* Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
* CAIR Video: Pakistani Couple Singled Out By Flight Attendant
* CAIR Video: IL Muslims Upset with Gov's Stance on NY Center
Leave Mosque Debate Out of Politics, Muslims Urge Quinn
U.S. Anti-Islam Protest Seen as Lift for Extremists
Mosque Protest Loses Gingrich
CAIR: The Untold Story Behind the "Mosque at Ground Zero"
* CAIR: 'Queen of Muslim Bashers' at Center of N.Y. Mosque Debate
* CAIR-Chicago: Ads Imply Leaving Islam is Dangerous for Women
* CAIR: Muslims Fear Backlash as Festival Falls Near Sept. 11

Challenging Islamophobia:

* CAIR-LA: Woman Files Complaint Against Disney Over Hijab
* CAIR-PA Sponsors Philadelphia Day of Dignity in Ramadan
* Sacramento Muslims Generous with Aid to Pakistani Flood Victims

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Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List ----- CAIR Video: Pakistani Couple Singled Out By Flight Attendant View the video. The Council on American Islamic Relations has been keeping an eye on the incident to see if there was any racial profiling by the crew member. "The threat was not even credible and so I'm curious to see how this plays out and what more information we obtain, but was the response proportional to the level of the threat and at the same time, was the threat credible at all from the beginning," CAIR spokesperson Zahra Billoo said. . . Late Friday afternoon, CAIR got in touch with the Pakistani couple. The couple said they felt singled out and were interrogated in a police car beneath the belly of a plane for hours before being released. They said they kept asking police, "Why us?" CAIR says they are considering taking action against police and the airlines. ----- CAIR Video: IL Muslims Upset with Governor's Stance on NY Islamic Center View the video. Muslim leaders in Chicago were surprised by Quinn's comments this week. "We were definitely stunned," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "When I read this for the first time, I was like 'What? Did I read what I just read?' I couldn't believe it.".. Christina Abraham, of CAIR, believes Quinn's stand will cost him votes in November. "The 400,000 Muslims in the Chicago area know about this issue. They're concerned about this issue and it will affect how they make their decision come election time. He's lost my vote," said Abraham. . . SEE ALSO: Leave Mosque Debate Out of Politics, Muslims Urge Quinn U.S. Anti-Islam Protest Seen as Lift for Extremists Mosque Protest Loses Gingrich CAIR: The Untold Story Behind the "Mosque at Ground Zero" ----- CAIR: `Queen of Muslim Bashers' at Center of N.Y. Mosque Debate Daniel Burke, Religion News Service, 8/20/10 "People say don't give her too much credit, she's a fringe character," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "But she is a fringe character who every day is on CNN, Fox, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. She is the driving force behind the Islamic center campaign." Some media experts doubt Geller's influence, though, and question why reporters have given her controversial views a platform. Postings on "Atlas Shrugs" have included a video suggesting Muslims have sex with goats, a doctored picture showing President Obama urinating on an American flag, and a fake image of new Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan in Nazi garb. Geller has also accused Obama of anti-Semitism, said that he does the bidding of "Islamic overlords," and posted an essay suggesting that the president is the love child of Malcolm X. . . ----- CAIR-Chicago: Ads Imply Leaving Islam is Dangerous for Women Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 8/21/10 The Council on American Islamic Relations is considering legal action regarding the ads. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said organizations such as Geller's are not qualified to lead domestic violence initiatives. But Rehab suspects that's not their primary goal. Instead, he said, they are intentionally creating an uncomfortable work environment for Chicago's cabdrivers. . . ----- CAIR: Muslims Fear Backlash as Festival Falls Near Sept. 11 Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times, 8/21/10 "There's ... the Islamophobia machine around the country, which would take hold of it and make it look like Muslims are celebrating on that date, when it's purely a coincidence," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil rights group. Hooper said many Muslim groups are having second thoughts about holding public celebrations on the 11th. Although he was not aware of other cancellations, he said the Islamic Circle of North America had changed the date of its annual Muslim Family Day at Six Flags amusement parks in response to the concerns. . . ----- CAIR-LA: Woman Files Hijab Complaint Against Disney Joshua Rhett Miller, Fox, 8/20/10 CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said he found Boudlal's allegations particularly ironic given Disneyland's popular "It's a Small World" attraction, which features themes of unity and global peace. He cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination by employers on the basis race, color, religion, sex or national origin. "I don't think merely wearing a head scarf [at the restaurant] could in any way produce an undue hardship for Disney," Hooper told FoxNews.com. "The request that she hide herself in the back, away from the view of customers, I think is an unreasonable accommodation and one that nobody would accept.". . . ----- CAIR-PA Sponsors Day of Dignity in Ramadan (PHILADELPHIA, PA, 8/20/10) -- The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Pennsylvania (CAIR-PA) and Islamic Relief USA are collaborating with local churches, and Jewish and Muslim organizations in sponsoring this year's Day of Dignity on Sunday, August 22nd. People of all faith traditions will gather in center city to distribute hot lunches, brand new clothing and winter supplies to those in need. Many volunteers will be observing the fast of Ramadan. The Islamic month of Ramadan is a time for increased self-reflection, service and spirituality. SEE: Day of Dignity 2010 Expands to Help More People in More Cities The Ramadan 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. Philadelphia is one of the 22 cities around the country in which this day is observed. Islamic Relief began this initiative eight years ago in order to promote local volunteerism. WHAT: Philadelphia Day of Dignity WHEN: Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 11:00am WHERE: First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 CONTACT: CAIR-PA Outreach and Communications Director Rugiatu Conteh, 267-575-5289, E-Mail: rconteh@cair.com; Day of Dignity Coordinator Monika Nagpal, 267-265-0286, E-Mail: phicarusa@gmail.com ----- Sacramento Muslims Generous with Aid to Pakistani Flood Victims Gina Kim, Sacramento Bee, 8/21/10 Friday prayer at the downtown Sacramento mosque has taken on extra meaning these past few weeks, not only because of the holy month of Ramadan but due to the swollen waters sweeping through a country 7,500 miles away.