Events/Workshops
(Dec 11, 2010) CAIR-CT 6th Annual Banquet.
More than 250 people turned out on Saturday for
the 6th annual fundraising banquet for the Connecticut office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations
(Read more...)
CAIR-CT 6th Annual Banquet.
More than 250 people turned out on Saturday for the 6th annual
fundraising banquet for the Connecticut office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT).
The keynote speaker for the event
was Ahmed Bedier, President of the Tampa Hillsborough Human
Rights Council (THHRC) in Florida. Other speakers included North
Carolina State Senator and CAIR National Board Chairman Larry
Shaw, and Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR's Michigan
office.
"This event was a great success, with our community turning out
in great numbers to celebrate CAIR's advocacy work, to share the
achievements we have made and to hear about our plans for the
future," said CAIR-CT President Dr. Imran Ahmed. "Our guest
speakers spoke to the current concerns of the Muslim community
and inspired the audience to continue working for the betterment
of all."
The event was held on
Sat. Dec 11, 2010.
“Defining our Faith, Defending our Rights”
Location: University of Bridgeport Student center.
Contact: Mongi Dhaouadi (860) 514-8038
- Turn by turn direction:
Click HERE
Click Here for a Youtube snapshot of the event
Click here for more pictures
Back
(Dec 18, 2010) CAIR-CT Volunteers Reception
(Read more...)m.jpg)
CAIR-CT Volunteers Reception
The 2010 banquet was followed up with
a volunteers reception in the Annex building in Bridgeport on Sat
Dec 18, which was attended by Bill Finch, the Mayor of Bridgeport
who signed the appreciation certificates for all volunteers who made
the banquet a success.m.jpg)
Click Here for some
pictures of the event.
Back
CAIR-CT/ Masjid
Al-Islam Youth LEAD Institute
(Read more...)
(Dec 24, 2010) Know
Your Rights session. Masjid Altaqwa Fri Dec 24 after Jumuah”
(Read more...)
(Nov 24, 2010) Two Muslim women who were refused services at Ron-A-Roll in
Vernon, CT
(Read more...)
(Nov 15, 2010) Local
Coalition Rallies in Support of Civil Rights Ordinance
Hartford City Council:
Public Hearing about Proposed Law
(Read more...)
Call to Action
(Nov 15, 2010):
Local
Coalition Rallies in Support of Civil Rights Ordinance
Hartford City Council:
Public Hearing about Proposed Law
The
Council on American Islamic Relation in Connecticut is calling
on all Muslims in the Hartford area and all people of conscious
to come out in great numbers on Monday to support the Hartford
Civil Rights Ordinance.
What: Rally Press
Conference in Support of the Hartford Civil Rights Ordinance
When: Monday November 15,
2010 at 5:30PM (public hearing at 7PM)
Where: Hartford City Hall
Steps, 550 Main Street, Hartford CT
A
broad coalition of community organizations will gather at the
steps of City Hall to support an ordinance introduced by
Councilor Luis Cotto that will protect and restore civil rights
and liberties in Hartford. A press conference at 5:30 p.m. will
be followed by a rally at 6:00 p.m. A public hearing on the
proposed law will take place inside City Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Mongi Dhaouadi, Ph: (860) 514-8038 or
moc.riac@idauoahdm
Click HERE for a PDF printout.
Back
(Oct 30, 2010) Victims of “The War on Terror”
All Day Educational Event in Knowing and Defending Our Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
(Read more...)
Since
9/11 the Muslim community has experienced increasing levels of
discriminatory invasive and abusive conduct by federal agents.
On September 24th 2010, the FBI raided two homes in Chicago, and
five homes in Minneapolis, along with the Anti-War Committee
office. Armed and threatening, the FBI turned people’s homes
upside down and took their computers, cell phones, documents,
newspapers, framed photos and children’s art work.
Join us This Saturday Oct 30th to learn the history, the tactics
and how to address these abuses, protect our communities, and
defend our civil rights and civil liberties without compromising
our national security.
(Click Here for the flyer)
Back
(Oct 18, 2010) Huffington Post: Shilling
for the Israeli Occupation: The ADL’s New Mission Statement?
(Read more...)
News
Story
(October 18, 2010):
Huffington Post: Shilling for the Israeli Occupation: The ADL’s
New Mission Statement?
Original posting
Ahmed Rehab on the ADL's "Top Ten List"
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), fresh off of several PR gaffes,
recently managed to pull off another head-scratching moment by
compiling and releasing a
list
of the “top ten most influential anti-Israel groups in America.”
In
other words, an organization that describes itself as “the nation’s
premier civil rights/human relations agency that fights
anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals
and protects civil rights for all” is spending its resources
decrying American organizations
...
(Read full article..)
Back
(Oct 10, 2010) CAIR-National
leadership-Banquet 2010 (Read more...)
News
Story
(October 10, 2010):
CAIR-National leadership-Banquet 2010
On
Saturday Oct 9th, 2010 The Council on American Islamic Relations
held its 16th Annual Banquet and Leadership Conference designed
to train members from the Muslim community on leadership skills
and media and civic engagement techniques. Both programs were a
tremendous success. Two hundred and eighty people participated
in leadership workshops and 900 people attended the banquet in
the evening.
The Leadership Training Conference received high marks from
attendees who traveled from all over the US and Canada to
participate. The “Becoming a Dynamic Public Speaker” session...
(Read full article..)
Back
(Sep 21, 2010) Forum looks forward to Peace
One Day (Read more...)
News
Story
(September 21, 2010):
Forum looks forward to Peace One Day
Stonington,
CT -
On Tuesday Sep, 21, Mongi
Dhaouadi, CAIR-CT executive Director, shared the stage in
giving a presentation on Islamophobia with Rev. David Good at
Pine Point Middle school in Stonington. The school hosted a
Peace Day marked with many events including workshops given by
41 presenters. The coverage of The New London Day news paper
(below) was focused on the Islamophobia event. The two sessions
they presented were packed not only with students but with
teachers, parents, and even other presenters. Here is how the
head of the Pine Point School put it in an email:
Salaam,
Mongi.
Our youth conference on Tuesday was
truly astonishing and wonderful.
Having you with us and working in
concert with David [sorry we did not
get the basketball game going!! J]
was an opportunity for exceptional
learning. THANK YOU for being a
positive force in building bridges
toward peace. We felt quite blessed
to have you among our presenters.
Of
course, this is but one step in a
long journey. I do hope we might
coax the two of you back to
facilitate a discussion within our
moral leadership program later this
year.
While I
will be sending you a proper thank
you via mail, I just wanted you to
know how grateful the entire school
community is for your contributions
to peace one day…
Paul G.
Geise
Head of
School
Pine
Point
(Read full article..)
Back
(Sep 3, 2010) Connecticut interfaith
leaders address ‘anti-Muslim hysteria’ (video) (Read more...)
News
Story
(September 3, 2010):
Conn.
interfaith leaders address ‘anti-Muslim hysteria’ (video)
NEW HAVEN - A number of clergy and Muslim leaders spoke out
Thursday about their efforts to counter increasing harassment
and discrimination against Muslims that they say reflect an
ignorance about Islam.
Mongi Dhaouadi, executive director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations in Connecticut, said the harassment
has "metastasized," taking the form of bigoted comments by
politicians, hate crimes against Muslims and mosques, a call to
burn Qurans by an extremist pastor in Florida and opposition to
a Muslim community center near Ground Zero.
(Read full article..)
Back
(Aug 2010)
CAIR-CT’s Rapid Response to Islamophobia in Bridgeport (and
recent news articles)
(Read more...)
Letter
to our community
(Aug 25, 2010):
Turning Adversity into Opportunity
CAIR-CT’s Rapid Response to Islamophobia in Bridgeport
By Imran Ahmed, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CAIR-CT
Islamophobia- irrational fear that connotes a
social anxiety, discrimination, and prejudice against Muslims
and Islam- is at its highest level in America since the 9-11
tragedy. Islamophobia is fast becoming what anti-Semitism is
for Judaism and Jews, rooted in hostility and intolerance
towards religious and cultural beliefs and a religious or racial
group. (Read full
letter...)
Article published Aug 23, 2010
A night for breaking
fast and barriers
By Julianne Hanckel Day Staff Writer
'Sharing
Ramadan' event held to promote cross-cultural respect
New London - Nearly two weeks into Ramadan, 300
people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds gathered
Sunday inside the Crozier-Williams College Center on the campus
of Connecticut College to experience "Sharing Ramadan," an event
that offered guests a chance to experience the Muslim month of
fasting.
"We're gathered here today to share the month of Ramadan with
our friends and reach out and create new friendships," said
Mongi Dhaouadi..
(Read full article..)
Article published Aug 22, 2010
A cure for the disease of Islamophobia
By DAVID W.
GOOD
Clearly the spiritual disease of Islamophobia is all too
prevalent in our society, spread by the malicious politics of
such people as Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin and such supposed
pundits as Cal Thomas, whose Aug. 18 commentary in The Day,
"Ground zero sum game," is but yet his most recent endeavor to
spread this disease.
(Read full article..)
Article published Aug 16, 2010
Muslim images often end up being one-sided
By NADA SAFADI
All throughout the American media, the war on Islam is raging.
Any news that can degrade, dehumanize or vilify Muslims is
dished out to form public opinion. Although the term "extremist"
usually precedes villain Islam, one might as well omit it.
(Read full article..)
Article published Aug 14, 2010
Connecticut group discusses bias against Islam
By The
Register Citizen (registercitizen.com)
HARTFORD (AP) — More than 150 Muslims and people of other faiths
gathered Friday at the Connecticut Capitol said they are
concerned about
what they called "Islamophobia" across the country and for their
safety during the holy month of Ramadan.
(Read full article..)
Youth Hijab
Article
(September 1, 2010):
Muslim
Headscarf Draws Hateful Outburst
By TASMIA KHAN
My parents are first-generation immigrants from Bangladesh. My
brother and I were born in the United States. We have always
been proud of our ethnicity and our religion, Islam. Like many
Muslim women, I wear the hijab, or headscarf. Hijab is more than
just covering up; it is overall modesty in actions and
appearance that applies to men and women. It is my expression of
modesty and faith.
(Read full article..)
Back
(Aug 22, 2010) Sharing Ramadan 2010 evening in Conn. College on Sunday Aug 22. (Read more...)
The
ICNL (Islamic Center of New London) and CAIR-CT invite you for an
Iftar meal and Sharing Ramadan evening on Sunday Aug 22 starting at
6:15 pm at Conn. College, in New London.
Click Here
for Flyer.
Please RSVP to our youth coordinator Tasmia Khan 860-912-0047
Address is:
270 Mohegan Ave
New London CT 06320
Back
(July 30, 2010) Hundreds turn out for “Know Your Rights” sessions in Bridgeport (Read more...)
The Council on American Islamic Relations-Connecticut chapter
held two “Know Your Rights” sessions at Masjid Al-Annour on Friday
July 30th 2010. During the event the Executive Director of CAIR-CT,
Mongi Dhaouadi, talked about the rise in recent months in cases
reported to CAIR across the US with regards to American Muslims
being stranded in foreign countries after being placed on the no-fly
list while traveling abroad.
The back to back presentations were attended by well over 350
people who sat after Friday prayer and listened attentively while
Mr. Dhaouadi gave a chilling account of a Muslim student who studies
abroad and who found himself stranded after being informed at the
airport when he was trying to board his flight to JFK, that he was
on a no-fly list. In recent weeks, CAIR issued a toolkit to be used
by Muslim leaders in various Muslim communities to deal with this
challenge. Please refer to the Travel Advisory issued by CAIR for
important tips to travelers who might find themselves in similar
situation.
Back
 (Read more...)
Jul 15, 2010 -
(Washington D.C.)— House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr.
(D-Mich.) and Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil
Rights, and Civil Liberties Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.)
introduced
H.R. 5748, End Racial Profiling Act of 2010 (ERPA).
Read more...
Back
(June 4, 2010) Rally Demonstration (Read more...)
Rally Demonstration
-
CAIR CT urges you to join us in a Rally
Demonstration this Friday, June 4th in front of the
Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building in Hartford.
-
Co-sponsored by: Masjid Al-Islam, Mohammed Islamic
Center of Hartford, Islamic Center of New London,
Berlin Islamic Center, We Refuse to Be Enemies, Old
Lyme Congregational Church, Middle Eastern Crisis
Committee...
Date: Friday, June 4, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM
Back
(Aug 22, 2010) Travel advisory to American Muslims (Read more...)
 ICNL
CAIR issues a travel advisory to American Muslims warning of the
risk of "forced exile" when traveling overseas or attempting to
return to the United States.
Click Here for the full article.
Back
(May 5, 2010) From Connecticut Post Newspaper: Muslims decry bomb plot, urge calm
(Read more...)
CT.Post newspaper
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Muslims-decry-bomb-plot-urge-calm-475066.php#photo-2
Muslims decry bomb plot, urge calm
Daniel Tepfer, And
Keila Torres Staff Writers
Published: 05:48 p.m., Wednesday, May 5,
2010
Imam Hasan Abunar,
center of Norwich, addresses Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch during a
meeting with clergy at Bridgeport City Hall Annex on Wednesday, May 5,
2010. All in attendance reiterated the point that local members of the
Muslim faith should not be stigmatized because of the actions of New
York City bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad. Photo: Brian A. Pounds /
Connecticut Post
Imam Hasan Abunar of
Norwich addresses Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch during a meeting with
clergy at Bridgeport City Hall Annex on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. All in
attendance reiterated the point that local members of the Muslim faith
should not be stigmatized by the actions of New York City bombing
suspect Faisal Shahzad. Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Connecticut Post
Mongi Dhaouadi,
executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations talks
with Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch during a meeting with local religious
leaders at Bridgeport City Hall Annex on Wednesday, May 5, 2020. Photo:
Brian A. Pounds / Connecticut Post
Mongi Dhaouadi,
Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, speaks
at a press conference at the Holiday Inn, in Bridgeport, Conn.
Wednesday. Photo: Ned Gerard / Connecticut Post
Iman Nasil Muhammad of
Al-Aziz Islamic Center, in Bridgeport, speaks at a press conference at
the Holiday Inn, in Bridgeport, Conn. Wednesday. He is joined here by
(from left) Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Mongi Dhaouadi, Executive
Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Iman Kashi
Abdul-Karim of the Islamic Center of Greater Hartford. Photo: Ned Gerard
/ Connecticut Post
More
pictures from meeting with Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch..
 
(May 1st, 2010) Immigration Rally New Haven
(Read more...)
(New Haven, CT 5/1/2010) – The Connecticut chapter of the Council on
American Islamic Relations joined many Latino and immigration advocates
groups from cross the state to protest the Arizona 1070 bill and urge
law makers to push for a comprehensive immigration reform.
Many politicians including New Haven Mayor John De Staphano and governor
candidate Figaroua and other local civic and religious leaders condemned
the Arizona bill and vowed to keep New Haven and the state of CT at the
for front to fight for a more just and fair immigration policies. The
Mayor reminded the crowd that the city of New Haven issues identity
cards to undocumented residents of the city and repeatedly fought ICE to
stop raids conducted during the bush Administration.
Mongi Dhaouadi, the executive director of CAIR-CT, said “ We in the
Muslim community stand together with you today to rally against the
injustices done against our immigrant brothers and sisters…..profiling
is unconstitutional, ineffective and divisive and we must work together
to stop it.”
 CAIR,
America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, has over
30 offices and chapters in the U.S.A and Canada. 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.
-END
CONTACT: Mongi Dhaouadi, CAIR-CT Executive Director. 860-514-8038,
E-mail: mdhaouadi@aol.com
Back
Billboard that CAIR-CT team helped paint on Sunday April 25, 2010 in New Haven
Hands Against Hate Presents The Living Library (Apr 24, 2010) (Read more...)
The Williams School will be the site of The Living Library, presented by Hands Against Hate to promote working beyond tolerance and promoting understanding and acceptance.
“Our mission is to combat hate, prejudice and intolerance through education, dialogue and community activities, and to be an advocate for mutual understanding”.
Muslims, Christians, Jews, Meet with Congressman Chris Murphy on Palestine Issues
(Apr 20, 2010) (Read more...)
(Hartford, CT, April 22, 2010) – On Tuesday April 20, 2010, The
“Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations”
joined with “Churches for Middle East Peace”, and “We Refuse to be
Enemies” in a teleconference meeting held in the New Britain office of
Congressman Chris Murphy (D-CT).
The delegation—made up of Christian, Jewish and Muslim community
leaders—urged Rep. Murphy not to sign a letter sponsored by Reps. Hoyer
(D-MD) and Cantor (R-VA) that is currently circulating in Congress. The
group expressed their sense that the letter lends uncritical support to
the state of Israel at a time when a more nuanced policy would better
serve U.S. interests.
According to those who attended the meeting, Rep. Murphy stated that
our nation’s political dealings with Israel should be held to the same
public scrutiny as relations with other nation, and not conducted behind
closed doors as Israel’s lobbying groups have requested.
The group then asked the congressman to support Rep. Keith Ellison’s
(D-MN) letter asking the Obama administration to push for an end to the
siege on Gaza and lift the current embargo to allow for humanitarian
relief.
CAIR-CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi urged the congressman to
voice his position and let the Connecticut Muslim community know that
they have the Congressman’s support in pushing for an end to the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to the suspension of all settlement
expansion in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. The
Congressman promised to release a statement to address the concerns of
the Muslim community in regards to this issue.
Clark Griswold, a member of Churches for Middle East Peace, asked the
congressman to push for a real peace in the region and not another
process or road map that would delay any meaningful relief to the
millions of Palestinians.
Elizabeth Aaronsohn, a member of We refuse To be Enemies, said, “As a
Jewish person and a daughter of a rabbi, I give you permission not only
to criticize Israel but to cut off its ‘allowance’ until it ends its
occupation of Palestinian land.”
- END -
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group,
has over 30 offices and chapters in the U.S.A and Canada. 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.
We Refuse to be Enemies is a coalition of Jews Christians and Muslims
that is founded to promote a peaceful and just resolution to the
conflict in Israel-Palestine and foster harmony and respectful dialogue
in our own communities.
Churches for Middle East Peace are a coalition of 23 public policy
offices of national churches and agencies -- Orthodox, Catholic and
Protestant. Among its principal advocacy concerns are: the avoidance and
resolution of armed conflicts, human rights, arms control, foreign aid,
and the unique nature of Jerusalem - sacred to Christians, Jews and
Muslims.
Back
CAIR-CT representative Discusses basic tenants of Islam; dispels myths and misconceptions about Muslims at the Coast Guard Academy’s first ever Interfaith Forum
(3/27/2010) (Read more...)
(New London, CT, 3/27/10) – A representative of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) yesterday gave two presentations to Coast Guard cadets clarifying misconceptions about Islam and Muslims at The Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.
CAIR-CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi discussed the basic tenants of Islam including the five pillars of Islam, highlighting the commonality between the three Ibrahimic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He also answered questions regarding the most common misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.
“We commend the Coast Guard Academy for initiating and hosting this interfaith dialogue that we believe will foster better relations amongst the Coast Guard Academy Cadets of all faiths”, said CAIR-CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi.
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.
- END -
"Know Your Rights" session at the University of Bridgeport
(Feb 14th, 2010)(Read more...)
On Sunday Feb 14th, the Council on American Islamic
Relations-Connecticut Chapter held a "Know Your Rights" session at
the University of Bridgeport. The event was co-sponsored by MSA-University
of Bridgeport and the University of Bridgeport Islamic Center.
More than 35 members of the Muslim community attended the event. The
participants said that they were glad to have taken the time to
attend.
Sr. Nadhira Al-Khalili, a Legal Counsel at the CAIR National Office
in Washington D.C. started the program with a power point
presentation of an overview of the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights-especially the First and the Fourth amendments. For the
remainder of the program Sr. Nadhira and Br.Mongi Dhaouadi, the
Executive Director of CAIR-CT, took turns answering questions from
the audience who were very engaged and felt more comfortable to
discuss and share
personal
incidents, especially those that involved FBI encounters or TSA
agents at airports. At the end of the program, Br. Mohamed Hamada,
director of MSA events at the UB campus, thanked CAIR-CT and those
who were present and also promised to hold more workshops and events
with CAIR in the near future. He also urged everyone to support the
local CAIR chapter by becoming a member and sign up to volunteer in
its activities.
Back
Sep 13, 2009.
CAIR-CT
receives 'the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition'
from congressman Joe Courtney.
The Council On American Islamic Relations Connecticut Chapter and
Islamic Center of New London held its 2009 Sharing Ramadan event at
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, New London, CT on Sep 13,2009. As
more than one billion Muslims worldwide celebrate Ramadan by fasting and
appreciating the blessing given to us, it is important for the American
Muslim community to reach out to our neighbors as an example Islamic
ideals.
Ramadan is the month, on the Islamic Lunar calendar, during which
Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sensual pleasures from break of
dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self
restraint, generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting along
with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to
Mecca is one of the “five pillars” of Islam. The end of Ramadan will be
marked by communal prayers on the day called “Eid-ul Fitr” or Feast of
the Fast Breaking
The event started with an Interfaith Program entitled, 'Fasting
Traditions of the People of the Book' wherein a member of Jewish,
Christian, and Muslim religions discussed their fasting practices and
traditions. The program was followed by the Council on American Islamic
Relations event called 'Qur'an for Enlightment Program' handing out over
20 Noble and Glorious Qur'an to faith leaders and politicians and school
officials who attended the event.
(More pictures from the event can be found on the ICNL website
HERE)
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (ACLU)] Airline Security Must Protect Rights As Well As Safety
Racial Profiling And Body Scanners Target Civil Liberties But Not Necessarily Terrorists
(Read more...)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (ACLU)
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
NEW YORK – The Obama administration announced Sunday it will subject
the citizens of 14 nations who are flying to the United States to
intensified screening at airports, including being subjected to
full-body pat downs or body scanners. According to the American
Civilrofiling and untargeted body scanning do not
meet those criteria.
"We should be focusing on evidence-based, targeted and narrowly
tailored investigations based on individualized suspicion, which
would be both more consistent with our values and more effective
than diverting resources to a system of mass suspicion," said
Michael German, national security policy counsel with the ACLU
Washington Legislative Office and a former FBI agent. "Overbroad
policies such as racial profiling and invasive body scanning for all
travelers not only violate our rights and values, they also waste
valuable resources and divert attention from real threats."
According to the ACLU, the government's plan to subject citizens of
certain countries to enhanced screenings is bad policy, because
there is no way to predict the national origin of a terrorist and
many terrorists have come from countries not on the list. For
instance, the "shoe bomber" Richard Reid is a British citizen, as
were four of the London subway bombers, and in 2005 a Belgian woman
launched a suicide attack in Iraq.
"Singling out travelers from a few specified countries for enhanced
screening is essentially a pretext for racial profiling, which is
ineffective, unconstitutional and violates American values.
Empirical studies of terrorists show there is no terrorist profile,
and using a profile that doesn't reflect this reality will only
divert resources by having government agents target innocent
people," said German. "Profiling can also be counterproductive by
undermining community support for government counterterrorism
efforts and creating an injustice that terrorists can exploit to
justify further acts of terrorism."
In addition to racial profiling, some have called for the
across-the-board implementation of full body scanners, which present
serious threats to personal privacy and are of unclear
effectiveness. According to a UK Independent report on Sunday,
British officials have already tested the scanners and were not
persuaded that they would be effective for stopping terrorist
threats to planes. And according to security experts, the explosive
device used in the attempted attack on a Detroit-bound plane on
Christmas Day would not have been detected by the body scanners.
"We shouldn't complacently surrender our rights for a false sense of
security, and we should be very leery of being sold a device
presented as a cure-all, especially when the evidence shows just the
opposite," added German. "If scanners and other intrusive procedures
are used, it should be with their limitations in mind and only when
there is reason to believe that an individual poses an increased
risk to flight safety, not as blanket measures applied to millions
of innocent travelers."
Published on American Civil Liberties Union (http://www.aclu.org)
Source URL:
http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/airline-security-must-protect-rights-well-safety
Know Your Rights: CAIR-CT and CAIR-OK Chapters at ICNL, New London, CT
(Read
more...)
 Council on American Islamic
Relations Connecticut and Oklahoma Chapters
are teaming up to present a joint workshop on Know Your
Rights. Br. Razi Hashmi- the Executive Director of CAIR-OK
and Br. Hamza Collins, Civil
Rights Director of CAIR-CT will co host the event. The goal is
to inform the community on important issues related to civil
rights and to share chapters experiences in handling civil
rights cases; and, to discuss some of the
similarities and differences with regards to issues Muslims
communities are facing in various places.
Br. Hamza Collins has been the Civil Rights Director for
CAIR-CT since the chapters inception in 2004 and he is an active
member of the ICNL.
Br. Razi Hashmi is the Executive Director of the Council
on American-Islamic
Relations in Oklahoma (CAIR-OK). Since 2007,
he has developed
relations with the media, interfaith
leaders, governmental officials, educators, law enforcement, and
various other civic leaders to further the mission of CAIR.
Hashmi graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in 2006
with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies focusing in the
Middle East and a minor in Philosophy. Hashmi is born to a
Pakistani father and an American mother, and was raised in
Connecticut.
Refreshments provided by ICNL.
Click here for
pictures from the event.
Back
Br Mongi and Br Hamza Collins from CAIR-CT attended the Grand Opening of the New Masjid in Boston
(Read more...)
.JPG)
Br Mongi and Br Hamza Collins from CAIR-CT attended the Grand Opening of
the New Masjid in Boston called 'The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center'
on 7/26/2009 and the dinner on 7/27/2009. Many Muslim leaders attended including
Muslim politician Keith Ellison.
Judge orders review of FBI records on Muslims
(Read more...)
(04-20) 17:38 PDT Santa Ana, Calif. (AP) --
A federal judge said Monday he will review records of FBI inquiries into several
Muslim groups and activists who claim they have been unfairly spied on and questioned.
(04-20) 17:38 PDT Santa Ana, Calif. (AP) --
A federal judge said Monday he will review records of FBI inquiries into several
Muslim groups and activists who claim they have been unfairly spied on and questioned.
Judge Cormac J. Carney ordered the FBI to turn over more than 100 pages
of documents the agency holds on the 11 Muslim activists and organizations
to determine whether the information should be protected under federal law.
The decision comes amid a nearly three-year battle by the American Civil
Liberties Union and the Muslim groups to obtain the records and show
the FBI is unlawfully targeting Muslims in Southern California.
"There's a reason why they don't want to disclose this information,"
ACLU attorney Jennie Pasquarella said after the court hearing.
"It will show why they've surveilled people and we think it might show
they're surveilling people on the basis of their religion."
Besides ordering the documents, Carney said the FBI must broaden its search
for records on the Council on American-Islamic Relations to include
electronic surveillance as the agency did for the other plaintiffs.
Marcia Sowles, an attorney for the Department of Justice, told the court the FBI
may seek to keep some information private due to national security or privacy concerns
once Carney has reviewed the records.
"They (the records) do concern investigations of others because they were
identified through cross references and the plaintiffs were not the subjects
of those investigations," Sowles told the judge.
The ruling comes amid growing complaints by Muslim community leaders that the FBI
has been spying on them.
In California, Muslims' concerns were heightened this year when an FBI agent
testified in court that an informant had been planted at a local Islamic Center.
The informant gave the FBI information about Ahmadullah Niazi, an Afghan native
and brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden's bodyguard who was arrested in February
on charges of lying about alleged ties to terrorist groups on his citizenship
and passport applications.
Last week, a Muslim organization in Michigan asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
to investigate complaints the FBI has been asking the faithful to spy on fellow worshippers.
In 2007, six Muslim organizations and five individuals sued the FBI and the
Department of Justice in Southern California alleging the agency failed to turn
over records they requested a year earlier related to their own activities.
The FBI then released some records to the plaintiffs but redacted large portions
of the documents, claiming they were beyond the scope of their Freedom of
Information Act request.
On Monday, Carney told the FBI to get the redacted files to his court in two weeks
for his review to determine whether there is a valid reason for the redactions.
He also told the FBI to expand its records search for CAIR and its executive
director for the greater Los Angeles area, Hussam Ayloush.
Ayloush said after the hearing that he looks forward to reading what he believes
will be more documents from his file.
"I'm very pleased to see the American judicial system works to the advantage
of the average American even if the defendant is the government," he said.
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the FBI does not comment on pending court proceedings.
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CAIR Completes Third Annual Capitol Hill Advocacy Days
(Read more...)
(Washington, DC, 02/04/2009)- The Council on American-Islamic Relations
today announced that its advocates had completed more than 80 meetings with
elected officials and their staffers on Capitol Hill.
On Monday and Tuesday, CAIR representatives from across the country
discussed efforts to end racial profiling, concerns over the humanitarian
situation in Gaza and fighting domestic hunger.
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ENDING RACIAL PROFILING
(Read more...)
The White House's civil rights agenda says the Obama administration will
"ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies." A 2003
Department of Justice advisory report calls the practice "merely wrong" and
"ineffective." Advocates supported a ban of the practice.
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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA
(Read more...)
Advocates thanked the offices of the sixty-three Members of Congress, led by
Rep. Olver (D-MA) who recently wrote Secretary of State Clinton asking that
"the State Department release emergency funds to [United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] for reconstruction and
humanitarian assistance." Last week, President Obama released 21.3 million
in funds to start addressing this urgent need.
SEE THE OLVER LETTER HERE:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ma01_olver/Gazaclintonletter.html
FIGHTING DOMESTIC HUNGER
(Read more...)
Hunger has grown in America while food aid programs have become increasingly
strained. CAIR staff, board members and volunteers encouraged elected
officials to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,
formerly food stamps) and legislation that enhances school lunch and school
feeding programs.
"Once again we heard that many congressional offices never hear from their
Muslim constituents," said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor.
"CAIR provides training so that community members across the country can
learn how to effectively engage government."
Saylor noted that CAIR has published a Civic Participation Handbook designed
to provide best practices and step-by-step guides for everything from
holding voter registration drives to making the most of a meeting with
elected officials.
SEE CAIR's CIVIC PARTICIPATION HANDBOOK HERE:
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/CAIR_Civic_Guide.pdf
New Haven Gaza Rally (Read more...)
This event was co-sponsored by MSA-CT.
Click
HERE
for some pictures.
End the Siege of Gaza
(Read more...)
End the Siege of Gaza
Cut the Billion$ to Israel
No Weapons to Israel
Assemble 5 p.m.
Friday, January 9
Center Church on the Green,
250 Temple St. New Haven
(midway between Chapel and Elm Sts.)
Click
HERE
(PDF Flyer)
CAIR ACTION ALERT #559: (Action: 10 Steps You Can Take to Help Gaza)
(Read more...)
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/5/2009) - CAIR today outlined 10 positive, pro-active steps
American Muslims and other people of conscience can take this week to help end
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire and the flow of humanitarian
aid and promote a more balanced U.S. policy in the Middle East.
CAIR Action Alert #559:
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STOP THE MASSACRE IN GAZA NOW!
(Read more...)
CAIR-CT is calling on all Muslims and non-Muslim organizations and all people
of conscience to join us at a rally and press conference to denounce the killing
of innocent Palestinians and lift the siege on Gaza.
When: Friday January 2nd 2009 At 3pm
Where: Federal Building 450 main street Hartford, Connecticut
Click
HERE
(PDF Flyer) to download and post at your locality.
CAIR -CT Election Forum
(Read more...)
|
CAIR -CT Election Forum
2008
EVERYONE IS
INVITED !
WHO:
The Connecticut Chapter of the Council of
American-Islamic Relations
WHAT:
Voter Information Forum, "2008
Elections: Make Your Vote Count"
WHEN: Saturday Oct. 25,
5:30-10:00pm
WHERE: Crowne Plaza
Hotel, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwel CT, 06416.
More information:
Click
HERE
for the flyer.
TICKETS: $30 per person, $25 each for 2 or
more. Call
(860)514-8038
DINNER: Choice of chicken
(Halaal),
fish, or
vegetarian.
CHILDCARE: Available, Free.
Speakers:
Dr. James E. Jones (President of
Masjid Al Islam)
Yusuf Shah (Alderman, New Haven
Ct).
Forum participants to include
local
political party representatives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH MOST GRACIUOS MOST
MERCIFUL
Discount Tickets
Especially for students !
For the
CAIR Election
Forum!
THIS
SATURDAY !
Click
HERE
for the flyer.
Ticket Price Just $20
-------------------> STUDENTS PLEASE BRING
YOUR IDENTIFICATION
Delicious halal dinner included !
We ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE .
insha'Allah
|
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Iftar meal and Sharing Ramadan 2008 Evening. Sunday Sep 21
(Read more...)
Sep 21, 2008.
The Islamic Center of New London and the Cunnecticut Chapter of the Council on American
Islamic Relations cordially invite you to an Iftar (fast-breaking) meal under our Sharing
Ramadan Evening.
When: Sunday, September 21st, 2008, 6:00 PM.
Where: Bennie DoverJackson Middle School, 36 Waller St. New London.
Click
HERE
for the flyer
Click
HERE
for some pictures
Jun-20 2008 Week in review
(Read more...)
- MEDIA ADVISORY –
CAIR ANNOUNCE OPENING NEW OFFICE IN HARTFORD
(HARTFORD, CT, 6/20/08) – On Tuesday, June 25, the Connecticut office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Connecticut) will have a ribbon cutting ceremony for their
new office in Hartford. The Mayor of Hartford Eddy Perez will be participating
in this ceremony along with other local leaders and dignitaries.
WHAT: CAIR-Connecticut Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their new Hartford Office
WHEN: 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 25
WHERE: CAIR-CT Hartford Office, 57 Pratt Street, Suite #707, Hartford, CT
CONTACT: CAIR-Connecticut President Badr Malik, 860-442-CAIR (2247)
CAIR Connecticut has been operating from its New London Office for last 4 years.
It has been actively involved in various civil rights, media relations and community outreach
activities throughout Connecticut. CAIR has participated in events related to various faiths
and community needs and it continues to make efforts to bridge differences throughout
the community. In moving their office to the state’s capital, the CAIR-CT team hopes to enhance
their presence through out the state and become more accessible to the public.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide
and in Canada. 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.
- END –
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787
or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: moc.riac@repoohi;
CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail: moc.riac@demhar; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787,
E-Mail: moc.riac@nibura
May-11 2008 Week in review
(Read more...)
- Sunday 11th,
2008
- “Know Your Rights” session was held at Hungerford Masjid in Hartford.
The event was delivered by Br. Ebad using a power point presentation.
About 25- 30 people were present. Br. Ebad was very engaging and several
brothers and sisters asked questions and were very pleased to see a Muslim
organization like CAIR speak on heir behalf.
Great job Br. Ebad and special thanks to Imam Kashif who once again
demonstrated his hospitality and kindness to us.
Feb 2008
Know Your Rights Workshop
(Read more...)
| Date |
2/29/2008 |
| Time |
1:45-2:15 |
| Topic |
Know Your Rights Workshop |
| Where |
Muhammad Islamic Center, 155 Hungerford St,
Hartford, CT |
| Who |
Ebad Jahangir عباد جہانگیر |
| Details |
A short presentation -after Jumua prayer- on our
civil rights and remedies available if these rights are violated. |
EMPOWERING YOUNG AMERICANS
(Read more...)
CAIR interns receive practical training in public and media relations,
government relations, legal and civil rights, community outreach,
research and leadership training. They work with skilled and
dedicated mentors to gain first-hand experience in these fields.
Read More
2008 Election
(Read more...)
CAIR 2008 Election website provides the latest news and opinions
relating to Muslims and elections nationwide. It also includes
positions of the presidential candidates on key issues, examples of
anti-Muslim rhetoric from candidates for all levels of public office
and links to the websites of Muslims running for public office.
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