|
Chronology of Islam in America (2010)
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
March 2010
For Rep. Sue Myrick, Christian extremists are moderate
March 3: Rep. Sue Myrick (R-C) is one of North Carolina's staunchest defenders from Islamic extremism. When it comes to Christian extremism, though, the record is more mixed. Myrick held a forum with about 200 of her Charlotte-area constituents from the Muslim community to address what many see as a record of offensive statements: She has suggested that U.S. House and Senate members shouldn't hire Muslims as interns—they might be trying to infiltrate the government. And she has openly voiced concerns about the number of Muslims operating convenience stores across the country. In 2008, she lobbied then-Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to revoke former President Jimmy Carter's passport for meeting with leaders of Hamas.At the two-hour forum, Myrick presided over a largely civil discussion of her record as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which has oversight of anti-terrorism strategies, and a somewhat less civil exchange over her defense against Islamic extremism, which itself has bordered on the extreme. However, Myrick's concern over religious extremism seems relegated to practitioners of one religion. At the forum, she pointedly avoided applying the label of "terrorist" to Joseph Stack, the 53-year-old Texan who flew his airplane into an IRS building in Austin in February. Perhaps of greater concern, though, is Myrick's work with a right-wing evangelical group whose cause celebre violates the First Amendment's establishment clause. The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools states on its Web site that it aims to "bring a state certified (sic) Bible course (elective) into the public high schools nationwide." The council claims that its curriculum is in place in 532 school districts in 38 states. The NCBCPS curriculum was found in violation of the First Amendment in the cases Moreno v. Ector County School Board and Gibson v. Lee County School Board. In Moreno, the lawsuit was settled when the Ector County, Texas, School Board agreed to drop the curriculum and desist from ever offering any course materials produced by the NCBCPS. (Indyweek)
Texas apartment complex refused to rent to Muslims
March 4: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to investigate allegations that a Texas apartment complex had a policy of refusing to rent to Muslims or segregating them in buildings away from other tenants. CAIR called on HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to determine whether StoneBridge at Bear Creek apartment complex in Euless, Texas, violated federal fair housing laws. According to an investigative media report, former leasing agents for the complex say Muslims, whom managers referred to as "curry people," were routinely refused apartments even when there were vacancies. The leasing agents said they were told by their supervisors that they could only rent to Muslims if they were all kept in two buildings of the 21-building complex. (CAIR)
One Jewish and one Muslim holiday to be added to school calendar
March 11: The Burlington School Board (Vermont) has voted to add two holidays to future school calendars to give students time off on Jewish and Muslim holy days, but board members say the changes won’t lengthen the school year. The board approved the changes by an 8-1 vote. The additions will give students the day off on Eid al-Fitr and Yom Kippur. Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr as a feast to end the holy month of Ramadan. Yom Kippur is a Jewish day of atonement and considered among the holiest days of the year; it typically occurs in early fall. School Board Chairman Fred Lane said the Burlington school system has long had a sizable Jewish population and now has an increasing number of Muslims. Jewish and Muslim students often take days off on their respective holidays. If the schools close the on those holidays, some of the attendance problems go away, Lane said. (Burlington Free Press)
Federal panel finds bias in ouster of principal
March 12: A federal commission has determined that New York City’s Department of Education discriminated against the founding principal of an Arabic-language public school by forcing her to resign in 2007 following a storm of controversy driven by opponents of the school. Acting on a complaint filed last year by the principal, Debbie Almontaser, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that the department “succumbed to the very bias that creation of the school was intended to dispel and a small segment of the public succeeded in imposing its prejudices on D.O.E. as an employer,” according to a letter issued by the commission. The commission said that the department had discriminated against Ms. Almontaser, a Muslim of Yemeni descent, “on account of her race, religion and national origin.” The commission asked the Department of Education to reach a “just resolution” with Ms. Almontaser and to consider her demands, which include reinstatement to her old job, back pay, damages of $300,000 and legal fees. Should the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the dispute will end up in court, her lawyer said. (New York Times)
GOP Rep. Myrick endorses conference of noted Islamophobe
March 17: Fresh off a tense town hall with Muslim constituents last month, Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) has blasted out a letter enthusiastically endorsing the group ACT! For America, and its leader, Brigitte Gabriel, who has made a number of extreme comments against Muslims. The group describes itself as "a collective voice for the democratic values of Western Civilization, such as the celebration of life and liberty, as opposed to the authoritarian values of Islamofascism, such as the celebration of death, terror and tyranny." But Gabriel, who emigrated to the United States from Lebanon in the 1980s, has painted the problem of Islamic terrorism as one having to do with all Muslims. She has said that "Every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim." She also said in a 2007 speech at the Joint Forces Staff College in Virginia that a "practicing Muslim who believes in the teaching of the Koran cannot be a loyal citizen of the United States of America," the Washington Times reported. Myrick's letter endorsing Gabriel and ACT! For America came in a March 16 e-mail blast from the group which hailed Myrick as "a bold, courageous champion on Capitol Hill in the struggle against the threat of radical Islam." (TPM Talking Points Memo, Florida)
Islamophobia – now in American Children’s Textbooks?
March 17: As if the adult media’s vitriol wasn’t enough, the seven-million strong American Muslim community, is now being faced by the alarming publication of a series of ‘children's books’, containing misleading and inflammatory rhetoric about the Islamic faith. The 10-book series - entitled the "World of Islam," – is published by Mason Crest Publishing in collaboration with the Philadelphia-based pro-Israel and pro-war Foreign Policy Research Institute. Anti-Islamic sentiment pervades the entire series, portraying Muslims as inherently violent and deserving suspicion. It encourages young readers to believe Muslims are terrorists, who seek to undermine US society.
The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today launched a public awareness campaign against the books. "This is not about Muslims being offended," Moein Khawaja, the chapter's civil rights director, told a news conference. "Filled with incorrect information and deception, these books are contrary to the education mission of schools and libraries." "The overall theme of the books is that Muslims are inherently violent, that Islam is a second-rate religion and that one should be wary of Muslims in any society," Moein Khawaja, said adding: "These books do not fulfill the mission of a school, which is to educate." CAIR called on schools and libraries to exchange The World of Islam for Introducing Islam, with another series published by Mason Crest that was written in cooperation with scholars of Islam and is more accurate. Khawaja said complaints from council chapters across the country lead him to believe the World of Islam series are on bookshelves in about two dozen states. Few examples from the controversial series:
The book "Muslims in America", says that "some Muslims began immigrating to the United States in order to transform American society, sometimes through the use of terrorism." The cover of Radical Islam features a machine gun and a Muslim head scarf, with what looks like bloodstains underneath the scarf and the title word Radical. The book is rife with incorrect information and fear mongering and ultimately seeks to paint a picture that Muslims in America are to be treated with suspicion and that they all have links to terrorism.
The text titled Islam, Law and Human Rights begins and ends with the same thing, that Muslim majority nations are the only ones that violate human rights laws set forth by the United Nations – for some reason China and North Korea are exceptions to that rule.
The History of Islam offers only a stunted glimpse of Islamic History and focuses primarily on extremism and contains an outrageous quote: “Today, the great majority of Muslims accept the idea that jihad means a struggle against non-Muslims to increase the area under the rule of Islam.” Another book shows an image of two 7-year-old girls wearing head scarves under the heading "Security Threats."
The book Islam in Europe states that Muslim immigrants are the source of all social conflict and that Europe is in serious danger because of Muslim immigration. A chronology in the book starts with 1988 and lists 10 events, seven of which involve extremist Muslims participating in bombings, hijackings or other violence. It is a common knowledge that Muslims have been in Europe for hundreds of years. (AMP Report)
N.C. Congresswoman Backs Anti-Islam Hate Group
March 17: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) to withdraw her support for an anti-Islam hate group whose leader claims an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen" and that Islam is the "real enemy." The CAIR said that Myrick recently sent a letter of support for the hate group ACT! for America using her campaign stationery. "The group Representative Myrick is actively supporting is perhaps the most virulently anti-Islam organization now operating in America," said CAIR Legislative Director Corey Saylor. "Unless Representative Myrick agrees with ACT! for America that Muslims cannot be loyal citizens and that Islam is the 'enemy,' she should withdraw her support and repudiate this hate group's bigoted views." ACT! for America leader Brigitte Gabriel once told the Australian Jewish News: "Every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim." She also claimed that "Islamo-fascism is a politically-correct word...it's the vehicle for Islam...Islam is the problem." Brigitte Gabriel has also stated: "America and the West are doomed to failure in this war unless they stand up and identify the real enemy: Islam." (CAIR)
During House testimony, LA Sheriff Baca rejects Islamophobia
March 18: The Muslim American Homeland Security Congress (MAHSC) today commended Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca for his courageous and principled stand in support of mainstream American Muslims and their organizations, and for his rejection of attempts to marginalize the Islamic community. At a hearing yesterday of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Sheriff Baca testified: "Americans, particularly elected officials, should not claim Islam supports terrorism. This is counter-productive to trust. It plays into the terrorist strategy that the West is against Islam. At this time in our history, with billions of dollars being spent on a war against terror, our nation should ask that all Americans follow President Obama's example and be the instrument of goodwill to Muslims throughout the world. It is my belief that the average American has the potential to be our best ambassador of goodwill. However, senators, members of congress, governors, mayors, boards of supervisors, sheriffs, police chiefs, scholars, scientists, and laborers and their leaders must set the example with a desire to visit mosques and communicate with Muslims, worldwide, in the quest of better understanding Islam. Extremists are what they are, but they cannot thrive or survive in a world that is not indifferent." (CAIR)
Texas apartments discriminate in renting
March 18: A former leasing agent at a Euless (Texas) apartment complex is asking state and federal officials to investigate whether the complex committed civil-rights violations by denying apartments to potential tenants with Middle Eastern or Asian backgrounds. Daniesha Davis, 29, filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department in January. The complaint says her employers at Stonebridge at Bear Creek told her to place Middle Eastern and Asian tenants in two buildings at the complex. When those blocks of apartments were full, Davis said, she was told to turn away Middle Easterners and Asians inquiring about apartments -- even if units in other parts of the complex were vacant. Potential tenants with Middle Eastern- or Asian-sounding names or accents were told "no vacancies" when they called the complex at 2250 Fuller-Wiser Road, Davis said. Euless' affordable housing and its location near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport have attracted immigrants from many parts of the world, including Tonga, Mexico, Pakistan, Nepal and Liberia. The city's international flavor has been touted by city leaders. But the recent discrimination claims have drawn concern from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil-rights group. The group urged HUD to take a closer look. The council is concerned that, if Middle Eastern and Asian people are being singled out, practicing Muslims are among those being discriminated against, said Mustafaa Carroll, president of its Dallas-Fort Worth board. (Star-Telegram)
CAIR Seeks Probe of Anti-Islam Bias in Military Training
March 23: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said it has asked the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to investigate a report of anti-Islam bias in the training offered to security personnel by that military law enforcement agency. The CAIR received a report that a three-day NCIS surveillance detection course at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., included the viewing of a propagandistic anti-Islam film that features notorious Islamophobes such as Daniel Pipes, Nonie Darwish and Walid Shoebat. According to the trainee, the film and the course promoted the theme that "Islam is synonymous with Nazism." The briefing presenter also allegedly used the term "Hajji" as a pejorative in reference to Muslims and stated repeatedly that "Islam is not a religion of peace." It may be recalled that Shoebat told a Missouri newspaper that he sees "many parallels between the Antichrist and Islam" and "Islam is not the religion of God -- Islam is the devil." (Springfield News-Leader, 9/24/07) Darwish, a self-styled "former Moslem," said "Islam is cruel, anti-women, anti-religious freedom and anti-personal freedom in general." Daniel Pipes once warned a Jewish convention of the "true dangers" posed by "the presence, and increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims." (American Jewish Congress, 10/21/2001) Pipes has also been a vocal supporter of the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. (CAIR)
Muslim group condemns vandalism at Montreal Synagogue
March 23: The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) has condemned the vandalism of a Montreal synagogue and is calling on police to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to news reports vandals used a marker to scrawl swastikas in the bima (podium) and threw religious objects, including prayer shawls and books, on the ground. It is the second time the Hassidic synagogue has been the target in a month. “CAIR-CAN stands with all Canadians in denouncing this act of hate. It is particularly disturbing to see the Montreal community disrupted by an act of hate for the second time in less than a month. The continued vandalism of a peaceful community with hateful messages is a shameful attempt to disrupt the social cohesion that the citizens of Montreal work hard to foster and enjoy,” said Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director of CAIR-CAN. (Vos Iz Neias)
DOE urged to address racial tensions in Minnesota Schools
March 24: The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to investigate and address reports of growing racial and religious tensions in Minnesota public schools. CAIR-MN's request for DOE intervention came following a series of anti-Muslim incidents reported to the civil rights organization by students across the state. Muslim students have allegedly been called "towel head" and other religious and racial slurs and faced harassment for their religious beliefs by other students and teachers. Some alleged incidents include:
- Two students approached a group of Muslim high school girls and asked them if they would like some pork bacon. When the girls informed them that their religion prohibited pork, the students made disparaging remarks about their religion. A week later, the two students brought pork bacon to school and shoved it in the faces of Muslim students and chased after them when they tried to get away.
- Students wrote racist essays for their English class and posted them on a class blog to harass Muslim students.
- A bus driver left Muslim students waiting at a bus stop on several occasions, driving past them when she saw them and telling them: "Catch me if you can."
- A World History teacher made disparaging comments about Islam and Muslims in class.
- A teacher, on several occasions, handed students a can of air freshener and instructed them to spray the room when Muslim students walked into class. (CAIR)
Arkansas Department of Corrections apologizes for hijab incident
March 26: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said today that the Arkansas Department Corrections (ADC) has apologized for a December 2009 incident in which a Muslim visitor to a prison in Pine Bluff, Ark., was barred from entering the facility because of her Islamic head scarf, or hijab. The woman, who was willing to submit to a pat-down search by a female officer, was prevented from entering even though she had passed through a metal detector without setting it off. When the woman stated that she wears her scarf for religious reasons, she was allegedly told that religious accommodation is provided to inmates, but not visitors. In a letter to CAIR, an ADC representative apologized for "any embarrassment and inconvenience" experienced by the Muslim visitor. That official told CAIR that women wearing head coverings for religious or medical reasons may be searched in a private area by a female security officer. (CAIR)
2010 January February March April May June
July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
|
