Nilofar Suhrawardy, Muslim Media News Service Writer and Bureau Chief for India, has written a book called Ayodhya without the Communal Stamp: In the Name of Indian Secularism, published January 2006.

The book is listed among the 100 most popular books at www.allbookstores.com.

For more info about the book, please click this link.

BALTIMORE, MD–Tanzina Iman, a sophomore at Springbrook High School, was one of the three students statewide to receive a “Woman of Tomorrow” award during a ceremony May 16 in Annapolis hosted by the Maryland Comission for Women.

“The purpose of the program is to honor young women who have made significant and remarkable contributions to their communities,” says Dory Stacks, Executive Director for the Maryland Commission for Women.

Raised in Bangladesh until the 4th grade, Tanzina quickly adapted to American life. Currently she is enrolled at Springbrook High School and is involved in a multitude of extra-curricular and volunteer activities. Recently she earned the Superintendent Student Service Learning Award for earning over 440 hours of community service.

She also represents Springbrook High School at the Montgomery Country Region of Maryland Association of Student Council Assembly and is a participant of the 7th Annual UMD-NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) and the American Institution of Physics Student Conference under Carolyn Garvey.

“On behalf of Governor Martin O’Malley, I would like to congratulate this fine young woman. The future of all our children depends upon the fortitude of students like these,” states Brenda Donald, Department of Human Resources Secretary.

9-23

Mohammed Elsalanty, MD., Ph.D, assistant research scientist at the HSC-Baylor College of Dentistry, has been awarded a patent for a bone transport reconstruction plate, a device used for reconstructing bone defects in the lower jaw.

These bone defects can be caused by blast injuries, gunshot wounds and tumor removal surgeries. Traditional treatment has involved harvesting a bone segment from the body, such as the hip, and stabilizing it across the defect with metal plates and screws. However, these procedures were lengthy with several complications.

The new bone transport reconstruction plate developed by Dr. Elsalanty helps reconstruct the defect by growing bone from the edges via a mechanism called distraction osteogenesis. It is much easier, and the quality of the new bone resembles those of the jaw bone, making jaw rehabilitation more efficient.

Dr. Elsalanty and Lynne Opperman, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical sciences at HSC-BCD, have received more than $1 million in National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Small Business Technology Transfer Research (NIDCR STTR) funding to build and test prototypes of the device. They also have started a company called Craniotech ACR Devices, L.L.C., to begin the commercialization process.

9-23

By Bob Wood, Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

Recently, an acquaintance asked for some advice on allocating accumulated assets in his 401(k) account. I suggested that he allocate the entire amount to whichever mutual funds in the company plan were dedicated to investing in international stocks. He reacted with surprise, asking whether my suggestion was too risky. “I think it is the safest thing you can do with your equity allocations,” I replied.

I am sure, however, that this investor will not take action on my advice. It is just too far removed from what he has always heard or read about investing. Conventional wisdom dictates that an investment portfolio should be heavily allocated in domestic stocks, using “core funds,’’ as identified by Morningstar or other mutual fund rating groups.

International or emerging markets funds, on the other hand, are used, instead, as “supporting role’’ options. And most who design portfolios would argue that smaller allocations of 15% to 20% would offer wonderful diversifying benefits and exposure to other growth opportunities — without increasing one’s risk exposure recklessly.

Long ago, I filed such investing wisdom in a folder labeled ‘’Investing Baloney.’’ Let me explain why.

First, regular readers know that I have recommended in this column for the past three to four years that international funds or stocks should make up the “core’’ of an investor’s portfolios. Rather than investing in the stock market options of only one country, the U.S., investors, by purchasing international stocks and funds, are investing in many other countries. Your options include buying the best of all offerings in Europe, such as in England, France and Germany, and in the Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Refer to the performance over the past few years of the Fidelity Nordic Fund and see the returns earned by investors in this quiet corner of the world’s equity markets.

For those seeking a diversified portfolio of stocks as well as diversification in the economies of several countries, as opposed to just one economy, the U.S., does this recommendation look diversified? Or you might have chosen an even more diverse option such as Fidelity’s Diversified International Fund. (And, you should also check the performance on that one.) In addition to those stocks and markets in Europe, you could have added additional diversification and safety with the inclusion of stocks in Asian economies, as well as a small dollop of Latin American stocks.

Again, how does this look in terms of diversification and safety? Instead of risking the bulk of your savings in one country’s economy and stock market, you would have included those of many countries, which, in most cases, are benefiting from their leaders’ long-range strategies for managing their economies.

Those economies differ from ours – and the way our leaders manage the domestic economy by printing money massively to finance record-setting trade and Federal budget deficits. A good illustration of this comes from the CIA. And, yes, it’s the very same CIA you think it is.

That organization recently released a neat little table, showing the ranking of the largest 163 countries around the world in terms of their current account surpluses or deficits in 2006. The table measures each nation’s trade surplus or deficit, together with its balance of earnings from investments in assets abroad.

In first place, China in 2006 enjoyed an account surplus of almost $180 billion, followed by Japan with a surplus of nearly $175 billion. Next was Germany with about $135 billion in surplus; then came Saudi Arabia with almost $104 billion and Norway with $63 billion.

At the bottom of the list, in last place, was the U.S., number 163 out of 163 nations included in the survey, with a screaming, ripping, massive current account deficit of $862 billion. Just above the U.S. was Spain with a deficit last year of just under $99 billion.

Let’s step back for a second and ponder which economies are working from a position of strength and which from a position of weakness? Which economies offer better climates for investors? The amount of money flowing out of the U.S. was about equal to the amounts flowing into the eight strongest performers — combined!

To this information, let’s add some data gleaned from the May 25 issue of the Financial Times, a must-read newspaper for all investors. An article entitled “The $2,500 Billion Question’’ reports massive amounts of foreign exchange reserves held by foreign governments and accumulated, in large part, from their current account surpluses. The article points out what those central bankers plan to do with the money, in excess of cash needed to stabilize their own currencies in the event of an emergency.

Many, such as the U.A.E., Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Norway and China have allocated over $2 trillion in combined assets for investment around the world in higher yielding stocks and bonds. Meanwhile, the U.S. needs more than $2 billion in borrowed funds from some of those same countries — every day! While the rest of the world goes shopping with excess discretionary funds, the U.S. searches the world over for money to borrow!

In the world’s financial markets, Uncle Sam is the guy on the corner of Main Street, holding his hat in hand and looking for a few coins to make it through another day! Where is the position of strength? If you could invest in a broadly diversified basket of stocks, the best from each country, which areas appear safer to you?

From another perspective, taken again from the May 25 Financial Times, consider reports from meetings hosted by our president with Madame Wu Yi, China’s Vice Premier. Mr. Bush reported discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the revaluation of the Yuan, including a request that China open its financial markets to American firms and also open its markets to imports of our beef.

According to the article, Mr. Bush and his deputy, Hank Paulson, expressed disappointment at how little progress they made in each area and “the limited results’’ gained by our side. Of course, since the Chinese are our largest lenders, effectively making them our bankers, how much strength do we project in suggesting changes for our benefit?

As for revaluing its currency to help alleviate the soaring U.S. trade deficit with China, the Vice Premier simply stated that this wasn’t a problem of its making and revaluing currency was not in China’s best interests. In other words, she said “No!”

Another article in the paper uses the title “Bush calls for tougher sanctions on Iran.’’ Where have we heard this before? The Bush team has been trying to inflict economic pain on Iran for many months, but those sanctions in place “had been too weak to change Tehran’s course.’’

China and Russia apparently have much to gain by doing business with Iran, especially with the U.S. intimidating its allies who also might want to do business there. And those two countries have had enough power to dilute all U.S. efforts to punish Iran.

In times past, how long could a country like Venezuela have continued to openly defy the U.S. in order to further its own economic and political development? Past history indicates that leaders like Hugo Chavez would have been visited by U.S. representatives from the IMF or World Bank and offered terms of capitulation. And if the talking didn’t work, well, what does the CIA do, anyway, besides compiling data on which countries are the strongest economically?

Add into this mounting data what is happening to U.S. military power, with the war in Iraq sapping its manpower and equipment, which must be replenished at great cost. And the U.S. will need to borrow money for this, too. The funds to borrow will most likely come from China and Saudi Arabia — as long as they agree to lend, that is. And remember that the U.S. is on the cusp of incurring massively increasing costs for Social Security and Medicare obligations.

And yet, many people continue to think that investing internationally is more risky! As readers know, I have loaded up in those international markets to the near total exclusion of domestic stocks for the past few years, which makes my “bad call” on the strength of the U.S. bull market cycle feel much less painful. In fact, gains from these stronger markets have more than offset any lost domestic opportunities, as well as capital lost from shorting or hedging efforts where I have consistently bet against domestic markets.

I believe that all that excess cash held by foreign central bankers will find homes in healthier economies around the world, which will help power those markets higher in coming years. As for domestic markets, all bets are off when bankers in China, Japan and Saudi Arabia turn off our credit spigot. Our economy is in their hands as much as it is in ours. The only offsetting tool at our disposal, should they decline to lend us money, is to print even more of it than we do now. No wonder inflation is soaring!

Now, are your perceptions unchanged regarding who is dealing from strength–and who is not?

Have a great week.
Bob

Bob Wood ChFC, CLU Yusuf Kadiwala. Registered Investment Advisors, KMA, Inc., invest@muslimobserver.com.

9-23

Minority Business Development Award for Shahid Khan

NEW YORK, NY–The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), celebrating its 35th anniversary as the nation’s leading corporate membership organization, paid tribute to a trio of business leaders for their long-standing accomplishments and commitment to minority business development at its annual Leadership Awards Dinner-Dance on Tuesday, May 22nd, at the Hilton New York and Towers in New York City. Peter J. Davoren, chairman, president and CEO of The Turner Corporation; Nathaniel R. Goldston III, president and CEO of Gourmet Services, Inc.; and Shahid Khan, president of Flex-N-Gate Corporation each received the 2007 NMSDC Minority Business Leadership Award.

“High achievement and decades of commitment to the power of solid alliances between minority businesses and their corporate partners are what distinguish this year’s honorees,” said NMSDC President Harriet Michel. “As individuals they are recognized as leaders in America’s business community. Collectively they represent strength, perseverance, vision, forthrightness and commitment to our mutual goal that all Americans deserve a chance to take full part in our nation’s economic progress.”

Shahid Khan is president of Flex-N-Gate Corporation, a $2.5 billion global auto parts manufacturer with 15,000 associates. The Urbana, Illinois-based company makes metal and plastic automotive components and assemblies, including bumpers, grilles, hinges, instrument panels, pedal systems and running boards. Flex-N-Gate’s list of corporate clients includes BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors and Toyota. The company has been expanding since 2000, and now has more than 48 manufacturing plants in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Spain and the U.S.

More than 1,650 guests attended the event, including CEOs and executives of Fortune 500 corporations and minority business owners from across the nation.

Mohammad Khan elected officer of Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance Contactless Payments Council has announced new officers, elected in February 2007. Among the new officers is Mohammad Khan, founder and president of ViVOtech.

He held several engineering, marketing, and business development management positions during the 15 years he worked with VeriFone.

Joining VeriFone in its early stage in 1983, Mr. Khan helped the company develop its payment automation systems and later helped successfully market these products in more than 96 countries. Included were the smart card and security payment products he conceived for VeriFone and launched to its worldwide markets in the early ‘90s. He was also a co-founder of the Internet Commerce Division within VeriFone and was responsible for expansion of its Internet payment systems business into more than 25 countries. VeriFone grew to $600 million in revenue before being acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $1.2 billion in 1997. Mr. Khan is a co-founder of Sparkice, Inc., China’s e-Hub for global commerce, where he worked as its senior vice president. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In 2006 Khan was recognized as a leader of the Electronic Payments Industry by the Transaction Trends Magazine and in 2005 as a “Mover and Shaker” of the Electronic Payments Industry by the Transaction World magazine.

Assemblyman records Muslim meet

At what is is being described as an attempt to intimidation Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore filmed a lecture event sponsored by the Muslim Students Union of University of California at Irvine. The speaker at the event was Sheikh Sadullah Khan, a prominent scholar and activist who fought South Africa’s apartheid regime.

DeVore told the media that he was inspired to do the recording after reading reports that MSU members had allegedly blocked an anonymous person from filming the speech of Amir Abdul-Malik Ali.

No one stopped DeVore from filming eventhough there were signs requesting no video taping. “For those who want to videotape, feel free to do so,” Imam Khan said in the opening minutes of his speech, gesturing toward DeVore.

Marya Bangee, the union’s spokeswoman, said DeVore’s comments were off the mark and that her group is opposed to political Zionism.

“As Muslims, we respect all Jews,” she said. “I think that clear distinction has to be made between a political ideology and a religion.”

She added that her group was wary of people videotaping its events because members felt the footage was often edited and taken out of context.

Israeli wall at Poly

POMONA – Muslim students placed a traveling wall representing opposition to the Israeli security barrier separating Israelis from Palestinians in the campus center quad of Cal Poly Pomona this week.

The gray-painted wooden wall – 10 feet high and 60 feet long – was first erected at UC Irvine last week and will remain on display at Cal Poly until Friday, said Amir Mertaban, president of the Student Coalition for a Just Peace.

It is meant to give students a Palestinian version of the conflict, Mertaban said.

The barrier was constructed by Israel and divides Israel and Palestinian land. Israelis say the barrier protects againsy terror attacks.

The Cal Poly wall was built by students in the Muslim student organizations at UC Irvine and Cal Poly Pomona.

“The idea is to balance [an] already tilted scale with something like this,” Mertaban said. “We’re trying to bring out the truth.”

Imam leads prayer in Alabama house

Imam Kareem Abdullah of the Birmingham Islamic Center led the opening prayer last week in the Alabama House.

Ministers from across the state, mostly from Christian churches, come to the microphone to pray at the start of each day’s session, just before House members say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Abdullah was invited by Rep. Yusuf Salaam, D-Selma, the only Muslim member of the Legislature.
Salaam said he invited Abdullah because he feels it’s important to show legislators and other Alabama residents that most Muslims are “sane, sober-minded people,” and not terrorists or against America.
“Most Muslims are God-fearing people with much in common with this country,” Salaam said.

9-23

New Group Sponsors Lecture on Palestine

Boston–May 29–A friend of the Somerville Divestment Project, Loay Abdelkarim, has founded a sister organization opposing US funding of Israel called Jamaica Plain Residents for Human Rights. Abdulkarim, who is originally from Darfur, organized a lecture featuring Palestinian “Wheels of Justice” activist Mazin Qumsiyeh at Spontaneous Celebrations.

Thousands of pro-Palestine flyers were handed out to people at subway and supermarket, delivered to homes, put on cars, and posted in the community. Three large signs hung on the street for two afternoons at subway stops, and about 400 pieces were sent by physical mail through SDP’s fundraising mailing. About twenty hours of volunteer time were donated by residents to the group. A sister named Hala made a lovely cake.

Turnout was about 40 people. Of these, six were high school students. About 25 people were new, while 10 or so were familiar friends. Of the 25 newcomers, approximately 10 said that they had seen a flyer on pole, 7 had been given a flyer by hand or at homes. 3 or 4 saw the big signs on the street, 7 had gotten email, and about 6 heard about it from a friend. 3 or 4 of the people found out about the event in more than one way.

Ron Francis talked about the movement to divest from Israel, and John Spritzler discussed the issue of “why politicians and other ruling elites are against us.” Mazin Qumsiyeh was the keynote speaker. Qumsiyeh focused on refugee issues and on his recommendation for Boycotts, Divestments, Sanctions and other forms of non-violent resistance. Qumsiyeh also took some questions that ranged from response to false attacks of anti-Semitism to how we move forward.

Mazin answered the questions well. JPRHR hopes to be able to attract a small set of people who might be willing to pursue grassroots organizing in the area. A total of $140 was raised. Loay talked about the need to organize in Jamaica Plain several times. People hung around for about one hour afterward and the cleanup was done at around 9:30. For a first attempt at trying to help local folks activate people in a given neighborhood the project was good and the organizers said they certainly learned a lot.

A follow-up pizza discussion group for JP folks is planned and there is talk of a similar Cambridge effort. On June 19th, JPRHR will show the film Jenin Jenin at the same place.

Finding friends for Muslims’ children is a challenge for Boston’s Muslim parents

Boston–May 29–Lena Hariri, mother of three, wants her children to feel a part of the Muslim community in Boston, but feels they lack close relationships with other Muslim children, a common concern among Muslim mothers in the Boston area.

Her sons, ages eight and six, aren’t forming strong friendships with other Muslim children in the community because they attend public schools where Muslim children are in the minority.

“There are a couple of Muslim kids at my oldest son’s school, but their families don’t show any interest in getting together, “ she says.

On Saturdays, Lena’s children spend several hours studying Arabic and Islam at Al Huda Society’s Weekend School in Everett, MA.

“My children attend Saturday Islamic school, but the teachers have to cram a lot in four and a half hours, so the kids don’t really get to play together,” Lena says.

Lena attends the potlucks and ‘Eid celebrations that local Islamic organizations have every year, but wishes there were more opportunities for her kids to socialize with other Muslims.

Cherice Dacosta, mother of four children under the age of ten, also wants her kids to develop stronger relationships with other Muslims. She homeschools her children, and they attend Al Huda on Saturdays.

“The weekend school offers my children a chance to connect with children from Muslim families, but it is only once a week and we do not see most of these children outside the school setting,” Cherice explains.

While she is thankful for the social activities that local mosques organize, she wishes her children had more Muslim friends.

A major problem is that Muslim families live far apart and have to schedule play dates and other activities so that their kids can meet. Parents often bring their children to the mosque for family-friendly activities.

Sarah Chapman doesn’t have any Muslim neighbors, so she has started bringing her toddler to a mosque north of Boston where they can meet other Muslim families.

“It’s important to me that my daughter has Muslim friends, Sarah says. “It’s important to me that she will be a good Muslim and not be surrounded by non-Muslim children who could teach her bad things.”

With the construction of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center nearing completion and the growth of Muslim families in the Boston area in the last decade, there is hope for more opportunities where Muslim children can connect with each other.

Roxbury community recruits peace activists

Boston–May 29–City Councilman Chuck Turner is inviting all community members to sign a “Peace Pledge” (below) to launch a dialogue on “Achieving Sanity in an Insane Society.”

His district, where the Roxbury Mosque is located, has the highest homicide rate in Boston.

“We have drugs, no jobs, guns and our children out of school.”

Turner explained that we cannot rely on the government to create a healthy, peaceful and prosperous community…We live in a society where many of us believe that violence is legitimate.”

Dr. Martin Luther King in 1967 preached about the triple evils of racism, militarism and economic exploitation, Turner recalled. The goal should not be to “integrate” into such a society.

Today, the federal government is spending hundreds of billions on warfare. A fraction is spent on education, the most expensive social program. The City’s budget emphasizes “law enforcement.”

Counselor Maureen Feeney spoke. “There is not enough money to throw at the problems.”

Turner emphasized that adults have to step up and be role models.

“There is a negative self-concept which is part of being raised black in our society. Jesse Jackson’s ‘I am somebody’ campaign was an attempt to replace the negative programming. We have not accepted who we are and where we have come from. We need to teach the history of the [civil rights] movement.”

Turner said, “We can change ourselves and we can change our country.”

Council-member Felix Arroyo and an aide to Council-member Sam Yoon expressed their support for the pledge.

Peace and Prosperity Pledge

Because of my desire to play a part in creating Peace and Prosperity for myself and the people of District 7, I pledge to:

Make a commitment to lead a life of nonviolence—a life in which the guiding principle is “DO NO HARM”
Make a commitment to work continuously on self development–physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually
Make a commitment to work continuously on the development of a solid, legal economic foundation for self and family
Make a commitment to work together to hold our leaders accountable for their responsibility to work with us to obtain the resources necessary to carry out the above commitment

Because I understand that in order to meet the challenge of the above commitments we are going to have to help each other, I pledge myself to help others in their quest for Peace and Prosperity and I acknowledge that I am going to need help in the following areas:
____________________.

9-23

Based on Pew poll, adapted by TMO Staff

The first-ever, nationwide, random sample survey of Muslim Americans finds them to be largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world.

The study by the Pew Research Center says US Muslims–most of whom are immigrants–believe in the American work ethic and reject extremism.

Their income and education levels mirror those of the general US public, according to the survey.

However, most respondents say life has become more difficult for US Muslims since the 11 September attacks.

The survey–entitled Muslim Americans, Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream–says 65% of American Muslims are immigrants.

Among Muslims born in the US, the study says about half are African American–many of them converts.

Overall, the study says, Muslim Americans have a positive view of US society at large. Most say their communities are excellent or good places to live. As many Muslim Americans as members of the general public express satisfaction with the state of the nation, the authors say.

“The life situations and attitudes of Muslim Americans stand in contrast with those of Muslim minorities of Western Europe.”

Pew Global Attitudes surveys last year in the UK, France, Germany and Spain found that most Muslims there suffered unemployment and felt marginalized.

The latest poll suggests that US Muslims reject Islamic radicalism by larger margins than do Muslims in other parts of the world.

However, the study adds, there is somewhat more acceptance of Islamic extremism in some segments of the US Muslim public than others.

Fewer native-born African American Muslims than others completely condemn al-Qaeda, according to the report.

In addition, younger Muslims in the US are more likely than older Muslim Americans to say that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can sometimes be justified.

On foreign policy, US Muslims are more critical of the US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan than the general public, the survey indicates.

‘Singled out’

Consistent with the views of Muslims in other countries, fewer that half of Muslim Americans – regardless of their age – accept the idea that Arab men carried out the 11 September attacks, the study says.

It adds that the attacks “continue to cast a long shadow over Muslim Americans”, with 53% saying life has become more difficult since then.

Many say they worry about government surveillance, stereotyping and harassment.

The main concerns voiced by respondents were job discrimination and prejudice.

Many say Muslims are perceived as potential terrorists.

According to the report, 54% believe the US government has singled out Muslims for increased surveillance and monitoring

Overall, a third of American Muslims say someone offered to help them because of their religion.

Farid Senzai, Fellow and Director of Research at ISPU (Institute for Social Policy & Understanding), made comments today at a press conference in Washington, DC at which the Pew Research Center released the comprehensive survey of Muslim Americans, describing the attitudes, experiences and demographics of the group.

Senzai served as a member of Pew’s outside advisory board on this project. In addition, ISPU organized the focus groups that informed the research.

The study is the first ever nationwide survey to attempt to measure rigorously the demographics, attitudes and experiences of Muslim Americans. The survey also contrasts the views of the Muslim population as a whole with those of the U.S. general population, and with the attitudes of Muslims all around the world, including Western Europe.

Finally, findings from the survey make important contributions to the debate over the total size of the Muslim American population.

Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream

The Pew Research Center conducted more than 55,000 interviews to obtain a national sample of 1,050 Muslims living in the United States. Interviews were conducted in English, Arabic, Farsi and Urdu. The resulting study, which draws on Pew’s survey research among Muslims around the world, finds that Muslim Americans are a highly diverse population, one largely composed of immigrants. Nonetheless, they are decidedly American in their outlook, values and attitudes. This belief is reflected in Muslim American income and education levels, which generally mirror those of the public.

Key findings include:

a.. Overall, Muslim Americans have a generally positive view of the larger society. Most say their communities are excellent or good places to live.

b.. A large majority of Muslim Americans believe that hard work pays off in this society. Fully 71% agree that most people who want to get ahead in the United States can make it if they are willing to work hard.

c.. The survey shows that although many Muslims are relative newcomers to the U.S., they are highly assimilated into American society. On balance, they believe that Muslims coming to the U.S. should try and adopt American customs, rather than trying to remain distinct from the larger society. And by nearly two-to-one (63%-32%) Muslim Americans do not see a conflict between being a devout Muslim and living in a modern society.
d.. Roughly two-thirds (65%) of adult Muslims in the U.S. were born elsewhere. A relatively large proportion of Muslim immigrants are from Arab countries, but many also come from Pakistan and other South Asian countries. Among native-born Muslims, roughly half are African American (20% of U.S. Muslims overall), many of whom are converts to Islam.

a.. Based on data from this survey, along with available Census Bureau data on immigrants’ nativity and nationality, the Pew Research Center estimates the total population of Muslims in the United States at 2.35 million.

b.. Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries. However, there is somewhat more acceptance of Islamic extremism in some segments of the U.S. Muslim public than others. Fewer native-born African American Muslims than others completely condemn al Qaeda. In addition, younger Muslims in the U.S. are much more likely than older Muslim Americans to say that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can be at least sometimes justified. Nonetheless, absolute levels of support for Islamic extremism among Muslim Americans are quite low, especially when compared with Muslims around the world.

c.. A majority of Muslim Americans (53%) say it has become more difficult to be a Muslim in the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Most also believe that the government “singles out” Muslims for increased surveillance and monitoring.

d.. Relatively few Muslim Americans believe the U.S.-led war on terror is a sincere effort to reduce terrorism, and many doubt that Arabs were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Just 40% of Muslim Americans say groups of Arabs carried out those attacks.

The complete Pew report is available on the TMO website.

9-22

PALMYRA, NJ–The Islamic Center of South Jersey opened its door to the community to reassure them that the centr’s teachings didn’t play any role in the alleged terrorist plot. 4 men recently arrested for allegedly plotting an attack on Fort Dix are reported to have attended the mosque.

“We are here so we can provide information about Islam, about Muslims and about us,” said Rafey Habib, a trustee at ISCJ and a literature professor at Rutgers University.

“I’m very proud to be here and I’m very proud that this center is in our community,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-Haddon Heights. “We’re here tonight because this is a place where peace is taught. We are united by a common desire that the peaceful practices that we heard tonight be truly a practice, not just an aspiration.”

Afsheen Shamshi of the NJ Council on American-Islamic Relations, said last week’s arrest of six area men authorities described as “radical Islamists” led to a surge in instances of discrimination and harassment of Muslims, especially women.

A Passaic County woman was allegedly harassed on the street and a man was charged Tuesday with punching a Muslim woman in the face in Fairfield.

“I’m telling you about these stories because I want you to understand the fear that we live with every day,” Shamshi said. Donald Simpson of Moorestown said he was there to learn.

“I know very little about the Quran and I know very little about Muslims,” Simpsons said. “This is first chance I’ve had to learn.”

9-22

Courtesy David Edwards and Muriel Kane

In an interview on CNN International’s Your World Today, veteran journalist Seymour Hersh explains that the current violence in Lebanon is the result of an attempt by the Lebanese government to crack down on a militant Sunni group, Fatah al-Islam, that it formerly supported.

Seymour Hersh

Last March, Hersh reported that American policy in the Middle East had shifted to opposing Iran, Syria, and their Shia allies at any cost, even if it meant backing hardline Sunni jihadists.

A key element of this policy shift was an agreement among Vice President Dick Cheney, Deputy National Security Advisor Elliot Abrams, and Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi national security adviser, whereby the Saudis would covertly fund the Sunni Fatah al-Islam in Lebanon as a counterweight to the Shia Hezbollah.

Hersh points out that the current situation is much like that during the conflict in Afghanistan in the 1980’s – which gave rise to al Qaeda – with the same people involved in both the US and Saudi Arabia and the “same pattern” of the US using jihadists that the Saudis assure us they can control.

When asked why the administration would be acting in a way that appears to run counter to US interests, Hersh says that, since the Israelis lost to them last summer, “the fear of Hezbollah in Washington, particularly in the White House, is acute.”

As a result, Hersh implies, the Bush administration is no longer acting rationally in its policy. “We’re in the business of supporting the Sunnis anywhere we can against the Shia. … “We’re in the business of creating … sectarian violence.” And he describes the scheme of funding Fatah al-Islam as “a covert program we joined in with the Saudis as part of a bigger, broader program of doing everything we could to stop the spread of the Shia world, and it just simply–it bit us in the rear.”

Hersh/Gorani Interview

…

HALA GORANI: Well, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reported back in March that in order to defeat Hezbollah, the Lebanese government supported a Sunni militant group, the same ones they’re fighting today. Seymour joins us live from Washington. Thanks for being with us. What is the source of the financing according to your reporting on these groups, such as Fatah al-Islam in these camps of Nahr el Bared, for instance? Where are they getting the money and where are they getting the arms?

SEYMOUR HERSH: The key player is the Saudis. What I was writing about was sort of a private agreement that was made between the White House, we’re talking about Richard — Dick — Cheney and Elliott Abrams, one of the key aides in the White House, with Bandar. And the idea was to get support, covert support from the Saudis, to support various hard-line jihadists, Sunni groups, particularly in Lebanon, who would be seen in case of an actual confrontation with Hezbollah — the Shia group in the southern Lebanon — would be seen as an asset, as simple as that.

GORANI: The Senora government, in order to counter the influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon would be covertly according to your reporting funding groups like Fatah al-Islam that they’re having issues with right now?

HERSH: Unintended consequences once again, yes.

GORANI: And so if Saudi Arabia and the Senora government are doing this, whether it’s unintended or not, therefore it has the United States must have something to say about it or not?

HERSH: Well, the United States was deeply involved. This was a covert operation that Bandar ran with us. Don’t forget, if you remember, you know, we got into the war in Afghanistan with supporting Osama bin Laden, the mujahadin back in the late 1980s with Bandar and with people like Elliott Abrams around, the idea being that the Saudis promised us they could control — they could control the jihadists so we spent a lot of money and time, the United States in the late 1980s using and supporting the jihadists to help us beat the Russians in Afghanistan and they turned on us. And we have the same pattern, not as if there’s any lessons learned. It’s the same pattern, using the Saudis again to support jihadists, Saudis assuring us they can control these various group, the groups like the one that is in contact right now in Tripoli with the government.

GORANI: Sure, but the mujahadin in the ‘80s was one era. Why would it be in the best interest of the United States of America right now to indirectly even if it is indirect empower these jihadi movements that are extremists that fight to the death in these Palestinian camps? Doesn’t it go against the interests not only of the Senora government but also of America and Lebanon now?

HERSH: The enemy of our enemy is our friend, much as the jihadist groups in Lebanon were also there to go after Nasrullah. Hezbollah, if you remember, last year defeated Israel, whether the Israelis want to acknowledge it, so you have in Hezbollah, a major threat to the American — look, the American role is very simple. Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, has been very articulate about it. We’re in the business now of supporting the Sunnis anywhere we can against the Shia, against the Shia in Iran, against the Shia in Lebanon, that is Nasrullah. Civil war. We’re in a business of creating in some places, Lebanon in particular, a sectarian violence.

GORANI: The Bush administration, of course, officials would disagree with that, so would the Senora government, openly pointing the finger at Syria, saying this is an offshoot of a Syrian group, Fatah al-Islam is, where else would it get its arms from if not Syria.

HERSH: You have to answer this question. If that’s true, Syria which is close — and criticized greatly by the Bush administration for being very close — to Hezbollah would also be supporting groups, Salafist groups — the logic breaks down. What it is simply is a covert program we joined in with the Saudis as part of a bigger broader program of doing everything we could to stop the spread of the Shia, the Shia world, and it bit us in the rear, as it’s happened before.

GORANI: Sure, but if it doesn’t make any sense for the Syrians to support them, why would it make any sense for the U.S. to indirectly, of course, to support, according to your reporting, by giving a billion dollars in aid, part of it military, to the Senora government — and if that is dispensed in a way that that government and the U.S. is not controlling extremist groups, then indirectly the United States, according to the article you wrote, would be supporting them. So why would it be in their best interest and what should it do according to the people you’ve spoken to?

HERSH: You’re assuming logic by the United States government. That’s okay. We’ll forget that one right now. Basically it’s very simple. These groups are seeing — when I was in Beirut doing interviews, I talked to officials who acknowledged the reason they were tolerating the radical jihadist groups was because they were seen as a protection against Hezbollah. The fear of Hezbollah in Washington, particularly in the White House, is acute. They just simply believe that Hassan Nasrallah is intent on waging war in America. Whether it’s true or not is another question. There is a supreme overwhelming fear of Hezbollah and we do not want Hezbollah to play an active role in the government in Lebanon and that’s been our policy, basically, which is support the Senora government, despite its weakness against the coalition. Not only Senora but Mr. Ahun, former military leader of Lebanon. There in a coalition that we absolutely abhor.

GORANI: All right, Seymour Hersh of “The New Yorker” magazine, thanks for joining us there and hopefully we’ll be able to speak a little bit in a few months’ time when those developments take shape in Lebanon and we know more. Thanks very much.

HERSH: glad to talk to you.

9-22

Save the US Ummah

From Zahiruddin Abedeen

The Editor,
The Muslim Observer

ASAK

Dear Sir,

Ref. your vol 9 Issue 12 dated 15-21 Mar 2007, the article Save the US Ummah, by Adil James.

Jeffery Lang has lucidly identified some negative aspects in the present state of the US `ummah, (by and large also applicable to the Ummah in general). Racial bias; cultural bias; cultural obsession (with one’s culture to the extent of confusing/substituting the essentials of Islam with cultural practices); imposition of remotely obscure and/or questionable interpretations of the Shari’ah seem to be mainly responsible.

Statistics of “fastest shrinking” in numbers apart, what is really alarming is the fast shrinking level of taqwa in the `ummah.

This could possibly be attributable to two factors. Firstly, the lack of genuine and convincing spiritual guidance, both at macro level (mosques, discussions, seminars, etc) and at the micro level (homes).

In either case there is an apparent shortage of role models to follow.

At the macro level, the emphasis should be more on practical righteous behaviour rather than just regularity in prayers. A good person makes a good believer. At the micro level (where an individual’s character and personality are large moulded) where generally the father is the role model, children observe an alarming disparity between preaching and practice, with hypocrisy often being the rule.

The second reason seems to be the alarming rise of hypocrisy amongst the `ummah. Of course, only Allah knows for certain what is in a man’s heart, but it is disturbing when you see people say one thing and then do something totally the opposite.

We also seem to be unmindful of the damage caused to the fair name of the `ummah, when we exonerate, (even trying to cover up) known individual cases of excessive behaviour.

Occasionally we even highlight (perhaps through ignorance) display of ostensibly religious fervour which more likely may be acts of hypocrisy.

[The writer of this letter now cites as evidence a specific example of a person he says was arrested for a crime–TMO did not verify this information and if it is true the TMO editors do not wish to expose the person].

The dire need of the moment for the `ummah seems to be Righteous (behaviour and) Acts, emphasised so frequently in the Qur`an.

Abezee