Qatanani and America's Justice
Imam M. Qatanani and his family face deportation from the US. Read about his plight, the community's support for him and media reports on this far reaching story. More |
Survey: Arab and Jewish Americans Human Rights in the US Dialogues on Civilizations  | Reset Dialogues on Civilizations is an online magazine that aims to counter Samuel Huntington's concept of the Clash of Civilizations. The magazine focuses on Islam, the West, democracy, the role of the media, and the arts. Click here for more... Alliance of Civilizations | Bild:  The Alliance of Civilizations is a United Nations initiative intended to combat extremism and overcome cultural and social barriers between mainly the Western and predominantly Muslim worlds. Click here for more... | 
Al-Montada Online: A Newsletter from American Arab Forum
| | | Promoting Arab-and Muslim American Issues and Resources
Sponsored in part by ALO Hayati, the premium lifestyle magazine | 07/12/08 | To view this or previous AAFUSA Newsletters, please click here
| Take pride in your heritage!
Governor Jon Corzine to sign law to create the NJ Arab-American Heritage Commission -
Commissioner candidates are being soughtDear friend: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, was an historic day culminating the persistent advocacy for the creation of the NJ Arab American Heritage Commission - NJAAHC. A small group of community representatives joined me at the Governor’s office to finalize the plans to formally sign into law the NJAAHC. I am sending this email to a specific number of people, some of whom may be at various points in their involvement with the creation of the commission. Click here to read more | The Many Colors of Islam an exhibit at the Community Children's Museum Late notice for This Sunday, July 13, 2008
Opening reception : !2-2 pm Where: Community Children's Museum, 77 E. Blackwell St., Dover, NJ 07801 The Community Children's Museum's art gallery will be hosting an exciting show of children's artwork from Indonesia generously sponsored by the David M.C. Ju Foundation entitled "Islam Berwarna-wani: The Many Colors of Islam". This exhibit, by and for children, includes 45 pieces of original artwork. It will remain on display through Sept. 13, 2008. show: July 13 12-2pm. Exhibit open during museum hours from July 13-Sept. 13. | Enforcement of Civil Rights Laws
"Justice Looks at Allowing FBI to Use Profiling"
Houston Chronicle The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups. | Jinanne Tabra | |  | | 71% of Americans say U.S. gov't shouldn't take sides in Mideast conflict | | | By Bradley Burston, Haaretz Correspondent | | | |
A public opinion poll released by a research institute at the University of Maryland shows that 71 percent of Americans believe that the United States government should not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The survey, which measured attitudes of nearly 19,000 respondents in countries around the world, found that in 14 of the 18 nations studied, a large majority favored an even-handed approach to the conflict. More
|
|
|
|
ACTION ALERT
July 10, 2008Contact:
communications@wrmea.com
Judge Grants Bail to Dr. Sami Al-Arian
Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s bond hearing was held this morning, July 10, 2008, at the U.S. District Courthouse in Alexandria, VA. His children Abdullah, Laila and Ali were in the courtroom, as well as a number of Al-Arian supporters, including four Washington Report staff members. Al-Arian himself looked gaunt and exhausted.
Judge Leonie Brinkema listened to the government’s arguments presented by the prosecution, U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg, who painted a muddled picture of Al-Arian as a dangerous man who has refused to provide evidence against an Islamic think tank, and as a flight risk.
The defense arguments presented by Al-Arian’s attorney, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, told a different story. Al-Arian, his attorney explained, has volunteered four times to take polygraph tests, answered every question the government has asked, and examined every document the government has asked him to comment on in their efforts to prosecute a Virginia think tank. Dr. Al-Arian has painstakingly explained the government’s every misinterpretation and said he knows of no criminality. According to Turley, the government did not respond to several offers by Al-Arian to take polygraphs and has said he is a minor witness in its investigation. Yet, contrary to its agreement to expedite his deportation, it still refuses to release him.
Turley told Judge Brinkema that Al-Arian was not a flight risk or a danger to the community. “He’s an international scholar who would not abandon his children or his principles to become a fugitive,” Turley explained. Al-Arian posted his entire retirement savings, $340,000, as bond and offered to undergo global positioning monitoring. An undisclosed friend offered to post his own home as bond, but the judge said she would not require that. In response to a question from Judge Brinkema, Turley also noted Al-Arian’s health issues and the fact that the U.S. government would not agree to operate on Al-Arian’s hernia, even though Al-Arian’s family offered to pay for the surgery.
Judge Brinkema decided to release Al-Arian on bond, in the custody of his son Abdullah. He will be under house arrest and released from U.S. Marshal custody as soon as the monitoring equipment arrives and bond is posted. However, she noted, she could not order Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Dr. Al-Arian if they decide to hold him. Even if that is the case, Judge Brinkema said, the clock will start running on the deadline by which Al-Arian must be deported.
As for Kromberg’s contention that Al-Arian is a man without a country and no country is willing to accept Al-Arian when he is deported, Turley said the government is showing “willful blindness.” The Egyptian government has sent a letter to the U.S. government saying it will accept Al-Arian, Turley said—a letter which Kromberg has received. Palestinians also have invited Al-Arian to live in the occupied territories, Turley said. Judge Brinkema warned that she did not want to hear that there had been any signal or pressure from the U.S. government to make a country (i.e., Egypt) change its position about receiving Al-Arian.
Dr. Al-Arian’s trial on charges of criminal contempt (for refusing to testify before a grand jury convened by Kromberg) is scheduled to begin August 13th. At the conclusion of the trial (assuming he is not sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence), ICE would resume deportation proceedings for Sami Al-Arian—who, after 12 years of surveillance and a lengthy trial in his home town of Tampa, Florida—has yet to be convicted of a single charge brought against him.
For more information see an Associated Press article: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/10/AR2008071001319.html?hpid=moreheadlines.
Also read Jon Turley's blog about it: http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/10/dr-sami-al-arian-granted-bail/ |
A very important project supported by American Arab Forum.
Auburn Media is overseeing/working on a wonderful project dedicated to healing and helping the U.S. to re-engage with the Muslim world(s), both with its own Muslim citizens here in the U.S. and also globally. We’re building a website to house a whole host of information as well as interviews, resources, ways to get involved/take action, and an important report by a high-level group headed by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright. The report recommends a sea change in policy but also emphasizes the need for Americans of all faiths simply to meet and get to know their neighbors. We are looking for such “neighbors” to interview on camera for inclusion on the site.
Here’s who we are looking for: Muslims in America and from around the world of all ages, nationalities, appearances, who can embody the true and humane stories of Islam and Muslims that have mostly been dwarfed in the U.S. mainstream media for the last years by stories/images of extremism, war, etc. They can be male or female, young or old or in between. We hope to have a rainbow of participants from many walks of life. It would work best if they live in or near NYC or Chicago.
Please feel free to send this description to any candidates or people who might recommend candidates that you can think of. We need as many good interviews for this bridge-building effort as possible, of course, and your help is needed and very much appreciated.
Joshua Olesker
Program Manager - Outreach
AUBURN MEDIA
jco@auburnsem.org
Auburn Theological Seminary
3041 Broadway at 121st Street║ New York, NY 10027
212-870-3177 direct ║917-833-0937 mobile ║212-870-3176 fax | Do you wish to serve on State Boards and Commissions? Click Here
We have received several resumes which were forwarded to the appropriate State Appointment Office in Trenton. | American Arab Forum (AAF)
The American Arab Forum (AAF). AAF is a non-partisan and non-sectarian organization, and it is a registered tax-exempt and not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. We endeavor to provide reliable and credible information and resources to and about the Arab-American community in the United States. www.americanarabforum.org * Except for official announcements from American Arab Forum, all other postings, articles, or statements attached or expressed herein are those of their respective owners or sources. Such views are not necessarily endorsed by American Arab Forum. Articles may be freely redistributed provided proper credits are indicated. - Endorse the creation of the NJ Arab Heritage Commission.
Click here to sign the petition - If you believe we are doing a good job, then please consider donating in any amount to our efforts.
- Talk to the AAF staff: Compliments and gripes- all welcome!
To subscribe to our email list, please click http://www.aafusa.org
To be removed from our email list, click unsubscribelink2 . If links do not work, just send us a note to info@aafusa.org |
|
|
