Muslim Voice October 2012 issue by Arabesque Media & Breek Media

Muslim Voice

October 2012

Year

it y

THUL QEDAH/tHUL hIJA 1433H

Monthly Newspaper

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

The Real Reason Big Brother’s Still Spying on New York City’s Muslims By Seth Wessler

19 th

Ser ving the o C m mu n

New Look

Why Muslims Should Vote

Freed

By Dr. Anwar Hajjaj, President of the American Islamic Information Center uslims Should Be Active Wherever We Are. When we as Muslims unite as a community, our chances of being heard regarding the issues that are relevant and important to us are far more significant than when a small number of us are trying to make a difference. By being politically active, we can seek to better the lives of all Muslims living in the United States. Our involvement within the political system is also a great way to present to the public an accurate image of Islam, and of Muslims as supporting the issues that are important in our lives, and maintaining high morals and standards. For example, we can show our deep concern over the decay of the family system in

ShareThis We now know that the NYPD’s once secret program that for years spied on Muslims, striking a justified fear into the community’s core, never gleaned a single lead or terrorism-related investigation. In court testimony released last week the police official who oversees the controversial Demographics Unit admitted that the massive operation to spy on Mosques and Muslim community spaces led to no measureable benefit to public safety.

In a deposition taken on June 28 as part of civil rights litigation involving the surveillance program, Intelligence Chief Thomas Galati said “Related to Demographics,” the information collected “has not commenced an investigation.” But more than a week after the acknowledgement, the city seems as convinced as ever that public safety Continued on page

Vol.19 Issue No.193

America by supporting candidates for whom family values is a high priority. Muslims speaking out, showing up in numbers and being involved in the political process will enable our vote to be sought-after by political nominees. We will then be taken seriously, and considered a vital consituency by candidates of all political parties; thus, requiring them to address issues of great concern to our community. American Muslims are increasing in numbers; hence, we stand to make an increasingly significant difference in the outcome of elections. We need to become educated about the governing process, and the laws and issues that affect us as this will allow us to understand American political proceedings, and encourage our participation in a vitally important activity that greatly impacts our lives as well as the way we are viewed by non-Muslims. Continued on page 11

Know Your Presidential Candidates

How U.S. Communities Welcome Immigrants

Page 7

New America Media, Op-ed, David Lubell , Posted: Sep 18, 2012 On January 11, 2011, Jhuma Acharya arrived in Providence, RI after a journey that began in 1992, in Bhutan, a country tucked between India and China whose government forced ethnic minorities to leave their homes. At age 15, Acharya fled Bhutan with his family to a refugee camp in Nepal, where he spent 17 years before finding an opportunity to permanently resettle. His story is not unlike so many others who come to Continued on page

Atrocity in Syria and the Globalization of Callous Disregard

SSA A I A IF AF F I L MFSI

LMS

Wedding Videography and Photography Wedding Videography and Photography Your Memo ries on Film

Your Mem ories on Film

480.516.5819

saiafﬁ lms.com

SAIAF FILMS

Wedding Videography and Photography 480.516.5819

saiafﬁ lms.com

Your Mem ories on Film

Vigil for Stevens Article Final

Arabic Assyrian

& Chaldean Yellow Pages

hone

P FREE

App

‫دليلو‬

Daleelo

Now Available

for more information

602-258-7770

Now on your iPhone and Android

Program Paves Way for Future Arab American Journalists

For the first time in Arizona

1819 W. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: 602-253-7427

See Ad Page 9

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

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

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Attorneys

• Immigration Attorneys,

602-234-0782

Education • Arizona Cultural Academy, 602-454-1222 • PAX Academy,

480-659-6714

Grocery Stores • Salam Market

480-967-8009

• Haji Baba

480-894-1905

• Zamzam

602-220-9205 Investment

• Amana Income Fund, • Investology inc.,

888/37-AMANA 703-459-0969

Physicians • Inayat M. Alikhan,

480-945-2558

Real Estate • Noma Group INC.,

602-625-9357

• Shahnawaz Currim,

480-839-2600

Restaurant • Krispy Krunchy

m mu nit y

Year

602-253-7427

Muslim Voice

AMERICAN MUSLIM Community Newspaper

Published Monthly by

Publisher Breek PUBLISHING INC. editor in Chief MARWAN AHMAD editor@azmuslimvoice.com Community Editor Janan Atiyeh commeditor@azmuslimvoice.com contributing writers

Sumbal Akhter • Mohamud Shalab • Fathiyyah Bashshar • Ahmad Daniels • Yousef Ahmad • Hasana Abdul-Quadir

Art DeSIGN eXPRESS DESIGN EXPRESS Advertisements

602-258-7770

sales@azmuslimvoice.com

Muslim Voice

1624 W. Thomas • Phoenix, AZ 85015 Phone: (602) 258-7770 Fax: 1(866) 859-8595 Email: info@azmuslimvoice.com Deadlines for submission of letters is the 20th of every month, and for advertisements by the 25th. Only letters and articles submitted on disk or email will be accepted for review. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any letters, articles or advertisement or any other material. The Publisher will not be liable for more than the advertisement cost in case of an error. The Muslim Voice is not responsible for the contents of advertisements or articles nor endorses them in any way or form.

CARTOON / LOCAL

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

19th

LOCAL

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

OCTOBER 2012

Year

Vigil for Stevens Article Final By Khalid Risha The Muslim youth of Arizona continue to hold events that are intended to spread awareness or collect money for Muslim countries that are in desperate need of attention. Most of these events do not necessarily affect the Muslims who are suffering across the globe. Instead, they are organized out of desperation—we could not stand idly by and not speak up against the violent and mindless actions directed at innocent people. A vigil, however, is not an event that is organizes to merely satisfy the desperate need to help our Muslim brothers and sisters. In fact, a vigil is probably one of the most valuable events that are planned by Muslim Americans. A vigil is intended to spread awareness in the individual’s heart. It has the ability to force one to waive a few hours of their day to remember those who deserve to be

remembered. The vigil for Ambassador Christopher Stevens that took place on Friday November 13,2012 at Moeur Park in Tempe really showed the world the true power of a moment of silence. The Muslim Community of Arizona gathered together to honor the death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the other Americans who were attacked

by extremists in Libya. The mission of the vigil was to show recognition of Ambassador Stevens support towards the Libyan people during their struggle against the former dictator Gaddafi. The Vigil began with influential speeches given by Soumiea Abushagur (the daughter of the prime minister of Libya), Noor Raad, Zana Alattar, and Rana Dbeis.

Americans are not associated with the true Muslims who strive for a peaceful world. After the speeches and interviews, the gathered Muslims lit their candles and participated in a moment of silence to honor the deaths of the Americans. To end the peaceful night, the group walked down the sidewalk toward the

intersection of Washington and Mill Avenue, and publicly displayed their gratitude for the man who supported the freedom of the oppressed. Candles shined bright and posters read, “Violence committed in the name of our prophet is more offensive than any film” as well as “we as Muslim Americans condemn the murder of the innocent.” People who drove by not only acknowledged their presence, but also understood the grief and remorse that was evident in all of their faces. The Muslims who attended this vigil want people to know that peaceful, honest, and humane acts like these are the genuine representations of Islam.

The speeches mainly discussed how the actions of the extremists who killed the innocent Americans in Libya did not represent the true Muslim faith. Soumiea Abushagur explained that this tragic incident was a shock to the Libyan people as they truly appreciated his strong presence in the most recent months of Libya. Zana Alattar, Rana Dbeis, and Soumiea Abushagur had the opportunity to speak on live television on behalf of the Muslim Ummah of Arizona to condemn these horrific acts. They emphasized that no true Muslim would agree with the violence that was inflicted on these innocent Americans, especially those who have helped Muslims attain their freedom. They reminded the world that the extremists who killed those

.com/PakistanWest

www.PakistanWest.com

now hiring place your qurbani orders ahead 2 locations same ownership

Full & Part Time Please Call: 480-332-7512 Send Feedback To: www.zamzamworldfoods.com, zamzamworldfood@gmail.com

Call: 480-332-7512

Largest Selection of Pakistani & Indian Groceries & Halal Meat in Town !

1638 N. 40th Street Fax: Phoenix, AZ 85008 Te l : ( 6 0 2 ) 2 2 0 - 9 2 0 5 (602) 220-9206

2 30 W Galveston Street Fax: C h a n d l e r, A Z 8 5 2 2 5 (480) 726-6484 Te l : ( 4 8 0 ) 7 8 6 - 0 5 4 3

Na m Gr e Br an oc er y: d

Z Ha -Gr ill lal Fo od

99¢

Fr es ge h ta ble s

HaFres h lal M ea

*Chandler Location ONLY

Introducing - Khoya Kulfi We Guarantee You ‘ll Love Our Kulfi or It Will Be On Us!!

Eid Mubarak -Place Your Qurbani Orders Ahead -Let Us Do The Work While You Enjoy Your Day -Weekend BBQ Coming Soon In Chandler!

Meat Dept: “Masala Ready Meats” - Chk Tikka, Chk Keema Masala, Seekh Kabob, Hamburger Patties, Kofta - $3.99/ lb -Goat Mix ($3.99 / lb) -Deli Meats/ Cold Cuts -Baby Goat - $4.49/lbs - (Now Available) Must Order Ahead -Chicken Qtrs (.99¢ / lb) -Beef Keema ($1.99 / lb)

Z-Grill: -Chapli / Seekh Kabobs $9.99 / Doz -Shami Kabobs $13.99 / Doz -Large Party Trays $75 (for 30-35 ppl) -Small Party Trays $40 (for 15-20 ppl)

HOME DELIVERY OF MEAT & GROCERY TO YOUR DOORSTEPS !!! Open 7 Days A Week (MON - SUN 10:00AM - 9:00PM) .com/PakistanWest

.com/PakistanWest

www.PakistanWest.com

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

LOCAL

m mu nit y

Year

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

As Arizona’s “Papers, Please” Law Start

Immigrant Women Speak Out

By Valeria Fernández New America Media PHOENIX, Ariz.--As immigrant women and immigration advocates prepare for the “show me your papers” or “papers, please” provision of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 to take effect—as early as this week-- they shared their stories of a struggle that has evolved from fear to resistance in a panel here held last week by New America Media (NAM). At a media roundtable titled “Women and Immigrant Rights in Arizona,” some key players in the fight for human rights painted a portrait of their challenges and the road ahead. They responded to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June permitting the Arizona statute’s “papers, please” section to go into effect before opponents can gather evidence that it is being selectively enforced based on racial profiling. Civil rights groups, claiming law enforcement officers have already shown a pattern of discrimination, filed for an injunction to halt the law’s implementation. But U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton rejected this request on Sept. 6, allowing the law to go into effect. In August 2010, Bolton stopped implementation of four parts of SB 1070, and the Supreme Court subsequently struck down all but the “papers, please” provision. ‘Assault’ on the Community For some years, Arizona has been a battleground for one of the most divisive immigration debates in the country with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigrant sweeps and a wave of antiimmigrant laws that reached their peak with SB 1070’s passage in 2010. The Supreme Court nullified other parts of SB 1070, but left standing the provision that requires police to ask for someone’s documents—even if they stop the person for an unrelated cause, such as a traffic violation--if they suspect the person is in the U.S. illegally. “In all my elected life, I have never seen such an assault on a community as we have seen in the last three years,” said Mary Rose Wilcox, a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. “I’ve seen a community become very

scared,” she continued, “a community become very defensive, but more importantly a community that asked why. And many of us have fought a very strong battle to stop it.” Immigrant women and their children have become the face of that struggle in Arizona when many of their working husbands were deported as a result of minor traffic stops or sweeps of their workplaces, said Wilcox. These women, Wilcox said, took the lead as the voices for their families, marching and making their stories heard. Wilcox has been an outspoken critic of Arpaio and other politicians who use state laws meant to prosecute human smugglers to go after immigrants and employer sanctions laws to pursue workers. “Because I had the nerve to speak out, I was prosecuted,” Wilcox asserted. She was indicted as part of an investigation by the sheriff, charges that were later dropped. “I suffered a lot, but not half as much as a person with no resources, who has a family torn apart by deportation and who is trying to raise children,” she said. A Child’s World Turned Upside Down In Arizona the struggle has matured over the last decade, as a wave of antiimmigrant legislation has compelled immigrants to answer fear by becoming their own advocates. At the NAM Phoenix briefing, Sandra and Katherine Figueroa, a mother and daughter, described their personal experience before SB 1070 was enacted. In 2009, Katherine was nine years old when sheriff deputies raided the carwash where her parents worked-and she found out while watching the news. The raid turned Katherine’s world upside down, and she was forced to cope with her parents’ absence and the possibility of their deportation. Now age 12, Katherine recalled, “I would have bad dreams, I would not eat for all those months, because I was scared. It was a really sad life, spending three months without my parents.” Sandra, her mother, said that their experience is only one of the many stories of families who have been separated by immigration policies in Arizona--even before SB 1070.

“We want our voice to reach out for all of those afraid to speak,” she said. “We no longer have respect for the police, we have fear. Something happens at our home, and we are afraid to call the police because we don’t know if they’ll arrest us or help us.” The threat of family separation is present for most immigrant women and families in Arizona, but the recent news that a federal judge turned down a motion to enjoin the “papers please” portion of SB 1070 is renewing worries. Dulce Juarez, an immigrant rights project coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said the group has already documented the law’s impact and will continue doing so as it is implemented. Through the use of a telephone hotline, in partnership with Respect/Respeto, ACLU is recommending that women have a plan of action. For example, the groups advise the women to assign power of attorney, so that if they are detained, they can give custody of their children to someone they trust.

issue, not just a black issue, it’s not even just a women’s issue--it’s a human rights issue,” she said. “Immigrant rights are not just about those of us who come here across the border, but it’s for those who come on a plane, on a boat, those of us whose ancestors came here hundreds of years ago, but are still struggling for equality and justice to this day.” Susan Frederick-Gray, lead minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, stated at the Phoenix event that immigration is “clearly a moral issue, but gets painted as a political issue.” Frederick-Gray was among a group of more than 50 people who blocked Arpaio’s jail on July 29, 2010, in an act of civil disobedience to prevent his office from conducting an immigration sweep when part of SB 1070 was taking effect. “As women we can understand that migration is about family and is about children and it is not against the law to try to provide for your family through honest work,” said Frederick-Gray.

“We can do the preparation. But people right now across the state, are preparing to leave or they are preparing for deportation. How sad is that?” asked Juarez.

She also underscored the role played by immigrant workers and women in the U.S. economy and quoted Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to “value people over profits.”

Victoria Lopez, an attorney for ACLU, one of the organizations that filed suit against SB 1070 alleging the law amounts to racial profiling, said civil rights groups are considering an appeal of the judge’s decision.

Frederick-Gray stressed, “The damage of racial and ethnic division is going to be with us a long time.”

“The only way to fight SB 1070 in the courts is getting the reports on the abuses,” said ACLU’s Juarez. African Refugees Also Fearful Latino immigrants are not the only ones affected by a fear of the police. Refugees from wartorn areas of Africa are impacted too, said Tia Oso, an organizer for Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). “We see this distrust for law enforcement. If there is maybe domestic violence or exploitation, these crimes are rarely reported,” she said. Oso said it is important to understand that immigration laws like SB 1070 don’t just impact one group of people but all “colors and creeds.”

Taking Action Several women in the audience, including those with and without papers, also shared their concerns and stories. Their comments carried one common factor--leave aside the fear and take action. “Lots of people believe I have papers,” said Emma Cervantes, a mother of six children. “I’ve learned that with fear I can make bad decisions,” she told the audience. She said her goal is to engage those who can vote and to convince them that if they empathize with her struggle they have the power to bring about change. “I want those who can vote to know that we are coming here for the progress of this country,” Cervantes said.

“Immigrant rights is not just a Latino

Notice Breek Publishing and its subsidiaries Muslim Voice, Arab Voice, Arabic Yellow Pages and Multicultural Yellow Pages will stop doing business with the following companies due to refusal to pay debts owed to Breek Publishing inc.:

Robert K. Lewis, Esq.

Amy M. Pokora, Esq.

Call today for a free consultation with Amy Pokora, a woman attorney who cares about your case!

602-889-6666

We are located at 2633 E. Indian School Road, Suite 360, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Visit our website at www.ucalllaw.com

LEWIS AND POKORA IS AN ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

United Immigration Services Nile Cafe Station on McDowell/Dow Law Office Mediterranean Buffet Irene’s Happy Daycare Jerusalem Foods Prime Glass Magic Cut We decided to publish this list after we exhausted all diplomatic ways to collect from these companies and their owners for past months and years in some cases. We have full documentations proving their liabilities toward Breek Publishing inc. We also have found out that some of these businesses have a history of avoiding payments and escaping debts.

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

OPINION / NATIONAL

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

OCTOBER 2012

Anti-Semitic By Manar Milbis Last May, TIAACREF removed Caterpillar Inc—a major company that has profited and aided Israel’s illegal military occupation of Palestine—from its Social Choice Funds portfolio. This pension fund giant once valued shares in Caterpillar at over 72 million and now it is zero. Then in July, Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of the Walt Disney Company co-founder, Roy O. Disney, renounced her share of profits in the Israeli cosmetic company Ahava because she believed it engaged in the “exploitation of occupied natural resources.” Instead, she vowed to donate her profits and shares to various organizations that strive to end the illegal exploitation of Palestine. These are only two examples of the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Even more visible recently is the vocal criticism of Israel through various social media advertisements. Take for example the 23 billboards that were put up in Los Angeles area in July calling for an end to Israeli aid. The billboards read, “TELL CONGRESS: Spend Our Money At Home, Not on the Israeli Military.” Then

there was Henry Clifford, the chairman of the Committee for Peace in Israel and Palestine, who spent $25,000 of his own money on ads, appearing in 50 NY Metro-North stations, which depicted a shrinking Palestinian territory in Israel over the years. We are beginning to see, more than ever, a major shift in progressive discourse that allows for, and in some cases encourages, the open criticism of Israel. Various intellectual societies are b e c o m i n g more vocal in their antiIsraeli views. Surprising? Hardly! After all, we are talking about a nation that has violated more UN resolutions than all countries combined; a country that has no regard for international human rights; and a state that crushes American activists with bulldozers and proceeds to call the incident an “accident.” However, this increased condemnation of the Israeli state doesn’t come without a price. It has spurred, what I like to call, the “Everyone Hates Jews” Movement—a

campaign that attempts to label anyone who criticizes Israel as anti-Semitic. When an individual like Lawrence Summers, Harvard University president, delineates the BDS movement and any criticism of Israel as “actions that are anti-Semitic in their effect if not their intent” he has single handedly destroyed a c a d e m i c freedom and restricted open and deliberative p u b l i c discussion. Recently, we have witnessed these types of claims translating into policy after the California State Assembly passed a resolution that defined the criticism of Israel as “anti-Semitism.” This presents a large and perilous dilemma because it threatens one’s ability to freely enter the public sphere and almost eliminates public discussion that can challenge the status quo. Recall Seyla Benhabib’s notion of democratic iterations—that is arguing and challenging laws and policy that have been considered both legal and

“legitimate” in the association of civil society. If an individual refrains from speaking up against racist and illicit Israeli policies for the fear of being labeled an anti-Semite, they have been stripped of their ability to engage in any form of democratic iterations and are unable to challenge the validity of illegitimate state laws and policy. A successful “Everyone Hates Jews” campaign would be the death of public deliberation. This movement impedes any demand for open and democratic forms of legislation and restricts dissent even of the most heinous actions committed by a state like Israel. It creates an environment where diverse perspectives cannot thrive and individuals can no longer dispute even the most unlawful and violent state actions. A healthy public sphere encourages individuals to openly discuss and recognize societal problems and pushes political action to help create solutions to these problems. However, we live in society that has continually attempted to exclude certain points of view from the public sphere and for this reason we need to challenge and reject the idea that criticism of Israel translates into anti-Semitism. I suggest the next time someone accuses you of being an anti-Semite for merely criticizing Israel’s violent and racist polices, respond by informing them that they are anti-public reason and thus are annihilators of the most basic attribute of a democracy.

Program Paves Way for Future Arab American Journalists DEARBORN — In the 2010-2011 school year, McCollough-Unis School allowed the Asian American Journalism Association (AAJA) to launch a project from the AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program for Unis Middle School students titled “The Living Textbook.” The program is headed by Emily Askari, a lecturer at the University of Michigan, and Joe Grimm, a visiting editor in residence Michigan State University. Both have also reported for the Detroit Free Press. “The Living Textbook” is designed to teach 7th and 8th graders unique journalism skills early in life to promote an interest in reporting on events and stories of people around the students. The program allows the students to use a multimedia platform to tell their stories, including audio, video and photography. Students are encouraged to explore new ways to report on issues they feel are important to their community. As a majority of the students are Arab American, the program also promotes a rise in Arab American journalists in the next generation of reporters for more fair and equal coverage in ethnic media. Director Joe Grimm said that the students at Unis Middle School are well aware of international news. “For them, events in the Middle East are not foreign news, but family news. They know what is going on and follow it closely. In some cases, stories from Syria are about their cousins, aunts and uncles,” said Grimm. Hussein Bazzi, a 20-year-old HFCC student, agreed: “I think the program

is amazing. The entire idea around it is genuine and it is something that is needed greatly.” The middle school’s principal, Heyam

Alcodray, said that the program has been successful in engaging students in world news, especially Middle Eastern issues. Bazzi said: “Nowadays, Arab Americans are being hated and mistreated very openly by media outlets and even our elected officials in Congress. I believe this program can help bring Arab Americans into the media part of society, and also help enlighten the greater part of thes United States and show everyone, as

African Americans did not too long ago, that we are not so different, and that we are all equal and should be treated as equals.”Grimm also said the program is working with the first generation of Arab Americans to grow up without memories

of 9/11, but they are still familiar with the events. “They know how it has affected them as Americans and as residents of Dearborn, and they have felt that their entire lives,” said Grimm. “These students with this experience at such a young age, will bring to the journalism field excellent experience in understanding the issues in the Middle East,” said Alcodray.

Alcodray also said that the program is teaching kids at a young age how to meet deadlines, analyze situations and clear writing. On the program’s website, it shows how much the young students have actually achieved in thinking above and beyond for their age, with book reviews on “The Kite Runner” and even an article about pursuing careers. The students are also learning how to shoot video and take photos from interesting angles, things that some journalists are just now learning in their careers. “If you give a middleschool journalist a camera and a computer, good things happen,” said Grimm. The program has received video camera and camera equipment donations from Kodak, Costco and Target, encouraging the students to present the news in other ways than print. It also has been supported by the McCormick Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The upcoming 2012-2013 school year will be the third year for “The Living Textbook,” proving to be a successful program. Students can post their work on the website at www.livingtextbook. aaja.org, allowing them to share their experiences with the rest of Dearborn’s community.

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

Continued from p. 1

NATIONAL

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

The Real Reason Big Brother’s Still Spying on New York City’s Muslims relies on police regularly watching and documenting the movements, religious practices, conversations, name changes and student activities of New York’s Muslim communities. As the deposition made absolutely clear, the NYPD continues to operate within the confines of a belief that Muslims, by virtue of being Muslim, are prone to acts of terrorist violence and must be watched at all times. After the Associated Press revealed the NYPD’s Muslim spying program in an investigation last year, city officials justified the program on the basis that it’s helped foil acts of terrorism— 14 acts of terrorism to be precise. Back in March, I called this claim into question, finding that few of the the named plots had indeed been stopped by the NYPD and those the cops played a part in foiling relied on the use of informants who essentially entrapped vulnerable men, pulling them into terrorist plots that were never to come to fruition and then jailing the men. At first, the city flatly denied the existence of the Demographics Unit. After it was unveiled, officials claimed the program only followed legitimate leads. At intervals, city leaders have been more honest, like when Mayor Bloomberg said on a NYC radio talk show, “When there’s no lead, you’re just trying to get familiar with what’s going on, where people might go and where people might be to say something.” In 2010, possibly with the foresight to guess that a section called the Demographics Unit dedicated to watching Muslims would not easily get past advocates and civil rights groups, the NYPD changed the program’s name. It’s now called the Zone Assessment Unit. Diala Shamas is a staff attorney with the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility, or CLEAR project at the CUNY law school. She says that little has changed in the city since the program began. Mosque congregants and Muslim students she’s interviewed say that they

still live in fear that they’re being watched, followed, and scrutinized. “This sort of program results in a breakdown of community trust,” Shamas said. “Regardless of the minor changes in the program’s names, [the NYPD] certainly has not stepped back from the underlying rationale that American Muslims should be monitored and infiltrated even in the absence of any suspicious activity or criminal leads.” That rationale, the one that undergirds the whole apparatus of spying and surveillance but has made the city no more safe, derives from a world view that Muslims are dangerous, their eruption into violence only a matter of time. As I wrote previously: In 2007, the NYPD released a report called “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat.” It articulates a broad rationale for spying on Muslim community spaces, including “cafes, cab driver hangouts, flophouses, prisons, student associations, non-governmental organizations, hookah bars, butcher shops and book shops.” It essentially holds that Islamic religious practice, or even the plain congregation of Muslims, can lead to radicalization and violence. Michael Price is legal counsel with the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Project. He says the radicalization report is the intellectual foundation for what the demographics unit does. “The theory is that all Muslims are terrorists and if they’re not now they will be; if you just hang out in the places that Muslims are, you will unveil terrorist plots.” Indeed, the Galati deposition is a litany of justification based deeply in this idea. Here are some of the most telling lines, including this one where Galati calls Muslims “Islamics,” as he does repeatedly: The [Demographic Unit’s] responsibilities

was to collect information on areas so that we can identify countries of concern, where people that were being radicalized towards violence, Islamics radicalized towards violence. In one anecdote that was supposed to be redacted from the transcript but which Mother Jones’s Adam Serwer discovered last week could be easily cut from the document posted by the plaintiffs and pasted as legible text, Galati said that anger over a Quran burning justified surveillance and collecting information about the speaker. In the anecdote, a Demographics Unit cop: overheard a conversation between two Pakistani males who were conversing in Urdu. One male stated in Urdo (sic), ‘This is unbelievable, that New Jersey Transit Worker who got fired for burning the Holy Quran by Ground Zero was rehired last week’. As Marcy Wheeler wrote over at Emtywheel.com, the deposition displays a near total disregard for free speech protections for Muslims discussing politics and US foreign policy. “One of the most fascinating moments in the deposition of the NYPD’s Intelligence Chief,” Wheeler blogged, “comes when he discusses what kinds of political conversations might be recorded by the NYPD.”: I would say that if there was an event in the world that resulted in some type of violence or disruption, anywhere in the World or within the state that was related to terrorism activity, yes, they would go. They would basically see if it’s going to have any implications in New York City. Galati said a discussion about drone strikes justified surveillance: If we deployed them because of an event

that took place in a particular part of the world, a drone attack, we would want to know and we would instruct them that people are upset about this drone attack. If they are, that’s something that would be important for us to know, that would be something we would want to know. And repeatedly Galati said his team targets people on the basis of the language they speak: I’m seeing Urdu. I’m seeing them identify the individuals involved in that are Pakistani. I’m using that information for me to determine that this would be a kind of place that a terrorist would be comfortable in … Most Urdu speakers from that region would be of concern, so that’s why it’s important to me. As the AP noted, “About 15 million Pakistanis and 60 million Indians speak Urdu. Along with English, it is one of the national languages of Pakistan.” The NYPD’s continued targeting of huge swaths of the city on the basis of language, ethnicity and religion have left a mark, says Shamas. “The programs have damaged the community’s relationships with law enforcement, and alienated individuals from law enforcement. Simply, many Muslims don’t feel that NYPD protects them, rather they feel besieged by it.”

EARN an ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE at an ISLAMIC HIGH SCHOOL Arizona Cultural Academy

Accredited Pre K - 12

Join College at junior level Something to smile about

 Earn College Credits  College scholarship!  Concurrent & dual Enrollments

 Save College Tuition  $$$ Up to 2 years!

Call Today  (602) 454-1222  Visit & Donate at www.azacademy.org

Masjid on Campus

New Gymnasium, Youth Center, Computer & Science Labs

National

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

OCTOBER 2012

Know your presidential candidates The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) seeks to empower the American Muslim community with its 2012 Presidential Voter Guide, providing general information about the election such as candidate positions and biographies. CAIR seeks to educate Muslim voters on candidate positions and encourages Muslims to support candidates whose positions they agree with.

Barack Obama President of the United States of America Party: Democrat Age: 50 Residence: Washington, D.C. & Chicago, Illinois Occupation: Attorney & community organizer Religion: Christianity Website: http://www.barackobama. com/ Economy: Supports overall middleclass tax cuts and increased taxes on top earners. To stimulate the economy and job growth, seeks passage of the American Job Act, which proposes to: cut the payroll tax in half for 98 percent of businesses; federally fund teacher, law enforcement and firefighter jobs at risk; extend unemployment insurance benefits; support additional back to work programs; and allow Americans to refinance their mortgages. Favors investments in alternative and renewable energy to create clean energy markets and combat rising energy costs.

Health care: Signed into law the Affordable Health Care Act, which created sweeping reforms of the nation’s health care system. The act prohibits health insurers from refusing coverage based on medical history. Requires most employers to provide coverage for workers. Extends Medicaid to more lowincome individuals. Subsidizes low-andmiddle-class Americans to buy health insurance. Creates a health insurance exchange to compare policies, rates, and other benefits. National Security: With the killing of major terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden, seeks to ensure the demise of the al-Qaida network through effective targeting and destabilization.

HAJI BABA MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD

Has achieved 2008 campaign objective of ending combat operations in Iraq, although some troops remain, and refocusing operations on Afghanistan and al-Qaeda. Commander in Chief: In August 2010, announced the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq, shifting thousands of troops into advisory positions. Plans the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2011, and 33,000 “surge” troops by 2012. Supported U.S. involvement in the NATO-led operation to assist Libyan rebels to overthrow of Col. Muammar Qaddafi. Favors working with European and Asian countries to increase pressure and sanctions on Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Foreign Policy: Generally favors negotiating and collaborating with other nations instead of taking unilateral actions. Overall objectives include increasing trade and investment in America, restoring American leadership in Latin America, and ensuring energy security while fighting climate change. Supports “Arab Spring” liberation movements through working with other nations to pressure dictators into stepping down. Immigration: Supports increased border security and more strict enforcement of employment laws. Proposes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants without a criminal record who learn English and pay a fine. Requested a Justice Department review of nearly 300,000 immigration removal cases to accelerate cases of illegal immigrants with criminal histories and to drop from the court cases of illegal immigrants seeking a path toward citizenship. Civil Rights: Signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which ensures basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. Signed into law the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced federal sentence guidelines for crack cocaine. Formally repealed the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for GLBT service members. Supports a secretive policy of targeted assassinations of U.S. citizens abroad who are suspected of terrorism. Permitted the FBI’s “racial mapping program,” which targeted racial, ethnic and religious groups for investigation by associating criminal behaviors with specific communities.

Mitt Romney

RESTAURANT, GROCERY & DELI Fresh Quality • Low Prices • Cultural Needs

GIFTS • BOOKS • MAGAZINES HALAL MEAT

Owners Nabil Torfa & Zuhier Khatib

Former Governor of Massachusetts Party: Republican Age: 64 Residence: Belmont, Massachusetts Occupation: Business executive Religion: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Website: http://www.mittromney.com/ Economy: Supports lowering taxes overall and eliminating taxes on earned

5% Discount Off groceries

480-894-1905

1513 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ 85281

ongoin

interest, capital gains and inheritance. Intends to reduce the corporate income tax to 25 percent. Aims to place a cap on federal spending and cut nonsecurity spending by five percent. Seeks congressional passage of existing free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. Intends to create jobs and lower energy costs by directing the Department of the Interior to complete a comprehensive survey of American energy reserves in partnership with private companies, looking to issue immediate drilling leases. Health Care: Supports repealing the Affordable Health Care Act. As an alternative, favors greater competition in the healthcare market by permitting insurance companies to compete across state lines. Seeks to expand tax deductions to individuals who purchase their own insurance. Favors expanding Health Savings Accounts and ensuring that covered individuals cannot be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Plans to reform malpractice litigation. Favors individuals and small businesses forming purchasing pools to lower insurance costs. National Security: Supports an additional $30 billion in military spending and setting a minimum for defense spending at four percent of the GDP. Favors increasing activeduty forces by 100,000 troops. Intends to modernize and replace the aging inventories of the Air Force, Army and Marines, and to increase the Navy shipbuilding rate from nine per year to approximately fifteen per year. Commander in Chief: Critical of the current Administration’s plan to withdraw troops from Iraq by 2012. Supports withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, pending approval from military commanders. Cautiously supports the Arab Spring and plans to support individuals and groups seeking to build democratic institutions. Believes the U.S. should follow the “guidance of our ally Israel,” instead of, “play[ing] the role of the leader of the peace process.” Supports military action to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Foreign Policy: Supports cutting $100 million from the foreign aid budget. Favors a tougher stance with China and Russia and is critical of the current Administration’s efforts to “reset” relations with Russia. Intends to direct the Treasury Department to list China as a currency manipulator and to consider placing duties on Chinese imports. Immigration: Supports completing “a high-tech fence” at the U.S.-Mexico border and increasing border control manpower and resources. Favors providing green cards to highly educated immigrants. Criticized opponents for supporting state programs that provide education benefits to the children of illegal immigrants. Intends to crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers. Civil Rights: Supports the current Administration’s secretive policy of targeted assassinations of U.S. citizens abroad who are suspected of terrorism. Critical of providing constitutional rights to captured combatants. Supports a federal designation of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

12/2

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

ADVERTISEMENTS

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

OCTOBER 2012

Year

For the first time in Arizona

1819 W. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: 602-253-7427

Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest, continuously operational, Islamically-acceptable mutual fund.

10-09

Amana Mutual Funds Trust 888/73-AMANA

www.amanafunds.com

The Amana Funds limit the securities they purchase to those consistent with Islamic principles which limits opportunities and may increase risk. Current and future holdings, as with all mutual funds, are subject to market risks. Please request a prospectus which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Amana Funds which you should read and consider carefully. To obtain a free prospectus, ask your financial advisor, visit www.amanafunds.com, or call 1-888/73-AMANA. The Amana Funds are distributed by Saturna Brokerage Services, member FINRA/SIPC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation, investment adviser to the Amana Funds.

Visit www.amanafunds.com on your smart phone.

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

INTERNational

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

Atrocity in Syria and the Globalization of Callous Disregard It was once reasoned that in a globalized world of instant communication, no willful cruelty would go unnoticed or its perpetrators left unpunished. Yet as the “Arab Spring” continues to blossom amid the blood of the innocent, the prevailing attitude around the world remains that of wait and see. Most egregious is the response from Tehran, whose recent delegates to Damascus were all smiles as they declared their support for the policy of indiscriminate carnage that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been forced to adopt toward the very people he is sworn to protect. Al-Assad, who once trained as an ophthalmologist, is the accidental mass murderer, acting at the behest of the very Syrian security and military apparatus that is poised to overthrow him in a heartbeat, should he refuse to carry out its dictates. Al-Assad is correct in his contention that the Syrian rebellion is supported by world powers whose final intention is to redraw the regional map. The United States and its allies, in fact, make little secret of it. They see the current configuration of nation states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as inimical to their long-range interests of controlling Middle East oil resources. Already, the vicious contention between Al-Assad’s Shia regime and the Sunni-

majority Syrians, whose “free army” is supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia, is spilling over into Lebanon and Libya, promising further instability.

to make of it another Syria.

Quite tragically, A l -A s s a d ’ s compliance with uncompromising violence is fulfilling to a tee the expectations of the architects of MENA’s hypercolonialism. As amateur videos of indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombing of Syrian cities invade the web to cries of “Allahu-Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest), they only perpetuate a perception of Muslims as bloodthirsty and backward among the oil-thirsty populations of developed countries. In the United States, as election year mud-slinging begins to reach its traditional crescendo, neither President Obama nor his European counterparts are in a position to commit either moral or material capital to end the shedding of innocent blood in Syria and the surrounding region. Indeed, all hands are politically tied. Kofi Annan, the former United Nations

Secretary General, who was sent by the international body on a peace mission to Syria, ended up describing his task as “mission impossible,” confirming a prevailing perception that he was set up to fail. His successor, the Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, is not intended to fare any better. Current UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon is slated to attend the16th summit of the 120 non-aligned nations, which is being held this week in Tehran, albeit without a focus on Syria. His purpose at the summit will mainly be to warn the host country to curb its practices of terrorism, nuclear proliferation and human rights abuses. The rehashing of those charges, in absence of any positive solutions, will only serve to further demonize Iran, while smoothing a path

Al-Assad, an ethnic Shia surrounded by a sea of Sunni Arab hostility, only has Iran as a non-Arab yet Shia brethren to reach out to. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who is also attending the Tehran summit, is establishing a working group with Iran in a bid to broker a peaceful solution in Syria, knowing that Iran is the indispensable country in the process. Yet an Iran stooped under crippling sanctions, as it is being targeted for destabilization itself, can do little more than to send smiling delegates to Damascus. To most people in developed countries, the entire affair remains remote, regional and irrelevant in a supposedly globalized world, even though it is further polarizing America and its allies against Russia and China in a potentially disastrous rivalry for all the riches that MENA has to offer. Most oblivious are the American voters during a crucial election year as they continue to obsess over their own sputtering economy and the likability of their candidates. Little do they realize that President Obama’s foreign policy path, which Mitt Romney would pursue with even more vigor if elected, could lead to a world war with an unconscionable toll on American lives and riches.

Charity society funds over 200 heart surgeries for needy children by Laila Azzeh

MMAN — Underprivileged children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are getting a new lease on life thanks to the Gift of Life Charity Society in Amman (GOLA). In its mission to save the hearts of children, the charity has so far facilitated life-altering cardiac surgeries for nearly 210 patients from Jordan, Palestine and Iraq since its establishment in 2007. “We had once facilitated a surgery for a baby only 38 days old,” GOLA President Sirene Khurma said during a press

conference on Wednesday following the signing of an agreement with the Arab Banking Corporation (ABC), under which the bank will donate JD60,000 to the charity to fund needed heart surgeries for 10 children. “When GOLA first started, we used to rely on word of mouth to receive donations from family members, friends and acquaintances,” Khurma said, noting that it was not until GOLA became a registered charity at the social development ministry that it received more donations from the public. With each surgery costing JD6,000 to

Ramadan Mubarak

SAFARI MARKET

HAL MEAAL TS

Here you can find all your shopping Date • Rice • Meat • Spices • Bread • Halal Products

Hours: Open 7 days a week - 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Phone: 602-273-3255 2450 E. McDowell Rd.• Phoenix, AZ 85008

JD8,000, and sometimes more, the nonprofit organisation has found different ways to fund the operations, i n c l u d i n g h o l d i n g food-tasting gatherings and networking with private institutions. Fares Shaddad, a GOLA board m e m b e r , indicated that the society coordinates with other charities and medical staff to help identify underprivileged children who need cardiac surgeries. Khurma noted that GOLA is planning to improve its outreach. “We receive many children with CHD. The list of children who need these kinds of operations, but cannot afford them, is too long,” she said, adding that a group of physicians from Jordan and the US gather in the Kingdom two times a year to perform the surgeries at Al Khalidi Hospital. “They perform 30 cardiac surgeries during the year,” the GOLA president

highlighted, adding that the team is due to start another round of surgical interventions in mid-October. The physicians also follow up on the conditions of the beneficiaries after the surgeries, especially as some cases need more than one operation. ABC CEO Simona Sabella Bishouty said the donation was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility efforts.

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

19th

ELECTIONS

Serving the Co

Continued from p. 1

Why Muslims Should Vote Being able to vote and participate in the political process is a privilege that no one should forsake. If we as Muslims feel we are not being treated fairly, or that important issues are being neglected, we must exercise our right to participate and vote. We can then progress and make a difference in our lives, and in those of our families and communities. As Muslims, we must take advantage of our rights, and become involved - as members of school boards, in mayoral offices, on city councils, and running for government positions and offices - while maintaining our duties and obligations to Islam. Imagine the great status this will bring to us, and the great message we can send to others! Muslims Should Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil. Muslims must strive to be good role models, and not “all talk and no action.” Our actions are vital to the image of Muslims worldwide, and they play a key role in opening many fruitful doors. Our upstanding behavior plays an essential role in our gaining the respect and recognition that Muslims deserve in the United States. We are reminded by All Mighty Allah in the Holy Qur’an to have the best character and speech. The Holy Qur’an states, “O Muhammad, say to My servants that they should only say those things that are best; for Satan doth sow dissension among them; for Satan is to man an avowed enemy.” (17:53) And, “O ye who believe! Fear Allah and always say a word directed to the Right.” (33:70) Also regarding good actions, the Holy Qur’an states, “And verily, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and fear Allah, and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from sin and evil deeds, and by performing righteous deeds).” (12:57) When we as Muslims adhere to our faith and are mindful of our duties and obligations to Allah, we reflect an ideal and model behavior. When we indulge in forbidden activities, we damage the image that we should have and that we should enjoin on others. When we engage in false or idle speech and inappropriate behavior, we defame the character of other Muslims, and place a strain on the efforts being made by those who are ollowing the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunna. However, when non-Muslims witness positive values, and moral speech and actions, in us, our status is raised in their eyes and they have a favorable outlook on us. If they are able to admire our high standards and ethics, the barriers that exist between us are removed, our concerns and values are validated, and our presence in this country is recognized as a great asset. By doing good and refraining from wrong, we gain power and a high rank within society. The public will not only take notice of our presence, but it will acknowledge our truthfulness, and support efforts that address our concerns. Muslims Should Cooperate With Others to Promote Good for Everyone. Muslims should strive to work with everyone. We must seek to express our views to the public so that others become aware of them. As non-Muslims become more informed about us, they will undoubtedly become more openminded and sympathetic to our needs, instead of being leery about our motives and behavior. This is a wonderful way to influence the general public in its outlook of Muslims and Islam in general.

Working with non-Muslims lends us high visibility, and an opportunity for us to get to know one another firsthand, and understand each other’s concerns. Muslims have been misjudged for years in America; working amongst others will us a prime opportunity to publicize what we represent. Politics Are a Necessary Part of Life. We Should Not Leave Lawmaking Entirely up to the Politicians, Because They May Neglect Our Needs or Create Legislation That Is Detrimental to Us. Muslims that are not active in voting or participating in political activities may be doing a great disservice to their fellow Muslims. They may be limiting the efforts and weakening the position of the Muslim community. Our concerns need to be directed to political candidates and officeholders to be addressed, so that we as Muslims can determine who is most committed to the welfare of our community. A united voice in support of particular candidates or individuals in the public arena from our community will be more significant than our fragmented support. As a whole, we can make a difference in the laws that are being passed and in the outcome of many situations that effect our lives, and the lives of non-Muslims as well, on a daily basis. How can we complain if we are not doing our part, politically? How can we dare criticize how this country is run if we don’t bother to exercise our rights? It is our obligation to become involved, and not stand idle allowing others to make decisions for us. We, Muslims, count in this society, and we must be considered as vital voters so that we will benefit from America’s laws instead of being hurt by them. We can elect many qualified Muslims to political positions. Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) lived in a non-Muslim country, and asked to be appointed over the public treasury. The Holy Qur’an states, “Yusuf said, ‘Set me over the store-houses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge (as a minister of finance in Egypt).’ Thus, did We give full authority to Yusuf in the land, to take possession therein, when or where he likes. We bestow of Our Mercy on whom We will, and We make not to be lost the reward of the good doers.” (12:55,56) As Muslims, our numbers are significant enough that we can have a meaningful impact on the political process in this country. Muslims can slowly change the way Americans view, and Insha’Allah, reverse the downward direction in which this country is going.

m mu nit y

Year

We can impact how children are being left to fend for themselves, as both their parents pursue the “American dream,” which emphasizes material gains over the the family. We can impact the extent of single parenthood, which leaves one parent struggling to make ends meet to support their children. Insha’Allah, we can change the way taxes are unfairly imposed amongst American citizens, causing great grief and a heavy burden on those that don’t have yet are ineligible to use the loop holes that the rich use to escape heavy taxes. Insha’Allah, we can impact the unfair justice system, which among other injustices, is attempting to legalize the wrongful imprisonment of American citizens, primarily Muslims and Arabs, based on “Secret evidence,” and to conduct unfair searches in public places, violating citizens’ rights to privacy. We can reduce the incidence of convicted criminals being set free, to further menace our society, because of technicalities or other loopholes in the justice system that lawyers, motivated only by the opportunity to increase their track records for winning cases, use to get them off. Insha’Allah, we can impact discrimination, and the lack of

OCTOBER 2012

accommodation for religious attire and practices, in the work place that pose great concerns for Muslims and hinder our ability to practice Islam. Insha’Allah, we can challenge the principle of the “separation of church and state,” which has stigmatized the whole notion of being religious and devout. Look at where it has taken this country. As involved Muslims, Insha’Allah, we can have a major impact on this country’s views regarding education, healthcare, humanitarianism and equal opportunity, abortion, gun control, environmental issues, commerce and trade, and banking and finance practices. We can strive to ensure the enactment of fair and just laws. As Muslims, we are taught to be fair and just with everyone. We have the best direction and course of action available to humanity. Allah has given us the wisdom and the knowledge we need for the betterment of mankind. We, Muslims, must participate. We must not hold ourselves back, when others are not holding us back, from voting and taking a political stand. We commit a grave waste when we do not exercise our rights, and our obligations, to do so.

SAIAF FILMS

Wedding Videography and Photography Yo ur M em or ie s on Fi lm

480.516.5819

saiafﬁ lms.com

OCTOBER 2012

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

ISLAM

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

Avoiding the Sins of the Tongue By Fathiyyah Bashshar Unfortunately, one of the infamous signatures of many youth today is a bad mouth. School hallways and teen hangouts are replete with sounds of bragging, backbiting, cussing, sex talk, trash talk, bullying, lying, and every other sin of the tongue that can be imagined. Kids say horrible things to each other constantly and have little to no self-censorship. Many adults have the same vices of the tongue, and some make large sums of money through horrible uses of their tongues in the news media and in music. It seems people take lightly the words that come out of their mouths, yet words can be more damaging than swords both to others and to the self, and have caused everything from suicide to murder. Preserve your tongue from idle talk, Guarding one’s speech is so important that Muslims will be held accountable for everything they say: “Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)” (Qur’an 50:18). When Allah wishes to bless His servant, then He helps him in

controlling his tongue. Instead of finding faults in others, Allah keeps him busy in looking at his own defects. Those who speak less, their intelligence is complete and their hearts are pure. Those who speak more, their intelligence is incomplete and their hearts are hard. A God-fearing man’s tongue should be behind his heart. First, he should think, then he should speak justly. Otherwise he should keep quiet. A hypocrite acts just the opposite of this. He keeps talking rubbish. He is not worried about what he is saying.” All of us should worry about words and take care in what we say. Advice for avoiding sins of the tongue includes the following ten tips: 1. Stay out of conversations that do not concern you. 2. Avoid arguing, even if you are in the right. 3. Do not say anything about someone else unless it is true, good, and useful. Say something bad about someone only if it is truly necessary to avoid a greater harm, such as to protect someone from becoming a victim of a crime. 4. Think before you speak; like feathers from a pillow blown away by the wind, words cannot be taken

Internship with

Muslim Voice

back, and their effects cannot be undone. You cannot control how others will respond to your careless words or what their effects will be. All you can do is control what comes out of your mouth to begin with. 5. Do not use language to try to impress people or sound cool. Use normal, proper speech and avoid slang, excessive eloquence, and false accents. 6. Do not swear or use obscene language. One narration from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) states, “Heaven is forbidden to whoever is used to swearing/cussing. He cannot enter it.” It also destroys your respect in the eyes of others. 7. Speak the truth, even if it is against you. Let your word be reliable. 8. Avoid sexualized speech or dirty talk. Do not degrade the opposite sex or your own through your words, ever, and do not cheapen marital relations with your tongue. 9. Do not break confidences with your tongue. You should avoid saying anything to anyone that you would not want revealed to all, unless truly necessary. Likewise, you should never mention about someone else what they would wish to be kept private. For example, men

and women should not talk about their quarrels or relations with their spouses to others, children should not carelessly reveal the bad habits of their parents, parents should not embarrass their children by talking about their past mistakes, etc. 10. Do not listen to any of the negative speech above, even in poetry or music – do not lend your ear to arguments, backbiting, badmouthing, cussing, obscenity, lies, etc., as even choosing to listen to such speech is sinful, it promotes such behaviour from your own tongue, and it hardens your heart. Actively avoid such speech, and prevent or stop it when possible. People who are careful about their words enjoy many benefits. Those known for gentle, kind, good speech and avoiding unnecessary and negative talk earn respect and trust from other people. Friends will feel safe with them, and people will be more at ease to do business with them. They will enjoy a good reputation. They hear more good things and thus learn more and are more likely to have an expansive and enlightened heart. There is no down side to guarding your tongue, and everyone can do it with practice and effort. No other part of the body commits more sins than the tongue, but if we are diligent, we can make ourselves the exceptions.

KEY DEBT REDUCTION KAMAL ERAKAT, NEGOTIATOR

Become a Reporter, Photographer or Marketer and earn school credit

"I can, when no one else can !! You need the help, I can help ! • Drowning in Debt? • Facing Foreclosure? • Property value UPSIDE DOWN? Mortgage payment no longer affordable? KAMAL ERAKAT

for information please call 602-258-7770 or email us at inter@azmuslimvoice.com

Cell 602-348-0056 Fax 480 773-7320 and 602-971-2155 Email: kamalerakat@yahoo.com. P.O. Box 71104 • Phoenix, AZ 85050 Licensed by the State of Arizona and backed by the National Mortgage Licensing

System in the U.S. License number: LO- 0915840.

IMMIGRATION

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

OCTOBER 2012

Continued from p. 1

Beyond Rhetoric: How U.S. Communities Welcome Immigrants America seeking refuge, freedom, and a community to call home. The timing of Acharya’s arrival in the United States was fortuitous. Rhode island’s new Governor had just assumed office and the welcome mat was warming. Providence, like many states, has been impacted by one of the most significant demographic shifts in immigration in American history. In fact, Rhode Island has one of the highest proportions of foreign-born people in the U.S., ranking 13th at 12.8 percent. This latest wave of immigration, however, is unique. In the past, newcomers made their way to traditional gateway cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, but over the last 20 years, immigrants have made their homes in new communities without a recent history of immigration; places likes Boise, Idaho; Lewiston, Maine; and Birmingham, Alabama. Change on this scale is never easy. Communities in transition may confront a greater unease between immigrants and the communities asked to welcome newcomers whose language and culture they might not understand, creating the potential for misunderstanding and division. Increasingly, communities are recognizing that they are most successful when they create welcoming climates. In Rhode Island, local organizations, and city and state elected officials are forging this path to foster a positive environment. The shift began literally a week before Jhuma Acharya landed in Providence when the newly elected Governor Lincoln Chafee took office and began to change the tone. Chafee joined more than 30 leaders from his state to form the Welcoming Rhode Island Statewide Advisory Committee. Comprised of a diverse cross-section of business leaders, law enforcement, community

agencies, faith-based groups, and local government, the committee celebrates shared values and recognizes how new Rhode Islanders contribute to the state’s economy, enhance its existing culture, and strengthen its communities. Increasingly, a growing movement of states and cities – from Baltimore to Dayton to Detroit – is promoting the contributions that immigrants make, and developing comprehensive efforts to attract and welcome them. Governor Chafee summed up their vision in a quote to the Boston Globe saying, “My view is that Rhode Island can grow economically by being a tolerant place to do business.” The message is spreading. In a vote passed unanimously this year by the East Providence City Council, officials adopted a welcoming resolution stating the city is “committed to continue building a neighborly and welcoming atmosphere in our community where all are welcome, accepted and appreciated.” Similar resolutions have passed in communities in Alabama, Idaho, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Oregon. These actions have a real impact. In a short period of time Acharya and his family have transitioned from new refugees to community leaders. In Nepal, Acharya earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and was a refugee camp teacher. Once in the U.S., immigrant integration volunteers helped him figure out how to secure work as a hotel housekeeper and pursue a Rhode Island teaching certificate. Acharya became a substitute teacher with the Providence Public Schools, giving back to the community that welcomed, accepted, and appreciates him. While the nation’s political debates about immigration remain polarizing and often stigmatizing, communities and organizations at the forefront of

immigrant integration are promoting economic growth by deliberately shaping receptive communities using a variety of strategies. One strategy, like the program that helped Acharya, builds meaningful connections and fosters greater understanding between newcomers and long-time residents through volunteer programs. Another strategy engages state and local leaders in proactively reaching out to local communities, such as the Welcoming Rhode Island Advisory Committee. And a third strategy focuses on ensuring that the real life, positive story of change is told. In Rhode Island, this involves a new campaign launched just last week that features ads with nine immigrants’ stories on 24 buses traveling the state and reaching about 75 percent of the population. Local, state and federal government can also play a key role in ensuring that immigrant integration is a dynamic, two-way process in which immigrants and receiving communities come together to develop strong, cohesive communities. Government funding

and resources can be directed toward supportive programs. Likewise, local institutions – from businesses to faith organizations to schools – can join with residents to create welcoming climates that benefit newcomers and established residents alike. In Baltimore, later this month, the people who carry out these strategies will gather to share successes and explore solutions to new challenges at the fifth annual National Immigrant Integration Conference. Baltimore itself is a city that has explicitly created economic development policies based on welcoming immigrants to the region. Many of the discussions will explore successful approaches to creating more welcoming communities -- a conversation that is critical to helping America continue to make the most of the promise that immigration brings. ____________________________________ David Lubell is executive director of Welcoming America.

The challenge of building and protecting substantial wealth requires expertise, entrepreneurial thinking, and a commitment to personal services

Financial Services • Individual Services • Business Services • College Savings Plans

Wealth Management • • • •

Financial Planning Estate Planning Retirement Planning Developing Client Investment Strategies • Invesment Process

Basil Alqudwa

703-459-0969 47436 River Crest St. Potomac Falls, VA 20165

19th

OCTOBER 2012

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

The Bazaar Market Place

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

Arabic language teacher and Islamic law and the Quran for

INAYAT M. ALIKHAN, M.D. General Psychiatry

‫إنايات علي خان‬

all levels

‫دكتور عالج نفسي عام‬

480-945-2558

Giving lessons at home

SHAHNAWAZ CURRIM

Sky Level Landscape • • • • • • •

IRRIGATION SYSTEM REPAIR WEEDS REMOVING AND SPRAYED LAWN MOWING BLOWING TREE PRUNING/TRIMMING SPREAD ROCK YARD CLEAN-UP AND MORE...

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Let my 24 years “Arizona” Experience work for you! • Assisting buyers & sellers with all their real estate needs • Relocation • New and resale homes • Apartment complexes • Shopping centers Call Shanawaz Currim today! • Mini markets Realty executives & convenient stations Bus. 480-839-2600 • Land & lots Mobile 602-245-1625

OFFICE NR 623-521-8762 • CHRIS 623-340-9217

Pager 602-227-9994 Fax 480-491-0718 “And Experience the Difference”

E-MAIL US ANYTIME AT saver777@yahoo.com

Aneesah Nadir, MSW, PhD

480 233 6547 • Talk to an attorney for one flat monthly fee • No matter how traumatic or trivial

CLASSIFIED AD

15 /mo.

Real Estate

services

Essential Home Services • Commercial Energy • Electricity • Natural Gas • DIRECTV • CLEAR 4G • New Products & Services BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

John Akram 480-255-4009

IR#: R1071417 john.akram@yahoo.com Visit our website http://johnakram.mymomentis.biz

Job opportunity

Breek publishing is looking for dynamic

602-625-9357 See Ad Details Page

MINI MARKET HALAL MEATS

Where you can find all your groceries Business Hours: Open 7 days a week - 8a.m. - 10 p.m.

Phone: 602-267-9720 • Fax: 602-267-9727 5058 E. McDowell Rd. • Phoenix, Arizona 85008

Jason The Plumber

Independent Associate draneesah@hotmail.com

• Know your rights • Everyone deserves legal protection

Airport Business Center 441 South 48th St. Suite 102 Tempe, AZ 85281

ongoin

For more information call 480-275-1538

New Office Location By Nov.19th

sales associates

if you are interested send your resume to jobs@breekpublishing.com

623-512-8650 • Drains • Faucets • Toilets • Water Heaters • Sinks

advertise Here as low as $55/mon.

for (3x2 inch) size ad

Meat tart with bechamel sauce By Chef Osama

Method -Mix all dough ingredients in a bowl until

Ingredients

they make firm dough.

The dough:

-Set aside in the refrigerator for an hour at

1½ cups flour

least in order to shape it easily.

½ tsp salt

-Spread the dough on a lightly floured

½ cup chilled butter pieces( 4-5 Tbsps)

work surface and cut into circular shapes

cold water

and then spread in medium mould.

The filling:

-Put adequate amount of the filling with

Cooked minced meat (or chicken pieces)

the minced meat in the dough, and spray

Any ripe vegetable cut into cubes

the white sauce on top, and sprinkle with

White cheese sauce

grated cheese on the surface.

Grated Parmesan cheese

-Bake in an oven of 180 centigrade for 3045 minutes.

• Leaks • Drips • Repairs • Remodeling • Water & Gas Piping

www.AZMuslimVoice.com

CALENDAR / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Phoenix Prayer Times

19th

Serving the Co

m mu nit y

Year

OCTOBER 2012

Tucson Prayer Times

October 2012 • Thul Quedah/Thul Hija 1433 H

October 2012 • Thul Qedah/Thul Hija 1433 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

From the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC):

Check our website for up to date information www.tempemasjid.com

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.

IN CASE OF DEATH • Call Sandy at Angel’s Burial, at 480-962-6435 • Total cost is $1,800.00

ISLAMIC CENTERS IN ARIZONA

PHOENIX Arizona Cultural Academy 7810 S. 42nd Pl. • Phoenix 602-454-1222 Islamic Center of Arizona 9032 N. 9th St. • Phoenix

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

Al Rasoul Mosque 5302 N. 35th Ave. • Phoenix 602-864-1817

CHANDLER Masjid AsSalam 1071 N. Alma School Rd.• Chandler 480-250-7522

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

CASA GRANDE Masjid Sajda is located c/o: The Legacy Suites 540 North Cacheris Court Casa Grande`, Arizona 85122 480.332.8618

Daleelo ‫دليلو‬