Islam

Effects of Fighting in the Middle East Felt in the U.S.

October 3, 2000

Source: The Courier-Journal

On October 3, 2000, The Courier-Journal (Kentucky) reported on "a few acres of flat, elevated turf in Jerusalem's old city, revered by Jews as the site of their ancient temple and by Muslims as the scene of a miraculous visit by the prophet Mohammed." It reported that "Louisville-area Jews and Muslims alike say they were not surprised that right-wing Israeli politician Ariel Sharon triggered violence just by showing up there. Five days of fighting have followed Sharon's visit last Thursday on the site that Muslims call the...

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Muslims Encouraged to Get Involved in Politics

October 1, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 1, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "American Muslims gathered Saturday in Irvine to brainstorm ways to increase their clout in the U.S. political system and the November elections. A bipartisan slate of speakers--from U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R-San Jose) to California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres--encouraged Muslims to register to vote, volunteer on campaigns, donate money and forge personal relationships with elected officials. In the daylong conference, Muslims debated political strategies, including...

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Religious Discrimination in the Workplace

September 30, 2000

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On September 30, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that "the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Papa John's Pizza in federal court on Friday, alleging religious discrimination for terminating a pizza delivery driver who must wear a beard for religious reasons. Last year Iqbal Akhtar was hired as a delivery driver by a company that is a franchisee for Papa John's Pizza, Houston Pizza Venture. According to the lawsuit, within days of his hiring he was told that he must shave his beard. Akhtar, a Muslim, explained...

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"Muslim 'Man of Peace' to Help Jews Greet New Year"

September 29, 2000

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On September 29, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution published an article entitled "Muslim 'Man of Peace' to Help Jews Greet New Year." It reported that "as Jews in metro Atlanta and around the world begin their holiest season of the year, one Atlanta congregation will be hosting an unusual guest speaker: a Muslim sheik. Sheik Abu Saleh el Refai, a Sufi Muslim and spiritual leader of Arabs living on the West Bank, will be the guest speaker this evening at services sponsored by the nondenominational Shema...

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Religious Discrimination in the Workplace

September 25, 2000

Source: The Buffalo News

On September 25, 2000, The Buffalo News reported that "the upcoming 10-day Jewish holiday period, which starts with Rosh Hashanah and culminates with Yom Kippur, can act as a barometer of workplace religious tolerance, according to Marlene Glickman, retired executive director of the Western New York chapter of the American Jewish Committee. Glickman said the yearly fall observances, and Passover, which occurs in the spring, often pit the dominant Christian calendar against the Jewish calendar. 'In most places of work, you'd never...

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Muslims Encouraged to Get Involved in Politics

September 24, 2000

Source: The Detroit News

On September 24, 2000, The Detroit News reported that "Muslim Americans are pursuing an improved public image and increased political participation in a system they feel sometimes treats them unjustly. The most effective way to do that is to get out the vote, said Niwad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The council organized the national 'Muslim Americans Voter Registration Day' Sept. 15 to register new voters in the estimated 1,500 mosques in the United States. Other plans include training...

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Hate Crime at Harvard

September 21, 2000

Source: The Harvard Crimson

On September 21, 2000, The Harvard Crimson reported that "a Harvard undergraduate was assaulted by two men Tuesday night, in what police are labeling a possible hate crime. The incident, which occurred on the sidewalk of St. Paul's Church on Arrow Street, is the second Square attack in less than 72 hours that police said may have been motivated by bias...Around 8:30 p.m., while he was walking back to the River Houses from the Islamic prayer room in Canaday Hall, the student, who is a senior,said he was grabbed from behind by two...

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Muslim Leaders Call for Unity

September 16, 2000

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On September 16, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that the "heads of the Nation of Islam and the Muslim American Society are repeating calls for unity between their formerly hostile organizations. At a recent Muslim American Society weekend conference, its leader, Imam W. Deen Mohammed, smiled and embraced Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan before a mostly black audience of about 7,000. Farrakhan said, 'These tracks have been running parallel and have now become a monorail going down one track for the glory of Allah....

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Texas Muslims Urged to Vote

September 15, 2000

Source: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

On September 15, 2000, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that in addition to "offering prayers at the mosque, Muslims need to go to the voting booth, organizers of a voter registration drive say...'Our community needs to be more actively involved in the political process,' said Syed A. Ahsani, chairman of the American Muslim Alliance of Texas, which promotes Muslim and pro-Muslim candidates for political office....The local effort, part of the National American Muslim Voter Registration Drive, begins today at three...

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Building of Mosque Questioned Outside Fresno, CA

September 13, 2000

Source: The Fresno Bee

On September 13, 2000, The Fresno Bee reported that "Muslim residents who want to build a mosque west of Fresno and neighbors who worry the proposed worship center will disrupt their rural home setting are hoping the Fresno County Board of Supervisors can help resolve their dispute...On Tuesday, supervisors listened to representatives of the Muslim Society of Central California, who plan to build a 14,000-square-foot mosque just outside Fresno city limits at West Menlo Drive and North Annapolis Avenue near Highway 99. The board also...

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Worker Receives Compensation for Religious Discrimination

August 22, 2000

Source: The Boston Globe

On August 22, 2000, The Boston Globe reported that in a "significant ruling on religious freedom in the workplace, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination has upheld a 1996 decision awarding $300,000 to a Muslim man who was forced to stop praying at work...Lule Said of Quincy quit his job as a security guard for Northeast Security Inc. of Brookline in 1991 after he said he was ridiculed and harassed by fellow employees, one of whom trampled on his prayer rug and kicked it into a corner...Said, who then lived in Boston,...

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Faithful Diversity Displayed in Boston's Immigrants

August 19, 2000

Source: Patriot-Ledger

On August 19, 2000 the Patriot-Ledger reported, "If you want to learn about a community, visit the place where people worship. But most of us don't do that. We feel like an intrusive outsider and don't understand the religious service unless we're accompanied by a congregation member. So it's a treat to find a new exhibit that introduces us to Buddhists and their temple in Quincy, as well as to five other religious groups in the Boston area. 'Faithful Boston: The Religion of Boston Immigrants' is on view in the changing gallery of...

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Offensive Jeans Removed from Shelves

August 18, 2000

Source: The New York Post

On August 18, 2000, The New York Post published an article entitled, "Liz Claiborne to Yank Offensive DKNY Jeans."

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