HOW IT BECAME ACCEPTABLE TO REVEAL BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS - TOP
Mathew J. Creighton and Amaney A. Jamal, Huffington Post, 4/15/11

Before gauging whether you are in line with most of America in your opinion about Muslim immigrants, here are two things you should know: Firstly, Americans are no more opposed to granting citizenship to Muslim immigrants than Christian immigrants. Secondly, despite no real difference in opinion, Americans are significantly more open about their opposition to a Muslim becoming a citizen. In other words, what is unique is not the extent to which opposition exists, but the extent to which it is out in the open.

About a year ago, in the spring of 2010, with funding from the National Science Foundation's Time-Sharing Experiments in the Social Sciences program, we decided to see if Americans really felt differently about the incorporation of Muslims into American citizenry.

Because the U.S. has a long tradition of religious tolerance, we worried that Americans might feel uncomfortable expressing an intolerant view toward a specific religious group. To get around this, we randomly assigned the 2,366 participants in our study to three groups.

One group we asked directly whether they supported or opposed giving legal Muslim or Christian immigrants citizenship. A second and third group we asked about these two religious groups separately and indirectly, never forcing respondents to reveal their opinion to the interviewer or anyone.

This approach, called a "list experiment," has been used to consider other controversial topics such an affirmative action and same-sex marriage. Its unique insight is not just into the level of opposition, but the degree to which it is hidden. (More)

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VIDEO: DETROIT MOSQUE FIRE PROMPTS ARSON INVESTIGATION (CAIR) - TOP

A Detroit mosque is the center of an arson investigation after community members say they suspect foul play.

Watch the video.

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VIDEO: ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT SPARKS CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION (CAIR) -TOP
Kevin Schwaller, Ozarks First, 4/15/11

(Springfield, MO) -- Worshipers at the Islamic Center of Springfield say someone found a threatening letter and several burned Qurans on the property Sunday.

Now, a Muslim civil rights group is calling for a hate crime investigation and the FBI is involved.

Worshippers say they found the note on the mosque at 2151 East Division in Springfield. It reads "death to Islam," and the writers vow Islam, "will not survive."

People at the mosque feel threatened.

Springfield police records show officers responded to the call Sunday. One call was labeled as a "terrorist threat." ...

An FBI spokesperson says the bureau is now investigating what happened as a possiblecivil rights violation. It would not confirm the details.

In January, people who use the center also found graffiti. It was followed by more vandalism to a water faucet that left water gushing from the center.

Now, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is now calling for a hate crimes probe. (More)

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EDITORIAL: BIGOTRY AT MO. ISLAMIC CENTER AN AFFRONT TO ALL - TOP
News-Leader editorial, 4/15/11

"We think it is a tiny segment. They are just acting out of darkness." -- Jamil Saquer, board member, Islamic Center of Springfield

It is time for our community to prove Jamil Saquer is right.

We believe the perpetrator(s) of the recent acts of bigotry and hatred at the Islamic center represent a very small portion of Ozarkers. That the dark side rules this person or persons is a reason for pity.

The center received a threatening letter Sunday with statements such as Muslims "stain the earth" and "Islam will not survive" and "Death to Islam!" Earlier, the charred remains of three Qurans were discovered. The incidents were initially investigated by Springfield police, and the FBI has joined the case as a possible civil rights violation. The police logged one of the incidents as a "terrorist threat."

The very idea of a terrorist threat here is an outrage. It's an affront to how we want to see ourselves.

Now is the time when our citizens, churches and authorities should show a unity in purpose to prevent this incident from being the image of our Ozarks. (More)

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MO: COMMISSION, MAYOR SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANTI-ISLAM THREATS - TOP
Jess Rollins, News-Leader, 4/15/11

After learning of Sunday's threat against the Islamic Center of Springfield, the Mayor's Commission on Human Rights issued a statement asking the community to take a strong stand against the acts.

"There is no middle ground in issues of hate and bigotry; it simply cannot be ignored without devastating ramifications," the statement reads.

Community members have a responsibility to show that the behavior is not acceptable, it continues. (More)

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TEXAS LEGISLATOR CLAIMS DEARBORN HOME TO CREEPING SHARIA - TOP
Jonathan Oosting, MLive.com, 4/15/11

Texas State Rep. Leo Berman has never been to Dearborn, but he's pretty sure that judges in Metro Detroit are basing decisions on Sharia law.

Trust him, he heard it on the radio.

Berman recently proposed an amendment to the Texas state constitution that would specifically forbid courts from enforcing, considering, or applying any religious or cultural law.

In the un-proud tradition of Sharron Angle, Berman last week argued the amendment is necessary because Islamic law is taking hold in Dearborn and could soon spread to the rest of the United States.

April 12, Press and Guide: "It’s being done in Dearborn, Mich., right now. It’s being done in Dearborn, Mich., because of a large population of Middle Easterners. And the judges in Dearborn are using and allowing to be used Sharia law," Berman said to a panel of Texas legislators.

Pressed for further explanation by local reporters, Berman acknowledged his legislation was inspired by a claim he never bothered to verify.

"I heard it on a radio station here on my way in to the Capitol one day," Berman said Monday in an interview. "I don’t know Dearborn, Michigan but I heard it (Sharia is accepted law there) on the radio. Isn’t that true?"

Berman is the latest in a string of politicians -- Angle and presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich amongst them -- to make seemingly Islamophobic claims about Dearborn without visiting the city. (More)

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FOR SOME LATINOS, ISLAM IS SIMPLE - TOP
Hajer Naili, Illume, 4/14/11

Milena recently began attending Qur’an classes on Wednesday nights at the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City, New Jersey.

Milena is one of thousands of Latino Americans who has converted to Islam. She embraced the fast-growing religion four weeks ago. Milena has been married to her husband, who is originally a Pakistani-Muslim, for seven years. Despite their long marriage, she had always refused to convert just for her spouse’s sake.

Like many Puerto Ricans, she was a regular Catholic churchgoer with a strong faith. After her first son’s birth, she started to consider Islam.

"I became interested in learning about Islam without converting, because our son is going to be raised as a Muslim. That is how my interest in Islam started." she said.

So far Milena has been satisfied with the learning process.

"I am seeking knowledge, I am hungry for knowledge. I am really excited about what I feel," she said. (More)