Islam

"Festival of Festivals" Promotes Peace Between Christians, Jews and Muslims in Haifa

December 14, 2003

Source: Cleveland Jewish News

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/12/22/news/israel/rparty1215.txt

On December 14, 2003 Cleveland Jewish News reported, "Thousands of Jews and Arabs fill the winding stone alleyways of a Haifa neighborhood sampling latkes, roasted chestnuts and pastries dripping in honey at a coexistence festival to mark the holidays of Chanukah, Christmas and Ramadan...Now in its 10th year, The Festival of...

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Opinion: Proposed Law Would Restrict Religious Freedom

December 13, 2003

Source: New Straits Times

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Columns/20031213081425/Article/

On December 13, 2003 the New Straits Times ran a column by Rizal Andalas, arguing that the proposed ban of "conspicious" religious symbols in France's public schools constitutes a violation of freedom of religion. Andalas writes, "[T]he proposed ban, while largely understandable when seen through the prism of French...

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In the Face of Discrimination, Arab-Americans Organize Politically

December 13, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--arab-americans-po1213dec13,0,1415504.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

On December 13, 2003 The Associated Press reported that Arab-Americans are organizing politically in an unprecedented way, with activists forming umbrella organizations in at least nine states. State Arab American Leadership Councils have recently appeared in...

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Pakistani-American Elected to Houston City Council

December 13, 2003

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/religion/2293190

On December 13, 2003 The Houston Chronicle reported that Houston Muslims came out in full force last week to celebrate the election of M.J. Khan to the Houston City Council with 53.2 percent . "'The whole community is pretty excited,' said Naveed Quraishi, a 48-year-old NASA engineer whose family volunteered on Khan's campaign. 'They did something and it worked. We backed a...

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Chief Rabbi Speaks Against Proposed Ban of Muslim Headscarf

December 12, 2003

Source: Ha'aretz

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=370594

On December 12, 2003 Ha'aretz ran a Reuters article that reported, "France's chief rabbi added a Jewish voice Wednesday to a choir of Christian churches calling on President Jacques Chirac to stand firm against a growing movement to ban the Muslim veil in public schools and offices. Grand Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, in an interview with the daily Le Figaro, said...

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California Judge Rules: Classroom Lessons on Islam Legal

December 12, 2003

Source: Contra Costa Times

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/content_syndication/local_news/7475177.htm

On December 12, 2003 the Contra Costa Times reported that "a federal judge has decided that seventh-grade teachers in a small East Contra Costa school district did not violate the U.S. Constitution when they asked students to pretend to be Muslim in lessons about Islam. The case against the Byron school district fueled a national debate...

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Judge Rules: Philadelphia Police Wrongly Barred Officer From Wearing Hijab

December 12, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/7474761.htm

On December 12, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "federal authorities say Philadelphia police wrongly barred a female officer from wearing a Muslim head scarf, a ruling that could lead to a civil rights lawsuit against the city.

The local U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office ruled last month that the department appeared to have violated the rights of...

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Update: Secret Service Takes Blame for Sending Muslim Waiter Home

December 11, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54565-2003Dec10?language=printer

On December 11, 2003 The Washington Post reported that "the Secret Service took responsibility yesterday for sending an Arab American waiter home from his job at a Baltimore hotel before a presidential fundraiser last week. But it said the decision resulted from confusion over his work schedule, rather than from ethnic or religious discrimination...

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Detroit High School Students Celebrate End of Ramadan

December 11, 2003

Source: Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/cgi-bin/forms/printerfriendly.pl

On December 11, 2003 the Detroit Free Press reported that more than 30 students from Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools gathered at Canton High School to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The event has been sponsored by the Muslim Student Association since the group was formed three years ago. The event included henna art, traditional food, and Muslim clothing worn during holiday celebrations....

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Committee Recommends Ban of "Conspicious" Religious Symbols in Public Schools

December 11, 2003

Source: United Press International

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20031211-032204-3206r

On December 11, 2003 United Press International reported, "Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large crosses are to be banned from French public schools, according to a report presented to President Jacques Chirac Thursday. More 'discreet' religious symbols, such as small crosses, Muslim Hands of Fatima and Stars of David should be allowed, a 20-member committee...

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Turkish Immigrant Becomes First Muslim Army Chaplain

December 11, 2003

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-12/11/article05.shtml#t

On December 11, 2003 IslamOnline.net reported, "Suleyman Demiray, a Turkish-born Muslim Imam who immigrated to Canada 10 years ago, made history Wednesday, December 10, becoming the first Muslim chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces after completing a 14-week chaplaincy training. 'It's a great honor being able to do something for my country,' he said after a...

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Christians Fear Attacks from Muslim Extremists in Sulawesi

December 11, 2003

Source: Cybercast News Service

[CNSnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=\ForeignBureaus\archive\200312\FOR20031211a.html]

On December 11, 2003 Cybercast News Service reported, "As Christmas approaches, Christians in Indonesia's Sulawesi province are worried that despite an influx of troops and police, the deteriorating security situation of the last two months may worsen. Christian campaigners working in the area say many are too scared to live normal lives, afraid to tend, harvest or market their crops for fear of attack...

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Christians and Jews Discover Common Ground at Maryland Islamic Center

December 11, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

[washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53432-2003Dec10.html?referrer=emailarticle]

On December 11, 2003 The Washington Post reported that Christians, Muslims and Jews recently gathered at Jaferia Islamic Center in Burtonsville to learn about Islamic culture and discover common bonds in the midst of this period of international conflict. "The event, sponsored by the Maryland Muslim Council, was an effort to help dispel misconceptions about Muslims and foster friendships. It included a forum, an...

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South Carolina Forum Highlights Increasing Local Diversity

December 10, 2003

Source: The State

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/7455691.htm

On December 10, 2003 The State reported that "words of Christian and Baha’i scripture, Hindu chants, and prayers offered in the Lakota Sioux language welcomed a crowd of about 60 to USC’s Gambrell Hall Tuesday night. The diversity of the offered prayers reflected the reason they had gathered — a forum on the increasing diversity of South Carolina’s religious...

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