The First Ever Muslim Democratic Caucus Meeting
The last seven years have been strange ones for American Muslims in politics. That much was evident at this morning’s first ever Muslim Democratic Caucus meeting. Aftab Siddiqui, a member of the Texas Democratic Muslim Caucus, walked me through the recent history. Prior to 2000, Muslims hadn’t been, as a group, particularly active in national […]
OH: Islamic School Plans for Expansion
Sunrise Academy, the private K-8 Islamic school located in Hilliard, is filled to capacity this school year and looking to expand. “We are in the process of looking for two buildings: one for a high school and one to purchase on the East Side to start an elementary over there,” said Director Leah Mohiuddin. “That […]
CAIR-AZ: Airport Workers Allowed Islamic Attire
(PHOENIX, AZ, 8/26/08) – The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) said today that Muslim workers at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport will be allowed to wear uniforms that accommodate their religious need for modest attire.A major contractor providing janitorial services at the airport had recently issued a “mandatory dress code” that […]
300 Attend CAIR-Cincinnati Community Cookout
(CINCINNATI, OH, 8/26/08) – Some 300 members of the local Muslim community attended a cookout hosted by the Cincinnati office of CAIR-Ohio on Sunday, August 24. There were games and prizes for children, as well a presentation on civil rights. Candidates for public office also attended the event and shared their election platforms with the […]
Muslim Outreach Proves a Tricky Issue for Obama Campaign
Inayal Lalani, an activist with the American Muslim Democratic Caucus, didn’t wait for the question to be raised. He volunteered that, despite some rumors, Barack Obama’s campaign was not “shunning” the Muslim community. The same point was made repeatedly at the caucus’ Democratic National Convention luncheon in Denver on Monday by Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., […]
Book: What It’s Like to be America’s New ‘Problem’
The question posed by W.E.B. DuBois in his classic “The Souls of Black Folk” cut to the marrow of what it was like to be black under Jim Crow. Now, more than a century after DuBois penned his query, Moustafa Bayoumi thinks it is appropriate to ask it again. The associate professor of English at […]
CAIR Welcomes Capture of Journalist’s Kidnapper
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/25/2008) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the capture of a suspect who allegedly planned the 2006 kidnapping of U.S. journalist Jill Carroll in Iraq. Carroll was abducted while on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor newspaper and released in March of that year.SEE: Suspect in Jill Carroll Kidnapping Caught […]
CAIR Asks Studio to Change ‘Towelhead’ Film Title
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 8/25/08) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on Warner Bros. and Warner Independent Pictures to consider changing the title of the soon-to-be-released film “Towelhead” because that derogatory term is offensive to American Muslims and Arab-Americans. CAIR says Muslims and Arab-Americans view the […]
Video: CAIR-NY Encourages Muslim Voters
An Islamic group is trying to encourage Queens Muslims to go to the polls in November.The New York chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations hosted a voter drive in Jamaica Friday.The group says it has been speaking at mosques and community centers around the city and hosting candidate forums to tell people why […]
Video: CAIR-OH Organizes Voter Registration Drives
This November’s election promises to have the most participation ever, and local Muslims are doing their part to get voters registered.In Clifton this Friday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was handing out information to encourage people to register.“I think it is an election year when the Muslim community really is beginning to understand the […]