THANK FOX FOR 'SIMPSONS' EPISODE CHALLENGING ISLAMOPHOBIA
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/3/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to thank the Fox television network and the creator of "The Simpsons" for a recent episode that used comedy to challenge Islamophobia.
The episode, which aired Sunday evening and is titled "Mypods and Boomsticks," highlights anti-Muslim sentiment by featuring a young Muslim character named Bashir and his family who face prejudice after moving to Springfield. In the program, Homer Simpson wrongly suspects that Bashir's family is involved in a terror plot. Bart Simpson befriends Bashir and defends him from bullies.
To view the entire episode, click here.
CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) sent a letter today to the show's creator Matt Groening thanking him for challenging anti-Muslim prejudice.
The letter said Sunday's episode "brought to light how Americans can work toward mutual respect and inclusion by getting to know their neighbors." It went on to state: "The episode also builds on the values that have made America the great nation it is a nation in which citizenship is about finding common ground and building a better society. American Muslims have been doing just that by making daily contributions to our society that often go unrecognized."
"Because of its acceptance in popular culture, comedy is often one of the best vehicles for challenging stereotypes and intolerance," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Fox and Matt Groening are to be congratulated for tackling the disturbing phenomenon of Islamophobia."
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send a message expressing appreciation for highlighting both anti-Muslim attitudes and the need for mutual respect and inclusion in our society.
E-Mail: peter.liguori@fox.com (Peter Liguori, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co.); dana.walden@fox.com (Dana Walden, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television); gary.newman@fox.com (Gary Newman, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television) COPY TO: info@losangeles.cair.com
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CAL THOMAS: NO NEW AMERICAN MOSQUES - TOP
Cal Thomas' incomplete 'solution' to Islamic terrorism
Jeffrey Weiss, Dallas Morning News, 12/2/08
From Cal Thomas' latest column, in response to the attack on Mumbai:
At the very least, all non-Western immigrants to Britain and America should be told prior to their arrival that our intention is to westernize them. They must learn English, study and embrace the history of their host nation and, if they are Muslim, they will be allowed to worship only in existing mosques. No new ones should be built. Existing mosques must be monitored to make sure that hate is not taught and aggressive behavior toward their host countries is not promoted. If such behavior and speech are detected, the mosques should be closed and the imams arrested or deported.
Leave the First Amendment aside for a moment (in the US, anyway). His prescription lacks some practical details. How would he propose controlling worship? Ankle bracelets with audio transmitters? After all, both the 9/11 attack and the Mumbai attack were carried out by groups that would fit into a large living room -- no standalone mosque needed.
And who defines what "hate" is? Would he allow that kind of monitoring in churches? Say, this one? Or this one? There are parts of this country where a majority of citizens consider support of "gay marriage" as hateful. And other parts where the vice is versa. Ditto on the two sides of the abortion debate. Who gets to decide? Not all slopes are equally slippery, I aver. And he's right that this is a tough problem. But is this the right answer? Or even a possible one?
[Note: Cal Thomas claims to be the America's most widely read nationally-syndicated columnist. To read his column on this subject, click here.]
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Send polite comments to Cal Thomas' distributor, Tribune Media Services:
Ms. Mary Elson
Managing Editor
Tribune Media Services
E-Mail: melson@tribune.com
COPY TO: info@cair.com
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CAIR-SFL: RACISM REJECTED - TOP
Altaf Ali, Miami Herald, 12/3/08
The Nov. 29 letter Muslims mum? asserts that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) did not condemn Ayman al-Zawahri's recent video criticizing President-elect Barack Obama with racist rhetoric.
In fact, CAIR issued a statement on Nov. 19 that read in part: ``As Muslims and as Americans, we will never let terrorist groups or terror leaders falsely claim to represent us or our faith. The legitimate grievances of Muslims in many areas of the world can never serve as an excuse or a justification for attacks on civilian populations. We once again repudiate al Qaeda's actions, rhetoric and worldview and restate our condemnation of all forms of terrorism and religious extremism.''
CAIR took particular offense to al-Zawahri's use of the offensive term ''house Negro'' in reference to Obama. Islam rejects racism and seeks universal peace and brotherhood. We repudiate any and all uses of racial slurs or insults.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
FOX RECEIVES OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO ‘SIMPSONS’ EPISODE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA - TOP
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/4/08) Following an action alert sent out yesterday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Fox television network reported receiving an overwhelming positive response from community members about a recent episode of “The Simpsons” that challenged anti-Muslim stereotypes.
The episode, which aired Sunday evening and is titled "Mypods and Boomsticks," highlights anti-Muslim sentiment by featuring a young Muslim character named Bashir and his family who face prejudice after moving to Springfield. In the program, Homer Simpson wrongly suspects that Bashir's family is involved in a terror plot. Bart Simpson befriends Bashir and defends him from bullies.
To view the entire episode, click here:
SEE: Thank Fox for 'Simpsons' Episode Challenging Islamophobia
To view CAIR’s letter to “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, click here.
Because of the number of positive e-mails Fox is receiving, CAIR is asking community members to send notes of appreciation to a new e-mail address that has been set up by the network’s diversity department.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send future messages expressing appreciation for the episode to:
Peter Liguori, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co.; Dana Walden, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television; Gary Newman, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television.
E-mail: diversity.quest@fox.com
COPY TO: info@losangeles.cair.com
Fax: (310) 969-0210
-----
CAIR REFUTES WIESENTHAL CENTER’S ‘FALSE CLAIMS’ ON MUSLIM CEMETERY - TOP
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/4/08) The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) said today that it has sent a letter to the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center addressing what the Islamic civil rights group called “false claims” the center is using to justify building a museum of “tolerance” on a Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem.
According to historians, the planned museum site was once the largest Muslim cemetery in Palestine. Companions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad and Islamic jurists and scholars are said to be buried there. The Israeli government go-ahead on Oct. 29 for construction of the museum came only after a lengthy court battle.
The Wiesenthal Center has falsely claimed that the land it is building on is a parking lot and that there have been no protests regarding building on the cemetery in the past 50 years.
SEE: An Intolerable Spot for a Museum (Forward)
In the letter to the Wiesenthal Center, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush stated in part:
“As stated in our initial letter, the cemetery land, along with other property in the waqf Islamic trust, was designated as ‘absentee property’ when West Jerusalem came under Israel’s control after 1948. The land was ruled no longer sacrosanct in 1964 by a body called the ‘Islamic Sharia Court,’ whose members were appointed by Israel and largely distrusted by the Muslim population. In violation of international law, the land was then designated by Israel as public open space, and the municipality built a parking lot over it.
“Your additional claim that there has not been any opposition to the building of the parking lot ignores the fact that Israel imposed martial law on Palestinians from 1949 to 1966. Under this martial law, Israel ensured that any indications of national spirit or identity among Palestinians were quickly and forcefully crushed. Despite this, Muslims in Israel did legally oppose the designation of waqf land as absentee property in the 1960s, lobbied to rebuild and maintain the Ma’manullah graves after the 1967 war, protested the desecration of the graves in the 70s and 80s, and have been opposing the building of the Center for Human Dignity on the cemetery land. One cannot blame Muslims in Israel for sounding their claims upon deaf ears.
“…the land on which you plan to build is the site of a Muslim cemetery, a historic landmark, and a place revered by many. The Israeli Supreme Court’s decision cannot erase the fact that more than 150 skeletons have been unearthed at the cemetery, under the Wiesenthal Center’s supervision. Neither can the Court’s ruling erase the historic and religious value of the cemetery. You may claim the legal power to build the museum on the cemetery, but you do not possess the moral right to carry out such plans.”
SEE: CAIR-LA Response to Wiesenthal Center’s Letter
CAIR-LA has launched an online petition drive to halt the desecration of the Muslim cemetery.
SEE: Urge Wiesenthal Center to Halt Construction of Museum on Muslim Cemetery
In November, CAIR-LA and three American Jewish groups called for a halt to the Wiesenthal Center’s building plans.
SEE: Joint Letter from U.S. Muslims and Jews to the Wiesenthal Center
SEE ALSO: U.S. Muslims, Jews Ask Wiesenthal Center Not to Build on Muslim Cemetery
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.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851, E-Mail: info@losangeles.cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
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CAIR-FL: HERE'S A CHANCE TO KNOW YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS - TOP
Altaf Ali, Miami Herald, 12/4/08
Over the past several years, the image of Islam and Muslims has plummeted to the deepest depths of misunderstanding. The Muslims who have hijacked our faith and taken front and center stage do not demonstrate the desire for peace shared by most believers, and for the most part have offended and harmed not only people of other faiths but also followers of Islam.
This trend continues unabated and those who truly adhere to Islam and try to speak out against terrorism have been sidelined. Their voices, although loud and clear, were not covered in the mainstream press.
Last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital, which left at least 174 people dead and many more injured, have added to our collective despondency.
It is high time that Muslim Americans make sure our voices are heard and define our faith for ourselves. As Muslims and as Americans, we should never let terrorist groups falsely claim to represent us or Islam. In addition to repudiating and condemning all forms of terrorism and religious extremism, we have to take a proactive stance in accurately portraying our faith.
We Muslim Americans owe it to our fellow Americans to put their fears at ease. It is our moral and ethical obligation to let our friends, neighbors and colleagues know the truth. We can no longer afford to be sidelined.
Two years ago, the fear-inducing documentary Obsession infiltrated the synagogues in South Florida, and just before this year's presidential election they were distributed to newspaper subscribers in swing states in an attempt to prey on fear and foster guilt by association.
Responding to the stereotyping and misunderstanding fostered by such initiatives, on Nov. 25 the Muslim community in South Florida embarked on a historical project and launched the Bus Ad Campaign. This initiative offers fellow Americans the opportunity to learn the truth about Islam.
For eight weeks, the Miami-Dade and Broward counties' transit systems will display colorful banners about Islam on the sides of 120 local buses. Floridians of all faiths are invited to call 1-888-ISLAM-55 or visit www.CallingIslam.com to discover accurate information about Islam and Muslims.
Even though we have been speaking out, many of our fellow Americans have not heard us; now they can. This project creates an avenue for dialogue and friendship. Through a direct line of communication, all Americans will be able to make an informed decision about Muslims and Islam.
Already on the second day of the campaign, an upset individual, whose call ended up in my queue, asked why Muslims wanted to dominate the world by converting everyone to Islam. After a 20-minute discussion we parted as friends: a Christian and a Muslim who found we had more in common than differences. Stereotypes were dispelled and the truth was told.
With all good things come challenges. Not only will there be success stories but also difficult stories. For example, the first caller I talked to was so livid about the campaign that his language was littered with profanity.
We will not change the mind of every caller, but we will create bridges with those interesting in exchanging views.
We hope that Floridians will gain exposure to the true essence of Islam and better understand their Muslim neighbors through this campaign, setting the foundation for a more harmonious society and fostering respect and understanding. Most important, our fellow Americans will know that the voices of extremism run contrary to the sentiments of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim Americans and the millions of Muslims worldwide.
Ninety-nine percent of the funds used for this campaign came directly from donations from Muslims in Florida. The way the Muslim community in South Florida embraced this project and supported it wholeheartedly demonstrates that the majority of Muslims want to reach out in understanding. The inauguration of the Bus Ad Campaign is a step in the right direction.
Altaf Ali is executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The article was written for Common Ground News Service.
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CAIR-NJ SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR ITS MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM - TOP
CAIR-NJ’s Muslim Leadership Program (MYLP) is designed to empower American Muslim youth and to help develop and nurture skills to become Muslim leaders/activists. This program is designed to help youth to better face the challenges they encounter in post 9/11 America and to encourage them to explore careers in Communications/Media, Civil Rights and Politics/Public Office.
WHAT: Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP)
WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
WHERE: Princeton University
REGISTRATION FEE: There is a $25 registration fee per participant to cover lunch and seminar materials.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to high school and college students (will also consider recent graduates)
ENROLLMENT: To be considered for the MYLP, please submit a 2 page essay on: "The challenges that Muslims face in America and how I propose to overcome them."
DEADLINE: Essays must be submitted by Monday, December 15, 2008 to Afsheen Shamsi at ashamsi@cair.com.
Overview of the MYLP:
Perception of Islam & Muslims: How do we affect change? What is the current public perception of Islam & Muslims? How do we ensure accurate & fair representation of Muslims in America? How do we successfully challenge public expressions of bigotry? How do we deal with Media effectively, blogging, U-tube, other? Encourage youth to explore internships at NJ papers / news outlets.
Know Your Rights: Learn about the Law. Discuss actual incidents that arise in schools or colleges. How to respond to religious discrimination and your rights per constitution and law.
Political Activism: How do we successfully influence political decisions? Why is it important for Muslims to become politically active? Structure of Congress and how to get your message across effectively. Encourage Muslim Youth to explore internship opportunities at the offices of NJ Congressmen.
Social Activism: How do Muslims affect positive change in society and thereby demonstrate that we are contributing members of American society?
Group Projects: The students will be divided into groups and will work on developing projects to impact change in our society.
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NJ: CENTRAL JERSEY MUSLIMS PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE - TOP
Bob Makin, Courier News, 12/3/08
For 10 years, Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in South Brunswick has led a pilgrimage to Mecca during the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha in celebration of Abraham's call to sacrifice Ishmael.
Known as Hajj, the pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are commanded to make Hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Chebli said he feels blessed to have been many more times than that as spiritual leader of the Monmouth Junction mosque. This year, he is traveling with a group of 20, including two families from the Piscataway-based Muslim Center of Middlesex County. They left Nov. 26 from Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va. Eid will take place sunset Dec. 7 through the following day. . .
CHARITABLE CAUSE
For those not making Hajj this year, Bridgewater-based Muslims Against Hunger is offering an opportunity to fulfill another pillar of Islam: charity.
In honor of Eid al-Adha, as well as a variety of other faiths' winter holidays, the local hunger organization will launch its 1,500 Meals in 15 Days campaign from Dec. 13 to Jan. 3 at soup kitchens throughout New Jersey, as well as in New York and Maryland. Local stops will include Plainfield, New Brunswick, Rahway and Morristown. (MORE)
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HOW DOES YOUR RELIGION GIVE THANKS?: ISLAM - TOP
Zakariya Dehlawi, The Daily of the University of Washington, 12/4/08
The concept of thanks in Islam is very important. Our gratitude is always directed toward God, since it increases our taqwa, or God consciousness, reminding us that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. Even when we thank other people, we tie it back to God.
There are several different phrases Muslims use when thanking God, and some of them depend on the context; I will try to illustrate a few. I offer my usual disclaimer and apologize in advance for any mistakes I might make, while any benefit is thanks to God. (See, I already showed some gratitude.)
When a Muslim is asked, “How are you?” the response usually concludes with “Alhamdulillah” whether they are in a positive state, or just finished complaining about the midterms they failed that day. Alhamdulillah means, “All praise and thanks belong to God.” It denotes the idea that we are grateful to God for everything given to us, and that even negatives will benefit us in the long run — as well as the thought that things could be much worse.
The Quran reminds us: “And (remember) Job, when he cried to his Lord, ‘Affliction has befallen me, but You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful’” (chapter 21, verse 83). So even in his terrible state, he recognized all the other blessings God provides. (MORE)
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ADC: ARAB-AMERICAN HATE CRIMES DOWN SINCE 9/11 - TOP
Andy Sullivan, Reuters, 12/4/08
Hate crimes against Arab Americans have decreased steadily since the September 11 attacks but are still more common than they were before the hijackings, a civil rights group said on Thursday.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said it received an average of 120 to 130 reports of ethnically motivated attacks or threats each year between 2003 and 2007, a sharp decrease from the 700 violent incidents it documented in the weeks following the 2001 attacks.
But that figure is still higher than the 80 to 90 reports it received in the late 1990s, the civil rights group said. (MORE)
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/4/08) Following an action alert sent out yesterday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Fox television network reported receiving an overwhelming positive response from community members about a recent episode of “The Simpsons” that challenged anti-Muslim stereotypes.
The episode, which aired Sunday evening and is titled "Mypods and Boomsticks," highlights anti-Muslim sentiment by featuring a young Muslim character named Bashir and his family who face prejudice after moving to Springfield. In the program, Homer Simpson wrongly suspects that Bashir's family is involved in a terror plot. Bart Simpson befriends Bashir and defends him from bullies.
To view the entire episode, click here:
SEE: Thank Fox for 'Simpsons' Episode Challenging Islamophobia
To view CAIR’s letter to “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, click here.
Because of the number of positive e-mails Fox is receiving, CAIR is asking community members to send notes of appreciation to a new e-mail address that has been set up by the network’s diversity department.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send future messages expressing appreciation for the episode to:
Peter Liguori, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co.; Dana Walden, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television; Gary Newman, Chairman, Twentieth Century Fox Television.
E-mail: diversity.quest@fox.com
COPY TO: info@losangeles.cair.com
Fax: (310) 969-0210
-----
CAIR REFUTES WIESENTHAL CENTER’S ‘FALSE CLAIMS’ ON MUSLIM CEMETERY - TOP
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/4/08) The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) said today that it has sent a letter to the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center addressing what the Islamic civil rights group called “false claims” the center is using to justify building a museum of “tolerance” on a Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem.
According to historians, the planned museum site was once the largest Muslim cemetery in Palestine. Companions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad and Islamic jurists and scholars are said to be buried there. The Israeli government go-ahead on Oct. 29 for construction of the museum came only after a lengthy court battle.
The Wiesenthal Center has falsely claimed that the land it is building on is a parking lot and that there have been no protests regarding building on the cemetery in the past 50 years.
SEE: An Intolerable Spot for a Museum (Forward)
In the letter to the Wiesenthal Center, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush stated in part:
“As stated in our initial letter, the cemetery land, along with other property in the waqf Islamic trust, was designated as ‘absentee property’ when West Jerusalem came under Israel’s control after 1948. The land was ruled no longer sacrosanct in 1964 by a body called the ‘Islamic Sharia Court,’ whose members were appointed by Israel and largely distrusted by the Muslim population. In violation of international law, the land was then designated by Israel as public open space, and the municipality built a parking lot over it.
“Your additional claim that there has not been any opposition to the building of the parking lot ignores the fact that Israel imposed martial law on Palestinians from 1949 to 1966. Under this martial law, Israel ensured that any indications of national spirit or identity among Palestinians were quickly and forcefully crushed. Despite this, Muslims in Israel did legally oppose the designation of waqf land as absentee property in the 1960s, lobbied to rebuild and maintain the Ma’manullah graves after the 1967 war, protested the desecration of the graves in the 70s and 80s, and have been opposing the building of the Center for Human Dignity on the cemetery land. One cannot blame Muslims in Israel for sounding their claims upon deaf ears.
“…the land on which you plan to build is the site of a Muslim cemetery, a historic landmark, and a place revered by many. The Israeli Supreme Court’s decision cannot erase the fact that more than 150 skeletons have been unearthed at the cemetery, under the Wiesenthal Center’s supervision. Neither can the Court’s ruling erase the historic and religious value of the cemetery. You may claim the legal power to build the museum on the cemetery, but you do not possess the moral right to carry out such plans.”
SEE: CAIR-LA Response to Wiesenthal Center’s Letter
CAIR-LA has launched an online petition drive to halt the desecration of the Muslim cemetery.
SEE: Urge Wiesenthal Center to Halt Construction of Museum on Muslim Cemetery
In November, CAIR-LA and three American Jewish groups called for a halt to the Wiesenthal Center’s building plans.
SEE: Joint Letter from U.S. Muslims and Jews to the Wiesenthal Center
SEE ALSO: U.S. Muslims, Jews Ask Wiesenthal Center Not to Build on Muslim Cemetery
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.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851, E-Mail: info@losangeles.cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
-----
CAIR-FL: HERE'S A CHANCE TO KNOW YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS - TOP
Altaf Ali, Miami Herald, 12/4/08
Over the past several years, the image of Islam and Muslims has plummeted to the deepest depths of misunderstanding. The Muslims who have hijacked our faith and taken front and center stage do not demonstrate the desire for peace shared by most believers, and for the most part have offended and harmed not only people of other faiths but also followers of Islam.
This trend continues unabated and those who truly adhere to Islam and try to speak out against terrorism have been sidelined. Their voices, although loud and clear, were not covered in the mainstream press.
Last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital, which left at least 174 people dead and many more injured, have added to our collective despondency.
It is high time that Muslim Americans make sure our voices are heard and define our faith for ourselves. As Muslims and as Americans, we should never let terrorist groups falsely claim to represent us or Islam. In addition to repudiating and condemning all forms of terrorism and religious extremism, we have to take a proactive stance in accurately portraying our faith.
We Muslim Americans owe it to our fellow Americans to put their fears at ease. It is our moral and ethical obligation to let our friends, neighbors and colleagues know the truth. We can no longer afford to be sidelined.
Two years ago, the fear-inducing documentary Obsession infiltrated the synagogues in South Florida, and just before this year's presidential election they were distributed to newspaper subscribers in swing states in an attempt to prey on fear and foster guilt by association.
Responding to the stereotyping and misunderstanding fostered by such initiatives, on Nov. 25 the Muslim community in South Florida embarked on a historical project and launched the Bus Ad Campaign. This initiative offers fellow Americans the opportunity to learn the truth about Islam.
For eight weeks, the Miami-Dade and Broward counties' transit systems will display colorful banners about Islam on the sides of 120 local buses. Floridians of all faiths are invited to call 1-888-ISLAM-55 or visit www.CallingIslam.com to discover accurate information about Islam and Muslims.
Even though we have been speaking out, many of our fellow Americans have not heard us; now they can. This project creates an avenue for dialogue and friendship. Through a direct line of communication, all Americans will be able to make an informed decision about Muslims and Islam.
Already on the second day of the campaign, an upset individual, whose call ended up in my queue, asked why Muslims wanted to dominate the world by converting everyone to Islam. After a 20-minute discussion we parted as friends: a Christian and a Muslim who found we had more in common than differences. Stereotypes were dispelled and the truth was told.
With all good things come challenges. Not only will there be success stories but also difficult stories. For example, the first caller I talked to was so livid about the campaign that his language was littered with profanity.
We will not change the mind of every caller, but we will create bridges with those interesting in exchanging views.
We hope that Floridians will gain exposure to the true essence of Islam and better understand their Muslim neighbors through this campaign, setting the foundation for a more harmonious society and fostering respect and understanding. Most important, our fellow Americans will know that the voices of extremism run contrary to the sentiments of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim Americans and the millions of Muslims worldwide.
Ninety-nine percent of the funds used for this campaign came directly from donations from Muslims in Florida. The way the Muslim community in South Florida embraced this project and supported it wholeheartedly demonstrates that the majority of Muslims want to reach out in understanding. The inauguration of the Bus Ad Campaign is a step in the right direction.
Altaf Ali is executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The article was written for Common Ground News Service.
-----
CAIR-NJ SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR ITS MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM - TOP
CAIR-NJ’s Muslim Leadership Program (MYLP) is designed to empower American Muslim youth and to help develop and nurture skills to become Muslim leaders/activists. This program is designed to help youth to better face the challenges they encounter in post 9/11 America and to encourage them to explore careers in Communications/Media, Civil Rights and Politics/Public Office.
WHAT: Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP)
WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
WHERE: Princeton University
REGISTRATION FEE: There is a $25 registration fee per participant to cover lunch and seminar materials.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to high school and college students (will also consider recent graduates)
ENROLLMENT: To be considered for the MYLP, please submit a 2 page essay on: "The challenges that Muslims face in America and how I propose to overcome them."
DEADLINE: Essays must be submitted by Monday, December 15, 2008 to Afsheen Shamsi at ashamsi@cair.com.
Overview of the MYLP:
Perception of Islam & Muslims: How do we affect change? What is the current public perception of Islam & Muslims? How do we ensure accurate & fair representation of Muslims in America? How do we successfully challenge public expressions of bigotry? How do we deal with Media effectively, blogging, U-tube, other? Encourage youth to explore internships at NJ papers / news outlets.
Know Your Rights: Learn about the Law. Discuss actual incidents that arise in schools or colleges. How to respond to religious discrimination and your rights per constitution and law.
Political Activism: How do we successfully influence political decisions? Why is it important for Muslims to become politically active? Structure of Congress and how to get your message across effectively. Encourage Muslim Youth to explore internship opportunities at the offices of NJ Congressmen.
Social Activism: How do Muslims affect positive change in society and thereby demonstrate that we are contributing members of American society?
Group Projects: The students will be divided into groups and will work on developing projects to impact change in our society.
-----
NJ: CENTRAL JERSEY MUSLIMS PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE - TOP
Bob Makin, Courier News, 12/3/08
For 10 years, Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in South Brunswick has led a pilgrimage to Mecca during the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha in celebration of Abraham's call to sacrifice Ishmael.
Known as Hajj, the pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are commanded to make Hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Chebli said he feels blessed to have been many more times than that as spiritual leader of the Monmouth Junction mosque. This year, he is traveling with a group of 20, including two families from the Piscataway-based Muslim Center of Middlesex County. They left Nov. 26 from Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va. Eid will take place sunset Dec. 7 through the following day. . .
CHARITABLE CAUSE
For those not making Hajj this year, Bridgewater-based Muslims Against Hunger is offering an opportunity to fulfill another pillar of Islam: charity.
In honor of Eid al-Adha, as well as a variety of other faiths' winter holidays, the local hunger organization will launch its 1,500 Meals in 15 Days campaign from Dec. 13 to Jan. 3 at soup kitchens throughout New Jersey, as well as in New York and Maryland. Local stops will include Plainfield, New Brunswick, Rahway and Morristown. (MORE)
-----
HOW DOES YOUR RELIGION GIVE THANKS?: ISLAM - TOP
Zakariya Dehlawi, The Daily of the University of Washington, 12/4/08
The concept of thanks in Islam is very important. Our gratitude is always directed toward God, since it increases our taqwa, or God consciousness, reminding us that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. Even when we thank other people, we tie it back to God.
There are several different phrases Muslims use when thanking God, and some of them depend on the context; I will try to illustrate a few. I offer my usual disclaimer and apologize in advance for any mistakes I might make, while any benefit is thanks to God. (See, I already showed some gratitude.)
When a Muslim is asked, “How are you?” the response usually concludes with “Alhamdulillah” whether they are in a positive state, or just finished complaining about the midterms they failed that day. Alhamdulillah means, “All praise and thanks belong to God.” It denotes the idea that we are grateful to God for everything given to us, and that even negatives will benefit us in the long run — as well as the thought that things could be much worse.
The Quran reminds us: “And (remember) Job, when he cried to his Lord, ‘Affliction has befallen me, but You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful’” (chapter 21, verse 83). So even in his terrible state, he recognized all the other blessings God provides. (MORE)
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ADC: ARAB-AMERICAN HATE CRIMES DOWN SINCE 9/11 - TOP
Andy Sullivan, Reuters, 12/4/08
Hate crimes against Arab Americans have decreased steadily since the September 11 attacks but are still more common than they were before the hijackings, a civil rights group said on Thursday.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said it received an average of 120 to 130 reports of ethnically motivated attacks or threats each year between 2003 and 2007, a sharp decrease from the 700 violent incidents it documented in the weeks following the 2001 attacks.
But that figure is still higher than the 80 to 90 reports it received in the late 1990s, the civil rights group said. (MORE)
Friday, November 14, 2008
News you can use
Policeman who killed Palestinian in Tel Aviv sentenced to one year in jailOn 4 Oct. '08, Border Police officer Tomer Avraham killed Iyad Abu-Ra'iyeh, who was found in Tel Aviv without a permit, after severely beating him. Tel Aviv District Court Judge Oded Mudrik sentenced Avraham to one year's imprisonment for manslaughter, referring to the crime as "a hapless, lethal act incidental to military or police activity."
Jerusalem municipality demolishes houses in SilwanIn 2005, the Jerusalem municipality issued demolition orders for most homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, East Jerusalem. This week, it demolished homes in the neighborhood, despite the mayors' past promise to allow the residents to present a plan reflecting the area's development needs.
Testimony: House demolition and police brutality in East JerusalemIsrael's discriminatory policy in East Jerusalem extends to many aspects of life, including planning and building. On 28 July '08, the municipality demolished a residential building in the Beit-Hanina neighborhood, claiming part of it was built without a permit. During the eviction, police officers attacked a resident.
Testimony: Policemen abuse Palestinian during interrogationOn 30 Sept. '08, police arrested Shadi Sabatin and his Israeli employer. An interrogator then severely beat him, trying to force him to confess he worked in Jerusalem without a permit. Sabatin's employer, who heard his cries in the interrogation room, placed a complaint with the Department for Police investigations.
Army extends administrative detention of two minorsOn 2 Nov. '08, a military court of appeals denied the appeal of two minors being held in administrative detention. B'Tselem calls on the army to release the two girls immediately or, if it has evidence against them, to prosecute them as provided by law.
Testimony: Settlers attack olive pickersOn 20 Nov. '08, Kafa Shtiwi from Kadum was attacked by settlers as she approached her olive grove with international activists. According to her testimony, the settlers kicked and cursed them, and threatened to vandalize their vehicle.
Jerusalem municipality demolishes houses in SilwanIn 2005, the Jerusalem municipality issued demolition orders for most homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, East Jerusalem. This week, it demolished homes in the neighborhood, despite the mayors' past promise to allow the residents to present a plan reflecting the area's development needs.
Testimony: House demolition and police brutality in East JerusalemIsrael's discriminatory policy in East Jerusalem extends to many aspects of life, including planning and building. On 28 July '08, the municipality demolished a residential building in the Beit-Hanina neighborhood, claiming part of it was built without a permit. During the eviction, police officers attacked a resident.
Testimony: Policemen abuse Palestinian during interrogationOn 30 Sept. '08, police arrested Shadi Sabatin and his Israeli employer. An interrogator then severely beat him, trying to force him to confess he worked in Jerusalem without a permit. Sabatin's employer, who heard his cries in the interrogation room, placed a complaint with the Department for Police investigations.
Army extends administrative detention of two minorsOn 2 Nov. '08, a military court of appeals denied the appeal of two minors being held in administrative detention. B'Tselem calls on the army to release the two girls immediately or, if it has evidence against them, to prosecute them as provided by law.
Testimony: Settlers attack olive pickersOn 20 Nov. '08, Kafa Shtiwi from Kadum was attacked by settlers as she approached her olive grove with international activists. According to her testimony, the settlers kicked and cursed them, and threatened to vandalize their vehicle.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
8 muslims killed
A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. military convoy Thursday as it passed through a crowded market in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least eight Muslims and an American soldier, Afghan officials said.
The explosion also wounded 74 Muslims near the livestock market where people were trading sheep cows, goats and other animals in the Bati Kot district outside Jalalabad, Afghan police and health officials said
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan;_ylt=AhwvdBSMBf6lfAZ2fkOSaaVvaA8F
The explosion also wounded 74 Muslims near the livestock market where people were trading sheep cows, goats and other animals in the Bati Kot district outside Jalalabad, Afghan police and health officials said
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan;_ylt=AhwvdBSMBf6lfAZ2fkOSaaVvaA8F
E.U. diplomats denied Gaza entry
E.U. diplomats denied Gaza entry
November 13, 2008
Israel prevented 20 European Union diplomats from entering Gaza.
The consul generals were scheduled to meet with business leaders and human rights activists in Gaza on Thursday, Israel’s daily Haaretz reported. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told the newspaper that Israel had told the consuls Wednesday that they would not be allowed to cross over, but they still tried to cross into Gaza on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, foreign journalists have not been allowed to cross into Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
IDF spokesman Lerner told the paper that there has been no order issued to keep the journalists out of Gaza, rather that since the renewal of rocket attacks last week entry has been allowed only on the basis of humanitarian concerns.
The Foreign Press Association has appealed to the government to allow journalists entry into Gaza, but without success.
November 13, 2008
Israel prevented 20 European Union diplomats from entering Gaza.
The consul generals were scheduled to meet with business leaders and human rights activists in Gaza on Thursday, Israel’s daily Haaretz reported. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told the newspaper that Israel had told the consuls Wednesday that they would not be allowed to cross over, but they still tried to cross into Gaza on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, foreign journalists have not been allowed to cross into Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
IDF spokesman Lerner told the paper that there has been no order issued to keep the journalists out of Gaza, rather that since the renewal of rocket attacks last week entry has been allowed only on the basis of humanitarian concerns.
The Foreign Press Association has appealed to the government to allow journalists entry into Gaza, but without success.
News To use
NEW EVIDENCE LINKING AISH HATORAH TO OBSESSION - TOPEli Clifton, Inter Press Service, 11/10/08
The September and October mass distribution of the anti-Muslim documentary, Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, paid for by the mysterious Clarion Fund, has numerous links to the Orthodox Jewish organization Aish HaTorah. In September, Ali Gharib and I wrote:
The Clarion Fund and Aish Hatorah are headed by twin Israeli-Canadian brothers Raphael and Ephraim Shore, respectively. The two groups appear to be connected as Clarion is incorporated in Delaware to the New York offices of Aish Hatorah.
“It seems that the Clarion Fund, from what we can tell, is just a virtual organization that is a front for Aish Hatorah,” Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told IPS. “They don’t have staff, they don’t have a physical address. Nothing.”
Sarah Posner at The Jewish Week also wrote an excellent article which details the links between Aish HaTorah and Obsession.
Adding to the case that the production and distribution of Obsession are managed by Aish HaTorah, is the fact that Obsession’s website, http://www.obsessionthemovie.com, appears to be hosted by an Aish HaTorah hosting account.
Obsessionthemovie.com shares an IP address with just one other website, http://www.imaginaishion.com. Imaginaishion.com is a domain name registered and owned by Aish HaTorah. (MORE)
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HOROWITZ MISINFORMS STUDENTS ABOUT ISLAM - TOPDana Shabeeb, Daily Northwestern, 11/12/08
As an American who believes in free speech, I support College Republicans' right to invite David Horowitz to speak on our campus. However, I cannot allow my fellow students to be victims of the deception and misinformation created by David Horowitz's remarks at last night's event.
Although the topic of Horowitz's speech was "threats to American freedom," it seemed more like an hour and a half filled with blatant lies about Islam, aimed to instill fear and incite hatred toward Muslims. He claimed that "very few Muslims would condemn genocidal attack on Jews." Let me make clear that Muslims vehemently reject the use of violence in the name of our religion and don't support the killing of innocent civilians for any reason.
Rather, we wholeheartedly embrace the American ideal of peace that Horowitz claims to defend. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
SMEARCASTING.COM: DAVID HOROWITZ - TOPSmearcasting.com
David Horowitz is the Islamophobia movement's premier promoter. Through his "Islamofascism Awareness Week" (see Islamofascism Case Study), which brought leading Muslim-bashers to more than a hundred college campuses in October 2007, and via his website, FrontPage Magazine, which features the movement's leading writers and links to other anti-Muslim sites, Horowitz has made himself the chief publicist of the Islamophobic movement. (Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab writings at Horowitz's FrontPage Magazine have been exposed for inaccuracy by, among other outlets, the New Yorker magazine--4/14/08.)
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN GROUP BLASTS EMANUEL’S DAD - TOPJTA, 11/12/08
WASHINGTON (JTA)—An Arab-American group wants Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel to repudiate remarks made by Emanuel’s father.
President-elect Obama last week named Emanuel, an Illinois congressman whose father is Israeli, as his White House chief of staff. In an interview with the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, Benjamin Emanuel said, "Obviously, he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House." (MORE)
-----
KELSO MAN ASSAULTED IN ALLEGED HATE CRIME - TOPLeslie Slape, Daily News, 11/10/08A man on a night out with his girlfriend Friday told Longview police that another man accused him of being a member of al-Qaeda and slapped him.
Police arrested David Lee Katon, 28, of Clatskanie on suspicion of malicious harassment, a felony hate crime, and fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
The victim, a Kelso man originally from India, said he asked a man for a light outside the Cadillac Ranch Casino, and the man asked him if he was connected with the terrorist organization. (MORE)
-----
MINNESOTA PLANT THAT FIRED MUSLIMS FOR TAKING PRAYER BREAKS WILL PAY $365,000 - TOPAssociated Press, 11/11/08
MINNEAPOLIS — Under a settlement to a federal lawsuit, up to 100 Somali Muslims who are current or former workers at Gold'n Plump Inc. will receive a total of $365,000.
The settlement was filed in Minneapolis on Friday. It sprang from allegations of religious discrimination at the company's chicken processing plants in Cold Spring and Arcadia, Wis.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuits against St. Cloud-based Gold'n Plump and the Work Connection Inc., an employment agency in St. Paul, which handled some hiring for the plant.
Under the settlement, Gold'n Plump agreed to pay $215,000 to workers who were terminated for taking prayer breaks. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GOLD’N PLUMP AWARDS WORKERS IN SETTLEMENT - TOPBritt Johnsen, St. Cloud Times, 11/11/08
A group of up to 100 Muslim people will receive $365,000 after discrimination cases involving Gold’n Plump were settled earlier this fall.
Attorneys representing employees of Gold’n Plump Poultry Inc. released a statement late Monday explaining details in two cases involving Muslim employees who worked in plants in Cold Spring and Arcadia, Wis. (MORE)
-----
The September and October mass distribution of the anti-Muslim documentary, Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, paid for by the mysterious Clarion Fund, has numerous links to the Orthodox Jewish organization Aish HaTorah. In September, Ali Gharib and I wrote:
The Clarion Fund and Aish Hatorah are headed by twin Israeli-Canadian brothers Raphael and Ephraim Shore, respectively. The two groups appear to be connected as Clarion is incorporated in Delaware to the New York offices of Aish Hatorah.
“It seems that the Clarion Fund, from what we can tell, is just a virtual organization that is a front for Aish Hatorah,” Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told IPS. “They don’t have staff, they don’t have a physical address. Nothing.”
Sarah Posner at The Jewish Week also wrote an excellent article which details the links between Aish HaTorah and Obsession.
Adding to the case that the production and distribution of Obsession are managed by Aish HaTorah, is the fact that Obsession’s website, http://www.obsessionthemovie.com, appears to be hosted by an Aish HaTorah hosting account.
Obsessionthemovie.com shares an IP address with just one other website, http://www.imaginaishion.com. Imaginaishion.com is a domain name registered and owned by Aish HaTorah. (MORE)
-----
HOROWITZ MISINFORMS STUDENTS ABOUT ISLAM - TOPDana Shabeeb, Daily Northwestern, 11/12/08
As an American who believes in free speech, I support College Republicans' right to invite David Horowitz to speak on our campus. However, I cannot allow my fellow students to be victims of the deception and misinformation created by David Horowitz's remarks at last night's event.
Although the topic of Horowitz's speech was "threats to American freedom," it seemed more like an hour and a half filled with blatant lies about Islam, aimed to instill fear and incite hatred toward Muslims. He claimed that "very few Muslims would condemn genocidal attack on Jews." Let me make clear that Muslims vehemently reject the use of violence in the name of our religion and don't support the killing of innocent civilians for any reason.
Rather, we wholeheartedly embrace the American ideal of peace that Horowitz claims to defend. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
SMEARCASTING.COM: DAVID HOROWITZ - TOPSmearcasting.com
David Horowitz is the Islamophobia movement's premier promoter. Through his "Islamofascism Awareness Week" (see Islamofascism Case Study), which brought leading Muslim-bashers to more than a hundred college campuses in October 2007, and via his website, FrontPage Magazine, which features the movement's leading writers and links to other anti-Muslim sites, Horowitz has made himself the chief publicist of the Islamophobic movement. (Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab writings at Horowitz's FrontPage Magazine have been exposed for inaccuracy by, among other outlets, the New Yorker magazine--4/14/08.)
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN GROUP BLASTS EMANUEL’S DAD - TOPJTA, 11/12/08
WASHINGTON (JTA)—An Arab-American group wants Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel to repudiate remarks made by Emanuel’s father.
President-elect Obama last week named Emanuel, an Illinois congressman whose father is Israeli, as his White House chief of staff. In an interview with the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, Benjamin Emanuel said, "Obviously, he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House." (MORE)
-----
KELSO MAN ASSAULTED IN ALLEGED HATE CRIME - TOPLeslie Slape, Daily News, 11/10/08A man on a night out with his girlfriend Friday told Longview police that another man accused him of being a member of al-Qaeda and slapped him.
Police arrested David Lee Katon, 28, of Clatskanie on suspicion of malicious harassment, a felony hate crime, and fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
The victim, a Kelso man originally from India, said he asked a man for a light outside the Cadillac Ranch Casino, and the man asked him if he was connected with the terrorist organization. (MORE)
-----
MINNESOTA PLANT THAT FIRED MUSLIMS FOR TAKING PRAYER BREAKS WILL PAY $365,000 - TOPAssociated Press, 11/11/08
MINNEAPOLIS — Under a settlement to a federal lawsuit, up to 100 Somali Muslims who are current or former workers at Gold'n Plump Inc. will receive a total of $365,000.
The settlement was filed in Minneapolis on Friday. It sprang from allegations of religious discrimination at the company's chicken processing plants in Cold Spring and Arcadia, Wis.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuits against St. Cloud-based Gold'n Plump and the Work Connection Inc., an employment agency in St. Paul, which handled some hiring for the plant.
Under the settlement, Gold'n Plump agreed to pay $215,000 to workers who were terminated for taking prayer breaks. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GOLD’N PLUMP AWARDS WORKERS IN SETTLEMENT - TOPBritt Johnsen, St. Cloud Times, 11/11/08
A group of up to 100 Muslim people will receive $365,000 after discrimination cases involving Gold’n Plump were settled earlier this fall.
Attorneys representing employees of Gold’n Plump Poultry Inc. released a statement late Monday explaining details in two cases involving Muslim employees who worked in plants in Cold Spring and Arcadia, Wis. (MORE)
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