GIRL SENT HOME FOR WEARING ANTI-ISLAM SHIRT - TOP
WDBO, 8/25/09
GAINESVILLE -- A 10-year-old girl was sent home on her first day back to school in Gainesville for wearing a shirt that was deemed offensive.
Faith Sapp wore a shirt to class Monday with the words 'Islam Is Of The Devil' printed on it. The words are the same of those at an outreach center where her father serves as the pastor.
The girl's dad let her wear the shirt, but the school says it is against the dress code. The code states that a child must dress in a way that is not offensive or inappropriate. (More)
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'ISLAM IS OF THE DEVIL' SHIRT APPEARS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - TOP
Christopher Curry, Gainesville Sun, 8/24/09
A student at Talbot Elementary School wore a shirt bearing the message "Islam is of the devil" on the first day of school and was sent home for violation of the school district's dress code.
Asked about a report of the dress code violation, School District spokeswoman Jackie Johnson confirmed that a student did wear a shirt with the anti-Islam message and was sent to the school office until a parent could come. Johnson said the student's parent had the option of bringing another shirt for the child to change into or taking the child home and opted to take the child home.
The Dove World Outreach Center, a church in northwest Gainesville, began to draw protesters in July after posting a sign that read "Islam is of the devil" on its property. The Dove World Outreach Center is approximately one mile from the Talbot campus. School district officials would not comment on the identity of the student, or whether the child was a member of the Dove Outreach Center congregation, because of privacy issues. (More)
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CAIR-OK: OKLAHOMA MUSLIMS ANSWER PRESIDENT’S CALL TO SERVICE - TOP
Disaster relief response training part of National Service Week
(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 8/25/09) - On Saturday September 5th, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) will join with the NAACP, the Latino Community Development Agency and the Red Cross to mark National Service Week with Disaster Relief Response Training.
WHAT: Muslim Disaster Relief Response Training
WHERE: OKC National Memorial Museum, 620 North Harvey Ave. Oklahoma City, OK
WHEN: Saturday, September 5, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Pre-register at info@ok.cair.com or here.
(Registration is required to attend.)
CONTACT: 405-415-6851, E-Mail: info@ok.cair.com
The training is a project of President Barack Obama’s “United We Serve” campaign (www.serve.gov), CAIR’s “Muslim Care” initiative and “Muslim Americans Answer the Call” (www.muslimserve.gov). Information about the training will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.
SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal
SEE ALSO: Muslims Care “United We Serve” Project Submission Form
CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi stated: “As Oklahomans, we need to be prepared when our neighbors experience hardship through natural disasters. We must be prepared by developing first responders in the multicultural and interfaith communities. Only then can we continue to build a better and safer community.”
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi, 405-248-5853, E-Mail: rhashmi@cair.com; CAIR-OK Chair Michael Aziz Gipson, E-Mail: mgipson@cair.com
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CAIR-WA: SEATTLE MUSLIMS TO HOLD 'SHARING RAMADAN' EVENTS - TOP
People of all faiths invited to dinners marking fast of Ramadan
(SEATTLE, WA, 8/25/09) On August 28 and September 9, Seattle-area Muslims will reach out to their neighbors of all faiths by hosting two traditional “Sharing Ramadan” iftars, or fast-breaking dinners. The dinners are free and open to the public.
WHEN: Friday, August 28, 2009, 6-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic School of Seattle, 720 25th Ave, Seattle, WA
WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 6-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 - 80th St., Redmond, WA
(Please RSVP to info@cairseattle.org or call 206.367.4081.)
“As more than one billion Muslims worldwide mark Ramadan by fasting and appreciating God’s blessings, it is important for the American Muslim community to reach out to our neighbors of all faiths," said CAIR-WA Projects Intern Badatu Dawud.
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. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God's commandments.
Fasting in Ramadan (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the "five pillars" of Islam. The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers on the day called Eid ul-Fitr, or feast of the fast-breaking.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, Tel: 206.931.3655 or 206.367.4081, E-mail: abukhari@cair.com
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CAIR-CHICAGO FILES BIAS COMPLAINT FOR MUSLIM EMPLOYEE - TOP
(CHICAGO, IL, 8/25/09) - The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) recently announced that it has filed a complaint in federal court on behalf of a Palestinian Muslim man who claims to have suffered discrimination and wrongful termination by his employer, U.S. Foodservice Inc.
The man, who worked as a Territory Manager, was formerly employed at the company's Memphis branch where he was allegedly subjected to derogatory remarks based on his Palestinian origin. To escape these hardships, he transferred to the Chicago office, where he instead faced discriminatory work conditions. In Chicago, the Muslim man was supposed to receive commission-based bonuses in addition to his base salary. Despite opening new accounts and reviving others, the plaintiff received no bonuses. Even more problematic, he was given substantially less and lower-producing accounts compared to co-workers, setting him up for failure.
In one incident the man allegedly overheard his co-worker and manager discussing how he should not be introduced to a potential client - a Jewish nursing home- claiming that “a white person” should be taken instead.
In December, 2008, the plaintiff was fired, purportedly for not increasing sales numbers. The man claims this is a fictitious reason, when he was not given a fair opportunity to perform well enough in the position.
"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates that employers maintain non-discriminatory work conditions," said CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak. "In a pluralistic society that honors equal opportunity, it is unacceptable that one should have to endure such discrimination on the basis of religion or national origin."
SEE: An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices (CAIR)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a right to sue notice on May 26, 2009.
CONTACT: Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: asharif@cair.com; 312.212.1520 or 630.935.5562; Kevin Vodak, Attorney, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: civilrights@cairchicago.org; 312.212.1520
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MUSLIM HIP HOP GROUP’S LATEST MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASES AMERICAN ISLAM - TOP
Native Deen offers a look into American life in Ramadan, music option for Muslims
(Washington, D.C., 8/25/09) - As millions of American Muslims begin their holy month of fasting, Ramadan, a D.C.-area hip hop group is doing its part to help others stay in the true spirit of the season.
Native Deen, a fusion hip-hop group, today released the music video to its news song, “Ramadan is Here.” Like most of its other songs, Native Deen encourages Muslims to be devout but at the same time tries to address issues they face as Americans, such as peer pressure and ridicule.
In one verse, band member Naeem Muhammad describes his experience growing up in his Baltimore neighborhood while fasting: "My homies buying up the corner store. Now and Laters, quarter waters. We break at 8 but it's a quarter to 4…They got jokes, like, oh yeah he’s fasting. Something about blessings, Heaven everlasting. Asking... ‘But dude, let me ask you for real, is you hungry?’”
SEE VIDEO: http://nativedeen.com/ramadan/thevideo.php
“We try to provide a fun, enjoyable music alternative to Muslims who wish to be true to their American identity, but want to follow the tenets of their religion,” said Abdul-Malik Ahmad. “In the video, we travel around the world meeting Muslims of different ethnicities and enjoy the unity and sense of brotherhood that Ramadan brings. In the end, however, we all come together to an American mosque based in Sterling, VA to showcase the new Muslim American culture that is emerging rapidly.”
The group, which has been ranked as one of the Top 5 bands locally in its genre on MySpace, has inspired millions of people of all ages and ethnicities from around the world. Native Deen has toured more than 60 cities in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, promoting Islam and positive interfaith relations through its debut album, "Deen You Know" and latest album "Not Afraid to Stand Alone."
For more information on Native Deen, visit www.nativedeen.com.
Contact:
Rahima Ullah, Media Relations
press@nativedeen.com
(703) 501-9314
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