MOSQUE FIRE INVESTIGATORS NOT RULING OUT HATE CRIME - TOP
KCRA, 4/25/11
STOCKTON, Calif. -- KCRA spoke with fire officials Monday morning who said work crews will be at the scene of a mosque fire on Pershing Avenue by the afternoon.
The mosque was part of a strip mall that caught on fire early Saturday morning. ...
Two places of worship were involved in a Saturday morning fire, so fire officials said they cannot rule out that this was a possible hate crime. (More)
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CALIF. MOSQUE FIRE PROBE GETS FEDERAL AGENCY'S ATTENTION - TOP
Daniel Thigpen, Record, 4/25/11
STOCKTON - Federal arson investigators will assist the Stockton Fire Department today as officials probe a Saturday strip mall fire that gutted a mosque and damaged a church.
Stockton Fire Battalion Chief Robert Tuitavuki said agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were requested to join the investigation. Tuitavuki said the ATF is often available for assistance on "high-interest" cases.
The early morning fire in the 4200 block of North Pershing Avenue gutted the shop-front Masjid al Emaan and also destroyed the adjacent Reliance Real Estate office. The Living Water Ministries & Christian Center housed at the building had smoke and water damage. (More)
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TENN. MUSLIMS TO DENOUNCE ANTI-ISLAM BILL - TOP
When: Tuesday, April 26, 9:00 am
What: Hundreds of Muslims and their allies from across the state will start off the day with a press conference as they gather to denounce the anti-Muslim bill (SB1028/HB1353) and anti-refugee bill (SB1670/HB1632), and will then walk to Legislative Plaza.
Where: Downtown Presbyterian Church, 154 5th Ave N (corner of 5th and Church)
Why: This Tuesday, the House and Senate Judiciary committees will consider House Bill 1353 and Senate Bill 1028. Muslim leaders, other faith leaders, and civil liberties organizations will gather to warn of the dangers of this legislation, questioning its necessity and constitutionality on several grounds. Also on Tuesday, the House State and Local Government committee will hear House Bill 1632, a bill that would encourage local governments to hold public hearings on the desirability of refugee community members and declare "moratoria" on any new settlement activity.
Who: Hundreds of Muslim leaders, other faith leaders, civil rights leaders, and community members joined by Representative Johnny Shaw, House District 80, of Bolivar, TN.
Visuals/Audio: Ethnically and culturally diverse group of people, some families with kids, members of new immigrant communities not often seen walking to Legislative Plaza.
Contact: Remziya Suleyman, 615-498-8847, remziya@tnimmigrant.org; CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: gabbas@cair.com
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TN: ANTI-ISLAM LAW IS UNNECESSARY, COULD DEMONIZE INNOCENT PEOPLE - TOP
Ted Rayburn, Tennessean, 4/24/11
Could you, one day in the near future, be subject to arrest in Tennessee simply because the faith you were born into and believe in contains principles that state officials disagree with?
The answer, sadly, is yes -- if legislators and the governor approve Senate Bill 1028/House Bill 1353, formerly known as the "anti-Shariah law bill'' and newly worded to quash concerns over its potential to stir up discrimination against Muslims in Tennessee.
The rewording did not work. This bill, now presented as an anti-terrorism measure, manages through its broadened vagueness to demonize not only Muslims -- its prime target -- but any group because of its ideology, even if its conduct is exemplary and its members break no laws. (More)
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TN: MUSLIM CRIES FOUL OVER REP'S COMMENTS - TOP
Skyler Swisher, Daily Herald, 4/24/11
A Columbia Muslim says a state lawmaker's e-mail response to a constituent's criticism is further proof his faith is under attack on Capitol Hill.
State Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, called Islam in the e-mail a "political-militaristic-religion" responsible for 10 out of the last 11 terrorist attacks on Americans.
Womick wrote he has studied Islam and its code known as Shariah for nine years, and he advised others to do the same before turning a blind eye and accusing others of intolerance.
"Ignorance is bliss, and stupidity can get you killed," Womick wrote. "I suggest you educate yourself on both sides of the issue."
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would authorize the governor and attorney general to designate an entity "a domestic terrorist" or "a foreign terrorist organization." Initially, the measure mentioned Islam and Shariah by name, but it was later amended to strip any reference to a religion.
Daoud Abudiab, a Columbia Muslim whose mosque was torched by white supremacists in 2008, said Womick's written remarks show lawmakers are really wanting to target the state's Muslims, despite their assurances that is not the case.
"He's a state representative and he holds this view, and he wants me to trust another state representative to designate us as a terrorist organization or not. ... It's terrifying to think people of his stature believe that," Abudiab said.
Aaron Nuell, a second-grade teacher from Murfreesboro, wrote the critical letter to Womick, asking him to "stop attacking your Muslim constituents." (More)
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VIDEO: RALLY SUPPORTS MISSOURI MUSLIMS TARGETED BY HATE (CAIR) - TOP
Jeremy Stevens, Ozarks First, 4/25/11
(Springfield, MO) -- Hundreds of people held a demonstration at the Springfield Islamic Center to send a message of support for the Muslim community in the Ozarks.
Earlier this year vandals spray painted derogatory terms on the side of the Islamic Center of Springfield's building.
And just a couple weeks ago, someone found a threatening letter and several burned Qurans on the property.
Saturday, the message was clear: this will not stand in our community.
"Be inclusive, be attentive, listen , respect other views, speak out with courage, act with compassion," said Francine Pratt, the local NAACP president.
"And our place is open to everyone to come and visit us," said Dr. Mostafa Galal with the Islamic Center.
City leaders, ministers, peace activists were all joining together for one reason. (More)
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VIDEO: ISLAMIC LEADER REACTS TO VERDICT IN TERRY JONES CASE (CAIR-MI) -TOP
Dawud Walid, executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan, gives his thoughts on the trial of pastor Terry Jones and his assistant Wayne Sapp.
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CAIR: N.J. TRANSIT WORKER FIRED FOR BURNING KORAN GETS BACK JOB - TOP
Paul Vitello, New York Times, 4/23/11
A New Jersey Transit worker who was fired after burning pages of a Koran during a demonstration in Lower Manhattan on Sept. 11 last year has been reinstated, reimbursed for lost wages and benefits, and awarded $25,000 in compensation for the pain and suffering caused by his dismissal.
The reinstatement of the worker, Derek Fenton of Bloomingdale, N.J., was announced on Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, which sued the transportation corporation on his behalf, arguing that his actions were protected by the First Amendment. The reinstatement was part of a settlement agreement, filed this week in Federal District Court in Newark, in which Mr. Fenton dropped his suit in exchange for getting his job back.
"In America, we have the right to burn all kinds of things -- letters, flags, books, Bibles and Korans," Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the New Jersey group, said Friday. ...
Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights advocacy group, said his organization had not sought Mr. Fenton's firing. "We have always believed," he said, "that somebody should not be punished in their employment for actions taken -- no matter how reprehensible -- in their private lives." (More)
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CAIR SUPPORTS UNION BARGAINING AND FAIR PAY RIGHTS - TOP
Associated Press, 4/23/11
The involvement of religious leaders highlighted the intersection between faith and the marketplace as policymakers debated union and spending issues woven into the fabric of American society. ...
In Wisconsin, the Muslim community spoke out against union restrictions, with theChicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations taking an active role, said Julia Shearson, executive director of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio. She said Muslims are generally socially conservative but have religious values that support the right to bargain and fair pay for teachers and other public servants. (More)
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CAIR-OH: MUSLIMS THANK A BRIDGE-BUILDER - TOP
Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer, 4/24/11
At its upcoming annual banquet, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations will say goodbye and wish peace upon Isam Zaiem, the Westlake man who founded the local chapter to forge friendships and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslim in Northeast Ohio.
Zaiem is stepping down after eight years at the helm of the civil rights organization but he plans to stay involved as president emeritus.
CAIR's 9th Annual Civil Rights Banquet will feature Kareem Irfan, the first Muslim president of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, delivering a keynote address. It begins at 5 p.m. May 7 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence. For reservations, call 216-830-2247.
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CAIR: MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR RAIN IN TEXAS - TOP
Hajer Naili, Illume, 4/23/11
The Texas chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) has called on mosques across the state to offer prayers for rain.
The state is affected by 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 by Texas Governor Rick Perry declaring a three-day period of "Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas."
Gov. Perry's declared, "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."
More than 8,000 wildfires have resulted in the loss of several lives, destruction of 400 homes with over 1.8 million acres devastated. (More)
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CAIR-CA: ISLAMIC CENTER TO OPEN IN SACRAMENTO AREA - TOP
Stephen Magagnini, Sacramento Bee, 4/25/11
This Saturday, a $5.5 million Moorish-style mosque and Islamic center will open to the public across from American River College.
The 21,000-square-foot, two-story, ochre-colored center features arched entrances and a 54-foot-high green dome with a crescent on top.
"The architecture is a mixture of what's in the Prophet Muhammad's mosque in Medina (in Saudi Arabia) and the Moorish mosque in Cordoba, southern Spain," said project director Javed Iqbal. "It blends well with California Spanish architecture."
The new Masjid and Center for Higher Islamic Learning was built by SALAM, the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims.
SALAM, which began as a P.O. box in 1987, now holds Friday prayer for 800 people from 25 nations, including about 40 converts to Islam, said founder Metwalli Amer.
The new center houses a gift shop, school and educational programs, with an 8,000-volume library planned. It will be open "to all members of the community, regardless of religion or gender," said Amer. "This will truly be an American Islamic center – it's moderate, it reaches out, it works with others." ...
Rashid Ahmed, a Pakistani American who founded the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), said that while there's no doubt that Islamophobia fueled by Glenn Beck and other talk show hosts is rising, "SALAM has done a wonderful job of maintaining a moderate, tolerant path showing we can live together with others. It's easy to fall into the extremes." (More)
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