Muslim American News Briefs, July 5, 2010

A group of Muslim parents and their supporters gathered on the steps of City Hall today where they called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to recognize Islamic holidays on the school calendar.

The coalition of religious, immigrant and labor groups is asking the mayor to honor a City Council resolution calling for two Muslim holy days -- Eid-ul Adha and Eid-ul Fitr -- to be added to the school calendar. (More)

--- CAIR-NY: MUSLIM HOLIDAY EID PROPOSED AS DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL (VIDEO) - TOP ABC 7, 6/30/10

Muslims from New York gather on the Steps of City Hall where they called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to recognize Islamic holidays on the school calendar. (More)

--- CAIR-NY: NYC MUSLIMS PUSH FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - TOP Donna Beck, WPIX.com, 6/30/2010

. . . PIX 11 News contacted Faiza Ali, CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director and Steering Committee Member of the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays.

"This is important for the Muslim students because currently they are forced to choose between going to school or observing one of the holiest holidays in their religion. So, it puts an unfair burden on Muslim children," said Ali.

The current school calendar recognizes major Christian and Jewish holy days like Christmas and Yom Kippur, but no Muslim holy days.

"We are not trying to comprise the calendar, or make students go to school less. There is a way for the department of Education to adjust the calendar to accommodate the Muslim holidays," said Ali. (More)

----- CAIR-MI REPS TESTIFY AT RACIAL PROFILING TOWN HALL WITH U.S. ATTORNEY - TOP (SOUTHFIELD, MI, 7/1/10) – Representatives from the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) yesterday gave oral testimony at a special town hall meeting on racial profiling with government officials and civil rights attorneys at the Wayne State University Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights in Detroit. The town hall meeting, which was organized by the Rights Working Group and co-sponsored by CAIR-MI, had panelists taking testimony on racial and religious profiling from civil rights activists and community organizers. Panelists hearing testimony included U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade, Michigan State Representative Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner Nabih Ayad, and Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) Executive Director Vincent Warren. CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid and CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri testified about growing constituent concerns regarding surveillance and misuse of confidential informants in mosques and religious profiling during re-entry into the United States. Walid elaborated on the chilling effect on Michigan Muslims to freely exercise their First Amendment rights to Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Assembly in light of last year's fatal shooting of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah in Dearborn by FBI agents based on a raid provoked by the use of confidential informants. SEE: Conyers Demands Investigation into Detroit Imam's Death (Michigan Messenger) CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson was also in attendance and monitored testimony offered. Other organizations who participated in the town hall included the American Civil Liberties Union - Michigan (ACLU-MI), Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, and Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF). "We welcome such opportunities to engage high ranking Justice Department officials and civil rights advocates to ensure public safety within our communities without compromising the civil rights and dignity of vulnerable minority groups," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. 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-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-559-2247, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri, 248-559-2247, E-Mail: lmasri@cair.com SEE ALSO:

CAIR-SFBA DIRECTOR SPEAKS AT ASIAN-PACIFIC GROUP RECEPTION - TOP (SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 7/1/10) – On Wednesday, June 23, the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo, spoke at the 20th Anniversary Reception of the Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) at the Renwick Gallery, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The event which was attended by more than 200 guests from various parts of the country included a private tour of the Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese Internment Camps. Billoo's remarks focused on the ongoing civil rights struggle of American Muslims, including allegations of FBI harassment and employment discrimination. She shared stories of actual complaints CAIR California offices had received over the last year. The discussion also shed light on the parallels between the World War II internment of Japanese Americans and the ongoing targeting of American Muslims. "It was an honor to be able to join AAPOP in celebrating their support of targeted communities," Billoo said. AAPIP, based in San Francisco CA, was founded in 1990 and is a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. AAPIP has been supporting the work of Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian communities in the Bay Area through its Civic Engagement Fund since 2006. CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo, 408.986.9874 or E-Mail at info@sfba.cair.com -----

CAIR-OH: PROFILING ISLAM: FAITH UNDER SURVEILLANCE - TOP The Lakewood Observer, 7/1/10 What does a terrorist look like? Unfortunately, in post 9/11 America, many in government and the media portray "terrorist" and "Muslim" as interchangeable identities. As a result, Muslims are often targets of racial, ethnic and religious profiling.

Join Julia Shearson, executive director for the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland), for a discussion of religious profiling, national security, and religious freedom.

Profiling Islam: Faith under surveillance Time: 12 p.m. Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 Place: Max Wohl Civil Liberties Center, 4506 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

To RSVP or for more information, call (216) 472-2220 or email contact@acluohio.org

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CAIR-CINCINNATI HOLDS '20,000 DIALOGUES' PROGRAM - TOP (CINCINNATI, OH, 7/1/10) – The Cincinnati office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio (CAIR-OH) recently held a screening of "Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think" followed by a dialogue at Xavier University. The event, co-sponsored by Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Franciscans Network, Muslim Student Association of the University of Cincinnati, Ihsan Center, and the Middle Eastern Culture Club of Xavier University, brought together more than 60 people of diverse backgrounds to view and discuss the film. The dialogue took place as part of Unity Productions Foundation's "20,000 Dialogues" program, a nationwide project designed to bring people of different faiths together using films about Muslims to stimulate discussion and promote understanding. "Participants in the dialogue had the opportunity to discuss the results from the poll, which they found surprising, as well as solutions for further education and action," said CAIR-Cincinnati Executive Director Karen Dabdoub. "Such dialogues dispel tensions and promote greater understanding between people." The Cincinnati chapter is one of three in CAIR-Ohio. 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: Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-Mail: kdabdoub@cair.com; Roula Allouch E-Mail: rallouch@cair.com

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CAIR-LA REPS MEET WITH GERMAN MARSHALL FUND PROGRAM FELLOWS - TOP (ANAHEIM, CA, 7/1/10) – On Friday, June 25, representatives of the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations office (CAIR-LA) met with six fellows from the Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). The Marshall Fund, based out of Washington D.C., is a non-partisan American public policy and grant making institution dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe on transatlantic and global issues. CAIR-LA Deputy Executive Director and Staff Attorney Ameena Mirza Qazi and Communications Manager Munira Syeda met with the delegation. The lively discussion focused on the growth and progress of the American Muslim community, challenges facing the Muslim community in post-9/11 society and maintaining civil liberties while strengthening national security. The discussion also shed light on the integration and assimilation of Muslim minorities on the other side of the Atlantic. "It was heartwarming to engage on shared values of cooperation and partnership with our European visitors," said Qazi. The visit was coordinated with help from Richard Verches, assistant executive director of the Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board. CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda, (714) 776-1847, (714) 851-4851 or E-Mail at info@losangeles.cair.com ----- CAIR: ACLU FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNCONSTITUTIONAL 'NO FLY LIST' - TOP PR Newswire, 6/30/10

The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit on behalf of 10 U.S. citizens and lawful residents who are prohibited from flying to or from the United States or over U.S. airspace because they are on the government's "No Fly List." None of the individuals in the lawsuit, including a disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran stranded in Egypt and a U.S. Army veteran stuck in Colombia, have been told why they are on the list or given a chance to clear their names . . .

In addition to Wizner and Choudhury, attorneys on the case are Kevin Diaz and cooperating attorney Steven Wilker with the ACLU of Oregon; Ahilan Arulanantham, Jennie Pasquarella and cooperating attorney Reem Salahi with the ACLU of Southern California; Alan Schlosser and Julia Harumi Mass of the ACLU of Northern California; and Laura Ives of the ACLU of New Mexico. The Council on American-Islamic Relations consulted with Raymond Knaeble and directed him to the ACLU. (More)

----- CAIR-WA: MUSLIM GROUP'S VEHICLE VANDALIZED - TOP Molly Smith, Real Change News, 6/30/10

. . . According to Bukhari, CAIR's national chapters report alleged hate crimes against Muslim Americans to both local and federal authorities in order to ensure that there is an accurate national account of such crimes against this community. Under its Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the FBI maintains a national hate crime data collection system. He also notes that the penalties are stricter at the federal level, a fact that CAIR hopes will serve as a stronger deterrent for future hate crimes.

CAIR's Seattle chapter seldom reports incidents to the FBI. "This may be the first incident that we have reported to the FBI this year," says Bukhari.

"The event that took place in Bellevue fits a pattern of increased targeting of persons and property associated with Islam and the American Muslim community," he wrote in his letter to the Seattle FBI field office. (More)

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CAIR-CA: THE BUTTERFLY MOSQUE: ON-STAGE CONVERSATION WITH G. WILLOW WILSON - TOP Red Room, 7/1/10

Join us for an on-stage conversation with American author G. Wilson about her latest book "The Butterfly Mosque".

G. Willow Wilson is an American author and essayist who divides her time between Egypt and the US. Her articles about modern religion and the Middle East have appeared in publications including the Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine and The Canada National Post . . .

Part travelogue, love story, and memoir, The Butterfly Mosque is a brave, inspiring story of faith -- in God, in each other, in ourselves, and in the ability of relationships to transcend cultural barriers and exist above the evils that threaten to keep us apart. (More)

Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Date: Saturday, July, 10, 2010 Place: 1433 Madison Street, Oakland, CA Ticket information: $7 adults, $5 students. Phone: (510) 832-7600

Click here for more information.

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CAIR: 3 SAUDI UM STUDENTS ARRESTED, DETAINED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OVER VISA ISSUES - TOP

Chelsi Moy, Missoulian, 7/1/10

Three University of Montana students from Saudi Arabia were arrested on campus last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and detained for several days in Helena before being released . . .

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Counsel on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., said an increasing number of Muslims are being targeted by federal agencies in the wake of incidents such as the Fort Hood shootings and the Christmas Day airplane bomb scare in Detroit. (More)

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