- CAIR: Conn. Coalition to Ask Governor to Probe NYPD Muslim Spying
On Tuesday, February 21, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) will join with the Connecticut Civil Rights Coalition at a noon press conference in New Haven to urge Governor Dannel P. Malloy to protect the rights of Muslim students in that state.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 21, Noon
WHERE: In Front of City Hall, 165 Church Street, New Haven 06510
CONTACT: CAIR-CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi, 860-514-8038, E-Mail:mdhaouadi@cair.com (More)- CAIR: Group Behind Anti-Muslim Training Says Focus on Sharia Law!
Guandolo. . .had to resign after it was revealed that he had sexual relationships with agents and a key government informant — and then created a list of his conquests. He bounced back as a speaker about the threat of Islamic terrorism..
- CAIR: Group Behind Anti-Muslim Training Says Focus on Sharia Law!
- CAIR-CA Marks 70th Anniversary of Japanese-American Internment
Other speakers included U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, who spent part of his childhood in an internment camp; Karen Korematsu, whose father, Fred, unsuccessfully fought the wartime internment order all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court; and Zahra Billoo, head of the Bay Area chapter of [CAIR].- Rep. Honda: 70 Years Later, Still Blaming an 'Enemy Within'
This demonization of Muslim Americans ignores the rich, diverse background of the community, its contributions to American society, and its invaluable service to the United States military.
- Rep. Honda: 70 Years Later, Still Blaming an 'Enemy Within'
- CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Anti-Muslim Facebook Death Threat
A man who says he is an "M1 Abrams Armor Crewman" who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., threatened to kill others who commented on an article posted Saturday on CAIR's Facebook page.- CAIR: Evangelical General Dropped by West Point Because of Views on Islam
[CAIR] provided a YouTube link to a clip showing Boykin making the kind of blanket recommendation cited by his critics: "We must recognize that Islam is not just a religion. It is a totalitarian way of life. . .It should not be protected under the First Amendment."
- CAIR: Evangelical General Dropped by West Point Because of Views on Islam
- CAIR Director Speaks at Summit for Muslim Social Media Platform
Representatives of the world Muslim elite from more than 40 countries gathered in Istanbul to attend the Inaugural Global Summit organized by Salamworld, an international company aiming to develop the first social media platform oriented towards the needs of the Muslim population.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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- MEDIA ADVISORY - CAIR-MI to File Suit Over Zoning Denial for Islamic School (SOUTHFIELD, MI, 2/21/2012) - On Wednesday, February 22, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) will hold a news conference to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit against Pittsfield Township over its denial of zoning for an Islamic school. CAIR-MI: Lawsuit Planned Over Proposed Mich. Islamic School (AP) WHAT: Press Conference Announcing Filing of Lawsuit Over Zoning Denial of Islamic School CAIR-MI’s press conference will be available to be viewed live-streaming here. In October 2011, the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees denied a land use variance request by the Michigan Islamic Academy (MIA), even though the school met every requirement put forth by the township's planning commission to qualify. That action was an apparent violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act (RLUIPA). SEE: Michigan Islamic Academy Vows Litigation After Pittsfield Township Rejects Rezoning For School (AnnArbor.com) A representative from MIA will join CAIR-MI officials at the press conference. 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. - END - CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com, CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, E-Mail: lmasri@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 Action Alert: Action: Ask Elected Officials to Oppose South Dakota Anti-Sharia Bill (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/22/12) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Muslims and other people of conscience in South Dakota and nationwide to urge elected officials in that state to reject House Bill 1253 (HB 1253), the sponsor of which admits is designed to attack Sharia, the religious principles of American Muslims. "I would be less than fully honest with you if I didn’t also say that part of the purpose of [HB] 1253 is to deal with what I am going to say generally has been referred to as Sharia Law," said State Representative Roger Hunt (R-10) before the State House Judiciary Committee. "[This bill] will give us the provision needed to in essence deal with religious codes that would be sought in the state of South Dakota." SEE: Rep. Hunt Before the South Dakota State House Judiciary Committee (At 2:30:20) SEE: South Dakota HB 1253, Judicial Enforcement of Religious Codes On February 10, the bill was approved by the South Dakota House of Representatives sent to the State Senate for further consideration. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review the bill on Thursday, February 23. The office of South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard has voiced support for the bill. SEE: HB 1253, Bill History The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) named Yerushalmi a member of the "anti-Muslim inner circle." SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America's National Existence (SADITANE) Links to Background Information on David Yerushalmi: In a March 2, 2006, article for The American Spectator, Yerushalmi wrote: "Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization ... The Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies." Yerushalmi is also staff attorney for Frank Gaffney, president of the Washington-based Center for Security Policy. Gaffney was a key witness for the plaintiffs in a controversial lawsuit against a mosque being built in Tennessee. Gaffney has also promoted the false belief that President Obama is a Muslim. Gaffney: Mosques 'Destroy Western Civilization from Within' (Video) IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be polite and respectful.) 1. Contact South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. Call 605-773-3661, and ask to speak to the director of constituents. 2. Contact South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson (R-08), Minority Leader Jason Frerichs (D-01) and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee To contact the members of the House Courts of Justice Committee:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Copy all correspondence to info@cair.com Talking points:
3. Inform your friends and family by forwarding this alert to at least five other people. Tell them you took action and ask them to do the same. 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. For more information, contact: CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Robert McCaw, Tel: 202-742-6448, E-Mail: rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
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CAIR Action Alert: Action: Ask Elected Officials to Oppose South Dakota Anti-Sharia Bill (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/22/12) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Muslims and other people of conscience in South Dakota and nationwide to urge elected officials in that state to reject House Bill 1253 (HB 1253), the sponsor of which admits is designed to attack Sharia, the religious principles of American Muslims. "I would be less than fully honest with you if I didn’t also say that part of the purpose of [HB] 1253 is to deal with what I am going to say generally has been referred to as Sharia Law," said State Representative Roger Hunt (R-10) before the State House Judiciary Committee. "[This bill] will give us the provision needed to in essence deal with religious codes that would be sought in the state of South Dakota." SEE: Rep. Hunt Before the South Dakota State House Judiciary Committee (At 2:30:20) SEE: South Dakota HB 1253, Judicial Enforcement of Religious Codes On February 10, the bill was approved by the South Dakota House of Representatives sent to the State Senate for further consideration. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review the bill on Thursday, February 23. The office of South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard has voiced support for the bill. SEE: HB 1253, Bill History The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) named Yerushalmi a member of the "anti-Muslim inner circle." SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America's National Existence (SADITANE) Links to Background Information on David Yerushalmi: In a March 2, 2006, article for The American Spectator, Yerushalmi wrote: "Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization ... The Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies." Yerushalmi is also staff attorney for Frank Gaffney, president of the Washington-based Center for Security Policy. Gaffney was a key witness for the plaintiffs in a controversial lawsuit against a mosque being built in Tennessee. Gaffney has also promoted the false belief that President Obama is a Muslim. Gaffney: Mosques 'Destroy Western Civilization from Within' (Video) IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be polite and respectful.) 1. Contact South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. Call 605-773-3661, and ask to speak to the director of constituents. 2. Contact South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson (R-08), Minority Leader Jason Frerichs (D-01) and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee To contact the members of the House Courts of Justice Committee:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Copy all correspondence to info@cair.com Talking points:
3. Inform your friends and family by forwarding this alert to at least five other people. Tell them you took action and ask them to do the same. 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. For more information, contact: CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Robert McCaw, Tel: 202-742-6448, E-Mail: rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
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- Verse: Always Say the Truth
- Action: Ask Elected Officials to Oppose South Dakota Anti-Sharia Bill
- NV: Fire at Muslim Building Site May Prompt ATF Probe
- Breaking: NYPD Built Secret Files on NJ, Long Island Mosques (AP)
- Newark Mayor: NYPD Misled City on Muslim Spying (AP)
- NYPD Found No Trace of Terrorism While Spying on Muslims
- Newark Mayor: NYPD Misled City on Muslim Spying (AP)
- CAIR-CT (Video): Civil Rights Groups Demand Answers Over NYPD Spying
- CAIR-CT (Video): NYPD under Fire for Monitoring Muslim Students
- CAIR: What Kind of Pressure Used on FBI Informants? (USA Today)
- Iowa Mosque Spy 'Betrayed' by FBI (Des Moines Register)
- CAIR: 'No-Fly' Muslim Takes Case to Court of Public Opinion (MSNBC)
- CAIR: Chicago Muslims Hit Back at Campaign Attacks
- Video: CAIR Rep Says Quran Burnings Show Religious Insensitivity
- CAIR: Muslims Angered by Koran Burnings
- CAIR (Video): NATO Soldiers Burn Religious Documents
- CAIR: Afghan Protests Over Quran Burnings (Video)
- CAIR: Muslims Angered by Koran Burnings
- CAIR-PA: See Iraq's 'Cronkite'
- More Muslim Families Turn to Home-Schooling
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VERSE OF THE DAY: ALWAYS SAY THE TRUTH - TOP
"O you who believe! Remain conscious of God and (always) say what is just and true."
The Holy Quran, 33:70
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CAIR VIDEO ALERT: ASK ELECTED OFFICIALS TO OPPOSE SOUTH DAKOTA ANTI-SHARIA BILL - TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/22/12) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Muslims and other people of conscience in South Dakota and nationwide to urge elected officials in that state to reject House Bill 1253 (HB 1253), the sponsor of which admits is designed to attack Sharia, the religious principles of American Muslims.
Watch the video here or read the full alert here.
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NV: FIRE AT MUSLIM BUILDING SITE MAY PROMPT ATF PROBE - TOP
Fire at Islamic funeral home, cemetery building site may prompt ATF probe
By Jackie Valley, Las Vegas Sun, 2/22/12
A mysterious fire that erupted overnight at a construction site for a funeral home and cemetery to serve the Islamic Society of Nevada may trigger an investigation by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. (More)
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NEW REVELATIONS: NYPD BUILT SECRET FILES ON NJ, LONG ISLAND MOSQUES -TOP
By Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, Associated Press, 2/22/12
NEWARK, N.J. -- Americans living and working in New Jersey's largest city were subjected to surveillance as part of the New York Police Department's effort to build databases of where Muslims work, shop and pray. The operation in Newark was so secretive even the city's mayor says he was kept in the dark. (More)
SEE ALSO:
NEWARK MAYOR: NYPD MISLED CITY ON MUSLIM SPYING - TOP
Dave Porter and Samantha Henry, Associated Press, 2/22/12
Newark, N.J. - (AP) -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker and his top police official say the city was misled by the New York Police Department and never would have authorized such wholesale spying on Muslims if they had known about it. (More)
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NYPD FOUND NO TRACE OF TERRORISM WHILE SPYING ON MUSLIMS, SAYS REPORT- TOP
Joe Greene, newjerseynewsroom.com, 2/22/12
Abdul Kareem Abdullah of Newark was born in the United States. He became a Muslim years ago, and says he understands the increased scrutiny of people of his faith in this country since the 9/11 terror attacks.
What he doesn't understand, though, is why the New York City police department secretly spied on and compiled a report on him, his wife and customers at his restaurant.
"If they really wanted to understand," Abdullah told Adam Goldman of the Associated Press, "they'd come talk to us."
The NYPD's Demographics Unit conducted similar surveillance operations of other Muslims in Newark and on Long Island, filming and listening in on conversations where they worship, at stores and restaurants they frequent, and at places where they work.
When the mission was concluded, the NYPD put together a 60-page report about their operations -- which uncovered no evidence of terrorism or criminal behavior. (More)
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CAIR-CT (VIDEO): CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS DEMAND ANSWERS OVER NYPD SPYING -TOP
Two civil rights groups want to know the extent of the New York City police department's surveillance of Muslim organizations in Connecticut.
Watch the video here.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CT (VIDEO): NYPD UNDER FIRE FOR MONITORING MUSLIM STUDENTS AT YALE, NORTHEAST COLLEGES - TOP
Tonight -- York's Mayor Bloomberg is defending his police department.
They've been investigating Muslims outside city limits we learned the NYPD has been monitoring Muslim students for years at more than a dozen schools what university on that list -- jail tonight. Well administrators and students there are outraged our -- for now has more. (More)
Watch the video here.
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CAIR: WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE USED ON FBI INFORMANTS? - TOP
Kevin Johnson, USA Today, 2/20/12
Civil rights advocates and some defense lawyers have complained that the tactics smack of a disproportionate focus on Muslims.
"We are getting regular calls from people across the country who are being approached by the (federal government) to act as informants," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, which advocates for Muslim civil liberties in the USA. "And we are concerned about what kind of pressure is being used to get that cooperation." (More)
SEE ALSO:
IOWA MOSQUE SPY 'BETRAYED' BY FBI - TOP
Rekha Basu, Des Moines Register, 2/22/12
A sense of betrayal has hung over the Islamic Center of Des Moines since members learned the man they knew as Rafik Alvi was there neither to worship nor even Muslim. He was Arvinder Singh, and by his subsequent confession, was there to infiltrate them.
Singh disclosed in this column Aug. 8 that he had spied on local Muslims for the FBI, which then betrayed him. "They woke up a little bit in every mosque and they had a little chat about it," said Hamed Baig, president of the Islamic Center.
The Muslims say the FBI had no reason to infiltrate the mosque because no one there is a terrorist. The one arrest of a member that someone can recall during the period was for working without a permit.
"If there is anybody with terrorist activity, we will report them ourselves," said member Basim Bakri, a Jordanian-born U.S. citizen. "Instead they go and black label all the Muslims as terrorists." (More)
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CAIR: 'NO-FLY' MUSLIM TAKES CASE TO COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION - TOP
Kari Huus, msnbc.com, 2/22/12
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Mustafa Elogbi is by nature a private person. But when he finally arrived home after a frightening ordeal with U.S. security officials that cost him six weeks and thousands of dollars, he chose the spotlight.
Elogbi is seeking publicity and threatening legal action against the government for what he says was virtual exile by the U.S. government despite concerns about how the publicity might affect his family. ...
On Jan. 4, after visiting family and friends in Libya, Elogbi headed home from Tunis, Tunisia, to the United States, where he is a citizen and resident of 33 years. But when his flight landed at London's Heathrow Airport, he was detained and questioned by security officials who he says told him they were acting on behalf of Washington.
They told him he would not be able to board a flight to the United States, and instead locked him up in solitary confinement at a British detention center for two days, then placed him on a flight back to Tunis.
Elogbi was shaken and humiliated. His wife, Annie Petrossian, contacted a Portland lawyer immediately, but Elogbi was at first leery of confronting the government. ...
The Council for American Islamic Relations says it regularly fields calls from Americans -- mostly Muslims -- who are prevented from boarding and believe they are on the no-fly list. Less than half of those who contact the organization pursue legal action, and fewer still seek publicity, according to CAIR staff attorney Gadeir Abbas. He says this is especially true if they are within the United States, and can take a car or train home. (More)
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CAIR: CHICAGO MUSLIMS HIT BACK AT CAMPAIGN ATTACKS - TOP
David Lepeska, Chicago News Cooperative, 2/22/12
As anti-Muslim rhetoric rises at the local and national levels-some of it fueled by the presidential campaign-a group of Chicago-area Muslims is battling back, using tactics ranging from a TV ad campaign to public forums against bigotry.
Gain Peace, a Chicago-based Islamic outreach organization, spent $40,000 in December to produce two television ads intended to promote Islam as a just faith and counter negative portrayals. The spots, running through March in the Chicago area on FOX, CNN and TNT, depict friendly Muslim students and professionals and display a phone number and website for more information.
"This is an election year and in the Republican primaries and elsewhere, generally we have seen more discrimination, hate and misunderstanding about Muslims," said Sabeel Ahmed, director of Gain Peace. "We wanted to take it up a notch."
During a political engagement workshop for immigrants on the near West Side early this month, the head of a Muslim advocacy group urged attendees to fight attacks with accurate information about the Muslim faith.
"What's worse than ignorance is misinformation, and that's what I find Islamophobia normally falls under: It's a process of mis-education," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "But what can be done, can be undone." (More)
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VIDEO: CAIR REP SAYS QURAN BURNINGS SHOW RELIGIOUS INSENSITIVITY - TOP
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper discusses the negative message sent by the burning of Qurans in Afghanistan on China Central Television (CCTV).
Watch the video here.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: MUSLIMS ANGERED BY KORAN BURNINGS - TOP
Austin Wright, Politico, 2/22/12
Muslims in the United States are responding with a "collective shaking of the head" to the burning of Korans at a military base in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Tuesday.
"You'd think after so many years there would be some lessons learned about cultural and religious sensitivity, but apparently not," Ibrahim Hooper told POLITICO. "Whenever you have forces in a region where there's growing hostility to your presence, these kinds of incidents are going to result." (More)
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CAIR (VIDEO): NATO SOLDIERS BURN RELIGIOUS DOCUMENTS - TOP
Paul Johnson, Global News, 2/21/2012
Tue, Feb 21: NATO is in damage control after soldiers were caught burning copies of the Koran in Afghanistan.
Watch the video here.
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CAIR: AFGHAN PROTESTS OVER QURAN BURNINGS (VIDEO) - TOP
Watch the video here.
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CAIR-PA: SEE IRAQ'S 'CRONKITE' - TOP
Want to hear the "Walter Cronkite of Iraq"?
Bahjat Abdulwahed will speak at an event, "Muslims in America: Building Bridges in a Climate of Fear," from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St., in Center City.
The event will feature a screening of Hawo's Dinner Party, a 30-minute video adapted from the documentary Welcome to Shelbyville, which tells the story of a small Tennessee town as it grappled with Somali refugees.
The video will be followed by a discussion from local Muslims, including Abdulwahed. The event is co-sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Nationalities Service Center, and the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
Space is limited. RSVP by calling Lucy Duncan at 215-241-7062, or register online atmuslimsinamerica.eventbrite.com.
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MUSLIM FAMILIES TURN TO HOME-SCHOOLING - TOP
By Daniel Jackson, The Washington Times, 2/21/12
Cilia Ndiaye vividly remembers her parents' worries that she was suffering in public school because of her Muslim faith. Fellow students, she said, would mock her and tear off her hijab, the head scarf worn for modesty.
"We were called Nazis," she says.
Her parents' solution -- to home-school their daughter -- was a radical step in 1987, but one that a rising number of Muslim-Americans are embracing today, shaking off the stigma that taking their children out of the public school system would increase the community's isolation and cultural distance from the American mainstream. (More)
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