MISSOURI LEGISLATORS, WARY OF ISLAMIC LAW, PROPOSE BANNING IT -TOP
Jason Noble, The Kansas City Star, 3/12/11

JEFFERSON CITY | Missouri Reps. Paul Curtman and Don Wells agree there's no evidence that state courts are judging cases based on Islamic principles or foreign laws.

But that's not stopping them from sponsoring legislation to ban the practice.

Bills introduced this year by the Republican lawmakers aim to prevent Missouri courts from applying laws from other countries or those based on Sharia, the Islamic religious law.

Wells maintains his measure is necessary because an oppressive and violent Islamic legal system is spreading across the world and could someday threaten Missouri.

Curtman's bill, meanwhile, is less concerned with the encroachment of Islamic law, although its language is a near-exact copy of model legislation from a stridently anti-Muslim source. ...

Jim Hacking, an attorney for the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, was blunter about the courts' approach to religious law and the aims of lawmakers such as Wells.

"This is a complete and utter waste of time," Hacking said. "There's a little thing called the First Amendment that prohibits religion from being used as the basis for law."

He added: "It's a political stunt being done to fan the flames of intolerance, nothing more." (More)

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BACKGROUND: MEET THE WHITE SUPREMACIST LEADING THE GOP'S ANTI-SHARIA CRUSADE - TOP
Tim Murphy, Mother Jones, 3/1/11

The Tennessee bill, SB 1028, didn't come out of nowhere. Though it's the first of its kind, the bill is part of a wave of related measures that would ban state courts from enforcing Sharia law. (A court might refer to Sharia law in child custody or prisoner rights cases.) Since early 2010, such legislation has been considered in at least 15 states.

And while fears of an impending caliphate are myriad on the far-right, the surge of legislation across the country is largely due to the work of one man: David Yerushalmi, an Arizona-based white supremacist who has previously called for a "war against Islam" and tried to criminalize adherence to the Muslim faith.

Yerushalmi, a lawyer, is the founder of the Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), which has been called a "hate group" by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). His draft legislation served as the foundation for the Tennessee bill, and at least half a dozen other anti-Islam measures--including two bills that were signed into law last year in Louisiana and Tennessee. (More)

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SANTORUM, GOP CONTINUE ANTI-SHARIA CAMPAIGN - TOP
Elizabeth Tenety, Washington Post, 3/14/11

The GOP continued its campaign against sharia law last week, with potential 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum telling a group in New Hampshire that the Islamic code of conduct is "evil." Politico's Kendra Marr said that Santorum's anti-sharia rhetoric indicated that the former Pennsylvania senator was "continu(ing) to establish himself as the candidate most-aligned with the Republican Party's conservative base."

"We need to define it and say what it is. And it is evil. Sharia law is incompatible with American jurisprudence and our Constitution." (More)

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CAIR-LA: SOME IN GOP UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANTI-MUSLIM HATE - TOP
Adam Elmahrek, Voice of OC, 3/14/11

The longtime leaders of Orange County's Republican Party were given a rude awakening in January when Villa Park Councilwoman, and self described "blended" Tea Partier, Deborah Pauly, bested establishment candidate Jon Fleischman in the election for first vice chair of the GOP Central Committee.

Just how rude this awakening could end up being for the party's establishment became apparent in mid February when Pauly stood outside of a Muslim charity event in Yorba Linda and said to cheering protestors: "Make no mistake my friends, these who are assembling are enemies of America."

She added: "I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise."

These and other vitriolic comments made by Pauly can be heard in a video put together by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), that, in a matter of days, went viral.

Pauly's actions touched a nerve in Orange County. Speakers at recent meeting of the Orange County Human Relations Commission claimed to have received death threats since the protest. And Pauly's colleagues on the Villa Park City Council are in the process of drafting a statement to address her actions.

At least one major Muslim advocacy group has demanded that Orange County's Republican party's condemn the protest and comments from elected officials who were present.

"Time and again Republican leaders have shown a lack of leadership and irresponsible behavior in upholding the oath that they took," said Munira Syeda, a local spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "It's time for the Republican party to come out and say this is un-American. (More)

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CNN: UNWELCOME -- THE MUSLIMS NEXT DOOR (VIDEO) - TOP

A preview of CNN's special, "Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door." Does freedom of religion mean freedom from suspicion?

View the video.

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ANTI-MOSQUE FEVER FROM SHEEPSHEAD BAY TO NY SUPREME COURT - TOP
John Del Signore, Gothamist, 3/14/11

Two mosques planned for two very different parts of NYC are facing intensifying opposition from increasingly determined critics.

Tomorrow, Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice will square off in New York State Supreme Court against the Muslim community center and mosque planned for Lower Manhattan. The ACLJ says the city erred by rejecting landmark status for the building at 45-47 Park Place that would be razed to build the mosque.

Meanwhile, in Sheepshead Bay, about 120 people demonstrated against a proposed mosque yesterday, while mosque supporters rallied across the street. Here's video: (More)

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NY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS OVER ANTI-ARAB COMMENTS - TOP
Gene Warner and Jay Rey, Buffalo News, 3/13/11

A Lackawanna School Board member accused of posting anti-Arab, profanity-laced comments on his Facebook page resigned under pressure Saturday, but emotions over the controversy run deep.

Despite the resignation of School Board member Kevin Rozwood by midday Saturday, as many as 150 protesters -- most from the Muslim community -- rallied on the steps of Lackawanna City Hall in the afternoon.

Protesters called for Rozwood to be fired from his job as a city police dispatcher, and said this incident was only the latest trouble the Muslim community has had with the Lackawanna School District.

In general, there was frustration over what is perceived as a backlash against Muslims at a time of rising tensions.

"Enough is enough," said Idreas "A.J." Ahmed.

"We trace our lineage in Lackawanna over 100 years now," said Ahmed, a board member for Global Concepts Charter School. "How long do we have to be here before we're recognized as stakeholders in this community?" (More)

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CAIR-PA: MUSLIMS WHO ATTEND MOSQUE TURN INTO PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS - TOP
Zohra Lasania, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3/14/11

U.S. Rep. Peter King, who chaired his first congressional hearing last week on "the radicalization of American Muslims," has revealed his Islamophobic mindset with such statements as "there are too many mosques in this country."

According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, there are about 335,000 religious congregations in the United States. All but 12,000 are Christian. Of these, only 1,200 are Muslim.

But even if there were half as many mosques as churches, so what, Mr. King? What are you afraid of? And what do you know of mosques? Do you know what mosques are and who goes to them?

Let's take a look. I can speak for my own city.

Greater Pittsburgh has about 10 mosques, including ones in Oakland, Monroeville and Ambridge.

Each of these mosques came into being as a Friday prayer group, then developed into a Sunday school for children and then into a community center, where families gather to celebrate festivals and mourn when calamities befall them.

These centers have raised funds for victims of the Indonesian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti, and their young people work in soup kitchens to feed the homeless. They serve all of humanity.

These mosques keep their doors open to people of all faiths and participate in interfaith dialogues. They educate their members to vote, and they invite FBI and law enforcement authorities to their mosques to forge good relationships with them.

These mosques send goodwill gifts to their neighbors and live in harmony among them. Some of their members work for anti-smoking causes and teach young people to stay away from alcohol and drugs with programs funded by government grants. (More)

Zohra Lasania is a freelance writer and communications coordinator for the Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

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CAIR-NJ: PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISLAMIC CENTER IN BRIDGEWATER TODAY - TOP

Here's the announcement on Facebook.

The Township Council of Bridgewater, N.J. is schedule to vote TONIGHT on changes to zoning laws that would prevent the building of Al Falah Islamic Center.

SEE: Bridgewater Council sets public hearing on ordinance

As previously indicated on Bridgewater Township's official website, there is "significant community interest in the Ordinance currently before the Township Council." At the Feb 28th Bridgewater planning board meeting, many voiced strong objections to an Islamic center being built at the proposed location, while the Muslim community expressed concerns about the timing of this proposed ordinance suggesting religious discrimination.

Note: A new state law effective May 5th prohibiting new ordinances that would impact already pending land-use applications could be helpful, but the Bridgewater Township Council is set to vote tonight on local zoning ordinances that would deny Al Falah Islamic Center's application before this state law takes effect.

Attend tonight's public hearing! Come show your support!

Monday, March 14th - 7:30 pm [ARRIVE EARLY!]
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium
600 Garretson Road
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Everyone is urged to attend! The Muslim community presence is needed! The last meeting held in a performing arts auditorium was filled to 650 capacity, many in opposition to the proposed Islamic center in Bridgewater.

Please attend tonight's hearing on changes to Bridgewater zoning law for houses of worship. Freedom of worship is a fundamental right!

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MAJOR MUSLIM GROUPS CONDEMN REP. KING'S 'RELIGIOUS MCCARTHYISM' - TOP

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT***), a national coalition of major Muslim organizations, today repudiated Congressman Peter King's "religious McCarthyism" and expressed its "full support for and solidarity with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)."

Commenting on the observation made by a Washington Post staff writer that "If King's hearing was about anything, it was about trying to empower a different group of Muslim leaders," AMT Chair, Dr. Agha Saeed said: "People can always tell who their real leaders are, even when Nelson Mandela is imprisoned on the charges of 'terrorism' and Chief Mangosthu Buthelezi is appointed as the chief minister of the Bantustan of KwaZulu."

AMT said in a statement:

"It is obvious that Congressman King's hearing was intended to malign CAIR. We repudiate all such attempts and stand in solidarity with CAIR.

"We thank fellow Americans, notably Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Laura Richardson, Rep. Al Green, Rep. John Dingell, and Rep. Danny Davis, for their courage of conviction in rejecting Congressman King's religious McCarthyism. His agenda-driven hearing was a planned assault on the U.S. Constitution that failed.

"While the vacuity of these hearings has been summed up by the Washington Post in its headline: 'Rep Peter King's Muslim hearing: Plenty of drama, less substance,' the discriminatory nature of these hearings was highlighted by the New York Times as 'Terror Hearing Puts Lawmakers in Harsh Light.'

"It was pointed out by several members of congress that these hearings were not based on any independent scholarly research on the subject and the witnesses did not possess any expertise to qualify their generalizations.

"Past efforts to marginalize target groups have always included a number of key elements, including seeking to replace authentic leadership with handpicked individuals, undermining legitimate major institutions and organizations, controlling agendas, promoting internal divisions, and denying access to mainstream media and government institutions.

"While we reaffirm our opposition to all forms of individual, group and state terrorism, and while we reiterate our commitment to help keep America safe, we also want to unequivocally state that it is for Muslim Americans to decide who their leaders are. No one else -- neither the U.S. Congress nor the FBI -- has the legal or moral right to make those decisions for us."

*** AMT is an umbrella organization that includes American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society-Freedom (MAS-F), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), National Association of Imams (NAIF) and United Muslims of America (UMA).

CONTACT: AMT Chair Dr. Agha Saeed: aghaksaeed@yahoo.com

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FOR HILL'S MUSLIMS, HEARINGS COMPLICATE ROLES - TOP
Emily Heil, Roll Call, 3/14/11

A stream of people enter a room in the Capitol Crypt typically used for meetings, briefings and luncheons. Some silence their BlackBerrys or shrug off suit jackets. They slip off their shoes and kneel.

The room where Muslim American staffers and others gather for Jummah, or Friday prayers, is only a short walk from Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.

That's the room where House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-N.Y.) held a hearing Thursday about radicalism in the Muslim American community.

Muslim staffers on Capitol Hill say they are watching the proceedings with a wary eye, worried that any anti-Muslim sentiments they might stir will make their already complicated roles just a bit thornier. (More)

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CAIR-MI HOLDS SEMINAR ON POLITICAL PARTICIPATION - TOP
Congressman addresses 'witch-hunt' hearing on American Muslims

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 3/14/11) -- The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) recently held a seminar, entitled "Political Participation for Nonprofits and Activists: Strategies, Guidelines, and Rules," at the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit in Rochester Hills, Mich. Some 250 people of various faiths attended the event.

The seminar discussed techniques for community organizing around concerns affecting American Muslims and issues of concern of fellow Americans of other faiths.

Congressmen Keith Ellison (D-MN) discussed the importance of American Muslim political involvement in positively influencing the political discourse pertaining to civil and workers' rights for all Americans and elaborated on the incumbency of American Muslims to become politically involved in the wake of surging Islamophobia among some state and federal elected officials.

Ellison also provided a criticism of the recent hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims, which was dubbed by a number of civil libertarians as a "witch-hunt," chaired by Congressman Peter King (R-NY).

SEE: The IRA's Guy Stokes Islamophobia (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Other panelists included CAIR-MI Board Member Attorney Haaris Ahmad and CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.

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-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

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