Saturday, May 12, 2012


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VERSE OF THE DAY: ADORE GOD ALONE - TOP
"Among His signs are the night and the day, as well as the sun and the moon: (Therefore) do not adore the sun or the moon, but adore God, who has created them both -- if it is Him whom you (truly) worship."
The Holy Quran, 41:37
"O humankind! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that you may have the chance to learn righteousness."
The Holy Quran, 2:21
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CAIR: MUSLIMS, CATHOLICS SAY OPEN MICHIGAN PRAYER CAUCUS TO ALL - TOP
The Detroit News, 5/3/12
Lansing -- A newly formed prayer caucus in the Michigan Legislature that specifically endorses Judeo-Christian tradition should welcome officials of "any faith," the Roman Catholic church said Wednesday as the group held its opening event.
About 30 lawmakers and Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Calley attended the launch of the Michigan Legislative Prayer Caucus, singing "God Bless America" and praying during the event in the Michigan Capitol. Organizers have said anyone could join the caucus.
Calley on Thursday is expected to lead prayers at the Capitol as part of the annual National Day of Prayer.
In its statement of purpose, the caucus frames itself as based on Jewish-Christian beliefs and religious liberties "that were widely practiced by the founders of these United States of America and the state of Michigan." That description attracted criticism last week from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. (More)
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VIDEO: ARAB-AMERICANS BARRED FROM ANTI-MUSLIM CONFERENCE TOP
Omar Baddar and Omar Tewfik of AAI try to attend the so-called "Jessica Mokdad Human Rights Conference" organized by anti-Muslim bigots Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer. Instead, they & other Arab Americans were barred from entering. This is their experience.
Watch the video.
SEE ALSO:
PAM GELLER DISCOVERS "PROM JIHAD" ISLAMIZATION OF AMERICA - TOP
Sheila Musaji, The American Muslim, 5/3/12
Pamela Geller just published an article bemoaning an all girls prom at Hamtramck High School in Michigan. Geller, ever on the alert for "creeping Sharia", "civilizational jihad", "Islamization of America", and other nonsense, saw an article in the New York Times that set off her finely tuned radar for devious Muslim plots.
She introduced the NYT article on the event with her own commentary:
"This shocking New York Times article describes a girls only, public school prom especially created to accommodate the religious practices of observant, female Muslim students. Further proof of the islamization [sic] of America, as outlined in my book. Get the practical guide to the resistance. ...
Geller identified the event in her title as taking place in New Jersey, only the first of many errors. Notice how many times she used this "shocking" story as an opportunity to sell her book, pointing out other such plots.
Actually, the event was planned by students themselves, and financed by students themselves, and held in a rented hall. The students raised money through bake sales, etc. The school has a large Muslim population, and the girl who began putting this together did so after discovering that approximately 65% of the female students were not able to attend the coed prom. (More)
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VIDEO: ANTI-ISLAM CAMPAIGN MAILER ANGERS TEXAS MUSLIMS - TOP
TARRANT COUNTY -- Itamar Gelbman says he was born in New York, raised in Israel, and now wants to be the next congressman from the state's 6th District, which covers much of Tarrant County.
His mailers began arriving this week. Gelbman said he sent them to about 40,000 homes.
Next to his picture, the card states: "Army lieutenant for Congress."
Gelbman served in the Israeli army, and among the issues he wants to fight for is to stop what he calls the "Islamization" of America.
"I would like to ask him how he plans to stop the 'Islamization of America?'" asked Jamal Qaddura. "Where is the 'Islamization of America?'"
Qaddura received one of Gelbman's campaign cards because he votes Republican in the 6th District. In fact, Qaddura is a precinct chair in the Tarrant County GOP and a frequent spokesman for the Muslim community. (More)
Watch the video.
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CAIR-AZ WORKSHOP ON DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS - TOP
The CAIR-Arizona Chapter will be hosting this event at ICEV Masjid. This will be a great opportunity for you to participate in a frank, open discussion regarding civil rights - and what we can do to be more effective in defending them. We will have an open Q&A session and encourage community involvement.

Featured Panelists:
Imam Anas Hlayhel - CAIR-AZ President
Todd Gallinger - CAIR National Rep/Attorney
Imraan Siddiqui - CAIR-AZ Board Member
Where: ICEV Masjid
425 N. Alma School Rd,
Chandler, AZ. 85224
When: Saturday, 5/12/12, 7 - 9 p.m.
Todd Gallinger is an attorney and Director of Chapter Development for CAIR-National. Mr. Gallinger graduated from the University of California and the George Washington University Law School, both with honors. He has had a wide array of work experience within the legal field in Southern California, including at large firms, and with various civil rights groups.
Imam Anas Hlayhel is the CAIR-AZ Chapter President. He also serves at the part-time imam of the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley (Scottsdale, AZ), and regularly delivers speeches and khutbas throughout the Phoenix metro area. In addition to his extensive religious and interfaith work, Anas is also a full-time engineer.
Imraan Siddiqi is a CAIR-AZ Board Member, entrepreneur and MBA from ASU. He is the editor of the blog StopIslamophobiaNow.com. (More)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NY STUDENT ACTIVISM CONFERENCE: TOOLS FOR MOVEMENT-BUILDING - TOP
Brooklyn Bridge Marriott, 333 Adams St, Brooklyn, NY
This is what NYC activism is about: learning the skills, building community and making change. Students only, learning from veteran organizers, spending time to develop an action plan for real sustainable student leadership. Imam Suhaib Webb, Sr. Aisha al-Adawiya, Dr. Arshad Ali, Linda Sarsour, Ahlam Said, Cyrus McGoldrick, activists from the immigrant rights movement, and many more. And it's a free program.
***LIMITED SEATS -- Student ID/Pre-Registration Required -- No Entry After 12:30 PM***
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CAIR-OHIO OFFERS FORUM ON CHALLENGING ISLAMOPHOBIA - TOP
(CLEVELAND, OH, 5/3/2012) -- The Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently presented a workshop on Challenging Islamophobia for students at John Carroll University.
The workshop provided a brief overview Islamophobia, including the definition and key components; understanding the history and root causes; current manifestations on the Internet and in the public sphere; consequences of hate and bigotry; and how Islamophobia is promoted by religious figures, media pundits, politicians, and so-called "terrorism experts." The workshop also offered practical steps and resources for reaching out to the Muslim community and challenging Islamophobia.
"Religious intolerance has a negative impact on communities," said Julia A. Shearson, executive director of CAIR-Cleveland. "The workshop on Challenging Islamophobia is designed to raise awareness about anti-Muslim bigotry and provide resources to counter intolerance by building mutual understanding and fostering inclusion."
For more information or to arrange a workshop, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247.
CAIR is America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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VIDEO: MISSOURI MUSLIMS EDUCATE PUBLIC ABOUT ISLAM (CAIR-ST. LOUIS) - TOP
Tuesday night, the Muslim Community Center in Jefferson City hosted an open house to educate the community about Islam and Shariah Law.
They said that times are changing and Muslims aren't that different from other people.
Faizan Syed said, "What we want others to realize is that as Muslims, we are Muslim Americans. We are part of this society and part of the fabric, and we aren't violent or all these crazy things people think we are, rather we are your neighbors, the doctors who help you out you know we are a part of this society".
Watch the video.
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BRINGING A MUSLIM CULINARY TRADITION MAINSTREAM (INC.)
 - TOP
Adam Bluestein, Inc., 5/3/12
Most Americans know the term halal-if they are familiar with it at all-as the Muslim system of dietary regulations. Adnan Durrani wants consumers to understand halal in different terms: "Wholesome and pure. Sustainable, fair trade, and just practices in terms of the environment and animal welfare."
Durrani is the founder and CEO of American Halal, whose Saffron Road brand sells the first halal-certified frozen entrées available in mainstream supermarkets nationwide, including all stores in 11 regions of the Whole Foods chain. Though halal may be mysterious to most Americans, it has many parallels to kashrut, or Jewish dietary law, notably in its ban on pork products and standards for butchering meat. And for Durrani, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, that's the point.
There are only 5.3 million Jews in the U.S., but kosher food is a $12.5 billion market. It's also a crowded one, with 16,000 companies selling certified-kosher products. As for Muslims, a recent Pew Report put their U.S. population at 2.6 million in 2010 but projects that number jumping to 6.2 million by 2030.
If Muslims' numbers are relatively small, their market power is considerable. About 52 percent of U.S. Muslim households have income of more than $50,000 a year-slightly more than in the public at large. And they are highly educated: Forty-two percent of Muslim American women, for example, hold a college or postgraduate degree, compared with 29 percent of American women overall-a rate second only to that of American Jewish women. (Food marketers generally target female consumers.) The Muslim population is also young; 73 percent are 18 to 44, compared with 44 percent in the general population. "American Muslims," Durrani says, "are a food marketer's dream come true." (More)



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