VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 222, April 7, 2013

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

EDITORIAL:

 

In this E-Zine we have highlighted news about Muslims in Russia, opening of a Mosque after a period of 90 years in Thessaloniki,Greece, Muslims in Scotland, England and the US. Though the topic of music in Islam does not resonate that often, we decided to include it in this E-Zine. We as usual touched on interfaith issues and also included a unusual topic pertaining to “haram fish” and the way the global ummah specially our Muslim sisters rejected the topless protests. Below is one of the three videos that we have in all the 222 issues of VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH felt very strongly as a "must see" video.

Below is a "must see" video for each and every single (internet literate) Muslim in the entire world / Global Ummah. 

 

PART I: POSITIVE NEWS: 

Part I-a

 Russia in New Move on Islam Study
www.salamworld.com

MOSCOW – A Russian government decision to hammer out a degree program for Islam study is gaining mixed reactions, with some hail the move for helping better prepare experts on the Islamic faith, while others see it as an attempt to counter extremism.

“Students will study for three or five years without going abroad,” Damir Gizatullin, first deputy head of the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of European Russia and Siberia, told The Voice of Russia on Tuesday, March 5.

“They will get education that will be in line with our long-standing principles of peaceful coexistence, something that remains our cherished dream.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the government will hammer out a single Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program on Islam study within three months.

Supporters say the move would help remove problems facing Russians studying Islam. There are no academic institutions or universities for Russians interested in studying Islam. Currently, Russians seeking to study Islam are trained at secular and religious educational institutions.

“What we currently see in Russia are Islamic secondary schools, or madrasahs, rather than academies or universities, where students should get more knowledge regarding theological subjects, Muslim law and history,” said Denga Khalidov, head of the Center for Islam Ethnopolitics Studies in Moscow.

The Russian Federation is home to some 23 million Muslims in the north of the Caucasus and southern republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan. Islam is Russia’s second-largest religion representing roughly 15 percent of its 145 million predominantly Orthodox population.

For the full article, please check out: http://www.salamworld.com/russia-in-new-move-on-islam-study/#.UV1bfjdMAwo

Part I-b

  Islamic Jurisprudence Contest for Muslim University Students Planned in Russia

(abna.ir) March 30, 2013

 

A contest on Islamic jurisprudence will be held for Muslim university students and seminarians on April 24 at the Islamic University of Moscow, Russia.

 (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The competition will be organized by the Islamic university in cooperation with Russia’s Muftiat Council. The participants will compete on religious issues and Islamic injunctions on prayers, fasting, Hajj, etc. A group of experts in religious fields, members of the council and scholars of the university will supervise the competition. 

 

 Part I-c

 Greek Mosque Opens For Prayer For First Time in 90 years
          04 April 2013

Athens, Thursday, 23 Jamad Al-Awwal 1434/04 April 2013 (IINA) – 

A 111 year-old mosque in  Thessaloniki, Greece, opened its doors to Muslim worshippers for the first time in 90 years on Saturday, according to Hürriyet Daily News.

(Hurriyet Daily News)

Kerin Uras, Turkey’s ambassador to Greece, said that reopening the mosque is “a  positive step in the right direction. We’re expecting the rest to come. I hope  Athens will also be a place where Muslims can pray.” Tugrul Biltekin, Turkey’s Thessaloniki consul general, said “I am so happy about this historical development.  I hope mosques in Thessaloniki and other locations in the region will be open to Muslims during holy days.” The Mosque was constructed by Vitaliano Poselli, an Italian  architect, in 1902. However, it was closed for prayer in 1923. Between 1925 to 1963 the mosque was used as an archaeology museum and was later used as the Thessaloniki Municipality’s exhibition hall.

HA/IINA

Part I-d

 Glasgow Muslims Await Opening of First High School 

 04 April 2013
Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, 23 Jamad Al-Awwal 1434/04 April 2013 (IINA)

www.onislam.net

(condensed version)  

(The new school is planned to be named The Islamic Institute to offer private secondary education to boys and girls, as well as a nursery)

CAIRO – Filling an important void in their educational process, the Muslim community in Scotland’s largest city of Glasgow is awaiting the opening of their first Islamic school.“We think this is a very positive thing and we hope it will be a very successful center of learning,” a spokesperson for the Glasgow Community Education Association (GCEA) told Scotsman. 

  

Muslims have floated plans to build the first Islamic school in Glasgow with donations from parents, businessmen and community members. 

  

The new school is planned to be named "The Islamic Institute"  to offer private secondary education to boys and girls, as well as a nursery. The GCEA’s website asks for donations to help fund the school. A fundraising dinner was held last week to raise funds for the school, and a women-only ­bazaar is to be held in Govanhill on Monday. “The GCEA has purchased Abbotsford House at a total price of £400,000 with the intention of opening an Islamic Secondary School (Boys and Girls) and Nursery,” a GCEA posting on Facebook states. “Please donate generously and remember you will not only be investing in your children but also in your own Akhirah (afterlife),” the Facebook posting continues. “Take advantage of this great opportunity to be able to give Sadaqah Jaariyah (Perpetual Charity) before it’s too late. This will be the first successful Islamic secondary school in all of Scotland!

But more recently, the Qalam Academy has been set up in Glasgow’s Pollokshields, and an independent Islamic Educational Institute is providing primary education. Glasgow lawmaker Hanzala Malik said the success of the school would depend upon the organization behind it. …. “But the most important issue here is not whether it is a ­religious school or a secular school, but whether the pupils going to the school will benefit from it.” There are already a number of Islamic secondary schools in England. They include the Darul Uloom Islamic High School in Birmingham dubbed the “Eton of Islam”. Scotland is home to more than 500,000 Muslims, making up less than one percent of the population. Muslims are the second largest religious group in the country, which has thirty mosques.
HA/IINA

Part I-e 

(ED NOTE:  The World Hijab Day and the challenge to wear the hijab initiatives taken across many nations is an awesome initiative and we strongly encourage such initiatives to increase much more across the non-muslim world. In below article, it is very important to take a note of what our newly converted Muslima has told, especially as it pertains to Muslims being "narrow minded" about different interpretations of Quran (from her personal interactions). We need to ask ourselves of whether there may be some truth to her above statements or not. If you had personal interactions with  new Muslim converts, try to recall the responses you may have given or the responses you may have heard that  your brothers or sisters may have given. Please don't forget unlike most born Muslims who take Islam for granted, the new converts personally anticipating and possibly experiencing personal losses in terms of family & social relationships still had the courage to be bold enough to pursue what they felt was the right belief system to build their life upon. We need to be much more sensitive, tolerant and open-minded while responding or clarifying to their questions. Please remember that they have literally just got their feet wet by entering the world of Islam and it is an entirely new experience for them. Responding to them in a rigid, narrow minded fashion is counter productive. In our personal opinion the other common complaint that we heard from new converts is that although initially after they told the shahada, they get hugs and words of congratulations & encouragement but later for many of them, there are  no follow ups. On one  hand they may be alienated by some of their own loved ones and friends and to compensate such loss, they expected the Muslim community members to literally step up to the plate and be there for them. Not in all, but in many cases, this does not happen. This is an area of improvement for the Muslims. If you truly care for your new brother or sister who has entered the fold of Islam, you need to follow up with them in whatever ways  you can feasibly or realistically follow up.  On an Islamic organizational structural basis, we recommend that if feasible, each Islamic Center have a DAWAA committee that could have as part of their protocol to be an on-going resource to assist the new Muslim convert to gradually  assimilate within the local Muslim community) 

 

One-day Hijab Leads Young Briton to Islam

 OnIslam 

 02 April 2013

     

“I then began reading the Qur’an and the words in the Qur’an seemed logical and clear, rather than in the Bible where they tend to waffle," Jess said

CAIRO – A one-day experience of wearing hijab has led a 21-year-old Briton to read more about Islam and eventually embracing the religion.

“I took part in the first World Hijab Day and challenged myself to wear the hijab for a month,” Jessica Rhodes told Muslim Mirror. “I then began reading the Qur’an and the words in the Qur’an seemed logical and clear, rather than in the Bible where they tend to waffle.”

Rhodes, from Norwich, was among scores of non-Muslims around the world who donned hijab as part of the annual World Hijab Day on February 1. The event was meant to clear misconceptions that the headscarf, an obligatory code of dress, is a symbol of suppression of women in Islam.

After wearing the outfit, Rhodes says that she could not remember what it felt like to go without wearing hijab. After the experience, Rhodes began to read more about Islam to know better about the religion.

“I also did some research into Islam as a whole and felt that it was an inclusive religion that could give me the answers I was looking for,” she said.

Deciding to revert to Islam, Rhodes was met with mixed reactions to her conversion. "It was a bag of mix,” she recalled.  “Parents were not happy but they accept my decision. My in-laws have been extremely supportive,” Rhodes said.  "My friends are unfortunately a mixed bag – some are happy with my decision, others want to argue with me about it, and still others walked out of my life altogether.” “Narrow-minded”

The young Briton complains that many Muslims fail to reach out to new converts to help them know better about Islam.  “I have had some support, but not many people seem to want to reach out to me,” Rhodes lamented. "It is always me asking for help.”

She says that many Muslims are “narrow-minded” about different interpretation of the Qur’an.

“When I go and ask questions, people quote the Qur’an at me and do not seem open to a convert’s interpretation of the Qur’an,” Rhodes said.

“They can improve this by being more open-minded to other interpretations, because it is not just Westerners who can be narrow-minded, misguided etc.”

The young Briton also complains that the reaction of some Muslims sometimes leads her to consider going back on her conversion.

“Sometimes I am unsure – the reaction from most of the Muslims that I have spoken to has led me to feel like I should leave Islam and go back to paganism as in that religion I was given a choice about how I practice my religion, and nobody cared if I did things my way or another way,” she said.

“As for the Muslim ummah… that is in the hands of Allah. If people worldwide, of all walks of life, are more open-minded perhaps we can move forward,” Rhodes said. “But if not, we will simply continue to be in a mire of misconceptions, anger and pointless wars.”

Britain is home to a Muslim community of nearly 2.5 million. 

 

 

Part I:f

 

USA

Judge gives Green Light to Islamic Center in DuPage Co.

March 30, 2013

www.dailyherald.comBy Elena Ferrarin

(condensed version)

 

A federal judge found in favor of an Islamic group's request to build an educational center near Naperville, after it was rejected by the DuPage County Board more than three years ago.

 
The federal lawsuit against DuPage County was filed in April 2010, three months after DuPage County Board voted 10-7 to deny a conditional-use permit for the Irshad Learning Center, which purchased a property at 25W030 75th St. in unincorporated DuPage County near Naperville.

The lawsuit was filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations on behalf of administrators of the center, claiming its constitutional rights were violated.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer found in her Friday ruling no evidence that the county board denied the permit on the basis of discrimination, but found its decision to be "arbitrary and capricious."

For the complete article, please check out: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130330/news/703309909/?interstitial=1

 

Part I-g:

(USA) 

Meet Our 7th Annual Banquet Award Recipients

March 29, 2013 

www.cairoklahoma.com

Each year, CAIR Oklahoma honors individuals that have served in the Oklahoma community, have made courageous stances for the rights of Oklahomans, and perhaps most importantly, set forth an example for how we can make Oklahoma a better place for us all to live. This year, as we prepare for our 7th Annual CAIR Oklahoma Award Banquet, we are honored to announce the recipients of our Building Bridges Interfaith Leadership Award and Faith in Action Youth Leadership Award. Both awards will be presented at our awards banquet, make sure and register online today to join us there!!

Building Bridges Interfaith Leadership Award: 

The Rev. Dr. William Tabbernee

 

Before taking up his new position as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, Dr. William Tabbernee was President and Stephen J. England Distinguished Professor of the History of Christianity at Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1991 to 2009.

As the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, Dr. Tabbernee has worked tirelessly to build bridges among faith groups throughout the state of Oklahoma. Part of his bridge building has been the inclusion of the Oklahoma Muslim community in the Religions United Committee of Oklahoma. Additionally, Dr. Tabbernee has been a staunch supporter of the civil rights & liberties of Oklahoma Muslims and Oklahoman's of all faiths.

Dr. Tabbernee played a critical role in CAIR Oklahoma's victory of one of the major civil liberties cases of 2012 involving the Oklahoma Banker's Association, CAIR Oklahoma, and the ACLU of Oklahoma. Dr. Tabbernee's stance on civil liberties concerns of Oklahoma Muslims are a stance of behalf of all Oklahomans seeking equality and social justice in the state of Oklahoma.

Faith in Action Youth Leadership Award: Abdurrahman Kabani

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Syrian immigrant parents, Abdurrahman Kabani graduated from Dove Science Academy in Tulsa, OK, prior to completing his undergraduate degree by obtaining a Bachelors of Science from the University of Oklahoma in Microbiology. During his time in Norman, OK, Kabani served on the Board of OU's Muslim Student Association from 2009 - 2011 and served as President of Sooners for Peace in Palestine in 2011.

Abdurrahman Kabani is also a graduate of CAIR Oklahoma's Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) having attended as a participant in 2009 and 2010, and serving as a MYLS youth lead captain in 2011 and 2012. Kabani has also been a lead volunteer at CAIR Oklahoma banquets since 2009.

Upon returning to Tulsa, OK, in 2011, Abdurrahman Kabani aided in the revival of Islamic Society of Tulsa's Youth Group along with a group of dedicated young Tulsans. Currently  Kabani is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Health at OU Tulsa campus while still finding time to regularly volunteer at Tulsa's Surayya Anne Foundation and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Most recently, Kabani has founded the Islamic Society of Tulsa Running club as a way for Tulsa Muslims to get fit in a positive environment. 

Part I-h

 (USA) 

 

(ED NOTE:  

Below is a very positive news. At a time when atheism is slowly but gradually gaining ground while the commitment of the non-Muslims in practicing their individual faith is gradually eroding, it is a positive point to note that there is a significant increase in Muslim students seeking to pray in public schools in the US. We appreciate the open mindedness of the School Principle, teachers and also the college faculty to reasonably accomodate the needs of Muslim students. Please remember that the individual who prays is statistically more unlikely to be involved in gangs, drugs, violence, unwed pregnancies, carrier of sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and last but not the least will not be a BULLY creating anxiety and terror to other weaker students. All a major plus point for any school. We would argue that the US is a great place to practice Islam. The male editor of this E-Zine has been a minority in his Asian country of birth  and a minority in this great country of USA. As a student when the male editor did his salaat in his country of birth,  at an educational institution and was in a sajdah  position, a non Muslim senior came and stood in front and said "I am your God", which was  insulting. However  when the male editor as a student  did his salaat within the library at an  American University, a staff later respectfully offered the key to a room within the library that was not being used and stated that he could pray without any interruptions of students passing by the book shelves. LONG LIVE AMERICA). 

 

 American High School Accommodates Muslim Prayer Times 

 AL ARABIYA
www.english.alarabiya.net

 

There has been a significant increase in Muslim students seeking to pray in public schools in the U.S., according to The Washington Post one Marlyand high school has found a way to accommodate them.

The Principal, Cheryl J. Logan, says that those students with parental permission and high grades receive a pass to leave class and pray every day.

10 Muslims at Parkdale High School are permitted to leave class for eight minutes each day to pray together on campus, Logan said that one student is working hard to raise his grades so he is able to join the group.

The young people are part of the Muslim students’ association.

Logan stated that when the Muslim students had initially started praying during the school day it upset some of the Christian teachers. They told the students “it was a Christian school.”

The principal went on to explain the situation to the students; public schools are not religious but are legally able to accommodate students who wish to practice their religion.

“I’ve been real happy with how we’ve been able to deal with it without it becoming an issue,” she said.

Charles Haynes, the director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum, an interactive museum of news and journalism based in Washington, has said that allowing Muslim students to pray is “certainly permissible” under the U.S. Constitution though probably not required.

For the complete article please check out:  Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/29/263217.html

 

Part I-i

United Kingdom

Newcastle United Creates Prayer Room for Muslim Players

April 5, 2013

www.rohama.org 

( Above website is for  THE UNION OF ISLAMIC WORLD  STUDENTS)

 

Britain’s Newcastle United football team has created a special prayer room for its Muslim players at their stadium, reported the Daily Mirror.

Seven members of the first team are devout followers of Islam and previously used various rooms in the stadium complex to perform their prayers before a game.

An insider said: "We believe we now have more Muslims in our first team squad than any other team in the Premier League, so it is important to look after them,” according to the Daily Mirror. "They have been using various rooms at the ground to worship before games. Now they will get a proper prayer room.”

Seven first team stars – Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Massadio Haidara, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Moussa Sissoko and Mehdi Abeid- are practicing Muslims.

Former striker Demba Ba, who now plays for Chelsea, would routinely lead team-mates in prayer, stated the newspaper. "Prayer has become an important part of the build up to big games,” the insider was quoted as saying.

"Demba was the most devout of all the players. He would regularly pray before big games, and be joined by team-mates. It helped build a bond between them.” 

 

 

PART II:

 

MUSIC AND ISLAM

Part II-a:

 An Excerpt from “900 years Reviving the Spirit of Andalusia

 (Muslim Spain)” on the vast musical tradition in the Spanish Islamic society, which is not often acknowledged by both Muslims and non-Muslims. 

(www.muslimvillage.com) 
 April 6, 2013 

 Filed under: Hamza Yusuf,Islamic, MV TV 

 Posted by: MV Media

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX68NGlRpOg&feature=youtu.be

  Part II-b:

Gangnam Gaza Style: Palestinians remake viral video to showcase hardships

www.rt.com

  Published on Feb 1, 2013
https://www.facebook.com/GangnamGazaS...
Gangnam Gaza Style.

Gangnam Gaza Style

A mobile phone, a sense of humor and an internet connection were all a group of Palestinians needed to illustrate the hardships they face every day. The men made a parody of the South Korean hit ‘Gangnam Style’, naming it ‘Gangnam Gaza Style.’

The entertaining video shows five adult Palestinians and one child dancing in identical outfits. But it’s not all fun and games – because in between the dance moves, the men showcase the troubles of the region.

A handwritten sign taped to one of the singer’s backs has the word ‘unemployment’ spelled out in English and Arabic. Later on, the group’s car runs out of gas, causing them to push it – while walking backwards and continuing their ‘Gangnam Style’ dance. They arrive at a service station, only to realize that a sign stating ‘no fuel’ is covering the gas pump. After realizing no gasoline is available, the men are forced to ride donkeys as their mode of transport.

“The message is about our suffering, prisoners, unemployment, and lack of electricity that causes us problems,” group member Walid Afaghani told Reuters.

The United Nations estimates that Gaza unemployment is currently at more than 40 per cent, while local economists put the figure at around 60 per cent.

Relaying such a hefty message to the world was surprisingly easy for the young men – the video was filmed entirely on a mobile phone, and no fancy editing or directing was used during production.

“Our instruments are simple ones…thank God we can send a message to the world through our mobile phones,” group leader Muhamnad Barakat said.

The conditions are a result of the Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Tel Aviv imposed restrictions on trade to Gaza in 2001 following a Palestinian uprising and tightened them once again in 2007 after Hamas seized power in the coastal enclave adjacent to Egypt. 

The Palestinian Authority – especially the Gaza Strip – is facing a severe financial crisis. It relies heavily on money from donor countries to stay afloat. However, it is deeply in debt to banks and the private sector.

“The Palestinian Authority is in deep financial trouble and the economy has been taking a nosedive in recent years because of the lack of a clear economic policy and the restriction imposed by Israel on Palestinian imports and exports,” Economist Mohsen Abu Ramadan told Press TV.

The video’s soundtrack is a cover of Psy's ‘Gangnam Style,’ which was the most Googled term of 2012 and became the first online video to reach 1 billion hits on the internet.  The song mocks Seoul’s Gangnam District, whose residents have a reputation for being upper-class and pretentious.

PART III:

INTERFAITH AND POLITICS:

Russian Christians, Muslims and Jews Launch Political Party  

www.philotimo-leventia.blogspot.com

Feb 19, 2013

Christians of various confessions supported by Muslims, Jews and even some agnostics have gathered for a founding convention of the Ten Commandments Party – a secular movement which seeks to establish religious ethical principles in the society.

The founding convention hosted 134 delegates from 45 different regions of Russia. The  head of the newly-established movement is Sergey Mezentsev – a professional philosopher  and the leader of the Blissful Russia movement.

PART IV:

SAMPLE OF ISLAMIC WORKSHOPS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

(a) Idarah Ma'ruf presents:

BECOMING WOMEN OF JANNAH

Date: Sunday 7th April 2013

Time: 10.30 am - 4.30 pm

Venue: Muslim World League, 46 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia, 

London, W1T 4LU

 

A one-day seminar providing great spiritual upliftment insha-Allah whilst giving practical solutions and ideas for improving ourselves, our relationships and our communities. Features include talks on The Ideal Muslimah and A Better Me for Better Relationships. Then there will be interactive du'a memorisation followed by a lecture on Why We Must Appeal to Our Sense of Shame. The seminar concludes with an interactive workshop: Storytelling - How a Pearl Develops. Registration fee is £2.50 with payment at the door. Hot Lunch will be served. All sisters are welcome. For further information please e-mail: idarah.maruf@ gmail.com

( b) ONCE UPON A TIME:

Date: Sunday 7th April 2013

Time: 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm

Venue: 119-121 Grove Road, Walthamstow, 

London, E17 9BU

 

An event for sisters featuring talks on Tangled in the Dunya, Little Muslim in the Hood, and Happily Ever After. No boys over 10 years. 

Refreshments and stalls will be available. 

For further information please contact: Tel: 07895 224 611; E-mail: ummhanaa@hotmail.co.uk

 

(c) Tayyibun Institute presents:

DISEASES OF THE HEART AND ITS CURES

Date: Saturday 13th April 2013

Time: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm

Venue: London Muslim Centre, 46-80 

Whitechapel Road,

London, E1 1JX

This 7th Annual Conference will consist of short inspiring and educational lectures delivered by eminent scholars and speakers, mesmerising Qur'an recitations by some of the world's renowned reciters attending in person from Central Arabia, fundraising for charity, launch of projects, and much more. The focus of this year's conference is the condition of the heart, and in this regard Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rh) said: "Yearning for Allah and His meeting is like the gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, extinguishing the blaze of the Dunya. Whosoever caused his heart to settle with his Lord shall be in a state that is calm and tranquil, and whosoever sent it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed."

 

Guest speakers include Shaykh Hamad At-Tuwaijiri, Shaykh Abdur, Raheem McCarthy, Shaykh Khalid Al-Habashi, Dr Jamil Al-Qudsi, Ustadh Wasim Kempson. Special guest reciters of the Qur'an include Qari Abu Bakr Shatri, Qari Ibrahim Jibreen, amongst others. 

 

 Be amongst the thousands of brothers and sisters who attend on the day. 

Admission is free but to secure your seat you are requested to register in advance online.

 

For further information please contact:

Tel: 020 7702 7254

E-mail: info@tayyibun. com

Website: http://www.tayyibun .com/event

 

 PART V:

CHALLENGES FACED BY MUSLIMS: 

Part V-a

 Europe Muslims Want Fatwa on ‘Haram’ Fish
www.salamworld.com

(condensed version)

April 3, 2013

CAIRO – A European Union’s decision to reapprove the use of reconstituted animal and pork protein in fish feed is alarming Muslim minorities across Europe, who turn their eyes to religious organizations for a fatwa on the issue

 

 

“Muslim immigrants face a major dilemma,” Emad Sharqawi, an Egyptian restaurant owner in Brussels, told Al-Masry Al-Youm. “Large numbers eat fish to avoid eating unknown meat and avoid any suspicion of eating pork in restaurants or products in the markets.”

Last month, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) reapproved the use of reconstituted animal protein in fish feed from June 2013.

But the decision, which comes in the throes of a horsemeat scandal in Europe, has raised alarm among Muslim communities in the continent. Muslims do not eat pork and consider pigs and their meat filthy and unhealthy to eat.

The use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in farm feed was banned by the EU executives in 1997 for cattle, and in 2001 for all animals, after they were linked to the spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow disease.

According to the Commission, the feed could “improve the long term durability of the fisheries sector”. “These PAPs could be a precious substitute for fish flours, which are a rare resource,” it added. The Commission says that their reintroduction does not pose a health risk, as long as it does not involve cannibalism. “It complies with the latest scientific opinions which say that risk of transmission of BSE between non-ruminant animals is negligible, provided there is no recycling between species.”

 

Fatwa

Muslim minorities are now awaiting fatwas from main religious organizations on how to deal with the situation. “It is very crucial [to have a decision] and we trust Islamic organizations in Egypt [will rule] on the matter,” said Gharib Radwan, an Egyptian driver living in Brussels.

“As Egyptians, we expect a fatwa from Al-Azhar, particularly since Al-Azhar has a prominent position in the Islamic world,” he added.

“There is confidence in the fatwas issued by the institution not only by Egyptians, but in communities in other Muslim countries.”

In Islam, all fish are halal, or permissible, by nature.

For the complete article, check out: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/461615-haram-fish-troubles-european-muslims.html

 

Part V-b

 

Russian Muslims Challenge Law Banning Hijabs in School

  

By: RAPSI

Source: Rapsinews:

PYATIGORSK, February – RAPSI. 

(condensed version) 

A court in the Stavropol Territory in southern Russia is looking into a lawsuit against the new school uniform requirements which include a ban on wearing head dresses, such as Muslim hijabs, in class, RIA Novosti reported on Monday.

Moscow lawyer Murad Musayev has reportedly filed a lawsuit on behalf of Muslims in Stavropol Territory, seeking to overturn the regional government’s resolution on the introduction of school uniforms.

There are approximately 20 million Muslims in Russia. Most live in the North Caucasus, as well as in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.

For the complete article, check out: http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20130211/266374922.html

Part V-c

World Muslims Reject Topless Protests

 05 April 2013

www.onislam.net 

 

(Photo exp: Using social media sites, some Muslim women have posted photographs of themselves holding placards with messages to Femen. )

CAIRO – In a protest against topless feminist activists staged in front of mosques across Europe, a group of Muslim women has launched an online campaign to celebrate their hijab and object to the way they are depicted in the west.

"Muslimah [Female Muslim] pride is about connecting with your Muslim identity and reclaiming our collective voice,” the event organizer Sofia Ahmed, wrote on Facebook, Aljazeera reported.

“Let's show the world that we oppose Femen and their use of Muslim women to reinforce Western imperialism." 

 
Using social media sites, some Muslim women have posted photographs of themselves holding placards with messages to Femen such as "Nudity does not liberate me - and I do not need saving". Other women held placards reading "Femen can't tell me what I can and can't wear". The online protest, held under the title “Muslimah Pride Day”,  followed demonstrations staged by topless women near mosques and Tunisian embassies across Europe on Thursday to express support for FEMEN activist Amina Tyler. 

 

Tyler, a Tunisian activist, sparked a massive controversy in mid-March by posting topless photos of herself on Facebook, with the slogans "Fuck Your Morals" and "My Body Belongs To Me, And Is Not The Source Of Anyone’s Honor," painted on her body. The April 4 "Topless Jihad Day" was recognized across European capitals such as Berlin, Kiev and Paris. The event was organized by FEMEN, a feminist Ukrainian protest group based in Kiev that was founded in 2008. "We're free, we're naked, it's our right, it's our body, it's our rules, and nobody can use religion, and some other holy things, to abuse women, to oppress them," FEMEN member Alexandra Shevchenko said in Berlin, according to AFP.  "And we'll fight against them. And our boobs will be stronger than their stones," she added. Police in Kiev detained two young activists with "Free Amina" on their exposed chests immediately after their arrival in front of the city's only mosque. Around two dozen topless feminists in Paris whose bodies were tagged with "No Islamists" and "No Sharia" tried to approach the Tunisian embassy but were deterred by police as they emerged from the subway, according to a photographer with the AFP news agency. In Brussels, a small group of women stripped to the waist gathered in front of the Grand Mosque shouting "Free Amina", while three protested briefly outside the Tunisian consulate in Milan.
Great Support

Protesting the way in which the west portrays Muslim women, a huge number of Muslims joined the online protest against FEMEN hateful message. 

 

“I am happy and grateful to wear hijab,” Noor Firdosi wrote on the Facebook event page. “It is my body and my choice.” The event drew support from Muslim men as well.

“I am proud of you Muslim Women. You are protected and you are respected,” Naseer Ahmad Ban wrote.

Support, however, was not limited to Muslims as an American woman, using facebook account ‘Melody Church’, criticized Femen’s hateful message. 

 

“As an American, I am ashamed of FEMEN's actions; I hope the rest of the world doesn't think we're all that ignorant,” she wrote. "Most American women won't disgrace themselves in such a manner, especially under the headline of such a hateful message.”

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations. Islam, as a divine religion, sets down rules that strike a balance between men's responsibilities and women's rights. Woman is recognized by Islam as the full and equal partner of the man in the procreation of humankind. By this partnership, she has an equal share in every aspect. She is entitled to equal rights, she undertakes equal responsibilities, and she has as  many qualities and as much humanity as her partner.

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts)
April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post  

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post   

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post  

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post  

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post   

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post   

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post  

Muslim Women Against FEMEN

(Eline Gordts) April 5, 2012
The Huffington Post   

The End 

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 221, March 31, 2013

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficial and the Most Merciful

 

(

(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)

 

ISLAM IN PRACTICE:

For a Happy Marriage…

by xeniagreekmuslimah

If you want your marriage to be to the tee, here are some of the Ts to watch:

Taqwa (consciousness) of the Almighty.

Trust one another. Don't give reason to mistrust.

Time spent with one another maximised. Don't be late to come home unnecessarily.

Tongue must be used to say the kindest words. Never vulgar or abusive.

Talk to one another & communicate properly.

Truthfulness never to be compromised.

Tolerance of the differences here and there.

Thanks & gratitude must be shown clearly and repeated verbally.

Thoughtfulness & tact in your actions & words especially when correcting one another.

Troublemakers should never be a part of your friends.

Technology & telephones must be used to enhance your marriage, not to break it as many do.

Tea and meals at home with family - absolutely priceless.

Tahajjud (prayer) adds great value & spirituality whilst protecting from Satan.

By Mufti Ismail Menk

EDITORIAL:

We would like to focus  this issue to be on the positive aspects of Muslims. For every negative stereotype of Islam and Muslims that is hyped up in certain media sources, there are hundreds of positive unreported actions by  Muslims across the globe that are geared towards love, peace and harmony, thanks to the Holy Quran as Allah's primary source of guidance.  

 

PART I: POSITIVE NEWS:

Part I-a

 Saudi- (King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals) KFUPM ranks among top 100 world universities  

MENAFN - 

Arab News 

March 31, 2013 

(MENAFN - Arab News) 

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) has been ranked 94th on a list of the 100 top universities established less than 50 years ago. The ranking was published in the Higher Education Supplement of the Times newspaper.

KFUPM and an Egyptian university were the only two Arab universities on the list, a local newspaper reported. Other universities in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil and Malaysia made the list along with the majority of Western universities.

"The university aims to achieve the highest standards of scientific quality," said Dr. Omar Suwailem, dean of the engineering department at KFUPM. The university seeks to keep up with new developments in higher education and research, he added. He said the ranking was not the goal of the university. "Our main goal is to improve outputs of graduates, to be highly skilled and competitive leaders," he said.

Former coordinator of the World Bank's tertiary education program, Jamil Salmi, wrote an article in the Times supplement, saying Saudi Arabia needs world class universities to improve education.

King Abdul Aziz University has achieved similar success. It was also mentioned among top international universities in the 2012-2013 rankings developed by Thomson Reuters and the Times newspaper.

Part I-b

STAR OF THE AMERICAN UMMAH:

(ED NOTE: 

The American Ummah is proud to have sisters like Asma Hanif who truly practice Islam for what it really is. We admire the thousands of volunteers who have given their time and effort selflessly to help others expecting no monetary compensation in return. The male editor of this E-Zine was himself a volunteer at a shelter for homeless and abused women and for a suicide hotline. However as there are bad apples in each group, even volunteers have their own share of bad apples. It is really sad that at a time when a Muslim woman has been emotionally and physically abused, is homeless, has a high degree of anxiety over "what is next", feels alienated and violated by someone who was supposed to be her life partner, in such a vulnerable and helpless situation, certain "volunteers" in shelters bring out their secret  agenda out in the open, in an attempt to try to convert the Muslim woman. It reflects not only their sheer ignorance of Islam but also their total lack of cultural sensitivity. There is no question that due to their poverty of knowledge about Islam, they may be assuming that Islam was the reason for her current miserable situation, when in fact, IT IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. Prophet Mohamed (SAW) had never abused any of his family members and he is quoted to have said "Women's rights are sacred". An abuser / perpetrator who involves in a criminal act of violence in the form of domestic violence is committing an anti-islamic act").

Meet Asma Hanif, Nurse to Muslim Women in Need
Lorena Ruiz

(www.tv.msnbc.com)

 March 30, 2013

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This week’s Melissa Harris-Perry Foot Soldier is Asma Hanif, an advanced practice nurse who has devoted her life to operating Al-Nissa Holistic Health Center, a free clinic for women who are homeless, uninsured, or victims of domestic abuse, and Muslimat Al-Nisaa, a shelter for Muslim women. 

Asma became interested in medicine after watching her grandmother pass away from a treatable condition because she lacked access to health care. She later went on to become a nurse and establish a center where all women could have access to quality care, regardless of means. In the teaching hospitals where she trained, Asma noticed that many of the Muslim women who came as patients were treated without respect or cultural sensitivity. She also heard stories from Muslim women who had been in shelters where volunteers encouraged them to undertake a religious conversion. Those experiences helped her identify the need for services that catered specifically to Muslim women.

Asma lives in the shelter with the women, allowing her to dedicate more of her resources to her work and be available for counseling and support. Her vision for her work is clear: “It started with my grandmother, but every time I find another person, maybe another category of individuals whom I can do something to help, then I add them. They become part of the project as well.” We had the opportunity to interview Asma this week to learn more about the work she does  and the critical role it plays.

What is your space called? Is it a center? Is it a shelter?

Asma Hanif: The organization is called Muslimat Al-Nisaa, which means Muslim Women’s Organization. The center is called Al-Nissa Holistic Health Center, and Al-Nissa means The Women. I found a house that was in Baltimore, a multi-family dwelling, a house – and I went ahead and rented that particular house and made it a shelter for the women that were in need of it. But because I couldn’t afford to have my own place – I could have kept the money from the clinic, I was making enough that I was eventually able to move out. I decided to live in the shelter because I could not afford to rent out the shelter and to rent out a place for me. I’m just like the women who come there. I deal with women who weren’t vagrants or who made homelessness a way of life.

The system is designed to help the ones who may look like they’ve never accomplished anything in their life. But homelessness is homelessness. It’s the same. Being a victim of domestic violence, it’s the same. It’s not particular to one socioeconomic group.

What kind of services do you provide at that house?

H.O.M.E. is an acronym for Housing, Occupational, Medical, and Educational. We provide housing. We provide [the women] the help they need to be able to find a job. In order for people to come, they have to have become homeless through no fault of their own, and they have to want to work towards self-sufficiency. However, in order to become self-sufficient, you have to have an address. You can’t go looking for a job, you can’t get into school; you can’t do anything unless you have an address. So we provide that.

The medical part of the acronym is because of the clinic, so if they need to they can come in for medical service. And then educational, whoever is willing to come in and volunteer and provide any of these services, they do it not at the home; they do it at the clinic. They do classes, whether its resumes, self-esteem, conflict resolution, whatever it is they may need. There are individuals, who come and say they are willing to do that, but then they don’t; I tell them they’re not a good fit for the program, because it is a program.

I feel that it is wrong and it is stealing, if I am going around the community and asking people to please help, and you’re going out and working to be able to make that donation while the women sit at home doing nothing. That’s not permitted.

Both your clinic and the home are sensitive to the needs of Muslim women and children; they aren’t exclusive to Muslim women and children, correct?

The shelter is [exclusive to Muslim women]. The clinic is not. When a person is a victim of domestic violence, sometimes the only thing that they have to hold onto is their belief in God. And so we try to make sure that they have that, and that they’re with other individuals that are feeling the same thing. I did this because when Muslim women would go through shelters, one of their main complaints is the people at the shelters would try to convert them away from Islam. So my shelter isn’t about trying to be exclusive, as in we think we’re better than you; it’s catering to a specific need that Muslim women have.

How many women live in the house?

Technically the home could house 50 women plus children. What happens is that if my numbers are lower, it’s because I don’t have enough money to have a full capacity, because that means more food, more electricity, more water… Even if we may have some money set aside in the bank, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

I want to tell you one more thing. I usually don’t do interviews. Even though I might do this stuff, for the world to know that I’m in a shelter… I feel like for the other women,  it’s humiliating. Based on how people spin stuff, it’s humiliating and embarrassing. But  for the world to know, it’s like you’re naked before the world. 

People ask me why I continually do this. And I say that I’m afraid that on the Day of Judgment, God will say to me, “One of my servants came to you and you turned them away.” 

That was my motivation for doing this. Because you don’t know who it is that God has sent on your  path to help. So if I had the ability to help someone, I will try to help them. That’s the legacy of my grandmother. She turned no one away.

For the original source,  please check out: http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/03/30/meet-asma-hanif-nurse-to-muslim-women-in-need/

 

Part I-c

U.S. Muslim, Arab-American delegation visits Morocco to talk about political reforms

Anika Myers 

www.orlandosentinel.com

March 25, 2013  

A group of U.S. Muslims and Arab-Americans are visiting the North African country of Morocco this week to talk with that nation's government and civil organizations about strengthening democracy, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The 16-member U.S. delegation has met with officials from groups including the country's  parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Council for Human Rights.

The delegation includes members of CAIR, the Muslim American Society, Islamic Circle of North America, Syrian American Council, American Muslims for Palestine, and the  Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, as well as James Gomez of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Randa Fahmy Hudome, a former George W. Bush administration official.

  Part I:d

(ED NOTE: Below is yet another great example of Islamic Society of Boston University doing an awesome job of sponsoring various activities to create Islamic awareness)

Muslim for a Day

(Boston University) BU  Women take Islamic Society’s Hijab Challenge

March 29, 2013 

By Susan Seligson

(condensed version)

 Sarah Dolaty (CAS’14) (seated, from left) and Asma Bashir (CAS’14) with Cherice Hunt (COM’14) (standing) at the GSU Link for the BU Hijab Day Challenge, part of Islam Awareness Month. Photo by Vernon Doucette

Sonia Perez Arias’ friend giggled when he saw her and total strangers greeted her on Commonwealth Avenue with the word “Salaam.” Anya Gonzales gained what she calls “a new-found respect” for Islam. For Richa Kaul, an initial sense of fear gave way to understanding and confidence.

Perez Arias (CAS’15), Gonzales (COM’15), Kaul (CAS’16) were among 40 non-Muslim women at BU who volunteered to spend a day wearing headscarves as part of the BU Hijab Day Challenge, one of several events sponsored by the Islamic Society of BU as part of March’s Islam Awareness Month.

Here on campus, women in hijab are a familiar sight. Sakina Hassanali (COM’14), president of the Islamic Society, said her headscarf draws notice, but rarely in a negative way. “It’s mostly the assumptions people make,” she said. “For example, people assume I speak Arabic.” In fact, Hassanali is from Tanzania, where the main languages are English and Swahili.

 So when a group of Islamic students invited classmates to don headscarves on March 22 as part of an awareness-raising all-day hijab challenge, they were ready to hear some compelling tales

 

 Sakina Hassanali (COM’14) (left), president of the Islamic Society of BU, and society vice president Zaina Inam (CAS’13) ready white paper bags for the society’s Light the Night event on Marsh Plaza March 27. Photo by Cydney Scott

They were not disappointed. Like all of the other activities planned for Islam Awareness Month, the hijab challenge emphasized a theme of “common ground” and aimed to “dispel some of the stereotypes and misconceptions attached to Islam,” Hassanali said, “and answer some of the questions people have about the religion.”

The women, who signed up at their dorms or at the George Sherman Union Link, were given  links to instructional videos and pink buttons that read “BU Hijab Day Challenge—Ask Me About My Hijab.” Hassanali said that while some of the women “got negative comments from  friends and colleagues, most of them got positive feedback.”

The experience was a positive one for Perez Arias. “I like to do things that challenge me,” she said. She wore a printed headscarf throughout the day and found that BU was the accepting community she had assumed it to be, despite some initial good-natured laughter by a friend who couldn’t fathom why she’d agreed to participate. What did surprise her was the succession of greetings from strangers along Comm Ave. “Muslim people were greeting me in Arabic,” said Perez Arias, who describes herself as an atheist. “I didn’t know how to respond.” The experience provided a fascinating opportunity to observe “how others put you into groups,” she said.

Sonia Perez Arias (CAS’15) wore her headscarf all day for the BU Hijab Day Challenge. Photo by Vernon Doucette

Kaul is a Hindu, and she joined the challenge out of curiosity and to show “solidarity  with the Islamic culture,” she said. “The only time I felt scared or anxious was right  before I opened the door to my classroom, a School of Management class, and some people  turned their heads,. I could see that people see the hijab first and then you.”

An international student from Trinidad, Gonzales is a Christian who has known many Muslims during her life. “I’m really happy I did this,” said Gonzales, who embellished  the effect by covering her arms and “trying to be modest” for the day. It’s easy to maintain modesty when it’s freezing out, she said. The day made her realize that it’s a bigger deal to cover up year-round. “I have a new-found respect for Muslim women,” she said.

“I applaud Boston University students who willingly took up the challenge of the Hijab Day and decided to experience the subjective rewards that may come with their personal choice or the hazard of becoming the object of hostile public gaze,” said Shahla Haeri, a College of Arts & Sciences associate professor of anthropology, who has written extensively on religion, law, and gender dynamics in the Muslim world. Haeri stressed that choice is key — both to wear headscarf, or choose not to in countries where Muslims are the majority.

 

 Sana Hashimani (ENG’15) arranges lit-up paper bags to read “Coexist” during  Light the Night. Photo by Cydney Scott

Throughout March, the Islamic Society has sponsored a series of events, including Petals from the Prophet, the sharing of flowers on Marsh Plaza, an evening of prayer on the plaza, a "What is Islam?" discussion at the Howard Thurman Center, and a Light the Night event on Marsh Plaza. The month long observation concludes Sunday with a free open invitation spring dinner at the GSU Metcalf Ballroom.

“The turnout has been great,” says Hassanali, recalling that at the Petals for the Prophet event, “even though we were the ones giving out the flowers, one guy actually came up to give us flowers. It really warmed our hearts. It just goes to show you the kind of community we have at BU.”

The Islamic Society Finding Common Ground Spring Dinner is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 31, at the George Sherman Union Metcalf Ballroom, 775 Comm Ave; it is free and open to the BU community. For more information, email isbuact@gmail.com. Follow the Islamic Society on Twitter @islamicSBU.
 

Part I:e

(ED NOTE: Below is an excellent example of what a group of educated Muslim professionals  could  be doing by  providing free and low cost healthcare in under served areas. We need more of the same in multiple cities across the nation).

UMMA CLINIC 

 

(www.alkalima.com)

UMMA Clinic may have its roots in Islamic tenets, but its heart is in South L.A.,

where it has provided free and low-cost healthcare for 15 years.(ca.cair.com)

 

Dr. Mansur Khan, one of UMMA Clinic's founding members, attends the 2009 White House Iftar on behalf of UMMA Clinic

(al-talib.org)

 

UMMA Clinic

Posted by  UMMA Clinic 

18th March 2013 in Patient Profiles 

Jewish Journal Article

"A Beshert Happening: Crossing Paths with the UMMA Community Clinic"

Posted by Lia Mandelbaum

(condensed version) 

On December 8, I met my dear friends at John C. Fremont High School for the celebration of the brand new UMMA Community Clinic located on the school grounds. The event included a memorial honoring the life of Dr. Steven Sadler, who was a prominent Beverly Hills anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. He suddenly passed away on July 12, 2012, after being thrown from his horse during a practice session at the Santa Barbara Polo Club. Although I did not know Dr. Sadler, I learned that “he lived a full life filled with love and was respected by all who knew him.” He had been immensely invested  in the success of the UMMA Clinic.

The University Muslim Medical Association (UMMA) Community Clinic, is the first Muslim American founded community-based health organization in the United States. The Mission is to promote the well-being of the under-served by providing access to high quality healthcare for all regardless of ability to pay. Inspired by Islam, the Clinic serves people of all other cultural, economic and religious backgrounds. 

The Fremont Clinic and Wellness Center, includes a community garden being developed by the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. Fremont High is one of the most   at-risk schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The vast majority of its students live in low-income households, with more than 60 percent of the community’s residents living well below the poverty level. 

UMMA’s new clinic will provide a broad range of primary and preventive health care services. Access to their services will not be limited to the Fremont High School students and staff members,  but to the community at large.

The architecture of the UMMA Clinic is far from a cold and sterilebuilding, and was obviously designed with soul, and the intention to carry out a mission of love, service, social justice and compassion. The entire building was structured to be  environmentally friendly, and is absolutely wonderful. A lovely man, Murtaza Sanwari, who is the chairman of the board for the UMMA Clinic, had given me a tour of the facility.  During the tour, Mrs. Sadler had approached me, and even though we had never met, she  embraced me with an immensely open and warm hug.

I wish flourishing and lasting success for the mission of the UMMA Community Clinic, and that Dr. Charles and Mrs. Hoori Sadler continue to feel connected to their son through  the clinics success.

The main Clinic is located directly on Florence Avenue, at:
711 West Florence Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90044
For Appointments call: (323) 789-5610

The Fremont High School Clinic is located at:
7821 S. Avalon Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90003

Part I:f

  Voice of Muslim Students 

www.ireport.cnn.com

March 26, 2013

Manhattan, New York

CNN PRODUCER NOTE    

Saudi Muslim students in American colleges and universities launched a nation-wide campaign in February called "Mohammed is a Prophet of Mercy: Sharing the language of peace and love". 

"Muslim students carried out the campaign in Times Square on Sunday, March 24. The aim of the campaign is to emphasize the similarities  between Muslim and other religions through simple statements of love, said Waleed Ali Aljohani, a medical student who coordinated the New York event. iReporter Sunsetlady says  she happened to be in Times Square and shot these (below) photos". 

dsashin, CNN iReport producer

  

Muslim students in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and England formed a campaign to explain Prophet Muhammad’s message of peace by giving away roses. On March 24, a group of students from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen, led by Dr.  Waleed Ali Aljohani and Ghazi Ali Al-Hassan, carried out the campaign in Times Square.

According to Dr. Aljohani, “After 9/11, a lot of people linked between Islam and violence. We decided as Muslim students to introduce our true religion and show how  Islam is a religion of love, mercy and peace by distributing flower with cards stating about love, respect and mercy. We are not asking people to be Muslim but at least we can  show what the similarities between Islam and other religions. The similarities between Muslim and other religion, nations and culture are more than different; No reason for Islamophobia. Muslim could be anyone – family, friend, or neighbor. So you can look to  what we are sharing together – love, peace and mercy.”

To see all the photos,  please check out:  http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-947366

Part I-g:

CAIR-OHIO Meets With 18 Congressional Offices During National Advocacy Days

 28 March 2013

www.cair.com

www.cair.com

Ohio-Hill-visits Ohio chapters raise concerns over watch lists, discrimination at US borders, immigration, and bullying

(Columbus, Ohio, 3/28/2013) – Staff from the three Ohio chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) met last week with 18 congressional offices in Washington, D.C., as part of CAIR's annual advocacy days. Representatives of the Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization came from across the country and met with nearly 170 congressional offices overall.

Delegates from the CAIR chapters in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati spoke with members of Congress and key congressional staffers about federal watch list issues and discrimination at U.S. borders, immigration reform, and supporting anti-bullying legislation for all citizens.

"Our annual trip to D.C. gives our organization the opportunity to raise awareness among our elected officials about the issues that matter to our community here in Ohio," said Jennifer Nimer, CAIR-Ohio legal director.

"Having the opportunity to advocate on issues of importance with our elected officials is exciting and sobering at the same time -- exciting to be in the halls of power and sobering to see how much work our community still needs to do," said Karen Dabdoub, CAIR-Cincinnati executive director.

In recent years CAIR has dealt with a number of high-profile cases involving the extrajudicial exile of American citizens traveling abroad. CAIR-Ohio chapters addressed concerns over this practice during meetings with legislative offices and requested the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General to investigate the FBI's practice of placing Americans on the no-fly list while they are abroad.

CAIR representatives also asked Ohio's congressional leadership to support comprehensive immigration reform policies that respect civil and human rights, and promote greater public safety.

CAIR-Ohio representatives also encouraged support of legislation similar to the Safe Schools Act of 2011, which would further strengthen schools in the fight against bullying and intimidation.  

Part I-h

CAIR-FLORIDA  fights to run ‘My Jihad’ bus ads March 29, 2013  by Tom Tillison

(condensed version)

 

 Hassan Shibly – Photo Credit WMNF.org

          The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has embarked on a campaign to redefine the term “jihad,” applying earlier this year to advertise a “#MyJihad” message on Hillsborough Area Regional Transit buses.

        The transit authority, known as HART, rejected the ads because the agency prohibits “advertisements that primarily promote a religious faith or religious organizations,” according to an email to members sent by the Florida Family Association.

            According to a source, HART board members have been overwhelmed with responses    from residents opposing the ads since the email was sent out Thursday.

Hassan Shibly, executive director of CAIR-FL appealed the decision, according to Florida  Family, and the HART board of directors will consider the matter at a public hearing on April 1, although the issue is not listed on the meeting agenda.

 

Lawyers have asked the board to reverse its decision to reject the ad, saying Shibly has asserted that the campaign seeks to bring a “diverse America closer together by raising awareness about an Arabic word which has become misunderstood.”

The CAIR-FL effort is part of a nationwide educational campaign launched in Chicago in December. The goal of the campaign, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab explained, is “reclaiming Jihad from the Muslim and anti-Muslim extremists who ironically, but not surprisingly, see eye to eye on Jihad,” according to a CAIR statement.

Critics counter that it’s an attempt to redefine the word jihad, to reclassify it as a “struggle” instead of a holy war waged on behalf of Islam — a central doctrine of the Islamic faith.

The Huffington Post reported that ”MyJihad” was a response to the actions of conservative blogger Pamela Geller, who ran a series of controversial “Defeat Jihad” ads on city buses in November.

One Geller ad says:
"In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support the Copts. Defeat Jihad.” [A reference to Coptic Christians in Egypt.]

Part II

INTERFAITH:

Part II-a:

Dear Rightwing Catholic Islamophobes: Pope Francis just washed the feet of a Poor Muslim
(www.informedconsent.com)

 03/30/2013 by Juan 

(condensed version)

Pope Francis on Maundy Thursday declined to address enormous crowds. Instead he went to a prison to emulate Jesus’s act of humility before his crucifixion in washing the feet of  his 12 disciples. The pope washed and kissed the feet of 12 inmates, two of them women and two of them Muslim (one of the women was Muslim). It is reported that some of the prisoners broke down in tears.

      Pope Francis’s willingness to wash the feet of a Muslim woman shows his concern for the very lowest stratum of society. 

             Europe has millions of Muslims, and some are well off and well integrated into society. But many Muslims who immigrated into France and Italy for work got caught when the jobs dried up, and live in poor areas of the cities, being excluded from mainstream society or much hope of betterment. Women have lower status than men in such communities, so a poor Muslim woman in jail is just about the bottom of the social scale.

            Pope Francis is from Argentina, which has a large, successful Arab-heritage community that includes Muslims, and he is said to have deeply disagreed with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, over the latter’s Regensburg speech in which he said things that Muslims found insulting.

             The thing that strikes me about all this is that there is a small strand of American Catholic conservatism that frankly despises both the poor and Muslims, and is one of the pillars of prejudice against Muslims (some call it Islamophobia) in the United States. Most Catholics in opinion polls have a more positive view of Islam and Muslims than is common among evangelical Protestants, but the right wingers among them have a thing about Muslims (and about poor people).

            These purveyors of hate speech against Muslims claim to be Catholics, and some of them are annoyingly Ultramontane, insisting on papal infallibility and trying to impose their values on all Americans.

          Yet the person they hold to be the vicar of Christ has just given humankind a different charge, of humility and of service to the least in society, many of whom are Muslims.        So when will we see Rudy Giuliani, Sean Hannity and the others go to a prison to comfort  inmates, and serve the Muslims among them? When will we see them kiss a Muslim’s feet? Or  are they cafeteria Catholics, parading only the values that accord with their Ayn Rand  heresy?

 

Part II-b: 

 INTERFAITH AND POLITICS:

This Easter, Religious Leaders Join Forces to Denounce U.S. Drone Policy

Robert Greenwald March 27, 2013

www.warcosts.com

Today, Brave New Foundation released a short video documenting religious leaders coming out against the use of Just War Theory to defend President Obama’s drone policy.

Franciscan Friar Joe Nangle said it well:

"How can we hold our heads high when remote-controlled, killer aircraft like drones are raining death and destruction on populations half a world away from our borders, on women, men and children who pose no threat to our safety and well-being."

Rev. Dr. Paul F.M. Zahl said "The use of remote-controlled drones to assassinate targeted persons without charge, trial, or even at least the chance to surrender is about as un-Christian a maneuver as I can imagine."

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Rev. Graylan, Bishop Gumbleton, Franciscan Friar Joe Nangle, Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, and Rev. Dr. Paul F. M. Zahl come together to explain that Just War Theory cannot be used to justify the use of drones.

Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Professor of Theology at the Chicago Theological Seminary said: "There are too many questions concerning the continuing authority for a 'War on Terror,' to the protection of civilians, to the lack of transparency about the program,  to call this Just War.  Drones are particularly dangerous as they tempt us, as well as other nations, to consider war 'easy' and 'cheap.' The age of drones, unless checked, will be an age of permanent war."

During this time of rebirth and renewal, these religious leaders remind us that we must strongly consider how our government conducts itself on behalf of our nation at home and abroad.

 

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