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    Muslim American News Briefs, August 30, 2007

Opinion Editorials

News

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* Hadith: Moderation in All Things
* An Open Letter from CAIR to the ADL
* CAIR-Chicago: Is Faith Fair Fodder for Cartoons? (Chicago Trib)
* CAIR-FL: Public Responsibility the Real Issue (Orlando Sent)
* CAIR: Hats, Turbans Part of New Airport Screening (Newsday)
* CAIR-NJ: Muslim Youth Urged to Volunteer at Soup Kitchen
            - CAIR-PA Ten-Part Course on Islam Begins Sept. 9
* NY: Critics Ignored Record of a Muslim Principal (NY Times)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: MODERATION IN ALL THINGS - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once asked a companion: "(Is it true) that you fast all day and stand in prayer all night?" The companion replied that the report was indeed true. The Prophet then said: "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave (it) at other times. Stand up for prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 127

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AN OPEN LETTER FROM CAIR TO THE ADL - TOP

Mr. Glen S. Lewy, National Chair
Mr. Abraham H. Foxman, National Director
Anti-Defamation League
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158-3560

Dear Mr. Lewy and Mr. Foxman:

On August 14 and 21, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued press releases that repeat its past defamatory assertions about the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), smearing the good name of an organization with a proud history of standing for justice and mutual understanding.

It is unfortunate that the ADL would employ rhetorical tactics that are used routinely by anti-Semites. These tactics raise questions about the sincerity of the ADL's stated mission to "secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike."

How can the ADL ensure fair treatment of fellow Americans if it demonizes and smears one of the leading Muslim organizations advocating for equal rights in our society? How can the ADL assure justice when it attempts to muzzle the First Amendment rights of American Muslims by smearing them for simply seeking to ensure that a leading Muslim charity receives a fair trial?

Your August 21, 2007, press release stated: "If CAIR truly repudiates acts of terror and murder, we would welcome a simple declaratory statement that no cause, no matter how just it may be, justifies the use of suicide killers, rockets or other means to target civilians."

Long before your demands for such a statement, CAIR had acted numerous times out of the convictions of our faith to condemn terrorism. Our condemnations against terrorism pre-date September 11, 2001.

A little research would have revealed a CAIR-coordinated 2005 fatwa, or Islamic juristic opinion, that states in part: "All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam. It is haram for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence. It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians."

Also, our 2004 " Not in the Name of Islam" online petition states: "No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam."

We have consistently and persistently distanced Islam and American Muslims from terrorism and religious extremism. But the ADL has chosen to ignore all of our previous statements, choosing instead to make spurious claims about our motives and intent.

The ADL has profound misconceptions about CAIR. This is not surprising, given that ADL leaders have not met any of our national officers, nor have they had any interaction with our many local offices.

Contrary to the ADL's false assertions, CAIR is a mainstream American Muslim institution made up of ordinary people who serve our nation each day with distinction and pride.

Among our diverse leadership you will find doctors, engineers, teachers, businesspeople, homemakers, and public officials. Among our staff, you will find many whose families have called America home for generations. CAIR is rooted in the American experience of pluralism and is respected by the American Muslim community.

We ask that you visit our national office or a CAIR chapter, or spend time with us at any one of our many public events. Interact in a positive way with our officers, volunteers and supporters, and then judge what CAIR is all about. Use facts, not the propaganda or guilt by association that is so prevalent on the numerous Islamophobic websites that are anathema to our civilized society.

Read on our website a document titled "Demystifying the Urban Legends About CAIR" ( http://www.cair.com/urbanlegends.pdf) to find our answers to the many myths propagated by Muslim-bashers, many of whom profit from their insidious propaganda.

The ADL's press releases make a preposterous assertion that CAIR "can never be fully accepted in the Jewish community." CAIR is proud of its work and associations with many in the Jewish community and with many American Jewish organizations.

After speaking at a CAIR dinner, Shalom Center Director Rabbi Arthur Waskow (described by the Jewish Forward as one of the fifty most influential American Jews today) wrote: "Far from showing irreparable conflict between the Jewish community and CAIR, in fact the dinner showed that a seriously peace-committed part of the Jewish community can work with a seriously peace-committed part of the Muslim community, despite the existence of some violence-supportive people in both communities. That is the truthful and the important story."

Rabbi Jeff Sultar of Mishkan Shalom in Pennsylvania said: "We are inspired by the interfaith work that CAIR does, which serves to make all communities of faith stronger, and helps to address a serious gap in the understanding of Islam in the United States. As co-descendants of the legacy of Abraham, we fully support CAIR in its efforts to bring our shared values to the wider community... CAIR is doing the same kind of civil rights work and public education that Jewish communities had to do in the United States when the first wave of immigrants faced ignorance, intolerance and discrimination, and so we understand and support their efforts."

In the past, the ADL has been chastised by a federal judge for unfairly accusing others of anti-Semitism and settled a lawsuit for spying on Arab-Americans.

These are serious indiscretions on the part of the ADL. But that is not all; we have several other concerns and questions about the ADL, which we hope you will take the time to answer, much the same way we responded to your questions:

1. Ayaan Hirsi Ali has made polemical attacks against the teachings of Islam and the noble personality of Prophet Muhammad. Her writings and views reflect extreme ignorance about Islam, which is quite natural given her lack of scholarship about the faith. What was the motive behind and purpose of the ADL hosting such a personality?

2. Has the ADL ever issued a statement criticizing illegal settlement activities by Israel or condemning the results of Israel's brutal occupation policies so well documented in President Carter's book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid"?

3. Why did the ADL not criticize Israel's deliberate destruction of the civilian infrastructure in Lebanon or the killing of hundreds of Lebanese civilians using American weapons paid for with American taxpayer dollars?

4. Why, unlike CAIR, did the ADL not call for a cease-fire in Lebanon that would have prevented death and destruction on both sides?

If the ADL stops promoting noted Islamophobes and affirms the right of Americans to criticize the policies of any foreign country, including but not limited to Israel, without being demonized, then CAIR will welcome any opportunity to enter into dialogue. Such a move would allow us to explore ways in which we can work together to end discrimination and secure justice for all Americans.

The holy months of Ramadan and Tishrei will once again coincide this year. Let us use the holiness of these sacred months to enter into dialogue intended to raise Jewish and Muslim voices in America for the cause of peace and justice in the Middle East for all people of the region.

We await your response.

Sincerely,

Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D.
Chairman

Nihad Awad
Executive Director

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CAIR-CHICAGO: IS FAITH FAIR FODDER FOR CARTOONS? - TOP
Chicago Tribune, 8/29/07
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2007/08/is-faith-fair-f.html

Some newspaper editors think a satirical political cartoonist who often tackles taboo topics might have crossed a line when he incorporated a sexual innuendo into a comic strip about a character's conversion to radical Islam. But it's not the first strip by the artist to poke fun at religion.

The controversial "Opus" comic strip this past Sunday depicted a conversation between Steve and his spiritual seeker girlfriend Lola Granola, who suddenly appears in a hijab and niqab (head scarf and face-covering) to explain why she is unexpectedly becoming a "radical Islamist--hot new fad on the planet."

The cartoon ran in the Tribune, but it did not run in the Washington Post, the strip's home newspaper, or a couple dozen other papers that pick it up. (It did run on WashingtonPost.com) The Washington Post Writers Group sent an alert to subscribers offering an alternative strip from a previous year in case they feared the Muslim cartoon would touch a nerve with readers.

Tribune editors heeded the warning but decided to let it fly, said Barbara Schaffner, the editor in charge of comics. So far, according to Karisue Wyson at the Washington Post Writers Group, there have been no repercussions at papers that published the cartoon. A second cartoon along the same plotline is scheduled to appear in some papers Sunday.

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicago's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he did not find the "subtle" sexual innuendo all that inappropriate for the cartoon's adult readership. He added that whether he finds the cartoon offensive or not, the artist had every right to pen it and the paper had every right to publish it. But he does take issue with its content.

"It's a terrible stretch to associate this kind of modesty found in the average Muslim woman with radical Islam which has connotations of threat to society," Rehab said. "I wouldn't be so uptight about this point if Muslims were understood in the West. In the charged atmosphere where we're seeing misunderstanding translate into hate crimes or overt acts of prejudice, it's irresponsible to make that association." (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY THE REAL ISSUE - TOP
Danette Zaghari-Mask, Orlando Sentinel, 8/29/07
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/orl-myword2907aug29,0,1630684.story

In an official meeting, Sanford Commissioner Randy Jones stated, "I mean it might be un-politically correct, but I don't care. The fact of the matter is, I don't think you will get a lot of takers on residential [development] next to a mosque just because of what's going on worldwide."

American-Muslims in Jones' district voiced the concern that because his comments were made in an official capacity, it would sanction the view, represented in blogs, that Muslims should be isolated from community life based on tragic conflicts happening overseas.

On Saturday, Sentinel columnist Darryl Owens ("Note to Muslims: We Didn't Yield Free Speech on 9-11") depicts Jones' statements as coming from a cool, cavalier frame of mind that throws caution to the wind and is not shy to state the "obvious."

The real issue is public responsibility. Elected officials are accountable to their constituents. They have an ethical and legal duty to ensure that public policy is not shaped by stereotypes of minority groups.

Owens was eager to point out that "you can't ignore that a recent Pew Research Center study found that some 26 percent of the Muslims surveyed ages 18 to 30 justify suicide bombings in rare circumstances."

He left out the general findings of the study, that American-Muslims are overwhelming middle-class, mainstream and well integrated into American society.

American-Muslims are part of the fabric of this great nation, and comments that appear to alienate Muslims from community life have no place in public discourse. Furthermore, it is reminiscent of long-ago zoning policies used in cities like Birmingham, Ala., that endorsed city planning as a tool to segregate minorities out of white residential neighborhoods.

Because the American-Muslim community engaged in productive and positive dialogue with Jones, the commissioner is now cognizant that residential communities are flourishing around mosque. For example, the mosque on Floral Street in Ocoee enjoys a large congregation; that mosque is nestled in a quaint residential neighborhood in the heart of downtown Ocoee. Also, there is the Lake Buena Vista mosque, only minutes from the Bay Hill community.

Jones contacted Muslims who stated that they were alarmed by his comments, personally to assure them that city planning would not be influenced by perceived negative perceptions based on stereotypes of Muslims. We applaud his sincere efforts to reach out to the American-Muslim community and allay their concerns.

Danette Zaghari-Mask is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) -- Orlando.

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CAIR: HATS, TURBANS PART OF NEW EXTRA SCREENING AT AIRPORTS - TOP
Carol Eisenberg, Newsday, 8/29/07
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-ushat0829,0,7654175.story

Was it the monkey smuggled under a man's hat on a flight into LaGuardia Airport earlier this month? Or does the new hat screening policy reflect concerns that terrorists will find novel means to bring explosives onto airliners?

The Transportation Security Administration won't say.

But an Aug. 4 directive advising the nation's 43,000 airport screeners to scrutinize anyone wearing a head covering that might hide explosives -- be it a turban, baseball cap or beret -- is prompting bitter denunciations by Sikhs and Muslims, whose head coverings are part of their religious observance.

"We have complaints from our community that the way it's being conveyed on the ground is a mandatory pat-down [of turbans]," said Neha Singh of the Sikh Coalition, the nation's largest Sikh civil rights organization. "People who travel all the time tell us that they're stopped every time."

A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman denied that turban pat-downs are mandatory, or that the agency is engaging in religious or ethnic profiling. "This is not a profiling issue, and in fact we have multiple measures in place to make sure profiling does not occur," said the spokeswoman, Amy Kudwa.

She said that the revised procedures urge screeners to be vigilant about any attire that might hide an improvised explosive device. She declined to be specific for security reasons. But sources who have seen the instructions say they mention several types of hats and dress as potentially suspicious, among them turbans, cowboy hats, long stocking caps and habits.

Kudwa also downplayed any connection between the new focus and the monkey smuggling incident, which occurred on a Spirit Airlines flight from Lima, Peru. "We make adjustments to our screening procedures all the time," she said.

Several other religious and civil rights groups have joined the Sikh Coalition to insist that the policy not be implemented in a way that stigmatizes religious minorities.

"We've had only a small number of reports so far, but enough to be concerned about," said Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "One of our staffers went through the metal detector, and then was pulled back and told, 'Oh, we forgot your head scarf,' and they did a pat down." (MORE)

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CAIR-NJ CALLS ON MUSLIM YOUTH TO VOLUNTEER AT INTERFAITH SOUP KITCHEN - TOP

CAIR-NJ encourages Muslim youth from New Jersey to volunteer for the "Muslims Serve Day" at the Morristown Interfaith Soup Kitchen. Several Muslim youth are already participating and approximately 10 more youth volunteers are needed. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) stated, "Help the weak among you, help your neighbor if he seeks your help, feed him if he is hungry."

Muslims Against Hunger is spearheading this project at the Morristown Interfaith Soup Kitchen. The Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, Inc. is an ecumenical effort supported and run by funding and volunteers from 34 congregations, local and corporate businesses from the greater Morristown area.

Muslims Against Hunger Project was invited to join as a permanent sponsor of CSK in Nov 2005 and was voted by the CSK Board of trustees to represent Muslims on the CSK Board of trustees in Jan 2006.

WHAT: Muslims Serve Day - Youth Volunteer Opportunity
WHERE: Morristown Interfaith Community Soup Kitchen, 36 South St in Morristown, New Jersey 07960
WHEN: Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Full work shift (option to work partial shifts i.e. 10 - 11:30 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.)
CONTACT: Rehan Seyam, rehannim@optonline.net; Zamir Hassan, muslimsagainsthunger@gmail.com

If you are unable to volunteer time, please consider sponsoring a meal for $5.30.

In an ongoing effort to promote volunteerism among our communities under the "Muslims Care" Campaign, CAIR-NJ Community Relations Director, Afsheen Shamsi has committed to volunteering with the Interfaith Soup Kitchen on an ongoing basis and encourages others in the New Jersey Muslim community to do the same.

See: http://www.cair.com/muslimscare

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the largest Islamic civil liberties group in the United States with 33 chapters across America and Canada. Its mission is to enhance an understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Community Relations Director Afsheen Shamsi, Tel: 908-938-5990, Email: ashamsi@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-PA TEN-PART COURSE ON ISLAM BEGINS SEPT 9 - TOP

Beginning September 9, the Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) will offer a ten-part course on Islam, called "Understanding Islam and Muslims through History and Jurisprudence," at the Central Baptist Church in Wayne, PA.

This course will approach Islam from a historical and jurisprudence perspective, covering the foundations of the religion and then building on the economic, political and cultural institutions that arose in Muslim societies. It will cover the Golden Age of Muslim civilization and then discuss its decline. Contemporary issues faced by Islam and Muslims will also be covered. A final unit will be the involvement of the U.S. in the Muslim world and its ramifications.

CAIR-PA has offered the course through multiple educational and interfaith venues, including Mishkan Shalom, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, the Paoli Presbyterian Church and others.

CAIR-PA Chairman Iftekhar Hussain will lead the course.

WHEN: September 9 - November 25, 2007, Sundays: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Central Baptist Church, 106 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA

The seminars are free.

CONTACT: Leena Jaffer, Tel: 215-592-0509, Email: ljaffer@cair.com

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NY: CRITICS IGNORED RECORD OF A MUSLIM PRINCIPAL - TOP
Samuel G. Freedman, New York Times, 8/29/07
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/education/29education.html

Last Feb. 12, you may recall, New York education officials announced plans to open a minischool in September that would teach half its classes in Arabic and include study of Arab culture. The principal was to be a veteran teacher who was also a Muslim immigrant from Yemen, Debbie Almontaser.

The critical response began pouring in the very next day.

"I hope it burns to the ground just like the towers did with all the students inside including school officials as well," wrote an unidentified blogger on the Web site Modern Tribalist, a hub of anti-immigrant sentiment. A contributor identified as Dave responded, "Now Muslims will be able to learn how to become terrorists without leaving New York City."

Not to be outdone, the conservative Web site Political Dishonesty carried this commentary on Feb. 14:

"Just think, instead of jocks, cheerleaders and nerds, there's going to be the Taliban hanging out on the history hall, Al Qaeda hanging out by the gym, and Palestinians hanging out in the science labs. Hamas and Hezbollah studies will be the prerequisite classes for an Iranian physics. Maybe in gym they'll learn how to wire their bomb vests and they'll convert the football field to a terrorist training camp."

Thus commenced the smear campaign against the Khalil Gibran International Academy and, specifically, Debbie Almontaser. For the next six months, from blogs to talk shows to cable networks to the right-wing press, the hysteria and hatred never ceased. Regrettably, it worked.

Ms. Almontaser resigned as principal earlier this month. Nominally, she quit to quell the controversy about her remarks to The New York Post insufficiently denouncing the term "intifada" on a T-shirt made by a local Arab-American organization. That episode, however, merely provided the pretext for her ouster, for the triumph of a concerted exercise in character assassination.

After initially consenting to an interview for this column, Ms. Almontaser backed out, saying she did not want to "do anything that would jeopardize the school," which is still set to open next month in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. One of her longtime colleagues, however, spoke candidly about her emotions.

"She feels that she's been violated, personally and professionally," said Louis Cristillo, a research professor at Teachers College at Columbia University who has studied the experiences of Muslim children in the New York public schools. "To be painted as somebody who's un-American, questioning her patriotism, is extremely hurtful for her. She's really shocked at how devastatingly effective the defamation was." (MORE)

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: info@cair.com
URL: http://www.cair.com

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