Muslim American News Briefs, July 1, 2007

* Verse: The Future Belongs to the Righteous
* Breaking News: UK Muslim Held in Los Angeles
* Video: CAIR Rep Discusses World Opinion of U.S. Policy (MSNBC)
* CAIR-MI Meets With OIC Representatives
            - CAIR-MI: Mosques Receive Jewish Sacred Texts (Free Press)
* CAIR-LA: United at the 'Heart' (Jewish Journal)
            - CAIR-CA Hosts Islamophobia Forum
            - CAIR-NY Hosts Kyrgyz Delegation
            - CAIR-CA Rep Leads Students on University Tour
            - CAIR-TX Welcomes New Executive Director
* PA: Philly's Top Cop is Muslim (Daily News)
* Poll Shows Near Collapse of 'Certain Republican' Arab Voters

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VERSE OF THE DAY: THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE RIGHTEOUS - TOP

"(And) Moses said to his people: 'Turn to God for aid, and have patience in adversity. Verily, all the earth belongs to God: He gives it as a heritage to such as He wills of His servants; and the future belongs to the righteous!'"

The Holy Quran, 7:128

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BREAKING NEWS: UK MUSLIM HELD IN LOS ANGELES - TOP

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 6/29/07) - The Greater Los Angeles area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) has been informed that a Muslim citizen of the United Kingdom is being held following his arrival yesterday on a flight from London. CAIR-LA is investigating the reason for the man's detention. The 57-year-old man is reportedly scheduled to be returned to Britain on a flight later today.

CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Munira Syeda, Tel: 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851, E-Mail: msyeda@cair.com

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CAIR REP DISCUSSES WORLD OPINION OF U.S. POLICY ON MSNBC'S 'TUCKER' - TOP

VIEW THE VIDEO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=44423&theType=NB

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CAIR-MI MEETS WITH OIC REPRESENTATIVES - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 6/29/2007) - The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) yesterday met with representatives from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Detroit to exchange information about interfaith dialogue and social justice issues.

The meetings, which were coordinated by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, were held at the Muslim Center in Detroit, Michigan and the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

OIC representatives inquired into the demographics of the Detroit Muslim community, religious programs of local mosques and interfaith activities.

The representatives also discussed the organization's efforts to confront Islamophobia as well as its analysis and intervention in the current humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

"We commend the U.S. State Department's efforts to cultivate better relations between America and the Muslim world through its activities with the OIC," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. "The meeting was not only an educational opportunity for the OIC delegates, but also an opportunity for American Muslim leaders to share their common interests and concerns with OIC representatives."

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-MI: SHARING FAITHS: PROGRAM BRINGS SACRED JEWISH TEXTS TO MOSQUES - TOP
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 6/29/07
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NEWS05/706290321/1001/NEWS

A national pilot program to link Jews and Muslims with sacred books kicked off in Detroit on Thursday with the delivery of 17 Jewish books to one of the city's leading mosques.

"I hope this idea extends from Detroit across the U.S. and even throughout the world," Dawud Walid, Michigan director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said as a Jewish delegation from Oakland County delivered the first collection of Jewish books to a local mosque.

The books included translations and commentaries on the Torah, which Christians regard as the first five books of their Bible. Many of the early figures in the Jewish Bible, including Abraham, are considered sacred figures in Islam.

The idea of combating bigotry by sharing sacred texts isn't new. In 2002, Walid's Washington, D.C.-based group kicked off a three-year campaign to place Muslim books in nearly 8,000 public libraries across the country.

The effort launched Thursday is designed to bring Jewish books directly into Muslim centers across Michigan and eventually other parts of the United States.

Imam Abdullah El-Amin, head of the Muslim Center of Detroit, said he already had his eye on several books he plans to read as the first borrower in the new Jewish-books section of his mosque's library. (MORE)

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CAIR-LA: UNITED AT THE 'HEART' - TOP
Sara Shereen Bakhshian, Jewish Journal, 6/29/07
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=17852

Paramount Vantage co-sponsored a panel discussion and screening of "A Mighty Heart" -- the film depicting the kidnapping and death of American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl -- with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU), on June 21.

The panel, "Building Unity and Understanding in Today's World," included the film's producer, Dede Gardner; CAIR's Hussam Ayloush; Jews on First's Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak; PCU's the Rev. Peter Laarman; with Lisa Smithline from Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace moderating.

The panelists agreed on the importance of continuing their dialogue with each other's communities and on reducing the influence from their respective extremists.

Ayloush pointed out that some Muslims feel ashamed when they see co-religionists misuse Islam to justify acts such as those committed against Pearl. But Ayloush says they shouldn't feel ashamed, since "those criminals were not Pakistanis, not Muslims," he said. "They were criminals, period."

Later, Ayloush responded to an audience member's who asked, "Why should we believe CAIR cares about Pearl?"

"CAIR cares not only about Pearl, but every human being, because that is what Islam teaches us," Ayloush said. "As someone who has studied at a Christian church and [has] a lot of Jewish friends, this is exactly what Judaism and Christianity teach, too."

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-CA HOSTS ISLAMOPHOBIA FORUM - TOP

(SANTA CLARA. CA, 6/29/07) - The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) yesterday held an orientation on Islamophobia for interfaith leaders at the Muslim Community Association (MCA) in Santa Clara.

The program aimed to orient the audience, composed of members of Interfaith Witness for Peace (IWP), on various aspects of Islamophobia. CAIR-SFBA staff gave presentations on the historic roots of the phenomenon, the status of American Muslim civil rights, and the manifestations of Islamophobia in different areas such as media, rhetoric from public officials and religious leaders, and hate crimes.

"There is a dire need to recognize that Islamophobia is real, is on the rise, and must be condemned as a form of racism," said Safaa Ibrahim, CAIR-SFBA executive director. "We hope that through such events we can collectively undertake effective steps to address this serious problem."

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to promote justice, enhance understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: Abiya Ahmed, Media Relations Coordinator, 408-986-9874, aahmed@cair.com

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CAIR-NY HOSTS KYRGYZ DELEGATION - TOP

(NEW YORK, N.Y., 6/29/2007) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) recently hosted a delegation from the Kyrgyz Republic to discuss ethnic and religious diversity in American society and the role of Islam in the United States.

The summit, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, explored an array of topics concerning Americans. For example, the Kyrgyz delegates asked about the importance of independent media in a functioning democracy.

"This meeting allowed us to share the struggles and achievements of New York's diverse Muslim population with our Kyrgyz visitors," said Faiza N. Ali, CAIR-NY communications coordinator.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator Faiza N. Ali, 212-870-2002, fali@cair.com

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CAIR-SAN DIEGO REP LEADS UNIVERSITY TOUR FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS - TOP

(SAN DIEGO, CA 6/29/2007) - A representative of the San Diego office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego) recently led a tour of San Diego State University for 40 seventh and eighth-grade students from the Arabic Studies Program at Carver Elementary School.

The tour was intended to emphasize the importance of seeking a college education, and included a discussion of Islam and education with current Muslim SDSU students and a meeting with Muslim Student Association's advisor and career counselor, Dr. Adam Jeffers.

CONTACT: CAIR-San Diego Administrative and Membership Coordinator Homayra Yusufi, Tel: 858-373-8737, Email: hyusufi@cair.com

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CAIR-DFW WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - TOP

(DALLAS, TX, 6/29/07) - The Dallas/Ft. Worth office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new executive director, H. Mustaafa Carroll.

Carroll has been on the CAIR-DFW board for the past two years, and the executive committee for the past year serving as board president. Carroll is committed to involvement in the community and volunteers regularly for Rotary International - Dallas, Texas Camp Enterprise, The ExCel Ex-Offenders Feed-The-Homeless program, Citizens for Peace and Justice, and a host of other community activities.

He has served on several boards including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, The National Bone Marrow's Committee entitled African Americans Uniting for Life (AAUL), the advisory committee of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and he is Chair of the Dallas Forth Humanitarian Day - DFW Event, a collective effort to provide humanitarian aid to the needy in Dallas, Texas.

Carroll has more than 20 years experience in business and leadership, and 14 years as a corporate management consultant and trainer specializing in leadership, service and diversity. Together with the Executive Committee of CAIR-DFW, Carroll will develop and execute strategies that meet CAIR's vision for the DFW Community.

CONTACT: Mustaafa Carroll, (214) 476-7234, Email: mcarroll@cair.com

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PA: TOP COP AT TWILIGHT - TOP
Sylvester Johnson has faced bigotry, killers & now his legacy
Simone Weichselbaum, Philadelphia Daily News, 6/29/07
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/8240122.html

The sleek black Crown Victoria rolled along the shattered block of Bouvier Street and all talk stopped.

Even the youngest kids on this desolate North Philadelphia street know what was up.

A cop had arrived.

The car pulled up to a narrow, green rowhouse. A burly cop stepped out in full uniform and knocked on the door.

A woman answered, immediately recognized the placid face of Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, and smiled. "I better not get hurt because of you," Shirley Davis, 67, said with a nervous laugh.

Johnson, returning to his childhood home for a quick hello, was greeted in the way he is all across the city - with a mix of respect, anger and a shrug. Teenagers glared at him, not knowing who he was or what he wanted. He told them his title. The kids were not impressed.

"What are you doing about the streets?" asked Tony Hall, 12.

Johnson remained unflappable. In a gentle, grandfatherly way, he preached the importance of a good education.

This is his comfort zone. This is his message. Johnson has always felt more at ease on a hardscrabble street in the role of a social worker, than he has as the chief in a sprawling office, decorated with leather furniture and artwork, at police headquarters.

In seven months Johnson will retire at a time of untamable murder in a city plagued with too many illegal guns and drugs. Yesterday saw the 200th murder of the year.

While some say Johnson has the impossible job of fixing the unfixable, residents on the poorest and richest streets alike blame him for not doing enough. His rank and file describe him as either apathetic or overwhelmed.

But Johnson - who has chased gunmen, convinced wanted criminals to give up and led one of the largest police-corruption investigations in city history - says he's at peace.

His force of 6,600 cannot stem violence alone, he says. Instead Johnson focuses on things he believes he can change. He's diversified the department, and he's mentored dozens of kids to try to save them from the deadly drug culture.

With this grounded, secure man, married father of three successful sons, at the helm, more minorities are of rank than ever before. He describes himself foremost as a proud Black Muslim, a product of the civil-rights era. . .

Johnson won't waver on his opinions of stop-and-frisk, the controversial police tactic, and other forms of what he describes as apartheid-style policing. On nights and weekends, he mingles with community activists, inmates or recovering addicts. . .

"People criticize him and say he is trying to be a social worker," said Malik Aziz, a gang member turned Men United leader and one of Johnson's close friends. "But I think he is a commissioner who thinks traditional policing is not working. He is trying to make a change for people out in the streets."

But critics contend that Johnson only hangs in the neighborhoods to build support in the neighborhoods and avoid the real tough problem of being top cop.

"The commissioner doesn't push his beliefs on anyone, but his whole life is that of a Muslim," says Imam Suetwedien A. Muhammad of Germantown's Masjid Muhammad, one of three mosques Johnson frequents for Jumah, or Friday prayer.

The Imam recited one of Johnson's favorite passages from the Koran's Sura 13: "Never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves." (MORE)

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POLL SHOWS NEAR COLLAPSE OF 'CERTAIN (TO VOTE) REPUBLICAN' ARAB VOTERS - TOP
Zogby/AAI Poll: Arab American Voters to Decide On 2008 Presidential Candidates by Stance on Iraq War
Michael Hess, 6/29/07
http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20070629003125808

Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, yesterday presented the first-in-a-series of surveys on Arab American political opinion leading up to the 2008 presidential election.

The nationwide AAI poll, conducted by Zogby International, randomly surveyed 501 Arab American registered voters by phone. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points, though the margin is higher within subgroups. The full poll report and tables is available on AAI's website at www.aaiusa.org.

"While Arab American voters trend very closely to other Americans on domestic issues such as the economy, health care and education, the community's personal connection to the Iraq war makes it the most important issue in determining their pick for president in 2008," said Zogby.

"When coupled with results that indicate nearly half of Arab American voters' decisions will depend upon the individual candidates rather than party, and with numbers that point to an erosion of 'certain Republicans,' it is clear that presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle must speak to issues and not party line in order to court Arab American voters," he said. (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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