News, March 2010

Muslim American News Briefs, March 24, 2010

Hadith: Love One Another CAIR: Muslim Soldier Faces Bias at Fort Hood (Wash Post)

CAIR-Columbus Banquet a Success

Rev. Jesse Jackson to Speak at CAIR-MI Banquet

CAIR-MI Joins Rally on Police Profiling CAIR-MN Asks Feds to Probe Anti-Muslim Incidents (Star Trib)

CAIR-MN Seeks Investigation of Bias Incidents in Schools

CAIR-CAN Condemns Vandalism at Montreal Synagogue

Canada: Ann Coulter Tells Muslim to 'Take a Camel'

Va. Imam’s Blog Listed as One of Most Influential

Majority of Republicans: Obama is a Muslim RI: Muslim Inmates Sue ACI Over Meal Plan

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HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No man loves another for God’s sake without his Lord...honoring him."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1301

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CAIR: AFTER THE FORT HOOD SHOOTINGS, A MUSLIM AMERICAN SOLDIER BATTLES ON FRIENDLY GROUND - TOP By William Wan, Washington Post, 3/24/10

At 2 o'clock on a Monday morning, the sound of angry pounding sent Army Spec. Zachari Klawonn bolting out of bed.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Someone was mule-kicking the door of his barracks room, leaving marks that weeks later -- long after Army investigators had come and gone -- would still be visible.

By the time Klawonn reached the door, the pounding had stopped. All that was left was a note, twice folded and wedged into the doorframe.

"F--- YOU RAGHEAD BURN IN HELL" read the words scrawled in black marker.

The slur itself was nothing new. Klawonn, 20, the son of an American father and a Moroccan mother, had been called worse in the military. But the fact that someone had tracked him down in the dead of night to deliver this specific message sent a chill through his body.

Before he enlisted, the recruiters in his home town of Bradenton, Fla., had told him that the Army desperately needed Muslim soldiers like him to help win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yet ever since, he had been filing complaint after complaint with his commanders. After he was ordered not to fast and pray. After his Koran was torn up. After other soldiers jeered and threw water bottles at him. After his platoon sergeant warned him to hide his faith to avoid getting a "beating" by fellow troops. But nothing changed.

[...]

He returned to Fort Hood this month a different man, no longer content to stay inside the lines of command with his complaints. He had the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group in Washington, send a letter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. He also agreed to meet with a reporter from The Washington Post. (More)

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CAIR-COLUMBUS BANQUET A SUCCESS - TOP

(COLUMBUS, OH - 3/24/10) - Some 350 people turned out on Saturday for the 13th annual banquet of the Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio).

[Those who weren't able to attend the dinner still have a great opportunity to help continue CAIR-Columbus' important work and successes by clicking here: CAIR-Columbus donation page.]

Former president of CAIR-Ohio, Asma Mobin-Uddin, was presented with an I-CAIR award in honor of her 11 years of service to CAIR-Ohio and the Muslim Community. Mobin-Uddin was one of the co-founders of CAIR-Ohio and served as president until December 2009.

Attendees also got to hear firsthand about the important legal work of CAIR-Columbus through a moving testimonial given by a client who is a college professor and has been experiencing harassment due to his religion and race for the last several years.

Other highlights of the evening included speeches by Zeinab Schwen, the newly elected CAIR-Ohio President, and Donald Furbee, President of CAIR-Columbus, as well as a hit performance by comedian Azhar Usman from the "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy tour.

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.

SEE ALSO:

CAIR-MI TO HOST 10TH ANNUAL BANQUET - TOP Civil Rights Leader Rev. Jesse Jackson to Keynote

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 3/24/10) – The Michigan chapter of the Council on American –Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) will hold its 10th Annual Fundraising Banquet on Sunday, March 28 in Dearborn, Mich.

The banquet themed "Leading the Change" will be keynoted by Civil and Human Rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, the President of the Chicago based advocacy group Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Other speakers will include CAIR National Director Nihad Awad and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Congressman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI).

Several high school seniors will also be presented with CAIR-MI’s annual Rosa Parks Scholarship.

Ticket prices are $50 for general admission and $30 for students, who provide identification.

More information can be found at www.cairmichigan.org.

WHAT: CAIR-MI 10th Annual Fundraising Banquet WHEN: Sunday, March 28, at 2:00 PM (sharp) WHERE: Hyatt Regency, 600 Town Center Drive, Dearborn, MI

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 Outreach Coordinator Raheem Hanifa, 248-559-2247; E-Mail: rhanifa@cair.com; CAIR-MI Banquet Coordinator Suehaila Amen, 313-615-1515

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CAIR-MI JOINS RALLY ON POLICE PROFILING CONDUCT IN HAMTRAMCK - TOP

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 3/24/10) - The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) yesterday participated in a rally calling for a citizens review board for the Hamtramck Police, which reflects community demographics and calling for an end to racial profiling.

The rally, which was organized by the Hamtramck branch of the NAACP was sparked after the arrest of an elderly African-American Baptist pastor for inquiring into why the Hamtramck Police performed a traffic stop on a family member.

SEE: Hamtramck Police Under Fire After Minister’s Arrest (Detroit Free Press)

Speakers at the rally attended by some 200 people from the African-American, Yemeni-American, and Bengali-American communities included representatives from the NAACP, the office of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, the National Lawyers Guild and CAIR-MI.

"We stand with other civil rights advocates calling for regularly scheduled sensitivity trainings for Hamtramck Police officers and an end to racial profiling," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.

Walid also notes that Hamtramck is the most densely populated city of Muslims in Michigan with approximately 50% of its residents being Muslim from Bengali-American, Yemeni-American, Bosnian-American and African-American backgrounds.

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, 248-842-1418, 248-559-2247, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com

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GROUP ASKS FEDS TO PROBE ALLEGED ANTI-MUSLIM INCIDENTS IN MINN. SCHOOLS - TOP A Muslim civil liberties group cited news reports about what it calls "growing racial and religious tensions" in the state's schools. By Bob Von Sternberg, Star Tribune, 3/24/10

The Minnesota chapter of a national Islamic civil liberties group has asked federal education officials to investigate what it calls "growing racial and religious tensions" in the state's schools.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) announced Wednesday that its members want the U.S. Department of Education to probe incidents publicized in the news media that it characterized as "anti-Muslim."

The request came a day after Muslims held a rally at the state Capitol to raise several issues, among them a reported increase in harassment and discrimination in Minnesota schools.

Among the incidents the organization cited were cases in which Muslim students were called "towel heads" and were subjected to racial slurs. (More)

SEE ALSO:

RIGHTS GROUP SEEKS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENTS AGAINST MUSLIMS IN ST. CLOUD SCHOOLS - TOP By Dave Aeikens, St. Cloud Times, 3/24/10

A Muslim civil rights group in Minnesota has asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate what it calls a hostile learning environment toward Muslims in St. Cloud and other Minnesota schools.

The request comes from the Council of American-Islamic Relations. The group says there are a growing number of instances in Minnesota schools in which Muslim students are harassed and discriminated against. Some of the incidents took place at Apollo and Technical high schools, the group said.

"We just want them to investigate these incidents," said Lori Saroya, president of the Minnesota chapter of CAIR. "We think there needs to be something statewide, something larger to take place." (More)

----- CAIR-CAN: MUSLIM ORG. CONDEMNS VANDALISM AT MONTREAL SHUL - TOP Vos Iz Neias, 3/23/10

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) has condemned the vandalism of a Montreal synagogue and is calling on police to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to news reports [first reported by VIN News] vandals used a marker to scrawl swastikas in the bima (podium) and threw religious objects, including prayer shawls and books, on the ground. The vandalism was discovered on Saturday morning and, according to neighbours, is the second time the Hassidic synagogue has been the target in a month.

In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN said:

"CAIR-CAN stands with all Canadians in denouncing this act of hate. It is particularly disturbing to see the Montreal community disrupted by an act of hate for the second time in less than a month. The continued vandalism of a peaceful community with hateful messages is a shameful attempt to disrupt the social cohesion that the citizens of Montreal work hard to foster and enjoy," said Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director of CAIR-CAN.

"CAIR-CAN calls on local politicians and security officials in Montreal as well as provincial and federal governments to work together to combat this recent spate of hate crimes. We also call on the authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of these acts under hate crime legislation to send a strong message against intolerance."

"These acts represent not only the intent to cause physical damage but an attempt to divide communities by further stigmatizing visible and vulnerable minorities. We also urge the synagogue leaders and officials to remain vigilant and to immediately report suspicious behaviour to the proper authorities, in order to establish a clear record of such incidents."

CAIR-CAN is a national, non-profit, grassroots organization striving to be a leading voice that enriches Canadian society through Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.

SEE ALSO:

ANN COULTER CAUSES FIRESTORM IN CANADA BY TELLING MUSLIM TO 'TAKE A CAMEL' AS ALTERNATIVE TO FLYING - TOP Bill Hutchinson, Daily News, 3/24/10

Firebrand conservative Ann Coulter's lecture at a Canadian college was cancelled Tuesday night over fears students would riot over racist remarks she made to Muslims.

Security at the University of Ottawa scrapped the right-wing darling's talk when more than 2,000 students showed up to protest her telling a Muslim student Monday to "take a camel" as an alternative to flying.

Coulter's tasteless comment came after previously she told a gathering that Muslims shouldn't be allowed on airplanes and should take "flying carpets."

The camel quip came when Muslim student Fatima Al-Dhaher challenged Coulter on the remark - and told her she didn't have a flying carpet.

"What mode of transportation?" Coulter responded. "Take a camel."

Students jeered Coulter's remarks, and showed up in mass Tuesday night let her know she was not welcome at the school.

Coulter tried to explain away her comments Tuesday as "satire." (More)

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VA. IMAM’S BLOG LISTED AS ONE OF MOST INFLUENTIAL - TOP Telegraph, 3/24/10

17) Imam Johari

Written by Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, an American Islamic outreach worker, the Imam Johari blog rallies Muslim communities to stand up for the environment, end violence against women and work to eradicate poverty.

SEE ALSO: MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS: OBAMA IS A MUSLIM - TOP Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/23/10

A new national Louis Harris poll finds that a majority of Republicans believe that President Obama is a Muslim, while 45 percent agree with the so-called "Birthers" that the president was "not born in the United States."

The poll of 2,230 Americans, taken during last weekend's health care showdown in the House of Representatives, shows how successful Obama's opponents have been in demonizing the 44th president.

Full results are expected tomorrow, but preliminary findings were released in The Daily Beast by John Avlon, whose book "Wingnuts" details the hyper-partisanship that has swept America since 2008.

According to the poll, 57 percent of Republicans, and 32 percent of Americans overall, believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. The opinion comes despite Obama's description in his bestseller, "The Audacity of Hope", of his adoption of the Christian faith.

The poll found that 45 percent of Republicans, and 25 percent in the overall survey, agree with Birthers that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president."

Even Fox News pundits, notably Bill O'Reilly, have dismissed the Birthers' claims. The state of Hawaii produced Obama's birth certificate during the 2008 campaign.

Another eye-opening finding: 38 percent of Republicans, and 20 percent of Americans overall, agree that Obama is "doing many things Hitler did."

And 24 percent of Republicans, and 14 percent overall, agree that Obama "may be the antiChrist." (More)

--- MUSLIM INMATES SUE ACI OVER MEAL PLAN - TOP Katie Mulvaney, Providence Journal, 3/23/2010

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Sunni Muslim inmates serving time in maximum security at the Adult Correctional Institutions are suing prison administrators, accusing them of violating their rights by denying them the freedom to pray together and meals that comply with their faith.

The Muslim Brotherhood of the Islamic Faith allege in a suit filed in U.S. District Court that correctional officers routinely taunt them by calling them terrorists and the Taliban. The inmates say the guards threaten to retaliate against their complaints by placing them in isolation. (More)