UK told to be nicer to Muslims

Photo credit: Mail Online

Britain was told yesterday by a United Nations committee to take firm action to combat 'negative public attitudes' towards Muslims.

The nine-member human rights committee also criticised some of the UK's antiterror measures.

The body, which is composed of legal experts, said it was concerned ' negative public attitudes towards Muslim members of society' continued to develop in Britain.

The Government 'should take energetic measures to eliminate this phenomenon and ensure that authors of such acts of discrimination on the basis of religion are adequately deterred and sanctioned'.

The committee expressed concern over the Government's plans to extend pre-trial detention of terrorist suspects from 28 to 42 days. Suspects should be brought to court 'within a reasonable period of time, or released'.

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On a lighter note, check out the article below on UK sisters:

A unique and groundbreaking “1000 Sisters’ voices” survey carried out by Ummah Foods, a “new generation” British Muslim food company, and by SISTERS, the inspirational new magazine for Muslim women, has found that, while an overwhelming majority view Islam as their guide to life, read the Qur’an and observe hijab, they also shop at high street stores, go out to eat and travel regularly. The picture that emerges is one of a population balancing the demands of their faith with the opportunities afforded by life in the UK.

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Send me your stereotypes

AMMAN -- Jordan's Queen Rania has launched her own Internet channel on YouTube in a bid to encourage young people to help tackle stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs, her office said on Tuesday.

"In a world where it's so easy to connect to one another, we still remain very much disconnected. There's a whole world of wonder out there that we cannot appreciate with stereotypes," a statement quoted her as saying.

"I want people to know the real Arab world, to see it unedited, unscripted and unfiltered, to see the personal side of my region, to know the places and faces and rituals and culture that shape the part of the world I call home."

Rania, the wife of King Abdullah II, urged viewers to respond with their opinions of the Middle East "and to acknowledge stereotypes they've heard of Arabs and Muslims".

The queen said she would work "towards breaking down these preconceptions over the next few months" on the popular website.

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I have mixed feelings and thoughts on Queen Rania and her recent endeavors. I do not think she is the best person to represent Muslim or Arab women let alone the Muslim or Arab world. Nevertheless, her latest initiative is creative and holds a lot of potential.

"Thank you, Ann, for uniting Jews, Christians, and Muslims"

By Rebecca Trounson, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 25, 2007

Full story here, excerpts below:

As Muslim students and their supporters protested outside, commentator Ann Coulter told a USC audience Wednesday night that Americans should get tough on terrorists and "stop genuflecting before Islam."

The protesters who gathered outside the auditorium, chanted, shouted and carried signs, such as "Fight the Real Fascist, Down with Coulter" and "Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate."

Another sign noted the diversity of the protesters: "Thank you, Ann, for uniting Jews, Christians and Muslims."

Along with Ayloush's organization [CAIR], others represented included the Progressive Jewish Alliance of California, MEChA, the Anti-War Coalition and the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.

The Rev. Louis Chase, president of the interfaith group and pastor of Hamilton United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles, was among the protesters. "I have problems with Ann Coulter's characterization of the perfect society as a Christian nation, both as a pastor and a theologian," he said.

Steve Puzarne, a cantor who frequently sings at a Pacific Palisades synagogue and who heads the newly formed Pilgrimage of Peace, said he took issue both with Coulter and with what he called the demonization of Muslims.

"As I see it, these are very much cut from the same cloth," Puzarne said. "And I'm quite distressed that the Jewish community, which has responded vociferously to her comments about Jews, has remained relatively silent during her much longer history of hate speech about Muslims."

The term Islamo-Fascism, Puzarne said, is "beyond demagoguery."

Muslims in Athens an Underground Thing

Moving Islam out of the basement

Immigrant Muslims in Athens now have a 1,800m2 cultural centre to call their own. It's the first formal Islamic prayer site to operate in Athens since the end of Ottoman rule nearly 200 years ago

KATHY TZILIVAKIS

The new home of the Arab Hellenic Centre for Culture and Civilisation in Moschato also serves as the city's only formal place for Islamic prayer

"IT'S light, bright and open," says Mohamed Abedlkader, enjoying the morning sunlight streaming in through the large picture windows of the new premises of the Arab Hellenic Centre for Culture and Civilisation in the southern Athens suburb of Moschato on June 26.

"We finally have a view of the sky," he adds, referring to the many makeshift mosques in Athens that are housed in underground apartments. "We finally have a place to gather and to pray that we can be proud of."

The Egyptian shopowner is the general director of the Arab Hellenic Centre for Culture and Civilisation, which was founded in 2001 by a group of Arab-born Muslims residing in Athens.

The centre's new three-storey 1,800m² building, which faces southeast (towards Mecca, a city in western Saudi Arabia and the most sacred city in Islam), was opened on June 22. It boasts three carpeted prayer halls - a main hall for men, another for women and a third in the basement to contain a spillover crowd.

Even though it has no crescent-capped minarets - the familiar beacons to Muslims everywhere - the new brown-brick Moschato building hosts the city's first formal (though not official) mosque.

"Yes, this is a place for prayer, but it is not an official mosque," says Abedlkader, who is also one of the six imams at the Moschato centre. "We have been underground for so many years that this is a good place for us. We feel happy to sit here and to meet people here. Now we have a place to hold our meetings, our celebrations, our wedding parties. We have our own place."

But the centre's 2,000-person capacity cannot serve all of the city's Muslim immigrants who reportedly number more than 100,000. "We still need an official Athens mosque," adds Abedlkader, referring the Greek government's pledge to construct a mosque in Votanikos, on the outskirts of Athens. It is unclear when construction will begin.

The city's estimated 120,000 Muslim immigrants currently pray in underground apartments, garages, basement shops and other rented spaces, which members of this growing community have converted into makeshift mosques. There are more than 20 unofficial mosques scattered around the city. All of them are inconspicuous to passers-by.

Community

The Moschato centre will also serve as a local immigrant Muslim community centre.

"We want to work on two levels," explains Abedlkader. "We want to work with Arabs because they need lessons about their religion and about the Greek language and Greek culture and because they have been living here for so many years but most of them do not know how to speak Greek. We also want to work with Greek people who want to know about the Arabic language and Arabs. This place is the perfect place for something like this because there is a lot of room."

Another future endeavour is to set up an in-house tourist agency so as to assist Muslims who wish to visit Mecca during the annual hajj. According to Abedlkader, they also want to open an Arab grocery on the ground floor so that the proceeds can be used to cover the centre's operating costs.

The purchase of the building
(a former textile factory) and much of the renovation was financed by a wealthy Saudi Arabian investor and entrepreneur.

"He had visited Athens several years ago and had prayed at one of the small, underground mosques in Athens," says Abedlkader. "He said that there should be a better place for Muslims to pray. This is why he did it."

Help the Ummah

(This opportunity to help the Ummah was brought to my attention by Rabia Lari)

How can YOU help the Ummah?

Apparently, Muslims all over the world have been stumped by the following riddle:

• It begins with the letter M.
• It is five letters long, in BOTH English & Urdu.
• Women do it once in a lifetime; men do it three times a day.
• It's brighter than the sun and darker than night.
• It is halal to drink, but haram to eat.
• AND it's mentioned in the Qu'ran five times.

What is it?

Violence in Islam

Lately, it seems that the link between Islam and Violence is being explored ever more vigorously. On the UC Irvine campus, this has taken form in this nasty little article, written by one Jesse Nickles.

Leaving aside the shoddy journalism such an article reflects - one of the letters to the editor covered that adequately I think - let's look at the facts. A recent article published by Counterpunch looked at "The Islamic Threat in Europe: By the Numbers." Out of the four hundred and ninety-eight incidents of terrorism perpetuated on European soil, only one was attempted by Muslims. And that, by-the-by, failed. As Kristoffer Larsson writes, "The Basque separatist group ETA did best (136 terrorist attacks) and was responsible for the only deadly attack, killing two in Madrid." And yet, who is vilified continuously on the telly? That's a rhetorical question - I think we all know the answer.

Muneeb Baig, a UC Irvine student and Muslim Student Union member, responded to Nickles' claims - which to be frank, were completely idiotic - in an insightful article breaking down the basic precepts of his stance. I would recommend you check it out.

IslamiCity also sent out an interesting bulletin regarding this issue, which amongst a wealth of information, also cited this popular ayah:

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that you do." [Qur'an 4:135]

As Muslims, I understand it is part of our duty in this day, at this moment in history, to explain Islam to a world community largly ignorant and misinformed about our beautiful way of life. But sometimes, especially when transparent bigots such as Nickles speak up, it gets annoying. Why is it that every Sally or Joe who professes to know something - probably because of a five minute Google search on the subject - is given a soapbox on which to preach their views?

Oh wait - look at whose running this country.

'Nuff said.

For the sake of Allah

There was a pious man among the Banu Israel who always remained busy in the worship of Allah. A group of people came to him and told him that a tribe living nearby worshiped a tree. The news upset him, and with an axe on his shoulder he went to cut down that tree. On the way, Shaytan met him disguised in the form of an old man and asked him where he was going. He said he was going to cut a particular tree. Shaytan said, “You have nothing to be concerned with this tree, you better mind your worship and do not give it up for the sake of something that does not concern you.” “This is also worship,” retorted the man. Then Shaytan tried to prevent him from cutting the tree, and there followed a fight between the two, in which the man overpowered the Shaytan. Finding himself completely helpless, Shaytan pleaded for mercy, and when the man released him, he again pressed, “Allah has not made the cutting of this tree obligatory on you. You do not lose anything if you do not cut it. If its cutting were necessary, Allah could have got it done through one of his many Prophets.” The man insisted on cutting the tree. There was again a fight between the two and again the man overpowered Shaytan.

“Listen,” said Shaytan, “I propose a settlement that will be to your advantage. You are a poor man, a mere burden on this earth. If you stay away from this act, I will pay you three gold coins everyday. You will daily find them lying under your pillow. With this money you can fulfill your own needs, can oblige your relative, help the needy, and do so many other virtuous things. Cutting the tree will be only one virtue, which will ultimately be of no use because the people will grow another tree.” This proposal appealed to the man, and he accepted it.

He found the money on two successive days, but on the third day there was nothing. He got enraged, picked up his axe and went to cut the tree. Shaytan as an old man again met him on the way and asked him where he was going. “To cut the tree!” shouted the man. “I will not let you do it,” said Shaytan. A fight took place between the two again but this time Shaytan overpowered his contender. The man was surprised at his own defeat, and asked the old man the cause of his success. Shaytan replied, “At first, your anger was purely for earning the pleasure of Allah, and therefore Almighty Allah helped you to overpower me, but now it has been partly for the sake of the gold coins and therefore you lost.”

-original author unknown

Seven Qur`anic Habits We Should All Emulate

"We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance: We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity!" (Al-Kahf 18:13-14)

Here are seven habits for highly successful Muslim youth, derived entirely from the Qur`an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Be Truthful
Casting the telling of truth and the fate of the truthful in terms of profit and loss, Allah Most High tells us in the Qur`aan:
"This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires)." (Al-Maa'idah 5:119)

The Prophet Muhammad (saws), said:
"Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness, evil-doing], and al-fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah a liar." (Bukhari, 73: 116)

Be Trustworthy
When we say Allah is the Most Trustworthy, we are coming to terms with the fact that Allah Most High will never let us down, will never leave our side. He, Most High, says about someone who willingly accepts Islam,
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah Heareth and Knoweth all things." (Al-Baqarah, 2:256)

Have Self-Restraint and Be God-Conscious
Perhaps the most difficult challenge while navigating adolescence is to restrain oneself from falling victim to one's desires - especially one's lower desires. We are reminded by Allah Most High:
"And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune." (Fussilat, 41:5)

An interesting parallel is that, throughout his Qur`an translation, the late Abdullah Yusuf Ali translates taqwaa as self-restraint. While taqwaa is most commonly translated as "God-consciousness, " one realizes without much effort that the height of self-restraint is full and complete understanding that one is indeed conscious of one's duty to one's Lord.

Be Thorough
To be thorough stems from a desire to be perfect to the extent that this is humanly possible. Seeking perfection in our actions and speech from an early age helps us to develop a keen eye, not only for thoroughness in our own life, but also for thoroughness in the lives of those around us.

We read in the Muwatta of Imaam Malik "Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I was sent to perfect good character" (Hadith 47.1.8).

Be Focused
Developing the habit of being focused ensures that you are awake, alert, and totally motivated to work on and complete the task at hand, whatever it may be. Among the best ways to develop focus is to practice praying with deep concentration to the extent that you are almost unaware of your surroundings.

Allah Most High tells us in the Qur`an that the believers are "those who humble themselves in their prayers" (Al-Mu'minun 23:2)

Be Punctual
The last thing we should attribute to Islam is the notion that its teachings somehow make us late, slow, slugging, and anything but punctual. One of the central pillars of Islam is prayer, and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (saws) have given us clear reminders that we are to establish prayers at their due times.

When `Abdullah asked "which deed is the dearest to Allah?" the Prophet Muhammad (saws) replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times" (Bukhari, 10.505).

Be Consistent
Apart from all the habits listed above, perhaps the one that is sure to help you become a highly successful Muslim youth is that of being consistent. One cannot be truthful one day and a liar the next; one cannot be trustworthy in one instance and totally unreliable in the next; and so on for each of the other habits.

Indeed, the Mother of the Believers `A'ishah narrates that "the most beloved action to Allah's Apostle was that which is done continuously and regularly." (Bukhari, 76.469).

-----
Originally written by Altaf Hussain.

Altaf Husain is a social worker in the United States and has been a contributing writer to Islam Online since 1998.

Justice and Tolerance: Virtues of a Muslim

We want justice. We want tolerance. For the Muslims. But if we hold rallies chanting, “No justice, no peace” for the Palestinians, shouldn’t we also be chanting the same for the victims of those suffering injustice, persecution and genocide in Darfur? Shouldn’t we be attending rallies for the rights of minorities in the United States and for the impoverished? Shouldn’t we be joining forces with those fighting for the rights of laborers and those demanding women’s rights?

If we desire so badly for non-Muslims to accept us and tolerate our rituals and practices, our prayers, our fasting, our style of dress, then we, too, must be the loudest voice for tolerance of other cultures and religious traditions. We must be that very last people to make disparaging comments about those practicing other religions, especially our cousins in faith, the People of the Book, for Allah says in the Qur’an in Surat Al-Baqarah, Verse 62:

“Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”

We can’t just rally and chant and protest for Muslims and causes affecting Islam. We have to be the voice of tolerance and justice for every group and every person on earth, even if it means that we have to speak out against people of our own culture and our own faith. For Allah reminds us in the Holy Qur’an in Surat An-Nisa, Verse 135,

“Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor. For God has enough compassion for all. Follow not the lusts of your hearts, so you won’t deviate from the straight path.”

Of course, as Muslims, our aim is to ensure that Islam is protected and that our rights as an ummah are upheld and honored. However, we must also remember that every single person is a potential Muslim, every group is a potential ally of our cause, and every creation is a miracle of Allah (swt). Therefore, every creature, unless an open enemy of Islam, deserves our love, honor, and respect. Each of these people also deserves our energy in our fight for justice and tolerance.

We cannot be afraid to call out our own when it comes to those Muslims around the world who persecute, dishonor, and disregard the rights of others. Where we see wrongdoing, we must stand up for the right, no matter if we criticize our own brothers and sisters. The best form of love is that which is honest and forthcoming.

Justice Dignity Firmness Tolerance Patience Perseverance Sincerity Responsibility Honesty Fair-Dealing

These are the virtues that we must uphold, that we must cultivate as an ummah, and that we must develop within ourselves if we are to be the respectable community following in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (pbuh).

May Allah instill in us the virtues that made the Prophet (pbuh) successful and great in his leadership of our ummah. May Allah give us the fortitude and maturity to look within our own hearts and fix our own problems before looking for the faults of others. May Allah give us the courage to stand up for the rights of others. May Allah bless us with intelligence, integrity, dignity, and purity as individuals and as a global community so that we may be worthy to stand in the presence of Allah on the Day of Judgment as servants who lived for his love and approval.

Lets talk honestly- Zionism and REVISIONISM

Honest Reporting and its Continued Dishonesty

I am a bit confused, I seem to keep going back to this topic and I do not know why- Zionism, Palestine and the Propaganda. I am writing/posting profusely on this topic, because there is a lack of HONEST REPORTING?

One of my first blogs was on Honest Reporting. It is really an analysis on those behind "Obsession: The Mockumentary" But here is some griping by Honest Reporting themselves about some "misinformation" on Zionist involvement with Nazi Germany:

The charge of Zionist collaboration with the Nazis is a form of Holocaust revisionism that is barely deserving of a response.

Honest Reporting believes that this did not exist, yet according to the Mockumentary so called Muslim collaboration was a partnership made in Heaven. Funny, how easy it is to construe historical facts and shift them to fit one's perspective.

They go on in their E-mail appeal to say:

Abusing the memory of 6 million murdered Jews is a malicious method to attack Israel

Which is funny, because Honest Reporting does a really good job at shielding Zionist mistreatment and barbarism against the Palestinian people by guilt tripping and lacing everyone’s conscience with poison on how the world did the Jewish people wrong.

The issue is this constant diatribe of hooking and connecting the Holocaust to legitimate Israeli criticism. Israel is not a Golden Cow, and it is not sacred nor beyond criticism. However, my raving and ranting does not address the issue brought up originally by Honest Reporting e-mail appeal:

So why does Australia's ABC Radio (you can listen to the broadcast as well as read a transcript of it) ask on the transcript page of its "Religion Report":

Which Israeli Prime Minister in his youth was a member of an organization that offered to collaborate with the Nazis at the height of World War II, because of their shared racial ideology of blood and soil? This question is answered by American civil rights activist and Anti-Zionist Lenni Brenner, the author of "Zionism in the age of the dictators".

Yes ABC Radio in Australia did ask this question. Now, I never heard of Lenni Brenner, but Honest Reporting claims:

(Lenni Brenner's book was) a means to de-legitimize Israel as a fascist and Nazi state. Classical Holocaust deniers claim that the mass extermination of the Jews never took place or seek to minimize the numbers of the dead. Left-wing revisionists such as Brenner do not deny that mass murder took place but seek to blame Zionist Jews for the actions of the Nazis.

Do you notice how they link "Classical Holocaust deniers" and then go on to say "left-wing revisionists"- its subtle but what you get is this idea that left-wing revisionists are holocaust deniers and that makes Lenni Brenner a Holocaust denier.

Lenni Brenner, is wonderfully dismissed through guilt by association. His article that was published in Middle East International was reprinted in a Neo Nazi magazine, and that his book in 1986 was reprinted by a Neo-Nazi publishing house- one should infer, according to Honest Reporting that Brenner is supporting Neo-Nazi practices.

This is subtly done by associating his printing by that company with the printing of other books that deny the holocaust by disgusting individuals who are racists and bigots, making Lenni Brenner one too.

"Why has ABC indulged an extremist like Lenni Brenner?" asks Honest Reporting, maybe because Honest Reporting is a propaganda whore that has neither shame nor journalistic integrity to really show it self as a neutral source of information.

So take there advice and contact ABC and thank them for having integrity:

Click here - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/contact/

As for Lenni Brenner, I still do not know anything about this guy, so I googled him.

1. He is a Marxist, so Honest Reporting got that right
2. He was "prominent Civil Rights activist as well as opponent of the Vietnam war" Honest Reporting neglected to mention that
• He was organizing freedom rides to the South
• he worked on organizing the "I have Dream" speech event
3. He was born to an Orthodox Jewish family- ouch, so basically Honest Reporting is trying to say that he was a "self hating Jew" in just a few words
4. He is a druggie, did some ganja and got arrested for it, surprised Honest Reporting didn’t call him a drug dealer in their email
5. He co-founded the Committee Against Zionism and Racism with Kwume Ture (aka Stokley Carmicheal)
6. His article also appeared in the following places: The Nation, Amsterdam News, Jewish Guardian, Atlanta Constitution, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Middle East Policy, Middle East International, Journal of Palestine Studies, New Statesman, Al-Fajr and United Irishman. Honest Reporting neglected to leave these out of the list of places where it was re-published.

Now, what I read about Lenni Brenner, no where associates him with Neo-Nazi's. Neo-Nazi's and other extremists might like what he has to say, he can not control that.

Honest Reporting wants us to basically treat Brenner the way Israeli army treats Palestinians- guilt by association and demolishing homes and neighborhoods because of the actions of one individual in a family- Honest Reporting wants to promote hatred and bigotry and the suppression of ideas because it is counter to their perspective on Israel.

Support Electronic Intifada to counter disHONEST REPORTING propaganda.

'War on Terror': terrorizing Americans into consent

Its about time articles like this one by Zbigniew Brzezinski are published in the mainstream American press.

American Muslims as well as peace activists in the US and around the world have been bringing up the same points against the fear strategy called 'War on Terror' since the the very beginning of the 'War on Terror', but they were accused of being unpatriotic cowards, or worse, of supporting terrorism.

It is only now, over 5 years later, that such arguments are being heard and accepted by the American public.

Below are excerpts from the Brzezinski's article "Terrorized by 'War on Terror'" (emphasis mine):

The "war on terror" has created a culture of fear in America. The Bush administration's elevation of these three words into a national mantra since the horrific events of 9/11 has had a pernicious impact on American democracy, on America's psyche and on U.S. standing in the world.

The phrase itself is meaningless. It defines neither a geographic context nor our presumed enemies. Terrorism is not an enemy but a technique of warfare -- political intimidation through the killing of unarmed non-combatants.

But the little secret here may be that the vagueness of the phrase was deliberately (or instinctively) calculated by its sponsors. Constant reference to a "war on terror" did accomplish one major objective: It stimulated the emergence of a culture of fear. Fear obscures reason, intensifies emotions and makes it easier for demagogic politicians to mobilize the public on behalf of the policies they want to pursue. The war of choice in Iraq could never have gained the congressional support it got without the psychological linkage between the shock of 9/11 and the postulated existence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Support for President Bush in the 2004 elections was also mobilized in part by the notion that "a nation at war" does not change its commander in chief in midstream.

To justify the "war on terror," the administration has lately crafted a false historical narrative that could even become a self-fulfilling prophecy. By claiming that its war is similar to earlier U.S. struggles against Nazism and then Stalinism (while ignoring the fact that both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were first-rate military powers, a status al-Qaeda neither has nor can achieve), the administration could be preparing the case for war with Iran. Such war would then plunge America into a protracted conflict spanning Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and perhaps also Pakistan.

Government at every level has stimulated the paranoia. Consider, for example, the electronic billboards over interstate highways urging motorists to "Report Suspicious Activity" (drivers in turbans?). Some mass media have made their own contribution. The cable channels and some print media have found that horror scenarios attract audiences, while terror "experts" as "consultants" provide authenticity for the apocalyptic visions fed to the American public. Hence the proliferation of programs with bearded "terrorists" as the central villains. Their general effect is to reinforce the sense of the unknown but lurking danger that is said to increasingly threaten the lives of all Americans.

The entertainment industry has also jumped into the act. Hence the TV serials and films in which the evil characters have recognizable Arab features, sometimes highlighted by religious gestures, that exploit public anxiety and stimulate Islamophobia. Arab facial stereotypes, particularly in newspaper cartoons, have at times been rendered in a manner sadly reminiscent of the Nazi anti-Semitic campaigns. Lately, even some college student organizations have become involved in such propagation, apparently oblivious to the menacing connection between the stimulation of racial and religious hatreds and the unleashing of the unprecedented crimes of the Holocaust.

The atmosphere generated by the "war on terror" has encouraged legal and political harassment of Arab Americans (generally loyal Americans) for conduct that has not been unique to them.

The record is even more troubling in the general area of civil rights. The culture of fear has bred intolerance, suspicion of foreigners and the adoption of legal procedures that undermine fundamental notions of justice. Innocent until proven guilty has been diluted if not undone, with some -- even U.S. citizens -- incarcerated for lengthy periods of time without effective and prompt access to due process. There is no known, hard evidence that such excess has prevented significant acts of terrorism, and convictions for would-be terrorists of any kind have been few and far between. Someday Americans will be as ashamed of this record as they now have become of the earlier instances in U.S. history of panic by the many prompting intolerance against the few.

United States Commission on Civil Rights- Religious Accomadation for Muslim Inmates in California Facilities

Muslims in the Federal, State and Local Prison Facility



By Affad Shaikh

The following is a summary of testimony that was presented on Friday March 23, 2006 to the California State Advisory Committee, by me on the "State of Muslim Inmates Incarcerated in California Prisons". By providing this to you, I hope that it will help in trying to motivate our community to communicate, interact and actively volunteer to help our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated.

Thank you for this opportunity to present the state of affair for Muslim inmates incarcerated in California facilities. I am proud to be presenting this because it allows me to voice concern for the many Muslims inmates who have reported incidents to us.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a ...

CAIR's Civil Rights Department counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes. The department works to protect and defend the constitutional rights of American Muslims, thereby supporting the rights of all Americans.

Each year CAIR publishes a Civil Rights report outlining the status of American Muslims Civil Rights. I took the liberty of pulling some statistics relevant to our discussion today.

Nationally CAIR has seen a 7% increase in the total number of cases reported to our 32 offices across the United States. Prison cases in 2006, represented the 3rd highest reported category. These generally fall under issues involving religious accommodation for inmates, employees as well as visitors.

Our California offices- Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Area- have similar statistic's of cases reported from California's facilities. It is important to remember that the Federal Bureau of Prisons estimates that there are more then 5% of the prison population is Muslim. The majority of these inmates become Muslim while incarcerated.

CAIR is in the business of handling reports of cases and incidents, as such I am speaking specifically regarding the reports we receive, and this does not preclude that we have not seen or felt that positives steps have been taken at these facilities by prison officials.

Islam and Muslim Practices Pertinent to Incarcerated Muslims- brief overview.

I have to admit that the report that my survey of our four chapter presents a frustrated experience with trying to adjudicate these cases. The following is a conclusion we have received from many facilities we have asked to investigate cases or incidents:

"After conducting a thorough investigation, we reach the conclusion that there was no violation of inmate's rights"

You can imagine, how as community advocates this is a frustrating situation.

Muslim inmates report of being denied access to Muslim chaplains or not being informed of religious services. We have also had reports of Muslims not being allowed to pray Friday Congregational prayers. Muslim chaplains report to us that Muslims in the prisons are constantly trying to establish prayer, and in one persons words- "fighting to pray and don't have time to try to get halaal meals".

Dietary requirements for Muslims are a significant number of cases reported to us. In one instance we were informed that Muslim inmates were being forced to eat Pork because of a lack of dietary choices. In another incident, Muslim inmates report of being fed Pork while being told or seeing labels stating "Turkey". Prisoners complain that kosher meals are often provided, however, their dietary needs are not provided for. We encounter funding as an issue affecting the decision to provide hallal meat. Where there are large Muslim populations, these efforts have been possible but have however, ended with funding problems.

Receiving hard copies of the Quran or packages of soft cover reading material have on numerous occasions been returned to vendors and volunteer community organizations with no explanations. There have been cases of Quran's being found torn as a form of retaliation against Muslim inmates.

In other instances Muslim holidays are not recognized by prison officials- there are two critical holidays. One celebrating the end of Ramadan, the other celebrating the completion of the fifth pillar of Islam, and is celebrated by all Muslims.

Other issues include Muslim women who wear the hijab who are forced to remove the hijab. This includes visitors as well as Muslim women inmates. Increasingly, this is an issue that has arisen with Immigration Detention facilities- where there is also a complete lack of accountability in these facilities to religious accommodation, and these also include "for profit" facilities.

In conclusion, these facilities are difficult environments and we understand the desire and need to have a secure environment maintained by Peace Officers. There is policy that exists an is in place, and we have seen that there is a great deal of commitment to these policies from facility officials. However, from our experience with these cases have proven to be difficult in producing results that balance the security needs and the established Constitutional rights of incarcerated Muslims. I feel that Muslim inmates have religious accommodation as mandated by the policy, however, it is a constant challenge to safeguard and to uphold those practices.

A must-read for 21st century Muslims

The Christian Science Monitor called it one of the "Best Non-fiction Books of 2004". For those of you who know me, you've probably noticed my obsession with Tariq Ramadan's Western Muslims and The Future of Islam.

What do I like most about the book? Its comprehensiveness. The topics Ramadan discusses in this book include everything from spirituality to social commitment. He truly portrays Islam as a way of life; one that is not only compatible with but is necessary for the 21st century.

Ramadan does not just summarize texts or reword old ideas; he brings forth a new way of thinking. More importantly, it is one that is deeply rooted within Islamic scripture.

What makes this book more powerful is the language used. I will not attempt to rephrase Ramadan's words because I know I will fail miserably. I will however quote a few of my favourite statements from the book, in hope that this encourages people to read the book and think about the ideas and solutions proposed.

Introduction

"While our fellow citizens speak of this 'integration' of Muslims 'among us', the question for Muslims presents itself differently: their universal principles teach them that wherever the law respects their integrity and their freedom of conscience and worship, they are at home and must consider the attainments of these societies as their own and must involve themselves, with their fellow-citizens, in making it good and better. No withdrawal, no obsession with identity, on the contrary, it is a question of entering into authentic dialogue..." (pg 5)

Encounter with the Universal:

"The second teaching of the revelation is to invite individuals to a deep study of their own inner lives. The search for God and the sense of "the need of Him" may also arise from the indefinable work of looking inward that is required of each of us. The knowledge of God leads us to our self, and the knowledge of our self leads to God." (pg 13)


The Way (Al-Sharia)

"...the shahada translates the idea of "being Muslim", and the Sharia shows us "how to be and remain Muslim". This means that,..., that the Sharia is not only the expression of the universal principles of Islam but the framework and the thinking that makes for their actualization in human history." (pg 32)

Spirituality and Emotions

"Muslim spirituality, as we have said, is demanding and, through the Islamic teaching, touches all the dimensions of life. ... This humility [before God] should spread wide and deep through all areas of life: at every stage of working on one's self there will be a struggle against complacency, pride, and the pretentious human desire to succeed alone, using one's own resources (on the social, professional, political, or intellectual level)." (pg 122)

Toward a Reform of Islamic Education

"Public schools already teach the basic subjects, it is for Muslims to find complimentary, alternative, and original ways of providing the knowledge they judge to be essential to comply with the requirements of the message whose followers they are." (pg 137)

Social Commitment and Political Participation

"The liberating dimension of Islam insistently demands, on the basis of the universal principles, that reality be challenged in order that it be reformed, not that its deficiencies be added up in hope that we may at best adapt to them or at worst successfully protect ourselves from them. ... It is about getting out of the logic of exception and necessity and thinking of our presence in terms of faithfulness to principles in the strict sense." (pg 160)

"The globalization with which we are presented and that is imposed upon us today sanctions above all the absolute primacy of the logic of economics over every other consideration... The picture would be very dark were it not for a widespread movement of resistance: when faced with neoliberal economics, the message of Islam offers no way out but resistance." (pg 173)

Economic Resistance

"The rich countries, like the wealthy merchants of Mecca in times past, cannot fail to see a danger in local and national movements whose aim is to remove themselves from the "classical" economic system. ... The prohibition of riba, which is the moral axis around which the economic thought of Islam revolves, calls believers to reject categorically an order that respects only profit and scoffs at the values of justice and humanity." (pg 188)

"But zakah is anything but that: the levying of this purifying social tax,..., must be considered within the purpose of establishing a real system of collective solidarity and social security, women into the very fabric of society, that aims at freeing the poor from their dependence so that eventually they themselves will pay zakat." (pg 189)

Interreligious Dialogue

"Interreligious dialogue should be a meeting of "witnesses" who are seeking to live their faiths, to share their convictions, and to engage with one another for a more humane, more just world, closer to what God expects of humanity." (pg 208)

The Cultural Alternative

"To be Western Muslims is to confront reality with all its challenges and, sustained every day by the "need of Him", to take on all our responsibilities." (pg 223)

An Obession with MisInfromation

Or we can call it by what it is-

"Obsession: The Zionist Propaganda Machine"



Have you tuned into KROQ in the past month or so? KROQ happens to be my fall back radio station when I am depressed about the Iraq horror story and the Bush governments ineptitude- he's in South America with an olive branch, except all his speeches are about Hugo, can we call it an obsession? I was disturbed to hear a commercial on KROQ by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) sponsoring "Obession: Radical Islam's War Against the West".

Lets leave the fact that this advertisement was coming from the AJC- a staunchly Pro-Israel, before American Interest organization sponsoring something like this and look at what exactly this documentary is all about.

This so called documentary, according to the official website (from now on referenced as a Mockumentary)

compares the threat of Islamism with that of Nazism before World War II, and observes the parallels between Islamists and the Nazi Party during the War, specifically Adolf Hitler's relationship with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem as an inspiration for radical Islamic movements in the Middle East today.

Now that in itself is a lot to digest. But wait, here is a list of individuals who are the "experts" that are interviewed:

Nonie Darwish (the daughter of a Fedayeen terrorist), Alan M. Dershowitz, Steven Emerson, Brigitte Gabriel, Martin Gilbert, Caroline Glick, Alfons Heck, Glen Jenvey, John Loftus, Salim Mansur, Itamar Marcus, Khaleel Mohammed, Daniel Pipes, Tashbih Sayyed, Walid Shoebat, Khaled Abu Toameh, Robert Wistrich

Plus it seems that the Israeli government/military had no problem opening up their torture cells to suspect "terrorists"- I am surprised they didn't bring the women and children they hold in the prison to be interviewed as well- for mockumentary- read the wikipedia entry. Read this blog and you will get an idea of how you can make some major bank these days.

I think I will leave the analysis of the movie once I watch it but you can read about a Muslim experience here. However, it is important to focus on this aspect for those of you not familiar because this sets up the tone of where this mockumentary is coming from which allows you to understand why this is no bona fide documentary but rather a propaganda piece.

Honest Reporting is the responsible party- they produced this mockumentary. But is Honest Reporting really what it says it is- honest implies unbiased, neutral, fact driven reporting? Or does it imply one version, one side, one perspective? Here is some information that will help your understanding of Honest Reporting.

First- Honest Reporting was cited by the London Guardian as an Israeli Propaganda mouth piece. Ouch. If you read the article, you will see that Honest Reporting was calling the Israeli bombing of a Red Cross Ambulances in the recent Lebanon war a "hoax"- imagine something that grave and serious being called a hoax and Honest Reporting championing that mantle.3

Human Rights Watch issued this report to rebut the claims made and then propagated by Honest Reporting-here.

Second- What is Honest Reporting? Well according to Honest Reporting they area a media watchdog group that monitors the media for negative portrayals of Israel. So that must be some slant to this right?

Third- If you think Honest Reporting passes as a legitimate honest broker on negative Israeli reporting then its worth checking out how Honest Reporting got it start. Honest Reporting was founded by Aish Ha Torah- they take pride in creating this media monster. But see Aish Ha Torah, in their own bubble, believe that Honest Reporting is legitimate. Aish Ha Torah is a radical, fringe right wing extremist movement in Israeli society. They are not entitled to represent any sort of "objectivity" since the founder of this group felt that "20,000 Jews were being lost" due to them marrying outside of the Jewish race- is that such a bad thing to marry outside one's race, I tell my mom the benefits of this all the time? But basically they are racial elitist that view Israel as a sacred cow that is beyond criticism and Zionism and Judiasim being one and the same- which is not the case!

Obsession the mockumentary really is just another propaganda piece being put out by right-wing extremist!

Going back to KROQ. For a main stream, all access media outlet to take advertisements on such a propaganda piece is disturbing, but understandable. The advertisement department isn't looking into what this is about but rather how much money it will bring in. So it was nice to have Muslims call in and complain about this. The best description of such a conversation is as follows*:

KROQ- You know this is a Freedom of speech issue, you say one thing they say another.

Muslim- I understand that but as KROQ you have listener from all strips.

KROQ- Whats wrong with them paying for the spot, technically its not our message, they paid for the air space.

Muslim- Okay, so let me get this straight, if i pay for an ad, you would play it regardless of content?

KROQ- Yes and no, we have to follow FCC guidelines.

Muslim- I understand but if i pay you will play it meeting FCC guidelines?

KROQ- yes

Muslim- Okay i will pay you money to make an ad that says slavery was good for America and that it would solve our immigration problem and that Jews were responsible for most of the social ills today. The organization sponsoring it is Americans for a Clean America. That's what AJC and the movie Obsession is to me.

Case closed.

*this is not me, I wish I thought of it but it isn't me. Also the conversation didn't occur precisely this way, this just how i remember it.

Muslamics?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

M U S L A M I C S

an explanation

Why Muslamics, you say? The term Muslamics is a cross between Muslims and Islam, and makes light of the many erroneous labels places upon Muslims.

There has always been a gap in understanding between those who have lived in traditional European or Western societies, and those who live in Muslim-dominated lands. This gap has led to an astounding ignorance in the West about what Islam is and who Muslims are; therefore, often you will find those in the West fearing Muslims because they do not understand them.

At the most superficial level, this has led to demonizing through words. For instance, as the popular Muslim comedian Azhar Usman says, you call him "Sad-DAMN" not "Sa-dam." For Muslims, there have been numerous labels within popular culture - Mohamatens, Moslems, Islamics...many of these hold negative connotations.

As Muslims living in America, we are a part of a daily struggle to define ourselves and forge new identities, at a time when our community, and specifically Muslim activists, are in the limelight. Part of this struggle is to reclaim our language. We are proud to be Muslims, and we are proud to follow Islam, and we believe it is part of our duty to convey to others who we are and what we stand for. Therefore, we will take the name Muslamics - originally used as a derogatory term against Muslims - and expose the ignorance behind it, as well as give it meaning.

Muslamics stands for Muslims, living in the West, striving to redefine their identities and standing for what Islam truly is.