Thursday, July 29, 2010

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MUSLIM U.S. ARMY VETERAN CAUGHT IN NO-FLY TRAP - TOP
By Kelly Lynch, CNN, 07/28/10

A 29-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran sits in a bare apartment in a poor part of the Colombian capital, Bogota. He wants to come home, but he can't. He thinks it's because he's on the federal government's "no-fly list."

Raymond Earl Knaeble is one of an unknown number of Americans stranded overseas. They can't fly home, but no one will tell them why . . .

One man who was caught up in the same dilemma but eventually was allowed to return home is Yahye Wehelie, who lives in Virginia. He had been studying Arabic in Yemen with his brother. On the way home he was prevented from boarding a plane in Cairo. He was stuck in the Egyptian capital for six weeks, with little money.

Wehelie was finally permitted to leave Egypt on a waiver and temporary passport.

While in Cairo, Wehelie was "hanging out in a cheap hotel watching TV and periodically going to fast food restaurants in the area," said Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR helped Wehelie to return home.

According to Hooper, Wehelie's permanent passport was revoked and can only be regained if he repays a loan to the U.S. Embassy that helped cover his food and hotel costs. The State Department said the U.S. Embassy in Cairo offers assistance to anyone who asks but would not disclose details about the reported loan. Despite his experiences, Wehelie supports the "no-fly list." (More)

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CAIR: TEMECULA MOSQUE PLANS STIR CONTROVERSY - TOP
By Toni McAllister, Southwest Riverside News Network, 07/28/10

A rally has been planned for July 30 in front of the center, although there are questions about who is organizing the gathering and whether it will happen. While no group has claimed responsibility for the rally's organization, local Tea Party Patriots have called on the local community to join the protest.

"An Islamic Mosque is planned to be built in Temecula. We are holding a Singing – Praying – Patriotic rally on Friday on the side of road on Rio Nedo in Temecula. Bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voice on Friday to let everyone know we are a Christain (sic) community and will not tolerate Sharia law and radical behavior," the Tea Party Patriots website states. (More)

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IS THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ISLAMOPHOBIC? - TOP
By Charles C. Haynes, First Amendment Center, 07/29/10

The current wave of anti-mosque protests around the country represents a new threat to the religious freedom of Muslims in America – a threat directed not at terrorists who act in the name of Islam, but at all Muslims and Islam itself.

Incidents of discrimination and bias aimed at Muslim Americans have been rising since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But anti-Muslim rhetoric has taken an ominous turn in recent months as a growing number of political and community leaders – some with tea-party affiliations – have begun warning of a "Muslim takeover" of America.

For anyone with even passing familiarity with Muslims and Muslim institutions in the United States, the notion that Islam in America is the source of a conspiracy to subvert the Constitution is a ridiculous and paranoid fantasy. Mosques have long dotted our landscape – and Muslim Americans have been loyal and engaged citizens in the U.S. for generations.

But this history doesn't stop speakers at rallies and meetings from New York to California from sounding the alarm, telling angry protesters that mosques are a danger to America because – and this is the new line of attack – Islam is not really a religious tradition, but a political movement working to impose Islamic law on the rest of us. (More)

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ANTI-MOSQUE PROTESTER TO TPM: MUSLIMS HATE DOGS AND AMERICA TOO - TOP
Evan McMorris-Santoro, Talking Points Memo, 7/29/10

Let's get one thing straight, Diane Serafin told me this afternoon -- the people (and their dogs) protesting a planned mosque in Temecula, California tomorrow are not bigots. It's not Muslims per se that they have a problem with -- it's the fact that Imams are slowly infiltrating American society, hoping to force Sharia law on us all.

Muslim construction projects have been the subject of public protests nationwide these days (as we've reported), but Serafin's demonstration is different from all the rest. She's calling on people to bring their dogs and join in song tomorrow afternoon because, she told me, Muslims just hate dogs and songs. Of course, Muslim antipathy toward canines isn't their worst offense, she told me.

"They hate Jews, they hate Chrisitans, they hate women, they hate dogs," Serain said. "[The idea of the new mosque] scares the daylights out of me."

Still, Serafin insisted she's no bigot. (More)

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VIDEO: CAIR REP DEBATES ISLAMOPHOBIA, OPPOSITION TO U.S. MOSQUES – TOP
Russian TV, 07/28/10

Watch the video.

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): "We're seeing opposition to mosques nationwide. You're seeing oppositions not only to the Manhattan mosque, there's opposition to a Staten Island, New York mosque, a Brooklyn mosque. We're seeing opposition to mosques in Tennessee, Illinois and California."

Hooper contends it is much bigger than the "ground zero mosque" and that the fear of Islam is much greater, especially since the recent failed December bombing in Detroit.

Gordon argued that there are already "a hundred mosques in New York City" and that the ground zero mosque is a tower being built by foreign money. He likened it to Muslims building a mosque in Jerusalem and further argued that Muslims build mosques in cities they have conquered, using the historical examples of Constantinople and Jerusalem. Gordon also contended that the mosque will create an unsafe environment for New Yorkers. (More)

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CAIR: FLORIDA CHURCH PLANS 'BURN A QURAN' DAY ON 9/11 - TOP
Rasha al-Khayat and Amira Fouda, Al Arabiya, 07/29/10

. . . The church called for repeating its "Everybody Burn Quran Day" it celebrates "in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam."

The church, which also launched several campaigns against homosexuality and abortion, stirred much controversy last year after distributing T-shirts that read, "Islam is of the Devil."

Church leader Dr. Terry Jones published a book under the same title and posted outside the church a poster conveying the same message.

Several Facebook groups were formed to counter the campaign like "In Protest of International Burn a Koran Day" and "Against Everybody Burn Quran Day."

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement asking Muslims to invite friends and distribute copies of the Quran. (More)

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SHOW SUGGESTS FLYING MUSLIMS TO THE MOON - TOP
The War Room with Quinn and Rose, 07/28/10

Quinn: "NASA's new job is not to fly to the moon, NASA's new job is to make Muslims feel good about science."

Tennent: "You know what? Why don't we fly some Muslims to the moon? To the moon, baby, to the moon."

Quinn: "Well, it would be a start" (More)

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CAIR: TENNESSEE LT. GOV.: ISLAM MAY BE A 'CULT' - TOP
Tim Alberta, Politico, 07/28/10

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, one of three Republican candidates running for governor, has drawn rebukes after suggesting that Islam may be a "cult" instead of a religion. . .

The remarks brought a swift rebuke from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country's most prominent Islamic civil liberties group. CAIR's spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Ramsey's remark "seems to be part of a trend nationwide in which there are those who are seeking to delegitimize the faith of Islam so that Muslim civil and religious rights can somehow be restricted."

Hooper later told the Tennessean: "Islam is the faith of one-fifth of the world's population. [It's] not a cult; it's a real religion. And American Muslims have the same religious and constitutional rights as other citizens." (More)

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CAIR-TX: FBI CONFIRMS IT'S INVESTIGATING, WITH ARLINGTON PD, A SERIES OF RECENT ATTACKS ON MOSQUE - TOP
By Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Observer, 07/28/10

The Council on American-Islamic Relations just sent word of that a handful of incidents at the Dar El-Eman Islamic Center in on Mansfield Road in Arlington in recent days have sparked an investigation involving the Arlington Police Department and the FBI. Says the release, on Sunday someone set its playground on fire -- just two days after "obscene anti-Muslim graffiti was discovered in the mosque's parking lot." According to the release, on Sunday racial slurs were also "shouted at worshippers" entering the mosque.

Tiara Ellis Richard, APD's media relations coordinator, was unavailable for comment. But the FBI's Dallas spokesman, Mark White, says the bureau is "aware of the incidents, and we, along with the Arlington PD, are looking into it." White hadn't seen the release when he spoke with Unfair Park; I read it to him, and while he said he was unaware of slurs being shouted at worshipers, "how they characterize the first two incidents is accurate." Attempts to reach someone at the Dar El-Eman Islamic Center were unsuccessful; all I got was a recording listing upcoming events. (More)

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CAIR-TX: ARLINGTON MOSQUE REPORTS VANDALISM, FIRE - TOP
By Mitch Mitchell, 07/28/10

On Friday, members of a south Arlington mosque found graffiti depicting Uncle Sam and Allah in a sexual position spray-painted in the parking lot . . .

"I don't want them to feel that they are threatened or that they are in danger. It is hard for them to understand because this is a house of prayer," she said.

Last summer, an open gas canister was left inside a mosque under construction in south Arlington, Qaddura said. Also, a recent attack was reported in Rockwall, he said.

"People going to mosques have been fearful since 9/11," said Mustaffa Carroll, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Texas. "It will kind of die down and then something will happen and it will ramp up again.

"We'd like to live in peace here. But if people don't trust you, I don't care what you say, you will always be suspect." (More)

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CAIR VIDEO: TEXAS MOSQUE VANDALISM MAY BE LINKED TO NY ISLAMIC CENTER PLAN -TOP
New 8, 07/28/10

Arlington police have stepped up patrols around city mosques after vandalism and anti-Islam graffiti appeared on the South Arlington Mosque. Mosque president thinks it's sparked by the controversial plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero.

Watch the video.

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CAIR-CA WELCOMES COURT RULING ON ARIZONA'S ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAW - TOP

(ANAHEIM, CA, 7/28/10) -- Today in Phoenix, a federal district court blocked from implementation several key provisions of the problematic racial profiling law, SB 1070, that is scheduled to go into effect on Thursday, July 29th.

Judge Susan Bolton granted a preliminary injunction that prevents police from questioning people about their immigration status. The preliminary injunction will remain in place pending a final court ruling on SB 1070's constitutionality.

The ruling came in response to a motion filed by the U.S. Department of Justice to challenge the constitutionality of SB 1070.In addition to preventing police officers from questioning individuals based on a "reasonable suspicion" of undocumented status, Judge Bolton's preliminary injunction will also block provisions of the law which:

1. Make it a crime to fail to apply for or to carry alien registration papers
2. Make it a crime for alleged undocumented immigrants to seek work
3. Authorize the warrantless arrest of individuals believed to be subject to deportation
4. Authorize the mandatory detention of individuals, even for minor traffic offenses that would normally result in a ticket, if they cannot verify authorization to be in the U.S.

CAIR-CA welcomes Judge Bolton's ruling as a highly significant and critical first step in the fight against racial profiling and anti-immigrant hysteria. This decision sends a message to other states that reactionary and unconstitutional laws which target communities of color will not go unchallenged.

Despite this temporary victory, the struggle for a more permanent and widespread solution continues.

Tomorrow, CAIR-Greater Los Angeles Area Executive Director Hussam Ayloush will join interfaith and civil rights leaders in Phoenix to continue the call for reform. Activists will gather in Phoenix tomorrow morning to call for a complete end to SB 1070 and similar legislation in other states and urge immediate action from Congress to pass critically needed comprehensive immigration reform.

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-LA Government Relations Coordinator Ilham Elkoustaf, 714-776-1847, E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com

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LEGAL GROUP, ACLU ACCUSE FBI OF TARGETING MUSLIMS - TOP
By Joe Tyrrell, New Jersey Room, 07/28/10

On the eve of scheduled Congressional testimony by FBI Director Robert Mueller, a Muslim legal group said the agency appears to be using anti-terrorism laws to "pry into the private lives" of ordinary citizens.

Muslim Advocates, a San Francisco based group of lawyers, law professors and students, contends the agency is using "discriminatory techniques" to collect broad ranges of information on Muslims and others not accused of crimes.

"Law-abiding American Muslims have experienced increasing levels of discriminatory, invasive and abusive conduct by federal agents," the group's director, Farhana Khera, said in a statement. (More)

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CAIR: THE COST AND COURAGE OF WEARING A SCARF: HANI KHAN'S STORY - TOP
Unsa Suhail, Illume Magazine, 07/28/10

Hani Khan woke up on February 15 and got ready for her day. She laid out her clothes, put on some lip-gloss, and wrapped the hijab around her head, the religious head covering she has been wearing since kindergarten. She walked into her job at Hollister at the Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo, California and punched her employee ID into the system as usual but that day, something seemed off.

"When the district manager came in for a special visit, I felt him staring at me," Khan said, but she went about her work as normal. When Khan came back from her lunch break, she found the district manager waiting for her. . .

"He told me he wanted me to speak to a person at Abercrombie & Fitch human resources," Khan said, "And he handed me the phone."

The civil rights manager of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Khadija Athman explained, "Most people understand the need for safety, including Muslim women, who want to make sure they are safe, too. But at the same time, Muslims women would appreciate it if their religious beliefs would be accommodated."

Khan's case against the company remains stagnant and the effects are lasting. "The EEOC is still in the midst of investigating and asking both parties. [Abercrombie] is such a big corporation making it very difficult to get a hold of people," she said. Abercrombie representatives refuse to comment on the situation. (More)

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CAIR-OK TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM - TOP

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 7/29/10) -- This weekend, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) will hold its second annual Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) at Oklahoma City University. The symposium seeks to inspire young Oklahomans to pursue public service and become involved to make a difference in their communities.

WHEN: Friday July 30 – Sunday August 1, 2010

WHERE: Gardner Conference Room, Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City, OK

CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi, 405-248-5853, E-mail: rhashmi@cair.com

Friday's MYLS networking dinner will feature Oklahoma City University President and former Chief Justice Robert Henry of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and CAIR-Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid as keynote speakers. The MYLS Leadership & Empowerment conference on Saturday and Sunday will be filled with engaging workshops, activities and games. The theme for the program is "Activism through Expression."

CAIR-Oklahoma's annual youth leadership and empowerment conference will provide 40 college students and young professionals from across Oklahoma an opportunity to build and develop leadership skills. Over three days, the students are educated on civic engagement, civil rights, public speaking and communications, trained on leadership and community advocacy skills, and have the opportunity to rub elbows with elected officials, media professionals, community activists, and other leaders.

"Our leadership and empowerment conference is all about the youth and preparing them to be the next generation of leaders," said CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi.

CAIR-Oklahoma's MYLS program was founded in 2009 to build new foundations for Muslim youth to become involved in community and public service in Oklahoma. The strength of MYLS comes from volunteers who give selflessly of their time and energy, and serve as role models for the leadership conference. CAIR chapters in California, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, and Washington have also held similar programs.

One of last year's participants, Bilal Ittiq, a junior psychology major at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, ,said of last year's symposium:

"MYLS provides beneficial stepping stones for younger generations to become leaders in their respective communities. Especially preceding the great month of Ramadan, it has motivated me to strengthen my Iman [faith]. Seeing the passion of these community leaders is very influential."

The core mission of the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) is to provide American Muslim youth with a proactive agenda for positive activism; empower them to guide their communities from the margin to the mainstream; and foster a healthy American Muslim identity that fits comfortably within pluralistic American society while true to its faith values.

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 Amir Khaliq; E-mail: info@ok.cair.com

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HOW ONE MUSLIM AMERICAN USES HIP-HOP TO HEAL WOUNDS - TOP
By Madeleine Dubus, Campus Progress, 07/29/10

Aspiring rapper Cyrus McGoldrick is working to change the dialog around anti-Muslim sentiment in America.

When Cyrus McGoldrick takes the stage, he's not himself. McGoldrick raps as The Raskol Khan, often with the Freddy Fuego Sextet, an evolving group of musicians based in Harlem. The name Raskol is based on the main character in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov. McGoldrick describes the first part of his pseudonym as "a rebellious force in society who's trying to do the right thing but struggles with his environment and self." Khan, Arabic for King or Chief, "channels a vestige of an imperial mindset, a long history of conquest," he says. It is a history McGoldrick hopes to cleanse himself of.

McGoldrick is not famous. He's not revolutionary. He is a college student, a musician, and a writer. He is also Muslim in America. McGoldrick is part of the first generation of young Muslim Americans to go through their adolescence and early adulthood post-9/11.

"9/11 was the first day of high school," McGoldrick recalls. McGoldrick says as he sits in his rent-stabilized one bedroom apartment in Morningside Heights, the far upper west reaches of Manhattan. [Full-disclosure: McGoldrick and I first met when we attended high school together.] In the years since Sept. 11, he feels there has been a weakening of the Muslim identity. . .

McGoldrick also frequently helps CAIR-NY (Council on American-Islamic Relations) organize events in the city. (More)
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