AIR-LA WELCOMES APPROVAL OF TEMECULA MOSQUE - TOP
Interfaith partners thanked for supporting Muslims' right to worship

(ANAHEIM, CA, 12/2/10) -- The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed a unanimous decision by the Planning Commission of the City of Temecula to approve the construction of a new mosque in that city.

CAIR-LA officials also thanked members of the interfaith community for their overwhelming support for the mosque and its worshippers' right to freely practice their beliefs.

"Today, the City of Temecula and its people have re-affirmed the constitutional values of religious freedom and equality for all Americans," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. "Conscientious Americans have spoken up and must continue to speak up against the hateful and bigoted elements that seek to marginalize American Muslims and their houses of worship."

SEE: Mosque Gains Commission's Approval
ALSO SEE: Temecula Planning Commission Approves Mosque

"We are grateful for the strong support and friendship shown by the community of Temecula Valley and community organizations such as CAIR, MPAC, the Islamic Shura Council and the ACLU," said Imam Mahmoud Harmoush of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley. "The Temecula community has shown its true colors of tolerance and mutual respect. The presence of Christians, Jews and Muslims and others at the hearing in support of the mosque also reflected the unity of the community at large."

CAIR-LA thanked the many groups and individuals from interfaith circles across the state who have stood in solidarity with the Temecula Muslim community, including sending in letters of support and attending a counter-protest at the mosque in summer. The Interfaith Council of Murrieta and Temecula Valley has consistently spoken out in support of the mosque and held an interfaith forum.

The group was recognized by CAIR-LA at its annual Oct. 30 banquet for extraordinary outreach on behalf of the Muslim community. The Progressive Jewish Alliance also sent a group of nine activists who spoke in support of the Temecula mosque before the commissioners at the hearing last night.

The new mosque, planned by the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley to accommodate the growing Muslim community, has been a target of intense Islamophobic opposition since earlier this year.

In July, an e-mail alert encouraged state's Tea Party supporters to bring dogs to harass Muslim worshipers during a Friday congregational prayer, or "Jummah."

The alert on the anti-mosque protest sent to area newspapers by "a leader of a conservative coalition that has been active with Republican and Tea Party functions" stated: "An Islamic Mosque is planned to be built in Temecula. Islam is not a religion. It is a worldwide political movement meant [sic] on domination of the world. And it is meant to subjugate all people under Islamic law ... Islam permits lying! ... The Islam's [sic] treat women as second class people and they also hate dogs. Women are forbidden to sing and dogs are killed. We will not be submissive to Sharia Law. Tennessee was able to stop the Mosque so bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voice on Friday."

SEE: Calif. Tea Party to Use Dogs to Harass Muslim Worshippers

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 Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851, E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

MOSQUE GAINS COMMISSION'S APPROVAL - TOP
Jeff Horseman, The Press-Enterprise, 12/2/10

The Temecula Planning Commission voted unanimously late Wednesday to approve a plan to build a mosque on the city's outskirts.

The 5-0 vote followed a 5 ½-hour public hearing in which more than 80 speakers testified for and against the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley mosque. Following public comments, several commissioner admonished mosque opponents for rude behavior and hateful language.

"I've got holes in my tongue from biting it from some of the things I heard," Commissioner John Telesion said. "Ignorance of the facts breeds fear, fear breeds hatred and I hope that's an anomaly." ...

With a capacity of 140, the City Council chambers was packed at the start of the meeting, which was televised to overflow seating set up outside.

Passions about the mosque were evident early. Mosque protesters picketed in front of City Hall two hours before the hearing ... .

The mosque's backers included Yosef Khen, who said he was born in Israel and learned in school that America had a tradition of religious tolerance.

To the mosque's critics, he said: "You're doing damage not to the Islamic people. You're doing damage to yourself."

One person shouted: "Go back to Israel!"

Hadi Nael, the chairman of the Islamic center's board, noted the center had been around for 12 years.

"My kids live here, they shop here -- they're normal," he said. "We are not a threat to anybody else."

Sylvester Scott said the mosque issue is less about planning and zoning than justice and equity.

"It is about whether we as a community are well-wishers of our citizens, or are we driven to divisiveness because of ignorance and fear?" he said.

Mosque critic Wiley Drake said Sept. 11 stemmed from the activity of mosques. And John Trautman said Muslims "are not only our enemy but pagans. Why would we want them in our backyard?" (More)

---

STIRMAN'S TALK WAS MEANT TO STIR HATRED - TOP
Alamogordo Daily News, 12/2/10

I attended Tuesday's Eagle Forum hoping for a more mature handling of Islam than Marcia's 2008 letter to the editor titled "Why I am a Republican" that appeared in the Daily News. I was sorely disappointed. What followed was a confused misrepresentation of mainstream Islam and almost nothing about "Jihad," which was the title of her presentation Tuesday. (More)

-----

MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE SAY RESPECT IS KEY TO BETTER RELATIONS WITH U.S., WEST - TOP
Adelle m. Banks, Religion News Service, 12/2/10

WASHINGTON -- About half of Muslims surveyed worldwide believe the West does not respect them, according to a new Gallup report, and many say not desecrating the Quran and portraying more "accurate" Muslim movie characters could improve a strained relationship.

The findings are part of a report on "Measuring the State of Muslim-West Relations," released Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, at Gallup's Washington headquarters.

"We also found that this concept of respect ... now includes perceptions of fairness in policies, not just culturally sensitive language," said Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. (More)

SEE ALSO:

SEVENTH-GRADER AT OREGON ISLAMIC ACADEMY WINS WASHINGTON COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS POSTER CONTEST - TOP
Kelly House, The Oregonian, 12/1/10

TIGARD -- After winning the Human Rights Council of Washington County's poster contest, 12-year-old Naveen Alkhatib thinks she might have found her calling.

"I want to be an anime drawer," she said, referring to a Japanese style of animation.

The Beaverton girl beat out more than 100 other young artists from seven schools to win the countywide contest. The seventh-grader, who attends Oregon Islamic Academy in Tigard, said she's been inspired to participate in more art competitions. (More)

-----

DEPUTIES INVESTIGATE ASSAULT ON MUSLIM INMATE IN PORTLAND JAIL - TOP
Michael Russell, The Oregonian, 12/1/10

Authorities are investigating whether an assault on a Muslim inmate Sunday in a Portland jail was a hate crime incited by the arrest of Mohamed Osman Mohamud, the 19-year-old accused of trying to ignite a van full of fake explosives last week near Pioneer Courthouse Square ...

Investigators are looking into reports that the man used Muslim slurs during the attack. They also are looking at potential links between the assault and the high-profile arrest of Mohamud less than two days before ...

Local Muslims worry that the jail beating represents a rise in retaliatory violence after the foiled bomb plot, said Isgow Mohamed, executive director of the Northwest Somali Community Organization. On Sunday, a Corvallis mosque where Mohamud occasionally prayed was set afire.

After learning of the assault Wednesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties group, sent a letter to the FBI asking the agency to investigate a possible bias motive in the attack.

"Some people have the vantage that if people are a criminal, they don't have rights," said Arsalan Bukhari, executive director of the group's Washington state chapter. "Our job is to make sure that crimes of all sorts don't go ignored." (More)

-----

SIKH CAB DRIVER BEATEN BY PASSENGERS SHOUTING RACIAL SLURS - TOP
By SUNITA SOHRABJI, indiawest.com, 12/2/10

A 56-year-old taxi driver was attacked early morning Nov. 28 in West Sacramento, Calif., by two passengers who allegedly shouted racial epithets and called the turban-and-bearded driver "Osama bin Laden."

The Council on American Islamic Relations and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund have called on Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig to prosecute the case as a hate crime. Calls to Yolo County Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Raven had not been returned at press time.

The organizations are also pressing the FBI to investigate the attack. (more)

-----

CAIR-NJ PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE INTERFAITH MONTH - ADDRESSES ISLAMOPHOBIA - TOP

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. 12/2/10) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) recently participated in Bergen Community College's interfaith month. Kickoff events celebrating the importance of faith and religion were held at the main campus of Bergen Community College in Paramus, N.J.

CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Yee joined a panel that included Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, Professor Alina Malik, and several Bergen Community College students of the Muslim faith to discuss personal experiences as Muslim Americans. Following the dialogue, Yee gave the keynote presentation on Islamophobia addressing how the growing climate of hostility and fear toward Islam and Muslims has impacted the community.

"Community events at academic institutions designed to foster mutual respect are vitally important to the breaking of this vicious cycle of demonizing the 'other,'" said James Yee.

CAIR-NJ commends Bergen Community College for hosting a forum that celebrates the different perspectives of faith and religion.

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-NJ Executive Director James Yee, 908-938-5990, E-Mail: jyee@cair.com

-----

CAIR-MI REP SPEAKS ABOUT POST 9/11 CHALLENGES FOR MUSLIMS - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 12/2/10) - A representative from the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) this week addressed challenges facing American Muslims relating to Islamophobia and civil liberties post 9/11 to two classes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid spoke to students and answered questions relating to Islamophobia within the Tea Party movement, the current controversy over full body scanners and new pat down procedures in American airports and concerns over improper usage of confidential informants by the FBI.

"We welcome such opportunities to engage university students, who will be the future shapers of public policy as it relates to areas of interest and concern to American Muslims," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.

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, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Outreach Coordinator Raheem Hanifa, 248-559-2247, E-Mail: rhanifa@cair.com