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Muslim and civil rights groups are speaking out against the most recent reports of Islamophobia in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a press conference outside FBI headquarters in Washington DC, speakers laid out their grievances. Most recently, reports have found the FBI hiring agents for its counterterrorism training program who had a history of making Islamophobic comments. Remarks in training sessions include stating al-Qaeda isn't the security threat but Islam itself, calling the Prophet Muhammad a "cult leader", and alleging that zakat or required Islamic charity giving is a "funding mechanism for combat". Previous complaints about Islamophobic trainers have met with little success. Speakers are demanding a Congressional investigation into prejudicial elements within the FBI as well as other abuses. Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller addressing its concerns but has yet to receive a response. Since 9/11, Islamophobia within law enforcement has becoming a growing trend, especially in the past few years, leading to fears that it will, in time, become an institutionalized norm.

Donate TODAY to support CAIR's important work. https://www.cair.com/support/ Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42... Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42... Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe

CAIR is holding an intensive day-long critical leadership skills training conference on Saturday, October 9 in Arlington, Va. GO TO: https://www.cair.com/banquet/ The conference will include training sessions for public speaking, on-camera interviews, using social media, political engagement, challenging Islamophobia and knowing your legal rights with law enforcement agencies. You can find details, including session descriptions, at: http://tinyurl.com/CAIRworkshops Whether you are an imam, president or board member of a mosque, a young business leader, a student leader, an activist, or just someone who wants to help the community, this is the conference you must attend. Islamophobia has become a growing threat to American Muslims and must be challenged vigorously, methodically, and comprehensively. You, the Muslim grassroots, are a key player in this organized effort. During the conference, we will also present a strategic vision for the American Muslim community for the next 20 years. As a community, we will stand firm to defend the ideals of civil rights and equality. Empower yourself to take an active role by joining us at the leadership conference. We have only 200 spaces available for the workshops, so reserve your place right away. We're looking forward to a day of practical trainings and an evening of celebrating our community. Please join us on Saturday, October 9, by making your reservations today. Join me at CAIR's October 9 Leadership Skills Training Conference in Arlington, Va. GO TO: https://www.cair.com/banquet/ SEE Descriptions of the training sessions: http://tinyurl.com/CAIRworkshops I hope to see you there. Sincerely, Nihad Awad CAIR National Executive Director P.S. If you would like to make a reservation over the phone, call 202-742-6454, or you can e-mail banquet@cair.com

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper quoted on ABC World News.

PLYMOUTH, Minn. (WCCO) — An Islamic Community Center is one step closer to moving into a Plymouth neighborhood, but not everyone in town is happy about it. A downtown Plymouth post office doesn't use most of the space in their building and it's for sale. So, the Northwest Islamic Community Center made an offer to buy it. That move brought a rare crowd into the Plymouth Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night. It's because the Islamic group would like to share the building with the post office, leasing it back for rent, which means prayer services and postal services would be in the same building. During a public hearing on whether the building should be used for religious purposes, citizens sent strong messages — on both sides. "Aiding the enemy is treason," said one man opposed to the center. "Those who are, you know, do not understand the religion, they are a small minority," said a man in favor of the center. "I hope we can reach out to them, and I hope they can come visit us and know us in person." The Planning Commission gave unanimous approval for a conditional-use permit, which they believe can be used for religious reasons. They called it a win for both the Islamic center and the post office, which needed to sell the space. The City Council will make the final decision next week.

CAIR National PSA Campaign Challenges Growing Islamophobia Public service announcements feature Muslim 9/11 first responders, interfaith leaders (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/1/2010) -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Muslim 9/11 first responders and designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society. [SATELLITE FEED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Feed Dates are Wednesday, September 1st, 2010, and Thursday, September 2nd, 2010. Both Feed Times: 1:00-1:30 p.m. ET (Fed in Rotation) Coordinates: Galaxy 19/C07 Slot B, FEC: 3/4/ Symbol Rate: 6.1113 / Data Rate: 8.448 / Downlink Freq: 3835.500V, Synaptic Digital Satellite Operations Trouble Line: 212-812-7134] CAIR's PSA campaign is also designed to offer an implicit challenge to the Florida church that plans to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, on September 11. CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahVaxo... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (60-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5W-i... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Medical Responder (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtup1... CAIR 'We Have More in Common than We Think' PSA, Interfaith (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhOi5g... The PSAs are also available at: www.thenewsmarket.com/CAIR (Registration is required.) Two of the three PSAs, which will be distributed today and tomorrow by satellite to television stations nationwide and online through social media sites, feature Muslim first responders to the 9/11 terror attacks, with the theme "9/11 happened to us all." Copies of the PSAs will also be mailed to selected television stations, with a focus on stations in New York and Florida. The third PSA features Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders describing the "golden rule" as expressed by their respective faiths --- and ends with the phrase, "We have more in common than we think." That PSA is designed to show the commonalities between faiths and to challenge those who --- like the members of a Florida church who plan to burn Qurans on September 11 --- would divide America along religious lines. A 2005 CAIR public service announcement (PSA) rejecting terrorism and religious extremism and was seen by some 10 million television viewers nationwide. That PSA, called "Not in the Name of Islam," featured ordinary American Muslims stating "that those who commit acts of terror in the name of Islam are betraying the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad." SEE: CAIR 2005 'Not in the Name of Islam' PSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QXEet... Other national American Muslim organizations took part in the news conference outlined each group's individual and joint initiatives designed to promote religious freedom, challenge growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society and to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The other Muslim organizations that took part in the news conference included: (in alphabetical order) * Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations in the Washington Area (CCMO) * Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) * MAS Freedom Earlier this month, CAIR released an online toolkit designed to help Muslim communities organize proactive local educational and outreach initiatives tied to events such as a "National Day of Unity and Healing" on the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. SEE: 'Teachable Moment Community Response Guide' Toolkit http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/201... The toolkit, called a "Teachable Moment Community Response Guide," offers guidance, tools and resources to help Muslim communities respond to specific current events such as the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday occurring near September 11, the upcoming "Burn a Koran Day" by a church in Florida, the anti-Muslim bigotry generated by the smear campaign against a planned Islamic community center in Manhattan, and the ongoing tension and misunderstanding surrounding the building or expansion of mosques nationwide. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42... Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe - END -- CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

CAIR National PSA Campaign Challenges Growing Islamophobia Public service announcements feature Muslim 9/11 first responders, interfaith leaders (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/1/2010) -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Muslim 9/11 first responders and designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society. [SATELLITE FEED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Feed Dates are Wednesday, September 1st, 2010, and Thursday, September 2nd, 2010. Both Feed Times: 1:00-1:30 p.m. ET (Fed in Rotation) Coordinates: Galaxy 19/C07 Slot B, FEC: 3/4/ Symbol Rate: 6.1113 / Data Rate: 8.448 / Downlink Freq: 3835.500V, Synaptic Digital Satellite Operations Trouble Line: 212-812-7134] CAIR's PSA campaign is also designed to offer an implicit challenge to the Florida church that plans to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, on September 11. CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahVaxo... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (60-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5W-i... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Medical Responder (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtup1... CAIR 'We Have More in Common than We Think' PSA, Interfaith (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhOi5g... The PSAs are also available at: www.thenewsmarket.com/CAIR (Registration is required.) Two of the three PSAs, which will be distributed today and tomorrow by satellite to television stations nationwide and online through social media sites, feature Muslim first responders to the 9/11 terror attacks, with the theme "9/11 happened to us all." Copies of the PSAs will also be mailed to selected television stations, with a focus on stations in New York and Florida. The third PSA features Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders describing the "golden rule" as expressed by their respective faiths --- and ends with the phrase, "We have more in common than we think." That PSA is designed to show the commonalities between faiths and to challenge those who --- like the members of a Florida church who plan to burn Qurans on September 11 --- would divide America along religious lines. A 2005 CAIR public service announcement (PSA) rejecting terrorism and religious extremism and was seen by some 10 million television viewers nationwide. That PSA, called "Not in the Name of Islam," featured ordinary American Muslims stating "that those who commit acts of terror in the name of Islam are betraying the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad." SEE: CAIR 2005 'Not in the Name of Islam' PSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QXEet... Other national American Muslim organizations took part in the news conference outlined each group's individual and joint initiatives designed to promote religious freedom, challenge growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society and to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The other Muslim organizations that took part in the news conference included: (in alphabetical order) * Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations in the Washington Area (CCMO) * Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) * MAS Freedom Earlier this month, CAIR released an online toolkit designed to help Muslim communities organize proactive local educational and outreach initiatives tied to events such as a "National Day of Unity and Healing" on the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. SEE: 'Teachable Moment Community Response Guide' Toolkit http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/201... The toolkit, called a "Teachable Moment Community Response Guide," offers guidance, tools and resources to help Muslim communities respond to specific current events such as the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday occurring near September 11, the upcoming "Burn a Koran Day" by a church in Florida, the anti-Muslim bigotry generated by the smear campaign against a planned Islamic community center in Manhattan, and the ongoing tension and misunderstanding surrounding the building or expansion of mosques nationwide. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42... Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe - END -- CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/1/10) - Some 200 people turned out on Sunday at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Va., for an interfaith dialogue and a screening of a new film about global Muslim public opinion. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosted the event in partnership with 20,000 Dialogues, a project of Unity Productions Foundation, the makers of "Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think interfaith dialogue." (http://www.20000dialogues.org) 20,000 Dialogues is a nationwide initiative that uses discussions about films to build greater understanding of Muslims. Speakers included: (in order of appearance in video excerpts) * Rev. Bernie Nord, Trinity Presbyterian Church * Daniel Tutt, Unity Productions Foundation, Outreach Manager * Father Leo Walsh, Secretariat For Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops * CAIR National Outreach Coordinator Aseel Elborno * Hazami Barmada, American Muslim Interactive Network, President Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of Dar Al Hijra also spoke at the event. Co-sponsors of the event: Unity Production Foundation, Paulist Fathers, AMIN DC, Faith Act Fellows, Dar Al-Hijra, Trinity Presbyterian Church CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

CAIR National PSA Campaign Challenges Growing Islamophobia Public service announcements feature Muslim 9/11 first responders, interfaith leaders (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/1/2010) -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Muslim 9/11 first responders and designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society. [SATELLITE FEED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Feed Dates are Wednesday, September 1st, 2010, and Thursday, September 2nd, 2010. Both Feed Times: 1:00-1:30 p.m. ET (Fed in Rotation) Coordinates: Galaxy 19/C07 Slot B, FEC: 3/4/ Symbol Rate: 6.1113 / Data Rate: 8.448 / Downlink Freq: 3835.500V, Synaptic Digital Satellite Operations Trouble Line: 212-812-7134] CAIR's PSA campaign is also designed to offer an implicit challenge to the Florida church that plans to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, on September 11. CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahVaxo... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (60-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5W-i... CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Medical Responder (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtup1... CAIR 'We Have More in Common than We Think' PSA, Interfaith (30-Second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhOi5g... The PSAs are also available at: www.thenewsmarket.com/CAIR (Registration is required.) Two of the three PSAs, which will be distributed today and tomorrow by satellite to television stations nationwide and online through social media sites, feature Muslim first responders to the 9/11 terror attacks, with the theme "9/11 happened to us all." Copies of the PSAs will also be mailed to selected television stations, with a focus on stations in New York and Florida. The third PSA features Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders describing the "golden rule" as expressed by their respective faiths --- and ends with the phrase, "We have more in common than we think." That PSA is designed to show the commonalities between faiths and to challenge those who --- like the members of a Florida church who plan to burn Qurans on September 11 --- would divide America along religious lines. A 2005 CAIR public service announcement (PSA) rejecting terrorism and religious extremism and was seen by some 10 million television viewers nationwide. That PSA, called "Not in the Name of Islam," featured ordinary American Muslims stating "that those who commit acts of terror in the name of Islam are betraying the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad." SEE: CAIR 2005 'Not in the Name of Islam' PSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QXEet... Other national American Muslim organizations took part in the news conference outlined each group's individual and joint initiatives designed to promote religious freedom, challenge growing anti-Muslim bigotry in American society and to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The other Muslim organizations that took part in the news conference included: (in alphabetical order) * Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations in the Washington Area (CCMO) * Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) * MAS Freedom Earlier this month, CAIR released an online toolkit designed to help Muslim communities organize proactive local educational and outreach initiatives tied to events such as a "National Day of Unity and Healing" on the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. SEE: 'Teachable Moment Community Response Guide' Toolkit http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/201... The toolkit, called a "Teachable Moment Community Response Guide," offers guidance, tools and resources to help Muslim communities respond to specific current events such as the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday occurring near September 11, the upcoming "Burn a Koran Day" by a church in Florida, the anti-Muslim bigotry generated by the smear campaign against a planned Islamic community center in Manhattan, and the ongoing tension and misunderstanding surrounding the building or expansion of mosques nationwide. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42... Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe - END -- CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

By Megan Rolland, Gainesville Sun, 7/29/09 http://www.gainesville.com/article/20... An advocate for the Muslim community in Florida, during a one-on-one meeting Tuesday, was unable to persuade the senior pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville to remove a sign that reads "Islam is of the devil." "I was pleased that at least he was making the bridge to meet with me," said Ramzy Kilic, Tampa's executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "It doesn't seem like (taking down the sign) is going to happen, and he didn't want to know more about Islam." Kilic met with Jones for about 25 minutes Tuesday at the Dove World Outreach Center, 5805 N.W. 37th St., which has a series of hand-painted signs that read in red "Islam is of the devil." Challenge Stereotypes by Sponsoring a Quran for an American Opinion Leader http://www.explorethequran.com/