Browsing All Posts filed under »Diversity and Muslims«

Kareem R. Khan, American Muslim Hero who made the ultimate sacrifice

October 19, 2008

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On “Meet the Press” today, Colin L. Powell concluded his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by referring to the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains were buried in Arlington. He and three other soldiers, including a corporal […]

Repression of Muslims in China

October 18, 2008

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Edward Wong, New York Times KHOTAN, China — The grand mosque that draws thousands of Muslims each week in this oasis town has all the usual trappings of piety: dusty wool carpets on which to kneel in prayer, a row of turbans and skullcaps for men without headwear, a wall niche facing the holy city […]

Good Samaritan 101: Rabbi Steven Jacobs Confronts Clarion Fund’s Gregory Ross

October 16, 2008

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After a press conference against the “Obsession” movie held by the Coalition for Renewing American Democracy, the Communications Director of the Clarion Fund confronted the coalition members. Here, Rabbi Steven Jacobs is shown talking to the Communications Director. Interfaith leaders call ‘Obsession’ DVD hateful Detroit News Critics say film instills fear of Muslims with misleading […]

Campbell Brown Commentary: So what if Obama was a Muslim or an Arab?

October 13, 2008

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Note from Rafik Beekun: Kudos to Campbell Brown for stating the obvious. I have always admired her ability to speak her mind when she was at NBC. Now at CNN, she exhibits the same level of professional ethics that we have to expect from her in America. Editor’s note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN’s “Campbell Brown: […]

An Islamic Perspective on Civic Engagement and Voting in America

October 9, 2008

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Islamic Shura Council of Southern California The future of America will be decided as Americans cast their votes this November for the next president of the United States. In looking to the coming months, the Muslim American community must remain steadfast in our commitment to political and civic participation in accordance to the guiding principles […]

Election 08: Senator Obama, American Muslims and Islamophobia

October 7, 2008

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Daniel Varisco, Tabsir.net Statement of Concerned Scholars about Islamophobia in the 2008 U. S. Election Campaign Not since the election of John Kennedy in 1960 has the religious faith of a U.S. presidential candidate generated so much distortion as the false claims generated by extremist critics that Senator Barack Obama, the candidate of the Democratic […]

Chemical Irritant Sprayed in Mosque Full of Children 4 days After Mass Mailing of Obsession DVD

October 6, 2008

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crooksandliars.com There’s no more key battleground state in America than Ohio — and sure enough thousands were delivered there on Monday in a number of newspapers, including the Dayton Daily News, which is in a hotly contested corner of the Buckeye State.  Four days after  [the mass mailing of the Obsession DVD], this chemical attack happened […]

U.S. Newspapers get complaints against Obsession DVD ad on Muslims

October 3, 2008

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By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Business Writer Newspapers that carried an advertising supplement in recent weeks containing a DVD critical of radical Muslims have faced complaints from readers and questions about whether newspapers should offer a platform to everyone willing to pay for distribution. Although a few papers refused to carry the DVD, about 70 including […]

Organize A Letter-writing Campaign to Protest Mailing of Anti-Muslim Film, “Obsession”

September 27, 2008

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The shadowy characters associated with the production and dissemination of the Anti-Muslim film, “Obsession”, are at it again. They are organizing from their website a letter writing campaign to the editors of the newspapers which were paid to mail out the film’s DVD. Their campaign is trying to convince these editors that they did nothing […]

Obsessionwithhate.com–New website to answer anti-Muslim propaganda in “Obsession” film

September 26, 2008

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What is ‘Obsession’? Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West is a 2005 anti-Muslim propaganda film put together by controversial anti-Muslim figures to further the perceived divide between Western and Muslim audiences. 28 million copies of the DVD were recently distributed by a mysteriously-funded entity by the name of the Clarion Fund with the help […]

Muslim Group Reports Jump in Workplace Bias Complaints in 2007

September 24, 2008

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Reports of anti-Muslim hate crimes and violence decrease in 2007 (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/24/2008) – A report released today by a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group shows an increase in American Muslim complaints of workplace bias in 2007. The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) report, called “Without Fear of Discrimination,” outlines 2,652 incidents […]

Obsession DVD Distributor Refuses to Name Their Donors

September 17, 2008

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Just weeks before the election, there are questions about a controversial insert published in The Orlando Sentinel. The insert on radical Islam included a 60-minute DVD. Over 300,000 copies of “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against The West” went out to Orlando residents as an insert in Sunday’s Sentinel. Twenty-eight million copies will go out in […]

9/11 Dirty Trick: Shame on Major U.S. Newspapers for Distributing the “Obsession” Movie

September 13, 2008

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Last Sunday, over 80 major national and/or local newspapers distributed the “Obsession” movie as part of their Sunday Supplement.  This was indeed a sad occasion: instead of taking a stance against a fear-mongering movie,  these newspapers chose to make money by sending out a movie that distorts what Muslims and Islam is about.   Please read […]

Ramadan Limits Imposed in China

September 8, 2008

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By EDWARD WONG, New York Times Published: September 8, 2008 BEIJING — Local governments in a Muslim desert region in western China have imposed strict limits on religious practices during the traditional Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began last week, according to the Web sites of four of those governments. The rules include prohibiting […]

New York Times: Muslim Fast in U.S. Holds Difficulties

September 2, 2008

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Note from Rafik Beekun: This is an older article, but the issues it raises are still similar to those by American Muslims today. By PETER STEINFELS During Ramadan, the holy month that began with the new moon this week, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dark. In many Islamic countries, this means […]

American Muslim Pilot and Veteran Placed on Terrorist Watch list

August 25, 2008

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CNN Please click here to watch how an American Muslim pilot, placed on a terrorist watch list, may now be unable to provide for his family and himself because he will not be able to fly planes. He is a war veteran who has placed his life on the line for our country.

Islamophobia 101: Episode 29–Obama’s Muslim Outreach Director Resigns

August 6, 2008

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WASHINGTON: (AP) An attorney who volunteered to help Barack Obama improve his relationship with Muslim and Arab-Americans has resigned from the campaign amid questions about his connection to a fundamentalist imam. Mazen Asbahi started as the campaign’s outreach coordinator on July 26, and he resigned in a letter to the campaign Monday. He said he was […]

Good Samaritan 101–Thank You, Congressman Pascrell, for Defending U.S. Muslims

July 31, 2008

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Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. [D-NJ-08] yesterday stated his strong disagreement with statements made by Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Peter King (R-NY) who expressed his belief that while American Muslims may not support terrorism they are not doing enough as a community to help law enforcement fight terrorism. This exchange occurred […]

Islamophobia Watch and Call to Action: Steve Emerson Scheduled to Testify Before Congress

July 29, 2008

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Urgent Action Alert: Demand Responsible Testimony in Fight Against Terrorism Self proclaimed terrorist expert Steven Emerson is scheduled to testify this Thursday, July 31st, in a congressional hearing entitled “Foreign Aid and the Fight Against Terrorism and Proliferation: Leveraging Foreign Aid to Achieve U.S. Policy Goals.” Emerson has a formidable history of attacking Islam and […]

Islamophobia 101–Episode 28: Linking Muslim Subway Ads to Terrorism

July 21, 2008

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According to the New York Post, MUSLIM SUBWAY ADS HAVE TERROR TIE-IN By JEREMY OLSHAN Last updated: 6:37 am July 21, 2008 Posted: 4:42 am July 21, 2008 Allah board! An Islamic group plans to blitz 1,000 subway cars with advertisements this September in a campaign being promoted by a Brooklyn imam whom federal officials […]

“Islamophobic” Cover of Obama from the New Yorker Magazine

July 14, 2008

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In the following article from CNN, Alex Mooney purports that the New Yorker Poster shows Obama in traditional “Muslim” attire. I would like to know what is “traditional muslim attire”? Muslims come from just about every country on this planet, and a Muslim from Saudi Arabia will dress differently from a Muslim from India or […]

ABC Primetime: How Muslims are Treated in the USA

July 4, 2008

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Alledged U.S. Department of Justice Guidelines May Lead to Profiling of Muslim/Arab Americans

July 4, 2008

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Washington, DC 7/3/08 The Muslim Public Affairs Council, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Arab American Institute (AAI), and other organizations are concerned by an Associated Press report quoting “senior FBI, Justice Department, and U.S. intelligence officials” concerning new Department of Justice guidelines which are slated for implementation later this summer. The guidelines would allegedly […]

France’s Anti-Terror Laws Violate Basic Human Rights

July 2, 2008

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Human Rights Watch Paris, July 2, 2008 In its effort to fight terrorism, France routinely arrests and prosecutes people for being associated with possible terror suspects, undermining international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Please click here to download a copy of the 2008 Human Rights Watch report entitled […]

Islamophobia 101: Episode 27–Obama Campaign Profiling Muslim Women with Headscarves

June 19, 2008

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Note from Rafik Beekun: In the video clip below, Fox (the right-wing TV channel and supporter of McCain) is trying to amplify the story and even distort in ways that are sick, i.e. what is a “Muslim” dress?  Nevertheless, the Obama Campaign showed itself to be petty and Islamophobic when it asked two Muslim women […]

Wallowing in Far Right Hysteria: Michelle Malkin’s Preposterous Claims

May 30, 2008

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Since Michelle Malkin (born Maglalang) took on Dunkin’ Donuts for Rachael Ray’s Kefiyeh (see article below), I thought it would be interesting to point out that she has make ridiculous claims in the past–for which she has had to eat humble pie on several occasions. #1: Shariah Creep: Michelle Malkin vs. Hussein Ibish on the […]

Does course on Islam give law enforcers wrong idea?

May 23, 2008

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By Janet I. Tu Seattle Times religion reporter Some local Muslim community members are upset about a training course for local law enforcement, saying it could promote stereotypes and ethnic and religious profiling. The program, called “The Threat of Islamic Jihadists to the World” and conducted by a Miami-based company, began Thursday and continues today […]

Investment by Saudis in China Grows

May 19, 2008

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Javid Hassan, Arab News Saudi investments have been flowing into China on three levels — industrial ventures, refinery joint ventures and investment in the capital market. The low cost in China of both production and skilled manpower, together with mounting energy needs, have always acted as a magnet for institutional investors from the Kingdom. Even […]

Demonization of Islam in France: Violation of Human Rights

May 7, 2008

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Islamophobia in France: The Law against Hijab Islamophobia in France: Double Standards for Muslims and Jews De Villiers: Submitting Islam to French Law In France, Islamophobia is viewed differently from Antisemitism Hijab ban in French schools PARIS — A French law banning hijab in state schools has deepened the Muslim isolation from the broader community, experts […]

U.S. Congressman Ellison questions FBI’s Mueller about treatment of U.S. Muslims

April 29, 2008

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From a House Hearing held Wednesday. The full exchange is pasted below: HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HOLDS A HEARING ON OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION APRIL 23, 2008 Key Lines: 1) MUSLIMS DO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT Mueller: “And every opportunity I have, I re-affirm the fact that 99.9 percent of Muslim-Americans or […]

Battle over an Islamic School in New York City: Information and Misinformation about the Khalil Gibran School

April 28, 2008

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The New York Times Please click here to watch a video about the struggles of the Khalil Gibran School. Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream School Debbie Almontaser dreamed of starting a public school like no other in New York City. Children of Arab descent would join students of other ethnicities, learning Arabic together. By […]

World’s Youngest Professor is a 19 year old Woman

April 23, 2008

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By Bob Considine TODAYShow.com contributor updated 7:42 a.m. PT, Wed., April. 23, 2008 Perhaps in Alia Sabur’s wildly advanced studies she came across a famous quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. “Knowing is not enough. We must apply,” the German writer once observed. That could serve as explanation for what prompted the 19-year-old to become […]

An Interfaith View: Islamophobia and Racism

April 8, 2008

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By Lawrence Swaim In a much-anticipated speech about his Mormon faith, Mitt Romney had a perfect opportunity to illuminate the complexities of politics and religious liberty. Instead, he used the opportunity to plead for evangelical votes, signaling that he would do nothing to stop the Religious Right from using government to promote its agenda. This […]

Christians, Jews and Muslims Working Together in Uganda

April 7, 2008

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I found this video clip on Mohammad Latiff’s blog, and liked it so much that I am reposting it here. It is a positive and heart-warming video, and speaks to the inherent good in each one of us. Thank you Br. Mohammad.

Islamophobia and Racism on the Rise: Geert Wilders Polarizing Dutch Society Against Islam, Muslims and Arabs

April 4, 2008

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Geert Wilders Insults Dutch Prime Minister Geert Wilders insults the Dutch Prime Minister publicly, and blames the Dutch Parliament for defending Muslims in the Netherlands. Stephen Sackur of BBC World “Hard Talk” talks to Dutch Member of Parliament, Geert Wilders about his controversial views on Islam, Muslims, Arabs and immigration. Part 1 In the first video, Wilders would like […]

Muslim true/false

April 2, 2008

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What you think you know about them is likely wrong — and that’s dangerous. By John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed April 2, 2008 Winning hearts and minds — the Bush administration, foreign policy wonks, even the U.S. military agree that this is the key to any victory over global terrorism. Yet our public diplomacy […]

A Jew Writes in Support of Hijab at Harvard’s Gymn

March 28, 2008

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By Ruth Marcus Wednesday, March 26, 2008; A19 It’s a measure of America’s multicultural journey over the past half-century that we’ve gone from “God and Man at Yale” to Allah and Woman at Harvard. In a contretemps scarcely imaginable in William F. Buckley’s day, Harvard has closed one of its gyms to men for six […]

Formation of the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement

March 26, 2008

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A historical milestone toward Muslim-Jewish relationship was reached with the formation of the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, a collaborative between USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture (CRCC) with Hebrew Union College (HUC) and the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation (Omar). This project represents an unprecedented institutional initiative promoted by three proven and successful educational structures. […]

Hispanic women in Queens convert to Islam

March 19, 2008

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BY NATHALIE ALONSO Monday, March 10, 2008 3:05 PM EDT As an adolescent, Jackson Heights resident Carla Carballo, 29, would greet her male friends in typical Latin fashion – with a kiss on the cheek.However, ever since she converted to Islam a decade ago, Carballo, who is single, has given up that custom and no […]

Thwarting Democracy over Headscarves: The Move to Ban Turkey’s Ruling Party

March 17, 2008

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 Al-Jazeera A state prosecutor has asked Turkey’s highest court to shutdown the ruling AK Party for allegedly undermining secularism. Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the court of appeals chief prosecutor, as quoted by Turkish television as saying he wanted senior party members, including the president and prime minister, banned from politics for five years. Yalcinkaya said a government […]

Why Shari’ah?

March 16, 2008

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March 16, 2008 By NOAH FELDMAN, Law Professor, Harvard University Last month, Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, gave a nuanced, scholarly lecture in London about whether the British legal system should allow non-Christian courts to decide certain matters of family law. Britain has no constitutional separation of church and state. The archbishop noted that […]

Good Muslim, Bad Muslim – An African Perspective

March 14, 2008

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Mahmood Mamdani, Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and Anthropology, Columbia University Ever since September 11, there has been a growing media interest in Islam. What is the link, many seem to ask, between Islam and terrorism? The Spectator, a British weekly, carried a lead article a few weeks ago that argued that the link was […]

Second Muslim elected to Congress

March 12, 2008

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Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:16pm EDT By Judith Cebula INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) – Indiana voters on Tuesday elected a Muslim to Congress, only the second of that faith chosen in U.S. history. Andre Carson, grandson of the late Democrat Rep. Julia Carson, was elected to serve the balance of her term in the U.S. House of […]

Kudos to Harvard University for Women-only Workouts in Gymn

March 5, 2008

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Julia Shearson, Harvard alumna and executive director of the Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland), discusses a recent move to allot six hours per week for women-only workouts at one of Harvard’s campus gyms. For those who complain about political correctness on behalf of Muslims, please listen to the video below from […]

It’s no slur to be called a Muslim (or to wear a turban)

March 3, 2008

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Naomi Klein The Guardian, Saturday March 1 2008   Hillary Clinton denied leaking the photo of Barack Obama wearing a turban, but her campaign manager says that even if she had, it would be no big deal. “Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.” […]

Clinton vs Obama: What is the big deal over wearing Muslim or Jewish attire?

February 25, 2008

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(CNN) — Barack Obama’s campaign accused Hillary Clinton’s team Monday of circulating a photo of the Illinois senator donning traditional attire – clothing worn by area Muslims – as a goodwill gesture during an overseas trip. In a statement, the Clinton campaign called the charge “an obvious and transparent attempt to distract” voters from serious […]

Petition to get pictures of the Prophet (s) removed from Wikipedia

February 13, 2008

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ASSALAAMU ‘ALAIKUM.    WIKIPEDIA site has published “pictures” of our prophet Muhammad (s). Please click on the link below to sign the worldwide petition to have these images removed. We need 10,000 signatures to get pictures of Prophet (s) removed from WIKIPEDIA.  Please act now! JAZAKALLAHU   KHAIRAN.  Also please forward the link to all your Muslim contacts.        ———-     To access the […]

What role for Sharia in the West?

February 10, 2008

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Feb 9th 2008 From Economist.com STEEPED in a culture of emollience, gentility and the avoidance of hard arguments, England¹s established Church has little knowledge of how to handle public opinion when it suddenly finds itself in the eye of a gigantic storm. And, for better or worse, the country¹s politically-active Muslims are capable of showing […]

Turkish parliament lifts university headscarf ban

February 9, 2008

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By Hidir Goktas and Gareth Jones Sat Feb 9, 8:49 AM ET Turkey’s parliament voted on Saturday to lift a ban on female students wearing the Muslim headscarf at university, a landmark decision that some Turks say will undermine the foundations of the secular state. Parliament, where the ruling centre-right AK Party has a big […]

Breaking Through in the Netherlands

February 5, 2008

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Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 By CARLA POWER, TIME  When Famile Arslan showed up for her first day of work, the receptionist pointed her toward the broom closet. “‘The cleaning supplies are over there,'” Arslan recalls being told. “I had to say, ‘No, I’m not the cleaner. I’m the lawyer.'” In fairness to the receptionist, Arslan […]