cair-net Digest of: get.801_900
Topics (messages 801 through 900):
CAIR-NET: URGENT - U.S. Muslim Opinion Survey
801 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CORRECTED CAIR Survey Return Fax Number
802 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Christopher Hitchens - 'Pipes the Propagandist'
803 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: President to Appoint Daniel Pipes Without a Vote
804 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: National Call-In Day Reminder: Oppose the Pipes Appointment
805 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Mass. DJ Calls for 'Eradication of Arab Race'
806 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Sen. Tom Harkin on the Nomination of Daniel Pipes
807 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Daniel Pipes Appointment Harms U.S. Image
808 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Penn. Police Officer Denied Right to Wear Hijab
809 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bush Nominee Supports Group Closed for Terror Ties
810 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fear Shakes NJ Immigrant Enclave
811 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: ADL Attempts to Defame Florida Muslims
812 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Calif. Muslim Sues Neocon Magazine for Defamation
813 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: EEOC Sues Over Harassment of Muslim Worker
814 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Koran for Dummies/Daniel Pipes is Unacceptable
815 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: President to Appoint Daniel Pipes Today
816 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Declare 'Moral Victory' in Pipes Appointment
817 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR-FL Rep. Selected for Leadership Program
818 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bush Peace Appointee Says War with Muslims May be Needed
819 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI Asked to Investigate Fire at Georgia Mosque
820 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fire at Georgia Mosque Ruled Arson
821 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Immigrants Say 9/11 Probe Violated Rights
822 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims to Hold 9/11 Vigil at U.S. Capitol
823 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Free CAIR T-Shirt with Membership at ISNA
824 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: OHIO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BARS GIRL WEARING HIJAB
825 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: National Review 'Regrets' Smear of CAIR-LA Official
826 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Najaf Bombing
827 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Make Civil Rights Top Issue
828 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Slurs, 9-11 Taunts, Punch, But No Hate Crime?
829 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bush Appointee Calls Al-Aqsa Mosque a 'Trick'
830 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Report Cites Post-9/11 Discrimination
831 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC-Area Community Invited to 9/11 Memorial Event
832 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: GA Muslims Call a Sunday Peace Rally
833 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Post 9/11 - U.S. Muslims Getting More Involved
834 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Groups to Collect Food for Needy
835 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Poll: Muslims Increase Political Activity Since 9/11
836 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Directions to Tonight's 9/11 Memorial in DC/Muslim Wins Hijab
Settlement
837 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR-LA Co-Hosts Meeting with Bustamante
838 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canadian Imams Denied Entry at FL Airport
839 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Revered Muslim Cleric Held in U.S.
840 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Hallmark Now Offers Eid Cards
841 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: MD Muslims Gather Tons of Goods for Area Pantries
842 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Oregon Prof Sues Bush Appointee for Defamation
843 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Sikh Cabbie Shot/$2 Million Awarded to CA Muslim
844 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Girl Punched in Face/Muslims Polish Image
845 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Sign Up To Receive 'Washington Live' TV Talk Show
846 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Arizona Mosque Vandalized/IN Student Punched
847 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Patriot Act, Part II - Israeli Spies in Canada?
848 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: IL Anti-Muslim Bomber Gets Probation, 'Anger Management'
849 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CIA Paid for Fake Islamic Leaders - Book
850 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Plan to Screen Travelers Hits Bump/True Patriot Act
851 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslim Group Reacts to Gitmo Spy Probe
852 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Offers Condolences on Death of Edward Said
853 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Immigration Officer Accused of Raping Detainee
854 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR-CA Policy Statement on Proposition 54
855 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Patriot Act Used to Pursue Non-Terror Crimes
856 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslim Leaves School Over ROTC Hijab Conflict
857 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Support the 'True Patriot Act'
858 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Terror Recruitment' Probe Concerns Muslims
859 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: AZ Swastika Vandalism Suspect Arrested
860 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome Report on Public Diplomacy
861 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Community Raises Funds to Rebuild Mosque
862 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NC Congressman Blames Muslims For Marriage Failure
863 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Haifa Suicide Bombing
864 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Israeli Attack on Syria
865 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 1,800 Turn Out for CAIR Dinner in California
866 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Virginia Muslim Stabbed, Called 'Terrorist Pig'
867 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Air Fears About Patriot Act
868 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bank of America Worker Faces Religious Discrimination
869 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: House Condemns Bigotry Against Muslims
870 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Okla. Student Suspended for Wearing Hijab
871 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims Demand Attackers be Tried as Adults
872 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Mosque Bomb Plot Accomplice Sentenced
873 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 750 Turn Out for CAIR-SFBA Fundraising Dinner
874 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Schumer's Aggressive Stance Draws Criticism
875 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Protest Home Demolitions at Israeli Embassy in DC
876 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Okla. Muslim Returns to School with Hijab
877 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Detainees Pick Up Legal Support
878 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Gaza Convoy Attack, Home Demolitions
879 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Top U.S. General Says Muslims Worship 'Idol'
880 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Hispanics Find Familiarity in Islam
881 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: General Says He'll Tone Down Rhetoric
882 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Why Was This Muslim FBI Agent Fired?
883 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pentagon Deleted Part of Official's Apology
884 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Condemn Killing of Palestinian Civilians
885 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ramadan Publicity Kit Now Online
886 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Both Black and Muslim in America
887 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Demand Probe of Floridian with Terror Ties
888 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Twins' Case 'Couldn't Hurt' U.S.-Arab Relations
889 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Missouri Muslim Day-Care Center Harassed
890 by: CAIR
CORRECTION TO: Missouri Muslim Day-Care Center Harassed
891 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Nuke Mecca' Writer Smears ISNA
892 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ramadan Greetings From CAIR
893 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Illinois Muslims Accuse Barnes & Noble of Discrimination
894 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Support House Resolution to 'Censure and Reassign' Boykin
895 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: TN Muslim Sues Bus Line for Service Refusal
896 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Register Online for CAIR's DC Dinner
897 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Calif. Muslims Offer Prayers for Rain to Quench Fires
898 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome Hispanic 'Reverts'
899 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Evangelist Censured by Canadian TV
900 by: CAIR
---------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR SURVEY OF AMERICAN MUSLIM OPINION - August 2003
As-salaamu alaykum. (peace be with you)
CAIR NEEDS YOUR HELP! We often receives requests for information on the
views and make-up of the American Muslim community. Please take a few
minutes to fill out the survey below so that we may accurately reflect
Muslim views and concerns. (All responses are confidential.) Please
print
out this form for distribution in your local Islamic center or
organization. Also post it on Muslim e-mail lists and forward to
personal
e-mail addresses of friends and associates.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SURVEY FOR MUSLIMS IN AMERICA. In the past, these
surveys have been instrumental for CAIR, the American Muslim community,
policy makers, and media experts in understanding the characteristics
and
views of the American Muslim community. Your response will strengthen
CAIR's ability to improve its work and to articulate the community's
views.
We appreciate your cooperation.
PLEASE RESPOND BY Tuesday, August 19, 2003.
May Allah bless you for your time and effort.
PLEASE FORWARD A BLANK COPY OF THIS SURVEY TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
-----
RETURN TO:
E-MAIL: survey@cair-net.org
FAX: 202-488-8383
MAIL: CAIR Survey, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
-----
1) Are you Muslim? ___ Yes ___ No
2) Are you a U.S. resident? ___ Yes ___ No
3) In which city and state do you live? City: ___________ State:
_______
4) Are you eligible to vote in U.S. elections? ___ Yes ___ No
5) Are you registered to vote or will you register before the next
election? ___ Yes ___ No
6) Did you vote in the 2000 presidential election? ___ Yes ___ No
7) In the last two years, have you done any of the following: (Check
where
applicable.)
___ voted in a congressional election
___ voted in a state of local election
___ donated money or time in a political campaign
___ donated money, time, or expertise to a local or national non-profit
or
political organization
8) Are you affiliated with any political party? ___ Yes ___ No Specify:
_________________
9) Overall, which political party do you believe best represents the
interests of the American Muslim community? ___ Republican ___
Democratic
___ Green _____None ___ Other (specify)
_______________________________
10) In your opinion, which political party is trying to attract the
support
of the American Muslim community? ___ Democratic ___ Green ___
Republican
___ None
___ Other (specify) _______________________________
11) If the presidential election were held tomorrow, would you vote for
George W. Bush? ___Yes ____ No
12) Who is you favorite democratic presidential candidate? _____ Carol
Moseley Braun _____ Howard Dean ____ John Edwards ____ Dick Gephardt
____
Bob Graham ____ John Kerry ____ Dennis Kucinich ____ Joe Lieberman
_____ Al
Sharpton
13) What do you believe are the most important DOMESTIC issues for the
American Muslim community? 1.________________ 2.________________ 3.
_______________
14) What do you believe are the most important FOREIGN issues for the
American Muslim community? 1.________________ 2.________________ 3.
_______________
15) On a scale from 1-10 (1 being biased against Muslims and 10 being
biased in favor of Muslims), how would you rate the Bush
administration's
policies related to DOMESTIC ISSUES of importance to the AMERICAN
MUSLIM
COMMUNITY? ___
16) On a scale from 1-10 (1 being biased against Muslims and 10 being
biased in favor of Muslims), how would you rate the Bush
administration's
FOREIGN POLICIES related to the Muslim world? ___
17) Are you affiliated with a local or national NON-MUSLIM public
affairs
organizations? ___ Yes ___ No Specify: _____________________
18) Are you affiliated with a local or national American Muslim
organization?
___ Yes ___ No Specify: ________________
19) Do you support AFFIRMATIVE ACTION in higher education? ___ Yes ___
No
___ No Opinion
20) Do you support TAX REDUCTIONS as a means to boost the economy? ___
Yes
___ No ___ No Opinion
21) Do you support the way the administration is handling the WAR IN
IRAQ?
___ Yes ___ No ___ No Opinion
22) Do you believe INTERFAITH DIALOGUE is important? ___ Yes ___ No ___
No
Opinion
23) Do you support RACIAL/RELIGIOUS PROFILING for reasons of national
security? ___ Yes ___ No ___ No Opinion
24) Do you support the use of SCHOOL VOUCHERS to improve our system of
education? ___ Yes ___ No ___ No Opinion
25) Do you believe the USA PATRIOT ACT has contributed to a DECREASE in
respect for civil liberties? ___ Yes ___ No ___ No Opinion
26) In the last year, have you experienced anti-Muslim bias or
discrimination? ___ Yes ___ No
27) That discrimination or bias took the form of:
___ verbal abuse
___ workplace discrimination
___ threats
___ assaults
___ housing discrimination
___ profiling (being singled out by law enforcement authorities or
other
security personnel because of your religion, ethnicity or national
origin)
___ Other: (specify) __________________________
28) Do you know at least one American Muslim who has experienced
anti-Muslim bias or discrimination in the last year? Yes____ No_____
29) In the last year, have you experienced kindness or support from
friends
or colleagues of other faiths? Yes___ No___
30) That kindness or support was expressed in the following way:
31) What American television news channel do you watch the most?
32) Do you believe the image of Islam and Muslims in the American Media
is:
___ improving ___ changing to worse ___ remaining the same
33) Media outlet/outlets worthy of praise for their coverage of Islam
and
Muslims at the national level are:
At the local level:
34) Media outlet/outlets that exhibited some of the most biased
coverage are:
At the National Level:
At the Local Level:
35) If you had to name one or more persons or organizations who
consistently defame Islam and Muslims, you would name: 1. _____________
2._____________ 3._____________
36) Living in America, do you feel free to practice your faith without
restrictions? ___ Yes ___ No
37) Since the 9/11 attacks, has your level of activism within your
local
Muslim community increased or decreases in the following areas?
a. Displaying Islamic symbols and identifying yourself as a Muslim in
public forums. ___ increased ____ decreased ____ remained the same ____
I
am not active at this level
b. Being active with you local Mosque or Islamic Center. ___ increased
____
decreased ____ remained the same ____ you are not active at this level
c. Joining the membership of local or national American Muslim
organizations. ___ increased ____ decreased ____ remained the same ____
you
are not active at this level
d. Donating money to local or national American Muslim organization.
___
increased ____ decreased ____ remained the same ____ you are not active
at
this level
e. Following the news of the American Muslim community and caring about
their issues. ___ increased ____ decreased ____ remained the same ____
you
are not active at this level
f. Participating in media, political, civil rights campaigns organized
by
American Muslim local or national organizations. ___ increased ____
decreased ____ remained the same ____ you are not active at this level
38) What kind of effect did each of the following factors have on your
level of involvement with the community in the previous areas?
a. Government policies: ___ negative _____ positive ___ did not affect
me
b. Media attitudes: ___ negative _____ positive ___ did not affect me
c. Attitude of the larger American Society: ___ negative _____ positive
___
did not affect me
d. Attitudes of your local Muslim community: ___ negative _____
positive
___ did not affect me
e. Attitudes of the national American Muslim organizations: ___
negative
_____ positive ___ did not affect me
39) Since the 9/11 attacks, have your activism with your larger
American
local and national society increased or decreases at the following
levels?
a. Participation in the political process. ___ increased ____ decreased
____ remained the same ____ you are not active at this level
b. Contacting the media. ___ increased ____ decreased ____ remained the
same ____ you are not active at this level
c. Civil rights Activism. ___ increased ____ decreased ____ remained
the
same ____ you are not active at this level
d. Outreach and interfaith Activism. ___ increased ____ decreased ____
remained the same ____ you are not active at this level
40) Since the 9-11 terror attacks, your local Muslim community has: ___
become less active in social issues and politics ___ become more active
in
social issues and politics ___ no change in social or political
activism
41) Since the 9-11 terror attacks, your life as an American Muslim has:
___
changed for the better ___ changed for the worse ___ not changed
42) Name any local Muslim activists whom you think CAIR should get in
touch
with because they hold position in the following area related to CAIR's
work:
1. Elected officials 1. ______ 2. _________ 3. _________
2. Running for Office: 1. _______ 2. ________ 3. ________
3. Working for Local Media: 1. ________2._________3.________
4. Working in Civil rights organizations:
1.___________2.__________3.________
43) In your opinion, what kind of steps, activities, or campaigns
should be
taken to improve the image of Islam and Muslims in America?
1. _________
2. _________
3. _________
44) Your ethnic heritage is:
___ African-American
___ Arabic speaking world
___ South Asian
___ East Asian
___ Sub Saharan/East Africa
___ West African
___ Central Asia
___ European-American (white, non-immigrant)
___ European Immigrant (Bosnian, Kosovar, etc.)
___ Hispanic/Latino
___ Turkish
___ Iranian
___ Other (Specify country) _________________
45) You highest level of education is: ___ High School ___
Undergraduate
Degree ___ Graduate Degree
46) Your household income falls within the following range: ___ Under
$20,000 ___ $20,000-35,000 ___ $35,001-50,000 ___ $50,001-75,000 ___
$75,000-100,000 ___ $100,000 +
47) How often do you attend a mosque? ____More than once a week _____
once
a week ____ less than once a week ____ not at all
48) You are: ___ Male ___ Female
49) You are in the following age range: ___ Under 18 ___ 18-25 ___
26-35
___ 36-55 ___ 56+
50) Are you a member of CAIR: ___ Yes ___ No
51) Since when have you been in touch with CAIR? _____ this is your
first
time ____ one week or less ____ one Month or less ____ one year or Less
____ five years or Less ____ more than five years
52) On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is poor performance and 10 excellent
performance, you would rate CAIR's performance as: ______
53) The thing you liked most about CAIR's work was:
54) The area of CAIR's work that needs improvement is:
55) You receive CAIR's materials through:
___ CAIR-NET
___ ISLAM-INFONET
___ Other E-Mail List/Specify: _______
___ CAIR's Web Site
___ Newsgroup/Specify: _________
___ Fax
___ Mail
___ Postings in the Mosque
___ Other/Specify: ________
56) When you receive CAIR's news, do you forward them to friends? ___
Yes
____ No (If yes, How many ____)
57) You would like to receive ___ CAIR materials/___become a CAIR
member.
Send materials to me at the following mailing address.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
58) CAIR can count on your help in the following areas: ___ civil
rights
____ media activism ____ political activism ____ fundraising and
outreach
projects
The following people would like to receive CAIR materials:
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SURVEY.
-----
- PLEASE COPY, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
RETURN TO:
E-MAIL: survey@cair-net.org
FAX: 202-488-8383
MAIL: CAIR Survey, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CORRECTION: The fax number listed for returning the CAIR SURVEY OF
AMERICAN
MUSLIM OPINION was incorrect.
The correct fax number is 202-488-0833.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/11/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A LOVING FATHER
* CAIR-NY: FREE LEGAL CLINIC
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6734 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* HITCHENS: PIPES THE PROPAGANDIST (Slate)
- MPAC Urges President Not to Make Recess Appointment
* COPS: 'SOLID LEADS' ON SIKH ATTACKS (Newsday)
* JITTERY U.S. SOLDIERS KILL 6 IRAQIS (AP)
- Tension Grows Between U.S. Troops, Iraqis (AP)
- Family Shot Dead by Panicking US Troops (Independent)
- GIs Flood US with War-Weary Emails (Observer)
* DEPICTION OF THREAT OUTGREW EVIDENCE (Wash. Post)
- Trailers Make Hydrogen, Not Biological Arms (NY Times)
* U.S. CHRISTIAN GROUPS FIGHT SUDAN PEACE PLAN (Newsweek)
* IDAHO'S GRASS-ROOTS RESIST THE PATRIOT ACT (AP)
* U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AT LOCAL CONFERENCE
* MUSLIM BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN ILLINOIS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A LOVING FATHER
Narrated Aisha - "I never saw anyone more like the (Prophet Muhammad
[peace
be upon him]) in respect to gravity, calm deportment and pleasant
disposition than Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter)…When she came to
visit
him, he got up to (welcome) her, took her by the hand, kissed her, and
made
her sit where he was sitting. When he went to visit her, she got up to
(welcome) him, took him by the hand, kissed him, and made him sit where
she
was sitting."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2484
-----
CAIR-NY: FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR SPECIAL REGISTRANTS
WHAT: On August 14, the Coney Island Avenue Project, the New York
office of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) and City Bar
Association will hold a free clinic regarding any Notice to Appear
(NTA)
received when complying with the Special Registration program. Those
seeking immigration relief to stay in the United States or having
problems
finding a pro bono attorney should also attend. Liz Ouyang will be the
supervising attorney.
WHEN: Thursday August 14, 2003, 5 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: 1117 Coney Island Avenue #1R, Brooklyn NY 11230
For further information please contact: Bobby Khan at (718) 859-0238 or
(917) 440-9002; CAIR, 212-870-2002.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6734 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6734 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"Materials received were well reviewed. The variety of formats is
appreciated. Thank you." - Laureldale, PA
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
HITCHENS: PIPES THE PROPAGANDIST
Christopher Hitchens, Slate Magazine, 8/11/03
http://slate.msn.com/id/2086844/
When I read that Daniel Pipes had been nominated to the board of the
United
States Institute of Peace (a federally funded body whose members are
proposed by the president and confirmed by the Senate), my first
reaction
was one of bafflement. Why did Pipes want the nomination? After all,
USIP,
a somewhat mild organization, is devoted to the peaceful resolution of
conflict. For Pipes, this notion is a contradiction in terms.
I am not myself a pacifist, and I believe that Islamic nihilism has to
be
combated with every weapon, intellectual and moral as well as military,
which we possess or can acquire. But that is a position shared by a
very
wide spectrum of people. Pipes, however, uses this consensus to take a
position somewhat to the right of Ariel Sharon, concerning a matter
(the
Israel-Palestine dispute) that actually can be settled by negotiation.
And
he employs the fears and insecurities created by Islamic extremism to
slander or misrepresent those who disagree with him.
This makes him a poor if not useless ally in the wider battle...
He is the founder of Campus Watch, a Web-site crusade that purports to
expose heretical or subversive teachers in America…
On more than one occasion, Pipes has called for the extension of
Israel's
already ruthless policy of collective punishment, arguing that leveling
Palestinian villages is justifiable if attacks are launched from among
their inhabitants. It seems to me from observing his style that he came
to
this conclusion with rather more relish than regret. And, invited
recently
to comment on the wartime internment of the Japanese-as a comparison
case
to his own call for the profiling and surveillance of Muslim and
Arab-Americans-he declined on the grounds that he didn't know enough
about
the subject. One isn't necessarily obliged to know the history of
discrimination as it has been applied to American security
policy-unless,
that is, one is proposing a new form of it. To be uninformed at that
point
is to disqualify oneself, as the Senate should disqualify Pipes.
The board of USIP already contains enough people to make sure that the
hawkish viewpoint does not go unrepresented. It includes Douglas Feith,
undersecretary of defense, and Harriet Zimmerman of the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee. The objection to Pipes is not, in any case,
strictly a political one. It is an objection to a person who confuses
scholarship with propaganda and who pursues petty vendettas with scant
regard for objectivity.
ALSO SEE:
MPAC URGES PRESIDENT NOT TO MAKE RECESS APPOINTMENT
http://www.mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=594
Washington DC,-- A serious rumor running thought the halls on Capital
Hill
concerns the possibility of the Administration making a recess
appointment
for Daniel Pipes to the board of the Unites State Institute of Peace.
Salam Al-Marayati stated that, "Such an appointment would call into
question the this Administration's efforts to reach out to diverse
members
of American society. This nominee is anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant,
writing, among other things that 'brown skinned' immigrants eat strange
foods and maintain different 'standards of hygiene'".
Such an action would fly in the face of senior Democrat leaders
including
Edward Kennedy D-MA, Tom Harkin D-Iowa, and Christopher Dodd D-CT who
voiced their strident opposition to the nomination during an executive
session of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee meeting
held
on July 23, 2003. "Someone said that Mr. Pipes was a scholar. As I
have
read more of Mr. Pipes' writings and commentaries, it seems to me that
he
prefers provoking controversy. That is fine, but that is not the kind
of
individual that I think we want on the board of the Institute of
Peace",
said Senator Harkin during the session.
"A recess appointment would provide Americans and our allies a mirror
into
the thinking of this Administration." Stated Al-Marayati, "As a result,
the
US could not be relied upon to be a unbiased arbiter on sensitive
issues
involving the Middle East."
-----
COPS: 'SOLID LEADS' ON SIKH ATTACKS
Bryan Virasami, Newsday, 8/11/03
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/crime/nyc-nysikh113410241aug11,0,1790212.story
Hate-crimes investigators are pursuing "solid leads" on suspects who
yelled
"Bin Laden family" and attacked three Sikhs on a Woodside street, a
police
commander said yesterday.
Capt. Douglas Rolston, commanding officer of the 108th Precinct in Long
Island City, said investigators are aggressively working on the Aug. 3
incident in which a Sikh couple and a cousin were attacked outside
their home.
Rolston discussed the case in the Shri Guru Ravi Dass Temple in
Woodside,
telling Sikh leaders "there are some solid leads" but cautioning that
it
doesn't necessarily mean an arrest is "imminent."
Sitting barefoot in a circle on the floor, about two dozen Sikh
religious
and community leaders raised several concerns about bias incidents
across
the city and complained that none of the estimated 200 incidents
against
South Asians, Muslims and Arabs since Sept. 11, 2001, have resulted in
arrests...
-----
JITTERY U.S. SOLDIERS KILL 6 IRAQIS
Scheherezade Faramarzi, Associated Press, 8/10/03
http://www.military.com/NewsContent?file=FL_killed_081103
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The night air hung like a hot wet blanket over the
north
Baghdad suburb of Slaykh. At 9 p.m., an electrical transformer blew up,
plunging the neighborhood into darkness.
American soldiers, apparently fearing a bomb attack, went on alert.
Within
45 minutes, six Iraqis trying to get home before the 11 p.m. curfew
were
shot and killed by U.S. forces...
Confronted by daily guerrilla attacks that have claimed 56 American
lives
since May 1, U.S. troops are on edge. Iraqis complain that many
innocent
people have died at surprise U.S. checkpoints thrown up on dark streets
shortly before the curfew. Drivers hurrying home say they don't see the
soldiers or hear their orders to stop...
ALSO SEE:
TENSION GROWS BETWEEN U.S. TROOPS, IRAQIS
Scheherezade Faramarzi, Associated Press, 8/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A38619-2003Aug9
JAZEERAT EL-ANBAR, Iraq - The tribal leader had just been freed after
12
days in an American prison. Well-wishers flocked to his house. They
kissed
his cheek. They cried. Mostly, they cursed their U.S. occupiers.
Sheik Saad Naif Mish'hen al-Hardan, wearing a yellow Arab robe, looked
pale
and dazed. "History will record this," the 40-year-old leader told his
followers.
"Everything that begins must end," he said, shaking his head. "And no
incident will be forgotten."
The meaning of al-Hardan's words was not lost on the dozens of men
sitting
on his porch, their rage palpable. The al-Daylami tribe was deeply
insulted
that U.S. forces arrested al-Hardan, and in front of his people...
---
FAMILY SHOT DEAD BY PANICKING US TROOPS
Justin Huggler, Independent, 8/10/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=432202
BAGHDAD - The abd al-Kerim family didn't have a chance. American
soldiers
opened fire on their car with no warning and at close quarters. They
killed
the father and three of the children, one of them only eight years old.
Now
only the mother, Anwar, and a 13-year-old daughter are alive to tell
how
the bullets tore through the windscreen and how they screamed for the
Americans to stop.
"We never did anything to the Americans and they just killed us," the
heavily pregnant Ms abd al-Kerim said. "We were calling out to them
'Stop,
stop, we are a family', but they kept on shooting."
The story of how Adel abd al-Kerim and three of his children were
killed
emerged yesterday, exactly 100 days after President George Bush
declared
the war in Iraq was over. In Washington yesterday, Mr Bush declared in
a
radio address: "Life is returning to normal for the Iraqi people ...
All
Americans can be proud of what our military and provisional authorities
have achieved in Iraq."
But in this city Iraqi civilians still die needlessly almost every day
at
the hands of nervous, trigger-happy American soldiers.
---
'BRING US HOME': GIS FLOOD US WITH WAR-WEARY EMAILS
Paul Harris and Jonathan Franklin, Observer, 8/10/03
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1015684,00.html
Susan Schuman is angry. Her GI son is serving in the Iraqi town of
Samarra,
at the heart of the 'Sunni triangle', where American troops are killed
with
grim regularity.
Breaking the traditional silence of military families during time of
war,
Schuman knows what she wants - and who she blames for the danger to her
son, Justin. 'I want them to bring our troops home. I am appalled at
Bush's
policies. He has got us into a terrible mess,' she said.
Schuman may just be the tip of an iceberg. She lives in Shelburne
Falls, a
small town in Massachusetts, and says all her neighbours support her
view.
'I don't know anyone around here who disagrees with me,' she said.
Schuman's views are part of a growing unease back home at the rising
casualty rate in Iraq, a concern coupled with deep anger at President
George W. Bush's plans to cut army benefits for many soldiers.
Criticism is
also coming directly from soldiers risking their lives under the guns
of
Saddam Hussein's fighters, and they are using a weapon not available to
troops in previous wars: the internet.
Through emails and chatrooms a picture is emerging of day-to-day
gripes,
coupled with ferocious criticism of the way the war has been handled.
They
paint a vivid picture of US army life that is a world away from the
sanitised official version.
In a message posted on a website last week, one soldier was brutally
frank.
'Somewhere down the line, we became an occupation force in [Iraqi]
eyes. We
don't feel like heroes any more,' said Private Isaac Kindblade of the
671st
Engineer Company.
-----
DEPICTION OF THREAT OUTGREW SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Barton Gellman and Walter Pincus, Washington Post, 8/10/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39500-2003Aug9.html
His name was Joe, from the U.S. government. He carried 40 classified
slides
and a message from the Bush administration.
An engineer-turned-CIA analyst, Joe had helped build the U.S.
government
case that Iraq posed a nuclear threat. He landed in Vienna on Jan. 22
and
drove to the U.S. diplomatic mission downtown. In a conference room 32
floors above the Danube River, he told United Nations nuclear
inspectors
they were making a serious mistake.
At issue was Iraq's efforts to buy high-strength aluminum tubes. The
U.S.
government said those tubes were for centrifuges to enrich uranium for
a
nuclear bomb. But the IAEA, the world's nuclear watchdog, had uncovered
strong evidence that Iraq was using them for conventional rockets.
Joe described the rocket story as a transparent Iraqi lie. According to
people familiar with his presentation, which circulated before and
afterward among government and outside specialists, Joe said the
specialized aluminum in the tubes was "overspecified," "inappropriate"
and
"excessively strong." No one, he told the inspectors, would waste the
costly alloy on a rocket.
In fact, there was just such a rocket. According to knowledgeable U.S.
and
overseas sources, experts from U.S. national laboratories reported in
December to the Energy Department and U.S. intelligence analysts that
Iraq
was manufacturing copies of the Italian-made Medusa 81. Not only the
Medusa's alloy, but also its dimensions, to the fraction of a
millimeter,
matched the disputed aluminum tubes...
ALSO SEE:
IRAQI TRAILERS SAID TO MAKE HYDROGEN, NOT BIOLOGICAL ARMS
Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 8/9/03
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0809-05.htm
WASHINGTON - Engineering experts from the Defense Intelligence Agency
have
come to believe that the most likely use for two mysterious trailers
found
in Iraq was to produce hydrogen for weather balloons rather than to
make
biological weapons, government officials say.
The classified findings by a majority of the engineering experts differ
from the view put forward in a white paper made public on May 28 by the
C.I.A. and the Defense Intelligence Agency, which said that the
trailers
were for making biological weapons.
That report had dismissed as a "cover story" claims by senior Iraqi
scientists that the trailers were used to make hydrogen for the weather
balloons that were then used in artillery practice.
It had not previously been known that a majority of the Defense
Intelligence Agency's engineering team had come to disagree with the
central finding of the (CIA) white paper: that the trailers were used
for
making biological weapons...
-----
FIGHTING A PEACE PLAN
E. Benjamin Skinner, Newsweek, 8/18/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/950427.asp
Malong is a warlord who commands 6,000 troops. Officially, he fights
with
the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the southern Sudanese
rebel
organization that, until a recent ceasefire, had waged a fierce civil
war
against the Muslim north for nearly 20 years. But Malong, who is at
odds
with the SPLM leadership negotiating a peace settlement, told NEWSWEEK
he
cannot drop his objective-"a secular state for all of Sudan." He added:
"I
will fight for 100 years, with or without international support."
Malong's guests-two representatives of the Swiss-based human-rights
group
Christian Solidarity International (CSI), along with five "antiterror
consultants" from Archangel Corp., a Colorado-based security firm-don't
believe he should fight alone. The burly military advisers once served
with
the most elite units in the world-U.S. Special Forces, Russian
Spetsnaz,
British SAS. For two hours, over a meal of goat and flatbread, they
share
tactical information with Malong. John Giduck, the president of
Archangel
Corp., claims his security group worked with Malong "for the betterment
of
his troops and the protection of his people."
Since the Sudanese civil war began, more than 50 nongovernmental
organizations-most working under a U.N. umbrella-have provided aid
services
to victims on both sides of the conflict. CSI, along with the
U.S.-based
groups Voice of the Martyrs and Samaritan's Purse (run by Franklin
Graham,
the son of Billy Graham), are among a handful of Christian groups that
have
taken sides in the dispute. They work exclusively in southern Sudan-and
provide not only humanitarian aid but also political and sometimes
logistical support for the southern rebels…
-----
IDAHO'S GRASS-ROOTS RESIST THE PATRIOT ACT
Rebecca Boone, Associated Press, 8/10/03
http://www.latimes.com/la-adna-patriots10aug10,0,2201547.story
BOISE, Idaho - Put pacifists, gun-rights advocates, abortion-rights
supporters and anti-abortion activists in a room and try to find a
political viewpoint they all agree on.
It could take awhile.
But bring up the USA Patriot Act - a national law designed to fight
terrorism that critics contend erodes basic civil liberties - and they
may
start nodding in agreement.
Such is the case with the Boise Patriots, a group whose diverse members
hope to keep the Patriot Act from being implemented in Idaho...
-----
U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT FEATURED AT LOCAL CONFERENCE
WHAT: More than 40 local churches, academians, and organizations have
been
invited to participate in the first annual conference of the National
Association of Muslim Women, Inc. (http://www.namw.org). The
first-of-its-kind event sponsored by a local organization of Muslim
women
is open to the general public and will include community service award
nominations as well as presentations on civic empowerment and human
rights.
The conference theme, "Braving the Storm: The High Cost of Freedom in
an
Era of Intolerance", focuses on the continuing struggle confronting
Muslim
Americans in American society. The conference program includes a full
day
of presentations and work shops from prominent community activists,
imams,
and political candidates.
Copies of the 2003 commission report on the status of civil rights for
Muslim Americans and Arabs in the state of Virginia will be available
at
the conference.
WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 555 E. Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Tickets are available the day of the conference for $45 each. For more
information on group discounts, call (804) 306-3238.
-----
MUSLIM BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN ILLINOIS
http://www.jafari.org/conf_programes.htm
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #391
PRESIDENT BUSH TO APPOINT DANIEL PIPES WITHOUT A VOTE
Wednesday is 'National Call-In Day' to Contact White House
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/12/2003) - CAIR has learned that President Bush
will
issue a so-called "recess appointment" for Daniel Pipes to the board of
the
United States Institute of Peace (USIP). A recess appointment allows
the
president to circumvent the normal approval process in the Senate.
SEE: "Bush to Sidestep Muslim Groups, Senate on Scholar"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3265810
On WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, CAIR, along with a number of Muslim,
Arab-American, civil liberties, and interfaith groups, is asking all
people
of conscience to take part in a NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY by contacting the
White House to protest this attempt to bypass the democratic process.
On THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, a news conference will be held in Washington,
D.C.,
to ask the president not to issue the appointment. WHEN: THURSDAY,
AUGUST
14, 10 a.m. WHERE: National Press Club Building, 13th Floor, Lisagor
Room,
529 14th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
The president nominated Pipes to the board of directors of the United
States Institute for Peace (USIP) in April, but his nomination has been
stalled by concerns about Pipes' bigoted anti-Muslim and pro-war views.
The
nomination has been opposed by the Washington Post, the Dallas Morning
News, the Chicago Tribune, as well as many foreign policy scholars and
Jewish peace groups.
"This back-door move by the president is a defeat for democracy and an
affront to all those who seek peace," said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. "Pipes' appointment calls into question all of
President
Bush's previous statements claiming that the war on terrorism is not an
attack on Islam and shows distain for the democratic process."
Pipes, who many Muslims regard as the nation's leading Islamophobe,
faced
mounting criticism from American Muslims, Arab-Americans and interfaith
groups because of his past inflammatory remarks about issues related to
Islam, the Middle East and conflict resolution. Muslims say Pipes holds
extremist anti-Islamic views and lacks the peace-making credentials
necessary to be on the USIP board.
At a meeting in July of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
Committee, the body that would have taken the initial vote on the
nomination, several senators expressed opposition to Pipes' bigoted
views.
That meeting ended without a vote.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL. Calls
are
best, followed by faxes and then e-mails.)
Take part in the NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY by contacting President Bush to
ask
that he withdraw the nomination of Daniel Pipes to the board of the
United
States Institute of Peace.
CONTACT:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
COMMENTS: 202-456-1111, FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
COPY TO: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov, senator@kennedy.senate.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY REMINDER: OPPOSE THE RECESS APPOINTMENT OF DANIEL
PIPES
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL. Calls
are
best, followed by faxes and then e-mails.)
Take part in today's NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY by contacting President Bush
to
ask that he withdraw the nomination of Daniel Pipes to the board of the
United States Institute of Peace.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Call even if you responded to previous action alerts on
this issue. Please ask your family, friends and colleagues to also
call,
e-mail or fax the president.
CONTACT:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
TEL: 202-456-1414
COMMENT LINE: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
COPY TO: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov, senator@kennedy.senate.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #391
PRESIDENT BUSH TO APPOINT DANIEL PIPES WITHOUT A VOTE
Wednesday is 'National Call-In Day' to Contact White House
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/12/2003) - CAIR has learned that President Bush
will
issue a so-called "recess appointment" for Daniel Pipes to the board of
the
United States Institute of Peace (USIP). A recess appointment allows
the
president to circumvent the normal approval process in the Senate.
SEE: "Bush to Sidestep Muslim Groups, Senate on Scholar"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3265810
On WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, CAIR, along with a number of Muslim,
Arab-American, civil liberties, and interfaith groups, is asking all
people
of conscience to take part in a NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY by contacting the
White House to protest this attempt to bypass the democratic process.
On THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, a news conference will be held in Washington,
D.C.,
to ask the president not to issue the appointment. WHEN: THURSDAY,
AUGUST
14, 10 a.m. WHERE: National Press Club Building, 13th Floor, Lisagor
Room,
529 14th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
The president nominated Pipes to the board of directors of the United
States Institute for Peace (USIP) in April, but his nomination has been
stalled by concerns about Pipes' bigoted anti-Muslim and pro-war views.
The
nomination has been opposed by the Washington Post, the Dallas Morning
News, the Chicago Tribune, as well as many foreign policy scholars and
Jewish peace groups.
"This back-door move by the president is a defeat for democracy and an
affront to all those who seek peace," said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. "Pipes' appointment calls into question all of
President
Bush's previous statements claiming that the war on terrorism is not an
attack on Islam and shows disdain for the democratic process."
Pipes, who many Muslims regard as the nation's leading Islamophobe,
faced
mounting criticism from American Muslims, Arab-Americans and interfaith
groups because of his past inflammatory remarks about issues related to
Islam, the Middle East and conflict resolution. Muslims say Pipes holds
extremist anti-Islamic views and lacks the peace-making credentials
necessary to be on the USIP board.
At a meeting in July of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
Committee, the body that would have taken the initial vote on the
nomination, several senators expressed opposition to Pipes' bigoted
views.
That meeting ended without a vote.
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
SEE ALSO:
HITCHENS: PIPES THE PROPAGANDIST
Christopher Hitchens, Slate Magazine, 8/11/03
http://slate.msn.com/id/2086844/
The objection to Pipes is not, in any case, strictly a political one.
It is
an objection to a person who confuses scholarship with propaganda and
who
pursues petty vendettas with scant regard for objectivity.
-----
WHY SHOULD ALL PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE OPPOSE DANIEL PIPES' NOMINATION?
Because Pipes:
* Supports the unrestricted profiling of Muslims and Arabs.
* Refuses to condemn the internment of Japanese-Americans during World
War II.
* Suggested that Israel "raze" Palestinian villages.
* Claims 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims are "potential killers."
* Opposes President Bush's repeated statements that Islam is a religion
of
peace.
* Opposes the president's "road map" to peace in the Middle East.
* Espouses a theory of conflict resolution that rests on the assumption
that peace is achieved only by one side defeating the other with
military
force, and only rarely through reconciliation or negotiation.
* Fails to meet the USIP requirement that board members "have
appropriate
practical or academic experience in peace and conflict resolution."
* Decries any positive portrayal of Islamic history and beliefs in
public
schools.
* Termed the PBS documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet" an
"outrage."
* Stated: "I worry very much from the Jewish point of view that the
presence, and increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of
American Muslims...will present true dangers to American Jews." Pipes
defended criticism of that quote by saying: "I make the same point
respectively to audiences of women, gays, civil libertarians, Hindus,
Evangelical Christians, atheists, and scholars of Islam, among others,
all
of whom face 'true dangers' as the number of Muslims increases."
* Launched Campus Watch, a web site that included "dossiers" on
professors
and academic institutions thought to be too critical of Israel or too
sympathetic to Islam and Muslims.
* Said: "Mosques require a scrutiny beyond that applied to churches,
synagogues and temples."
* Said: "The Palestinians are a miserable people...and they deserve to
be."
* Claims Muslims have no real religious attachments to the city of
Jerusalem.
* Claims to have a special mental "filter" with which he can detect
those
who want to "create a Muslim state in America."
* Compares American Muslim voter registration drives to those of the
Communist Party USA.
* Said: "As the population of Muslims in the United States grows, so
does
antisemitism," and "black converts [to Islam] tend to hold vehemently
anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic attitudes."
* Recommend that "vigilant application of social and political pressure
to
ensure that Islam is not accorded special status of any kind in this
country."
* Said: "What we need to do is snarl, not be nice. What we need to do
is
inspire fear, not affection."
* Supports Mujahedeen-e Khalq, a group designated as terrorist by the
State
Department.
(References are available for all the items above.)
WHAT DO MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS SAY ABOUT THE PIPES NOMINATION?
* Chicago Tribune (4/30/03): "The White House ought to withdraw the
[Daniel
Pipes] nomination, or the Senate should reject it."
* Washington Post (4/19/03): "If the White House doesn't rescind
[Pipes'
nomination], Congress should have the good sense to turn it down."
* Dallas Morning News (4/19/03): "The very idea of putting an advocate
of
force over negotiation onto the board of any organization with 'peace'
in
its title seems odd."
* The San Jose Mercury News said Pipes' nomination sends a "mixed
message"
on religious tolerance.
WHAT DO FOREIGN POLICY SCHOLARS SAY ABOUT PIPES?
* Judith Kipper, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, said Pipes "has very extreme views."
* Middle East scholar Don Peretz, professor emeritus of political
science
at the State University of New York at Binghamton said: "I don't think
his
views are conducive to the objectives of the U.S. Institute of Peace,
which
are to work toward peaceful resolution of conflicts."
* William Quandt, a professor who headed the Middle East desk at the
National Security Council during the Carter administration, said he
worried
that if Pipes is confirmed, the appointment would send a discouraging
message to scholars applying for USIP grants.
* Noted scholar and author Edward Said wrote that Pipes is one of a
group
of anti-Muslim pundits who seek to "make sure that the '[Islamic]
threat'
is kept before our eyes, the better to excoriate Islam for terror,
despotism and violence."
* Ted Galen Carpenter, vice president for defense and foreign policy
studies at the Cato Institute, said Pipes is "perhaps the most extreme
hawk
that you could find."
* Prof. Ali Mazrui said that with Pipes on "the Board of this
Institute,
its decisions about Muslims both here and elsewhere would appear less
objective."
* John Womack Jr., Professor of History Center for International
Development Harvard University and Evelyn Fox Keller, Professor of
History
and Philosophy of Science MIT Cambridge: "Pipes...is widely held to
have
virulently racist views and is one of our country's leading Muslim
bashers." (This statement was signed by 58 other professors from around
the
country.)
WHAT DO OTHER MUSLIM, ARAB AND INTERFAITH GROUPS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
PIPES'
NOMINATION?
* Muslim Public Affairs Council: "Daniel Pipes is NOT an objective
source
on the issue of Islam, Muslims, American Muslims, or Israel/Palestine,
and
has demonstrated this time and time again."
* Arab American Institute: "Throughout his career, Pipes has been a
consistent and virulent critic of the Islamic faith and Muslims in
general.
Nowhere do his writings or speeches indicate that he shares the
Institute's
goal of promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts."
* American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee: "Daniel Pipes is
fundamentally opposed to peace and reconciliation in the Middle East,
except as a consequence of total Israeli military victory and the total
defeat and subjugation of the Palestinian people, which is a recipe for
endless conflict."
* The Islamic Free Market Institute: "Daniel Pipes has made it his
mission
to promote hate and bigotry and to divide people. The US Institute for
Peace needs a person who brings the many cultures, religions and
ethnicities of our diverse world together, not someone who seeks to
divide
people based on race or religion."
* The Association of Muslim Social Scientists: "In his most recent
writings, Pipes tried to create fear and mistrust in the Jewish and
Christian communities toward Muslim Americans, thereby undermining
interreligious peace and pitting one community against another."
* Interfaith Freedom Foundation: "Pipes likes to say that he opposes
only
'bad' Muslims, but in fact he regularly generalizes about Muslims as a
group."
* The Interfaith Alliance: "As has been made clear by his own remarks,
Daniel Pipes - an outspoken nominee who clearly harbors inherent biases
against Muslim Americans - is hardly an appropriate fit for the United
States Institute of Peace."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/13/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A KIND RULER
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6735 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* MASS. DJ CALLS FOR 'ERADICATION OF ARAB RACE' (Boston Herald)
- VA Islamic Reading Room Vandalized
* GROUPS TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE ON PIPES APPOINTMENT
- Bush to Make Recess Appointment (AP)
- Pipes Set to Join Peace Board (Phil. Inquirer)
- President Bypasses Democracy (Interfaith Alliance)
- Is Bush Getting Apocalyptic Advice? (MSNBC)
* MUSLIM HELD 2 MONTHS; NO CHARGE (Ariz. Daily Star)
- Muslim Files Suit Against University (Tuscaloosa News)
- Muslim Center Weighs Lawsuit (Chicago tribune)
* MUSLIM-AMERICAN GROUP TO MOBILIZE VOTERS (AP)
- NC Muslims Hold Meeting with Law Enforcement
* MUSLIM GIRLS HAVE A BALL (USA Today)
* MILITARY FAMILIES PUSH TO BRING TROOPS HOME (Reuters)
- Iraq War Critics Purged (antiwar.com)
- U.S. Soldiers Discover Islam In Iraq (Islam-Online)
* ASHCROFT'S ENDLESS ATTACKS DIMINISH OFFICE (Daily News)
* INDIAN MUSLIM DETAINED, DEPORTED FROM ISRAEL (AP)
* BRUTALITY OF CHECHEN WAR SPILLS ACROSS BORDER (Wash. Post)
* MUSLIM FAMILY DAY 2003 AT SIX FLAGS-CHICAGO
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A KIND RULER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, he who controls
the
affairs of my people and is hard upon them -- be Thou hard upon him,
and he
who controls the affairs of my people and is kind to them -- be Thou
kind
to him."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 845
The Prophet also said: "The worst of guardians is a cruel ruler. Beware
of
becoming one of them."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 846
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6735 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6735 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"We have diverted the books for younger readers to our permanent youth
non-fiction section, A/V materials have been diverted to our permanent
VHS,
DVD and audio books section...thanks for sending everything." - Auburn
Hills, MI
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
MASS. DJ CALLS FOR 'ERADICATION OF ARAB RACE'
'RKO'S OZONE SUSPENDED OVER `GENOCIDE' REMARKS
Dean Johnson, Boston Herald, 8/13/03
http://www2.bostonherald.com/inside_track/inside_track/dean08132003.htm
WRKO-AM morning man John Osterlind aka "Ozone" was sent into the Ozone
for
two weeks by station suits yesterday after he called for "the
eradication
of the Palestinian people."
'RKO Program Director Mike Elder said Ozone went off the P. C.
reservation
shortly before 6 a.m. yesterday when he and his cohost, Peter Blute,
were
jawing over the latest round of Palestinian suicide bombings.
The duo's discussion led to what could be done to stop the suicide
bombers
and Ozone's response "called for `the eradication of the whole Arab
race,'"
said Elder.
Blute tried to defuse the diatribe, said the program director, but
Ozone
opened up the phone lines to discuss "eradication."
Station general manager Tom Baker called his morning man's comments
``totally, totally unacceptable..."
ALSO SEE:
VA ISLAMIC READING ROOM VANDALIZED
Similar incident followed 9/11 terror attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - An Islamic bookstore and reading room in
Virginia that was damaged following the 9/11 terror attacks, has once
again
become the target of vandals.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reports that the
display
window of the Islamic Cultural Center in Alexandria, Va., was shattered
by
a rock sometime last night. That display housed Islamic books and other
religious and cultural items. Center owner Hazim Barakat says nothing
was
stolen from the display case.
On September 12, 2001, the facility, which offers free Islamic
materials to
the public, sustained similar damage at a location five blocks from its
present site. Hate-filled notes were also left at the scene. The
incident
was apparently part of the anti-Muslim, anti-Arab backlash resulting
from
the 9/11 terror attacks.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is requesting
that
law enforcement authorities investigate the vandalism as a possible
hate crime.
DONATIONS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE MAY BE SENT TO:
Islamic Cultural Center
1512 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
TEL: 703-836-2000
FAX: 703-518-8855
Please inform CAIR of any donations by e-mailing: cair@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: Make your voice heard about the Pipes recess appointment by going
to:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=150&page=AA
GROUPS TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE ON PIPES APPOINTMENT
WHAT: On THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), along with a number of other Muslim, Arab-American, civil
liberties, and interfaith groups, will hold a news conference in
Washington, D.C., in reaction to reports that President Bush will soon
issue a recess appointment for Daniel Pipes, regarded by many Muslims
as
the nation's leading Islamophobe. (A recess appointment allows the
president to circumvent the normal approval process in the Senate.)
WHEN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 10 a.m.
WHERE: National Press Club Building, 13th Floor, Lisagor Room, 529 14th
Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
Those same groups have designated today as a "NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY" to
oppose the Pipes appointment.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
BUSH TO MAKE RECESS APPOINTMENT TO PEACE INSTITUTE
Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press, 8/12/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/12/national1914EDT0704.DTL
President Bush is expected to bypass the Senate and appoint an
outspoken
Middle East scholar to a federal think tank over the objections of
Democrats and others who say he is anti-Muslim.
According to sources close to the matter, Bush intends to appoint
Daniel
Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, to the
board
of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
The move would come just weeks after Democrats on the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee raised strong objections to
Pipes'
nomination, forcing the panel to postpone a vote on the appointment.
The White House does not comment on personnel appointments prior to
their
announcement, but spokeswoman Ashley Snee said Bush continues to
support
Pipes, who was nominated for the post on April 2. Pipes also had no
comment
on the nomination...
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., spoke out against Pipes during the
committee meeting, saying his positions are inconsistent with the
USIP's
efforts to "contribute to the promotion of international peace and the
resolution of conflicts without recourse to violence..."
The expected appointment "is a defeat for democracy and an affront to
Muslims, Arab-Americans and all those who seek peace," said Ibrahim
Hooper,
spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "This person
has
such a long record of anti-Muslim bigotry."
---
PHIL. SCHOLAR SET TO JOIN PEACE BOARD
Thomas Ginsberg, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/13/03,
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/6518827.htm
President Bush has decided to sidestep critics and temporarily appoint
Daniel Pipes, an incendiary Philadelphia-based scholar of Islam, to a
government-financed peace think tank, sources said yesterday.
Arab and Muslim civil rights groups have called Pipes an "anti-Muslim
bigot," and some members of Congress, mostly Democrats, have said he is
an
inflammatory choice for the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace...
Amid the criticism, a Senate committee put off a vote late last month
on
Bush's nomination of Pipes.
Congressional sources told Reuters news agency yesterday that Bush
intends
to install Pipes as early as this week using a recess appointment. That
means Pipes could serve without Senate approval, but only for about 16
months rather than for a full, four-year term...
Word of the planned appointment reignited criticism...
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
a Washington-based advocacy organization, said the appointment "would
call
into question all of Bush's previous statements claiming that the war
on
terrorism is not an attack on Islam."
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a senior Democrat on the
Senate
Health and Education Committee that had considered Pipes' nomination,
said
in a statement that Pipes' "record and experience do not reflect a
commitment to bridging differences and preventing conflict."
---
PRESIDENT BUSH SIDESTEPS US SENATE - BYPASSES DEMOCRACY
Interfaith Alliance, 8/13/03
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/
WASHINGTON - The Interfaith Alliance has learned that Daniel Pipes, an
outspoken critic of Islam, will be seated as a Director of the U.S.
Institute of Peace through a Presidential Recess Appointment. After
languishing in the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP)
Committee for several months, the Senate Committee indefinitely
postponed a
vote on the nomination of Daniel Pipes six weeks ago.
"Sidestepping Congress is a familiar tactic of the White House,
especially
when the White House does not get its way," said the Rev. Dr. C. Welton
Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance. "Ultimately, by
disregarding
the counsel and labor of many Senators, Muslims and other community
groups,
the president is doing by appointment that which he has been unable to
accomplish through the legislative process. The public's outrage over
Dr.
Pipes' nomination is an indication of the need to reassess his ability
to
serve, not an invitation to bypass the process."
On May 15, The Interfaith Alliance, at the invitation of the Senate
HELP
committee staff, brought together a diverse panel of religious leaders
from
the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities, to raise concerns
and
serious objections over the nomination of Dr. Pipes. While the
panelists'
individual messages were derived from their own unique faith
perspectives,
they agreed that Dr. Pipes' nomination sends a chilling message to all
Muslim Americans...
The Interfaith Alliance also submitted a letter to all 100 members of
the
Senate raising concerns over Dr. Daniel Pipes' nomination to the United
States Institute of Peace...See
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Issues/Issues.cfm?ID=4843
Contact: Kim Baldwin, Interim Director of Communications
Phone 202.639.6370 ext. 106
---
IS BUSH GETTING APOCALYPTIC ADVICE?
Ashley Pearson, MSNBC, 8/13/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/943879.asp?0cv=LB10&cp1=1
Is the Bush administration turning to a televangelist doomsayer for
political predictions? Apocalyptic preacher Jack Van Impe is claiming
that
he was contacted by Condoleezza Rice's office and the White House
Office of
Public Liaison for an "outline" of his take on world events.
VAN IMPE is the author of such books as "Israel's Final Holocaust" and
"The
Great Escape: Preparing for the Rapture, the Next Event on God's
Prophetic
Clock."
He has predicted that the end of the world will strike somewhere
between
2003 and 2012 and one reviewer has called his TV preaching show with
wife
Rexella "a fantastically loopy apocalyptic take on the week's news."
The issue of the alleged involvement with the Bush administration came
up "
target=new>on his Web site when someone asked Van Impe, "Do you think
that
President Bush, apparently a Christian man, believes and knows he is
involved in prophetic events concerning the Middle East and final
battle
between good and evil?"
"I believe he is a wonderful man," Van Impe responded, and goes on to
say,
"I was contacted a few weeks ago by the Office of Public Liaison for
the
White House and by the National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to
make
an outline. And I've spent hours preparing it. I will release this
information to the public in September, but it's in his hands. He will
know
exactly what is going to happen in the Middle East and what part he
will
have under the leading of the Holy Spirit of God. So, it's a tremendous
time to be alive..."
-----
MUSLIM HELD 2 MONTHS; NO CHARGE
Joseph Barrios, Arizona Daily Star, 8/13/03
http://www.dailystar.com/star/today/30813AL-QUDHAIEENUPDATE.html
Al-Qudhai'een is a former UA graduate student.
Almost two months after a former UA graduate student was taken into
federal
custody, local Muslims have been given little explanation why.
Muhammad Al-Qudhai'een was taken into custody by federal agents as a
material witness in June and transported to the federal jail in
Alexandria,
Va. The Saudi Arabian citizen is being held in the same jail where
Zacarias
Moussaoui, the man accused of conspiracy to commit murder and terrorism
in
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and John Walker Lindh, the "American
Taliban,"
have been held.
But federal officials have not disclosed specifically why
Al-Qudhai'een, a
University of Arizona linguistics graduate and father of five, was
detained...
Deedra Abboud, of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Phoenix,
said the Saudi Embassy is "not interested in any publicity" so is not
releasing any details about this case.
Council officials have presented their concerns about Al-Qudhai'een's
case
to the office of Rep. Ra�l Grijalva, D-Ariz.
"We're going to bring this case and see if he might be willing to at
least
look into it. He can make inquiries and at least let … the government
know
that we are being active and interested in it being determined that
either
he has information or he doesn't have information," Abboud said.
"Whether
or not the congressman can do anything, I don't know."
Abboud said the government, without explanation, is "basically putting
people's lives on hold." Almost certainly, Al-Qudhai'een's student visa
has
lapsed and he could be deported once he's released, she said...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM FILES SUIT AGAINST UNIVERSITY
Stephanie Hoops, Tuscaloosanews, 8/13/03
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030813/NEWS/308130325/1007
An Iranian-American Muslim who taught mathematics at the University of
Alabama for more than a decade has filed a federal lawsuit against UA's
Board of Trustees for job discrimination, alleging that university
employees harassed him and gave preferential treatment to Christians,
especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Seyed Moosavi claims that his Christian co-workers, including Interim
Director of Introductory Mathematics Gail Queen and Professor Nancy
Fisher,
harassed him regarding his ethnicity and religious beliefs. Queen and
Fisher are named in the lawsuit but are not listed as defendants...
Queen, who was Moosavi's direct supervisor, said UA's counsel had
suggested
that she not comment.
Fisher, who has retired, said she had no comment.
In the court papers, Moosavi claims that he was turned down for a
teaching
position he interviewed for in 2002, a job he says Queen and Fisher
participated in interviewing him for.
UA spokeswoman Janet Griffith said Moosavi did not get the job because
he
was not as qualified as the chosen candidates...
---
MUSLIM CENTER WEIGHS LAWSUIT
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 8/13/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-0308130262aug13,1,4963468.story
After receiving another setback this week in its effort to build a
mosque
on its property in Morton Grove, Muslim Education Center officials said
Tuesday it is becoming more likely that they will have to wage a court
battle to expand.
On Monday, the Morton Grove Village Board refused to consider the
organization's request for the village to vacate a 50-foot-wide strip
of
land that bisects the center's property and is a crucial to its
expansion
plan. The decision will prevent the center from joining the two strips
of
land it owns.
"We are very disappointed because it seemed like a customary request
that
would be granted," said Mohammed Kaiseruddin, president of the Muslim
Community Center, which oversees the education center. "We are becoming
very pessimistic. We don't want this to go to court. We haven't made a
decision yet to do that, but we may have to."
Even before Monday's decision, center officials had begun preparing for
a
costly court battle. Over the last two weeks, they have been soliciting
donations for a $100,000 legal fund to fight for approval of the
expansion,
Kaiseruddin said...
-----
MUSLIM-AMERICAN GROUP TO MOBILIZE VOTERS
Associated Press, 8/12/03
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,94470,00.html
WASHINGTON - The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation aid Monday
it
is launching a national drive to register Muslims, give them a crash
course
on American civics and mobilize them for the 2004 election cycle.
"Campaign V.I.P: Voting is Power" is aimed at registering some 2.5
million
Muslim-Americans, said Mahdi Bray, the group's executive director.
Mosque
surveys estimate 750,000 Muslim-Americans are currently registered, he
said
on the eve of the campaign's start.
"Many, when they come to this country, tend to become insular," Bray
said.
"We're trying to get people out in the communities and active in the
civic
process. We want them in parent-teacher associations, rotary clubs,
public
service organizations."
He said there are 7 million Muslim-Americans.
Bray said the timing of the campaign has a lot to do with a backlash
that
many Muslim-Americans have experienced since the terror attacks of
Sept.
11, 2001...
Other groups have announced similar campaigns in the past, including
one in
February 2002 by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (search)
which
sought to register more than 100,000 Muslim voters before the November
2002
elections.
SEE ALSO:
NC MUSLIMS HOST TOWN HALL MEETING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
(CHARLOTTE, NC- 8/13/2003) - On August 16, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., local
Muslims will host a Town Hall Meeting at the Islamic Center of South
Charlotte. This event is sponsored by the Islamic Center of Charlotte
(ICC), the Coalition for Peace and Justice (CPJ), the Islamic Political
Party of America (IPPA), the Muslim American Society (MAS), and the
Charlotte Fellowship Of Reconciliation (FOR).
Panelists for the meeting include Chris Swecker, Special Agent in
Charge of
the FBI for the state of North Carolina, attorney Jim Gronquist
representing the ACLU, Lester Martz from the bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco,
and Firearms (ATF), Lisa Carriker from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Department, National Coordinator of IPPA Ali Abdur-Rashid, Mark Ortiz
with
Charlotte Area Greens, and Jibril Hough from the ICC. The spokesman for
the
ICC, Mujahid Idlibi, will be moderating the event.
"The purpose of this event is to discuss pertinent law enforcement
issues
with respect to the Muslim community, and to promote a greater
understanding of Islamic beliefs and practices with the FBI, ATF, and
local
law enforcement officials," said ICC spokesman Mujahid Idlibi. In
addition, the panelists, special guests, and members of the Muslim
community will break bread together. Added Idlibi, "This is another
proactive measure that we are employing to circumvent any type of
misunderstanding, backlash, or hatred towards the Muslim community."
WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2003 @ 6 p.m.
WHERE: ICC-South, 559 N. Polk St., Pineville, NC.
CONTACT: Call ICC Spokesperson, Mujahid Idlibi, at (980) 721-6625.
NOTE: Because this is taking place at a religious institution,
reporters
and photographers of both sexes should dress moderately. That is, no
shorts for men or short skirts for women.
-----
MUSLIM GIRLS HAVE A BALL
April Umminger, USA Today, 8/12/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-08-12-camp-usat_x.htm
For six years, the non-profit group has sponsored a two-week girls'
sports
camp at the Westridge School, a private girls' school in Pasadena,
Calif.
The camp is open to all faiths, but its Islamic component is what draws
most participants. (link: Related gallery: A sporting way to pray.)
Muslim women generally don't feel comfortable playing sports in their
traditional garb, says Semeen Issa, the camp's founding director. "The
camp
philosophy is that it doesn't matter what you dress as, you can play."
The camp emphasizes two things, she says: empowerment and role models.
"Nowhere do you find Muslim women athletes. Muslim women soccer
players,
basketball players, volleyball players, tennis players, where are they?
There aren't any. Why? Because they haven't had role models..."
GRAPHIC: Bend it like Beckham: Asha Bilal, 10, is one of 30 girls
enrolled
in the Muslim Women's League girls' sports camp, which "defies a lot of
the
stereotypes of Muslim women," says Rabia Ahmed, communications
coordinator
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Camps for Muslim women
seem
like it's an increasing trend, but a Muslim women youth camp is pretty
unique."
-----
US MILITARY FAMILIES PUSH TO BRING IRAQ TROOPS HOME
Niala Boodhoo, Reuters, 8/12/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12296827.htm
WASHINGTON - A group of about 600 U.S. military families, upset about
the
living conditions of soldiers in Iraq, are launching a campaign asking
their relatives to urge members of Congress and President George W.
Bush to
bring the troops home.
"We're growing more and more disturbed about the conditions that are
developing. Our concerns are both for our troops and the people in
Iraq,"
said Nancy Lessin, a founder of Families Speak Out, formed last fall to
oppose the war in Iraq.
Susan Schuman, whose son Justin is in the Massachusetts National Guard
deployed to Samarra, Iraq, said he shares a small room in a former
Iraqi
police barracks with five other men. "They are rationed to 2 liters of
water a day and it's 125 degrees (52 degrees C), they haven't had
anything
but MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)," she told Reuters, adding that
uncertainty
about when the troops would come home was "most disheartening."
Organizers hope to take advantage of Congress' summer recess to voice
their
concerns to lawmakers in their home states...
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ WAR CRITICS PURGED
Justin Raimondo, antiwar.com, 8/13/03
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
The battle of Baghdad is over, but the struggle for control of the Bush
administration is just now entering its final stages, with the neocons
lunging for the State Department and plenty of old-style conservatives
and
patriots in government returning fire in earnest. Maureen Dowd acidly
notes
the attempted coup at the Department of State:
"Let others fight over whether the war in Iraq was a neocon vigilante
action disrupting diplomacy. The neocons have moved on to a vigilante
action to occupy diplomacy. The audacious ones have saddled up their
pre-emptive steeds and headed off to force a regime change at Foggy
Bottom."
She's absolutely right that when the neoconservatives within the
administration "want something done, they will get it done, no matter
what
Bush thinks." Ruthless, disciplined, and clear about their policy
objectives, the neocons have always operated in the Leninist style, as
befits their intellectual history as red diaper babies and Trotskyist
apostates...
---
U.S. SOLDIERS DISCOVER ISLAM IN IRAQ
Aws Al-Sharqy, Islam-Online, 8/13/03
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-08/13/article08.shtml
BAGHDAD, August 13 (IslamOnline.net) - Discovering an Islam that is
totally
different from the one smeared in their media, a number of American
servicemen and women were said to have embraced Islam and married
Iraqis.
"After daily interactions with Iraqi citizens and a first-hand
experience
in dealing with Muslims in the war-ravaged country, many U.S. soldiers
willingly accepted Islam," Sheikh Mahmoud el-Samydaei, member of Iraq's
Muslim Scholars Society, told IslamONline.net Wednesday, August 13…
A U.S. officer visited the Civil Affairs Court in the Baghdad district
of
el-Karkh earlier this week to declare: "I bear witness that there is
no
God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger."
The man later married Iraqi doctor Samar Ahmed whom we met while
standing
guard in Medicine City Hospital.
-----
ASHCROFT'S ENDLESS ATTACKS DIMINISH OFFICE
Dayton Daily News, 8/11/03
http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/content/opinion/daily/0811ashcroft2.html
Attorney General John Ashcroft's scowling, swaggering, dyspeptic
antipathy
for anyone who questions his methods and authority is transforming him
and
his office into mere caricature.
Since assuming office more than two years ago (after his nomination was
approved in the closest confirmation vote, ever, involving an attorney
general), Mr. Ashcroft has used fear-mongering and invective to
minimize
accountability of federal law enforcement and undermine the authority
of
the judicial branch of government.
To those who are alarmed, or who question or criticize his approach,
Mr.
Ashcroft has said: "Your tactics only aid terrorists, for they erode
our
national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to
America's
enemies and pause to America's friends."
The USA Patriot Act - post-9/11 legislation proposed by Mr. Ashcroft
and
rushed through Congress in the immediate aftermath of the terror
attacks -
purports to give the FBI broad new powers to secretly monitor the
affairs
of citizens and others lawfully residing in the United States...
-----
MEMBER OF INDIANA PEACE DELEGATION DETAINED, DEPORTED FROM ISRAEL
Associated Press, 8/13/03
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1400439&nav=0Ra7HRUk
Bloomington, Ind. - A member of an Indiana group visiting the Mideast
to
promote human rights accused Israeli authorities of religious profiling
after he was detained as a security risk.
Dennis Childers of Bloomington was detained for nearly 24 hours
following
his arrival at Tel Aviv International Airport, The Herald-Times
reported
Wednesday. He was ordered to return to the United States early Sunday.
Childers was the sole Muslim in a nine-member group that traveled to
Israel
on Saturday for a two-week trip to promote peace and human rights in
Israel
and Palestine.
"They see you as a checklist and the big one is that you're a Muslim,"
Childers said.
Childers said he was pulled aside shortly after his arrival by Ministry
of
Interior officials who questioned him about his conversion to Islam and
asked if he knew any Palestinians who worshipped at his home mosque in
Bloomington...
-----
BRUTALITY OF CHECHEN WAR SPILLS ACROSS THE BORDER
Peter Baker, Washington Post, 8/13/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51901-2003Aug12.html
Galashki, Russia - It wasn't until the next day that they found his
pale,
blue body, buried in a shallow but carefully disguised grave. His teeth
had
been shattered, his jaw broken, his nose smashed, his right arm
fractured,
his leg bludgeoned and his body riddled by 14 bullet holes.
Strewn around the site, according to the official investigation report,
were telltale clues, the detritus of a military encampment -- empty
Russian
armed forces porridge and pork ration cans, hundreds of spent
cartridges
and an explosive device marked "Defense Products Complex" with a
military
serial number.
As recounted by relatives, villagers, human rights investigators and
Russian prosecutors, the disappearance, torture and murder of
31-year-old
Umar Zabiyev following the ambush of a farm truck outside this tiny
village
in the mountains of Ingushetia shows that the war in Chechnya next door
respects no borders. More and more, it is spilling over in the form of
attacks on Russian troops stationed here and, according to victims,
attacks
by Russian troops.
Two months after his brother died, Musa Zabiyev is convinced that
Russian
troops were responsible -- no easy conclusion for him, because Musa
Zabiyev
wears the Russian military uniform himself. He is a major and deputy
commander of all Russian Interior Ministry troops in Ingushetia.
"I'm ashamed to look in my mother's eyes," he said, shaking his head.
"My
own colleagues killed her son." So far, the family can only speculate
as to
why...
-----
MUSLIM FAMILY DAY 2003 AT SIX FLAGS-CHICAGO
WHAT: Imam W.D. Muhammed will be a special guest imam to lead one of
the
prayers at the "Muslim Family Day 2003." Muslim women will be able to
enjoy
the amusement rides while wearing their headscarves, provided the
headscarves are secured in a safe manner. Prayer accommodations
provided.
WHEN: Saturday August 16, 2003 at 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
WHERE: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL
INFO: Tickets for Muslim Family Day 2003 at Six Flags Great America are
discount priced at only $25.00 per person. (Reg. price is almost $42
w/tax). For further information on where to purchase tickets in your
area
of Chicagoland and suburbs, visit our website link:
http://www.chicagomuslimscouts.org/greatamerica.htm
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Notes of appreciation may be sent through:
http://harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
STATEMENT OF SENATOR HARKIN
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Mr. Chairman. I would like to address the nomination of Mr. Pipes to
the
U.S. Institute of Peace Board of Directors.
I was here at the beginning of our efforts to start the Institute of
Peace
with my former colleagues, Senator Sparky Matsunaga and Senator Mark
Hatfield. At that time, we wanted to set up a National Academy of
Peace. This idea had first been proposed by George Washington and a
couple
of others involved in our Revolutionary War. They proposed setting up
a
Department of Peace within the Federal Government.
Unfortunately, the idea of a Peace Academy did not take hold at first
and
was debated for many, many years. Finally in the late 1980's through
compromise and negotiation it was decided that there would be an
institute
rather than an academy. The law establishing the U.S. Institute of
Peace
was signed by President Reagan in 1984.
Since its inception, the U.S. Institute of Peace has had a very good
record
of stimulating discussions, working with high schools, colleges, and
hosting visiting professors. I have spoken with many people involved
with
the Institute's work of Peace, and since we fund it through our
Appropriations Subcommittee I have had a keen interest in how it has
evolved and how it has operated. I think it has had a very
distinguished
board, not all of whom I have agreed with philosophically, but I always
have thought that they were well-meaning individuals who brought a
degree
of rigorous academic examination to the policies and procedures of the
Institute of Peace.
I have never met Mr. Pipes, but I have read his writing. I have taken
the
time to read his writings. I have also taken the time to contact
people
who have been involved with Mr. Pipes and it is clear to me that after
you
strip away everything else, Mr. Pipes is a highly controversial
individual. I think anyone could agree on that. Mr. Pipes is highly
controversial.
At this point in time there is a need for a United States Institute of
Peace that can usefully be involved in negotiation, conciliation,
understanding, and dialogue. The United States Institute of Peace is
the
last place that we need someone who is going to be a lightning rod for
controversy -- and Mr. Pipes is a lightning rod. If he is on this
board,
more of the talk is going to be about him and his views than it will be
about the work of the entire institute.
Someone said Mr. Pipes was a scholar. As I have read more of Mr.
Pipes'
writings and commentaries, it seems to me that he prefers provoking
controversy. That's fine, but that is not the kind of individual that
I
think we want on the board of the Institute of Peace. Mr. Pipes
appears to
have taken this course, to engender controversy, to make outrageous
statements that people can then pick up on.
I have an interview-this was a report done by Mark Richardson that was
in
the Ontario, Canada London Free Press in which Pipes was quoted as
saying,
"I worry very much from the Jewish point of view that the presence and
increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American
Muslims
will present true dangers to American Jews." Increased stature,
affluence,
and enfranchisement. He is talking about the right to vote. The right
to
vote.
The writer says, "Mr. Pipes makes is no distinction between Islamism
and
Islam. So I e-mailed Pipes for clarification and he was good enough to
respond." From Mr. Pipes, "As the number of Muslims increases in
Western
countries, those countries are going to become more Muslim in nature,
and
that will inevitably be to the detriment of some elements. I was
speaking
to a Jewish audience. I would make the same point to audiences of
women,
gays, civil libertarians, Hindus, evangelical Christians, among others,
all
of whom face similar true dangers as the number of Muslims increases
and
threaten their interests. For an example of a country that is
experiencing
advanced problems along those lines, see my article about Denmark at
www.danielpipes.org Article 450."
The writer says, so I did. In his New York Post article Pipes says,
among
other things, "Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million
people
but make up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an
especially
combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are
non-Muslim." This is Daniel Pipes' writing, not mine. This is his
writing. "This is not a pleasant fact to point out," Pipes noted in
closing, "but all concerned are better off dealing with the truth and
not
hiding from it."
The writer goes on to say, "not so fast. No one can blame minorities
for
feeling threatened, but that applies to Islamic minorities too. I
suspect
that the root cause of the problems Pipes associates with Muslim
immigration are the very lack of stature, affluence, and
enfranchisement
that he fears."
Another writer went on to point out that the stats he pointed out about
Denmark are really not true. So somehow this was made out of whole
cloth,
that Muslims make up 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make
up
a majority of their convicted rapists. These are inflammatory
statements
made by Daniel Pipes to invoke controversy. But again, I hope you can
see
that someone like this on the Institute of Peace is going to draw more
fire
around him.
I might just add, Mr. Chairman that this inordinate fear that Mr. Pipes
has
of the enfranchisement, stature, and affluence of American Muslims
falls on
deaf ears when it comes to this Senator. In the State of Iowa we have
the
oldest operating mosque in America. The oldest, in my State of Iowa,
in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We have been blessed with a rich diversity in our
State of Northern Europeans, we have a huge Jewish population in many
parts
of our State, and we have Muslims in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
Now if Mr. Pipes's fears were anywhere true, we would have seen a lot
of
discontent and discord in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That has been the
opposite
of what has happened. The Muslims in Iowa have become lawyers and
business
owners, union members, doctors, part of our community. And they have
been
enfranchised; they vote. And some of them are quite affluent, and some
of
them are not. They make up a wide range.
From the deepest part of my body I strongly disagree with Pipes when
he
says that the very fact of enfranchisement, affluence, and assimilation
will somehow threaten our values. The opposite is true. They have
taken
on our American values and have become American Muslims, just like
other
minorities who have come to this country. They brought their
religions. They brought their customs. But they have Americanized.
I remember as a young child going to my small Catholic Church in my
small
community with my mother who was an immigrant who could barely speak
English. On certain feast days my mother liked to wear the clothes of
her
native land. These were not the normal clothes that one would wear in
a
small town in Iowa. And I can remember people making fun of her.
So when Mr. Pipes makes statements like this, I think about my
mother. Sure, she talked funny. Maybe she didn't dress like everyone
else
did. She wanted to bring some of her customs with her to this
country. But anyone who knew my mother could never deny that she was
American to the core.
My staff also contacted Dr. Juan Cole at the University of Michigan
department of history. I do not know Juan Cole. I have never met him,
but
my staff has talked to him to verify what he has said and to make sure
that
he can back up what he has written. According to Mr. Cole, in
September of
2002 Mr. Pipes set up a web site that targeted scholars that "did not
support U.S. interests in the Middle East."
Quoting from Dr. Cole, "in September of 2002 Mr. Pipes placed me and
other
academics on a McCarthyite watch list that disrupted our teaching and
scholarship and resulted in death threats and massive spamming. The
watch
list encouraged those who know me to spy on me and to submit to Mr.
Pipes
reports on my statements and activities, which would either be secretly
archived by his Middle East forum or published on the web."
The keeping of dossiers on individual academics provoked an outcry
among
all Americans concerned about freedom of speech. Judith Butler of the
University of California suggested that persons all across the U.S.
"turn
themselves in" to Pipes and ask that they be added to his watch list.
On 21 September, the eight targeted scholars on whom Pipes had set up
web-based dossiers began receiving hundreds and even thousands of
e-mails
each day. This massive spamming was the work of hackers who illicitly
nested in a Verizon server in southern California and automated the
sending
out of these numerous spam messages. Mr. Cole goes on to say, as a
result
of this, I could not even do my work. I could not read by e-mails. I
could not even e-mail fellow academics. I had thousands of spasm every
day
locking up his computer."
Mr. Cole continues, "around October 1st of 2002 Mr. Pipes responded to
the
outcry that his neoMcCarthyism had provoked by taking down the dossiers
on
individual professors. He continued to have web pages on individual
campuses, however, and the materials on the individuals was simply
transferred to those sites. That is, the surveillance continued simply
under a different heading."
For all of these reasons, Mr. Chairman, and especially for what he did
to
these professors, indicated that this is an individual that is a
lightning
rod, highly controversial. When he talks about Muslims being funny
looking, bringing different customs, I am sorry; this is not the person
that ought to be on the U.S. Institute of Peace board.
I close, Mr. Chairman, by saying I do not know why we are considering
this
person. We have had no hearings on him. I have not been able to
question
him. He has not appeared, and all of a sudden his name is brought up.
I
do not know what is going on. But for all these reasons, this is not a
person that ought to be put on the United States Institute of Peace.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/14/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S HEALING
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6748 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
- CAIR-LA Fall Internship Program
* MUSLIMS SAY PIPES APPOINTMENT HARMS U.S. IMAGE
- Pipes-Schemes (Mother Jones)
* GOVERNMENT STING OPERATION CRITICIZED AS SETUP (ABC)
* EEOC SUES IL CIVIC CENTER SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT FIRMS
- Feds Accuse Two Firms of Discriminating (WBBM)
* LOOKOUT SENTENCED IN MOSQUE ATTACK (Chicago Tribune)
- Mosque Seeks to Expand (Detroit Free Press)
* UCLA PROFESSOR APPOINTED TO RELIGION PANEL (LA Times)
* PENTAGON COMES UNDER FIRE FOR TERROR TRIAL RULES (AP)
* FLAG IS FLASH POINT IN A BAGHDAD SLUM (Wash. Post)
- White House Fantasies on Iraq (NY Times)
* 3RD ANNUAL NORTHERN VIRGINIA CIVIC PICNIC
* AMINAH MCCLOUD SPEAKS IN MICHIGAN
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S HEALING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would say the following during
his
prayers: "O God, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, heal me, and
provide for me."
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 323
The Prophet would also for those who were ill: "O Lord of the people!
Remove the difficulty and bring about healing as You are the Healer.
There
is no healing but Your healing, a healing that will leave no ailment."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 639
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6748 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6748 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"We will include the materials in a display of books for Middle East
issues...thank you for these materials - we appreciate your efforts and
generosity." - Marion, IL
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
---
CAIR-LA FALL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR-Southern California (CAIR-LA) is seeking applicants for its fall
internship program. The program is open to Muslim college or university
students age 18 and older who have legal status in US to receive a
monthly
stipend. CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and
training in community outreach, governmental relations, lobbying,
public
and media relations, legal and civil rights, research and leadership
training. The application deadline is August 29, 2003.
Interested and qualified applicants should contact Maryam Dadabhoy at
Maryam@cair.com or 714-776-1847 for an application.
-----
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL. Calls
are
best, followed by faxes and then e-mails.)
Contact President Bush to ask that he withdraw the nomination of Daniel
Pipes to the board of the United States Institute of Peace.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Call even if you responded to previous action alerts on
this issue. Please ask your family, friends and colleagues to also
call,
e-mail or fax the president.
CONTACT:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
TEL: 202-456-1414
COMMENT LINE: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
COPY TO: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov, senator@kennedy.senate.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO: http://capwiz.com/cair/home/
MUSLIMS SAY PIPES APPOINTMENT HARMS U.S. IMAGE
CAIR: Move would 'poison the well' of interfaith relations worldwide
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/14/03) - At a news conference this morning with a
number of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and interfaith groups, the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said a recess appointment of Daniel
Pipes
to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) would "poison the well"
of
interfaith relations and harm American interests worldwide. (A recess
appointment allows the president to circumvent the normal approval
process
in the Senate.) In a statement released at today's news conference,
CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"A recess appointment of Daniel Pipes to the board of the United States
Institute of Peace would be a slap in the face to all those who seek to
build bridges of understanding between people of faith. Such a move
would
poison the well of interfaith relations, harm America's image and
interests
worldwide and serve to impede the vital mission of the institute. As
Senator Tom Harkin noted at the July 23rd committee meeting on Pipes'
nomination: 'If [Pipes] is on this board, more of the talk is going to
be
about him and his views than it will be about the work of the entire
institute.'
"Pipes is known for his hostility to Muslims, Arabs and anyone who
disagrees with his bigoted views. This is a man who supports the
unrestricted profiling of Muslims and Arabs, refuses to condemn the
internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, suggested that
Israel
'raze' Palestinian villages, decries positive portrayals of Islamic
history
and beliefs in public schools, claims 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims
are
'potential killers,' and has spoken against the enfranchisement of
American
Muslims, saying it poses 'true dangers' to our society. He even opposes
both the president's repeated statements that Islam is a religion of
peace
and the 'road map' to peace in the Middle East.
"In a McCarthyite attempt to stifle debate on the Middle East conflict,
Pipes launched Campus Watch, a web site that included 'dossiers' on
professors and academic institutions thought to be too critical of
Israel
or too sympathetic to Islam and Muslims. A number of academics listed
on
that site received threats along with thousands of hostile e-mails. As
writer Christopher Hitchens recently noted: '[Pipes] confuses
scholarship
with propaganda and…pursues petty vendettas with scant regard for
objectivity.'
"As we seek to bring democratic values to the Middle East, we must not
circumvent democracy in the United States by doing an end-run around
the
Senate confirmation process. We call on President Bush to withdraw this
divisive nomination, or at the very least, to let the Senate hold
hearings
at which all parties may be heard."
CAIR is America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, with 16
regional
offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
PIPES-SCHEMES
Motherjones.com, 8/14/03
http://www.motherjones.com/news/dailymojo/2003/33/we_525_04b.html
Congress has been out on recess for little more than a week, and
already,
Bush has been sneaking in and pushing his agenda through on the sly.
This
time, the leader of our democracy is sidestepping Congress to put a
friend
of his with a reputation as an anti-Muslim and an extremist, Daniel
Pipes,
into the US Institute of Peace -- a federally funded think tank
dedicated
to promoting peace.
Christopher Hitchens, writing for Slate, slams Pipes as "dangerous and
unreliable." Hitchens points out Pipes' blatantly racist comments
towards
Palestinians, and cites Commentary magazine's February 2003 issue in
which
Pipes attacked road map proposals and used the words "the so-called
Palestinian refugees" and what Hitchens calls other "crude tricks of
language" to imply there had been no Palestinian dispossession.
Mother Jones' Michael Scherer notes that Pipes sees no need for
diplomacy,
compromise, or even negotiation:
"Like many other Middle East scholars, Daniel Pipes sees a way to end
the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But unlike most of his peers, Pipes sees
no
room for negotiation, no hope for compromise and no use for diplomacy.
'What war had achieved for Israel,' Pipes explained at a recent Zionist
conference in Washington DC, 'diplomacy has undone.'
His solution is simple: The Israeli military must force what Pipes
describes as a 'change of heart' by the Palestinians in the West Bank
and
Gaza -- a sapping of the Palestinian will to fight which will lead to a
complete surrender. 'How is a change of heart achieved? It is achieved
by
an Israeli victory and a Palestinian defeat,' Pipes continued. 'The
Palestinians need to be defeated even more than Israel needs to defeat
them.'"
Scherer notes that Pipes' extreme views put him at odds with the Bush
administration and its stated policies towards the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict -- i.e. the "road mad" for peace. As a result, Bush's
nomination
of Pipes to a peace-promoting think tank took many by surprise…
-----
U.S. GOVERNMENT STING OPERATION CRITICIZED AS SETUP
Brian Ross, ABC News, 8/13/03
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/missile030813_sting.html
Administration officials are leaving out key facts and exaggerating the
significance of the alleged plot to smuggle a shoulder-launched missile
into the United States, law enforcement officials told ABCNEWS. They
say
there's a lot less than meets the eye.
The accused ringleader, British national Hemant Lakhani, appeared today
in
federal court in Newark, N.J., and was ordered held without bond on
charges
of attempting to provide material support and material resources to
terrorists and acting as an arms broker without a license.
Outside the courtroom, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie called
Lakhani an
ally of terrorists who want to kill Americans.
"He, on many occasions, in recorded conversations, referred to
Americans as
'bastards' [and] Osama bin Laden as a hero," said Christie.
But what he did not say was just how much of the alleged missile plot
was a
government setup from start to finish.
For example, Lakhani had no contacts in Russia to buy the missiles
before
the sting and had no known criminal record for arms dealing, officials
told
ABCNEWS...
-----
EEOC SUES DALEY CIVIC CENTER SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT FIRMS
http://www.eeoc.gov/
CHICAGO � The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today
filed suit in federal court here against Aargus Security Systems, Inc.
and
Miglin-Beitler, Inc., d/b/a MB Real Estate and Miglin-Beitler
Management
Corporation (collectively "MB Real Estate"), alleging that the
companies
discriminated against a security guard assigned to the Richard J. Daley
Civic Center because he is a Muslim of Arab descent. The Commission
alleges that the companies singled out the employee, Tom Zegar, for
unwarranted discipline immediately after the events of September 11,
2001
because of religious and national origin bias in violation of Title VII
of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The EEOC said that its administrative investigation, which preceded the
lawsuit, revealed that Aargus Security and MB Real Estate, on the day
of
the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., suspended the
employee, who was of Jordanian descent, for four days without pay,
reassigned him to another building and demoted him to a floater
position�all supposedly for an alleged security breach, although no
action
was taken with respect to other employees on duty at the same location
at
the same time with the same responsibility.
Tom Zegar, the employee who was suspended, said, "What happened on
September 11thin New York and Washington was terrible. We were all hurt
by
this. But because of my religion and national origin, I was blamed for
something I did not do. I feel disappointed and hurt to have been
treated
so badly, and I am glad the EEOC is doing something about it."
According to the EEOC's Regional Attorney in Chicago, John C.
Hendrickson,
"One thing involved in this case is religious freedom, and we have
always
been a nation in which that has been a bedrock principle. Another thing
is
national origin, and we have always been a nation of immigrants and the
descendants of immigrants. So this is a matter which ought to speak to
us
where we live. It should also to remind all employers that the terrible
tragedy of September 11 must strengthen our resolve to actually apply
the
precepts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."
The EEOC's law suit, captioned EEOC v. Aargus Security Systems, Inc.,
Miglin-Beitler, Inc., d/b/a MB Real Estate and Miglin-Beitler
Management
Corporation, has been assigned to Judge James F. Holderman of the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division
and
designated case No. 03 C 5587. The case was filed after the EEOC's
efforts
to negotiate a voluntary conciliation agreement with the firms proved
futile...
Note: Tom Zegar's attorney, Kamran A. Memon can be reached at
312-961-2354.
ALSO SEE:
FEDS ACCUSE TWO CHICAGO FIRMS OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST MUSLIM EMPLOYEE
Steve Grzanich, WBBM Newsradio 780, 8/13/03
http://www.wbbm780.com/asp/ViewMoreDetails.asp?ID=26195
Chicago - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit
Tuesday against two Chicago firms who are accused of discriminating
against
an employee because he is Muslim.
The suit names as defendants Aargus Security and the Miglin-Beitler
Real
Estate.
The complaint says the companies discriminated against Tom Zegar, a
security guard who was assigned to the Daley Center.
According to the lawsuit, Zegar was wrongly disciplined following a
security breach on the day of the September 11th attacks. Even though
Zegar
was among several guards who were on duty at the time, the suit says he
was
the only person suspended without and pay and then reassigned to
another
building, allegedly because he is Muslim and of Jordanian descent.
So far there's been no comment from the county or MB Real Estate
regarding
the lawsuit. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio 780 for the latest
developments
on this and other stories.
-----
LOOKOUT SENTENCED IN MOSQUE ATTACK
Art Barnum, Chicago Tribune, 8/14/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0308140343aug14,1,565560.story
A DuPage County judge admonished a 16-year-old Lombard teen Wednesday
for
his role in terrorizing worshipers at a local mosque and ordered him to
perform 100 hours of community service and write an essay on respecting
other races and religions.
The youth, who pleaded guilty in June to a hate crime, drove two other
youths on the evening of March 11 to the Islamic Foundation Mosque, 300
W.
Highridge Rd., Villa Park.
Assistant State's Atty. Matt Fuesting said that the two passengers went
up
to a window and one shattered it with a baseball bat. Fuesting said
that
the youth being sentenced Wednesday used a cell phone to warn the
others
when a police car was seen in the area...
The youth who swung the bat, a 16 year old from Villa Park, previously
pleaded guilty to a hate crime and was sentenced to 200 hours of
community
service and ordered to write a similar essay. The third juvenile was
not
charged.
Fuesting has said the attack allegedly was provoked by the fact the
brother
of the Villa Park youth was being sent to the Middle East with his
military
unit. The soldier has returned home...
ALSO SEE:
MOSQUE SEEKS TO EXPAND
Jewel Gopwani, Detroit Free Press, 8/14/03
http://www.freep.com/news/cfp/4/tpray14_20030814.htm
The chitchat halted as the call to prayer was made at the Islamic
Association of Greater Detroit.
More than 100 women settled into informal rows in the Rochester Hills
mosque on West Auburn between Livernois and M-59.
They sat on their feet on the beige carpet, their covered heads facing
the
room's northeastcorner -- the one that points toward Mecca.
It's the same corner where the television is perched -- the imam's face
on
the screen.
Men at this mosque get to watch the imam lead prayers live; there isn't
enough room for the women to join them.
So the women pray from the old dining room -- accommodations mosque
leaders
hope to change with a proposed $1-million-plus project to build a
mezzanine
above the men's prayer area. There, women can pray with their eyes on
the
imam, not the television...
-----
UCLA PROFESSOR APPOINTED TO RELIGION PANEL
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 8/14/03
http://www.latimes.com
A UCLA professor of Islamic law, one of the nation's most prominent
Muslim
critics of Saudi Arabia's puritanical brand of Islam known as
Wahhabism,
has been appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom, the White House announced Wednesday.
Khaled Abou el Fadl, 39, a blunt-spoken scholar and longtime champion
of
human rights, pledged to bring "meticulous fairness" to his work on the
national panel…
Abou el Fadl, the commission's only Muslim member, is expected to bring
particular expertise to its other current key areas of concern,
including
Iraq and Afghanistan. The commission is an independent federal agency
created in 1998 to monitor and advise the U.S. government on religious
freedom around the world. The nine voting members are appointed by the
president or Congress...
-----
PENTAGON COMES UNDER FIRE FOR TERROR TRIAL RULES
Associated Press, 8/13/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-08-13-tribunal-rules_x.htm
WASHINGTON - Friends and critics alike are pressing the Bush
administration
to change its new rules for trying suspects in the global war on
terrorism
- rules for the first military tribunals planned by the United States
since
World War II.
And it appears the Pentagon is prepared to bend a little.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon's top lawyer held a third round of
negotiations
through which Britain is seeking special treatment for its two citizens
facing trial - talks that critics say smack of political favoritism.
The American Bar Association said Tuesday the administration should
drop
plans to let agents eavesdrop on conversations between terrorism
suspects
and defense lawyers and should ease other restrictions to ensure
military
tribunals are fair and open.
The ABA's policy-making House of Delegates took no position on whether
individual lawyers should participate in tribunals, although another
lawyers' organization has already said it would be unethical to
represent
terrorism suspects under the current rules...
-----
FLAG IS FLASH POINT IN A BAGHDAD SLUM
Anthony Shadid, Washington Post, 8/14/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55761-2003Aug13.html
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military helicopter flew low over Baghdad's largest
slum
today, about an hour before noon prayers. For a while, it hovered near
a
transmission tower. Then, Sheik Ahmed Zarjawi said, a U.S. soldier
tried to
kick the black flag that fluttered atop the tower, inscribed in white
letters with the name of one of Shiite Islam's most revered figures.
"How can we sleep at night when we see this?" he recalled asking.
There followed a day of anger and fervor in a Shiite neighborhood
already
on edge. Protesters incensed at what they saw as a religious insult
poured
out of houses and shops. In some of the worst unrest since Baghdad fell
to
U.S.-led forces on April 9, clashes erupted with an American patrol,
killing one Iraqi and wounding at least three others.
Into a sweltering evening, hundreds of demonstrators waving religious
banners and rallied by neighborhood clergy moved across streets awash
in
sewage, calling for a day of reckoning with U.S. troops, who they said
they
no longer wanted to enter their neighborhood...
ALSO SEE
WHITE HOUSE FANTASIES ON IRAQ
New York Times, 8/14/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/opinion/14THU1.html
Someday, in the months ahead, there may be an Iraq where a smoothly run
American occupation authority has dealt devastating setbacks to
terrorism,
brought security to most of the country, improved infrastructure and
basic
services, and elicited encouraging signs of democracy, economic renewal
and
cultural rebirth. Unfortunately, right now that Iraq exists only in the
pages of the implausibly upbeat 100-day progress report recently issued
by
the White House.
In Iraq today, American soldiers die, electricity shortages lead to
rioting, and the threat of terrorism against civilians must be taken
increasingly seriously. The biggest problems have been airbrushed out
of
the White House report, making it read more like a Bush campaign flier
than
a realistic accounting to the American people. There have, of course,
been
positive accomplishments, but making a success of Iraq will require
much
time, many billions of dollars and real sacrifices. Pretending
otherwise
risks future public disillusionment.
In the face of news reports detailing continued insecurity, failing
basic
services and painstakingly slow political progress, the White House
cites
significant signs of better security, improved basic services and
emerging
democracy. Not mentioned in the Panglossian report, covering the 100
days
after President Bush declared an end to major combat operations, were
the
56 American soldiers killed in attacks during that period...
-----
NORTHERN VIRGINIA MOSQUES ORGANIZE THE 3RD ANNUAL NORTHERN VIRGINIA
CIVIC
PICNIC
WHAT: The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic
Center, Manassas Mosque, in coordination with the Muslim American
Society
(MAS) Freedom Foundation, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are having the 3rd Annual Northern
Virginia Family Civic Picnic. ADAMS, Dar Al-Hijrah, Manassas Mosque,
MAS
Freedom Foundation, MPAC and CAIR will be inviting all candidates from
all
parties to address the community. Civic involvement, Voter
Registration
and Family fun will be the theme of the picnic
WHEN: Sunday, August 17, 2003, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
WHERE: 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive (Large Shelter and Picnic Area, near the
large bathroom facility)
Note: Please look for "ADAMS" or "CIVIC PICNIC" signs with arrows
pointing
to the picnic area.
-----
AMINAH MCCLOUD SPEAKS IN MICHIGAN
WHAT: American Learning Institute for Muslims presents an evening with
Dr.
Aminah McCloud, titled, "Building Indigenous and Immigrant Muslim
Symbiosis
in America."
WHEN: Thursday, August 14th, 2003. Registration: 7:15 PM; Lecture:
7:30 PM
WHERE: Madonna University, 36600 Schoolcraft, Livonia, MI 48150
NOTE: Fee: $5.00. For more information: alimsummerinfo@yahoo.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
PENN. POLICE OFFICER DENIED RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS ATTIRE
Muslim employee threatened with termination over Islamic scarf
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/15/03) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
today
called on the Philadelphia Police Department to allow a Muslim police
officer to wear her Islamic head scarf while on duty.
Beginning in 1998, the Muslim officer -- who has been on the force for
eight years - had several requests for religious accommodation turned
down
by supervisors. When the patrolwoman went to work wearing her head
scarf
earlier this week, she was reprimanded, sent home without pay and told
not
to come back until the scarf was removed. The officer is now being
threatened with termination if she again comes to work with her
religious
head covering.
SEE: "OFFICER'S HEADGEAR DEBATED"
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6535907.htm
On August 6th, CAIR sent a letter to Philadelphia Police Commissioner
Sylvester Johnson (http://www.ppdonline.org/) outlining the
department's
legal duty to accommodate the religious practices of employees. That
letter
sought an investigation of the case, requested that dress code policies
be
amended to allow religious exemptions and recommended sensitivity
training
for department staff.
"A restrictive dress code policy cannot supersede an individual's
sincerely-held religious beliefs, particularly when the Muslim officer
is
willing to modify her scarf to address any safety concerns," said
Joshua
Salaam, CAIR civil rights manager. "Given the growing religious and
ethnic
diversity of our society, creative solutions must be found to balance
the
needs of employers with the religious rights of employees as guaranteed
by
the Constitution and federal law."
Salaam applauded the Philadelphia Police Department's recent decision
to
change its no-beard policy by allowing officers to grow facial hair for
religious or medical reasons. He called on the department to make a
similar
accommodation for the female officer.
SEE: "A NO-BEARD POLICY IS AMENDED"
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/6511294.htm
In a similar case last year, Illinois' Cook County Sheriff's Department
allowed a Muslim and a Jewish deputy to wear religiously-mandated head
coverings while on the job. That decision came after concerned Muslims
from
across America contacted the sheriff's office to request religious
accommodation for the two officers. In 2001, CAIR helped a Muslim woman
firefighter in Maryland win the right to wear an Islamic scarf while at
the
same time addressing her employer's concerns about safety.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from
discriminating against individuals because of their religious beliefs
or
practices. The act requires employers to reasonably accommodate the
religious practices of an employee, unless to do so would create an
undue
hardship. CAIR publishes a booklet, "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices," designed to prevent these types of incidents.
- END -
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-MAIL:
rahmed@cair-net.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-489-5108,
E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/16/03
* BUSH NOMINEE SUPPORTS GROUP CLOSED FOR TERROR TIES
- Daniel Pipes Backs Mujahedeen-e Khalq (NY Post)
- No Pipes for Peace (UPI)
- Bush Nominee Faces Opposition (Cox)
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT COMBATS ANTI-ISLAM VIEWS (Observer)
- The Christian-Muslim Divide (Wichita Eagle)
- Catholics, Jews, Muslims Team Up (CNS)
* WORLD POLITICS SIMMER BENEATH INDIA FESTIVAL (Mercury News)
* CAN SESAME STREET WIN OVER ISLAM? (Daily Telegraph)
* CITY MIGHT REAFFIRM LIBERTIES (News Tribune)
-----
BUSH NOMINEE SUPPORTS GROUP CLOSED FOR TERROR TIES
IRANIAN EXILES' OFFICES SHUTTERED
Eli J. Lake, United Press International, 8/16/03
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030815-101313-1749r.htm
The United States yesterday seized assets and shuttered the Washington
offices of the People's Mojahedin, the major exile opposition to
fundamentalist Iran since it came to power under Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini in the late 1970s…
U.S. Treasury agents closed the National Press Club offices of the
Iranian
opposition, also known as the National Council of Resistance of Iran
and
notified vendors in the United States and abroad that the group was
considered a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The Treasury Department also took steps to freeze the group's bank
accounts
while Justice Department officials delivered a cease-and-desist order
to
individuals associated with the organization…
Powell determined that it was the political arm of Mujahideen Khalq,
which
has been listed as a foreign terrorist organization since 1997. This
name
for the opposition group is a translation of People's Mojahedin…
Alireza Jafarzadeh, the group's U.S.-based representative, suggested
the
opposition group had become a pawn in negotiations with Iran.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: An "ALI JAFARZADEH" is a signatory to the "STATEMENT OF
MUSLIM SUPPORT FOR PIPES APPOINTMENT TO USIP BOARD" published on a
pro-Pipes web site.]
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES BACKS MUJAHEDEEN-E KHALQ
A TERRORIST U.S. ALLY?
Daniel Pipes and Patrick Clawson, New York Post, 5/20/03
http://www.nypost.com
One of the stranger news items coming out of Iraq these days concerns
an
Iranian opposition group called the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK). It's a
U.S.
government-designated terrorist organization that coalition forces
first
bombed from the air, then signed a cease-fire agreement with - and
finally
disarmed and protected…
Is the MEK a terrorist group? No. It used terrorism decades ago, when
its
members attacked Americans. For the last 15 years, however, the MEK has
been organized as an army, and its only violent actions have been
directed
against the Iranian regime…
Can the MEK be useful? Yes. Western spy agencies are short on "human
intelligence" - meaning spies on the ground in Iran, as distinct from
eyes
in the sky. Coalition military commanders should seek out the MEK for
information on the Iranian mullahs' agents in Iraq. The MEK can also
supply
key information on developments in Iran - where, despite a tendency
toward
exaggeration, it has had some major scoops…
And in November, when the secretary of state next decides whether or
not to
re-certify the MEK as a terrorist group, he should come to the sensible
conclusion that it poses no threat to the security of the United States
or
its citizens, and remove it from the list of Foreign Terrorist
Organizations.
---
NO PIPES FOR PEACE
Peter Roff, United Press International, 8/15/03
http://www.upi.com
The Bush administration made a major effort at outreach to the American
Islamic community in the aftermath of 9/11. The unstated if obvious
purpose
was to reassure Muslims living in the United States that they would not
be
subject to persecution because of the heinous act perpetrated by a
handful
of their co-religionists…
Overall the outreach effort helped build upon the already considerable
level of support for Bush in the U.S. Muslim community, an example of
coalition politics at its best. A pending personnel move, however,
threatens to undermine a two-year record of achieve.
The president has nominated Daniel Pipes, the director of the
Philadelphia-based Middle East Institute, for a term on the board of
directors of the United States Institute for Peace, a small federal
agency
charged with the exploration of ideas in the field of conflict
resolution...
Groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the
Anti-Defamation League have come out on his behalf, urging the Senate
to
confirm him to the board…
But others say that Pipes paints his criticisms with too broad a brush,
slurring most of Islam. In the spring 2000 edition of The National
Interest
magazine, Pipes, in trying to explain what he found to be the
difference
between Islam and "Islamism" -- the extremist face of the faith --
described the latter as having "three main features: a devotion to the
sacred law, a rejection of Western influences, and the transformation
of
faith into ideology." The problem with such a definition, say some of
his
opponents, is that it could be construed as including most observant
Muslims. With that as a backdrop, it is not then surprising that some
take
offense when Pipes says, later in the same article, that it represents
"an
Islamic-flavored version of the radical utopian ideas of our time,
following Marxism-Leninism and fascism."
A number of groups and organizations have come out against his
nomination.
The Washington Post editorialized that it was "a cruel joke" and "salt
in
the wound" for American Muslims.
The unexpected opposition, from within Republicans ranks as well as
from
Democrats, caused the confirmation process to slow. When the Senate
Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions committee had a hearing on the nomination
last July, it adjourned without taking a vote because of objections to
Pipes lodged by several prominent members of the panel, including Sen.
Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass…
Now, in an effort to get around the refusal of the Senate to act, the
White
House is believed ready to place Pipes on the board by means of a
recess
appointment, allowing him to serve without confirmation for one year.
The news has inflamed the American Islamic community. At a news
conference
Thursday, a number of groups, led by the Council for American-Islamic
Relations, charged the administration with trying to make an end run
around
the Senate and voiced concern over the unfolding situation.
"A recess appointment of Daniel Pipes to the board of the United States
Institute of Peace would be a slap in the face to all those who seek to
build bridges of understanding between people of faith," CAIR Executive
Director Nihad Awad said.
"Such a move would poison the well of interfaith relations, harm
America's
image and interests worldwide and serve to impede the vital mission of
the
institute," Awad, whose group has repeatedly clashed publicly with
Pipes, said.
Khaled Saffuri, executive director of the Islamic Institute, another
Washington-based group, said Pipes, "has made it his mission to promote
hate and bigotry and to divide people. (He) has repeatedly condemned
the
president's message of inclusion and he opposes the president's Road
Map to
Peace." Saffuri worked to generate support for Bush among
Muslim-Americans
in the 2000 presidential election…
ALSO SEE:
BUSH NOMINEE FACES OPPOSITION
Bob Dart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/15/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0803/15pipes.html
Washington -American Arab and religious leaders expressed outrage
Thursday
at reports that President Bush may use a congressional recess to
appoint a
controversial Middle East scholar to a peace-promoting think tank.
The tension centered on Daniel Pipes, a 53-year-old outspoken
Harvard-educated historian, and his potential appointment to the board
of
the federally funded U.S. Institute for Peace.
"Daniel Pipes has a long track record of bigotry…and of advocating war
and
violence, especially in the Middle East," said Mary Rose Okar,
president of
the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "He has no business
serving the United States Institute for Peace in any capacity..."
Bush nominated Pipes, who heads the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia,
to
the scholarly institute in April. The nomination was stalled in
committee
in July.
With Congress in recess, however, Bush could bypass the Senate
confirmation
process by naming Pipes to the board, where he would serve at least
until
the Senate acts. The White House has declined to comment on
nominations.
But at a news conference Thursday, opponents denounced efforts Bush
might
make toward the appointment.
-----
DONATIONS SEEK TO COMBAT ANTI-ISLAM SENTIMENT
Aysu Grodowski, Salem Observer, 8/14/03
http://www.salemobserver.com/issues/030814/salem_01.html
In September 2002, the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched a
program to raise awareness about Islam and counter anti-Muslim bigotry.
The
yearlong campaign, "Explore Islamic Civilization and Culture,"
distributes
books, videos, and audiocassettes about Islam and Muslims to 16,200
public
libraries around the nation, including Salem.
Last week, a group of young Muslim girls, grades 10 to 12, presented a
package of Islamic multimedia to the Kelley Library. The books and
movies
were donated by Muhammad Ashraf and Zulfiqar Mohammad, both from Salem.
The package contains the PBS documentary "Islam: Empire of Faith," and
"The
Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?" By Professor John Esposito. A copy of
the
Koran and children's books on Ramadan are also included. There is media
for
all ages.
The books and tapes get into the hands of the young women when, last
year,
Sabina Khan, Marium Chowdhry, Saba Chowdhry, Saira Ashref, and Waqarun
Rashid, all close friends, decided to become Leading Islamic Girls
Helping
Teach Islamic Tolerance, or LIGHT IT! for short. They are all first
generation, with parents from Pakistan.
"We weren't exactly sure what we were getting into," said Khan. It took
awhile to get money, but once they did, the girls notified CAIR and
called
New Hampshire libraries to donate the books...
"The media stings," said Marium Chowdhry. "We just want to counter all
that."
ALSO SEE:
THE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIVIDE
ABE LEVY, Wichita Eagle, 8/16/03
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/living/6543468.htm
A neighborhood flier announcing a Christian sermon on the dangers of
Islam
attracted a couple dozen new faces to Wichita's Pleasant Valley Church
of
Christ last month. "Did you know that the events of 9/11 are virtually
described in the Quran?" the flier stated.
The sermon was a PowerPoint presentation focusing on passages in
Muslims'
holy book that concern the church's minister, Jerry Blount.
The presentation ended with pictures of the traditional tombs of
Muhammad
and Christ side by side and the words: "These two couldn't be more
different!"
Among those in the audience were nearly a dozen Muslims. They left
believing interfaith understanding had taken a major step back -- at
least
by this roughly 90-member congregation.
The encounter is one example of the varying efforts -- or lack thereof
--
at Christian-Muslim dialogue sparked by the events of Sept. 11, nearly
two
years ago.
Since then, many of the estimated 3 to 6 million Muslims in America
have
initiated public forums on Islam as a way to emphasize their national
loyalty and their differences with militant versions of Islam.
Christians have tended to respond in one of two ways: Some want to
learn
about Islam and find common values, while others stress fundamental
dangers
in Islam that need to be confronted…
---
CATHOLICS, JEWS, MUSLIMS TEAM UP FOR CITIZEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE CORPS
Ana Rodriguez-Soto, Catholic News Service, 8/14/03
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20030814.htm
MIAMI- Be it a hurricane or a terrorist act, disaster does not
discriminate.
Muslims died in the World Trade Center. People of every race and
religion
lost their houses during Hurricane Andrew.
That is why Bruce Netter and Sofian Abdelaziz are working together.
Netter,
a Jew, is manager of disaster relief services for Catholic Charities of
the
Miami Archdiocese. Sofian, a Palestinian, is director and counselor of
the
Miami-based American Muslim Association of North America.
"We have to take out the hate. We have to make sure that our
communities
understand that when a disaster comes, we all have to work together on
it,"
said Abdelaziz told The Florida Catholic, Miami's archdiocesan
newspaper...
Abdelaziz said his role is to convey that message to the Muslim
community.
"I'm telling our Muslim leaders: Isn't it (a principle of) Islam to
help
your neighbor? Isn't it Islam to prevent destruction of buildings? Yes.
We
need to be involved in this," he said. "We have to help our community.
We
have to be a constructive part of our community. We have to be part of
the
solution, not the problem."
-----
WORLD POLITICS SIMMER BENEATH INDIA FESTIVAL
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, 8/16/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/movies/6547474.htm
The mission of the 11th annual Festival of India and Parade, being
hosted
this weekend in Fremont, is meant to celebrate India's independence
from
British rule in 1947.
The event, which features folk dancing, samosas and appearances from
famous
Bollywood actors, is the largest cultural event for the Bay Area's
burgeoning Indo-American population of about 155,000.
The festival seems benign, but scratch the surface and you'll find
deeper
undercurrents of geopolitical unrest.
Some minority religious groups from the South Asian country living here
wonder: Whose India is being celebrated? Of India's 1 billion
residents,
about 80 percent are Hindu, 12 percent are Muslim, 2 percent are
Christian
and 2 percent are Sikh. Buddhists, Jains and Parsis comprise the rest.
The agitation comes mostly from a number of Sikhs, who make up about 25
percent of the Bay Area Indo-American community. These critics say they
feel excluded from the event, which is sponsored by supporters of the
Indian government, a democracy led by Hindu nationalists. About 100
Sikh
protesters flock to the Fremont festival each year to rail against the
government's treatment of their people and to demand their own state.
Some Muslims say they also haven't been represented at the festival.
But
this year, instead of complaining or staying away, they are joining the
festival to remind people that India is their homeland, too…
"Our participation is to make sure the agenda isn't hijacked by the
right-wing elements," said Sajed Ahmed of Santa Clara, a Muslim from
Hyderabad, India. "Muslims have rights on paper in India, but they are
very
poor and suffer religious persecution."
Ahmed said when his group wanted to rent a booth, some of the festival
organizers were "apprehensive, wondering if we were going to do
something
anti-Hindu."
But he pacified them by answering: "We will try to showcase India's
diversity and how we have lived together for centuries."
Still, less than 48 hours before the event, one of the organizers, who
is
Sikh, called Ahmed to tell him there was no room for his Muslim group.
Ahmed suspected religious intolerance. But after a frantic series of
phone
calls, all was resolved: a space was found for his booth…
-----
CAN SESAME STREET WIN OVER ISLAM?
Daily Telegraph, 8/15/03
http://www.dailytelegraph.com
In a bizarre bid to win the hearts and minds of the Islamic world, the
American government, Spy learns, has now called up the fluffy puppets
of
Sesame Street.
Over the next three years, the Bush Administration's Agency for
International Development is hoping to beam the wacky children's
characters
into the homes of hundreds of millions of Muslims, at a cost of
$6.3million.
"We hope that exporting the show to Asia will help young people there
to
see the similarities, as well as the differences, between America and
their
own countries," a Washington spokesman confirmed yesterday.
"We're also aiming to promote greater understanding of American
morality
and culture, although the show will reflect both Muslim and American
values."
Supported by American television network PBS, the show will initially
be
aired in Bangladesh, but, if all goes well, there are plans to expand
the
concept to Pakistan and the Middle East...
-----
CITY MIGHT REAFFIRM LIBERTIES
Kris Sherman, News Tribune, 8/15/03
http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/story/3675679p-3706074c.html
The Tacoma City Council will consider a resolution Tuesday that would
symbolically designate Tacoma a "civil liberties safe zone" by
reaffirming
the city's sanctity of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The resolution, sponsored by council members Bill Evans, Sharon
McGavick
and Bil Moss, is intended to show the city's concern over how sweeping
anti-terrorism legislation has eroded the Bill of Rights, Evans said.
Though it has no teeth, because a local resolution can't trump federal
law,
Evans said such a reaffirmation of the Bill of Rights is crucial in any
community - especially one whose American citizens of Japanese ancestry
were interned during World War II.
Three states and 149 cities and towns across the United States, from
tiny
Tonasket in north-central Washington to Philadelphia, already have
passed
similar resolutions, according to the national Bill of Rights Defense
Committee...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/18/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAYER WASHES AWAY SIN
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6799 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* FEAR SHAKES NJ IMMIGRANT ENCLAVE (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Jury Considers Mental-Illness in Sikh Murder Case (AP)
* PIPES QUOTES WRITER FOR SITE SEEKING TO 'ERADICATE ISLAM'
- CA Muslims Protest Pipes Nomination (Enterprise-Record)
- War of Words Over Bush's 'Peace' Appointment (Asian Times)
* MUSLIMS TALK ON IMPACT OF PATRIOT ACT (Charlotte Observer)
- Muslims Meet with Law Enforcement (News 14)
* NEW VISA RULES HOLD UP DOCTOR'S U.S. RETURN (Newsday)
- Muslim Charity Leader Sentenced to Prison (AP)
* WASH. POST WRITER ON HER ARRAIGNED MARRIAGE
* `TORTURE IN ISRAEL HAS AGAIN BECOME ROUTINE' (Haaretz)
* RAIDERS OF THE NIGHT FIND THE PICKINGS ARE SLIM (SMH)
- Porn, Drugs, Weapons are Available in Iraq (AP)
* FROM DHAKA, WITH HOPE (Los Angeles Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAYER WASHES AWAY SIN
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The five prayers
(required
by Islam are) like an overflowing river passing by (your) gate in which
(you) wash five times daily."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 323
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6799 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6799 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"We are adding everything in the package to our collection and plan to
display many of the items during Ramadan, to increase our patrons'
awareness about Islam. Thank you for your generous gift." - Miami, FL
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
FEAR SHAKES IMMIGRANT ENCLAVE
Gaiutra Bahadur, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/18/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/6556864.htm
ATLANTIC CITY - The neon go-go girl still flashes near the deli where
Mukeem Butt once worked. The streets are still studded with
cash-for-gold
joints. And an endless train of holiday gamblers and sunbathers
continues
to animate the Boardwalk.
But away from the hubbub of Atlantic City's casino economy, there has
been
a quiet exodus.
Al-Taqwah mosque does not bulge at the seams as it used to on Fridays.
And
behind the counters of the mom-and-pop stores lining the Boardwalk, the
faces have changed.
The signs are subtle, as low-key as the illegal immigrants from
Pakistan
who occupied little-observed nooks here - and then scattered.
Mukeem Butt was among 5,000 Pakistanis nationwide to seek asylum in
Canada
after 9/11. Mainly, they fled New York. But New Jersey accounted for
the
second-largest number of refugees, nearly a thousand, according to the
Pakistani Embassy in Washington.
Many were terrified they would repeat the experiences of compatriots
locked
up on immigration charges after the terror attacks. Pakistanis
accounted
for about a third of the 762 illegal immigrants rounded up in the
months
after Sept. 11, more than any other group.
Little Pakistan in New York City, where two-thirds of the detainees
were
picked up, has withered, its shops boarded up and ghost apartments left
behind. The exodus has left less of an imprint in Atlantic City, where
there are fewer enclaves.
But for several Pakistani families who fled Atlantic City for Hamilton,
Ontario, leaving has made all the difference…
SEE ALSO:
JURY TO CONSIDER MENTAL-ILLNESS DEFENSE IN CASE OF MAN CHARGED WITH
KILLING
SIKH IMMIGRANT
BETH DeFALCO, Associated Press, 8/18/03
MESA, Arizona (AP) - Americans were still reeling from the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks when shots rang out on a street corner in this
Phoenix
suburb a few days later, leaving an Indian immigrant dead.
Balbir Singh Sodhi was neither Muslim nor from the Middle East, as the
terrorist hijackers had been. Yet authorities say the gas station owner
was
targeted days after the attacks because he wore a turban and beard as
part
of his Sikh faith.
Now a jury will be asked to consider whether the alleged gunman in the
Sept. 15, 2001, killing, Frank Silva Roque, committed a racially
motivated
hate crime, or whether a mental illness was to blame. Jury selection in
the
capital murder case is scheduled to begin Monday.
Sodhi's family believes the first argument is the truth. "As far as I'm
concerned, my brother is a victim of 9-11," said Sodhi's brother,
Lakhwinder "Rana" Singh Sodhi.
Balbir Sodhi had been outside his gas station when authorities say
Roque
drove up and shot him. Prosecutors say Roque later shot at a
Lebanese-American clerk at another gas station and fired into the home
of a
family of Afghan descent. No one else was hurt…
Assistant Attorney General Joseph Maziarz, who helped work on a draft
of
the state's guilty except insane statute, called it a "defense of
desperation" and said he thinks it will be a hard sell.
"They have to prove that (Roque) did not know the act was wrong in the
moral sense, not just criminally wrong," said Maziarz, who isn't
involved
in the case. "I don't know how they get around the wrongness issue."
-----
PIPES QUOTES WRITER FOR SITE SEEKING TO 'ERADICATE ISLAM'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/18/03) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said it has learned that an author cited as a "moderate
Muslim" by presidential nominee Daniel Pipes writes for an Internet
hate
site seeking to "eradicate Islam." CAIR once again called on President
Bush
to withdraw Pipes' nomination to fill a position on the board of the
United
States Institute of Peace (USIP),
The hate site's home page states: "This site is created by ex-Muslims
to
help Muslims leave Islam. Islam is a lie and this site is the proof…The
truth is that Islam is not a religion of peace. It is a religion of
hate,
of terror and of war…The only way to confront Islamic terrorism is to
eradicate Islam." In one of his articles on the site, the writer says:
"As
probing of Islam becomes an ordinary and mundane exercises (sic) in
this
day of openness (thanks to the Internet!), more of Islam's inanities
will
be revealed." (CAIR has chosen not to reveal the web site's address or
the
name of the writer in order not to give either the publicity they seek.
Details will be provided to accredited media professionals who contact
CAIR's Communications Department.)
Pipes quotes the writer, who uses a Department of Justice reply address
for
at least one of his articles, in a July, 2003, syndicated commentary
attacking CAIR and blaming Muslims for a recent poll showing an
increase in
the public perception that Islam is a violent faith. The person Pipes
quoted is also a signatory to the "Statement of Muslim Support for
Pipes
Appointment to USIP Board" published on a pro-Pipes web site.
"With each new utterance, Daniel Pipes becomes a greater embarrassment
to
the president and to America's image around the world," said CAIR
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
CAIR is one of many Muslim, Arab, Christian, Jewish, and interfaith
groups
challenging Pipes' qualifications to be appointed to the USIP board.
President Bush is said to be considering a recess appointment of Pipes
after his nomination failed to pass through a Senate committee because
of
opposition from leading Democratic senators.
SEE ALSO:
LOCAL MUSLIMS PROTEST PIPES NOMINATION
Larry Mitchell, Chico Enterprise-Record, 8/16/03
http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135~25088~1573975,00.html
Rep. Wally Herger heard this week from a group of local Muslims about
the
controversial nomination of Daniel Pipes to the board of directors of
the
U.S. Institute of Peace.
If what Rabina Khan of Chico and others told him about Pipes was
accurate,
Herger said, "I would say someone missed along the way (in nominating
Pipes)."
Pipes is a commentator on Middle Eastern issues and an author of many
books
on the religion and politics of that region.
Earlier this year, President Bush nominated him for the board of the
Institute of Peace, a federal agency that is supposed to try to promote
world peace. Part of its mission is to increase public understanding
about
the nature of international conflicts.
Pipes' nomination has aroused strong feelings...
An organization fighting Pipes' nomination, the Council on American
Islamic
Relations (CAIR), is organizing a letter-writing campaign right now,
urging
the president not to appoint Pipes. There have been reports that Bush
may
circumvent the Senate and simply make the appointment while Congress is
in
recess, said Sabiha Khan, communications director for CAIR's Southern
California office...
---
WAR OF WORDS OVER BUSH'S 'PEACE' APPOINTMENT
Katrin Dauenhauer, Asian Times, 8/19/03
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EH19Ak04.html
WASHINGTON - US Arab and Muslim groups are continuing their opposition
to
the nomination of an outspoken Middle East scholar to a federally
funded
peace institute, but the administration says Daniel Pipes might now
even
get his place without a Senate vote.
President George W Bush nominated Pipes to the board of directors of
the
United States Institute for Peace (USIP) in April, but the move has
been
stalled by concerns about Pipes' highly controversial views on the
Muslim
world and the Arab-Israeli conflict, among others.
Last week the president suggested he might use a "recess appointment"
to
place Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, in
the
USIP position while the Senate is on its summer break. The appointment
would last until the next Congress is sworn in, potentially 2005...
-----
MUSLIMS TALK ON IMPACT OF PATRIOT ACT
Samantha Peterson, Charlotte Observer, 8/17/03
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/local/6552197.htm
Much of the discussion at a Saturday evening forum between
Charlotte-area
Muslims and local law enforcement officials centered on one topic: the
USA
Patriot Act.
Differing interpretations of the act, passed soon after Sept. 11, 2001,
became clear during the forum. But event organizers stressed that area
Muslims want to prevent terrorism just as law enforcement officials do.
"We want to do that, fight crime, as much as you do," said Islamic
Center
spokesman Mujahid Idlibi. "But at the same time, we don't want our
freedoms
to be compromised."
About 80 people attended the forum, designed to improve relations
between
the two groups in the wake of Sept. 11. The free event was at the
Islamic
Center of Charlotte (South).
Jim Gronquist, a lawyer speaking for the American Civil Liberties
Union,
said Muslims have been targeted and profiled because of their religion.
The
Patriot Act, he said, makes it easier for law enforcement to
investigate
people because it lowers the bar for what is needed to begin an
investigation...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
Shawn Flynn, News 14 Carolina, 8/17/03
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=38575
PINEVILLE, N.C. - It was a meeting of the minds in South Charlotte
Saturday, as members of the Islamic community, had a chance to talk
with
law enforcement officers. They had lots to talk about, including the
loss
of personal freedoms, because of the war on terror.
A particular Islamic prayer asks for knowledge to do what is right and
not
be lead by ignorance. That is how a special town hall meeting between
members of the Islamic Center of Charlotte and law enforcement officers
began.
Muslims pray for knowledge to what is right and not be lead by
ignorance.
"The theme tonight is war on freedom and the war on terror," said
Jibril
Hough. "We're using this theme because the loss of civil liberties in
the
war on freedom at home and the war on terror is very much connected."
Hough said Muslims feel like they are the targets of government
insecurities about security and that the American Patriot Act crosses
the
line on a violating civil rights.
"Often times, you fear the unknown or fear what you don't understand,"
said
Hough.
That was the point of the meeting so both sides could have a better
chance
to understand each other...
----
NEW VISA RULES HOLD UP STONY BROOK DOCTOR'S U.S. RETURN
Martin C. Evans, Newsday, 8/17/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limous173416757aug17,0,4286346.story
As the charges for his rent, insurance and cable television pile up,
Hasan
Mousli's Coram apartment sits empty. His car sits idle and his
television
is never on.
With bills to pay and an eagerness to get started, Mousli has yet to
show
up for a single day of work at his new job at Stony Brook University
Hospital, though his employer expected him to start July 1.
Mousli, a Jordanian citizen scheduled to complete his medical training
in
neurology at Stony Brook this year, has not been able to get the State
Department to renew his visa so he can resume his work.
Now, seven weeks after he was supposed to be on the job, Mousli feels
he is
caught in a Kafkaesque quagmire - the victim of increased American
scrutiny
of Muslim immigrants...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CHARITY LEADER SENTENCED TO PRISON
Mike Robinson, Associated Press, 8/18/03
CHICAGO - A Muslim charity leader linked by prosecutors to Osama bin
Laden's terrorist network was sentenced Monday to more than 11 years in
federal prison for defrauding donors.
Enaam Arnaout, 46, a Syrian-born U.S. citizen who says he has met bin
Laden
but opposes terrorism, was calm as the sentence was imposed by U.S.
District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon.
The government's investigation of Arnaout and his Benevolence
International
Foundation, based in suburban Palos Hills until it was shut down in
2002,
has been a major component of the war on terrorism.
Attorney General John Ashcroft traveled to Chicago to announce the
charges
against Arnaout when he was indicted.
Arnaout (pronounced ARE-not) pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge,
admitting that he diverted thousands of dollars from his Benevolence
International Foundation to support Islamic military groups in Bosnia
and
Chechnya.
Conlon sentenced Arnaout to 11 years and four months in prison. He must
serve nearly 10 years before he is eligible for parole. She declined to
boost the sentence on the basis of Arnaout's ties to members of bin
Laden's
al-Qaida network, saying they supplied grounds for suspicion but didn't
constitute evidence that he backed terrorism...
-----
ARRAIGNED MARRIAGE: A PROPOSAL I NEVER THOUGHT I'D CONSIDER
Sabaa Saleem, Washington Post, 8/17/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1219-2003Aug15.html
In spite of myself, I think I may agree to an arranged marriage.
Beginning next month, my parents will contact Muslim family friends
around
the world with a list of criteria for a husband: a twentysomething,
classically handsome, Urdu-speaking Muslim man who is 6 feet tall, with
an
MD and MBA, as well as a PhD in something respectable like molecular
toxicology. He must have a good sense of family and a financial
portfolio
fat enough to take care of the next 15 generations. My parents will
screen
the candidates, and after I graduate from college next spring, they
will
introduce me to the few they deem best. Ultimately, the lucky man will
have
to pass my own stringent test: Does he own every Radiohead album and
listen
to them regularly?
Like so many other young South Asians in America, I am the product of
two
cultures whose conflicting values pull at me with equal urgency. Never
have
I felt as torn between the two as I do about the question of marriage.
I
have been a Californian for all but the first year of my life, when my
family lived in Britain, where I was born. I grew up in a small town in
the
Mojave Desert where conservative Republicans were as common as cacti.
Inexplicably, I grew up liberal and a feminist…
A month ago, I asked my mother about her determination to have me
married
soon, especially when her own marriage at 21 took her to London, away
from
the world she knew, preventing her from pursuing a career and
establishing
her independence. She said, "Do you think I want to you to leave us --
to
have a man at the center of your life? Maybe even to go away? I want my
daughter close to me always, but this is my duty; I don't have a choice
--
I can't be selfish. I have to let you go."
That day, I decided I would have an arranged marriage.
-----
`TORTURE IN ISRAEL HAS AGAIN BECOME ROUTINE'
Moshe Reinfeld, Haaretz, 8/18/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=330457
A report released yesterday by the Public Committee against Torture
claims
that the use of torture in the interrogation of Palestinian suspects
has
increased significantly over the past two years.
Hundreds of Palestinians were subject to Shin Bet security service
interrogations defined as torture, inhumane or humiliating during each
of
the first six months of the year, compared to dozens in September 2001,
the
human rights group said.
The abuse of Palestinian suspects has worsened and can justifiably be
termed torture under criteria established by international law,
according
to the report. Moreover, such use of torture in interrogation violates
a
ruling reached by Israel's High Court in 1999.
"Torture in Israel has once again become routine," the report's writers
conclude. They charge that Israeli authorities such as the High Court
and
attorney general, which are supposed to monitor the Shin Bet and
guarantee
that its interrogation procedures conform with the law, have failed to
discharge such responsibility. Rather than supervising the Shin Bet,
these
authorities have simply rubber stamped the security service's
decisions...
-----
RAIDERS OF THE NIGHT FIND THE PICKINGS ARE SLIM
Sydney Morning Herald, 8/18/03
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/17/1061059719776.html
The Herald photographer Jason South watches as one of the US soldiers
pockets a small wad of US cash from a handbag he comes across as he
goes
through the contents of a wardrobe in a ground-floor room.
A week later, as Colonel Rabena's men mount up, one of them declares to
his
mates, all of them incongruously sucking on a ChupaChup lollipop: "I
hope I
get to kill an Iraqi tonight…"
ALSO SEE:
PORN, DRUGS, WEAPONS AND LOOTED GOODS READILY AVAILABLE ON BAGHDAD'S
STREETS AS IRAQIS EXPLOIT "NEW FREEDOM"
Andrew England, Associated Press, 8/18/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/17/international1349EDT0461.DTL
BAGHDAD, Iraq- A Quranic verse plastered on a monument to freedom
carries a
simple message - God will send a plague on those who deal in drugs and
spread corruption.
But the message is being widely ignored.
Across the busy highway from the monument, built in 1958 after the
overthrow of the monarchy, traders have set up gambling tables and are
openly selling pornography, fake ID cards and looted goods - including
laboratory microscopes, industrial fuse boxes and pills stolen from
psychiatric hospitals.
"Now we have freedom and democracy," said a 34-year-old trader selling
pornographic DVDs with titles such as "The Dirty Family" and "The Young
Wife," and photocopied postcards of couples in various sexual
positions.
"We could not sell them when Saddam was here."
This is Baghdad four months after U.S. troops took over the sprawling
city
of 5 million - jobless, insecure, and in many cases taking "freedom and
democracy" as license to do pretty much what you want and get away with
it...
-----
FROM DHAKA, WITH HOPE
Ted Widmer, Los Angeles Times, 8/17/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-widmer17aug17,1,1649056.story
CHESTERTOWN, Md. - This sleepy town on Maryland's Eastern Shore is
deeply
rooted in the 18th century. Crab fishermen still ply the waters of the
Chester River, and painstakingly restored homes bear witness to its
history
as a remote outpost of the British Empire long before it joined the
upstart
United States. Yet Chestertown has improbably become the laboratory for
a
bold new experiment in the war on terrorism.
Against this colonial backdrop, 21 young Muslim student leaders from
South
Asia, chosen from among hundreds of applicants, spent their first
summer in
the United States. Like their American counterparts, they went to
cookouts,
baseball games and Fourth of July parades. Unlike most Americans, they
hotly debated the fine points of the U.S. Constitution, explored the
rising
importance of Islam in America and stayed up late at night seeking
solutions to the Kashmir conflict.
Six months ago, the State Department asked me to organize the first
American Studies Institute - an experimental summer school on American
values for students from the Muslim world. The brainchild of State's
Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program is a visionary idea on
several levels. By reaching out to foreign college students - which the
department's educational programs have not done for nearly half a
century -
the program offers an alternative to the madrasas that have been
training
young Muslims in the fanatical extremes of anti-Americanism. By asking
American colleges to run the programs, the federal government entrusts
the
teaching to independent scholars, avoids the taint of propaganda and
widens
public participation in our foreign policy...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADL ATTEMPTS TO DEFAME FLORIDA MUSLIMS
Behind-the-scenes smear campaign fails to block speakers
(MIAMI, FL, 8/19/03) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and
advocacy group today said it has learned that the Anti-Defamation
League
(ADL) recently engaged in a behind-the-scenes smear campaign designed
to
block speakers from taking part in a Muslim event in Florida. That
state's
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), the
sponsor
of the event, said speakers disregarded an ADL letter smearing other
event
participants and making false allegations against CAIR.
The ADL sent letters to speakers, including journalists and human
rights
activists, scheduled to take part in the August 2nd CAIR-FL banquet in
Ft.
Lauderdale, implying that former Congressman (R-Ill.) Paul Findley is
an
anti-Semite because "he labored to depict Israel and its American
supporters as a menacing force." The letter made similar accusations
against another invitee, Rev. Bill Baker, based on statements he
allegedly
made in the 1980s. In a letter to CAIR-FL, Baker, who heads Christians
and
Muslims for Peace (CAMP), wrote: "The so-called 'quotes' attributed to
me
are pure, insulting, and outrageous lies."
CAIR itself was targeted by the ADL letter, which repeated a
long-discredited claim that the group sponsored a 1998 conference in
New
York during which a speaker made anti-Semitic comments. In fact, CAIR
did
not sponsor the event, and no CAIR officials spoke at or attended the
gathering. CAIR's New York office did not even exist at the time the
conference took place.
"It is disturbing that the ADL, a group claiming to fight bigotry,
would
choose to exploit and amplify existing anti-Muslim prejudice by
peddling
scurrilous smears based on distortions, fabrications and guilt by
association," said Altaf Ali, executive director of CAIR-FL. "If we
thought
an invited speaker did indeed hold anti-Semitic views, that person
would
quickly be disinvited. We thank all those who stood up to this attempt
at
religious exclusion to make our event such a success." Ali invited the
ADL's Florida office to enter into a dialogue on the issue of Muslim
participation in American society.
He noted that this was not the first time the ADL sought to exclude
American Muslims from the public arena. In November of 2001, the group
attempted to bar CAIR's Los Angeles office from taking part in a
hearing on
hate crimes. That same year, the Florida Commission on Human Relations
rejected an ADL demand to exclude a Muslim representative from an
annual
civil rights conference and the State of California Select Committee on
Hate Crimes turned down a similar demand to prevent a Muslim leader
from
offering testimony at a public hearing. In early 2002, the ADL demanded
that Muslim groups be denied the right to offer presentations on Islam
to
public officials at a public event in Southern California.
At that time, the ADL's smear campaign was revealed when the Los
Angeles
Times wrote: "Pro-Israel or Jewish organizations such as the
Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Defense League and [Daniel Pipes']
Middle East Forum think tank have provided news organizations with
reams of
critical documentation on Muslim leaders in recent weeks." (Los Angeles
Times, 11/3/2001)
The ADL campaign is not limited to American Muslims. In April of 2001,
a
federal judge upheld a jury's findings that the ADL defamed a Colorado
couple by publicly accusing them of being anti-Semitic. U.S. District
Court
Judge Edward Nottingham said that evidence was sufficient to support
the
jury's conclusion that the ADL "acted recklessly in its efforts to
publicize what it perceived to be anti-Semitic conduct." (Associated
Press,
4/4/2001)
In 1999, the ADL agreed to pay $25,000 to a community relations fund
and
said it would not spy on other organizations as part of a settlement
with
the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and other groups. The
settlement resolved a class-action lawsuit filed in 1993 that accused
the
ADL of spying on Arab-American, pro-Palestinian and anti-apartheid
groups
and individuals. (Associated Press, 9/28/1999)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, CAIR-FL, 954-298-8214, E-MAIL:
altaf@cair-florida.org;
Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-MAIL: abedier@cair-florida.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/19/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TRUTHFULNESS
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6813 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CALIF. MUSLIM SUES NEOCON MAG FOR DEFAMATION
* GOOD NEWS: MD MUSLIM ALLOWED TO WEAR HIJAB
- Editorial: A Test of Faith (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* IMAM CALLS DEPORTATION A MISHAP (CC Times)
* BYU PROJECT BUILDING TIES TO MUSLIMS (DESERET NEWS)
* ISRAEL'S MADE-FOR-TV 'PEACE' MOVES (Haaretz)
- Israelis Spot Business Opportunities in Iraq (AFP)
- Israeli Law Targets 'Mixed' Families (Wash. Times)
- Rights Group Accuses Israel of Abuses (Reuters)
* TX CONFERENCE - "EXTREMISM: A THREAT TO GLOBAL PEACE"
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TRUTHFULNESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Truthfulness leads to
righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 116
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6813 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6813 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"Excellent resources in a variety of formats for different age levels -
thank you!" - Corinth, MS
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
CALIF. MUSLIM SUES NEOCON MAG FOR DEFAMATION
Lawsuit filed against National Review and former state GOP chair
(ANAHEIM, CA, 8/19/03) - A California Muslim activist today filed a
personal defamation lawsuit against both the neoconservative National
Review magazine and Shawn Steel, former chairman of the California
Republican Party.
In his lawsuit, Hussam Ayloush states that on June 19, 2003, National
Review published an article by Steel on its web site, National Review
Online, falsely claiming that Ayloush co-hosted a May 1998 event at
which
anti-Semitic comments were allegedly made. In fact, Ayloush did not
even
attend that event. National Review editors did not contact Ayloush to
verify the allegation prior to publication of Steel's article.
Ayloush, who is executive director of the Southern California office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), categorically denies
Steel's allegation and says it is a malicious attempt to harm his
reputation. As stated in the lawsuit: "The portrayal of plaintiff
Ayloush
as an anti-Semitic individual was offensive and objectionable to the
plaintiff and would be objectionable to a person of ordinary
sensibilities."
Ayloush is a widely-respected community activist who regularly works
with a
number of religious and political groups to promote understanding and
tolerance among people of all faiths. He filed the suit as an
individual,
not on behalf of or as a representative of CAIR-LA.
"It is important for the Muslim community, indeed for all Americans, to
hold responsible those individuals and entities attempting to sow seeds
of
hatred in our nation through the use of lies and distortions," said
CAIR-LA
Communications Director Sabiha Khan. "We hope this action will deter
hate-mongers from undermining the character and work of those who do
not
share their extremist views."
According to the lawsuit, the defamatory statement was prompted by an
ongoing dispute between Ayloush and Steel. Earlier this year, Ayloush
called on state GOP leaders to repudiate Islamophobic remarks allegedly
made by Steel at two pro-war rallies. Steel said his remarks were
inaccurately reported by the media.
On June 27, National Review editors were served with a demand for
retraction. To date, no retraction has been published. The lawsuit
seeks
compensatory and punitive damages on three causes of action; defamation
(libel), invasion of privacy (false light) and intentional infliction
of
emotional distress.
CAIR is American's largest Islamic civil liberties group. It is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices
nationwide
and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-MAIL:
socal@cair.com
-----
GOOD NEWS: MD MUSLIM ALLOWED TO WEAR HIJAB
Following intervention by CAIR-Maryland, a Muslim woman in that state
will
now be allowed to wear a religiously-mandated head scarf, or hijab,
while
attending beauty school.
The woman was prevented from attending classes at the Silver Spring,
Md.,
school after she started to wear hijab. School officials said the scarf
violated the student dress code policy.
After CAIR-Maryland sent letters to the school and to accrediting
associations, the Muslim student was allowed to return to classes with
no
penalty and the dress code policy was amended to allow religious
exemptions.
CONTACT: CAIR-Maryland, Rizwan Mowlana, 240-401-4550 or 301-986-1900
SEE ALSO:
EDITORIAL: A TEST OF FAITH
Police gain little by barring religious expression
Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/19/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/6563587.htm
When Philadelphia police officer Kimberlie Webb reported to work last
week
with a Muslim head scarf on her head, the reaction from police brass
was
immediate. Take off the scarf or go home, a supervisor told Webb. If
Webb
wears it to work again, warned Police Commissioner Sylvester M.
Johnson,
she'll be fired.
Was the anti-scarf stand correct? Some, probably many, say it was.
Police
departments have a right to demand uniformity in dress for both
discipline
and safety reasons, they argue. Allow a woman officer to wear a Muslim
head
covering - called a hijab - and the next thing you know, policemen will
demand the right to wear baseball caps instead of police headgear.
But in fact the department's anti-scarf call was wrong - for fairness
reasons, for factual reasons, and most of all, for legal reasons.
Just a week prior, citing federal court rulings, Johnson said he would
allow men on the force to grow close-cropped beards for religious or
health
reasons. He argued that Webb's hijab posed a safety concern - when
actually
it was designed so as to allow it to easily fall from her head if a
suspect
grabbed it.
Moreover, Johnson ignored the weight of federal civil rights law and
rulings - which say that employers must allow reasonable religious
accommodation for their workers so long as that accommodation doesn't
cause
undue hardship...
-----
IMAM CALLS DEPORTATION A MISHAP
Jack Chang, Contra Costa Times, 8/19/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/6566212.htm
LIVERMORE- People of all faiths are rallying around a local mosque
leader
who could be deported despite his lawyer's claim that a bureaucratic
mix-up
caused his immigration problems.
Egyptian citizen Ahmad Abdalghafar Abdalla has been the calm center of
a
storm that has involved everyone from Amnesty International to the
First
Presbyterian Church of Livermore in a campaign to keep him in the
United
States.
Federal officials picked up the 30-year-old man at his Livermore home
in
April and held him for about a week, accusing him of overstaying his
three-year religious worker visa. On Monday, an immigration judge
continued
Abdalla's deportation hearing until Nov. 4.
Members of the Islamic Center of Livermore where Abdalla serves as
imam, or
religious leader, have been collecting money to pay for his and his
wife's
legal fees, which amount to about $35,000...
-----
BYU PROJECT BUILDING TIES TO MUSLIMS
Carrie A. Moore, Deseret Morning News, 8/19/03
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510048028,00.html
Brigham Young University and the LDS Church are both benefiting from
the
school's efforts to coordinate translation of a series of ancient
Middle
Eastern religious texts never before accessible to the Western world.
And
the director overseeing the project sees God in the details. "I
genuinely
believe that a mind wiser than any of ours has nudged us in the right
direction, time and time again," said Daniel Peterson, director of the
Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts
(ISPART) at BYU. Such divine intervention "has led us to things and to
people that we could not, on our own, have found…When human abilities
were
needed, they materialized. When financial resources have been required,
they have appeared…I do not believe we have come this far by chance."
During Monday's opening sessions of BYU's annual Education Week,
Peterson
shared the history of how ISPART came to be, and the variety of
materials
and scholars involved in the translation effort over the past decade.
He
said the program is not only a premier academic endeavor, but is
building
bridges for the school and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints
(Mormon) among international Muslim scholars, politicians and students.
After the Foundation for Ancient Research in Mormon Studies (FARMS)
came to
prominence for scholarly inquiry into the Book of Mormon in the 1980s,
the
BYU-affiliated group began taking on non-LDS research projects.
Peterson
said he had wanted to translate classic Muslim texts since his graduate
school days, and he was approached in the early 1990s by Elder
Alexander
Morrison of the LDS Church's Quorums of Seventy about how to reach out
to
Muslims...
-----
ISRAEL'S MADE-FOR-TV 'PEACE' MOVES
Gideon Levy, Haaretz, 8/19/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=329189
On Thursday, an item on television: the Jenin-Ya'bad road is now open
to
Palestinian traffic. The IDF spokesman got the message to all the
military
correspondents, who rushed to publish it as stated, without checking.
"This
is part of a series of steps taken by Israel to ease conditions on the
West
Bank under the road map," the correspondents explain. Not just one
step; a
series. On TV, we see a bulldozer removing a dirt barrier.
On Sunday afternoon, the Jenin-Ya'bad road is deserted.
A road just opened to Palestinian traffic, empty? A taxi appears and
the
driver, clearly upset, gestures for us to turn around, using the sign
language of all besieged West Bank drivers. The meaning was
unmistakable:
The Israeli army was on the road. But we came to see the townsfolk of
Jenin
enjoying the opportunity to drive unimpeded to Ya'bad, 10 minutes away.
Just before arriving at Jenin, we understood: Across the road, near the
deserted banquet halls ("A sign of good taste"), stands an IDF armored
personnel carrier, completely blocking traffic on the road that was
just
opened on television.
Most Palestinian drivers nowadays don't dare approach an IDF armored
vehicle. The sweaty face of a young soldier peered out from the turret.
Maybe he was upset, too; he gestured with one hand to the few
Palestinian
cars that dared approach, telling them to turn around and go back to
Jenin.
If their business was urgent, they wouldn't get close enough to explain
it
to him. We approached cautiously from the direction of Ya'bad...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELIS SPOT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN POST-SADDAM IRAQ
Agence France-Presse, 8/18/03
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1312&ncid=1312&e=1&u=/afp/20030818/wl_mideast_afp/israel_iraq_030818141812
JERUSALEM - Israeli bosses are to gather at a conference this week to
debate business opportunities in Iraq (news - web sites) with hopes
that
the post-war climate could enable them to build up exports worth 100
million dollars a year.
The one-day conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, entitled "How to Make
Business in Iraq", has been organised by Israel's Export Institute.
It is expected to be attended by dozens of businesses as well as
representatives from the foreign and trade ministries...
The official said it was hoped that Israeli companies might first link
up
with counterparts from countries such as Turkey, which have much more
experience of doing business in Iraq.
Iraq was a no-go area for Israeli business when Saddam Hussein (news -
web
sites) was in power. The two countries have no diplomatic ties and are
officially still at war.
But a report in the daily Yediot Aharonot last month said that dozens
of
companies have already started procedures to export their products to
Iraq,
after the Israeli finance ministry had okayed the move...
---
ISRAELI LAW TARGETS 'MIXED' FAMILIES
Joshua Mitnick, Washington Times, 8/18/03
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030818-122330-9856r.htm
UMM AL-GHANEM, Israel - More than 20,000 Arab families face the
agonizing
choice of breaking up or leaving Israel after passage of a law banning
Palestinian spouses of Israelis from obtaining citizenship or residence
permits.
The amendment to the national citizenship law, passed two weeks ago,
mainly
affects Palestinians who have married Arab Israelis and joined them in
Israel without obtaining the proper papers from Israel's Interior
Ministry,
often for years or even decades.
Salwa Abu Jaber, an Israeli Arab mother of four, said she lies awake at
night waiting for police to come for her husband, Mahmoud, whom she
married
more than 10 years ago.
Israeli government statistics show that there are about 21,000 couples
in
the same situation as the Abu Jabers, prompting human rights groups at
home
and abroad to protest the legislation, which expires in a year...
---
RIGHTS GROUP ACCUSES ISRAEL OF ABUSES IN HEBRON
Reuters, 8/19/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19130584.htm
JERUSALEM - An Israeli rights group said on Tuesday Israeli security
forces
in the West Bank city of Hebron were doing virtually nothing to protect
Palestinian residents from "daily violence" by Jewish settlers.
As a result, the B'Tselem human rights group said in a new report,
thousands of Palestinian residents of Hebron's old quarter, where three
heavily-guarded Jewish settlements are located, have moved out.
Around 150,000 Palestinians live in the city, including 35,000 in the
old
quarter where around 500 militant Jewish settlers also reside. The old
quarter, known as H-2, is still ruled by Israel under a 1997 interim
peace
deal.
Violence by Jewish settlers towards Palestinians combined with the
failure
of Israeli soldiers and police to prevent the attacks and prosecute the
assailants has made the lives of the city's Palestinian residents
intolerable, B'Tselem said...
-----
ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM SOCIAL SCIENTISTS 3RD REGIONAL CONFERENCE
WHAT: Extremism and terrorism is a universal problem. To understand and
explore the ways to combat extremism, the Association of Muslim Social
Scientists, a branch of Islamic Society of North America (I.S.N.A.) is
holding its 3rd Regional Conference, titled "Extremism: A Threat to
Global
Peace."
Honorable Congressman Martin Frost, Honorable State Representative Lon
Burnam, and Honorable Mayor Robert Cluck will make the opening remarks.
Prominent Texan and national leaders and scholars will address the
conference.
A banquet will be held at 8 pm in Blue Bonnet Hall, University of
Texas,
Arlington, where Dr. Badawi will be making a keynote speech followed by
interaction with audience.
Complimentary tickets for the media personnel will be provided at the
venue, which includes lunch at the conference and dinner at the
banquet.
WHEN: Saturday, August 23, 2003 between 9 am and 4 pm
WHERE: University of Texas at Arlington - Students Center, Blue Bonnet
Hall, titled 'Extremism: A Threat to Global Peace.'
For further information, please contact: M. Basheer Ahmed, M.D.,
Chairman,
3rd Regional Conference of AMSS at 817-572-4981, 817-907-6080, and at
mbahmed03@hotmail.com. Or Call Azhar Azeez @ Cell # 214-769-0922 and
e-mail at aazeez@prodigy.net.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/20/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REWARDS CONTINUE
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6815 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* EEOC SUES OVER HARASSMENT OF MUSLIM WORKER (Newsday)
* SOCAL MUSLIM ACTIVIST SUES NATIONAL REVIEW MAGAZINE (AP)
- Muslim Lawsuit (City News Service)
* PIPES, IBISH AND TANTER DEBATE NOMINATION ON NPR
- Bush Nominee Says Cut Aid to Palestinian Refugees (NY Post)
- USIP Fellow Calls Pakistanis 'Pakis' - NCPA Objects
* CABBIE CARAVAN DRAWS PROMISES FROM MN OFFICIALS (Star Tribune)
* ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS THE STEREOTYPE (GUARDIAN)
- Experts Exhume Mass Grave in Bosnia (AP)
- Project Seeks to Reduce Prejudice Against Muslims (Eagle)
* IRAQ: MAGNET FOR EVIL (NY Times)
- Mass Graves to Reveal Iraq War Toll (Guardian)
* CONGRESSIONAL TRIPS ARE EFFECTIVE WAY TO BOOST ISRAEL (JTA)
* EX-PRISONERS ALLEGE ABUSES BY U.S. MILITARY (Wash. Post)
* CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY TRAINING IN ILLINOIS
* HAJJ DOCUMENTARY ON DISCOVERY TIMES CHANNEL
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REWARDS CONTINUE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, what a believer
continues to receive (in the form of reward) for his actions and
virtues
after his death is the knowledge that he acquired and then
disseminated,
the pious (child) he left behind, a copy of the Qur'an which he left as
a
legacy, the mosques that he built, the inn that he constructed for
wayfarers, the canal that he caused to flow, or charity that he gave
out of
his property in a state when he was alive and healthy. (These are the
acts
of goodness the reward of which) reaches him even after his death."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 90
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6815 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6815 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
EEOC SUES CITY FURNITURE STORE
Carrie Mason-Draffen, Newsday, 8/20/03
http://www.nynewsday.com/business/ny-bzeeoc203420516aug20,0,7451398.story
Alleging that an Egyptian immigrant was subjected to on-the-job taunts,
including "Mrs. Osama Bin Laden" and "Mrs. Taliban," the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission yesterday filed suit in Manhattan
against
the worker's former employer, a tony furniture store.
The EEOC sued Poggenpohl U.S. Inc., the U.S. operation of Poggenpohl
GmbH.,
a German-based company that makes upscale kitchen cabinets. The agency
said
the company violated the civil rights of Azza Elmostehi, a Muslim, "by
creating and maintaining a hostile work environment" in its Manhattan
showroom, based on her national origin and religion. The two taunts
referred to the al-Qaida leader and the deposed rulers of Afghanistan.
The company's attorney denied the charges…
Monique Roberts, the EEOC trial attorney handling the case, said it
represents the difficulties Muslims have faced in U.S. workplaces since
the
terrorist attacks…
-----
SOCAL MUSLIM ACTIVIST SUES NATIONAL REVIEW MAGAZINE
Associated Press, 8/20/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6574387.htm
SANTA ANA, Calif. - A Southern California Muslim activist sued National
Review magazine for allegedly defaming him in an article published on
its
Web site.
Hussam Ayloush, who heads the Southern California office of the Council
for
American-Islamic Relations, claims the magazine falsely suggested he
supported anti-Semitic views.
The suit stems from a commentary article by Shawn Steel which states
that
Ayloush co-hosted an event at which an Egyptian Muslim leader called
Jewish
people "descendants of the apes."
The lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court denies Ayloush hosted
or
attended the May 1998 event and seeks damages for defamation, invasion
of
privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Steel, who was chairman of the California Republican Party until
February,
could not be reached for comment.
Jack Fowler, associate publisher of National Review, acknowledged the
article but declined to comment…
In his story for National Review, Steel wrote that he was criticized by
CAIR for comments he made at a Los Angeles rally to support U.S. troops
in
Iraq.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM LAWSUIT
City News Service, 8/19/03
http://www.socalnews.com/index.html
SANTA ANA - The head of an Anaheim-based Islamic organization filed a
defamation lawsuit today against the National Review and a former
California Republican Party chairman.
Hussam Ayloush said the National Review published a commentary by Shawn
Steel on its Web site, National Review Online, claiming the plaintiff
co-
hosted a May 1998 event at which anti-Semitic comments were made.
The remarks allegedly were made by an Egyptian militant Islamic leader,
Steel wrote in the "Guest Comment" column.
Steel could not be reached for comment. But Jack Fowler, associate
publisher of the National Review, pulled the commentary up on the
Internet.
"Since Mr. Ayloush has entered into a lawsuit, it would be ridiculous
of me
to make a comment," he said. "Clearly, there is an article here as
mentioned. Other than that, I cannot comment."
Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in
Anaheim, denies attending the event, and called the portrayal an
attempt to
harm his reputation…
-----
DANIEL PIPES, HUSSEIN IBISH AND RAYMOND TANTER DEBATE ON NPR
The program "Radio Times," an hourly talk-show on NPR affiliate WHYY in
Daniel Pipes' home-base Philadelphia, featured on August 18, 2003, a
debate
on the nomination of Pipes to the Board of Directors of US Institute of
Peace.
TO HEAR THE PROGRAM IN REAL AUDIO:
http://www.whyy.org/rameta/RT/2003/RT20030818_20.ram
ALSO SEE:
BUSH NOMINEE SAYS CUT AID TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
The Refugee Curse
Daniel Pipes, New York Post, 8/19/03
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08192003/postopinion/opedcolumnists/3485.htm
Other Western governments should join with Washington to solve the
Palestinian refugee problem by withholding authorization for UNRWA when
it
next comes up for renewal in June 2005.
Now is the time to lay the groundwork to eliminate this malign
institution,
its mischievous definition, and its monstrous works.
-----
USIP FELLOW CALLS PAKISTANIS 'PAKIS' - NCPA OBJECTS
The National Council of Pakistani Americans (NCPA) is a
Washington-based
public education and civil rights group.
WASHINGTON, DC, August 20, 2003: A national public education and civil
rights group is asking for an apology and use of better language and
judgment from a nationally televised cable show, Hardball, for using
derogatory language against Pakistanis.
On Tuesday, August 19th, a guest at the Hardball show--hosted by Chris
Matthews--Amatzia Baram of U.S. Institute for Peace, used derogatory
language to describe Pakistanis. He referred to Pakistanis as "Pakis."
This
is as bad as calling an African American with the N-word.
SEE: http://www.usip.org/newsmedia/releases/2003/0707_PRbaram.html
[BARAM'S QUOTE: "These guys are not Iraqis. They are Jordanians,
Palestinians, Syrians, Afghans, Pakis, they are Egyptians, some
Saudis."]
"Hardball has shown a great degree of balance and responsibility in its
coverage of world events, and for this we admire Chris Matthews.
However, remarks against Pakistanis by a member of the US-sponsored
think-tank, are insensitive and extremely rude, and have no place at a
show
like Hardball. We demand an apology and a clarification from the
producers
of the show," said Faiz Rehman, President of NCPA.
NCPA also demands an apology form the USIP member, Amatzia Baram, for
being
ignorant and using abusive language for a nation which is our strongest
ally in the war against terrorism.
NCPA hopes that this press release will serve as an advisory to those
in
the media who are not aware of the sensitivities attached to this
condescending term.
-----
CABBIE CARAVAN DRAWS PROMISES FROM MINNEAPOLIS, STATE OFFICIALS
Margaret Zack and Conrad deFiebre, Star Tribune, 8/19/03
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4049209.html
Police have identified two suspects in the killing of Minneapolis
cabdriver
Mohamed Salah, whose death earlier this month stirred Somali cabbies to
press for government action to make their jobs safer.
A search warrant filed Monday names an 18-year-old man and a
15-year-old
boy as suspects and says two other, unidentified suspects, also males,
may
have been involved.
Details of the investigation became public as dozens of Somali
cabdrivers
drove in a caravan to the State Capitol to honor Salah and Ahmed Ahmed,
a
driver shot to death last month, and to meet with state and city
officials.
Salah, 28, was shot in the head about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 8 at the
intersection
of 24th St. and 18th Av. S. in the Phillips neighborhood. He had called
his
pregnant wife to say he had several suspicious passengers...
-----
ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS THE STEREOTYPE
Gwynne Dyer, Guardian (Charlottetown), 8/20/03
http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Sitting in Cairo in a flat borrowed from a friend. Turn on the TV and
catch
the news on BBC World: six stories in fifteen minutes. Iraqi guerillas
blow
up a couple of pipelines. European hostages released by Muslim
guerillas in
Mali. Nigerian peacekeeping troops in Liberia. Rioting between Muslim
sects
in Pakistan. Iceland resumes whaling. Islamist terrorists arrested in
Indonesia. End of world news.
Four out of six: that's how many of the stories were about Muslims who
do
violent things. That would make sense if two-thirds of the world's
people
were Muslims, and most of them were violent. Since only one-fifth of
the
world's people are Muslims, and many of them don't even spank their
children, it calls for an explanation. Especially because the
international
news is like this most of the time.
BBC World is not particularly bad. In fact, from Minnesota to Moscow to
Manila it is the preferred source of TV news for people with an
interest in
the world, a knowledge of English and access to cable. It is serious
about
delivering 'balanced' news to a multi-national audience, and yet it is
doing an absolutely terrible job. Why?
Consider the four 'Muslim' stories among the BBC World six I listed at
the
top of this article. The Iraq story is legitimate: when the world's
greatest power is sinking into a political and military quagmire, it is
going to get coverage. But why Muslim hostage-takers in Mali rather
than
politically motivated kidnappers in Colombia? Why sectarian clashes
between
Muslims in Pakistan rather than inter-caste violence among Hindus in
India?
The story of suspected terrorists arrested for the Marriott hotel
bombing
in Jakarta is of legitimate interest, but there's a lot less follow-up
when
suspected Basque terrorists are arrested in Spain, or when a resurgent
Sendero Luminoso blows something up in Peru. The BBC is not
anti-Muslim,
but it is responding to a definition of international news that makes
'violent Muslims' more newsworthy than violent people in other places.
It is largely a Western definition, following an agenda set mainly by
the
dominant U.S. media. It is rooted in Western perspectives on the
long-running Arab-Israeli conflict, and has been vastly strengthened by
the
Islamist terrorist attack on the United States two years ago. It is
also a
huge, steaming heap of horse-feathers…
For the past month I have been wandering around the Middle East with
eight
other members of my extended family. For some, it was their first time
in
the region; others of us have lived here or visited often enough to be
able
to lead everybody astray. And we gave less thought to our personal
safety
-- and much less to petty theft -- than we would have done on a
comparable
trip across America, or even through Europe.
I won't go on about how kind and friendly most of the people we met
were,
because most people are like that everywhere. I would point out that
every
single person I discussed current events with was against the American
invasion in Iraq, but that I nevertheless encountered no personal
hostility
although I am easily mistaken for an American. (Would an Arab doing a
similar trip around America have the same experience?)
If Iraq gets completely out of hand, the patience and tolerance that
still
prevail at street level in the Muslim Middle East will be severely
eroded,
and even Asian Muslim countries may end up taking sides against the
U.S.
and Britain.
But for the moment Samuel Huntington's nightmare vision of a coming
'clash
of civilizations' is still a long way off, and the most striking thing
is
the sheer ordinariness of daily life in the Muslim world. Don't be
misled
by television.
Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist.
ALSO SEE:
EXPERTS EXHUME 150 BODIES FROM LARGEST MASS GRAVE IN BOSNIA
Alexander S. Dragicevic, Associated Press, 8/20/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/08/20/international0902EDT0517.DTL
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina- Experts have found the remains of 150
victims
of the Bosnian war in the country's largest mass grave uncovered so far
and
the total is expected to climb to 700, officials said Wednesday.
The mass-grave site, the size of a tennis court, was opened last month
on
Crni Vrh hill, close to the border with Serbia, some 80 kilometers (50
miles) northeast of the capital of Sarajevo.
Judging by documents and clothing found in the grave so far, the
remains
are those of Muslims killed by Bosnian Serb soldiers in and around the
eastern town of Zvornik between April and June 1992. Most are
civilians.
Murat Hurtic, the head of a local branch of the Muslim Commission for
Missing Persons, said some of the victims were reburied after being
unearthed from elsewhere, including three mass graves in nearby
Zvornik.
Two months ago, following tips from eyewitnesses and survivors,
forensic
experts opened those graves on the edge of a cemetery, only to find
them
empty. Parts of clothes and a few scattered bones showed where hundreds
of
bodies had been buried but had since disappeared…
---
PROJECT SEEKS TO REDUCE PREJUDICE AGAINST MUSLIMS
Abe Levy, Wichita Eagle, 8/20/03
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/6572797.htm
Inter-Faith Ministries and the Muslim Public Affairs Council have begun
a
new initiative to reduce bias against Muslims and promote
interreligious
understanding.
The "More Alike Than Different Project," is funded by a $91,000 grant
by
the ChevronTexaco Foundation, in cooperation with the National
Conference
for Community and Justice.
Trained speakers will make multimedia presentations about Islam
beginning
Thursday for Wichita public school employees and continuing through
January
31 for a variety of area agencies and community groups.
For more information or to schedule a speaker for any organization,
call
Karole Bradford at 264-9303 or Donna Sibaai at 461-5306.
-----
MAGNET FOR EVIL
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 8/20/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/20/opinion/20DOWD.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush team has now created the very monster that it
conjured up to alarm Americans into backing a war on Iraq.
Rushing to pummel Iraq after 9/11, Bush officials ginned up links
between
Saddam and Al Qaeda. They made it sound as if Islamic fighters on a
jihad
against America were slouching toward Baghdad to join forces with
murderous
Iraqis.
There was scant evidence of it then, but it's coming true now.
Since America began its occupation, Iraq has become the mecca for every
angry, hate-crazed Arab extremist who wants to liberate the Middle East
from the "despoiling" grasp of the infidels…
The administration's optimism was exposed as a fantasy when the two
efforts
it holds most dear - the reconstruction and democratization of Iraq,
and
advancing the Palestinian-Israeli peace process - both went up in smoke
yesterday, literally…
ALSO SEE:
MASS GRAVES TO REVEAL IRAQ WAR TOLL
Jamie Wilson, Guardian, 8/19/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1021466,00.html
The task of identifying thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians who
died
during this year's war has begun with the exhumation of a mass grave at
one
of Saddam Hussein's former palaces in Baghdad.
The Iraqi Red Crescent, the Islamic version of the Red Cross, which is
coordinating the exhumations, said 45 bodies had been recovered since
the
palace beside the Tigris river, now used as the coalition headquarters.
Nobody knows exactly how many Iraqis died in the war, but an
Anglo-American
research group, the Iraq Body Count, has estimated the number of
civilian
fatalities at between 6,000 and 7,800. The number of military
casualties is
between 10,000 and 45,000…
-----
FOR AIPAC, CONGRESSIONAL TRIPS ARE EFFECTIVE WAY TO BOOST ISRAEL
Matthew E. Berger, JTA, 8/19/03
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=AIPAC+ups+congressional+Israel+trips&intcategoryid=3
WASHINGTON - The next time Rep. Jim Langevin steps into the U.S. House
of
Representatives to vote on a matter concerning Israel, no background
briefing will be as valuable as what he experienced earlier this month.
Visiting Israeli towns that border the West Bank, the second-term
Democrat
from Rhode Island said he saw for himself how the controversial
security
fence Israel is building will prevent suicide bombers and other
terrorists
from entering Israel, making the country safer.
The trip gave him a new appreciation of Israel's commitment to putting
security first and foremost, he said.
"It gave me a better understanding of why things like the fence are
necessary - and a rational response to the terrorist threats Israel
faces,"
Langevin told JTA.
Even without the visit, he probably would have voted for pro-Israel
measures, Langevin said, but now he is more sympathetic to Israel's
plight.
"I will forever feel a closeness to Israel, having been there and seen
the
challenges they face on a day-to-day basis," he said.
That's just what the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the main
pro-Israel lobby in Washington, likes to hear…
-----
EX-PRISONERS ALLEGE RIGHTS ABUSES BY U.S. MILITARY
Tania Branigan, Washington Post, 8/19/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11440-2003Aug18.html
Prisoners released from the military camps at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba
and
Bagram air base in Afghanistan have said in a series of interviews with
Amnesty International that they were subjected to human rights abuses.
The accounts, which provide some of the most detailed information so
far on
alleged violations, include claims that people were forcibly injected,
denied sleep and forced to stand or kneel for hours in painful
positions.
These charges are included in a new report from the human rights
organization, which is reviewing 23 months of U.S. actions in the war
on
terror.
Sean McCormack, spokesman for the National Security Council, declined
to
comment yesterday, saying he had not seen the report. NSC spokesmen
have
challenged previous claims of ill treatment, saying that the United
States
treats enemy combatants humanely.
About 700 prisoners have been kept at Guantanamo Bay, most captured in
Afghanistan after the war in 2001. About 60 men have since been
released.
Many had been transferred there through the base at Bagram, north of
Kabul,
which still holds an unknown number of prisoners. The United States has
designated the prisoners "enemy combatants" and has refused them access
to
lawyers or relatives…
-----
THIRD CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY TRAINING FOCUSING ON MEDIA ACTIVISM
WHAT: Building Professional Relations with the Media, Don Wycliff,
Public
Editor, Chicago Tribune; Writing Press Releases and Letters to Editor,
Thom
Clark, President, Community Media Workshop
Interviewing Skills, Developing Talking Points and How to Become a
Better
Spokesperson Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald
Major Civil Rights Issues Faced by Muslims in United States, Dr. Seema
Imam, Vice-chair, Muslim Civil Rights Center
WHEN: Saturday August 23, 2003, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
WHERE: Iqra Foundation, 7450 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, IL 60077
NOTE: www.mcrcnet.org or call 1-866-648-6272 to register.
-----
HAJJ DOCUMENTARY ON DISCOVERY TIMES CHANNEL
In THE HAJJ, The Discovery Times Channel follows five pilgrims as they
prepare for the trek, leaving their modern lives, homes and families to
perform the arduous physical and spiritual journey that every Muslim is
expected to undertake in their lifetime. An all-Muslim crew provides an
insider's look at this incredible and compelling annual event. THE HAJJ
debuts on The Discovery Times Channel on October 20 from 8-10 PM/ET
Wih the backdrop of a war looming in Iraq, THE HAJJ follows five
diverse
Muslims from Britain, Pakistan, Kuwait and the U.S. as they prepare to
depart from their everyday lives and leave their families to
participate in
the 2002 Hajj. Pilgrims literally risk their lives to experience Hajj,
despite precautions and safety measures set into place by the Saudi
government, some die each year from the heat or are crushed by crowds.
THE
HAJJ provides rare access for viewers into this fascinating Muslim-only
event.
The pilgrims featured in the film come from five very different walks
of
life. From an African American banker to a Pakistani magazine editor,
these intriguing characters provide unique insights into what it means
to
experience Hajj. The sheer emotion and spiritual intensity of the
pilgrims
is captured as they join the masses to participate in ancient rituals
such
as stoning the Jamarat, a ritual based on the Prophet Abraham slaying
the
Devil a sheep. The spiritual magnitude of millions of Muslims from
around
the globe joining together to reach the same dream is skillfully
captured
in this U.S. premiere documentary
Artwork is available by registering at www.press.discovery.com. Click
on
U.S., then Discovery Times Channel, Artwork & Photography on the left
hand
side of the page.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/21/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FELICITY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6816 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
- CAIR-NY Annual Banquet: "Empowerment Through Activism"
- CAIR-LA 7TH Annual Banquet Awards Youth Activism
- Free Legal Clinic for Special Registrants
- CAIR Fall Internship Program
* INCITEMENT WATCH: KORAN FOR DUMMIES
* INCITEMENT WATCH: IRAQIS WANT BARBARISM
* INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM IS EVIL
* DANIEL PIPES IS UNACCEPTABLE (Wash. Post)
- E-mail CAIR received From Pipes' Supporter
* USIP FELLOW APOLOGIZES FOR 'PAKI' REMARK (NCPA)
* DEPLORABLE DETENTION (ST. Pete Times)
- Immigrant Awaits Deportation (Post-Dispatch)
* IRAQ: A PRICE TOO HIGH (NY Times)
- Withdraw U.S. Forces (USA Today)
- Bush's Secret War (Guardian)
* THE IMPERIAL BLUSTER OF TOM DELAY (Counterpunch)
- Israel, U.S. Sign Loan Guarantee Accord (AP)
* ELLIS: ISLAM FILLING VOID LEFT BY THE CHURCH (Baptist Press)
* INLAND MUSLIM SUES OVER WEB COMMENTS (Press Enterprise)
- Area Muslim Leader Files Libel Suit (LA Times)
* ISNA CONVENTION BRINGS MUSLIMS TO CHICAGO LABOR DAY WEEKEND
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FELICITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you are given health
and
security from evil in this world and the next, you have attained
felicity."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 781
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6816 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6816 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARY SPONSORSHIPS IN CANADA, PLEASE VISIT
www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR-NY ANNUAL BANQUET: "EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTIVISM"
WHAT: The fundraising event will feature speaker such as John Esposito
and
Yvonne Ridley, a former British journalist for the Sunday Express.
Ridley
is author of the book: "From Captivity to Conversion"
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th, 2003, 5:00 PM �C 10:00 PM
WHERE: THE LAGUARDIA MARRIOTT, 102-05 Ditmars Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY
11369. For directions call: 718-565-8900; Pay online
http://www.cair-ny.com/ab-2003.html
---
CAIR-LA 7TH ANNUAL BANQUET AWARDS YOUTH ACTIVISM
The Council on American-Islamic Relations- Southern California
(CAIR-LA)
wishes to recognize the contribution of high school and college
students
who have volunteered their time and given of their talents, energy and
enthusiasm to enrich our community with the Muslim Youth Activism
Award.
The winners of the Muslim Youth Activism Award will be recognized and
thanked at the CAIR-LA 7th Annual Banquet on October 4, 2003 at the
Anaheim
Convention Center Ballroom. You are invited to nominate one or several
volunteers who you believe are worthy of recognition.
A total of nine youths will be awarded, three persons in each of the
following categories of civic, religious and social. First place will
receive $500, second place will receive $400 and third place will
receive
$250 in each category.
Recognition will be given to Muslim youth who are residents of Southern
California and whose area of achievement has benefited the Muslim
community
in Southern California. Eligible applicants must be students in high
school
or college.
For more information, contact Maryam Dadabhoy, Development & Programs
Coordinator, at maryam@cair.com or 714-776-1847x 225
----
FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR SPECIAL REGISTRANTS
WHAT: Coney Island Ave. Project and the New York office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), in collaboration with City Bar
Association, will hold free clinic for special registrants. Questions
regarding Notice to Appear (NTA) for Special Registration, immigration
relief to stay in US and finding a pro bono attorney will be answered.
Liz
Ouyang will be Supervising Attorney.
WHEN: Thursday August 21st and 28th, 2003 from 5-8 p.m.
WHERE 1117 Coney Island Avenue #1R, Brooklyn NY 11230
For further information please contact: Bobby Khan at (718) 859-0238 or
(917)440-9002; CAIR 212-870-2002.
-----
CAIR FALL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR is seeking applicants for its Fall internship program. The program
is
open to Muslims 18-years and older who have legal status in US to
receive
monthly stipend. This Internship program is specially designed for
College
and University students.
The application deadline for the Fall season has been extended to
September
3, 2003. Interested and qualified applicants should email:
internship@cair-net.org
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: KORAN FOR DUMMIES
POLITICAL CARTOON SMEARS QURAN, MUSLIMS, IRAQIS
http://www.caglecartoons.com/archive.asp?artistID={A7CF8A6C-58D2-4E21-BB51-B32DB03CD89A}/
(Click on "Iraqi Gratitude.")
POLITE COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO: huffaker@rockbridge.net,
cari@cagle.com,
brian@cagle.com COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
INCITEMENT WATCH: IRAQIS WANT BARBARISM
BAGHDAD BOMBING: IT'S WHAT ARABS WANT
Zev Chafets, New York Daily News, 8/19/03
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/110377p-99696c.html
Responding to the terrorist bombing of the United Nations headquarters
in
Baghdad, President Bush remarked that the Iraqi people will have to
make a
choice. Do they want a life governed by Western notions of freedom and
prosperity, or do they prefer barbarism?
The President has said this before. He seems to think it's a rhetorical
question. It is, but not in the way he imagines.
The people of Iraq have made their choice. They want barbarism.
The polite term for this in the Arab world is self-determination. For
many
decades now, Arabs have been given the chance to rule themselves. The
result is almost two dozen impoverished, xenophobic dictatorships.
This is not a condition imposed upon the Arabs. On the contrary, it
expresses their political culture. The great majority regards such rule
as
natural and, in many cases, divinely mandated. There are no Arab
democracies. There are also no significant pro-democracy movements - in
Iraq or anyplace else.
This explains why the "liberation" of Iraq has little support in
Baghdad
and no perceptible effect on wider Arab society. No dictatorial
dominoes
have fallen...
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: voicers@edit.nydailynews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
The Daily News cares what you think! If you wish to express your
opinion on
any topic by submitting a letter to the editor ("Voice of the People")
for
publication, please include your full name, address and phone number.
(This
information will be used for verification purposes only; failure to
include
the information invalidates your request.) The Daily News reserves the
right to edit letters. The shorter the letter, the better the chance it
will be used. Then send your letter to voicers@edit.nydailynews.com.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM IS EVIL
CALL IT EVIL
Alan Caruba, CNSNews.com, 8/21/03
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCommentary.asp?Page=%5CCommentary%5Carchive%5C200308%5CCOM20030821d.html
Islam runs counter to all that we in the twenty-first century
understand
and agree to be civilized behavior. Its treatment of women is
uncivilized.
Its sanction of suicide-bombers is uncivilized. Its taking hostage and
the
killing of diplomats and journalists is uncivilized. The justifications
Islam puts forth undermine all rules of civilized behavior between
nations.
Islam may pass for a religion, but at heart it is a seventh century
warrior
cult built around the worship of Mohammed. Islam not only justifies
killing
"infidels" in the name of Allah it preaches that one can and should do
this
as an act of faith. This is a definition of evil.
POLITE COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO: shogenson@cnsnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
Send your Letters to the Editor, including first name, last initial,
city
and state of residence to CNSNews.com Executive Editor Scott Hogenson.
-----
DANIEL PIPES IS UNACCEPTABLE
Washington Post, 8/21/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23372-2003Aug20.html
Regarding Charles Krauthammer's Aug. 15 column, "The Truth About Daniel
Pipes": As an American Muslim, I have come to accept that Muslim
institutions and individuals will be the focus of law enforcement for
the
immediate future. I might not agree with the profiling of Muslims, but
it
is reality.
But Mr. Pipes goes way beyond that. He has said that 10 percent to 15
percent of all Muslims are "potential killers," has questioned the
loyalty
of all Muslims to this country and has campaigned for greater scrutiny
of
Muslims who work in government and law enforcement.
Mr. Krauthammer may believe that Democrats who oppose Mr. Pipes's
nominations have "surrendered to political correctness," but Mr. Pipes
has
a frightening notion of the way to go about finding peace.
Ali Ayub, Arlington
--
Charles Krauthammer vigorously defended the nomination of Daniel Pipes
to
the U.S. Institute of Peace, attacking a "quartet of craven senators"
and
the "complacent and clueless Middle East academic establishment" who
oppose
the nomination.
Mr. Krauthammer ignored the fact that most of the Muslim organizations
in
the United States, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
also oppose the nomination because of Mr. Pipes's biased and at times
openly Islamophobic statements.
Mr. Pipes's appointment to the board would undermine the reputation of
the
U.S. Institute of Peace as an independent research institution
dedicated to
management, prevention and resolution of conflicts worldwide.
Alexander Melikishvili, Washington
---
E-MAIL CAIR RECEIVED FROM SUPPORTERS OF DANIEL PIPES
1) Finally a President that is willing to stand up to the evils of
Islam
and support Daniel Pipes. islam is an evil religion. (Note I even
refuse
the courtesy of capitalize the word)...islam is a sick and violent
religion. We are at war with islam and finally someone who is willing
to
say it. Thank you President Bush and thank you Daniel Pipes…
2) Sounds to me like Mr. Pipes is the right man for the job. You have a
choice if you do not like it.........just move away and do not return.
3) No Fifth Columns in America!! LOVE LIVE PIPES!
4) PIPES WAS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF
TERRORISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-----
USIP FELLOW APOLOGIZES FOR 'PAKI' REMARK
www.ncpa.info, 8/20/03
WASHINGTON, DC- In response to an NCPA call for apologies for a
derogatory
anti-Pakistani remark, MSNBC TV commentator, Dr. Amatzia Baram,
apologized
for using the expression "Pakis" on the Hardball show, hosted by Chris
Matthews.
In a letter written to NCPA, Dr. Baram, a fellow at the US Institute of
Peace, said: "I certainly apologize for the use in my Hardball
interview of
an expression I now understand you find offensive. I also want to
express
my deep dismay."
On Tuesday, August 19th, Dr. Baram, while discussing on the show the
situation in Iraq has said the following: "These guys are not Iraqis.
They
are Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians, Afghans, Pakis, they are
Egyptians,
some Saudis."
The National Council of Pakistani Americans sent a national alert and
press
release asking for an apology and asking the members to register their
protest with the USIP and the Hardball show. The press release
(www.ncpa.info) received a wide coverage both in Pakistani and US
media.
"We sincerely accept Dr. Baram's prompt response to our call. We
understand
that the meaning of the slur is not widely known in the US, and hope
that
its use can now be avoided due to NCPA's activism,"
said Faiz Rehman, President of the NCPA, a Washington-based civil
rights
and public education group...
ALSO SEE:
To: NCPA
From: Dr. Amatzia Baram, US Institute of Peace
Dear Sirs,
I certainly apologize for the use in my Hardball interview of an
expression
I now understand you find offensive. I also want to express my deep
dismay. I am not an American, and unfortunately I have never been to
Pakistan. I was unaware that this expression is being seen here, or in
Pakistan, as derogatory language. I certainly had no intention, in any
way
whatsoever, to ridicule or offend Pakistan or the people of Pakistan.
Far
from it: I admire Pakistan as a great nation and I wish it the best. I
fully agree that Pakistan, its people and government, have been pivotal
in
the struggle against terrorism, and I believe that they deserve all the
respect and gratitude for that. For many years now I wanted to visit
Pakistan, but as an Israeli national I was prevented from doing this.
I
hope that within a few years, when an Israeli-Palestinian peaceful
settlement is achieved, such a visit will be possible. Again, I wish
you
all the best, and regret my mistake. Neither Mr. Chris Matthews nor the
US
Institute of Peace should in any way be held responsible: I take full
responsibility.
Sincerely Yours
Dr. Amatzia Baram
-----
DEPLORABLE DETENTION
St. Petersburg Times, 8/20/03
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/20/Opinion/Deplorable_detention.shtml
Sami Al-Arian is a thoroughly unsympathetic character, and federal
authorities have presented substantial evidence linking him to Mideast
terrorism. We hold no brief for Al-Arian, but under our system of
justice
he is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to due process -
nothing
more, nothing less.
Al-Arian's trial on terrorism charges is still 18 months away.
Meanwhile,
the former University of South Florida professor is being held in
conditions usually reserved for criminal monsters. If this punishing
confinement is an effort by the federal government to wear down
Al-Arian
physically and mentally so he doesn't have the capability to mount a
defense, it is a deplorable tactic. Al-Arian's case will be watched by
the
Muslim world, and he should be tried through a fair process that leaves
no
doubt that justice was done.
Al-Arian is being held without bond at Coleman Correctional Facility in
Sumter County on charges that he provided key support to the Middle
Eastern
terror group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has been linked to
more
than 100 deaths. He is being held in the Special Housing Unit of the
prison, a place for violent and uncontrollable convicts, in a
windowless
7-by-13-foot cell that he shares with another inmate. Al-Arian has been
denied a watch or clock and the artificial light in his cell is always
on.
Recreation consists of one hour, five days a week, when Al-Arian may
walk
around another steel cage...
ALSO SEE:
IMMIGRANT AWAITS DEPORTATION, WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG?
Phillip O'Connor, Post-Dispatch, 8/20/03
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/1CBA76A2855CBA4886256D890016D11B
Walid Ghounem shakes his head in disbelief as he reviews the mistakes,
miscues and misunderstandings that any day now will force him to live a
half-world away from his wife and three small children.
The lawyer who took advantage of him shortly after he arrived in New
York
from Egypt nine years ago.
The misplaced paperwork that might have aided his hopes of becoming a
permanent U.S. resident.
The immigration officials who seem indifferent to his plight even
though an
appeals court has yet to rule on his plea to stay in America.
"I just want a fair hearing," said Ghounem (pronounced go-neem). "I
need my
life back..."
-----
IRAQ: A PRICE TOO HIGH
Bob Herbert, NY Times, 8/21/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/21/opinion/21HERB.html
How long is it going to take for us to recognize that the war we so
foolishly started in Iraq is a fiasco - tragic, deeply dehumanizing and
ultimately unwinnable? How much time and how much money and how many
wasted
lives is it going to take?
At the United Nations yesterday, grieving diplomats spoke bitterly, but
not
for attribution, about the U.S.-led invasion and occupation. They said
it
has not only resulted in the violent deaths of close and highly
respected
colleagues, but has also galvanized the most radical elements of
Islam...
The American people still do not have a clear understanding of why we
are
in Iraq. And the troops don't have a clear understanding of their
mission.
We're fighting a guerrilla war, which the bright lights at the Pentagon
never saw coming, with conventional forces.
Under these circumstances, in which the enemy might be anybody,
anywhere,
tragedies like the killing of Mazen Dana are all but inevitable. Mr.
Dana
was the veteran Reuters cameraman who was blown away by jittery U.S.
troops
on Sunday. The troops apparently thought his video camera was a
rocket-propelled grenade launcher...
ALSO SEE:
WITHDRAW U.S. FORCES
Richard E. Rubenstein, USA Today, 8/20/03
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030820/cm_usatoday/11644726&cid=679&ncid=1501
Question: When is a conquering army a liberator rather than an
occupier?
Answer: When it leaves the conquered country and lets the local people
decide their own fate.
During the past five months, Iraq has turned into a tar-paper trap
worthy
of Br'er Rabbit. The more we try to win the war against anti-American
and
anti-British guerrillas there, the more we become stuck in a no-win
situation.
Violent attacks against the occupying troops, their allies and their
Iraqi
collaborators have taken place at the rate of approximately 13 assaults
per
day, and the pace is stepping up. Unfortunately, the measures adopted
by
U.S. forces to combat the resisters are virtually guaranteed to expand
and
strengthen the resistance movement.
Mass sweeps and arrests, the establishment of detention camps, harsh
questioning (if not torture) of suspects to extract information,
nullification of ordinary court procedures, hair-trigger responses to
apparent threats and postponement of political reforms. Measures such
as
these are certain to enrage a people who are already hostile to foreign
occupation.
The predictable results are an increase in guerrilla recruits,
intensified
repression by occupation forces and an ever-escalating spiral of
violence...
---
BUSH'S SECRET WAR: HOW FIVE MUSLIMS IN MALAWI WERE SPIRITED AWAY IN THE
NIGHT
Rory Carroll, Guardian, 8/21/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1026199,00.html
When security agents took away her husband in the middle of the night
they
did not tell Ellah Ulusam that Washington had just opened a new front
in
its war against terror. They said he would be back the next day. Arif
Ulusam vanished along with four other Muslim men, all arrested at home,
handcuffed and bundled into a car for a bizarre odyssey which has not
yet
ended.
This is a part of George Bush's war which does not make it on to
television
news, for it is waged on a front so remote few know it exists. In less
eventful times what happened would be considered extraordinary. As it
is,
their story has been barely reported.
On June 22 Malawi security agents seized five men in Limbe, outside
Malawi's commercial capital Blantyre, and spirited them out of the
country
on suspicion of belonging to al-Qaida, earning praise from the US
ambassador.
Relatives were distraught. "Taking Arif away was a big loss to me. I
was
stranded. I didn't know what was going on," says Ellah, 27, cradling
her
daughter Kardelen, not yet three. "Kardelen misses her father so much,
she
puts on his shoes, kisses his shirts..."
-----
THE IMPERIAL BLUSTER OF TOM DELAY
Edward Said, Professor at Columbia University, 8/20/03
http://www.counterpunch.org/said08202003.html
During the last days of July, Representative Tom Delay (Republican) of
Texas, the House majority leader and described routinely as one of the
three or four most powerful men in Washington, delivered himself of his
opinions regarding the roadmap and the future of peace in the Middle
East.
What he had to say was meant as an announcement for a trip he
subsequently
took to Israel and several Arab countries where, it is reported, he
articulated the same message. In no uncertain terms, Delay declared
himself
opposed to the Bush Administration's support for the roadmap,
especially
the provision in it for a Palestinian state...
The sheer number of people in the southwestern United States who think
like
Delay is an imposing 60-70 million and, it should be noted, included
among
them is none other than George W. Bush, who is also an inspired
born-again
Christian for whom everything in the Bible is meant to be taken
literally...
Thus, were Delay's pronouncements simply to have been either the
personal
opinions of a religious enthusiast or the dreamlike ramblings of an
inconsequential visionary, one could dismiss them quickly as nonsense.
But
in fact, they represent a language of power that is not easily opposed
in
America, where so many citizens believe themselves to be guided
directly by
God in what they see and believe, and sometimes do...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL, U.S. SIGN LOAN GUARANTEE ACCORD
Peter Enav, Associated Press, 8/21/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6584491.htm
JERUSALEM - Israel and the U.S. have signed a $9 billion dollar loan
guarantee agreement clouded by Israeli plans for a security barrier
cutting
deep into the West Bank, a Finance Ministry official said Thursday.
U.S. officials said last month they were considering reducing the loan
guarantees by the same amount Israel spends on any sections of the
disputed, partially built barrier that extend beyond the so-called
``Green
Line'' marking Israel's eastern border.
Israeli officials and representatives of the U.S. Agency for
International
Development signed the agreement Wednesday, Israel's Deputy Accountant
General Eldad Fresher said.
He said the agreement ``requires Israel to report to the U.S. on the
expenditures it makes over the Green Line and defines how they will be
dealt with.'' He declined to say whether that meant that every dollar
spent
on the security barrier beyond Israel's border would be subtracted from
the
value of the loan deal.
-------
ELLIS: ISLAM FILLING VOID LEFT BY THE CHURCH
Rob Phillips, Baptist Press, 8/20/03
http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=16523
RIDGECREST, N.C. -Islam is rising in America, not because of its
strength,
but because of the retreat of the church, and if the religion founded
by
Muhammad 1,400 years ago continues to grow at its current rate, there
will
be more Muslims than Christians in every major U.S. city by 2020.
The observations were voiced by Islam expert Carl Ellis during the Aug.
15-17 National Conference on Islam cosponsored by LifeWay Christian
Resources and the North American Mission Board's interfaith evangelism
team
at LifeWay's Ridgecrest (N.C.) Conference Center.
Ellis is co-founder of Project Joseph, an effort to educate the church
about contemporary issues. An expert on Islam who travels around the
world
and speaks extensively on the subject, he was among the conference's
featured speakers.
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, with 1.2 billion
devotees, with Ellis reporting its growth at 2.75 percent per year. By
some
accounts, Muslims will overtake the current 1.8 billion Christians by
2020.
In America, where there are an estimated 7 million followers, Islam is
growing at a 6 percent annual rate. White Americans are the
fastest-growing
segment of U.S. Islam, and 80-85 percent of all U.S. Muslims consider
themselves former Christians. If present trends continue, every major
U.S.
city will be predominantly Muslim by 2020, Ellis warned...
-----
INLAND MUSLIM SUES OVER WEB COMMENTS
Sharyn Obsatz, Press- Enterprise, 8/21/03
http://www.pe.com/localnews/corona/stories/PE_NEWS_ncmuslm21.f24a.html
A Muslim activist from Corona filed a defamation lawsuit this week
against
a conservative publication and a former California Republican Party
chairman.
Hussam Ayloush accuses Shawn Steel of writing a column for National
Review
Online that falsely portrayed Ayloush as anti-Semitic. Ayloush said in
a
phone interview that he works regularly with Jews and Christians as
part of
his job as executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations'
Southern California office.
Steel is in Alaska and declined to comment until he sees the lawsuit.
National Review Publisher Edward Capano said Wednesday that he would
comment only after being served with the lawsuit by Ayloush's attorney.
Ayloush's lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court,
alleges
libel, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional
distress. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
"I think somebody needs to learn a lesson that it's not fair to
demonize
Muslims or someone you disagree with politically . . . No one accepts
being
called anti-Semitic or a racist when they're not," said Ayloush, who
sued
as an individual, not on behalf of his organization...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations earlier this year had urged
California Republican Party leaders to repudiate comments Steel made
about
Islam at two pro-war rallies.
In his guest commentary, Steel wrote that his comments were misquoted,
making it appear that he was talking about "the disease of Islam"
instead
of an intolerant cancer growing "within Islam."
ALSO SEE:
AREA MUSLIM LEADER FILES LIBEL SUIT AGAINST MAGAZINE AND GOP FIGURE
H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times, 8/21/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-libel21aug21,1,4375915.story
A Southern California Muslim leader has sued the National Review
magazine
and a former chairman of the California Republican Party for
defamation,
alleging that they falsely suggested in a commentary that he endorsed
anti-Semitic views.
Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California chapter
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Shawn Steel defamed him
in
a June 19 commentary that appeared on the magazine's Web site. Steel
wrote
that Ayloush co-hosted an event in May 1998 attended by a militant
Egyptian
leader who, he said, harbors anti-Semitic views.
Ayloush said he did not co-host the event and did not meet the
Egyptian,
Wagdi Ghunaym, until this year. In the lawsuit, Ayloush said Steel's
commentary implied that he associates with racists and endorses
anti-Semitism...
-----
ISNA CONVENTION BRINGS THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS TO CHICAGO
WHAT: The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Council of
Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIO) will once again join
hands
to host the 40th Annual ISNA Convention, an event renowned as an ideal
forum for constructive dialogue and understanding of social, religious,
political and business issues relevant to America's expanding Muslim
population. Over 35,000 Muslims will convene at the McCormick Place
Convention Center from Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1,
2003
to enrich their faith and Islamic knowledge, celebrate their diverse
Islamic identities, enjoy multi-cultural activities, great ethnic food
and
browse through the colorful bazaar.
Notable scholars and personalities scheduled to speak at the convention
include: Yusuf Islam (former rock singer Cat Stevens); Sheikh Nur
Abdullah,
ISNA President and Director of the Islamic Foundation of Greater
Missouri;
Dr. Ingrid Mattson, ISNA Vice-President & Professor of Islamic Studies
at
the Hartford Seminary; Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, founder of the Zaytuna
Institute
in Hayward, California; Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Masjid Al-Taqwa, Brooklyn;
Jamal Badawi, Professor at St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia; and
Abdul
Hakim Jackson, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the
University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Convention highlights include: 1] the Sixth Annual ISNA Inter-faith
Unity
Banquet (Friday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m.) where prominent religious and
civic leaders will come together to renew their bonds and forge a path
of
unity for the future; 2] the first ever Open Islamic Art Exhibit
featuring
a wide spectrum of displays from gifted Muslim artists including
paintings, sketches and calligraphy; and 3] the Second Annual ISNA Film
Festival featuring over 20 films, including features, short subjects,
documentaries and animated films covering a range of contemporary
Muslim
perspectives.
For details, Press Passes & interviews contact Farhan Younus, Ph.
630-926-5566, fyounus@ciogc.org or Lara Suleiman, Ph. 630-661-7545,
lsuleiman@ciogc.org - or visit www.isna.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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS - 8/22/03
PRESIDENT TO APPOINT DANIEL PIPES TODAY
PIPES TO BE NAMED TO THINK TANK
Controversial Mideast Scholar Will Be Recess Appointment
Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 8/22/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28713-2003Aug21.html
President Bush will sidestep congressional opposition by making a
recess
appointment today of a controversial Middle East scholar, Daniel Pipes,
to
the board of directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an
administration
official said.
Although the position is largely honorary, Muslim organizations and
some
Jewish groups have campaigned vigorously since April against Pipes's
nomination to the federally funded foreign policy think tank, which has
70
staff and 15 board members.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil
rights
group, said Pipes is "known for his hostility to Muslims," and called
the
appointment "a backdoor move" that is "an affront to all those who seek
peace."
A Harvard-trained author and lecturer, Pipes, 53, heads the Middle East
Forum, an independent think tank in Philadelphia. He also founded
Campus
Watch, a group dedicated to combating what it sees as pro-Palestinian,
anti-Israeli bias on university campuses…
At a July 23 meeting on the nomination, Democrats on the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee questioned what signal Pipes's
appointment would send. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said Pipes's
record did not "reflect a commitment to bridging differences and
preventing
conflict," and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said the controversy could
"overshadow" the institute's work.
By making the appointment while Congress is in recess, Bush avoids a
confirmation vote. But instead of serving the usual four years, Pipes
will
serve the remaining 18 months of an unexpired term.
-----
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL. Calls
are
best, followed by faxes and then e-mails.)
Contact President Bush to express your concerns about his recess
appointment of Daniel Pipes to the board of the United States Institute
of
Peace.
CONTACT:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
TEL: 202-456-1414
COMMENT LINE: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
COPY TO: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov, senator@kennedy.senate.gov,
cair@cair-net.org
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS DECLARE 'MORAL VICTORY' IN PIPES APPOINTMENT
Move shows lack of support for nominee, led to formation of coalitions
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/22/03) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group is declaring a "moral victory" in the fight to prevent
Daniel Pipes from being appointed to the board of the United States
Institute of Peace (USIP). According to media reports, President Bush
will
today bypass the Senate confirmation process and issue a recess
appointment
for Pipes, who is regarded by many Muslims as the nation's leading
Islamophobe.
SEE: PIPES TO BE NAMED TO THINK TANK
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28713-2003Aug21.html
In a statement released this morning, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) said:
"While a defeat for democracy, the president's backdoor appointment of
Daniel Pipes is a moral victory for the tens of thousands of American
Muslims, Arab-Americans, Christians, Jews, and civil rights activists
who
contacted the White House and the Senate since the nomination was
announced
in April.
"By issuing this recess appointment, the president acknowledges that
Pipes'
nomination would have been turned down by the Senate, despite that
body's
Republican majority. Without being approved by the Senate, Pipes will
serve
just 18 months of what would have been a four-year term.
"The campaign to defeat Pipes' nomination and to expose his bigoted
views
also showed the Muslim and Arab-American communities that there are
those
in Congress who will stand up for what is right, despite tremendous
political pressure to remain silent. At a July 23 Senate committee
meeting
on Pipes' nomination, Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Christopher Dodd
(D-CT)
and Tom Harkin (D-IA) all opposed the appointment. Sen. Harkin, who was
involved in the formation of the USIP, spoke at length about Pipes'
statements warning of the 'dangers' posed by the enfranchisement of
American Muslims and his 'dossiers' on academic critics of Israeli
policies.
"Perhaps the most positive by-product of the campaign was the creation
of a
broad coalition of religious, ethnic, and civil liberties groups that
will
last long after Pipes takes his seat on the USIP board."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/22/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T GO TO EXTREMES
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6827 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CAIR-FL REP. SELECTED FOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
* INJUSTICE IN GUANTANAMO (NY Times)
- Bush's Personal Rule of Law (Wash. Times)
- Guantanamo Suicide Attempts Rise to 31 (AP)
- Camp Delta Justice Urged (Guardian)
* FBI WON'T GIVE FILE TO DOC CLEARED OF TERROR TIES (Post-Gazette)
- For Some Muslims, Life after 9/11 is Worse (Time-Record)
- Detainee Abruptly Deported (Post-Dispatch)
- She Fights on Liberty's Front Lines (CC Times)
* LOTS OF WORK FOR SETTLEMENT 'SPY' (CSM)
* AUSTRALIA 'SEXED UP' IRAQ WMD RISK (CNN)
- Kelly: 'I'll be Found Dead in the Woods'(Guardian)
* PATRIOT ACT II RESURRECTED? (Wired News)
- Santa Clara Opposes Patriot Act (Daily Stanford)
* THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN ISLAM (Gulf News)
* MUSLIMS IN TEXAS PARTICIPATE IN FIELD GLEANING
* SALT LAKE AMERICAN MUSLIM CULTURAL FESTIVAL
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T GO TO EXTREMES
A group of three men once asked how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) worshipped. When they were told of the Prophet's religious
practices,
they began to view their own worship as insufficient. One of them said:
"I
will offer prayers throughout the night forever." The other said: "I
will
fast throughout the year and will not break my fast." The third said:
"I
will keep away from women and will not marry forever." The Prophet came
to
them and said: "I am more submissive to God and more afraid of
(displeasing) Him than you (are); yet I fast and break my fast, I sleep
and
I also marry women. So he who does not keep to my (moderate) tradition
in
religion, is (not one of my followers)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 1
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6827 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6827 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARY SPONSORSHIPS IN CANADA, PLEASE VISIT
www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-FL REP. SELECTED FOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Altaf Ali, executive director of CAIR-FL, has been selected to
participate
in the Leadership Broward Class XXII (2003-2004) program year. The
Leadership Broward Foundation Selection Committee chose 58 individuals
whose applications demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedicated
community
involvement and solid understanding of the issues facing Broward
County.
Throughout the program year, participants will hear from local experts
about a variety of community issues, participate in the development of
solutions for the community in a project group and develop leadership
skills through a unique and dynamic concept called Servant Leadership.
In
addition, participants will have the opportunity to network and
establish
relationships with Broward County's decision-makers and leaders.
Ali, Executive Director of CAIR-FL, was nominated to the Leadership
Broward
Program by Dr. Carol Spring, Executive Director of NCCJ, Broward
Chapter.
-----
INJUSTICE IN GUANTANAMO
New York Times, 8/22/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/22/opinion/22FRI2.html
As the prisoners in Guant�namo approach their second anniversary in
captivity, the Bush administration is finally talking about bringing
them
to trial. The delay in holding trials, and releasing the innocent, is
unacceptable. So are the rules the administration has outlined for
conducting their trials. The Defense Department should heed the calls
of
respected voices in the legal community, including that of the American
Bar
Association, and develop fairer procedures.
The detainees held in Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, on suspicion of involvement
in
terrorism have been in custody so long it may seem that they have been
found guilty of something. But the detainees, most of them captured in
the
Afghanistan war, have not had trials, and it is not clear when they
will.
Relatives and human rights groups say many were simply in the wrong
place
at the wrong time, or were picked up based on bad intelligence.
The administration has indicated that it intends to start putting the
detainees before military tribunals soon. The procedures that have been
adopted for these proceedings are unfair. The trials themselves may be
held
in secret, and lawyers can be prevented from speaking publicly about
the
proceedings. Secret trials make it impossible for the outside world to
determine whether justice is being done...
ALSO SEE:
BUSH'S PERSONAL RULE OF LAW
Nat Hentoff, Washington Times, 8/18/03
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20030817-105446-3423r.htm
Immediately after Tony Blair's soaring speech to Congress on July 17,
the
prime minister and the president were asked at a press conference about
a
rift between the two countries concerning whether two captured British
citizens, imprisoned at Guantanamo, would be getting a fair trial under
the
prospective military tribunals at that American base. President Bush
noted
that he and Mr. Blair would address that issue, but then the president
said, without qualification: "The only thing I know for certain is that
these are bad people."
The president of the United States was, in effect, publicly prejudging
the
guilt of these defendants. It was like the trial in "Alice in
Wonderland"
when the Queen of Hearts insisted: "Sentence first - verdict
afterwards."
It was not surprising that the president discarded the presumption of
innocence. After all, he alone on his authority has already designated
two
American citizens "enemy combatants," sending them to military brigs on
American soil indefinitely - without charges, without access to a
lawyer or
to anyone but their prison guards....
---
GUANTANAMO SUICIDE ATTEMPTS RISE TO 31
Associated Press, 8/20/03
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030820/APA/308201065
Another terrorism suspect at the Pentagon's prison in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba,
has tried to kill himself, the second such attempt in as many weeks.
This week's suicide attempt was the 31st since the high-security prison
opened in January 2002, Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Burfeind
said Wednesday. She said the suicide attempt happened in the last few
days
but could not be more specific.
Twenty prisoners have tried to kill themselves, some more than once.
None
have so far succeeded.
Most attempts occurred this year, which officials and critics alike
have
attributed to the effects of indefinite detentions on prisoner morale.
Some
of the prisoners have been held for more than a 18 months without
charges,
access to lawyers or indications of whether or when they may be
freed...
---
CAMP DELTA JUSTICE URGED
Mark Oliver, Guardian, 8/21/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1026262,00.html
The heads of 10 leading law bodies around the world call on the US
today to
give a "fair and lawful trial" to prisoners detained at Guantanamo Bay
and
be a "beacon of justice in an unjust world".
In a letter to the Guardian, law society chairmen and presidents,
including
those from Britain, France, Sweden, Australia and Canada, express
misgivings about the US plan to put foreign prisoners held at Camp
Delta in
Cuba before partially secret military tribunals without juries.
Human rights groups have voiced concern about the treatment and fate of
the
650 or so prisoners, who include nine Britons, seized during the war in
Afghanistan and accused of being members of the Taliban or al-Qaida.
Today's letter says: "As leaders of the legal professions in our
respective
countries, we wish to make public our concerns at the treatment of the
non-US 'enemy combatants' detained by the US authorities. We strongly
believe that there are now only two legally acceptable courses of
action
open to the US authorities.
Either the US government must return the detainees to their own home
countries where they can be tried under their own national laws, or
they
should be tried in a US civilian court with full guarantees for a fair
trial..."
-----
FBI WON'T GIVE FILE TO DOCTOR CLEARED OF TERRORIST TIES
Torsten Ove, Post-Gazette, 8/21/03
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03233/213412.stm
An FBI file on an Egyptian-born radiologist initially suspected of
having
terrorist ties and later cleared will not be turned over to his lawyer
as
part of a civil suit because it contains "classified information" about
the
attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
U.S. Magistrate Francis Caiazza quashed a subpoena this week from a
lawyer
demanding the government release the file on his client, Dr. Basem
Moustafa
Hussein, who most recently was living in Coraopolis.
On Sept. 11, 2001, FBI agents searched Hussein's apartment near New
Castle
after his landlord said she saw "suspicious" items there.
Authorities exonerated Hussein a few weeks later, but he sued the
landlord.
As part of that lawsuit, his lawyer, Craig Fishman, wanted the FBI to
hand
over its files on the investigation, but the agency refused.
In court papers, the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh and the FBI
said
the file would reveal secret information, including the identity of a
"confidential source..."
ALSO SEE:
FOR SOME MUSLIMS, LIFE AFTER SEPT. 11 IS MUCH WORSE
Jessica Wehrman, Times Record News, 8/20/03
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/nw_national/article/0,1891,TRN_5703_2195949,00.html
Two years after Sept. 11, most Americans no longer look to the sky in
fear
when airplanes fly overhead. They remember the day as a surreal
nightmare.
For some of the estimated 7 million Muslims in America, however, the
nightmare continues. Here are two of their stories...
Asif Iqbal does not want to highjack an airplane. He just wants to
board
one without hassle.
But Iqbal, a Pakistani who has lived in the United States since 1994,
has a
post-Sept. 11 problem. His name is on the Transportation Security
Administration's "No-Fly List." When the software consultant and ardent
Texas Longhorn fan tries to board a plane, he usually is stopped,
suspected
of being a Middle East terrorist...
On March 19, the day the war in Iraq started, police raided
Abdul-Wahab's
house in Richmond, Va., with rifles and automatic weapons drawn.
They handcuffed him and his pregnant wife, as well as his elderly aunt,
while their four children watched, crying. Police searched the house
looking for documents related to his car dealership, at one point
asking if
a fragrant bag of Turkish coffee was opium, he said. At another point,
he
said, they asked him where he kept the drugs. Thinking they were
talking
about prescription medicine for his children, he told them the
refrigerator...
---
DETAINEE ABRUPTLY DEPORTED
Eyana Adah McMillan and Wendi Himmelright, Post-Dispatch News, 8/20/03
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/Stories/0,1413,138~10021~1581390,00.html
Rose Lami is frantically looking for her father, Munir Lami.
She last heard from him Friday afternoon, when the 54-year-old
Palestinian,
who is blind, called from the York County Prison to say he had been
asked
to sign release papers and was a free man.
But before she could drive out from Philadelphia, Lami learned from an
immigrants-rights advocate that she should stay put.
County prison officials said that Munir Lami was no longer in York. He
had
instead been moved to a Buffalo, N.Y., facility for deportation.
"They actually told him, 'Call your family,' Rose Lami said. "Now we
don't
know what he signed ... He can't see. He's blind. How can he sign a
paper
without his lawyer there?"
Munir Lami now appears to be the most recent example of detainees
deported
without any notice to friends, family or lawyers.
Federal officials say they cannot notify people of upcoming
deportations
because of security concerns. But that's a big problem for immigrants
and
their families, a local activist said...
---
SHE FIGHTS ON LIBERTY'S FRONT LINES
Jack Chang, Contra Costa Times, 8/22/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/crime_courts/6592001.htm
Before Sept. 11, 2001, attorney Banafsheh Akhlaghi split her time
teaching
constitutional law at JFK University in Walnut Creek and setting up a
small
law practice in a Berkeley office.
It was a simple, orderly arrangement that she enjoyed.
Then the planes hit, the government cracked down on thousands of
Muslims
and Middle Easterners, and the now 34-year-old Iranian-born woman's
life
took an unplanned turn into the heart of one of the biggest civil
liberties
battles in decades.
A few days after the attacks, Akhlaghi received a call for help from
the
secretary of a mosque in Folsom whom FBI agents wanted to question.
Such
calls have since multiplied into an avalanche of cases.
Akhlaghi is arguably the most visible and prolific legal soldier on the
front lines defending immigrants, predominantly Muslims and Middle
Easterners, from government attempts to investigate and deport them.
"You need to be where you're needed," Akhlaghi said in her modern, airy
San
Francisco office on a recent morning, while clients waited to talk with
her. "Everything else in my life is pretty much on hold..."
-----
LOTS OF WORK FOR SETTLEMENT 'SPY'
Ben Lynfield, Christian Science Monitor, 8/22/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0822/p06s01-wome.html
GIVAT HA ROEH, WEST BANK - Dror Etkes slows to a near halt on a winding
dirt road deep inside the West Bank, the battlefield of his nonshooting
war
against the Israeli government's settlement drive.
"I wrecked two cars [on rough roads] last week and I don't want to
wreck
another one," explains Israel's only settlement spy, who carries out
his
surveillance on behalf of Israel's dovish Peace Now movement.
Mr. Etkes parks outside the outpost known as Givat Ha Roeh. Outposts
are
settlements considered illegal not only by international law as all
Israeli
settlements in the occupied territories are, but also by Israeli law
since
they never received cabinet authorization.
According to an international peace blueprint, the road map, Givat Ha
Roeh
should have been dismantled, but it is getting bigger. Digging of
foundations into the hill beneath existing trailers is under way, and
pipes
and metal sheeting are spread nearby. Etkes calculates that six new
houses
will be built on the spot, permanent housing for residents of the
trailers.
Using a camera, a plane, and old fashioned sleuthing techniques, Etkes
arguably knows more about the settlements than all but a few
individuals in
the government and the top settler leadership. He documents their daily
expansion, which he says has intensified over the last few months. It
is a
job that makes him a traitor to some right- wingers but popular among
US
diplomats who report home on the settlements...
-----
AUSTRALIA 'SEXED UP' IRAQ WMD RISK
CNN, 8/22/03
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/08/22/australia.iraq.wmd/
CANBERRA, Australia - The heat being generated over Iraq's alleged
weapons
of mass destruction has moved to Australia with a former senior
intelligence officer accusing Canberra of exaggerating the threat posed
by
Saddam Hussein's regime.
Speaking to an inquiry called by the Australian Senate, Andrew Wilkie
said
Friday information in intelligence reports had been distorted by the
prime
minister's office and "sexed up" to suit the government's political
agenda.
Wilkie resigned from Australia's elite Office of National Assessments
(ONA)
in March in protest against the government's alleged misuse of
information
provided by the agency.
The ONA is an elite agency which evaluates intelligence from all
Australian
and allied agencies and passes on that advice to Prime Minister John
Howard's office.
The Howard government has been a staunch supporter of the Bush
administration position on Iraq and contributed troops and military
hardware to the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing..."
ALSO SEE:
KELLY'S CHILLING WORDS: 'I'LL BE FOUND DEAD IN THE WOODS'
Ewen MacAskill, Nicholas Watt and Vikram Dodd, Guardian, 8/22/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/hutton/story/0,13822,1027372,00.html
The weapons specialist, Dr David Kelly, said six months ago that he
would
"probably be found dead in the woods" if the American and British
invasion
of Iraq went ahead, Lord Hutton's inquiry was told yesterday.
His chilling prediction of his own death during a conversation with the
British diplomat David Broucher in Geneva in February, throws new light
on
his state of mind about the row over Britain's role in the Iraq war.
In a startling string of revelations yesterday, Lord Hutton's inquiry
was
told that Dr Kelly:
� confirmed there had been a "robust" debate between Downing Street and
the
intelligence services about the September dossier on weapons of mass
destruction
� expressed scepticism about British claims that Iraq's weapons
capability
could be deployed quickly
� had been in direct contact with senior Iraqi scientists and officials
he
knew, promising them the war could be avoided
� feared he had "betrayed" these contacts and that the invasion had
left
him in a "morally ambiguous" position...
-----
PATRIOT ACT II RESURRECTED?
Ryan Singel, Wired News, 8/21/03
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,60129,00.html
Congress may consider a bill that not only expands the government's
wiretapping and investigative powers but also would link low-level drug
dealing to terrorism and ban a traditional form of Middle Eastern
banking.
The draft legislation -- titled the Vital Interdiction of Criminal
Terrorist Organizations Act of 2003, or Victory Act -- includes
significant
portions of the so-called Patriot Act II, which faced broad opposition
from
conservatives and liberals alike and embarrassed the Justice Department
when it was leaked to the press in February.
The Victory Act also seems to be an attempt to merge the war on
terrorism
and the war on drugs into a single campaign. It includes a raft of
provisions increasing the government's ability to investigate, wiretap,
prosecute and incarcerate money launderers, fugitives,
"narco-terrorists"
and nonviolent drug dealers. The bill also outlaws hawalas, the
informal
and documentless money transferring systems widely used in the Middle
East,
India and parts of Asia...
ALSO SEE:
SANTA CLARA OPPOSES PATRIOT ACT
Brendan Marten, Daily Stanford, 8/21/03
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&repository=0001_article&id=11669#
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution
opposing
the U.S. Patriot Act in a four-to-one vote on Tuesday. By doing so, the
county has joined 150 other communities across the country in opposing
the
government's policies resulting from the controversial Patriot
legislation.
The Patriot Act, passed by the U.S. Congress on Oct. 24, 2001, shortly
after the Sept. 11 attacks, has been assailed by critics as
compromising
critical civil liberties granted to Americans in the Bill of Rights.
Proponents, on the other hand, argue that the measures are necessary
and
appropriate to ensure homeland security.
The effort to obtain the resolution's approval was spearheaded by a
coalition group called Silicon Valley for Civil Rights, in addition to
assistance provided by organizations such as the American Civil
Liberties
Union, SEIU Local 715, South Bay Mobilization and others.
However, some maintain that laws like the Patriot Act are exactly what
is
needed to provide a sense of comfort in the less predictable
contemporary
global environment...
-----
THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN ISLAM
Dr. John Esposito, Gulf News, 8/22/03
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/Opinion.asp?ArticleID=95794
For decades Islam has evoked discussion and debate. The religion is
under
the microscope after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Never before has
Islam been so questioned as to the extent that it is today. A few
scholars
have come to its rescue to clarify the principles on which Islam is
based.
One such scholar is Dr. John L. Esposito who has done so through his
writings. This is the sixth in a series of nine articles by Esposito
shedding light on the many areas of Islam, among them being the Holy
Quran,
politics, women, and terrorism, to eliminate the misunderstandings in
Islam.
The status of women in Muslim countries has long been seen as evidence
of
"Islam's" oppression of women in matters ranging from the freedom to
dress
as they please to legal rights in divorce. The true picture of women in
Islam is far more complex.
Are women second-class citizens in Islam?
The Quran raised the status of women. It prohibited female infanticide;
abolished women's status as mere property; established women's legal
capacity; granted women the right to receive their own dowry; and
allowed
women to retain control over their property and use their maiden name
after
marriage...
-----
MUSLIMS IN TEXAS PARTICIPATE IN FIELD GLEANING
Muslims of Dallas/Fort Worth metro area will take part in a project
called
"Field Gleaning," which is the collection of crops from farm land that
has
already been mechanically harvested or on fields where it is not
economically profitable to harvest.
The collected crops will be distributed to Muslim refugees, North Texas
Food Bank and Soup Kitchens. The project is scheduled for Sept 20th at
a
farm in East Texas.
This and other community service projects in Dallas are to encourage
the
Muslim community to participate in establishing their local communities
as
American Muslims and to reach out to all those who are in need
regardless
of faith and ethnicity.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: outreach@iant.com
-----
SALT LAKE AMERICAN MUSLIM CULTURAL FESTIVAL
WHAT: The Salt Lake Muslim community is hosting a "Proud to be an
American
Muslim" festival. Mayor Rocky Anderson will open the festival - a safe,
low
cost entertainment for the whole family. The festival is also an
occasion
to get to know each other and the Community at large! Free admission.
WHEN: Sun Sept 7, 2003 from ll a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City, 239 S. Main Street
Downtown Salt Lake City.
Festival Info: Ghulam Hasnain
Phone: (801) 523-8266
Cell: (801) 671-6709
Email: ghhasnain@hotmail.com
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/23/03
* BUSH PEACE APPOINTEE SAYS WAR WITH MUSLIMS MAY BE NEEDED
- Bush Appoints Anti-Muslim to Peace Role (Guardian)
- Don't Appoint Hatemonger (Miami Herald)
-----
BUSH PEACE APPOINTEE SAYS WAR WITH MUSLIMS MAY BE NEEDED
BUSH TAPS CONTROVERSIAL PHILA. SCHOLAR
Named to Institute of Peace, Pipes says Muslim war might be needed.
Thomas Ginsberg, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/23/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/6599426.htm
Daniel Pipes, a controversial Philadelphia-based scholar of Islam
appointed
yesterday to a tax-funded peace institute, says war may be necessary
for
peace with some Muslim nations.
"Conditions of peace have, by and large, been created through military
victory," he said last week on condition his comments not be published
until President Bush named him to the U.S. Institute of Peace.
"Conflict without violence is the goal," the historian said. "We have
differences with all our allies, but there is no possibility of
resorting
to force with them, and that is the goal which we all hope for. But
that is
not where we find ourselves now, as we found in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We
cannot always rely on nonviolent methods."
Bush installed Pipes, 53, on the 15-member board of the think tank
after
the Senate failed to vote on his nomination, following opposition led
by
Muslim and Arab organizations and at least three members of Congress,
all
Democrats…
Critics deride Pipes as unfit to promote peace and bigoted against
Muslims.
In the face of defeat yesterday, two groups claimed partial victory
against
a nomination that otherwise might have gone unnoticed...
Pipes created the Middle East Forum in 1990 while serving as director
of
the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia. Its fortunes
soared
after the Sept. 11 attacks, and its board membership changed.
"The diversity [of opinion] was gone," said Jerry Sorkin, a Wayne
businessman who quit the board in July. "Views not in accordance with
[Pipes'] are gone."
Pipes said his board still contained diverse views; he declined to
debate
Sorkin's contention.
After the terror attacks, Pipes launched a Web site called Campus
Watch,
which currently describes its mission as critiquing Mideast-studies
programs at colleges for "problems that include the mixing of politics
with
scholarship" and other issues…
Pipes' writings form the basis for most disputes between his critics
and
supporters.
On the Middle East, Pipes wrote in July that democracies tended to give
away too much in pursuit of peace with totalitarian foes, with "the
delusion that sweetening the pot would bring about the desired
results." In
fact, it often ends "in a major outbreak of violence," he wrote.
Palestinians, he wrote in 2001, "will not give up on their aggressive
ambitions vis-a-vis Israel until fully convinced that these cannot
succeed.
Only then can they build a policy and an economy commensurate with
their
dignity and talent. Ironically, then, Palestinians need almost as much
to
be defeated by Israel as Israel needs to defeat them."
Critics call those words proof that Pipes opposes peace between
Palestinians and Israelis...
He has estimated that 10 to 15 percent of Muslims in the United States
may
be adherents of radical Islam or terrorism. He wrote that the rest are
"innocent" but that many still should be scrutinized, particularly
those in
military, diplomatic and law-enforcement positions.
"Singling out a class of persons by their religion feels wrong, if not
downright un-American," he wrote. But "if Americans want to protect
themselves from Islamist terrorism, they must temporarily give higher
priority to security concerns than to civil-libertarian sensitivities."
SEE ALSO:
BUSH APPOINTS ANTI-MUSLIM TO PEACE ROLE
Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, 8/23/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1028113,00.html
A Middle East expert who has written dismissively of diplomacy and
holds
views to the right of the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was
yesterday named to the board of the US Institute of Peace.
The largely honorary appointment of Daniel Pipes, a gift of President
George Bush, has outraged Democratic senators, American Muslims and
Arabs,
liberal Jews and a large portion of the academic community, who say his
opinions are not conducive to peace…
As a frequent commentator, he has warned that America's Muslims are the
enemy within and called for unrestricted racial profiling and
monitoring of
Muslims in the military.
From his own thinktank in Philadelphia, he has also clashed with
fellow
scholars, who say his Campus Watch website has initiated a witch-hunt
against those he views as critics of Israel or lacking in patriotic
zeal.
Within the community of Middle East scholars, he is regarded as
extreme. He
opposes the "road map" for the Middle East, as he opposed the Oslo
peace
accords, and objected to efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority.
---
DON'T APPOINT HATEMONGER
The Miami Herald, 8/23/03
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/letters/6598180.htm
Radicalism is not unique to Islam. Preachers who use religion for their
own
causes radicalize people. Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham and Jerry
Falwell
have also abused their power and radicalized Christianity.
President Bush will again blunder in his dealings with the Muslim world
if
he appoints Daniel Pipes, the worst of Islam-phobic scholars, to the
U.S.
Institute of Peace. Only neocons would like to see another hatemonger
appointed to the peace institute. If Bush wants to win the hearts and
minds
of the Muslim world, especially U.S. Muslims, he will withdraw Daniel
Pipes' nomination.
SHABBIR MOTORWALA
Institute for Islamic Education and Research
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
DONATIONS to help rebuild the mosque may be sent to:
Islamic Center of Savannah
1030 Dutchtown Road
Savannah, GA 31419
Let CAIR know if you send a donation. E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FBI ASKED TO INVESTIGATE FIRE AT GEORGIA ISLAMIC CENTER
Shooting and racist note with swastika precede 'suspicious' fire
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/24/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today called on federal authorities to investigate an overnight
fire
that destroyed an Islamic center in Georgia. That fire, which arson
investigators have termed "suspicious," came after two recent incidents
at
or near the same center that point to the possibility of a bias motive.
Local police and officials with the Islamic Center of Savannah in
Savannah,
Ga., tell CAIR the fire was reported around three in the morning. The
blaze
spread quickly and engulfed the house that was being used as a
temporary
center until a larger facility could be built.
Center officials say two recent incidents lead them to suspect arson.
On
August 3, five bullet holes were discovered in the door to a prayer
area in
the center. On August 18, the apartment of a Muslim who lives near and
frequently prays at the center was broken into and a racist anti-Muslim
note with a Nazi swastika was left at the scene. The note threatened
the
lives of local Muslims, demanded that they leave Savannah and claimed
the
Islamic community was being watched "24-7."
"Given the fact that there were two other suspicious incidents
involving
this community, it is imperative that the FBI aid local law enforcement
authorities in the investigation," said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. He added that the FBI is looking into a number of
anti-Muslim hate crimes nationwide.
Hooper cited an attack on a Sikh family in New York during which
anti-Muslim statements were made, a cross burning at a Maryland Islamic
school and the kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery
man
whose attackers thought he was Muslim. He noted that a Sikh man who may
have been mistaken for an Arab was shot recently in Phoenix, Ariz.
Since the beginning of this year, CAIR has received reports of physical
assaults against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim in California,
Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina and other states. One incident in
Yorba
Linda, Calif., left a Muslim teenager badly beaten by a mob that
allegedly
included white supremacists. In Illinois, an explosive device destroyed
a
Muslim family's van. In Florida, a man was recently sentenced to 12 1/2
years in federal prison for plotting to attack some 50 Islamic
institutions
in that state.
Incidents targeting mosques and Islamic centers have occurred across
America and in Canada, particularly since the 9/11 terror attacks.
As early as 1994, a nearly completed mosque in Yuba City, Calif.,
burned to
the ground in what was ruled an arson attack. In 1995, arson destroyed
a
Springfield, Ill., Islamic center. In 1996, a suspect was charged for
involvement in an arson attack on a Greenville, S.C., mosque. In 1999,
a
would-be terrorist was arrested after fleeing from the area of a mosque
near Denver, Colo. The suspect's car was found to contain loaded
weapons
and bomb-making materials. Also that year, an arson attack severely
damaged
a Minneapolis, Minn., mosque. In 2002, a pick-up truck was driven into
the
front of the Islamic Center of Tallahassee, Fla. Police said the
attacker
was motivated by "hatred of Muslims." Similar incidents have occurred
in a
number of other states.
Victims of hate crimes are urged to fill out report forms, which are
available for download at:
http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/Incident_Report.doc, or by calling
202-488-8787. CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in
Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/25/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6834 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
- Br. Syaiful Idris Passes Away
* FIRE AT GEORGIA MOSQUE RULED ARSON
* NCPA CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS
- IMC-USA Condemns Mumbai Bombings
* GOOD NEWS: NEWSPAPER APOLOGIZES FOR OFFENSIVE CARTOON
* TAHERI IS DEAF TO FEMALE INTELLECT (National Post)
* UNWRA RESPONDS TO DANIEL PIPES (National Post)
* 'ASHCROFT UNPLUGGED:' COMING SOON (Chicago Tribune)
- An Unpatriotic Act (NY Times)
- Destroying Freedoms to Save Them (Denver Post)
* ANALYSTS DOUBT U.S. CLAIM ON IRAQI DRONES (AP)
- Israel to Discuss Transfer of Iraqi Oil (Haaretz)
- Poll: Most See U.S. Bogged Down in Iraq (AP)
* BLACKLISTED BY THE BANK (Christian Science Monitor)
* ACCOMPLICE IN PLOT TO BOMB ISLAMIC CENTER PLEADS GUILTY (AP)
* GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN (CBS)
* MUSLIM WOMAN TO RECEIVE PEACEMAKER PRIZE (Journal News)
* FOOD-LABELING LAW TO PROTECT MUSLIM CONSUMERS (Star-Telegram)
* MARYLAND MUSLIMS FIGHT HUNGER THROUGH FOOD BANK
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wishes to
(enter
Paradise)...should treat people as he wishes to be treated by them."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 852
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6834 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6834 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARY SPONSORSHIPS IN CANADA, PLEASE VISIT
www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
BR. SYAIFUL IDRIS PASSES AWAY
The board and CAIR staff wishes to express their sincere condolences to
the
friends and family of Syaiful Idris, who passed away in a motorcycle
accident in Malaysia on Friday.
An active and respected member of the community, Idris was featured in
CAIR's ad campaign designed to showcase the positive contributions made
to
society by Muslim Americans. To view the ad, please visit:
http://www.americanmuslims.info/ad.asp?m=02&d=16 (Br. Syaiful is on the
right).
For more information about the fund being established for Idris'
family,
contact info@islamicmedia.com
-----
FIRE AT GEORGIA MOSQUE RULED ARSON
FBI and ATF join investigation of 'incendiary' fire
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/25/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today said fire investigators in Georgia have determined that a
blaze at the Islamic Center of Savannah early Sunday was an act of
arson.
The national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group also said the FBI
and
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have now
joined the investigation. (CAIR called for FBI assistance in the case
in a
statement released yesterday.)
Bob Klitsch, chief fire investigator with the Savannah Fire Department,
and
FBI Special Agent Steve Crum confirmed to CAIR that the fire was
"incendiary" in nature and that the case will now be investigated as a
civil rights violation because the center was a house of worship. Local
Muslim leaders told CAIR that two recent incidents led them to suspect
arson.
On August 3, five bullet holes were discovered in the door to a prayer
area
in the center. On August 18, the apartment of a Muslim who lives near
and
frequently prays at the center was broken into and a racist anti-Muslim
note with a Nazi swastika was left at the scene. The note threatened
the
lives of local Muslims, demanded that they leave Savannah and claimed
the
Islamic community was being watched "24-7." SEE: "Suspicious Fire
Destroys
Savannah Islamic Center,"
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/082503/LOC_fire.shtml
"We appreciate the quick work of local fire investigators and the
willingness of the FBI to aid in the investigation," said CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad. "Now that the cause of the fire has been
determined,
it is vital that the perpetrators be brought to justice."
Since the beginning of this year, CAIR has received a number of reports
of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions. One incident in Yorba Linda, Calif.,
left
a Muslim teenager badly beaten by a mob that allegedly included white
supremacists. In Illinois, an explosive device destroyed a Muslim
family's
van. In Florida, a man was recently sentenced to 12 1/2 years in
federal
prison for plotting to attack some 50 Islamic institutions in that
state.
In New York, anti-Muslim statements were made allegedly during an
attack on
a Sikh family.
Other incidents include a cross burning at a Maryland Islamic school,
the
kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery man whose
attackers thought he was Muslim and the shooting of a Sikh man in
Arizona
who may have been mistaken for an Arab.
As early as 1994, a nearly completed mosque in Yuba City, Calif.,
burned to
the ground in what was ruled an arson attack. In 1995, arson destroyed
a
Springfield, Ill., Islamic center. In 1996, a suspect was charged for
involvement in an arson attack on a Greenville, S.C., mosque. In 1999,
a
would-be terrorist was arrested after fleeing from the area of a mosque
near Denver, Colo. The suspect's car was found to contain loaded
weapons
and bomb-making materials. Also that year, an arson attack severely
damaged
a Minneapolis, Minn., mosque. In 2002, a pick-up truck was driven into
the
front of the Islamic Center of Tallahassee, Fla. Similar incidents have
occurred in a number of other states, particularly since the 9/11
terror
attacks.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
NCPA CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS
www.ncpa.info
WASHINGTON, DC- The National Council of Pakistani Americans, a public
education and civil rights organization, condemns in the strongest term
today's bombings in India's financial hub Mumbai. According to press
reports, at least two car bombs went off at different locations killing
46
people and injuring many. No group has claimed responsibility for the
bombings.
"These acts of indiscriminate violence have no justification whatsoever
and
no place in a civilized world. Perpetrators of these heinous acts can
achieve no goals by killing innocent people," said Faiz Rehman,
President
of NCPA.
ALSO SEE:
IMC-USA CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS
http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/PressRelease.cfm?PRID=61
Indian Muslim Council-USA, a Washington based advocacy group working
toward
safeguarding Indian society's pluralist and tolerant ethos, condemned
the
multiple bomb blasts in Mumbai, India on August 25, 2003.
According to news reports received on August 25, 2003, more than 45
innocent lives were lost when multiple bomb explosions rocked India's
financial capital, Mumbai.
Rasheed Ahmed, Vice-President of IMC-USA said, "We are always deeply
pained
by such senseless acts of violence. We callon the Indian government to
arrest the perpetrators of this heinous act and swiftly bring them to
justice and seek maximum penalty under the law. We are confident that
Indian government will not let the violence escalate to avoid further
loss
of life and civility. We stand in sympathy with the families and
friends of
those who lost their lives and call on all Indians to join together and
condemn all violence against innocent civilians."
Since it was founded on the independence day, August 15th, 2002,
IMC-USA has been actively promoting values of pluralism and tolerance
amongst the Indian Diaspora in the United States.
CONTACT: Rasheed Ahmed (708) 466-0244
-----
GOOD NEWS: IDAHO STATESMAN ISSUES APOLOGY FOR OFFENSIVE CARTOON
The following is a copy of the apology issued by Carolyn Washburn,
Executive Editor of Idaho Statesman, after her newspaper printed an
offensive editorial cartoon about Islam in its August 18th issue:
We apologize for an editorial cartoon on the Commentary page on Monday,
Aug. 18. The cartoon was titled "Koran for Dummies." Our standard is to
publish cartoons of all points of view, even if the editorial board
disagrees, because cartoons express the opinion of the cartoonist. But
our
standard is to not run cartoons that do little more than reinforce
stereotypes about religion, race or other things of a personal nature.
We
apologize.
-----
TAHERI IS DEAF TO FEMALE INTELLECT
Sheema Khan, National Post, 8/25/03
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=3B25D164-D326-4C8A-B226-934B0FDB202C
Sheema Khan, chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Canada,
Ottawa
on "Lifting the Veil On Gender Apartheid," by Amir Taheri, Aug. 19.
After reading Amir Taheri's commentary about Islamic attire, I followed
his
suggestion and went to check our family album to see if my female
relatives
wore an Islamic head-scarf prior to the 1970s. There were no
photographs.
The reason: According to strict Muslim tradition in India at that time,
taking photographs of people was forbidden.
I then checked with my mother, who informed me that she, along with
most
other Muslim women in Benares (hardly a rural centre) wore the burka --
a
long tunic with a face veil. And so the inaccuracies of Mr. Taheri's
article began to unravel...
Mr. Taheri's contempt for the hijab is clear. Women who wear the hijab
are
assumed to be mindless, following the whims of scholars and "duped"
wholesale about Islamic teachings. This is reminiscent of the
contemptuous
attitude of some Muslim preachers who claim that a woman's intellect is
never to be trusted. Ironically, in the name of secular fundamentalism,
Mr.
Taheri asserts the same; namely that a Muslim woman cannot be trusted
for
her choice.
And this is the most insulting aspect of the article. Somehow, a woman
who
wears the hijab could not have made a conscious choice. Yet, Islamic
teachings stipulate that each individual is responsible for her choice
before God -- and God alone.
Here in the West, many of us have heard both sides of the hijab
argument --
both pro and con -- and have made decisions using our God-given
intellect.
We are not in need of Islamic reformers to tell us that we are mindless
sheep, duped by godless atheists or religious extremists. We have minds
of
our own, keen to learn, listen and contribute towards the evolution of
Islamic thought. Our historical traditions -- both Sunni and Shia --
are
replete with examples of Muslim women with courage, intelligence, piety
and
yes -- a veil.
No, Mr. Taheri, we are not hard of hearing due to our hijab. It is you
who
is deaf to the intellect of Muslim women...
-----
UNWRA RESPONDS TO PIPES
Paul McCann, National Post, 8/25/03
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=3B25D164-D326-4C8A-B226-934B0FDB202C
(Scroll down.)
Paul McCann, chief, public information office, UNRWA headquarters, Gaza
on
"The UN's Palestinian Refugee Trap," by Daniel Pipes, Aug. 21.
GAZA - It is with great dismay that we read Daniel Pipes's commentary
on
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the Palestine refugees.
While Prof. Pipes is entitled to his opinion, his column is misleading
on a
number of points.
Palestine refugees differ from other refugees because a majority of
them
continue to suffer the plight of dispossession and statelessness.
Rather
than their "status" as refugees creating "anguish and discontent," it
is
their dispossession and statelessness that lie at the heart of their
predicament.
The standard mechanisms by which refugee problems are solved are:
- voluntary repatriation;
- voluntary resettlement in host states; and
- voluntary resettlement in asylum granting third states.
In the case of the Palestine refugees, repatriation has consistently
been
rejected by Israel, whereas resettlement in the Arab host states has
been
rejected by both the states concerned and the refugees themselves...
-----
'ASHCROFT UNPLUGGED:' COMING SOON
Jonathan Turley, Chicago Tribune, 8/ 25/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/oped/chi-0308250185aug25,1,6190165.story
(Jonathan Turley is a professor of public interest law at George
Washington
University)
It is the record industry's answer for any aging rock band or artist
with
slipping sales: Go on tour. The White House appears to be following
that
advice in trying to bolster the slipping support for both Atty. Gen.
John
Ashcroft and the USA Patriot Act. The tour promises to be "Ashcroft
Unplugged," a city-by-city performance explaining why citizens should
embrace the Patriot Act and its rollback on civil liberties. Of course,
this will be a hard sell in the more than 150 cities and three states
that
have passed resolutions opposing the Patriot Act and fighting its use
in
their communities. It is one thing to get people to shell out a few
bucks
for a final KISS tour. It is a bit more difficult to get a free people
to
surrender their freedoms.
The Justice Department announced the national tour to correct
"misinformation" about the Patriot Act and to share its many
virtues--and,
by extension, those of the attorney general himself, who remains the
least
popular member of the Bush administration. Since I have been cited by
the
Justice Department as one of the critics who have misinformed the
public, I
would like to offer my own suggestions for "Ashcroft Unplugged."
In many ways, this tour is a variation of Stanley Kubrick's 1964
classic
"Dr. Strangelove, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."
If
citizens are going to come to love the Patriot Act and the rollback of
their civil liberties, Ashcroft needs to emphasize the other less-known
positive features of the law. For example, the new authority to conduct
secret physical searches of our homes means greater interaction for
home
pets...
ALSO SEE
AN UNPATRIOTIC ACT
Kamran and Imanlinc Staff, New York Times, 8/25/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/25/opinion/25MON1.html
Attorney General John Ashcroft has embarked on a charm offensive on
behalf
of the USA Patriot Act. He is traveling the country to rally support
for
the law, which many people, both liberals and conservatives, consider a
dangerous assault on civil liberties. Mr. Ashcroft's efforts to promote
the
law are misguided. He should abandon the roadshow and spend more time
in
Washington working with those who want to reform the law.
When the Patriot Act raced through Congress after Sept. 11, critics
warned
that it was an unprecedented expansion of the government's right to spy
on
ordinary Americans. The more people have learned about the law, the
greater
the calls have been for overhauling it. One section that has produced
particular outrage is the authorization of "sneak and peek" searches,
in
which the government secretly searches people's homes and delays
telling
them about the search. The House last month voted 309 to 118 for a
Republican-sponsored measure to block the use of federal funds for such
searches...
---
DESTROYING FREEDOMS TO SAVE THEM
Diane Carman, Denver Post, 8/24/03
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~115~1588127,00.html
The line that got me was the one Attorney General John Ashcroft used on
the
stump last week. Ashcroft was trying to rally the masses in support of
the
one government initiative that has succeeded in uniting the political
left
and the right, albeit in rabid opposition to it.
He said the USA Patriot Act, which expands law-enforcement powers to
levels that make J. Edgar Hoover's legendary goons look like Girl
Scouts, "ensures liberty."
He said this with a straight face.
I kept thinking that something about that line rang familiar.
So I went to the library and began searching. I scrolled through the
computerized card catalog. I searched the Net. I talked to a librarian.
I finally found it, right there among the science fiction classics.
"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
Ashcroft was channeling George Orwell...
-----
ANALYSTS DOUBT U.S. CLAIM ON IRAQI DRONES
Dafna Linzer and John J. Lumpkin, Associated Press,
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Iraq%20Aerial%20Weapons
Huddled over a fleet of abandoned Iraqi drones, U.S. weapons experts in
Baghdad came to one conclusion: Despite the Bush administration's
public
assertions, these unmanned aerial vehicles weren't designed to dispense
biological or chemical weapons.
The evidence gathered this summer matched the dissenting views of Air
Force
intelligence analysts who argued in a national intelligence assessment
of
Iraq before the war that the remotely piloted planes were unarmed
reconnaissance drones.
In building its case for war, senior Bush administration officials had
said
Iraq's drones were intended to deliver unconventional weapons.
Secretary of
State Colin Powell even raised the alarming prospect that the pilotless
aircraft could sneak into the United States to carry out poisonous
attacks
on American cities...
But the Air Force, which controls most of the American military's UAV
fleet, didn't agree with that assessment from the beginning. And
analysts
at the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said the Air Force view was
widely
accepted within their ranks as well...
ALSO SEE:
PARITZKY TO DISCUSS TRANSFER OF OIL FROM IRAQ DURING U.S. VISIT
Amiram Cohen and Akiva Eldar, Haaretz, 8/24/03
http://www.haaretz.com/
The United States has asked Israel to prepare a plan to renew the
transport
of oil from the Iraqi city of Kirkuk to the Haifa port, Army Radio
reported
Sunday.
Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky told the station that he intends
to
leave for Washington within two weeks to discuss the project in
meetings
with U.S. officials.
"I intend to examine the idea of an oil pipe, but the contacts are only
preliminary," Paritzky told the station.
Sources involved in the project said that it has far-reaching economic
implications, but that it will not be carried out in the near future
due to
the instability of Iraq...
---
POLL: MOST SEE U.S. BOGGED DOWN IN IRAQ
Associated Press
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95612,00.html
WASHINGTON (AP) - With public confidence declining in President Bush's
handling of the war in Iraq, nearly 70 percent of Americans feel the
United
States will be bogged down in the country for years without achieving
its
goals, a poll finds.
The Newsweek poll released Saturday also found that nearly 6 of 10
people
are concerned that the U.S. military will be overextended should
another
security threat arise outside Iraq. And 7 of 10 are concerned the costs
of
the war will increase the deficit and hurt the economy.
The war costs the United States roughly $1 billion per week...
U.S. and British troops have also been targets of guerrilla attacks.
Military figures show that 135 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since
May 1,
when President Bush declared the end of major combat operations there.
Americans had mixed feelings over how to proceed. About 48 percent said
the
United States should withdraw military personnel because of the
attacks,
while 47 percent said the soldiers should stay.
About 61 percent said the United States did the right thing in taking
military action, down 7 percent from a poll taken in late July.
-----
BLACKLISTED BY THE BANK
Sarah Miller, Christian Science Monitor, 8/25/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0825/p15s01-wmcn.html
In an age of homeland insecurity, financial institutions add layers of
scrutiny that some critics call overzealous.
Hossam Algabri ripped open his statement from Fleet Bank one day after
work
last November, and began to read: "We regret to inform you that we have
decided that it is not in our best interest to continue your banking
relationship with us."
Mr. Algabri assumed that a mistake had been made. He hadn't bounced a
single check since he opened an account at the institution's
predecessor,
BayBank, 11 years earlier.
As he dialed customer service, he began to wonder: Did this have
anything
to do with the war on terrorism?
"You hear about it all the time, but you never think it will happen to
you," says the Egyptian native, who came to the United States at age 12
and
became a citizen this year...
"Many of [those targeted] are immigrants. They don't want to draw
attention
to themselves," says Khurram Wahid, a legal adviser for the Council of
American-Islamic Relations in Washington. "They don't want themselves
on
any system complaining about anything."
-----
ACCOMPLICE IN PLOT TO BOMB ISLAMIC CENTER PLEADS GUILTY
Associated Press, 8/23/03
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030823/APN/308230716
TAMPA, Fla.- A month after withdrawing a guilty plea, a man accused of
providing guns to a Pinellas County podiatrist who planned to attack
Islamic centers changed his mind and pleaded guilty again.
Samuel V. Shannahan III admitted he provided 11 weapons, including
several
machine guns, to podiatrist Robert Goldstein, who is serving 12 1/2
years
in federal prison for plotting to attack the mosques in retaliation for
the
Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Shannahan's previous plea fell apart during what was supposed to be his
sentencing hearing last month. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen
Murphy-Davis
accused Shannahan of perjuring himself and defense attorney Jeffrey G.
Brown accused Murphy-Davis of violating a plea agreement.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew concluded the prosecutor had violated
a
portion of the plea agreement, and allowed Shannahan to retract his
guilty
plea.
Brown subsequently filed court papers accusing the prosecutor of being
dishonest when she accused Shannahan of perjury...
-----
GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN
CBS News, 6/24/03
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/06/60minutes/printable548023.shtml
Recently, the Justice Department's inspector general released a report
criticizing the unduly harsh way our government treated many of the
1,200
Muslim and Middle Eastern men who were rounded up and questioned by
U.S.
authorities in the months following Sept. 11.
As 60 Minutes first reported earlier this year, and the Justice
Department
report confirms, many of those men who were held in solitary
confinement in
maximum security prisons for months on end - without their families
being
notified, without real access to legal aid, and without being charged
with
a crime.
Three such detainees tell correspondent Bob Simon their stories...
-----
MUSLIM ACCEPTANCE
Nazia Kazi, Chicago Tribune, 8/23/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0308230263aug23,1,700180.story
(Nazia Kazi is a student at Northwestern University)
Evanston - For almost two years, I've walked on eggshells because of my
identity as a Muslim.
I've had to hold my breath when dressed in my religious attire, when
passing through security at the airports, and even when potential
employers
discover that I'm a Muslim.
For two years, I've witnessed the construction of the Patriot Act,
which
strips some Americans of their basic rights.
However, it is not because I'm anti-American that I'm disturbed by the
front page article about Muslim chaplains in prison. It is precisely
because I believe in American values of acceptance, free speech, and
tolerance that I am very bothered by it.
Weeks before a large Islam in America (ISNA) convention takes place, an
article is written labeling ISNA leaders as co-conspirators in the 1993
World Trade Center attacks.
All of these claims are, of course, only "alleged," yet such a story is
allowed to take a spot on the front page.
I call on those of you who read the article to contact ISNA leaders, to
attend the ISNA convention, and to read the writings of Imam Siraj
Wahhaj.
Feel free to notify authorities if you find one shred of extremism or
terrorism in any of those exchanges. I call on the journalists to stand
by
the values upon which this country was built...
-----
MUSLIM WOMAN TO RECEIVE PEACEMAKER PRIZE
Hema Easley, Journal News, 8/25/03
http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/082503/a0125interfaith.html
Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan remembers the day she was invited to speak about
Islam
to a Christian congregation in the aftermath of Sept. 11. Though the
surgeon had frequently spoken about her religion in public forums, the
prevailing atmosphere of anger and suspicion made her anxious that day.
But in a gesture that floored her, the pastor of the church offered her
the
pulpit for her talk.
"It was an honor," said Hassan, a Pleasantville resident, remembering
the
almost electric connection she made with the congregants that Sunday
morning two years ago. "Learning and teaching about each other's
religion
is what brings understanding."
Developing good relations among diverse religions in America has been
Hassan's mission since she rediscovered Islam after making the hajj
pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca seven years ago. Hassan, an
American
who is a native of Pakistan, travels across the Northeast to discuss
the
peaceful message of Islam and to help develop better relations among
her
religion and other Abrahamic faiths - Judaism and Christianity...
-----
NEW FOOD-LABELING LAW TO PROTECT MUSLIM CONSUMERS
Diane Smith, Star-Telegram, 8/25/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/6612938.htm
Mohsen Mousa, who co-owns the Giza Specialty Foods store in Bedford,
displays a package of meat that is "halal," or lawful, and was prepared
in
accordance with Muslim religious beliefs.
Consumers of food products prepared under Islamic rules have new
protections against businesses that misuse the halal label.
Muslim consumers typically purchase meats and other foods that have the
word "halal" on the package. The Arabic word means "lawful," and it
helps
Muslims know the food was prepared in accordance with their religious
beliefs.
Effective Sept. 1, anyone selling mislabeled halal food at stores or
restaurants could face misdemeanor charges...
Muslim leaders said the effort shows that their community's concerns
are
being noticed by lawmakers. The law also recognizes a constituency that
is
becoming more integrated in public policy debates.
"It shows how mature our community is getting," said Rabiah Ahmed, a
spokeswoman with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Washington, D.C.
-----
MARYLAND MUSLIMS FIGHT HUNGER THROUGH FOOD BANK
The Baltimore County Muslim Council (BCMC), along with other Muslim
organizations throughout Maryland, is joining hand with the Maryland
Food
Bank to fight hunger in Maryland and is organizing a Food Drive between
September 6th and September 14th, 2003. Each Muslim Council is leading
the
effort at the County level in their area. The food and money collected
by
BCMC will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank.
Handing over the collected food will take place at a Picnic on
September
14. Several State and County officials are expected to be present at
this
ceremony.
For more details, please call: Dr. Saba Siddiqi 410-825-2770; Akbar
Ansari
410-625-0304' Nasrin Rehman 410-252-2175
Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB)
Email: info@isb.org
Web: www.alrahmah.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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/26/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: ACT JUSTLY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6839 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CAIR CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS
* CAIR JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP FOR MUSLIM STUDENTS
- CAIR-St. Louis Annual Banquet
* IMMIGRANTS: 9/11 PROBE VIOLATED RIGHTS (Phil. Inquirer)
- Secretive Jailings Protested (Calgary Herald)
* RIGHTS ADVOCATES SLAM SCREENING SYSTEM (Wash. Times)
* BUSH PUTS HAWK IN NEST OF DOVES (Charlotte Observer)
- Palestinian Exclusion (Jerusalem Post)
* INVESTIGATORS SAY ISLAMIC CENTER FIRE WAS ARSON (SMN)
- Peace Coalition Supports Local Muslim Group (WTOC)
- Images of Mosque Fire (WTOC)
* IOWA UNIVERSITY GETS GRANTS TO EACH ARABIC (AP)
* STATION FIRES HOST AFTER ANTI-ARAB COMMENTS (Boston Globe)
* INSIDE ISRAEL'S SECRET PRISON (Haaretz)
* PROSECUTORS OPEN GENOCIDE STAGE OF MILOSEVIC TRIAL (AP)
- 230 Muslim Victims Found in Bosnia Grave (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: ACT JUSTLY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you are put in a
position of authority...fear God and act justly."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1046
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6839 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6839 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARY SPONSORSHIPS IN CANADA, PLEASE VISIT
www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS MUMBAI BOMBINGS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/26/03) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations, a
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, today
condemned
in the strongest possible terms the bombings Monday that killed at
least 50
people in Mumbai, India.
CAIR's statement said: "The bombings were acts of terrorism against
innocent people and cannot be justified for any reason or by any cause.
The
criminals who committed these acts must be brought to justice. Indians
of
all faiths should now focus on justice, equality and tolerance, not
force
of arms."
-----
CAIR JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP FOR MUSLIM STUDENTS
ANAHEIM, CA - The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Southern
California (CAIR-LA) is pleased to announce a Journalism &
Communication
Scholarship Award for Muslim Students.
One scholarship awardee residing in the San Diego area will receive a
one-time scholarship stipend of $5,000 for pursuing education in the
field
of journalism and communication.
CAIR will award the scholarship to a Muslim student in his or her
junior
year of college who demonstrates a willingness to pursue journalism or
communications.
Selection criteria include a required minimum Grade Point Average of
3.0
and a record of activism in the Muslim community. The awardee will be
required to keep in good standing with his/her respective college and
complete 200 hours of Muslim community volunteer service in the field
of
journalism and communications under the supervision of CAIR.
Applicants must reside in the San Diego area and attend a certified
U.S.
college or university.
Nominations must be received by CAIR no later than September 12, 2003.
For more information, please contact CAIR-LA Development and Programs
coordinator, Maryam Dadabhoy (Maryam@cair.com) at 714-776-1847, or
visit www.cair-california.org/sandiegoscholarship.htm.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-ST. LOUIS ANNUAL BANQUET
On Saturday, September 27, 2003, CAIR-St. Louis will host its 2nd
Annual
Fundraiser & Award Banquet. Speakers include Sam Page (Missouri State
Representative - Creve Coeur), Omar Ahmad (Founder and Chair of
CAIR-National), and Arsalan Iftikhar (CAIR-National's Director of Legal
Affairs).
Also, the 2003 Excellence in Journalism Award will be presented to Jean
Jackson, co-host of the KTRS Morning Show and former anchor for KSDK
News.
The event will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Laclede's
Landing,
901 N. First Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102. For directions to the
hotel, please visit our website at www.cair-stl.org.
The cost for the fundraiser is $40 per person; however, if you purchase
two
tickets, the cost for each ticket is reduced to $30 per ticket. You may
order tickets by calling Hashim Raza at (314) 579-0632 or Kamal Yassin
at
(314) 576-5875. Tickets will also be on sale following jummah prayer
beginning Friday, September 5, 2003 at area mosques.
The evening will begin with registration and a silent auction at 6:30
p.m. The auction will include assorted items including Rams tickets
and
various services donated by Muslim vendors and service providers. All
proceeds from the silent auction will go to CAIR-St. Louis.
Magrib prayer will follow at approximately 7 p.m. The dinner and awards
presentation will begin promptly at 7:30. An excellent meal consisting
of
halal chicken, salad, rice, bread and a dessert will be provided.
-----
IMMIGRANTS: 9/11 PROBE VIOLATED RIGHTS
Gaiutra Bahadur, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/26/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/6617384.htm
BRAMPTON, Ontario- Everything had been set for Akhil Sachdeva's fresh
start.
He had sold his gas station on Long Island to raise money for a
sandwich-shop franchise in Toronto. His belongings were boxed up in the
basement. He had even arranged to change the odometer on his BMW
convertible from miles to kilometers.
Then Sachdeva, a middle-class Hindu about to put a failed marriage and
the
United States behind him, did one last errand. He returned a call to
the
FBI, which wanted information about one of his Muslim workers.
That call ultimately landed him in a room with blackened windows in a
New
Jersey jail, where he sat for four months, caught in a net widely cast
by
federal agents investigating the Sept. 11 attacks.
Now Sachdeva, 31, a legal resident of Canada since 1998, is suing the
U.S.
government, as are six other men detained after Sept. 11. They contend
they
were treated like criminal suspects but denied the constitutional
rights of
defendants.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status on behalf of hundreds of
similarly detained immigrants, alleges that the government held them
longer
than federal law allows on immigration charges, which are civil
violations.
Meanwhile, the suit says, agents hunted for evidence to tie them to
terrorism...
Passaic County Jail, which housed more Sept. 11 detainees than any
other
facility in the United States, was so overcrowded that he shared a cell
with sentenced inmates, which is against INS regulations. Sachdeva
bears a
souvenir of a jailhouse fight, a broken tooth.
Two other plaintiffs in his lawsuit said they had contracted
tuberculosis
while held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where
guards
allegedly slammed immigrants into walls and taunted them with ethnic
slurs.
The inspector general concluded there was evidence to support a pattern
of
physical abuse there…
"Nothing can bring your time back," Sachdeva said. "What is gone is
gone.
But in the future, it shouldn't happen again."
SEE ALSO:
SECRETIVE JAILINGS PROTESTED
Tim Naumetz, Calgary Herald, 8/25/03
http://www.canada.com/calgary/
Family members and supporters of five Muslim men being held as
terrorist
threats in Canadian jails staged a quiet but emotional protest Monday,
marching along Ottawa streets to deliver a personal plea to Prime
Minister
Jean Chretien for help.
Backed by a coalition against secret hearings used in deportation
cases,
the wives and children of several of the men demanded the federal
government make public evidence showing the prisoners would be a threat
to
Canada's security if they are released.
The group successfully delivered a petition of support with 4,500
signatures to Steven Hogue, Chretien's deputy communications director,
outside Chretien's central office on Wellington Street, but were unable
to
gain entry for a private meeting with any of his officials. Chretien
was in
the Northwest Territories to sign a first-nation land claim settlement.
The five men were arrested separately in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal
over
the last three years. One has been in custody since 2000.
All five were taken into custody through the power of a national
security
certificate, signed by the federal solicitor general and the
immigration
minister, which allows a Federal Court judge to hear the evidence
against
them without disclosing its details. The evidence is kept secret to
protect
informants and intelligence agents as well as the integrity of on-going
investigations by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Agency...
-----
RIGHTS ADVOCATES SLAM NEW SCREENING SYSTEM
Audrey Hudson, Washington Times, 8/25/03
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20030825-112400-8083r.htm
Conservative and liberal advocates are banding together to oppose new
airline passenger screening methods that they say will be a "quantum
leap"
in government surveillance programs.
The program under development by the Transportation Security
Administration
would conduct background checks using a data system containing
information
on more than 2 million passengers flying daily in the country.
Bob Barr, a civil liberties advocate and former Republican congressman
from
Georgia, said the program seeks to "gather evidence on law-abiding
citizens
in vain hopes this will somehow magically identify terrorists."
The Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or CAPPS II, is a
predecessor to the current program that critics say profiles air
passengers
for buying one-way tickets or using cash and established a "no fly"
list
preventing some passengers from flying.
This second-generation profiling technology would collect personal,
commercial and government information - including credit records - to
determine whether travelers posed any threat, said Laura Murphy,
director
of the American Civil Liberties Union's legislative office...
-----
BUSH PUTS HAWK IN NEST OF DOVES
Arsalan T. Iftikhar, Charlotte Observer, 8/24/03
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/editorial/6605436.htm
Arsalan T. Iftikhar is the Director of Legal Affairs for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights
group.
Created in 1984, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a
fairly
obscure taxpayer-funded institution created by Congress "to promote the
prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international
conflicts."
Presidential nominees to the USIP board rarely cause any controversy.
However, President Bush's recent recess appointment of Daniel Pipes,
regarded by many American Muslims, Jews and Christians as the nation's
leading Islamophobe, has created a significant controversy...
Pipes has shown a pattern of troubling bigotry toward Arabs and
Muslims. As
early as 1983, an otherwise positive Washington Post book review noted
that
Pipes displayed "a disturbing hostility to contemporary Muslims. He
professes respect for Muslims; but is frequently contemptuous of them."
Pipes, the Post reviewer wrote, "is swayed by the writings of
anti-Muslim
writers" and the book "is marred by inconsistencies and evidence of
hostility..."
Pipes' appointment during Congress' recess is a moral victory to those
who
opposed the nomination because it effectively proves that Bush knew
Pipes'
nomination would have difficulty being approved by the normal
senatorial
confirmation process.
In a time when we need open and lucid dialogue to help instill
harmonious
relations throughout the world, President Bush's recess appointment of
Pipes sends a completely contradictory message to the Muslim world. On
one
hand, the president has repeatedly called Islam a "religion of peace."
On
the other hand, he circumvents senatorial confirmation to appoint a man
who
has a documented history of disturbing anti-Islamic rhetoric. If he is
trying to improve relations with the Muslim world by issuing this
recess
appointment, he is most certainly headed in the wrong direction.
President Bush appointing Daniel Pipes to the United States Institute
of
Peace is the moral equivalent of placing a hawk into a nest full of
doves.
ALSO SEE:
PALESTINIAN EXCLUSION
Jerusalem Post, 8/26/03
http://www.jpost.com/
Sir, - Daniel Pipes places no blame on Israel for the plight of
Palestinian
refugees ("The refugee curse," August 20). Instead he blames Arab
governments hosting these refugees, and faults even the UN humanitarian
organization UNRWA, which he absurdly accuses of "monstrous works."
Certainly Arab host governments, and the international community
generally,
should do more to assist the long- suffering Palestinian refugees.
Israel,
however, should not be exculpated. For the world to accept Israel's
permanent exclusion of these refugees from their homeland would be
tantamount to acceptance of ethnic cleansing. Perhaps if Pipes were not
so
blinded by bias, he might understand that exclusion, not humanitarian
assistance, is the real "monstrous work" against the Palestinians.
-----
INVESTIGATORS SAY ISLAMIC CENTER FIRE WAS AN ARSON
Anne Hart, Savannah Morning News, 8/26/3
http://savannahnow.com/stories/082603/LOC_firecause.shtml
A weekend blaze that destroyed the Islamic Center of Savannah was set
on
purpose, Savannah fire investigators said Monday.
While investigators hesitate to label the arson a hate crime until
their
probe is done, members of the southside mosque say they're being
targeted
because of their faith.
"We do feel it is a hate crime," said Saad Hammid, a board member of
the
Islamic Center. "This will continue until those criminals are put
behind bars."
The early Sunday blaze destroyed the temporary mosque - housed in a
two-bedroom home on Dutchtown Road - and a rare handwritten Koran. No
one
was injured.
The 3 a.m. fire came after two other incidents earlier this month that
members believe were anti-Muslim. On Aug. 3, members said, five bullet
holes were found in the garage door at the center. On Aug. 18, the
apartment of a student who worships regularly at the center was
burglarized.
The burglar allegedly left behind a note demanding that Muslims leave
Savannah and that Muslims are being watched "24-7." The student lives
near
the Islamic Center. Both incidents were reported to Savannah police and
the
FBI...
ALSO SEE:
SAVANNAH PEACE COALITION SUPPORTS LOCAL MUSLIM GROUP
Holly Bristow, WTOC, 8/26/03
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1416821&nav=0qq6HeZy
Leaders in the Muslim community have no doubt that the fire which
destroyed
their place of worship was intentional. "How convinced are you this
was a
hate crime?" asked WTOC Reporter, Holly Bristow. "100 percent,"
answered
Dr. Masood Ahmed, Vice Chairman of the Islamic Center.
But the Muslim members are feeling a little better after attending a
rally
held in support of them by the Savannah Peace Coalition. "We're here in
solidarity," said Kelly Gasnick, who organized the event. Nearly two
dozen
people showed up for the candle light vigil. to rally around the
members of
the Islamic Center. "It's clear that the members of the community were
victims of racial and religious terrorism," said Gasnick.
Members of the Muslim community feel those responsible for setting the
blaze that gutted their mosque are ignorant about the religion that
started
in the Middle East. "They think Muslims are terrorists. When people
come to
know about Islam and when they truly meet a Muslim following his faith
they
will not have any negative feelings about them," said Dr. Ahmed.
"Unfortunately there are a few people who don't know the true peace and
honorability of these people," said Patti Emfinger, a physicians
assistant
who has worked along side two doctors who are practicing Muslims...
---
MOSQUE ARSON INVESTIGATED
Nicole Teigen, WTOC, 8/25/03
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1416248&nav=0qq5He7I
An mosque burned to the ground Sunday morning, and police are calling
it a
case of arson. Around 3 a.m. Sunday - someone set fire to the Islamic
Center of Savannah on Dutchtown Road. During the investigation, the
arson
dogs smelled something suspicious at the scene and alerted their
handlers.
They've since asked the FBI and ATF for help in solving this crime...
The Savannah Fire Department says there are several reasons why they
believe this was arson, and one of those reasons could be hate. The
fire
completely destroyed the building but it wasn't the only thing
targeting
this mosque. Just a few weeks ago, bullets slammed into the garage door
and
one of its members received hate mail. With all these factors, the
Savannah
Fire Department's investigators have good reason to believe this fire
was
intentional...
-----
UNIVERSITY GETS FEDERAL GRANTS TO EACH ARABIC
Associated Press, 8/26/03
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa will use two federal grants to
teach Arabic for the first time and fund more international study
fellowships.
"We have really lagged behind, and our students want it," said William
Reisinger, associate provost for academic programs and dean of the Iowa
International Programs.
Interest in Islamic studies has risen in recent years while Iowa has
remained the only school in the Big Ten not to offer some sort of
Arabic
language instruction, Reisinger said.
Iowa courses on Islam have been popular with students and filled up
quickly
when they were first offered, the university said…
The university is currently looking for Arabic instructors to teach the
courses when they become available in the spring semester, spokeswoman
Lois
Gray said.
-----
WRKO DISMISSES OSTERLIND
Mark Jurkowitz, Boston Globe, 8/26/2003
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/238/living/WRKO_dismisses_Osterlind+.shtml
Two weeks after he was suspended for what the station said were
inappropriate on-air remarks about the Palestinians, WRKO-AM (680)
morning
drive cohost John ''Ozone'' Osterlind was fired yesterday. A WRKO press
release called the dismissal another step in the ''evolution'' of the
station. And in an interview, station general manager Tom Baker said he
and
program director Mike Elder ''had time to assess what he said, and we
decided . . . it was time to make a decision. We felt the remarks were
insensitive and not appropriate for the radio station.'' Osterlind's
exact
remarks still remain a point of some contention and confusion, but they
were made in the context of a Mideast discussion about eradicating the
Palestinians...
-----
INSIDE ISRAEL'S SECRET PRISON
Aviv Lavie, Haaretz, 8/26/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=331637
Detainees are blindfolded and kept in blackened cells, never told where
they are, brutally interrogated and allowed no visitors of any kind.
Dubbed
'the Israeli Guantanamo,' it's no wonder facility 1391 officially does
not
exist.
M, who serves in the Intelligence Corps reserves, remembers the first
time
he was sent to do guard duty at Camp 1391. Before climbing to the top
of
the observation tower he received an explicit order from the
responsible
officer: "When you're on the tower you look straight ahead only,
outside
the base, and to the sides. What happens behind you is none of your
business. Do not turn around."
M., of course, couldn't resist the temptation and occasionally snuck a
look
behind him. From atop the tower he saw the double fence surrounding the
camp, enclosing a compound ruled by trained attack dogs; the jeep that
patrols inside the two fences; the vehicles utilized by the members of
the
unit who man the base; and especially the large concrete structure,
dating
from the British Mandate period, when it was used by the British
police,
and which now bears a description that carries an aura of mystery:
Israel's
secret detention facility.
Some of the people who were interviewed for this article dubbed the
camp
"the Israeli Guantanamo..."
-----
PROSECUTORS OPEN GENOCIDE STAGE OF MILOSEVIC TRIAL
Anthony Deutsch, Associated Press, 8/25/03
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/237/world/Prosecutors_open_genocide_stag:
The Hague, Netherlands - A former Bosnian Serb soldier who confessed to
executing at least 100 Muslims from Srebrenica in 1995 testified at
Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial Monday that the massacres must
have
been ordered by higher ranking military officials.
The former Yugoslav president denied involvement in the killings and
blamed
mercenaries who he said had been paid in gold for work allegedly
commissioned by the French intelligence.
''Neither Serbia nor I have anything to do with these events in
Srebrenica,'' Milosevic said.
Former soldier Drazen Erdemovic, 31, took the stand as prosecutors
entered
a final, critical stage of their case, in which they will try to prove
allegations that Milosevic orchestrated the most heinous crime of the
Balkan wars genocide in Bosnia.
Erdemovic who pleaded guilty to murder as part of a deal with
prosecutors
in 1996 and has served a five-year sentence described how on July 11,
1995,
his battalion summarily shot 1,000-1,200 people at a farm in the
northeastern enclave Srebrenica.
He said that in spite of moral objections, he participated in the
killing
spree for four hours straight before being relieved...
SEE ALSO:
NEARLY 230 VICTIMS FOUND SO FAR IN BOSNIA GRAVE
Nedim Dervisbegovic, Reuters News, 8/26/03
NEAR ZVORNIK, Bosnia, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Forensic experts said on
Tuesday
they had exhumed remains of nearly 230 Muslims killed early in Bosnia's
1992-5 war from one of the largest mass graves, but adding that
hundreds
more bodies might be found.
Documents retrieved in the Crni Vrh (Black Peak) grave showed the
victims
were Muslims who went missing when Bosnian Serb forces, the former
Yugoslav
army and Serbian irregulars swiftly captured several eastern Bosnian
towns,
they said…
The commission had said that based on evidence from witnesses and other
sources it expected to find remains of people killed in the area in
1992
and those killed in the 1995 Serb massacre of thousands of Muslims from
Srebrenica…
"Many bones and skulls were damaged with bullets which means that the
victims were most probably executed," Klonowski said.
Sinan Hrustic, a 24-year-old Muslim who recently returned to live in
the
nearby village of Klise which his family fled in summer 1992, watched
the
exhumation work hoping the remains of his father and brother would be
found
in the grave.
"They were among 150 people from our village and about 750 from the
area
that disappeared then," Hrustic said while his mother-in-law Ajka
Hasanovic, in a traditional Muslim long dress and headscarf, stood by
the
mass grave and wept.
"She lost 18 male family members and relatives. It is really hard for
her,"
he said.
Of 28,500 people missing from the Bosnian war, mostly Muslims, the
remains
of around 16,500 have been found and 11,500 identified.
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
MUSLIMS TO HOLD 9/11 VIGIL AT U.S. CAPITOL
"A Day of National Unity" event to promote interfaith relations
WHAT: On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
will
host an interfaith memorial event at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in
Washington, D.C., to mark the second anniversary of the 9/11 terror
attacks
and to challenge those who seek to divide America along religious or
ethnic
lines.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Capitol Reflecting Pool (Westside), Washington, D.C.
The event, "A Day of National Unity," will include songs by a
children's
choir, speeches from local and national community and religious leaders
and
a candlelight vigil in memory of those who died in the attacks. (Groups
or
individuals interested in participating in the vigil should contact
Joshua
Brockwell at: jbrockwell@cair-net.org or call 202-488-8787, ext. 3221)
The
event will also include presentation of the first annual "Voice of
Unity
Award" to the Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington, an organization
founded in response to the post-9/11 backlash against American Muslims,
Arab-Americans and those perceived to be Middle Eastern.
"Now more than ever, we must come together as one nation to challenge
the
voices of division in our society," said CAIR Board Chairman Omar
Ahmad.
"The threat of terrorism, and our response to it, continues to test our
ability to live together in a spirit of interfaith harmony and
inclusion.
This is a test we must pass if America is to maintain the values of
religious tolerance we all hold dear."
CAIR is American's largest Islamic civil liberties group. It is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices
nationwide
and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/27/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WORSHIP GOD
* FREE CAIR T-SHIRT WITH MEMBERSHIP AT ISNA
- Muslim Leaders to Hold Press Conference in Chicago
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6843 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* MUSLIM CABBIE RETURNS LOST MONEY (Detroit Free Press)
* TRIAL BEGINS TODAY IN BIAS SUIT AGAINST AMD (Mercury News)
* MUSLIMS PRAY IN TENT AFTER MOSQUE DESTROYED (Mercury News)
- Chestnut Ridge Mosque Sends Aid to Baghdad (Journal News)
* PIPES BRINGS USIP NEGATIVE REPUTATION (Daily Nebraskan)
* CITY'S MUSLIMS WOUNDED BY BASELESS ALLEGATIONS (Edmonton Journal)
- Recent Arrivals Subject to Patriotic Tests (Post-Gazette)
* WE'RE FIGHTING TERROR, BUT KILLING FREEDOM (Newsweek)
- U.S. Risks Repeating A 'Fundamental Injustice' (Insight)
* ISRAELI VOWS NOT TO SERVE IN PALESTINIAN LANDS (AJC)
- Sharon is Now a Danger to US Troops (Guardian)
- GW Hospital Provides Free Care to Palestinian Teen
* HOW AND WHY DID IRAQI DIE? (NY Times)
- Iraq Could Become U.S.'s West Bank and Gaza (Newsday)
- Optimists are Losing Heart about Iraq (Guardian)
- The Jihad All-Stars (NY Times)
- U.S. Opens Hearing on Alleged Iraqi Abuse (AP)
- Danish Minister Under Fire Over Iraqi Deaths (Reuters)
* EASTSIDE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT NOT SEEN ON BALLOT (Seattle Times)
* INTERVIEWEES SOUGHT FOR DOCUMENTARY ON IRAQI WOMEN
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WORSHIP GOD
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) died and the people would
not
believe the news of his death, the Prophet's companion Abu Bakr said:
"Whoever worshipped Muhammad, (know that) Muhammad is dead. But whoever
worshipped God, (know that) God is alive and will never die." He then
quoted the Quran, which states: "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle.
Many
were the Apostles that passed away before him. If he died or were
slain,
will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his
heels,
not the least harm will he do to God; but God (on the other hand) will
swiftly reward those who (serve him) with gratitude." (Quran, 3.144)
The
narrator of this hadith added: "It was as if the people never knew that
God
had revealed this verse before Abu Bakr recited it, and then whoever
heard
it, started reciting it."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 333
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
FREE CAIR T-SHIRT WITH MEMBERSHIP AT ISNA
Please come to the CAIR's booth at the ISNA convention in Chicago this
weekend. Anyone who becomes a CAIR member or renews their membership at
the
booth will receive a free CAIR "Faith in Action" t-shirt. Basic
membership
is only $10. (This offer does not apply to online or mail-in
memberships.)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM LEADERS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) will co-host a press
conference
scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. in Room S501 of
McCormick Place Convention Center, in Chicago, Illinois. This press
conference will be held as a part of the Islamic Society of North
America
Conference held at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois from August 29,
2003
to September 1, 2003.
The ISNA Conference is the largest voluntary gathering of Muslims in
the
Western Hemisphere and will be attended by over 25,000 Muslims from
across
North America. During Labor Day weekend, the attendees will attend
lectures
and participate in discussions on a variety of issues important to
Muslims
today.
The press conference will feature Dr. Sayyid Syeed, Secretary General
of
ISNA, Kareem Irfan, Chairman, Council of Islamic Organizations of
Greater
Chicago, Dr. Bob Edgar, Secretary General of the National Council of
Churches, Dr. David Schwartz, Federal Bureau of Prisons Religious
Services
Administrator and expert on Islam, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Vice President
of
ISNA-USA, and other Muslim leaders from across North America.
Kareem Irfan, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations stated,
"This press conference is an excellent opportunity for members of the
press
to learn the perspective of real experts on Muslims and Islam, Muslims
themselves."
Dr. Sayyid Syeed stated, "The 40th Annual Convention of ISNA brings
together the strength of the growing Muslim community in America and
the
strength of America in respecting diversity. The press conference will
help us to prepare ourselves for identifying the richness of the
program
activities and the socio-political message of the convention."
Journalists seeking additional information or the opportunity to
schedule
one-on-one interviews with Muslim leaders should contact Lara Suleiman
at
630-661-7545.
[For details, Press Passes & interviews contact Lara Suleiman, Ph.
630-661-7545, lsuleiman@ciogc.org - or visit www.isna.net]
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6843 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6843 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARY SPONSORSHIPS IN CANADA, PLEASE VISIT
www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIM CABBIE RETURNS LOST MONEY
THE CONCEPT OF HONESTY EXTENDS THROUGH ALL RELIGIONS
MORT CRIM, Detroit Free Press, 8/27/03
http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/crim27_20030827.htm
Mention the words "New York cabbie" and what's the first thing comes to
mind?
Harrowing, swerving thrill rides through Manhattan's concrete canyons?
Sarcasm? Caustic commentary on everyone from the mayor to the driver
who
just cut him off?
Well, how about honesty?
That's what one New York woman will think of first the next time she
recalls a particular New York cabbie -- a young Pakistani by the name
of
Qurbe Tirmizi -- a gemology student who wants to become a jeweler.
Tirmizi
is 20 and drives the cab to pay for tuition at the Gemology Institute
of
America.
So he could have used the $32,000 in cash the elderly woman left in the
back of his cab. But integrity is worth more to Tirmizi than money.
He's a
devout Muslim.
So when he found the woman's identification in the leather satchel, he
took
it immediately to police.
It was the woman's life's savings and she tried to give Tirmizi a
reward.
No, he said. Returning her money was the right thing to do. All he
wanted
from her was her blessing to help him through his studies and through
life.
That, of course, was something he already had…
-----
TRIAL BEGINS TODAY IN BIAS SUIT AGAINST AMD
Therese Poletti, Mercury News, 8/27/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/6629797.htm
Opening arguments will be heard today in a lawsuit filed by a former
top
executive of Advanced Micro Devices who claims that his distinguished
career at AMD was abruptly derailed when top officials learned he was a
Muslim.
Walid Maghribi, a Lebanese-American who ran AMD's memory-chip business,
filed a suit against the Sunnyvale chip maker in April 2002. In his
complaint, Maghribi contends that several weeks after the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, AMD's top two executives learned that he was a
Muslim of
Arab heritage and his career went into a tailspin.
The opening arguments by Maghribi's attorney and by AMD's counsel will
be
heard in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Judge Jeremy Fogel has set
approximately three weeks for trial...
Maghribi said in his complaint that a joint venture he was brokering
between AMD and Fujitsu was put on hold by Chairman Jerry Sanders after
Sanders learned at a company dinner that Maghribi was a Muslim. The
terms
of the joint venture had been approved by AMD's executive council Oct.
24,
2001, but a few weeks later, Sanders changed his mind about the
structure
of the deal, Maghribi claimed...
-----
SAVANNAH MUSLIMS PRAY IN TENT AFTER MOSQUE DESTROYED BY ARSON
Russ Bynum, Associated Press, 8/26/03
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=17732
SAVANNAH, Georgia - The five men removed their shoes, knelt and prayed
beneath a white tent angled east toward Mecca - and facing the charred
shell of what was their mosque before an arsonist turned it to
blackened
bricks and ash.
Fire investigators have said the blaze that destroyed the Savannah
Islamic
Center before dawn Sunday was set, and the FBI is investigating the
fire as
a possible hate crime.
Muslims who attended the mosque, where about 100 families worshipped,
said
Tuesday they would continue praying openly - even in the afternoon heat
over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).
"In this tent, we are seeing more people than we used to see in this
air-conditioned house," said Saad Hammid, one of the center's board
members. "We already see our community is stronger..."
ALSO SEE:
CHESTNUT RIDGE MOSQUE SENDS AID TO BAGHDAD
Khurram Saeed, Journal News, 8/26/03
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/082603/b0126mosque.html
As Iraqis struggle to regain control of their lives and their country,
a
Chestnut Ridge mosque is helping by filling their stomachs.
The Jerrahi Mosque has sent 75 tons of flour, sugar, lentil beans and
pasta
to Baghdad during the summer, in partnership with the Islamic Relief
Agency, which is based in the United Kingdom.
The effort is one of several projects in the region coordinated by the
Jerrahi Order, a Sufi branch of Islam. The order has mosques in
Rockland,
Redwood City, Calif., Seattle and Toronto, as well as in more than a
dozen
countries in Europe and South America.
Virtually all of the $30,000 for the food aid was collected in
Rockland,
said Tosun Bayrak, the leader of the Chestnut Ridge mosque. People made
donations during Friday prayers, and mosque members gave as part of the
annual charitable requirements mandated of Muslims.
Despite the constant threat of looting, Bayrak said relief has been
reaching the people. The first delivery took place in July; the most
recent
this month...
-----
PIPES BRINGS USIP NEGATIVE REPUTATION
Kyle Michaelis, Daily Nebraskan, 8/26/03
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/08/26/3f4ade86024c3
"Help them to see -- That the people here are like you and me --Let us
show
them how to play --The pipes of peace -- Play the pipes of peace."
Paul McCartney did not set out to write a song capturing the essence
and
intent of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) when his "Pipes
of
Peace" was released in 1983. In fact, the Institute of Peace did not
even
exist until 1984, after years of lobbying for such an organization by
anti-war activists across the country.
Yet, the grand old man of rock 'n' roll's music could quite easily have
been playing in the halls of Congress when the USIP was created to
provide
"the widest possible range of education and training ... and the means
to
promote international peace and the resolution of conflicts among the
nations and peoples of the world without recourse to violence..."
Still, the USIP has continued to operate on a meager budget in relative
obscurity to its natural counterparts in the Pentagon and the
Department of
Defense, working hard to stay true to its stated end. Keeping with his
administration's incomprehensible ideology as an enemy to peace.
However,
President Bush has now declared war on the USIP by undermining its
efforts
in insidious and unforgivable fashion with the appointment of
controversial
columnist and Middle Eastern affairs scholar Daniel Pipes to its board
of
directors.
Bush made the appointment Friday, during Congress' summer recess, slyly
avoiding a very nasty confirmation hearing certain to dwell on Pipes'
history of anti-Muslim remarks, not to mention the general disdain
reserved
for him in numerous academic circles...
CAIR also quotes Pipes saying of Islam in 1996, "this religion would
seem
to have nothing functional to offer," while claiming in a 2001
Salon.com
interview that the idea of America having a Muslim president was akin
to
electing a fascist.
Most disturbingly, though, Pipes has a long history of advocating
violence
against the Palestinian Authority and throughout the Middle East,
expressing skepticism that the rifts between the Western and Muslim
world,
especially in the case of Israel, can be solved by peaceful means...
-----
CITY'S BATTERED MUSLIMS WOUNDED BY BASELESS ALLEGATIONS
Tim Weis, Edmonton Journal, 8/27/03
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Tim Weis is an Edmonton member of the advisory board to the Council on
American Islamic Relations Canada (CAIR-CAN)
The Muslim community in Edmonton dates back over a century to early
Lebanese immigrants who landed here. While growing in size and ethnic
diversity, Edmonton Muslims have integrated into the web of Albertan
society, contributing farmers, teachers, doctors as well as members of
Parliament. Bill Smith, Ralph Klein and Jean Chretien have recently
recognized their collective achievements over the past 100 years.
Edmonton's Muslim community takes pride in the fact that it was on
101st
Street and 108th Avenue of Alberta's capital city, that the first
mosque in
North America was established in 1938. The Al-Rashid mosque has since
moved, and grown to become one of the largest Islamic centres in
Western
Canada, housing not only a prayer area, but also a school, a youth
centre
and a gymnasium.
It was in this gymnasium that I found myself on the night of Sept. 11,
2001
sitting at a round table with over 50 other saddened, scared and
confused
faces from across the city. While barely having enough time to digest
the
tragedy that unfolded that morning, the community was bracing itself
for
being held collectively responsible for the vicious attacks in New York
City.
It was in part due to the long roots that Muslims have in this city
that
led to an unexpected reaction by Edmontonians. Instead of being blamed
for
the attacks, overwhelmingly the initial response post-Sept. 11 was an
outpouring of support. Letters and phone calls came in to all of the
Islamic organizations across the city offering understanding and a
desire
to strengthen relationships.
Unfortunately, as the days and weeks wore on, and as the bombardment of
negative images of Islam and Muslims flooded the newspapers and
televisions, the backlash that was felt across the U.S. and Canada
eventually reached Edmonton. Threatening phone calls and e-mails that
had
been initially rare became more frequent while racist comments and acts
of
vandalism were reported citywide...
ALSO SEE:
RECENT ARRIVALS TO THIS FREE SOCIETY ARE ALL TOO OFTEN SUBJECT TO
PATRIOTIC
LITMUS TESTS
S. Amjad Hussain, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8/27/03
http://www.post-gazette.com/search/redir.asp?path=/forum/comm/20030827edhuss0827p1.asp&date=8/27/03%201:59:35%20AM
Recently an irate reader of mine took me to task for criticizing the
foreign policy of our government. He questioned my patriotism and my
loyalty to this country. What amused (and startled) me was his angry
suggestion that I should go back to the country of my origin and help
"your
own people that our young boys are helping overseas." He also reminded
me,
as if I need to be reminded, that I should be grateful for being in
this
country rather than criticize the policies of our government.
While it is tempting to brush aside such outbursts as the ranting of an
otherwise educated professional who happens to be a xenophobe and an
Islamophobe, close scrutiny reveals that such attitudes have become
rather
pervasive since 9/11. Somehow, everyone who looks different and thinks
different is a suspect and a turncoat.
This attitude -- permit me to call it un-American -- is not uncommon in
some of the Third World countries where nationalistic and religious
fervor
fuels the fires of prejudice and intolerance. Ours is a pluralistic
society
that accommodates and encourages conflicting and opposing opinions.
Here in
America, one could speak out loudly and stridently without being
reminded
of one's foreignness or for that matter one's legitimacy...
-----
WE'RE FIGHTING TERROR, BUT KILLING FREEDOM
Randall Hamud, Newsweek, 9/1/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/956446.asp
Are the rights of my Arab and Muslim clients really expendable? Only if
we're ready to give up our own
In the last 23 months I've received countless threats accusing me of
being
a terrorist, but this one caught my attention because it was in
Spanish.
"Te vas a morir!" the voice on my answering machine said. "You're going
to
die!" The caller, a Hispanic man who had probably experienced racial
discrimination at some point in his life, should have known better.
I'm an Arab-American lawyer. Shortly after September 11, the families
of
three young Arab Muslim men asked me to represent them. The men had
been
arrested in San Diego as material witnesses and taken to New York to
testify in front of the grand jury investigating the attack. They were
acquainted with Nawaf Alhamzi and Khalid Almihdhar, two of the
terrorist
hijackers who crashed the plane into the Pentagon. Alhamzi and
Almihdhar
had visited San Diego the year before the attack and befriended my
clients.
Though my clients knew nothing about the hijackers' plans, the Bush
administration wasn't taking any chances. Immediately after September
11,
approximately 1,200 Arab and Muslim men were arrested. Many of them are
still in secret custody...
ALSO SEE:
AMERICA RISKS REPEATING A 'FUNDAMENTAL INJUSTICE'
Jeffrey Scott Shapiro, Insight on the News, 9/15/03
http://www.insightmag.com/news/450327.html
Recently the Justice Department released a report indicating that the
federal government unnecessarily incarcerated many of the illegal
immigrants it detained in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
According to the report, top government officials ignored calls from
immigration agents who could have cleared innocents and, as a result,
many
people were unnecessarily imprisoned.
Now the federal government may deport more than 13,000 Muslim men who
voluntarily registered with Department of Homeland Security officials
earlier this year. Many of these men have complied legally with
immigration
officials and have waited years for their applications to be approved.
Some
have wives with valid green cards and American-born children. Still,
they
may be forced to return to their Middle Eastern homelands.
Of the 82,000 men who registered, only a few had links to terrorist
organizations. Despite this fact, Attorney General John Ashcroft
recently
returned to Congress telling legislators that he needed more power
effectively to hunt down terrorists who could pose a threat to national
security
Since Sept.11, not one single act of terrorism has been successfully
committed in the United States...
-----
ISRAELI RESERVIST VOWS NOT TO SERVE IN PALESTINIAN LANDS
Sheila M Poole, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 8/26/03
http://ajc.com/news/content/news/atlanta_world/0803/27refuser.html
Stav Adivi is a Zionist.
He's also a reserve major in the Israel defense forces.
But Adivi, who usually serves about four weeks a year on reservist
duty,
carries another description that generates debate within Israel and the
Jewish community in the United States.
Adivi is a refuser. Like hundreds of other Israeli men and women, Adivi
refuses to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, lands Israel has
occupied
since the Six Day War of 1967 and the home to 3.5 million Palestinians.
Joining one of several refuser movements is not an easy decision for
anyone
growing up in the Jewish state, where military service is compulsory
and
the Israel defense forces are considered almost "sacred," Adivi said
during
a recent Atlanta visit...
ALSO SEE:
SHARON IS NOW A DANGER TO US TROOPS AND HOPES IN IRAQ
Martin Woollacott, Guardian, 8/22/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1027329,00.html
The crisis of American power that has been building since the Twin
Towers
attacks is close to a point of no return. The bombs which brought havoc
to
Baghdad and Jerusalem this week and the likely collapse of the
ceasefire in
the Holy Land illustrate how unsteady is the American hand in the
Middle
East. Great enterprises demand great qualities. While the US has
certainly
not yet failed in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Holy Land, and has some
achievements, ultimate success depends on it showing a new
determination
and clarity.
The Americans have been slow - slow to act and slow witted; slow to
discard
the assumption that Iraq and Afghanistan could easily be restored to
normality after their regimes were destroyed; slow to set aside
ideological
preconceptions; and slow to grasp, if they have grasped at all, the
deviousness of their Israeli ally.
That slowness has allowed Islamic extremists to move into Iraq, in what
force it is not yet known, but it would be prudent to assume it is
substantial...
---
GW HOSPITAL PROVIDES FREE CARE TO INJURED PALESTINIAN TEEN
15- Year-Old Boy Has Deadly Aneurysm as Result of Explosion
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A two-hour interventional
procedure
performed by Anthony Venbrux, MD, Director of Interventional Radiology
and
Elizabeth Ignacio, MD, has cured 15 year-old Palestinian teenager,
Saleh
Al-Hajin, of a deadly aneurysm. Through a tiny incision, a catheter
was
fed to the site of the aneurysm. The catheter held a self-expanding,
covered metallic stent, which was used to seal the aneurysm. GW
physicians
are optimistic that Saleh will make a full recovery and require no
further
medical intervention for the aneurysm.
Saleh was seriously injured in an explosion last September, which
resulted
in a false aneurysm near a major artery. The aneurysm was a time bomb;
potentially rupturing at any time, causing sudden death. The injury
occurred last September when a tank shell exploded, leaving several
flechettes, or darts, lodged into the boy's body…
"After surviving such an attack only to learn that his mother, brothers
and
cousin did not, we wanted to give Saleh a reason to smile," said Dan
McLean, CEO of The George Washington University Hospital. "I am
honored to
be able to assist PCRF in providing the necessary care so Saleh can
resume
his childhood and spend time with his father…"
Contact: Marti L. Harris of the George Washington University Hospital,
202-715-4447; e-mail: marti.harris(At)gwu-hospital.com Lana Ghandour,
202-262-7566 Rani Awwad, 703-470-1076 both of PCRF
-----
HOW AND WHY DID IRAQI DIE? 2 TALES OF ANGER AND DENIAL
John Tierney, New York Times, 8/26/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/27/international/worldspecial/27CIVI.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Any of Ali Muhsin's neighbors can describe the scene
after
he was shot by the Americans.
First he stumbled around the corner, dripping blood, and collapsed near
the
front door of his home. His neighbors hailed a taxi to take him to the
hospital, but then a Humvee roared down the street and blocked the way.
An American soldier leaped out and ran up to Ali, firing a shot in the
air
to scatter the crowd, then aiming his rifle at the boy. The boy's
mother,
Rajaa Yousif Matti, implored the soldier not to kill him. She wept and
wailed. She pleaded in Arabic that he had done nothing wrong and begged
to
put him in the taxi. She kissed the soldier's boots. But she could not
get
through to the American...
The soldiers' answer is that they could not and did not. In their
version
of the scene, they feared for their own lives when they entered that
narrow, crowded street in a tough neighborhood, yet they still did
their
best to save a young man who had just tried to kill them with a
grenade.
But, just like Ali's mother, they could not make themselves understood.
Stories about murderous civilians and brutal soldiers are becoming
endemic.
The truth is generally impossible to ascertain because many incidents
are
not even formally reported, much less investigated...
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ COULD BECOME U.S.'S WEST BANK AND GAZA
James P. Pinkerton, Newsday, 8/26/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-vppin263429010aug26,0,6526032.column
George W. Bush is on to something when he argues that the United States
and
Israel face a common enemy in the Middle East. However, insight is not
the
same as good news; if Bush is correct, then the United States can look
ahead to years, if not decades, of conflict in the area.
In his Saturday radio address, the president linked the two suicide
bombings, in Baghdad and Jerusalem, taking scores of lives on Aug. 19.
Both acts were committed, he said, by terrorists animated by a
"malicious
view of the world."
Bush's words are hard to argue with, but it's also clear that the
bombers
see the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel as their chief
enemy;
those are, after all, the three nations that are occupying territory
they
inhabit. But wait a second, one might say, the terrorists blew up the
United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. Yes, but that's the brutal
logic of
insurgency: Insurgents aim to make occupation impossible, by any means
necessary. And so humanitarian workers are often "collateral damage..."
---
EVEN THE OPTIMISTS ARE LOSING HEART AS IRAQ GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE
Rory McCarthy, Guardian, 8/27/02
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1030002,00.html
It was late June and the searing heat of summer was taking hold when
finally, after weeks of searching, I found what I had been looking for.
Over several days I met a group of extraordinary young Iraqis who -
without
anger, fear or hatred - were beginning to shape the outlines of a
bright
future for their country...
For weeks I had chronicled endless lootings, killings, betrayals,
broken
promises and tragic misunderstandings, the grotesque accoutrements of a
modern military occupation. Nothing else I had seen in Iraq since
America's
war spoke to me with such hope as these men and their promise of a
reasoned, moral reckoning that would drag their country away from the
legacy of three decades of dictatorship towards a brighter future. I
left
believing that against all the odds there was still a chance Iraq would
succeed.
Nearly two months later, I have returned to Iraq and so much has
changed. A
wave of fury and despair among Iraqis has drowned out the few voices
that
filled me with hope. Those of my Iraqi friends who clung resolutely to
their optimistic dreams are finally losing heart. They shrug their
shoulders and begin to list the unrelenting failures of the new Iraq...
---
THE JIHAD ALL-STARS
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 8/27/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/27/opinion/27DOWD.html
Yep, we've got 'em right where we want 'em.
We've brought the fight to their turf, they're swarming into Iraq and
blowing up our troops and other Westerners every day, and that's just
where
we want to be.
Our exhausted and frustrated soldiers are in a hideously difficult
environment they're not familiar with, dealing with a culture America
only
dimly understands, where our desperation for any intelligence has
reduced
us to recruiting Saddam's old spies, whom we didn't trust in the first
place, and where we're so strapped that soldiers may have to face
back-to-back yearlong overseas tours.
We don't know exactly which of our ghostly Arab enemies are which, how
many
there are, who's plotting with whom, what weapons they have, how
they're
getting into Iraq, where they're hiding, or who's financing and
organizing
them.
And we certainly don't understand the violent internecine religious
battles
we've set in motion...
---
U.S. OPENS HEARING ON ALLEGED IRAQI ABUSE
Associated Press, 8/27/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6630539.htm
UMM QASR, Iraq - The U.S. military opened a hearing Wednesday into
allegations that four U.S. Army reservists abused Iraqi prisoners of
war at
a camp in this southern port city.
Possible charges include dereliction of duty, assault and maltreatment
of
prisoners. Three of the soldiers also could be charged with making a
false
official statement and one faces possible obstruction of justice
counts.
The hearing, being held at Camp Bucca, is the equivalent of a civilian
grand jury investigation that will produce a nonbinding recommendation
to
be forwarded to senior military officials for a final judgment.
They are alleged to have punched and kicked several Iraqis, breaking
one
man's nose, while escorting a busload of prisoners to a POW processing
center at Camp Bucca in May in Umm Qasr. The soldiers have said they
acted
in self-defense...
---
DANISH MINISTER UNDER FIRE OVER IRAQI DEATHS
Per Bech Thomsen, Reuters, 8/27/03
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters08-27-100053.asp?reg=EUROPE
COPENHAGEN - The Danish army said on Wednesday it would compensate the
families of two Iraqis killed by Danish soldiers as the defence
minister
faced opposition calls for his resignation over his handling of the
incident.
The army said in a statement that the 80,000 Danish crown ($11,730)
payouts
were being made after discussions with local Iraqi leaders and
according to
local customs. The "matter of guilt" had not been discussed, it said.
The two Iraqis were killed by a routine Danish patrol west of Basra on
August 16 in what was initially described by the Danish military as a
gunbattle with looters. A Danish soldier was also killed in the
incident,
although that was put down to "friendly fire."
The government stuck to the "gunbattle" line until Sunday, when Danish
media broadcast reports that the Iraqis were not looters but unarmed
fishermen...
-----
EASTSIDE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT NOT SEEN ON BALLOT
Warren Cornwall, Seattle Times, 8/26/03
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=minority26e&date=20030826
Asif Rauf, following the long tradition of American politics, went to
an
Independence Day picnic to schmooze voters, donors and potential
campaign
workers.
The novice candidate walked through the gathering at Redmond's Grass
Lawn
Park, introducing himself with a familiar campaign mantra.
"I'm Asif. I'm running for Redmond City Council. I need your help."
The difference is, it was Pakistan Independence Day. The burgers on the
barbecue had been specially butchered and prepared for Muslims. The
crack
of bat on ball was from a cricket bat.
Rauf, a Pakistani immigrant, is one of a tiny number of aspiring
Eastside
politicians hailing from the area's growing minority communities...
-----
BASRA ENTERTAINMENT SEEKS INTERVIEWEES FOR DOCUMENTARY ON IRAQI WOMEN
Basra Entertainment is producing a documentary film about the
experiences
of Iraqi women and children under the conditions of the former regime,
wars, sanctions and current environment in Iraq. Basra Ent. is seeking
interviewees, Iraqi women who are willing to tell their story on
camera.
Looking for any kind of support for filming in Iraq and the U.S. to
bring
the suffering of women and children to light.
Please contact producers Daniela Ryan and Tony Shawkat by phone or
email if
you would be interested in being interviewed or offer other support,
tel:
(760) 324-9855, email: Tony@BasraEntertainment.com or
Daniela@BasraEntertainment.com
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
OHIO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BARS GIRL WEARING MUSLIM SCARF
REGINA HIGH BARS GIRL WEARING MUSLIM SCARF
Karen R. Long, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/28/03
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/106207423574610.xml
Amal Jamal is not welcome at Regina High School anymore.
The returning senior learned Monday as she stood in line to buy
textbooks
that she now violates her Catholic school dress code by wearing a
Muslim
headscarf, or hajib. Surrounded by classmates, Amal put down her books,
fought back tears and left.
"I was in shock; I didn't understand," Amal said. "All along, they gave
me
a room to pray in. They asked me questions about Islam. They always
accepted me for who I was. Now they have decided it is against school
policy to wear my hajib."
Amal, a soft-spoken 17-year-old, sat in her Euclid living room
yesterday,
too stunned to consider what she might do next as her 270 schoolmates
attended a second day of classes on the South Euclid campus. Amal said
she
was stung that no administrator, teacher or student had called her or
tried
to help.
"I feel very bad about this situation. I've agonized over it," said
Sister
Maureen Burke, Regina's principal for 12 years. "Amal is a wonderful
young
woman. The family is very fine. . . . But the uniform issue is very
important to who we are as a Catholic school."
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American Islamic
Relations
in Washington, DC, said he knew of no other American private school
dismissing a Muslim girl in this way. "It's just ridiculous," he said.
"You
have a religious school denying a student the right to her religious
belief."
Yesterday Hooper called Burke in an effort to intervene. Burke
explained
that a private school had a right to enforce its particular rules. In
contrast, no American public school can prohibit a girl from wearing a
religious headscarf, according to the U.S. Department of Education...
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/27/03
* NATIONAL REVIEWS ‘REGRETS’ SMEAR OF CAIR-LA OFFICIAL
* CATHOLIC LEADERS ASKED TO INTERVENE IN HIJAB CASE
* SAVANNAH MOSQUE FIRE FOLLOWED SHOTS, HATE NOTE (Atlanta Journal)
* 2 CONVENTIONS AIM TO UNITE MUSLIM AMERICANS (Chicago Tribune)
* BUSH APPOINTEE IS A BIGOT (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
- Don't Support ‘Scholar' with Malice for Islam (St. Pete Times)
-----
NATIONAL REVIEWS ‘REGRETS’ SMEAR OF CAIR-LA OFFICIAL
http://www.nationalreview.com/letters/letters-steel082803.asp
CORRECTION - In his June 19, 2003 National Review Online article "Who
CAIRs," Shawn Steel made a factual error. Hussam Ayloush, executive
director of the southern California chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, did not co-host the May 1998 event as
described
in the piece. We regret the error. — Eds.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: On August 19, Hussam Ayloush filed a personal
defamation
lawsuit against both the neoconservative National Review magazine and
Shawn
Steel, former chairman of the California Republican Party. In his
lawsuit,
Ayloush states that on June 19, 2003, National Review published an
article
by Steel on its web site, National Review Online, falsely claiming that
Ayloush co-hosted a May 1998 event at which anti-Semitic comments were
allegedly made. In fact, Ayloush did not even attend that event.
National
Review editors did not contact Ayloush to verify the allegation prior
to
publication of Steel's article.]
-----
CATHOLIC LEADERS ASKED TO INTERVENE IN HIJAB CASE
Ohio High School says head scarf ban will be reviewed
(COLUMBUS, OH, 8/29/2003) - The Ohio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today called on national
Catholic
authorities to intervene in the case of a Muslim student at a Catholic
high
school in Ohio being denied the right to wear a religiously-mandated
head
scarf.
CAIR-Ohio also called on Regina High School to allow the student to
return
to class while this issue is being resolved. "The Student has attended
this
school for several years, and has a great deal invested in her
education at
this school, it would be devastating for her to have to change schools
during her senior year," said Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin Vice President of
CAIR-Ohio, who attended a catholic school herself.
In a statement issued earlier today by Regina High School Principal Sr.
Maureen Burke stated: "The school community will undertake a process
that
will allow for a review of policy." In response to this statement Dr.
Mobin-Uddin stated: "We appreciate the schools willingness to review
its
policies, but the most important issue at this time is the education of
the
student, and that is why we are asking the school to allow the student
to
attend classes until the policy in question has been reviewed."
The student, who was scheduled to attend Regina High School in South
Euclid, Ohio, was sent home after coming to the school wearing her
headscarf (Hijab). Principal Burke told the student's parents that the
scarf violates the school's dress code policy prohibiting head
coverings.
Burke also told CAIR that another Muslim student had in the past been
unable to enroll at the school because of the policy. When asked
whether
the policy meant that no Muslim student wearing a head scarf could ever
attend the school, Burke answered "correct."
There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Ohio, 7 million in the United
States, and 1.2 billion worldwide.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END –
CONTACT CAIR-OHIO: 614-451-3232
Following is the August 29, 2003 "Statement from Sister Maureen Burke,
Principal of Regina High School
“A school's dress code and other policies and procedures are developed
to
meet the needs of a particular school community. When a family chooses
Regina High School they are made aware of and agree to abide by the
school's policies and procedures. The Regina school community takes
these
policies and procedures seriously. The issue of wearing a head scarf to
school has generated much discussion and brought to the forefront
issues
that are much broader than the adherence to a dress code. We believe
that
these questions and issues warrant further exploration. The school
community will undertake a process that will allow for a review of
policy,
its implementation and the issues of religious tolerance that have
surfaced. This process will be done as quickly as possible."
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
REGINA HIGH BARS GIRL WEARING MUSLIM SCARF
Karen R. Long, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/28/03
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/106207423
574610.xml
-----
SAVANNAH MOSQUE FIRE FOLLOWED SHOTS, HATE NOTE, MEMBERS SAY
JINGLE DAVIS, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/29/03
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0803/29mosque.html
SAVANNAH -- The pungent smell of charred wood permeated the small white
tent where a group of Muslims gathered for evening prayers this week.
As members prayed, they faced the burned-out remains of a two-bedroom
gray
brick house that had served for almost a year as a temporary Islamic
Center
for about 100 coastal families. The house was torched before dawn
Sunday,
investigators say.
Because of two other recent incidents, the Savannah police and fire
departments, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms are investigating the blaze as a possible hate crime. But
officials warn that it is too early to say who burned the center or
why, or
whether the fire was related to the other incidents.
"We don't know at this point whether it was a burglary, terrorism,
juveniles or something else completely," said Stephen Miller, a
Savannah
fire official. Authorities are pursuing multiple leads, Miller said.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said the Washington-based organization is closely following the
Savannah
investigation. There have been a number of attacks on Muslims in
America
this year, he said, including the severe beating of a Muslim teenager
in
California by a mob and the destruction of a van belonging to a Muslim
family in Illinois. CAIR reported in July that the number of
"anti-Muslim
incidents" in the United States increased in 2002 to 602, a 15 percent
increase over the previous year…
-----
2 CONVENTIONS AIM TO UNITE, EMPOWER MUSLIM AMERICANS
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 8/29/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0308290286aug29,1,1428666.story
Faced with an increase in hate crimes, threats to their civil
liberties,
and a U.S. foreign policy they see as an assault on their faith,
American
Muslims are expected to gather in record numbers at two Chicago
conventions
this weekend to chart a course for increasing their political power and
influence.
Attendance at the annual meetings is expected to be greater than in
previous years, Muslim leaders said, because the Islamic community
believes
that events since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks have created an
urgent
need to organize to defend their constitutional rights.
"The Koran says, 'Don't sit around and cry.' I feel that Muslims must
do
something now," said Janaan Hashim, a board member of the Chicago
chapter
of CAIR, the Washington D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
The Islamic Society of North America is expected to draw 30,000 to
45,000
members to its convention at McCormick Place. The other conference, at
the
Hyatt Regency, is hosted by the American Society of Muslims, a
Chicago-based organization of African-Americans that expects tens of
thousands of its members to attend.
While African-American Muslims and immigrant Muslims, primarily from
South
Asia and the Middle East, historically have kept some distance, leaders
from both groups said they must unify in the current climate. Immigrant
Muslims note that they hope to learn from the experience of
African-Americans during the civil rights movement…
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE IS A BIGOT DISGUISED AS A SCHOLAR
FEDWA WAZWAZ, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 8/28/03
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/6632902.htm
President Bush's back-door appointment of Daniel Pipes to the United
States
Institute for Peace is an act of injustice. This appointment, which
bypassed the normal approval process in the Senate, allowed a racist to
masquerade as a peacemaker.
What are Pipes' qualifications? His resume reads:
* Launched Campus Watch, a Web site that included "dossiers" on
professors
and academic institutions thought to be too critical of Israel or too
sympathetic to Islam and Muslims.
* Advocated the unrestricted profiling of Muslims and Arabs.
* Declared that 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims are "potential
killers."
* Recommended the "vigilant application of social and political
pressure to
ensure that Islam is not accorded special status of any kind in this
country."
Does Pipes have any experience in peace and conflict resolution? None.
Pipes' supporters mention his "prophecy" of warning Americans that
Muslim
terrorists were going to attack America. Keep in mind that the
terrorists
were not exactly secretive that they were planning a "surprise attack."
Even so, Pipes fails to comprehend that 9/11 was an act of terrorists
and
not the Muslim people en masse.
One does not hear Pipes or his supporters replay and remind the
American
people of Baruch Goldstein, who massacred scores of Muslims kneeling in
prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- or of Allan Goodman,
who
entered the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and started firing shots
randomly
at Muslims. These are two American Jews, among the thousands of illegal
settlers who exported violence and terror from America to the
Palestinian
Territories.
Pipes claims it is militant Islam and Muslims he is attacking. However,
he
gives no measurable criteria to differentiate between a radical Muslim
and
a moderate one. More troublesome is that Pipes supports Mujahedeen-e
Khalq,
a group designated as a terrorist group by the State Department. One
gets
the impression that if you disagree with his political views, you're a
Muslim radical…
Pipes' supporters argue his criticism is in the best interests of
Muslims
and America. They need to explain, then, why he attacks the acceptance,
equality and liberty of Muslims and Arabs in America. He compared the
American Muslim voter registration drives to those of the Communist
Party
USA and incited fear that "as the population of Muslims in the United
States grows, so does anti-Semitism," and "black converts (to Islam)
tend
to hold vehemently anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-Semitic
attitudes."
I can sum up Pipes' logic in one word: bigotry. Bigotry is the child of
an
extremist, not a peacemaker. President Bush lost any credibility to
attack
extremism anywhere with his appointment of an extremist to the
Institute
for Peace.
Wazwaz is a Muslim activist residing in Crystal and a former Pioneer
Press
community columnist.
SEE ALSO:
DON'T SUPPORT "SCHOLAR' WITH MALICE FOR ISLAM
St. Petersburg Times, 8/29/03
http://www.stpetetimes.com/2003/08/29/Opinion/Don_t_support__schola.shtml
Re: Senseless attacks on Islamic scholar, by Charles Krauthammer, Aug.
15.
This is not the first time Charles Krauthammer expresses his one-sided
approach on matters related to Muslims and Islam, but this time he has
crossed the line and insulted our intelligence by his comments about
Daniel
Pipes.
Pipes has devoted his career to spreading hate, fear and bigotry
against
immigrants and Muslims. If one visits the Web site of the Middle East
Forum
( http://www.meforum.org ), he will find scores of articles written by
Pipes since the 1980s. Just select any five written pieces at random
and
read them. You will come away with a distinctive thread that runs
through
all Pipes' written work - a tinge of malice in respect to almost every
aspect of Islam. Although Pipes writes from the Jewish perspective, he
is
more like a character from a Shakespearian tragedy. He really can't
help
himself…
Pipes stated that 15 percent of the Muslims in the world are "potential
terrorists and killers." In an interview by Mark Richardson that was in
the
Ontario (Canada) Free Press, Pipes was quoted as saying, "I worry very
much
from the Jewish point of view that the presence and increased stature
and
affluence and enfranchisement (voting rights) of American Muslims will
present a true danger to the American Jews…"
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, was outraged by Pipes' comments. Harkin
states,
"From the deepest part of my body I strongly disagree with Pipes when
he
says that the very fact of enfranchisement, affluence and assimilation
will
somehow threaten our values; the opposite is true. They have taken our
American values and have become American Muslims."
So how can anyone describe such a person as a "scholar" and, worse, how
can
such a person serve our country's interests in the U.S. Institute of
Peace,
a federal agency charged with the mission of expanding society's
knowledge
about the changing nature and conduct of international relations and
the
management of international conflicts as well as increasing
understanding
about international conflicts, and approaches to their prevention,
management and resolution?
Roy Smith, Tampa, and Ezzat Zaki, Lithia
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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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mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/30/03
* CAIR CONDEMNS NAJAF BOMBING
* U.S. MUSLIMS LOOK TO INTERFAITH RELATIONS (AP)
* KENNEDY SAYS PIPES IS 'WRONG PERSON FOR THE JOB' (Boston Herald)
- Pipes Appointment: Sign of the Times (Al-Ahram)
* CATHOLIC GIRLS SCHOOL TO REVIEW DRESS CODE (Plain Dealer)
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS NAJAF BOMBING
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/30/03) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned the car bomb attack Friday in the city of Najaf,
Iraq, that killed more than 100 people, including Ayatollah Mohammed
Baqir
al-Hakim.
In its statement, CAIR said:
"This unspeakable crime could only have been perpetrated by those who
have
no regard for moral or religious values. The bombing clearly
demonstrates
that Iraq is falling into a state of chaos. Only a swift turnover of
political power to a representative Iraqi government has a chance of
stemming the rising tide of violence and instability."
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS LOOK TO INTERFAITH RELATIONS
RACHEL ZOLL, Associated Press, 8/30/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/6655512.htm
CHICAGO (AP) - American Muslims assembled by the thousands Friday for
an
annual convention, stressing a desire for closer relations with other
faiths to counter evangelicals who blame Islam for inciting terrorism.
The Islamic Society of North America, which organized the three-day
event,
invited moderate and liberal Protestant leaders to share the stage with
Muslim leaders and address participants at the opening session.
The Rev. Daniel Vestal of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which
represents moderate Southern Baptists, told the audience that not all
Baptists agree with recent statements by evangelicals ``demeaning
Islam.''
The Rev. Jerry Vines, a Southern Baptist Convention leader, has called
the
Prophet Muhammad a ``demon-possessed pedophile.'' Other critical
statements
of Islam have been made by the Revs. Franklin Graham and Pat Robertson.
"Please know there are many other Baptist Christians whose words and
deeds
are different," Vestal said. "We desire understanding, community and
common
cause."
Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society, noted that
when
Muslims began immigrating to the United States in large numbers in the
1960s, it was the Christian campus ministries that provided Muslim
college
students with space to worship.
The Rev. Bob Edgar, head of the National Council of Churches, which
represents thousands of mainline Protestant and Orthodox Christian
congregations, drew applause when he noted his group had opposed the
U.S.-led war on Iraq.
He condemned what he called the "hate speech" of conservative Christian
leaders who condemn Islam and committed the resources of his
organization
to fostering respect for the religion…
The meeting comes at a difficult time for the U.S. Muslim community,
which
has felt under siege since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Estimates
of the number of Muslims in the United States vary dramatically,
between 2
million and 6 million.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group in
Washington, released a report last month blaming the government
crackdown
on terrorists for encouraging other citizens to target Muslims.
The council's annual study found a 15 percent jump last year in
incidents
of anti-Muslim violence, discrimination and harassment…
Muslims also were outraged when President Bush last week appointed
controversial Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes to the U.S. Institute of
Peace, a government-sponsored think-tank. Muslims consider Pipes an
extremist and bigot for his critique of their religion, a claim Pipes
denies.
The Islamic Society of North America, based in Plainfield, Ind., is an
association of Muslim organizations working in education, social
service
and other areas.
-----
SEN. KENNEDY SAYS PIPES IS 'WRONG PERSON FOR THE JOB'
PIPES NOT FIT
Boston Herald, 8/29/03
http://www.bostonherald.com
Your editorial criticizes my opposition to the Bush administration's
appointment of Dr. Daniel Pipes to the U.S. Institute of Peace
("Kennedy
vendetta's price," Aug. 27). But a review of his record clearly shows
that
he's the wrong person for the job.
The Institute of Peace was founded in order to find ways to bridge
differences between nations, cultures and religions to prevent armed
conflicts. Its mission is more important today than ever, and we should
appoint to it only the best that America has to offer…
Regarding the Middle East conflict, he wrote, "The idea that a 'peace
process' can take the place of the dirty work of war is a conceit." The
view that armed conflict is inevitable may be debated in academic
circles,
but it has no place at the Institute of Peace.
Pipes also has made various offensive remarks over the years, and has
called for racial and religious profiling in law enforcement. He
believes
that mosques should be targets of police surveillance. These
controversial
stands make him unsuited for a position that's about bringing people
together…
But surely, we can find someone better to serve at our Institute of
Peace.
- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
SEE ALSO:
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Mohamed Hakki, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 28-September 3
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/653/op1.htm
In the greater scheme of things the appointment of a professor at an
institute in Washington DC, even an institute that is federally funded,
should not be a major concern. That is unless the professor in question
is
a notorious bigot, propagandist and proponent of the McCarthyist
thought
policing of US universities and academic institutions. There is more:
the
United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a federally funded
organisation
the members of which are proposed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate.
On 23 July the Senate committee charged with this met and decided to
"indefinitely" postpone the confirmation. Four Democratic members
questioned what signals the appointment of Daniel Pipes would send.
Pipes'
appointment, said Edward Kennedy, did not "reflect a commitment to
bridging
differences and preventing conflict".
Pipes appointment, Senator Tom Harkin said, could easily overshadow the
institute's work. Senator Harkin also quoted a report carried by the
London
Free Press in Canada in which Pipes is quoted as saying that he worries
"very much from the Jewish point of view that the presence and
increased
stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims will
present true dangers to American Jews". The Senator added: "Increased
stature, affluence and enfranchisement. He is talking about the right
to
vote. The right to vote!"
No surprise, then, that Muslim American organisations were shocked by
the
news of Pipes's appointment to this think tank. They have been joined
by
many Jewish and mainstream Christian organisations. In a joint press
conference at the National Press Building they outlined the reasons for
their opposition.
Pipes, they pointed out, supports the unrestricted profiling of Muslims
and
Arabs; he refuses to condemn the internment of Japanese Americans
during
World War II; he has suggested that Israel raze Palestinian villages;
he
claims that 10 to 15 per cent of all Muslims are "potential killers";
he
has publicly opposed President Bush's repeated statements that Islam is
a
religion of peace; he opposes the roadmap; he denounces any positive
portrayal of Islamic history and beliefs in public schools; he launched
Campus Waters, a Web site that includes "dossiers" on professors and
academic institutions thought to be too critical of Israel or too
sympathetic to Islam and Muslims; he advocates that the activities of
mosques require scrutiny beyond that applied to churches and
synagogues.
The list goes on and on…
One can go on enumerating Pipes's shortcomings. The important question,
though, is why President Bush should be so adamant about his
appointment in
the face of Congressional disapproval. Why was it that the White House
sought to sneak through the appointment, announcing it at 11.19pm on 22
August in an attempt to minimise any coverage by a media that is in any
case compliant, so embedded is it in the neo-con cabal? Is it possible
that
President Bush is unaware of his appointee's sordid history? Is it
possible
that he could be unaware of the myriad objections raised by senators,
religious leaders and Muslim organisations?...
-----
CATHOLIC GIRLS SCHOOL TO REVIEW DRESS CODE
Karen R. Long, Plain Dealer, 8/30/03
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1062236314108621.xml
Regina High School, responding to mounting criticism, announced
yesterday
that it will review the dress code that caused it to bar a returning
senior
for wearing a Muslim head scarf to school this week.
"The school community will undertake a process that will allow for a
review
of policy, its implementation and the issues of religious tolerance
that
have surfaced," Principal Maureen Burke said in a prepared statement.
"This
process will be done as quickly as possible."
While some supporters encouraged the small Catholic girls school to
stand
firm, the Ohio Council on American Islamic Relations asked national
Catholic authorities to intervene on behalf of student Amal Jamal.
Former Rep. Mary Rose Oakar and the Rev. Joseph Hillinski, interfaith
director of the Catholic diocese, also called on Regina High School to
re-admit the girl.
Amal, who was born 17 years ago in Cleveland, began in June to wear the
hijab, the Muslim head scarf, everywhere. She was standing in line
buying
textbooks Monday when Burke told Amal that she could not attend classes
on
the South Euclid campus in her scarf.
Jad Humeidan, CAIR's Ohio executive director, praised Burke for the
review
and asked officials if Amal might attend classes in the meantime. He
said
Regina's response was noncommittal.
In a letter e-mailed yesterday to members of the Islamic community,
Hillinski wrote: "It might help for you to realize that other Catholic
schools, and especially those under the direct administration of Bishop
Pilla called Diocesan schools, would welcome a young woman who wore the
hijab because of her religious conviction. I assure that I will
continue to
help our Catholic people realize that we esteem the religious
convictions
and traditions of Islam…"
Hillinski said he wished Burke had consulted him before deciding that
Amal's head scarf violated the dress code. The priest noted the long
cordial relations between the Jamals and both Regina and Holy Cross
Elementary School in Euclid.
"I really think the Jamals did not guess for a moment that [he ban on
headdress] applied to them," he said. "They thought the handbook spoke
to
decorative headwear."
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/2/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: ACTS OF KINDNESS
* U.S. MUSLIMS MAKE CIVIL RIGHTS TOP ISSUE (AP)
- Boss of American Society of Muslims Quits (AP)
- Turning Point for Islamic Blacks (Chicago Tribune)
- AMPCC Open Letter to the American Muslim Community
* WRAP UP THE HIJAB CONTROVERSY (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- Editorial Cartoon on Hijab Controversy
* GHOSTS OF 9/11 HAUNT CANADA (TORONTO STAR)
* HIGH LEVELS OF RADIATION AROUND BAGHDAD (DR)
- White Man's Burden (Haaretz)
* POLICE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE ON ISRAELI ARABS (NY Times)
- Israeli Arabs Decry Inquiry Report (CSM)
- Spy for Israel Going Back to Court (CNN)
- Failed Society Collapses, Leaders Silent (Forward)
* NEW AFGHAN CONSTITUTION IS WORRYING U.S. PANEL (Forward)
- Reverse Flawed Policies (USA Today)
* NCPA PRESIDENT TO GIVE KEYNOTE AT BALTIMORE FUNCTION
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: ACTS OF KINDNESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first of those who
shall enter Paradise are the people who do acts of kindness."
Related by at-Tabarani in al'Awsat.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, 97B
-----
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Some published reports overseas indicated that a
decision
has already been made about who national Muslim groups will or will not
endorse in the 2004 presidential elections. Those reports are
inaccurate.
No such decision has been made. For a description of the endorsement
process, see the American Muslim Political Coordinating Council's
(AMPCC)
"Open Letter to the American Muslim Community" below. AMPCC is made up
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim American Congress
(includes both American Muslim Alliance and American Muslim Council)
and
Muslim Public Affairs Council.]
U.S. MUSLIMS MAKE CIVIL RIGHTS TOP ISSUE
Rachel Zoll, Associated Press, 8/31/03
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030831_629.html
CHICAGO - American Muslim leaders, stung by the government's scrutiny
of
their community during the domestic hunt for terrorists, have pledged
to
express their anger at the polls.
Leaders of the Islamic Society of North America announced plans Sunday
during their annual meeting to register 1 million Muslim voters and
make
civil rights a top issue in any endorsement of a presidential
candidate.
"A defining moment of Islam in America is approaching," said Nihad
Awad,
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a
civil
rights group based in Washington. "We cannot surrender our future and
our
destiny to hate in this country."
Muslim leaders made their first unified endorsement in a presidential
race
in 2000, backing George W. Bush. Many thought he would take a harder
line
against Israel, and, based on statements he made while campaigning,
would
protect the rights of immigrants facing deportation.
Muslims say they have been bitterly disappointed on both counts.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Bush won points with American
Muslims by
visiting a mosque and declaring Islam a peaceful religion.
But since then, the federal government has detained hundreds of
immigrants,
shut down U.S. Muslim charities suspected of terrorist ties and gained
broad new powers to monitor citizens under the USA Patriot Act…
National Muslim organizations, including Awad's, reported a dramatic
increase in donations and membership. Immigrant Muslims who had taken
little interest in U.S. government began inviting their mayors,
governors
and even FBI agents into local mosques to learn about the community.
Muslims see the recent fight over Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes as
another sign of their political progress.
Bush nominated Pipes, an outspoken critic of militant Islam, to a
federally
funded think tank called the U.S. Institute for Peace, angering Muslims
who
consider him a bigot a claim Pipes denies.
After an intensive Muslim-led campaign to block the nomination, Bush
appointed Pipes in recess on Aug. 22, bypassing the Senate approval
process
where his confirmation was in jeopardy. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.,
was
among the lawmakers who opposed the nominee.
"For the first time, someone on Capitol Hill was advocating our
issues,"
said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs
Council based in Los Angeles…
Also on Sunday, black Muslim leader Imam W. Deen Mohammed announced his
resignation from the American Society of Muslims but pledged to
continue
working on Muslim issues.
ALSO SEE:
BOSS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MUSLIMS QUITS
Rachel Zoll, Associated Press, 9/1/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V8568.AP-Black-Muslims-R.html
CHICAGO - Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the black Muslim spiritual leader who
over
three decades transformed how American blacks practice the religion,
has
resigned as head of the American Society of Muslims.
Mohammed said he will continue to represent and guide black Muslims and
direct his ministry, The Mosque Cares, but would no longer lead the
society, the main organization representing his movement.
"I'm getting ready ... to do more, to be more productive and to
contribute
to the good life of the believers," Mohammed said Sunday at the start
of
his keynote speech at the society's annual convention.
Mohammed, who will turn 70 in October, on Saturday privately informed
his
movement's imams, or prayer leaders, that he would step down.
His national representative, Imam Earl Abdulmalik Mohammed, announced
the
decision before Sunday's keynote speech. Some audience members gasped,
then
applauded and cheered for him. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad
Ali,
who is Muslim, attended but did not speak…
---
TURNING POINT FOR ISLAMIC BLACKS; COURSE UNCLEAR AS MOHAMMED EXITS
Geneive Abdo and Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 9/2/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0309020208sep02,1,3268263.story
The unexpected resignation of W. Deen Mohammed over the weekend leaves
his
estimated 2 million African-American followers at a crossroads, torn
between continuing on his path of integration with mainstream Sunni
Islam
or returning to the black separatist ideas Mohammed left behind nearly
three decades ago.
Mohammed, 69, said in a telephone interview Monday that he is stepping
down
as the leader of the group he established, the American Society of
Muslims,
in part out of frustration with the imams, or preachers, in the
organization, who he said are not trained theologians.
"American Society of Muslim leaders (imams) don't support me, but the
followers do. I have tried over the last 10 to 12 years to encourage
them
to get more religious education, but I have made no progress," said
Mohammed. "They want their followers just to obey them, but not
question
them or right their wrong deeds."
Mohammed said Sunday in Chicago at the annual convention of the
American
Society of Muslims that he was resigning to work on projects to change
the
negative image of Islam in the United States. One project is an Islamic
community in Chicago's south suburbs…
---
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY
American Muslim Political Coordinating Council, 9/1/03
(This letter was distributed at the Islamic Society of North America
convention in Chicago.)
Assalamu Alaikum (peace be with you) Brothers & Sisters, Fellow
American
Muslims,
As we commemorate this Labor Day weekend by reflecting on how the
fruits of
hard work have truly made this country the land of opportunity, we know
that our nation is still an experiment, a work-in-progress, and that
American Muslims must play an instrumental role in making it even
better.
Our challenges are many, both from within and without. We are
relatively
young community in the U.S., ethnically and culturally diverse, and
still
"learning the ropes" when it comes to the realm of politics. We are
challenged by the after effects of 9/11, erosion of civil rights, and
the
general tone of anti-Muslim sentiment emanating from Washington D.C.
and
some elements in the media.
Our challenges are great, even historic, but rising to such challenges
is a
hallmark characteristic of our collective history and we will,
Inshallah,
do no less is current times. Besides, what we face today is nothing
when
compared to the daunting challenges faced by the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH). Learning from his shining example, we American Muslims must
fulfill our duty to our religion in part by fulfilling our duty to our
nation.
With a sense of God-consciousness, the AMPCC believes American Muslims
must
defend our country intellectually, spiritually, and physically. We
must
defend America against terrorism and violence. We must defend its civil
liberties, its religious pluralism, and coalesce the Islamic and
American
spirit of respect and tolerance. We must do so in the best of forms
through kindness, care, harmony, healing, and love.
Many of us are already exemplifying the spirit of our faith in our
day-to-day interactions with co-workers, neighbors and friends. But to
truly become a recognized and influential community, American Muslims
must
organize and fully participate in the democracy we live in.
Practically
speaking, we must vote!
For us to take our voting rights for granted, or to give in to a sense
of
political apathy or fear and not vote altogether, would be an irony of
historic proportions. This will only hearten those who seek to exclude
us
from the American mainstream.
Beyond that, we live at a time where our very civil rights are at
risk. With the passage of the "USA Patriot Act" in 2001, and the
pursuits
of the U.S. Justice and Treasury Departments, AMPCC has focused its
efforts
on a "Civil Rights Plus" agenda. By this we mean we will seek to defend
not
only the civil rights of the American Muslim community, but of all
Americans. As this process is helping us expand our mental and moral
horizons, we will also be engaged in issues pertaining to education,
homelessness, economic recovery, environmental and ecological concerns,
electoral reform, crime, and global peace and justice.
How AMPCC is working for you
Although AMPCC is an umbrella organization comprised of AMA, AMC, CAIR,
&
MPAC, we recognize American Muslims are not a homogenous
group. Alhamdullilah, we differ in thought and opinion on a variety of
matters. To that end, AMPCC has worked hard in establishing a criteria
and
a process for candidate endorsement.
Election 2004:
The AMPCC Board has developed special, structured and comprehensive
plans
for reaching out every ethnic and socio-economic group within the
American
Muslim Community and developing stable, harmonious and mutually
beneficial
relations with them. Each participating organization will be obliged to
make a good faith effort to reach out to its own members to ensure
their
full participation in the endorsement process. Organization will be
free to
seek such participation and policy input through opinion polls,
questionnaires, community forums, town hall meetings, e-groups and
other
similar means. Each organization shall make a good faith to enable each
of
its members to have an equal say in the decision making process. The
Taskforce shall make good faith effort to ensure that each member
organization will receive the due consideration during the
decision-making
process.
The AMPCC has established a taskforce that will seek to involve all
major
organizations in the decision-making process. It will seek their
agreement
over the policy and decision-making criteria and process. To that end,
it
will:
1. Communication and community education: The Taskforce will seek to
educate the Muslim American Community though monthly/weekly reports, a
pre-election score card (indicating the position and performance of
candidates), community forums, candidates forums, town hall meetings,
and
special reports. Set a shared communication system to be used during
the
elections. This will include a forthcoming website about Muslim voters
(www.americanmuslimvoter.net).
2. Criteria: develop consensus around a criteria such as the following:
a)
Accessibility of the candidate to the Muslim community Position on key
issues, c) Track record, d) Feedback from the community (To satisfy the
fourth criterion, we will ask each organization to seek structured
input
from its members)
Endorsement: At the end of this process, the Taskforce will decide by
consensus to or not to endorse one of the presidential candidates. The
final endorsements will, inshallah, reflect consultations with all
major
groups and organizations as well as input from every willing Muslim
American.
Civil Rights
As the attacks on Islam, Quran and the Prophet of Islam are mounting,
we
remain committed to defending our sacred books, or beloved Prophet and
the
principles of our religion. The AMPCC will continue to defend civil
right
of all without exceptions. We have developed a three-part plan to
pursue
this goal:
1. Education: We will continue to educate fellow Americans about Islam
and
Muslims. Also, in the same spirit we are attempting to learn about
other
groups, their histories, sufferings, struggles and achievements.
2. Coalition Building: We will continue to work to expand our
cooperative
work in the interfaith, ethnic and civil rights communities. Today,
Americans from every walk of life and every ethnic and religious
background
are stepping forward to support and defend the rights of Muslim and
Arabs.
We will continue to deepen and strengthen our working relations with
the
African American, Latino American and Asian American communities.
3. Full Involvement: The AMPCC will continue to encourage each and
every
Muslim American to take part in every aspect of American public life
ranging from public debate to political campaigns.
-----
WRAP UP THE HIJAB CONTROVERSY
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/1/03
http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1062415812242500.xml
As a parochial institution free from direct federal support, Regina
High
School has every right to decide what students can wear to class. But
in
the case of a student barred for wearing a Muslim headscarf, the school
should reconsider.
Amal Jamal, 17, decided this summer that she was prepared to wear the
headscarf, known as a hijab, to demonstrate her deepening faith. When
the
senior returned to Regina's campus last week to purchase textbooks,
however, she was told that the garment was a violation of the school's
dress code.
Supporters of the school's stand note that student uniforms are an
integral
part of the parochial school experience. Regina's dress code explicitly
prohibits hats, bandannas and headwraps. At the very least, these
defenders
say, Amal and her family should have discussed in advance with Regina
officials her plans to wear the hijab.
This position presumes an understanding that Amal and her family say
they
did not have. Both Amal, and her older sister, a 2002 graduate, had
found
Regina welcoming of their alternative faith in many ways; the school
even
established a prayer space for them. In that context, it did not occur
to
the family that Amal's hijab would be considered objectionable -
certainly
not that it would fall into the same category as, say, a baseball cap.
This incident has stirred national interest, and thus highlights the
learning opportunity available. Regina officials should meet with the
Jamals and learned representatives of both positions. At the very
least,
such a conversation should educate each side about the nuances of the
other's beliefs. Ideally, it would lead Regina to allow a member of its
community to finish her academic journey with her classmates.
SEE ALSO:
EDITORIAL CARTOON ON OHIO HIJAB CONTROVERSY
http://www.cleveland.com/darcy/index.ssf?/darcy/more/082903.html
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
CATHOLIC GIRLS SCHOOL TO REVIEW DRESS CODE
Karen R. Long, Plain Dealer, 8/30/03
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1062236314108621.xml
-----
GHOSTS OF 9/11 HAUNT CANADA
Thomas Walkom, Toronto Star, 9/2/03
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1062195013699
In October, 1970, faced with two political kidnappings, Canada's
federal
government invoked the War Measures Act, a remarkably draconian piece
of
legislation that suspended civil liberties throughout the country.
At the time, most Canadians cheered. When, two days later, one of the
kidnap victims was murdered by his Front de liberation du Quebec
captors,
support for the government's tough line soared.
So it goes in times of stress. When people are frightened, they want
their
governments to crack down - regardless of the consequences…
These days, one would have to travel far to find anyone who would
justify
the incarceration of Japanese Canadians during World War II.
So I have some hope that, eventually, the post 9/11 pathology, too,
will
pass. These days, all too familiar arguments are being made to justify
actions that, in less fretful times, most Canadians would find
abhorrent.
I speak, of course, of the attitude toward Muslims in general and
Muslim
immigrants in particular…
-----
DANGEROUSLY HIGH LEVELS OF RADIATION MEASURED AROUND BAGHDAD
Drudge Report, 9/1/03
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm
Soldiers and civilians in Iraq face a health timebomb after dangerously
high levels of radiation were measured around Baghdad.
Levels between 1,000 and 1,900 times higher than normal were recorded
at
four sites around the Iraqi capital where depleted uranium (DU)
munitions
have been used across wide areas.
Experts estimate that Britain and the US used 1,100 to 2,200 tons of
armour-piercing shells made of DU during attacks on Iraqi forces.
That figure eclipses the 375tons used in the 1991 Gulf War. Unlike that
largely desert-based conflict, most of the rounds fired in March and
April
were in heavily residential areas.
DU rounds are highly combustible and tiny particles of the radioactive
material are left on the battleground.
If inhaled the material can attack the body causing cancers, chronic
illness, long-term disabilities and genetic birth defects - none of
which
will be apparent for at least five years…
ALSO SEE:
WHITE MAN'S BURDEN
Ari Shavit, Haaretz, 9/1/03
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=280279
The war in Iraq was conceived by 25 neoconservative intellectuals, most
of them Jewish, who are pushing President Bush to change the course of
history. Two of them, journalists William Kristol and Charles
Krauthammer,
say it's possible. But another journalist, Thomas Friedman (not part of
the
group), is skeptical…
At the conclusion of its second week, the war to liberate Iraq wasn't
looking good. Not even in Washington. The assumption of a swift
collapse of
the Saddam Hussein regime had itself collapsed. The presupposition that
the
Iraqi dictatorship would crumble as soon as mighty America entered the
country proved unfounded. The Shi'ites didn't rise up, the Sunnis
fought
fiercely. Iraqi guerrilla warfare found the American generals
unprepared
and endangered their overextended supply lines. Nevertheless, 70
percent of
the American people continued to support the war; 60 percent thought
victory was certain; 74 percent expressed confidence in President
George W.
Bush…
-----
POLICE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE ON ISRAELI ARABS, PANEL SAYS
James Bennet, New York Times, 9/1/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/02/international/middleeast/02ISRA.html
JERUSALEM- Finding a pattern of government "prejudice and neglect"
toward
Israel's Arab minority, a landmark Israeli commission of inquiry today
accused the police of using excessive force three years ago to combat
riots
that it said had resulted from simmering, overlooked anger.
The commission said insensitivity by the Israeli "establishment"
permitted
widespread discrimination against Israeli Arabs and the buildup of a
"combustible atmosphere," as, it said, a politicized Islam began to
radicalize the population.
The three-member commission was charged with investigating the deaths
of 13
people from police fire in October 2000, when thousands of Israeli
Arabs
choked streets and threw stones in solidarity with Palestinians in the
West
Bank and Gaza Strip, who just had just begun their uprising against
Israel.
A Jewish motorist was also killed, by a stone-thrower.
Criticizing police tactics that included the use of sniper fire to
disperse
crowds, the report concluded that Israel "must educate its police that
the
Arab public is not the enemy, and should not be treated as such." More
than
a million of Israel's 6.6 million citizens are Arabs…
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELI ARABS DECRY INQUIRY REPORT
Ben Lynfield, Christian Science Monitor, 9/2/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0902/p07s01-wome.html
JERUSALEM - In an already poisoned atmosphere, the findings of an
official
Israeli inquiry into the death of 13 Arab citizens at the hands of
Israeli
police in 2000 seems to have no chance of bringing about catharsis, or
even
much relief.
Arab reactions to the findings of the three-member commission yesterday
were generally negative, stressing that it did not find any of the
police
criminally culpable or make operative recommendations against the
Israeli
prime minister at the time, Ehud Barak.
The deaths of the 13 Arabs deepened wounds and distrust between the
Jewish
majority and the Arab minority, which accounts for 19 percent of
Israel's
population. The killings are considered by Israel's Arab citizens clear
proof that their lives are cheap and they are seen as enemies, while
Jewish
memories tend to focus on the images of Arab citizens throwing stones
and
blocking roads, similar to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip…
But the reaction of the mainstream Arab leadership, perhaps
surprisingly,
also contained a whiff of praise for the probe's detailing decades of
government neglect of Arab grievances, listing that as the backdrop to
the
eruption of violence…
---
SPY FOR ISRAEL GOING BACK TO COURT
David Ensor, CNN, 9/1/03
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/09/01/pollard/index.html
WASHINGTON -- Jonathan Pollard has spent nearly 18 years in prison, 16
of
them as part of a life sentence for spying against the United States on
behalf of a U.S. ally -- Israel.
Pollard is scheduled to appear at a hearing Tuesday afternoon in U.S.
District Court in Washington on whether he should be allowed to appeal
his
life sentence.
Pollard, a civilian intelligence analyst for the Navy, was arrested by
FBI
agents in November 1985 after he and his wife were rebuffed at the
Israeli
Embassy in Washington in their attempt to seek asylum.
He was accused of passing thousands of top-secret documents to Israeli
agents in 1984 and 1985.
He cooperated with authorities and pleaded guilty to one count of
espionage. When he was sentenced in March 1987, his wife was given five
years in prison for complicity in her husband's deeds…
---
A FAILED ISRAELI SOCIETY COLLAPSES WHILE ITS LEADERS REMAIN SILENT
Avraham Burg, Forward, 8/29/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.08.29/oped3.html
The Zionist revolution has always rested on two pillars: a just path
and an
ethical leadership. Neither of these is operative any longer. The
Israeli
nation today rests on a scaffolding of corruption, and on foundations
of
oppression and injustice. As such, the end of the Zionist enterprise is
already on our doorstep. There is a real chance that ours will be the
last
Zionist generation. There may yet be a Jewish state here, but it will
be a
different sort, strange and ugly.
There is time to change course, but not much. What is needed is a new
vision of a just society and the political will to implement it. Nor is
this merely an internal Israeli affair. Diaspora Jews for whom Israel
is a
central pillar of their identity must pay heed and speak out. If the
pillar
collapses, the upper floors will come crashing down.
The opposition does not exist, and the coalition, with Arik Sharon at
its
head, claims the right to remain silent. In a nation of chatterboxes,
everyone has suddenly fallen dumb, because there's nothing left to say.
We
live in a thunderously failed reality. Yes, we have revived the Hebrew
language, created a marvelous theater and a strong national currency.
Our
Jewish minds are as sharp as ever. We are traded on the Nasdaq. But is
this
why we created a state? The Jewish people did not survive for two
millennia
in order to pioneer new weaponry, computer security programs or
anti-missile missiles. We were supposed to be a light unto the nations.
In
this we have failed…
-----
NEW AFGHAN CONSTITUTION IS WORRYING U.S. PANEL
Marc Perelman, Forward, 8/29/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.08.29/news1.afghan.html
The U.S. government's top human rights body is warning that the new
constitution being drafted in Afghanistan may fail to protect basic
human
rights while allowing conservative Islamic clerics to curtail religious
freedom.
A delegation from the United States Commission on International
Religious
Freedom, a bipartisan body set up by Congress to monitor human rights
around the globe, drew worrisome conclusions from an official visit to
Afghanistan earlier this month. The group, which visited the country
from
August 10 to August 13, is now preparing a report and will brief
Congress
and administration officials about its findings.
She called on the administration to give more open support to moderates
who
she says are being stifled by Islamic radicals and powerful warlords,
and
to be more assertive in claiming the centrality of human rights to
Americans.
As violence worsens in the region and crucial political deadlines
approach,
both in Kabul and Washington, the administration is said to be planning
a
doubling of the aid and a comprehensive personnel turnover in
Afghanistan
to boost reconstruction, according to The New York Times…
SEE ALSO:
REVERSE FLAWED POLICIES
Paul Findley, USA Today, 9/1/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-09-01-oppose_x.htm
The thunderous U.S. aerial assault on Afghanistan in October 2001 and
subsequent U.S. military efforts to reorder Afghan political life are
early
examples of President Bush's misdirected reaction to 9/1l. Other
examples
are his costly but floundering preemptive war in Iraq, his aborted
effort
to change Palestinian leadership, his decision to maintain U.S.
military
mastery of the world and his determination to make war wherever he
alone
decides.
To an alarming degree, America has become a scofflaw nation.
Bush's anti-terrorism campaign in countries such as Afghanistan
consists
mainly of the sword - not diplomacy. The U.S. Defense Department has
four
new bases in or near Afghanistan and four others taking shape in Iraq.
Bush's program is devoid of any serious effort to redress, or even
understand, grievances that provoke anti-American passions. For
example,
Bush seems oblivious to the worldwide anger - especially among Muslims
in
Afghanistan and other countries - over Washington's sustained and
massive
help in Israel's devastation of predominantly Muslim Palestinians.
These policies smack of empire building. They must be reversed, and
Afghanistan is the place to start…
-----
NCPA PRESIDENT TO GIVE KEYNOTE SPEECH AT BALTIMORE FUNCTION
WHAT: National Council of Pakistani American's President Faiz Rehman
will
be the keynote speaker at a Pakistan Independence Day function. Mr.
Rehman
will speak on, "Need for Pakistani Americans to get involved, "followed
by
a question-and-answer session.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 12 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: 1724 Woodlawn Dr., Suite 12, Baltimore, MD, at Sam's Plaza.
Note: Admission for the program is $10 per person which includes
Pakistani
dinner. For more information, please call 410-944-8000. Please register
by
Sept. 9. You can also send e-mails regarding this program to NCPA at
info@ncpa.info
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/3/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6858 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CAIR-FL TO SPONSOR TOWN HALL MEETING
- CAIR-NY Annual Banquet
- CAIR Executive Director on BBC 'Islamophobia' Forum
* SLURS, 9-11 TAUNTS, PUNCH, BUT NO HATE CRIME? (KnoxNews-TN)
- Arizona E-Mail Threat Reported to FBI
* MUSLIM GROUP EMBARKS ON SEARCH FOR A LEADER (Chicago Tribune)
- Young Muslims, Old Traditions (Chicago Tribune)
* MONTHS LATER, THE DOCTOR IS IN (Newsday)
- Deportation of Palestinian Cost $138,995 (AP)
* BAPTIST CHURCH HELPS MUSLIMS AFTER ARSON (MNS)
* LATIN AMERICA'S MUSLIMS RESENT TERROR ALLEGATIONS (Sun-Sentinel)
* TWO GENTLEMEN BRING GRACE, HONOR TO THE GAME (SF Chronicle)
- Halal Foods Find Wider Audience (SF Chronicle)
* ASSISTING TERRORISM'S OTHER VICTIMS (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
* ICNA'S WELCOME RAMADAN CAMPAIGN
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) him said: "When you pass by a
garden
of Paradise, avail yourselves of it." His companions asked: "What are
the
gardens of Paradise?" The Prophet replied: "Gatherings (in which God is
remembered)."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 102
"O ye who believe! Celebrate the praises of God, and do so often.
Glorify
Him morning and evening."
Holy Quran, 33:41-42
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6858 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6858 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"We are planning a display of books, along with other similar books on
Islam, during the month of Ramadan. Thank you for the beautiful items
on
Islam. We have received other donations in the past and when I began
buying
our religious books several years ago, I also began to build up our
collection, which was woefully deficient in materials on Islam.
However,
your collection is of much higher quality than previous donations; and
it
has improved our collection tremendously. I am especially pleased
because I
see more and more Muslims in our community - a new mosque is being
completed in Glen Ellyn - and these books will help those of us who are
not
Muslims to understand those who are. Thank you!" - Glen Ellyn, IL
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
---
CAIR-FL TO SPONSOR TOWN HALL MEETING
Event to focus on changing face of America two years after 9-11
(MIAMI, FL, 9/3/03) - On September 10, the Florida office of the
Washington
based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will co-sponsor a
town hall meeting designed to examine the changing face of America two
years after the 9/11 terror attacks. The event is open to the public
and
will feature several well known civil rights and religious leaders, as
well
as representatives from several law enforcement agencies. Michael
Putney,
Senior Politics and Governmental Affairs reporter at WPLG-TV, will
serve as
moderator.
Panelists include: Marcos Jimenez, U.S. Attorney South District of
Florida; Hector Pesquera, FBI Special Agent in Charge; James D. Sewell,
Assistant Commissioner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Cheryl
Little, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center; Altaf
Ali,
Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations-Florida;
Howard
Simon, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Florida;
and
Rabbi Solomon Schiff, Executive Vice-President, Rabbinical Association
of
Greater Miami.
WHEN: September 10, 2003 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Miami-Dade College, Wolfson Campus; Room 1261300 NE 2nd Avenue,
Miami, FL 33132; Phone: (305) 237-3000
Note: Admission to the program is free. SEATING IS LIMITED.
Reservations can be made by calling 305-576-2337, ext. 17 (Dade) or
954-916-5661 (Broward).
---
CAIR-NY ANNUAL BANQUET: "EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTIVISM"
Keynote Speakers: JOHN ESPOSITO, Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding
at Georgetown University; OMAR AHMAD, CAIR Board Chairman, NIHAD AWAD,
CAIR
Executive Director; YVONNE RIDLEY, British journalist detained by the
Taliban, who converted to Islam.
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th, 2003, 5-10 p.m.
WHERE: THE LAGUARDIA MARRIOTT
102-05 Ditmars Blvd
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
For directions call: 718-565-8900
Pay online http://www.cair-ny.com/ab-2003.html
---
CAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON BBC 'ISLAMOPHOBIA' FORUM
ISLAMOPHOBIA: ASKS THE EXPERTS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/special/islam/3174817.stm
Muslims living in the West were confronted with massive challenges to
their
faith in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the US.
Many Muslim residents in the US, UK and other Western countries began
to
rail against a culture of Islamophobia - fear and hostility towards
Islam.
Are Westerners right to be afraid of Islam or does it reveal a
misunderstanding on their part?
A large number of Muslims also blame media coverage and US and UK
foreign
policy for shaping public attitudes to their religion.
Do you think a culture of Islamophobia exists in the West? Who or what
is
to blame for creating it? How can it be reconciled?
CORRECTION: In the forum, Nihad Awad stated that there had been a 64
percent rise in anti-Muslim incidents last year. The correct figure is
15
percent.
-----
[EDITOR'S NOTE: John Gill, chief of staff for the Knox County District
Attorney's Office tells CAIR that the apparent bias motive of the
assault
will be taken into consideration at sentencing, if the defendant is
found
guilty. The Tennessee hate crime law would then allow for a more severe
penalty.]
SLURS, 9-11 TAUNTS, THEN PUNCH: HATE CRIME?
BRYAN MITCHELL, KnoxNews, 9/2/03
http://knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_2226350,00.html
No one disputes that Anthony Wayne Johnson yelled a handful of racial
and
ethnic slurs at a group of pedestrians two weeks ago on the Cumberland
Avenue Strip.
What is questioned is whether Johnson's verbal attack and subsequent
punch
to a 28-year-old Knoxville man was motivated by bias.
"You got a drunk who has a bad temper," said Knoxville police
investigator
Gary Jones. "You can make anything a hate crime if the person makes
some
kind of slur."
Alex Taye, a friend of the victim who was involved in the Aug. 17
episode,
agreed - up to a point.
"Ignorance comes out when you're drunk," said Taye. "Us being Arabic
caused
a problem. Technically, it's a hate crime."
The Knox County District Attorney General's office decided that
Johnson's
actions did not qualify as a hate crime…
The FBI defines a hate crime as a criminal offense committed against a
person, property or society, which is motivated in whole or in part by
the
offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual
orientation or
ethnicity or national origin…
Taye, a 20-year-old Kuwaiti native and University of Tennessee student,
said Johnson began to yell at the three as they walked west on
Cumberland
Avenue.
"At first we were laughing, we thought he was just kidding around,"
Taye said.
Taye and his companions became concerned, however, when Johnson's words
took a darker tone.
"He said 'I'll make you pay for 9-11 and that you look like one of
those
Arabic guys'," Taye said…
Khaldi met his friend at the BP gas station and approached Johnson.
The Palestinian and nine-year resident of Knoxville said he attempted
to
defuse the situation and thought he had succeeded when Johnson referred
to
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack again.
"What's the connection between me and 9-11?" Khaldi said. "If you had
two
white people fighting are you going to mention 9-11?"
Khaldi then turned around to approach Johnson and was struck once in
the
face, he said.
"All I remember was that I was on the floor and at UT hospital until
Wednesday," said Khaldi, who suffered head trauma and broke some bones
in
his left leg…
Khaldi, for his part, believes his incident crosses the threshold for a
hate crime set by the FBI.
"The only reason he struck me is because I am Arabic," Khaldi said. "I
have
no other explanation. I can't see why it's not a hate crime."
SEE ALSO:
ARIZONA E-MAIL THREAT REPORTED TO FBI
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/3/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today asked the FBI to investigate an e-mail the group received
threatening terror attacks on Muslims in the United States.
The message, headlined "comment," was apparently sent by a person using
the
e-mail address of a Nevada consulting firm. The e-mail stated: "We
accept
you (sic) holy war. Looking forward to it very much. We can deal with
you
easily especially because you are on our soil. You have taught us much
about terrorism so get ready to be the receiver."
-----
MUSLIM GROUP EMBARKS ON SEARCH FOR A LEADER
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 9/3/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0309030057sep03,1,4366658.story
The American Society of Muslims has launched a search for a successor
to W.
Deen Mohammed who will rid the organization of elderly imams opposed to
his
efforts to integrate African-Americans into the mainstream Islamic
world,
leaders said Tuesday.
The new leader also must find ways to attract young African-American
Muslims, many of whom feel the movement became too focused on classical
Islamic teaching and ignored the social and political problems facing
black
Americans, the leaders said.
"It is difficult to pray and look for religious salvation as a complete
answer when you live in a minority neighborhood that is being
overwhelmed
by gang violence, unemployment, lack of health care and education,"
said
Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, a social organization for
African-American youths in Los Angeles.
"These are social problems young blacks face, but these needs were not
met
under W. Deen Mohammed's leadership," said Ali, who is also Mohammed's
son-in-law.
The search began this week after Mohammed's sudden resignation Sunday
at
the organization's annual convention in Chicago. A committee has been
formed to choose a new leader, said Vernon Fareed, an imam in Norfolk,
Va...
---
YOUNG MUSLIMS, OLD TRADITIONS
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 9/1/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0309010193sep01,1,4740295.story
As an 18-year-old Palestinian, Lena Abuelroos appeared to have bought
into all the trappings of American life: She was an aspiring model, a
clotheshorse and top saleswoman at an Armani Exchange in Troy, Mich.
So one July morning, when she showed up for work wearing hijab, her
long, black curls out of sight beneath the folds of her veil, her
co-workers were so alarmed they stopped speaking to her.
For Abuelroos, putting on hijab, or modest Islamic attire, was her way
of
getting in touch with the Muslim identity her family of Arab immigrants
often downplayed. Her transformation mirrors that of many of the 2,000
young Muslim women and men who gathered this weekend in Chicago as part
of
the 40th annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America,
which
organizers say drew tens of thousands of lay activists.
In the basement of McCormick Place, away from the glitz of the adult
convention upstairs, young Muslims from hundreds of universities vowed
to
create a more pronounced Islamic identity in the United States through
their Muslim Students' Associations. Not only do they plan to become
more
devout than their parents, whom they described as cultural, not
religious,
Muslims, but they also are on a mission to change the negative images
of
Islam in America...
-----
MONTHS LATER, THE DOCTOR IS IN
Martin C. Evans, Newsday, 9/3/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limous033439270sep03,0,5235036,print.story
He played soccer. He helped his father with business. He visited
friends.
He slept. He battled depression.
As the days dragged on in the heat of Amman, Jordan, Dr. Hasan Mousli
did
almost everything but work at the job he loves.
Until yesterday.
After almost giving up hope that he would ever be allowed to begin his
fellowship in neurology at Stony Brook University Hospital, Mousli, a
Muslim who got his medical degree in his native Jordan and has been
pursuing medical specialties on Long Island for five years, finally
returned to work yesterday.
Mousli, who rushed home to Amman to visit his ailing father in May, had
been stuck there until Sunday night. Though he was due back by early
June,
he was forced to remain in Amman while U.S. officials checked out his
visa
application - a process that normally takes about two weeks, but in his
case took more than two months...
Mousli said he applied for a visa to return to the United States on May
27,
one day after he flew to Amman to visit his father, who has since
recovered
from what appeared to have been a stroke. Mousli needed to return to
complete his fellowship in neurology, a critical step in his medical
training.
But a State Department spokeswoman said visa applications for students
studying subjects on the "technology alert list" are taking longer to
process than before because of the need to track potentially dangerous
individuals in the wake of the terror attack that struck Manhattan and
the
Pentagon two years ago...
ALSO SEE:
DEPORTATION OF PALESTINIAN PROFESSOR COST AT LEAST $138,995
Associated Press, 9/3/03
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030903/APN/309030616
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. The deportation of a stateless Palestinian
professor
last year required a private jet, four pilots and a four-man escort
from
Florida to Beirut, Lebanon, at a cost of at least $138,995, a newspaper
reported Wednesday.
Mazen Al-Najjar was deported in August 2002 for overstaying his U.S.
visa.
Before his deportation, he spent more than 3 1/2 years in jail on
secret
evidence that prosecutors said linked him to terrorism. He was released
in
2000 and then arrested again in November 2001 and held until his
deportation.
He was never charged with a crime.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the figure in
response to
a request filed by the St. Petersburg Times in October. The department
did
not provide a breakdown of the cost and it was unknown whether the
figure
includes the salaries of the flight crew and others on the trip.
Martin Schwartz, a Tampa lawyer who represented Al-Najjar, said the
expense
was unnecessary...
-----
BAPTIST CHURCH HELPS MUSLIMS AFTER ARSON
Ann Stifter, Morris News Service, 8/30/03
http://www.augustachronicle.com/stories/083003/met_029-1230.001.shtml
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Members of a south Georgia Islamic group whose mosque
was
destroyed by arson last week are finding support from a local Baptist
congregation that lost its own house of worship to fire nearly a decade
ago.
The Aug. 24 fire at the Islamic Center of Savannah brought back painful
memories for the Rev. Matthew Southall Brown.
He immediately thought of the challenges his own congregation faced in
October 1993, when St. John Baptist Church was lost to an accidental
fire.
Now the Rev. Brown hopes to lend a hand to members of the Islamic
Center.
"That's an unfortunate situation out there. We certainly plan to give
them
some assistance, financial assistance," the Rev. Brown said. "I know
what
it is to rebuild a building."
Muslims continued offering their five daily prayers this week near the
scorched mosque rather than drive eight miles north to another mosque
downtown.
They prayed in a white tent more often seen at happier times, such as
outdoor weddings and holiday barbecues...
-----
LATIN AMERICA'S FASTEST-GROWING FAITH RESENTS TERROR ALLEGATIONS FROM
U.S.
Michele Salcedo, Sun-Sentinel, 9/1/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/caribbean/sfl-901overview,0,5176531.story
PORLAMAR, MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela -- Margarite�os cannot figure out
how
their picturesque island off the coast of Venezuela became a
battleground
in the war on terrorism.
No bomb ever exploded here, no shot fired. But the Bush administration
has
the island, and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, under
scrutiny as a place where terrorists might live, raise money or move
contraband.
"The television commentators are distorting information," said Sulenma
Reyes, who, like other villagers of El Mag�ey, learned from television
reports that the United States suspected their village was a terrorist
training camp. "I haven't seen anything they were talking about."
Three high-profile arrests and two bombings of Israeli targets in
Buenos
Aires in the mid-1990s are the main reasons the United States eyes the
region as a potential threat. That, coupled with sometimes dated media
reports that al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden may have ties to the region,
has
cast a pall over Muslims in the Southern Hemisphere...
Ultimately, American fears may be based much less on evidence of
terrorism
than on the clear, explosive growth of Muslim communities in nearby
countries that exert little control over vast sections of their
territories
and on a broader definition of terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001, to
include
criminal activity long known to exist in these areas...
-----
TWO GENTLEMEN BRING GRACE, HONOR TO THE GAME
Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/3/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/03/SPGLG1HVHG1.DTL
New York - There's a distinct edge to the U.S. Open tennis tournament,
suggesting that it's about the most difficult undertaking imaginable.
It's
a minefield of rain delays, humidity, Grand Slam pressure, planes,
blimps,
traffic jams, jazz bands, general New York craziness and boisterous
customers.
That's all front-burner stuff, from the players' standpoint. So many of
them move grimly through the process, showing uncharacteristic
volatility
or making comments they later regret. But there's another sector of the
community, the one occupied by Paradorn Srichaphan and Younes El
Aynaoui,
that reflects the true beauty of tennis…
"Every time I'm in a tournament, because I'm an Arab, I'm promoting my
country and all the people who look like me," says El Aynaoui, who will
play 7th-seeded Carlos Moya in the fourth round. "Every time something
happens - Sept. 11, the bombings in my country -- I take it personally.
I
almost feel responsible. If I can go out on the tennis court and change
the
way people think about Muslim men, everything is happiness."
SEE ALSO:
FOODS THAT CONFORM TO ISLAMIC LAW FIND A WIDER AUDIENCE
Carol Ness, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/3/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/03/FDG481FJSO1.DTL
When 19-year-old Mariam Hansia and her friends get a screaming yen for
fast
food, they hop in the car and drive all the way from their homes in
Mill
Valley to Julie's pad Thai-burger place in Berkeley.
In San Bruno, La Creperie du Monde attracts eager diners from as far
away
as San Ramon and points east for its Breton-style crepes. Cabbies
Burger in
San Francisco's Tenderloin is the spot for burritos.
What lures Hansia and others in the know is that these spots serve
halal
food -- food, especially meats, that meet Islamic dietary requirements,
often described as "kosher for Muslims."
Driven by the fast-growing Muslim population, halal foods are headed
toward
wider popularity. Once confined to traditional back-home dishes like
curries and couscous, halal restaurants now offer pizzas, burgers,
hoagies,
Thai and Mexican foods. Halal meat markets are multiplying, and halal
chicken nuggets and hot links are showing up in some supermarkets.
The surge has many people believing that the American halal food
industry,
now in its infancy, will follow kosher foods into the mainstream,
pushed
not only by the faithful but by non-Muslim consumers seeking clean,
healthy
foods...
-----
ASSISTING TERRORISM'S OTHER VICTIMS
Michael Anft, Chronicle of Philanthropy, 9/4/03
http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v15/i22/22000701.htm
Seattle - One morning last November, Noor Ahmed's violence-scarred life
was
sent into another tailspin. A telephone cable installer, Mr. Ahmed, 38,
was
awakened at his apartment near Seattle's airport by three federal
immigration officers, then handcuffed and jailed.
He was told he would soon be put on a plane bound for Somalia, the
country
of his birth, where his wife had been killed by a stray shot fired
during
the country's civil war, and where, before he fled in 1996, his life
had
been threatened by both warlords and roving bands of teenagers.
Like many of the estimated 25,000 Somalis in the Seattle area, Mr.
Ahmed
knew that two Somalis deported from the United States earlier in the
year
had been killed upon their return...
One of his fellow detainees had heard of the Hate Free Zone Campaign of
Washington. The Seattle organization was formed the week after the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to help immigrants who had been
targets of violence by angry citizens and increased scrutiny by the
federal
government...
-----
ICNA'S WELCOME RAMADAN CAMPAIGN
Spread the message of Quran by having seminars, book stalls, flyers and
Tafseerul Quran sessions
For more information, contact Samina Hassan (562) 591-6766, or by
emailing a
message to CA_Hassan@hotmail.com with or visit us online at
www.icnasisterswing.org
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 8/27/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T PUNISH THE VICTIM
* BUSH APPOINTEE CALLS AL-AQSA MOSQUE A 'TRICK'
- Top Mideast Scholar Suspends Ties with USIP (Forward)
* CALIF. MUSLIM CONTINUES DEFAMATION SUIT (Press-Enterprise)
* ANTI-WAR PROTEST PLANNED FOR WASHINGTON (AP)
- Condi's Phony History (Slate)
- Mossad Team Visited Iraq (Haaretz)
* GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES SEEK RULING (Financial Times)
- AZ Grad Student Released from Federal Custody (AP)
- Stop the Profiteering of Detainees (Herald News)
* MD MUSLIMS REACHES OUT TO NEIGHBORS (Washington Post)
* DC SYMPOSIUM: CULTURAL HERITAGE OF YEMEN
* SETTLEMENT EXPANDS AS ROAD MAP ENDS (Forward)
* EPISCOPAL CHURCH RESOLUTIONS REGARDING MUSLIMS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T PUNISH THE VICTIM
Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr - When a woman was forced against her will in
the
time of God's Messenger (peace be upon him), he avoided punishing her
but
(instead) inflicted (punishment) on the one who had molested her.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1012
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE CALLS AL-AQSA MOSQUE A 'TRICK'
DANIEL PIPES: "…over the course of fourteen centuries, Muslim interest
in
Jerusalem has tended to be more political than religious in nature…in
the
seventh century A.D., when, to aggrandize the importance of a town
under
their control, the caliph built a mosque in Jerusalem and called it
Al-Aqsa. By doing this, he fulfilled a verse in the Qur'an which tells
of
the prophet going by night to Al-Aqsa mosque. The trick worked,
generating
the now-ancient belief that Muhammad's night journey took him to
Al-Aqsa
mosque in Jerusalem… (Daniel Pipes' personal website, 9/3/03)
NOTE: Daniel Pipes is President Bush's recent appointee to the board of
the
United States Institute of Peace.
SEE ALSO:
TOP MIDDLE EAST SCHOLAR PROTESTS PIPES APPOINTMENT
ORI NIR, Forward, 9/5/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.09.05/news13.pipes.html
WASHINGTON - A top Middle East scholar is suspending his ties with the
United States Institute of Peace to protest the recent appointment of
Daniel Pipes to the board of the federally funded think tank, sparking
fears of a wider boycott.
Former presidential adviser William Quandt told the Forward that he is
suspending work on several projects to protest President Bush's
appointment
of Pipes, who has been accused by Arab groups and Middle East scholars
of
harboring an anti-Muslim bias…
While Arab groups and Democratic opponents focused much of their
criticisms
on Pipes's stated views on the threat posed by Islamic forces, Quandt
said
that he was most disturbed by Pipes's Campus Watch project, which seeks
to
monitor university scholars for signs of pro-Arab or anti-American
bias.
"Campus Watch strikes me as an unusually unfortunate way of trying to
bring
pressure to bear on scholars with whom he perhaps disagrees," said
Quandt,
a political scientist at the University of Virginia who served as chief
Middle East adviser to former President Carter during the Israel-Egypt
peace talks. "I think it is contrary to the academic enterprise, as it
tries to stifle debate rather than encourage it."
Quandt, who has not been targeted by Campus Watch, said he would finish
one
nearly completed project for the institute before suspending ties. He
also
said he would reconsider his boycott if he sees that Pipes is not
attempting to stifle the institute's impartiality and independence.
Pipes declined to comment.
Asked about Quandt's decision, institute spokesman John Brinkley said
that
prior to the recess appointment, several Arab and Muslim scholars
"suggested that they might find it difficult to continue working with
us if
he were confirmed or appointed. Whether they will follow through on
that, I
have no idea…"
Institute staffers have been banned from talking to the press about the
appointment. But, according to sources familiar with the situation,
staffers fear the controversy will damage the institute's credibility.
Several institute staffers privately complained that Pipes's ideology
and
academic demeanor do not jibe with the institute's mission statement.
Created by Congress, the institute's mission is to advise the
government
and "to promote international peace and the resolution of conflicts
among
the nations and peoples of the world without recourse to violence."
-----
CALIF. MUSLIM CONTINUES DEFAMATION SUIT
CORONA MUSLIM MAN CONTINUING LAWSUIT
SHARYN OBSATZ, Press-Enterprise, 9/3/03
http://www.pe.com/localnews/corona/stories/PE_NEWS_ncmuslim0.ed7d.html
National Review publishers and a former California Republican Party
chairman said this week that they made a factual error in linking a
Corona
Muslim activist to a 1998 anti-Semitic rally.
But the activist, Hussam Ayloush, said he will continue to pursue his
defamation lawsuit over an article written by former Republican Party
Chairman Shawn Steel and posted June 21 on National Review Online.
Steel said Tuesday that, due to a rewrite error, his article wrongly
stated
that Ayloush co-hosted a May 1998 event at which Egyptian militant
Islamic
leader Wagdi Ghunaym slurred Jews.
Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations'
Southern California office, said he never attended the event.
National Review Online posted a retraction on its Web site last
Thursday...
Ayloush's lawsuit, filed last month in Orange County Superior Court,
alleges libel, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of
emotional
distress. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
"The damage has been done," Ayloush said. "You can't put lives in
danger
and undermine their credibility and hide behind the excuse, 'It was a
mistake. We can't find the letter. We're sorry…'"
-----
ANTI-WAR PROTEST PLANNED FOR WASHINGTON
Associated Press, 9/4/03
WASHINGTON (AP) - Protesters plan to return to the nation's capital
next
month to oppose the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq, demonstration
organizers said Wednesday.
The International ANSWER coalition, whose name stands for Act Now to
Stop
War and Racism, brought thousands of anti-war protesters to Washington
in
January, March and April.
Organizers predict the Oct. 25 march from the Justice Department to the
White House and the Pentagon will attract tens of thousands of people.
The
group is seeking a protest permit for 10,000 people, the National Park
Service said...
Organizers said at least 50 buses will bring people to Washington from
around the United States and Canada.
On the Net: ANSWER coalition: http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
SEE ALSO:
CONDI'S PHONY HISTORY
Daniel Benjamin, Slate, 8/29/03
http://slate.msn.com/id/2087768/
Rice-a-phony history?
As American post-conflict combat deaths in Iraq overtook the wartime
number, the administration counseled patience. "The war on terror is a
test
of our strength. It is a test of our perseverance, our patience, and
our
will," President Bush told an American Legion convention.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice embellished the message with
what former White House speechwriters immediately recognize as a
greatest-generation pander. "There is an understandable tendency to
look
back on America's experience in postwar Germany and see only the
successes," she told the Veterans of Foreign Wars in San Antonio,
Texas, on
Aug. 25. "But as some of you here today surely remember, the road we
traveled was very difficult. 1945 through 1947 was an especially
challenging period. Germany was not immediately stable or prosperous.
SS
officers-called 'werewolves'-engaged in sabotage and attacked both
coalition forces and those locals cooperating with them-much like
today's
Baathist and Fedayeen remnants…"
According to America's Role in Nation-Building: From Germany to Iraq, a
new
study by former Ambassador James Dobbins, who had a lead role in the
Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo reconstruction efforts, and a team
of
RAND Corporation researchers, the total number of post-conflict
American
combat casualties in Germany-and Japan, Haiti, and the two Balkan
cases-was
zero.
So, how did this fanciful version of the American experience in postwar
Germany get into the remarks of a Princeton graduate and former trustee
of
Stanford's Hoover Institute (Rumsfeld) and the former provost of
Stanford
and co-author of an acclaimed book on German unification (Rice)?
Perhaps
the British have some intelligence on the matter that still has not
been
made public. Of course, as the president himself has noted, there is a
lot
of revisionist history going around.
---
MOSSAD TEAM VISITED IRAQ FOR ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS
Haaretz Service, 9/3/03
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/336472.html
A Mossad delegation visited Baghdad last month in order to coordinate
its
anti-terrorism efforts with U.S. forces in Iraq, according to a report
in
the Arab-language Al-Hayat newspaper.
Basing its report on comments made by an anonymous Kurdish official,
the
newspaper claimed that the delegation held carried out a field tour in
the
Iraqi capital and aerial tours in a U.S. military helicopter above
Mosul,
Tikrit and Ramadi…
While there have been reports that Israeli companies have been invited
by
the U.S. to do business in Iraq, although this is the first report of
Israeli security officials visiting the country…
-----
GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES SEEK RULING
Edward Alden, Financial Times, 9/3/03
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059479533454&p=1012571727172
Lawyers for the British, Australian and Kuwaiti citizens imprisoned by
the
US in the war on terror are asking the Supreme Court to rule that they
cannot be held indefinitely at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba.
The case, if taken up by the court, would raise fundamental questions
about
whether the US has the legal authority to hold foreigners without the
protection of either the US courts or the Geneva convention governing
war
prisoners.
In strongly worded briefs to the court filed on Monday, lawyers for the
detainees argued that if the court refuses to hear the case, it would
sanction the creation of "penal colonies" in which foreign prisoners of
the
US have no legal rights…
The government has 30 days to respond to the petition, after which the
court must decide whether it will hear the case.
The court might be reluctant for fear of infringing on the
administration's
ability to prosecute the war on terrorism. The government has promised
to
bring the prisoners before military trials soon or to release them.
"The war on terrorism can be expected to last a very long time," said
Mr
Wilner. "The standards we set now will prescribe the nation's behaviour
for
years to come," he wrote.
SEE ALSO:
GRADUATE STUDENT RELEASED FROM FEDERAL CUSTODY
Associated Press, 9/4/03
TUCSON, Ariz. - A Saudi Arabian citizen who was a linguistics graduate
student at the University of Arizona has been released from federal
custody.
Deedra Abboud, of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Phoenix,
said she was told Muhammad Al-Qudhai'een had been released from federal
custody and had returned to his home in Saudi Arabia.
In June, the student and father of five was taken into federal custody
and
held in a federal prison in Virginia as a material witness.
His wife, friends and Islamic leaders, including Abboud, had difficulty
gleaning information about the reasons behind his detention.
Abboud said that after Al-Qudhai'een arrived in Saudi Arabia, he called
a
friend here in Tucson to tell him that he had been released and had
returned to his native country.
"He was deported without charges to Saudi Arabia," said Abboud, who
added
she has been unable to talk to Al-Qudhai'een directly but is trying to
reach him.
Al-Qudhai'een, a Ph.D candidate who majored in second language
acquisition
and teaching at the University of Arizona, completed the spring 2003
semester, but wasn't enrolled for the fall session, university
officials
have said.
This summer, Al-Qudhai'een's wife, Modhi, returned to Saudi Arabia with
their children because she had not gotten any information about her
husband's detention.
And federal officials have still not disclosed specifically why
Al-Qudhai'een was detained…
Al-Qudhai'een's detention made for a "sad situation," said Muhammed
As'ad,
Islamic Center of Tucson spokesman.
"Having known him pretty well for years, he's a great guy, and I liked
him
very much," As'ad said. "Who he knew, or knows or spoke to, I don't
know."
Al-Qudhai'een often led prayer at the Islamic Center of Tucson and at
one
time was a member of its board of trustees.
As'ad said he understands the need for national security in wake of the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but wants to see more balance.
"Security is fine, but I think we've got to be a little less hasty to
tread
on our rights," As'ad said. "You want to protect yourself, but at what
cost?"
---
STOP THE LOCAL PROFITEERING OF DETAINEES
FLAVIA ALAYA and JEANNETTE GABRIEL, Herald News, 8/31/03
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNCZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NjQxOTg4Mw==
You know the Passaic County Jail. It sits as square on Paterson's Main
Street as if this were Dodge City, its yellow-brick face spiked with
razor-wire staring blankly down the brownstone spires of St John's
Cathedral across the street. And if you've been by it lately, you've
seen
protesters on the church sidewalk, carrying signs that read: "Free the
Detainees" and "Support the Hunger Strikes," and may have wondered,
"What's
going on?"
Well, what's going on is a national issue and a national shame. The
"detainees" being held inside this jail are there under Passaic
County's
highly lucrative contracts with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
And there are hundreds, indeed over time, thousands of them - among
tens of
thousands held indefinitely in jails around the country. Yet they are
neither criminals nor terrorists. They are innocent men; some with
minor
past convictions, previously paid in full, whose status as immigrants
has,
under recent immigration law, become their only "crime..."
Since 2001, this old and overcrowded facility, built for 800-plus
prisoners
and typically holding more than 1,700, has housed, in absolute numbers,
the
largest contingents of detainees in the United States - over 500 at one
time - at a bounty of $78 apiece per-day. It now routinely holds an
estimated 80-100.
One of two detention facilities investigated by the Justice
Department's
Office of Inspector General for brutality and abuse, it was singled out
for
human rights abuses in the OIG's June 2003 report to Congress.
Remember,
these conditions are not happening in some remote place or time. The
overcrowding, poor food, lockdowns, denial of visitor and legal access,
shackling - are all here, in our neighborhood, on our watch, at the
behest
of our duly-elected public officials. If we give silent consent to such
treatment, if we allow it to go on because we cannot see it or because
we're afraid to be the first to shout "Fire!," we too are accomplices.
At this very moment, among other forms of hardship, some 50 detainees
are
being denied access to telephones - innocent men, being hustled to
deportation, unable to call for legal or other assistance, unable even
to
contact their families to say goodbye.
We call ourselves "a nation of immigrants," yet we permit this
profiteering
on the suffering of immigrants and their families, the uncles,
brothers,
cousins and sons of our own surrounding communities. We allow this
reign of
terror, absolutely at cross-purposes with the principles Americans have
defended with their blood for over two centuries.
For the truth about the "detainees" is that they should not be held at
all
if we still believe in the due process and other civil liberty
guarantees
of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights…
-----
MUSLIM FOUNDATION REACHES OUT TO NEIGHBORS AGAIN
Susan DeFord and Mary Otto, Washington Post, 9/4/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19718-2003Sep3.html
Dozens of Muslim families will be going door-to-door this weekend to
kick
off the Howard County Muslim Foundation's second annual food drive to
benefit local charities.
Parents and children, including foundation President Anwer Hasan and
his
children, Faiza, 10, Aisha, 14, and Zain, 16, hope to leave notes
requesting donations at about 10,000 Howard houses Saturday. And this
year
they will be joined in the food drive by Muslims in Baltimore and
Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties who will be
canvassing
their communities…
The Howard volunteers will return to the same houses Sept. 14 to
collect
nonperishable foods for local pantries, including the Howard County
Food
Bank. After the collections, volunteers will gather to picnic and
celebrate.
The first drive, held last year with the approach of the first
anniversary
of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, was organized by local
Muslims as
a way of reaching out to the community. This year's drive continues in
that
spirit, organizers said…
The foundation estimates that about 4,000 Muslims live in the county.
The
local community, which includes many professionals, both immigrant and
native-born, represents "a microcosm of Muslims in America," he said.
-----
DC SYMPOSIUM: "WINDOWS ON THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF YEMEN"
http://www.yemenembassy.org/symposium/index.htm
-----
SETTLEMENT EXPANDS AS ROAD MAP ENDS
ELLI WOHLGELERNTER, Forward, 9/5/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.09.05/news12.settlement.html
KEDUMIM - A new neighborhood in this northern West Bank settlement was
dedicated in a festive ceremony this week, in what Peace Now activists
said
was a deliberate display by the government to show that the road map is
dead.
"They know exactly what is the meaning of this ceremony," said Mossi
Raz, a
former Meretz Knesset member and a long-time Peace Now leader. "It is
to
say, 'I don't care about the road map - I violate the road map, and I
show
you that I violate the road map.' I was very pessimistic about this
government, but even I did not expect such a ceremony."
According to the American-brokered road map peace plan that was signed
in
June, Israel was to freeze settlement-growth and evacuate unauthorized
outposts while the Palestinian Authority was to crack down on terror.
Raz said the ceremony was the first such celebration under the
government
of Ariel Sharon, and the fact that it was conducted not for a new
settlement but only for a new neighborhood within Kedumim was proof
that it
was done specifically for public show.
"This is not in spite of the road map; this is because of the road
map,"
said Raz, as he led some 100 demonstrators who were protesting 100
yards
down the road, about a mile and a half west of Nablus. "If there is no
road
map, there is no ceremony because there is no need for a ceremony…"
-----
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, USA GENERAL CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS REGARDING MUSLIMS
* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution D077
Topic/Title: Racism: Post 9/11 Racial Hatred And Incarcerations
Proposer: Mr. Warren J. Wong (California)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this Church affirm its
abhorrence of all violence toward and racial profiling of Muslims and
people of color done in the name of religion, especially toward our
Muslim
brothers and sisters; and be it further
Resolved, That all members of this Church be encouraged to reach out in
friendship to our neighbors of all religions (especially at this time
to
Muslims), seeking mutual understanding and expressing support; and be
it
further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church direct the Committee on National
Concerns of Executive Council to examine and direct the Office of
Government Relations to monitor governmental policies on the
imprisonment
and restrictions of American citizens or legal residents based solely
on
ethnicity; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention acknowledge the danger that in
this
post 9/11 era a repeat of racial hatred, terrorism, hysteria, and a
failure
of political leadership could result in governmental policies causing
the
incarceration of citizens and legal residents based solely on their
ethnicity.
* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before
publication.
---
* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution A090
Topic/Title: Interfaith Dialogue: Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Proposer: Ecumenical Relations
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 74th General
Convention reaffirm Resolution 1997-D069 on "Substantive Dialogue
Between
Christian and Muslim Communities", which calls for a "dialogue that
maintains the theological integrity of both faith communities and
commitment to genuine human rights and religious freedom as affirmed by
the
71st General Convention (1994-D015)"; be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention directs current and future ECUSA
efforts at Christian-Muslim dialogue and education to embody and
strengthen
that resolution's commitments to dialogue, in cooperation with other
Christian bodies, founded on "genuine human rights and religious
freedom",
as embodied in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights (1948),
Article 18, which states that "everyone has the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to
change
his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in
teaching, practice, worship, and observance"; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention direct that such efforts
strengthen
the peaceful and secure religious witness of other Christians around
the
world in their ministry among Muslim neighbors, particularly in areas
of
experienced religious oppression.
* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before
publication.
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/5/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GRANT RESPITE
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6887 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* INDIANA U STUDENTS MAY WEAR HIJAB IN IDS
* CAIR-FL DIRECTOR PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY FORUM
- CAIR-FL Director on PBS
* REPORT CITES POST-9/11 DISCRIMINATION (Wash. Post)
- Photog Focuses on Muslims After 9/11 (SF Chronicle)
- Lawyer: Post-9-11 Rage Led to Sikh's Slaying (AP)
* ACLU FORUM QUESTIONS PATRIOT ACT (Grand Rapids Press)
* OPEN YOUR MIND ABOUT ISLAM (Sioux City Journal)
- Unmasking Myths is Taxing for Muslims (KC Star)
* MAN SHACKLED, JAILED 27 HOURS (Houston Chronicle)
* SMOKING OVER PIPES' PEACE POST (Indianapolis Star)
* JEWS AND MUSLIMS EXAMINE CULTURES (Poughkeepsie Journal)
* PLANS FOR MOSQUES MEET RESISTANCE (Phil. Inquirer)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GRANT RESPITE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who grants respite
to
one in difficult (financial) circumstances or gives up a portion of his
claim against him, will be sheltered by God under the shadow of His
throne
on the Day of Judgment when there will be no other shade than
Hisshade."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 417
The Prophet also said: "There was a merchant who used to lend to
people,
and whenever his debtor was in difficult circumstances, he would say to
his
employees, 'Forgive him so that God may forgive us.' So, God forgave
him."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 292
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6887 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6887 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
Feedback from a sponsored library:
"Pleased to receive your generous package of materials on Islam
culture.
Thank you very much for your contribution to our collection. It is of
high
quality and breadth, and we will use it as a starting point to develop
our
collection on this topic." - Reading, MA
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
ALSO SEE:
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
GOOD NEWS: INDIANA U STUDENTS MAY WEAR HIJAB IN IDS
Muslim students at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., will now be
allowed to wear religiously-mandated head scarves, or hijab, in their
photo
identification.
That move came after two female Muslim students were told to remove
their
scarves for the photographs. After filing a complaint with the
university
and with CAIR, the chancellor's office said the photo policy will be
amended to allow for religious exemptions.
"We thank Indiana University both for its quick action in resolving
this
issue and for demonstrating continued commitment to religious
diversity,"
said CAIR Civil Rights Coordinator Laurie Jaghlit.
-----
CAIR-FL DIRECTOR PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY FORUM
On September 5, CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali will participate
in
the Miami Dade Community Relations Board Forum 2003, "Uniting Our
Culture:"
A Vision of the Future." This event will take place at 2:15 p.m., at
the
Radisson Hotel, 1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Fla.
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, CAIR-FL, 954-298-8214, E-MAIL:
altaf@cair-florida.org;
Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-MAIL: abedier@cair-florida.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL DIRECTOR ON PBS
CAIR FL Executive Director Altaf Ali will join Dr. Joseph King, Trinity
International University; Dr. Mary Carter Waren, Saint Thomas
University;
Dr. Nathan Katz, Florida International University, in a discussion of
"The
End of Time." The segment will be aired at noon on Sunday, September
7th on
PBS.
-----
REPORT CITES POST-SEPT. 11 DISCRIMINATION
Washington Post, 9/5/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28490-2003Sep4.html
Hate crimes and discrimination have had a severe impact on Arab
Americans,
Muslims, Sikhs and South Asians in the Washington area in the wake of
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said a report released yesterday by
three federal advisory committees.
The report was issued by the Virginia, Maryland and D.C. advisory
committees to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. It summarized
testimony
from an April 2002 forum on post-Sept. 11 rights violations that
included
federal and local officials, civil rights activists and Muslim and Arab
American representatives.
The report said some tactics used in the government's war on terrorism
pose
threats to civil liberties, citing "racial profiling, searches,
interrogations, detentions, deportations and violent raids on homes and
businesses." It also said the USA Patriot Act was excessively broad...
SEE ALSO:
PHOTOGRAPHER FOCUSES ON BAY AREA MUSLIMS AFTER 9/11
San Francisco Chronicle, 9/5/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/05/WBG821GA3B15.DTL
As the two-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
approaches,
the reverberations from the catastrophe continue to be felt. And
Oakland
photographer Rick Rocamora continues to focus his attention on the
impact
of that event on Muslims living in the Bay Area.
His new and old images are among those on display this month in
Oakland's
City Hall. The show is an updated version of his exhibition, "Freedom
and
Fear -- Bay Area Muslims After 9/11," which originally premiered at San
Francisco City Hall on the first anniversary of the attacks.
Rocamora has captured images of everyday life: men from Guinea visit a
mosque in San Francisco; children read the Koran in Oakland; a
Sausalito
couple returns from hajj, a pilgrimage; but they are also lives tinged
with
fear...
---
LAWYER: POST-9-11 RAGE LED TO SIKH'S SLAYING
Associated Press,
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=090403d3_sikh_shooting
MESA - A man accused of fatally shooting an immigrant from India four
days
after the 9-11 terrorist attacks acted out of rage fueled by prejudice,
a
prosecutor said.
The day of the attacks, Frank Silva Roque was overheard promising to
shoot
people whom he described with an ethnic slur, prosecutor Vince
Imbordino
said during opening statements Tuesday in Roque's murder trial.
Roque is accused of killing gas station owner Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49,
on
Sept. 15, 2001.
He is charged with committing drive-by shootings later that day at a
home
owned by a family from Afghanistan and at a convenience store owned by
a
Lebanese man. No one was injured in the later shootings.
"This is a clash of two cultures and, in part, a result of Sept. 11,"
Imbordino said. "But the murder of Mr. Sodhi ran much deeper than
that..."
-----
ACLU FORUM QUESTIONS PATRIOT ACT
Nardy Baeza Bickel, Grand Rapids Press, 9/5/03
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/
Hidden in the small print of your doctor's privacy statement, there's a
line that grants the government the right to look through your medical
records.
The government also may be looking at your library records, your online
shopping and your bank account. Agents even could search your house for
evidence and not immediately tell you.
Welcome to Patriot Act 2001. That's the picture experts painted
Wednesday
during an informational session organized by the American Civil
Liberties
Union at Fountain Street Church. More than 60 people attended to learn
about legislation passed in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.
After two hours of listening, Karen Henry was ready to start building
support toward limiting government's reach through that legislation.
Henry,
59, whose grandparents emigrated from the Middle East to the United
States
before her parents were born in Grand Rapids, said she believes that
the
law should be used to protect people, not harm them.
"(I've heard) of the applications of the Patriot Act and what (further)
applications would look like," Henry said. "I'm here as a concerned
citizen. I understand how much this act can hurt people. Especially my
people."
Naomi Madsen agreed…
There's a growing concern in communities nationwide on the implications
of
the legislation that also allows the government to detain a terrorist
suspect indefinitely without pressing formal charges.
More than 130 communities nationwide have objected to some of the
legislation's provisions. Local organizers are hoping Grand Rapids will
be
next…
During the meeting, attendees heard from Noel Saleh, Michigan ACLU
staff
attorney.
Citing Japanese concentration camps during World War II, wiretaps on
Martin
Luther King and numerous other governmental abuses over the years,
Saleh
said it is hard for him to believe Ashcroft when he says the Justice
Department will not abuse the Patriot Act.
"The government will tell you, 'We're just going to search on the bad
guys,'" Saleh said. "We have a history (that shows) that the Justice
Department tends to overreact in difficult situations. ... We don't
want to
make the same mistakes."
-----
OPEN YOUR MIND AND DON'T BE FOOLED ABOUT ISLAM
David Grimesey, Sioux City Journal, 9/5/03
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2003/09/05/news_opinion/local/4862c17052dc424886256d9800160d83.txt
SIOUX CITY - The Koran says nothing about killing infidels, nothing at
all.
On the contrary, Islam is the first of the heavenly religions to
directly
say that this is prohibited. There is a part of the Koran in which it
says
that there is no coercion in religion, and that God will be the judge
and
people have no right to judge others on matters of religion.
That is why many Christians fled from Europe to live in Muslim
territories
during the Middle Ages. They were being persecuted in Europe, while the
Islamic Empire did not care what religion you had. Do you want to know
the
truth about Islam? Talk to Muslims, ask them questions and by opening
up a
dialogue, you will be doing your part to fight terrorism by opening
your
minds. Do not be fooled by people who talk about how Islam is the enemy
of
this country or people who use Christian talk to undermine the truth
about
Islam. They merely use the Bible and the flag to push their own agenda
which is neither American nor Christian...
ALSO SEE:
UNMASKING MYTHS IS TAXING FOR MUSLIMS
Lewis W. Diuguid, Kansas City Star, 9/5/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/opinion/6700422.htm
About a year from now expect to see a new cable and satellite TV
channel
that will counter the stereotypes and myths surrounding American
Muslims.
Muzzammil Hassan, chief executive officer of the Bridges Network, said
Bridges TV will offer news, sports, lifestyle, music, sitcoms, soap
operas,
dramas, documentaries and children's, religious and educational
programming
about Muslim life in America.
"The idea is it's more of an American Muslim lifestyle channel similar
to
BET (Black Entertainment Television) for African-Americans and
Telemundo
for Hispanics," Hassan said. "Our research shows there seems to be high
demand for something like this..."
By creating their own media, American Muslims hope to undo
misconceptions
people have of them. It's one of many actions they're taking to help
show
people who they really are...
To help counter that stereotype, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
kicked off a yearlong advertising campaign called "We're All
Americans."
The first ad ran in The New York Times.
The ad has images of an Asian man, a white man and an African-American
girl
and asks, "Which one of us is a Muslim?" The answer: "We all are ...
we're
American Muslims."
A spokeswoman with the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it is
seeking groups to sponsor the ad in newspapers nationwide. Such
messages
help promote greater understanding and counter anti-Muslim sentiment...
-----
HOUSTON MAN SHACKLED, JAILED 27 HOURS UPON ARRIVAL AT BUSH
Rosanna Ruiz, Houston Chronicle, 9/4/03
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2081346
It wasn't that federal agents wanted to question him about the overseas
trip he had just taken, Firasat Shah says. He insists that he had no
objection to answering them.
What left him feeling humiliated and mistreated, he said Wednesday, was
that federal agents shackled him and detained him overnight like a
criminal, simply because of where he had been.
"People come to this country to run away from this kind of thing," said
Shah, a Pakistani who has lived in Houston since 1995. "I felt, maybe
this
is the time I should make a decision to leave this country."
Shah's eyes welled with tears as he recounted what he says happened to
him
at the hands of federal agents after he returned to Houston on July 29
from
a trip to his native land and Malaysia.
His decision to go public about his 27-hour detention comes as U.S.
Attorney General John Ashcroft tours the nation to defend the USA
Patriot
Act, which some civil libertarians say allows federal agents to go too
far
in the name of preventing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Shah said he waited more than a month to discuss the incident publicly
because his wife and three children were still in Pakistan and he was
concerned that they might have trouble returning...
-----
SMOKING OVER PIPES' PEACE POST
Dan Carpenter, Indianapolis Star, 9/3/03
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/6/070799-4706-021.html
If President Bush truly is interested in brokering peace in the Middle
East, how could he appoint Daniel Pipes to the board of the U.S.
Institute
of Peace?
Muslim groups are understandably perplexed, given that the
Philadelphia-based writer and unabashed Israeli partisan is regarded by
his
critics as the chief Islamophobe in America.
But Muslims aren't the only Americans at war over a peacemaking role
for a
man whose lengthy skein of provocative utterances includes the recent
quote
that the cause of peace will be served by Israel's defeat of the
Palestinians.
Moderate and liberal Christian organizations, foreign policy scholars,
peace activists and Democratic senators added their voices to an effort
to
keep Pipes off the board of a federally funded think tank dedicated, in
its
words, to "the prevention, management and peaceful resolution of
international conflicts..."
-----
JEWS AND MUSLIMS EXAMINE CULTURES
Angela Batchelor, Poughkeepsie Journal, 9/4/03
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/thursday/lifeentertainment/stories/li090403s2.shtml
Explore two cultures on Sunday at 2 p.m. during the Salaam-Shalom
Family
Culture Fest at the Poughkeepsie's Vassar Temple.
The event is sponsored by the Al-Noor Islamic School, Dutchess
Interfaith
Council and Dutchess County Arts Council. Workshops and programs run
simultaneously throughout the free event.
"It was time to get to know each other and understand more about Islam
and
Israel and what better way than through the arts," says event
coordinator
Sue Lesser. "This is a celebration of the unique beauty found in the
arts
of all cultures and will promote peace, understanding and harmony among
diverse populations of all faiths..."
According to Lesser, just planning the event has been a learning
experience. For example, Lesser notes she felt resistance from the
Muslim
women while coordinating dance performances...
-----
PLANS FOR MOSQUES MEET RESISTANCE
Edward Colimore and Gaiutra Bahadur, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/4/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6685651.htm
VOORHEES - The anonymous flyer showed up at homes last month, warning
residents about a proposed mosque where "extremists and radicals" could
"pray side by side" with other Muslims.
It said extremists "could include individuals with connections to
terrorists" and encouraged opposition to the mosque.
Flyers, contentious township meetings, and a threat of legal action
have
marked efforts to convert a vacant Voorhees building into a mosque. The
zoning board will consider a site plan tonight. Its approval could pave
the
way for construction by spring.
The proposal - in these days before the second anniversary of the Sept.
11
terrorist attacks - has divided residents.
Muslims seeking to build mosques in the United States have met
resistance
many times before, said academics who have tracked their efforts before
local governments.
But Sept. 11 has intensified the struggle to build Islamic houses of
worship...
"People are more willing to go public with their prejudice," said
Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesman for the Committee on American Islamic Relations, an
advocacy group. "The societal reticence is not there anymore..."
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #392
DC-AREA COMMUNITY INVITED TO 9/11 MEMORIAL EVENT
"A Day of National Unity" challenges those who divide America
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/5/03) - CAIR is urging members of the
Washington-area
community to take part in an interfaith memorial event at the Capitol
Reflecting Pool to mark the second anniversary of the 9/11 terror
attacks
and to challenge those who seek to divide America along religious or
ethnic
lines.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
(The event will take place rain or shine. Shelter will be provided.)
WHERE: Capitol Reflecting Pool (West side of Capitol Bldg.), Washington
D.C.
The event, "A Day of National Unity," will include presentations by
local
and national community and religious leaders, songs by a children's
choir,
Maghrib (sunset) prayers, and a candlelight vigil in memory of those
who
died in the attacks. The event will also include a presentation of the
first annual "Voice of Unity Award" to the Hate Free Zone Campaign of
Washington, an organization founded in response to the post-9/11
backlash
against American Muslims, Arab-Americans and those perceived to be
Middle
Eastern.
"On this, the second anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, we must
come
together in a spirit of national unity and respect for religious
diversity," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "There are those
who
seek to divide our nation along political, religious and ethnic lines.
They
can only succeed if good people fail to challenge bigotry and hatred."
"A Day of National Unity" is co-sponsored by: National Council of
Churches,
Interfaith Alliance, American Friends Service Committee, Sikh
Mediawatch
and Resource Task Force, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Arab American
Institute, MAS Freedom Foundation, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee, Muslim Society of Washington, ADAMS Center, Dar al-Hijrah,
Muslim American Congress, Mustafa Center, Islamic Society of the
Washington
Area, Manassas Mosque, Islamic Society of Baltimore, along with other
religious and community groups.
For more information about the event, or to add your group's name to
the
list of co-sponsors, contact: Joshua Brockwell at 202-488-8787 ext.
3221.
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. PARTICIPATE in the vigil in Washington, D.C.
2. ORGANIZE a similar event in your local community. Communities can
open
houses of worship on September 11 for interfaith visits, prayers, panel
discussions, and other activities intended to foster national unity and
religious tolerance. For help on how to plan a day of unity event,
contact
Rabiah Ahmed at 202-488-8787 ext. 3243
3. INFORM CAIR about your local activities.
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/6/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT IS FAITH?
* GA MUSLIMS CALL A SUNDAY PEACE RALLY
- Peace Rally Near Site of Islamic Center Fire (AP)
* PASTOR: ISLAM IS 'AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE ENEMY' (Indianapolis Star)
- 9/11'S Silver Lining (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)
* GROUP'S LAWSUIT TARGETS MUSLIM CENTER (Chicago Tribune)
* CHRISTIAN COUNCIL URGES WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ (Atlanta Journal)
* DOLL PROMOTES SELF-ESTEEM FOR MUSLIM GIRLS (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT IS FAITH?
A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is
faith?" The Prophet replied: "When a good deed becomes a source of
pleasure
for you and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust, then you are a
believer." He was then asked: "What is a sin?" The Prophet said: "When
something pricks your conscience, give it up."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 8
-----
MUSLIMS CALL A SUNDAY PEACE RALLY
Ann Stifter, Savannah Morning News, 9/6/03
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/090603/LOC_peace.shtml
Two weeks after an arson fire destroyed the Islamic Center of Savannah,
local Muslims will hold a Sunday peace rally near the ruins.
The "Together for Peace" gathering is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. at the
southside center, located at 1030 Dutchtown Road.
"We're inviting Muslims and non-Muslims to express their views, that
peace
is the most important thing among people of all different faiths," said
Masood Ahmed, a spokesman for the mosque.
"One should not let peace go no matter what faith they have."
At least one Christian expects to attend, partially to support a U.S.
principle to worship freely.
"I'm Vietnamese and left when I was a child because of the Communism
and I
don't want anyone to dictate what I believe," said Mai Dang, a Roman
Catholic…
The 3 a.m. fire on Aug. 24 gutted the converted home that is located in
a
residential neighborhood. But Muslims immediately erected a prayer tent
at
the site to continue performing their five daily prayers…
SEE ALSO:
PEACE RALLY TO BE HELD NEAR SITE OF ISLAMIC CENTER FIRE
Associated Press, 9/6/03
SAVANNAH, Ga. - A peace rally will be held Sunday near the ruins of the
Islamic Center of Savannah, which was destroyed by a fire two weeks ago
that authorities have deemed arson.
The "Together for Peace" gathering is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m…
The fire Aug. 24 gutted the center. Muslims immediately erected a
prayer
tent at the site to continue performing their five daily prayers.
FBI agents are investigating the fire as a civil rights violation.
Evidence
of possible accelerants in the fire and other clues point to arson.
The fire destroyed a rare, handwritten copy of the Koran and the
temporary
mosque that was housed in a two-bedroom home…
-----
PASTOR DEFENDS SERMON ON ISLAM
Jennifer Evans, Indianapolis Star, 9/6/03
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/6/071957-3346-009.html
Avon -- A church sign in Avon has area residents asking whether its
message
is hate speech or a needed warning.
The marquee at Faith Baptist Church reads: Sunday sermon 10:30 a.m.
"Islam:
America's Number One Enemy."
"To call Islam an 'enemy' seems to be a message of hate," said Susan
Jones,
who works in Avon and has passed the marquee twice a day this week.
"It is just arrogant and ignorant, and I can't get past it. It is
disheartening that a pastor, a pillar of the community, would be
preaching
this."
Marc Monte, pastor at Faith Baptist Church for 5� years, said the
sermon
would provide needed information the public should receive -- but
hasn't --
from the media and many Christian leaders.
"I want to stir interest, not alarm, but Islam is a false religion,
dangerous and hate-promoting," Monte said.
"If I were a pastor who read KKK literature or Hitler's 'Mein Kampf,' I
would hope the members of my church would head to other churches. It is
awful stuff. I repudiate it, and I put Islam in the same camp."
Sayyid M. Syeed, director of Plainfield's Islamic Society of North
America,
said such views were inflammatory and dangerous to society.
"Whether it is a pastor in Avon or Osama bin Laden, it is religion
spoken
with the same language -- to incite others and provoke violence. It is
the
same treatment of religion; extremists think a lot alike," Syeed said…
Monte said he met with Syeed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,
2001.
Afterward, Monte decided to read and study the Islamic text, the Quran.
"I met with Syeed, and it got me very curious. In this personal
conversation, there were things that struck me as odd," he said. "I
opened
the Quran and smelled a stinking, bloated, dead rat on every page..."
SEE ALSO:
9/11'S SILVER LINING
ALLISON KENNEDY, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 9/6/03
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/living/6702351.htm
Arecent afternoon found Abeika Alexander in her backyard watching over
her
two young boys, Muhammed and Saalih. Muhammed was trying to water the
grass
at the family's Lawyers Lane home while Saalih, a toddler, sat
contentedly
beside his mother in his stroller.
Alexander, 25, and her family moved into this home built by Habitat for
Humanity volunteers last November. The family is Muslim. Alexander's
husband James B. Watson is the new imam, or spiritual leader, of Masjid
Al
Jannah on Forrest Road.
As required of Habitat projects, Watson assisted in the building
project by
contributing what's called "sweat equity" hours: he helped build the
home.
His wife couldn't help because she was pregnant.
As in other cities around the country, Columbus will commemorate the
second
anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Thursday in various ways.
Several
prayer services are planned.
Soon after the attacks, local clergy and other people of faith started
meeting to discuss their commonalities. Largely composed of
Episcopalian
Christians, Jews and Muslims, friendships among them strengthened.
Eventually they began strategizing about the three communities'
building a
Habitat home…
Nizam Khan, another Columbus Muslim, said this week he hasn't
encountered
any problems from non-Muslims. "There seems to be more awareness about
Islam. People are inquisitive and curious to know what Islam teachings
are."
The Rev. Doug Hahn of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, among the leaders
who
began meeting, said at the time that the group wanted to keep the focus
on
hope rather than on the terrorists' destruction.
Around the same time, Alexander and Watson applied to Habitat for
Humanity
and got picked as future homeowners.
Last year's one-year anniversary service of 9/11 at St. Thomas Church
drew
several hundred people. An interfaith service with Muslim, Jewish and
Christian liturgies, Farhad AliFarhani -- a Muslim who goes by "Ali" --
gave the sermon. No similar service is planned for Thursday.
"We are all one. We are like a body, regardless of what we believe. We
are
all one nation. Part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. We feel
this
pain and suffering," Ali said in his sermon…
-----
GROUP'S LAWSUIT TARGETS MUSLIM CENTER SERVICES
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 9/6/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0309060137sep06,1,7689423.story
A group of Morton Grove residents asked a federal judge Friday to
direct
village officials to enforce an ordinance that would prohibit the
Muslim
Education Center from holding prayer gatherings.
The lawsuit by Morton Grove Organization alleges the village ordinance
requires any organization holding large gatherings on its property to
have
a special-use permit--something the MEC has not had in the more than 13
years it has held services at the school.
Members of the group say they repeatedly have asked village officials
to
enforce the ordinance. They say more than 400 Muslims attend Friday
afternoon services in the school's gym, 8601 N. Menard Ave., causing
parking and traffic problems.
"They are fed up," said Douglas Cannon, an attorney for the
neighborhood
group. "Their local government has turned a deaf ear to them."
The lawsuit also asks for an order prohibiting prayer services at the
school.
"I can't read what is in their hearts, but the fact is the neighbors
never
complained of the Muslims' prayer meetings until after Sept. 11," said
John
Mauck, attorney for the MEC…
Mohammed Kaiseruddin, president of the Muslim Community Center, which
oversees the education center, said: "We've tried to work with them for
a
very long time but their answer to the problem has long been, 'Get
lost, or
we'll sue.'"
-----
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES URGES WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
Atlanta Journal, 9/06/03
http://www.ajc.com/saturday/content/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_f39543fcc52570a50081.html
The World Council of Churches has called for the "immediate and
orderly"
withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and the transfer of power to
the
United Nations.
The WCC's Central Committee, ending its eight-day meeting in Geneva on
Tuesday, also urged churches to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate
the
"horrific conditions and untold human sufferings" in Liberia.
In a five-page statement on Iraq, the WCC called the U.S.-led invasion
of
Iraq "immoral, ill-advised and in breach of the principles of the
[United
Nations] Charter."
The WCC said it remains concerned about the "long-term political,
social,
cultural and religious consequences of this war and the continued
occupation, especially the negative impact on Christian-Muslim
relations."
The Geneva-based body of 342 Protestant and Orthodox churches called on
American and British forces to pay "full reparations" to the Iraqi
people
for the war's damages and urged "unimpeded access" for humanitarian
groups.
-----
RAZANNE OFFERS IMAGE OF MODESTY, SELF-ESTEEM FOR MUSLIM GIRLS
TAREK EL-TABLAWY, Associated Press, 9/6/03
LIVONIA, Mich. - If Ken has any designs on this doll, he'd better
convert
to Islam and be prepared to fork out a hefty dowry because Razanne's
looking for more in a man than the macho, debonaire image that Barbie's
beau flaunts.
Instead, with her long-sleeved dresses, hijab or Muslim head scarf and,
by
her creator Ammar Saadeh's own admission, a less-than-flattering
bust-line,
Razanne is all about modesty and piety.
That's what encouraged Mimo Debryn of West Bloomfield Township to buy
the
doll for her daughter, Jenna, four years ago.
"Razanne looks like the majority of women around Jenna," said Debryn.
"She
loves that doll, and always took care of her, giving Razanne a special
place in her room, treating her with respect."
"Jenna never tried to take Razanne's hijab off, though Barbie was
usually
stripped naked," she said as Jenna, a cherubic 11-year-old, curled up
on
the couch with a smile.
For Saadeh, the doll fills not only a marketing void, but also offers
Muslim girls someone they can relate to.
"The main message we try to put forward through the doll is that what
matters is what's inside you, not how you look," said Saadeh, who, with
his
wife and a few other investors, set up NoorArt Inc.
The Livonia-based company, founded about seven years ago, sells the
Razanne
doll and a number of other toys geared toward Muslim children…
In the United States, Mattel, which makes Barbie, markets a Moroccan
Barbie
and sells a collector's piece named Leyla in the Girls From Around the
World collection. Leyla's elaborate costume and tale of being taken as
a
slave in the court of a Turkish sultan is intended to portray the
trials
and tribulations of one Muslim girl in the 1720s.
"It's no surprise that they'd try to portray a Middle Eastern Barbie
either
as a belly dancer or a concubine," said Saadeh, who noted that
countering
such stereotypes was one of the main aims in developing Razanne.
Razanne's launch five years ago has met with success, Saadeh said.
While
declining to give specific sales figures, he said the doll is marketed
and
sold throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore and Germany and
soon
will be sold in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and
Bahrain…
On the Net: http://www.NoorArt.com
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/8/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK GOD'S PARDON
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6893 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* OIG LOOKS AT GOV RESPONSE TO REPORT ON 9/11 DETAINEES
- Reno-Area Muslims Reflect on Lost Freedoms (AP)
* CAIR-ST. LOUIS PARTNERS WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
* POST 9/11: U.S. MUSLIMS GETTING MORE INVOLVED (AP)
- Muslims Sense Both Outrage and Support (Appeal-Democrat)
- Utah Muslim Festival Calls for Respect (SL Tribune)
- IN Students Raise Awareness About Islam (Star Press)
- TN Muslims Reaching Out to Community (Knox News)
- Putting the American in 'American Muslim' (NY Times)
- MN Event Aims to Highlight Unity of Faiths (News Tribune)
- CT Muslims Hope Worst of Intolerance is Over (Courant)
- MI Muslims Still Deal with Aftermath of 9/11 (Lansing)
- NY Arab-American Feels Sting of Change (Saratogian)
* BUSH APPOINTEE SAYS KENNEDY 'CARRYING WATER' FOR BIN LADEN (Press)
* SAVANNAH MUSLIMS HOLD PEACE RALLY (WTOC)
* FROM SWAGGER TO STAGGER (NY Times)
- The Pentagon's Bungled Psyops Strategy (Counterpunch)
* NY MUSLIM'S SUPPORTERS CRITICIZE HIS IMPRISONMENT (Journal News)
- Fierce Fight Over Secrecy, Scope of Law (Wash. Post)
* DESIGNERS TAILOR MUSLIM GARB WITH STYLE (SJ Mercury News)
- Hijab: Indiana University 'Uncovered' (IDS)
- South Korea's LG Unveils Mobile Phone for Muslims (AP)
* IN IRAQ, ONE INCIDENT, TWO STORIES (CSM)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK GOD'S PARDON
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who seeks (God's)
pardon
is not a confirmed sinner, even if he returns to his sin seventy times
a day."
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6893 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6893 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
ALSO SEE:
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
CAIR-ST. LOUIS PARTNERS WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
(ST. LOUIS, MO) - On Saturday, September 6, some twenty Muslim
volunteers
from the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
(CAIR-St. Louis) came together to help build a house through the
Habitat
for Humanity program. Saturday's event was the third time CAIR-St.
Louis
participated in the Habitat project, which seeks to develop stronger
communities by building new, affordable housing.
CAIR volunteers focused on the exterior and landscaping of their
assigned
home. Volunteers, who included physicians, students and professionals,
received CAIR-Habitat t-shirts.
For more information on how you can work with CAIR and Habitat for
Humanity, contact Jim Hacking, Executive Director for CAIR-St. Louis,
at
admin@cair-stl.org.
-----
OIG ANALYSIS OF DOJ AND DHS TO JUNE REPORT ON TREATMENT OF 9/11
DETAINEES
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/03-06/analysis.htm
On June 2, 2003, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the
Inspector
General (OIG) issued a report entitled "The September 11 Detainees: A
Review of the Treatment of Aliens Held on Immigration Charges in
Connection
with the Investigation of the September 11 Attacks." The report
examined
aspects of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) response to the September
11
attacks, including the investigation initiated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) called "PENTTBOM," to identify the terrorists who
committed the attacks and anyone who knew about or aided their efforts.
The
OIG report focused on the 762 aliens detained on immigration charges by
the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in connection with the
PENTTBOM investigation during the first 11 months after the attacks. At
the
time, the INS was part of the DOJ, but as of March 1, 2003, it was
transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The OIG report described how the DOJ instituted a policy of opposing
bond
for all aliens arrested in connection with the September 11
investigation
until they were cleared by the FBI, which became known as the "hold
until
cleared" policy. The OIG report examined various aspects of the
detainees'
treatment, including the length of the detainees' confinement, the
process
undertaken by the FBI to clear the detainees, bond determination
decisions
for the detainees, and the policies governing removal of the detainees
from
the United States.
The OIG report also examined in detail the September 11 detainees'
conditions of confinement. Overall, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
confined 184 of the detainees in its facilities nationwide, while the
remainder of the detainees were held at INS detention centers or in
state
or local facilities under contract with the INS. Our report focused
specifically on two facilities - the Metropolitan Detention Center
(MDC) in
Brooklyn, New York (a BOP facility), and the Passaic County Jail in
Paterson, New Jersey (a county facility under contract to the INS to
house
immigration detainees).
In Chapter 9 of our report, we made 21 recommendations to address the
issues examined in our review. The recommendations related to issues
under
the jurisdiction of the FBI, the BOP, leadership offices at the DOJ,
and
the DHS.
On July 21, 2003, in a memorandum from the Deputy Attorney General,
Larry
D. Thompson, the DOJ responded to the recommendations in the OIG report
on
behalf of the DOJ leadership offices, the FBI, and the BOP. In a
memorandum
dated August 4, 2002, Asa Hutchinson, the Under Secretary for Border
and
Transportation Security at the DHS, responded on behalf of the DHS to
the
recommendations in the OIG report concerning immigration issues that
are
now under the jurisdiction of the DHS…
In their responses, the DOJ has stated that the OIG report provides
useful
information and the DHS has indicated it is conducting a thorough
review of
the practices and policies that are discussed in the report. It also is
apparent from the responses that both agencies are taking the OIG
recommendations seriously and are taking steps to address many concerns
raised by the report. However, as the following analysis indicates, a
number of the recommendations are not addressed with sufficient
specificity, and significant work remains before the recommendations
are
fully implemented and closed.
SEE ALSO:
RENO-AREA MUSLIMS REFLECT ON LOST FREEDOMS
ASSOCIATED PRESS, 9/8/03
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2003/sep/08/090810835.html
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Hazem S. EL-Zanan, a researcher and student at the
University of Nevada, Reno's Desert Research Institute, wants to make
the
world a cleaner place.
A scientist and scholar, he was born and raised in Egypt and graduated
with
top honors from Cairo University.
He worked for the Egyptian Environmental Agency and during his three
years
at UNR, the chemist has become a leader among international students on
campus.
But his background also has made him a suspect under the U.S. Patriot
Act.
He is a Muslim.
"It is the laws, not the people, who look at us as criminals," EL-Zanan
said.
The Patriot Act, approved in October 2001, allows the government to
secure
personal information about U.S. residents in a fight against terrorism.
The
law allows the government to detain aliens deemed threats to national
security without public knowledge. It also gives federal law
enforcement
officials greater wiretap authority, access to student and library
records
and new Internet wiretap powers.
EL-Zanan and other Muslim scholars living in the Reno-Sparks area say
their
religion and Middle East ethnicity no longer allow them freedoms they
possessed before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"The message is: If you are coming from a Muslim country, you are a
terrorist," Cahit Evrensel, an 18-year Reno resident from Turkey and
associate professor of mechanical engineering at UNR, told the Reno
Gazette-Journal.
"I thought in America, you are innocent until proven guilty," he said…
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS GETTING MORE INVOLVED
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 9/7/03
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?g6344_BC_MI--Sept11-MuslimMood&&news&newsflash-michigan
TOMS RIVER, N.J. - By 1 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, windows at the Masjid
Bilal
mosque were smashed, and someone had left a message on the answering
machine threatening to burn it down.
In the weeks that followed, when the mosque's president and imam,
Mohamed
Elmasry, walked to a nearby Wawa for coffee, people driving past would
scream curses at him and yell, "Hey, bin Laden!..."
But that was then. Now, two years after Muslim hijackers flew jetliners
into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and crashed a fourth jet
in a
field in Pennsylvania, killing more than 3,000 people, American Muslims
are
re-emerging in more active, visible, involved roles in society.
Some are teaching classes on Islam to non-Muslims, while others
organize
voter registration drives or speak out against laws like the USA
Patriot
Act and its anti-terrorism provisions they consider discriminatory.
Most of all, many have moved beyond the fear and isolation they
experienced
shortly after the attacks to reclaim a place in this country...
The Council on American Islamic Relations started an ambitious effort
last
year on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks to have
educational
materials about Islam placed in 17,000 public libraries in the United
States. So far, nearly 7,000 people have paid $150 each to buy packets
of
books and tapes for the project.
"In the first year after 9/11, we were pretty much in a reactive mode,
trying to state our opposition to terrorism and showing we are not a
fifth
column in the U.S.," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the
Washington,
D.C.-based civil rights group. "Now, Muslims are realizing we really
have
no choice but to become more active in defending our civil and
religious
rights. It took the first year just to get out of that mode of shock."
The group also launched a year-long nationwide advertising campaign
depicting American Muslims in various roles in society, including Dr.
J.
Aisha Simon, a family physician, wife and mother who is shown examining
a
young boy with a stethoscope and declaring, "I'm an American, and I'm a
Muslim…"
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS SENSING BOTH OUTRAGE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Munira Syeda, Appeal-Democrat, 9/7/03
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2003/09/07/news/top_story/news1.txt
A range of anti-Muslim issues and events have challenged the American
Muslims everyday life in the United States in the past two years, said
Helal Omeira, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations' Northern California chapter.
He said those issues and events include backlash from the American
public,
racial profiling and detention of Muslims by law enforcement and at
airport
terminals, FBI interrogation and domestic registration of immigrants,
among
others.
"It's such a diverse pot of things that are happening, it's hard to put
your finger on it," Omeira said...
Despite the various struggles Muslims sustained after Sept. 11, Omeira
said
there also has been an outpouring of support and love from non-Muslim
American neighbors and community members.
The Sept. 11 attacks also forced Muslims to do some soul-searching and
reach out to the community-at-large, Abdullah said. He emphasizes that
more
of that needs to happen, though...
Omeira said Muslims have encountered additional discrimination in the
form
of "anti-Muslim legislation."
For instance, the reconfiguring of the former INS in response to Sept.
11
attacks was a ploy to target minorities such as Muslims, he said...
Though Muslims may have faced discrimination when it comes to
legislation,
Omeira said a lot of good has come in the aftermath of the Sept. 11
attacks.
---
SLC'S AMERICAN MUSLIM FESTIVAL CALLS FOR RESPECT BETWEEN CULTURES
Mary Brown Malouf, Salt Lake Tribune, 9/8/02
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Sep/09082003/utah/utah.asp
Four days before the anniversary of the World Trade Center disaster,
the
message at the Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival in Salt Lake
City on Sunday was one of increased understanding, cooperation and
respect
between cultures.
The 9-11 tragedy two years ago and its present day consequences were
never
far from anyone's mind.
A reading from the Quran, a rendition of the national anthem and a
speech
by Mayor Rocky Anderson signaled the start of the festival Sunday
afternoon. Then, Forrest Cuch, executive director of the Division of
Indian
Affairs for Utah, took the stage.
"According to the history books, American Indians were the first
terrorists
in this country," Cuch said in a surprisingly direct speech that
compared
the American Indian and Muslim experiences with stereotyping and racial
profiling. He praised the Muslim community for inviting those
representing
Utah's indigenous population to help celebrate Muslim culture.
Event organizer Ghulain Hasnain said most people think of Salt Lake
City as
white and LDS, a perception Sunday's event aimed to change.
Mayor Anderson pointed out that diversity has two sides; it can help us
understand one another or divide us. A day of sharing festivity and
food,
he said, is a step in the right direction...
---
BALL STATE STUDENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ISLAM
Star Press, 9/8/03
http://www.thestarpress.com/articles/3/005272-6993-004.html
MUNCIE - The Muslim Student Association at Ball State University will
offer
a series of events this week designed to provide a better understanding
of
the Islamic religion and Muslim culture.
"A Smile is a Charity" is the title for Islamic Awareness Week, which
will
feature guest speakers, panel discussions and a cultural carnival. All
events are free and open to the public.
Fahad Alqurashi, a Ball State doctoral student and Islamic Awareness
Week
coordinator, said the programs should help to dispel rumors and
misperceptions about his religion and culture.
"After Sept. 11 [the terrorist attacks on America in 2001], we realized
that many people did not understand us," he said in a press release
from
Ball State University Communications. "We want the Ball State and
Muncie
communities to know that Muslims are a peaceful people and Islam is a
religion of peace..."
---
MUSLIMS REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY
Jeannine F. Hunter, Knox News, 9/8/03
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_2241010,00.html
Joining community boards, speaking at organizational meetings and
welcoming
new members into their religious community has increased among local
Muslims since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks...
Muslims, in the wake of Sept. 11, focused on educating others about
their
faith and shaping an identity from their own experiences rather than
one
formed from media accounts of the horrible acts of a few.
Within the community, a political forum meets regularly to register
Muslims
and non-Muslims to vote and to heighten awareness of political
issues...
---
PUTTING THE AMERICAN IN 'AMERICAN MUSLIM'
Muqtedar Khan, New York Times, 9/7/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/07/opinion/07KHAN.html
WASHINGTON - Muslims in America. American Muslims. The difference
between
these two labels may seem a matter of semantics, but making the
transition
from the first to the second represents a profound, if somewhat silent,
revolution that many of us in the Muslim community have been undergoing
in
the two years since Sept. 11.
On its face, this shift would seem to threaten the very core of Muslim
identity and empowerment. After all, in the decade before the events of
Sept. 11, Islam was one of the fastest-growing religions in North
America.
Mosques and Islamic schools were going up in every major city. Groups
like
the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the American Muslim
Alliance
established chapters in nearly every area with a Muslim population.
Muslim leaders, once a frustrated and marginal group, found themselves
being courted by politicians, the news media and foreign governments
seeking their support and influence. Indeed, many Muslims believe it
was
their votes that made the difference in Florida, making them primarily
responsible for placing President Bush in the White House...
Muqtedar Khan, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, is
author of
``American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom.''
---
EVENT AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT UNITY OF FAITHS
Linda Hanson, Duluth News-Tribune, 9/7/03
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/6713043.htm
The common desire for understanding and peace among different faiths
will
be highlighted at a Duluth event set to mark the date of the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks.
A panel discussion on "Bridging Faith: Creating a Future Worthy of Our
Children" begins at 7 p.m. Thursday in Kirby Ballroom, at the
University of
Minnesota Duluth.
"I want to show there is more unity than there is difference between
our
religions," said Arshia Khan, a Muslim woman who is one of the event's
organizers.
The sponsors of the free event are the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports
and
Arrowhead Interfaith Council...
-----
CONNECTICUT'S ARAB, MUSLIM POPULATION HOPE WORST OF INTOLERANCE IS OVER
Lisa Chedekel, Hartford Courant, 9/7/03
http://www.ctnow.com/
Only when she gazes at a certain tree in her yard does Hina Sheerazi
feel
the jolt of anguish from remembering how her country turned against her
family.
Her nephew, Ayazuddin Sheerazi, had been enthralled with the tree's
changing colors when he came to Connecticut from his native India for a
six-month visit in 2001. In between hustling orders for the family's
successful rug business, he had snapped pictures of the leaves to show
his
parents back home.
That was before he was led away in handcuffs from the Torrington gas
station that Hina and her husband own and held for 18 days by FBI and
immigration authorities investigating a tip that several "Arab" men
were
scheming about anthrax in a local bar. After he was released without
charges, authorities acknowledged that the tipster's account was bogus.
Although her nephew's faith in America was shaken so badly that he
immediately returned to India, Hina Sheerazi is forgiving...
A recent report by the national Council on American-Islamic Relations
found
that while hate crimes against Muslims have fallen off after spiking in
the
weeks after Sept. 11, discrimination complaints have risen steadily. In
2002, the council recorded 602 bias complaints by Muslims, a 15 percent
increase over the prior year. Employment discrimination, passenger
profiling at airports and discriminatory actions by government agencies
were among the most common complaints.
"We've seen a significant increase in the incidents of discrimination
in
everyday life," said Mohamed Nimer, the council's research director.
"There
is a lingering impact of the fear and suspicion that arose from 9/11
being
exhibited against people who are or appear to be Muslims or Arabs..."
---
AREA MUSLIMS STILL DEAL WITH AFTERMATH OF SEPT. 11
Amanda Leitch, Lansing Community Newspapers, 9/7/03
http://www.hometownlife.com/news/WilliamstonEnterprise/Default.asp?Page=9-7-2003/FullStory/AreaMuslimsstilldealwithaftermathofSept11.htm
INGHAM COUNTY - With the second anniversary of Sept. 11 coming up many
area
Muslims feel things will never be the same.
Asadullah Khan of Okemos, who is president of the executive committee
of
the Islamic Center in East Lansing, said the atmosphere has changed.
"Things have changed. It may become better but it will never be the
same,"
he said. "I don't think we get treated differently everyday, but the
whole
atmosphere has changed..."
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN FEELS STING OF CHANGE
Jerome Burdi, Saratogian, 9/7/03
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10126227&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17708&rfi=6
WILTON -- Dr. Frank Akawi remembers fondly the days of belly dancing
and
men playing cards in smoky caf�s in his native Jerusalem. The
Jordanian-American, who moved to the United States in the 1980s, fell
in
love with this country -- but now despises its post-9/11 policies.
Akawi, a 42-year-old Catholic, said that after the attacks, the words
'Middle East' and 'terrorists' were on the tongue of the nation, and he
knew the profiling would begin.
'Immediately, I was feeling bad because you could see the guilt by
association,' the veterinarian said. 'Simply by being of Middle-Eastern
descent, people were looking at us as criminals, too.'
Of the 200,635 people in Saratoga County, 517 are Arab-American,
according
to the 2000 U.S. Census...
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE SAYS KENNEDY 'CARRYING WATER' FOR BIN LADEN
Daniel Pipes says war, not diplomacy will end Middle East conflict
CONTROVERSIAL SCHOLAR SPEAKS ON MIDEAST
John Brand, Press of Atlantic City, 9/8/02
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic/090803PIPES1.html
One audience member asked Pipes why Kennedy and other politicians are
so
adamantly opposed to his appointment, a question that was greeted with
scattered laughter by the crowd.
But Pipes gave the crowd an inclination on how controversial his
thoughts
can be when he said, "They were essentially carrying the water for the
lobbying of Osama bin Laden."
A culture change in the Mideast, Pipes admitted, will take decades to
achieve. It cannot be achieved by diplomacy, but by a war the
Palestinians
must lose…
-----
SAVANNAH MUSLIMS HOLD PEACE RALLY
Nicole Teigen, WTOC, 9/7/03
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1432586&nav=0qq6HrQ3
Two weeks after their worship center was destroyed in a suspicious
fire,
Savannah Muslims are trying to put a end to many of the misconceptions
facing the Islamic community. Tonight, they held a peace rally that
brought
hundreds of people together.
Even the rain could not keep hundreds of people from rallying and
taking a
stand for what they believe in. "I knew there were a lot of people who
felt
like I did, my family and friends do and they'd be out here to support
them, so I'm very pleasantly impressed with the turn out," said
Savannah
resident, Patti Emfinger.
It was a turnout that brought people from all walks of life to end
hatred
in their community. "All of us, Christians, Jews, Muslims basically
worship
the same God, it's just a different name," said Robert Ludgate who
attends
the Unitarian Universalist church in downtown Savannah.
What would normally takes place behind closed doors, has been held out
in
the open since the fire and while the Muslim community practiced their
faith, they encouraged people to stay and watch.
Another reason this peace rally was held was so people could have an
inside
look on at the Muslim faith and have any questions they had answered
and in
hopes this would erase some of the stereotypes...
-----
FROM SWAGGER TO STAGGER
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 9/7/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/07/opinion/07DOWD.html
WASHINGTON - On one channel tonight, we can watch the iconic side of
the
Bush presidency. In the risibly revisionist Showtime movie "DC 9/11:
Time
of Crisis," George W. Bush is Vin Diesel-tough as he battles
terrorists.
"If some tinhorn terrorist wants me, tell him to come get me," the
fictional president fictionally snaps on Air Force One after the 9/ll
attacks. "I'll just be waiting for the bastard."
On network channels at the same time - W. is pre-empting himself! - we
can
watch the ironic side of the Bush presidency. Even though Bush the
Younger
has done everything in his power not to replicate the fate of his dad,
he
is replicating the fate of his dad. Only months after swaggering out of
a
successful war with Iraq, he is struggling with the economy. His
numbers
have fallen so fast, Top Gun is now tap dancing. He will address the
nation
to try to underscore the imaginary line that links the budget-busting
pit
of Iraq to the heartbreaking pit of 9/11.
Just as the father failed to finish off Saddam, so the son has failed
to
finish off Saddam. Just as the conservatives once carped that the
father
did not go far enough in Iraq, now the "cakewalk" crowd carps that the
son
does not go far enough...
ALSO SEE:
THE PENTAGON'S BUNGLED PSYOPS STRATEGY
Brian Cloughley, Counterpunch, 9/3/03
http://www.counterpunch.org/cloughley09032003.html
The Pentagon defines Psychological Operations as intended ". . . to
convey
selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence
their
emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of
foreign government [sic], organizations, groups, and individuals. The
purpose of psychological operations is to induce or reinforce foreign
attitudes and behavior favorable to the originator's objectives."
Further, "Psychological warfare [is] directed toward populations in
friendly rear areas or in territory occupied by friendly military
forces
with the objective of facilitating military operations and promoting
maximum cooperation among the civil populace..."
-----
MUSLIM MAN'S SUPPORTERS CRITICIZE HIS IMPRISONMENT
Susan Elan, Journal News, 9/8/03
http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/090803/a0108hudson.html
Ansar Mahmood felt like one of the luckiest people on Earth when, in
1999,
he won the immigration lottery, which allows a small number of
applicants
worldwide to live and work in the United States...
He also sent home photos of himself smiling in the foreground of his
beautiful new surroundings: fields with deer grazing in the lush Hudson
Valley, snow covering the Catskills. Over the years, Mahmood had
collected
hundreds of photos of himself in striking settings.
It was a view recommended by one of Mahmood's regular customers that
led to
his downfall.
The Hudson reservoir with the Catskills in the background would make a
spectacular shot, antiques dealer Peter Jung suggested.
It was October 2001, and fear was rampant. At the reservoir, Ansar
asked a
water treatment plant employee to take his picture at the big lake.
While
one guard snapped his photo, a second phoned local police to alert them
to
the presence of a possible terrorist...
SEE ALSO:
FIERCE FIGHT OVER SECRECY, SCOPE OF LAW
Amy Goldstein, Washington Post, 9/8/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40110-2003Sep7.html
As the second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks approaches,
the
Bush administration's war on terror has produced a secondary battle:
fierce
struggles in Congress, the courts and communities such as these over
how
the war on terror should be carried out. At the heart of this debate is
the
USA Patriot Act, the law signed by President Bush 45 days after the
terror
strikes that enhanced the executive branch's powers to conduct
surveillance, search for money-laundering, share intelligence with
criminal
prosecutors and charge suspected terrorists with crimes.
Yet the paradox of this debate is that it is playing out in a
near-total
information vacuum: By its very terms, the Patriot Act hides
information
about how its most contentious aspects are used, allowing
investigations to
be authorized and conducted under greater secrecy.
As a result, critics ranging from the liberal American Civil Liberties
Union to the conservative Eagle Forum complain that the law is
violating
people's rights but acknowledge that they cannot cite specific
instances of
abuse....
-----
FASHIONING A NEW IMAGE
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury, 9/7/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6713512.htm
For a traditional Muslim woman, shopping in secular society is a drag.
But a fashion show tonight at the Santa Clara Marriott should ease the
pain
for those hunting for trend-setting outfits that don't violate Islamic
rules of modesty.
A new Silicon Valley company, Flippant, headed by a trio of Muslim
women,
is offering its line to an untapped niche: second-generation Muslim
hipsters hungry to dress in something more than floor-length robes.
''This is hugely important,'' said Sass Brown, a faculty member at the
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. ''This market has been
under-served for quite some time. The demographics of our country are
rapidly changing, and the marketplace hasn't reacted as quickly. We're
still marketing to the Eurocentric norm, and many people don't fit that
anymore...''
Helal Omeira, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
said
the Muslim community has come a long way in two years, networking with
people of different faiths to explain Islam to a previously uninformed
public. His group fielded dozens of calls in 2001 from Muslims being
harassed for looking Middle Eastern. In the Bay Area, he said, those
complaints have drastically decreased. He plans to babysit his son
tonight
while his wife attends the show...
ALSO SEE:
IU 'UNCOVERED'
Paul Musgrave, Indiana Daily Student, 9/8/03
http://www.idsnews.com/story.php?id=18004
There's more to communicating than speaking and writing. Your gestures,
your stance and your facial expressions speak eloquently even when you
are
silent...
Some people choose to demonstrate their faith through their clothing.
Many
Muslim women, for example, wear a hijab, or head scarf, to demonstrate
their purity.
But when some female Muslim students recently tried to pose for their
campus ID cards while wearing the hijab, they were told University
policy
required them to uncover their heads.
Two of these students refused. The hijab doesn't cover the face. The
photo
would still be useful as identification. But they were told to take
their
scarves off again....
Incidents like this happen all over the country.
"I think it's the most common type of discrimination Muslim-American
women
deal with," Rabiah Ahmed, communications coordinator at the Council for
American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., said.
Ahmed said that 16 percent of incidents of anti-Muslim harassment
reported
to CAIR involved women wearing the hijab. Countless others go
unreported,
she said...
---
SOUTH KOREA'S LG UNVEILS MOBILE PHONE FOR DEVOUT MUSLIMS
Associated Press, 9/8/03
http://www.canada.com/technology/story.html?id=9CE02FF2-10ED-47C1-9B31-0DC0FA2C625C
SEOUL, South Korea - Hoping to expand its market share among the
world's
1.1 billion Muslims, South Korea's LG Electronics on Monday unveiled a
new
mobile phone that includes an electronic compass to show the direction
of
Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Equipped with location tracking software, the phone's wide screen can
be
used as a normal compass but is especially intended for devout Muslims
who
pray five times a day facing Mecca, Islam's holiest city, said LG
Electronics, South Korea's second-largest mobile phone handset maker.
Company spokesman Kim Byung-tak said the phone will be able to point
toward
Mecca even in remote places such as deserts...
-----
IN IRAQ, ONE INCIDENT, TWO STORIES
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 9/8/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0908/p06s01-woiq.html
MAHMUDIYA, IRAQ - It was after midnight, and the teenage Iraqi boy was
home
with his older sister in a battered concrete apartment. Neighbors say
he
heard kicks at the door and thought thieves were trying to break in.
So Haroun Fadhil took an assault rifle - one per family is permitted by
US
authorities for self-defense - and fired off several bullets.
But the intruders were not thieves. They were soldiers from the US
Army's
82nd Airborne Division, who say their inquiries at a nearby pool hall
about
"bad guys" prompted an Iraqi to lead them to the Fadhil's door.
No one disputes these facts, that two Iraqis died and four US soldiers
were
injured. Beyond that, the US and Iraqi versions of what took place
differ
markedly, reflecting parallel realities that often erode trust as the
US
attempts to win Iraqi hearts and minds.
The result, according to Iraqis here: two dead civilians, six
apartments
shot up, and anger welling up toward American forces among some
residents
of Building 198, who say the predawn violence was a tragic
overreaction.
The result, according to US soldiers on the scene: four wounded
Americans;
a trove of ammunition and pro-Saddam, anti-US propaganda; and an
operation
that was "by the book..."
-----
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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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/9/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AUTHORITY IS A TRUST
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6895 SPONSORSHIPS
- 'Washington Live' Looks at U.S. Muslims Post-9/11
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* REMINDER: CAIR 9/11 MEMORIAL EVENT IN DC
* CNN REPORTS ON BACKLASH AGAINST AMERICAN MUSLIMS
* MUSLIM GROUPS TO COLLECT FOOD FOR NEEDY (Sun Spot)
- TX Mosque Strong Two Years After Arson Attack (NTD)
* POLK MUSLIMS SAY STIGMA STILL STICKS (Ledger)
* IMMIGRATION DATA OVERWHELMS U.S. GOVERNMENT (SMC Times)
- Plans for Terror Inquiries Still Fall Short (NY Times)
- Fliers to Be Rated for Risk Level (Wash. Post)
* IMMIGRANTS PAY 9/11 PRICE, ACTIVISTS SAY (Chicago Tribune)
* OTHER PEOPLE'S SACRIFICE (NY Times)
* RIVALS CRITICIZE DEAN FOR MIDEAST COMMENT (Wash. Post)
- Israel, India Lobbies Work Together in U.S. (Haaretz)
* HOUSTON TOWN HALL MEETING ON ANTI-TERRORISM INITIATIVES
* PENN. STATE PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT ISLAM AND 9/11
* PEACE APPOINTEE SAYS PALESTINIAN CAUSE 'HOPELESS'
------
HADITH OF THE DAY: AUTHORITY IS A TRUST
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There is no sin more
(worthy of punishment in this world and the next) than oppression..."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2299
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "Authority is a trust, and
on
the Day of Judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except
for
one who fulfills its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties
required."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 842
NOTE: The reference for yesterday's hadith was Sunan of Abu-Dawood,
Hadith 596.
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6895 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6895 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
ALSO SEE:
'WASHINGTON LIVE' LOOKS AT MUSLIM POST-9/11
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world. To subscribe to ART call 1-888-458-1278.
Tonight's program will look the American Muslim community two years
after 9/11.
SEND QUESTIONS TO: cair@washlive.com
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
REMINDER: CAIR 9/11 MEMORIAL EVENT IN DC
9/11 COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
Washington Post, 9/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45716-2003Sep8.html
Wednesday - 6:30-8:30 p.m., Interfaith memorial service and candlelight
vigil sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations; Capitol
Reflecting Pool (west side). 202-488-8787.
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS TO HOLD 9/11 VIGIL AT U.S. CAPITOL
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1022&page=NR
-----
CNN REPORTS ON BACKLASH AGAINST AMERICAN MUSLIMS
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/american.morning/index.html
On Wednesday, September 10, CNN's American Morning Show will report on
the
backlash experienced by the American Muslim community post-9/11. The
report
will focus on the mosque arson that occurred recently in Savannah,
Georgia.
The segment will air sometime between 7-8 a.m.
-----
MUSLIM GROUPS TO COLLECT FOOD FOR NEEDY
Liz F. Kay, Sun Spot, 9/9/03
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/howard/bal-ho.fooddrive09sep09,0,6117008.story
In an effort to increase civic involvement and introduce themselves to
people in their communities, volunteers from Muslim organizations in
four
Maryland counties and Baltimore City will collect food for several food
banks Sunday.
They also hope to counteract negative perceptions of Muslims that
sometimes
are presented in the news media, said Anwer Hasan, president of the
Howard
County Muslim Council...
On Saturday, volunteers in Montgomery and Howard counties left notices
on
doors with details about the drive at about 10,000 homes in each
jurisdiction. Those in Baltimore and Baltimore County planned to reach
5,000 homes, and in Prince George's the goal was 2,000 homes, Hasan
said.
The volunteers will return Sunday to collect nonperishable food from
the
doorsteps of the homes, which will be donated to organizations such as
the
Maryland Food Bank and Manna Food Center in Rockville...
ALSO SEE:
MEMBERSHIP STRONG AT LOCAL MOSQUE TWO YEARS AFTER FIREBOMB ATTACK
Kristie C. Rodriguez, North Texas Daily, 9/9/03
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/09/3f5d64af25138
Two years after a firebomb damaged Denton's only Islamic mosque,
disrupting
the Islamic community, followers maintain faith in sight of peace, even
as
the second anniversary of the 9-11 attacks approaches.
Mosque member Majad Turkmam on Monday reported no decline in
membership,
though there were a few individuals who did not attend prayer in the
days
following the attack.
"We cannot just be scared," Halil Okur, treasurer for NT's Muslim
Student
Association, said about expressing the views and ways of the
organization.
There are currently over 100 members in the Islamic center, according
to
Turkmam...
-----
POLK MUSLIMS SAY STIGMA STILL STICKS
Eric Pera, Ledger, 9/9/03
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030909/NEWS/309090398/1039
LAKELAND - Some Muslims in Polk County say they're still paying the
price
for atrocities committed in the name of Allah on Sept. 11, 2001.
They talk of racial profiling and of racist comments made when dressed
to
express their faith in public places...
On the eve of the second anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on
the
United States, Marshall and other members of the Lakeland Islamic
Center
say the discrimination is upsetting and they fear things could get
worse if
terrorists attack again on American soil.
All Americans have seen their civil liberties diminish in the name of
pre-empting another terrorist strike at home, but American Muslims have
paid the heaviest price, said Altaf Ali, executive director of the
Florida
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"We have members who are being fingerprinted" for minor traffic
infractions
such as expired license tags, he said.
The Sept. 11 tragedy cast long shadows for Muslims across the nation,
according to a July report by the CAIR, an Islamic advocacy group based
in
Washington, D.C.
Last year in Florida the council received 78 complaints of
discrimination,
compared with 40 complaints in 2001, a 95 percent increase...
The CAIR report blames the Bush administration and some evangelical
Christians like Franklin Graham and the Rev. Jerry Falwell for fueling
anti-Muslim sentiment in the workplace, at schools, in encounters with
the
courts, police and other government agencies.
The report says the media are part of the problem for using terms such
as
Islamic terrorists or Muslim militants, while rarely denoting religion
when
people of other faiths are associated with terrorism...
-----
IMMIGRATION DATA OVERWHELMS U.S. GOVERNMENT CAPABILITIES
Michele R. Marcucci, San Mateo County Times, 9/9/03
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1620194,00.html
The government is gathering more information on immigrants and foreign
visitors than ever before. But the efforts may be doing little to
protect
Americans, experts say.
Without the intelligence and interior enforcement to back up the
information gathering, the same problems exist that led to the Sept. 11
attacks, experts say.
"We still do virtually nothing to enforce immigration laws within the
U.S.," said Ira Mehlman, Los Angeles-based spokesman for the Federation
for
American Immigration Reform. "Once people get here, they have pretty
much
carte blanche to stay here and do whatever they want."
Even if such efforts were enforced, they might not protect Americans
from
Sept. 11-style attackers, who were mostly educated men from
middle-class
families who entered the U.S. legally and had no criminal record,
according
to the report, "America's Challenge," by the Migration Policy
Institute...
ALSO SEE:
PLANS FOR TERROR INQUIRIES STILL FALL SHORT, REPORT SAYS
Eric Licthblau, NY Times, 9/9/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/09/politics/09DETA.html
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department, criticized for its treatment of
hundreds of illegal immigrants jailed after the terrorist attacks of
Sept.
11, 2001, has not done enough to avoid a repeat by spelling out clear
criteria for determining who is considered a terrorist suspect, an
internal
report concluded today.
In its report, the Justice Department inspector general's office said
federal authorities had not developed adequate plans for classifying
illegal immigrants arrested in terror investigations to ensure that
those
with no ties to terrorism would be cleared quickly and adequate F.B.I.
resources would be devoted to such investigations.
The inspector general's report offered a mixed verdict on the progress
the
authorities had made in avoiding the pitfalls surrounding the arrests
of
more than 700 illegal immigrants after the 9/11 attacks...
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said he was encouraged to learn that officials appeared to be taking
serious steps to eliminate abuses.
"I would hope that we've learned from the past and we realize that a
wholesale roundup of individuals based largely on their race, religion
or
national origin is counterproductive to national security and goes
against
our basic values of due process," Mr. Hooper said.
---
FLIERS TO BE RATED FOR RISK LEVEL
Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post, 9/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45434-2003Sep8.html
In the most aggressive -- and, some say, invasive -- step yet to
protect
air travelers, the federal government and the airlines will phase in a
computer system next year to measure the risk posed by every passenger
on
every flight in the United States.
The new Transportation Security Administration system seeks to probe
deeper
into each passenger's identity than is currently possible, comparing
personal information against criminal records and intelligence
information.
Passengers will be assigned a color code -- green, yellow or red --
based
in part on their city of departure, destination, traveling companions
and
date of ticket purchase...
The new system, called Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System
II
(CAPPS II), has sparked so much controversy among both liberal and
conservative groups that the TSA has struggled to get it going. Delta
Air
Lines backed out of a testing program with the agency earlier this
year,
and now the TSA will not reveal which airlines will participate when it
tests a prototype early next year. If all goes as planned, the TSA will
begin the new computer screening of some passengers as early as next
summer
and eventually it will be used for all domestic travelers...
-----
IMMIGRANTS PAY 9/11 PRICE, ACTIVISTS SAY
Oscar Avila, Chicago Tribune, 9/9/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0309090055sep09,1,5618886.story
With the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
approaching,
activists on Monday said the federal government's harsh and secretive
actions against immigrants represents a potential "second tragedy."
Advocates for immigrants and Muslims and for civil liberties demanded
that
the Department of Homeland Security provide more information about
foreigners detained and deported during the U.S. crackdown against
terrorism…
Surveys indicate that most Americans support reductions in immigration,
particularly from Arab and Muslim nations, as a safeguard against
terrorism.
While immigrant advocates say they support efforts to punish
terrorists,
they argue that the U.S. dragnet has been applied too broadly and
ensnared
immigrants whose only violation was working illegally…
-----
OTHER PEOPLE'S SACRIFICE
Paul Krugman, New York Times, 9/9/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/09/opinion/09KRUG.html
In his Sunday speech President Bush made a call for unity: "We cannot
let
past differences interfere with present duties." He also spoke, in a
way he
hasn't before, about "sacrifice." Yet, as always, what he means by
unity is
that he should receive a blank check, and it turns out that what he
means
by sacrifice is sacrifice by other people.
It's now clear that the Iraq war was the mother of all bait-and-switch
operations. Mr. Bush and his officials portrayed the invasion of Iraq
as an
urgent response to an imminent threat, and used war fever to win the
midterm election. Then they insisted that the costs of occupation and
reconstruction would be minimal, and used the initial glow of
battlefield
victory to push through yet another round of irresponsible tax cuts.
Now almost half the Army's combat strength is bogged down in a country
that
wasn't linked to Al Qaeda and apparently didn't have weapons of mass
destruction, and Mr. Bush tells us that he needs another $87 billion,
right
away. It gives me no pleasure to say this, but I (like many others)
told
you so. Back in February I asked, "Is this administration ready for the
long, difficult, quite possibly bloody business of rebuilding Iraq?"
The
example of Afghanistan (where warlords rule most of the country, and
the
Taliban - remember those guys? - is resurgent) led me to doubt it. And
I
was, alas, right...
-----
RIVALS CRITICIZE DEAN FOR MIDEAST COMMENT
Jim VandeHei, Washington Post, 9/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45122-2003Sep8.html
Howard Dean came under fire yesterday from two rivals for the
Democratic
nomination for saying the United States should not "take sides" in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Five days after Dean told supporters in New Mexico that "it's not our
place
to take sides" in the conflict, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.)
accused
him of advocating a "major break" from the United States' long-standing
policy of explicitly siding with Israel in the Middle East...
In an interview, Dean sought to clarify his statement but did not back
down
from his belief that the United State cannot negotiate peace unless it
is
seen as a neutral party in the region.
For more than 50 years, the United States has backed Israel as its
closest
ally in the region, providing the Jewish state with billions of dollars
in
military and humanitarian aid. Dean does not advocate breaking the
U.S.-Israeli alliance, but believes the only way to bring peace to the
Middle East is for the president to broker a deal without playing
favorites...
ALSO SEE:
PRO-ISRAEL, PRO-INDIA LOBBIES NOW WORKING TOGETHER IN U.S.
Amiram Barkat, Haaretz, 9/8/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/337667.html
Last July, the pro-Israel and pro-India lobbies in Washington, D.C.
held a
joint reception for senators from both sides of the aisle, prompting a
reporter for The Washington Post to call it a
"cacophony of accents" where "women in saris mingled among men in
yarmulkes."
Tom Lantos, the Democratic Congressman from California, a Holocaust
survivor, greeted the reception, emphasizing the commitment of Jews and
Indians to respecting others, rule of law and democracy, and adding
that
lately the two lobbies have grown closer, because of a shared enemy of
fanatic Islamic terror.
Cooperation between the lobbies only began in recent months but has
already
recorded some successes, including approval for the Phalcon airborne
radar
system sale from Israel to India, as well as an amendment added to an
aid
to Pakistan bill that requires the White House to report to Congress on
Pakistani government prevention of infiltration into India. The next
goal
is to win congressional approval for an Arrow missile system sale to
India...
-----
HOUSTON TOWN HALL MEETING ON ANTI-TERRORISM INITIATIVES
American Muslim Council (Houston Chapter) and the Houston Muslim
Community
are holding a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, September 13, 2003 at 5:00
P.M. in Community Center, I.S.G.H., Northwest Zone (Spring Branch)
located
at 1209 Conrad Sauer, Houston, TX 77043 on the request of United States
Attorney Michael T. Shelby to discuss the initiatives of the Southern
District Anti-Terrorism Task Force address the concern of Muslim
community
in Houston.
United States Attorney Michael T. Shelby and Mr. Abe Martinez, Deputy
Chief, Terrorism and national Security Division will be speakers from
U.S.
Department of Justice and some local Muslim leadership of Houston.
The Muslim community is requested to participate in this important Town
Hall Meeting and address the issues that have direct effect on the
Muslim
community at large.
Please contact for information:
Mr. Amanullah Khan 713 628 8980
Mr. Syed N. Izfar 713 898 1922
Mr. Abdul Rauf Khan 713 270 9405
------
PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT ISLAM AND 9/11
WHAT: Are Muslims violent, terrorists, and/or extremists? Do Muslims
worship a different God from that of Christians or Jews? Does Islam
oppress
women? Find answers to these and other common misconceptions about
Islam at
a panel discussion titled, Religious Tolerance and Liberty in the Face
of
Terrorism: Unraveling Misconceptions about Islam. The symposium will
be
the first of the Penn State Great Valley Diversity Action Councils
Speaker
Series. The participants in this panel discussion will learn about the
basic beliefs and tenets of Islam. The discussion will focus on the
experiences of American Muslims after 9/11.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 30, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Warren V. Musser Auditorium of the Safeguard Scientifics
Building.
Note: For more information about this event please visit www.gv.psu.edu
or
call Roya Salehi at 610-725-5235.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: PEACE APPOINTEE SAYS PALESTINIAN CAUSE 'HOPELESS'
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/5288.htm
DANIEL PIPES: "Give Israel license not just to defend itself but to
impress
on the Palestinians the hopelessness of their cause."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
REMINDER: ATTEND TONIGHT'S 9/11 MEMORIAL ON CAPITOL HILL
Bring your friends and family to tonight's event to call for national
unity
in the face of those who would divide our nation along religious or
ethnic
lines.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Capitol Reflecting Pool (Westside), Washington, D.C.
SEE: MUSLIMS TO HOLD 9/11 VIGIL AT U.S. CAPITOL
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1022&page=NR
-----
POLL: U.S. MUSLIMS INCREASE POLITICAL ACTIVITY SINCE 9/11
Dean tops Bush, Iraq policy slammed, affirmative action favored
(WASHINGTON, DC - 9/10/03) - According to results of a poll released
today
by a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, roughly half of
American Muslims surveyed say they have increased their social (58
percent), political (45 percent), interfaith (52 percent) and public
relations activities (59 percent) since the 9/11 terror attacks. (A
number
of open-ended questions on the poll are yet to be tabulated.)
Almost three-fourths (70 percent) of Muslim respondents said they feel
free
to practice their faith without restrictions and almost all (86
percent)
said they had experienced an act of kindness from people of other
faiths.
Those figures are balanced by the high number of respondents (88
percent)
who said they knew of at least one person who suffered anti-Muslim bias
or
discrimination in the past year. Fifty-six percent said they themselves
had
experienced discrimination.
The poll of 644 individuals, conducted by the Washington-based Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in August, indicates that almost half
of
American Muslims (49 percent) say they are now more public about their
Muslim identity and have increased donations to local or national
Islamic
organizations (42 percent). (Surveys were faxed and e-mailed to Muslim
individuals and organizations nationwide.)
The survey also looked at American Muslim views on political issues and
on
the current list of presidential candidates. When asked which
Democratic
Party candidate they would vote for, respondents favored Howard Dean
(26
percent), Dennis Kucinich (11 percent), John Kerry (7 percent), and
Carol
Moseley Braun (6 percent). Only 2 percent said they would vote for
President Bush. The president also fared poorly on domestic and
international issues of importance to Muslims. Only one-in-ten
respondents
supported the president's Iraq policy.
When asked to name the political party that best represents the
interests
of the American Muslim community, more respondents named the Democratic
Party (27 percent) and Green party (25 percent) than the Republican
Party
(3 percent). A large number (44 percent) said none of the parties
represented their interests. When asked to name the media outlet worthy
of
praise for coverage of Islam and Muslims, PBS topped the list. Fox News
was
viewed by respondents as the media outlet exhibiting the most biased
coverage.
On domestic issues, Muslims said they support affirmative action in
higher
education (68 percent) and interfaith dialogue (89 percent), favor
lowering
taxes (55 percent) as a way to boost the economy, and are split on the
issue of school vouchers (46 percent in favor, 32 percent opposed).
Other poll results:
* 34 percent of respondents were of South Asian heritage; 23 percent
from
the Arabic-speaking world
* 83 percent are registered to vote; 63 percent voted in 2000
* 34 percent attended a mosque at least once a week; 37 percent do so
more
frequently
* 70 percent rated CAIR's performance as 8 or higher on a scale from 1
to
10; 10 being excellent.
"The results of this survey, one of several scheduled prior to the 2004
elections, show a resilient religious community that is diverse in its
ethnic, political and ideological make-up," said CAIR Executive
Director
Nihad Awad. "The tragic events of two years ago have prompted Muslims
to
reach out to their neighbors, become more active in educating others
about
Islam and renew their commitment to defending America and its civil
liberties."
Muslims from more than 41 different states (and the District of
Columbia)
responded to the survey, with the most responses coming from California
(21
percent), Texas (8 percent), Virginia (8 percent), New York (7
percent),
Florida (7 percent), Illinois (6 percent), Michigan (4 percent) and New
Jersey (4 percent).
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 16 offices
nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/10/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY
* DIRECTIONS TO CAIR 9/11 MEMORIAL EVENT TONIGHT IN DC
- Washington-area 9/11 Interfaith Peace Banquet
- Historic Walk between Synagogue and Mosque in NYC
- Clash of Civilizations or Common Ground?
* CAIR-FL: BRINGING FAITH INTO FOCUS (St. Pete Times)
- CAIR-FL Official Takes Part in Law Enforcement Workshop
* NM MUSLIM WINS SETTLEMENT OVER HEAD SCARF
* LOW-KEY AREA EVENTS TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 (Wash. Times)
- 'Hope, Not Hate' Topic of Public Talk (Sentinel)
- Panel Speaks of Muslim Faith; None Were Muslims (BSU Daily)
- 9-11 Casts Shadow Over S.A. Muslim Community (SA Express)
- Plemon El-Amin: Busy Explaining Islam to All (Atlanta Journal)
- Normal Life Strains Bonds Formed in Crisis (Chicago Tribune)
- For Muslims Living in U.S., It Can be Daily Challenge (CNN)
- Imam Al-Qazwini Says Islam Misunderstood (KC Star)
* WHAT THE WEST CAN LEARN FROM ISLAM (BBC)
* AP STAFFER FACT-CHECKS POWELL'S UN SPEECH (E&P)
* WHY DEAN GOT HIT ON ISRAEL (Wash. Post)
* AMERICAN PROFESSOR SAYS ARREST IS UNLAWFUL (Independent)
- Rights Workers Seek U.S. Help in Arar Case (Ottawa Citizen)
* DES MOINES VOTERS ELECT FORMER BLACK PANTHER (AP)
* PUBLIC FORUM ON PATRIOT ACT
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(It is better that) a
man
give a (small amount of charity) during his life than give (a large
amount)
at the moment of his death."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1245
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
DIRECTIONS TO CAIR 9/11 MEMORIAL EVENT TONIGHT IN DC
TONIGHT - 6:30-8:30 p.m., Interfaith memorial service and candlelight
vigil
sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations; Capitol
Reflecting
Pool (west side). 202-488-8787. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1022&page=NR
DIRECTIONS: The Capitol Reflecting Pool is located on 3rd Street
between
Independence and Pennsylvania.
ALSO SEE:
WASHINGTON-AREA 9/11 INTERFAITH PEACE BANQUET
WHAT: On September 11, 2003, members of the ADAMS Center will conduct
and
take part in many interfaith activities. ADAMS will hold an Interfaith
PEACE Banquet at the ADAMS Center in Sterling, VA, from 6:30pm-9pm, in
remembrance of the victims World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.
Representatives of Christian, Jewish, and Sikh Faiths will be attending
and
speaking at this event. ADAMS will also be honoring Local Police and
Fire
Departments for their continuous community service. The ADAMS
community
will also participate in the Fairfax County Faith Communities in Action
and
GMU Interfaith Gatherings and other Interfaith Vigils on Sept 10, 2003.
WHEN: ADAMS Center Interfaith Vigil: Thursday, September 11, 2003 from
6:30pm to 9:00pm
WHERE: 46903 Sugarland Road, Sterling, VA 20164
CONTACT: Yasir Syeed at 571-213-5966
---
HISTORIC WALK BETWEEN SYNAGOGUE AND MOSQUE IN NYC
Jews and Muslims will join together in the first PeaceWalk linking a
synagogue and a mosque in a historic pilgrimage for peace in New York
City
to commemorate September 11th.
Representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist faiths will
Meet
at 8:00 am on September 11, 2003 at Bowling Green Park and walk to the
World Trade Center site to give witness that peace between people of
all
faiths is possible.
Participating Groups:
Peaceful Tomorrows is an advocacy organization founded by family
members of
September 11th victims who have united to turn grief into action for
peace
through non-violent solutions to terrorism.
The Jewish-Muslim PeaceWalk grew out of three historic peace walks
between
Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque and the Islamic Center of
New
Mexico. The Jewish-Muslim PeaceWalk conducts walks around the country
between synagogues and mosques to build up a national movement of
Muslims
and Jews committed to ending the Israeli Palestinian conflict and
building
spiritual fellowship between these two world religions.
For more information contact Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb at the F.O.R.
845-358-4601
or Abdul Rauf Campos-Marquetti at 505 301-6052
---
CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS OR COMMON GROUND?
WHAT: Is cooperation between the U.S. and the Islamic world possible in
the
aftermath of the Iraq war, or do the U.S. and Islam inevitably
conflict?
Express your opinion! And hear the views of: Janet Reno; Former U.S.
Attorney General; Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Brookings Institution scholar and
Author of American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom; Arthur
Teitelbaum
Southern Area Director, Anti-Defamation League.
This event is part of the South Florida Town Hall, which is part of a
broader nationwide initiative called "Hope not Hate," which will
facilitate
broad, inclusive dialogue at more than 20 universities nationwide on
how
the United States and the Islamic world can work together to stem
growing
hatred of one another. All are welcome to share their opinions at this
free
event.
WHEN: Saturday September 13th, 2003 at 4-6 pm
WHERE: Miniaci Auditorium Of Nova SE University
For more information about "Hope not Hate," please visit
www.aidemocracy.org, phone Green at (202) 270-6268, or phone Siddiqui
at
(954) 914 5939.
-----
BRINGING A FAITH INTO FOCUS
WAVENEY ANN MOORE, St. Petersburg Times, 9/8/03
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/10/news_pf/Neighborhoodtimes/Bringing_a_faith_into.shtml
Interest in Islam and its adherents has remained high in the two years
since the attacks, says Ahmed Bedier, 29, a local Muslim who has been
working to demolish stereotypes about his faith.
The tragic events, he points out, have affected both Muslims and
non-Muslims. At the Pinellas Park mosque where he worships, a 6-foot
fence
with electronic gates has been installed around the property to prevent
repeated acts of vandalism. On the other hand, the mosque is moving
ahead
with plans to build a school for Muslim children.
Last week the community purchased almost four acres at 66th Street and
94th
Avenue N for the new school. Meanwhile, said Bedier, Muslims nationwide
live under fear and scrutiny.
For him, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks brought personal changes as well,
said
Bedier, who was born in Egypt. In the time since, he married a
Floridian, a
convert to Islam, and now is the father of 7-month-old, Amira, whose
name
means princess.
"I think, on a personal level, it kind of made me get serious about my
future," he said.
He rededicated himself to his faith.
"After I got married, my wife and I went on a pilgrimage to Mecca,"
said
Bedier, who added that his parents, who live in Egypt, and his brother
in
California, joined them.
"That was a very spiritual trip that I felt that I had to do and it
kind of
put things in perspective and I returned back with a better sense of
direction and more focused on basically presenting - not converting or
evangelizing - Islam in both word and action. Because, after Sept. 11,
our
community faced a lot of backlash, mainly from people who didn't
understand
the religion and were afraid of it."
Last August, Bedier took the volunteer position of Florida
communications
director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He said he was
motivated to work for the national organization because of Robert
Goldstein, the Seminole podiatrist who pleaded guilty in April to
plotting
to blow up a mosque. He was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in
prison. Bedier has been quoted as saying that had Goldstein been a
Muslim,
he would have received a harsher sentence.
With the approach of the Sept. 11 anniversary, CAIR organized events in
Hernando County and visited churches Sunday to remember the tragedy.
"We don't want the society to think that Muslims were not a victim in
this
as well," Bedier said. "Ten percent of the people that died in the Twin
Towers were Muslims..."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL OFFICIAL TAPES PART IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP
WHAT: Community leaders and activists will present at a workshop on
community organizations and grassroots issues with Miami-Dade Police
Department captains and lieutenants.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Ms. Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, President, Miami-Dade
ACLU;
Dr. Bradford Brown, President, NAACP, Miami-Dade Branch; Mr. Altaf Ali,
Executive Director, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) of
Florida
among many others
WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 2003
WHERE: Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st ST., 29-A
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, CAIR-FL, 954-298-8214, E-MAIL:
altaf@cair-florida.org
-----
NM MUSLIM WINS SETTLEMENT OVER HEAD SCARF
A prospective Muslim employee in New Mexico who was allegedly denied
employment because she wore a religiously mandated head scarf (hijab)
to an
interview has been awarded an undisclosed amount for her emotional
distress
and lost wages.
The Muslim woman applied for a position as a dental assistant and was
subsequently called in for an interview. When she arrived at the
interview
with her hijab, she was told the position was filled.
Two weeks later the same ad for the dental assistant position still
appeared in the newspaper.
Following CAIR's intervention, a formal mediation session was conducted
whereby the attorney for the dentist's office reached a settlement with
the
applicant.
The dentist's office also apologized for the unfair treatment the
Muslim
woman suffered by stating: "We express any regret regarding the events
involving your application for employment. We assure you there was no
intent on the part of [our office] to act in other than a professional
manner."
-----
LOW-KEY AREA EVENTS TO MARK 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
Tarron Lively, Washington Times, 9/9/03
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030909-092501-5536r.htm
At 6:30 p.m. today, a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group
is
urging members in the Washington area to take part in "A Day of
National
Unity," an interfaith memorial event at the Capitol Reflecting Pool to
mark
the second anniversary of the attacks and to challenge those who seek
to
divide America along religious or ethnic lines. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says many Muslim, Christian,
Arab-American, Sikh and interfaith organizations have agreed to
co-sponsor
the event.
ALSO SEE:
'HOPE, NOT HATE' TOPIC OF PUBLIC TALK
Sentinel, 9/8/023
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2003/09/08/news/news02.txt
Exploring the relationship between the U.S. and the Islamic world is
increasingly important today as the conflict in Iraq drags on and
Americans
prepare to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Exploring the relationship between the U.S. and the Islamic world is
increasingly important today as the conflict in Iraq drags on and
Americans
prepare to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Representatives from the National Organization for Women (NOW), the
Council
on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the local media will discuss
these
issues during the "Hope, Not Hate" event at Dickinson College,
Carlisle.
The free public discussion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the
Great
Room of the Stern Center, West Louther Street between West and College
streets.
The event is part of an initiative that involves 25 universities and
colleges that are holding discussions on anti-Americanism and
anti-Islamism.
The nationwide program has been organized, in part, by the Americans
for
Informed Democracy (AID), a nonpartisan group that seeks to raise
awareness
in the U.S. about world opinions of American foreign policy and to
counteract anti-American sentiment overseas.
At Dickinson, the "Hope, Not Hate" event will begin with remarks from
Terry
O'Neill of NOW, Hamid Azad with CAIR and Carol Talley of The Sentinel.
For more information, call 717-245-1875 or visit www.clarkecenter.org.
---
PANEL SPEAKS OF MUSLIM FAITH; NONE WERE MUSLIMS
Jessica Kerman, Ball State Daily News, 9/10/03
http://www.bsudailynews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/10/3f5ecc55da234
On Tuesday, three people not of the Islamic faith spoke about their
encounters with the religion and their thoughts after interacting with
its
members.
The Muslim Student Association, in conjunction with the Islamic Center
of
Muncie, organized Islamic Awareness Week for Muncie residents and Ball
State students. This event, titled "Islam In Their Eyes," was the first
of
many events scheduled this week.
Reverend Thomas Perchlik, one of the speakers at the event, said they
were
there to promote a better understanding of the Islamic religion through
the
eyes of non-Islamics.
The evening started with speakers recounting the times they spent with
Muslims...
---
9-11 CASTS SHADOW OVER S.A. MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Sonja Garza, San Antonio Express News, 9/10/03
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1052757
The bullet hole still visible in the storefront window of the Sahara
Mediterranean grocery is a stark reminder of the anti-Arab, anti-Muslim
sentiment exhibited by some following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks.
Store manager Sam Alhamaydeh, a man of Jordanian descent, pasted a
"Proud
to be an American," bumper sticker over the spot where the bullet
struck
the glass.
It wasn't an attempt to stop the windowpane from splitting any further,
he
said. It was meant to show his patriotism.
And while some in the local Islamic community say strained relations
between Muslims and non-Muslims have all but mended in the two years
since
9-11, others attest to a lingering fear and prejudice - though not as
blatant as before...
---
BUSY EXPLAINING ISLAM TO ALL
Moni Basu, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 9/10/03
http://www.ajc.com/wednesday/content/epaper/editions/wednesday/atlanta_world_f3e53c3736e1320a00db.html
In his 17th year as imam of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, Plemon
El-Amin
became a really busy man.
While Muslims bore the backlash of a nation angered by killers who
claimed
to act in the name of religion, much of the nation reached out,
yearning to
know more about Islam, a faith still cloaked in mystery for many
Americans.
El-Amin's speaking engagements increased tenfold. He has been on the
road
since, sometimes finding himself in the most unexpected places.
have spoken in parks and high schools and colleges and senior citizen
homes.
"There was a great need to know more about Islam . . . and we were
obligated to respond," he said...
---
NORMAL LIFE STRAINS BONDS FORMED IN CRISIS
Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune, 9/10/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0309100051sep10,1,2128117.story
This week many Americans are dusting off their "where were you on Sept.
11"
stories, recalling what they were doing and how they felt on that
Tuesday
two years ago when terrorists flew passenger jets into the World Trade
Center and ripped apart our fantasy of safety. Few of us who don't live
in
New York, however, have a tale as dramatic as Joy Ding's.
I wrote about Ding, the marketing manager at R.R. Donnelley Logistics,
a
few days after Sept. 11, about how on that warm blue morning she found
herself in a taxi headed from LaGuardia Airport to a meeting in
Manhattan.
Suddenly, out on the horizon, she saw black smoke and red fire shooting
from the trade center's twin towers. Every road the driver tried into
Manhattan turned out to be blocked. From the fuzz on the radio, they
could
decipher little except the word "terrorists."
Then the driver's cell phone rang. It was his sister. "Come home," she
said, warning that this was not the moment for bearded Pakistani
Muslims to
be out cruising...
---
FOR MUSLIMS LIVING IN U.S, IT CAN BE DAILY CHALLENGE
Soledad O'Brien, Deborah Feyerick, CNN: American Morning, 9/10/03
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/american.morning/index.html
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Life has changed in many ways for
Americans since the September 11 attacks and for Muslims living in the
United
States, it can still be a daily challenge.
Deborah Feyerick went to a mosque in Savannah, Georgia and spent time
With their community and she has the story of one Muslim doctor and his
family.
DR. SAAD HAMMID: Yes, much better.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT : Dr. Saad Hammid is a pediatrician
in
Savannah, Georgia. He is also Muslim. Dr. Hammid was treating patients
the
day his adopted country was attacked. What was your immediate thought?
HAMMID: I hoped that the perpetrators were not Muslims. That was my
prayer.
We tried to be more secure.
FEYERICK: In the last two years, being Muslim in America has not been
easy.
HAMMID: Every Muslim became a suspect. Every person became a target,
either
of just the questioning or just concern from the people around them.
FEYERICK: Before 9/11, Dr. Hammid, a Syrian born Palestinian, never had
a
problem living in Georgia. Like the 500 other Muslims in Savannah, he
was
busy working and raising two daughters with his wife Janet. People
would
stare at her traditional head scarf, but, she says, she never felt in
physical danger...
(To order a video of this transcript, call 800-CNN-NEWS or visit
www.fdch.com)
---
RELIGIOUS LEADER SAYS ISLAM MISUNDERSTOOD
John Shultz, Kansas City Star, 9/10/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/6732452.htm
Stressing that Muslims, Christians and Jews have more in common
spiritually
than not, the leader of the Michigan-based Islamic Center of America
said
Islam remains deeply misunderstood.
Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, originally of Iraq, talked about bridging
the
gap between the faiths at an interfaith panel discussion Tuesday night
at
the Community Christian Church off the Plaza. Sharing the dais with him
were Rabbi Neal Schuster of Congregation B'nai Jehudah and George
Noonan,
chancellor of the Catholic diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Al-Qazwini reinforced that Islam condemns the killing of innocent
people,
and said Muslims should condemn the acts of self-proclaimed holy
warriors
like the Sept. 11 hijackers.
"Those who committed the tragedies, the disasters of September 11th,
although they were born into Muslim families, they were in no way
representative of Islam," he said...
Al-Qazwini also noted that oppressive conditions in Muslim countries --
such as the Taliban's treatment of Afghan women -- were not intrinsic
to
the faith.
-----
WHAT THE WEST CAN LEARN FROM ISLAM
Imam Hamza Yusuf, BBC News, 8/29/03
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/talking_point/3190931.stm
Hamza Yusuf Hanson is an American convert to Islam. He is an outspoken
advocate of better understanding between the Muslim world and the West.
Writing in the third century, the Arab poet Mutanabbi describes how a
recipient of another's largesse will usually respond with either
indebtedness or resentment :
'A generous soul is bought when it receives, a vile one returns good
done
with disease.'
Your response to another's good toward you determines your nature.
If good in nature, you will respond with indebtedness and respect; if
vile,
with resentment and envy.
Many of us in the West feel anger and resentment toward Islam and
Muslims.
Often this is justified in our minds by the anger and resentment
Muslims
appear to have toward the West...
-----
AP STAFFER FACT-CHECKS POWELL'S UN SPEECH
Editorial and Publisher, 9/8/03
http://editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1971092
Last month, Charles J. Hanley, special correspondent for the Associated
Press and winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2000, wrote a devastating
2,500-word critique of claims made by Secretary of State Colin Powell
in
his influential Feb. 5 speech to the United Nations on Iraq's weapons
of
mass destruction. In a column published this week, E&P Editor Greg
Mitchell
calls this speech the single most important moment in the march to war
--
and charges that the media's unquestioning endorsement of Powell's
assertions made invasion inevitable. Here are brief, edited excerpts
from
the Hanley article (available in its entirety at Philly.com).
ALUMINUM TUBES: Powell said "most United States experts" believed
aluminum
tubes sought by Iraq were intended for use as centrifuge cylinders for
enriching uranium for nuclear bombs.
Energy Department experts and Powell's own State Department
intelligence
bureau had already dissented from this CIA view... No centrifuge
program
has been reported found...
REVIVED NUCLEAR PROGRAM: "We have no indication that Saddam Hussein has
ever abandoned his nuclear weapons program," Powell said.
On July 24, Foreign Minister Ana Palacio of Spain, a U.S. ally on Iraq,
said there was "no evidence, no proof" of a nuclear bomb program before
the
war. No such evidence has been reported found since the invasion...
-----
WHY DEAN GOT HIT ON ISRAEL
Howard Kurtz, Washington Post, 9/10/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53687-2003Sep10.html
The pregame buzz among the reporters gathered to watch last night's
Baltimore debate was whether Ron Fournier's story would produce any
fireworks.
Fournier, a dogged AP reporter, had slipped into a story last week
something that a number of reporters had heard Howard Dean say to
supporters in New Mexico but did not report: that the United States
should
not "take sides" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since Fournier used the quote in the 28th paragraph, there wasn't much
reaction until Sunday, when Joe Lieberman's campaign called the AP to
issue
a statement slamming the former Vermont governor. John Kerry jumped in
on
Monday.
So the table was set, so to speak, for the Fox News/Black Caucus
debate.
Fox's Juan Williams served up the pitch, asking Dean about the comment
(he
said he'd preserve the "special relationship" with Israel) and inviting
the
Connecticut senator to respond. Lieberman hit Dean, Dean responded,
Lieberman interrupted and Dean accused him of demagoguery -- none of
which
would have happened if Fournier hadn't picked up on the original
remark...
-----
AMERICAN PROFESSOR SAYS ARREST IS UNLAWFUL
Andrew Gumbel, Independent, 9/10/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=441885
A Palestinian university professor being held in solitary confinement
on
terrorism charges in Florida has urged a federal judge to throw out his
case, saying it amounted to a "thoughtless slaughter of First Amendment
rights" and sought to criminalise him solely for his political beliefs.
The motion, filed by Sami al-Arian, is the latest twist in a tormented
case
that has pitted free-speech advocates and fellow academics against
pro-Israeli terrorism experts and the local media on Florida's Gulf
Coast,
who have waged a campaign against Mr al-Arian for years.
A court ruled in 2000 that Mr al-Arian - a computer science professor
at
Florida State University in Tampa and founder of a political think-tank
-
had no links to Palestinian groups espousing violence.
But after the 11 September attacks prosecutors were granted access to
thousands of hours of surveillance tapes collected by US intelligence.
In
February, Mr al-Arian was indicted on charges that he was the chief
North
American pointman for Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
He was fired from his job, denied bail and placed in solitary
confinement
for 23 hours a day pending a trial that is not due to start until 2005
at
the earliest...
-----
DES MOINES VOTERS ELECT FORMER BLACK PANTHER, OUST BOARD LEADER
Associated Press, 9/10/03
DES MOINES, Iowa- Voters ousted the president of the school board as
they
elected a Muslim leader who is a former Black Panther and a community
activist to the board.
Ako Abdul Samad and Connie Boesen will join the seven-member board.
Board
President Marc Ward, a two-term incumbent, was defeated.
"It says people did not want business as usual," said Samad, who is the
third black elected to the board in 30 years. Des Moines lawyer Nolden
Gentry served on the board from 1970 to 1983, and insurance executive
Jacquie Easley was a board member from 1990 to 1996...
Samad's religious beliefs stirred controversy and prompted a growing
number
of threatening calls as the election approached. The 52-year-old said
he
practices a traditional form of Islam.
But Samad said his religion was not the issue. He said it's time for
people
to set that aside and focus on the serious issues facing the
district...
ALSO SEE:
RIGHTS WORKERS SEEK U.S. HELP IN ARAR CASE
Robert Fife, Ottawa Citizen, 9/10/03
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
A delegation of human rights activists, including former foreign
affairs
minister Flora Macdonald, will meet senior U.S. embassy officials
tomorrow
to enlist Washington's support to win the release of a Syrian-born
Canadian
now imprisoned in Damascus.
It is the first time U.S. officials have agreed to discuss the
imprisonment
of Maher Arar since U.S. agents arrested and deported him from New York
City to Syria last fall on suspicions of belonging to the al-Qaeda
terrorist network without notifying Canada and despite Syria's dismal
human
rights record.
The group, which includes Ms. Macdonald, now with the International
Civil
Liberties' Monitoring Group, and representatives from Amnesty
International
and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, will meet Robert Flora,
the
head of the embassy's political section, but not U.S. Ambassador Paul
Cellucci. The embassy rejected a request to include Mr. Arar's wife,
Monia
Mazigh, in the delegation.
Alex Neve, the Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada, said
the
group believes only Washington has the clout to pressure the Syrians to
free Mr. Arar or to at least ensure he gets a fair trial.
-----
PUBLIC FORUM ON PATRIOT ACT
WHAT: The USA PATRIOT Act and similar new laws and edicts have
radically
changed your Constitutional and civil rights. Join: Jim Moran, U.S.
Representative, Eighth Congressional District of Virginia; Kit
Gage, National Coalition Against Repressive Legislation; Sherifah
Rafiq,
Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation; Jeanne Herrick-Stare,
Friends
Committee on National Legislation; and Patrice Webb, American Civil
Liberties Union as they discuss these issues of vital interest to the
community and give advice on actions we can take to preserve our rights
and
liberties.
Arlington's local chapter of Amnesty International will host this forum
to
raise awareness of the dangerous new laws that threaten your freedoms.
WHEN: Sunday September 14, 2003, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Arlington County Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street
For additional information, contact Richard Bromberg, 202-835-0660,
Find more on the USA PATRIOT Act at http://www.aclu.org/
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/11/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WEALTH AND WISDOM
* CAIR-LA CO-HOSTS MEETING WITH BUSTAMANTE
* CAIR CONDEMNS BIN LADEN VIDEOTAPE
* FOR DC AREA MUSLIMS, REFLECTION AND OPTIMISM (Wash. Post)
- Ceremony Honors Victims of 9/11 (Wash. Times)
- D.C. Mayors Proclaims 9/10 as "Day of Unity"
- CA Congressman Honda Congratulates CAIR on 9/11 Vigil
* INTERFAITH GROUPS ARE STILL GOING STRONG (Post-Intelligencer)
- Religious Solidarity by Dialogue (Tri-Valley Herald)
- Arab-Americans, Jews in California Hope for Peace (AP)
- Jews, Christians, Muslims Fill Church (AJC)
- Attacks Opened Connection with Neighbors (SF Chronicle)
- Religions Converge in Time of Crisis (Akron-Beacon)
- N.Y. Author Building Bridges with Islam (Toronto Star)
* CAUTION IS BYWORD FOR MUSLIMS (Poughkeepsie Journal)
- Foreign Students Endure Scrutiny (Star Telegram)
- Muslim Students Say Progress Needed (State News)
- Absences Anger Panel Members (Sun-Sentinel)
- Muslims Seek Harmony (St. Pete Times)
- MI Arabs Strive for Acceptance (Free Press)
* KIN OF PAKISTANI WTC VICTIM HOLD OUT HOPE (AP)
* LOCAL ACTIVIST SEES GREATER INTEREST IN ISLAM (Gannett)
* BUSH CALLS FOR BROADER POLICE POWERS (NY Times)
- Patriot (ACT) Games (Wash. Post)
* NEW MOSQUE PLANNED FOR NORTHERN UTAH (AP)
* CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL TO SUPPORT BILL FOR HASAN FAMILY
* MUSLIM AMERICANS CALLED ON TO DOCUMENT 9/11 STORIES
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WEALTH AND WISDOM
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Envy is not permitted
except in two cases: (Envy) of a person who God has given wealth and he
spends it in the right way, and (envy of) a person who God has given
wisdom
and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to others."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 490
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR-LA CO-HOSTS MEETING WITH BUSTAMANTE
Discussion centered on economy, immigration and civil rights
(ANAHEIM, CA - 9/11/2003) - Representatives of the American Muslim
community met yesterday with California Lieutenant Governor and
gubernatorial candidate Cruz Bustamante to discuss a variety of issues
related to California Muslims and Arabs. The meeting was co-hosted by
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA)
and
the Arab American Democratic Club of Orange County.
Lt. Gov. Bustamante listened to Muslim and Arab community leaders speak
on
issues such as the state's ailing economy, immigration, the erosion of
civil liberties, and education. Community leaders emphasized the
importance
of inclusion at all levels of government in order to better represent
the
state's diversity. Bustamante spoke about reaching out to Muslim, Arab,
and
other communities after 9/11 to stop and prevent any misdirected
backlash
against these communities.
The Lieutenant Governor pledged his commitment to inclusiveness
stating: "I
am the lieutenant governor for everybody in the state of California and
if
I become governor, I will represent everyone...I, in fact, will extend
myself to everyone and I will look for the very best in people
regardless
of who they are, regardless of where they came from." He urged
Californians
to look to his record in office as proof of that commitment.
For more information, contact: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334,
E-MAIL: socal@cair.com
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS BIN LADEN VIDEOTAPE
(WASHINGTON DC, 9/11/03)- The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR),
a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, today
categorically condemned the newly-aired videotape and message of Osama
bin
Laden.
In a statement, CAIR said:
"As Americans of all faiths commemorate the tragic events of 9/11, we
unconditionally condemn the message of Osama bin Laden in his most
recent
videotape.
"Muslims and people of other faiths should not be misled by the
inflammatory rhetoric of Osama bin Laden. The hateful message he
conveys is
completely inconsistent with Islamic principles of peace and justice.
"As our nation remembers the lives of those lost two Septembers ago,
messages of division should only strengthen our resolve to remain
united as
a nation of different races, religions and cultures."
View a sample of CAIR's initial condemnations from the September 11
attacks, including a full-page statement in the September 16, 2001
Washington Post at: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/911report.pdf
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices
nationwide
and in Canada.
-END-
CONTACT: Arsalan Iftikhar, Director of Legal Affairs, 202-488-8787 or
202-415-0799 E-Mail: arsalan@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, Communications
Coordinator, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
FOR AREA MUSLIMS, REFLECTION AND OPTIMISM
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 9/11/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57571-2003Sep10.html
When members of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society observe the second
anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a banquet
tonight
at their Sterling mosque, the guests of honor will be representatives
from
the local Christian and Jewish communities...
But the 3,000-member congregation will also be discussing the huge
challenges Muslims continue to face in the tragedy's aftermath, the
Sudanese-born Magid said. "We are worried about laws that say that
Muslims
can be put in jail without knowing why, and no one should tell you
why," he
said.
The mixture of optimism and apprehension at Magid's mosque is typical
of
the general mood among local Muslim Americans...
At a vigil in the District last night, an imam lit the candle of a
pastor,
who lit the candle of a child in front of the Capitol, which glowed
pink in
the sunset. The "Day of National Unity" was held to "remember there is
no
future in intolerance," said Arsalan T. Iftikhar, director of legal
affairs
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which sponsored the
event.
"The one thing we all have in common is that we are American," Iftikhar
said. "We love the freedoms and liberties this country has to offer."
A poll released yesterday by the Washington-based council, a leading
Muslim
advocacy group, found that Muslim Americans are indeed becoming more
socially and politically active. In the August survey of 644 Muslims,
about
half of the respondents said they had increased their social,
political,
interfaith and public relations activities since the terrorist
attacks...
The council's survey also found that although 86 percent reported an
act of
kindness from someone of another faith in the past year, 56 percent
said
that they had experienced anti-Muslim bias or discrimination...
ALSO SEE:
INTERFAITH CEREMONY HONORS VICTIMS OF 9/11
Tarron Lively, Washington Times, 9/11/03
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030910-111220-7422r.htm
The thousands killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks will be
honored
where they died and across the nation on the second anniversary of the
attacks today, with cities falling silent, names read aloud, wreaths
laid
and bells tolling for the dead.
The ceremonies began yesterday, when the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group in
the
D.C. area, held its second "Day of National Unity," an interfaith
memorial
event at the Capitol Reflecting Pool to mark the anniversary of the
attacks.
The event included songs by a children's choir, speeches from local and
national community and religious leaders, and a candlelight vigil in
memory
of the victims.
"It was even better than last year," said Joshua Brockwell, CAIR
executive
assistant and event organizer. "We had good media coverage. The people
who
showed up made the event what it was. The speakers and the content of
what
they had to say was pretty important."
The organization's first "Voice of Unity Award" was presented to the
Hate
Free Zone Campaign of Washington, an organization founded to combat
post-September 11 hostilities against American Muslims, Arab-Americans
and
those perceived to be Middle Eastern.
"The theme was definitely positivity," Mr. Brockwell said. "We had
representatives from the National Council of Churches, Jews for Peace
in
Palestine and Israel, Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force, and the
fact
that they were all out en masse made for a very positive event, and
that is
what we were going for..."
---
D.C. MAYOR PROCLAIMS 9/10 AS "DAY OF UNITY"
Following is the text from a proclamation issued by the Mayor of the
District of Columbia, Anthony A. Williams, declaring September 10, 2003
as
"Day of Unity."
"Whereas, on September 10, 2003, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
will host an interfaith event at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in
Washington,
D.C. to mark the second anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack; and
Whereas, activities throughout the day will include songs by a
children's
choir, speeches from local and national community leaders, and will
culminate with a candlelight vigil in memory of those who died in the
attacks; and
Whereas, the threat of terrorism, and our response to it, continues to
test
our ability to live our lives harmoniously; and
Whereas, the tragic events of 9/11 have stirred us all to a renewed
commitment to re-establish peace for ourselves and our prosperity; and
Whereas, it is appropriate that each of us work together toward world
peace:
Now, therefore, I the Mayor of the District of Columbia, do hereby
proclaim
September 10, 2003, as "Day of Unity" in Washington D.C., and call upon
all
the residents of this great cit and nation, to join me in helping to
make
this world a better place to live, work, and play."
---
CA CONGRESSMAN HONDA CONGRATULATES CAIR ON 9/11 VIGIL
The following is a congratulatory letter on behalf of Michael M. Honda,
Member of Congress, to CAIR for the 9/11 interfaith vigil:
"Congratulations to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
for
your event marking September 10th as a day of "National Unity." With
the
challenges our nation faces both home and abroad, we need organizations
such as CAIR to raise our nation's discourse and educate our
communities.
There are those who seek to divide our nation, perpetrating acts of
bigotry
and violence against Muslim-Americans, Arab-Americans, and
Sikh-Americans.
As a young Japanese-American, my family and many American communities
faced
great challenges during and after World War II under the U.S.
government's
violative internment policies. These mistakes of our past must not be
repeated. I believe tolerance and understanding are essential if we are
to
continue as a nation that promotes democracy, freedom, and justice. Our
democracy emanates from our diversity.
Once again, thank you for your efforts in promote healing and
understanding
in our great nation. Your voices help make America stronger."
-----
NEW INTERFAITH GROUPS ARE STILL GOING STRONG
Vanessa Ho, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 9/11/03
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/139074_911religion11.html
As a corporate vice president at Microsoft, Jawad Khaki normally sits
at a
desk, wielding a mouse and a telephone. But last month, Khaki spent two
weeks hanging drywall in some new homes with an interfaith group he
started
two years ago.
In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, many people joined in some kind of
interfaith effort. They learned about Islam at a church event or ate
dinner
at a mosque during Ramadan. Some gatherings were sporadic or one-time
events.
But not Khaki's group. Comprising Muslims, Jews and Christians, his
group
of about 14 congregations has come together the last two summers to
build
homes with Habitat for Humanity. Khaki started the group after Sept. 11
to
help people bridge spiritual differences...
Sept. 11 also helped spawn a Seattle chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a national, non-profit group that helps
Muslims
through political and social activism....
ALSO SEE:
RELIGIOUS SOLIDARITY SOUGHT THROUGH INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Melissa Evans, Tri-Valley Herald, 9/11/03
http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86~10669~1624698,00.html
Larry Swaim is a Christian. His wife and adult daughter are Jewish. His
13-year-old daughter from a previous marriage is being raised a Muslim.
It's no surprise that the Fremont resident would endorse interfaith
dialogue. But since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Swaim has
wedded
his support with activism in civil rights.
Religion has become the newest front for discrimination, he says.
The only way to counter the trend is to use religious solidarity, which
springs from interfaith dialogue, as a means to fight for faith groups
that
are suffering injustice.
He is not alone. A slew of civil rights advocacy groups have formed in
the
past two years under the banner of interfaith dialogue -- World
Alliance
for Peace, American Muslim Voice and Swaim's Interfaith Freedom
Foundation,
among others...
Muslims, too, are doing their part. In a poll last month of 644 Muslim
Americans, 52 percent said they have increased their interfaith
activities
in the past two years, according to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, a Muslim civil-liberties group...
---
ARAB-AMERICANS AND JEWS IN CALIFORNIA HOPE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
Laura Wides, Associated Press, 9/11/03
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030911/APN/309110630
LOS ANGELES- Arab-Americans and Jews in California, reeling from the
collapse of the latest peace efforts, agree on two things - they see no
sign of an end to the conflict and they refuse to give up hope...
The latest cycle of killings comes after the resignation this week of
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. On Tuesday two suicide
bombings
killed 14 Israelis and wounded dozens more. Israel retaliated
Wednesday,
bombing the home of a Hamas leader and killing his eldest son and a
bodyguard. Hamas now says it will add Israeli high-rises and homes to
its
bombing campaign.
Arab-Americans interviewed Wednesday disavowed the suicide bombings,
but
they insisted that the attacks cannot be isolated from the violence and
harsh living conditions Palestinians face daily in the Gaza Strip and
West
Bank...
Within the Jewish community, responses to the collapse of negotiations
were
varied...
---
JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS FILL CHURCH
Add Seymour Jr., Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 9/11/03
http://www.ajc.com/print/content/epaper/editions/today/news_f306413b1127528f1091.html
Last year, Muslims and Christians came together in Fayetteville to
promote
healing on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedies.
This year, Jews joined them.
"It's a way for, at least in this community, you can come together and
overcome prejudices and then pray together," said Sandy DeMuth of
Fayette
County's Congregation B'Nai Israel.
Nearly 90 Jewish, Muslim and Christian believers gathered at the
Episcopal
Church of the Nativity on Wednesday night to remember the terrorist
tragedies of two years ago that also shined a light on differences
among
religious communities.
At that time, Fayette was abuzz after a letter to the editor to a local
newspaper criticized the Muslim faith in a county where nearly 500
Muslims
live...
---
ATTACKS OPENED CONNECTION WITH CATHOLIC NEIGHBORS
Anastasia Hendrix, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/11/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/11/BA298905.DTL
The streets that divide a Roman Catholic church in the Tenderloin from
the
mosque a few hundred feet away remain as wide as ever, but today they
seem
much closer, said Souleiman Ghali, president of the Islamic Society of
San
Francisco...
The neighborly relationship blossomed during the dark days that
followed
the Sept. 11 attacks, when many Bay Area Muslims feared the terrorist
strikes might forever wedge their community from the rest of American
society. Instead, in many instances, the opposite has occurred.
That's because the tragedy, for all its horror, prompted dozens of
religious and cultural leaders to come forward with expressions of
support
and compassion, Ghali said, even as anti-Arab harassment and hate
crimes
escalated in the months that followed...
---
RELIGIONS CONVERGE IN TIME OF CRISIS;
Area Christians, Jews, Muslims share a meal, offer prayers for peace
Lisa A. Abraham, Akron Beacon Journal, 9/11/03
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/6743589.htm
CUYAHOGA FALLS- It was just days after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001,
when
a neighbor knocked on the door of Dr. Islam Ibrahim's home.
The Egyptian-born physician, who lives and works in the Akron-Canton
area,
said his neighbor asked if he was safe. He told Ibrahim, ''If you feel
threatened in any way, I want you to knock on my door. I'm there for
you.''
This act of neighborly kindness, Ibrahim said, helped to dispel his
concerns about the future of Muslims in America following Sept. 11, and
reinforced his belief that goodness could arise within tragic
circumstances.
On the eve of today's second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks
on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Ibrahim joined with more than
300
Muslims, Christians and Jews to share a meal, remember the tragedy, and
pray for a peaceful future...
---
N.Y. AUTHOR BUILDING BRIDGES WITH ISLAM
Haroon Siddiqui, Toronto Star, 9/11/03
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1063231811677
Sept. 11 divided the world into two broad camps: those who said it was
all
about Islam and Muslims, and those who said it was about 19 criminals.
Noah
Feldman belongs to the second group.
A professor at New York University Law School, he is the author of
After
Jihad: America And The Struggle For Islamic Democracy. He is also a
constitutional adviser to the Iraqi Governing Council.
Feldman grew up an Orthodox Jew in Boston, and studied Hebrew and
Aramaic.
At 15, he started learning Arabic. A graduate of Harvard, he went to
Oxford
as a Rhodes scholar and earned a Ph.D. in Islamic thought. Then, after
completing law school at Yale, he served as law clerk to Justice David
Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court. Along the way, he helped draft the
new
constitution of Eritrea...
He says the perpetrators of 9/11 did not get the support among Muslims
they
must have hoped for. It proved that "Osama bin Laden does not represent
the
views of the Muslim world. This is a hugely important point, too often
neglected in the West..."
The contrary argument that Islam stems from deep and rich values that
are
not the values of Bin Laden. It is necessary to stand up and say that.
Not
because of any sense of collective responsibility, which is garbage,
but
because, as a pragmatic matter, this is a battle which is important to
win..."
-----
CAUTION IS BYWORD FOR MUSLIMS
Elizabeth Lynch, Poughkeepsie Journal, 9/11/03
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo091103s8.shtml
Dr. Arif Muslim is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Masjid
al-Noor in the Town of Wappinger. He volunteers for airport searches
because he said it was inevitable anyway.
Arif Muslim began volunteering to be searched at airports. ''They'd
say,
'We didn't call you,' '' he said. His answer: ''You will.''
The searches were frustrating, but the support from the community in
the
two years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks put Muslims under
scrutiny has been overwhelming, said Muslim, chairman of board of
trustees
of the Wappinger Falls-based Islamic mosque, the Masjid al-Noor.
''I'm being treated as an outsider because of my name and the color of
my
skin,'' said Muslim, who has lived in the United States for more than
30
years and who has practiced medicine in Newburgh for more than 25. ''I
never objected ... because it's for our safety.''
For many local Muslims, life is subtly different...
There were 600 bias incidents against Muslims in 2002, a 15 percent
increase over 2001, said Mohamed Nimer, research director for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. The council has
been compiling statistics for nearly a decade. During times of crisis,
incidents seem to spike, he said.
''Attacks on mosques continue to be reported in a steady stream,'' he
said...
While it's unclear what the statistics for 2003 will show, ''I don't
think
they're going down,'' Nimer said.
Despite the increase in incidents, there also has been an increase in
interfaith activities between Muslims and other faiths. There was a
flurry
of activity right after the attacks, but it hasn't become
institutionalized, council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said...
''It's not clear which side is winning,'' he said.
ALSO SEE:
FOREIGN STUDENTS ENDURE CLOSER SCRUTINY SINCE 9-11
Diane Smith and Jessamy Brown, Star-Telegram, 9/11/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/6744728.htm
Some foreign students who want a U.S. university degree have learned to
cope with a new reality since Sept. 11, 2001: Without careful planning,
they can miss semesters or even jeopardize their residency status...
Officials at the University of Texas at Arlington said the number of
international students stuck in their home countries has not increased
this
year.
Nationwide, delays are smaller this year than last year, according to
the
nonprofit National Association of Foreign Student Advisers...
But many international students and visiting scholars say special
scrutiny
because of their homelands -- or even the courses they study -- is the
norm
two years after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon.
The adjustment has been especially profound for students from Middle
Eastern or Islamic countries, Muslim community leaders say.
"Why go through the agony?" asked Mohamed Elmougy, chairman of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations in Fort Worth and Dallas.
"Unfortunately, when I talk to people from the Middle East right now,
there
is this fear of sending their kids here. They are always fearful of
these
stories of people being detained..."
---
MUSLIM STUDENTS, FACULTY SAY PROGRESS STILL NEEDED
Benita Mehta, State News, 9/11/03
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=18997
Dr. Khalida Zaki will speak about "Where Are We Heading in Post 9/11?
The
War Against Terrorism and Its Consequences for Muslims Abroad and at
Home,"
on September 11 at noon in room 150 of Student Services.
Two years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, members of MSU's Muslim
community say education is still needed to help move forward and
increase
understanding of their religion.
Khalida Zaki, an MSU sociology professor, said the impact of Sept. 11,
2001, has been significant for Muslims, as the 19 hijackers followed
the
Islamic faith...
But fear of the Muslim community has caused a surge in hate crimes.
Since
Sept. 11, 2001, the FBI reported 414 hate-crime investigations
involving
Muslim, Sikh and Arab-American victims. Seventeen people have been
federally charged so far.
Rabiah Ahmed, communications coordinator at the Washington D.C.-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations, said it's the responsibility of
the
Muslim community to teach others about the Islamic religion.
"Coalitions have been formed with Jewish, Sikh and other religious
groups,"
she said. "Instead of being afraid of Muslims, people need to educate
themselves and others on what being a Muslim is all about."
She said communication is required between the FBI and Muslims...
---
ABSENCES ANGER PANEL MEMBERS
Tanya Weinberg, Sun-Sentinel, 9/11/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cthall11sep11,0,3880685.story
Immigrant communities in fear, unprecedented government access to
citizens'
private records, and racial profiling were among the topics discussed
at a
town hall meeting on the eve of the Sept. 11 anniversary.
Organizers intended the meeting to give South Floridians the chance to
discuss how life has changed since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,
2001,
and whether the country is doing a good job at balancing security and
freedom.
Yet the meeting opened with comments about the striking lack of balance
on
the panel.
Leaders from organizing groups the American Civil Liberties Union, the
Council on American Islamic Relations and the Florida Immigrant
Advocacy
Center were dismayed to find several empty seats around them as they
addressed a crowd of more than 100 people at Miami-Dade Community
College.
U.S. Attorney Marcos Daniel Jim�nez, a representative from the FBI, and
the
assistant commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
never
appeared. All three had originally agreed to attend...
---
MUSLIMS SEEK HARMONY NEAR TRAGIC ANNIVERSARY
Joy Davis-Platt, St. Petersburg Times, 9/11/03
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/11/Hernando/Muslims_seek_harmony_.shtml
SPRING HILL - The children perched on the altar steps as the Rev.
Dwight
Wolter tried teaching the difference between Muslims and Christians.
God, Wolter said, is like a church.
"If you peek in through one window, you might think God looks like a
big
light in the ceiling," he said, crouching near the children. "If you
look
through another, you might think God looks like a big cross."
Wolter and his congregation at Spring Hill United Church of Christ were
part of an attempt Sunday to bring awareness of Islam to Christians in
Hernando County.
Two groups, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Florida, and the
Human Rights Coalition of Hernando County, visited several churches as
part
of their ongoing effort to encourage understanding of the
1,400-year-old
religion...
With the approach of the second anniversary of the attacks in New York
City, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001,
members
of CAIR said they felt it was important to reach out to non-Muslims...
But many Muslim-Americans still feel they are held accountable.
A CAIR-Florida report on the status of civil rights for Muslims in
2003,
titled "Guilt by Association," shows a 95 percent increase in
discrimination against Muslims since 2001.
"The only real way to combat that kind of ignorance is to make sure our
voices are heard," said Altaf Ali, executive director of CAIR-Florida.
"Once people see that we really aren't so very different, it's like the
sun
shining through the clouds. Everything changes."
---
METRO DETROIT ARABS STRIVE FOR ACCEPTANCE AMID UNCERTAINTY
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 9/11/03
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/arab11_20030911.htm
As the Arab Americans took the field at Comerica Park, some of them
wondered: What if the fans boo, hurl insults or maybe something worse?
It was Arab and Chaldean Day at the stadium, and a group of local Arabs
were showcasing their contributions to Michigan in a pregame ceremony.
Standing in front of home plate, a local Muslim cleric wrapped in a
turban
and cloak recited words from the Koran. A Chaldean American belted out
a
song he wrote about his love of America. And a Dearborn teenager
sporting a
traditional Muslim head scarf gently sang the national anthem.
The crowd cheered for all of them...
The tension between acceptance and alienation is still felt two years
after
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by many in metro Detroit's Arab-American
community, a population eager to move on with life but haunted by an
event
that clouds its identity...
In many ways, the community has become stronger. From politics to art
to
religion, Michigan's Arab-American population is buzzing with ideas,
events
and an urgency to survive that moves it forward...
-----
KIN OF PAKISTANI WTC VICTIM HOLD OUT HOPE
Zarar Khan, Associated Press, 9/11/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-pakistan-attacks-victim,0,4075153.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines
KARACHI, Pakistan - When the World Trade Center came under attack on
Sept.
11, New York police cadet Mohammad Salman Hamdani drove across the
city,
parked his two-door Toyota a few blocks away, then rushed into the eye
of
the storm.
Like hundreds of others, he died heroically trying to help the
thousands of
people trapped inside.
Two years after the terror strikes in the United States - and 17 months
after Hamdani's funeral in New York - his relatives in Pakistan still
hope
against hope that he will return home to them.
``It may sound a little strange to others, but we all believe he will
return one day as we all have seen him in dreams coming back to us,''
his
uncle, Anis Hamdani said, choking back tears...
-----
LOCAL ACTIVIST SEES GREATER INTEREST IN ISLAM
Gannett News Service, 9/11/03
http://www.theadvertiser.com/news/html/F8745AA2-2772-4A88-BFC1-6E20014E7015.shtml
LAFAYETTE - Hesham Tillawi said that Muslims in the United States are
better off today than they were two years ago.
"Back in 2001, people did not know much about the Muslim religion. They
thought it was something from outer space, he said, "but now, people
are
more familiar with what Islam is all about."
Originally from Palestine, Tillawi has lived and worked as a civil
engineer
in Lafayette for the last 20 years.
And if Americans had never heard of Islam before Sept. 11, Tillawi said
they learned about the religion very quickly. Tillawi said copies of
the
Quran were exhausted in this country in the wake of Sept. 11, creating
a
rush to print more copies...
On Tuesday, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations
released its poll of 644 American Muslims that reflects this optimism
and
skepticism.
Seventy percent said they felt free to practice Islam without
restrictions,
and 86 percent had experienced an act of kindness from non-Muslims.
On the other hand, 88 percent knew of at least one Muslim who had been
discriminated against, and
56 percent had personally experienced anti-Muslim discrimination...
-----
BUSH CALLS FOR BROADER POLICE POWERS TO FIGHT TERRORISM
David Stout, NY Times, 9/10/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/10/politics/10CND-TERR.html
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 - Invoking the memories of Sept. 11, 2001,
President
Bush prodded Congress today to "untie the hands" of law enforcement and
enact broader search-and-seizure powers and wider use of the death
penalty
to combat terrorism...
Intensifying a lobbying campaign led in recent months by Attorney
General
John Ashcroft, Mr. Bush said the measures sought by his administration
-
broader subpoena powers and much tougher bail rules for suspected
terrorists, for example - are "fully consistent with the United States
Constitution," and vital to protect the country against future
attacks...
At home, Mr. Bush said, law enforcement people need not only the
measures
adopted by Congress in the so-called Patriot Act only weeks after the
attacks, but even stronger measures...
ALSO SEE:
PATRIOT (ACT) GAMES
Washington Post, 9/11/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57924-2003Sep10.html
"I Support Dramatic revision of the Patriot Act. The last thing we
should
be doing is turning over our privacy, our liberties, our freedom, our
constitutional rights to John Ashcroft." So said North Carolina Sen.
John
Edwards during the Democratic presidential candidates debate in
Baltimore
Tuesday night. Surely, then, Mr. Edwards voted against the
anti-terrorism
law rushed through Congress after Sept. 11? Well, no. When he rose on
the
Senate floor to speak on the proposal two years ago, he said: "The bill
is
not perfect, but it is a good bill, it is important for the nation, and
I
am pleased to support it." Indeed, Mr. Edwards voted against all four
amendments offered by Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) to
ameliorate some of the civil liberties concerns that Mr. Edwards now
seems
to feel so keenly -- and that the Democratic audiences he is wooing
respond
to with such fervor.
In Baltimore, Mr. Edwards decried "the notion that they are going to
libraries to find out what books people are checking out." But this
authority existed prior to passage of the Patriot Act; the law extends
it
to national security investigations, which isn't unreasonable, and
requires
court approval. The Justice Department should be more forthcoming with
numbers, and vigilance on behalf of privacy is certainly in order, but
there's no evidence to date of baseless government snooping. And Mr.
Edwards voted against a Feingold amendment that would have given extra
protections to libraries.
It's time, in short, for a little bit of reality, and not just from Mr.
Edwards, about two favorite, related targets of the Democratic
candidates:
the Patriot Act and the attorney general. We've got our problems with
both...
-----
NEW MOSQUE PLANNED FOR NORTHERN UTAH
Associated Press, 9/11/03
http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=47543
OGDEN, Utah- Northern Utah Muslims, who have gathered for prayers
weekly
for the last 10 years in a tool shed behind a house in Ogden, hope to
move
into a mosque by the Oct. 27 start of the Islamic holy month of
Ramadan.
The new mosque near downtown Ogden will serve Muslims from Layton to
Brigham City. Utah currently has mosques in Salt Lake City, Logan and
Provo.
About 35 to 40 people meet for prayers on Fridays at the Ogden shed,
about
half of them Weber State University students. There are an estimated
20,000
Muslims in Utah, said Mohammed Al-Tigar, head of the Islamic Society of
Ogden Valley, which covers the area from Brigham City to Layton....
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, there has been an increase in
confusion
of what Islam is really about, he said.
Utah Muslims want to educate people about the religion and its
teachings.
Ogden Muslim Brahim Kahn said they want people to know that Islam is
really
about peace, not about the violence done by a few...
-----
CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL TO SUPPORT REP. HOLT'S BILL FOR HASAN FAMILY
WHAT: On Two-Year Anniversary of Murder of Waqar Hasan, New Jersey
Community Will Join His Wife and Daughters To Host Candle Light Vigil
Waqar Hasan, a Pakistani man who had lived and worked in New Jersey for
nearly ten years, lost his life for no other reason than he was a
Muslim
with a "Middle Eastern" face. An angry young man walked into his
convenience store in Dallas, Texas on the night of September 15, 2001,
four
days after 9-11, and shot the 46-year-old father of four in the face.
When asked by police why he shot Waqar, 32 year-old Mark Anthony
Stroman
expressed no remorse. "I did it to retaliate on local Arab Americans
or
whatever you want to call them," he said. His family now faces
possible
deportation unless Congress passes a special bill, H.R. 867, introduced
by
Rep. Rush Holt.
WHEN: Monday, September 15, 2003 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Borough Park, Milltown NJ
For more information, contact the National Council of Pakistani
Americans
at tel: 202-544-1898 or e-mail: media@ncpa.info URL: www.ncpa.info
-----
MUSLIMS CALLED ON TO DOCUMENT 9/11 STORIES
Today marks the second anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. That day
profoundly
shook the American Muslim Community. All Americans were shocked,
saddened,
and outraged by the events of that day. Yet for many Muslims in
America,
9/11 and its aftermath also represented a turning point in America's
struggle to accept Muslim Americans as a community with a distinct
religious identity. In that regard, Muslims have witnessed the good,
the
bad and the ugly. Not only did Muslims die in the attacks, but they
also
had to cope immediately with a violent backlash and lingering
anti-Muslim
agitation.
To recognize, celebrate, and preserve the American Muslim experience in
the
wake of the attacks, 9/11 Digital Archives urges you to participate in
a
special project that will help ensure that the experience of Muslim
Americans becomes part of how the history of September 11 comes to be
told.
The September 11 Digital Archive -in affiliation with the Library of
Congress and the Smithsonian Museum -- has been working for the last 18
months to collect, preserve, and present the historical record of the
attacks and the public responses to it. The Archive is dedicated to
gathering stories, e-mails, photographs, and digital animations
stemming
from the attacks.
The September 11 Digital Archive is scheduled to become the first
digital
acquisition of the Library of Congress in December 2003, further
assuring
that individual contributions will remain a vital part of the
historical
record.
In order for American Muslims to contribute their stories, emails and
other
digital materials related to 9/11, the September 11 Digital Archive has
created a special, dedicated Web page for people to share their
experiences
with each other (http://911digitalarchive.org/cair/). Participation can
be
anonymous, and applicants will retain all rights to your contributions.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/12/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T HARM CIVILIANS
* CANADIAN IMAMS DENIED ENTRY AT FL AIRPORT (AP)
* MUSLIM, ARAB GROUPS CONDEMN LA RESOLUTION
- Motion Tying Muslims to Terror Dies (LA Times)
* CAN THERE BE ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY? (Globe and Mail)
* CAIR BOARD CHAIRMAN MEETS WITH DALAI LAMA
- CAIR-DFW Seeks Applicants for Office Manager Position
* DHS ISSUES MEMO ON PHOTO REQUIREMENTS
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: MUSLIMS PICKED UP IN A 'HEARTBEAT'
* BUSH APPOINTEE ATTACKS REPUBLICAN ARAB CANDIDATE
- Don't Ignore the Root of the Problem: Israel (RM News)
* THE ISRAELISATION OF AMERICA (Al-Ahram)
- Breyer Says U.S. Could Learn From Israel (AP
* MUSLIM GROUP SHIFTS TO INTROSPECTION (Journal News)
- Has Post-9/11 Dragnet Gone Too Far? (CSM)
- Terror Plans Not likely to Move Fast Through Congress (CQ)
- Man in Syrian Jail Say Ottawa's Forgotten Him (G&M)
- Muslim Leaders Expound on Islamic Justice (Daily Penn.)
* MIAMI'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES 9/11 (VOA News)
- Muslim Open House Honors Differences (Post-Gazette)
- Maryland Muslim-Americans Remember 9-11 (WBAL)
* MEETINGS AIM TO HEAL U.S.-MUSLIM RIFTS (AP)
- New Ways to Tell U.S. Side of the Story (LA Times)
* ARCHITECTS OF IRAQ WAR PUT ON THE DEFENSIVE (CSM)
- Iraq the 'Flytrap,' U.S. Troops the Bait (Antiwar.com)
- US "Friendly Fire" Kills 8 Iraqi Allies (Reuters)
* MAS SUPPORTS MUSLIM WOMEN WEEKLY DOJ PROTEST
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DON'T HARM CIVILIANS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told military personnel: "Do
not
kill an (elderly person), or a young infant, or a child, or a
woman...do
right and act well, for God loves those who do well."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1103
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
TWO CANADIAN IMAMS DENIED ENTRY AT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT, RETURNED
Associated Press, 9/12/03
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Two Islamic leaders from Toronto were denied
entry
into the United States on Friday after being detained for 16 hours at
an
airport by federal agents who told they picked the wrong day - Sept. 11
-
to fly, an Islamic civil rights group said.
Ahmed Kutty, 59, and Sheik Abdul Hamid, 37, were detained Friday
afternoon
at the Broward County Jail, said Altaf Ali, executive director of the
Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
They were denied entry into the United States and were booked for an
afternoon flight back to Toronto, Ali said.
"I'm totally flabbergasted," Ali said. "I've heard some crazy things in
the
past about people being detained, but this beats them all."
FBI agents interviewed the men Thursday at the request of U.S. Customs
officials, but did not charge them with any crime or order them to
remain
detained, said spokeswoman Judy Orihuela.
Customs and immigration officials did not immediately return phone
messages
Friday seeking information on who ordered them back to Canada.
The imams were flying through Fort Lauderdale on Thursday to Orlando
where
they planned to raise money for an Islamic school in Canada, Ali said.
They were stopped and searched at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International Airport and agents found a business card for an Islamic
organization on one of the men, Ali said.
"One of the agents told them, 'You guys have picked the wrong time to
fly,"' Ali said…
-----
MUSLIM, ARAB GROUPS CONDEMN LA RESOLUTION
Groups Urge New Resolution to Prevent anti-Muslim Bigotry
(LOS ANGELES, CA - 9/12/2003) - Prominent Muslim and Arab-American
civil
rights and advocacy organizations* today condemned the recent push for
an
anti-Muslim Los Angeles City Council resolution. The groups called on
the
council to pass a counter-resolution to acknowledge the peaceful and
tolerant nature of Islam and the important contribution Muslims make to
the
nation and the great city of Los Angeles.
The anti-Muslim resolution, which was intended to memorialize the
events of
September 11th, blamed Islam for terrorism and accused American Muslims
of
not doing enough to denounce terrorism. The resolution was introduced
by
Councilwoman Jan Perry (9th District), seconded by Councilman Antonio
Villaraigosa (14th District), and certified by the Council President
Alex
Padilla.
"Muslims have repeatedly condemned those who claimed to act in the name
of
Islam. No group of people should be blamed for the acts of a few," said
Sabiha Khan, communications director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA). "Such bigoted notions have
no
place in the great city of Los Angeles that prides itself on respect
for
diversity."
According to news reports, council members have rescinded the proposed
resolution and will apologize to the Muslim community.
The groups urged Mayor James Hahn, Councilwoman Jan Perry (9th
District),
Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa (14th District), and Council President
Alex
Padilla to repudiate the original resolution and to initiate a thorough
investigation into how such a racist resolution could pass through city
offices unnoticed for a vote
* Council on American-Islamic Relations - Southern California
(CAIR-LA),
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination - Los Angeles/Orange County
(ADC-LA/OC),
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
-END-
NOTE: Interfaith, Civil Rights, and other organizations are encouraged
to contact the CAIR-LA office to sign on this statement.
CONTACT: CAIR-LA: Sabiha Khan, (714) 776-1847 or (714) 390-0334,
socal@cair.com; ADC-LA/OC: Ban Al-Wardi, (310) 552-2888,
adclaoc@hotmail.com; MPAC: Sarah Eltantawi, (714)383-3443
ALSO SEE:
MOTION TYING MUSLIMS TO TERROR DIES
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 9/12/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-muslim12sep12,1,1770571.story
Los Angeles City Council members Jan Perry and Antonio Villaraigosa
said
Thursday that they had made a mistake when they signed a resolution
blaming
Muslims for the Sept. 11 attacks and other acts of terrorism.
The motion, which the elected officials said had been drafted by an
advocate for the homeless, Ted Hayes, and which Villaraigosa said he
had
signed without reading carefully, said that "in remembering the victims
of
Sept. 11 ... we also remember and acknowledge the truth as to who the
perpetrators themselves claim to be, that is, Muslims, carrying out the
will of the Deity of their religion known as Islam."
The resolution also called on Muslims to "intensify their ...
denouncements
of those members within their religion and community who continue to
engage
in acts of terror throughout the world."
Maher Hathout, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California
and
senior advisor of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said the Muslim
community was outraged by the motion...
-----
CAN THERE BE ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY?
SHEEMA KHAN, Globe and Mail, 9/12/03
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030912.sheema12/BNStory/International/
(Sheema Khan is chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
[Canada].)
Some in the West say Islam and democracy cannot co-exist. Some Muslims
feel
the same way. But people like Osama bin Laden don't offer alternate
visions
of governance; they're not interested in building states, but
destroying
them. Meanwhile, hundreds of years of Islamic culture say that
democracy
and Islam are compatible -- provided democracy is rooted in Islamic
values.
Developing such a democracy is also the vision of Noah Feldman, a New
York
University law professor and author of After Jihad: America and the
Struggle for Islamic Democracy, currently an adviser appointed by the
Bush
administration to help set up the interim Iraqi governing council.
Prof.
Feldman points out that Judaism and democracy co-exist in the state of
Israel; true, there are tensions, but they are creative tensions.
Muslim scholars and intellectuals of diverse backgrounds agree that
Islam
emphasizes certain fundamentals of governance -- justice, human dignity
and
equality, the rule of law, the role of people in selecting their
leaders,
the obligation of consultative government, and the value of pluralism.
Clearly, these elements are lacking in many Muslim countries. But a
sweeping new international poll shows that a majority of Muslims
believe
that their political institutions must become more democratic, even as
they
find a greater role for religious leaders…
-----
CAIR BOARD CHAIRMAN MEETS WITH DALAI LAMA
The Dalai Lama at USF: Stresses World Peace, Compassion
Rupal Shah, India-West, 9/12/03
http://www.indiawest.com/cgi-bin/news/viewNews.cgi?article=1063300873&Department=News
SAN FRANCISCO - The University of San Francisco welcomed His Holiness
the
14th Dalai Lama to the Bay Area for a day of interfaith prayer and
teachings of world peace, compassion and harmony.
Amidst 1,800 USF students, spiritual leaders, celebrities and community
members, the Dalai Lama spoke after an interfaith prayer service at St.
Ignatius Church that began with a liturgical procession of USF students
and
members of the spiritual community, such as Dr. Nahid Angha of the
International Association of Sufism, Sister Chandru Desai of the Brahma
Kumari Meditation Center, Swami Prabuddahananda of the Vedanta Society
of
Northern California, Omar Ahmed of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, and Lama Arjia Rinpoche of the Tibetan Center of Compassion
and
Wisdom.
-----
DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES MEMO ON PHOTO REQUIREMENTS
After requests by CAIR, the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigrations Services (BCIS), has issued an official
memo
clarifying its Alien Documentation, Identification and
Telecommunications
(ADIT) photograph requirements.
That move comes after numerous Muslim women complained to CAIR that
their
photos had been rejected because they wore a head scarf that covered
their
right ear. CAIR requested BCIS to issue an official memorandum
clarifying
this issue once and for all.
The memo states: "...Pursuant to this memorandum, a photograph will not
be
considered unacceptable due to the sole fact that for religious reasons
the
subject of the photograph is wearing a headcovering covering the
alien's
hair, and/or right ear. Such a photograph should be accepted provided
the
subject of the photograph otherwise remains clearly identifiable..."
Please note: A headcovering that covers the face or the eyes is not
acceptable. And along with the photograph, the alien must make a signed
brief written statement explaining why he or she cannot submit a
photograph
that meets the standard requirements of an uncovered head and/or
visible
right ear.
-----
CAIR-DFW SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR OFFICE MANAGER POSITION
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter
(CAIR-DFW) is now accepting applications for contract Office Manager.
The
ideal candidate will have excellent communications and computer skills.
Apply in person at CAIR-DFW new office located at:
Grey Stone Building
3010 LBJ Freeway
Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75234
Applications will be accepted with initial screening beginning Monday
September, 15th ending on Friday September, 19th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Salary will commensurate with skills and previous work experience. For
more
information please call (972)462-9630
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MUSLIMS PICKED UP IN A 'HEARTBEAT'
Thomas Ginsberg and Maria Panaritis, Philadelphia Inquirer,
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/6724908.htm
"Before 9/11, if you had a person who was illegal, it was hard to get
them
picked up," said police Chief Raymond Fluck of Green Lane, Montgomery
County. "Now, if it's an Arab or Muslim, they come in a heartbeat. But
not
for the others."
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE ATTACKS REPUBLICAN ARAB-AMERICAN CANDIDATE
DANIEL PIPES: "Kamal Nawash, an immigration lawyer and legal director
of
the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) since 1997, has
thrown his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for state senator
in
the 31st district of Virginia. His campaign website offers stances only
on
the sort of issues a state senator might deal with (baseball stadium
construction, traffic, property taxes, etc.) but, as a long-standing
staffer of the extremist ADC and a colleague of the notorious Hussein
Ibish, one cannot wonder what Nawash thinks on national issues such as
the
need to take steps to protect the country from Islamist terrorists who
wish
to enter it. (From Daniel Pipes' personal web log, September 10, 2003.)
NOTE: President Bush recently bypassed the Senate to appoint Daniel
Pipes
to the board of the United States Institute of Peace.
ALSO SEE:
DON'T IGNORE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM: ISRAEL
Steve Laudeman, Rocky Mountain News, 9/11/03
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/0,1299,DRMN_38_2249431,00.html
In his Sept. 6 article, "Refugees forever?," Daniel Pipes errs on many
fronts in his attack on the United Nations and its support of the
Palestinians.
For starters, he manages to write a detailed article regarding the
Palestinian refugees and only mentions Israel once, and then only in a
quote from the United Nations. How can anyone address the Palestinian
refugee problem without discussing the source of the problem and the
cause
of its continuation: the state of Israel and the militant Zionists who
control the Israeli government?
Pipes compares the status of the Palestinians with that of many other
refugee groups who have assimilated into the societies of their
usurpers,
and wonders why the Palestinians can't just get along.
Fact of the matter is, the conflict that created the first Palestinian
refugees still continues. The majority of Palestinian refugees are
being
held captive by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza. Thanks to Israel and
its
brutal occupation of Palestinian territories, the second and third
generations of refugees are living in conditions not much better, and
in
some cases worse, than those of their parents and grandparents...
-----
THE ISRAELISATION OF AMERICA
Ahdah Soueif, Al-Ahram Weekly, 9/17/03
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/655/op41.htm
Once again it's funny mirrors time. The world watches the events taking
place in Palestine, and Western media see one process taking place
while
the Arabs generally see another.
Interpreting these events is largely a matter of how you view the
relationship between the USA and Israel. A few weeks ago I heard a
well-known British columnist say he was sick of being told that the
Palestinian/Israeli conflict was the 'litmus test' for how people can
expect the American Imperium to influence the world. Yet "Freedom for
Palestine" was the demand on millions of the banners in the anti-war
demonstrations that swept the world last February.
America's support for Israel dates to the beginning of the Zionist
project
in the late 19th century and grew stronger throughout the 20th...
SEE ALSO:
BREYER SAYS U.S. COULD LEARN FROM ISRAEL
ANNE GEARAN, Associated Press, 9/12/03
NEW YORK (AP) - The United States could learn from compromises Israeli
courts have struck to balance terrorism and human rights concerns,
Supreme
Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer said Friday.
Israeli judges have adopted what Breyer called ``intermediate
solutions''
that acknowledge the security risks the country faces, the justice told
an
audience at Columbia Law School.
"There are many solutions that ... solve nothing to everyone's
satisfaction
but are not quite as restrictive of human rights as an extreme
solution,
nor as dangerous as some other extremes," Breyer said.
He gave an example drawn from Israeli courts of terror defendants who
might
try to use visits from lawyers to communicate terror instructions from
behind bars. The security risk might make it impossible to allow such
defendants to receive visits from any lawyer they choose, Breyer said,
but
not impossible to ensure a defendant has a lawyer nonetheless.
Defendants
could still choose lawyers from an approved list, Breyer said.
"Maybe to have a lawyer not of your choice (is better) than none at
all,"
Breyer said.
Without mentioning the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Breyer said the Israeli
experience is especially relevant to U.S. courts now. He stopped short
of
endorsing Israeli solutions but praised Justice Aharon Barak, president
of
the Israeli Supreme Court, who also spoke at Columbia.
"He's had to implement that kind of system, and when I read what he's
done
in particular cases, I think, yes, we have something to learn that
could
prove to be topical…"
-----
MUSLIM GROUP SHIFTS TO INTROSPECTION
Noreen O'Donnel, Journal News, 9/11/03
http://www.nyjournalnews.com/newsroom/091103/b0111wtcmuslims.html
The aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, led Aasma Khan to Pakistan, where the
onetime corporate lawyer studied Arabic so she could read the Koran
without
the barrier of a translation.
A founder of a group called Muslims Against Terrorism, the 32-year-old
former New Yorker and daughter of Pakistani immigrants spent the first
year
after the attacks explaining her faith to Americans filled with new
fears
about Islam. As she grappled with what she saw as a virulent distortion
of
her faith, she wanted to be able to understand the text for herself.
She
felt at a disadvantage, especially when taking part in complex
discussions
with other Muslims...
In the two years that have passed since the Twin Towers were destroyed,
the
raw emotions felt by many New Yorkers have softened with time. For this
group of young American Muslims, that has meant moving beyond an
outspoken
and very public outrage - and a sometimes hectic schedule of speaking
engagements in schools and synagogues, and on television shows like the
now
canceled "Politically Incorrect" - to look inward as they wrestle with
the
repercussions of the attacks...
ALSO SEE:
HAS POST-9/11 DRAGNET GONE TOO FAR?
Warren Richey and Linda Feldmann, Christian Science Monitor, 9/12/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0912/p01s04-uspo.html
MIAMI AND WASHINGTON- When they came for Adham Hassoun, America's
counterterrorism forces took no chances. Federal agents and sheriff's
deputies circled his car in a quiet residential area not far from his
home
in Sunrise, Fla., and whisked him into custody.
"It was like a movie, with helicopters above me," Mr. Hassoun recalls
in a
telephone interview from Miami's Krome Detention Center. "They thought
I
was somebody important... They thought they hit the jackpot."
Now, 15 months later, Hassoun has yet to be charged with a violation of
any
US law. Nonetheless, he remains behind bars - and fears he is about to
lose
everything he has ever loved and worked for during 13 years in America.
Hassoun's experience is not unlike that of other immigrants of Middle
Eastern or Islamic heritage swept up in a post-Sept. 11 dragnet aimed
at
disabling terrorists before they strike again. It is a nationwide
antiterror campaign with tactics including preventive detention,
coercive
interrogation, and secret deportation hearings, targeting a community
of
noncitizens in America now living in silent dread of a knock at the
door...
---
ANTI-TERRORISM PROPOSALS NOT LIKELY TO MOVE THROUGH CONGRESS QUICKLY
Keith Perine, Congressional Quarterly, 9/11/03
http://www.cq.com/
Congress is not likely to move as rapidly as it did two years ago to
expand
the government's powers to combat terrorism, despite the urging of the
president and a few senators this week.
Two Senate bills were introduced Sept. 10, the same day President Bush
called for several new tools for law enforcement and the courts to use
in
pursuing and punishing terrorists.
Both bills would add to the powers provided under a sweeping
anti-terrorism
law (PL 107-56) that Bush signed six weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks.
But
neither is expected to be acted upon soon. Indeed, the House already
has
moved in the opposite direction, voting in July to effectively suspend
one
provision of the 2001 law, dubbed the USA Patriot.
To be sure, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil might spur Congress
to
heed the administration's call, much as lawmakers did in the wake of
the
Sept. 11 attacks. Barring such an event, many in Congress are reluctant
to
give the Bush administration more powers. Many lawmakers say it is
important first to understand the ramifications of the 2001 law...
---
FRIENDS OF MAN IN SYRIAN JAIL SAY OTTAWA'S FORGOTTEN HIM
Globe and Mail, 9/11/03
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030911.wsyrian0911/BNStory/National/
Ottawa - Friends and family of a Canadian being held in Syria without
charge for over a year and allegedly being tortured say the government
has
forgotten him, CBC's The National reported Thursday.
A small group of Maher Arar's family and supporters visited the
American
Embassy in Ottawa on Thursday to demand answers why that country's
immigration officials deported him to a country he hasn't been to in
over
15 years.
"Civil liberties are also a casualty of Sept 11," Riad Saloojee, a
representative from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told
CBC's
The National.
"In this sense, it is quite clear that Maher Arar and his family are
also
one of the casualties of Sept. 11."
Mr. Arar, a dual citizen of Canada and Syria, is accused of having
links to
al-Qaeda...
---
MUSLIM LEADERS EXPOUND ON ISLAMIC JUSTICE
Molly Petrilla, Daily Pennsylvanian, 9/12/03
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v?TARGET=printable&article_id=3f6190214c646
Two years ago, members of al Qaeda attacked the World Trade Centers,
killing thousands.
However, despite the attackers' religious identity, their actions
lacked
religious justification, according to filmmaker and scholar Alex
Kronemer.
Kronemer, who spoke along with former national and Canadian Muslim
Student
Association President Altaf Husain to Penn students last night at an
event
sponsored by the Penn MSA, said that the terrorist actions had no
religious
grounds.
"The Quran says 'don't transgress certain limits,'" Kronemer said. "It
also
says 'don't do that which makes you an abomination in the eyes of
others,'"
which the attackers clearly did.
Wharton junior and Penn's MSA President Muhammed Mekki added that the
discussion, entitled "Muslim Perspectives: Injustice Anywhere is a
Threat
to Justice Everywhere," was meant to create an understanding of the
concept
of justice in Islam....
-----
MIAMI'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES SEPT. 11 ANNIVERSARY
Jim Teeple, VOA News, 9/11/03
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=6B9A78EA-DD42-4D39-912CEFC22257DEE1
The Muslim community in southern Florida held a memorial service
Thursday
in Miami to commemorate the victims of the September 11 terrorist
attacks.
The Muslim call to prayer rang out in downtown Miami early Thursday.
Members of South Florida's Muslim community gathered at Miami's Torch
of
Friendship Monument to remember those who perished two years ago in the
September 11 attacks...
Many in the crowd said they were still shocked by what happened two
years
ago, and many said they were initially fearful of a backlash against
Muslims in the United States...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM OPEN HOUSE IN OAKLAND HONORS DIFFERENCES
Lori Shontz, Post-Gazette, 9/12/03
http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20030912islamiccenter0912p4.asp
After spending several hours last night at the Islamic Center of
Pittsburgh's open house, Brandon Whitfield and his four college
classmates
were clearly embarrassed by their lack of knowledge of the religion.
It's early in the semester, and their class on Faith, Religion and
Society
at Seton Hill University hasn't yet covered much ground.
The five agreed, however, that when they woke up on the second
anniversary
of the Sept. 11 attacks, they could have summed up their impressions in
one
word: terrorist.
After getting permission to skip baseball practice, however, to fulfill
a
class requirement, the students sampled a variety of food, sat in on a
roundtable discussion involving Muslims and non-Muslims, heard the call
to
prayer and observed the Sa'laat, or worship...
---
MARYLAND MUSLIM-AMERICANS REMEMBER 9-11
TheWBALChannel.com, 9/11/03
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/2476296/detail.html
BALTIMORE -- Muslim Americans in and around Maryland also remember the
9-11
attacks and some are reflecting on life before the attack in addition
to
the work that remains to rebuild perceptions.
WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Deborah Weiner reported that when Dr. Hassan
Makhzoumi recalls 9-11, he first recalls Sept. 9, 2001, the day at
Arundel
Mills Mall when he saw a kiosk selling a keychain with the name
"Muhammed"
on it. He thought Muslims had made it in America.
Then two days later, the world changed...
"I felt as though I was completely melted in this melting pot of ours
and
my background was nothing more than a curiosity. [Just like] someone is
Italian, I'm Arabic," Makhzoumi said.
-----
MEETINGS AIM TO HEAL U.S.-MUSLIM RIFTS
Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press, 9/12/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3136940,00.html
WASHINGTON - A deep rift remains between America and the Islamic world
two
years after the terror attacks, say organizers of more than a dozen
meetings meant to promote trust and understanding.
The gatherings - dubbed ``Hope not Hate'' town halls - are scheduled
for
Friday in Washington, New York, Boston, Atlanta and other cities.
The idea, said one organizer, is to prompt a dialogue on finding common
ground between Muslims and non-Muslims in and outside America...
Seth Green, co-founder and coordinator of Americans for Informed
Democracy...said anti-Muslim sentiment is still a problem in the United
States and anti-Americanism is increasing in the Islamic world...
ALSO SEE:
IN MIDEAST, NEW WAYS TO TELL U.S. SIDE OF THE STORY
Sonni Efron, Los Angeles Times, 9/12/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-image12sep12,1,2019245.story
From an office inside what used to be the kitchen in Saddam Hussein's
palace, Nabeel Khoury takes the heat in one of the toughest political
jobs
in Baghdad: defending America in the Arab media...
Some days, Khoury is the lone Arabic-speaking American seen jousting
with
critics of the United States on the Al Jazeera television channel. His
duties include shooting down misinformation, disinformation and
conspiracy
theories while trying to win friends or at least influence a skeptical
audience.
Much is riding on Khoury's efforts and those of his colleagues in the
State
Department's Office of Public Diplomacy, the group responsible for
America's international public relations.
After a failed advertising campaign in the Middle East and then the war
in
Iraq, which most people in the region opposed, the Bush administration
is
struggling to find a better way to communicate. Plans call for new
messages
as well as new messengers -- including launching an Arabic-language
satellite television station to compete with Qatar-based Al Jazeera...
-----
ARCHITECTS OF IRAQ WAR PUT ON THE DEFENSIVE
Howard LaFranchi and Gail Russel Chaddock, Christian Science Monitor,
9/12/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0912/p02s01-usfp.html
WASHINGTON - The neoconservative policymakers who helped spur George W.
Bush toward war in Iraq may not be on the way out, but their influence
is
undergoing its greatest test since Sept. 11.
This week, Congress has grilled key promoters of the idea of
transforming
the Middle East, and spreading American values, through regime change
in
Iraq. Gone is the self-assuredness - some say arrogance - that typified
Bush administration testimony through the end of "major hostilities."
Gone,
too, are claims that Americans would be greeted as liberators and then
soon
leave, or that Iraqi oil would quickly defray reconstruction costs.
Instead, Washington is witnessing a course correction on Iraq that
signals
a number of shifts with long-term repercussions including:
o A wider door to the international community that includes
acknowledgment
of other countries' interests.
o Heightened congressional scrutiny exemplified by a tighter clutch on
the
purse strings and more aggressive oversight.
o Less ideology-driven policy, which, among other things, means moving
more
quickly to encourage Iraqi dominance of Iraq's affairs, even if the
results
aren't fully in America's image...
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ IS THE 'FLYTRAP'- AND U.S. TROOPS ARE THE BAIT
Justin Raimondo, antiwar.com, 9/12/03
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
The complete moral bankruptcy of the War Party is coming out of the
closet,
as they say, with the emergence of the strategic thinking behind the
war in
Iraq. To those Americans who see that there was no connection between
Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, no weapons of mass destruction, no
imminent
danger, the war is a mystery. As American casualties become a daily
routine, and Iraq slips into chaos, more and more Americans want to
know:
What we they thinking?
Ah, but Andrew Sullivan knows...
In the confidential manner of a practiced sycophant, the British-born
writer, former editor of The New Republic, and George Orwell wannabe,
is so
eager to show off his chumminess with the powerful that he lets slip
the
following:
"Some time before the Iraq war, I found myself musing out loud to
someone
close to the inner circles of the Bush administration. We were talking
about the post-war scenario, something that even then was a source of
some
worry even to gung-ho hawks like myself. …I voiced some worries about
what
might happen if an occupied Iraq became a target for international
terrorism. Wouldn't U.S. soldiers become sitting ducks? What was to
stop al
Qaeda using Iraq as a battleground in the war against the West?...
---
US "FRIENDLY FIRE" KILLS 8 IRAQI ALLIES, JORDANIAN
Fadhil Badran, Reuters, 9/12/03
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3434633
FALLUJA, Iraq - American troops killed eight members of a U.S-trained
Iraqi
security force on Friday when they mistook them for guerrillas and
witnesses said a Jordanian hospital guard was also killed in the
crossfire.
Elsewhere in the restive "Sunni Triangle," where Washington suspects
deposed President Saddam Hussein is hiding, two U.S. soldiers died and
seven more were wounded in a botched pre-dawn raid in Ramadi likely to
further fuel anti-American sentiment.
In Falluja, police officer Assem Mohammed told Reuters a joint force of
the
Iraqi police and the U.S.-backed security force were chasing thieves in
a
car shortly after midnight when U.S. soldiers opened fire, mistaking
them
for guerrillas.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military but a spokesman
said
U.S. forces came under a rocket-propelled grenade attack in the area
and
one soldier was wounded...
-----
MAS FREEDOM AND ADVOCACY GROUPS SUPPORT MUSLIM WOMEN WEEKLY JUSTICE
DEPT.
PROTEST
Group hopes to bring attention to government abuses
(Washington, D.C. - September 11, 2003) MAS Freedom and a coalition of
justice and civil rights advocates announce that they will join in the
Muslim women's group S.I.S.T.E.R.S. (Sisters In Solidarity To End
Repression Secret Evidence, Spying, Search and Seizures), weekly Friday
protest against the U.S. Justice Department and its Attorney General,
John
Ashcroft, in front of the Justice Department. S.I.S.T.E.R.S. is
particularly concerned about the recent round up of Muslims in the
Northern
Virginia area. The group will protest the department's abuses against
the
Muslim Community since September 11 and the subsequent passage of the
Patriot Act. The group indicated that it will protest in front of the
Justice Department every Friday at 11:45 a.m. through October 25, 2003,
the
second anniversary of the passage of the Patriot Act.
WHERE: 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. at 11:45 am until 12:15 pm
WHEN: Friday, September 12, 2003
Contact: Sherifah Rafiq or Mr. Mahdi Bray 202-496-1288 or 202-421-3623
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/13/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: MORAL CHARACTER
* REVERED MUSLIM CLERIC HELD IN U.S. (Toronto Star)
- Islamic Leaders Denied Entry (Sun-Sentinel)
- U.S. Kicks out Canadian Muslims (Globe and Mail)
- 2 Islamic Leaders Booted from U.S. (Miami Herald)
- Muslim Fliers Feel Unfairly Profiled (Bradenton Herald)
* DOJ TO SPONSOR ARAB, MUSLIM, AND SIKH AWARENESS SEMINAR
* $22,500 REWARD IN ARSON OF ISLAMIC CENTER (AP)
- 'Judge not, that ye be not judged' (BSU Daily News)
- Reaffirm Commitment to Tolerance (Miami Herald)
- Hatred Ebbs, But Slowly (Newsday)
* INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC LEADER STEPS DOWN (Los Angeles Times)
* ABRAHAM EVENT OPENS RELIGIONS' DOORS (Davis Enterprise)
* SURVEY: ISLAM AND THE WEST (Economist)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MORAL CHARACTER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Judgment,
the
dearest and closest to me…will be those who have the best moral
character."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 218
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
REVERED MUSLIM CLERIC HELD IN U.S.
JOSEPH HALL, MICHELLE SHEPHARD AND TIM HARPER, Toronto Star, 9/13/03
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1063404610930&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
One of Canada's most moderate and respected Muslim clerics was pulled
off a
plane Thursday and thrown in jail by U.S. immigration officials in Fort
Lauderdale without any charges being laid.
Ahamad Kutty, who has preached tolerance and peace throughout North
America
for more than two decades, was ordered off his Orlando-bound flight
from
Toronto and interrogated in an airport holding cell and a local jail
for 16
hours as the U.S. marked the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks
on
New York and Washington.
He has been declared a risk to national security.
Kutty, an imam and scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto and at
the
city's west-end Jami Mosque, was detained with fellow Toronto cleric
Abdool
Hamid. The pair had travelled to Florida to attend seminars and give a
series of lectures and sermons on, among other things, the dangers of
fanaticism in the Islamic world.
"We have gone through a traumatic experience. Really it dehumanized
us,"
said Kutty, who arrived at Pearson International Airport last night at
8:30
p.m. Kutty said he was pulled off the plane at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and
was
grilled by at least 10 officials until about 1:30 a.m. yesterday.
"They handcuffed us and took us to jail."
Kutty said immigration officials told him his Islamic Institute of
Toronto
organization sounded familiar in name to the Islamic Institution of
America, which he assumed was some sort of suspect group.
Authorities, Kutty said, were especially interested in a business card
that
he carried in his wallet bearing the name Islamic Society of North
America.
He said immigration officials made him sign a waiver giving up his
application to enter the United States.
Kutty also said he would not return to the United States and would
caution
others in the Canadian Muslim community against doing so…
"This is by far the most bizarre incident I have ever heard of or
witnessed," said Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, who visited Hamid in a Fort
Lauderdale jail.
"You are allowed to fly on any day you wish in this country."
Ali said he had been denied permission to see Hamid's affidavit by the
Homeland Security department.
Khurrum Wahid, a New York lawyer who spoke with Kutty, called the
decision
"outrageous" and said he would be willing to file a lawsuit against the
U.S. government if Kutty wanted to take the case further…
In the wake of 9/11, Kutty became a beacon of reason and calm within
the
city's Muslim community. In an October, 2001 column, the Star's Jim
Coyle
quoted one of the imam's sermons at the Jami Mosque in which he
cautioned
his congregation against Islamic extremism:
"Let us make no mistake about it: Today, Muslims have no enemy greater
than
fanatics in their midst.
"Let us know that fanaticism is ignorance; it is nothing but sickness
and
bigotry; let us know that fanaticism is opposed to both scripture and
reason."
Muslim leaders in Canada were quick to slam the detentions as racially
motivated and were calling on Ottawa to denounce the incident and
insist on
fairer treatment for Islamic Canadians and Arabs travelling to the
United
States...
SEE ALSO:
TWO ISLAMIC LEADERS FROM CANADA DENIED ENTRY AT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT
Tanya Weinberg, Sun-Sentinel, 9/13/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cimams13sep13,0,4404979.story?coll=sfla-news-broward
Two Canadian Islamic leaders were set to fly back to Toronto on Friday
after federal agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
denied them entry into the country.
"Because of security reasons, they were found inadmissible," said
Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Nina Pruneda.
She would not elaborate, but a local Muslim civil rights leader said he
was
outraged because the men reported comments from an agent that they had
picked the wrong day to fly -- Sept. 11.
"Since when are Muslims throughout the world being told they cannot
travel
on Sept. 11?" asked Altaf Ali, Florida executive director for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations. "Does that mean we are being held
responsible for the actions of 19 individuals?"
Ali visited one of the two men, Ahamed Kutty, in jail in Fort
Lauderdale on
Friday. He said Kutty reported being questioned from 9:30 a.m. Thursday
until 1:30 a.m. Friday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents summoned the FBI to question
Canadian citizens Kutty and Abdool Hamid, who are natives of India and
Guyana.
"We cleared them. We didn't think there was any reason to detain them
any
longer," the FBI's Miami spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said. "Whatever
Customs
decided to do, that wasn't anything we told them to do."
This gives the sense that there was no legitimate security concern,
said
Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union
in
Florida…
---
U.S. DETAINS, KICKS OUT TWO CANADIAN MUSLIMS
COLIN FREEZE, Globe and Mail, 9/13/03
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030913.uimam0913/BNStory/National
Two moderate Islamic scholars were kicked out of the United States and
sent
back to Canada last night, after U.S. authorities detained them as
suspected terrorists when they landed in Florida on the anniversary of
the
2001 terrorist attacks.
Ahmad Kutty, 59, and Abdool Hamid, 37, are Canadian citizens affiliated
with the Islamic Centre of Canada in Mississauga, Ont. They were flying
to
Orlando to lead an Islamic prayer service, but were intercepted by
immigration agents during a stopover Thursday stopover in Fort
Lauderdale.
In Florida, suspicion of terrorism runs especially high, partly because
al-Qaeda ringleaders who carried out the hijackings that killed 3,000
people two years ago took flight training there. According to a man who
met
one of the detained Canadians in prison, a U.S. border agent said,
"You've
chosen to fly on the wrong day," Sept. 11.
Altaf Ali, head of the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, said the account was relayed to him by Mr. Hamid when he met
him
in prison early yesterday. "He was very embarrassed to be in orange
[prison] clothes," Mr. Ali said…
The case appears to be the latest example of the perils facing Islamic
Canadians passing through the United States.
Some outraged Canadian Muslims suggest this case bears similarities to
that
of Berna Cruz, an Indian-Canadian who was sent back to India after
Chicago
agents accused her of carrying a fake passport, and Maher Arar, a
Syrian-Canadian who remains locked up on suspicion of terrorism in
Syria,
where he was sent a year ago after passing through New York...
The imams said they were detained in the Fort Lauderdale airport at
9:30
a.m. on Thursday and questioned by about 10 different U.S. agents for
16
hours, before briefly being sent to jail.
The two men were then given the option of returning to Canada or being
detained for two to three months in the United States while immigration
authorities checked them out. They chose to return…
---
AFTER NIGHT IN JAIL 2 ISLAMIC LEADERS BOOTED FROM U.S.
SONJI JACOBS, Miami Herald, 9/13/03
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6759624.htm
Federal agents detained two prominent Muslim religious leaders
overnight in
jail after they arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Airport
from Toronto at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
They were released from Fort Lauderdale City Jail Friday afternoon and
returned to Canada.
The two men, Sheikh Ahmed Kutty and Sheikh Abdul Hamid, were on their
way
to Orlando to speak and pray with members of a local Islamic community
when
they were detained in Broward.
"I will never forget this for the rest of my life," said Kutty, 59,
from
Toronto. "It was a traumatic experience.
"It seemed very clear that they hated Islam and the fact that we were
scholars seemed to make it even worse."
Altaf Ali, director of the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said he learned about the detentions from
members of Orlando's Islamic community.
Ali said he visited with Hamid at the Fort Lauderdale City Jail Friday
morning. Hamid said seven agents questioned them from 9:30 a.m.
Thursday
morning until 1:30 a.m. Friday and told them they "picked the wrong
time to
fly," Ali said.
The federal agents' actions concerned him, Ali said.
"The kind of message we're sending worldwide is not something positive.
This is not the American way."
---
MUSLIM FLIERS FEEL UNFAIRLY PROFILED
SYLVIA LIM, The Bradenton Herald, 9/13/03
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/6759965.htm
SARASOTA - Some of the roughly 400 Muslims in Manatee and Sarasota
counties
say they feel the community's attitude toward them has improved in the
two
years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But when they travel,
it's a different story.
They feel they are treated differently in airports because of their
names
or the way they look, some said at the Islamic Society of Bradenton and
Sarasota's center after Friday afternoon prayers. About 100 Muslims
went to
pray at the center on Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota.
Samir Khatib, spokesman for the Islamic Society, said sometimes
security
targets people with Muslim names.
"I've traveled a lot, and it pleases me that somebody's watching," he
said.
"But the attitude can demean the process."
He said if things could be done in a respectful manner, these security
checks would be faster and more pleasant.
A British citizen originally from Palestine who came to Florida 11
years
ago, Khatib said security in Europe is more stringent…
-----
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE TO SPONSOR
ARAB, MUSLIM, AND SIKH AWARENESS AND PROTOCOL SEMINAR
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
http://www.usdoj.gov/crs/pramstotpgcounty09252003.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 19, 2003
CONTACT: Daryl Borgquist 202/305-2966
www.usdoj.gov/crs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations
Service (CRS) will sponsor an awareness and protocol seminar for 800
law
enforcement officers, support service workers, local officials and
community leaders from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region.
The seminar - focusing on Arab, Muslim, and Sikh awareness - will be
held
on September 25, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. in the auditorium of Prince George's
Community College's Queen Ann's Fine Arts Building. Prince George's
Community College is located at 301 Largo Road in Largo, Maryland. The
welcome will be open to the media. In addition, there will be press
availabilities before the morning session and at 12:00 p.m. The
training
session and "train-the-trainer" seminar in the afternoon are open to
registered participants only.
Remarks will be given by CRS Director Sharee M. Freeman, Prince
George's
Community College President Dr. Ronald A. Williams, Prince George's
County
Executive Jack B. Johnson, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of
Virginia Paul J. McNulty, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland
Thomas
M. DiBiagio and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Roscoe C.
Howard…
This seminar, one of the largest in a series of educational "train the
trainer" awareness and protocol seminars, are sponsored by CRS as a
continuation of its efforts to address issues affecting Arab, Muslim,
and
Sikh populations in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist
attacks.
Community dialogues, forums, cultural awareness and protocol seminars
have
been effective in defusing racial tensions towards members of those
communities.
Community representatives from throughout the country will be attending
this seminar. The cultural awareness presentations will be made by
expert
commentators of the Arab, Muslim, and Sikh communities...
-----
AUTHORITIES OFFER $22,500 REWARD IN ARSON OF ISLAMIC CENTER
Associated Press, 9/13/03
SAVANNAH, Ga. - State crime investigators are offering a $22,500 reward
for
information that could lead to the arrest of the arsonist who set fire
to
the Islamic Center of Savannah.
The FBI, Georgia Arson Control Board and CrimeStoppers are offering the
reward collectively.
The early morning blaze on Aug. 24 destroyed a rare, handwritten copy
of
the Quran and the temporary mosque that was housed in a two-bedroom
home.
About 100 families worship at the center, but no one was hurt in the
fire.
Members of the mosque say they were being targeted because of their
faith,
though authorities have stopped short of calling the fire a hate crime.
Center members said two other anti-Muslim incidents happened earlier in
August. Five bullet holes were found in the center's garage door on
Aug. 3.
SEE ALSO:
'JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED'
BSU Daily News, 9/11/03
http://www.bsudailynews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/11/3f601c893cbde?in_archive=1
For the second year in a row, the Rev. Marc Monte of Faith Baptist
Church
in Avon used his pulpit to address the "evils" of Islam on the Sunday
before Sept. 11.
In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Monte called Islam
"dangerous
and hate-promoting." He compared the Quran to KKK literature and
Hitler's
"Mein Kampf," adding, "I ... smelled a stinking, bloated, dead rat on
every
page…"
Christianity hardly has a clean record -- countless people have been
killed
in its name. Jesus was pretty hard on hypocrites, so it's strange that
some
who claim to follow him feel safe condemning another faith on the
grounds
of violence…
The Quran itself says that Allah does not love those who exceed the
limits
in fighting (2.190) and that there should be no hostility except
against
oppressors (2.193).
So what did Monte see that scared him so much?
Perhaps it was this: "When you march up to attack a city, first offer
it
terms of peace. If it agrees to your terms of peace and opens its gates
to
you, all the people to be found in it shall serve you in forced labor.
But
if it refuses to make peace with you and instead offers you battle ...
put
every male in it to the sword."
No, wait, that couldn't be it. That's from the Bible (Deuteronomy
20:10-13).
Guess you can catch a whiff of "rat" in any religious text if you try
hard
enough.
---
REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO TOLERANCE, RESPECT
SETH GREEN, Miami Herald, 9/13/03
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/letters/6759643.htm
This weekend, people will assemble at more than a dozen universities
across
the country, including in South Florida, to discuss the growing rift
between the United States and the Islamic world. These town-hall
meetings,
call Hope, not Hate, offer a glimmer of hope at a time of alarming
anti-Americanism in the Islamic world and rising anti-Islamism in the
United States.
The meetings can help unite Americans and Muslims and stem the tides of
hatred. If discussions devolve into a forum for extremism, we will lose
an
opportunity to protect our common security.
In the wake of the Iraq war, anti-Americanism is rife throughout the
Islamic world. A recent Pew survey found that majorities in Pakistan,
Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey have unfavorable views of the United States
and
have considered boycotting American products.
Worse yet, less than a quarter of citizens in these countries support
the
U.S.-led war on terrorism. Pew surveys also illuminate a dire picture
for
Islam in the United States: In March 2002, 25 percent of Americans
thought
that Islam encouraged violence. Today, 44 percent of Americans hold
this
belief…
---
HATRED EBBS, BUT SLOWLY
Tomoeh Murakami Tse, Newsday, 9/13/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-limusl133452956sep13,0,247346.story
Angry, screaming strangers no longer cut Harpreet Bagga off on the Long
Island Expressway. They do not vandalize his home or spit in his face,
as
they had done to many other Sikh, Arab and Muslim Americans amid the
terror
and confusion immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Two years later, the backlash felt by these minority groups appears to
have
subsided, just as the grief of Sept. 11 has started to ebb for many.
But the threat of terrorism is still very real, and so is, many say,
the
misdirected hatred, now more hidden and subtle but which nonetheless
bubbles to the surface at unexpected times…
---
INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC LEADER STEPS DOWN
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 9/13/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-relmuslim13sep13,1,1521207.story
The recent resignation of Imam W.D. Mohammed, arguably the nation's
most
influential African American Islamic leader, marks a defining moment
for
the group he had headed for nearly 30 years.
Some analysts fear that Mohammed's surprise resignation as leader of
the
American Society of Muslims could set that movement adrift, with no one
to
unify the 300-plus affiliated mosques across the nation.
"It will be a devastating loss," said Imam Saadiq Saafir of Masjid
Ibadillah, a Los Angeles mosque on West Jefferson Boulevard. "The
danger is
that the community could become fragmented, where you have so many
leaders
taking the people in so many different directions. Some people may
wonder
if the community can actually survive."
Others, however, said Mohammed's resignation could encourage African
American Muslims to take more individual initiative to advance their
religion, improve blighted communities and become a powerful showcase
for
Islamic values in America.
"For African Americans, we're going to see the beginning of a
renaissance
for Islam in America," predicted Najee Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law who
heads
Project Islamic Hope, a Los-Angeles based social service
organization...
Accurate statistics on the number of African American Muslims are not
available. But according to Ihsan Bagby, who helped conduct a 2001
study
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, about 27% of the
nation's
1,200 mosques were predominantly African American. Among those mosques,
Bagby found, 67% were affiliated with Mohammed's American Society of
Muslims.
-----
ABRAHAM EVENT OPENS RELIGIONS' DOORS
Cory Golden, Davis Enterprise, 9/13/03
http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2003/09/12/news/110new0.txt
Just as they built friendships while organizing the event, the planners
of
Sunday's "Celebration of Abraham" hope those who attend -- be they
Christian, Muslim or Jewish -- will grow to better understand their
neighbors.
People of all faiths are invited to the event, which will be held at
the
Holy Rosary Community Center, 575 California St. in Woodland, from 5 to
7 p.m.
The celebration will explore the common bond of the major monotheistic
religions represented by Abraham and his journey of faith, the way he
answered God's call to travel from his homeland to an unknown country…
Sunday's event is sponsored by the American Muslim Alliance,
Congregation
Bet Haverim/Jewish Fellowship of Davis, the Council on American Islamic
Relations, Holy Rosary Church of Woodland, The Islamic Center of Davis,
Muslim Mosque of Woodland, St. James Catholic Church, St. John's United
Church of Christ, United Methodist Church of Davis and United Methodist
Church of Woodland.
-----
SURVEY: ISLAM AND THE WEST (Economist)
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=2035107
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/14/03
* HALLMARK NOW OFFERS EID CARDS
* AIRPORT SCRUTINY ANGERS MUSLIM TRAVELERS (Wash. Post)
- Still a Chill in NY for Arab-Americans, Poll (NY Times)
- FBI Knocks on Fox Valley Muslims' Doors (WBAY)
- Wounds from Alligator Alley Saga Still Hurt (News-Press)
- Feds, Rights Groups Battle Over Post 9/11 Liberties (MSNBC)
- Security, Rights Butting Heads (Arizona Republic)
* CHRISTIANS, JEWS, MUSLIMS AID IMMIGRANT (Atlanta Journal)
* CANADIAN MUSLIMS HIRE LAWYER AFTER U.S. DETAINMENT (CTV)
-----
HALLMARK NOW OFFERS EID CARDS
http://pressroom.hallmark.com/Eid_facts.html
EID AL-FITR 2003
Media Contact: Deidre Parkes, 816-274-5768
All Other Inquiries Contact: info@hallmark.com
WHAT IS IT?
Eid is a day of rejoicing that marks the end of the month of Ramadan,
which
is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a celebration
of
month-long fasting, which is one of the five pillars, or fundamental
obligations, in the religion of Islam.
WHEN IS IT?
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal that
follows Ramadan. In 2003, Ramadan is expected to begin at sundown Oct.
25,
ending on Nov. 24, with Eid al-Fitr falling on Nov. 24-25.
WHO CELEBRATES IT?
Eid is celebrated by Muslims - followers of the faith of Islam.
Currently
the worldwide Muslim population is about 1.2 billion, with an estimated
7
to 10 million living in the United States.
HOW DOES HALLMARK HELP?
For the first time in 2003 Hallmark is offering cards for Eid.
A single card and two multi-packs are offered in stores. Cards are also
available on Hallmark.com.
Since Islam is practiced worldwide, Hallmark avoided any icons that
could
be construed as regional or cultural, rather than Islamic.
The common Arabic phrase "Eid Mubarak," which means "Happy Holiday" is
used. The writing conveys the celebration, joy and thanks of the
holiday
and reinforces the bonds of friendship, family and faith.
Images feature ornate Islamic-inspired patterns and rich color. On one
card
an illustration appears of two pairs of hands shaking in greeting.
-----
INTENSE AIRPORT SCRUTINY ANGERS MUSLIM TRAVELERS
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 9/14/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6308-2003Sep13.html
A delegation of 18 Yemeni citizens invited to Washington by the U.S.
State
Department was held for five hours after arriving at Dulles
International
Airport while immigration officials questioned and fingerprinted them.
The Sept. 3 incident, during which one member of the delegation was
handcuffed for half an hour, angered the visitors from Yemen, whose
government has been a key U.S. ally in the war against terrorism.
"I was in shock. If things are going to continue like this, why should
I
come to this country?" said Yahya al Habari, 44, a member of Yemen's
legislature who had come to meet with senior trade and agriculture
officials. Habari, who travels on a diplomatic passport and has been to
the
United States dozens of times for his business as an importer of U.S.
crops, said, "I'd rather import Australian or Canadian wheat and save
myself problems."
Besides businessmen and legislators invited to meetings with top U.S.
officials, the Yemeni delegation included cultural figures
participating in
"Windows on the Cultural Heritage of Yemen," a symposium held Sept. 5
and 6
at the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art. The event was
sponsored by the Smithsonian, the State Department, the Yemen Embassy
and
the American Institute for Yemeni Studies.
The episode at Dulles is one of many recent cases in which Muslim air
travelers have complained of being subjected to lengthy delays and
sometimes being questioned by U.S. law enforcement officials for no
apparent legitimate reason…
SEE ALSO:
THERE'S STILL A CHILL IN NEW YORK FOR ARAB-AMERICANS, POLL SAYS
MARJORIE CONNELLY, New York Times, 9/14/.03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/14/nyregion/14arab.html
Two years after the Sept. 11 attacks, two-thirds of New Yorkers say
Arab-Americans, Muslims and immigrants from the Middle East are still
likely to be unfairly singled out, according to the latest New York
Times
Poll. That sentiment is stronger among those who count Arabs among
their
close friends.
Typical of those who think Arabs are targets for discrimination is
Shirley
Haq, who came to the United States from Pakistan as a child. "As soon
as
people hear you are a Muslim," Ms. Haq, a 38-year-old real estate agent
who
lives in Manor Heights, Staten Island, said in a follow-up interview,
"you
hear comments about who Muslims are and what they do."
Most of the New Yorkers polled -- 976 adults were surveyed by phone
from
Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 -- do not know anybody from an Arab country. The
survey
shows that 34 percent know an immigrant from an Arab country, and 12
percent are close friends with an Arab immigrant. The poll's margin of
sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
New Yorkers who do have close friends who are Arabs are particularly
inclined to say Arab-Americans, Muslims and others from the Middle East
are
at risk for unfair treatment…
---
FBI KNOCKS ON FOX VALLEY MUSLIMS' DOORS
Islamic Society Wants Fairness From FBI
Kathryn Bracho, WBAY, 9/14/03
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=1441009&nav=51s7HyN8
Imagine you're in your office when federal agents walk in unannounced
to
ask you questions-- in front of everyone you work with. Or they show up
at
your house. That's what some Muslims families have dealt with in recent
weeks. They say there is no need for the questioning, and the Islamic
Society wants to do something about it.
Local Muslims gathered Friday for the Azaan, the call to prayer. They
are
calling for fairness when the government questions them.
Salman Aziz of the Fox Valley Islamic Society described one family's
recent
visit by the FBI. "They just come unannounced, and in one case it was
only
the wife there, and she got very annoyed and, of course, a little
apprehensive."
Agents came to another man's work. He would not talk with us on-camera,
but
he told us he had to resign.
The Islamic Society is asking Martin Gruberg for help. He is a
U.W.-Oshkosh
professor and an American Civil Liberties Union board member. Gruberg
said
of the FBI's investigation, "Presumably they're looking for
intelligence--
but a lot of it is not intelligent. They can't tell the good guys from
the
bad guys."
The Islamic Society planned a meeting with the FBI to let the agency
know
they're willing to help but that they expect to be treated fairly…
---
ONE YEAR LATER, WOUNDS FROM SAGA ALONG ALLIGATOR ALLEY STILL HURT
DENES HUSTY III, News-Press, 9/13/03
http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/030913aligatoralley.html
A year after three medical students of Middle Eastern descent and a
retired
nurse were thrust into the national spotlight because of an overheard
conversation at a Georgia restaurant, all four say their lives still
aren't
back to normal.
Former nurse Eunice Stone, who reported what she believed to be a
possible
terrorist plot against targets in Miami, said she still lives in fear
of
retaliation.
The students - Kambiz Butt, 26, and Ayman Gheith, 28, both of Chicago,
and
Omer Choudhary, 24, of Independence, Mo., were detained by police but
never
charged. They said they're owed more than $8,000 and an apology.
"It would be nice if somebody would call us," Choudhary said.
"There were actual threats against my life, just because I stepped
forward
and did the right thing," Stone said.
The case never has been officially closed.
The whole incident, which came to a head on Sept. 13, 2002, and closed
Alligator Alley for 17 hours, began at a restaurant in Georgia a day
earlier.
It was because of a conversation among the men that Stone overheard in
a
Georgia restaurant during breakfast that the students became the target
of
an interstate police manhunt.
What ensued reminded a still shell-shocked American public of the
terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington a year and two days before.
The medical students' two cars were stopped east of Naples.
Alligator Alley - a toll road that's part of Interstate 75 between
Naples
and Florida's east coast where they were pulled over - was shut down
after
bomb-detecting dogs indicated they found explosives.
More than 100 federal, state and local law officers, emergency
personnel
and support groups - 19 agencies in all - swarmed to the scene.
Dozens of television trucks followed to broadcast the event live across
the
nation.
People from Miami to Seattle watched as explosives experts in 100-pound
blast suits searched the cars in the sweltering South Florida heat,
while
others operated a robot by remote control to aid in looking for
explosives.
"How could I forget the news frenzy?" said North Naples Fire Department
spokesman Jerry Sanford, who was there all day.
The students were kept in patrol cars all day while being questioned.
Their
shoes were removed to prevent a possible escape.
Authorities believed it was the real deal.
"I thought those things were going to detonate at any moment," Sanford
said. He vividly remembered Sept. 11, 2001, when several of his friends
with the New York Fire Department died, along with almost 2,800 other
people, when the World Trade Center's Twin Towers collapsed.
"It was scary," he said.
In this case, there were no explosions. No bombs. Nothing…
---
FEDS, RIGHTS GROUPS BATTLE OVER POST 9/11 LAWS, LIBERTIES
Kari Huus, MSNBC, 9/10/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/964078.asp
Sept. 10 - Sitting in jail in upstate New York, Rafil Dhafir is living
testimony to the legal climate two years after the 9/11 attacks. Until
February, Dhafir was a pillar of his community in Rome, N.Y. He was a
practicing oncologist, an imam in his local mosque, and for most of a
decade he had run a charity called Help the Needy. This February, the
FBI
came knocking and Dhafir - a U.S. citizen born in Iraq - has been held
without bail ever since. Is this a triumph of the new U.S. homeland
security strategy or a sign that it is running amok?...
---
SECURITY, RIGHTS BUTTING HEADS
Dennis Wagner, Arizona Republic, 9/14/03
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0914terrorchase14.html
In the name of national security, dozens of people in Arizona have been
arrested or detained on charges unrelated to terrorism.
The Muslims and Middle Easterners have been rounded up by Arizona's
Joint
Terrorism Task Force and charged with visa violations, fraud and other
offenses that have little to do with national security…
But, for many Muslims and civil libertarians, the campaign has been an
assault on Islam, Arabs and American fundamentals. They say the
government,
under intense public pressure and lacking real terrorism suspects, has
targeted Middle Easterners for ethnic profiling and used lawful
coercion as
a tool to get cooperation and information.
"We understand the need for a tough hand. But they are specifically
looking
for something to get these people on because they are Muslims or from
the
Middle East," said Deedra Abboud, director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations here.
-----
CHRISTIANS, JEWS, MUSLIMS AID IMMIGRANT
STACY SHELTON, Atlanta Journal, 9/14/03
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/0903/14habitat.html
A diverse community of the faithful picked up hammers, nails and paint
brushes in Smyrna on Saturday to build a home for an Iranian immigrant
family.
Most of the more than 50 volunteers from Cobb County churches, a
synagogue
and a mosque worked on the Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat,
headquartered in Americus, is a Christian organization that helps build
simple homes for people who otherwise couldn't afford it.
"We have a Jewish temple, a Catholic church and an Islamic mosque
[taking
part]. I said to my husband, 'This is just a Godsend,'" said Paula
Todd,
head of the coalition that put together the Habitat project. "There's
not
another [Habitat house] like it."
Some who took part in the project Saturday said their volunteer sweat
was
also a statement of unity, a common bond in the midst of the discord
laid
bare by terrorism in America.
Imam Amjad Taufique, who leads a Marietta mosque, said he received
hate-filled voice messages after the attacks in New York and
Washington. He
said he also got calls from two women, one Jewish, the other Christian,
who
offered their homes as safe places and volunteered to accompany Muslim
women on errands.
Taufique began talking to Christian church groups to spread
understanding
of his religion.
"Before 9/11, a lot of Muslims were very happy in their environment, in
the
mosque, and it never occurred to them how important it is to visit
their
neighbors or be part of the community," said Taufique, the prayer
leader at
Masjid Al-Hedaya. "I want my neighbor to feel safe that this Muslim is
not
what everyone else says, so he'll stand up and say 'This Muslim is not
like
that.'"
Nationwide, what are called "anti-Muslim" attacks by the
Washington-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations are on the rise. Last year, there
were 602 incidents, a 15 percent increase from 2001, the council
reported.
The attacks included a mob beating of a Muslim teenager in California
and
the destruction of Muslim family's van in Illinois…
-----
CDN MUSLIMS HIRE LAWYER AFTER U.S. DETAINMENT
CTV.ca News Staff, 9/14/03
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1063513503026_79/?hub=Canada
Two respected Canadian Muslim clerics who were ordered off a flight in
Florida are taking their case to court with the help of an American
lawyer.
Ahmad Kutty, 57, and Abdul Hamid, 38, were denied entry into the United
States and questioned for 16 hours at the Florida airport by government
agents.
The men were thrown into jail without being charged and returned to
Toronto
on Friday. Hamid was told they had picked the wrong day to fly --
September
11th.
"We have gone through a traumatic experience. Really, it dehumanized
us,"
Kutty said when he arrived at Pearson International Airport.
Kutty is a scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto and was
travelling
to Florida to attend seminars and give a series of speeches.
Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said he was shocked by what had happened.
"I'm totally flabbergasted. I've heard some crazy things in the past
about
people being detained but this beats them all," Ali said after the
incident…
The Muslim Canadian Congress is warning Muslim Canadians not to travel
to
the U.S. "for their own safety." The organization is also urging
supporters
to boycott American products.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/15/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GLORIFY GOD
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6907 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* MD MUSLIMS GATHER GOODS FOR AREA PANTRIES (Wash. Post)
- CA Arab Festival Inspires Pride (Contra Costa Times)
- School a 'dream come true' for KT Muslims (Herald-Leader)
* MUSLIM GROUPS SAY PIPES MISREPRESENTED ENDORSEMENT
* BUSH SEEKS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA (NY Times)
- Additional Powers Are Not Necessary (Newsweek)
* MUSLIM CLERICS SAY OTTAWA COULDN'T HELP THEM (CBC)
- Demand Protection of Canadian Muslims Overseas (CMCLA)
- Syrian Muslim Seeks Sanctuary in Church (Canada.com)
* EDITORIAL ON MUSLIM-JEWISH RELATIONS (Poughkeepsie Journal)
* FRIDAY DECISION HAS CHILLING EFFECT (TBCJP)
* IRAQI LEADER SAYS U.S. TROOPS MISTREAT CIVILIANS
* INDIA'S MUSLIM TIME BOMB (NY TIMES)
- Muslim Witnesses Wait in Vain for Protection (AFP)
- Riot Victims Seek Justice in India (CSM)
* SISTERS IN SOLIDARITY RALLY TO END TO END REPRESSIONS
* CONFERENCE ON MUSLIM POLITICS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GLORIFY GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God...has angels who
rove
about seeking out gatherings in which (His) name is being
invoked...When
(the people in the gathering) depart, (the angels) ascend...to
heaven...Then God asks them...'From where have you come?' They answer:
'We
have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: They were glorifying
You,
exalting You, witnessing that there is no god but You, praising You,
and
asking (favors) of You...(But)...among them was...a much sinning
servant,
who was merely passing by and sat down with (those glorifying You).'
(God
then) says: 'And to him (too) I have given forgiveness: He who sits
with
such people shall not suffer.'"
Hadith Qudsi 14
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6907 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6907 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
MD. MUSLIM VOLUNTEERS GATHER TONS OF GOODS FOR AREA PANTRIES
Nurith C. Aizenman, Washington Post, 9/15/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11020-2003Sep14.html
The fliers distributed to more than 30,000 Maryland homes by Muslim
civic
groups across the Washington region last weekend contained a simple
plea
for non-perishable goods for an upcoming food drive.
But the Muslim volunteers who circled through their communities to pick
up
contributions yesterday said they hoped their neighbors had also gotten
the
unwritten message: "We are one of you. We want to be a part of this
country," said Ellicott City pediatrician Naseem Khan.
Like many of the several hundred participants, Khan said her
involvement in
the food drive was largely a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
"Suddenly you realize that the impact of that act was reflected on
Muslims
at large," she said. Now, she added, "it's like a drive in me" to make
clear just how contrary the attacks were to the principles of Islam.
The most effective way for Muslims to do that is to get more involved
in
their communities, said Anwer Hasan, president of the Howard County
Muslim
Foundation and an organizer of the drive.
"Actions speak louder than words," he noted. "And when you reach out to
your neighbors, they see you as a mainstream person who believes in
giving
to the needy and helping to build a stronger America."
Initiated last year by the Howard County Muslim Foundation, the food
drive
was also held yesterday by related groups in Baltimore city and
Montgomery,
Prince George's and Baltimore counties. Members brought the
contributions
they collected to festive picnics in each county, where they mingled
with
friends and a host of political leaders, including Montgomery County
Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) at
the
Germantown picnic, and Howard County Executive James N. Robey (D) and
Rep.
Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) at the Ellicott City event.
By early evening, organizers estimated that volunteers had collected
more
than 22,000 pounds of supplies for local food banks…
SEE ALSO:
ARAB FESTIVAL INSPIRES PRIDE
Guy Ashley, CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 9/15/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/content_syndication/local_news/6775760.htm
SAN FRANCISCO - Mohamed Elsherbini knows what it's like to be eyed
suspiciously at the airport ticket counter.
Jamal Dajani says he is sure the Patriot Act, and other initiatives
providing law enforcement with greater investigative latitude, will be
focused on Arab-Americans like himself.
Neema Ejaz says she is sometimes scorned by other American women who
find
the traditional Muslim head covering she wears distastefully
subservient.
They and other Arab Americans attending the ninth annual Arab Cultural
Festival in Golden Gate Park on Sunday said they often feel the sting
of
misunderstanding toward their heritage.
But they said the cold, shunning glances and even the outright
hostility
won't prevent them from celebrating the tight-knit, fun-loving
community
they have helped create as Arab-Americans living in the Bay Area.
"We can't be held hostage by the misunderstanding that continues to be
focused on us," said Dajani, president of the Arab Cultural and
Community
Center, which sponsored the festival…
---
NEW SCHOOL IS A 'DREAM COME TRUE' FOR MUSLIMS
Art Jester, HERALD-LEADER, 9/15/03
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/news/6774662.htm
For two years it has been a dream postponed, but it's a dream about to
become a dream fulfilled.
It's the Lexington Universal Academy, Lexington's newest private school
and
the first built and sponsored by Muslims. The academy, at 4580
Nicholasville Road, is scheduled to open Oct. 6.
The delay was not the fault of the academy's founders. It was caused
when,
according to a fire department investigation, lightning touched off a
fire
Oct. 24, 2001, on the 1.9-acre site. The blaze gutted the single-story,
4,300-square-foot building of the Islamic Society of Central Kentucky,
which was to have become a school for grades K-5 in January 2002.
In a sense, the setback became a blessing. The building's charred
remains
were cleared out, and now workers are finishing a new brick building
about
five times bigger (22,500 square feet).
"This is a dream come true, for our children to be in an Islamic school
environment," said Mahmoud Shalash.
Shalash is one of Lexington's most visible and influential Muslims.
He's
the imam, or spiritual leader, of the 200-member Islamic Center of
Kentucky; chairman of the board for the new academy; and president of
the
academy's sponsor, Islamic Society of Central Kentucky, whose members
are
two mosques in Lexington and mosques in Danville, Richmond and
Frankfort.
When the academy opens, it will have 52 students in grades K-4, the
majority of them in kindergarten and, so far, all Islamic, Shalash
said…
-----
MUSLIM GROUPS SAY PIPES MISREPRESENTED ENDORSEMENT
Alleged signatories call for removal of page from Bush appointee's web
site
http://www.al-khoei.org/declaration_daniel_pipes.htm
DECLARATION (9/12/2003) - The Ulama and Organizations cited in the
purported endorsement of Dr. Daniel Pipe's appointment to the United
States
Institute of Peace was a misrepresentation and that none of the Ulama
and
Organizations was consulted nor was aware of it beforehand.
Therefore, the Ulama and Organizations whose names are appended below,
categorically deny any association with this endorsement and call for
the
immediate withdrawal of the document from the website of Dr. Daniel
Pipes
to whom this declaration is also being transmitted.
SEE THE MISREPRESENTED "ENDORSEMENT" -
LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF THE SHIA TRADITION
http://www.danielpipes.org/usip/e_11.php
-----
BUSH SEEKS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA
Eric Lictblau, New York Times, 9/14/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/14/national/14PATR.html
WASHINGTON- For months, President Bush's advisers have assured a
skittish
public that law-abiding Americans have no reason to fear the long reach
of
the antiterrorism law known as the Patriot Act because its most
intrusive
measures would require a judge's sign-off.
But in a plan announced this week to expand counterterrorism powers,
President Bush adopted a very different tack. In a three-point
presidential
plan that critics are already dubbing Patriot Act II, Mr. Bush is
seeking
broad new authority to allow federal agents - without the approval of a
judge or even a federal prosecutor - to demand private records and
compel
testimony....
ALSO SEE:
'THESE ADDITIONAL POWERS ARE NOT NECESSARY'
Arian Campo-Flores, Newsweek, 9/12/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/966037.asp
These aren't happy days for the civil-liberties crowd. In a speech last
Wednesday at the FBI training academy in Quantico, Va., President Bush
called for broader powers to pursue and hold terror suspects.
Among the Items on his wish list: allowing federal law-enforcement
agencies
to issue "administrative subpoenas" that wouldn't require a judge's
approval, expanding the death penalty to cover terror-related crimes,
and
raising the bar for terror suspects to be released on bail. All of this
came on the heels of Attorney General John Ashcroft's nationwide tour
to
defend the increasingly controversial USA Patriot Act, which granted
authorities new surveillance and detention powers in the immediate
aftermath of September 11…
-----
MUSLIM CLERICS SAY OTTAWA COULDN'T HELP THEM
CBC, 9/15/03
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/09/14/imam030915
TORONTO - Two moderate Muslim clerics from Toronto say they will
complain
to the Department of Foreign Affairs about the department's inability
to
help them when they were seized in the United States last Thursday.
Abdul Hamid and Ahmad Kutty were interrogated for 16 hours and kept in
jail
in Florida Thursday, before being sent back to Canada Friday.
They were going to Florida to lead prayers on the second anniversary of
the
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
The Canadian consulate was unable to discover what had happened to the
men,
despite repeated phone calls.
Canadian Muslim spokespeople have suggested the two were detained
because
they were Muslims.
ALSO SEE:
DEMAND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CANADIAN MUSLIMS AND ARABS OVERSEAS
Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association
www.cmcla.org
(Toronto, Canada - Sept. 15 2003) - CMCLA is today calling on all
Canadians
to demand that the rights of Canadian Muslims and Arabs are protected
when
travelling to the US.
This follows the detention and harassment of two prominent Imams at the
hands of American authorities on Friday.
Imam Ahmad Kutty and Imam Abdool Hameed were arrested and interrogated
for
16 hours in Fort Lauderdale while on their way to Orlando to attend
seminars. The Canadian government has been unable to obtain any reason
for
their detention, but one US official told Imam Abdool Hameed that they
had
chosen "a bad day for travel".
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (Be polite, but firm):
1) CONTACT Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien and Foreign Affairs Minister
Bill
Graham to demand they act to ensure that the rights of Canadian Muslims
and
Arabs are protected. Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien, Tel: 613-992-4211,
Fax:
613-941-6900, E-mail: pmo@pm.gc.ca. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill
Graham, Tel: 613-992 5234, Fax: 613-996-960, E-mail:
Graham.B@parl.gc.ca
Ask Mr. Graham to bring up the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell and the head of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge.
2) CONTACT your local MP and demand that they take up this issue
urgently
in the House of Commons. The most effective way to communicate with
your MP
is to meet in person at his/her constituency office. The next best
method
is to call the office of your MP and register your concerns. You can
also
email your concerns to your MP. Obtain the name and full contact
information of your Member of Parliament by calling (613) 992-4793, or
by
typing your postal code at:
www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM
3) WRITE a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to express your
concerns over the unjust detention and harassment of Imams Kutty and
Abdool
Hameed citizen by US authorities. Newspapers and TV stations have given
extensive coverage to their ordeal.
Toronto Star: See www.torontostar.com and search for "Kutty"
Send letters to: lettertoed@thestar.ca
The Ottawa Citizen: Send letters to letters@thecitizen.southam.ca
The Montreal Gazette: Send letters to letters@thegazette.southam.ca
Calgary Herald: Send letters to letters@theherald.southam.ca
The Globe and Mail: See www.globeandmail.com and search for "Kutty"
Send letters to: letters@globeandmail.ca
---
SYRIAN MUSLIM SEEKS SANCTUARY IN CHURCH
CanWest News Service, 9/15/03
http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=7E3A2A4B-CB66-4ED1-A339-A9C9AB9BC169
A Syrian Muslim has taken sanctuary in a Winnipeg church to avoid being
deported to Syria after his refugee claim was denied. Ammar Khatib went
to
the church because his supporters were afraid police and immigration
officials would not show a mosque the same respect as places of
sanctuary
as Christian churches traditionally receive. The 25-year-old University
of
Winnipeg computer student was scheduled to be picked up by immigration
officials at 8 a.m. today and placed on a plane to Syria, where Khatib
feared he would be tortured and executed because of his family's
anti-government beliefs. Khatib's wife Sofiya is a Canadian citizen,
but
the federal Immigration Department has ruled Khatib must first leave
Canada
and then have his wife apply to sponsor him to be admitted as a landed
immigrant.
-----
EDITORIAL ON MUSLIM-JEWISH RELATIONS
THREE CHEERS
Poughkeepsie Journal, 9/15/03
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/opinion/stories/op091503s2.shtml
Three cheers to the Muslim and Jewish communities of the mid-Hudson
Valley
for joining together in the Salaam-Shalom Family Culture Fest Sept. 7
at
Vassar Temple.
''Salaam'' and ''shalom'' are the Arabic and Hebrew words for ''peace''
--
and this wonderful, well-attended event should go far to foster peace
between these two peoples locally.
The festival was highlighted by Israeli and Muslim traditional dancing,
calligraphy, henna hand-painting -- and, of course, plenty of delicious
food.
Thanks to Vassar Temple, Masjid al-Noor and the al-Noor Islamic School,
the
Dutchess County Arts Council, and the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum for
helping to make this event possible. But, most of all, thanks to the
hundreds of Jews and Muslims -- and others too -- who overcame doubt
and
discomfort, who came, who made new friends, who had a great time, who
gained a new respect and appreciation for each other.
Their faiths, as well as Christianity, share common roots in the Bible,
and
their cultures have many similarities. Only in modern times has there
been
violence between Muslims and Jews. For centuries, they lived amicably
together in many parts of the world.
It is hoped that there will be many more celebrations of their heritage
and
cultures -- such that there may someday truly be peace between these
two
faiths here and everywhere.
-----
FRIDAY DECISION HAS CHILLING EFFECT
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
9-15-03
TAMPA- On Friday, Federal Judge James Moody ruled that access to over
20,000 hours of audiotapes in the case of Dr. Sami Al-Arian would be
banned
from the public. Access to the tapes was only granted to Dr. Al-Arian
and
his co-defendants' defense teams, which are threatened with legal
sanctions
if the tapes are discussed in public.
Friday's decision only serves to heighten the atmosphere of secrecy and
fear that the government is building to justify its groundless claims
against Dr. Sami Al-Arian. It is worth noting that the same government
that wasted no time divulging its indictment of Dr. Al-Arian is
suddenly
concerned about revealing tapes that could clear Dr. Al-Arian's name
and
defend his reputation.
What is equally puzzling is the local and national media's silence on
this
issue. While the media have traditionally been bold defenders of the
public's right to know, it is clear that they have abandoned this
principle
in Dr. Al-Arian's case. This is one of many indications of the
government's
success in creating an intimidating environment to which even
journalists
are not immune…
-----
IRAQI LEADER SAYS U.S. TROOPS MISTREAT CIVILIANS
Daniel Flynn, Reuters, 9/15/03
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3444887
MADRID - A member of Iraq's Governing Council Monday accused U.S.
troops of
regularly mistreating Iraqi civilians so that the population had come
to
regard American forces as an army of occupation.
"There is widespread discontent with the coalition forces, the majority
of
whom treat the Iraqi people with violence and contempt," Rajaa Habib
Khuzai
told a joint news conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio.
"The opinion of the Iraqi people about the coalition forces is that
they
are forces of occupation," said Khuzai the head of a maternity hospital
in
the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya and one of 13 Shi'ite Muslims on
the
25-member council.
Khuzai said the U.S.-backed Governing Council was in talks with
coalition
forces to transfer sovereignty to the Iraqi people, but no deadline had
been established...
-----
INDIA'S MUSLIM TIME BOMB
Pankaj Mishra, New York Times, 9/15/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/15/opinion/15MISH.html
NEW DELHI - Soon after arriving at the site of the bomb explosions in
Bombay that killed more than 50 people last month - the sixth and most
lethal in a recent series of blasts in the city - Lal Krishna Advani,
the
deputy prime minister in India's Hindu nationalist government, blamed
terrorists based in Pakistan.
This was to be expected: the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party routinely
describes India as besieged by Muslim terrorists backed by Pakistan and
based there or in the disputed valley of Kashmir, where Indian security
forces have fought a Muslim insurgency for more than a decade. This
time,
however, Mr. Advani's accusation was swiftly contradicted by the Bombay
police. The four people arrested this month in connection with the
attacks
were Indian Muslims, part of a new group called the Gujarat Muslim
Revenge
Force. They may have received logistical support from a Pakistani
militant
outfit with links to Al Qaeda, but they were Indian citizens.
This can be only disturbing news - for India, the region and the United
States. The radical Islamist movements that spread so quickly in the
last
decade in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan had heretofore left
untouched India's 140 million Muslims, even as the Hindu nationalists
rose
to power in India by demanding, among other things, that Muslims adopt
what
they define as India's "Hindu culture..."
ALSO SEE:
COWERING MUSLIM WITNESSES IN GUJARAT WAIT IN VAIN FOR POLICE PROTECTION
Praveeena Sharma, Agence France Presse, 9/15/03
AHMEDABAD, India - For Muslims brave enough to depose in cases related
to
last year's sectarian riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat,
police
protection has remained a distant hope despite court orders.
Instead of providing the 1,000-odd Muslims round-the-clock security,
only a
few hours protection is given by policemen who often pester their
reluctant
hosts for food, snacks and beverages, witnesses said.
"It seems that the police just does not care about the Supreme Court
order.
They come only for a few hours and ask us to call if we need them,"
said
Alam Khan Anwar Khan Pathan, a witness in a case in which 40 people
were
killed.
Pathan and his wife saw seven members of their family being killed by a
Hindu mob during the incident, but fear for their own lives kept him
from
deposing before a court who heard the case on August 28 and 29...
ALSO SEE:
RIOT VICTIMS SEEK JUSTICE IN INDIA
Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 9/15/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0915/p06s01-wosc.html
BARODA, INDIA- Top court intervenes in Hindu-Muslim case, bypassing
widely
criticized state justice system.
One of the most brutal hate crimes in recent Indian history may soon
get a
hearing in India's top court. But as sporadic riots return to the state
after months of relative peace, it may be a case of too little, too
late.
On Friday, India's Supreme Court began hearings for the Best Bakery
case,
named for the bakery where some 14 people were murdered last year. The
Supreme Court's decision to take up the case last month surprised many
state officials and activists, since it bypassed the appeals system of
the
state of Gujarat, where the trial and the crime took place. A lower
state
court acquitted all the accused for "lack of evidence."
Best Bakery was just one of hundreds of possible murder cases - and
with
several surviving eyewitnesses, one of the strongest cases - after the
Gujarat riots of the spring of 2002, in which at least 1,000 citizens
were
killed, most of them Muslims...
-----
SISTERS IN SOLIDARITY RALLY TO END TO END REPRESSIONS
WHAT: Sisters in Solidarity Sisters in Solidarity to End Repressions
Secret
Evidence, Spying, Search, and Seizures (S.I.S.T.E.R.S) have joined
efforts
with the Muslim American Society for civil justice. They will hold a
rally
to protest the Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Justice
Department's
abuses against the Muslim Community since September 11 and the
subsequent
passage of the Patriot Act.
Rev. Grayland Haggler, Black Voices for Peace; Imam Abdul Malik Johari,
Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations; Muslim Society of
Washington;
Rev. William Fauntroy, The Civil Rights Round Table
WHERE: Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
--
September 19, 2003
CONTACT: Sherifah Rafiq or Mahdi Bray, 202-496-1288 or 202-421-3623
-----
CONFERENCE ON MUSLIM POLITICS AND U.S. POLICIES AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
WHAT: The Pew Forum and The Institute on Religion and World Affairs at
Boston University hold a conference on "Muslim Politics and U.S.
Policies:
Prospects for Pluralism and Democracy in the Muslim World."[AGENDA]
Highlights: -- 1:15 pm - John Bowen, Washington University in St.
Louis;
Michael Peletz, Colgate University and Robert Hefner, Boston
University,
"Muslims After 9-11"
WHERE: Mayflower Hotel, Chinese Room, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C.
WHEN: September 17, 2003
CONTACT: 202-955-5075;
http://www.pewforum.org/events/index.php?EventID=50
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS - 9/16/03
* OREGON PROF SUES BUSH APPOINTEE FOR DEFAMATION
* MISREPRESENTED 'ENDORSEMENT' STILL ON PIPES WEB SITE
-----
OREGON PROF SUES BUSH APPOINTEE FOR DEFAMATION
UO PROFESSOR SUES AUTHORS OF COLUMN
Bill Bishop, Register-Guard, 9/16/03
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/09/16/a1.profsuit.0916.html
A University of Oregon sociology professor is claiming defamation and
seeking $1.1 million from the authors of a column published in the New
York
Post last year that labeled him as anti-Semitic and listed him among
six
"left-wing extremists" who "indoctrinate students" through their
teaching.
Adjunct professor Douglas Card names as defendants Daniel Pipes, a
Middle
East scholar and controversial Bush administration appointee to the
U.S.
Institute of Peace, and Pipes' research assistant, Jonathan Schanzer, a
specialist in radical Islamic movements.
The June 25, 2002, op-ed piece remains in publication on the Web site
of
Campus Watch, a group Pipes formed through his Philadelphia think tank,
Middle East Forum, to monitor and critique the teaching of Middle East
issues.
The column, titled "Extremists on Campus," accuses Card of describing
Israel as "a terrorist state" and Israelis as "baby killers" in his
course.
The column also claims that Card insists that his students agree in a
final
exam with his view that Israel "stole land."
The column claims that "leftist activism that too often passes for
Middle
East scholarship" creates a wave of "verbal and physical attacks" on
campuses and cites four examples - none at the UO.
In his lawsuit, Card says Pipes and Schanzer are wrong about how he
teaches
and their column is false and defamatory. The suit, filed by Eugene
lawyer
David Force, says Pipes and Schanzer refused to retract their
statements
after Card provided proof they were wrong.
Card also claims Pipes and Schanzer tried to force him to provide names
of
his students and contents of his class examinations in violation of UO
policy. Card also claims the authors tried to compel him to write an
essay
condemning political activism and expression in college classrooms in
exchange for a retraction of their column…
SEE ALSO:
MISREPRESENTED MUSLIM 'ENDORSEMENT' STILL ON PIPES WEB SITE
EDITOR'S NOTE: Daniel Pipes is keeping an "endorsement" from Muslims on
his
web site even though those groups and individuals say they were not
consulted before being listed. They have asked that Pipes remove the
document from his site. Pipes has offered no explanation of how he
obtained
the "endorsement."
SEE:
MUSLIM GROUPS SAY PIPES MISREPRESENTED ENDORSEMENT
Alleged signatories call for removal of page from Bush appointee's web
site
http://www.al-khoei.org/declaration_daniel_pipes.htm
DECLARATION (9/12/2003) - The Ulama and Organizations cited in the
purported endorsement of Dr. Daniel Pipe's appointment to the United
States
Institute of Peace was a misrepresentation and that none of the Ulama
and
Organizations was consulted nor was aware of it beforehand.
Therefore, the Ulama and Organizations whose names are appended below,
categorically deny any association with this endorsement and call for
the
immediate withdrawal of the document from the website of Dr. Daniel
Pipes
to whom this declaration is also being transmitted.
SEE THE MISREPRESENTED "ENDORSEMENT" -
LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF THE SHIA TRADITION
http://www.danielpipes.org/usip/e_11.php
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/16/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LIBERALITY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6909 SPONSORSHIPS
- 'Washington Live' Looks at CAPS II, Patriot II
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* ABDULLAH MEETS WITH MUSLIM, ARAB-AMERICAN LEADERS
- Save Nov. 29 for CAIR's Fundraising Dinner
* GOOD NEWS: MD POSTAL WORKER GIVEN TIME OFF FOR JUMAH
* ALERT: OPPOSE MAKING LOCAL POLICE ACT AS INS ENFORCERS
* CAIR-CAN MEETS WITH U.N. RAPPORTEUR
* CABDRIVERS FEARFUL IN WAKE OF SLAYING (Mercury News)
- Sikhs Call Cabbie's Death Hate Crime (Mercury News)
- Sikh Accuses Delta of Profiling in Suit (Reuters)
- An American Tragedy (Washington Times)
* JURY AWARDS $2 MILLION TO MUSLIM WORKER (LA Times)
* ALGERIAN PILOT SUES US OVER TERROR CHARGES (Guardian)
- At Mideastern Stores, 9/11 Still Hurting (Star Tribune)
- Muslims Complain of Pressure to Inform (NPR)
* AMANPOUR: CNN PRACTICED SELF-CENSORSHIP (USA Today)
- No Evidence in Draft on Iraq Arms Search (Reuters)
- U.S. Raids Leave Iraqis Angry (Reuters)
- Iraq Never Revived Nuke Programme (Reuters)
* AMERICANS RISE AGAINST 'PATRIOT ACT' (SF Gate)
* JUDGE SLAMS BID TO DEPORT ORANGE MAN (Orlando Sentinel)
- A Chilling Message to Muslims (Toronto Star)
* THE DEVIL AND DANIEL PIPES (In these Times)
* HINDU LEADERS DISTORTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS (AP)
* WOMEN OF ISLAM CHOOSE GOD, PEACE (Journal Gazette)
- Scouts: Serving Allah or Dharma (Oregon Live)
* NJ MUSLIMS WANT STRICT STANDARDS FOR HALAL FOOD (AP)
* MEDIA REQUEST: BBC LOOKS FOR AMERICAN MUSLIM WRITER
* MS ISLAMIC MUSEUM HOLDS FUNDRAISER
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LIBERALITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Liberality is a tree in
Paradise of which he who is openhanded will seize a branch, and the
branch
will not leave him until it brings him into Paradise."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 588
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6909 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6909 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
'WASHINGTON LIVE' LOOKS AT CAPS II AND PATRIOT II
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
TONIGHT'S PROGRAM will look at the CAPS II airline safety system and
proposals for new laws related to the Patriot Act.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
ABDULLAH MEETS WITH MUSLIM, ARAB-AMERICAN LEADERS
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, along with other American Muslim
and
Arab-American leaders, met yesterday with King Abdullah II of Jordan in
Washington, D.C. The discussion focused on the escalation of violence
in
the Middle East and on the current situation in Iraq. Abdullah is in
Washington to meet with President Bush for talks on Middle East peace.
---
SAVE NOV. 29 FOR CAIR'S FUNDRAISING DINNER IN DC
CAIR's 9th Annual Fundraising dinner will be held on Saturday, November
29,
2003, at the Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner, Va. The cost is
$55/person,
$85/couple.
The theme for this year's dinner is: "Muslims in America: A Defining
Moment...What Legacy Will We Leave?"
FOR MORE INFORMATION, E-MAIL: register@cair-net.org
-----
GOOD NEWS: MD POSTAL WORKER GIVEN TIME OFF FOR JUMAH
Following the intervention of CAIR's Maryland chapter (CAIR-Maryland),
a
Muslim postal worker will now be given time off to attend Friday
prayers
(Jumah).
The Muslim employee, who accepted Islam in January, was initially given
Fridays off to attend the prayers. In June, her schedule request was
disapproved, with no reason given. She tried working through her union,
but
was unsuccessful.
After the worker notified CAIR-Maryland of the problem, a meeting was
arranged with her manager and union representative. At the meeting, a
mutually-agreeable solution was reached in which the Muslim employee
will
be able to attend Friday prayers.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Moiz, CAIR-Maryland, 301-986-1900
-----
ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE MAKING LOCAL POLICE ACT AS INS ENFORCERS
American Muslims and other people of conscience are urged to contact
their
elected representatives to oppose the recently introduced Clear Law
Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act, or CLEAR Act, which would
require local law enforcement authorities to act as branches of the
INS,
thereby compromising their role as protectors of local populations,
alienating crime victims and potential witnesses, and minimizing their
ability to effectively fight violent crime.
While enforcement of immigration laws is important, such enforcement
should
not compromise community safety. Police departments that have tried
enforcing immigration law in the past have met with disastrous results.
Having learned from this experience, police departments around the
country,
including those of several major cities, have issued statements
opposing
any attempt to deputize them to enforce immigration law.
They argue that such policies:
A. Alienate crime victims, preventing them from reporting crimes
B. Alienate potential witnesses and informants, depriving police
departments of essential information
C. Burden police with additional responsibilities, spreading thin
already-tight budgets
D. Undermine communication and trust between police and the communities
they serve
E. Reverse decades of outreach and bridge-building towards immigrant
communities living in fear
F. Undermine police department programs to fight racial profiling, by
giving police a federal and financial incentive to pursue members of
certain ethnic communities
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and
Citizenship will hold a hearing on Thursday, September 18, 2003, at
2:30
p.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, on "State and
Local
Authority to Enforce Immigration Law: Evaluating a Unified Approach for
Stopping Terrorists."
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL):
GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/home/
Enter your zip code into the "Take Action Now" box to send a free email
message to your representative urging him or her to oppose H.R. 2671.
Follow up your email with a phone call. Follow up your email and phone
call
with a personal letter - these are most effective.
-----
CAIR-CAN MEETS WITH U.N. RAPPORTEUR
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 16/9/2003) - In its testimony today to the United
Nation's Special Rapporteur on Racism and Xenophobia Mr. Doudou Di�ne,
the
Canadian office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
expressed its concern that Canada is not protecting the rights of
Canadian
Muslims and Arabs when they travel to the United States.
Mr. Doudou Di�ne was appointed by the U.N. to conduct a cross-Canada
visit
to gain first-hand knowledge of Canada's policies to address
discrimination. After meeting with government officials, Aboriginal
communities and other ethnic, racial and religious non-governmental
organizations, Mr. Di�ne will report his findings to the UN Commission
on
Human Rights.
In a statement released after the meeting, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"There is a widespread sentiment among Canadian Muslims and Arabs that
Canada is doing little to protect their rights when they travel to the
United States.
"The cases of Canadian Muslims and Arabs who have been subjected to
detention and discrimination in the United States have been steadily
growing in the face of an indifferent and hands-off approach to the
problem
by our government.
"Canada must regain the confidence of its citizens through immediate
and
effective intervention with the United States."
- END -
CONTACT: Naeem Saloojee at 613-254-9704; E-mail: Canada@cair-net.org
-----
CABDRIVERS FEARFUL IN WAKE OF SLAYING
Patrick May, Mercury News, 9/15/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6775641.htm
As dozens of Peninsula Sikh cabdrivers staged a work slowdown Sunday to
mourn a colleague slain over the weekend, many lashed out at the
Redwood
City Police Department, saying their refusal to talk about details of
the
crime has left them too terrified to pick up fares...
Investigators have given no indication that the shooting death of
Davinder
Singh early Saturday was a hate crime. But many of the cabbies and most
of
Singh's relatives worry that the 21-year-old driver was targeted
because of
his accent and orange turban. In the absence of a public account of the
incident, fear has settled in.
Detectives, who early Saturday arrested Singh's accused killer, Lousa
Mataele, a 31-year-old Tongan construction worker from Menlo Park, did
not
return calls Sunday. But Redwood City police Sgt. Sean Hart expressed
surprise that the cabdrivers felt they were being treated unfairly...
Singh's relatives are outraged by the way authorities have dealt with
them,
saying police didn't notify them in the hours after the death. The
victim's
older brother, Sarabjit, said police were ``not very forthcoming. They
never even called us to say my brother had been shot...''
ALSO SEE:
SIKHS CALL CABBIE'S DEATH HATE CRIME
Joshua L. Kwan, San Jose Mercury News, 9/16/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/6783461.htm
The shooting death of Sikh cabdriver Davinder Singh in Redwood City
early
Saturday morning was a crime of violence and greed, not hate, Redwood
City
Police Captain Ron Matuszak said Monday.
But one of Singh's brothers said the family still believes Singh's
death
was motivated by prejudice.
"When the TV shows Osama bin Laden's picture in the news, people don't
differentiate between us and him," said Ranjeet Singh, 21, the victim's
younger brother.
"They don't know we don't belong to him. We've got turbans and we've
got
beards, but people in the United States don't know we follow totally
different religions."
Monday morning, a handful of Sikh cabdrivers rallied briefly outside
the
San Mateo County courthouse in Redwood City demanding to know if the
21-year-old Redwood City man who wore a turban in accord with his Sikh
faith was the victim of a hate crime...
---
U.S. SIKH ACCUSES DELTA OF RACIAL PROFILING IN SUIT
Grant McCool, Reuters, 9/16/03
NEWARK, N.J., Sept 16 (Reuters) - A Sikh businessman on Tuesday sued
Delta
Air Lines Inc and a flight crew accusing them of racial profiling, the
first civil rights lawsuit by an American Sikh against a carrier since
the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The man, Hansdip Bindra, 34, who wears a turban and a beard in keeping
with
his Sikh religion, said he was singled out by a flight attendant as
"trouble" on a Nov. 26, 2002, flight in Ohio.
The flight attendant angrily told Bindra that he and others from "the
Middle East" should keep a "low profile," according to court papers
filed
in the U.S. District in Newark.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Arab and Muslim men have been profiled for
investigation and Sikhs have frequently been mistakenly perceived as
being
of Middle Eastern origin.
Anthony Black, a spokesman for Atlanta-based Delta declined comment on
the
lawsuit…
"I went through a horrible experience," Bindra told a news briefing. "I
was
told agents were going to meet me at the door. For 45 minutes I was
shaking
on that flight."
He said several passengers aboard the flight were willing to testify on
his
behalf about his how he was treated.
Bindra said passengers told him after the flight that the flight
attendant
asked them to respond to a signal from her to subdue him if necessary.
"See
the man up front with the turban on? He's the one who is going to cause
trouble," court papers quoted her as telling passengers...
-----
JURY AWARDS $2 MILLION TO MAN FIRED FOR MISSING WORK
Jean Guccione, Los Angeles Times, 9/16/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-verdict16sep16,1,1829247.story
A Los Angeles jury has awarded $2 million to a Muslim courier who was
fired
for missing three days of work when his third child was born.
Mehmood Darjee, 38, sued Laboratory Corp. of America, alleging
religious
discrimination and violation of the state's Family Rights Act.
His attorney, Carol L. Gillam, said that last week's verdict should
send a
message to "workers, particularly in the immigrant community ... that
our
justice system still works to protect them, despite the otherwise
significant loss of liberty many are experiencing in these post- 9/11
times."
The jury of seven men and five women awarded Darjee $150,000 for lost
wages, benefits and emotional distress, plus $2 million in punitive
damages...
-----
AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY
Melvin G. Talbert, Feisal Abdul Rauf and Marla J. Feldman, Washington
Times, 9/15/03
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20030915-123024-7289r.htm
Two years ago, an angry young man walked into a convenience store in
Dallas
and killed Waqar Hasan, an innocent Pakistani man who was working hard
to
earn a living for his family and to become an American citizen. Mark
Anthony Stroman shot Hasan to death, claiming that he "did it to
retaliate
on local Arab Americans or whatever you want to call them."
Stroman added that he "did what every American wanted to do but
didn't." At
his trial, Stroman held up an American flag in his defense...
-----
ALGERIAN PILOT SUES US OVER TERROR CHARGES
September 11 'suspect' seeks $20m and apology
Audrey Gillan, Guardian, 9/11/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/september11/story/0,11209,1042915,00.html
An Algerian pilot wrongly accused by the United States government of
training some of the September 11 hijackers is to sue the FBI and the
Department of Justice for $20m (about �13m), his British lawyers
announced
yesterday.
Lotfi Raissi, 29, who spent five months in Belmarsh high security
prison
following the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, had
originally been told by the US that he was likely to be charged with
conspiracy to murder and could face the death penalty.
However, a British judge refused to extradite him to America on the
grounds
that there was no evidence against him.
Yesterday, his US attorneys issued claims against the FBI and the
Department of Justice of $10m each. Mr Raissi's British lawyer, Jules
Carey, said cases were being prepared against the British crown
prosecution
service and the police...
ALSO SEE:
AT MIDEASTERN STORES, 9/11 STILL HURTING
Sharon Schmickle, Star Tribune, 9/16/03
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1576/4099714.html
Fady Daw counts his store, Cedar Valley in Columbia Heights, as a
victim of
the Sept. 11 attacks. It has suffered a slow and ambiguous decline, not
the
explosive ending generally associated with a terrorist strike.
The loss, nevertheless, is real. Sales have dropped by about one third
since the attacks, and Daw said he sold the supermarket on Monday, to
buyers who plan to shift the emphasis from Middle Eastern food to
Mediterranean with a French and Italian flair...
The ethnic business owners say they have also suffered from other, more
subtle factors that are difficult to quantify. They say customers seem
to
be shunning businesses associated with regions where the United States
is
fighting terrorism...
---
MUSLIMS COMPLAIN OF PRESSURE TO INFORM
NPR, 9/11/03
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1427735
Since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, federal law enforcement officials
have
cultivated more informants within the Muslim community.] But some
Muslims
say they have been pressured to spy on people they know and threatened
with
retribution if they refuse. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden...(Listen to
Morning
Edition audio)
-----
AMANPOUR: CNN PRACTICED SELF-CENSORSHIP
Peter Johnson, USA Today, 9/14/03
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2003-09-14-media-mix_x.htm
CNN's top war correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, says that the press
muzzled itself during the Iraq war. And, she says CNN "was intimidated"
by
the Bush administration and Fox News, which "put a climate of fear and
self-censorship."
As criticism of the war and its aftermath intensifies, Amanpour joins a
chorus of journalists and pundits who charge that the media largely
toed
the Bush administration line in covering the war and, by doing so,
failed
to aggressively question the motives behind the invasion.
On last week's Topic A With Tina Brown on CNBC, Brown, the former Talk
magazine editor, asked comedian Al Franken, former Pentagon spokeswoman
Torie Clarke and Amanpour if "we in the media, as much as in the
administration, drank the Kool-Aid when it came to the war."
Said Amanpour: "I think the press was muzzled, and I think the press
self-muzzled. I'm sorry to say, but certainly television and, perhaps,
to a
certain extent, my station was intimidated by the administration and
its
foot soldiers at Fox News. And it did, in fact, put a climate of fear
and
self-censorship, in my view, in terms of the kind of broadcast work we
did..."
ALSO SEE:
NO SOLID EVIDENCE IN DRAFT ON IRAQ ARMS SEARCH-ABC
Reuters, 9/15/03
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3448980
WASHINGTON - A draft report on the search for weapons of mass
destruction
in Iraq provides no solid evidence that Iraq had such arms when the
United
States invaded the country in March, ABC News reported on Monday.
Citing unidentified officials, ABC said the report by the civilian
leading
the search for hidden weapons will detail Iraq's effort to maintain the
capability to produce biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.
Before ordering the invasion that toppled Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein,
U.S. President George W. Bush referred to an imminent threat posed by
Iraqi
weapons of mass destruction as a prime justification for war.
U.S. forces in Iraq searching for evidence of chemical, biological and
nuclear weapons have not found any. But U.S. officials said in July
that
the search had uncovered documents pointing to a program to develop
such
weapons...
---
U.S. RAIDS IN SADDAM'S HOMETOWN LEAVE IRAQIS ANGRY
Saul Hudson, Reuters, 9/16/03
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3449212
TIKRIT, Iraq - U.S. troops lost the hearts and minds of some Iraqis on
Tuesday in aggressive pre-dawn house raids in the hometown of Saddam
Hussein, blowing open gates, kicking down doors and shoving faces in
the dirt.
Ten-year-old Ahmed, herded with the rest of his family into his garden,
shook visibly as he watched soldiers interrogate one man, whose head
slammed onto the ground with a thud.
"I will become an Iraqi fighter and I will kill Americans," the boy
said.
He pointed at troops who charged into his home with rifles,
sledgehammers
and bolt-cutters hunting for anti-American guerrillas. "They are the
enemy," he said.
The U.S. military raids dozens of homes each day throughout Iraq,
trying to
stem the flood of mine, grenade and mortar attacks against them by
rounding
up suspected assailants...
---
SCIENTIST SAYS IRAQ NEVER REVIVED NUKE PROGRAMME
Louis Charbonneau, Reuters, 9/16/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16263595.htm
VIENNA - Iraq never revived its secret nuclear weapons programme after
it
was dismantled by U.N. inspectors in the 1990s, a senior Iraqi
scientist at
Iraq's new Ministry of Science and Technology said on Tuesday.
Before launching the March 20 war to topple Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein,
the United States and Britain said Saddam was trying to develop an
atomic
bomb and other weapons of mass destruction.
In four months of inspections before the war, U.N. weapons inspectors
never
found any evidence of this. Since major military actions ended in Iraq,
U.S. and British military have also found no evidence to support this
allegation...
-----
AMERICANS RISE AGAINST 'PATRIOT ACT'
San Francisco Gate, 9/14/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/14/ED241918.DTL
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has been on a whirlwind public
relations tour of 18 cities, hoping to counter growing opposition to
the
so- called Patriot Act, a 342-page law rushed through Congress, without
debate, within weeks of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Ashcroft says that just "editorial boards and others who are very
liberal"
are worried about the new law. He only wishes that were true. Three
states
and 160 communities have passed resolutions either condemning the law
or
refusing to help federal agents enforce its provisions.
Some members of Congress, moreover, have grown increasingly worried
because
Ashcroft has repeatedly refused to answer questions about how the
Department of Justice is implementing the Patriot Act. In July, the
House
voted -- by 309 to 118 -- to repeal a provision of the law that allowed
officials to conduct "sneak and peak" searches of suspects' homes
without
notifying the target...
In the wake of Sept. 11, everyone agrees that the government must
balance
our civil rights against its responsibility to protect us against
terrorism. The Patriot Act went too far. It's time for Congress to
reassess
the expanded law-enforcement powers it so readily approved in a moment
of
national trauma.
-----
JUDGE SLAMS BID TO DEPORT ORANGE MAN
Pedro Ruz Gutierrez, Orlando Sentinel, 9/13/03
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-asecflowers13091303sep13,0,6339834.story
Six years ago Kussay "Gus" Al-Sabunchi made a big mistake: He sent
roses to
his estranged wife trying to win her back.
That gesture set off a chain of events that today has resulted in the
U.S.
government trying to deport the Iraqi-born computer engineer.
Stemming from the federal government's crackdown on Arab and Muslim
immigrants since 9-11, his situation has infuriated a federal judge in
Orlando who called immigration officials "overzealous" and "outrageous"
for
their handling of the case.
Al-Sabunchi, 39, who has remarried and lives and works in Orange
County,
faces a deportation hearing in November. The case comes at the same
time
that the federal government wants to expand the controversial Patriot
Act
to allow federal agents to seek records and compel testimony without
the
approval of a judge or a prosecutor. Congress passed the Patriot Act in
response to the Sept. 11 attacks two years ago to give federal agencies
more investigative power...
ALSO SEE:
A CHILLING MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS
Thomas Walkom, Toronto Star, 9/16/03
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1063663808240
When Sajidah Kutty called the Star on Friday, she seemed more
bewildered
than frightened.
Her family, frantic to find out what had happened to her father Ahmad,
had
finally received a phone call from him at 4: 30 that morning.
I'm all right, he told them. The Americans were holding him and fellow
Canadian citizen Abdool Hamid in a Fort Lauderdale jail. And no, he
didn't
know why.
"You hear of this kind of thing happening to Muslims just because they
are
Muslims," Sajidah told me. "But you never really expect it to happen to
you
or your family."
As it turned out, Kutty and Hamid were finally released and sent home
after
a bizarre 31-hour ordeal - a post-9/11experience you might say - that
began
when they landed in Florida last Thursday, climaxed with 16 hours of
non-stop interrogation plus a night in jail, and ended with the two
Canadians being escorted back to Fort Lauderdale's airport in
handcuffs...
-----
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL PIPES
Salim Muwakkil, In These Times, 9/29/03
http://inthesetimes.com/comments.php?id=353_0_3_0_M
The Bush administration's war on terrorism has done little so far but
increase the ranks of potential terrorists. And while this may seem to
be
the regrettable result of a bumbling foreign policy, there are signs
the
administration is deliberately trying to antagonize the Islamic world;
there seems to be method to its madness.
After a few bellicose statements about "crusades" early on, Bush's
public
sound-bites have consistently portrayed Islam as a peaceful religion
that
has been "hijacked" by the forces of terrorism. But his official
policies
have done little to mark that distinction. The latest White House
affront
to Muslims is the recess appointment of Daniel Pipes to the board of
directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
The Institute is a quasi-governmental think tank dedicated to
international
"peace and conflict resolution." It was created to help build bridges
between cultures and, since 9/11, one of its most pressing projects has
been the Special Initiative on the Muslim World.
Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum, a right-wing think tank
based
in Philadelphia, a prolific author of anti-Islamic screeds and creator
of
Campus Watch, a Web site that monitors professors who criticize Israel.
He
has a long paper trail, and perusal of Pipes' oeuvre reveals two clear
positions: He is strongly pro-Israel and avidly anti-Muslim...
-----
HINDU LEADERS DISTORTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS ON DISPUTED SITE IN
NORTHERN INDIA, MUSLIMS SAY
Babu Lal Sharma, Associated Press, 9/13/03
LUCKNOW, India- Hindu leaders have distorted the findings of
archaeologists
to support their claim that a temple existed at a disputed religious
site
in northern India, Muslim leaders said Tuesday.
Hardline Hindu leaders are using the report by government
archaeologists to
support their claim that a temple existed at the site of the razed
Babri
mosque in the town of Ayodhya, they said.
"The report will not help protagonists of the temple movement as the
Archaeological Survey of India has not claimed destruction of the
temple
during the 16th century," Zaffaryab Jilani, a senior Muslim leader told
Associated Press...
-----
WOMEN OF ISLAM CHOOSE GOD, PEACE
Nathaniel West, Journal Gazette and Times Courier, 9/15/03
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2003/09/15/news/news03.txt
CHARLESTON -- When intolerant people call her "Osama's girlfriend,"
Eastern
Illinois University student Amna Latif bears it with grace.
After all, she said, those jeers pale next to her devotion to God.
That's
why she still wears a "hijab."
"The best way to preach is to set our own example," said Latif, with
only
her large, brown eyes visible through the green and white checkered
veil
and head covering.
She also has the admiration of her peers and elders, who feared wearing
the
traditional Muslim garb ever since Sept. 11, 2001. Some would like to
do so
again, for practical and spiritual reasons.
And that contrasts to the popular notion that Islamic women are forced
to
dress as such, they said. These and other myths were dispelled Saturday
during a forum at Eastern Illinois University, as four panelists
discussed
their past, present and future as women of Islam...
ALSO SEE:
DEVOUT SCOUTS: SERVING ALLAH OR DHARMA
Shelby Oppel, Oregon Live, 9/15/03
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/living/1063454193187750.xml
The Girl Scouts of Troop 869 are 10, 11 and 13. Inside a white-shingled
house in Beaverton, they giggle about Britney Spears, groan about their
brothers and count the days until high school.
But as a recent troop meeting began, they quieted. Mariam Ali, the
troop
leader, asked them to recite the first chapter of the Quran in memory
of
the Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq who had died two days earlier when
a
bomb exploded outside their mosque.
"Remember the tragedy that occurred in Najaf," Ali said. The girls, all
Shiite Muslims, spoke the verses together in Arabic.
The mood lifted a few moments later, as talk shifted to memories of the
girls' first year of scouting: the sleepover during Ramadan, a pizza
party,
a summer hike in Washington Park...
-----
NJ MUSLIMS WANT STRICT STANDARDS FOR HALAL FOOD
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 9/15/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--halallaw0915sep15,0,885486.story
PATERSON, N.J. - New Jersey's Muslim community is pushing for changes
to
the state's law governing halal food, including a ruling on what is and
is
not prepared in a manner acceptable under Islam.
But state regulators are unlikely to go that far in issuing new rules,
preferring instead a disclosure form that enables consumers to decide
for
themselves whether food meets their own standards.
For many New Jersey Muslims, the issue is second in importance only to
civil rights concerns in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
New Jersey passed a halal food law three years ago. But critics say the
bill lacked teeth, including criteria that could be used to enforce
it...
But many Muslims want the law to go a lot further than that, including
a
definition on what is and is not halal...
-----
MEDIA REQUEST: BBC LOOKS FOR AMERICAN MUSLIM WRITER
BBC Radio Four, the UK's speech-based network, is looking for an
American
Muslim to correspond with an Evangelical Christian about local/national
tensions resulting from the 9/11 attacks. The idea is for the two
letter
writers to come to a better understanding of the other's point of view,
and
the resulting letters will be broadcast on BBC Radio Four to a UK
audience.
If you are interested, please contact Jenny Dunn, BBC Researcher, at
jenny.dunn@bbc.co.uk
-----
MS ISLAMIC MUSEUM HOLDS FUNDRAISER
The "International Museum of Muslim Cultures" in Jackson, Miss., will
hold
a fundraising event 5 p.m. Saturday, September 20 at the Ramada
Southwest
in Jackson.
SEE: http://www.muslimmuseum.org/
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/17/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A HUMAN PROPHET
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6909 SPONSORSHIPS
- Sponsor CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* NY MUSLIM GIRL PUNCHED IN FACE (New York Times)
* PATRIOT ACT TALK OPEN, SEATING LIMITED (Arizona Republic)
- Ashcroft Mocks Librarians for Opposing Law (NY Times)
- ABA: More Oversight Needed for Patriot Act (UPI)
* AMERICAN MUSLIMS POLISH IMAGE (UPI)
- L.A. Intersection Named After Malcolm X (LA Times)
- Prayer Rooms for Muslims OK'd (Citizens Voice)
* WHITE HOUSE'S CYNICAL IRAQ PLOY (Nation)
- Rumsfeld Sees No Link between Iraq, 9/11 (AP)
- US Admits Holding 10,000 Iraqi Prisoners (ABC News)
- Powell Draws a Veil Over Killings (Independent)
* FOREIGN STUDENTS FEEL EFFECTS OF SEPT. 11 (KR)
- Admin. Creates Center for 'Watch List' (NY Times)
- U.S. Terror Fears Ensnare Ottawa Man (Ottawa Citizen)
* 3 ISRAELI SETTLERS CONVICTED IN BOMB PLOT (AP)
- Bias Against Palestinian Christians (ME Policy)
* VA MUSLIM WOMAN HOSTS MFA THESIS EXHIBIT
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A HUMAN PROPHET
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once came upon some farmers
grafting trees. He asked what they were doing and then suggested that
they
should abandoned the practice. After some time, the trees began to
yield
less fruit. The farmers mentioned this to the Prophet, and he replied:
"I
am a human being, so when I command you about something pertaining to
religion, accept it. When I command you about a thing out of my
personal
opinion, keep in mind that I am a human being."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1100
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6909 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6909 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SPONSOR CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
MUSLIM GIRL PUNCHED IN FACE; BOY IS ARRESTED
Shaila K. Dewan, New York Times, 9/17/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/17/nyregion/17MBRF1.html
A 14-year-old Muslim girl was punched in the face after school on
Monday by
a boy who used an anti-Muslim slur, the police said yesterday. The
police
arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with the incident, which
occurred
in Baychester, on charges of assault and aggravated harassment. The
police
did not release the name of the victim or the suspect or the exact
location
of the incident.
-----
PATRIOT ACT TALK OPEN BUT SEATING IS LIMITED
Carol Sowers, Arizona Republic, 9/17/03
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0917patriotact17.html
A Town Hall in Phoenix today is one of many where the public is invited
to
debate the Patriot Act, a law that has become the rope in a tug-of-war
between civil libertarians who say it ignores the Constitution, and
federal
officials who call it vital for national security.
Critics say the midday meeting, with space for only 80 to 100 people,
is
little more than a stunt to convince the public that the government
cares
what they think about the act, passed six weeks after Sept. 11, 2001...
Deedra Abboud, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Phoenix, agrees.
"This is just something to make it look like they are following the
will of
the people," she said. "If they wanted to represent the town, they
wouldn't
have the meeting at 10 a.m. on a workday when few people can come..."
Abboud, who hopes to be among the 80 to 100 inside the meeting, said
she is
concerned that banks are incorrectly interpreting the act and using it
to
close accounts of Muslims and others who have never been convicted of
terrorism.
ALSO SEE:
ASHCROFT MOCKS LIBRARIANS AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSE PARTS OF
COUNTERTERRORISM LAW
Eric Lictblau, New York Times, 9/16/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/politics/16LIBR.html
WASHINGTON- Attorney General John Ashcroft today accused the country's
biggest library association and other critics of fueling "baseless
hysteria" about the government's ability to pry into the public's
reading
habits.
In an unusually pointed attack as part of his latest speech in defense
of
the Bush administration's counterterrorism initiatives, Mr. Ashcroft
mocked
and condemned the American Library Association and other Justice
Department
critics for believing that the F.B.I. wants to know "how far you have
gotten on the latest Tom Clancy novel."
The association, which has argued for months that the government's new
antiterrorism powers risk encroaching on the privacy of library users,
took
some satisfaction from the broadside...
---
ABA: MORE OVERSIGHT NEEDED FOR PATRIOT ACT
United Press International, 9/16/03
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030916-024349-7757r.htm
CHICAGO - American Bar Association President Dennis Archer called on
Congress Tuesday to be increasingly vigilant in its oversight of the
Patriot Act.
In remarks prepared for delivery to the City Club of Chicago, Archer
said
the enhanced investigation and surveillance powers given law
enforcement
officers by the Patriot Act make it imperative lawmakers protect the
civil
liberties of all Americans.
Said Archer: "We must not trample on civil liberties in a rush to
protect
our national security. We must not abandon our Constitution, our Bill
of
Rights or our beliefs."
The president has requested an expansion of the controversial Patriot
Act.
Among other things, Bush wants investigators to be able to obtain
subpoenas
without the approval of judges and to be able to hold suspects without
bail...
-----
MUSLIMS POLISH IMAGE
Al Swasnson, United Press International, 9/16/03
http://www.upi.com
CHICAGO - American Muslims have an image problem a Madison Avenue
public
relations firm probably could not begin to fix.
Most Americans are far more likely to see a grainy video of Osama bin
Laden
carrying an AK-47 assault rifle and praising the suicide pilots who
flew
hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon than watch
any
positive image of Arabs or Muslims...
The latest bin Laden tape, although U.S. officials cannot set a time
frame
for when the video had been made, featured threats from his top deputy,
Ayman al-Zawahiri. It was the first released image of the elusive Saudi
terror mastermind since a tape was found by U.S. troops in Afghanistan
in
November 2001.
The video broadcast on the eve of the second Sept. 11 anniversary
provoked
a visceral reaction in many Americans...
A New York Times Poll found two-thirds of Arab-Americans, Muslims and
Middle East immigrants to the United States said they were unfairly
singled
out...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based Islamic
civil
rights and advocacy group, condemned the videotape.
"Muslims and people of other faiths should not be misled by the
inflammatory rhetoric of Osama bin Laden. The hateful message he
conveys is
completely inconsistent with Islamic principles of peace and justice,"
CAIR
said in a statement.
CAIR's statement and its condemnations of the initial Sept. 11 attacks
were
not widely reported.
Neither have interfaith efforts by moderate Muslim groups to reach out
to
different religions and the broader community.
The Islamic Society of North America consulted Islamic scholars and
imams
to put together educational materials to promote understanding of Islam
among Christians and Jews.
Both kits include DVDs of the PBS documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a
Prophet," another DVD called "A Visit to a Mosque in America:
Understanding
Islam and the American Muslim Community," the Discover Islam Reader, a
CD-ROM with Power Point presentations on Islam and Islamic Horizons
Magazine.
The kit for Christian communities includes the books "Jesus and
Muhammad:
The Parallel Sayings," "Mary and Jesus in the Quran," "More in Common
Than
You Think: The Bridge Between Islam and Christianity" by Bill Baker and
"Islam and Religion of Life" by Abdul Wadod Shalabi.
The kit for Jewish communities includes "Islam: A Short History" by
Karen
Armstrong, "Islam, What Non-Muslims Should Know" by John Kaltner, "Arab
and
Muslim Stereotyping in American Popular Culture" by Jack Shaheen,
"Averroes, Aquinas and the Rediscovery of Aristotle in Western Europe"
by
Majid Fakhry and "Children of Adam: An Islamic Perspective on
Pluralism" by
Fathi Osman…
Such materials may never have the impact or distribution of a bin Laden
video but it's a step that mainstream Muslims must take to begin to
counter
irrational prejudice.
"It's about what you think," said a Jewish neighbor. "They use their
best
and brightest to get across their points."
The Islamic Society of North America education kits sell for $55 each
plus
$6.50 shipping and handling for the first kit and $2 for each
additional
kit. They can be ordered from Astrolabe, 201 Davis Drive, Suite 1,
Sterling, Va., 20164.
ALSO SEE:
SOUTH L.A. INTERSECTION NAMED AFTER MALCOLM X
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 9/17/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-malcolm17sep17,1,6098279.story
As Malcolm X's daughter watched from the audience, the Los Angeles City
Council voted unanimously Tuesday to name an intersection in South Los
Angeles after the slain civil rights leader. Malcolm X Way will be at
Central Avenue and Martin Luther King. Jr. Boulevard near the Bilal
Islamic
Center.
A convert to Islam, Malcolm X promoted black separatism as a minister
for
the Nation of Islam. In the last years of his life, however, he broke
with
the Nation and modified his views, increasingly stressing black
empowerment
and the common bonds of all races.
In approving Councilwoman Jan Perry's motion, council members said it
was
high time Los Angeles gave public recognition to Malcolm X, a fiery and
eloquent speaker who was gunned down in 1965 and whose name now graces
streets and monuments in several other U.S. cities...
---
PRAYER ROOMS FOR MUSLIM STUDENTS OK'D
Fred Ney, Citizens' Voice, 9/17/03
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10174798&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6
Wyoming Valley West School District has made an accommodation for two
Muslim students whose parents requested they be provided with a place
to pray.
Charles Suppon, director of pupil services at WVW, Tuesday acknowledged
the
parents of one student attending the State Street Elementary Center in
Larksville and the parents of one student attending the Chester Street
Middle School in Kingston, approached district officials and made the
request.
Suppon said it was decided to seek out "a quiet place" where the
students
could gather and pray if they desired between 1 and 1:10 p.m. each
day...
-----
WHITE HOUSE'S CYNICAL IRAQ PLOY
Robert Scheer, Nation, 9/16/03
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030929&s=scheer1016
It's hard to believe that it was just a slip of the tongue rather than
a
calculated lie when Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz sullied the
memory of those who died on 9/11 by exploiting their deaths for
propaganda
purposes. The brainwashing of Americans, two-thirds of whom believe
that
Saddam Hussein was behind the attacks, is too effective a political
ploy
for the Bush regime to suddenly let the truth get in the way.
"We know [Iraq] had a great deal to do with terrorism in general and
with
Al Qaeda in particular and we know a great many of [Osama] bin Laden's
key
lieutenants are now trying to organize in cooperation with old
loyalists
from the Saddam regime," Wolfowitz told ABC on this year's 9/11
anniversary.
We know nothing of the sort, of course, and the next day Wolfowitz was
forced to admit it. He told Associated Press that his remarks referred
not
to a "great many" of bin Laden's lieutenants but rather to a single
Jordanian, Abu Musab Zarqawi. "[I] should have been more precise,"
Wolfowitz admitted.
Even if the leaders of the Bush team were half as smart as they think
they
are, it would be amazing that they "misspoke" as often as they have. As
happened Sunday when Tim Russert challenged Vice President Dick Cheney
to
defend his claim, made on Meet the Press before the war, that Iraq
possessed nuclear weapons. "Yeah, I did misspeak," Cheney admitted. "We
never had any evidence that [Hussein] had acquired a nuclear weapon..."
ALSO SEE:
RUMSFELD SEES NO LINK BETWEEN IRAQ, 9/11
Associated Press, 9/16/03
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030916_1592.html
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday he had
no
reason to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a hand in the Sept.
11,
2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
At a Pentagon news conference, Rumsfeld was asked about a poll that
indicated nearly 70 percent of respondents believed the Iraqi leader
probably was personally involved.
"I've not seen any indication that would lead me to believe that I
could
say that," Rumsfeld said...
The Bush administration has asserted that Saddam's government had links
to
al-Qaida, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden that
masterminded
the Sept. 11 attacks. And in various public statements over the past
year
or so administration officials have suggested close links...
---
US ADMITS HOLDING 10,000 IRAQI PRISONERS
ABC News, 9/17/03
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s947282.htm
US officials have admitted they are holding 10,000 prisoners in Iraq,
double the number previously reported, including six claiming to be
Americans and two who say they are British.
"They didn't fit into any category," said Brigadier General Janis
Karpinski
of the 3,800 extra people who have now been classified as "security
detainees..."
Asked if they had any rights or had access to their families or legal
help
while they were being "secured", she said: "It's not that they don't
have
rights ... they have fewer rights than EPWs (enemy prisoners of war)."
There were previously some 600 people classified as security detainees,
so
that category now numbers about 4,400, said General Karpinski.
There are 300 enemy prisoners of war, and about 5,300 criminals or
suspected criminals in detention, making a rough total of 10,000, she
added...
---
POWELL DRAWS A VEIL OVER KILLINGS AS HE TOURS IRAQ
Robert Fisk, Independent, 9/16/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=443808
Kurdish families lined the streets of Halabja, where one of Saddam
Hussein's most infamous atrocities was perpetrated against civilians 15
years ago. At least 5,000 were killed in a poison gas attack by Iraqi
aircraft at the height of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988. Mr Powell visited
grave sites, lit a candle of remembrance and promised that Ali Hassan
al-Majid, the Iraqi believed to have ordered the massacre and who is
now in
US custody, would be judged by an Iraqi court.
Unmentioned by Mr Powell was that in 1988 the Americans were supporting
Saddam in his titanic conflict with Iran and that the CIA urged US
diplomats at the time to suggest that the mass gassing may have been
the
work of Iran. "I cannot tell you that the world should have acted
sooner �
you know that," Mr Powell told the Kurds of Halabja. He was accompanied
by
Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Massoud Barzani
of
the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The Kurds remain the happiest of Iraqis
in
the aftermath of the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, partly because it
brought them freedom from the fear that Saddam will ever return and
partly
because Iraqi Kurdistan � unlike the rest of the country � is not
really
occupied. As long as the Americans keep the Turkish army out, there
will be
no guerrilla attacks on US forces by Kurds...
-----
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CONTINUE TO FEEL EFFECTS OF SEPT. 11
Diane Smith and Jessamy Brown, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 9/17/03
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6792446.htm
FORT WORTH, Texas - Some foreign students who want a U.S. university
degree
have learned to cope with a new reality since Sept. 11, 2001: Without
careful planning, they can miss semesters or even jeopardize their
residency status.
Many international students and visiting scholars say added scrutiny
because of their homelands - or even the courses they study - is the
norm
two years after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon.
Nationwide, delays in registering for classes are shorter this year
than
last year, according to the nonprofit National Association of Foreign
Student Advisers: Association of International Educators, based in
Washington, D.C.
The adjustment has been especially profound for students from Middle
Eastern or Islamic countries, Muslim community leaders say.
"Why go through the agony?" asked Mohamed Elmougy, chairman of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations in Fort Worth and Dallas.
"Unfortunately, when I talk to people from the Middle East right now,
there
is this fear of sending their kids here. They are always fearful of
these
stories of people being detained..."
ALSO SEE:
ADMINISTRATION CREATES CENTER FOR MASTER TERROR 'WATCH LIST'
Eric Lictblau, New York Times, 9/17/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/17/politics/17TERR.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration announced the creation of a new
counterterrorism center today intended to develop a master "watch list"
of
more than 100,000 terrorism suspects and avoid the communication
breakdowns
that plagued the federal government before the Sept. 11 attacks.
The move comes in response to repeated calls from members of Congress
for
law enforcement and intelligence officials to develop an integrated
list to
replace the piecemeal approach now in place.
Federal agencies now maintain at least a dozen watch lists to determine
such things as who can enter the country and who can board an airplane.
But
a report in April from the General Accounting Office, the investigative
arm
of Congress, found that some agencies had no policies for sharing
information, while those that did were hindered by turf battles and
outdated technology that made it difficult to transfer information
about
suspects.
The plan announced today would create a new screening center, to be led
by
the F.B.I. in conjunction with the C.I.A., the Justice Department, the
Department of Homeland Security and the State Department...
---
U.S. TERROR FEARS ENSNARE OTTAWA MAN
Ken Gray, Ottawa Citizen, 9/17/03
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=af63f8b5-e190-4c59-94a6-67d992b6bd45
A Britannia man's attempt to wire $116 to a friend in the Netherlands
has
been caught in a U.S. net designed to intercept money to terrorists.
Said Ali, who came to Canada from Somalia in 1991, now has his money
frozen
by the U.S. firm Western Union because the recipient's name is Mohammed
Ali
-- a Dutch citizen who is also originally from Somalia.
The name "Mohammed Ali" appears on a list of names linked to terrorism
produced by the U.S. Treasury Department.
According to Danielle Jimenez, a spokeswoman for Western Union, if
either
the sender's or recipient's name appears on that restricted list, the
money
is frozen until the person with the name appearing on that list can
prove
his identity.
Mohammed Ali refused to surrender a copy of his passport to Western
Union
because he "did not want to give his passport number to the United
States
for fear of what they would do with that number and for his dignity,"
Said
Ali wrote in a letter to Bay Councillor Alex Cullen, to whom he was
appealing for help...
-----
3 ISRAELI SETTLERS CONVICTED IN BOMB PLOT
Peter Enav, Associated Press, 9/17/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3158917,00.html
JERUSALEM - A Jerusalem court on Wednesday convicted three Israeli
settlers
for attempting to blow up an Arab girls' school in Jerusalem last year
to
avenge Palestinian attacks against Jews.
Shlomo Dvir, Yarden Morag and Ofer Gamliel, all from the West Bank
settlement of Bat Ayin, were convicted of attempted murder and illegal
weapons possession in connection with the failed attack in the
Jerusalem
Arab neighborhood of A-Tur in April 2002. Sentences will be passed at a
later date.
The convictions come against the background of mounting concern over
the
emergence of a new Jewish ``underground,'' reminiscent of settler
vigilantes who attacked Palestinians in the mid-1980s.
The court found that Dvir and Morag parked an explosives-laden trailer
outside the main entrance to the school before dawn and set a timer for
7:25 a.m., just as students would be arriving. The attack was aborted
when
a passing police cruiser became suspicious of the men and found the
trailer
contained two bricks of explosives, cooking gas canisters, a clock,
battery, detonator and fuse.
Gamliel was found to have helped plan the attack.
The judges rejected the defendants' claim that the explosive device was
for
demonstration purposes only, and there was no intention of harming
students
at the school...
ALSO SEE:
BOOK REVIEWS: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PALESTINIANS
Robert Brenton Betts, Middle East Policy, 9/22/03
http://www.mepc.org/public_asp/journal_vol10/0309.asp
Second Class: Discrimination against Palestinian Arab Children in
Israel's
Schools, Human Rights Watch, 2001. x + 187 pages. $ 18.50, paperback.
Overlooking Nazareth: The Ethnography of Exclusion in Galilee, Dan
Rabinowitz. Cambridge University Press, 1997. xiv + 222 pages. $ 26.88.
The most startling fact in Second Class, a very understated expose of
the
relegation of Israeli citizens of Christian and Muslim Arab descent to
an
inferior public education system, is the fact that they comprise 25
percent
of the school-age population in Israel (as opposed to 18 percent of the
population as a whole). It doesn't take a great deal of mathematical
skill
to work out what this means for the future of Israel in a decade or
two.
What is equally startling is that this substantial population, "nearly
one
in four of Israel's 1.6 million schoolchildren, are educated in a
public
school system wholly separate from the majority...Their schools are a
world
apart in quality from the public schools serving Israel's majority
Jewish
population" (p. 1). Not only inferior facilities, but "discrimination
at
every level of the education system winnows out a progressively larger
proportion of Palestinian Arab children as they progress through the
school
system--or channels those who persevere away from the opportunities fur
higher education" (p. 3). Issues of funding, teacher allocation and
average
number of students per class are carefully considered and
well-documented
by statistics. All point to an end result of educational disadvantage
for
non-Jewish students....
Overlooking Nazareth is the story, sadly repeated all over Israel, of a
Jewish settlement erected on stolen Arab land, not in the occupied West
Bank, but within the pre-1967 boundaries of the state of Israel. In
1957
the land was seized to build Natzerat Illit--Upper Nazareth--a
strategically placed town literally overlooking Nazareth, the largest
urban
concentration of Palestinian Arabs in the Jewish state at the time,
then
about equally divided between Christians and Muslims. In the first of
the
two parts of this study (# 105 in the Cambridge series in social and
cultural anthropology), fetchingly entitled "Bigoted Liberals," the
author
takes "a journey with the Haj," or to be precise, a tour of the Jewish
town
with an old Palestinian man who remembers the land when it was owned
and
farmed by various members of the Nazareth community. All the old
landmarks
have disappeared...
-----
VA MUSLIM WOMAN HOSTS MFA THESIS EXHIBIT
WHAT: Huda Totonji will be hosting her MFA Thesis show. It will feature
Arabic calligraphy, women's voices, video clips from Saudi Arabia, and
sculpture.
WHEN: September 22-October 1st, 2003
Opening Tuesday, September 23
Artist's Talk 12:00pm
Reception 6:00pm-8:30pm
WHERE: George Mason University, Fine Arts Gallery, B104 Fine Arts Bldg.
Gallery Office: 703 993 8865, kmalone@gmu.edu
Gallery Hours: Mon-Thu 9:00AM-5:00PM (Weekends by appointment)
For directions: http://coyote.gmu.edu/map
Artist contact: Huda Totonji http://www.huda-art.com or
dream_22_6pm@hotmail.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR Action Alert #393
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ‘WASHINGTON LIVE’ TV TALK SHOW
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/18/03) - CAIR is asking those interested in issues
important to the American Muslim and Arab-American communities to sign
up
to receive CAIR’s “Washington Live” talk show.
The weekly hour-long program is a first-of-its-kind show that is
produced
and hosted by Muslim and Arab Americans who address Muslim and Arab
issues.
Broadcast out of Washington, D.C., “Washington Live” reaches North
American
and worldwide audiences by the Arab Radio & Television (ART) satellite
network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Along with weekly news briefs, the program also discusses important
political and social issues affecting the Arab and Muslim community.
Past
programs have featured:
� The role of Muslims and Arabs in America and ways to
mobilize
both politically and socially
� Discussions on the 2004 election and interviews with
presidential candidates on issues of importance to the community
� Examination of Congressional legislative proposals and
their
impct on civil liberties
� A Q&A with immigration attorneys on issues relating to
Muslims
and Arabs
� American foreign policy and America’s efforts to better
its
image in the Muslim world and the Middle East
In a recent ART viewer poll, 91 percent of those surveyed said
“Washington
Live” satisifies their interest in discussing Arab and Islamic issues
in
America. Ninety-four percent said they liked the topics discussed in
the
show, and 83 percent said they rate the show “good” or better.
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Call 1-888-396-5532 to subscribe.
For only $22.99 per month, subscribers will receive ART Zikr Radio,
Al-Jazeerah, LBC (Lebanese Broadcast Channel), ESC-1 (an Egyptian
variety
channel) and more.
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/20/03
* CAIR-OHIO TO RECEIVE ACLU LIBERTY'S FLAME AWARD
* ARIZONA MOSQUE VANDALISM DECRIED (Arizona Republic)
- IN Student Punched, Called 'Osama' (Times)
* STEVEN EMERSON DROPS ACTIONS AGAINST JOURNALISTS
- IIC 'Vehemently Opposed' to Pipes Nomination
- MFI Does Not Endorse Daniel Pipes
- 'Misrepresented' Endorsement Still on Pipes Web Site
* UNDERSTANDING THE MUSLIM PRESENCE IN NORTH AMERICA
* TEEN DESIGNS FASHIONABLE CLOTHES FOR MUSLIM WOMEN (AP)
* AUTHOR, ARTIST BRINGS TALE OF ISLAM TO CHILDREN (NPR)
-----
CAIR-OHIO TO RECEIVE ACLU LIBERTY'S FLAME AWARD
(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/20/2003) - The Ohio Chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) has been selected to receive the
American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio's (ACLU-Ohio) annual Liberty's
Flame
Award for contributions to the advancement and protection of civil
liberties.
The award will be presented at a program and reception on Saturday,
October
25, in Columbus, Ohio. Professor Mark Brown of Capital University will
be
the keynote speaker.
"It is a privilege and honor to be recognized by an organization with
such
a long history of defending civil rights," said Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras,
president of CAIR-Ohio. "This award is a tribute to the hard work and
dedication of CAIR-Ohio's staff and volunteers."
CAIR-Ohio and the ACLU of Ohio have been working together on projects
defending the constitutional rights of Muslims.
There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Ohio, 7 million in the United
States, and 1.2 billion worldwide.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Mr. Jad Humeidan, Executive Director, 614-451-3232,
jad@cair-ohio.com; Ms. Chris Link, Executive Director, ACLU of Ohio,
216-472-2220
-----
TEMPE MOSQUE VANDALISM DECRIED
The Arizona Republic, 9/19/03
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0919evmosquevandal19.html
TEMPE - Muslim leaders and police spoke out against the latest attack
at a
Tempe mosque after vandals spray-painted the front door early Thursday.
A witness spotted two men painting the door of the mosque with a
swastika,
a thunderbolt-shaped "SS" and other Nazi symbols about 2 a.m. Deedra
Abboud, director of the Council of American Islamic Relations in
Arizona,
said no one was in the building at the time, but surveillance videos
may
have recorded the suspects.
Abboud joined other Muslims and Tempe Police Chief Ralph Tranter on
Thursday at a press conference outside the Islamic Cultural Center,
where
the mosque is housed near Sixth Street and Forest Avenue. This is the
fifth
incident of vandalism at the center this year. In July, vandals set
fire to
a car parked there, and the three other incidents also involved
vehicles,
Abboud said.
Police are looking for two men, 19 to 22 years old, who were seen in a
faded red, 1970s pickup truck.
Tranter promised to increase patrols near the center, which is around
the
corner from the police station.
"This is as clear as you can get that a hate crime has occurred,"
Tranter said…
Anyone with information is urged to call Tempe police at (480)
350-8311.
SEE ALSO:
STUDENT PUNCHED, CALLED 'OSAMA'
KEN KOSKY, Times, 9/19/03
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2003/09/19/news/porter_county/da1720738e57cdb886256da60017b549.txt
VALPARAISO -- Ben Franklin Middle School Principal Robert Rarick said
he's
disappointed one student allegedly called another student Osama bin
Laden
and punched him because of his Middle Eastern appearance.
But Rarick said he's pleased other students talked to the injured
student
after Wednesday's incident and made him feel welcome at the school.
"That really made me feel good that the kids don't want (student
harassment) happening here," Rarick said.
The victim, an eighth-grade boy, was punched in the face and suffered a
cut
that required stitches to close, police said. In addition, police said
he
suffered injuries to his teeth that may require dental care. Rarick
said
the boy returned to school Thursday.
The suspect, also an eighth-grade boy, was taken to the Juvenile
Detention
Center on a charge of battery with bodily injury. A detention hearing
was
set for this morning in Magistrate John Shanahan's court to determine
if
the suspect will be released or kept in custody...
Police said the investigation into Wednesday's incident showed the
victim
didn't want to fight the suspect and tried to walk away, but was pulled
and
punched. Police also were told the suspect called the victim Osama bin
Laden and "dirty Muslim," and his younger brother was called Saddam
Hussein.
Police said they spoke to another student who said he and others had
been
calling the victim Osama. Police said that student spoke highly of the
victim and was remorseful after being spoken to about the effects of
racial
terms and name-calling.
-----
EMERSON DROPS ALL ACTIONS AGAINST COLE, SUGG, AND WEEKLY PLANET
TAMPA, Sept. 17, 2003 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-styled terrorist hunter
Steven
Emerson has dropped all legal actions against former Associated Press
reporter Richard Cole, Tampa's Weekly Planet and former Planet Editor
John
Sugg.
Emerson dropped his case against Cole, notifying lawyers and the court
in
letters received over the last week. In May, after a judge ordered
Emerson
to produced proof of his allegations and claims, he abandoned his
lawsuit
against Sugg and the Planet.
"This is a complete vindication," said Cole, now a crime reporter with
the
Daily News in the San Francisco Bay area. "The lawsuit never had any
merit,
and was an attempt by Emerson to salvage his reputation at the expense
of
Sugg, Cole and the Planet."
Sugg, who is now senior editor of the Planet's sister paper in Atlanta,
said: "Our reporting was sound and fair, and Emerson is now revealed as
a
person who makes serious accusations without the willingness to provide
proof. Emerson has a long record of trying to intimidate his critics in
the
media. We would not be intimidated."
The defamation case, filed in Washington D.C. in 1999 and later
re-filed in
Florida, was based on a 1998 story written by Sugg in the Planet. In
the
article, Cole, who had written a 1997 series on terrorism for AP, was
quoted as questioning the authenticity of a document Emerson had
provided
the wire service.
"Had this baseless lawsuit ever gone to trial, my defense would have
been
that everything I said in the Planet story was true, and we had the
evidence to prove it," Cole said.
Emerson's lawsuits had asked for total damages of $33 million.
Attorneys
for Sugg and the Planet are currently seeking to recover from Emerson
their
costs and attorneys' fees incurred in the Florida litigation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Richard Cole, 650-327-6397 ex. 344.
John Sugg, 404-614-1241.
Attorneys for Cole: Pat Anderson, 727-865-6505; and Stuart Pierson,
202-274-2950.
Attorney for Sugg and the Planet: David Snyder, 813-258-4501
SEE ALSO:
IIC 'VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED' TO PIPES NOMINATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lyana Snow, 301-421-1347
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
The Islamic Information Center is an organization established by Shi'a
Muslims on a national level to provide authentic information about
Islam
and to create harmony among Muslims and Non-Muslims through active
dialogue
and communications. Recently the Center was approached by a number of
organizations for the Center's position regarding the nomination of Dr.
Daniel Pipes to the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
With this press release, we would like to make it amply clear that the
Islamic Information Center is, and has always been, vehemently opposed
to
the nomination of Dr. Pipes for the U.S. Institute of Peace because of
his
being against Islam and Muslims, as reflected through his writings and
ample evidence in the public domain. We are opposed to people and
efforts
that divide and weaken our great country. We support harmony,
understanding
and an honest and open dialogue with respect for each other that
strengthens our great country. We also earnestly request the U.S.
President
to urgently reconsider and terminate Dr. Pipes' nomination for the
benefit
and effectiveness of the Peace Institute.
IIC would like to point out that Dr. Daniel Pipes has a record of
creating
conflict among the Americans by challenging faith of American Muslims.
We
as Americans, regardless of which faith we practice, expect a person of
great caliber to hold this position which requires an understanding and
respect of other faiths. Can we Americans afford to tolerate this at
such a
critical time when we are trying to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, and
help
promote peace in Palestine and Israel?
Thank You,
Syed R. Naqvi
Chairman
Islamic Information Center
www.islamicinformationcenter.org
P.O. Box 119 Burtonsville, MD 20866
TEL: 301-421-1347
---
MFI DOES NOT ENDORSE DANIEL PIPES
This is to unequivocally refute the false reports being currently
circulated on the Internet regarding the alleged endorsement of Daniel
Pipes by the Shias or Shia organizations. Please note that no one at
the
Muslim Foundation has issued or endorsed any such statement on the
subject.
That even the name of the MFI President in the report is given
incorrectly
speaks for its falsehood. Such cooked up reports aimed at dividing the
Ummah merit no credence and must be outrightly rejected. Thank you and
Wa-Salaam.
Regards,
Syed M. Rizvi, MD
President,
Muslim Foundation, Inc.
New Jersey
47 CEDAR GROVE LANE
SOMERSET NJ 08873 USA
Tel: 732 564 1331
Fax: 732 564 1222
---
MISREPRESENTED MUSLIM 'ENDORSEMENT' STILL ON PIPES WEB SITE
EDITOR'S NOTE: Daniel Pipes is keeping an "endorsement" from Muslims on
his
web site even though those groups and individuals say they were not
consulted before being listed. They have asked that Pipes remove the
document from his site. Pipes has offered no explanation of how he
obtained
the "endorsement."
SEE:
MUSLIM GROUPS SAY PIPES MISREPRESENTED ENDORSEMENT
Alleged signatories call for removal of page from Bush appointee's web
site
http://www.al-khoei.org/declaration_daniel_pipes.htm
DECLARATION (9/12/2003) - The Ulama and Organizations cited in the
purported endorsement of Dr. Daniel Pipe's appointment to the United
States
Institute of Peace was a misrepresentation and that none of the Ulama
and
Organizations was consulted nor was aware of it beforehand.
Therefore, the Ulama and Organizations whose names are appended below,
categorically deny any association with this endorsement and call for
the
immediate withdrawal of the document from the website of Dr. Daniel
Pipes
to whom this declaration is also being transmitted.
SEE THE MISREPRESENTED "ENDORSEMENT" -
LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF THE SHIA TRADITION
http://www.danielpipes.org/usip/e_11.php
-----
ABBASI FAMILY ENDOWS NEW PROGRAM IN ISLAMIC STUDIES AT STANFORD
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/03/islamicpr.html
Lisa Kwiatkowski, director of communications, School of Humanities and
Sciences: (650) 723-3901, lisakwi@stanford.edu
Relevant Web URLs: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/relstud
Stanford University's School of Humanities and Sciences announced today
a
gift of $2.5 million from Sohaib and Sara Abbasi to establish and endow
a
new Program in Islamic Studies. With matching funds from the William
and
Flora Hewlett Foundation's gift to the school, the program's core
endowment
will total $5 million.
"The Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford will
make a significant contribution to Stanford and beyond," said Stanford
President John Hennessy. "Despite its growing importance in the world,
Islam is poorly and inadequately understood in our country. To serve
our
educational mission into the 21st century, we must expand our program
in
Islamic studies, and this wonderful gift will help us do exactly that."
The university's goal of increasing understanding of Islam appears to
be
shared by students on campus. Student interest in the field has
increased
in recent years, and courses on Islam are consistently overenrolled.
"Our decision to endow this program at Stanford is based on a desire to
see
expanded opportunities for the study of Islam in Stanford's
curriculum,"
said Sohaib Abbasi, a former executive at Oracle Corp. "We are
privileged
to participate in the formation of the Islamic Studies Program at
Stanford
that will foster a better understanding of Islam, Muslims and the
Islamic
civilization. We look forward to Stanford becoming one of the
pre-eminent
institutions for Islamic studies in North America…"
-----
UNDERSTANDING THE MUSLIM PRESENCE IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20030917.100327&time=12%2036%20PDT&year=2003&public=1
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Sept. 17 (AScribe Newswire) -- Indiana University
Bloomington will host a major conference that will address issues
facing
Muslims in North America and Europe and feature presentations by more
than
50 of the world's leading scholars on Islam and the study of Muslim
societies worldwide.
The conference, "East Meets West: Understanding the Muslim Presence in
Europe and North America," is the 32nd annual meeting of the
Association of
Muslim Social Scientists. IU's College of Arts and Sciences will
co-sponsor
the event, which is being hosted by the Department of Near Eastern
Languages and Cultures and the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
Program
on Sept. 26-28.
Last year, George Washington University and American University
co-hosted
the conference in Washington, D.C.
Nazif Shahrani, chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and
Cultures, said conference participants will explore questions about
Muslim
presence in the West -- past, present and future -- and bring fresh
insights to the situation of Muslims in North America and Europe.
The issue of Muslim presence in Europe and America stares "at our faces
daily," Shahrani said. "There is an attempt to make Islam the 'other,'
something alien, foreign and exotic. What the conference will emphasize
is
that Muslims are here and part of the fabric of our society in the
United
States. We are proud of this society and respectful of all others who
live
in this country, enjoy the good life and contribute to the making of an
even greater society…"
"On the evening news, we are frequently shown people who are dressed in
turbans and long beards, looking fierce and allegedly doing terrible
things," Shahrani added. "What we hope this conference will show is
that
those of us who are living here in America do not come anywhere near
those
images and pictures that are used to falsely portray and represent the
essence of Islam. We are maligned on the basis of presumed activities
of a
few criminals."
Conference presenters will come to Bloomington from all over the world.
They include scholars from IU, Harvard University, the universities of
Michigan and Texas, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the
University of Toronto and the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy.
The keynote address will be delivered on Sept. 27 by Dr. Ali Mazrui,
director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at the State
University of New York-Binghamton. His address will examine the
subject, "A
Marriage of Two Civilizations? The Balance Between Western Norms and
Muslim
Values…"
Among the topics that will be explored at the conference are the
political
and philosophic perspectives of Islam on democracy and the identity and
assimilation of Muslim culture in Western societies. Shahrani said it
is
possible for people to maintain their Muslim identity and tradition
while
thriving in a larger multicultural society like the United States...
For more information, contact Layla Sein, AMSS conference coordinator,
at
coordinator@amss.net or Martha Al-hieh, AMSS local organizing committee
member, at malhieh@indiana.edu.
-----
TEEN HOPES FOR CAREER DESIGNING FASHIONABLE CLOTHES FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
Associated Press, 9/18/03
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-18193039.apds.m0220.bc-ct-fea--sep18,0,4698891.story
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Nyla Hashmi had a minor clothing crisis when
she
returned to West Hartford after living for five years in Pakistan.
It was the fall of 2001, and the styles for teenage girls were sexy as
ever, Nyla learned when she did her back-to-school shopping.
Nyla looked around the mall - there were lots of low-rise jeans and
cropped
tops with spaghetti-thin straps - and couldn't find anything she liked
that
also would meet with approval from her parents and her religion.
Muslim girls and women, as well as those from more conservative Jewish
and
Christian denominations, are expected to dress more modestly than
typical
American women. The degree to which they must be covered varies, but
garments designed to show off long legs, shoulders, buttocks and
cleavage
are clearly off limits.
Nyla wanted to be a good Muslim by covering herself, but what could she
wear to school?
"My mom said, 'Great. You can start sewing clothes.' At first, I just
thought, 'No, I just want to buy clothes,"' Nyla said.
But then she started sewing. She made elegant tunic-length shirts,
nipped
in at the waist to provide some shape, and paired them with long jeans
or
flowing pants. The effect was elegant, crisp and cool.
An idea formed as her wardrobe expanded.
"I really grew passionate," Nyla said. "I said, 'I am going to make
modest
clothes for Muslim girls that are not expensive."'
Today, her dream is haute couture, as she starts her first year at the
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She even has a name
picked out for her label - Nyla Coast to Coast - because her name could
be
an acronym for New York, Los Angeles…
-----
AUTHOR, ARTIST BRINGS TALE OF ISLAM TO CHILDREN
http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1433867.html
Sept. 18, 2003 -- The children's books by the author and artist who
goes by
just one name -- Demi -- are works of art. With brilliant jewel-toned
colors, intricate patterns and gold leaf on every page, the books look
like
they belong on a museum wall instead of in a children's playroom.
Her latest book, Muhammad, is the story of the prophet and an
explanation
of the creation of Islam and the Koran. Yet Demi faced the challenge of
writing and illustrating a biography about someone who's image she
couldn't
portray, out of respect for the religion's beliefs. She decided to draw
only his outline only, blending him to the background on some pages or
using gold foil to represent his shape on others.
Demi, who was born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, has created many children's
books, but her recent choices center on tales with strong spiritual
underpinnings, such as King Midas, Gandhi and the Emperor's New
Clothes.
NPR's Michele Norris, host of All Things Considered talks with Demi
about
her work.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/22/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WORLDLY AFFAIRS
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6913 SPONSORSHIPS
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* NY MAN ARRESTED FOR HARASSING MUSLIM WOMEN (NY Post)
- Officer Wins Ruling on Beard (NY Times)
* PATRIOT ACT, PART II (NY Times)
- The New Inquisition (Denver Post)
- Security Collides with Civil Liberties (Sac. Bee)
* ISRAELI SPIES IN CANADA? (Ottawa Sun)
- Antiwar.com on the Israeli 'Art Students'
* AMERICA PUTS IRAQ UP FOR SALE (Independent)
* STANFORD RECEIVES GIFT FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES (Mercury News)
* JESUS: A PROPHET IN ISLAM LECTURE IN DC
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WORLDLY AFFAIRS
The Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) companions once expressed
concern that when they were in his company they focused on spiritual
matters, and when they were away from him they attended to worldly
affairs.
The Prophet told them: "If your state of mind remains the same as it is
in
my presence, and you are always busy in remembrance (of God), the
angels
will shake hands with you in your beds and on your paths.
However...time
should be devoted (to worldly affairs) and time (should be devoted to
prayer and meditation)."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1279
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6913 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6913 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network.
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-396-5332.
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
NY MAN ARRESTED FOR HARASSING MUSLIM WOMEN
New York Post, 9/20/03
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/40458.htm
A young man was arrested yesterday for spewing anti-Muslim insults at
two
female students and tugging at their head coverings on the City College
campus in Harlem, officials said.
The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, told the women he
did
not like Muslims as he followed them from a subway station to the
campus on
West 137th Street and Broadway at 8:20 p.m. Thursday.
A security guard saw the man pulling at the students' head wear and
confronted them. The students described what happened, and the guard
arrested the man.
SEE ALSO:
MANHATTAN: OFFICER WINS RULING ON BEARD
Paul von Zielbauer, New York Times, 9/22/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/22/nyregion/22MBRF1.html
The Department of Correction was wrong to require a Muslim correction
officer to trim his beard, an act that would violate his religious
beliefs,
an administrative law judge has ruled. Since July 2002, Officer Hasani
Shabazz, who works at Rikers Island, has refused orders to trim his
beard,
now about five inches long. Departmental regulations require beards be
"closely trimmed and shaped in conformity with the jaw line." In her
ruling, Administrative Law Judge Rosemarie Maldonado said the
department
had failed to show that accommodating the beard posed an undue
hardship.
The department had argued that beards prevented airtight seals in gas
masks, which are used when pepper spray is required to remove an inmate
from a cell. But Judge Maldonado ruled that even a five-inch beard
could be
accommodated in ways that allowed the mask's proper use.
-----
PATRIOT ACT, PART II
New York Times, 9/22/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/22/opinion/22MON1.html
The Bush administration has been on a campaign to shore up support for
the
Patriot Act and argue for an expanded version, which is being dubbed
Patriot Act II. This public-relations offensive comes, however, at a
time
when a growing number of Americans are saying the original act already
gives government too much power. Faced with these reasoned objections,
the
administration is becoming more shrill. Last week, Attorney General
John
Ashcroft named librarians as the latest group to pose a threat to
freedom.
Rather than lash out at well-intentioned critics, the administration
should
listen to the thoughtful voices from across the political spectrum who
are
saying we need less Patriot Act, not more.
President Bush spoke out last week in favor of a three-point plan for
expanding the law. Patriot Act II would give the government broad
powers to
seize documents and force testimony without a court order, expand use
of
the death penalty and make it harder to be released on bail. None of
these
tools are necessary to fight terrorism, and each threatens to infringe
on
the civil liberties of Americans.
The most troubling part of the new plan is the call for expanding
government access to private data, allowing federal agents to issue
subpoenas for private medical, financial and other records, without a
court
order. The lack of judicial oversight removes an important check on
government misconduct. Record holders would be required to comply, or
face
prison, and would be barred from telling anyone about the subpoena...
ALSO SEE:
THE NEW INQUISITION
Walter Cronkite, Denver Post, 9/21/03
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E29003%7E1640999,00.html
President Bush's televised answer to the growing concerns of many -
including some Republicans - about the powers granted to him in the USA
Patriot Act was to ask for even stronger measures, particularly the
expanded use of "nonjudicial subpoenas." That means a federal agency
such
as the FBI can write its own subpoenas to conduct a search - no judges
needed.
Unfortunately, security and liberty form a zero-sum equation. The
inevitable trade-off: To increase security is to decrease liberty and
vice
versa. In the past, such trade-offs have been temporary - for the
duration
of the crisis of the moment. But today, we cannot see an end to the War
on
Terrorism, and that forces us to decide how secure we have to be and
how
free we want to be.
By delivering the speech last week himself, Bush added presidential
heft to
the issue and took some of the heat off of his attorney general, who is
seen by many as the heedless champion of security at any price...
---
LIBERTY IN THE BALANCE: SECURITY COLLIDES WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES
Sam Stanton and Emily Bazar, Sacramento Bee,
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/projects/liberty/story/7457444p-8400138c.html
The FBI is counting mosques, and law enforcement has asked hundreds of
libraries about your reading habits.
There are secret lists governing whether you can get on an airplane,
secret
surveillance of e-mail and the Internet, and new warrants allowing the
government to search your home, your bank records and your medical
files
without your knowing it.
When FBI agents were told last year that terrorist training included
scuba
diving techniques, the agency asked for -- and got -- the names and
addresses of more than 10 million Americans certified as divers.
Immigrants nationwide have been jailed indefinitely over visa
violations
that in the past would have been ignored, and about 13,000 face
deportation.
Others have languished in cells while officials lied to their families
about where they were.
And thousands have fled the United States, seeking refuge in Canada.
For countless American citizens and immigrant residents, the echoes of
Sept. 11, 2001, continue to resound in what a growing number of critics
contend is a loss of basic civil liberties stemming from the federal
government's anti-terrorism campaign...
----
ISRAELI SPIES IN CANADA?
NINE ISRAELIS FACE DEPORTATION
Spy agency suspects they may be foreign agents
John Steinbachs and Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Sun, 9/19/03
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/ottawa-sun1.html
NINE Israeli nationals -- who[m] CSIS suspects are possible foreign
agents
-- were arrested by Immigration and Ottawa police tactical officers
last
Friday, blocks from Parliament Hill.
The nine have all been charged by Immigration for working in Canada
illegally. All are in their 20s and were apparently selling art in
Ottawa.
The arrests follow similar takedowns of Israelis in Toronto and Calgary
over the past few weeks.
An Ottawa police source said police were told members of the group were
possible agents from Mossad, Israel's spy agency, but given no further
information by CSIS.
CSIS declined to comment yesterday.
All nine have since been released and are staying in several rooms at a
Lisgar St. apartment-hotel...
Posting Note: This article was pulled by the Ottawa Sun for unknown
reasons
within hours of posting…
ALSO SEE:
ANOTHER 9/11?
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 9/22/03
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
Some conspiracy theories, as I pointed out in a recent column, get
respectful attention no matter how implausible. But other conspiracy
theories, being politically incorrect, are relegated to the Memory
Hole,
even as evidence of their validity begins to break through the wall of
silence.
Yes, folks, those Israeli "art students" - you know, the ones who
attempted
to penetrate U.S. government facilities in the months leading up to
9/11,
showed up at the homes of federal employees, and were said to be
watching
the 9/11 hijackers 24/7 - have popped up yet again, this time in
Canada:
"Nine Israeli nationals - who CSIS suspects are possible foreign agents
-
were arrested by Immigration and Ottawa police tactical officers last
Friday, blocks from Parliament Hill. The nine have all been charged by
Immigration for working in Canada illegally. All are in their 20s and
were
apparently selling art in Ottawa. The arrests follow similar takedowns
of
Israelis in Toronto and Calgary over the past few weeks. An Ottawa
police
source said police were told members of the group were possible agents
from
Mossad, Israel's spy agency, but given no further information by CSIS.
"CSIS declined to comment yesterday."
Headlined "Nine Israelis face deportation: Spy agency suspects they may
be
foreign agents," this story appeared in the Ottawa Sun, on Friday,
September 19 - and disappeared from the paper's website completely in
less
than a day, unlike the Sun's other articles, which are archived and
available. Here is the Google cache. Check it out before it disappears,
just like Carl Cameron's December 2001 series on the same subject.
In Cameron's case, this disappearing act was the result of outside
pressure
and a campaign of calumniation against Fox's crack investigative
reporter:
Israel's amen corner hissed that Cameron was disqualified as an
objective
reporter because he spent his youth in a Muslim country.
In the case of the Ottawa Sun, it's a case of Izzy Asper strikes again.
The
owner of Canada's largest newspaper chain is famous for his directive
that
no criticism of Israel be printed in his newspapers, leading to
resignations and increasing resentment of media monopolism via
mega-mergers...
-----
AMERICA PUTS IRAQ UP FOR SALE
Philip Thornton and Andrew Gumbel, Independent, 9/22/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=445744
Iraq was in effect put up for sale yesterday when the
American-appointed
administration announced it was opening up all sectors of the economy
to
foreign investors in a desperate attempt to deliver much-needed
reconstruction against a daily backdrop of kidnappings, looting and
violent
death.
In an unexpected move unveiled at the meeting in Dubai of the Group of
Seven rich nations, the Iraqi Governing Council announced sweeping
reforms
to allow total foreign ownership without the need for prior approval.
The initiative bore all the hallmarks of Washington's ascendant
neoconservative lobby, complete with tax cuts and trade tariff
rollbacks.
It will apply to everything from industry to health and water, although
not
oil.
But it is still likely to feed concerns that Iraq is being turned into
a
golden opportunity for profiteering by multinational corporations
relying
on their political connections...
-----
STANFORD RECEIVES GIFT FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES
Peter Delevett, San Jose Mercury News, 9/21/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/6817231.htm
Stanford University has received $9 million to endow a program and
professorship in Islamic studies - gifts that could position the school
to
become a powerhouse in the study of the world's second-largest faith.
The field of Islamic studies has attracted more interest, research and
students since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
In the last two years, student demand for classes on Islamic religion,
culture, history and languages has soared. And many universities,
including
Stanford, have not been able to keep pace.
Retired Oracle executive Sohaib Abbasi and his wife, Sara, hope to
change
that, Sohaib Abbasi said. The Atherton residents, who were born in
Pakistan, donated $2.5 million to establish the Islamic studies
program,
Stanford announced Friday.
In addition, Stanford alumna Lysbeth Warren gave $2 million to endow a
new
Islamic studies professorship. Both gifts were matched by the William
and
Flora Hewlett Foundation, bringing the total to $9 million...
-----
JESUS: A PROPHET IN ISLAM LECTURE
WHAT: George Washington University's Muslim Students' Association (MSA)
and
the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) of the Washington Area are
hosting an educational program and dinner, titled, "Jesus: A Prophet of
Islam (peace be upon him)."
The program is primarily for our non-Muslim colleagues, neighbors,
friends
and classmates. Muslims may accompany their non-Muslim guests but must
RSVP
ahead of time.
Confirmed Speakers are Dr. Jamal Badawi, Professor, Management &
Religious
Studies, St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Dr. Zulfiqar
Shah,
Former President of Islamic Circle of North America.
Please note an accurate guest count is needed. Please email the names
of
all attendees/guests at DCMuslimOutreach@yahoo.com or call 571-203-9277
or
703-680-4622.
WHERE: At George Washington University
21st & I Street, NW, Washington DC
Marvin Center, Ballroom, 3rd Floor
WHEN: Saturday, October 4, 2003, 5:00 PM
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
IL ANTI-MUSLIM BOMBER GETS PROBATION, 'ANGER MANAGEMENT'
Islamic civil rights group calls for terrorism charges following light
sentence
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/23/2003) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference
today
to demand that federal terrorism charges be brought against an Illinois
man
who got off with just two years probation and 'anger management'
classes
after he bombed a Muslim family's van.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 23, 1 p.m. (Central)
WHERE: In front of the Dirksen Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn,
Chicago, Ill.
CONTACT: 312-922-4720 or 708-415-7927
Eric K. Nix, 24, was sentenced last week in the 5th District of Cook
County
Circuit Court (case 03CR0945401) after being charged with arson,
criminal
damage to property and committing a hate crime. In March, Nix threw an
explosive device into the van of a Burbank, Ill., Palestinian Muslim
family. The van's door was blown off, shattered glass was thrown up to
30
feet away and a hole was punched in the vehicle's floor.
Nix will be on probation until September 15, 2005. He previously served
a
30-day sentence for throwing a brick into an Arab furniture store in
suburban Chicago two days after the 9/11 attacks.
"It is unfathomable that a perpetrator of two anti-Muslim hate crimes,
including a terrorist bombing, would be let off with a slap on the
wrist
and 'anger management' classes," said CAIR National Board Chairman Omar
Ahmad. "It goes without saying that the result would have been much
different had the perpetrator been Muslim or Arab. If the Justice
Department wants to prove that it is serious about combating
anti-Muslim
hate, it must take up this and similar cases at the national level."
Ahmad cited a Florida case in which a man was sentenced to just 12
years in
prison for plotting to attack some 50 Islamic institutions in that
state,
including a school, as another example of light sentencing for
anti-Muslim
terrorism.
Since the beginning of this year, CAIR has received a number of reports
of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions. Those incidents included a recent
arson
attack on a Georgia Mosque, a cross burning at a Maryland Islamic
school,
the kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery man whose
attackers thought he was Muslim, and the shooting of a Sikh man in
Arizona
who may have been mistaken for an Arab. Similar incidents have been
reported in a number of other states. CAIR, America's largest Islamic
civil
liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16
offices
nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/23/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD WANTS TO PARDON SIN
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6913 SPONSORSHIPS
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* BOOK: CIA PAID FOR FAKE ISLAMIC LEADERS (Reuters)
* CON ARTISTS POSE AS MUSLIM CLERICS (Gazette)
* BUSH APPOINTEE TO USIP A RIGHT-WING ZEALOT (Vanguard)
* ODIGO SAYS WORKERS WERE WARNED OF ATTACK (Haaretz)
* JEWISH EXTREMISTS PLANNED ATTACKS ON MOSQUES: REPORT (AFP)
* POWELL CALLS U.S. "JUDEO-CHRISTIAN," THEN AMENDS (Reuters)
* PATRIOT ACT USED IN 16-YEAR-OLD DEPORTATION CASE (Wash. Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD WANTS TO PARDON SIN
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you did not commit
sin,
God would sweep you out of existence and…replace (you with) people who
would commit sin, and (then) seek forgiveness...and He would have
pardoned
them."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1278
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6913 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6913 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network.
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-396-5332.
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
CIA PAID FOR FAKE ISLAMIC LEADERS
CIA PAID MULLAHS TO SPREAD MODERATE MESSAGE - BOOK
Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters, 9/22/03
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2668390a12,00.html
WASHINGTON- The CIA paid Mullahs and created fake Islamic religious
leaders
to preach a moderate message and counter anti-American sentiment in the
Arab world after the Sept. 11 attacks, a new book said on Monday.
In "The CIA at War," Ronald Kessler, an investigative reporter and
author
of several books about the CIA and the FBI, also detailed espionage
activity in Iraq that supported the March invasion that toppled
President
Saddam Hussein.
For the book, made available to Reuters in advance of its October
publication, Kessler interviewed CIA Director George Tenet in May and
other
senior CIA officials. The agency supplied most of the photographs in
the book.
"In Islam, as in many other religions, anyone can call himself a
religious
leader," he said in the book. "So, besides paying mullahs, the CIA
created
fake mullahs -- recruited agents who would proclaim themselves clerics
and
take a more moderate position about nonbelievers..."
"We are taking over radio stations and supporting clerics," a CIA
source
was quoted as saying. "It's back to propaganda. We are creating
moderate
Muslims."
Kessler said the CIA also paid for mullahs to issue fatwas, or
religious
edicts, urging Iraqis not to resist American forces. He did not specify
the
countries this took place in…
----
CON ARTISTS POSE AS MUSLIM CLERICS
Montreal Gazette, 9/23/03
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/
At least two local Muslim leaders have been approached by con artists
posing as stranded clerics seeking "immediate financial help" in recent
weeks. The Canadian Islamic Congress issued a warning yesterday about
telephone calls from strangers claiming to be Muslim professionals
stranded
at an overseas airport without money or tickets. They say they're on a
trip
to visit Canadian mosques and have lost their baggage. They ask that
emergency funds be sent through Western Union. The CIC is urging anyone
who
receives such a call to contact local police or the RCMP.
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE TO USIP A RIGHT-WING ZEALOT
Kenneth Norris, Vanguard, 9/22/03
http://www.usavanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/22/3f70756f58dcb
Controversy surrounded President Bush's recent appointment of Daniel
Pipes
to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Bush announced Aug. 22
he
would appoint Pipes to the board of USIP during the congressional
summer
recess.
Executive nominations to the board of USIP require Senate confirmation,
but
the President may make recess appointments to fill a board position for
up
to 18 months instead of a full four-year term. Some senators contend
Bush
made the recess appointment to avoid Senate rejection of Pipes because
of
his "extreme views." The senators opposed to Pipes argue that views of
Pipes and the mission of USIP are incompatible...
One wonders how Pipes can "promote the prevention, management, and
peaceful
resolution of international conflicts" after he authored a report three
years ago calling for military force to disarm Syria of weapons of mass
destruction and to end its military presence in Lebanon...
-----
ODIGO SAYS WORKERS WERE WARNED OF ATTACK
Yuval Dror, Haaretz Daily, 9/23/03
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=77744
Odigo, the instant messaging service, says that two of its workers
received
messages two hours before the Twin Towers attack on September 11
predicting
the attack would happen, and the company has been cooperating with
Israeli
and American law enforcement, including the FBI, in trying to find the
original sender of the message predicting the attack.
Micha Macover, CEO of the company, said the two workers received the
messages and immediately after the terror attack informed the company's
management, which immediately contacted the Israeli security services,
which brought in the FBI...
As an instant messaging service, Odigo users are not limited to sending
messages only to people on their "buddy" list, as is the case with ICQ,
the
other well-known Israeli instant messaging application.
Odigo usually zealously protects the privacy of its registered users,
said
Macover, but in this case the company took the initiative to provide
the
law enforcement services with the originating Internet Presence address
of
the message, so the FBI could track down the Internet Service Provider,
and
the actual sender of the original message...
-----
JEWISH EXTREMISTS PLANNED ATTACKS ON MOSQUES: REPORT
Agence France Presse, 9/23/03
JERUSALEM - Israeli security services foiled a plot by Jewish
extremists to
carry out a series of attacks on Muslim sites, including Jerusalem's
Al-Aqsa mosque, the Maariv daily reported Tuesday.
One suspect had confessed during a recent interrogation by the Shin
Beth
domestic security service that the group had been planning simultaneous
attacks on various mosques during Friday prayers, the report said.
He also indicated that the group was planning attacks on Israeli
political
leaders...
The paper reported that the suspect, who has already been indicted as
an
accessory to murder, had also given details of where weapons had been
stored and the names of members of underground cells...
-----
POWELL CALLS U.S. "JUDEO-CHRISTIAN," THEN AMENDS
Reuters, 9/23/03
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3489689
UNITED NATIONS - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called the United
States a Judeo-Christian country on Monday but quickly amended that to
"a
country of many faiths."
The first amendment to the U.S. constitution prohibits the
establishment of
any state religion -- a provision usually interpreted as requiring
strict
separation of church and state, though Christian activists dispute
that.
Powell made the remark in an interview with the Charlie Rose Show on
public
television while talking about Washington's vision of what kind of
government Iraq should have.
He said he expected it to be "an Islamic country by faith, just as we
are a
Judeo-Christian..."
"Well, it's hard to tell any more, but we are a country of many faiths
now," he added quickly...
-----
PATRIOT ACT USED IN 16-YEAR-OLD DEPORTATION CASE
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 9/23/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49517-2003Sep22.html
The Bush administration has decided to pursue a 16-year-old effort to
deport two Palestinian activists who as students distributed magazines
and
raised funds for a group the government now considers a terrorist
organization, despite several court rulings that the deportations are
unconstitutional because the men were not involved in terrorist
activity.
The case, which has long had a high profile among Palestinian
Americans,
could pose a new judicial test of a controversial provision in the
Patriot
Act, passed in 2001. The provision prohibits supplying material support
for
organizations the government deems "terrorist," even without evidence
of a
link to specific terrorist acts.
At the time of their initial arrests in 1987, the activists, Khader
Hamide
and Michel Shehadeh, were allegedly affiliated with the Popular Front
for
the Liberation of Palestine, a Marxist group that has advocated an
independent Palestinian state and has been involved in various acts of
terrorism....
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/24/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DAVID'S SUPPLICATION
* GOOD NEWS: MD COMPLETES LIBRARY PROJECT
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* PLAN TO SCREEN AIR TRAVELERS HITS BUMP (Wash. Post)
* CAIR'S STATEMENT ON BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TRUE PATRIOT ACT
- Carter Cautions against Loss of Human Rights (AP)
* CAIR SUPPORTS RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FOR AMISH
- WVW Defends Muslim Kids' Space (Times Leader)
* HATE CRIME SENTENCE TOO LIGHT (Chicago Tribune)
* FRENCHMAN PLOTTED MOSQUE SUICIDE ATTACK (Reuters)
* HEADSCARVES: CONTENTIOUS CLOTHS (BBC)
- German Court Rejects Headscarf Ban (Reuters)
- Probe Launched Over Que. Muslim Student's Hijab (CTV)
- Headscarf Row Reignites in France (AFP)
* CONYERS SAYS ADMINISTRATION KNEW THERE WAS NO WMD
- Miller's Latest Tale Questioned (E & P)
* IMMIGRANTS FLEE FROM FEAR IN AMERICA (Sacramento Bee)
- Students, Not Terrorists (SJ Mercury News)
* GIS IN IRAQ BECOMING FRANTIC (Capital Times)
- Military Probes Tiger Killing at Baghdad Zoo (AFP)
* ISRAEL SPENDS $560 MILLION A YEAR ON SETTLEMENTS (AP)
* ALIM ISLAMIC LAW PROGRAM IN VA
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DAVID'S SUPPLICATION
The Prophet Muhammad said that David (peace be upon them both) would
supplicate to God saying: "O God, I ask Thee for Thy love, the love of
those who love Thee, and deeds which will cause me to attain Thy love."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 787
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISLSoftware's website at www.islsoftware.com or call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6915 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6915 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
GOOD NEWS: MD FIRST STATE TO COMPLETE LIBRARY PROJECT
Maryland is the first state to have all of its public libraries receive
sponsorships for CAIR Library Project packages. CAIR-Maryland recently
received the final 14 sponsorships for the state's 190 public
libraries.
CAIR challenges other states to duplicate Maryland's efforts. For
example
there are just 11 libraries left to sponsor in Mississippi.
Total Number of MS Public Libraries: 243
Number of libraries not sponsored: 11
Code - Library Name, City, State
6497 - WESSON PUBLIC LIBRARY, WESSON, MS
6505 - WAYNESBORO MEMORIAL LIBRARY, WAYNESBORO, MS
6530 - WALTHALL COUNTY LIBRARY-TYLERTOWN, MS
6531 - TERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY- TERRY, MS
6536 - WHITE ROCK LIBRARY- JACKSON, MS
7761 - STURGIS PUBLIC LIBRARY, STURGIS MS,
7775 - TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY LIBRARY- CHARLESTON, MS
7785 - WINSTON COUNTY LIBRARY - LOUISVILLE, MS
7786 - TORREY WOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY- HOLLANDALE, MS
7794 - SUNFLOWER COUNTY LIBRARY- INDIANOLA, MS
7797 - WEST PUBLIC LIBRARY, WEST, MS
Please sponsor a Mississippi Library today. Log on to
www.libraryproject.org and choose one of these libraries or let CAIR
choose
where to send the package.
---
SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network.
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-396-5332.
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
PLAN TO SCREEN AIR TRAVELERS HITS BUMP
Greg Schneider and Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 9/24/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54861-2003Sep23.html
Revelations about JetBlue Airways Corp.'s sharing of passenger data
with an
Army contractor have inflamed privacy concerns over the government's
larger
plan to electronically screen all air travelers as an anti-terrorism
measure.
A Utah lawyer filed a potential class-action lawsuit against the
popular
low-cost airline this week, and the Army, the Department of Homeland
Security and the Federal Trade Commission are looking into various
aspects
of the situation, though no formal investigations are underway.
JetBlue admitted last week that it had violated it own privacy policy
by
supplying names, phone numbers and addresses of 1 million passengers to
an
Alabama company called Torch Concepts, which was working on an Army
database to identify suspected terrorists.
JetBlue, which had promised its passengers it wouldn't share such data
with
outsiders, said it cooperated with Torch to help improve security.
Airline
officials met yesterday with advisers from the accounting firm Deloitte
&
Touche to review and possibly rewrite JetBlue's privacy policy to
include
an exception for government work, similar to that of other airlines...
-----
CAIR'S STATEMENT ON THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TRUE PATRIOT ACT
Earlier today, CAIR and other civil rights groups, along with members
of
Congress, took part in a Capitol Hill news conference welcoming the
introduction of legislation, the "Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act,"
designed to correct some of the most contentious provisions of the USA
PATRIOT Act. Participants included Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio; Ron
Paul,
Republican; and Gregory Nojeim, ACLU Washington Legislative Office.
At the press conference, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak out in support of
Congressman Kucinich's Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act.
"In the days following the horrific attack on our country on September
11,
2001, CAIR was inundated with reports of civil rights abuses. It was a
frightening time to be a Muslim. Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act in
hopes of providing the Department of Justice with the appropriate tools
to
track down the perpetrators of the attack on our country.
"Unfortunately, the Patriot Act went too far in that it abridged many
of
the freedoms we as Americans should never take for granted. Under the
auspices of the Patriot Act, Muslims, Arabs-Americans and others were
detained without meaningful judicial review.
"The frenzied days following 9/11 are now over and it is time for
Congress
to act sensibly by repealing the provisions of the Patriot Act that
have
infringed on our civil liberties. As a civil rights organization, we
have
always spoken out in support of legislation that promotes democratic
ideals. The Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act is important and timely.
It
should be supported by all those who love freedom.
"We urge Muslims and all Americans to call their elected
representatives
and ask them to cosponsor this bill."
ALSO SEE:
CARTER CAUTIONS AGAINST LOSS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Associated Press, 9/24/03
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=20332
Former President Jimmy Carter warned Americans against curtailing human
rights in the name of homeland security, saying it undermines the
country's
credibility in nations struggling with oppressive governments.
Carter, speaking Tuesday at the Carter Center in Atlanta, said the
Patriot
Act, profiling of Muslims and holding suspected terrorists in
Guantanamo
Bay run counter to the principles of democracy the United States
preaches
to the rest of the world.
They have been held in prison without access to their families, or a
lawyer, or without knowing the charges against them, Carter said. We've
got
hundreds of people, some of them as young as 12, captured in
Afghanistan,
brought to Guantanomo Bay and kept in cages for what is going on two
years.
Carter said it's difficult for international aid workers to spread the
message of human rights to places like Cuba, Africa and the Middle East
when the U.S. government doesn't practice fairness and equality...
-----
CAIR SUPPORTS RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FOR AMISH
Amish plead religious freedom in septic system fight
David Goodman, Associated Press, 9/24/03
A dispute over bath water in rural Michigan has turned into a battle
over
religious freedom as Amish families defend their traditional ways
against
health department rules.
The regional health agency says Amish families in Gladwin County, about
150
miles north of Detroit, must install septic systems large enough to
meet
health codes.
The Amish say they have no need for standard-size septic systems
because of
their frugal water use. Building them might require outside labor, and
they
say such wastefulness would be a sin...
On Sept. 15, five Amish farmers filed suit in U.S. District Court in
Kalamazoo, saying local authorities were violating their religious and
due
process rights. The suit follows a similar case now before a state
judge.
Groups as diverse as the national bodies of Islam and Orthodox Judaism
and
People for the American Way say the Amish plumbing case has
implications
for all people who practice minority religions.
"We need to accommodate this kind of diversity," said Rabiah Ahmed,
spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
ALSO SEE:
WVW DEFENDS MUSLIM KIDS' SPACE
Kalen Churcher, Times Leader, 9/12/03
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/6805577.htm
Providing two Muslim students with meditation space does not create an
imbalance between church and state, says the Wyoming Valley West School
District superintendent.
Superintendent Augie Piazza said the School District does not "promote,
encourage or support" the activity and simply made two rooms available
for
the students' use. ..
The matter was discussed with School District Solicitor Mike Hudacek,
who
did not see a problem, Piazza said.
Federal guidelines allow school prayer if it occurs outside of class
and is
initiated by students, not school officials. Muslims pray five times
per
day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall...
-----
MAN'S HATE CRIME SENTENCE TOO LIGHT, MUSLIM GROUP SAYS
Angela Rozas, Chicago Tribune, 9/24/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0309240147sep24,1,7250248.story
An Islamic civil rights group Tuesday called for federal terrorism
charges
to be brought against a Burbank man who pleaded guilty to a hate crime
but
was given probation, contending the state is letting the man off too
easy.
Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Smierciak sentenced Eric K. Nix, 24,
to 2
years of probation and 200 hours of community service. And he ordered
him
to attend anger management classes for throwing a fireworks device into
an
unoccupied van of a Burbank Muslim family on March 21.
Nix pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to charges of arson, criminal property
damage
and committing a hate crime. He was sentenced the same day. He spent
175
days in jail from the time of his arrest in March to his sentencing.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called the sentencing a "slap
on
the wrist" and said Nix should be brought up on federal terrorism
charges.
"It's a completely inappropriate sentence for this kind of crime," said
Janaan Hashim, a member of the council's Chicago office. "Throwing a
firebomb into a person's car because of their religion is an act of
terror..."
-----
FRENCHMAN JAILED FOR PLOTTING MOSQUE SUICIDE ATTACK
Reuters, 9/24/03
PARIS - A French court jailed on Wednesday a neo-Nazi militant of
Jewish
origin who had plotted to blow himself up in front of the Grand Mosque
of
Paris during Friday prayers.
Jean Trouchaud, also known as Florian Schekler, was sentenced to four
years
in prison, two of them suspended, and three years' probation.
The 31-year-old, born to Jewish parents, was a right-wing militant who
frequented neo-Nazi groups and was known to have a hatred of Muslims.
He
knew Maxime Brunerie, a neo-Nazi who attempted to assassinate President
Jacques Chirac in July 2002...
People close to Trouchaud, who was arrested in February, told police he
had
told them he wanted to carry out a suicide attack on the Mosque to show
that "the Palestinian kamikazes don't have a monopoly on such acts..."
-----
HEADSCARVES: CONTENTIOUS CLOTHS
Clare Murphy, BBC News Online, 9/24/03
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3135600.stm
Few pieces of headwear prompt such controversy.
A number of European countries are currently struggling with the
dilemmas
posed by the Muslim headscarf, which throws up a variety of difficult
issues relating to tolerance and equality.
On Wednesday, the highest court in Germany ruled that a school in the
southern state of Baden Wuerttemberg was wrong under current
legislation to
exclude a female teacher for insisting on wearing a headscarf to work.
The school had argued that it violated the state's neutrality in
religion.
The teacher, 31-year-old Fereshta Ludin, declared the school was
violating
her freedom of religion.
The ruling does not, however, permanently settle the issue, leaving it
open
for individual states to establish a firm legal basis for barring the
scarf
from schools if they so wish.
Nonetheless, it has outraged prominent German feminists, who see the
head
covering as a symbol of women's oppression which has no place in a
democratic society - and certainly not in a school...
ALSO SEE:
COURT REJECTS HEADSCARF BAN ON TEACHER
Diana Niedernhoefer, Reuters, 9/24/03
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=3499263
KARLSRUHE, Germany - Germany's top court said Wednesday that a Muslim
woman
teacher can wear a traditional headscarf in school, ruling on an issue
that
is causing controversy across Europe.
The Federal Constitutional Court said school authorities in the
southern
city of Stuttgart had been wrong to bar Afghan-born Fereshta Ludin from
a
teaching job. It said there was no law prohibiting teachers from
covering
their heads.
She had been barred on the grounds that her headscarf would violate the
state's neutrality in religion. The hijab, as it is called in Arabic,
has
offended teachers, bureaucrats and modern-minded women in Europe for
more
than a decade.
Wednesday's ruling opened the way for Muslim women teachers across
Germany
to cover their heads while at school unless the country's federal
states
have laws expressly forbidding religious symbols in the classroom...
---
PROBE LAUNCHED OVER QUE. MUSLIM STUDENT'S HIJAB
CTV.ca News, 9/24/03
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1064344107380_59753307/?hub=Canada
An investigation has been launched into the expulsion of a Muslim
student
who refused to take off her Islamic head scarf at school, the Quebec
Human
Rights Commission announced Tuesday.
Irene Waseem, 16, had chosen not to wear her traditional head wrap, or
hijab, to school in previous years. When she showed up wearing the
scarf on
Sept. 2, officials at the private school she attends, Charlemagne
College,
told Waseem her hijab violated the school's dress code.
The dress code calls for a mandatory uniform, and a ban on headgear of
any
kind.
Waseem's parents decided to file a complaint, which prompted the human
rights commission to launch its probe. The commission will now set
about
deciding whether the right to religious expression overrides the right
of
private schools to impose a dress code...
---
FRENCH HEADSCARF ROW REIGNITES AS SISTERS BARRED FROM CLASSES
Hugh Schofield, Agence France Presse, 9/2/03
The simmering row in France over the right of Muslim girls to wear the
headscarf in class burst into life again Wednesday when two sisters
were
banned from a suburban Paris school for refusing to uncover parts of
their
face.
Lila and Alma Levy, 18-and 16-year old daughters of a Jewish man and a
Muslim woman, were ordered to stay away from the Henri Wallon lycee in
the
northern suburb of Aubervilliers pending a decision by the school's
disciplinary board expected in 10 days.
According to a note from the education authority, the girls were
wearing
clothes "of an ostentatious character" that were also unsuitable for
sports
lessons. And it said the sisters caused a "public nuisance" by taking
part
in a demonstration in front of the school Tuesday in favour of
headscarves.
The girls' father Laurent Levy, who is a lawyer, reacted with fury to
their
exclusion from school and threatened legal action unless they are
quickly
readmitted...
-----
CONYERS CITES BBC REPORT THAT ADMINISTRATION KNEW THERE WAS NO WMD:
"THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO SENATOR KENNEDY"
Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
Fourteenth District, Michigan
Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary
Dean, Congressional Black Caucus
FOR RELEASE: September 24,
2003
CONTACT: Dena Graziano (202) 226-6888
Video footage, aired on BBC last night, showed Secretary of
State Colin Powell stating on February 24, 2001: ""He (Saddam Hussein)
has
not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of
mass
destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his
neighbors." The report also asserted that, immediately after the
September
11 attacks, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld said he wanted to "hit"
Iraq
and allegedly said "Go Massive National Security Adviser Condoleeza
Rice
reportedly said of Saddam Hussein, in November 2001: "We are able to
keep
his arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/23/1064082978207.html
In response to this report and White House criticism of Senator Ted
Kennedy, Congressman John Conyers, Jr., issued the following statement:
"The White House should immediately apologize to Senator Kennedy for
calling his legitimate criticism of the rush to war 'uncivil.' This
report
demonstrates that there are serious, unanswered questions about whether
this Administration has been straight with the American people about
the
reasons for putting their son and daughters at risk in Iraq. If these
allegations are true, they raise some of the most grave questions about
the
Bush Administration's commitment to truth and our constitutional system
of
government. We deserve a full accounting on this matter, the
resignation
of officials who perpetuated the myth of Saddam being connected to
9/11,
and the President himself should at long last take responsibility for
these
deceptions."
ALSO SEE:
MILLER'S LATEST TALE QUESTIONED
William E. Jackson Jr., Editor and Publisher,
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1984429
A New York Times story on Sept. 16, "Senior U.S. Official to Level
Weapons
Charges Against Syria," was the most important to appear under the sole
byline of Judith Miller since her mea culpa of July 20 in which she
revised
history as previously published by the Times.
But her latest story subjected the slant of her reporting to new
criticism,
as it appeared that she was, once again, the "drop" of choice for a
politically motivated leaker.
There was no follow-up by Miller in the Times the next day. Rather, in
an
apparent attempt to balance her report, the Times Web site on Sept. 17
ran
a longer International Herald Tribune story on the actual Congressional
testimony under the heading: "Despite Concerns About Syria, Powell Aide
Opposes Sanctions." It revealed that "individuals who sought to
publicize
these criticisms (of Syria) had provided an advance copy to The New
York
Times." (The IHT is owned by the Times.)
Did Miller break credible hard news -- or only flack for hawks in the
government, an all-too-familiar role for her over the last two years as
she
wrote a batch of stories supporting allegations that Iraq was
developing
and producing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons?...
-----
IMMIGRANTS FLEE FROM FEAR IN AMERICA
Sam Stanton and Emily Bazar, Sacramento Bee, 9/23/03
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/7488482p-8404361c.html
DETROIT - In the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge, 24-year-old Sohail
Rahim
is waiting for a yellow Checker cab that will ferry him into Canada,
where
he hopes to start a new life.
Again.
Two years after he fled persecution in Pakistan and carved out a life
of
freedom in Dallas, he is fleeing the United States and the fear of the
FBI
coming for him.
"I loved Dallas," Rahim said, standing along a bleak Detroit street
with
all his possessions stuffed into two large, black rolling suitcases.
But the fear of being deported to Pakistan for an immigration violation
is
too severe for him to risk staying in the United States.
He already has spent five days in a Detroit jail, housed with criminals
because he showed up at the wrong immigration counter in Canada by
mistake
and was turned back to America, where immigration officials held him
because of his expired visa.
Rahim is among thousands of immigrants who have left the United States
in
the past year after coming here in search of better and safer lives...
ALSO SEE:
FOR NOW, THE FEDERALS CAN SEE THEY'RE STUDENTS, NOT TERRORISTS
Joe Rodriguez, San Jose Mercury News, 9/24/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/joe_rodriguez/6838952.htm
Leaders of this war on terrorism can't find Osama bin Laden or weapons
of
mass destruction, but they sure know how to tackle a high school
football
player.
Ahmad Amin, an 18-year-old Pakistani and tight end for the Cupertino
High
School Pioneers, was slapped with a deportation order recently from the
federales. His older brother, Hassan, received a deportation order,
too,
only his came with a night in a county jail.
Their crime? Bad advice from an immigration lawyer a few years ago led
to
the expiration of their visitors visas. Even though they had applied
for
green cards, even though they had voluntarily registered after Sept.
11,
2001, even though their eldest brother is a U.S.-born citizen, they
couldn't catch a break from the hard-liners at the new Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
You never know. Any terrorist can hide under a football helmet.
"I just want to graduate from high school," Amin said at the time. "My
dream is for this to be over..."
-----
WITH NO PLAN APPARENT, GIS IN IRAQ SLOWLY BECOMING FRANTIC
Sgt. Leanne Duffy, Capital Times, 9/23/03
http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/column/guest/57361.php
I am a National Guardsman of the 105th Personnel Services Detachment
out of
Lincoln, Neb. My unit and I are stationed in Kuwait at Camp Wolf. We
were
deployed Feb. 2. We arrived in Jordan in April and half of us were
moved a
week later to Kuwait to throw mail.
When our unit came back together in June we had an order to go home but
it
was revoked and we ended up replacing an active Army unit. When
replacing
the active unit we were told our date to go home was Dec. 1.
We now hear that we will be here for a full year. We are under 3rd
Personnel Command. They say that when they decide who stays and who
goes,
it's not by how long soldiers have been deployed, just by unit
necessity...
Yes, we are physically able to finish our mission, but mentally and
spiritually we are dying...
This isn't a simple board game of Axis and Allies, this is a game
people
are playing with real people - people with families, not robots. You
have
college students out here (like me) missing over a year of college to
sit
and get yanked around without explanation. It has been told to the
officers
I have spoken to that 3rd PERSCOM refers to moving soldiers as "drug
deals." You do this for me and I'll make sure your soldiers go home,
etc...
ALSO SEE:
US MILITARY PROBES TIGER KILLING AT BAGHDAD ZOO
Agence France Presse, 9/24/03
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/23/1064082998267.html
The US military has launched an investigation into the alleged shooting
by
a US soldier of a rare Bengal tiger at the Baghdad zoo.
The top US military spokesman in Iraq, Lieutenant George Krivo, said
the
soldier had apparently tried to feed the big cat and "the tiger then
engaged the soldier's arm."
Adel Salman Musa, the head of the zoo, said the tiger was killed last
week
during an apparently drunken party between US soldiers and a group of
Iraqi
police officers.
The tiger tore off one of the soldier's fingers and mauled his arm. One
of
the other soldiers immediately fired at the animal and killed it, he
said....
-----
ISRAEL SPENDS $560 MILLION A YEAR ON JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN TERRITORIES
Ravi Nessman, Associated Press, 9/23/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/09/23/international1455EDT0643.DTL
The Israeli government spends at least $560 million a year on
subsidies,
infrastructure and education for 220,000 Jewish settlers living in the
West
Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a report Tuesday in the Israeli daily
Haaretz.
The figure does not include military spending in those areas.
Since capturing the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, Israel has spent at
least
$10.1 billion on settlements, Haaretz said.
Successive Israeli governments have refused to disclose how much they
spend
on settlements. Haaretz said it compiled the figure after three months
of
research, including interviews with dozens of government officials and
experts.
The settlements are seen as one barrier to reaching a peace agreement
between Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinians say Israel uses the
settlements to grab lands claimed for a Palestinian state...
-----
ALIM ISLAMIC LAW PROGRAM IN VA
American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM) is proud to present its
3rd
annual winter program, "Islamic Law: A Disciplined Art."
This 4-day course set in the backdrop of the nation's legal
fountainhead
aims to examine in-depth these important questions relevant to the
American
Muslim mind. By offering an approach that encourages literacy and
critical
thinking within this sophisticated discipline, the Winter Program will
introduce students to the ocean of Islamic Law through the cutting-edge
scholarship of its classically trained instructors.
Instructors: Dr. Abdul-Hakim Jackson, Dr. Muneer Fareed, Dr. Ali
Sulaiman
Ali, and Dr. Taha Jabir Al-Alwani (Tentative).
WHERE: The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center, 46903
Sugarland
Road, Sterling, VA 20164
WHEN: December 27-30, 2003
Please note that the capacity is 150 students and students will be
taken in
order of date application is complete. Tuition: $170/non-student,
$300/couple, $125/student. Tuition includes meals, snacks, and program
materials.
For more information, contact Diba Rab (240) 994-0843 or Irfan Murtuza
(301) 523-7314.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIM GROUP REACTS TO GITMO SPY PROBE
Suspects should be granted due process, presumption of innocence
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/25/2003) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today reacted to the military's probe into possible
security violations at the American prison camp for terrorism suspects
in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The statement by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) said suspects should be granted due process of law and punished
if
proven guilty by evidence presented in open court.
CAIR's full statement said:
"If proven, crimes committed by a citizen of any faith should be
punished.
Islam does not permit treason, disloyalty or the breaking of oaths.
"As this investigation goes forward, we urge that all those suspected
of
wrongdoing be given their constitutionally-guaranteed right to due
process
of law, including the presumption of innocence. We also urge that any
court
proceedings be open to the public and evidence be placed in the public
record. These cases must be judged on the evidence, not on the religion
or
ethnicity of the defendants.
"Unfortunately, this troubling episode in our nation's military history
is
being cynically exploited by those who have in the past sought to
marginalize and disenfranchise the American Muslim community. It is at
this
time of difficulty that President Bush needs to publicly reject guilt
by
association and show support for the thousands of Muslims in the
military
whose loyalty is now being questioned."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/25/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PIETY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6927 SPONSORSHIPS
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CAIR OFFERS CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF EDWARD SAID
- Palestinian Scholar Edward W. Said Dies (AP)
* N.Y. TOWN RECALLS ATTACK ON PALESTINIANS (AP)
- Israelis Refuse to Carry Out Air Strikes (AP)
* RESPECT FOR U.S. MUSLIMS (CSM)
- CAIR Rep on CNN's Wolf Blitzer Reports
* POLICE GIVEN TRAINING ON ISLAMIC FAITH (Arizona Republic)
- To Better Serve Arab Patients (Detroit Free Press)
- Muslim in Big Sky Country (Newsweek)
* CITIZENS SPEAK OUT ON LIBERTY (Sacramento Bee)
- DC Conference in Defense of the Bill of Rights
* ELECTROLUX WORKS OUT PRAYER BREAKS (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
* HUNT FOR WMD YIELDS NOTHING (Guardian)
- Ten Afghans Killed in Helicopter Strike (Indep.)
- 200 Held in Yemen 'To Placate US' (Guardian)
* FAITH Q&A: BEING MORAL IN SMALL THINGS (KC Star)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PIETY
Once when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent a
representative to
another land, he told that person: "Perhaps...you may not meet me after
this year, but...you may pass this mosque of mine and my grave." The
envoy
wept with grief when he heard these words. The Prophet consoled him by
saying: "Those nearest to me are the pious, whoever they are and
whenever
they are."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1374
The Prophet also said: "Piety is here (and while saying so he pointed
to
his chest three time)."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1167
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6927 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6927 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
Yesterday, CAIR announced that Maryland was the first state to complete
the
library project. CAIR now challenges other states to duplicate
Maryland's
efforts. For example in Alabama, there are just 8 libraries left to
sponsor
in.
Total Number of AL Public Libraries: 288
Number of libraries not sponsored: 8
Code - Library name, city, state
1265 - WALTER J HANNA MEMORIAL LIBRARY, FAIRFIELD, AL
14989 - WESTERN HILLS MALL LIBRARY, FAIRFIELD, AL
15025 - WEATHERFORD LIBRARY, RED BAY, AL
15038 - TRIANA PUBLIC LIBRARY, MADISON, AL
15041 - WOODVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WOODVILLE, AL
15056 - WESTSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WALNUT GROVE, AL
15072 - UNION SPRINGS LIBRARY, UNION SPRINGS, AL
15108 - WILCOX COUNTY LIBRARY, PINE APPLE, AL
Please sponsor a Alabama Library today. Log on to
www.libraryproject.org
and choose one of these libraries or let CAIR choose where to send the
package.
---
SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network.
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-396-5332.
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
CAIR OFFERS CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF EDWARD SAID
CAIR's board and staff wish to express their sincere condolences to the
friends and family of Edward Said, who passed away earlier today in New
York City after a long battle with leukemia. He was 67.
A scholar and literary critic at Columbia University, Said was one of
the
most prominent advocates in the United States on behalf of the
Palestinian
cause.
SEE ALSO:
PALESTINIAN SCHOLAR EDWARD W. SAID DIES
Associated Press, 9/25/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6858688.htm
NEW YORK - Edward W. Said, a Columbia University professor, literary
critic
and leading spokesman in the United States for the Palestinian cause,
has
died, his editor at Knopf publishers said Thursday. He was 67.
Said died at a New York hospital, said editor Shelly Wanger. He had
suffered from leukemia at least since the early 1990s.
Born in 1935 in Jerusalem - then part of British-ruled Palestine - Said
spent almost all his adult life in the United States. He wrote
passionately
about the Palestinian cause but also on a variety of other subjects -
from
English literature, his academic specialty, to music and culture.
His books ranged from ``The Question of Palestine'' in 1979 and ``After
the
Last Sky'' in 1986 - both about the Arab-Israeli conflict - to
``Musical
Elaborations'' in 1991, and ``Cultural Imperialism'' in 1993.
Said was consistently critical of Israel for what he regarded as
mistreatment of the Palestinians...
-----
N.Y. TOWN RECALLS ATTACK ON PALESTINIANS
Ben Dobbin, Associated Press, 9/24/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3187992,00.html
GENEVA, N.Y. - A 1948 attack by a Jewish militia on an Arab village
drew an
unlikely cast of visitors Wednesday to this small town in rural New
York.
A remembrance group of Palestinians, Israelis and Americans dedicated a
bronze statue of an uprooted olive tree to mark the attack that killed
more
than 100 Arabs in Deir Yassin, in what is now Israel.
In the struggle for Middle East peace, ``it's very disturbing when one
side's history is systematically ignored,'' said Daniel McGowan, who
launched Deir Yassin Remembered in 1994. ``It would be like nobody
wanting
to talk about the Holocaust when you talked about Jews.''
The attack on April 9, 1948, killed anywhere from 108 to 254 villagers
-
the number is still debated - and accelerated Israeli expropriation of
land. Israel became a state the next month...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELIS REFUSE TO CARRY OUT AIR STRIKES
Karin Laub, Associated Press, 9/25/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-pilots-protest,0,564997.story
JERUSALEM - A group of reserve air force pilots elicited wall-to-wall
condemnation Thursday for their refusal to carry out air strikes in
Palestinian areas, but their unprecedented protest set off an emotional
debate on the ethics of the targeted killings of militants.
Pilots are held in the highest regard in Israel and their views carry
considerable weight, since their skill and audacity are seen as key to
Israel's survival.
Wednesday's signed declaration condemning the air strikes shook the
nation
and also raised new questions about the limits of protest in the
military.
The air force commander, Maj. Gen. Dan Halutz, said the signatories
would
be punished - possibly jailed - and accused them of playing politics,
rather than grappling with genuine moral dilemmas...
In their petition, the pilots said air strikes on crowded Palestinian
areas
are ``illegal and immoral.'' They also condemn Israel's continued
occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, saying it corrupts Israeli
society...
-----
RESPECT FOR U.S. MUSLIMS
Christian Science Monitor, 9/25/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0925/p10s03-comv.html
It's disturbing to hear that a Muslim Army chaplain and an Air Force
translator at the Guantanamo Bay detention center have been arrested on
suspicion of espionage. But no one should rush to judgment as to what
that
means.
First, the Pentagon says that, as yet, there is no apparent link
between
the two, although they might have known each other. Second, as any
defendant, each deserves a presumption of innocence. Third, no one
should
tar the entire American Muslim community as sympathetic to terrorism.
There's a long history of scapegoating minority immigrant groups in
this
country, as elsewhere. In the 1850s Irish Catholics were suspected of
selling the country out to the Vatican. After World War I, Slavic men
were
accused of Bolshevism and deported. German- and Japanese-Americans were
accused of sympathy with Hitler and Tojo during World War II (and the
Japanese-Americans herded into camps). American Jews have been
suspected of
loyalty to Israel over the US. Americans must resist the temptation to
repeat these episodes...
SEE ALSO:
CAIR REP ON CNN'S WOLF BLITZER REPORTS
Transcript, September 24, 2003
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/wolf.blitzer.reports/
BLITZER: That was U.S. Army Captain James Yee, a Muslim chaplain at the
Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, now being held for suspected security
breaches. Also held, Air Force translator Ahmed Al Halabi. He's charged
with espionage and aiding the enemy. Is there a terrorist connection?
Are
Muslim members of the U.S. military being unfairly singled out? Joining
me
is Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Ibrahim,
thanks very much for joining us. This is pretty shocking stuff. It must
be
a nightmare for American Muslims, in particular?
IBRAHIM HOOPER, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS: Unfortunately,
the
American Muslim community is already under suspicion. And this kind of
unfortunate incident only adds to that burden. And we see -- like we
had
Senator Schumer exploiting the situation to try and further
disenfranchise
and marginalize American Muslims.
BLITZER: When you say exploit the situation, he's obviously
concerned...
HOOPER: Schumer has a long history of jousting with the American Muslim
community and its leadership. He's using this to further his political
agenda. But first...
BLITZER: Let me press you on this, because on this particular -- he's,
obviously, concerned that maybe there's a security breach...
HOOPER: He's throwing out these hot button terms, Wahabi, militant,
extremist. He never names names. He never gives evidence. So people are
left thinking there is a vast conspiracy out there. And it's just
nonsense.
But first of all, if there was treason, if there was espionage, if
there
was any law that was broken, people should be punished. That, the
American
Muslim community...
BLITZER: And this particular case, Al Halabi is specifically charged
with
-- and we'll put it up on the screen -- espionage, aiding the enemy,
false
statements, bank fraud, failing to obey orders. Obviously, those are
among
the most serious kinds of charges.
HOOPER: If they're true, bring evidence in an open court of law, try
him,
convict him, punish him.
BLITZER: But you have confidence in the military code of justice?
HOOPER: I think the facts aren't all out yet. I think, we need to see
what's really there. What we're hearing are leaks, behind the scenes
reports. We need to see actual evidence. We need to see it in open
court
and be judged by reasonable people.
BLITZER: As you know, a lot of Muslims in the United States, indeed a
lot
of non-Muslims are pretty angry about what's happening at Guantanamo
Bay.
There are laws, obviously, that U.S. military personnel have to obey.
Is
there a sense that some American Muslims in the U.S. military may be so
upset about what they see happening at Guantanamo Bay, they may decide
to
take matters into their own hands?
HOOPER: We don't know, because we don't know what the conditions are
down
there. Everything is shrouded in such secrecy we don't know what's
happening. That adds to the mystery of the situation. If they would
allow
the inspectors to go in, somebody to go in and say, here's what's
happening, that would open up the situation quite a bit. I don't think
we
have seen all the facts in this case.
BLITZER: We have seen very few of the facts so far. We got a limited
amount
of information. I want to show our viewers, Ibrahim we want to show you
as
well, we just got a picture of Mr. Al Halabi. There he is Ahmad Al
Halabi,
the senior airmen. This is the first time we've seen a picture of this
man
accused of espionage, aiding the enemy and these other charges. What's
been
the reaction in your community since word came earlier this week of
these
two cases?
HOOPER: I think the Muslim community and the Arab American community
are
shell shocked at this point. They're seeing a stream, a drum beat of
these
kinds incidents, one after another. And we're not seeing support from
political circles from elected officials, from opinion leaders.
In fact, why aren't we hearing President Bush come out and defend the
patriotism of the thousands of American Muslims who are serving loyally
in
the military instead of focusing on these two cases and, again,
focusing on
the religion? Let's judge the case based on the evidence, not on
religion
or ethnicity.
BLITZER: Fair enough. Thanks very much Ibrahim Hooper for joining us.
-----
POLICE GIVEN TRAINING ON ISLAMIC FAITH
Peter Ortiz, Arizona Republic, 9/24/03
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0924antibias24.html
With a mosque soon to be built in his city, Scottsdale Police Chief
Alan
Rodbell joined other police officials, representatives from social
service
agencies and citizens this week to learn about an opportunity to
educate
his officers about the Muslim community and Islam.
Police officials from Mesa and Tempe also attended the meeting Monday
at
Arizona State University, where Aneesah Nadir told of plans to educate
200
groups in the next year through the Islamic Social Services
Association's
Anti-Bias Project.
The effort is aimed at law enforcement, media, social service agencies,
health organizations and other interested groups.
"We want to be a part of the community, and we want to be here with
you,"
said Nadir, a professor at ASU West and president of the ISSA in
Arizona...
Deedra Abboud, director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in
Arizona, said the project is sorely needed in a climate where ignorance
of
Muslims and Islam is still evident two years after Sept. 11, 2001.
About a
week before the war with Iraq, an airport shuttle service company asked
her
to speak with their employees about the Muslim faith fearing a
backlash...
ALSO SEE:
TO BETTER SERVE ARAB PATIENTS; OFFICIALS WILL DISCUSS SOLUTIONS AT A
FORUM
Kim Norris, Detroit Free Press, 9/25/03
http://www.freep.com/money/business/arab25_20030925.htm
Located in the heart of one of the biggest concentrations of Arab
Americans, Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center is attuned to the
medical
and cultural needs of the population that fills 35 percent of its
inpatient
beds on any given day.
Many physicians, nurses and staff employees speak Arabic. Its hospital
kitchen is designed and its staff trained to prepare food in accordance
with the Halal menu. Between 60 and 100 such meals are served each day.
Instructions on care and navigating the health system are translated
into
Arabic. The Dearborn-based health system even has brochures on
patients'
rights and a packet to help a patient prepare last-wishes documents
translated into Arabic.
But despite its well-known ability to serve Arab patients, Oakwood
makes
relatively little effort to attract cash-paying patients from the
Middle
East to its hospitals and doctors...
---
MUSLIMS IN BIG SKY COUNTRY
Carla Power, Newsweek, 9/29/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/969706.asp
Viewed from Britain, the New World can seem pretty narrow-minded these
days. Read the newspapers or chat to the sweet old guy at the corner
shop,
and you're easily convinced that the United States is a land of bigoted
neocons, where Muslim baiting ranks second only to foreign invasions as
the
favored national pastime.
Driving through New Mexico, the view through the windshield of my Avis
rental car is far more expansive. As I drive down Highway 84 outside
Santa
Fe, I am part of a landscape straight out of the American Dream. With a
cobalt sky suspended over scrubby juniper-studded hills, this is the
country of Thelma and Louise, of John Ford Westerns and lantern-jawed
Marlboro men. And, of course, of Muslims.
I'm en route to visit one of America's most famous Islamic landmarks:
Dar
al Islam, a religious center started 20 years ago outside the town of
Abiquiu by a group of American Muslims…
-----
LIBERTY IN THE BALANCE: CITIZENS ACROSS THE U.S. SPEAK OUT
Sam Stanton and Emily Bazar, Sacramento Bee, 9/24/03
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/projects/liberty/story/7473568p-8415954c.html
JUNEAU, Alaska -- Tim Armstrong served with the 1st Air Mobile Cavalry
Division in Vietnam, surviving a mortar barrage that left 33 pieces of
shrapnel in his upper body.
He is a proud American who remembers the vow he made the day he joined
the
Army. "I took an oath, just like everyone else who serves in the
military,
to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Armstrong
said.
Today, the 56-year-old radio ad salesman says he is still defending the
Constitution as he criticizes the USA Patriot Act and many of the
security
enhancements that accompany life in post-Sept. 11 America...
Concerned about the lengths to which the government has gone to defend
the
nation since Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of Americans like Armstrong are
speaking out, fighting back and banding together in unusual political
alliances against everything from enhanced government surveillance to
increased airport security measures...
ALSO SEE:
FIRST 'GRASSROOTS AMERICA DEFENDS THE BILL OF RIGHTS' CONFERENCE
WHAT: Grassroots activists from around the country will converge on
Washington D.C. in mid-October to express outrage at post 9/11 threats
to
our constitutional liberties. Their gathering point is the "Grassroots
America Defends the Bill of Rights" conference.
The "Grassroots America" conference is an opportunity for ordinary
people
from across the country to continue planning the demise of laws like
the
PATRIOT Act. On October 20, some conference participants take their
message to Capitol Hill, urging Congress to repeal aspects of the USA
PATRIOT Act and other post 9/11 federal actions which threaten civil
liberties and rights.
Representatives from national civil liberties organizations will join
regional activists and organizers who hail from traditionally
conservative
areas like the mountain west and the state of Alaska as well as more
traditionally liberal areas such as Massachusetts and the San Francisco
Bay
region.
Conference organizers include the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and
the
American Civil Liberties Union. Other national groups helping to
organize
the conference include the American Library Association, the Center for
Democracy and Technology, the Council on American Islamic Relations,
the
Friends Committee on National Legislation, the National Lawyers Guild
and
People for the American Way.
A left/right panel discussion organized by People For the American Way
features PFAW President Ralph G. Neas and Americans for Tax Reform
President Grover Norquist. The panel will be chaired by actor/activist
Alec
Baldwin.
WHEN: October 18 and 19, 2003.
WHERE: Silver Spring Hilton.
SEE: http://www.grassroots-americafor more information.
Or contact: Gabe Rottman, ACLU: 202-675-2328; Mark Baven, BORDC:
413-586-7698; Tarek Rizk, PFAW: 202-467-4999.
-----
ELECTROLUX WORKS OUT PRAYER BREAKS
Julie Forster, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 9/25/03
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/6853210.htm
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has reached a
settlement
with the Electrolux Group over a charge that the company's Muslim
employees
were being disciplined for taking prayer breaks. The EEOC announced the
settlement Wednesday.
The case was initiated about a year ago when the Somali Community
Center in
Minneapolis filed a discrimination charge on behalf of 165 Somali
workers
who worked on the assembly line at the Electrolux Home Products plant
in
St. Cloud. The workers claimed they were discriminated against because
of
their religious beliefs, said the EEOC.
Under the tenets of the Islamic faith, Muslims must offer at least five
daily prayers. The sunset prayer must be observed within 90 minutes of
the
sunset...
-----
THE HUNT FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION YIELDS - NOTHING
Julian Borger, Ewen MacAskill and Patrick Wintour, Guardian, 9/25/03
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1049257,00.html
An intensive six-month search of Iraq for weapons of mass destruction
has
failed to discover a single trace of an illegal arsenal, according to
accounts of a report circulating in Washington and London.
The interim report, compiled by the CIA-led Iraq Survey Group (ISG) of
1,400 weapons experts and support staff, will instead focus on Saddam
Hussein's capacity and intentions to build banned weapons.
A draft of the report has been sent to the White House, the Pentagon
and
Downing Street, a US intelligence source said. It has caused such
disappointment that there is now a debate over whether it should be
released to Congress over the next fortnight, as had been widely
expected...
A BBC report yesterday said that the survey group, which includes
British
and Australian investigators, had come across no banned weapons, or
delivery systems, or laboratories involved in developing such
weapons...
ALSO SEE:
TEN AFGHANS KILLED IN HELICOPTER STRIKE AGAINST 'TALIBAN CHIEFS'
Noor Khan, Independent, 9/25/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=446743
Haji Lawang, a Nomadic tribesman, saw the outline of the helicopter in
the
night sky and heard its roar as it flew low over his three tents. A
moment
later, an explosion shook the ground and fire flew up from the desert
about
a mile away.
Mr Lawang, 50, huddled with his two wives, four children, goats and
camels
and prayed his family would not be attacked. At dawn, he went out to
investigate and found his neighbours' camp in ruins. Five women and
four
children were dead, he said. Five men and a woman lay wounded.
He ran to the nearby village of Roghani and borrowed a truck. He drove
the
wounded 120 miles to a hospital in the southern city of Kandahar.
Senior
Afghan officials there blamed American forces for the attack and said
that
up to 10 nomads had been killed.
US forces in Afghanistan said one of its helicopters attacked a tent
last
Thursday night in Naubahar district and killed two Taliban militants,
including a commander who had been leading attacks against US-led
forces
for the past year.
The military initially said it was "highly confident" that only enemy
fighters had been killed. It said later that it was investigating
reports
of "noncombatant casualties"...
---
200 HELD IN YEMEN 'TO PLACATE US'
Brian Whitaker, Guardian, 9/24/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/yemen/Story/0,2763,1048570,00.html
The US-led "war on terror" has caused a worsening of human rights in
Yemen,
with the authorities there holding almost 200 people without trial in
an
effort to placate the Americans, says a report published today.
In the months following the September 11 attacks on New York and
Washington, Yemen embarked upon mass arrests, detentions, and the
secret
deportation of foreign nationals, Amnesty International reports.
In the 1990s, Yemen, a poor, mountainous country with porous borders,
became a popular refuge for Islamists, many with Afghan connections.
After September 11, Yemen's government was pressed by Washington to
crack
down on extremists, or face military intervention...
The detentions in Yemen mirror those in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where
Yemenis
are among those being held by the US without trial...
-----
CAN PEOPLE CONSIDER THEMSELVES MORAL IF THEY AREN'T MORAL IN THE SMALL
THINGS?
Rushdy El-Ghussein, Kansas City Star, 9/25/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/6794276.htm
(Rushdy El-Ghussein, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater
Kansas City, Mo.)
In Islam, morality is not a list of do's and don'ts. Morality builds
the
personality of the individual who strives to be God's steward on earth.
Religious morality is sacred and divine and does not change with time
and
place. Unfortunately we live in times where the immorality of yesterday
becomes the normality and morality of today.
In Islam we have a rule stating when a big or a large thing is
prohibited
then the small or tiny thing of the same is prohibited. Morality does
not
happen in a vacuum. Morality is nourished by practice and being
God-conscious. Without being God-conscious we lose elements of
integrity,
sincerity and honesty. Without this consciousness we become more
accepting
of behaviors that might lead to immoral actions.
A true religiously moral person will not accept for himself/herself to
use
office hours to conduct personal business without his/her superiors'
knowledge; or use the office phone for personal long distance; or
taking
office supplies home for personal usage...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS - 9/25/03
IMMIGRATION OFFICER ACCUSED OF RAPING DETAINEE
TheHometownChannel.com, 9/24/03
http://www.thehometownchannel.com/news/2509667/detail.html
SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- An agent for the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration
Services, formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service,
was
arrested this week on allegations that he took an immigrant woman to a
motel and raped her.
The alleged victim, a 21-year-old Turkish national, is in federal
custody,
authorities said. Police said she was arrested on felony charges and
has
been housed in the Washington County Jail while going through the
deportation process.
The immigration transportation officer, Curtis Hall, is based out of
Nashville, Tenn., but for the past several weeks has been assigned to
temporary duty in northwest Arkansas.
On Tuesday, police said Hall was scheduled to take the woman to a local
doctor's visit. On the way back to the jail, the woman told Springdale
police officers that he stopped by the motel he is staying in and
forced
her to have sex.
Initially, Hall completely denied taking the woman to his motel room,
police said. But he finally admitted to having a sexual relationship
with
the woman, authorities said.
Hall is being held on a charge of rape. Federal officials could not be
reached concerning Hall's status as an immigration officer.
SEE ALSO:
INS OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
Jenny Hamel, KFSM 5 News, 9/24/03
http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=1456698&nav=2uEHIBA3
SPRINGDALE -- An Immigration and Naturalization Services officer was
behind
bars in Springdale Wednesday night after being arrested on third-degree
sexual assault charges.
Police say the alleged victim is a 21-year-old Turkish national who was
being held in the Washington County Sheriff's Office awaiting
deportation
proceedings. The victim alleges that while being transported to a
doctor's
office from the facility, her INS officer made a detour, took her to a
motel room in Springdale then raped her.
The officer is Curtis Hall, 38, who was arrested by Springdale police
on
third-degree sexual assault charges. Detectives say although Hall
originally said there was never a motel room visit, after further
questioning he then changed his story…
"I anticipate there's a lot of people that are going to be angry about
this
on different levels," Simmons said. "Him being an INS officer, and her
being an immigrant, that is disconcerting…"
Hall is behind bars at the Washington County Jail while investigation
into
this alleged sexual assault continues.
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/26/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DRAW OUT MALICE
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6927 SPONSORSHIPS
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* CAIR-CA POLICY STATEMENT ON PROPOSITION 54
- CAIR-CA's 9th Annual Fundraising Banquet
* CAIR-DFW GETS A NEW HOME
- TX High School Student to Attend Friday Prayer
- CAIR-DFW to Organize Friday Prayer for High School
* WHY DOES HEAD SCARF HAVE US TIED UP IN KNOTS? (Globe&Mail)
* NY MUSLIM WORKS FOR BETTER RELATIONS (Journal News)
* HATE CRIMES RISE IN FLORIDA (Miami Herald)
- NJ Sikh Claims Profiling (Observer Tribune)
- Kerry Targets GOP Over Offensive T-Shirts (AP)
* DEMOCRATS SEEK ROLLBACK OF PATRIOT ACT (Chronicle Wash.)
- Right Morbidly Fascinating (OGB Online)
- Aldermen Assail Patriot Act (Chicago Tribune)
- Pakistanis no Longer Security Threat (Toronto Star)
* POSTWAR VIOLENCE KILLS EXTRA 1,500 IN BAGHDAD (Reuters)
- Remember Chechnya (Wash. Post)
- U.S. Plans Own Arab-Language TV Network (AP)
* COMMUNITY FIGHTS DEPORTATION OF NJ MUSLIM FAMILY
* VA SEMINAR ON "DISCRIMINATION AND YOUR RIGHTS"
* MD LECTURES ON PATRIOT ACT, KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DRAW OUT MALICE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made the following
supplication:
"My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin…guide my heart, make
true
my tongue, and draw out malice from my breast."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 595
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6927 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6927 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
Earlier this week, CAIR announced that Maryland was the first state to
complete the library project. CAIR now challenges other states to
duplicate
Maryland's efforts. For example in Washington, D.C., there are just 3
libraries left to sponsor.
DC Library Project Status:
Total Number of DC Public Libraries: 37
Number of libraries not sponsored: 3
Code- Library name, city, state
14015 - CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, DC
14028 - INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY INFO, WASHINGTON, DC
14029 - POLISH LIBRARY IN WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, DC
Payments by cash, checks or credit card could be mailed to address
above or
go on line to www.libraryproject.org or
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/
-----
CAIR-CA POLICY STATEMENT ON PROPOSITION 54
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-California (CAIR-California)
joins with other civil rights organizations in strong opposition to
Proposition 54, the Racial Privacy Initiative, scheduled for the
October 7,
2003 ballot. If approved, it would become illegal for any public entity
in
the state to collect statistics based on race, ethnicity, color, or
national origin.
CAIR-California recognizes that Californians make up a diverse
population
of cultures, ethnicities and religious backgrounds. This diversity
should
be embraced, welcomed and honored in the great state of California.
That is
why a broad coalition of civil rights organizations, business groups,
educators, chambers of commerce, law enforcement agencies, public
health
experts and medical professionals have joined together to oppose
Proposition 54.
Various law enforcement and human relations commissions in California
have
indicated that the initiative would prohibit collection and analysis of
annual hate crime data, making it impossible to track hate groups and
focus
resources on areas of interracial and intergroup tensions.
Elimination of hate crimes data collection and reports would not
eliminate
hate crimes; it would simply make them invisible to the policy
makers...
CAIR-California urges a "NO" vote on proposition 54.
CONTACT: Helal Omeira at 408-986-9874 or nocal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-CA'S 9TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING BANQUET
WHAT: CAIR-CA will hold its 9th annual fundraising banquet,
"Together...Defending Civil Rights and Promoting Tolerance." Guests
will
include: Hon. Anna Eshoo, US Congress; State Assemblywoman Sally
Lieber;
State Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist; John Tateishi, National Executive
Director- JACL; Dorothy Ehrlich Northern California Executive Director-
ACLU
WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2003, dinner & program at 6:30 PM
WHERE: The Santa Clara Marriott
SEATING IS LIMITED! Register online at
http://www.cair-california.org/ncabanquetinfo.htm.
-----
CAIR-DFW GETS A NEW HOME
CAIR Dallas Fort Worth, TX, (CAIR-DFW) has moved to:
3010 LBJ Freeway, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75234
Tel: (972)241-7233, Fax: (972)241-7466
An open house reception is scheduled for Sunday, October 12.
ALSO SEE:
GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO ATTEND FRIDAY PRAYER
CAIR-DFW intervened to behalf of a Muslim high school student at
Garland
High to be allowed to attend his obligatory Friday Prayer. The student
and
his parents were informed by the school administration that the
student's
attendance of Friday Prayer will be impact his attendance record,
resulting
in a failing grade. CAIR-DFW was contacted by student's father for
assistance which in turn contacted District Superintendent and was able
to
resolve the matter immediately.
---
CAIR-DFW TO ORGANIZE FRIDAY PRAYER FOR BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL
Following a meeting with Richardson Schools Superintendent, CAIR-DFW is
now
conducting meetings with Berkner High school Muslim students and their
parents. The purpose of the meeting is to insure that the students are
able
fulfill their religious obligations while the Friday Prayer issue is
being
handled with the school district.
CAIR-DFW position remains that students should be allowed again to
conduct
Friday prayer in a private space on campus. Such activity is permitted
under the law as it is student initiated and does not infringe on
others'
rights. This will in turn insure that Muslim students are not penalized
academically for observing their religious obligations.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 28 in
classroom 11 at the Islamic Association of North Texas (IANT).
Students,
parents and any interested member of the community are encouraged to
attend. For more information, please contact CAIR-DFW
-----
WHY DOES A HEAD SCARF HAVE US TIED UP IN KNOTS?
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 9/26/03
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030926/COSHEEMA26/E-MAIL:
canada@cair-net.org
The right to wear the Islamic head scarf, the hijab, is once again in
the
news. The current hijab controversy involves Irene Waseem, 16, who was
recently expelled from College Charlemagne, a private Catholic girls'
school, for wearing the hijab on her first day back at the school she
had
attended since 1999. The Quebec Human Rights Commission (QHRC) has
ruled
that a private religious institution cannot violate rights, such as
freedom
of religion, protected under the province's human-rights charter.
Such incidents, rare in the rest of Canada, occasionally occur in
Quebec
because of its secularism, its links to France -- and its nationalism.
How
inclusive is Quebec identity? Can it incorporate practices that are not
pur
laine? Last year, CBC news correspondent Celine Gallipeau unwittingly
set
off a firestorm in the province for wearing a loose-fitting head scarf
while reporting from Afghanistan.
The issue first came up in 1994, when the provincial Human Rights
Commission was asked to investigate the case of 12-year-old Emilie
Ouimet.
She showed up the first day of class wearing a hijab at �cole Louis
Riel, a
public high school. The principal ordered her to remove her headgear
because it violated the school ban on caps. Despite her protests that
the
scarf was a garment of modesty in accordance with her faith, Ms. Ouimet
was
sent home. After changing schools, Ms. Ouimet filed a precedent-setting
complaint with the QHRC, which ruled that, generally speaking, public
schools cannot forbid the wearing of the hijab...
-----
MUSLIM WORKS TOWARD BETTER RELIGIOUS RELATIONS
Sulaiman Beg, Journal News, 9/25/03
http://www.thejournalnews.com/weekly/092603/a02ss0925doctora.html
As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan knows that underneath our
skin,
we are all the same.
It's this simple message that Hassan, who works at Phelps Memorial
Hospital
Center in Sleepy Hollow, conveys while traveling across the Northeast
to
spread the peaceful message of Islam. Her goal, however, is not as
simple:
to develop better relations among the people who practice her religion
and
those who follow Judaism and Christianity.
The task has grown increasingly difficult in the aftermath of Sept. 11,
2001.
Hassan, 52, who speaks in churches, universities, community halls and
homes, said she felt a compelling need to explain her religion to
others
after the terrorist attacks, which caused many Americans to connect
Islam
with terrorism and violence.
"When I die and my Maker asks me `What did you do?'" she said. "That
will
be my question."
Last Thursday, Hassan, a Pleasantville resident, was awarded with the
Yitzhak Rabin Peacemaker's Award, named for the assassinated Israeli
leader
and Nobel Peace Prize recipient praised for his efforts to bring peace
to
the Middle East. The award was presented by the New Rochelle-based
Coalition for Mutual Respect in a special ceremony held at City Hall...
-----
HATE CRIMES RISE HERE
Hannah Sampson, Miami Herald, 9/26/03
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/6863136.htm
For the third year in a row, Broward County had the dubious distinction
of
reporting more hate crimes in the state than any other county.
Figures released Thursday by the state Attorney General's Office showed
that law enforcement agencies reported 306 hate crimes statewide in
2002.
Of those, Broward reported 52.
In 2001, Broward had 51 reported hate crimes; 44 were reported in 2000.
Of the 52, 30 of the crimes reported in Broward were based on race or
color, according to the report. The crimes mostly took the form of
assault,
intimidation or vandalism.
Broward's increase in reported crimes from 2001 to 2002 bucked a state
trend. The number of hate crimes reported in the state in 2002 was down
29
from 335 the year before. The decrease was welcome news to state
officials...
Altaf Ali, executive director for the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said his organization released a report in
July
indicating that anti-Muslim incidents in the state had increased by 95
percent during 2002.
''Unless something is done and soon, I think we'll see more hate crimes
and
discrimination cases increasing'' against Muslims, Ali said...
ALSO SEE:
LONG VALLEY SIKH CLAIMS PROFILING
Phil Garber, Observer Tribune, 9/25/03
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10220414&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506868&rfi=6
WASHINGTON TWP. - A 34-year-old Sikh from Long Valley claimed he was a
victim of profiling when he was allegedly accosted by an airline
attendant
because he wore a turban and she believed he may have been a Muslim
terrorist.
The Sikh, Handsdip Bindar, a native of India and executive vice
president
of a software company, filed the suit in federal court in Newark on
Tuesday, Sept. 16 alleging racial profiling, intimidation and
harassment.
He seeks damages from Delta Air Lines, its affiliate carrier, Atlantic
Coast Airlines Inc.; and the attendant, Janet Thomas.
A spokesman for a Sikh rights organization said the alleged profiling
was
another in a series of attacks against Sikhs nationwide since the Sept.
11,
2001, terrorist attacks...
---
KERRY TARGETS GOP OVER OFFENSIVE T-SHIRTS
Sharon Theimer, Associated Press, 9/25/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/6860409.htm
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is appealing
for
donations in an e-mail accusing college Republicans of allowing the
sale of
racist and anti-gay T-shirts at a convention this summer.
``I need you to join me in showing we reject the divisive politics some
in
the GOP are passing on to a new generation of Republicans,'' Kerry
wrote in
the e-mail Thursday, also posted on his campaign Web site.
The e-mail includes a photo of the shirts. One says, ``No Muslims No
Terrorism.'' Another has a photo of black filmmaker Spike Lee and the
message, ``Bring back the blacklist.'' A third shows a photo of lesbian
TV
personality Rosie O'Donnell and her partner with the line ``Mr. (?) and
Mrs. (?) Rosie O'Donnell.'' Another says, ``The Clinton Legacy'' and
shows
the World Trade Center after a plane crashed into it.
Kerry's e-mail said the T-shirts, from a company called Ocents, were
displayed and sold at the College Republicans National Convention in
Washington in July.
-----
DEMOCRATS SEEK ROLLBACK OF PATRIOT ACT
Carolyn Lochhead, Chronicle Washington Bureau, 9/25/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/09/25/MN286896.DTL
Washington -- Several Bay Area Democrats moved Wednesday to repeal some
provisions of the USA Patriot Act, which Congress passed overwhelmingly
soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to bolster law
enforcement
tools against terrorists.
The Bush administration has called the measure a big success but says
it
needs further strengthening, and Attorney General John Ashcroft went on
a
month-long national tour starting in mid-August to promote that effort,
dubbed Patriot Act II, as well as to defend the original measure.
But critics on the left -- in a rare alliance with libertarians on the
right -- contend the current version is already trampling on civil
liberties and vowed a counterattack.
Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, said the Patriot Act repeals
"centuries-old
civil rights and civil liberties protections" in introducing what
sponsors
call the "Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act," which would repeal
various
provisions of the original legislation...
ALSO SEE:
RIGHT MORBIDLY FASCINATING
Erik Jacobson, OGB Online, 9/25/03
http://ogb.wfu.edu/editorials/editorials_more.php?id=675_0_8_0_C
Last Saturday in Kernersville, I picked out a new firearm I thought
would
make a nice addition to my collection. I explained to the owner of "The
Gun
Rack" that I was not a U.S. citizen. I knew as a Permanent U.S.
Resident
that he was required to make a photocopy of my "Green Card" in
compliance
with federal law. What I did not know was that this mild mannered
storeowner was in fact a true American patriot, a man who had just
stumbled
upon his first chance to aid in the war on terror and was not going to
let
the opportunity slip through his fingers.
So perhaps I should have been less surprised when he proudly
proclaimed, "I
ain't gonna sell you this gun"... The reality is that my status as an
immigrant led this man to treat me with scorn and suspicion.
In my 16 years here in the United States, that afternoon was the very
first
time I have ever felt unwelcome in what I consider to be my home. I
wondered as I walked out of the gun store if the owner knew that over
31,000 non-citizens were currently serving in our military...
It seems this shop owner is a product of the neo-conservative culture
sweeping our nation, driven in part by a right wing media that after
Sept.
11 managed to become mainstream...
---
ALDERMEN ASSAIL PATRIOT ACT
Sabrina L. Miller, Chicago Tribune, 9/26/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0309260173sep26,1,1917658.story
A City Council committee on Thursday advanced a resolution that would
make
Chicago the largest city in the nation to condemn the USA Patriot Act,
which aldermen said is trampling the civil rights of many of their
constituents.
Following a heated afternoon hearing that included an appearance by
U.S.
Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the City Council's Human Relations
Committee
endorsed a resolution that condemned provisions of the act and urged
Congress to repeal it. The full City Council will vote on the
resolution on
Wednesday.
More than 100 cities nationwide have adopted resolutions condemning the
act, which was passed one month after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
Pressure on Congress to repeal or amend the Patriot Act has intensified
since a recent public campaign by U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and the
Bush administration to strengthen the measure...
---
PAKISTANIS NO LONGER SECURITY THREAT
Joseph Hall, Toronto Star, 9/26/03
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1064441418328
The federal immigration department's Project Thread terror probe
appeared
to be unraveling completely yesterday as security concerns were dropped
against six more Muslim suspects - including a student pilot who was
allegedly scouting out the Pickering nuclear plant.
An immigration tribunal released the pilot, Anwar-Ur-Rehman Mohammed,
31,
on $25,000 bail after ministry counsel Stephanie MacKay announced that
security allegations had been dropped against the native of Hyderabad,
India.
Mohammed, who attended the 30-day detention hearing via a video linkup
from
jail, seemed to bend over and pray as tribunal head Robert Murrant
considered his release for about 10 minutes. He burst into tears after
he
was told he'd go free.
His case is at least the ninth where security concerns have been
dropped
from the file.
Ten others have been taken out of the public forum, presumably because
they
have now become private, refugee-claim matters...
-----
POSTWAR VIOLENCE KILLS EXTRA 1,500 IN BAGHDAD-GROUP
Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters, 9/26/03
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters09-26-023114.asp
LONDON - Soaring violence on the streets of Baghdad since the U.S.-led
war
in Iraq has killed an extra 1,519 civilians, a research group said on
Friday.
The Iraq Body Count (IBC), an Anglo-American group of academics and
peace
activists, said its study of violent deaths recorded at the main city
morgue confirmed anecdotal evidence of "terror" and "mayhem" on the
streets
of Baghdad.
>From mid-April to the end of August, 2,846 violent deaths were
recorded
by the Baghdad morgue, the IBC said, basing its figures on a variety of
media sources.
After subtracting the average pre-war death rates, "a total of at least
1,519 excess violent deaths in Baghdad emerges," it added...
ALSO SEE:
REMEMBER CHECHNYA
Washington Post, 9/26/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2673-2003Sep25.html
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin was a strong opponent of the U.S.
invasion
of Iraq, and now he says he is skeptical of U.S. plans for
reconstruction.
Any political transition, he insists, must be endorsed by the United
Nations and Arab states around Iraq.
So we can only imagine what Mr. Putin's reaction would be if, during
their
scheduled meeting at Camp David this week, President Bush were to
confide
that his official plan to return Iraq to representative government was
a
mere facade. Mr. Bush might say that Iraq's constitution actually would
be
written in Washington so as to permanently require the presence of U.S.
troops and political control and that the United States would select a
presidential candidate who would be allowed to install his campaign
manager
as supervisor of all Iraqi media. If any serious challengers dared to
take
on Washington's favorite in a U.S.-run election, the White House would
simply force them out of the race...
---
U.S. PLANS OWN ARAB-LANGUAGE TV NETWORK
George Gedda, Associated Press, 9/25/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6860725.htm
WASHINGTON - In an attempt to compete with al-Jazeera and other Arab
news
channels, the Bush administration expects to start its own
round-the-clock
Arab-language satellite television network before year's end.
An official announcement Thursday said the network will broadcast
``accurate, timely and relevant news and information'' about the Arab
world
and the United States.
The plan was outlined at a news conference and in the announcement from
the
Broadcasting Board of Governors, which supervises U.S. government
broadcast
operations overseas.
The network is part of a broader effort to bring balanced reporting on
international issues to an area of the world where one-sided coverage
is
the norm and there is scant support for U.S. policies, officials said.
Administration officials have criticized Qatari-based al-Jazeera,
contending the network has given terrorists a platform. One of its star
reporters was recently accused of being an al-Qaida member...
-----
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY FIGHTS DEPORTATION OF FAMILY OF WAQAR HASAN,
MURDERED
IN 2001
September 25, 2003, NEW YORK CITY -- Several ecumenical leaders are
part of
a broad religious community effort to save the family of the late Waqar
Hasan from deportation. A Pakistani man who had lived and worked in New
Jersey for nearly 10 years, Hasan was murdered point-blank four days
after
"9-11" for no other reason than that he was a Muslim with a "Middle
Eastern" face.
When asked by the police why he shot Mr. Hasan, 32-year-old Mark
Anthony
Stroman said, "I did it to retaliate on local Arab Americans or
whatever
you want to call them."
Now Mr. Hasan's widow and four daughters face deportation unless
Congress
acts to permit them to remain in their adopted homeland. To that end,
U.S.
Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey's 12th District has introduced a special
bill,
H.R. 867.
Supporting this effort are prominent Christian, Muslim and Jewish
leaders,
including NCC President Elenie Huszagh and General Secretary Bob Edgar,
United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, and Thomas Jeavons, General
Secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society
of
Friends.
Click "Hasan Family" at www.holt.house.gov for more information and
documentation. NCC Media Contact: 212-870-2227 or news@ncccusa.org;
www.ncccusa.org
-----
VA SEMINAR ON "DISCRIMINATION AND YOUR RIGHTS"
WHAT: The community Resilience Project will be sponsoring a seminar on
discrimination and civil rights. Speakers from the US Department of
Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Fairfax County Public
Schools
will be presenting and answering audience member questions.
WHEN: Saturday, September 27th 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Multipurpose Hall, ADAMS Center, Sterling, VA
-----
MD LECTURES ON PATRIOT ACT, KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS
WHAT: Lectures about the Patriot Act and knowing your rights will be
conducted by Khurrum Wahid, Attorney and Legal Advisor for CAIR.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Baltimore
WHEN: Saturday, 04 October 2003 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
For further details, call: Imam Syed Alvi at 732-583-2030 or
201-220-6000.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/28/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* LIBRARIES GET NEW PACKAGE TO STUDY ISLAM (Calgary Sun)
- A Peaceful Faith Amid Misconceptions (WY Boomerang)
* PATRIOT ACT USED TO PURSUE NON-TERROR CRIMES (NY Times)
- Patriot Act Deportee Killed in Pakistan (Herald)
* PENTAGON SAYS IT WILL REVIEW CHAPLAIN POLICY (NY Times)
- Sgt. Wasim Kahn Takes Citizenship Oath (ANS)
* MUSLIM, CHRISTIANS VOW TO FIND MISSING GIRL (Plain Dealer)
- Muslim & Missing (NY Post)
* ANSAR MAHMOOD'S AMERICAN DREAM (Washington Post)
* BRITISH SNOOKER ACE O'SULLIVAN CONVERTS TO ISLAM (AFP)
- Veil of Freedom (Plain Dealer)
* UNITING FOR CHILDREN (Sun-Sentinel)
* IRAQ PLANNING WAS 'PERFECT STORM' OF MISTAKES (Newsweek)
- Alan Dershowitz, Plagiarist (Counterpunch)
* AMNESTY HEARING ON RACIAL PROFILING AND 9/11
* CAIR-NY ATTORNEY ON WBAI RADIO
* LECTURE BY AL-JAZEERAH DC BUREAU CHIEF
* AGHA SAEED ON CHALLENGES FACED BY AMERICAN MUSLIMS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "You will not believe as
long as you do not love one another."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 19
----
LIBRARIES GET NEW PACKAGE TO STUDY ISLAM
Pablo Fernandez, Calgary Sun, 9/27/03
http://www.calgarysun.com/
In a bid to quench Canadians' need for answers about Islam, a North
American organization launched a national initiative yesterday to
provide
literature on the religion to public libraries.
The main branch of the Calgary Public Library was the site for the
launch
of the CAIR-CAN -- the Canadian office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations -- national Islamic library project.
The initiative follows two trends observed in the last few years by the
organization, said CAIR-CAN executive director Riad Saloojee.
"The first is a great deal of interest, phenomenal interest about Islam
and...we saw an increase in interdenominational dialogue, more
discussion
and more acceptance," said Saloojee.
Since the attacks against New York City and Washington D.C., Canadians
have
had difficulty finding literature on Islam and Muslim culture as orders
for
books have been back-logged at stores and the copies available at
libraries
are few in numbers…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM: A PEACEFUL FAITH AMID MISCONCEPTIONS
Ryan Ragan, Boomerang, 9/26/03
http://www.laramieboomerang.com/more.asp?StoryID=2054
Though recent worldly events have caused some people to question the
Muslim
faith, Sadrul Ula, president of the Islamic Center in Laramie said
there
are a number of misconceptions about the faith, from Allah (God) to the
Quran (the word of God), both of which are part of the faith.
"One major misconception is that the Muslims worship a different God;
Allah," Ula said. "Now, (Allah) is the Arabic word for 'The Lord,' and
we
kind of insist on using that because the word 'God' is not strong
enough to
represent the creator."
Another misconception Ula mentioned is the fact that the Quran does not
support violence or the intentional taking of one's life.
"If I intentionally plan to kill myself for any purpose, that's against
Islamic principle," Ula said.
"What we see in popular press, to make it attractive, they will find a
…
religious leader in some small place in Egypt, or Saudi Arabia, Iran,
or my
country, Bangladesh, and say that, 'look this Imam (a person who leads
people in prayer) says this,' which may be true. Some people might say
certain things, which encourage violence. But in Islam there is no
hierarchy. There is no figure like Pope, or Arch Bishop of Canterbury,
or
chief Rabbi or so on," Ula said…
-----
U.S. USES TERROR LAW TO PURSUE CRIMES FROM DRUGS TO SWINDLING
Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, 9/28/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/politics/28LEGA.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration, which calls the USA Patriot Act
perhaps its most essential tool in fighting terrorists, has begun using
the
law with increasing frequency in many criminal investigations that have
little or no connection to terrorism.
The government is using its expanded authority under the far-reaching
law
to investigate suspected drug traffickers, white-collar criminals,
blackmailers, child pornographers, money launderers, spies and even
corrupt
foreign leaders, federal officials said.
Justice Department officials say they are simply using all the tools
now
available to them to pursue criminals - terrorists or otherwise. But
critics of the administration's antiterrorism tactics assert that such
use
of the law is evidence the administration is using terrorism as a guise
to
pursue a broader law enforcement agenda…
ALSO SEE:
SHOPKEEPER DEPORTED FROM ROCK HILL UNDER PATRIOT ACT KILLED IN PAKISTAN
Jason Cato, Herald Online, 9/28/03
http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/2900488p-2670337c.html
All Ahfaz Khan wanted was a life in America.
After marrying a naturalized U.S. citizen, having two U.S.-born
children
and running a Rock Hill convenience store for years, Khan was rounded
up in
post-Sept. 11, 2001, sweeps that targeted Muslim immigrants.
The government's stated goal was to crack down on terrorism, but
Patriot
Act critics say the result was punishing thousands of people, including
Khan, for immigration violations that had largely been ignored before.
In February 2002, Khan was deported to his native Pakistan. It was a
move
he feared could cost him his life, he told his attorney, Hina Askari.
In March, Khan's fear came true. He was assassinated by two armed men
on a
motorcycle in Karachi, Pakistan, while having coffee in a public place,
said Robert DePathy, director of client relations with Askari's Orlando
firm…
-----
PENTAGON SAYS IT WILL REVIEW CHAPLAIN POLICY
Laurie Goodstein, New York Times, 9/28/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/politics/28CHAP.html
But leaders of the Muslim groups interviewed on Friday, and several
scholars who study Islam in America, said Mr. Schumer was engaged in a
witch hunt. The leaders said they would welcome any review by the
military
because they are confident it will prove that they are not Wahhabis,
are
loyal to the American government and have served the military well.
"If I was a Wahhabi or a religious fundamentalist, I don't think I
would
have the relationships I do with the military right now, nor would I
have
spent 21 years in the military," said Mr. Uqdah, an African-American
convert to Islam who was a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant.
Yvonne Haddad, a professor of history of Islam and Christian-Muslim
relations at Georgetown University, said Mr. Schumer was getting bad
advice
about the theological and political affiliations of the Muslim groups
he
cites and had thrown the net of suspicion too wide.
"They are not Wahhabi," Professor Haddad said. "For people like Senator
Schumer to make a blanket judgment is just ludicrous…"
ALSO SEE:
SGT. WASIM KAHN TAKES OATH OF CITIZENSHIP
Jack L. Gillund, Army News Service, 9/5/03
http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/sep2003/pr090503a.html
WASHINGTON - A soldier wounded in Baghdad became an American citizen
Sept.
2 during a ceremony in Walter Reed Army Medical Center's healing
garden.
"As a naturalized citizen myself, there's no greater honor for me than
to
welcome a true American hero as our newest citizen," said Eduardo
Aguirre,
director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after Sgt. Wasim
Kahn
pledged his allegiance to the country he has served for the past five
years. "We're proud of you, sir. Very, very proud."
A former Pakistani national, Kahn moved to the United States when he
was 20
years old for "a better life." He said becoming an American citizen is
something he has wanted to do for some time…
-----
MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN LEADERS VOW TO FIND MISSING GIRL
Angela D. Chatman, Plain Dealer, 9/28/03
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1064741552189173.xml
A group of Muslim and Christian activists gathered on a Cleveland
street
corner yesterday, renewing their commitment to find a missing
11-year-old
girl.
"We love Shakira Johnson. We love our family. . . .And we love our
community. That's why we're out here," said minister James Box, founder
of
T.R.U.T.H. Ministries, a group of Christian activists.
Police reported no new developments in the search for Shakira, who
disappeared two weeks ago after attending a neighborhood block party at
East 106th Street and Benham Avenue, a short distance from her home in
Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
Yesterday, nearly 40 people, including the activists, gathered at the
corner of East 110th Street and Union Avenue, not far from Shakira's
home,
and vowed to keep searching for the sixth-grader.
The group also protested what organizers said were false accusations
made
against community activist Khalid Samad, whom police arrested 10 days
ago
on charges that he had broken into a house and tried to extract
information
from someone he thought may have knowledge about Shakira's
disappearance…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM & MISSING
Brad Hamilton, NY Post, 9/28/03
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/3358.htm
The manager of a ritzy city gourmet food chain - who mysteriously
vanished
near Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks - may have been nabbed as a
terror
suspect, his family believes.
Relatives of Fatih "Frank" Algul, who oversaw the upscale Garden of
Eden
chain, have launched a massive private manhunt.
And they are furious with the FBI, charging its agents have done
nothing to
help find Algul or even share any information they may have regarding
his
disappearance.
The family is convinced Algul was detained while suffering a mental
breakdown on the evening of Dec. 27, 2001, and if he is still in
custody,
he may be too sick to reveal his true identity…
-----
ANSAR MAHMOOD'S AMERICAN DREAM
Hanna Rosin, Washington Post, 9/27/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11158-2003Sep27.html
BUFFALO -- The photograph shows the niece he has never met bundled into
a
red jumper and chasing a ball. But all Ansar Mahmood sees is the ground
shifting around her: cracks in the cement wall, damp floor, rusting
water
heater, a bicycle missing a spoke, all the repairs left undone while
he's
stuck in this jail. Nineteen months in the Buffalo Federal Detention
Center, long enough to give his baby face edges and to earn him this
dubious national record: Mahmood may be the last person detained on
immigration charges in the weeks following the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist
attacks who is still in jail, fighting deportation.
"Every day, every day, same routine," he says. Breakfast at 7 and then
--
this is what kills him -- he sleeps until almost noon, because what
else is
there? "I cannot anymore sit here to do nothing."
Even in jail he works steadily, earning a dollar a day washing dishes
so he
can call his parents in Pakistan. "Come home," they say. But then
something
-- his father's cough, perhaps -- will remind him of what's forever
lost if
he does return: medicine, school fees for his sisters, heat, a shot at
the
middle class…
-----
BRITISH SNOOKER ACE O'SULLIVAN CONVERTS TO ISLAM: REPORT
Agence France Presse, 9/28/03
LONDON - Former world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has ditched
Roman
Catholicism to become a Muslim, the player's mother told a British
newspaper published Sunday.
"Ronnie is a lot better in himself since he converted. I hope it will
steady him," his mother Maria told The Sunday Times.
O'Sullivan overcame a troubled childhood, in which his father was
jailed
for murder and his mother for tax offences, to win snooker's world
championship in 2001. Despite his precocious talent, the 27-year-old
has
battled drink and drug addiction as well as depression.
O'Sullivan's mother said British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, a born
Muslim,
helped her son convert…
ALSO SEE:
VEIL OF FREEDOM
Leila Atassi, Plain Dealer, 9/27/03
http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1064676607193420.xml
The women stand shoulder to shoulder melding almost seamlessly into a
singular body that moves, prostrates and kneels in perfect
synchronization.
Their posture is uniform, too - each with her head down and hands
clasped
across her chest.
With the air conditioner at the Grande Mosque in Parma broken, Hana
Halabi
moves to pray below the fan. The folds of her hijab, or head scarf,
wrapped
snugly around her hair and face flutter in the artificial breeze; beads
of
sweat form on her brow. For a moment, the only motion on this
second-floor
balcony, where the women pray, is the ruffling of cotton and synthetic
cloth - rhythmic and gentle, like a banner in the hands of a cherub.
Like
something being set free.
To Halabi and the other members of the Islamic Center of Cleveland's
Women's Committee, wearing the hijab has become more than a symbol of
religious conviction. It's a feminist statement - indicative of a kind
of
feminism that is quite different from the traditional women's lib
movement
with which many Americans are familiar.
"When people ask questions about women in Islam, they say, 'You sound
like
a feminist,'" explains Suna Aziz, committee member and administrative
assistant for the center. "And I tell them, 'I am a feminist, but not
in
the way you think of feminism…'"
-----
UNITING FOR CHILDREN
Nicole T. Lesson, Sun-Sentinel, 9/28/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cfundraiser28sep28,0,4809749.story
With the young victims of war on their minds, some Muslims on Saturday
reached into their pockets.
More than 20 South Florida mosques and organizations united for a
fund-raising dinner for Children of War at the Mehfil Restaurant.
As a mother and grandmother, Gina Feroze feels compassion for the
children
who suffer in war-torn parts of the world…
The money raised will be added to Islamic Relief's Children of War
emergency fund that benefits Palestinian children as well as those in
Iraq,
Afghanistan, Kashmir and Chechnya.
Islamic Relief, an international relief and development charity, is an
independent nongovernmental organization founded in the United Kingdom
in
1984. It has been raising money in the United States since 1994.
The organization never donates money, only needed goods, such as food,
shelter and medical supplies…
------
POST-WAR IRAQ PLANNING WAS 'PERFECT STORM' OF MISTAKES AND BAD LUCK
Newsweek, 9/28/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/972362.asp
NEW YORK - Newsweek interviews with top government officials involved
in
the planning and execution of the reconstruction of Iraq point to a
"perfect storm" of mistakes and bad luck: wrongheaded assumptions,
ideological blinders, weak intelligence and poor coordination by White
House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. Much of the damage
was
done at the outset-in the first days after the war, when political
infighting and wishful thinking prevented the United States from taking
control of a bad situation that was turning worse, report Assistant
Managing Editor Evan Thomas and National Security Correspondent John
Barry
in the October 6 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, September
29).
Last February, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ordered retired Lt.
Gen. Jay Garner to cut 16 of the 20 State Department officials from his
roster of experts to rebuild Iraq after the war was over. It seems that
the
State Department people were deemed to be Arabist apologists, or
squishy
about the United Nations, or in some way politically incorrect to the
right-wing ideologues at the White House or the neocons in the office
of
the Secretary of Defense, Newsweek reports. The vetting process "got so
bad
that even doctors sent to restore medical services had to be
anti-abortion," recalls one of Garner's team to Newsweek. Finally,
Secretary of State Colin Powell tried to stand up for his troops and
stop
Rumsfeld's meddling…
SEE ALSO:
ALAN DERSHOWITZ, PLAGIARIST
By ALEXANDER COCKBURN, Counterpunch, 9/26/03
http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn09262003.html
Let's start with a passage from Alan Dershowitz's latest book, The Case
for
Israel, now slithering into the upper tier of Amazon's sales charts. On
page 213 we meet Dershowitz, occupant of the Felix Frankfurter chair at
Harvard Law School, happily walloping a French prof called Faurisson,
charged by the FF prof from Harvard U as being a fraud and a holocaust
denier: "There was no extensive historical research. Instead there was
the
fraudulent manufacturing of false antihistory. It was the kind of
deception
for which professors are rightly fired--not because their views are
controversial, but because they are violating the most basic canons of
historical scholarship.."
You want an example of Dershowitz's canons of scholarship, base rather
than
basic?
On pages 233-4, he writes, "In September 1970, King Hussein of Jordan
killed and injured more Palestinians in one month than Israel has
during
three years of responding to the suicide bombing intifada." The
corresponding endnote reads: "Estimates vary as to the number of
Palestinians killed during "Black September," with some estimates as
high
as 4,000." His two cited sources for this claim? a Sony movie, One Day
in
September, and a chronology for a high school course outline on the
Middle
East conflict.
If Justice Frankfurter had fuelled decisions with this kind of
scholarship
he'd have been citing Marvel Comics as useful repositories of case law
and
precedent. If, in writings off the bench, he'd used the sort of
research
procedures displayed elsewhere in Dershowitz's Case for Israel he'd
probably have been forced off the Supreme Court for ethical
considerations
of a sort that I imagine Harvard's president, Lawrence Summers, will
soon
be pondering in the case of Prof. Dershowitz.
Let me now usher into the narrative an important member of our cast in
this
drama: "From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab�Jewish Conflict
Over
Palestine", a 60l- page book by Joan Peters, published in l984. Peter's
polemical work strove to buttress the old Zionist thesis that the land
of
Israel had been "a land without people, awaiting a people without
land".
There was no substantial Palestinian presence, Peters claimed, before
the
Jewish return. Initially given an ecstatic reception by publications
such
the New York Times the book was soon discredited as a charnel house of
disingenuous polemic. The coup de grace was administered by Professor
Yehoshua Porath in the New York Review of Books for January 16 and
March
27, 1986.
Though neither Peter's nor her book appear in the index to The Case for
Israel, they do get a mention in note 3l of chapter 2, where Dershowitz
cites the work of a 19th century French geographer called Cuinct, and
adds,
"See Joan Peters, From Time Immemorial (Chicago, JKAP Publications,
1984).
Peters's conclusions and data have been challenged. See Said and
Hitchens,
p. 33. I do not in any way rely on them in this book. "Them" clearly
refers
to Peters' conclusions and data.
This brazen declaration is preceded in chapters one and two by
wholesale,
unacknowledged looting of Peters' research. I have before me a
devastating
comparative archive of these plagiarisms, compiled by Norman
Finkelstein,
author of "The Holocaust Industry: The Exploitation of Jewish
Suffering"
and "Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict". Here are but
four
instances, out of no less than 20 thus far discovered in the first two
chapters alone…
Over to you President Summers, or will the man so happy to dress down
Prof
Cornel West be more timid when it comes to confronting the occupant of
the
Felix Frankfurter chair?
-----
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA NATIONAL HEARING IN NYC TO EXAMINE
INEFFECTIVENESS OF RACIAL PROFILING PRE/POST SEPT. 11
U.S. Newswire, 9/26/03
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) will be conducting the fourth in a
national series of public hearings on racial profiling in New York
City,
N.Y. on Thursday, October 2. The first two were held in September in
San
Francisco and Oakland, Calif. The third will be held on Tuesday,
September
30, in Tulsa, Okla.
Prior to September 11, public officials in the United States were
moving
toward eliminating race-focused law enforcement policies. They had been
widely denounced as ineffective in apprehending the perpetrators of
certain
targeted activities in the "War on Drugs." Regardless, the use of the
failed, race-focused policies of the "War on Drugs" has become more
pervasive in the "War on Terror."
AIUSA plans to use data from the hearings to produce a comprehensive
new
report, which will examine racial profiling both before and after the
September 11th tragedy. Both the report and the public awareness
campaign
will be used to generate support for federal legislation that would
stop
the use of racial profiling--a human rights violation.
EVENTS:
What: Press Conference
When: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Where: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, New York
City, N.Y.
---
What: NYC Racial/Ethnic Profiling Hearing
When: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Judson Memorial Church
---
What: Community Speak Out
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Judson Memorial Church
SOME PANELISTS AND WITNESSES:
Chris Dunn-ACLU, Dennis Parker-Deputy New York Attorney General for
Civil
Rights, The Honorable Timothy K. Lewis-former federal judge and of
counsel
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, Monica Tarazi- American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, Curt Goering-Senior Deputy Executive
Director, Amnesty International USA, Omar Mohammedi- NYC Human Rights
Council and general counsel to the New York chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
-----
OMAR MOHAMMEDI TALKS ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES ON WBAI RADIO
Monday, September 29, from 10-11 am, Omar Mohammedi, Esq., Legal
Advisor to
CAIR-NY and President of the New York Muslim Bar Association, will
appear
on WBAI Radio (www.wbai.org). Mohammedi will discuss issues such as the
Bill of Rights Defense Campaign, exposing the Patriot Act and
preventing
the Domestic Security Enhancement Act. New York City Council Member
William
Perkins will also appear on the show, along with representatives from
the
American Civil Liberties Union.
Listeners will have a chance to call in to the show.
For more information, contact Firdos Abdul-Munim, Civil Rights
Coordinator
for CAIR-NY
Phone: 212-870-2002
Fax: 212-870-2020
-----
LECTURE BY AL-JAZEERAH DC BUREAU CHIEF
The Commonwealth Club of California the nation's oldest and largest
public
affairs forum presents, "Al-Jazeera News Coverage: What American
Viewers
Don't See" by Hafez Al-Mirazi, Washington Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera.
What unique role did the Middle East's best known TV station play in
the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? How does their Arab perspective continue
to
shape world views of the reconstruction and stabilization of post war
Iraq?
Al Jazeera's Washington D.C. Bureau Chief Hafez Al-Mirazi will describe
Al
Jazeera's coverage of the war in Iraq, delve into the network's history
and
discuss the state and influence of Arabic media, in general.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 at 11:30 a.m., Check-in, and 12:00 p.m.,
Program.
WHERE: The Commonwealth Club of California, Club Office
595 Market Street (at Second), 2nd Floor, San Francisco
Directly outside of the Montgomery BART station.
PRICE: $6 members, $12, non-members
CONTACT: Riki Rafner, Public Relations Director, 415/597-6712
Nicole Grant, Public Relations Associate, 415/597-6719
-----
AGHA SAEED ON CHALLENGES FACED BY AMERICAN MUSLIMS
WHAT: Dr. Agha Saeed, Chairman of American Muslim Alliance will be
speaking
about civil rights challenges facing American Muslims.
WHEN: Sunday, October 19, 2003 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Nizam Hall
2414 W. Devon Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60659
Event organized by Muslim Civil Rights Center.
For more information, please call (708) 598 6640 or email
info@mcrcnet.org
------
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/29/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GENTLENESS AND DELIBERATION
* 8 LIBRARIES NEED SPONSORS IN ALABAMA
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
- Save Nov. 29 for CAIR's Fundraising Dinner in DC
* NJ MUSLIM LEAVES SCHOOL OVER ROTC HIJAB CONFLICT (AH Herald)
* CHICAGO MUSLIMS CRITICAL OF ARTICLE (Daily Southtown)
* US EYES ISRAELI SOFTWARE TO TRAIN FORCES IN IRAQ (CSM)
- Bogged Down in Baghdad (Toronto Star)
* MUSLIM LEADER TO GIVE OPENING PRAYER IN CONGRESS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GENTLENESS AND DELIBERATION
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told a companion: "You
have
two characteristics which God likes: gentleness and deliberation." His
companion replied: "Praise be to God Who created in my nature two
characteristics that (He) and His Apostle like."
Sunah of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2488
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6932 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6932 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
Status Report: Alabama
Total Number of AL Public Libraries: 288
Number of libraries not sponsored: 8
Library code - Name, city, state
1265 - WALTER J HANNA MEMORIAL LIBRARY, FAIRFIELD, AL
14989 - WESTERN HILLS MALL LIBRARY, FAIRFIELD, AL
15025 - WEATHERFORD LIBRARY, RED BAY, AL
15038 - TRIANA PUBLIC LIBRARY, MADISON, AL
15041 - WOODVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WOODVILLE, AL
15056 - WESTSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WALNUT GROVE, AL
15072 - UNION SPRINGS LIBRARY, UNION SPRINGS, AL
15108 - WILCOX COUNTY LIBRARY, PINE APPLE, AL
Payments by cash, checks or credit card could be mailed to address
above or
go on line to www.libraryproject.org or
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
SAVE NOV. 29 FOR CAIR'S FUNDRAISING DINNER IN DC
CAIR's 9th Annual Fundraising dinner will be held on Saturday, November
29,
2003, at the Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner, Va. The cost is
$55/person,
$85/couple.
The theme for this year's dinner is: "Muslims in America: A Defining
Moment...What Legacy Will We Leave?"
FOR MORE INFORMATION, E-MAIL: register@cair-net.org
-----
NJ MUSLIM LEAVES SCHOOL OVER ROTC HIJAB CONFLICT
MUSLIM TEEN RESIGNS AS STUDENT AT M.A.S.T.
SCARF CANNOT BE WORN WITH UNIFORM
Allan Dean, Atlantic Highland Herald, 9/25/03
http://www.ahherald.com/news/2003/0925/elgohail_mast.htm
SANDY HOOK, NJ - Mona Elgohail is a Muslim teen who has excelled
academically throughout her elementary and middle school years. She has
a
love of the ocean, marine biology and science. "She was an excellent
student - not just academically - she was well rounded. She was a good
leader who made a wonderful contribution to the student body," said Dr.
Martha Wallauer, principal and superintendent at Atlantic Highlands
Elementary School. When she was in 5th grade, her teacher, Kevin
Bolger,
told her about the program at M.A.S.T.
SEE: http://www.mast.mcvsd.org/
The Marine Academy of Science and Technology, located at Sandy Hook is
part
of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) which
administers
the special vocational high schools in the County, including: High
Technology High School, Academy of Allied Health & Science,
Communications
High School, and M.A.S.T. Slots at the schools are hard to come by.
Entry
is very competitive.
Mona was an 8th grade honors student at Henry Hudson seeking a greater
challenge so she took the entry exam for M.A.S.T in February 2003. She
was
accepted and attended an information session at the school in May. She
also attended a freshman picnic in June, but it wasn't until August
when
the new students were issued their uniforms that anyone brought up the
topic of her scarf, according to Mona's mother, Nemera Elgohail...
Dr. Christopher said "I tried to do everything to meet her needs based
on
her religion.." He shared with Mona and her parents the regulations
from
the Department of the Navy. "There is nothing in the regs to provide
leeway
for her religious garb."
The Elgohail's also met with Dr. Brian McAndrew, Superintendent of
Schools
for MCVSD. Dr. McAndrew said he explained that the protocol that
NJROTC
uses comes from the U.S. Department of the Navy. "If you want to wear
a
military uniform you must wear it according to the protocols."
Dr. McAndrew noted that military and veterans hold great respect for
the
uniform and to alter it would not be welcomed by them.
He said the Navy regulations would permit a yarmulke, a skullcap worn
by
Jewish men and boys, especially those adhering to Orthodox or
Conservative
Judaism, to be worn under the NJROTC uniform cap.
Dr. McAndrew said it is a question of choice, and the choice to leave
is
with the student. "We will not put any student in a situation where
they
have to leave. It would never be a point of 'wear the uniform or
leave'…"
-----
CHICAGO MUSLIMS CRITICAL OF MOSQUE FOUNDATION ARTICLE
READERS RESPOND TO MOSQUE INVESTIGATION STORIES
Daily Southtown, 9/28/03
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/2819nd1.htm
The Daily Southtown has received a number of letters from readers
unhappy
with last Sunday's story reporting that federal authorities are
investigating leaders of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview for
possible
involvement in terrorism-related money laundering.
In the interest of fairness, we are devoting this page to printing as
may
of those letters as possible.
We also need to clarify one aspect of last Sunday's story.
A secondary headline that accompanied the story may have given the
impression that federal authorities had officially confirmed the
investigation. In fact, the official spokesman for the U.S. attorney's
office was not interviewed for the story. If he had been contacted, he
said, he would have neither confirmed nor denied the existence of an
investigation, in keeping with the policy of the office.
Mike Waters
Editor
---
In the article, the writers followed the same lines of misinformed and
ill-researched accusations against the Mosque Foundation and the Muslim
community in the Southwest Chicago area. These accusations reinforce
the
stereotyping against Muslims, label any immigrant American Muslim who
sends
donations to his or her family in the land of origin as terrorist or
aiding
the terrorists, and brand this community of American Muslims as
Wahhabis or
practicing "a brand of Saudi-funded Islam" without any clear knowledge
of
the terms or the facts.
It is disheartening to see that your newspaper has fallen into the same
trap other media outlets have fallen into, rehashing old accusations
originated by different anti-Muslim groups, especially the Israeli
lobby,
the Christian fundamentalists and the neoconservatives. These
Anti-Muslim,
pro-war and pro-"clash of civilization" groups don't want to see the
American Muslims prosper or advance in this great land of freedom and
opportunity.
My three children are scared to go to their schools and to the Mosque
because of your article. The sense of hopelessness and despair has
risen in
this community of peace-loving American Muslims to a level I have never
seen since the terrorist action of 9/11. We fear another backlash
against
our community from some ill-informed readers of your article, and we
expect
another wave of hate crimes against our houses of worship, families and
institutions.
-----
US EYES ISRAELI SOFTWARE AS TRAINING TOOL FOR FORCES IN IRAQ
Cameron W. Barr, Christian Science Monitor, 9/29/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0929/p07s02-wome.html
JERUSALEM - For US soldiers wondering what they should and should not
do in
their role as occupiers of Iraq, help may be on the way from the Israel
Defense Forces.
The Israeli military has developed a software program to teach junior
commanders 11 "codes of conduct'' when operating among civilians -
fight
only those fighting you, respect the dignity of the local population,
don't
pillage, and so forth...
The American interest in the software - which a US Embassy spokesman in
Tel
Aviv confirmed but would not elaborate on - is a rare public
acknowledgment
that the US is even contemplating Israeli assistance. While analysts
speculate that Israel may be providing intelligence or other kinds of
military support, officials refuse to comment on the matter. "It's a
closed
door," says one Israeli Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip for more than 36
years,
experience that might benefit US troops in Iraq, where their presence
is
increasingly seen as occupation rather than liberation. The problem is
that
overt help from Israel, despite the potential benefits of Israeli
expertise, might complicate America's role in a Middle East already
upset
about the war in Iraq and the dismal state of Israeli-Palestinian
relations...
ALSO SEE:
BOGGED DOWN IN BAGHDAD
Scott Taylor, Toronto Sun, 9/28/03
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2003/09/28/211300.html
BAGHDAD -- A little Iraqi girl -- no more than eight years old --
squatted
beside the road with tears of humiliation streaming down her cheeks.
Six
metres away, three American soldiers had their rifles aimed at her as
she
was forced to relieve herself in full view of a long line of parked
cars.
From inside their vehicles, the Iraqi onlookers screamed their rage at
the
U.S. troops. Whenever one of the Iraqis ventured to step out of his
vehicle, an American officer bellowed, "Get back in the car, a--hole!"
and
the .50-calibre machinegun mounted on the U.S. Hummer would swing
menacingly towards the protester.
The terrified little girl was weeping uncontrollably by the time she
dropped her skirt and ran back to her mother.
This incident took place on Sunday, Sept. 14, after a detachment of the
U.S. 101st Airborne Division set up a roadblock on the Samara-Kirkuk
highway. The purpose was to conduct a thorough weapons search of all
traffic along this route. Without enough personnel to man the
roadblock,
cars and trucks were soon backed up for at least two kilometres in each
direction.
To ensure that no Iraqi ventured onto the roadway, First Lieut. Fisher
and
his detachment would race up and down the queue, pointing their weapons
and
hurling verbal abuse at any violator.
The little girl had been sitting in a small Mazda with six other family
members for over three hours before she left the car. Her older brother
--
no more than 10 -- had bravely taken her by the hand and attempted to
reach
a small depression in the sand which might have offered a modicum of
privacy...
Under such constant pressure, the American soldiers are showing signs
of
stress, and unit morale has plummeted...
-----
MUSLIM LEADER TO GIVE OPENING PRAYER IN CONGRESS
WHAT: Imam Hassan Qazwini, will give the opening prayers for the First
Session, of the 108th Congress, of the United States of America. Imam
Qazwini is the religious leader of the Islamic Center of America in
Detroit
Michigan.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 1, 2003, 10 a.m.
WHERE: United States Congress
CONTACT: Eide Alawan at 313-506-3353 or Muhammadlegacy@aol.com
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #394
SUPPORT THE 'TRUE PATRIOT ACT'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/29/03) - CAIR is urging members of the American
Muslim
community and other people of conscience to contact their elected
representatives and ask that they co-sponsor the recently introduced
"Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act," (H.R. 3171) designed to repeal
unconstitutional sections of the original USA PATRIOT Act.
The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich
(D-OH)
and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) on September 24, 2003, and co-sponsored by 19
other representatives, addresses mounting concerns raised by citizens
at a
grassroots level who have organized to defend the bill of rights.
The Kucinich-Paul bill repeals 15 sections of the original USA PATRIOT
Act,
including those that permit:
* "sneak and peak" delayed notification search warrants (section 213),
* warrant-less searches of a broad range of personal records including
library, medical, and financial records (section 215),
* the indefinite detention and deportation of non-citizens without
judicial
review (section 415).
The True Patriot Act also bans:
* certain post-9/11 special immigration detention regulations including
the
use of local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws,
* Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) restructuring that limits
immigrants'
judicial review.
FOR FULL TEXT OF THE BILL, GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/webreturn/?url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.3171:
Contact your representative today and encourage him or her to support
this
bill.
CO-SPONSORS OF THE BILL: Rep. Paul (TX), Rep. Conyers (MI), Rep. Miller
(CA), Rep Baldwin (WI), Rep. McDermott (WA), Rep. Serrano (NY), Rep.
Hinchey (NY), Rep Schakowsky (IL), Rep. Lee (CA), Rep. Solis (CA), Rep
Woolsey (CA), Rep. McGovern (MA), Rep. Abercrombie (HI), Rep Stark
(CA),
Rep. Filner (CA), Rep. Grijalva (AZ), Rep. Honda (CA), Rep. Tubbs Jones
(OH), Rep. Jackson- Lee (TX), Rep. Farr (CA).
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. CONTACT your elected representatives to ask for their support for
this bill.
GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/issues/bills/?bill=3548741
2. Send copies of correspondence to the officials above and to CAIR at:
cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
--- CLIP AND MAIL/FAX/E-MAIL ---
YES, I would like to support CAIR's important work by donating
$___________. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR. Basic CAIR
membership
is just $10 per year.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
TEL:
FAX:
E-MAIL:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/30/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S LAST SERMON
* 18 LIBRARIES NEED SPONSORS IN TENNESSEE
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* INCITEMENT WATCH: PIPES TO APPEAR ON O'REILLY FACTOR
- Professor Sues Daniel Pipes for Libel (Daily Emerald)
* 'TERROR RECRUITMENT' PROBE CONCERNS MUSLIMS (CNS News)
- U.S. Charges Activist Over Links to Libya (Wash. Post)
- Prof Links Yee and Lee Cases (UC Berkeley)
* CHICAGO MUSLIMS ASKED TO SUPPORT PATRIOT ACT RESOLUTION
- Move to Overhaul the Patriot Act (Lowell Sun)
- Patriot Act's Infringement on Rights (Herald)
- FBI & ACLU Debate USA Patriot Act (FC Hornet)
* IL MUSLIMS FILE $5 MILLION SUIT AGAINST VILLAGE
* AFGHANISTAN CALLS UPS FOR UP TO 8 YEARS (Stars and Stripes)
* SIKH KILLER ANGRY, NOT INSANE, PROSECUTOR SAYS (AP)
* BAGHDAD FIRE DEPARTMENT T-SHIRTS! (Nation)
- Ethnic, Religious Fissures Deepen in Iraq (Wash. Post)
- Who's Sordid Now? (NY Times)
- Resentful Iraqis Don't Share U.S. Optimism (Reuters)
* BARRIER DEEPENS ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DIVIDE (Reuters)
- Israel 'Separation Fence' Means Annexation (Reuters)
* IMC-USA CONDEMNS ETHNIC CLEANSING IN RAJASTHAN
* NEW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SPECIAL ON PBS "INSIDE MECCA"
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S LAST SERMON
The following are excerpts from the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon
him)
last sermon, delivered in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat:
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after
this
year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am
saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be
present here today...
"Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed
meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds...
"O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your
women, but they also have rights over you...Do treat your women well
and be
kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers...
"You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety
and
good action..."
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6937 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6937 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
Status Report: Tennessee
Total Number of TN Public Libraries: 307
Number of libraries not sponsored: 18
Library code - Name, city, state
4718 - SWEETWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY, SWEETWATER, TN
4727 - THOMAS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, BLUFF CITY, TN
4745 - VONORE LIBRARY, VONORE, TN
4748 - WATAUGA REGIONAL LIBRARY, JOHNSON CITY, TN
7057 - WATERTOWN-WILSON LIBRARY, WATERTOWN, TN
7067 - TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY, NASHVILLE, TN
7075 - WHITE HOUSE CITY LIBRARY, WHITE HOUSE, TN
8654 - W G RHEA LIBRARY, ST PARIS, TN
10620 - TIPTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, COVINGTON, TN
11391 - WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WAYNESBORO, TN
15198 - UNION COUNTY LIBRARY, MAYNARDVILLE, TN
15218 - SUNBRIGHT LIBRARY, SUNBRIGHT, TN
15219 - SUNBRIGHT LIBRARY, SUNBRIGHT, TN
15220 - SURGOINSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, SURGOINSVILLE, TN
15222 - WHITE PINE LIBRARY, WHITE PINE, TN
15248 - TIPTONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TIPTONVILLE, TN
15265 - TRIMBLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TRIMBLE, TN
15282 - TOWN OF MINOR HILL LIBRARY, MINOR HILL, TN
Payments by cash, checks or credit card could be mailed to address
above or
go on line to www.libraryproject.org or
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: DANIEL PIPES TO APPEAR ON O'REILLY FACTOR
The O'Reilly Factor
Tues. 8 pm / 11 pm ET
http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/
He says Islamic fundamentalists have infiltrated our prisons, police
force,
and military. Daniel Pipes, author of Militant Islam Reaches America,
makes
his case.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Watch the program and then send POLITE comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
PROFESSOR SUES FOR LIBEL DAMAGES
Ayisha Yahya, Daily Emerald, 9/29/03
http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/29/3f7842fa4b569
University adjunct sociology Professor Douglas Card is suing two New
York
Post columnists for libel and intentional infliction of emotional
distress
after months of wrangling to get allegedly libelous statements about
him
retracted.
Card filed a lawsuit on Sept. 12 in Lane County Court against
defendants
Daniel Pipes and Jonathan Schanzer. Card is seeking $1.35 million in
damages.
Pipes and Schanzer wrote an article -- "Extremists on Campus,"
published
June 25, 2002, in the New York Post -- stating Card and three other
professors were "left-wing extremists" and taught material that was
anti-Israel.
Pipes, who has written numerous pieces on the Middle East, is the
director
of the Middle East Forum and a contentious President Bush appointee to
the
U.S. Institute of Peace…
The columnists wrote that Card said Israel was a "terrorist state" and
"stole land." They based their assertions on comments made by a Jewish
student who took Card's class. According to the article, Card also
called
Israelis "baby killers" and "bashed Jews and Israelis at 'every
opportunity...'"
According to the suit, "defendants' publication of the false and
defamatory
statements of and concerning the plaintiff ... caused injury to
plaintiff's
reputation and good name, and caused him to suffer extreme emotional
distress."
"It still hurts every time when I go online and see those words," Card
said, adding that the months following the article's publication were
possibly the worst in his life.
Pipes said via e-mail that he had no comments about the case. Schanzer
did
not return three phone calls…
"For a teacher, a reputation is everything," Card said, adding that
standing up for his reputation is what inspired him to file the suit…
However, the suit states the columnists asked Card to violate laws
since
releasing student names is against official school policy. It also
claims
that although Schanzer and Pipes knew the statements were false, they
did
not make any corrections to the article until Nov. 1, 2002. The new
version
of the article on www.campus-watch.org has the word "reportedly" added
to it.
-----
INVESTIGATION OF 'TERRORIST RECRUITMENT' CONCERNS MUSLIMS
Jeff Johnson, CNSNews, 9/29/03
http://www.cnsnews.com/Pentagon/archive/200309/PEN20030929a.html
Capitol Hill - Following the arrests of a Muslim chaplain and an Arabic
translator for suspected spying at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention
facility, two senators are calling for a full investigation of
terrorists'
attempts to recruit members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Muslim-American
groups fear the investigation may become a "witch hunt" for followers
of Islam…
Some Muslims believe the investigations into a small number of alleged
traitors who happen to be Muslim will be used to "marginalize and
disenfranchise the American Muslim community."
"I think we're seeing that demonstrated by the actions of elected
representatives like Senator Schumer and Senator Kyl, who are jumping
on
this issue in order to demonize all Muslim groups and all Muslims in
America," charged Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR).
Told of the senators' clear delineation between the Shia and Suni
versus
the Wahhabi branches of Islam, Hooper called the verbiage a "really
meaningless distinction."
"They differentiate, 'Oh, we love moderate Muslims, we just don't like
Wahhabis.' Of course, they think everybody is a Wahhabi; every Muslim
they
meet is a Wahhabi," Hooper replied.
"They assign the terms 'Wahhabi, extremist, militant' to practically
every
Muslim organization, every Muslim leader in America, except the
hand-picked
few that they agree with," Hooper added.
Hooper also dismissed allegations that the GSISS is promoting
Wahhabism.
"Schumer is now calling the Islamic Society of North America a 'Wahhabi
group,'" Hooper observed. "It's such an unbelievable accusation that,
if
you know anything about the American Muslim community, it's stupid.
It's
just absolutely ignorant."
Even use of the term "Wahhabi" is politically motivated, Hooper said,
claiming that it is not a word used like "Baptist," "Methodist" or
"Episcopalian" are used to identify distinct Christian denominations.
"No Muslim calls themselves a 'Wahhabi' and, in fact, most would be
insulted if you called them a 'Wahhabi,'" Hooper said. "It's a made-up
word
by those who don't want to appear to be attacking Islam…"
Schumer 'should know what happens' when religious minorities are
demonized
Hooper acknowledges that it's likely some individuals who claim any
specific faith or belief system will be involved in criminal or
terrorist
activity at any given time in history.
"You've got 1.2 billion Muslims on earth. Some of them are going to be
up
to no good," Hooper said.
"But if it was another faith, you wouldn't allow generalizations. When
Christians or people from the Jewish community do things wrong, you
don't
generalize to their faith," Hooper added. "But somehow, it's okay when
it's
Islam?"
Kyl has continually denied that his criticisms are "generalizations,"
but
he applies them only to the specific Muslim sect, Wahhabism, that
allegedly
advocates violence against "infidels," Muslims who do not agree with
them
and people of other faiths.
Hooper noted what he considered ironic about Schumer's involvement in
the
press conference and call for an investigation.
"It's really sad, particularly coming from a man like Senator Schumer,
to
see him trying to demonize a religious minority," Hooper said. "He
should
know what happens when religious minorities are demonized; and it's not
a
good thing."
Schumer, who is Jewish, was observing the Rosh Hashanah holiday Friday
afternoon and was, therefore, unavailable to respond to Hooper's
allegations...
ALSO SEE:
U.S. CHARGES ACTIVIST OVER LINKS TO LIBYA
Douglas Farah and John Mintz, Washington Post, 9/30/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17824-2003Sep29.html
One of the country's leading Islamic activists, a chief architect of
the
Pentagon's Muslim chaplain program, was charged yesterday with
illegally
accepting money from Libya for his efforts to persuade the United
States to
lift sanctions against that nation.
Abdurahman Alamoudi, who as leader of the American Muslim Council met
frequently with senior Clinton and Bush administration officials, was
arrested Sunday at Dulles International Airport as he entered the
United
States from Britain, six weeks after he allegedly attempted to smuggle
hundreds of thousands of dollars into Syria. U.S. officials said the
final
destination of the money is under investigation.
Authorities said the arrest is an important step in the wide-ranging
investigation of funding for terrorism in this country, a probe that
centers on a cluster of foundations and businesses based in Herndon.
Agents for the Department of Homeland Security alleged that Alamoudi
received the $ 340,000 from Libyan officials as part of a longstanding
relationship with that government. In exchange for financial assistance
for
Muslim activist groups he founded in the United States, authorities
said,
Alamoudi was trying to help persuade the United States to lift
sanctions
against that nation.
Doing business with Libya remains illegal under U.S. law because of
that
nation's role in the 1988 bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie,
Scotland.
The United Nations removed sanctions against Libya earlier this month,
although the State Department still lists it as a sponsor of terrorism.
Alamoudi, 51, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Eritrea, was a senior
executive of several of the Herndon charities. They were raided in
March
2002 by law enforcement agents seeking evidence that the network of
interlocking organizations was funneling money to terrorist groups,
according to a search warrant issued at that time.
Kevin Delli-Colli, director of the Washington field office of the
Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Alamoudi's home and several
of
those organizations were searched again by federal agents on Sunday,
after
his arrest.
---
PROF LINKS YEE AND LEE CASES
STATEMENT OF PROF. L. LING-CHI WANG, ETHNIC & ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY - 9/29/03
As most Americans know by now, Capt. James J. Yee, a Muslim chaplain in
the
U.S. Army, was reported to have been arrested by the FBI in connection
with
possible charges of espionage and treason by the Washington Times on
Sept.
20, a Moonie newspaper with close ties to the extreme right-wing
faction of
the Bush administration.
Capt. Yee, a Chinese American 1990 graduate of West Point and a
chaplain
assigned to minister 660 imprisoned "enemy combatants" and suspected
Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists at the prison camp in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba,
was secretly arrested Sept. 10 on a layover in Jacksonville, Florida
and
has been imprisoned at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South
Carolina while he is being investigated. According to Rowan Scarborough
of
the Washington Times, who was shown a U.S. government document in the
case,
there are five charges against Capt. Yee: sedition; aiding the enemy;
spying; espionage; and failure to obey a general order. But, according
to
the Army's Southern Command, no charges have been filed against Capt.
Yee
and he has been provided unnamed military lawyers to defend himself.
Under
the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he must be given a trial within
120
days of his arrest.
Having worked on the Wen Ho Lee case and monitored the way the
government
persecuted and prosecuted him over a period of about three years, I
already
see parallel patterns emerging in the handling of the Capt. Yee case.
Let
me explain.
First, the surprised FBI arrest was carried out secretly on a layover
at
the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida while he was on his way
home
to Seattle from Guantanamo Bay. The sudden disappearance of Capt. Yee
left,
his wife, Whoda Yee, in the dark and "extremely worried" for hours at
the
Seattle-Tacoma airport. She was not informed of it until a few days
later
by a lawyer. To date, she has yet to speak with her husband. There is
absolutely no reason for the Army and the FBI to treat Capt. Yee and
his
wife in such inhumane and unconstitutional manner. You will remember
Wen Ho
Lee was left in the dark for nine months while he, his relatives,
friends,
and colleagues across the country came under heavy-handed and
intimidating
FBI investigation.
Secondly, the order to arrest Capt. Yee, according to reporter Rowan
Scarborough, came from "the highest levels" of our government. It
suggests
a well-planned and calculated move on the part of the government to
control
and influence public perception of the case. Again, in Wen Ho Lee case,
the
decision to indict him on December 10, 1999, after nine months of
investigation, took place in the White House at a meeting that included
National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, Attorney General Janet Reno,
Energy
Secretary Bill Richardson, CIA director George Tenant, and FBI director
Louis Freeh, among others. Exactly who participated in the decision to
arrest Capt. Yee remains unknown.
Thirdly, like the Wen Ho Lee case, the government chose to leak the
story
to a newspaper, this time, the Washington Times, a paper better known
for
its extreme conservativism and unabashed support of Bush policies of
global
hegemony and domestic repression. The timing of the leak appears to be
strategic as well. The nation is already saturated with anti-Muslim
sentiment since Sept. 11 and the government has recently launched a
high-profile campaign against China, blaming it for the loss of nearly
three million jobs since Bush assumed presidency, allegedly on account
of
China's undervalued currency. The leak occurred at a time when more
Americans and Congress are beginning to question Bush's costly military
occupation of Iraq. The sensational leak is a clever diversion,
calculated
to heighten American sense of vulnerability on the one hand and to
further
incite anti-Muslim and anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S. on the other
hand. Capt. Yee happens to be both a Chinese American and a Muslim, a
rare
combination. Stay tuned, more leaks can be expected as the government
seeks
to manage and manipulate public opinion.
Lastly, the selective FBI leaks claimed that Capt. Yee was caught with
"classified documents that may have included sketches or diagrams of
Guantanamo's high security prison Camp Delta, along with lists of
detainees
and their interrogators," according to WABC reporter Cheryl Fiandaca
and
the Washington Times. Without disclosing the true nature and contents
of
these so-called "classified documents," which could have been
privileged
and confidential pastoral or priestly information, the intention of the
government was to smear Capt. Yee's reputation and to convict him in
the
court of public opinion, as the government did in the Wen Ho Lee case,
even
before the completion of investigation and charges against him filed.
Again, remember the exaggerated claims in the Wen Ho Lee case through
leaks? Don't be surprised if more such claims are leaked to the media.
Fortunately, the media, having learned a tough lesson in their coverage
of
the Wen Ho Lee case, appear to have become wiser and skeptical.
Based on what is known about him, Capt. Yee is a loyal American, devout
Muslim, a caring family man, and a decent human being. (New York Times,
Sept. 25, 2003). There is nothing in his record to suggest what the
government is now alleging.
We, of course, do not know exactly what he was doing in Guantanomo Bay
or
what he was told by the government to do beyond his pastoral and
religious
duties. Neither do we know if he had uncovered unauthorized or even
illegal information or activities at the Guantanamo Bay in the process
of
discharging his clerical responsibilities. Either of which could easily
precipitate the unexpected and harsh treatment to which he has been
subjected since Sept. 10.
I call on the government to come clean and to accord Capt. Yee the
rights
and privileges he is entitled to as a loyal citizen. All Americans are
entitled to the rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution, whether
they
are Chinese Americans and Muslim Americans, or both, as is the case of
Capt. James Yee. Instead of engaging in prejudicial leaks, the
government
should disclose what the charges are against Capt. Yee. These leaks
are
irresponsible and reprehensible and in violation of his rights. They
are
just as bad as the leak of the identity of CIA officer whose husband is
former U.S. ambassador Joseph Wilson. I also think Capt. Yee should be
given competent legal representation, including civilian lawyers,
throughout the investigation and trial. Finally, I call on politicians,
especially Sen. Senator Charles Schumer of New York, to stop their
political grand-standing and witch-hunting by acting as if Capt. Yee
has
already been tried and pronounced guilty, when in fact he has yet to be
charged with any violation of civil, criminal, or military laws. You
will
recall how Wen Ho Lee was subjected to partisan political lynching for
about two years.
Like Wen Ho Lee, Capt. James Yee is a loyal citizen of the U.S. He is
innocent until proven guilty. Both Lee and Yee have served the U.S.
well
and, indeed, beyond the call of duty. Yet, Wen Ho Lee was unjustly
smeared
by FBI leaks, unproven allegations, and subjected to cruel and unusual
punishment without a trial. Capt. Yee is now undergoing the same
process. Because Capt. Yee is both a Chinese American and a Muslim
American, we need to be vigilant in defending his rights.
CONTACT: lcwang@uclink.berkeley.edu
-----
ACTION ALERT: CHICAGO MUSLIMS ASKED TO SUPPORT PATRIOT ACT RESOLUTION
http://www.mcrcnet.org/Action_alerts/MCRC_patriotact_alert.htm
Voting on resolution demanding repeal of USA PATRIOT Act is expected in
Chicago City Council on October 1, 2003. City Council's committee
hearings
on the proposed resolution are also scheduled on September 25th.
Earlier this year, Muslim Civil Rights Center (MCRC), American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) and Chicago Committee to Defend Bill of Rights
(CCDBR) had initiated a coalition by the name of Chicagoland Coalition
of
Civil Liberties and Rights (CCCLR), bringing together more than twenty
five
civil rights, social justice and faith based organizations on a single
point agenda of countering USA PATRIOT Act in Chicago City Council.
The resolution against the USA PATRIOT Act devised by CCCLR was
introduced
in the Chicago City Council in July this year by Aldermen Joe Moore,
Helen
Shiller, Freddrenna Lyle, and Ricardo Munoz and also signed by 27 other
Aldermen.
If the resolution passes, Chicago will join more than 165 cities,
towns,
villages and three states that have already passed resolutions
denouncing
USA PATRIOT Act.
If you live in Chicago, you are requested to take action by calling or
emailing your Alderman urging them to support the resolution. For more
information, please call Muslim Civil Rights Center at (708) 598 6640.
ALSO SEE:
MOVE TO OVERHAUL THE PATRIOT ACT IS PICKING UP STEAM
Ian Bishop, Lowell Sun, 9/29/03
http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105~4746~1664257,00.html
WASHINGTON Congressional supporters of an overhaul to the USA Patriot
Act
say momentum for "making sure Big Brother is not looking over our
shoulder"
is building.
Rep. John Olver, an Amherst Democrat, is joining 135 House members
nearly a
third of the chamber in urging action on a bill to protect library and
bookstore patrons from the spying eyes of federal agents.
The effort comes after widespread protests of Attorney General John
Ashcroft's recent multicity tour to defend the new law.
The law has been denounced by three state Legislatures, 170 communities
and
numerous library associations...
---
PATRIOT ACT'S INFRINGEMENT ON RIGHTS CONCERNS CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS
Herald Online, 9/28/03
http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/2904539p-2673349c.html
The FBI is counting mosques, and law enforcement is asking about
reading
habits at hundreds of libraries.
There are secret lists governing who can board airplanes, secret
surveillance of e-mail and the Internet and new warrants allowing the
government to secretly search homes, bank records and medical files.
Immigrants nationwide have been jailed indefinitely over visa
violations
that in the past would have been ignored, and about 13,000 face
deportation. Others have languished in cells while officials lied to
their
families about where they were.
For countless American citizens and immigrant residents, the echoes of
Sept. 11, 2001, continue to resound in what critics contend is a loss
of
basic civil liberties stemming from the government's anti-terrorism
campaign.
---
FBI & ACLU DEBATE USA PATRIOT ACT
Michael Ocampo, FC Hornet, 9/24/03
http://www.fchornet.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/24/3f77f37b0ca99
A heated debate ensued for two-hours between members of the FBI and the
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) during a public forum held last
Wednesday concerning the USA Patriot Act.
"We do not have to destroy civil liberties in order to remain safe and
free," said ACLU representative Steve Rhode. "By destroying the rules
we
live under, we're doing the terrorists work for them," he said, to
which
the approximately 120-member audience gave a resounding applause.
"It doesn't affect you unless you're a terrorist or a criminal," said
Special Agent Louis Flores in defense of the act.
The USA Patriot Act (USAPA) is a law that broadens the surveillance
powers
of the federal government in hopes to eliminate terrorism and which was
passed hastily through congress shortly following the September 11th
attacks.
The debate, held at the Fullerton Public Library, discussed many of the
sections within the 340-plus page USAPA, but focused specifically on
two of
the more controversial sections of the act.
-----
IL MUSLIMS FILE $5 MILLION LAW SUIT AGAINST VILLAGE
TC PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC. - A $5 million federal suit was to be filed
today
that argues the Village of Morton Grove has illegally stopped the
development of a new mosque. The suit charges that The Muslim Community
Center's (MCC) Federal civil rights were violated when Morton Grove
arbitrarily denied the MCC's request for a special use permit to allow
them
to build a house of worship on their property.
However, while the suit is being filed to protect the MCC's civil
rights
under current law, the leaders of the MCC, will make an offer to Morton
Grove officials that they will settle the case for just an olive branch
on
the condition that Morton Grove will provide them the special use
permit to
build their mosque in accordance with all government laws and
regulations.
Who: Mohammed Kaiseruddin, President, MCC; John Mauck, attorney for the
MCC
CONTACTS: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333 (office), 312-403-1333 (cell);
President of the MCC: Mohammed Kaiseruddin, 312-269-3811 (office),
847-830-0711 (cell); Attorney for the MCC: John Mauck: 312-853-8709
(direct
to office), 312-726-1243 (main office)
-----
AFGHANISTAN PLANNING CALLS FOR UP TO EIGHT MORE YEARS
Rick Emert and Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes, 9/29/03
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17779
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - U.S. forces could be digging in for a
stay
of up to eight more years in Afghanistan, where frequent firefights
continue on the border with Pakistan nearly two years after major
combat ended.
Base operations officials at Bagram and Kandahar bases are operating on
long-term plans for improvements to the bases, which include building
barracks similar to those found in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina,
among
other quality-of-life projects...
At Bagram air base, base operations has devised a five- to eight-year
community master plan, in which all U.S. troops will eventually move
from
the west side of the airfield to the east side, said Lt. Col. Paul
Kimbrough, at Bagram base operations.
The U.S.-controlled bases could end up looking similar to those in
Kosovo
and Bosnia, where soldiers have cappuccino bars and movie theaters,
among
other extras...
However, Mahoney says, the unstable situation in Afghanistan directly
affects how much the command can do to improve living conditions...
-----
SIKH KILLER ANGRY, NOT INSANE, PROSECUTOR SAYS IN CLOSING
Anabelle Garay, Associated Press, 9/29/03
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0929roque29-ON.html
A jury began deliberations Monday in the murder trial of a man accused
of
gunning down a Sikh gas station owner because of the way he looked.
Frank Silva Roque faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted
murder,
drive-by shooting and endangerment in a shooting spree carried out four
days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Roque is accused of killing Balbir Singh Sodhi, who prosecutors say was
targeted because he wore a long beard and turban as part of his Sikh
faith.
Roque's attorneys say he was insane at the time of the shooting.
Roque suffered from mental illness his entire life and didn't start
using
racial slurs until after the terrorist attacks, said defense attorney
Dan
Patterson during closing arguments...
But prosecutor Vince Imbordino argued Roque was motivated by anger and
hatred, not insanity. He noted that Roque took the time to practice
shooting and reloading his weapons before killing Sodhi...
-----
BAGHDAD FIRE DEPARTMENT T-SHIRTS!
The Nation, 9/29/03
http://www.thenation.com/outrage/index.mhtml?pid=981
Check out just the most obvious pork salted into the President's $87
billion request for Iraqi military operations and "reconstruction"
efforts.
George Bush, for example, thinks Americans should cough up $9 million
to
establish postal ZIP codes in Iraq. "How has Iraq made it for these
thousands of years without Americans helping them develop a ZIP code?"
asks
South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson. "It is amazing. ... What a
generous thing for this Administration to do for other people on the
other
side of the planet, on our dime, borrowing money to do it."
Bush has also asked for $100 million for 2,000 trash trucks -- which
works
out as $50,000 per truck. He wants to spend $400 million on building
new
jails able to hold 8,000 additional prisoners -- which works out to
$50,000
per bed. "I have a lot of constituents in my state of South Dakota who
live
in homes that don't cost $50,000 per bedroom," Senator Johnson says. Or
how
about the $30 million we've reportedly set aside to teach Iraqis
English as
a second language. "Undoubtedly there will be a contract to be 'bid'
out,
surely to that great educational institution, Halliburton, to provide
ESL
teachers from the US at wartime salaries," writes Tom Englehardt,
editor of
the indispensable TomDispatch.com...
Sorry, did our shock & awe campaign cost you your fire trucks? Here,
have a
million-dollar T-shirt. And smile for the nice Americans back home...
ALSO SEE:
ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS FISSURES DEEPEN IN IRAQI SOCIETY
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, Washington Post, 9/29/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A14841-2003Sep28
HAIFA, Iraq -- The Kurds who descended upon this hardscrabble Arab
village
in northern Iraq 11 days ago were so confident they would be able to
evict
everyone and seize the surrounding farmland that they brought along
three
tractors.
But instead of responding by fleeing, as thousands of other Arab
villagers
in northern Iraq have done when confronted with similar Kurdish
demands,
the residents of Haifa refused to budge. "Our people went to them and
said,
'What the hell are you doing here? This area doesn't belong to you,' "
recalled Kadhim Hani Jubbouri, the village sheik.
Words were exchanged. Threats were hurled. When the Kurds began tilling
a
field lined with golden flecks of harvested hay, gunfire erupted...
---
WHO'S SORDID NOW?
Paul Krugman, New York Times, 9/30/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/opinion/30KRUG.html
It's official: the administration that once scorned nation-building now
says that it's engaged in a modern version of the Marshall Plan. But
Iraq
isn't postwar Europe, and George W. Bush definitely isn't Harry Truman.
Indeed, while Truman led this country in what Churchill called the
"most
unsordid act in history," the stories about Iraqi reconstruction keep
getting more sordid. And the sordidness isn't, as some would have you
believe, a minor blemish on an otherwise noble enterprise.
Cronyism is an important factor in our Iraqi debacle. It's not just
that
reconstruction is much more expensive than it should be. The really
important thing is that cronyism is warping policy: by treating
contracts
as prizes to be handed to their friends, administration officials are
delaying Iraq's recovery, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
It's rarely mentioned nowadays, but at the time of the Marshall Plan,
Americans were very concerned about profiteering in the name of
patriotism... To get Congressional approval, Truman had to provide
assurances that the plan would not become a boondoggle. Funds were
administered by an agency independent of the White House, and Marshall
promised that priorities would be determined by Europeans, not
Americans.
Iraq's reconstruction, by contrast, remains firmly under White House
control...
---
RESENTFUL IRAQIS FIND U.S. OPTIMISM HARD TO SHARE
Fiona O'Brien, Reuters, 9/30/03
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=786486
BAGHDAD - The Bush administration says Iraq is a better place to live
than
before the war. Try telling that to Baghdad citizens, whose
frustrations
are growing daily.
Months after Saddam Hussein's fall, frequent power cuts and water
shortages
disrupt the city's rhythms, unemployment and crime loom large, and
anger is
rising against a U.S.-led occupation that shows few signs of ending
soon.
Makeshift checkpoints are becoming permanent, webs of razor wire and
concrete slabs divert traffic, frisking and demands for identity cards
humiliate a nation renowned for its pride.
Iraqis feel their destiny has been taken out of their hands. The
Governing
Council was handpicked by Washington, the police force trained by
foreigners. Iraqis are impatient to take back the reins.
------
SECURITY BARRIER DEEPENS ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DIVIDE
Megan Goldin, Reuters, 9/30/03
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=3531297
ABU DIS, West Bank - For Palestinian and Israeli medical students
Taraji
al-Qadi and Yael Oren, the journey to lectures at two Jerusalem
teaching
hospitals is perilous -- but for entirely different reasons.
To get to East Jerusalem's Makkased hospital, Qadi has to scale a
concrete
wall patrolled by Israeli paramilitary police and scramble for an hour
by
foot up a hill to the facility. The barrier blocks the road to the
hospital, a 10-minute drive away.
Across the wall, Oren sits on a bus on a nerve-racking trip to Hadassah
hospital. She jolts when the bus lets on passengers, eyeing them to see
whether one might be a Palestinian suicide bomber in disguise, hiding a
bomb in a bag or under his clothes.
The 10-foot high wall dividing the two students is newly erected by
Israel
for the declared purpose of preventing suicide bombers -- who have
killed
more than 430 people in three years -- from crossing into Israel from
the
West Bank.
Soon the barrier will be replaced by a permanent wall, 27 feet high,
covered by barbed wire with a fenced-off dirt track for soldiers making
daily patrols for infiltrators...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL 'SEPARATION FENCE' MEANS ANNEXATION-UN ENVOY
Reuters, 9/30/03
GENEVA - A barrier that Israel is building with the stated aim of
keeping
out Palestinian suicide bombers amounts to territorial annexation and
should be condemned, a U.N. human rights investigator said Tuesday.
In his latest report for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
South African law professor John Dugard said the barrier's route ran
well
east of Israel's border with the West Bank at a number of points...
Some 210,000 Palestinians living between the barrier and the "Green
Line,"
Israel's internationally recognized frontier with territories it
occupied
in a 1967 war, would be cut off from places of work, schools, clinics
and
other social services...
-----
INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL-USA CONDEMNS ETHNIC CLEANSING OF MUSLIMS IN
RAJASTHAN
http://www.imc-usa.org/cgi-bin/cfm/PressRelease.cfm?PRID=64
Contact: Rasheed Ahmed
(708) 466-0244
For Immediate Release
Sept. 29, 2003. Chicago, IL. Indian Muslim Council-USA strongly
condemns
the subversive and terrorist activities of Hindu nationalist
organizations
Bajrang Dal and World Hindu Council (known as VHP in India) in the
Indian
State of Rajasthan.
On September 25th Bajrang Dal activists, blasted a mosque in Iklera,
Rajasthan forcing Muslims to flee Iklera. Bajrang Dal and the VHP had
been
active in the area after Gujarat carnage. According to press reports,
the
past 10 days have seen armed Bajrang Dal and VHP activists on the
rampage,
driving out about 25 Muslim families from their homes, ransacking their
houses and setting them on fire. The village of Mishroli now has a
welcome
sign on a bright saffron board displaying the "Ideal Hindu Village".
Expressing concern over the recent incidents, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed, vice
president of IMC-USA said "Incidents in Iklera very much reflect the
threats made after the Gujarat carnage that "Gujarat experiment will be
repeated" in a smaller scale and also demonstrates a dangerous trend
that
is undermining the pluralistic and tolerant ethos of Indian Society. We
urge the government of Rajasthan to bring the culprits to justice and
take
full measures to ensure the safety and protection of basic human rights
of
all citizens…"
International groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
have
accused India's Hindu nationalist government of failing to curb
violence by
Hindu hard-line groups against Indian minorities. These same groups
were
responsible for the murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines,
lynching
of Dalits and Gujarat genocide in 2002, which saw the ethnic cleansing
of
Muslims and the glaring state collusion in the carnage.
Read More:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=32403
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_391044,000900010008.htm
-----
NEW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SPECIAL ON PBS "INSIDE MECCA"
http://www.pbs.org/previews/InsideMecca/
With privileged access to Islam's holiest city, National Geographic's
"Inside Mecca" follows three Muslims from very different backgrounds as
they embark on an epic five-day reaffirmation of faith and quest for
salvation. Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 22 on PBS, "Inside Mecca"
captures
the look and feel, spiritual uplift, claustrophobia, grandeur and grit
of
the largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world....
Premiering: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 on PBS
"Inside Mecca" is produced and directed by Anisa Mehdi. Michael
Rosenfeld
is senior executive producer and John Bredar is executive producer.
Traci
Zambotti served as editor.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/1/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD DEEDS
* 24 LIBRARIES NEED SPONSORS IN LA
- Subscribe to CAIR's 'Washington Live' Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
- CAIR-NJ Leadership Conference
- CAIR-AZ Fundraising Dinner Oct. 4 in Phoenix
* AZ SWASTIKA VANDALISM SUSPECT ARRESTED (State Press)
- ME Woman Accused of Harassing Muslims (Press Herald)
* NJ MUSLIM BEATEN WITH BASEBALL BAT
* SUBURBAN MUSLIM GROUP SUES MORTON GROVE (NBC5.com)
- Muslims Sue Village for Blocking Construction (Sun-Times)
* SUIT ALLEGES HARASSMENT OF MUSLIMS AT A HOTEL (NY Times)
- Fairmont Faces Suit on Muslim Bias Claim (Bloomberg News)
* WHEN THE POOR, HUDDLED MASSES GET DEPORTED (Yale Daily News)
- Refugees Free After Months in Detention (Gazette)
* 9/11 USED AS 'EXCUSE' FOR REPRESSION, REPORT (4NI)
* FREEDOMS ARE QUICKLY EVAPORATING (Olympian)
- Do you know about NSEERS? (USF Oracle)
* OH MOTHER FEARS KIDS IN FOSTER CARE WILL LOSE ISLAM (Dispatch)
* PENN. CROSS-BURNING INVESTIGATED (Pittsburgh Channel)
* U.S. MUST COUNTERACT IMAGE IN MUSLIM WORLD - PANEL (NY Times)
- War is Peace! (Salon.com)
* MINARETS AND STEEPLES: CAN FRANCE BALANCE THEM? (NY Times)
* HISPANIC MUSLIMS HOLD OPEN HOUSE IN TX
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD DEEDS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A believer never has
his
fill of good deeds until he ends up in Paradise."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 421
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6939 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6939 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
Status Report: Louisiana
Total Number of LA Public Libraries 320
Number of libraries not sponsored 24
Library code- Name, city, state
1943 - WEST BATON ROUGE PARIS LIBRARY, PORT ALLEN, LA
3365 - TIMES LIBRARY, SHREVEPORT, LA
3753 - WEST END PARK LIBRARY, NEW IBERIA, LA
3757 - WESTLAKE BRANCH LIBRARY, WESTLAKE, LA
3764 - VINTON LIBRARY, VINTON, LA
5061 - WESTWEGO LIBRARY, WESTWEGO, LA
17909 - WAGNER LIBRARY, METAIRIE, LA
17915 - TERRYTOWN LIBRARY, TERRYTOWN, LA
17917 - WESTBANK OUTREACH LIBRARY, HARVEY, LA
17943 - TERREBONNE PARISH LIBRARY, MONTEGUT, LA
17955 - WASHINGTON PARISH LIBRARY, FRANKLINTON, LA
17956 - WASHINGTON PARISH LIBRARY, FRANKLINTON, LA
17957 - TANGIPAHOA PARISH LIBRARY, INDEPENDENCE, LA
17958 - TANGIPAHOA LIBRARY, LORANGER, LA
17960 - WASHINGTON PARISH LIBRARY, MT HERMON, LA
18008 - VERNON PARISH LIBRARY, PITKIN, LA
18025 - ZACHARY LIBRARY, ZACHARY, LA
18033 - BENTON BRANCH LIBRARY, BENTON, LA
18034 - BLANCHARD BRANCH LIBRARY, BLANCHARD, LA
18035 - WEBSTER PARISH LIBRARY, DOYLINE, LA
18042 - WEBSTER LIBRARY, HEFLIN, LA
18051 - BIENVILLE LIBRARY, RINGGOLD, LA
18053 - WEBSTER PARISH LIBRARY, SAREPTA, LA
18098 - VERNON PARISH LIBRARY, LEESVILLE, LA
Payments by cash, checks or credit card could be mailed to address
above or
go on line to www.libraryproject.org or
http://www.cair-net.org/libraryproject/
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
---
CAIR-NJ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
WHAT: New Jersey on the Move - First Annual CAIR-NJ Leadership
Conference
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 2003
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel in Edison (125 Raritan Center Parkway/ Edison, NJ
08837)
Admission: $50 for full-day conference including breakfast, lunch, and
formal dinner (registration begins at 8:30am) OR $30 for dinner and
keynote
speech by Khurram Wahid (registration begins at 6:00pm)
Register: Send an email with contact information and ticket choice to:
cair_nj@ureach.com
---
CAIR-AZ FUNDRAISING DINNER OCT. 4 IN PHOENIX
WHAT: Council on American Islamic Relations- Arizona "2nd Annual
Banquet
and Fundraiser - "Together... Defending Civil Rights and Promoting
Tolerance"
WHEN: Saturday, October 4, 6 p.m. (registration)
WHERE: GRAND BALLROOM, Hilton Phoenix Airport, 2345 South 47th Street,
Phoenix, AZ
SEE: http://www.cairaz.org/ or call 602-738-2482
-----
SWASTIKA VANDALISM SUSPECT ARRESTED
Kelly Vaughn, State Press, 10/1/03
http://www.statepress.com/news/508858.html
Tempe police arrested a suspect Monday in connection with the vandalism
of
the Islamic Cultural Center last month.
William Bushnell, a 23-year-old transient, was arrested near the
intersection of Sixth Street and Mill Avenue around 9 p.m.
"Bicycle police patrolling Mill Avenue recognized Bushnell and arrested
him
on an unrelated probation violation," said Tempe police Sgt. Dan
Masters.
Police then used evidence left near the crime scene at the cultural
center
to identify Bushnell as a suspect.
A can of spray paint found during a canvas of the area immediately
following the Sept. 18 crime yielded fingerprints that police
identified as
Bushnell's, Masters said.
Bushnell allegedly admitted to painting images associated with the
neo-Nazi
and skinhead movement on the doors of the Islamic Cultural Center,
located
at 131 E. Sixth St., during a police interview.
"Bushnell has not admitted allegiance to any white supremacist group,
though he does have a swastika tattoo," Masters said.
Bushnell also reportedly told police that the second suspect in the
crime
was a member of a hate group, but he did not identify the second
suspect by
name…
Deedra Abboud, executive director of the Council on American Islamic
Relations, said the arrest sends a strong message to the community.
"This type of crime is unacceptable against any group - in Tempe and
all of
Arizona," she said.
SEE ALSO:
WOMAN ACCUSED OF HARASSING MUSLIMS
JOSHUA L. WEINSTEIN, Portland Press Herald, 10/1/03
http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/031001civilrights.shtml
The Maine Attorney General's Office has filed a civil rights complaint
against a former Muslim from Somalia, accusing her of harassing Muslims
in
her building - including two Muslim women from Somalia.
According to a complaint filed in Superior Court in Portland, Fatuma
Boru,
a 49-year-old resident of Franklin Towers in Portland, "is a former
Muslim
who converted to Christianity as an adult and now expresses significant
hostility towards members of her former religion."
The complaint says that in late winter 2003, Boru pushed her way into a
Somali neighbor's apartment. When the resident pushed her out, court
documents say, Boru said, "I hate you," "I hate Muslims" and "I hate
Somalis." The documents say that once Boru was removed from the
victim's
apartment, Boru "threw a large stone, which hit the apartment door."
The AG's office is asking the court for a permanent injunction
prohibiting
Boru from bothering the alleged victims again. It also asks the court
to
order Boru to never assault, harass or threaten anyone because of their
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental
disability
or sexual orientation. Among other requests, the office also asks the
court
to fine Boru...
Leanne Robbin, an assistant attorney general, said Tuesday that the
neighbors "are extremely frightened of this woman. She has engaged in
behavior that might not be seen as terribly threatening by us in Maine,
but
has a lot of meaning in Islamic culture…"
-----
NJ MUSLIM BEATEN WITH BASEBALL BAT
Tech student is in critical condition following attack
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/1/03) - A Muslim student working as a pizza
deliveryman remains in critical condition following an attack Saturday
night in Orange, New Jersey.
Police say Nabeel Siddiqui, 24, was struck in the head with a baseball
bat
after being lured to the site of the attack under the pretext of a
pizza
order.
Siddiqui suffered severe head trauma and is being treated in the
intensive
care unit of the University Hospital in Newark, N.J. Three juveniles
were
taken into custody by police. They face charges of aggravated assault,
carjacking and weapons violations.
The attack was apparently not bias-related.
Siddiqui, a native of Pakistan, is a student at the New Jersey
Institute of
Technology. His parents are trying to come to the United States.
-----
SUBURBAN MUSLIM GROUP SUES MORTON GROVE
NBC5, 9/30/03
http://www.nbc5.com/news/2522072/detail.html
CHICAGO -- A Muslim group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday claiming the
Village of Morton Grove violated their rights to religious freedom by
denying the construction of a mosque.
Group members then held a news conference offering to drop the lawsuit
if
they were given construction permits by the village, which has said the
denial had nothing to do with religion and came because the
construction
plan was too big for the site.
The Muslim Community Center filed a federal lawsuit claiming their
rights
to religious freedom and equal treatment were violated because the
Village
of Morton Grove denied the group's plans to build a mosque next to its
school at 8601 Menard Av. in the suburb.
Several people from Muslim organizations held olive-tree branches
during a
news conference Tuesday in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building,
219
S. Dearborn St.
Attorney John Mauck, representing the Muslim Community Center, said the
olive branches were meant as a peace offering to the village. Mauck
said if
the village allows the group to build the mosque in the next few
months,
the plaintiffs would drop the $5 million in damage claims...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM GROUP SUES MORTON GROVE FOR BLOCKING MOSQUE CONSTRUCTION
Cathleen Falsani, Sun-Times, 10/1/03
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mosque01.html
A Muslim organization filed a $5 million federal lawsuit against Morton
Grove on Tuesday, saying village officials flouted civil liberties by
refusing to issue a permit that would allow the group to build a
mosque...
The center has owned and operated a school on four acres along Menard
Avenue in Morton Grove since 1989. For nearly as many years, about 200
adults have gathered in the school's gymnasium Fridays for weekly
prayer.
Last year, center officials sought permission to build a mosque on the
school grounds that would accommodate about 500 worshippers, but some
residents complained to village officials that a mosque would create
traffic problems in the largely residential area.
In April, Morton Grove officials denied the Muslim center's request for
the
special-use permit required to build the mosque. The village denied the
request even after center officials complied with numerous requests to
alter the original mosque plans, such as cutting the capacity from 600
to
500 people, according to the lawsuit...
-----
SUIT ALLEGES HARASSMENT OF MUSLIMS AT A HOTEL
Susan Saulny, New York Times, 10/1/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/01/nyregion/01SUIT.html
They say that they were told, "Don't blow up the building," and "Muslim
terrorists are all the same." One was kicked, they say, and several
were
not called by their given names but were instead referred to as "Osama"
or
"bin Laden."
The accusations are from 10 Muslim men who filed a lawsuit yesterday
against their employer, the Plaza Hotel, with the help of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission. The suit, filed in Federal District
Court in Manhattan, says the workers suffered "severe and pervasive
harassment" in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
According to the men's complaint, their supervisors at the hotel on
Central
Park South in Manhattan subjected them to unwarranted scrutiny and
criticism, condemning them personally for the attacks and for causing
"all
the problems in the world."
The federal commission filed the complaint on behalf of a class of
employees represented by the 10 men. Officials with the commission said
the
Plaza, and its operator, Fairmont Hotel and Resorts Inc., did not
respond
adequately to the men's plea for help and did little to prevent
continued
harassment...
ALSO SEE:
FAIRMONT FACES SUIT ON MUSLIM BIAS CLAIM
Bloomberg News, 10/1/03
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. and Newsweek magazine were sued by the
U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission yesterday in New York, alleging
discrimination against Muslim employees.
The lawsuit against Toronto-based Fairmont alleges the company allowed
racist behaviour on the part of employees toward other workers of
Muslim
and Arab origin. The suit against Newsweek alleges the company fired an
employee based on his Lebanese descent.
The commission, representing 11 employees of Fairmont's Plaza Hotel in
New
York alleges workers were subjected to a "hostile work environment" on
the
basis of their religion and race.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Fairmont hotel
managers
subjected the employees to "severe and pervasive harassment based on
their
religion, Muslim, and/or national origin, Arab or South Asian,"
commission
trial lawyer Kam S. Wong wrote in the complaint the agency filed for
the
workers...
Newsweek, owned by the Washington Post, and New York-based Applied
Graphics
Technologies Inc. were sued in a separate lawsuit over the firing of
eight-year Applied Graphics employee Jesus R. Mustafa because of his
Lebanese descent, the complaint said...
-----
WHEN THE POOR, HUDDLED MASSES GET DEPORTED
Saqib Bhatti, Yale Daily News, 10/1/03
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=23372
I spent this summer working with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant
and
Refugee Rights to organize Muslim immigrants in the Chicagoland area. I
came across scores of immigration horror stories, but the one that
touched
me the most was that of a woman named Aleena and her husband Asim.
Aleena is an American citizen. She has lived in the United States since
she
was three and recently married Asim, an international student from
Pakistan. He is living here legally on a student visa that permits him
to
hold a job. When the government announced that nonresident immigrant
males
from all predominantly Muslim countries and North Korea had to come in
for
special registration with their local immigration offices, Asim did not
flinch. The immigration lawyers at his school assured him that he had
nothing to worry about because all his papers were in order. But then
Asim
did not come home from registration...
Two years after Sept. 11, more than 13,000 Muslim men are slated for
deportation. They followed the law and went in for registration when
they
were asked to, purportedly as a counterterrorism measure, but they were
arrested because there were problems with their papers. In many cases,
the
problem was simply that immigration agencies had fallen behind in
processing their documents. Ironically, not a single one of the men
detained by the government has been charged with any connections to
terrorism. Perhaps this is because it wouldn't make sense for a
terrorist
to go in voluntarily and register in the first place...
ALSO SEE:
REFUGEE CLAIMANTS FREE AFTER 3 MONTHS IN DETENTION
Levon Sevunts, Gazette, 9/30/03
http://www.canada.com/montreal/news/story.asp?id=2F26435E-B04E-4648-B146-F8FA9D8DB832
A wheelchair-bound Pakistani woman and her teenage son, fighting
deportation, regained their freedom yesterday morning after spending
the
past three months at an immigration detention centre in Laval.
Bilquees Fatima, 63, who suffers from kidney failure that requires her
to
undergo dialysis treatment every 48 hours and has a host of other
health
problems, and her 17-year-old son Imran Hussain were considered a
flight
risk and detained since June 25.
Stewart Istvanffy, the family's lawyer, said a Federal Court justice
granted them a stay of deportation proceedings based on a motion for a
judicial review of the pre-removal risk assessment by the immigration
authorities.
The pre-removal risk assessment had concluded that Fatima and Hussain,
who
belong to Pakistan's Shia Muslim minority, do not face any dangers if
deported to Pakistan, despite continued sectarian violence between the
Sunni majority and Shiites.
"The system is still deporting people to possible torture and death
every
day," Istvanffy said. "The pre-removal risk assessment is a farce and
I'm
afraid for people's lives."
Istvanffy said Fatima and Hussain will stay in Canada at least until
December. The family was freed without bail, but with an order to
report to
immigration authorities every month, he said...
-----
9/11 USED AS 'EXCUSE' FOR GOVERNMENT REPRESSION, CLAIMS UN REPORT
4 National News, 9/30/03
http://www.4ni.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=20545
The terrorist attacks against the US on 11 September 2001 have been
used by
many countries as an "excuse for a crackdown on religion", especially
in
Central Asia, according to a new United Nations report released today.
The interim report to the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur of
the
UN Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief,
Abdelfattah
Amor, added that the media have sometimes incited hatred of certain
religious groups, including Muslims.
Mr Amor stressed that all human rights "are interdependent with
democracy
and development", and he called for a focus on preventive steps against
terrorism by addressing the root causes of extremism rather than the
later
acts.
"Generally speaking… states have used the pretext of security in
response
to terrorist threats to limit the exercise of that right," the report
said.
"Many States have taken the simplistic view that, since religions are
at
the root of many terrorist acts, the most direct means of preventing
such
acts is to limit the exercise of religion, and have focused their
genuinely
or purportedly counter-terrorist activities on limiting the exercise of
civil and political rights, including the right to freedom of religion
and
belief," it adds...
-----
OUR VIEWS: FREEDOMS ARE QUICKLY EVAPORATING
The Olympian, 9/30/03
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20030930/opinion/112609.shtml
Attorney General John Ashcroft's 16-city tour to bolster support for
the
USA Patriot Act was a failure. Thankfully, there is a growing awareness
among the American people that their rights are being trampled and a
new
era of secrecy has enveloped the nation.
The Olympia City Council has been asked to join a growing list of
communities that have passed resolutions opposing the federal
legislation
that is a direct threat to constitutional rights that have served this
nation well for more than 200 years.
The resolutions, which have been adopted by 150 local governments, have
great merit if for no other reason than to increase public awareness of
the
Patriot Act, its application and the consequences of those actions.
In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States,
President
Bush issued a series of executive orders and his administrative team
has
adopted new regulations that have undermined civil liberties in this
country.
Propelled by the urge to fight back and protect the nation from similar
attacks, Congress was stampeded into passing the USA Patriot Act -- an
all-encompassing but ill-advised attempt to define domestic
terrorism...
SEE ALSO:
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NSEERS?
Stefanie Green, USF Oracle, 10/1/03
http://www.usforacle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/01/3f7acc50f370e
Mohammed Al-Dahoud is one of many Muslim students around the nation
dealing
with the paranoia of being deported.
As a Jordanian, Al-Dahoud, like other foreign nationals from a selected
list of predominantly Muslim countries, is required to register with
the
federal government.
He was able to register on time and avoid deportation, but Al-Dahoud
said
he fears that some students may not be aware of the rules regarding the
program or will become afraid of deportation because of the National
Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program.
"It brings stress and fear into your life," Al-Dahoud said. "I had at
least
three or four dreams about 'What is the date? Did it pass?' I had to
get up
from bed and check the Web site. I was paranoid."
In response to students' fears about NSEERS, student body president
Omar
Khan and vice president Ryan Morris have initiated a campaign to
convince
the federal government that the enforcement of NSEERS is unjust. The
pair
seeks to gain USF administration and state support to have NSEERS
procedures overturned…
-----
MOTHER FEARS KIDS IN FOSTER CARE WILL LOSE MUSLIM FAITH
Encarnacion Pyle, Columbus Dispatch, 9/30/03
http://www.dispatch.com/
Hadiya AbdulSalaam knew her children might not strictly adhere to their
Muslim faith once they were put into foster care. But she never thought
that they'd be encouraged to become Christians.
Since July, three of her daughters have been attending Christian
services,
with her middle girl singing in the choir.
She says her son told her he was forced to sit in his foster parents'
car
when he refused to join them at Christian services.
And none have been allowed to contact Islamic religious leaders that
their
mother suggested for spiritual guidance...
AbdulSalaam of the Near East Side has taken her grievance to county
commissioners, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and state
legislators. Among the advocacy groups investigating her discrimination
claim is the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"So many of the state's children-services agencies assume that if a
Muslim
woman is wearing a hijab (headdress), she's being oppressed," said Jad
Humeidan, CAIR Ohio's executive director.
"It's that kind of ignorance that leads to unfortunate situations like
this."
Humeidan has asked Children Services to be more sensitive toward Muslim
families and has given the agency the names of Muslim foster parents
and
other people open to Islamic ideas...
-----
WESTMORELAND CROSS-BURNING INVESTIGATED
ThePittsburghChannel.com, 9/30/03
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/2522448/detail.html
A Westmoreland County woman told WTAE's Marcie Cipriani that a cross
was
burned on the grass in her family's front yard.
The woman, who does not want to be identified because she fears
retaliation, said the family found the cross when they returned from a
trip
to their native country of India.
There have been problems at the home before, according to the woman.
In June 1999, the family's house was set on fire with what a police
report
said was an accelerant. After rebuilding, the family was targeted again
in
2001 when windows in their house were shot out, the woman said.
"I believe in the philosophy, do not judge a person by color or
religion,"
the woman said. "...Whether you are Hindu, Christian, Muslim -- every
religion teaches that you should be kind to other persons."
The woman is offering a reward of $5,000 to anyone with information
that
leads to a conviction in the cross-burning or the 1999 house fire.
Anyone
with information is asked to call state police in Greensburg.
-----
U.S. MUST COUNTERACT IMAGE IN MUSLIM WORLD, PANEL SAYS
Steven R. Weisman, NY Times, 10/1/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/01/politics/01DIPL.html
WASHINGTON - The United States must drastically increase and overhaul
its
public relations efforts to salvage its plummeting image among Muslims
and
Arabs abroad, a panel chosen by the Bush administration has found.
"Hostility toward America has reached shocking levels," the panel
stated in
its report, which will be released Wednesday. "What is required is not
merely tactical adaptation but strategic, and radical, transformation."
The report added that "spin" and manipulative public relations "are not
the
answer," but that neither is avoiding the debate. A copy of the report
was
made available Tuesday to The New York Times.
The panel warned that the war in Iraq and the intensified conflict in
the
Middle East had increased anger at the United States, and that people
throughout the world were ignorant of or misinformed about American
policies...
ALSO SEE:
WAR IS PEACE!
Jennifer L. Buckendorff, Salon.com, 10/1/03
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/09/30/deception/index_np.html
It seemed like an auspicious debut: The new magazine Hi was just off
the
presses and it generated heavy buzz. It was glossy. It was young. It
was
fresh and hip and just a little bit sexy. The multimillion-dollar
launch
across 14 countries got headlines worldwide. And for the U.S. State
Department that seemed to be good news, because Hi is a government
publication issued to win hearts and minds in the Arab and Muslim
world.
While produced by a private company, Hi is just one part of a U.S.
campaign
to convince citizens of Arab and Muslim countries to look a little more
favorably on the United States. Critics have called it "soft-sell
propaganda"; press reports from the Middle East have suggested that
much of
the young-adult target audience finds it laughable. All of which
suggests
that it will have little impact in offsetting long-held negative
attitudes
toward the United States -- suspicions worsened almost universally by
the
ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In "Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War in
Iraq," co-authors Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber explain why efforts
like
Hi have almost inevitably failed. "The United States lost the
propaganda
war a long time ago," Rampton told Salon, citing the wisdom of an
Arab-American news executive. "They could have the prophet Mohammed
doing
their public relations, and it wouldn't help."
That hasn't stopped the Bush administration from trying. Last Thursday,
the
White House announced its plan to launch a round-the-clock television
station, a competitor to the al-Jazeera network -- albeit with a
slightly
different perspective. Congress has approved $32 million to fund the
project, with another $30 million to follow soon...
-----
MINARETS AND STEEPLES: CAN FRANCE BALANCE THEM?
Craig S. Smith, New York Times, 10/1/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/01/international/europe/01MOSQ.html
Cergy Haut- Hamida Maiga looks out over a green field ringed by white
suburban houses and low-rise apartment blocks here, and imagines the
spires
of a mosque's minarets rising above it all...
That modest wish is a radical aspiration in a country where stone
churches
are the central architectural statement in almost all cities and towns,
and
Christianity so permeates the culture that, for most French, it is an
assumed part of the national identity.
While people here have grudgingly accepted a growing Muslim presence in
their midst, many still resent displays of religious and cultural
symbols
suggesting that the country's second largest and fastest growing
religion
is here to stay.
But as the country's first major wave of Muslim immigrants retire and
their
French-born children come of age, the largest Islamic community in
Europe
is pushing for the social and religious institutions that it believes
are
its due...
-----
HISPANIC MUSLIMS HOLD OPEN HOUSE IN TX
WHAT: An open house will take place for the purposes informing others
about
the growing Hispanic community within the US and particularly within
the
Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The event is organized and directed by a group of Hispanic Muslim
brothers
and sisters. There will be a reception of our guests before the event
and
small group tours around the mosque while delivering short lectures.
WHEN: October 18, 2003
WHERE: Dallas Central Mosque, 840 Abrams Road in Richardson, Texas.
For further information, visit the website of Islamic Association of
North
Texas at www.iant.com.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/2/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6939 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR Director Speaks to Kenyan Delegation
- CAIR-St. Louis Organizes FBI Visit
- Letter of Support for CAIR
* MUSLIMS WELCOME REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
* DRIVING DANGEROUSLY WITH THE PATRIOT ACT (CSM)
- Too Much Secrecy Endangers our Freedom (Modesto Bee)
* MUSLIM WOMEN SUE NY TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR DISCRIMINATION
- Woman sues Swissair, City (Chicago Tribune)
* ATTACK PUTS IMMIGRANT'S DREAMS IN JEOPARDY (Star-Ledger)
* HOLY LAND LEADER WANTS HIS DAY IN COURT (Star-Telegram)
* DETAINEE'S CASE GOES TO SUPREME COURT (AP)
* MILLER'S STAR FADES (SLIGHTLY) AT 'NY TIMES' (E & P)
- Dershowitz Rebuts Plagiarism Charges (Forward)
* A PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF FORTRESS ISRAEL (Independent)
- Israel to Build 600 New Settler Homes (Reuters)
* 2 MUSLIM STUDENTS NAMED FOR AWARDS (Press-Enterprise)
* IMAM OPENS CONGRESS WITH PRAYER
* SHOWING THE TRUE FACE OF ISLAMIC LIFE (Daily Iowan)
* UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE JOB OPENINGS
* FEW UNKNOWNS, SCANT HOPE IN CHECHEN VOTE (LA Times)
- Our Greatest Sin of Silence (Wall Street Journal)
* NEW LINE OF ISLAMIC STATIONERY PRODUCTS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CHARITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Charity puts out sins
as
water puts out fire."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 467
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6939 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6939 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
CAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SPEAKS TO KENYAN DELEGATION
Representatives from the local offices of three national religious
organizations met yesterday to entertain questions from a State
Department-sponsored delegation at Delphi International Program of
World
Learning.
The group of Kenyan nationals was touring the United States to learn
about
American Muslims and American culture. Discussions focused on the role
of
religious freedom, protecting religious integrity in America and
promoting
the healing and positive role of religion in public life.
Panelists included: Nihad Awad, Executive Director, CAIR; Jason
Kristall,
Associate Regional Director, American Jewish Congress; and Robert
Miller,
Director, Christian Science Committee in Publication.
---
CAIR-ST. LOUIS ORGANIZES VISIT FROM U.S. ATTORNEY & FBI
WHAT: Representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office (Federal
Prosecutor)
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will visit Daar ul-Islam
Mosque. This event is sponsored by the Islamic Foundation of Greater
St.
Louis and the St. Louis office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-St. Louis). CAIR-St. Louis's executive director will serve as
moderator. Topics to be discussed include the USA Patriot Act, the use
of
secret evidence, the government's role in preventing and prosecuting
anti-Muslim hate crimes, and other important issues.
WHERE: 517 Weidman Road, Ballwin, Missouri, 63011.
WHEN: Monday, October 6, 2003 at 7 p.m.
-----
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR CAIR
The following e-mail was received by CAIR:
Dear brothers and sisters at the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
I
feel compelled to write to you in sincere gratitude for the
praiseworthy
work you…are doing on behalf of American Muslims and even non-Muslims.
Even
though I'm just a single person applauding your work, believe me there
are
countless others, both Muslim and non-Muslims, who feel the same way.
CAIR's defense of the Muslim community and in the US in truly of
historic
proportions.
I concede that there are folks who dislike Islam and abhor Muslims and
subsequently hate the work your doing. But I'm here to tell you that
CAIR's
work in the fields of civil rights, politics, and various Islamic
causes
are invaluable, just, and caring. Thank you for a job well done and
keep up
your fine work in the face of monumental hardships against our
community.
By God, with every difficulty there is ease.
-----
MUSLIMS WELCOME REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
CAIR says American Muslims can build 'bridges of understanding'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/2/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today welcomed a report by an administration advisory panel that
recommended upgrading America's public diplomacy to the Muslim and Arab
world. The Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim
World
said such efforts require "a broad and deep transformation."
SEE: "'New Strategic Direction' Urged for Public Diplomacy"
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=111-10012003
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/24882.pdf
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"We welcome this report and agree with the advisory panel when it
stated
that 'spin and manipulative public relations and propaganda are not the
answer.'
"Despite the fact that American core values are respected worldwide, it
is
the reality of unbalanced and counterproductive foreign policies that
negatively impacts global public opinion. These policies need to be
addressed based on uniform standards of international law, political
equity, social justice, and respect for human rights.
"American Muslims and Arab-Americans can serve an important role in
building bridges of international understanding. We stand ready to take
up
that important challenge on behalf of our nation."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
DRIVING DANGEROUSLY WITH THE PATRIOT ACT
Pat M. Holt, Christian Science Monitor, 10/2/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1002/p09s01-coop.html
WASHINGTON - Attorney General John Ashcroft is running a dead heat with
A.
Mitchell Palmer, attorney general in the Wilson administration, for the
distinction of being the worst in that job in the history of the United
States.
One of the duties of the attorney general as head of the Justice
Department
is to protect the Constitution. Both Mr. Ashcroft and Palmer found that
the
Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights, got in their way more than
it
protected anything. It has gotten in Ashcroft's way in his pursuit of
terrorists after Sept. 11, especially those who dress differently and
practice a different religion. Palmer's crusade was the pursuit of
communists, in the aftermath of World War I. He especially went after
people with what to him were funny names from Eastern Europe. He tended
to
equate liberals with communists.
Ashcroft's vehicle is the USA Patriot Act, which Congress, abdicating
its
own duties of vigilance, passed with a whoop and a holler in the days
after
Sept. 11. Even the name of this odious legislation is offensive. It
implies
that the purpose of the act is to promote patriotism and that those not
cooperating with it are somehow less patriotic...
---
TOO MUCH SECRECY ENDANGERS OUR FREEDOM
Modesto Bee, 10/1/03
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/story/7526632p-8440040c.html
Today, The Bee concludes a series of articles from our sister paper,
The
Sacramento Bee, about the steps taken by the Bush administration since
the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to strengthen security and the threat to
civil
liberties that the government's expanded powers pose.
The series summarized what's publicly known about the tensions between
the
need for security and the rights of the people. Unfortunately, to a
disturbing extent, what Americans know is what the government allows
them
to know.
That's doubly alarming because even before Sept. 11 and the passage six
weeks later of the USA Patriot Act, the Bush administration had shown a
strong predilection for secrecy. Much of what it has done since has
reinforced the fears of a broad spectrum of Americans that too much is
being sacrificed in the name of security without actually assuring
security.
Federal authorities have arrested, detained and in many cases deported
thousands of people, nearly all for immigration violations, not
terrorist
acts -- so far as we know. In most cases, we don't know the names of
those
detained, or why they're being held without charge and denied contact
with
relatives or access to an attorney. One clue is Attorney General John
Ashcroft's threat to lock up terrorism suspects on the most minor legal
grounds, a threat that makes no distinction between those few accused
of
terrorist connections and the vast majority who have been detained on
immigration charges -- so far as we know...
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN SUE TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR RELIGIOUS, GENDER DISCRIMINATION
Brooklyn, New York - A federal lawsuit was filed in the Eastern
District of
New York by Scott, Mason-Kinsey, and Hart LLP on behalf of two Muslim
employees of the New York City Transit Authority. Deirdre Small and
Malikah
Alkebulan, who are presently employed as bus operators for the Transit
Authority, allege that their employer has violated the First and
Fourteenth
Amendments to the United States Constitution as well as Title VII of
the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in a continuous pattern of
religious
and gender discrimination dating back to March of 2002. Mrs. Small and
Mrs. Alkebulan have been suspended from their duties because they
refuse to
remove or cover their traditional Muslim headdress ("khimar") with
baseball
caps while driving passengers.
Regarding the lawsuit, attorney Armani B. Scott stated" the MTA has
refused
to acknowledge our clients Muslim beliefs. This blatant discrimination
is a
dangerous and illegal overreaction which feeds into the worst fears of
Americans in our post- 9/11 society." Attorney Lonnie Hart, Jr. added,
"The MTA's position that our clients wear baseball hats to cover their
khimars is not only an affront to Islam but has no legal or moral
basis. The MTA has failed to cite any legitimate reason for their
discriminatory practices."
The federal suit alleges that Mrs. Small and Mrs. Alkebulan have been
singled out for discrimination because of their religion and
gender. Similarly situated male Muslim bus drivers are currently
operating
Transit Authority buses while wearing traditional Muslim headdress
("kufi")
without reprisal.
For more information contact: Lonnie Hart, Jr. or Armani B. Scott
Scott, Mason-Kinsey & Hart LLP
55 Washington Street Suite 655
Brooklyn, New York, 11201
(718) 852-7000 (p)
(718) 852-3302 (f)
www.scottmklaw.com
ALSO SEE:
WOMAN SUES SWISSAIR, CITY
Chicago Tribune, 9/28/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0309280229sep28,1,3116888.story
TINLEY PARK -- An Arab-American woman from Tinley Park filed a federal
suit
Friday against the city of Chicago and Swiss International Airlines
alleging racial profiling, use of excessive force and false
imprisonment
during her arrest at O'Hare International Airport after the terrorist
attacks Sept. 11, 2001.
Anna Mustafa, a former Chicago Board of Education member, was arrested
in
December 2001 after allegedly claiming to have a bomb in her purse. A
Cook
County judge found her not guilty of disorderly conduct in November
2002,
noting that she had been "loud, rude and confrontational" at a Swissair
ticket counter but had not committed a crime...
-----
ATTACK IN ORANGE PUTS IMMIGRANT'S DREAMS IN JEOPARDY
Kasi Addison and Kevin Dilworth, Star-Ledger, 10/2/03
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1065073840290910.xml
When Nabeel Siddiqui arrived in New Jersey eight years ago from
Pakistan,
he had a plan -- graduate with honors from the New Jersey Institute of
Technology, work for a couple of years as a computer programmer and
eventually bring his mother, father and younger sister to join him in
America.
"He was so ready for it," said his cousin Asim Khan of Westchester,
N.Y.
"He was the only son of his parents, and they gave up so much to pay
for
(his) education. He wanted to repay that."
But now Khan worries whether Siddiqui will never have that chance.
Siddiqui, 24, is in critical condition in a coma at University Hospital
in
Newark after being attacked by three teenagers during a carjacking
Saturday
night in Orange, according to hospital spokesman Rogers Ramsey and
police...
But his friends said the two people most missed in the crowd were his
parents, Atiq and Husna Siddiqui, who live in Karachi, Pakistan.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said that since the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, it has been very
difficult for people from Muslim countries to get visas.
"It can take months now, from my understanding, and that is if you ever
get
a visa," he said, adding that his organization has offered to work with
the
family to speed up the process...
-----
HOLY LAND LEADER WANTS HIS DAY IN COURT
Jack Douglas Jr., Star-Telegram, 10/1/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/6909662.htm
GARLAND -- The U.S. government considers Shukri Abu-Baker a dangerous
man,
a supporter of suicide bombers in the Middle East who is living an
outwardly nondescript life in a Dallas suburb.
But almost two years after the Islamic charity he headed was shut down
by
President Bush, Abu-Baker is still trying to force the government to
prove
its case against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development in
open court.
Abu-Baker, who became a U.S. citizen in 1989, said the raid on Holy
Land
was "equivalent to a psychological hurricane," taking away his job and
cutting off his family's health benefits.
And he continues to proclaim his innocence, even as he waits for a
federal
grand jury's decision on whether Holy Land's officers have committed
any
crimes...
-----
DETAINEE'S CASE GOES TO SUPREME COURT
Gina Holland, Associated Press, 10/1/03
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6908853.htm
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court was asked Wednesday to consider if the
government has unconstitutionally imprisoned an American-born man
captured
during the fighting in Afghanistan.
Yaser Esam Hamdi is being held in a naval brig in South Carolina,
without
access to attorneys and without charges being filed against him.
"The man's been locked up for two years," said Frank W. Dunham Jr., a
federal public defender who filed the appeal on his behalf. "He wants
an
opportunity to be heard in court. It goes right to the heart of our
liberties."
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., ruled in
January
that the government has wide latitude to detain people caught fighting
against the United States on foreign soil during wartime, without
giving
them traditional legal rights.
Dunham told justices in a filing that the appeals court not only
"embraced
an unchecked executive power to indefinitely detain American citizens
suspected of being affiliated with enemies, but it also abandoned
procedural safeguards designed to promote truth and fairness."
The Bush administration has maintained the detention is constitutional
and
important for national security. The administration has about a month
to
file a response in Hamdi's case.
So far, the Supreme Court has refused to hear any cases stemming from
the
terrorist attacks and the government's war on terror...
-----
MILLER'S STAR FADES (SLIGHTLY) AT 'NY TIMES'
Jackson: Is More Objective Iraq Coverage Coming?
William E. Jackson, Jr., Editor and Publisher, 10/2/03
http://www.mediainfo.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1991338
On Sept. 29, a remarkable story appeared on the front page of The New
York
Times: "Agency Belittles Information Given by Iraqi Defectors; Pentagon
Intelligence Review Says Debriefings Provided Little of Any Value." Far
down in Douglas Jehl's report was this mea culpa: "The Iraqi National
Congress [INC] had made some ... defectors available to ... The New
York
Times, which reported their allegations about ... the country's weapons
programs."
This was a rather direct repudiation of numerous stories written by
Judith
Miller in the Times for over a year in which she relied upon the INC's
Chalabi and defectors he provided for front-page exclusives on supposed
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq. A second front-page Times
story
on Sept. 29, "New Criticism on Prewar Use of Intelligence," gave credit
to
The Washington Post for breaking the story about House Intelligence
Committee complaints about the CIA.
Has the Gray Lady finally turned the corner and abandoned its
dependence on
the faulty WMD reporting of Miller in favor of more objective
journalism?
Alas, this may be as far as the Times will go in executing a critical
review of Miller's reporting on the search for WMD over the past year.
My
communications with several Times employees, past and present, depict
some
powerful people within the paper as still being in denial. Their
rationale
is that Miller produces; and that she is uniquely well-connected. A
reluctant admirer said: "What Miller does have is unlimited drive and
energy for a story, and fabulous sources at the upper levels of
government."
But Miller is not a neutral, nor an objective journalist. This can be
acceptable, if you're a great reporter, "but she ain't, and that's why
she's a propagandist," stated one old Times hand to me...
ALSO SEE:
DERSHOWITZ REBUTS CRITICS' PLAGIARISM CHARGES
Eric Marx, Forward, 10/3/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.03/news18.dershowitz.html
Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz is firing back at
critics
accusing him of plagiarism in his recently released book, "The Case for
Israel."
"I'm coming out swinging," Dershowitz said in an interview with the
Forward, in which he responded to the charge made last week by Norman
Finkelstein, a DePaul University professor who himself is no stranger
to
controversy.
Finkelstein, an outspoken critic of Zionism whose own book, "The
Holocaust
Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering," made
waves
when it came out in 2000, charged that Dershowitz had plagiarized more
than
20 passages from the book "From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the
Arab-Jewish Conflict Over Palestine." A 1984 work by Joan Peters, "From
Time Immemorial" argues that there was no substantial Arab presence in
Palestine before the 19th-century Jewish return to the country, claims
that
Dershowitz's book does not make...
-----
A PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF FORTRESS ISRAEL
Justin Huggler, Independent, 10/2/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=449062
The wall in Abu Dis runs down the middle of a street. You used to be
able
to stroll from the money changers on one side to the tea shop on the
other
in less than a minute. Now the round trip takes half an hour.
The wall is about 10 feet high, a series of concrete slabs topped with
barbed wire. And every morning, at about 7am, Khaled Ideisat, a father
of
seven, scrambles over it like a furtive child stealing apples.
Mr Ideisat is trying to get to work in Arab east Jerusalem. Most
mornings
the Israeli army shoots tear-gas canisters at him. His daily commute
starts
at 3.30am, from his home in the West Bank town of Yatta. >From there,
he
has to make a series of journeys on back roads, scrabbling over the
hills
on foot every so often to avoid the Israeli checkpoints, before
connecting
with a new taxi on a different road. In total, he walks five miles and
uses
six different cars.
It used to be bad enough. But since the Israelis built the wall in
August
last year, it has been worse. Abu Dis used to be part of the suburbs of
Arab east Jerusalem. But now Abu Dis lies behind part of Jerusalem's
new
"security" wall.
Walls are going up all over the West Bank, slicing through suburbs of
Jerusalem. The Israeli Cabinet voted yesterday to go ahead with a
particularly controversial section of its "security fence", which
Palestinians call Israel's Berlin Wall. The Cabinet approved a new
stretch
of the fence east of the Jewish settlements of Ariel and Kedumim deep
inside the West Bank, that will have to cut 17 miles into the West Bank
to
keep the settlements on the "Israeli" side. It is a decision that some
observers are warning could mean the death of President George Bush's
"two-state solution"...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL TO BUILD 600 NEW SETTLER HOMES IN W. BANK
Matt Spetalnick, Reuters, 10/2/03
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3546291
JERUSALEM - Israel unveiled plans on Thursday to build more than 600
new
homes in Jewish settlements, drawing fresh Palestinian condemnation a
day
after Israel approved an expansion of its security barrier in the West
Bank.
The government published tenders for a series of building projects
planned
for three West Bank settlements on occupied land in defiance of a
U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan that calls for a halt to construction
at
settlements.
Housing Ministry spokesman Koby Bleich said the tenders were part of "a
government policy by which we are to advance and develop communities in
Judea and Samaria (biblical names for the West Bank) in accordance with
needs and natural growth."
But Palestinians denounced the move. The international community views
all
Jewish settlements on occupied territory as illegal. Israel disputes
this...
-----
2 MUSLIM STUDENTS NAMED FOR AWARDS
Sharyn Obsatz, Press-Enterprise, 10/1/03
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_NEWS_nmuslim01.f29a.html
Two college students from Corona have won recognition for their efforts
to
unite Muslim youth and encourage Muslim voter registration.
Gaith Adhami and Mohammad Wareh will receive Muslim youth activist
awards
from the Council on American-Islamic Relations Southern California
chapter
during a banquet Saturday in Anaheim.
Mohammad Wareh, 22, of Corona, a senior at Cal State Fullerton, won a
$400
second place award for social activism.
"Both are constantly in the community, trying to help wherever they
can,"
chapter spokeswoman Sabiha Khan said Tuesday.
The banquet will focus on defending civil rights and promoting
tolerance,
Khan said by phone. Last year's dinner drew 1,500 people from across
Southern California, she said...
-----
IMAM OPENS CONGRESS WITH PRAYER
On Wednesday, October 1, 2003, Imam Qazwini was welcomed as guest
chaplain
to offer the opening prayer for the 108th Congress, first session. The
following is the text of his prayer:
"In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"Glory be to Allah, the Lord of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. As
we
commence our legislative day in this 108th Congress, we ask You to
bestow
Your blessings upon us and help our legislators enact that which
pleases
you and ensures the interest of our people. Lend Your infinite wisdom
to
this congress, and allow them to embrace what is right, not what is
popular.
"As our nation faces many challenges, we beseech Your guidance. And as
we
pursue those who intend harm to our country, let us seek justice rather
than revenge. Guide our leaders to use the influence of their power as
an
instrument for the betterment of all humankind and peace throughout the
world.
"Oh Allah, endow the people of this great land with a growing trust in
one
another, and an increasing faith in You: Help us all uphold our
God-given
rights of freedom and equality. Allow us never to revoke your law by
embracing color or creed as tools for superiority. As You say in the
Holy
Koran (49:13):
"'Oh people, We have created you from one male and one female, and made
you
into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily, the
best
amongst you are those who are the most pious.' Amen."
Following Imam Qazwini's prayer, Congressman John Dingell gave a
statement
in which he greeted Imam Qazwini and recognized him as becoming a
leading
voice for Muslims in America, recognized his efforts to promote Islam
in
America by helping to bridge the differences among the monotheistic
faiths
and dispelling prejudice.
-----
SHOWING THE TRUE FACE OF ISLAMIC LIFE
Christina Erb, Daily Iowan, 10/2/03
http://www.dailyiowan.com/news/510819.html?mkey=1014078
"Getting to Know Islam," a taped educational program on Public Access
Television, is celebrating its fifth year of enlightening the Iowa City
community and fighting misconceptions about the Muslim faith.
UI medical student Aman Aminzay said he was able to get the program
running
on the air in 1999, only days after he approached program coordinators.
He
added that one of his friends, a graduate student, had originally
thought
of producing the show. However, when his friend moved, Aminzay took the
next step for him.
One common misunderstanding is that Muslims do not believe in Jesus, he
said, noting that Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet of God,
though
not the son of God...
-----
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE JOB OPENINGS
JOBS: Senior Specialist on Muslim World; Program Officer (South Asia
Specialist).
Applicants must be U.S. citizens. See complete info, eligibility
criteria,
etc. at http://www.usip.org/jobs/index.html.
-----
FEW UNKNOWNS, SCANT HOPE IN CHECHEN VOTE
Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, 10/2/03
http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-chechnya2oct02,1,5490855.story
GROZNY, Russia- There is an election coming here in Chechnya. You can
tell,
because the capital is awash in campaign posters, almost all of them
for
one man.
"Clean Intentions, Strong Power," says one, which shows Akhmad Kadyrov
wearing the classic fur hat of a Chechen clansman. Or simply, "Kadyrov,
Our
President."
A large poster of the former Muslim cleric even hangs above the
headquarters of one of his six rivals, Nikolai Paizulayev. At first, a
spokesman for the rival campaign said, it was thought that Kadyrov was
going to occupy the building. When Paizulayev's team moved in, he said,
"we
thought we would just let it stay there."
On Chechen state television, the only candidate who has purchased
advertising time is -- surprise -- Kadyrov, even though, as director
Beslan
Khaladov boasts, "We have the cheapest television time in Russia."
Seven men are vying to be president of Chechnya under Russian President
Vladimir V. Putin's plan to end years of war and halt -- by ballots
this
time, instead of tanks -- the republic's stubborn ambition for
independence. But the other six candidates have nothing that compares
to
Kadyrov's advantage. Their posters don't show them shaking Putin's
hand...
ALSO SEE:
OUR GREATEST SIN OF SILENCE
Andre Glucksmann, Wall Street Journal, 10/2/03
http://online.wsj.com/article_print//article/0,,SB10650500943092300,00
There are deaths that weigh no more than a feather. Entire peoples who
don't count. They have only one right, the right to disappear. They are
absent from our concerns and from our television screens, even before
the
tanks, the bombs, the raids and the landmines reduce them to nothing.
The
Chechens live in absolute solitude, surrendered to the pleasures of a
massacring Russian army. And no one -- not the United Nations, not
world
public opinion, not any one of the democracies that are so proud of
their
principles -- cries bloody murder!
Neither of the conflicts that has gotten the attention and sympathy of
the
world -- Iraq or Palestine -- is as cruel as this one. The Chechen
nation
counts barely a million individuals, of whom between 100,000 and
200,000
have died at the hand of the Russian army, which first invaded in 1994
and
left a few years later, humiliated. To celebrate the millennial year
2000,
President Vladimir Putin sent the troops back and razed the Chechen's
capital Grozny, and transformed their tiny country into permanent hell.
The few travelers who risk the ire of the authorities to visit Chechnya
(and I was one of them) bear witness to the worst of the worst that
dishonors this good year of 2003...
-----
NEW LINE OF ISLAMIC STATIONERY PRODUCTS
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Mohamed Soliman, graphic artist and designer, in
conjunction with Acme Graphics, Inc. has produced a new line of
specialty
stationery products, The Crescent Series.
The Crescent Series is a family of specialty stationery products
manufactured by Acme Graphics, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home to the
oldest mosque in North America the Mother Mosque. These stationery
products will assist in the celebration of Islamic Holy Days, mourning
the
loss of a loved one or simply to thank someone for a kind gesture.
Currently there are eight different styles of cards including Ramadan,
Iftar, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Ahda, Pilgrimage, Sympathy, Thank You,
Congratulations and All Occasion. Each box of cards contains 12
cards/envelopes one style in each box for just $9.59 per box.
Cards can be viewed and ordered on-line at
http://www.CrescentSeries.com
You may also place orders by faxing 319-363-6437, emailing Mohamed at
mohameds@AcmeGraphicsInc.com or call 319-364-0233. Members of our staff
can
communicate with you in English, Arabic or Urdu.
Acme Graphics will make a 5% donation to the Mosque of your choice when
the
order exceeds $200.00. This order can contain only one ship to
address.
For more information about The Crescent Series or Mohamed Soliman's
designs, please contact Carly Caris at 319-431-8061.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS – 10/3/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PUTTING THINGS RIGHT BETWEEN PEOPLE
* CAIR’S LIBRARY PROJECT 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- Subscribe to CAIR’s ‘Washington Live’ TV Talk Show
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* PSA, DONATIONS ASSIST MOSQUE RECONSTRUCTION (Red and Black)
* IMMIGRANT REGISTRATION CONSTITUTES RACIAL PROFILING, PANEL TOLD (AP)
* OFFICIALS PUSH BILL TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF PATRIOT ACT (MI Daily)
* OVER 18,000 BODIES EXHUMED IN 8 YEARS FROM BOSNIA'S MASS GRAVES (AFP)
* WAYS TO BURNISH AMERICA'S IMAGE ABROAD (CSM)
* MUSLIM STUDENTS REACH OUT FOR AWARENESS WEEK (Daily Pennsylvanian)
* POTEMKIN ELECTIONS (CSM)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PUTTING THINGS RIGHT BETWEEN PEOPLE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Shall I not inform you
of
something more excellent than fasting, prayer and charity?...It is
putting
things right between people.”
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2310
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR'S 'WASHINGTON LIVE' TALK SHOW
CAIR's weekly hour-long program, called "Washington Live," is broadcast
out
of the nation's capital to North America and worldwide by the Arab
Radio &
Television (ART) satellite network. SEE: http://www.art-tv.net
It airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and is available in the
United
States through the Dish Network, on cable and by satellite in other
parts
of the world.
Please note that to watch the show, you have to have ART. To subscribe
to
ART call 1-888-458-1278.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISH NETWORK SERVICE, GO TO:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/international/packages/arabic/index.shtml
To request information about sponsoring segments of the program,
e-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
PSA, DONATIONS ASSIST MOSQUE RECONSTRUCTION
Deepika Rao, Red and Black, 10/2/03
http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/02/3f7b91d15cd64
Approximately 250 people of different ethnicities and religious
backgrounds
showed their solidarity as they came together to help a religious group
in
need Tuesday night.
The University's Pakistani Student Association (PSA) organized a
fund-raising dinner at the Tate Student Center to help rebuild a house
in
Savannah which burned down. Hundreds of Muslims were worshipping
temporarily.
The program for the event stated, "We are coming together in an effort
to
show that we stand in solidarity against all crimes of hate --
regardless
of creed, class, religion, or nationality."
Sophia Qureshi, a senior from Alpharetta and president of PSA, said
Tuesday
night's dinner raised $2,100, and the organization raised an additional
$700 from donations...
-----
IMMIGRANT REGISTRATION CONSTITUTES RACIAL PROFILING, PANEL TOLD
Karen Matthe, Associated Press, 10/2/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--amnesty-profiling1002oct02,0,1554696.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Justice Department's registration policy for
Middle
Eastern immigrants constitutes racial profiling, a panel convened by
Amnesty International was told Thursday...
In an effort to keep track of recent arrivals from countries linked to
terrorism, federal authorities last fall began requiring young men from
certain nations to register.
Males over 16 from Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Indonesia and Bangladesh were
required to register by late April. Deadlines passed earlier for males
from
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan and other
countries.
Immigration lawyers and advocates have complained that the registration
program amounts to racial profiling and does nothing to prevent
terrorist
attacks because terrorists are unlikely to register.
Maulik said the policy amounts to an immigration raid in which the
targets
turn themselves in. She said more than 13,000 people who complied with
the
law are in deportation proceedings because they were in the United
States
illegally...
-----
OFFICIALS PUSH BILL TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF USA PATRIOT ACT
Andrew Kaplan, Michigan Daily, 10/3/03
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/02/3f7bb3428263a
Ann Arbor, Mich. - As the government seeks greater power to track and
arrest terrorist suspects, several federal and local officials have
mustered counter efforts to guard citizens against unlawful
investigations
in judicial procedures.
Hoping to limit the scope of federal investigative agencies, two U.S.
congressmen have introduced a bill that would repeal several provisions
of
the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act. The act allows the government to police
terrorist
suspects through secret searches, increased access to classified
records
and prolonged detentions.
Among lawmakers and activists who support the new bill -- known as the
"Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act" and authored by U.S. Reps. Dennis
Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) -- U.S. Rep. John Conyers
(D-Detroit) has pledged his sponsorship. Michigan branches of the
American
Civil Liberties Union, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and
the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have also
voiced
their favor for repealing sections of the original Patriot Act...
"The Patriot Act ... has definitely affected our community because it
has
been used against some in our community," said national CAIR
spokeswoman
Rabiah Ahmed, referring to the Arab and Muslim community. "Many people
have
been arrested without evidence or any connection with criminal activity
--
some have been deported..."
-----
OVER 18,000 BODIES EXHUMED IN EIGHT YEARS FROM BOSNIA'S MASS GRAVES
Sabina Arslangic, Agence France Presse, 10/3/03
Eight years since the end of Bosnia's 1992-95 war more than 18,000
bodies
have been exhumed from over 300 mass graves throughout the country,
most of
them of Muslims, according to forensic teams.
Bosnia's largest known mass grave, near Zvornik in the east, contained
the
remains of 629 people believed to have been Muslim civilians who were
executed when Bosnian Serb forces captured the area at the outset of
the war.
The remains of more than 3,500 people have been found on the ground,
most
in the forests around the eastern town of Srebrenica, the site of
Europe's
worst massacre since World War II.
In just a few days following the takeover of Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb
forces in July 1995, more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys were summarily
executed.
Srebrenica became a symbol of the brutality of the Bosnian war that
claimed
some 200,000 lives and left 2.2 million refugees, more than half of the
country's population...
-----
WAYS TO BURNISH AMERICA'S IMAGE ABROAD
Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 10/3/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1003/p02s01-usfp.html
The White House - and America in general - may get an overseas image
czar
as one result of fresh findings that foreign opinion of the US has
slumped
to dangerous lows.
For more than a year, a string of private and government reports and
independent polls has found that the battle to sway the world's hearts
and
minds to a favorable view of the US - especially in the Arab and Muslim
worlds - is falling further behind.
Alarmed by its flagging image overseas, the United States pumped up its
public- relations spending after the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks to
more
than $ 1 billion a year. But now a bipartisan advisory panel is warning
that the issue reaches beyond a Madison Avenue image problem to a
serious
national security threat.
The panel is calling for a "new strategic dimension" in what is called
"public diplomacy" that treats the problem with warlike urgency. It's a
war
that will require more resources, more focused attention from the White
House, and everything from many more fluent speakers of key foreign
languages in the foreign service to more points of contact for
skeptical
foreigners to meet and talk with Americans...
-----
MUSLIM STUDENTS REACH OUT FOR AWARENESS WEEK
Molly Petrilla, Daily Pennsylvanian, 10/3/03
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/03/3f7d434d82506
In a time when world politics have caused the Islamic religion to come
under public scrutiny, Penn's Muslim Students Association has aimed to
do
their part in promoting awareness.
And for the next week in particular, the MSA will be doing just that.
Today marks the beginning of the MSA's annual Islam Awareness Week,
with
events including three lectures, an open prayer service and a community
service day.
According to IAW Co-Chairman and College junior Anjum Cheema, the week
has
"taken a more important role since 9/11."
"Islam was kind of put into the forefront and is in focus" since Sept.
11,
2001, Cheema said. "Most of the images that you see in the media are
somehow related to Islam, directly or indirectly. A lot of things have
been
said about Islam and Muslims.... It seems as if our religion isn't
being
represented as it truly is..."
-----
POTEMKIN ELECTIONS
Christian Science Monitor, 10/3/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1003/p10s02-comv.html?entryBottomStory
Voters in Russia's violence-racked Republic of Chechnya will go to the
polls Sunday. But they won't be voting in a free and fair election -
they'll be rubber-stamping Russian President Vladimir Putin's
hand-picked
candidate for president. That's hardly a recipe for peace.
Muslim Chechnya is the rebellious region that has fought two civil wars
with Russian troops in the last decade. As prime minister, Mr. Putin
launched the second in 1999. That war has killed tens of thousands of
Chechens and Russians. Hundreds of thousands of Chechens have fled
their
homeland. Rebels continue to kill several Russian soldiers a day.
International human rights organizations and several European
governments
have accused the Russians of gross human rights violations. The Chechen
rebels are guilty of their own serious violations, and their cause -
independence, not an Islamic state - is tainted by the presence among
them
of a few Islamist terrorists, including members of Al Qaeda.
Sunday's election is supposed to consolidate the so-called peace -
replacing an appointed administrator with an elected president and
Russian
troops with Chechen militia. But the Kremlin has used job offers,
threats,
and violence to drive all serious opponents of its favored candidate,
Akhmad Kadyrov, out of the race...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NC CONGRESSMAN BLAMES MUSLIMS FOR MARRIAGE FAILURE
Group says claim is 'bizarre,' calls for committee resignation
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/4/2003) The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today called on national Republican leaders to repudiate bigoted
statements by Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC) who claimed the stress of
living
near the Muslim civil rights group caused the breakup of his 50-year
marriage.
In an interview with the Charlotte Observer newspaper, Ballenger said
that
proximity to CAIR "bugged the hell" out of his wife. He said his wife
also
objected to women "wearing hoods" going in and out of CAIR's Capitol
Hill
headquarters and he accused the group of raising funds for terrorists.
(NOTE: Many CAIR staffers wear religiously-mandated headscarves, or
hijab.
CAIR does not raise funds for any other group, whether in this country
or
overseas.)
SEE: "Ballenger Grouses About Muslims, Lobbyist Limits"
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/politics/6929935.htm
"Congressman Ballenger's bizarre comments demonstrate the sheer lunacy
of
his political and religious views," said Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's
director
of legal affairs. "Ballenger's statements are a perfect example of
Islamophobic hysteria at the highest levels of government. We view this
incident as a direct byproduct of the campaign currently being waged by
neoconservative opinion leaders to marginalize and disenfranchise the
American Muslim community."
Iftikhar added that Ballenger, who serves on the House International
Relations Committee, has angered African-American and women's groups
with
previous bigoted statements.
Last December, Ballenger said African-American Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney stirred in him "a little bit of a segregationist feeling. I
mean,
she was such a b-tch." In another incident, many people were offended
by a
black lawn jockey --long a symbol of racial insensitivity-- in
Ballenger's
front yard.
"Ballenger's comments and actions prove that he is not suitable to deal
with foreign policy issues impacting the Muslim world," said Iftikhar.
"To
have him continue to serve on the International Relations Committee
would
be an insult to the American Muslim community and would further damage
America's international image."
He added that CAIR will begin legal proceedings against Ballenger for
his
false and defamatory statements in the article.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CONDEMNS HAIFA SUICIDE BOMBING
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/4/2003) The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
today
condemned the suicide bombing Saturday in a Haifa restaurant that
killed at
least 19 people, including three children.
In its statement, the group said:
"CAIR condemns this vicious attack in the strongest possible terms. The
bombing is particularly loathsome, coming as it did on the eve of the
Jewish community's holiest day.
"We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and call for
the
swift apprehension of the perpetrators."
CAIR, American's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is
headquartered in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CONDEMNS ISRAELI ATTACK ON SYRIA
President Bush urged to block future strikes
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/5/03) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
today
condemned Israel's attack Sunday on Syria and urged President Bush to
join
the international community in demanding an end to such strikes.
In its statement, the group said:
"Israel's attack was a clear violation of international law and of
Syria's
national sovereignty.
"Just as we condemned yesterday's suicide bombing in Haifa, we also
condemn
Israel's aggression against Syria. This reckless action demonstrates
Israel's complete disregard for the norms of international conduct. It
can
only serve to perpetuate the tragic cycle of violence that has engulfed
the
Middle East for so many years.
"We urge President Bush to dissuade Israel from carrying out such
counterproductive attacks in the future. He should also end his
administration's one-sided support for Israel's brutal actions against
the
Palestinian people. It is this imbalance in foreign policy that
continues
to harm America's image and interests worldwide.
"Our government must become a real advocate for a comprehensive
political
solution that takes into account the rights of all parties to the
conflict."
CAIR, American's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is
headquartered in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1,800 TURN OUT FOR CAIR DINNER IN CALIFORNIA
Record amount raised for civil rights work, officials offer praise
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/6/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
today said some 1,800 people turned out for the annual fundraising
banquet
of its southern California office (CAIR-LA) on Saturday. The
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the
dinner
raised more than $500,000, a record amount of donations for a regional
office.
At the dinner, held in California's largest banquet facility at Anaheim
Convention Center, speakers praised CAIR's efforts to combat
anti-Muslim
prejudice and to promote civil rights for all Americans.
Speakers and attendees at the event included former ambassador to Iraq
Edward Peck, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Reverend Edwin Bacon Jr. of
All
Saints Episcopal Church, Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Orange
County Sheriff Michael Carona, as well as a number of state and local
elected officials. Representatives from most southern California
Islamic
centers and Muslim organizations also attended the dinner. (Rep.
Sanchez
presented awards to a number of Muslim activists, mainly young people,
for
their positive civic, religious and social endeavors.)
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, who was unable to attend the
event
because of a scheduling conflict, sent a letter stating in part: "We
pray
that the dedication of CAIR to the civil rights of all, to liberty of
all,
to justice for all is safeguarded and flourishes...."
"The success of this banquet clearly demonstrates the tremendous
support
CAIR enjoys in the American Muslim community and the respect it has
earned
in religious and political circles through its civil rights and
interfaith
work," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. "We will now be
able
to expand our work building bridges of understanding between people of
all
faiths."
CAIR's national banquet will be held in Washington on Saturday,
November
29th. For more information, e-mail: register@cair-net.org
According to results of a CAIR poll released last month, roughly half
of
American Muslims surveyed say they have increased their social,
political,
interfaith, and public relations activities since the 9/11 terror
attacks.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847; CAIR-National, Ibrahim
Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed,
202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/6/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE HEIGHT OF PIETY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-DFW Hosts Open House
- CAIR-FL Conducts Christian- Muslim Dialogue
* VIRGINIA MUSLIM STABBED, CALLED 'TERRORIST PIG'
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'IF STUPID BIGOTRY WERE A FELONY...'
- Congressman Blames Marriage Collapse on Muslims (AFP)
* MUSLIM GROUP DENIES SUPPORT FOR DANIEL PIPES
* SENSITIZING POLICE TOWARD MUSLIMS (Wash. Post)
* SYRIA FREES CANADIAN MAN DEPORTED BY U.S. (Reuters)
- Press Conference for Maher Arar
- Briton Says CIA Threatened Torture (Guardian)
* U.S. SUES BECHTEL FOR BIAS AGAINST IRAQI WORKER (AP)
* FIGHTING THE SCARF (NYT)
* ISRAEL'S ATTACK IS A LETHAL STEP TOWARDS WAR (Indep.)
* AFGHAN MAN'S ARREST TOUGH ON REFUGEES (Argus Online)
* QUEST FOR THE MUSLIM NICHE MARKET (MSNBC)
- Muslim Women Speaking Out (R News)
* NEW PARTY, OLD RELIGION (Charlotte Observer)
- Democracy on Hold (Wash. Post)
* RIGGED CHECHEN POLL 'WILL LEAD TO NEW WAR' (Telegraph)
* LECTURE ON VIRTUES OF ALTRUISM, ISLAM (Daily Planet)
* NY LECTURE ON WAR AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
------
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE HEIGHT OF PIETY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No one can achieve the
height of piety until he forsakes those practices that are harmless
merely
to guard himself against those that are harmful."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 207
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
CAIR-DFW HOSTS OPEN HOUSE
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter
(CAIR-DFW) will hold a community open house on Sunday, October 12, at
its
new location in Dallas, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with ribbon-cutting by
community leaders at noon.
CAIR-DFW offices are located at:
3010 LBJ Freeway, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75234
Tel: (972) 241-7233
Fax: (972) 241-7466
---
CAIR-FL CONDUCTS CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE
WHAT: The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-FL), in cooperation with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at
the
University of North Florida, will sponsor a Muslim-Christian dialogue
on
October 17. The event is free and open to the public.
One of the featured speakers for the dialogue will be Dr. Jamal Badawi,
Professor at St. Mary's University, Halifax, Canada. Dr. Badawi is
regarded
as an expert in interfaith dialogue. He is currently a member of the
Fiqh
(Islamic Jurisprudence) Council of North America and Chairman of the
Editorial Board for American Trust Publication.
WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2003, 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: University of North Florida, University Center (Bldg 43),
Banquet
Hall, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Jacksonville, Florida
CONTACT: Altaf Ali (Executive Director); 954-298-8214 EMAIL:
altaf@cair-florida.org, Ahmed Bedier (Communications Director);
813-731-9506 EMAIL: abedier@cair-florida.org.
-----
VIRGINIA MUSLIM STABBED, CALLED 'TERRORIST PIG'
FBI urged to investigate attack on woman wearing head scarf
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/6/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today called on the FBI to investigate an attack Sunday on a
Muslim
woman in Virginia as a possible hate crime.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the
woman, who was wearing an Islamic head scarf, was attacked from behind
in a
K-Mart parking lot in Springfield, Va. The white male teenage attacker
allegedly shouted, "you terrorist pig," before running away.
The 47-year-old convert to Islam was treated at a local hospital for a
2-3
inch deep wound on her lower back. She was released from the hospital
later
that same day. Lt. Butch Gamble of the Fairfax County Police Department
told CAIR the incident is being treated as an "apparent bias crime.'
(Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Fairfax
County
Police at 703-691-2131 or Crime Solvers at 703-691-8888.)
"Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in Islamophobic attacks that
parallels
the ongoing right-wing campaign to demonize Muslims and Islam," said
CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This smear campaign is having an impact
on
those in our society vulnerable to the siren song of hatred and
prejudice.
As we have requested many times in the past, elected officials and
other
opinion leaders must speak out against this, and all other forms of
religious intolerance."
Since the beginning of the year, CAIR has received a number of reports
of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions. Those incidents included a recent
arson
attack on a Georgia mosque, a cross burning at a Maryland Islamic
school,
the kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery man whose
attackers thought he was Muslim, and the shooting of a Sikh man in
Arizona
who may have been mistaken for an Arab. Similar incidents have been
reported in a number of other states.
Last month, CAIR demanded that federal terrorism charges be brought
against
an Illinois man who got off with just two years probation and "anger
management" classes after he bombed a Muslim family's van. In Florida,
a
man was sentenced to just 12 years in prison for plotting to attack
some 50
Islamic institutions in that state. CAIR, America's largest Islamic
civil
liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16
offices
nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'IF STUPID BIGOTRY WERE A FELONY...'
Mark Shields, CNN CAPITAL GANG, 10/4/03
SHIELDS: And now for the "outrage of the week." The Council on American
Islamic Relations took out a full page ad in "The New York Times" to
condemn the attacks of September 11. And on that date since, has
sponsored
an interfaith day of National Unity in Washington.
But nine term Republican Congressman Cass Ballenger of North Carolina
says
his marriage broke up because he lived next door to the Office of the
religious group, which was so close to the capitol, he worried "they
could
blow the place up."
If stupid bigotry were a felony, Congressman Ballenger would be doing
long,
hard time.
ALSO SEE:
US CONGRESSMAN BLAMES MARRIAGE COLLAPSE ON MUSLIM NEIGHBORS
Maxim Kniazkov, Agence France Presse, 10/5/03
A half-century ago, Communist spies were the whipping boys. Now, with
the
war on terror revving up, a ranking Republican lawmaker has blamed the
presence of a US Muslim organization in his neighborhood for stress
that
undermined his 50-year marriage.
Seventy-six-year-old Cass Ballenger gave vent to his suspicions and
frustrations about the Council on American-Islamic Relations in an
interview with The Charlotte Observer, a newspaper popular in his rural
North Carolina district that published his remarks on Saturday.
He said the proximity of CAIR headquarters to the couple's Washington
home
"bugged the hell" out of his wife...
Ballenger, who chairs the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere,
said his wife was particularly nervous about all the activities at CAIR
headquarters, including people unloading boxes and women "wearing
hoods,"
or headscarves, going in and out of the building on New Jersey
Avenue...
In a swift response, the council called on leaders of the Republican
Party
to publicly repudiate Ballenger's "bigoted" statements and strip him of
his
committee seat.
"Congressman Ballenger's bizarre comments demonstrate the sheer lunacy
of
his political and religious views," said Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's
director
of legal affairs. "Ballenger's statements are a perfect example of
Islamophobic hysteria at the highest levels of government."
Iftikhar said the lawmaker's comments and actions prove that he is not
suitable to deal with foreign policy issues that could impact the Arab
and
Muslim world.
"To have him continue to serve on the International Relations Committee
would be an insult to the American Muslim community and would further
damage America's international image," he stressed.
Ballenger, who made a fortune manufacturing plastic packaging for
underwear, is no stranger to seeing his words come back to haunt him.
Last December, he fired an angry broadside at outgoing Democratic
Representative Cynthia McKinney, who had sparked a furor among
Republicans
by suggesting that President George W. Bush knew in advance about the
possibility of the September 11 attacks and did nothing to prevent
them.
Ballenger said McKinney, who is black, had stirred in him "a little bit
of
a segregationist feeling." "I mean, she was such a b...tch," he added.
Years earlier, he caused another outcry in Congress by comparing the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the Nazi secret police
Gestapo.
-----
MUSLIM GROUP DENIES SUPPORT FOR DANIEL PIPES
From an e-mail received by CAIR:
Greetings and peace be upon you:
Al-Fatemah Islamic Center and its president Dr. Imdad Imam
categorically
deny any association, any contact, and any endorsement of any kind of
anything related to Daniel Pipes. The use of our names in different
parts
of Daniel Pipes' web pages is a misrepresentation and has occurred
without
our knowledge and without any consultation or approval from us.
Al-Fatemah
Islamic Center and its president Dr. Imdad Imam have asked Daniel Pipes
to
immediately remove our names from his web pages.
---
EDITOR'S NOTE: Daniel Pipes is keeping an "endorsement" from Muslims on
his
web site even though those groups and individuals say they were not
consulted before being listed. They have asked that Pipes remove the
document from his site. Pipes has offered no explanation of how he
obtained
the "endorsement."
SEE THE MISREPRESENTED "ENDORSEMENT" -
LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF THE SHIA TRADITION
http://www.danielpipes.org/usip/e_11.php
TO REVIEW THE REPUDIATION OF THAT STATEMENT, GO TO:
http://www.al-khoei.org/declaration_daniel_pipes.htm
-----
SENSITIZING POLICE TOWARD MUSLIMS
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 10/6/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49059-2003Oct5.html
Lobna Ismail, a Muslim woman in a veil, silently takes the podium in a
suburban Maryland auditorium filled with about 150 police and local
government officials. A message flashes on a screen: "Discuss
stereotypes
in society about women dressed like me."
"You're a foreigner," says a man in the audience.
"What are you trying to hide?" shouts another.
"Not equal to men," offers one woman.
Ismail has heard worse. Anti-American. Fanatic. Terrorist.
"And yet, I'm none of these," Ismail says. She is an American, a
businesswoman -- and, perhaps most surprising, a trainer for the U.S.
Justice Department.
Ismail's recent presentation for police from the Washington area is
part of
a new nationwide program to help law enforcement officials become more
culturally sensitive to Muslims and Arabs...
-----
SYRIA FREES CANADIAN MAN DEPORTED BY U.S.
Reuters, 10/5/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05325821.htm
OTTAWA - A Canadian man who spent the last year in a Damascus jail
after
being deported to Syria by U.S. agents was released on Sunday, Ottawa
announced.
Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham said Maher Arar was on his way
back
to Canada after the unexpected move. Officials in Ottawa had said Arar
was
due to go on trial shortly charged with links to terrorism.
"He was released into the custody of our consular officials today by
the
Syrian authorities," Graham told reporters, saying Arar had told him he
was
in good health.
Arar -- who also holds a Syrian passport -- was detained in October
2002 as
he changed planes at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. U.S. agents
deported him to Syria, prompting a formal protest by Ottawa to
Washington.
Arar had been accused by Damascus of belonging to a "terrorist
organization," which Canadian authorities believed to be the Syrian
Moslem
Brotherhood. He had not visited his home country since immigrating to
Canada as a 17-year-old in 1988...
ALSO SEE:
PRESS CONFERENCE FOR MAHER ARAR
WHAT: Maher Arar will arrive at Dorval Airport in Montreal today at
3:40
p.m. He will meet with his family for at least one and a half hours, in
private, before meeting with media in a public area at the airport.
Mr.
Arar will be unavailable before 5 p.m.
WHEN: Monday, October 6, 2003 after 5 p.m.
WHERE: International arrivals area, Dorval Airport
For more information, please call Naeem Saloojee at 613-254-9704.
---
BRITON HELD AS TERROR SUSPECT SAYS CIA THREATENED TORTURE
Vikram Dodd, Guardian, 10/4/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1055663,00.html
A British businessman arrested as a suspected terrorist has told the
Guardian that US agents threatened him with beatings and rape in an
attempt
to break him.
Wahab al-Rawi, 38, was denied a lawyer, held incommunicado for four
weeks
in Gambia, and repeatedly questioned by CIA agents before being
released
without charge. His account is the first from any Briton about their
treatment by the US while held as a suspect in the two year "war on
terror."
The account also challenges US denials of the use of torture or the
threat
of torture on terrorist suspects, thousands of whom have been detained
and
interrogated across the world...
-----
U.S. SUES BECHTEL FOR BIAS AGAINST IRAQI WORKER
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 10/5/03
NEWARK, N.J.-A construction company that stands to reap as much as $680
million in contracts to rebuild Iraq is being sued by the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, which claims Bechtel Corp.
discriminated
against and later fired an Iraqi employee in its Hackensack facility.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of Sahir Kizy of Royal
Oak, Mich., alleged the company did nothing to stop discrimination and
harassment against him after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and
fired him in June 2002.
The company denies the accusations, and says Kizy was let go after his
temporary work assignment ended.
Kizy, who worked as a site acquisition specialist at the company's
Hackensack facility, was hired on June 29, 2001.
The lawsuit states that on the day of the attacks on the World Trade
Center
and the Pentagon, and continuing afterward, Kizy was subjected to
physical
attacks, as well as verbal assaults, including being called a
"(expletive)
Arab," and was told to "go home to wherever you came from." Kizy is an
Iraqi-American...
-----
FIGHTING THE SCARF
New York Times, 10/4/03
http://www.iht.com/articles/112391.htm
The question of whether Muslim women can wear headscarves in European
state
schools keeps coming back. Most recently, a French school barred two
girls
who covered their heads, while a German court ruled in favor of a
teacher
who insisted on wearing her headscarf in class. Those who raise the
issue
often couch it as a defense of the sacred principle of the secular
state -
that there be no overt religious symbols in state schools. In our view,
this is a false pretext. Following the dress or dietary codes of one's
faith falls under the rubric of freedom of conscience, so long as the
exercise does not amount to proselytizing or otherwise infringing on
the
freedoms of others.
The regulations and their enforcement differ widely from country to
country, from city to city, even from school to school. But the fact is
that any such regulation is inherently discriminatory, since the
targets
are likely to be members of faiths that mandate outward, visible signs.
The
scarf of a Muslim woman, the kippah of an Orthodox Jew, or the headknot
of
a Sikh cannot be concealed. Banning their use thus becomes a selective
attack on a fundamental right, and not a defense of secularism...
-----
ISRAEL'S ATTACK IS A LETHAL STEP TOWARDS WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
Robert Fisk, Independent, 10/6/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/story.jsp?story=450363
Israel received the Green Light. It came from what is called the Syria
Accountability Act, moving through the United States Congress with the
help
of Israel's supporters, that will impose sanctions on Damascus for its
supposed enthusiasm for "terrorism" and occupation of Lebanon.
Speaker after speaker in the past week has been warning that Syria is
the
new - or old, or non-existent - threat previously represented by Iraq:
that
it has weapons of mass destruction, that it has biological warheads,
that
it received Iraq's non-existent weapons of mass destruction just before
we
began our illegal invasion of Iraq in March.
The Israeli lie about "thousands" of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in
the
Bekaa Valley in Lebanon has been uncloaked yet again. In reality, there
hasn't been an Iranian militant in Lebanon for 20 years. But who cares?
The
dictatorial Syrian regime - and dictatorial it most decidedly is - has
to
be struck after a Jenin woman lawyer, who has probably never visited
Damascus in her life, blows herself and 19 innocent Israelis up in
Haifa.
And why not? If America can strike Afghanistan for the international
crimes
against humanity of 11 September 2001, when 15 of the 19 hijackers were
Saudis, and if America can invade Iraq, which had absolutely nothing to
do
with 11 September, why shouldn't Israel strike Syria?...
-----
AFGHAN MAN'S ARREST TOUGH ON REFUGEES
Melissa Evans, Argus Online, 10/5/03
http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83~1971~1678169,00.html
FREMONT -- Every day they go to an unassuming Centerville storefront,
hoping things have changed.
The news, however, is the same as it was a month ago: There is no way
to
send money home. Relatives in Afghanistan will remain hungry, some may
be
evicted, others may die without proper medical care.
Every refugee sends as much as possible to those left behind, local
Afghans
say. It's part of a culture that counts neighbors as family, part of
their
Islamic religion that requires charity.
For many, it's the sole reason they left home for America...
Now, however, Qader Qudus -- a man who could help get money from here
to
there -- is behind bars at Santa Rita county jail in Dublin, accused of
money laundering and heroin trafficking...
-----
QUEST FOR THE MUSLIM NICHE MARKET
Kari Huus, MSNBC, 10/3/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/972579.asp
Since 9/11, Muslim Americans have suffered targeting under the USA
Patriot
Act, witnessed a surge in hate crimes and endured continued
stereotyping in
the popular media. Under the circumstances, is there anything to laugh
about? Three young entrepreneurs in Illinois think so, and they see a
market for some "halal" entertainment - good healthy satire and comedy
geared to young Muslims.
Chicago-area computer professionals Mirza Baig, Azher Ahmed and Afeef
Majeed - all 26 - run one of the busiest Muslim Web sites in North
America,
driven in part by their spoof Internet publication Islamica News - a
service they describe as "news you can lose."
At a time like this, there's no shortage of dark humor for the
headlines:
"FBI cracks down on lemonade stand ring, further souring relations with
Arab community," reads a spoof headline from one article, quoting an
"FBI
spokesperson for the special division on Arab people and their kids."
Islamica founders Mirza Baig, left, Azher Ahmed, center , and Afeef
Majeed
aim to sell a humorous perspective to young Muslim Americans and offer
a
fresh image of Muslims to others...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM WOMEN SPEAKING OUT
Virginia Butler, R News, 10/6/03
http://www.rnews.com/Story.cfm?ID=13445&rnews_story_type=10
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The U.S. government
estimates 2 million Muslims live in the United States, but Muslim
groups
estimate 8 million.
Tayyibah Taylor felt there was a huge void in the media about Muslim
women,
their perspectives and their voices. Taylor is making an effort to fill
this void with the magazine, Azizah. Azizah loosely translates into
"daringness, strength, and nobility." It is published quarterly and has
about 5,000 subscribers. It is the first magazine by and for Muslim
women
in North America, and one of the first Muslim magazines with no
affiliation
to any Islamic ethnic group or school of thought, such as Sunni or
Shiite.
Unlike many other women's magazines, the content of Azizah goes beyond
food
and fashion. Past issues included articles about female Islamic
scholars,
AIDS, the disabled, and even feminism, which the editors found is not
foreign to Islam itself...
-----
NEW PARTY, OLD RELIGION
Jibril Hough, Charlotte Observer, 10/6/03
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/6942996.htm
There seems to be a campaign by Islam-ophobes such as Cal Thomas and
Steven
Emerson, among others, to instill a false sense of fear into the
American
public, as Muslims become more politically active and register to vote.
Most of the National Islamic organizations are moving towards an effort
to
get the Muslim community in America registered to vote and more
involved in
and educated on the political process. We in the Islamic Political
Party of
America have taken this effort a step further and have established the
first Islamic political party in America. We are an issue-based party
and
are in the process of strengthening our relationships with those with
common visions, while understanding that in politics we will not agree
on
all issues.
Our party consists of Muslims who accepted this faith through
conversion
and/or lineage, those who are indigenous to this land and those who are
immigrants. We all are practitioners of the same faith, Islam, and
citizens
of the same country, America...
It is important for the American public to know that although this
political movement by Muslims may be somewhat new, Muslims have been a
part
of the fabric of this society, in some fashion, since before Columbus.
Muslim explorers visited the West Coast long ago. Arabic writings have
been
found in some caves in California. The name "California" comes from the
Arabic word calif, meaning ruler or leader...
ALSO SEE:
DEMOCRACY ON HOLD
Fred Hiatt, Washington Post, 10/6/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48563-2003Oct5.html
When President Bush declared war on terrorism after Sept. 11, 2001, it
was
obvious that other priorities -- including the promotion of democracy
and
human rights -- would lose ground.
What was less obvious was whether those goals would fall as far back as
they often had during the Cold War, when the United States seemed ready
to
embrace any dictator who promised to hate communism. Compromises again
would have to be made, but maybe the Bush administration would
understand
that in the long run, fighting terror and promoting democracy had to go
hand in hand.
Or maybe not.
Bush answered the question pretty definitively 10 days ago when he
welcomed
"my friend Vladimir Putin" to Camp David with these words: "I respect
President Putin's vision for Russia: a country at peace within its
borders,
with its neighbors, a country in which democracy and freedom and rule
of
law thrive..."
-----
RIGGED CHECHEN POLL 'WILL LEAD TO NEW WAR'
Telegraph, 6/10/03
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$LLKWTRSYG1LRDQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2003/10/06/wchech06.xml
The Kremlin's support for the certain victor in Chechnya's presidential
elections held yesterday has brought the blood-stained republic to the
brink of a new civil war, according to Russian intelligence officers.
The poll, which has been widely described as a sham, was showcased by
President Vladimir Putin as evidence to the outside world that life in
the
war-torn republic is returning to normal under Moscow's stewardship.
However, intelligence officers have privately told The Telegraph that,
far
from helping to pacify the republic, the Kremlin's policies have set
the
stage for a vicious new conflict...
-----
LECTURE DISCUSSES VIRTUES OF ALTRUISM AND ISLAM
Taimur Khan, Daily Planet, 10/6/03
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/06/3f8112704d8bf
Being a good person is important, but is it enough without organized
religion?
In a lecture Friday, Aminah Assilmi, director of the International
Union of
Muslim Women, tackled this question with regard to Islam and the
importance
it attaches to altruism.
The talk was part of Islam Awareness Week and was organized by the
Muslim
Students Association.
"What is the purpose of being good? As a Muslim, I believe that there
is a
God, Creator of the universe," said Assilmi, a convert to Islam.
"We should judge what is good by what the Creator has said."
Assilmi discussed the evolving definition of "good..."
-----
NY LECTURE ON OCCUPATION, WAR, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
Office of the University Chaplain of Columbia University Columbia
Anti-War
Coalition (CAWC), Columbia Students Solidarity Network, and the
Columbia
University Muslim Students' Association (MSA) present: "Occupation,
War,
and the Struggle for Civil Rights."
Speakers will include Terry Rockefeller, September 11th Families for
Peaceful Tomorrows; Dalia Hashad, American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU);
Anthony Arnove Editor, Iraq Under Siege
WHEN: Wednesday October 8, 2003 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Alfred Lerner Cinema, Lerner Hall, Columbia University 115th and
Broadway, New York, NY
For more information, please contact: familieslecture@lycos.com or
visit:
http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~osa2001/families/
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/7/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS TO FAMILY
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-Houston’s Fundraising Banquet
- CAIR-FL ‘Liberty & Justice for All’ Banquet Dinner
- CAIR-OHIO Co-sponsors Annual Islamic Day in Ohio
* MUSLIMS AIR FEARS ABOUT PATRIOT ACT (Post-Dispatch)
- Act Takes Hold for Banks (NJ Law Journal)
* GROUPS SEEK INFORMATION ON DETAINEES' TREATMENT (Wash. Post)
* MAN FREED FROM SYRIA JAIL RETURNS TO CANADA (Reuters)
- Ottawa Rules Out Inquiry Into Arar Case (Globe & Mail)
* NJIT PAK STUDENT DIES OF ATTACK INJURIES (Pak News)
* LAW OFFICIALS TO VISIT MOSQUE (Chicago Tribune)
* HOMELAND SECURITY TO OPEN OFFICES TO SCREEN VISAS (NY Times)
* MARKET FOR GOAT MEAT GROWS, BUT NOT SUPPLY (Port. Press Herald)
* MULTI-FAITH COALITION BACKS MOSQUE PLAN IN VOORHEES (Phil. Inq.)
* IRAQI BUSINESS TIES RAISE QUESTIONS (Newsday)
- GIS Under Fire After Marrying Iraqi Gals (NY Post)
* ISLAMIC CENTER TO HOST OPEN HOUSES (Online Athens)
* AMPCC-PAC CALIFORNIA RECALL ELECTION ADVISORY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS TO FAMILY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Among the believers who
show the most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition and
are
kindest to their family."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 961
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
CAIR-HOUSTON’S FUNDRAISING BANQUET
WHAT: CAIR�Houston brings Imam Siraj Wahhaj to its second annual
fundraising banquet, titled “The Future…Defending Civil Rights and
Promoting Tolerance.” Speakers include: Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Masjid
Taqwa,
Brooklyn, New York; Omar Ahmad, Chairman of the Board of CAIR National;
Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Spokesman.
WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2003 6-10 p.m.
WHERE: Woodlake Ballroom & Conference Center located at 2517 South
Gessner
� Houston � Texas 77063.
For directions to the Center, please call 713-532-4070. Entry to the
program is through ticket, which is only $40 per person.
For further information, contact CAIR-Houston at 713-838-CAIR (2247) or
E-Mail: CAIR@CAIRHouston.org.
---
CAIR-FL LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL BANQUET DINNER
WHAT: Banquet Dinner to help start the central Florida office in Tampa.
Speakers include Jamal Badawi, John Esposito and Nihad Awad.
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 2003, 6:00 P.M.
WHERE: Tampa Convention Center, Downtown Tampa, Florida
Seats are limited, order your tickets now before it’s too late. For
more
information about this event follow the below link:
Order your tickets by two ways: via web at
http://www.cair-florida.org/banquet , via phone: 954-916-5661 for more
info
email: info@cair-florida.org
---
CAIR-OHIO CO-SPONSORS 16TH ANNUAL ISLAMIC DAY IN OHIO
WHAT: Islamic Council of Ohio (ICO), the American Muslim Council, and
the
Council On American-Islamic Relations, Ohio (CAIR-Ohio) American Muslim
Council will host their 16th annual Islamic Day. Speakers: Ken
Blackwell,
Ohio Secretary of State; Judge Walter Rice, Senior US district Judge;
Mayors of Dayton and Beavercreek and many more.
WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2003, Noon
WHERE: The Muslim Community Center, 3662 E. Patterson Rd., Beavercreek,
Ohio
For Tickets Contact: Dr. Ikram Khawaja, 330-758-9687; Bashir G. Ahmed,
937-298-9402; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-457-1141; Mohammed Riza Khan,
513-774-9885; Tarif Hourani, 937-718-2284; Dr. Mazhar Jalil,
614-457-2518;
Suhail Khan, 614-876-5684; Habib Khan 419-874-8738.
-----
MUSLIMS HERE AIR THEIR FEARS ABOUT PATRIOT ACT
Phillip O’Connor, Post-Dispatch, 10/7/03
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+Co
unty/F5D9A963325ADADF86256DB800168883?OpenDocument&Headline=Muslims+here+air
+their+fears+about+Patriot+Act&highlight=2%2Co'connor
Some expressed concern about whether their phones might be tapped,
others
worried whether their library habits are being monitored, and still
others
wondered if their charitable contributions are being tracked.
About 100 Muslims turned out Monday at the Dar-Ul-Islam mosque in west
St.
Louis County for a panel discussion on the USA Patriot Act, part of a
Justice Department outreach aimed at defending the government's use of
the
anti-terrorism legislation.
The law, passed weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, gave the
government new powers to investigate and conduct surveillance of
suspected
terrorists and restrict dissemination of some information to protect
national security. The measures are drawing increased criticism as a
threat
to civil liberties...
Monday's seven-member panel included FBI agents and representatives
from
the U.S. attorney's offices of Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri…
Jim Hacking, executive director of the St. Louis chapter of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations, acknowledged a certain amount of paranoia
among
many Muslims. He said Monday's meeting helped clear the air.
"It's always good to keep the lines of communication open," Hacking
said.
SEE ALSO:
NEW PATRIOT ACT RULES TAKE HOLD FOR BANKS
Mary P. Gallagher, New Jersey Law Journal, 10/6/03
http://www.njlawjournal.com/
Nearly two years after passage of the USA Patriot Act, another piece of
the
law kicked in last week, as new regulations designed to combat the
financing of terrorist activity and international money laundering
began
being enforced.
The rules are meant to implement �[ 326 of the Patriot Act, which
amended
the Bank Secrecy Act to require the establishment of minimum standards
for
identifying customers who open accounts at financial institutions.
The regulations, codified at 13 C.F.R. 103.121, became effective on
June 9
but subject banks and financial institutions had until Oct. 1 to
comply.
Banks, savings associations, credit unions, and foreign bank agencies
and
branches are now required to adopt a customer identification program,
approved by the board of directors, to identify new customers and check
customer names against lists of known or suspected terrorists...
Meanwhile, law firms in New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C.,
are
considering class action suits, says Khurrum Wahid, a legal adviser to
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations and a staff attorney at the
Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.
Wahid is in touch with other attorneys around the country --though none
in
New Jersey -- who have received dozens of complaints. "People are very
angry about treatment by banks they've had a relationship with over the
years," he says...
"If it was 'John Smith' on the SDN list, they would come up with a
better
way," says Wahid...
-----
RIGHTS GROUPS SEEK INFORMATION ON DETAINEES' TREATMENT
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 10/6/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53222-2003Oct6.html
Several civil liberties and veterans groups plan to file a formal
request
with the federal government today seeking information on whether
prisoners
in U.S. custody in the war on terrorism have been tortured or
mistreated
during interrogations.
The request, to be filed under the Freedom of Information Act, follows
media reports that U.S. authorities have used questionable techniques,
including sleep deprivation and the withholding of medications, against
prisoners held abroad in the war on terrorism.
The American Civil Liberties Union and four other groups, including
Physicians for Human Rights and Veterans for Peace, are seeking records
pertaining to the treatment of detainees held in U.S. custody as well
as to
those who have been handed over to other countries for interrogation,
according to the ACLU. Use of coercive interrogation techniques would
constitute clear violations of both domestic and international law, the
groups say...
After a series of incidents and reports raised questions about the
treatment of detainees, the Bush administration pledged in June that
the
United States would not torture terrorism suspects or treat them
cruelly in
an attempt to extract information...
-----
MAN FREED FROM SYRIA JAIL RETURNS TO CANADA
Patrick White, Reuters, 10/6/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N069659.htm
MONTREAL - A Canadian man who spent the last year in a Syrian jail
after
being deported to Damascus from New York by U.S. agents returned home
to
Canada on Monday to an emotional family welcome.
Maher Arar, who also holds a Syrian passport, was detained in October
2002
as he changed planes at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. U.S. agents
deported him to Syria, prompting a formal protest by Ottawa to
Washington.
He had been accused by Damascus of belonging to a "terrorist
organization,"
which Canadian authorities believed to be the Syrian Muslim
Brotherhood. He
had not visited Syria since immigrating to Canada as a 17-year-old in
1988.
"I am so excited to see my family again. My kids grew up in the past
year,"
Arar told a news conference at Montreal's Dorval Airport, referring to
his
six-year-old daughter Baraa and his 19-month-old son Houd.
Arar was freed from a Syrian jail on Sunday in an unexpected move.
Ottawa
has said it believed its diplomatic pressure on Syria led to the
release of
Arar, who was due to go on trial shortly charged with links to
terrorism...
ALSO SEE:
OTTAWA RULES OUT INQUIRY INTO ARAR CASE
Jeff Sallot, Tu Thanh Ha and Daniel Leblanc, Globe and Mail, 10/7/03
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031007.uarar1007/BNStory/N
ational/
Montreal and Ottawa — Maher Arar, reunited with his wife and children
yesterday, thanked fellow Canadians as he arrived home after being held
for
more than a year in a Syrian jail as a suspected terrorist.
Neither Mr. Arar nor Canadian officials shed any light on the reasons
for
his detention, or for his sudden release on the weekend.
In Ottawa, Solicitor-General Wayne Easter rejected calls for a public
investigation that have come from opposition and Liberal MPs and
human-rights groups...
U.S. authorities, who sent Mr. Arar to Syria after arresting him at
John F.
Kennedy International Airport last year, refused to comment on the
surprise
release.
Riad Saloojee, executive director of the Canadian section of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said the federal government will still have
to
answer some troubling questions "before there can be any sense of
closure
in this case..."
-----
NJIT PAK STUDENT DIES OF ATTACK INJURIES
Asif Alam, Pak News, 10/7/03
http://www.paknews.com/specialNews.php?id=2352&date1=2003-10-07
NEW YORK, USA: Oct 06 - Nabeel Siddiqui, 24, a computer science major
who
graduated from NJIT this summer, died few minutes ago (4:55pm, Oct 6th,
2003) at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University
Hospital in Newark following an assault Saturday, September 27th.
Nabeel suffered brutal neurological injuries and trauma which caused
severe
damage to different parts of his brain.
He was attacked on Haxtun Avenue in Orange, NJ, while delivering a
pizza to
an address there. According to the police report, the resident of that
address was not home at the time of the attack and later told police no
one
there had ordered a pizza.
Three juveniles, a 16-year-old from Woodbridge and a 16-year-old and
17-year-old from Orange are in custody. They are charged with
aggravated
assault, robbery, carjacking, and possession of a weapon, police have
said.
-----
LAW OFFICIALS TO VISIT MOSQUE
Laurie Cohen and David Mendell, Chicago Tribune, 10/7/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0310070219oct07,
1,4902579.story
In an unusual move, top federal law-enforcement officials in Chicago
have
scheduled a town hall meeting at a southwest suburban mosque following
news
reports the mosque is under federal investigation.
The public meeting, to be held Friday night at the Mosque Foundation in
Bridgeview, is expected to draw a large crowd from the Chicago area's
Muslim community. U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, FBI Special Agent
Thomas
Kneir and other federal officials will take questions from the
audience.
Mosque leaders were jolted by reports last month that the institution
and
its officials were targets of a terrorism-related money-laundering
investigation, according to community sources. A report in the Daily
Southtown said indictments related to the probe were likely by the end
of
the year.
Federal officials have declined to comment on whether they are looking
into
the mosque.
Nancy Needles, a spokeswoman for Fitzgerald, said mosque leaders
requested
the town hall meeting, the first of its kind with Fitzgerald. Needles
said
community members have concerns beyond the mosque, such as racial
profiling
and prosecution of hate crimes...
------
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT. PLANNING 7 OFFICES OVERSEAS TO SCREEN VISAS
Phillip Shenon, New York Times, 10/7/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/07/politics/07TERR.html
WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department plans to open law
enforcement
offices throughout the Muslim world, with agents assigned to
investigate
visa applicants who are suspected of ties to Al Qaeda and other
terrorist
groups, senior Bush administration officials said on Monday.
The officials said permanent offices would open early next year in
American
embassies and consulates in Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan and the
United Arab Emirates, chosen because of their visa volume and because
of
the regional presence of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
Two offices opened in August without announcement in Saudi Arabia, one
in
Riyadh, the capital, and the other in Jeddah, the commercial center.
American officials said opening the offices reflected a major expansion
of
the efforts to scrutinize visa applications, particularly from regions
where terrorist groups operate. The openings coincide with the Homeland
Security Department's taking responsibility for overall visa policy.
After the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the State Department and
the
Immigration and Naturalization Service were criticized for lax visa
policies that had allowed several of the suicide hijackers to enter the
United States without significant scrutiny. Most of the
responsibilities of
the I.N.S. have been consolidated in the Homeland Security
Department...
-----
MARKET FOR GOAT MEAT GROWS, BUT NOT SUPPLY
Mark Peters, Portland Press Herald, 10/7/03
http://www.pressherald.com/business/stories/031007goatmeat.shtml
Last summer, Ismail Abdallah thought he had found a place to butcher
goats,
a meat in high demand among African immigrants who frequent his small
grocery store in Portland.
He met with a slaughterhouse owner in Kennebunk who seemed interested,
and
returned to discuss the new possibility with his customers. Abdallah
learned quickly from his Muslim patrons that they would not buy the
meat.
The slaughterhouse butchers pigs, and processing goat meat there, too,
is a
likely violation of Islamic law.
The experience is one example of the many challenges farmers, butchers,
store owners and state officials face as they try to build a goat-meat
industry in Maine to meet a growing market demand. So far, no one has
capitalized on the market because of the religious, cultural and
agricultural complications involved.
A recent influx of immigrants, mostly Somalis living in Portland and
Lewiston, eat goat as a staple of their diet. They spend $300,000 on
the
meat each year, agricultural experts estimate.
All of the goat meat, however, comes from farms in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Texas or abroad via Boston. The meat is slaughtered in
accordance with halal dietary laws, the Muslim equivalent of kosher,
and
shipped by truck to small grocers.
Local stores can't get enough meat through this distribution system to
meet
demand. And it shuts local farmers out of the substantial New England
market for halal goat-meat sales.
Federally inspected slaughterhouses butchered 511,000 goats last year,
according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an increase of 414,000
goats since 1980. And the United States imported an estimated 25.2
million
pounds of goat meat last year, providing $14.2 million in revenue to
Australian and New Zealand farmers.
-----
MULTI-FAITH COALITION BACKS MOSQUE PLAN IN VOORHEES
Edward Colimore, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/7/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6949341.htm
A Muslim group that ran into heavy opposition to its proposed
construction
of a mosque has found new allies.
Some members of Christian denominations are working in area churches to
build support for the Voorhees project.
Lori Volpe, a Voorhees resident, said yesterday that the Coalition for
Multi-Faith Democracy had been formed last week to help make sure "all
faiths are treated equally and welcomed into the community."
The group of at least a dozen people - nearly all from Voorhees -
includes
Catholics, Methodists, Unitarians and Muslims. They say their number is
increasing as they discuss the issue at their places of worship.
The proposed mosque became controversial after the spring and summer
dissemination of anonymous flyers warning residents that it could
attract
worshipers with links to terrorists...
-----
IRAQI BUSINESS TIES RAISE QUESTIONS
Craig Gordon and Knut Royce, Newsday, 10/5/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wopent053482066oct05,0,5171
696.story
Washington - The former law partner of the Defense Department's
architect
of Iraq's post-war planning has teamed up with the nephew of Ahmed
Chalabi,
a Pentagon-anointed leader in the country, to profit from the
multibillion-dollar rebuilding of the war-ravaged nation.
L. Marc Zell, a Jerusalem-based attorney, is the former partner of
Douglas
Feith, the Pentagon undersecretary who was a major force behind the
push
for war.
Chalabi's nephew, Salem Chalabi, has set up a law firm in Baghdad and
has
boasted of daily contact with his uncle, who has emerged as a powerful
figure in the new Iraqi interim government. Chalabi is a favorite of
Pentagon hawks, including Feith, who pushed for Hussein's overthrow.
In an interview, Zell said Salem Chalabi owns the Baghdad law firm,
while
Zell helped create the idea and is marketing the firm to U.S. and other
clients. Zell said his previous 15-year partnership with Feith, and
Salem
Chalabi's family ties, are separate from the work the pair is doing in
Iraq...
Both Feith and Ahmed Chalabi say they are not connected to either man's
efforts to seek business in Baghdad...
The multibillion-dollar reconstruction effort has unleashed what one
Iraqi
adviser called a "gold-rush mentality" among U.S. firms to get in first
and
fast. Those involved talk of seemingly limitless possibilities in
rebuilding an economy left in shambles by Hussein's quarter-century
rule
and wars with the United States and Iran...
ALSO SEE:
GIS UNDER FIRE AFTER MARRYING IRAQI GALS
Dan Kadison and Marsha Kranes, New York Post, 10/6/03
http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/7486.htm
It's been no honeymoon for two Florida National Guardsmen who met and
married Iraqi women while serving in Baghdad.
The love-struck soldiers - Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, of Pace, Fla., and
Cpl.
Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, Fla. - have been in hot water since
mid-August, when they defied their commander's orders and marched down
the
aisle with their Iraqi sweethearts.
The two have been barred from seeing their brides, both
English-speaking
physicians who have been working with Americans. They're not even
permitted
to phone or e-mail them, according to the GIs' mothers...
A week before the double wedding ceremony, both GIs converted to Islam.
When news of their marriage plans reached their superiors, the two
soldiers
were put on limited duty.
But they managed to secretly pull off their double "I dos," according
to a
Baghdad-based reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
They did it while they were on foot patrol - wearing their uniforms and
bulletproof vests and carrying M-16 rifles...
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER TO HOST OPEN HOUSES
Online Athens, 10/7/03,
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/100703/new_20031007022.shtml
The Al-Huda Islamic Center, 2022 S. Milledge Ave., will host two open
houses Saturday on Islamic culture, followed by free meals.
The ''Islam and Muslims in Athens'' open houses are set from 10 a.m. to
1
p.m. and 2-5 p.m., and are hosted by the center and the University of
Georgia Muslim Student Association.
The event will feature information about Islamic arts and architecture,
short film presentations on Islamic literature and artifacts,
mini-workshops on Islamic and Muslim culture and ethnic food.
For more information, contact the center at (706) 548-4620 or visit the
Website www.uga.edu/muslim/-msa.html.
-----
AMPCC-PAC CALIFORNIA RECALL ELECTION ADVISORY
The political action committee of the American Muslim Political
Coordination Council (AMPCC-PAC) has issued the following advisory for
the
California Gubernatorial Recall election.
Should Governor Gray Davis be recalled? NO
The next Governor of California should be: No Recommendation (Vote your
preference)
Proposition 53: YES
Proposition 54: NO
AMPCC-PAC is an affiliated political action committee of the American
Muslim Political Coordination Committee, which is an umbrella
organization
representing major American Muslim groups: Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), Muslim American Congress (which includes both AMA and
AMC), and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). This election advisory
was
developed in consultation with the United Muslims of America and
Project
HOPE.
This umbrella organization has taken these recommendations for the
following reasons:
1) Muslim Americans believe that the electoral system should not be
weakened and the recall should not become an instrument for expressing
ideological differences. Also this recall is taking millions of dollars
and
time away from fixing California's problems.
2) We have determined that Peter Camejo (Green Party) and Cruz
Bustamante
(Democrat) have met with community leaders and have articulated
positions
that are seen as beneficial to California, we feel that it is better
not to
issue a recommendation at this stage and ask the community members to
vote
their own preference.
3) Proposition 53 (Generally dedicates up to 3% of General Fund
revenues
annually to fund state and local (excluding school and community
college)
infrastructure projects.)- As Californian Muslims we believe this
proposition will benefit this state and so the recommendation is to
vote
yes on this.
4) Proposition 54 (Prohibits state and local governments from
classifying
any person by race, ethnicity, color, or national origin. Various
exemptions apply.)
We believe that this proposition has not been written to erase racial
inequality but to hide racial injustice. And so we recommend to vote no
on
this proposition.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR-MD ACTION ALERT
BANK OF AMERICA WORKER FACES RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
Maryland Muslims seek apology and settlement from banking giant
(BETHESDA, MD, 10/8/03) – The Maryland office of the Council on
America-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD) is calling on American Muslims and
other people of conscience to contact Bank of America, one of the
nation’s
largest banks, after that company failed to resolve a case of religious
discrimination against a female Muslim employee.
According to the employee, a co-worker circulated an offensive message
on
the Bank of America e-mail system. The e-mail claimed “Muslim
terrorists
are so quick to commit suicide” because they have “no beer, no
booze…rags
for clothes…you can’t shave, your wife can’t shave…your bride is picked
by
someone else. She smells like your donkey, but your donkey has a better
disposition.”
Instead of taking immediate action when informed of the offensive
e-mail,
Bank of America reportedly told the Muslim employee to ignore the
message
and then lodged a complaint against her alleging she was trying to get
the
co-worker who sent the e-mail terminated.
Following that incident, the Bank of America workplace allegedly became
increasingly hostile for the Muslim employee, to the extent that she
had to
receive medical attention. She claims co-workers continued to make
offensive remarks about her religious and ethnic background. One female
manager, after learning that the Muslim employee attended an anti-war
rally, said she would have loved to throw a “hand grenade at the
protesters
if [she] had one in [her] hand.”
The Muslim employee also says she has been denied requests for
religious
accommodation, such as taking time for religious holidays -- a request
enjoyed by other Bank of America employees -- and has been denied sick
leave.
In a statement, CAIR-MD said:
“Bank of America enjoys the patronage of Muslim-owned business accounts
throughout the United States, and they also enjoy the benefits of large
transactions from the Middle East, Malaysia and other parts of the
Muslim
world. What this young woman has been enduring is unacceptable and
should
be addressed by upper management at Bank of America. No one should be
singled out in the workplace because of their faith or ethnicity.”
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM but POLITE.)
1) Contact Bank of America to demand that they repudiate the bigoted
views
expressed in the e-mail and resolve this incident to the satisfaction
of
the Muslim employee. Request that they apologize to the Muslim
employee,
clarify their policies on religious discrimination in the workplace and
institute sensitivity training for the company staff.
CONTACT: Mr. Ken Lewis, CEO of Bank of America at 704-386-5687 (FAX:
704-386-4578) or E-MAIL: ken.d.lewis@bankofamerica.com COPY TO:
cair@cair-net.org
2) If you or anyone you know holds accounts at Bank of America, please
contact CAIR-MD at info@cairmd.org or call 301-986-1900 (leave
message).
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Maryland (CAIR-MD)
7752 Woodmont Ave. Suite 213
Bethesda MD, 20814
Tel: 301-986-1900
Fax: 301-986-8772
E-Mail: info@cairmd.org
URL: http://www.cairmd.org
-----
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SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/8/03
* VERSE OF THE DAY: THE MIDDLE WAY
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR’s Sample Ramadan News Release
* CAIR-MD HELPS PASS ANTI-PATRIOT ACT RESOLUTION
- Council Opposes Patriot Act (Gazette)
* CAIR-FL: CHANGES SINCE 9/11 (Jacksonville Journal)
* HOUSE CONDEMNS BIGOTRY AGAINST MUSLIMS (AFP)
* TERROR SUSPECT TORTURED: DAD CLAIMS (Age)
- Journalists at Guantanamo Restricted (AP)
* ARABIC SPEAKERS, THE U.S. HAS A JOB FOR YOU (AJC)
* RUMSFELD 'NOT TOLD' OF POSTWAR SHAKE-UP (FT)
* NEO-CON FINGERPRINTS ON SYRIA RAID (Asian Times)
- Demands for Inquiry Into Arar Jailing (CP)
* IS A FAIR TRIAL POSSIBLE FOR SAMI AL-ARIAN? (TBCJP)
* THOUSANDS OF DETAINEES SIT, WAIT IN IRAQ (AP)
* MUSLIMS IN EUROPEAN SCHOOLS (NY Times)
* EXPLAINING THE OCCUPATION TO THE OCCUPIER (Haaretz)
- Demonstrators Expected at Israel Rally (AP)
* LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SYMPOSIUM ON ISLAM
* VA LECTURE ON MUSLIM IDENTITY IN THE WEST
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THE MIDDLE WAY
"And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so
that
(with your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all
mankind."
Holy Quran, 2:143
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's 16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
SAMPLE RAMADAN NEWS RELEASE
The following news release may be modified and used by local
communities to
publicize Ramadan. When modifying the release, include references to
local
Ramadan activities and contact information for local spokespeople. Send
to
the newspaper "city editors," television station "assignment editors"
and
radio station "news directors." Just call each media outlet to get the
contact information. Also send to the "daybook editor" at the nearest
Associated Press bureau.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIM FAST OF RAMADAN BEGINS OCTOBER 26
Month offers opportunity to learn more about Islam and Muslims
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/8/2003) - On October 26, 2003,* (see note below)
the
Muslim community in America and around the world will begin the
month-long
fast of Ramadan (rom-a-don). Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar
calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other
sensual
pleasures from break of dawn to sunset. (*NOTE: Because the beginning
of
Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon,
the
start and end dates for Ramadan may vary. Consult local Islamic
centers.)
The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and
generosity,
while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration
of
faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the
"five
pillars" of Islam. Because Ramadan is a lunar month, it begins earlier
each
year. The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers called "Eid
ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, on November 25, 2003.*
During Ramadan, many local Muslim communities have nightly
fast-breaking
dinners and other social activities. Most mosques also hold special
prayers, called taraweeh, which are performed after the daily nighttime
prayer. In the last odd-numbered nights of Ramadan, Muslims mark Lailat
ul-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny").
"This year, Ramadan will not only be a time of spiritual reflection and
renewal, but also a time to reach out to people of other faiths to
educate
them about Islam and the American Muslim community," said Omar Ahmad,
board
chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O ye who believe! Fasting is
prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may
(learn) self-restraint...Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down
the
Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and
judgment
(between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his
home)
during that month should spend it in fasting..." (Chapter 2, verses 183
and
185)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions: "God has
said: 'Fasting is like a shield. A person who fasts experiences two
joys.
He is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful when he meets
his
Lord.'" (Hadith Qudsi 10) The Prophet also said: "In (Ramadan) the
gates of
Heaven are opened (and) the gates of (Hell) are locked." (Al-Tirmidhi,
Hadith 611)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-MD HELPS PASS ANTI-PATRIOT ACT RESOLUTION
The Maryland office of CAIR played a key role in the grassroots
movement in
Montgomery County to pass a resolution against controversial provisions
of
the USA PATRIOT. The Montgomery County Council passed a pro-civil
liberties
resolution by a bipartisan 8-1 vote.
Montgomery County now joins 174 other local jurisdictions across the
nation, including Baltimore City and Takoma Park, in officially
expressing
concern over the unnecessary erosions of basic privacy rights and
personal
liberty under the Act and related executive orders and actions taken by
Attorney General John Ashcroft...
The resolution was won through the efforts of ordinary residents � more
than 1,000 of whom contacted the council…
ALSO SEE:
COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PATRIOT ACT
Gazette, 10/1/03
http://www.gazette.net/200340/montgomerycty/county/180191-1.html
The council approved a resolution on Tuesday asking Congress to review
the
USA Patriot Act, which broadens federal authority to search homes and
obtain records, such as medical and university information.
George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, one of the
resolution's
sponsors, said he feared that police would be forced to ask the
immigration
status of motorists at a traffic stop or that librarians would have to
hand
over information about what kinds of books people check out. Council
members said they also heard from several Muslims who felt targeted by
the
federal law.
The resolution passed by an 8-1 vote, but it was the focus of an
hour-long
debate Tuesday. Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg voted
against
the resolution, saying that it would not change county policy and that
council members did not know enough about the "very complex" law that
has
become the focus of national debate...
-----
CAIR-FL: CHANGES SINCE 9/11
Jacksonville Journal, 10/7/03
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100703/met_13718998.shtml
Experts will assess how the United States has changed since Sept. 11,
2001,
during a free town hall-style meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in the
University
of North Florida Fine Arts Building recital hall.
A panel will focus on security, safety, constitutional rights,
inter-group
relations and the treatment of immigrant communities. U.S. Reps. Ander
Crenshaw and Corrine Brown have been invited, as well as experts from
law
enforcement, academia and civil liberties groups.
The event is sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
the
American Civil Liberties Union of Greater Jacksonville, UNF's Institute
of
Government, the Center for Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State
University and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
For more information, call the Institute of Government at (904)
620-2844.
-----
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONDEMNS BIGOTRY AGAINST ARABS, MUSLIMS
Agence France Presse, 10/7/03
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning
violence and bigotry against Americans of Muslim, Arab or South Asian
background.
By a voice vote, the measure also acknowledged "the many contributions
of
Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans, and Sikh
Americans
to the nation," and called upon US law enforcement agencies "to work
vigorously to prevent discriminatory backlash crimes" against members
of
those groups.
A similar resolution was adopted by the US Senate in May.
The House legislation, introduced earlier this year by California
Representative Darrell Issa, came in response to a surge of attacks
across
the United States committed against people perceived to be Muslim, Arab
or
South Asian following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks...
ACTION REQUESTED: CAIR urges Muslims and all people of conscience to
contact their representatives and thank them for supporting H.Res. 234.
You
may visit http://www.capwiz.com/cair/home/ to email your
representative.
-----
TERROR SUSPECT TORTURED: DAD CLAIMS
Rebecca Urban, The Age, 10/8/03
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/08/1065292626353.html
Australian terrorist suspects David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib had likely
been
tortured while detained at Guantanamo Bay, a lawyer and Hicks' father
said
today.
Australian lawyer Richard Bourke, who has been working with prisoners
at
Camp X-ray for the past two years, told ABC radio leaks from the
American
military and reports from former inmates revealed the detainees had
been
forced to kneel in the sun until they collapsed and were tied up and
had
rubber bullets fired at them.
Mr Bourke said he believed Hicks had been tortured into making a
confession.
"The reports about the number of suicide attempts and the mental health
of
the detainees is evidence of the treatment that they're receiving."
Mr Bourke is considering taking his information to the United Nations
Standing Committee on Torture and called on governments around the
world to
stand up to the US...
ALSO SEE:
JOURNALISTS AT GUANTANAMO RESTRICTED
Paisley Dodds, Associated Press, 10/8/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-guantanamo-press,
0,1719424.story
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - U.S. military officials imposed strict reporting
limits Tuesday on the first journalists to go to the U.S.-run detention
camp for terror suspects since the arrests of a Muslim army chaplain
and
two interpreters.
The reporters were required to sign "ground rules" for coverage that
banned
questions about the investigations on pain of being removed from the
U.S.
Navy camp located at Guantanamo Bay, on the eastern tip of Cuba.
The arrests involved civilian interpreter Ahmed Mehalba, a naturalized
U.S.
citizen from Egypt found with classified documents from Guantanamo, and
Air
Force Airman Ahmad I. al-Halabi, an interpreter accused of espionage
for
allegedly sending classified information about the camp to an
unspecified
"enemy." Another suspect is Army Capt. Yousef Yee, a Muslim chaplain
being
detained without charge at the Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.
Reporters were presented with a statement to sign as they prepared to
board
a flight chartered by the military from Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday.
A
new paragraph was added to earlier requirements:
"Asking questions or perspectives about ongoing and/or future
operations or
investigations can result in restricted access on Gitmo, removal from
the
installation, and/or revocation of DoD (Department of Defense) press
credentials..."
-----
ARABIC SPEAKERS, THE U.S. HAS A JOB FOR YOU
Sheila M. Poole, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 10/8/03
http://www.ajc.com/
Hanna Ramzan, born in Detroit to Pakistani immigrants and a criminal
justice major at Georgia State University, is fluent in Urdu, Hindi,
Punjabi --- and she speaks, writes or reads some Arabic and Spanish.
That language and cultural proficiency could turn out to be the
23-year-old's ticket to a federal job in the post 9/11 world.
A severe shortage of interpreters skilled in the languages and cultures
of
the Middle East and Asia is causing concern within U.S. military, law
enforcement and intelligence circles. And the recent arrest of two
Arabic
language interpreters at Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of espionage
highlights just how critical that language gap can be.
Experts have called for increased government involvement in equipping
Americans with these desperately needed skills, likening it to the U.S.
program to produce candidates proficient in Russian studies at the
height
of the Cold War. ...
"I think there are mixed feelings," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman
for
the Council on American Islamic Relations. "On one hand I would imagine
people would want to get involved because they want to help out the
country
any way they can. But their loyalty has been questioned after 9/11.
People
are apprehensive."
-----
RUMSFELD 'NOT TOLD' OF POSTWAR SHAKE-UP
Peter Spiegel, Financial Times, 10/7/03
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c
=StoryFT&cid=1059480409515
Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, said on Tuesday he had not been
told
by President George W. Bush or the National Security Council that the
White
House was to restructure the handling of postwar Iraq before the media
were
briefed on the plan by NSC officials.
Mr Bush has ordered the creation of an "Iraq Stabilization Group,"
which
will be run by Condoleezza Rice who is head of the NSC, which
co-ordinates
foreign policy in the White House.
In an interview with the Financial Times and three European news
organizations, Mr Rumsfeld insisted that the new NSC role appeared to
be no
different from the policy-co-ordinating structure that had existed for
more
than a year.
He said he did not know why Ms Rice, Mr Bush's national security
adviser,
had felt it necessary to send a memorandum about the new organization
to
cabinet officials or brief the New York Times about the move...
-----
NEO-CON FINGERPRINTS ON SYRIA RAID
Jim Lobe, Asia Times, 10/9/03
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EJ09Ak01.html
ROME - The neo-conservatives in and around the administration of US
President George W Bush may be on the defensive, but Washington's
reaction
to the Israeli attack on Syria on Sunday shows that they remain in the
driver's seat at the White House.
The fact that Bush has himself refused to in any way criticize the
Israeli
attack - the first on Syria since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war - shows how
far
the neo-cons have succeeded in aligning US policy with the right-wing
government in Israel, a key goal going back to the first Likud
government
of the late Menachem Begin and, more recently, since Prime Minister
Ariel
Sharon won elections in early 2001.
It was the neo-cons who in 1982 defended Israel's invasion of Lebanon
and
the bloody siege of Beirut that followed. While then-president Ronald
Reagan went along with the original invasion, his administration never
publicly endorsed it and eventually distanced itself from the Israelis
as
the siege wore on.
Bush's explicit embrace of Israel's attack on an alleged Palestinian
training camp in Syria, on the other hand, is a striking departure from
decades of US Middle Eastern diplomacy...
ALSO SEE:
DEMANDS CONTINUE FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO ARAR JAILING IN SYRIA
Sandra Cordon, Canadian Press, 10/8/03
OTTAWA (CP) - Solicitor General Wayne Easter outraged fellow Liberal
MPs as
well as opposition politicians Tuesday when he stonewalled their
questions
in the case of a Canadian deported to Syria.
Demands for an independent inquiry continued into why Maher Arar was
arrested by U.S. authorities more than a year ago on his way home from
a
family holiday.
Advocacy groups say Arar was held in Syria and tortured until his
release
Sunday...
-----
IS A FAIR TRIAL POSSIBLE FOR SAMI AL-ARIAN?
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 10/6/03
After a brief "vacation" at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa (where he was
allowed to see some of the evidence), Sami Al-Arian has been moved back
to
the federal prison at Coleman, Florida.
Coleman is not designed to hold pretrial detainees. All the prisoners
except Sami Al-Arian and co-defendant Sameeh Hammoudeh have been
convicted
of serious crimes. Al-Arian and Hammoudeh are held in the maximum
security
wing along with the most serious offenders and people with
psychological
problems. Normally, prisoners are there for a maximum of a few weeks,
but
Al-Arian and Hammoudeh have already been there for SIX months.
Although they have not yet been tried, Al-Arian and Hammoudeh have
fewer
privileges than the other prisoners. For example, the other prisoners
can
have contact visits with their families, but Dr. Al-Arian cannot. His
children can no longer hug their father.
This kind of treatment does not make any sense. It is extremely
punitive
for someone who will not even go to trial until 2005. He can not
possibly
prepare a defense from the Coleman federal prison. Indeed, it will be
very
difficult for him to even maintain his sanity.
Given the international attention this case is receiving, it is very
important that Dr. Al-Arian receive a fair trial. However, under these
conditions, this cannot possibly happen. Please write to:
The Honorable Thomas B. McCoun III
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse
801 N. Florida Ave., #223
Tampa, Florida 33602-3800
(E-mail messages can be sent to his attention at )
The Honorable James Moody
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse
801 N. Florida Ave.
Tampa, FL 33602-3800
Ask that Dr. Al-Arian be moved to the Orient Road jail or released.
If you would like to contribute to Dr. Al-Arian's legal defense fund:
National Liberty Fund (NLF), P.O. Box 3568, Alexandria, VA 22304.
-----
THOUSANDS OF DETAINEES SIT, WAIT IN IRAQ
Charles J. Hanley, Associated Press, 10/8/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V8100.AP-Iraq-
Behind-the.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Six months after the United States and Britain ousted
the
Baath party government and took control of Iraq, an uncertain
population of
Iraqi detainees sits and waits behind prison walls - their numbers
uncertain, their legal rights in dispute, their living conditions
hidden
from public view. Some are accused of common crimes, others of being
security threats. They are men and women who have left uncertain
families
behind.
The lawyer, gone to the prison on other business, says he saw the man
sitting in his long overshirt in the dust of the cellblock yard, a
heavy
man in his 60s, sunken, weary.
``He asked if I could help. He said, `They accuse me of being a
Baathist.
I'm not a Baathist.''' But before al-Musawi could even ask his name, an
American soldier rushed up and angrily ordered the lawyer away...
-----
MUSLIMS IN EUROPEAN SCHOOLS
New York Times, 10/8/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/opinion/08WED3.html
The question of whether Muslim women can wear head scarves in European
state schools keeps coming back. A French school recently suspended two
girls for covering their heads, while Germany ruled in favor of a
teacher
who insisted on wearing her head scarf in class. Cases like the one in
France have been portrayed as a defense of the secular state — the need
to
keep overt religious symbols out of state schools. This seems a false
pretext. Following the dress or dietary codes of one's faith is an
exercise
of freedom of conscience so long as the exercise does not amount to
proselytizing or otherwise infringing on the freedoms of others.
The laws, their rationale and their enforcement differ from country to
country, even school to school. But the fact is that any such
regulation is
inherently discriminatory because the targets are likely to be members
of
faiths that mandate outward signs. The scarf of a Muslim woman, the
skullcap of an observant Jew and the turban of a Sikh cannot be
concealed.
In France, Europe's most adamantly secular nation, the constitution
gives
schools power to ban any religious symbol worn as an "act of pressure,
provocation, proselytism or propaganda." But that provision was framed
in a
long and bitter struggle between church and state. The real motive
behind
the objections to head scarves too often appears to be resentment of
the
growing population of Muslims, sometimes augmented by feminists who see
the
scarf as a symbol of women's subjugation...
-----
EXPLAINING THE OCCUPATION TO THE OCCUPIER
Amira Hass, Haaretz, 10/8/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/347524.html
How can a tiny Palestinian organization like Islamic Jihad produce so
many
walking bombs, suicide bombers who choose babies in strollers and their
grandparents as targets? And how does an organization that once
declared it
would only target soldiers send its latest suicide bomber to a mixed
Jewish-Arab city, to sow death and sorrow in a restaurant whose owners,
workers and customers are Jews and Arabs, old and young
Intelligence experts and Arabists on our side say it's because of
Islam,
which sanctifies wars, that there is unceasing incitement in the
mosques,
that Iran and Syria are behind it, that the suicide bombers and those
who
send them are out to destroy the State of Israel, that the people who
blow
themselves up are animals and that Arafat encourages terror.
There's a concept behind all these explanations, in which this
sickening
form of the Palestinian struggle has nothing to do with the occupation,
that Israelis should not believe Palestinians who say there is a
connection
to the Israeli occupation. The concept says there is no connection
between
the proliferation of suicide bombings and the prevailing view in
Palestinian society, which is that Israel, as a military and nuclear
power,
wants to squeeze a surrender out of the Palestinians that will
legitimize
the Israeli takeover of land in the West Bank and Gaza...
ALSO SEE:
COUNTER-DEMONSTRATORS EXPECTED AT ISRAEL RALLY
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 10/8/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--israelrally1008oct08,0,7673
637.story
NEWARK, N.J. - A large pro-Israel rally scheduled for Thursday night at
Rutgers University that will include addresses from Gov. McGreevey and
U.S.
Sen. Jon Corzine is also expected to draw counter-demonstrators from
pro-Palestinian groups whose plan to stage a weekend conference
embroiled
the campus in a bitter, months-long struggle over free speech and
international relations.
Jewish groups planned the Israel Inspires rally partly in response to a
spate of anti-Semitic vandalism at Rutgers, and to counter a
pro-Palestinian conference that has roiled the campus for months.
Rutgers said it is taking steps to anticipate the counter-demonstrators
at
the rally on the Busch campus in Piscataway, but would not reveal
specifics...
-----
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SYMPOSIUM ON ISLAM, SCIENCE, AND VALUES
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2003/03-167.html
WHAT: Distinguished scholars and scientists from around the world will
examine the complex relationship among science, religion and values in
a
symposium on “Islam, Science, and Cultural Values.”
The symposium is co-sponsored by the Library’s John W. Kluge Center and
its
African and Middle Eastern Division; the National Academy of Sciences;
the
Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, and
the
Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion of the American Association
for
the Advancement of Science.
WHEN: 9-5 p.m.
WHERE: LJ 119
For more information, contact 202-707-3302
-----
VA LECTURE ON MUSLIM IDENTITY IN THE WEST
WHAT: Tariq Ramada of Freibourg University, Switzerland, will be
speaking
on "In Search of a Muslim Identity in the West." The event is sponsored
by
the George Mason University’s Islamic studies program.
WHEN: October 9, 2003 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Harris Theater,
Fairfax, Va.
CONTACT: 703-993-1261
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #395
OKLA. STUDENT SUSPENDED FOR WEARING HIJAB
CAIR asks state to protect student’s religious rights
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/9/2003) – CAIR today called on the Oklahoma State
Department of Education to intervene after a Muslim public school
student
in that state was suspended twice for wearing a religiously-mandated
head
scarf, or hijab.
School officials in Muskogee, Okla., told the sixth-grader at Benjamin
Franklin Science Academy that her head scarf violates their dress code
policy. That policy prohibits hats, caps, bandanas or other headwear.
The
girl’s father told the Muskogee Daily Phoenix (10/9/03) newspaper: “The
principal kept saying it was not religious wear. They said if my
daughter
keeps wearing her hijab to school, they are going to kick her out.”
A recent New York Times article addressed this issue in the European
setting. SEE: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/opinion/08WED3.html
On Oct. 1, the Muslim student was suspended for three days for wearing
the
scarf. When she returned to school still wearing hijab, she was
suspended a
second time for five days.
“This is a clear violation of the student’s right to freely practice
her
faith and must be dealt with at the state level,” said CAIR
Communications
Director Ibrahim Hooper. He told the Daily Phoenix: “This is not an
issue
of separation of church and state because she is not imposing religion
on
anyone…Not allowing this girl to go to school because of her religious
beliefs is un-American.”
Hooper cited the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 as supporting the
girl’s
right to wear her Islamic scarf. RFRA mandates that “government shall
not
substantially burden a person's exercise of religion.”
He also cited guidelines on religious expression in public schools
distributed by the Department of Education that state: “When wearing
particular attire, such as yarmulkes and head scarves, during the
school
day is part of students' religious practice, under the Religious
Freedom
Restoration Act schools generally may not prohibit the wearing of such
items.”
SEE: http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/Archive/msg00029.html
http://www.freedomforum.org/publications/first/religioninpublicschools/paren
tsguidereligion.pdf
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE.)
CONTACT the Oklahoma State Department of Education to ask that the
student’s religious rights be protected and that she be allowed to wear
her
Islamic head scarf.
CONTACT:
Ms. Sandy Garrett
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4599
FAX: 405-521-6205
TEL: 405-521-3301
E-MAIL: sandy_garrett@sde.state.ok.us
COPY TO: michelle_singleton@sde.state.ok.us, ddh@azalea.net,
elg@mpsi20.org, cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
--- CLIP AND MAIL/FAX/E-MAIL ---
YES, I would like to support CAIR’s important work by donating
$___________. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR. Basic CAIR
membership
is just $10 per year.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
TEL:
FAX:
E-MAIL:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/9/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR 'Islam in America' Ad Campaign
* NJ MUSLIMS DEMAND ATTACKERS BE TRIED AS ADULTS
* MUSLIM MOTHER IN ASSAULT HAS MARINE SON (Wash. Post)
* NO SPY RAP VS. CLERIC? (Daily News)
* MUSLIMS LIVE LIVES MUCH LIKE OUR OWN (WV Gazette)
- Muslims Promote Education (North Texas Daily)
* MUSLIM PRAYERS AT BRING PLEA BY CHRISTIANS (Times Leader)
* CANADIANS ASK PROBE OF DEPORTATION TO SYRIA (Wash. Post)
- Let's Have Full Story on Arar (Hamilton Spectator)
* AL-ARIAN CHARGES RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SEEKS FINES (TBO)
* ISRAEL ACCUSED OF STARVING WEST BANK (Telegraph)
* EPITHET SHOWS CULTURAL DIVIDE (N&O)
* WHY THE PATRIOT ACT WORRIES BOOKSELLERS (Boston Globe)
* AMERICANA IN HIJAB (LA Times)
* GEORGETOWN CONFERENCE ON MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE U.S.
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who abandons lying,
having been false, will have a castle built for him just within
Paradise.
He who abandons disputing, (even though he was) speaking the truth,
will
have one built for him in the middle of Paradise. He whose character is
good will have one built for him in the highest part of (Paradise)."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1239
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
CAIR 'ISLAM IN AMERICA' AD CAMPAIGN
CAIR has launched a year-long "Islam in America" advertising campaign
designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and to counter the
rising
tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.americanmuslims.info
-----
NJ MUSLIMS DEMAND ATTACKERS BE TRIED AS ADULTS
(NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 10/9/03) - On Monday, October 13, the New Jersey
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) will
hold a
press conference to demand that the juveniles charged in the death of a
Muslim immigrant be tried as adults.
WHEN: Monday, October 13, Noon
WHERE: In front of Essex County Courthouse, 50 West Market Street,
Newark,
NJ
(Richard Pompelio, Chairman of the Victims Crime Compensation Board, a
division of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, will join CAIR-NJ
for
the press conference.)
Nabeel Siddiqui, a Muslim student working as a pizza deliveryman, was
attacked September 27 in Orange, New Jersey. Police say Siddiqui, 24,
was
struck in the head with a baseball bat after being lured to the site of
the
attack under the pretext of a pizza order. He suffered severe head
trauma
and later died at the University Hospital in Newark, N.J. Three
juveniles
were taken into custody by police.
Siddiqui immigrated to New Jersey eight years ago to study and had
recently
graduated from NJIT with a degree in computer science. His goal was to
secure a job so that he could provide for his family, who were
dependent on
him for support.
“The American Muslim and immigrant community in New Jersey is shocked
by
this attack and demands that the city give this case full and serious
attention,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Faiza Ali.
The three juveniles are currently being held in the Essex County
Juvenile
Detention Center.
- END -
CONTACT: Faiza Ali, 908-868-4885 or E-MAIL: cair@cair-nj.org
ACTION REQUESTED:
New Jersey Institute of Technology has started a fund to assist the
family
of murdered NJIT student Nabeel Siddiqui.
Contributions can be made by calling Shakera Phipps at (973) 596-3438,
or
mailed to:
NJIT-Nabeel Siddiqui Fund
Dean of Students
323 MLK Blvd.
Newark, NJ 07102-1982
Inform CAIR of any donations by e-mailing: cair@cair-nj.org
-----
MUSLIM MOTHER IN FAIRFAX ASSAULT HAS MARINE SON
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 10/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A914-2003Oct8.html
A Muslim woman who said she was stabbed in the back outside a Fairfax
County shopping mall and called a "terrorist" by her assailant is the
mother of an active-duty U.S. Marine Corps corporal who recently
returned
from a three-month tour in Kuwait.
Michelle Rothstein-Latif, 47, who was not seriously wounded in the
Sunday
attack, said she was offended that anyone would think she supported
terrorism.
"I don't believe in fanaticism, I'm just a regular American Muslim,"
said
the Woodbridge resident, who converted to Islam in 1987.
Rothstein-Latif also said that more attention is given to incidents in
which Muslims are perpetrators of violence. "If a man named Abdul
attacked
me and I wasn't Muslim," she said, "it'd be front page news."
Fairfax County police said they are investigating the reported attack
as
"an apparent bias crime" and seeking information on the assailant, whom
they described as a white male in his teens...
The reported attack on Rothstein-Latif is among an increasing number of
reported physical assaults against American Muslims, or people
perceived to
be Muslim, according to the Washington-based Council on American
Islamic
Relations, a Muslim advocacy group...
Research director Mohamed Nimer said the council has received reports
of at
least 62 hate crimes against Muslims since the start of this year, a 50
percent increase over the previous 12 months. Nimer said that is only a
partial list...
-----
NO SPY RAP VS. CLERIC?
James Gordon Meek, Daily News, 10/9/03
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/125175p-112159c.html
WASHINGTON - Army investigators are leaning toward filing
slap-on-the-wrist
charges versus a Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay who was investigated
for
espionage, a military source told the Daily News yesterday.
The "handful" of minor charges against Capt. Yousef Yee could be
leveled by
next week and are not expected to include the more serious allegations
of
spying, sedition or aiding the enemy, according to the source familiar
with
the probe.
"It's very weak," the military source said, saying the charges are
likely
to be related to dereliction of duty and disobeying a general order.
"It's
nothing compared to espionage or anything like that."
Yee, 35, who was raised in Springfield, N.J., and graduated from West
Point, was caught up in a growing spy scandal at the ultrahigh-security
Camp Delta, where about 660 AlQaeda and Taliban suspects are being
held...
-----
MUSLIMS LIVE LIVES MUCH LIKE OUR OWN
Susanna Rodell, West Virginia Gazette, 10/8/03
http://wvgazette.com/section/Columns/200310083
I lived in Australia in the 1970s. Often when I met people, they would
ask,
“How could you live in America? It must be awful over there!”
Informed only by news reports of riots, cross-burnings, drug addiction,
high crime rates in the cities and other kinds of social upheaval,
Australians imagined this country as a dangerous place, nearly
uninhabitable.
Trying to keep my patience, I would explain to them that everyday
America
was not like that.
I think about that experience these days when I hear many Americans’
view
of the world of Islam. Fed by news reports of the actions of fanatics,
Americans can easily form the view that Islam itself teaches terrorism,
encourages the stoning of single mothers and genital mutilation,
prescribes
barbaric punishment for the most minor social infractions. With little
or
no familiarity, it’s easy to form the view that Muslim women live in
fear
and that the religion itself is to blame.
Americans of other persuasions might be astonished to find that Islam
incorporates a huge majority of people who live lives much like their
own:
making a living, sending their kids to school, and watching the news
with
trepidation. Those people would tell you (if you asked) that the
actions of
terrorists are as far from them as the Klan (which claims a Christian
mandate) is from mainstream Presbyterians...
Take Ibrahim Moosa. The Sunday after Sept. 11, he stood in front of the
altar of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hillsborough, N.C., where I
was
a member, and chanted verses from the Koran in Arabic. He then
addressed us
in English. “I stand before you today with a broken heart,” he told us,
and
proceeded to argue passionately that the people who had wreaked such
catastrophe did not represent the will of Allah, or anything deserving
any
relationship with the religion he practiced...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS PROMOTE EDUCATION
Sophia Malik, North Texas Daily, 10/9/03
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/09/3f84f529972bc
As turmoil rages in the Middle East, the Muslim Student Association at
NT
is not only encouraging unity among students but also providing an
understanding for one of the most misunderstood religions in today's
society -- Islam...
Members are currently preparing for Islamic Awareness Week starting
Oct.
27, which signals the start of Ramadan, the month in which the Quran
was
first revealed, the Muslim Student Association Web site said.
Ramadan entails abstaining from food and drink, or fasting, during the
daytime for an entire month for all Muslims.
During Islamic Awareness Week, the group will sponsor lectures and
presentations for all students and attempt to dispel some of the common
myths surrounding Islam, according to Durrani. Most of the members are
from
various foreign countries including Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine
and
Iran...
-----
MUSLIM PRAYERS AT WVW BRING PLEA BY CHRISTIANS
Times Leader, 10/9/03
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/6969764.htm
What's good for the Muslims is good for the Christians, one parent told
the
Wyoming Valley West School Board on Wednesday night.
Victoria Stash of Plymouth, whose children attend Main Street School,
received a round of applause from the audience as she spoke on behalf
of
her children and all Christian students in the district.
Muslim students who attend Main Street and the Chester Street middle
schools were recently given 10 minutes during their lunch period in a
private room to observe their religion, Stash said.
'I am requesting on behalf of all Christians, in regards to the Muslims
that are allowed to have their prayer during school hours, that our
children be given the same privilege,' Stash said.
Federal guidelines allow school prayer if it occurs outside of class
and is
initiated by students, not school officials. Muslims pray five times
per
day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall.
-----
CANADIANS ASK PROBE OF DEPORTATION TO SYRIA
DeNeen L. Brown, Washington Post, 10/9/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A263-2003Oct8.html
TORONTO -- Members of Canada's Parliament have called for an
investigation
into the case of a Canadian man who was arrested by U.S. officials in
New
York last year, held as a suspected terrorist, then deported to Syria
where
he may have been tortured.
Maher Arar, 33, who spent more than a year in a Syrian jail after his
arrest at JFK International Airport, returned to Canada Monday after
pressure from the Canadian government led to his release. Arar thanked
Canadians for helping him "get back home," then went into seclusion
with
his family. He said he would talk later about allegations that he was
tortured in a Syrian jail...
Riad Saloojee, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (Canada), said Canadians are upset at how Arar was treated by
U.S. authorities. "He was deported to a country where the United States
knew he would face foreseeable harm," Saloojee said. "Canadians are
incensed he was deported to Syria and not sent back to Canada."
Saloojee said it was unclear why Arar was sent to Syria. "He was sent
first
to Jordan for 12 days," Saloojee said. "We don't know what was done to
him
in Jordan. There are suggestions the CIA interrogated him in Jordan and
they dumped him in Syria. We don't have answers to why they chose
Jordan
and why they chose Syria. The United States knew that in its risk
assessment before sending him back to Canada."
ALSO SEE:
LET'S HAVE FULL STORY ON ARAR
Casey Korstanje, Hamilton Spectator, 10/8/03
www.hamiltonspectator.com
Solicitor General Wayne Easter's instant refusal to consider a public
inquiry into the case of a Canadian citizen who was arrested and then
shipped to Syria by the United States is not only unacceptable. It's
highly
suspicious.
We agree with the Council on American-Islamic Relations when they
insist
that Maher Arar's fundamental rights as a Canadian citizen "were
egregiously trampled." Yes they were.
On Sept. 26, 2002, Arar was flying home to Canada from a vacation in
Tunisia, North Africa, via Zurich and New York. When he landed in New
York
to change flights, his world suddenly collapsed...
-----
AL-ARIAN CHARGES RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SEEKS FINES
Elaine Silvestrini, Tampa Bay Online, 10/9/03
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGAOX4X6KLD.html
TAMPA - Still bristling under the conditions at a maximum- security
federal
prison, Sami Al-Arian is asking a judge to levy fines against the
government for violating his rights.
Al-Arian, who is serving as his own attorney, is being held without
bail in
Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, Sumter County, while he awaits
trial
in 2005 on charges alleging he was the North American leader of
Palestinian
Islamic Jihad, a terrorist organization.
The former University of South Florida computer science professor
consistently has complained about conditions at Coleman.
In a motion filed Tuesday and made public Wednesday, Al-Arian renewed
consistent claims that Coleman officials illegally are opening his mail
outside his presence and are not allowing him to meet with and
interview
lawyers to discuss his case.
Citing court directives regarding the opening of his mail, Al-Arian
asks
that the government be fined $1,000 for every violation...
-----
ISRAEL ACCUSED OF STARVING WEST BANK
Charles Laurence and Kim Willsher, Telegraph, 10/6/03
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
NEW YORK -- A United Nations report which blames Israel for causing
starvation in Gaza and the West Bank has prompted a furious diplomatic
row
with the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon.
The leaked report by Jean Ziegler, a Swiss sociologist and UN special
envoy, lames Israel's security policies for "collective punishment" of
the
Palestinians. Ziegler spent 10 days in the occupied territories in
July and was due to present his report to the UN General Assembly in
New
York on November 18.
Furious Israeli officials, however, have denounced the report as
"highly
political", saying that Ziegler had gone beyond his mandate. With
support
from American diplomats at the UN, Israel has called for the report to
be
rejected before it reaches the floor of the Assembly, and asked the UN
Human Rights Commission, for whom Ziegler was working as a food rights
specialist, to discipline him.
According to newspaper reports in France, Ziegler's report will not now
be
published until the spring...
-----
EPITHET SHOWS CULTURAL DIVIDE
Jay Price, News and Observer, 9/30/03
http://www.newsobserver.com/iraq/82nd_embed/v-print/story/2906050p-2674806c.
html
BAGHDAD -- World War II had its "krauts," Vietnam had its "gooks," and
now,
the War on Terrorism has its own dehumanizing name: "hajji."
That's what many U.S. troops across Iraq and in coalition bases in
Kuwait
now call anyone from the Middle East or South Asia. Soldiers who served
in
Afghanistan say it also is used there.
Among Muslims, the word is used mainly as a title of respect. It means
"one
who has made the hajj ," the pilgrimage to Mecca .
That's not how soldiers use it.
Some talk about "killing some hajjis" or "mowing down some hajjis." One
soldier in Iraq inked "Hodgie Killer" onto his footlocker.
Iraqis, friend or foe, are called hajjis. Kuwaitis are called hajjis.
Even
people brought in by civilian contractors to work in mess halls or
drive
buses are hajjis -- despite the fact that they might be from India, the
Philippines or Pakistan, and might be Hindu or Christian...
-----
WHY THE PATRIOT ACT WORRIES BOOKSELLERS
Frank Kramer, Boston Globe, 10/8/2003
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/08/
why_the_patriot_act_worries_booksellers/
The attorney general thinks we've been duped. In a recent speech, he
said
that critics of the USA Patriot Act are being hysterical when we
express
fear that the FBI may be using its vastly expanded surveillance power
to
obtain records of what people are reading from libraries and
bookstores.
"The law enforcement community has no interest in your reading habits,"
John Ashcroft insisted.
Wrong, Mr. Attorney General.
Over the past five years, there have been a growing number of attempts
by
law enforcement officials to obtain this information -- the titles of
the
books purchased by our customers. Kenneth Starr got the ball rolling
when
he subpoenaed Monica Lewinsky's book purchase records from two
Washington
bookstores. Denver police issued a search warrant to the Tattered Cover
Book Store for the titles of books purchased by a drug suspect.
Cleveland
authorities won the prize for the most egregious fishing expedition by
demanding that Amazon.com turn over a list of everyone in northeastern
Ohio
who had purchased two audio CDs....
-----
AMERICANA IN HIJAB
Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times, 10/9/03
http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-wk-theater9oct09,2,2820179.story
Nearly everyone has seen, if not acted in, "You Can't Take It With
You,"
the classic American comedy about two vastly different families that
would
never willingly interact if it weren't for marriage. A staple of
commercial
and amateur venues, the 1936 play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman is
produced hundreds of times all over the world every year.
Even so, no one has seen the play in any version other than its
original.
Both the Hart and Kaufman estates have traditionally frowned upon even
minor adjustments.
But beginning tonight, the Cornerstone Theater Company will kick off a
2
1/2-week run of "You Can't Take It With You: An American Muslim Remix,"
a
radically contemporized version that is not only updated to the present
and
moved from New York to Los Angeles but also changed to feature two
Muslim
families: one Pakistani, one Saudi Arabian.
In both versions of the play, the basic characteristics of the two
families
are the same: One is wealthy, the other eccentric. The differences are
in
the details. In addition to being Arab American, the female romantic
lead
in the Abd-ul Rahman family is not a secretary in a tailored dress
suit, as
in the original, but an architect wearing hijab. Her sister is not an
aspiring ballerina but a wannabe rapper... You Can't Take It With You:
An
American Muslim Remix/
-----
GEORGETOWN CONFERENCE ON MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE U.S.
WHAT: The Division of United States Studies, Woodrow Wilson
International
Center for Scholars, The National Resource Center on the Middle East,
The
Institute for the Study of International Migration and the Office of
Campus
Ministry, Georgetown University are pleased to present “Unveiling the
Myths: Muslim Women in the United States.”
Speakers include Ingrid Mattson, Hartford Seminary; Amira Sonbol,
Georgetown University; Samia Serageldin, Duke University; Kathleen
Moore,
University of California - Santa Barbara; and Sharifa Alkhateeb,
President,
Muslim Education Council.
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2003
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ICC Executive Conference Room, 7th Floor
Georgetown University
Please respond to Amber Shifflett at shifflal@georgetown.edu by October
24.
RSVP required as seating is limited.
------
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/10/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S PROHIBITIONS
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-NCA Hosts Annual Fundraising Banquet
- CAIR-DFW CO-Sponsors Civil Rights Forum
- CAIR-CAN Demands Public Inquiry Into Arar Case
* FL MOSQUE BOMB PLOT ACCOMPLICE SENTENCED (Local6.com)
* GROUP MAY SUE IF SCARF ISSUE ISN'T RESOLVED (AP)
- Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act
- ACTION ALERT: Contact the Oklahoma State DOE
- Okla. Officials Bar Muslim From School Over Hijab (AFP)
- Scarf Causes Controversy (Oklahoman)
- Germany Divided Over Hijab (CSM)
* IRANIAN ACTIVIST SHIRIN EBADI WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE (AP)
- Project Gets $100,000 Donation (Clinton Herald)
* RED CROSS CRITICIZES DETENTION IN GUANT�NAMO (NY Times)
- Chaplain To Be Charged With Misconduct (USA Today)
* CHAPEL HILL JOINS CALLS FOR REPEAL OF PATRIOT ACT (N&O)
- Abuse of the Patriot Act (SF Gate)
* WOMEN IN ISLAM EXPLORED DURING LECTURE (Coalfield.com)
- Muslim Doctor at Interfaith Event (Capital Journal)
* AMERICA, SWEPT TO WAR ON A LIE (Star)
* STATE DEPT. PROTESTS TELEVANGELIST'S NUKE THREAT (Spacewar)
* 'JEWISH STATE' HAS BECOME AN ANACHRONISM (LA Times)
* KEEPING MONEY IN LINE WITH MECCA (BusinessWeek)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S PROHIBITIONS
One Muslim wrote to another asking: "Write to me what you have heard
from
(the Prophet Muhammad)." The Man wrote back: "The Prophet used to
forbid
(idle talk or talking too much about others), asking too many questions
(in
disputed religious matters), wasting one's wealth by extravagance,
being
undutiful to one's mother, burying daughters alive (a pre-Islamic
practice), (not giving others what is their right), and asking others
for
something (except when it is unavoidable)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 395
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
CAIR-NCA HOSTS ANNUAL FUNDRAISING BANQUET
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area
cordially invites you to attend its 9th Annual Fundraising Banquet.
This year, CAIR will be honoring the Japanese American community by
presenting an award to Jimi Yamaichi, an internment camp survivor.
Special guests include: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, 14th Congressional
District of California; Congressman Mike Honda, 15th Congressional
District
of California; Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, 16th Congressional District
of
California; State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, CA State 22nd Assembly
District; Former State Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist; Dan Daniels, NAACP
Section Director; Dorothy Ehrlich, Executive Director, ACLU Northern
California; Bishop William Swing and Imam Zaid Shakir.
WHEN: Saturday, October 11th, 6:30 - 10:30 P.M.
WHERE: The Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa
Clara, CA
---
CAIR-DFW CO-SPONSORS CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM
WHAT: CAIR-DFW is co-sponsoring a forum about contemporary challenges
to
civil rights. Topics discussed will be the development of civil rights
in
America, current threats to the democratic system, racial profiling,
USA
Patriot Act, secret evidence law, Victory Act, future of civil rights
and
the Political Agenda.
WHEN: Saturday, October 25 (Registration 8:30 a.m. Conference 9:00 a.m.
to
5:00 p.m.)
WHERE: Westin Hotel Park Central, Dallas (Highway 635 and Coit Rd,
Dallas, TX)
NOTE: Registration is $35 per person (Lunch Included) For more
information
and online registration, visit our website
www.civilrightsconference.org or
contacts info@civilrightsconference.org.
SPONSORS: Bill of Rights Defense Committee of Greater Dallas, Muslim
Community Center for Human Services, National Association for
Advancement
of Colored People (Dallas), National Lawyers Guild, Peace Action
(Texas)
Texas American Civil Liberties Union, Council on American Islamic
Relation
DFW, Dallas Peace Center, independent Texans, League of United Latin
American Citizens.
---
CAIR-CAN DEMANDS PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO ARAR CASE
(OTTAWA, CANADA, 10/10/03) CAIR-CAN is calling on all Canadians to
demand a
full public inquiry into the Maher Arar case.
On September 26, 2002 Arar was arrested in the US and deported to
Jordan
and then to Syria. For more than a year, Maher Arar was isolated from
his
family and the outside world. He finally arrived home to Canada on
October
6th, 2003.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
CONTACT the following:
* Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien
Tel: 613-992-4211
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail: pmo@pm.gc.ca
* Your local MP. The best method is a telephone call, followed by faxes
and
then e-mail. Obtain the name and full contact information of your
Member of
Parliament by calling (613) 992-4793, or by typing your postal code at:
www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM
COPY: Canada@cair-net.org
-----
ACCOMPLICE IN PLOT TO BOMB FLA. ISLAMIC CENTER SENTENCED
Local6.com, 10/9/03
http://www.local6.com/news/2542404/detail.html
TAMPA, Fla. -- A firearms dealer accused of providing guns to a
Pinellas
County podiatrist who planned to attack Islamic centers was sentenced
to
more than four years in prison.
Samuel V. Shannahan, 43, was sentenced Wednesday to four years, eight
months in federal prison, but that time could be shortened by 19 months
if
he's permitted to serve six months in a "boot camp" program.
Shannahan pleaded guilty to providing 11 weapons, including several
machine
guns, to Robert Goldstein, who is serving 12 1/2 years in federal
prison
for plotting to attack the mosques in retaliation for the Sept. 11,
2001
terrorist attacks on the U.S.
"I want to apologize to the court and express my deepest regrets to my
family for the pain that I've caused them," Shannahan told District
Judge
Susan C. Bucklew.
Shannahan, of Dunedin, pleaded guilty twice in the case.
The first plea agreement fell apart when he testified at a sentencing
hearing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Murphy-Davis accused him of
perjury and defense attorney Jeffrey G. Brown accused Murphy-Davis of
violating a plea agreement.
Shannahan refiled the guilty plea in August.
----
GROUP MAY SUE IF RELIGIOUS HEADDRESS ISSUE ISN'T RESOLVED
Associated Press, 10/10/03
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99692,00.html
MUSKOGEE, Okla. - A civil liberties group has threatened to sue the
Muskogee school district if a controversy over a Muslim girl's
religious
head scarf isn't resolved.
Nashala Hearn and her parents are scheduled to meet with Muskogee
school
officials Friday to appeal the 11-year-old's eight-day suspension for
wearing a hijab in violation of the district's dress code.
She has worn the headdress, which Muslim women don because a command
from
Allah, since Aug. 18, the first day of class at Benjamin Franklin
Science
Academy. The school even allowed the sixth-grader to pray between
classes,
her father, Eyvine Hearn, said.
But on Sept. 11, Nashala said she was called to the principal's office
and
had to call her parents about the hijab. They were told the headwear
violated school policy.
She was suspended Oct. 1 for three days for wearing the scarf. After
returning Tuesday from the first suspension, Nashala was suspended for
five
more days for wearing the hijab to school.
John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute in Virginia, said
Thursday he was appalled at Nashala's suspension.
"The courts have been clear that religious faiths have to be
accommodated,
even in the public schools, especially if it is part of their faith,"
Whitehead said of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
He said his group will file suit if the issue isn't resolved...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the state Department of
Education to intervene, but officials say there's nothing they can
do...
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE.)
CONTACT the Oklahoma State Department of Education to ask that the
student's religious rights be protected and that she be allowed to wear
her
Islamic head scarf.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT STATES:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to
petition the government for a redress of grievances."
THE OKLAHOMA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT STATES:
http://home.infi.net/~uucec/okstat.html
This act may be cited as the "Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act."
Added by Laws 2000, c. 272, � 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2000.
�51-253. Burden upon free exercise of religion.
A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no governmental
entity shall substantially burden a person's free exercise of religion
even
if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.
B. No governmental entity shall substantially burden a person's free
exercise of religion unless it demonstrates that application of the
burden
to the person is:
1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
2. The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
governmental
interest.
CONTACT:
Ms. Sandy Garrett
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4599
FAX: 405-521-6205
TEL: 405-521-3301
E-MAIL: sandy_garrett@sde.state.ok.us
COPY TO: michelle_singleton@sde.state.ok.us, ddh@azalea.net,
elg@mpsi20.org, cair@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
OKLAHOMA OFFICIALS BAR MUSLIM TEEN FROM SCHOOL OVER HIJAB
Agence France Presse, 10/10/03
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7517110%255E1702,00.html
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma - A Muslim teenager's battle to wear her religious
headdress to school has landed her in hot water with authorities in the
state of Oklahoma, and the issue could go all the way to the courts,
officials said Thursday.
Education officials in Muskogee, Oklahoma, have twice suspended Nashala
Hearn from Benjamin Franklin Science Academy for violating school dress
code by wearing the Muslim head scarf, or hijab.
The 11-year-old is scheduled to return to school next week after her
latest
five-day suspension, but officials say Hearn will not be admitted to
class
if she continues to wear the scarf in violation of school rules.
The school district's dress code bans students from wearing hats, caps,
bandanas or other headwear inside school buildings, and was initially
devised to deter gang-related activity, according to education
officials.
Education officials in this town 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of
Oklahoma City, said they were not inclined to make exceptions to the
rule
on religious grounds.
Several heavy-weight national rights groups have waded into the debate,
including the Washington-based Muslim advocacy group, CAIR, (Council on
American-Islamic Relations).
"This is a clear violation of the student's right to freely practice
her
faith," said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper…
---
SCARF CAUSES CONTROVERSY
Sheila K. Stogsdill, Oklahoman, 10/10/03
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1093933
MUSKOGEE -- An Islamic civil liberties group wants the state to force
an
elementary school to reinstate an 11-year- old Muslim girl suspended
for
wearing a head scarf, the group's spokesman said Thursday.
Nashala "Tallah" Hern was suspended Oct. 1 for three days from Ben
Franklin
Science Academy for wearing the hijab, or head covering, said Ibrahim
Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
When the sixth-grader returned to school, she was suspended a second
time
for five days, he said...
"This is not an issue of separation of church and state because she is
not
imposing religion on anyone," Hooper said. "Not allowing this girl to
go to
school because of her religious beliefs is un-American."
Muslim religious practice requires women to wear head coverings to show
modesty, Hooper said.
"This makes Oklahoma look like an intolerant state," Hooper said.
"There
are approximately 30,000 to 40,000 Muslims living in Oklahoma..."
---
GERMANY DIVIDED OVER HIJAB
Andreas Tzortzis, Christian Science Monitor, 10/10/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1010/p06s01-woeu.html
Having spent the last 15 years of her life wearing the Muslim hijab, or
head scarf, teacher Emine Ozturk can't imagine taking it off in public,
even for just one minute.
But that's exactly what Ms. Ozturk might have to do if she ever wants
to
get a teaching job in a Berlin public school.
"It's part of my identity," says this young German of Turkish descent.
"How
can I lay my identity at the door of the classroom?"
It is a question on the minds of many here following a decision by
Germany's highest court, allowing teacher Fereshta Ludin to wear her
head
scarf in class as long as there are no state laws against it. Since the
decision came down two weeks ago, a majority of German states,
including
Berlin, have announced plans to pass such laws...
-----
IRANIAN ACTIVIST SHIRIN EBADI WINS 2003 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Dough Mellgren, Associated Press, 10/10/03
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99681,00.html
OSLO, Norway - Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, one of the
Islamic country's first female judges, won the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize
on
Friday for her work fighting for democracy and the rights of women and
children.
Ebadi, 56, the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to win the
prize,
has worked actively to promote peaceful, democratic solutions in the
struggle for human rights, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said. It added
that she is well-known and admired by Iranians for her defense in court
of
victims of attacks by hard-liners on freedom of speech and political
freedom.
"As a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist, she has spoken out
clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, far beyond its borders," the
awards committee said in its citation...
Ebadi, who is often sharply criticized by hard-liners and conservative
clerics, was arrested on July 2000 and given suspended sentences. Ebadi
was
banned from working as lawyer for five years. It was unclear whether
the
ban was still in effect...
ALSO SEE:
PROJECT GETS $100,000 DONATION
Charlene Beilema and Scott T. Holland, Clinton Herald, 10/9/03
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10293115&BRD=1408&PAG=461&dept_id=463231&rfi=6
CLINTON - A Clinton resident who says the community supported her
family
and faith after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has donated $100,000 to
better that community.
Joelian Elahmady, president of Elahmady's Charitable Foundation Fund,
has
announced she will contribute the money as a means of boosting
donations
toward Clinton's Vision Iowa project, "Things to do With a River View."
Elahmady, a native New Yorker who embraced Islam 20 years ago and is
married to Dr. Ahmed Elahmady, said emotionally that while many
negative
comments were made throughout the country about the Muslim faith after
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the citizens of Clinton stood by her
family...
-----
RED CROSS CRITICIZES INDEFINITE DETENTION IN GUANT�NAMO BAY
Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 10/10/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/10/national/10GITM.html
GUANT�NAMO BAY, Cuba, - A senior official of the International
Committee of
the Red Cross said on Thursday that the holding of more than 600
detainees
here was unacceptable because they were being held for open-ended terms
without proper legal process.
Christophe Girod, the senior Red Cross official in Washington, said on
Thursday in an interview at the United States Naval Base here, "One
cannot
keep these detainees in this pattern, this situation, indefinitely."
Mr. Girod spoke as he and a team of officials from the international
organization were completing their latest inspection tour of the
detention
camp. Although he did not criticize any physical conditions at the
camp,
which houses 660 detainees, most of them captured in the Afghan
conflict,
he said that it was intolerable that the complex was used as "an
investigation center, not a detention center."
He said the International Red Cross was making the unusual statements
because of a lack of action.
United States officials have said they have begun moving to sort the
detainees, choosing which to release and which to take before military
tribunals on criminal charges...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN FROM GUANTANAMO LIKELY TO BE CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT
Dave Moniz, USA Today, 10/10/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-10-10-yee_x.htm
WASHINGTON - The Army is expected to charge a Muslim chaplain with
violating military regulations after he was caught with documents from
a
facility housing Taliban and al-Qaeda detainees, Defense Department
officials said Thursday.
The Army is expected to charge Capt. James "Yousef" Yee with conduct
unbecoming an officer and violating general orders
The Army will charge Capt. James "Yousef" Yee with conduct unbecoming
an
officer and violating general orders, according to a source familiar
with
the investigation.
So far, Yee has not been implicated in espionage, although
investigators
are still trying to determine how he obtained maps and diagrams of Camp
Delta, an austere facility at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base that houses
about 660 detainees.
The two charges against Yee could come within the next 10 days, the
official said...
-----
CHAPEL HILL JOINS CALLS FOR REPEAL
Anne Blythe, News & Observer, 10/9/03
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2934832p-2692900c.html
CHAPEL HILL -- This college town joined the small but growing chorus of
communities across the country that are denouncing the USA Patriot Act.
The Town Council on Wednesday night unanimously endorsed a resolution
that
criticizes the federal law and the Domestic Security Enhancement Act --
which many have dubbed Patriot Act II -- as threats to fundamental
rights
and liberties.
In their one-page statement, council members agreed to encourage state
and
federal legislative delegations to work for the repeal of the Patriot
Act,
which gives federal agents the authority to monitor e-mail, conduct
wiretaps, review materials checked out at public libraries, search bank
records and homes, and use other intelligence tools in the name of
battling
terrorism.
Although it is a campaign season in which council members often
enunciate
reasons for most every vote, there was no discussion of the proposal.
There
was quick support after several Chapel Hill residents offered pleas for
action...
ALSO SEE:
ABUSE OF THE PATRIOT ACT
San Francisco Gate, 10/8/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/08/EDGL626TD81.DTL
For many, the fear all along was that, sooner or later, it would come
to
this: The Patriot Act, which sidesteps due process and overrides
certain
civil liberties for the sake of combating international terrorism, is
now
being used by federal law enforcement as a tool against non-terrorists
as
well.
In a report to Congress, the U.S. Justice Department admits taking
advantage of the powerful act to investigate, wiretap, surveil and
confiscate millions of dollars in alleged crime-related assets from
U.S.
citizens.
This is not how the White House sold the idea to Congress and rest of
us
just five days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. U.S. Attorney
General
John Ashcroft has consistently portrayed the law as a way to disrupt
terrorism, bristling at suggestions that it might be used otherwise...
But he failed to mention that his agency is also using the Patriot
Act's
sweeping authority to investigate suspected financial crimes, drug
dealers,
computer hackers, cash smugglers, child pornographers and more...
-----
WOMEN IN ISLAM EXPLORED DURING LECTURE
Robert Baird, Coalfield.com, 10/9/03
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1283&dept_id=158550&newsid=10290388&PAG=461&rfi=9
WISE - Books, television, films and other forms of popular culture
often
reflect and reinforce the same misconceptions about Muslim women - that
they are oppressed and victimized by men.
"They are reduced to stereotypes and have been denied their human
complexity and dignity," Farzaneh Milani explained.
Perhaps the most misunderstood part of Islam is the Muslim woman,
according
to the University of Virginia professor.
At the start of a semester, Milani often asks students in her class to
identify what comes to mind when they think of a Muslim woman. Often,
students say they see those women as segregated, oppressed and
discriminated against.
Any Muslims in the class have a totally different perspective, she
says.
Those students view Muslim women as strong, powerful, dedicated,
hard-working, loyal and devoted mothers with a strong sense of
community...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM DOCTOR TO SPEAK AT INTERFAITH EVENT
Phil Anderson, Capital-Journal, 10/10/03
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/101003/loc_interfaith.shtml
Dr. Shahid Athar has spent much of his time since 9-11 engendering
better
understanding among the nation's interfaith community.
Today, he will bring his message of unity and peace to a luncheon at
the
second annual Interfaith of Topeka Conference at Henderson Hall on the
Washburn University campus.
His presentation is titled "Understanding Islam and Muslims: An
Interfaith
Perspective in Light of 9-11."
Athar, 58, an Indianapolis endocrinologist, is the author of seven
books
and numerous articles on Islam and interfaith issues.
He said a key point in his presentation will be the opportunity America
offers for people to hold on to their religions and still live in
harmony
with each other...
-----
AMERICA, SWEPT TO WAR ON A LIE
Gordon Barthos, The Star, 10/10/03
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1065651009523&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
President George Bush left no fear unstirred as he made the case for
war
with Iraq.
Saddam Hussein posed "a grave threat to peace," he told a Cincinnati
audience five months before the Marines landed.
Saddam had "an arsenal of terror," Bush insisted. He "possesses and
produces chemical and biological weapons...is seeking nuclear
weapons..."
His schemes "threaten America and the world with horrible poisons and
diseases and gases and atomic weapons."
And Americans "cannot wait for the final proof - the smoking gun - that
could come in the form of a mushroom cloud," Bush warned, sounding an
apocalyptic note.
This alarmist indictment steeled Americans for a war that would take
8,500
Iraqi lives, cost close to $100 billion, and strain relations with most
of
the world.
Yet Bush now stands exposed as a spinner of untruths and half-truths,
knowingly or not, as the public loses faith in his ability to manage
foreign policy - a strength he hoped to parlay into re-election next
year.
A majority of Americans now feel the country is on the wrong track,
Bush is
stumbling on foreign policy and the economy, and the Iraq war wasn't
worth
it...
-----
US STATE DEPARTMENT PROTESTS TELEVANGELIST'S NUCLEAR THREAT
Spacewar.com, 10/9/03
http://www.spacewar.com/2003/031009191517.3ugt4crn.html
The US State Department has lodged a vehement complaint with prominent
conservative televangelist Pat Robertson for comments suggesting that
its
Foggy Bottom headquarters should be destroyed with nuclear weapons,
officials said Thursday.
Spokesman Richard Boucher called the remarks -- which Robertson made
last
week on his nationally televised "700 Club" program -- "despicable" and
a
senior department official said a protest had been made "at the highest
level."
"I lack sufficient capabilities to express my disdain," Boucher told
reporters when asked about Robertson's comments. "I think the very
idea,
though, is despicable."
The senior official said Robertson had been made aware of Secretary of
State Colin Powell's extreme outrage at the tone and content of the
remarks...
-----
'JEWISH STATE' HAS BECOME AN ANACHRONISM
Tony Judt, Los Angeles Times, 10/10/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-judt10oct10,1,3580678.story
At the dawn of the 20th century, in the twilight of the continental
empires, Europe's subject peoples dreamed of forming "nation-states,"
territorial homelands where Poles, Czechs, Serbs, Armenians and others
might live free, masters of their own fate. When the Hapsburg and
Romanov
empires collapsed after World War I, a flurry of new states did emerge.
The
first thing they did was privilege their national "ethnic" majority --
defined by language or religion or antiquity or all three -- at the
expense
of inconvenient local minorities, who were consigned to second-class
status.
But one nationalist movement -- Zionism -- was frustrated in its
ambitions.
It was only in 1948 that a Jewish nation-state was belatedly
established in
formerly Ottoman Palestine. But the founders of the Jewish state had
been
influenced by the same concepts and categories as their fin de siecle
contemporaries back in Warsaw, Odessa and Bucharest. Not surprisingly,
Israel's ethno-religious self-definition and its discrimination against
internal "foreigners" have always had more in common with, say, the
practices of post-Hapsburg Romania than either party might care to
acknowledge...
----
KEEPING MONEY IN LINE WITH MECCA
Michael Shari, BusinessWeek, 10/13/03
http://www.businessweek.com/premium/content/03_41/b3853163_mz033.htm?se=1
When Robert Kokshoorn needed $16 million to expand his fiberboard
factory
in Malaysia, he did what any businessperson might: He headed to the
bank
and got a loan. But unlike most debtors, he pays no interest. Instead,
Kokshoorn makes a monthly payment to Bank Islam Malaysia on a
promissory
note that factors in a profit for the bank. That way he gets the
capital he
needs and the bank gets a new customer and a return on its money -- but
keeps the transaction in compliance with Shariah, or Islamic law.
"Islamic bank managers had a much higher degree of personal interest in
our
business than conventional bankers," says the Dutch-born Kokshoorn,
managing director of Penang-based Merbok Hilir.
Kokshoorn is one of thousands of investors worldwide looking to
Malaysia
for Islamic banking services. From $20,000 car loans to $263 million
bond
issues, Malaysia -- which is 60% Muslim -- is rapidly outpacing the
Middle
East in this kind of finance. The country has more than 20 local and
foreign banks offering services that comply with Shariah. In addition,
14%
of its mutual-fund assets are Shariah-compliant, and 700 companies
listed
on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange are considered free of haram, or
sin...
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
750 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-SFBA FUNDRAISING DINNER
Award presented to Japanese-American internment survivor
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
today said some 750 people, including 70 officials and community
leaders,
turned out for the annual fundraising banquet of its San Francisco Bay
Area
office (CAIR-SFBA) on Saturday in Santa Clara. The Washington-based
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group said the dinner raised $400,000 in
contributions.
Speakers and attendees at the event included Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), a
representative of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), members of
the
California State Assembly, two mayors, a number of city council members
from several cities, a representative of the local office of the FBI,
and
many interfaith leaders.
The highlight of the program was an award presented to an 80-year-old
Japanese-American who, along with his family, was interned in a
detention
camp during WWII. At the dinner, CAIR-SFBA also showed a video
highlighting
the Japanese-American struggle for justice.
"We would like to thank all those who made our dinner such a success,"
said
CAIR-SFBA Board Chairman Fouad Khatib. "With these added financial
resources, we will be better able to defend civil rights and promote a
positive image of the American Muslim community and Islam." Khatib
added
that attendees received an annual financial report.
CAIR's national banquet will be held in Washington on Saturday,
November
29th. For more information, e-mail: register@cair-net.org
According to results of a CAIR poll released last month, roughly half
of
American Muslims surveyed say they have increased their social,
political,
interfaith, and public relations activities since the 9/11 terror
attacks.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA, Helal Omeira, 408-986-9874; CAIR-National, Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/13/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FINDING FAULT
* SCHUMER'S AGGRESSIVE STANCE DRAWS CRITICISM (Newsday)
* DC KUWAITI TARGETED BY VANDALS (Washington Post)
- CAIR-NJ Event on Killing of Pakistani Student (AP)
* 'TRUE PATRIOT' RESTORES RIGHTS (Casper Star-Tribune)
- Action Alert: Support the True Patriot Act
* U.S. PAPERS GET IDENTICAL LETTERS FROM IRAQ (Olympian)
* HAS AIPAC GONE GOP? (Washington Post)
* A MOSQUE WOULD INSPIRE PEACE (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Educate yourself in Islam (Cincinnati Enquirer)
* MUSLIM FATHER PLANS LAWSUIT OVER HIJAB (Oklahoman)
- Muslim Girl Suspended Over Scarf (Reuters)
- Action Alert: Contact the Oklahoma State DOE
* U.S. LISTS JEWISH WEB SITES AS 'TERROR' GROUPS (Reuters)
- FBI Revokes Award from Arab Leader (Knight Ridder)
* US SOLDIERS BULLDOZE FARMERS' CROPS (Independent)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FINDING FAULT
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who sees something
which
should be kept hidden and conceals it will be like one who has brought
to
life a girl buried alive (a pre-Islamic practice).
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2292
The Prophet also said: "Do not search for (the faults of others), for
if
anyone searches for (others) faults, God will search for his."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2283
And on another occasion: "Each of you is the mirror of his brother, so
if
he sees any fault in him he should wipe it away."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1286
-----
SCHUMER TAKES ON SAUDI STATE RELIGION
Aggressive stance draws criticism
Thomas Frank, Newsday, 10/13/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usschu1013,0,1315578.story
Washington -- Sen. Charles Schumer, who has denounced the Saudi Arabian
government for two years as weak on terrorism, is now attacking a new
target: the Saudi state religion, which he says promotes terrorism and
is
making "dramatic inroads" in the United States.
"It's serious," the New York Democrat said. At hearings and news
conferences, Schumer is publicizing connections he sees between U.S.
Muslim
groups and Saudi Arabia's puritanical Islamic movement, Wahhabism…
Schumer's statements have brought harsh criticism from some prominent
Muslim groups, which accuse him of an anti-Islamic smear campaign aimed
at
bolstering Israel.
"People like Schumer see it as a zero-sum game: If Muslims and
Arab-Americans gain any influence in political circles, they see that
as
taking away from the influence of those who support Israel," said
Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whose
leaders attended a White House ceremony after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Some academics say Schumer is simplistic in citing religion as the root
of
terrorism and overreaching in his blanket condemnation of Wahhabism.
And by echoing a handful of controversial authors and scholars, some
from
conservative pro-Israel think tanks, Schumer has angered some fellow
Senate
Democrats.
Author Stephen Schwartz, who advises Schumer and last year wrote a book
criticizing Wahhabism, is publicly denounced by Sen. Richard Durbin of
Illinois as an anti-Muslim, anti-Arab ideologue. When Schwartz
testified
before Schumer in June as an expert witness at a Senate hearing, Durbin
said in a statement, "This is completely unacceptable and beneath the
dignity of this committee…"
-----
VANDALS SCRAWL RACIAL SLURS, DAMAGE VEHICLES ON OLNEY STREET
Lila Arzua, Washington Post, 10/13/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17228-2003Oct12.html
An Olney neighborhood is on edge after waking up Saturday to find homes
defaced with racial slurs and cars vandalized.
A trailer parked outside the home of a Kuwaiti-born man was scrawled
with
the words "Bin Laden lives here." Other neighbors found their cars
scratched and marked with symbols resembling swastikas, and "KKK" was
written on the driveway of a black woman…
Johny Fares, who lives at Leeds Hall and Morningside drives, said that
two
years ago, however, someone chalked on his driveway, "Foreigner leave
this
country."
Fares, the Kuwait native, said he also has had trash thrown in his
yard,
his car windows repeatedly shattered and tires slashed. In addition,
lawn
equipment worth more than $18,000 was stolen from his backyard shed...
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NJ NEWS CONFERENCE ON KILLING OF PAKISTANI STUDENT
Associated Press New Jersey Daybook for Monday, Oct. 13.
12 p.m. MUSLIM NEWS CONFERENCE--The New Jersey chapter of the Council
on
the American-Islamic Relations demands that the juveniles charged in
death
of a Muslim immigrant be tried as adults.
Location: Front of Essex County Courthouse, 50 W. Market St., Newark.
Contacts: Faiza Ali (CAIR-NJ), 908-868-4885
-----
'TRUE PATRIOT' WOULD RESTORE RIGHTS
CHARLES LEVENDOSKY, Casper Star-Tribune, 10/13/03
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/10/13/build/opinion/guest.inc
The backlash against the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 is picking up speed
and snap.
On Sept. 24, Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich of
Ohio
and Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul introduced the Benjamin Franklin
True
Patriot Act (HR3171) to repeal the most controversial sections of the
Patriot Act as well as some of the more egregious actions taken by the
Department of Justice.
When introducing the True Patriot Act, Kucinich told members of the
House:
"Twenty-four months after the Sept. 11th attacks, this nation has
undergone
a dramatic political change, leading to an unprecedented assault on the
United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights."
The act already has 20 other cosponsors, at this point all Democrats,
but
as the word gets out concerning key elements of this bill, expect
conservatives, moderates and liberals to push for its passage.
The Kucinich-Paul bill has already garnered the support of the American
Civil Liberties Union, National Association for the Advancement of
Colored
People (NAACP), American Muslim Voice, Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR), and Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism.
The True Patriot Act heralds its intent by quoting Benjamin Franklin's
famous statement: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to
purchase a
little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty or Safety…"
The True Patriot Act would repeal Section 213 of the Patriot Act, which
authorized property to be searched and seized in secret by government
law
enforcement officials, without notifying the subject of a warrant.
The act would repeal Section 214 and Section 216, relating to the use
of
pen registers for foreign intelligence purposes and criminal cases. Pen
registers record all phone numbers dialed from a person's telephone.
It would repeal Section 215, which authorized searches of library,
bookstore, medical, financial, religious and travel records without a
judicial warrant...
The True Patriot Act would repeal the broader application of the
Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act authorized by the Patriot Act, Section
218.
This section of the Patriot Act, in essence, gutted the Fourth
Amendment's
requirement for probable cause to obtain a search warrant in criminal
investigations…
ACTION REQUESTED:
Tell your elected representatives to support the True Patriot Act. GO
TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/issues/bills/?bill=3548741
-----
NEWSPAPERS AROUND U.S. GET IDENTICAL MISSIVES FROM IRAQ
LEDYARD KING, Olympian, 10/11/03
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20031011/frontpage/121390_Printer.shtml
WASHINGTON -- Letters from hometown soldiers describing their successes
rebuilding Iraq have been appearing in newspapers across the country as
U.S. public opinion on the mission sours.
And all the letters are the same.
A Gannett News Service search found identical letters from different
soldiers with the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry
Regiment,
also known as "The Rock," in 11 newspapers, including Snohomish, Wash.
The Olympian received two identical letters signed by different
hometown
soldiers: Spc. Joshua Ackler and Spc. Alex Marois, who is now a
sergeant.
The paper declined to run either because of a policy not to publish
form
letters.
The five-paragraph letter talks about the soldiers' efforts to
re-establish
police and fire departments, and build water and sewer plants in the
northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, where the unit is based.
"The quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely
restored, and we are a large part of why that has happened," the letter
reads.
It describes people waving at passing troops and children running up to
shake their hands and say thank you.
It's not clear who wrote the letter or organized sending it to
soldiers'
hometown papers.
Six soldiers reached by GNS directly or through their families said
they
agreed with the letter's thrust. But none of the soldiers said he wrote
it,
and one said he didn't even sign it...
-----
IN DRIVE TO AID ISRAEL, LOBBY MAY BE SHIFTING OUT OF NEUTRAL
Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 10/12/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13381-2003Oct11?language=printer
Has AIPAC gone GOP?
The powerful pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, has a long tradition of partisan neutrality. So some
eyebrows
were raised on Capitol Hill last week when Roll Call published an
article
titled "GOP Turns to Israeli Lobby to Boost Iraq Support."
"AIPAC's initiative is part of an intense public and private campaign
by
the White House," the newspaper reported. Among the group's targets:
none
other than Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), an orthodox Jew who is a
Democratic presidential candidate.
The report came two weeks after AIPAC, in its newsletter, scolded
another
Democratic candidate, former Vermont governor Howard Dean, for his
statement that the United States should "not take sides" in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This was too much for Jeremy Rabinovitz, chief of staff to Rep. Lois
Capps
(D-Calif.) and an AIPAC research analyst in the mid-1980s. "For years,
AIPAC has distinguished itself as a strictly bipartisan advocate for
strong
U.S.-Israel relations," he said on Friday. "It's disheartening to see
the
organization become an increasingly partisan voice for the Republican
agenda, and this approach will not help the pro-Israel cause in
Washington..."
-----
A MOSQUE WOULD INSPIRE PEACE, HUMILITY, KINSHIP
Zia Rahman, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/13/03
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7001154.htm
Some have tried to equate a mosque with terrorism, which is appalling
rhetoric designed to scare people. What's needed is more understanding
of
our religion.
A mosque, or masjid, literally means "a place for self-prostration" - a
place formally designated for the saying of prayers.
This means it is a center for the inculcation of reverence, where
individuals learn piety and are prepared for a life of devotion to
Almighty
God.
Muslims visit the mosque to read the Book of God, to remember Him,
silently
and in prayer, and to hear His Commandments on how they should lead
their
lives. The most important of all these activities is the saying of
prayers,
a ritual to be carried out five times a day.
This act of worship, the greatest means of instilling a sense of awe in
the
devotee, ideally is performed in an organized manner, in congregation,
within the mosque.
There, worshipers arrange themselves in rows behind a prayer leader,
the
imam. The number of worshipers may be 10 or 10,000: All must stand in
rows
behind the imam. This teaches the lesson of unity.
The prayer begins with ablution - the washing of hands, arms, face and
feet. This cleansing is a symbolic reminder that Muslims should lead
their
lives in this world in a state of purification of the feelings and the
soul.
The recitation during prayer consists of verses from the Koran,
remembrance
of God, and invocation and supplications. All of this is aimed at
bringing
about a spiritual awakening that will induce worshipers to renounce
their
lives of ignorance and heedlessness in favor of a life inspired by
Islamic
moral values. The frequent repetition in the prayer is a lesson in
modesty,
designed to rid worshipers of arrogance and egotism, and turn them into
humble servants of God.
As the symbol of submission before God, the acts of kneeling down and
self-prostration also are repeated several times during the prayer. In
this
way, worshipers are conditioned by prayer to surrender and submit
themselves to their Maker in all humility…
In addition to the five daily obligatory prayers, there is a weekly
Friday
obligatory prayer that is necessarily offered in the mosque. In
practice
and content it is like any other prayer, but the imam gives a brief
sermon
in which he reminds worshipers of their accountability to God, of the
Commandments pertaining to Islamic character, and of the proper way to
deal
with others in society…
SEE ALSO:
EDUCATE YOURSELF IN ISLAM
Karen Vance, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/11/03
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/10/11/loc_faithmatters11.html
WEST CHESTER TWP. - The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati and Miami
University-Middletown are teaming up to teach about Islam.
As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches (it's expected to begin
on
or about Oct. 26), the center will open its doors for a community class
about Islam on Oct. 18.
"I think people these days have so many questions about Islam, and I
think
we can offer something to the community that gives them accurate
information in a wonderful setting," said Shakila Ahmad, a co-chair of
the
center's tours and talks program and a teacher of the class.
The workshop, "Understanding our Muslim Neighbors," includes a tour of
the
center, 8092 Plantation Drive, West Chester, and allows attendees to
meet
with members of the center and learn of their focus, basic beliefs and
Islamic faith practices…
The workshop registration fee is $29 through Miami
University-Middletown
Campus Continuing Education. Call (513) 727-3300 or the center at
755-3280
for information.
The center is also offering two independent workshops for educators and
the
public: "Teaching About Islam and the Muslim World" on Oct. 23 and
"Doorways to Islamic Art" on Oct. 24.
-----
MUSLIM GIRL'S FATHER PLANS LAWSUIT OVER SCHOOL RULE
Sheila K. Stogsdill, The Oklahoman, 10/11/03
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1094793&TP=getarticle
MUSKOGEE -- The father of a Muslim girl suspended from school in
Muskogee
for wearing a religious head scarf said Friday he will sue the school
district.
Eyvine Hearn met Friday with the school board hoping to appeal his
11-year-old daughter's school suspension.
Nashala Hearn was suspended Oct. 1 for three days from Ben Franklin
Science
Academy for wearing the head covering.
When she returned to school, she was again suspended for continuing to
wear
the head scarf.
The school policy prohibits hats, caps, bandannas or any other type of
head
covering.
"Nothing got resolved," Eyvine Hearn said. "My daughter just broke down
in
tears because they (school officials) kept referring to her hijab as
headgear."
Muslim religious practice requires women to wear head coverings to show
modesty. Hearn's scarf covers her hair and neck…
Hearn said he didn't know if he would put his daughter in a different
school district. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic
civil liberties group based in Washington, has asked the Oklahoma State
Education Department to step in so the sixth-grade student can return
to
classes.
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM GIRL SUSPENDED FROM OKLA SCHOOL OVER SCARF
Ben Fenwick, Reuters, 10/11/03
http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/10/11/scarf.reut/
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - An 11-year-old Oklahoma girl has been
suspended
from a public school because officials said her Muslim head scarf
violates
dress code policies.
Board officials met Friday to discuss the fate of suspended
sixth-grader
Nashala "Tallah" Hern, who was asked to leave school in the eastern
Oklahoma town of Muskogee on Oct. 1 because she refused to remove her
head
scarf, called a "hijab."
School officials instituted a dress code in 1997 prohibiting the
wearing of
hats and other head coverings indoors. Officials said they implemented
the
code to stem gang-related activity. Hern declined to remove her hijab,
saying it would violate the way she observes her religion.
Officials at the school, the Ben Franklin Science Academy, previously
summoned Hern to the office on Sept. 11 to inform her she was no longer
allowed to wear the scarf. She had worn it since the school year
started a
few weeks earlier…
Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Washington D.C.-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said the Muslim girl is being singled out
because of her religious beliefs.
The girl's father met with school officials Friday in a closed-door
hearing
to appeal the decision. The school board is expected to have a decision
next Wednesday on whether the girl can return to school wearing her
head
scarf, officials said.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE.)
CONTACT the Oklahoma State Department of Education to ask that the
student's religious rights be protected and that she be allowed to wear
her
Islamic head scarf.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT STATES:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to
petition the government for a redress of grievances."
THE OKLAHOMA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT STATES:
http://home.infi.net/~uucec/okstat.html
This act may be cited as the "Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act."
Added by Laws 2000, c. 272, � 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2000.
�51-253. Burden upon free exercise of religion.
A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no governmental
entity shall substantially burden a person's free exercise of religion
even
if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.
B. No governmental entity shall substantially burden a person's free
exercise of religion unless it demonstrates that application of the
burden
to the person is:
1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
2. The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
governmental
interest.
CONTACT:
Ms. Sandy Garrett
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4599
FAX: 405-521-6205
TEL: 405-521-3301
E-MAIL: sandy_garrett@sde.state.ok.us
COPY TO: michelle_singleton@sde.state.ok.us, ddh@azalea.net,
elg@mpsi20.org, cair@cair-net.org
-----
U.S. LISTS WEB SITES AS 'TERROR' GROUPS
Reuters, 10/10/03
WASHINGTON -- The United States has added Web sites to its list of
"foreign
terrorist organizations" for the first time, under the category of
aliases
for conventional groups, a State Department official said Friday.
A list published in the Federal Register includes newkach.org,
kahane.org,
kahane.net, kahanetzadak.com as aliases for the Jewish group Kahane
Chai or
Kach, which is suspected of organizing attacks on Palestinians.
Under U.S. law, it would be illegal to provide money or other material
support to the designated Web sites, the people who run them could be
denied U.S. visas and U.S. banks must block their funds. The State
Department said it was yet clear how this would work in practice.
But the law may not enable the United States to block access to the Web
sites, if only for technical reasons.
SEE ALSO:
FBI REVOKES ITS SERVICE AWARD FROM ARAB LEADER
NIRAJ WARIKOO, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 10/9/03
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6975840.htm
(KRT) - After pressure from a pro-Israeli group and columnist, the FBI
rescinded an award it had planned to give to a prominent Arab-American
leader this week and raised questions about his connections with men
the
government wants to deport.
Imad Hamad, who heads the local branch of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, had been scheduled to receive a
prestigious
service award today in Washington, D.C., for his work with law
enforcement
after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Local conservative columnist Debbie Schlussel and the Zionist
Organization
of America - one of the oldest pro-Israeli groups in the nation - led a
spirited attack last month against Hamad, charging in letters and
articles
that he is sympathetic to terrorists and unworthy of such an honor.
Hamad said the allegations that he supports terrorism are baseless and
came
from fringe groups with no credibility…
"I'm absolutely furious," said Mo Abdrabboh, a Dearborn attorney who
sometimes works on Arab-American issues. "It's a blatant insult without
any
regard for Hamad or the community."
Abdrabboh said he and other Arab Americans are seriously thinking of
resigning from BRIDGES, a group of local law enforcement officials and
Arab
Americans that meets monthly in Detroit to discuss various issues,
including terrorism. The group is the only one of its kind in the
country
and is cochaired by Hamad and U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins…
That sentiment was felt among several local Arab leaders, who called
the
move another blow to a community already reeling from what its members
see
as an assault on their civil rights by U.S. Attorney General John
Ashcroft.
---
US SOLDIERS BULLDOZE FARMERS' CROPS
Patrick Cockburn, Independent, 10/12/03
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=452375
US soldiers driving bulldozers, with jazz blaring from loudspeakers,
have
uprooted ancient groves of date palms as well as orange and lemon trees
in
central Iraq as part of a new policy of collective punishment of
farmers
who do not give information about guerrillas attacking US troops.
The stumps of palm trees, some 70 years old, protrude from the brown
earth
scoured by the bulldozers beside the road at Dhuluaya, a small town 50
miles north of Baghdad. Local women were yesterday busily bundling
together
the branches of the uprooted orange and lemon trees and carrying then
back
to their homes for firewood.
Nusayef Jassim, one of 32 farmers who saw their fruit trees destroyed,
said: "They told us that the resistance fighters hide in our farms, but
this is not true. They didn't capture anything. They didn't find any
weapons."
Other farmers said that US troops had told them, over a loudspeaker in
Arabic, that the fruit groves were being bulldozed to punish the
farmers
for not informing on the resistance which is very active in this Sunni
Muslim district.
"They made a sort of joke against us by playing jazz music while they
were
cutting down the trees," said one man. Ambushes of US troops have taken
place around Dhuluaya. But Sheikh Hussein Ali Saleh al-Jabouri, a
member of
a delegation that went to the nearby US base to ask for compensation
for
the loss of the fruit trees, said American officers described what had
happened as "a punishment of local people because 'you know who is in
the
resistance and do not tell us'." What the Israelis had done by way of
collective punishment of Palestinians was now happening in Iraq, Sheikh
Hussein added…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/14/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
- Volunteers Needed for CAIR’s DC Fundraising Event
* PROTEST HOME DEMOLITIONS AT ISRAELI EMBASSY IN DC
- U.S. - Rafah Demolitions "Self-Defense" (Reuters)
- IA Mosque Hosts Palestinian Whose House was Destroyed
* US, ISRAELI RIGHT-WINGERS TO HOLD SUMMIT ON MIDDLE EAST (AFP)
- U.S. Conservatives Advise Israel (AP)
* DELIVERYMAN'S FAMILY DEMANDS JUSTICE (Star-Ledger)
- Muslim Group Calls For Adult Prosecution (AP)
- Calls For Justice And Mercy Over Killing (NY Times)
* MUSLIM GIRL'S FAMILY, SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT BUDGING (AP)
* MARYLAND COMMUNITIES PROTEST PATRIOT ACT (AP)
* ISLAMIC CENTER SHARES CULTURE (Red & Black)
* MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD FUNDRAISER EVENT
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No man loves another
for
the sake of God…without his Lord honoring him."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1301
"Hadith of the Day" is brought to you by Alim, a hadith and Quran
database.
Alim is offered at a discounted price for CAIR members and supporters.
CAIR
will benefit from each sale identified as a CAIR supporter. For more
information, visit ISL Software's website at www.islsoftware.com or
call
1-800-443-3636.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6940 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6940 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
FOR LIBRARIES IN CANADA, GO TO: www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
---
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR’S FUNDRAISING EVENT
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
-----
PROTEST HOME DEMOLITIONS AT ISRAELI EMBASSY IN DC
American Muslims for Jerusalem
WHAT: Israel's vicious weekend attack on the Gaza Strip has left 150
Palestinian homes destroyed, 1500 Palestinians homeless, over eight
Palestinians killed and over eighty wounded. A senior UN official
likened
Israel's weekend destruction spree to a "severe earthquake." The UN
estimated that 250-300 families have been made homeless by the Israeli
military's brutal two-day attack on the Gaza Strip. In response,
American
Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) is organizing an emergency protest outside
the
Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
WHERE: In front of the Israeli Embassy, Intersection of Van Ness and
International Drive (Closest metro stop is UDC Van Ness on Red Line)
WHEN: Tuesday, October 14, 2003, 5:00 - 7:30 P.M.
Please note: Bring signs, banners, family and friends!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT AMERICAN MUSLIMS FOR JERUSALEM AT: (202)
548-4200
SEE ALSO:
U.S. SEES RAFAH DEMOLITIONS AS "SELF-DEFENSE"
Reuters, 10/14/03
WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday that
Israeli house demolitions in a Gaza Strip refugee camp was self-defense
against "terrorism" and that the Israeli courts had dealt with cases of
homeless Palestinians.
Israeli forces have flattened at least 114 homes in the Rafah camp near
the
Egyptian border, making more than 1,000 Palestinian refugees homeless,
U.N.
officials say. Israel says the operation is to find tunnels used for
smuggling arms.
U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, asked to comment on
Israeli operations at Rafah, said: "We continue to be very concerned
about
terrorism. We understand Israel's need to defend itself. We've always
said
that Israel needs to consider the consequences of its actions and
that's
all we have to say about those particular events."
"This is part of defending themselves," added a senior State Department
official, who asked not to be identified.
The wording was similar to the language the State Department regularly
uses
to comment on Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories but
Boucher
said it had been updated in response to the Rafah incursion.
"The question of demolishing houses in an extrajudicial manner has been
dealt with by Israeli courts. Our understanding of this incursion is
their
objective is to blow up tunnels that have been used to smuggle arms,"
he
added.
The senior official said the reference to Israeli courts did not
necessarily imply homeless Palestinians could or should apply to the
courts
for redress.
"The Israelis abide by a certain sort of rules. The Israelis will
figure
this out between themselves and their judicial system," the official
added…
---
ISLAMIC CENTER OF CEDAR RAPIDS HOSTS ARABIA SHAWAMREH
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids, located at
2999
1st Avenue SW, is proud to announce that it will be hosting Arabia
Shawamreh on October 14. Arabia is a Palestinian woman whose home has
been
destroyed and rebuilt four different times. A community potluck will
start
at 6:00 p.m. followed by Arabia’s open discussion of her and her
family’s
experience.
Salim and Arabia began building a home on land that they owned, as so
many
Palestinians do. They had finished their home and were eating lunch
when
soldiers appeared at the door and announced, “You have 15 minutes to
clear
out your belongings before we demolish the house.” Salim and Arabia
called
Jeff Halper, Israeli co-founder of Rebuilding Palestinian Homes. He
came to
the home and tried to intervene. They were bruised and beaten by the
Israeli Army. While the family and Jeff watched as a bulldozer rammed
through one of the daughter’s bedroom, they decided together that the
best
way to resist the cruelty of home demolitions under the Occupation was
to
rebuild again.
The Global Campaign to Rebuild Palestinian Homes was thus born. Over
the
past seven years hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians and internationals
have
helped rebuild this home and 18 others. Thousands of people around the
world have followed this case. A Peace Center has now been built on the
site of the Shawamreh’s home, named in honor of Nuha Makadma Sweidan, a
pregnant Palestinian woman killed in Gaza in March 2003 when an Israeli
bulldozer demolished her home on top of her; and also of Rachel Corrie,
an
American volunteer who was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer two
weeks
later as she was trying to protect a Palestinian home in Gaza from
demolition.
For more information about this event, Arabia Shawamreh or the Global
Campaign to Rebuild Palestinian Homes, please contact Carly Caris at
319-431-8061.
-----
US, ISRAELI RIGHT-WINGERS TO HOLD SUMMIT ON MIDDLE EAST
Agence France Presse, 10/13/03
JERUSALEM- Leading right-wing figures from the United States and Israel
are
to hold a conference in Jerusalem Tuesday on key issues in the Middle
East,
a statement said.
Some 100 politicians and academics are expected to gather in Jerusalem
for
the summit, which is hosted by the Christian Coalition for Israel.
Among the most senior US guests are Under-Secretary of Defence Richard
Perle, a leading neo-conservative hardliner in the Pentagon, and Daniel
Pipes, President George W. Bush's adviser on the Middle East.
Several members of the Israeli government are also expected to attend
the
"Jerusalem Summit", including minister without portfolio Uzi Landau and
Tourism Minister Benny Elon, from the far-right National Union party.
Issues ranging from the situation in post-war Iraq to peace between
Israel
and the Palestinians will be discussed, the statement said...
ALSO SEE:
U.S. CONSERVATIVES ADVISE ISRAEL: STOP TALKING TO PALESTINIANS
Jonathan M. Katz, Associated Press, 10/13/03
JERUSALEM - U.S. supporters of Israel's hardline government said Monday
peace in the Middle East could be decades away and called for an end to
negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
The calls came at a three-day meeting on Israeli security that brought
several prominent U.S. conservatives together with members of Israel's
government. They coincided with an announcement by Israeli and
Palestinian
peace activists -- all of them out of government -- that they had
reached
agreement on a mock treaty to resolve the disputes between the two
peoples.
"It's time we end our preoccupation with peace in the Middle East," TV
host
Alan Keyes, a former diplomat, told the 200-strong gathering. Keyes
said
Israel rewards Palestinian attacks on civilians and children by
negotiating
with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.
Israel's government is boycotting Arafat, charging that he is
responsible
for three years of violence, but has maintained contacts with other
Palestinian Authority officials. Palestinians counter that Israeli
occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is the root of the conflict.
The conference, set to conclude Tuesday, included Pentagon strategist
Richard Perle and Israeli Cabinet ministers Ehud Olmert and Benjamin
Netanyahu, along with international officials, academics and military
leaders...
-----
DELIVERYMAN'S FAMILY DEMANDS JUSTICE
Kevin C. Dilworth, Star-Ledger Staff, 10/14/03
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1066108540103270
.xml
Friends and family of a Pakistani immigrant allegedly killed by three
juveniles while making a pizza delivery said yesterday they supported a
decision by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office to have the suspects
tried
as adults.
In a slaying that recalled the 1997 killing of two pizza deliverymen in
Sussex County, the teenagers allegedly lured 24-year-old Nabeel
Siddiqui of
Kearny into Orange with a bogus pizza order on Sept. 27 and beat him
with a
baseball bat. Police have said the boys, a 16- and 17-year-old from
Orange
and a 16-year-old from Woodbridge, attacked him in order to steal his
car.
Siddiqui, a May graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology,
died 10
days later...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM GROUP CALLS FOR ADULT PROSECUTION IN PIZZA SLAY CASE
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 10/13/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--fatalbeating1013oct13,0,651
5813.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- In a clash between a centuries-old religious system of
justice and a modern American one, a Muslim civil rights group called
on
the parents of three teens accused of beating a Pakistani pizza
delivery
man to death to meet with the victim's parents and try to make peace.
But at a news conference called Monday to press for the teens to be
tried
as adults, relatives of the dead man, Nabeel Siddiqui, showed little
interest in such a meeting...
---
CALLS FOR JUSTICE AND MERCY OVER A PAKISTANI'S KILLING
Ronald Smothers, NY Times, 10/14/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/14/nyregion/14BEAT.html
NEWARK — There were demands for justice and calls for forgiveness.
But overriding these conflicting feelings on Monday was a gnawing sense
of
loss as family members and friends remembered Nabeel Siddiqui, a
24-year-old Pakistani computer student and part-time pizza deliveryman
who
died a week ago after being robbed and beaten while making a delivery
in
Orange, N.J.
On Monday, a day after his body was returned to his family for burial,
relatives and Muslim-American groups awkwardly tried to balance their
emotions as the charges were upgraded to felony murder for the three
youths
arrested in connection with his death. Prosecutors were seeking to have
them tried as adults.
Mr. Siddiqui, a native of Karachi who graduated in May from the New
Jersey
Institute of Technology, was bludgeoned with a metal baseball bat on
Sept.
27 on a quiet street in the upscale Seven Oaks section of Orange while
delivering pizzas for a Domino's Pizza franchise. The police later
arrested
three juveniles they said had ordered the pizza and lured the deliverer
to
a false address with the intention of stealing his car.
Mr. Siddiqui, who remained in a coma for a week, died at University
Hospital here without regaining consciousness...
-----
MUSLIM GIRL'S FAMILY, SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT BUDGING
Associated Press, 10/14/03
MUSKOGEE, Okla.- A Muslim girl's fight to wear her hijab to school is
moving closer to a lawsuit over religious rights.
Nashala Hearn's family has retained a Virginia-based civil liberties
group
to help in their effort to let the 11-year-old sixth-grader wear a head
scarf to class.
Her father, Eyvine Hearn, vowed to keep his daughter out of school
until
she is allowed to wear the scarf.
"I'm going to let them deal with the attorneys now," he said Monday.
Muskogee school administrators have until Wednesday to let the family
know
whether they will uphold two suspensions Nashala received in the last
month.
She has been suspended from Benjamin Franklin Science Academy since
Oct. 1.
Nashala wore her head scarf and prayed in an empty classroom for
several
weeks, then was told she was violating school district policy
prohibiting
any kind of head wear or religious accommodation.
Superintendent Eldon Gleichman said he did not think the district would
back down, saying school officials must be consistent when handling
religious issues...
-----
MARYLAND COMMUNITIES PROTEST PATRIOT ACT
Alex Meneses Miyashita, Associated Press, 10/13/03
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99927,00.html
WASHINGTON — Montgomery County late last month became the latest
community
to pass a resolution protesting the federal Patriot Act (search), and
it
could soon be followed by the city of Greenbelt.
They follow 174 other communities across the country -- two others in
Maryland -- that have gone on record against the act, which was passed
in
the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but which critics
say
has gone too far.
"Although we believe in fighting terrorism, we also believe in the
Constitution (search) and the Bill of Rights (search)," said Montgomery
County Council member George Leventhal. "We can fight terrorism without
violating peoples' civil liberties."
The Department of Justice agrees -- and says that the Patriot Act does
not
violate civil rights as its critics charge...
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER SHARES CULTURE
Clint Bowen, Red and Black, 10/13/03
http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/13/3f89ff9d25033
The Al-Huda Islamic Center opened its doors to the Athens community
Saturday in an effort to enhance the knowledge and understanding of
Islamic
culture among its neighbors.
The open house, which was held from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., featured
guided
tours of the mosque, samples of food from the Muslim world and displays
of
Islamic art.
A slide show and various videos concerning Islamic issues acquainted
visitors with a world some said they might not have otherwise known
existed...
Anna Benedek and Allison Griffin, both seniors at Clarke Central High
School, said they came to the open house to gain deeper insight into
the
life of one of their friends.
"One of our good friends is a Muslim and we wanted to learn more about
her
religion," Benedek said...
-----
MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD FUNDRAISER EVENT
The Muslim Youth Leadership Award is an organization created to provide
Muslim students who show potential in Islamic and Academic environments
with grants and scholarships for their college education. The
fundraiser
event for the 2004 academic year scholarships will have Sheik Fisal
Hammouda as a speaker. This year’s recipients were Sumaiya Mamdani,
Bilal
Mamdani, and Zuleqa Haq.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Minnesota, Fridley
WHEN: October 31, 2003/ Ramadan 5, 1424
Iftar & Magrib – 5:00 pm
Dinner – 6:00 pm
Lecture – 7:00 pm
Isha & Tarweeh – 8:30 pm
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Family - $30
Couples - $20
Individual - $10
Students - $8
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
HELP CAIR DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS
Many people benefit daily from CAIR-NET, but are not yet members of
CAIR.
As demonstrated in the "Good News Alert" below, CAIR offices across
North
American are working hard every day to defend your religious and civil
rights. Now is the time to show your support for that work by becoming
a
member. Basic CAIR membership is JUST $10 PER YEAR. That membership
includes a subscription to CAIR-NET.
ACTION REQUESTED: Become a member of CAIR
YES, I would like to support CAIR's important work by becoming a
member.
___ $10 Membership
___ Additional donation of: $ ______
Total: $ ______
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
TEL:
FAX:
E-MAIL:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR GOOD NEWS ALERT #396
OKLA. MUSLIM RETURNS TO SCHOOL WITH HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/15/2003) - (Alhamdulillah, praise be to God) CAIR
today announced that a Muslim public school student in Oklahoma will be
allowed to attend classes wearing an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
School officials in Muskogee, Okla., had suspended the sixth-grader
twice
since the beginning of this month because they claimed her hijab
violated
their dress code policy prohibiting hats, caps, bandanas or other
headwear.
A school district legal representative told CAIR the Muslim student
will be
able to attend classes as early as today pending a review of that
policy.
A CAIR alert about the girl's suspension drew international media
attention
and prompted hundreds of concerned Muslims to contact local and state
education officials to request religious accommodation.
"We are pleased this young girl will now be able to continue her
education,
while at the same time maintaining the right to practice her faith,"
said
CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We are also confident
that
school district administrators will ultimately decide in favor of
changing
the dress code policy to accommodate all students' religious practices,
as
mandated by the Constitution and Oklahoma law." Hooper thanked all
those
who contacted education officials on the girl's behalf.
Hooper cited the "free exercise" clause of the First Amendment and the
Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act as legal support for religious
accommodation. The Oklahoma law states: "No governmental entity shall
substantially burden a person's free exercise of religion…unless it
demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is: 1.
Essential
to further a compelling governmental interest; and 2. The least
restrictive
means of furthering that compelling governmental interest."
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/15/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PATIENCE
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6942 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-NJ Leadership Conference
* DETAINEES PICK UP LEGAL SUPPORT (Orlando Sentinel)
* FBI FLAP THREATENS TIES TO ARAB COMMUNITY (Detroit News)
- Flip-Flop on Award Taints Reputation (Detroit News)
* OREGON'S PATRIOT ACT FOES LEAD WAY (Portland Tribune)
* EX-AIDE: POWELL MISLED AMERICANS (CBS)
* PENTAGON OFFICIAL: US MAY TAKE ACTION AGAINST SYRIA (AP)
- U.S., Israel Play Risk (Village Voice)
- Gaza Raids a 'War Crime' (News23.com)
- Israel Redefines Palestinians with Wall (Haaretz)
* DC-BASED MUSLIM GROUP PERFORMS IN LONDON
* CHICAGO COMMUNITY HOLDS PATRIOT ACT HEARINGS
* ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON MUSLIM CHARITIES
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PATIENCE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No one can be given a
blessing better and greater than patience."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 548
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6942 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6942 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
NJ CAIR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
The New Jersey chapter of CAIR invites the Muslim community to an
information-packed, full-day event specifically organized to teach our
leaders, activists and interested members of the community how to get
involved, get connected and get heard. Workshop sessions include,
"Media
Relations Skills," "Grant Writing," "The Art of Lobbying," and much
more.
We'll wrap up the day's workshops with a formal dinner.
WHAT: CAIR-NJ Leadership Conference
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel in Edison (125 Raritan Center Parkway/Edison, NJ
08837)
*Due to limited seating, we are pre-registering participants. To
register,
please email cair@cair-nj.org with your contact information and whether
you
are interested in attending the full-day conference, which includes the
dinner ($50), or whether you are interested in only attending the
dinner
($30). For more information, please visit our website:
Program- http://www.cair-nj.org/programconf10-18.html
Flier- http://www.cair-nj.org/flierconf10-18_files/slide0001.html
-----
DETAINEES PICK UP LEGAL SUPPORT
Matthew Hay Brown, Orlando Sentinel, 10/15/03
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-asecgtmocourts15101503oc
t15,0,2829737.story
A group of retired federal judges, former U.S. diplomats, ex-military
officials and international law experts are urging the U.S. Supreme
Court
to review the indefinite detention of prisoners held by the United
States
at Guant�namo Bay.
In a series of friend-of-the-court briefs, a lineup that includes a
former
assistant secretary of state and two retired judges advocate general of
the
Navy is asking the high court to hear the appeals of 16 terror suspects
held at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba.
"Even in times of emergency, it's the duty of the courts and lawyers to
preserve the rule of law," John J. Gibbons, a former chief judge of the
3rd
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said Tuesday.
The United States is holding about 660 men without prisoner-of-war
status,
criminal charge or access to the courts at Camp Delta, the
super-maximum-security prison built last year at Guant�namo Bay...
Attorneys for 16 of the men -- 12 Kuwaitis, two Britons and two
Australians
-- have sought hearings on their detentions. In March, the U.S. Circuit
Court of appeals for the District of Columbia denied their request,
saying
Guant�namo Bay lies beyond the reach of the federal courts.
Gibbons called the assertion "ludicrous."
"We occupy that Navy base under a perpetual lease," he said. "I served
there for a year as a Navy officer. I know who's sovereign there."
The detentions already had drawn criticism from the International
Committee
of the Red Cross, Amnesty International and others. A panel of senior
judges in Britain, the administration's staunchest ally in Afghanistan
and
Iraq, has called Guant�namo Bay a "legal black hole…"
-----
FBI AWARD FLAP THREATENS TIES TO ARAB COMMUNITY
John Bebow and David Shepardson, Detroit News, 10/15/03
http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0310/15/e01-298323.htm
DEARBORN -- Federal officials cleared community activist Imad Hamad of
any
terror suspicion Tuesday. But Arab-American leaders said their trust in
government won't be restored unless they can meet with FBI head Robert
Mueller and win reinstatement of a national community service award
rescinded from Hamad.
After a heated, hourlong discussion, more than a dozen Arab-American
leaders decided to continue monthly meetings with U.S. Attorney Jeffrey
G.
Collins. Officials said the meetings have eased tensions and promoted
understanding as federal terror investigators have intensified focus on
Metro Detroit's Arab-American community in the wake of the Sept. 11
terror
attacks.
But Mueller's decision last week to rescind a national award for Hamad,
the
regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
"could still be a fatal blow" to government's relationships in the
community, said Noel Saleh, vice president of the Dearborn's Arab
Community
Center for Economic and Social Services.
The message of the award flap "is that the Arab-American community is
perhaps expendable, not particularly important and certainly suspect,"
Saleh said...
ALSO SEE:
FBI'S FLIP-FLOP ON AWARD UNFAIRLY TAINTS REPUTATION OF ARAB-AMERICAN
Laura Berman, Detroit News, 10/14/03
http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0310/14/c01-297581.htm
America. It's a great country. For 14 years, Imad Hamad was a
Palestinian-born immigrant, fighting to become a U.S. citizen. The
Immigration and Naturalization Service was fighting just as hard to
deport
him.
Along the road, Hamad won the support of political heavyweights from
the
ACLU to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.
At the core of the government's case was "secret evidence" withheld
even
from Hamad and his attorney. That evidence failed to sway a judge, and
in
1999 the INS was forced to drop its opposition and welcome Hamad as an
American.
Since then, as the indefatigable leader of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, the energetic Hamad has gone from
persona
non grata to celebrated citizen, a near-constant honoree and government
and
civic group appointee, and a 2003 Detroit News Michiganian of the Year.
But Hamad's roller-coaster ride as an American is hardly over…
-----
OREGON'S PATRIOT ACT FOES LEAD WAY IN U.S.
Janine Robben, Portland Tribune, 10/14/03
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=20653
When the USA Patriot Act was voted on shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks, hardly anyone in Congress spoke out against it.
Who could oppose legislation whose complete name is the Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept
and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001? It sounds so ... patriotic.
And it probably didn't hurt that the legislation, which runs almost 350
pages, was only under discussion for several weeks before the Senate
took
its first vote on Oct. 11, 2001.
But two years later, opposition to the act is growing among an unusual
coalition of traditional civil libertarians and conservatives who favor
small government. And Oregon is playing an increasingly major role in
the
opposition.
What the opponents have against the USA Patriot Act depends, to some
extent, on where their focus lies: The act covers everything from
library
reading records to "sneak and peek" searches -- which delay, or even
omit,
notice that the government has searched a place or object -- to the use
of
"secret" procedures, previously reserved for spies, to investigate
ordinary
citizens suspected of domestic criminal activity...
-----
EX-AIDE: POWELL MISLED AMERICANS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/14/60II/main577975.shtml
(CBS) The person responsible for analyzing the Iraqi weapons threat for
Colin Powell says the Secretary of State misinformed Americans during
his
speech at the U.N. last winter.
Greg Thielmann tells Correspondent Scott Pelley that at the time of
Powell’s speech, Iraq didn’t pose an imminent threat to anyone – not
even
its own neighbors. “…I think my conclusion [about Powell’s speech] now
is
that it’s probably one of the low points in his long distinguished
service
to the nation,” says Thielmann.
Pelley’s report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday, Oct. 15,
at
8 p.m. ET/PT.
-----
PENTAGON OFFICIAL: US MAY TAKE ACTION AGAINST SYRIA
Richard Perle, Associated Press, 10/14/03
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid
=1066113923328&p=1008596981749
Pentagon adviser Richard Perle said Tuesday that the recent Israeli
attack
on an alleged training camp for Palestinian militants in Syria was long
overdue and that he would not rule out U.S. military action against the
Arab state.
Perle, a close adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush and Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, spoke at a Jerusalem conference of
conservatives
from the United States and Israel.
"President Bush transformed the American approach to terrorism on Sept.
11,
2001, when he said he will not distinguish between terrorists and the
states who harbor them," Perle said.
"I was happy to see that Israel has now taken a similar step in
responding
to acts of terror that originate in Lebanese territory by going to the
rulers of Lebanon in Damascus."
Israel has said the training camp it targeted in an Oct. 5 airstrike
was
used by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group that had carried
out a
suicide bombing in the Israeli port city of Haifa two days earlier,
killing
20 people...
ALSO SEE:
U.S., ISRAEL PLAY RISK
James Ridgeway, Village Voice, 10/15/03
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0342/mondo1.php
While the Democratic presidential contenders squabble among themselves
over
an exit strategy from Iraq, most of them agree that Israel had the
right to
attack Syria last week. That gives Bush a political green light to have
at
Syria, if not with American troops then at least through Israel.
And thanks to Tom DeLay, invigorated by his recent trip to the region,
Congress is near ready to pass legislation giving the president
authority
to impose sanctions on Syria. The House plans to act this week and the
Senate later in the month. Syrians laugh off sanctions on the grounds
that
they trade with Europe, not the U.S., but Syria is heavily dependent on
Iraqi oil, and the U.S. has shut off the pipeline.
Taking out Syria is the next step in the neocon wet dream for remaking
the
Muslim world. Iran, Saudi Arabia, maybe Jordan, and Libya are the other
targets...
Last week there were press reports from Israel describing U.S. troop
movements on the Iraq-Syria border, with Americans capturing chiefs of
various nomadic tribes who live there and finding large caches of
weapons
in the process...
Israel is becoming more and more active as a U.S. military surrogate in
the
Middle East...
---
GAZA RAIDS A 'WAR CRIME'
News23.com 10/14/03
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1429823,00.html
London - Human rights group Amnesty International on Monday condemned
Israeli raids at the weekend on the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah
that
killed eight Palestinians, describing the operation as a "war crime".
"The repeated practice by the Israeli army of deliberate and wanton
destruction of homes and civilian property is a grave violation of
international human rights and humanitarian law... and constitutes a
war
crime," Amnesty said in a written statement issued in London.
"Amnesty International calls on the Israeli authorities to put an
immediate
end to the practice of destroying Palestinian homes and other
properties,
and of using excessive, disproportionate and reckless force against
unarmed
Palestinians... which frequently result in the killing and injuring of
unarmed civilians, including children."
Amnesty also urged Palestinian armed groups to "immediately halt"
deliberate killings of Israeli civilians...
SEE: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde150912003
---
IDF REDEFINES PALESTINIANS WEST OF THE FENCE
Amira Hass, Haaretz, 10/15/03
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/349526.html
Even before the Palestinians had a chance to come to terms with the
loss of
their land for the sake of the series of fortifications that is known
as
the "obstacle," they discovered that their ordinary lives had been
completely disrupted - that it was possible to further disrupt their
already disrupted reality of internal closures in the West Bank,
curfews on
cities and villages and military attacks. Farmers cannot make their way
to
their land; hothouses and orchards have been destroyed; olives are left
unpicked; teachers and students fail to get to school because the gate
of
the separation fence is not opened on time; feed for the livestock does
not
arrive consistently - and the animals are being sold or slaughtered, or
left to die; water pipes for drinking or irrigation have been cut;
siblings
and parents are not permitted to visit; garbage trucks are unable to
complete their routes; cesspits are not being drained on time. All of
the
above examples have been documented, with a hundred different
variations,
in all of these trapped communities...
-----
DC-BASED MUSLIM GROUP PERFORMS IN LONDON
DC based Native Deen (http://www.nativedeen.com) will perform on
October
20th, 2003, at Royal Albert Hall with Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) for “A
Night of Remembrance,” a charity benefit for Islamia School.
For further details, visit http://www.nightofremembrance.org
Press contact: Zafar Ashraf at press@yusufislam.org.uk or 020 7372
5171. Interviews with Mountain of Light artists, contact: Majid Hussain
at
press@mountainoflight.com or 020 7700 7586
-----
CHICAGO COMMUNITY HOLDS HEARINGS ON ANNIVERSARY OF THE PATRIOT ACT
WHAT: Community hearings and press conferences will be held to discuss
the
increasing racial profiling in the era of the war on terror, featuring
stories from people who have experienced racial profiling and unfair
treatment.
WHEN: (Press conference) Saturday, Oct. 18, 9:15 - 9:45 a.m.
(Public Hearing 1) Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
WHERE: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 740 E. 77th St., (77th &
Cottage Grove), Chicago, Ill.
---
WHAT: Public Hearing 2 featuring testimony from advocates, scholars,
invited law enforcement representatives, and victims of racial
profiling.
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
WHERE: DePaul University's Egan Urban Center, 243 S. Wabash (9th
Floor),
Chicago, Ill.
Contact: Josina Morita of the Applied Research Center, 773-844-7296,
e-mail: jmorita@arc.org; Saket Soni of the Coalition of African, Asian,
European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois, 773-550-9339, e-mail:
saketsoni@hotmail.com; Suzanne Adely of the Arab American Action
Network,
773-580-4075, e-mail: suzanneadely@msn.com
-----
MPAC TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON MUSLIM CHARITIES
WHAT: MPAC is sponsoring a roundtable discussion in Washington D.C. to
address challenges facing American Muslim charities as we approach the
month of Ramadan. The roundtable will feature: Juan Zarate, Department
of
the Treasury; Sayyid Sayeed, Islamic Society of North America; Peter
Gubser, American Near East Refugee Aid; Laila Al-Marayati, Muslim
Public
Affairs Council; Ladale George, Legal Counsel.
WHEN: 10 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2003
WHERE: Zenger Room 13th. floor of the National Press Club, 529 14th
Street, Washington, DC 20045
For more information, please contact Paula Neira at 202-861-6273 or
e-mail
at pneira@didiongroup.com
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
* U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN GAZA HOME DEMOLITIONS
* CAIR CONDEMNS ATTACK ON U.S. DIPLOMATIC CONVOY
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN GAZA HOME DEMOLITIONS
Group says America should not justify ‘collective punishment’
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/15/03) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today criticized the Bush administration’s assertion
that the demolition of more than 100 home in a Gaza refugee camp was an
act
of “self-defense.” The recent demolitions by invading Israeli forces
left
more than 1,000 people homeless. Eight Palestinians were killed in the
Israeli action.
This week, Amnesty International said the “deliberate and wanton
destruction of homes and civilian property is a grave violation of
international human rights and humanitarian law, notably of Articles 33
and
53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and constitutes a war crime.”
SEE: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde150912003
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
in a
statement:
“One-sided and uncritical support for Israel’s collective punishment
will
only serve to encourage even harsher measures against Palestinian
civilians
by an out-of-control Israeli government. America cannot maintain a
fa�ade
of neutrality while at the same time ignoring or justifying the illegal
actions of the Israeli military.
“As recent studies have shown, turning a blind-eye to Israeli brutality
against the Palestinian people is the main factor driving the
deterioration
of America’s image in the Muslim world.”
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS ATTACK ON U.S. DIPLOMATIC CONVOY
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/15/03) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
today
condemned a bomb attack Wednesday on a U.S. diplomatic convoy in Gaza
that
killed three Americans.
The remote-controlled bomb targeted a convoy of U.S. Embassy personnel
heading to Gaza to interview Palestinian candidates for a Fulbright
scholarship. The attack has been condemned by the Palestinian Authority
and
disavowed by all Palestinian factions.
In its statement, the group said:
"We condemn today’s attack on diplomatic personnel in Gaza and call for
a
joint American-Palestinian investigation to locate, apprehend and
prosecute
the perpetrators.
"This attack was particularly disturbing because those killed and
injured
were on an educational mission designed to help the Palestinian people.
“We reiterate our long-standing position rejecting all attacks on
civilians, whether they are carried out by individuals, groups or
states.”
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada.
-----
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #397
TOP U.S. GENERAL SAYS MUSLIMS WORSHIP ‘IDOL’
CAIR calls for reassignment over ‘ill-informed or bigoted’ views
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/16/2003) – CAIR today called for the reassignment
of
a top U.S. general who says he is in “the army of God” and claims
Muslims
worship an “idol.”
Investigative reports by the Los Angeles Times and NBC News paint Lt.
Gen.
William G. Boykin as an “intolerant extremist…who believes that Islam
is an
idolatrous, sacrilegious religion against which we are waging a holy
war.”
In a discussion of his efforts to capture a Muslim Somali warlord,
Boykin
said, “I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real
God
and his was an idol.”
Speaking in uniform before a Christian group in June, Boykin claimed
“radical Islamists” hate America “because we're a Christian nation,
because
our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian...and the enemy is a
guy
named Satan.” Our “spiritual enemy,” Boykin said, “will only be
defeated if
we come against them in the name of Jesus.”
Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, is
assigned to track down Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and other
high-profile targets in the Muslim world.
SEE: “The Pentagon Unleashes a Holy Warrior” and “General Casts War in
Religious Terms” at http://www.latimes.com/ Search using the term
“Boykin.”
SEE ALSO: “Quotes from Gen. Boykin Speeches,”
http://www.msnbc.com/news/980841.asp and “Top Terrorist Hunter’s
Divisive
Views,” http://www.msnbc.com/news/980764.asp
“Putting a man with such extremist views in a critical policy-making
position sends entirely the wrong message to a Muslim world that is
already
skeptical about America’s motives and intentions,” said CAIR Executive
Director Nihad Awad. “Everyone is entitled to their own religious
beliefs,
no matter how ill-informed or bigoted, but those beliefs should not be
allowed to color important decisions that need to be made in the war on
terrorism. General Boykin should be reassigned to a position in which
he
will not be able to harm our nation’s image or interests.”
Awad said Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews. He noted
that Arabic language Bibles use the word “Allah” when referring to God
and
quoted the Quran, which states: “Say ye: ‘We believe in God and the
revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all)
Prophets
from their Lord. We make no distinction between one and another of them
and
it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.’” (Quran, 2:136)
“We call on Americans of all faiths to reject any attempts to turn the
war
on terrorism into a religious crusade. President Bush and Secretary
Rumsfeld should also take this opportunity to further distance
themselves
from those who actively promote the clash of civilizations and
religions,”
said Awad.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be firm but POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
Contact President Bush, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and your
elected representatives to urge that Gen. Boykin be reassigned to a
position in which he will not be able to harm our nation’s image or
interests.
PRESIDENT BUSH: White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111 FAX:
202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
SEN. JOHN WARNER, CHAIRMAN, SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE:
http://www.senate.gov/~warner/contact/contactme.htm
YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS: http://www.capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/16/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SPEND FOR THE SAKE OF GOD
* CAIR'S LIBRARY PROJECT 6942 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR Houston's Second Annual Banquet
* CAIR CO-SPONSORS CONFERENCE TO DEFEND BILL OF RIGHTS
* HISPANICS FIND FAMILIARITY IN ISLAM (Dallas Morning News)
* PRINT BIBLES WHILE COALITION IN CHARGE OF IRAQ: GROUP
* IA: INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC HAS NO PLACE IN GOVERNMENT
- Rumsfeld Defends Pentagon Official (AP)
- Wisdom and Folly (Washington Times)
* BUSH APPOINTEE SAYS MAKE PALESTINIANS FEEL ‘PAIN’ (JP)
* SCHOOL SAYS MUSLIM GIRL CAN RETURN WITH SCARF (Reuters)
- Muslim Girl Returns to Class (AP)
- Muslim Earns Right to Wear Hijab (AFP)
- Oman Scholar Victim of Headscarf Ban in Turkey (AFP)
* MANY TROOPS DISSATISFIED, IRAQ POLL FINDS (Wash. Post)
- The American Prison Camp (NY Times)
* NO WAY TO WIN ARABS' TRUST (Detroit Free Press)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SPEND FOR THE SAKE OF GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "You will be rewarded
for
whatever you spend for the sake of God, even if it is a morsel (of
food)
that you put in your wife's mouth."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 53
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6942 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6942 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
CAIR- HOUSTON'S SECOND ANNUAL BANQUET
WHAT- On October 17, CAIR-Houston will hold its second annual banquet.
Keynote Speakers: Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Masjid Al-Taqwa, Brooklyn, NY;
Omar
Ahmed, Chairman of the Board of CAIR National; Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR
National Washington D.C.
WHEN: October 17, 2003. Welcome at 6:00PM Dinner and Program
immediately
after Maghrib
WHERE: The Woodlake Ballroom and Conference Center, 2517 S. Gessner,
Houston, TX 77063
CONTACT: (713) 532-4070
NOTE: Due to early tickets sales CAIR-Houston is strongly anyone who is
planning on attending this momentous event to either purchase tickets
after
Jumah Salat coming early may not ensure your seat. Tickets are $40 or
with
a valid Student I.D. discounted to $25
-----
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CAIR CO-SPONSORS CONFERENCE TO DEFEND BILL OF RIGHTS
Activists from around the country to express concerns for civil
liberties
WHAT: On Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group, along with other local and national organizations
will
co-sponsor a conference on the status of civil liberties post 9/11 at
the
Silver Spring Hilton in Silver Spring, Md., just outside of Washington,
D.C.
The event, “Grassroots America Defends the Bill of Rights,” will
include
panels, plenary sessions, and several keynote addresses discussing the
rollback of civil liberties and national initiatives to expand them.
Also
featured is a left-right panel discussion organized by People for the
American Way (PFAW) and featuring PFAW President Ralph G. Neas and
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist. The panel will be
chaired by actor/activist Alec Baldwin. (Individuals interested in
participating in the conference should visit
www.grassroots-America.org)
“This growing movement of grassroots resolutions represents a deep
passion
among a broad array of communities to hold on to our civil rights
despite
the current political climate,” said Hassan Mansori, CAIR’s
governmental
affairs coordinator. “In standing up for the bill of rights, Americans
are
standing up for Muslims, Jews, African-Americans, Hispanics, Sikhs, and
all
other religious and racial minorities who have been targeted by unjust
laws
like the USA PATRIOT Act.”
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19
WHERE: Silver Spring Hilton, 8727 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring MD,
20901
-----
AREA HISPANICS FIND FAMILIARITY IN ISLAM
Wendey Hundley, Dallas Morning News, 10/15/03
http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/101603dnmetmuslim.54df9.html
When Carlos Puerto was growing up in his native Colombia, he was taught
to
step out of bed in the morning on his right foot to ensure a good day.
It's a custom, he said, that's common in many Spanish-speaking
countries.
So he was surprised, many years later, to find a similar practice among
Muslims, who follow the example set by the prophet Muhammad.
"When I embraced Islam, I was surprised by all the similar customs,"
said
Mr. Puerto, one of a small but growing number of Hispanic converts to
Islam. "I believe there's a closeness of Islamic values to the Hispanic
culture."
Mr. Puerto, who is known in the Islamic community by his Arabic first
name,
Abuabdurahman, is one of the organizers of the first Open House for the
Hispanic Community at the Dallas Central Mosque in Richardson...
-----
PRINT BIBLES WHILE COALITION IN CHARGE OF IRAQ: GROUP
An excerpt from a fundraising letter sent out by the Campus Crusade for
Christ International:
“This is truly a miraculous opportunity to do something that was
unthinkable just months ago. But through the hard work of several
Campus
Crusade for Christ staff members, you, by you gift, can help print the
first 20,000 Arabic Bibles in Iraq and put them in the hands of the
Iraqi
people…
“These Arabic Bible, as well as other evangelistic literature also
printed
in country, will be distributed directly to the Iraqi people by
Christians
who speak their language…
“I must ask you to act as soon as possible; with the coalition in
control
of Iraq, we don’t need official permission from the Iraqi government to
pursue this printing...”
---
INTERFAITH ALLIANCE: INFLAMMATORY RELIGIOUS RHETORIC OF ARMY GENERAL
HAS NO
PLACE IN U.S. GOVERNMENT, MIDDLE EAST
Newswire, 10/16/03
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=142-10162003
WASHINGTON - This morning, The Interfaith Alliance, the nation's
leading
interfaith organization, issued a response to last night's report on
NBC
Nightly News With Tom Brokaw and this morning's article in the Los
Angeles
Times exposing divisive statements on Islam by the new Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Lt. Gen. William Boykin. The
Interfaith Alliance calls on President Bush to reprimand Gen. Boykin.
General Boykin is responsible for finding high-profile terrorists such
as
Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein and as the LA Times reports, "he
sees
the war on terrorism as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and
Satan."
"According to the LA Times, General Boykin's new assignment puts him
squarely at the table with many Muslim leaders in the Middle East" said
Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance. "Given his
discordant views on Islam -- as reported in detail -- and other
religions,
can General Boykin serve the US while in the Middle East with the
necessary
respect and diplomacy? At this point, I would have to say no."
"In the days after September 11, President Bush spoke at the Islamic
Center
of Washington, D.C. and said, 'Islam is Peace... When we think of Islam
we
think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the
world.
Billions of people find comfort and solace and peace. And that's made
brothers and sisters out of every race,'" reminded Gaddy. "The remarks
of
General Boykin fly in the face of the pleas of the president and
violate
the basic principles of tolerance and inclusion that are implicit in
the
culture of this nation..."
SEE ALSO:
RUMSFELD DEFENDS PENTAGON OFFICIAL
Associated Press, 10/16/03
WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H . Rumsfeld and the
chairman of
the military Joint Chiefs of Staff publicly defended a new deputy
undersecretary of defense of intelligence with a reported penchant for
publicly casting the war on terrorism in religious terms.
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, whose promotion and appointment was
confirmed
by the Senate in June, has said publicly that he sees the war on
terrorism
as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan, the Los Angeles
Times
reported Thursday.
Appearing in dress uniform before a religious group in Oregon in June,
Boykin said Islamic extremists hate the U.S. "because we're a Christian
nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christians...And
the
enemy is a guy named Satan."
Asked about this Thursday, Rumsfeld told reporters he hadn't seen the
videos and didn't know the "full context" of Boykin's remarks. But the
secretary did say, "We do know that he is an officer that has an
outstanding record in the United States armed forces...”
"There are a lot of things that are said by people that are their
views,"
he said, "and that's the way we live. We are free people and that's the
wonderful thing about our country, and I think for anyone to run around
and
think that can be managed or controlled is probably wrong..."
---
WISDOM AND FOLLY
Paul Craig Roberts, Washington Times, 10/15/03
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20031015-085243-1631r.htm
Most of President Bush's top officials in the State Department and
Defense
Department are identified with policy statements calling for the United
States to overthrow virtually every Middle Eastern Muslim country.
Statements issued by neoconservative organizations such as the Project
for
a New American Century, the Middle East Forum and the U.S. Committee
for a
Free Lebanon date back many years. The terrorist attack of September 11
provided the excuse for the United States to invade the Middle East…
---
BUSH APPOINTEE SAYS MAKE PALESTINIANS FEEL ‘PAIN’
"My idea is to adopt a policy making things painful for the
Palestinians,
as long as they don't come to the conclusion that Israel has a right to
exist."
Daniel Pipes, Jerusalem Post, 10/14/03
-----
SCHOOL SAYS MUSLIM GIRL CAN RETURN WITH SCARF
Reuters, 10/15/03
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/10/15/life.scarf.reut/
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - An 11-year-old Muslim girl suspended from an
eastern Oklahoma school for wearing a religious head scarf was allowed
to
return to classes on Wednesday, wearing her head covering known as a
hijab.
The girl, Nashala Hearn, will be allowed to wear her head scarf while
Muskogee school officials evaluate their dress code policy that forbids
any
kind of head covering. School officials said the code was to prevent
gang
activity.
Their final decision on the matter should come at around the start of
next
year, officials said.
"We have worked out a compromise where she is allowed to wear the
original
head scarf she wore at first while I look at the legal authority saying
our
dress code is in error," said school attorney D.D. Hayes...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM GIRL RETURNS TO CLASS IN COMPROMISE WITH SCHOOL
Associated Press, 10/15/03
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=12078
MUSKOGEE, Okla. - A Muslim girl banned from school for wearing a
religious
head covering rejoined her classmates Wednesday, and Muskogee school
officials took a new look at the district's dress code.
Eleven-year-old Nashala Hearn will be allowed to wear a head scarf,
called
a hijab, while a school attorney reviews the Muskogee school district's
policies...
One group that threatened legal action, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, called the school's action a temporary solution.
"We'll have to wait and see what the ultimate decision is on changing
the
dress code policy," said Ibrahim Hooper, the group's communications
director.
"We are also confident that school district administrators will
ultimately
decide in favor of changing the dress code policy to accommodate all
students' religious practices, as mandated by the Constitution and
Oklahoma
law," he said.
He cited the free exercise clause of the First Amendment and the
Oklahoma
Religious Freedom Act...
---
MUSLIM TEEN EARNS RIGHT TO WEAR HIJAB TO SCHOOL -- FOR NOW
Agence France Presse, 10/15/03
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma, Oct 15 - A Muslim teenager returned to school
Wednesday
after Oklahoma education officials backed down in a row over her
religious
headscarf, and agreed to admit her, hijab and all.
Wearing a white lace hijab that hung over her pink backpack, and
visibly
relieved to get back to her old routine, the 11-year old returned to
class
after a five-day suspension.
Muskogee education officials had twice suspended Nashala "Tallah" Hearn
for
wearing her hijab to school violating a provision in the school
district's
dress code that bans any kind of head gear...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the district's
decision.
"Obviously we would like to see the policy changed," added CAIR
spokesman
Ibrahim Hooper.
---
OMANESE SCHOLAR VICTIM OF HEADSCARF BAN IN TURKEY
Agence France Presse, 10/16/03
An Omanese scholar, invited to take part in a conference in Turkey, was
barred from the venue - a university in Istanbul - when she refused to
take
off her headscarf, the Milliyet daily reported Thursday.
The Islamic-style veil is banned in universities and public offices in
mainly Muslim but strictly secular Turkey, where it is regarded as a
statement in favor of political Islam.
The unsuspecting Samira Moosa from Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat
turned up for a conference on communication at Istanbul University, but
was
asked by security guards at the gate to take off her veil...
-----
MANY TROOPS DISSATISFIED, IRAQ POLL FINDS
Bradley Graham and Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 10/16/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32521-2003Oct15.html
A broad survey of U.S. troops in Iraq by a Pentagon-funded newspaper
found
that half of those questioned described their unit's morale as low and
their training as insufficient, and said they do not plan to reenlist.
The survey, conducted by the Stars and Stripes newspaper, also recorded
about a third of the respondents complaining that their mission lacks
clear
definition and characterizing the war in Iraq as of little or no value.
Fully 40 percent said the jobs they were doing had little or nothing to
do
with their training.
The findings, drawn from 1,935 questionnaires presented to U.S. service
members throughout Iraq, conflict with statements by military
commanders
and Bush administration officials that portray the deployed troops as
high-spirited and generally well-prepared. Though not obtained through
scientific methods, the survey results suggest that a combination of
difficult conditions, complex missions and prolonged tours in Iraq is
wearing down a significant portion of the U.S. force and threatening to
provoke a sizable exodus from military service...
ALSO SEE:
THE AMERICAN PRISON CAMP
New York Times, 10/16/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/opinion/16THU1.html
The International Committee of the Red Cross recently took the unusual
step
of publicly criticizing the United States over the confinement of the
roughly 660 detainees at the Guant�namo naval base in Cuba. After
visiting
the base, Red Cross officials said there was a "worrying deterioration"
in
the mental condition of the detainees, largely because they have no
idea
how long they will be held or what will happen to them.
Other reports are equally dismaying: there have been 32 suicide
attempts by
27 detainees. And while it is true that there have been recent,
worrying
reports about infiltration — three staff members, a Muslim chaplain and
two
Arabic interpreters, have been charged with crimes ranging from
disobeying
orders to espionage — this does not relieve the administration of the
obligation to treat the detainees with justice.
Why are the men still without trial, still without rights? The Bush
administration has two justifications. One is, in essence,
self-defense: in
the war on terrorism, in which the security of the United States is in
mortal danger, normal rules cannot apply. The other, more narrow, is
about
legality: the Taliban and Al Qaeda are not combatants in traditional or
legal terms, and are therefore not eligible for the protections due to
prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions...
-----
NO WAY TO WIN ARABS' TRUST
Ihsan Alkhatib, Detroit Free Press, 10/15/03
http://www.freep.com/voices/letters/elets15_20031015.htm
I agree with Brian Dickerson's Oct. 13 column ("Award flap is a
credibility
loss for the FBI") that the national leadership of the FBI has
mishandled
this issue, adding insult to injury by offering different statements on
the
subject and leaving unanswered important questions regarding Imad
Hamad.
That's a shame.
The real problem, however, is the message that the Bush
administration's
actions send to Arabs and Muslims everywhere. Here is an administration
that appoints Daniel Pipes, a man perceived by Arabs and Muslims as an
anti-Muslim bigot, to the U.S. Institute of Peace, but withdraws a
reward
from Imad Hamad, a man who has worked tirelessly to build bridges with
the
federal, state and local governments.
A panel chosen by the administration of President George W. Bush to
study
the image of the United States in the Arab and Muslim world concluded
in
its report that hostility toward America has reached shocking levels.
This
is the reality in the Arab and Muslim world despite the fact that
millions
of taxpayer dollars are already spent to promote the United States.
Some of
this money was spent on a program called "Shared Values," which showed
Muslims in the United States leading lives of dignity and equal rights.
The
appointment of Pipes and the treatment of Hamad are bound to be
perceived
as actions that speak louder than words, no matter how expensive these
words are.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/17/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GENTLENESS
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 Sponsorships
- Talk About Jesus (Florida Times-Union)
* GENERAL SAYS HE'LL TONE DOWN RHETORIC (AP)
- Religious Groups Want General Punished (LA Times)
- General Rebuked For Talk of God (Wash. Post)
- U.S. General Says Muslims Worship 'Idol' (Reuters)
- Pentagon Defends Gen. Who Chided Muslims (AP)
- Rumsfeld Praises General Who Ridicules Islam (Reuters)
* SENATORS JOIN FORCES TO ROLL BACK PATRIOT ACT (Wash. Times)
* MASS. MUSLIMS HOPE TO PURCHASE K OF C BUILDING (Town Online)
* DANGEROUS STEREOTYPING (Star Tribune)
* MD TEENS CHARGED IN OLNEY VANDALISM (Wash. Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GENTLENESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “He who is deprived of
gentleness is deprived of good.”
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 2238
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6947 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
---
TALK ABOUT JESUS
Florida Times-Union, 10/16/03
A Muslim-Christian dialogue about Jesus Christ will take place 7:15
p.m.
tomorrow in the University of North Florida's University Center banquet
hall.
The event, sponsored by the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations and the UNF Muslim Student Association, will
feature Jamal Badawi, a professor at St. Mary's University in Halifax,
Nova
Scotia, and the Rev. Tom Borland, pastor at Hodges Boulevard
Presbyterian
Church.
The event is free and open to the public.
-----
GENERAL SAYS HE'LL TONE DOWN RHETORIC
Associated Press, 10/17/03
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20031017_803.html
WASHINGTON — A top Pentagon general has said he will tone down his
rhetoric
after being criticized for casting the war on terror as a religious
battle,
officials said Friday.
But Defense Department lawyers, public affairs officials and others
were
meeting Friday to try to figure out whether that would be enough to
calm
the storm of criticism surrounding Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, who
has
said the counterterror war is a battle with Satan.
His comments came in speeches some made in uniform at evangelical
Christian
churches.
Critics said the remarks could undermine a more than two-year Bush
administration effort to promote good relations with Muslims in
America, as
well as play into the hands of those who have fanned anti-Americanism
abroad by casting the counterterror war as an attack on Islam.
Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary for intelligence, has said he
will
curtail his speechmaking, officials said. But he has not been put
forward
by the Pentagon to make a public statement, a development officials
said
they might try to orchestrate later Friday...
And a Muslim rights group called for Boykin to be reassigned from his
job,
which includes overseeing the continuing hunt for al-Qaida leader Osama
bin
Laden, Iraq's deposed President Saddam Hussein and other Muslim
figures.
"Putting a man with such extremist views in a critical policy-making
position sends entirely the wrong message to a Muslim world that is
already
skeptical about America's motives and intentions," said Nihad Awad,
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Awad's statement noted that a verse in the Quran says Muslims believe
in
the same God as Jews and Christians...
ALSO SEE:
RELIGIOUS GROUPS WANT OUTSPOKEN GENERAL PUNISHED
John Hendren, Los Angeles Times, 10/17/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-general17oct17,1,245167
.story
WASHINGTON - Religious groups on Thursday asked President Bush to
reprimand
a top Pentagon official who publicly described the war on terrorism as
a
conflict between Judeo-Christian values and Satan. But the nation's top
uniformed military official said Army Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry"
Boykin
apparently broke no rules in making his remarks.
Questions about Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of Defense for
intelligence, dominated a Pentagon news briefing after his comments
were
highlighted by NBC News on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Times on
Thursday,
putting Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard
B.
Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the defensive.
Dressed in his Army uniform, Boykin told an Oregon religious group in
June
that radical Islamists hate the U.S. "because we're a Christian nation
...
and the enemy is a guy named Satan." He told an audience in Florida in
January that a Muslim Somali warlord was captured because "I knew my
God
was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an
idol..."
The reports of Boykin's remarks drew outrage from Muslim organizations.
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil rights
group, urged the Bush administration to remove Boykin from his post,
where
he is in charge of tracking down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden,
deposed
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and other high-profile targets in the
Muslim
world.
"Everyone is entitled to their own religious beliefs, no matter how
ill-informed or bigoted, but those beliefs should not be allowed to
color
important decisions that need to be made in the war on terrorism," said
the
council's executive director, Nihad Awad. "Gen. Boykin should be
reassigned
to a position in which he will not be able to harm our nation's image
or
interests..."
---
GENERAL REBUKED FOR TALK OF GOD
Bradley Graham, Washington Post, 10/17/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38457-2003Oct16.html
Remarks by a three-star U.S. Army general casting the war on terrorism
in
religious terms drew rebukes yesterday from politicians and military
specialists and calls from religious groups for the officer to be
reassigned or reprimanded.
But the Pentagon's top military commander defended the officer, Lt.
Gen.
William G. "Jerry" Boykin, saying he did not think any military rules
had
been broken...
Outraged by Boykin's remarks, the Interfaith Alliance appealed to Bush
to
reprimand the general. An Islamic rights group, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, demanded that Boykin be reassigned...
---
SENIOR U.S. GENERAL SAYS MUSLIMS WORSHIP 'IDOL'
Will Dunham, Reuters, 10/16/03
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16184783.htm
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld declined on Thursday to
criticize a senior Pentagon intelligence official who has told
Christian
gatherings that Muslims worship an "idol" and not "a real God," and
instead
praised the general's "outstanding" military record.
Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence and war-fighting support, has used speeches at churches
and
prayer breakfasts to portray the U.S. battle with Islamic radicals as a
fight with "Satan," saying they sought to destroy America "because
we're a
Christian nation..."
"There are a lot of things that are said by people in the military, or
civilian life, or in the Congress, or in the executive branch, that are
their views. And that's the way we live. We're a free people," Rumsfeld
said.
"Saddam Hussein could do it pretty well, because he'd go around killing
people if they said things he didn't like..."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil
rights
group, called Boykin's comments "bigoted," and demanded the Pentagon
reassign him...
---
PENTAGON DEFENDS GEN. WHO CHIDED MUSLIMS
Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 10/17/03
WASHINGTON - Pentagon leaders on Thursday spoke up in support of a top
general who has told church audiences that the war on terrorism is a
battle
with Satan and that Muslims worship idols.
Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin has made several speeches - some in
uniform
- at evangelical Christian churches in which he cast the war on
terrorism
in religious terms. Boykin said of a 1993 battle with a Muslim militia
leader in Somalia: ``I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew
that my
God was a real God, and his was an idol.''
Boykin did not respond Thursday to a request for comment...
A Muslim civil rights group on Thursday called for Boykin to be
reassigned.
``Putting a man with such extremist views in a critical policy-making
position sends entirely the wrong message to a Muslim world that is
already
skeptical about America's motives and intentions,'' said Nihad Awad,
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Awad's statement noted that a verse in the Quran says Muslims believe
in
the same God as Jews and Christians...
---
RUMSFELD PRAISES ARMY GENERAL WHO RIDICULES ISLAM AS 'SATAN'
Reuters, 10/16/03
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld declined on Thursday to criticize
a
senior Pentagon intelligence official who has told evangelical
gatherings
that Muslims worship an "idol" and not "a real God," and instead
praised
the general's "outstanding" military record.
Lt. Gen. William Boykin of the Army, deputy under secretary of defense
for
intelligence and war-fighting support, has used speeches at churches
and
prayer breakfasts to portray the American battle with Muslim radicals
as a
fight against "Satan," saying militant Islamists sought to destroy
America
"because we're a Christian nation..."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil
rights
group, called General Boykin's comments "bigoted," and demanded that
the
Pentagon reassign him...
-----
SENATORS JOIN FORCES TO ROLL BACK PARTS OF PATRIOT ACT
Audrey Hudson, Washington Times, 10/16/03
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20031016-120041-3361r.htm
A bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocacy groups have formed a
"Coalition of Conscience" to roll back sections of the Patriot Act they
say
encroach on civil liberties.
"This is an amazing coalition. Very seldom do these groups and these
senators come together," said Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois
Democrat.
Sen. Larry E. Craig, Idaho Republican, and Mr. Durbin — joined by
representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union and American
Conservative Union, among others — yesterday introduced the Security
and
Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act.
The bill would limit the use of "sneak and peek" search warrants, which
allow searches without notifying the target, to situations where a life
is
at stake, evidence may be destroyed or there is a flight risk.
Roving wiretaps, which allow surveillance of any phone a person is
known to
use, could only be employed when the suspect is present. Warrants for
these
wiretaps must also identify the target and location of the wiretap...
-----
MOSLEMS HOPE TO PURCHASE K OF C BUILDING
Arthur Katz, Town Online, 10/16/03
http://www.townonline.com/burlington/news/local_regional/bu_newbuislamiccent
erp10162003.htm
The Knights of Columbus organization has found a buyer for its property
at
130 Lexington Street and the Islamic Center of Burlington, Inc. has
found a
much-needed new home.
While a closing on the property is two or three months away according
to
Munir Gandevir, president of the center's board of directors, he is
hopeful
final negotiations with the Knights will be successful.
The Knights of Columbus site had been the subject of controversy for
more
than a year, when in May 2003, Town Meeting members rejected a proposal
by
Nordblom Company to rezone the property and build 72 luxury
condominiums. A
concerted drive by neighbors to block the plan was effective and sent
the
Knights off on a marketing drive that brought in the Islamic Center.
Town residents have asked the Board of Selectmen to look into the
possibility of the town buying the property, in the hope it would
remain
undeveloped. Town officials discarded the idea on grounds that
Burlington
would be unable to meet the Knight's financial projections for the
purchase.
Earlier this year, the Islamic Center withdrew its plans for a new home
on
Blanchard Road after opposition developed...
-----
DANGEROUS STEREOTYPING
Zol Heyman, Star Tribune, 10/17/03
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4158929.html
An Oct. 15 letter writer repeats a mantra heard on conservative talk
shows
across the country: "All Muslims aren't terrorists, but all the
terrorists
are Muslims". She says it's wrong to target all Muslims in the United
States but what's a poor FBI agent to do?
Let's not forget that prior to 9/11, the single most dangerous
terrorist
groups in the U.S. were Christian. The KKK lynched, murdered and
terrorized
blacks, using the burning cross as their centerpiece. Christians
murdered
doctors who performed legal abortions and bombed their clinics.
Even Timothy McVeigh, who murdered 168 people in the Oklahoma City
bombing,
had strong ties to the radical Christian Identity movement, some of
whom
murdered and terrorized Jews, blacks, and gays.
Sure, not all Christians were terrorists, but all the terrorists were
Christians. Did we post FBI agents at every Sunday church service? Of
course not. The FBI targeted the radical factions who perverted
Christianity for their own evil purposes...
-----
THREE TEENS CHARGED IN OLNEY VANDALISM
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 10/17/03
http://www.nbc4.com/news/2559076/detail.html
Montgomery County police have arrested three teenagers and charged them
with vandalizing an Olney neighborhood last weekend, in some cases with
racially charged graffiti, authorities said yesterday.
The three 15-year-old boys -- two 10th-graders from Good Counsel High
School and a 10th-grader from Sherwood High School -- were not
identified
because they were charged as juveniles, police said.
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), acting Police Chief William C.
O'Toole and State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler announced the arrests
yesterday at a news conference. They said they wanted to underscore
Montgomery's vigilance against hate crimes in an increasingly diverse
county.
"This has so much impact on the community," O'Toole said. "People were
fearful."
Police investigated five incidents of vandalism in the Olney Oaks
neighborhood that occurred from late Friday to early Saturday on
Morningwood Drive, Bilney Drive and Leeds Hall Drive...
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/19/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: KNOWLEDGE LEADS TO PARADISE
* TENSIONS IN THE FBI: WHY WAS THIS AGENT FIRED? (AP)
* MUSLIM HEADSCARFS WELCOMED BY SOME, BANNED BY OTHERS (AP)
* WILL THE US ONE DAY REGRET ITS POST-9/11 EXCESSES? (Globe)
- NY: Widespread Bias Reported After 9/11 (NY Times)
* EIGHT MARINES CHARGED IN IRAQ DEATH (AP)
* U.S. GENERAL APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS ABOUT ISLAM (NY Times)
- Where Faith, Reason Collide (Newsday)
- White House Adviser Takes Issue with General (Reuters)
- Conyers' Letter to Rumsfeld on Boykin (Buzzflash.com)
- Awad: Keeping General Sends Negative Message (CNN)
* FORGOTTEN REFUGEES ARE LIVING 'LIKE BUGS' (Wash. Post)
* AFGHAN CONSTITUTION JUGGLES KORAN, DEMOCRACY (NY Times)
* FORMER BOSNIAN PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC DIES (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: KNOWLEDGE LEADS TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone travels on a
road
in search of knowledge, God will cause him to travel on one of the
roads of
Paradise."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1631
-----
TENSIONS IN THE FBI: WHY WAS THIS AGENT FIRED?
Michael Isikoff, Associated Press, 10/18/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/980186.asp#ten
Gamal Abdel-Hafiz was once considered one of the FBI's best assets: an
Egyptian-born agent who worked big terrorism probes. But last summer
Abdel-Hafiz, 44, was fired for allegedly lying about an allegation of
long-ago insurance fraud. Now, NEWSWEEK has learned, Abdel-Hafiz is
preparing a lawsuit that could expose deep cultural tensions within the
FBI. Abdel-Hafiz's core charge: that he was "hit in the back" by fellow
agents who mistrusted him because of his Muslim faith.
Abdel-Hafiz's case is especially sensitive because of the paucity of
Muslim
agents; sources say there are only about a half dozen out of an agent
force
of 11,500. (Only 21 agents are proficient in Arabic.) FBI officials
acknowledge they desperately need more-and used to point to Abdel-Hafiz
as
one reason why. Serving last year as FBI deputy legal attache in
Riyadh,
Abdel-Hafiz got a crucial confession that led to the arrest of six
Buffalo,
N.Y.-area men who had attended a Qaeda camp in Afghanistan.
"You couldn't ask for a better job by an FBI agent," says Paul Moskal,
FBI
spokesman in Buffalo.
But Abdel-Hafiz's star began to fade when Chicago agent Bob Wright went
public with charges that Abdel-Hafiz had hindered another counterterror
probe in 1999 aimed at Hamas fund-raising. Wright contends that when
Abdel-Hafiz was asked to wear a hidden wire with a key suspect, he
balked,
saying, "A Muslim does not record another Muslim." Abdel-Hafiz calls
Wright's account preposterous. "For God's sake, all my subjects were
Muslims," he says.
An internal FBI memo at the time suggests Abdel-Hafiz may only have
been
describing how secret taping might be viewed by the Muslim community.
Abdel-Hafiz's then FBI boss, Danny Defenbaugh, backs up his account,
saying
he decided that it was too risky for Abdel-Hafiz to wear the wire.
Still,
the charge stung and, says Abdel-Hafiz, led to increased scrutiny of
the
FBI's Riyadh office.
By then, Abdel-Hafiz's boss, an agent named Wilfred Rattigan, had
converted
to Islam. When Abdel-Hafiz and Rattigan flew off to Mecca for the hajj,
a
top FBI official back in Washington complained…
-----
MUSLIM HEADSCARFS WELCOMED BY SOME, BANNED BY OTHERS
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 10/18/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--muslims-headscarf1018oct18,0,7157430.story
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. -- Growing up on the shores of the Sandy Hook
Bay,
Mona Elgohail always loved the sea. Horseshoe crabs skitter over the
clams
along the beach behind her family's house and the screech of seagulls
looking for fish provided the soundtrack for much of her childhood.
So the 14-year-old was delighted when she won a highly coveted slot at
a
special high school set up to study marine sciences right near her
home.
But there was one catch: All students in the school are required to
take
part in Naval Junior R.O.T.C. training. And as an observant Muslim,
Elgohail insisted on wearing her hijab, the head scarf encouraged by
the
Quran but prohibited by the Navy.
The school tried to work with her on several alternatives that sought
to
conceal her hair beneath her uniform hat or a wig, but none covered it
completely. And even though she was eventually exempted from the
R.O.T.C.
requirement, Elgohail dropped out of the school as a matter of
principle…
Her experience is just one of many playing out across the country in
which
Muslim women wearing the scarf are giving wildly varying treatment.
From
schools to police departments to airlines to motor vehicle agencies,
the
scarf is welcomed in some places, tolerated in others, and banned in
still
others.
"A lot of it is probably just due to a lack of education about Islam,"
said
Faiza Ali, director of the New Jersey office of the Council on American
Islamic Relations. "Hijab is a very visible symbol that one is a
Muslim.
Unfortunately, they see that and they jump to the next conclusion:
`Muslim
terrorist' or `Muslim fanatic,' and it scares them…"
-----
WILL THE US ONE DAY REGRET ITS POST-9/11 EXCESSES?
H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe, 10/17/03
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/17/will_the_us_one_day_regret_its_post_911_excesses/
WHEN AMERICA entered World War I in 1917, German-Americans were hounded
and
sometimes beaten as the country succumbed to an anti-German hysteria
that
would have been unthinkable only a few months before.
When World War II came along, even such a towering liberal as Franklin
Roosevelt sent innocent Japanese-Americans into concentration camps,
and
the Supreme Court approved it.
When the Cold War was at its height, the infamous Senator Joseph
McCarthy
ranted, raved, and ruined many a career in the name of anticommunism in
an
era that Lillian Hellman called "scoundrel time."
During the Cold War the United States took actions overseas, such as
the
CIA coup that overthrew an Iranian leader, Mohammed Mossedegh, who was
not
anti-American, for no other reason than that if he failed the
communists
might fill the vacuum. We bombed Guatemala City and forced a leftist
government out because of fear of communism, and years later we
organized
the overthrow of the Chilean government because we thought it might
invite
in the Reds. Then there was the Bay of Pigs. We also overlooked the
most
appalling faults in foreign leaders as long as they were in our camp,
stunting the growth of democracy in many parts of the world…
H.D.S. Greenway's column appears regularly in the Globe.
SEE ALSO:
MANHATTAN: WIDESPREAD BIAS REPORTED AFTER 9/11
New York Times, 10/17/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/nyregion/17MBRF1.html
More than two-thirds of Muslims, Arabs and South Asians responding to a
New
York City survey say they were victims of discrimination in the
aftermath
of the Sept. 11 terror attack. The city's Commission on Human Rights
distributed 11,800 written surveys in six different languages
throughout
the city. Of the 956 that were filled out and returned, 659, or 69
percent,
reported being the victims of discrimination. Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg
said that New York is "defined by its tolerance" and will not tolerate
acts
of discrimination or bias.
-----
EIGHT MARINES CHARGED IN IRAQ DEATH
Associated Press, 10/18/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45568-2003Oct18?language=printer
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Eight Marine reservists stationed at Camp
Pendleton have been charged in connection with the June death of an
Iraqi
man who was held at a detention facility in Iraq, authorities said.
Two of the men, Maj. Clark A. Paulus and Lance Cpl. Christian
Hernandez,
face negligent homicide charges, said staff Sgt. Bill Lisbon, a Marine
spokesman at Camp Pendleton. Charges against the other six range from
assault to dereliction of duty.
"I think it's surprising because this is not what Marines do," Lisbon
said
Friday. "They don't do what these guys are being charged with."
All eight men, who belong to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment,
are
being held at Camp Pendleton...
Attorney Donald Rehkopf Jr., who represents another Marine reservist
charged in the case, Lance Cpl. William Roy, said his client is
innocent…
-----
U.S. GENERAL APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS ABOUT ISLAM
Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 10/18/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/18/international/middleeast/18GENE.html
WASHINGTON- A top Pentagon general who has likened the war against
Islamic
militants to a battle against "Satan" said Friday that he wanted to
apologize "to those who have been offended by my statements."
But Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin made clear in a written statement that
he
had no intention of resigning, and that he believed that at least some
of
his remarks had been taken out of context.
"I am neither a zealot nor an extremist, only a soldier who has an
abiding
faith," General Boykin said in the statement. "I do believe that
radical
extremists have tried to use Islam as a cause for attacks on America.
As I
have stated before, they are not true followers of Islam."
It was unclear whether the statement from General Boykin, a highly
decorated officer who in June became a deputy under secretary of
defense,
would be enough to tamp down criticism. Critics charge that his
comments,
which he made in uniform before evangelical Christian audiences,
threaten
to reinforce Muslim suspicions that American antiterrorism efforts are
part
of an anti-Islamic crusade…
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, has
demanded that the Pentagon reassign General Boykin, whose
responsibilities
include accelerating the transfer of intelligence to military
commanders.
ALSO SEE:
WHERE FAITH, REASON COLLIDE
Paul Vitello, Newsday, 10/19/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-livit193499803oct19,0,7735642.column
In the debate among religious folks over whose faith has the true ear
of
the true God, there is never a lack of interesting repartee.
"Infidel!" "Satanist!" and, lately, "Terrorist!" have been among the
thoughtful observations brought to the table. "Idolater!" and
"Extremist
fanatic!" are some of the commonly heard supporting arguments in this
long-running contest.
If you have a dog in that fight, as they say, this is serious business.
If
not, it may seem like medieval claptrap.
But the voices of radical believers are loud. And if there was any
doubt
that they wreak collateral damage on people with and without dogs in
their
fights, Sept. 11 dispelled it.
Worse, it has sometimes seemed during the last two years that Sept. 11
amplified those voices so that now they are the only ones being heard
above
the chatter of our confused times…
---
WHITE HOUSE ADVISER TAKES ISSUE WITH US GENERAL
Thomas Ferraro, Reuters, 10/19/03
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=791825&tw=wn_wire_story
WASHINGTON - A top White House aide took issue on Sunday with a senior
Pentagon intelligence officer under fire for his comments on Islam,
saying
no one should characterize the war on terrorism as a religious
conflict.
Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, has apologized for the controversial
statements in which he portrayed the U.S. battle with Islamic radicals
as a
clash with "Satan," saying they sought to destroy America "because
we're a
Christian nation."
U.S. President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza
Rice, asked if Bush would condemn the remarks by Boykin, said, "The
president's views on this are absolutely clear."
"This is not a war between religions. No one should describe it as
such,"
Rice told ABC's "This Week…"
Top Democrats in the U.S. Congress, including presidential candidates
Sen.
Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts,
chastised the administration for failing to criticize Boykin…
---
REPRESENTATIVE CONYERS' LETTER TO RUMSFELD ON LIEUTENANT GENERALWILLIAM
BOYKIN'S REMARKS ABOUT THE WAR
Buzzflash.com, 10/17/03
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/10/con03172.html
The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to express my extreme displeasure over Lieutenant General
William Boykin's remarks about the war and the Muslim religion. Lt.
Gen.
Boykin serves as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and
is
charged with heading a Pentagon office that focuses on finding Osama
bin
Laden, Saddam Hussein and other targets. This is a critical
policymaking
position, and it is outrageous that someone who holds such extreme,
closed-minded, zealous views would be allowed such a prominent position
in
our military.
Lt. Gen. Boykin's remarks over the past few years, including remarks
that
Islamic extremists hate the United States because "we're a Christian
nation," that "our spiritual enemy will only be defeated if we come
against
them in the name of Jesus," that President Bush "is in the White House
because God put him there," and that Boykin's "god was a real god and
[the
Muslim god] was an idol," are disgraceful and wholly inappropriate for
a
man in his position. These remarks are inflammatory to Muslims in our
communities and abroad.
While every American has the freedom to speak his mind and express his
opinion, it is essential that those who hold high profile, policymaking
positions in our government exercise judgment in their public speaking.
Lt.
Gen. Boykin clearly lacks such judgment. I urge you to reassign or
reprimand him; we cannot afford to have such an extremist speaking on
behalf of our nation and our military.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
Ranking Member
---
KEEPING GENERAL SENDS NEGATIVE MESSAGE
CNN, 10/17/03
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/10/17/cnna.awad/
October 17, 2003 (CNN) -- Lt. Gen. William Boykin, a top Pentagon
intelligence official, apologized for remarks he made about Muslims,
including saying that radical Muslims hate the United States "because
we're
a Christian nation, because our foundation and roots are
Judeo-Christian
and the enemy is a guy named Satan."
In a statement issued late Friday, Boykin said, "For those who have
been
offended by my statements, I offer a sincere apology."
CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien spoke with Nihad Awad, director of the
Council
on American-Islamic relations, and asked him for his reaction.
AWAD: First of all, let me clarify one point. [Boykin] also said
Muslims
worship idols, and that shows me a very serious sign of ignorance in a
very
important position within the Pentagon.
Of course, his apology should be appreciated, but the question is do we
want a person with extremist views in this important position, who's in
charge of filtering intelligence that will be used in decision-making
in
life-and-death situations on the war on terrorism, and what kind of
message
are we sending to the Muslim world, which is already skeptical about
our
motives and intentions with the Muslim world, in the war in Iraq, and
even,
of course, in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
So, if he continues to be there, I think it sends a very negative
message
to the Muslim world, and we're trying as Americans to win the hearts
and
minds of the world and Arabs and Muslims and we're now shooting
ourselves
in the foot if he stays where he is.
O'BRIEN: So you're saying that in spite of the apology, he should be
removed from his position?
AWAD: It's not the apology but the views. How would I trust someone who
looks at Islam and at Muslims as idol worshippers, and allow me to put
one
point of education here because it is very important: Islam is a
monotheistic religion.
God in Islam is the same god as in Christianity and as in Judaism. ...
the
word in the bible in Arabic says Allah, so we worship the same god.
With
this level of ignorance that exists within a high official who is
conducting the war on terrorism, I don't trust his judgment to make
life
and death decisions.
O'BRIEN: What do you think the risk is in phrasing this war, or any
war, in
terms of a fight between good and evil?
AWAD: First of all, this war is between America and terrorists. The
army in
America is not a Christian army or a Southern Baptist army. It's a
nationalistic army that has Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists,
Buddhists
in it, and therefore our approach to the war on terrorism is based on
national security, not on religion.
This person, this general, with all due respect to his position, I
think is
contradictory even to the statements by the president and to the
strategy
that this war is not on Islam, it's against terrorists.
-----
FORGOTTEN REFUGEES ARE LIVING 'LIKE BUGS'
Peter Baker, Washington Post, 10/19/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46698-2003Oct18.html
Russia- Tiny Azamat chose a particularly wretched corner of the world
for
his arrival. His mother lives in dingy clothes in a dingy tent that has
only three narrow metal bunks for the eight people who call it home.
His
father disappeared weeks after his birth, dragged away by cursing
Russian
troops in a predawn raid.
"We're little people," said Muslim Chabkhanov, the 3-month-old infant's
grandfather. "We live like bugs."
Walk down any of the rutted dirt paths of the Satsita refugee camp,
stop at
any of the tents flapping in the wind and someone will recount a
similar
story. They are the refugees the world has largely forgotten. They fled
war
in Chechnya to neighboring Ingushetia. Now, they are no longer at the
top
of the agenda of international relief organizations, overwhelmed with
places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The Russian government would just
as
soon the refugees go back to Chechnya, pressuring them to decamp by
periodically cutting off the power or closing a tent city.
Yet as bad as things are here, tens of thousands of homeless Chechens
still
figure it is better and safer than returning to their shelled and
lawless
homeland. Among those who remain, few here believe that the war is
over,
even after last week's Kremlin-orchestrated election ratifying its
appointee, Akhmad Kadyrov, as president of the Chechen republic…
-----
NEW AFGHAN CONSTITUTION JUGGLES KORAN AND DEMOCRACY
Carlotta Gall, New York Times, 10/19/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/19/international/19AFGH.html
KABUL, Afghanistan - The question now facing Afghans is: how to devise
a
constitution that combines the country's deep-rooted Islamic traditions
and
its aspirations for democracy?
The answer Afghans find in the next few weeks will be closely monitored
by
Iraqis, who have to write a constitution of their own over the next
year.
In Afghanistan, the process has not been easy.
After months of tortuous discussion, consultations around the country
and
thousands of comments sent in by the public, a commission of lawyers
and
experts has drawn up a draft constitution to put before the Afghan
people…
Last touches are still being made to the proposed constitution at the
insistence of President Hamid Karzai, who has followed the drafting
closely. The final version will be published within days, his aides
said on
Saturday. That should allow six weeks or more for public discussion
before
500 delegates convene for a constitutional loya jirga, or grand
assembly,
that is scheduled to convene here in Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Dec.
10
to debate and approve a final version…
-----
FORMER BOSNIAN PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC DIES
AIDA CERKEZ-ROBINSON, Associated Press, 10/19/03
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Former President Alija Izetbegovic,
a
reluctant warrior who steered Bosnia through independence and the worst
bloodshed in Europe after World War II, died Sunday. He was 78.
The beloved leader of Bosnia's Muslims - called Dedo, or ``Grandpa,''
by
his followers - died in a Sarajevo hospital of long-standing heart
disease
complicated by fractured ribs he suffered in a fall at home, cardiology
chief Dr. Amila Arslanagic told The Associated Press.
The low-key Izetbegovic was a father figure to many Muslims,
particularly
those in rural areas who backed his Party of Democratic Action in
November
1990 elections. The vote brought him to power in the multiethnic
republic
of Bosnia, then a part of Yugoslavia, and helped set the scene for
ethnic
war less than two years later…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/20/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A HUMBLE PROPHET
* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR FUNDRAISER IN DC
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 Sponsorships
- Libraries Revisit Islam (Washington Times)
- Mass. Librarian Thanks CAIR
- Ramadan Reminder for Librarians
* INCITEMENT WATCH: THE FIVE DECEPTIONS OF ISLAM
- PBS Airs ‘Inside Mecca’
- Discovery channel Airs ‘The Hajj’
* MORE THAN 450 ATTEND CAIR BANQUET IN TAMPA
- America Two Years After 9/11
* ANTIWAR ACTIVISTS TO REVISIT DISTRICT (Wash. Post)
* BOYKIN: AND HE’S HEAD OF INTELLIGENCE? (Newsweek)
- Pentagon Deleted Part of Official's Apology (CNN)
* U.S. STILL GATHERING INTELLIGENCE FROM GUANTANAMO (KR)
- Scales of Justice Tilt Towards Farce (SMH)
- The Persuaders (Guardian)
- Lost in Translation (Newsweek)
- How the Moussaoui Case Crumbled (Time)
* SCHOOL DRESS CODES VS. RELIGIOUS PRACTICE (FAC)
- French Examine Selves with Muslim Crisis (AP)
- Hijab Casts Shadow Over Turkish Holiday (AFP)
* U.S. CREDIBILITY AT ALL-TIME LOW IN MUSLIM WORLD (AP)
- 9/11 Restrictions Harm Arab World (Washington Post)
- Forget Reds Under the Bed, There's Arabs in the Attic
* WATCHDOG BLASTS US, ISRAEL FOR TREATMENT OF MEDIA (Reuters)
- Israeli History the Dershowitz Way (Jewish Journal)
* MUSLIM KIDS GETTING READY FOR RAMADAN (Atlanta Journal)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A HUMBLE PROPHET
Narrated Anas ibn Malik - When (the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him)
shook hands with a man he did not withdraw his hand until the other did
so,
he did not turn his face away until the other did so, and he was not
seen
to put forward his knees in front of one with whom he was sitting.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1532
-----
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR'S FUNDRAISING EVENT
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6947 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
LIBRARIES REVISIT ISLAM
Julia Duin, Washington Times, 10/20/03
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031020-122538-4008r.htm
In the tumultuous months after September 11, the Washington-based
Council
on American-Islamic Relations received a consistent message.
Islam, it seemed, was not getting a fair representation in the country.
The
solution: promote a kinder and gentler Islam in the nation's 16,298
public
libraries.
The effort, called the Library Project, was announced at a press
conference
in September last year. A year later, CAIR has succeeded in ordering
about
6,900 sets of 18 Islamic books, tapes, DVDs and videos for libraries
nationwide...
CAIR's books exist in pockets around Washington-area libraries,
according
to a survey of Web sites for libraries in the District, as well as
Montgomery, Prince George's, Arlington and Fairfax counties...Many
libraries, which have endured deep budget cuts this year because of
shrinking state and federal revenues, have welcomed the project. Susan
Woodcock, one of the book collectors for the Fairfax County Public
Library,
said all its 21 branches have a set of CAIR's books.
"These books were useful and the staff was happy to have them," she
said.
"In Charlotte [N.C.]," CAIR spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed said, "Muslims
pooled
resources to give. One individual has donated thousands of dollars for
this; another one says they will give to one library a month until the
project is done. It's a way of getting out accurate information on
Islam..."
---
MASS. LIBRARIAN THANKS CAIR
From an e-mail received today from a librarian in Massachusetts:
“My patrons are making use of the Islamic Materials that were provided
through CAIR. I very much appreciate the help you have given.”
---
CAIR today e-mailed the following alert to thousands of public
libraries
nationwide:
RAMADAN REMINDER TO LIBRARIANS
The Muslim fast of Ramadan is expected to begin Sunday, October 26,
2003.*
(See the Ramadan news release below.) Now is the time to set out
Ramadan-related books for patron use. Ramadan’s end is marked with the
Eid
ul-Fitr holiday on November 25, 2003.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: THE FIVE DECEPTIONS OF ISLAM
FNS Daybook, 10/22/03
WHAT: Christians for Israel holds a lecture, "The Five Deceptions of
Islam." Avi Lipkin, Jewish speaker and author
SEE: http://www.yourisraelconnection.org/avi_lipkin.htm
WHERE: Christ Church of Arlington, 3020 North Pershing Drive,
Arlington,
Va.
WHEN: October 22, 2003, 7 p.m.
---
POSITIVE PROGRAMMING: PBS AIRS ‘INSIDE MECCA’
WHAT: With 1.3 billion believers, Islam is the fastest growing religion
in
the world. Over 80 percent of its believers live outside the Middle
East,
but once a year adherents from across the globe converge on Mecca, the
birthplace of Muhammad, for Hajj, the largest, most dramatic display of
religious fervor in the world. As Muslims ask pardon for their sins and
renew their spiritual commitment, National Geographic takes its cameras
inside Mecca to capture the exclusive story of the rites and rituals of
this fantastic event and the vigils and holy places denied to those of
other faiths. Be sure to watch National Geographic Specials (#2101)
"Inside
Mecca."
WHEN: October 22, 8 p.m.
For more information, visit, http://www.pbs.org/
SEE ALSO:
'INSIDE MECCA' DELVES INTO AN ANCIENT RITE
http://www.ajc.com/living/content/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_f309
989be57960650010.html
---
POSITIVE PROGRAMMING: DISCOVERY CHANNEL AIRS “THE HAJJ”
WHAT: They’ve left their modern lives, their homes and their families
behind to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. Follow five very
different
Muslims on their pilgrimage to Mecca.
WHEN: Monday, October 20, 2003 at 8 p.m.
To find more TV listings please go to:
http://www.discovery.com/tv/schedule/daymulti.jsp?network=ANL
-----
MORE THAN 450 ATTEND CAIR BANQUET IN TAMPA
CAIR to launch Tampa office by end of the year
(TAMPA, FL, 10/20/2003) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today announced that more than 450
people attended its special fundraising banquet to launch a central
Florida
office in Tampa. The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy
group said the dinner raised $150,000 in contributions.
Speakers for the event, titled “Liberty & Justice for All," included
Georgetown University Professor Dr. John Esposito, noted Islamic
scholar
Dr. Jamal Badawi and CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. All three
speakers
urged the audience to support organizations like CAIR and also to be
full
participants in the American society. The dinner was also attended by
representatives from all major Islamic centers in the area, executives
from
human rights organizations and interfaith leaders.
Since last April, CAIR-FL held three banquets all across Florida,
raising
more than $300,000 for the group’s civil rights efforts.
CAIR's national banquet will be held in Washington on Saturday,
November
29th. For more information, e-mail: register@cair-net.org
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 16 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506; Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214
SEE ALSO:
AMERICA TWO YEARS AFTER 9-11: A TOWNHALL MEETING
WHEN: Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 7:00 to 9:30pm
WHERE: University of North Florida, Recital Hall in Fine Arts Center,
Bldg.
45
DIRECTIONS: Enter UNF from St. Johns Bluff. Go past first traffic
light.
Park in Parking Lot 1&2. Recital Hall is (next to the Lazzara Theatre)
inside the Fine Arts Center, Bldg. 45
With Your Moderator
LEAH FLEMING
Host of WJCT’s Jacksonville Exchange
Invited Panel of Experts (in alphabetical order):
Parvez Ahmed, Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida
Corrine Brown, U.S. Representative
Ander Crenshaw, U.S. Representative
Laura D'Alisera, Institute of Government
Derick Daniel, Florida Commission on Human Relations
Stephen Durden, Florida Coastal Law School
Ken Hurley, American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
Lawrence Myers, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Michael Perkins, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mark Schlakman, Center for Advancement of Human Rights, Florida State
University
Henry Thomas, University of North Florida
Ken Tucker, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Invited Respondents Include:
City of St. Augustine Police Department, Center for Multicultural
Affairs,
UNF, Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Hodges Blvd. Presbyterian Church,
Interfaith Council of Jacksonville, Islamic Center of Northeast
Florida,
Florida Library Association, Jacksonville Community Council Inc.,
Jacksonville Human Rights Commission, Jacksonville Mayor’s Office,
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, National Conference for Community and
Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations, Wage Peace,
Inc.,
Students and the general public.
Brought to you by:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, The Center for
Advancement
of Human Rights at FSU, The Council on American Islamic Relations of
Florida, The Florida Commission on Human Relations, Institute of
Government
at University of North Florida.
Co-sponsored by: Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
League of Women Voters Jacksonville / First Coast, Wage Peace, Inc.,
The
First Coast Freethought Society, Jacksonville Area Organization for
Women,
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville.
For more information contact: UNF at 904-620-2844, ACLU at 904-396-5242
or
CAIR at 904-710-6514 LIMITED SEATING…..ARRIVE EARLY
-----
ANTIWAR ACTIVISTS TO REVISIT DISTRICT
Manny Fernandez, Washington Post, 10/19/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A47080-2003Oct18
Protesters from more than 135 cities in 38 states are expected to
converge
on Washington on Saturday, as busloads of antiwar demonstrators return
to
the capital for the first time since the fall of Baghdad in April.
Organizers said the rally and march will draw tens of thousands from
across
the United States and Canada. It is the first event of its kind
co-sponsored by two major antiwar coalitions, International ANSWER and
United for Peace and Justice, both of which coordinated some of the
country's biggest peace marches this year. The demonstration will
coincide
with a rally and march in downtown San Francisco...
The gathering represents a resurgence of sorts of the antiwar movement,
which had put its large-scale protests on hold in recent months as
activists emphasized education over direct action. No major antiwar
rally
has been held in Washington since ANSWER's April protest...
-----
AND HE’S HEAD OF INTELLIGENCE?
Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek, 10/27/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/982257.asp
President Bush’s commission on public diplomacy recently noted that in
nine
Muslim and Arab nations only 12 percent of respondents surveyed
believed
that “Americans respect Arab/Islamic values.” Such attitudes, the
commission argued, create a toxic atmosphere of anti-Americanism that
cripples U.S. foreign policy and helps terrorists. To address the
problem
the commission suggested a major reorganization of the American
government,
hundreds of millions of dollars of funding and the creation of a new
cabinet position. I have a simpler, more urgent suggestion: fire
William
Boykin...
SEE ALSO:
PENTAGON DELETED PART OF OFFICIAL'S APOLOGY
CNN, 10/20/03
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/10/20/boykin.statement/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An apology from Lt. Gen. William Boykin for casting
the
war on terrorism in terms that offended some Muslims originally
inccluded a
promise that he would no longer speak at religious events, CNN has
learned.
But that language was deleted on the advice of Pentagon attorneys and
the
press office, a Pentagon spokesman said.
Other statements also were withdrawn by the Pentagon, a spokesman said,
included Boykin's belief that God put President Bush in the White
House…
Boykin's apology was issued Friday, but the Council on American Islamic
Relations said his continued involvement in the war on terror sent a
negative message to Muslims.
"This apology should be appreciated, but the question is do we want a
person with extremist views ... in this position in the war on terror,"
said Nihad Awad, the group's executive director. "If he continues to be
there it sends a very negative message to the Muslim world…"
-----
AFTER NEARLY 2 YEARS, U.S. STILL GATHERING INTELLIGENCE FROM GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES
Carol Rosenberg, Knight Ridder, 10/19/03
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7054145.htm
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL STATION, Cuba - Nearly two years after this terror
prison was established, U.S. interrogators are still searching for the
real
names of some of the inmates, commanders say.
Just the other day military intelligence ordered a name change for a
prisoner's officials record, said Army Col. Nelson Cannon, currently
chief
warden of Camp Delta...
These and other details emerged during a four-day visit to the Navy
base
last week, part of a media tour meant to illustrate that the camp is
still
functioning normally in the midst of a security probe prompted by the
arrests of two interpreters and a Muslim chaplain in connection with
the
removal of classified material from the base...
The tour of the facility, where 660 prisoners suspected of links with
al-Qaida or the Taliban, the former rulers of Afghanistan, showed:
- U.S. interrogators, pressing the prisoners for cooperation, have
established a reward system for the prisoners that dispenses privileges
such as an extra shower or permission to have mail from home in one's
cell
depending on how much intelligence a prisoner provides...
- Some of the prisoners are less enthusiastic about their Muslim faith
than
they appeared to be when they arrived.
ALSO SEE:
GUANTANAMO'S SCALES OF JUSTICE TILT TOWARDS FARCE NOT FAIRNESS
Sydney Morning Herald, 10/20/03
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/19/1066502069142.html
There has been a sustained indifference by Federal Government
politicians
to the plight of two Australian citizens among those held by the US
military at Guantanamo Bay. The manner of detention is in defiance of
international and domestic US law, and the proposed "trials" by
military
tribunals will pay no more than a passing nod and wink to accepted
legal
procedures in civilised countries.
The US Government, followed by our own Government, seeks to justify the
process by invoking President George Bush's military order of November
13,
2001, by which any foreign national designated by the President as a
suspected terrorist, or as aiding terrorists, can be detained, tried,
convicted and executed without adequate access to counsel, without the
presumption of innocence, without proof beyond reasonable doubt,
without a
judge or jury, without the protection of reasonable rules of evidence
and
without a right of appeal.
Whether or not a person detained is tried, he can be held indefinitely,
with no right to meet with counsel or be told upon what charges he is
held.
Detention of prisoners of war, subject to protection against gross
violations of human rights such as those inflicted on prisoners in
World
War II, is obviously justifiable, provided it is limited to the
duration of
the war. There is no such limitation on the detention of David Hicks
and
Mamdouh Habib, or the others at Guantanamo Bay...
---
THE PERSUADERS
Mark Bowden, Guardian, 10/19/03
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,1066041,00.html
When does coercion become torture? Since September 11 new methods of
interrogation have been deployed to counter the threat of terrorism -
but
how far should we go? In this compelling dispatch, award-winning author
Mark Bowden asks if the treatment of captured al-Qaeda suspects is in
danger of becoming a breach of common humanity...
Mousa Khoury, a Palestinian businessman, knows the drill all too well.
A
slender 34-year-old man with a black goatee and thinning hair, he is
bitter
about the Israeli occupation and his experiences in custody. He has
been
arrested and interrogated six times by Israeli forces. He was once
detained
for 71 days.
'My hands were cuffed behind my back and a potato sack was put over my
head,' he says. 'My legs were cuffed to a tiny chair. The chair's base
was
10cm by 20cm. The back was 10cm by 10cm. It was hard wood. The front
legs
were shorter than the back ones, so you were forced to slide forward on
it;
only your hands were bound at the back. If you sat back, the back of
the
chair dug into the small of your back. If you slumped forward, you were
forced to hang by your hands. It was painful. They would take you to
the
toilet only after screaming a request 100 times.' He could think about
only
one thing: how to make the treatment stop. 'Your thoughts go back and
forth
and back and forth, and you can no longer have a normal stream of
consciousness,' he says...
---
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Daniel Klaidman and Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, 10/27/03
http://www.msnbc.com/news/982235.asp
The clash of civilizations rages in some surprising places, and one of
them
is the large room in the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office that
houses a
unit known as CI-19. In one set of cubicles sit the foreign-born
Muslims;
across a partition is everyone else.
They have the same vital job: to translate supersecret wiretaps of
suspected terrorists and spies. But the 150 or so members of CI-19 (for
Counterintelligence) segregate themselves by ethnicity and religion.
Some
of the U.S.-born translators have accused their Middle Eastern-born
counterparts of making disparaging or unpatriotic remarks, or of making
“mistranslations”—failing to translate comments that might reflect
poorly
on their fellow Muslims, such as references to sexual deviancy. The
tensions erupt in arguments and angry finger-pointing from time to
time.
“It’s a good thing the translators are not allowed to carry guns,” says
Sibel Edmonds, a Farsi translator who formerly worked in the unit...
---
HOW THE MOUSSAOUI CASE CRUMBLED
Viveca Novak, Time, 10/19/03
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031027-524419,00.html
U.S. authorities easily nabbed Zacarias Moussaoui in the weeks before
9/11,
but prosecuting the alleged terrorist has been far from smooth. Here
are
the twists and turns in a case many thought would be open-and-shut:
When Zacarias Moussaoui was enrolled in flight school in Eagan, Minn.,
he
could have easily looked up in the sky to see the kind of airplane he
wanted to fly. Along the approach to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport,
747s
screamed overhead day and night. His flight instructor at Pan Am
International Flight Academy found Moussaoui genial but clueless and
totally unable to explain why he wanted to pilot a 747. The school's
administration called the FBI, and he was arrested nearby on Aug. 16,
2001.
When investigators interviewed the 33-year-old French Moroccan and
asked
him whether he planned to use a plane for a terrorist attack, he either
did
not answer or asked for a lawyer, according to different sources
familiar
with the session. He was then held for overstaying his visit to the
U.S.
Less than a month after he was locked up, 19 al-Qaeda operatives
boarded
four commercial jetliners and turned them into aerial bombs, killing
more
than 3,000 people in the worst terrorist attacks ever on U.S. soil.
Within
days, investigators began piecing together intriguing parallels between
Moussaoui's actions and those of the hijackers...
-----
SCHOOL DRESS CODES VS. RELIGIOUS PRACTICE: WHAT KIND OF NATION ARE WE?
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Charles Haynes, First Amendment Center, 10/19/03
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=12080
Okies from Muskogee may “still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse” –
as
Merle Haggard puts it. But over at the schoolhouse, Oklahomans need to
remember that Old Glory stands for religious freedom.
Last week, school officials in Muskogee suspended – for the second time
–
11-year-old Nashala Hearn. Her great offense? She refused to remove an
Islamic scarf, or hijab, from her head.
Now this week, after an outcry from civil liberties groups, the school
reversed itself and allowed Nashala to return to her sixth-grade class
–
wearing the hijab – pending a review of the policy.
Like many other school districts across the nation, Muskogee has a “no
head
covering” dress code – put in place to curb gang activity. Nashala
isn’t
defying the policy to make trouble or to promote gang colors. She wears
a
hijab as a matter of conscience...
In France and Germany it’s considered “un-French” or “un-German” to
wear a
hijab. In the United States, it should be un-American to make someone
take
it off.
ALSO SEE:
FRENCH EXAMINE SELVES WITH MUSLIM CRISIS
Elaine Ganley, Associated Press, 10/20/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-covering-up,0,7145
043.story
PARIS - A century ago, France pulled down the crucifixes hanging in its
classrooms in a triumphant climax to its fight to separate the state
from
the powerful Roman Catholic Church.
Today, battle lines are being drawn over another religious emblem, the
Islamic head scarf, which some French see as a threat to their nation's
core values and unity.
A bitter debate over whether the head-covering can be worn in public
schools, or by civil servants, has festered for nearly 15 years and
deepened as France's Muslim sons and daughters come of age.
Some see it as a flag of Islamic militancy, or a sign of submission to
men.
Others see it as the start of a spiral into unknown territory that
could
transform France's definition of itself.
With 5 million Muslims, more than 8 percent of the population and
increasingly assertive, France is becoming concerned for its hard-won
secular underpinnings - guaranteed by the constitution...
---
ISLAMIC HEADSCARF CASTS SHADOW OVER TURKISH NATIONAL HOLIDAY
Agence France Presse, 10/20/03
A controversy over wearing the Islamic headscarf threatens to mar
Turkey's
national day celebrations after President Ahmet Necdet Sezer excluded
the
wives of Islamist-leaning MPs from an official invitation.
Many of the wives of MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) wear the headscarf, which is banned from official buildings and
universities and viewed by the secular establishment as a symbol of
political Islam.
In an apparent bid to avoid unpleasantness at a national day reception,
the
president, a staunch defender of the country's secular principles, only
invited AKP MPs to the event marking the October 29 Republic Day.
But the wives of MPs from the pro-secular opposition Republican
People's
Party were also included in the invitations, press reports said.
Several AKP MPs have protested what they see as an intentional snub.
"This is discrimination. The holiday belongs to everyone," Salih
Kapususz,
a deputy chairman of the AKP parliamentary group, told Anatolia news
agency…
-----
AMERICA'S CREDIBILITY AT ALL-TIME LOW IN MUSLIM WORLD, LAWYER SAYS
Associated Press, 10/20/03
PORTLAND, Maine - Negative opinions and misinformation about America
are
rampant throughout the Muslim world, creating a crisis in the nation's
foreign relations, says a Portland lawyer closely involved in the
issue.
Harold Pachios is a member and former chairman of the Advisory Group on
Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World, which issued its
report,
"Changing Minds Winning Peace," to the U.S. House of Representatives
Appropriations Committee this month. The group, made up of academics,
business people and foreign affairs specialists, traveled to Egypt,
Syria,
Turkey, France, Morocco and Senegal this year, speaking with people to
gauge their opinions of America.
"There is enormous anger against the United States," Pachios said.
"They
like our free society, our diversity and the fact that we are a
meritocracy, but there is a disconnect when it comes to our policy."
Due to what's seen as a bias toward Israel in its conflict with
Palestinians, and the nearly unilateral invasion of Iraq, America is
seen
as a threat in many parts of the world, Pachios said. To reformers, he
says, the United States is viewed as hypocritical when it professes
democratic values while aligning itself with undemocratic
governments...
---
9/11 RESTRICTIONS HARM ARAB WORLD, REPORT SAYS
Peter Slevin, Washington Post, 10/20/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50577-2003Oct19.html
Progress in the Arab world is being hindered by the Bush
administration's
post-Sept. 11, 2001, tightening of visa restrictions and the U.S.
government's treatment of terrorism suspects, a team of Arab
intellectuals
contends in a new report to be released today in Jordan.
Thirty percent fewer Arabs studied in the United States in 2002 than
three
years earlier, according to the Arab Human Development Report. Some
Arab
governments also defended draconian measures against opponents by
pointing
to the stern security measures imposed by the United States and other
developed democracies.
"It's 30 percent. Many reformers saw these people as the future hope,"
Rima
Khalaf Hunaidi, director of the United Nations-sponsored report, said
in an
interview. "They were the ones who advocated reform. They were the ones
who
had a different vision."
The student numbers could not be independently verified yesterday.
The study, one of a U.N. Development Program series on obstacles to
Arab
development, comes as President Bush and his foreign policy staff
pursue an
ambitious project to push democratic change in the Islamic world. It
follows an unfavorable assessment of U.S. public diplomacy efforts in
Muslim countries by a White House-appointed committee...
---
FORGET REDS UNDER THE BED, THERE'S ARABS IN THE ATTIC
Times Higher Education Supplement, 10/18/03
http://www.thesis.co.uk/current_edition/story.aspx?story_id=2005019
Fear of terrorism is fuelling a campaign of hate against Arabs in the
US.
Columbia University professor Hamid Dabashi describes his personal
experience
Late in June 2002, I came back to New York from a fortnight's trip to
Japan
to find my voicemail flooded with racist, obscene and threatening
messages.
"Hey, Mr Dabashi," bellowed an angry voice, "I read about you in
today's
New York Post. You stinking, terrorist Muslim pig. I hope the CIA is
studying you so we can kick you out of this country back to some filthy
Arab country where you belong. You terrorist bastard."
I subsequently discovered that on June 25, a certain Daniel Pipes had
written an article in a New York tabloid attacking me and a number of
other
academics, identifying us as anti-American, anti-Israeli and
pro-terrorist...
Hamid Dabashi is chair of the department of Middle East and Asian
Languages
and Cultures at Columbia University, New York
-----
WATCHDOG BLASTS US, ISRAEL FOR TREATMENT OF MEDIA
Paul Carrel, Reuters, 10/20/03
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s971186.htm
PARIS - Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Monday
accused
Israel and the United States of unacceptable behaviour towards
journalists
in the occupied Palestinian territories and in Iraq.
In its second annual world press freedom ranking, RSF also criticised
Arab
countries for cracking down on media freedoms during the Iraq war, but
said
standards were worst in Asia, with the region providing eight of the
bottom
10 ranked countries.
RSF awarded the United States and Israel two separate rankings each --
one
for respect of press freedoms on their own territory, and one for
behaviour
beyond their borders.
The Israeli army was guilty of injuring and threatening journalists in
the
West Bank and Gaza, an RSF spokesman said...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELI HISTORY THE DERSHOWITZ WAY
Adam Rubin, Jewish Journal, 10/20/03
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11232
"The Case For Israel," by Alan Dershowitz (John Wiley & Sons, $19.95).
Alan Dershowitz's new book describes an Israel no Israeli would
recognize,
an impossibly virtuous country whose intentions are always pure, whose
conduct is forever above reproach, and whose rare misdeeds can be
explained
away as accidental. Conversely, the Palestinian Arabs (and for that
matter,
all Arabs) are depicted as malevolent terrorists bent on Israel's
destruction; every one of their deeds is attributed to the basest of
motives, every decision a result of unremitting hostility, trickery,
foolishness, or a combination of all three. No reader of Israeli
historical
scholarship or journalism would recognize the simple tale of good and
evil,
of angels and devils, described in the pages of Dershowitz's book.
Though equipped with the tools of historical scholarship (footnotes,
primary and secondary textual documentation, etc.) and presenting
itself as
an exploration of the historical roots of the conflict between Arabs
and
Jews in pre-State Palestine and Israel, his book is not a serious work
of
scholarship on the enormously complex struggle of two national
movements
over the same small piece of land. Instead, it is the latest in a long
tradition of hasbarah, propaganda, that is not unlike the material
produced
by the Israeli Office of Hasbarah in y ears past, or pamphlets issues
today
by various pro-Israel advocacy groups in the United States...
-----
HAPPY RAMADAN: MUSLIM KIDS GETTING READY FOR BIG MONTH
Nadirah Sabir, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 10/20/03
http://www.ajc.com/monday/content/epaper/editions/monday/living_f339954403dd
200d0049.html
A special time is coming for many Muslim kids and their families.
They're
getting ready to celebrate Ramadan.
So what is Ramadan (pronounced ROM-ah-don)? It's the holiest month of
the
year for people whose religion is Islam.
The exact time of the month changes. This year, it's expected to begin
Oct.
26 or 27. It always begins when the new moon is sighted.
Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month when the Prophet Muhammad,
about
1,400 years ago, began getting messages from Allah. Allah is the Arabic
word for God.
These messages were written down later and became the Quran, the holy
book
for Muslims.
Now there are about 1.25 billion Muslim people around the world, and
their
religion is known as Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims share traditions
and
are supposed to follow certain rules.
Children are reminded that they're not supposed to gossip, get angry or
behave badly.
But it's a fun time, too, as kids make cool things. You'll see some of
them
on this page...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/21/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: MERCY
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-Houston Dinner a Success
* U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN KILLING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS
* PENTAGON SETS PROBE OF GENERAL'S ISLAM COMMENTS (Reuters)
- CAIR Reacts to Announcement of Pentagon Investigation
- Conservatives Defend Boykin's War Remarks (AP)
- Wrong and Divisive (Washington Post)
- Rumsfeld’s Crusader (Washington Post)
- With This U.S. General, Who Needs Enemies? (Newsday)
* MUSLIMS CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF WHITE HOUSE IFTAR (PIH)
* VA MUSLIM CHILDREN ADOPT-A-STREET
* PROF PARALLELS CIVIL RIGHTS OF '50S, TODAY (Mich. Daily)
- Patriot Act Uniting Ethnic Minorities (Chicago Tribune)
* HILL BRIEFING ON USS LIBERTY WILL REVEAL COVER-UP (IAK)
* IRAQIS PROTEST INSENSITIVE DOG SEARCH BY US TROOPS (Reuters)
- Iraq: Civilian Deaths Need U.S. Investigation (HRW)
* WHERE THE MOORS HELD SWAY, ALLAH IS PRAISED AGAIN (NY Times)
* AMA/AMC MERGER RESCINDED
* BEHIND GEOGRAPHIC TV'S LOOK INSIDE MECCA (National Geo.)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MERCY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) quoted God as saying: "I
accept
the prayer of one who...spends the day remembering Me; and who is
merciful
to the poor, the wayfarer and widows; and who is merciful to one who is
suffering from an infliction. (That person) has a light like the light
of
the sun. I protect him by My Glory and angels guard over him. I give
him
light in darkness and sobriety in the presence of ignorance."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 89
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6947 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6947 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
SEE ALSO:
500 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-HOUSTON DINNER
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/21/2003) – The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
today said almost 500 people turned out for the annual fundraising
banquet
of its Houston office (CAIR-Houston) on October 17.
Keynote speakers Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Brooklyn N.Y.,
CAIR National Board Chairman Omar Ahmed and CAIR Communications
Director
Ibrahim Hooper. Dinner attendees included representatives from the
mayors
office, the EEOC, the Department of Justice and candidates running for
various city offices.
CAIR-Houston
5821 South West Freeway Suite 304
Houston, TX 77057
Tel: 713-838-CAIR-(2247)
Fax: 713-838-2250
E-mail: cair@cairhouston.org
URL: http://www.cairhouston.org
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN KILLING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS
Islamic civil rights group decries administration’s ‘double standard’
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/21/2003) – A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today condemned the recent killing of Palestinian
civilians in a series of Israeli assassination attempts and said the
Bush
administration is using a “double standard” in its reaction to civilian
deaths in the Middle East conflict.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
in a
statement:
“Israel’s American-supplied and financed aircraft raided densely
populated
areas of the Gaza Strip five times on Monday, killing 10 civilians,
including a doctor and a 12-year-old boy. More than 100 Palestinians
were
wounded, many seriously.
“When Israelis are attacked, our government rightly reacts with
statements
of outrage and anger. But when Palestinian civilians are killed, the
response from this administration is either silence or to offer
justifications for Israeli brutality. It is this double standard on
human
life that fuels mistrust of America’s policies and intentions in the
Middle
East and the Muslim world.
“There should be only one standard for condemning terrorism, whether it
is
carried out by an individual, a group or a state, even if that state is
an
ally.”
The statement noted that CAIR has condemned terror attacks on Israeli
civilians and has been consistent in its repudiation of terrorism in
all
its forms.
CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 23 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
PENTAGON SETS PROBE OF US GENERAL'S ISLAM COMMENTS
Reuters, 10/21/03
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3659167
WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Tuesday the
Pentagon would launch an internal investigation into comments about
Islam
made by a senior military intelligence official.
During a Pentagon briefing, Rumsfeld said the investigation came at the
request of Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who has been sharply
criticized by
some Democrats and religious and civil rights groups.
Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and
war-fighting
support, made comments at churches and prayer breakfasts that cast the
U.S.
war on terrorism in starkly religious terms, saying in one speech that
Muslims worship an "idol" and not a "real God."
Rumsfeld said "I think it's appropriate" to have such an investigation,
possibly to be carried out by the Army and Defense Department inspector
general's offices. He did not reveal the scope of the probe or indicate
if
he believed Boykin had done anything wrong.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR REACTS TO ANNOUNCEMENT OF PENTAGON INVESTIGATION
"We appreciate the Pentagon's willingness to investigate General
Boykin's
extremist remarks about Islam," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad
Awad.
"But we reiterate our call for his reassignment to a position that will
not
provide an opportunity to further harm America's image in the Muslim
world."
---
CONSERVATIVES DEFEND BOYKIN'S WAR REMARKS
Libby Quaid, Associated Press, 10/21/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V3625.AP-G
eneral-Religio.html
WASHINGTON - Religious conservatives in Congress are defending a
Pentagon
general who referred to the war on terror as a Christian fight against
Satan.
In remarks many consider demeaning to Islam, Army Lt. Gen. William G.
Boykin has told church audiences his mission is ``a battle with
Satan.''
The struggle, Boykin said, is ``because we're a Christian nation,
because
our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian ... and the enemy is a
guy
named Satan.''
Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., drafted a letter Monday asking Defense
Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld not to discipline Boykin, saying that elected
officials
and military leaders have talked about God and spiritual matters
throughout
U.S. history.
``As elected officials serving in the United States Congress, we
recognize
the vital importance our personal faiths play in helping us make
decisions,'' Tiahrt wrote. ``We ask that any actions taken in response
to
Lt. Gen. Boykin's remarks not, in any way, intimidate the free
religious
exercise of his faith...''
The general apologized Friday to those offended by his comments...
---
WRONG AND DIVISIVE
Washington Post, 10/21/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56393-2003Oct20.html
PRESIDENT BUSH rightly took issue yesterday with the anti-Semitic
comments
of Malaysia's prime minister…Would that Mr. Bush's sense of outrage at
religiously inflammatory remarks was so finely tuned when it comes to
members of his own administration. Thus far he has found nothing to
criticize in remarks disparaging of Islam by Lt. Gen. William G.
"Jerry"
Boykin, his deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence...
---
RUMSFELD'S CRUSADER
Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 10/21/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56392-2003Oct20.html
The position Boykin holds -- deputy undersecretary for intelligence --
is
one in which he would have to interact routinely with Pakistanis,
Egyptians, Afghans, Indonesians and other Muslims from all over the
world.
Will he be effective in establishing close working relationships with
these
officials, who have all watched him slur their religion? Is this a man
who
will be able to objectively sift through intelligence and analysis
about
the state of Muslim societies, the difference between moderates and
extremists, the distinctions among various fundamentalist groups? Or
does
he look at them all and see . . . Satan?
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Boykin's remark was its utter
ignorance. Compare Boykin's crude machismo about "my God" being bigger
than
"his God" to Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman's eloquent -- and historically
accurate -- remarks last Friday to an Arab American group. "We meet
here
today not as Muslims or Christians or Jews," Lieberman said, "not as
people
of Arab or European descent or African or Asian descent. . . . We are
children of the same God and of the same father, Abraham. We are quite
literally brothers and sisters." That is the message America should
send to
the world. And it will cost us nothing.
---
WITH THIS U.S. GENERAL, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
Clarence Page, Newsday, 10/21/03
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-vpqpag213503445oct21,0,5842811.story
Osama bin Laden has said he is engaged in a holy war with the United
States. For the general who is now charged with finding him, the
feeling is
mutual - and the general is not making any secret of it.
Army Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" G. Boykin has made several speeches -
some in
uniform - at evangelical Christian churches in which he casts the war
on
terrorism in terms that sound downright apocalyptic.
Islamic extremists hate the United States, "because we're a Christian
nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian,"
Boykin
said, while appearing in dress uniform before a religious group in
Oregon
in June. "And the enemy is a guy named Satan." Oh, yes. That guy again.
Some of us remember when Iran's late Ayatollah Khomeini called America
"the
Great Satan." We thought he was being extreme...
-----
MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF WHITE HOUSE IFTAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 21, 2003
A coalition of prominent national Muslims organizations, Imams and
activists are calling for a boycott of President George W. Bush 2003
Ramadan Iftaar Dinner at The White House.
"President Bush and his administrations failure to address American
Muslims
domestic and foreign policy concerns can no longer be accepted.
President Bush's public statements have consistently portrayed Islam as
a
peaceful religion that has been hijacked by the forces of terrorism.
But
his official policies have done little to mark that distinction.
The White House recess appointment of Daniel Pipes to the board of
directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace, was a slap in the face to the
Muslim community. Pipes has a long documented history of being
anti-Muslim
and a number of Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and interfaith all opposed
the
nomination of Pipes.
A number of editorial boards including the Washington Post and the
Chicago
Tribune, urged the Bush administration to rescind the appointment.
Bush's Defense Department invited the Rev Franklin Graham, to deliver
the
2003 Good Friday homily at the Pentagon. Graham calls Islam a "Very
evil
and wicked religion" bent on "world domination." Many Islamic groups
urged
the Pentagon chaplain's office to disinvite the Islamaphobic clergyman,
but
to no avail.
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin whose promotion and confirmation was
confirmed
by the Senate in June, has said publicly that he sees the war on
terrorism
as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan,( Islam) The Bush
administration has refused to have this officer reassigned
The Bush administration unfair foreign policy is responsible for the
deaths
of innocent Muslims overseas.
Muslim American leadership should send a message to President Bush that
we
will no longer suffer and be mistreated by his administrations unfair
domestic and foreign policies.
We are urging all Muslim leaders who will receive an invitation by the
White House for President Bush's upcoming 2003 Iftaar dinner to decline
the
invitation, and support our boycott of this event. Let President Bush
eat
by himself at his Ramadan dinner.
CONTACT INFO: Project Islamic H.O.P.E.
Rashad Ali (323) 769-5267
Boycott sponsors: Project Islamic H.O.P.E.; Muslim Electorate's Council
of
America; The ILM Foundation; Masjid Ibaadillah.
-----
VA MUSLIM CHILDREN ADOPT-A-STREET
Students of Al Fatih Academy will be formally adopting Adams St., the
road
directly in front of the school in Herndon. On Wednesday morning
official
inauguration of the program will be held with a sign being placed by
the
Town of Herndon Forester and other Town Council members.
This Adopt a Road program is part of the Kids Giving Salaam campaign of
Al
Fatih Academy. The objective of the campaign is to teach the value and
importance of stewardship and community service.
On the web: http://www.alfatih.org/
-----
PROF PARALLELS CIVIL RIGHTS OF '50S, TODAY
Evan McGarvey and Nura Sediqe, Michigan Daily, 10/21/03
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/21/3f94bde50d365
Massive detainments, ethnic profiling and loss of civil liberties are
just
a few of the new realities of the U.S. government.
This was the message of David Cole, a Georgetown University law
professor
who spoke yesterday in a lecture titled "Freedom and Terror: September
11th
and the 21st Century Challenge."
Cole addressed parallels between the first Communist red scare, the
McCarthy era and present day Patriot Act. Cole outlined the history of
governmental regulations on liberties and stressed the urgency of
reexamining current legislation.
"We are entering into a new age of McCarthyism, repeating history with
terrorism," Cole said.
In an analysis of the first red scare, Cole said that the removal of
civil
liberties began with foreign nationals, or non-U.S. citizens, living in
the
United States.
Only after the rights of foreign nationals were affected did the
government
target citizens, Cole said. He added that this situation could repeat
itself now, as foreign nationals are the most drastically affected
group by
the Patriot Act.
"What the government is doing is sacrificing (foreign nationals')
rights
for (citizens') security," Cole said...
SEE ALSO:
PATRIOT ACT UNITING ETHNIC MINORITIES
John Biemer and Manya Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 10/21/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0310210250oct21,1,5635913.
story
Racial profiling is nothing new, but the belief that the Sept. 11
terrorist
attacks two years ago fostered more profiling, and more widespread
public
acceptance of it, is bringing together ethnic minorities and immigrants
in
what some describe as a shift in the civil rights movement.
At recent hearings in Chicago--part of a national fact-finding campaign
examining profiling--witnesses included not just those typically
perceived
to be victims, such as African-Americans, but also recent immigrants
from
far-flung parts of the world.
They are people who might ordinarily think they have little in common,
other than the persecution they say they have experienced in the past
due
to the Patriot Act and other measures to combat terrorism...
-----
FIRST-EVER CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING ON USS LIBERTY WILL REVEAL COVER-UP
WHAT: On June 8th, 1967 Israel attacked the USS Liberty, an American
navy
ship, killing 34 American sailors. Israel has alleged, and the U.S.
government has agreed, that the attack was a mistake.
The attack on the USS Liberty happened 36 years ago but proof of the
cover-up has not been available until now. The reasons for the attack –
as
well as the cover-up – have dramatic implications for the American
people.
The first-ever Capitol Hill briefing will reveal that a cover-up of
this
deliberate attack was ordered by the White House. Officials from the
highest levels of the military and government will be present.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 12:30 to 1:30 pm, optional video
to
follow
WHERE: Rayburn Building, Room 2186 The Gold Room, Washington, D.C.
CONTACT INFO: Scott Campbell at 510-655-0100 or Alison Weir at
415-847-1782, http://www.ifamericansknew.org
-----
IRAQIS PROTEST INSENSITIVE DOG SEARCH BY US TROOPS
Michael Georgy, Reuters, 10/21/03
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3658857
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - A sniffer dog search sparked an anti-U.S.
protest in Baghdad Tuesday amid accusations of American insensitivity
to
Islamic culture.
"Down, down USA," shouted thousands of government employees angered by
the
detention of a woman who refused to be searched by U.S. soldiers using
a
sniffer dog at the Oil Ministry in Baghdad.
Soldiers fired a few shots in the air to disperse the workers from the
Oil
Ministry and nearby ministries.
"I have been coming here for 27 years and now they (Americans) are
searching us with dogs. We are Muslims," Saadiya Ahmad, an oil ministry
engineer said.
Dogs are considered unclean in Islamic culture.
"We don't just want the dogs to leave. We want the dogs who are holding
the
dogs to leave, every last one of them," said one employee, Nazir
Mohammed.
SEE ALSO:
IRAQ: CIVILIAN DEATHS NEED U.S. INVESTIGATION
Human Rights Watch, 10/21/03
http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/10/iraq102103.htm
(New York) The U.S. military is failing to conduct proper
investigations
into civilian deaths resulting from the excessive or indiscriminate use
of
force in Baghdad, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released
today.
The 56-page report, Hearts and Minds: Post-War Civilian Casualties in
Baghdad by U.S. Forces, confirms twenty deaths in the Iraqi capital
alone
between May 1 and September 30. In total, Human Rights Watch collected
credible reports of 94 civilian deaths in Baghdad, involving
questionable
legal circumstances that warrant investigation. This number does not
include civilians wounded by U.S. troops. The precise number of Iraqi
civilians killed by U.S. soldiers since the end of major military
operations is unknown, and the U.S. military told Human Rights Watch
that
it keeps no statistics on civilian deaths...
-----
WHERE THE MOORS HELD SWAY, ALLAH IS PRAISED AGAIN
Craig S. Smith, New York Times, 10/21/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/international/europe/21GRAN.html
GRANADA, Spain — Muslims are back in this ancient Moorish stronghold,
the
last bastion of Islam in Spain before the 15th-century emir Boabdil
kissed
King Ferdinand's hand and relinquished the city with a legendary sigh.
But the row of men kneeling in prayer at the city's new mosque, the
first
built here in more than 500 years, are not modern-day Moors; they are
well-educated European converts.
"We've come to offer society the only alternative that exists to lead
it
out of chaos," declared one of the community's founders, Hajj
Abdulhasib
Casti�eira, a tall, bearded Spaniard in a glen plaid jacket and suede
brogues.
While immigration is gradually spreading Islam across Europe, a
homegrown
movement is giving it added momentum in Spain, where a generation of
post-Franco intellectuals are reassessing the country's Moorish past
and
recasting Spanish identity to include Islamic influences rejected as
heretical centuries ago...
The movement has its roots, not in the austere Islamic fundamentalism
that
dominates popular Western imagination these days, but in the Beat
Generation and the hippies who pursued spiritual quests to Morocco when
it
was a counterculturalist Mecca of sun, sand and cheap hashish...
-----
AMA/AMC MERGER RESCINDED
(NEWARK, CA - 10/16/03) - The Board of Directors of the American Muslim
Alliance (AMA) has rescinded its earlier decision to join the American
Muslim Council (AMC) to create a new entity under the name of Muslim
American Congress (MAC).
Although the two sides had made some initial progress in discussions,
the
process was not completed.
The AMA statement reads:
"After due deliberation we have concluded that in view of the recent
developments we must rescind our earlier decision to join the American
Muslim Council (AMC) in creating a new unified entity."
"The American Muslim Alliance (AMA) prides itself at being a mainstream
organization inspired by the ideals of liberty, freedom and justice for
all, and it will continue to work for greater unity aimed at protecting
human dignity and promoting common good."
-----
MECCA: BEHIND GEOGRAPHIC TV'S RARE LOOK INSIDE
Brian Handwerk, National Geographic News, 10/20/03
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1020_031020_meccahajj.html
The National Geographic Television documentary Inside Mecca premieres
in
the United States on Wednesday, October 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on PBS.
One out of every five people on Earth, or some 1.3 billion, practice
Islam.
Over 80 percent of these Muslims live outside the Middle East.
While followers of Islam are scattered around the globe, they share a
single spiritual center—Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslim faithful throughout
the
world face Mecca during their five daily prayer sessions, and each year
two
million Muslims visit the holy city during the hajj, a sacred
pilgrimage
that represents the religious experience of a lifetime.
Radiant with faith, a sea of Muslims gathers in prayer in and around
Mecca's Grand Mosque. At the center of this huge mosque's central
courtyard
is the Ka'abah, the ancient cube-shaped structure that is Islam's
holiest
shrine
National Geographic Television follows three Muslims from very
different
backgrounds as they take part in the hajj, the annual Islamic
pilgrimage to
Mecca. Inside Mecca premieres in the United States on Wednesday,
October
22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on PBS...
COMMENTS CAN BE SENT TO:
ngt@nationalgeographic.com
For more information on this program please see:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
-----
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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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Any addresses you wish to be added to CAIR-NET may also be sent to:
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PLEASE FORWARD this message to your personal e-mail list, newsgroups,
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-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR RAMADAN PUBLICITY KIT NOW ONLINE
Communities offered tips on informing others about fast
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/22/2003) – The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today announced that its “Ramadan 2003 Publicity Kit” is now
online
and ready to be used by local Muslim communities.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the
kit
is designed to assist those communities in offering people of all
faiths
accurate information about the month-long fast of Ramadan and Eid
ul-Fitr,
the holiday at the end of the fast.
The kit contains:
* Ramadan story ideas such as food drives for the homeless, families
shopping for Eid clothes, the health benefits of fasting, and a child’s
first Ramadan fast,
* Talking points about Ramadan,
* A sample phone script for a call to a newspaper editor,
* Sample Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr and mosque open house news releases,
* Frequently asked questions about Ramadan, mosques and Islam,
* Steps required to hold a mosque open house.
“We hope that the information and advice contained in the Ramadan
publicity
kit will help generate positive local media coverage of the Muslim
community and promote a better understanding of Islam,” said Rabiah
Ahmed,
CAIR communications coordinator.
To download a PDF file of CAIR’s “Ramadan 2003 Publicity Kit,” go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramkit/
CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 23 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/22/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: BLESSED WEALTH
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: CRYING MOTHERS
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
- CAIR-FL Holds Town Hall Meeting
* BOTH BLACK AND MUSLIM IN AMERICA (Orlando Sentinel)
- Muslim Converts Speak (Michigan Daily)
* PENTAGON REJECTS CALLS TO REASSIGN GENERAL (AP)
- The General Who Roared (New York Times)
- Conyers To Rumsfeld: IG Review Insufficient
* IN U.S. AND MUSLIM WORLD, WE MUST CONTROL HATE (CT)
- The Return of Arabophobia (Observer)
* MUSLIM CHARTER SCHOOL HEAD SUES ADL FOR LIBEL (Bulletin)
* ISRAEL TO BUILD WALL DESPITE U.N. DEMANDS (AP)
- Photographer Alleges Israel Troop Beating (AP)
- Israeli Workers Damage Byzantine Site (AP)
- Bush Lauds "Great Faith" Islam (Reuters)
* IRAQ WAR PLANNER DOWNPLAYS ROLE (Washington Post)
* MUSLIM MONTH OF RAMADAN TO BEGIN (Armed Forces Press)
- Ramadan Busy for Halal Meat Store (AJC)
* OH MOM REGAINS CUSTODY (Beacon Journal)
- NY Restaurateur Fights Cabaret Law (Journal News)
* PBS: MAKING THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA (Record)
* VA CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM ON HOMELAND SECURITY
- VA Candidates to Visit Islamic Center
* VIGIL EVERY FRIDAY AT JUSTICE DEPT
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: BLESSED WEALTH
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Blessed is the wealth
of a
Muslim from which he gives to the poor, to orphans and to needy
travelers."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 544
The Prophet also said: "Charity given to a relative it serves a double
purpose, being both charity and a connecting link."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 606
---
QUOTE OF THE DAY: CRYING MOTHERS
"It's preferable for Palestinian mothers to cry than Israeli mothers."
Israeli Military Intelligence commander Major General Aharon Ze'evi,
Haaretz, 10/22/03
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6949 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING
Associated Press, 10/22/03
JACKSONVILLE -- 7 p.m., Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations and the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights
and
law enforcement groups hold a town hall meeting on how America and
Florida
have changed since Sept. 11. University of North Florida Fine Arts
Building, Recital Hall, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Contact: Laura D'Alisera, 904-620-2844
-----
NEW FAITH, OLD HURDLES
To be both black and Muslim in America means dealing with prejudices on
two
fronts while embracing a spiritual journey.
Mark I. Pinsky, Orlando Sentinel, 10/22/03
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-livmuslims22102203oct2
2,1,719905.story
One by one, at sundown, they trickle into the simple building in the
downtown strip of small manufacturing plants, homeless shelters and
vacant
lots: a bus driver, a homemaker, a martial-arts instructor, a salesman.
After long days they have come to learn a new language, a skill that
will
ease their way along a new path. They need to be fluent to fit into the
lives they have chosen. But they are not immigrants, and it is not
English
they study twice a week.
They are African-Americans, and they are studying Arabic at Masjid
Al-Haq
on West Central Boulevard in Orlando as part of their passage to the
Muslim
faith.
Learning Arabic is important for understanding the Quran, Islam's holy
scripture, says Imam Hatim Hamidullah, 50, the mosque's spiritual
leader.
Those who make the effort are more likely to be respected by those born
into the faith. The members of Masjid Al-Haq say they are looking
forward
to the monthlong fast called Ramadan, which begins Oct. 27. Like their
coreligionists around the world, African-American Muslims such as Kevin
Fuller and Aminah Hamidullah -- wife of the imam -- will refrain from
food,
drink, smoking, secular music and sexual activity during daylight
hours.
Instead, they'll devote their days to prayer, introspection and
charity. In
the evening, they'll feast in their homes or in large groups with other
Muslims. The end of Ramadan is marked by a large celebration called Eid
al-Fitr.
Despite the restrictions of the month, Muslims such as Aminah
Hamidullah,
46, a business manager for an Orlando public school, view the arrival
of
Ramadan like the arrival of a long-lost friend. "I cannot wait for
Ramadan
to get here," she says. "It reminds me I have a closer relationship
with
Allah."
Fuller and Hamidullah acknowledge that it can be a challenge to be both
black and Muslim in America today. Asked which is more difficult, each
pauses.
"It's a double whammy," says Fuller, 32, who spent seven years in the
Army
with an artillery battery, including separate tours in Operation Desert
Storm in Iraq and, later, in Kuwait.
When he is walking in his neighborhood with his wife, who wears
traditional
Muslim dress, he says, he gets "that stare -- the ones that don't look
you
in the eye."
"They don't acknowledge that you're walking the Earth," he says. Though
he
is proud to be a Muslim, Fuller says, he doesn't broadcast it.
Aminah Hamidullah thinks there is a difference in the two types of
prejudice.
"The racial prejudice is more ingrained than the anti-Islamic
prejudice,"
she says. "It's harder for me to be black…"
SEE ALSO:
ISLAM CONVERTS SPEAK ON HOW THEY FOUND RELIGION
Karen Schwartz, Michigan Daily, 10/22/03
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/22/3f960929abaeb
LSA sophomore Michael Dann was raised as a Christian, going to church
and
Sunday school in Amherst, Mass., as was his family's tradition. But
four
years ago, he decided he was destined for a different path. Dann
converted
to Islam, which he said has changed his life.
Dann said he went from being involved in "the drug culture" and party
scene
in junior high school to looking for something more in life - thanks to
the
example set by his tennis coach, a black Muslim man from New Jersey...
Dann, who also goes by Abdullah, which means "servant of God," helped
organize a panel held last night in Hutchins Hall as part of Islam
Awareness Week. The panel featured testimonies from three people who
converted to Islam, who told an audience of 50 their stories and
answered
questions about their experiences with the religion...
-----
PENTAGON REJECTS CALLS TO REASSIGN GENERAL
MATT KELLEY, Associated Press, 10/22/03
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Wednesday repudiated the comments
of a
top Pentagon general who made speeches at churches casting the war on
terrorism in religious terms.
Bush, talking to reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Australia,
said
he discussed the comments of Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin with Muslim
leaders in Indonesia.
“I said he didn't reflect my opinion,” Bush said. “Look, it just
doesn't
reflect what the government thinks. And I think they were pleased to
hear
that.”
Bush's comments notwithstanding, the Pentagon brushed aside
congressional
calls to temporarily reassign Boykin while an internal investigation
into
his statements ensues.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the probe Tuesday into
the
comments by Boykin, the deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence.
The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen.
John
Warner of Va., and other members of Congress had called for Boykin to
take
another job during the investigation.
That isn't going to happen, said Rumsfeld's spokesman, Larry Di Rita.
“Nobody's thinking about asking him to step aside,” Di Rita told
reporters
Wednesday.
Boykin came under criticism last week when reports surfaced of his
comments
during several speeches at evangelical Christian churches. Boykin said
the
enemy in the war on terrorism was Satan, that God had put Bush in the
White
House and called one Muslim Somali warlord an idol-worshipper…
SEE ALSO:
THE GENERAL WHO ROARED
New York Times, 10/22/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/opinion/22WED2.html
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced yesterday that the Pentagon
was
investigating speeches in churches by a high-ranking Defense Department
official who called the war on terrorism a Christian battle against
Satan
and disparaged a Muslim adversary as an idol worshiper. The inquiry
seems
like a waste of time. Mr. Rumsfeld should remove the officer, Lt. Gen.
William Boykin, as deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence,
where he leads the effort to capture the people on a most-wanted list
headed by Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
General Boykin has made a practice of speaking about his job from the
pulpit while wearing his uniform. The Los Angeles Times reported last
week
that he had told a congregation in Oregon that he was leading a
"spiritual
battle" against Satan. The only way for the United States, "a Christian
nation," to defeat terrorists is to "come against them in the name of
Jesus," he said.
This is not a debate about General Boykin's religious views, as his
conservative defenders say, or about free speech. The question of what
military rule he may have violated — which is what the Pentagon inquiry
may
seize on — is a distraction...
---
CONYERS TO RUMSFELD: IG REVIEW INSUFFICIENT
PRESS RELEASE
Congressman John Conyers, Jr
Fourteenth District, Michigan
Ranking Member
FOR RELEASE- 10/21/03
CONTACT: Kanya Bennett, Michelle Persaud, 202-225-6906
Today’s Statement by Secretary Rumsfeld announcing an Inspector General
review of General Boykin’s statements misses the mark by a wide margin
and
is insufficient to deal with the growing controversy. Regardless of
whether or not there are any technical violations of the Military Code
of
Justice, what we need from the Administration now is a clear and
resolute
condemnation of remarks which are hateful and racist in nature and
content.
The fact that General Boykin, our lead military official in charge of
rooting out terrorism, can be permitted to spew invectives which
undermine
not only our friends and allies, but millions of our own citizens
without
being reassigned from his sensitive position is shameful.
Just yesterday the President clearly criticized the Prime Minister of
Malaysia for his anti-Semitic remarks. I support and agree with his
criticisms. Now the Administration needs to show us that they are
willing
to condemn racism within our own military.
------
BOTH IN U.S. AND MUSLIM WORLD, WE MUST CONTROL THOSE WHO CULTIVATE
HATRED
Adam Pollock, Citizen Times, 10/21/03
http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/columnist/43763
Two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States,
relations
between the U.S. and the Muslim world have deteriorated to one of their
lowest points in recent history.
During these two years of mismanaged executive power, the Bush
administration has created a dangerous and uncertain climate of
perpetual
warfare inside the predominantly Arab nation of Iraq that has caused
the
deaths of more than 7,000 Iraqi civilians and hundreds of U.S.
soldiers.
It has detained or otherwise harassed Muslim immigrants to the U.S.,
often
without providing sufficient justification.
The administration has created an illegal military prison for suspected
terrorists in Cuba, placing hundreds of Muslims and others in legal
limbo.
It has shut down Muslim charities suspected of having ties with
terrorism,
rarely citing specific reasons for such action...
ALSO SEE:
THE RETURN OF ARABOPHOBIA
Neil Clark, Observer, 10/19/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1066569,00.html
First, they tried to dismiss Iraqi resistance as the work of "Saddam
loyalists". Then they sought to blame "outside forces". Now, as it
becomes
clear that Iraqis of all sects oppose the occupation, a third
explanation
has arisen. Terrorism, anarchy and criminality are prevalent in Iraq
because ... er ... terrorism, anarchy and criminality are what Iraqis
do.
Arabophobia has been part of western culture since the Crusades, with
Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden only the latest in a long line of
Arab
bogeymen. For centuries the Arab has played the role of villain,
seducer of
our women, hustler and thief - the barbarian lurking at the gates of
civilization.
In the 20th century new images emerged: the fanatical terrorist, the
stone-thrower, the suicide bomber. Now, as the Project for a New
American
Century suffers its first major setback in the back streets of Baghdad
and
Basra, Arabophobia has been given a new lease of life. "I read TE
Lawrence
before I came here," a British officer was quoted in the Mail on
Sunday...
-----
FORMER MUSLIM CHARTER SCHOOL HEAD SUES ADL FOR LIBEL
Joe Eskenzi, Jewish Bulletin, 10/22/03
http://www.jewishsf.com/bk030207/us03.shtml
The former superintendent of a Muslim charter school system accused by
The
ADL of having ties to terrorist groups has replied by suing the local
branch of the Anti-Defamation League and its director for libel.
In a January 2002 letter to Delaine Eastin, then-state superintendent
of
schools, ADL regional director Jonathan Bernstein requested the
Fresno-based Gateway Schools' charter be revoked.
He claimed that Gateway's superintendent, Khadijah Ghafur, is an
officer of
Muslims of the Americas, "a virulently anti-Semitic extremist group"
founded by El Sheikh Sayyid Mubarik Ali Jilani of Pakistan.
In January of last year, the schools' charter was indeed revoked by the
Fresno Unified School District. The district claimed Gateway -- which
operated as many as 14 schools between Pomona and Oakland -- amassed
$1.3
million in debt, failed to run criminal background checks on its
employees,
and hired uncredentialed teachers and staff.
At the time, Ghafur blamed anti-Muslim hysteria for the schools'
demise.
Bernstein's letter linked Ghafur to the Pakistani-based terror group
al-Fuqra, which was also founded by Jilani, the man Wall Street Journal
reporter Daniel Pearl was scheduled to meet when he was kidnapped and
subsequently murdered in Pakistan last year. Jilani is currently in
Pakistani custody, appealing a death sentence handed down after the
Pearl
trial...
-----
ISRAEL TO BUILD WALL DESPITE U.N. DEMANDS
Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press, 10/22/03
http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/10/22/wall/
UNITED NATIONS - In a decision seen as a gauge of world opinion, the
U.N.
General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution demanding that
Israel
tear down a barrier that it says is needed to protect it from suicide
bombers, but that Palestinians call a land grab.
Israeli officials said Wednesday that construction of the fence would
continue, while Palestinians applauded the U.N. decision.
The resolution approved late Tuesday isn't legally binding, but after
more
than six hours of extraordinary public negotiations, it not only won
support from the European Union but was submitted for a vote by the
15-nation bloc, which is one of the sponsors of the ``road map'' peace
plan.
In return for EU support, the Palestinians and their supporters agreed
to
drop a second resolution that would have asked the International Court
of
Justice at The Hague, Netherlands, for an advisory opinion on the
legality
of the barrier...
ALSO SEE:
PHOTOGRAPHER ALLEGES ISRAEL TROOP BEATING
Associated Press, 10/21/03
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/7070237.htm
JERUSALEM - A Palestinian freelance photographer said he was beaten by
Israeli troops Tuesday as he took pictures of a soldier striking a man
allegedly violating a military curfew.
The military said it would investigate the photographer's complaint.
``On
the face of it, the charges are very serious and if they prove to be
true
we will not hesitate to take action against those involved. This does
not
represent the army or orders given to soldiers,'' a military official
in
the Israeli army spokesman's office said.
The photographer, Majdi Mohammed, who works on occasional assignment
for
The Associated Press, said the incident took place Tuesday near the
West
Bank city of Nablus and that troops also destroyed some of his
equipment.
Mohammed said he was wearing a vest on which the word ``press'' was
clearly
written in English and Hebrew...
---
ISRAELI WORKERS DAMAGE BYZANTINE SITE
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 10/22/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V5263.AP-Israe
l-Byzantin.html
JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Ministry workers damaged an ancient
Christian
archaeological site while building a security barrier around Jerusalem,
the
Antiquities Authority said Tuesday, and work was briefly halted.
Israel's government has ordered a speedup in construction of the
barrier,
and the haste led to the damage, according to archaeologist Yehiel
Zelinger
from the Antiquities Authority.
The barrier is designed to cut Israel off from the West Bank, an
attempt to
block Palestinian suicide bombers and other attackers from entering.
The
project has come under stiff criticism because it dips into the West
Bank,
and near Jerusalem, it cuts through Palestinian villages.
In its rush, the Defense Ministry sent workers with bulldozers into the
town of Abu Dis and started work, without coordinating with the
Antiquities
Authority, he said, and the earth work damaged an ancient Byzantine-era
archaeological site containing a monastery. The Defense Ministry denied
the
charge...
-----
IRAQ WAR PLANNER DOWNPLAYS ROLE
Thomas E. Ricks, Washington Post, 10/22/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61603-2003Oct21.html
In normal times, the chief of the Pentagon's office for Middle Eastern
policy toils in obscurity, a third-level functionary hardly noticed
inside
the building, let alone outside it.
Not so Deputy Undersecretary William J. Luti. The day-to-day manager of
the
Defense Department's Iraq policy, he has the highest profile of anyone
to
ever hold his post.
A recent Google search uncovered 1,340 Internet hits mentioning him,
many
of them depicting him as a stealthy Svengali of Iraq policy, operating
at
the center of a network connecting Vice President Cheney, former House
speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
Douglas J. Feith -- all people for whom Luti has worked in the past
seven
years. Some Web sites associated with fringe political player Lyndon H.
LaRouche Jr. attack him in lurid terms as an "ignoble liar" and
"Satan."
The critics are especially suspicious of his Office of Special Plans,
which
was created last year. The purposely ambiguous title -- it was an
office to
work on policy for invading Iraq -- gave rise to speculation that Luti
was
running a shadowy intelligence operation intended to second-guess the
CIA
and provide the Pentagon with findings that supported its policies. The
office has since been closed...
-----
MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN TO BEGIN
Rabia Jami, American Forces Press Service, 10/20/03
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2003/n10202003_2003102011.html
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2003 - More than 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide
will
celebrate the start of Ramadan, Islam's holy month of fasting, on the
October 26 or 27. The start and end dates for Ramadan may vary because
the
beginning of Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the
new
moon.
Followers of Islam believe that during Ramadan, heaven's gates are wide
open and hell's gates are locked shut. In the Quran, the Muslim holy
book,
it is said "You may eat and drink until the white thread of light
becomes
distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall
fast
until the 'layl' (night)."
During the fasting month, Muslims eat a small meal prior to each
morning's
dawn. They then abstain from food, drink and other physical pleasures
during the daylight hours. Believers end their fast just after sunset.
Often this meal is taken at a cheerful gathering of family, friends or
other community members.
In the evening, many Muslims attend "taraweeh" prayer at their local
mosque. This prayer involves the recitation of one thirtieth of the
Quran.
By going to these prayers each night, a Muslim will hear the entire
book
recited by the end of the month...
ALSO SEE:
ONSET OF RAMADAN BRINGS BUSY TIMES FOR HALAL MEAT STORE
Jill Sabulis, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 10/22/03
http://www.ajc.com/wednesday/content/epaper/editions/wednesday/atlanta_world
_f3590d8ec3a6609f00b3.html
The average grocer might fear for the bottom line if most of his
customers
went without food from sunrise to sunset for almost 10 percent of every
year.
But that's not the case with two Marietta grocery store owners catering
to
the area's Muslim population. Saira Razzak and Salman Khan, owners of
Bismillah Halal Meat, say the busiest time of year for them is Ramadan,
the
monthlong period when Islam requires its adherents to fast during
daylight
hours. Muslims believe that Ramadan is the period during which portions
of
the Quran were revealed by Allah to the prophet Muhammad early in the
seventh century. The month of fasting is one of the five pillars of
Islam.
Muslims preparing for the start of Ramadan, which begins this year with
the
next full moon (expected Monday), are shoppers in hyperdrive, Khan
says.
When it's time to break the fast each day at dusk, the dishes served
are
top-of-the-line. And that means stocking up beforehand...
-----
MOM REGAINS CUSTODY
Carl Chancellor, Beacon Journal, 10/22/03
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/7071044.htm
It has been a little more than 20 weeks since Michele Swensen has been
allowed to tuck her three children into bed.
Swensen's unwanted status as a part-time mom finally came to an end
Tuesday
when a Portage County magistrate returned legal custody of her young
children -- Amina, 6, Layla, 5, and Sami, 3.
Portage County Juvenile Court Magistrate Joseph Szymanski agreed with
social workers from the Portage County Department of Job and Family
Services, the county prosecutor, and the lawyer representing the
children's
interests, that Swensen, 33, be reunited with her children.
``I'm ecstatic. This is awesome,'' Swensen, of Kent, said after the
ruling.
Swensen was at one of her lowest points last June. She had to be
hospitalized for severe depression, brought on in part by the jailing
of
her husband seven months earlier on FBI suspicions that he was a Muslim
extremist with ties to alleged terrorists...
-----
OSSINING RESTAURANT OWNER FIGHTS CABARET LAW IN COURT
Marcela Rojas, Journal News, 10/21/03
http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/102103/b01p21maisonsuit.html
WHITE PLAINS — A Muslim doctor and owner of a popular French restaurant
in
Ossining is suing town officials in federal court, claiming that
attempts
by the town to enforce its cabaret law are unconstitutional and
discriminatory.
Dr. Syed Nayeem of New Rochelle took ownership of Maison Lafitte in
February 2001. He said that shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks the town began cracking down on events that involved live
music.
Specifically, he cited a Sept. 14, 2001, Indian wedding party during
which
neighbors complained of noise and inappropriate timing, believing that
it
was a Middle Eastern celebration.
Nayeem said that the previous owner, Giovanni Susech, who ran the venue
for
more than 30 years, had never had a cabaret license nor was he required
to
have one. Nayeem also maintains that other restaurants in the
unincorporated area of the town do not have a cabaret license and
frequently have live music.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson heard testimony from several
witnesses
yesterday, including waiters and musicians employed at the
establishment
for 20 to 30 years, who said that it wasn't until Nayeem took over
Maison
Lafitte that the trouble with having live music began...
-----
MAKING THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
Howard Lachtman, Record, 10/21/03
http://www.recordnet.com/articlelink/102103/lifestyle/articles/102103-l-1.ph
p
Although Islam and the Arab world are much in the news, television does
little to inform Americans about the Muslim faith or the political
history
of the Middle East.
PBS makes a notable contribution to our understanding of both Wednesday
night with back-to-back documentaries on the hajj, or annual pilgrimage
to
Mecca, and a profile of T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), the
British
officer who laid the foundation of modern Arab nationalism by
engineering a
desert revolt during World War I.
A National Geographic special produced by an all-Muslim crew led by
American producer Anisa Mehdi, "Inside Mecca" is a glimpse at the rites
and
obligations, the physical and emotional challenges of the sacred
pilgrimage.
The show follows pilgrims from Malaysia and South Africa, but its most
intriguing personality is Texan Fidelma O'Leary, a tall, green-eyed
blonde
who converted to Islam while in college. She stands out in the crowd
and,
as you might expect, sometimes has her credentials questioned...
-----
CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM ON HOMELAND SECURITY
WHAT: A Civil Rights Forum featuring speakers from Homeland Security,
the
FBI, Immigration Services, and the U.S. Attorney's Office will be held.
The
event will be open to the public, special emphasis on various
immigrants.
The event is sponsored by Community Resilience Project of Fairfax
County-Falls Church. The confirmed speakers are: Daniel Sutherland,
Officer
for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Dept. of Homeland Security;
Rebekah
Tosado, Attorney, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Dept. of
Homeland Security; Michael Rolince, Special Agent in Charge, National
Security Div., Washington Field Office, F.B.I; Kathleen Kennedy,
Assistant
Special Agent in Charge, NVRA, F.B.I.; Brian Miller, Assistant U.S.
Attorney, Counsel to the U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern
District of VA; Immigration and Customs Enforcement Directorate (ICE),
as
well as Bureau of Citizen and Immigration Services to be announced.
WHEN: Friday, October 24, 2003 at 7:30 sharp - 10 p.m.
WHERE: Fairfax County Government Center
The Board Auditorium
12000 Gov. Ctr. Parkway, Fairfax, VA
For more information Contact: Sharifa Alkhateeb (703-980-6333, and fax
703-726-1073, Email: sharifafema@hotmail.com
SEE ALSO:
VA LOCAL CANDIDATES TO VISIT ISLAMIC CENTER
WHAT: Come meet your local officials and candidates that include
Senators,
members of the Board of Education, Board of Supervisors, and Sheriff.
WHERE: Dar ul Hijrah Islamic Center, 3159 Row Street, Falls Church, VA
22044, 703-536-1030, www.hijrah.org
WHEN: Friday, October 24th, 6:30 pm (after Maghrib prayer)
-----
S.I.S.T.E.R.S VIGIL EVERY FRIDAY AT JUSTICE DEPT
On behalf of the wives and children of the recently detained young men
in
our community, a grass roots direct action campaign has been formed by
a
group of local Muslim women in order to support them with visits, phone
calls, transportation, and financial help, for which several
fundraising
projects are being implemented. S.I.S.T.E.R.S. (Sisters In Solidarity
To
End Repression, Secret Evidence, Spying, Search and Seizure)
Local Muslim women and some non-Muslim supporters, including at least
one
lawyer, will be standing at the Justice Department with signs in
protest of
the detentions, as well as literature to distribute to the lunch crowd.
WHEN: Every Friday, from 11:30 am- 12:30 pm
WHERE: Outside the Justice Department at 10th Street and Pennsylvania
Ave.
NOTE, There will be limited transportation from Dar al-Hijrah, but
please
try to carpool or take the Metro. The vigil will end at 12:30 sharp, so
please be on time and make this a priority to participate in at least
one
of the Friday vigils which will go on up until the mass trials on
November
17th.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
JOIN CAIR-NET TODAY
If you are not already a member of CAIR-NET, subscribe at:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
Any addresses you wish to be added to CAIR-NET may also be sent to:
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-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS DEMAND PROBE OF FLORIDIAN WITH TERROR TIES
South Florida resident openly promoted terrorist group
(MIAMI, FL, 10/23/2003) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today asked federal, state and
local
law enforcement authorities to investigate a South Florida resident who
allegedly supports and promotes groups designated as terrorist
organizations.
(CAIR-FL will hold a 10 a.m. news conference on this issue at its
Davie,
Fla., office on Friday, October 24. WHERE: 12535 Orange Drive, Suite
614,
Davie, Florida CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506)
Joe Kaufman (www.joe4rep.com), who heads the Florida-based Citizens
Against
Hate and is co-founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition of South
Florida,
has in the past promoted the terrorist organizations Kach and Kahane
Chai
on his website.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Kahane Chai and Kach are
known
terrorist organizations and are banned in the United States.
SEE: http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/2450.htm
On October 10, 2003, the Washington Post reported that the United
States
added to its list of foreign terrorist organizations “newkach.org,
kahane.org, kahane.net, kahanetzadak.com as aliases for the Jewish
group
Kahane Chai or Kach, which is suspected of organizing attacks on
Palestinians." The Post article also stated: "Under U.S. law, it would
be
illegal to provide money or other material support to the designated
Web
sites."
SEE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8285-2003Oct10.html
As recently as April of this year, Joe Kaufman listed kahane.org as a
recommended link on his website. Kaufman later removed the link after
CAIR-FL exposed his efforts to promote the group.
In an article written in January of 2001 on a forum of the radical
Jewish
Defense League, Kaufman praised the Kahane movement and its founder
Mier
Kahane. In that article Kaufman said of Kahane: "It was perfectly
understandable, if he were to have hated Arabs. Just like, during the
Holocaust, it was perfectly understandable for a Jew to hate Germans…If
the
Kahanes' memory serves us any purpose, it's to show that trust (and
peace)
is ultimately between only ourselves."
SEE:
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=20188&messageid=97848915
7
CAIR-FL said in a statement released today: "There is clearly enough
evidence to justify an investigation into the apparent connections
between
Joe Kaufman and designated terrorist organizations. We ask relevant law
enforcement authorities to investigate this individual just as they
would
any other suspected supporter of terrorism. There is no room for
terrorism
or support for terrorism in our society. Our government needs to ensure
the
safety of all Americans, including American Muslims and
Arab-Americans."
In CAIR's annual report on the status of American Muslim civil rights,
Florida ranked second in the nation in terms of anti-Muslim incidents.
CAIR-FL cited the case of Robert Goldstein who earlier this year pled
guilty in a plot to attack Muslims in that state. When Goldstein was
arrested, law enforcement officials found more 50 explosive devices,
machine guns and other illegal weapons along with a "mission template"
and
a list of up to 50 Islamic Centers he hoped to destroy.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506; CAIR-National, Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/23/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: HONOR
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
- ALA Supports CAIR Library Project
- CAIR-FL Town Hall Meeting a Huge Success
- CAIR-DFW Co-Sponsors Civil Rights Conference
- CAIR-CAN Re-Affirms Call For Inquiry into Arar Case
- Canadian Reaction to a Citizen’s Detention (NPR)
* TWINS' CASE 'COULDN'T HURT' U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS (AP)
* COVER-UP ALLEGED IN PROBE OF USS LIBERTY (AP)
* BUSH CRITICIZED IN BALI OVER ISRAEL, IRAQ (KR)
- Bush Drops Opposition to Building Barrier (Forward)
- Israel To Build New Homes In Settlements (Reuters)
* SENATOR COMPARES BOYKIN COMMENTS TO BIN LADEN'S (AP)
- In Uniform, Mocking Islam (NY Times)
- Anti-Muslim Remarks Fuel Fire (AJC)
- Idol Words (Newsday)
- Editorial Cartoons About Gen. Boykin
* RUMSFELD'S WAR-ON-TERROR MEMO (USA Today)
- How the Poll Results Were Manipulated (Arab News)
* MUSLIMS CALL FOR BUSH RAMADAN BOYCOTT (AL-Jazeera)
- Muslims Await New Moon (Poughkeepsie Journal)
- Ramadan Signals Holiest Month (Daily Advertiser)
* DAVID COLE LECTURE ON CIVIL RIGHTS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HONOR
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who defends his
brother's honor, God will shield his face against the Fire on the Day
of
Judgment."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 468
The Prophet also said: "No youth will honor an old man because of his
years
without God appointing one to honor him when he is old."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1280
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6949 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
ALA SUPPORTS CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT
THE MORE YOU KNOW
Washington Times, 10/23/03
http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20031022-085632-3908r.htm
(Scroll down.)
An article written by Julia Duin, "Libraries revisit Islam" [Page 1,
Monday], implies that public libraries are being duped by the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] into displaying a sanitized version
of
Islam.
In any collection of books, tapes, DVDs and videos on a subject as
complicated and vast as a major religion like Islam, there is bound to
be
some controversy. Therefore, it is not surprising that there has been
criticism of CAIR's Library Project, which librarians encouraged
because it
made a diverse array of information more widely available at a time of
growing national interest in Islam after September 11.
The public library has always been a sanctuary of inclusiveness, free
expression and a diversity of views on many different subjects and will
continue to play a vital role in supplying the information that will
allow
the public to respectfully explore and better understand different
cultures
and religions from around the world.
That is why libraries will provide the information necessary to help
educate Americans about Islam. A well-informed population is the
foundation
for an active and healthy participatory democracy like our own.
CARLA HAYDEN
President
American Library Association
Executive director
Enoch Pratt Free Library
---
TOWN HALL MEETING A HUGE SUCCESS
(JACKSONVILLE, FL) - The Florida offices of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) today said its townhall meeting "America-Two Years
After 9-11" was a huge success. The meeting, jointly sponsored by
CAIR-FL,
the American Civil Liberties Union, the Institute of Government at the
University of North Florida, the Center for Advancement of Human
Rights,
and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, was attended by more
than
160 members of the Jacksonville community.
The following panelists (in alphabetical order) spoke during the two
and a
half hour long discussion moderated by Leah Fleming of WJCT's
Jacksonville
Exchange: Parvez Ahmed, Council on American-Islamic Relations of
Florida;
Laura D'Alisera, Institute of Government; Stephen Durden, Florida
Coastal
Law School; Ken Hurley, American Civil Liberties Union of Florida;
Eugene
Morris, Florida Commission on Human Relations; Lawrence Myers, Federal
Bureau of Investigation; Michael Perkins, Federal Bureau of
Investigation;
Mark Schlakman, Center for Advancement of Human Rights; Henry Thomas,
University of North Florida; Ken Tucker, Florida Department of Law
Enforcement.
---
CAIR-DFW CO-SPONSORS CIVIL RIGHTS CONFERENCE
CAIR-DFW is one of the sponsors of a civil rights conference in Dallas.
WHEN: Oct 25, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Lunch will be served)
WHERE: Westin Hotel Park Central, Dallas Highway 635 and Coit Rd,
Dallas,
Texas 75251.
Conference registration is $35 per person (lunch included). For online
registration, please go to http://www.civilrightsconference.org
There will be three sessions 1. Development of Civil Rights in America,
2.
Current Threats to the Democratic System: Racial Profiling, USA Patriot
Act, Secret Evidence Law, Victory Act, 3. Future of Civil Rights: the
Political Agenda in Upcoming Presidential Elections.
----
CAIR-CAN RE-AFFIRMS CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO ARAR CASE
RCMP Complaints Commission "not an effective body to conduct thorough
inquiry"
(OTTAWA, CANADA, 10/23/03) - The Canadian office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) today repeated its previous call
for
an independent public inquiry into the Maher Arar case and questioned
the
ability of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to
conduct
a truly comprehensive and independent investigation into the detention,
deportation and incarceration of Maher Arar.
The Chair of the Commission, Ms. Shirley Heafey, today announced that
she
is initiating a complaint into the RCMP's conduct regarding the
detention
and deportation of Mr. Maher Arar.
In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"The Maher Arar case raises serious issues regarding the conduct and
accountability of both the RCMP and the Canadian government. An
immediate
independent public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act is necessary
to
ensure that what happened to Maher Arar will not happen to any other
Canadian.
"We are concerned that today's announcement by the RCMP Complaints
Commission will divert momentum away from widespread calls for an
independent public inquiry.
"Moreover, it is clear that the Commission is not an effective body to
conduct a thorough inquiry into the case. The Chair, Shirley Heafey,
has
previously indicated publicly that she has been unable to effectively
investigate complaints by Canadian Muslims and Arabs regarding racial
profiling by the RCMP and that, "for all practical>purposes," the
commission has "no civilian oversight."
CONTACT: Naeem Saloojee at 613-254-9704; E-mail: Canada@cair-net.org
---
CANADIAN REACTION TO A CANADIAN CITIZEN'S DETENTION
Bob Edwards and Richard Reynolds, National Public Radio, 10/22/03
http://www.npr.org/transcripts/
A Canadian citizen is back home in Ottawa after spending more than a
year
in a prison in Syria. How he got to that Syrian prison has enraged many
Canadians. Opposition politicians and human rights organizations are
demanding a public inquiry into why the US government deported a
Canadian
citizen to Syria. Richard Reynolds reports.
RICHARD REYNOLDS reporting:
Maher Arar's troubles started over a year ago. As he was returning to
Ottawa from a visit with his in-laws in Tunisia, he had to change
planes in
New York.
Ms. KERRY PITHER (Spokesperson for Arar): He was planning to change
flights
in John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. He was waiting in line to
get
on his plane to Montreal when he was pulled aside by US authorities, by
the
FBI and the INS. He was detained and essentially disappeared for six
days
before he was permitted to call his family.
REYNOLDS: Kerry Pither, a spokesperson for the 32-year-old Arar, who
lives
with his wife and two young children in Ottawa, says that after more
than
two weeks in a New York City jail, things got even worse.
Ms. PITHER: They deported him to Syria despite the fact that he was
traveling on a Canadian passport. He's been a Canadian citizen since
1991,
and he's lived here since he was 17 years old.
REYNOLDS: Once in Syria, the country where Arar was born, he was held
in
the infamous Sednayeh Prison in Damascus. Canadian government sources
say
the Syrian government accused him ultimately of being a member of
al-Qaeda
and of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood but never actually charged him
with
anything. On October 5th, they suddenly released him and sent him home
to
Canada. The case has generated a lot of outrage here…
Mr. RIAD SALOOJEE (Council on American Islamic Relations): The feeling
prior to Maher Arar was one of fear and anxiety when they traveled to
the
United States. After Maher Arar, it's completely different. It's
worsened
because now many Canadian-Muslims and Arabs look at the Arar case as
something which could potentially happen to them. Not only is it a case
of
being profiled and being stopped and interrogated, but you might be
deported to where you're from. Certainly for some Arabs and Muslims,
the
last thing that they want to be is be deported to their home countries…
-----
TWINS' CASE 'COULDN'T HURT' U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS
JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press, 10/23/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/7085634.htm
DALLAS - The compelling story of the separation and recovery of
formerly
conjoined 2-year-old Egyptian boys in the United States has captured
hearts
in both countries.
And while the generosity and caring of doctors and a nonprofit
organization
can't change the disdain many Egyptians feel toward America, some hope
it
can at least be a small step toward improving relations.
"It's like chicken soup - it couldn't hurt," said Ibrahim Hooper,
spokesman
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group. "I think it's these kinds of
people-to-people efforts that really go a long way toward improving
relations..."
-----
COVER-UP ALLEGED IN PROBE OF USS LIBERTY
Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press, 10/23/03
http://transfer.go.com/cgi/transfer.pl?goto=http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/P
olitics/ap20031023_121.html
WASHINGTON - A former Navy attorney who helped lead the military
investigation of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty that killed
34
American servicemen says former President Lyndon Johnson and his
defense
secretary, Robert McNamara, ordered that the inquiry conclude the
incident
was an accident.
In a signed affidavit released at a Capitol Hill news conference,
retired
Capt. Ward Boston said Johnson and McNamara told those heading the
Navy's
inquiry to ``conclude that the attack was a case of 'mistaken identity'
despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.''
Boston was senior legal counsel to the Navy's original 1967 review of
the
attack. He said in the sworn statement that he stayed silent for years
because he's a military man, and ``when orders come ... I follow
them...''
The USS Liberty was an electronic intelligence-gathering ship that was
cruising international waters off the Egyptian coast on June 8, 1967.
Israeli planes and torpedo boats opened fire on the Liberty in the
midst of
what became known as the Israeli-Arab Six-Day War.
In addition to the 34 Americans killed, more than 170 were wounded...
-----
BUSH CRITICIZED IN BALI OVER ISRAEL, IRAQ AND U.S. VIEWS ON ISLAM
Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder, 10/23/03
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7079615.htm
BALI, Indonesia - President Bush met with Muslim clerics in the world's
most populous Muslim nation Wednesday and found himself on the
defensive
about Israel, Iraq and Americans' views on Muslims.
In an extraordinary encounter for a president who rarely invites
criticism,
Bush got an earful from three Muslim leaders during a visit to
terror-scarred Indonesia. The clerics criticized Bush's staunch support
for
Israel, questioned the war in Iraq and expressed fears that most
Americans
consider Muslims to be terrorists.
Bush recapped the day on a nighttime flight to Australia, the final
foreign
stop on his six-day, six-country tour. He came to Australia to give
thanks
for its role in the war on terrorism, but the visit exposed deep
divisions
over the war in Iraq. About 5,000 protesters demonstrated during his
speech
to the Australian parliament Thursday morning, and nearly half of the
lawmakers withheld their applause when Bush entered the chamber. Two
members of the anti-war Green Party were threatened with ejection when
they
interrupted Bush's speech with heckling. Bush defused tension and won
applause by saying "I love free speech."
Speaking of his meeting with Muslim clerics, Bush said, "I'm glad I did
it."
Although the meeting was behind closed doors, Bush recounted the
conversation to reporters traveling with him on Air Force One from
Indonesia to Australia. He seemed to relish the discussion, which
lasted
nearly an hour and also included Christian and Hindu clerics.
"They did a lot of talking. I gave them all a time to speak, and I
listened
and would occasionally interject some thoughts," Bush said. "They were
direct."
When the religious leaders complained that U.S. policy was "tilted
toward
Israel," Bush told them that it was "tilted toward peace." He stressed
that
he was the first U.S. president to explicitly call for the creation of
a
Palestinian state.
"Our foreign policy is for the development of a Palestinian state that
lives side by side with Israel in peace," Bush said at a later news
conference. "In order to achieve a Palestinian state living side by
side in
peace, there needs to be leadership that will fight off the terror
that's
trying to prevent the state from emerging..."
ALSO SEE:
BUSH DROPS OPPOSITION TO BUILDING OF BARRIER
Ori Nir, Forward, 10/24/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.24/news1.fence.html
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has abandoned its opposition to
Israel's construction of a security fence in the West Bank, easing a
major
point of tension between Washington and Jerusalem in recent months,
according to pro-Israel activists in Washington, Palestinian diplomats
and
sources close to the Bush administration.
Until this summer, the administration had vocally expressed its
opposition
to the fence, warning that its construction could hinder America's
"road
map" peace plan. But with last month's resignation of Palestinian Prime
Minister Mahmoud Abbas, the administration now appears to accept not
only
the idea of the fence, but also its deep penetration into the West
Bank.
The White House thinks Israel is justified in erecting the fence and
that
the Palestinian Authority has brought the fence on itself by not
cracking
down on terrorism, administration officials recently told pro-Israel
activists. Furthermore, administration officials indicated that the
Bush
White House accepts the principle that security considerations in some
instances necessitate allowing the fence to veer into the West Bank,
the
activists said...
---
ISRAEL TO BUILD NEW HOMES IN JEWISH SETTLEMENTS
Reuters, 10/23/03
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=392
961§ion=news
JERUSALEM - Israel issued building tenders on Thursday for more than
300
new apartments in two Jewish settlements in the West Bank, despite a
construction freeze called for in the U.S.-backed peace "road map."
A Housing Ministry official said tenders had been issued for 143 new
apartments in the Karnei Shomron settlement, near Nablus in the
northern
West Bank, and 180 in Givat Zeev, which is close to Jerusalem.
The independent Israeli settlement monitoring group Peace Now said the
government had now published 1,627 tenders for new homes in the
settlements
since the beginning of the year.
The road map accepted by Israel and the Palestinians in efforts to end
more
than three years of violence bars "settlement activity" in Palestinian
areas.
-----
SENATOR COMPARES BOYKIN COMMENTS ON MUSLIMS TO BIN LADEN'S ON
CHRISTIANS
Nedra Pickler, Associated Press, 10/23/03
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/10/22/nationa
l0157EDT0428.DTL
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman said a top Army general
should be reprimanded for his criticism of Muslims, calling those
comments
the "mirror opposite" of Osama bin Laden's vilification of Christians
and
Jews.
In an interview with Associated Press reporters and editors, Lieberman
said
Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin should be held to account for casting the
United States' fight against terrorists in religious terms with
comments
that were "wrong theologically" and "very bigoted..."
Lieberman said such divisive remarks could contribute to a "global
theological conflict" that would endanger people throughout the
world...
Bush's first public response to Boykin came Wednesday, when he told
reporters aboard Air Force One, en route to Australia from Indonesia,
that
he had repudiated the general's views in discussions with leaders of
Muslim
Indonesia.
"I said he didn't reflect my opinion," Bush said. "Look, it just
doesn't
reflect what the government thinks..."
ALSO SEE:
IN UNIFORM, MOCKING ISLAM
Arsalan Iftikhar, New York Times, 10/23/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/opinion/L23GENE.html
To the Editor:
Thank you for addressing the statements against Islam made by Lt. Gen.
William Boykin, the deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence
("The General Who Roared," editorial, Oct. 22). Claiming that his God
was
"bigger" and that Muslims worship "an idol," he made comments that were
not
only inflammatory but that also demonstrated complete theological
ignorance.
Aside from the fact that General Boykin appears unaware that we Muslims
worship the same deity as our Christian and Jewish neighbors, it should
give all Americans pause to know that one of their top brass believes
that
he is leading an army of God -- an army that happens to be full of
Jews,
Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists.
President Bush's silence regarding the growing trend of anti-Muslim
rhetoric within the neoconservative evangelical political elite is
sending
the wrong message to the American Muslim community, and, more
important, to
the entirety of the Muslim world.
(The writer is director of legal affairs, Council on American-Islamic
Relations.)
---
ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS FUEL FIRE
Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 10/23/03
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/1003/23boykin.html
President Bush has repeatedly stressed that our war against terror is
not a
war against Islam, making that point most recently in comments during a
three-hour stopover this week in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim
nation.
"Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which is
professed by
a growing number of my own citizens," Bush said. "We know Islam is
fully
compatible with liberty, tolerance and progress."
Unfortunately, the president's deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence has been publicly sending a message that directly
contradicts
his commander in chief. Lt. Gen. William Boykin, often standing in his
U.S.
Army uniform and often with videotapes running, has told church
congregations around the country that this is in fact a war between
religions and a war between gods, the real god of Christianity against
the
alleged idol of Islam.
Boykin should be fired immediately, not for his beliefs but because of
the
harm he has done to his country by expressing them in public, and in
uniform. By doing so, he has handed ammunition to those in the Muslim
world
already trying to stir up anti-American sentiment. They have been
claiming
that this is a war against Islam; now they have videotapes of a
high-ranking uniformed American officer confirming that claim...
---
IDOL WORDS
Newsday, 10/23/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpgen233506303oct23,0,6422442.story
It took him a while - far too long - but it's good that President
George W.
Bush has finally repudiated the repellent anti-Islam comments made in
speeches to churches across the country by a top Pentagon general who
painted the war on terror as a religious crusade.
Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who was recently appointed to a senior
Defense Department post, had no business making those speeches and he
should have been pulled up short by his superiors - particularly
Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld - long before Bush was forced to discuss the
issue with Muslim leaders while visiting Indonesia yesterday...
Until now, Rumsfeld refused to condemn these comments, saying, "We're a
free people." That ignores the real issue: As a private citizen, the
general is free to say what he likes, but he is not free to stay in
high
office after publicly spouting outrageous opinions that go against
national
policy. It can safely be assumed that if Boykin, representing the
Pentagon,
had made similarly inflammatory statements reflecting racist or
anti-Semitic views, or had publicly criticized the administration's
Iraq
policy, he would have been upbraided instantly and dismissed from his
Pentagon post...
---
EDITORIAL CARTOONS ABOUT GEN. BOYKIN
St Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/23/03
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/sherffius.nsf/headline/3654303
74AAECEA986256DC800101A31
Stuart Carlson, Washington Post, 10/21/03
http://www.ucomics.com/stuartcarlson/2003/10/21/
Ben Sargent, uComics, 10/23/03
http://www.ucomics.com/bensargent/index.phtml
-----
RUMSFELD'S WAR-ON-TERROR MEMO
USA Today, 10/22/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/executive/rumsfeld-memo.htm
Below is the full text of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's memo on
the
war on terror:
TO: Gen. Dick Myers, Paul Wolfowitz, Gen. Pete Pace, Doug Feith
FROM: Donald Rumsfeld
SUBJECT: Global War on Terrorism
The questions I posed to combatant commanders this week were: Are we
winning or losing the Global War on Terror? Is DoD changing fast enough
to
deal with the new 21st century security environment? Can a big
institution
change fast enough? Is the USG changing fast enough?
DoD has been organized, trained and equipped to fight big armies,
navies
and air forces. It is not possible to change DoD fast enough to
successfully fight the global war on terror; an alternative might be to
try
to fashion a new institution, either within DoD or elsewhere — one that
seamlessly focuses the capabilities of several departments and agencies
on
this key problem.
With respect to global terrorism, the record since September 11th seems
to
be:
We are having mixed results with Al Qaida, although we have put
considerable pressure on them — nonetheless, a great many remain at
large...
ALSO SEE:
HOW THE POLL RESULTS ON IRAQ WERE MANIPULATED
James Zogby, Arab News, 10/22/03
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=33984&d=22&m=10&y=2003
WASHINGTON — Early in President Bush’s recent public relations campaign
to
rebuild support for the US war effort in Iraq, Vice President Cheney
appeared on “Meet the Press.” Attempting to make the case that the US
was
winning in Iraq, Cheney made the following observations:
“There was a poll done, just random in the last week, first one I’ve
seen
carefully done; admittedly, it’s a difficult area to poll in. Zogby
International did it with American Enterprise magazine. But that’s got
very
positive news in it in terms of the numbers it shows with respect to
the
attitudes to what Americans have done.
“One of the questions it asked is: ‘If you could have any model for the
kind of government you’d like to have’ — and they were given five
choices —
‘which would it be?’ The US wins hands down. If you want to ask them do
they want an Islamic government established, by 2:1 margins they say
no,
including the Shiite population. If you ask how long they want
Americans to
stay, over 60 percent of the people polled said they want the US to
stay
for at least another year. So admittedly there are problems, especially
in
that area where Saddam Hussein was from, where people have benefited
most
from his regime and who’ve got the most to lose if we’re successful in
our
enterprise, and continuing attacks from terror. But to suggest somehow
that
that’s representative of the country at large or the Iraqi people are
opposed to what we’ve done in Iraq or are actively and aggressively
trying
to undermine it, I just think that’s not true...”
-----
MUSLIMS CALL FOR BUSH RAMADAN BOYCOTT
Roshan Muhammad Salih, Al-Jazeera, 10/23/03
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/60CE7C85-285B-4B43-9BE5-DA869EC37520.
htm
American Muslim groups are calling for a boycott of President Bush's
Ramadan dinner at The White House.
Imam Naji Ali, of Project Islamic HOPE, said on Wednesday a coalition
of
prominent Muslim organisations, imams and activists were fed up with
Bush's
"anti-Muslim" policies.
Ali said the Bush administration's foreign policy was responsible for
the
deaths of innocent Muslims overseas.
He said The White House appointment of the "Islamaphobic" Daniel Pipes
to
the US Institute of Peace was a slap in the face of the Muslim
community...
"Muslim American leadership should send a message to President Bush
that we
will no longer suffer and be mistreated by his administration's unfair
domestic and foreign policies... Let President Bush eat by himself at
his
Ramadan dinner..."
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS AWAIT NEW MOON, FASTING
Elizabeth Lynch, Poughkeepsie Journal, 10/23/03
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo102303s4.shtml
Its arrival marks the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a
time
when Muslims fast from daybreak to sunset. The new moon is expected
Saturday or Sunday. Ramadan will begin the next day.
There are more than 3,300 Muslims living in Dutchess County, according
to
the American Religion Data Archive, and about 224,000 in the state.
The Ramadan fast lasts until the next new moon -- about 29 or 30 days.
The
month ends with a three-day festival called Eid al-Fitr. In Dutchess,
Muslims gather at Casperkill Country Club to end their month of fasting
as
a community.
Fasting is ''a good wake-up call,'' said Anwar Kearney, the imam of
Masjidul Mutakabbir in the City of Poughkeepsie. ''The main thing is to
make you more God-conscious. It's an opportunity to think about what
you
have, what you've been given...''
---
RAMADAN SIGNALS HOLIEST MONTH FOR MUSLIMS
Trevis R. Badeaux, Daily Advertiser, 10/23/03
http://www.theadvertiser.com/news/html/AAF0D3E9-4CE2-4554-8159-37699FF7E121.
shtml
LAFAYETTE — First light on Sunday signals the beginning of Ramadan, the
holiest month in the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims fast from dawn
to
sunset in a form worship to God Almighty and to cleanse their earthly
spirits.
The religious event commemorates when the first verses of the Quran,
the
Muslim holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed bin Abdullah
through the Archangel Gabriel, said Eid Kneifati, Islamic Center of
Lafayette president. The book, Muslims believe, was released
periodically
for 20 years from the Seventh Heaven, where God Almighty keeps all of
his
knowledge in a sealed record.
“We are made up of two components — earthly and heavenly,” Kneifati
said.
“We are to leave the earthly desires behind during Ramadan to be closer
to
God Almighty and to better understand the struggles of our brothers and
sisters.”
The religion has about 300 members in the Acadiana area...
-----
DAVID COLE LECTURE ON CIVIL RIGHTS
WHAT: David Cole, professor of Georgetown University Law School and
Legal
Affairs Correspondent for The Nation will be speaking on "Enemy Aliens:
Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism."
David Cole is the country's great voice for civil liberties today. He
is an
outspoken critic of 'Use of Secret Evidence' and 'USA PATRIOT Act' and
has
defended dozens of immigrants charged with being everything from
"national
security threats" to "advocates of world communism."
WHEN: October 23, 2003 at 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Mosque Foundation
7360 W. 93rd Street,
Bridgeview, IL 60455
Event sponsored by: Muslim Civil Rights Center (MCRC), Inner City
Muslim
Action Network (IMAN), Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), American
Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
For more info, call MCRC at (708) 598 6640
-----
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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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JOIN CAIR-NET TODAY
If you are not already on CAIR-NET, please subscribe at:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MISSOURI MUSLIM DAY-CARE CENTER HARASSED
FBI applauded for decision to probe incidents as hate crimes
(ST. LOUIS, MO, 10/24/2003) – The St. Louis chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-St. Louis), a prominent national
Islamic
civil rights group, today applauded the FBI’s decision to investigate a
series of apparently bias-related incidents at a Muslim day-care center
in
that state.
SEE: “Egyptian-Born Woman is Target of Hate Crimes”
http://www.stltoday.com/ (Search using the reporter’s name: “Susan
Weich”)
Vandals repeatedly left dog feces near the front door of the center,
damaged a fence surrounding the children’s play area and ignited fires
on
the front porch of the building. Leaflets, including one from a white
supremacist group known as the National Alliance, were left at the
facility. One of the leaflets said: “Go back to your (expletive)
country.”
The center has also received harassing phone calls.
“We applaud the decision of the FBI to investigate these harassing
incidents as hate crimes,” said CAIR-St. Louis Executive Director James
Hacking. “We also ask that the local law enforcement authorities
provide a
stepped-up police presence in the area surrounding the day-care
center.”
Hacking said that religious and ethnic bigotry should be tolerated.
Since the beginning of the year, CAIR has received a number of reports
of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions. Those incidents included an arson
attack
on a Georgia mosque, a cross burning at a Maryland Islamic school, the
kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery man whose
attackers thought he was Muslim, and the stabbing of a Virginia Muslim
who
was called a “terrorist pig.”
CAIR is America’s largest civil liberties group. It is headquartered in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END –
CONTACT: CAIR-St. Louis, James Hacking, 314-602-3794, E-mail:
jimhacking@yahoo.com; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-mail: cair@cair-net.org.
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CORRECTION: In CAIR’s earlier news release, “Missouri Muslim Day-Care
Center Harassed,” a word was omitted in one sentence. That sentence
should
read: “Hacking said that religious and ethnic bigotry should not be
tolerated.”
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/24/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SLANDER
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
- Save 11/29/03 for CAIR’s Annual Dinner
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR’s Fundraising Event
- CAIR Hosts State Dept. Delegation from India
* CALIF. MUSLIM WORKER WINS JOB BACK
* INCITEMENT WATCH: “NUKE MECCA” WRITER SMEARS ISNA
- Who is Rod Dreher?
- Imam Traces Path of Islam in Black America (WSJ)
* FBI TO INVESTIGATE HARASSMENT AT MUSLIM DAY-CARE CENTER (AP)
* RELIGION TAKES SPOTLIGHT IN TERROR WAR (AP)
- Bizarre Beliefs Give Aid, Comfort to Enemy (Yahoo)
- Secretary Denies Pressure to Fire Boykin (Wash. Times)
- Comments Stir Up War's Religious Overtones (Wash. Post)
* CLASHES LED TO PROBE OF CLERIC (Washington Post)
- Yee in Confinement, Despite Minor Charges (Daily News)
* ARAB, MUSLIM AMERICANS RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE (VOA)
* PATRIOT ACT TESTS LIBRARY (Herald Times)
* MUSLIM SPEAKER ENLIGHTENS STUDENTS (Collegiate Times)
- MSA's Islamic Week (North Texas Daily)
- Understanding Islam (Reporter Online)
* MUSLIMS PREPARE TO OBSERVE RAMADAN (Fayetteville Online)
- The Celebration of Ramadan (Town Times)
- Businesses Tap into the Ramadan Market (RNS)
- Halal Eats Ready for Ramadan Feasting (Chicago Tribune)
- Muslims Take Arms Against a Sea of Troubles (AFP)
* SYRIA SEES FERVENT ISLAMIC RESURGENCE (NY TIMES)
- Executed Muslim Details Chinese Torture Sessions (CAN)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SLANDER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you utter something
false, then it is slander."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 56, Number 10
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6949 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
SAVE 11/29/03 FOR CAIR’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
CAIR fundraising Dinner, "A Defining Moment" will take place on
Saturday,
November 29, 2003. Registration begins at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m.
Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA.
Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003 No children
please.
(Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10 per child.) For
information, email: register@cair-net.org.
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR’S FUNDRAISING EVENT
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
Make sure to mark your calendar too! CAIR’s fundraising dinner will be
Nov.
--- at ....
Buy your tickets early. They are quick to sell-out!
---
CAIR HOSTS STATE DEPT. DELEGATION FROM INDIA
CAIR today was honored to host a State Department-sponsored delegation
of
Indian journalists.
The journalists are touring the United States to learn about the
American
Muslim community and American culture. Discussions focused on American
Muslim life after 9/11, the status of civil liberties and the role of
CAIR
in promoting Islam and safeguarding civil rights.
-----
CALIF. MUSLIM WORKER WINS JOB BACK
Worker Gains Right to Friday Prayer, Back-Pay
(ANAHEIM, CA) - The Southern California office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the successful
resolution of a case involving accommodation of the Islamic religious
practice of attending obligatory Friday prayers, or Jum'ah.
The Muslim man reported to CAIR that on his first day of employment at
the
Palm Springs Assessor's Office (under the jurisdiction of the County of
Riverside), he was denied religious accommodation for performing the
obligatory prayer after trying to make an arrangement whereby he would
still work the full eight hours during normal hours of operation. His
request was denied, and the man was left no choice but to submit his
resignation letter.
SEE: “Riverside County to Reinstate and Accommodate Muslim Worker”
http://www.pe.com/localnews/desertpass/stories/PE_NEWS_ndmuslm23.57912.html
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are required
to
reasonably accommodate the religious practices of their employees
unless an
undue hardship would prevent them from doing so. Some possible
accommodations without causing "undue hardship" for employers are
voluntary
substitutions, swaps, flexible scheduling, lateral transfers, and
working
longer hours on different workdays.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that
they
have received over a thousand complaints of workplace discrimination
from
Muslims during the past two years.
The County of Riverside offered its regrets to the Muslim employee and
agreed to reinstate him with back-pay. They promised to ensure that he
suffers no retaliation as a result of his complaint, take appropriate
administrative action against those responsible, and institute
religious
sensitivity trainings through CAIR and the Riverside County Human
Relations
Commission.
"We would like to thank the County of Riverside, namely County
Executive
Officer Larry Parrish, for helping resolve this incident swiftly and
positively," said Southern California CAIR Executive Director Hussam
Ayloush.
(Contact CAIR to receive a copy of "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices.")
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: “NUKE MECCA” WRITER SMEARS ISNA
THIS ISLAMIC GROUP TENDS TO EXTREMES
Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News, 10/23/03
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/columnists/rdreher/stories/102303dnedidreh
er.4e1e0.html
Nazi? Moi? All I had done was ask a simple question of Dr. Sayyid M.
Syeed,
the general secretary of the Islamic Society of North America, who
recently
met with The Dallas Morning News' editorial board.
Dr. Syeed's revealing reaction he said that my query reminded him of
"Nazism" and that I would have to "repent" “tells us a great deal about
American Islam's extremist problem...and ours.
ISNA is the largest Islamic organization in the country, serving as an
umbrella group for 300 or so mosques, cultural centers and affiliated
groups.
The North American Islamic Trust, a sister organization set up for what
its
Web site calls the "protection and safeguarding" of the finances of
ISNA
and other groups, owns between 20 percent and 27 percent of this
country's
mosques.
ISNA is heavily funded by Saudi contributions and has been described in
congressional testimony by terrorism expert (and Muslim convert)
Stephen
Schwartz as one of the chief conduits through which the radical Saudi
form
of Islam passes into the United States...
SEE ALSO:
WHO IS ROD DREHER?
Writing in the National Review's "The Corner," Rod Dreher took part in
a
discussion of the advisability of "nuking Mecca." He wrote: "...I'd say
Baghdad, Tehran and Riyadh should make the list…and maybe even
Damascus. As
for Mecca, well, it would feel good, but we'd have every Muslim on the
planet enraged unto ages of ages... (March, 2002)
In the October 8, 2001, edition of the National Review, Dreher wrote:
"The
nation cannot afford the naive illusions that have given many Americans
comfort in peacetime. Chief among them is the notion, repeated ad
nauseam
by our leaders and the media, that Islam is a religion of peace. This
may
not be an outright lie, but it is so far from the full truth as to
approach
falsehood…
In the September 23, 2002, issue of National Review, Dreher wrote:
"Islam
is at its core inimical to democracy and human rights as we in the West
understand them. To expect Muslims to drop their belligerence toward
the
West, which has existed since Islam's founding in the 7th century, is
to
expect them to jettison core values of their faith…
"A pious Muslim may consult an imam or spiritual leader for guidance,
but
he will also read the Koran himself. He will find there many divine
instructions to make constant war on the infidel, who is only to be
given
the choice of conversion, slave-like subjugation…or death…"
In the October 17, 2000, issue of the New York Post, Dreher wrote:
"...Unlike the Israelis, the Palestinians are not products of Western
civilization, but of one informed by Islamic religion and ethnic Arab
customs. Because of that, it's easy for naive Westerners to be
scandalized
and perplexed by their actions...As the only outpost of the West in
that
savage and irrational desert, we owe the Israelis our loyalty...This is
a
clash of civilizations. And it's far from over.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be firm, but POLITE. Muslim-bashers like
Dreher have a long history of selecting one or two hostile messages and
claiming they are representative of all those who sent comments.)
WRITE TO THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. E-Mail:
letterstoeditor@dallasnews.com
COPY TO: rdreher@dallasnews.com, cair@cair-net.org
TIPS FOR WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters/stories/040802dnedihowto.ec1b.html
IMPORTANT: To be published, your letter must include your phone number
for
verification purposes.
ALSO SEE:
ONE IMAM TRACES THE PATH OF ISLAM IN BLACK AMERICA
Paul M. Barrett, Wall Street Journal, 10/24/03
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB106694267937278700,00.html
In the burgeoning world of Islam in America, Imam Siraj Wahhaj is a
star.
In 1991, he was the first Muslim ever to lead a prayer before the start
of
a session of the House of Representatives. Four years ago,
then-Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright hosted him and other Muslim notables at a
State
Department banquet of lamb, lentils and saffron rice to break the
Ramadan
fast. One of the country's most popular Muslim preachers, he travels
widely, extolling the Quran to large crowds at immigrant Islamic
centers,
conventions and universities.
But to his followers in Brooklyn's inner-city Bedford-Stuyvesant
neighborhood and elsewhere, the imam sometimes shows a different side.
He
has proclaimed that the "real terrorists" are the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. In another of his
sermons, widely available for purchase on audiotape, he says, "In time,
this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And
the
only thing that will remain will be Islam."
Few religious leaders of any faith could rival Imam Wahhaj's
combination of
militant notoriety and mainstream honors -- a mix that says much about
the
complexity of Islam in the U.S. today. Over the past few decades, two
powerful currents have come together in America: the black-separatist
movement of the 1960s and 1970s and the training of Muslims, including
Imam
Wahhaj, in programs financed by Saudi Arabia...
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
FBI TO INVESTIGATE HARASSMENT AT MUSLIM DAY-CARE CENTER
Jim Salter, Associated Press, 10/24/03
ST. LOUIS- The Egyptian-born owner of a St. Louis area day-care center
has
been subjected to harassing phone calls and leaflets, and the center
has
been vandalized, prompting an FBI investigation into possible hate
crimes,
a Muslim official said Friday.
"I have no idea why racists do the things they do," said James Hacking
III,
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations office in St.
Louis.
"When it's a repeated, targeted kind of a thing, it really puts a
little
fear in you."
Calls to the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in St. Louis were
not
returned. St. Charles County authorities are also investigating.
The day-care owner is an American citizen who recently opened the
business
in Weldon Spring. Her name was not released. Hacking said vandals have
repeatedly placed dog feces near the front door of the center; damaged
a
fence surrounding a play area; and ignited fires on the front porch.
Meanwhile, leaflets left at the building have included racist messages.
One, allegedly from a white supremacist group known as the National
Alliance, included the message, "Go back to your (expletive) country."
Phone calls to the Hillsboro, W.Va.-based National Alliance office were
not
returned.
-----
RELIGION TAKES SPOTLIGHT IN TERROR WAR
Sonya Ross, Associated Press, 10/23/03
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1024terrorwar24.html
WASHINGTON - The subject of religion has taken a prominent spot right
where
President Bush didn't want it - front-and-center in the war against
terrorism.
The president's journey through Asia, a trip designed to allay fears
that
America targets the Muslim world, was instead roiled repeatedly by
questions over whether the United States is a Christian nation that is
anti-Muslim, and whether the Muslim world is anti-Jewish.
Bush got caught in the middle when he took Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad to task for criticizing Jews, but then didn't seem
inclined to discipline a high-ranking American military officer, Lt.
Gen.
William Boykin, for comparing the anti-terror effort to the struggle
between Christians and Satan.
For many in the Muslim world, religious motives were plain to see.
``While they condemn Dr. Mahathir when he speaks about the Jews and
other
injustices inflicted on the poor and the Muslims, there are no such
condemnation or reaction when the Muslims are called terrorists,'' a
columnist in the New Straits Times newspaper, which has close ties to
Mahathir's party, wrote Wednesday...
ALSO SEE:
BOYKIN'S BIZARRE BELIEFS GIVE AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY
Cynthia Tucker, Yahoo! News, 10/23/03
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1317&ncid=742&e=11&u=/uclick
text/20031023/cm_ucas/boykinsbizarrebeliefsgiveaidandcomforttotheenemy
Is this how the Bush White House hopes to win hearts and minds in the
Islamic world? By supporting a small-minded general with a schoolboy's
view
that his God can beat up their God?
The Bush administration's hatchet men (and women) have been quick to
browbeat critics of the reckless invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) --
questioning their patriotism and even accusing them of treason. But
there
has been no reprimand of Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin, a
high-ranking
Pentagon (news - web sites) official who has ridiculed Islam as "Satan"
and
dismissed Muslims as idol worshippers.
Instead, defense chief Donald Rumsfeld has initiated a low-profile
"internal investigation" of Boykin's speeches, while praising the
general's
"outstanding" military record. But there seems little to investigate.
Boykin's comments are on the record (and first reported by military
affairs
analyst William Arkin, writing in the Los Angeles Times)...
---
SECRETARY DENIES ANY PRESSURE TO FIRE BOYKIN
Guy Taylor, Washington Times, 10/24/03
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20031023-114710-5820r.htm
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said yesterday that he is under no
pressure from the White House to fire Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin,
despite
President Bush's public distancing of himself from the general's
remarks
about Islam.
"I personally have not had any communication on the subject with the
White
House," Mr. Rumsfeld said in an interview at the Pentagon with editors
and
reporters from The Washington Times. "The only one who has talked to
the
White House on this subject is from a press standpoint."
Gen. Boykin, an evangelical Christian who serves as deputy
undersecretary
of defense for intelligence and special operations, has been quoted as
saying that the war against terrorism is a battle between good and
evil,
with terrorists representing "Satan."
The comments first came under fire last week when NBC News broadcast
video
clips of speeches he had made at Christian functions while in
uniform...
---
BOYKIN'S COMMENTS STIR UP TERROR WAR'S RELIGIOUS OVERTONES
Jefferson Morley, Washington Post, 10/23/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5947-2003Oct23.html
On news sites around the world, Islamic pundits are denouncing
anti-Muslim
remarks made by Army Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, recently
nominated
to be deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, just as
swiftly as
Westerners denounced anti-Semitic remarks made by Malaysian Prime
Minister
Mahathir Mohamad.
Both stories broke a week ago. On October 16, Mahathir told the
Organization of Islamic Countries in Malaysia that "Jews control this
world
by proxy" and that Islam's failure to embrace science and willingness
to
resort to suicide bombings had rendered Muslims incapable of resisting
Israeli expansionism.
That same day Los Angeles Times (registration required) defense
columnist
William Arkin reported on Boykin's remarks about a Somali warlord who
said
Allah would protect him while U.S. forces sought to capture him. "I
knew
that my God was bigger than his," Boykin told a Florida congregation.
"I
knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol..."
-----
CLASHES LED TO PROBE OF CLERIC
John Mintz, Washington Post, 10/24/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9560-2003Oct23.html
Military authorities launched an investigation of Army Capt. James Yee,
a
Muslim chaplain at the Guantanamo Bay prison, after a series of
confrontations between him and officials over the treatment of al Qaeda
and
Taliban detainees there, according to military officials and other
informed
sources.
Yee, who ministered to the inmates at the U.S. Navy prison in Cuba,
protested what he believed were lives of unrelieved tension and boredom
experienced by his fellow Muslims in captivity, the officials and other
sources said.
Some interrogators at the prison complex objected after concluding that
Yee's private, one-on-one meetings with inmates interfered with their
attempts to fully control the prisoners' environment, numerous sources
said. Some detainees appeared less cooperative in interrogations after
visits from Yee, the sources said.
On Oct. 10 Yee, a West Point graduate who converted to Islam, was
charged
by military authorities with mishandling classified information after
authorities found maps of the prison and information about detainees in
his
possession. But the FBI and Defense officials continue to investigate
whether he committed more serious offenses. He is in a Navy brig in
South
Carolina...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN IN STRICT CONFINEMENT, DESPITE ONLY MINOR CHARGES
James Gordon Meek, Daily News, 10/24/03
http://www.nydailynews.com/10-24-2003/news/story/130175p-116310c.html
WASHINGTON _ The Muslim Army chaplain arrested as he left the
Guantanamo
prison camp has hired one of the top military lawyers in the country _
who
says the West Point graduate is being held incommunicado in maximum
security.
Despite being slapped with minor charges for disobeying orders, Capt.
Yousef Yee is not allowed to read news accounts of his case and has
only
the Koran to read.
He has had only brief phone contact with his family in Springfield,
N.J.,
and meets his attorneys wearing leg irons, the Daily News has learned.
Yee, who ministered to Muslim terror detainees at Camp Delta, was
busted
Sept. 10 in Florida, allegedly carrying classified documents from the
prison. Two former translators at the prison also have been charged in
the
growing spy scandal...
-----
ARAB AND MUSLIM AMERICANS RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE SAY THEY OFFER
NEW
SOLUTIONS FOR OLD PROBLEMS
Faiza Elmasry, Voice of America, 10/23/03
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=C2A538E0-B882-49BD-A7964B76DE768
531
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Muslim activists in
the
United States have increasingly talked about the importance of entering
the
political stage on the local, state and national levels to combat
stereotypes and preserve civil rights.
Arab and Muslim Americans are running for office in many electoral
districts across the country. But, these ambitious candidates do not
highlight their ethnicity or religion in the campaign. Instead, they
present themselves as citizens with new solutions for their
communities'
old problems.
Kamal Nawash, 33, is an independent running as a Republican for the
Virginia State Senate. He spoke no English when his family arrived here
from the Middle East in 1979. Mr. Nawash went on to earn a degree in
business and law. Today, he is an immigration attorney and a partner in
a
Virginia law firm...
One of those candidates hopes to become Loudoun County Supervisor.
"My name is Afeefa Syeed and I'm running for office, and I like to hear
what your concerns are," said Afeefa Syeed, the director of a private
school in Virginia. She was born in Kashmir and raised in the United
States. She says she's always considered herself an American...
-----
PATRIOT ACT TESTS LIBRARY
Tare Meissner, Herald Times, 10/23/03
http://www.wisinfo.com/heraldtimes/news/archive/local_12872131.shtml
MANITOWOC — Some people believe that the Patriot Act, passed 46 days
after
the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, infringes upon American freedoms.
The legislation granted federal agents sweeping powers to use wiretaps,
conduct electronic and computer eavesdropping, access personal
financial
data, library circulation records and logs of activity from
public-access
computers.
Libraries across the state have reviewed or changed procedures in an
effort
to protect privacy interests of patrons from potential scrutiny by law
enforcement, under new rules created by the 2001 USA Patriot Act...
The Wisconsin Library Association last spring released a sample policy
to
member libraries outlining methods to protect patrons from the reach of
the
act, including a recommendation to purge checkout data once materials
are
returned...
-----
MUSLIM SPEAKER ENLIGHTENS STUDENTS
Ellen Biltz, Collegiate Times, 10/24/03
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/index.php?ID=2444
The Muslim Student Association of Virginia Tech hosted a speaker last
night
to inform non-Muslin students about the truths of their religion.
Brother Fadel Soliman gave a presentation on Islam and Muslim beliefs.
“The main focus of my speeches are to educate people about the truth of
the
most beautiful thing in my life, the Muslim religion,” Soliman said.
Raised in Egypt, Soliman was born into the Islam faith, but said he
really
started practicing the religion at about the age of 21. Since the 9/11
attacks, he has traveled about twice a week to give lectures.
ALSO SEE:
MSA'S PLANNED ISLAMIC WEEK STARTS MONDAY
Sarah Elmore, North Texas Daily, 10/24/03
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/24/3f98b7239b293
Seeking an alternative to traditional lecture settings for the
discussion
of Islam, the Muslim Student Association is sponsoring "Islamic
Awareness
Week," scheduled to run Monday through Thursday.
Humdan Duranni, Dallas junior and vice president of the association,
said
the event is designed to foster one-on-one discussions.
To that end, a Dawa (invitation) table will be set up on the first
floor of
the University Union each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "We are excited
and
have already received positive response from students, faculty and
staff of
UNT," Duranni said.
The week will coincide with the beginning of the holy month Ramadan
during
which Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset.
On Monday, a lecture will be presented at 3 p.m. in Wooten Hall 322,
titled
"Ramadan: The Month of Mercy..."
-----
UNDERSTANDING ISLAM
Beth Cohen, Reporter Online, 10/24/03
http://www.thereporteronline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10403833&BRD=2275&PAG=
461&dept_id=466404&rfi=6
LANSDALE – It’s a culture and religion that many people may not
understand.
“That’s OK‚ because I don’t understand some things about other
religions‚”
said Abdul Hannan‚ vice president of the North Penn Mosque.
Hannan‚ his son Niaz and daughter Nusba agreed to speak to The Reporter
this week about their culture‚ religion and traditions during an
interview
inside the mosque‚ a brick and stucco building at the corner of Sixth
Street and Maple Avenue.
He said the mosque tries to bridge the gap between religions by
participating in seminars and interfaith programs‚ and hosting
community
events.
And more people are converting to Islam‚ Hannan said...
---
THE QURAN PROMOTES PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE
Jamal Badawi, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 10/24/03
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/
What does Islam say about violence and war?
The Arabic equivalent of the term "holy war" is not found anywhere in
the
Quran. In fact, there is nothing holy about war in itself. The Quran
describes fighting as a hated act. Nor does the Quran allow a war to be
waged on its behalf to forcibly convert people of other faith
communities.
"Let there be no compulsion in religion," instructs the Quran.
The Quranic term "jihad" means, literally, to strive or exert effort.
As a
religious term, it is used to refer to individual Jihad or striving for
self-purification and moral behavior. It also refers to charity and to
expounding the truth contained in the Quran. Another form of Jihad is
to
strive in the battlefield against aggression or injustice and
oppression...
Jamal Badawi will speak on the topic, "Does Islam promote hatred and
violence?" at 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at Coffman Memorial Union, University of
Minnesota, East Bank Campus, 300 Washington Ave S.E.
-----
MUSLIMS PREPARE TO OBSERVE RAMADAN
Earl Vaughan Jr., Fayetteville Online, 10/24/03
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=faith&Story=5956202
Celebration and education will be the dual themes for local Muslims
during
this year's observance of Ramadan.
The month-long period of fasting begins with the sighting of the moon
on
Sunday and continues for approximately 30 days.
Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset each day for the entire month,
remembering the time when the prophet Muhammad received the Holy
Qur'an.
In addition to fasting during Ramadan, Muslims abstain from all bad
habits.
Husbands and wives avoid intimate relations during the month.
This year, in Fayetteville, Muslims hope to reach out to the community
and
help non-Muslims understand what their faith is about...
ALSO SEE:
FASTING AND PRAYER: THE CELEBRATION OF RAMADAN
Kathy Meyering, Town Times, 10/23/03
http://www.towntimes.com/articles/2003/10/23/news/local_news/news03.txt
The Muslim feast of Ramadan begins this coming week, when Muslims all
over
the world begin a month-long fast. Beginning the night of October 27,
they
will refrain from all food and drink from dawn until sundown. The
belief
behind the fast is that such self-denial helps a person gain true
sympathy
with those who go hungry, and also supports his or her spiritual
growth.
During the fast, strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of
Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight
hours.
Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the
end
of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar.
In
the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out
visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning...
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the "Five Pillars" of the
Islamic faith. These pillars provide a framework for a Muslim's life.
With
all the anti-Islamic rhetoric and misconceptions about one of the
world's
major religions, a short primer on these basics of the Muslim religion
may
shed some light on the many commonalities Islam shares with other
Western
religions...
---
BUSINESSES TAP INTO THE RAMADAN MARKET
Holly Lebowitz Rossi, Religion News Service, 10/24/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0310240240oct24,1,46989
29.story
Balloons, banners, greeting cards--the trappings of a holiday.
This year the Muslim holy month of Ramadan wades even further into the
ocean of popular culture with the appearance of greeting cards produced
by
industry giant Hallmark Cards, which joins the ever-growing Internet
Ramadan products industry.
The cards do not mark the entire month of Ramadan, which is expected to
begin this year on Oct. 27 with the sighting of the new moon, but are
for
the celebratory day at the end of the sober period--Eid al Fitr on Nov.
25.
The cards are new for Hallmark, but greeting cards and other
Ramadan-oriented products are increasingly common.
"Ramadan, in particular, has through most of the 20th Century been
getting
more and more attached to secular rituals" like gift-giving,
card-sending
and festive meals to break each day's traditional dawn-to-dusk fast,
said
Walter Armbrust, a professor at St. Anthony's College, University of
Oxford. Armbrust is researching trends in Ramadan celebrations in
Egypt.
Armbrust, speaking from Cairo, said he has seen a trend in the Muslim
world
toward observing Ramadan in a more commercialized fashion, a
development
that he says runs counter in some ways to the original purpose of the
observance...
---
HALAL EATS READY FOR RAMADAN FEASTING
Monica Eng, Chicago Tribune, 10/24/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/custom/friday/chi-0310240294oct2
4,1,4676063.story
The holy month of Ramadan is mostly about restraint, reflection and
fasting.
But at the end of each day, it is also about eating.
Hundreds of thousands of Chicago-area Muslims will forgo food between
sunrise and sunset for an entire month, beginning most likely on Monday
(the start depends on the sighting of the moon). But when the sun goes
down
each night, they will break the fast, usually with a single date or sip
of
tea.
Then the evening meal will begin.
This usually hearty repast--called the iftar--is often enjoyed with
family,
friends and neighbors in the home. But whipping up 30 of these feasts
in a
row could present a challenge to even the most energetic cook. And so
Chicago's growing number of halal restaurants stand at the ready to
feed
hungry dinner crowds with menus that range from pizza and falafel to
chicken biryani and Mongolian beef...
These 60-some restaurants are catering to a Muslim population in the
Chicago area that has grown by between 20-30 percent in the last 10
years
and now stands at about 400,000 according to the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Greater Chicago.
---
SOME US MUSLIMS TAKE ARMS AGAINST A SEA OF TROUBLES AS RAMADAN NEARS
Louise Daly, Agence France Presse, 10/24/03
CHICAGO - The US Muslim community is preparing to mark Ramadan, its
most
important religious celebration of the year, still smarting from the
effects of Washington's domestic war on terror and attacks on Islam.
As the holy month approaches, "a lot of Muslims are hiding their
faith,"
said Abdul Malik Mujahid, a Chicago-based imam, reflecting on the
community's mood ahead of Ramadan, which begins Sunday or Monday in
most
regions...
But there has also been an equal and opposite reaction, he
acknowledges.
"A similar number of people have responded to the pressure by
celebrating
their faith. Either way, the pressure is there," he said.
Janaan Hashin is one who has chosen to celebrate and defend her faith.
She
had planned on specializing in medical malpractice law when she first
started law school.
But her experiences over the past two years -- as the US government
launched a post-September 11 crackdown on Muslim charities and arrested
and
detained hundreds of potential terror suspects, many of them Muslim --
have
set her thinking about pursuing constitutional or civil rights law once
she
qualifies...
-----
SYRIA, LONG RUTHLESSLY SECULAR, SEES FERVENT ISLAMIC RESURGENCE
Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times, 10/24/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/24/international/middleeast/24SYRI.html
ALEPPO, Syria — Two decades after Syria ruthlessly uprooted militant
Islam,
killing an estimated 10,000 people, this most secular of Arab states is
experiencing a dramatic religious resurgence.
Friday Prayers draw overflowing crowds. More heavily veiled women and
bearded men jostle unharried among city pedestrians. Family restaurants
on
the outskirts of Damascus do not serve alcohol, and one fashionable
boutique even sports a sign advertising Islamically modest bathing
suits.
Syrian experts on religious matters and others attribute the phenomenon
—
more creeping than confrontational — to various factors. Islam is
proving
appealing through much of the Arab world, including Syria, as a means
to
protest corrupt, incompetent and oppressive governments.
The widespread sense that the faith is being singled out for attack by
Washington has invigorated that appeal, at a time when the violence
fomented by radicals had tarnished political Islam...
SEE ALSO:
EXECUTED MUSLIM SEPARATIST DETAILS GRIM CHINESE TORTURE SESSIONS
Channel News Asia, 10/23/03
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/
BEIJING, An alleged leader of a Muslim separatist organization fighting
for
an independent state in west China left a detailed record of grim
official
torture sessions before he was executed, a report said.
Wujimaimaiti Abasi, also known as Shirali, was tried last November and
sentenced to death in March for "manufacturing and stockpiling illegal
weapons and explosives," and "organizing and leading a terrorist
organization…"
The US-based Radio Free Asia Friday said Abasi left behind a testimony
he
recorded for their Uighur service which he requested be kept "in a safe
place." In it, he described eight months of torture in the Old Market
Prison in Guma County, Xinjiang.
He said he was beaten with shackles, "frequently" shocked in an
electric
chair, repeatedly kicked unconscious, and then drenched in cold water
to
revive him for more torture, the radio station reported.
RFA said he referred to his interrogators as "executioners," saying
they
told him to confess to separatist activities or risk dying in the
interrogation room.
"One executioner winked at the other, who then came over and pressed
down
the switch of the (electric) chair," the testimony reportedly said.
"As if someone was pouring me with boiling water and peeling off my
skin,
my entire body was in a harsh pain. I was tortured this way for about
three
minutes.
"After a short while, that executioner turned off the chair switch. He
came
to me and said to me using the interpreter, 'Just like what we said,
you
will not get out of here alive. So you must confess.'".
In another session, Abasi said: "They shouted at me and broke a couple
of
nails on my right foot then they pushed nails into two of the toes on
my
left foot.
"I lost consciousness because I couldn't stand this torture…"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
RAMADAN GREETINGS FROM CAIR
CAIR wishes to congratulate American Muslims and Muslims worldwide on
the
coming of the blessed month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the month of righteousness, reflection and giving.
We urge everyone to take advantage of this month to reinforce their
Islamic
identity and connection to Allah.
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us pardon and wellbeing in this
world
and the next.
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/27/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
- Save 11/29/03 for CAIR's Annual Dinner
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR's Fundraising Event
* ILLINOIS MUSLIMS ACCUSE BARNES & NOBLE OF DISCRIMINATION
* MUSLIM LEADERS PROTEST WHITE HOUSE RAMADAN EVENT (MAS)
* UNDER SIEGE IN AMERICA? (ABC News)
- Area Muslims Begin Ramadan Today (Palm Beach Post)
- Muslims Observe Ramadan with Fasts (Sun Times)
- Children Share Meaning Of Ramadan (Sun Sentinel)
- Muslim Holy Month Begins (Detroit News)
- Fast at Ramadan Enhances Faith (Indystar)
- 29-Day Test of Stamina, Discipline (SM Times)
- Dearborn Team Prepares For Playoffs, Ramadan (AP)
- Fasting Feeds Their Faith (Chicago Tribune)
- Muslim Students Seek To Educate (CC Times)
- Christians, Jews, Muslims Build Habitat Home (AP)
- Muslim Prison Chaplain Promotes Harmony (Ledger)
- President's Ramadan Message
* MUSLIMS' PRAYERS SPREAD ACROSS AREA (Denver Post)
- Allah in America (Star Telegram)
- Iowa Company Serves Muslims Worldwide (DM Register)
- Muslims Change Attitudes about Islam (Journal News)
- Expressing Faith in Written Word (Wash. Post)
- A Hidden Voice of Islam (SJ Mercury News)
- The True Islam (Express News Religion)
- More Seeking To Resolve Conflicts (AJC)
* A HIGHER AUTHORITY IN THE WAR ON TERROR (WASH. POST)
- Personal Freedom, Public Responsibility (Observer)
* MILITARISM AND MORAL DECAY (IHT)
- Most Iraqis See US Forces as Occupiers (Reuters)
- 1, 2, 3, What Are They Fighting For? (Independent)
- Military Educates Troops About Muslim Holy Month (AP)
* MILITARY STALLING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MUSLIM CHAPLAIN
- Lawyer Upset by Treatment of Ex-Chaplain (NY Times)
* CIVIL RIGHTS CONFERENCE DENOUNCES PATRIOT ACT (Star Telegram)
* LECTURE ON RACISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ISLAM
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting is a shield
against
evil."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas - When the month of Ramadan began (the
Prophet
Muhammad) set every prisoner free and gave to every beggar.
Al-Trimidhi, Hadith 615
------
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 6949 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 6949 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
SAVE 11/29/03 FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
CAIR fundraising Dinner, "A Defining Moment" will take place on
Saturday,
November 29, 2003. Registration begins at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m.
Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA.
Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003 No children
please.
(Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10 per child.) Buy your
tickets early. They are quick to sell-out!
For information, email: register@cair-net.org.
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR'S FUNDRAISING EVENT
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
-----
ILLINOIS MUSLIMS ACCUSE BARNES & NOBLE OF DISCRIMINATION
Medical students say they were targeted due to religion, ethnicity
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/27/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today reported that two Muslim medical students have filed a
discrimination complaint against a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Illinois
over a June incident in which the students say they were kicked out of
the
store because of their religion and ethnicity.
The complaint, filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights,
alleges
that the Muslim medical students were studying for an exam at a table
inside a Chicago-area Barnes & Noble when they were asked to leave by
the
store manager. That request came after the students, who spoke Arabic
to
each other while they were studying, observed the manager "repeatedly
walking past them and staring at them." Other store patrons in that
same
area were not asked to leave.
When the students asked that store manager why they had to leave, since
others had been studying at tables for longer periods of time, and
there
were empty tables and chairs in the store caf�, the manager said they
had
10 minutes to take their "garbage," which included books purchased at
Barnes & Noble, and get out or she would call the police.
The complaint alleges unlawful national origin and religious
discrimination
in a place of public accommodation.
CAIR is America's largest civil liberties group. It is headquartered in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
ACTION REQUESTED: (AS ALWAYS, BE POLITE.)
CONTACT Barnes & Noble to ask that they investigate this incident at
the
national level and resolve it to the satisfaction of the Muslim
customers.
E-MAIL: mkeating@bn.com, cbrown@bn.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CONTACT: Mr. Mahdi Bray (202) 421-3623
Muslim American Society
MUSLIM LEADERS PROTEST WHITE HOUSE RAMADAN EVENT
Interfaith leaders join call for serious engagement
(WASHINGTON, DC)- On Tuesday, October 28th, national leaders from the
Muslim community, along with other faith leaders, will hold a press
conference to discuss the lack of substantive dialogue between the Bush
administration and the leadership of the Muslim-American community.
Leaders of the nation's largest Islamic organizations are concerned
that
the administration is only interested in meeting with Muslim leaders
for
photo opportunities, rather then discussing the pressing issues of the
day,
and enlisting the American Muslim community in the pursuit of better
understanding with the Muslim World.
Speakers will also discuss the actions that they plan to take later
that
evening (the 28th) to coincide with a White House banquet in honor of
the
holy month of Ramadan. Muslim leaders, the vast majority of whom are
not
attending the event, worry that the White House will use the banquet as
a
photo-op to give the impression that the Bush administration has a good
working relationship with the Muslim-American community.
Leaders from other faith groups and civic organizations share the
concern
that this administration seems to provide access only to those ho
support
their policies.
WHO: Muslim American Society, the Muslim Students' Association of the
U.S.
and Canada, American Muslims for Jerusalem, North American Council for
Muslim Women, Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations of Greater
Washington, Project Islamic Hope, the Rainbow-Push Coalition,
Fellowship of
Reconciliation, the National Council of Churches, United Church of
Christ,
the Muslim and Christian Coalition, Black Voices for Peace, the
American
Friends Service Committee, and others.
WHAT: Press conference to discuss relations between the White House and
the
Muslim-American community
WHERE: Zenger Room of the National Press Club, Washington, DC
WHEN: Tuesday, October 28, 2003, 10:00 a.m.
-----
UNDER SIEGE IN AMERICA?
Leela Jacinto, ABC News, 10/27/03
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/US/Living/ramadan031027-1.html
New York - The jewelers round the corner from the halal meat store has
downed its shutters, the grocery store is no more, and in the sari
shop,
salesgirls sit idly before a dazzling display of satins, silks and
wispy
veils, waiting for customers who rarely show up these days.
This stretch of Brooklyn's Coney Island Avenue, commonly called "Little
Pakistan," was once a magnet for immigrants seeking essential wares
from
home and intrepid culinary hounds on the hunt for the consummate fiery,
South Asian fare.
But the post-9/11 security crackdown with its baggage of suspicions,
fears,
increasing backlash attacks and dwindling civil rights, have taken its
toll
on the once-vibrant neighborhood.
Today, "Little Pakistan" is a neighborhood under siege as thousands of
Pakistani immigrants in the United States have been seeking new lives
in
Canada, fleeing the land that prides itself as a destination for the
world's weary, huddled masses, for an uncertain life in a new country.
In Muslim homes across the world over the weekend, the sighting of the
sliver of moon on the eastern horizon marked the start of the holy
month of
Ramadan.
At sundown for the next few weeks, devout Muslims in America - like
their
brethren all over the world - will break their daylong fast with the
iftar,
or traditional evening meal, featuring a sumptuous array of dishes.
But more than two years after the 9/11 attacks, a disturbing sense of
anxiety has cast a shadow over Ramadan, a quiet unease that threatens
to
disturb the comfort and security that rituals are meant to bestow.
"American Muslims as a whole feel under attack from this government -
and
not without reason," says Dalia Hashad, a spokeswoman for the ACLU
(American Civil Liberties Union). "They look at all the policies and
laws
of the U.S. government that targets Muslims in America and they get a
clear
sense that this government discriminates against them on the basis of
religion and ethnicity."
ALSO SEE:
AREA MUSLIMS BEGIN RAMADAN TODAY
Tanya Wragg, Palm Beach Post, 10/27/03
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/auto/epaper/editions/monday/local_news_f3c999f3234c70b0004c.html
South Florida Muslims begin their observance of Ramadan today, a month
of
fasting from dawn to dusk while spending days in prayer and meditation.
At night, they will share sumptuous meals with family and other
worshipers.
"People think Ramadan is like a festival," said Murtaza Kakli,
president of
the Muslim Community of Palm Beach County. "They think it's like
Christmas,
but it's not. It's supposed to be a holy month, not a joyous month.
It's
kind of a test of patience and human will."
Millions of Muslims in Egypt, Jordan and Yemen began fasting Sunday.
Others, including about 5,000 in Palm Beach County, began marking
Ramadan
today because their leaders decreed the holiday should begin a day
later...
"Ramadan brings so much to you as a human being," said Altaf Ali,
spokesman
of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"You're conscious of poor people, of being kind, of being truthful.
Your
frame of mind is something close to the obedience of God. You try to
obey
god as any act of kindness is increased..."
---
MUSLIMS OBSERVE RAMADAN WITH FASTS
Maureen O'Donnell, Sun Times, 10/27/03
http://www.suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-ram27.html
Many Muslim restaurants are switching to evening hours, and Muslim
grocery
stores are about to do a strong business selling a variety of dates.
That's because Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting and prayer,
begins
for most Chicago-area Muslims today.
And because the Prophet Muhammad is said to have broken his fast by
eating
a date and drinking water, traditionally, many individuals break their
Ramadan fasts the same way.
Ramadan, the most important month of the Muslim calendar, is a time for
spiritual reflection, acts of charity, reconnecting with friends and
family
and attaining closeness to God...
---
MUSLIM CHILDREN SHARE MEANING OF RAMADAN
Tanya Weinberg, Sun-Sentinel, 10/27/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pramadan27oct27,0,148661.story
Islam does not demand as much from children as from adults during
Ramadan,
which began Sunday, but many embrace the challenges of resisting
impulses
and fasting dawn to dusk.
Yet it's not easy...
While she recognizes that the demands of her religion can set her
apart,
she's quick to point out that the opposite is also true.
"I have Jewish friends. Sometimes they have to fast, but I think they
are
allowed to drink water," she said. "But you can relate. It's cool."
Through Ramadan, American Muslim children both fortify their own
religious
identity and understanding and find themselves acting as ambassadors of
their faith and its principles of charity, compassion and submission to
God.
Although they know many have vilified Islam in the wake of the Sept. 11
attacks, the children are also witness to a growing curiosity and
acceptance of their religion....
---
MUSLIM HOLY MONTH BEGINS
Edward L. Cardenas, Detroit News, 10/27/03
http://www.detnews.com/2003/religion/0310/27/c01-307983.htm
DEARBORN -- Hassan Harb and his family gathered around a table Sunday
at
the New Yasmeen Bakery to enjoy one final midday meal before they begin
their daylong fasts during the holy month of Ramadan.
Like Muslims around the world, Harb and his family will abstain from
eating
or drinking during daylight hours, and they will come together after
sunset
for a meal of special family dishes and prayers. Ramadan, which
stresses
worship, introspection and charity, continues for 30 days...
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, is the most
revered
and sacred time of the year for believers. Throughout the month, adult
Muslims are required to abstain from food, water, smoking and sexual
relations from sunrise to sunset.
Muslims say the sacrifices of Ramadan renew and strengthen their
commitment
and knowledge of Islam. It is during this period that Muslims believe
the
prophet Muhammad first received the revelation of the Koran, the holy
book
of Islam. And according to the Koran, this is when God determines the
course of the world for the following year.
---
MONTH-LONG FAST AT RAMADAN ENHANCES FAITH
John J. Shaughnessy, Indystar, 10/25/03
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/7/086290-7637-047.html
Michael Saahir knows the impact that a month of fasting can have on a
person's life, but he gained a greater appreciation of its power when
he
saw its effect on a 9-year-old boy.
The lesson came during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when one of
Saahir's sons begged to join his family and other Muslims in fasting
from
food and drink each day from an hour before sunrise to sunset.
"I thought he was too young," recalls Saahir, the imam, or leader of
prayer, at Nur Allah Islamic Center, 2040 E. 46th St. "He was mad when
we
didn't wake him up the first morning. He didn't give in. He's been
doing
well ever since."
Muslims' desire to transform themselves and their relationship with God
is
at the heart of Ramadan, a period that likely will begin Monday, based
one
the day Muslims recognize as the start of the new moon -- keeping with
a
tradition set by the prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam...
---
RAMADAN: 29-DAY TEST OF STAMINA, DISCIPLINE
Melissa Evans, San Mateo County Times, 10/27/03
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1725103,00.html
FREMONT -- In the days when there were no clocks or fancy maps, Muslim
villages would designate a group of men to hike to the highest peak to
monitor the rising and setting sun.
This information is crucial, Muslims say -- it determines the start of
Ramadan, the most holy month of the Islamic year.
In keeping with tradition, a group from the Islamic Society of the East
Bay
in Fremont will travel to the Santa Cruz mountains near Gilroy today to
observe the sunset and determine when to begin their approximately
29-day
fast.
"This is a time to reflect, to look upon your life and achieve
God-consciousness," said Mohamad Rajabally, one of those who will
travel to
the South Bay this weekend. "The philosophy of Islam is that you submit
your whole will to God."
Instead of feeding their bodies with food and water, Muslims instead
will
feed themselves with spiritual nourishment through prayer, meditation,
charity and reflection...
---
DEARBORN TEAM PREPARES FOR PLAYOFFS, RAMADAN
Bree Fowler, Associated Press, 10/27/03
DEARBORN, Mich.- The minds of at least one team's players will be on
something more than touchdowns and field goals when the Michigan high
school football playoffs start Friday.
Players at Fordson High will be thinking about Ramadan, the Muslim holy
month of reflection and prayer that begins this week...
Of the 54 boys on Fordson's team, 52 are Muslim, head coach Jeff
Stergalas
said.
That means that during Ramadan, the team must balance the duties of
their
faith, which include fasting during daylight hours, with their
responsibility to the team...
---
FASTING FEEDS THEIR FAITH
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 10/27/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0310270152oct27,1,1332424.story
Zubeda Kaleem will spend the Muslim holy month of Ramadan surrounded by
glazed crullers, cream-filled pastries and strawberry-frosted eclairs.
But Kaleem, 27, manager of Dunkin' Donuts at Western and Devon Avenues,
will not be tempted by the treats.
She will draw from a spiritual strength cultivated since she began
abiding
by the monthlong Ramadan fast at the age of 7. Kaleem says the only
nourishment she needs is God.
For the next 29 days, many Muslims will eat and drink according to
Allah's
schedule, while holding jobs serving hungry customers, taste-testing
recipes and stuffing grocery bags.
For Muslim restaurateurs and other culinary professionals surrounded
daily
by the very thing that is forbidden, Ramadan is not a test of faith. It
is
an opportunity to illustrate it, focus more intensely on God and reap
the
rewards...
---
MUSLIM STUDENTS SEEK TO EDUCATE
Randy Myers, Contra Costa Times, 10/26/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7107693.htm
Since Sept. 11, many American Muslims find they're assuming two
identities
on Ramadan -- worshipper and teacher.
"I put it on myself to explain my religion," said imam Amer Araim of
the
Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Concord, where 150 families worship.
The former United Nations delegate and native of Iraq has become an
informal ambassador for Islam, speaking at numerous engagements in an
effort to dispel misconceptions and create a better understanding of
the
world's second largest religion...
---
CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS TEAM UP TO BUILD HABITAT HOME
Associated Press, 10/27/03
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?g9214_BC_MI--InterfaithBuilder&&news&newsflash-michigan
DETROIT- Building an interfaith dialogue took on a new twist in Detroit
as
three dozen Christians, Jews and Muslims teamed up for a Habitat for
Humanity project...
The project - a half-finished Habitat home - offered members of the
Interfaith Partnership an opportunity to meet outside a place of
worship
and pool their efforts, as much to build the home as to build closer
ties.
Their group was set up as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The
group is now under the umbrella of the National Conference for
Community
and Justice in Detroit...
For the Muslims in the group, the Sunday event fell on the eve of the
Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of spiritual purification and
charity characterized by prayer and fasting.
That made building homes for the needy a particularly timely and
relevant
project for them...
---
AS RAMADAN BEGINS, STATE'S ONLY MUSLIM PRISON CHAPLAIN PROMOTES HARMONY
AMONG FAITHS
Cary McMullen, Ledger, 10/25/03
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031025/NEWS/310250318/1021
It was just past midday and time for the second of the five daily
prayers
prescribed for Muslims. Abdul Al-Khatib went into the unadorned chapel
at
Polk Correctional Institution, removed his jacket and shoes and joined
five
inmates, who knelt behind him on prayer rugs facing a corner of the
chapel
in the direction of Mecca...
It is not unusual for Muslim inmates to pray in prison, but it is
unique to
be led in prayer by the chaplain. Al-Khatib, the supervising chaplain
at
Polk Correctional, was the first and remains the only Muslim chaplain
in
the state Department of Corrections.
Al-Khatib, a native of Winter Haven, has had to overcome mistrust and
stereotypes since he joined the department eight years ago. Both
department
administrators and inmates say that not only has he won a reputation
for
evenhandedness in dealing with inmates of all faiths, he has succeeded
in
creating one of the more active chapel programs among the department's
52
major prisons...
---
MUSLIMS DEBATE WHAT'S IN STORE DURING RAMADAN
Holly Lebowitz, Religion News Service, 10/25/03
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/7095197.htm
Balloons, banners, greeting cards -- the trappings of a holiday.
This year, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan wades even further into the
ocean of popular culture with the appearance of greeting cards produced
by
industry giant Hallmark Cards, which joins the ever-growing Internet
Ramadan products industry.
The cards do not mark the entire month of Ramadan, which is expected to
begin this year on Sunday or Monday with the sighting of the new moon,
but
are for the celebratory day at the end of the sober period -- Eid
al-Fitr,
on Nov. 25. The cards are new for Hallmark, but greeting cards and
other
Ramadan-oriented products are increasingly common.
"Ramadan, in particular, has, through most of the 20th century, been
getting more and more attached to secular rituals" such as gift-giving,
card-sending and festive meals to break each day's traditional
dawn-to-dusk
fast, said Walter Armbrust, a professor at St. Anthony's College,
University of Oxford. Armbrust is researching trends in Ramadan
celebrations in Egypt.
Armbrust, who spoke to Religion News Service from Cairo, said he has
seen a
trend in the Muslim world toward observing Ramadan in a more
commercialized
fashion, a development he says runs counter in some ways to the
original
purpose of the observance...
---
PRESIDENT'S RAMADAN MESSAGE
Office of the Press Secretary, 10/24/03
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031024-10.html
Presidential Message: Ramadan
I send greetings to Muslims in the United States and around the world
observing the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the holiest season in the Islamic faith, commemorating the
revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammed. This month of introspection
provides
Muslims a time to focus on their faith and practice God's commands.
Through
fasting, prayer, contemplation, and charity, Muslims around the world
renew
their commitment to lead lives of honesty, integrity, and compassion.
Throughout our history, people of different faiths have shaped the
character of our Nation. Islam is a peaceful religion, and people who
practice the Islamic faith have made great contributions to our Nation
and
the world. As Americans, we cherish our freedom to worship and we
remain
committed to welcoming individuals of all religions. By working
together to
advance freedom and mutual understanding, we are creating a brighter
future
of hope and opportunity.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes. Ramadan mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
-----
MUSLIMS' PRAYERS SPREAD ACROSS AREA
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 10/27/03
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1725726,00.html
Inside a storefront in an Aurora shopping center, 15 young children in
stocking feet hunch over notebooks filled with basic Arabic words,
waiting
their turn to parrot back pronunciations to their teacher, a Sudanese
immigrant.
Oblivious to the lesson, a man in an adjacent room rocks back and forth
on
his knees, lifting whispered prayers toward Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, as
is
Muslim custom.
Twenty-five miles away in Northglenn, an imam prepares for sundown
prayer
in a building across the street from the House of Rock nightclub. Three
men
join him to bow, sit and prostrate themselves on a colorful rug. He
offers
raisins, nuts and cookies to visitors...
The Muslim community in Denver is spreading its arms, branching out to
distant suburban addresses with five digits. The storefront mosques in
Aurora and Northglenn, both less than 4 years old, are a sign of a
maturing
community that is growing along with Denver and staking out new ground
in
the religious landscape...
Nationally, just 16 percent of mosques are in the suburbs, although
suburban congregations are growing the fastest, according to a 2001
study
sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
ALSO SEE:
ALLAH IN AMERICA
Kathy Pinto, Star-Telegram, 10/25/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/religion/7101946.htm
ABIQUIU - For centuries the high desert of northern New Mexico has
drawn
diverse people and cultures -- American Indians, Spanish colonists and
Anglo settlers. Today, this never-changing landscape includes Sikhs,
Buddhists and Muslims.
On the land around Abiquiu, which inspired the masterpieces of Georgia
O'Keeffe, these newest of immigrants have found their piece of heaven
--
and constructed what is believed to be the country's only adobe mosque.
Abiquiu is a 250-year-old Spanish-American village located an hour
north of
Santa Fe. It sits in a varied landscape of red and gold mesas,
lunar-white
rock canyons and fertile river land. On a plateau overlooking the Chama
River Valley, across from Abiquiu, lies Dar al Islam.
Dar al Islam was conceived in 1979 by an American-educated Saudi
industrialist and an American-born Muslim at a meeting in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia. Their dream was to establish a Muslim village that would be a
showcase for Islam in America...
---
CEDAR RAPIDS EXPORT COMPANY SERVES MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE
Anne Fitzgerald, Des Moines Register, 10/26/03
http://www.dmregister.com/business/stories/c4789013/22546236.html
Cedar Rapids, Ia. - A family-owned company in Cedar Rapids has carved a
growing niche for itself in the world food industry: supplying products
prepared according to strict religious standards.
Midamar Corp. specializes in selling halal foods, which are products
deemed
acceptable to Muslims or followers of Islam.
Halal foods are not nearly as well-established nor as widely known as
kosher foods, which are produced and processed according to Jewish law,
but
the halal market is growing, along with Islam, which is the world's
fastest
growing religion, Midamar's founder said.
The global halal foods business totals billions of dollars, driven in
large
part by the two billion Muslims worldwide who consume halal food. Also
a
factor is population growth in predominately Muslim countries. As the
market grows, competition will increase, particularly as multinational
food
companies try to capture a greater share of the business, food industry
experts said...
---
MORE U.S. MUSLIMS WORK TO CHANGE ATTITUDES ABOUT ISLAM
Khurram Saeed, Journal News, 10/25/03
http://www.nyjournalnews.com/newsroom/102503/a0125ramadan.html
Tired of having their faith under the constant spotlight of suspicion,
Muslims in the United States are taking a hands-on approach to change
the
way many Americans view them and their religion.
Some have donated more than $1 million to supply books, tapes and
videos on
Islam in nearly half of the nations' libraries. Others, including those
in
Rockland and Westchester, are seeking to build mosques and schools that
will serve the entire community. Still others are discussing ways that
Islam can adapt to a new era.
These actions seek to move Islam into mainstream America, but they are
also
part of a conscious effort, made more urgent since Sept. 11, 2001, to
change hearts and minds about the world's second-largest religion,
which
still inspires fear and distrust in the West...
In September 2002, the Council on American Islamic Relations launched
the
Library Project, which aspired to put a package of 18 Islamic scholarly
and
children's books, DVDs, videos and audiotapes in all 16,300 libraries
in
the United States. A sponsor would pay $150 toward the multimedia set,
which then was donated to a library in the sponsor's hometown or state,
or
the sponsor could leave it up to CAIR to decide.
To date, nearly 7,000 sets have been placed, including in every library
branch in Maryland.
"There are many misperceptions about Islam and the Muslim community,"
CAIR
spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed said. "We figured one way to combat these
misconceptions was to educate people."
It was also a way to ensure that Muslims became more proactive by
donating
to a cause that benefited society at large, she said.
"These are signs Muslims are working on initiatives that make their
communities more normal in the eyes of others," Ahmed said...
---
EXPRESSING FAITH IN WRITTEN WORD
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 10/26/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17998-2003Oct25.html
First, Mohamed Zakariya carefully selects the text. He prefers it to be
concise yet deep, such as, "Is God not sufficient for His servant?"
Next, he assembles his tools: pens made from bamboo and marsh reeds, a
soot-based black ink, 23-karat gold leaf for gilding, and shiny paper
tinted brown with tea and varnished with an egg-white mixture.
Then, leaning into the canted desktop in his Arlington home studio, the
Islamic calligrapher writes the text in an elegant, stylized Arabic
script.
He likes to say he is making "music for the eyes."
Zakariya, 61, is a practitioner of an art form that Muslims have used
for
centuries to express and enhance their faith. A convert to Islam, he
trained under renowned master calligraphers in Turkey and is widely
recognized as one of the most accomplished Islamic calligraphers in the
United States. His work, exhibited across this country and in the
Middle
East, includes the 2001 design of the first U.S. Postal Service stamp
marking an Islamic holiday.
At its best, Zakariya said, calligraphy is a handmaiden to religious
faith
because the aesthetic experience of viewing beautifully written script
illuminates the meaning of the words...
---
A HIDDEN VOICE OF ISLAM
Matthai Chakko Kurvuvilla, San Jose Mercury, 10/25/03
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/7103330.htm
In the midst of an impoverished East Oakland neighborhood as concerned
with
the war on drugs as the war in Iraq lie answers to a question roiling
the
country since Sept. 11, 2001: Can Islam and the United States co-exist?
They can, say members of a largely African-American mosque there,
offering
their decades-old history as proof. But that history is often ignored
and
misconstrued.
Perhaps no group of Americans can speak about Islam and the United
States
with the same intimacy or authority as African-American Muslims. But
their
voice -- and story -- frequently is missing in the national
conversation
about Islam after Sept. 11, 2001.
In some ways, it is a question about what is Islam, and what is Middle
East
politics, says Faheem Shuaibe, the imam, or spiritual leader, of the
East
Oakland mosque, Masjidul Waritheen...
No thorough study has ever been done on the number of Muslims in the
United
States, and estimates vary from 2 million to 8 million. Some studies
have
estimated that African-American Muslims make up a third of the Muslim
population in the United States.
---
THE TRUE ISLAM
J. Michael Parker, Express-News Religion, 10/25/03
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1074507
Muslims always look forward to Ramadan, said Imam Omar Shakir of Masjid
Bilal, a San Antonio mosque.
"It's like quenching your thirst in a spiritual sense. We all have a
need
for a sense of connection with our Creator and with our neighbors,"
Shakir
said.
But American Muslims have another thirst that needs quenching: a thirst
for
greater understanding and respect from non-Muslim neighbors, most of
whom
have little or no first-hand knowledge of Islam...
But some religious and political leaders continue to fan suspicions and
prejudice against Islam. Their words and attitudes often mislead
followers
who have no independent knowledge of Islam...
Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence, has lectured in conservative evangelical churches while
in
uniform...
Meanwhile, some evangelical Christian ministries have shown a video
titled
"The Five Deceptions of Islam" that claims Islam condones violence and
worships a different God than Christianity.
But Muslims counter that while Islam has been used to justify violence
just
as Christianity has, that's not authentic Islam any more than violence
by
Christians represents authentic Christianity. "Allah," they say, is
simply
the Arabic word for God...
---
MORE SEEKING TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS UNDER THE GROWING UMBRELLA OF
RELIGIOUS
RECONCILIATION
John Blake, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 10/26/03
www.ajc.com
Warning. This article contains no news of religious schisms, scandals
or
violence.
Still interested?
The organizers of two events coming to Atlanta next week are hoping
people
will be. While recent religion headlines seem dominated by conflict,
another trend is quietly gathering momentum.
Reconciliation efforts are popping up all over the religious landscape.
In
the post-Sept. 11 world, the need for tolerance --- between and within
faiths --- has become more urgent because religion-inspired violence
can
turn catastrophic, religious leaders say.
"More people are open to interfaith voices because we realize that this
world is much smaller than we thought," says Plemon El-Amin, imam of
the
Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam in Decatur. "People's problems and
insanities on
the other side of the world can affect us."
But supporters of religious reconciliation efforts around the United
States
face two huge challenges: How can they make their movement, which has
no
fiery leader or juicy conflict, appealing to the public?
And how can they teach people that a person can be passionately
committed
to their own faith while still being open to the claims of another
faith?
The two Atlanta events are designed to address both challenges...
-----
A HIGHER AUTHORITY IN THE WAR ON TERROR
Arsalan Iftikhar, Washington Post, 10/25/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14543-2003Oct24.html
As the Bush administration has fought its war on terrorism, President
Bush's silence regarding the growing anti-Muslim rhetoric within the
neo-conservative evangelical political elite is sending the wrong
message
to U.S. Muslims and to the Muslim world.
The Post tackled the issue of controversial statements against Islam
made
by Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of defense
for
intelligence ["Wrong and Divisive," editorial, Oct. 21]. Gen. Boykin
claimed that his "God was bigger" and that Muslims worship an "idol."
The
general's comments not only were inflammatory but also demonstrated his
theological ignorance.
Aside from the fact that Gen. Boykin appears not to recognize that
Muslims
worship the same monotheistic deity of Abraham as Christians and Jews
do,
it should give all Americans pause to know that one of the top brass
believes that he is leading "an army of God" -- an American "army of
God,"
which also happens to be full of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and
atheists.
Mr. Bush has said on numerous occasions that Islam is a "religion of
peace"
and that the war on terror is not a "war on Islam." But he also has
said he
believes a special dispensation has been given to him by the
Almighty...
Regardless of any godly mission President Bush may believe he has, what
is
clear is that many of his evangelical allies believe that they are
God's
gift to the world.
Arsalan Iftikhar is Director of Legal Affairs at the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
ALSO SEE:
PERSONAL FREEDOM VS. PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY
Ed Williams, Charlotte Observer, 10/26/03
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/columnists/ed_williams/7106867.htm
Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, a much-decorated warrior, recently
was
promoted to deputy undersecretary of defense with a vital mission: to
combine intelligence with special operations and hunt down such
terrorist
targets as Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
Now he's in hot water because he made speeches depicting the war on
terror
as a religious conflict.
Boykin spoke of Islamic extremists hating the United States because
"we're
a Christian nation." He said our "spiritual enemy will only be defeated
if
we come against them in the name of Jesus." He said President Bush "is
in
the White House because God put him there," and that "we in the army of
God
... have been raised for such a time as this."
Discussing a U.S. Army battle against a Muslim warlord in Somalia in
1993,
Boykin told an audience, "I knew my god was bigger than his. I knew
that my
god was a real god and his was an idol."
So what? America is committed to freedom of religion and speech. Is
there
any reason he shouldn't say what he believes?
Yes, there is.
He has taken on an important task: to track down so-called "high-value"
terrorists. To succeed, he'll need help from Muslims in the world's hot
spots. Disparaging their religion, or even appearing to do so, won't
make
them eager to help. The general is free to believe as he wishes, but
when
he took the job he assumed a responsibility not to act in ways that
interfere with doing it.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, said, "Putting a man with such extremist views in a critical
policymaking position sends entirely the wrong message to a Muslim
world
that is already skeptical about America's motives and intentions."
He's right. Even if Boykin was referring only to zealots who believe
Islam
justifies slaughtering innocents, many in the Muslim world will see his
statements as proof of bin Laden's assertion that the battle is
Christianity vs. Islam -- a holy war...
-----
MILITARISM AND MORAL DECAY
International Herald Tribune, 10/27/03
http://www.iht.com/articles/115056.html
Liberation has turned into a security problem. Force protection is
sought
by tracking down attackers, with penalties for the communities or
tribal
groups from which the "terrorists" come. Collective punishments have
begun.
Punitive destruction of crops and orchards of peasant communities has
been
carried out to force delivery of the names of relatives or fellow
tribesmen
thought to be members of resistance groups.
The American presence is criiticized by many for blocking the Iraqis
from
taking control of their own affairs, whatever the obvious risks of
civil
disorder and conflict. But one undeniable reason for a prolonged
occupation
is to maintain U.S. control over Iraqi oil production and the economy.
This
may serve the interests of corporations notoriously well connected with
the
Bush administration. But it is not an American national interest.
Least of all is it a national interest for the U.S. occupation to go
down
the Israeli road. Surely, that must be obvious.
ALSO SEE:
MOST IRAQIS SEE US FORCES AS OCCUPIERS - POLL
Reuters, 10/25/03
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters10-25-031849.asp?reg=MIDEAST
BAGHDAD - Most Iraqis regard the U.S.-led forces in their country as
occupiers rather than liberators, with many more now taking that view
than
did so just after U.S. troops overthrew Saddam Hussein in April,
according
to a poll.
The survey by Iraq's Centre For Research and Strategic Studies, a think
tank set up by a group of Iraqi professors after Saddam's fall, also
showed
only a small portion of Iraqis felt safest in the presence of U.S.
troops
or local police.
The poll results, released on Thursday, showed that 67 percent of
Iraqis
see the U.S.-led coalition forces as "occupying powers." The figure is
up
from 46 percent in a survey conducted shortly after the war that ousted
Saddam.
Fifteen percent consider the coalition forces "liberating forces," down
from 43 percent six months ago. One in 10 sees them as peacekeepers,
twice
as many as in April...
---
ONE, TWO, THREE, WHAT ARE THEY FIGHTING FOR?
Robert Fisk, Independent, 10/24/03
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/10/25/0079565
I was in the police station in the town of Fallujah when I realised the
extent of the schizophrenia. Captain Christopher Cirino of the 82nd
Airborne was trying to explain to me the nature of the attacks so
regularly
carried out against American forces in the Sunni Muslim Iraqi town. His
men
were billeted in a former presidential rest home down the road -
"Dreamland", the Americans call it - but this was not the extent of his
soldiers' disorientation. "The men we are being attacked by," he said,
"are
Syrian-trained terrorists and local freedom fighters." Come again?
"Freedom
fighters." But that's what Captain Cirino called them - and rightly so.
Here's the reason. All American soldiers are supposed to believe -
indeed
have to believe, along with their President and his Defence Secretary,
Donald Rumsfeld - that Osama bin Laden's "al-Qa'ida" guerrillas,
pouring
over Iraq's borders from Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia (note how those
close
allies and neighbours of Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey are always left out of
the
equation), are assaulting United States forces as part of the "war on
terror". Special forces soldiers are now being told by their officers
that
the "war on terror" has been transferred from America to Iraq, as if in
some miraculous way, 11 September 2001 is now Iraq 2003. Note too how
the
Americans always leave the Iraqis out of the culpability bracket -
unless
they can be described as "Baath party remnants", "diehards" or
"deadenders"
by the US proconsul, Paul Bremer...
---
U.S. MILITARY EDUCATES TROOPS ABOUT MUSLIM HOLY MONTH
Mariam Fam, Associated Press, 10/25/03
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/298/world/U_S_military_educates_troops_a:
MOSUL, Iraq - No eating, drinking or smoking in public: That word is
going
out to American soldiers in Iraq as Muslims prepare to observe the holy
month of fasting, Ramadan.
During Ramadan, expected to begin Monday, Muslims are supposed to
abstain
from food, drink, cigarettes and sex during daylight hours. It is a
time
for reflection, when religious feelings run strong.
The U.S.-led coalition is clearly concerned that those feelings could
erupt
into violence against American troops by religious Iraqis deeply
offended
that their country will be spending Ramadan under military occupation
by
non-Muslims.
''We have made sure all our forces are well aware of the implication of
Ramadan,'' said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. and
coalition
troops.
''We're making sure our forces clearly understand what the traditions
are,
and what the sensitivities are to make sure that we're being respectful
of
the Iraqi people.''
To that end, American and other allied troops have been attending
''cultural sensitivity'' classes, where instructors, mostly chaplains,
explain Islamic traditions and the meaning of the Islamic holy month.
''We don't want our soldiers to challenge any of those social customs
or
taboos or religious practices out of ignorance,'' said Lt. Col. Chester
C.
Egert, a chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul.
Muslims believe Ramadan was the month when God began to reveal the holy
book Quran to the Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. During the month,
Muslims break their fast with an evening meal, called ''iftar,'' at
sunset.
-----
CIVIL RIGHTS CONFERENCE DENOUNCES PATRIOT ACT
Patrick Mcgee, Star-Telegram, 10/26/03
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/7108573.htm
The USA Patriot Act and the Bush administration took a beating Saturday
at
a civil rights conference organized by more than a dozen grassroots
organizations.
Martin Luther King III was among about 20 speakers who criticized
President
Bush and the Patriot Act as undemocratic during the daylong conference
called "Justice for All..."
The Patriot Act, which was passed shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks, expands federal authorities' powers to fight
terrorism
by, among other things, allowing them to obtain records from libraries,
bookstores and other businesses without notifying the subject of the
investigation.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, in a 16-city tour in September,
praised the act as a necessary tool in the war on terror. He denounced
critics' assertions that the FBI was snooping into Americans' reading
habits, calling the allegations "baseless hysteria..."
-----
LECTURE ON RACISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ISLAM
WHAT: Imam Siraj Wahhaj will be giving a lecture, titled, "The Concepts
of
Racism and Social Justice in Islam." Imam Siraj Wahhaj is an
international
renowned speaker on Islamic issues both national and international. He
is
one of the leaders of the NYC Muslim community.
Sponsors of the event are: Muslim Student Association, Salam, ASCSU, &
The
Office of International Programs.
WHEN: November 7, 2003 from 7-8pm
WHERE: Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, Engineering
Bldg.
Room 100
-----
DEFENSE ATTORNEY: MILITARY STALLING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MUSLIM CHAPLAIN
ABC 28, 10/27/03
http://home.abc28.com/Global/story.asp?S=1496184
Pentagon-AP -- Military prosecutors are quoted as saying they're so
overworked they need to delay proceedings against a Muslim chaplain
accused
of mishandling secrets at the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay.
That's according to the chaplain's lawyer. But the military says it
can't
confirm that.
The Pentagon has rules that require a speedy trial for Captain James
Yee.
That means hearings need to be held by December tenth. So far, none has
been scheduled. And Yee's lawyer says prosecutors want to push that
deadline back by another 45 days -- a move he objects to.
Yee could spend up to four years in prison. He's in solitary
confinement at
a Navy brig in South Carolina, where he's scheduled to have visits from
relatives for the first time this weekend.
The military still has three options for Yee's case: drop the charges,
hold
proceedings in Guantanamo or send the case to Southern Command
officials
for consideration of a general court-martial.
ALSO SEE:
LAWYER UPSET BY TREATMENT OF EX-CHAPLAIN FOR DETAINEES
Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 10/25/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/25/national/25CHAP.html
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 - Capt. James Yee, the former Muslim chaplain at
the
detention facility at the naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, who has been
charged with mishandling classified information, is being held in
maximum
security, kept in leg irons and prohibited from reading anything but
the
Koran, his new defense lawyer said on Thursday.
Eugene R. Fidell, a Washington lawyer who visited Captain Yee in the
brig
in Charleston, S.C., this week, said the conditions of his imprisonment
were excessive. ``We don't think he should be in custody at all on
these
charges,'' he said. ``And certainly not in maximum security.''
Captain Yee was arrested on Sept. 10 at the Jacksonville Naval Air
Station
in Florida after inspectors said he was found carrying classified
documents
taken from the Guantanamo base. The base houses a detention facility
for
roughly 660 prisoners, mostly from the Afghanistan war.
Captain Yee was the Muslim chaplain there for 10 months before his
arrest.
He was charged earlier this month with two counts of ``failing to obey
a
lawful general order,'' specifically taking classified material to his
home
and ``wrongfully transporting classified material without the proper
security containers or covers.''
Mr. Fidell said that it seemed the arrest of Captain Yee and the
conditions
under which he is being held were intended to ``terrify the staff at
Guantanamo Bay and make Captain Yee an object lesson without a trial.''
Military officials declined to comment on Thursday, saying the
investigation was continuing.
The arrest of the chaplain, along with that of two other prison staff
members on suspicion they helped detainees pass along messages, raised
concerns there was a concerted effort to infiltrate the facility. A
special
assessment team from the United States Southern Command last week
completed
a review of security at the prison and delivered a report to the
commanding
officer, Gen. Geoffrey C. Miller. Its conclusions were not disclosed
publicly.
General Miller has to decide sometime in December whether Captain Yee
should face a court-martial.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED:
CONTACT your elected representatives to urge support for the House
resolution calling on President Bush to clearly censure and reassign
Lt.
Gen. William G. Boykin for his intolerant remarks against Muslims and
Islam.
TO SEND A LETTER, GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/
Enter your ZIP Code and click on “Go.” Then click on “Write to ALL of
your
representatives with one click.”
CAIR ACTION ALERT #398
SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION TO ‘CENSURE AND REASSIGN’ GEN. BOYKIN
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/28/2003) – CAIR is calling on American Muslims
and
other people of conscience to support a resolution that will be
introduced
today in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on President Bush to
“clearly censure and reassign” Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin for his
“religiously intolerant remarks against people of the Islamic faith.”
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), echoes
earlier
statements by American Muslim groups, such as CAIR, which called for
Boykin’s reassignment and urged President Bush to repudiate the
general’s
Islamophobic comments. It cites the fact that “Islam is a monotheistic
faith…whose followers are an integral part of the social fabric of
America,” that Boykin’s position “requires him to interact routinely
with
Muslims,” and that his remarks “have impaired the image of the United
States worldwide.”
“The introduction of this resolution creates an opportunity for elected
officials of both parties to restate their commitment to religious
tolerance in America and to help repair our nation’s damaged image in
the
Muslim world,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. “We urge
President
Bush to follow the will of Congress by taking the actions requested in
the
resolution.” Awad also thanked Rep. Conyers for his leadership on this
important issue.
Boykin’s views came under scrutiny when media reports revealed that in
a
public discussion of his efforts to capture a Muslim Somali warlord, he
said, “I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real
God
and his was an idol.” Speaking in uniform before a Christian group, the
general said America’s “spiritual enemy…will only be defeated if we
come
against them in the name of Jesus.” Major newspapers around America
have
carried a number of editorials in opposition to Boykin’s extremist
views.
Since the controversy over his remarks began, Boykin released a
statement
claiming he did not mean to insult Islam and the Pentagon launched an
internal investigation into the propriety of his comments.
Co-sponsors to the resolution include: Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Rep.
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Stephanie
Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Rep. Gregory Meeks
(D-NY),
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Betty
McCullom
(D-MN), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep.
Michael
Honda (D-CA), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/28/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING WHILE TRAVELING
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 7053 SPONSORSHIPS
- Save 11/29/03 for CAIR's Annual Dinner
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR's Fundraising Event
* CAIR–OHIO HONORED WITH ACLU LIBERTY'S FLAME AWARD
- Sign Up for CAIR’s News in Arabic
* BUS LINE SUED FOR SERVICE REFUSAL (Nashville City Paper)
- Suit Charges Bias at Dealership (Cincinnati Post)
* WHITE HOUSE TRIES TO DISPEL MUSLIM DOUBT
- FBI Courts Relations with Arabs, Muslims (Balt. Sun)
* REFUGEES HOLD FAMILY, FAITH CLOSE TO HOME (Post-Intel.)
* CONYERS RESOLUTION: BOYKIN SHOULD BE REASSIGNED
- God and War (Chicago Tribune)
- A Willful Ignorance (NY Times)
- Taking Satan Seriously (Wash. Post)
- It's Not the Time to Attack Islam (Helen Air)
- The Religious Superiority Complex (Time)
* RAMADAN'S TRADITION IN TURMOIL (Courier Press)
- Gen. Wesley Clark Extends Ramadan Wishes
- Muslim Youth Give Fasting A Try (Star Ledger)
* STING OF AIRPORT ARREST SOURS MUSLIM ON U.S. (Toronto Star)
* CHURCH COURSE ON ISLAM FAULTED (Beacon Journal)
* LIVING AT HOME NOW SUBJECT TO A PERMIT (SMH)
* WARNER: THREATS TO CIVIL LIBERTIES (Capital Times)
* NY TOWN HELPS IMMIGRANT FIGHT DEPORTATION (REUTERS)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING WHILE TRAVELING
A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Can I fast
when
traveling?" The Prophet replied: "You can fast if you want, and if you
want
you can break the fast."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 18, Hadith 24
Anas ibn Malik said: "We once traveled with the (Prophet Muhammad) in
Ramadan, and those who were fasting did not find fault with those who
were
not, and those who were not fasting did not find fault with those who
were."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 18, Hadith 23
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: 7053 SPONSORSHIPS
CAIR's library project has received 7053 sponsorships for $150 book and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Our
goal is to send accurate and objective information about Islam to
America's
16,000 public libraries. GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
ALSO SEE:
SAVE 11/29/03 FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER!
CAIR fundraising Dinner, "A Defining Moment" will take place on
Saturday,
November 29, 2003 at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661
Leesburg
Pike, Tysons Corner/Vienna, VA.
The dinner, focusing on the political and civil rights issues currently
facing Americans Muslims, will feature presidential candidates,
Congressman, and national Muslim leaders.
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, one of the outspoken proponents
of
civil rights protections in the U.S. Congress, will share his own
experiences of political activism and determination with our audience.
Kucinich will explain how he will work for the Muslim community if
elected
in the 2004 elections.
Registration begins at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m. For information,
email:
register@cair-net.org.
Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003 No children
please.
(Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10 per child.) Buy your
tickets early. They are quick to sell-out!
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR'S FUNDRAISING EVENT
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
-----
CAIR–OH HONORED WITH ACLU LIBERTY'S FLAME AWARD
On October 25, 2003, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-Ohio) was awarded the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU)
Liberty's Flame Award for its civil rights work.
The prestigious award was given to CAIR-Ohio at the 30th Annual Civil
Liberties Awards Presentation of the ACLU in Ohio. At the event, which
marked the second anniversary of the passage of the USA Patriot Act,
the
ACLU honored CAIR-Ohio for its "action and courage defending the civil
liberties of Muslims, immigrants, and of all Americans in a time of
national crisis."
Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, president of CAIR-Ohio, accepted the award.
---
SIGN UP FOR CAIR’S NEWS IN ARABIC
To receive CAIR’s news in Arabic please, send a message to:
Arabic@cair-net.org
-----
BUS LINE SUED FOR SERVICE REFUSAL
Amanda Wardle, Nashvillecitypaper.com, 10/27/03
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news_id=27
776
A local Muslim religious leader has sued Dallas-based Greyhound Lines,
claiming that a driver for the bus carrier discriminated against him at
a
Nashville bus station and denied him access to the bus due to his
traditional Islamic garb and appearance.
Imam Mohammad, an Islamic religious leader who heads Muslim communities
in
Nashville and Jackson, Tenn., filed a federal lawsuit seeking $500,000
in
compensatory damages, as well as unspecified punitive damages, as a
result
of an experience in December 2002 which, he claims, barred him from
boarding a Greyhound bus and caused him to miss religious activities
that
he was scheduled to lead.
Mohammad claims that he purchased a Greyhound ticket on December 13
that
was to take him from the Nashville bus station to Jackson. When he
attempted to board the bus, however, Mohammad says the driver reacted
in a
hostile manner and refused to let him board, despite the fact that the
bus
was only about half full at the time, and Mohammad had a legitimate
ticket
to board.
“‘I don’t want you on this bus,’” the lawsuit quotes the driver as
saying.
Mohammad claims that the refusal was discriminatory and was based upon
the
fact that he was obviously Muslim. He says his clothing resembled that
traditionally worn by Islamic imams...
ALSO SEE:
SUIT CHARGES ANTI-ARAB BIAS AT DEALERSHIP
Jeanne Houck, Cincinnati Post, 10/27/03
http://www.cincypost.com/2003/10/27/oharabs102703.html
A federal judge will hold a status hearing Nov. 4 in a lawsuit filed by
two
Arab-American Muslims against an Alexandria, Ky., car dealership,
saying
they were fired after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because of
their race and religion.
Arif and Rana Safi, who are brother and sister, said in a lawsuit filed
last year in U.S. District Court in Covington that they also were
humiliated by their former superiors at Kerry Chevrolet in Alexandria,
one
of whom told them "if Bin Laden shaves his beard, they will never catch
him
because you all look alike.''
But other employees of Kerry Chevrolet -- including an Arab American --
have filed affidavits in the case backing up management's contention
that
they do not discriminate against Arab Americans and decisions about
jobs
are based solely on performance and the realities of the market...
-----
WHITE HOUSE TRIES TO DISPEL MUSLIM DOUBT
Bob Deans, Cox Washington Bureau, 10/28/03
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/1003/28irbush.html
Washington - The White House will host a Ramadan dinner tonight amid
concerns over a senior Pentagon official's suggestion that the U.S.
anti-terrorism campaign is a religious war.
As President Bush prepared to welcome Muslim leaders for the
traditional
Iftaar dinner that he holds each fall during the Muslim month of
fasting,
prayer and reflection, spokesman Scott McClellan reiterated Monday that
"Islam is a religion that teaches peace."
Islamic groups in the United States and overseas have expressed outrage
in
recent weeks over a Los Angeles Times report that Army Lt. Gen. William
"Jerry" Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence,
suggested the world's 1.2 billion Muslims worship an "idol" and that
Islamic radicals hate the United States "because we're a Christian
nation,
because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christians . . . and the
enemy is a guy named Satan."
McClellan said Bush has never seen the war on terrorism as a conflict
pitting the United States against the world's 1.2 billion Muslims. "He
flat
out disagrees with any notion that the war on terror has anything to do
with religion..."
The situation is a potential political liability for Bush going into an
election year. A poll released Monday by the Gallup Organization in
conjunction with USA Today and CNN showed that half of Americans
disapprove
of the way Bush is handling the conflict in Iraq. That's up sharply
from
six months ago, when just 18 percent disapproved.
Muslim groups plan to protest tonight's White House event by staging
their
own Iftaar across the street...
ALSO SEE:
FBI COURTS RELATIONS WITH ARABS, MUSLIMS
Laura Sullivan, Baltimore Sun, 10/27/03
http://www.sunspot.net/news/bal-te.fbi27oct27,0,7012058.story
WASHINGTON -- A month ago, officials at the FBI announced that they
would
be awarding the bureau's prestigious exceptional service award to a
prominent Detroit man who helped forge a relationship between the
bureau
and Michigan's numerous Arab communities.
But two days before Imad Hamad, director of the state's American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, was to be flown to Washington to accept
a
plaque, bureau officials yanked the award without explanation and said
Hamad would no longer be receiving it...
The incident with Hamad and the award highlights the FBI's
sometimes-stumbling efforts to reach out to Arab and Muslim communities
throughout the country. Relations, by most accounts, are improving, but
Muslim leaders and bureau officials agree that tension remains.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the bureau has courted
Arab
and Muslim groups for investigative help and as sources of new recruits
and
translators. Arab groups, meanwhile, have their own reasons to
cooperate.
They want help dealing with hate crimes as well as making contacts and
even
having some influence when the bureau investigates some of their own.
But the road to a trusting relationship has been fraught with missteps
on
both sides. The FBI has had to tiptoe through an often disorganized and
disparate set of organizations, a few of which have had troubling
associations that have proved embarrassing to the bureau...
-----
LACEY'S CHAM REFUGEES HOLD FAMILY, FAITH CLOSE TO HOME
Vanessa Ho, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/27/03
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/145607_ramadan27.html
LACEY -- When Halimah Yousof needs a baby sitter for her two sons, she
relies on relatives. They're pretty easy to find. There's her mom next
door, her aunt two doors down, another aunt three doors down. Then
there's
her husband's first cousin behind her, her third cousin down the street
and
her grandfather around the corner.
Yousof, 25, is related to everyone in her large cul-de-sac of 40
families,
about 200 people in all. That's because this quiet, rural community of
modular homes was built by a tight-knit group of Cham refugees, who are
Muslims from Cambodia...
As Muslims across the country began their monthlong fast for Ramadan
last
night, the Cham community 60 miles south of Seattle -- the most
concentrated Cham neighborhood in Washington -- is planning to
expand...
-----
CONYERS AND OTHERS TO INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO
REASSIGN GENERAL BOYKIN
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman John Conyers, Jr., and others to hold a
press conference to introduce a resolution calling on the President to
reassign Lt. General William Boykin. Over the past few years, General
William Boykin has made insensitive and inappropriate remarks regarding
the
United States warring with Middle Eastern countries and the Muslim
religion. Lt. Gen. Boykin has apologized for making these comments, but
has
not withdrawn them.
WHO: Representatives John Conyers, Jr., Bill Pascrell. Dennis Kucinich,
Anthony Weiner, and Sheila Jackson Lee
WHAT: Press Conference to introduce a resolution calling for the
resignation of Lt. General Boykin
WHEN: 10:45 a.m. - Wednesday, October 28th, 2003
WHERE: House Radio/TV Gallery - H-321
ALSO SEE:
GOD AND WAR
Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar, Chicago Tribune, 10/28/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0310280068oct28,1,206
0392.story
Washington - I wanted to thank Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page
for
recently tackling the issue of controversial statements against Islam
made
by Lt. Gen. William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence ("Gen. Boykin: Will he become Bush's Bartman?" Commentary,
Oct. 19).
Claiming that his "God was bigger" and that Muslims worship an "idol,"
Boykin's comments were not only inflammatory, but they were a
demonstration
of his complete theological ignorance.
Just as the Bush administration has fought with a vengeance against
those
who carry the proverbial "sword" in this war on terror, his deafening
silence regarding the growing trend of anti-Muslim rhetoric within the
neoconservative evangelical political elite is sending the wrong
message to
the American Muslim community--and, perhaps more important, to the
entirety
of the Muslim world.
Aside from the fact that Boykin's religious unawareness is apparent
from
his inability to recognize that Muslims worship the same monotheistic
deity
of Abraham as our Christian and Jewish neighbors, it should give all
Americans pause to know that one of their top brass believes that he is
leading "an army of God"--an American "army of God" that happens to be
full
of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists.
Whether or not it was merely lip service to the Muslim world, President
Bush has stated on numerous occasions that Islam is a "religion of
peace"
and that the war on terror is not a "war on Islam."
Having said that, Bush has also openly acknowledged that he believes a
special dispensation has been given to him by the almighty. Regardless
of
any godly "mission" Bush may believe, what is clearly apparent is that
many
of his extreme evangelical allies inherently believe that they are also
God's gift to the world.
---
A WILLFUL IGNORANCE
Paul Krugman, New York Times, 10/28/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/28/opinion/28KRUG.html
According to The New York Times, President Bush was genuinely surprised
to
learn from moderate Islamic leaders that they had become deeply
distrustful
of American intentions. The report on the "perception gap" suggests
that
the leader of the war on terror has no idea how badly that war — which
must, ultimately, be a war for hearts and minds — is going.
Mr. Bush's ignorance may reflect his lack of curiosity: "The best way
to
get the news," he says, "is from objective sources. And the most
objective
sources I have are people on my staff." Two words: emperor, clothes.
But there's something broader going on: a sort of willful ignorance,
supposedly driven by moral concerns but actually reflecting domestic
politics. Surely it's important to understand how others see us, but a
new,
post 9/11 version of political correctness has made it difficult even
to
discuss their points of view. Any American who tries to go beyond
"America
good, terrorists evil," who tries to understand — not condone — the
growing
world backlash against the United States, faces furious attacks
delivered
in a tone of high moral indignation. The attackers claim to be standing
up
for moral clarity, and some of them may even believe it. But they are
really being used in a domestic political struggle...
---
TAKING SATAN SERIOUSLY
E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post, 10/28/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26881-2003Oct27.html
When Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin pulled up slides of Osama bin
Laden
and Saddam Hussein and told a religious audience that America's real
enemy
was "a guy called Satan," the general was no doubt expressing the views
of
tens of millions of Americans.
When he declared that "they're after us because we are a Christian
nation,"
millions who later heard his words probably nodded their heads.
The obvious response to the Boykin case is to say that because he is
now
deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, he should be
relieved of
his post. His religious spin on the struggle against terror would seem
to
contradict the administration's official line that this battle is not a
religious war. If a general said, "My friend Wesley Clark is right
about
the war in Iraq and Bush is wrong," he'd be out on his ear for
insubordination...
---
IT'S NOT THE TIME TO ATTACK ISLAM
Tom Teepen, Helen Air, 10/28/03
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2003/10/28/opinions/a04102803_03.txt
It would seem fairly obvious that William Boykin, the three-star
general
who has in effect declared a Christian religious war on Islam, should
be
reassigned to some obscure posting where he can serve out his career
unheard from, but the Pentagon and White House are dithering, and small
wonder. The Bush administration has so entangled itself with
evangelical
Christianity that in disciplining Boykin it would seem to be betraying
itself.
As it is, Boykin is undergoing a formal review only because the general
himself requested it. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tried to shrug
off
the matter and ignored calls for an investigation from distressed
members
of Congress, many of them, like Senate Armed Services Committee
Chairman
John Warner, Republican.
Boykin is not just some military grind. He is deputy undersecretary for
intelligence, personally in charge of running Osama bin Laden and
Saddam
Hussein to ground. And he didn't just stumble into a verbal pothole. In
churches and religious forums, he has been presenting a broad sectarian
interpretation of U.S. politics and of the campaign against
terrorism...
---
THE RELIGIOUS SUPERIORITY COMPLEX
Michael Kinsley, Times, 10/27/03
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031103-526503,00.html
"I knew that my god was bigger than his," said Lieut. General William
Boykin, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, referring
to a
Somali warlord he once crossed swords with. The echo of a famous
dog-food
commercial was unintentional, we must hope. Presumably, Boykin's God
does
not eat Ken-L Ration. But maybe Boykin does so himself, because he's a
mighty frisky fella.
Boykin was caught on videotape speaking to church groups and saying
things
like, "The enemy is a guy called Satan." And, "They're after us because
we're a Christian nation." Now — like so many Christian soldiers before
him, sent to distant lands to bring the pagans around to our point of
view
— he's in hot water. Only this time it's the forces of Western
civilization, not the natives, who want him for lunch...
-----
RAMADAN'S TRADITION IN TURMOIL
Maureen Hayden, Courier & Press, 10/27/03
http://www.myinky.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_2379259,00.html
When area Muslim women held an international food fair earlier this
month
to help a local charity, they benefited as well.
Profits from the event went to the Evansville food bank, and the women
answered a sacred call to duty.
But as the holy month of Ramadan begins today in North America, some
Muslims say answering the call to fulfill their religious obligations
of
charitable giving is more difficult.
The federal government's continuing anti-terrorism campaign has tainted
Muslim charities and created obstacles and fear for American Muslims,
according to national Muslim organizations.
Some fear donations will be traced and targeted by federal officials
engaged in a sweeping investigation of Islamic charities and nonprofits
suspected of providing support to terrorists. At the end of 2001, the
U.S.
Department of Justice froze $8 million in total assets of three of the
largest U.S.-based Muslim international charities...
ALSO SEE:
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK EXTENDS WARM RAMADAN WISHES TO AMERICAN MUSLIMS
As we enter the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are gathering to worship
and
commemorate the revelation of the Koran. My wife, Gert, and I extend
our
best wishes for prosperity and fulfillment during this month and
throughout
the coming year.
Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, to cultivate charity,
self-discipline, and community spirit. These are qualities that we
should
all aspire to.
Our country's strength lies within its people, and I am thankful for
the
contributions of American Muslims to this great nation.
---
MUSLIM YOUTH GIVE FASTING A TRY
Jeff Diamant, Star-Ledger, 10/28/03
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/106732562424210.
xml
She is 7 years old, and at 11:30 a.m. yesterday, the second day of the
Islamic month of Ramadan, she had an empty stomach and a dry throat.
Still, Hasnaa Esseghir of Jamesburg was determined to keep the fast as
older Muslims do during each day of Ramadan, which began over the
weekend.
"If I fast the whole month, it's more good deeds," the second-grader
earnestly said yesterday at the Noor-Ul-Iman Islamic school in South
Brunswick. "It would be (my) first time. Last year, I only fasted
13-and-a-half days" during Ramadan, she said.
For Muslims, fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan is one of the
religion's five "pillars," or obligations, along with belief in Allah
as
the only God, prayer five times a day, charitable giving, and
pilgrimage to
Mecca once in one's lifetime, if possible.
Though Islam does not require Ramadan fasting of children who have not
reached puberty, many Muslim children at Noor-Ul-Iman and around the
world
try their hand at it before that age...
---
WHY MUSLIM FAMILIES FAST
Kiran Ansari, Chicago Parent,
http://www.chicagoparent.com/features7.htm
Huma Murad's three daughters have been fasting at Ramadan since they
were 7
years old--a choice they made to show their commitment to Islam and the
holy month.
"Now that Fatimah, Amnah and Sarah are 17, 14 and 10, respectively,
they
don't find fasting difficult," says Murad of Justice. And Murad says it
was
something they helped the girls learn to do over the years.
"We never forced our children, but they insisted on emulating us," says
Murad. "At first, we just allowed them to keep a weekend ‘half-fast'
where
they could eat at lunch time. However, as the years passed by, fasting
became habitual.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is considered the
holiest
month in the year because it is the month in which God revealed the
Qur'an
or the Muslim's Holy Book, through Angel Gabriel to the Prophet
Muhammad
about 1,400 years ago...
-----
STING OF AIRPORT ARREST SOURS MUSLIM ON U.S.
Leslie Scrivener, Toronto Star, 10/28/03
http://www.torontostar.com
When American authorities refused to let Toronto's Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
and a
fellow teacher enter the United States for security reasons last month,
they had the wrong man. But they didn't know how wrong they were.
Known for his condemnation of Islamic extremism, Kutty also has a
reputation for supporting women's rights, urging Muslims to be
self-critical and, perhaps surprisingly, being pro-American. He admires
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, who argued
for
freedom of the press and religion, protecting minority rights and a
simple
lifestyle.
"I always enjoyed going to the States because of its founding
principles
and Jeffersonian ideals - freedom for the individual, equality before
the
law and dignity. In India (where he was born), they thought I was a
paid
agent for America," Kutty said in an interview last week.
He won't return while George W. Bush remains president. The memory of
being
interrogated for 16 hours - "Why did you study Islam?" they asked -
handcuffed, led to jail, then paraded through the airport in handcuffs
for
a flight to Toronto, still stings...
-----
CHURCH COURSE ON ISLAM FAULTED
Colette M. Jenkins, Beacon Journal, 10/28/03
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/7120959.htm
A flier advertising a class at The Chapel to ``learn how to be more
effective in our spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of our
Muslim
neighbors'' has triggered a cry for tolerance from the Akron Area
Interfaith Council.
``Our interpretation is that this religious organization is trying to
convert Muslims, and that concerns us because it goes against our
mission,'' said the Rev. Jay Groat, president of the Interfaith Council
and
pastor of First Congregational Church in Akron. ``Any single religion
that
would try to convert others to their single way of thinking would not
be
promoting freedom of religion, equality and tolerance.''
It is currently drafting correspondence to express its objection to the
10-week course, ``Christian Perspective of Islam.''
One member of the council, Dr. Ihsan Ul Haque, has already sent a
letter to
the Rev. Knute Larson, pastor of The Chapel, asking that the course be
canceled. Haque, a member and past president of the Islamic Society of
Akron and Kent, said the tone, characterization and content of the
flier
were offensive...
-----
LIVING AT HOME NOW SUBJECT TO A PERMIT
Chris McGreal, Sydney Morning Herald, 10/28/03
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/27/1067233103962.html
The Israeli military has ordered thousands of Palestinians living near
the
steel-and-concrete "security fence" across the West Bank to obtain
special
permits to live in their own homes.
Palestinian officials said the order breached a pledge by Israel to the
United Nations Security Council a fortnight ago that the barrier would
not
change the legal status of those who live near it, and said it was
another
step towards the annexation of tens of thousands of hectares of
Palestinian
land.
The order, signed by the Israeli Army's commander in the West Bank,
Major-General Moshe Kaplinski, said Palestinian land between the fence
and
the 1967 border, known as the green line, was to be a "closed military
zone"...
-----
TV'S MARGARET WARNER URGES AWARENESS OF THREATS TO CIVIL LIBERTIES
Anita Weier, Capital Times, 10/27/03
http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/59841.php
At a time when civil liberties are threatened, it is vital to educate
yourself about what is happening, a well-known correspondent for "The
NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" told the Madison Civics Club.
Civil liberties are challenged by expanded police powers, detention of
foreigners without a trial and increased surveillance of everyday
Americans, senior correspondent Margaret Warner told hundreds of
members of
the organization gathered Saturday at the Monona Terrace Convention
Center.
"The war on terror has the potential to deprive citizens of rights,"
she
warned, but the debate on security versus civil rights has so far been
confined mainly to activist groups.
"There is a lot of misinformation out there. More than half of the
letters
to Senator Diane Feinstein criticizing the Patriot Act cited provisions
that were not in it," she said...
-----
NY TOWN UNITES TO HELP IMMIGRANT FIGHT DEPORTATION
Ellen Wulfhorst, Reuters, 10/28/03
HUDSON, N.Y.- Autumn in rural New York is a time for apple picking and
enjoying the changing leaves, but this year residents of Hudson have a
new
common purpose - saving a local pizza delivery man from falling afoul
of
the war on terrorism.
Few in the tiny river bluff town 130 miles (210 km) north of Manhattan
have
met Ansar Mahmood, a Pakistani immigrant who has become a cause celebre
since his arrest for photographing a local water facility one month
after
Sept. 11, 2001.
Now many Hudson residents are trying to save Mahmood, who they see as
an
unwitting victim of the Bush administration's declared war on terrorism
and
increased surveillance of immigrants after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It's easy," said Mahmood of the U.S. government's case against him.
"I'm
Muslim and I belong to Pakistan..."
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #399
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR’S DC DINNER
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich to offer keynote speech
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/29/2003) – Registration is now available online
for
CAIR’s Ninth Annual Fundraising Dinner on November 29th (the weekend
after
Eid ul-Fitr) in Washington, D.C. The dinner, with the theme “Muslims in
America: A Defining Moment,” features presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich as the keynote speaker.
Other featured speakers include Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), Imam
Siraj
Wahhaj, CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad, Rafael Narbaez, and comedian
Azhar
Usman. The dinner will also include presentations of the CAIR 2003
Islamic
Community Service Awards.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA
COST: Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003
No children please. (Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10
per
child.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 202-488-8787 or e-mail:
register@cair-net.org
ACTION REQUESTED:
REGISTER FOR CAIR’S DINNER BY GOING TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/2003dinner-register.asp
Those who prefer mail-in registration may fill out the form below and
send
it to: CAIR Dinner, 453 New Jersey Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C., 20003
FAX TO: 202-488-0833 or E-MAIL: register@cair-net.org
--- CLIP AND MAIL, FAX OR E-MAIL ---
____ YES, I will attend. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR, in the
amount of $______ for _____ seats.
___ SORRY, I will not be able to attend. But I would like to support
CAIR's
important work defending the image of Islam and the rights of Muslims
by
sending a donation of $______.
(Kindly reply by November 24, 2003.)
Name of Person Purchasing Tickets:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Names of Other Attendees:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/29/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REFRAIN FROM EVIL
* REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR’S DC DINNER
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR Dinner
* CALIF. MUSLIMS OFFER PRAYERS FOR RAIN TO QUENCH FIRES
* ISLAMIC GROUP HAS A PATRIOTIC RECORD (Columbus Dispatch)
- CAIR-FL: Town Hall Meeting On Patriot Act (PB Post)
* ANTI-MUSLIM GRAFFITI FOUND NEAR CO ISLAMIC CENTER (AP)
- Muslims Accuse Bookstore of Bias (Chicago Tribune)
- Allegations of Bias Against Muslims Soar (MELL)
* DANIEL PIPES’ ERROR-FILLED DIATRIBE (Providence Journal)
- FAU and Abu Sway (Palm Beach Post)
* U.S. MUSLIM ACTIVIST PLEADS INNOCENT (AP)
* MUSLIMS SCOLD BUSH OVER OUTREACH (Wash. Times)
- Bush's Mideast Policy On Hold (LA Times)
- President Decries General's Remarks (LA Times)
* GROUPS FRET OVER GIVING POLICE IMMIGRATION CONTROL (Fox)
- Soon, New Rules for Foreigners (USA Today)
* UP TO 15,000 PEOPLE KILLED IN INVASION (Guardian)
- Britain and the US Claim a Moral Mandate (Guardian)
- Unrest in Iraq (N & F)
- Speeches Called Propaganda (Wash. Post)
- Canadian Human Rights Activists Decry Abuses (CP)
* PASCO'S FIRST MOSQUE NEARS REALITY (St. Pete Times)
- Culture Represses Women, Not Faith (Northern Star)
- Ramadan Creates Sense of Community at Yale (Daily News)
* * CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY IFTAR AND CANDIDATE MEET AND GREET
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REFRAIN FROM EVIL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When the first night of
Ramadan comes…a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come
forward,
and you who desire evil, refrain.'”
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 610
The Prophet also said the beginning of Ramadan is mercy, the middle is
forgiveness and the end is freedom from Hell.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 614
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR’S DC DINNER
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich to offer keynote speech
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/29/2003) – Registration is now available online
for
CAIR’s Ninth Annual Fundraising Dinner on November 29th (the weekend
after
Eid ul-Fitr) in Washington, D.C. The dinner, with the theme “Muslims in
America: A Defining Moment,” features presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich as the keynote speaker.
Other featured speakers include Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), Imam
Siraj
Wahhaj, CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad, Rafael Narbaez, and comedian
Azhar
Usman. The dinner will also include presentations of the CAIR 2003
Islamic
Community Service Awards.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA
COST: Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003
No children please. (Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10
per
child.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 202-488-8787 or e-mail:
register@cair-net.org
ACTION REQUESTED:
REGISTER FOR CAIR’S DINNER BY GOING TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2003dinner-register.asp
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR DINNER
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
-----
CALIF. MUSLIMS OFFER PRAYERS FOR RAIN TO QUENCH FIRES
Islamic group asks people of all faiths to join statewide spiritual
effort
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/29/2003) - The Southern California office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on mosques
and
Islamic centers across the state to offer prayers for rain following
the
normal Islamic congregational gatherings on Friday. The Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group is also calling on people of all faiths to
offer
prayers for rain according to their own religious traditions.
[MEDIA ADVISORY - The Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC) is one of
the
centers scheduled to offer prayers for rain. WHEN: Friday, October 31,
following Friday prayer services (Jum'ah) at 1 p.m. WHERE: Islamic
Society
of Orange County, 9752 W. 13th St., Garden Grove, CA Tel: 714-531-1722]
CAIR-LA initiated the prayer request to provide a spiritual dimension
in
the efforts to bring California's deadly wildfires under control. The
special Islamic prayer, called Salatul Istisqa (sal-at-al-istiska), was
performed by the Prophet Muhammad and is traditionally offered during
times
of drought. California authorities say the months-long drought in that
state has contributed greatly to the death and destruction cause by the
fires.
In Salatul Istisqa, the Prophet would offer supplications such as: "O
God,
give us rain that will replenish us, abundant, fertilizing and
profitable,
not injurious. Grant it now without delay...Send down rain upon us and
make
it a source of strength and satisfaction...O God, give us a saving
rain,
good and productive, general and heavy, now and not later, beneficial
and
not harmful." The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O my people!
Seek
forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him in repentance. He will send
you
from the sky abundant rain." (Quran, 11:52)
"Perhaps this spiritual effort during the blessed month of Ramadan can
add
to that of the courageous firefighters who place their lives on the
line
every day," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush.
Ayloush asked that churches and synagogues throughout the state join
their
Muslim neighbors in praying for rain and urged Muslims to use the month
of
Ramadan, a time of increased charity and prayers, to help the fire
victims
by donating generously to the American Red Cross. Go to:
http://www.acrossla.org/
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
U.S. ISLAMIC GROUP HAS A PATRIOTIC RECORD
Mahmoud El-Yousseph, Columbus Dispatch, 10/29/03
http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2003/10/29/20031
029-A12-02.html
Any Christian or Jewish group can speak out against abortion or school
prayers with no questions asked. However, when Muslim-Americans
question
the wisdom of our foreign policy, they are simply branded un-American,
anti-Semitic and worse. That unfair treatment makes a mockery out of
our
democracy.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, has taken a leading
role in correcting harmful misconceptions and in addressing some of the
damaging effects of bias in the media. CAIR also works on defending
Muslim-Americans civil liberties.
For that reason, CAIR-Ohio has been selected to receive the annual
Liberty
Flame Award from the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties
Union.
Sadly, it became immediately the subject of attacks by hatemongers and
demagogues.
On Sept. 23, The Courier in Findlay ran an editorial accusing CAIR of
being
anti-American, anti-Semitic and an agent of Saudi Arabia. The newspaper
failed to support these outlandish accusations with any evidence.
On Oct. 4, U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., made the bizarre comment
to
The Charlotte Observer that the proximity of CAIR headquarters to his
Washington home "bugged the hell" out of his wife. He even blamed CAIR
for
the collapse of his 50-year marriage...
It might also be brought to Ballenger’s attention that having CAIR
headquartered in Washington is a lot safer than having conservative
Christian Pat Robertson nearby. Robertson is the one who suggested in
early
October that the State Department needs to be blown up with a nuclear
device. If a Muslim had said that, he or she would be doing time in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, right now...
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL: TOWN HALL MEETING ON PATRIOT ACT
Palm Beach Post, 10/29/03
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesda
y/south_county_f3f92485d0b0518900db.html
A town hall meeting to discuss the anti-terrorism Patriot Act and how
it
affects immigrant communities will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 tonight at
the
Lake Worth campus of the Palm Beach Community College. Speakers will
include Florida ACLU Board President Jeanne Baker, Florida Council on
American Islamic Relations Executive Director Altaf Ali, immigration
attorney Al Zucaro and Lake Worth Mayor Rodney Romano. The meeting is
free
and open to the public.
-----
ANTI-MUSLIM GRAFFITI FOUND NEAR ISLAMIC CENTER
Associated Press, 10/29/03
http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=296836
LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) - Anti-Islamic graffiti was discovered on a
utility
box near the Colorado Muslim Society Islamic Center on Tuesday, but
center
officials reported they hadn't received any threats.
Someone drew two swastikas and wrote ''All Muslims will die'' and
''KKK''
in a black marker on the green telephone box. Arapahoe County sheriff's
deputies spotted the graffiti while on routine patrol, sheriff's Lt.
Ray
Torrez said.
A cleanup team removed the graffiti. No suspects or witnesses have been
identified, Torrez said.
No one answered calls to the center Tuesday night...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM STUDENTS ACCUSE ORLAND BOOKSTORE OF BIAS
Oscar Avila, Chicago Tribune, 10/29/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0310290316oct29,1,25247
97.story
Two medical students alleged Tuesday that they were kicked out of an
Orland
Park bookstore simply because they are Muslims who were speaking
Arabic.
According to a complaint filed with the Illinois Department of Human
Rights, Ashraf Darwish and Ala Alsherbini were studying at the Barnes &
Noble store on June 13 when a manager told them they had 10 minutes to
leave.
The students said they protested, and managers eventually called
police.
Alsherbini, 24, said other patrons who were not Muslims or Arabs were
allowed to drink coffee and read. He said the store had several empty
tables in its cafe...
Mary Ellen Keating, senior vice president for corporate communications
at
Barnes & Noble, issued a statement saying the company "emphatically
denies"
the allegations of discrimination.
Keating said the company took the complaint seriously, conducted a
thorough
investigation and determined the students were not singled out. The
company
declined to elaborate...
---
ALLEGATIONS OF BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS SOAR
Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon and Vogt, P.A., 11/03
Minnesota Employment Law Letter
http://www.hrhero.com/mnemp.shtml
Muslims -- and those who appear to be Muslim -- continue to face
various
types of abuse in the workplace as well as the general community
following
the events of September 11, 2001. According to a recent report released
by
the Council on American- Islamic Relations, incidents of anti-Muslim
violence, discrimination, and harassment rose by 15 percent in 2002.
There
were 602 incidents of "backlash discrimination" reported to the council
last year (compared to 525 alleged violations in 2001).
The report also found that the largest number of incidents -- nearly 25
percent of all incidents -- occurred in the workplace. Among the most
common types of alleged abuse were discrimination, verbal harassment,
and
denial of religious accommodations. In addition, the Washington,
D.C.-based
nonprofit organization found that complaints charging local and federal
government agencies with civil rights violations are on the rise --
increasing from 10 percent of all incidents in 2001 to 23 percent last
year.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) contends that
discrimination against Muslims hasn't decreased in the past year. Over
the
past several months, the federal agency has filed a number of lawsuits
on
behalf of individuals who claim to have been subjected to backlash
discrimination. In one case, a pilot claims that he was unlawfully
terminated because of his Islamic religious beliefs and his Arabic
appearance. In another, a devout Muslim alleges that he was fired after
requesting time off to observe a holiday that marks the end of
Ramadan...
-----
DANIEL PIPES'S ERROR-FILLED DIATRIBE
Rod Driver, Providence Journal, 10/25/03
http://www.projo.com/opinion/letters/content/projo_20031002_driverx.1eeec.ht
ml
Daniel Pipes's latest anti-Palestinian diatribe appeared in many
Israeli
publications and some American papers, including The Journal ("Ten
years
later, Oslo accord in tatters," Commentary, Sept. 16). His theme, that
Israel made an array of concessions and the Palestinians responded with
all-out war, is cruel nonsense.
The truth is that Israeli leaders have been seizing and demolishing
Palestinian homes and crops and killing Palestinians for 55 years in
violation of the Geneva conventions, the Oslo accords, dozens of U.N.
resolutions and requests by American presidents.
Israeli leaders, whether Labor or Likud, justify this by saying that
Palestinians may not build on their own property without permission
from
the occupation forces. Meanwhile, Israel never stops building
Israeli-only
settlements on land taken from its Palestinian owners in clear
violation of
international law. But the media seem to prefer Pipes's version...
ALSO SEE:
FAU AND ABU SWAY
Palm Beach Post, 10/29/03
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/
opinion_f3e93f23d0b022200039.html
Mustafa Abu Sway, associate professor at the Islamic Research Center of
Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, is a Fulbright scholar teaching an
introduction to Islam, as well as courses in Islamic philosophy and
politics, at the Honors College of Florida Atlantic University in
Jupiter.
Fulbright scholars undergo vigorous academic scrutiny, and the State
Department checks their background. After 9/11, the professor would
have
had to go through homeland security review before his one-year
assignment
at FAU began this fall.
Still, when a group of Jewish leaders this month gave FAU President
Frank
Brogan a document on Israeli government stationery saying the professor
was
a member of the Hamas terrorist group, Mr. Brogan did the responsible
thing. Within days, he alerted the Fulbright and State Department
authorities. They said they would take another look. Mr. Brogan also
let
the professor know that the allegations had been made and forwarded.
What came next, nine days ago, was an inaccurate New York Post
commentary
claiming that, "when informed of Abu Sway's ties to terrorism in early
October, (FAU officials) kept mum, seemingly wanting to avoid dealing
with
the issue." The author could have taken the accusation to State
himself.
But, then, consider who wrote the column: Daniel Pipes, the
unreconstructed
crusader who makes his living and reputation through vituperative
attacks
on Muslims and Islam, not just Muslim terrorists. In August, to avoid
Senate opposition, President Bush had to use a recess appointment to
put
Dr. Pipes on the federally financed Institute of Peace...
-----
U.S. MUSLIM ACTIVIST PLEADS INNOCENT
Pete Yost, Associated Press, 10/29/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-libya-muslim,0,11
96278.story
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A prominent U.S. Muslim activist accused of
involvement
with groups that finance terrorists pleaded innocent Wednesday to
charges
of trying to funnel Libyan money into the United States illegally.
The judge in the case refused to release Abdurahman M. Alamoudi and set
trial for Feb. 16...
Alamoudi, a founder of the American Muslim Council and related American
Muslim Foundation, is accused of engaging in illegal financial
transactions
with Libya, most notably once in August when he received a briefcase
containing $340,000 in cash from the Libyan-controlled Islamic Call
Society.
The 18-count indictment alleged that Alamoudi hoped to funnel that
money
through Saudi Arabia to the United States and evade currency reporting
requirements.
Alamoudi, 51, who has remained jailed without bond, also is charged
with
money laundering, misuse of a passport, failure to report foreign bank
accounts and making false statements in his application to become a
naturalized U.S. citizen...
-----
MUSLIMS SCOLD BUSH OVER OUTREACH
Julia Duin, Washington Times, 10/27/03
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031028-103856-4806r.htm
President Bush is only paying lip service to Muslim concerns and his
occasional meetings with Muslim leaders are little better than "photo
ops,"
a group of American Islamic leaders said yesterday.
"We feel this administration has not dealt with the Muslim community in
the
right way," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American
Society. "This administration has primarily engaged the American Muslim
community in photo opportunities and ceremonial opportunities; a lot of
fluff and no stuff."
At issue was last night's "iftaar" dinner at the White House
celebrating
Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims that began Monday. Participants
fast
during daylight hours of Ramadan, breaking their fast each day with an
"iftaar" meal — beginning with dates and water— at sundown.
Although the guest list included 92 persons, several Muslim
organizations
who differ vastly with the White House on political and religious
issues
complained they were left off the list...
Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR said substantive Muslim organizations were
shunned
and only individuals or ambassadors from Muslim countries were invited
"Which is very significant," he said, "in that the administration
doesn't
feel there are any legitimate Muslim groups out there.
"While efforts like the iftaar are good, they should be accompanied by
meetings on real issues, where the Muslim leadership talk on what's
impacting the Muslim community and how the Muslim community can help by
being a bridge to the Muslim world."
ALSO SEE:
BUSH'S MIDEAST POLICY ON HOLD
Maura Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 10/29/03
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mideast29oct29,1,3970412
.story
WASHINGTON — President Bush made clear Tuesday that his
administration's
peace efforts in the Middle East are on hold, blaming the "old guard"
Palestinian leadership for failing to halt suicide attacks on Israel.
During a Rose Garden news conference, Bush recalled that former
Palestinian
Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had pledged to fight terrorism,
and
the president expressed regret at Abbas' ouster by Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat...
The president's remarks confirmed what many Middle East analysts
already
had concluded.
"They've made a decision that this is not going to be a priority, and
if
it's not going to be a priority, it's not going to happen," said
Shibley
Telhami, a Middle East expert at the University of Maryland...
"Our war is not against the Muslim faith ... ," Bush said. "We've got
to
fight off the imagery of a society which condemns entire swaths of
people
because of the acts of a few — which is not the way we are."
But Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said
pledges to support a Palestinian state and assertions of respect for
Islam
do not make up for the administration's policies.
"There's a disconnect between the rhetoric and the actions," Hooper
said.
---
PRESIDENT DECRIES GENERAL'S REMARKS
John Hendren, Los Angeles Times, 10/29/03
http://www.latimes.com/la-na-boykin29oct29,1,1664504.story
WASHINGTON - President Bush said Tuesday that controversial remarks by
Lt.
Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin about Muslims and Islam do not "reflect
my
point of view, or the view of this administration" -- sharp language
from
an administration that tends to circle the wagons when a member is
under
attack.
Bush's move to distance himself from the outspoken general was the
strongest administration response to date to disclosures of Boykin's
frequent appearances before religious groups at which he characterized
the
war on terrorism as a battle between Judeo-Christian tradition and
"Satan."
His remarks have put the president in a difficult spot.
With hundreds of supportive calls coming into the Pentagon and Bush
facing
a reelection campaign in which he'll seek the help of Christian
conservatives, it might be out of the question for the administration
to
fire Boykin...
But his continued presence as deputy undersecretary of Defense for
intelligence is causing such trouble in the Muslim community, Congress
and
elsewhere that some senior defense officials and others have suggested
privately that a less visible, strictly military post should be found
for
the oft-decorated soldier...
The criticism continued Tuesday. Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations, said: "Again we see a disconnect. We
hear
pleasing words about Islam but then we see complete inaction. He's not
reassigned. He's not removed. Nothing."
-----
GROUPS FRET OVER GIVING POLICE IMMIGRATION CONTROL
Alex Meneses Miyashita, Fox News, 10/29/03
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101477,00.html
WASHINGTON — A federal anti-crime bill would require state and local
police
to enforce federal immigration laws — or risk the loss of some funds.
Supporters of the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act
(search) said that there are only about 2,000 federal immigration
agents
and as many as 80,000 immigrants with final deportation orders who have
criminal convictions. The so-called CLEAR Act would simply clarify the
role
state and local law enforcement officials can assume regarding
immigration
matters, they said.
"The fact is, individuals in all communities, including immigrant
communities, want criminal aliens off their streets," said bill author
Rep.
Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., in a prepared statement. "That is exactly what
the
CLEAR Act will do."
But opponents fear that if passed, the act could lead to police abuse
and
civil right violations against immigrants and minorities. They argue
that
local police do not have the time and resources to enforce complex
immigration laws — and that requiring them to do so opens the door to a
surge in abuses against immigrants. ..
Others feared that the bill would lead to racial profiling and police
harassment.
"We see this particular law as being a huge threat to us, who try to
live
normal lives in America," said Hasan Mansori, governmental affairs
coordinator for the Council of American Islamic Relations.
ALSO SEE:
SOON, NEW RULES FOR FOREIGNERS
Mimi Hall, USA Today, 10/29/03
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-28-foreigners-visit-us_x.htm
WASHINGTON -- Millions of foreign visitors to the USA, already under
strict
scrutiny since the 2001 terrorist attacks, soon will have to be
fingerprinted and photographed to get through the nation's airports and
seaports.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans for a
high-tech system that will help track the 24 million foreigners who
enter
the country with work, student or travel visas each year.
Congress ordered the system after the Sept. 11 attacks, when officials
learned that two of the 19 hijackers had violated the terms of their
visas.
The program's goal is to prevent potential terrorists from entering the
country and to register foreigners who are allowed in. It also requires
foreigners to check out when they leave so officials can look for
people
who stay after their visas expire.
The program replaces a controversial measure that required people in
the
USA from 25 mostly Muslim countries to register with the government...
-----
UP TO 15,000 PEOPLE KILLED IN INVASION, CLAIMS THINK TANK
Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, 10/29/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1073070,00.html
As many as 15,000 Iraqis were killed in the first days of America's
invasion and occupation of Iraq, a study produced by an independent US
think tank said yesterday. Up to 4,300 of the dead were civilian
noncombatants.
The report, by Project on Defence Alternatives, a research institute
from
Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers the most comprehensive account so far
of
how many Iraqis died.
The toll of Iraq's war dead covered by the report is limited to the
early
stages of the war, from March 19 when American tanks crossed the
Kuwaiti
border, to April 20, when US troops had consolidated their hold on
Baghdad.
Researchers drew on hospital records, official US military statistics,
news
reports, and survey methodology to arrive at their figures.
They were also able to make use of two earlier studies on Iraq's war
dead
from Iraq Body Count, a website which has kept a running total of those
killed, and the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, which has
sought
to count the dead and injured of the war in order to pursue
compensation
claims for their families.
The new report, which estimates Iraq's war dead at between 10,800 and
15,100, uses a far more rigorous definition of civilian than the other
studies to arrive at a figure of between 3,200 and 4,300 civilian
noncombatants...
ALSO SEE:
BRITAIN AND THE US CLAIM A MORAL MANDATE - AND BACK A DICTATOR WHO
BOILS
VICTIMS TO DEATH
George Monbiot, Guardian, 10/28/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1072313,00.html
The British and US governments gave three reasons for going to war with
Iraq. The first was to extend the war on terrorism. The second was to
destroy its weapons of mass destruction before they could be deployed.
The
third was to remove a brutal regime, which had tortured and murdered
its
people.
If the purpose of the war was to defeat terrorism, it has failed.
Before
the invasion, there was no demonstrable link between al-Qaida and Iraq.
Today, al-Qaida appears to have moved into that country, to exploit a
new
range of accessible western targets. If the purpose of the war was to
destroy Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction before he deployed
them, then, as no such weapons appear to have existed, it was a war
without
moral or strategic justification.
So just one excuse remains, and it is a powerful one. Saddam Hussein
was a
brutal tyrant. While there was no legal argument for forcibly deposing
him
on the grounds of his abuse of human rights, there was a moral
argument. It
is one which our prime minister made repeatedly and forcefully...
There is just one test of this sincerity, and that is the consistency
with
which his concern for human rights guides his foreign policy. If he
cares
so much about the welfare of foreigners that he is prepared to go to
war on
their behalf, we should expect to see this concern reflected in all his
relations with the governments of other countries. We should expect
him,
for example, to do all he can to help the people of Uzbekistan...
---
UNREST IN IRAQ
Tom Gascoyne, News and Feature, 10/26/03
http://www.newsreview.com/issues/chico/2003-10-16/news.asp
Just as President Bush is suggesting that the media are portraying an
inaccurate and overly negative picture of the situation in Iraq, we've
received communication from our source on the ground there that morale
among American soldiers continues to sour.
Garth Talbott, the young man from Chico stationed in Iraq since last
March
and whose letters to his sister, Anna, we published in August ("Hello
from
Baghdad," cover story, Aug. 14), has sent another letter. This one was
addressed to the News & Review.
Dated Sept. 28, the letter arrived Oct. 8. Talbott, originally
scheduled to
come home in July, as were all members of the 82nd Airborne Division
who
arrived with him, has seen his orders to remain in Iraq extended to
January
or February.
And American soldiers are being killed on a daily basis.
"There are a number of reasons why I should be pissed off," Talbott
writes.
"But really only one thing about this whole 'war situation' manages to
get
my goat. Never mind that President Bush, the commander in chief, the
zenith
of my chain of command, the 'lord high commander' at the very pinnacle
of
the military rank structure, promised that no combat troops would be
deployed more than six months. I guess he wasn't including the 3rd
Infantry
or the 82nd Airborne..."
---
SPEECHES CALLED PROPAGANDA
Walter Pincus, Washington Post, 10/29/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31353-2003Oct28.html
For the past few weeks, Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer has appeared
every Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. on IMN, the Pentagon-run television
network, with a taped message to the Iraqi people about what is going
on in
their country.
The speeches, dubbed in Arabic, are much like President Bush's weekly
Saturday radio address, according to Gary Thatcher, the former CBS
producer
who is head of strategic communications for the Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA) in Iraq. "We are here to set an example of journalism
in
the Western tradition," he said.
To many Iraqis, though, Bremer's prime-time addresses are more
reminiscent
of the regular television appearances of former president Saddam
Hussein,
according to both American and Iraqi media specialists who have studied
IMN, the Iraqi Media Network. Iraqis see the station not as a vehicle
for
free speech but "as the mouthpiece of the CPA," the BBC World Service
Trust
reported after studying the stations this summer.
In last week's address just before the holy month of Ramadan, Bremer
repeatedly referred to Hussein as "the evil one." "You must not lose
hope,
because you have seen the evil one go," Bremer said at one point. "You,
the
Iraqi people, whom the evil one was bound to protect, he instead
tortured,
he instead murdered. You, the Iraqi people, whom the evil one was bound
to
feed, he instead starved..."
---
CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DECRY ABUSES IN BAGHDAD
Dennis Bueckert, Canadian Press, 10/26/03
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2003/10/26/237915-cp.html
OTTAWA (CP) - Canadian human rights workers in Iraq are having an
easier
time getting their message out since U.S. officials gave them special
military phones. But it's not a message the officials are going to
like.
Activists with Christian Peacemaker Teams, including two Canadians,
have
remained in Baghdad after most staff from the United Nations, Amnesty
International and the International Red Cross have been evacuated.
They say they are appalled by the frequent military assaults on private
homes, and by the large number of people detained by the Americans on
vague
and unproven charges...
Milne said that homes of people suspected to be aiding the enemy are
regularly raided in military style, with tanks and humvees and
significant
numbers of troops...
-----
PASCO'S FIRST MOSQUE NEARS REALITY
Rebecca Catalanello, St. Petersburg Times, 10/29/03
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/29/Pasco/Pasco_s_first_mosque_.shtml
Muslims in the area could be worshiping in the new religious center
before
Oct. 14, 2004, in time for Ramadan.
NEW PORT RICHEY - When Dr. Mohammed Yusef Kadiwala came to Pasco County
in
1972, the only other Muslims he knew here were his wife and children.
The
warm Florida weather was good for growing his favorite mangos, but the
lack
of an Islamic community meant daily prayers were confined to his office
and
home.
Today, the north Pinellas-Pasco area is home to hundreds who share
Kadiwala's faith. About 100 to 150 people participate in functions at
the
Islamic Center of New Port Richey each week, and leaders estimate about
1,000 Muslims live in the Pasco, southern Hernando and north Pinellas
areas
alone.
Within a year, members of the Islamic Center hope to erect the county's
first mosque...
ALSO SEE:
CULTURE REPRESSES MUSLIM WOMEN, NOT THE ISLAMIC FAITH
Rasmieyh Abdelnabi, Northern Star, 10/29/03
http://www.star.niu.edu/perspective/articles/102903-culture.asp
The United States’ perception of Muslim women is that they are
oppressed
and lacking rights at the hands of a male-dominated Islamic society.
The
American media have done wonders in portraying Muslim women as
submissive
and passive.
Many carry the notion that women are treated unfairly because of Islam;
that in Islam women are looked upon as property of their fathers, and
after
marriage, their husbands.
Contrary to popular belief, Muslim men and women are equal.
A woman has the same rights as a man. She has the right to be educated
and
to choose her husband. She also has the right to choose whether to wear
the
scarf.
A Muslim woman also has the right to speak her mind freely. These are
only
some of the rights Muslim women enjoy.
Muslim women never have had to fight for their rights as a result of
unfair
traditions in Islam. The unfair treatment occurs because of the society
women live in...
---
RAMADAN CREATES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT YALE
Yusaf Samara, Yale Daily News, 10/29/03
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=23805
"Ramadan mubarak!" This week roughly 1.5 billion Muslims around the
world
will be repeating that phrase, meaning "Happy and blessed Ramadan!" In
its
religious context, Ramadan is a time of fasting, feasting, worship and
prayer...
How the religious commandments of Ramadan translate into Ramadan at
Yale
presents a new set of challenges. For several years, the Muslim Student
Association, or MSA, has had a prayer space in the basement of Bingham
Hall, just around the corner from the Chaplain's office. Throughout the
year, this space is open for Muslims to make the five daily prayers and
for
the weekly Friday services, and during Ramadan the MSA arranges for
meals
to be provided for the predawn meal and the breaking of the fast. So if
you've ever wondered why so many people are up at all hours in the
basement
of Bingham Hall (besides doing their laundry or studying in the
freshman
lounge), the answer is probably the five daily Muslim prayers, and if
there's food involved, it's probably Ramadan.
Even with this community space, Ramadan at Yale has its hard times:
walking
from Swingspace or Davenport to Bingham at 4 a.m. for the predawn meal,
through rain and occasionally in below-freezing temperatures, only to
discover that your ID mysteriously no longer works on the Bingham door,
is
not necessarily a pleasant experience. For Muslim students who are
fasting,
the issue of meal plan rebates is always problematic; although Yale
University Dining Services has been more than helpful and has been
highly
responsive to our needs, only so much can be done to compensate for
each
Muslim at Yale missing two meal credits per day...
-----
CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY IFTAR AND CANDIDATE MEET AND GREET
A community meal and a breaking of the Islamic fast called iftar will
be
shared with key candidates, seeking elected offices, in the upcoming
elections on November 4, for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The Muslim
community
of greater Charlotte will break bread with each other and key
candidates as
we look towards the upcoming elections. Muslims will break their fast
a
sunset, followed by prayer, a meal (iftar) and a discussion with
candidates.
The event will be held at The West Charlotte Recreation Center on 2401
Kendall Dr (corner of Senior and Kendall Dr,) in Charlotte, NC. We
will
gather from 5-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1. The event is being
co-sponsored by The Islamic Political Party of America and The Islamic
Center of Charlotte.
For more information, call Jibril Hough at (704)258-0304.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/30/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
* REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR’S DC DINNER
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR Dinner
- Good News: MD Muslim Returns to Work with Hijab
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: ‘MOW THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN’ - LOTT
* MUSLIMS WELCOME HISPANIC 'REVERTS' (Dallas Morning)
* BUSH'S MUSLIM TROUBLES (IPS)
- Eyes Wide Shut (NY Times)
- U.S. 'All Thumbs' Dealing with Muslims (NY Times)
* CHENEY TAPS SYRIA HAWK AS ADVISER (Forward)
- Cheney's Hawks 'Hijacking Policy' (SMH)
* ISLAMIC LEADER TIED TO LIBYA IS DENIED BAIL (NYT)
* RIGHTS GROUP SUES US SCHOOL OVER HIJAB BAN (AFP)
- Students File Complaint Against B&N (Daily Southtown)
* GUANTANAMO CHAPLAIN NOW LOW-SECURITY PRISONER (Seattle P-I)
* AL-ARIAN HIRES ATTORNEYS (TBCPJ)
* SECRET 9/11 CASE BEFORE HIGH COURT (CS Monitor)
- Odd Bedfellows Fall in Line (CS Monitor)
- Panelists Analyze Freedoms in Patriot Act (Oracle)
* MUSLIM STUDENTS ADJUST TO RAMADAN (Daily Bruin)
- Students Fast For Holy Month (Minn. Daily)
- 30 Days of Deep Reflection (SJ Mercury News)
* ISRAELI GENERAL DENOUNCES POLICIE AGAINST PALESTINIANS (NYT)
* MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MUSLIMS ON THE WEB
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
Once while the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was delivering a
sermon, he saw a man standing, so he asked about that man. The people
said:
"It is Abu Israil who has vowed that he will stand and never sit down,
and
he will never come in the shade, nor speak to anybody, and will fast."
The
Prophet then said: "Order him to speak and let him come in the shade,
and
make him sit down, but let him complete his fast."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 695
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR’S DC DINNER
Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) to speak at dinner
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/29/2003) – Registration is now available online
for
CAIR’s Ninth Annual Fundraising Dinner on November 29th (the weekend
after
Eid ul-Fitr) in Washington, D.C. The dinner, with the theme “Muslims in
America: A Defining Moment,” feature Rep Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) as one
of
its main speakers.
Rep. Rahall has cosponsored various resolutions recognizing the
commencement of Ramadan and commending Muslims in the United States and
throughout the world for their faith. He has also condemned bigotry and
violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from
South
Asia in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York City, New York, and
Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001.
Other featured speakers include presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich
Imam
Siraj Wahhaj, CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad, Rafael Narbaez, and
comedian
Azhar Usman. The dinner will also include presentations of the CAIR
2003
Islamic Community Service Awards.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA
COST: Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003
No children please. (Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10
per
child.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 202-488-8787 or e-mail:
register@cair-net.org
ACTION REQUESTED:
REGISTER FOR CAIR’S DINNER BY GOING TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2003dinner-register.asp
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR DINNER
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email:
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
---
GOOD NEWS: MD MUSLIM RETURNS TO WORK WITH HIJAB
A Muslim woman who was sent home from her job at a restaurant in
Baltimore,
Md., is back at work after intervention from CAIR-MD. The single mother
of
four missed two days of work because she refused to remover her
religiously-mandated head scarf. CAIR-MD sent letters to the restaurant
explaining the employer’s legal duty to accommodate reasonable
religious
practices.
The Muslim worker was then told to come back to work and was
compensated
for the days missed.
NOTE: The Muslim employee is in need of assistance in furnishing her
new
apartment. Anyone willing to offer assistance should call CAIR-MD at
301-986-1900.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: ‘MOW THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN’ - SEN. LOTT
http://www.thehill.com/news/102903/gopunity.aspx
“In a sign of frustration, (Sen. Trent Lott) offered an unorthodox
military
solution (for Iraq): ‘If we have to, we just mow the whole place down,
see
what happens.’”
-----
MUSLIMS MAKE EFFORT TO WELCOME HISPANIC 'REVERTS'
Ira J. Hadnot, Dallas Morning News, 10/24/03
http://www.dallasnews.com/religion/stories/102503dnrelhispanicmuslims.66c2b.
html
DALLAS - The Espinoza family was eagerly awaiting its first observance
of
Ramadan, the month-long Muslim period of fasting that began Sunday.
Anticipation swelled into a smile on Ericka Espinoza's face. Raised a
Catholic, the 27-year-old Hispanic mother of two said she is ready to
rise
at 4 a.m. and abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
She is also looking forward to the three-day celebration, Eid al-Fitr,
breaking the fast. Most of the Dallas Muslim community will mark the
end of
Ramadan in late November with a prayer service in Centennial Hall at
Fair
Park.
She wants to embrace every aspect of the fast-growing religion that is
reaching out to the fast-growing U.S. Latino population...
Espinoza is one of a growing number of Hispanics who are leaving
Catholicism for Islam, for Protestant churches, for other faith
traditions,
or who are dropping out of any religious practice. Exact numbers are
impossible to come by, but some national Latino Muslim associations
claim
"reverts," their term for converts, in the "tens of thousands."
In the Dallas area, officials estimate there are at least 100 to 150
Latino
Muslims _ and they say the number is probably much higher. Some people,
they say, consider themselves Muslim even if they don't visit a mosque
regularly...
-----
BUSH'S MUSLIM TROUBLES
Jim Lobe, International Press Service, 10/29/03
http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=20849
WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush's latest gesture to persuade
Muslims both here and abroad that the United States is not seeking a
''clash of civilisations'' has not gone over well with its intended
audience.
The White House was clearly hoping its Iftaar dinner Tuesday evening,
to
which ambassadors from predominantly Muslim nations and individual U.S.
Muslims were invited to break their Ramadan fast with the president,
would
send a reassuring message to the Islamic world.
Mightily embarrassed by the controversy raging over the recently
publicised
anti-Islamic views of the U.S. general in charge of the hunt for
terrorist
leader Osama bin Laden and ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,
administration officials no doubt were looking for ways to mitigate the
damage.
But a denunciation of the White House event by a number of national
U.S.
Muslim organisations just hours before it took place got more attention
in
the news media than the dinner itself, blunting whatever favourable
impact
Bush had hoped the gesture might make...
Speaking of the contrast between Bush's Iftaar dinner and the lack of
action against Boykin, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told the 'Los Angeles Times',
''Again we
see a disconnect. We hear pleasing words about Islam, then we see
complete
inaction. He's not reassigned. He's not removed. Nothing.”
CAIR, one of the nation's largest Muslim groups with chapters in 15
states,
was not invited to the Iftaar dinner although it had taken part in
White
House events in the past. Hooper told IPS that he supported the
decision by
other Muslim leaders to break their fast in Lafayette Park...
ALSO SEE:
EYES WIDE SHUT
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 10/30/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/opinion/30DOWD.html
WASHINGTON — In the thick of the war with Iraq, President Bush used to
pop
out of meetings to catch the Iraqi information minister slipcovering
grim
reality with willful, idiotic optimism.
"He's my man," Mr. Bush laughingly told Tom Brokaw about the
entertaining
contortions of Muhammad Said al-Sahhaf, a k a "Comical Ali" and
"Baghdad
Bob," who assured reporters, even as American tanks rumbled in, "There
are
no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!" and, "We are winning this war,
and
we will win the war. . . . This is for sure."
Now Crawford George has morphed into Baghdad Bob.
Speaking to reporters this week, Mr. Bush made the bizarre argument
that
the worse things get in Iraq, the better news it is. "The more
successful
we are on the ground, the more these killers will react," he said.
The war began with Bush illogic: false intelligence (from Niger to
nuclear)
used to bolster a false casus belli (imminent threat to our security)
based
on a quartet of false premises (that we could easily finish off Saddam
and
the Baathists, scare the terrorists and democratize Iraq without
leeching
our economy).
Now Bush illogic continues: The more Americans, Iraqis and aid workers
who
get killed and wounded, the more it is a sign of American progress. The
more dangerous Iraq is, the safer the world is. The more troops we seem
to
need in Iraq, the less we need to send more troops...
---
LUGAR SAYS U.S. IS 'ALL THUMBS' IN DEALING WITH MUSLIMS
Brian Knowlton, New York Times, 10/29/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/29/international/middleeast/29CND-DIPL.html
WASHINGTON — Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, a leading Republican
foreign policy voice, today sharply criticized United States efforts to
improve the American image among Muslims and others abroad, calling
them an
"all thumbs" policy in need of reform.
He leveled the charges during a nomination hearing at the Senate
Foreign
Relations Committee for a new undersecretary of state for public
diplomacy.
Mr. Lugar, the chairman of the committee, called the position "one of
the
most difficult posts in the United States government," but praised the
nominee, Margaret D. Tutwiler, as "eminently qualified."
Ms. Tutwiler, a former State Department spokesman and ambassador to Mo
rocco, whose nomination is expected to be confirmed, appeared before
the
committee just weeks after a study panel named by the Bush
administration
urged a drastic overhaul of United States public relations efforts in
the
Arab world.
"Hostility toward America has reached shocking levels," said the panel,
the
United States Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and
Muslim
World. Mr. Lugar and others have said that recent American public
diplomacy
efforts, undertaken after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
reflected
more a heavy-handed, Madison Avenue advertising sensibility than a
nuanced
understanding of Muslim concerns and realities. The previous head of
public
diplomacy, Charlotte Beers, resigned, citing health problems...
-----
CHENEY TAPS SYRIA HAWK AS ADVISER ON MIDEAST
Marc Perelman, Forward, 10/31/03
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.31/news2.wurmser.html
Despite mounting criticism of the administration's Iraq policy, Vice
President Dick Cheney appears to be ratcheting up his commitment to the
circle of neoconservative intellectuals who helped spearhead President
Bush's war policy, adding one of its most controversial proponents to
his
national security staff in a little-noticed move last month.
David Wurmser, a neoconservative scholar known for his close ties to
the
Israeli right, was appointed in mid-September to join the team led by
Cheney's national security adviser, Lewis "Scooter" Libby. In recent
years
Wurmser, who boasts a complex network of relationships to a variety of
pro-Likud think tanks and activist groups, has frequently written
articles
arguing for a joint American-Israeli effort to undermine the Syrian
regime.
Wurmser's appointment sheds light on the prominent role played by
Cheney
and his national security staff in shaping foreign policy and coincides
with the deterioration in the relations between Washington and
Damascus. In
recent months, Washington has accused Syria of sheltering Iraqi
leaders,
weapons and money and of allowing terrorists into Iraq. The
administration
backed Israel's recent bombing of a suspected terrorist training camp
in
Syria and dropped its objections to a congressional bill that grants
the
president the right to impose sanctions on Damascus...
ALSO SEE:
CHENEY'S HAWKS 'HIJACKING POLICY'
Ritt Goldstein, Sydney Morning Herald, 10/30/03
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/29/1067233251576.html
A former Pentagon officer turned whistleblower says a group of hawks in
the
Bush Administration, including the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, is
running
a shadow foreign policy, contravening Washington's official line.
"What these people are doing now makes Iran-Contra [a Reagan
administration
national security scandal] look like amateur hour. . . it's worse than
Iran-Contra, worse than what happened in Vietnam," said Karen
Kwiatkowski,
a former air force lieutenant-colonel.
"[President] George Bush isn't in control . . . the country's been
hijacked," she said, describing how "key [governmental] areas of
neoconservative concern were politically staffed".
Ms Kwiatkowski, who retired this year after 20 years service, was a
Middle
East specialist in the office of the Undersecretary of Defence for
Policy,
headed by Douglas Feith.
She described "a subversion of constitutional limits on executive power
and
a co-optation through deceit of a large segment of the Congress",
adding
that "in order to take that first step - Iraq - lies had to be told to
Congress to bring them on board".
-----
ISLAMIC LEADER TIED TO LIBYA IS DENIED BAIL
Eric Lictblau, New York Times, 10/30/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/national/30TERR.html
ALEXANDRIA, Va., — A federal judge on Wednesday denied bail to a
prominent
Islamic leader accused of illegally funneling money from Libya, saying
the
man posed too great a risk of fleeing the country if freed from
custody.
The decision by the judge, Claude Hilton, to deny bail to the Islamic
leader, Abdurahman M. Alamoudi, came at the close of a contentious
hearing
that offered a preview of the arguments in a case being closely watched
by
counterterrorism officials and Muslim leaders.
Mr. Alamoudi, 51, a founder of the American Muslim Council who has had
access to top American officials, pleaded not guilty to charges that he
illegally laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars from Libya. He was
stopped by British officials in London in August with $340,000 in cash
that
American prosecutors said he had received from the Libyans.
Mr. Alamoudi is not charged with any offenses involving terrorism, but
prosecutors said they suspected that he had financial links to groups
like
Al Qaeda and Hamas....
Defense lawyers accused prosecutors of trying to "slander and defame"
their
client by raising links to terrorism that they cannot prove in court.
Stanley Cohen, one of Mr. Alamoudi's lawyers, described the
government's
case as "allegations of white-collar crime dressed up in terrorism
drag."
-----
RIGHTS GROUP SUES US SCHOOL OVER BAN ON MUSLIM HEADSCARF
Agence France Presse, 10/29/03
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma - A conservative US legal foundation said Wednesday
it
has filed suit against Oklahoma school officials in a bid to get them
to
revise a school dress code that they say discriminates against Muslims.
The Rutherford Institute brought the suit on behalf of Nashala Hearn,
an
11-year-old Muslim who was twice suspended from an Oklahoma elementary
school for wearing her headscarf to class.
After barring the girl on two separate occasions, the Muskogee Public
School District finally relented and re-admitted her on October 19
after
two advocacy groups intervened on her behalf.
Education officials said at the time that they would review the
district's
dress code which bars any type of head gear, but the Charlottesville,
Virginia-based group said Wednesday it wanted deeds not words.
"Although Nashala has been allowed to return to school until the matter
is
resolved and continues to wear the hijab, she is subject to sanction
under
the school dress code at the whim of her principal and other school
authorities," the Institute said in a statement...
ALSO SEE:
ARAB STUDENTS FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST STORE
Allison Hantschel, Daily Southtown, 10/30/03
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/swest/302swyt1.htm
Two Arab medical students who say they were thrown out of an Orland
Park
bookstore in June filed a complaint recently alleging their civil
rights
were violated.
Ala Alsherbini and Ashraf Darwish of Oak Lawn say they were studying at
the
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in the Orland Park Place Mall on June 13
when
the manager approached them and told them to leave...
In a complaint filed Oct. 24 with the Illinois Department of Human
Rights,
Alsherbini and Darwish say they asked the manager, Natalie Bawart, why
they
had to leave when few of the other tables in the bookstore's cafe were
occupied...
Reached Wednesday at the store, Bawart denied the incident had anything
to
do with discrimination...
-----
FORMER GUANTANAMO CHAPLAIN NOW LOW-SECURITY PRISONER
Mike Barber, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/28/03
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/145768_chaplain28.html
The Army has lowered the detention security status of Army Muslim
chaplain
James Yee, who once was stationed at Fort Lewis and now faces criminal
accusations, from maximum to low, Yee's new lawyer said yesterday.
Yee, who was assigned last November to Guantanamo Bay Naval Station,
Cuba,
where nearly 660 al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners are detained, was
himself
taken into custody Sept. 10 after getting off a flight from Guantanamo
at
Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
Yee, who also uses the first name Yousef, was held for a month before
being
charged with failing to obey orders for taking classified material to
his
home and wrongfully transporting it without proper containers.
Eugene Fidell, one of the nation's leading military lawyers who
recently
joined Yee's defense team, last week sought the 35-year-old West Point
graduate's release from the Navy brig in Charleston, S.C., or at least
release from maximum-security confinement...
-----
AL-ARIAN HIRES ATTORNEYS, PRESS CONFERENCE FRIDAY
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 10/29/03
The Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace is pleased to announce
that
prominent Washington D.C. attorney William B. Moffitt and Linda Moreno
of
Tampa entered notices of appearance at the Federal District Court in
Tampa,
Florida today. Consequently, Dr. Sami Al-Arian, who has been unjustly
detained since Feb. 20, 2003 and placed in atrocious conditions, will
no
longer be representing himself, though he will be involved in preparing
his
defense.
A partner in the firm of Asbill, Moffitt & Boss, Bill Moffitt is a past
president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and
has
been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America publication
on
numerous occasions. Moffitt has also been featured as a legal expert on
a
number of networks and programs including CNN's Crossfire, Court TV,
ABC
News, CBS News, ITN British Television, and Hardball.
Linda Moreno has been a criminal defense attorney for the past 23
years. A
member of both the Florida and California State Bars, she has
represented
numerous clients accused of everything from misdemeanors to capital
murder.
A press conference with Bill Moffitt and Linda Moreno will be held on
Friday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 pm at Attorney Bob McKee's office on 1718 E.
7th
Ave (3rd floor).
-----
SECRET 9/11 CASE BEFORE HIGH COURT
Warren Richey, Christian Science Monitor, 10/30/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1030/p01s02-usju.html
MIAMI – It's the case that doesn't exist. Even though two different
federal
courts have conducted hearings and issued rulings, there has been no
public
record of any action. No documents are available. No files. No lawyer
is
allowed to speak about it. Period.
Yet this seemingly phantom case does exist - and is now headed to the
US
Supreme Court in what could produce a significant test of a question as
old
as the Star Chamber, abolished in 17th-century England: How far should
a
policy of total secrecy extend into a system of justice?
Secrecy has been a key Bush administration weapon in the war on
terrorism.
Attorney General John Ashcroft warns that mere tidbits of information
that
seem innocuous about the massive Sept. 11 investigation could help Al
Qaeda
carry out new attacks.
Yet this highly unusual petition to the high court arising from a Miami
case brings into sharp focus the tension between America's long
tradition
of open courts and the need for security in times of national peril. At
issue is whether certain cases may be conducted entirely behind closed
doors under a secret arrangement among prosecutors, judges, and docket
clerks...
ALSO SEE:
ODD BEDFELLOWS FALL IN LINE
Sara B. Miller and Seth Stern, Christian Science Monitor, 10/29/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1029/p16s01-usju.html
Residents of Kenai, Alaska, usually worry more about the number of king
salmon in the river than what the nearest FBI agents are up to 80 miles
away in Anchorage.
Yet this summer, the Kenai City Council in this small fishing town
voted to
limit cooperation between their 15-member police force and federal
agents
who may be seeking information about individual citizens.
The source of their concern: the USA Patriot Act, which expanded
government
antiterrorism tools and has become a punching bag for anger about law-
enforcement powers post-9/11.
A grass-roots movement has pushed through similar resolutions in 200
communities in 34 states in the two years since Congress passed the
act.
The cause has been embraced in some surprising corners of the country
by an
unlikely left-right alliance of peace and pro-gun activists alike...
---
PANELISTS ANALYZE FREEDOMS IN PATRIOT ACT
Adam Becker, Oracle, 10/30/03
http://www.usforacle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/30/3fa115a0895c3
The evening began with accusations raised against two men for
manipulating
and pressuring the American public into a state of prejudice against
Arabs
and Muslims. These two men are better known as President George W. Bush
and
Attorney General John Ashcroft, according to Ahmad Bedier of the
Council on
American Islamic Relations.
On Wednesday these accusations, based on the Patriot Act, were
discussed
during a lecture held in the Phyllis P. Marshall Center Ballroom that
covered issues of freedom in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001.
"The current situation, the current psyche of the U.S. (is) in order to
be
patriotic, or in order to have love for the United States ... you have
to
hate, or have bias toward the enemy, which are the Arabs and the
Muslims of
the world," Bedier said. "We have to educate ourselves. Real patriotism
means that you uphold the Constitution. It doesn't mean you just wave
the
flag, being shallow ... when you don't know anything about the flag, or
the
Constitution, or even how the flag got there or even who the current
president is. Again, we have to do our part before it's too late. Just
because it is not affecting us today does not mean it will not be
affecting
us tomorrow..."
-----
MUSLIM STUDENTS ADJUST TO RAMADAN
Narges Zohoury, Daily Bruin, 10/30/03
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=26056
More than 1,400 years after the tradition of Ramadan began, the month
of
fasting and prayer continues to give the Muslim community a chance to
appreciate and meditate on their lives.
Ramadan began Monday and will continue for a month.
During the period, people of Muslim faith will fast from sunrise to
sunset
and continue to make six daily prayers.
For UCLA students observing the holy month, life can get complicated;
changing sleep patterns and waking up for predawn meals are not the
only
concerns.
Ramadan activities can overlap with classes and in some cases, midterms
or
finals.
"Breaking fast during class is usually not a problem since eating in
class
is not an issue," said Ehaab Zubi, a fifth-year psychobiology student
and
the editor of Al-Talib, the Muslim newsmagazine at UCLA.
For students who do not have schedule conflicts, the Muslim Student
Association is providing food for everyone who is fasting throughout
the
month of Ramadan...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM STUDENTS FAST FOR HOLY MONTH
Ed Swaray, Minnesota Daily, 10/30/03
http://www.daily.umn.edu/articles/2003/10/30/7215
Since Monday, University Muslim students have gathered every day at
sunset
to break their fast.
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, began Monday. Ramadan is one of the
five
pillars of Islam and lasts about 30 days, during which Muslims fast
from
sunrise to sunset — also abstaining from drinking and sex — to
spiritually
re-energize and show reverence for Allah, their god.
Second-year law student S. Mardy Amine participated in a celebration at
1701 University Ave S.E...
After praying, Amine, other Muslim students and several non-Muslim
visitors
gathered in small groups to chat and socialize over “iftaar” — the
Arabic
word for food.
Amine said because this year’s theme is spirituality, sacrifice and
charity, his friends and he invited non-Muslims to join them...
---
30 DAYS OF DEEP REFLECTION
Souheila Al-Jadda, San Jose Mercury, 10/30/03
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/7139289.htm
People often ask me what Ramadan is like. ''What is it like to have to
fast
30 days from sunrise to sunset?'' they ask. ''What do you do? Where do
you
go?''
I tell them to imagine the feeling they have on Christmas Eve. Family
members are gathered together, and you anticipate waking up early the
next
day to go to church, opening gifts around the tree and eating a
delicious
meal with relatives. Thoughts are turned away from work and problems
toward
the joy of being together and the importance of helping those less
fortunate. Now imagine having this feeling for 30 consecutive days.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five religious obligations of
Islam.
But fasting is about more than just abstaining from food, drink and
physical intimacy from dawn to sunset every day for a month. It is
about
remembrance of God and reflecting on the blessings he bestows on us
each
year. It is about self-sacrifice, discipline and sharing.
This Ramadan, I will spend many nights with close friends and neighbors
gathered in someone's home or at one of the local mosques. We will
break
our fast with fresh dates and milk. We then pray together before
sitting
down to eat. Afterward, we will make our way to the mosque for evening
prayers before returning to socialize, pray or read the Koran
together...
-----
ISRAEL'S CHIEF OF STAFF DENOUNCES POLICIES AGAINST PALESTINIANS
Greg Myre, New York Times, 10/30/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/international/middleeast/30MIDE.html
JERUSALEM — Israel's top-ranking soldier said that current hard-line
policies against the Palestinians were working against Israel's
"strategic
interest" and had contributed to the downfall of the previous
Palestinian
prime minister, Israeli news organizations reported on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was described as "furious" about the
comments,
attributed to Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the military's chief of staff,
Israeli
television stations reported later in the day.
Several leading Israeli newspapers reported the controversial comments,
attributing them to a senior military official. But during the day,
Israeli
reporters identified the source as General Yaalon, who made the remarks
to
Israeli journalists at a background briefing on Tuesday.
Nahum Barnea, a leading Israeli columnist with the daily Yediot
Ahronot,
quoted "a military official" as saying comprehensive travel
restrictions
and curfews imposed on Palestinians were actually harming Israel's
overall
security...
-----
MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MUSLIMS ON THE WEB
Illness places people in extremely vulnerable positions. As healthcare
providers, we must therefore recognize that people must be cared for
while
taking into account their practices and beliefs.
As Muslim professionals, we are especially sensitive to the various
scenarios that may arise during the course of a Muslim's care. Thus, we
feel the obligation to establish a forum, wherein Muslims from around
the
world may address their healthcare concerns, and receive feedback from
Muslim healthcare professionals from various disciplines regarding
issues
affecting their well being. Our goals are thus two-fold: to enrich the
current healthcare that Muslim's receive, and to educate others about
issues important to the Muslim Patient.
Visit the website at www.medislam.org to ask your questions or for more
information email webmaster@med.islam.org or call Kareem Elshatory
248-526-0488.
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/31/03
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING LEADS TO PARADISE
* MUSLIM COMEDIAN TO APPEAR AT CAIR DINNER
- Volunteers Needed For CAIR Dinner
- Good News: NJ Muslim Allowed to Pray in School
* CAIR-CAN: U.S. EVANGELIST CENSURED BY CANADIAN TV
- Don't Misportray Islamic Society (Dallas Morning News)
* SISTER RECEIVES AWARD FROM ISLAMIC COUNCIL (CT)
* KOSHER FOOD FESTIVAL LOOKING TO MUSLIM CUSTOMERS (Reuters)
* RAMADAN INSPIRES REFLECTION (Charlotte Observer)
* U.S. DEATHS IN IRAQ NOT FULLY REPORTED (E & P)
- Does Split In Death Toll Mask War's Real Story? (Time)
- Iraqis Tell Grim Stories Of U.S.-Run Camps (AP)
- Carson Soldier Faces Charge Of Cowardice (Gazette)
* ISRAEL TO RAZE WITH ROBOT BULLDOZERS (AP)
- Israel Restricts Muslim Visits to Shrine (AP)
- Israeli Officer Says Tactics Are Backfiring (Wash. Post)
* TURKEY'S REPUBLIC DAY DRESS CODE: NO HEAD SCARVES (CSM)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING LEADS TO PARADISE
A person once said to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Order
me
to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.” The Prophet said:
“Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.”
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:107A
The Prophet also said: "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan,
and
those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of
Resurrection.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 120
-----
COMEDIAN AZHAR USMAN TO APPEAR AT CAIR DINNER
Registration is now available online for CAIR’s Ninth Annual
Fundraising
Dinner on November 29th (the weekend after Eid ul-Fitr) in Washington,
D.C.
The dinner, with the theme “Muslims in America: A Defining Moment,”
featuring presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich as one of its main
speakers.
Featured speakers include comedian Azhar Usman. Usman is a standup
comedian, lecturer, and community activist. He has been performing
standup
comedy since 2001. Since mid-2002, he has performed in major cities
around
the country, as well as in the United Kingdom. SEE:
http://www.azhar.com/
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner/Vienna, VA
COST: CAIR dinners always quick to sell out so get you tickets now!
Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24, 2003. No children
please.
(Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10 per child.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 202-488-8787 or e-mail:
register@cair-net.org
ACTION REQUESTED:
REGISTER FOR CAIR’S DINNER BY GOING TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2003dinner-register.asp
---
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CAIR DINNER
CAIR is seeking volunteers to help with its upcoming dinner in
Washington,
D.C. Those interested in helping with the dinner should email
fkhan@cair-net.org or call Farida Khan at 202-488-8787.
---
GOOD NEWS: NJ MUSLIM ALLOWED TO PRAY IN SCHOOL
Following intervention by CAIR-NJ, a Muslim student will now be
provided a
private place to pray in a New Jersey middle school.
The student had been told by both the principal and the superintendent
of
the school district that it was against school policy to allow students
to
pray in school. But after failing to produce the policy in writing when
requested by the student’s mother and CAIR, the superintendent agreed
to
allow the prayer.
The superintendent's office also called the principals of all the
schools
in the district and informed them that they were required to provide
students a private space to pray.
CONTACT: fali@cair-nj.org
-----
AMERICAN EVANGELIST CENSURED BY CTS TV
Station says comments on Islam violated code of ethics
(OTTAWA, CANADA) - In response to the complaints of Canadian Muslims
about
Islamophobic comments made recently by American evangelist John Hagee
on
Toronto-based CTS TV, the station has apologized and warned the Hagee
Ministry that its program violated the CTS Code of Ethics.
In particular, CTS indicated to John Hagee that his programming about
Islam and the Qur'an violated provisions in the code which stipulate
that
comments about other faiths must be "accurate and fair" and that the
tone
of programming must not "misrepresent or incite hatred against any
individual or identifiable group." CTS is now pre-screening "John Hagee
Today" more closely.
In a letter to the Canadian office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN), CTS TV Program Manager Rob Sheppard wrote:
"...Mr. Hagee's tone in his comparison of what Christians believe
according
to the Bible and what Muslims believe according to the Quran did not
meet
our code of ethics. Once we were made aware of complaints made by
viewers
through phone calls and the CRTC, we responded immediately..."
"...I trust you will understand that we are very sorry for this
incident
and we are very aware of the affect it has had on the Muslim community.
We
have made it very clear that he must follow our code of ethics and any
program that does not meet our standard will be rejected."
Late last year, CFMT offered an unqualified apology to Canadian Muslims
and
promised to preview Jimmy Swaggart "second by second" after Swaggart
slandered Prophet Muhammed, called for the expulsion of Muslim students
in
the U.S., demanded the profiling of passengers with a "diaper on their
head" and suggested violence against Muslims.
SEE: http://www.caircan.ca/aa_more.php?id=P186_0_3_0_C
CAIR-CAN
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA
P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ONT, K2K 1X4
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Fax: 613-254-9810
URL: www.caircan.ca
ALSO SEE:
DON'T MISPORTRAY ISLAMIC SOCIETY
Gulam Bakali, Dallas Morning News, 10/31/03
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/viewpoints/stories/103103dnedibakali.ea39.
html
I almost fell off my chair when I read Rod Dreher's Oct. 23 Viewpoints
column, "This Islamic group tends to extremes." Was he possessed or
suffering temporary insanity? I didn't have to wait long for an answer,
because his column once again was vintage Dreher.
When The Dallas Morning News editorial board recently hosted Dr. Sayyid
M.
Syeed, the secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America,
and
myself, Mr. Dreher, a self-styled crunchy conservative, appeared very
anxious to ratify his preconceived set of points. He accosted us with
his
"Bill O'Reilly three-pointers" – what about this, that and so on?
Rather than joining the other editorial board members in a relaxed and
philosophical discussion about the society's vision, Muslims and our
country, Mr. Dreher departed from the friendly "citizen-to-citizen"
dialogue and incessantly pelted us with his Fox News-style questions.
His
approach was typical of the "circle the camp" tactics often used by his
tribe of neoconservatives.
The discussion slowly deteriorated. It was obvious he was there to
reinforce the sense of fear and anger that he and his type feel over
having
their dominant space in American society invaded by other influences,
especially Muslims. It didn't matter what the Islamic Society of North
America stands for, what it has accomplished the last 30 years or how
it
has collaborated with major faith-based communities – he was not going
to
"take any prisoners..."
-----
SISTER RECEIVES AWARD FROM ISLAMIC COUNCIL
Lenore Christopher, Catholic Telegraph, 10/31/03
http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/oct3103/103103award.html
DAYTON DEANERY — Sister of St. Joseph Judith Martin, associate
professor of
religious studies at the University of Dayton (UD), is the recipient of
an
annual award from the Islamic Council of Ohio (ICO), American Muslim
Council of Southwest Ohio and the Council of American Islamic Relations
of
Ohio. Sister Judith received the award Oct. 11 at a luncheon at the
Muslim
Community Center in Beavercreek, part of a celebration of the 16th
annual
Islamic Day of Ohio...
Sister Judith said her commitment to a just peace in the Middle East
was
triggered by "my first study tour of the region in 1989 and expanded in
the
wake of the first Gulf War and continued thereafter."
During the past 15 years, she has offered adult education sessions on
"Understanding Islam" throughout Ohio and Michigan. "For the last two
years, I have worked with members of the local Muslim community to
offer
workshops on Islam and the needs of Muslim students for Centerville
teachers. I have also offered formal courses on Islam and
Muslim-Christian
Dialogue at UD and the Athenaeum."
Sister Judith has been a spokesperson on Middle East religion and
politics
and she had worked with the Dayton Arab American Forum and the Islamic
Community to provide sessions for the media, as a way to encourage
balanced
reporting and correct stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs in news
accounts...
-----
KOSHER FOOD FESTIVAL LOOKING TO MUSLIM CUSTOMERS
Chris Reese, Reuters, 10/30/03
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/fringe/sfl-1030kosher,0,6824026.stor
y
NEW YORK - The world's largest kosher food showcase might seem a
strange
place to make overtures to the Muslim palate, but Jewish food
manufacturers
say Muslims make up an increasing number of their customers.
Participants in Kosherfest 2003 in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday
said
kosher food, specially prepared to meet Jewish dietary laws, often also
met
the needs of pork-free Muslim diets.
"We have been told by supermarkets that there is an increasing interest
from the Muslim community," said Menachem Lubinsky, president of
festival
sponsor IMC Events and Exhibitions.
"The easiest way for (Muslims) to make sure that they don't consume
pork or
prohibited products is by buying kosher products," Lubinsky said
The kosher diet dictates that meat and dairy products may not be cooked
or
eaten together. The animal or fowl must be slaughtered and examined by
someone skilled and trained in kosher slaughtering...
-----
RAMADAN INSPIRES REFLECTION
CRISTINA BREEN BOLLING, Charlotte Observer, 10/31/03
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/local/7147253.htm
The sky outside looks pitch black, but 10-year-old Obada Bianouni runs
to
the kitchen clock to be sure. Thirty more seconds until the official
sunset, when he and his family can break their daily Ramadan fast.
Moments later, at 5:35 p.m., Obada stands in the kitchen of his
family's
University City home, puts his hands over his ears and starts the
melodic
athaan, or call to prayer in Arabic.
His parents and three siblings gather in the dining room and with
relieved
expressions bite into nut-filled dates -- a traditional food eaten by
Muslims to break their fast during the holy month.
Not a drop of water or an ounce of food has touched their lips since
the
sun rose at 6:30 that morning. "The first few days are the hardest,"
Obada
says, his family nodding.
Sunday marks the end of the first week of Ramadan, the ninth month on
the
Islamic calendar. For 29 days each year, some 8,000 Muslims in the
Charlotte area and 1 billion worldwide seek redemption and purification
by
fasting from sunrise to sunset and focusing more on prayers, good deeds
and
reading the Quran…
• The Islamic Center of Charlotte and the Islamic Political Party of
America will host local political candidates for an iftar dinner to
break
the daily Ramadan fast at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the West Charlotte
Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive in Charlotte. For information,
call
(704) 258-0304.
• At UNC Charlotte, the Muslim Student Association is holding a Ramadan
fund-raiser for Second Harvest Food Bank. They're encouraging
non-Muslim
students to fast for a day, and local businesses will sponsor those
students and donate money. Participants will break their fast after
sunset
Nov. 14 in the Lucas Room at UNCC's Cone Center.
-----
U.S. DEATHS IN IRAQ NOT FULLY REPORTED
What's the Real Number: 115 or 218?
Seth Porges, Editor and Publisher, 10/30/03
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_displ
ay.jsp?vnu_content_id=2013954
NEW YORK -- On Wednesday and Thursday, newspapers around the country
have
reported that the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq following the
official end of major combat has exceeded the number killed during the
war.
This, however, continues the pervasive pattern of downplaying U.S.
deaths
from all causes in Iraq, many related to official duties and the stress
of
combat.
USA Today's report is typical: "the 115 American troops killed in
combat in
Iraq since May 1 -- the day Bush declared major combat operations over
--
exceeds the 114 killed by hostile fire during the war itself." But
these
reports continue to ignore the total death count.
In fact, 218 troops have been killed since May 1 from all causes
(nearly
doubling the combat-only count), and a total of 139 before May 1. This
includes suicides, drownings, and the many military vehicle accidents.
In addition, the toll of injured U.S. soldiers has now reached 2,084,
including well over 1,000 since May 1. In his New York Times column
Thursday, Thomas L. Friedman corrected his column of Oct. 23 when he
cited
a figure of 900 wounded in Iraq since May 1.
ALSO SEE:
DOES SPLIT IN DEATH TOLL MASK WAR'S REAL STORY?
Susan Taylor Martin, Times, 10/30/03
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/30/Columns/Does_split_in_death_t.shtml
In late August, CNN and other media reported a dramatic fact: As of
Aug.
26, deaths of U.S. soldiers in postwar Iraq had exceeded the toll
during
the war.
The figures: 138 deaths before May 1 and 139 deaths after - a total of
277.
On Wednesday, CNN and other media reported a dramatic fact: As of Oct.
29,
deaths of U.S. soldiers in combat in postwar Iraq had exceeded the toll
during the war.
The figures: 114 deaths before May 1 and 117 after - a total of 231.
Confused? Doesn't it sound like the same story, except the number of
deaths
has dropped by 46 in the past two months?
The two stories are different, although you could be excused for not
knowing it. The August report referred to the total number of deaths;
the
most recent report to the number of "combat-related" deaths. It's a
distinction, fostered by the Department of Defense, that makes it hard
for
the American public to learn the true human toll of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, critics say...
---
IRAQIS TELL GRIM STORIES OF U.S.-RUN CAMPS
Associated Press, 10/29/03
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&c=Article&cid=1067425356615&call_pageid=968332188854&col=9687058990
37
BAGHDAD, Iraq - In Iraq's American detention camps, forbidden talk can
earn
a prisoner hours bound and stretched out in the sun, and detainees
swinging
tent poles rise up regularly against their jailers, according to
recently
released Iraqis.
In these secretive islands in a scorched landscape, "they don't respect
anyone, old or young," Rahad Naif said of his U.S. Army guards. He and
others told of detainees in wheelchairs, and of a man carried into a
stifling hot tent in his sickbed. "They humiliate everybody.''
Naif, 31, is one of three brothers - butchers from the east Baghdad
slums -
who were thrown into the three biggest detention centers by the
Americans
in July after a nasty quarrel with an influential neighbor. They never
faced charges; the last brother was finally freed Oct. 15.
The camps and prisons hold a mixed population: curfew-breakers and
drivers
who tried to evade U.S. checkpoints, suspected common criminals,
anti-U.S.
resistance fighters, and many of deposed President Saddam Hussein's
Baath
Party leadership...
---
CARSON SOLDIER FACES CHARGE OF COWARDICE
John Diedrich, Gazette, 10/30/03
http://www.gazette.com/popupNews.php?id=626747
A soldier with Fort Carson’s 10th Special Forces Group has been charged
with cowardice for allegedly refusing to do his duty in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Georg Pogany, 32, a Special Forces interrogator, is charged
with
showing “cowardly conduct as a result of fear, in that he refused to
perform his duties,” according to his charge sheet.
If convicted in a court-martial, the soldier faces prison time and a
dishonorable discharge. He was charged Oct. 14. His first court
appearance
is Nov. 7 at Fort Carson.
A cowardice charge is extremely rare, military law experts say. Army
officials couldn’t say Wednesday the last time it had been filed.
Pogany said he is wrongly charged...
-----
ISRAEL TO RAZE WITH ROBOT BULLDOZERS
Gavin Rabinowitz, Associated Press, 10/30/03
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-robot-bulld
ozers,0,1638901.story
JERUSALEM -- The giant Caterpillar bulldozer, used by the Israeli
military
to destroy Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, now comes
with a controversial new feature: remote control.
Israel says its remote-control technology will lower risks to soldiers.
But
Palestinians fear it will lead to more frequent raids using the
machines
and make the three-year conflict even bloodier.
The remote-controlled D-9 bulldozer and a remote-control version of the
Humvee, equipped with machine guns, were developed by the Israeli army
and
the Technion Institute of Technology. Both machines are U.S.-made, with
Israeli modifications. They are expected to go into service in the next
few
weeks.
The army refused to comment or reveal further details about the new
equipment...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL RESTRICTS MUSLIM VISITS TO SHRINE
Jason Keyser, Associated Press, 10/31/03
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3332008,00.html
JERUSALEM - Israel limited access of Muslim worshippers to a disputed
shrine for special Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan,
setting
off an angry scuffle, while the United States offered a $5 million
reward
in the investigation of a deadly bombing of a U.S. convoy.
About 150,000 Palestinians flocked to the sacred hilltop plaza in
Jerusalem
for Ramadan prayers, while others were turned away at army checkpoints.
Control over the site, revered by Muslims and Jews, is one of the most
hotly contested issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, soldiers prevented a few hundred
worshippers from entering Jerusalem and some tried to push and shove
their
way through. Troops fired a stun grenade, setting off a loud blast. One
Palestinian was reported lightly injured.
Israel has been enforcing a strict travel ban in the past three years
of
fighting, preventing most Palestinians from reaching Israel.
Fearing youths would provoke clashes with Israeli forces during Ramadan
prayers, police were only allowing older, married Palestinians to pray
at
the site Friday. Men had to be older than 45, and women at least 35,
said
Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuelik Ben-Ruby. Police set the quota at
4,000
from the West Bank and 1,000 from the Gaza Strip.
No age restrictions were imposed on Palestinian residents of
Jerusalem...
---
TOP ISRAELI OFFICER SAYS TACTICS ARE BACKFIRING
Molly Moore, Washington Post, 10/31/03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44374-2003Oct30.html
JERUSALEM, Oct. 30 -- Israel's senior military commander told
columnists
for three leading newspapers this week that Israel's military tactics
against the Palestinian population were too repressive and were
fomenting
explosive levels of "hatred and terrorism" that might become impossible
to
control.
In remarks that suggest a dramatic split with the approach of the
current
government, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, chief of staff of the Israeli armed
forces, said that crackdowns, curfews and roadblocks in the West Bank
and
Gaza Strip were crippling the lives of innocent Palestinians and that
the
military's tactics were now threatening Israel's own interests.
The military chief directed most of his complaints at restrictions
imposed
on the West Bank four weeks ago, after a suicide bomber from the West
Bank
city of Jenin killed 21 people in a restaurant in the Israeli port of
Haifa. Yaalon said the current curfews and travel restrictions, some of
the
tightest since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising in September
2000,
were preventing Palestinians from carrying out critical olive and other
agricultural harvests, hampering thousands of children from attending
school, increasing hatred for Israel and strengthening terrorist
organizations.
"In our tactical decisions, we are operating contrary to our strategic
interests," Nahum Barnea, columnist for the Yedioth Aharonoth
newspaper,
quoted Yaalon as telling him...
------
TURKEY'S REPUBLIC DAY PARTY DRESS CODE: NO HEAD SCARVES
Nicholas Birch, Christian Science Monitor, 10/31/03
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1031/p08s02-woeu.html
ISTANBUL - Wednesday was supposed to be the day Turks celebrated the
heritage of Kemal Ataturk, the resistance hero who 80 years ago dragged
his
people from the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire into secular republican
modernity.
Instead, it degenerated into a squabble, nominally over women's
clothing,
that had more to do with what it is to be modern in this mainly Muslim
country straddling two continents and two civilizations.
As always with the most serious quarrels, this one began with a trifle
-
the president's annual party.
While foreign diplomats and opposition lawmakers - pillars of Turkey's
Westernized and staunchly pro-secular elite - were invited to bring
their
spouses, male members of the conservative Justice and Development Party
(AKP) were asked to leave their wives at home.
The reason? Most wear head scarves, legally forbidden in universities
and
public offices around the country...
-----
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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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