Islam

Muslim Groups Work for Unity

October 28, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 28, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported "when a coalition of Muslim American leaders delivered its first unified presidential endorsement this week--backing Republican candidate George W. Bush--the move marked an important moment in the community's long struggle for unity and a greater presence on the American political stage. 'There is a tremendous awakening in our community,' said Saed Moujtahed, 39, a Syrian- born entrepreneur. Once politically apathetic, he intends to back Bush and has put his telecommunications...

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Controversy Rages Over Return of Muslim Funds

October 27, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 27, 2000, a front page story in The New York Times reported, "Yesterday, as Mrs. Clinton's campaign aides began returning about 100 checks from members of the American Muslim Alliance, Muslims across the country were reminded of how difficult it remains for them to make inroads into American politics and how disputed remarks about other parts of the world can derail the acceptance of Muslim Americans here. Mrs. Clinton said on Wednesday that the checks, from a fund-raising event in June, were being returned because of '...

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Lieberman "Hurt" by Muslim Criticism

October 27, 2000

Source: The Washington Post

On October 27, 2000, The Washington Post reported that, "Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman said he is stung by concerns raised about his candidacy for vice president by Arab American groups, which are clearly hurting the Democratic ticket in several key states. In an interview with WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, Mich., Lieberman, the first Jewish major-party nominee for national office, said, 'I'm hurt [by such criticism]. They have a right to what they choose to do. The fact is I've worked very closely with Arab American groups.' He...

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Los Angeles CAIR Chapter Leaves Dialogue Group

October 26, 2000

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On October 26, 2000, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that, "after lengthy consideration, the Board of Directors of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) has concluded that we can no longer be a part of the Muslim-Jewish dialogue group initiated last year. Regrettably, we note that our Jewish partners in the group have rejected the issuance of a joint statement condemning the ongoing bloodshed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We feel that if the...

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Muslim Employee Allowed to Attend Friday Prayers

October 26, 2000

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On October 26, 2000, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that, "CTI Logistx, located in Bramalea, Ontario has agreed to allow a Muslim employee to attend Friday prayers following intervention by the Canadian office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN). The employee had approached CTI a few months ago with a request to attend Friday afternoon prayers. At the company's request, he provided religious documentation from local Muslim organizations. CTI initially approved the request...

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Muslim Man Fired for Wearing a Beard Sues

October 26, 2000

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On October 26, 2000, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that, "the Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) has announced that a Muslim security guard who was fired for refusing to shave his beard filed a private discrimination lawsuit in U.S. District Court against his former employer, Sims Security/Burns International Services Corp. The suit alleges that the guard was disciplined twice for wearing a beard and was ultimately fired for refusing to shave. The Equal...

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Election 2000

October 23, 2000

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 23, 2000, The Boston Globe reported on Imam Hassan Qazwini. The article reported that Imam Qazwini, an Iraqi-born Muslim, recently urged his students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn to vote in the upcoming election. "How else can they persuade the U.S. government to reduce its support for Israel? To halt the alleged singling out of Muslims and Arab-Americans for interrogation at U.S. airports? To stop the use of secret evidence to justify the detention of suspected terrorists? 'We should pursue our rights in...

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Muslim Matchmaking

October 23, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 23, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that, "as founder of the Matrimonial Services Committee at the Islamic Society of Orange County, Rukhsana Farooqui pores over notebooks full of photographs and applications, then prays to make a good match. Since dating is forbidden under Islamic religious law, many unmarried young Muslims rely on their parents to arrange a supervised gathering to mingle with a prospective mate. When those liaisons haven't worked out, more than 200 local Muslims have turned to Farooqui to set them...

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Election 2000

October 23, 2000

Source: The American Muslim Council

On October 23, 2000, The American Muslim Council issued the following press release: "The American Muslim Political Coordinating Council Political Action Committee (AMPCC-PAC) announced its endorsement of Governor George W. Bush at a press conference held this morning. The AMPCC-PAC cited Bush's accessibility to the American Muslim community and his stand on the issues of secret evidence and profiling as the key dynamics contributing to the endorsement. There are more than six million Muslims in the United States. Muslims...

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Interfaith Prayer Vigil Held for Children

October 21, 2000

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On October 21, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that "the hum of gospel hymns, clapping hands and fervent prayer echoed off the glass walls of the office towers surrounding Charles Center Plaza yesterday as young and old gathered to observe an interfaith Sabbath for children. About 100 Christians, Jews and Muslims joined hands and voices as they prayed for the youth in Baltimore in a local vigil that was part of the Children's Sabbath, an annual event sponsored by the National Children's Defense Fund. As part of the observance,...

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Ismaili Center to be Built in Texas

October 21, 2000

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On October 21, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that "Houston-area Ismaili Muslims, who are under the spiritual leadership of the Aga Khan, are building a $10 million mosque and cultural center in Sugar Land. The 36,000-square-foot Ismaili Jamatkhana, or place of gathering, will be on 11 1/2 acres at 1700 First Colony Blvd. Lt. Gov. Rick Perry and Alaudin Bhanji, president of the Ismaili Council for the United States, attended ground-breaking ceremonies this week. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2001...

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More Attention Paid to Muslim Vote

October 21, 2000

Source: Omaha World-Herald

On October 21, 2000, the Omaha World-Herald reported that "Much attention has been paid in recent years to the voting patterns of Jews (overwhelmingly Democrat), evangelical Christians (overwhelmingly Republican) and Catholics (all over the map). But hardly anyone has collected data on the voting preferences of the nation's Muslims - a growing group that could decide close elections in swing states such as Michigan, where there is a large Muslim population. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.,...

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Election 2000

October 19, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 19, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "soon after his selection as Al Gore's running mate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman met with several dozen Arab American leaders in Michigan who worried that, if elected vice president, the orthodox Jew would not be evenhanded on Middle Eastern policy. At the time, Lieberman earned guarded praise by listening to their concerns and reassuring them that he understands their agenda and has a record of fighting for the civil rights of Arab Americans. But after violence exploded in...

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