Council On American Islamic Relations

For the last decade, U.S. Muslim organizations have faced criticism that they don't do enough to condemn -- or prevent -- extremism and terrorism. But now that many of the groups are speaking publicly about the radicalization of Muslim youths and even developing scared-straight-type programs to steer young people away from extremism, they are being criticized in their own community for saying too much. Critics contend that organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Muslim American Society are pandering to outsiders who equate Muslims with extremism.

A Southern California Islamic organization has asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate an incident last week in which three pig legs were allegedly thrown onto the site of a proposed mosque near Chino. The greater Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations asked federal officials to look into the incident as a possible hate crime. The mosque's construction was approved this year by San Bernardino County officials but has been stalled by a lawsuit filed by opponents.

A loosely organized protest planned this week over a proposed new mosque in Temecula whose organizers urged demonstrators to bring their dogs was sharply denounced by a Southern California Islamic organization Tuesday. Organizers of the rally, to be held outside the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley during prayers Friday, appear to be associated with a southwest Riverside County political group affiliated with the "tea party" movement. In anonymous e-mails and website postings, organizers encouraged protesters to bring their dogs — considered an insult to Muslims.

One of the most interesting things about American Muslims appears to be their sports loyalties. That's what many have discussed in filming personal messages for an online campaign aimed at countering anti-Muslim rhetoric in the wake of controversy over a proposed Islamic center in New York City and mosque protests elsewhere. Several dozen videos have been posted so far. The videos, which American Muslims are invited to record and upload onto the campaign's website, mostly follow a script: The speakers introduce themselves, give an "interesting fact" about themselves and then launch into a prewritten message about Islam's teachings.

Public schools should do more to accommodate students' religions, a Muslim organization contends. Schools "barely meet the needs of most faith and minority groups," the Council on American-Islamic Relations said, citing policies in 11 U.S. school districts. The group would like action on such matters as scheduling exams around religious holidays and scheduling classes to accommodate daily prayer, Friday midday attendance at mosques and off-campus religious instruction.

A Muslim woman arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf in a courthouse said she felt her human and civil rights were violated. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, an Atlanta suburb. Valentine violated a court policy that prohibits people from wearing headgear in court, police said Tuesday. "I just felt stripped of my civil, my human rights," Valentine said the next day. She was released after the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations urged the U.S. to investigate, she said.

Re "Boxer rescinds award to Islamic activist," Jan. 6 I was saddened when I read about Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) rescinding her award to a Muslim activist. Muslims across the nation are proud of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for being the ambassadors for Muslims in the United States. I'm concerned that Boxer made her decision without meeting with the council to hear its side of the story. She should return the award and maintain the relationship she started with California Muslims.

A Washington, D.C.-based Islamic advocacy group has helped a Florida woman gain the right to wear the Islamic headdress for women while at work. Fatimah Herman, a Muslim worker with National Maintenance Inc. in Crestview, Fla., was sent home in early September and told she violated company dress policy by refusing to remove her head scarf while at work, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Two Orange County residents will be honored at the Council on American-Islamic Relations' fourth annual conference and fund-raising banquet this evening at the Sequoia Conference Center in Buena Park. The council is a nonprofit organization founded to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. Event organizers for the Southern California chapter said they expect more than 650 to attend. Naziha Wareh, a Fountain Valley resident, will receive an award for community activism.

Sen. Barbara Boxer met with officials from a Muslim advocacy group, and both sides on Wednesday said they had resolved a controversy over Boxer rescinding an honor her office gave a member of the group. But a spokeswoman for the California Democrat said she does not intend to give back the certificate honoring Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

A loosely organized protest planned this week over a proposed new mosque in Temecula whose organizers urged demonstrators to bring their dogs was sharply denounced by a Southern California Islamic organization Tuesday. Organizers of the rally, to be held outside the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley during prayers Friday, appear to be associated with a southwest Riverside County political group affiliated with the "tea party" movement. In anonymous e-mails and website postings, organizers encouraged protesters to bring their dogs — considered an insult to Muslims.

For the last decade, U.S. Muslim organizations have faced criticism that they don't do enough to condemn -- or prevent -- extremism and terrorism. But now that many of the groups are speaking publicly about the radicalization of Muslim youths and even developing scared-straight-type programs to steer young people away from extremism, they are being criticized in their own community for saying too much. Critics contend that organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Muslim American Society are pandering to outsiders who equate Muslims with extremism.

Re "FBI losing trust of some Muslims," April 20 I was surprised by the statement by Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for Greater Los Angeles, that "our mosques are off-limits ... our Koran is off-limits." If Islam is a universal religion, why would a Muslim spokesperson declare their mosques and their sacred book off-limits? On the other hand, if Islam is a political force, intending to subject us all to harsh Sharia law, then it is understandable that Muslims would want to keep their meetings closed and their handbook for accomplishing their objectives out of the hands of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A Muslim woman arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf in a courthouse said she felt her human and civil rights were violated. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, an Atlanta suburb. Valentine violated a court policy that prohibits people from wearing headgear in court, police said Tuesday. "I just felt stripped of my civil, my human rights," Valentine said the next day. She was released after the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations urged the U.S. to investigate, she said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer met with officials from a Muslim advocacy group, and both sides on Wednesday said they had resolved a controversy over Boxer rescinding an honor her office gave a member of the group. But a spokeswoman for the California Democrat said she does not intend to give back the certificate honoring Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Re "Boxer rescinds award to Islamic activist," Jan. 6 I was saddened when I read about Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) rescinding her award to a Muslim activist. Muslims across the nation are proud of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for being the ambassadors for Muslims in the United States. I'm concerned that Boxer made her decision without meeting with the council to hear its side of the story. She should return the award and maintain the relationship she started with California Muslims.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Wednesday demanded that Nike Inc. apologize for using a logo on athletic shoes that resembles the word "Allah" in the Arabic script. Nike said the logo was meant to look like flames for a line of shoes to be sold this summer with the names Air Bakin', Air Melt, Air Grill and Air B-Que. The company said it caught the problem six months ago, long before the shoes went into production.

Re "FBI losing trust of some Muslims," April 20 I was surprised by the statement by Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for Greater Los Angeles, that "our mosques are off-limits ... our Koran is off-limits." If Islam is a universal religion, why would a Muslim spokesperson declare their mosques and their sacred book off-limits? On the other hand, if Islam is a political force, intending to subject us all to harsh Sharia law, then it is understandable that Muslims would want to keep their meetings closed and their handbook for accomplishing their objectives out of the hands of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Sen. Barbara Boxer has rescinded an award her office gave to a Sacramento Islamic activist after criticism that the group he represents -- the Council on American-Islamic Relations -- holds extremist views and has ties to international terrorist organizations. "I'm saying the four words that every elected official hates to say: 'I made a mistake,' " the California Democrat said in a telephone interview Friday. "I hope they won't believe that I did this to hurt the Muslim community....

American Muslims have launched an advertising campaign to denounce acts of terrorism. "Any effort by terrorists to hide their criminal activities under the mask of religious piety is being categorically and unequivocally rejected by mainstream Muslims," said Parvez Ahmed, the chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He said the television ad, which will air nationwide by Tuesday, is an attempt to dissociate Islam from the "heinous" acts of a few Muslims.