Copyright © 2003-2011, Aishah Schwartz. Permission granted to circulate among private individuals, groups, or in not-for-profit publications in full text and subject title. All other rights reserved.

September 16, 2010

PSA for All Muslim Masjid/Mosque/Islamic Center Project Developers

One of the most important things you NEED to know before entering any planning commission/zoning committee meetings:

In 2000 a Republican-backed FEDERAL LAW (enforceable by the U.S. Department of Justice) was enacted that protects the rights of the developers the same way it protected the rights of those seeking to develop Park51 in New York; regardless of the absence of foresight into their choice of location.

CHAPTER 21C--PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS EXERCISE IN LAND USE AND BY INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS - SOURCE

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act states that, "No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution," unless it meets very strict conditions.

Nor may any government inflict a regulation that discriminates "on the basis of religion or religious denomination." Thus, it is clearly designed to protect individuals and houses of worship from discriminatory and unduly burdensome zoning regulations, and protects the religious exercise of all Americans.

Knowledge is power.

Best wishes.

An example of sharing outside of Facebook
Comment No. 22

See Also: http://www.prlog.org/10884500  

September 12, 2010

Muslimah Writers Alliance Credited for Pro-Active Efforts in Response to Park51 Related Islamophobia

It will take the wisdom of Solomon to answer the question "what would be best for the common good" as what may be the final chapter in the Park51 controversy unfolds.

PRLog – Sep 12, 2010 – WASHINGTON, D.C. (MWA-Net) – On September 11, 2010, Sheila Musaji, Founding Editor of The American Muslim (TAM), published an eye-opening follow-up to an extensive list of articles written by American Muslims and Arabs that is well worth the time to absorb, as she attempts to unravel the inauspicious background and 'leadership' of the Cordoba Initiative/Park51 project, which appears now to point in the direction of all things related to money. 

In her opening comments Musaji stated, "For all of us in the American Muslim community who have spent a lot of time defending Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan, and defending this Cordoba House project because we believed that they were the primary leaders of the project, and because they were under attack unfairly by Islamophobes – it may be that we were misled, or that we at least didn’t understand the structure of this project. What Imam Feisal or the Cordoba Initiative stand for may be irrelevant to the core issues involved.

"Since this project was announced, the American Muslim community has experienced not only an alarming increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric, but has also seen this rhetoric lead to actual acts of intimidation and even violence."

The Islamophobic backlash being a key factor that Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) Director Aishah Schwartz has focused on since mid-August in an article titled, "Park51: Here is the Fruit of Your Labor", wherein she addressed the rise in hate-filled rhetoric and bigotry threatening not only the Muslim community at-large, but also its potential for adversely affecting the Muslim student population recently starting a new school year. 

Opening comments aside, the background and 'leadership' of the Cordoba Initiative/Park51 project unravels as Musaji details with the resourcefulness Schwartz has long admired her for, information that she states had, unfortunately, been previously overlooked as the race to defend the project steamrolled worldwide.

As the tangled web of leadership and lack of transparency is revealed throughout Musaji's extensive article titled, "Cordoba House – Yes!: Park51 – No way?", she credits several individuals and organizations with attempting to respond in a pro-active way to the controversy and Islamophobic media frenzy.

Schwartz's MWA issued request for federal action against Islamophobia was listed, in addition to the efforts of Michael Wolfe and Alex Kronemer's website 'Ground Zero Dialogue' - My Faith My Voice: American Muslim voices PSA's released as a grassroots effort; a CAIR PSA campaign produced a series of separate PSA's; a Majlis Ash-Shura of Metropolitan New York, a coalition of 55 New York City American Muslim organization leaders, issued a statement on combating ethnic and religious intolerance and defending the continued building of mosques in America; a Coalition of African American Muslims (CAAM) held a press conference in Washington, D.C.; ISNA called an emergency meeting of top interfaith leaders to address anti-Muslim fear and intolerance; and CAIR, ISNA, MPAC, etc. issued advisories and community response tips and safety guides.

With questions surrounding leadership and direction for Park51, which remain at the heart of the debate, Musaji acknowledged that the Muslim and Arab communities are now left to deal with the problems unnecessarily raised by the ensuing controversy, stating that the project is, indeed, the catalyst for the subsequent turmoil; dealing with rampant Islamophobia while defending citizen rights.

Musaji added, "The fact that the leadership and vision for the project may not be what we were led to believe only adds one more complication to our situation. Even if this project turns out to be a purely business venture on the part of the actual project leadership, the core issues that the project has raised go well beyond this one project, or the individuals directly involved – that of the legal, civil, and constitutional rights of all Muslims in the United States."

As Musaji suggested, and Schwartz has been asking from the onset, "what would be best for the common good?"

"This will take the wisdom of Solomon to solve," Musaji concludes. 

RELATED:
Cordoba House – Yes!: Park51 – No way? By Sheila Musaji

Muslimah Writers Alliance Director Commends U.S. Officials for Speaking Out Against Quran Burning - Sep. 9, 2010 (Supporting national leadership and reminding community of 9/11 Freedom Coalition Rally in Washington, D.C.)

9/11 Freedom Coalition Launches Petition Calling on President to Enforce Religious Land Use Act - Sep. 2, 2010 (MWA'S participation in proactive coalition with Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), Responsible for Equality and Liberty [R.E.A.L.] and United for Pluralism Rallying in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11)

Muslimah Writers Alliance Director Requests Federal Action Against Islamophobia - Sep. 1, 2010 (Item referred to in Musaji's report)

Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces 'The Non-Islamophobic Muslim News' on Facebook - Aug. 29, 2010 (Pro-Active Facebook platform designed to be a one-stop resource for NON-Islamophobic Muslim News)

Park51: Law Passed 10 Years Ago Trumps Religious Freedom Debate - Aug. 25, 2010 (Highlighting the fact that the debate was never really a debate as the project was protected from its onset by the Religious Land Use Act of 2000)

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Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.

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September 09, 2010

Muslimah Writers Alliance Director Commends U.S. Officials for Speaking Out Against Quran Burning

"Hail to the Commander-in-Chief for upholding that which is right and abhorring that which is inherently wrong," stated MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz.

PRLog (Sep 09, 2010) – WASHINGTON, D.C. (MWA-NET) – Muslimah Writers Alliance Director, Aishah Schwartz, commends U.S. President Barack Obama for "standing up for that which is right and abhorring that which is inherently wrong," on receiving the news that Gainesville, Florida Pastor Terry Jones had called off the previously scheduled September 11 event organized to burn copies of the Qu'ran.

Earlier today on ABC's "Good Morning America" Obama, speaking both to an audience of millions and to Jones in particular, said that: "I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he's engaging in."

The President further asserted that Saturday's planned protest on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks was a dangerous "stunt" that could imperil U.S. troops abroad and incite suicide bombers on American soil.

Obama, framing his remarks "as commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the United States," further stated "I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform who are in Iraq, who are in Afghanistan."

September 07, 2010

~*Sister Aishah's Journey Continues…Through Good Times and Bad*~

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 18, 2005

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatuallah wa Barakatuhu.

Insha'Allah this message finds you in the best of health and imaan, in addition to enjoying the peace and blessings of Ramadan.

This week I have been reading and sporadically participating in conversations between a few of the new Muslimah's and some of our more seasoned Muslim sisters, touching on many issues, the majority of which seem to be focused on spiritual turmoil, disappointment and loneliness.

What initially triggered these conversations was the first reply to an email I recycled and circulated called "The Rusty Muslim's Ramadan Action List", which was followed up by an email imploring one another as sisters and brothers in Islam, to reach out to anyone we might know who could be alone during this Ramadan, particularly new Muslims, many of which only know of a "Muslim Community" through e-group memberships.

As the combined emails began to be read, one-by-one, those passing the time alone, started replying. Amongst the replies were:

September 02, 2010

911 Freedom Coalition Launches Petition Calling on President to Enforce Religious Land Use Act

Petition will be delivered to the White House and DOJ on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in conjunction with a Rally for Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Conscience at Freedom Plaza from 2:00PM until 3:00PM. RSVP via Facebook!

PRLog – Sep 02, 2010 – WASHINGTON, D.C. (MWA-Net) - In response to recent events triggering a wave of hate-filled rhetoric, bigotry and acts of violence against Muslim Americans across the nation, as well as consistent efforts by others seeking to block the legal rights of Muslim Americans to exercise their right of religious freedom in building houses of worship, a group of human rights and Muslim activists, The 911 Freedom Coalition, has launched an online petition addressed to President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder requesting that they defend the United States Constitution by acting to enforce the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), a federal law to prevent discriminatory practices against houses of worship.

The Defend Freedom of Religion online petition is located here.

The signed petition will be delivered to the White House and U.S. Department of Justice in conjunction with a Rally for Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Conscience to be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. between 13th and 14th Streets NW in Washington, D.C. from 2:00PM-3:00PM.

Petition and Rally organizers include, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), United for Pluralism, Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.), and Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA).

September 01, 2010

Muslimah Writers Alliance Director Requests Federal Action Against Islamophobia

Muslim American activist Aishah Schwartz, in an open letter to President Obama and Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder, requests federal action in support of Republican backed ten-year old federal law shielding Muslim community from zoning ordinance debates.

September 1, 2010

VIA FACSIMILE (202) 456-2461
Via Email
United States President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Hon. Eric H. Holder
United States Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
Email: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

RE: Request for Federal Action in Support of Federal Law on Freedom of Religion

PRLog Sep 01, 2010 (MWA-Net) Mr. President, I heard you loud and clear when you supported the right of Park51 organizers to pursue their project in the downtown Manhattan area known as 'Ground Zero' - or hallowed ground - but I also heard the secondary message you spoke of regarding the wisdom of Park51 organizers in their choice of location for the project. Additionally, I wrote extensively in support of your comments http://pressroom.prlog.org/mwa-net.

Sadly, however, as a result of the Park51 controversy, a media and political frenzy fueling a whirlwind of Islamophobic and hate-filled rhetoric targeting Muslim community members and the Islamic faith, has engulfed the nation, provoking me to call upon both you and Attorney General Holder, to uphold and enforce federal law regarding freedom of religion and freedom of worship based on not only the U.S. Constitution, but also the Republican backed 2000 lesser-known law, U.S. Code Title 42, Chapter 21C, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA).

I trust, of course, that you are both well aware of the Park51 triggered backlash against Muslim community members, their projects and plans, as an alarming increase in reports from across the nation indicate a rise in local governing agencies attempting to excessively scrutinize said plans, by invoking alleged zoning ordinance stipulations that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was designed to shield against. 

From coast-to-coast a series of  protests have risen against those who seek to freely worship in Islamic mosques, including the states of California, Tennessee, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Connecticut, and  throughout New York. More on backlash at http://realhumanrights.wordpress.com.

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act states that, "No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution," unless it meets very strict conditions.

Nor may any government inflict a regulation that discriminates "on the basis of religion or religious denomination." Thus, it is clearly designed to protect individuals and houses of worship from discriminatory and unduly burdensome zoning regulations, and protects the religious exercise of all Americans.

It is, therefore, the responsibility of the U.S. Federal Government and the Department of Justice to enforce this law.

Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces 'The Non-Islamophobic Muslim News' on Facebook


PRLog Aug. 29, 2010 (MWA-Net) The recent controversial decision of Park51 organizers to construct an Islamic center/mosque in the area of downtown Manhattan, otherwise known as 'Ground Zero', NY (or 'hallowed ground'), highlights a spike in the increase of Islamophobic, hate-filled rhetoric spewed out daily from certain media outlets, bloggers and even politicians. It is evident, now more than ever, that a need exists for an immediate influx of 'good' Muslim news.

In an effort to bridge the gap in resources available to the public for learning more about the positive contributions members of the Muslim community are making not only in the United States, but worldwide, Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) announces a new Facebook campaign, 'The NON-Islamophobic Muslim News' (NIMNews).

Similar to the concept behind MWA's Muslim Women Making History project, which focuses on the achievements of Muslim women, NIMNews aims to showcase worldwide Muslim community member news, stories, and events, in an effort to provide the general public, and the media, with easy access to 'NON-Islamophobic Muslim News'.

As recently reported Facebook now has over 500 million subscribers. What better free Muslim community news resource and advertising/promotional venue could there be?

Now it is up to you, the Muslim community member. Are you tired of the Muslim-bashing propoganda and Islamophobic outpouring of hate-filled rhetoric reported daily? This is your chance to be a part of the wave of change.

The nation and in fact, the world, has been waiting for President Obama to make all the changes; but the Muslim community has to own its share of responsibility for how the world perceives Muslims and the Islamic faith.

It's time to clean up our own back-yards, step-up-to-the-plate, and be participants in the change we want to see in the world.

Join MWA in sharing your Muslim community news, events, stories, photos and discussions. Visit NIMNews with just one click.

RELATED
MWA Muslim Women Making History
PARK51: Law Passed Ten Years Ago Trumps Religious Freedom Debate
NIMNews Short-Cut Link: http://tinyurl.com/nimnews
Also published at The American Muslim (TAM) Aug. 30, 2010
 

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Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.

Visit Press Room: http://pressroom.prlog.org/mwa-net