Islam

Joy and Disdain Over New Mosque in Scottsdale, AZ

January 12, 2004

Source: The Arizona Republic

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0112nemosque12.html

On January 12, 2004 The Arizona Republic reported, " Excitement mixed with resignation this past weekend as neighbors and members of Scottsdale's first Islamic mosque and cultural center discussed the start of the mosque's construction. About 25 people gathered Saturday morning at the site of the project, a 3.5-acre parcel at the southwestern...

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Debate Over Free Speech and Islamic Extremism

January 11, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/weekinreview/11lipt.html

On January 11, 2004 The New York Times published an article debating whether or not radical Islam, particularly in prisons, should be protected under free speech laws, arguing that the United States allows religious hate speech to "flourish" as a result of First Amendment laws. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the Muslim cleric who coordinated New York's Islamic...

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Maryland Islamic Center Mobilizes Voters

January 11, 2004

Source: The Baltimore Sun

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.muslim11jan11,0,3506779.story

On January 11, 2004 The Baltimore Sun reported that hundreds of Muslims gathered at the Idara-e-Jaferia Islamic Center in Burtonsville, Maryland for a daylong "Current Awareness" program to mobilize Muslim political participation in post-9/11 America. The program included seminars on building relationships with non-Muslims, improving the image of Muslims...

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Not All Christians Agree on Interfaith Dialogue

January 11, 2004

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-oe-oc-hubbard11jan11,1,2426229.story?coll=la-editions-orange

On January 11, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported, "Non-Christians might be confused by the mixed signals coming from different sectors of the Christian world about the value of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. President Bush's comment during his recent visit to England that...

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Arab-Americans and Diversity

January 11, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/national/11ARAB.html?th

On January 11, 2004 The New York Times reported on the diverse definitions of what it means to be "Arab American," noting that "the ethnic umbrella of Arab Americans includes generations-old long-assimilated families, as well as continuing waves of new immigrants, all with varying religious, cultural and political traditions." The article also discusses the difficulty of assessing...

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Ottowa's Jewish Family Services Mentors Somali Community Organization

January 11, 2004

Source: JTA

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13643&intcategoryid=#

On January 11, 2004 JTA reported, "Ottawa’s Jewish Family Services is helping improve Muslim-Jewish relations in Canada’s capital by mentoring a Somali community organization. The partnership — which recently won an award from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation — also is helping shape Ottawa’s emerging ethnic mosaic. 'North America is...

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Prime Minister Urges Citizens to End Religious Divisions

January 11, 2004

Source: The News International

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jan2004-daily/11-01-2004/world/w3.htm

On January 11, 2004 The News International reported, "In a bid to choke off support for Islamic insurgents, Thailand’s prime minister on Saturday vowed to bring economic prosperity to the nation’s impoverished south and called on the nation’s Muslim minority to unite with the Buddhist majority. Speaking in his weekly radio address, Prime...

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Christian-Muslim Relations Have Improved Since 9/11 in East Valley, Ariz.

January 10, 2004

Source: East Valley Tribune

http://evtribune.com/index.php?sty=15285

On January 10, 2004 the East Valley Tribune ran a feature article on Christian-Muslim relations in the East Valley area after 9/11: "Though polarization followed [9/11] and some grew wary of Muslims, some Americans — especially the faith community — rallied around Islamic communities to confront hatred. Many set about trying to better understand Islam...The Rev. David Hodgson, pastor of the Congregational Church...

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Muslims Flee Persecution, Mass Arrests

January 10, 2004

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-01/10/article03.shtml

On January 10, 2004 IslamOnline.net reported, "Terrorized by the latest spree of mass arrests and a crackdown on Islamic schools by the Thai authorities, scores of Muslims, including scholars and leaders, are either hiding or fleeing south Thailand. 'The Thai government is using the recent attacks on soldiers as a reason to order mass arrests and impose fear on...

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Interior Minister Favors Imposing Ban of Religious Symbols Similar to France

January 10, 2004

Source: The Scotsman

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2393293

On January 10, 2004 The Scotsman reported, "Supporting proposals in neighbouring France to outlaw Islamic headscarves in public schools, Belgium’s Interior Minister Patrick Dewael said today he favoured imposing a similar ban in Belgium. Dewael suggested the wearing of religious symbols should not be permitted in government institutions, including schools and courts. 'The government should remain...

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Constitution to Establish Islam as State Religion, Provide Religious Freedom for Others

January 9, 2004

Source: The Washington Times

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040108-111925-7194r.htm

On January 9, 2004 The Washington Times reported, "The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan yesterday said Afghans will not be forced to practice Islam, even though the country's new draft constitution makes numerous references to Islam's supremacy. 'The constitution recognizes that the religion of the state of Afghanistan is Islam,' Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said in response to...

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CAIR-Canada Condemns Anti-Semitic Article in Muslim Newspaper

January 9, 2004

Source: CNews

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/MediaNews/2004/01/09/309061-cp.html

On January 9, 2004 CNews reported, "Muslims with an anti-discrimination group on Friday condemned an article in a B.C. newspaper that accused Jews of faking the Holocaust and staging the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 'I think the article is just atrocious, it's certainly hateful. I would certainly call it vile and malicious and serves only to scapegoat the Jewish community,' said...

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Jewish-Muslim Comedy Duo Seeks to Ease Tensions

January 9, 2004

Source: Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1879839,00.html

On January 9, 2004 the Denver Post ran a feature article on a Jewish-Muslim comedy team seeking to ease relations between the two groups: "These two are professional comedians. And after they ate, they set about their unique mission: easing that tension through laughter. On a day when Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian activist, and the Palestinian prime minister threatened...

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Moderate Muslims Call for Reformation of Islam

January 9, 2004

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0109/p01s04-wome.htm

On January 9, 2004 The Christian Science Monitor reported, "Khalid al-Ghannami and Mansour al-Nogaidan were once subversive sheikhs, religious leaders espousing the same tenets as Osama bin Laden and his acolytes. But they both embarked on spiritual journeys - separately - and now embrace a more moderate, inclusive view of Islam, and act as the most outspoken public boosters of...

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