http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/NEWS05/708070390
Agents target charity offices
Raiders look for links to Mideast terrorism
August 7, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Federal agents were looking for information on terrorist operations and Hizballah activity when they raided two Muslim charities last month, court records show.
The agents hauled away computers, files, money and other items from the Dearborn offices of Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization and Goodwill Charitable Organization, two Shi'ite Muslim groups that raised money in metro Detroit...
From the home of Safiedine, agents seized computers, checks, an Al-Mabarrat receipt, a Goodwill memo and a portrait of the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini.
A woman who answered the phone at Safiedine's home said the family was not available to comment; Ghosn could not be reached.
Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, "we're concerned about Al-Mabarrat being able to function, being allowed due process and not being tried in the court of public opinion."
He added, "Al-Mabarrat emphatically denies any connection to Hizballah."
Regarding the photo of Khomeini, Muslim leaders said that's protected under the Constitution.
"Having a picture or book related to a figure does not equal full endorsement," Walid said.(MORE)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Charity probes worry South Asians
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/METRO/708070356
Charity probes worry South Asians
They fear raids on Muslim groups will hurt donations for flood victims.
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
There is concern in the large South Asian community in Metro Detroit that efforts to provide relief for flood-ravaged Bangladesh and India will be discouraged by recent federal investigations of Muslim charities.
"People are concerned about doing fund-raising and relief work amid some of these statements that, for example, contributing to orphans is used as a euphemism for supporting terrorists," said Dawud Walid, director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan.
In the past year, at least three local charities have been raided, including Life for Relief & Development in Southfield and Al-Mabarrat in Dearborn.
No charges have resulted, and contributions to both organizations remain lawful because neither is banned by the federal government.
But Muslims in Metro Detroit raising money for relief or other efforts remain wary.
And the recent raids are of particular concern to Metro Detroiters of Bangladeshi and Indian descent, who are mobilizing to send relief to both countries, where 1,500 people are dead and 19 million displaced in floods from monsoon rains this summer.(MORE)
Charity probes worry South Asians
They fear raids on Muslim groups will hurt donations for flood victims.
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
There is concern in the large South Asian community in Metro Detroit that efforts to provide relief for flood-ravaged Bangladesh and India will be discouraged by recent federal investigations of Muslim charities.
"People are concerned about doing fund-raising and relief work amid some of these statements that, for example, contributing to orphans is used as a euphemism for supporting terrorists," said Dawud Walid, director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan.
In the past year, at least three local charities have been raided, including Life for Relief & Development in Southfield and Al-Mabarrat in Dearborn.
No charges have resulted, and contributions to both organizations remain lawful because neither is banned by the federal government.
But Muslims in Metro Detroit raising money for relief or other efforts remain wary.
And the recent raids are of particular concern to Metro Detroiters of Bangladeshi and Indian descent, who are mobilizing to send relief to both countries, where 1,500 people are dead and 19 million displaced in floods from monsoon rains this summer.(MORE)
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Walid gives sermon - "Mercy with all people"
Yesterday's sermon was given at the Islamic Center of Toledo in Perrysburg, Ohio.
Cut & paste to listen:
http://media.putfile.com/Mercy-for-all-of-the-people
Cut & paste to listen:
http://media.putfile.com/Mercy-for-all-of-the-people
Friday, August 03, 2007
Message for Friday - All men are children of Adam (AS)
كلكم بنو آدم وآدم خلق من تراب
Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "All of you are children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust."
الإنسان أخو الإنسان أحب أم كره
He (SAAS) also said, "Man is the brother of man whether he likes it or dislike it."
Supremacist mindsets among people are based upon the false notion that they are of a superior creation to the exclusion of others. The Islamic teaching of the intrinsic equality of man is very clear. All men are children of Adam, who was created from what many would deem a lowly substance, dust.
لا فضل لعربي على أعجمي
He (SAAS) said, "There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab."
Such a statement was revolutionary in a time when tribalism and ethnocentricity was the order of the day among human beings. Islam respects the culture of all humans and teaches its adherents that these cultures should be respected because of their interconnected nature.
In this global economy and information age, all humans should realize their interconnectedness and interdependence. If this reality can be realized, then mutual respect should grow in a natural, fluid form.
And surely G'd knows best.
Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "All of you are children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust."
الإنسان أخو الإنسان أحب أم كره
He (SAAS) also said, "Man is the brother of man whether he likes it or dislike it."
Supremacist mindsets among people are based upon the false notion that they are of a superior creation to the exclusion of others. The Islamic teaching of the intrinsic equality of man is very clear. All men are children of Adam, who was created from what many would deem a lowly substance, dust.
لا فضل لعربي على أعجمي
He (SAAS) said, "There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab."
Such a statement was revolutionary in a time when tribalism and ethnocentricity was the order of the day among human beings. Islam respects the culture of all humans and teaches its adherents that these cultures should be respected because of their interconnected nature.
In this global economy and information age, all humans should realize their interconnectedness and interdependence. If this reality can be realized, then mutual respect should grow in a natural, fluid form.
And surely G'd knows best.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Is media coverage of terrorist activities responsible for spreading terror?
*NOTE* - I do not agree 100% with this analysis; however, I thought that his perspective was interesting enough to share. There is no doubt that the media coverage of terrorists unintentionally glorifies them or turns them into heroes for disenchanted, disenfranchised youth.
It is similiar to Latino and African-American youth in America, who idolize the "gangsta" culture within Hip-Hop or admire the likes of the cult figure Tony Montana from the movie "Scarface."
How do you think kids in rural areas began to wear their pants hanging off of their behinds and claim to be "Bloods" and "Crips" when no "Bloods" or "Crips" ever came to their towns?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707310258.html
Accra Mail (Accra)
OPINION
30 July 2007
Posted to the web 31 July 2007
Abdulhadi Hairan
Accra
All of us are aware of the importance of media in prevailing political and geographical situations and know also about the day-to-day events of terror across the world.
By nature, the human being inspires from the events taking place around him and if these events are linked to his or her religious thoughts and ideas then the effects of such events would be more deep and effectual.
There is no doubt that the media is giving more importance to incidents of terrorism and extremism taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the world.
In the last few years, major incidents of terror took place in which thousands of people were killed or wounded but there's neem no let up in place terrorist activities. The major reason behind the no letting up in terror activities in the region is the widespread coverage of terrorists and their activities.
It is indeed a matter of great concern that underage boys are often used in carrying out suicide attacks. When they watch or hear militants on TV screens being interviewed by electronic and print media, the youth get inspiration from their activities. In addition, inflammatory statements of extremist clerics further fuel their intentions to take part in terrorism thinking as if it is a job of heroism.
Nowadays, all TV channels and newspapers are flooded with the news of suicide attacks and bomb blasts across the world. The most harmful thing is the coverage of such incidents by international and local media. They pose a serious threat to the overall economic and political situation of the countries affected by terrorism and extremism:
1) The excessive coverage of terror acts encourages terrorists and they get attention.
2) Fanatic elements and low age youth get inspiration from these happenings.
3) Common people feel insecurity and remain in constant fear.
4) Threat of more terror activities would increase.
The more excessive the media give coverage to the terrorists and their activities, the more they will become famous and active.
If the media gives coverage to healthy activities and other key political issues concerning scientists, intellectuals, players, artists, inventions, reconstruction, education and other positive things, it would be in the larger interests of every one as it would divert the attention of the youth from terrorism to constructive activities. This will help in creating healthy societies.
For example, there are NATO, Coalition Forces and armies of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have been fighting against terrorism for nearly seven years in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the Taliban and Al-Qaeda have got more strength and terrorism is growing every passing day. It is because the media is giving extraordinary coverage to their activities and thus helping them to be popular and reorganized. This is a negative aspect of the media coverage.
On the contrary, when Gen. Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chohadry, lawyers launched a historical movement until the Supreme Court reinstated the CJ. Lawyers won this war by their firm stand and excessive media coverage. This was a war between democracy and dictatorship and democracy won it. This is a positive aspect of media coverage.
If media give coverage to healthy activities, it will create a healthy society, and, if the media will give coverage to terrorist activities, it will help the terrorists to grow their activities and it will bring the society nothing but more terrorism, extremism, violence, fear, uncertainty and insecurity.
I think media persons are a responsible community of the global society who should immediately recognize this fact and stop coverage of terrorist and extremist activities. Ignore them for only one year, I assure you, 90 percent of them will die!
It is similiar to Latino and African-American youth in America, who idolize the "gangsta" culture within Hip-Hop or admire the likes of the cult figure Tony Montana from the movie "Scarface."
How do you think kids in rural areas began to wear their pants hanging off of their behinds and claim to be "Bloods" and "Crips" when no "Bloods" or "Crips" ever came to their towns?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707310258.html
Accra Mail (Accra)
OPINION
30 July 2007
Posted to the web 31 July 2007
Abdulhadi Hairan
Accra
All of us are aware of the importance of media in prevailing political and geographical situations and know also about the day-to-day events of terror across the world.
By nature, the human being inspires from the events taking place around him and if these events are linked to his or her religious thoughts and ideas then the effects of such events would be more deep and effectual.
There is no doubt that the media is giving more importance to incidents of terrorism and extremism taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the world.
In the last few years, major incidents of terror took place in which thousands of people were killed or wounded but there's neem no let up in place terrorist activities. The major reason behind the no letting up in terror activities in the region is the widespread coverage of terrorists and their activities.
It is indeed a matter of great concern that underage boys are often used in carrying out suicide attacks. When they watch or hear militants on TV screens being interviewed by electronic and print media, the youth get inspiration from their activities. In addition, inflammatory statements of extremist clerics further fuel their intentions to take part in terrorism thinking as if it is a job of heroism.
Nowadays, all TV channels and newspapers are flooded with the news of suicide attacks and bomb blasts across the world. The most harmful thing is the coverage of such incidents by international and local media. They pose a serious threat to the overall economic and political situation of the countries affected by terrorism and extremism:
1) The excessive coverage of terror acts encourages terrorists and they get attention.
2) Fanatic elements and low age youth get inspiration from these happenings.
3) Common people feel insecurity and remain in constant fear.
4) Threat of more terror activities would increase.
The more excessive the media give coverage to the terrorists and their activities, the more they will become famous and active.
If the media gives coverage to healthy activities and other key political issues concerning scientists, intellectuals, players, artists, inventions, reconstruction, education and other positive things, it would be in the larger interests of every one as it would divert the attention of the youth from terrorism to constructive activities. This will help in creating healthy societies.
For example, there are NATO, Coalition Forces and armies of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have been fighting against terrorism for nearly seven years in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the Taliban and Al-Qaeda have got more strength and terrorism is growing every passing day. It is because the media is giving extraordinary coverage to their activities and thus helping them to be popular and reorganized. This is a negative aspect of the media coverage.
On the contrary, when Gen. Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chohadry, lawyers launched a historical movement until the Supreme Court reinstated the CJ. Lawyers won this war by their firm stand and excessive media coverage. This was a war between democracy and dictatorship and democracy won it. This is a positive aspect of media coverage.
If media give coverage to healthy activities, it will create a healthy society, and, if the media will give coverage to terrorist activities, it will help the terrorists to grow their activities and it will bring the society nothing but more terrorism, extremism, violence, fear, uncertainty and insecurity.
I think media persons are a responsible community of the global society who should immediately recognize this fact and stop coverage of terrorist and extremist activities. Ignore them for only one year, I assure you, 90 percent of them will die!
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