother was frightened for her daughter. She wanted her to quit school and take off her hijab.

"Instead, the American part of me stepped forward, that pride and strength really stepped forth," Elatari said.

When she spoke, she sounded American. Wearing the hijab, she was a visual Muslim, and when anyone asked her where her family was from, in spite of all the conflict in the Middle East, she answered, "Palestine." (MORE)

Nure Elatari, 25, Scottsdale
Program and media director.
Council on American Islamic Relations -- Arizona.
Father: Taysir Elatari. Hometown: Ramallah, Palestine.
Mother: Fahimeh Elatari. Hometown: Ramallah, Palestine.

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-HOUSTON MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR - TOP

(HOUSTON, TX, 7/6/06) - CAIR-Houston recently hosted a community meeting with Ambassador Afif Safieh, the head of the Palestinian mission in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Safieh presented a comprehensive analysis of the state of affairs in Palestine. It was decided that there is a need for better communication with the American Muslim community and that there would be further meetings to effective communication channels.

CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Communications Director Adeel Zeb, 713.828.2247

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CAIR-NY: YEE CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF GITMO PRISON - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 7/6/06) � Former U.S. Army Chaplain James Yee yesterday called on administration officials to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison. His announcement, mad at a press conference at the office of the New York chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), comes after the recent landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on military tribunals.

Yee stated: "Last Thursday's landmark Supreme Court decision clarified to us all that President Bush clearly overstepped his executive authority in attempting to try prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in a manner that did not meet the necessary standards of the Geneva Conventions or even U.S. military law."

"In light of the of the recent Supreme Court decision, the necessity to close the prison at Guantanamo is becoming more apparent," said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Nadia Mohammad.

Chaplain Yee also announced that he has been contacted by the Department of Defense Inspector General's office with an opportunity to provide his own input to the IG for consideration in the ongoing investigation. He submitted eighteen pages of relevant information, in addition to about 100 pages of supporting documents. He believes that this opportunity is an indication that the DoD IG investigation into the mishandling of his case is near completion.

James Yee served as the Army Muslim Chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 2002 to 2003. He has written a book, "For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire" chronicling his experience working at Guantanamo Bay.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 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.

For more information, contact:

Nadia Mohammad, 212-870-2002
Wayne Lum, Representative, James Yee Ad Hoc Committee: 347-400-1656

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CAIR-SAN DIEGO: INTERFAITH SERVICE OUTSIDE IMMIGRATION HEARING - TOP

(SAN DIEGO, CA, 7/6/06) - Faith leaders and advocates from San Diego and other Southern California cities conducted an interfaith service in front of the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station in response to a closed-door House Immigration Hearing.

The sub-committee conducting the hearings invited groups such as the Friends of the Border Patrol, an organization known for its border vigilantism. The San Diego chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego), Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (ICWJ), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) were among the faith and advocacy groups who participated in the multi-faith prayer service.

CONTACT: Edgar Hopida, 858-278-4547, E-Mail: ehopida@cair.com

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ME: MUSLIMS URGE RESPECT FOR RELIGION AFTER HATE CRIME - TOP
JUSTIN ELLIS, Portland Press Herald, 7/6/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060706lewiston.shtml

LEWISTON - The arrest of a man suspected of tossing a pig's head into a mosque has local and national Muslim leaders calling for a greater understanding of the Islamic faith. One day after police arrested Brent Matthews, 33, of Lewiston on a misdemeanor charge of desecrating a church, the Council on American-Islamic Relations decried the act as a hate crime.

Local Muslims said they are grateful police quickly apprehended a suspect, and hope the episode was an isolated incident.

"We are trying to tell (people) not to worry," said Imam Nuh, who leads prayers at the Islamic center. "But this is not good for the Muslim religion."

Nuh said he has been receiving calls of support from Muslims around the country. He said followers must not be provoked by others and need to show that Islam is a faith rooted in peace.

About 40 men were bowed in prayer when the frozen pig's head was rolled into the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center Monday night. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork because pigs are considered unclean.

Matthews, who was arrested Tuesday and released on bail, told police he did it as a "joke," authorities said.

"All Americans should be able to offer prayers in their houses of worship without fear of attack or intimidation," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on America-Islamic Relations.

The group said the use of pigs or pork products has become a common means for attacking Muslims.

In his statement, Hooper urged "Muslims in Maine to increase their outreach efforts to educate people of other faiths about Islam."

Muslims at the Islamic Center Wednesday said the act was intended to offend. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

BIGOTRY ON DISPLAY IN LEWISTON MOSQUE INCIDENT - TOP
Portland Press Herald, 7/6/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/editorials/060706pig.shtml

Painting a swastika on a synagogue door.

Defiling a cross in a church sanctuary.

Those are rough equivalents for the offense that took place Monday when a Lewiston man desecrated an Islamic house of worship.

Police say Brent Matthews admitted he rolled a frozen pig's head through the open door of the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center into a group of 40 Muslim men as they bowed in prayer.

The 33-year old immediately fled the scene, as might be expected. He later confessed, telling police he "thought it was funny; it was going to be a big joke."

Where does one begin to confront such distorted thinking? (MORE)

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VIDEO: MOSQUE ATTACK - TOP
http://www.wgme.com/NewsWeather/story_9.shtml

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CAIR: TALK SHOW HOST TO RECORD MARINE'S SONG - TOP
Mike Baker, Associated Press, 7/6/06
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/APE/607060501

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A radio talk show host will record and release a song a Marine corporal wrote about killing members of an Iraqi family, a spokesman for the show said Wednesday.

The song's author, Cpl. Joshua Belile, will not sing in the studio recording of "Hadji Girl," but he may receive royalties if "The Mike Church Show" charges for downloads. Church, the conservative host, will sing and release the song on the air next week, executive producer James Parker said Wednesday.

"We originally wanted Josh to sing the song, but the Marines are kind of gagging him on it," Parker said.

Officials at Camp Lejeune, which is adjacent to the Marine's air station, did not immediately return calls Wednesday, nor did Belile. Belile has said he wants the song publicly released on Church's program.

"Hadji Girl" first surfaced in a four-minute video circulated on the Internet. In the clip, Belile sings about a Marine who falls in love with an Iraqi woman and is then attacked by members of her family. The Marine, in turn, kills the family members.

The song prompted an outcry from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which brought the video to the Pentagon's attention. Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said the song was insensitive and glamorized the killing of Iraqi civilians.

"It's unfortunate that anyone would try and exploit this situation for personal gain," Hooper said Wednesday. "We had hoped the song had been put to rest by the military's decision." (MORE)

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NY: MUSLIM WOMEN TO CONVENE - TOP
Ren�e K. Gadoua, Post-Standard, 7/6/06
http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1152176206266900.xml&coll=1

When Imam W. Deen Mohammed visits Syracuse this weekend, Amatullah Yamini plans to show off a project supported by a group of Muslim women.

Yamini's store, Salina Shoe Salon at 2809 S. Salina St., stands in the four square blocks she and others hope to revitalize, creating an area they call New Africa of Syracuse.

The philosophy of the project is at the heart of the International League of Muslim Women Inc., says Yamini, president of the local chapter, which is hosting a three-day conference in Syracuse for the organization, beginning Friday.

"No matter where Muslims are, there's a community, Muslims looking out for one another," Yamini said.

Muslims have bought several properties in the neighborhood, which Yamini and others envision as including an Islamic center, shops and housing. (MORE)

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THE WAR OVER ISRAEL'S INFLUENCE - TOP
Foreign Policy, July/August 2006
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3501

Political scientists John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt sparked a firestorm when they raised questions about the power the Israel lobby wields over U.S. foreign policy. Now, in an exclusive FP Roundtable, they face off with four distinguished experts of the Middle East over whether the influence of the Israel lobby is ordinary or extraordinary.

SEE ALSO:

U.S. SEEN BACKING ISRAELI MOVES TO TOPPLE HAMAS - TOP
By Ori Nir, Forward, 7/7/06
http://forward.com/articles/8063

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration appears to have dropped any objections to Israeli efforts to topple the Palestinian Authority's democratically elected Hamas government.

Israel's security Cabinet on Wednesday authorized the Israeli military to broaden its actions in Gaza and further target Hamas, the terrorist organization that won January's Palestinian elections and has claimed responsibility for the abduction of Israeli army Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Since Israel started moving forces into Gaza in response to Shalit's abduction last week, the Bush administration has urged Jerusalem to spare civilians and to provide for their humanitarian needs. Administration officials have also insisted that no harm come to P.A. President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, who they view as a dependable alternative to Hamas.

But in sharp contrast to previous communications, the White House did not advise Olmert's government against taking steps that would lead to the fall of the Hamas government. American officials did not attempt to intervene when Israel carried out mass arrests of Palestinian elected officials affiliated with Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel or to abandon terrorism. And they also did not appear to object to Israel's bombing of the Gaza offices of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and the P.A. Interior Ministry. (MORE)

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U.N. RIGHTS COUNCIL DEPLORES ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST PALESTINIANS - TOP
ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press, 7/6/06

GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday deplored Israel's military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as breaching international humanitarian law and voted to send an urgent fact-finding mission to the region.

By a vote of 29-11 with five abstentions, the council approved the resolution proposed by the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference after it was amended to suggest the Palestinians also had a responsibility to refrain from violence against civilians. . .

The resolution received considerable support from the non-Muslim members of the council, including India, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Cuba, the Philippines and Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Zambia, but a number of them said they thought the Palestinians should have been called to account as well.

Canada and European countries opposed it. Neither the United States nor Israel are members.

The resolution expressed "deep concern" over the "arbitrary arrest of Palestinian (Cabinet) ministers, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and other officials as well as the arbitrary arrests of other civilians" and military attacks.

It said the council "decides to dispatch an urgent fact-finding mission" headed by John Dugard, a U.N. expert who visited the Palestinian territories last month. (MORE)

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MORE VICTIMS FOUND AS SREBRENICA ANNIVERSARY LOOMS - TOP
Reuters, 7/6/06
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-06T171529Z_01_L06919115_RTRUKOC_0_US-BOSNIA-GRAVE.xml

KAMENICA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Forensic experts said on Thursday they had unearthed the remains of 268 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, days before its 11th anniversary.

About 500 newly-identified victims of the Srebrenica slaughter, widely seen as Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two, will be buried on July 11 at a cemetery near the eastern town, where 2,000 victims have already been buried.

New victims are being unearthed at the Jaz mass grave, to where bodies were transferred from the site of the massacre to try to hide traces of the crime, the experts say. (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/7/06

* Hadith: Every Act of Kindness is Rewarded
            - Become a CAIR Member/Donate to CAIR
* DC: CAIR Hosts Delegation of Nigerian Muslims
* CAIR: U.S. Muslims Heeding Call to Volunteerism (McClatchy)
            - CAIR-San Diego Conducts Food Drive for Homeless
* Apply Now for CAIR-CA Youth Leadership Conference
* CAIR-NY Co-Sponsors Community Meeting with FBI, ICE
            - OH: Hate Crime Suspected in Fire, Explosion (WCPO)
            - ME: Feds Probe Incident of Pig's Head in Mosque (AP)
            - PA: Muslims Upset Over North Side FBI Raid (Post-Gaz)
* CAIR: Guilt-By-Name Discrimination (American Public Media)
* Europe: Poll Shows Bright View of Muslim Integration (NYT)
* Algerian Tells of Dark Odyssey in U.S. Hands (NY Times)
            - '15 Afghan Civilians Killed in US Strike'

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HADITH OF THE DAY: EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS IS REWARDED - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When you smile at your brother, or enjoin what is reputable, or forbid what is objectionable, or direct someone who has lost his way, or help a man who has bad eyesight, or remove (obstacles) from the road, or (give your brother water), (you will be rewarded by God for an act of) charity."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 594

The Prophet also said: "Every act of kindness is (a form of) charity, and kindness includes meeting your brother with a cheerful face."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 593

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

SEE ALSO:

BECOME A CAIR MEMBER/DONATE TO CAIR - TOP

Become a CAIR Member
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp

Donate to CAIR
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp

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CAIR HOSTS DELEGATION OF NIGERIAN MUSLIMS - TOP

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/7/06) - On Thursday evening, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosted a delegation of Nigerian Muslims at the group's Capitol Hill headquarters. The delegation was headed by Nigerian presidential candidate Alhaji Ahmad Sani (Yariman Bakura), who is executive governor of that nation's Zamfara State.

During the event, leaders and members of the Washington-area Muslim community had an opportunity to ask questions about the current social, religious and political conditions in Nigeria.

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CAIR: AMERICAN MUSLIMS HEEDING THE CALL TO VOLUNTEER - TOP
Sadia Latifi, McClatchy Newspapers, 7/6/06
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14980653.htm

WASHINGTON - More Muslims are volunteering this summer - and not just for traditional Muslim charities.

They're responding to a national Islamic group's appeal to get more involved in community social services and thereby turn back anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

"You can talk about the beauty of Islam until the end of time, but if you're not doing something tangible, then people will always say, `Where are the Muslims?'" explained Dian Alyan, an outreach coordinator for the Muslim Community Association in the San Francisco Bay area. "We need to change the rules of the game ... to concrete action."

To that end, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading advocacy group, recently launched a three-month nationwide initiative called Muslims Care, which focuses on community health awareness, helping the needy and youth services. Like many people of other faiths, Muslims have focused charitable efforts largely on their own faith communities.

"We want to encourage them to go to beyond their mosques and their comfort levels and truly practice the religion," said Rabiah Ahmed, CAIR communications coordinator. "It also helps with the image issue. We find that Americans tend to change their attitude when they see Muslims engaged in service work and not just foreign policy."

In Sacramento, Calif., CAIR organized four visits to homeless shelters this month to provide food and supplies. In Orlando, Fla., volunteers are hosting a community-wide picnic. In Columbus, Ohio, Muslims are coordinating a school supplies drive for underprivileged children. In Cincinnati, they're hosting a public health fair that includes physician counseling and screenings for cholesterol and high blood pressure.

"We have a lot of doctors in our community, so in terms of providing a much needed service, it's something we need to be doing," CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub said.

Charity is integral to the Islamic faith, one of the five pillars that all Muslims must live by. (MORE)

For more information, visit www.muslims-care.org

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-SAN DIEGO CONDUCTS FOOD DRIVE FOR HOMELESS - TOP

(SAN DIEGO, CA, 7/6/06) - The San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego) has initiated a food drive for the homeless as a collaborative effort involving local mosques and Islamic centers.

The food drive takes place during "Helping the Needy" month, a part of CAIR's nationwide "Muslims Care" campaign. In this summer-long initiative, each month has a designated theme as a way of encouraging Muslim communities across the United States to reach out to their neighbors and make a positive contribution to society.

The proceeds of the food drive will go to Community Christian Services Agency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the homeless and impoverished in San Diego.

CONTACT: Edgar Hopida, Director of Public Relations CAIR San Diego, 858-278-4547, E-Mail: ehopida@cair.com

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APPLY NOW FOR CAIR-CA ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - TOP

(SANTA CLARA, CA, 7/7/06) - On August 17-20, the California chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) will host the 2nd Annual Muslim Youth Leadership and Empowerment Conference in Sacramento. The annual conference is intended to give Muslim youth the opportunity to meet and interact with state legislators, elected officials, key legislative staff, and community activists. It is also designed to teach leadership skills and promote community and political activism.

The highlight of the conference is a mock legislative session at the State Capitol. Conference participants will serve as State Senators while they debate public policy issues and prepare bills for the mock legislature on the floor of the State Senate.

Applications are available at: http://www.cair-mylp.com

The deadline to apply has been extended to July 19, 2006. There are 30 scholarships available to high school delegates.

WHEN: August 17-20, 2006

WHERE: State Capitol, Sacramento, California. Food, housing and travel to and from Sacramento will be accommodated by the CAIR-CA MYLP fund. Scholarship winners will reside in a local Sacramento hotel.

CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA: Sameena Usman, 408-986-9874, E-Mail: Sameenau@cair.com

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CAIR-NY CO-SPONSORS COMMUNITY MEETING WITH FBI, ICE - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 7/7/06) - CAIR-NY recently co-sponsored, along with the Islamic Center of Long Island, a meeting between some 50 Muslim leaders and Imams from Long Island and representatives of the FBI and ICE.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of a number of local mosques, the chaplain of Stony Brook University and members of the Muslim advisory board to Suffolk County executives.

A follow-up town hall meeting is being planned.

SEE ALSO:

OH: INJURY FIRE AT WEST CHESTER BUSINESS WAS ARSON, HATE CRIME SUSPECTED - TOP
Jay Warren/Becky Freemal, WCPO-TV, 7/7/06
http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/07/06/fire.html

An explosion and fire at a West Chester business that injured three people Thursday night was intentionally set, police told 9News Friday morning.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the arson was a hate crime, because the business is owned by a Jordanian family.

Thursday night's act is the fourth act of vandalism at Steak Thyme Subs on Princeton-Glendale Road in the past month. (MORE)

CONTACT: CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, 513-604-4444

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ME: FEDS INVESTIGATING INCIDENT OF PIG'S HEAD IN MOSQUE - TOP
Associated Press, 7/7/06
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/special/7_07special1.htm

LEWISTON, Maine - The FBI is reviewing the case of a Lewiston man accused of tossing a frozen pig's head into a mosque.

FBI agents have been conferring with police to determine whether federal hate-crime laws were violated, said police Lt. Michael McGonagle.

Brent Matthews, 33, was charged with desecration of a place of worship, a misdemeanor, after the incident during Monday evening prayers at the mosque.

Matthews could be more trouble if the state decides to prosecute him under Maine's civil rights statute. If found guilty, he could be fined $5,000 and ordered to stay away from the mosque and the city's Muslim community. . .

The incident has inflamed the city's Muslim community. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations calls the act an insult to Muslims.

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PA: MUSLIMS UPSET OVER NORTH SIDE FBI RAID - TOP
Torsten Ove and Moustafa Ayad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/7/06
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06188/704028-53.stm

The FBI caused a stir on the North Side last week when heavily armed agents sealed off streets and raided the Light of the Age mosque at Boyle and Hemlock streets.

Although the case appears to be no more than a routine federal gun prosecution out of Utah, local Muslims say the raid caused a major disruption at a house of worship. (MORE)

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CAIR: GUILT-BY-NAME DISCRIMINATION - TOP
American Public Media, 7/6/06
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/07/06/PM200607063.html

Thousands of cash transfers are being delayed or blocked by companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram - so that Muslim-sounding names can be checked for possible terror links on a government watch list. Bob Moon reports.

Western Union says it does matches based on both first and last names, and Millerwise says it's common sense not to screen for just anyone who happens to be named Mohammed. But at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Arsalan Iftikhar says the list has brought on some of the worst discrimination since World War II:

ARSALAN IFTIKHAR: Japanese Americans, based solely on their name and their ethnicity, you know, unfortunately were presumed guilty until proven innocent. And, unfortunately, what we're seeing today with American Muslims and Arabs is unfortunately that same sort of thing, which we view as the next chapter in the civil rights history of America.

For now, he says, the only recourse seems to be complaining to the Treasury Department.

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POLL SHOWS BRIGHT VIEW OF MUSLIM INTEGRATION - TOP
DAVID RAMPE, New York Times, 7/7/06
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/world/07pew.html

PARIS, July 6 - One year after bombings by Islamic militants in London set off intensive soul-searching across Europe about Muslim integration, a new survey has turned up surprisingly positive attitudes, both among European Muslims toward Europe and among society in general toward Muslims.

The poll, carried out by the Pew Global Attitudes Project this spring in 13 countries, with additional samples of Muslims living in Britain, Germany, France and Spain, indicated that "Muslims are generally positive about conditions" in their countries of residence. (MORE)

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ALGERIAN TELLS OF DARK ODYSSEY IN U.S. HANDS - TOP
Craig S. Smith and Souad Mekhennet, New York Times, 7/7/06
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/world/africa/07algeria.html

Mr. Saidi is one of a handful of men to publicly claim they were seized in the rendition program and then mistreated or tortured, before being released without charge or explanation. Like prisoners released from the American military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, they represent not only a mounting political problem, but a potential legal problem for the United States and its allies that have participated in the extrajudicial abductions. . .

After being held for a week in a prison in the mountains of Malawi, Mr. Saidi said, a group of people arrived in a sport utility vehicle: a gray-haired Caucasian woman and five men dressed in black wearing black masks revealing only their eyes.

The Malawians blindfolded him, and his clothes were cut away, he said. He heard someone taking photographs. Then, he said, the blindfold was removed and the agents covered his eyes with cotton and tape, inserted a plug in his anus and put a disposable diaper on him before dressing him. He said they covered his ears, shackled his hands and feet and drove him to an airplane where they put him on the floor. . .

Men in black arrived, he said, and he remembers one shouting at him through an interpreter: "You are in a place that is out of the world. No one knows where you are, no one is going to defend you." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

'15 AFGHAN CIVILIANS KILLED IN US STRIKE' - TOP
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=1838

PESHAWAR: US-led coalition forces killed Afghan civilians in an air strike on a village in the Kajaki district of the Helmand province on Wednesday. Members of the affected families and witnesses told the private Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that 15 civilians, including women and children, perished in the bombing by coalition aircraft. Earlier, the coalition forces had claimed that 35 Taliban fighters were killed in the air strike on a "known Taliban compound" in Helmand during the night of July 5-6. It had ruled out the possibility of civilians getting killed in the raid. However, villagers in the area said at least 11 and up to 15 civilians were killed when coalition planes bombed two homes in the Ghech Zar village in the Kajaki district. Village elder Haji Habibullah told AIP that Imam Abdul Hakim, his 50-year-old brother, Abdul Karim, six children and four women died in the bombing. According to Haji Habibullah, five members of the family of Abdul Ali, nephew of clergyman Abdul Hakim, were killed in the bombing of the second home in the village.

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/7/06) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on local and national law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism at an Indiana mosque as a possible hate crime.

Officials with the Islamic Center of Michigan City (ICMC) told the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that vandals shot holes in the copper dome of the mosque, smashed a number of windows and scratched "KKK" on the center's sign. The vandalism was discovered on Sunday, July 2. ("KKK" refers to the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group with a history of violence directed at racial and religious minorities.)

A representative of the Porter County Sheriff's Department said the initial police report did note the broken windows and other damage, but mentioned only "scratches" on the sign. An officer will be sent to the mosque to confirm the racist graffiti.

ICMC officials say their facility is the "first chartered Islamic center in the United States." It was established in May of 1924 and serves some 150 families.

"Given the type of vandalism reported and the growing level of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, it is only prudent to investigate a possible bias motive in this case," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper called on the FBI to add its resources to those of local law enforcement authorities. He also said there have been a number of similar incidents targeting the American Muslim community in recent months.

Just this week, a man was charged for throwing a pig's head into a mosque in Maine during evening prayers. Today, media reports indicate that investigators in Ohio are looking into the possibility that an arson fire and explosion at a business owned by a family of Middle East heritage was a hate crime. Last month, a hate message attacking the Prophet Muhammad and claiming "Muslims Worship Satan" was left near an Arizona mosque. In April, shots were fired into a Maryland mosque.

SEE: Feds Investigating Incident of Pig's Head in Mosque (AP)
SEE: Injury Fire Was Arson, Hate Crime Suspected (WCPO-TV)

Hooper said his Washington-based group is urging Muslim individuals and institutions nationwide to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit." (The 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 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org; CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963, E-Mail: director@cairchicago.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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/8/06

* Hadith: No Hatred in Paradise
* CAIR-FL: Jeb Bush Ally Slams Islam (Miami Herald)
* IN: Mosque Vandalism a 'Systematic Hate Crime' (NWI Times)
            - CAIR: U.S. Islamic Group Hopes Education Counters Hate
            - ME: Motive in Mosque Incident Probed (Press Herald)
            - PA: Mosque Members Denounce FBI Raid as Desecration
* Another Swipe at Islam in 'B.C.' Comic? (Editor & Publisher)
            - Airport Evacuated Because of Quran (Irish Examiner)
* Neo-Nazi Sympathizers Slip Into U.S. Military (Reuters)
* NC: Muslims, Christians, Jews Protest Israel's Policies
            - MI: Muslims Plan Giant Sports Event (Flint Journal)
            - CO: Some Latinos Converting to Islam (Greeley Tribune)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: NO HATRED IN PARADISE - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(The people of Paradise) will not have differences or hatred amongst themselves. Their hearts will be as if one heart and they will be glorifying God in the morning and in the evening."

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR-FL: JEB BUSH ALLY SLAMS ISLAM - TOP
Darran Simon, Miami Herald, 7/8/06
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/14992571.htm

The Rev. O'Neal Dozier, a Broward clergyman who has advised President Bush and is a political appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush, took to the air waves Friday to criticize Islam as a "cult" religion.

The radio appearance by Dozier, who serves on the governor's committee that screens Broward judicial nominees, startled a local Muslim leader, and prompted the governor to immediately distance himself from the statements.

Reached later in the day by The Miami Herald, a contrite Dozier said he was "concerned" his comments could jeopardize his position on Broward's Judicial Nominating Commission. But he did not disavow those comments.

"The Islamic religion in my view is a cult," Dozier said Friday, when asked to recap the controversial comments he made earlier on The Steve Kane Radio Show on WNN-AM 1470. "On the show I said that Islam is a dangerous religion."

Dozier was on the program to address efforts by him and other black ministers to block a plan by the Islamic Center of South Florida to build a center in Northwest Pompano Beach. . .

The black ministers' stance in opposition to the mosque has surprised some experts on Islam.

"For the first time, you are seeing a group of black pastors following the white fundamentalist leaders of our country," said Lawrence Mamiya, an activist and professor of religion and Africana studies at New York's Vassar College.

Traditionally, blacks and Muslims in America have forged a healthy, harmonious relationship -- in part because their leaders tackle the same issues affecting their neighborhoods -- drugs, crime, racism and other social ills, Mamiya said. . .

Asked on Friday to respond to Dozier's comments, Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, said he has tried unsuccessfully to meet with Dozier.

"I want a chance to respond and refute these accusations," Ali said Friday. "It appears that he doesn't have that much knowledge about Islam."

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CAIR: MOSQUE VANDALISM: A 'SYSTEMATIC HATE CRIME' - TOP
Jerry Davich, The Times, 7/8/06
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/07/08/news/top_news/7f9b044656dffafd862571a400827204.txt

PINE TOWNSHIP | Muslim-American leaders of the Michigan City Islamic Center say that $8,600 in recent criminal mischief damage to their mosque was a "systematic hate crime."

"People here are shocked. It looks more like someone sending a message than random vandalism by bored teenagers," said Abraham Hakim, the center's president and a third-generation American.

The center is at 1606 N. County Road 500 East.

Hakim, whose family has lived in the Michigan City area for decades, cites the fact that all 10 windows were shot only once, costing the most money to replace. Thrill-seeking teenage vandals wouldn't be so methodical, he figured. . .

On Sunday, Porter County police received a report of bullets shot into the center's copper dome, leaving six large and obvious holes. Also, two glass doors, 10 windows, a sign and a spotlight were vandalized, possibly by a BB gun, police reported. . .

The letters "KKK" are clearly yet crudely scratched into the sign. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

U.S. ISLAMIC GROUP HOPES EDUCATION COUNTERS HATE, QUELLS VIOLENCE - TOP
Chandra Johnson, The Times, 7/8/06
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/07/08/news/top_news/17f05545f0ffe53d862571a50002594c.txt

A spokesman for an Islamic civil liberties organization said Friday research shows a rise in harassment and violence against Muslim communities in the United States.

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, said incidents such as the recent vandalism of an Islamic center in Pine Township is due largely to ignorance.

"Research shows that when people have interaction with Muslims, prejudice goes down," Hooper said.

"The best way to combat (prejudice) is with education."

Porter County police have no suspects yet. . .

CAIR's Hooper said the group organizes educational campaigns to combat the negative sentiment surrounding Islam. Just as hate crimes spike in times of national crisis, Hooper said, CAIR responds with knowledge. (MORE)

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ME: MOTIVE IN MOSQUE INCIDENT PROBED - TOP
JUSTIN ELLIS, Portland Press Herald, 7/8/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060708matthews.shtml

LEWISTON - The attorney for a man accused of throwing a pig's head into a mosque said the case needs to play out in the court system, not in public. James Howaniec said Friday that authorities should proceed carefully in a case that has grabbed the attention of local and national Muslim leaders, the FBI and the state Attorney General's Office.

"I would hope they would investigate this case and let the facts get developed in the court system," he said.

Police say Brent Matthews, 33, of Lewiston admitted rolling a frozen pig's head into the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center on Lisbon Street as 40 men bowed in prayer Monday night. He turned himself in to police on Tuesday and faces a misdemeanor charge of desecrating a church.

Muslims are prohibited from eating pork because they consider pigs unclean.

Matthews told investigators he got the head from a pig roast and had been saving it in his freezer, and described his actions at the mosque as a joke, police said.

Howaniec filed a not guilty plea Thursday in Androscoggin District Court for Matthews, who is free on $200 bail. An arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 6. Under the conditions of his bail, Matthews must stay away from the Islamic center.

At a press conference at City Hall on Friday, local and federal authorities said they were working together to determine whether a federal civil rights case can be brought against Matthews.

FBI Special Agent Todd DiFede said Friday afternoon that the agency has an interest in investigating civil rights cases involving race or religious discrimination. DiFede said investigators' findings would be turned over to U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby. (MORE)

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PA: MOSQUE MEMBERS DENOUNCE FBI RAID AS DESECRATION - TOP
Ervin Dyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/8/06
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06189/704371-53.stm

The congregation of the Light of the Age mosque yesterday denounced the June 30 FBI raid on the site as "unjust, unethical and unnecessary."

Tahir Abdullah, assistant director of the congregation, read a statement from the Muslim Alliance in North America, a coalition of primarily African-American Muslim organizations from across the United States, saying that the raid on the North Side mosque violated a house of worship during services.

The FBI arrested Larry M. Williams of Lincoln-Lemington, who has felony convictions in Washington state and other outstanding warrants, including one for failing to register as a sex offender.

The arrest took place during prayer hours, and some members of the largely African-American congregation were detained and questioned on the street, group members said. The facility was searched and streets blocked off for several hours during the FBI action.

The group and supporters who joined members at a news conference yesterday accused the FBI of harassing citizens of African-American descent and of religious insensitivity in conducting the raid during worship hours.

"We're concerned with the kind of terrorist label that is being attached to Muslims," said Yusef Ali, president of the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh. "We're concerned the raid will lead the public to believe the stereotype and that more Muslims will be profiled." . . .

Yesterday's news conference was held to show the mosque and study center to the public as well as to condemn the FBI action.

The Light of the Age mosque has been at 1320 Boyle St. for about three months and before that was based on Concord Street in Spring Garden for three years.

It is a provisional member of the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh. It participates in council debate and observes meetings but is not allowed to vote. The group must sit on council for a year before getting voting privileges.

Unlike Christian churches or synagogues, Muslim worship centers are not identified by symbols such as a cross or Star of David. Several in Pittsburgh have no signs indicating that they are houses of worship.

In fact, said Ibrahim Hopper, a spokesman for the national Council on American-Islamic Relations, it is not unusual for a mosque to share space with a dwelling where there are apartments on the upper level and a prayer room below. (MORE)

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ANOTHER SWIPE AT ISLAM IN 'B.C.' COMIC? - TOP
Editor & Publisher, 7/7/06
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002801803

NEW YORK Did "B.C." cartoonist Johnny Hart take another swipe at Islam in his July 3 comic? Several blogs -- including ComicsReporter.com and DailyCartoonist -- are wondering.

In the comic, Hart shows his turtle character asking: "What makes a bite that's shaped like a crescent moon?" The bird standing on the turtle's shell answers: "A lunatic." A star is drawn near the turtle's "finger" to illustrate the location of the bite.

A star/crescent moon is a symbol of Islam. There's also the possibility that Hart was making a "luna tick" pun instead of, or in addition to, making a negative reference to Islam.

An executive at Creators Syndicate, which distributes "B.C.," could not be immediately reached for comment today.

Readers previously wondered if Hart defamed Islam in his "B.C." strip of Nov. 10, 2003. In that comic, Hart showed a character walking to an outhouse, closing the door with a huge "SLAM" (inked vertically between the first and second panels), and saying: "Is it just me, or does it stink in here?" (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

RUCKSACK WITH KORAN ON TOP SPARKS AIRPORT BOMB ALERT - TOP
Irish Examiner, 7/7/06
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=12272846&p=yzz7z89z&n=12272934

The suspect package that sparked the second major security scare at Dublin Airport this week was a bag inadvertently left behind by a departing passenger, it was confirmed tonight.

Irish police said they had traced the owner of the bag and were satisfied there was nothing sinister or malicious about the alert which grounded flights and disrupted thousands of travellers.

A copy of the Koran placed on top of the suspect rucksack left unattended in the arrivals hall had raised fears on the first anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings.

Airport authorities launched a 'red alert' warning shortly before 8am and evacuated the main terminal, while Gardai sealed the building off and called in the Army bomb disposal team.

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NEO-NAZI SYMPATHIZERS SLIP INTO U.S. MILITARY - TOP
Reuters, 7/7/06
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/07/neo.nazis.in.military.reut/index.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Neo-Nazis and other white supremacists have increasingly been able to infiltrate the U.S. military due to recruitment pressures created by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a watchdog group said Friday.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks racist activities in the United States, said thousands of hate group members are now in the armed forces, especially in the Army, increasing the threat of domestic terrorism. (MORE)

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NC: RALLY PROTESTS ISRAEL'S POLICIES - TOP
Yonat Shimron, The News & Observer, 7/8/06
http://www.newsobserver.com/682/story/458591.html

More than 100 protesters of Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip marched on the state Capitol Friday carrying banners and a mock corpse and demanding an end to the violence.

The protesters were responding to a national call for solidarity with the Palestinian people issued by the Muslim American Society. In Raleigh, they included Palestinian natives, Muslims, Christians and a handful of Jews. . .

The group included a Franciscan friar, a Jewish social worker and a restaurant owner who is Muslim. Many said they were equally angry with the U.S. government.

"Here's the hypocrisy," said Iyad Hindi of Raleigh. "We demand democracy and human rights but deny it to the Palestinian people."

SEE ALSO:

MI: MUSLIMS PLAN GIANT SPORTS EVENT - TOP
George Jaksa, Flint Journal, 7/8/06
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11523631683020.xml&coll=5

FLINT - Thousands of Muslims from around the world are expected in Flint next week for a sports convention with a strong family flavor.

Hanifi Abdul-Malik, head of the Muslim House of Flint, said it will be the first time Flint has hosted the convention that has been held in major cities across the United States during its 24-year history. Detroit hosted the event last year.

The convention will be held Friday-July 16 headquartered at the Perani Arena and Event Center, 3501 Lapeer Road, but some athletic events will be held off-site. The closing program on July 16 will be at Ballenger Park, 1201 Dupont St. (MORE)

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CO: LATINOS & ISLAM CONVERSION - TOP
Mailyn Salabarria, Greeley Tribune, 7/8/06
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20060708/RELIGION/107080117

Hugo Hern�ndez put aside the saints, the host and the confessions. Nineteen years of Catholic religious traditions were left behind when he decided to convert to Islam. . .

Despite stereotypes and his family rejection, Hern�ndez said there hasn't been huge changes in his life since he converted, except now his has to pray five times a day.

That's why he said he summarizes his conversion as a return to the religion's roots and to a true relationship with God. "That's what I've always try to reach, the simplest relation with my faith." (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/9/06

* Hadith: Establish Justice
* CA: More U.S. Muslims Going Into Law (Mercury News)
            - IN: Vandalism at Mosque Seen as Hate Crime (AP)
* MN: More Somalis in Minnesota Turn to Islam (NPR)
            - ME: Somalis, Officials Differ on City's Climate
* Commentary: What's an Iraqi Life Worth? (Washington Post)
* UN Blames Israel for Gaza Humanitarian Crisis (AP)
            - Israeli Missile Kills Palestinian Family (Times)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: ESTABLISH JUSTICE - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "For every day the sun rises, (God grants a reward to) the one who establishes justice among people."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 870

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CA: MORE MUSLIMS GOING INTO LAW - TOP
Kim Vo, Mercury News, 7/9/06
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/14999997.htm

Minal Hasan was exploring careers -- teacher? journalist? -- when two planes sliced through the World Trade Center.

In the days and months that followed, friends and relatives exchanged tales of harassment, dubious arrests and assaults nationwide. Someone threw rocks at Hasan's car. Someone else spat at her.

The Fremont woman then followed an increasing number of American Muslims, rocked by the fallout of Sept. 11: She applied to law school.

The "civil rights of our community are being encroached upon, and we don't even have enough lawyers in our community to help us. A lot of people in our community thought that," said Hasan, who graduated from Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law in May. "I thought that, too."

Though firm numbers are elusive -- law firms and schools don't ask about an applicant's religion -- the number of Muslim lawyers and law students is growing. The National Association of Muslim Lawyers, which began in 1996 with 24 members, now has 500. Half of the 100 members of the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers, known as BAAML, are law students, a sign of the swelling ranks. And Muslim law student associations are sprouting from Berkeley to Yale.

Muslims' growing interest in law is also part of social evolution that occurs as children of immigrants explore professions beyond the medicine and engineering paths available to their parents. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

IN: VANDALISM AT MOSQUE SEEN AS HATE CRIME, LEADERS SAY - TOP
Associated Press, 7/9/06
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060709/NEWS01/607090447

Michigan City -- Muslim leaders consider thousands of dollars in damage at a Northwestern Indiana mosque a systematic hate crime.

Vandals recently have scratched graffiti on a sign and shot out windows at the Michigan City Islamic Center, causing $8,600 in damage, police say.

Center President Abraham Hakim, whose family has lived in the Michigan City area for decades, said all 10 windows were shot only once. Thrill-seeking teenage vandals wouldn't be so methodical, he believes. (MORE)

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MORE SOMALIS IN MINNESOTA TURN TO ISLAM - TOP
Sea Stachura, National Public Radio, 7/9/06
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5544610

All Things Considered, July 9, 2006 � Minnesota is home to one of the nation's largest populations of immigrants from the East African nation of Somalia. Until recently, religion didn't play a big part in their daily lives -- but now, more Somalis are returning to their Muslim faith and becoming more religious. Sea Stachura of Minnesota Public Radio reports.

SEE ALSO:

TENSIONS IN LEWISTON? DEPENDS ON THE VIEWPOINT - TOP
JOSIE HUANG, Portland Press Herald, 7/9/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060709lewiston.shtml

LEWISTON - No one in town disputes that rolling a pig's head into a mosque as men bowed in prayer was a strike at Muslims. Or that the person who committed the offense should be held accountable. But that is where the agreement ends. City officials say Monday's incident at the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center was isolated, the work of Brent Matthews, a former city employee with a criminal record.

"This is just an incident where one idiot did something stupid, in my opinion," said City Administrator Jim Bennett.

But some Somali Muslims see the act as the latest in a string of more than a dozen incidents targeting them over the past several months.

Ahmed Abdi, who works as an interpreter for Somalis, said acid has been dripped onto several Somalis' cars, and their tires have been slashed. Windows on Somali homes and businesses have been scratched or cracked.

Throughout, some Somalis say they have been the object of racial epithets and told to "go back home."

Police say they have not received reports to back all these complaints, but some Somalis say they fear retribution and have avoided contacting authorities.

"Ninety-five percent of people are good, very friendly," the 48-year-old Abdi said at he waited for his lunch at the Red Sea restaurant. "Just a few people are doing this. Why this is coming up now, I have no idea."

Somalis said they thought they had put unrest in Lewiston behind them. Nearly four years ago, when the Somali population topped 1,000, then-mayor Larry Raymond asked new arrivals to discourage their relatives from settling here. The former mill city, he wrote in a letter, was "maxed-out financially, physically and emotionally."

A white supremacist group, World Church of the Creator, latched onto the events in Lewiston and announced it would be coming to "save" the city in January 2003. That spurred the predominantly Muslim Somali community and its supporters to plan a counter-rally the same day, attracting more than 4,500 people. The white supremacist rally drew just 32 people.

In the time since, Raymond decided not to seek re-election, and Somalis have continued to move to this mostly French-Catholic city of 36,000 because of its safer streets and affordable housing. Coming mostly from other states, Somalis now number between 1,800 and 2,800, according to estimates. The latest arrivals have been several hundred Bantus, a minority group in Somalia. (MORE)

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WHAT'S AN IRAQI LIFE WORTH? - TOP
Andrew J. Bacevich, Washington Post, 7/9/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/07/AR2006070701155.html

"You have to understand the Arab mind," one company commander told the New York Times, displaying all the self-assurance of Douglas MacArthur discoursing on Orientals in 1945. "The only thing they understand is force -- force, pride and saving face." Far from representing the views of a few underlings, such notions penetrated into the upper echelons of the American command. In their book "Cobra II," Michael R. Gordon and Gen. Bernard E. Trainor offer this ugly comment from a senior officer: "The only thing these sand niggers understand is force and I'm about to introduce them to it."

Such crass language, redolent with racist, ethnocentric connotations, speaks volumes. These characterizations, like the use of "gooks" during the Vietnam War, dehumanize the Iraqis and in doing so tacitly permit the otherwise impermissible. Thus, Abu Ghraib and Haditha -- and too many regretted deaths, such as that of Nahiba Husayif Jassim.

As the war enters its fourth year, how many innocent Iraqis have died at American hands, not as a result of Haditha-like massacres but because of accidents and errors? The military doesn't know and, until recently, has publicly professed no interest in knowing. Estimates range considerably, but the number almost certainly runs in the tens of thousands. Even granting the common antiwar bias of those who track the Iraqi death toll -- and granting, too, that the insurgents have far more blood on their hands -- there is no question that the number of Iraqi noncombatants killed by U.S. forces exceeds by an order of magnitude the number of U.S. troops killed in hostile action, which is now more than 2,000. (MORE)

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UN BLAMES ISRAEL FOR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - TOP
Mark Lavie, Associated Press, 7/9/06
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3272830,00.html

The United Nations blamed Israel for a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, including deaths, injuries and harm to children, from its offensive in Gaza in a strong statement released Saturday.

The three-page statement, listing charges separately from six UN-affiliated agencies, called for "urgent action" to halt the rapid deterioration. Israel rejected the charges.

The statement charged that Israel's military offensive has caused mass violations of human rights of civilians in Gaza. Some result from an Israeli attack that destroyed the main Gaza power station, others from the closing of vital crossing points and the rest from military operations, it said.

The world body expressed alarm over events in Gaza "which have seen innocent civilians, including children, killed, brought increased misery to hundreds of thousands of people and which will wreak far-reaching harm on Palestinian society."

Among the specific issues listed, the statement said Gaza is "on the bring of a public health disaster," including a shortage of medicines. Also, children in Gaza "are living in an environment of extraordinary violence, insecurity and fear." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

GIRL KILLED AS ISRAEL TIGHTENS GRIP ON GAZA - TOP
Marie Colvin, Sunday Times, 7/9/06
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2261861,00.html

A six-year-old Palestinian girl, her mother and elder brother were killed in a house on the edge of Gaza City last night, shortly after a stray Israeli missile targeting militants struck a residential area.

The girl, identified as Rawan Hajaj, was taken to hospital wrapped in blankets, the back of her head shorn open. Six others were injured when what Palestinians described as an artillery shell hit the house.

The Israeli military, initially denying that any shells had been fired, later admitted a missile had missed its target in an open field and landed on a street in the Shajaya district on the outskirts of the city, near the Karni border crossing. (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

-----

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/10/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Justice Department to investigate an incident in Tennessee in which a bullet-riddled Quran was thrown at the entrance of a mosque as a possible violation of civil rights.

CAIR said the perpetrators of the incident videotaped their actions and then posted the video online. (The video was placed online June 17, 2006, but the actual incident may have taken place last summer.) The two men are first shown shooting a copy of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, with a "Colt M-16." (An M-16 is a fully-automatic military weapon that is not legal for personal use.) They then take the Quran to a mosque and throw it at the entrance while shouting what sounds like "Jesus rocks."

SEE: Kill the Koran

If the MySpace link is removed, SEE:
http://www.cair.com/video/kill_the_koran/

The Imam, or prayer leader, of the Islamic Center of Chattanooga said the minister of a nearby church told him he saw the men videotaping the mosque, "ran them off" and called local police.

The author of the www.myspace.com/mully88 site identifies himself as "mully88" and claims to live in Chattanooga, Tenn. "White Power" theme music plays on the site and the author's profile lists as heroes "anybody that has killed a muslim or at least tried to kill a muslim." The site also contains slurs targeting Hispanics and African-Americans.

"By throwing the bullet-riddled Quran at the mosque, we believe the perpetrators went beyond the limits of free speech by taking part in an overt act of religious intimidation," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar.

Iftikhar compared the men's actions to those who burn crosses on the lawns of African-Americans. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that states can punish those who burn crosses with the intention to intimidate.

In addition, Iftikhar said the men's actions may have violated provisions of federal civil rights statutes. He cited Title 18, United States Code, Section 241, "Conspiracy Against Civil Rights," which makes it a crime to "conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person of any state, territory or district in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him/her by the Constitution or the laws of the United States."

On Friday, CAIR called on local and national law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism at an Indiana mosque as a possible hate crime. The vandals shot holes in the copper dome of the mosque, smashed a number of windows and scratched "KKK" on the center's sign.

There have been a number of similar incidents targeting the American Muslim community in recent months.

Just this week, a man was charged for throwing a pig's head into a mosque in Maine during evening prayers. Media reports indicate that investigators in Ohio are looking into the possibility that an arson fire and explosion at a business owned by a family of Middle East heritage was a hate crime. Last month, a hate message attacking the Prophet Muhammad and claiming "Muslims Worship Satan" was left near an Arizona mosque. In April, shots were fired into a Maryland mosque.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/10/06

* Hadith: Praise and Thank God
* CAIR: FBI Probes Web Site Showing Shooting of Quran (AP)
            - FBI Looks Into Incident of Quran Abuse (TFP)
* CAIR-NY: Bill Prevents Exams on Religious Holidays
* New Homeland Security Deputy an FBI Veteran Beloved by Muslims (AP)
* ME: Muslims Aim to Educate Public After Mosque Incident
            - NY: Muslim Leader Ends Conference With Call to Unity
            - MN: Somalis Try to Influence Events Back Home (AP)
            - MN: Muslim Candidate Seems to Unnerve Some (Star Trib)
            - OR: Prof Opens Minds on Islam, Culture (Oregonian)
* DC: International Kashmir Conference
* Thailand: U.S. Imam Urges Non-Violence to End Unrest

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HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE AND THANK GOD - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said God suggested turning a valley into gold for his use, but he replied: "No, my Lord, but let me have enough to eat and be hungry on alternate days. Then when I am hungry, I shall make supplication to Thee and make mention of Thee, and when I have enough (to eat) I shall praise and thank Thee."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1353

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR: FBI LOOKING AT WEB SITE SHOWING SHOOTING OF QURAN - TOP
BILL POOVEY, Associated Press, 7/10/06

Federal authorities are looking into a video that shows two men shooting a Quran with a military rifle, then throwing the bullet-riddled Muslim holy book at the entrance of a a Chattanooga mosque, an FBI agent said Monday.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations on Monday had called on the Justice Department to investigate the incident as a possible civil rights violation. The group said it was the latest in a series of incidents targeting mosques in several states. . .

The video, titled " kill the koran" was posted on MySpace.com last month, said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. It could still be seen on the Web site on Monday. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

TN: FBI LOOKS INTO INCIDENT OF QURAN ABUSE - TOP
Karina Gonzalez and Brian Lazenby, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/10/06
http://www.tfponline.com/absolutenm/templates/breaking.aspx?articleid=2615&zoneid=41

FBI officials began an investigation today of an online video showing a Chattanooga resident shooting a gun at and throwing a Quran at the entrance of the local mosque as a possible violation of civil rights, officials said.

"We're letting the attorneys look at it to make decisions about whether it appears there is a federal violation," said Tim Burke, supervisor at the FBI's Chattanooga office. . .

The Council of American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based group, reported the incident, which took place last year, to federal officials today.

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CAIR-NY: BILL PREVENTS EXAMS ON RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 7/10/06) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed passage of a bill in the New York State Legislature that prevents scheduling statewide school exams on religious holidays.

CAIR-NY said the legislation is a victory for religious freedom and civil rights in New York, particularly for the Muslim community. Earlier this year, Muslim students in New York were not able to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, one of two main Islamic holidays, due to state mandated exams which coincided with the event.

Following that incident, CAIR-NY, the New York City Human Rights Commission and other advocacy groups began an initiative to ensure religious freedoms were upheld in New York public schools.

"All students should to be able to observe their religion without worrying about jeopardizing their education," said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Nadia Mohammad. "The passing of this bill is a positive first step toward gaining recognition of Islamic holidays in New York public schools."

Originally drafted by State Senator John D. Sabini (D/WFP-Jackson Heights), the bill was to block testing during the Muslim holidays of Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr. The bill was later amended to include all religious holidays and passed unanimously in both the Senate and the Assembly.

The legislation was carried in the State Assembly by Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry (D-Corona) and co-sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Assemblywoman Catherine T. Nolan (D-Ridgewood). It is currently awaiting the signature of Governor George E. Pataki.

CAIR-NY will be continuing its dialogue with state legislators and with New York City Mayor's office in its effort to address accommodations for religious holidays in public schools.

CONTACT: Nadia Mohammad, 212-870-2002, civilrights@cair-ny.org

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NEW HOMELAND SECURITY DEPUTY AN FBI VETERAN BELOVED BY MUSLIMS - TOP
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--homelandsecurity-0710jul10,0,7101025.story

NEWARK, N.J. -- When a respected elder in Paterson's Muslim community was detained at an airport in Dubai for a reason authorities wouldn't tell him, he took out his cell phone and started dialing.

But Mohamed Younes wasn't calling his embassy, his travel agent or his wife. Instead, he called John Paige, a good friend who was the supervisory special agent at the FBI's West Paterson office.

Paige didn't know exactly why Younes had been flagged at the airport last December, but offered to get on the phone with officials in the United Arab Emirates and vouch for Younes' integrity. Younes was grateful, but declined the offer.

"Who would believe I really had the FBI on the phone?" he asked.

Anyone who knows Paige would believe it. The 26-year FBI veteran has worked tirelessly to build bridges to New Jersey's Muslim community.

It is a closeness that will serve him well in his new job as deputy director of the state Office of Homeland Security. Paige will handle operations and intelligence matters for the department, reporting to Director Richard Canas. (MORE)

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ME: LOCAL MUSLIMS AIM TO EDUCATE PUBLIC - TOP
Bangor Daily News, 7/10/06
http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=137094

ORONO - The tossing of a frozen pig's head into a Lewiston mosque last week has upset Muslims in northern Maine, the founder of the Islamic Center of Maine reports, even though the modest mosque on Route 2 has never been the target of vandals.

"After the initial shock," Mahmoud El-Begearmi of Bangor said Saturday, "the discussion centered around how can we help. We seem to be the oldest group in the state, and the other mosques all look up to us for help."

El-Begearmi, who has lived in Maine for 26 years, advised leaders at the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center to make a concerted effort to educate the community about the tenets of their faith and to invite the public to visit the mosque and attend services.

That's the same advice that was offered last week by a Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Muslims living in the United States. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

NY: MUSLIM LEADER CONCLUDES CONFERENCE WITH CALLS TO AFFIRM INTERNATIONAL UNITY - TOP
Ren�e K. Gadoua, Post-Standard, 7/10/06
http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-0/115252187820930.xml&coll=1

Dozens of Muslim women dressed in red and white Sunday, the colors chosen to represent the interwoven nature of their community, as they gathered to listen to Imam W. Deen Mohammed, a national leader praised for embracing all threads of Islam.

"Relationships should continue until you're connected with good people throughout the world," Mohammed told about 200 people at Maxwell Auditorium at Syracuse University.

He is the spiritual leader of an estimated 2.5 million American Muslims and the son of Elijah Muhammad, former leader of the Nation of Islam. After his father's death in 1975, Mohammed shifted the movement toward orthodox Sunni Islam. He rejected some of the teachings of his father, such as the superiority of black people over Jews and other whites. (MORE)

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SOMALIS IN MINNESOTA WATCH, TRY TO INFLUENCE EVENTS BACK HOME - TOP
Associated Press, 7/9/06
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/15002341.htm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The voice on the other end of the telephone line was seeking help from the other side of the world.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed called a gathering of influential Somalis in Minneapolis last month to brief them on the takeover a week earlier of the capital Mogadishu by a group known then as the Union of Islamic Courts.

"He asked for our support and our advice," said Ali Khalif Galaydh, a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and a former prime minister of the troubled east African country.

At the time, Ahmed was the Islamic militia's presumed leader and was seen as a relative moderate. Since then, another leader has moved to the forefront -- Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys -- who is on the U.S. terrorist watch list as a suspected collaborator with al-Qaida.

Galaydh told the Star Tribune that the Minnesota Somalis on the call advised the new rulers they should convince the outside world they are not radicals connected to terrorists, and that they should work with the United Nations-backed transitional government operating from the city of Baidoa.

Minnesota is home to what's thought to be the largest concentration of Somalis in the United States -- an estimated 30,000, including about 25,000 in the Twin Cities. They include two former prime ministers and several former cabinet members, Galaydh said, as well as many prominent doctors, lawyers and religious leaders. (MORE)

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MN: MUSLIM CANDIDATE WITH PARKING TICKETS SEEMS TO UNNERVE SOME - TOP
Nick Coleman, Star Tribune, 7/8/06
http://www.startribune.com/357/story/539892.html

Keith Ellison is black. Keith Ellison is a black Muslim. Keith Ellison is a black Muslim scofflaw who doesn't pay his parking tickets and is sloppy with paperwork.

And another thing: I hear he is a Muslim.

Some folks seem very worried about the possibility Keith Ellison could become the first black Muslim scofflaw elected to Congress. Decent people are not supposed to thumb their noses at parking tickets until after they get to Congress.

By the way, Ellison is not the same kind of Muslim as Osama bin Laden, even though he and Osama share a shocking disregard for parking tickets. Ellison's problem is that he used to be associated with the Nation of Islam, an American religion led by a man named Louis Farrakhan, who would not know Ellison if he sat next to him on the No. 5 bus.

Somehow, Ellison finds himself condemned as a black American who was upset by the Rodney King verdict, spoke on behalf of accused criminals, and worked as an organizer for the Million Man March that called on black men to take responsibility for their families.

That kind of behavior has to be nipped in the bud. (MORE)

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OR: REED PROFESSOR OPENS MINDS ON ISLAM, CULTURE - TOP
Nancy Haught, Oregonian, 7/10/06
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/115250931415950.xml&coll=7

Kambiz GhaneaBassiri is a Muslim. He has a doctorate in Islamic studies from Harvard University and teaches at Reed College. He has one book to his credit and is halfway through writing his second, a history of Islam in the United States since Colonial times.

He is a Carnegie Scholar, one of his profession's highest honors. He is living, for the next year, in Morocco, where he is helping educate more moderate Islamic leaders. He is the father of two children and has been married to his high school sweetheart for 13 years.

He is smart, articulate, thoughtful and innovative. His dark hair and goatee are perfectly trimmed. He seems born to button-down shirts and khaki slacks.

His is a career that many academics would envy. And he is all of 32 years old.

"He was my best teacher, without a doubt," says Sam Kigar, a 2006 Reed graduate. "He taught me that there are simple answers out there. It's just that they rarely fit the questions."

The tough questions and complex answers that GhaneaBassiri grapples with are the same ones that Americans wrestle with if they want to understand Islam and its place in the modern world.

Americans often don't realize that Islam, like Christianity, is incredibly diverse in its expressions, he says. Christians across the world don't agree on every social issue, and neither do Muslims. When he teaches a class on Islam, this is his starting place. (MORE)

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DC: INTERNATIONAL KASHMIR CONFERENCE - TOP

Association of Humanitarian Lawyers & Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center Invite you to the Sixth International Kashmir Conference

WHEN: Thursday July 20th & 21st, 2006, Registration: 8:00 a.m.
Where: Capitol Hill, Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Independence Ave & New Jersey Ave.)Nearest Metro: Capitol South, Orange/Blue lines

SEE: http://www.kashmiri.com/

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AN IMAM FROM THE UNITED STATES URGES THE USE OF NON-VIOLENCE IN ENDING THE SOUTHERN UNREST - TOP
Thai News, 7/10/06
http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=179139

A visiting imam from the United States pleads for the use of peace and love in solving the southern unrest.

Speaking on "Ways of Life of Communities in the US", in Chiang Mai yesterday, Rohmad P. Payakul said Muslims in America do not support the use of violence to end problems in the far south. Mr. Rohmad said a fire should be put out by water, darkness driven away by light and hatred can be conquered by love.

He said Muslims in the US are concerned about violence in the deep South but believe conflicts have nothing to do with religions.

Mr. Rohmad is a founder of, and an imam at Al-Fatihah mosque built by Thai people in the US. It is the only Thai-Muslim mosque outside Thailand.

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/11/06

* Hadith: Praise God Even in Adversity
* CAIR Condemns Mumbai Bombings
* AMT: U.S. Muslim Coalition Condemns Israeli Actions in Gaza
* CAIR-OH: Security Programs Raise Civil Liberties Concerns
* CAIR: Con Man Who Targeted Muslims Receives Two Years (Mob Reg)
            - Con Man Tries to Talk His Way to Lighter Term (Nat Post)
* CAIR: MySpace Video Spurs Muslims' Call for Investigation
* ME: Coalition to Call for Solidarity with Muslim Community (AP)
            - A Call to Speak Out for Somalis (Press Herald)
* CAIR-MI: Spying Program Faces First Challenge (LA Times)
* CAIR-FL: Minister Who Slammed Islam Quits Post (Sun-Sentinel)
            - Islam-Hater Has No Business Selecting Judges (Miami Herald)
* CAIR-Chicago: We Don't Need to Live with Fear (Chicago Trib)
* US Applies Geneva Convention to Military Detainees (Reuters)
* Washington Post Publishes Op-Ed by Palestinian Prime Minister
            - Israel Bars Palestinian-Americans (Haaretz)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in (both) prosperity and adversity."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 730

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS - TOP
Group seeks meeting with Indian ambassador to offer condolences

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/11/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned a series of bomb attacks on suburban commuter trains serving the city of Mumbai, India, that left at least 135 dead and many more injured. CAIR is also seeking a meeting with the Indian ambassador in Washington, D.C., to offer the Muslim community's condolences for the loss of life.

In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:

"These senseless and brutal bombings, like similar attacks in London and Madrid, must be condemned and repudiated by people of all faiths. Those who carry out such crimes only serve to harm any cause they claim to represent. We offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured and call for the swift apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators."

CAIR also noted that the Indian Muslim Relief Committee (IMRC) is collecting donations to aid the victims of today's attacks. SEE: http://www.imrc.ws/

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U.S. MUSLIM COALITION CONDEMNS ISRAELI ACTIONS IN GAZA - TOP

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/11/06) - The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a national coalition of 11 major American Muslim organizations, today said Israel's continued targeting of the Palestinian civilian infrastructure is a "war crime" that should be condemned by the Bush administration.

In its statement, the coalition said:

"The Israeli army has been waging a full-fledged war against the Palestinian population, killing scores of civilian men, women and children. These crimes followed an unprecedented act of kidnapping dozens of democratically-elected Palestinian officials and cabinet ministers, including the deputy prime minister. Such acts are nothing short of state-terror.

"The American Muslim Task Force calls on the Bush administration to strongly condemn these war crimes and demand that Israel stop using American taxpayer-funded weapons to carry out attacks that will only serve to intensify the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

"Israeli aggression against a defenseless civilian population is also a violation of the US Arms Export Control Act, which mandates that American weapons can only be used for defensive purposes and not for violations of human rights. The State Department has documented human rights violations by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilians in its annual report.

"We also believe that any attempt to solve the Palestinian/Israeli conflict must be based on the full implementation of all relevant UN resolutions, particularly 194, 242, and 338, return of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian lands currently occupied by Israel, and the establishment of a viable, independent and sovereign state of Palestine.

"The international community must not allow the Israeli government to use this crisis to remove the democratically-elected Palestinian government and thus strike a devastating blow to the nascent democratic process in the region."

AMT members and affiliates endorsing this statement include: American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslim Student Association-National (MSA-N), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Project Islamic Hope (PIH), and United Muslims of America (UMA).

CONTACT: Dr. Agha Saeed, Tel 510-299-9313, E-Mail: aghaksaeed@yahoo.com

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CAIR-OHIO RAISES CIVIL LIBERTIES CONCERNS WITH SECURITY OFFICIALS - TOP

(COLUMBUS, OH, 7/11/06) - Representatives of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) met recently with officials of that state's Department of Homeland Security (OHS) and the Ohio Department of Public Safety to discuss the civil rights ramifications of certain OHS programs.

The meeting dealt with concerns over OHS programs such as "See Something, Say Something," the School Bus Watch program, as well as the Terrorism Awareness and Prevention (TAP) Program. CAIR raised concerns that the programs may result in profiling and surveillance of ordinary law-abiding citizens.

The "See Something, Say Something" program is a statewide initiative that encourages people to report "suspicious behavior and people" to a terrorism intelligence tip line that is monitored by a consortium of public officials, who transmit the "tips" to law enforcement authorities. Questions have been raised about the integrity and potential misuse of databases generated by such tip lines.

CAIR and other civil liberties groups have also raised concerns that such programs resemble the failed Department of Justice Program Operation TIPS that was derailed by bi-partisan leaders in Congress in 2002 due to potential civil rights abuses.

"Muslim Americans, like all Americans, wish to ensure the safety and security of our nation," said CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin. "But it is also important for homeland security programs to include oversight so that innocent people are not targeted merely because of their race, ethnicity or religion."

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail: cleveland@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-451-3232, E-Mail: asma@cair-ohio.com

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CAIR: CON MAN RECEIVES TWO YEARS - TOP
BRENDAN KIRBY, Mobile Register, 7/11/06
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1152609389194910.xml&coll=3

A Palestinian man who admitted trying to cheat a Mobile mosque out of $1,500 in a "stranded traveler" scam, will spend two years in prison and then face deportation to his native Israel, a federal judge decided Monday.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Butler Jr. agreed to a recommendation from prosecutors to sentence Mohammed Mustafa Agbareia, 40, to the low end of advisory guidelines.

He also ordered the defendant to pay $90,899 to 54 victims from throughout the United States who fell for his scam.

By his own admission, Agbareia targeted Muslims and Islamic organizations in North America, taking advantage of that religion's commandment to assist travelers who have been stranded.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George May told Butler that Agbareia has helped investigators prosecute his co-defendant, Zouhair Hissy, who is fighting attempts by U.S. authorities to extradite him from Canada. Agbareia has offered to help with other criminal investigations, according to his lawyer.

"I will say, he has been very cooperative," May said after Monday's hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown Mobile.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based advocacy group that has tracked Agbareia for years, expressed gratitude to law enforcement authorities.

"We understood all along that he wasn't going to get the long sentence he deserves," said Ibrahim Hooper, the group's spokesman. "It's not a perfect result, but at least he's behind bars. . ." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CON MAN TRIES TO TALK HIS WAY TO LIGHTER TERM - TOP
Defrauded mosques: Man held in Alabama to testify against co-accused
Adrian Humphreys, National Post, 7/11/06
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=7f3e9242-85f4-4cca-93a4-0274f9b254b9

A silver-tongued career con man who was accused of using Canada as a base to defraud Muslim associations around the world is again using his mouth to bail himself out of trouble: He has agreed to testify against his co-accused in return for him getting out of an Alabama prison in half the time.

Mohammed Agbareia, a Palestinian man with Israeli citizenship who was living in Brampton with his Canadian wife and child, was ordered by a judge in Mobile, Ala., yesterday, to pay US$90,000 in restitution to more than 50 victims as part of his deal with the U.S. government.

Under the deal, he was sentenced to two years in prison and has promised to co-operate with the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Alabama in its prosecution of Zouhair Hissy, a Windsor man who is fighting extradition to the United States.

Agbareia had been phoning mosques and Muslim associations throughout the United States and Europe from Canada, pretending to be a representative of the Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank coming to visit to process a loan or donation application. (MORE)

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CAIR: MYSPACE VIDEO SPURS MUSLIMS' CALL FOR INVESTIGATION - TOP
Karina Gonzalez and Brian Lazenby, Times Free Press, 7/11/06
http://www.tfponline.com/QuickHeadlines.asp?sec=l&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fepaper%2Ewehco%2Ecom%2FWebChannel%2FShowStory%2Easp%3FPath%3DChatTFPress%2F2006%2F07%2F11%26ID%3DAr00101

The FBI is investigating an online video of two men shooting a Quran with a military rifle and one of them later tossing the holy book down outside a Chattanooga mosque, an FBI official said Monday.

"We are looking into the matter," said Tim Burke, supervisor at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Chattanooga office. "We're letting the attorneys look at it to make decisions about whether it appears there is a federal violation."

Mr. Burke said he had viewed the video Monday.

The footage is titled "kill the koran" and was posted June 17 on MySpace.com, an online networking service. It first shows a man identified as mully88 holding a paperback Quran outside a Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

The next scene, taped in a wooded area, shows mully88 and another man taking turns shooting the Quran with a rifle mully88 identifies as a Colt M-16. The final scene shows a man tossing the bullet-riddled book onto the sidewalk outside the Islamic Center at 1410 Cemetery Ave.

In his profile on the Web site, mully88 identifies himself as a 33-year-old college-educated Chattanooga resident working as a paramedic and mechanic. He says he would "love to see the white race rule the world" and lists his heroes as "anyone who has killed a muslim or tried to kill a muslim."

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations reported the incident to federal officials Monday.

"We would like to see these individuals identified, and we would like the Justice Department to examine what federal charges could be brought against them," said council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. "We are seeing more and more hate-filled, anti-Muslim rhetoric on Web sites throughout the Internet." (MORE)

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ME: COALITION TO CALL FOR SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY - TOP
Associated Press, 7/11/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/07/11/coalition_to_call_for_solidarity_with_muslim_community/

LEWISTON, Maine --Church and volunteer organizations in the Lewiston-Auburn area are calling for a show of support for the Muslim community after a Lewiston man was charged with throwing a severed pig's head into a mosque during a prayer session.

The Many and One Coalition, a group that works against racism and prejudice, is holding a news conference on Wednesday to express outrage over the incident, according to board member Kate Brennan of Greene.

The Lewiston-Auburn Interfaith Clergy Group, the Maine Council of Churches and the Holocaust Human Rights Center will also be represented or issuing statements at the conference.

Thirty-three-year-old Brent Matthews of Lewiston has been charged with desecrating a place of worship. Police said Matthews claimed he threw the pig's head into the mosque as a joke.

On Monday, Gov. John Baldacci announced the creation of a state Office of Multicultural Affairs. (MORE)

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A CALL TO SPEAK OUT FOR SOMALIS - TOP
JOSIE HUANG, Portland Press Herald, 7/11/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060711lewiston.shtml

Community leaders in Lewiston-Auburn will hold a rally Wednesday in support of Somali Muslims who were stunned when someone rolled a pig's head into their mosque at prayer time last week.

The event is planned for 11:15 a.m., with a tentative location at Courthouse Plaza on Lisbon Street, on the same block as the Lewiston Auburn Islamic Center. Scheduled attendees include Gov. John Baldacci, and speakers will range from high school students to interfaith leaders. (MORE)

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CAIR-MI: DOMESTIC SPYING PROGRAM FACES FIRST CHALLENGE - TOP
Henry Weinstein, Los Angeles Times, 7/11/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nsa11jul11,1,6474579.story

DETROIT - An attempt to halt the National Security Agency's controversial domestic surveillance program generated intense legal debate Monday before a veteran federal judge, with opponents branding it a threat to American citizens and defenders contending it is legal and essential to national security.

The case is the first major legal challenge to the warrantless wiretapping program, with the Justice Department squaring off against lawyers representing several groups and individuals that seek to have the program declared unconstitutional. . .

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he was troubled that Bush administration officials talked about exporting democracy but were "trying to circumvent democratic processes" at home.

Asked why government officials should have to go to court to get a warrant before wiretapping, Walid replied: "We have a president, not a king."

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CAIR-FL: CONTROVERSIAL BLACK MINISTER QUITS BROWARD JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AT REQUEST OF GOVERNOR - TOP
Gregory Lewis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cdozierjul11,0,7929225.story

The Rev. O'Neal Dozier, a controversial member of the Broward Judicial Nominating Committee, has resigned the post after he said Gov. Jeb Bush's office asked him to step down.

Dozier, whose recent comments about Islam in a news release and on a radio talk show sparked outrage among Muslims, said Monday he did not talk to Bush, but he said the governor's office was unhappy with his remarks. The committee, which Dozier has been on since 2001, nominates judges in South Florida. . .

In a news release late last month, Dozier called Islam "a cult'' and said the mosque's plans have residents in the predominantly "black Christian neighborhood" feeling less safe and secure.

"Their general welfare is being jeopardized by knowing that Muslims are invading their neighborhood," Dozier said.

He said residents worry that Muslims will convert vulnerable young black people to Islam.

"With such a cult in our neighborhood, we believe that our neighborhood could become a breeding ground for terrorists,'' he said.

Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called Dozier's resignation "unfortunate." Ali said he had hoped to sit down with Dozier and iron out the issues over the mosque's plans.

"I feel very sorry for him," Ali said. "I'm disappointed he maintains this position." (MORE)

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ISLAM-HATER HAS NO BUSINESS SELECTING JUDGES - TOP
The Miami Herald, 7/11/06
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/15010075.htm

The malicious falsehoods that the Rev. O'Neal Dozier spouts about the Islamic religion belie his allegiance to the tenets of the Christian religion that he purports to practice.

The Rev. Dozier is free to believe that Islam is a "cult," as he called it on talk radio last week, but his openly expressed views deserve condemnation. Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed the Rev. Dozier to the Broward County Judicial Nominating Commission, was absolutely right to share his concerns about such insensitive statements. This, apparently, prompted Rev. Dozier's resignation late Sunday from the JNC, and not a moment too soon. The minister's anti-Islam bias, and other questionable behavior, disqualifies him for the post. (MORE)

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CAIR-CHICAGO: WE DON'T NEED TO LIVE WITH FEAR - TOP
Sarah Young, Chicago Tribune, 7/11/06
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0607110251jul11,1,7343298.story

[Sarah Young is a communications intern with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago Chapter.]

I disagree with Tribune staff reporter Rex W. Huppke's characterization of terrorism as a new and increasing threat in "Fear of terrorism as a fact of life; Americans have learned to deal with their worries about crime, but they have yet to adjust to a world where terror is an enduring threat" (Perspective, June 25).

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did not represent a fundamental change in the dangers Americans face; rather they reminded them of a threat that has always been present.

This threat of terrorism is and always has been minute. For example, in 2005, the National Counterterrorism Center recorded eight terrorist attacks in the United States. None of them included fatalities or injuries. Indeed all but three consisted solely of property damage by environmental terrorists.

Clearly these statistics give Americans no reason to live in fear.

The fear of terrorism that increased after the Sept. 11 attacks is a fear of so-called "Islamic" terrorism. A review of statistics will also show this fear to be unwarranted. Indeed since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been no attacks attributed to Muslim terrorists. Still whenever a major incident is reported, regardless of its credibility, the media and the public rush to conclude that Muslim terrorists must be behind it--exactly what happened after the arrest of the individuals in Miami--none of whom turned out to associate with any recognized branch of Islam.

When non-Muslims commit terrorism, we do not assume that their faith or lack of faith motivated the attack. Timothy McVeigh, mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing, the second-most deadly terrorist attack on American soil, was raised Catholic. The attacks did not, however, spark a fear of Catholic terrorism, as the public understands that such attacks are not justified by Catholicism.

It is illogical for the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11 to inspire fear of Islamic terrorism, as the attacks are similarly condemned by Islam.

Huppke suggests that the public should learn to not blow individual events out of proportion, just like we learned to do with crime. This is a wise suggestion. Let us appreciate the efforts of federal, state and local authorities to protect us from all terrorism, and not jump to unjustified conclusions regarding followers of any faith. Only then can we learn to live without fear.

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US APPLIES GENEVA CONVENTION TO MILITARY DETAINEES - TOP
Will Dunham, Reuters, 7/11/06
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-07-11T154812Z_01_N112183_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-USA-DETAINEES.xml

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon acknowledged for the first time that all detainees held by the U.S. military are covered by the protections of an article of the Geneva Conventions that bars inhumane treatment, according to a memo made public on Tuesday.

The memo signed by Gordon England, the No. 2 official in the Defense department, followed a June 29 Supreme Court ruling that struck down as illegal the military tribunal system set up by the Bush administration to try foreign terrorism suspects held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The United States previously has determined that certain prisoners taken in Washington's war on terrorism are not deserving of all of the protections of the Geneva Conventions -- international agreements governing the treatment of prisoners of war.

The memo was made public on the day Congress began hearings on how to proceed in trying Guantanamo prisoners after the high court ruling.

The United States has come under international criticism for how it has treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and elsewhere.

The memo, dated July 7, stated that detainees held in U.S. military custody worldwide are covered by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which ensures their humane treatment.

The article prohibits violence against detainees, including mutilation, cruel treatment and torture, and "outrages upon personal dignity" including humiliating and degrading treatment." It also ensures care for the sick and wounded.

It also bars sentencing or executing prisoners without a decision by "a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples." (MORE)

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AGGRESSION UNDER FALSE PRETENSES - TOP
Ismail Haniyeh, Washington Post, 7/11/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/10/AR2006071001108.html

As Americans commemorated their annual celebration of independence from colonial occupation, rejoicing in their democratic institutions, we Palestinians were yet again besieged by our occupiers, who destroy our roads and buildings, our power stations and water plants, and who attack our very means of civil administration. Our homes and government offices are shelled, our parliamentarians taken prisoner and threatened with prosecution.

The current Gaza invasion is only the latest effort to destroy the results of fair and free elections held early this year. It is the explosive follow-up to a five-month campaign of economic and diplomatic warfare directed by the United States and Israel. The stated intention of that strategy was to force the average Palestinian to "reconsider" her vote when faced with deepening hardship; its failure was predictable, and the new overt military aggression and collective punishment are its logical fulfillment. The "kidnapped" Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit is only a pretext for a job scheduled months ago.

In addition to removing our democratically elected government, Israel wants to sow dissent among Palestinians by claiming that there is a serious leadership rivalry among us. I am compelled to dispel this notion definitively. The Palestinian leadership is firmly embedded in the concept of Islamic shura, or mutual consultation; suffice it to say that while we may have differing opinions, we are united in mutual respect and focused on the goal of serving our people. Furthermore, the invasion of Gaza and the kidnapping of our leaders and government officials are meant to undermine the recent accords reached between the government party and our brothers and sisters in Fatah and other factions, on achieving consensus for resolving the conflict. Yet Israeli collective punishment only strengthens our collective resolve to work together.

As I inspect the ruins of our infrastructure -- the largess of donor nations and international efforts all turned to rubble once more by F-16s and American-made missiles -- my thoughts again turn to the minds of Americans. What do they think of this?

They think, doubtless, of the hostage soldier, taken in battle -- yet thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, remain in Israeli jails for resisting the illegal, ongoing occupation that is condemned by international law. They think of the pluck and "toughness" of Israel, "standing up" to "terrorists." Yet a nuclear Israel possesses the 13th-largest military force on the planet, one that is used to rule an area about the size of New Jersey and whose adversaries there have no conventional armed forces. Who is the underdog, supposedly America's traditional favorite, in this case?

I hope that Americans will give careful and well-informed thought to root causes and historical realities, in which case I think they will question why a supposedly "legitimate" state such as Israel has had to conduct decades of war against a subject refugee population without ever achieving its goals.

Israel's unilateral movements of the past year will not lead to peace. These acts -- the temporary withdrawal of forces from Gaza, the walling off of the West Bank -- are not strides toward resolution but empty, symbolic acts that fail to address the underlying conflict. Israel's nearly complete control over the lives of Palestinians is never in doubt, as confirmed by the humanitarian and economic suffering of the Palestinians since the January elections. Israel's ongoing policies of expansion, military control and assassination mock any notion of sovereignty or bilateralism. Its "separation barrier," running across our land, is hardly a good-faith gesture toward future coexistence.

But there is a remedy, and while it is not easy it is consistent with our long-held beliefs. Palestinian priorities include recognition of the core dispute over the land of historical Palestine and the rights of all its people; resolution of the refugee issue from 1948; reclaiming all lands occupied in 1967; and stopping Israeli attacks, assassinations and military expansion. Contrary to popular depictions of the crisis in the American media, the dispute is not only about Gaza and the West Bank; it is a wider national conflict that can be resolved only by addressing the full dimensions of Palestinian national rights in an integrated manner. This means statehood for the West Bank and Gaza, a capital in Arab East Jerusalem, and resolving the 1948 Palestinian refugee issue fairly, on the basis of international legitimacy and established law. Meaningful negotiations with a non-expansionist, law-abiding Israel can proceed only after this tremendous labor has begun.

Surely the American people grow weary of this folly, after 50 years and $160 billion in taxpayer support for Israel's war-making capacity -- its "defense." Some Americans, I believe, must be asking themselves if all this blood and treasure could not have bought more tangible results for Palestine if only U.S. policies had been predicated from the start on historical truth, equity and justice. (MORE)

The writer is prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority.

SEE ALSO:

ISRAEL BARS PALESTINIAN AMERICANS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1967 - TOP
Amira Hass, Haaretz, 7/10/06
http://haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN&itemNo=736349

For the first time since 1967, Israel is preventing the entry of Palestinians with foreign citizenship, most of them Americans.

Most of those refused entry are arriving from abroad, but have lived and worked for years in the West Bank.

The Interior Ministry and Civil Administration made no formal announcement about a policy change, leaving returnees to discover the situation when they reach the border crossings.

By various estimates, the ban has so far affected several thousand American and European nationals, whom Israel has kept from returning to their homes and jobs, or from visiting their families in the West Bank. (MORE)

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/12/06

* Verse: God Bestowed His Favor on Moses and Aaron
* CAIR: FBI Opens Investigation on IN Mosque Vandalism
            - ME: Groups Denounce Pig's Head Incident (AP)
            - ME: Prosecutors Have Options in Mosque Desecration Case
            - TN: FBI Investigating Shooting of Muslim Holy Book
            - Quran Vandalism Prompts Shock from TN Muslims
* CAIR: FL Pastor Won't Apologize for Remarks on Islam
            - CAIR-FL: Mosque Protest at City Hall (Miami Herald)
            - CAIR-FL: Anti-Mosque, Anti-Islam Protest (Sun-Sent)
* MO: Course Explores Culture of Muslim Women (KC Star)
* MA: Episcopal Chief to Protest Israeli Actions (Globe)
            - Seven Children Killed in Israeli Air Strike (AP)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD BESTOWED HIS FAVOR ON MOSES AND AARON - TOP

"We bestowed Our favor on Moses and Aaron. We delivered them with all their people from the mighty distress. We helped them so they became victorious. We gave them the Glorious Book, and guided them both to the Right Way. We left their good names among the later generations. Salutation to Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the righteous. Surely they were two of Our believing servants."

To obtain or sponsor a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR: FBI OPENS INVESTIGATION ON VANDALISM AT MICHIGAN CITY ISLAMIC CENTER - TOP
JERRY DAVICH, Northwest Indiana Times, 7/12/06
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/07/12/news/top_news/146c7ee2290a8cf4862571a9000a31c7.txt

PINE TOWNSHIP | The FBI has opened a federal criminal investigation into the potential hate crime vandalism recently at the Michigan City Islamic Center.

"We take these cases very seriously," FBI special agent Wendy Osborne said.

Last week, Muslim-American leaders of the center, located at 1606 N. County Road 500 East, called the $8,600 damage to their mosque a "systematic hate crime." The mosque serves about 150 families.

On July 2, Porter County police received a report of bullets shot into the center's copper dome, leaving six holes. Also, two glass doors, 10 windows, and a spotlight were vandalized, possibly by a BB gun, according to a police report.

A national Islamic civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called on local and national law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.

"Given the type of vandalism reported and the growing level of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, it is only prudent to investigate a possible bias motive in this case," said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

Abraham Hakim, president of the Michigan City Islamic Center, said the FBI has contacted center officials and that it is important for his center's leaders "not to hide" from such incidents.

At the least, the vandalism may have planted seeds of intimidation and the second-guessing of safety for Muslim-American center members, he said. He also noted that he has not heard from the center's neighbors or broader community after the incident was publicized. (MORE)

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ME: GROUPS CALL FOR UNITY IN DENOUNCING PIG'S HEAD INCIDENT - TOP
David Sharp, Associated Press, 7/12/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/07/12/groups_call_for_unity_in_denouncing_pigs_head_incident/

LEWISTON, Maine --A diverse group of community and church leaders on Wednesday condemned as a hate crime an incident in which a Lewiston man allegedly rolled a frozen pig's head into a mosque as Somali immigrants gathered for evening prayers.

Gathering in a park where John F. Kennedy once spoke, a rabbi, an Islamic leader and Christian ministers joined the governor, the mayor, students and others in offering a harsh condemnation.

They said the pig's head incident at the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center was intended to intimidate and to harass.

"Our message is simple: An attack on any house of worship is an attack on all houses of worship," Rabbi Hillel Katzir told a gathering of about 150 people. (MORE)

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ME: PROSECUTORS HAVE OPTIONS IN MOSQUE CASE - TOP
DAVID HENCH, Portland Press Herald, 7/12/06
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060712lewiston.shtml

When Vincent Hallowell burned a cross near the Augusta home of a black man and a family with biracial children in 1996, federal prosecution led to eight years in prison.

Three years earlier, a Portland jeweler had been the first person in Maine found guilty of a racially motivated federal civil rights crime. Thore Aalto was sentenced to six months for harassing a black woman at a restaurant and threatening to burn her house down.

The FBI is now investigating last week's incident in which Brent Matthews, 33, of Lewiston allegedly tossed a frozen pig's head into a mosque where men were praying, and the U.S. attorney will decide whether federal charges are warranted.

Federal hate crimes prosecutions in Maine are rare, reserved for cases of the most serious behavior. Bringing federal charges would send a strong message that bigotry will not be tolerated, a leading Maine civil rights advocate said.

"We need to respond firmly and aggressively to efforts to intimidate Muslims not to practice the rights everyone else in Maine has the right to practice - their religion," said Stephen Wessler, director of the University of Southern Maine's Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence.

"Where people are able to engage in some of the most important, intimate and spiritual parts of their life, to have to do that in an atmosphere of fear, that's not what this country is about."

Matthews, charged with the misdemeanor of desecrating a church, could face legal action locally, at the state level and by the U.S. Attorney's Office if investigators determine he was motivated by bias against a religion, race or national origin. Matthews is charged with throwing the frozen pig's head into the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center on July 3 while 40 men knelt in prayer. (MORE)

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TN: FBI INVESTIGATING SHOOTING OF MUSLIM HOLY BOOK - TOP
Karina Gonzalez, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/12/06
http://www.tfponline.com/QuickHeadlines.asp?sec=l&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fepaper%2Ewehco%2Ecom%2FWebChannel%2FShowStory%2Easp%3FPath%3DChatTFPress%2F2006%2F07%2F12%26ID%3DAr00103

Findings from a preliminary FBI investigation into an online video of two men shooting a Quran and one of them throwing it on the ground outside a Chattanooga mosque will be turned over to federal prosecutors, an FBI agent said.

"The FBI has opened a preliminary (probe) to get the facts together," Gary Kidder, special agent with the FBI, said Tuesday. "There will have to be a decision from either the U.S. attorney's office or the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, as to whether the facts of this case trigger a federal (prosecution)."

The video, titled "kill the koran," was reported to federal authorities by a national Muslim advocacy group after it was posted on MySpace.com, an online network service, in June.

In the footage, a 33-year-old man, who identified himself as mully88, is shown outside a Barnes & Noble Booksellers store holding a paperback copy of the Quran. He and another man then are seen shooting at the holy book in a wooded area with what is identified as a Colt M-16. In the last scene, mully88 is seen throwing the damaged Quran onto the sidewalk outside the Islamic Center at 1410 Cemetery Ave.

Officials with the Islamic Center filed a complaint to local law enforcement last summer when the incident took place, said Khalid Hashmi, a spokesman for the Annour Islamic Center in Chattanooga, another mosque. More details of the incident became available through the online posting of the video, he said. (MORE)

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TN: QURAN VANDALISM PROMPTS SHOCK FROM LOCAL MUSLIMS - TOP
Joe Legge, WDEF-TV News 12, 7/11/06
http://www.wdef.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WDEF/MGArticle/DEF_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189087119

Federal officials say they're looking into whether an on-line video posted by a Chattanooga man involves a hate crime.

The video, called "kill the koran," was posted last month on myspace.com, an on-line community.

The website's author is a 33-year old Chattanooga man. He lists his occupation as a mechanic and paramedic. News 12 received calls today from viewers revealing the man's identity, and he does appear to be local.

Chattanooga's Muslim community expressed outrage and fear after learning of the internet video showing two men, one reportedly local, shooting the Quran. Khaled Hashmi of Annour Islamic Community says "these acts are terrorist acts."

Hashmi says Muslims treat their holy book more important than themselves. While local followers of Islam say they're in shock over the video, statements made on the man's website leave them frightened. "We don't know how many weapons they have and what their intentions are they just may go out and start committing crimes against us," says Hashmi. (MORE)

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CAIR: PASTOR APPOINTED BY BUSH WON'T APOLOGIZE FOR REMARKS ON ISLAM - TOP
BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press, 7/11/06
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/APP/607110945

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Rev. O'Neal Dozier has two missions, and he has been outspoken about achieving both: saving souls and helping Republicans.

A personable black pastor and former professional football player from Broward County, he has associated with Gov. Jeb Bush and recently introduced gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist at a meeting with other pastors - an event at which he said Jesus Christ told him Crist would be the next governor.

But after Dozier called Islam a cult and began fighting a mosque planned for a largely black Pompano Beach neighborhood, Bush's office asked him to resign as a member of a commission that nominates judges for appointment. His views, criticized by Muslims, will mean his political involvement may be less influential, which he sees as a regrettable consequence to his primary mission.

"I need political influence in order to obtain the things that I think that I need to obtain for the Lord, Jesus Christ," he said Tuesday, two days after turning in his resignation. "I would love to be able to maintain that and at the same time win souls for the Lord. But I guess sometimes that's not possible."

And so he offers no apologies and continues to say the Quran is evil. . .

His attitude is a misunderstanding of Islam, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"He might take a look at his Bible again and see what Jesus what would do in these circumstances," Hooper said. "I doubt that Jesus, peace be upon him, would seek to increase divisions and hostilities in the society in which he lived. Jesus preached love and respect, not hatred and mistrust." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-FL: MOSQUE PROTEST AT CITY HALL - TOP
DARRAN SIMON, Miami Herald, 7/12/06
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/15016878.htm

A group of black ministers and dozens of their supporters took their protest of a planned mosque to the Pompano Beach Commission on Tuesday.

Although the issue wasn't on the meeting agenda, the Rev. O'Neal Dozier addressed commissioners during public comments after leading a protest outside City Hall.

Dozier, the pastor of Worldwide Christian Center Church, is leading the effort to block construction of a mosque in a ``black Christian community."

Last week, he characterized Islam as "cult" and "a dangerous religion" on a radio show -- remarks that cost him a political appointment. On Tuesday night, he echoed that sentiment. . .

"The position that Rev. Dozier has taken is one of bigotry," Altaf Ali, the executive director the Florida chapter the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in an interview before the meeting. "Islam teaches an individual to act with justice, to be kind to your neighbor."

Ali attended the protest and challenged Dozier's characterization of Islam. (MORE)

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MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE GATHER IN POMPANO TO PROTEST CONSTRUCTION OF MOSQUE - TOP
Gregory Lewis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7/12/06
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-ctension12jul12,0,3900338.story

Led by the Rev. O'Neal Dozier of the Worldwide Christian Center, protesters carried signs opposing the relocation of the mosque from the city's northeast area. Some called Muslims "dangerous" and "terrorists."

Dozier, who last week called Islam a cult, said in an interview commissioners face repercussions at the ballot box if they do not change the June 14 decision. If the commissioners didn't change their minds, Dozier said, he would sue the city.

Inside the commission's chambers, Dozier also repeated some of the rhetoric that prompted Gov. Jeb Bush's office to ask him to resign from Broward County's Judicial Nominating Committee recently.

"We must remember that no matter how peaceful many Muslims seem to be, their core religion's doctrine allows for no other faith to exist peacefully alongside them," Dozier told the commissioners during a public comment period.

Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also showed up at the protest and said Dozier knew little about Islam. He called Dozier "a bigot," but added, "Despite the hurt in our community, we still want to sit down with him."

"The commission has already approved the mosque, so any noise Dozier makes is irrelevant," Ali said. (MORE)

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MO: COURSE EXPLORES THE CULTURE OF MUSLIM WOMEN - TOP
JOYCE TSAI, Kansas City Star, 7/12/06
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15014455.htm

It was an unsettling and uncomfortable experience, Laure Christensen remembers - how they'd sat in a circle and took turns trying on the veils.

One was just a rectangular swathe of black fabric with a cutout for your eyes. Another was a pretty shade of lavender with inner and outer veils. But both changed her whole view of the world for those seconds she slipped them on.

"I wasn't itching to get the next one on," she admits. Before the class, "I associated the veil with violence."

But the experience helped her to understand the complexities behind those generalizations, she said.

Christensen was one of six other students who took a four-week summer course at Park University called "Difficult Dialogues," geared toward understanding more about the lives of Middle Eastern women.

"I really didn't know much about Islam and to be truthful, I was little afraid of it," Christensen said. "To me the world of Muslims or Islam had a connotation of fear and distrust so I wanted to educate myself on what the true beliefs were."

Taught by Cynthia Williams, an associate professor of English, and Judith Richards, Modern Languages department chair, the pilot course was offered for the first time at Park this summer. And they hope to expand the course next year, so that it will include students from the international and military community. (MORE)

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MA: EPISCOPAL CHIEF TO AGAIN PROTEST ISRAELI ACTIONS - TOP
MICHAEL PAULSON, Boston Globe, 7/12/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/12/episcopal_chief_to_again_protest_israeli_actions/

Bishop M. Thomas Shaw of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, who five years ago jolted local Christian-Jewish relations by joining a pro- Palestinian demonstration in front of the Israeli Consulate in Boston, plans to reprise his performance today with another protest at the same location.

Saying that his Christian faith does not allow him to remain silent in the face of Israel's incursions into Gaza, Shaw said he feels a moral obligation to call attention to the plight of Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, and especially to an Episcopal hospital in Gaza, Al Ahli Arab, that he said is operating on a generator and is days from running out of electricity to care for its patients.

"I want to draw as much attention to the situation as I possibly can, because I'm concerned about what's happening there," Shaw said yesterday, explaining his decision to join the protest, which is organized by groups supportive of Palestinian rights and critical of Israeli conduct.

"The message I want to send is that I really encourage the Israeli consulate to communicate to the Israeli government and the Israeli military how critical it is for them to immediately withdraw from the Gaza and to do whatever they can, in a humanitarian way, to take care of the 700,000 people who are without any kind of electricity and to provide the necessary fuel, so that medical care can continue to happen and children can be taken care of." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

NINE PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING SEVEN CHILDREN, KILLED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE - TOP
IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press, 7/12/06

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Sharply escalating its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, Israel dropped a quarter-ton bomb on a home Wednesday in an attempt to assassinate top Hamas fugitives. Nine members of a family, including seven children, were killed. (MORE)

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CAIR
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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/13/06

* Verse: Invite All with Wisdom and Beautiful Preaching
* CAIR Offers Condolences to Indian Ambassador
            - India: Muslims Line Up for Hours to Donate Blood
* Canadian Muslims Challenge Entry of Franklin Graham
* CAIR-FL: Anti-Muslim Bigotry from Some Pulpits (Sun-Sent)
            - FL: Religious Tolerance Booed Loudly (Miami Herald)
* CA: A Muslim's Choice: Help FBI or Lose Visa (WS Journal)
* NY: Firings in Wake of Bias Suit by Black, Muslim Workers
            - NY: Teacher Works for Understanding of U.S. Muslims (NPR)
* EU Accuses Israel Over Attacks on Lebanon (AP)
            - Dozens of Lebanese Civilians Killed in Israeli Raids

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VERSE OF THE DAY: INVITE ALL WITH WISDOM AND BEAUTIFUL PREACHING - TOP

"Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and reason with them in the most courteous manner. For your Lord knows best who strays from His path and He knows best who is rightly guided."

The Holy Quran, 16:125

To obtain or sponsor a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO INDIAN AMBASSADOR - TOP

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/13/06) - Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today met with the Indian ambassador in Washington, D.C., to offer the American Muslim community's condolences for the loss of life in the recent bomb attacks in the city of Mumbai. Immediately after the attacks, CAIR issued a statement saying the "senseless and brutal bombings. . .must be condemned and repudiated by people of all faiths."

"No political cause will be served through these inhumane acts of violence against innocent people," said CAIR Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed, who took part in today's meeting.

Ambassador Ronen Sen thanked the CAIR delegation and told them that the Indian people are very resilient and he anticipates that there will be a quick return to normalcy and that minority communities will not face a backlash. Sen commended the Indian Muslim community for their quick and unequivocal condemnation of the bombings.

SEE ALSO:

MUSLIMS LINED UP FOR HOURS TO DONATE BLOOD TO HINDU CITIZENS WHO WERE WOUNDED IN THE TRAIN BOMBINGS IN MUMBAI - TOP
MISNA, Spero News, 7/13/0
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=4354

Muslims lined up for hours to donate blood to Hindu citizens who were wounded in the train bombings in Mumbai. It was a rare signal of harmony just as fears were increasing that the attacks - likely the responsibility of Kashmir separatists - had re-ignited religious tensions.

"We do not care if a Muslim or a Hindu receives our blood the important thing is that it saves lives," said Abdul Khan, one of dozens of Muslims waiting to donate blood in the lineup in front of the Siddarth hospital, near the Jogeshwari hospital, where one of seven explosions took place.

"Whoever tried to break our harmony has failed" said Pasha Mian Sheikh who opened the doors of the 'Islamia Arabia' mosque to offer shelter, food and water. "Hundreds of Muslims," he added, "showed courage and harmony yesterday helping their Hindu brothers." (MORE)

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CAIR-CAN: MUSLIMS SAY ENTRY OF ISLAMOPHOBE RAISES 'DOUBLE STANDARD' ON FREE SPEECH - TOP
Government asked to clarify position barring Imam, but allowing entry of 'Islam is evil' reverend

(OTTAWA, CANADA - 07/13/06) - CAIR-CAN is asking the federal government to clarify its position on freedom of speech after the outcry over a planned visit to Canada of a British Imam and the official silence about the upcoming entry of a U.S. evangelist who has called Islam "a very evil and a very wicked religion."

A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Monte Solberg said "we do not welcome hate-mongers in Canada" when explaining why the federal government recently instituted barriers to prevent the visit of British Imam Riyad ul-Haq. Ul-Haq was accused of having made hateful comments against Jews, homosexuals and other minorities.

The federal government has not said whether U.S. evangelist Reverend Franklin Graham, who is scheduled to visit Winnipeg in October 2006, will face similar barriers to entry.

SEE: Graham's Show of Hope on Its Way to Winnipeg

In a 2001 interview, Graham called Islam "a very evil and a very wicked religion" and in 2005 Graham told an ABC reporter that he had not changed his opinion and made further inflammatory comments against Muslims. Graham has also said that Hindus are "bound by Satan's power."

None of the interest groups who called for ul-Haq to be barred from entry have spoken out about Graham's views or his visit to Canada.

For more information about Graham's Islamophobic comments, see:
http://cbs2.com/topstories/topstories_story_075065149.html

"Based on the different reactions to the comments of both religious leaders, some Canadian Muslims are wondering whether a double standard is being applied," says CAIR-CAN Executive Director Karl Nickner. "As Muslims and as Canadians, we stand firmly against any hateful religious speech by representatives of all faiths."

Nickner says freedom of speech is a cornerstone of Canadian society that should not be so easily abandoned when existing hate speech legislation is sufficient to deal with hateful commentary made on Canadian soil.

CONTACT: CAIR-CAN Communications Director Halima Mautbur, 613-254-9704 or 613-795-2012; CAIR-CAN Executive Director Karl Nickner, 613-254-9704 or 613-853-4111

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BIGOTRY FROM SOME PULPITS, BETTER SENSE IN THE STREETS - TOP
Sun-Sentinel, 7/13/06
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/sfl-mayocol13jul13,0,7282860.column

In Pompano Beach's Golden Acres apartment complex, across the street from the sign that says, "Rezoning of this property is under consideration," residents say they aren't bothered by the prospect of a mosque next door.

"Everybody is entitled to their religion," said Ruby McCloud.

But a few ignorant ministers, such as the Rev. O'Neal Dozier of the Worldwide Christian Center, appear to have forgotten this American fact of life.

Not only have they tried to block the move of the Islamic Center of South Florida, Dozier has inflamed the situation by repeatedly calling Islam "a cult" and fretting that a Muslim influx could make the neighborhood "a breeding ground for terrorists."

In an interview on Wednesday, Dozier said "all Islam is radical" and he called the Quran "a dangerous, evil instrument" that's "the root of the problem." His proposed solution: banning Islam in the United States.

"There should be freedom of religion, but for one so dangerous as Islam, we ought to carve out an exception," Dozier said. "Every law has exceptions." . . .

Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spent 90 minutes talking to Dozier on Wednesday after both appeared on Fox News Channel.

"I told him, `I'm very surprised and shocked to see the position you're taking, because historically your people have been discriminated against in the way you're doing to us,'" Ali said. "He's adamant about blaming all Muslims for the actions of a few. ... He's espousing bigotry and hate." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

FL: RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IS BOOED LOUDLY - TOP
FRED GRIMM, Miami Herald, 7/13/06
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15025174.htm

Willie Lawson invoked the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. The NAACP leader spoke of America's founding principles, the need for tolerance, the evil of discrimination.

He was booed loudly. Disapproval fairly cascaded through the audience at Pompano Beach City Hall. It was a reception a civil rights leader hasn't endured in these parts since North Broward was a sprawling tomato patch ruled by racist rednecks.

In the modern version played out Tuesday night, the bigots were black.

They held signs and marched outside City Hall to protest city zoning approval of a mosque in northwest Pompano Beach.

When the City Commission met an hour later, the dissidents' leader, the Rev. O'Neal Dozier of the Worldwide Christian Church, went to the podium and denigrated Islam, a "cult" he called it, and reduced all its practitioners to stark, one-dimensional bomb-wielding American-hating stereotypes.

Dozier accused "Moooslims" (stretching out that first syllable for mocking emphasis) of picking a Christian neighborhood where they could convert young black men to Islam. "We don't need young black men to become more angry, to hate white men. We don't need any more violence."

Dozier's words brought shouts of "Amen!" from the audience. His three-minute diatribe brought applause and then a standing ovation.

When Lawson, president of the North Broward NAACP, rose to call for religious tolerance, it became an act of courage. (MORE)

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A MUSLIM'S CHOICE: HELP FBI OR LOSE VISA - TOP
Peter Waldman, Wall Street Journal Europe, 7/13/06
http://online.wsj.com/public/us

Last November, when Yassine Ouassif crossed into Champlain, New York, from Canada, border agents questioned him for several hours. Then they took away his green card and sent him home to San Francisco by bus, with strict instructions: As soon as he got there, he was to call a man named Dan.

Dan, it turned out, was Daniel Fliflet, a counterterrorism agent for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Ouassif met the agent at a train station in nearby Oakland on Nov. 30.

Mr. Fliflet told the 24-year-old Moroccan that he had been monitoring his friends and him for many months, Mr. Ouassif recalls. Mr. Fliflet made him an offer: Become an informant and regularly report to the FBI on what his Muslim friends in San Francisco were saying and doing. In exchange, he would get back his green card. He could resume his education, bring his Moroccan wife to America and pursue his dream of buying a car, moving to Sacramento, California's capital, and becoming an engineer.

If he refused? asked Mr. Ouassif. "I will work hard to deport you to Morocco as soon as possible," Mr. Fliflet responded, according to an account written by Mr. Ouassif soon after the meeting.

Mr. Ouassif's encounters with federal officials -- and with intelligence agencies on two other continents -- came to a head in April. His story provides a window into a largely covert front of the war on terror: the FBI's aggressive pursuit of Muslim informants. Since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the bureau has had the difficult task of penetrating a culture that few agents know anything about. It has responded with a forceful effort to conscript eyes and ears within Muslim communities.

Some of the recruitment is public. FBI agents plead for community assistance in meetings at mosques and other Muslim conclaves. Agents also are under pressure to develop confidential sources.

Over the years, informants have been vital in developing criminal cases against drug gangs, the Mafia and other organized crime. But when agents resort to coercive tactics, it sometimes backfires, some FBI agents say.

"The best FBI man is really just a good salesman," says Patrick Webb, a retired FBI supervisor who set up San Francisco's terrorism task force in the 1990s. "Blackmail of any type is blackmail. That never works." . . .

Another federal official familiar with Mr. Ouassif's case says government lawyers have become much more discerning about the treatment of Muslim immigrants since the years immediately following Sept. 11. "We know the FBI is desperate for human assets, for feet on the ground, but the worst thing we could possibly do is threaten and blackmail people and treat them with disrespect," this official says.

Ms. Quy, the FBI spokeswoman in San Francisco, says Mr. Fliflet thought he could help Mr. Ouassif with a visa problem and didn't set out to threaten him. "We're learning, too," she says. "We need to understand where the boundaries are for them, as well as us." She says the suspicions about Mr. Ouassif and his acquaintances are "diminishing all the time, because our questions are getting answered." (MORE)

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NY: 8 WORKERS FIRED IN WAKE OF BIAS LAWSUIT - TOP
ALAN WECHSLER and DENNIS YUSKO, Times-Union, 7/13/06
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=499296&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=LOCAL&newsdate=7/13/2006

GLENVILLE -- Saying it would not accept discrimination on the job, Super Steel Schenectady Inc. fired eight employees Wednesday, three months after black workers at the locomotive manufacturer sued the company claiming they were subjected to repeated racial slurs and intimidation.

The company did not detail the reason for the dismissals or announce who was let go.

"Super Steel Schenectady Inc. will not tolerate any employee conduct in violation of its policies against discrimination and harassment," Super Steel said in a brief announcement e-mailed to the Times Union. "This is a confidential personnel matter, and we are prepared to defend any and all personnel actions taken."

Company spokesman William Carr declined to provide further comment.

Reports of racial abuse at the Milwaukee company's Glenville plant surfaced in April, when nine present and past black employees of the plant lodged a $175 million lawsuit against the company.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Albany, alleged racial harassment and discrimination were deeply embedded in the company's culture and work climate, and that the plant contained a segregated break room.

Black and Muslim employees were allegedly subjected to threats of violence, pro-Ku Klux Klan graffiti and racial taunts on the job. Former welder Criss Murphy found a stuffed monkey hanging from a noose inside his work locker in January, the suit alleges. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

TEACHER WORKS FOR UNDERSTANDING OF U.S. MUSLIMS - TOP
Anne Garrels, NPR, 7/13/06
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5554170&ft=1&f=1003

Morning Edition, July 13, 2006 � Five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a New York elementary school teacher, who came to the U.S. as a young Muslim immigrant, has become a vocal activist for American understanding of Muslims in the U.S.

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EU ACCUSES ISRAEL OVER ATTACKS ON LEBANON - TOP
PAUL AMES, Associated Press, 7/13/06

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union on Thursday criticized Israel for using "disproportionate" force in its attacks on Lebanon following the cross-border raid by Hezbollah guerillas who captured two Israeli soldiers.

The EU also called Israel's naval blockade cutting off supply routes to Lebanon unjustified.

Separately, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was planning a peace mission to the Middle East.

"The European Union is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah on Israel," according to a statement issued by Finland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency. "The presidency deplores the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

ISRAEL WIDENS LEBANON REPRISALS, 36 CIVILIANS DIE - TOP
Nadim Ladki, Reuters, 7/13/06

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israel struck Beirut airport and Hizbollah television and began enforcing a naval blockade of Lebanon on Thursday, intensifying reprisals after Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight a day earlier.

The Israeli attacks have killed 36 Lebanese civilians. (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

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CAIR ACTION ALERT #493

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/13/06) - CAIR today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact their elected representatives and urge that they condemn Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza and Lebanon that have left dozens of innocent civilians dead, and many more wounded.

Following incidents in which several Israeli soldiers were taken captive by militants, Israel has launched attacks that the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), France, Greece, and other nations have termed "disproportionate," "excessive" and "pointless." Dozens of Lebanese civilians, sometimes whole families, have been killed in the most recent Israeli attacks.

A statement issued by Finland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said: "The European Union is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah on Israel. The presidency deplores the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified." France's foreign minister condemned Israel's attacks as "a disproportionate act of war." Greece called on Israel "to avoid the use of excessive and pointless force which cannot provide a solution to the problem."

Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza have produced a humanitarian crisis of massive proportions. Electricity is out 12-18 hours a day in Gaza following an Israeli attack on the area's only power plant two weeks ago. Gaza hospitals are only taking emergency cases. Many people are selling everything they own just to buy scarce food supplies. A spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Program said some 85 percent of Gazans are dependent on food handouts and many families are eating only one meal a day.

SEE: Crisis in Gaza? (NBC)

"Israel is killing civilians and inflicting massive humanitarian suffering on both the Palestinian and Lebanese populations in order to achieve a political goal, which clearly fits the definition of state terrorism," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. Awad said that more Americans are realizing that Israel is a strategic liability, not an asset to the United States, as outlined in a recent Harvard University report.

SEE: The Israel Lobby (London Review of Books)

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:

1) CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES (including President Bush) and ask them to publicly condemn Israel's "disproportionate and excessive" attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructures in Gaza and Lebanon.

Point out that such attacks only serve to strengthen extremism in the region and that the United States must adopt a Middle East policy that is in our nation's, not Israel's interest.

TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/

2) PUT YOUR CELL PHONE TO GOOD USE. Call all of your friends and family members and ensure that they contact their elected officials. Act as a facilitator. You can enter their zip code into our website at http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/ and get the names and contact information of their Senators.

3) CONTACT THE MEDIA. Call in to radio talk shows and write letters to the editor to express your views. To find local media contact information, go to: http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/media/

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey P. Saylor, E-Mail: csaylor@cair-net.org, Tel: (202) 488-8787 x6413, (571) 278-4658

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/14/06

* Hadith: Better to Forgive Than to Punish
* CAIR-OH: Blast at Arab-American Restaurant 'Suspicious'
            - CAIR-Chicago Kicks Off Electoral Campaign
* ISLAM-OPED: Moral Values Must Guide Our Mideast Policy
            - Vatican Condemns Israel for Attacks on Lebanon
            - CAIR Blasts Israel's 'Attacks on Civilians'
* CAIR-FL: Tampa Woman Witnesses Beirut Attack (Tampa Trib)
            - CAIR: Worry of War Extends to Northwest Indiana
            - CAIR-MI: Metro Families Stranded as Bombs Strike Lebanon
            - CAIR-NY: Local Leaders Call for Resolution to Conflict
* FL: Bias Against Islam - Community Should Speak Out (Herald)
* Canada: Islamic Values and Capitalism Find Common Ground

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HADITH OF THE DAY: BETTER TO FORGIVE THAN TO PUNISH - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1011

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR-OH: RESTAURANT BLAST RULED 'SUSPICIOUS' - TOP
Cameron Fullam, Pulse Journal, 7/13/06
http://www.pulsejournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/07/13/pj0713arson.html

An explosion last week at a West Chester Twp. restaurant owned by a Jordanian immigrant has members of the Arab and Muslim community worried it was ethnically motivated.

The blast was the fourth time the restaurant, Steak Thyme, 8179 Princeton-Glendale Road, had been damaged by fire since May 21.

Musa Shteiwi and his family watch as investigators gather evidence at Steak Thyme last Thursday hours before a blast would send him and his son to the hospital.

Karen Dabdoub, a spokeswoman for the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Muslim residents of the area talked to her over the weekend about the fires and expressed concern that similar attacks could happen again.

"Anytime an attack like this happens, the perception in the Arab and Muslim community is that it is ethnically or religiously motivated," Dabdoub said. "Especially in the absence of perpetrators being caught by law enforcement, that's the fear. Until that (motivation) is discovered, people speculate, rightly or wrongly."

Investigators said they are considering the possibility the attack is a hate crime. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-CHICAGO KICKS OFF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN - TOP

(CHICAGO, IL, 7/14/06) - CAIR-Chicago, along with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and other host organizations, has launched an electoral summer campaign with the goal of mobilizing 45,000 people to come to the polls on November 7.

The New Americans Democracy Project (NADP), the 2006 version of the electoral campaign run two years ago, aims to mobilize registered voters and register all eligible citizens in Illinois to vote. CAIR-Chicago, as a host organization, will be working intensively in the third congressional district's Bridgeview and surrounding areas. As a host organization, CAIR-Chicago's Governmental Relations Coordinator Sadiya Ahmed will be the supervisor for the CAIR-Chicago fellow.

For more information on the New Americans Democracy Project, contact Sadiya Ahmed at gov.relations@cairchicago.org or at 312-212-1520

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ISLAM-OPED: MORAL VALUES MUST GUIDE OUR MIDEAST POLICY - 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.

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MORAL VALUES MUST GUIDE OUR MIDEAST POLICY
By Hadia Mubarak
WORD COUNT: 711

[Hadia Mubarak is member of the board for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties group. Mubarak is currently a researcher at American University's School of International Service in Washington, D.C. She may be contacted at: hadia.mubarak@gmail.com]

I do not believe that any American with an ounce of moral conscience can sit idly by as 1.4 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip starve to death because of measures taken by a state that receives billions of our tax dollars each year.

"Starve to death" is not an exaggeration. Not when Israel closes down all Gaza's land, sea and air access routes, preventing the entry of food, fuel or humanitarian assistance for more than two weeks. Not when Israel destroys the only power plant in the entire Gaza Strip, cutting off 700,000 people from water and electricity.

A spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Program said some 85 percent of Gazans are dependent on food handouts and many families are eating only one meal a day. More than 30,000 children suffer from malnutrition, and this number will increase as diarrhea spreads due to food contamination and the limited supply of clean water.

The safe return of a captured Israeli soldier might have been accomplished by other less punitive measures. But Israel did not explore alternatives and instead used "disproportionate" force, according to the United Nations.

How do the deaths of dozens of Palestinians help secure the release of Gilad Shalit? How is Israel fighting terrorism when it drops a missile on the Wahba family home in Khan Younis as they sit down to enjoy their last meal? What will become of one-year-old Khaled Wahba, paralyzed and unconscious from a wound in the head by shrapnel from the missile? How many more orphans like Khaled Wahba will Israel create before it begins to heed international law?

The longer the United States allows Israel to inflict collective punishment upon civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, and now Lebanon, the more our nation's interests and image are harmed worldwide.

As John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt pointed out in their recent study "The Israel Lobby," Israel is a strategic liability to the United States in the war on terror.

It is a well-known fact that America has supported Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories by providing a total of $140 billion in taxpayer dollars from 1976 to 2005. And it is also a fact that this one-sided support for Israel has turned a large part of the world against us.

During a recent six-week trip in the Muslim world for a research project sponsored by American University, Brookings Institute and Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, I observed that the main contention Muslims have with the United States is its unconditional and unbalanced support for Israel.

From high school students in Karachi's elite Grammar School, to university students at Turkey's Fatih University, Syria's Abu Nour Institute and the University of Jordan, the same questions came up again and again: "Why does America support Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territories with financial and military aid? Why does it turn a blind eye on Israel's human rights violations?"

I would explain to university students, taxi drivers, waiters, and even my own relatives in the Arab world that the American people have no idea what is going on inside the Palestinian territories. I would tell them that they cannot judge the American people by the actions of politicians more concerned with campaign donations than with our nation's international image. As a native-born Arab-American, I would tell them how the majority of Americans have shown nothing but respect and openness to my ethnic heritage and faith.

Those responses may have worked in the past, but not anymore.

Our failed policies in the Middle East have bred nothing but anti-American hostility and mistrust of our intentions in the region. The only way to rectify this dismal situation is to actually put into practice the principles of freedom and justice upon which this country was founded. We must demand an end to Israel's attacks on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians.

After all, the definition of terrorism is attacks on civilian targets designed to achieve a political goal. What else is Israel doing when it attempts to starve the Palestinians into submission or bomb Lebanon's infrastructure until its soldiers are released?

Our moral values must become the guiding principles of our foreign policy. This is the most important step we can take to make America more secure for our children.

SEE ALSO:

VATICAN CONDEMNS ISRAEL FOR ATTACKS ON LEBANON - TOP
Reuters, 7/14/06
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060714/3/2n5ti.html

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Friday strongly deplored Israel's strikes on Lebanon, saying they were "an attack" on a sovereign and free nation.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said Pope Benedict and his aides were very worried that the developments in the Middle East risked degenerating into "a conflict with international repercussions."

"In particular, the Holy See deplores right now the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and assures its closeness to these people who already have suffered so much to defend their independence," he told Vatican Radio.

Israel struck Beirut airport again on Friday and bombed Lebanese roads, power supplies and communication networks in a widening campaign after Hizbollah guerrillas seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight.

Sodano said the Vatican condemned both "terroristic attacks" and military reprisals.

Hizbollah, which wants to trade its captives for prisoners held in Israel, has showered rockets across the frontier in its fiercest bombardment since 1996 when Israel launched a 17-day blitz against southern Lebanon and Hizbollah.

But Sodano reserved his harshest words for Israel.

"The right of defence on the part of a state does not exempt it from its responsibility to respect international law, particularly regarding the safeguarding of civilian populations," he said.

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ISLAMIC GROUP BLASTS ISRAEL'S 'ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS' - TOP
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 7/14/06
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200607/NAT20060714b.html

(CNSNews.com) - A U.S.-based Islamic civil rights group is urging American Muslims and "other people of conscience" to urge their elected representatives to condemn the Israeli attacks on "civilians in Gaza and Lebanon."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations says American Muslims should tell Congress and President Bush that Israel's attacks "only serve to strengthen extremism in the region and that the United States must adopt a more balanced Middle East policy." . . .

CAIR, in a press release issued on Thursday, noted that the United Nations, the European Union, France Greece and other nations have described Israel's attack as "disproportionate," "excessive" and "pointless."

"Dozens of Lebanese civilians, sometimes whole families, have been killed in the most recent Israeli attacks," CAIR said. (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: TAMPA WOMAN WITNESSES BEIRUT ATTACK - TOP
CHRIS ECHEGARAY, Tampa Tribune, 7/14/06
http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBU7421MPE.html

From a 10th-floor balcony, Pilar Saad watched as Israeli missiles cut through the sky, striking the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.

The air was smoky from huge fires burning, the power out in some regions.

At 10 p.m. Thursday from Beirut, Saad, of Tampa, gave the account over a land-line telephone. She was to fly out of Beirut International Airport on July 23, but parts of that airport are in flames.

"Without a doubt, the casualties will increase," she said. "All the people are in basement shelters. They are terrified. Kids are crying and scared and fear for their safety. This has to stop. We are the victims of state terrorism." . . .

Ahmed Bedier, local spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, interviewed Pilar Saad on local radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM, on Thursday. Bedier spoke to Saad for 25 minutes about the escalation.

"The sentiment is the [Israeli] reaction is disproportionate," Bedier said. "There is a great deal of concern for civilians."

SEE ALSO:

CAIR: WORRY OF WAR EXTENDS TO NORTHWEST INDIANA - TOP
CHANDRA JOHNSON and JOHN SCHEIBEL, The NWI Times, 7/14/06
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2006/07/14/news/top_news/4f0f54d2adb5c13e862571ab0010f653.txt

From whatever background or ethnicity, Northwest Indiana residents were troubled Thursday by increasingly violent events in the Middle East and the prospects of war. . .

But Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Israeli attacks are not justified and without the support of the United Nations or the European Union.

"We are calling on all people of conscience to contact their elected officials to condemn Israel's indiscriminate attack on Lebanon," Hooper said. "It's clear that the attacks on Lebanon are disproportionate to any attack against Israel." (MORE)

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CAIR-MI: METRO FAMILIES STRANDED AS BOMBS STRIKE LEBANON - TOP
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 7/14/06
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060714/METRO/607140403/1003

When Hassan Komeiha, a businessman from Dearborn vacationing in southern Lebanon, heard the Israeli defense forces were coming, he scooped up his small children, called to his wife, Lara, and headed for the mountains.

"We heard some bombs, and we went right away from the house to go up to the mountains where it was safer," Komeiha said in a telephone interview Thursday. "My children aren't used to hearing stuff like that. We need to get out of here -- ASAP!"

Like the Komeihas, thousands of Lebanese immigrants who live in Metro Detroit are stranded in Lebanon, amid an escalating Israeli attack. Some are traveling on business, but many vacation, as they do every summer.

The State Department estimated Thursday that there are about 25,000 Americans in Lebanon, and a spokeswoman said it could provide no information about when any of them can safely leave. . .

Metro Detroit Muslim and Christian leaders, along with the Council on American Islamic Relations, are scheduled to speak out today against the Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Gaza, as are members of the Council of Arab American Organizations. (MORE)

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CAIR-NY: LOCAL LEADERS CALL FOR RESOLUTION TO CONFLICT - TOP
BRITNEY TABOR, Newsday, 7/14/06
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-litens0714,0,6673234.story

Religious leaders in New York and on Long Island called for a peaceful resolution to the growing conflict between Israel and Lebanon, but had different perspectives on who is responsible for the escalating violence.

Habeeb Ahmad, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury, said he thinks Israel's retaliation has been too heavy-handed and events have spun out of control. He said worshipers of the Islamic Center are praying for peace and a hopeful outcome.

"They both have to respect each other's territorial borders," Ahmad said. "Two wrongs don't make a right. Cooler heads should prevail." . . .

In New York, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement that Israel is creating a "humanitarian crisis" which will only further escalate tensions. The organization stated that it has condemned Hezbollah in the past, but the Israeli attacks are excessive.

"World leaders have already condemned the attack as disproportionate to the current conflict and are looking for the U.S. to do the same," the statement read. "It is vital to our nation's War on Terror that we do not support state-sponsored terrorism."

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FL: BIAS AGAINST ISLAM - TOP
Our Opinion: Community Should Speak Out Against Religious Prejudice
Miami Herald, 7/14/06
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/15034596.htm

Shame on the Rev. O'Neal Dozier and his supporters for their brazen display of bigotry and ignorance in opposition to the planned construction of an Islamic mosque in a Pompano Beach neighborhood.

Rather than challenge the location of the mosque on merit, the Rev. Dozier instead chose to attack Islam as a religion, and then to associate the religion with terrorists. He called Islam a "cult" and 'a dangerous religion." When challenged, he explained: "We feel this way because we know our country was attacked on 9/11 and is still threatened by radical Islamic terrorists."

The Rev. Dozier asserts that he has the right to express his opinions -- and on that point he is correct. The U.S. Constitution protects his right to freely express himself so long as his speech isn't inflammatory. The Rev. Dozier's statements about Islam are harmful nonetheless. They also are irresponsible and flat-out wrong. He broad-brushes all who practice Islam -- and there are hundreds of millions of believers worldwide -- as belonging to a cult. Surely the Rev. Dozier and his supporters recognize that kind of blanket characterization as unmitigated bias. (MORE)

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MUSLIM INVESTORS TREAD CAREFULLY - TOP
Islamic values and capitalism find common ground despite restrictions
DALE JACKSON, Globe & Mail, 7/14/06
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060714.RMUSLIMFUNDS14/TPStory/Business

In a forum on muslim-investor.com, a Muslim investor asks an Islamic scholar if it is halal, or permissible, to profit from an investment that nearly doubled in a short period of time after the company was acquired by a Japanese firm.

It's an easy call for most investors but the scholar weighs the issue and eventually concludes that taking profit is halal in that particular case because the investor originally saw value in the first company and there was no intent to speculate on the direction of the market.

Generally, under Islamic law profit may be taken to the extent that the normal course of the market will allow. A stock price cannot be inflated through artificial means, exploitation of advantages or monopolies. Margins cannot be so high as to be "detrimental" to the welfare of society.

"It all comes down to intention," says Jaafer Syed, senior financial consultant at Oakville, Ont.-based W.H. Stuart & Associates. Mr. Syed provides investment services for nearly 500 Muslim Canadians across Canada. "Not everything is black and white," he says. (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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/14/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on President Bush to demand that Israel stop bombing civilian areas in Lebanon at least long enough to safely evacuate some 25,000 U.S. citizens in that nation.

SEE: U.S. Developing Plans to Evacuate Citizens From Lebanon (CNN)

Bush has rejected calls for a cease-fire despite the fact that Israeli attacks from land, sea and air have killed dozens of Lebanese civilians and severely damaged Lebanon's civilian infrastructure. Israel's attacks on Lebanon have been condemned as "disproportionate" by the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union and the Vatican.

SEE: Bush Won't Pressure Israel for Cease-Fire (AP)

Israel's bombing campaign has made it too dangerous for many U.S. citizens, both diplomatic personnel and Muslim and Christian Lebanese-Americans, to leave the areas under attack.

SEE: MI: Detroiters React to Mideast Tensions (WXYZ)
FL: Tampa Woman Witnesses Beirut Attack (Tampa Tribune)
MI: Metro Families Stranded As Bombs Strike Lebanon (Detroit News)
NJ: Explosive Situation Hits Home for Many (Herald News)

"If a call for the full cessation of attacks on the civilian population of an American ally is too much to ask for, at least we can demand that Israel stop its bombing campaign long enough to evacuate American citizens," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The highest duty of any president is to protect the lives of Americans."

Awad also called on the State Department to issue an advisory to U.S. citizens in the Israeli armed forces that they risk violating the Neutrality Act by taking part in attacks on a friendly nation.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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BREAKING NEWS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Urge your friends, relatives and colleagues to sign up to receive CAIR-NET updates by going to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

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(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/15/06) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today on the international community to intervene after at least 12 Lebanese civilians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a convoy fleeing threats to destroy their village. The fleeing civilians had reportedly sought protection from U.N. peacekeeping forces in the area, but had been turned away.

SEE: 12 Lebanese Killed In Convoy Attack (AP)

In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:

"The international community must respond to this latest massacre of Lebanese men, women and children by taking concrete action to protect that nation's civilian population and infrastructure from attack.

"Israel has stated clearly, and demonstrated through violent actions, that it is attacking civilian targets in Lebanon in order to achieve a political goal. This is the very definition of state terrorism.

"Our nation cannot maintain credibility in condemning acts of terror carried out by individuals and groups, while offering diplomatic cover and material support to a state that is engaged in a brutal campaign against an entire civilian population."

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/16/06

* Verse: Every Creature Praises God in its Own Way
* CAIR-CA: Muslim Women in U.S. Feel Empowered (Sac Bee)
* CAIR-CAN: Know Your Rights, Muslims Urged (Toronto Sun)
* The Truth About the Israel Lobby's Influence (Wash Post)
* ISLAM-OPED: Values Must Guide Mideast Policy (Birmingham News)
            - Israeli Air Strike Kills 8 Canadians in Lebanon
            - ACTION: Contact Congress to Condemn Israeli Attacks
            - CAIR-MI: For Michigan, Middle East Conflict is Local
            - Children Die as Israel Widens Lebanon Assault (Observer)
            - Lebanese Baby's Body Parts Hung from Trees After Attack
* TN: Quran Shooting Suspects Cooperating with Authorities
            - Muslims, Mosques in ME, TN, IN Targets of Hate
* CAIR-FL: Muslim Congregation Stunned by Anti-Islam Bigotry
            - IN: Group Rallies to Side of Islamic Center
            - CAIR-TX: Muslims Counteract Fear at Conference
* MI: Dearborn Christians Reach Out to Muslims (GR Press)
* IL: 2nd Annual Conference of Muslim Chaplains (ISNA)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: EVERY CREATURE PRAISES GOD IN ITS OWN WAY - TOP

"Do you not see that God is the one who is praised by all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth, (even by) the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise."

The Holy Quran, 24:41

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CAIR-CA: MANY MUSLIM WOMEN IN U.S. FEEL EMPOWERED - TOP
Stephen Magagnini, Sacramento Bee
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060716/LIFESTYLE04/607160328

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The mosque -- or masjid in Davis, Calif., had become too small for the city's growing Muslim population, and a thorny debate arose over how to rectify the problem.

The all-male mosque board was riven with politics, and when her husband quit, Dr. Shereen Zakauddin Vera volunteered to take his place.

Vera quickly spoke up -- when the men talked of building a second story where the women and children could pray, she argued, "Why do we have to pray upstairs? We have old women who have trouble getting up and down."

Her concerns were heard, and she took a key role in raising the $650,000 needed to tear down the old mosque and build a larger, 4,000-square-foot house of worship.

Instead of hiding behind tradition, a growing number of American Muslim women such as Vera are looking inward, re-examining their role in Islam and stepping up as community leaders.

Since 9/11, in particular, the women "are finding their voice and trying to reconcile their love and passion for Islam with universal principles of democracy and freedom," said Madhavi Sunder, a University of California, Davis, law professor writing a book on Islamic women.

What the attack on New York City's twin towers did was bring American Muslims from South Asia, the Middle East and Africa together, Sunder said. "It certainly was a galvanizing event. Among young people there's been a revolt against the stereotype of the silent, victimized Muslim women."

Rather than rejecting their traditions, women are digging in deeper, beyond extremism, to a level of individual activism that reflects a more moderate Islam. "You do not see them rejecting Islam," Sunder said. "But you're seeing them in the upper echelons of leadership, even in the mosque, increasingly calling attention to the Islamic principles of equality and democracy."

This awakening can be seen from coast to coast, said Mohamed Nimer, research director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, the nation's leading Muslim civil rights group.

"The profile of women in America is totally different than in many majority Muslim countries," Nimer said. "They are more highly educated, a lot more likely to be part of a two-income household, they make money and contribute to community institutions, so they have more voice. Since 9/11, Muslims have been discussing many things, not just women's roles but the very definition and nature of American Muslim identity."

Women are leaders in CAIR chapters in places including Los Angeles and the San Francisco bay area.

Safaa Ibrahim, executive director of the Bay Area chapter, said that before 9-11, "I wasn't very religious, I didn't make it to the mosque every Friday."

But, "Because the people who carried out the attack called themselves Muslim, it made me need to explain that these people were misinterpreting the faith."

Not only did she "dive into becoming more informed about Islam," Ibrahim said she chose to wear her hijab "to show pride in my faith rather than allow the faces of terrorists to represent the faith."

While Muslim women wearing the hijab "end up receiving the worst discrimination out there," because of their visibility, Ibrahim said, "American Muslim women were always much more involved in the community than men -- they're the mothers, the teachers. In my household my husband's the breadwinner, which allows me to go out and fight for what's right." (MORE)

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CAIR-CAN: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, MUSLIMS URGED - TOP
BRETT CLARKSON, TORONTO SUN, 7/16/06
http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/07/16/1687118-sun.html

Not enough young Muslims know the law and risk having their rights trampled by law enforcement agencies in Canada, Muslim activists said yesterday in a City Hall meeting geared towards Islamic youths.

Individual Muslims also must stand up for their rights, and take a more proactive role in addressing how they're portrayed in the media, activists said at the Know Your Rights seminar, held in council chambers last night.

The event was organized by the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) and the Young Muslims of Canada.

Although much of the discussion focused on the recent terror-related arrests of 17 young men in the Toronto area, attendees also talked about discrimination against Muslims, as well as the portrayal of Muslims in the media.

Karl Nickner, executive director of CAIR-CAN, said Muslims should work together to show the larger population that terrorism has no place in Islam. (MORE)

CONTACT: CAIR-CAN Communications Director Halima Mautbur, 613-254-9704 or 613-795-2012; CAIR-CAN Executive Director Karl Nickner, 613-254-9704 or 613-853-4111

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A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP? - TOP
In search of the truth about the Israel lobby's influence on Washington
Glenn Frankel, Washington Post, 7/16/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201627_pf.html

Thanks to the work of the lobby and its allies, Israel gets more direct foreign aid -- about $3 billion a year -- than any other nation. There's a file cabinet somewhere in the State Department full of memoranda of understanding on military, diplomatic and economic affairs. Israel gets treated like a NATO member when it comes to military matters and like Canada or Mexico when it comes to free trade. There's an annual calendar full of meetings of joint strategic task forces and other collaborative sessions. And there's a presidential pledge, re-avowed by Bush in the East Room, that the United States will come to Israel's aid in the event of attack.

On Capitol Hill the Israel lobby commands large majorities in both the House and Senate. Polls show strong public support for Israel -- a connection that has grown even deeper after the September 11 attacks. The popular equation goes like this: Israelis equal good guys, Arabs equal terrorists. Working the Hill these days, says Josh Block, spokesman for the premier Israeli lobbying group known as AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, "is like pushing at an open door."

Not everyone believes this is a good thing. In March two distinguished political scientists -- Stephen Walt from Harvard and John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago -- published a 42-page, heavily footnoted essay arguing that the Bush administration's support for Israel and its related effort to spread democracy throughout the Middle East have "inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security."

The professors claim that our intimate partnership with Israel is both dangerous and unprecedented. "Other special interest groups have managed to skew foreign policy, but no lobby has managed to divert it as far from what the national interest would suggest," they argue. They go on to say that the war in Iraq "was due in large part to the Lobby's influence," and that the same combine is "using all of the strategies in its playbook" to pressure the administration into being aggressive and belligerent with Iran. The bottom line: "Israel's enemies get weakened or overthrown, Israel gets a free hand with the Palestinians, and the United States does most of the fighting, dying, rebuilding and paying."

A sweet deal for Israel, in other words, but a very bad one for America. (MORE)

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ISLAM-OPED: VALUES MUST GUIDE POLICY - TOP
HADIA MUBARAK, Birmingham News, 7/16/06
http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1153041446280520.xml&coll=2

Our failed policies in the Middle East have bred nothing but anti-American hostility and mistrust of our intentions in the region. The only way to rectify this dismal situation is to actually put into practice the principles of freedom and justice upon which this country was founded. We must demand an end to Israel's attacks on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians.

After all, the definition of terrorism is attacks on civilian targets designed to achieve a political goal. What else is Israel doing when it attempts to starve the Palestinians into submission or bomb Lebanon's infrastructure until its soldiers are released?

Our moral values must become the guiding principles of our foreign policy. This is the most important step we can take to make America more secure for our children.

[Hadia Mubarak is member of the board for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties group. Mubarak is currently a researcher at American University's School of International Service in Washington, D.C. E-mail: hadia.mubarak@gmail.com.]

SEE ALSO:

ISRAELI AIR STRIKE KILLS 8 CANADIANS IN LEBANON - TOP
CBC News, 7/16/06
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/16/lebanon-canadians.html

Eight Canadians were killed and six others seriously wounded in an Israeli air raid that hit a Lebanese town on the border with Israel on Sunday, Ottawa says. (MORE)

CONTACT: CAIR-CAN Communications Director Halima Mautbur, 613-254-9704 or 613-795-2012; CAIR-CAN Executive Director Karl Nickner, 613-254-9704 or 613-853-4111

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ACTION: URGE CONGRESS, PRESIDENT TO CONDEMN ISRAELI ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS - TOP
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=436&theType=AA

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CAIR-MI: FOR MICHIGAN PAPERS, MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT IS LOCAL - TOP
Editor & Publisher, 7/15/06
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002840040

NEW YORK With a high concentration of Lebanese-Americans, Detroit and other Michigan cities are experiencing the current conflict in the Middle East as a kind of local issue.

Protests and citizen gatherings have been held throughout the area. Not just Muslim but Christian groups have become involved, as there are many Christians in Lebanon. . .

"The Israeli attacks on Lebanon during the busiest tourism season of the year have lead Muslim groups in and around Dearborn to call press conferences and demonstrations to address the violence in the region and its effects on the local community. 'Our concern is not only based upon the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the deaths of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. Our concern also resides with the thousands of American citizens - (with) a large portion of them being Metro Detroit residents - that are in the region on vacation whose lives are in jeopardy as we speak,' said Dawud Walid, executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan (CAIR), at a Friday press conference in Dearborn Heights....

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CHILDREN DIE IN CONVOY ATTACK AS ISRAEL WIDENS LEBANON ASSAULT - TOP
The Observer, 7/16/06
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1821706,00.html

Israel steeply escalated its military campaign against Hizbollah in Lebanon yesterday with a series of air strikes that left more than 35 civilians dead, including a single strike on a convoy of families fleeing the fighting in a village near Tyre in the south of the country that killed more than 20 people, most of them children. (MORE)

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GRUESOME SCENES AFTER ISRAELI AIR RAIDS ON SOUTH LEBANON - TOP
Agence France Presse, 7/13/06
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=133381

TYRE - A baby was sliced into three and body parts hung from olive trees as the full force of Israeli military might hit rural southern Lebanon Thursday.
In the deadliest Israeli strikes in a decade, at least 39 people were killed.

As the south came under a relentless air assault that destroyed vital bridges linking one area to another, ordinary life came to a standstill as terror-stricken residents hid indoors and businesses remained closed.

The silence that reigned over southern Lebanon was broken only by the sounds of violence and its aftermath -- bomb blasts and the wail of ambulance sirens.

Israel's offensive, prompted by the capture of two of its soldiers by the militant group Hezbollah in a bid to secure a swap of prisoners, was the most serious since it ended 22 years of occupation in southern Lebanon in 2000.

On a charred mattress rest the remains of a burned baby girl, her arm to one side. Her upper body is at one end of the bed and her lower body at the other.

Police said the 10-month-old and six other family members were killed when an Israeli missile hit their home in the usually quiet village of Baflay, near the coastal city of Tyre.

The baby, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to a hospital morgue in Tyre. Her body has not yet been claimed by relatives. (MORE)

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TN: QURAN SHOOTING SUSPECTS COOPERATING WITH AUTHORITIES - TOP
Karina Gonzalez, Brian Lazenby, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/15/06
http://timesfreepress.com/QuickHeadlines.asp?sec=l&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fepaper%2Ewehco%2Ecom%2FWebChannel%2FShowStory%2Easp%3FPath%3DChatTFPress%2F2006%2F07%2F15%26ID%3DAr00700

Individuals responsible for a video posted on the Internet showing two men shooting a copy of the Quran and leaving it in front of the Islamic Center in Chattanooga are cooperating with federal investigators, officials said.

"FBI officials have determined the source of the video, and we have their cooperation," said Tim Burke, supervisor of the FBI's Chattanooga field office. "At this time, it remains under investigation."

Mr. Burke said it would be up to the U.S. attorney's office to determine if the men will face charges. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

MUSLIMS, MOSQUES TARGETS OF HATE - TOP
Aatif Ali Bokhari, Arab American News, 7/14/06
http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=5840

DEARBORN - American Muslims go to their places of worship increasingly under the fear of intimidation and violence.

Bigots are launching hate attacks on Muslims at their places of worship with seeming impunity; their onslaught ranges from the frightening to the bizarre.

The Council on Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that the attacks are "increasing," but this week marks a particularly aggressive surge of anti-Muslim violence.

One Michigan City mosque in Indiana had its windows smashed and dome shot. At another mosque, in Tennessee, someone tossed a copy of the Qur'an, riddled with bullets, at the center's front door. And in Maine, worshippers were engaged in congregational prayer when a local tossed a dead pig's head into the prayer hall.

In Michigan City, "on July 2, Porter County police received a report of bullets shot into the center's copper dome, leaving six holes. Also, two glass doors, 10 windows, and a spotlight were vandalized, possibly by a BB gun, according to a police report," said the "Northwest Indiana Times."

In Tennessee, an FBI investigation has opened after a video of two men shooting a Qur'an and tossing it at a Chattanooga mosque surfaced on MySpace.com.

"In the footage, a 33-year-old man, who identified himself as mully88, is shown outside a Barnes & Noble Booksellers store holding a paperback copy of the Qur'an. He and another man then are seen shooting at the holy book in a wooded area with what is identified as a Colt M-16.

"In the last scene, mully88 is seen throwing the damaged Qur'an onto the sidewalk outside the Islamic Center at 1410 Cemetery Ave," reported the "Chattanooga Times Free Press."

Mully88's website includes a montage of swastikas and illegal high-powered firearms, all while white supremacist music plays in the background.

And in Lewiston, Maine, a man rolled a frozen pig's head into the local Islamic Center while Somali immigrants offered their prayers. Brent Matthews was arrested by police for the incident, an act which Matthews explained to police he had thought "was funny; it was going to be a big joke."

Ibrahim Hooper, Communications Director for CAIR's national office, said the attacks "seem to be a disturbing trend happening to mosques nationwide. … And we would hope the nation's political and religious leadership would address the rising level of Islamophobia which leads to such attacks." (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: SEEKING A NEW MOSQUE, THEY FIND A CULTURAL TURF WAR - TOP
MEG LAUGHLIN, St. Petersburg Times, 7/14/06
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/14/State/Seeking_a_new_mosque_.shtml

POMPANO BEACH - Two years ago, the congregation of a small but growing mosque in Pompano Beach raised money to expand because it needed more parking.

Mosque leaders, filled with hope, chose a patch of land in a predominantly black area.

"They picked that spot because they were sympathetic to the black struggle and believed the feelings were mutual, especially since the persecution after 9/11," said Altaf Ali of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. . .

What began as civil debate quickly plunged into an anti-Islamic diatribe with Dozier and his security force shouting at Ali that "Islam is evil" and "the Koran says to cut off heads."

Besides the three dozen, mostly black, protesters from his church -- which his deacon says has "over 300 parishioners" - Dozier is supported by two other black ministers from the area and about four local Jewish supporters, led by Joe Kaufman, founder of "Citizens Against Hate" and the "Republican Jewish Coalition of South Florida." . . .

"This mosque should not exist on American shores," said Kaufman, who got a standing ovation from the predominantly black audience. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

IN: GROUP RALLIES TO SIDE OF ISLAMIC CENTER - TOP
Diane Krieger Spivak, Post-Tribune staff writer
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/07-15-06_z1_news_15.html

PINES - The Race Relations Council is sponsoring an ecumenical gathering July 30 in a show of support for the Michigan City Islamic Center that was vandalized recently.

Council director J. Allen Johnson said several churches and community groups have committed to the event, scheduled for 3 p.m. at the center, 1606 N. 500 E, just south of Beverly shores.

Vandals shot out windows and damaged doors with a BB gun and shot holes in the copper dome between June 25 and July 2. Damages were estimated at $9,000.

"I like to think no one knew about it, but I just imagine if it happened to a Catholic parish or a Lutheran church there would be a show of support," Johnson said.

"The RRC feels it's very important that we, as a community, take a stand in this type of behavior," Johnson said. (MORE)

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CAIR-TX: MUSLIMS COUNTERACT FEAR AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN DALLAS - TOP
Natalie Smolenski, KERA, 7/14/06
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=941072

Natalie Smolenski, 90.1 Reporter: The few thousand Muslims who gathered at the Westin Galleria were keenly aware of how they're perceived by fellow Americans. In hallway conversations, conference-goers subtly acknowledged that people regard them as closet extremists and believe their culture is incompatible with American values. Saffia Meek, who is the Operations Manager for the Dallas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, does media outreach for Islamic events and organizations. She said the religious moderation of most Muslims is ignored:

Saffia Meek, Council on American-Islamic Relations: Every time something happens in the news, all the major Islamic organizations always put out a condemnation, and we'll do press conferences about it, but it just doesn't get into the mainstream media, so most people don't know that we have done that, and then they complain, "Why aren't the Muslims speaking out against it?" Well we have! (MORE)

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MI: DEARBORN CHRISTIANS REACH OUT TO MUSLIMS - TOP
Charles Honey, Grand Rapids Press, 7/15/06
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1152945303261330.xml&coll=6

DEARBORN -- Don Storteboom drives past a $14 million mosque topped by a golden dome, stores with Arabic signs and tidy brick homes where Muslim women in head scarves congregate on porches.

"God put these people in our back yard," says Storteboom, a Grand Rapids native and member of the Christian Reformed Church of Dearborn. "We just need the time and energy to disciple these people."

He is talking about the roughly 40,000 Arab Americans, most of them Muslim, who live in this Detroit suburb.

To Storteboom and others at Dearborn CRC, Dearborn's Muslims are a mission field who need to hear the true Christian message. (MORE)

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IL: 2ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM CHAPLAINS - TOP

The conference offers an opportunity to bring all Muslim chaplains together to share insights and resources, discuss concerns and challenges and plan for the future.

The purpose of this conference is to provide necessary tools and skills to the Muslim chaplains to help them spiritually mentor their services personals. The conference is open to imams and Muslim chaplains working with hospitals, universities, the Armed forces, federal and state prison around the Country. This is an important occasion to strengthen and empower those who represent us in national and state institutions.

Please share this announcement with Muslim chaplains and aspiring Muslim chaplains, publicize it in your community, and send it to your email list.

The Annual Conference of Muslim Chaplains is scheduled for August 30 to September 1 at the Crowne Plaza, Rosemont, IL.

Registration:

You can register online via a secure form or call ISNA Leadership Development Center at 317-839-1807.

Contact Person:

For more information on registration and other details, please contact Nadia Pirzada at nadia@isna.net or 317-839-1807.

GO TO: http://www.ildc.net

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/17/06

* Hadith: Care for Orphans
* CAIR Job Openings: Civil Rights/Membership Support
* CAIR: Muslim Group Critical of Slow Lebanon Evacuation (AP)
* ISLAM-OPED: Tax Dollars Sent to Israel Buy Enemies for U.S.
            - CAIR-CAN Demands End to Mideast Attacks
            - MI: Dearborn Businesses to Protest Israeli Attacks
            - Antiwar.com: Will We Go to War for Israel?
            - Fleeing Lebanese Speak of Indiscriminate Bombing (IPS)
            - By the Numbers: Heavy Damage to Lebanese Infrastructure
* Muslim Group Wants Franklin Graham Barred from Canada (CNS)
* FL: Anti-Islam Minister Loses Support with GOP (Sun-Sentinel)
            - FL: Rev's Rhetoric Incites Fear in Muslim Community
* CA: Latino Muslims Seek Answers (Daily Review)
* TX: Muslim Chaplain Serves Growing Number of Prison Converts

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HADITH OF THE DAY: CARE FOR ORPHANS - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone strokes an orphan's head...he will have blessings for every hair over which his hand passes. And if anyone treats well an orphan girl or boy under his care, he and I will be together in Paradise like this (and the Prophet held two fingers close together)."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1282

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CAIR JOB OPENINGS: CIVIL RIGHTS/MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT - TOP

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) seeking applicants for the positions of civil rights case worker/intake officer and membership support coordinator. Both positions are in Washington, D.C.

Civil Rights Case Worker/Intake Officer

The ideal candidate will document, review, evaluate, and seek to resolve civil rights cases. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications: One to two years of experience in a field related to case work or case management, along with a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.

Membership Support Coordinator

Responsibilities include data entry, filing, and various administrative duties.

Qualifications: High school diploma and ability to work with Microsoft Office applications.

To Apply: All those interested and eligible to work in the US (Citizens or proper work visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to: hr1@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. No phone calls please. When applying via email please ensure to write the position title in the subject of the email.

By Mail:

HR Department - CAIR
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003

CAIR is an equal opportunity employer and offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full time employees.

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ADMINISTRATION PLEDGES TO EVACUATE AMERICANS WHO WANT TO LEAVE LEBANON - TOP
BARRY SCHWEID, Associated Press, 7/17/06

WASHINGTON (AP) - By air and increasingly by sea, an evacuation is under way to take Americans out of danger in Lebanon.

An estimated 25,000 Americans are there. Some 15,000 have registered with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, but evidently not all are trying to get out.

"Our planning assumptions are on the order of thousands," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday. "You don't actually know how many people are going to want to leave until you actually start the larger-scale operations."

The operation began slowly. By late Monday only 64 were known to have departed. . .

Two organizations, one Arab-American and the other Muslim-American, criticized the slow start and that the United States was not promoting a cease-fire.

"The absence of American leadership to secure a cease-fire and protect its own citizens is appalling," said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, "The highest duty of any president is to protect the lives of Americans."

Many of the U.S. citizens in Lebanon are Arab-Americans making regular summer pilgrimages to visit family members.

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ISLAM-OPED: TAX DOLLARS SENT TO ISRAEL BUY ENEMIES FOR U.S. - 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.

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TAX DOLLARS SENT TO ISRAEL BUY ENEMIES FOR U.S.
By Ahmed M. Rehab
WORD COUNT: 804

[Ahmed M. Rehab is executive director of the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at: director@cairchicago.org ]

"It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life. . .As a matter of fact, it's pathetic," President Bush said in a recent press conference.

He went on to state, "Israel has a right to defend herself. Every nation must defend herself against terrorist attacks and the killing of innocent life. It's a necessary part of the 21st century."

Here's the $64,000 question: Do Palestinians have a right to defend themselves against the killing of their innocents? Do the Lebanese?

The Palestinian population is exceptionally vulnerable. Seventy-nine percent of Gaza households live under the poverty line, 40 percent suffer from unemployment and almost half the population in the Gaza Strip is made up of children. Under these onerous circumstances, Gazans struggle to liberate themselves from the clutches of one of the world's most sophisticated military machines.

In much of the Western media, the Palestinians are written-off as a gang of unruly terrorists. However, the numbers give a different account. Since September of 2000, six out of every seven children killed in this decades-long conflict have been Palestinian.

Terrorism constitutes acts of violence against civilians in furtherance of political objectives. Terrorism is a Palestinian suicide-bomber attacking a bus or a pizza parlor in Tel Aviv. Terrorism is also an Israeli warplane deliberately targeting the civilian infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon. We lose all credibility when we rightfully condemn acts of terror carried out by individuals or groups, but offer support to a state that also targets the innocent.

Israel has waged a massive military campaign against Lebanon's civilian population. So far, almost 200 civilians have been killed. In just one incident, 15 children were massacred as their parents attempted to flee a village in a convoy.

Images from the scenes of Israeli attacks are horrific. Agence France Presse reported: "A baby was sliced into three and body parts hung from olive trees as the full force of Israeli military might hit rural southern Lebanon. . . Police said the 10-month-old and six other family members were killed when an Israeli missile hit their home in the usually quiet village of Baflay." (AFP, 7/13/06)

Israel's army chief Brig. Gen. Dan Halutz warned that "nothing is safe" in Lebanon. In his own words, the Israeli spokesman was admitting to his country's readiness to break all rules of engagement. Everything in Lebanon, including town centers, schools, hospitals, and other civil centers would be fair game for Israel's warplanes - nothing is safe.

As if to confirm that statement, an Israeli bomb killed seven Canadian citizens, including a woman and her four children, in Lebanon on July 16.

In a parallel campaign, Israel has launched widespread attacks on the Gaza strip, bombing its main power-generating station and jeopardizing the lives, health and safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Electricity is out 12-18 hours a day in Gaza and hospitals are only taking emergency cases. A spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Program said some 85 percent of Gazans are dependent on food handouts and many families are eating only one meal a day.

World leaders have spoken out against Israel's sweeping aggression, calling it "disproportionate" and "excessive."

Israel has shown a tendency to abuse its military might, subjecting civilians to collective punishments time and again. Countries that fail to exercise appropriate self-restraint should be restrained by the world community.

Israel's right to defend itself does not give it the right to launch terror attacks against major civilian centers - not with our tax money.

Since its formation in 1949, the state of Israel has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $130 billion. What merits this exorbitant spending on a foreign country that has one of the world's highest per capital incomes?

The often-parroted argument is that that Israel is a crucial ally in the war on terror.

The truth is that for all the billions Israel has sapped from American taxpayers, it has given us nothing back but the resentment the victims of Israel's military transgressions feel toward those who bankroll their oppressor.

Israel is a strategic liability in the war on terror. Extremists use our uncritical financial and political support for Israel's brutal policies as an excuse to attack us.

Surely, there are better ways to spend our hard-earned money.

We are losing the domestic wars on drugs and poverty. Our inner-cities are awash with crime and gang rivalries. Our public schools are embarrassingly substandard when compared to those of other developed nations. Our social security system threatens to fail future generations of retirees as the number of senior citizens is expected to increase by 110 percent in the next 50 years.

We fail to move forward on these crucial fronts citing lack of sufficient funds. Would it not be better if we invested our tax dollars in our own communities instead of funding Israel's counterproductive military escapades?

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-CAN CALLS FOR CANADA TO DEMAND END TO MIDEAST ATTACKS - TOP

(OTTAWA, CANADA - 07/17/06) - CAIR-CAN is calling on the federal government to take a more balanced position on the current Mideast conflict by demanding all aggressors stop attacking civilians after seven Canadians were killed by an Israeli bomb over the weekend.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper had commented on the conflict, saying "Israel has the right to defend itself" and called Israel's response "reserved." Many Canadians have regarded this position as unbalanced and insensitive, particularly since an Israeli bomb killed seven Lebanese Canadians from a Montreal family. Four children, aged 1, 3, 5 and 7 were killed, along with their mother and grandmother. All were Canadian citizens.

"The federal government must do everything in its power to save the lives of all innocent civilians, including Canadians who are stranded in the area, and that means pressuring both sides equally to stop the killing rather than taking a partisan position," said Karl Nickner, Executive-Director of CAIR-CAN.

According to news reports, estimates say there could be 40,000 Canadians in Lebanon, a country that has been targeted for bombing by Israel since the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. The majority of the deaths on both sides of the conflict have been innocent civilians.

For more information, please contact Halima Mautbur at 613-795-2012.

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IN DEARBORN, A CALL FOR BUSINESS PROTEST - TOP
Detroit Free Press, 7/17/06
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS06/607170401

Muslims attending a memorial service at a Dearborn mosque Sunday evening called upon businesses along Warren Avenue in Dearborn to shut down at 5 p.m. Tuesday to protest Israeli action in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

About 1,500 people attended the service at the Islamic Center of America in memory of 12 family members of a Dearborn family who died after a building in Lebanon was struck last week by an Israeli warplane.

Speakers at the service criticized Israel and asked the U.S. government to help U.S. citizens trapped in Lebanon . . .

Mohammad Bazzi of Dearborn Heights said that business owners are planning to shut down at the start of a march scheduled for Tuesday along Warren Avenue -- the main commercial strip in east Dearborn.

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WILL WE GO TO WAR FOR ISRAEL? - TOP
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 7/17/06
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9314

What Israel wants is what they have always wanted: to use American power, American tax dollars, and American lives to advance their own expansionist agenda. Twenty-five thousand Americans are in Lebanon at the present moment, all of them at risk from Israeli bombs - but that didn't factor into Tel Aviv's calculations, any more than Lebanese or Palestinian lives matter one whit to them. The Israelis put Israel first - and so does Washington. If all 25,000 American tourists and others have to perish in the flames of Israeli air strikes, then so be it. No sacrifice is too great - just as long as our Israel-centric foreign policy remains firmly in place. (MORE)

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FLEEING LEBANESE SPEAK OF INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING - TOP
Dahr Jamail, 7/16/06
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33978

ADDABBAOUSIYEH (northern Lebanese border), Jul 16 (IPS) - People fleeing the bombing of Lebanon say the Israelis are targeting civilian neighbourhoods and vital infrastructure, and not just Hezbollah centres.

The bombing has killed more than 100 Lebanese civilians so far.

Several border points between Syria and Lebanon are being deluged with refugees. Lebanon has a long border with Syria towards its south, east and north. The refugees include both Lebanese and tourists.

"Everything is being bombed," a teacher from the United States who was on vacation in Beirut told IPS. "It's terror. We've literally been terrorised." (MORE)

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BY THE NUMBERS: HEAVY DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE - TOP
Daily Star, 7/18/06
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74049

BEIRUT: The relentless bombardment of Lebanon has caused an incredible amount of death and destruction. The first detailed report by the Internal Security Forces' directorate general, released Monday, documented the sheer amount of human and material damage since last Wednesday as a result of Israeli raids over vital public utilities and residential areas.

Crucial infrastructure was among the first to be targeted, including an initial aerial attack on a power station.

The runways of Rafik Hariri International Airport, the Qoleiaat Airport in North Lebanon and the Riyaq Military Airport in the Bekaa - were all severely damaged, as were the three main sea ports of Beirut, Tripoli and Jamil Gemayel.

Communication and television broadcast antennas were also among the first to be targeted. Missiles struck antennas belonging to the Hizbullah-owned Al-Manar station in Kfar Selwan and another in the Tripoli port belonging to the maritime operations room, as well as one belonging to the MTC mobile company in Dahr al-Baidar.

The main focus of the destruction has been on roads and bridges, however, mostly those linking Beirut to South Lebanon. (MORE)

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MUSLIM GROUP WANTS CHRISTIAN LEADER BARRED FROM CANADA - TOP
Alison Espach, CNSNews.com
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200607/CUL20060717a.html

(CNSNews.com) - An Islamic advocacy group wants Rev. Franklin Graham barred from entering Canada because of allegedly hateful statements made towards Islam. Graham's spokesman says the Evangelical minister's comments have been "misconstrued" by some Muslims.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Canada (CAIR-CAN) claims allowing Graham into Canada would be evidence of a "double standard." British Muslim Riyad ul-Haq was denied entry into Canada in June after being accused of inciting hatred towards Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims - a violation of Canada's so-called "hate propaganda laws."

"We do not welcome hate-mongers," said Leslie Harmer, spokesperson for Immigration Minister Monte Solberg, the official who ordered that Canadian authorities block ul-Haq from entering the country.

CAIR-CAN noted that shortly after the 9/11 attacks Graham called Islam "a very evil and a very wicked religion." The group argues that, like ul-Haq, Graham should be forbidden to come to Canada for a scheduled visit later this year.

"The comments they have made are very widely available, and there isn't a great deal of difference between the two individuals," CAIR-CAN Communications Director Halima Mautbur told Cybercast News Service.

The group is further dismayed with the government's decision, because ul-Haq promised he would not speak about anything controversial while he was in Canada.

CAIR-CAN Executive Director Karl Nickner said in a news release Thursday that "some Canadian Muslims are wondering whether a double standard is being applied."

"As Muslims and as Canadians," Nickner added, "we stand firmly against any hateful religious speech by representatives of all faiths." (MORE)

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POMPANO MINISTER WINS FANS AMONG FUNDAMENTALISTS, BUT LOSES SUPPORT IN GOP - TOP
Gregory Lewis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7/17/06
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cdozier17jul17,0,873009.story

When the Rev. O'Neal Dozier called Islam "a cult" and derided Muslims as "terrorists," he damaged his relationship with Gov. Jeb Bush, whose office urged Dozier to resign from the Broward County Judicial Nominating Commission.

Dozier's comments also likely tarnished his image among high-level Republican politicians who in recent years increasingly sought his blessing to sway black voters from their historic allegiance to the Democratic Party.

To some Republicans, Dozier's political future is in jeopardy. Others say he has sealed his credentials as a strong Christian leader whom Republican officials must continue courting.

But one thing is clear: Dozier is now a polarizing figure.

"I tolerated him because the Republican Party, I guess, was looking to garner the black vote," said Jack Majeske, president of the Broward Log Cabin Republican Club. "But this guy was homophobic and I figured him to be a racist a long time ago. He, as far as I was concerned, was way off the wall for a man of the cloth." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

FL: RHETORIC INCITES FEAR AND ANGER IN COMMUNITY - TOP
Gail Price-Wise, Sun-Sentinel, 7/17/06
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-39forum17jul17,0,2802083.story

Sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never harm me.

The Rev. O'Neal Dozier should consider that words can in fact be harmful. By calling Islam a "cult" religion and mentioning terrorism, he incites fear and anger in the hearts of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

The Muslim community -- made up of mothers, fathers, and children, students, intellectuals, doctors, engineers, business owners, and laborers -- hear the "T" word and wonder what will happen to them. Will I lose my job? Will I be forced to leave this neighborhood? Will my children be ridiculed in school? Will I or any of my loved ones be attacked?

These fears are not unfounded. Words like those used by Dozier have been known to incite hate crimes. In the past two years, there has been an increase in threatening phone calls and vandalism perpetrated against Islamic centers in South Florida. (MORE)

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CA: LATINO MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS - TOP
Martin Ricard, Daily Review, 7/17/06
http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_4061508

HAYWARD - On a sunny afternoon, a dozen people file into the teaching room at Zaytuna Institute, a Muslim teaching center in downtown Hayward.

But they have not showed up to learn about the Prophet Muhammad, Islam or the Arabic language. They are gathered to enjoy fellowship with one another and discuss what it means to be a Latino Muslim in the Bay Area.

Murabit Benavidez, a lanky Mexican-American wearing a long gray tunic, said he has been pondering the duality since college, but most recently since he returned from studying in Syria. He grew up in Fremont immersed in Latino culture but, lately, he has been trying to reconcile the two cultures since he converted to Islam seven years ago.

"Am I still a Chicano?" he asked. "We have this Islamic identity and, being Latino, we have this Catholic background. I'm not Christian anymore, but am I still Latino? We're redefining what Latino is."

A small group of Latino Muslims - mostly college students and young professionals coming from Silicon Valley - have been meeting recently at Zaytuna to support one another in their new conversion and educate one another on their Latino connections to Islamic culture. (MORE)

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TX: CHAPLAIN SERVES MUSLIMS AND GROWING NUMBER OF CONVERTS IN 23 TEXAS PRISONS - TOP
Lisa Marie G�mez, Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA071706.1A.MuslimInmates.16e4f6d.html

BURNET - Imam Omar Shakir walks into a white cinderblock room and greets a group of women wearing matching white jumpsuits.

"As-salaamu-alaikum" - Peace be on you, he says in a gentle Arabic voice.

"As-salaamu-alaikum," they reply.

The women are glad to see him and are eager to talk to him about their faith. Shakir, 47, is one of four chaplains who oversee the Islamic faith program for the 110 prisons in the Texas prison system.

Shakir traveled more than 100 miles north on U.S. 281 out of San Antonio to the all-female Halbert Unit in Burnet, northwest of Austin, where the eight women were incarcerated.

Four were Muslim, and the others were considering converting to Islam - a trend that Shakir and others say is on the rise inside the prison system - a trend consistent with what's going on outside the prison walls.

It is estimated that every fifth person in the world is a Muslim, and Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States - with approximately 8 million living here.

In the Texas prison system, there are approximately 7,500 Muslims, prison officials say. It is believed most of them converted to Islam after they were incarcerated. (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

-----

To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org

To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/18/06) - Beginning July 19, local chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold news conferences nationwide with members of the Muslim and Arab-American communities who have relatives under attack in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

At the news conferences, community members will ask President Bush to call for an immediate cease-fire by all parties in the Middle East conflict and urge that humanitarian relief be sent to areas devastated by Israel's bombing campaigns.

Events have already been scheduled in San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Orlando, Detroit, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio

WHAT: CAIR News Conferences with Those Who Have Relatives in Lebanon, Gaza
WHEN: Beginning Wednesday, July 19 (Some CAIR chapters will hold news conferences on Thursday or Friday.)
CONTACT: Contact the nearest CAIR office for details about the news conferences.

There are an estimated 25,000 American citizens in Lebanon, and many American citizens, both Christian and Muslim, have relatives in Lebanon and Gaza. Despite the fact that many civilians have already been killed in Israeli attacks on the civilian infrastructures of both areas, President Bush has rejected calls for a cease-fire.

Plans to evacuate American citizens from Lebanon have been criticized as too slow. The U.S. government will also bill each evacuee for the cost of their transport out of Lebanon.

"We are concerned that our government's refusal to even request a cease-fire to end humanitarian suffering in Lebanon and Gaza creates the perception that Muslim and Arab lives are somehow less valuable than Israeli lives," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Targeting civilians to achieve a political goal is terrorism, whether the target is a pizza parlor in Tel Aviv or an apartment building in Beirut."

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates 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.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/18/06

* Verse: Rally to a Good Cause
* CAIR-OH: New Threats Against Mosque Damaged By Bombs
            - Excerpts from CAIR's 'Muslim Community Safety Kit'
            - TX: Shots Fired at Worshipers Leaving Houston Mosque
            - NJ: Islamic Group Claims Bias Over Mosque Application
* American Muslims Angry at US Stance on Mideast Conflict (AFP)
            - CAIR-Chicago: Buying Enemies for U.S. (Orlando Sent)
            - CAIR-FL: Local Muslims Praying for Peace (Herald)
            - CAIR-LA: Lebanese Americans Feel the Strain (LA Times)
            - CAIR-CAN: Canadian PM Takes Heat for Mideast Stance
* Bolton: No Moral Equivalence Between Israeli, Lebanese Deaths
            - Israel Violates Law on U.S. Weapons in Mideast (IPS)
* Retaliation Case of Arab FBI Specialist Advances (Wash Post)
* FL: American Imam Leading Diverse Muslim Community

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VERSE OF THE DAY: RALLY TO A GOOD CAUSE - TOP

"Whoever rallies to a good cause shall have a share in its blessings; and whoever rallies to an evil cause shall be answerable for his part in it."

The Holy Quran, 4:85

To sponsor or order a FREE Quran, go to: www.explorethequran.org

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CAIR-OH REACTS TO NEW THREATS AGAINST MOSQUE DAMAGED BY BOMBS - TOP

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/18/06) - The Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) held a news conference today outside a Cincinnati mosque that has received two new threats after being damaged by explosions in December of last year.

The Islamic Association of Cincinnati received one phone threat Monday afternoon, and before midnight, men in a car that drove through the mosque parking lot allegedly shouted that they were "going to bomb this place."

SEE: New Threat Received At Mosque That Was Bombed (AP)

CAIR says vandalism or other possible bias-related incidents have been reported recently at mosques around the nation. The Washington-based group is urging Muslim institutions nationwide to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit." (See excerpts from the kit below.) The safety kit may be obtained free of charge by e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub, 513-604-4444, E-Mail: karen@cair-ohio.com

SEE ALSO:

EXCERPTS FROM CAIR MUSLIM COMMUNITY SAFETY KIT - TOP

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Muslims must do their part to ensure the safety and security of our nation. If anyone notes suspicious persons or activities in their community, they should report it immediately to the local Field Office of the FBI. SEE: http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm

DEVELOP A LEGAL CONTACT LIST

Develop a list of attorneys who are willing to be consulted by the Muslim community in response to backlash incidents. Ask Muslim attorneys to volunteer their services to community members during this time of crisis.

DEVELOPING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Community leaders should immediately coordinate meetings between representatives of the Muslim community and local state and national law enforcement agencies. These meetings should focus on ways in which the community can help national security and on how authorities can protect Muslims and Arab-Americans from harassment and discrimination.

MEET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY CONCERNS

Delegations of Muslim representatives should schedule meetings with local, state and national elected representatives or their key staff to discuss community concerns. To find out who represents your area on the national level, go to: http://www.capwiz.com/cair/home/

BUILD COALITIONS WITH INTERFAITH AND MINORITY GROUPS

Similar meetings should be coordinated with representatives of local interfaith and minority groups. These meetings should focus on building lines of communication and support, and hearing from these groups how they deal with discrimination and bigotry.

MEET WITH LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO DISCUSS STUDENT SAFETY

Representatives of the Muslim community should meet with local school administrators to discuss safety plans for students and to sensitize the administrators to harassment of Muslim students.

Obtain copies of CAIR's "Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices" by contacting CAIR or e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org

BUILDING AN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST

Community leaders should develop emergency e-mail and phone contact lists to be used in case of an incident that threatens the community's safety. Local imams, Islamic center board members, and Muslim activists should be on the lists.

A second list should be developed containing contact information for all local law enforcement agencies.

HOLD A COMMUNITY MEETING TO INFORM OTHERS OF SAFETY GUIDELINES

Call for a meeting of the local Muslim community to discuss the information outlined in this kit. The meeting should take place at a local mosque or Islamic center and should be advertised using the emergency contact list.

ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK

Establish a network of community members who can offer emotional and material support to those who may be the victims of hate crimes or discrimination. Victims should not be left alone to deal with the negative impact of such incidents.

REACTING TO INCIDENTS OF ANTI-MUSLIM HATE

If you believe you have been the victim of an anti-Muslim hate crime or discrimination, you should:

1. Report the incident to your local police station and FBI office IMMEDIATELY. Ask that the incident be treated as a hate crime. Ask witnesses to give you their name and contact information.
2. Inform CAIR even if you believe it is a "small" incident. Incidents may be reported online at: http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/ or TEL: 202-488-8787, FAX: 202-488-0833, E-MAIL: ihooper@cair-net.org
3. Document the incident. Write down exactly what was said and/or done by the offender. Save evidence. Take photographs.
4. Act quickly. Each incident must be dealt with when it happens, not when convenient.
5. Decide on the appropriate action to be taken. Consider issuing a statement from community leaders, holding a news conference, organizing a protest, meeting with officials, or starting a letter writing campaign.
6. Mobilize community support. Contact CAIR and a local mosque or organization.
7. Stay on top of the situation.
8. Announce results. When the incident is resolved, make an announcement to the same people and organizations originally contacted.

CAIR MOSQUE SECURITY GUIDELINES

Areas of Vulnerability:

* Mosques located in isolated areas.
* Mosques left unattended for extended periods of time.
* Mosques with unsecured doors and/or windows.
* Absence of a burglar alarm system.
* Heavy exterior vegetation (shrubs, etc.) in which criminals may hide.
* Absence of exterior lighting.

Take the following safety measures:

* Build good relationships with neighbors of the mosque. Invite them to visit your center.
* Try to have people attend the mosque as much as possible. Activity deters perpetrators.
* Make an appointment with the community relations officer of your local police department to tour your center and make suggestions on improving mosque security.
* Request additional police patrols in the vicinity of your center. Special attention should be paid to times of darkness and during prayers.
* Consider creating a security committee at your mosque.
* Post mosque members at entrances and parking areas during prayer times.
* Report suspicious packages to police. Do not touch them.
* Install perimeter floodlights outside the mosque.
* Install fire and burglar alarm systems.
* Replace hollow core doors with more secure solid doors.
* Install burglarproof bars on screens and large vents. (Note - Research local ordinances before beginning security renovations. For example, window bars should not limit evacuation in case of fire.)
* Trim shrubs and vines to reduce areas of concealment.
* Participate in neighborhood watch programs.
* Document descriptions of suspicious people or vehicles.
* Make duplicates of all important papers, computer disks and records.
* Remove potential fire hazards, such as trash and debris.
* Consider installing security cameras.

RESPONDING TO BOMB THREATS

1. Distribute written instructions on handling bomb threats.
2. Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask that the message be repeated. Record or write down everything that is said.
3. Ask for the location of the bomb.
4. Inform the caller that the detonation of a bomb could hurt many innocent people.
5. Pay attention to background noises such as music, which may give a clue to the caller's location.
6. Listen closely to the caller's voice. Make note of accents, voice quality (calm, excited) or speech impediments.
7. Report the threat immediately to the local police, ATF and FBI. Have appropriate phone numbers listed in written instructions.
8. If the threat comes in the form of a letter, save all materials, including the envelope. Handle the letter as little as possible.
9. Search the interior and exterior of the mosque. Evacuate the building if a suspicious package or device is found.

SUSPECT LETTERS AND PACKAGES

* What to look for:
* Name and title of addressee are not accurate.
* No return address, or the sender is not known to the addressee.
* Handwriting is distorted.
* Unprofessionally wrapped, uneven, bulky, lopsided.
* Contains bulges or soft spots.
* Poorly wrapped package is marked "Fragile-Handle With Care," "Rush," or has unusual restrictions such as "Personal" or "Private."
* Excess amount of postage.
* Protruding wires or tin foil.
* Package makes a buzzing or ticking noise, a sloshing sound, or emits an odor.

What to do:

DON'T open the package or letter.
DON'T put it in water or in a confined space such as a drawer.
DO isolate the article and secure the immediate area.
DO open windows if possible to help vent potential explosive gases.
DO contact your local police department and Postal Inspector.

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TX: MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT CAUSING TROUBLE AT HOUSTON MOSQUE? - TOP
Carolyn Campbell, KHOU 11 News, 7/17/06
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou060717_cd_mosque5.216cce7e.html

What's happening in the Middle East may be causing problems for members of a mosque in southwest Houston. Members said they had been attacked in the last few days.

Shots were fired at people leaving the mosque on Tres Lagunas this past Saturday. Sunday, rocks and beer bottles were thrown at members leaving the mosque.

The afternoon prayers go on as planned at the mosque in Mission Bend, but the weekend incidents have the leadership concerned. (MORE)

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NJ: ISLAMIC GROUP CLAIMS BIAS BY THE TOWNSHIP - TOP
JEFF DIAMANT, Star-Ledger, 7/18/06
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1153201410233770.xml&coll=1

An Islamic organization in Wayne has sued the township, contending it has discriminated against the group's application to build a mosque on its 11-acre site.

In the case filed yesterday in federal court in Newark, the Albanian Associated Fund asked for financial damages and for the court to stop the township's ongoing effort to condemn its land for open space.

The lawsuit contends Wayne's planning board has for 3 1/2 years forced the group to take application steps not asked of non-Muslim religious groups. It claims the township has violated state and federal constitutional protections of religious freedom, as well as the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. (MORE)

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AMERICAN MUSLIMS ANGRY AT US STANCE ON MIDEAST CONFLICT - TOP
Laurence Thomann, Agence France-Presse, 7/17/06
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060717/ts_alt_afp/mideastconflictus

American Muslims chafe at the US government's hands-off approach to Israeli reprisals and worry about countless relatives and friends trapped by violence in Lebanon.

US officials say Israel "has the right to defend itself," since its incursion into Gaza three weeks ago and air raids on Lebanon, but President George W. Bush's stance offends Americans who are Muslims or of Arab descent.

Early last week, a coalition of 11 major Muslim organizations publicly called on Bush to forcefully condemn the attacks on Gaza and to designate as "war crimes" the destruction of Palestinian civilian infrastructure.

After the Israeli bombing of Lebanon, the appeals for denouncing Israel have multiplied.

"Once again America's image and interests worldwide are being harmed by one-sided support for Israeli actions," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest US Muslim rights group.

"We're urging Muslims in America and other people of conscience to contact their elected officials to tell them that we have to have balanced foreign policy for the Middle East, one that is driven by American interests, not Israeli interests." (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-CHICAGO: BUYING ENEMIES FOR U.S. - TOP
Ahmed M. Rehab, Orlando Sentinel, 7/18/06
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-cair18_106jul18,0,6253531.story

The truth is that for all the billions Israel has sapped from American taxpayers, it has given us nothing back but the resentment the victims of Israel's military transgressions feel toward those who bankroll their oppressor.

Israel is a strategic liability in the war on terror. Extremists use our uncritical financial and political support for Israel's brutal policies as an excuse to attack us.

Surely, there are better ways to spend our hard-earned money.

We are losing the domestic wars on drugs and poverty. Our inner cities are awash with crime and gang rivalries. Our public schools are embarrassingly substandard when compared with those of other developed nations. Our Social Security system threatens to fail future generations of retirees as the number of senior citizens is expected to increase by 110 percent in the next 50 years.

We fail to move forward on these crucial fronts, citing lack of sufficient funds. Would it not be better if we invested our tax dollars in our own communities instead of funding Israel's counterproductive military escapades?

Ahmed M. Rehab is executive director of the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation's largest Muslim civil-liberties group. He may be contacted at director@cairchicago.org

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CAIR-FL: LOCAL MUSLIMS PRAYING FOR PEACE - TOP
JAMES A. JONES JR., The Herald, 7/18/06
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/15061631.htm

Tampa Bay's Islamic community was closely following developments in the Mideast on Monday.

There are a couple dozen U.S. citizens, maybe more, from the Tampa Bay area trapped in Lebanon, said Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Florida Office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations in Tampa.

"They are horrified and scared for their lives," Bedier said, adding local families are asking that the American government intervene and ask for a cease-fire.

"This is a major catastrophe," Bedier said. (MORE)

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CAIR-LA: SOUTHLAND LEBANESE AMERICANS FEEL THE STRAIN - TOP
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 7/18/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-socalevac18jul18,1,6580383.story

About 24,000 Lebanese natives live in the five counties that make up the greater Los Angeles region, many of them in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and Orange County, according to U.S. census data.

At least three members of a Los Angeles city delegation remained trapped in Lebanon after accompanying City Councilmen Dennis P. Zine and Eric Garcetti to Beirut for the July 1 inauguration of a sister-city program.

Corona resident Hussam Ayloush, a Beirut native and executive director of the Anaheim office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his parents were in Lebanon to help plan his younger brother's engagement ceremony - postponed indefinitely as they attempt to find safer ground outside the Lebanese capital. Ayloush said he last spoke with his family Friday, when he heard his terrified nephew crying as bombs exploded in the background.

He said other Lebanese Americans have been frantically calling one another to exchange whatever scraps of news they can garner. (MORE)

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CAIR-CAN: HARPER TAKES HEAT FOR SLOW RESPONSE - TOP
KATHLEEN HARRIS, SUN, 7/18/06
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2006/07/18/1690153-sun.html

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is under fire for swiftly taking sides in the Mideast crisis while delivering a tardy response to evacuating Canadians whose lives are endangered in the war zone.

Foreign Affairs is chartering six ships to evacuate thousands of Canadians beginning mid-week, and Harper has defended the plan as on par with the Americans and British.

But opposition critics panned the response as "too little, too late" for the estimated 40,000 stranded Canadians. . .

"Some of the other things that we could be doing, given the large number of Canadians who are there, could be compromised by the fact the prime minister was very quick to rush and take sides in this debate," McTeague said.

NDP Leader Jack Layton said Harper should have taken a more balanced approach and called for an immediate ceasefire. Now, Canada must get back on track by taking part in a UN-led international effort to bring peace to the region, he said.

As many fearful, frustrated Canadians in Lebanon aren't able to get through to embassy phone lines to obtain critical information, anger from Lebanese-Canadians bubbles at home over Harper's continued pro-Israeli stand.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada called it "incredibly insensitive" for Harper to take such a strong stand after the bombing deaths of at least seven Canadians and urged the PM to play a more balanced position as neutral peacekeeper.

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LEBANON CIVILIAN DEATHS MORALLY NOT SAME AS TERROR VICTIMS - TOP
Agence France-Presse, 7/17/06
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060717/pl_afp/mideastconflictlebanon_060717204728

US Ambassador John Bolton said there was no moral equivalence between the civilian casualties from the Israeli raids in Lebanon and those killed in Israel from "malicious terrorist acts".

Asked to comment on the deaths in an Israeli air strike of eight Canadian citizens in southern Lebanon Sunday, he said: "it is a matter of great concern to us ...that these civilian deaths are occurring. It's a tragedy."

"I think it would be a mistake to ascribe moral equivalence to civilians who die as the direct result of malicious terrorist acts," he added, while defending as "self-defense" Israel's military action, which has had "the tragic and unfortunate consequence of civilian deaths".

The eight dead Canadians were a Lebanese-Canadian couple, their four children, his mother and an uncle, said relatives in Montreal.

The Montreal pharmacist and his family had arrived in Lebanon 10 days earlier for a vacation in his parents' home village and to introduce his children to relatives, they said.

Three of his Lebanese relatives died too, a family member told AFP. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

ISRAEL VIOLATES LAW ON U.S. WEAPONS IN MIDEAST - TOP
Thalif Deen, Inter Press Service News Agency, 7/17/06
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33993

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 17 (IPS) - Israel is in violation of U.S. arms control laws for deploying U.S.-made fighter planes, combat helicopters and missiles to kill civilians and destroy Lebanon's infrastructure in the ongoing six-day devastation of that militarily-weak country.

The death toll, according to published reports, is over 200 people -- mostly civilians -- while the economic losses have been estimated at about 100 million dollars per day.

"Section 4 of the (U.S.) Arms Export Control Act requires that military items transferred to foreign governments by the United States be used solely for internal security and legitimate self-defence," says Stephen Zunes, professor of politics at the University of San Francisco.

"Since Israeli attacks against Lebanon's civilian infrastructure and population centres clearly go beyond legitimate self-defence, the United States is legally obliged to suspend arms transfers to Israel," Zunes told IPS.

Frida Berrigan, a senior research associate with the Arms Trade Resource Centre at the World Policy Institute in New York, is equally outraged at the misuse by Israel of U.S.-supplied weapons.

"As Israel jets bombard locations in Gaza, Haifa and Beirut, killing civilians (including as many as seven Canadians vacationing in Aitaroun), it is worth remembering that U.S. law is clear about how U.S.-origin weapons and military systems ought to be used," Berrigan told IPS.

She pointed out that the U.S. Arms Export Control Act clear states that U.S. origin weapons should not be used for "non-defensive purposes."

"In light of this clear statement, the United States has an opportunity to stave off further bloodshed and suffering by demanding that its weaponry and military aid not be used in attacks against Lebanon and elsewhere, and challenging Israeli assertions that it is using military force defensively," she added. (MORE)

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RETALIATION CASE OF ARAB SPECIALIST AT FBI ADVANCES - TOP
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 7/18/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/17/AR2006071701203.html

The Justice Department has concluded there is "reasonable cause" to believe that senior FBI officials retaliated against the bureau's highest-ranking Arabic speaker for complaining that he was cut out of terrorism cases despite his expertise.

An internal investigation by the department's Office of Professional Responsibility found "sufficient circumstantial evidence" that Special Agent Bassem Youssef was blocked from a counterterrorism assignment in 2002 after he and U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) met with FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III to discuss Youssef's complaints.

Mueller had approved a transfer for Youssef just days before the meeting, but it never occurred and Youssef was never informed of Mueller's decision, according to the report. Investigators also said the FBI "has provided no rationale" for its failure to promote Youssef, although one former senior FBI manager said Mueller was "appalled" that Youssef had complained to a congressman about his treatment. (MORE)

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FL: AMERICAN IMAM LEADING DIVERSE MUSLIM COMMUNITY - TOP
JIM HAUG, News Journal, 7/18/06
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST03REL071806.htm

DAYTONA BEACH -- For much of its 30-year history, the Muslim community here has relied on foreign-born religious leaders.

This summer, Muslims have begun listening to the sermons of a 29-year-old who likes to play video games and root for the Washington Redskins.

With an American birthplace, Ron Smith is not subjected to the same worries of Muslim immigrants in this anxious age after 9-11. "If they deport me, they'll have to send me back to New Jersey," joked Smith about his home state.

Criteria for imams -- Islamic religious leaders -- are not formalized, but the Islamic Center of Daytona Beach has usually chosen imams on the basis of their religious knowledge and ability to speak Arabic and English.

The main Friday sermon is given in both languages.

Trying to hire an imam suitable to both Arabic- and English-speaking audiences has always been a tricky balance, said Idris Muhammad, a trustee of the local mosque.

The English of foreign-born imams has not always been as good as their Arabic or else they have spoken in unfamiliar Arabic dialects, Muhammad said.

As a consequence, "part of the community has felt left out at times," he said. "It's like a Northerner going to a Southern barbecue."

The local Muslim community is extremely diverse with members coming from the Middle East, the Balkan states and the South Pacific. The mosque on Keech Street attracts about 300 people on Fridays, Muslims' main day of worship.

But on major holidays, the mosque will get as many as 600 to 800 people. "The food is always exotic," Muhammad said.

Born to a Puerto Rican mother, a Catholic, and a Baptist African-American father, Smith is well suited as a community bridge builder. (MORE)

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AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 7/19/06

* Hadith: Be Moderate in Your Religious Deeds
* ACTION: Senator Says Support for Israel Not 'Unconditional'
* Bodies of 55 Lebanese Children Stacked in Truck (SMH)
            - Israeli Raids Kill 58 Civilians, 1 Fighter
            - Israeli Spokesman: 'We Attack Only Terror Targets'
* CAIR-MI: Video - Lebanon Evacuees Treated Like Black Katrina Victims
            - Rep. Conyers Urges Action to Quell Violence in Middle East
* CA: Lebanese-Americans Feel Betrayed by U.S. Stance (LA Times)
            - MI: 10,000 Rally in Dearborn in Support of Lebanon
* CAIR-FL: Muslim Leaders Condemn Violence (Miami Herald)
            - CAIR-MI: Interfaith Relations Harmed by Mideast Violence
            - CAIR-FL: Lebanon Faces Humanitarian Crisis (SP Times)
            - CAIR-LA: Californian Couple Trapped by Israeli Bombing
            - CAIR-FL: War Becomes Reality of Family Vacation (Tampa Trib)
* Coalition of Pakistani-Americans Condemns Israeli Aggression
* NJ: Prison Probes Racial Slur on Muslim Officer's Locker
* MS: Video - Demonstrators Destroy Koran (WLBT)
* CAIR-OH: Mosque Threat Video - 'Ya'll Gonna Get Bombed Tonight'
            - More Video of Ohio Mosque Threat Incident (WKRC)
            - CAIR-OH: Threats Fail to Intimidate Worshipers (Enquirer)
* Experts: Muslim World No Longer Views U.S. as Moral Power (UPI)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: BE MODERATE IN YOUR RELIGIOUS DEEDS - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise (i.e., no one enters paradise only through his good deeds)." The Prophet's companions asked: "Not even you?" The Prophet replied: "Not even myself, unless God bestows His favor and mercy on me. So be moderate in your religious deeds and do what is within your ability. None of you should wish for death, for if he is a doer of good, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to God."

Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 577

To learn more about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, go to: www.cair.com/Muhammad

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CHAIRMAN WARNER COMMENTS ON PROPOSED ISRAEL-LEBANON RESOLUTION - TOP
US Fed News, 7/18/06

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The office of Sen. John Warner, R-Va., issued the following press release:

Yesterday evening, Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, addressed the Senate on the Israel-Lebanon conflict, detailing his concerns with a yet-to-be filed resolution that the Senate was considering on the issue.

In his remarks, Senator Warner indicated that he agreed with almost all of the resolution, and would not stand in the way of its passage by unanimous consent.

However, he indicated that any Senate resolution on the Israel-Lebanon situation should proceed with careful debate, with the floor participation of as many Senators as wish to join. Also, it should take into account America's broader interests in the region, specifically how the conflict could affect: - the 25,000 Americans currently trapped in Lebanon, many of whom desire to leave now. . .

Senator Warner indicated that Senate passage of a resolution that addressed the conflict without considering the broad spectrum of American interests in the region could also complicate Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's upcoming diplomatic work in the region.

Senator Warner said, "Historically, this Nation has stood steadfast, and I am proud that I have been among those in this Chamber in my 28 years here, to strongly support Israel. Our Nation is viewed upon as an honest broker - recognizing our support of Israel, but as an honest broker.

"If the world is going to look to us as to how we can provide that leadership, I do not want any loss of flexibility on the part of the President and the Secretary of State and such others who may be tasked to try to work out this situation.

"Yes, I conclude our support for Israel is very strong, Mr. President, but it cannot be unconditional." . . .

SEND SENATOR WARNER A NOTE OF THANKS:

TEL: (202) 224-2023
FAX: (202) 224-6295
VIRGINIA RESIDENTS: Abingdon (276) 628-8158, Midlothian (804) 739-0247, Norfolk (757) 441-3079, Roanoke (540) 857-2676
GO TO: http://warner.senate.gov/contact/offices.htm
E-MAIL: http://warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm

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GRIM PROOF ORDINARY FOLK ARE DYING IN THE KILLING ZONE - TOP
Ed O'Loughlin, Sydney Morning Herald, 7/20/06
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/grim-proof-ordinary-folk-are-dying-in-the-killing-zone/2006/07/19/1153166454900.html

PARKED outside the small general hospital in Tyre is a badly refrigerated lorry container in which are stacked the bodies of 91 Lebanese civilians, 55 of them children. . .

Since Israel began bombing and shelling south Lebanon last Wednesday, about 380 patients have passed through this 65-bed hospital, plus the 91 dead. Not one of the victims, he says, has been a member of Hezbollah, the militia group that triggered Israel's onslaught with a border raid last week. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

ISRAELI RAIDS KILL 59 - TOP
Dominic Evans, Daily Telegraph, 7/20/06
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,19849959-5006506,00.html

ISRAELI air strikes on Lebanon killed 58 civilians and a Hezbollah fighter, the deadliest toll of the eight-day-old war, as thousands of villagers fled north and more foreigners were evacuated.

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AS CONVOY SMOLDERS ON HILL, VILLAGERS WARN DRIVERS OF RAID - TOP
Edward Cody, Washington Post, 7/19/06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071801423.html

An Israeli military spokesman said aircraft hit four trucks on a highway in Lebanon that were carrying weapons for Hezbollah and had originated in Beirut. Told the trucks appeared to be carrying food, the spokesman said, "We attack only terror targets that relate to Hezbollah and their terror infrastructure."

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CAIR-MI: LOCAL MUSLIM LEADERS SPEAK ABOUT MIDEAST CRISIS - TOP
Val Clark, WXYZ, 7/19/06
http://www.detnow.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_4855079,00.html

According to estimates from the local Muslim community and from the offices of Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman John Dingell, there are still 7,000 Lebanese-Americans from the Detroit area who remain in the Middle East.

Leaders from the Detroit area Muslim community held a press conference in Dearborn Wednesday. They want President George Bush to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.

"This aggression at this time - whether we like it or we don't - it has to be stopped." said Imam Mohamad Mardini from the American Muslim Center.

Minister Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Center on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said some in the community have drawn parallels between the plight of evacuees from Lebanon and the situation faced by African-Americans in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

"Many Muslims and Christians in the Arab-American community have the exact same sentiment that African-Americans had last year when they feel as if they are being treated as second-class citizens," Walid said Wednesday morning. (MORE)

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CONYERS URGES ACTION TO QUELL VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST - TOP
http://www.house.gov/list/press/mi14_conyers/109_07_19_06.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. joined Congressman John Dingell and Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick at a press conference on the crisis in the Middle East. Representing the largest Arab-American population in the country, Mr. Conyers is deeply troubled by the escalating violence in the Middle East. His statement follows:

"I am extremely concerned over the increasing deaths, injuries, destruction and suffering in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and Israel. We all agree that actions of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah that sparked the present conflict were reprehensible. We also believe there needs to be a change in America's posture of non-involvement. These two beliefs are not mutually exclusive. President Bush must intervene immediately to work with the UN and EU to begin negotiating the terms of a ceasefire that has the necessary elements to preclude another outbreak of violence. The president should show moral leadership by stepping up to this challenge. He needs to demonstrate that he is not just a 'war president,' that he can also be a president for peace.

None of us condone terrorism in any way, shape, or form, and I believe Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that was, is, and remains a threat to peace in the Mideast, and must be dismantled and disarmed. This conflict cannot be resolved militarily; only diplomacy can bring an end to the bloodshed. Without the participation of the most powerful nation in the world, there will be no resolution. In the recent past we have witnessed strong American leadership working to bring peace and stability to the region through Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. It's time for George W. Bush to show the same kind of leadership as his predecessors. Once the violence has ceased, the US should immediately call on the World Bank and other international institutions to convene a donors conference to rebuild Lebanon's shattered infrastructure.

The Bush administration's Katrina-like effort to get Americans out of the war zone is disgraceful. The State Department now estimates that 5,000 Americans will be evacuated by the end of the week. That's one-fifth of the 25,000 Americans in Lebanon evacuated in 9 days. At the current rate, it will take 3 or 4 more weeks to evacuate the rest of the Americans. This response is unacceptable.

There are close to 7,000 Americans from the Detroit area presently stranded in Lebanon. The vast majority of them are in the south, where the heaviest bombardment is taking place. While the US's efforts to transport people from Lebanon to Cyprus is finally starting to get underway, our constituents are still responsible for getting themselves from the villages in the south to the American embassy in Beirut so they can be evacuated. With continuous shelling and most roads destroyed, many people are stuck in their homes and villages, unable to make the trip.

The US should make immediate arrangements with the Israeli and Lebanese militaries and the UN to ensure that these Americans can be evacuated. A secure route from the south to Beirut should be arranged with the Israeli military so our citizens can get to the U.S. Embassy safely."

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
Representing Michigan's 14th District
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov

2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax

669 Federal Building
231 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-5670
(313) 226-2085 Fax

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CA: LOOKING BACK AT LEBANON WITH ANGER -- AT THE U.S. - TOP
A Lebanese American couple who fled strife say America should have intervened in fight.
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 7/19/06
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hamzeh19jul19,1,3952877.story

They survived the bombings near Tripoli. They braved an escape from Lebanon through the Syrian border.

But those weren't the most traumatic moments for Laguna Niguel residents Kanan and Hanan Hamzeh, who Tuesday described their six-day ordeal fleeing the raging battle between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The worst moment, the couple said, occurred last week when they clustered around a TV set watching the news with family and friends in Tripoli, Lebanon. The group of middle-class, mostly college-educated Lebanese, who support the disarmament of Hezbollah and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem, all were convinced that the U.S. would broker an immediate cease-fire to stop their homeland's destruction, the Hamzehs said.

Instead, the United States blocked U.N. plans for a Middle East cease-fire resolution.

"All of my family looked at me and said, 'Look what your country has done. How could this be possible?'" said Hanan Hamzeh, 50. "I just said, 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.' I was in shock.

"I felt embarrassed" to be American, she said.

"Betrayed," her husband added.

While the Israeli bombing has demolished much of Lebanon's infrastructure, the American failure to stop the fighting destroyed something far deeper in the Hamzehs' hearts. It has, they said, shattered their pride as Americans, altered their politics and left them with hard questions for their president. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

MI: 10,000 RALLY IN DEARBORN IN SUPPORT OF LEBANON - TOP
NIRAJ WARIKOO and BEN SCHMITT, Detroit Free Press, 7/18/06
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060718/NEWS99/60718005/-1/BUSINESS07

Carrying banners saying "Stop Israeli Terrorism" and chanting antiwar slogans, some 10,000 people rallied in the center of metro Detroit's Arab-American community in Dearborn on Tuesday, demanding that the U.S. government put pressure on Israel to halt attacks in Lebanon. (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: MUSLIM LEADERS CONDEMN VIOLENCE - TOP
BEN TORTER, Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/15069036.htm

Area residents of Arab descent say they are tired of the fighting and want the same thing as the Israelis: A lasting peace.

"We should cease fire immediately and give diplomacy a chance, said Sofian Zakkout, director of the American Muslim Association of North America.

On Tuesday several local high-ranking Muslims -- including Altaf Ali of the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, in Pembroke Pines -- issued a statement condemning terrorism and the cycle of violence in the Middle East. They feel the bombing of Lebanon for a week now has gone beyond Israel defending itself. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-MI: FAITH LEADERS FIND UNITY ELUSIVE - TOP
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 7/19/06
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/LIFESTYLE04/607190358

DEARBORN -- As Muslims, Jews and Christians traveled to an interfaith meeting at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Tuesday, some stopped at a demonstration by 7,000 mostly Arab-American and Muslim residents, protesting the Israeli incursion into Lebanon.

"We're just stopping by to see what is being said, to pick up on people's concerns," said Brenda Rosenberg, who is Jewish and an interfaith activist from Birmingham.

"Our work is extraordinarily difficult now." . . .

Dawud Walid, the regional director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, talked about receiving a phone call from another interfaith activist last week, as the bombardment of Lebanon began.

"We tried to talk about everything except for that," Walid said. "There was some tension there."

Walid described the atmosphere among Muslims and Jews in Metro Detroit as "pretty cold, right now."

But Walid said he and others are committed to persevering. (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: FRUSTRATION, UNCERTAINTY STRETCHES BACK TO BAY AREA - TOP
ALDO NAHED, St. Petersburg Times, 7/19/06
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/19/Tampabay/Frustration__uncertai.shtml

More than two dozen U.S. citizens from the Tampa Bay area are stuck in Lebanon, estimates Ahmed Bedier, the Tampa office director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"In the first days there was concern," Bedier said, describing e-mails sent to his organization by bay area residents in Lebanon. "Their concerns have turned into great fear."

Even though U.S. citizens are being evacuated, Bedier said they have to risk their lives to make it to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

"The situation is becoming more of a humanitarian crisis," he said. "We are urging members to meet with elected officials to vent our frustration and ask for a cease-fire." (MORE)

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CAIR-LA: INLAND RESIDENTS IN BEIRUT AWAIT HELP - TOP
BETTYE WELLS MILLER and CLAIRE VITUCCI, Press-Enterprise, 7/19/06
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_connect19.1fd9261.html

Rafik and Ghaida Ayloush, Corona retirees, remain at a relative's house in the mountains near Beirut with no way to get home, said their son, Hussam Ayloush, also a Corona resident and the executive director of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

"The whole country is blockaded," Hussam Ayloush said. "Israel has bombed every way out of Lebanon, including the airport and ports. It's very difficult for a person to safely leave from Lebanon. They're waiting to hear what their options might be."

Ayloush said his parents had been in Beirut since May visiting one son and helping to plan an August engagement party for another, who works in Kuwait. He last spoke with them on Monday.

"They were doing fine, considering the circumstances," he said. "When you face challenges, your expectations are low. You are happy if you make it to the next day."

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CAIR-FL: WAR BECOMES REALITY OF FAMILY VACATION - TOP
CHRIS ECHEGARAY, Tampa Tribune, 7/19/06
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB3GW86TPE.html

TAMPA - With their Honda CRV filled with seven children, Rima and Mohamed Fawaz approached the Zahrani bridge in southern Lebanon. When they were two minutes away from crossing, a bomb exploded, taking a chunk of the bridge - along with cars and people.

It was chaos.

The children - ranging in age from 3 to 17 - watched the scene unfold. They cried; many threw up.

"There is blood; there's the dead and the injured," said Rima Fawaz, of New Tampa. "I can't describe the feeling. It's the scariest.

"We decided to keep going north, away from the bombing," Fawaz said. "A soldier told us that they would continue to bomb the bridge. As soon as we get on the bridge, we were told to step on it. My son tells my husband, 'Please, daddy, tell me it's fireworks. Please tell me we won't die.'"

A handful of Tampa residents are caught in the violence between Israel and Hezbollah that started July 12. They are telling their stories in the national media.

The office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, local Muslims and Arab-Americans are holding a news conference at 11:30 a.m. today at the federal courthouse in Tampa, calling for an immediate cease-fire. (MORE)

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COALITION OF PAKISTANI-AMERICANS CONDEMNS ISRAELI AGGRESSION - TOP
Repudiates political opportunism as a "cruel hoax"

New York, NY Jul 17, 2006 A grand coalition of Pakistani-American organizations, including Chicago Council of Pakistani Organizations (CCPO), Pakistan Action Committee (PAC), Pakistani American Council of Texas (PACT), Pakistan Cultural Association of Staten Island, Inc. (PCASI), Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF), Pakistan Association of Riverside (PAR), Pakistan Community Association of New Orleans (PCANO), Pakistan League of America (PLA), Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum (PUFF), and Live Together.US Inc. (LTU), has condemned current Israeli aggression in "strongest possible terms."

The Grand Coalition has emphasized that "the Western Powers cannot continue to deal with the symptoms and ignore the root cause: Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian lands. The UN Security Council must bring about an immediate cease-fire or risk the whole Middle East going up in flames."

The Grand Coalition has called on Pakistan and other Muslim countries "not to recognize Israel till a free and sovereign nation of Palestine has been established." They have also repudiated the "political opportunism" of eight Pakistani- Americans as a "cruel hoax".

The joint statement reads:

"We call on the UN Security Council to fulfill its obligations by using all its authority to bring an immediate end to organized Israeli slaughter of men, women and children in Gaza and Lebanon.

"The UN cannot continue to deal with the symptoms and ignore the root cause: Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian lands.

"We call on the Government of Pakistan to reaffirm its stated position that formal diplomatic relations with Israel "will have to wait" till a just peace is obtained and an "independent Palestinian state" has come into existence.

"Recognition of Israel by Pakistan and other Muslim countries should be based on two factors: 1) full implementation of all relevant UN resolutions, particularly 242, 338, and 194, and return of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian lands currently occupied by Israel, and 2) establishment of a viable, independent and sovereign state of Palestine that is in full control of its own internal and external affairs as well as its own resources including water, air space, and borders.

"Any mediation on behalf of the Palestinians must be done with the foreknowledge and approval of their democratically elected leadership.

"A tiny group of Pakistani-Americans who had recently gone to Israel on a private visit had done so to provide a cover for Israel's heinous crimes. Calling it "peacemaking" is a "cruel hoax" that has fooled nobody. These are the same people who had honored extremist BJP leader Advani last year. They stand utterly rejected by the Pakistani-American community."

For more information contact: Dr. Ashraf Toor 815.353.5039

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PRISON PROBES RACIAL SLUR ON MUSLIM OFFICER'S LOCKER - TOP
RICK HEPP, Star-Ledger, 7/19/06
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1153288697257580.xml&coll=1

The state Department of Corrections is trying to determine who wrote a racial slur across the locker of a black Muslim sergeant late last week after the officer had a disagreement with colleagues at a youth correctional facility, his union representative said yesterday.

"It's a shame when an individual has to lower himself to the level of writing a racial slur on a locker," said Tom Moran, president of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, which represents the department's sergeants. "Hopefully, as a department we can overcome these disagreements." He declined to name the sergeant.

Corrections spokeswoman Deirdre Fedkenheuer confirmed there was "an incident" at the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility in Burlington County but declined to describe it pending the outcome of an investigation by the department's equal employment division. The division investigates issues involving race, creed and gender. (MORE)

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MS: PRO-LIFE DEMONSTRATORS DESTROY KORAN, RAINBOW FLAG - TOP
Andrew Hasbun, WLBT, 7/18/06
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=5167436&nav=2CSf

Pro-life demonstrators Tuesday tore apart the Muslim holy book, the Koran. They wanted to set it on fire, but the group does not have the proper permits.

Tuesday morning rallies became confrontational when police would not allow loudspeakers.

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OH: NEW MOSQUE THREAT: "YA'LL GONNA GET BOMBED TONIGHT" - TOP
WCPO, 7/18/06
http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/07/18/mosque.html

The FBI and Cincinnati Police are investigating after the Islamic Association of Cincinnati received threats Monday.

In December, two pipe bombs exploded outside the Clifton Avenue mosque. No arrests were made.

On Monday, someone called the mosque and threatened to blow it up, people at the mosque told 9News. They say someone also drove by, yelling threats.

"A car did come by and it said the exact words that 'ya'll gonna get bombed tonight,' to 'watch out ya'll gonna get bombed tonight,'" said Karen Dabdoub of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati.

SEE ALSO:

THREATS PHONED IN TO LOCAL MOSQUE - TOP
http://www.wkrc.com/breaking/story.aspx?content_id=840CC37F-AB59-426C-A81D-CF26B868D3D6

The FBI is investigating threats phoned in to a local mosque. The caller reportedly made death threats targeting Muslims Monday evening.

The mosque in Clifton is the same one targeted by two pipe bombs in December.

An FBI spokesperson says agents will investigate Tuesday, and that the matter has been referred to Cincinnati Police.

The local office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the mosque remained open for prayer, but security has been increased.

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FBI CHECKS OLD BOMB THREAT - TOP
WILLIAM A. WEATHERS, ENQUIRER, 7/19/06
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/NEWS01/607190347/1077

CLIFTON - The FBI is investigating whether there's a connection between a bomb threat to a mosque Monday and a pipe-bomb explosion at the mosque in December.

"That's one of the things we're looking into," Special Agent Michael Brooks, spokesman for the Cincinnati FBI office, said Tuesday.

Karen Dabdoub, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Center of Cincinnati mosque in the 3600 block of Clifton Avenue, said someone called the mosque about 5:30 p.m. Monday and threatened to bomb it.

Later, about 11 p.m. a car with several men inside drove past the mosque and someone shouted a threat to bomb the building, said Dabdoub, director of the Cincinnati Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"We're going to bomb the place. We're going to bomb the place," someone shouted from the car, Dabdoub said. "It's pretty much what they said on the phone."

Mosque officials are taking the threats seriously and security has been increased, Dabdoub said. "These threats are unacceptable in any community," she said. "They (worshipers) have the right to come here and worship in peace."

Dabdoub said the December bombing, which caused minor damage to the building, failed to intimidate worshipers. (MORE)

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EXPERTS: ISLAM-U.S. RELATIONS AT NADIR - TOP
PAMELA HESS, United Press International, 7/18/06
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060718-035606-1626r

WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Five years after the United States received the world's sympathy for the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Middle East and terrorism experts and a top poll taker reported to a Senate committee that the attitudes of Muslims have shifted sharply away from the United States.

A panel of experts told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that, whether reasonable or not, the war in Iraq, the detainment of prisoners at Guantanamo, and now the United States refusal to intercede against Israel in Lebanon causes Muslims to believe the United States has abandoned its core principles of human rights, democracy and freedom. . .

Akbar Ahmed, a professor at the American University in Washington and former high commissioner from Pakistan to Britain, traveled throughout the Middle East and Asia from February to April to discuss the tension between Islam and the United States.

"I have never encountered such intensity of emotion. The Muslim world in the years of the Cold War, when the United States was obviously the moral power, admired and respected the United States. Today we found that many Muslims do not see the United States as the moral power it once used to be; in fact, many of the people we surveyed through the nine countries said they would prefer Saddam Hussein, the most ruthless and vile of dictators, to the Americans in Iraq."

The Israeli attack on Lebanon with apparent American blessing only reinforces that view, said Muqtedar Khan, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a periodic adviser to the White House.

"The way we have abandoned Lebanon, I'm not very sure if any moderate Muslims will be able to take a risk (and move toward democracy,)" he 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

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