CAIR: FBI RELEASES NEW INFORMATION IN ISLAMIC CENTER BOMBING - TOP
First Coast News, 11/4/10

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- By tying one disturbance at a local mosque to a May pipe bombing, the FBI has a better sketch of the man they believe is responsible for both.

The pipe bomb detonated May 10 at the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, causing minimal damage.

The explosion sent debris flying more than 100 feet away, the FBI said. Other evidence, beyond a gas can, was found at the scene as well, but officials did not elaborate. They said they do not remember a similar event in the area's recent history.

The FBI now believes that the bomber is the same man who created a disturbance at the mosque April 4. Worshippers at the mosque escorted a man off their property after he started banging on the doors during the service, shouting at them to stop their "blasphemy."

The suspect is a white male, between 30-50, and about 5'6". The FBI also said the suspect may be driving an early-90s Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. ...

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the responsible party, according to CAIR volunteer Muhammad Mansoori.

Anyone with any information is asked to call our partner First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS (8477). You will remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest. (More)

SEE ALSO:

SKETCH PUTS FACE ON JACKSONVILLE MOSQUE BOMB SUSPECT - TOP
FBI hopes it'll advance search for the suspect.
By Steve Patterson, Florida Times-Union, 11/4/10

[Anyone with information about the Islamic Center pipe-bombing and fire is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at (904) 630-0500 or the FBI at (904) 248-7000.]

FBI agents hunting a bomber who targeted a Jacksonville mosque have a face to look for.

But they need a name.

Six months after an explosion and fire at the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, investigators want to saturate Jacksonville with copies of a sketch of a suspect.

"Somebody is going to be able to recognize this guy," said Paxton Stelly, a supervisory special agent studying the May 10 pipe-bomb explosion and fire.

Investigators studying grainy nighttime video of a man carrying a pipe and gas can to the back of the mosque matched his height, build and paunch to security-camera images of a man who burst into an evening prayer service shouting complaints on April 4.

Driving away that night, the man stopped and vowed he'd be back, investigators said. (More)

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MAN SENTENCED FOR THREATS TO ILLINOIS MOSQUE - TOP
Muslim Group Commends Judge's Decision to Issue Maximum Sentence

CHICAGO, 11/05/10) - The Chicago office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today commended the sentencing of a man who threatened congregants of an Illinois mosque.

Judge David Bernthal issued the maximum sentence possible yesterday to 25-year-old Ilya Sobolevskiy, for emailing threats to the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center (CIMIC). Sobolevskiy told CIMIC officials to close the mosque or else "it will be closed for [them]."

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Judge Bernthal called the threats "an act of terror."

SEE: Man Who Sent Threat To IL Mosque Sentenced To Year In Prison
SEE ALSO: Maryland Man Sentenced For Sending Threatening Email to Illinois Mosque

One of Sobolevskiy's messages read: "the muslims that attend [the mosque] are not to be seen in public with their beards or hijabs. tell them to get rid of such things. failure to comply will result in much tribulations for you and muslims in the region. i am not afraid to do whatever it takes to eradicate islam. WHATEVER it takes"

"We appreciate Judge Bernthal's bold and principled decision and his acknowledgment that such threats are acts of terror," said CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif. "We hope this sends a clear message to Islamophobes who try to threaten and intimidate Muslim Americans - that we will not live in fear."

CAIR-Chicago is a chapter of the largest Muslim civil liberties group, which has 35 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-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 312.212.1520 or 202.870.0166, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, 312.212.1520 or 630-935-5562, E-Mail: asharif@cair.com

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CAIR CONDEMNS ATTACK ON IRAQI CHURCH, THREAT TO CHRISTIANS - TOP

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/5/10) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned a recent threat against Iraq's Christian community and a deadly attack in which dozens of Iraqi Christians were killed in a Baghdad church on Sunday.

The group claiming responsibility for the attack, an umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq, reportedly threatened "all Christian centers, organizations and institutions, leaders and followers" in an online statement.

SEE: Al-Qaeda group threatens Iraqi Christians

In a statement, CAIR said:

"We condemn this attack on a house of worship in the strongest possible terms and repudiate the groups that perpetrate such heinous crimes. The Christian community has a long and honored tradition in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. The lives and religious rights of members of that community must be protected. Threatening people, especially basing such threats on their religion, is immoral and contrary to Islamic principles and teachings about people of other faith traditions. The Prophet Muhammad said: 'A believer is one from whom the people's blood and wealth are safe.'"

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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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CAIR-MI REPS JOIN EFFORT TO COUNTER VIOLENT EXTREMISM - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 11/5/10) - Representatives of Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) yesterday participated a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Working Group meeting with law enforcement officials and community advocates in Dearborn, Mich.

The meeting, which was organized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Dearborn Police Department, was designed to bring together law enforcement agencies with relevant community groups to provide recommendations regarding how DHS can better support community-based efforts to combat extremism domestically.

Other advocacy organizations in attendance included the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Service (ACCESS), the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC).

"We welcome opportunities to engage the Department of Homeland Security to discuss ways to make America safer while addressing concerns about 'profiling' of American Muslims," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. "We believe that such working groups should be comprehensive in scope at the community level to address all potential extremist threats to our nation."

Walid also noted that persons of other religions besides Islam committed ninety-four percent of domestic terrorism attacks in America from 1980 to 2005 according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

SEE: FBI: Terrorism 2002 - 2005

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties group. 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-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-559-2248, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com

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CAIR: N.J. ACLU TO SUE NJ TRANSIT FOR FIRING EMPLOYEE WHO BURNED KORAN ON 9/11 ANNIVERSARY - TOP
Chris Megerian, Statehouse Bureau, 11/4/10

TRENTON -- On the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Derek Fenton stole headlines by burning pages from the Koran in Lower Manhattan to protest a planned Islamic community center there. Two days later, he lost his job at New Jersey Transit for breaching the agency's code of ethics.

Now the American Civil Liberties Union says Fenton should get his job back. The group will file a lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court saying Fenton was unconstitutionally fired for exercising his free speech rights. ...

The Council on American-Islamic Relations also said Fenton should have kept his job.

"If he did not in any way associate himself with the employer while he carried out this act, we would not support his firing, even though obviously we would object strenuously to his actions," spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said. "We're strong supporters of the First Amendment." (More)

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WHAT BANNING 'SHARIAH LAW' MEANS FOR OKLAHOMA MUSLIMS - TOP
By Nihad Awad, Washington Post, 11/5/10

Today, no constitution of any state places special burdens on a specific religious tradition. That will change on November 9 if Oklahoma amends its constitution in accordance with State Question 755.

State Question 755, which was approved by state voters on Tuesday, will amend Oklahoma's constitution to forbid state courts from considering "Shariah Law." According to the amendment, "Shariah Law" is anything "based on the Koran" or the "teaching of Mohammed." (More)

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VIDEO: LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST AMENDMENT GROUP CALLS ANTI-MUSLIM - TOP

Oklahoma voters approved it by an overwhelming margin, but State Question 755 is now being called into question. SQ 755 forbids judges from considering Islamic law and international law when deciding any cases in Oklahoma. Opponents of the question have filed a lawsuit trying to stop the measure from ever taking effect. "Any time you've got a minority that's being told you don't have the same rights as a majority, I feel the need to speak up," said Muneer Awad with the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Watch the video here.

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CAIR: MUSLIM FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGING NEW OKLAHOMA AMENDMENT ON SHARIA LAW - TOP
Carla Hinton, Oklahoman, 11/5/10

The leader of a Muslim civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging the constitutionality of a measure that prohibits Oklahoma courts from considering international law or Sharia law when making decisions.

The targeted measure, State Question 755, was approved Tuesday by about 70 percent of Oklahoma voters.

Muneer Awad, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, held a news conference at the state Capitol on Thursday to discuss his concerns about the measure and the reasons for his lawsuit. ...

Awad, an attorney, said the measure approved Tuesday was brought before the voters as a divisive tactic that has increased tension between Muslims and non-Muslims. (More)

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CAIR: HEARING ON OKLA. SHARIAH BAN SET FOR MONDAY - TOP
Jess Bravin, Wall Street Journal, 11/5/10

A Muslim activist in Oklahoma City filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a voter-approved measure that bars Oklahoma state judges from considering Shariah, the Islamic religious code based on the Koran and the Prophet Mohammed's teachings, in formulating rulings.

State Question 755, which passed Tuesday with 70% of the vote, declares "the legal precepts of other nations or cultures" off-limits to Oklahoma courts. "Specifically, the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia Law," it reads.

The suit, filed by Muneer Awad, director of the state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, asks the federal district court to block officials from certifying the referendum. Mr. Awad says the measure violates the First Amendment, which protects "free exercise" of religion and prohibits official "establishment of religion." A hearing was set for Monday.

The complaint alleges Oklahoma has singled out Islam for "profound stigma," consigning Muslims such as Mr. Awad "to an ineffectual position within the political community." (More)

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CAIR: BAN OF ISLAMIC LAW IN OKLAHOMA RENDERS A QUICK LAWSUIT - TOP
By Ashby Jones, Wall Street Journal, 11/4/10

So, one of the stranger ballot measures to get the thumbs' up on Tuesday hailed from Oklahoma. And already it's getting challenged in court.

Sooner State voters on Tuesday approved State Question 755 with slightly more than 70 percent support. The measure bans the use of Sharia law -- the sacred law of Islam -- in Oklahoma state court cases. Click here for the story from the Oklahoman, here for a post from Nathan Koppel on the measure from last week.

The measure was passed, it seems, not because Oklahomans have a huge problem with judges recklessly citing the Koran when deciding contract disputes. As LB colleague Nathan Koppel wrote in the earlier post, supporters of the initiative to ban conceded that they didn't know of a single case of Sharia being used in the Sooner State, which has about 15,000 Muslims.

So why was the measure passed? Why, to head off the looming threat before it really cranks up, of course. "Oklahoma does not have that problem yet," said Republican state Rep. Rex Duncan, who authored the ballot measure "But why wait until it's in the courts?"

In any event, opponents of the law see gaping constitutional problems with it. A lawsuit was filed Thursday in Oklahoma City federal court challenging the legality of the measure. Click here for the complaint, filed by the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); here for the news release on CAIR's plans.

The plaintiff, CAIR executive director Muneer Awad, said the law violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adding that it targets a particular religion. "Disfavoring Islam, or any religion, is a violation of the First Amendment," Awad said. (More)

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CAIR: SUIT FILED AGAINST SQ 755, SHARIAH LAW - TOP
By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World, 11/5/10

OKLAHOMA CITY - The first of several expected legal challenges to recently passed state questions was filed Thursday.

Muneer Awad, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, filed suit in federal court in Oklahoma City challenging enforcement of a state question banning the use of Shariah law in state courts.

The lawsuit alleges that State Question 755 singles out a particular religion for disfavored treatment. ...

When the state lawmakers who put the measure on the ballot "say that I, as a Muslim, do not have the same rights as a Christian, Jew or any person of any other faith to will my property, to donate to charity, to marry my wife, in accordance to my religious practices, I feel compelled to speak up," Awad said at a Capitol press conference.

"As a civil liberties advocate, any time any minority is told they do not have the same rights as the majority, I feel compelled to speak up."

The suit alleges the measure violates the First Amendment establishment clause that bars government from making laws "respecting the establishment of religion." (More)

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CAIR-CHICAGO: IRSHAD APPEAL DELAYED AGAIN - TOP
By Susan Frick Carlman, Naperville Sun, 11/5/10

DuPage County commissioners and office-holders named in a religious-bias suit were dealt another delay this week in their effort to have the case dismissed.

Representatives for the directors of the Irshad Learning Center launched the federal action April 8. The complaint alleges the organization's First and 14th Amendment rights were violated when county officials refused to grant a special use permit to open an Islamic worship site and school in a former home on three acres along 75th Street just east of the Naperville city line.

County attorney Tom Downing, acting on behalf of the 18 Zoning Board of Appeals and County Board members named in the appeal, filed a motion to dismiss the case in late May. U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmyer on Monday said she needed more time to consider that request.

"She wanted to make sure she considered everything," said Kevin Vodak, the attorney representing Irshad through the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Vodak said the judge hopes to issue her ruling within the next couple of weeks. If she denies the county request, preparations for the case will continue. Irshad has requested a jury trial for the appeal. (More)

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NY: CABBIE DISTRIBUTED ANTI-SEMITIC NOTES TO FRAME MUSLIMS - TOP
Byandrew Strickler and Yamiche Alcindor, Newsday, 11/3/10

A former livery cabdriver from Brooklyn told authorities he littered his routes in Nassau with handmade anti-Semitic leaflets because he wanted "the Jews to find them to think it was the Muslims," officials said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, for the second time this year, detectives arrested Dimitrios Apolonides, 37, after tracing 1-by-3-inch notes bearing the slogan "KILL JEWS" back to the livery. (More)

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