Islam

Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

March 13, 2001

Source: AMC-NET

On March 13, 2001, the American Muslim Council reported that "the American Muslim Council hosted a forum Monday, at Georgetown University, geared toward helping formulate a policy position and consensus among the community regarding President Bush’s Faith-based Initiative." A lot of the talk focused on American Muslim involvement "in the selection process when it comes to determining eligibility. The community called on the White House to ensure balanced representation and objectivity in the Office." The AMC Executive Director sees the...

Read more about Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

Muslim Prisoners Contest Prohibition on Growing Beards

March 11, 2001

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/11

On March 11, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that "a group of Muslim inmates at Vacaville State Prison has now invoked [the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act] in a class-action suit that asserts their right to grow beards." A basic tenet of their religion is that men must grow beards, but "...

Read more about Muslim Prisoners Contest Prohibition on Growing Beards

Muslims in Military Are Underserved

March 11, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 11, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "Islam is the fastest growing major religion in the military...Yet there there are only 10 Muslim chaplains for a population that the military estimates at 4,140, and that Muslims estimate at more than 10,000...Muslims say they face special challenges in the military, not only because of their particular dietary regulations and their requirement for frequent prayer, but also because they are unfamiliar to many in military leadership." The military is trying to train more Muslim...

Read more about Muslims in Military Are Underserved

Muslims Unite to Gain Greater Political Sway

March 11, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On March 11, 2001, The Washington Post reported that organizers of the gathering at the Capitol Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia, to celebrate the end of the Hajj, recently began inviting political candidates to speak to the 17,000 Muslims in attendance. "Muslims are a potentially rich source of votes in Virginia because they are reliable voters and generally support candidates as a bloc." 150,000 to 250,000 Muslims live in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. "The awakening of an Islamic voice in politics is...

Read more about Muslims Unite to Gain Greater Political Sway

Muslims Divided over When to Observe Holidays

March 10, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 10, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on a split among Muslims on when to observe key Islamic holidays, which is based on the lunar calendar. "A large block of American mosques--relying more on science and less on the human eye--this year came to a different conclusion from authorities in Mecca, Saudi Arabia" on when the new moon appeared in the sky. Muzammil Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of North America, is planning to meet soon with both American and Middle Eastern Muslims to work out an agreement....

Read more about Muslims Divided over When to Observe Holidays

Lawyer Challenges Use of Secret Evidence to Fight Terrorism

March 9, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 9, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on civil-rights lawyer Juliette Kayyem, who is executive director of a project on counterterrorism and domestic preparedness at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She is waging what seems "like a one-woman war within the Justice Department against the use of secret evidence... Acting on secret evidence, US officials now seize, detain, and deport foreigners suspected of terrorist activities." The National Commission on Terrorism, the congressionally appointed panel she sits on, "...

Read more about Lawyer Challenges Use of Secret Evidence to Fight Terrorism

Muslim Leaders Condemn Taliban's Destruction of Buddhist Statues

March 9, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 9, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "leading Southern California Muslim scholars...denounced the ruling Taliban's destruction of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan as contrary to their faith's laws and traditions...The Los Angeles meeting...reflected growing efforts by a network of Muslim intellectuals and human rights advocates...to challenge, on the basis of Islamic law, oppression that they believe is being falsely imposed in the name of Islam...In a unanimous statement, eight intellectuals said the Taliban's...

Read more about Muslim Leaders Condemn Taliban's Destruction of Buddhist Statues

Exodus of Bangladeshi Immigrants from Queens to Detroit

March 8, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On March 8, 2001, The New York Times reported that an estimated 8000 Bangladeshis have moved from Queens to Detroit in the past 18 months. "The mini-exodus...has created a Bangladeshi community" in the Detroit area and "it has mildly unnerved the tight-knit collection of Bangladeshi immigrants in Queens...According to several estimates, the Bangladeshi population in Detroit has grown from a few thousand in the mid-1990's to 15,000 to 20,000." Many are attracted to Detroit by the job opportunities and real estate prices and the...

Read more about Exodus of Bangladeshi Immigrants from Queens to Detroit

Muslims Seek Apology from Rev. Falwell for Bigotry

March 8, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On March 8, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on the Rev. Jerry Falwell's remark that "the Moslem faith teaches hate" and should be barred from Bush's faith-based initiatives. "Falwell later told USA Today that he meant any group that is anti-Semitic, racist or in any way bigoted should be disqualified...Islamic, Christian and Jewish leaders, even a spokesman for Middle East terrorist group Hezbollah, denounced Falwell's remarks."

Bush Administration Responds to Criticism of Initiative from Christian Right

March 8, 2001

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/08/MN220744.DTL

On March 8, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that "John DiIulio, the director of the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, made his plea for Christian support at the National Association of Evangelicals convention in Dallas." In response to opposition toward the initiative...

Read more about Bush Administration Responds to Criticism of Initiative from Christian Right

Muslims Seek Apology from Rev. Falwell for Bigotry

March 8, 2001

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On March 8, 2001, the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced that it "is demanding an apology for anti-Muslim bigotry by prominent television evangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell." In an interview Falwell said that he thinks the Muslim faith teaches hate and should be barred from Bush's faith-based initiatives. Excerpts from the interview can be found at http://www.Beliefnet.com/story/70/story_7040_1.html. CAIR's letter to Falwell can be found...

Read more about Muslims Seek Apology from Rev. Falwell for Bigotry

Organization Creates Friendships that Cross Different Religions

March 7, 2001

Source: The Kansas City Star

On March 7, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported on the founder of HateBusters, an organization that arranged the first of a monthly series of visits by Christians to the houses of worship of three other major religions in Kansas City, the Hindu Temple, Beth Shalom Synagogue and the Islamic Center." The purpose of the trips, said the founder, is to ask, "How are we all as people of faith like each other, and how can we become neighbors?"

Pages