Civic

Author Chips Away at Hollywood Stereotypes of Arabs, Muslims

March 5, 2008

Author: Maureen Simpson

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/55822/author-chips-away-at-hollywood-stereotypes-of-arabs-muslims/

George Clooney asked him to work as a consultant on two films - including “Syriana” - and national news programs and networks such as “The Today Show,” “Nightline” and CNN have featured the Hilton...

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2nd Thoughts on Moment of Silence

March 5, 2008

Author: Ray Long, Jeffrey Meitrodt and Stephanie Banchero

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-moment-of-silence-both_05mar05,0,4162376.story

Most legislators thought it was a terrific idea last fall when they required students in Illinois schools to have a moment of silence to pray or reflect, but House lawmakers now think they could have used a few more moments for reflection themselves...

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Muslims, Vatican to Establish Permanent Dialogue

March 5, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Dawn

http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/06/int10.htm

The Vatican and Muslim leaders agreed on Wednesday to establish a permanent official dialogue to improve often difficult relations and heal wounds still open from a controversial papal speech in 2006.

A joint statement said the first meeting of “The Catholic-Muslim Forum” will take place from Nov 4 to 6 in Rome with 24 religious leaders and scholars from each side....

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Jewish Representative Body Welcomes Muslim Call to Dialogue

March 4, 2008

Author: Press Release

Source: PR-inside/IJCIC

http://www.pr-inside.com/jewish-representative-body-welcomes-muslim-r468622.htm

March 3, 2008 - In an historic first, the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), that represents world Jewry to other world religions, has issued a call for dialogue between Muslims and Jews. The statement follows the recent call to peace, dialogue and understanding...

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Islamic Body Urges Wealthy People to Assist the Poor

March 3, 2008

Author: Ahmed Tahir Ajobe

Source: allAfrica/Daily Trust

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803031189.html

An Islamic organization, the Jama'atu Izalatu Bida'a Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) has called on wealthy Nigerians to assist the poor and impoverished members of the society.

The national chairman of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Na Alhaji said until the wealthy cultivate the habit of assisting their indigent brothers, the much desired national...

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Long-Silenced Iranian Jews Find Their Political Voice in America

March 3, 2008

Author: Rebecca Spence

Source: Haaretz/The Forward

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959921.html

When Beverly Hills' Iranian Jewish mayor, Jimmy Jamshid Delshad, ran for office in 2007, he faced an uphill battle. But contrary to conventional wisdom, his biggest challenge wasn't persuading skeptical non-Iranians to rally behind him.

Instead, Delshad's toughest fight was convincing his natural constituency - the city's roughly 8,000 Iranian-...

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New Immigration Screening Methods Target Muslims, Critics Charge

March 3, 2008

Author: Marisa Taylor

Source: Chicago Tribune/McClatchy Newspapers

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-immigrant-profilingmar04,1,3594616.story

In the six and a half years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal law-enforcement agencies have secretly established profiling techniques to screen immigrants based on their nationalities, protocols that critics charge encourage the unjustified...

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Jews, Muslims Gather to Promote Local, Global Peace at PeaceWalk

March 3, 2008

Author: Yusra Tekbali

Source: The Arizona Daily Wildcat

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2008/03/03/News/Jews-Muslims.Gather.To.Promote.Local.Global.Peace.At.Peacewalk-3247259.shtml

As death tolls in the Gaza Strip continued to rise over the weekend, Muslims and Jews in Tucson marched to promote understanding and peace on a...

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What is Islam?

March 1, 2008

Author: JOE RODRIGUEZ

Source: The Wichita Eagle

http://www.kansas.com/194/story/327331.html

Part of a message posted on the outdoor sign of a south Wichita church proclaims, "Islam is a lie."

A newsletter published by Wichita's largest Protestant church contains a column that asks the question: "Can Muslims be Good Americans?" The answer, according to the article, is no.

Other Wichita churches hold town hall meetings and weeks-long...

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Muslim Woman Forced to Leave Gretna Mall

March 1, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Sun Herald

Wire Service: AP

http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/404015.html

A Muslim housewife says her civil rights were violated when a security guard forced her to leave a shopping mall when she refused to take her religious headscarf off.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based Muslim civil liberties group, made the incident public Friday. The group has asked...

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God’s Country

March 1, 2008

Author: Eliza Griswold

Source: The Atlantic Monthly

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/nigeria

It was an ordinary soccer pitch: sparse tufts of grass and reddish soil surrounded by cinder-block homes. The two candidates stood on opposite sides of the field as the people of Yelwa, a town of 30,000 in central Nigeria, lined up behind them one May morning in 2002 to vote. Whoever had more supporters would lead the town’s council. And whoever led the...

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Kirpan Barred, so Sikh Group to Skip Meeting with Pope

March 1, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Thaiindian News (IANS)

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/kirpan-barred-so-sikh-group-to-skip-meeting-with-pope_10022976.html

A Sikh organisation in the US will skip a scheduled meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Washington, DC, next month because its representatives have been been asked not to carry kirpans to the event. The World Sikh Council -...

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Playing with Fire: Mixing Politics and Religion Can Be a Dangerous Game

March 1, 2008

Author: Jodi Enda

Source: Conscience

http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/conscience/current/cWinter0708_playingwithfire.asp

Less than two months before Iowans would go to their caucuses, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a “faithful citizenship statement” urging Catholics to “use the values of their faith to shape their political choice.” While the statement didn’t tell...

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Mayor Meets with Sikh Organisations at City Hall

February 29, 2008

Author: Press Release

Source: London.gov.uk

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=15934

Representatives from a number of Sikh organisations have presented the Mayor of London with a shield during a visit to City Hall, for the work he has done in support of the Sikh community.

The meeting with the Mayor was organised to discuss issues of concern to London's Sikh community, and included Dabinderjit Singh, Amrik...

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New Warning to Faith Charities

February 29, 2008

Author: Riazat Butt

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/29/religion

Faith charities encouraging or promoting violence or hatred risk losing their charitable status as part of a radical overhaul proposed by the Charity Commission.

For the first time all charities - including those advancing religion - must show that their aims are for the benefit of the public. Draft guidance, issued today, will explain to the...

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