Verse: Repel Evil with Good

Good News: CAIR Commends Fla. Jewish Group for Condemning Hate Speech

CAIR: Speaker's Anti-Muslim Propaganda Only Spreads Hate

CAIR Praises House Passage of Anti-Hate Crimes Bill

Court Orders Review of FBI Records on Calif. Muslims

MI: Federal Prosecutor Seeks Reports of Mosque Spying

(AP) FBI Meets with Muslims to Quell Spy Allegations

(Detroit News) CAIR: Religious Leaders Urge Caution During Flu Outbreak

(Sac Bee) CAIR-LA: Reflections at 40th Manzanar Pilgrimage

WA: In Seattle, Somalis Denounce Terrorism, Piracy

(AP) TN: Muslim’s Religious Discrimination Case Settled with Hospital

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VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD - TOP

“[Since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel [evil] with something that is better. Then you will see that he with whom you had enmity will become your close friend.”

The Holy Quran, 41:34

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CAIR COMMENDS FLA. JEWISH GROUP FOR CONDEMNING HATE SPEECH - TOP ADL ‘strongly condemns Geert Wilders' message of hate against Islam’

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/30/09) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today commended the Florida office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for condemning the anti-Islam hate of a speaker who was recently given a standing ovation at a synagogue in that state.

Earlier this week, CAIR called on members of the Jewish community to condemn “Nazi-like” statements by Dutch extremist politician Geert Wilders made recently at a Palm Beach, Fla., synagogue. In the speech, Wilders claimed that “Islam is not a religion” and “the right to religious freedom should not apply to this totalitarian ideology called Islam,” all to the applause of the audience.

In a statement, ADL Florida Regional Director Andrew Rosenkranz said:

“The ADL strongly condemns Geert Wilders' message of hate against Islam as inflammatory, divisive and antithetical to American democratic ideals. This rhetoric is dangerous and incendiary, and wrongly focuses on Islam as a religion, as opposed to the very real threat of extremist, radical Islamists.”

“We commend the ADL for its repudiation of Geert Wilders’ Islamophobic views and ask all those who promoted his message of hate to recognize the negative impact such intolerance has on our society,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper also noted that CAIR this week called on GOP leaders to demand that Rep. Adam Hasner, the head of Florida’s House Republicans, step down from his leadership post for co-hosting an event at which Wilders made the same hate-filled remarks.

SEE: Fla. House GOP Leader Hosts Event Denying Religious Freedom

CAIR, America's largest Muslim 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-South Florida Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: aali@cair.com; CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kilic, Tel: 813-514-1414 or 813-486-2529, E-Mail: rkilic@cair.com; 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 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SEE ALSO:

CAIR: SPEAKER'S ANTI-MUSLIM PROPAGANDA ONLY SPREADS HATE - TOP Saleh Ibrahim, Daily Campus, 4/29/09

When a student organization invites a speaker, you would expect that the speaker represents and promotes the ideas, beliefs and core values of the organization. With this in mind, the UConn College Republicans' choice of Jesse Peterson to speak for them last night was appalling, to say the least.

The speaker didn't spare any efforts to incite hatred against everyone who doesn't share his values. Of course, he has the right to free speech, but others also have the right to expose his ignorance and bigotry.

I'm not going to comment in detail on his political views, but rather I will expose the lies that he, as well as many other right-wing ideologues, propagated against Islam and Muslims in order to push forward a political agenda and rally support of the misinformed public.

In his speech, Peterson mocked President Obama for extending a hand of peace, understanding and respect to the world's Muslims. Peterson claimed that this is an act of appeasing "the enemy," which makes America look weak and compromising. He also said that "our enemies" hate us because we are a Judeo-Christian nation. He claimed that the Qur'an teaches that Jews and Christians are infidels and therefore sanctions their murder. Peterson couldn't be more wrong.

Millions of American Muslims love America and appreciate the goodness enshrined in the Constitution. These include dozens of Muslim faculty members and hundreds of students at UConn. Around the Muslim world, Muslims have coexisted peacefully with their Jewish and Christian neighbors for centuries. Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, teaches that Jews and Christians are people of the Book, i.e. the Bible, and that their lives, property and freedom of worship are to be protected under Islamic law. The only reason over a billion Muslims worldwide love Jesus the son of Virgin Mary and believe he was a perfect man and a prophet of God is because the Qur'an teaches so.

American Muslims have made clear their condemnation of acts of terrorism and their support for the nation's struggle against terrorism. For example, on Sept. 11, 2001, the Council for American-Islamic Relations issued a statement saying "We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts." (More)

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CAIR PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF ANTI-HATE CRIMES BILL - TOP (WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/30/2009) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the US House of Representatives’ passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. CAIR has supported the act since 2005 and praised its previous passage by the House in 2007. The Senate now must consider the bill. If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the law would allow the Attorney General to provide federal assistance to local law enforcement to aid investigations of crimes motivated by "prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin" of the victim. To see how your elected representative voted, go here. CAIR, America's largest Muslim 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 Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, E-Mail: csaylor@cair.com; 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 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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COURT ORDERS REVIEW OF FBI RECORDS ON CALIFORNIA MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS AS NEW COMPLAINTS EMERGE IN 2 STATES - TOP Suraj Sazawal, Office of Budget Management Watch, 04/30/00

Responding to claims that Muslim organizations have been illegally spied upon in southern California, a federal judge said on April 20, 2009 he will conduct a review of the FBI records. The decision comes after nearly three years of legal efforts by the ACLU and American Muslim groups to obtain information that they say would demonstrate illegal surveillance by the FBI. The FBI will have 30 days to deliver approximately 100 pages of related surveillance memos and the files on the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its leaders to the judge.

Judge Cormac J. Carney said after he receives the FBI files he will determine which, if any, can be released to the public and what must remain protected under federal law. In 2007 six Muslim groups and five individuals sued the FBI and the Department of Justice alleging the agency failed to turn over records requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) a year earlier. The FBI had released largely redacted documents, claiming the information contained in the files were beyond the scope of the FOIA request. (More)

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MI: FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SEEKS REPORTS OF MOSQUE SPYING - TOP Associated Press, 4/30/09

The top federal prosecutor in Detroit has encouraged Muslims to report allegations the FBI hired informants to infiltrate mosques and spy on leaders and worshipers. (Full Article)

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FBI MEETS WITH ARAB AMERICAN LEADERS TO QUELL SPY ALLEGATIONS - TOP Santiago Esparza, Detroit News, 4/30/09

Federal law enforcement officers met with a group of Arab American leaders today to combat rumors the FBI is forcing people of Middle Eastern ties to work as informants.

Over the past six months, the rumors have intensified that FBI agents are coercing people across the country to spy for the agency at mosques and other meeting places where Arab Americans and Muslims gather.

But Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit office, said the rumors are not true during the meeting, which was held at the Lebanese American Heritage Club.

"I have no legal right to just send informants into a mosque, Catholic church or Jewish synagogue. We don't do that."

Arena said the FBI, like all law enforcement agencies, do use informants but said the government is not targeting people for investigations simply because they may be Muslim or Arab.

Arena said his office has not received any complaints and he believes the rumors are a matter of perception and not fact.

However, many of the people gathered at the meeting said they have been contacted by numerous people who believe this is true but are too frightened to come forward for fear of retribution. (More)

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CAIR: CHURCH LEADERS URGE MEMBERS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS DURING FLU OUTBREAK - TOP Jennifer Garza, Sacramento Bee, 4/30/09

In the midst of a swine flu scare, Sacramento religious leaders are recommending caution when it comes to certain worship practices, including sharing Communion cups.

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is urging parishioners to give "careful consideration" to several traditional observances, according to a letter that will be read during Mass in the 20- county diocese this weekend.

At St. Mel Parish in Fair Oaks, congregants will be asked not to shake hands during the exchange of peace or hold hands when the community recites the Lord's Prayer. The church will not offer the Communion cup during Mass…

In a letter to Islamic leaders Wednesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations urged religious leaders to "stress the possibility of avoiding Islamic cultural traditions such as handshakes or hugs of greeting."

Imam Mohamad Azeez of Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims said he will follow that advice. He also will urge members at Friday mosque services to avoid big gatherings. (More)

----- CAIR-LA: REFLECTIONS AT 40TH MANZANAR PILGRIMAGE - TOP Young and old return to former internment camp site on 40th anniversary of Manzanar Pilgrimage. Gwen Muranaka, Rafu Shimpo, 4/29/09 MANZANAR - Forty years after a group of 100 to 200 went back to the desolate site of the Manzanar concentration camp, more than 2,000 returned to the desert on a windy, cool day to reflect on the Japanese American internment experience and the lessons it continues to teach about racism and tolerance…

Thirteen buses brought partici­pants from Northern and Southern California. Among the schools joining the pilgrimage were Virgil Middle School of Los Angeles, Pasadena City College, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Los Angeles City College and San Francisco State University…

More than 100 Muslims, including representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also joined in this year’s pilgrimage and participated in the discussions during the Manzanar After Dark program held in Lone Pine.

At the interfaith service, religious rites were per­formed by Christian, Buddhist, Shinto and Muslim ministers. Imam Ali Siddiqui, who offered prayers during the interfaith service, said gatherings such as the pilgrimage made him hopeful for the future.

“It is a good feeling, a feeling of community. That people of different faiths and ethnicities can come together during difficult times to ensure that these things do not happen again and hold our government responsible,” Siddiqui said. (More)

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IN SEATTLE, SOMALIS DENOUNCE TERRORISM, PIRACY - TOP Manuel Valdes, Associated Press, 4/29/09

SEATTLE -- With headlines about pirates hijacking ships and terrorist groups recruiting their countrymen to fight in Africa, Somali community leaders in the Seattle area are speaking out in an effort to counter negative public perception. (More)

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RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION CASE SETTLED WITH HOSPITAL - TOP Janell Ross, The Tennessean, 4/30/09

Southern Hills Medical Center in Nashville has agreed to pay a former employee $70,000 in damages after denying him time off to make a pilgrimage to Mecca but admitted no wrongdoing when it settled the religious discrimination case on Monday.

In late 2007, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit on behalf of Wali Telwar, a Muslim former Southern Hills medical technician who lives in Nashville.

The hospital refused to allow Telwar to use just over 20 days of accumulated vacation time to take a trip to Mecca. Every Muslim is required to make the hajj — a pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian birthplace of the Islamic religion and its prophet — in their lifetime.

Telwar, who had worked at the hospital for three years, also claimed he was told that if he insisted on attending the hajj he would have to quit his job and reapply when he returned.

Telwar resigned, according to the suit. When he returned, Southern Hills did not rehire him. The hospital hired three other medical technicians. (More)