Tuesday, November 19, 2013

  • CAIR Lawsuit Challenges Government's 'No-Fly' List (Video)
    • CA: Trial Set for Ex-Stanford Student's No-Fly Case (SF Chronicle)
      A former Stanford student who has been barred from returning to the United States from her native Malaysia since 2005 can go to trial next month in a challenge to her inclusion on the U.S. no-fly list, a federal judge ruled Friday, rejecting the government's motion to dismiss the suit on secrecy grounds.
  • Florida Democratic Party Stands Up to Anti-Islam 'Book Burners'
    A cynical attack is being launched upon our Volusia County School Board by a group of bigoted, Tea Party ideologues bent on censoring the District's state-approved 10th Grade History text and rewriting it to their own liking. This is clearly the first salvo in an insidious attempt to unseat the current moderate Board and replace it with individuals more easily controlled by far-right extremists. Stand Up To the Book Burners!
    • CAIR: Fla. GOP Discusses Plan to Ax Book Teaching About Islam
      Last week's School Board meeting was canceled over security concerns as demonstrators rallied outside over their objections to a textbook chapter on Muslim civilizations they say indoctrinates students in the Islamic religion. Muslims representing a Deltona mosque and the Tampa chapter of theCouncil on American-Islamic Relations also attended the demonstration and spoke in favor of keeping the book as a way of encouraging students' tolerance for religions other than their own.
    • Setting the Record Straight on the Textbook Teaching About Islam
      Is Islam provided preferential treatment in the textbook over other religions?No. The textbook contains 34 chapters. Christianity is referenced in seven of these chapters.
    • CONTACT: CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, hshibly@cair.com; CAIR-Florida Communications Director Samantha Bowden, 703-298-7782, sbowden@cair.com; CAIR-South Florida Executive Director Nezar Hamze, 954-673-9459, nhamze@cair.com
  • Islamophobia Watch: Islam-Haters Hosted in Tenn.
    Dr. Bill Warner, which is the pen name for Dr. Bill French, a former physics instructor at Tennessee State University who has no formal training in religion, followed Bonner at the meeting. Warner is the founder and director of the Center for the Study of Political Islam, a for-profit organization, and was at the forefront of opposition to the building of a mosque in Murfreesboro recently. . .In closing, Warner acknowledged the controversy in his speech. "Everything you just heard today is what they call hate speech," Warner said. "They would tell you that I'm part of the inner circle of hate.". . ."The media is carrying water for Muhammad," Warner said.
  • CAIR: US Citizens to NSA: See You In Court
    In First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles et al. v. National Security Agency et al., more than a dozen groups as varied as the Ohio branch of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the California Association of Federal Firearms Licensees, Greenpeace and Students for Sensible Drug Policy have banded together to sue the NSA and other federal officials and entities. 
  • NJ: Muslim Woman Bombarded with Slurs at New School: Suit (NY Post)
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  • Traditions (Hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) About Seeking Knowledge
    The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Acquiring knowledge in (the) company (of others) for an hour in the night is better than spending the whole night in prayer." The Prophet also said. . .
  • CAIR-CT: Meeting Will Focus on Racial Profiling (NH Register)
    The CHRO is holding the event along with other local organizations such as the Connecticut State NAACP, the Greater New Haven NAACP, the African American Affairs Commission, the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, CTRP3, CT-CAIR and others.
  • CAIR-LA: Journalist Who Published Snowden Leaks Embraces Backlash
    Imam Siraj Wahhaj, religious director of At-Taqwa Mosque in New York City, addresses the crowd in an effort to help raise funds at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area's 17th annual Faith in Freedom banquet at the Hilton in Anaheim on Saturday. Speakers at the event included Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Rohina Malik, playwright, and a video message from Glenn Greenwald, journalist, who was scheduled to headline the event.
MEDIA ADVISORY
CAIR-FL, Students, Others to Oppose Censorship of Teaching on Islam
(TAMPA, FL, 11/18/13) -- Later today, the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will join with local students, members of the Democratic Party and moderate Republicans at a school board meeting in Deltona, Fla., to counter an organized protest against a textbook offering information about Islam.
The students will present the board with a petition against censorship signed by some 500 of their classmates from local schools.
WHAT: CAIR-FL, Students, Others to Support School Targeted by Anti-Islam Protesters
WHEN: Monday, November 18, 4 p.m.
WHERE: Outside the DeLand Administrative Complex, 200 North Clara Avenue, DeLand, Florida.
CONTACT: CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, hshibly@cair.com; CAIR-Florida Communications Director Samantha Bowden, 703-298-7782, sbowden@cair.com; CAIR-South Florida Executive Director Nezar Hamze, 954-673-9459, nhamze@cair.com
"The campaign to censor teaching about Islam in public schools is based on ignorance and on the intolerant hysteria whipped up by the well-funded Islamophobia industry in America," said CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly.
He cited CAIR's recently-released report, "Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States," which reveals that anti-Islam groups received more than $119 million in funding between 2008 and 2011.

To read CAIR's report, click here.
Opponents of the textbook, which they claim contains too much information about Islam and not enough about Christianity and other religions, say they will attend today's Volusia County School Board meeting.
The Volusia County Democratic Party is inviting residents to push back against the "book burners" opposed to the textbook.
The school board has issued a fact sheet refuting the false claims of the anti-Islam protesters, while one Republican school board member has ridiculed the anti-Islam hysteria promoted by the book's opponents.
In an editorial, Republican School Board Member Stan Schimidt wrote in part:
"When you read the chapter on Islam, four pages give a brief summary of the tenets of the religion, followed by 25 pages of historical narrative. The grade 6 text has much more in-depth coverage of the tenets of Judaism and Christianity. The truly sad part of this episode is that a leader of one of the political parties has chosen to get involved without truly understanding the course, the standards or the process of adopting them."
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.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR: Muslim Civil Rights Group Joins Call to Drop 'Redskins' Team Name
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/13/13) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined the growing call by Native American groups and others concerned about derogatory team nicknames and mascots in calling on the Washington "Redskins" to change its name.
CAIR issued that request as President Obama today hosts the 2013 White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. The president has himself suggested that the team change its name.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"We join with all those who are opposed to racist, stereotypical and derogatory athletic team names or mascots and urge the owner of the Washington 'Redskins' to recognize the hurt he is causing to Native Americans and the harm such stereotypical portrayals do to our nation's ideals of inclusion and respect for all citizens, regardless of their racial, ethnic or religious background. We urge team owner Dan Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to take immediate action to change the name to one that truly represents the fans' aspirations and American ideals."
He noted that the Council of the District of Columbia passed a resolution last week condemning the franchise's ongoing use of the "racist and derogatory" name and mascot. Despite increasing public pressure, the team's owner has refused to alter the name.
Awad said CAIR also supports the recent statement by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calling on California's Coachella Valley High School to change its "Arabs" nickname and stop using a derogatory mascot.
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is urging any team with a stereotypical or offensive nickname or mascot to change its name. One such school would include Indio High School in California, which uses the nickname "Rajahs" and a mascot wearing a turban.
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.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR to Seek DOJ Action for Attack on Va. Muslim Taxi Driver
Va. prosecutor drops charges against alleged attacker, smears victim
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/14/13) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it will ask the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue charges against a Virginia man for an alleged bias-motivated assault earlier this year on a Muslim taxi driver.
CAIR is making that request following a decision by a Virginia prosecutor to drop charges against Ed Dahlberg, the passenger who allegedly assaulted Army reservist and Iraq veteran Mohamed A. Salim.
"It is outrageous that the prosecutor, instead of charging the perpetrator of a bias-motivated assault, chose to ignore clear evidence of a hate motive and to smear the victim," said CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, who is also Salim's attorney. "We ask the Department of Justice to take immediate action to demonstrate that hate attacks on American Muslims will not be tolerated or ignored."
Abbas said the prosecutor's actions could discourage future hate crime victims from coming forward.
In a cell-phone video taken by Salim, Dahlberg is heard asking the victim if he is Muslim and claiming that most Muslims are terrorists.

According to a Washington Post report on the incident:
"He says the Koran directs Muslims to kill nonbelievers and then repeatedly and loudly demands that Salim denounce the Sept. 11, 2001, attackers. When Salim asks if the passenger is threatening him, the passenger uses an obscene phrase to respond in the affirmative.
"If you're a Muslim, you're a [expletive] jihadist," the passenger says. "You are just as bad as the rest of them."
The video ends with a blur of motion and audio of Salim asking, "Why are you punching me? Sir, why are you punching me?"
The passenger replies: "You're a [expletive] Muslim."
Medical records show that Salim was treated for a fractured jaw and a head injury.

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.
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CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6410, 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-FL Sponsors Muslim Veterans Parade March
    The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR–FL) organized the Muslims Veterans of America residing in South Florida participation in the November 8 Miami – Dade County Golden Veterans Parade – 50th Anniversary Commemoration.
  • CAIR-MD Presents Anti-Bullying Workshop at Mosque
    The CAIR-MD team presented an anti-bullying workshop to some 125 Sunday School students at Masjid An-Nur in White Marsh, Md. The purpose of the free workshop was to educate students on techniques to prevent and address bullying amongst peers.
  • CAIR-MD Participates in 'Know Your Rights in School' Workshop
  • CAIR-OH: Muslims Claim DHL Fired Them for Praying (Arabian Business)
  • CAIR-FL (Spanish): Muslims Help the NeedyMientras algunos grupos persisten en ataques e intolerancia en contra de la comunidad musulmana estadounidense, la misma, al contrario, se concentra en el bien social y la asistencia a los más necesitados.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR: Virginia Muslim Voters Turn Out, Support McAuliffe in Tight Race
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/11/13) - The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), in partnership with the Virginia American Muslim Civic Coalition (VAMCC), today released the results of an exit poll survey indicating that Muslim voters in that state turned out to vote and that the majority of Virginia Muslim voters picked Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe in Tuesday's state election.
The poll, conducted Thursday by an independent interactive voice response survey provider on behalf of CAIR and VAMCC, indicated that 78 percent of registered Virginia Muslim voters turned out to the polls in the off-year election.
CAIR and VAMCC's poll of more than 300 Virginia Muslim voters found with a 5.5 percent margin of error that:
  • 78 percent of registered Muslim voters said they went to the polls on November 5.
  • 68 percent of respondents that voted in the Virginia state election cast their ballots to elect Democrat candidate Terry McAuliffe to Virginia State Governor.
  • Of those respondents, only 12 percent said they voted for Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli and 4 percent for Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis.
  • 17 percent of respondents declined to say who they voted for Virginia State Governor.
National and state Muslim organizations estimate that Virginia has some 60,000 registered Muslim voters. McAuliffe's win over Cuccinelli was a narrow victory with 54,870 votes between the two candidates.
"Virginia Muslim voters' large turnout in an off-year state election and their support for McAuliffe certainly had a part to play in the newly elected governor's victory," said CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw.
Rafi Ahmed, chairman of VAMCC, said: "Virginia Muslim civic organizations played a vital role in the state's election making sure to register Muslim voters and get out the vote. VAMCC also made sure to connect Muslim voters to the candidates running for local and state office. The state's Muslim community was informed and voted for those who will best represented our interests."
During last year's nationwide general election, CAIR conducted a national survey of Muslim voters which reported that 55 percent of Muslim voters consider themselves moderate, while 26 percent consider themselves liberal, and 16 percent consider themselves conservative.
The weekend prior to the election, CAIR co-hosted a GOTV phone bank at the Muslim Association of Virginia's Dar Alnoor Islamic Community Center in Manassas, Virginia. More than 50 volunteers urged Muslim and Arab Virginians throughout Prince William County to vote for the candidate of their choice.
Monitoring the 2012 Democratic and Republican national conventions, CAIR estimated that the number of Muslim delegates the DNC was at more than 100, up from 43 Muslim and Arab-American delegates at the 2008 Democratic convention, and 25 at the 2004 convention. At the RNC, a handful of Muslim delegates also attended.
VAMCC is an independent, non-partisan group concerned with domestic issues which directly affect the Virginian Muslim American community's livelihood. Its focus is on issues of civil rights, civil liberties, education, the economy, banking reform, environmental issues, immigration and health care reform..
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.
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Monday, November 11, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR-FL Asks GOP to Drop Anti-Muslim Speakers
Muslim civil rights group decries GOP's pattern of hosting speakers who bash Islam
(PEMBROKE PINES, FL, 10/16/2013) -- The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today called on Republican leaders in that state to drop anti-Muslim speakers Pamela Geller and Tom Trento, who are scheduled to appearThursday at a "hate fest" hosted by GOP groups at a middle school in Pembroke Pines,Fla.
CAIR-FL is urging the event's sponsors, the Davie/Cooper City Republican Club and the Southwest Broward Republican Organization, to disassociate their party from the anti-Muslim bigotry routinely espoused by the speakers.     

CAIR's executive director in South Florida, Nezar Hamze, said in a statement:
"By hosting another anti-Islam hate fest, it seems the Republican Party hasn't learned the lesson of the last election cycle when their hero Allen West lost to Congressman Patrick Murphy. In Broward County, minorities are now the majority, and hate-based campaigns do not work. Bigotry and intolerance must not be tolerated in any shape or form. Events like these show residents of Broward County what GOP hate really looks like. We call on the Florida GOP and all Floridians to repudiate Islamophobia."
As a Muslim and registered Republican, Hamze in 2012 attempted to join the County's GOP Executive Committee, but was resoundingly rejected simply because of his faith.

SEE: The Elephant in the Room (The Daily Show)
SEE: CAIR-MN Asks GOP to Repudiate Michele Bachmann's Anti-Mosque Remarks   

Hamze urged GOP leaders to repudiate the type of anti-Muslim hate that is often associated with the Republican Party, and condemns the pattern of repeated GOP-organized events featuring anti-Muslim speakers.
Recent events promoting anti-Muslim speakers organized by Florida GOP groups include those in St. John's County and at the Florida Tea Party Convention, where Pam Geller was the keynote speaker. 
"Moderate Republicans have the power to curb these very extreme fringes of their party," said CAIR-FL Communications Director Samantha Bowden. "When moderates in the Pinellas County GOP heard that an Islam-bashing speaker from ACT! for America was going to speak to their County meeting, they organized to have it canceled. It's that type of standing up for reason and moderation that we seek from GOP leaders. Their voices can help end the anti-Muslim bigotry organized by their fellow party organizations."

Background on Geller and Trento: 
Pamela Geller's organizations, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) and American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), have been designated as hate groups by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
ADL: Stop Islamization of America (SIOA)
Southern Poverty Law Center Profile of Pamela Geller
Along with condemnation by the ADL and SPLC, Geller's organization was the subject of a CAIR "Islamophobe profile" documenting the individuals and organizations involved in spreading anti-Muslim bias in the United States. She is also named in CAIR's recent "Legislating Fear" report as part of the "inner core" of individuals and groups promoting Islamophobia in America.
Geller has bragged online that she uses a Quran, Islam's holy text, as a doorstop and posted a video on her personal website that claims Muslims have sex with goats. Her hate blog was cited by Anders Breivik, the terrorist who went on a killing spree in Norway.
She has claimed that "Hitler and the Nazis were inspired by Islam" and that Islam "mandates" lies and deception. She has also posted images on her blog that include a fake photograph of then Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan in a Nazi uniform, another fake image of President Obama urinating on an American flag, and drawings purporting to depict Islam's Prophet Muhammad as a pig.
Another image posted by Geller, headlined "Piss Be Upon Him," showed one of the controversial Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad covered in urine. ("Piss Be Upon Him" is designed to mock the traditional phrase "Peace Be Upon Him" that Muslims use when mentioning any prophet of God, including Abraham and Jesus.)
Tom Trento recently took over a public event marking the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks and spewed Islamophobic rhetoric in the presence of law enforcement authorities, public officials and schoolchildren.
He told the audience: "I'm not talking about radical Islam or moderate Islam. I'm talking about all Islam. Their goal is to get every single one of us to convert to Islam. And they won't stop until we do."
Another speaker at the October 17 event, "Wild Bill for America," will discuss "the dangers this religion [Islam] presents." 
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.
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CONTACT: CAIR-South Florida Executive Director Nezar Hamze, 954-673-9459, nhamze@cair.com; CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, hshibly@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
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