Islam

Mosque Vandalized in Illinois

May 24, 1999

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On May 24, 1999, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the mosque at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park, Illinois was vandalized when a basketball-sized concrete block was thrown through the mosque's windows on the morning of May 15th, 1999. Though the vandals left no sign of anti-Islamic graffiti, members of the mosque believe it was a hate crime because of the size of the rock and the repeated presence of a white van with four teenagers outside the mosque on the morning of May 15th. Religious leaders in the Chicago area have...

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Islamic Community in Boston to Build Large Center

May 18, 1999

Source: The Boston Globe

On May 18, 1999, The Boston Globe published an article on the new Islamic Institute of Boston, a planned 60,00-square-foot facility that is expected to open late next year on city-owned property next to Roxbury Community College. The Islamic Society of Boston has been using a mosque in Cambridge for the past four years, but soon it became inadequate for the growing Muslim population in Boston. The Muslim population in Massachusetts has been estimated at 40-50,000, which is about double that of 20 years ago. Dr. Muhammad Attawia,...

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Eighth National Convention of American Muslim Council

May 15, 1999

Source: The Plain Dealer

??¬5, 1999, The Plain Dealer published an article on the eighth national convention of the American Muslim Council, which took place in Arlington, Virginia. Due to the NATO military policies to defend the Muslims in Kosovo, many Islamic leaders are speaking of a "new partnership" with Christianity in the United States. Jamal Barzingi, director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, stated: "We are witnessing a reversal of sentiment that has been deeply imbedded in the West for more than 1,000 years. This is a new...

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Interview with Imam Warith Deen Mohammed

May 15, 1999

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 15, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an interview with Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, son of Elijah Mohammed and leader of the Muslim American Society, which has about 1.5 million members. Mohammed stated that the biggest challenge facing American Muslims today is "to be rightly identified for what is truly Islam and what is truly Muslim life." With community development now as his top priority, Mohammed is now promoting a self-help economic project called the collective purchasing agreement, which has brought together...

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Bomb Plot Against Denver Mosque

May 15, 1999

Source: The Denver Post

On May 15, 1999, The Denver Post reported that Jack M. Modig was charged with attempted first-degree arson of the Colorado Muslim Society's Islamic Center southeast of Denver. He was caught on the night of May 12th in front of the mosque in a car that had a "small arsenal of weapons, black clothing, tactical goggles, and writings indicating his hatred for Muslims and his desire to bomb the mosque." Some Muslims were hesitant to attend services on Friday, but others wanted to come to midday prayers in order to show that the mosque...

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Bomb Plot Against Denver Mosque

May 13, 1999

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 13, 1999, The New York Times reported on the arrest of Jack Modig, who was quoted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office as saying, "I am an enemy against the Islamic nation, and I was going to take care of business." Captain Phil Spence of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office stated: "It is our belief, based on our investigation, that he was going to incinerate the Islamic Center." The Islamic Center draws about 500 Muslims every Friday for prayers and is the largest mosque in Colorado. The Denver area has seen two other...

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Kosovo Coverage

April 20, 1999

Source: No source given.

On April 20, 1999, CAIR announced that more than $300,000 had been collected in a fund-raiser on Sunday, April 18th held by Muslims in Southern California for the innocent civilians of Kosovo. Nationwide, American Muslim organizations have collected more than $2 million for Kosovo relief. (April 20, 1999, Council on American-Islamic Relations)

Kosovo Coverage

April 11, 1999

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On April 11, 1999, The Houston Chronicle reported that members of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston and other area mosques congregated in downtown Houston on Saturday, April 10th to protest the killing of Muslims in Kosovo and to support the bombing effort. Syed Mustafa Kamal, regional coordinator for the Kosovo Task Force, said that similar demonstrations were being held in 50 other United States cities.

Kosovo Coverage

April 11, 1999

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 11, 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported that the conflict in Kosovo is galvanizing the Muslim community in Southern California. The 750,000 Muslims in Southern California are conducting rallies to provide relief to the Muslim refugees. They are also supportive of the NATO effort, which many believe is shifting the long-held thought that the U.S. government is hostile to Islam. Salam al-Marayati, director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, also pointed to changing American perceptions on race and...

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Kosovo Coverage

April 10, 1999

Source: The Hartford Courant

On April 10, 1999, The Hartford Courant reported that members of the Albanian American Muslim Community Mosque in Waterbury, Connecticut are raising money to send food, clothes, and medicine to the ethnic Albanian refugees. They are also sending their prayers. Nick Ozkan, president of the 150-family congregation, stated that, "prayer is making contact with the All-Powerful because He can stop what is happening."

Hajj and Eid al-Adha Coverage

March 31, 1999

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On March 31, 1999, the St. Petersburg Times reported on the celebration of Eid al-Adha in a mosque in Tampa, Florida. The mosque, which has a seating capacity of 1700, was filled with approximately 3000 Muslims. Anwar Hossain, a recent immigrant from Bangladesh, took part in roping and wrestling the 800-pound sacrificial cow. "I never expected to be able to celebrate this occasion here, especially far away from my country. I never knew that somebody sells cows for this type of celebration, and I never knew that I would be able...

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Hajj and Eid al-Adha Coverage

March 27, 1999

Source: The Hartford Courant

On March 27, 1999, The Hartford Courant published an article on how Islamic celebrations for the end of the pilgrimage in Connecticut mosques are marred by the violence against Muslims in Kosovo.

Muslims to Celebrate End of Pilgrimage on National Mall

March 25, 1999

Source: No source given.

On March 25, 1999, the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced that communal prayers and a multicultural festival will take place on Saturday, March 27th on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to mark the end of the Hajj.

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