AIR-NY SEEKS PROBE OF BIAS MOTIVE IN SCHOOL BEATING - TOP

(NEW YORK, N.Y., 6/15/2009) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on school officials and law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the beating of a Muslim student by a classmate.

The parents of the 14-year-old Staten Island student say that during the beating, their son’s assailant said he hates Arabs and hates his religion. Police say the attacker used the slurs simply to instigate a fight, not as a motive for the attack, but the victim's parents believe it was a hate crime.

SEE: NY Muslim Parents Call Beating of Son a Hate Crime (Video)

“Given the allegations of racial and religious slurs used during the assault, it is important that a possible bias motive be taken into consideration and that appropriate action be taken by school officials and law enforcement authorities,” said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Aliya Latif. “Students of all faiths and ethnicities should feel that a school is a safe environment for learning.”

Latif said CAIR offers a booklet, called “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” designed to promote diversity and accommodate Muslims students in educational institutions.

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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-NY Civil Rights Director Aliya Latif, 212-870-2002, 732-429-4268, E-Mail: alatif@cair.com; CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali, 212-870-2002, 718-724-3041, E-Mail: fali@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 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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VIDEO: CAIR DIRECTOR DISCUSSES DOUBLE STANDARD ON TERRORISM - TOP
CNN, 6/11/2009

Rick Sanchez explores whether we treat suspected domestic terrorists differently from suspected Muslim extremists.

Click here to watch the video.

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CAIR-MI HOSTS TOWN HALL FORUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 6/15/09) - The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) recently held a successful town hall forum at the Islamic Center of Detroit to discuss pressing civil rights issues impacting American Muslims and Arab-Americans.

Brief presentations given at the “Community Rights Town Hall” focused on concerns regarding agent provocateurs and informants spying in houses of worship, detentions during re-entry to the country and border laptop seizures, and the chilling effect on Muslims paying zakat (mandatory charitable donations) to Islamic charities.

Speakers at the event included Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, Wayne State University Criminal Justice Professor Irshad Altheimer, ACLU-MI Field Director Mary Bejian and ADC-MI Advisory Board Member Ihsan Alkhatib.

Also in attendance were representatives from the faith relations office of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Some 150 community members attended the forum.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com

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CAIR-MN: DEMONSTRATORS SUPPORT AREA MUSLIM GROUP - TOP
David Chanen, Star Tribune, 6/14/09

Representatives from more than a dozen Somali civil, religious and political organizations gathered Saturday to rebut allegations that a Muslim civil rights group is blocking an FBI inquiry into the disappearances of dozens of Twin Cities Somali men.

Last week, relatives of a Minneapolis teenager who said he was recently killed in Somalia and a Somali community leader claimed that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Minnesota chapter was discouraging area Somalis from cooperating with the FBI. But supporters Saturday said CAIR has only advised Somalis about their civil rights and urged them to tell the truth and work with law enforcement.

"I was at CAIR's three workshops for people who were issued subpoenas by the FBI and others seeking help and this was consistently the group's message," said Omar Hurre, executive director of Abubakar as-Saddique Islamic Center, Minneapolis' largest Somali mosque.

He was one of about 50 people who gathered to support CAIR at a park next to the Brian Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis, many holding signs saying how CAIR improved their lives. The represented groups ranged from the Somali Youth Network Council to the Muslim Student Association at Augsburg College. (More)

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MINNESOTA SOMALI COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SUPPORT CAIR-MN - TOP
PR Newswire, 6/13/09

On Saturday, June 13, representatives of more than a dozen Twin Cities Somali civil, religious and political organizations held a rally demonstrating their support for Minnesota's only Muslim civil rights organization, the Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN).

SEE: Demonstrators Support Area Muslim Group (Star Tribune)

Representatives from local Somali organizations voiced their support of the work CAIR-MN has done in the Somali community and addressed the importance of civil rights education for all Americans. The coalition gathered to represent the collective voice of the Twin Cities Somali population, estimated to be between 70,000 and 80,000.

"CAIR has been the only organization to come into the Muslim community, the Somali community, to help them understand their civil rights," said Somali Community Link Radio Host Zuhur Ahmed. "They've been here educating us about our rights as Americans since long before any men left for Somalia." Ahmed added that, in addition to know your rights trainings, CAIR-MN has been promoting cooperation with law enforcement.

The group also stressed that Somalis are not represented by one or two media-seeking individuals who refer to themselves as activists.

"We're here from dozens of active organizations working with the people on the issues important to Somalis," said United Somali Movement Vice President Aman Obsiye. "We represent the true voice of the tens of thousands of Somalis living in the Twin Cities."

Organizations co-sponsoring the event included: United Somali Movement; Somali Youth Network Council (SYNC); Somali Youth Action of Minnesota; Somali Action Alliance; United Somali Diaspora; Somali Leadership Council; Somali American Community; World Peace Organization; Muslim Student Association, Augsburg College Chapter; Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center (AAIC); Islamic Dawah Institute; Karmel Plaza Business Association

CONTACT: United Somali Movement Public Relations Director Sharmarke Jama, Tel: (612) 483-9878, E-mail: sharkajama@gmail.com; Abubakar Islamic Center Executive Director Omar (Farhan) Hurre, Tel: (612) 607-9187, E-mail: fhurre@yahoo.com

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CAIR: ASSAULT ON MUSLIM UNDER INVESTIGATION - TOP
Christina Lane, Longview News-Journal, 6/13/09

The Upshur County Sheriff's Office is investigating an assault on a Gilmer man who claims he was attacked because he is Muslim, officials said Friday.

Sheriff's investigator Mark Moore said law enforcement officers took a report from James Berry, 34, who claims he was attacked on June 6 at his home. Moore said he could not release details because the investigation is ongoing. He added that the incident has not been ruled a hate crime.

In a news release on Friday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Berry, who converted to Islam, reported that two former co-workers punched, choked and kicked him, and used religious slurs. He also said he felt the barrel of a gun pressed to his head and said the attackers threatened to hurt him again if he contacted police, the release stated. (More)

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CA MUSLIM MAN JAILED AFTER SPIES INFILTRATE MOSQUE - TOP
Bethania Palma Markus, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 6/14/09

A Diamond Bar man is being held in a secretive federal prison and his family believes he was targeted for investigation by authorities because of his faith.

Seyed Mousavi, 51, was convicted of filing false tax returns, omitting information on naturalization forms and violating an economic embargo against Iran, officials said. He is being held in a Communication Management Unit (CMU) in Indiana and is largely isolated from his family and friends.

"This prosecution was a travesty," said Ron Kaye, an attorney representing Mousavi. "I think he's innocent of virtually every charge."

Despite a recent speech at Cairo University that was well-received by U.S. Muslims, local Muslim Americans like the Mousavi family said much damage has been done at home by tactics used by the FBI, which included sending spies into mosques.

"I just felt betrayed by my country," said Mousavi's daughter, Zeinab, 26. "My dad's been a good citizen and he's helped society a lot."

Craig Monteilh, 46, of Irvine, said he infiltrated nearly a dozen area mosques as an informant for the FBI, and that his activities led to Seyed Mousavi's arrest…

Mousavi's arrest, and current detention at the CMU in Terre Haute, Ind., have sparked an outcry in the local Muslim community. They believe they were targeted because of their faith. (More)

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AGENT PROVOCATEUR? - TOP
Amira Hass, Haaretz, 6/15/09

The first time Kathleen Baines saw Maksud was on Wednesday, May 20. Like everyone else, she knew the well-to-do Pakistani by his first name only. He had started appearing here the previous September, wandering around outside Masjid al-Ikhlas (the "mosque of devotion") in town, meeting people in a popular local restaurant, paying for their meals and offering financial help.

Frequenters of the mosque, some of them immigrants from East Asia and others African Americans, could not help but notice that Maksud had five vehicles, including a Mercedes, a BMW and an ATV.

On that Wednesday in May, Maksud arrived in the neighborhood in one of his cars at about 4 P.M. and stopped at Baines' house. He has a narrow face, she recalls now, and peroxided hair. He would wear sunglasses and expensive shoes. Whenever he came to look for her partner, James Cromitie, in recent months, he would remain outside, and this time was no different.

"Where is the brother?" he asked, and she answered from the window: "James is on his motorbike with my son." Maksud asked her what his cellular phone number was. The question sounded strange to Baines since he was the one who had given James the phone…

On that day in May when she tried to reach him by phone, Baines did not know that Maksud, Cromitie and three of their friends were on their way to Riverdale in the Bronx, to carry out what Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Snyder described later as an unimaginable, blood-curdling plot: planting bombs in parked cars next to a Riverdale synagogue and Jewish cultural center, and shooting missiles at a helicopter at Newburgh's Air National Guard base.

The lethal plot was foiled, however. One of the five men put the bombs in place while three others kept watch. But no one was aware that the bombs had been defused earlier by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - and that FBI officers, members of the New York Police Department and a joint anti-terror force were lying in wait for them…

Salahuddin Muhammad, the imam of the local mosque, was not surprised. "We thought he was an informer," he told both journalists and the children who study in the mosque. The children saw all the media buzz and were disturbed that the name of their mosque had come up in connection with the plot. "We wondered what to do," the imam explained to the youngsters. "How should we tell the authorities that we suspected him? But it was the authorities who had sent him."

Maksud, it later transpired, is a Pakistani immigrant who was arrested in 2002 for selling fake driving licenses to immigrants. In order to avoid serving a jail sentence and being exiled, he agreed to work for the FBI. An on-the-ball journalist from The New York Post realized this was the same federal informer who had worked five years earlier in Albany, New York, in a similar fashion. (More)

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FORMAL OPENING OF ROXBURY MOSQUE, TWO DAYS OF EVENTS SET FOR THIS MONTH - TOP
Michael Paulson, Boston Globe, 6/14/09

The Muslim American Society, which is operating the new Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, or ISBCC, has scheduled two days of events to celebrate the completion of the building. The building had a soft opening last fall, during Ramadan, and has been in use since then, but the events on June 26 and 27 mark its formal inauguration as the Muslim community prepares to expand programming in the building.

Major inaugural events will include an interfaith breakfast at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, across the street from the mosque; a ribbon-cutting, call-to-worship, and prayer service at the mosque; and a celebratory dinner at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.

The dinner will feature a speech by US Representative Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat who is the first Muslim to serve in Congress; the breakfast will feature William A. Graham, Harvard Divinity School dean and a noted scholar of Islam, as well as a variety of local religious leaders.

Mosque officials say they expect Governor Deval Patrick to attend the breakfast and Mayor Thomas M. Menino to attend the ribbon-cutting. (More)

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MUSLIM CLINIC STEADIED MOTHER THROUGH TRAGEDY - TOP
Greg Janda and Brett Johnson, NBCDFW.com, 6/13/09

It has been a torturous 18-months for Patricia Said.

Patricia Said says her world was falling apart until she sought free medical and psychiatric help at the Muslim Community Center for Human Services.

"At first I blamed God because he let them die," she confesses. "And I see other people with their kids and I get angry because its not fair I don't have my kids."

Almost a year and a half has passed since Patricia Said's two teen-aged daughters were found murdered in a taxicab at an Irving hotel -- a taxi that their father, 52-year old Yaser Said, had been driving.

"I hate him. He had no right to take them," Said says about her ex-husband, who is the chief suspect in the murders. He hasn't been seen since. "And the next thing I knew the police was at my door," she recalls.

Emotionally devastated, Patricia Said's world was falling apart -- until she sought free medical and psychiatric help at the Muslim Community Center for Human Services.

Dr. Basheer Ahmed, a Psychiatrist at the center says, "now she is in a state where I think I can help her more."

"Without the clinic I probably would not be here right now," Said says. (More)

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ISLAM TEACHES US TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS - TOP
Aziz Junejo, Seattle Times, 6/15/09

Excessive spending and growing debt prompted President Obama to ask Americans to live within their means, and last month as he signed a bill that makes it tougher for credit-card issuers to raise fees and interest rates.

Many have seen this as a call to cut back on wants and focus on needs in an effort to resolve financial problems. Today bankruptcies, house foreclosures and job losses have hit historic highs nationwide.

Tent cities are springing up in every state, occupied by folks just like the family next door. Through no fault of their own, they have lost their jobs and then their homes. In some cases, crushing debt leads to tragedy. I am reminded of the news story about a dad in Middletown, Md., who had about $460,000 in mortgage and credit-card debt. In April, he killed his family, then committed suicide. In one of several suicide notes, he made reference to his financial difficulties and depression.

Overspending and borrowing huge sums has made consumers slaves of interest payments. Eliminating debt is a bitter pill but good medicine. The charging of high interest rates, known as "usury" in the Abrahamic faiths, is prohibited in Islam.

Muslims have never been allowed to benefit from or to pay interest. God says in the Quran:

“The usury that is practiced to increase some people's wealth does not gain anything at God. But if people give to charity, seeking God's pleasure, these are the ones who receive their reward many fold.” Ar-Rum 30:39

Money comes without instructions, so prioritizing our spending is worth some daily reflection. In the current recession, living within our means has become more important than ever. But it doesn't have to mean giving up things that make life pleasant and fulfilling.

My parents' generation worked hard and prospered while enjoying a lifestyle focused on saving and living simply. They used to tell me, "a simple life is a good life; but only if you can enjoy it." I understand the relevance of those words more today.

Being more frugal allows people to opt out of a high-stress lifestyle and leads ultimately to contentment, depth of experience and even joy. Frugality doesn't mean poverty; it means enjoying what's really important in life while getting a good value for the things you need. (More)

HADITH OF THE DAY: BEWARE OF ANGER - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendants of Adam.”

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1331

GILMER MAN SAYS HE WAS ATTACKED BECAUSE HE'S MUSLIM - TOP
Wilton Johnson, CBS19, 6/12/09

A Gilmer man says he was beaten by two men who also threatened his life because he is a Muslim. He calls it a hate crime.

This is the first time since Saturday that James Berry has been at home. Friday night he says two drunk former co-workers beat him just inside his front door.

"When I turned this way the other one grabbed me by the neck and took me to the ground," Berry recounted Thursday.

Berry says that's when he felt a gun put to his head.

"I said the words (HIM-DAH-LAH), which means praise God, praise be to Allah, because I thought I was going. The one with the gun said,'Yeah you pray to Allah you Muslim , you Muslim piece of . Pray to Allah," Berry said.

The Upshur County Sheriff's Department couldn't comment on the ongoing investigation, but Chief Deputy Bobby Sanders did say it was being handled as an assault case. The Council on American Islamic Relations says this is a hate crime.

"This isn't just a simple assault case. This is a case where religious slurs and a bias nature were evident during the assault," said Council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper from Washington, D.C.

Berry says he doesn't believe Upshur County is taking this seriously so he contacted the FBI, who in turn, have opened their own investigation into the matter. Hopper hopes federal involvement will show the real injustice.

"Once it's investigated as a possible hate crime, we'll see what potential charges could be brought above and beyond the normal charges brought in any assault case and if there's a civil rights violation here that could lead to federal charges," said Hooper. (More)

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GASOLINE FOUND AT MOSQUE SITE IN ARLINGTON SPURS FEARS - TOP
Jim Douglas, WFAA-TV, 6/11/09

ARLINGTON - Vandalism at construction sites is fairly common; but when a crescent moon sits atop the site, any incident can be viewed through the prism of fear.

Mouffa Nahhas is president of the mosque being built at Cooper Street and the Road to Six Flags in north Arlington.

He was called to the mosque Saturday morning.

"The fumes were very strong," he said of the smell of gasoline when he got to the site.

Nahhas said Friday night, someone cut through the fence, draped the inside of the mosque with drywall tape and left an open can of gasoline under the dome. Construction workers found the scene the next morning.

Nahhas said he can’t think of any reason for someone to bring gasoline into the mosque “except to burn it.” But, there was no fire.

Nahhas called police.

Muslims in Arlington were already on edge because of a recent posting to a newspaper blog about the threat of radical Islam and sleeper cells in America.

The writer mentioned revenge and Friday prayers.

"It's going to get bloody this time around Islamo-folks," the post read. (More)

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CA: SOUTHWEST MOSQUE VANDALIZED; NOT CONSIDERED HATE CRIME - TOP
KERO23, 6/10/09

BAKERSFIELD -- Three boys were arrested Wednesday for allegedly trespassing onto a mosque and desecrating several religious artifacts.

But the investigation indicates the act was not a hate crime, police said Wednesday night.

The boys did not know they were vandalizing a place of worship, according to Lt. Bill Bailey of the BPD.

The vandals, described by police as three 14-year-old white males, hopped a fence, walked into an open door, and ransacked an office before throwing paint onto a wall and destroying a holy book and scattering leafings across the floor, according to Fakhruddin Shakir of the Anjuman-e-Hakimi Bakersfield Masjid. Someone at the mosque spotted them and called police. (More)

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CAIR-MI: RALLY CALLS FOR END TO TORTURE - TOP
Brittany Smith, Lansing State Journal, 6/11/09

Religious, legal and political leaders rallied Thursday morning at the Capitol in an effort to end U.S.-sponsored torture.

About 20 attendees looked on as four speakers took turns expressing their opposition to torture and urged that President Barack Obama create a Commission of Inquiry that would conduct thorough investigations into acts of torture against U.S. detainees…

The event is part the Campaign to Ban Torture, a nationwide push by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture to stop torture that has occurred post-9/11.

Michigan residents, in particular, are even more affected by this issue, according to Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who is a Muslim and served in the Navy for four years.

"There's a large population of Muslims and they still have family in that part of the world so this issue directly affects us," he said. (More)

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MOURNERS OF MANY FAITHS GATHER TO REMEMBER VICTIM - TOP
Nikita Stewart, Washington Post, 6/11/09

About 200 mourners gathered at an entrance of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum this afternoon for a vigil quickly assembled by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington to remember Stephen T. Johns, the security guard who was fatally shot yesterday, and to condemn the actions of the gunman who took his life.

James W. von Brunn, 88, an avowed white supremacist has been arrested and charged with murdering Johns.

Several faiths were represented to emphasize that hatred against one group is hatred against all, said Rev. Clark Lobenstine, executive director of the conference.

From Hindu to Hebrew, the prayers came in all forms.

"We will stand together and not be pulled apart by the actions of hate and violence like this one," he said just before religious leaders behind him began singing, "We Shall Overcome."

Organizers also announced a fund established for Johns's survivors through the American Jewish Committee. Those wishing to donate should call the committee at (202) 785-5475. "This spontaneous outpouring means a lot to us, means a lot to the family," Bill Parsons, the museum director, told the crowd of people…

Asma Hanif drove from Baltimore to attend the vigil, her bright purple hijab and dress standing out in the crowd in which several men wore yarmulkes. "When we think about someone being Muslim or Christian or Jewish, wrong is wrong," said Hanif, executive director and founder of Muslimat Al-Nisaa, a shelter for Muslim women.

"Someone who will demonstrate hate like this will do it in any community," she said. "Whether it was the Holocaust or slavery, the only reason it prevailed is because it was tolerated. We have the right and the authority to end it." (More)

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MUSLIM CHARITIES, MOSQUES GET LESSONS ON FUNDRAISING - TOP
Goal is to reassure U.S. officials that money will never end up in terrorists' hands
Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune, 6/12/09

In an auditorium at Elmhurst College, more than 100 leaders of area mosques and Muslim non-profits looked to an unusual mix of sources for help with one of their primary dilemmas since Sept. 11 -- how to fulfill the Islamic obligation to do charitable works, especially abroad, without drawing the attention of the FBI.

The Internal Revenue Service, the MacArthur Foundation and a group of lawyers called Muslim Advocates were on hand late last month to instruct the Chicago-area leaders in proper ways to report the collection of foreign funds, keep bookkeeping transparent and otherwise reassure U.S. officials that the money they raise never will end up in the hands of terrorists.

It was part of an effort among some Muslim groups to avoid the missteps of the past and do some housecleaning after a period in which a series of federal crackdowns led to a chill in charitable giving.

The initiative has been inspired by a new generation of leaders and by what many Muslims perceive as a new climate under President Barack Obama, who mentioned the issue of charity, or zakat, during his landmark speech to the Islamic world from Egypt last week.

The Better Business Bureau is also involved. A number of Muslim organizations are signing up for a tough vetting of their financial records by the BBB's charity watchdog arm.

So far, eight Muslim organizations have started the process. They include a mosque in Waukegan and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, or IMAN, in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood.

"We figured if this helps government agencies feel secure that we're in keeping with best practices, then we're game," said Rami Nashashibi, executive director of IMAN, one of the first local groups to sign up for the program despite believing it was already doing things properly. (More)

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NEW FREE CLINIC TO OPEN ONE AFTERNOON PER WEEK: MUSLIM FREE CLINIC - TOP
Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, 6/11/09

FLINT, Michigan -- A group of Flint-area physicians will band together to open the Muslim Outreach Free Clinic later this month, offering a half-day of free health care services each week to lower income people without health insurance.

The project is the brainchild of a group of Muslim physicians who hope to help address the health care crisis in the Flint community brought on by the current economic downturn.

The free clinic will be housed in the after-hours urgent care clinic opened in February by Dr. Ahmed Arif at 1301 Flushing Road, next door to Arif's regular internal medicine and pediatrics practice.

"The urgent care clinic is only open in the evenings so this facility was available during the day and it's located close to the population that most needs these services," said Arif. "Our main goal is to serve people who don't qualify for any kind of health insurance and don't have enough income to afford anything on their own."

The clinic's first date is June 24. About 12-15 family care physicians will rotate at the half-day clinic every Wednesday afternoon from 1-4:30 p.m., providing free care to anyone who meets the qualification guidelines.

"They will be doing this when most physicians take off a half-day of work," said Arif. "We've also contacted diagnostic facilities and labs who'll provide us with free services. A lot of people have been very generous and forthcoming to help us provide all aspects of care for longterm and chronic illnesses."

Patients who need diagnostic tests such as MRIs and cardiac stress tests will be referred to those facilities for services, which will also be provided free of charge to the clinic's patients. (More)

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CAIR-HOUSTON: OBSERVANT MUSLIMS FIND MORE OPTIONS FOR DINING OUT - TOP
Purva Patel, Houston Chronicle, 6/11/09

Aleena Charania can choose from traditional shwarmas and kebabs when she visits Busy Boy Sandwiches, a 4-year-old cafe on Hillcroft.

But Charania, an observant Houston Muslim who eats only halal, the Islamic version of kosher, usually opts for the hamburger or Philly cheesesteak.

“Definitely, when there’s an option, I prefer that,” said Charania, adding she can get Pakistani meals at home.

In recent years, Charania’s options have multiplied as traditionally South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants in the Houston area have added halal Western fare to their menus, and others have opened mainstream eateries with meat that’s zabiha, or from animals slaughtered according to Islamic rites, and thus halal…

Restaurant owners say they’re catering to observant Muslims who don’t always want traditional ethnic dishes when they dine out. They’re also tapping a growing market of second-generation Muslims like Charania, to whom tacos, buffalo wings and pizza are just as popular as curry and biryani…

It’s unclear how many Muslims live in the Houston area, but Kaleem Siddiqui, a spokesman for the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, puts the number of mosques at more than 100…

“These restaurants provide us the opportunity to take advantage of the culture we’re living in without violating our religious dietary guidelines,” Siddiqui said. (More)

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AZ: CLUBS ANSWER CALL FOR WOMEN-ONLY WORKOUTS - TOP
Mary Beth Faller, Arizona Republic, 6/11/09

Over the past four years that she has owned the Club for Women in north Phoenix, JoAnn Mullooly has noticed an increasing number of Muslim and Orthodox Jewish clients who want to work out among women exclusively in order to preserve modesty.

"I've definitely seen an increase," she says, attributing it to word of mouth in the community. "And we try to be conscious of it."

She estimates that 10 percent of the 1,700 members are Muslim and 10 percent are Orthodox Jewish. Some work out fully veiled, and some change into modest workout clothes. (More)

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CAIR-NY HOSTS THEATER EVENT ON POST-9/11 MUSLIM EXPERIENCE - TOP
Thursday, June 11, 2009

7 p.m.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will host an evening of interactive theatre and facilitated dialogue on being American-Muslim post-9/11; The Interchurch Center, Ground Floor Lounge, 475 Riverside Drive, between 120th St. and Claremont Ave.

Contact: Faiza N. Ali, 212-870-2002 or 718-724-3041.

USLIM GROUP CONDEMNS SHOOTING AT D.C. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM - TOP (WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/10/09) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned a shooting incident at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., during which a security guard and the alleged gunman were reportedly wounded. SEE: Gunman, Guard Shot at Holocaust Museum (MSNBC) In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said: “We condemn this apparent bias-motivated attack and stand with the Jewish community and with Americans of all faiths in repudiating the kind of hatred and intolerance that can lead to such disturbing incidents.” CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- RELIGIOUS SLURS USED DURING ASSAULT ON TEXAS MUSLIM - TOP CAIR asks that attack be probed as hate crime, seeks protection for victim (WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/10/09) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on law enforcement authorities in Texas to investigate an alleged assault on a Muslim in that state as a hate crime. The alleged victim, a 34-year-old white convert to Islam, reported to CAIR that two former co-workers came to his Gilmer, Texas, home after midnight on Saturday and punched, choked and kicked him without provocation. During the assault, the alleged attackers reportedly used religious slurs such as, “You Muslim piece of sh*t,” “Pray to Allah motherf**ker,” and “You are a traitor…We’re at war with these people.” At one point during the alleged assault, the victim says he felt the barrel of a gun pressed to his head. As the attackers left, they allegedly threatened to harm him again if he called the police. He was reportedly told by one assailant, “If I can’t get you, my people will.” The victim has since moved out of his home in response to this threat. The FBI and local police are investigating the incident, but local authorities have not labeled it a hate crime. “Because of the religious slurs reportedly used during this attack, and the alleged threat to the victim’s life, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive and to offer police protection,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “These incidents can be the unfortunate result of the crude stereotypes of Islam that President Obama rejected recently in his Cairo address.” SEE: CAIR Calls President’s Cairo Speech ‘Comprehensive, Balanced and Forthright’ CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR-LA: MUSLIM GROUPS DISAGREE THAT RELATIONS WITH FBI ARE 'VERY GOOD' -TOP Local leader says relations continue to be strained in wake of allegations of surveillance. Salvador Hernandez, Orange County Register, 6/9/09 Local Muslim organizations disagreed Tuesday with FBI Director Robert Mueller's assertion that relations between the groups and the agency are "very good." Despite continued concerns from Muslim organizations about the FBI's use of informants and surveillance in U.S. mosques, Mueller defended the agency's investigative tactics and described the FBI's relationship with Muslim organizations as mostly positive. Mueller's comments came days after a Michigan Muslim organization asked the Justice Department to investigate complaints that the FBI has asked mosque members to spy on Islamic leaders and worshippers, a claim that has been repeated in Orange County after an Irvine man publicly claimed he worked with the FBI as an informant at various local mosques and was asked by agents to identify Middle Eastern men in local gyms. Answering questions from reporters, Mueller said Monday that the FBI conducted operations while following evidence or information of possible criminal activity. "We don't investigate places; we investigate individuals," Mueller said. "To the extent that there may be evidence or other information of criminal wrongdoings, then we will ... undertake those investigations." Mueller added. "We will continue to do it." But local Muslim leaders disagreed with the director's comments, stating that the FBI appeared to be casting a wide net of suspicion on local mosques and Muslim organizations, straining the relationship between the law-enforcement agency and Islamic organizations. "I don't believe that at all whatsoever," said Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. "Either he doesn't know what's going on under his own nose in his own department or he's lying." In February, a convicted felon named Craig Monteilh said he worked with the FBI as an informant, infiltrating local mosques and gathering information for the Orange County Joint Terrorism Task Force… Munira Syeda, spokeswoman for CAIR, said a concern was also the use of "provocateurs." "The debate is not about the use of informants," Syeda said. "American Muslims understand that informants are needed to fight criminal activities and apprehend those who break the law. However, the issue here involves provocateurs who are sent into peaceful places of worship to entrap law-abiding Muslims and radicalize them." Mueller also said there would be no change in the FBI's priorities. (More) ----- CAIR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: PROJECT MANAGER - TOP CAIR's Project Manager will work full-time for a period of 3-5 months in Washington, D.C., on a major educational and outreach initiative. Those applying for the position should be self-motivated team players who have good organizational, marketing and communications skills. The position may require travel, public speaking and fundraising. Experience in project management is required, as is an ability to maintain goals and deadlines and to work effectively with outside vendors. Salary: Competitive Please send resume and cover letter to info@cair.com with "Project Manager" in the subject line. In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goal of diversity, CAIR is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on any legally recognized basis. ----- MUSLIMS WELCOME OBAMA'S OFFER OF A 'NEW BEGINNING' - TOP Still, while his approach is honest, many eager for president's words to become actions Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, Detroit News, 6/10/09 [Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi heads the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights.] President Barack Hussein Obama's historic speech at Cairo University last week ignited new hope to re-start relations between America and the world's Muslims on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. The president offered dialogue, diplomacy and engagement. Obama's message reminded me of his book, "Dreams from My Father," which ends: "We need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break." Muslim Americans appreciated the president's concept of a "new beginning." Islam has always been a part of American's story, the president said. The partnership between America and Islam must be based on truth, not paranoid fantasies. The promise to combat the demonization of Islam serves justice and constitutional integrity. By referring to Quranic verses, recognizing the contributions of the Muslim community in American social life and defending the right of Muslim women to dress traditionally while enjoying equal opportunities, Obama demonstrated his genuine desire to be a unifying leader. One day after the Cairo gathering, while Osama bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh and fanatic Israelis united in hate against Obama, a big interfaith crowd met at the Islamic House of Wisdom to listen to internationally known Christian speaker and healer Marilyn Hickey. (More) ----- TX: COVERED LIFE GIVES NEW PERSPECTIVE - TOP Ana McKenzie, Daily Texan, 6/5/09 Spencer Wall, fourth-year English and sociology major, talks about her experience wearing a hijab on Wednesday night at Kerbey Lane Cafe. Wall, a Christian from West Texas, embarked on a personal experience in which she dressed as a Muslim woman for a year, starting in April. I first noticed Spencer Wall in my religion and society class toward the end of last semester. She wasn’t particularly outspoken, but the shawl that covered her hair, neck and shoulders made her stand out in the large class. I usually gave her nothing more than a completely unconscious glance. But when she revealed to the class the decision that she made on April 27, I suddenly became aware of the attention I gave her. Wall, a 20-year-old sociology and English senior, decided to assume the characteristics and attire of a “typical” Muslim woman for a year starting in late April. She wears the traditional veil, or “hijab,” and loose-fitting clothing everywhere she goes and does not consume pork or alcohol in public. She avoids eye and physical contact with men and has adopted modest habits like walking with her arms glued to her sides or crossed in front of her to hide her chest. I witnessed the looks Wall gets on a daily basis when we met at Kerbey Lane on the Drag recently. She’s wearing a hijab splashed with vibrant shades of green and blue. A long-sleeved, black shirt and floor-length aqua skirt reveals only a few inches of skin. Some who pass us try to be inconspicuous with their intrigue, limiting themselves to quick side glances. But most don’t even try to be candid with their exaggerated double-takes or blatant stares. She passes by a group waiting to be seated, and all of them stare at the back of her head as she walks away. One guy even rolls his eyes. “It doesn’t surprise me,” she says when I tell her about the group. “But look around. They’re not the only ones.” She insists her decision is not a social experiment but more of a personal learning experience. As a white female from a small, West Texas town, Wall says she wanted to know what it would be like to be part of a “noticeable minority.” “I’m not representing Muslim women or the Muslim community,” she says. “I just want to know what it’s like to walk in their shoes for a while.” (More)