NY: Controversy Over Palestinian Prof’s Tenure
A debate over an anthropologist’s book on ancient Hebrew history isn’t just academic — it’s spilled over into an online dispute between critics trying to keep her from getting tenure and supporters who say the effort stifles scholarly freedom. Nadia Abu El-Haj has been teaching at Columbia Univerity’s Barnard College since 2002. Her book, “Facts […]
MA: Holidays Bring Vow for Better Jewish, Muslim Relations
A group of local Jewish and Muslim leaders have signed a joint statement urging better relations between the two communities, which have suffered a serious rift over each other’s response to controversial remarks by onetime leaders of a large mosque under construction in Roxbury. The cautiously crafted statement, which is being released to coincide with […]
MA: Statement to Mend Mosque Rift
On the eve of Ramadan and the Jewish high holidays, some Muslim and Jewish leaders have signed a joint statement aimed at mending a rift over construction of a mosque in Roxbury. 41 Muslim and Jewish leaders and one board of rabbis say they hope their statement of shared beliefs will replace fear and distrust […]
MI: Feminism Not Exclusive to Non-Muslims
The resurrection of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) isn’t stirring up the controversy it did in the 70s. Americans now have more pressing issues to deal with than whether women deserve the “equality of rights under the law,” set forth in the amendment. Aside from the Iraq quagmire and the quagmire-to-be in Iran, we still […]
IL: Officer Lives Muslim Values on Job
He barely winces when obscenities are hurled his way, shrugging at occasional threats. “What do you expect? You’re not working with angels,” says Rame Abdeljaber, a Lake County Sheriff correctional officer, referring to some unruly inmates. Other name-calling stings, though. “Before, everybody was holding in their negative feelings against Muslims,” says Abdeljaber, a practicing Muslim […]
CAIR-FL: Friday Prayers, Hearing Conflict
As the bail hearing approaches for two University of South Florida students facing federal explosives charges, one man’s family sees a conflict between court and faith.The family of engineering student Youssef Megahed worries that friends and supporters will not be able to attend the hearing because of the date and time: Friday at 2 p.m. […]
CAIR-NJ: Jews, Muslims Enter Time of Reflection, Joy
Jews and Muslims will begin celebrating their most introspective holidays tonight – the Islamic month of Ramadan and the Jewish High Holy Days.Members of both faiths said Tuesday they’re busy preparing for a time of increased prayer, family gatherings and rigorous examination of their behavior.“Combined with the joy, there’s a sense of introspection and reflection […]
CAIR-MI: Concurrent Holy Days Unite Jews, Muslims
After sundown today, Tammam Alwan will be spiritually attuned.The West Bloomfield Township native and interdisciplinary humanities major at Michigan State University will mark the start of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and contemplation, by praying at the Islamic Center of Greater Lansing.Between adjusting his fasting schedule and studying the Koran, Alwan, 19, also plans […]
CAIR-CA: Rosh Hashanah, Ramadan to Begin Wednesday Night
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown Wednesday night, coinciding for the third year in a row with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.The relatively unusual calendar occurrence is being used by religious leaders to urge two communities often at odds as a result of six decades of Arab-Israeli strife to come […]
CAIR-MI Troubled by Proposed Racial Profiling Act
(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 9/12/07) – The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) is troubled by a measure that would encourage profiling of anyone in Michigan who looks like an immigrant by local government employees, including local law enforcement officers. Representative Kim Meltzer’s (R-Clinton Township) “Sanctuary Policy Prohibition Act” would prohibit a recent anti-profiling […]