: American Muslims Face Travel Woes (AP)
[Gadeir] Abbas, a lawyer with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tries to piece together the reason why a client has been placed on the list.
Islamic Relief USA Provides Aid to Somali Refugees in Kenya (USA Today)
Islamic Relief USA has been in East Africa since 1993 and currently has nine offices -- three each in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya –- and plans are in place to open two more offices in Somalia to help cope with the famine.

- MEDIA ADVISORY -

CAIR-MI: Legislators, Civil Rights Groups to Challenge Anti-Sharia Bill

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 8/15/2011) ­- On Tuesday, August 16, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), along with a number of that state's elected officials and civil rights leaders, will hold a press conference to raise concerns about a bill proposed by State Representative Dave Agema (R-Grandville)that unconstitutionally targets Islamic principles, or "Sharia."

Joining the CAIR-MI press conference will be Michigan State Representatives John Olumba (D-Detroit), Harvery Santana (D-Detroit) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), and representatives from ACLU-MI and MOSES.

WHAT: CAIR-MI to Hold News Conference on Anti-Sharia Bill
WHEN: Tuesday, August 16, 10 a.m.
WHERE: In front of the Cadillac Place, 3044 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI
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

Michigan House Bill No. 4769, which was introduced by Agema and co-sponsored by 43 other Republican state representatives, calls for non-consideration of any foreign law or system of law by Michigan courts and administrative agencies.

SEE: Michigan Bill Targets Use of 'Foreign' Laws Like Sharia
Anti-Shariah Legislation in Michigan

The bill, which does not explicitly use the term "Sharia," is patterned on similar legislation written by anti-Muslim activist David Yerushalmi and could potentially restrict the religious practices and family contracts of minorities.

SEE: The Man Behind the Anti-Shariah Movement (NY Times)
Meet the White Supremacist Leading the GOP's Anti-Sharia Crusade
Anti-Islam Activist Yerushalmi Measures Imams' Beards

Yerushalmi is head of the anti-Islam hate group Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE). 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)

Agema too has a history of making controversial comments relating to Muslims.

In comments relating to legislation meant to apprehend undocumented workers, Agema stated, "We have the largest concentration of Muslims in the state in the Dearborn area. I know we have (sleeper) cells there. That is what I really want to get at."

SEE: Is Farmworkers' Challenge for Legislators Supporting Strict Immigration Reform to 'Take Our Jobs' Bogus? (Mlive.com)

Agema also has joined the chorus of prominent anti-Muslim bigots in repeating the myth that President Obama is a secret Muslim.

SEE: Fact Checking: Agema Repeats Myths on Facebook Page

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.