BREAKING: COURT BACKS OHIO MUSLIM LEADER STOPPED AT BORDER - TOP
Associated Press, 4/22/11

Julia Shearson is director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations office in Cleveland. She was stopped by U.S. border agents in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2006 as she returned with her daughter from a weekend in Canada.

Shearson later sued for records about her case from the departments of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. (More)

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CAIR-CA: 65% OF INMATES IN PRISON CMUS ARE MUSLIMS - TOP

At the Women's Building in San Francisco, the Center for Constitutional Rights gathered a panel of experts to discuss the history and the ramifications of solitary confinement and experimental isolation units in the U.S. prison system.

The panel featured Zahra Billoo, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-San Francisco Bay Area; Dr. Terry Kupers, M.D., the Wright Institute; Keramet Reiter, JD, PhD Candidate Berkeley Law; Nahal Zamani, Education and Outreach Associate, Center for Constitutional Rights; and Eddy Zheng, former inmate and prisoner rights advocate. The panel was moderated by Sara Norman, attorney, Prison Law Office. [Full audio here -- scroll down]

In 2006, a new type of isolation unit in federal penitentiaries was established called Communications Management Units (CMUs), despite objections from civil liberties organizations. These new facilities offer no contact visits and only four hours a month with family and friends. Due to public pressure, the time allowed was increased to two four-hour visits in January of 2010.Additionally, visits are often difficult as prisoners can be sent hundreds if not thousands of miles from where they live. CMU inmates are allowed two fifteen-minute calls per month, in which family members must be as succinct as possible and pass the phone quickly to everyone who wants to speak.

Over 65% of inmates in CMUs are Muslim. The next largest populations are political prisoners, either environmental and animal activists who are now classified as "terrorists" by law enforcement agencies and those who have become prison civil liberties activists while behind bars.

Given who is currently being held in isolation units, there are obvious parallels between the growth of supermax prisons, SHUs, and CMUs domestically and notorious U.S. military prisons abroad such as Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. (More)

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CAIR: TEXAS MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR RAIN - TOP
Call comes in response to Governor Perry's proclamation

(HOUSTON, TX, 4/22/11) -- The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) today called on mosques across that state to offer prayers for rain to help relieve the worst drought since the 1930s, which has resulted in extreme wildfire danger.

CAIR-TX issued its call for prayers in response to a proclamation issued yesterday by Texas Governor Rick Perry declaring a three-day period of "Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas." Gov. Perry's proclamation states: "I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal way of life."

SEE: Gov. Perry Issues Proclamation for Days of Prayer for Rain in Texas

CAIR-TX urged state mosques to offer special Islamic prayers, called Salatul Istisqa (sal-AT-al-istis-KA), which the Prophet Muhammad traditionally offered during times of drought.

In Salatul Istisqa, the Prophet would offer supplications such as: "O God, give us rain that will replenish us, abundant, fertilizing and profitable, not injurious. Grant it now without delay ... Send down rain upon us and make it a source of strength and satisfaction ... O God, give us a saving rain, good and productive, general and heavy, now and not later, beneficial and not harmful."

The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O my people! Seek forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him in repentance. He will send you from the sky abundant rain." (Quran, 11:52)

"Texans of all faiths should offer whatever spiritual assistance they can in the effort to mitigate the negative impact of this drought on our state," said CAIR-Texas Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll.

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, 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: FLA. MUSLIMS TO MARK EARTH DAY WITH ADOPT-A-SHORE CLEAN-UP - TOP

(TAMPA, 4/21/11) – On April 22, CAIR-Tampa and "Muslims Care" will mark Earth Day 2011 by working toward a clean and beautiful environment through the Adopt-A-Shore clean-up project. CAIR-Tampa joined the Adopt-A-Shore program through the adoption of the Tampa Hillsborough Bypass Canal in 2007, as a project for "Muslims Care." (More)

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CAIR-MI: CLERGY UNITE TO PROTEST RALLY BY FLORIDA PASTOR - TOP
Naomi R. Patton, Detroit Free Press, 4/22/11

Some members of the interfaith clergy -- Muslims, Christians and Jews -- stood hand in hand, others were linked arm in arm, silently surrounding the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn in solidarity Thursday afternoon.

With them stood about 700 people, members of the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, members of the clergies' congregations and supporters.

Their mission was to protest Florida Pastor Terry Jones' plan to hold a rally today outside the Islamic Center mosque ...

The vigil began at 5:15 p.m. and ended five minutes later. As it came to a close, Islamic Center Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini said the Muslim community was "indebted to our Christian friends who have showed us absolute support."

"Terry Jones, he is not representative of the Christian community ... Terry Jones is speaking for himself only," Al-Qazwini said. "This is bigotry, and we condemn his bigotry."

Al-Qazwini and other Islamic Center officials also directed the Muslim community to attend a peaceful protest at 4 p.m. today at the Dearborn Civic Center, away from the mosque "so as to avoid any confrontation." Before the vigil, the InterFaith Leadership Council hosted a nearly one-hour "Vigil for the Beloved Community" program inside the Islamic Center. ...

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Jones has brought the various faith communities together for a purpose.

"Now that the bridges are built, we need to cross those bridges," he said. (More)

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CAIR-MI: JONES HAS RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH - TOP
Shaun Byron, Oakland Press, 4/21/11

Where does a person's right to free speech end and public safety begin?

Lawyers, religious leaders and proponents of civil liberties are voicing their opinion on the right of the Rev. Terry Jones to hold a protest tonight in front of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

Wayne County 19th District Court Judge Mark Somers ruled Thursday the protest could cause a public safety issue and Jones must post a peace bond.

The protest is against Sharia and jihad, two parts of the Islamic faith, according to the permit request.

Wayne County prosecutors had filed a complaint requiring Jones to post a peace bond to ensure the protesters wouldn't irritate or make threats. ...

Jones is attempting to incite hatred in the area and the protest is misguided, but he does have the freedom of speech, said Dawud Walid, an American Muslim and executive director of Southfield-based Council on American Islamic Relations.

"We live in the United States and we have the freedom of speech, unlike many countries that don't have such liberties," Walid said.

"Moses, Jesus and Mohammed all taught The Golden Rule and I'm sure Terry Jones wouldn't appreciate it if anyone came to his church and burned a cross or a Bible. If he is a true follower of Jesus, he would have respect for others." (More)

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UTAH CHURCH REJECTS HATE, DISTRIBUTES QURANS - TOP
Kristen Moulton, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4/21/11

Leaders of a Presbyterian congregation in Salt Lake City have an answer to the Florida pastor with a penchant for burning the Quran.

Wasatch Presbyterian Church is giving Islam's holy book away for free.

"Sometimes, it's hard to know how to push back against the lunatic fringe," said Russell Fericks, a member of the session, or governing board, of the 350-member church on the city's east side.

So when the new pastor, the Rev. Scott Dalgarno, asked the board last week to join him in opening their wallets, the reaction was swift.

The leaders put up $600 before the meeting was over and ordered dozens of copies of an Oxford Press edition of the Quran several days ago. The books will be available as early as Monday at King's English Bookshop, each with a bookmark bearing these words: "This book was donated by the leaders of Wasatch Presbyterian Church, who are not afraid of truth wherever it can be found." (More)

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MO: COMMUNITY BACKS MOSQUE AGAINST THREATS - TOP
Linda Leicht, News-Leader, 4/22/11

Vandalism and threats aimed at a local Muslim community have inspired others in Springfield to stand with the Muslims and in opposition to bigotry.

Representatives of faith groups, human rights advocates and city government will join members of the Islamic Center of Springfield on Saturday afternoon to speak against recent incidents at the center and for religious freedom.

Carl Haworth with the Interfaith Alliance, which organized the event, said "everyone who supports religious freedom" is invited to join. (More)

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TENN. LAWMAKER DEFENDS SCRUTINY OF ISLAM - TOP
Sam Stockard, Daily News Journal, 4/22/11

MURFREESBORO -- Debate surrounding proposed state legislation that critics say unfairly targets Islam continues to spill beyond the halls of the state Capitol.

In a fiery email response to a local Jewish man, state Rep. Rick Womick defended his confrontation with a Columbia Muslim after a House committee hearing this week.

Womick, a Rockvale Republican who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote an email Wednesday to Aaron Nuell of Murfreesboro stating that he sat "respectfully and politely" and listened to four people, including Daoud Abudiab of Columbia, accuse him and fellow legislators of denying them their constitutional rights, inflaming intolerance, making false accusations and being hate-mongers, racists and white supremacists such as the KKK.

"And you write me to scold me because I dare speak up and defend my character and confront a political-militaristic-religion responsible for 10 out of the last 11 terrorist attacks on Americans?" Womick wrote.

His letter was in response to a note from Nuell, a second-grade teacher and son of the late MTSU professor Lon Nuell, who wrote, "Please stop attacking your Muslim constituents. Some live in your district, and you were elected to represent them, too. You don't get to pick who you represent; in contrast, you chose to represent a diverse community. Your behavior is extreme and your questioning is in bad faith."

When the House Judiciary took a recess Tuesday shortly before noon, The DNJ reported that Womick confronted Abudiab, who spoke against legislation that initially targeted Islam and any Shariah-related support for terrorist groups. Womick asked him if he would publicly denounce Hezbollah and Hamas, two groups designated as terrorist organizations. Abudiab, a member of the Islamic Center of Columbia, which was torched in 2008, said he would denounce those groups and anyone who is "a threat to our security."

Womick responded he was satisfied with Abudiab's answer but continued to press him, saying Islam is a religious, political and military organization and groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Muslim Student Association hold radical beliefs that Shariah law should replace U.S. constitutional law. (More)

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TENN. ANTI-ISLAM BILL SPONSOR REFUSES DISCUSSIONS - TOP
Lucas L. Johnson II, Associated Press, 4/22/11

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The House sponsor of an anti-terrorist bill that has outraged Muslims is being criticized for asking state troopers to remove representatives of an interfaith group from his office who wanted to discuss the legislation. (More)

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CAIR: NJ WORKER FIRED FOR BURNING QURAN GETS JOB BACK - TOP
Star-Ledger, 4/22/11

TRENTON -- The New Jersey Transit employee fired for burning pages of the Quran at the site of a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero will get his job back, according to a settlement obtained by The Star-Ledger.

Derek Fenton, who sparked a national firestorm and condemnation from Gov. Chris Christie during his protest on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, will be reassigned to his $86,110-a-year job and get $25,000 for pain and suffering. The settlement, dated today, also says he will get back pay equal to $331.20 for every day since his firing.

The state will also pay $25,000 in legal fees to the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the suit on behalf of Fenton, 40, of Bloomingdale. ...

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a prominent Muslim group, has also said Fenton should keep his job.

"Our question was always, was his action in any way related to his duties on the job? Apparently it wasn't," spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said today. "What he did, however reprehensible, should not impact on his employment." (More)

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