Conn. Muslim Family Threatened Over Mosque - TOP
Proposed Mosque in Norwalk Draws Controversy
Kate King, Stamford Advocate, 9/25/10

NORWALK -- West Norwalk residents are protesting construction of the town's first official mosque, which they say will create neighborhood parking and traffic problems. . .

On Aug. 25, the owner of the house where the congregation is practicing received a phone call threatening him and his family. Local officers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the incident, Norwalk police confirmed. (More)

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Standoff Suspect's Call was to Ballwin Muslim - TOP
Tim Townsend, St. Louis Post Dispatch, 9/26/10

"I'm going to burn a copy of the Quran," an angry, intense voice said. "Watch the news. It'll be on all three channels. You will hear about it." (More)

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Map of Controversies Over American Mosques - TOP
Pew Forum, 9/24/10

This map shows the locations of 35 proposed mosques and Islamic centers that have encountered community resistance in the last two years. (More)

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SQ 755 Ban Raises Questions, Concerns - TOP
Trevor Brown, Norman Transcript, 9/25/10

Religious groups and some lawmakers claim xenophobia is at the root of State Question 755, which would amend the state Constitution to forbid courts from considering international or Islamic Sharia law in making decisions. (More)

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Religion, Prejudice and 9-11- TOP
Jack Betts, Charlotte Observer, 9/26/10

And as the News & Observer reported the other day, the mosques Ellmers' ad cited were not "victory mosques." Notions that Muslims built mosques to celebrate those victories "are sheer flights of fancy with no historical testimony to support it," Duke University associate professor of Islamic studies Ebrahim Moosa said.

The Dome of the Rock was built 50 years after Muslims captured Jerusalem as a shrine where pilgrims could visit the site where, they believe, the Prophet Muhammad ascended to accept a message from God, the newspaper reported. The building cited in Cordoba was constructed 73 years after Muslims toppled that city. The building is now a cathedral. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was built more than 150 years after Constantinople fell. (More)

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Join the One Nation March Oct. 2 in D.C. - TOP
One Nation Working Together

What is the One Nation March?

On Saturday, October 2, 2010, hundreds of thousands of people from across America will gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate our re-commitment to change. The One Nation March will feature human and civil rights leaders, labor leaders, environmental and peace activists, faith leaders, celebrities and sports figures – all marching together to help Put America Back to Work and to Pull America Back Together. And to help reorder our national priorities so that investments in people come first.

When is the March?

Saturday, October 2, 2010. Our official program will begin at 12:00 pm and end at 4:00 pm. The event site will open for our guests at 6:00 am, and our pre-program will kick off at 11 am. We anticipate tens of thousands of people from across the country for this march. Please plan on arriving in the morning to allow sufficient time to get to the Lincoln Memorial.

Where is the March?

The March takes place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial located on the National Mallin Washington D.C.

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U.S. Muslim Leader Defends 'Draw Muhammad' Cartoonist - TOP
Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 9/24/10

This week, The American Muslim published a petition to support such cartoonists as "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" illustrator Molly Norris and "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The petition, titled "A Defense of Free Speech by American and Canadian Muslims," says:

"We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.". . .

One of the petition's signees is Arsalan Bukhari, executive director of the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is one of the nation's largest Muslim civil-liberties advocacy groups. Bukhari, who this year has come to know Norris personally, spoke to Comic Riffs about the new petition.

"What we are doing locally is talking to Muslim community leaders," says Bukhari, 30, who is Muslim. "We have no tolerance for joking that may be seen a threat to [Norris]. We are telling leaders: If they receive a threat that even seems to be joking, it should be reported." (More)

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Bay Area Arabs and South Asians Call for an End to Discrimination - TOP
Suzanne Manneh, New America Media, 9/26/10

Attorneys from the ACLU, Asian Law Caucus, and Council on American Islamic Relations testified that their clients have been questioned and visited frequently by FBI agents at their homes and workplaces because of such “acts as simply donating to their local mosques,” according to Veena Dubal, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus. (More)