Islamophobia Reverend Oscars and Anti- Leads of Americanism Economic Conference Q & A Struggle Vanity ...Page 2 ...Page 16 ...Page 22 inside

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Japanese Americans Internment Remembered CAIR Asks State Dept. to By Sherrel Johnson Constitutional lawyer Block Entry of Gujarat and former ACLU-LA Interfaith Communi- President, Stephen Massacre Figure ties United for Jus- Rohde, was the mod- tice & Peace (ICUJP) erator for the evening CAIR called on the Bush adminis- Owner Association (AAHOA) at its held their monthly and he set the stage tration to block the entry annual convention this Monday evening by giving the histori- of an Indian official ac- month. Educational Forum: cal setting, and theme, cused of complicity in “And Then They “And Then They Came the massacre of more CAIR is seeking to block Came for Me” on for Me”. Speakers than 1,000 Muslim ci- Modi’s entry based on a February 7 hosted by shared their experi- vilians. section (Sec. 604) of the Soka Gakkai Interna- ences of what happens International Religious tional (SGI) in Culver when we do not stand Narendra Modi, chief Freedom Act that makes City. The Council together, speaking out minister of India’s state any foreign official who on American-Islamic cosponsoring groups. of Gujarat, is the “chief Relations was one of the several SEE INTERNMENT * PAGE 4 guest” of the Asian American Hotel SEE MODI * PAGE 10 American Frontier Financial Group Home Loans Sam Suliman If you are thinking of buying, selling, or refinancing your home, now is the best time. 774 N. Lake Ave. Best Rates, Best Customer Service, and Over 33 Years of Experience. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 792-7277 Come experience the simple and affordable way of home financing! (800) 480-7999 Fax: (626) 792-7719 Apply at: [email protected] WWW.LOANSCONNECT.NET © 2004 A.F.F.G. A. F. F. G. Art Design is a registered service mark of American Frontier Financial Group. The Best Rates at Reasonable Cost. The Lowest Rates at a Reasonable Cost. 2 March 2005 LOCAL Southern California InFocus Naomi Klein Enraptures Audience By Sama Wareh Iraq, came in and said that every- under the interim government just Bush wrong. She emphasized that thing must go. He took a quick look a month before the elections. what must be done is to ensure that On a rainy evening on February through Iraq’s constitution and said the 8.8 billion dollars in promised 21st, nearly three hundred people that too, must be shredded. He put Upon analyzing why the US had to restoration money actually goes to sat crammed together in a small in 200 new laws.” sign all their deals with the interim aid in the Iraqi restoration process. church hall room at the Venice government, she said “the original The audience expressed its ap- United Methodist Church intensely Falluja was also examined. Accord- plan was for the occupation to last preciation for the talk through a listening to Naomi Klein, author ing to Klein, on April 13th, teachers just a few months. There was never standing ovation. of No Logos and award winning and students went to their school supposed to be an appointed interim journalist, who stayed in Iraq for that was turned into a military base government. Somewhere along the In a brief interview with InFocus, five months as a first-hand witness and told them to leave. The US oc- line, the plan changed and the ‘lib- actor, John Cusack, who was there to the war. cupiers reacted by opening fire and erators’ turned into ‘occupators.’” supporting the event said, “I’ve killing thirteen innocent protestors. If Iraqis had the democracy they known Naomi Klein for a year and Klein began by rebuking Bush That was when the violence erupted had been promised, they would a half and I think she is an important for his condescending statements in Falluja. oppose the military bases and oil person to follow.” He also voiced against the Iraqi people. “Elections contracts. his opinion against the war in Iraq are proof that Iraqis enjoy their lib- Klein added that the interim govern- and said that the Patriot Act is “a erty.” “Never have so many risked ment’s role, when looked at care- In her closing remarks, she urged disaster.” so much for so little” she said. “Iraq fully, was solely to sign contracts to people to not lose hope or just had 200 state owned companies. legitimize shady business deals, and Naomi Klein simply use the argument that de- Paul Bremer, presidential envoy to that six oil contracts were signed mocracy did not win in Iraq to prove Upcoming “Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism” Conference To Attract Attendees from Southern California and Across the U.S. Southern California InFocus had understand the causes behind these ing for peace and harmony, should will feature key speakers. of AADC will talk about the impact the opportunity to speak with Nihad phenomena so that remedies can be attend. I strongly urge mosques to on civil and human rights. The sub- Awad, National Executive Director developed. sponsor people from among their InFocus: Can you give us an idea ject of Islam and US-Muslim World of the Council on American-Is- leadership, activists and spokes- about who the various panelists relations will be scrutinized by John lamic Relations about the upcom- InFocus: What do you hope this persons. Other community and are? And what is their expertise Voll of Georgetown University, ing conference “Islamophobia conference will achieve? activist organizations can do the in addressing the topics and issues Maher Hathout and Jamal Badawi. and anti-Americanism: Causes same. This will be a highly stimu- you just mentioned. Richard Cizik of National Associa- and Remedies,” due to take place Awad: This conference seeks to lating conference, insha’Allah. tion of Evangelicals and Scott Al- in Washington D.C. Following is raise the awareness of these phe- And you will return exander of Catholic Theological a transcript of our interview with nomena and examine the potential better informed. I Union, along with Louay SafiSafi of him. consequences of am hopeful South- Islamophobia and ISNAISNA and Aminah McCloud of ignoring these. ern California will DePaulDePaul UniUniversity,versity, will focus on InFocus: Your con- Experts will of- have a good rep- Anti-Americanism misconceptionsmisconceptions andand labelinglabeling ofof ference theme “Is- fer their perspec- resentation at the Causes and Remedies Christians and Muslims as Mod- lamophobia and anti- tives, and offer conference. The erate,erate, SSecularist,ecularist, FFundamentalist,undamentalist, Americanism: Causes solutions. We are registration cost Date: Fri. May 13 to Sun. May 15, 2005 etc.etc. IIqbalqbal SSacarnieacarnie ooff MMuslimuslim and Remedies”, ap- hopeful this con- is a modest $129, CouncilCouncil ooff BBritain,ritain, IImammam QQaz-az- pears to imply a rela- ference will get which covers the Location: Sheraton Premiere at Tyson’s wini,wini, MuzammilMuzammil SiddiquiSiddiqui andand tionship between the the attention of entire conference Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike Vienna, WA others will expoundexpound on the howhow two phenomena. Why leaders and poli- and meals. mainstream vvoicesoices can be part of this theme and what cymakers so that tel: (703) 448-1234 publicpublic policypolicy andand discourse.discourse. ThisThis is the purpose of this Nihad Awad, National Executive they can direct is a partial list of panelists. conference? Director of CAIR due attention to InFocus: What Fee: $129 PER PERSON these issues. We specific topics InFocus:InFocus: What comes after the Nihad Awad: The twin hope it will help will be addressed? conference?conference? HHowow ddoo yyouou iintendntend phenomena, Islamophobia and anti- policy makers better understand And what will be To register or for more information, visit to followfollow up on this conferenceconference Americanism have been growing in the causes and the consequences. If the format of the www.cair.com, call 202-488-8787 or specifically?specifically? Is this a one-time parallel at a disturbing rate, notably these phenomena go unchecked, the program? email [email protected] event,event, or an annual affair? after 9/11. In the Muslim world, promoters of division and discord anti-Americanism has been on the may succeed in precipitating a clash Awad: It begins Awad:Awad: We intend to publish the rise particularly since the Iraq war of civilizations, so to speak. We are with a Friday evening dinner session Awad: Claude Salhani of United proceedings of this conference. and subsequent revelations about hopeful that activists, communities to set the tone of building bridges of Press International (UPI), Hafiz There may even be a video high- Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Here, of faith, and people of conscience in understanding. Then from Saturday Mirazi of al-Jazeera, Hussein Ibish light available. As a follow up we a relentlessly flourishing industry general, when better informed, will morning till Sunday noon, six panel of American-Arab Anti-Discrimi- would like to study the content of of Islam- and Muslim- bashing has be energized to work for peace, har- sessions will cover areas such as: nation Committee (ADC) , and the speeches and try to discern the poisoned the environment, which no mony, and mitigation of conflicts. Islamophobia and anti-American- Samer Shahata of Georgetown will real crux of the issues. And then doubt has had an impact on policies. ism in the media, anti-Americanism examine the twin phenomena in the try to devise action plans on how to Anti-Americanism abroad can lead InFocus: Is this conference open and its relationship to US foreign media. Anti-Americanism and US mitigate the cycle of Islamophobia to extremism, and violence against to the public? Who should at- policy, role of Islamic movements foreign policy will be dissected by and anti-Americanism, inshaAllah. Americans. That in turn provides tend? Should concerned Muslims and parties in improving relations Anatol Leiven of Carnegie Endow- It is our hope that after this confer- fodder to the Islam bashers. On attend? And how would they between US and the Muslim world, ment, Agha Saeed of American ence CAIR and other activists in the flip side, news of humiliation benefit? misconceptions about Muslims and Muslim Alliance, and Merve Ka- attendance will be better informed of Muslims fuels anti-American Christians in public discourse, and vakci. Chip Pitts, the new head of and better prepared for the mo- sentiments overseas. This cause and Awad: Everyone interested in build- the impact of the twin phenomena Amnesty International, Louis Can- mentous task of building bridges of effect relationship is a challenge of ing a better America and a better on civil rights and policy making. tori of Center for Study of Islam and understanding. our times. It is imperative that we world should attend. 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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NASIR JIWA GHADA HAMZA IN FOCUS Editor NIDA CHOWDHRY IMRAN DADABHOY Advertisements 2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite G SAMA WAREH ASMA AHMAD MONA ZARKA ASMA AHMAD (714) 394-8560 Anaheim, CA 92801 SONDOS KHOLOKI [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (714) 394-8560 YASMIN BHUJ MONZER KAHF Fax: (714) 776-8340 PARVEZ AHMED email: [email protected] SHERREL JOHNSON web: www.infocusnews.net Staff Writers Contributing Writers Southern California InFocus does not take GENENE SALMAN SALAAM ABDUL KHALIQ responsibility for or endorse the contents AHMED SAKR STEPHEN F. ROHDE Publisher KAUSAR AHMAD of articles or advertisements. MARIE MOURADI ALTAF GHORI TAREK KHOLOKI GOOD TREE INC. NADIA CHOWHAN ARSALAN IFTIKHAR WAFA FAHMI STAFF Southern California InFocus LOCAL March 2005 3 San Diego Imams Invited to Speak at ICNA Relief Hosts Catholic Church Infocus News Staff issues of human rights, status of Tsunami Fundraising The presentation and ensuing ques- women, and the relations between Imam Sharif Battikhi and Imam tion and answer session lasted for Muslims and people of other faiths. Dinner Mohamed El-Mezain were recent over 2 hours. Sharif Battikhi stated, The imams corrected stereotypes of speakers at the San Rafael Catho- “There is a lot of interest about Islam Muslims which resulted after Sep- By Sama Wareh children. lic Church in Rancho Bernardo in amongst non-Muslims and it is our tember 11. The curiosity on the part San Diego County on February 3. job to educate them.” of the audience members was great, Some watched with a sheer look of Eight year-old Zahranoor Hafeez, The church invited them to give an and the question and answer session sadness, while others struggled to pledged $20 from her own money. introduction to Islam to over 400 In the question and answer session, lasted beyond the allotted time. wipe the tears out of their eyes. For Later in the evening, she participated members of its congregation. most questions centered around the nine minutes, 200 people sat watch- in the fundraising auction on behalf ing the screen flooded with victims of her mother, offering “One-Fifty” floating harshly as they were being for a calligraphy wood-on-velvet art ACCESS California Launches ESL Classes carried by a muddy, fast-paced cur- piece. Hafeez had a message to the rent. The footage from south Asia, a kids that have become orphans from By Wafa Fahmi staff is “overwhelmed” with personal account by Shams Ali, and the tsunami. the number of inquiries for ACCESS California the program she said. The Services recently started class has a 20 person waiting weekly English as a list. Due to the high demand, Second Language (ESL) another ESL class is due to classes to serve the im- open shortly as well. migrant community at its offices in the city of ACCESS California Services Anaheim. As part of its serves as a family resource ongoing effort to pro- center in the city of Anaheim vide social services, the catering to the needs of the ESL class was the latest Arab and Muslim community. in a series of classes Students listen intently at an ACCESS daycare class In addition to providing ESL designed to empower classes, other weekly classes immigrant women. Nahla Kayali, founding Director include citizenship and civic of ACCESS California Services classes, parenting, and child care en- The first class, held on February stated that “there is a crucial need rollment. All services are provided 24th attracted 14 elderly students - in the community for this kind of free of charge. a little nudge by Dr. Ahmed Sakr “With the money we are donating, all women from Arab backgrounds. service.” The ACCESS California to get people to open their wallets, you can have a better life. More resulted in more than $40,000 being clothes, more money, and more raised at a Tsunami Relief fundraiser food,” she said. InFocus in the News organized by ICNA (Islamic Circle InFocus News Staff Muslims.” of North America). ICNA Relief is a division of the Islamic Circle of North America On Thursday, February 17, the Ana- A briefer version of the story ap- Ali, who has worked for the Indo- (ICNA). It is a humanitarian relief heim Bulletin ran a front page story peared in the local section of the nesian Mission in New York and has and development organization re- about Southern California InFocus Orange Country Register on Mon- witnessed the mass graveyard pro- sponding to human sufferings in entitled “Muslim paper hits news- day, February 21. duced by the Tsunami, said, “ ICNA emergency and disaster situations at stands.” Relief is one of those organizations home and abroad. Among its local Southern California InFocus, which that is working on the front lines.” services, it has established a family- It interviewed editor-in-chief Asma was launched in February, is the counseling service in New York and Ahmad and introduced the larger com- largest Muslim newspaper catering Following a few short speeches and is currently working on opening a munity to the newspaper serving Mus- in Southern California. There are video footage of the affected areas, soup kitchen there as well. lims in Southern California Area. an estimated 600,000 Muslims in Dr. Sakr urged the audience to the Southern California Muslim “sacrifice one meal here and there.” To donate to ICNA Relief, visit The article discussed the goals of Community. Those words from the director of the www.icnarelief.com or call (718) the paper which include serving as Islamic Education Center in Walnut 658-7028. an “independent media outlet for encouraged not only adults but also Mission Viejo 20 Year-Old Fatally Shot By Homeland Security Officer Infocus News Staff partment contends that Bassim was committed.” you?” He pistol-whipped one of that police officers are trying to shot during a scuffle with the friends, when Chmait stepped cover for a fellow officer. An off-duty U.S. Customs and Officer Douglas Bates, Bassim’s four friends, between Bates and his friend, and Border Patrol officer shot and killed 42, who had come outside who were with him during asked Bates to put his gun down. At In the meantime, Bates, who worked Bassim Chmait, 20, in his Los Al- his apartment at 1:30 a.m. the shooting, tell a differ- that point, Bates shot Bassim in the at the Los Angeles International isos Boulevard apartment complex to investigate loud noises. ent story. They describe head, without warning, and walked Airport checking passports un- in Mission Viejo on February 5. Sheriff’s spokesman Jim entering the apartment back into his apartment. der the Department of Homeland Reports from the Sheriff’s Depart- Amormino told the Or- complex to go to a Friday Security has been reassigned to ment and from eyewitnesses tell ange County Register that night house party, when Family and friend’s of the victim administrative duties, and is to work conflicting accounts. Bates was not arrested Bates came outside in his held Saturday night vigils and are unarmed until the Orange County because there was “no robe yelling “You do not urging a full investigation. Omar Sheriff’s Department completes its The Orange County Sheriff’s De- clear evidence of a crime being want to [expletive] with a cop, do Chmait, brother of Bassim, is afraid investigation. 4 March 2005 LOCAL Southern California InFocus MSA High School Bonfire Munir Qtaish Speaks on the Soul By Nida Chowdhury The students were instructed to sep- arate and afterwards, they gathered By Mona Zarka A crowd of high school students and shared the thoughts that were on Numerous people com- gathered at Dana Point Beach in cel- their minds. Student Sana Shariff, The Muslim Student Union mented on the effectiveness ebration of Eid ul-Adha on Friday, president of the MSA at Ocean View of the University of Cali- of Qtaish’s speech and the February 4, 2005. Organized by High School, was deeply moved fornia, Irvine, along with timeless self-reflection that the MSA West High School Orange by her experience: “Being out here the Islamic Center of Irvine was incurred by his power- County Chapter, the gathering was away from everything is so amaz- (ICOI) hosted Munir Qtaish, ful words. Not only was the intended to create unity among ing, especially since I’m here with an active member of the speech a success but also the Muslim students from different high so many Muslim students. We’re so Muslim-American Society dinner was dutifully accom- consumed in our (MAS), for a general lec- plished with the excellent daily activities, tures on Saturday, February shawarma – gyro style Arab whether they 5 . An audience of about sandwiches – provided by involve school, 150 from across Orange the hosts, ICOI. family, or work, and L.A. counties came to that we just ICOI to listen to his talks “The lecture served as a don’t make the on “The Nature and Essence positive and valuable re- of the Soul” and “Return- minder,” said one attendee, time to reflect a generally better Muslim. He also ing to Allah: The Reality of Tawba Hadeer Soliman, a high school on the creations addressed the three different types (Repentance)” student in Irvine. “Lectures like this of Allah. They of souls mentioned in the Quran. For one should be organized more fre- are signs that his second hour, Qtaish discussed Qtaish stressed the importance of quently. They don’t take too much strengthen one’s tawbah, (repentance), using stories, purifying the soul by means of time, and they serve as a kind of belief in Him. hadith and ayat (Qur’anic verses) praying the five daily prayers on thoughtful encouragement.” schools. With hearts and minds in I’m in awe and then again, I am to describe the steps towards true time, reciting Qu’ran, and becoming focus, the students set out to make upset that I haven’t taken the time to repentance. their evening a meaningful one. reflect like this before,” she said.

Under a moonlit, starry sky, the After the students were done shar- Serve God and Country: The Islamic students set up a bonfire. A steady ing their thoughts, a voice declared, tide rose and fell in the background, “Let there be smores!” A “how-to- Intention setting the tone for a talk on the make-the-perfect-smore” tutorial importance of reflection. Reflection was given and everyone immedi- By Sondos Kholoki To “serve God and country” is not After spending three years at Ba- is a forgotten form of ibadah (wor- ately set to work on eating their not- only the ethos of the Marines, but gram Air Force Base in Afghanistan ship). The Prophet, peace be upon so-perfect but still delicious smores. Colonel Doug Burpee has served as Burpee’s personal goal in life, and, on Operation Enduring Freedom, him, used to engage in this form of Talk and laughter filled the air and a helicopter pilot for the U.S. which aimed to rebuild the lives worship regularly in his stays in the one student exclaimed, “This was Marine Corps for twenty-two As a “white Muslim guy”—as of Afghanis, Burpee described cave of Hira. In the Qu’ran, Allah awesome you guys. Let’s do this years. On the surface, he ap- he liked to refer to himself— how he has become even more (swt) says, ‘Verily, there are signs again, inshallah!” pears intimidating; standing aware of the benefits of serving for those who reflect.’ in at six feet and weighing Burpee demonstrated the beauty God and country. A prominent 185 pounds, Col. Burpee can leader in the Marines, Burpee perform more push-ups at the of Islam by example, making realized the importance of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. age of 48 than the average sure that his troops knew that representing true Islam to a INTERNMENT seventeen year old. group of individuals who re- during the civil rights movement in he did not smoke or drink, that the 60’s, spoke about the African- peatedly received misleading FROM PAGE 1 American experience. He stated He is no stranger to disci- he prayed five times a day and information. As a “white Mus- pline, either. As the adhan for lim guy”—as he liked to refer to about oppression and violation of that there is still a lot of work to be fasted in Ramadan. our American civil liberties. Jim done and if we do not work together Duhr prayer is called at the himself—Burpee demonstrated Matsuoka spoke about his family’s to protect our civil rights we may Islamic Center in downtown the beauty of Islam by example, as he confided in his talk to the Is- internment during World War II. end up without them. Los Angeles located on Vermont, making sure that his troops knew lamic Center’s youth group, a goal Arif Shaikh shared his experience Col. Doug “Hadji” Burpee removes that he did not smoke or drink, that all Muslims should adopt. of “Flying While Muslim.” Ya- The Reverend Louis Chase, who his shoes, places them neatly on he prayed five times a day and fasted man Hamdan conveyed the heart also is a veteran worker in the civil the rack and joins the line of Mus- in Ramadan. However, at a time when American wrenching story of her father, rights movement, spoke about the lim brothers, standing shoulder Muslims are targeted by their coun- Abdul Jabbar Hamdan, who is actions that we can take to ensure to shoulder, ready and waiting to Back at the youth group, Col. Bur- try, most people would imagine that being held in detention. Hussam that we maintain and protect the serve God. pee is more warmly known as Doug, service to God and service to the US Ayloush stressed the importance of civil liberties provided within the husband of Hala Alfi, proud father are at complete opposite extremes. the Muslim community to speak out Constitution of the United States As a recent guest speaker at the Ver- of five boys, and dedicated com- Burpee explained in his talk that with other ethnicities who are being of America. mont Islamic Center, Col. Burpee munity leader. While he spent the Islam and the Marines are more racially profiled and targeted. shared his thoughts and experiences last three years striving to serve his alike than different, as both stress The evening opened and closed with as a Muslim in the Army with the to country, Doug is happy to be home values like unity, commitment, duty, Keynote speaker, Reverend James original musical presentations by a group of 40 youth, ranging from amongst his Muslim brothers and leadership, and discipline. Lawson, who worked with the late Fidel Sanchez and Ani Zonneveld. high school to college students. sisters, continuing in his constant efforts to serve God. Wall Street Journal Ranks Amana Income and Growth Funds Among “Category Kings”*

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Southern California InFocus ADVERTISEMENT March 2005 5 6 March 2005 LOCAL Southern California InFocus CAIR-California Chapters Meet Islamic Charities Crisis Discussed to Discuss Future Goals At Workshop Around 30 board the Ameri- By Marie Mouradi members and can Muslim staff represent- community Acknowledging the growing crisis facing ing five Council such as the Muslim charities in the United States in on American- increased the post 9/11 political climate, the Islamic Islamic Rela- civil rights Institute of Orange County and the Muslim tions - Califor- violations Public Affairs Council (MPAC) sponsored nia (CAIR-CA) and the mis- a community workshop on February 18 at chapters met for perceptions Masjid Omar Al-Farouq in Anaheim entitled their annual plan- of Islam and “Save Our Charities.” Speakers included ning meeting to its teaching. Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director of review last year’s accomplishments and plan MPAC, and Bill Cooper, Communications goals for the upcoming year. The day-long CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties Director for Congressman Ed Royce. Salam Al-Marayati gives his presentation. meeting was held in Santa Clara. group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance Al-Marayati informed the audience that Representatives from CAIR-Southern Cali- understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, MPAC and the Islamic Society of North Bill Cooper, representing Congressman Ed fornia (CAIR-LA), CAIR-San Diego, CAIR- protect civil liberties, empower American America (ISNA) are in the process of setting Royce, reiterated the Congressman’s concern Central Coast, CAIR-Sacramento Valley and Muslims, and build coalitions that promote voluntary guidelines in cooperation with rep- about potential infiltration of charities by CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area discussed plans justice and mutual understanding. resentatives of various government agencies terrorists while encouraging Islamic organi- to respond to the growing challenges facing to present to Islamic charities, while continu- zations to build bridges with the community ing to lobby for official certification. MPAC and contact their representatives regarding has also called upon the US government to their legitimate grievances. Gathering to Empower Women implement a “front door” policy, in which By Genene Salman to honor Sister Safa Kadri, who accomplished concerns are addressed directly with repre- To date, the Treasury Department has frozen her goal of memorizing Surah Tawbah. sentatives of charitable organizations rather approximately $12-15 million in funds from About 200 people attended the Muslim Wom- than conducting secret investigations and at- three Muslim charities, accusing them of con- en Voice Conference held at the Islamic Center In accordance with the mission of the Muslim tempting to infiltrate these organizations with tributing to terrorist organizations overseas, of Irvine on Saturday, February 26 in order Women Voice, Saide Khan, member of the informants, a practice that is commonplace at although no specific evidence demonstrating to empower and honor Muslim women. The Shura Council of Southern California, stated the present time. these links has yet been presented. event was not just attended by women; it was that the best way to nourish the minds and an event for the whole family. The men ben- souls is through learning and applying the efited from the enlightening lectures, and the Qur’an to daily life. Khan stressed the Mus- “College Life and Dorm Advice”- children played games and made puppets. lim women’s need to be physically, mentally, and spiritually strong. Without this strength, What Else But College Night? Speakers included Saide Khan, member of “The nucleus of the family will shake,” Khan By Sama Wareh University Fullerton (CSUF), and Cal Poly the Shura Council of Southern California, stated. Pomona. Maha Hamoui, an Islamic teacher, Amir Abdul On Friday, February 11th, a college night was Malik, Amir (President) of Masjid al-Islam in Sadullah Khan, Religious Director of the held at Cal Poly Pomona. It aimed to provide Following recruitment, Kashif Ghani from Oakland, Andrea Omar, and Saadullah Khan, Islamic Center of Irvine recited verses of high school students with a palette of col- Cal Poly Pomona gave a lecture on the “fresh- Religious Director of the Islamic Center of the Qur’an that emphasized the equality of lege resources to get man perspective”. He Irvine. men and women in Islam. Khan added that the information they told his story about challenging any exisiting inequity and mis- need for future plan- being late and parking According to organizer and member of the treatment of women can only be achieved by ning and success. in the wrong parking Muslim Women Voice, Maria Khani, the understanding and implementing these verses Of the thirty people lot on the first day of Muslim Women Voice was formed when a in our life and not merely reciting them. who attended, eight school. He advised fu- group of Muslim women came together during were high school ture freshmen students Ramadan to memorize the Qur’an as a means Concluding his speech and the evening, Khan students and the rest to be more prepared on of empowerment. Khani also added that one stated, men and women “supplement and were staff and col- the first day and to get of the primary reasons for the Conference was complement one another.” lege students. into contact with Mus- lims on campus before Sensitivity Training Held for Ele- The event consisted they start school. of two lectures and a mentary and Junior High Students workshop followed Amir Mertaban gave a by dinner. Omar Majmudat from Cal Poly breakdown of how financial aid and grants With the increase lecture discussing Pomona spoke on all the aspects of the col- work. He emphasized that financial aid pack- in demand to the basic principles lege experience from possible majors to dorm ages are available and urged the audience to learn about Islam of Islam. A ques- room life. He emphasized that Muslim Adab take advantage of them. and Muslims, the tion and answer or manners, cleanliness, and avoiding tempta- Council on Amer- session on family tions such as drinking, clubs, and the opposite Student members who attended the college ican-Islamic Re- life and the status gender all need to be taken into consideration night appreciated the idea, but were disap- lations (CAIR) of women was led when living on campus. pointed at the low turnout. 16 year-old Central Coast in by Fatima Alzahra. Mutayyab Muhammad from Alta Loma High coordination with Halima Fadilah an- After his lecture, students filed into the School thought the event was “beneficial” the Islamic Cen- swered questions on workshop room where they could find po- and suggested that perhaps turnout was low ter of Santa Maria civil rights and the tential colleges to go to. Among the colleges because the venue was “far for many individu- conducted a sen- political standards represented were University of California at als.” Other students expressed hope that their sitivity training workshop for elementary and of the Amirican Muslim community. Students Irvine (UCI), University of California at Los peers would take advantage of future events junior high students of San Luis Obispo county and teachers received educational Islamic Angeles (UCLA), California State Univer- like this. in late January. Haqiqah Abdul-Raheem gave a material and souvenirs. sity Long Beach (CSULB), California State

“Before the Wedding” Event Community Delegation Meets with By Kausar Ahmad on February 18. Nisreen who herself has 26 years of a suc- Chino Police Chief Marriage predominately has cessful marriage felt that such A team of dele- said, “We must been the parents’ respon- programs are very important gates led by Imam make it clear to sibility in Muslim com- as the divorce rates in the Shamshad Nasir all that Islam munities but now with the community is increasing and met with Chino teaches peace, second and third generation many marriages are facing Police Chief Eu- respect and tol- emerging in this country, challenges. Over 40 Muslim gene J. Hernan- erance for all young adults are now ven- women attended. dez at his office in religions,” he turing to select their own Chino, California. further stated. partners. All the more reason Both Nisreen and Munira felt The delegates in- from the perspective of the it was critical to hold an event cluded Dr. Tahir During his visit author of “Before The Wed- at a mosque so that the pro- Khan, Abdul Ghaf- Imam Sham- ding”, Munira Ezzeldine, gram would be accessible to far, Muhammad shad presented that potential brides and everyone. They are planning Mustapha, Omar Chief Hernan- bridegrooms should read her book as a source more events in the future that will engage the Khan and Jameel Mohamed. dez with a copy of the Holy Quran (with of guidance. community in similar dialogues. English Translation and commentary). Chief Imam Shamshad pledged full support from Hernandez graciously accepted the gifts and The event titled after the theme of the book For more information on Munira’s book, visit himself and all members of his organiza- thanked the members for the insight provided was recently organized by Nisreen Malhis and www.beforetheweddingbook.com. tion to the Chino Police Department in all to him into Islam. held at the Islamic Center of Irvine (ICOI) matters that concerns the community. He Southern California InFocus IN REMEMBRANCE March 2005 7 Abdul-Rahman (Will) Karim Ayoob Sooleman Dadabhoy: Sulaya Kadhar (1981-2005) 1919-2005 By Ghada Hamza faster. Abdul-Rahman was so proud of be- ing Muslim; his car was so decorated with Growing up with a large extended family had I met Will freshman year of high school Islamic calligraphy it looked like a mini- its own charm. As the oldest, my grandfather (1995). He was an opti- masjid.masjid. HHee wwasas kkeeneen was the looming figure in the family. He mistic and fun person to be onon prayingpraying thethe 5 dailydaily loved fast cars, and in Burma, he used to buy around. Born and raised in prayers,prayers, fastingfasting inin Ra-Ra- himself cars and was known for always hav- California he was still proud madanmadan ( (MuslimMuslim m monthonth ing a new car. His love of cars carried down of his Cham-Vietnamese ofof fasting),fasting), andand prayingpraying to his grandsons as well. Each time one of heritage. We became best TaraweehTaraweeh (special(special nightnight us bought a new car, he would always have friends after his father prayers in Ramadan). us bring it to him for inspection. He would suddenly passed-away on test drive it, look at the engine, and then give father’s day 1996. During Abdul-RahmanAbdul-Rahman waswas thethe his approval. high school he sometimes kindestkindest ppersonerson I kknew.new. attended the Muslim club He enjoyedenjoyed helping oth- Another hobby of his was collecting watches, meetings. We attended our ersers aandnd aalwayslways mmadeade ssureure which is something that carried on to my cousin Ayoob and me. We would admire his first peace protest together people around him were watch collection which consisted of all kinds against the bombing of Iraq happy.happy. SeveralSeveral times I’dI’d By Imran Dadabhoy of watches. during the Clinton administration. This was call him and find him helping out a friend Ayoob Sooleman Dadabhoy was born on Oc- just the beginning of many stands he took move or giving someone a ride. He also tober 17, 1919 in Rangoon, Burma. Formally He had a dry sense of humor and loved to for peace and justice. volunteered every Sunday at Juvenile Hall the Dadabhoy family is from Surat, India. He tease his children and grandchildren. In the to tutor kids, and hoped to teach there after was one of eleven children, who along with past three years, his ailing health and battle After graduating from high school we kept graduating from the University of Califor- his brothers took care of the family trade busi- with emphysema took its toll. The death of his in touch. Will attended Orange Coast Col- nia at Irvine (UCI). He was a part-time ness and land ownership. Ayoob Dadabhoy wife last year also affected him greatly. He lege (OCC) while work- student at UCI study- was married to Hawa Dadabhoy (who passed was already bedridden, and now he seemed ing full time; graduating Abdul-Rahman was so ing philosophy. away last year) and had ten children, 7 sons more quiet and lonely. in 2003 with an As- and 3 daughters. He moved to London with his sociates in Art degree proud of being I hope I can one day family and then to Orange County, California On February 17th, 2005, he breathed his last in philosophy. I was Muslim; his car was so become as kind as he through sponsorship by his son. Religion and amidst his sons and grandchildren. His oldest pleasantly surprised to was, as forgiving as education were both very important to him. grandson prepared his body for the burial and find out he joined the decorated with Islamic he was, and as open- His commitment to these ideals was passed lowered it into the grave. To Allah we belong Muslim Student Union minded as he was. on to his ten children, 24 grandchildren, and and to Him we will return. at OCC. A few months calligraphy it looked May Allah forgive 14 great-grandchildren. later he called me and like a mini-masjid. him for his shortcom- asked me how to be- ings and reward him Also in Remembrance this February… come a Muslim - that a place in paradise for day he took his shahadah, or proclamation his kindness and generosity. of faith (2000). I was so happy since now The father of Dr. Aijaz Hashmi of Riverside passed away in Hyderabad, he wasn’t just my best friend but also my Abdul-Rahman was killed in a drive-by India. brother. Shortly after, Will changed his shooting on his way home from visiting name legally to Abdul-Rahman Karim with some friends on Sunday January 30th, Sulaya Kadhar. He learned to pray fairly 2005. He was 23 years-old. The mother of Ghulam Mustafa and Ghulam Mohammed passed quickly. We were already competing on away in Karachi, Pakistan. who could memorize parts of the Quran

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Open 7 Days a Week, 9 am to 10 pm Mediterranean Cuisine and Bakery 949+951 S. Euclid St. Anaheim, CA 92802 Tel.: (714) 776-4493 Fax: (714) 776-1319 8 March 2005 NATIONAL Southern California InFocus “Anti-Islamist” Crusader Plants New Seeds By Jim Lobe (AEI), Danielle Pletka, as well as a striking exception. Backed by by association, errors of fact, and removal of CAIR and ISNA from with Pipes himself. major Muslim, Arab-American, and innuendo”. monopoly status in representing WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (IPS) several academic groups, Democrat- Muslims to the American public,” - Despite the apparent decision by Pipes, who created MEF in Philadel- ic senators, led by Edward Kennedy, Pipes also criticised Bush for ”legiti- the proposal goes on. “...(S)o long President George W. Bush against phia in 1994, has long campaigned Christopher Dodd, and Tom Harkin, mising” various “Islamist” groups, as they retain a major foothold at the re-nominating him to the board of against “radical” Islamists in the strongly opposed the nomination as such as CAIR and the Arab-Ameri- highest political level, no progress the United States Institute of Peace United States, especially the Coun- inappropriate, particularly in light can Institute, by permitting their can be made for moderate American (USIP), “anti-Islamist” activist Dan- cil on American-Islamic Relations of some of his past writings, includ- representatives to take part in White Islam.” iel Pipes is working as diligently as (CAIR) and several other House and other govern- ever to protect the United States and national Islamic groups. ment ceremonies and for In achieving its goal, CIP cites the the Western world from the influ- failing to identify “radical help it can expect from its “strong ence of radical Islamists. Long before the Sep. 11, 2001 Islam” as ”the enemy” in links” to Wolfowitz, Woolsey and attacks on New York and the the war on terror. Pletka; as well as Sens Charles He has proposed the creation of a Pentagon, he also raised Schumer and Sen. Jon Kyl, among new “Anti-Islamist Institute” (AII) alarms about the immigration His own disillusionment others, ”terrorism experts” Steven designed to expose legal “political of foreign Muslims, suggest- with Bush is made clear in Emerson of the Investigative Project, activities” of “Islamists”, such as ing that they constituted a the AAI draft which notes Paul Marshall of Freedom House, “prohibiting families from sending serious threat to the political that ”creative thinking in and Glen Howard of the Jamestown pork or pork by-products to U.S. clout of U.S. Jews, as well as this war of ideas must be Foundation; and journalists such as soldiers serving in Iraq”, which a potential ”fifth column” for initiated outside the gov- Fox News anchors David Asman, nonetheless, in his view, serve the radical Islamists. ernment, for the latter, due Brit Hume and Greta van Susteren, interests of radical Islam. to the demands of political Dale Hurd of the Christian Broad- In addition, Pipes has been correctness, is not in a po- casting Network; and editors at the “In the long term...the legal ac- a fierce opponent of Pales- sition to say what needs to New York Post, the Los Angeles tivities of Islamists pose as much tinian nationalism. He told be said.” Times, and the Toronto Globe and or even a greater set of challenges Australian television earlier Mail. than the illegal ones,” according this month, for example, that AII’s goal, it goes on, “is to the draft of a grant proposal by Israeli Prime Minister’s Gaza the delegitimation of the Interviewed by phone, Prof. Ke- Pipes’ Middle East Forum (MEF) disengagement plan and his Islamists. We seek to have mal Silay, “president-designate” obtained by IPS. agreement to negotiate with them shunned by the gov- of the CIP who teaches Ottoman the new Palestinian presi- Throughout his career, Daniel Pipes has exhibited a troubling ernment, the media, the and Modern Turkish Studies at the Pipes is also working with Stephen dent, Mahmoud Abbas, were a bigotry toward Muslims and Islam. churches, the academy and Indiana University, told IPS he was Schwartz on a new ”Centre for Is- ”mistake” because 80 percent the corporate world.” not aware that he was to be group’s lamic Pluralism” (CIP) whose aims of the Palestinian population, in- ing one asserting that that Muslim president, but that he had talked are to “promote moderate Islam in cluding Abbas, still favour Israel’s immigrants were ”brown-skinned Pipes’ complementary goal -- to about the group with Schwartz and the U.S. and globally” and ”to op- destruction. peoples cooking strange foods and enhance the influence of “moder- agrees with both Pipes and Schwartz pose the influence of militant Islam, not exactly maintaining Germanic ate” Muslims -- is to guide the about the dangers posed by ”Wah- and, in particular, the Saudi-funded In 2002, Pipes launched “Campus standards of hygiene”. work of Schwartz’s CIP which is habi” groups in the U.S. and the Wahhabi sect of Islam, among Watch”, a group dedicated to moni- to ”headed by one born Muslim (its world. American Muslims, in the America toring and exposing alleged anti- Several Republican senators sub- President) and a ‘new Muslim’, i.e. media, in American education ...and Semitic, anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian sequently warned Bush that they an American not born in the faith, Ali al-Ahmed, director of the Wash- with U.S. governmental bodies...” and/or Islamist bias in teachers of would oppose the nomination if it as its Executive Director. This is the ington-based Saudi Institute and Middle Eastern studies at U.S. col- came to a vote, and, in the end, the best combination for leading such named as CIP’s research director in Schwartz, a former Trotskyite mili- leges and universities. president made a ”recess appoint- an effort.” the grant proposal, told IPS he had tant who became a Sufi Muslim in ment” that gave him a limited term also talked with Schwartz about the 1997, has received seed money from The group, which invites students to lasting only until the end of 2004. The “extremists”, according to the group and strongly supported its MEF, which is also accepting con- report on offending professors, has It appears now that, despite the CIP proposal, are mainly repre- goals, although he thought several tributions on CIP’s behalf until the been assailed as a McCarthyite tactic enhanced Republican majority in sented by the “Wahhabi lobby”, an of the groups listed as part of the government gives it gets tax-exempt to stifle open discussion of Middle the Senate, Bush does not intend to array of organisations consisting of “Wahhabi” lobby were more inde- legal status, according to another East issues. re-nominate him. CAIR, the Islamic Society of North pendent. grant proposal obtained by IPS. America (ISNA), the North Ameri- Pipes’ nomination by Bush in 2003 Indeed, both the USIP and Bush now can Islamic Trust (NAIT), the Mus- He also said that he did not know The CIP proposal, which says it to serve as a director on the board probably regret having nominated lim Students’ Association of the U.S. that Pipes was involved with the expects to receive funding from of the quasi-governmental USIP, a him in the first place. During his and Canada (MSA), the Muslim group. contributors in the “American Shia government-funded think tank set up board tenure, Pipes blasted USIP for Public Affairs Council (MPAC), as community” and in ”Sunni mosques in 1984 to “promote the prevention, hosting a conference with the Centre well as ”secular” groups, including “(Pipes) sees all Arabs and Muslims once liberated from Wahhabi influ- management and peaceful resolu- for the Study of Islam and Democ- the Arab-American Institute (AAI) the same, because he has interest in ence”, also boasts ”strong links” tion of international conflicts”, racy, charging that it employed and the American Arab Anti-Dis- the security of the state of Israel”, with Deputy Defence Secretary moved the controversy over his Muslim “radicals” on its staff. crimination Committee (ADC). said al-Ahmed, who publicises Paul Wolfowitz and other notable work from academia into the U.S. human rights abuses committed in neo-conservatives, such as former Senate where such appointments are That accusation was publicly refuted [Editor’s note: It appears that any Saudi Arabia. Central Intelligence (CIA) director virtually always approved without by the USIP itself, which echoed group that criticizes Israeli policies James Woolsey and the vice presi- controversy. the complaints of his long-time is a “Wahhabi.”] Schwartz refused to speak with dent for foreign policy programming critics, accusing him of relying on IPS. at the American Enterprise Institute Pipes’ nomination, however, offered ”quotes taken out of context, guilt “The first goal of CIP will be the Courtesy of ipsnews.net. Why Advertise in Southern California InFocus? b The largest American Muslim b InFocus is also mailed to media, Newspaper in Southern California interfaith, and political leaders. Your support will help us educate them b 20,000 copies distributed at 350 about the Muslim community and local businesses and Islamic centers its issues.

b Southern California is home to b Support independent community the largest American Muslim com- media. munity, numbering over 600,000. Let them know about your product. b Up to 50% discounts for small businesses and non-profits For rates and information, call (714) 394-8560 or email us at [email protected] Southern California InFocus NATIONAL March 2005 9 Con Artist Targets Muslims in Christian Radio Station Cancels Belgium and Elsewhere Muslim Organization’s Ad Later, he calls back, claiming A Christian radio station in Tampa, Florida contract had been signed by a sales manager to have lost his money, tick- canceled an advertising contract with a Mus- when the promotions department reviewed the ets or passport and asks for lim organization, saying that the 30-second ad. Gould said he checked out the council’s emergency cash to be wired spot didn’t serve its listeners because the Web site and concluded the group is “clearly to him at Western Union or a group recruits people to Islam. interested in recruiting people” to Islam. similar facility. Christopher Gould, general manager at Bedier said his group’s intent was not to con- A person using this same con WTBN-AM, said vert people, but game was arrested in Canada Thursday that it to encourage two years ago, but was later was unfortunate dialogue, pro- released. NOTE: The impos- a contract had tect civil liber- tor may use many variations been signed, but ties and pro- of this scam. the company re- mote mutual serves the right understanding. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS to reject advertising after it reviews the REQUESTED: content. WTBN is owned by Salem Communications, a radio broadcasting company with Christian 1. Please ANNOUNCE AT The advertisement discussed a Saturday teaching and talk serving as its main format. event promoting dialogue The company owns 95 JUMA’A and other functions between Christians and stations nationwide, ac- - several hundred Muslims Bedier said his group’s Muslims at the University cording to its Web site. have been targeted in the intent was not to Mohamed Agbarie in a 1993 police photo of South Florida. past. convert people, but to Gould said his decision is The Council on American-Islamic Rela- “This is exactly why we in keeping with the com- tions (CAIR) is warning Muslims in Europe 2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming need to be doing programs encourage dialogue, pany’s philosophy. “If the and elsewhere about a con artist who seeks to be stranded in an airport. like this,” said Ahmed Be- protect civil liberties Church (of Jesus Christ) money by impersonating well-known per- dier, director of the Central of Latter-day Saints or sonalities in the Muslim world. (Muslims 3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, Florida office of the Coun- and promote mutual (Jehovah’s) Witnesses in the United States and Canada have also the local office of the FBI (ask for a fraud cil on American-Islamic understanding. wanted to run a spot pro- been targeted recently.) investigator) and to local police. Obtain a Relations. “There’s a lot moting their religion, copy of the complaint. of misinformation about we’d do the same thing,” Islam, and relations are strained. Not only he said. “We’re here to serve evangelical The con artist calls Muslim individuals and here, but all around the world.” Christians.” groups pretending to be with a respected 4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer documents to CAIR Islamic institution. He claims that he and The Tampa Bay-area station will refund the Reprinted with permission from the Associ- others are coming to visit the United States. so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX: 202-488-0833) Islamic council’s $300, Gould said. The ated Press. Teacher Disciplined for Many Question Legitimacy in Harassing Muslim Student Abu Ali Case Infocus News Staff Many are questioning the legitimacy of this A school in Hillsborough County, Florida, isolated case,” Cobbe said. “We don’t have and other cases in the United States “war on has disciplined a 24-year-old teacher for any indication there is pervasive disrespect 23 year-old Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a U.S. citi- terror.” Critics allege that the Bush admin- harassing and threatening a sixth-grader of other religions.” zen and former valedictorian in a Virginia high istration is “outsourcing” terror suspects to because his name is Islam. school who later went onto study at countries with deplorable human The Council on American-Islamic Relations the Islamic University in Madina, rights records to extract state- Shari D. Wilson, a substitute teacher in (CAIR) lambasted Wilson’s comments as Saudi Arabia, has been accused of ments under torture – something Temple Terrace, Hillsborough County, a case of religious discrimination and de- ties with Al Qaeda and plotting to which is not possible in the Florida, told the Muslim pupil that Islam manded an investigation. assassinate President Bush. United States. Many are asking was “not good” and when he protested she if Abu Ali was such a grave threat told him he would not “see the light of day,” “This is not something a teacher should say Abu Ali was arrested by Saudi of- to the United States, why wasn’t St Petersburg Times reported on Saturday, to a sixth-grade student,” said Ahmed Bedier, ficials after the 2003 Riyadh terror- he brought here to face trial? February 19. the council’s director. He wrote a letter to ist bombings and spent 20 months Hillsborough school superintendent Earl in a Saudi jail with no access to a A search at Abu Ali’s Falls “Your mother must have been sleeping all Lennard, requesting sensitivity training for lawyer and without any charge. His Church home in Virginia re- her life because she did not teach you any all substitute teachers. parents sued the federal government and the vealed “incriminating documents” (all legal manners,” she further said. Justice department arranged to have Abu Ali to own), but even top officials to Attorney He hoped Islam’s experience makes educa- tried back in the United States. General Ashcroft say that they did not have Islam complained to the principal who or- tors more sensitive to racial diversity. “Not a “solid case.” Others in the administration dered Wilson to leave the campus. When she all teachers mean to do harm, but ignorance The Saudis purportedly obtained a “full con- are also expressing doubt on the prosecution’s refused, Temple Terrace police issued her a is a bad thing especially for teachers,” Be- fession” from him which is on videotape, but case. Regardless, the case is still going on, trespass warning. dier said. “With ignorance comes fear. Fear the validity of the confession is now under and as one senior law enforcement officer pushes people to do bad things.” question as it is alleged it could have been told Newsweek magazine, the Department of Hillsborough school spokeswoman Linda made under torture. Edward MacMahon, one Justice is making the best of a bad situation. Cobbe said school officials disciplined Wil- A recent nation-wide poll, conducted by of Abu Ali’s lawyers said that he personally Even if the case collapses, “an aggressive son. She declined to give details, saying it the Cornell University, showed that at least saw scars which on Abu Ali’s back which prosecution might be able to delay for years must remain confidential until 10 days after 44 percent of the Americans backs curbing looked like he had been whipped. the day Abu Ali will be able to walk free,” the investigation’s conclusion. Muslims’ civil rights and monitoring their he said. places of worship. Wilson has substituted at nine campuses, most of them middle schools. Her em- Adapted from IslamOnline.net ployment file does not show any previous ������������������������������� discipline problems. “We hope it’s an

Muslim Woman Helps Change Pool Dress Code Dine-in or Take-out���������������������� A Muslim woman in Omaha, Nebraska, was code accommodates religious or medical ���������������������� ������������������������������ happy being able to help change a public needs. ��������������������������� ������������������������������ swimming pool’s dress code, reported the Associated Press. Hussein says she was twice turned away from ������������������������� ���������������������������������� the pool after explaining her religion requires ��������������������� Lubna Hussein had been barred from accom- her to keep her body covered, except for her ����� panying her three children to the pool area face and hands. �������� because she was fully clothed, even though she was not going in the water. Hussein says her little girls are looking for- ��������������������������������������������� ward to trying out the water slide. ������������������������������������������� It took a federal lawsuit to get dress code altered. Adapted from IslamOnline.net ������������������������������������� The suit has now been settled and the dress Open Monday - Friday 6am - 8pm, Saturday 7am - 8pm Sunday CLOSED 10 March 2005 NATIONAL Southern California InFocus Muslims Call for Pentagon Action Over General’s Remarks Reporters wanted!

The Council on American-Islamic treat the grim business of war as a Relations (CAIR) called on the sporting event,” said CAIR Execu- Southern California In Focus wel- Pentagon to discipline a top gen- tive Director Nihad Awad. “These comes students pursuing a career eral who said it is “fun to shoot disturbing remarks are indicative some people.” of an apparent indifference to in journalism or writing to contrib- the value of human life.” Awad At a public event in San Diego, urged that “appropriate disciplin- ute to the newspaper. An excellent on February 2nd, Lt. Gen. James ary action” be taken against Gen. Mattis said: Mattis. way to enhance your skills and

“Actually, it’s a lot of fun to fight. In 2003, CAIR called for similar have your voice heard! You know, it’s a hell of a hoot... action against Lt. Gen. William G. You go into Afghanistan, you got Boykin, who told church audiences guys who slap women around for that he is in “the army of God” five years because they didn’t wear and claimed Muslims worship an For more information, call or Photo by U. S. Marine Corps a veil. You know, guys like that General James Mattis, shown above, said “idol.” A Pentagon investigation of email: ain’t got no manhood left anyway. it is “fun to shoot some people.” Boykin’s remarks concluded that So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot he violated regulations by failing (714) 394-8560 them.” The audience applauded the sion in Iraq. He is based in Quan- to make clear he was not speak- general’s remarks. tico, Virginia. ing in an official capacity and did [email protected] not obtain prior clearance for the Mattis leads the 1st Marine Divi- “We do not need generals who remarks.

but human rights issues. But before people of color.” “Looking at these letters, the vul- MODI MALCOLM X he was assassinated he was going nerabilities, the determination, the FROM PAGE 1 to speak at the United Nations to The collection will also reveal a commitment and the humanity was FROM PAGE 1 speak on the human-rights issues different side of Malcolm X, his really touching,” Ilyasah said. has engaged in “particularly severe of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty that faced indigenous people and family said. violations of religious freedom” Shabazz Memorial and Education “You get to see that he was a young inadmissible to the United States. Center at the Audubon is slated for man, he was a father, a husband; he May 19, on what would have been Excerpts from Malcolm X’s Letter from Makkah was someone’s child.” his 80th birthday. Following anti-Muslim riots in 2002, senior officials in Gujarat told Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and the over- Other projects also are aimed at human rights activists that they had whelming spirit of true brotherhood as practiced by people of setting the record straight on Mal- been directed by Modi to allow the The ballroom’s new center will all colors and races here in this Ancient Holy Land, the home colm X. massacres to run their course. house a multimedia environment of Abraham, Muhammad and all other prophets of the Holy containing documents about Mal- Manning Marable, a professor of Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless By the time the extensive violence colm X’s life, including memoirs, history and political science at Co- and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around in Gujarat had subsided, more than notes, speeches and other personal lumbia University, is working on a me by people of all colors. 2000 Muslims were brutally killed, items rescued by his family and now biography he says will dispel errors hundreds of women and girls were held by the Schomburg Center for in other literature. Research in Black Culture. There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the allegedly raped and sexually mu- tilated world. They were of all colors, from blue eyed blonds to black “Many of the books that document “There has been a lot of paraphras- skin Africans. But we were all participating in the same rituals, Malcolm have major inaccuracies,” According to the Christian Science ing. Now there will be a lot of clar- said Marable. “Many are poorly displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences Monitor, Modi allegedly called the ity,” said another daughter, Malaak in America had lead me to believe never could exist between edited and don’t encompass the Shabazz, who hadn’t been born yet riots “anticipated Hindu reaction” the white and non-white. entirety of his speeches.” when Malcolm X was slain. and “a natural outpouring.” India’s National Human Rights Commis- The family welcomes renewed inter- sion reported a “comprehensive In his autobiography, Malcolm X During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have est in Malcolm X. said the media, the government and eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept failure of the State to protect the Constitutional rights of the people even other black leaders character- in the same bed, (or on the same rug) -- while praying to the “They say that our father changed, of Gujarat.” ized him as a demagogue. But his same God -- with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest that there was this transformation,” family said the presentations will said Ilyasah Shabazz. “I don’t of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin The Indian Muslim Council-USA dispel that portrayal. think it was a transformation - he was the whitest of white. And in the same words and in the ac- also called on the US government tions and in the deeds of the ‘white’ Muslims, I felt the same evolved.” At the time, said Malaak Shabazz, to not allow Modi into America. sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, It urged all people of conscience “there weren’t that many people Reprinted with permission from the to write to their elected officials to of color at the forefront, speaking Sudan and Ghana. Associated Press not just for black and white issues block Modi’s visit. ORANGE COUNTY’S CARGO VAN HEAD-QUARTERS FAM VANS CHEVY ASTROS, CHEVY SAVANNAH, FORD VANS, FORD CLUB WAGONS, ISUZU NPRS AND MANY MORE! CHEVY ASTRO FORD CLUB WAGONS

VAN HEADQUARTERS VISIT OUR NEW VAN 10870 Kalama River Rd. (714) 274-1144 HEADQUARTERS! Fountain Valley MORE VANS FOR MORE @ The 405 & Euclid CHOICES next to Fry’s www.famvans.com Southern California InFocus INTERNATIONAL March 2005 11 Syria Refutes Israeli Charges, Iran Earthquake Toll Passes 612 By Nasser Karimi Still, the tiny villages that dot the central Supports Peace Efforts mountains — most of them made in fragile Syria refuted Sunday, February 26, Israeli litical and military leaders of the Islamic Jihad On Tuesday, February 22, a powerful earth- mud brick — were hit hard. In Douheieh, allegations of being implicated in a Tel Aviv regarding responsibility for the attack. quake jolted and subsequently flattened vil- every building except a mosque with a golden bombing attack, reaffirming support to Pales- lages in central Iran. An official has stated dome had collapsed. At least 80 percent of the tinian efforts to reach peace with Israel. A video tape by Saraya El Quds, the Islamic that the death toll now buildings in Sarbagh Jihad’s military arm, claimed the attacks. passes 612, and the were leveled. “Syria has been supporting the efforts of Pal- injured are 1,411. estinian President Mahmoud Abbas in creating However, several senior Jihad leaders, includ- Residents of Khanook an environment that would allow for peace and ing Nafez Azzam, disclaimed the operation and “Where have you village carried bod- the creation of a Palestinian state and we will reiterated commitment to the cooling down gone? I had a lot of ies to the morgue for continue to do so,” a Syrian Foreign Ministry period in agreement with Palestinian President plans for you,” Hos- washing before burial. official told Reuters. Mahmoud Abbas. sein Golestani sang Others crowded around softly as he held the lists of the dead posted “This operation harms the Possible Strike lifeless form of his on the morgue’s wall, efforts of the Palestinians 7-year-old daughter, breaking into cries if Photo By Hamed Noori/ISNA (for peace) and gives Israel Following the Tel Aviv Fatima. The body of they found a relative’s a pretext to bash the peace blast, speculations have his 8-year-old daugh- name. process ... it contradicts been raising on an Israe- ter, Mariam, lay beside him in the devastated Syrian policy,” he said in li military action against village of Hotkan. “I lost everything. All my life is gone,” sobbed reference to the Tel Aviv Syria. Asghar Owldi, 60, his face bandaged. His wife bombing which killed at “Action by us against Golestani and his wife were out tending their and two children were killed. Photo By Department of Defense herd of goats when the quake struck at 5:55 least four Israelis. Israeili Defense Minister Shaul Mofuz (left) accused Syria is certainly pos- Damascus of being behind the Tel Aviv attack. sible. We have done a.m., wrecking their home. Other survivors Fadaei said Iran will not issue a plea for aid, Damascus also rebuffed the it in the past,” Israeli slapped their faces in grief as they sat next to but “if foreign countries volunteer their help, Israeli accusation of being behind the attack. Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim told a the dead, who were wrapped in blankets in we’ll take tents, blankets, cash and earth-mov- radio interview. hospital morgues or on roadsides. ing machinery.” “Syria has no relation to this operation or any other (operation) and that the (Damascus) “If (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad needs Some 40 villages were damaged in the quake, Iranian relief officials said they were benefit- office of that group (Islamic Jihad) had been another hint from us, then of course he will which struck a region 150 miles from Bam, ing from their experience in the Bam quake, closed,” said a Foreign Ministry source. get it.” site of a devastating earthquake in December which prompted one of the biggest interna- Israel accused Syria Saturday, February 26, of 2003 that killed 26,000 people and leveled tional relief efforts ever. being behind the Tel Aviv bombing attack. In October 2003, Israeli warplanes attacked a the historic city. Syrian site near the capital Damascus follow- “The earthquake in 2003 gave us a very good “We have proof directly linking Syria to this ing a Palestinian attack on an Israeli target. The quake was centered on the outskirts of experience of how to deal with such a natural attack,” Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Zarand, a town of 15,000 people in Kerman disaster. Despite the rain, relief operations told a meeting with security officials in Tel Israel occupied the Syrian Golan Heights province about 600 miles southeast of Tehran, are going smoothly,” said Mostafa Soltani, a Aviv, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported. during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed Iran’s geological authority said. spokesman for the Kerman government. the area in 1981. The area is a grassy plateau Vice Premier Shimon Peres said the United overlooking north-eastern Israel and south-east Though comparable in strength to the 6.6- Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is States is currently leading “an initiative” Syria and have important water resources - pro- magnitude Bam quake, Tuesday’s temblor prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least against Syria, and Israel has to allow it to viding Israel with a third of its water needs. hit a more sparsely populated area and was one slight earthquake every day on average. do so. centered far deeper — some 25 miles, com- The US, Israel’s main ally, accuses Syria of pared with six miles for Bam — limiting the Reprinted with permission from the Associ- Also Saturday, Israel pointed the finger at the harboring “terrorists,” developing weapons of damage. ated Press. Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah, mass destruction, and allowing foreign fight- which immediately denied any involvement ers into Iraq through its borders. Syria denies in the bombing. all allegations. GRAND OPENING There were contradictory reports from the po- Courtesy of IslamOnline.net AL-ANWAR OUTLET COME IN AND ENJOY THE SHOPPING DRESS FOR LESS

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Across from Al-Tayebat Market All Major Credit Cards Accepted 12 March 2005 CONTINUATION Southern California InFocus Let America Be America Again Langston Hughes For all the dreams we’ve dreamed I am the young man, full of strength and hope, And all the songs we’ve sung Let America be America again. Tangled in that ancient endless chain And all the hopes we’ve held Let it be the dream it used to be. Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land! And all the flags we’ve hung, Let it be the pioneer on the plain Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need! The millions who have nothing for our pay-- Seeking a home where he himself is free. Of work the men! Of take the pay! Except the dream that’s almost dead today. Of owning everything for one’s own greed! (America never was O, let America be America again-- America to me.) I am the farmer, bondsman to the The land that never has been yet-- soil. And yet must be--the land where every man is free. Let America be the I am the worker sold to the ma- The land that’s mine--the poor man’s, Indian’s, Negro’s, dream the dreamers chine. ME-- dreamed-- I am the Negro, servant to you all. Who made America, Let it be that great I am the people, humble, hungry, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, strong land of love mean-- Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Where never kings Hungry yet today despite the Must bring back our mighty dream again. connive nor tyrants dream. scheme Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers! Sure, call me any ugly name you choose-- That any man be crushed I am the man who never got ahead, The steel of freedom does not stain. by one above. The poorest worker bartered through From those who live like leeches on the people’s lives, the years. We must take back our land again, (It never was America America! to me.) Yet I’m the one who dreamt our basic dream In the Old World while still a serf of kings, O, yes, O, let my land be a land where Liberty Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, I say it plain, Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, That even yet its mighty daring sings America never was America to me, But opportunity is real, and life is free, In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned And yet I swear this oath-- Equality is in the air we breathe. That’s made America the land it has become. America will be! O, I’m the man who sailed those early seas (There’s never been equality for me, In search of what I meant to be my home-- Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”) For I’m the one who left dark Ireland’s shore, The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, And Poland’s plain, and England’s grassy lea, We, the people, must redeem Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And torn from Black Africa’s strand I came The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. And who are you that draws your veil across the stars? To build a “homeland of the free.” The mountains and the endless plain-- All, all the stretch of these great green states-- I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, The free? And make America again! I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars. I am the red man driven from the land, Who said the free? Not me? I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek-- Surely not me? The millions on relief today? From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, pub- And finding only the same old stupid plan The millions shot down when we strike? lished by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright © 1994 the Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak. The millions who have nothing for our pay? Estate of Langston Hughes. Used with permission.

The president of the nearby Muslim Student HAMDAN Association (MSA) at California State Uni- FROM PAGE 1 versity, Long Beach, Zahra Billoo mentioned that it is important to stand together at times association. It’s not my father on trial but like these, and that “we shouldn’t be denied Islam.“ our rights.” Other organizations such as the ANSWER L.A and other MSAs also came “Even when he worked to show their support. at Holy Land Foundation he wasn’t on the execu- Sabiha Khan, communica- tive board, he was just an tions director for CAIR-LA, employee that helped with who attended the hearing, fundraising. Even the ex- expressed disappointment at ecutives that were taken the verdict and said, “that it in have been let free,” she is becoming difficult in this added. atmosphere of Islamophobia for a Muslim to receive jus- The family lawyer Mark tice from the Department of Van Der Hout said that,”the Homeland Security.” ruling was based on inad- missible evidence, hearsay and innuendo, Throughout the ordeal, Hamdan’s wife, Enti- First Amendment violations and a disregard sar, and six children have been only allowed of the public record regarding Hamdan and 30 minutes of visiting rights to see their father Holy Land.” behind a glass window. From across Los Angeles and Orange Coun- Meanwhile, the family is still deciding on ties, organizations including American Civil whether or not to appeal the decision made

Supporters gathered at a vigil ourside the San Pedro prison. Above, Entisar Hamdan (right) is consoled by a friend.

Liberties Union (ACLU), Council on Ameri- by the judge, which some say can take up to can-Islamic Relations – Southern California two years. Deportation would most likely (CAIR-LA), and American-Arab Anti-Dis- mean all of the family, including the six crimination Committee – Orange County U.S. born and raised children, would end up and Los Angeles (ADC-LA/OC) and various leaving the country. Regardless, the family Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders were promises to work hard and clear the name of at the protest to show their support. Young Abdel Jabbar Hamdan. and old carried signs saying ” Free Hamdan” and “We Support Abdel Jabbar Hamdan”. Southern California InFocus KIDS March 2005 13

How to Make Soap! Words and Actions Should Be the Same

By Nasir Jiwa make and even more fun There once was a boy who liked sweets himself. How to use. loved eating sweets. He al- could he ask the boy to give The boy’s father asked Soap – it’s such a big part ways asked for sweets from up asking for sweets? The the saint, “Why did you of our lives and, most of Handmade soap also makes his father. His father was holy man told the father to not ask my son to give up the time, we don’t even for great gifts. Just go to a poor man. He could not bring his son back after one asking for sweets when we realize it. Soap to wash your nearest arts and crafts always afford sweets for month. came to you a month ago?” your hands, soap to wash store (like Michael’s) and his son. But the little boy The saint replied, “How the dishes, soap to wash the buy a brick of glycerin did not understand this, and During that month, the could I ask a boy to give up car, and soap to blow lots of soap. Just make sure it is demanded sweets sweets when I loved bubbles. vegetable glycerin. The all the time. sweets myself. In the soap brick will come in last month I gave up Soap is a good thing. In clear or white. Also, get The boy’s father eating sweets.” fact, soap is one of the best some soap dyes so you can thought hard about things around because it color the soap to your lik- how to stop the A person’s example helps us stay clean. The ing. If you want, you can child asking for is much more pow- Prophet Muhammad (peace also buy some soap perfume so many sweets. erful than just his be upon him) said, “Clean- to make your soap smell the There was a very words. When we ask holy man living someone to do some- nearby at that time. thing, we must do it The boy’s father ourselves also. We had an idea. He should not ask others decided to take the to do what we do not boy to the great do ourselves. man who might be able to persuade the child holy man gave up eating ALWAYS MAKE SURE to stop asking for sweets sweets, and when the boy THAT YOUR ACTIONS all the time. and his father returned af- AND YOUR WORDS ARE ter a month, the holy man THE SAME. The boy and his father went said to the boy “My dear along to the great man. child, will you stop ask- This story was obtained The father said to him, “O ing for sweets which your from the book Islam For great saint, could you ask father cannot afford to give Younger People, published Photo from gowiththeflow.org my son to stop asking for you?” by A. N. Printers, Lahore, liness is half of Iman (or way you want, too. sweets which I cannot af- Pakistan From then on, the boy faith).” ford?” The great man was stopped asking for sweets. To make your own soap, all in difficulty, because he But did you know that Mus- you have to do is warm the lims invented soap? Actu- brick until it melts. Then, Dear Kids! ally, Arab chemists made it you can color it using the Coloring Fun more than a thousand years dye and add your favorite Do you like to write? ago. smelling perfume (attar also works). After stirring Have you ever writ- Now you can make it too. it a bit, you must carefully ten a story or a poem And not just any ordinary pour it into a mold, like a that you would like to soap, you can make Ha- heart-shaped cookie cutter get published? Here lal soap. Halal soap? Of (Parents give an example course. Halal soap means of what kids can use for a is your chance! that no Haram (forbidden) mold). Remember, molten materials are used to make soap is very hot, so be care- Send us your story or the soap. Sometimes, soap ful when pouring. You can poem and you might is made from plants. Some- also get creative by plac- see your name in the times, it is made from the ing fake flowers or other animal fat of cows. But colored soaps inside your next issue of InFocus! sometimes, it’s made from mixture. Then, wait for the Email it to us at pigs. That’s where the Halal mold to cool and there you soap comes in. It’s fun to have your very own soap! [email protected] Your customers are our readers! ADVERTISE in and let over 30,000 readers learn about your business, across Southern California. To learn more call or email: (714) 394-8560 [email protected] 14 March 2005 INTERNATIONAL Southern California InFocus WCC Central Committee Encourages Consideration of Italian Muslims Economic Measures for Peace in Israel/Palestine Pray for Pope The World Council of Churches (WCC) cen- ing of the Council’s governing body in Ge- unwittingly.” tral committee reminded the Council’s mem- neva, is contained in a minute addressed to ber churches that WCC member While highlighting the “growing witness and “with investment churches. In it, impact of church engagement that includes funds, they have the committee both Israelis and Palestinians”, including an opportunity to also notes that initiatives like the WCC-led Ecumenical Ac- use those funds “in the conflict companiment Programme in Palestine and responsibly in in Israel and Pal- Israel (EAPPI), the committee also “urges the support of peace- estine there is a establishment of more and wider avenues of ful solutions” to renewal of hope, engagement between Christian, Muslim and the Israel/Pales- although there is Jewish communities pursuing peace”. tine conflict. not yet a reduc- tion of the threats As a frame for its recommendation, the WCC Pope John Paul II The WCC gov- that separate the governing body recalls both its 1992 state- erning body en- parties”. ment that “criticism of the policies of the By Ahmed Al Matboli couraged the Council’s member churches Israeli government is not in itself anti-Jewish”, “to give serious consideration to economic The document points out that “illegal activi- and its 1969 call for “effective international Muslims in Italy are wishing ailing Pope measures that are equitable, transparent and ties in occupied territory continue as if a viable guarantees for the political independence and John II of the Vatican a speedy recovery, with non-violent” as a new way to work for peace, peace for both peoples is not a possibility”, territorial integrity of all nations in the area, many imams using the Friday’s sermons to by looking at ways to not participate economi- and that multinational corporations have been including Israel”. It also mentions its 2004 pray for the 84-year-old pontiff. cally in illegal activities related to the Israeli involved in a number of “violations of inter- recognition of Israel’s “serious and legitimate occupation. In that sense, the committee af- national law” within that territory. security concerns”. “We pray to God for the Pope to recover firmed “economic pressure, appropriately and soon to continue his message of peace at the openly applied,” as a “means of action”. The committee’s 150 members affirm: “The The full text of the WCC central committee political, social and culture spheres,” Italy’s concern here is to abide by law as the foun- minutes can be found at http://www.wcc-coe. La Repubblica newspaper quoted a Rome The recommendation, approved one day dation for a just peace.” “We are not blind to org. mosque imam as saying. before the end of the 15-22 February meet- facts and must not be complicit in them even Ammar Abdullah, an imam of a Naples mosque, echoed similar sentiments, saying Egyptian Copts Angry at Doctors’ Conversion he dedicated his Friday’s supplication to the Pope. “He certainly deserves to be loved by In the second such incident in less than three both doctors went to the home of relatives in A security official said in a statement that all people,” Abdullah told the Italian paper. months, hundreds of angry Christians demon- Fayoum after spending Sunday, February 27, Christian religious leaders were giving the two strated in Fayoum, 90 km southwest of Cairo, evening under police protection. young women advice. “(Official) measures “I pray from the bottom of my heart that on February 28, to protest the reported conver- proclaiming them Muslim have not been the Pope will recover soon. He speaks good sion of two young women to Islam. It was not clear whether they still considered taken,” the official told Reuters. about Muslims and all people,” a Muslim themselves Christians. worshiper, told the Italian daily. The two women, medical graduates Marianne This is the second incident of its kind in three Makram Ayad and Teresa Ibrahim, reportedly In the Mar Girgis church in Fayoum, hundreds months in Egypt, where there are sporadic The pontiff’s very public battles against left their homes after converting to Islam, of Christian men carrying crosses demanded outbreaks of violence and tension between Parkinson’s disease, his failing health and sparking the angry protests, reported Reuters the women return to their community, on the Muslims and Christians. his position o issues, including opposition to Monday, February 28. grounds that they had allegedly been com- the US-led invasion of Iraq, have won him a pelled to convert. Courtesy of IslamOnline.net special place in the hearts of many people. Citing police and church sources, it said Courtesy of IslamOnline.net Avalanches, Slides Kill 154 in Kashmir By Mujtaba Ali Ahmad an army spokesman, Col. D.K. Badola. Most of Srinagar’s usually busy roads were Avalanches and slides triggered by heavy snowed in. People walked to work or to get snowfall in India’s portion of Kashmir have supplies. killed at least 154 people and left 200 miss- Thousands of motorists and truckers had ing, an official said been stranded on an Monday, February 21. avalanche-blocked Much of the region highway between remained cut off for the state’s winter and a third straight day, summer capitals, but blanketed under the improving weather heaviest snowfall in allowed rescuers to 15 years. begin evacuating them on Monday. At least 117 people were killed in ava- Indian air force he- lanches that began licopters rescued 45 Sunday night in a se- tourists who had been ries of Kashmiri vil- stranded for nearly a lages south of Srina- week in the Ladakh gar, Kashmir’s main city, said police officer region, said Air Vice-Marshal S.K. Gehlaut. Imtiyaz Ahmed, who said the toll of the dead and missing remained incomplete. Meanwhile, soldiers rescued a 65-year-old woman who had been buried under the snow Elsewhere in the region, three separate land- for more than two days in southwestern slides killed eight people, police said. Kashmir’s Loran village, said an Indian army spokesman, Col. D.K. Badola. The woman’s “Because of heavy snow, we are unable to es- home was hit by an avalanche and collapsed tablish contact with most of the remote areas. Friday, and she was in a hospital, Badola The number of dead could increase as reports said. start to trickle in,” said Khursheed Ganai, a senior administrator of Kashmir valley. There were also power outages and severed telephone links. At least 1,000 houses have been damaged in the region, which has received up to 15 feet “This snowfall is unprecedented,” said Sri- of snow since Friday. nagar resident Hasan Najar, 70. “We could do nothing except watch it snowing for three Many road and air links to Jammu-Kashmir days.” were severed, and Indian Air Force pilots were flying in fuel, milk and other necessities. Heli- Assocciated Press Writer Binoo Joshi contrib- copters had dropped 440 pounds of rations in uted to this report from Jammu, India. a tunnel along the Srinagar-Jammu highway, Reprinted with permission from the Associ- where more than 100 soldiers from the Indo- ated Press Tibetan Border Police have taken shelter, said Southern California InFocus INTERNATIONAL March 2005 15 Integration Tops European Fatwa Council Meeting By Sami A. Muhammad and help in its welfare and prosperity,” said lims who were role models in abiding by the the eminent scholar. morals and ethics of Islam in all aspects of Sheikh Halawa added that a number of reso- Eminent scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi life, said Sheikh Qaradawi, also head of the lutions will be taken regarding the researches has inaugurated the 14th session of the Sheikh Qaradawi underlined the need to International Association of Muslim Scholars discussed. European Council for Fatwa and Research preach to Muslims in the West, (IAMS). (ECFR) in Dublin on February 24 with a call particularly Europe, to be part Among the most important researches that will for the sizable Muslim minority in Europe to and parcel of society. The pressing issue of family af- be discussed are “Marrying a woman from integrate into and contribute to the advance- fairs in the West will also figure the People of the Book” by Sheikh Mustafa ment of society. “We have to educate people here high on the agenda of the five- Mula Auglu and “Domestic violence and the especially Muslims to open their day ECFR meeting. solution” by Dr. Ali Qura Daghi. “A Muslim should stick to the balanced and hearts for the other. Muslims moderate Islam. He should be integrated into should deal with others honestly. A session will focus on “is- To also be addressed are “sexual education in the society where he lives without violating It is not permitted for a Muslim sues related to the relationship the light of Islam” by Dr. Muhammad Al-Hau- the rules of Shari`ah,” Sheikh Qaradawi, the to take what is not his right.” between parents and children, wari and “Muslim family in the West Between head of ECFR, told the opening session on domestic violence, children’s the Islamic Legislation and the Administrative Wednesday, February 23. Sheikh Qaradawi stressed that upbringing and the family in- Laws” by Dr. Muhammad Al-Umrani. Islam spread in many countries Sheikh Qaradawi says a Mus- tegration,” said Sheikh Hus- The event was attended by a cohort of promi- without any conquering armies, lim should integrate into so- sein Halawa, ECFR Secretary The Council meets twice a year in Europe, nent scholars from across the globe in addition noting that it is a mistake to ciety without violating rules General. with one session always held in Ireland. to a host of guests, observers and media people claim that Islam is a religion that of Shariah. of different nationalities. calls for war. “It will also address the relation- Courtesy of IslamOnline.net ship between husband and wife and the mutual “A Muslim should be effective in his society Islam spread at the hands of ordinary Mus- rights and obligations between the couples.” Iraqi Died While Hung From Wrists Muslim Chaplain Slams By Seth Hettena mary of his interview. and testimony, the SEALs punched, kicked and struck al-Jamadi with Heavy-Handed US An Iraqi whose corpse was photo- Frost and other guards had been their rifles before handing him over graphed with grinning U.S. soldiers summoned to reposition al-Jamadi, to the CIA early on Nov. 4. By 7 Tactics in Iraq at Abu Ghraib died under CIA inter- who an interrogator said was not a.m., al-Jamadi was dead. The only Muslim chaplain in the “Just because one source says this rogation while suspended by his cooperating. As the guards released US army in Iraq has lambasted “un- guy’s bad, we used to arrest a guy,” wrists, which had been handcuffed the shackles and lowered al-Jamadi, Navy prosecutors in San Diego have necessarily heavy-handed tactics” he regretted. behind his back, according to in- blood gushed from his mouth “as if a charged nine SEALs and one sailor against Iraqis, blaming the loss of vestigative reports reviewed by The faucet had been turned on,” accord- with abusing al-Jamadi and others. many US lives on disrespect of the Hulwe said one of his most satisfy- Associated Press. ing to the interview summary. All but two lieutenants have received Muslim population. ing moments was being able to free nonjudicial punishment; one lieuten- a young man who had been wrong- The death of the prisoner, Manadel The military pathologist who ruled ant is scheduled for court-martial in “The better you act, the safer this fully imprisoned by US forces. al-Jamadi, became known last year the case a homicide found several March, the other is awaiting a hear- area will be. If nothing else you’ll when the Abu Ghraib scandal broke. broken ribs and concluded al-Jamadi ing before the Navy’s top SEAL. not give a reason for someone who “The Kurds had arrested him and The U.S. military said back then is neutral to go and join the insur- got a confession saying he was a that it had been ruled a homicide. The statements from five of gents,” Captain Abdullah Hulwe, a Saudi working for Al-Qaeda,” he But the exact circumstances of Abu Ghraib’s Army guards Syrian-born Sunni, told The Tele- recalled. the death were not disclosed at were shown to The AP by an graph Sunday, February 13, in his the time. attorney for one of the SEALs, first full interview since he arrived “In fact, it turned out he was an Iraqi who said they offered a more in Iraq a year ago. and his father had been murdered by The prisoner died in a position balanced picture of what hap- Saddam Hussein’s regime.” known as “Palestinian hanging,” pened. The lawyer asked not to “We’ve never had any problem with the documents reviewed by The be identified, saying he feared AP show. It is unclear whether repercussions for his client. women so we should not search and Hulwe added that after checking that position — which human harass them.” paperwork supplied by the family rights groups condemn as torture According to the statements: he was able to convince military — was approved by the Bush Hulwe further lawyers that the Army Spc. Sabrina Harman, of the 372nd Military added: “If a The Muslim chaplain Iraqi should be administration for use in CIA Police Company, poses with the body of Iraqi de- Al-Jamadi was brought naked interrogations. tainee Manadel al-Jamadi below the waist to the prison man is head was particularly furi- freed. of house you with a CIA interrogator and ous about indiscriminate The spy agency, which faces con- died from pressure to the chest and translator. A green plastic bag cov- don’t let him After this inci- gressional scrutiny over its detention difficulty breathing. ered his head, and plastic cuffs tight- lose face in detention of Iraqis on a dent he pressed and interrogation of terror suspects ly bound his wrists. Guards dressed front of his for arrest pro- at the Baghdad prison and elsewhere, Dr. Michael Baden, a distinguished al-Jamadi in an orange jumpsuit, family. There tip off from one person, cedures to be declined to comment for this story, civilian pathologist who reviewed slapped on metal handcuffs and is no need for who might well have a changed and as did the Justice Department. the autopsy for a defense attorney in escorted him to the shower room, a swearing and a c c u s a t i o n s the case, agreed in an interview that common CIA interrogation spot. hollering and personal grudge to settle. now need to be Al-Jamadi was one of the CIA’s the position in which al-Jamadi was frightening the “Just because one source verified from “ghost” detainees at Abu Ghraib suspended could have contributed There, the interrogator instructed children.” “two different — prisoners being held secretly by to his death. guards to attach shackles from the says this guy’s bad, we sources”. the agency. prisoner’s handcuffs to a barred win- “Imagine how used to arrest a guy,” he Dr. Vincent Iacopino, director of dow. That would let al-Jamadi stand an Iraqi man Discrimination His death in November 2003 became research for Physicians for Human without pain, but if he tried to lower feels when he regretted. at Home public with the release of photos of Rights, called the hyper-extension of himself, his arms would be stretched sees a foreigner Abu Ghraib guards giving a thumbs- the arms behind the back “clear and above and behind him. touching his The US army up over his bruised and puffy-faced simple torture.” The European Court sister,” Qassem Hasnawi, a young chaplain lamented that his own fam- corpse, which had been packed in of Human Rights found Turkey The documents do not make clear Iraqi, once said describing the situ- ily had been mistreated after 9/11. ice. One of those guards was Pvt. guilty of torture in 1996 in a case of what happened after guards left. ation in Fallujah. Charles Graner, who last month re- Palestinian hanging — a technique After about a half-hour, the inter- He said his hijab-donned wife was ceived 10 years in a military prison Iacopino said is used worldwide but rogator called for the guards to Act Like Guests searched every time she entered for abusing detainees. named for its alleged use by Israel in reposition the prisoner, who was the base in Texas where he was the Palestinian territories. slouching with his arms stretched Hulwe, who joined the US Army stationed. Al-Jamadi died in a prison shower behind him. as a mechanic, urged his fellow US room during about a half-hour of The Washington Post reported last army soldiers to act like true guests, “The soldier stopping her said he questioning, before interrogators year that after the Abu Ghraib scan- The interrogator told guards that regretting failure to shift from war- was only searching every 15th car,” could extract any information, ac- dal broke, the CIA suspended the use al-Jamadi was “playing possum” fighting mentality. Hulwe said. cording to the documents, which of its “enhanced interrogation tech- — faking it — and then watched consist of statements from Army niques,” including stress positions, as guards struggled to get him on “If you’re saying you’re a guest you “I said, ‘That’s baloney. Are you prison guards to investigators with because of fears that the agency his feet. But the guards realized it have to behave like a guest. There is telling me my wife is unlucky every the military and the CIA’s Inspector could be accused of unsanctioned was useless. no need to cuss people out.” time?’” General’s office. and illegal activity. The newspaper said the White House had approved “After we found out he was dead, Indiscriminate Detentions A recent nation-wide poll, con- One Army guard, Sgt. Jeffery the tactics. they were nervous,” Spc. Dennis E. ducted by the Cornell University, Frost, said the prisoner’s arms were Stevanus said of the CIA interroga- The Muslim chaplain was particu- showed that at least 44 percent of the stretched behind him in a way he Navy SEALs apprehended al-Ja- tor and translator. “They didn’t know larly furious about indiscriminate Americans backs curbing Muslims’ had never before seen. Frost told madi as a suspect in the Oct. 27, what the hell to do.” detention of Iraqis on a tip off from civil rights and monitoring their investigators he was surprised al- 2003, bombing of Red Cross offices one person, who might well have a places of worship. Jamadi’s arms “didn’t pop out of in Baghdad that killed 12 people. His Reprinted with permission from the personal grudge to settle. their sockets,” according to a sum- alleged role in the bombing is un- Associated Press. Courtesy of IslamOnline.net clear. According to court documents 16 March 2005 PROFILE Southern California InFocus Reverend Alexia Salvatierra: Leading the Struggle for Economic Justice By Yasmin Bhuj forming their work. The first CLUE leaders jobs, coming to work exhausted; they have no noted that a substantial percentage of work- The mission of CLUE is to join low-wage health benefits or sick leave and they cannot ing poor families are employed by corpora- workers in their struggles for a living wage, afford to lose a day of work so they expose Clergy and Laity United for Eco- tions or large chains health in- their frail elderly patients to their illnesses; nomic Justice (CLUE) is an in- and that the average surance, there are not enough staff and each worker terfaith association of over 400 CEO compensation fair work- must care for so many patients that they can- had jumped from ing con- not possibly provide quality care. Nursing religious leaders throughout Los 30 times an aver- ditions, home workers have the highest percentage Angeles County who come together age worker’s salary respect in of injuries after construction workers. The to respond to the crisis of the work- (1970) to 300 times the work- turnover in many homes is 80-100% per year, ing poor. Yasmin Bhuj InFocus had an average worker’s place and leaving elderly people without the comfort salary (2000). They a voice in of known caregivers. When this legislation the opportunity to gain a valuable saw that responsible the deci- is fully implemented, funds will be available insight to the organization with the corporations had sions that to provide higher quality care to frail seniors Executive Director of CLUELA, continued to priori- i m p a c t and a decent life to their caregivers tize their workers’ them. the honorable Reverend Alexia capacity to feed InFocus: Within the context of the work Salvatierra. their families with- InFocus: that you do, how can the Muslim com- out having to turn to What is munity get involved - how would you like InFocus: What was CLUE’s intention, mis- food stamps, but that the story to see us involved, what can we do to get sion and vision, when it was set up? Who many irresponsible of your on board? were the pioneers, the ones who initially corporations were personal dedicated their energies and persisted in shifting the burden involve- Salvatierra: CLUE is very interested in the building it to what it is today? What were of their workers’ ba- ment in increased involvement of the Muslim com- the struggles they faced? sic food and medical CLUE? munity on multiple levels - religious leaders needs to the State so who will attend press conferences or delega- Reverend Alexia Salvatierra: CLUE was that they could pro- S a l v a - tions and speak out for justice; members of started by several prominent religious leaders vide enormous com- tierra: I mosques who will participate in interfaith who had become involved in the successful pensation to their have been vigils or processions, advocate for workers campaign for a living wage law in Los An- management. They involved who are being treated unjustly and/or collect geles, including the well-known civil rights saw that through I have always taken injustice in com- food for workers who are on strike or locked leader Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. These the lens of all of the personally no matter who the m u n i t y out of their jobs; young Muslim leaders who leaders had discovered the depth and breadth great religious tradi- ministries will join their young Christian and Jewish of the growing crisis of working poverty and tions that this would victim was. that serve counterparts in organizing educational forums believed that the interfaith community needed be a clear case of the needy and events that promote economic justice. We to respond. economic injustice. -Reverend Alexia Salvatierra for over would like to begin with speaking engage- They determined to 27 years. ments at mosques and Muslim organizations, Their vision was based on their analysis. They form a religious or- Before I bringing low-wage workers who are involved believed that when over 30% of the families in ganization that would hold these irresponsible was ordained a Lutheran Pastor in 1987, I in these struggles to speak personally about Los Angeles were working poor (someone in corporations morally accountable to change worked as a lay ministry associate in several their suffering, hopes and dreams. the family working but receiving insufficient their behavior. They also saw that not all ecumenical projects. Like many other people wages to pay for basics like food and rent) working poor families were the victims of ir- who are drawn or called to ministries of ser- InFocus: Are there any successful stories of that assisting individual families to move up responsible employers; some industries need vice, peace and justice, I have had the experi- involvement from the Muslim community and out of poverty was not enough. There a public policy solution to improve workers’ ence since I was a small child of regular bouts that you can relay to us. just aren’t enough professional jobs for all wages and conditions and they also committed of overwhelming compassion - not of pity but those people and we need someone to be per- themselves to this work. rather of compassion (feeling with others.) I Salvatierra: Whenever we are dealing with a have always taken injustice personally no mat- corporation that has top management who are ter who the victim was. I came to CLUE in affiliated with a particular religious tradition, 2000 but was simultaneously connected with it is critically important the leaders from that a parish ministry until I became Executive tradition are in the forefront of calling them Director in 2002. to justice so that we never are in a situation which could be perceived as some religious AL HUDA InFocus: So, what is it like, a day in the Life groups attacking others. We had an owner of of Rev. Alexia? What is your role, What are a chain of hotels and other businesses who had MEAT & DELI the typical tasks that you are involved in? purchased the only hotel with union represen- tation on Century Boulevard near LAX and Salvatierra: I am the Executive Director had promptly terminated the jobs of the whole of CLUE, responsible for administration, workforce in order to re-open without union fundraising, and supervision of a small staff representation. The majority of the workforce and multiple student interns. At the same had been there many years and had a great time, I am also responsible for on-the-ground sense of pride in their work and of being part outreach, organizing, community education of a workplace family. They were devastated on economic justice, volunteer management by the mass termination. After three years, we and coordination of our campaigns and pro- were able to convince the owner to restore the 100% FRESH grams. Currently, CLUE has campaigns and jobs of the original workers and allow them programs supporting hotel workers, security the right to decide for themselves whether HALAL DAILY guards, 99 Cent Store workers, home health they wanted union representation. The owner care workers and nursing home workers. We was not a religious man, but he identified as are also involved with organizing and training Muslim. Muslim leaders from the Muslim seminary students and other young religious Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Center leaders to promote economic justice, involv- in Los Angeles were critically important in Now Available at Al HUDA ing faculty in research and writing about that campaign. Other leaders, such as Imam economic justice and developing a program Ali Siddiqui have been personally involved Stuffed lamb and all types of kababs (grills) for business leaders of faith to support them in various campaigns and programs; Tasneem in taking an ethical stance. Siddiqui was a dynamic and gifted intern for Catering for all occasions us this past summer. Over the past two years, InFocus: What has been the most satisfying the leadership of CAIR (Council on Ameri- project you have worked on in the past - one can-Islamic Relations) has been wonderful in of your CLUE victories? their support of many of our campaigns. NowNow wewe carrycarry AL-ABED arabic coffee Salvatierra: There are so many! This last InFocus: How do you think we can resolve AL-ABED arabic coffee September, we were a core part of a broad co- the problem of Islam being perceived as alition (business owners, unions, aging agen- aggressive and threatening, through the cies etc.) that, after three years of struggle, arena of social justice issues? passed legislation reforming the MediCal reimbursement system for nursing homes to Salvatierra: Over the past few years, I have adopt a creative model used in 17 other states seen Muslims increasingly building bridges that provides much higher levels of funding and relationships with the interfaith commu- for direct patient care. California has histori- nity; I think that this is the best strategy for cally been 47th out of 50 states in how much getting the truth out about the beauty and non- we provide for nursing home patients per bed violent nature of the Muslim faith. When the for orders (714) 776-4252 per day, and nursing homes depend on public public sees that we all stand together and work Call us Now (714) 776-4555 reimbursement for 66% of their budgets. As together for justice that benefits our whole a result, nursing home workers have typically community, public perceptions change. 518 S. Brookhurst # 6, Anaheim, CA 92804 received such low pay that they must work two Southern California InFocus COMMENTARY March 2005 17 Anniversary of Internment Begs Reflection: Is History Repeating? By Stephen F. secret locations, refusing to release dominantly Muslim countries had to the equivalent of “holy war,” when, information which contradicted or Rohde their names, denying them access to register, report their addresses, em- in fact, it means “exerting utmost undermined” their opinion that the legal counsel and forbidding them ployment or jobs at least once a year. effort” or “a struggle.”) four Muslims were guilty of plotting n the wake from talking with their families. The government also required them acts of terrorism. of Japan’s to disclose the names of all persons, The defense’s only witness, Frank Iattack on In 2003, the Department of Justice’s including American citizens, who Anderson, a former CIA expert on Racial profiling, says Margaret P e a r l H a r - inspector general reported that the they know. Those names were then terrorism, demonstrated that the Stock, professor of national security bor, President detentions were “indiscriminate entered into a database. Web sites only promoted Islam and law at the U.S. Military Academy at Franklin D. and haphazard,” and that there discussed religious and political West Point, “hurt[s] our security by Roosevelt, 63 years ago, signed was “a pattern of physical and ver- Of the 93,741 people who vol- ideas. After a seven-week trial, the wasting law enforcement resources Executive Order No. 9066, under bal abuse” - beatings, significant untarily registered, the INS has jury acquitted al-Hussayen of all on innocent people, isolating the which 120,000 people of Japanese violations of religious practices and deported 13,799, most for minor charges of terrorism and making Muslim community, [and] creat[ing] descent were forced from their repeated and un- false statements, distrust, alienating people who homes in California and elsewhere. necessary body and two counts might have been able to provide use- Feb. 19, 1942, launched the most cavity searches. of visa fraud. The ful information about terrorists.” sweeping violation of civil liberties U.S. Rep. John jury deadlocked in America since slavery, and is, it- Conyers Jr., D- on eight lesser Nonetheless, in 2003 the FBI or- self, a day that will live in infamy. Mich., said that counts of visa dered all of its 56 regional field “we have only fraud, and, on offices to report the number of The victims of the internment rep- begun to scratch those counts, the mosques in each region and to use resented almost 90 percent of all the surface with judge declared a demographic data on Muslims as Japanese Americans, two-thirds of respect to the mistrial. a basis for terrorism investigations whom were American citizens. No Justice Depart- - “an action carrying the message charges were brought and no hear- ment’s disregard In May 2004, the for many Muslims that people were ings were held; those captured had of constitutional FBI searched the being singled out purely because of no idea where they were going, how rights and civil home and law their religion,” according to a report long they would be detained, what liberties.” office of Bran- of the California Senate Office of conditions they faced or what fate don Mayfield, a Research. awaited them. According to Muslim lawyer in David Cole, le- Portland, Ore. The In December, the Media & Society Gen. John L. DeWitt, the top Army gal affairs cor- FBI arrested him Research Group at Cornell Uni- commander in charge of the intern- respondent of and announced versity released a revealing survey ment, reported, as truth, rumors The Nation and with “nearly 100 containing the alarming finding that a squadron of enemy airplanes p r o f e s s o r o f Photo by Steve Dolds percent certainty” that 44 percent of respondents sup- had flown over California and that law at George- Manzanar relocation camp, where hundreds of Japanese Americans were kept during WWII that he was in- ported one or more restrictions on Japanese Americans were signaling town University, volved in the ter- Muslim Americans. Among them: submarines from the shore. When “[w]hile the Sept. 11 terrorists were infractions, and charged only 143 rorist attack two months earlier in requiring registration with the Navy investigators, the FBI and training for and coordinating their for criminal activity, none of it ter- Madrid, Spain, where almost 200 government; having law enforce- the Federal Communications Com- conspiracy in Florida, the FBI was rorism-related. people were killed. ment agencies closely monitor and mission later established that these spending vast resources investigat- surveil mosques; allowing agencies reports were totally unfounded, ing Mazen al-Najjar, a Palestinian Three months after 9/11, the Justice The government also announced it to profile Muslim citizens as poten- DeWitt was reduced to making the professor from Tampa who spent Department added to the National had seized “Spanish documents” tial threats based on being Muslim appalling claim that “[t]he very fact three and a half years in detention on Crime Information Center the names belonging to Mayfield, which turned or having Middle Eastern heritage; that no sabotage has taken place to secret evidence out to be his chil- or using undercover agents to in- date is a disturbing and confirming and charges of Sept. 11, 2001 - the new Pearl Harbor - dren’s homework. filtrate Muslim civic and volunteer indication” that the Japanese had political associ- launched a fresh assault on civil liberties as the The FBI claimed organizations to keep watch on their carefully orchestrated their subver- ation. Al-Najjar that a partial fin- activities and fund-raising. sion so that, when the sabotage did was released in federal government detained more than 1,200 gerprint found come, it would be massive. December when people, virtually all Muslims, charging them on a package of Fred Korematsu, who challenged an immigration detonator caps the Japanese internment 60 years The U.S. government would not judge found no with no crime, holding them in secret locations, belonged to May- ago, recently said: “We know from begin to make amends or pay evidence that he refusing to release their names, denying them field. But Span- long experience that we often react reparations for more than 30 years. posed a threat to ish authorities too harshly in circumstances of felt As part of the bicentennial of the national secu- access to legal counsel and forbidding them expressed doubt necessity and underestimate the Declaration of Independence in rity. And while and later revealed damage to civil liberties. Typically, 1976, President Ford declared that the terrorists from talking with their families. that the finger- we come later to regret our excesses, “Feb. 19 is the anniversary of a sad were conspiring print belonged to but for many that recognition comes day in American history.” Observ- in New Jersey, the FBI focused of several hundred-thousand male an Algerian national. too late. The challenge is to identify ing that “[w]e now know what we its efforts on Hany Kiareldeen, a Muslim immigrants, although al- excess when it occurs and to protect should have known then,” Ford Palestinian in Newark detained for most none had any criminal record. After two weeks in prison, May- constitutional rights before they are called “upon the American people a year and a half on secret evidence In 2003, the department exempted field was released. The FBI ac- compromised unnecessarily.” to affirm with me this American for associating with terrorists. He the crime information center from knowledged it did a sloppy job promise - that we have learned was freed after immigration judges stringent accuracy requirements, and publicly apologized. Attorney Fortunately, the government hasn’t from the tragedy of that long-ago flatly rejected the government’s claiming that “in the collection of General John Ashcroft called it “an forced 90 percent of Muslim Ameri- experience” and will “resolve that charges as unfounded; the FBI’s information for law enforcement unfortunate incident.” cans into internment camps. But that this kind of action shall never again principal source was apparently purposes it is impossible to deter- is of little solace to those who have be repeated.” Kiareldeen’s ex-wife, with whom he mine in advance what information Mayfield believes it is far worse. been wrongfully targeted, detained, was in a bitter custody dispute and is accurate, relevant, timely and “We need to be safe and secure in prosecuted, punished, harassed and Four years later, Congress estab- who had filed several false reports complete.” our homes,” he said, “not just from deported. Once again, race preju- lished the Commission on Wartime about him.” the bad guys but from the govern- dice, war hysteria and a failure of Relocation and Internment of Civil- In February 2003, in Moscow, ment as well.” political leadership have opened an- ians, which unanimously concluded In 2003, Colleen Rowley, the career Idaho, the FBI arrested Sami Omar other shameful chapter in American in 1983 that the internment was FBI agent who had complained be- al-Hussayen - a graduate computer The conviction of three Muslims as history. Everyone who values our shaped by “race prejudice, war fore 9/11 about intelligence failures, science student from Saudi Arabia part of an alleged Detroit “sleeper Constitution must redouble their ef- hysteria and a failure of political observed that “The vast majority - for running two Web sites allegedly cell” was widely touted by Ashcroft forts to protect the rights of Muslims leadership,” not military necessity. of the ... persons ‘detained’ in the used by a “terrorist” organization, as a major victory for the USA - citizen and non-citizen alike. The following year, U.S. District wake of 9/11 did not turn out to the Islamic Assembly of North Patriot Act. However, after the Judge Marilyn Patel set aside the be terrorists. ... Field offices were America, although the organization trial, U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Stephen F. Rohde is Vice President convictions of Fred Korematsu and required to report daily the number was not listed as a terrorist group. Rosen ordered an investigation of of the Progressive Jewish Alliance, Gordon Hirabayashi for violating of detentions in order to supply The government added charges of prosecutorial misconduct, including founder and member of the Steering internment laws, on grounds of grist for statements on our progress fraud and filing false statements withholding critical evidence from Committee of Interfaith Communi- “manifest injustice.” Patel found in fighting terrorism. ... [F]rom on the theory that al-Hussayen the defense. ties United for Justice and Peace that “the government had knowingly what I have observed, particular “falsely” claimed he was entering (ICUJP), and a a past president of and intentionally failed to disclose vigilance may be required to head the United States solely to study, but In September 2004, the Department the American Civil Liberties Union critical information.” off undue pressure (including subtle that he also came to provide “mate- of Justice voluntarily dismissed all (ACLU) of Southern California. encouragement) to detain or round rial support” to terrorists. terrorism charges. A third man had Sept. 11, 2001 - the new Pearl Har- up suspects, particularly those of been convicted only of document Copyright 2005 Daily Journal Corp. bor - launched a fresh assault on civil Arabic origin.” The government called al-Hussayen fraud and a fourth was acquitted. In Reprinted with permission. The Daily Journal’s definition of reprint and post- liberties as the federal government a “dual persona - one face to the dismissing the charges, Rosen said ing permission does not include the public, and a private face of extreme detained more than 1,200 people, Under the National Security Entry- prosecutors not only acted outside downloading, copying by third parties virtually all Muslims, charging Exit Registration System, all males jihad.” (Government officials are the Constitution, but “simply ig- or any other type of transmission of any them with no crime, holding them in over the age of 16 from 18 pre- fond of using the term “jihad” as nored or avoided any evidence or posted articles. 18 March 2005 EDITORIAL / COMMENTARY Southern California InFocus The Blowing Wind of Democracy is Heading East, or is it Just a Breeze? The 90’s witnessed the advance Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq war were proven to be false. of democracy in much of Eastern Hariri, tens of thousands of Leba- Europe and Latin America. The nese marched to the Parliament and Second, one of the main grievances people in the largely Muslim- forced the pro-Syrian government repeated by our critics is that we populated countries prayed that this to resign. preach about democracy and hu- phenomenon will eventually reach man rights, but we support some their areas. After all, Muslims, like The young Syrian president Bashar of the most authoritarian regimes in any other people, aspire to live free, Assad has begun introducing plans today’s world. They see us justify- control their own affairs, and elect for political reform in his country. ing this dichotomy because of our and hold accountable their own desire for cheap oil and allies in our leaders. These aspirations reflect Sudan’s rulers signed a power- war on terrorism. In his inaugural shared values of Islam and democ- sharing agreement that will end address and State of the Union racy. To their disappointment, little more than two decades of civil war speech, President Bush promised change happened. in the south and allow nationwide that the U.S. will no longer practice such a policy. We truly hope he The past few months brought hope- President Bush needs to show the means it. Much needs to be done to ful news about democratic progress American people and the rest of demonstrate that the administration Your Letters in many parts of the Muslim world. the world that this war and all its is sincere. The events, while not without financial and human costs were ISNA West Zone Financial Column controversy or shortcomings, still worthwhile, especially since his Third, in what is being described as represent a turning point in the originally stated reasons for the the “Iraq Lesson”, countries such as Conference Living in a country where the finan- modern history of that region. Iraq war were proven to be false. Libya and Syria are now changing cial system is not shariah [Islamic their domestic and foreign policies Recently a friend e-mailed me the elections. law] based, it is sometimes dif- The U.S.-installed government in for fear that the administration will link to your publication. As I was ficult to determine which financial Afghanistan held a presidential invade them under the pretext of reading I came across an article A number of Central Asian Repub- transactions are halal [Islamically election. bringing democracy. about the ISNA West Zone Confer- lics are holding or promising free ence, which I attended as a vendor. permissible]. It is an area that a lot elections. Of course, many of those of Muslims have confusion about. I Under the umbrella of U.S. oc- Fourth, with the widespread ac- The conference was wonderful, with former Soviet Republics still need would love to see a regular column cupation, most Iraqis participated cess to the internet and satellite one exception; I was very concerned to confront the charges of torture covering Islamic finance and its in the election of a transitional television, such as Al-Jazeera, the that most of those attending were and election fraud. practical implications. national assembly, although major whole world, including the Muslim Indian, Pakistani, or Persian. Sunni groups demanded a timetable populace, saw the masses in Serbia, Democratic process also reached May I also congratulate you on your for the withdrawal of occupation South Africa, and Ukraine attain I am an African-American Muslim, Palestine, Qatar, Bahrain, Somalia, first issue, which I picked up this forces as a precondition for their democracy. Muslims in the Arab and I feel that all Muslims would and many others. month. Keep up the good work! participation. world can see their brethren in Iraq have enjoyed and should have debate political platforms and vote been included. I am sure this was The world scene has witnessed Mohammad Umer, Irvine Egyptian President Mubarak in- for the candidates of their choice. not a deliberate act, but in keeping many developments that bring hope structed his parliament to amend As flawed as that election was, it with their theme “Toward a Bet- that democracy might become an [Editor’s Note: We have actually the constitution to allow, under nonetheless was an indicator to ter Tomorrow: How to Strengthen option to those undemocratic rulers, started a page in the newspaper en- very strict conditions, presidential neighboring Muslims that their Faith, Family, and Society” there if not out of conviction, at least for titled “Your Money in Focus” (page challengers on the ballot this fall. dream of freedom and democracy should have been more of an effort regime survivability. 23). We hope to regular bring you Of course, Mubarak is still expected which they set aside in the 90’s is to reach out to all mosque in the articles on financial issues and con- to win his fifth six-year term. not necessarily dead. West Zone to make them aware of First, the Bush administration’s the conference. cerns to the Muslim community.] invasion and regime change in Saudi Arabia experimented with We can be instrumental in turn- Afghanistan and Iraq require a Letters to the Editor can be sent its first ever nationwide municipal ing this breeze of democracy into I hope this criticism is taken as democratic model of minimal suc- elections. The Saudi government an unstoppable wind if we, as a constructive, which is my intent. to submissions@infocusnews. cess. President Bush needs to show celebrated high voter participation government and a people, sincerely May your publication have much net. Letters should be no longer the American people and the rest and promised to allow women to support democratic reforms as a success. than 200 words, and should in- of the world that this war and all vote next time. matter of principle, not just when clude the author’s name and city its financial and human costs were it serves our interests. Pat Johnson, Los Angeles of residence. Letters are due by worthwhile, especially since his After the assassination of former the 28th of each month. originally stated reasons for the Iraq

“Freedom House” Unfairly Targets US Mosques By Arsalan First of all, the American Muslim in a 2002 Washington Post article, group that purports to fight intoler- hammed was a terrorist…” Suffice Iftikhar community would like to make it Freedom House National Secretary ance would have such intolerant it to say that if either Graham’s or abundantly clear that if there are Kenneth Adelman stated that calling views towards those who do not Falwell’s statements were written h e publications in mosques which are Islam a peaceful religion is a “hard share their beliefs. by Muslims about Christianity, it c o n - hateful in nature and antithetical to argument to make…The more you would have instantly, and rightfully, Tc e p t s Islamic teachings, they should im- examine the religion, the more mili- This clear animosity and hostility been included in the Freedom House of religious mediately be discarded and replaced taristic it seems…” Furthermore, in towards Islam by some of Freedom Report. tolerance and by publications which convey the a review of Report co-author (and House’s leaders should make it quite p l u r a l i s m true and universally recognized clear that the Report which they set Americans of all faiths should use are notions teachings of Islam. This clear animosity forth as an ‘objective’ report has far this as a call for unity; a concerted which are not less substance than they would have effort on our collective part to foreign to any of the world’s great The first major flaw in the Report and hostility towards Americans believe. eradicate hate speech in all houses religions. However, throughout is in its methodology. The Report Islam by some of Free- of worship, regardless of whether it the history of time, humans from claims that “200 books” were taken Since Freedom House’s mission is a church, mosque or synagogue. all races and backgrounds have from 15 mosques (out of over 1,800 dom House’s leaders includes the protection of those Having said that, it is my hope that distorted teachings of their respec- mosques in the United States). After should make it quite socially and politically ‘persecuted groups like Freedom House will tive faiths to springboard their own a manual review, there were only for their religion or beliefs around live up to their stated mission and sociopolitical agendas. 41 unique publications which were clear that the Report the world,’ perhaps they should condemn the hateful rhetoric of cited in the Report. This means that which they set forth as write a report on hate speech levied polemicists like Falwell and Graham In a recent study, Freedom House, a out of “200 books”, only 21% of against Islam and Muslims by some with the same lightning fast speed ‘non-partisan’ think tank, published these books ever made it into the an ‘objective’ report of America’s most notable evangeli- as they did these few Muslim pub- a report entitled “Saudi Publications Report. In addition, 5 books alone has far less substance cal leaders. If Freedom House is true lications. For if they fail to do so, it on Hate Ideology Fill American accounted for almost half of the to its mission, I hope that they will will become more and more appar- Mosques.” The Report claims to citations used by Freedom House. In than they would have vigorously expose the rising tide of ent that the Freedom House Report be an expose of the library archives sum, out of the millions of volumes Americans believe. anti-Muslim ‘Evangelical Wahhabi’ was more driven by a selfish agenda of 15 mosques in the United States. of books in Islamic mosques and rhetoric which is commonplace rather than a noble pursuit. Although there are some valid libraries across the nation, Freedom today in elite circles of American concerns about certain publications House decided that it would make Freedom House Senior Fellow) media and politics. Arsalan Iftikhar is national legal reaching mosque bookshelves; after broad and sweeping generalizations Paul Marshall’s recent book, the re- director for the Council on Ameri- a thorough analysis of the Report, based on a mere 41 books from less viewer wrote that: “…after reading For example, President Bush’s can-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the its contributors and sources, it be- than 1% of American mosques. [Marshall’s first] chapter, [no one] spiritual advisor, Reverend Franklin nation’s largest American Muslim comes a little clearer that there may will ever again make the mistake of Graham, never apologized for say- civil rights and advocacy group in be more hysteria than substance in The second major flaw in the Re- referring to Islam as a religion of a ing that Islam is “wicked, violent Washington. what Freedom House would want port is directly from the leadership common book and prophets with and not of the same god.” Infamous us to believe. of Freedom House and those who Christianity and Judaism.” It seems televangelist Jerry Falwell has gone drafted the Report. For example, like self-righteous hypocrisy that a on record to say that, “I think Mo- Southern California InFocus COMMENTARY March 2005 19 Baiting a Trap for Bush? By Patrick J. Buchanan American Hariri, but a U.S.-Syria and settle our rogue-state problem ties to Iran, which will invite us to go is to attack Syria and Iran. confrontation that immediately once and for all. Before Bush walks home. The future of Iraq is, at this f Syria’s Bashar followed? up this primrose path a second time, point, unknowable. To double one’s energy when one he should remember what happened has lost sight of his goal is a defini- Assad was behind If an independent investigation when he took a walk with them tion of fanaticism. For America’s the assassination of points to Syrian complicity, Assad before. good and his own legacy, Presi- ex-Prime Minister must be held accountable. But Presi- dent Bush must cease listening Rafiq Hariri of Leba- dent Bush would be wise to suspend If the testimony of CIA chief to those who have an agenda judgment and take no rash action. Porter Goss and the director of – ideological or otherwise – other Inon, he is, in the edited ver- For this atrocity has the look of a defense intelligence, Vice Adm. than the national interests of the sion of Gen. Tommy Franks’ false-flag operation to goad a vola- Lowell E. Jacoby, is accurate, United States. phrase, “the dumbest … tile president into an attack on Syria. we are less secure today than And, indeed, the cries are coming before we invaded Iraq. “Is- There is no vital U.S. interest in man on the planet.” from the predictable quarters for lamic extremists are exploiting Lebanon. There is no vital U.S. Bush to let the missiles fly. the Iraqi conflict to recruit new interest in the Gulf other than oil, The Beirut car bombing that killed anti-U.S. jihadists,” Goss told which the Arabs and Iran have to Hariri smashed Assad’s hope of Before following this counsel, the Senate Intelligence Com- sell to us and wish to sell to us. any rapprochement with the United President Bush should consult with mittee last week. No Arab nation has attacked the States, forced him into a collision his father about the greatest blunder United States since the Barbary with President Bush, united the of Reagan’s first term. “These jihadists who survive pirates, and none wants war with Lebanese in rage at Damascus and will leave Iraq experienced America. Only Osama, Sharon, their own pro-Syrian government, Following the assassination of and focused on acts of urban and the neoconservatives look and coalesced world pressure on Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel terrorism. … They represent longingly to a “World War IV” Assad to get his 15,000 troops out and dozens of others by a bomb a potential pool of contacts to and a “clash of civilizations” of Lebanon. planted on the roof of his Phalange build transnational terrorist between America and Islam. Party headquarters, Reagan was cells, groups and networks in Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was The blowback from this atrocity, assassinated in a deadly bomb blast in Beirut, Leba- persuaded to send in the Marines. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other non, on February 14. If FDR can negotiate with Stalin fully predictable, is Syria’s isola- A massive truck bombing of their countries.” and Nixon with Mao, and this tion. Hence, it makes no sense for barracks followed, slaughtering But the losses are known. Two years White House can deal with Gad- Bashar to have done it. Nor is this 241. After U.S. air and naval strikes, Jacoby echoed Goss: “Our policies hafi and Kim Jong Il, George Bush his style. Unlike his father, Bashar after invading, we have 1,500 dead, America withdrew in humiliation. in the Middle East fuel Islamic re- 10,000 wounded, and no end in sight can talk with Assad of Syria and Assad has no history of ordering Today, the same voices that urged sentment. … Overwhelming majori- Khatami of Iran to prevent a wider terror attacks. to the fighting and dying. We have Reagan to go in – and condemn him ties in Morocco, Jordan, and Saudi killed scores of thousands of Iraqis, war for which the costs in blood and still for pulling out – are whispering Arabia believe the U.S. has a nega- treasure would be far higher and the Cui bono – Who benefits? – is a crippled our alliances, and bred ha- in Bush’s ear that war on Syria is the tive policy toward the Arab world.” tred of America across the Islamic benefits even less than from this question that must ever be asked way to win the war on Iraq. Here, then, is the abbreviated bal- misbegotten war in Iraq. about Middle Eastern terror. Did world. We are $300 billion deeper The Syrians, understandably fearful ance sheet on Bush’s war. in debt. And the War Party, which those who planned and perpetrated of a U.S. attack, have run to Tehran. On the profit side, Saddam is gone Copyright Creator’s Syndicate this atrocity seek not only the elimi- was 100 percent wrong about Iraq, This has further infuriated the War and we shall soon have a Shia-domi- is telling Bush the right thing to do Reprinted with permission nation of the pro-Saudi and pro- Party to urge Bush to attack both nated regime in Baghdad with strong Islam and the New Iraqi Democracy By Parvez Ahmed of Muslims around the world live Solomon, was also the head of a As Iraq moves towards democracy, understandings. Thus disagreements peacefully under democracies some state, although not a king. Among two Quranic principles can aid its are inevitable. esults from the Iraqi even upholding democracy as being his first acts as head of state was to transition - first acknowledging election are finally in and intrinsic to Islam. draft a constitution. The constitution diversity and second embracing Islam can be a source of inspiration Rthere is considerable unease or charter of Madinah provided a gradualism. in governance but certainly does about the makeup of the new Iraqi The Quran, in verses 42:38, and pluralistic framework involving not have to be an exclusive source. government. The United Iraqi 3:159, instructs that the The Quranic revelation spanned Prophet Muhammad characterized Alliance (UIA), a party with Islamic basic principle of gover- The Quran, in verses 42:38, and 3:159, a period of 23 years, illustrating believers as people who accept leanings and tacit backing of Iraq’s nance should be based on instructs that the basic principle of the principle that ideas no matter wisdom no matter what its source. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani won “mutual consultation,” or governance should be based on “mutual how good take time to be un- This principle served Islam and hu- the most votes, although not a clear shura. Islamic scholars say derstood and implemented. In manity well in Spain where Muslim majority. The sense of unease comes shura contains three essen- consultation,” or shura. Islamic schol- verse 13 in chapter 49 the Quran egalitarianism formed the basis of from a misconception that Islamic tial elements - equal rights ars say shura contains three essential states one of Islam’s many core an impressive civilization based leaning parties are an anathema to for all citizens, majority elements - equal rights for all citizens, values, “O mankind! We cre- on knowledge, rational inquiry and democracy. rule for public policy and majority rule for public policy and the ated you from a single pair of tolerance, eventually becoming the the promotion of justice a male and a female, and made precursor to Europe’s Renaissance. The challenge facing Iraq’s new and human dignity. promotion of justice and human dignity. you into nations and tribes so rulers will be to form a government that you might come to know In Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim that integrates the aspirations of all Yet another inspiration due rights and protection for all one another.” world, the major task ahead should its minorities including those who for governance comes from the life people. be the building of civil societies stayed out of the election process. of Islam’s exemplar - the Prophet Religion and politics can be a whose governments are representa- Regional experts claim UIA to be a Muhammad, who on his deathbed Signatories to the constitution problematic mix. It is thus not tive, whose judiciaries are respectful politically mature group, which has refused to appoint a successor, send- included several religious minori- coincidental that great Muslim ju- of the rights of all people and whose a fair chance to form an inclusive ing a clear message that it is up to ties, whereby each side retained rists generally opted to stay out of legislature fosters positive develop- government. the people to decide how they wish its identity, customs and internal government, in the process retaining ment of the material and the spirit. to be governed. After the Prophet’s relations. their independence. At the core of a growing unease death, shura was used to elect the Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., is a board about the election results lay Islam’s next head of state. The constitution also contained its Muslims in general agree on the member of the Council on Ameri- role in the new government and own bill of rights including guaran- veracity of their scriptures, however, can-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the the drafting of a new constitution. The Prophet Muhammad, like tees for freedom of religion. its interpretation and translation into nation’s largest Muslim civil rights This despite the fact that majority the Biblical prophets David and practical law is subject to varied and advocacy group. 20 March 2005 ISLAM Southern California InFocus Volunteerism in Islam What Drew Me to Islam plays a role. the whole community feels their By Abraham Appel Islam as a call to see the world absence. • As a community, Muslims need as something needing to be to cultivate a culture of volunteer- • Volunteering has many benefits. Within the silence of my own served, sacrificed for, and un- ism. There is a persistent notion Because of people’s willingness to heart, I said the Shahada (proc- derstood. that volunteers are essentially free work for free, many services can be lamation of faith) three years labour. Their efforts are not appreci- offered at a lower cost or even for after my lips did. The brother I have found Islam to be the wa- ated and, indeed, are often criticized. free; there is far more flexibility in in the front at the Islamic Center ter falling upon the very roots We need to shift our perception and the delivery of services since more of Irvine confirmed his belief to of my dehydrated soul. Islam is see that it is because of volunteers people are available to help; volun- the crowd; my heart now knew not a submission to culture, but that so many of the services we teering gives individuals a broader that it too to the divine need are available. Entire mosques sense of community; and people believed. Islam is devotion to God truth holding have been built through the efforts also feel a greater connection to one the world to- of volunteers, conferences are run another when they are involved in Coming to balanced with the rejec- gether. by volunteers, Eid prayers are orga- volunteer activities. By Dr. Ahmed Sakr Islam is like tion of the idols, tradi- Islam to me nized by volunteers, schools are run, finding the means humil- in large part, by volunteers, Muslim • There are also personal benefits tions and veils that have olunteering is the n ew s p a p e r s for the volun- hidden beau- been allowed to over- ity; self-con- lifeblood of any com- and magazines It is of no help to leave teer. We un- ty within the trol. Vmunity. It is because are written for derstand that soul. shadow and distort the of volunteers that communities and published all the work to a few our primary C o m i n g One Universal God. Islam is truth, are able to run organizations, by volunteers, frazzled people while motivation for to Islam is a n d t r u t h ’s social services, conferences, and so on. helping others coming to pursuit. Islam should be our peace and to love. is not a rejection of past divine playgroups, drop-in centers, the rest sit back and • It is also love for Allah Coming to Islam is finding messages, nor is Islam the re- feed the hungry, shelter the i m p o r t a n t enjoy the fruits of their but that doesn’t peace through submitting to the jection of the beliefs of others. homeless, open libraries, run to note that mean we can’t science of life. Instead Islam is wanting for schools, set up blood banks, volunteering labour. The core group benefit from the stranger, the enemy, and and the list goes on. Paid em- should be a o u r v o l u n - Coming to Islam is accepting the friend that one would want priority. Typi- eventually burns out. teer activities. the balance between heaven and for oneself. ployees only make up a small cally, Muslims Many volun- part of the social services see volunteering as something that teers have learned invaluable skills earth, faith and practicality, re- network; without volunteers should be done when you have and have made personal contacts ligion and spirituality, humility Islam is rejecting one’s self- such endeavors would come nothing else to do. This should not that have helped them in securing and activism. Islam is devotion centered viewpoint and submit- to a standstill. be the case. If people generally see employment later on. Also, for stu- to God balanced with the rejec- ting to the centered viewpoint. volunteering as something second- dents, volunteering is an excellent tion of the idols, traditions and As Muslims, our role isn’t just ary and less important, the quality way to build up a resume and gain veils that have been allowed to Islam is the beauty of Allah to make our salat (daily prayers) of the effort is greatly diminished. a wide range of experience that can overshadow and distort the One residing in all of us, and in and fast and pay zakat (mandatory Volunteering must be at least as certainly help when it comes time to Universal God. everything. Islam is bowing charity). We are encouraged to take important as other pursuits. apply to college and university. to all that is true and saying, on a broader role by working to Coming to Islam is coming to “Glory to You, the Lord of improve the communities we live • Volunteering should be done There are also some important rules submit before the Divine. all…I submit.” in; we should be visiting the sick, by professionals. This is not to say to remember when volunteering: that unless you have a graduate de- feeding the hungry, teaching people With each page of the Qur’an Islam is seeing the beauty of the gree in mathematics, you shouldn’t • No volunteer is to brag about to read, helping people who have that I turn, I hear the soul of One Divine in life and death, no one to turn to. It is by translating help with an after-school tutoring giving his time, effort, energy, program. Rather, if you have that knowledge and memory when he is truth whisper that peace is in good and bad, in friend and our love of Allah into good actions found in this submission, this enemy. that we strengthen our imaan. Islam graduate degree or are a teacher, you doing it fee sabeelillah (in the way humility. With each prayer is a faith of action and we need to should be the one who should take of Allah). demonstrate our faith by working to the initiative in starting the tutoring I feel the breeze move softly Islam is the beauty of one who make the world a better place. program. Your skills will be invalu- • No volunteer should accuse the across me as if it were the heal- values individuality, yet uses able to that program. If all the math employees that they are receiving ing hands of the angelic, com- it to serve and respect others. In Islam there is a strong ethic of tutors are people who have weak money from the general budget of ing to heal my wounded heart Islam is serving the diverse volunteerism. This does not simply math skills, the effort will be a waste the community, while he is doing it so that I may heal the wounded world community with devo- extend to running study circles or of everyone’s time and resources. for free. hearts around me. tion, humility and mercy. Islam fundraising for the masjid (mosque). Not to mention the students who will is making your treatment of As Muslims, we see our role as continue to fail their math tests. • No volunteer should accept a With each day of fasting I see others your life’s prayer. world citizens. The idea of working job or a title for the sake of show, • It is exceedingly important to or else it will become hypocrisy. for a better society or community Abraham Appel “felt” the Shahadah in 2004, at the Islamic Center avoid volunteer burnout. In every shouldn’t be limited to the Muslim of Irvine in Irvine, California. community but should extend to the community there are a core group • No volunteer should accept a broader non-Muslim community as of volunteers and the Muslim com- title or a job when he knows that he well. Because we live in that com- munity is no different. We all know is not qualified for the job. If you recently accepted Islam, send us your thought on munity too, whatever weaknesses the one Muslim brother or sister what attracted you to Islam in 400 words or less . Please are present affect us also. who helps out at all the events and is • No volunteer should accept a submit it via email to [email protected], with always working at breakneck speed. title, while knowing that he has no the subject “What Drew Me to Islam.” Include your name Dawah, the idea of inviting others to This is not fair. It is of no help to time to volunteer for such a job. and when and where you took the shahadah. Islam, takes on myriad forms. The leave all the work to a few frazzled obvious one is educating people people while the rest sit back and Dr. Ahmed Sakr is Director of the specifically about Islam and the enjoy the fruits of their labour. The Islamic Education Center (IEC) in principles enshrined therein. But core group eventually burns out. Walnut, California. He was a found- the less obvious form is through They have other obligations -- fam- ing member of the Muslim Student Ayah to Ponder doing good works and setting an ily, work, social activities. When Association and the Islamic Society example. This is where volunteerism they are worn out and drop out, of North America. “Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite (others) to righteousness, (who) enjoin What others said about Muhammad what is good and forbid what is wrong. They are (pbuh) the ones who shall be successful.” “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It (Qur’an 2:177) is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity.” Prophetic Wisdom The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) “I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in said: “Someone who calls (people) to righteousness solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to will be granted a reward (from God) equal to the be acceptable to the Europe of today.” reward given to those who adhered to (the righteous conduct), without (either of) their rewards being - Sir George Bernard Shaw in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936. Shaw (1856-1950) was a diminished in any respect.” leading author and a Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature * pbuh - Peace be upon him Sahih Muslim Southern California InFocus ADS / CLASSIFIEDS March 2005 21 Business Avenue $35/month to advertise in this section. Call (714) 394-8560 • 4 month minimum LAILA HEWEDI Law Offi ces of Realtor Y. Thomas Alkam “Serving you with Pride and Integrity” • Family Law (Divorce, Custody, Support) Home Pride Realty • Personal Injury • General Civil Litigation

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The audience roared. “God’s too busy with Let’s face it, entertainers get paid ridiculous Coming from an Arab family, career expecta- The Courtyard not only showed me a different Tsunami victims, so don’t both- amounts of money, live in fabulous tions are usually limited to law, medicine, and part of the media, but redefined who I was er him!” added the forty-year homes, lead debauch lifestyles, engineering. Growing up, I learned to keep as an actor. I reviewed my lines with Lamis old comedian. Rock is going to and every year they strut and fret my artistic endeavors as hobbies and to focus Hashem, a Syrian Muslim who played the be the Oscar Master of Ceremo- before the world and expect to more intently on school. Last year, however, I role of my mother on the radio. She taught me nies this year, substituting for “win” awards for something that found myself opening how to perform more the funny, if sometimes predict- had brought them so much opu- the dusty closet and casually and fit into able, Billy Crystal. The choice lence in the first place? taking out my box of Once you entered the sound- Omar’s mold. It was of Chris Rock comes from left talents for all of the proofed room, you left your to my great satisfac- field given the comedian’s pen- If logic was the currency in our great opportunities tion that I felt myself chant for profanity. Neverthe- world, instead of assaulting us that were arriving at former self outside and progressing in each less, maybe out of despair to up annually with their super egos my doorstep. episode. the ratings, the show producers and self-adulation, entertainers became a whole new per- decided to wing it come what ought to pay more taxes, make In September, my sis- son. That’s what I love most By August, my friend may. They have, however, taken themselves scarce and hope no- precautions with the Federal body notices. ter introduced me to about acting. For a moment, Ali Al-Sarraf and I Communications Commission a theatre company you shed all your worries were told about a 7th (FCC) by deciding to air the Unfortunately for us, the corporate called Cornerstone, Heaven episode that show with a delay - just in case. world, which controls Hollywood which was writing a and thoughts, and pick up needed actors to play It seems no one wants a repeat of the Janet and the media, has fawned on these false gods Muslim version of the this alias and perform. high school Muslim Jackson Superbowl wardrobe malfunction for so long and convinced us that our lives play, You Can’t Take it students. We laughed gaffe. would be much richer if we tuned in. We de- With You. It sounded at the offer of an audi- serve no better than a false religion that glories interesting, so I headed off to the auditions. tion, thinking it was a joke that we would get When talking about Oscar night and the false idols. At least idolaters in the good old In front of the three casting directors, I read a chance to be on the WB hit show. Kamal hoopla that surrounds it, an important ques- days had better intentions as they sought to headlines off a tattered magazine in differ- Al-Marayati, the actor who introduced us to tion begs itself: why has this annual event connect with the divine. Hollywood’s idolatry ent emotions—first happy, then mad, then the parts, called the agent and told him about that amounts to a little more than a vanity is a beast of a different kind. Its god is the whispering, and finally sad. Within a week, us. We decided to go ahead and try out, just bazaar taken so much importance? When mighty dollar before which all things human I was told I had received the part of delivery to see how it would go. Within two weeks, the world is going through so much turmoil, are insignificant. Hollywood’s religion is boy, which the writer actually added in the I found myself recording in Santa Monica, with the Mideast ablaze in a long, bloody built on seven pillars the first of which be- final script because he enjoyed my audition so sitting in my dressing-trailer as the make-up and protracted war, when people around the ing, “greed is good,” and the last, “vanity and much. We performed the play at the theater in artist was dabbing away at my face and the world are suffering from AIDS, famine, civil nothing but.” downtown Los Angeles for two weeks. hair-stylist was patting the last wave of hair war and endless other perils, how could such into place. On the set, cut after cut, we finally an insignificant and inconsequential event When humanity is facing so many problems Secretly, I started daydreaming about an act- got to my part. I breathed deeply and said my take center stage? Who cares who wins what? and challenges, the spotlight should be on ing career. Anxious to see more of this new line, “Right on, dude!” Although it wasn’t How has something so irrelevant gained so the real heroes: doctors, rescue workers, fire world, I thought I would try my luck again very powerful, I got to meet the actors on the much significance? fighters, scientists, human rights, AIDS and and audition for a part on a radio show called show and see first-hand how they recorded the peace activists, and tons of other generous the Courtyard, which would air on KPFK episodes. It taught me to appreciate the art of And the Oscar goes to… money. souls working for the betterment of human every Saturday afternoon. Once again, to filming so much more. kind. The vanity bazaar that is the Academy my astonishment, I had received the role of Hollywood’s obsession with self-promotion Awards ought to be the least watched and at- a young Palestinian/Syrian boy named Omar. These experiences helped me grow not only is not new. It goes back to the early days of tended event of the year. But unfortunately, the industry. This is after all an “industry” Hollywood would not have it any other way. Every third Sunday of the month, I would as an actor, but as a person, too. I think it and self-promotion is an integral part of it. make my way to the studio in North Holly- is so important for Muslims to disperse in However, no business has an ego as monu- wood near Universal studios, reviewing my America’s world of careers so we can make lines and recording my parts. It was amazing! our voices heard. Imperial Hubris A CIA analyst reveals why we are losing the ‘war on terrorism’

By Justin Raimondo apparently ungovernable postwar states in U.S. pressure on Arab energy producers to presumes to know what is best for everyone Afghanistan and Iraq, while simultaneously keep oil prices low on earth. Locked into our role as “a hector- “While the 11 September attack was a human- fighting growing Islamist insurgencies in each ing, white-faced, pistol-packing, Wilsonian economic calamity, Washington’s failure to – a state of affairs our leaders call victory. In U.S. support for apostate, corrupt, and often schoolmarm,” as Scheuer puts it, we are a have its military ready for a crippling next-day conducting these activities, and the conven- tyrannical Muslim governments bulwark of Central Asian and Middle Eastern attack on al-Qaeda turned it into catastrophe. It tional military campaigns preceding them, dictatorships (e.g., Uzbekistan and Saudi Ara- cost America its best – perhaps only – chance U.S. forces and policies are completing the bia, et al.), Concerned only with maintaining to deliver what is called a ‘decapitation’ opera- radicalization of the Islamic world, something Reading Scheuer’s wonderful book, one be- cheap oil and Israel’s regional hegemony, we tion…” Osama bin Laden has been gins to realize how much this mantra of “they are fueling the worldwide insurgency – not a trying to do with substantial hate us for what we are” – instead of what we mere terrorist conspiracy – that poses a deadly The author of Imperial but incomplete success since do – is really a form of appeasement because it danger to us all. Hubris bitterly and re- the early 1990s. As a result, I disarms us in advance, and confirms the radi- peatedly drives this point think it fair to conclude that cal Islamist critique of American policy as an “The choice,” writes Scheuer, is “between home, throughout his the United States of America eternal war waged on Islam by the “Crusaders keeping current policies, which will produce wide-ranging and bril- remains bin Laden’s only and the Jews,” as bin Laden says. We are doing an escalating expenditure of American trea- liant book: a book that, I indispensable ally.” bin Laden’s work for him, in Iraq – “the hoped sure and blood, or devising new policies, would argue, is the single for but never expected gift” – and, since the which may, over time, reduce the expenditure most important and per- Scheuer goes on to list in- day the World Trade towers fell, throughout of both.” ceptive volume on the stances in which American the world. Iraq is the “gift” bin Laden received subject of the “war on foreign policy has resulted from Washington that “will haunt, hurt, and We must choose between unconditional sup- terrorism” yet published. in oppression, economic ex- hound Americans for years to come.” port for Israel and “an unending war with In 263 pages of text, ploitation, and mass death Islam.” We must choose between the advice Scheuer, a currently serv- for millions of Muslims from He sarcastically hails the Israelis and their of John Quincy Adams, who warned that ing CIA analyst writing Morocco to Malaysia: American supporters who “have succeeded America must not “go abroad in search of as “Anonymous,” takes in lacing tight the ropes binding the American monsters to destroy,” and “the sordid legacy apart the shibboleths U.S. support for Israel that Gulliver to the tiny Jewish state and its poli- of Woodrow Wilson’s internationalism, which promulgated by this ad- keeps Palestinians in the Is- cies,” perceptively noting that this conflation soaked the twentieth century in as much or ministration as it fights raelis’ thrall of American and Israeli interests has been so more blood as any other ‘ism.’” a war in which the enemy is misperceived, successful that, “for many Americans,” Israeli underestimated, and – ultimately – enhanced U.S and other Western troops on the Arabian nationalism “has become deeply entwined No one who has opinions on the subject of al- by our actions. peninsula with American nationalism” – to which I Qaeda, the Afghan war, the Iraq disaster, or the would add, only in certain quarters. so-called “war on terrorism” can possibly be The startling thesis of this book is stated in the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan taken seriously until and unless they have read first paragraph of the Introduction: The idea that we are going to “drain the Imperial Hubris from cover to cover. U.S. support for Russia, India, and China swamp” of Arab resentment by imposing “As I complete this book, U.S., British, and against their Muslim militants “democracy” at gunpoint is a typically self- Reprinted with permission from antiwar. other coalition forces are trying to govern serving example of Western narcissism, which com. Southern California InFocus YOUR MONEY IN FOCUS March 2005 23 How to Structure a Portfolio By Altaf Ghori classes available. Each asset class but have greater upside potential. move in the same general direction by sector. So far we have discussed has different risk-return character- The largest foreign mature markets but each market cap has different diversification by domestic-foreign, Having the right asset allocation istics and they should be used in are the European Union countries characteristics and they are not market capitalization and growth- and proper diversification are the appropriate ratio to properly and Japan. perfectly correlated. value. But you could address all fundamental to a well-structured structure your portfolio. these types of diversification in one portfolio. Asset allocation is the Now that you have set aside a Companies can be described as sector. During the tech bubble of 98 process of dividing your invest- Since Muslim investors can not use portion of your stock portfolio for growth or value oriented. Growth and 99 a common critical mistake ment dollars among different asset bonds to optimize the risk-reward foreign investments we can now companies usually have revenue or that investors made was improper classes, such as stocks or cash. tradeoffs of their portfolio diver- focus on diversifying by market earnings growing faster than its in- sector diversification. They had Diversification reduces your risk sification becomes even more im- capitalization or company size. The dustry or the overall market. Many a portfolio which consisted of do- exposure by combining a variety of portant. There growth compa- mestic and foreign tech companies, investments which are unlikely to are four primary nies pay little or tech companies of different market move in the same direction. Diver- forms of diver- no dividend and caps and tech companies which sification reduces both the upside sification; do- use their income were growth and value oriented. and downside potential and allows mestic-foreign, to finance fur- Proper sector diversification in- for more consistent performance market capital- ther expansion. cludes many different areas like under a wide range of economic ization, growth- Value companies energy, materials, healthcare and conditions. Asset allocation and value and sector. are under-priced consumer staples. The S&P500, a diversification help you optimize Some investors by fundamental common measure of the American the risk-return tradeoff so you can stick to a rule measures and Large Cap stock market, consists achieve your investment goals. of thumb, 15% have often fallen of ten different sectors in different or 20% of your out of favor with weightings. The right asset allocation is dif- stock allocation mainstream in- ferent for each investor. Some of should be in for- vestors. They Following the basics of asset alloca- the main factors that determine eign companies. tend to be more tion and diversification will reduce what your asset allocation should I hesitate to use c o n s e r va t ive , the risk in your portfolio and bring be are risk tolerance, performance such rules since have less volatile you more consistent returns. I am expectations and time horizon. you may want returns and lower sure you have heard the proverb Some asset classes you can use to greater or less price-to-earnings “don’t put all your eggs in one allocate your portfolio are stocks, exposure to for- (P/E) ratios than basket.” The way to achieve this bonds, real estate, cash and man- eign stock based market capitalization is simply the growth stocks. is through the principles of asset aged futures (commodities). All on how the domestic economy is company’s stock price multiplied Growth stocks usually perform allocation and diversification. literature on asset allocation uses performing in relation to foreign by the total number of outstanding well in bull (up) markets while bonds as one of the main asset markets. Foreign stocks can be shares. Companies with a market value stocks perform well in bear Altaf Ghori has over 6 years of ex- classes. Bonds involve the use of further segmented into emerging cap over $5Bill are called large (down) markets. Having exposure perience in the investment industry interest so they are not an option for markets or mature markets. China, cap. Companies between $5Bill to both kinds of stocks in your port- and is currently an MBA candidate Muslim investors in their portfolios. India, Brazil and Thailand are cur- and $1Bill are medium cap, while folio will result in more consistent in finance and investments from Because of this Muslim investors rently some of the most popular small caps are less than $1Bill. performance. USC. Your comments and questions must do a better job of allocating emerging markets. They are much Stocks in a given market tend to can be addressed to altafg@yahoo. properly amongst the other asset riskier than the domestic market The final type of diversification is com. An Islamic Perspective on Buying Stocks/Shares By Dr. Monzer Kahf the majority of companies fall “...If it is ordained for you not to the stock market) would create other prohibited activities should within the third category whereby do something, you must quit it difficulty and hardship on small not constitute more than 5 % of Buying shares of companies that the main line of business is per- completely...” investors who have no other outlet the net profit of the company. The participate in impermissible con- missible such as tech- to invest their savings. The amount of interest based loans in tracts or produce impermissible nological companies, If something is prohibited in Shari`ah rule is: whenever the company should not exceed 30 goods and services is not permitted but their management a hardship applies to a large % of the company’s total resources. in Shari’ah. The reason for this is sometimes participate Shari`ah, then all that is connect- number of people, there The main line of the business of the that when you buy the shares of a in interest-based trans- must be a relaxation of the company should not be prohibited company, you become a partner in actions and/or other ed with it is also prohibited, as prohibition. Consequently, in itself (this includes conventional it, and its board of directors and impermissible transac- the Prophet (peace and blessings this group of scholars ar- banks, companies that produce executive officers represent you as tions. The principle of gues that investment in the weapons, as weapons are nor- a share-holder in all the decisions prohibition applies to be upon him) is reported to have shares of such companies mally used for aggression in today’s made by the company. This is the such companies, be- said: “...If it is ordained for you may be tolerable provided world, and the assets that generate same as you making these decisions cause when it comes that a prohibited activity of interest for the company), and these yourself because of the delegation to doing anything that not to do something, you must their management is not a should not be more than one third of authority. is prohibited, it does large percentage of the total of the total assets.” not matter whether it quit it completely...” activities of the company. On the other hand, buying stocks/ comprises all the activ- They went on to define the Dr. Monzer Kahf is one of the shares in companies whose business ity of a company or only some of percentage of such activities that World’s most renowned Islamic and transactions are all within the it. If something is prohibited in A group of Muslim scholars argue renders them tolerable. economists. He has published limits of Shari’ah, such as shares in Shari`ah, then all that is connected that the prohibition of buying over 25 books and booklets and 80 Islamic banks, is permissible. with it is also prohibited, as the stocks that fall under this third Generally speaking, these criteria pamphlets in English and Arabic. Prophet (peace and blessings be category of companies (that actu- include the following: the income He resides with his family in West- It must be noted however, that upon him) is reported to have said: ally includes the overwhelming from interest based transactions and minster, CA. majority of companies listed in Subscribe to In Focus Today ! Subscribe to Southern California In Focus today and receive quality news, views, and articles relevant to the Muslim Community right at your doorstep! Name: ______Only $25 Address: ______for One Phone: ______Year! Email : ______

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