• Verse: Give Good News to the Humble
• CAIRTakes Part in NY Interfaith Gathering with Saudi King
• CAIR-CT: Group Seeks Ban On Torture By U.S. (NH Register)
  • Professors Offer ‘Voices of Truth’ at CAIR-OK Dinner
• CAIR-MN: Somali Community Forum to Focus on Gangs, Drugs
• CAIR-MI Offers Sensitivity Training to University Staff
  • CAIR-CA: Muslim Students Living Islam in Secular Society
• Emanuel Apologizes for Father’s ‘Arab’ Comments (NY Times)
  • Obama Indian Aide's VHP Links Spark Debate
• Islamophobia in the 2008 Presidential Campaign (FAIR)

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VERSE OF THE DAY: GIVE GOOD NEWS TO THE HUMBLE - TOP

“(O Prophet Muhammad) give good news to the humble, whose hearts tremble with awe at the mention of God, who endure adversity with patience, who establish regular prayer, and who spend in charity out of what we have given them.”

The Holy Quran, 22:34-35

HADITH OF THE DAY: BE HUMBLE

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “God has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2294

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CAIR TAKES PART IN NY INTERFAITH GATHERING WITH SAUDI KING - TOP

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/13/2008) Representatives of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) yesterday joined leaders of other religious communities at a reception, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in New York City, designed to promote interfaith understanding.

The king is in New York to take part in a Saudi-initiated United Nations interfaith meeting calling for a united front to combat terrorism and promote tolerance. President Bush today addressed the U.N. interfaith gathering and then met privately with King Abdullah.

SEE: Saudi King Promotes Tolerance at U.N. Forum (Reuters)
SEE ALSO: Bush Speaks About 'Common Values' at Interfaith U.N. Conference (Wash Post)

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad and Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper joined representatives of the Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, and other faith communities at the groundbreaking event.

King Abdullah began the discussion with a speech encouraging interfaith dialogue and stressing that God asks members of all faiths to show compassion and mercy.

“The time has come to say ‘enough’ to violence, to senseless killing and to the usurpation of the rights of others,” said King Abdullah. He took questions and heard comments from interfaith leaders following his remarks.

In his comments to King Abdullah, CAIR’s Awad stressed the importance of implementing dialogue through practical initiatives such as this week’s U.N. interfaith meeting.

Representatives of CAIR also took part in recent conferences on interfaith dialogue in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and Madrid, Spain.

SEE: CAIR Joins Call for Interfaith Understanding at Madrid Summit

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties 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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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CAIR-CT: GROUP SEEKS BAN ON TORTURE BY U.S. - TOP
Ed Stannard, New Haven Register, 11/13/08

HARTFORD — An interfaith group is using the election of a new president to push for a ban on the use of torture by the United States.

On Wednesday, members of Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture met with staff members for U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., to ask him to press the issue before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

The meeting was part of a national effort to urge members of Congress to establish a select committee to investigate use of torture since 9/11 and to get Obama to sign an executive order banning torture once he takes office…

"After 9/11, many from the Muslim community especially have been imprisoned unlawfully," said Mongi Dhaouadi, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations’ Connecticut chapter. Many detainees were abused, then "were then let go and told, ‘See you later.’"

Dhaouadi said, referring to Guantanamo Bay, "We want clear-cut reviews of all forms of torture. There’s no open process. They would not allow agencies and newspapers and investigators to go in and take a look." (MORE)

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PROFESSORS OFFER ‘VOICES OF TRUTH’ AT CAIR-OK DINNER - TOP

(TULSA, OK, 11/13/08) - On Saturday November 8th, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) hosted a dinner with the theme "Voices of Truth" in Tulsa.

Dr. Robert Pape, political science professor at the University of Chicago, was the evening’s keynote speaker. In his speech, he used statistical evidence to show that Islam should not be blamed for the phenomenon of terrorism.

Dr. Charles Kimball, presidential professor and director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma addressed misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi said: “This event succeeded in reenergizing our community on their commitment to justice and providing educational opportunities for our law enforcement, education, interfaith, and civic organizational partners.”

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-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi, Tel: 405-248-5853, E-Mail: rhashmi@cair.com; CAIR-OK Chairperson Lobna Hewedi, E-Mail: lhewedi@cair.com

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SOMALI COMMUNITY FORUM TO FOCUS ON PROBLEMS OF GANGS, DRUGS - TOP
Recent incidents to be discussed with parents, community leaders and law enforcement authorities

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN 11/13/08) ­ On November 14, 2008, the Abuubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center will host a community forum called “Threats to Our Youth: Gangs, Drugs, Homicides, Dropping Out” to address recent incidents in the Somali community.

SEE: Minneapolis Somali Community Facing Dark Web of Murders

The event will focus on community solutions to the current problems facing Somali youth. Somali youth and parents, community leaders and law enforcement officials have been invited to take part in the discussion.

WHEN: Friday, November 14, 2008, 6 p.m.
SPEAKERS: Representatives from Abu Bakr Islamic Center, Abu Bakr Islamic Center youth program, CAIR-MN, Dar ul Hijrah Islamic Center, and Minneapolis Police.
LOCATION: Abuubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center, 2824 13th Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407

Friday’s forum is being organized by the Abu Bakr Islamic Center, Dar ul Hijrah Islamic Center, and the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN).

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 Kenya McKnight, 612-483-3245, E-Mail: kmcknight@cair.com; CAIR-MN Chapter Coordinator Chris Schumacher, 651-645-7102, E-Mail: cschumacher@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-MI OFFERS SENSITIVITY TRAINING TO UNIVERSITY STAFF - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 11/13/2008) The Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) recently offered sensitivity training about Islam and Muslims to staff members of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The training, which was held at the Wolverine Towers Human Resources Center, covered basic beliefs of Muslims, American Muslim demographics and Islamic etiquettes. A CAIR-MI representative also fielded questions on a ranging amount of issues related to Islam and Muslims.

Some 100 administrative and human resource staffers were in attendance.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties 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-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, Tel: 248-559-2247, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com

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SDSU'S MUSLIM STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF OBSERVING ISLAM IN SECULAR AMERICA - TOP
Coleen Geraghty, SDSU Universe, 11/12/08

Imagine deflecting hostile stares at the mall. Imagine steeling yourself against a stranger's angry words. Imagine knowing you will be judged for wearing a head scarf. Imagine feeling like an enemy in your own country.

Imagine life in America as a young Muslim.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, when Muslim extremists crashed jumbo jets into the U.S. Pentagon and New York City's Twin Towers, people in this country have viewed adherents of Islam through a filtered lens…

"It has become a constant, this anti-Muslim feeling," said Homayra Yusufi, a 21-year-old political science graduate who recently completed the competitive summer program at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. "You have to prove your patriotism because it is questioned."

Patriotism questioned

Yusufi was in high school on Sept. 11, 2001. That year, the neighbors skipped her home on Halloween. She heard classmates advocate the bombing of Islamic countries. She remembers a girl at school running up to a Muslim classmate and shouting, "This is for 9/11," before screaming in her ear.

The knee-jerk discrimination left Yusufi feeling helpless. She wanted to speak out and defend her religion, but didn't know how. So, she began working with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whose mission is to change public perception about Islam. (MORE)

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EMANUEL APOLOGIZES FOR FATHER’S ‘ARAB’ COMMENTS - TOP
Sarah Wheaton, New York Times, 11/13/08

Representative Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, called the president of an Arab-American group today to apologize for comments his father made to an Israeli newspaper.

In the remarks, Benjamin Emanuel discussed the potential impact of his son’s new position on U.S.-Israeli relations.

“Obviously he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House,” the elder Mr. Emanuel told the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, according to English-language reports in The Jerusalem Post and The Jewish Telegraphic Agency. (MORE)

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OBAMA INDIAN AIDE'S VHP LINKS SPARK DEBATE - TOP
NDTV, 11/13/08

Indian-American Sonal Shah may have denied having any links to the VHP and the RSS, but US President- elect Obama's new aide is still the subject of furious debate on the internet. Shah, an eminent economist who heads Google's philanthropic arm, was appointed as a member of the advisory board of Barack Obama recently.

The accusations against Shah first came up in a post by Vijay Prashad, the chair of South Asia history at Trinity College in Connecticut. Those defending Sonal Shah on blogs are now ripping into Prashad's piece.

"The Gujarat Garima award Sonal received for her work with her NGO, IndiCorps, in 2004, upsets Prashad because Narendra Modi was present there. The Gujarat Garima awards were organized by the US-based weekly Gujarat Times. They were presented by the then Prime Minister of India. Those who received the same award, in the same year, and in person were Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, and economist Dr Jagdish Bhagwati.

So now Tata, Ambani, Bhagwati and others are responsible for, or at least complicit in, anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat? Nice try," said a blog.

But other bloggers are demanding that Obama should drop Shah from his team. (MORE)

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ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN - TOP
Isabel Macdonald and Steve Rendall, FAIR, November/December 2008

In the 1990 Polish elections a whispering campaign suggesting that Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a Roman Catholic, was a “secret Jew” attracted widespread attention in the U.S. press, as did a nearly identical rumor about the leading challenger in Poland’s 1995 election. In no uncertain terms, U.S. news reports called the rumors “ugly examples” (Washington Post, 12/31/90) of the “increasingly visible expressions of anti-Semitism” (New York Times, 1/21/91), the most notable such “anti-Semitic acts” in Poland (Washington Post, 7/8/95).

U.S. media rejoiced that such religious intolerance did not characterize Americans, as an Atlanta Journal Constitution op-ed explained (5/23/91):

For all the current debate over diversity in American culture, it’s important to recognize how thoroughly imbued we are with this classically liberal view of citizenship. We do not divide ourselves into “true ethnic Americans” and those of other “nations.” People of all races, religions and national origins are, we believe, fully entitled to the name American.

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen (11/16/90) explained the persistence of the false rumor that the Polish candidate was secretly a Jew as an expression of “Poland’s peculiar cultural virus,” remarking, “What are facts when contrasted with prejudice?” Cohen described such an affair as a measure of “a country’s moral temperature, of gauging its character and its ability to deal rationally with its problems instead of setting off down the road, club in hand, in the search for scapegoats.”

It seems Poland’s “cultural virus” is not that peculiar. Despite the self-congratulatory words, the American campaign of 2008, like Poland in 1990, has seen Democratic candidate Barack Obama targeted by a relentless campaign suggesting he is a member of a religious minority—not a secret Jew, but a secret Muslim. (MORE)