CAIR: NY AG LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS RIGHTS - TOP

Initiative Targets Religious Rights Violations & Enforces Anti-Discrimination Laws
Schneiderman: We Must Protect Religious Freedom, Foster & Promote Tolerance

NEW YORK - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the launch of the Religious Rights Initiative, a project of the office's Civil Rights Bureau that will address religious rights issues and enforce anti-discrimination laws. The Religious Rights Initiative will target faith-based discrimination and violations of religious rights through public education, outreach and law enforcement, including litigation.

The Attorney General announced the launch of the Religious Rights Initiative in remarks before the Anti-Defamation League.

"Our state's rich history of religious diversity is founded on our nation's Bill of Rights and enshrined by laws that protect New Yorkers' right to freely practice their faith," Attorney General Schneiderman said. "The Religious Rights Initiative will focus on violations of this fundamental freedom, ensure that religious rights are protected, and work with communities throughout the state to foster and promote religious tolerance."

The Religious Rights Initiative will lead a public education and outreach campaign to help inform communities around the state about the requirements of the state's anti-discrimination laws. The campaign will also advance the Civil Rights Bureau's enforcement efforts, combat religious discrimination through litigation and advocacy, and promote the process for filing religious discrimination complaints. ...

Zead Ramadan, President, Board of Directors of the Council on American Islamic Relations-NY, said: "We applaud the Attorney General for his bold new initiative to combat religious discrimination in New York State. As the nation's largest Muslim civil rights group, dedicated to empowering the Muslim community, we look forward to working toward our common goals of ensuring religious freedom and preventing discrimination." (More)

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CAIR TO CO-HOST CIVIL RIGHTS FORUMS AT CLEVELAND MOSQUE - TOP
Nationally-known speakers to address Islamophobia, profiling and preemptive prosecutions

(CLEVELAND, OH, 11/10/2011) -- On November 18 and 19, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) and the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms will host civil rights forums at the Islamic Center of Cleveland.

The events, titled "A Wake-Up Call for Civil Rights," will address anti-Muslim law enforcement training, preemptive prosecutions and ethnic and religious profiling.

WHAT: A Wake-Up Call for Civil Rights
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 6:30 - 9:30 PM
WHERE: Islamic Center of Cleveland, 6055 West 150th St. Parma, OH 44130
CONTACT: CAIR Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com

Speakers include: Thomas Cincotta, Esq., author of "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, and the Threat to Rights and Security;" Stephan Salisbury,Philadelphia Inquirer reporter and author of "Mohamed's Ghosts: An American Story of Love and Fear in the Homeland;" Dr. Mel Underbakke, co-founder of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms; Dr. Shamshad Ahmad, SUNY Albany physics professor and author of "Rounded Up: Artificial Terrorists and Muslim Entrapment after 9/11;" Sharmin Sadequee of Families United for Justice in America; Steve Downs, Esq. of Project SALAM; and George Friday of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR-OHIO Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com

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CAIR: ARMY REVIEWS MUSLIM HEADSCARF RULE AFTER COMPLAINT - TOP
Bob Smietana, The Tennessean, 11/10/11

The Army is considering allowing female Muslim cadets in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to wear their headscarves under their uniforms.

Ravenwood High School freshman Demin Zawity dropped out of JROTC when she learned the program's dress code did not allow her to wear a headscarf. Zawity said her faith teaches that men and women should dress modestly.

"In the beginning of seventh grade and in eighth grade, I wore it to make my parents happy," she said. "Over this summer, I learned more about my religion and the reason we wear the scarf. That's when it became my decision."

The Army is considering allowing female Muslim cadets in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to wear their headscarves under their uniforms.

Ravenwood High School freshman Demin Zawity dropped out of JROTC when she learned the program's dress code did not allow her to wear a headscarf. Zawity said her faith teaches that men and women should dress modestly.

"In the beginning of seventh grade and in eighth grade, I wore it to make my parents happy," she said. "Over this summer, I learned more about my religion and the reason we wear the scarf. That's when it became my decision."

Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the Army to allow a religious exemption for Muslims to the JTROTC's dress code. The program already allows Jewish cadets to wear yarmulkes while in uniform.

Larry Stubblefield, deputy assistant secretary of the Army, responded in a letter CAIR received this week. (More)

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CAIR-MI: OUTSIDE PRAYER EVENT TO COUNTER INSIDE ANTI-ISLAM EVENT - TOP
Shawn D. Lewis, The Detroit News, 11/10/11

Detroit--They're coming in droves to pray for Detroit on Friday night. They'll all be praying to Jesus, but they'll be on different sides of the fence.

One event, known as TheCall Detroit 11.11.11, will hold a massive summit inside Ford Field, while another group of local clergy said it will counter TheCall with its own prayer vigil outside Ford Field.

The latter group, which on Wednesday solicited help from Occupy Detroit, claims TheCall is anti-Muslim and said it will march from the Occupy Detroit base on Grand Circus and Woodward to the outside of Ford Field. It is calling its event the "Crusade Against Hate."

The recently organized group claims TheCall is masquerading as a prayer event, but its message is anti-homosexual, anti-abortion and anti-Muslim. ...

Muslim leader Dawud Walid last week warned local mosques to step up their security, and Wednesday said he is encouraging Muslims to stay away from Ford Field on Friday night.

"I stand in solidarity in spirit with the clergy, but I will be speaking at a mosque inDearborn at the same time, and for the safety of our community, especially females, I am not encouraging Muslims to go down to that area because we don't want to have a scene where some may become belligerent," said Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan. (More)

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CAIR CO-SPONSORS HOUSTON CITIZENSHIP WEEK - TOP

Mayor Annise Parker is urging Houstonians to participate in the City of Houston's Third Annual Citizenship Week. This year's observance runs November 13-19 and will feature more than 180 events and activities across the city celebrating what it means to be a Houstonian, including student poetry contests, art exhibitions, citizenship workshops, discussions about Houston's history, and other events and performances representing many culturally-diverse communities.

"We just completed the most important act of civic engagement and citizenship with yesterday's election," said Mayor Parker. "Unfortunately, this right is often taken for granted. With that in mind, I hope all Houstonians will renew their citizenship commitment by participating in Citizenship Week." ...

Citizenship Week is sponsored by the City of Houston and many prominent community organizations and businesses, including: The Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Neighborhood Centers Inc, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston Community College, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Boat People SOS, American Jewish Committee, United Nations Association-USA Houston Chapter, Society of Iranian-American Women, NALEO Educational Fund, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Department of Neighborhoods/Office of International Communities, University of St. Thomas, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Foster Quan LLP, the Consular Ladies Club and many others. (More)

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AZ: ISLAMIC CENTER HOSTS FREE CLINIC - TOP
Anissa Tanweer, Arizona Daily Star, 11/10/11

Carla Lewis had never been in a mosque before and she wasn't sure what to expect.

"Because I'm a Christian, and you hear all this propaganda that if you're not Muslim, you're their enemy," she said.

Still, she entered, a little confused for a moment about where to go and how to behave until someone showed up to assist her.

"Are you here for the clinic? Let me show you the way," someone offered.

Lewis, a 47-year-old truck driver, said her private health insurance lapsed in April after she took a leave of absence to care for her ill child. She needed a physical exam before returning to work, so a flier in the library piqued her interest.

It was advertising a free medical clinic at the Islamic Center of Tucson.

"I came and found it was not what I thought," Lewis said. "People were very friendly and professional and welcoming." (More)

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INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR INFO ABOUT KANSAS MOSQUE FIRE - TOP
Stan Finger, The Wichita Eagle, 11/9/11

In their efforts to nail down the cause of the fire that heavily damaged a west Wichita mosque early on Halloween morning, investigators would like to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of the mosque shortly before and just after the blaze was reported.

Wichita Fire Capt. Stuart Bevis said the FBI, the ATF and local fire investigators have talked to "a ton of people" in the days following the fire, but investigators still don't know how the fire started -- or whether it was an arson.

"We ... are interested in hearing from anyone that might seen the fire early on and have not yet been contacted," Bevis said. (More)

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MD: SOUTH ASIAN HATE CRIME VICTIMS TOLD 'GO BACK TO INDIA' - TOP
Nesa Nourmohammadi, Gazette.net, 11/10/11

The vandalism of a Montgomery Village residence this week is being investigated byMontgomery County Police as a hate crime. Police have classified the Monday and Tuesday incidents at a house in the 20300 block of Swallow Point Road as hate-related crimes based on racial epithets and slurs yelled at the homeowners, who are of South Asian descent, county police spokeswoman Officer Rebecca Innocenti said.

At around 8:30 p.m. Monday, five juveniles rang the door bell of the house repeatedly and ran, police reported. The homeowners saw them throw trash and orange construction cones onto the front yard as the five ran away, according to police.

By the time police were notified and arrived at the house, the five were no longer in the area.

They are described as four boys and one girl younger than age 18, Innocenti said.

The following day at around 4:30 p.m., teenagers returned to the house and banged on the door. When the homeowners opened the front door, they recognized the five juveniles from the previous day shouting racial slurs at them. As the group left the house, they told the homeowners to "go back to India," according to police. (More)