ALASKA LAWMAKER SMEARS AMERICAN MUSLIMS - TOP
Anti-Sharia bill sponsor claims Middle Easterners 'occupy' neighborhoods, 'establish their own laws'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/18/11) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today again called on the Republican Party to repudiate anti-Muslim hate in its ranks after an Alaska state lawmaker claimed that American neighborhoods are "occupied" by "people from the Middle East" who then "establish their own laws."
In a hearing on a bill modeled on similar state measures introduced nationwide targeting Islamic principles, or Sharia, Rep. Carl Gatto (R-Palmer) said the proposed Alaska law is necessary because of the religious beliefs of recent immigrants.
"As a kid, we had Italian neighborhoods, Irish neighborhoods ... but they didn't impose their own laws," Gatto said. "When these neighborhoods are occupied by people from the Middle East, they do establish their own laws."
SEE: Alaska Seeks to Bar Foreign Law From Courts
"The level of anti-Muslim fear-mongering coming primarily from some elements within the Republican party is really getting out of hand. If passed, this bill and others like it across the nation would result in government-sanctioned discrimination against a minority faith," said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor. "Moderates in the Republican Party must stand up and return the GOP to the anti-discrimination principles of Abraham Lincoln."
Saylor added: "The Constitution is the law of the land and we like it that way. Government intrusion into personal matters that are consistent with U.S. law -- such as Islamic marriage contracts, how we pray, how we invest and how we provide for our families after we die -- is inconsistent with our nation's principles. These far-right lawmakers need to stop fear-mongering and start telling us how they plan to fix the economy and provide jobs.
Saylor said CAIR's request came just one day after the Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization called on state and national GOP leaders to repudiate remarks by a Republican lawmaker in Missouri who referred to Islamic principles, or Sharia, as a "disease" like polio.
CAIR: Missouri GOP Lawmaker Calls Sharia a 'Disease' Like Polio
Similar anti-Sharia bills are being considered in a number of state legislatures. Many of the bills are drawn from a template prepared by David Yerushalmi, head of the anti-Islam hate group Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE). Yerushalmi testified at the hearing for the Alaska bill.
SEE: Tennessee Bill Would Jail Shariah Followers
Meet the White Supremacist Leading the GOP's Anti-Sharia Crusade
On its now password-protected website, SANE offered a policy proposal that would make "adherence to Islam" punishable by 20 years in prison, called for the immediate deportation of all non-citizen Muslims and urged Congress to declare war on the "Muslim Nation," which SANE defined as "all Muslims."
SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America's National Existence(SADITANE)
SANE's mission statement included white supremacist language such as: "America was the handiwork of faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost entirely white." An online SANE article stated: "There is a reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to vote."
Yerushalmi is also staff attorney for Frank Gaffney, president of the Washington-based Center for Security Policy. Gaffney was a key witness for the plaintiffs in a controversial lawsuit against a mosque being built in Tennessee.
Some Republican leaders are actively promoting an anti-Muslim agenda nationwide. Last week, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) held a hearing on alleged "radicalization" in the American Muslim community that was widely condemned by members of Congress and interfaith and civil liberties groups.
SEE: 'Invasion of the Mind Snatchers,' Starring Rep. Peter King
GOP's Muslim Stand Isn't Helping the Country or the Party
In June, Rep. Allen West (R-FL) will address a gathering of Act! for America, another anti-Islam hate group whose leader, Brigitte Gabriel, claims an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen," that Islam is the "real enemy" and that every practicing Muslim is a "radical Muslim."
SEE: West to Headline Act! Conference
Transcript of Brigitte Gabriel's Anti-Islam Extremism
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 Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, E-Mail: csaylor@cair.com; 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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ACTION: CAIR-OK LAUNCHES CALL-IN CAMPAIGN ON ANTI-SHARIA BILL - TOP
(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/18/11) -- The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today announced a call-in campaign to state senators urging them to vote against Rep. Sally Kern's House Bill 1552 (HB 1552) that was written in support of the failed and unconstitutional "Save Our State Amendment" (SQ 755), which was blocked last year by a federal judge. [SEE action item at the end of this alert.]
SEE: Lawmakers Vote to Ban Foreign Law in State Courts
"Representative Kern has presented HB 1552 as an attempt to re-invent the anti-Sharia amendment introduced in last year's elections -- an amendment that was found to be unconstitutional and unnecessary by the U.S. District Court," said CAIR-OK Executive Director Muneer Awad.
Awad added: "In an attempt to target Islam without using the wording of the unconstitutional SQ 755, Kern's bill will actually target all religions. HB 1552 will violate our constitutional rights to create private contracts and will deny people the use of Jewish Law, Catholic Law, or any other religious law, while also jeopardizing international business contracts that include forms of arbitration, choice of law clauses, or foreign law clauses. Other states have already rejected this type of legislation as unnecessary, harmful to the business community and unconstitutional."
SEE: Lawyers Speak Against GA Bill That Bans Foreign Laws in State Courts
SEE: Religious Law Long Recognized By U.S. Courts
"At a time when our economy and job creation should be our legislature's top priority, Representative Kern has made it her priority to promote an anti-Muslim amendment to ban religious laws in Oklahoma and threaten international contracts for Oklahoma businesses," said Awad.
Awad noted that HB 1552 was written by the Washington-based Center for Security Policy. David Yerushalmi, the staff attorney for that group, is associated with similar anti-Sharia bills being considered in a number of state legislatures. Yerushalmi is also head of the anti-Islam hate group Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE).
SEE: Bill Written by Center for Security Policy
Meet the White Supremacist Leading the GOP's Anti-Sharia Crusade
On its now password-protected website, SANE offered a policy proposal that would make "adherence to Islam" punishable by 20 years in prison, called for the immediate deportation of all non-citizen Muslims and urged Congress to declare war on the "Muslim Nation," which SANE defined as "all Muslims."
SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America's National Existence(SADITANE)
SANE's mission statement included white supremacist language such as: "America was the handiwork of faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost entirely white." An online SANE article stated: "There is a reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to vote."
HB 1552 passed in the House with 76 votes. CAIR-Oklahoma mailed letters of support to Representatives Mike Shelton, Cory Williams, and Emily Virgin for "serving Oklahoma's economic interests, and rejecting the politics of fear." CAIR-Oklahoma has also prepared an action alert outlining the unconstitutionality of HB 1552 and encouraging Oklahomans to call and mail members of the Senate to oppose the Amendment.
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 Muneer Awad, 405-248-5853 or E-Mail: mawad@cair.com
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
CAIR-Oklahoma urges all members of the Muslim community and other people of conscience to call or e-mail their state senator's office and mention these talking points:
- In an attempt to target Islam without using the wording of the unconstitutional SQ 755, Kern's bill will target all religions, and deny people the use of Jewish law, Catholic law, or any other religious law.
- HB 1552 will violate our constitutional rights to create private contracts.
- HB 1552 will jeopardize international business contracts that include forms of arbitration, choice of law clauses, or foreign law clauses.
- Our legislatures should NOT propose laws written by anti-Muslim bigots, and white-supremacists. The lawyer who drafted HB 1552 for Rep. Kern is a well-documented Islamophobe.
- Other states have already rejected this type of legislation as unnecessary, and harmful to the business community.
Find the contact information for your state senator by entering your address in the required fields at: http://capitolconnect.com/oklahoma/
Call and leave a message, or e-mail the office using the talking points above.
Encourage and show your friends and family how to locate their own state Senator and do the same.
Contact Representatives Mike Shelton, Cory Williams, and Emily Virgin and thank them for being the only representatives to vote against the politics of fear.
Mike Shelton: (405) 557-7367, mikeshelton@okhouse.gov
Cory Williams: (405) 557-7411, cory.williams@okhouse.gov
Emily Virgin: (405) 557-7323, emily.virgin@okhouse.gov
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CAIR ASKS FBI TO PROBE BIAS MOTIVE FOR TEXAS MOSQUE FIRES - TOP
(HOUSTON, TEXAS, 3/18/11) -- The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) today called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for two fires at a Houston-area mosque.
Arson investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire at a mosque in the Clear Lake area of Houston. The fire is the second blaze at the same facility in the past week.
Video: Fire Erupts at Mosque in Clear Lake Area
2nd Fire at Mosque Within One Week
"Because of the two fires within one week and the rising level of anti-Muslim sentiment in our society, it would only be prudent to investigate a possible bias motive in this case," said CAIR-Texas Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll.
Carroll noted that a man recently pleaded guilty to an arson attack on an Arlington, Texas, mosque.
SEE: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime in Connection with Mosque Arson
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-Texas Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 832-549-1042, 713-838-2247, E-Mail: mcarroll@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, 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: WHY AMERICAN CABLE SYSTEMS WON'T CARRY THE AL JAZEERA NETWORK -TOP
Lorraine Ali, Marisa Guthrie, Hollywood Reporter, 3/17/11
... And while Al Jazeera has received public support in high places, it's courting controversy-averse U.S. cable and satellite carriers as the country is mired in a public debate about Islam and radicalization. In December, Houston radio station KPFT drew protests from the community when it began airing an AJE-produced news hour. "The anti-Muslim, anti-Arab hysteria is beyond comprehension," says Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based Muslim advocacy group. "It's distorting our national dialogue. It's distorting our nation's interests and image around the world. But it seems to be gaining traction. So of course [companies] want to avoid the hassles of having a bunch of people e-mail them and call them and protest outside their building." (More)
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Muslim Cultural Center Appears Near Approval - TOP
By DAVID LEPESKA, New York Times, 3/17/11
A long battle over a proposed mosque in DuPage County is approaching a turning point, and although anti-Muslim sentiment and resistance to mosques in the Chicago area are hardly going away, Muslims appear to be winning this time. ...
The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim support group, filed a federal lawsuit against the DuPage Board over the Irshad rejection, alleging discrimination and violation of constitutional rights. According to the filing, a board member, John Hakim, asked at one hearing if "animal sacrifices" would be part of the services. The board has moved to dismiss the case. Mr. Hakim did not return a call for comment.
"We think there is a bias against the Muslim institutions," said Kevin Vodak, the lawyer for CAIR-Chicago. He noted that the board rejected the Irshad proposal without explanation, which is highly unusual, and that last fall the county took up an amendment to prohibit any new religious institutions in residential areas. "Most of the new proposals are from Muslims," Mr. Vodak said. (More)
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