CAIR-OH: CINCINNATI MUSLIMS PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY STUDENTS -TOP

(CINCINNATI, OH, 8/12/09) - On August 19, the Cincinnati office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio (CAIR-OH), in conjunction with the Islamic Association of Cincinnati Clifton Mosque, will deliver school supplies to all the students at a local elementary school. The project is being funded by a donation from the Cincinnati Muslim community.

”School Supplies for Kids” will benefit some 450 students attending Hays-Porter Elementary School in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood. All the students at this elementary school participate in the free lunch program.

"This project will benefit kids and teachers alike,” said CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub. “According to a recent news report, teachers typically spend $1000 or more per year buying supplies for their students. This project will help students succeed in school and allow teachers to concentrate on teaching.”

The supplies will include pencils, notebooks, crayons, pencil sharpeners, and other items.

CAIR-OH’s participation in the giveaway is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing CAIR program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about School Supplies for Kids will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Cincinnati, Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail: kdabdoub@cair.com; Zeinab Schwen, zschwen@cair.com

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CAIR ACTION: NY MUSLIMS URGED TO JOIN HUDSON RIVER CLEAN-UP - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 8/12/2009) - CAIR-NY is calling on area Muslims and others who want to help take care of the environment to volunteer in an effort to clean up the Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary on Saturday, August 15.

CAIR-NY’s participation in this activity is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary clean-up will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

ACTION REQUESTED:

Individuals interested in taking part in the clean-up should contact CAIR-NY as soon as possible to register for the event. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please send your name and contact info to fali@cair.com.

Event Details:

WHAT: Clean Sanctuary Campaign River Clean-up, Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary
WHERE: Hudson River Park, Pier 54, New York, NY 10038; Volunteers will meet at Hudson River Park's Pier 54 at 9 a.m., just one block south of 13th Street and the Hudson River
WHEN: Saturday, August 15, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali, 212.870.2002, fali@cair.com

This event is sponsored in conjunction with Friends of Hudson River Park, a private non-profit organization that supports the development of Hudson River Park on Manhattan's West Side, and the Hudson River Park Trust, a group responsible for building and operating the park.

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CAIR-TAMPA HOSTS HEALTH FAIR - TOP

(TAMPA, FL, 8/12/09) - On August 8, 2009, the Tampa Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) hosted its second annual health fair at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area (ISTABA). The theme for this year's fair was "Wellness today for a healthy tomorrow."

Khadijah Rivera, Operations Director for CAIR-Tampa, said: "It is a duty for every American to cherish and contribute to the community they live in; this is what makes America a great nation. In this spirit, we are honored to host an event that provides information and activities on wellness and health."

Rivera also indicated that inspiration for this year's health fair came with a recently announced initiative by President Obama called "United We Serve," calling on Americans to participate in our nation's recovery and renewal by serving in our communities.

CAIR is asking Muslim communities to plan new volunteer community service initiatives, to expand existing activities and to report all such efforts to its "Muslims Care" website. Muslims Care, an ongoing CAIR program, is designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. CAIR's initiative is being coordinated with "Muslim Americans Answer the Call," a nationwide grass-roots campaign to mobilize American Muslims to answer the call to service.

SEE: Muslims Care "United We Serve" Project Submission Form
SEE ALSO: Muslim Americans Answer the Call
SEE ALSO: Community Health Fair (2009) - "Wellness today for a health tomorrow"

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kiliç, 813-486-2529, E-Mail: rkilic@cair.com; CAIR-Tampa Operations Director Khadijah Rivera, 813-516-2137, E-Mail: krivera@cair.com

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CAIR-NY ACTION: BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, REGISTER TO VOTE FOR NYC LOCAL ELECTIONS - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 08/12/09) - With primary season fast approaching, CAIR-NY is urging members of the Muslim community to participate in this year’s citywide elections by registering to vote. New Yorkers will head to the polls this November to elect local leaders including a mayor, public advocate, and comptroller.

ACTION REQUESTED:

1. Register to vote by downloading a NYS Voter Registration Card here. Be sure to mail the completed form to: Board of Elections, 32 Broadway, 7th. Fl., New York, NY 10275-0067
2. Encourage others to register! Forward this alert to your friends and family.
3. Report back: Help CAIR-NY keep track of how many members in the community register this year! Email fali@cair.com with your name, contact, and the number of people you were able to register.
4. Download a copy of CAIR’s Civic Participation Handbook, a manual designed to help you roll up your sleeves and start impacting the public sector.

This initiative is part of VOTE NYC: Building Community, Building Country, a grassroots effort launched by CAIR-NY aimed to keep Muslim New Yorkers informed and engaged in the political process. For more information, contact CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali at 212.870.2002.

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CAIR-OK: EXHIBIT ON ISLAMIC CULTURE SET - TOP
The Oklahoman, 8/8/09

An Islamic Culture and Art Exhibit will begin Friday at the Gold Dome, 1112 NW 23, Suite 111.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Gold Dome Multicultural Society. The exhibit opening will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, and it will remain on view through Sept. 25.

Artwork by Uzma Muzaffar, Tehmina Cheema and Samir Abdullah Hulseberg will be featured.

The Council on Islamic-American Relations also will host an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Gold Dome, Suite 207, and will feature light refreshments and a tour of the council’s local office. Information will be available for people who want to know more about the Islamic faith. Traditional food and live music also will be provided.

For more information, call 415-6851.

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CAIR-SAN DIEGO: WAHEEDA SAMADY: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE -TOP
Vivian Moon, La Prensa San Diego, 8/7/09

Domestic violence crosses all ethnic, social, and economic borders. Dr. Waheeda Samady, a medical resident at UC San Diego, has embarked on a project to fight the on-set of family violence and explore ways to better educate the public on its prevention, focusing on Muslim communities in San Diego. By working with local organizations, Dr. Samady marks the importance of awareness and proactive efforts to maintain respect within families. As a Muslim herself, Dr. Samady also acknowledges the costs of stereotyping minority groups, and the resulting barriers that can make seeking help all the more difficult.

Dr. Samady works closely with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to bring a better knowledge of both domestic violence and available resources to the Muslim community. Together, Dr. Samady and CAIR are planning to make family violence the topic of at least one Friday prayer sermon at Islamic centers in San Diego, an effort that can reach thousands who attend these weekly prayer services. A leadership conference is also in the works, and will seek to bring together social workers, lawyers, advocates, religious leaders, congressional organizational leaders, and doctors, with the goal to teach community leaders how to deal with issues of family violence.

In order to make this all happen, Dr. Samady is working on getting funding, not only for the conference, but also to provide CAIR with the funds to equip Muslim community leaders with resource kits, which educate their communities on family violence prevention and resources. Such kits will include binders with directories of social workers, counselors, and Arabic and Urdu translators. The grant would also allow for ongoing efforts in spreading awareness at local religious institutions. (More)

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CAIR-TAMPA 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' SEMINARS AUGUST 14 - TOP

Concerned about the rights of Our Community? Don’t be a victim. Protect yourself and your family. Presentations by three attorneys.

Friday August 14, 2009
6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Islamic Society of New Tampa (Dar-us-Salaam)
15380 Morris Bridge Road
Thonotosassa, FL 33592

8:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Islamic Community of Tampa
“Masjid Al-Qassam”
Expansion Building
5901 E. 130th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617

Call (813) 514-1414
info@tampa.cair.com
fl.cair.com/tpa

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CAIR-SAN DIEGO: WAR OF WORDS OVER ISLAM IN SAN DIEGO - TOP
United Press International, 8/11/09

The Council for American-Islamic Relations has asked the San Diego Public Library to stop publicizing a lecture by a group CAIR says is anti-Islamic.

Edgar Hopida, an official with the San Diego chapter of CAIR, said the group is not asking the library to cancel the lecture by a member of ACT! for America, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday. He said, however, the library should not use its letterhead stationery to publicize the talk. (More)

Blind US Muslim woman uses tiny horse as guide

DEARBORN, Michigan (AFP) – Mona Ramouni's fingers fly across the text as she proofreads yet another page of a calculus textbook to be published in Braille -- with her guide pony sitting patiently by.

It is dull work for tiny Cali who serves as Ramouni's eyes through a world she cannot see, and the pony keeps butting her head into Ramouni's chest.

"Cali! Stop it," Ramouni exclaims, but she can't keep the pride out of her voice when she realizes what the pretty brown pony with a soft black mane has gotten up to.

Rolling back her thick lips, Cali has grasped the tab of the zipper on the bag of treats Ramouni carries around her waist and is slowly pulling it open with her teeth.

"She knows which part has the carrots," Ramouni says in amazement. "She's really smart."

Cali is just one of a handful of miniature horses in the United States known to be used as guide animals for the blind.

Weighing in at under 100 pounds (45 kilograms) , miniature horses are about the same size as a large dog but are much stockier and can help support people with mobility issues.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090728/ts_alt_afp/usdisabledanimalislam;_ylt=AiLOupofgn1jZEmRd4KkBEQ7Xs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0aG1vczhsBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDA5MDcyOC91c2Rpc2FibGVkYW5pbWFsaXNsYW0EcG9zAzIxBHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2JsaW5kdXNtdXNsaQ--

Settlers take over East Jerusalem homes
On 2 Aug. '09, police evicted 46 Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarah. Settlers immediately moved in to the houses. The evicted persons are descendants of 1948 refugees who were settled in the neighborhood by the Jordanian government and UNRWA.

Israeli-only road in Hebron area
Route 3265, a major traffic artery southwest of Hebron, has been closed to all Palestinians since 2001, when Palestinians shot and killed a settler driving on it. In a video, the Jadallah family relates how this collective punishmenthas severely harmed their lives.

Don't silence "Breaking the Silence"
Ten Israeli human rights and social change organizations have written to the prime minister protesting the government's attack on "Breaking the Silence", which escalated with the government's attempt to thwart funding for the group.

B'Tselem to Landau: Wastewater knows no borders
Following the harsh comments made by Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau in the Knesset in a debate regarding B'Tselem's report on wastewater from settlements, B'Tselem called on the minister to set politics aside and treat the problem at hand.

N RALEIGH, MUSLIMS VIEW FBI WITH FEAR, MISTRUST - TOP
Bob Geary, IndyWeek.com, 7/5/09

Just two Saturdays ago, the Islamic Center of Raleigh was a joyous place. A long-planned open house at its mosque and school in the Method neighborhood near N.C. State University drew such high-level guests as N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper and State Treasurer Janet Cowell. FBI and SBI officials also attended, marking an important step toward their hosts' goal of good relations between law enforcement and the Muslim community as memories of 9/11 recede.

So Muslim leaders were shocked the following Monday, when the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in Raleigh announced that seven local Muslim men had been arrested, charged with a terrorist plot to commit murder in foreign countries. An eighth suspect was being sought abroad. "It was like a bomb went off," said Jihad Shawwa, a member of the mosque and an officer of the Muslim American Public Affairs Council (MAPAC) in North Carolina.

He wasn't the only one who was rattled.

Officially, the Muslim community reacted cautiously to the arrests, professing their trust in the federal justice system while also warning, in the words of Khalilah Sabra, executive director of the Triangle chapter of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation (MAS-Freedom), against "a rush to judgment" by the press and public.

But within the community, many received the news with mistrust or fear. To one another, they questioned why the FBI pounced so soon after the open house, asking if the arrests weren't a deliberate effort to ruin the goodwill the event created. Some who read the 14-page indictment called it flimsy, full of vague accusations that the defendants were plotting "violent jihad" and their own suicides, but with no details about where or against whom they planned to strike. (More)

SEE ALSO:

FBI AGENT PROVOCATEURS AND FUSION CENTERS: BOYS GONE WILD - TOP
Delinda C. Hanley, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 2009

THE SAME day President Barack Obama reached out to 1.5 billion Muslims around the world in his speech to the Turkish parliament, saying the United States “is not and will never be at war with Islam,” Muslim Americans described what looks like a war on their community here at home. The American Muslim Taskforce (AMT) on Civil Rights and Elections, a coalition of major national Islamic organizations, discussed their concerns at a briefing at the National Press Club on April 6.

“This is a very important message to the American people, to the West and to the Muslim world in general,” said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “We appreciate Obama’s efforts to bring peace and justice to the Muslim world, and American Muslims are not only willing but they are ready to help,” he stated. (More)

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NY RALLY MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF FBI TERROR STING ARRESTS - TOP
Dave Lucas, WAMC, 8/5/09

Listen Now

ALBANY, NY (WAMC) - The Muslim Solidarity Committee marked the fifth anniversary of the arrests of two Albany Muslims, Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, with a Tuesday evening rally and march in Albany. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas was there and files this report.

Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain were sentenced to 15 years in prison, resulting from an FBI sting operation involving money-laundering from the sale of a fake shoulder-fired missile. The Albany rally began just before 6pm at the Washington Avenue Armory ... Supporters then marched to Masjid As-Salam mosque on Central Avenue.

In the Albany case, it took an informant 5 months to talk Mohammed Hossain into accepting a loan, in the case of the Fort Dix 5, an electronics store clerk in South Jersey gave police a copy of a customer's videotape that showed the men firing rifles and shouting Islamic battle cries. FBI agents and two paid cooperators then spent eighteen months persuading the men to do something that would enable the agency to arrest them. (More)

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NY: ‘INJUSTICE’ DECRIED IN CONVICTION OF MUSLIMS - TOP
Danielle Sanzone, Troy Record, 8/5/09

ALBANY — The feelings of injustice were blatant at a rally and presentation marking the fifth anniversary of the arrests of two Albany Muslims.

Mohammed M. Hossain, owner of the Little Italy pizzeria in Albany, and Yassin Aref, an imam or spiritual leader at the Masjid As-Salam mosque, were both sentenced to 15 years in prison for offenses their attorneys, friends, and family claim were the result of the two mosque leaders being entrapped by an FBI informant.

More than 100 protesters carrying signs and joining in the chants attended the peace march which started in front of the Washington Armory and ended at the Central Avenue mosque under the watchful eyes of several Albany Police officers…

Aref’s attorney, Steve Downs, said that the arrests and convictions were made with a tactic called preemptive prosecution which was a result of the country’s war on terror.

“The fact that these prosecutions are directed exclusively at one religious community — Muslims — not only violates Constitutional protections, which forbid the prosecution of people who have no intention of committing a crime, but also discriminates against Muslims,” he said.

A diverse crowd attended the event including people of all colors and creeds. (More)

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FLORIDA TEENS ACCUSED OF BIAS ATTACK ON MOSQUE BACK IN COURT - TOP

Click here to watch the video.

SEE ALSO:

MS: MADISON MUSLIM MOSQUE ZONING FLAP REEKS OF INTOLERANCE - TOP
Sid Salter, Clarion Ledger, 8/5/09

The increasingly bellicose battle over the efforts of the Mississippi Muslim Association to build a mosque in Madison County is beginning to reek not of the zoning issues claimed by opponents - but of religious intolerance and prejudice against Muslims.
Advertisement

Not so, claim neighbors in the U.S. 51 area who maintain their opposition is based on protection of zoning laws and the maintenance of their property values. Not so, claim public officials in the city of Madison and Madison County governments, who say they are just following the laws and ordinances.

But the fact that some in those governments - and a few state legislators as well - have been actively seeking legal cover to deny water and sewer services to the approximately 100 members of the Muslim community in Madison County who seek nothing more than to construct a mosque and worship as they see fit speaks a language all its own.

When's the last time you remember local governments going into battle mode against the construction of a Protestant church - particularly in Madison County, one of Mississippi's most church-friendly environs?

The notion that churches have a negative impact on residential or commercial property values is laughable on its face. If so, property values near the county's more than 125 houses of worship - a number of which are located on prime real estate like Highland Colony Parkway and other tonier addresses - must react negatively only to houses of worship built for religious minorities like the Muslims.

Nor have property values been impacted in Oxford by the mosque constructed by the Oxford Muslim Society near the Ole Miss campus. Despite taking a hit from the recession, real estate values in Oxford remain high and the mosque hasn't changed that.

There are also Muslim mosques in Starkville, Sumrall, Jackson and Vicksburg - and all exist without controversy or detriment to the broader communities. (More)

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CAIR-MN OFFERS TRAINING FOR EMPLOYERS OF MUSLIM WORKERS - TOP
Event addresses issues of religious accommodation in the workplace

(ST. PAUL, MN, 8/5/09) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) yesterday hosted its first annual “Positive Interactions” employer workshop to address issues of religious accommodation in the workplace.

More than 20 managers from seven companies attended the workshop to better understand the legal obligation of religious accommodation and to learn about customs and practices of Muslim employees. Companies represented included WalMart, Macy's, Coloplast, Lifetouch, Mayo Clinic, Park Nicollet Health Care, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

SEE: CAIR-MN Offers Employers Advice On Muslim Workers

"This is a proactive step we're taking to engage employers in understanding Islam and religious accommodation issues when they arise in the workplace,” said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam.

Ms. Islam said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints about religious discrimination have risen by more than 30 percent in recent years.

"It was important for us to gather employers from diverse industries for this workshop so that common issues would be discussed and creative accommodation options could be shared," said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Coordinator Zahra Aljabri. "We are very encouraged to see participation by so many employers at our first multi-corporation training."

Participants provided positive feedback after the workshop, including: "I had many "Ah-ha!" moments throughout the workshop. I realized that learning about different cultures is important to understand how to make the workplace an inclusive space for everyone."

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy 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-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri, 612-226-3289, E-Mail: jzikri@cair.com; CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam, Esq., 651-587-4712, E-Mail: tislam@cair.com; CAIR-MN Civil Rights Coordinator Zahra Aljabri, Esq., 651-645-7102, E-Mail: zaljabri@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

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CAIR-OH: CINCINNATI MUSLIMS PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY STUDENTS -TOP

(CINCINNATI, OH, 8/7/09) On August 19, the Cincinnati office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio (CAIR-OH), in conjunction with the Islamic Association of Cincinnati Clifton Mosque, will deliver school supplies to all the students at a local elementary school. The project is being funded by a donation from the Cincinnati Muslim community.

”School Supplies for Kids” will benefit some 450 students attending Hays-Porter Elementary School in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood. All the students at this elementary school participate in the free lunch program.

"This project will benefit kids and teachers alike,” said CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub. “According to a recent news report, teachers typically spend $1000 or more per year buying supplies for their students. This project will help students succeed in school and allow teachers to concentrate on teaching.”

The supplies will include pencils, notebooks, crayons, pencil sharpeners, and other items.

CAIR-OH’s participation in the giveaway is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing CAIR program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about School Supplies for Kids will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Cincinnati, Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail: kdabdoub@cair.com; Zeinab Schwen, zschwen@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-SAN ANTONIO TO DISTRIBUTE FANS TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS - TOP

CAIR-San Antonio to Distribute Fans to Elderly Residents

(SAN ANTONIO, TX, 8/5/09) Beginning Friday, August 7, the Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Antonio (CAIR-SA) and Muslim Children Education & Civic Center (MCECC) will distribute fans to low-income elderly residents.

Some 100 fans will be distributed around the San Antonio metropolitan area to elderly residents who are suffering without air conditioning.

The fan distribution is part of the American Muslim community’s response to President Obama’s “United We Serve” appeal. That initiative is designed to “meet community needs and make service a way of life for all Americans.”

To request a fan, contact: Amin Mohammed, 210-744-1786; Salim Rana, 210-365-4611; Sheikh; Aziz Amin 210-877-0199; Sarwat Husain 210-378-9528

CAIR-San Antonio’s participation in the effort is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing CAIR program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about the fan distribution will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-SA President Sarwat Husain at 210-378-9528, e-mail shusain@cair.com

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CAIR-LA: MEETING OF THE FAITHS AT UTAH CHURCH SITES - TOP
Muslim, Catholic leaders' tour includes temple open house
Greg Hill, Church News, 7/25/09

Joining the throngs of visitors to Temple Square were leaders of Muslim and Catholic faiths from Southern California on July 15-17. They were escorted by Steve and Judy Gilliland of the Church's Los Angeles Public Affairs Council and hosted by Church public affairs in Salt Lake City.

Overall impressions of their visit included a general admiration for the Church's humanitarian services and the commitment of its members.

Brother and Sister Gilliland said the trip was planned to coincide with the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple so the visitors, after touring it, could have a deeper understanding of why members of the Church are so committed to faith, families and serving others.

"It gave them a better understanding of 'why,' " Sister Gilliland said. She added, "We have great respect for the interfaith leaders [in Southern California]."

The two-day tour also included visits to BYU, Welfare Square and the LDS Humanitarian Center.

The visitors all said they enjoyed their time in Utah and were grateful for the kindness and hospitality of those they met.

"It has certainly been a very exciting and inspiring two days," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "I will certainly go back to our Muslim community in the Los Angeles area and share the success story and achievement that I've noticed here." He said he hopes that will solidify a partnership for good between the members of the two religions.

Of the commitment and faith he noticed, he said, "It reminds us that there are bigger things in life than our own selves, and that is to serve God. And we serve God by serving mankind. I certainly saw that in practice with every person we met here." (More)

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FALL 2009 LAW CLERK OPPORTUNITIES AT CAIR - TOP

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is currently offering new clerkship opportunities for law clerks. CAIR is the nation's largest Muslim civil rights organization. The organization's 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. This position will be located at our headquarters in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

All clerkships are unpaid. Clerkships last twelve weeks depending on the students academic calendar and include at least a 10 hour/week commitment. It will be the students responsibility to research the requirements, work with the supervising attorney to tailor the clerkship, and insure that appropriate forms are completed if they desire to receive academic credits from their law school.

The law clerk will work closely with CAIR’s Legal Counsel on resolving cases of discrimination reported to CAIR.

Applicants should mail a resume and cover letter to Nadhira Al-Khalili, Esq. Legal Counsel at nkhalili@cair.com or 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003. For questions, please call 202-646-6034.

TEXAS LIBRARY BANS MEETINGS OF ANTI-MUSLIM GROUP - TOP Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7/31/09 ARLINGTON, Texas — A local chapter of a group focused on fighting "the assault of radical Islam" has been permanently barred from holding any more meetings at the Arlington Public Library. The Grand Prairie chapter of ACT! for America had its meeting privileges revoked this month because the group broke two guidelines of the library’s meeting room usage policy, Arlington Library Director Cary Siegfried said. The group, led by Dorrie O’Brien of Grand Prairie, had been meeting at the library since last year, Siegfried said. The Arlington Public Library offers its meeting room for free. In an e-mail to Siegfried, O’Brien said the library was playing "into the hands of America’s enemies" and was just citing the rule violations as an excuse. "I imagine there’s been a lot of pressure put on you to kick me out of the library by the people who want to stop me and others like me from getting the actual word out about Islam," O’Brien wrote. Siegfried insisted that the content of the meetings had nothing to do with her decision. "They didn’t follow the rules; that’s all there is to it," Siegfried said. Siegfried said she warned ACT! for America this year after the library received a complaint that the group’s meetings were not fully open to the public and that group leaders were soliciting funds at the meeting, both violations of the library’s policy. Abir Chatila, principal at Al-Hedayah Academy in Fort Worth, said she filed the complaint after O’Brien asked her where she was born and how she had heard about the meeting before ultimately allowing her to attend. Chatila said she wanted to attend the meeting because she was concerned that anti-Muslim rhetoric was being spread at the library. (More) ----- MUSLIM JOURNALIST CALLED "BIN LADEN" ON BUS, PUNCHED IN HEAD - TOP Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun, 7/30/09 Vancouver police are investigating a disturbing racial attack on a bus Wednesday night as a possible hate crime. Journalist Qasimali Baig said he had just boarded a UBC bus on Kingsway after leaving his evening prayer, when another passenger starting calling him "Bin Laden" in reference to the Al Qaida leader. "Being a Muslim I was dressed up with my prayer attire with a cap on my head," Baig said. "From the back of the bus he jumped from his seat." The assailant punched him in the head, injuring his left eye and knocking off his glasses. Baig said the bus driver immediately stopped the bus and called his supervisor for assistance. Police and emergency crews The attacker, who Baig said was about 5'10", white and 40 to 45 years old, got off the bus and started walking westward on Kingsway past the home building story at King Edward. Baig was taken to Vancouver General to be checked out and was later released. "I am very, very shocked and I don't want this to happen to anyone else. I could take it because I was strong enough to handle him, but I don't want anyone else to go through that," Baig said in an interview. In his 22 years in Canada, he has never experienced racism until the attack, he said. "I am okay, but disturbed emotionally and psychologically," he said. Vancouver Police Const. Jana McGuinness called the attack "a disturbing unprovoked hate crime." (More) ----- WEST KENDALL MOSQUE HOSTS OPEN HOUSE TO DETER VANDALISM - TOP After bouts of vandalism that included bullets and smashed windows, a West Kendall mosque is hoping to open a dialogue at an open house on Saturday. Jaweed Kaleem, Miami Herald, 7/30/09 What is ``jihad'' and is it different from ``holy war?'' What does Islam say about polygamy? How do Muslims in South Florida feel about the Taliban and al Qaeda? A West Kendall mosque that was the target of bullets and window-smashing earlier this year will open its doors on Saturday to answer those questions and others as part of an ongoing effort to deter vandalism and promote understanding of Islam. ``People have had a misconception of our religion,'' said Zakaria Badat, imam and spiritual leader of Masjid An-Noor at 11699 SW 147th Ave. ``If people are having doubts, they can come and talk to us about what Islam means.'' The Islamic Center of Greater Miami in Miami Gardens, another of South Florida's two dozen mosques, also hosted recent open houses. Leaders cite a need for South Florida's 70,000 Muslims to get more involved in their community. In early July, vandals smashed the windows of Masjid An-Noor, which has 500 members and operates the adjacent Islamic School of Miami. Two teenagers were arrested for the crime, one of whom told police that ``all Muslims are terrorists.'' Six months earlier, unknown assailants sprayed the empty mosque with 51 bullets. ``Had these people attended one of these events, they would know that we love peace and we love our community and our country,'' said Nidal Hozien, an organizer of Saturday's open house. ``Some people have an animosity against us, but usually that is built on a lack of knowledge.'' (More) ----- CAIR: FBI'S RUSE 'DEVASTATING' FOR FAMILY OF N.C. SUSPECT - TOP WRAL, 7/30/09 Click here to watch the video. Sabrina Boyd, the wife of Daniel Patrick Boyd and the mother of Dylan and Zakariya "Zak" Boyd, claims authorities told her that her family had been injured in a car crash Monday. She said a man, wearing a bloody shirt, and a law enforcement officer told her their vehicle had been sideswiped by an 18-wheeler. "That the truck was overturned, and none of them had seat belts on. It was grave, and they were bleeding, and I needed to be rushed immediately to Duke Hospital, Sabrina Boyd said during an interview Tuesday with CNN. Sabrina Boyd said authorities drove her, along with her daughter and pregnant daughter-in-law, to Durham but parked behind the hospital. They were then taken out of the vehicle, separated and handcuffed News of a possible car accident was particularly difficult for Sabrina Boyd to hear, she said. It was just two years ago, that another son, 16-year-old Luqman Izzudeen Luke Boyd, died in a single-car wreck near Benson. When the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, heard Sabrina Boyd’s claims, they demanded the U.S. Department of Justice investigate. "It is hard to describe how, how devastating that would be to any family, said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "This is what we are calling a cruel trick played on the family members.” (More) ----- CAIR: WIFE OF ACCUSED N.C. TERRORIST LEADER TELLS HARROWING TALE, DENIES PLOT - TOP Yonat Shimron, Raleigh News and Observer, 7/29/09 The wife of Daniel Boyd, the North Carolina man accused of being a terrorist ringleader, says that law enforcement authorities set a cruel trap to get her out of her house after her husband and two sons were arrested this week. Sabrina Boyd, a 41-year-old mother of five and U.S.-born convert to Islam, said she was outraged that the agents pretended that her husband and three sons had been in a serious car crash, and that a North Carolina Highway Patrol would take her to the hospital where they were being treated. But when they arrived at Duke Hospital, 30 agents surrounded her and handcuffs were slapped on her wrists, Sabrina Boyd said. On Wednesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations denounced the subterfuge as unconstitutional and an unjust trick," and called on the Justice Department to investigate the incident. "The cruel trick reportedly used by the FBI in the detention and questioning of the family members shocks the conscience of anyone who values constitutional rights and due process of law, CAIR executive director Nihad Awad wrote. (More) ----- CAIR: LOYALTY AND COOPERATION ARE TWO-WAY STREETS - TOP Fedwa Wazwaz, Star Tribune, 7/30/09 On Saturday, July 25th, local Muslim leaders met with Congressman Keith Ellison to discuss the community’s state of affairs and address challenges currently facing Muslims in Minnesota. The discussion focused on everything from positive contributions to the growth of the community, including the free Muslim-run health clinics in the Twin Cities, to the missing Somali men and Muslims’ cooperation with law enforcement. Congressman Ellison encouraged everyone to contribute to America and answer President Obama’s call to service. I recalled a similar meeting in the past with a few law enforcement and government officials, including Thomas Heffelfinger, the former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. I spoke during and after the meeting to these officials that cooperation requires trust. I gave them an example of a Canadian-Arab, Maher Arar, who was traveling to the US, stopped by homeland security and then sent to Syria to be tortured. I explained that these stories, passing in our grapevines, create fear and distrust of law enforcement. I further explained that loyalty is a two-way street and encouraged them to speak to their higher-ups about how such abuse makes it difficult for us to conscientiously encourage cooperation with the FBI. (More) ----- CAIR, WGA-WEST SEEK THE NEXT GREAT MUSLIM HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER - TOP Matt Coker, OC Weekly, 7/30/09 A shy, talented and unlucky Jewish kid from a loud, talented and obscenely prosperous family refuses to follow in his successful parents' and siblings' footsteps because he dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter--and he's even completed what he knows is the script of the century. But, somehow, he and/or his crackerjack story are completely wrong whenever he pitches the next Citizen Kane to a gauntlet of stereotypical producers, who include bros, feminists, studio ass kissers, shady paramilitary types and Harvey Weinstein (playing not himself but James Cameron). ?Just when our sad-sack hero is about to give up all hope and take his Nana's advice and go to pharmacology school just like Uncle Burt did, the kid happens upon the advertisement on the next page from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Writer's Guild of America-West. "What if," he thinks to himself, "I were to pose as an Arab-American and show the folks holding this deal my ripping script?" Faster than you can say "Bosom Buddies Three's Company Sleeper Cell," Adam Rafkin is calling himself Aziz Rahman, cribbing the Koran, tucking his script under his arm, slapping on too much cologne and walking into the CAIR-WGA-West confab . . . . . . Aaaaaand scene! CAIR-LA SEEKS ASPIRING MUSLIM SCREENWRITERS FOR 'WRITING FOR HOLLYWOOD SEMINAR (LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/29/09) - On Tuesday, August 11, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area chapter (CAIR-LA) and the Writers Guild of America-West will host a "Writing for Hollywood" seminar for Muslim college students and recent graduates who are pursuing writing and filmmaking careers in the entertainment industry. WHAT: 'Writing for Hollywood' WHERE: TBA WHEN: Tuesday, August 11 at 2:30 p.m. WHO: Speakers include leading Hollywood filmmaker & writer The seminar will go over how to become a successful screenwriter, qualities industry executives are looking for, and various opportunities available for American Muslims in Hollywood. The program will also feature an overview of resources and opportunities available at the Guild and a tour of the Writers Guild Foundation library. Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. If you are interested, please contact CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda via e-mail at msyeda@cair.com. Include your full legal name, major, and year in college or year of graduation. Deadline for RSVP is Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 5 p.m.