Islamophobia in the US: Muslim American News Briefs, October 12, 2010

Islamophobia in the US: Muslim American News Briefs

October 12, 2010

CAIR Calls FBI Tracking of Calif. Muslim Student 'Outrageous'

CAIR Launches Islamophobia Dept. at Sold-Out Banquet New Department to address 'alarming' rise in anti-Islam sentiment

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/11/10) --

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization has announced the launch of a department devoted to addressing the alarming rise of Islamophobic sentiment in American society.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) made that announcement at its 16th annual banquet on Saturday in Arlington, Va. Some 900 Muslim community members and activists, interfaith leaders and diplomats attended the sold-out banquet. CAIR said it exceeded its goals for fundraising at the banquet.

Almost 300 Muslims from around the nation also attended CAIR's day-long leadership skills training conference held prior to the banquet.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad announced the new Islamophobia Department in his address to the evening banquet.

Awad said the department will produce an annual Islamophobia report that will track trends in rhetorical attacks on Islam and Muslims and will offer accurate and balanced information to be used in the struggle for tolerance and mutual understanding.

Along with an annual Islamophobia report, CAIR's new department will organize conferences, seminars, cultural exchanges, and other activities and events designed to provide opportunities for education and dialogue.

"We have seen a small but vocal group of bigots and hate-mongers manufacture an atmosphere of anti-Islam hysteria through smear campaigns that rely on distortions, misinformation and outright falsehoods," said Awad. "We have witnessed this un-American phenomenon before in the targeting of Jews, Catholics, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Native-Americans, and others. American Muslims are but the latest minority to feel the sting of prejudice and hate."

"It will take joint efforts by people of goodwill of all faiths to challenge this epidemic of hate," said Awad.

He noted that four New York teenagers who allegedly attacked a Muslim classmate because of his faith were arrested yesterday and now face hate crime charges.

SEE: Four Staten Island Teens Charged in Muslim Hate Crime

Awad said Islamophobia is a worldwide phenomenon and that Muslim-bashers in America are forging links with far-right racist groups in Europe.

SEE: UK Far-Right Group Forges Links with American Islamophobes (Guardian) NY Times Profiles Leading American Islamophobe

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Verse: Give Freely That Which You Love

CAIR-LA: FBI Caught Spying on Muslim Student with GPS Tracker

CAIR: NV Senate Candidate Says Muslim Law Taking Hold in U.S.

TN: Mosque Controversy Heats Up in New Court Motions

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VERSE OF THE DAY: GIVE FREELY THAT WHICH YOU LOVE - TOP

"You can never attain righteousness unless you give (freely) that which you love; and whatever you spend, God knows it well."

The Holy Quran, 3:92 "The Parable of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God is that of a grain of corn out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase to whom He wills; and God is infinite, all-knowing."

The Holy Quran, 2:261

"Believe in God and His messenger and spend in charity out of that of which He has made you trustees, for those of you who believe and spend in charity shall be richly rewarded."

The Holy Quran, 57:7

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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR CAIR BANQUET - TOP

Today is your last chance to register for CAIR's 16th annual banquet and leadership skills training conference on Saturday, October 9 in Arlington, Va. If you do not register online or call 202-646-6045 by 5 p.m. today, you will not hear from speakers such as University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape, the author of a groundbreaking new book showing that foreign occupation -- not religion -- motivates suicide terror attacks.

Other speakers at the CAIR annual banquet will include Park51 developer Sharif El-Gamal, Muslim 9/11 first responders, noted journalist Helen Thomas, and internationally-renowned Muslim scholar Dr. Tariq Ramadan. Mo Amer of the "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy group will provide entertainment.

To make a reservation over the phone or to reserve an entire table for eight people, call 202-742-6454, or e-mail banquet@cair.com [NOTE: No tickets will be sold at the door and CAIR banquets have in past years been sold out events.]

CAIR's day-long training conference will include sessions for public speaking, on-camera interviews, using social media, political engagement, challenging Islamophobia and knowing your legal rights with law enforcement agencies.

See descriptions of the training sessions.

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CAUGHT SPYING ON STUDENT, FBI DEMANDS GPS TRACKER BACK - TOP Kim Zetter, Wired.com, 10/7/10

A California student got a visit from the FBI this week after he found a secret GPS tracking device on his car, and a friend posted photos of it online. The post prompted wide speculation about whether the device was real, whether the young Arab-American was being targeted in a terrorism investigation and what the authorities would do.

It took just 48 hours to find out: The device was real, the student was being secretly tracked and the FBI wanted their expensive device back, the student told Wired.com in an interview Wednesday.

The answer came when half-a-dozen FBI agents and police officers appeared at Yasir Afifi’s apartment complex in Santa Clara, California, on Tuesday demanding he return the device.

Afifi, a 20-year-old U.S.-born citizen, cooperated willingly and said he’d done nothing to merit attention from authorities. Comments the agents made during their visit suggested he’d been under FBI surveillance for three to six months.

An FBI spokesman wouldn’t acknowledge that the device belonged to the agency or that agents appeared at Afifi’s house. . .

Afifi’s attorney, who works for the civil liberties-focused Council on American-Islamic Relations, said this kind of tracking is more egregious than the kind her office usually sees.

"The idea that it escalates to this level is unusual," said Zahra Billoo. "We take about one new case each week relating to FBI or law enforcement visits [to clients]. Generally they come to the individual’s house or workplace, and there are issues that arise from that."

However, she said that after learning about Afifi’s experience, other lawyers in her organization told her they knew of two people in Ohio who also recently discovered tracking devices on their vehicles. (More)

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ANGLE: MUSLIM LAW TAKING HOLD IN PARTS OF US - TOP Cristina Silva, Associated Press, 10/7/10

LAS VEGAS — U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle told a crowd of supporters that the country needs to address a "militant terrorist situation" that has allowed Islamic religious law to take hold in some American cities. . .

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based advocacy group, called Angle's statements "bizarre."

"This seems to be an example of incoherent bigotry. It is pretty clear that she has something against Islam and Muslims but she is so incoherent you don't know what she stands for," Hooper said. "The proper response would have been, 'American Muslims are citizens like anyone else. They are free to practice their faith,' not seeming to agree that Muslims are somehow seeking to take over." (More)

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MOSQUE CONTROVERSY HEATS UP IN NEW COURT MOTIONS - TOP Nick Beres, News Channel 5, 10/7/10

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. - The controversy over construction of a new mosque in Rutherford County is heating up. This comes in the wake of a strongly-worded court filing this week that is part of the ongoing lawsuit by opponents of the mosque. They want an injunction to stop construction.

Opponents of the mosque argue, among other things, that the county did not legally approve plans for the mosque. County officials strong dispute that.

Joe Brandon, the attorney for opponents of the mosque, wrote in the motion: "The local Rutherford county government is engaging in willful obstruction of justice." And he asks: If Osama bin Laden made application, would they have felt led then to look into what was being proposed?"

"When you get into where Osama bin Laden gets mentioned, I think it shows you have no argument," said NewsChannel 5 legal analyst Jim Todd. (More)

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BREAKING: Rights Groups Dismiss Probe of Iman's Death

(CAIR-MI) Report: FBI's Paying For Bad Terrorism Information

CO: Radio Host Calls for Terror Attack on NY Islamic Center

CAIR-NY Seeks Federal Charges for Hate Attacks on Muslim Student

(NEW YORK, NY, 10/12/2010) --

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called for federal hate crime charges to be brought against four teenagers who allegedly taunted and attacked a Muslim classmate because of his faith. The Muslim student at Markham Intermediate School says he was called a "terrorist," punched and spat on by the alleged attackers over a period of many months. The four alleged attackers were charged Sunday with assault and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. SEE: Terrorized for Being a Muslim Four Staten Island Teens Charged in Muslim Hate Crime Muslim Teen Beaten, Called a 'Terrorist' by Classmates

"We urge federal authorities to intervene in this case and to bring appropriate hate crime charges," said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Aliya Latif. "The growing phenomenon of Islamophobia in our society must be addressed at the national level." On Saturday, CAIR's national headquarters announced the launch of a department devoted to addressing the alarming rise of Islamophobic sentiment in American society. The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization says anti-Islam rhetoric often leads to physical attacks on American Muslims or their institutions.

SEE: CAIR Launches Islamophobia Dept. at Sold-Out Banquet

CAIR also recently launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign designed to challenge growing Islamophobia in America.

SEE: American Muslims Speak Out: 9/11 Happened to Us All

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: South Carolina Mosque Defaced with Bacon Muslim civil rights group asks FBI to probe bias motive

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/2010) --

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for the defacement of a South Carolina mosque with bacon, a food prohibited to Muslims.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that someone defaced the Florence Islamic Center being renovated in Florence, S.C., on Sunday between morning and noon prayers by using slices of bacon to spell out the words "PIG CHUMP" on the walkway of the mosque. The mosque is currently used for Friday prayers. CAIR is in touch with local police and mosque officials about the incident.

SEE: S.C. Muslims Believe They're Victims of a Hate Crime

[NOTE: Muslims are prohibited from eating pork products and such items are frequently used by anti-Muslim bigots as a means to cause the maximum offense.]

This is reportedly the second time that someone has vandalized the mosque. Earlier this year, vandals broke windows in the facility. Local police say they will step up patrols near the mosque and are investigating a possible bias motive for the latest incident.

"We urge the FBI to add this incident to the growing list of possible bias-motivated attacks on American Muslims and their institutions," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

He noted that Mosques in California, Tennessee, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, and Florida have faced vocal opposition or have been targeted by hate incidents in recent months.

SEE: Muslim Group Urges No Plea Deals for Suspects in Mosque Incident U.S. Monitoring 11 Sites for Possible Discrimination Against Muslims

Hate packages containing pork were recently sent to American mosques.

SEE: Hate Packages Sent to U.S. Mosques

On Saturday, CAIR's national headquarters announced the launch of a department devoted to addressing the alarming rise of Islamophobic sentiment in American society. CAIR says anti-Islam rhetoric often leads to physical attacks on American Muslims or their institutions.

SEE: CAIR Launches Islamophobia Dept. at Sold-Out Banquet

Hooper said CAIR recently launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign designed to challenge growing Islamophobia in America.

SEE: American Muslims Speak Out: 9/11 Happened to Us All

CAIR also launched a "Learn, Don't Burn" educational initiative in response to an extremist Gainesville, Fla., church's now-canceled plan to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's holy text, on September 11.

SEE: CAIR Responds to Fla. Book Burning with Educational Campaign

American Muslim individuals and institutions are being urged to review advice on security procedures contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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