India should take note of US report on religious freedom: IAMC

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has called on the Government of India as well as various state governments to take note of the 2011 Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that has placed India on a "Watch List" for the third year in succession.

"It is indeed unfortunate that India, with its long history of tolerance and multiculturalism, has now found a place in the list of countries where religious freedom is at risk", said Mr. Shaheen Khateeb, President of IAMC. "However IAMC firmly believes that the recommendations of USCIRF are based on factual information. They represent legitimate concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in India, and should not be seen as an exercise in India-bashing", added Mr. Khateeb.

IAMC wishes to reiterate that it is an organization of patriots, committed to secularism, pluralism and justice for all citizens regardless of their religion, caste or ethnic affiliations. IAMC is also committed to projecting an accurate picture of India internationally, he said.

It was in pursuance of its patriotic duties that IAMC deemed it fit to accept USCIRF's invitation to present a briefing on the status of religious minorities in India. IAMC accepted this recognition as a professional organization, and briefed the USCIRF commissioners and staff with information that would be helpful in it assessment of religious freedom in India, Mr. Khateeb informed.

IAMC specifically welcomed the USCIRF report's recommendation about radical sectarian organizations in India. The report says:

"The activities of these groups, especially those with an extremist agenda or history of using violence against minorities, often negatively impact the status of religious freedom in the country. Many of these organizations exist under the banner of the Sangh Parivar, a 'family' of over 30 organizations that includes the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the BJP. Sangh Parivar entities aggressively press for governmental policies to promote a Hindu nationalist agenda, and adhere in varying degrees to an ideology of Hindutva, which holds non-Hindus as foreign to India".

IAMC resolved to continue its tireless efforts against violations of religious freedom as well as social injustices by actively engaging with civil society in India. “IAMC is concerned about the jingoistic slant of some organizations that are preoccupied with whitewashing India's human rights record, rather than working to improve it. IAMC believes that India can and should reclaim its pluralist and tolerant ethos by holding accountable the perpetrators of communal violence, fake encounters and miscarriages of justice, without regard to their political or social standing,” Mr. Khateeb said.

IAMC also welcomed the balanced position taken by the USCIRF report wherein several constructive steps taken by the Congress led central government to uplift minorities are cited. However, the report accurately highlights the culture of impunity in some states, exemplified by the fact that overwhelming evidence of premeditated killings in the Gujarat riots as well as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots have yet to result in the conviction of the masterminds behind these pogroms. Among several other recommendations, the report has specifically called for cases against Mr. Narendra Modi to be allowed to proceed in accordance with the law.

The eminent group of India American Muslims, however, regretted that the plight of Muslims languishing in jail for the terror plots concocted by extremist Hindutva organizations, as confessed by Swami Aseemananda, was given insufficient coverage in the USCIRF report. The issue merits a full scale investigation as it highlights the demonstrable scale of anti-minority prejudice in the law enforcement agencies that inflicted unspeakable torture on innocent citizens they were charged to protect. Acquittal of the Muslim youth that have been unjustly charged with the terror blasts they had nothing to do with, would be an important step towards healing the wounds of communal violence.

But the group noted with regret attempts by some organizations to undermine the legitimacy of the USCIRF's report and its recommendations, by referring to instances of religious intolerance in the United States. While religious intolerance is admittedly a challenge for several countries around the world, criticism of India's human rights record should be addressed by working to change the ground realities, rather than through attempts to obfuscate the issues.

Indian American Muslim Council (formerly Indian Muslim Council-USA) is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation. For more information please visit our new website atwww.iamc.com.

Related Link:
USCIRF 2011 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom - India Chapterhttp://www.uscirf.gov/images/ar2011/india2011.pdf

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Thank you Pastor

Thank you Pastor Terry JonesFor your service to Islam!1.       Thanks for making Quran a bestseller. More copies Qurans and  were sold on Amazon, local and online Islamic stores, thus providing humanity an opportunity to read and ponder over God's guidance for  humanity.[Image]
2.       Thanks for the business.  More people bought Islamic literature, along with the Quran, generating extra revenue for the Islamic stores. 
3.       More individuals visited the mosques to attend Muslim open houses and Islam presentations, thus receiving the wonderful message of Islam.
4.       More individuals called on the GainPeace's outreach hotline 800-662-ISLAM and inquired about the faith of Islam, giving Muslims an opportunity to explain Islam to our fellow citizens.  You generated more publicity for Islam, then all our past outreach campaigns combined. 
5.       More people Googled the words 'Islam' and 'Quran'.The more that you spoke about Islam and the Quran, more people came to Muslim websites to learn about the truth of Islam.
6.       Libraries were busy loaning out copies of the Quran. Yes, libraries across the USA, Canada and Europe were busy lend out copies of the Quran to its patrons.   
7.       Thanks for saving the Muslims advertisement dollars.  The free publicity to the words 'Quran' and 'Islam', that you gave, Muslims could have spent millions of dollars but couldn't have generated the same publicity and attention of the media, and thanks to you, the word of God (the Quran) became a household word.
8.       Thanks for waking up the Muslims.  Muslim all across the world are now more passionate about the wonderful and peaceful faith of Islam and are eager to share it with their neighbors, colleagues, friends and humanity.
9.       Thanks for encouraging more people to embrace Islam.  We had more people calling, learning and embracing Islam in the past few weeks, then we ever had since the last 40 years.   
10.   Thanks for uniting the people of conscience, the Muslim, the Jews, the Christians, the Hindus, and the atheist, on the common platform of goodness, love and tolerance and against hatred, bias and bigotry.
Pastor Terry Jones, we pray that you actually read the Quran with an open mind and heart and ponder over its message of the oneness of God. If you love Jesus, follow the religion of Jesus, the religion of Jesus was Islam, submission to the The Creator. May God, enlighten you to the truth of Islam and that you start worshiping the One Creator as was preached and practiced by Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them.  Welcome to Islam.


Dr. Sabeel AhmedDirectorThe GainPeace Project, USAInfo@GainPeace.com

Obama to visit Istiqbal mosque during Indonesia trip

President Barack Obama will visit the largest mosque in Jakarta and make a major outdoor speech when he makes his twice-postponed visit to Indonesia next month, the White House said on Thursday.

The U.S. President, who spent four years in the country as a boy, will stress that Indonesia is at the intersection of U.S. efforts to reach out to the Muslim world and to connect with dynamic, fast-growing southeast Asian economies.

The president will arrive in Indonesia on Nov. 9 after visiting India, and will have talks and a press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the White House said.

US outreach to Muslim communities

The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta

The next day, he will honor the Heroes Day holiday, marking a key battle in Indonesia's independence struggle, then visit the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, before making a speech, for which U.S. officials are seeking an outdoor venue.

"He'll have a chance to talk about the partnership that we're building with Indonesia," said Ben Rhodes, a U.S. deputy national security advisor, noting that Obama was "popular" in Jakarta because of his boyhood stay.

The president will also "talk about some of the themes of democracy and development and our outreach to Muslim communities around the world, while also speaking of Indonesia's pluralism and tolerance as well."

Obama's speech may become his most high profile chance to discourse on U.S. relations with Islam in a foreign country since his landmark speech to the world's Muslims in Cairo in June 2009.

Rhodes cautioned against the idea that Obama needed to renew his commitment for a "new beginning" with Islam, after a furor over plans to build an Islamic cultural center near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York.

He said that Obama frequently visited mosques on his travels to Muslim majority nations, and had always intended to visit the Istiqlal mosque.

Political, security and economic cooperation

The visit will follow reports that the White House cancelled plans for Obama to visit the Sikh Golden temple in Amritsar, India as he would have to wear headgear that could fan erroneous claims by critics that he is a Muslim.

U.S. officials have not directly responded to the reports, saying instead that the president's schedule was tightly compacted and dictated by his goals for each leg of a foreign trip and not other concerns.

Jeffrey Bader, Obama's top Asia policy hand, said that the president would formally launch a U.S.-Indonesia comprehensive partnership, designed to deepen cooperation on political, security and economic issues, in Jakarta.

"We have tried to highlight Indonesia's growing importance in this administration," Bader said, noting Indonesia's membership of the G20, its status as the largest Muslim-majority nation and key role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Obama had planned to visit Indonesia twice before this year, but was forced to cancel in March as he pushed for final passage of his health care law and in June after an environmental disaster unfolded around the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

But his schedule in his one-night stay will be so packed in Indonesia that he will be unable to visit many of his boyhood haunts that he had hoped to show his family.

Obama's wife, First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to travel to Indonesia, but his daughters will stay at home as they will be at school.

Obama lived with his late mother and step father for four years in Indonesia and has spoken of his warm feelings for the country.

President Obama Offers Ramadan Greetings

 In recognition of the first day of Ramadan, President Obama issued a statement wishing Muslims in America and around the world a Happy Ramadan.  In his letter, the President spoke to what he feels Ramadan represents in America.

 

"Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality.  And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country," said the President.

 

"ISNA thanks the Administration for continuing to engage with the Muslim community and share the positive contributions of Muslims with the rest of the America,"  said ISNA President Dr. Ingrid Mattson." 

 

ISNA Vice President Imam Mohamed Magid will join Dr. Mattson today, Friday August 13, for an iftar hosted by President Obama and his family at the White House. 

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued a statement of Ramadan greetings and will host an iftar at the State Department for Muslim leaders and community members from across the nation.

 

To read the full statement written by President Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, please visit theWhite House and Department of State websites. 

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Obama wades into mosque debate

US President Barack Obama is under siege after speaking out in favor of building a mosque near Ground Zero, a stance that has elevated the contentious issue to the presidential level ahead of a difficult election season for Democrats.

Obama came out in favor of the proposal for the first time Friday night during a White House iftar dinner in the holy month of Ramadan.

"... Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," Obama said.

"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

In a highly charged election-year debate, Obama surely knew that his words would not only make headlines in the US, but also be heard by Muslims worldwide and find favor with them.

Thus his words were an effort to reach out to the global Muslim community. The guests at Friday's dinner included ambassadors and officials from numerous nations including Saudi Arabia.

Obama's position runs counter to the opinions of the majority of Americans, according to polls. A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found that nearly 70 percent of Americans opposed the mosque plan while just 29 percent approved. An AOL poll Saturday found that of those voting online, 88 percent said they were “completely” against it.

This may explain why a number of Democratic politicians — all up for re-election in November — have shied away from the controversy.

Some 9/11 victims' advocates and Republicans have strongly condemned Obama's support for the mosque, which would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.  They also say the plan is "insensitive" to victims' relatives.

But while the president called the World Trade Center site "hallowed grounds," he also said the proper way to honor it was to apply American values.

""Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who are different from us and that way of life, that quintessentially American creed, stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today."

Obama's remarks drew prompt responses from those who oppose it.

"President Obama is wrong," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told reporters. "It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque, they are abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered so much."

Right-wing politicians such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have opposed the mosque. Palin said this month: "Doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland?"

Gingrich in July called the mosque proposal a "test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites."

But James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, praised the president for finally weighing in with his opinion. "The opposition to the Muslim Community Center ... in Manhattan is based on bigotry and is being fueled by opportunists on the right.

"Look at the line-up arrayed against the center — it's the same cast of characters who have been opposed to all things Arab and Muslim for years now," Zogby told Arab News.  "They've made an industry of their intolerance ... Their defaming and deliberate mischaracterization of the work of (the imam) Faisal Abul Raouf is disgraceful."

He said he hoped that the president's words would "toughen up" those who have been silent on the issue.

Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, said Obama's opinion was important for the nation. "It's extremely important that President Obama has joined ... so many other national leaders in defending the core American traditions of religious freedom and tolerance.

"Since there are millions of Muslim Americans, their rights as equal citizens have to be defended by all real American leaders.  It unfortunately became necessary for the president to make this point clearly and firmly to the entire country," said Ibish.

 "The foes of the Islamic center have been trying to drag Obama into this debate, and some have urged Obama to avoid wading into it. But now he has, and he isn't hedging a bit: He's saying that opposing the group's right to build the Islamic center is, in essence, un-American. I look forward to the response from the project's opponents,” noted Greg Sargent, in Saturday's Washington Post.

"Obama's strenuous defense of the 'Ground Zero mosque' is significant not just in bolstering the credibility of his message to the Muslim world, but it also engages him directly in the political fight against far right extremists here at home who wish to erode the American values at stake in the fight over the mosque," wrote Faiz Shakir, in Think Progress.

But Jennifer Rubin, calling his decision an abomination, wrote in Commentary: "... his sympathies for the Muslim World take precedence over those, such as they are, for his fellow citizens."

The imam of the proposed Cordoba House Islamic Center, Feisal Abdul Rauf, has promoted the center as a place to foster religious tolerance, Islamic heritage and healing.

Rauf has been vilified by some GOP opponents of the mosque, but he was one of the loudest Muslim voices condemning the Sept. 11 attacks and was a frequent adviser to President George W. Bush.

ARAB NEWS

ICNA Condemns Times Square Bomb Plot

In a press release issued today, the Islamic Circle of North America condemned, in strongest terms, the incident in Times Square on May 2, 2010 as a serious crime that goes against Islamic norms. Any activity resulting in injury or loss of innocent lives completely contradicts the teachings of Islam.


This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of attacks on innocents. God Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: “No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another” (Qur’an 17:15).
Dr. Zahid Bukhari, President of ICNA in a statement said, “ICNA condemns such acts of violence and we thank God, Almighty, that because of the wise and quick action of some citizens, police and law enforcement agencies no one was hurt or injured.” He further stated that ICNA chapters in many cities throughout US are challenging the rhetoric of violence, for political or religious purposes, by trying to disseminate the true teachings of Islam.


Muslims should unite against all those who terrorize the innocent civilians. Attacking innocent people is not courageous; it is an act of cowardice. All those who perpetrate such acts should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It’s not courageous to endanger the lives of innocent children, women and civilians. As Muslims, it is our obligation to speak out against such acts and to protect the freedom of all humanity.
Our prayers are with our fellow Americans as justice is sought in this case and to the end of such activities which threaten our peaceful coexistence. ICNA supports local law enforcement in eradicating all terrorist activity.


The Islamic Circle of North America is a grassroots organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values.