Islamophobia Today:
 
Fla. House Candidate Blasts Islam
CAIR: Gingrich Will Not Speak At Anti-Islam Rally
Video: CAIR Rep Talks to Keith Olbermann About Islamophobia
CAIR-CA: Muslim Employee Says Disney Banned Her Head Scarf
CAIR: New Kentucky Mosque Draws Criticism
Texas: Jihad Hoax Leads to Arrest
 
Challenging Islamophobia:
 
CAIR-CT to Host 'Sharing Ramadan' Events
CAIR-CA: 'Sharing Ramadan' Open Houses Challenge Islamophobia
 
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Fla. Candidate Says Islam is Against Everything America Stands For
Katherine Concepcion, News Herald Writer, 8/17/10
 
A Congressional candidate told local high school and middle school students Tuesday that Islam's plan is to destroy the American way of life.

"I'm totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead body," said Ron McNeil, a candidate for the U.S. House District 2 seat, who was referring to a controversial plan to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.
 
"That religion is against everything America stands for. If we have to let them build it, make them build it nine stories underground, so we can walk above it as citizens and Christians." (More)
 
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CAIR: Gingrich Has 'Scheduling Conflict,' Will Not Speak At Anti-Islam Rally
Washington Times, 8/17/10
 
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is happy with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann  for criticizing the use of the phrase "ground-zero mosque" in the press and elsewhere, deeming the term a "misnomer" and saying that the project is neither a "training ground for terrorists" nor an insult to Sept. 11 families.
 
The organization appears less receptive to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, meanwhile, and hasasked the presidential hopeful not to speak at a "Stop the Islamization of America" rally in Manhattan, on Sept. 11.
 
"Anyone who aspires to become president of the United States should not be seen lending support to hatemongers and Islamophobes. Muslim-bashing may score Mr. Gingrich some cheap political points in the current climate of anti-Islam hysteria, but if he occupied the White House, such associations would inevitably harm our nation's international image," says spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
 
But wait. Uh-oh. Scheduling conflict.
"There appears to be some confusion. Mr. Gingrich will be in D.C. on the 11th. He is not speaking in New York City," a Gingrich spokesman tells Inside the Beltway. (More)
 
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Video: CAIR Rep Talks to Keith Olbermann About Anti-Islam Hysteria
Countdown with Keith Olbermann, 8/17/10
 
View the video.
 
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CAIR-CA: Muslim Employee Says Disney Banned Her Head Scarf

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press, 8/18/10
 
ANAHEIM, Calif. - A Muslim woman who works as a hostess at a Disneyland restaurant alleged Wednesday the theme park would not allow her to appear in front of customers while wearing her head scarf. . .
"Miss Boudlal has effectively understood that they're not interested in accommodating her request either in timing or good faith," said Ameena Qazi, an attorney from the Council on American-Islamic Relations who is consulting with Boudlal. (More)
 
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851; E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com; UNITE HERE Local 11, Leigh Shelton, 323-533-3864
 
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CAIR: New Florence Mosque Draws Opposition

WLWT, 8/17/10
 
A new mosque that is set to be built in Florence is coming under fire.
Organizers said the mosque will be built on a 5.5 acre site on Cayton Road, near the Florence Mall.
City officials said someone is passing out fliers denouncing the mosque and calling on residents to get the city to stop the project. . .
 
Karen Dabdoub, the executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Council on American Islamic Relations, said she believes any opposition in Florence is related to opposition to a proposed Islamic community center near ground zero in New York City.

"If it wasn't for that, and for election season, perhaps a lot of this wouldn't have happened," Dabdoub said.
As for the ground zero situation, Dabdoub said people should remember the Muslim community as a whole had nothing to do with the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 -- it was al-Qaida's doing. (More)
 
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Jihad Hoax Leads to Arrest
By Brandon Evans, Wise County Messenger, 8/18/10
 
A Lake Bridgeport man associated with an international Christian organization called the Voice of the Martyrs was arrested earlier this month for allegedly making terroristic threats under the guise of radical Islam.
 
Allen R. Burgess, 42, was arrested for making a terroristic threat after Bridgeport police identified him as the suspect in a string of flyers posted around town that startled several citizens.
 
The bulletins indicated that radical Muslims were intent on staging a deadly attack on the city of Bridgeport. (More)
 
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CAIR-CT to Host 'Sharing Ramadan' Events
People of all faiths invited to dinners celebrating month-long fast
 
(HARTFORD, CT, 8/18/10) -- Beginning August 20, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) will host "Sharing Ramadan" events that offer opportunities for people of all faiths to experience the Muslim month of fasting.
 
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset, ending their fasts with a meal after sunset prayers. They also invite friends and family to their homes and mosques to share meals together at this special time of the year.
 
The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the "five pillars" of Islam. The end of Ramadan is marked by communal prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking.
 
Upcoming Ramadan Events:
 
Sharing Ramadan Bridgeport
Friday August 20, 2010    6:15 pm
Social Room, Student Center
University of Bridgeport
224 University Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06601
 
Sharing Ramadan New London
Sunday August 22, 2010   6:15 pm
Crozier-Williams College Center
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320
 
To
RSVP, CONTACT:
Shirley Zaccheo 860-514-1012
Sazzac68@aol.com
Tasmia Sara Khan
tasmiasarakhan@gmail.com
 
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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 CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi, 860-514-8038, E-Mail: mdhaouadi@cair.com
 
 
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CAIR-CA: 'Sharing Ramadan' Open Houses Designed to Challenge Islamophobia
 
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 8/18/10) -- Beginning August 21, seven Bay Area mosques, in collaboration with the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS) will host local residents at "Sharing Ramadan" Open Houses.
 
The events will offer opportunities for people of all faiths to experience the Muslim month of fasting.
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset, ending their fasts with a meal after sunset prayers. They also invite friends and family to their homes and mosques to share meals together at this special time of the year.
 
The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the "five pillars" of Islam. The end of Ramadan is marked by communal prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking.
 
"We are seeing a troubling rise in Islamophobia and increased opposition to mosques across the country, in places like New York, Tennessee, Connecticut and even the Bay Area," said CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo. "It is our hope that we can mitigate these baseless challenges by opening doors and creating dialog."
 
Upcoming Ramadan Events:
 
Saturday, August 21st

Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC)
1433 Madison Street, Oakland
Questions & RSVP: openhouse@iccnc.org
Shia Association of the Bay Area (SABA)
1180 Murphy Ave, San Jose
Questions & RSVP: Mehboob_abedi@yahoo.com
Muslim Community Association of Santa Clara (MCA)
3000 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara
Questions & RSVP: openhouse@mcabayarea.org
 
Sunday, August 22nd
 
 
Yaseen Foundation
621 Masonic Way, Belmont
Questions & RSVP: rsvp@yaseen.org
 
Saturday, August 28th
 
Islamic Society of East Bay (ISEB)
33330 Peace Terrace, Fremont
Questions & RSVP: ramadan2010@iseb.org
West Valley Muslim Association (WVMA)
19848 Prospect Road, Saratoga
Questions & RSVP: Ramadan@wvmuslim.org
 
Sunday, August 29th
Islamic Society of San Francisco (ISSF)
20 Jones Street, San Francisco
Questions & RSVP: issf@att.net
 
*The speakers and viewpoints in each of the events are reflective of the local mosque organizers, and are not necessarily endorsed by CAIR-SFBA.
 
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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 Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo, 626.252.0885, E-Mail: zbilloo@cair.com
 
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
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CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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.

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726,

E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com;

 CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171,

E-Mail: arubin@cair.com