PA: Palestinians Thrive But Feel Cut Off
PA: IN PHILA., EXPATRIATES THRIVE BUT FEEL CUT OFF FROM MUKHMAS Inside the Mustafa family’s Sunshine Food Market at 43d and Lancaster is an ornate plaque listing Islam’s traditional 99 names of God. Inches away are two photos of the Mustafas with Gov. Rendell and City Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell. This juxtaposition is symbolic of […]
CA: College to Offer Class on Islam
CA: PALOMAR COLLEGE TO OFFER CLASS ON ISLAM THIS SUMMER A new summer class at Palomar College will allow students to explore the history of Muslim women, in an effort to break down social barriers and misconceptions that educators say have gotten worse since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. “Women and […]
NY: Muslim Center Launches Classes for Converts
NY: MUSLIM CENTER IN WHITE PLAINS LAUNCHES CLASSES FOR CONVERTS There are no welcome wagons awaiting converts to Islam after they recite the “shahada,” a declaration of faith made by new Muslims. The White Plains-based Muslim Education and Converts Center of America – or MECCA – wants to be that greeting committee. The center, launched […]
CAIR-NJ: Muslims Feel Backlash After Fort Dix Arrests
CAIR-NJ: MUSLIMS FEEL BIAS BACKLASH AFTER FORT DIX ARRESTS Raed Allan says he loves America. “It’s a country of freedom — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, a chance to make a living,” said the 34-year-old Jordanian-born gas station owner from Wayne, in Passaic County. The slight, soft-spoken father of four says “there’re no negative […]
CAIR-Sacramento Director Receives Civil Rights Awards
CAIR-SACRAMENTO DIRECTOR RECEIVES CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS (SACRAMENTO, CA, 5/29/07) – CAIR-Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV) Executive Director Basim Elkarra was recently honored for his work for civil and human rights. The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) North California Western Nevada Pacific (NCWNP) District honored Elkarra with a resolution for “exemplary contributions to civil and human rights after […]
Disillusion Rises in Some G.I.’s in Iraq
AS ALLIES TURN FOE, DISILLUSION RISES IN SOME G.I.’S BAGHDAD Staff Sgt. David Safstrom does not regret his previous tours in Iraq, not even a difficult second stint when two comrades were killed while trying to capture insurgents. “In Mosul, in 2003, it felt like we were making the city a better place,” he […]
Muslims in America: In This Together
MUSLIMS IN AMERICA: IN THIS TOGETHER Those who feel threatened by the millions of Muslims in America (with their mosques, hijabs and Allahu Akbars) need to take a moment to read the new survey on Muslim Americans done by the Pew Research Center. It shows that we have much in common. Survey results show a […]
WA: Friday Prayers Offer Camaraderie
WA: MUSLIM COMMUNITY’S FRIDAY PRAYERS OFFER CLARITY, CAMARADERIE Praying five times a day is the norm for Muslims, but Friday’s noon prayer called Jumuah is special. Around the globe, Muslims attend mosque for a 40-minute sermon and service at midday Fridays for this ritual prayer. It’s an expression of submission to God and […]
NJ: Islamic Games Held at School
NJ: ISLAMIC GAMES HELD AT SCHOOL SOUTH BRUNSWICK About 600 Muslim athletes descended on Crossroads South Middle School on Saturday for the first-ever Islamic Games. Kids ages 8 to 17 kicked soccer balls, shot basketballs, spiked volleyballs, rounded wickets and ran sprints in the first annual event sponsored by the Islamic Circle of North […]
NJ: Mosque ‘Family Day’ Helps Strengthen Ties
NJ: FAMILY DAY HELPS STRENGTHEN TIES PATERSON — Heat and bright sunshine drove adults attending the Islamic Center of Passaic County Family Day on Sunday to seek refuge in the shade, but nothing could keep their children away from the basketball courts and large inflatable games in the center’s sunny parking lot. “The kids don’t […]