Opinion Editorials, March 2011

 Islamophobia in the US, March 25, 2011:

War of Words over NJ Mosque

Hadith: Establish Justice Among the People

 Idaho GOP Hosts Islamophobe CAIR-NJ: War of Words Over Planned Mosque

CAIR-NJ Rep Speaks on Islamophobia, Civic Engagement

Video: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Fires at Texas Mosque

CAIR-LA: Peace Coalition Demands an Apology from Councilwoman

MN: Daughter of Malcolm X Speaks at CAIR Gala in Minneapolis

CAIR-OK Launches Anti-Sharia Bill Campaign

Video: Campaign Launched Against Anti-Sharia Bill (CAIR)

Illinois Muslim Pressured to Become Informant (AP)

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HADITH OF THE DAY: ESTABLISH JUSTICE AMONG THE PEOPLE - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "For every day on which the sun rises, there is a (reward) for the one who establishes justice among people."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 870

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ISLAMOPHOBE HOSTED AT IDAHO GOP DINNER - TOP Nick Rotunno, Coeur d'Alene Press, 3/21/11

The governor auctioned off items, legislators mingled with constituents, and a Christian pastor - born in Iran but now a U.S. citizen - warned of insidious Islamic incursion.

Close to 450 guests attended the Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday night at The Coeur d'Alene Resort convention center. Hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, the event brought together many of the state's brightest political stars, including Idaho GOP Chair Norm Semanko, U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and Idaho Gov. Butch Otter.

Shahram Hadian was the night's guest speaker. He lived in Iran until he was seven years old, then immigrated to the United States with his Muslim family, fleeing an oppressive Islamic government. Twelve years ago, Hadian said, he "gave his life to Jesus" and converted to Christianity.

"My family disowned me for a while," he said.

Currently a pastor in western Washington, he ran for the state legislature in last year's election.

According to Hadian, Islam is not a religion of peace. A large number of Muslims, led by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, are bent on world domination, he said. (More)

----- CAIR-NJ: WAR OF WORDS OVER PLANNED MOSQUE - TOP Eugene Paik, The Star-Ledger, 3/20/11

At nearly 15,500 square feet and a parking lot, a vacant banquet hall in Bridgewater offers everything a group of Somerset County Muslims are looking for in a house of worship.

Their vision for the 7.6-acre property, however, is everything neighboring residents fear. In just a few months, discussions to transform the Redwood Inn into Bridgewater's first mosque have erupted into a war of words between neighbors and local Sunni Muslims.

Residents near the Mountain Top Road building say they fear the proposed mosque, called alFalah Center, will lead to a crush of traffic and a surge in accidents on the community's narrow roads. Muslims, meanwhile, say the resistance is rooted in bigotry.

It's a struggle that's drawn heated debate and vitriolic remarks, and the tension reached a fever pitch last week when the township council approved an ordinance that would restrict houses of worship, as well as country clubs and schools, to major roads.

That means mosque planners must now ask Bridgewater's zoning board for an exception to those rules or find a new site. ...

A mosque proposed in Paramus has also drawn some criticism, but the reaction against the Bridgewater mosque is the most intense right now in New Jersey, said James Yee, who oversees the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"To me, these zoning changes make it sound like, 'You can ride the bus, but you can't ride in front,'" said Yee, a Muslim and former U.S. Army chaplain who was accused of espionage in 2004 -- charges that have been dropped. (More) SEE ALSO:

CAIR-NJ ADDRESSES LOCAL COMMUNITY ON ISLAMOPHOBIA, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - TOP

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 3/20/11) - A representative of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) Friday gave a presentation on Islamophobia and civic engagement at the Muslim Center of Middlesex County (MCMC) in Piscataway, N.J.

CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Yee, invited as a guest speaker for MCMC's weekly lecture series, addressed first the growing climate of fear and hostility toward Islam and Muslims. Yee followed with a discussion on how civic engagement can help combat the many negative stereotypes people have of Islam and Muslims.

Attending community members received CAIR's "Challenging Islamophobia Pocket Guide."

"Giving a deeper understanding of the post-9/11 challenges facing American Muslims and encouraging more civic engagement help build a more resilient community," said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Yee.

CAIR-NJ commends the Muslim Center of Middlesex County for hosting programs that encourage its members towards proactive community involvement.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties group. 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-NJ Executive Director James Yee, 908-938-5990, E-Mail: jyee@cair.com

----- VIDEO: CAIR ASKS FBI TO PROBE FIRES AT TEXAS MOSQUE - TOP

Watch the video. Background: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Bias Motive for Texas Mosque Fires

(HOUSTON, TEXAS, 3/18/11) --- The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) today called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for two fires at a Houston-area mosque.

Arson investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire at a mosque in the Clear Lake area of Houston. The fire is the second blaze at the same facility in the past week.

Video: Fire Erupts at Mosque in Clear Lake Area 2nd Fire at Mosque Within One Week

"Because of the two fires within one week and the rising level of anti-Muslim sentiment in our society, it would only be prudent to investigate a possible bias motive in this case," said CAIR-Texas Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll.

Carroll noted that a man recently pleaded guilty to an arson attack on an Arlington, Texas, mosque.

SEE: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime in Connection with Mosque Arson

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-Texas Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 832-549-1042, 713-838-2247, E-Mail: mcarroll@cair.com; 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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CAIR-LA: VILLA PARK PEACE COALITION DEMANDS AN APOLOGY FROM COUNCILWOMAN PAULY - TOP

(ANAHEIM, CA, 3/18/11) -- The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) supports the efforts of Villa Park Peace Coalition in demanding a retraction and an apology from Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly who threatened violence against Muslims at a Yorba Linda protest rally last month. The coalition is spearheaded by Nadia Hassan, daughter of a U.S. Marine and Villa Park resident.

In a letter sent this week, members of the coalition stated in part:

"We were disturbed to learn of your anti-American comments, captured by video on Feb 13, 2011 in Yorba Linda, CA, which now has all of us feeling unsafe as we are concerned for the safety of our family members and our children who frequent the local schools...

"Your speech incited hate and undermined the very essence of American values in which we pride ourselves. In Villa Park, we have always supported religious pluralism as we have always enjoyed a peaceful co-existence amongst our constituents. On Feb 13, you stated that, "I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise." Ms. Pauly, is your statement a threat or is it a fact, and as Americans, should we be concerned for the lives of our fellow Americans? And were the US Marines aware of this?"

The letter demanded a public retraction of the Councilwoman's statement, "I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise." The Councilwoman had pointed to the Yorba Linda Community Center, where the Muslim charity event was held, when she made the statement.

The letter also demanded that Pauly make a public apology and get to know her Muslim constituents.

SEE: Letter to Councilwoman Deborah Pauly

Hassan, one of the signatories to the letter, said:

"As an American and daughter of a veteran who faithfully served this country with great honor in the Korean War, I was extremely disturbed to learn that my hometown Council Member, Deborah Pauly, publicly made hate statements last month against a group of American Muslims while she rallied the protesters to chant anti-American slogans at innocent men, women and children. As an elected official, she has committed a great disservice to her colleagues and the respectable office of a Villa Park council member. She has disgraced our city, our country and our United States Marines. The city of Villa Park has always been known as "the hidden jewel" of Orange County but now the media is quick to label it as "the hidden hatred," as a result of her remarks. She has to know that we will not stand for this."

CAIR-LA asks community members and people of conscience to attend the Villa Park City Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. to express solidarity with the Villa Park Peace Coalition and its demands. People are encouraged to arrive early.

SEE: Protest of an American Muslim Relief Group's Fundraiser Advocated Hate and Violence ALSO SEE: A Local GOP No Longer in Lock Step

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: Nadia Hassan, nhassan1@hotmail.com; CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847, info@losangeles.cair.com

----- DAUGHTER OF MALCOLM X SPEAKS AT CAIR GALA IN MINNEAPOLIS - TOP Erica Deanes, Twin Cities Daily Planet, 3/19/11 Ambassador Attallah Shabazz was the keynote speaker for the fourth annual gala of the Minnesota Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR.) Shabazz,is the eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She is a writer and producer and has been appointed as Ambassador-at-Large by the prime minister of Belize.

CAIR welcomed Shabazz to this year's gala (held February 26 in Minneapolis), which was themed, "Carrying the Legacy: Advancing With Confidence." Tickets for the event were sold to the general public, and more than 200 people attended.

Shabazz spoke about her views on racial and religious diversity in America. "Imagine your parents or grandparents being discriminated against just for something as simple as praying, wearing what you need to wear, facing the east, or bowing," Shabazz said. "You had to know the truth (that discrimination was wrong), so that you know its value. So that you don't mind taking the risk of standing up for something." (More)

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CAIR-OK LAUNCHES ANTI-SHARIA BILL CAMPAIGN- TOP Mark Schlachtenhaufen, Edmond Sun, 3/18/11

EDMOND -- A Muslim civil rights organization is urging Oklahomans to call their state lawmakers and urge them to vote against legislation related to State Question 755.

Last fall, 695,650 voters, 70 percent of the total, cast votes for SQ 755, which amends the state Constitution to forbid judges from considering Islamic principles or international law when deciding a case.

After the election, Muneer Awad, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, acting in his capacity as an individual, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the amendment. (More)

SEE ALSO:

VIDEO: CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AGAINST ANTI-SHARIA LAW BILL (CAIR) - TOP Marika Lorraine, KFOR, 3/21/11 OKLAHOMA CITY -- Last year Oklahoma voters passed a State Question that blocked any use of Islamic or Sharia law in Oklahoma courts. State Question 755 was ruled unconstitutional and unnecessary by the US District Court.

But now a new effort to prevent state courts in Oklahoma from using foreign law is underway and this time, an effort is forming to fight it.

Some members of Oklahoma City's Muslim community say they are being targeted unfairly by a bill now going through our state legislature. ...

The Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is starting a campaign to fight the bill before it gets any further.

CAIR's Executive Director, Muneer Awad, says, "In an attempt to target Islam without using the wording of the unconstitutional SQ 755, Kern's bill will actually target all religions. HB 1552 will violate our constitutional rights to create private contracts and will deny people the use of Jewish Law, Catholic Law, or any other religious law, while also jeopardizing international business contracts that include forms of arbitration, choice of law clauses, or foreign law clauses. Other states have already rejected this type of legislation as unnecessary, harmful to the business community and unconstitutional."

There will be town meetings held soon; the call-in and write-in effort to senators is already underway.

The group mailed letters of support to the few lawmakers in the Oklahoma House who did not vote for the bill. (More)

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ILLINOIS MUSLIM PRESSURED TO BECOME INFORMANT- TOP John Curran, Associated Press, 3/21/11

... The agents offered to get him off the list if he would become an undercover informant at mosques, Mashal said. He refused and said he feels he was being blackmailed. (More)

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