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    Muslim American News Briefs, September 8, 2007

Opinion Editorials

News

News Photos

* Verse: God is All-Embracing in His Love
* CAIR-FL: Israel Forces U.S. Citizens to Obtain Foreign Passports
            - Video: Israel Detains 7 American-Born Citizens in West Bank
* CAIR-MI: Immigration Issue Heats Up (Detroit News)
            - CAIR-MI Participates in Hate Crimes Conference
* CAIR-MN Ramadan Fundraising Dinner September 16
            - CAIR: U.S. Muslims Do Condemn Terror
            - CAIR-MI: Footbaths at U-M Dearborn Reasonable
            - CAIR: Muslim Team Enters Race for Cure
* CA: Imam Delivers Invocation for LA County Supervisors
            - WI Mosque: 25 Years of Weaving into Fabric of City (MJS)
* US Iranian Council Protests Cartoon Depicting Iranians as Roaches
            - CAIR: Cartoon Portrays Iranians as Roaches Fleeing Sewer
* Terrorism Watch List Faulted for Errors (Wash Post)
            - NY: Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act (AP)
* Authors: Time to Hold Israel Accountable (Balt Sun)
* HRW: Israel's Attacks on Lebanese Civilians 'Indiscriminate' (AP)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS ALL-EMBRACING IN HIS LOVE - TOP

"Behold, it is He who creates (man) in the first instance, and He (it is who) will bring him forth anew. He alone is truly-forgiving, all-embracing in His love."

The Holy Quran, 85:13-14

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CAIR-FL: ISRAEL FORCES U.S. CITIZENS TO OBTAIN FOREIGN PASSPORTS - TOP
Several young Floridians recently trapped in West Bank return home through Jordan

(TAMPA, FL, 9/7/07) - On Friday, September 7, the Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) will hold a news conference with members of a Florida Muslim family who have just returned from the Middle East.

They had been trapped in the West Bank by an Israeli policy that treats even U.S.-born citizens as "Palestinians" if their parents once lived in the Occupied Territories. According to family members, Israeli officials forced them to obtain Palestinian "passports" (with Israeli-issued passport numbers) before leaving the West Bank to Jordan.

WHEN: Friday, September 7, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR-Tampa Office, 8056 N. 56th Street, Tampa, FL
CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Community Relations Coordinator Jamila Baraka, 813-523-6862, E-Mail: jbaraka@cair.com

The mother of the Muslim family says she and her children were visiting the West Bank during the summer break. When they attempted to return through Tel Aviv airport on their scheduled flight, Israeli authorities denied travel to seven young family members. The mother was allegedly told that, despite her children's U.S. citizenship, they could not travel through the Israeli airport because they are of Palestinian heritage.

SEE: Law Change Traps Lakeland Children in Israel
http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/show/4693

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-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

Israel Detains 7 American-Born Citizens in West Bank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKbLLNO0Aso

Israel Forces American Mother to Leave Children Behind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xqXBN4GeFA

Palestinian American Citizens Banned from Israel Airports
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saATtSelthU

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CAIR-MI: IMMIGRATION ISSUE HEATS UP - TOP
City wants to forbid police from questioning status
Jonnelle Marte, Detroit News, 9/7/07
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070907/METRO/709070370

Michigan's most diverse city is wading into the emotional national debate about what role local police should play in enforcing federal immigration laws.

As Congress mulls what to do with those illegally in the country, Hamtramck officials are preparing an ordinance to forbid police and other city officials from asking anyone about their immigration status unless it's relevant to investigations or during arrest bookings.

Supporters say Hamtramck, which is so diverse 26 languages are spoken in its schools, is no stranger to culture clashes and the law would provide a safeguard for immigrants wary about cooperating with police if they fear deportation or harassment.

"We don't want (local public officials) to go beyond their call of duty to carry out responsibilities of federal immigration officials," said Anthony Mosko, of the Detroit faith-based organization Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength. "There's no way to know that just by looking at somebody if they are documented or undocumented."

Such logic outrages foes who say police are sworn to enforce all laws. The proposal, which council members could consider next month, is modeled after an ordinance Detroit adopted in May and is similar to ones in Los Angeles and Chicago. But it goes against a national trend of municipalities teaming with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow cops to identify and report undocumented residents. . .

In 2004, the city was thrust into the national spotlight when the City Council initially refused a mosque's request to broadcast a call-to-prayer before repealing a noise ordinance that forbid it. The city was sued after a 1999 election on allegations officials prevented 40 voters of Arab and Bengali descent from voting.

"Due to the history of that situation happening in Hamtramck, it's good to have such an ordinance on the books," said Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American Islamic Relations that supports the measure. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-MI PARTICIPATES IN STATE HATE CRIMES CONFERENCE - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 9/7/07) - The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) yesterday participated in the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes Conference in Lansing, Michigan.

The annual conference, which is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, focuses on the roles of media, community based organizations and law enforcement in addressing and combating hate crimes. Some 350 government officials and community activists attended the conference.

CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid was a panelist, addressing "Crimes Against Persons, Property and Society" and the increase of vandalisms of houses of worship in Michigan.

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

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CAIR-MN RAMADAN FUNDRAISING DINNER ON SEPTEMBER 16 - TOP

(ST. PAUL, MN, 9/6/2007) - On Sunday, September 16th, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) will host its first Ramadan fundraising dinner at the Mounds View Event Center. The theme of the fundraiser is "American Muslims: Partners for Peace and Justice."

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 16. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., dinner and program at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mounds View Banquet Center, 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN

Ticket cost is $10 per person and the event is open to the public. Complimentary babysitting will be provided for children.

"Ramadan is a time for the community to get together," said Valerie Shirley, CAIR-MN Communications Director. "We hope this event will serve as an opportunity for the community to reflect on their role as promoters of peace and justice."

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR's mission is to enhance 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 Valerie Shirley, Tel: 651.645.7102, Email: vshirley@cair.com; CAIR-MN Executive Director Omar Merhi, Tel: 612.702.0590, Email: omerhi@cair.com.

SEE ALSO:

CAIR: U.S. MUSLIMS DO CONDEMN TERROR - TOP
Gilroy Dispatch, 9/6/07
http://www.gilroydispatch.com/opinion/contentview.asp?c=224782

Dear Editor,

While reading Andrew Serrano's letter regarding building more Muslim mosques, I was surprised to read the inaccurate statement which claims that Muslims in America don't condemn terrorism.

Several American Muslim organizations, such as American Muslim Alliance, the American Muslim Council, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Muslim American Society, the Islamic Society of North America, the Islamic Circle of North America, and the Muslim Alliance in North America have openly condemned terrorism.

The organizations that I listed represent millions of Muslims (approximately 7 million) in the U.S., which support these condemnations to the fullest.

Additionally, several Muslim communities in the U.S. are putting in great efforts to cooperate with law enforcement in order to ensure a safe environment for their families and the surrounding communities.

To say that Muslims in the U.S. don't condemn terrorism is promoting just another myth about Muslims and Islam, and I am offended to see someone make false claims about the whole Muslim community and sow fear and panic among people. I suggest Mr. Serrano have an open mind and learn about his Muslim neighbors.

Mariam Moustafa, Irvine

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CAIR-MI: FOOTBATHS AT U-M DEARBORN ARE REASONABLE - TOP
Dawud Walid, Detroit News, 9/7/07
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070907/OPINION01/709070313/1008

Bishop Keith Butler completely misses the mark with his Aug. 29 op-ed, "Provide religious liberty and justice for all."

Christians organize student clubs and have activities in schools throughout America, including having prayer. Moreover, government funded institutions often make provisions for the special needs of their students such as Columbia University providing Kosher meals. All religious groups exercise these rights.

A university installing "footbaths" for safety reasons with student activity funds and Muslims bringing rugs for prayer hardly constitutes promoting Islam over other faiths.

Butler's troubling assertion that the agnostic Thomas Jefferson was in favor of separation of church and state on the grounds that he was against "establishment of a particular form of Christianity" implies that Butler believes that Christianity should be given preference.

His op-ed sounds less like advocating religious freedom for all and more like anxiety over Muslims openly practicing their faith.

Dawud Walid
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations - Michigan (CAIR-MI)
Southfield

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CAIR: MUSLIM TEAM ENTERS RACE FOR CURE - TOP
Delinda C. Hanley, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2007
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/August_2007/0708053b.html

A team of Muslims sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) took part in the annual Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure in Washington, DC on June 2. The Muslim team carried its own "Muslims Care" banner, and many of the women participants wore pink Islamic head scarves to symbolize breast cancer awareness.

"We are proud to be part of the race and hope that the combined efforts of all those involved will bring us that much closer to a cure for breast cancer," said CAIR communications coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, who led the "Muslims CAIR" team in the race. Muslim participation in the event was part of CAIR's third annual summer-long "Muslims Care" campaign designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community.

For more information see: www.cair.com/muslimscare

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IMAM DELIVERS INVOCATION FOR LA COUNTY SUPERVISORS - TOP

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 9/6/07) -- On Tuesday, Sept. 4, the Islamic Center of Hawthorne's Assistant Imam Ammar Kahf was invited to deliver the opening invocation at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting.

In his invocation, Kahf said: "I pray for peace and comfort in our families, societies, leaders and law enforcement, our neighborhoods and our world." Kahf was subsequently given a certificate of appreciation by Supervisor Yvonne Burke.

SEE ALSO:

WI: 25 YEARS OF WEAVING INTO FABRIC OF CITY - TOP
Islamic Center celebrating its achievements, role in community
Tom Heinen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/7/07
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=658333

Hadi Abulughod, 12, whose parents came from Kuwait, and Miriam Jaber, 12, whose Palestinian father emigrated from the West Bank, helped raise an American flag this week on the tallest of three new flagpoles at the Islamic Center along W. Layton Ave.

Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, they are as much American citizens as other Wisconsin seventh-graders.

And that is the point as the area's Muslim community celebrates the center's 25th anniversary this week.

"We felt that it is important to show that we are a part of the fabric of society," said Othman Atta of Glendale, an attorney and Palestinian immigrant who is president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. "Unfortunately, there are some people in certain segments of the society that are questioning whether Muslims are part of the fabric of this country and whether they even should be," Atta said.

Installing the flagpoles -- one each for the American flag, the Wisconsin flag and an Islamic Center flag -- provides a visible symbol of that, he said.

The flags were raised in front of what once was New Road School. It was purchased from Milwaukee Public Schools in 1982 for $115,000 by two groups that merged in 1983 to form the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Atta said. It has been expanded over the years and includes a mosque with a large prayer area, a minaret, a school, a gym, offices, a new front entrance and other features.

Its Salam School, founded in 1992 with 25 students and now led by Principal Wanis Shalaby, began the school year in August with 450 children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Muslim community in southeastern Wisconsin -- estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 by some of its leaders -- has grown dramatically since the 1950s.

Communal gatherings for Friday prayers and for Eid, or holy day, prayers, once were held in scattered homes. Now, an estimated 5,000 adults and children attend Eid gatherings, which must be held in large facilities such as the Midwest Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee. (MORE)

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NIAC PROTESTS DISPATCH CARTOON DEPICTING IRANIANS AS COCKROACHES - TOP
National Iranian American Council, 9/6/07
http://www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=880&Itemid=2

The Columbus Dispatch published a cartoon on Tuesday depicting Iran as a sewer on a map of the Middle East with cockroaches crawling out of it. By publishing this racist cartoon, the editors of the Dispatch have insulted and propagated hate against the Iranian American community.

NIAC Board member Dokhi Fassihian sent a letter to the Editors of the Dispatch protesting their action. She wrote: "The bigotry demonstrated by the publication of this cartoon not only betrays the mission to inform your readers, it endangers our country at an extremely sensitive time in our nation's history by serving to further divide us at home and thrust us toward further conflict abroad." See letter to the Columbus Dispatch. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

CAIR: CARTOON PORTRAYS IRANIANS AS ROACHES FLEEING SEWER
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=44963&theType=NB

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TERRORISM WATCH LIST IS FAULTED FOR ERRORS - TOP
Justice Dept. official urges improvement
Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, 9/7/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090601386.html

The government's master watch list of known or suspected terrorists continues to be marred by errors and inconsistencies that can obstruct the capture of terrorists or cause innocent people to be detained by U.S. authorities, the Justice Department's inspector general said yesterday.

As one of the most powerful intelligence tools created by the Bush administration after the 2001 attacks, the watch list is used to screen about 270 million people a month and its content can determine whether people are allowed to fly on airplanes or detained after routine traffic stops.

Its size has more than quadrupled since its creation in 2004, to the point that it contained more than 720,000 records as of April, according to the new report. It is growing at the rate of more than 20,000 records a month.

But Inspector General Glenn A. Fine said its management by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) "continues to have significant weaknesses," producing a high error rate and a slow response to complaints from citizens.

In an examination of 105 records, for example, the auditors found that 38 percent of the records contained errors or inconsistencies that the TSC's own quality-assurance efforts had not found. They also discovered that the TSC is operating two versions of the database in tandem without ensuring that their contents are identical, which they said could result in missed opportunities to identify terrorists. (MORE)

SEE ALSO:

NY: JUDGE STRIKES DOWN PART OF PATRIOT ACT - TOP
Federal Judge Throws Out Parts of Patriot Act, Says Court's OK Needed to Get Internet Records
Larry Neumeister, Associated Press, 9/7/07
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.patriot07sep07,0,5600606.story

A federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act on Thursday, saying investigators must have a court's approval before they can order Internet providers to turn over records without telling customers.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said the government orders must be subject to meaningful judicial review and that the recently rewritten Patriot Act "offends the fundamental constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers."

The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the law, complaining that it allowed the FBI to demand records without the kind of court order required for other government searches.

The ACLU said it was improper to issue so-called national security letters, or NSLs -- investigative tools used by the FBI to compel businesses to turn over customer information -- without a judge's order or grand jury subpoena. Examples of such businesses include Internet service providers, telephone companies and public libraries.

Yusill Scribner, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, said prosecutors had no immediate comment.

Jameel Jaffer, who argued the case for the ACLU, said the revised law had wrongly given the FBI sweeping authority to control speech because the agency was allowed to decide on its own -- without court review -- whether a company receiving an NSL had to remain silent or whether it could reveal to its customers that it was turning over records. (MORE)

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TIME TO HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE, AUTHORS SAY - TOP
Mark Silva, Baltimore Sun, 9/7/07
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/time_to_hold_israel_accountabl.html

The first time that John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt published their argument - that only the political influence of a powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington can explain decades of "unconditional" support for Israel and a misguided foreign policy in the Middle East - they faced a torrent of criticism.

This time - with the publication of their book, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy - they face the same criticism. But this time, they have come prepared with a defense.

Mearsheimer, distinguished professor of political science at the University of Chicago, and Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard and past academic dean of the Kennedy School of Government, came out last night in Washington with a robust defense for their own motivation in challenging unflinching U.S. support for Israel in the face of that nation's "brutal" treatment of Palestinians and other Arab adversaries.

They are not denying Israel's right to exist, they maintain, flatly rejecting any contention that anti-Semitism motivates their argument. Indeed, they believe that the U.S. should stand in the way of anyone seeking to destroy Israel. Yet, if the United States is to play the role of peace-broker for the Israelis and Palestinians - a role that the U.S. is uniquely positioned to play - it must start confronting both sides with an "even-handed" foreign policy, holding both accountable for unacceptable behavior.

After more than an hour of scholarly argument before an overflow audience packing the aisles of an overheated Politics and Prose bookstore - standing-room-only doesn't adequately describe a crowd so thick that paramedics were summoned for a man who fell faint - Mearsheimer finally put it all in plain English:

"States do stupid things," said Mearsheimer, perhaps the most renowned "realist" in modern American political science. And when they do, he said, reasoning people in other places need to hold them accountable for "knuckle-headed" behavior.

"What we really need to make peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is for the United States to act even-handedly," Mearsheimer told the evening crowd at the Washington bookstore. "The United States need to be even-handed and put pressure on both sides." (MORE)

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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ACCUSES ISRAEL OF 'INDISCRIMINATE' ATTACKS ON LEBANESE CIVILIANS - TOP
Mark Lavie, Associated Press, 9/6/07
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070906.wisraellebanon0906/BNStory/International/home

In its harshest condemnation of Israel since last summer's war, Human Rights Watch charged that most of the Lebanese civilian casualties came from "indiscriminate Israeli air strikes," according to a report to be released Thursday.

In a statement issued before the report's release, the human rights organization said there was no basis to the Israeli claim that civilian casualties resulted from Hezbollah guerrillas using civilians as shields. Israel has said it attacked civilian areas because Hezbollah set up rocket launchers in villages and towns.

More than 1,000 Lebanese were killed in the 34-day conflict last summer, which began after Hezbollah staged a cross-border raid, killing three Israeli soldiers and capturing two others. They are still being held.

Israeli warplanes targeted Lebanese infrastructure, including bridges and Beirut Airport, and heavily damaged a neighbourhood in Beirut known as a Hezbollah stronghold, as well as attacking Hezbollah centers in villages near the border. Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets at northern Israel, killing 119 civilians. In the fighting, 40 Israeli soldiers were killed.

Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said in the statement: "Israel wrongfully acted as if all civilians had heeded its warnings to evacuate southern Lebanon when it knew they had not, disregarding its continuing legal duty to distinguish between military targets and civilians."

He added, "Issuing warnings doesn't make indiscriminate attacks lawful." (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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