Muslim Voice April 2013 issue by Arabesque Media & Breek Media

Muslim Voice ARIZONA

april 2013

rABI ALTHANI/jamada alawal 1434H

Monthly Newspaper

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Obamacare Gave My Mom Peace of Mind

CAIR-Ohio Files Muslim Workers’ Bias Complaints Against DHL Subsidiary Exel, Inc. reportedly fired 18 employees for seeking religious accommodation (Columbus, Ohio, 3/26/2013) - The Columbus, Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Columbus) announced today that it has filed discrimination complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Exel, Inc., a subsidiary of DHL, on behalf of 18 Muslim employees who were allegedly fired for praying in the workplace. The Muslim employees reported to CAIR-Columbus that they had asked the company several times for prayer accommodations, including adjusting break times or taking their prayer breaks without pay, but the company repeatedly denied any of the accommodations proposed by the employees. One manager allegedly told the employees they should pray in the bathroom so they wouldn’t be seen praying. Other managers told them to “obey the rules or get fired.” In their complaints, the employees say they made an effort to resolve the dispute by trying to speak to human resources, but that Exel managers and supervisors repeatedly refused to allow them access to the human resources department. Managers reportedly began terminating Muslim employees when they saw them praying at work. On February 8, 2013 the general manager called a meeting in which he reportedly told a large group of Muslim employees, many of whom had been working for the company for years, that Exel would not change its policies and that the company could not provide a religious accommodation. He ultimately terminated the entire group when they insisted they had a right to religious accommodation. Both state and federal law requires employers to accommodate the religious Continued on page

Health care reform is already helping people struggling to get health insurance. I know -my mother is one of them. Continued on page

Sudan’s Story of Recession

New America Media, Commentary, Hana Baba SAN FRANCISCO--I visit Sudan about every two or three years. It’s my ancestral home; my parents and extended family are there. My most recent visit last December, however— my first since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011--was revealing. I could see, hear and feel the difference in the capital Khartoum--both socially and economically. Just driving down a main Continued on page

Pro-Immigrant Measures Make Gains At The State Level

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Iranian-Americans Test Political Glass Ceiling

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Terms used in this paper Alhamdulilah: Praise God Allah: Arabic word for God Fatwa: Islamic decision based on Shari’a Hadith: Sayings of the Prophet Mohammad Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca Halal: Allowed in Islam Halaqa: Group study Haram: Prohibited in Islam Hijab: Head cover for women Hijra: Migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Madina Imam: Islamic scholar Iman: Faith Inshallah: God willing Madina: City near Mecca in Saudia Arabia Masjid: Place were Muslims gather for prayer and studies Mecca: City in Saudi Arabia where Prophet Mohammad was born Pbuh: Peace be upon him Quran: Islam’s Holy book Shahadah: Is saying “I accept Allah as the one God and Mohammad as his messenger” when someone accepts Islam. Sharia’: Islamic law Shura: A council of Muslim scholars (SWT) Subhanahu Watala: Praise be to Allah Taqwa: God consciousness

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LOCAL

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Ostrich Festival

By Heba Haleem Muslim Voice intern

F o o t l o o s e . Evolution. Ostrich Races. These were just a few of the many attractions found at the annual Chandler Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park. But this March, I not only gained a fun and exciting experience- I became a stronger Muslim. On the last day of the festival, my Muslimah friends and I decided to devote our time to volunteering. As we walked onto festival grounds, the first thing we noticed was that the Tumbleweed Park was transformed! The park’s gravel walking paths were lined with rides, food vendors, and shop stands. The attractions looked both scary and exciting. The aroma of classic carnival fried food filled the air. The once quiet expanse was now a festival, and maybe even a zoo with all the ostriches hanging out. Because we were two hours early for our shift, we hit the rides. After a series of tummy rolling, heart thumping, gut wrenching, and entertainment inducing rides (Footloose was our favorite), we met up with the volunteer coordinator to find out the specifics of our job. We walked past a row of white vendor tents and finally arrived at a small tent with a sign that said…. beer tickets? A beer truck with dispensers was standing right next the ticket tent. “You’re just selling beer tickets, not the actual beer. Nothing to worry about”, the volunteer coordinator said, noticing our expressions. Getting a message on his walkie-

talkie, he trotted away to deal with another situation. My friends and I simply stood there for a good couple of minutes. We had never handled a situation like this before. How were we supposed to reject a position that was clearly allotted for us? But, as Muslims, we could not do the job. So then, how were we supposed to explain our reasoning behind changing jobs? What approach were we to take? Questions like these buzzed in my head. All the while, I held the

fact that alcohol was against my religion, Islam, in the back of my mind. Selling tickets for it would be supporting it. We walked to the volunteer booth to confront the volunteer coordinator about the situation. Thankfully, he was understanding and gave us another volunteer job. We were relieved! Not only had we gotten out of a bad situation, but we had also recognized the importance of our Islamic values and applied them to the real world. In a country like America, drinking is widely popularized. It is ubiquitous in the media. It is offered in restaurants and even homes. As Muslims, we continually battle against influences like these, and we are always faced with obstacles that test us. Today, I felt like a stronger Muslim because I passed a test of my faith. This event reaffirmed what I stand for as a Muslim. Who knew a fun carnival could also be an enlightening one.

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april 2013

Lauren Booth Comes to Phoenix By Furdos Nurhussen Muslim Voice intern Lauren Booth, an English broadcaster and journalist, visited the Islamic Community Center of Tempe on February 16, 2013. Booth is often noted as the sister-in-law of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, an association that made her conversion to Islam all the

more shocking. Booth was accompanied by Khalil Meek, cofounder and current Executive Director, of the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA). The event intended to raise awareness about legal issues affecting Muslims on a day to day basis as well as to raise funds for the MLFA. “We’re here to move your mind, move your wallet and move your heart” Meek stated. The charity organization’s aim is to establish justice by protecting civil rights and liberties of Muslim Americans. Discrimination against Muslims in the workplace, schools and other public spaces have increased post 9/11. Such discrimination takes the form of unlawful interrogation, landing on the FBI’s No-Fly List or being accused of providing material support to terrorist organizations; allegations that are often found to be baseless. Cases such as these have made the MLFA such a crucial organization for defending American civil liberties. Lawyer’s pay rates can cost up to $250 to $700 an hour. The MLFA raises funds to

finance selected cases in order for those accused to have access to competent lawyers. Aiding in the campaign to raise awareness, Booth teamed up with the MLFA to move the hearts of people. Booth shared a heart-warming story about her gradual journey to Islam following several trips to the West Bank and Gaza. Booth’s first trip to the West Bank was made for the Mail on Sunday covering the Palestinian elections in 2005.

An encounter with an elderly woman on a cold day in Gaza left an impression on Booth she stated she would “never forget”. Booth remembers being rushed into the woman’s house, receiving a coat and scarf before being sent on her way. Booth described her interactions with Muslims as unexpectedly warm and her Western mediafed assumptions of Muslims fell away the more she interacted with them. “I wasn’t looking to become a Muslim”, Booth stated. After visiting the Fatimeh AlMasumeh Shrine in Qom, Iran, Booth relates having a pressing desire to pray. Booth wanted to tuck away the feeling as “A lovely experience in a Mosque”, but felt an indescribable change within her she could no longer ignore. Booth embraced Islam in September of 2010. Booth remains committed to Pro-Palestinian activism and is currently working on a book about her journey to Islam.

april 2013

National

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Pro-Immigrant Measures Make Gains At The State Level As we reach the midpoint in state legislative sessions, 2013 is shaping up to be a year where most states are moving in a more positive direction when it comes to immigration policy. Lawmakers from both parties have become more inclined to support proimmigrant measures, shifting away from the anti-immigrant policies that swept across states in previous years. State lawmakers from both parties have become more inclined to support pro-immigrant measures in 2013, shifting away from the anti-immigrant policies that swept across states in previous years. In Colorado and Oregon, for example, bills allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities have passed the legislatures in both states and are waiting for their respective governors to sign them. Colorado’s in-state tuition bill passed the state Senate with support from three Republicans – the first time Colorado Republicans backed the bill – and two Oregon Republicans voted for the bill in the state Senate. Earlier this month, Pennsylvania State Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R) introduced an in-state tuition bill in his state. “These are kids we’ve already invested in,” he said when announcing his bill. “They have the opportunity to contribute. They will be here. So why not give them every chance to contribute? I think it’s an economic investment.” Meanwhile, in Arkansas, a legislative panel is expected to weigh in soon about whether undocumented immigrants in the state should be eligible for in-state tuition, and Gov. Mike Beebe (D) said earlier this week that he would support the policy. That is a change from 2005 when

Beebe issued a legal opinion as the state’s top attorney that helped defeat a similar proposal. Since President Obama announced

benefited from DACA began to apply for driver’s licenses in the state after state transportation officials backed down from a plan

the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy in June 2012, the vast majority of states have confirmed that young adults who received “deferred action” through DACA will be eligible for driver’s licenses in those states. Just today, Ohio became one of those states when officials with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced that they will “begin issuing temporary driver licenses to qualified Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) grantees.” And in North Carolina, hundreds of undocumented immigrants who

to issue licenses to them with a prominent pink stripe to indicate their immigration status. Beyond allowing young adults who have received deferred action to apply for driver’s licenses, the Maryland state Senate passed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for and renew licenses. To apply, they would have to show proof of identification and provide two years of state income tax filings to show they are state residents. “This is necessary legislation,” said Sen. Victor Ramirez (D), who sponsored the bill. “It makes our streets safer

when drivers are licensed and have car insurance.” Now the state House is considering the bill. But not all states have completely seen the light. In Kansas, officials are still fighting to repeal a state policy allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities— so far however, with little success. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who wrote Arizona’s and Alabama’s anti-immigrant laws, is pushing for his state to end the policy. And in the final hours of Georgia’s legislative session, state lawmakers passed a bill to expand the state’s 2011 anti-immigrant law. The new expansions aim to block undocumented immigrants from getting state driver’s licenses, public housing, and retirement benefits, and it would prevent residents from using foreign passports to obtain public benefits unless their passports “include records indicating they are in the country legally.” But Georgia is an outlier in a year where so many lawmakers from both parties have moved to enact policies to help undocumented immigrants living here. There is still much work to be done to fix our broken immigration system, but state efforts to iwmprove immigration policy are complementary to national efforts to craft a comprehensive immigration plan. President Obama expects an immigration bill to come before the Senate next month, so as congressional leaders continue to debate specifics about an immigration overhaul, state measures permitting immigrants to drive and continue their education are good measures that allow aspiring citizens to move forward with their lives in the meantime.

Continued from p. 1

CAIR-Ohio Files Muslim Workers’ Bias Complaints Against DHL Subsidiary practices of their employees unless it creates an undue burden on the company. “This company has a history of discriminating against Muslims, especially Muslims of Somali origin,” said CAIR-Ohio Legal Director Jennifer Nimer. “This is not the first time a group of Muslim employees has been fired from this company for requesting a prayer accommodation. This type of blatant discrimination cannot be tolerated.” According to the EEOC, 21 percent of religious discrimination complaints in 2011 involved bias against Muslim workers. CAIR offers a booklet, called “An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” to help employers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.

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april 2013

Letter to Princeton Admissions

One Applicant Draws a Line in the Sand SAN FRANCISCO -- This week high school seniors like myself will learn whether we have been accepted or rejected by the universities we dream of attending. Before those thin rejection or plump acceptance letters arrive, I need to share what happened to me when I applied to Princeton University. I call this my Open Letter to Princeton’s Admissions Office and publish it in the hope that students who come after me will be forewarned -- and that Princeton as one of the nation’s most prestigious schools will reform its application procedures and avoid degrading student applicants who want nothing more than to be taken seriously.

looking up whenever a new customer entered. But my interviewer never showed up. At first I thought he was simply looking for a parking place or was just running late. After waiting an hour, I realized he was not going to come. The waiters saw me constantly scouting out the restaurant and gave me eggs and toast free of charge. I left baffled over how Princeton could have simply made a mistake. The email notifying me of my interview had made clear this was a crucial part of the admissions process. Did this mean Princeton had decided not to consider me as an applicant? Was I just not worth the time it would take for the interview?

I also mentioned how students in San Francisco each year receive a student hand book that spells out our rights and responsibilities and the consequencies of breaking rules. Wouldn’t Princeton be governed similarly in its behavior toward applicants?

As an Asian American, I applied to Princeton because of its strong East Asian studies department and its historic ties to Beijing University where I also hope to study some day. Having grown up on the West Coast, I also welcomed the opportunity to study in the East Coast and learn a new culture. So I was excited when I received an email on January 29 from the person who was to conduct my formal interview. He asked me to meet him at a trendy cafe named The Grove on Chestnut Street at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 9.

As a high school student, I spent the rest of the weekend wracked by self doubt. By Monday, however, I decided to complain to the admissions office itself. I sent an email to the Dean of Admissions, dated Feb. 11, asking for a clarification of their policies regarding undergraduateadmission interviews. The admissions office called me the next day to ask what I wanted. Once again, I requested they send me the rules governing admissions so I could understand how to proceed. I explained that I wanted to correspond through emails rather than phone calls to avoid any “he said/she said” dilemmas.

Suddenly, it seemed, I was the one to blame. I wrote to the admissions office on Feb. 14 explaining my dismay and again asking for formal guidelines. The next day the college counselor at my high school took me out of class to inform me that “someone from Princeton” had started calling the school. I also learned that person had left messages on my home phone. Now, I felt as if my privacy had been violated.

I arrived early and sat at a table to wait,

On Feb. 13, I received an email from the no-show interviewer asking to meet and explaining (but not apologizing) that he had “forgotten” about my interview. He also informed me that since the deadline for submitting his recommendation was the following Monday, we had to meet right away or I would risk jeopardizing my application to Princeton.

The next week the president of the Princeton alumni association for Northern California emailed me to set up a new interview with her before

Mar. 3. I also received an email from the original interviewer that seemed to trivialize the entire affair: “As previously noted, the ‘interview’ is an informal chat for you to ask questions about the Princeton experience. Also, as previously noted, the lack of an interview was entirely my fault and will have no adverse impact on your admissions application.” If it was not important, I wondered, why pressure me for another interview? On March 1, I finally received an email from the Dean of Admissions that there are no “bylaws.” To me that means there’s no transparency governing the admissions process. Princeton gets to choose the applicants they like and that’s that. I still hold Princeton University in awe as an institution of learning and I still aspire to attend. But Princeton should know that when there are no formal protocols for applicants like myself to follow, it’s hard not to assume that acceptance or rejection is simply the result of someone’s personal whim. And student applicants who read this should also know that when we are disrespected in applying to a college, no matter how prestigious, be prepared to draw a line in the sand.

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OPINION

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Dubai fast moving to become leader in Sukuk issuance Dubai: Dubai is fast emerging as a global leader in issuance of Islamic bonds as the Dubai

returns on the HSBC/Nasdaq Dubai GCC US dollar sukuk index have increased just 0.6 percent

fixed interest markets in the past few months. In January it raised $750 million from a conventional

financial markets are continually witnessing issuance of Sukuk even some experts have warned that demand for sukuk may be limited in the future. DEWA, the Dubai utilities company owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), listed a $1 billion (AED3.67 billion) sukuk on the Nasdaq Dubai market, while Emirates Airline set off on an investor roadshow ahead of what is expected to be another big sukuk issue later this month. That follows the news that Dubai Islamic Bank had hired banks to prepare for a high yield sukuk to raise in the region of $500 million. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, committed the UAE to become the global hub of the $300 billion market in Islamic bonds. However, investment banks including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Société Générale and Coutts have called into question whether the gains made by sukuk during the rally of the past two years can continue. Inflation and interest rates, currently at record lows, are expected to rise as the global economy recovers from the financial crisis – making fixed income appear unattractive compared to equities. Total

this year, while global equities have rallied sharply. So far, those doubts do not appear to have affected the Dubai market. The DEWA sukuk, which represented a return to debt markets by the utility company after an absence of more than two years, attracted orders of $5 billion with most of that, around 65 percent, coming from the Middle East. The five-year debt carries a profit rate of 3 percent for investors. Some experts believe that there is still substantial demand for sukuk, especially from Dubai and listed on local markets. Ahsan Ali, the Head of Islamic origination for Standard Chartered, said, “There has been a lot of activity recently, driven by the liquidity there is in the market and by the attractive pricing for issuers. With yields on a downwards trend, issuers can lock in low rates for the long term.” “And it makes increasing sense for those issuers to list on Dubai markets, the infrastructure is there. There is still plenty of demand out there, not just from the Middle East but from Europeans who are seeking a diversification strategy,” he added. The Emirates sukuk will be the second time the airline has tapped

bond listed in London. It is not yet known where

Emirates will chose to list, but given the recent official initiative it looks certain it will opt for a listing on either Nasdaq Dubai or the Dubai Financial Market. ICD, the emirate’s premier investment vehicle, was also recently reported to be considering a venture into the sukuk market. Dubai itself raised $1.25 billion in January, a mix of conventional fixed interest instruments with a $750 million Islamic tranche. Sukuk issuance has been the first part of the strategy announced in January by Sheikh Mohammed to develop Dubai as a hub of the global Islamic economy, along with other Islamic financial industries as well as halal food and cosmetic production. Over the past couple of years, Dubai has slipped to third place in the global sukuk leagues, behind London and Malaysia. Essa Kazim, the Chairman of Bourse Dubai, which owns the emirate’s financial markets, said recently that if Dubai government and related companies issue debt in sukuk and list them on local rather than overseas markets, it would make the UAE the leader in word sukuk listing.

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april 2013

Iranian-Americans Test Political Glass Ceiling Ameri says Iranian-Americans have traditionally shied away from politics. “You know, politics coming from Iran was not exactly something that you were encouraged to participate in,” she says. “In fact, if anything people shied away from it and fled from it. So it wasn’t something that was natural or instinctive.” As for Habib, he is a lawyer by trade, but caught the political bug early on. “I first volunteered on political campaigns when I was in high school on the campaign of Gary Locke who ran for governor, our first ever Chinese-American governor in the United States and of course now ambassador to China,” he said. When Habib ran for office himself last year, Ameri says she advised the young hopeful to steer clear of US-Iran relations. Habib says he finds foreign policy needlessly divisive. “For me, foreign policy has never been what I’m interested in,” says Habib. “It’s never been my focus. I’m interested in how can we create a 21st-century economy rooted in our passion in this

region for technology.” In Washington state, Habib is best

computer reads-back sounds like chirping but Habib catches the

known for overcoming blindness. A rare childhood cancer took his eyesight at age eight. “I use what’s called text-tospeech software,” Habib says. “So it reads what is on the screen. I am able to type normally just like anyone else and it reads back what is on the screen.” The

high-speed clip and understands every word. Occasionally, his blindness and other interests converge. It happened at a recent committee hearing about setting standards for high-tech, self-driving cars. He asked “how close are we to the day when you can also put

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your blind legislative colleague in a car and say, get him to JLOB,” referring to a government building. I asked Representative Habib if he sees himself as a pioneer or a role model. “I think every person’s story is unique,” he said. “You know, I think ‘role model’ is probably not the right term because people will chart their own path. But blind children need to know that with hard work and opportunity they can achieve their dreams. What’s more, others in society need to know that.” Habib there didn’t mention his Iranian heritage. But consider this anecdote. Back in November, the Voice of America’s Persian service posted a brief bit about Habib’s election victory on its Facebook page. That item, in Farsi, became the website’s most popular of 2012, beating out the US presidential race and even the Iran nuclear standoff. One man posting from Tehran commented, now that’s “what I call a free country.”

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When a Nation Splits

Sudan’s Story of Recession, Race, Oil and Resilient Women street like Nile Avenue, I noticed there are many less southern Sudanese than before walking the streets. Around Christmastime, in the past, they would be dressed in their best, filling the green parks on either side of the thoroughfare; girls in bright red and green dresses playing on swings and boys in ironed black trousers kicking balls around. This past Christmas, though, there were some, but not nearly as many as before. After the South Seceded After South Sudan’s secession, southerners packed up and filled buses and trucks that transported them to the south. For many, it was a celebration of return to their homeland. For others, it was heartbreaking to leave the only city they’d known all their lives. The partition of Sudan into separate nations, a culmination of decades of southern struggle against the ruling north, coupled with the pressures of the global recession, further exposed the deep divisions between the more developed, largely Arabized, lighter skinned north, and the underdeveloped, Nilotic south. Thousands of southerners had lived in Khartoum’s impoverished outskirts for decades. Some were born there; some had been there for generations. Reports from the move were heartbreaking--with accounts of tear-filled farewell parties for long-time workers, who were sacked and told to “go home”. The Sudanese people are worldrenowned for their hospitality, but many I talked to felt “hurt” by the south’s decision to split by a nearly 99 percent vote. Some in Khartoum were truly perplexed, as if absolutely ignorant to the harsh realities of southerners: living as marginalized citizens of their own country. Other people in the north didn’t seem to care either way. Yet others had the “good riddance” knee-jerk reaction of a hurt spouse in a nasty divorce. What everyone agrees on is that the racial diversity of Khartoum has diminished strikingly with the loss of South Sudan. But life went on. Then, last year, after a border dispute over the oil-rich town of Abyei, South Sudan reacted by shutting the oil operation down. It closed up the oil wells, effectively halting all oil production, which Sudan depended on as well. A Downward Economic Spiral An almost immediate result was inflation in the north, followed by an increasingly dire economic climate, which is continuing. As Sudan and South Sudan worked out

an agreement by which the south frees its oil once more and pumps it through the north’s pipelines, the economic downturn continued to pinch Sudanese pockets. During my previous visit home in 2009, the U.S. dollar traded for 22 Sudanese pounds. But by my return last December it had shot up to 70 pounds--good news for visitors from abroad like myself, bad news for the country and its economy. Even earlier, in 2006, Sudanese expats were sending their collegegraduated children to Sudan because it was bustling with job opportunities in the new oil sector. Whole families who had left for better opportunities were returning to Sudan from such places as the United States, Canada, and England to fulfill their dreams of raising their children in the place they were raised. Only seven years ago, Sudan had jobs, and inflation was low. The World Bank reported the country’s gross domestic product grew by 11 percent--a peak not seen there in decades. The country was on an upward trend and there was optimism. But, the global economic crisis of 2009 hit Sudan hard, and the 2011 split further sent Sudan in a downward economic spiral. By 2011, the GDP growth had dwindled to five percent—with inflation at a hefty 46.5 percent. You feel the inflation while shopping for groceries around Khartoum. Whether in the more posh supermarkets like Al Anfal-stocked with imports, from Corn Flakes to ketchup (which many people have cut out of their budgets), or earthier neighborhood shops that mostly sell locally grown vegetables, fruits and dairy products, meat or and baked goods. Everything is much more expensive. Some commodities have doubled or tripled in cost. Prices rose 83.8 percent for meat and 40.2 percent for vegetables. In 2009, a bag of sugar cost 2 Sudanese pounds; today it is 6 pounds. Sugar is one of the most important household needs: As my aunt says, “Our cup of sweet tea is our dessert.” In a country that boasts Africa’s largest sugar company, Kenana, [http://www. kenana.com/] many are bewildered about why sugar is so expensive. Tea and coffee drinking are a predominant part of Sudanese hospitality, and if there is one thing they won’t abandon no matter how high prices get, it is that hospitality. Sudanese Hospitality Says, ‘Allah

Kareem’ As for the economics of Sudanese hospitality in difficult times, if you visit any family at lunchtime, you would still be able to enjoy a homecooked lunch of freshly made stew, vegetables and meat, however little. When you ask how people can afford it, one phrase pops up-“Allah Kareem”--meaning, “God is all-giving.” It’s truly a mystery how the Sudanese make ends meet and survive, even hosting guests who are often unannounced. But “Allah Kareem,” they believe, is a big part of it: Being thankful and optimistic may also bring monetary blessings. It doesn’t make mathematical sense, but you tend to stop arguing and leave it at that. Of course, the “non-divine” factors that play a role can be summed up in the incredible resourcefulness of Sudanese woman, who can whip up a tray of culinary delights from minimal ingredients. I once witnessed a pound of meat, an onion, some eggplants and potatoes magically turn into a feast of 5 dishes. Women are the CFOs of the household. If the country could balance its budget like a Sudanese woman, it would be in very

different circumstances. They pool their money, form neighborhood co-ops, contribute to each other’s special occasions, and, in terms of stretching a buck, as one told me, “I stretch that pound ’til it bleeds.” Yet, no matter how resourceful they are, these women--like the majority of people I’ve met-seemed to be glued to the television and newspapers in hopes of hearing about an oil agreement between Sudan and South Sudan. Such an agreement would mean a return of lost oil-sector jobs, a stronger Sudanese pound, peace of mind—and cheaper sugar. On March 12, the wait was over as Sudan and South Sudan reached a deal whereby South Sudan will resume its oil production, and Sudan will allow use of its pipelines and port for export. The question now is how soon will this translate into jobs, lower inflation, and a stronger Sudanese pound? Hana Baba is a SudaneseAmerican reporter and co-host of Crosscurrents, on KALW Public Radio 91.7FM in San Francisco.

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Arab Israeli to Obama:

This is Our History Too JERUSALEM – “I walk with you,” President Obama announced during his arrival ceremony in Israel Wednesday, “on the historic homeland of the Jewish people.” The president referred to modern Israelis as “the sons of Abraham and the daughters of Sarah.” He made no mention of Palestinians, or of Arab Israelis like myself. As a tour guide to Israel’s ancient sites, I have come to take the long view when it comes to events in the Holy Land. History here begins in the Bronze Age, extending like the twisted vine of some ancient family tree through to the modern era. Homes built two centuries earlier, prized as relics in the United States, are demolished here with little more than a passing thought. As guides, we take tourists to churches like the Benedictine Monastery in Abu Gosh, 10 kilometers west of Jerusalem, still intact from the time of the Crusaders. We visit biblical sites such as Tel Lachish, near Mt. Hebron, which still features the ramp used by the invading Assyrian King Sennacherib in 720 BC to attack Judea. Today, the London museum houses the Lachish Relief, taken by the British in the 19th Century from Sennacherib Palace in Nineveh, Iraq. On these tours, I routinely see American tourists praising the Lord with full-throated biblical recitations as if reliving history. In the Valley of Elah, between Tel Socho and Tel Azeqa, I once saw a group of Americans throwing stones in re-enactment of the story of David and Goliath. At Gideon’s Fountain, I witnessed a young American woman removing her shoes and drinking from the water, just as the 300 warriors of Gideon did before defeating the Midianites. Arabs and Palestinians also relive history in this land. I remember a song from my youth that begins with the words, “The land speaks Arabic.” Sung in the classroom, it is meant to emphasize the ancient connection linking Palestinians to the land of Palestine. Indeed, the Arab names of many villages today date back to the preIsraelite era. In many cases even Israeli archeologists will use the Arabic names to identify Biblical sites.

Take the modern village of Al Jib for example. Today it is identified with the ancient city of Gibeon, which some three millennia ago sent an ambassador to Joshua, believed to have ruled over the land of Canaan following the death of Moses 1500 years before the death of Christ. According to the biblical account, the Gibeon ambassador hid his identity for fear that Joshua would refuse to deal with him. As the story goes, Joshua had been commanded by God to destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan. Joshua later learned of the ambassador’s deceit, cursing the land’s inhabitants to serve for an eternity as “hewers of wood and drawers of water.” Some argue that curse remains today, condemning Palestinians to lives as construction workers or bus drivers. In truth, Palestinians with jobs are the lucky ones. Israel has a first class transportation system, better than the one I used for many years in the United States. This, in turn, has created a huge demand for bus drivers, a position that many Arab Israelis are now taking as it pays relatively well. There are also Arab Israelis working in medicine and teaching positions. The truth of the matter is that Arabs who live in Israel are far better off than their cousins in the West Bank. There, the disappointment in Obama and the United States is palpable. As Israel rolled out the red carpet for the American president’s largely symbolic visit, crowds of angry Palestinians defacedlarge posters of him in Ramallah. Yet despite criticism of U.S. policy, Palestinians have a lot of house cleaning of their own to do. The poverty in Arab villages under the control of the Palestinian Authority is shocking, especially when compared to the ornate villas occupied by local officials and their kin. But rendering a people invisible is more offensive than exploiting them. As President Obama ends his trip to the Holy Land, I want to say, from the vantage of history: This is our homeland too

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Far-right Dutch Politician Finds Islam AMSTERDAM - A leading member in far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party has reverted to Islam after an extensive study about the Islamic religion and Muslims. I can understand people are skeptic, especially that it is unexpected for many of them, Arnoud Van Doorn told Al-Jazeera English satellite channel. This is a very big decision, which I have not taken lightly. The news about Doorn’s reversion first came to the surface last month when he tweeted new beginning . He later posted a tweet in Arab pronouncing the Shahadah (proclamation of faith). The politician later announced that he reverted to Islam, giving no more information about the reasons behind the decision. In my own close circle people have known that I have been actively researching the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah and other writings for almost a year now, he said. In addition, I have had numerous conversations with Muslims about the religion. Driven by his party’s anti-Islam discourse, Doorn decided to dig in for the truth about the religion himself. I have heard so many negative stories about Islam, but I am not a person who follows opinions of others without doing my own research, he said. Therefore, I have actually started to deepen my knowledge of the Islam out of curiosity. My colleague Aboe Khoulani from the City Council in The Hague has brought me further into contact with the as-Soennah mosque, which has guided me even further. A member of the Dutch parliament and The Hague city

council, Doorn’s name has long been associated with Wilders’ anti-Islam, far-right PVV party. A member of the Dutch parliament and The Hague city council, Doorn’s name has long been associated with anti-Islam rhetoric by Wilders’ PVV party. Wilders himself is known for his rants against Islam, Muslims and the Noble Qur’an. New Beginning Doorn’s decision to embrace Islam has won mixed reactions in the Netherlands. According to some people I am a traitor, but according to most others I have actually made a very good decision, he told Aljazeera. The reactions are generally positive and I also received quite some support via twitter. It feels good that people who do not know me personally have understanding of my situation and support me in my choice. For the Dutch politician, finding Islam was finally guiding him to the true path in his life. I have made mistakes in life as many others. From these mistakes I have learned a lot, Doorn said. And by my conversion to Islam I have the feeling that I finally found my path. I realize that this is a new start and that I still have much to learn as well. Departing from his earlier life as a PVV member, Doorn expects much resistance in his political life. The expectation is that I will continue to face much resistance, also from certain government institutions, he said. I have all faith in Allah to support me and to guide me through these moments. Reproduced with permission from OnIslam.net

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HEALTH

april 2013

Obamacare Gave My Mom Peace of Mind

I was 10 when my mother was diagnosed with chronic lupus, a disease in which the immune system goes awry and attacks healthy tissue. This meant she was among those with “preexisting conditions,” making it difficult for my family to get health insurance. The Affordable Care Act, which recently celebrated its third anniversary, is about to make life much easier. Mom migrated from Mexico to the United States when she was 17, settling in Watsonville, Calif. Being undocumented and not knowing the language, she had few employment opportunities. She worked in the fields and packing industries of Salinas Valley for the next 30 years of her life. Fortunately, my mother got legal residency when she was in her 30s, which allowed her to pay for health insurance through her employer. Then, at age 40, she was diagnosed with chronic lupus. There were mornings when she woke up almost paralyzed, with no feeling in her left arm and barely able to get out of bed. I have a lot of memories of visiting my mother in the hospital, bringing her costly treatments and acting as a translator between Mom and health care professionals. At age 16, I started working to help my family since our insurance didn’t cover most of Mom’s hospital bills. Mom tried to enroll in different health care insurance

plans that could better address her needs, but she was denied as a result of her pre-existing condition. That’s about to change. Beginning

requirements as a result of health care reform mean that my mom will now be eligible to enroll. The expansion of Medi-Cal

in January 2014, people like my mother wil be able to purchase health insurance and not have to worry about being denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition. My mother’s illness got worse in 2007, when my father was hospitalized due to a brain aneurism. She was hospitalized as a result of excessive stress, complicated by a flare-up of her lupus. In those days, I was visiting both of my parents in the hospital at the same time. My father died during brain surgery, which put our family in serious financial need. Now working part-time and still uninsured, my mother sees the opportunity of the Affordable Care Act as a beacon of hope. The changes in Medi-Cal’s eligibility

could help millions of people. We need Governor Brown to do what’s fair for all Californians, to have the state continue

to supervise Medi-Cal and continue to allocate resources for our counties, to guarantee a solid safety net for those who are uninsured, including the undocumented. We are now in the process of signing my mom up for our county’s LowIncome Health Program, which acts as a bridge to Medi-Cal for people like her who have the right to join the program in January. Soon, my mom will have the security of having health insurace and knowing that her illness will not ruin her e c o n o m i c a l l y. Millions of Americans will soon have the same peace of mind, thanks to health care reform.

april 2013

ISLAM

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The Virtue of Leadership By Fathiyyah Bashshar A leadership vacuum exists in our culture. Most people who have thought seriously about the matter agree. Moreover, this is not a matter for mere casual observation, but one that elicits a strong sense of deprivation. We need leaders; and

may get their wishes, but this trait did not make them good leaders. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) believed that leadership was based on faith in what is good and right Let’s look at the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon him)Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) unique communication and leadership style led to the spread of Islam, not only within Arabia but also outside to the north, south, east,

were followed by the Prophet (Pbuh) . Indeed, the Prophet of Islam (Pbuh) was a positive thinker in the full sense of the word. All his activities were result-oriented. He completely refrained from all such steps as may prove counterproductive. What has taken place in the modern world that has created the current absence of great leaders? One factor is the dissociation of leadership from genuine authority, that is, authority that is rooted in truth. A true leader, the one for whom a culture has such great need, is neither an opportunistic follower nor an ambitious front-runner. If he is truly to lead people to some fulfilling destiny, as did Moses and the Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) Thye lead them without separating themselves. He must be uncommon enough to inspire people to struggle to achieve a good end. At the same time, he must be common enough so that the common man can emulate him. The paradox of the uncommon-common man is also the paradox of the servant leader. We desire leaders, yet we cut their

legs out from under them when we distrust authority and separate leadership from real moral values. We then settle for a variety of pseudo leaders: the celebrity, the cult leader, the vote getter, the front-runner, the over achiever and the trend setter. But true leadership rarely emerges from political, economic, or cultural forces. It is the consequence, for the most part, of religious and spiritual potentialities. The problem of leadership, complex as it is, has a correlative problem in the problem of followers. Part of the wisdom needed to recognize a true leader is the wisdom to know how to be a good follower. If we are to make our own exodus from bondage, we must be able to recognize not only who Moses is, but who he is not. We must be able to recognize who the Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) is, but who he is not. We all can be defined as leaders in some sense of the definition, but the answer is what type of leaders are we?

KEY DEBT REDUCTION KAMAL ERAKAT, NEGOTIATOR they are as cherished as they are rare. What are the qualities of a leader? For Aristotle there were three: ethos, pathos, and logos. The ethos is his moral character and the source of his ability to convince others; the pathos is his ability to touch feelings and move people emotionally; the logos is his ability to give solid reasons for particular actions and, therefore, to move people intellectually. By this definition, Socrates, Jesus, Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln were great leaders. Islamic leadership is considered a trust and a responsibility and is not to be taken lightly. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) taught that a strong leader must have strong faith and belief in a higher entity, themselves and their ideas. Every great leader, regardless of religion, had faith and belief. However, Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) taught that this faith must be in good and righteous beliefs and not those of evil and irrational. His belief was that those who put faith in evil

west and southwest of Arabia. As a leader during wartime or as a leader during peacetime, Prophet Muhammad proved to master skillful techniques with which he accomplished his goals in delivering the message of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) communicative values of liberty, justice, modesty, and politeness were matched with practical deeds. The people saw this action of his and identified with. Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) skills as manifested in his speeches demonstrated to the eyes of all humankind that he was indeed a great leader worthy of note. It is a well-known fact that the Prophet of Islam (Pbuh) was the supremely successful man in the entire human history. He was a leader. According to the Qur’an, he was the best example for all mankind. He has shown us the way of achieving supreme success in this world. By studying the life of the Prophet (Pbuh) we can derive those important principles which

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Iraq: Stories of Betrayal Swirl Around Fall of Baghdad Ten years after the fall of Baghdad at the hands of US forces, rumors of a breach in the Iraqi military command that facilitated the invasion continue to swirl. Some analysts trace the problem back to 1979 when professional military men in the upper ranks were replaced by Baath Party cadre with little experience. Some were promoted simply for being related to President Saddam Hussein, like his son-inlaw Hussein Kamel, who became a top commander. On the eve of the invasion in 2003, Iraq’s traditional army was of modest strength, having been exhausted by two wars and years of debilitating sanctions. Alongside it stood the welltrained and heavily armed Republican Guard, headed by the president’s son Qusay and a number of other close relatives. One of the more controversial members of the top command was Maher Sufian al-Tikriti, a cousin of the president, who later became the target of a series of accusations that he made a deal with the invading Americans to take Baghdad. After the invasion, many stories emerged of betrayals occurring

in the military command. One officer explains that such acts did not take the traditional form of changing sides or ordering soldiers to stand down. “There were a lot of opportunistic officers around the president who hid many things from him, in order to gain his favor,” he

told Quds Press. Others confirm that there were “some betrayals, but they were not restricted to the military. They included political and party leaders.” More than anyone else, it was Tikriti who was under the most suspicion for having struck a deal with the Americans.There were many rumors during the war of treason by, for example, then-minister of defense Sultan

Hashem was wrongly reported by a Saudi newspaper to have been executed. More than anyone else, it was Tikriti who was under the most suspicion for having struck a deal with the Americans to make sure that the nearly 100,000-strong Republican Guard under his command will not stand in the way of the invading forces, according to reports in the French press and a recent book on the fall of Baghdad. However, the story may not be completely accurate, as another account has emerged in which Tikriti made a decision, along with one of his colleagues, to spare their soldiers more death by negotiating with the Americans. And in fact, he did order his forces stationed between Tikrit and Baghdad to pull out and refrain from engaging the enemy. The pan-Arab daily al-Quds alArabi confirmed reports that Tikriti had made a deal with the CIA in which he would pull out his forces in return for protecting

him and several other officers and their families, in addition to sparing a number of bridges in Baghdad. Tikriti, for his part, denies accusations of treason, with reports emerging from a Baathist website, al-Basra Net, that the man fought to the very end, citing the testimony of another officer in the Lebanese daily an-Nahar, who claimed that he was arrested by the occupation forces in the summer of 2004 for supporting the armed resistance. As for Wafiq Samarai, who was head of military intelligence under Saddam and later became an advisor to President Jalal Talabani, he is skeptical of any major breaches in the Republican Guard command. The fall of Baghdad, he explains, “was not due to a deal between Tikriti and the Americans. The real reason was poor strategic planning, in addition to the weakness of the military command and the interference of civilians in military affairs, not to mention the technical superiority of the American forces.”

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Hareesa - Arabic Pastry Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins 45 mins Ingredients: Servings: 9-12 Units: US | Metric Cake 1 cup semolina flour 1 cup yogurt 1 cup sugar 1 cup butter 2 tablespoons baking powder 2 beaten eggs Syrup 3 cups sugar 1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 lemons or 1/2 lime 1 cinnamon stick Directions: 1) First make the cake:. 2) Preheat oven to 350. 3) Mix together flour, sugar, and baking powder very well in large bowl. 4) Melt butter, add into mixture. 5) Add yogurt into the mixture, mix well. 6) Add eggs, mix well again. 7) Beat mixture for 2 minutes til there are no lumps. 8) Pour into 9 X 13 inch baking pan brushed with very little oil. 9) Bake in middle rack of oven for 45 minutes. 10) While the cake bakes, prepare

the syrup:. 11 )Mix 3 cups sugar & one cup water in a pot, put on stove on high heat. 12) Add in vanilla and cinnamon stick. Stir well. 13) Squeeze half lemon into mixture, drop the lemon itself in there after squeezing. 14) Mix well, let boil for 1 minute, remove from heat. 15) After cake is a golden color (after about 45 mins), remove from oven, and let cool for about 5 minutes. 16) Pour syrup onto the whole cake, let cool. Cut into as

many pieces as you like. 17) Enjoy! You Mig

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CALENDAR / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Phoenix Prayer Times

april 2013

Tucson Prayer Times

April 2013 • Jamada Al Awal / Jamada Al Thani1434 H

ISLAMIC WEEKEND SCHOOLS

Directions to the Islamic Cultural Center Cemetery

Islamic Community Center of Phoenix: Islamic Cultural Center: Muslim Community Mosque: Masjid Omar ICNEV Weekend Islamic School ACA Weekend School Sultan Education in Chandler Greenway Islamic Academy

Sunday at 9:45 am-1:20 pm. Sunday at 10:00 am Sunday at 10:00 am until 2:30 pm. Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Tel: (480) 346-2081Classes held on Sunday K thru’ grade 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 am-1:15 pm. www.azacademy.org/weekend Saturdays & Sundays - children/adults 480-593-7066 Tajweed, Islamic Studies, & Arabic Language 602-565-0500

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1) Go South on Forest to University Drive. Turn right. 2) Go West on University to the I-10 highway. Take I-10 East. 3) Proceed on I-10 East (~12 Miles). Exit at Queen Creek Rd. (EXIT #164). 4) Turn right on route 347 South. Proceed for about 14 miles. 5) Turn right on route 238 West. Proceed for about 8.7 miles. 6) Turn right on unnamed/unpaved street after you see the street sign which reads “36 miles” and proceed to the cemetery.

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Islamic Center of N. Phoenix 13246 N. 23rd Ave. 85029 602-371-3440 Islamic Comnty Ctr of Phx 7516 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix • 602-249-0496 Muslim Community Mosque 1818 N. 32nd St. • Phoenix 602-306-4959 Masjid Al-Rahmah 2645 E. McDowell Rd. • Phoenix 602-275-5493 Masjid Muhammad Ibn Abdullah

5648 N. 15th ave. Phoenix, AZ 85015 602-413-5279

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PEORIA Greenway Islamic Center 6724 West Greenway • Peoria, Islamic Center of East Valley AZ www.greenwaymasjid.com 425 N. Alma School Dr. • Chandler TEMPE 602-388-9900 Islamic Comnty Ctr of Tempe LAVEEN 131 E. 6th Street • Tempe 480-894-6070 Islamic Center of Laveen P.O. Box 1107 • Laveen Masjid Al Mahdi 602-361-4401 1016 S. River Dr. • Tempe MARICOPA 480-557-9699 Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah Masjid Omar Bin Al-Khattab 44370 W. Arizona Ave. Maricopa Arizona 85138 6225 S.McClintock • Tempe contact# (602)312-7913 480-775-6627 MESA Masjid-el-Noor 55 N. Matlock • Mesa 480-644-0074 SCOTTSDALE Islamic Center of N.E. Valley 12125 E. Via Linda • Scottsdale 480-612-4044

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