Op-Ed by Nihad Awad, Executive Director of CAIR National in Washington, DC.
As we mark one of history's most triumphant acts of liberty, I want to share with you some of the many things America's Muslims are doing to preserve this fundamental principle of the American identity.
The revolution we honor each year on July 4th was in part sparked by unreasonable government intrusions into individual liberty. In 1761, Boston lawyer James Otis spoke against overly-broad warrants issued by the British government. These Writs of Assistance allowed the crown's agents to search any house or ship they wished, without any specific reason. John Adams -- signer of the Declaration of Independence and our nation''s second president -- said of Otis' speech, "Then and there, the child Independence was born."
In times of threat, public opinion often shifts away from liberty. Ten years after the 9/11 terror attacks, the Pew Research Center found that a troubling number of Americans supported government monitoring of credit card transactions (42%) and phone calls (29%). Similarly, the Associated Press found disconcerting percentages of Americans embracing the ideas of warrantless monitoring of domestic phone calls (23%) and email (30%).
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a California Muslim serves as one example of turning to the Constitution to preserve American liberty from over-broad or warrantless government intrusions into individual liberty. The lawsuit asserts that the FBI violated Yasir Afifi's First, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights when the bureau failed to obtain a warrant to place a GPS tracking device on his car to monitor his daily activities.
American liberty is about going before a judge, providing reasonable suspicion and getting a warrant, not about unchecked government power to intrude into a person's life.
Liberty in the form of free exercise of religion is also crucial to our nation. Everyone who went to elementary school in this country knows the pilgrims came to the New World to escape religious persecution in Europe.
In 2011, 54 bills or amendments aimed at interfering with Muslims' religious practices -- so-called "anti-sharia" bills -- were considered in 25 states and the U.S. Congress. This trend continues today. It is often carried out under the banner of a conspiracy theory that asserts Muslims are working to undermine the Constitution and replace it with Islamic law.
Yet we know that no religious code can replace American law. Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states, "This Constitution ... shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby."
Laws intended to target Muslims have been passed in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, and South Dakota. This is a serious threat to the First Amendment, which prohibits government from making any law "respecting an establishment of religion."
Muslims, along with interfaith and business partners, have been active in opposing such bills. The 2010 amendment to Oklahoma's state constitution, which violates the First Amendment by explicitly subjecting Islam to government censure, immediately faced a legal challenge from a Muslim living in that state. A federal judge put the law on hold after determining that the challenge had merit and will likely result in the law being ruled unconstitutional.
There are countless examples of Muslims defending American liberty. Muslims have worked to undo the sections of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allow for indefinite detention of Americans without charge or trial. The NDAA is unconstitutional because it disregards the Fifth Amendment guarantee of due process for "all persons" and the Sixth Amendment right to a fair and speedy trial.
When presidential candidates Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich asserted that they would impose loyalty oaths on Muslims who may have wanted to serve in their administrations, Muslims again asserted American principles, pointing out that Article VI of the Constitution prohibits "religious tests" for public office. America is about who merits the position, not what their faith might be.
I am grateful for the opportunity to live the American dream and help fulfill that dream for all our nation's citizens. On July 4th, I will join my fellow Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds to mark the courage the Founding Fathers showed in asserting liberty from a tyrannical British king. The next day, I will go back to defending American ideals, because that is what my faith compels me to do.
Showing posts with label Tolerance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tolerance. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Killer Drone Attacks Illegal, Counter-Productive
By Marjorie Cohn | TheHuffingtonPost | June 25th, 2012 | [Original Article]
"The Bush administration detained and tortured suspected militants; the Obama administration assassinates them. Both practices not only visit more hatred upon the United States; they are also illegal. Our laws and treaties prohibit torture. The Constitution forbids the government from depriving any person of life without due process of law; that is, arrest and fair trial. Yet President Obama has approved the killing of people, many of whom were not even identified before the kill order was given…
In the three and one-half years since Obama took office, between 282 and 585 civilians have been killed, including more than 60 children. "The CIA's drone campaign has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to rescue victims or who were attending funerals," a new report by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism found….
Drone attacks also violate well-established principles of international law. A targeted killing is defined as the "intentional, premeditated, and deliberate use of lethal force... against a specific individual who is not in the physical custody of the perpetrator," according to Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions. Targeted or political assassinations -- sometimes known as extra-judicial executions -- run afoul of the Geneva Conventions, which include willful killing as a grave breach. Grave breaches of Geneva are punishable as war crimes under the U.S. War Crimes Act.
Christof Heyns, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, expressed grave concern about the targeted killings, saying they may constitute war crimes. He called on the Obama administration to explain how its drone strikes comport with international law, specify the bases for decisions to kill rather than capture particular individuals, and whether the State in which the killing takes place has given consent…
Likewise, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay recently declared that U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan violate the international law principles of proportionality and distinction. Proportionality means that an attack cannot be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage sought. Distinction requires that the attack be directed only at a legitimate military target." [Read More]
"The Bush administration detained and tortured suspected militants; the Obama administration assassinates them. Both practices not only visit more hatred upon the United States; they are also illegal. Our laws and treaties prohibit torture. The Constitution forbids the government from depriving any person of life without due process of law; that is, arrest and fair trial. Yet President Obama has approved the killing of people, many of whom were not even identified before the kill order was given…
In the three and one-half years since Obama took office, between 282 and 585 civilians have been killed, including more than 60 children. "The CIA's drone campaign has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to rescue victims or who were attending funerals," a new report by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism found….
Drone attacks also violate well-established principles of international law. A targeted killing is defined as the "intentional, premeditated, and deliberate use of lethal force... against a specific individual who is not in the physical custody of the perpetrator," according to Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions. Targeted or political assassinations -- sometimes known as extra-judicial executions -- run afoul of the Geneva Conventions, which include willful killing as a grave breach. Grave breaches of Geneva are punishable as war crimes under the U.S. War Crimes Act.
Christof Heyns, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, expressed grave concern about the targeted killings, saying they may constitute war crimes. He called on the Obama administration to explain how its drone strikes comport with international law, specify the bases for decisions to kill rather than capture particular individuals, and whether the State in which the killing takes place has given consent…
Likewise, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay recently declared that U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan violate the international law principles of proportionality and distinction. Proportionality means that an attack cannot be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage sought. Distinction requires that the attack be directed only at a legitimate military target." [Read More]
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Defeating hatred in America
By Hassan Shibly | TBO.com | June 1, 2012 | [Original Article]
Today is my one-year anniversary in Tampa as executive director and legal counsel of CAIR Florida. It has been a year of tremendous responsibility, challenges and accomplishments. Since moving to Tampa I have joined the Florida Bar Association, been blessed with a beautiful daughter, enjoyed excellent fishing in the Gulf and made many wonderful friends.
The events of the past year have greatly increased my appreciation for the great freedoms we are guaranteed as Americans. This year has also taught me that some people will question my loyalty and integrity as an American, label me as "the other" and never accept me as a fellow countryman, simply because of my religion.
It seems that since the abhorrent events of 9/11 every Muslim has become guilty until proven innocent. This collective punishment and irrational fear of Muslims and Muslim organizations is nothing new. We have seen this against African-Americans, Japanese, Jews, the Irish, Catholics and many other minorities in our nation's history. The theme that Jews were taught by their religion to lie so they could take over has been used by Nazi propagandists before the Holocaust. And today, we find that same theme being promoted by local hate groups against American Muslims.
To this day, some people expect me and other Muslims to answer for the atrocious attacks of 9/11. But when the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I was in a 10th-grade public high school class in New York, watching in tears and horror. I was a victim of 9/11, as all Americans were.
It would be patently unreasonable to expect Christians or Christianity to answer for the slaughter in Norway by Anders Breivik in the name of Western Christianity. His terrorist attacks, which killed 77 in Oslo, were inspired by American anti-Muslim groups and bloggers. Yet these same hate groups and their supporters blame all Muslims for the acts of a deranged few; the double standard is clear.
The government has, on occasion, supported this idea of collective punishment for Muslims and, in doing so, has made our nation both less free and less secure. This includes the New York Police Department spying on Muslims simply for being Muslim; the "special" treatment most Muslims get at airports; the labeling of every major Muslim organization as "unindicted co-conspirator" to wrongly defame them; and opposition to mosques and attempts to outlaw Muslim tradition. These attacks against religious freedom and theories of guilt by association are abhorrent to our ideals as Americans.
I experienced this government discrimination for the first time when I was 18 and the government decided to detain all attendees of a mainstream Islamic conference. It was this first major incident of profiling I faced that prompted my desire to become a civil rights attorney. At that young age I felt the principals that make America a beacon of freedom — freedom of religion, speech and association — were being threatened by overhyped fear of Muslims, and that it was up to us to defend our Constitution and American freedoms, lest we lose them by taking them for granted.
In the seven years since, I have become an imam, a civil rights attorney and executive director of the largest Muslim civil rights organization in Florida. This past year we worked with diverse interfaith and civil rights coalitions to defeat legislation that threatened religious freedoms; we have won many cases on behalf of victims of discrimination and built strong coalitions to defend freedom and justice.
In the course of this work, I have been called a terrorist a few times and even received threats against my family. But this hatred has only reinforced my desire to keep working to unite our community through understanding and tolerance. The beauty of our nation is that the same laws that give freedom to those who promote hatred and intolerance also give us the freedom and ability to challenge such hatred. I find comfort in remembering the sacrifice, struggles and opposition faced by all those who stood against fear mongering, discrimination and hatred throughout our nation's history.
Our challenge as fellow Americans is not to defeat our enemies but to defeat the enmity we have for each other in our hearts. United we stand; divided we fall. Thank God for the U.S. Constitution, which I have had the privilege of defending for the past year, and hopefully for many years to come.
Today is my one-year anniversary in Tampa as executive director and legal counsel of CAIR Florida. It has been a year of tremendous responsibility, challenges and accomplishments. Since moving to Tampa I have joined the Florida Bar Association, been blessed with a beautiful daughter, enjoyed excellent fishing in the Gulf and made many wonderful friends.
The events of the past year have greatly increased my appreciation for the great freedoms we are guaranteed as Americans. This year has also taught me that some people will question my loyalty and integrity as an American, label me as "the other" and never accept me as a fellow countryman, simply because of my religion.
It seems that since the abhorrent events of 9/11 every Muslim has become guilty until proven innocent. This collective punishment and irrational fear of Muslims and Muslim organizations is nothing new. We have seen this against African-Americans, Japanese, Jews, the Irish, Catholics and many other minorities in our nation's history. The theme that Jews were taught by their religion to lie so they could take over has been used by Nazi propagandists before the Holocaust. And today, we find that same theme being promoted by local hate groups against American Muslims.
To this day, some people expect me and other Muslims to answer for the atrocious attacks of 9/11. But when the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I was in a 10th-grade public high school class in New York, watching in tears and horror. I was a victim of 9/11, as all Americans were.
It would be patently unreasonable to expect Christians or Christianity to answer for the slaughter in Norway by Anders Breivik in the name of Western Christianity. His terrorist attacks, which killed 77 in Oslo, were inspired by American anti-Muslim groups and bloggers. Yet these same hate groups and their supporters blame all Muslims for the acts of a deranged few; the double standard is clear.
The government has, on occasion, supported this idea of collective punishment for Muslims and, in doing so, has made our nation both less free and less secure. This includes the New York Police Department spying on Muslims simply for being Muslim; the "special" treatment most Muslims get at airports; the labeling of every major Muslim organization as "unindicted co-conspirator" to wrongly defame them; and opposition to mosques and attempts to outlaw Muslim tradition. These attacks against religious freedom and theories of guilt by association are abhorrent to our ideals as Americans.
I experienced this government discrimination for the first time when I was 18 and the government decided to detain all attendees of a mainstream Islamic conference. It was this first major incident of profiling I faced that prompted my desire to become a civil rights attorney. At that young age I felt the principals that make America a beacon of freedom — freedom of religion, speech and association — were being threatened by overhyped fear of Muslims, and that it was up to us to defend our Constitution and American freedoms, lest we lose them by taking them for granted.
In the seven years since, I have become an imam, a civil rights attorney and executive director of the largest Muslim civil rights organization in Florida. This past year we worked with diverse interfaith and civil rights coalitions to defeat legislation that threatened religious freedoms; we have won many cases on behalf of victims of discrimination and built strong coalitions to defend freedom and justice.
In the course of this work, I have been called a terrorist a few times and even received threats against my family. But this hatred has only reinforced my desire to keep working to unite our community through understanding and tolerance. The beauty of our nation is that the same laws that give freedom to those who promote hatred and intolerance also give us the freedom and ability to challenge such hatred. I find comfort in remembering the sacrifice, struggles and opposition faced by all those who stood against fear mongering, discrimination and hatred throughout our nation's history.
Our challenge as fellow Americans is not to defeat our enemies but to defeat the enmity we have for each other in our hearts. United we stand; divided we fall. Thank God for the U.S. Constitution, which I have had the privilege of defending for the past year, and hopefully for many years to come.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Religious leaders warn against crossing the fine line between faith and politics
By Janelle Irwin | WMNF 88.5 FM | March 26, 2012 | [Original Article]
"...As Americans are in the midst of a heated election year, a group of interfaith leaders is concerned about religious views being incorporated into politics. At a panel discussion at St. Petersburg College in Seminole this month, each member expressed devout religious views, but none supported basing political decisions on theological beliefs...
... Hassan Shibly, director of the Tampa Council on American-Islamic Relations just celebrated the defeat of [a bill] in the Florida legislative session. That proposal would have outlawed the use of foreign laws in courtrooms. Shibly and other supporters saw it as an attack on religious freedoms. And he said initiatives like that are spreading throughout the country...
...Shibly said he thinks anti-Muslim rhetoric stems from ignorance. His job, among others, is to reach out to people and show them that Islam is a religion of peace, not blood and bombs...
...He added, and others agreed, that there are conflicting opinions within every religion, not just between religions. Each religious leader promoted one concept: tolerance..." [Read More]
"...As Americans are in the midst of a heated election year, a group of interfaith leaders is concerned about religious views being incorporated into politics. At a panel discussion at St. Petersburg College in Seminole this month, each member expressed devout religious views, but none supported basing political decisions on theological beliefs...
... Hassan Shibly, director of the Tampa Council on American-Islamic Relations just celebrated the defeat of [a bill] in the Florida legislative session. That proposal would have outlawed the use of foreign laws in courtrooms. Shibly and other supporters saw it as an attack on religious freedoms. And he said initiatives like that are spreading throughout the country...
“I think it’s very unfortunate that in 2012 we still have political candidates that are making a campaign out of attacking minorities, particularly the Muslim community now. You have several candidates – Santorum, Gingrich – who are publicly making blanket statements condemning Islam and Muslims", says Hassan Shibly
...Shibly said he thinks anti-Muslim rhetoric stems from ignorance. His job, among others, is to reach out to people and show them that Islam is a religion of peace, not blood and bombs...
"I absolutely disagree with his policy on gay marriage and abortion, but I love his policy about not invading and attacking other countries. And I have to ask myself what’s more important. Should I be more concerned with what goes on in people’s bedrooms or should I be more concerned about the thousands of people that are dying by U.S.-made bombs.”, says Hassan Shibly
...He added, and others agreed, that there are conflicting opinions within every religion, not just between religions. Each religious leader promoted one concept: tolerance..." [Read More]
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Muslim taxi drivers file complaint over prayer at work
By John W. Davis, Reporter | cfNews13 | March 13, 2012 | [Original Article]
"ORLANDO --Eight Central Florida Muslim workers are filing complaints with the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Star Taxi, which is a transportation company based in Orlando...
...“I think in America, everybody has the right to practice his religion freely," explained Behassine, who said someone took a picture of him praying and that he was fired later that evening...
...They are being represented by the Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with the law firm of Hudson and Calleja... [Read More]
..."These muslim employees are not asking to be treated differently. They want to be treated the same as Christian and Jewish employees and employees of any other faith for that matter," said Attorney Robert Hudson...
...Shibly continued his thought by saying that if other drivers if are allowed to smoke or read the bible on breaks, muslims should be allowed to pray on their breaks...
...Benhassine said his first priority is taking care of his 2 boys, and 7 month old baby girl. That's why he taken his own minvan and turned it into a one man taxi operation,“So now I decided to just go out on my own, because somehow I have to bring food to the table," Benhassine concluded... [Read More]
"ORLANDO --Eight Central Florida Muslim workers are filing complaints with the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Star Taxi, which is a transportation company based in Orlando...
...“I think in America, everybody has the right to practice his religion freely," explained Behassine, who said someone took a picture of him praying and that he was fired later that evening...
...They are being represented by the Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with the law firm of Hudson and Calleja... [Read More]
..."These muslim employees are not asking to be treated differently. They want to be treated the same as Christian and Jewish employees and employees of any other faith for that matter," said Attorney Robert Hudson...
...Shibly continued his thought by saying that if other drivers if are allowed to smoke or read the bible on breaks, muslims should be allowed to pray on their breaks...
...Benhassine said his first priority is taking care of his 2 boys, and 7 month old baby girl. That's why he taken his own minvan and turned it into a one man taxi operation,“So now I decided to just go out on my own, because somehow I have to bring food to the table," Benhassine concluded... [Read More]
Muslim Cab Drivers Claim Employer Barred Them From Praying
By Claire Gordon |AOL Jobs | Mar 13th, 2012 | [Original Article]
"Eight Muslim cab drivers in Orlando, Fla., claim their employer prohibited them from praying during work hours, and even assaulted and fired one of them for doing so. Now they're filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that they were discriminated against on the basis of their religion and national origin....
...The eight Arab-American employees worked for Star Taxi, a member of the Transtar Transportation Group, which provides taxi, luxury SUV and limousine services in the Orlando area...
..."When other employees are allowed to go on a smoke break, or read the Bible, Muslim employees are prohibited from praying," said Hassan Shibly...
...Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, it's illegal for employers to discriminate against anyone on the basis of his or her religion, which means making "reasonable accommodation" for any religious needs. "They're not asking for accommodation," says Shibly. "Their prayers only take around five minutes. They're asking not to be harassed...
"They came to this country because of religious freedom," says Shibly. "It's shameful this is happening in America."..." [Read More]
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Eight cab drivers claim their boss made them choose between prayer and their job
By Allison Morrow | ABC ActionNews | March 13, 2012 | [Original Article]
"ORLANDO - It's often said, "A picture's worth 1,000 words," but for the man in a picture taken a few months ago at Orlando's Premium Outlets, the picture was worth his job...[Read More]
..."The place that we pray at is over here," Mohamed BenHassine said, pointing to an area of the outlet mall, beside a dumpster....
...He and seven other Star Taxi drivers claim management threatened to fire them if they prayed while on the job...
..."Either you practice your religion or you lose your job," BenHassine said. "I don't think that's fair in this country."...
..."For the average practicing Muslim, it's like asking them to stop eating food," said CAIR Director Hassan Shibly. "It's integral. It's the soul of our life."...
..."This is a clear case of violation of state, federal and local law," said Hudson & Calleja attorney Michael Hanna, who is representing the drivers."The most important thing is to bring this type of discrimination to light."..." [Read More]
"ORLANDO - It's often said, "A picture's worth 1,000 words," but for the man in a picture taken a few months ago at Orlando's Premium Outlets, the picture was worth his job...[Read More]
..."The place that we pray at is over here," Mohamed BenHassine said, pointing to an area of the outlet mall, beside a dumpster....
...He and seven other Star Taxi drivers claim management threatened to fire them if they prayed while on the job...
..."Either you practice your religion or you lose your job," BenHassine said. "I don't think that's fair in this country."...
..."For the average practicing Muslim, it's like asking them to stop eating food," said CAIR Director Hassan Shibly. "It's integral. It's the soul of our life."...
..."This is a clear case of violation of state, federal and local law," said Hudson & Calleja attorney Michael Hanna, who is representing the drivers."The most important thing is to bring this type of discrimination to light."..." [Read More]
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Muslim describes his life in America
Tampa Bay Times |February 26, 2012|[Original Article]
"...Shibly, a 25-year-old University at Buffalo Law School graduate, serves as executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)... [Read More]
...Since his appointment in August, Shibly has faced parents attempting to ban CAIR speakers from Hillsborough County Schools and allegations of terrorist affiliations. The School Board did not side with the parents...
...The accusations , Shibly says, are a symptom of what CAIR defines as Islamophobia, an unfounded fear of and hostility toward Islam...
Were you surprised by the reactions of people who did attend?
"...Shibly, a 25-year-old University at Buffalo Law School graduate, serves as executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)... [Read More]
...Since his appointment in August, Shibly has faced parents attempting to ban CAIR speakers from Hillsborough County Schools and allegations of terrorist affiliations. The School Board did not side with the parents...
...The accusations , Shibly says, are a symptom of what CAIR defines as Islamophobia, an unfounded fear of and hostility toward Islam...
...As an advocate for Muslim rights, Shibly has reached out to the community at public speaking engagements and open houses, urging those with the questions about Islam to ask not assume...
...An interfaith crowd including Christian pastors, a rabbi and a Hindu priest attended. Shibly spoke about the history of Islam, misunderstandings about the faith and a call for tolerance...
...Shibly recently shared his thoughts about being Muslim in America withTampa Bay Times staff writer Sarah Whitman...
...Shibly recently shared his thoughts about being Muslim in America withTampa Bay Times staff writer Sarah Whitman...
What is your background as a Muslim American?
...When 9/11 happened, I was in 10th grade. I remember running home to my prayer rug praying and crying for all the victims. As an American Muslim, I suffered that day for my country. Then suddenly, I'm seen as a terrorist. It's like if someone hits your mother and blames you for it. And that has been the situation ever since... [Read More]
"Shibly, here with his son, came to the U.S. at age 4.
“From a young age growing up, I felt like
I had to justify my existence"
Were you surprised by the reactions of people who did attend?
...I was shocked at the impact the first open house had. A couple ladies that were there started crying. They said they'd never been in a mosque before. They said 'We had no idea it was so peaceful.' I was shocked at how much they valued the presentation...
What do you want people in the community to know about CAIR?
...We want people [Of all faiths of the community] to reach out to us. Just call and set up a time for a discussion. Whether it's a one-on-one or for a community event, we want to discuss religious issues and community issues..." [Read More]
Friday, February 17, 2012
Hassan Shibly's Letter to the Hillsborough County School Board
Dear School Board Members:
I wish to thank you for taking a strong stand against bigotry and prejudice. Time will certainly show that you were on the right side of history. Unlike those in our nation's history who made the mistakes of taking anti-Black, anti-Irish, anti-Catholic, ant-Jewish, or anti-Japanese positions only to later learn of their mistaken ways.
For virtually everyone of those minorities, narrow minded and misinformed conspiracy theorists claimed that those minorities had a secret agenda to take over and undermine our nation. Many in our history, like those that allowed the interment camps of the Japanese or the segregation of African Americans, were on the wrong side of history, and today we clearly see how wrong they were in their prejudice ways.
Yet I am proud to say that when your great-grandchildren ask you, "how did you respond to the witch-hunts against Muslims in the years post 9/11" You can proudly say that you were not intimated by false conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric and did not give in to bigotry. For that I am sure you will have a proud legacy. You will not be like those who today shamefully must tell their grandchildren that they did nothing to fight against segregation, anti-antisemitism, or other forms of bigotry that our nation faced throughout the 20th century.
I have watched the footage of the school board meetings and am appalled by the utter lies and fabrications those poor individuals have made against me and my organization-they ascribed quotes to me that I never said, blamed my faith for the crimes done by a few, and twisted facts to suit their clear anti-Muslim agenda, amongst other ridiculous actions. The bigotry they have displayed has clearly shown the importance of continuing to offer our children a world class education. Thank you for bravely refusing to be intimidated by those who use misinformation to divide our community. No one who listens to the comments of the protests, reads their signs, or has a conversation with them can have any doubt that their problem is with Islam and Muslims as a whole, not a particular group or individual.
CAIR Tampa is funded exclusively by grassroots donations from the Muslim community. I am a leading imam in the Florida Muslim community, leading prayer services at most of the major Tampa mosques. The community chose me and CAIR to represent them because of the faith and respect they have for me as a Muslim leader and CAIR's reputation for advocating for Muslim civil rights. Major Tampa area mosques continuously call me to lead the Friday prayer services, give sermons and spiritual talks, teach Islamic teachings, and represent them to the community. CAIR Tampa has over a dozen staff and interns, most of whom are not even Muslim, but believe in the cause of clearing misconceptions about Islam and defending American civil liberties. The Tampa Muslim community has the right to choose its own leaders and decide who speaks on their behalf. Mr. Kemple has no right to make that decision for the community and dictate to us as Muslims who may represent us, shame on him for attempting to do so!
Similar bigoted attacks happened against my good friend, Nezar Hamze, who is executive director of CAIR's Miami office, when he tried to join the Broward Republican Party Executive Committee last summer. The prejudice of those who opposed him because of his faith and his position in America's largest Muslim civil liberties organization, was clearly exposed by Comedy Centrals Daily Show with John Stuart. Please watch this clip for some good laughs: http://www.
Thank you again for not giving in to modern day witch-hunts and McCarthyism.
Many Thanks,
Imam Hassan Shibly, Esq.
Imam Hassan Shibly, Esq.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Fear of Muslim Americans is Overblown
By Esther Cepeda |GazetteXtra| Posted February 13, 2012 [Original Article]
CHICAGO — It seems that every week, some really important news fails to get enough headlines. A story that crept by amid last week’s bloated political coverage was a study that showed how few Muslim-Americans are involved in terrorist activities... [Read More]
..."The author of the study, Charles Kurzman, a professor of sociology at UNC, wrote that “Muslim-American terrorism continued to be a minuscule threat to public safety last year. None of America’s 14,000 murders in 2011 were due to Islamic extremism.”...[Read More]
..."The majority have an unfavorable view of al-Qaeda, decry all violence in the name of their religion, rate their communities as excellent places to live and increasingly believe U.S. anti-terrorism policies are “sincere.” A month before that, a Gallup poll found that the Muslim-American community is more enthused and optimistic about its country than any other religious group—and without question Muslims are loyal to America"...[Read More]
..."Some, of course, will never be swayed. A Florida fundamentalist Christian group got Lowe’s to dump its sponsorship of the reality-TV show “All-American Muslim” because it felt the show is “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.” But the facts speak for themselves"... [Read More]
CHICAGO — It seems that every week, some really important news fails to get enough headlines. A story that crept by amid last week’s bloated political coverage was a study that showed how few Muslim-Americans are involved in terrorist activities... [Read More]
..."The author of the study, Charles Kurzman, a professor of sociology at UNC, wrote that “Muslim-American terrorism continued to be a minuscule threat to public safety last year. None of America’s 14,000 murders in 2011 were due to Islamic extremism.”...[Read More]
..."The majority have an unfavorable view of al-Qaeda, decry all violence in the name of their religion, rate their communities as excellent places to live and increasingly believe U.S. anti-terrorism policies are “sincere.” A month before that, a Gallup poll found that the Muslim-American community is more enthused and optimistic about its country than any other religious group—and without question Muslims are loyal to America"...[Read More]
..."Some, of course, will never be swayed. A Florida fundamentalist Christian group got Lowe’s to dump its sponsorship of the reality-TV show “All-American Muslim” because it felt the show is “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.” But the facts speak for themselves"... [Read More]
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Tampa Trib: Islamic Open House Deemed a Success
By | The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA -- Debbie and Larry Golbom came to Friday night's open house because they were curious about the Muslim community and wanted to know more.
"I thought it was pretty enlightening," said Debbie Golbom, of Largo, who said she came to the event with "zero" knowledge and understanding of Islam. "I was taken by the similarities of the religions."
The Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations hosted the open house at the Islamic Community of Tampa, 5910 E. 130th Ave. The goal was to demystify the religion and introduce people to some of its followers.
Larry Golbom said the dialogue is needed.
"The stereotype is that Islam is a terrorist religion," said Golbom, a 59-year-old Largo pharmacist. "An outreach program such as this is certainly a tremendous benefit to this community."
Hassan Shibly, executive director of CAIR's Tampa chapter, headed the 90-minute program. He recounted the history of Islam, outlined its beliefs and took questions from the audience of around 50 people, about half of whom weren't practicing Muslims.
Although Shibly speaks regularly to various organizations, Friday's meeting came about after the Florida Family Assocation and others criticized Shibly and the school district for allowing him to speak about Islam to a Sickles High School history class.
Shibly told the audience people of different backgrounds should recognize their similarities and appreciate and be tolerant of their differences.
"The best weapon against ignorance is knowledge and getting to know each other at a human level," he said.
He said the people promoting "Islamophobia" don't want dialogue.
"It counters the message that they are promoting that Muslims are evil and can't be trusted," Shibly said. "By engaging in the conversation we can overcome the prejudice and misunderstanding that divides us."
In the audience were about 10 people from First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace. They have embarked on a course to learn more about Islam to help foster tolerance and understanding.
Marc Roath, a pastor at the church, said the program fit perfectly into their church class.
"(It's) getting a better understanding of how someone from a Muslim background feels about all kinds of things — their faith, political issues, life in general," Roath said.
"Our goal is to remove the fear that someone might have talking to someone from a Muslim background."
Shibly said he hopes to host similar events in the future.
The Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations hosted the open house at the Islamic Community of Tampa, 5910 E. 130th Ave. The goal was to demystify the religion and introduce people to some of its followers.
Larry Golbom said the dialogue is needed.
"The stereotype is that Islam is a terrorist religion," said Golbom, a 59-year-old Largo pharmacist. "An outreach program such as this is certainly a tremendous benefit to this community."
Hassan Shibly, executive director of CAIR's Tampa chapter, headed the 90-minute program. He recounted the history of Islam, outlined its beliefs and took questions from the audience of around 50 people, about half of whom weren't practicing Muslims.
Although Shibly speaks regularly to various organizations, Friday's meeting came about after the Florida Family Assocation and others criticized Shibly and the school district for allowing him to speak about Islam to a Sickles High School history class.
Shibly told the audience people of different backgrounds should recognize their similarities and appreciate and be tolerant of their differences.
"The best weapon against ignorance is knowledge and getting to know each other at a human level," he said.
He said the people promoting "Islamophobia" don't want dialogue.
"It counters the message that they are promoting that Muslims are evil and can't be trusted," Shibly said. "By engaging in the conversation we can overcome the prejudice and misunderstanding that divides us."
In the audience were about 10 people from First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace. They have embarked on a course to learn more about Islam to help foster tolerance and understanding.
Marc Roath, a pastor at the church, said the program fit perfectly into their church class.
"(It's) getting a better understanding of how someone from a Muslim background feels about all kinds of things — their faith, political issues, life in general," Roath said.
"Our goal is to remove the fear that someone might have talking to someone from a Muslim background."
Shibly said he hopes to host similar events in the future.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tampa Islamophobes: Hating "All American Muslim" for "All the Wrong Reasons"
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Kabulvision - A New Lowe | ||||
| ||||
The Florida Family Association (FFA), David Canton's Tampa based organization has exposed itself as an anti-Muslim hate organization by calling on advertisers not to support TLC's "All American Muslim" because they claim the show "is propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values. "
See: The Daily Show (Sample Clip Above, Full Coverage Here)
The assumption of the FFA is that the majority of American Muslims are not "ordinary" but rather subscribe to an anti-American "agenda;" That belief in Islam is inherently tantamount to supporting extremism; that Islam is not compatible with American values; and that a balanced show on Muslim's should focus on extremists, terrorists, and woman-abusers.
This is clearly an affront on the entire American Muslim community and is no different than conspiracy theories promoted against Jews by Anti-Semites, or racist attacks against African Americans by white supremacists.
The FFA cites Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller, both of whom have been labeled as extremist hate group leaders by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In its profile on extremism the Jewish Anti-Defamation League states that Spencer's and Geller's hate group, Stop Islamization of America, "promotes a conspiratorial anti-Muslim agenda under the guise of fighting radical Islam. The group seeks to rouse public fears by consistently vilifying the Islamic faith and asserting the existence of an Islamic conspiracy to destroy "American" values."
While such bigoted remarks by hate group leaders would not normally merit media attention, the fact that a major corporation, Lowe's, caved into pressure by the hate groups and legitimized their claims, raises the concern of the Muslim community that conspiratory anti-Muslim rhetoric is increasingly becoming acceptable in the public discourse
CAIR Tampa therefore calling on the community at large to use this as an opportunity to engage in dialog and to get to know your Muslim Neighbor. Contact the CAIR Tampa office to arrange an interfaith program, mosque visit, or civic engagement collaboration. Email info@tampa.cair.or call 813-541-4321 9am-2pm.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Humanity through tragedy: The community moves forward with interfaith dialogue post 9/11
Zachary Tomilnson | NewRootsNews
“9/11 happened to us all,” a featured speaker said in a video presentation from the Council for American-Islamic Relations. It was that sentiment which encapsulated the event: the boundaries of faith and politics were exceeded by the will to foster a sense of cosmic unity.
Hassan Shibly, executive director of CAIR Tampa, desires a world that is unbridled by fervent nationalism and bigotry, where diversity and humanity are essential. “Let us unite today and say no to those who wish to justify violence and hatred to our brothers and sisters in humanity ...,” he said. A decade of expansive warfare has engendered his passion. “Is a life worth less because of the passport it carries?” he asked.
Shibly and CAIR seek a brighter tomorrow on the horizon. Shibly proposed a three-step initiative to be taken to restoring not only America, but also nations and peoples beyond that were affected by the attacks: providing proper healthcare to the first responders at the World Trade Center, a unity of country via compassion and understanding, and an immediate end of warfare.
Shibly identifies this benevolence as universal in the teachings of prophets and figures from Abrahamic faiths and beyond: “If we are more concerned when our children are hurt and starving, but less concerned when our neighbor’s children are hurt and starving, then we are not true believers,” he said.
The Tampa chapter of CAIR presented the Unity and Renewal Award to both Bishop Chuck Leigh of the Apostolic Catholic Church and the Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson of the First United Church of Tampa for embodying the progressive movement in a post-9/11 society that teaches, despite ideological and religious differences, members of diverging faiths can love one another as human beings and pursue the greater good... [Read Full Article]
At Tampa Mosque 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, safe haven is created from hate & war
Atecia Robinson | 88.5fm WMNF  After September 11th some Christians and Muslims viewed each other as the enemy. But on Saturday people of these two world religions gathered at the Islamic Community of Tampa's mosquein Temple Terrace to pay tribute to the lives lost during the 9/11 attacks. In a small worship space at the end of a tiny road lies a family of Muslims that welcomes other faiths. But after the September 11th attacks, Muslims were not as welcomed by some Americans.Hassan Shibly, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said it was wrong for Muslims to be so quickly be equated to being terrorists after September 11th. Many Muslims came to America in order to enjoy rights they weren't afforded in their own countries. Shibly said 9/11 has changed his life immensely. [Click Here to Read Article or Here to Listen] |
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Highlights From the Comments Section: Everyone Hates Muslims Edition
Sure, the Tea Party may be economically illiterate and prone to asking stupid questions of important people, but if its pols are booted out of office in 2012, it won't be because of poor communication. Those online commenters are really on their collective game. They hunt in packs, like wolves, or really patriotic bees.
We published the letter Tuesday that Congressman Allen West sent to the Center on American-Islamic Relations. We suggested that his letter -- which said nothing but "NUTS!" -- was kind of a stupid way to respond to a group trying to stand up for your constituents' civil liberties.
But the civil liberties of American citizens seem to matter to West and his supporters only if they're being meted out to Christians -- you know, the good Americans. They say the government should stay the hell out of Americans' business, unless you're gay or Muslim or a woman, in which case you get the classic Allen West "fuck you, I was in the Army" treatment.
West supporters love this treatment, and their defense of him this week was both steadfast and loyal, which is coincidentally the same phrase West uses at the end of all his chickenshit letters. His letter was well-timed, though: He was labeled a "tea party traitor" for his support of the debt ceiling compromise (an entirely different stupid story), and there isn't any better way to mend Tea Party fences than to break out some good old-fashioned prejudice.
Here are some of the more spectacular comments from his Internet defenders, annotated for maximum truthiness: (Read Full Article)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Islamic Law and Judaism
NY Times
To the Editor:
Re “Behind an Anti-Shariah Push” (front page, July 31):
How ironic that David Yerushalmi, a Hasidic Jew and a political force behind a nationwide campaign against Shariah, or Islamic law, seems oblivious to the profound Islamic influence upon his own Jewish religious traditions.
This is no more evident than in the life and works of Moses Maimonides (1135-1204), the great Jewish thinker, who lived in Muslim lands and wrote most of his books in Arabic. In his Mishneh Torah , his influential code of halacha, the Jewish version of Shariah, as well as in his philosophical masterpiece “Guide for the Perplexed,” Maimonides cites numerous Muslim thinkers, and all his works clearly mirror the then-prevailing religious and intellectual trends in the Islamic world.
Mr. Yerushalmi’s obvious prejudice against Muslims and Islam is a betrayal of Jewish history.
JACOB BENDER
New York, July 31, 2011
The writer is the director of the documentary film “Out of Cordoba: Averroes and Maimonides in Their Time and Ours.”
To the Editor:
I wonder what David Yerushalmi, a Jew, would do if he got his ban on Shariah and somebody else wanted to ban halacha (Jewish law)? What would he do when somebody wanted to ban circumcision or slaughtering animals according to Jewish dietary laws?
To win his self-invented war with Shariah, he will have to shred all of the protections that keep things like this from happening. Mr. Yerushalmi’s misguided campaign divides our society while it diverts our attention from the real fight with terrorists.
MITCHELL A. LEVIN
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 31, 2011
Vilifying Muslims in America
Vilifying Muslims in America - by Stephen Lendman
Judge nations by how they treat all people, whether equally, or advantaging some over others. Judge them harshly if they persecute some for political advantage.
In America, people of color and Muslims are fair game. It's longstanding policy based on prejudicial attitudes, stereotypes, deep-seated racism, and notions of corrupted Western values, high-mindedness, and moral superiority.
Post-9/11, in fact, Muslims are perceived as barbaric, violent, uncivilized, gun-toting terrorists, easily targeted, accused, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned - not for wrongdoing, for their faith in American at the wrong time. As a result, it's no surprise that when suspects are named, media reports automatically convict them in the court of public opinion. .. (READ FULL ARTICLE)
People For the American Way (PFAW) Takes Aim at Anti-Muslim Extremism
Its new report focuses on "The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism," saying:
"Under the guise of defending freedom and American values, right-wing anti-Muslim activists....prevent Muslim-Americans from freely worshiping and practicing their religion, curtail their political rights," urge deportations for some and prosecutions of others.
Connected to overall racial and religious hatred, Muslims became a favored target of choice. As a result, politicians argue for close monitoring, investigating, and curtailing their freedoms to stop them, destroying core democratic values in the process.
Post-9/11, manufactured paranoia claims Muslim are a fifth column threat to US security, "working to bring about America's downfall." Vicious rhetoric and accusations vilify them, calling them a dangerous internal threat to be stopped.
According to David Yerushalmi, a leading anti-Muslim propagandist/general counsel for the far-right Center for Security Policy:
"Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization....The Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies." The way to defeat them is to criminalize Islam, he believes, proposing:
-- 20 years imprisonment for knowingly supporting the furtherance of or adherence to Islam;
-- congressionally declaring war on Muslim nations;
-- declaring all non-US citizen Muslims alien enemies under Chapter 3, Title 50 of the US Code, subjecting them to immediate deportation; and
-- assuring no Muslims get entry visas to America.
Accordingly, Muslims are perceived to be violent. No moderate ones exist. According to University of North Carolina Professor Omid Safi:
"A common ploy by Islamophobes is to go to a predictable list of verses in the Koran and the words of Muhammad and to argue that (they) - with no context, no interpretation, and no alternative (ones) - represent the essence of Islam for all eternity, no matter what Muslims may say or why they may protest."
Notorious Islamophobe David Horowitz claims that "between 150 million and 750 million Muslims support a holy war against Christians, Jews and other Muslims," based solely on his racist anti-Islamic hate.
In addition, right-wing religious extremist Pat Robertson compares Muslims to Hitler, urging Americans to fight them the same way, and the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer calls Muslims "parasites" and a "toxic cancer....out to eliminate and destroy western civilization."
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain says he won't have Muslims in his administration if elected. Newt Gingrich defended his position in a Republican candidate debate, comparing them to Nazis. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R. NC) calls them terrorists responsible for 9/11 (an exposed lie), and Allen West (R. FL) claims Muslims are naturally "wild" because God cursed Ishmael and his Muslim descendants.
The Pat Robertson/Jay Sekulow-founded American Center for Law and Justice claims Islam compels its adherents to fight America and other countries, saying:
"Because Islam grew out of the belief in complete world domination, every Muslim is obligated to labor in his own way toward achieving that goal, no matter where he lives or what sovereign claims his allegiance."
Distorting Truth to Spread Lies
Fake research is used to attack the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). As a result, Republican senators and congresspersons want the group investigated.
Not for wrongdoing. For encouraging young Muslim-Americans to become congressional interns to learn more about politics. Nonetheless, CAIR and other Islamic groups are vilified. During Rep. Peter King's first hearings, Rep. Chip Cravaack (R. MN) called CAIR a "terrorist organization." ... (READ FULL ARTICLE)
Judge nations by how they treat all people, whether equally, or advantaging some over others. Judge them harshly if they persecute some for political advantage.
In America, people of color and Muslims are fair game. It's longstanding policy based on prejudicial attitudes, stereotypes, deep-seated racism, and notions of corrupted Western values, high-mindedness, and moral superiority.
Post-9/11, in fact, Muslims are perceived as barbaric, violent, uncivilized, gun-toting terrorists, easily targeted, accused, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned - not for wrongdoing, for their faith in American at the wrong time. As a result, it's no surprise that when suspects are named, media reports automatically convict them in the court of public opinion. .. (READ FULL ARTICLE)
People For the American Way (PFAW) Takes Aim at Anti-Muslim Extremism
Its new report focuses on "The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism," saying:
"Under the guise of defending freedom and American values, right-wing anti-Muslim activists....prevent Muslim-Americans from freely worshiping and practicing their religion, curtail their political rights," urge deportations for some and prosecutions of others.
Connected to overall racial and religious hatred, Muslims became a favored target of choice. As a result, politicians argue for close monitoring, investigating, and curtailing their freedoms to stop them, destroying core democratic values in the process.
Post-9/11, manufactured paranoia claims Muslim are a fifth column threat to US security, "working to bring about America's downfall." Vicious rhetoric and accusations vilify them, calling them a dangerous internal threat to be stopped.
According to David Yerushalmi, a leading anti-Muslim propagandist/general counsel for the far-right Center for Security Policy:
"Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization....The Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies." The way to defeat them is to criminalize Islam, he believes, proposing:
-- 20 years imprisonment for knowingly supporting the furtherance of or adherence to Islam;
-- congressionally declaring war on Muslim nations;
-- declaring all non-US citizen Muslims alien enemies under Chapter 3, Title 50 of the US Code, subjecting them to immediate deportation; and
-- assuring no Muslims get entry visas to America.
Accordingly, Muslims are perceived to be violent. No moderate ones exist. According to University of North Carolina Professor Omid Safi:
"A common ploy by Islamophobes is to go to a predictable list of verses in the Koran and the words of Muhammad and to argue that (they) - with no context, no interpretation, and no alternative (ones) - represent the essence of Islam for all eternity, no matter what Muslims may say or why they may protest."
Notorious Islamophobe David Horowitz claims that "between 150 million and 750 million Muslims support a holy war against Christians, Jews and other Muslims," based solely on his racist anti-Islamic hate.
In addition, right-wing religious extremist Pat Robertson compares Muslims to Hitler, urging Americans to fight them the same way, and the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer calls Muslims "parasites" and a "toxic cancer....out to eliminate and destroy western civilization."
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain says he won't have Muslims in his administration if elected. Newt Gingrich defended his position in a Republican candidate debate, comparing them to Nazis. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R. NC) calls them terrorists responsible for 9/11 (an exposed lie), and Allen West (R. FL) claims Muslims are naturally "wild" because God cursed Ishmael and his Muslim descendants.
The Pat Robertson/Jay Sekulow-founded American Center for Law and Justice claims Islam compels its adherents to fight America and other countries, saying:
"Because Islam grew out of the belief in complete world domination, every Muslim is obligated to labor in his own way toward achieving that goal, no matter where he lives or what sovereign claims his allegiance."
Distorting Truth to Spread Lies
Fake research is used to attack the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). As a result, Republican senators and congresspersons want the group investigated.
Not for wrongdoing. For encouraging young Muslim-Americans to become congressional interns to learn more about politics. Nonetheless, CAIR and other Islamic groups are vilified. During Rep. Peter King's first hearings, Rep. Chip Cravaack (R. MN) called CAIR a "terrorist organization." ... (READ FULL ARTICLE)
The Peculiar Case of the Black American Islamophobe
Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, The Huffington Post
Assistant professor of Anthropology and African American Studies, Purdue University
Growing up in the diverse black communities of Brooklyn, NY, being Muslim was not really a strange thing. And to a certain extent the same could be said for the rest of the city. For example, a few years ago I attended a bombazo in the South Bronx and while there, I needed to make one of the five daily prayers. In addition to an inconspicuous place to make salat, I needed to figure out the direction of Mecca, northeast. All I asked one of the event organizers, who was not a Muslim, was: "Do you know which way is east?" To which she immediately responded, "Oh, you need to pray?" and then led me to a quiet and clean place where I could do just that. This familiarity with Islam comes from the role that various everyday and prominent Muslims, like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, have played in shaping black identity and fighting against racial inequality. And when hip hop took up Black Nationalism in the 80s and 90s, being Muslim was not only familiar but also cool. Even Ramadan, which incidentally began this week, had a cameo, albeit irreverent, in the hip hop track "Kick in the Door" where Biggie Smalls rhymes "quick fast, like Ramadan."
This is why I remain perplexed at the ascendance of African Americans who spew the rhetoric of anti-Muslim bias. Last year, there was Juan Williams' inextricable fear of Muslim garb (whatever that is). Then there was the surprising discovery that black residents are participating in the campaign against the expansion of a local mosque in Murfreesboro, TN. And then there were the most recent and egregious comments of Herman Cain, for which, to be fair, he later apologized...(Read Full Article)
In light of these and other parallels, how do some African-Americans come to jump on the anti-Muslim bias bandwagon? There are likely many answers to that question. One that I would like to suggest is that the bandwagon can be alluring to a community that is usually made to walk. Meaning that, some black people, consciously or subconsciously, take on anti-Muslim attitudes as a means to an end -- to access the privileges of being a full-fledged American that have been so long denied blacks in this country. Of course, this route toward full citizenship is peculiar when juxtaposed against reports like the recent one on the widening of the racial wealth gap; reports, which remind us that, on the whole, whites, and non-whites are living in very different Americas. And unfortunately, black American Islamophobes, blaming it on the Muslims -- who are also black -- won't change that. What the black American Islamophobe needs to realize is that the anti-Muslim bias is not a means to full citizenship. Rather, the "Muslim peril" is just the newest boogey man deployed to uphold the status quo and thereby distract our attention from demanding and making meaningful and equitable change for all Americans.
Assistant professor of Anthropology and African American Studies, Purdue University
Growing up in the diverse black communities of Brooklyn, NY, being Muslim was not really a strange thing. And to a certain extent the same could be said for the rest of the city. For example, a few years ago I attended a bombazo in the South Bronx and while there, I needed to make one of the five daily prayers. In addition to an inconspicuous place to make salat, I needed to figure out the direction of Mecca, northeast. All I asked one of the event organizers, who was not a Muslim, was: "Do you know which way is east?" To which she immediately responded, "Oh, you need to pray?" and then led me to a quiet and clean place where I could do just that. This familiarity with Islam comes from the role that various everyday and prominent Muslims, like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, have played in shaping black identity and fighting against racial inequality. And when hip hop took up Black Nationalism in the 80s and 90s, being Muslim was not only familiar but also cool. Even Ramadan, which incidentally began this week, had a cameo, albeit irreverent, in the hip hop track "Kick in the Door" where Biggie Smalls rhymes "quick fast, like Ramadan."
This is why I remain perplexed at the ascendance of African Americans who spew the rhetoric of anti-Muslim bias. Last year, there was Juan Williams' inextricable fear of Muslim garb (whatever that is). Then there was the surprising discovery that black residents are participating in the campaign against the expansion of a local mosque in Murfreesboro, TN. And then there were the most recent and egregious comments of Herman Cain, for which, to be fair, he later apologized...(Read Full Article)
In light of these and other parallels, how do some African-Americans come to jump on the anti-Muslim bias bandwagon? There are likely many answers to that question. One that I would like to suggest is that the bandwagon can be alluring to a community that is usually made to walk. Meaning that, some black people, consciously or subconsciously, take on anti-Muslim attitudes as a means to an end -- to access the privileges of being a full-fledged American that have been so long denied blacks in this country. Of course, this route toward full citizenship is peculiar when juxtaposed against reports like the recent one on the widening of the racial wealth gap; reports, which remind us that, on the whole, whites, and non-whites are living in very different Americas. And unfortunately, black American Islamophobes, blaming it on the Muslims -- who are also black -- won't change that. What the black American Islamophobe needs to realize is that the anti-Muslim bias is not a means to full citizenship. Rather, the "Muslim peril" is just the newest boogey man deployed to uphold the status quo and thereby distract our attention from demanding and making meaningful and equitable change for all Americans.
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