The Muslim Link - Safar 1431 Issue

LOCALS SETTLING IN EGYPT FOR ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION

CIA LOOKING TO ASSASSINATE AL-AWLAKI

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Safar 1431 A.H. Issue

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IN THE U.S., RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE STRONGER AGAINST MUSLIMS PG 19

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MD, VA, and DC. Metropolitan Area Monthly Newspaper | FREE

February 5, 2010 - February 25, 2010

The US Government Said Both of these Men Planned to Kill the President.

WHICH ONE GOT LIFE?

By M. Ali Sadiqi

Muslim Link Contributing Writer What a difference a name makes! Two young men, university students in their twenties, have been sentenced by a Federal District Court. One received a five year sentence; the other received life without possibility of parole.

Both were born and raised within a short distance of each other. One is Bethesda, Maryland; the other in Falls Church, Virginia. But, one is Muslim.

Can you guess which one?

On January 19, 2010, Federal judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Collin Matthew McKenzie-Gude to 61 months in jail for storing bomb making chemicals in his bedroom.

He had amassed the chemicals and an arsenal of weapons as part of plot to assassinate President Barack Obama during the coming 2008 presidential campaign. Along with the chemicals and three semi-automatic rifles, two

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

For Ex-Prisoners, a Welcomed Home | pg 4 Five ‘Jihad’ Suspects In Pak Allege FBI Torture | pg 5 For Haiti Survivor, Aftershocks Continue | pg 11

Imam Killed In FBI Sting Was Shot 21 Times: Report | pg18

Left, Collin Matthew McKenzie-Gude. Right, Ahmed Abu Ali shot guns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition including armor piercing bullets, police discovered detailed assault plans and maps of possible presidential motorcade routes stored on the young man’s computer.

two-pound shipment of the key reagent used to make PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), the same material carried by the suspect in the attempted Christmas bombing on a Detroit-

McKenzie-Gade had also ordered “a

>> HYPOCRISY Pg 12

Local Muslims Return from Haiti Closer to Allah

By Abdullah Al-Nassar Muslim Link Contributing Writer

Local Muslims from Northern Virginia joined other American Muslims in Haiti, responding to the disaster with supplies, food, and on the ground support. Photo courtesy of Muslim American Society.

Amid the chaos and destruction caused by the earthquake in Haiti, Muslim American Society Communications Director Shafi Khan, and filmmaker Khalid Kamalmaz embarked on a task sponsored by Islamic Relief to facilitate help to Muslims in Port-AuPrince. This undertaking

was due in large part to not only help Muslims effected by the earth quake, who are listed as being under 10,000 people in the population, but to help non-Muslims as well. By helping the community as a whole, the generosity and humanitarian character of charity in Islam was shown. “We would give aid out to the masjid, and the

>> HAITI Pg 11

Anti-Minaret Campaigner Embraces Islam | pg 20 America’s Secret Afghan Prisons | pg 21 Lovesickness-In ISLAM | pg 23

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

“FIGHTING THE FLU IT’S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY” -President Barack Obama-

INDEX | 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE MUHARRAM 1430 | January 5th - February 25th, 2009

04

Community News

18

National News

20

World Press

23

Islam

26

Salaah Times

V

27 It’s not too late to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Get vaccinated.

The H1N1 flu vaccine is safe, effective, and made just like the regular flu vaccine. It’s the best way to protect against the flu.

Find Free H1N1 Vaccine Near You: District of Columbia

District Department of Health: Call the DC Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311; www.flu.dc.gov

Maryland

Montgomery County: 240-777-4200 www.co.pg.md.us/Government/ AgencyIndex/Health/flu_Info.asp Prince George’s County: 240-777-4200 www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ h1n1flu

Virginia

Alexandria: 703-838-4400 ext. 297 www.alexandriava.gov/flu Arlington: 703-228-2358 www.arlingtonva.us/flu Fairfax: 703-267-3511 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/flu Loudoun: 703-771-5512 flu@loudoun.gov Prince William: 703-792-6345 www.pwcgov.org/h1n1

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

For Ex-Prisoners, a Welcomed Home Hijrah House helps Muslim inmates transition back to freedom

By Yaman Shalabi Muslim Link Staff Writer Located near the Southside of Richmond, a family comprised of five men occupies a one level brick house. This small yet cozy environment provides the exact environment its occupants need for their journey.

This house has a name and it’s called the Hijrah House.

Life for these men begins in the early morning. They head to the nicely painted green prayer room to perform fajir-as well as the remaining four prayers throughout the day. After breakfast each heads off to see about their daily routine tasks: some make their way to work while others stay at home to study and clean the house.

Later in the evening as all the members of the family come together, they are greeted by the inviting and calming atmosphere their living room provides with comfortable furnishings, Islamic calligraphy hanging on the wall, and bookshelves overflowing with an expanse volume of knowledge on various topics such as fiqh, hadith, Dua’a, and the Quran. They prepare dinner together and usually on warm and pleasant days eat on the deck in their backyard. Their day ends with an enjoyable rap session.

The Hijrah House is a halfway house

run by Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia (MCSVA) designed to provide a safe haven for Muslims recently released from prison. Its residents: once convicted felons with sullied pasts now respectable community serving Muslims and citizens with a brighter future.

Started in 2003, Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia, a faith based charity umbrella organization, began as a prison outreach program for incarcerated Muslims in Virginia state prisons. Upon numerous prison visitations and requests from Muslim inmates, the need for a Muslim half way house in conservative Virginia arose. Thus began the development of the Hijrah House. The MCSVA is currently working on starting its third program to help Muslims in danger and at risk of incarceration.

Ashgar Goraya, executive director of the MCSVA, and other Muslim volunteers had an “overwhelming need to start something” by way of helping newly released inmates with nowhere to go who had no financial stability. Run on donations by individuals and the occasional grants from corporations, Goraya expressed his concern in the limited resources the MCSVA can provide residents.

The MCSVA was granted $5,000 from Islamic Relief, a nongovernmental organization that strives to improve living conditions to the poorest people worldwide.

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A Hijrah House resident in front of the half-way house in an undated file photo.

It’s a peaceful place that lets you be independent, establish yourself, and make your own decisions. It may or may not work out for some and there are people who make it in other establishments but the Hijrah House did it for me.”

Up until now, the $5,000 is the only grant money the MCSVA received to help residents at the Hijrah House. The MCSVA applied for grants from other organizations like the Islamic Society of North America but is still waiting for their responses.

It has also been vying for aid from the Department of Corrections of Virginia which provides $780,000 yearly from the inmate commissary fund to Chaplain Services of Churches of Virginia, a Christian Organization, to provide religious

services in Virginia prisons. The inmate commissary fund itself is funded using profits from small convenience stores in Virginia prisons where inmates can purchase food items, toiletries, clothing, and other items.

Larry Traylor, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Corrections explained that although the department may >> TRANSITION Pg 10

To Advertise Call 301.982.1020

Events & Activities Fairfax County Health Dept 14 International Sisters Network 29 MANA - Muslim Alliance of North America 2 Mohammad Dajani Karate 30 Journey to Mecca.7 Universal Justice Foundation 10

Dr. Ghousia Sultana 33 Honeyderm Inc 40 LeVant Counseling 6 Little River Chiropractic Clinic 31 Professional Hair Designer 33 Sara Beauty and Skin Care33 Virginia Dept. of Health 3 Willoughby Beach Pediatrics 33

Groceries Aziz Farm 28 Germantown Halal House 28

Home & Realestate Alarm Team 32 Muslim Ali 32

Health Care Access Dental 3 Dr. Afolabi Hakeem Martins DDS 33 Dr. Asmaa Nuh 33

Professional Services Law Office of Kamal Nawash 31 Wani & Associates 3 Census IW Group 9

Eastern Tax Service 36 Haroun & Associates 36 Ideal Tax & Accounting Services 36 Incarcerated Muslims of America Foundation 6 KMS Accounting 36 LeVant Counseling 6 MAS 20 Job Opening - MCC 15 Job Opening - MCC 30 Melvin Bilal 31 MMK Tax Services 36 Sanjar Media LLC 32 SB Tax & Accounting Services 37 Starlight Satellite 32 Zakat Foundation 13

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

Muslim Women’s Shelter Provides Refuge, Support

By Jamie Tarabay NPR, January 1, 2010

woman said the center is now her home and she would “never” go back.

[A transcript of “All Things Considered”, the popular NPR radio broadcast that featured Baltimore, Maryland’s Muslimat Al-Nisah – the homeless shelter for Muslim women – can be found on the NPR website. The show aired on January 1, 2010. – TML]

“Right now, I’m really happy. Really happy,” she told the group.

As families come together over the holidays, the victims of domestic abuse are often sequestered in shelters — a situation that’s especially difficult for Muslim women, because few facilities meet their cultural and religious needs.

At one home for Muslim women in Baltimore, women from different backgrounds recently gathered in the kitchen to prepare dinner together. Oil splattered on the stove, and Asma Hanif, the woman who runs the center, joked that the night’s dinner would be the end of her.

“In Iraq they don’t have high cholesterol?” she asks a Kurdish woman standing beside her. “This is going to kill us.”

The Kurdish woman — whose name is being withheld to protect her safety — laughed. “No, no, it’s OK,” she said.

Wearing makeup and fitted jeans, the

The woman said her marriage was so bad — the beatings from her husband were so severe — that she had no choice but to get out, even if it meant leaving her three children behind.

She left without knowing where to go. She slept in her car for a month.

Eventually she bought a plane ticket and somehow, ended up at the shelter, Muslima Anisah.

“It’s very good,” she said, referring to the shelter. “It’s helping me ... because it’s food, it’s house, it’s everything.”

In this cozy kitchen, she joked with the other women about how differently meatballs are cooked around the world.

Another Muslim woman, from Chad, fried potatoes as her version of meatballs cooked on the stove. It was a cheery scene that quickly unraveled. Suddenly, the Kurdish woman broke down.

Hanif adjusted her lavender headscarf and took a deep breath. She hugged the Kurdish woman and they both cried.

“It’s OK, you never have to go,” Hanif

“It’s OK, you never have to go,” Hanif said to her.

“I’m here, we’re here together. It’s OK.” The women here said the tears flow almost every day. Hanif said she knows first hand what it’s like to be on the street after leaving a home filled with abuse. said to her. “I’m here, we’re here together. It’s OK.” The women here said the tears flow almost every day. Hanif said she knows first hand what it’s like to be on the street after leaving a home filled with abuse.

“I’ve been where they’ve been, and I understand,” Hanif said. “One of the main things I’d like people to know, those of us who are here, we’re not bums.”

A Refuge Sensitive To Muslim Beliefs The women are here for many reasons.

It’s a sanctuary and an escape. It’s also a place where they can live and pray without having their faith questioned.

“My biggest problem was that if you send a Muslim woman to be counseled in a shelter that’s run by Christians, then what the people say is the reason why you’re being beat is because of that

religion. We do not want Islam to be the focal point of domestic violence,” Hanif said.

Indeed, domestic violence knows no religion, but not all shelters are sensitive to Muslims, Hanif said.

“There may be situations — such as, there would be men that were there, or there wasn’t any place for them to pray, or maybe there was an issue with the food,” Hanif explained.

At Muslima Anisah, people take their shoes off at the door. There’s no pork in the kitchen. A section at the front of the house is reserved for prayers.

“This is the prayer area; we pray five times a day,” Hanif said, showing off the area. >> REFUGE Pg 15

Five NoVa ‘Jihad’ Suspects In Pakistan Allege FBI Torture Muslim Link Staff The Associated Press reported on February 2, 2010 that the five Northern Virginia youth arrested in Pakistan in early December on suspicions of planning to “wage jihad” allege they are being tortured by both Pakistani police and FBI agents.

In the report by AP writer Nabil Yousaf, the five young men – ranging in ages from 18 to 24 and all US citizens – claimed they are being subjected to electric shocks and “other torture”. Pakistan is holding the men in a jail in Sargodha.

The men “tossed a tissue with some of the allegations scribbled on it to reporters as they headed to their latest hearing in court” said the AP report, adding the judge “delayed formally charging the suspects for at least two more weeks.”

The note said: “Since our arrest, the U.S. FBI and Pakistani police have tortured us,” read the message. “They are trying to set us up. We are innocent. They are trying to keep us away from public, media and families and lawyers. Help us.”

Defense lawyer Tariq Asad said one of

the youth, Ramy Zamzam, told the judge the police gave them electric shocks and “warned them not to mention the alleged torture to the media or court”. Zamzam, who is well known in the Northern Virginia Muslim community and who was very involved in Islamic community work, also said police “threatened to destroy their passports and their lives.”

US and Pakistani officials deny the torture allegations, but human rights groups in the US and Pakistan say prisoner abuse is common in Pakistan. The US “war on terror” has been plagued by prisoner abuse scandals – some involving US soldiers murdering detainees – which have severely undermined US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and strained relations with Pakistan and other nations.

The five youth traveled to Pakistan to connect with “helpless Muslims” and to “wage jihad”. Zamzam told reporters earlier: “We are not terrorists. We are jihadists, and jihad is not terrorism.”

When parents discovered a “farewell” video from one of the men, they contacted the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Washington DC. CAIR alerted the FBI and arranged for the families to meet with FBI agents.

Police accuse the youth of intending to commit “terrorist attacks” and of trying to join “militant” groups in the region, including those fighting the US occupation of Afghanistan. Some human rights activists in Pakistan say the youth should be freed because while terrorism is a crime, jihad – fighting an occupying army – is not.

AP also said prosecutor Nadeem Akram said the police are seeking permission from the federal Interior Ministry to press specific charges against the men, such as “trying to declare war against a country that is not at war with Pakistan” — an apparent reference to Afghanistan.

The court ordered a panel of three or five doctors to carry out a detailed medical examination of the men after they said they were not satisfied with an earlier exam. According to AP, that exam was ordered during the last hearing after the men alleged torture by Pakistani police.

“They told the court that the prison doctor just checked their blood pressure and did some other preliminary examination,” Akram said.

Khalid Khwaja, a rights activist who often advocates for detained militant

suspects, gave reporters a copy of a letter he said Zamzam had written to his parents. In it, Zamzam repeats the torture allegation and urges his parents to keep praying and trying to contact the suspects. Zamzam is a 22-year-old who was a dental student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Snelsire could not immediately confirm Khwaja’s assertion that the message had been given to the U.S. Embassy to pass on to the parents.

In their last hearing in mid-January, police submitted a charge sheet and evidence to the court in which the men are accused of violating several sections of Pakistan’s penal code and antiterrorism law. The most serious charge is conspiracy to carry out a terrorist act, which could carry life imprisonment depending on what the act is.

Prosecutors are still mulling whether the case is strong enough to charge the men and bring them to trial.

The men’s next hearing for the main case is set for Feb. 16, though a bail hearing may be held Feb. 8, said the AP report.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Locals Settling in Egypt for Environment, Education

By Tasneem Abu Ali

Muslim Link Contributing Writer These days, Egypt has become known in the news for the wall it has built on its Gaza border. Perhaps it is a good time to go over the other things Egypt is known for.

There is a lot of poverty in Egypt. Many families live off of one hundred dollars a month or less. Wages are low, and two hundred dollars per month is considered a good wage for recent graduates. In the wake of the controversy surrounding the wall on Gaza’s border, one Egyptian official commented that Egypt in fact had poverty more than that in Gaza. But peppered in Cairo are modern cities that Egyptians managed to make bloom in the middle of the desert. Al-Rehab city is an example. It is remarkably green with palm trees and grass, and it comes with its own food court, sports club, and transportation bus system. Here, you will learn from the Egyptians how to relax. In its cafes, you will find people sitting back and sipping on good coffee. Whereas an American might rush the waiter for the bill, Egyptians are not so quick to ask for it. They just enjoy themselves and chat.

Al-Rehab is occupied by many foreign nationals who came to Egypt for the religious experience-families from Belgium, America, Britain. There are Azhari schools nearby. These are

these schools are guaranteed a spot in Al-Azhar University. Once known as a bastion of tradition, Al-Azhar is less so these days. Perhaps bending to foreign pressures, the sheikh of Al-Azhar recently issued a bar on women wearing the face veil from entering final exams.

Still, the general climate in society is helpful to religious practice. Naureen Minhas, who moved from Virginia to Egypt one year ago, said that moving here helped her practice her religion more freely, “Like everywhere, not everybody is going to be religious, you have to work to find the right people to be with, but the structure of society is religious.” She said that after 9-11, the Islamic religion came under attack and one might feel like the oddball in American society. She that her kids, who go to Tajjan, an Azhari school, have a “solidity to their environment.

They don’t feel left out. Your kid is with their own. At parent teacher conferences, they look around and their parents are like everyone else’s. The Quran and Islamic teachers are almost like they are hand-picked. The kids are motivated to be good.” Naureen, who wears the face-veil, said that some well-meaning acquaintances would comment on her face-veil and suggest she take it off, but the schools for her children, and the small religious circles she regularly attends, have made Egypt a place where she feels comfortable.

“Like everywhere, not everybody is going to be religious, you have to work to find the right people to be with, but the structure of society is religious.” elementary and secondary schools that are associated with the renown AzharUniversity.

The curriculum includes Quran memorization and classic religious instruction. By high school, students are done memorizing the Quran. Students who graduate from

Some people come to Egypt for Arabic language instruction. Amatullah Clarke moved here from Virginia two years ago. She studies at Janatullah Mawa, which is a free school, charging only for registration and books. The Center

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teaches classical Arabic, Quran, and grammar to both nonnative speakers and Egyptians. Both the native and nonnative speakers are mixed together in the same class. There are individuals from many different nationalities –Russian, Somali, Asian, American, British. Azhar University students come to the center to take the grammar with the grammarian, who Amatullah says is very good. Amatullah has three children and she says living in Egypt has been worth it for her kids and her, and that she is delighted to “hear the athan everyday.”

Her only complaint is that she found some government agencies, such as the agency for visa renewal, to not be very orderly.

Perhaps Egypt is best known for its bodies of water. There is the Nile River, where Moses’ mother threw him in a weaved basket to save him from the pharaoh.

Today, the Nile is lined with restaurants and ferries. You can take a tour along the Nile in a boat rented for less than fifteen dollars. Towering above it is the burj, where you can see the whole city from the top. There is also the Red Sea, where Moses crossed with his people upon throwing his staff and splitting the sea in half. Today, the Red Sea is calm, and its waters are empty of waves. It can be good for swimming when the water is warm. Contrast this with the Alexandrian Sea, whose waves are monsters that roar near the shore. A favorite pastime of Alexandrians is to jump these waves, and you will see couples along the shore braving the push of these waves, jumping over them and having loads of laughter and fun. But to swim past these waves into the depth of the sea is the real treat, >> EGYPT Pg 15

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

| COMMUNITY NEWS

MAS Freedom Receives Bureau of Immigration Appeals Certification and Accreditation WASHINGTON, DC (MASNET) Jan. 29, 2010 - In a historic first for Muslim organizations in America, the Muslim American Society Freedom (MASF) received, On January 28th, 2010, a letter of accreditation and certification for its legal immigration project, called the Thurgood Marshall Legal Clinic.

This certification, from the Board of Immigration Appeals, allows persons who are not attorneys to practice immigration laws before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the immigration courts.

MAS Freedom is the first national Muslim nonprofit organization to receive such full certification, joining major national service organization such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and Jewish Family Services.

The certification allows MAS Freedom to operate accredited immigration services in both Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, with an opportunity to operate other facilities throughout the United States.

According to Khalilah Sabra, the MAS Freedom National Immigration Rights Coordinator, one of the goals of the immigration project is to “train legal advocates throughout the nation who are dedicated to serving immigrants, especially those who are indigent. Our BIA certification is certainly a large step in that direction, and the accreditation will also allow us to attract bright young persons who are pursuing a legal career and who have passion for this sort of work.”

For additional information, please contact MAS Freedom at (202) 552-7414, (703) 642-6165 or 1-888-627-8471 or address an email to: info @ masfreedom.org.

-----------------------------------------------MAS Freedom (MASF) is a civic and human rights advocacy entity and sister organization of the Muslim American Society (MAS), the largest Muslim, grassroots, charitable, religious, social, cultural, civic and educational organization in America - with 55 chapters in 35 states.

MANA to Shine Light on US Prison ICM Offering Tutoring to Help System Abuses at DC Seminar Bring Youth to the Masjid The Muslim Alliance in North America’s Social Justice Task Force (MANA) is organizing a seminar to be held Saturday, February 13 at Howard University (DC) to educate the Muslim community about the history and inhumanity of complete isolation in prison and to join forces with other activists who are working to end this form of torture.

Guests include former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Ramsey Clark, Karima Al-Amin and other activists in the field such as Bonnie Kerness of the American Friends Service Committee and Sala Nolan of the United Church of Christ. The program starts at 9:30 am and three panels will be held, 10-12, 1:30-3:30 and 4-6pm.

Karima Al-Amin is the wife of Imam Jamil Al-Amin.

Imam Jamil is incarcerated in a supermax prison in Colorado, where he sits in a small jail cell for 23 hours every day—in complete isolation. For one hour daily he is taken to a small, enclosed area where he is able to pace back and forth while still completely isolated, which means “zero” human contact. Many psychologists argue that this type of incarceration is inhumane and cruel.

In the past, 24/7 isolation was reserved for prisoners who had committed a major violation while incarcerated.

Because Imam Jamil has not committed any major violation, it is easy to believe that he is being subjected to inhuman treatment not because of anything he has done, but simply because of who and what he is: Jamil Al-Amin—an Imam and a Muslim.

The reality is that a large number of people are experiencing the same treatment.

This “cruel and unusual punishment” was developed in the 1980s when SuperMax prisons and control units were built to house mostly the out-spoken and politically active. Since then, the ability of prisons to use this type of cruel and inhuman punishment has been expanded under the title of “Security Threat Group Management Units,” a provision which is aimed directly at imprisoned Muslims.

For more information contact Dr. Ihsan Bagby, General Secretary of MANA and Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Kentucky, at ihsanbagby@gmail.com.

For event details, see the advertisement on page 2 of this issue of the Muslim Link. [Source: MANA]

By Yaman Shalabi Muslim Link Staff Writer

students wanted to stay in touch [with the tutors].”

In an effort to attract the youth to become more involved with the masjid, the Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM) organized an event January 17, 2010 from 2-4pm in the masjid’s library where students attending high school and college could come and get tutored prior to examinations.

It has been a challenge trying to get the youth to become more active and involved with the group but Ahmed is confident and believes “that once a relationship is established, the youth will be more engaging during further events.”

Youth Committee Coordinator Shafiq Ahmed expressed his concern in the diminishing number of youth attending the masjid. He believes holding tutoring sessions and similar events might give the youth an incentive to become more involved with ICM activities.

With little time to publicize the event, the number of students that did show was less than expected. Students received help in Geometry and Chemistry and “found it to be helpful.” Tutors from within the community and one brother from the University of Maryland volunteered to help.

The Board of Trustees is supportive and would like to institute a program to help the youth on an ongoing basis. The recently created Youth Committee has a lot of resources that it is eager to use yet it is still in its “infancy stage and the idea is to have small events and see how it goes,” said the Coordinator.

“Trying to rejuvenate the Youth Program has been a struggle but we have great community members who are very instrumental,” Ahmed pointed out.

The Committee is planning its next study session for students during late May and early June before finals. A date has not yet been decided.

“The students were engaging with the tutors,” explained Ahmed. “There was a nice back and forth communication and

NoVA Doctors: Still Time to Get Flu Shots for Free Our community is experiencing an unprecedented flu season because of a new type of influenza -- the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

The H1N1 flu is a serious disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between mid-April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized,

and over 9,800 people died.

Despite the decline in the number of influenza cases, the current level of illness remains significantly higher than normal for this time of year. Influenza is unpredictable and we may see additional waves of illness. Influenza activity typically peaks in February, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

The Fairfax County Health Department

will be holding an H1N1 vaccine clinic at Dar al Hijrah on Friday, February 5th, 5 pm - 9pm. We encourage all Muslims in the county to come and get vaccinated.

The vaccine will be provided and administered at no cost.

Please do all that you can to promote this very important clinic to your community. Please advertise through your school programs, websites, email list servs, posters, flyers, verbal

announcements after each and every salaat including salaat ul jumma. During your announcements please make sure to also tell people that if they are not able to make it to the vaccination clinic at Dar al Hijrah that the health department offers free H1N1 vaccine on a daily basis in its five district offices.

[Source: Zubair Saeed, M.D., Community Health Specialist, Fairfax County Health Department]

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

10 | COMMUNITY NEWS TRANSITION >> continued from pg 4 not directly fund religious services, it gives all religious services an equal opportunity for the money. The Chaplain Service of the Churches of Virginia received the entire amount of $780,000 to administer religious services to all faiths; however the Department of Corrections directed that Chaplain Services give $25,000 from the trust fund to the MCSVA. The MCSVA money is only to be used for providing religious services in prisons. None of the amount is used for the Hijrah House.

In order to be reviewed for acceptance into the house, residents must fill in an application and anxiously wait for it to be reviewed. For many this is the most difficult step because often inmates are denied entrance to the House. “Lots of inmates are turned down due to lack of space and financial restrictions,” Goraya disappointingly stated.

Once approved, newly released inmates are escorted to the DMV to get an I.D card. After they are situated in the House, they immediately set off to look for work.

Once a job is found, their income is split in two ways: One-third goes towards their savings and the remaining is spent on fines and personal needs. Normally, jobs are found within one month however due to recent economical situations it has become difficult for residents to find jobs, therefore must rely on daily labor for the time being.

With a maximum of 6 months residents are allowed to spend at the Hijrah House and 76% of the former inmates completing the entire transition period, they become ready to tackle society independently, comfortably and responsibly.

The Hijrah House worked wonders on Abdul Qadeer, 45, once a resident of the house who has undergone life changing transformations. Now married with a steady job and apartment, the Hijrah House “allowed him a safe place to sleep in and practice his faith.”

“It was very beneficial to me,” said Qadeer.

“The Hijrah House is designed for those who are willing to change and willing to do it themselves. It’s a peaceful place that lets you be independent, establish yourself, and make your own decisions. It may or may not work out for some and there are people who make it in other establishments but the Hijrah House did it for me.”

The Hijrah House is currently occupied by 5 residents including Anthony Smith, 29, Joseph Bailey, 40, and Abu-Khaliyl, 49.

Smith, who joined in November 2009, is currently taking online classes with Phoenix University in business management. “The Hijrah House, its good,” said Smith.

“Everything is provided for you; you can’t complain and most important, you are not treated like you’re going from one locked p facility to another.”

Residents are given complete freedom on how to go about their lives. They are provided with basic necessities like food and access to internet to job hunt and books to study. It is a house run on Islamic guidelines. Alcohol and drugs are extremely prohibited. One previous incident occurred when a resident was asked to leave after a random drug test returned positive. The house was previously in a “less desirable location” infested with drugs said Goraya.

and responsibility.

“It’s structured for people who are willing to take the first step through the door,” stated Khaliyl who is currently working as a cook in a seafood restaurant. “It suits its purpose; it’s just a matter of what people are willing to go through to better themselves. It’s a social process giving you the chance to redefine yourself while being around Muslims gives you the opportunity to feel the love of Islam.”

Residents are expected to inform the management if they expect to stay out late.

However management is very considerate of the resident’s legitimate needs and does not monitor them throughout their stay at Hijrah House. The system is designed to teach the residents qualities like diligence

The overall atmosphere in the house is peaceful and engaging. Residents often get along making it a comfortable familial environment. They are hoping, in warmer weather, to start a vegetable garden in the backyard. “It’s a house like any other household,” said Abu Khaliyl.

“Alhamdullilah!” expressed Bailey who is working on his GED, when he was asked about the service Goraya and the volunteers provide. “They are good hearted, very warm, and welcoming good brothers.”

Despite the fact that volunteers feel the service they provide has its limits, residents are very grateful and blessed to be staying at the House. “Bigger refrigerators would have been useful for 5 brothers crammed in one house,” Qadeer joked. Still it’s a good service and the residents and volunteers all expressed the need for more of its kind.

As resources become more available, MCSVA is hoping to start a Hijrah House for incarcerated Muslim Women.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS | 11

For Haiti Sur vivor, Aftershocks Continue

By Muslim Link Staff Washington, D.C. native Sameena Mulla’s husband Yahya Verella is Haitian.

Verella’s parents run a private school in a suburb of the capital city Port-auPrince, catering to about 300 children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

For the past few years, Mulla joined her husband for about one month during the winter to teach children at the school.

Verella, a Ph.D student, teaches math, while Mulla, an assistant professor in anthropology who graduated from Johns Hopkins two years ago, teaches literature.

This winter was no exception. The couple

HAITI >> continued from pg 1

masjid would give aid out to their whole community in an organized way. While we were there three people became Muslim because they saw the generosity of Muslims” said Shafi Khan.

While the Muslim American Society members were in the mosque in PortAu-Prince the second earthquake began to shake the ground. “The ground started shaking and everyone jumped up and during that whole time the whole masjid started screaming Allahu Akbar and La ilaha illallah. It was such a moving moment that everyone there felt no fear and Allah was on the tip of everyone’s tongues”, said Shafi.

It has been estimated that there are over 150,000 people who died due to the earthquake, and going through an experience where death and destruction are witnessed in abundance has profound impacts on an individual. “It brought us closer to Allah, but more than anything it really makes you grateful for what you have” said Shafi, as he relayed his personal feelings after witnessing the devastation first hand. “After waking up to pray Fajr, we would drive down the road and see people sitting on the

“I was just praying to Allah for mercy,” Mulla said. “I kept one eye on the ceiling, looking if it was going to collapse on us. Even if it did, we wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Everything was in Allah’s hands.” Finally, the ground became still. It lasted less than one minute. spent much of December in Haiti; their return flight to Baltimore was booked for Jan. 15.

On Jan. 12, at 4:53 p.m., the ground shook for 40 seconds.

Safely back in the United States, Mulla spoke to The Muslim Link, offering a

glimpse into a cataclysmic event which killed approximately 200,000 people, according to some estimates, and moved the rest of the world.

The couple was staying at Verella’s sister’s apartment, on the second floor of a two-story building, when the earthquake struck. Verella was preparing

his school lesson for the next day, while Mulla was reading.

Then, the building began shaking.

“It was like a jack hammer, but the sound was not coming from one place, it was coming from everywhere,” Mulla recalled. “I thought it was a bulldozer or something, but the shaking was getting stronger and stronger.”

“Yahya and I looked at each other and shouted ‘earthquake!’ He said we should get under the door frame, but when we stood and started toward the door we fell down. Waves were going under our feet >> SURVIVOR Pg 16

sidewalks on the streets displaced with nowhere to go, and that impacted me a lot”, said Khalid Kamalmaz.

Having initially set out to facilitate aid and document what was going on in Haiti, the real life tragedies and eye witness descriptions were still vivid as Shafi Khan relayed one of the most distressing experiences he witnessed from Haiti: “One of the things you find out very fast is the smell of death. It is a very powerful stench that stays in the area, it hovers and it’s not something that goes away. Even when you drive by in a car, you’ll feel it... I jumped the fence in the building next to the masjid, and I walked to a section were there was rubble and a lot of flies and I saw a human hand sticking out with a gold watch, then I looked over and saw a face. I realized this person had probably been alive for a couple of days and was trying to get out, and maybe no one heard their cries, and they died right there”.

The Muslim support for the Haitians is extensive with various Muslim organizations from the United States, and United Kingdom on the ground trying to restore the damage done throughout many communities in Haiti. There is a silence in the majority of media outlets regarding the tireless efforts displayed by these Muslim organizations to bring

Shafi Khan, from the Northern Virginia area, stands on the rubble of a building destroyed in the Haiti earthquake. Khan and fellow Virginian Khalid Kamalmaz produced a video of their trip. Photo courtesy of the Muslim American Society. food, water, aid and other necessities to the people in need in Haiti. “The American public needs to know what the Muslim community is doing. Of course you do everything for the sake of Allah, but we have to have this on the news.

Our future objective with this project is to give awareness to what the Muslims in Haiti are doing, because the American public needs to know about our good work” said Shafi.

being the most important aspect to this tragedy.

The long term development in Haiti is the main concern of the Muslim organizations that are currently facilitating aid in Haiti.

“This is a chance to do dawah, and to reach out to everyone and show that Muslims are generous” Shafi believed as

To find more information on what you can do to help the Muslim effort in Haiti visit www.muslimsunitedforhaiti. com and view the documentary filmed

by Khalid Kamalmaz and Shafi Khan, “Convoy: Muslim Relief in Haiti”.

Shafi, along with filmmaker Khalid Kamalmaz captured their experiences in Haiti, and plan on releasing a documentary explicitly showing the devastation, the Muslim community, and the good work the Muslims are doing in a country trying to recover from a disaster.

VA Muslims Join Effort to Build First Masjid in Harford MD

By Muslim Link Staff Masjid Al-Falaah, the first masjid in Maryland’s rural Harford County needs a lot of help before it can move onto a 5acre lot in Bel Air purchased last year, so Harford Muslims sought that help about 160 miles away in Northern Virginia.

Chartering a bus to bring its several dozen community members to a fundraising dinner organized by the Harford community in Herndon, Virginia, Dr. Khan Masjid Al-Falaah leaders counted on the generosity of a small crowd of Muslims from larger,

resource rich communities in the DC and Baltimore region.

About 50 Muslims from the All Dulles Area Muslims’ Society (ADAMS), Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB), and other masjid communities gathered at the announced event time of 6pm.

However, the Harford community’s bus pulled in well over an hour later,

prompting keynote speaker Imam Johari Abdul-Malik to engage the audience in an impromptu, interactive discussion on the earthquake in Haiti.

“I don’t think people who come on time should be penalized,” said Abdul>> HARFORD Pg 14

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

12 | COMMUNITY NEWS HYPOCRISY >> continued from pg 1 bound plane, federal prosecutors said [1].” And, when he learned that police were about to search his room, he went to White Flint Mall and assaulted a 78year-old man in a failed effort to steal his car.

Despite this clear example of a violent temperament, McKenzie-Gade is touted as an “All-American” boy. Steven Kupferberg, McKenzie-Gude’s attorney, presented his client as a mature, bright young man, fascinated by weapons. He was not the dangerous person the police and prosecutors made him out to be.

After all, his dream was to serve America by guarding installations from terrorists.

This was simply a case of a boy whose role-playing got out of hand.

What a contrast to the arrest and conviction of another “All American” boy, Ahmed Abu Ali from Falls Church, Virginia. Arrested while sitting for his exams at the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia, Ahmed was held by the infamous Saudi Muba’ith (Saudi intelligence). After being tortured, he was forced by agents of the Muba’ith, to read a confession stating that he plotted with an al-Qa’eda cell to assassinate then President George W. Bush. He was held in Saudi Arabia for more than two years following the video-taping of this confession, yet he was not charged either in Saudi Arabia or in the United States. Federal prosecutors did not charge Ahmed with any crime until after his family filed a civil habeas corpus petition seeking his release from Saudi detention.

Based solely on this coerced confession, he was convicted by a jury in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, and after appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, he was sentenced by Judge Gerald Bruce Lee to life in prison without parole.

However, no witness or co-conspirator ever stepped forward to confirm Ahmed’s involvement, unlike the case of McKenzie-Gade.

Patrick Yevsukov testified about McKenzie-Gade’s plans and his fascination with plots. In the Summer of 2008, Yevsukov’s aunt told police that McKenzie-Gade was always talking to her nephew about weapons, and that the two were storing bomb-making chemical and compiling a list of the home addresses of teachers at St.John’s Academy, the military school both attended.

In Ahmed Abu Ali’s case, prosecutors presented evidence uncovered at alQaeda safehouses, including translations of American pilot conversations, documents with supposed aliases used

by Abu Ali, and “photographs of the various weapons, explosives, cell phones, computers, and walkie-talkies found

in the safehouse, all of which Abu Ali had described [in his confession]. Jihad literature and address books containing the names and e-mail address of an alQaeda leader, a GPS device, a walkietalkie, a handgun magazine, a cellphone …[2]” All of this evidence “tended to establish the trustworthiness of his admissions that he had long wanted to join al-Qaeda, to further its goals, and to provide it support and assistance.”[3] Moreover, the government claimed that an al-Qaeda member had identified Ahmed as a member of his cell. But no such person was produced at trial. Instead, the prosecution submitted evidence of email messages between Ahmed and a person named Sultan Jubran. These messages were supposedly coded with phrases such as; “heard the news about the children’s sickness,” and “[g]reetings to the group.”[4] These cryptic remarks, which find their way into countless thousands of emails everyday, were the “strongest independent evidence corroborating Abu Ali’s confessions”[5] according the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

While Fourth Circuit felt a forced confession and two email exchanges about some children’s health was enough to show a conspiracy beyond mere “ideation, sufficient to justify sentencing him to life without parole, Judge Messitte felt that even greater evidence of moving beyond “mere role-playing” justified only five years behind bars, despite the fact that the judge characterized the plot to assassinate President Obama as “serious.”

Now, to be certain, there are significant differences between the two cases. For one thing, McKenzie-Gade pled guilty and accepted a plea bargain agreement which reduced the severity and duration of any sentence the prosecution could have sought.

On the other hand, Ahmed chose to fight his charges, which included an air piracy charge carrying a 20 year minimum sentence, trusting that the American justice system would recognize his innocence.

Steve Sheppard, Enfield Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas, and wellknown International Law expert, notes that disparities of this kind in sentences are all too common. He opines: “There are many legitimate reasons for different sentences for similar actions. Comparing plea bargains, like McKenzie-Gade’s to a sentence from a jury verdict adds just one more variation.

Even so, the sentences in these cases highlight the failures in the U.S. legal system to take seriously home-grown terrorism and to deal reasonably and thoughtfully with threats from abroad.

I’m not convinced the difference was religion or color, but the danger is real that such differences in treatment will be seen by both our friends and our current enemies as genuine bias. Two of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals

“Nobody was assassinated. Nobody was wounded. Nobody was injured. But you were on the cusp,” U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte told Collin McKenzie-Gude.” [6] No one was injured in Ahmed’s case as well. consider thirty years in prison to be overly lenient for terror conspiracy, but a different judge thinks five years is sufficient for assault, attempted auto theft, and conspiracy to assassinate the President. We can do better than this.”

“Nobody was assassinated. Nobody was wounded. Nobody was injured. But you were on the cusp,” U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte told Collin McKenzieGude.” [6] No one was injured in Ahmed’s case as well. Judge Diana Gribbon Motz, in her well-reasoned dissent to the opinion of the Fourth Circuit in U.S.v. Abu Ali, remarked that, “Abu Ali’s participation in them [plans] was relatively attenuated and resulted in no injury to any person or property.”

[7] She noted that “he had never planted bombs, shot or even possessed weapons, committed acts of violence, or taken any steps in the United States to further the conspiracy.” [8] She felt this justified a sentence less than life in prison.

Furthermore, Ahmed had no history of violence or criminal activity. He has never even owned or fired a gun. McKenzieGade, on the other hand, showed an early fascination with weapons and a tendency to violence, proven by his attack on a 78year-old man in an attempt to steal a car so he could flee from police.

Judge Messitte opined in his sentencing of McKenzie-Gade, that he wanted to deter other kids out there with this five year sentence. “There are other Collin McKenzie-Gudes out there who are perhaps 10, 12, 13, 14,” Messitte said.

“And they’re fascinated with guns, and they’re fascinated with explosives, and they’re going to watch this case and know about this case.” [9] But McKenzie-Gade is not a child. He is twenty years old – a man – and just a few years shy of the age at which Ahmed Abu Ali faced life in prison. Despite ordering the same chemicals used by Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab in his failed Christmas day airline attack, McKenzie-Gade did not face terrorism enhancements or any of the multiple conspiracy charges faced

by Ahmed Abu Ali. Judge Messitte opined, “You can talk a game of creating havoc, and then you perhaps think you can come to court afterwards and say, ‘I didn’t really mean that. It was all play-acting. I think I’d like to be home with my parents now,’ “ Messitte said. “The real world does not operate that way. And it never should.

And you need to know that.” [10] But McKenzie-Gade’s “real world” is only five years – a slap on the wrist for an “All-American” boy for which substantial material evidence proves

plotted to kill the US President. The “real world” for Ahmed is life in a cramped jail cell – another “All-American” boy for which a forced confession and some innocuous phrases in an email prove only how discriminatory can be the America “justice” system.

If McKenzie-Gade’s first name had been Muhammad or Ali or Abdul-Hakim, would the story be the same? If his skin had been brown instead of white, would he still be the innocent “All-American” boy? Or would he be a “Black man,” a “Hispanic man,” a “Muslim extremist?”

What is the real lesson Judge Messitte and the federal prosecutors are teaching McKenzie-Gade? Is it that the “real world” is prejudiced?

Just last year we elected our first nonwhite president. The press keeps telling us he was the first African-American president. At least that still sounds like an “American.” Not some foreigner – some Hispanic, some Asian, some Muslim. All the attacks on Obama concentrate on whether he was born in the US, or whether he is a Muslim – on whether he is somehow foreign or unAmerican.

And now a man who conspired to assassinate that same president will get out of prison in time to carry out that plan in his second term.

Please remember Ahmed in you du’as as he continues his fight to prove his innocence and clear his name. The next step in this process will be the filing of a Federal Habeas Corpus proceeding.

May Allah grant Ahmed and his family sabrun jamilun. Like the Prophet Yousef, we pray that Allah will release Ahmed soon – clear of all the charges he has been forced to face. ________________________________ [1] Dan Morse, Foiled Plot, or Teenage Fiction?, The Washington Post, Jan. 7, 2010, http://www.washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/ AR2010010605042_3.html?sid=ST2010010 603516, (last visted on 1/29/2010), [2] US v. Abu Ali, 528 F. 3d 210, 236 (4th Cir 2008). [3] Id. [4] Id. [5] Id. [6] Dan Morse, Bethesda Man Linked to Obama Death Plot Sentenced to 5 Years, The Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2010, http:// www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ article/2010/01/19/AR2010011904460. html?sid=ST2010010603516&sub=AR (last visited 1/29/2010).

[7] US v. Abu Ali, 528 F. 3d at 274 (dissent, Motz, J.), [8] Id. [9] Dan Morse, Bethesda Man Linked to Obama Death Plot Sentenced to 5 Years. [10] Id.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

ADVERTISEMENT | 13

HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS NEED YOUR HELP WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Please make dua (supplication) for the victims of the earthquake.

Your donation of $50 will provide a hygiene/medicine package for a family.

Your donation of $100 will provide a food package and water for a family for about a week.

Your donation of $150 will provide a food/water and hygiene/medicine package for a family.

Zakat Foundation is committed to immediate relief and to the long-term rehabilitation efforts to follow.

ZAKAT FOUNDATION GUARANTEES YOUR DONATION REACHES SURVIVERS OF HAITI EARTHQUAKE WITHIN EIGHT HOURS.

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muslim_link_9.5x13.1_haiti.indd 1

1/25/10 2:06:23 PM

14 | COMMUNITY NEWS

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

HELP WANTED

The Muslim Link is accepting applications for the following two positions.

DISTRIBUTOR / OUTSIDE SALES

Duties include delivering the newspaper every two weeks to all area masajid, juma prayer locations, businesses, and other drop points; managing volunteer distributors; mailing the newspaper to subscribers; managing all aspects of the delivery route; and soliciting ads from potential advertisers. The position is over 50% outside sales. Pay is a monthly fixed salary plus commission on advertising revenue.

OFFICE MANAGER / INSIDE SALES

Duties include contract management, billing, collections, data entry and data management, handling advertisement and other requests, managing volunteers, conducting research, and making cold sales calls.

Over 50% of the work involves phone sales, so clear, effective phone communication skills are a must. Experience with spreadsheets, common office software, and Internet applications is a must. This is a full-time hourly position. Pay is commensurate with experience.

For immediate consideration, please email a resume and cover letter to: editor@muslimlinkpaper.com HARFORD >> continued from pg 11

Malik, who is frequently called upon to fundraise for organizations and masajid across the country.

Once the Masjid Al-Falaah bus arrived, the program began with a welcome from Dr. Khan, President of Masjid Al-Falaah followed by a recitation from the Qur’an and a financial update by Dr Mian.

Imam Johari began the fundraising exhorting the small audience to rise to the challenge.

“Tonight we have a very challenging assignment, but if our [faith] is in the right place, we can do it.”

The goal for the event was set at $150,000. To learn more or to donate, visit www.alfalaah.com.

If you would like the Muslim Link to be available at your establishment give us a call.

301 982 1020

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010 REFUGE >> continued from pg 5 Hanif is a nurse by trade, not a social worker. Running a battered women’s shelter wasn’t part of her plan. But over the years, she treated dozens of abused Muslim women at a health clinic.

One memory stayed with her: a woman who came in with a broken jaw.

“One of the Muslim women, her jaw was wired, and I remember her saying that now she could lose some weight because she had to suck her food through a straw,” Hanif recalled. “We didn’t inquire about it. We laughed with her. I remember we

EGYPT >> continued from pg 6 and requires strength and stamina. A bonus is the conservatism of the people; you will not see the exposed skin usually associated with American beaches. Most Egyptian women cover, even on beaches.

The face-veil is less common.

Now we come to Egyptian fare. There is Alexandrian tamia, which are large falafel patties stuffed with red hot paste.

They are much better than ordinary

COMMUNITY NEWS | 15

didn’t do anything about it.”

doesn’t want them,” Hanif said.

15 years old.

But not long after that, she decided to intervene.

Hanif said American women can turn to their community for help; they know the legal system better, and they know their rights. Most of the immigrants, including the Kurdish woman, speak little English and have even fewer resources.

Helping the women and hearing their terrible stories has taken a toll on Hanif.

‘Society Doesn’t Want Them’ Now, it has been 12 years since Hanif set up this home in a residential neighborhood in Baltimore. She lives there even though she has three grown children.

Hanif is African-American, but most of the women she takes care of are immigrants.

“They have nowhere to go. Society doesn’t want them. Their family doesn’t want them, and the man who beat them falafel. There is kushari, which consists of lentils, pasta, rice, and fried onions.

This is perhaps the best known Egyptians dish, and you should order it from the most “baladi” or commoner store there is, so the sweat of the brow will be mixed in with the dish, as one Egyptian put it. Egyptians also are known for eating pigeons, duck, and geese. If you are someone who is used to seeing a pigeon in the air, or feeding it bread crumbs when it is on land, you might be surprised to see a pigeon, with its meager meat, landing on a plate. Something you cannot go wrong with if you are at a

The Kurdish woman pointed to pictures of her children taped to the wall beside her bed. “Two sons, one daughter,” she said.

She said she phones her children all the time, and she vows she will see them again. But after eight months at the shelter, she is adamant that she won’t go back to her husband — the man her parents told her to marry when she was restaurant are grilled meats.

Cairo is known as the city of one thousand minarets. Mosques are densely erected, and you might find two to three mosques in a half mile radius. If you live in a tall building, you might be delighted by the view of these minarets, cascading one after the other. But what is really worthy of a photo-shoot are Egypt’s gravesites. The façades of these gravesites are beautifully ornamented like the entrance of mosques. They are built as underground rooms that bodies are placed in, one after the other, since

“I hear their voices in my head, crying. It wears on my soul. I used to be a happygo-lucky person, but now I carry a lot of sorrow,” she said.

Hanif said she’s not trained to operate a shelter, but she does it anyway. She does it for all the women she’s been able to help — and those she couldn’t.

(Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/ story/story.php?storyId=120752667 )

the soil cannot hold corpses that are buried in it, and pushes them to the top.

There is so much more to Egypt. The mummies in the Cairo Museum, or khan al-khalili, where you can buy souvenirs and uniquely Egyptian products, such as hand-made leather slippers and shoes.

Come and take a look for yourself.

-----------------------------------------------The writer, Tasneem Abu Ali, is from Northern Virginia but is currently living in Egypt.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

16 | COMMUNITY NEWS SURVIVOR >> continued from pg 11 through the room, almost like water.”

The violent shaking continued for several seconds, loud rumbling and sounds of structures cracking filling the air. The couple stay put on the floor.

“I was just praying to Allah for mercy,” Mulla said. “I kept one eye on the ceiling, looking if it was going to collapse on us.

Even if it did, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. Everything was in Allah’s hands.”

Finally, the ground became still. It lasted less than one minute.

The family rushed to the door for fear their building might collapse. The building’s movement had jammed the door. Frantically, the couple forced it open, only to find that though the stairwall was intact, a wall collapsed on to it made it impassable. They jumped out of the building from a landing. Now outside, they saw the buildings across the street were either tipped over, or had collapsed entirely.

“It was then we started hearing the crying, the wailing, screaming,” Mulla said. “People were praying in French, in Creole, calling out to God.” The family ran up the street, Verella shouting out to neighbors to get out of their houses.

The couple’s first thought was the school, and Verella’s parents, the children, the teachers, who were inside. They ran.

“I remember seeing two things,” Mulla said. “Yahya had no shoes on, and there

were dead bodies lying in the street.”

As they approached the school, they saw it intact.

“We didn’t lose any immediate family,” Mulla said. “We didn’t lose any children.”

Everyone at the school, including Mulla and Verella, would sleep outside on the school’s basketball court. Neither the ground nor the buildings were stable.

Soon after reaching the school and accounting for immediate family, Verella said he was going to try and access the building’s Internet. Cell phones were not functioning and radio and television were off the air. Family and friends had to be notified that the couple was alive and unhurt. In Washington D.C., Sameena’s parents and brother had to get their message.

“I didn’t want him to go [inside the school building],” Mulla said. “Finally I said if he goes I’m coming, so we both went.

He was able to reconnect the Internet.”

Their connection was a wireless link via satellite. The couple posted a short message to Verella’s Facebook account, letting loved ones know they were okay.

That first night, one of the radio stations came back on, albeit briefly. People were getting on air, telling whoever could hear that they were alive.

Mulla said the first few days were filled with many earthquake aftershocks. Some nights, weakened buildings would come crashing down, jolting everyone awake.

For the first week, Verella went up and down the streets, attempting to account for friends and distant relatives. Both

From her vantage point, Mulla sees media reports about chaos in the city as “exaggerated.” The disaster brought out the best and the worst from people, she said. used the school’s Internet to communicate with others inside and outside Port-auPrince – via Facebook and Twitter – while helping to account for friends and acquaintances.

“A few children [at the school] lost parents. One teacher lost a wife,” Mulla said. “One parent who was staying with us at the school cried all night because someone who saw her house said it had totally collapsed.”

“The parent’s 80-year old mother was taking care of six orphans – from three- to nine-years old – in that house. The parent assumed the worst and wept. When she finally made it to the home, she found her mother and the six orphans sitting in the backyard. The house collapsed on them, but the mother was able to lead the children out, saying ‘we are playing a game, so follow me’.”

Mulla said there were many such stories – amazing, happy, moving and tragic.

“A lot of times someone is going to recover bodies, only to find their loved ones surviving under the rubble,” she said. “On the other hand, we had some friends die who were [just] 21, 22 years old.”

The people in the school survived on what was in the school canteen. The couple also went back to the apartment a few times to salvage what food items they could. Some street markets continued to

operate.

Mulla continued to send Twitter messages as the days went by.

On January 14: “darkness falls and the singing starts again-- Port-au-Prince is praying.”

On January 15: “made it through the night. 2 aftershocks. Trying to figure out how to top up cell phone minutes to Digicel/Voila.”

On January 16: “Hope for Haiti headed to [Port-au-Prince] today with 75,000 lbs of supplies.”

From her vantage point, Mulla sees media reports about chaos in the city as “exaggerated.” The disaster brought out the best and the worst from people, she said.

Ten days after the earthquake, the couple went to a bus depot – now being used as a camp for U.S. Marines – and waited in line for two $75 tickets for a twohour ride to the neighboring Dominican Republic. After another six hours to the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, they boarded a flight to Baltimore.

The entire experience, Mulla said, was overwhelming.

“If my life was spared, it was spared for a reason,” she said. “I have to ask Allah what He wants from me. I did not die.”

Al-Huda School Open House Are you thinking of full-time Islamic schooling for your son or daughter for the next academic year? Attend one of our upcoming open houses and make an informed decision! Get details about Al-Huda School’s curriculum, Islamic Studies & Qur’an courses, and accreditation by the Middle States Association.

Open houses are on the following dates, Insha’Allah.

Friday, February 26, 2010 Friday, March 26, 2010 Friday, April 30, 2010 Monday, May 31, 2010 For more information, call the Al-Huda School office at 301-982-2402 or email office@alhuda.org.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS | 17

Eighth annual Essay, Speech Competition Held in Falls Church

By Noor Tagouri Muslim Link Staff Writer Hoping to encourage an appreciation of writing and communication skills among Muslim youth, the Mafiq Foundation sponsored its eighth annual Essay/Panel Contest (EPC). Held at Masjid Dar Al Hijrah in Falls Church, VA on Saturday, Jan. 16, the competition represented one of the many venues through which Muslim youth can showcase their academic achievements.

Dr. Kashif Munir, a judge of EPC for the past three years, emphasized that the competition was a “platform to practice communication skills” and “a great stepping stone, and way to gain confidence.” These words were a perfect depiction of the outcome of this year’s contest.

The competition highlighted the skills of 114 students, ranging from first graders to high school seniors. With the selection of composing an essay, compiling a multimedia presentation or creating an artistic poster, the majority of the competitors submitted essays. A total of 79 essays, 16 multimedia presentations and 19 posters were scrutinized for judging.

Starting at 9:30 a.m, there was a shy amount of people at the registration table. As time proceeded, the competitors arrived with their friends and family, ready to present what they had put together for their specific theme. In total, there were three themes, divided based on the competitor’s school grade level. The 1st – 4th graders were asked to create their project around the theme, “We are Allah’s Khalifa’s on this earth - What does this mean to you?” Middle school students showed off their skills around the premise of lessons learned from the leadership styles of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Finally, the high

school students were enlightened with the knowledge that they were one-in-four Muslims in this world. Around this fact, their theme was how they would lead the world to be a better place for all.

Level 1 Results Ameen Ahmed - 1st Khadijah Arafat - 2nd Safiya-Elmi - 3rd Maryum Nassar - sp-Essay

With their essay/speeches on repeat in their minds, the eldest group of writers presented in front of an audience of about 25 people. When asked, most competitors said they were anxious at the beginning of reciting their speech. Nevertheless, once they were a few sentences into it, the audience could sense the passion and exertion they had put into creating their well-prepared essays on how they would be a leader, ready to make the world “a better place for all.”

Mrs. Christina Tobias-Nahi, director of Public Affairs for Islamic Relief USA was delighted to hear the youth’s concerns about the issues of improving the status of poverty, pollution and the issue of global warming in her first year of judging EPC. “It is very impressive!” she commented, referring to the ideas put forward in the speeches.

The multimedia and poster competition allowed children and youth to display their creativity and thoughts; all the while, honoring the leadership manner of the Prophet (PBUH). Many gathered to watch the participants present their vivid posters, enlightening the audience on how to apply these leadership skills to our lives, as the Prophet (PBUH) once did.

Throughout the entire day friends were made, knowledge was spread, and skills were enhanced. Parent, Ms. Kimberly King, could not stress enough what a blessing it was to have her two daughters participate in the EPC competition.

She felt that it gave youth a way to strengthen their skills both Islamically and in communication. “There definitely

Level 2 Results (Grades 3rd and 4th) Huma Chowdhury - 1st Eimaan Nour Imran - 2nd Adam Ahmad - 3rd Mostafa Halawa - Special- Essay Amal Binte Hossain - Special - Speech

should be more venues like this for [the youth,]” she said.

By, 2:00 p.m the competitors were anxious to finally hear the top winning recipients of each competition. After enjoying a meal of salad, rice and chicken, the courtyard of the masjid was filled and the judges were ready to announce this year’s winners. The top winners would take home either an iPod or another electronic gift, while the honorable mentions would receive gift cards, along with trophies. This year’s essays will be published in Young Muslim Voices, Vol. 3.

According to Mostafiz Chaudhury, an organizer of EPC and the president of Mafiq Foundation, the future goal of EPC is to, “Expand it to a national level and establish an institution that promotes writing and speaking among Muslim youth.”

The parents, judges, family members and friends were all proud of the youth’s efforts. “Our children are the living messages we are [delivering] to a time and place we won’t be.” Judge Zahra Ahmed

Level 3 results Zaakira L. Ahmed - 1st Zaynab R. Gholston - 2nd Razeen Khan - 3rd Attahir Rabiu - sp-essay Tahmiid Ibn Hossain - sp-speech Level 4 results Nishwath Samiya - 1st Danya Chowdhury - 2nd Salwa Jaber - 3rd Habiba Rabiu - sp-essay Adib Ahmed - sp-speech Level 5 Results (Grades 9th and 10th) Yasmina Abdous - 1st Adib Laskar - 2nd Mariam Ahmed - 3rd Munira Shahir - Special Speech Sarah Arafat - Special Essay Level 6 Results Fatimah Waseem - 1st Keiara Freeman - 2nd Siham Lee - 3rd Noor Tagouri - Sp. Recognition-speech Nada Elansary - Sp. recognition-essay

quoted from a parent. By participating in EPC, the deliverers of the message will become stronger in their communication and stronger in their deen.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

18 | NATIONAL NEWS

National News News from Muslim Communities from accross North America

Imam Killed In FBI Sting Was Shot 21 Times: Report

By Daniel Tencer Raw Story

increased suspicions about the imam’s death

February 01, 2010 – A Detroit-area imam who died in a shootout with the FBI in October was shot 21 times -- at least once in the back -- and found by police lying down with his wrists in handcuffs behind him, says a local Detroit news report.

“I wonder why he was shot in the back ... and handcuffed,” said Dawud Walid, Michigan executive director for CAIR. “It’s very difficult to comprehend. ...

We thought that transparency would be the best remedy to remove the clouds of suspicion over this case. Unfortunately, because of the autopsy report being suppressed per the request of the Dearborn Police Department,it’s brought more suspicion and more conspiracy theories regarding this case.”

The FBI has described Abdullah, whose mosque served some 25 families, as “a separatist Muslim intent on overthrowing the United States government,” according to the New York Times, but the bureau has not alleged any terrorist activity against him, and has charged that Abdullah was involved in fencing stolen goods. Federal authorities had been monitoring Abdullah “for years,” the Times reported.

“It’s even more horrendous than we first [thought],” Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality told the Detroit Free Press. Scott is calling for an independent investigation into the shooting.

mentioned in the coroner’s report.

Now a medical examiner’s report, obtained by Fox Channel 2 in Detroit, shows the imam had been shot 21 times, including at least once in the back, and his body was found on the ground with his wrists handcuffed behind his back.

John Freeman, a defense attorney and former prosecutor in Troy, Michigan, told the Free Press that you can’t draw conclusions from the number of bullets fired as to whether excessive force was used.

“First of all, did the FBI agents follow established procedure when they shot the imam 21 times? How was the imam shot in the back? Was it proper procedure to handcuff either a dead body or a mortallywounded suspect? If the agents found the imam alive following the shooting, did they call for medical assistance? All these questions need answers,” he said in a press release.

The medical examiner’s report is scheduled to be released this week, but had been delayed for months after Dearborn police, who are investigating the FBI in the matter, filed a court affidavit requesting the document be kept sealed, Fox 2 reported.

“You can’t draw any conclusions whatsoever by the number of times a person is struck by a bullet,” Freeman said. “The determination on whether anything was excessive has to be made on the totality of the circumstances, including what the deceased was doing and what he was perceived to have been doing.”

According to Fox 2, the raid began Oct. 28 when FBI agents sent in a police dog into the warehouse where Abdullah was located. Abdullah allegedly shot the dog, which later died. FBI officers then moved in, and began shooting when they took fire from Abdullah. The Free Press describes the day of the shooting like this:

But CAIR’s Walid points to questions about the other circumstances reportedly

FBI agents and local police surrounded a warehouse on Miller Road near Michigan

Informed of the circumstances of Abdullah’s death, a visibly stunned member of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations said the news only

REPORTERS WANTED

Avenue [in Dearborn], believing Abdullah and others were inside.

When agents entered the warehouse, four of the men obeyed orders to surrender, but Abdullah opened fire and was shot to death, FBI agents said at the time.

The FBI has said that Abdullah opened fire first, and FBI agents at the Dearborn warehouse responded by firing on him.

The FBI did not release what kind of weapon Abdullah had or how many agents opened fire.

The Detroit News reports that the FBI opened fire only after Abdullah had fired some three dozen shots. The firefight lasted only four seconds, and four FBI agents fired “an average of five shots each” at the suspect. (Source: http:// rawstory.com/2010/02/imam-killed-fbishooting-handcuffed/)

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The ideal candidates are committed Muslims who have a penchant for good writing, are involved in community work, have a strong work ethic, and believe in establishing Muslim media.

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

NATIONAL NEWS | 19

In U.S., Religious Prejudice Stronger Against Muslims 43% of Americans admit to feeling some prejudice toward followers of Islam Analysis by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least “a little” prejudice toward Muslims -- more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), Jews (15%) and Buddhists (14%). The findings are based on a new Gallup Center for Muslim Studies report, “Religious Perceptions in America: With an In-Depth Analysis of U.S. Attitudes Toward Muslims and Islam,” released Thursday.

In a separate question asking Americans to express their overall view about each of the four religions evaluated, Islam is the most negatively viewed. Nearly one-third of Americans (31%) say their opinion of Islam is “not favorable at all” versus 9% who say their opinion is “very favorable.” This stands in contrast to Americans’ views of Christianity and Judaism, which are far more likely to be “very favorable” than “not favorable at all,” while Buddhism draws almost equally positive and negative opinions at the extremes. Gallup conducted the nationwide U.S. survey between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13, 2009, spanning the Fort Hood shooting in which a U.S.-born Muslim military doctor killed 13 people on the Army base on Nov. 5, 2009.

The new report further explores variables that are associated with extreme prejudice (“a great deal”) toward followers of Islam as well as variables that may be related to lack of prejudice.

To download the full report, go to www. muslimwestfacts.com. Key findings from the report will also be released next month in Cairo, Egypt. The Gallup Center for Muslim Studies conducts its Washington, D.C., and Cairo launches with its Muslim West Facts partner, the Coexist Foundation.

Survey Methods Results for this Gallup Panel study are based on telephone interviews with 1,002 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Oct.31-Nov.13, 2009. Gallup Panel members are recruited through random selection methods. The panel is weighted so that it is demographically representative of the U.S. adult population. For results

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based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3.4 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

---------------------------------------[Source: muslimwestfacts.com]

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

20 | WORLD PRESS

World Press News you might have missed. News that might have missed you.

Swiss Anti-Minaret Campaigner Embraces Islam Islamicity.com January 30, 2010 Renowned Swiss politician Daniel Streich, who rose to fame for his campaign against mosque minarets, has embraced Islam.

A member of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and a well-known politician, Daniel Streich was the first man who had launched a drive for the imposition of a ban on mosques minarets, and to lock the mosques in Switzerland. The proclamation of Streich’s conversion to Islam has created furore in Swiss politics, besides causing a tremor for those who supported the ban on construction of minarets.

Streich propagated his anti-Islamic movement far and wide in the country, sowed seeds of indignation and scorn for Islam among the people, and paved the way for public opinion against pulpits and minarets of mosques.

But now Streich has become a soldier of Islam. His anti-Islam thoughts finally

brought him so close to the religion that he embraced Islam. He is ashamed of his doings now and desires to construct the most beautiful mosque of Europe in Switzerland.

The most interesting thing in this regard is that at present there are four mosques in Switzerland and Streich wants to lay the foundation for the fifth one. He wishes to seek absolution of his sin of proliferating venom against Islam. He is thinking of a movement contrary to his previous one to promote religious tolerance and peaceful cooperative living, in spite of the fact that ban on mosques minarets has already gained a legal status.

This is the greatest quality of Islam that it comes up with even greater vigor, when it is faced with confrontation.

Abdul Majeed Aldai, the president of OPI, an NGO, working for the welfare of Muslims, says that Europeans have a great desire to know about Islam. Some of them want to know about the relationship between Islam and terrorism; this was the case with Streich.

US Drones Killed 123 Civilians in Januar y The February 1, 2010 issue of Lahore, Pakistan’s “The News” media outlet reported that US predators carried out a record number of 12 deadly missile strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan in January 2010, of which 10 went wrong and failed to hit their targets, killing 123 innocent Pakistanis. The remaining two drone strikes reportedly killed three alleged al-Qaeda leaders, reporter Amir Mir wrote.

Predator, or “drones”, are small unmanned robotic aircraft outfitted with missiles. Most fly out of bases in Afghanistan but are controlled and fired from intelligence centers in the United States, including some facilities in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

International law experts say the use of drones to kill “suspected terrorists” is a violation of many international laws and norms. “Suspects” are hard to accurately identify from drone surveillance, and most drone strikes are done after “tips”

on the ground. Since strikes are mostly made on mere hunches, civilian deaths are extraordinarily high.

The United States routinely dismisses reports of civilian deaths resulting from drone strikes.

The rapid increase in the US drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan can be gauged from the fact that only two such strikes were carried out in January 2009, which killed 36 people. The highest number of drone attacks carried out in a single month in 2009 was six, which were conducted in December last year. But the dawn of the New Year has already seen a dozen such attacks reported the News.

The News report tallied civilian deaths based on individual missile strike reports from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry.

During his anti-Islam efforts, Streich studied the Holy Quran and started understanding Islam. He wished to be hard to Islam, but the outcome was otherwise. Aldai further says.

Recently the question of ban on minarets was put to voting in Switzerland, wherein

the Swiss nationals gave the issue a legal status. __ Article originally published at the Swiss news site Twenty Minutes Online at www.20min.ch/news/dossier/minarett/ story/27286120

CIA Looking to Assassinate Al-Awlaki A January 31, 2010 Los Angeles Times report by Greg Miller says the CIA is putting together a case for why US Citizen Anwar Al-Awlaki should be targeted for assassination using missile strikes or other means.

Al-Awlaki, a hugely popular Islamic lecturer in the English-speaking Muslim world, survived a December 24, 2009 strike on a home the CIA believed he was staying in. Dozens of people died in that missile strike; locals say the dead were civilians while the US claims the dead are terrorists.

The LA Times report says: “No U.S. citizen has ever been on the CIA’s target list, which mainly names Al Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden,

according to current and former U.S. officials. But that is expected to change as CIA analysts compile a case against a Muslim cleric who was born in New Mexico but now resides in Yemen.

“Anwar al Awlaki poses a dilemma for U.S. counter-terrorism officials. He is a U.S. citizen and until recently was mainly known as a preacher espousing radical Islamic views. But Awlaki’s ties to November’s shootings at Ft. Hood and the failed Christmas Day airline plot have helped convince CIA analysts that his role has changed.

“Over the past several years, Awlaki has gone from propagandist to recruiter to operational player,” said a U.S. counterterrorism official.

“Awlaki’s status as a U.S. citizen requires special consideration, according to

>> ASSASINATE Pg 24

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

WORLD PRESS | 21

America’s Secret Afghan Prisons In the ‘Battle for Hearts and Minds’, America Losing Transcript from Democracy Now! Report from February 2, 2010 -----------------------------------------------AMY GOODMAN: A major UN report on secret detention policies around the world concludes the practice could reach the threshold of a crime against humanity. An advance unedited version of the report was published last week and will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March. The report examines the vast network of secret prisons connected to the so-called global war on terror.

Well, a new investigation by journalist Anand Gopal reveals some harrowing details about America’s secret prisons in Afghanistan, under both the Bush and Obama administrations. What emerges is a world that goes far beyond the main prison in Bagram and includes disappearances, night raids, hidden detention centers and torture. Gopal interviewed Afghans who were detained and abused at several disclosed and undisclosed sites at US and Afghan military bases across the country. He also reveals the existence of another secret prison on Bagram Air Base that even the Red Cross doesn’t have access to. It’s dubbed the Black Jail and reportedly is

the main prison at Bagram.

In addition to that, there’s even more secretive prisons, some of which we don’t even know about, some of which we only have glimpses of. One is, as you mentioned, the Black Jail, which is also on Bagram and is run by US Special Forces. There’s also other prisons that are on other bases, for example, Afghan army bases and Afghan police bases.

AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk about where you begin your piece, in the eastern Afghan town of Khost? Talk about the young government employee who simply disappeared.

ANAND GOPAL: Well, there was a young government employee there who one day merely simply vanished, and his family members did everything they could over the course of months to try to find out what happened to him. They appealed to government officials. They asked the Taliban. They asked the US military. And nobody had any idea what had happened to him. And months later, they got—received a letter from the Red Cross informing them that their loved one had been taken to Bagram. And he didn’t know why he was taken or how long he was going to be held.

“Two people held my mouth open and they poured water down my throat until my stomach was full and I became unconscious. It was as if someone had inflated me.” run by US Special Forces.

Journalist Anand Gopal has reported from Afghanistan for the Christian Science Monitor and the Wall Street Journal. His latest article, “America’s Secret Afghan Prisons,” appears in the February 15th edition of The Nation magazine and is also available at thenation.com and [TomDispatch.com].

Anand Gopal joins us now from Austin, Texas, before returning to Afghanistan.

Anand, welcome to Democracy Now! Lay out your findings.

ANAND GOPAL: Well, there’s a vast complex network of prisons across Afghanistan, mostly situated on US military bases. There’s at least nine of them that we know about. These are small holding centers that people are taken to and interrogated. And then there’s also

AMY GOODMAN: Talk about these night raids where people are picked up and the effect they’re having on the Afghan population.

ANAND GOPAL: Night raids are US military operations, usually done by Special Forces, that happen at night.

They occur when US forces enter people’s homes in the middle of the night, often to find suspects or to look for weapons. Very often, they’ll take people away, and sometimes they even end up killing civilians in the process.

And one thing I found going throughout the country and interviewing people is that these night raids, which aren’t really talked about outside of Afghanistan, the night raids are the most unpopular actions of coalition forces, more so than air strikes that kill civilians. They’re seen

as a major affront to local culture, to the extent where people are actually scared in many places to actually go to sleep at night, because they don’t know who will burst through the door at night and take away their loved ones.

officials, even got the minister involved, to try to find out what happened, because whenever these people are taken in these raids, nobody knows what happens to them. I mean, the family doesn’t have any sense of where they go or if they’ll ever see them again or even if they’re

The night raids are the most unpopular actions of coalition forces, more so than air strikes that kill civilians.

AMY GOODMAN: You describe the 19th of November, just a few months ago, at 3:15 in the morning, the loud blast that awoke the villagers of a leafy neighborhood outside Ghazni city, a town of ancient provenance in the country’s south. Describe what this team of US soldiers did, whose compound it was, whose house it was.

ANAND GOPAL: Well, this was a house that was belonging to somebody who is a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, so he was somebody associated with the Afghan government.

US forces came in the night. They burst through the door. And first they killed two people, two bystanders who were civilians, and then they moved on throughout the compound and sort of tore the whole place apart. I have pictures of the aftermath, which are in the magazine and show the sort of devastation that was wrought that night. Dishes were destroyed. Clothes were strewn about.

They were looking for one person, one family member who was a computer programmer, who had spent time in Kuwait. And they were acting on a tip that this person was associated with alQaeda. And they took him and one other person away to a military prison some miles away.

AMY GOODMAN: And what is the reaction of the community? I mean, often you have village elders, families going to the Taliban, saying—you know, with their connections to them, saying, you know, “Have you taken this young man? Have you taken this older person?

Where is he?” And only, well, months later or weeks later do they get some kind of note, if they do, that the person is being held by the US forces.

ANAND GOPAL: Well, in this case, since the house belonged to somebody who’s associated with the Afghan government, what he did is he pulled all the strings he could. He called Afghan

alive or not. So, for some time, they were trying to find out what happened. And we still don’t know where this person is. And it’s assumed that he was taken to Bagram, which is the place where most of the detainees end up, but there hasn’t been any confirmation on that.

AMY GOODMAN: You quote a man saying, “I used to go on TV and argue that people should support this government and the foreigners. But I was wrong.

Why should anyone do so? I don’t care if I get fired for saying it, but that’s the truth,” he says.

ANAND GOPAL: Yeah, and this is a sentiment that’s widespread. Again, the very act of breaking into people’s homes and taking people away, and to the point where you’ll never see them again, this is something that’s really inculcated a lot of fear and hatred amongst the local population. And it’s come to the point, especially in the Pashtun areas, where there’s a lot of locals who feel that they need to be protected not only from the Taliban, but also from US military operations.

AMY GOODMAN: Anand Gopal, you write that of the twenty-four former detainees that you interviewed for this story, seventeen said they were abused.

What happened to them?

ANAND GOPAL: Well, the abuse ran the gamut from being slapped and kicked and punched to more extreme cases.

One of the more extreme cases, which I detail in the story, is of one person who was essentially waterboarded or made to swallow large amounts of water, and he was hung upside down. He was hung from chains. He was forced to kneel on a metal bar as it rolled across his shin.

There are other cases of people who have been—who have had dogs used against them, so dog bites. There’s been >> PRISONS Pg 22

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

22 | WORLD PRESS PRISONS >> continued from pg 21 accusations of sleep deprivation, where interrogators will play very loud music throughout the night and keep the lights on, and also accusations of being stripped and being held naked in public areas or held naked outside in very cold weather.

AMY GOODMAN: Just to be exact in the quote of this man who was taken, you say they—you quote him saying, “They tied my hands to a pulley and pushed me back and forth as the bar rolled across my shins. I screamed and screamed.” They then pushed him to the ground and forced him to swallow twelve bottles of water. And you quote the man saying, “Two people held my mouth open and they poured water down my throat until my stomach was full and I became unconscious. It was as if someone had inflated me,” he says.

After he was roused from his torpor, he vomited the water uncontrollably. Can you talk about these— ANAND GOPAL: Sorry. I was going to say that the remarkable thing about this is that he was taken to Bagram and then quietly released three or four months later and given a letter of apology saying that US authorities realized they had the wrong man. And a lot of the people who allege abuse also have these letters from US authorities, basically absolving them.

AMY GOODMAN: And can you talk about how this has or has not changed from President Bush to President Obama, Anand?

ANAND GOPAL: Well, some of the worst torture has subsided in the last— not just under President Obama, but in the last three or four years. Some of the worst of it has subsided. But a deeper shift that’s happened is, in the early years of the war—this is from 2001 to 2003 or ’04—we saw a lot of this sort of thing, this sort of really serious abuse happening in Bagram, in the main prison.

Today, Bagram doesn’t really have that sort of abuse, and it’s much—they’ve really cleaned up their act over there.

But some of the abuse has shifted away from Bagram into these small field prisons. There’s nine official field prisons throughout the country on military bases, and they’ve shifted towards these military bases. And the Red Cross doesn’t always have access to all of these sites. And these sites are usually run by

Special Operations Forces. So they’re more—they’re out of the public view more than Bagram, so it’s a little harder to know what’s exactly happening in these places.

AMY GOODMAN: Anand Gopal, we’re also joined by Scott Horton, an attorney and legal affairs contributor to Harper’s Magazine, where he writes the blog “No Comment.”

Scott, as you listen to these descriptions, from the night raids to the secret prisons, you’ve also written about this. What is the legality here?

SCOTT HORTON: Well, these are— these acts that are described, particularly things like the water cure or the use of stress positions, sleep deprivation, are clearly illegal. Not only that, the Department of Defense has issued a field manual on authorized interrogation techniques, under which these practices, also things like the use of dogs to intimidate prisoners, are clearly forbidden.

And the concern here, I think, goes particularly to the involvement of the Joint Special Operations Command, which is running these detention centers.

Now, when President Obama, on January 22nd, issued an executive order shutting down the black sites, the secret prisons, that order was very carefully tailored so that it was only CIA black sites that were closed. So the system of JSOC black sites that exist, as have been— AMY GOODMAN: Operations.

Joint

Special

SCOTT HORTON: Exactly—as have been described in Afghanistan, but exist in other places, as well. Certainly they also exist in Iraq. And we have suspicions about Guantánamo, for instance.

AMY GOODMAN: What do you mean, you have suspicions?

SCOTT HORTON: Well, the deaths that occurred on June 9, 2006 occurred at a black site, and there’s a big question about who was operating that black site. But it’s very, very clear that JSOC was operating a system. Also it seems clear, and there’s very strong evidence to suggest, that JSOC itself, or many of its operations, have not been bound to observe the field manual and the rules in the field manual. And the Secretary of Defense gave himself discretion when he issued that field manual to make it inapplicable to specific operations or specific units, as he saw fit.

So I think that’s one of the big questions that’s hovering over Afghanistan right now, as well as the questions of transparency and accountability. If the Red Cross doesn’t get in, if indeed these operations are classified and secret, that means that there’s no reporting and there’s no accountability for what goes on there. That creates an environment where abuses fester.

AMY GOODMAN: Anand Gopal, you write, “The American troops that operate under NATO command have begun to enforce stricter rules of engagement.”

But you say, “A simpler way of dancing around the rules is to call in the U.S. Special Operations Forces—the Navy SEALS, Green Berets, and others— which are not under NATO command [and] so are not bound by the stricter rules of engagement.” Can you elaborate on that? And then I want to get Scott’s comment.

ANAND GOPAL: Yeah, there’s—you have Special Operations Forces, and as I said, these are Navy Seals and Green Berets and the like, and they have completely separate rules of engagement.

They’re not under the NATO rules of command. So, often you’ll hear about a military raid or a night raid in some area, and I’ll call up the US military representatives, and they’ll often have no idea about the raid at all, because there’s this complete separation between the operations that the SF are doing and the operations done by conventional military forces.

And the Special Operations Forces sort of have a mandate in Afghanistan from their commanders to capture and kill insurgent leaders, and often by using any means, every mean at their disposal. So most of these night raids are done by the Special Operations Forces, and most of these small prisons that are in many of the military bases across the country are run by the Special Operations Forces.

AMY GOODMAN: And you write that the people fear the night raids more than they fear the Taliban.

ANAND GOPAL: Well, certainly, the Taliban, they’re not always loved across the country, but they understand local culture, and they understand if they start breaking into people’s houses and taking people away, then they’ll have rebellions against them. The Americans, the American military doesn’t always understand this in the same level. And

so, I’ve been to many villages where they say that the main source of instability in their village is the presence of US military operations, and the biggest fear they have is US soldiers coming into their houses in the middle of the night and taking away their loved ones.

AMY GOODMAN: And with the increase of US soldiers, as they’re increasing tens of thousands of them, is this a concern to people in Afghanistan?

What have you seen as a result of this?

ANAND GOPAL: This is certainly a concern, and we’ve seen an increasing number of demonstrations over the last three or four months. We’ve heard a lot of talk in the summertime from General McChrystal about lessening the number of night raids, but it doesn’t look like that’s happened. It seems like at least it’s continued at the same level.

And when you go and talk to Afghans, especially in the rural Pashtun countryside, again and again you hear the same thing, which is that “when US troops come into our area, the violence increases, because there’s more fighting from both sides, and there’s more night raids and more of the sort of things that we’re afraid of, and therefore we don’t want them here.”

AMY GOODMAN: What has, finally, the US military said about the Black Jail at Bagram?

ANAND GOPAL: The military said very little about it. And again, this is because there’s a shroud of secrecy around almost the whole detention process. And it talks more about the other jail on Bagram, the one that’s accessible to the Red Cross.

But the Black Jail, which is run by Special Operations Forces, it hasn’t said much about it, and it’s very difficult to get any sort of official comment about the jail.

AMY GOODMAN: Anand Gopal, I want to thank you very much for being with us, reporting from Afghanistan for the Christian Science Monitor and the Wall Street Journal. His latest piece is in The Nation magazine and [”http:// www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175197/ “>TomDispatch.com], called “America’s Secret Afghan Prisons.”

-----------------------[The full transcript is available at democracynow.org]

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

ISLAM | 23

Islam

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The way of life given to us by our Creator and practiced by our Messenger Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam

Our Sins after We Repent from Them

By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah The Qur’ân and Sunnah speak frequently and emphatically about the fact that a worshipper who repents and asks forgiveness for his sins will be forgiven and will not be asked about those sins again. In fact, Allah tells us that those sins will be exchanged for good deeds.

Allah says: “Except those who repent and believe and work righteous deeds, for them Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds, and Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.” [Sûrah alFurqân: 70] Ibn Kathîr discusses the issue of evil deeds being changed to good deeds in his Tafsîr, saying: There are two opinions on what it means…The second opinion is that those evil deeds that have passed are turned into good deeds by way of the true and sincere repentance itself. This is because every time that person remembers what

The believer knows that he has no power on his own to turn from sin to obedience, from heedlessness to awareness, and from weakness to strength, except by the grace of Almighty Allah. aside his major sins and ask him only about his minor ones.’ It will be said to him: ‘On a certain day did you do such deeds and on a certain day did you do such a deed?’ He will say: ‘Yes’, unable to deny anything of it. Then it shall be said to him: ‘For you is a good deed for each of those evil deeds.’ Then he will say: ‘O My Lord! I did other things that I do not see (recorded) here!’”

Here is the text of that hadîth:

Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) laughed until we could see his molar teeth. [Sahîh Muslim (190)]

Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalânî mentions this statement in Fath al-Bârî with the

The human being, by nature, is prone to err. This is why the Prophet (peace be

>> REPENT Pg 24

Allah’s Messenger said: “Indeed, I know the last person to leave the Hellfire and the last person to enter Paradise. A man will be brought and it will be said: ‘Set

By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah 1. As with all diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This is why we must lower our gazes and resist taking a second glance at a member of the opposite sex who attracts us. Allah says: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That will make for greater purity for them, and Allah is acquainted with all that they do. And say to the

It is an empty heart that falls stricken for any visitor who graces its doorstep.

It is Allah’s order in the world that he sends down to it no affliction without sending down with it its cure. Love is no exception.

The treatment of this illness is as follows:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “If you were to not commit sins, Allah would remove you and replace you with a people who would commit sins and then seek Allah’s forgiveness, so Allah could forgive them.” [Sahîh Muslim (2749)]

he had done, he regrets it, feels remorse, and seeks Allah’s forgiveness. In this way, the sin becomes an act of obedience.

On the Day of Judgment, even if he finds those sins recorded against him, they do him no harm and are turned into good deeds on the page of his account. This is what is established by the Sunnah and by the statements related to us from the Pious Predecessors.

Lovesickness By no means is love a sickness in and of itself. Indeed, it is the only known cure for many of the problems and ailments that we as human beings suffer from.

However, love can turn into an illness if it becomes obsessive, if it goes beyond its proper bounds, or if the object of love is not worthy. When such a situation develops, love indeed becomes a sickness requiring a remedy.

upon him) said: “Every descendant of Adam is oft to err, and the best of those who err are those who are oft to repent.”

[Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2499) and Sunan Ibn Mâjah (4251)]

believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their chastity…”

[Sûrah al-Nûr: 30-31] We can see how Allah first issues the command to believing men, then repeats

Ibn al-Hanafiyyah relates from `Alî that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed Allah loves the believing servant who falls into trials and then repents.”

[Musnad Ahmad (605, 810) with a weak chain of transmission]

If it is not written for a certain man and women to come together in matrimony, each of them should have faith that there are many others out there with whom Allah can enrich them with a meaningful and loving relationship. the command for believing women, thus emphasizing the importance of lowering our gazes. The fact that Allah addresses members of each sex individually shows just how important and relevant this matter is to people of both sexes. Indeed, these verses are one of the few occasions where Allah addresses men and women separately in the Qur’ân.

If some of us find it difficult to carry out this command, they should write these verses down on a sheet of paper and hang them on their wall or place them on the dashboard – whatever it takes to remind them.

The look is the beginning that can lead to progressively greater ills. This is why Allah mentions it first, and then follows it up with the command for us to guard our chastity.

The ability to think about the far-reaching consequences of our actions is one of the distinctive qualities that set humanity apart from other animals. This is why a person just does not go ahead and do everything that tickles his fancy. He first has to think about what is behind it and what will come of it.

A poet long ago observed: A glance, a smile, a friendly hello, Some chatting, a date, then off they go!

2. Thinking about the consequences is often a sobering dose of medicine.

>> LOVESICKPg 24

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

24 | CONTINUED ASSASINATE >> continued from pg 20 former officials familiar with the criteria for the CIA’s targeted killing program.

But while Awlaki has not yet been placed on the CIA list, the officials said it is all but certain that he will be added because of the threat he poses.

“If an American is stupid enough to make

LOVESICK >> continued from pg 23

For instance, he might pause to think, before embarking upon a certain course of action, that if he does so, he might succumb to AIDS. He might reflect upon how that dreaded disease has already claimed tens of millions of lives, how some of those who were careful – who chose only one sexual partner who even had an AIDS test – nevertheless came down with the disease.

How many people like that do we hear about, some of whom come out and admit that the disease befell them as a punishment from Allah, and hoping that it might at least expiate for their sin?

The same can be said for all the other sexually transmitted diseases. The worst thing of all is to think that an indiscreet man can infect his pious, faithful, and chaste wife with one of these vile diseases.

Another consequence to think about is pregnancy. A man who had repented for his sins once admitted to me that he had intentionally chosen to involve himself with a woman who was sterile.

Regardless, Allah wanted her to fall pregnant and she did.

cause with terrorists abroad, to frequent their camps and take part in their plans, he or she can’t expect their citizenship to work as a magic shield,” said another U.S. official. “If you join the enemy, you join your fate to his.”

“From beginning to end, the CIA’s process for carrying out Predator strikes is remarkably self-contained. Almost every key step takes place within the Langley, Va., campus, from proposing targets to piloting the remotely controlled

Maybe one of us will pay the price for his misdeed in this world. Maybe he will get away with it here, going through life unrepentant and unscathed, only to be humiliated for it before the eyes of all on the Day of Judgment.

Some of the evil consequences of this behavior are psychological in nature. A man, once enamored of women, gets to the point that he can never be satisfied.

He eternally craves variety and no degree of beauty is enough. Because of this, he may find himself eternally forbidden the lawful pleasure to be found within marriage. His senses and his sentiments have all been dulled.

Some young men travel abroad and spend their time in the company of prostitutes and other women of ill repute, but if one of them were ever to hear that his wife back home so much as looked at another man indiscreetly, he would divorce her on the spot.

One man lamented: “I would forsake all the women of the world for the sake of one woman whom I knew would get worried if I came home at night a little bit late.” This is the sentiment of any man who possesses wisdom.

3. The communion of lawful love is the best cure of all.

We should not be heedless of the consequences of our actions. Does anyone want to be responsible for someone coming into this world with no idea who his father is; someone who starts out life already disadvantaged?

All of the stories of love that we find in our literature – whether it be that of Jamîl and Buthaynah, Kuthayyir and `Azzah, Qays and Laylâ, or for that matter their English equivalent Romeo and Juliet – deal with the anguish of unrequited

REPENT >> continued from pg 23

grace.

wording: ‘The best of you are those of you who fall into trials and then repent.” quoting it from Musnad al-Firdaws from `Alî.

Therefore, we must make ourselves upright and not pine over our past faults.

We must know that none of us are going to gain admission into Paradise by virtue of our deeds, but only by Allah encompassing us with his mercy and His

The believer may very well at times be weak and indulgent. However, he does not establish himself upon a sin and he does not persist in his heedlessness. He neither despairs of Allah’s mercy nor sees renewal as hopeless. Instead, he resolves himself to seek Allah’s forgiveness and to follow up his evil deed with works of righteousness. He knows for certain that Allah is the Most Merciful of all and the best in forgiveness.

Allah’s mercy encompasses all things.

Allah says: “Indeed the mercy of Allah

planes.

“The memos proposing new targets are drafted by analysts in the CIA’s CounterTerrorism Center. Former officials said analysts typically submit several new names each month to high-level officials, including the CIA general counsel and sometimes Director Leon E. Panetta” The LA Times said while the National Security Council oversees the assassination program and the decisions

love.

Allah has placed in what is lawful all that we need so we can dispense with what He has made unlawful. It provides the most fulfilling, satisfying, and deepest expression of love.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “We see for those who are in love nothing better than marriage.” [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (1847) and Mustadrak Hâkim (2724) with a good chain of transmission] Lawful matrimony is what brings healing to the heart and removes its disquiet. If it is not written for a certain man and women to come together in matrimony, each of them should have faith that there are many others out there with whom Allah can enrich them with a meaningful and loving relationship.

4. Resignation and a willingness to forsake what is wrong.

No matter how painful it may be to part, it is sometimes necessary. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever maintains his chastity, does so with the grace of Allah. Whoever finds selfsufficiency does so with what Allah has enriched him. Whoever is patient draws his fortitude from Allah. And no one has been given a gift better or more bountiful than patience.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1469) and Sahîh Muslim (1053)] Whoever gives something up for Allah’s sake should know that Allah will give him in its stead something far better.

on who to target, when a US citizen needs to be added to the target list the White House needs to give the approval.

“If you are a legitimate military target abroad -- a part of an enemy force -- the fact that you’re a U.S. citizen doesn’t change that,” Michael Edney told the LA Times. Edney served as deputy legal advisor to the National Security Council from 2007 until 2009.

into what is nobler, more precious, and sublime – the love of Allah We express this love by bringing benefit to His creatures, by our obedience to Him, by our prayers, our fasts, our remembrance of Him, our supplications, and our humility. We do so by keeping the company of righteous people and by aspiring to the noblest and most beneficial of goals.

We should channel our energies into what benefits us in our worldly lives and in our faith. Allah says: “Seek Allah’s help with patience and perseverance. It is indeed difficult except upon those who are humble.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 45] He says: “Whoever puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is Allah for him.” [Sûrah al-Talâq: 3] A heart that is full of concern for others will be a heart that is full of love – but not a slave to love. It is an empty heart that falls stricken for any visitor who graces its doorstep.

We should take full advantage of our lives and be as productive as possible. We need to develop our talents, our minds, and put our creativity into practice. Yes! Be enamored – but be enamored of truth and knowledge. Be fully in love – but be in love with righteousness.

Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/ artshow-242-472.htm

5. Channeling one’s energies and abilities

is near to those who do good.” [Sûrah alA`râf: 56]

countenance of it and remove its pain from our souls.

We should resolve, then, to be from among those who do good.

The believer knows that he has no power on his own to turn from sin to obedience, from heedlessness to awareness, and from weakness to strength, except by the grace of Almighty Allah. Therefore, we ask Allah, by his grace and generosity, to turn us towards Him by his mercy, forgive us, and not to leave us to our own devices.

We must make it our habit to remember Allah, to thank Him, and to seek His forgiveness, for indeed good deeds wipe away evil ones. If we slip and commit a sin, we must make sure not to follow it up with another sin.

Instead, we must hasten to what is good and wipe away the effect of that evil deed from our slate. We must cleanse our

Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/ artshow-242-483.htm

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

Request For Dua’s

{ To Allah We B e l o n g , a n d t o H i m i s O u r R e t u r n }

“Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 11-16-09 Br. Khalid Ahmad, brother in law of Br. Faisal Khan (of Gaithersburg) 1-1110 A well-known Community activist, Mr. Masud Alam’s sister-in-law and wife of Mr. Ehsan passed away at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C. May Allah forgive her sins and give her a high place in Jannah. Ameen. Her salaat-ul-janazaah was prayed at Adams Center and her burial was at the Sterling Cemetery in Sterling. VA. (Source: Zubair Nassir) 1-24-10 Br. Ghulam Ahmed Khan, community activist and leader, and former president of ADAMS has passed away. May Allah(SWT) grant him forgiveness, shower His Mercy and Grant him highest level in Jannat-ul-Firdous - Ameen. May Allah(SWT) grant sabr to his family at this time. Ameen. His janaazah was at ADAMS Center, and he was buried at Sterling Cemetery. (Source: ADAMS Ctr.) 1-25-10 Br. Abdul Rehman Chaudhry, brother-in-law of our Chaudhary M. A. Shafi has returned to Allah, SWT, inna-lillahi-wa-inna-ilaihi-raji’oon. May Allah, SWT shower His great mercy upon him by forgiving his all sins & shortcomings and granting him the best place in Jannah. Aameen. His Janazah was performed at MCC. He will be buried in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Washington, D.C. (Source: Khalid Karimullah) 1-2-10 The salaatul janaazah for Br. Mian Abdel Rehman, brother in-law of Br. Akbar Saeed and uncle of Br. Faizi, was held at Dar Alnoor Islamic Community Cetner in Manassass, VA. May Allah (SWT) forgive his sins and place him in His mercy and give sabr to the family to bear this loss.

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OBITS & EVENTS | 25

Upcoming Events In Your Area FUND RAISER AND INTERFAITH PRAYER FOR HAITI FEB. 7 2010 11:30 AM TO 1:30 PM

Due to the recent inclement weather conditions MCC has rescheduled this fund raising event to this Sunday, Feb. 7th. People of Haiti are desperately in need of our help. Please join us for an interfaith prayer and fundraising for the victims of the arthquake. Your donations will reach the needy through Helping Hands. A light lunch will be served at the fund raiser. Location: MCC, 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Contact: 301-384-3454

RJ CAFE SUPERBOWL BLOWOUT! FEB. 7 2010 12NOON TO 10 PM

The RJ Cafe will be holding a Super Bowl gathering! We’re planning JUMBO SHRIMP, CHICKEN WINGS, MUNCHIES ON EACH TABLE, and some of our choice delicious entries for your enjoyment. The sound system is in! Reserve your booth or your table (or your spot on the floor) now! “Da early bird catches da worm! Sport sisters....reserve your spots now! Location: RJ Cafe, 12111 Indian Creek Court, Beltsville, MD 20705 Contact: Abdul Basit and Abdul Hameed at 240-264-1990 or 240-264-1991

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WHYISLAM DC DAWAH WORKSHOP FEB. 13 2010 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

Get tongue-tied when a non-Muslim asks you a question about Islam? Want to feel confident when sharing Islamic info with neighbors or family? Attend WhyIslam’s Dawah Workshop and work out those communication kinks! Br. Ashraf Parker of WhyIslaml NJ will take you through the etiquette of dawah, best approaches, icebreakers, truthful responses to difficult questions, and more. Don’t miss it! Lunch will be available for purchase. Register online at http://icnadc.org/?page_id=278 Location: ICCL, 7306 Contee Rd, Laurel. MD 20707 Contact: Dr. Mujtaba Yahya drmyahya@hotmail.com.

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STANDING FOR JUSTICE: SABRI BENKAHLA FUND RAISING DINNER | FEB. 13 2010 5:30 PM

The Universal Justice Foundation is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a fundraising dinner to support Br. Sabri Benkahla by contributing to his legal fees.

Featured speakers are Dr. Jamal Badawi from Canada, Imam Rodwaan Saleh from Texas, and Br. Sabri’s attorney John Sheldon, Esq. Tickets are only $40 and registration will be at 5:30. The program will begin promptly at 6:00 pm., and dinner will be served early. Arrange to purchase tickets as soon as possible because space is limited! You may buy tickets at our website www.universal-justice.net or from

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

26 Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan

If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it fi ve times a day, do you think he would have any fi lth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, “That is like the fi ve daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them.”

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---Hadith in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim News Desk: Rashad Mulla Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Farkhunda Ali Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published on the first Friday of every Islamic month (Hijri calendar) and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

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Salaah times for February 5th - February 26th, 2010 Day 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Date Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

Hijri 5:55 5:54 5:53 5:52 5:51 5:51 5:50 5:48 5:47 5:46 5:45 5:44 5:42 5:42 5:40 5:39 5:37 5:36 5:35 5:34 5:34

Fajr 7:10 7:09 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:06 7:05 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:57 6:56 6:56 6:54 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:48 6:47 6:47

Sunrise 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:21 12:21

Dhuhr 3:12 3:13 3:13 3:14 3:15 3:15 3:16 3:18 3:19 3:20 3:21 3:21 3:22 3:22 3:24 3:25 3:26 3:26 3:27 3:28 3:28

Asr 5:34 5:35 5:36 5:38 5:39 5:39 5:40 5:42 5:43 5:44 5:46 5:47 5:48 5:48 5:50 5:51 5:52 5:53 5:54 5:56 5:56

Maghrib 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:54 6:55 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00 7:01 7:02 7:02 7:04 7:05 7:06 7:07 7:08 7:09 7:09

Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com

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Marketplace | 27

Your Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle

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28 | MP - Clothing Store/Grocery

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

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TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

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MP - EVENT | 29

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What is the

Muslim Link worth to you?

Alhumdulillah, many of ou rreaders responded to our appeal at the start of the year, donating $50,000 to keep us in operation.

However, after advertising income, we still need around $80,000 to continue for the rest of 2009. If you’ve already donated, consider donating more or encouraging friends and family to donate.

If you haven’t donated, please ask yourself if having a voice is important to you. Donate to this non-profit voice by sending your check or money order payable to the muslim link to: the muslim link, 5301 edgewood road, college park md 20740.

30 | MP - Education & Job Oppening

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

MP - Professional Services | 31

32 | MP - Professional Services

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

��������� HOME & BUSINESS, Alarm Systems & Security Cameras, Call today for a free consultation

MOHAMMAD SHOAIB

1-443-857-2128 SERVING MD,VA,DC,PA,DE

PLACE A COUPON! CALL NOW!

301-982-1020

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

MP - Healthcare | 33

Najla Abdur-Rahman, M.D. Board Certified Johns Hopkins Trained Pediatrician

7001 Johnnycake Road, Suite101 Baltii more, MD 21244 (Intersection of Rolling and Johnnycake Roads near Masjid Al-Rahmah)

Phone: 410-719-0063

7658 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (Exit 32A off 695 Towards Overlea in the Beltway Shopping Plaza near Masjid An-Nur)

Phone: 410-882-6841

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34 | MP - Restaurants

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

To Advertise Call 301-982-1020

MP - Restaurants | 35

36 | MP - Tax & Accounting

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EASTERN TAX SERVICES

Asfar Uddin

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

MP - Classified Ads | 37

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020

$1 per 3 words. You may place a classified on muslimlinkpaper.com free of charge. All classifieds run 3 months in the marketplace section. To place a classified, email office@muslimlinkpaper.com with the exact text of the classified, and send a check or money order payable to the Muslim Link to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Rd, College Park MD 20740.

CHILDCARE EXCHANGE MOTHER’S HELPER Looking for a sister to help a homeschooling mom during the day. Part time /Full Time. Should speak and read fluent English and be energetic. Duties include watching younger children and light housework. No teaching experience required, however, must love working with children. We are located in Greenbelt, MD. Willing to consider live in. Please call 301-328-1638.

-----------------------------------------------CHILDCARE IN BALTIMORE I’m offering education, fun, and affordable daycare for your child. I provide care for children in a familystyle setting. Your child will experience books, nursery rhymes, educational programs and exercise. Now enrolling 6 wks to 12 yrs. 7am to 6pm. Drop-in per hour. Weekend and evening care upon request. Before and after school care. Vouchers accepted. Located near 695, Windor Mills, Al-Rahmah masjid.

Contact 410-281-7155, 410-292-9274, or zahidy73@yahoo.com.

-----------------------------------------------HOME DAYCARE SERVICE Loving mom (License # 13-151804) provides daycare in her own lovely house in Columbia, Howard County. Excellent experience providing: balanced care, care-related guidance, and halal healthy food for ages 4 months to 5 years.

Non-curriculum language activities are available. References are available. We believe our care will match or exceed your little ones’ Moms Care. Call 410531-2970. Feel good as soon as you enter.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Great communications $. Typing skills needed to work on behalf of a company. This service representative will earn up to $2000 monthly. Any

job experience needed. Email to representative1000@gmail.com -----------------------------------------------DOMESTIC HELP NEEDED Experienced house keeper and cook.

Live in McLean, VA. Tuesday-Saturday with flexibility. Energetic, trustworthy, and gentle person with recent references.

English-speaking preferred. Driving a plus. Starting salary from $350-400 a week. Call 703-851-7979 -----------------------------------------------HOME HELP AVAILABLE Helping hand/companion seeking work.

Dependable, have own transportation.

Part-time days or weekends in your home. Contact 202-450-4144

FOR SALE RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT A recently closed restaurant has a full line of equipment for purchase -- grills, fryers, commercial utensils and machines, the works for a full sit down restaurant with tables and chairs, cash register, etc . Take everything. Some new equipment just a year old, all in good condition. Call 301257-6854 for a list of major items and to schedule an appointment.

-----------------------------------------------RESTAURANT BUSINESS Established restaurant, over 20 years in business in Montgomery County, MD. $115.000. Contact Adel, 301-956-6759.

-----------------------------------------------ICE CREAM BUSINESS Fabulous Hershey’s Ice Cream Parlor for Sale. Store is located next to cinema, in Food Wing of MARLEY STATION MALL. Priced to quick sell is $89,000.00 and Inventory, Gross sales are $180,000.00 with net revenue of $65,000.00 appx. Square footage is appx. 930 sq.ft. Monthly rent and CAM charges are $4,026.00+ Electric. Lease is good till 7/2011, could be renewed.

Call Sultan at 410-465-9129, or 703307-5759.

MATRIMONIAL

RENTAL

IN SEARCH OF MUSLIMA Sunni Muslim, 29, sincere and patient student of Islam. ISO Muslima for correspondence, laughter and marriage.

Age, race, unimportant. Write Arturo “Hafiz” Orozco, #R25704, 8500 Supermax Rd. , P O Box 2000, Tamms, IL 62900 -----------------------------------------------GENTLEMAN SEEKING MUSLIMA Gentleman, sunni Muslim, 52 years, US citizen, BS degree. Wants to marry lady.

703-329-0405.

-----------------------------------------------SEEKING SALAFI SISTER Incarcerated Salafi Muslim (28) in search of Sunni/Salafi sister for marriage with good family values. Contact Tavon Sands, #310580, N.B.C.I. McMullen Hwy, S.W., Cumberland, MD 21502 -----------------------------------------------IN SEARCH OF SOUL MATE As salaamu alaikum. This ad is from a 6ft, 190lb African American, 51 yearold, in shape, strong Muslim of the sunnah! I’m childless, sincere, without vices, compassionate and monogamous!

In search of a friend, companion, soul mate and wife! Shabazz Mohammad, #14064-053, F.C.I. Atlanta, P O Box 150160, Atlanta, GA 30315 -----------------------------------------------RARE BELIEVER WANTING RELIGIOUS WIFE Hello. How are you? I feel great because I’m reading Islamic books.

After 21 months of my release, I plan to continue to live a fully Islamic life. I was wondering if you have time to connect with someone wonderful. Think about it and when it’s appropriate send me a letter. Perry McDonald, #240535, RMSI Unit 6-B-204, 7475 Cockrill Bend Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209-1048 -----------------------------------------------BROTHER SEEKING WIFE Gentleman, 57, from Iran, no children.

Non-smoker, taxi driver. Seeking Muslim lady for marriage. For more information call Ali from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.

202-669-5699.

ROOM FOR RENT IN COLLEGE PARK Room for rent in College Park close to Al Huda, University of MD, close to Greenbelt Metro. Call 240-271-9552 or qureshimahboob@hotmail.com

SERVICES LOVING HOME CARE ELDER CARE/ NANNY SERVICE At Loving Home Care we provide care you can trust and afford all from the comfort of your home! Our services are for seniors and loved ones needing assistance with activities of daily living.

We also provide Mother’s Helpers for that mother in need. Companionship, Hygiene Care, Meal Preparation, Errands, Grocery, Light Housekeeping, Grooming, Dressing, Medication Reminders, Doctors Appointments. *Low Rates* *No Deposit* *Bonded & Insured* www.lovinghomecare.org FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION CALL: 301-490-1146 -----------------------------------------------HANDYMAN AVAILABLE Assalamu’alaykum! My name is Varga Syahroni. I am an experienced technician in D.C. and Maryland. I offer service and repair for cooling, heating, plumbing, refrigerator, dish washers, dryer machines and much more. Call me for reliable service! Free estimates (301) 792-1004 or email varga_syahroni@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------

MISCELLANEOUS LOOKING TO CONNECT Correctional inmate, Afro-American, physically fit, 50, 5’10”, 200 lbs, who believes in Free Thinking, Harmony, Peace and Balance, with balance being a priority. Seeking anyone who can imagine how it feels to be loney. Age, race, unimportant. Lonliness is! LaVonn Macon, #108634, P O Box 900, Portage, WI 53901 01-22-10

Looking for a place for your ad?

Stop looking! try our classified section Call the muslim link now !

301.982.1020 Call Now . . . !

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

38 | MP - Masjid Locator

Do you have additions, changes, or corrections to the event listings in the Muslim Link? Email us at events@muslimlinkpaper.com, or call us at 301-982-1020.

M A S J I D LO C ATO R

ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER SOUTH EAST (FORMERLY MASJID ASH-SHURA) 3109-B Martin Luther King Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20032 202-506-7235

ISLAMIC CENTER OF MARYLAND (ICM): 19401 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,MD 20879 Tel:301-840-9440, www.icomd.org.

ISLAMIC CENTER OF NORTHERN VA TRUST (ICNVT): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-941-6558, E-mail: info@icnvt.org www.icnvt.org

ADAMS CENTER:

46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325, www.adamscenter.org.

AVONDALE ISLAMIC CENTER:

4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782, Tel: 301-779-9292.

BAITUL MUKARRAM:

2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550.

DAR AL HIJRAH:

3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030, www.hijrah.org.

DAR AL-SALAAM:

15250 Dumfries Rd., Mannassas,VA 20112.

DAR UL-GHURABA (Masjid ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487, Tel. 434-348-786.

DAR-UL HUDA:

6666 Commerce St., Springfield, VA 22150, Tel: 703-922-0111, www.darulhuda.org

DAR AL-NOOR (MUSLIM ASSOC. OF VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808, Fax: 703-221-8513, www.daralnoor.org.

ISLAMIC COM. CENTER OF LAUREL (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584, www.icclmd.org.

ISLAMIC FOUND. OF AMERICA (IFA): 6606 Electronic Dr., Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982, www.ifa.ws.

ISLAMIC HERITAGE CENTER (IHC): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF ANNAPOLIS (ISA):

2635 Riva RdSuite 110Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.islamannapolis.org, Email: info@islamannapolis.org

ISLAMIC SOC. OF FREDERICK (ISF): 1250 Key Parkway , Frederick,MD 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090, www.isfmd.org.

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN (ISG): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (301)-972-0504, www.isgtown.org.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF SOUTHERN PG COUNTY (ISSPGC): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240-253-4217

MASJID UL-HAQ:

514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363.

MASJID AL-ISLAM:

4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, DC 20019 Tel: 202-581-1616, e-mail: imammusa@hotmail.com

MASJID AL-INSHIRAH:

7832 Fairbrook Road , Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977, Fax: 410-298-0266, www.al-inshirahweb.net.

MASJID AL-MUMINEEN:

2642 Harford Rd. Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798.

MASJID JAMAAT AL-MUSLIMEEN: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel. 443-869-5233.

MASJID MUHAMMAD: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832.

MASJID AL-NOOR:

10012 Harford Rd., Carney, MD 21234 Tel: 410-663-9637, Fax: 410-663-9817.

MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB:

6631 Johnny Cake Rd. Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869, www.isb.org

MASJID AS SAFFAT:

1335 W. North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655.

MASJID BAIT-ALLAH:

1910 Frederick Avenue (2 Floor) Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 443-224-4423, E-mail:info@masjidbaitallah.org. www.masjidbaitallah.org

MASJID IBN TAYMIYYAH:

8000 MLK Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-461-9325.

MASJID ZAMZAM

ISLAMIC SOC. OF THE WASHINGTON AREA (ISWA):

1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Phone: 410-284-2840

5301 Edgewood Rd. College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848, www.darussalaam.org.

2701 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930, www.iswamd.org.

DAR AL-TAQWA:

ISLAMIC SOC. OF WESTERN MARYLAND:

MEDINA CENTER: 9426 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda MD 20814 www.medinacenter.net

DAR-US-SALAAM:

10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711, www.taqwa.net.

2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922.

FIRST HIJRA MUSLIM COMM. CENTER:

IVY CITY MASJID:

4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, DC 20011 www.firsthijrah.org.

2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 202-529-3100.

15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org.

ICNA VA CENTER:

LA PLATA MASJID:

MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC):

2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

IDARA DAWAT-O-IRSHAD:

4803 Valley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 703-256-8622, www.irshad.org.

INDONESIAN MUSLIM ASSOC. IN AMERICA (IMAAM): 1611 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20851 Tel: 240-453-0808, e-mail: fkadir@imaamnet.org.

111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769.

MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC): 814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.mlcmd.org, Email: info@mlcmd.org

MANASSAS MOSQUE:

12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537.

MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC):

Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org.

MUSTAFA CENTER:

6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003.

PRINCE GEORGES MUSLIM ASSOC. (PGMA): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd. Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942, www.pgmamd.org.

Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441, imam@pgmamd.org.

MASJID AL-GHURABAA:

8500 Hilltop Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel: 703-641-4890, www.iiasa.org

8220 Washington St., South, Laurel, MD 20724.

Tel: 301-604-3295.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER(SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639.

Tel: 410- 535-0000

IRHSCA (ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND HUM. SERVICES CENTER OF AMERICA):

MASJID AL-HIKMAH:

THE ISLAMIC CENTER: 2551 Mass. Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343.

INST.OF ISLAMIC AND ARABIC SCIENCES IN AMERICA (IIASA):

Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040, www.irhsca.org.

11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009.

TML, Safar 1431 | February 5th - February 25th, 2010

MP - Advertisement | 39

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