CAIR in the News
U.S. Muslims React to Bin Laden's Death
Click here for video of CAIR-MI discussing what the death of Osama Bin Laden means to American Muslims.
DEARBORN, Mich. (WXYZ) - An interfaith group of religious leaders is calling for a prayer vigil during a controversial pastor's planned visit to the area.
The pastors and the imams represent 35 churches and mosques in metro Detroit. They are going to send a letter asking Reverend Terry Jones not to come to Dearborn. Known primarily for burning the Holy Quran, Jones plans to be in Dearborn on Good Friday, April 22. The Florida pastor has not threatened to burn a Quran or given details about his protest.
The religious leaders had planned to ignore him, but say they can no longer do that. Standing together as interfaith clergy Monday, they spoke out on how they plan to deal with Jones' visit.
"As a christian minister, silence for me would be consent. That's the reason why we are trying to be as vigilant and vocal on the issue as we possibly can," said Reverend Charles Williams II, from King Solomon Baptist Church.
Imam Steve Elturk added "When he burns the Quran he also burns Jesus. Jesus is revered in Islam and is mentioned many times in the Quran... even more than Mohammed."
The clergy members are calling for prayer vigils during the visit and urge their members and congregations not to be lured in to reacting to Reverend Jones.
The imams and pastors want to stress that they are not asking anyone to take part in any sort of counter protest.
They are getting together to decide how they will conduct the prayer vigils, at individual churches or mosques and whether they will be out of doors.
Detroit Religious Leaders to Pastor Jones: Stay Home
By AMY LANGE
WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com
DETROIT (WJBK) - "Everything he's doing here is a violation of the Gospel," said Pastor Ed Rowe with Central United Methodist Church.
Metro Detroit religious leaders are standing in solidarity, sending letters and sending a message to the controversial pastor from Florida. They say stay home.
"We do not agree with Terry Jones. We do not agree with his philosophy, and we want to continue to keep this region as unified as we possibly can," said the Rev. Charles Williams II with King Solomon Baptist Church.
"We need more progress than anything right now. What we don't need is any incendiary acts that would push us back," said the Rev. Maurice Rudds with Greater Mount Tabor Baptist Church.
"Too many barriers have already been tore down, and so we say today to all that might hear my voice, we love Muslims, we love Jews, we love all God-fearing people," said the Rev. Charles Williams, Senior with King Solomon Baptist Church.
What they don't love is the visit Pastor Terry Jones is planning -- a protest outside the Islamic Center of America on April 22.
Jones is coming at the invitation of the Order of the Dragon, some newly-formed, obscure group of about five people from up north -- hardly a ringing endorsement for Jones' services.
"Shame on that militia group here in Michigan who was trying to import Mr. Jones, who's a very controversial figure, to try to stir up trouble in their own state," said Dawud Walid with CAIR Michigan.
Still, the Muslim community will welcome Jones if he comes in peace.
"If Pastor Jones is willing to come and dialogue and have a peaceful talk, we would be more than happy to host him," said Imam Steve Elturk with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.
Otherwise, stay home and allow metro Detroit's varied faiths to continue to flourish.
"We need to stand together as communities of faith," said the Rev. Bill Wylie Kellerman with St. Peter Episcopal Church.
The religious leaders say that they are not planning to counter protest. Instead, they're planning a prayer service for April 22.
'Muslim's for a better Michigan' is the theme of Muslim Capitol Day this year. Dozens from the Muslim community came to Lansing Wednesday to meet with state representatives and senators.
Organizers say the event gives Muslims an opportunity to talk about how they can enhance Michigan and also voice their concerns.
"Given that there's a lot of frustration and even some fears within the Muslim community concerning the rhetoric that's going on in politics regarding the Muslim community, so we really felt that this was the time to do something more effective and proactive," said Raheem Hanifa, Muslim Capitol Day Co-Chair.
Muslim Capitol Day is organized by a group of non-partisan organizations, including the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, and the Council of American Islamic Relations of Michigan. Click here for the link from Channel 6 Lansing WLNS
Authorities Investigate Koran Burning at Islamic Center
Click the link above to see Channel 4 coverage of the desecration of a Quran at the Islamic Center of East Lansing.
To have a the Quran burned at a mosque is equivalent to having a cross burned at a black church,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid
Slain Mich. Imam Had Dog Bites on Face
Click the link above for Fox 2 News coverage concerning forensic Pathologist Cyril Wecht's report on the death of Imam Luqman Abdullah.
2 Shots to the Neck Killed FBI Dog, Tests Show
Posted: 1:34 p.m. May 26, 2010
By Niraj Warikoo
Free Press Staff Writer
The FBI dog killed during a raid involving Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah was shot twice in the neck, according to a veterinary report released today by a Muslim group.
Freddy the dog was used by the FBI during the Oct. 28 raid in Dearborn to arrest Abdullah and his followers on suspicion of dealing in stolen goods. Abdullah was shot and killed during the raid by FBI agents.
Click the link above for the complete story
Minority Groups Prepared To Fight Immigration Proposal
LANSING 5-9-10-- A Michigan lawmaker plans to introduce legislation modeled after Arizona's new immigration law that's triggered protests and a heated national debate. Click the link above for more details
CAIR-MI Quoted Regarded FBI Terrorist List Being Full of Errors
A recent Detroit News story discussed the FBI's admittance to approximately 24,000 names, who have been inaccurately placed on the suspected terrorist list. Click on the link above for the article.
CAIR National Press Releases
http://www.cair.com/PressCenter/PressReleases.aspx
Anti Terror Campaign
http://www.cair.com/AmericanMuslims/AntiTerrorism.aspx
Muslims…Obama to Inauguration
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1232171583684&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
Gaza press conf.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=cair-mi+rep+at+gaza+press+conference&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#
Michigan Muslim Leaders Seek Help for Gaza
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009301050019
Dearborn Man Alleges Bias in Wal-Mart Suit
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081218/METRO/812180441/1409/METRO
Obsession DVD Prompts Discussion on Living with Terrorism
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/11/15/news/doc491fa8601babe352945210.txt
Ambivalent about Their Treatment in the Election, Muslims Still Politically Engaged
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2008-11-04/muslim-vote
Muslim Workers Demand Time for Prayer at Meatpacking Plants
http://labornotes.org/node/1946
CAIR Asks FEC to Probe Anti-Muslim DVDs Sent to Swing States
http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=777&&ArticleID=25495&&name=n&&currPage=1
Muslim American Icon dies, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94471553
American Muslims Take Place in Historic Event at DNC
http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=2772
‘Muslim Bashers’ Hit for Resignation
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/07/muslim-bashers-hit-for-resignation/
CIOM Statement on Sunni-Shi’a Relations
http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=2623
CAIR-MI Rep gives presentation to Michigan Offices for Services to the Elderly; Dialogue on special considerations that state workers might practice applying during their visits to the elderly in their homes was part of the discussion and training.
http://share.ovi.com/media/DawudWalid.public/DawudWalid.10106
CAIR-MI Rep on CNN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnC6-l_hHO4
CAIR-MI Rep Writes article “African Americans Refute Clash of Civilization”
http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=23356&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1
Arab-American Leader Unhappy McCain Campaign Cutting Ties
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/arabamerican_leader_unhappy_mc.html
DMC Sued for Ethnic Harassment
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=815
Chinese Muslim Scholars
http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=1922
CAIR-MI Seeks to Empower Muslims
http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=1867
CAIR-MI Files Lawsuit against DMC
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/15503589/detail.html
Muslims’ Roots in America Branch out; Speakers at UT Event Talk of Positive Change
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS21/802170327
How to Talk to the Media
http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=1766
ACLU Hosts Conference on Civil Rights
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=621
Hamtramck Star, Noise and Profiling
http://hamtramckstar.com/index.php/city_council_01_22_08_noise_and_profilin
Hamtramck Passes Ordinance against Profiling
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=595
NPR talks about Hamtramck passing ordinance against profiling
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1216057
Michigan Muslims Voice Issues in Time for Primary
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=105738&d=16&m=1&y=2008
Charities Benefit from Muslim Holy Day
http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24019&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-662162.mp3
CAIR-MI New Hotline for Profiling at the Border
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvC05iE0MKE
Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha, NPR
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1432554
Bridging the Divide among American Muslims
http://www.illumemagazine.org/magazine/publish/unconventional_perspective/Bridging_The_Divide_Among_American_Muslims.php