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Muslim American News Briefs, June 22, 2007

June 2007 News Links

June 2007 News Photos

 June 2007 Opinion Editorial Links

* Verse: Increase My Knowledge
* CAIR-CA: Muslim Student Told to Take Off Islamic Scarf
            - CAIR-MN: School Harassment Complaints Resolved
            - CAIR-NY: Support Eid School Holiday Bill (Action)
            - NM: University Bias Lawsuit Expected to be Settled
* CAIR-PA: Muslim Students to Paint a Mural (Philly Inquirer)
* CAIR-Tampa Video: News Conference on Civil Rights Report
            - CAIR-FL: Anti-Muslim Bias Increasing (Tampa Trib)
            - CAIR-FL: Citizenship Still a Dream (SP Times)
* CAIR-LA: Screening, Panel Discussion of 'A Mighty Heart'
            - OH: 'Prince Among Slaves' Debuts (Cincinnati Enq)
* CAIR-AZ Hosts Know-Your-Rights Event
* CAIR-FL: Al-Arian Kin Heading Home to Egypt (UPI)
* IL: Inner-City Muslim Action Network (CPR)
* Bush Pledges to Increase US Funding to Israel

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VERSE OF THE DAY: INCREASE MY KNOWLEDGE - TOP

"(Always) say: 'O my Lord! Increase my knowledge.'"

The Holy Quran, 20:114

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CA MUSLIM STUDENT TOLD TO TAKE OFF ISLAMIC SCARF - TOP
CAIR-SFBA calls for public apology, diversity training for school staff

(SANTA CLARA, CA, 6/21/07) - The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic (CAIR-SFBA) today called for a public apology and diversity training following a June 19th incident in which a high school official demanded that a Muslim student remove her hijab, or Islamic head scarf.

According to the 13-year-old Muslim student, a supervisor in the lunchroom of Seaside High School in Seaside, Calif., demanded that she remove her scarf, despite being told that it was worn for religious reasons. The student, who was visiting the school to take part in a summer algebra program, says she broke down in tears after the supervisor allegedly shouted, "You have to take it off now," in front of more than 100 other students in the lunchroom.

Despite the shouted demands of the school official, the girl refused to remove her scarf.

CAIR-SFBA contacted the school principal who confirmed that the incident occurred as described. He offered to arrange a face-to-face apology with the supervisor and student but did not agree to a public apology.

"It is a gross violation of authority to demand that a student violate his or her religious principles in order to receive an education," said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Safaa Ibrahim. "Because the student was humiliated in public, it is only reasonable to make an apology or statement in public to mitigate the damage caused by the supervisor's unacceptable actions."

Ibrahim also asked that the school institute diversity training for all staff and that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that this type of disturbing incident is not repeated.

She said CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to avoid just such incidents.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim 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-SFBA Media Relations Coordinator Abiya Ahmed, 408-986-9874, 408-368-9931, E-Mail: aahmed@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-MN ANNOUNCES RESOLUTION OF SCHOOL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS - TOP

(ST. PAUL, MN, 6/21/2007) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today announced the resolution of a case of alleged anti-Muslim harassment at a middle school in that state.

In May of this year, CAIR-MN called for investigation of a series of reported anti-Muslim incidents at Westwood Middle School in Blaine, Minn. The Islamic civil rights group said it had received complaints about Islamophobic remarks and actions by students and staff at the school.

The reported incidents included a Muslim student who wears an Islamic head scarf being called a "terrorist" and told "go back to your country" and two Muslim students who alleged that they were verbally taunted about their religion and had food thrown at them.

SEE: CAIR-MN: Probe of MN Anti-Muslim School Incidents Sought

SEE ALSO: Rights Group Seeks Harassment Inquiry (Star Tribune)

After completion of an investigation, the school says it will take steps that include improving internal communications so that every alleged bias incident will be reported to the principal for appropriate action, adding information about major world religions to the geography curriculum, and creating a "school climate task force" composed of staff and students to help assess changes that may be needed to make the school a better place for all students and staff. The district is also in the process of hiring a "diversity coordinator."

In addition, a staff member who made inappropriate references to a Muslim student's faith will send that student a letter of apology.

"We thank Westwood Middle School officials for their prompt and professional handling of these reported incidents and appreciate the comprehensive nature of the steps taken to promote diversity and mutual respect," CAIR-MN Vice Chair Thasneem Ahmed.

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-MN Vice-Chair Thasneem Ahmed, Tel: 651-206-6568, E-Mail: thasneemhahmed@hotmail.com ; CAIR-MN Board Chair Lori Saroya, E-Mail: lsaroya@cair.com; CAIR-MN Executive Director Omar Merhi, E-Mail: omerhi@cair.com

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CAIR-NY ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT EID SCHOOL HOLIDAY BILL - TOP

(NEW YORK, N.Y., 6/21/07) - The New York Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today urged Muslims and other people of conscience in that state to contact their respective state senators in support of the Eid School Bill (S3142).

The bill, introduced to the New York State Senate earlier this year by Senator John D. Sabini, makes Eid-al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr official holidays in New York City public schools.

SEE: Coalition Calls for NYC Department of Education to Recognize Muslim Holidays
http://www.nycpp.org/en/press.html

ACTION REQUESTED:

1) Contact your state senators.

To find their contact information, visit www.nypirg.org and click on the "Who Represents Me?" link. If you live outside New York City, use the "Senators" link on www.senate.state.ny.us.

2) Contact Senate Education Chair Stephen M. Saland at (518) 455-2411, Fax (518) 426-6920, or E-Mail saland@senate.state.ny.us .

COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator Faiza N. Ali, 212-870-2002, fali@cair.com

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NMSU LAWSUIT EXPECTED TO BE SETTLED - TOP
Randy Harrison, Albuquerque Journal, 6/21/07
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/572379sports06-21-07.htm

New Mexico State University will hold a news conference today at 3 p.m. to announce the settlement of a lawsuit filed by four former football players who said they were discriminated against because they are Muslims.

The lawsuit against Aggie football coach Hal Mumme was slated to go to trial Monday in Las Cruces.

NMSU officials confirmed Wednesday the purpose of the news conference, but would offer no further details.

Mustafa Ali, father of plaintive Mu'Ammar Ali, a former Aggie running back, also confirmed Wednesday that the suit has been settled, but gave no details.

Ali, brothers Vincent and Anthony Thompson, and Jacob Wallace alleged they were subject to a hostile environment in the NMSU football program because of their religion.

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CAIR-PA: MUSLIM STUDENTS TO PAINT A MURAL IN WEST PHILLY - TOP
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20070621_Briefly______CITY_REGION.html

Twenty Muslim students will begin painting a mural Saturday on the wall of the Sunshine Food Market, 42nd Street and Lancaster Avenue, that will recognize the diversity in faith, including but not limited to Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The mural will be a collaborative effort of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Pennsylvania and the city's Mural Arts Program.

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VIDEO: CAIR-TAMPA NEWS CONFERENCE ON CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT - TOP

6/20/2007 - The Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a news conference to release the annual CAIR report on the status of Muslim civil rights in the United States. According to the report, a total of 2467 anti-Muslim incidents were reported nationwide, including 168 in Florida.

Tampa CBS Affiliate WTSP
VIDEO LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0FQvo0V8s

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-FL: ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS COMPLAINTS INCREASING - TOP
Josh Poltilove, Tampa Tribune, 6/21/07
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBWJ66N63F.html

Ahmed Sheikh-Khalil applied for citizenship about three years ago and passed the interview phase of his citizenship exam in March 2004.

He's still not a citizen. When he calls to complain, he said, he is not told a legitimate reason why it is taking so long.

Sheikh-Khalil, 50, a Tampa car salesman who was born in Syria and lived in Cuba for 20 years, said the reason is obvious why his approval has been delayed: "I am sure that it's my name. That's it."

He is one of a growing number of people who have told the Council on American-Islamic Relations that they have faced anti-Muslim harassment, discrimination and violence.

CAIR, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the organization's annual report released this month on the status of Muslim civil rights. The report shows 2,467 civil rights complaints made to CAIR nationally in 2006, with 168 coming from Florida. There were 55 complaints from the Tampa region.

"This is just a fraction of what's probably out there," Ahmed Bedier, executive director of CAIR's Tampa chapter, said of the documented complaints.

CAIR reported 50 percent more complaints of anti-Muslim harassment, discrimination and violence in Florida in 2006 than it had the previous year. (MORE)

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CAIR-FL: CITIZENSHIP STILL A DREAM - TOP
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says discrimination against Muslims is rising.
Carrie Weimar, St. Petersburg Times, 6/21/07
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/21/Hillsborough/Citizenship_still_a_d.shtml

Ahmed Sheikh-Khalil proudly remembers the day he aced his citizenship test.

"Passed with flying colors," said Khalil, 50, a native of Syria. "I still have the congratulations letter."

Immigration officials were supposed to notify him within 120 days whether he would be a U.S. citizen. But more than three years later, Khalil remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo, a delay he attributes to his Muslim heritage.

"It's because of my name," said Khalil, a Tampa resident. "If I had done something wrong, they would make me leave. They know where I live. They know everything about me."

Khalil is one of 168 Muslims who reported acts of discrimination to the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, according to a report released Wednesday.

Complaints of civil rights violations jumped by 50 percent from the previous year, ranking Florida fourth in the nation, the report showed.

Ahmed Bedier, the council's Tampa director, said there are a number of factors contributing to the discrimination, including continued tension over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism.

"It seems like if you look Muslim, you're automatically treated like a suspicious person," he said.

The largest number of complaints, both nationwide and in Florida, were related to immigration. Muslim-Americans applying for citizenship often face unfair delays because their background checks are not processed as quickly as those of other applicants, Bedier said. (MORE)

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CAIR-LA: SCREENING OF 'A MIGHTY HEART' - TOP

6:30 p.m. SCREENING OF "A MIGHTY HEART" -

A screening of "A Mighty Heart," the film based on the story of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, will be held by Paramount Vantage. Afterward, a panel will discuss "Building Unity and Understanding in Today's World." Panelists will include: producer Dede Gardner; Rabbi Haim Beliak, founder of Jews on First founder; The Rev. Peter Laarman, executive director of Progressive Christians Uniting; and Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Greater Los Angeles Area.

Location: Paramount Studios, Sherry Lansing Theater, 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood.

CONTACT: Munira Syeda, CAIR, (714) 776-1847.

SEE ALSO:

OH: 'PRINCE AMONG SLAVES' DEBUTS - TOP
Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/21/07
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/ENT02/706210347/-1/CINCI

It's a true story that has the aura of myth. A young African prince is sold into slavery in 1788. After 40 years of enslavement, he gains his freedom and the first city he visits on his historic journey back to Africa is Cincinnati.

His name was Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori. The Islamic Center of Cincinnati will present the world premiere screening of a new documentary about his life, "Prince Among Slaves," 6 p.m. Friday at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

The film, directed by Andrea Kalin and co-directed by Emmy Award-winning director Bill Duke, is narrated by actor and hip-hop artist Mos Def. It tells of the prince's journey from Gambia, in West Africa, to Natchez, Miss., where he eventually became a leader among his fellow slaves and earned the respect of his owner, Thomas Foster, a tobacco farmer. He became the most famous African in America, even attracting the support of President John Quincy Adams.

The 60-minute documentary by Unity Productions Foundation is based on the biography "Prince Among Slaves" by Terry Alford (Oxford University Press). It is expected to air by 2008 on PBS.

Tickets, $25, includes a reception at 5 p.m. and exhibit tour. 513-755-3280 or 513-720-0615.

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CAIR-AZ HOSTS KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS EVENT - TOP

(PHOENIX, AZ, 6/21/07) - The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) recently organized a know-your-rights session at Al-Zahra Husseiniyya, an Islamic center in Phoenix.

CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Director Mohammed AbuHannoud gave a presentation on civil rights including practical advice on how to avoid discrimination, and CAIR-AZ officials answered numerous questions from the audience. A Phoenix Police Department detective attended the event and provided information on how to avoid hate crimes and how a neighborhood watch could help the local community.

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-AZ Executive Director Fawzia Mai Tung, Tel: 602-262-2247, E-Mail: director@cairaz.org

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CAIR-FL: AL-ARIAN KIN HEADING HOME TO EGYPT - TOP
United Press International, 6/20/07
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/06/20/alarian_kin_

heading_home_to_egypt/8469/

The family of Sami Al-Arian, a former Florida university professor convicted of supporting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is moving to Egypt.

Ahmed Bedier, spokesman for Tampa's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told The Tampa Tribune he believes Nahla Al-Arian is leaving now so her two youngest children can get a fresh start on a new school year.

Bedier also said he thinks it will be easier for Nahla to support the family in Egypt while her husband is serving time in federal prison here in the United States.

Acquitted on eight of the 17 charges against him, Sami pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group the U.S. government has deemed a terrorist organization.

The Palestinian computer engineer also was sentenced for a contempt violation for refusing to testify in front of a Virginia grand jury investigating Islamic charities.

Sami, who was born in Kuwait and raised in Egypt, is to be deported after being released from prison.

The Al-Arian family was the focus of "USA vs Al-Arian," a documentary by Norwegian director Line Halvorsen recently shown in Tampa.

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IL: THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK TAKES IT TO THE STREETS - TOP
Chicago Public Radio, 6/21/07
http://chicagopublicradio.org/CityRoom_Story.aspx?storyID=11563

This Sunday, the bi-annual event "Takin It to the Streets" returns to the Marquette Park neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side. The event also marks the 10th anniversary of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network-also known as IMAN.

Eight Forty-Eight host Steve Edwards sat down with Rami Nashashibi, the executive director and a co-founder of the community activist group.

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BUSH PLEDGES TO INCREASE US FUNDING TO ISRAEL - TOP
US to bolster economic aid to Israel in new 10-year agreement, says US President Bush after meeting with Prime Minister Olmert
Yitzhak Benhorin, Y-Net News, 6/20/07
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415479,00.html

In a White House statement issued following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington, President George W. Bush pledged to increase US military aid to Israel over the course of the next decade.

An American team will land in Israel in July to finalize the deal. Israel currently receives an annual $2.4 billion in military aid.

"I am strongly committed to Israel's security and viability as a Jewish state, and to the maintenance of its qualitative military edge," said Bush in the statement.

Olmert and Bush met in private for a lengthy three-hour meeting in the White House, focused on the ongoing negotiations to increase US aid to Israel.

"During our meeting today, I told Prime Minister Olmert that I am committed to reaching a new ten-year agreement that will give Israel the increased assistance it requires to meet the new threats and challenges it faces," said the president.

Talks between groups of Israeli and American professionals over the past few months reviewed Israel's increased military spenditure in the face of the growing Iranian threat. The new talks were launched during Olmert's previous visit to Washington. (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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