Community News (V15-I48)

Alam, Uddin win in Millbourne elections

In the Millbourne borough of Pennsylvania the Democrats won big on the council and other seats. Among the winners was the first time candidate Mohammed J. Alam who  led the Democratic council slate with 150 votes.

Incumbent Mohammed Moin Uddin beat Rayny Formanes in the Democratic tax collector primary. Uddin received 106 votes to Formanes’ 39.

Prof. Ahmed debunks misunderstandings

COLLEGE STATION,TX–Dr. Anwer Ahmed, a professor of accounting at Texas A&M University, participated in a forum on religion which included seven different faith traditions. He spoke on removing the prevailing misconceptions and said that the media has a large role to play in shaping them, the Battalion newspaper reported.

“People think that Islam condones violence, it allows the killing of innocent people and that’s absolutely not true,” Ahmed said. “Actually, you have to ask yourself, whenever someone makes a statement about Islam, Islamic this,Islamic that, ‘What does it mean?’”

“You might ask ‘Well, how do these extremists justify their actions?’” Ahmed said. “It’s very simple. They take verses out of context.They take the sayings out of the Prophet’s — peace be upon him — out of the context and apply them to situations to forward their own agendas.”

Settlement Okayed For Halal Meals In Michigan Prisons    

A long standing dispute between prisoners and Michigan has been settled after the state agreed to provide halal meals to its Muslim prisoners. The settlement, however, comes with caveat that the state doesn’t have to provide halal meat.

Vegan meals will now be provided to all prisoners with religious dietary needs. The prisoners had sued the state in 2006 alleging that it was violating their right to exercise their religion. The Jews prisoners at that time for several years were receiving kosher meals. “The government cannot deprive Americans of their fundamental right to practice religion, even when they are behind bars,” Michael J. Steinberg, legal director of the ACLU of Michigan, told Law Blog.

Swim group for Somali girls in St.Paul

ST.PAUL,MN—In a state known for its 10,000 lakes not knowing how to swim would be risky. The mixed swimming pools were, however, no help for the Somali girls and women who wanted to learn how to swim. After learning of the problem the St. Paul YMCA and the city’s police department have now launched a swimming programme exclusively for girls between the ages of 5 to 17.

The program has already been a hit with the community. According to the Star-Tribune for the program “all other swimmers are cleared out of the pool. The men’s locker room is locked. Female life guards are brought in. The pool, which is on the building’s third floor, has no windows so they don’t have to worry about prying eyes from outside.”

Funding for the group comes from two metrowide water safety grants from Hawkins Inc. and Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation. The police department helps provide transportation for the girls to the YMCA.

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