News, February 2014

CAIR-WA to Seek FBI Probe of Bias Incidents Targeting Mosque

(SEATTLE, WA, 2/22/2014) –

On Monday, February 24, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) will hold a news conference to ask the FBI to investigate apparently bias-motivated incidents targeting a mosque in that state.

Early this morning, worshipers found anti-Muslim hate rhetoric scrawled on books left in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of Bothell, in Bothell, Wash. This was the third recent incident targeting the mosque. On two previous occasions, signs for the house of worship were burned and vandalized.

PHOTO: Sample of Hate Rhetoric Left at Mosque WHAT: CAIR-WA to Call for FBI Probe of Hate Incidents at Bothell Mosque WHEN: Monday, February 24, 11:30 a.m. (Pacific) WHERE: Islamic Center of Bothell, 10634 E Riverside Dr., Suite 200, Bothell, WA 98011 CONTACT: CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-931-3655, abukhari@cair.com

"The apparent hate motive behind these incidents targeting a house of worship must be investigated by the FBI and state authorities," said CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari.

Bukhari noted that CAIR's Sacramento Valley chapter recently called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism of a California mosque as a possible hate crime.

Video: CAIR-SV Rep Says Vandalized Mosque Seeks to Educate Others

In December, CAIR urged a hate crime probe of graffiti sprayed on the Islamic Society of Appalachian Region near Princeton, W.Va. The graffiti spray-painted on the mosque and its sign made obscene references to "Allah," the Arabic word for God. Mosque members say the house of worship was similarly targeted following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Video: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe W. Virginia Mosque Vandalism as Hate Crime

CAIR recently welcomed an arrest in the case of a Joplin, Mo., mosque targeted by arson in 2012.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Arrest of Missouri Mosque Arson Suspect

In response to previous attacks on American mosques, CAIR published a booklet called "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" designed to be used by mosque officials, Muslim school administrators and other community leaders and activists who seek to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities to bias-motivated attacks.

SEE: CAIR Distributes New Mosque Safety Guidelines

To request a free e-copy of CAIR's "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," click HERE.

CAIR recently published a major report, "Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States," which identifies 37 organizations dedicated to promoting the type of anti-Islam prejudice that can lead to bias-motivated incidents targeting American Muslims.

SEE: Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States

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-WA to Seek FBI Probe of Bias Incidents Targeting Mosque

(SEATTLE, WA, 2/22/2014) –

On Monday, February 24, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) will hold a news conference to ask the FBI to investigate apparently bias-motivated incidents targeting a mosque in that state.

Early this morning, worshipers found anti-Muslim hate rhetoric scrawled on books left in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of Bothell, in Bothell, Wash. This was the third recent incident targeting the mosque. On two previous occasions, signs for the house of worship were burned and vandalized.

PHOTO: Sample of Hate Rhetoric Left at Mosque

WHAT: CAIR-WA to Call for FBI Probe of Hate Incidents at Bothell Mosque
WHEN: Monday, February 24, 11:30 a.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: Islamic Center of Bothell, 10634 E Riverside Dr., Suite 200, Bothell, WA 98011
CONTACT: CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-931-3655, abukhari@cair.com

"The apparent hate motive behind these incidents targeting a house of worship must be investigated by the FBI and state authorities," said CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari.

Bukhari noted that CAIR's Sacramento Valley chapter recently called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism of a California mosque as a possible hate crime.

Video: CAIR-SV Rep Says Vandalized Mosque Seeks to Educate Others

In December, CAIR urged a hate crime probe of graffiti sprayed on the Islamic Society of Appalachian Region near Princeton, W.Va. The graffiti spray-painted on the mosque and its sign made obscene references to "Allah," the Arabic word for God. Mosque members say the house of worship was similarly targeted following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Video: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe W. Virginia Mosque Vandalism as Hate Crime

CAIR recently welcomed an arrest in the case of a Joplin, Mo., mosque targeted by arson in 2012.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Arrest of Missouri Mosque Arson Suspect

In response to previous attacks on American mosques, CAIR published a booklet called "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" designed to be used by mosque officials, Muslim school administrators and other community leaders and activists who seek to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities to bias-motivated attacks.

SEE: CAIR Distributes New Mosque Safety Guidelines

To request a free e-copy of CAIR's "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," click HERE.

CAIR recently published a major report, "Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States," which identifies 37 organizations dedicated to promoting the type of anti-Islam prejudice that can lead to bias-motivated incidents targeting American Muslims.

SEE: Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States

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.

==================

WATCH: CAIR Reps Discuss New Digital Resource 'Islam for Journalists'

Hate Group Pushes New Anti-Islam Textbook Bill Introduced in Tennessee 

A fight over content in Tennessee's social studies textbooks is part of an emerging national effort by groups who believe God commands Christians to support the nation of Israel and that Islamic radicals are the biggest problem in America. . . Lisa Moore of Christiana and a member of ACT! for America wrote a guest column about the issue. . ."If you're OK with your children/grandchildren being taught extreme Islamic Bias and indoctrination. . .ignore the fact that your children's minds are being stolen right out from under your nose and it is all indeed part of the grand design to bring this country and everything it stands for to its knees." Moore is a plaintiff in a lawsuit that seeks to stop construction of the Murfreesboro Islamic Center. 

CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel'

The Clear Anti-Muslim Bias Behind Anti-Shariah Laws (RNS) These laws, which have passed in seven states, are the brainchild of anti-Muslim activists bent on spreading the illusory fear that Islamic laws and customs (also known as Shariah) are taking over American courts.  MI: Berrien County Board Criticized for Muslim Invocation Ray Kirkus of New Buffalo questioned why an Islamic prayer was allowed to open the meeting.

CAIR: Ruling on NYPD Muslim Spying is Reminiscent of Justification for Japanese American Internment

"The idea that the only harm was that you found out you are being spied on is ridiculously absurd logic," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in an interview with Common Dreams. "When a judge says it's okay for a government to do any level of spying on a religious community, that has a chilling effect."

CAIR-MI: St. Clair County Jail Implements New Policy for Halal Diets A lawsuit filed last year by the Council on American-Islamic Relations claimed that policy was unconstitutional. The case concerned Aaron Utley, a Muslim man and a former inmate at the jail, who was denied a Halal diet – in keeping with Islamic tradition – after failing a test on Islam. But "the government may not test knowledge of faith," said Lena Masri, a staff attorney for the Michigan Chapter of CAIR, who added that the religious tests were so difficult that most inmates were failing them. The tests have now been eliminated.

CAIR: Virginia Sheriff Meets with CAIR Over Anti-Muslim Training  Jenkins met Friday with Corey Saylor of the D.C.-based Council on American–Islamic relations and Dr. Nabeel Babar, director of the Islamic Center of Culpeper, both of whom asked the sheriff to cancel the training sessions scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Germanna Community College's Daniel Technology Center. The sessions will be led by former FBI agent John Guandolo, whom the CAIR called a "notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist" in a release earlier this week.

Background: CAIR Seeks Withdrawal of Va. State Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training

MA: Student at Mansfield's Al-Noor Academy Knows Her Math

Dina Atia, an eighth-grader at Al-Noor Academy in Mansfield, received a certificate from the Mathematical Association of America for scoring in the top 5 percent nationwide in its American Mathematics Contest.

===================

CAIR: Chicago Mosque, Churches Vandalized with Hate Messages

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, D.C., followed the news Wednesday and posted the information online. "It sounds like you have an equal opportunity bigot," Hooper said. "It happens all too often. It's not just mosques, as we see in this incidence."

CAIR-MN: Comatose Pakistani Exchange Student Won't Be Deported

The family contacted an immigration attorney, and also received help from the Pakistani Consulate in Chicago and organizations such as the Council on American Islamic Relations.

CAIR-SFBA: Privacy Groups Urge Oakland City Council to Scrap DAC

A long list of privacy groups sent two letters this week to council members citing the surveillance hub's potential to infringe of citizen's rights, its unfunded costs and an incomplete privacy policy, not yet vetted by the public. Providing Accommodations that Benefit Muslim Customers, Employees, Students, or Clients (Wash. Post) Decisions to grant such accommodations should not turn on which religion motivated the request for the accommodation.

Meet Fox's New Anti-Muslim 'National Security Analyst'

CAIR ACTION ALERT #720:

Ask Va. Sheriff to Drop Trainer Who Claims CIA Director is Secret Muslim Trainer says mosques have 'no right to exist' and that Muslims are commanded to 'hate and despise Jews and Christians'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/20/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Virginia Muslims and all those concerned about the proliferation of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry in our society to contact the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office and ask that it drop a three- day training program on "Jihadi Networks in America" that will be offered next week by John Guandolo, a notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist.

[NOTE: CAIR and representatives of the local Muslim community have asked to meet with the sheriff to discuss Guandolo's anti-Muslim bigotry, but have received no response. We have been informed that officers from Arlington, Va., may also attend the training. The Virginia State Police have confirmed that "no personnel from the Virginia State Police will be in attendance of this training."]

In an article published yesterday by Virginia's Free Lance-Star, an official with the Southern Poverty Law Center -- an organization that monitors hate groups -- said:

"Guandolo, who resigned from the FBI ahead of a misconduct investigation, has made a career out of spreading anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. Most recently, he claimed that CIA director John Brennan is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudis. It's hard to believe that Culpeper County Sheriff's Office would knowingly get involved with such a disreputable figure."

SEE: Culpeper Sheriff Says Criticism Won't Stop Anti-Muslim Seminar (AP)

Take action: (As always, be polite and respectful. Hostile comments can and will be used to harm the image of the Muslim community.)

Contact Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins to express your concerns about officers in his department being trained by a notorious Islamophobe and conspiracy theorist who claims the CIA director is a secret Muslim and that American Muslims should not be granted constitutional rights. [You can sign our click-and-send letter.]

Culpeper County Sheriff's Facebook Page

Background on John Guandolo's anti-Muslim bigotry:

Guandolo detailed his bizarre claim about the CIA director's alleged conversion to Islam in an interview with another notorious Islamophobe, Robert Spencer.

He also asserts that American Muslims "do not have a First Amendment right to do anything," refers to America's mosques and Islamic centers as "barracks" and falsely claims "it is a permanent command in Islam for Muslims to hate and despise Jews and Christians." 

Additionally, an article published by the Tennessean on February 15, 2012, reports Guandolo's belief that mosques are "front organizations for the Muslim Brotherhood with no right to exist."

SEE: US Military School Taught Soldiers to Wage "Total War" Against Islam

During a 2012 anti-Muslim training in Tennessee, Guandolo was videoed shoving a local news camera that attempted to record the training. He is linked to one of nation's the most vicious anti-Muslim groups, ACT! for America.

SEE: ACT! for America to Launch Anti-Muslim Website for Law Enforcement CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel'

Following calls for reform by CAIR and other groups following revelations of apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide, the Obama administration removed biased and inaccurate materials about Islam from federal trainings.

An 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security," details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.

Washington Monthly magazine also published a major investigative article showing similar anti-Islam attitudes by private trainers of law enforcement agencies.

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-MI: Settlement Eases Process for Muslim Inmates to Receive Religious Diet (Detroit News) The suit challenged the constitutionality of the jail's religious dietary screening process after Aaron Utley, a former inmate, was denied a request for a diet deemed halal, or prepared under Islamic requirements, CAIR-MI said.

The 'Islam is Different' Argument (Washington Post) Our legal system's recent interactions with Muslim claimants have largely followed the same pattern. Our traditional legal rules can function just as well in the coming years, whether as to Muslims or as to others, so long as the legal system subjects Muslims to the same rules under which Christians, Jews and others live.

Laws that Track Islamic Law Rules

FBI: Men Planned Guerilla War Against Federal Agencies During the online conversations they discussed using guerilla war tactics and planned to launch the attacks against the government this month. They specifically targeted several federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

CAIR Seeks Withdrawal of Va. State Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training Muslim civil rights group, community leaders meet with Culpeper County sheriff

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/21/14) --

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to withdraw its accreditation for a three-day training program on "Jihadi Networks in America" that will be offered next week by John Guandolo, a notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist.

CAIR said an article in a local newspaper noted that "the training will count toward credits for the Department of Criminal Justice Services and that deputies need to attend 40 hours a year of training."

CAIR: Va. Anti-Muslim Counter-Terrorism Seminar Still to Take Place

In a letter sent today to DCJS Director Garth Wheeler, CAIR outlined concerns about Guandolo's history of anti-Muslim bigotry, including his bizarre claim that the current CIA director is a secret Muslim, and stated: "We respectfully request that the Department of Criminal Justice Services withdraw its accreditation for this hate-filled training program." Wheeler responded by saying that he would look into the matter.

A similar letter was sent to Mike Harvey, executive director of the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, the agency that actually approved the DCJS accreditation.

"Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice Services should not provide accreditation to an anti-Muslim program any more than it would accredit a presentation by the Ku Klux Klan or other hate groups," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "The Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy should immediately withdraw its DCJS accreditation of this hate-promoting program."

Earlier today, representatives of the Muslim community met with Culpeper County Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins. Muslim participants in the meeting say the sheriff displayed goodwill and proposed several steps that Muslims agree could alleviate their concerns. CAIR and the local Muslim leaders will monitor developments over the few days.

Video: CAIR Asks Muslims to Contact Va. Sheriff Over Islamophobic Trainer

Virginia State Police officers and other state agencies told CAIR that they will not send officers to the training.

Background on John Guandolo's Anti-Muslim Bigotry:

Guandolo detailed his bizarre claim about the CIA director's alleged conversion to Islam in an interview with another notorious Islamophobe, Robert Spencer.

Earlier today, the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that monitors hate groups in America, added details to its concerns about Guandolo.

SEE: Culpeper Sheriff Stands Behind Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Training

Guandolo also asserts that American Muslims "do not have a First Amendment right to do anything," refers to America's mosques and Islamic centers as "barracks" and falsely claims "it is a permanent command in Islam for Muslims to hate and despise Jews and Christians."

Additionally, an article published by the Tennessean on February 15, 2012, reports Guandolo's belief that mosques are "front organizations for the Muslim Brotherhood with no right to exist."

SEE: US Military School Taught Soldiers to Wage "Total War" Against Islam

During a 2012 anti-Muslim training in Tennessee, Guandolo was videoed shoving a local news camera that attempted to record the training. He is linked to one of nation's the most vicious anti-Muslim groups, ACT! for America.

SEE: ACT! for America to Launch Anti-Muslim Website for Law Enforcement CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel'

Following calls for reform by CAIR and other groups following revelations of apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide, the Obama administration removed biased and inaccurate materials about Islam from federal trainings.

An 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security," details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.

Washington Monthly magazine also published a major investigative article showing similar anti-Islam attitudes by private trainers of law enforcement agencies.

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-NJ 'Disappointed' at Dismissal of Suit Against NYPD's Muslim Spying CAIR-New Jersey today expressed its disappointment with the decision of a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against the NYPD for widespread spying on law-abiding Muslims in that state.

CAIR Good News Alert #721:

CAIR-MI Welcomes Settlement of Suit Over Religious 'Test' for Inmates' Halal Meals

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 2/20/2014) --

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today welcomed the settlement of a lawsuit against the St. Clair County Sheriff to modify the religious dietary screening process at the county jail.

The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of the jail's religious dietary screening process after Aaron Utley, a former inmate at the jail, was denied a halal (Islamically permissible) diet request.

[NOTE: Guidelines for halal food are similar to, but less restrictive than kosher practices.]

The policy required inmates of different faith backgrounds, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, to pass a detailed test written by the jail that judged their knowledge of scripture in order to receive a religious diet. Utley was denied a halal food diet after receiving a "failing" grade on the Islam "test."

CAIR-MI: Consent Decree and Settlement

The new policy that went into effect today eliminates the religious "test" and requires the jail to instead allow inmates requesting a religious diet to provide letters attesting to their faith by members of clergy and offer other evidence supporting the sincerity of their religious beliefs. It also allows the inmates an opportunity to explain the sincerity of their belief in their own words.

"We welcome the jail's decision to modify the religious dietary screening policy to one that does not violate the constitutional rights of inmates of all faith backgrounds requesting a religious diet," said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri.

Shereef Akeel, Esq. of Akeel and Valentine, PLC, is co-counsel on the lawsuit.

CAIR-MI has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of several Muslim inmates against the Michigan Department of Corrections for the denial of an adequate diet during the yearly month-long fast of Ramadan.

The Florida chapter of CAIR recently welcomed a court ruling that kosher meals must be served to Jewish prison inmates and called on the state's Department of Corrections to extend this decision by serving halal food to Muslim inmates. 

CAIR offers an educational booklet, called "A Correctional Institution's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to help correctional officers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.

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-MI: Settlement Eases Process for Muslim Inmates to Receive Religious Diet (Detroit News) The suit challenged the constitutionality of the jail's religious dietary screening process after Aaron Utley, a former inmate, was denied a request for a diet deemed halal, or prepared under Islamic requirements, CAIR-MI said.

The 'Islam is Different' Argument (Washington Post) Our legal system's recent interactions with Muslim claimants have largely followed the same pattern. Our traditional legal rules can function just as well in the coming years, whether as to Muslims or as to others, so long as the legal system subjects Muslims to the same rules under which Christians, Jews and others live.

Laws that Track Islamic Law Rules

FBI: Men Planned Guerilla War Against Federal Agencies During the online conversations they discussed using guerilla war tactics and planned to launch the attacks against the government this month. They specifically targeted several federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

CAIR Seeks Withdrawal of Va. State Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training Muslim civil rights group, community leaders meet with Culpeper County sheriff

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/21/14) --

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to withdraw its accreditation for a three-day training program on "Jihadi Networks in America" that will be offered next week by John Guandolo, a notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist.

CAIR said an article in a local newspaper noted that "the training will count toward credits for the Department of Criminal Justice Services and that deputies need to attend 40 hours a year of training."

CAIR: Va. Anti-Muslim Counter-Terrorism Seminar Still to Take Place

In a letter sent today to DCJS Director Garth Wheeler, CAIR outlined concerns about Guandolo's history of anti-Muslim bigotry, including his bizarre claim that the current CIA director is a secret Muslim, and stated: "We respectfully request that the Department of Criminal Justice Services withdraw its accreditation for this hate-filled training program." Wheeler responded by saying that he would look into the matter.

A similar letter was sent to Mike Harvey, executive director of the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, the agency that actually approved the DCJS accreditation.

"Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice Services should not provide accreditation to an anti-Muslim program any more than it would accredit a presentation by the Ku Klux Klan or other hate groups," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "The Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy should immediately withdraw its DCJS accreditation of this hate-promoting program."

Earlier today, representatives of the Muslim community met with Culpeper County Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins. Muslim participants in the meeting say the sheriff displayed goodwill and proposed several steps that Muslims agree could alleviate their concerns. CAIR and the local Muslim leaders will monitor developments over the few days.

Video: CAIR Asks Muslims to Contact Va. Sheriff Over Islamophobic Trainer

Virginia State Police officers and other state agencies told CAIR that they will not send officers to the training.

Background on John Guandolo's Anti-Muslim Bigotry:

Guandolo detailed his bizarre claim about the CIA director's alleged conversion to Islam in an interview with another notorious Islamophobe, Robert Spencer.

Earlier today, the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that monitors hate groups in America, added details to its concerns about Guandolo.

SEE: Culpeper Sheriff Stands Behind Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Training

Guandolo also asserts that American Muslims "do not have a First Amendment right to do anything," refers to America's mosques and Islamic centers as "barracks" and falsely claims "it is a permanent command in Islam for Muslims to hate and despise Jews and Christians."

Additionally, an article published by the Tennessean on February 15, 2012, reports Guandolo's belief that mosques are "front organizations for the Muslim Brotherhood with no right to exist."

SEE: US Military School Taught Soldiers to Wage "Total War" Against Islam

During a 2012 anti-Muslim training in Tennessee, Guandolo was videoed shoving a local news camera that attempted to record the training. He is linked to one of nation's the most vicious anti-Muslim groups, ACT! for America.

SEE: ACT! for America to Launch Anti-Muslim Website for Law Enforcement CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel'

Following calls for reform by CAIR and other groups following revelations of apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide, the Obama administration removed biased and inaccurate materials about Islam from federal trainings.

An 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security," details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.

Washington Monthly magazine also published a major investigative article showing similar anti-Islam attitudes by private trainers of law enforcement agencies.

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-NJ 'Disappointed' at Dismissal of Suit Against NYPD's Muslim Spying

CAIR-New Jersey today expressed its disappointment with the decision of a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against the NYPD for widespread spying on law-abiding Muslims in that state.

CAIR Good News Alert #721:

CAIR-MI Welcomes Settlement of Suit Over Religious 'Test' for Inmates' Halal Meals

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 2/20/2014) --

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today welcomed the settlement of a lawsuit against the St. Clair County Sheriff to modify the religious dietary screening process at the county jail.

The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of the jail's religious dietary screening process after Aaron Utley, a former inmate at the jail, was denied a halal (Islamically permissible) diet request.

[NOTE: Guidelines for halal food are similar to, but less restrictive than kosher practices.]

The policy required inmates of different faith backgrounds, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, to pass a detailed test written by the jail that judged their knowledge of scripture in order to receive a religious diet. Utley was denied a halal food diet after receiving a "failing" grade on the Islam "test."

CAIR-MI: Consent Decree and Settlement

The new policy that went into effect today eliminates the religious "test" and requires the jail to instead allow inmates requesting a religious diet to provide letters attesting to their faith by members of clergy and offer other evidence supporting the sincerity of their religious beliefs. It also allows the inmates an opportunity to explain the sincerity of their belief in their own words.

"We welcome the jail's decision to modify the religious dietary screening policy to one that does not violate the constitutional rights of inmates of all faith backgrounds requesting a religious diet," said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri.

Shereef Akeel, Esq. of Akeel and Valentine, PLC, is co-counsel on the lawsuit.

CAIR-MI has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of several Muslim inmates against the Michigan Department of Corrections for the denial of an adequate diet during the yearly month-long fast of Ramadan.

The Florida chapter of CAIR recently welcomed a court ruling that kosher meals must be served to Jewish prison inmates and called on the state's Department of Corrections to extend this decision by serving halal food to Muslim inmates. 

CAIR offers an educational booklet, called "A Correctional Institution's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to help correctional officers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.

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: Chicago Mosque, Churches Vandalized with Hate Messages

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, D.C., followed the news Wednesday and posted the information online. "It sounds like you have an equal opportunity bigot," Hooper said. "It happens all too often. It's not just mosques, as we see in this incidence."

CAIR-MN: Comatose Pakistani Exchange Student Won't Be Deported The family contacted an immigration attorney, and also received help from the Pakistani Consulate in Chicago and organizations such as the Council on American Islamic Relations.

CAIR-SFBA: Privacy Groups Urge Oakland City Council to Scrap DAC A long list of privacy groups sent two letters this week to council members citing the surveillance hub's potential to infringe of citizen's rights, its unfunded costs and an incomplete privacy policy, not yet vetted by the public. Providing Accommodations that Benefit Muslim Customers, Employees, Students, or Clients (Wash. Post) Decisions to grant such accommodations should not turn on which religion motivated the request for the accommodation.

Meet Fox's New Anti-Muslim 'National Security Analyst'

CAIR ACTION ALERT #720:

Ask Va. Sheriff to Drop Trainer Who Claims CIA Director is Secret Muslim Trainer says mosques have 'no right to exist' and that Muslims are commanded to 'hate and despise Jews and Christians'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/20/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Virginia Muslims and all those concerned about the proliferation of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry in our society to contact the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office and ask that it drop a three- day training program on "Jihadi Networks in America" that will be offered next week by John Guandolo, a notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist.

[NOTE: CAIR and representatives of the local Muslim community have asked to meet with the sheriff to discuss Guandolo's anti-Muslim bigotry, but have received no response. We have been informed that officers from Arlington, Va., may also attend the training. The Virginia State Police have confirmed that "no personnel from the Virginia State Police will be in attendance of this training."]

In an article published yesterday by Virginia's Free Lance-Star, an official with the Southern Poverty Law Center -- an organization that monitors hate groups -- said:

"Guandolo, who resigned from the FBI ahead of a misconduct investigation, has made a career out of spreading anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. Most recently, he claimed that CIA director John Brennan is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudis. It's hard to believe that Culpeper County Sheriff's Office would knowingly get involved with such a disreputable figure."

SEE: Culpeper Sheriff Says Criticism Won't Stop Anti-Muslim Seminar (AP)

Take action: (As always, be polite and respectful. Hostile comments can and will be used to harm the image of the Muslim community.)

Contact Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins to express your concerns about officers in his department being trained by a notorious Islamophobe and conspiracy theorist who claims the CIA director is a secret Muslim and that American Muslims should not be granted constitutional rights. [You can sign our click-and-send letter.]

======================

Hate Messages Sprayed on Illinois Mosque, Church Message of hate was reportedly "F--- your faith." Officials Approve East Idaho Mosque (AP)

New Digital Primer: Islam for Journalists "Islam for Journalists: A Primer on Covering Muslim Communities in the U.S." presents thework of top academic experts on Islam in a form accessible to working journalists. It includes essays by reporters from The New York Times, the Tennessean and other news organizations who have covered local stories involving Muslims in the U.S.

On the Anti-Islam Movement: "In many cases, running an anti-Islam group was a lucrative business. Most leaders earned six-figure salaries, and their nonprofits took in millions of dollars in donations." On CAIR: "There are many groups that address anti-Muslim postures in the U.S. One of the most prominent is the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which acts to protect Muslims' civil rights. It uses its position as a national organization to speak out against anti-Muslim discrimination and prejudice."

Video Profile of CAIR-SFBA Director: 'Justice is a Warm Cupcake' An advocate battles Islamophobia, one cupcake at a time. American Courts Using Foreign Law That Incorporates Religious Law (Washington Post) American courts rightly do consider the law of foreign countries that apply sharia. In doing so, courts don't purport to decide what Islamic law actually requires, or risk taking sides in intradenominational debates (or other debates) within a religion (which would potentially endorse one or another religious view, or discriminate among religious observers). They simply try to identify what law would be applied by the courts of the foreign country, whether that country is Saudi Arabia, Israel or Greece. Texas Students Receive Halal Food Options

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Presidential Quotes on Islam & Muslims John Adams - "The United States of America. . .has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility of Muslims." [1796]

CAIR: Islamophobe Who Claims CIA Director is Secret Muslim to Train Va. Sheriff's Officers

CAIR urged Culpeper Sheriff Scott Jenkins to disinvite Guandolo and distance his department from the "Jihadi Networks in America" program, which is billed as "Advanced Counterterrorism Training." Sheriff Jenkins told Watchdog.org that 20 staffers from his office will attend the seminar Feb. 25-27 at the Culpeper campus of Germanna Community College.

Virginia County Sheriff Hosting Anti-Muslim Training by Disgraced Conspiracy Theorist WATCH: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims CIA Director John Brennan is a Secret Muslim Backgrounder: CAIR Asks Virginia Sheriff to Drop Anti-Muslim Trainer

CAIR: Islam, the American Way (Christian Science Monitor) In African-American communities, "Muslim people, we were always the good people – the family people, who were praying, who were law-abiding," says Aisha Samad, mother of the Vermont restaurateur and member of the executive board of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "People always respected you. But once 9/11 happened," she says, "everybody [saw us as] these enemies."

CAIR: Islam in the US – A Brief History (CS Monitor) From the 1990s onward, Islam became increasingly visible. According to the Pew Research Center, 45 percent of Muslim Americans today arrived after 1990, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reports that, between 1994 and 2011, the number of mosques grew from 962 to 2,106. Their construction has sometimes met with pushback, whether in small cities like Murfreesboro, Tenn., or a megalopolis like New York. Islam: Five Pillars Explained

A Non-Muslim's Account of a Day in Hijab My day in hijab was liberating. It taught me that hanging on to misconceptions closes doors and locks away opportunities to grow and better understand the world in which we all live; and while I may not choose to wear hijab every day, I will definitely be showing my support again next year come Feb. 1.  Syrians Routed by War Find Safe Haven in North Jersey

Discrimination Olympics: Meddling with Muslims in Sochi

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Watch: CAIR Video News Update, February 14, 2014

Topics include:

CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Calif. Mosque Vandalism | CAIR-NJ Files EEOC Complaint for Muslim Worker Fired Over Hijab | CAIR-CA Joins Muslim Community in Praying for Rain | CAIR-TX Promotes Volunteerism with Cleanup | Hundreds Turn Out for CAIR-WA Lobbying Day at Capitol | CAIR Rep Discusses No-Fly Lists on Al Jazeera America | CAIR Joins Effort Against NSA Spying

Islamophobia Watch: Religious Discussion Dominates Idaho Zoning Hearing on Mosque

The Rev. Jim Jones of the Blazing Grace Church in Pocatello brought a copy of the Koran to the lectern. He said Islam faith preaches intolerance of others and promotes the killing of Christians and Jews. "I get very fearful because I live close to this place," he said about the proposed Islamic Center. British Journalist Mehdi Hasan to Keynote CAIR-MI 14th Annual Banquet

CAIR Asks Virginia Sheriff to Drop Anti-Muslim Trainer Notorious conspiracy theorist claims CIA director is secret Muslim

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/14/14) --

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on the Culpeper County Sheriff's Department in Virginia to drop notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo, who is scheduled to offer a three-day program later this month on "Jihadi Networks in America."

In a letter to the sheriff delivered today, Corey Saylor, director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia, wrote in part:

"Mr. Guandolo has a lengthy record of anti-Muslim extremism and unprofessional behavior. His views on Islam are the equivalent of historical anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic falsehoods. Guandolo offers only his own prejudiced and inaccurate conspiratorial views, not solid counterterrorism training." 

As noted by the Southern Poverty law Center (SPLC), Guandolo is "a disreputable character, who regularly attacks the U.S. government, claims that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudi government and says that American Muslims 'do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.'"

SEE: Virginia County Sheriff Hosting Anti-Muslim Training by Disgraced Conspiracy Theorist John Guandolo (SPLC)

He detailed his bizarre claim about the CIA director's alleged conversion to Islam in an interview with another notorious Islamophobe, Robert Spencer.

In his training materials, Guandolo refers to America's mosques and Islamic centers as "barracks" and falsely claims "it is a permanent command in Islam for Muslims to hate and despise Jews and Christians." Additionally, an article published by the Tennessean on February 15, 2012, reports Guandolo's belief that mosques are "front organizations for the Muslim Brotherhood with no right to exist."

SEE: US Military School Taught Soldiers to Wage "Total War" Against Islam

Guandolo is a former FBI agent who had to resign after it was revealed that he had sexual relationships with agents and a key government informant. During a 2012 anti-Muslim training in Tennessee, he was videoed shoving a local news camera that attempted to record the training.

He is linked to one of nation's the most vicious anti-Muslim groups, ACT! for America.

SEE: ACT! for America to Launch Anti-Muslim Website for Law Enforcement CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel'

Following calls for reform by CAIR and other groups following revelations of apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide, the Obama administration removed biased and inaccurate materials about Islam from trainings.

SEE: CAIR Asks Sec. Napolitano to Probe Use of Islamophobic Trainers Video: CAIR Decries Anti-Muslim Police Trainers Obama Orders Clean Up of Islamophobic Terror Training

An 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security," details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.

Washington Monthly magazine also published a major investigative article showing similar anti-Islam attitudes by private trainers of law enforcement agencies.

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.

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CONTACT:

CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-367-4081 or 206-931-3655, abukhari@cair.com;

CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com;

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah & ccun.org.

editor@aljazeerah.info & editor@ccun.org