Al mashreq english july 2013

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“Ramadan Rush” sweeps London as new wave of Gulf supercars vroom Women Rights in the Arab countries

Americans rally to protest NSA spying programs

Ramadan Calendar

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Associated Press

July 2013

The 6th Annual AZ Muslim Police Advisory Board Pre-Ramadan Dinner Homeland Security agents conducted “top secret” July 4 drill

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s decision vetoed an anti-Islam bill (SB 267) passed by that state’s legislature Almashreq-Exclusive: The 6th Annual Pre-Ramadan Dinner was held at the Phoenix Airport Hilton on Saturday June 29th. Many government and elected officials

attended the dinner in addition to tens of representatives from various Muslim based organizations. The dinner’s list of featured quests

included the mayor of Phoenix Mr. Greg Stanton. Mr. Gerald Richard and Mr. Chris Abril from Phoenix Police Department and many others.

McKinney Islamic Mosque In Texas attacked by to two dozen paintballs Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: In a statement today announcing the veto, Gov. Nixon said: “This legislation seeks to solve a problem that does not exist, while creating the very real problem of jeopardizing Missouri’s families’ ability to adopt children from foreign countries. Here in Missouri, we believe in strengthening families and encouraging adoption. By placing additional barriers between couples who want to adopt and children who need loving homes, Senate Bill 267 is quite simply out of step with these

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Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: McKinney Islamic Association was subject to a recent paintball attack which was described by some Islamic civil rights groups as a possible hate crime. Officials with the McKinney Is-

lamic Association in Mckinney, Texas, told the media that up to two dozen paintballs were fired at the mosque sometime between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday. A vehicle owned by a member of the mosque’s congregation was also

hit by a paintball after he left the facility. Worshippers have reportedly been verbally harassed recently by young people who gather near the mosque. Local police told mosque officials that they will recommend stepped up patrols in the area

Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: Agents from the Department of Homeland Security conducted a “top secret” drill on July 4 as civil liberties activists protest against the recently disclosed U.S. spying programs on the nation’s Independence Day. The drill has been codenamed “Operation Independence” and involves plain-clothes agents who will be “working undercover, looking like any other passenger”. According to media reports, the details of “Operation Independence” are “top secret” and police forces in riot gear would be easy to spot. American citizens who are celebrating Indepen-

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Horsepower at Rush Hour: Dubai police get Ferrari fleet Following last week’s announcement of a $550,000 Lamborghini being added to the Dubai police patrol fleet, another fast and furious motor will be added to the fleet. Ferrari sports cars will be the police’s new wheels, Dubai police head Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan said on Monday. “Dubai is a unique city and everything in it should reflect its uniqueness and for that reason police will add a Ferrari sports car to its patrol fleet,” Khalfan said, according to local UAE news reports. The $545,000 sports car will be used to keep order on the streets in high-end locations such as the area surrounding Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper. Khalfan said “Dubai Police are working on updating the police patrol cars to enhance security on the roads in accordance with highest international standards and technical developments.” He added that the Dubai Police is one of the few police forces in the world fortunate enough to have such cars in its security patrol service.

3

Entertainment

July 2013

Pictures from the Iraqi community gathering with Iraqi singer Hussam Alrassam at the IRAQI AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PEACE & FRIENDSHIP

Khalfan commented on the mixed reaction from the public following the addition of the $550,000 Lamborghini last week. He said “these cars will not be roaring and chasing speeding motorists, they will be used for road security in different areas of Dubai.” Other sports cars in the Dubai Police patrol fleet include Chevy Camaro sports cars, which can often be seen on busy highways.

“Ramadan Rush” sweeps London as new wave of Gulf supercars vroom In what’s been described a “Ramadan Rush” for wealthy Arab tourists in London, a new wave of luxury cars have been spotted on the British capital’s streets in recent weeks. A touchy-feely Ferrari wrapped in black velvet is just one of the customized supercars that have been seen in London, with other cars – registered to Gulf Arab countries – being flown over. The Bugatti Veyron is the the fastest and most expensive production car in the world, according to British news reports. Among the classy beauties, a £2 million Saudi-registered chrome Bugatti Veyron, a £1 million Qatari registered Pagani Huayra and a Kuwaiti-registered Rolls-Royce Ghost have been spotted by British newspaper The Daily Mail. In the paper’s report on Friday, the supercar phenomenon has been described as a “Ramadan Rush” by Brits who have seen a pattern in Gulf visitors’ holiday times. “In the weeks before and after the Muslim holy month of fasting, which this year begins on Tuesday, thousands of young and spectacularly wealthy residents of oil-rich Gulf states flock to our capital,” the report added. Despite Gulf tourists upping their game this year with a whole new host of lavish cars, the phenomenon isn’t new. Typically, the tourists head to London to beat the heat and indulge in shopping,

£2 million Saudi-registered chrome Bugatti Veyron, a £1 million Qatari registered Pagani Huayra and a Kuwaitiregistered Rolls-Royce Ghost have been spotted by British newspaper The Daily Mail before heading back to spend the holy month with their families. Earlier this year, locals in London complained to the Metropolitan Police, claiming not enough is being done to curb the bad driving habits of the Gulf drivers. The “habits” include deliberately sliding their cars around tight corners. “There has been a lot of sports car racing. I’m inundated with local residents

complaining, not being able to sleep and I think people’s tempers are getting somewhat jaded,” Londoner Panda Morgan-Thomas told Britain’s Channel 4 in a documentary on the phenomenon. The police have retorted by insisting they continue to seize dozens of foreignowned supercars for a variety of alleged offences including driving without a valid insurance.

Are they or aren’t they? Salma Rashid engaged to Assaf

Ladies, settle down! We’re still unsure whether Arab Idol contestant Salma Rashid is romantically-involved with Idol winner Mohammad Assaf; but rumor has it that the two are getting engaged after Ramadan. In a radio interview in Morocco, the singer was told by the show’s host that a reliable source had confirmed the news to him. But Salma was adamant that this is nothing but another rumor. Hmm, we smell something fishy! Fans weren’t convinced either after watching the YouTube clip of her suspenseful interview. Her facial expressions weren’t ohso-innocent, which raised a few eyebrows. Liar liar, pants on fire! Assaf’s family denied the news as well, saying that when their son weds, it will be to a Palestinian girl from their hometown Gaza. Patriots.com! The jury’s out! Guess we’ll just have to wait until the end of Ramadan. Tick Tock, Tick Tock!

Cooking & Recipes Tabbouleh

“This salad is light and flavorful and chock full of veggies that you can pull from your garden--tomatoes, cucumbers, and green onions. Add lots of parsley and mint and a nice splash of olive oil and lemon juice and that’s it. Chill before serving to bring out the flavors. Serves eight.”

ingredients • 1 cup bulgur • 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped • 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped • 3 green onions, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup chopped fresh parsley • 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves

Preparation : 1. Place cracked wheat in bowl and cover with 2 cups boiling water. Soak for 30 minutes; drain and squeeze out excess water. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine the wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, parsley, mint, salt, lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Toss again prior to serving.

• 2 teaspoons salt • 1/2 cup lemon juice • 2/3 cup olive oil

Fried Katayef (Egyptian Dessert) “These deep-fried Egyptian treats are stuffed with ricotta cheese and dipped in a lemon-flavored simple syrup.”

ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

www.almashreqonline.com

1 1/2 cups water 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast 3 cups water 3 cups oil for frying

Preparation : 1. Make a syrup by stirring the water, sugar, and lemon juice together in a saucepan over medium heat until thick; set aside to cool. 2. Make a filling by combining the ricotta cheese and cornstarch in a small bowl; set aside. 3. Make the dough by mixing together the flour and the yeast. Stir the water into the flour mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking to remove any lumps, until the mixture reaches a pourable consistency; allow to rest 1 hour. 4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Ladle 2 to 3 ounces of batter at a time into the center of the skillet into a round shape. Each katayef shell is finished when the top is dry and the bottom is slightly browned. 5. Fill each shell with an equal portion of the cheese mixture. Fold one end of the shell over the cheese mixture and seal into a semi-circle shape by pinching along the edges. 6. Heat the frying oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Fry the katayef in the oil until crispy and lightly browned; immerse in the syrup to coat; serve immediately.


4

Articles

July 2013

Women Rights in the Arab countries In a recent report released by the HRW “Human Rights Watch” regarding the women situation in the Arab countries, it has been noted that some progress have been made, but still more need to be done.

By, Dr. Mohammad Riyad

countries until very recently, did not allow female spouses of national citizens and children of national females who are married to foreign spouses to obtain citizenship and to enjoy state benefits like other recognized citizens.

The so called “honor killing” refers to reduced sentences for murderers of female relatives who claim family “honor” if victims have been caught in an “illicit” sexual act. The criminal codes in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon contain such provisions. 3. Minimum age for marriage

1. Women equal rights to nationality

The HRW report, however, notes that: Egypt and Yemen in 2003 and Algeria in 2005 granted women equal rights to nationality, meaning that spouses and children are recognized as citizens.

The citizenship laws in most of the Arab

2. “Honor Killing”

In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, no minimum age exists for marriage, depriving thousands of girls of their childhood, undermining their right to an education and leaving them to face physical and sexual abuse and life-

Happy Third of July, Egypt On 3 July, The ouster of President Morsi puts the country’s fledgling democracy back on track, despite international media’s fears General El-Sisi responded to the calls of millions of Egyptians to help them renew their bid for freedom, dignity and social justice. With his help, the Egyptian people recovered their stolen revolution. Western pundits and leaders, on the other hand, are sounding alarm bells. They view the ouster of Mohamed Morsi - the country’s first democratically elected president as a military coup that has severely undermined democracy in Egypt. They rather darkly predict the eruption of civil war, or still worse, the return of military dictatorship.

Second, these peaceful demonstrations were organised by the Tamarod (Rebel) campaign - a grassroots movement founded and led by 28-year old Mahmoud Badr. The movement’s aim was to collect 15 million signatures against Morsi by 30 June, the first anniversary of his reign—and ended up collecting an astounding 22 million before that date.

First, ordinary Egyptians quickly came to understand that respecting ballot box results is not the only criterion of democracy. Other essential criteria, like the rule of law, checks and balances on powers, freedom of expression, protection of minorities’ rights were repeatedly ignored and flouted by Morsi—much to the chagrin of virtually the entire spectrum of civil society (excepting the Islamist groups).

Here Morsi and his team left the Egyptian people with only one alternative—to recall their president from office via peaceful demonstrations.

Most governments in the region--including Libya, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates--do not have laws to protect women from domestic violence. Women are not encouraged to report abuses to police; if they do, they are almost never taken seriously. The report concludes that we can only hold a partial celebration as we contemplate numerous stubborn barriers!

Analysts critical of military intervention in politics urged Egyptians to examine the Algerian experience before going down this road: in 1992, the secular Algerians urged the military to cancel elections in order to pre-empt what seemed to be a landslide win for the Islamists. A bloody civil war ensued. These analysts, though do not seem to realise that the Egyptian situation is the exact opposite of that in Algeria: the military’s intervention came at the behest of the overwhelming majority of the people; these millions of ordinary people, with the youthful Rebel group at the forefront, have declared their intention to work with the military to protect the gains of their previously-stolen revolution. Here we point out that the Rebel campaign did more than organise the 30 June demonstrations; it specified a roadmap for the post-Morsi period, which included: the installation of the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court as interim president of the country; the formation of a technocratic government and early presidential elections.

In fact, the overwhelming majority of Egyptians believe that Morsi’s ouster puts the country’s fledgling democracy back on track. This is easily confirmed by the trajectory of the 30 June Revolution:

The presidential team scoffed at this idea and, instead, declared that they preferred to abide by the “rules of democracy;” completely forgetting that great leaders like General de Gaulle (1962) and Hugo Chavez (2004) were not above calling for referendums to determine whether they should be recalled from office.

4. Domestic violence against women

By, Maha Ghalwash

So what is the status of Egypt’s democracy—is it in crisis?

But what really prompted ordinary people to reject former President Morsi was his failure to address several pressing problems: the shrinking economy, security breakdown, power cuts and the Ethiopian dam proposal. This multifold failure prompted the popular demand for early presidential elections.

threatening risks from too-early pregnancies.

Third, the military respected these demands. In his 3 July statement to the Egyptian public, General ElSisi declared that the military, having learned the lessons of the past, understood that Egyptians do not want a return to military rule. And on 4 July, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, was sworn in as president of Egypt. Again, the presidential team scoffed at this news, claiming that their rival campaign, Tajarad (Legitimacy), had collected 26 million signatures in support of Mosi. In the face of this, some 33 million people took to the streets. Still, the Islamist government claimed that they represented the voice of the people and urged foreign observers to note the crowds (several million at best) in Raba Al-Adawiya and Al-Nahda Square near Cairo University. Top state officials, in tandem with Muslim Brotherhood leaders, showed no interest in dialogue or compromise, speaking of the protesters in derogatory terms and insisting that “legitimacy” was on their side. With the country grinding to a halt, crowds all over the country called on General El-Sisi to intervene.

Many Western journalists and news anchors wonder if Adly Mansour is no more than “a fig leaf” for military rule. While it is too early for predictions, still, most Egyptians confidently answer this question in the negative. This confidence is not so much grounded in the people’s faith in the military as the nation’s protector as it is in the people’s faith in themselves, for one of the most important outcomes of the 25 January Revolution was the transformation of Egyptians from lowly subjects to citizens with rights. Furthermore, the 30 June Revolution came as a renewed expression of this transformation. So, if the new government decides to tread the path of tyranny and repression, it can be certain of being unseated by a free people.

Why Physical Education?

Dr. Fawzia Tung

My parents were typical Asian parents. You must get straight A’s in all academic subjects. Being a sickly child, I managed to get my only failing grade ever in elementary school one year: in P.E. I trembled when I handed them my report card. But my father just glanced at that red score and shrugged, “Oh, it’s just P.E.” So when I decided to homeschool my children, I was at a loss as to what to do for P.E. What is the goal of physical “education” anyway? That question led me on a long search for an answer, that stretched over a couple of decades. The first obvious answer is that children should learn to be fit. By the time they complete their 12-year grade school education, they should not only be “told” to be fit, they should internalize the knowledge and discipline necessary to keep themselves fit for the rest of their lives. It is obvious that public schools have failed in that aspect in this country, or we wouldn’t be having one third of Americans qualifiying as “obese”. Another unspecified fraction of the children are too thin and cannot catch up with any athletic program. Since the main goal of PE is NOT to turn all school children into professional athletes, why then are school PE programs geared towards team sports, or what I call the “ball, ball, ball programs”? You know, basketball, baseball, football, etc? Such curricula have very successfully geared

some children that way, but the great majority are failures at keeping themselves fit and healthy. I finally figured out that physical “education” for 12 years should give my children the following: a) physical fitness: the knowhow of how to keep fit, and an ingrained habit of keeping oneself fit; b) mastery of at least one sport: it is amazing how after 12 years of schooling, so many children are not good at any sport at all; c) experience with a variety of different sports. This was simple enough as a goal. Then, I tried to implement it. It’s amazing how simple things can be and how versatile curricula can be once you have a final goal in mind. My first challenge was identifying a sport for my sons to specialize in. We lived in Jeddah then, and not in a compound, meaning that we did not have access to a swimming pool. I still tried to visit people who did have a

pool now and then, but that did not make a good training program. My husband tried to include my sons when he would train his adult students in TaeKwonDo, but again this was not a program specifically geared for children. Finally, I hit on bowling. I dutifully took the children to a bowling alley every Wednesday, bought books that taught bowling and eventually even bought my son his own ball and shoes. Then we moved to Arizona. Sports programs everywhere. The first 6 children soon acquired their black belts in TaeKwonDo and all became swim team champions. Two of them even broke records at state wide competitions. My sons eventually all became lifeguards (nice income over the summer), swim coaches and swim team coaches. My daughters have now taken up Wushu. The point is that, it is feasible to excel at one or two particular sports, whether you are in school or homeschooled. I per-

sonally know several families whose children have achieved the same if not more. As to fitness, few schools around Arizona implement an all-round fitness program, in the sense of keeping fit and keeping a healthy lifestyle. This involves of course, teaching the children the knowledge of balanced nutrition and activity-centered lives. I’m afraid, Parents, that this will have to be your job. Making these a family affair works very efficiently. Dragging my kids on hikes at first was, well, a drag. But seeds tend to grow into trees. Now, my older children have an annual rite. They hike across South Mountain every winter break, taking the better part of an entire day to do so. My daughters invent all sorts of vegetarian dishes to improve the nutritional balance of our family diet. Fitness is a life-long struggle. The job is never over. But it can be joyful. I wish you all a lot of joy in your family’s fitness plans. www.almashreqonline.com


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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s decision vetoed an anti-Islam bill (SB 267) passed by that state’s legislature basic values.” “We applaud Governor Nixon for taking this courageous and principled stance in defense of Missouri families and of the Constitution,” said CAIR-St. Louis Executive Director Faizan Syed Syed noted that dozens of similar discriminatory and unconstitutional bills have been introduced in state legislatures nationwide. In 2011, the American Bar Association (ABA) passed a resolution opposing legislation like SB 267, noting that it is “duplicative of safeguards that are

already enshrined in federal and state law,” and saying, “Initiatives that target an entire religion or stigmatize an entire religious community, such as those explicitly aimed at ‘Sharia law,’ are inconsistent with some of the core principles and ideals of American jurisprudence.” In 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision to block implementation of an Oklahoma state constitutional amendment that would have prohibited courts from applying -- or even considering -- “Sharia law” and “international law.”

Chase bank in Michigan closes many bank accounts belonging to Muslims without providing explanations Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: Chase bank in Michigan has surprisingly closed many accounts owned by Muslims and Arab American. The event represented the biggest wave of bank closures since the aftermath of 9/11 according to some media analysts. “They are primarily business accounts being closed, of both nonprofits and businesses,” said Dawud Walid, Executive

Director of Council of Islamic Relations(CAIR) Michigan chapter. CAIR-Michigan has asked the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to look further into the matter. “There are numerous cases like this in Michigan, and we started hearing about them last year, with the closing of bank accounts of three different Islamic organizations,” said Dawud.

N.Y man charged for attacking a Muslim with a knife attack in front of Mosque Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: A Queens man was charged Friday in a bias-fueled attack against a Muslim. Queens prosecutors said Bernhard Laufer said an antiMuslim slur as he attacked Bashir Ahmad with a knife a few months ago while

Ahmad was opening the Masjid Al-Saaliheen Mosque in Flushing for morning prayers. “I’ll kill you, Muslim (expletive),” Laufer allegedly yelled as he stabbed Ahmad, who survived the attack with a minor injury. (The exact slur was not disclosed.)

Islamic leaders believe that what appears to be a swastika spray painted on the Islamic Center of Morris County is an intentional hate crime Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: Security footage by the Islamic Center of Morris County shows a woman driving her car into the parking lot at 1 Mannino Drive, getting out and then spray painting the symbol on a glass door around 7 p.m. June 21. She then got back into her car and drove away. Police are still investigating the vandalism, and whether

it was a hate crime, said Kyle Schwarzmann, Rockaway Borough detective sergeant. “Because of the nature of this incident and because of other recent incidents targeting American mosques, we urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive,” said Khurrum Ali, CAIR-NJ’s civil rights director.

Americans rally to protest NSA spying programs Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: Thousands of people have taken to the streets in nearly 100 cities across the US to protest against the government’s surveillance programs recently disclosed by fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden. In early June, he revealed to the Britain’s Guardian that the NSA, the US largest intelligence organization, collects data of phone records and internet communication of all Americans. 30-year-old Snowden, a former contractor at the National Security Agency (NSA), has holed up in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport since arriving on a flight from Hong Kong on June 23. He is wanted in the U.S. on espionage charges. On Thursday, a national holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Independence Day in the US, demonstrations were held in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles and many other cities. Protesters also gathered near the NSA’s www.almashreqonline.com

5

National

July 2013

$1.5 billion data center in Utah. The facility is due to open later in the year. “Legalize the U.S.

Constitution” and “I refuse to sacrifice my liberty for security,” protesters in San Francisco said. The protest action called “Restore the Fourth” says the government’s spying on American citizens is in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution which protects Americans from unlawful search and seizure. “Our demands are very simple: We think these programs which violate the constitutional rights of Americans need to end,” said Ben Doernberg, an organizer of the New York City protest. US officials, including President Barack Obama, have defended the surveillance programs.

A Brooklyn town Attorney who orchestrated the first Anti-Sharia template about two years ago Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: In Tennessee, Louisiana and Arizona, lawmakers have passed statutes prohibiting courts from relying on any foreign law, legal code or system that is contrary to state or federal public policy in reaching their decisions. About 20 other states are considering similar initiatives. Despite that some of these statutes and bills, Sharia, or traditional Islamic religious law, is explicitly cited; in others it

is not. Civil rights groups however believe that these efforts aim to target

practicing Muslims. According to some news media; the first model bill

for the Anti-Sharia statutes which is adopted until now several States, was primarily introduced by an attorney living from the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn named David Yerushalmi, a specialist in securities, business and international law. Yerushalmi offered legislators a template that claims to sidestep constitutional objections to singling out Islam by avoiding explicit mention of it (though not all state legislatures have taken this advice).

After a Successful campaign led by Muslim groups and other civil rights organizations N.Y City Council Vote for Increased NYPD Oversight Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: The New York City Council’s voted to pass the Community Safety Act--a set of bills that will increase accountability and oversight in the New York Police Department (NYPD). CAIR-NY was one of the endorsers of the Community Safety Act and urged community members to call in support of the bills leading up to the vote. New York Muslims advocated for the bill in light of recent revelations of an NYPD program which engaged in unlawful spying of the Muslim community. CAIR-NY, along with NYPD reform activists, American Muslims and concerned New Yorkers, gathered together at 1 Police Plaza with the ACLU, NYCLU, and CUNY CLEAR for the announcement of a legal challenge to the unlawful spying of Muslim communities by the NYPD. “Last night’s vote brings us one step

closer to an NYPD that does not consider a person’s skin color, ethnicity or religion probable cause for an investigation,” said CAIR-New York Operations Coordinator Sadyia Khalique. “We commend the courageous lead-

ership of the city council members who supported the Community Safety Act, and we urge Commissioner Ray Kelly, Mayor Bloomberg and the council members who voted against the bills to end their campaign of fear mongering against them.”

US trade deficit widened to $45 billion in May Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in May as a weak global economy depressed U.S. exports while imports hit an all-time high. The trade deficit rose 12.1 percent to $45 billion in May, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. American imports rose 1.9 percent to $232.1 billion while exports decreased 0.3 percent to $187.1 billion. The trade gap in May was the widest since November 2012. The one-month deterioration in the deficit is the biggest since May 2011. The widening of the deficit, which was much larger than ex-

pected, will hurt economic growth because it means U.S. consumers and businesses are spending more on foreign goods rather than spending domestically. Recent economic news indicates that U.S. economic growth remains lackluster. The U.S. economy grew less than previously estimated as the government slashed its growth estimate for the first quarter of the year. The economy was previously reported to have grown at a rate of 2.4 percent in the first three months of the year, but revised figures released by the Commerce Department show

that gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at a meager rate of 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, another report by the Institute for Supply Management showed that the U.S. services sector slowed in June to its weakest level in over three years. Economic issues like unemployment and the federal debt are the greatest concern for Americans, according to a new Gallup poll conducted in June. According to another Gallup poll also conducted in June, Americans’ outlook on their personal financial situation has worsened this year, with 29 percent expecting to be financially worse off a year from now.

Police, schools ignorant of US constitution: Analyst

Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: An American writer believes that “many” police departments and schools in the U.S. fail to

act in accordance with the Constitution as they are unaware of the laws. “Far too many principals of schools do not know the Constitution well enough

to be able to implement it (and) far too many police departments, which are supposed to be trained in the Constitution, do not know the Constitution,”

says Walter Brasch, award-winning journalist and author. Brasch made the remarks in an interview with media outlets last week; when asked about a middle school student, Jared Marcum, who faces a year in prison on charges that he “obstructed an officer by refusing to stop talking”. Marcum was arrested on April 18, in Logan County, West Virginia. The story began when he refused to take off an NRA t-shirt when asked by a teacher. He was calmly explaining to school administrators that he was exercising his first amendment right but then police were called simply because, Marcum said, “I would not take this shirt off, because I believe that I should have a right to wear this”.


6

National Continue From Page 1

Homeland Security agents conducted “top secret” July 4 drill dence were submitted to random bag searches during “Operation Independence.” The two-day drill started on Wednesday. The maneuver comes as civil liberties activists have already announced their plans to protest against the National Security Agency’s spying programs, which were disclosed by American whistleblower Edward Snowden last month. The protests was held on July 4 in more than 75 cities across the U.S. including in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and At-

lanta. The documents disclosed by Snowden blew the lid on two NSA spying programs, one for gathering U.S. phone records and the other, called PRISM.

Texas teen in jail for his Facebook comment Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: With sensitivity to school shootings at an all-time high in the United States, one 19-yearold Texas teen is paying the price. Justin Carter has been behind bars since March for posting a threatening comment on Facebook made to one of his friends during an argument over an online video game. According to Justin›s father, Jack Carter, his son sarcastically responded to a friend who called him «crazy» with «Oh yeah, I›m real messed up in the head. I›m going to

go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still-beating hearts». His father added that his son followed up his comment by writing «LOL» and «J/K» to show he was joking. The authorities were quick to act on one woman›s report of the comment, especially after the elementary school shooting in Newton, Connecticut. Justin is facing up to eight years in prison for making a «terroristic» threat. Using the hashtag #FreeJustinCarter, netizens are discussing whether Justin›s punishment is unfair or completely justified.

Murder conviction against U.S. Marine overturned Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: The U.S. military’s highest court overturned a murder conviction Wednesday against a Camp Pendleton Marine in one of the most significant cases against American troops from the Iraq war. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces threw out the conviction of Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III, who has served about half of his 11-year sentence. According to the ruling posted on the court’s website, the judges agreed with Hutchins, who claimed that his constitutional rights were violated when he was held in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer for seven days during his interrogation in Iraq. Hutchins led an eight-man squad accused of kidnapping a retired Iraqi policeman from his home in April 2006, marching him to a ditch and shooting him to death in the village of Hamdania. None of the other seven members of the squad served more than 18 months. The move is the latest

in a series of twists and turns for Hutchins, whose case already was overturned once by a court that ruled his 2007 trial was unfair because his lead defense lawyer quit shortly before it began. The same court that accepted Hutchins’ new petition overruled that decision, saying the problem was not grave enough to throw out the conviction. Hutchins was returned to the brig after eight months working at a desk job at California’s Camp Pendleton. He was set to be released in July 2015 at the earliest. Hutchins’ lawyer, Babu Kaza, said he expects him to now be released in days. “Sgt. Hutchins and his family have suffered enough with this case, and it’s time for this to be over,” Kaza said. “Enough is enough.” The Navy can appeal to the Supreme Court or send the case to the convening authority, who can either order a retrial or let the ruling stand. Navy officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Man faces 13 years in jail for writing on Bank of America’ sidewalks Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: A 40-year-old man goes on trial in the United States and faces 13 years in prison for writing in chalk his opinions in front of three Bank of America branches in San Diego, California. The jury deliberations in the trial of Jeffrey David Olson, charged with 13 misdemeanor vandalism counts. He could spend 13 years in jail if convicted of all charges. Olson’s lawyer, Tom Tosdal, told the media, there is no evidence that Olson wrote anything offensive, adding that vandalism law requires that jurors find something was “maliciously defaced.’’ “His

purpose was not malicious. His purpose was to inform,’’ Tosdal said. On several occasions from February to August 2012, Olson expressed his anger at the financial crisis of 2008 and the federal bailout that ensued by writing in chalk on the sidewalk of the banks. “No Thanks, Big Banks” and “Shame on Bank of America” were among the messages he wrote. The messages were “always on city sidewalks, washable chalk, never crude messages, never vulgar, clearly topical,” Olson told a local network. Mayor Bob Filner has condemned the City Attorney’s Office over the prosecution of Olson.

July 2013

Investigation of fatal Arizona fire begins Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: A federal investigation has been launched in Arizona to figure out why 19 firefighters died battling the state wildfire. Inspectors arrived on the scene of Yarnell Hill fire on last week., according to Karen Takai, spokeswoman for the firefighting command. The 19 firefighters were killed after they were engulfed by raging flames on Sunday. Takai said that inspectors would be looking at the weather conditions at the time of the fire and other factors. “We know there was a weather change’’ at the time of the tragedy, she said. Experts said a lack of humidity in the state is a significant factor in how vegetation fuels fire. Humidity was reported to be increased on Tuesday but experts are warning that extreme winds of as much as 80 miles an hour could make

the fire spread rapidly and unpredictably. Firefighters can now get information on changing wind predictions through a radar system in a matter of minutes. However,

the initial fire management team did not have access to the radar reading on Sunday when the firefighters were killed. On Sunday, fire officials at the scene were re-

ceiving information from the local office of the National Weather Service, according to Stewart Turner, a fire behavior analyst who is part of the fire command team.

US refuse to stop Guantanamo force-feeding in Ramadan Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: The Obama administration refuses to halt force-feeding of Guantanamo hunger strikers during the holy month of Ramadan and says the U.S. federal court has no jurisdiction to intervene in the matter. The Department of Justice argued Wednesday that force-feeding creates no religious problems for the Muslim prisoners during the holy month of Ramadan as it will be administered only at night, the Huffington Post reported. More than 100 Guantanamo bay prisoners have been on a hunger strike against their indefinite detention since February. Four of the prisoners’ lawyers called the procedure painful, humiliating and against the international law and asked the court to stop the force-feeding of the hun-

ger strikers. The Justice Department in its response asked the court not to intervene in the affairs of the naval military base in Cuba. The court’s decision is still not clear as lawyers for prisoners have asked for a response before Ramadan starts on Monday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslims advocacy organization in the United States has asked the administration to stop the force-feeding before Monday. U.S. military authorities maintain that force-feeding those on hunger strike is lawful and is aimed at saving their lives. “But the reality is it’s not preservation of a life, it’s preservation of an existence. There is no life. In essence, by keeping these people here, we’ve already killed their soul, their spirit and taken away their dignity. So

we’re preserving their bodies perhaps, but we’re certainly not preserving a life,” argued Walter Ruiz, a Guantanamo lawyer. On April 30, at a White House news conference, Obama once again repeated his old pledge to close down the priso. n Several human rights groups including the United Nation’s Human Rights Council have criticized the U.S. government for its failure to shut down the notorious prison. 166 prisoners remain in indefinite detention without charge or trial in the U.S.-run prison. “The continuing indefinite detention of many of these individuals amounts to arbitrary detention, in breach of international law,” said United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay in late May.

Internet firms to protest NSA programs Almashreqn Editorial Staff/ News Media Analyst: A number of American Internet companies are preparing to protest against U.S. surveillance programs leaked last month by a former National Security Agency contractor. The online protest is set to be launched on the nation’s Independence Day. American whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed last month that the NSA, the U.S. super spy agency, is massively collecting telephone call and Internet records of people around the world including American citizens. U.S. companies including Reddit, Mozilla, 4chan and WordPress are now saying they will display anti-NSA spying messages on their home pages on Thursday, the Xinhua reported Wednesday. Sup-

porters of the protest can refer to Callforfreedom.org, to donate money to help fund TV ads against the U.S. intelligence programs and press for action from American lawmakers, according to the report. The protest has been organized by Internet Defense League, which estimates that thousands of sites will participate. “The NSA programs that have been exposed are blatantly unconstitutional, and have a detrimental effect on free speech and freedom of press worldwide,” said Tiffiniy Cheng, a spokeswoman for the Internet Defense League. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of 25 American senators forwarded a letter to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asking him to publically

supply more details about the NSA spying programs. They asked Mr. Clapper to reveal the extent and duration of the programs. The lawmakers said that dependence on a secret law to conduct domestic spying activities raises serious civil liberty concerns. The leaker of the information

has been stranded in a transit area of a Moscow airport for more than a week. He is now asking asylum from 21 countries after Russia and Ecuador reportedly denied his asylum request. Snowden is facing charges of “espionage” and “theft of government property” in the United States.

Health law delay raises concerns of implementation Almashreqn Editorial Staff/News Media Analyst: Decision to delay implementation of the healthcare law’s employer mandate has raised questions about the government’s preparedness to carry out the rest of the law on time. “Despite delays and missed deadlines, administration officials had repeatedly testified before Congress that they were still on schedule to implement the law,” said Representative Fred Upton, Republican of Michigan, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as reported by the NY Times. “It’s clear we have no idea the full scope of delays and disarray that may be coming,” he added. “The American public deserves answers.” A day after the White House announcement, Congressional Republicans launched an investigation into the postponement. They demanded documents and other information from the Treasury and Health and Human Ser-

vices departments about the decision. The delay was in part a result of delays by the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury in finishing proposed rules and regulations for businesses, the Times said, citing people with knowledge of the administration’s work to put the healthcare law into full effect. Employers and insurers are supposed to inform the government of the people they cover so that the government can determine if the buyers qualify for subsidies. The delay until 2015 of the mandate, which requires many businesses to provide insurance benefits, could allow Democrats to avoid bad election-year headlines about employers opting to cut workers’ hours or staff to avoid the financial penalty. However many experts see no gain for Democrats either way. U.S. businesses are praising the White House for the postponement because it provided relief to those of them that

already insure their employees. With the threat of penalties also delayed, larger businesses that do not cover their workers will be under no pressure to do so before 2015. www.almashreqonline.com


Civilians hit hardest in Syria Statistics and numbers Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: A new count of the dead in Syria by the group that’s considered the most authoritative tracker of violence there has concluded that more than 40 percent were government soldiers and pro-government groups. The new numbers from the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provide a previously unseen view of the toll the civil war has taken on communities that have supported the government. They also cast doubt on the widely repeated assertion that the government of President Bashar Assad is responsible for an overwhelming majority of the deaths there. According to the new statistics, which the Syrian Observatory passed to McClatchy by phone, at least 96,431 people have lost their lives in the more than two years of violence

that’s wracked Syria. Of those, Syrian soldiers and members of the government’s security forces account for 24,617, while members of pro-government militias make up 17,031. Taken together, those deaths account for 43.2 percent of the total recorded. Civilian noncombatants are the next largest group of the dead – 35,479, or 36.8 percent of the total, according to the human rights group. Deaths among antiAssad fighters total 16,699, or 17.3 percent, according to the new numbers. Of those, 12,615 were Syrian civilians who’d picked up arms against the government, 1,965 were rebel militants who’d defected from the Syrian military and 2,119 were foreigners who were killed fighting on the Syrian militants’ behalf.

BBC reporter Jeremy Bowen shot in Egypt as demonstrations end in bloodshed

Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen was shot in the head and leg last week as demonstrations in Egypt ended in bloodshed. He was wounded as tens of thousands of people took to the streets over the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi by the military. Islamist leaders had called for a day of rage across the country after a military coup deposed Egypt’s first democratically elected leader. Rubber bullets and tear gas were fired outside Cairo’s Republican Guards Club where the deposed president is believed to be held. Bowen, a veteran of conflicts around the globe, said it was the first time he had been shot. As I helped his cameraman bandage his wounds, he said: “I was crossing the road when they opened fire. “I think it was a shotgun. I got two pellets in the leg and one in the ear. It came out of nothing.” Bowen, 53, added: “As the crowd got angrier and angrier it started to surge forward and someone opened fire straight away from the military side. “Before they had used any kind of teargas they resorted to live fire. “Initially I thought it was in the air and then I saw the weapons were leveled. “After that I saw a man went down. I saw the body, bloodied, being carried away. “We’d been hanging around filming, they

fired some gas and the crowd scattered, and just as I was reaching the curb and I felt something hit the side of my head by my ear and my leg. “I’ve been in a lot of hairy situations as a reporter over many years but I have never been hit by anything.” Earlier in the day more than 200,000 people gathered at sites across Cairo after Friday prayers. At Cairo University, the Imam asked worshippers “Would you die for god on this ground?” Yes they replied as one. The preacher, his voice soft and cracking with fake emotion, implored the 300 faithful of their duty to fight for Allah before raising his voice, and the crowd, into a frenzy. After prayers, the young and old went to the barricade and armed themselves with sticks and iron bars as thousands marched in from surrounding mosques. From the subways they poured to different rallying points in the city. Young and old, men and women in their thousands all chanting in praise of Morsi. At the Raba El-Adwyia square, in the Nasr City district, more than 100,000 gathered for prayers and protest. Side streets and rooftops were packed as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood president and his government. Friendly protestors welcomed me with water and fig rolls as I passed through.

26 slaughtered in Iraq charnel house Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: Twenty-six people have been killed and 58 injured in separate attacks across Iraq, according to security and medical officials. All of the deadly incidents occurred on Friday. Fifteen people were killed and 32 injured when a car bomb exploded near a Shia religious center in the Graiat area of north Baghdad at around 8:00 p.m. (1700 GMT), AFP reported, citing an Iraqi police colonel and a medical official. In the town of Samarra, some 95 kilometers north of Baghdad, seven people were killed and nine were injured after a bomber, disguised as an army officer, blew his car up near the Al-Razzaq Mosque just before mid-day Friday prayers. The bomber was also killed in the attack. In Kut, a town 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, one person was killed and 17 were in-

jured when a bomb exploded in Al-Amil Square at around 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT). Police officials said that two militants also died in the northern town of Hawijah when the bomb they were trying to plant suddenly blew up. No group immediately claimed responsibility for any of Friday’s attacks. Iraq has seen a surge in violence since the start of the year, with the UN reporting that more than 2,500 people were killed from April through June, the highest level since 2008. Earlier this month, UN Special Representative to Iraq Martin Kobler advised Iraq’s leaders to hold meetings to address the country’s problems, including the car bomb attacks. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri alMaliki has said that militant groups and the remnants of the former Ba’athist regime are responsible for the latest wave of violence in the country.

Gold has its biggest fall in 30 years Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: Global gold prices have plunged more than nine percent in a single day, its biggest one-day decline since 1983. On Monday, the price of gold dropped $1,40.30 to $1,361.10 an ounce, The Associated Press reported. The precious metal has plunged $200 an ounce, or about 13 percent, during the last two trading days, its lowest level in over two years. Last week, Goldman Sachs, an American multinational investment banking firm, in a research report predicted that gold prices would fall. Goldman Sachs said, “The decline in prices since last fall and our updated forecast sugwww.almashreqonline.com

7

International & Business

July 2013

gests that the turn in the gold price cycle is likely already underway. As a result, although our US economic forecasts point to modest near-term upside to gold prices, we believe that a sharp recovery in prices to our previous price forecast is unlikely.” “In fact, we suspect that if indeed our forecast for further declines in gold prices proves correct, the fall in prices could end up being faster and larger than we expect,” it added. Gold had more than doubled since the start of the 2008 global economic crisis and it price rose 30 percent in 2010 and 25 percent in 2009. In August 2011, gold price jumped its all-time high of $1913.

Tunisia Tamarod movement launches anti-government petition Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: A prominent leader of Tunisia’s Tamarod (Arabic for Rebellion) movement says an antigovernment petition has gathered thousands of signatures in the past days. “We don’t want any support from the political parties to protect our credibility,” Mohamed Bennour told reporters in the capital city Tunis on Thursday. However, Tunisia’s ruling party, Ennahda, has dismissed suggestions that the mass protests in Egypt - which led to the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi - might be repeated in Tunisia. “We have taken a serious strategy based on consensus especially

between the Islamist and modernist movements, which has saved our country from the risk of divisions,” Arabic daily newspaper Asharq Al-Awsatquoted Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi as saying. Tunisia’s Tamarod has called for the dissolution of the country’s National Assembly which was elected in October 2011, months after exruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled in a popular revolution in January the same year. The parliament has been repeatedly criticized for its inefficiency. Tunisia has seen numerous clashes between the authorities and several groups over the past few months.

Ex-US envoy says Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute has peaceful solution Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: The former US ambassador to Ethiopia says a peaceful solution can be found regarding the controversial dam project on the Nile River in Ethiopia, which is disputed by Egypt. “This can be resolved in a peaceful manner. To my knowledge, there has never been a war anywhere in the world that has been a result exclusively of a fight over water - not a major war. And I don’t think that this is going to become the first one,” David H. Shinn said in an interview with media outlet. Shinn called on Ethiopia and Egypt to “engage in more discussion, more dialogue, more transparency of information,” with the United States providing only a council role and not fit

to “mediate this dispute”. Last month, Ethiopia said it had begun diverting the flow of the Blue Nile for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam - a $4.2-billion hydroelectric plant that sparked outrage in Egypt, with officials saying the dam will cause serious water shortage in the country. Egyptian officials warned against a diminished share of the Nile River, while proposing a plan to sabotage or aid rebels against the Addis Ababa government. “I think there has been an enormous amount of misinformation particularly in the last month or so that has led to the heightened rhetoric and emotion, particularly that coming out of Egypt,” Shinn said, adding that “these are issues that

can be dealt with so long as they are hydro-power projects that allow the water eventually to flow again pretty much as it did before.” A ten-man panel of experts has found that the dam will not significantly affect Egypt or Sudan. Egypt faces a water crisis as its population increases. In the 1960s, the average water share per person was 2,800 cubic meters. Now, the figure has dropped to 600 cubic meters, much below the poverty line, which is 1,000 cubic meters per person. The Nile, located in northeast Africa and the longest river in the world, supplies water to Egypt and Sudan. It is formed from two rivers: the Blue Nile and the White Nile. Egypt is dependent on the Blue Nile, which starts in Ethiopia.

Sudan Army nabs dozens of civilians without charges: HRW Almashreq/Editorial Staff/ Agencies: Human Rights Watch (HRW) says South Sudan’s Army has arrested dozens of civilians without charges since February. “Soldiers rounded up dozens of young men (from Lakes state), often detaining others if they couldn’t find the suspects they were seeking, and held them in harsh conditions for weeks or months,” the New Yorkbased rights group said in a statement issued on Monday, citing witnesses in the state. The statement also added that some of the civilians were severely beaten by the members of the (South) Sudan People’s Liberation

Army (SPLA). Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency said fighting in South Sudan’s Jonglei State displaced tens of thousands of people. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also said in a statement released earlier this month that “In South Sudan, we are working both in Jonglei State and at the national level to advocate for better protection of displaced people.” Clashes between South Sudan’s Army and militants led by David Yau Yau in the eastern state erupted in March. South Sudan seceded from the Republic of Sudan on July 9, 2011, after decades

of conflict with Khartoum. The new oil-rich nation is one of the least-developed countries in the world with one in seven children dying before the age of five. Yau Yau rebelled against the

government in Juba after he was defeated in the elections of April 2010. However, he accepted amnesty in June 2011, a month before South Sudan gained independence.

“French PRISM” revealed: All communications tracked, metadata collected Almashreq/Editorial Staff/Agencies: The French external intelligence agency spies on French citizen’s phone calls, emails and social media activity and web use, the Le Monde newspaper has reported. France’s external intelligence agency the DGSE, intercepts signals from computers and telephones in France and between France and other countries in order to get a pictures of who is talking to whom, although, apparently, they do not randomly spy on the content of phone calls, the daily revealed on Thursday. Emails, text messages, telephone records, access to Facebook and Twitter are stored for years. “All of our communications are spied on,” read the article quoting unnamed sources in the intelligence services as well as remarks made publicly by intelligence officials. The DGSE allegedly stores the metadata from private communications in a basement under its Paris headquarters. All of France’s seven other intelligence services have access to the data and can tap into it freely as a means to spot people’s suspicious communications. Individuals can then be targeted by more intrusive techniques such as phone-tapping, it was reported. Le Monde pointed out the activities were illegal, but the French national security commission

whose job it is to authorize targeted spying, and the parliamentary intelligence committee, challenged the papers report. It said that it works within the law and that the only body in France that collected communication information was a government agency controlled by the Prime Minister’s office to monitor for security breaches. The report comes after revelations that America’s NSA regularly spies on its own people as well as

on European citizens and embassies. The allegations were leaked by Edward Snowden and published in the German magazine Der Spiegel, and have sparked a furious response from European governments just as a major US-EU trade talks are about to get underway. The Guardian newspaper reported last month that Britain has a similar spying program and shares vast quantities of information with the NSA through its Prism program.


8

Classified- Arizona

July 2013

Mosques

Hospitals

Phoenix Muslim Community Mosque Address: 1818 N 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA Phone:602 306 4959

MASJID AL-RAHMA Address: 2426 E McDowell Rd , Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA Phone:602-463-2569

Islamic Center Of North Phoenix Address: 13246 N. 23rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85029, USA Phone: 602-371-3440

Masjid Omar Bin Al-Khattab Address: 6225 S Mcclintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283, USA Phone:480-775 6627

Islamic Community Center of Phoenix Address: 7516 N. Black Canyon Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85051, USA Phone:602-249-0496 Islamic community of anthem Address: Islamic community of anthem Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA Email: onlysarah@hotmail.com

Mesa

Masjid-e-Noor Address:55 North Matlock Street, Mesa, AZ 85203, USA Phone:480-644-0074

Chandler

Islamic Center of the East Valley (ICEV) Address:425 N Alma School Rd., Chandler, AZ 85224, USA Phone:(480) 264-1330

Community Mosque Address: 1797 W University Dr#167, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA Phone:480-829-9465 Masjid Es Salaam Address:1071 North Alma School Road, The AL-Mahdi Benevolent Foundation Chandler, AZ 85224, USA Address:1016 S. River Dr Phone: 480-784-4627 Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

Churches Maronite Catholic Church Address: 5406 E Virginia Ave Phoenix, AZ 85008 Phone: 602-667-3280 Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Churc Address: 6816 E Cactus Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 480-905-1545 Assyrian Church Of The East Address: 8712 N 35th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85051 Phone:602-841-3227 St. George Church Address:6107 W Greenbriar Dr Glendale, AZ 85308 St.Michael Orthodox Church Of Jerusalem Address: 4724 N 35th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85019 Phone: 480-466-2648 St.John of The Desert Melkite Catholic Church Address:3718 E Greenway Rd

‫رمضان كريم‬

Ramadan Mubarak

Phoenix, AZ 85032 Phone: 602-787-4787 St.Goerge Antiochian Orthodox Church Address: 4530 E Gold Dust Ave Phoenix, AZ 85028 Phone: 602-953-1921 St.Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Address: 525 N 74th St Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Phone: 480-990-2399 First Arabic Baptist Mission 2232 W Campbell Ave Phoenix, AZ 85015 Phone: 602-249-1033 St.Joseph Church 11001 N 40th Street Phoenix, AZ 85028 Phone: 602-966-5120 Persian Christian Church 2012 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Phone: 480-231-6542

2013 ‫امساكية شهر رمضان‬

Ramadan Calendar 1434

Sunni Calendar

Scottsdale Health Care 9003 E Shea Blvd Scottsdale AZ 85260” (480) 323-3000 St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center 350 W Thomas RD Phoenix AZ 85013” (602) 406-3000

Chandler Regional Hospital 475 S.Dobson Rd Chandler AZ 85224 “(480) 963-4561

Peoria

Scottsdale Health Care 7400 E Osborn Rd Scottsdale AZ 85251” (480) 882-4000

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center 3555 South Val Vista Dr Gilbert AZ 85297” (480) 728-8000

Islamic Center of North East Valley Address:12125 E Via Linda, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA Phone:480-612--4044

Albanian-American Islamic Center of Arizona Address:6724 West Greenway Rd., Peoria, AZ 85381, USA URL:www.greenwaymasjid.com

Scottsdale AZ 85259 “(800) 446-2279

Mayo Clinic 5777 East Mayo Boulevard Phoenix, AZ 85054-4502 “(480) 515–6296

Scottsdale

Tempe

Islamic Community Center of Tempe Address:131 East 6th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA Phone: 480-894-6070

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center 1111 E.McDowell RD Phoenix AZ 85006” (602) 839-2000

FastMed Urgent Care of Chandler 2875 W. Ray Rd Chandler AZ 85224” (480) 899-3070 Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital 1500 S.Mill Ave Tempe AZ 85281” (602) 968-9411 Mayo Clinic 13400 Mayo Clinic

Phoenix Children’s Hospital 1919 E Thomas Rd Phoenix AZ 85016” (602) 933-1000 Arrowhead Hospital 18701 N 67th Ave Glendale AZ 85308” (623) 561-1000 Banner Thunderbird Medical Center 5555 W Thunderbird RD Glendale AZ 85306” (602) 865-5555

Embassies Embassy Of Algeria 2118 Kalorama RD NW Washington DC 20008 Phone:202-265-2800

Embassy Of Qatar 4200 Wisconsin Ave NW Washingion DC 20016 Phone:202-274-1600

Embassy Of Egypt 3521 International Ct. NW Washington DC 20008 Phone:202-895-5400

Embassy Of Morocco 1601 21st St NW Washingion DC 20009 Phone:202-462-7979

Embassy Of Iraq 1801 P St NW Washington DC 20036 Phone:202-483-7500

Ebassy Of Saudi Arabia 2600 Virginia Ave NW #500 Washingion DC 20037 Phone:202-337-9450

Embassy Of Jordan 3504 International Dr NW Washington DC 20008 Phone:202-966-2664

Embassy Of The Republic Of Bosnia 2109 E St NW Washingion DC 20037 Phone:202-337-1500

Embassy Of Kuwait 3500 International Dr NW Washington DC 20008

Embassy Of Tunisia 1515 Massachussets Ave NW Washingion DC 20005

Embassy Of Lebanon 2560 28th St NW Washington DC 20008 Phone:202-939-6300

Embassy Of U.A.E 1225 22nd St NW #700 Washingion DC 20037 Phone:202-243-2400

Embassy Of Oman Sultanate 1776 Massachusetts Ave NW Washingion DC 20036 Phone:202-387-1758

Embassy Of Yemen 2600 Virginia Ave NW #705 Washingion DC 20037 Phone: 202-965-4760

‫هدية جريدة‬ Shia Calendar

www.almashreqonline.com


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