Sunday, March 11, 2012

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VERSE OF THE DAY: RALLY TO A GOOD CAUSE - TOP

"Whoever rallies to a good cause shall have a share in its blessings; and whoever rallies to an evil cause shall be answerable for his part in it."

The Noble Quran, 4:85

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VIDEO: CAIR WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE, MARCH 9, 2012 - TOP

Watch CAIR's 4-minute weekly news update here.

Topics include:

  • CAIR Reps Visit 113 Congressional Offices
  • Minn. Lawmaker Withdraws Anti-Sharia Bill
  • CAIR Challenges Fla. Anti-Sharia Legislation
  • Mo. Speaker Says Islam is 'Worse than Nazism'
  • CAIR Meets with FBI Over NYPD Spying
  • CAIR-St. Louis Sponsors Rally in Support of Immigrant Rights
  • CAIR Elects Omar Zaki as Board Chair

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MO. ISLAMIC SCHOOL CANCELS CLASSES OVER CHRISTIAN GROUP'S PROTEST - TOP
Doug Moore, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/8/12

An Islamic school has canceled classes for Friday after parents and faculty expressed concern about a Christian group gathering outside the school to distribute religious materials.

"We sent a notice to parents that attendance was optional in case they didn't feel comfortable," said Donna Bari, a spokesman for Al-Salam Day School, which serves about 300 students in grades kindergarten through eighth. "Many, many called."

As a result, Bari said, the principal and the school board agreed to close the school for the day.

"Hopefully, it will be peaceful. Whatever they are protesting," Bari said.

Mark Kiser, president of Reclaiming Missouri for Christ, the group gathering outside the school, took issue with calling the event a protest.

"This is definitely not a protest of any kind," said Kiser, of Springfield, Mo. "There will be no signs, no megaphones. No yelling and screaming. Just gentle, loving outreach."

The school sits next door to Daar-ul-Islam mosque, also known as the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis. The mosque will host Friday prayers at noon and 1 p.m.

Imam Asif Umar said he does not expect problems. The group has a Constitutional right to assemble and speak their mind, he said.

"In Islam, we are taught to respect all religions and beliefs," Umar said. "No matter their ideologies." (More)

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SPLC: U.S. ANTI-MUSLIM HATE GROUPS TRIPLE IN 2011 - TOP
By Mark Potok, Southern Poverty Law Center, 3/9/12

The radical right grew explosively in 2011, the third such dramatic expansion in as many years. The growth was fueled by superheated fears generated by economic dislocation, a proliferation of demonizing conspiracy theories, the changing racial makeup of America, and the prospect of four more years under a black president who many on the far right view as an enemy to their country.

The number of hate groups counted by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) last year reached a total of 1,018, up slightly from the year before but continuing a trend of significant growth that is now more than a decade old. The truly stunning growth came in the antigovernment "Patriot" movement — conspiracy-minded groups that see the federal government as their primary enemy. (More)

SEE ALSO:

ACTIVE ANTI-MUSLIM GROUPS - TOP

You can read the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of active anti-Muslim groups here.

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OR: MUSLIMS QUESTION NO-FLY DETENTION IN MEETING WITH DHS ADVISERS -TOP
Helen Jung, The Oregonian, 3/9/12

The no-fly list is being used as a "cudgel" against Muslims traveling abroad to get them to give up their rights as U.S. citizens in exchange for the right to return home, a Portland-area attorney said Thursday night in a meeting with U.S. Department of Homeland Security representatives.

"What will the United States do ... to repair the trust it has broken with its Muslim American citizens in Portland?" said attorney Tom Nelson, underscoring the frustration felt by many at the Islamic Center of Greater Portland in Beaverton. "What can you do to fix this situation, and how can we prevent similar situations from happening in the future?"

Kareem Shora, a senior policy adviser for Homeland Security, said he could not speak on behalf of the FBI or other agencies that do not fall under his department. But he welcomed hearing the complaints and urged people to keep talking with those agencies about problems.

It was a frequent response as Shora and another policy adviser, Abdi Farah, fielded questions and criticisms on issues from why the FBI acted against two metro-area travelers to Libya to whether the U.S. attorney's office in Portland is targeting Muslims. (More)

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CAIR-TX: MUSLIM SCHOOL DENIED ENTRY IN PRIVATE SCHOOL SPORTS LEAGUE -TOP
Scott Braddock, 3/8/12

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools faces accusations of religious discrimination after a Muslim school in Houston was denied entry. TAPPS has declined to comment.

Mustafa Carroll with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Texas admits the Iman Academy may not have any legal recourse. Still, he's disgusted the school was denied a spot in a sports league after being asked theological questions.

Click here to listen to Mustafa Carroll.


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