RABBI SAYS KILL ARAB ‘MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN’ - TOPMuslim, Jewish groups ask political and religious leaders to repudiate rabbi’s call to ‘genocide’(ST. PAUL, MN, 6/3/09) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today joined with two Jewish groups in asking political and religious leaders in that state to repudiate a rabbi’s call to kill Arab men, women and children and to destroy their religious sites.In an article in the latest issue of “Moment” magazine, headlined “How Should Jews Treat Their Arab Neighbors?” Rabbi Manis Friedman of the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies in St. Paul, Minn., wrote in part:“I don’t believe in western morality, i.e. don’t kill civilians or children, don’t destroy holy sites, don’t fight during holiday seasons, don’t bomb cemeteries, don’t shoot until they shoot first because it is immoral. The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle)…with their holy sites destroyed, they will stop believing that G-d is on their side.”The magazine today published a statement from Rabbi Friedman that the views he expressed were his own and “do not represent the official policy of any Jewish movement or organization.” He apologized for “any misunderstanding the words printed in my name created.”“This disturbing call to genocide and religious desecration must be repudiated by all Minnesotans who value peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony,” said CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri. “Silence in the face of such extremist views will only serve to give the author a false sense of legitimacy and approval.” Zikri said she appreciated the more moderate responses from some of the other rabbis consulted by the magazine.
In a statement, Cecilie Surasky of Jewish Voice for Peace said: "Rabbi Manis Friedman's outrageous suggestion that killing Arab men, women and children, and destroying their religious sites is ‘the Jewish way’ is an affront to all people, but especially Jews who value all life equally. While his statement in no way represents the views of the vast majority of Jews, we are alarmed by the increasing numbers of extremist settlers in Israel, and their American supporters, who share his refusal to acknowledge the value of Palestinian and Arab life. Far from bringing peace and security to Jews, this abhorrent disregard for the lives of non-Jews only leads to more bloodshed and war."
Rabbi Haim Beliak, executive director of the national educational foundation HaMifgash, said: “The original quote and the apology by Manis Friedman suggest a debased morality and an atrophied ethical sensibility. Friedman does not speak for Judaism. There is no Judaism where neighbors - Jewish and non-Jewish - are treated without regard to their status as fellow human beings. Jewish ethics reminds us that we owe ‘the other’ infinite obligations of care and concern, not only in theory but in practice. In war and peace, the status of civilians and innocent bystanders must be respected.”
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.CONTACT: CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri, 612-226-3289, E-Mail: jzikri@cair.com; CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam, Esq., 651-587-4712, E-Mail: tislam@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
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NY: MERCIFUL STOREKEEPER CHANGES ROBBER'S MIND, RELIGION - TOPKiran Khalid, CNN, 6/3/09
Click here to watch the video.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- A potential victim became a compassionate counselor during a recent robbery attempt, changing the would-be criminal's mind -- and apparently his religion.
Storekeeper Mohammad Sohail was closing up his Long Island convenience store just after midnight on May 21 when -- as shown on the store's surveillance video -- a man came in wielding a baseball bat and demanding money.
"He said, 'Hurry up and give me the money, give me the money!' and I said, 'Hold on'," Sohail recalled in a phone interview with CNN on Tuesday, after the store video and his story was carried on local TV.
Sohail said he reached under the counter, grabbed his gun and told the robber to drop the bat and get down on his knees.
"He's crying like a baby," Sohail said. "He says, 'Don't call police, don't shoot me, I have no money, I have no food in my house.' "
Amidst the man's apologies and pleas, Sohail said he felt a surge of compassion.
He made the man promise never to rob anyone again and when he agreed, Sohail gave him $40 and a loaf of bread. (More)
-----CHICAGO MUSLIMS TO GIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT’S CAIRO SPEECH - TOP(CHICAGO, IL, 6/3/09) - On Thursday, June 4, members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago chapter (CAIR-Chicago) will be available for comment and media interviews to offer a local Muslim reaction to President Obama’s live address from Cairo, Egypt.
The exact time of the live address has yet to be announced by the White House, but is believed to be approximately between 5-6 a.m., Central Time (Cairo is eight hours ahead of Chicago)
“With this trip, the Obama administration is making a statement that the United States is interested in exploring a new type of relationship with the Muslim world,” said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, who was born in Cairo.
“My hope is that this means going beyond conflict resolution and counter terrorism initiatives and into the daily challenges and aspirations of citizens in that part of the world, issues that often have nothing to do with terrorism and everything to do with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
WHAT: Local Muslim Reaction and Commentary on Obama’s AddressWHEN: Thursday, June 4, after 9 a.m.WHERE: CAIR-Chicago Office, 28 E Jackson Ave, Suite 1700, IL 60604
Last week, CAIR released an open letter in English and Arabic to President Obama and to the Muslim world offering specific policy recommendations for the president’s address in Cairo.SEE: U.S. Muslims Seek Policy Initiatives in President’s Cairo Address
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com, c: 202.870.0016; 312.212.1520; or Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: asharif@cair.com, c: 630.935.5562; 312.212.1520.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: D.C. MUSLIMS TO VIEW, COMMENT ON PRESIDENT’S CAIRO SPEECH - TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/2/09) - On Thursday, June 4, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will invite Washington-area Muslim community leaders and members to a viewing at its Capitol Hill headquarters of President Obama’s historic address to the Arab and Islamic world in Cairo. Viewing participants will be available for media interviews following the president’s speech.
CAIR chapters around the nation will hold similar viewings. Contact the nearest CAIR chapter at: http://www.cair.com/Chapters.aspx
WHAT: CAIR Viewing of President’s Cairo AddressWHEN: Thursday, June 4, (The exact time to be announced by the White House, but believed to be approximately 6-7 a.m. Washington time. Cairo is seven hours ahead of Washington, D.C.)WHERE: CAIR National Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C.CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com(Refreshments will be served.)
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CAIR-NY: NY MUSLIM LEADERS TO VIEW PRESIDENT'S CAIRO SPEECH - TOP
(NEW YORK, NY, 6/3/09) - On Thursday, June 4, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will invite New York-area Muslim leaders to a viewing at The Interchurch Center of President Obama's historic address to the Islamic world in Cairo. Viewing participants will be available for media interviews following the president's speech.
WHAT: CAIR-NY Viewing of President's Cairo AddressWHEN: Thursday, June 4 at 11 a.m.WHERE: The Interchurch Center, Dining Room C and D, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115CONTACT: CAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Aliya Latif, 212-870-2002, 732-429-4268, alatif@cair.com; CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali, 212-870-2002, 718-724-3041, fali@cair.com
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SEATTLE MUSLIMS TO GIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT’S CAIRO SPEECH - TOP(SEATTLE, WA 6/3/09) - On Thursday, June 4, the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Washington state (CAIR-WA) will invite Puget Sound-area Muslim community leaders and members to a viewing at its Seattle office, of President Obama’s historic address to the Arab and Islamic world in Cairo. Viewing participants will be available for media interviews following the viewing of president’s speech, at 9 a.m.
The exact time of the live address has yet to be announced by the White House, but is believed to be approximately between 3am-4am, Pacific Time (Cairo is ten hours ahead of Seattle). The viewing at the CAIR-WA office will start at 8am.
WHAT: Local Muslim Reaction and Commentary on Obama’s AddressWHEN: Thursday, June 4, Viewing: 8 a.m. Comments: 9 a.m. WHERE: CAIR-Washington state office. 671 South Jackson Street. 2nd Floor. Seattle, WA 98104CONTACT: Arsalan Bukhari, Executive Director, CAIR-WA, E-Mail: abukhari@cair.com, Mobile: 206.931.3655; Office: 206.367.4081(Refreshments will be served.)Last week, CAIR released an open letter in English and Arabic to President Obama and to the Muslim world offering specific policy recommendations for the president’s address in Cairo.SEE: U.S. Muslims Seek Policy Initiatives in President’s Cairo Address
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SAN ANTONIO MUSLIMS TO VIEW, COMMENT ON PRESIDENT’S CAIRO SPEECH - TOP
WHERE: Council on American Islamic Relations-San Antonio office, 12003 Huebner Rd. San Antonio, TX WHEN: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 9 a.m.CONTACT: Sarwat Husain, 210-378-9528
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CAIR: LARGEST US MUSLIM GROUP SENDS OPEN LETTER TO OBAMA - TOPMohamed Elshinnawi, Voice of America, 6/2/09
As U.S. President Barack Obama prepares to address Muslims around the world from Cairo, Egypt, on June 4th, one of the largest groups of American Muslims in the United States has offered some free advice on how to achieve the goal of better U.S. relations with the Muslim world.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations - known by its acronym, CAIR - has published an open letter to President Obama written by CAIR's national executive director, Nihad Awad. The Awad letter notes that the president's statements since his inauguration have raised the Muslim world's hopes for real change in U.S. foreign and domestic policies. But Awad stresses that those positive statements must now be backed up with concrete policy initiatives.
"Today, it is the time for America to tell Israel that it cannot continue to build settlements," Awad tells VOA. "The settlements not only have to stop but have to be dismantled. The [Israeli] blockade on Gaza has to be lifted and also restoration of the Palestinians rights and a commitment to the establishment of the Palestinian state has to come within clear deadlines.
"Also toward Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the change should be based on the reduction of the U.S. intervention and the respect and support for local solutions and indigenous democratic decisions by the local governments."
Obama should speak up for human rights, tolerance, letter says
Presenting an American-Muslim point of view, Awad's open letter offers President Obama a clear road map to help move the United States toward better relations with Muslims around the world. (More)
-----CAIR-CA: PRESIDENT MUST SUPPORT PALESTINIAN RIGHTS - TOPMark Matthews, KGO-TV, 6/2/09
Click here to watch the video.
President Barack Obama is on his way to Egypt to deliver a much anticipated speech to the Muslim world. There are challenges and a lot at stake
And the single biggest issue, says Baer, is if Obama will follow through on his efforts to stop the building of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.
"Does this president have the political power and the political will to stop these settlements? And that's going to be the question on everybody's mind as he speaks," says Baer.
It's on the mind of American Muslims. Basim Elkarra works for the Council on American Islamic Relations which is sending a letter to the president saying, "Now is the time to tell Israeli leaders that we will no longer support the denial of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people."
"He's going to have to address the key issues that Muslims worldwide care about -- the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," says Elkarra.
-----WHAT THE MUSLIM WORLD WANTS TO HEAR FROM OBAMA - TOPNew York Times, 6/2/09
President Obama’s tour of the Middle East is intended to set the groundwork for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and improve the image of the United States in the Muslim world. On Thursday, he is scheduled to give his first speech in Cairo. Here are seven views from the region about what he should say.
Click here to read these op-eds.
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AS THE MYTHS ABOUND, SO DOES ISLAMIC OUTREACH - TOPEli Saslow, Washington Post, 6/3/09
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aida Mansoor expects a skeptical crowd for her diversity training class, so she arrives an hour early to create a reassuring atmosphere. She tapes serene posters of mountains and rivers to the walls of the Hartford Public Library and displays a stack of pamphlets emphasizing that, yes, "Muslims also love and respect Jesus." A snack table outside the room is divided into two sections, with homemade samosas on one half and generic sugar cookies from a local grocery on the other.
"We don't want to risk insulting anybody," says Mansoor, 41.
Seventeen years in this city, a house in the suburbs, almost a decade spent explaining Islam at training seminars across the state -- and still Mansoor walks on eggshells. Even in Hartford, a liberal city rich in diversity, practicing Islam in 2009 means she ignores the jokes about her hijab and dismisses the hate mail sent to her mosque. It means she spends a Thursday morning in late May standing here, a few steps inside the entrance to the library, repeating a Muslim greeting to 30 strangers as they file silently past. "Assalaam alaikum," she says, over and over, and then translates. "Peace be with you."
Her attempts at cross-cultural connection can sometimes feel futile, Mansoor says, but her energy this year has been fortified by a powerful new ally: President Obama, a Christian who has promised unprecedented outreach to the Muslim world. More than 85 percent of Muslims in the United States approve of Obama's performance as president, according to a recent Gallup poll, which is his strongest endorsement from any religious group. Obama will travel to Egypt to give a speech about Islam on Thursday, his attempt to bridge two cultures -- America and Islam -- so often at odds.
"What he says could go a long way toward dispelling the myths," Mansoor says. "For a long time, Muslims have been the bad guys in this country. There is so much hate and misunderstanding, and he might be able to help the world overcome some of it." (More)
-----OBAMA SAYS U.S. COULD BE SEEN AS A MUSLIM COUNTRY, TOO - TOPJeff Zeleny, New York Times, 6/2/09
As President Obama prepared to leave Washington to fly to the Middle East, he conducted several television and radio interviews at the White House to frame the goals for a five-day trip, including the highly-anticipated speech Thursday at Cairo University in Egypt.
In an interview with Laura Haim on Canal Plus, a French television station, Mr. Obama noted that the United States also could be considered as “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.” He sought to downplay the expectations of the speech, but he said he hoped the address would raise awareness about Muslims.
“Now, I think it’s very important to understand that one speech is not going to solve all the problems in the Middle East,” Mr. Obama said. “And so I think expectations should be somewhat modest.”
He previewed several themes and objectives for the speech, which aides said the president intended to tinker with — and rewrite — aboard Air Force One during his 12-hour flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“What I want to do is to create a better dialogue so that the Muslim world understands more effectively how the United States, but also how the West thinks about many of these difficult issues like terrorism, like democracy, to discuss the framework for what’s happened in Iraq and Afghanistan and our outreach to Iran, and also how we view the prospects for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Mr. Obama said.
The president said the United States and other parts of the Western world “have to educate ourselves more effectively on Islam.”
“And one of the points I want to make is, is that if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world,” Mr. Obama said. “And so there’s got to be a better dialogue and a better understanding between the two peoples.” (More)
-----NEW STATE DEPARTMENT BROCHURE ON ‘BEING MUSLIM IN AMERICA’ - TOP
Click here to see the brochure.