In Remembrance of 9/11

On this 10th anniversary of 9/11, we stand with our fellow Americans in remembering the innocent lives lost on that fateful day, honoring the first responders and condemn such acts. These attacks were . . . → Read More: Message received by CNY-CEOP from the Muslim Community of Southern Tier, “In Remembrance of 9/11″]]> CNY-CEOP received the following Message from the Muslim Community of Southern Tier, Dr. Zaman Marwat … (Islamic Center, Big Flats, NY):

In Remembrance of 9/11

On this 10th anniversary of 9/11, we stand with our fellow Americans in remembering the innocent lives lost on that fateful day, honoring the first responders and condemn such acts. These attacks were a heinous crime—an assault on our nation. Terrorists have no religion.”

مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

“Whoever kills a person, unless [as punishment through due process] for murder or mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32)

All of us have been affected, in one way or the other, by the Tragedy of September 11th. Many of us have lost someone they knew, in this tragedy.

American Muslims are twice the victims of 9/11. We lost our friends and colleagues on the morning our nation was attacked, and lost our liberties in the months and years following that day. The rise of Islamophobia in the United States drastically changed public perception of Muslims, and favorable opinion of Muslims dropped to an all time low of 38%* in the past decade.

Islamophobia grew exponentially, as witnessed in America’s 2008 presidential and 2010 Congressional elections, Park 51 and post-Park 51 anti-mosque campaigns, as well as increased hate speech and violence. The massacre in Norway is a tragic signal of this metastasizing social cancer. Anders Behring Breivik’s 1500-page manifesto confirmed the influence of the hate speech spread by American anti-Muslim (Islamophobic) leaders, organizations and websites.

A recent report on violence against Muslims by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that monitors hate crimes, reads: “Rarely has the United States seen a more reckless and bare-knuckled campaign to vilify a distinct class of people and compromise their fundamental civil and human rights than the recent rhetoric against Muslims,”

Never in Islam’s entire history, as Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister of Malaysia put it, has the action of so few of its followers caused the religion and its community of believers to be such an abomination in the eyes of others. Millions of Muslims who fled to North America and Europe to escape poverty and persecution at home have become the object of hatred and bigotry. This is what Mohammed Atta and his fellow terrorists and sponsors have done to Islam and its community worldwide by their murdering of innocent people on 9/11/2001.

The Universe is constructed on what the Qur’an calls the mizan or a balance. That balance is justice.

“And the firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the balance (of justice), in order that ye may not transgress (due) balance, so establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.” (Qur’an: 55:9)

Justice is essential to maintain the balance of the human mind. Whenever any human being is deprived of justice, the mind is inclined to imbalance. The greater the injustice, the greater is the likelihood of imbalance. That is the reason the Qur’an warns against allowing hatred to cloud men’s judgment and sense of justice:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Qur’an, 5:8).
It further states:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاء لِلّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقَيرًا فَاللّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Qur’an, 4:135).

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts:

“Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil” (Al-Tirmidhi)

God Almighty mandates moderation in faith and in all aspects of life when He states in the Qur’an: “We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind.” (Qur’an, 2:143)

In another verse, God Almighty explains our duties as human beings when he says: “Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil.” (Qur’an, 3:104)

Islam emphasizes on acting in a caring manner towards all of God’s creation. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is described in the Qur’an as “a mercy to the worlds” said: “All creation is the family of God, and the person most beloved by God (is the one) who is kind and caring toward His family.”

As our nation moves forward in remembrance, we must also remain vigilant of all kinds of extremism. We must stand together as we did after 9/11 and combat all forms of extremism and radicalization.

This is not the first time Americans of faith have stood behind a religious group singled out for suspicion. In 1921, at a time of widespread, virulent defamation of Jews, John Spargo, a lay Methodist minister, social critic and activist, said “It should not be left to men and women of the Jewish faith to fight this evil.

What the Jews themselves could not have hoped to make happen, John Spargo did.

We reminded of the famous quote that says:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Ninety years later, we find ourselves at another moment that calls for interfaith solidarity. After Congressman King announced his plans, 51 organizations, including Christian, Muslim, Unitarian and Sikh groups, signed a letter to the House leadership strongly objecting to the hearings. On Sunday, March 6, Jewish and Christian leaders spoke alongside Muslims at a rally in Times Square; some 300 people stood in the rain that Sunday bearing signs reading “Today, I am a Muslim Too.” As the first day of hearings ended, an interfaith coalition held a press conference, announcing the official launch of Shoulder to Shoulder: Standing with American Muslims; Upholding American Values, a campaign of national faith-based organizations and religious denominations to promote tolerance and put an end to anti-Muslim bigotry.

And yes, I salute you all, this community of faith — for showing resilience in the face of fear mongering, and working tirelessly to build bridges and promote tolerance and acceptance of all people.
We, as American Muslims, are resolved than ever before to striving toward building a better and more just society for all Americans and trust our collective action will result in the greater good: by us, for us all.

Our thoughts and prayers are also with the people and congregations of the cities, towns, and villages devastated by the recent earthquake, wind, hurricane, flood and fire.

O Almighty, make every single aspect of our lives be for You and in service of Your Creation. Please remove all false intentions that we might have.

O Allah, save humanity from being its own enemy. Protect Your creation from oppression. Protect us all from violence, fear and danger, You are our Protector.

O Master, grant that we may never seek so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved as to love, with all our souls.

O Merciful, we ask of Thee, in these trying times, to grant PEACE to all. Guide the Politicians of the nations, the world over, to stand up for justice and Truth and against Oppression, corruption, & Terrorism,

O Protector! Guide the terrorists & the Oppressors, wherever they may be, to the right path and help them with their anger and frustrations in a positive way. As Nelson Mandela had put it:

“I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness; or as the Prophet Muhammad would say: help the oppressed and the oppressor; when asked how we can help oppressor, the prophet replied: by stopping him from oppressing others. (Hadith).

Save them and the world from their evil actions.

O Our Lord, condemn us not if we forget or fall into error;

O Allah! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness; Have Mercy on us.

O Merciful, we ask Thee in Thy Name, to grant us real peace and prosperity and True Understanding of each other in this troubled world of ours…. Ameen….

“Protesters rally outside investment firm” Your News Now. 07/19/2011 09:30 PM By: Tamara Lindstrom

Protesters in Ithaca joined in a nationwide demonstration against an investment firm they say is contributing to the Israel-Palestine war. Our Tamara Lindstrom tells us what they had to say.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Protesters had different reasons for demonstrating outside the local offices of TIAACref.

“I . . . → Read More: Protesters’ reasons for demonstrating outside the local office of TIAACref, reported by YNN.]]> from http://ithaca-cortland.ynn.com/content/550504/protesters-rally-outside-investment-firm/

“Protesters rally outside investment firm”
Your News Now. 07/19/2011 09:30 PM
By: Tamara Lindstrom

Protesters in Ithaca joined in a nationwide demonstration against an investment firm they say is contributing to the Israel-Palestine war. Our Tamara Lindstrom tells us what they had to say.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Protesters had different reasons for demonstrating outside the local offices of TIAACref.

“I witnessed a home demolition. And it was done by Caterpillar. And people here thought, ‘oh, that must be a terrorist whose home was demolished.’ But no, it wasn’t a terrorist, it was a family,” said protester Diane Roe.

The rally was part of a nationwide effort organized by Jewish Voice for Peace. The group says TIAACref, an investment firm that handles retirement funds of educators, health professionals and non-profit workers, ignored a shareholder resolution calling for an investigation into companies that support violence against Palestinians.

“Motorola supplies surveillance technology. Caterpillar supplies bulldozers that destroy Palestinian homes,” said Aron Gutman, a shareholder.

“We’re here today because Palestinians have called for internationals to join the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement. This is a global movement that is working to put pressure on Israel to begin to comply with international law and absolutely stop the human rights abuses,” said Andrea Levine of the Jewish Voice for Peace.

The company responded with the statement, saying, “Our investment committee makes decisions that are guided by our corporate policies. We are always listening and determining how best to serve clients according to our guidelines.”

“They’re hiding from the occupation of Palestine. They’re hiding from the protestors outside their building, and they’re hiding from the effects that these companies are creating,” Levine said.

Although they weren’t able to get inside the building and deliver their message personally, the protestors feel their voices will still be heard.

“If it goes beyond just educating people and TIAACref begins to divest and change where their money is supporting. That would obviously be the long-term, larger scale goal of this,” Levine said.

The demonstration coincided with the firm’s shareholder meeting.

When: Tuesday, July 19th, 12:00 pm Where: Gather at Ithaca Commons (Aurora St. End), then join a spirited March to the TIAA-CREF office on Green St (across from Cinemapolis) Organized by: Ithaca Chapter, Jewish Voice for Peace

Activists across the nation are . . . → Read More: Join Ithaca Divestment event Tuesday July 19 @noon]]> Desmond Tutu endorses events across U.S. asking TIAA-CREF to divest from Israeli occupation: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/17/2459590/tiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html

When: Tuesday, July 19th, 12:00 pm
Where: Gather at Ithaca Commons (Aurora St. End), then join a spirited March to the TIAA-CREF office on Green St (across from Cinemapolis)
Organized by: Ithaca Chapter, Jewish Voice for Peace

Activists across the nation are demanding that TIAA-CREF, one of the largest financial services in the US, stop investing in companies that profit off of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands and peoples. Despite their slogan of “financial services for the greater good,” they have recently censored a shareholder resolution calling for an investigation of these companies, and have moved their annual shareholder’s meeting from New York City to Charlotte, NC, in an attempt to avoid protests.

Let’s show powerful institutions in this country that they can neither hide from the injustice of occupation, nor from the growing movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions. (Over 20,000 people have now signed our petition.) Despite their efforts to dodge protests, we will turn out in force on July 19th, the day of the Shareholder Meeting, to prove them wrong, shame them for their act of censorship, and draw attention to the realities of occupation. We’ll be joining activists in dozens of other cities who will take the streets at the same time.

I would like to invite you to two multi-media presentations of recent events in Palestine and Egypt next Tuesday evening, April 12, in Friends 309 at Ithaca College. Please forward this announcement and post the attached flyer.

7pm: Documenting Iraq Burin: Stories from a Palestinian Village

8:30pm: Witness to Egyptian Uprising: Voices from Cairo and New . . . → Read More: Compelling images and testimony from Palestinian Village and Egyptian Uprising @ Ithaca College on April 12]]> Dear friends,

I would like to invite you to two multi-media presentations of recent events in Palestine and Egypt next Tuesday evening, April 12, in Friends 309 at Ithaca College. Please forward this announcement and post the attached flyer.

7pm: Documenting Iraq Burin: Stories from a Palestinian Village

8:30pm: Witness to Egyptian Uprising: Voices from Cairo and New York

“Documenting Iraq Burin” will be presented by Michael Kennedy, a photographer and anthropology PhD candidate at Columbia University, and Menna Khalil, an independent researcher. Menna will share her eye witness account of the Egyptian uprising, including voices and images from Cairo and New York. For biographical information about the presenters, see http://ithaca.edu/fleff/fleffguests/?item=1508 and http://ithaca.edu/fleff/fleffguests/?item=1507.

Both events, sponsored by the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, include audio, video and still images.

Documenting Iraq Burin

Menna and Michael will present video, photographs and interviews that narrate the struggle of the Palestinian villagers in the West Bank to protect their land and allow their children to have a good future. According to Menna, the voices and images of the farmers, community leaders, youth and families of Iraq Burin “provide a lens through which you can see much larger issues . . . pertaining to other communities in Palestine and how they deal with loss, representation and self-determination.”

March 20, 2011 marked the first anniversary of the murders of Usaid Abd Qadous (19) and Mohammad Ibrahim Abdel-Qadr Qadous (16) by Israeli soldiers in this village of less than 1200 people. When I visited Iraq Burin with an international delegation in July 2010, the youth told us, “Mohammed and Usaid were our bright stars. The future of our village was robbed from us. The village has psychologically collapsed and our lives are changed forever.”

Less than a year after the murders of Usaid and Mohammad, on January 28, 2011, their cousin Oday Maher Hamza Qadous was shot and killed by an Israeli settler while farming his fields in Iraq Burin. For more information about the resistance and repression in Iraq Burin, see http://iraqburin.wordpress.com/

Witness to Egyptian Uprising

Menna will provide an insider’s witness to the uprising in Egypt and the solidarity recently expressed in New York City. As an Egyptian American who lived in Cairo until she was ten years old, she eagerly returned to Egypt to document the evolving popular movement that propelled the 18 days of “revolution.” Menna explains, “No one has seen that kind of political organizing, stemming from a longing for political participation, since the early ’50s. This was kind of a reviving moment in many ways.” For an interview with Menna about her perspective and experiences, see http://www.ithaca.edu/fleff10/blogs/fleff_intern_voices/tags/checkpoints/