SoCal Muslims Targeted in Anti-Islam Incidents

Burned Quran left at Costa Mesa mosque, Muslim holiday display vandalized in Mission Viejo

Jan 01, 2010 - ANAHEIM, CA

The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today reported two incidents of anti-Islam hate targeting the local Muslim community.

An official of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa, Calif., reports that a burned copy of the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, was found at the back entrance of the mosque during Friday prayers. Mosque officials told CAIR that another burned Quran had been left in the same spot one month ago and that the center had been vandalized within the last three weeks.

In Mission Viejo, Calif., vandals defaced the Muslim component of an interfaith holiday display. A piece of paper stuck to the display stated: “No Islamic Lighthouses in the U.S.A.”

The Muslim display included a verse from the Quran encouraging the unity of humankind and promoting righteousness. “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you.” (The Holy Quran, 49:13)

“Americans of all faiths, and leaders of all political persuasions, must repudiate those who would divide our nation along religious or racial lines,’ said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush.

He noted that CAIR recently called on President Obama to address what it called an “alarming level of anti-Islam hate in our nation.” The organization’s letter to President Obama cited a number of recent anti-Muslim incidents, including a spate of vandalism cases at mosques nationwide.

SEE: CAIR Asks President to Address Rise in Anti-Islam Hate

Ayloush said CAIR is urging American Muslim individuals and institutions to review advice on security procedures contained in its “Muslim Community Safety Kit.”

SEE: Muslim Community Safety Kit

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.

Islamic Section of Interfaith Holiday Display Vandalized in Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo, Ca; January 1, 2010

Contrary to Mubarak, Congressmen Baird and Ellison fight to lift Israeli blockade on Gaza

Al Jazeera's Todd Baer caught up with two US Democratic congressmen, Ellison and Baird, whose efforts to lift the Israeli blockade on Gaza are being met with stiff resistance.
(In the meanwhile, Egypt's Mubarak implements harsher measures to strangle the people of Gaza)

Opinion: Privacy Isn't the Price for Security - Sphere News

Opinion: Privacy Isn't the Price for Security - Sphere News

Munira Syeda of CAIR-LA Comments on Airport Profiling

Hooper Debates Airport Profiling on Fox's 'O'Reilly Factor'

A Must watch.

Muslims Condemn Detroit Terror Attack

85 year old Holocaust Survivor Hedy Epstein Begins Hunger Strike to Open Gaza Borders

85 year old Holocaust Survivor Hedy Epstein Begins Hunger Strike to Open Gaza Borders

12/28/2009

Hedy Epstein, the 85 year old Holocaust survivor and peace activist, announced that she will begin a hunger strike today as a response to the Egyptian government’s refusal to allow the Gaza Freedom March participants into Gaza.

Ms. Epstein was part of a delegation with participants from 43 countries that were to join Palestinians in a non-violent march from Northern Gaza towards the Erez border with Israel calling for the end of the illegal siege. Egypt is preventing the marchers from leaving Cairo, forcing them to search for alternative ways to make their voices heard.

Ms. Epstein will remain outside the UN building at the World Trade Center (Cairo) - 1191 Cornish al-Nil, throughout today, accompanied by other hunger strikers. "It is important to let the besieged Gazan people know they are not alone. I want to tell the people I meet in Gaza that I am a representative of many people in my city and in other places in the US who are outraged at what the US, Israeli and European governments are doing to the Palestinians and that our numbers are growing," Epstein said.

In 1939, when Epstein was just 14, her parents found a way for her to escape the persecution, sending her on the Kindertransport to England. Epstein never saw her parents again; they perished in Auschwitz in 1942. After World War II, Epstein worked as a research analyst at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi doctors who performed medical experiments on concentration camp inmates.

After moving to the US, Epstein became an activist for peace and social justice causes. Unlike most Holocaust survivors, one of the causes she has taken up is that of the Palestinian people. She has traveled to the West Bank, collected material aid and now she hopes to enter Gaza.

GFM Hunger strikers names:


- Hedy Epstein, 85
- John Dear, 50
- Teresa Sala Faine, 63
- Father Louie Vitale, 77
- Mary Hughes, 76 from Los Angeles, CA USA
- Charling Tao, 64
- Joe Fallisi,
- J'ann Schoonmaker Alan, 64
- Sandra Tamari, 40
- Pat Chaffee
- Nomusa Taylor-Dube, 23


Contact: Hedy Epstein
hedy@hedyepstein.com

Holiday Cheer from Keith Ellison; Healthcare Now for Everyone!

Al-Arabiya: US group uses Times Square to promote Islam

Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Alarabiya.net

For more info on the campaign, visit:
http://www.cair.com/ny/


An American Muslim advocacy group launched a massive advertisement in New York City's infamous Times Square on Tuesday in a bid to present to millions of Americans a "fair" and "accurate" portrayal of Islam.

The public service announcement, "I am Muslim, I am American," was launched by the New York branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and aims to show people that Muslims are a valuable part of American society.

The advertisement starts with the statement "Building Community, Serving Country" and features American Muslims from all walks of life, including a police sergeant, a Little League all-star, a human rights activist, a doctoral candidate and an attorney.

"This public service advertisement features ordinary American Muslims whose everyday lives are dedicated to building community and serving country," Faiza Ali, CAIR New York's Community Affairs Director, said.

Ali added that "this initiative is part of our ongoing effort to ensure that a fair and accurate portrayal of Islam and Muslims is presented to the American public.”

The campaign will run from Dec. 22 to Jan. 16, and will even be shown on New Year's Eve, when at least one million people are expected to crowd Times Square for celebrations and the infamous countdown, when the ball drops at midnight.

"We have more than 400 million people going through Times Square and we thought this would be a good opportunity to send out a positive message about Muslims," Ibrahim Cooper, CAIR's national communications director, told Al Arabiya.

And the message is simple "that American Muslims are a vital part of our society and people have an opportunity to learn more about them," Hooper said.

And for those who have never been to Times Square, Hooper explained that the advertisement will appear on the CBS Super Screen, which is a 26-foot by 20-foot full-motion screen, called a "JumboTron," and will air 18 times a day.

"We hope that the millions of people from around the nation and the world who view this public service announcement will return home with enhanced understanding of Islam and the American Muslim community," CAIR's National Executive Director, Nihad Awad, said.

And according to Hooper although the advertisement has only been up for a day it has already been well received.

"The reaction has been very positive and we have already had people showing an interest and donating online."