Islamophobia in the US: Fraud Speakers, Denial of Mosque Constructions, NYPD/CIA Spying on Muslims, November 22, 2011

Islamophobia in the US:
Fraud Speakers, Denial of Mosque Constructions, NYPD/CIA Spying on Muslims

November 22, 2011

CAIR-St. Louis: Mayor's Anti-Islam Speaker a 'Fraud' [T]he St. Louis chapter of [CAIR], on Monday distributed an open letter to Reimal, expressing the chapter's "deep concern" about the choice of Saleem. . .a "well-known hate preacher, an Islamophobe who takes every opportunity to demonize Islam and Muslims, and. . .a known fraud." CAIR Files Multiple-State Requests About Anti-Muslim Trainings CAIR-NY: Muslim Groups Rally in NYC Against NYPD Spying

Judge: FBI Must Pay Penalty to Calif. Muslims

CAIR-LA Welcomes DOJ Probe Into City's Denial of Mosque Rebuilding City council denied mosque's application despite recommended approval by planning commission

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 11/18/11) -- The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) civil rights investigation of a decision last year by the City of Lomita to deny a local mosque's application to rebuild its facility.

According to media reports, "Federal investigators are interviewing 13 past and present members of the Planning Commission, City Council and other officials this week."

CAIR-LA: Feds Launch Civil Rights Probe Into Rejection of Lomita Mosque Expansion (Daily Breeze)

In March 2010, the Lomita City Council considered the Islamic Center of South Bay's application to build a new prayer space and make other substantial improvements to its property, which currently consists of several disjoined small buildings used as prayer space and classrooms for a weekend school.

The city council denied the mosque's application, despite a recommended approval by the city's planning commission, public safety and traffic commission and city planning staff. That denial prompted accusations of anti-Muslim bias.

SEE: Lomita Rejects Plan to Expand South Bay Islamic Center (LA Times)

In denying the request, some of the council members also indicated potential loss of tax revenue if re-zoning to low-density residential -- a requirement for the mosque to rebuild its facilities -- took place. Some of the parcels the mosque had purchased were re-zoned for commercial use after 1989. The mosque, which was established in 1985 prior to the re-zoning, had worked diligently with the city's staff on the application and to allay any concerns about the improvements.

SEE: Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Lomita City Council

"From day one, the mosque and its leadership have worked with the city to achieve desperately needed but neighbor-friendly improvements to the mosque's facilities," said Ameena Mirza Qazi, CAIR-LA deputy executive director and the attorney for the mosque. "We are grateful that the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the matter, because this community continues to be deprived of facilities that meet its religious needs."

"The mosque community is a valuable part of the City of Lomita," said the mosque's founding member Dr. Iraj Ershaghi. "We remain hopeful that the city council will reconsider its decision and approve our application, and keep our neighborhoods a welcoming place for everyone."

Qazi also pointed to the recent anti-Muslim climate -- promoted by a cottage industry of Islamophobes -- which has provoked opposition to mosque construction or expansion nationwide.

SEE: Islam: Not in My Backyard? (NY Times) Temecula City Council Denies Mosque Appeal CNN Documentary: Muslims Next Door

A number of recent reports have documented the disturbing growth and promotion of Islamophobia in American society.

CAIR: Same Hate, New Target Center for American Progress: Fear, Inc. Southern Poverty Law Center: Jihad Against Islam People for the American Way: The Right-Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism

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.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel

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CAIR: NY Muslims to Rally, Pray for End to NYPD/CIA Spying

(NEW YORK, NY, 11/17/11) --

On Friday, November 18, a coalition of more than 50 religious, social justice and community organizations will rally and hold Friday (Jummah) prayers from 12-4p.m. in Foley Square to protest the religious and ethnic profiling of Muslim communities by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other law enforcement agencies.

SEE: NYPD Spying on Muslims Likened to Spying on Free Speech Advocates

WHAT: Rally & Friday Prayer to Stop NYPD/CIA Spying on Muslim Communities WHEN: Friday, November 18, Noon - 4 p.m. WHERE: Foley Square, Worth St. between Lafayette & Centre St. CONTACT: CAIR-NY Civil Rights Manager Cyrus McGoldrick, call/text: 203-206-6883, 212-870-2002, E-Mail: cmcgoldrick@cair.com; DRUM Legal & Policy Director Fahd Ahmed, call: 940-391-2660, E-mail: fahd@drumnyc.org; AAANY Executive Director Linda Sarsour, call: 917-306-3323, e-mail: linda@arabamericanny.org

The rally and prayer seeks:

1) An immediate end to all racial, ethnic and religious profiling. 2) The dismantlement and disclosure of all surveillance operations. 3) An independent commission to investigate all NYPD, CIA and FBI operations against the Muslim community. 4) The immediate protection of the right to freedom of worship, free speech, and free association. 5) The equal protection under the law of Muslims and all people of New York.

Speakers will include elected officials, community and religious leaders, CUNY college students and affected New Yorkers, and musical and poetic performers.

SEE: Facebook Event for Rally & Friday Prayer

An ongoing investigation by the Associated Press revealed that undercover NYPD officers in a so-called "Demographics Unit" targeted Muslim communities and houses of worship with the assistance of individuals linked to the CIA. NYPD officials initially denied the Demographics Unit existed, despite the AP's publication of an NYPD presentation that described the mission and makeup of the unit.

AP: NYPD Demographics Unit Presentation

Recent reports indicate that the NYPD even spied on Muslim leaders who figured prominently in community outreach efforts, and infiltrated Muslim student groups not suspected of committing any crime.

SEE: NYPD Even Spied on the Muslim Leaders Who Were Helping Them SEE: NYPD Spying on Muslim College Students Now

Rally & Friday Prayer sponsored by:

Majlis Ash-Shura of Metropolitan New York, Arab Muslim American Federation, Council on American Islamic Relations -- New York (CAIR-NY), Muslim American Society (MAS-NY), Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Al-Awda NY: Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Social Justice Task Force of Muslim Alliance in North America, ICNA New York, Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY), Muslim Defense Committee - National Lawyers Guild - NYC, Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC), Muslim Consultative Network (MCN)

Endorsed by:

International Action Center, Direct Action Working Group and Immigrant Working Group of Occupy Wall Street, United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), May 1 Workers & Immigrant Rights Coalition, BAYAN USA, Pakistan USA Freedom Forum, Project SALAM, Honduras USA Resistencia, SI Solidarity Iran, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, CLEAR @ CUNY Law, Veterans for Peace - Chapter 34 NYC, NY Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Pakistan Solidarity Network, Brooklyn For Peace, Jews Against Islamophobia, Jews Say No!, Brooklyn Congregations United, Jewish Voices for Peace NY, Women Against Islamophobia & Racism, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Church St. Paul and St. Andrew, All Souls Church, Labor for Palestine and New York City Labor Against the War, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, South Asia Solidarity Initiative, Turning Point for Women & Families, International League of Peoples Struggle LOC, Malcolm X Museum, and others.

CONTACT:

CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714-851-4851, E-Mail: info@losangeles.cair.com; 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

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Hadith: Glorifying God Causes Sins to Fall Away

CAIR: New Art Exhibit Highlights Muslim Identity in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University will host a reception for the first annual "Art in the Heartland" exhibit. . .a new series of productions that will celebrate the arts and highlight the contributions and creativity of Oklahoma Muslims. CAIR: Islam in America -- en Español [T]he Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) South Florida Chapter's "CAIR en Español" project aims to provide advocacy services for Latino Muslims in pursuit of their civil liberties. Video: TSA Officer Fired Over Anti-Muslim Facebook Posts (CAIR) "It made me sick, it's chilling," said Ahmed Rehab of [CAIR]. Muslim-American leaders were quick to vilify Egan, who also took off after gays, Hispanics and blacks, including crude racial descriptions of President Barack Obama, the first lady and the attorney general, whom he said should "die tasting your own blood." Fake Terror Plots, Paid Informants: Tactics of FBI 'Entrapment' Critics say bureau is running a sting operation across America, targeting vulnerable people by luring them into fake terror plots. Tenn. Rep. Calls Allah 'False God,' Warns of Muslim 'Population Jihad'

Video: Call for Purging Muslims from Military Met with Standing Ovation Editorial: GOP Silence on Womick Will Speak Volumes Pat Robertson Solves Viewer's Muslim-Chess-Set Problem ROBERTSON: Well, I mean, if it's the Crusade, the Crusaders are killing the Muslims. [laughs] So what's the big deal?

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