Islamophobia in the United States, November 2014

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Video of CAIR's 20th Annual Banquet: CAIR-LA ED Hussam Ayloush Receives Chapter of the Year Award


Video: Candidates Speak at Muslim Voter Forum Co-Hosted by CAIR-San Diego

The Council on American Islamic Relations recently received a threatening letter that reportedly referred to applying the death sentence and contained an unknown substance.

A representative for the group says the Muslim community supports the candidate who will help prevent future threats while protecting everyone's civil liberties. "I want them to include the Muslim Americans in the political system. I want them to empower this community as they empower other communities," said Hanif Mohebi. "Count us in, not out."
CAIR: Video Catches Firebomb Thrown at Islamic Center of New Mexico

A national Islamic civil rights group, CAIR is calling on the FBI to take this over and investigate it as a hate crime. Right now the FBI is only assisting in APD�s investigation.
CAIR: Attack on Islamic Center Condemned (Albuquerque Journal)

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation�s largest Muslim civil rights advocacy organization, called on state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
CAIR-MI: Muslim Group Blasts Agema�s �Camel Jockeys� Comment (Detroit News)

Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR�s Michigan chapter, said his group sent a letter to Gov. Rick Snyder�s office Friday asking him to denounce Agema.
�Gov. Snyder alludes to openness in the state and being pro-immigrant ... but he also needs to call out xenophobes and bigots within his own party,� Walid said.
CAIR: The Cowardice of Bill Maher�s Anti-Muslim Bigotry (The Nation)

This is not atypical. According to a survey conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, half of Muslim-American students in California schools report being bullied for their religious beliefs.
Islamophobia Watch: Fox Contributor Tells O�Reilly �Islam is a False Religion�

OK: Students And Faculty From OCU Show Support for Muslim Community

Janet Boone works in the OCU Arts and Sciences Dean's Office. "We were getting so tired of all the negative and all the hateful things that were being said to and about our Muslim friends," she said.
�Social Experiment� Bashing Muslims Draws Ire
MA: Parent Questions Teaching of Islam in World History Class
Canada: Anti-Muslim Graffiti on Campaign Sign
Muslim Group Holds 'Islamaphobia Boot Camp' in Ottawa
Australia: Muslim Woman Suffers Broken Arm in Racist Attack
Audio: A History of Islam in the United States

The fastest growing major religion in the world today, Islam has some 1.6 billion followers practicing a wide array of religious traditions and speaking hundreds of different languages. And yet, even as more and more Americans convert to the faith and foreigners emigrate to the U.S. from all over the Islamic world, Muslims are still often caricatured in the American imagination. 
Letter: American Muslims Hold a Rich History in the Dakotas
 
Please help support CAIR's work.

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CAIR: Muslims Increasingly Moving Away from GOP Two-thirds of Muslim voters plan to visit the polls on Election Day, and more than half of them are Democratic Party supporters, according to a new survey. Of 1,500 Muslim registered voters surveyed, 69 percent plan to cast ballots in the Nov. 4 midterm elections and 16 percent do not plan to vote, according to the poll conducted Wednesday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Muslim Prayer Rugs on Texas-Mexico Border? No Confirmed Finds (Politifact)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Asks Arizona School to Drop Armed Hate Group Speaker Pamela Geller

(PHOENIX, AZ, 10/27/2014) -- The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) is calling on East Valley High School in Mesa, Ariz., to ensure student safety by canceling tonight's appearance by anti-Muslim hate group leader Pamela Geller, who warned "troublemakers" who attend the event, "Trust me -- you are going down first."

In a post yesterday advertising the event, which is sponsored by the Tea Party group Arizona Red Mountain Patriots, Geller wrote:

"As for the troublemakers and those threats from Islamic thugs and goons -- we have armed security, plus it's a gun state -- plenty of patriots with protection, including me. Trust me -- you are going down first."

"With all the horrific shootings we have seen recently nationwide, including in the last few days in Washington state, it would be irresponsible for school officials to allow an event at which the sponsors and the speaker may be armed in violation of federal law and have apparently threatened 'troublemakers,'" said CAIR-AZ President Imraan Siddiqi.

Siddiqi noted that federal law prohibits anyone from carrying a weapon in a school zone without authorization, subject to some narrow exceptions, and it is a violation for anyone other than a police officer or a school security guard to discharge a firearm in a school zone for any reason.

Geller's organization, Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). SPLC also named Geller as a member of the "anti-Muslim inner circle."

She was the subject of a CAIR "Islamophobe profile" documenting the individuals and organizations involved in spreading anti-Muslim bias in the United States. CAIR also listed her as a member of the "inner core" of those promoting anti-Muslim bigotry.

Her group was denied a trademark after an appeals court ruled that the name disparaged Muslims.

Geller has bragged online that she uses a Quran, Islam's holy text, as a doorstop and posted a video on her personal website that claims Muslims have sex with goats. Her hate blog was cited by Anders Breivik, the terrorist who killed more than 70 people in two attacks in Norway, in his manifesto justifying his attacks.

She has falsely claimed that "Hitler and the Nazis were inspired by Islam" and that Islam "mandates" lies and deception. She has also posted images on her blog that include a fake photograph of then Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan in a Nazi uniform, another fake image of President Obama urinating on an American flag, and drawings purporting to depict Islam's Prophet Muhammad as a pig.

Another image posted by Geller, headlined "Piss Be Upon Him," showed one of the controversial Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad covered in urine. ("Piss Be Upon Him" is designed to mock the traditional phrase "Peace Be Upon Him" that Muslims use when mentioning any prophet of God, including Abraham and Jesus.)

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Video: CAIR Rep on MSNBC to Debate Disinviting Islamophobe Bill Maher from UC Berkeley

CAIR Spokesman: Inviting Bill Maher to Berkeley Like Inviting 'Grand Dragon of the KKK' Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and Ibrahim Hooper, Communications Director of CAIR, debated Bill Maher's planned commencement address at the University of California-Berkeley on Tuesday's "NewsNation" on MSNBC. CAIR: Muslim Group Slams Berkeley for Maher Invite

CAIR Testifies on Eid Holiday Issue at School Board Hearing CAIR yesterday provided testimony at the Montgomery County Public Schools' Board of Education meeting in Rockville, Md., seeking inclusion of the Muslim "Eid" holidays on the public school calendar. [Take Action]

CAIR Welcomes Maryland Governor's Bullying Awareness Proclamation CAIR welcomed Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's proclamation designating October as "Statewide Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month."

CAIR-MN to Host Voter Education Forum Featuring Minn. Muslim Civic Leaders CAIR-Minnesota, in partnership with the Abubakar As-Sidique Islamic Center, will host a Voter Education Forum featuring Minnesota Muslim civic leaders.

CAIR-MN: Voter Education Forum to Feature Muslim Civic Leaders

CAIR-MI: Lt. Gov Says Agema's 'Camel Jockey' Comment 'Unacceptable' CAIR-Michigan last week called on Governor Snyder to condemn the comment by Agema, which was posted on October 19.

Audio: CAIR-MI Director Discusses GOP Pol's Anti-Muslim Bigotry

CAIR-Chicago's Scorecard and Referendum Guide for the 2014 General Election

CAIR-CA: 71 Percent of CA Muslim Voters Say They Will Go to Polls The California offices of CAIR today released the results of a October 22 survey indicating that 71 percent of registered California Muslim voters will go to the polls on November 4 and that more than half will vote for Democratic Party candidates. CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo, 626.252.0885, [email protected]

Alabama Christian Leaders Organize to Defeat Anti-Islam Amendment Christian leaders from across the state -- including the Alabama Christian Coalition -- have come together to urge voters to oppose the Amendment One ballot initiative. The vaguely worded "anti-foreign law" measure would block foreign adoptions, negate overseas marriages by Alabama citizens, and threaten the religious liberty of Alabama churches. To stop these negative consequences, Christians in Alabama have mounted an unprecedented effort to prevent this dangerous ballot initiative from passing. CAIR-MN to Host Free Monthly Legal Clinic on Oct. 29 On Wednesday, October 29, 2014, CAIR-Minnesota will host a free brief advice legal clinic. The monthly clinics provide free legal advice in areas such as civil rights, housing, family law, immigration, and employment. Maryland: Parent Banned from La Plata HS after Islam Homework Dispute MS: Muslim Woman Says Discrimination May Force Her to Give Up Hijab (Video) Islamophobia Watch: Anti-Muslim Bigot Pamela Geller Suggests Her Apparent Threat of Violence May Have Kept Protesters Away Later that evening, Geller told the crowd she was surprised there were no protesters outside. "Maybe it's because I gave a warning that this was a gun state," she said.

CAIR-AZ: Muslim Civil Liberties Group Calls on Mesa High School to Cancel Event Featuring Anti-Islamic Speaker Pamela Geller

Photo: CAIR-FL Rep Participates in Interfaith Dialogue at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University CAIR Warns U.S. Mosque Leaders About FBI Questioning CAIR: ISIS is Prompting Moderate Muslims to Speak Up CAIR and the Fiqh Council of North America last month released an open letter signed by more than 120 international scholars of Islam and Muslim leaders attacking the ideological underpinnings of ISIS and urging its supporters to repent and follow the real teachings of Islam, not the false ones espoused by terrorists.

CAIR: Muslim Leaders Worldwide Issue Stern Rebuke to ISIS Since the letter was issued Sept. 19, more than 125 Muslim leaders around the world have signed the letter. Twenty of them come from the United States, where CAIR circulated the letter.

CAIR-TX Joins in Celebration of International Education Week The expo will feature Raindrop Turkish House, Asia Society, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Gilman Program with the Institute of International Education and the LSCS Office of International Programs.

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Dear friend,
 
The anti-Islam crowd can't stand it when they are not controlling the conversation, so it seems someone launched an electronic attack on CAIR's new islamophobia.org website today.

In the two weeks since we launched the website, it has made a big splash. Almost 5,000 people visited it on its first day.

When you search "Islamophobia" using Google, the website is already on the first page of results. It is the #2 item in Yahoo! and #3 in Bing.

This means that when someone who may think an Islamophobe is a legitimate speaker and searches for the person on the Internet, they will see the hatred that speaker or the group they represent espouses. This information is being used by our friends and allies to delegitimize bigots.

Today's electronic attack prompts us to ask you for two things:

First, donate to CAIR today to help us improve the site and expand its content. The site's early focus is on the U.S. Islamophobia network, but we are also creating new anti-prejudice tools that we want to share with you through the site.
 
Second, share the website with your friends, family and social network.

Here is a suggested tweet:
New @CAIRNational counter-prejudice site http://www.islamophobia.org/ seen by almost 5,000 visitors on its first day. See why. #Islam
 
Thanks for your actions to support positive action against Islamophobic prejudice. Knowledge is power -- visit the website right now.
 
- Nihad Awad

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CAIR: UC Berkeley Overrides Student Group’s Decision to Drop Islamophobe Bill Maher as Speaker  (SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 10/29/14) -- The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) tonight expressed disappointment at the decision of the UC Berkeley administration to override the rescission of an invitation to Bill Maher by the student group that selects speakers for the university’s commencement ceremonies.

The original invitation to Maher had sparked controversy and calls for him to be dropped as a speaker because of his history of bigoted comments.

Video: CAIR Rep on MSNBC to Debate Disinviting Islamophobe Bill Maher from UC Berkeley

In a statement issued earlier today, the university said in part:

“For many years it has been the responsibility of UC Berkeley undergraduates, through a committee known as the ‘Californians,’ to select speakers for the university’s commencement ceremonies. In August the ‘Californians” chose Bill Maher as the speaker for the December commencement ceremony. However, last night the ‘Californians' reconvened without administration participation and came to a decision that the invitation should be rescinded. The UC Berkeley administration cannot and will not accept this decision.”

SEE: Campus Statement on Commencement Speaker

“We are disappointed by the university’s decision to disrespect students by casting aside the long-standing process for selecting commencement speakers and instead imposing its own will,” said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo. “While Mr. Maher has the right to speak whenever and wherever he likes, he does not have the right to have his hate-filled views honored and tacitly endorsed by a prestigious university.”

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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Walk to Support New Mexico Mosque Targeted by Firebomb Attack Several local organizations are sponsoring a "peace walk" in support of the Islamic Center of New Mexico following an attack last week in which someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the center's building.

NY: Town Receiving Hate Calls About Proposed Islamic Center Several people have called with some hate-filled messages about the proposal. Cliffe explained, "I've had two myself that I would consider hate calls and I know that the town attorney has taken a couple during the day that could be considered hate calls and I can sort of understand it especially if you've had a family member that's been wrapped up in some of what's going on but somewhere we have to open up a dialogue." Two U.S.-Senegalese Boys Beaten, Called 'Ebola' by Gang of NY Schoolchildren

CAIR-MI: In 5 years since killing of Dearborn imam, what have we learned? (Detroit News) October 28, 2014 marked the 5th anniversary of the fatal shooting of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah in Dearborn by FBI agents during a sting operation. Although neither Abdullah nor any of his congregants were charged with terrorism related crimes during that sting, the prior infiltration of his mosque by FBI informants was shaped through the narrow focus of viewing the Muslim community through the lens of national security. Muslim Academy Students in Louisiana Collecting Food for the Hungry CAIR: 'So Bill Maher is the Grand Dragon of the KKK?' (Video) On MSNBC's News Nation, free speech advocate Greg Lukianoff and Ibrahim Hooper, the National Communications Director at the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), debated the merits of rescinding Bill Maher's invitation to speak at UC Berkeley's fall commencement.

Video: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror A discussion with Arun Kundnani on his new book "The Muslims are Coming!" Video: BBC Reporter Mocks Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist John Guandolo Fox News Doctor Calls for 'American Jihad'

CAIR-Chicago: Loyola University Discriminates Against Non-Jews Who Tried to Sign Up for Birthright Israel Program

Minority Life in Israel (New York Times)

Wash. Post Editorial Board: Stop U.S. Support for the Repressive Regime in Egypt In the name of defeating Islamic extremism, Mr. Sissi has instituted the most repressive regime Egypt has known in more than a half-century. Since leading a military coup against the elected government of Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, he has overseen the jailing of more than 16,000 people and the killing of more than 1,000; the banning of public protests; the elimination of a once-robust free press; and a massive crackdown on non-government groups. Scores of secular Egyptians who led the fight to create a liberal democracy in 2011 and 2012 have been imprisoned on trumped-up charges.

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CAIR: UC Berkeley Student Group Votes to Disinvite Bill Maher; College Overturns It (CNN) CAIR expressed disappointment at the college's ruling, saying it disrespected students "by casting aside the long-standing process for selecting commencement speakers and instead imposing its own will." "While Mr. Maher has the right to speak whenever and wherever he likes, he does not have the right to have his hate-filled views honored and tacitly endorsed by a prestigious university," said Zahra Billoo, of the group's San Francisco chapter. Alabama Anti-Islam Amendment One Is Useless, Costly, and Wrong The reason is outright hostility to Muslims. Earlier versions of this legislation were clearly targeted specifically at Islamic law, although their proponents had no examples of any Alabama court enforcing Islamic law at all, let alone using it to violate anyone's rights. Amendment One and its predecessors are copies of model legislation drafted by virulently racist anti-Islamic activists from outside Alabama.

NY: Proposed Mosque Stirs Up 'Hate Mail' WI Alderman Who Asked Woman About Terrorism Won't Attend Islam Event

CAIR-San Diego Hosts Two Anti-Bullying Seminars, 'Bullying is for Losers' Last week, CAIR-San Diego, in collaboration with the Al-Manar Weekend School, held two anti-bullying seminars, called "Bullying is for Losers." Video: War on Terror, War on Muslims? (Al Jazeera English) Empire asks if the global fight against terrorism is eroding the democratic principles it set out to defend.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR to Mobilize Muslims Voters for Midterm Election Civil rights group will also conduct exit poll of Muslim voters

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/30/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to mobilize Muslim voters this weekend through a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) call campaign directed at 145,000 households in states with high concentrations of American Muslims.

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of recent efforts to suppress minority voting nationwide, it is important to report attempts to block any qualified voter from casting a ballot. Report any denial of voting rights to civilrights[at]cair.com ]

The calls will urge Muslim voters to go to the polls on November 4 and will be recorded by regional Muslim leaders in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Virginia.

CAIR also plans to conduct post-election exit poll on the evening of Wednesday, November 5, asking Muslim voters if they voted and who they voted for in key statewide elections.

In a recent survey of Muslim voters, CAIR found that 69 percent of registered Muslim voters plan to voter in the midterm election and that more than half will support the Democratic Party. Domestic issues like the economy and health care continue to top the Muslim voters' list of priority concerns in this election.

"Across the nation, American Muslims have emerged as a significant voting blocs able to change the outcome of hard fought and tight races," said CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw. "It is the Muslim community's job to vote for the candidates that, regardless of political party, best reflect their views."

CAIR Get Out The Vote Muslim Community Reminder:

Go to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, and vote for the candidates of your choice. Find your polling place. Remind and encourage your friends and family members to vote. Use social media to encourage all eligible voters to go to the polls. Offer to help friends, co-workers and family members get to the polls. Community leaders should use their communications networks to encourage congregations to vote. Convince one person who did not plan to vote to go to the polls.

For more information on CAIR's GOTV campaign, contact CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw at 202-742-6448 or [email protected].

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Court Denies Motion to Dismiss State Secrets Case A federal court yesterday denied a government motion to dismiss a pending lawsuit that the Obama Administration said involved state secrets. ... The lawsuit, Gulet Mohamed v. Eric H. Holder, concerns the constitutionality of the "no fly" list.

Backgrounder: CAIR Challenges Feds' Use of 'State Secrets' in Va. No-Fly List Case

CAIR-MN: Voter Education Featuring Minn Muslim Civic Leaders On Saturday, November 1, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota (CAIR-MN), in partnership with the Abubakar As-Sidique Islamic Center, will host a Voter Education Forum featuring Minnesota Muslim civic leaders.

CAIR: Your Vote Matters It's election season. That means over the last several months, you've been inundated with ads from candidates who've collectively spent hundreds of millions of dollars vying for your vote. If that makes you feel special, it should. Clearly, your vote matters. CAIR-MI Legislative Scorecard 2014 CAIR-MI today released its 2014 Legislative Scorecard which grades national and state legislators on select civil and human rights issues.

CAIR-LA Blasts Hate-Mongering Election Mailer (Press-Enterprise) Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, called the mailer "a sign of moral and political bankruptcy when a candidate resorts to fear and hate mongering to attract votes." Video: CAIR Rep Challenges Islamophobia of Md. Parents Who Object to Teaching About Islam

Islamophobia Watch: Parents Upset That Children Being Taught About Islam at Manhattan Beach School Islamophobia Watch: Top US Military Official Asks Muslim Man at Syracuse University: 'Are You Taliban?' Islamophobia Watch: Walmart Under Fire for 'Shock Your Friends with This Islamic Costume'

CAIR: Bill Maher at Cal Controversy Builds The Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the university disrespected students by imposing its own will and also said letting Maher speak at graduation tacitly endorses his "hate-filled views."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR-MN to Join Protest of Racist Team Name at 'Redsk*ns'-Vikings Game

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 10/31/14) -- On Sunday, November 2, representatives of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) will join a community-wide protest of the racist team name of the Washington football team. The protest is organized by the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media. Protestors will gather at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Minnesota Northrop Plaza.

SEE: Protesters Will Challenge 'Redsk*ns' Name in Minneapolis Sunday (Star Trib)

In June, CAIR applauded a decision by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the Washington football team's trademark of its name because the use of the ethnic slur is "disparaging to Native Americans."

Last year, CAIR joined the growing call by Native American groups and others for the team to change its name.

SEE: Oneida Indian Nation Change the Mascot campaign Muslim Civil Rights Group Joins Call to Drop 'Redsk*ns' Team Name 'Redsk*ns' Name Condemned by Black, Latino, Muslim Groups (Washington Post)

"We have an obligation to condemn all racist slurs and make it clear that they do not represent Minnesotans or our values," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya. She said CAIR supports similar changes for all high school, collegiate and professional teams that use racist names and mascots. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT:

CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Coordinator Liban Yousuf, 602-312-2223, [email protected];

CAIR-AZ President Imraan Siddiqi, [email protected];

CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, [email protected];

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected];

 CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, [email protected]

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