ISLAMOPHOBIA AMERICANMUSLIMS Real or imagined Compiled by Gulten

ISLAMOPHOBIA & AMERICAN-MUSLIMS Real or imagined? Compiled by: Gulten Ilhan and Sheila Musaji

It’s REAL to some.

The British Runnymede Trust described Islamophobia in 1997 • as the view that Islam has no values in common with other cultures; is inferior to the West; is a violent political ideology rather than a religion; that its criticisms of the West have no substance; and that discriminatory practices against Muslims are justified

INTRODUCTION What Is the Image of Islam & Muslims? • Where does this image come from? • Where does this image lead? • What can we do about this.

What is the Image of Islam and Muslims in the U. S. ?

Could most Americans identify this photo? • American Muslim soldiers praying at Camp Taji in Iraq

According to Polls Americans Believe American Muslims … • 57% … should undergo more intensive security checks at airports. (Gallup) • • 52% … are not respectful of women. (Gallup) 44% … are too extreme in their religious beliefs. (Gallup) 40% … are not respectful of other religions (Gallup) 39% … should be required to carry a special ID (Gallup) 34% … are sympathetic to al-Qaida (Gallup) 33% … religion – Islam - stokes violence (Wa. Post/ABC News) 27% … should be required to register their location with Fed. Govt. (Cornell) • 26% … Mosques should be monitored by law enforcement agencies • 22% … should be profiled as potential threats. • 46% … of Americans have a negative view of Islam • 40% … would be less likely to patronize Muslim owned businesses (Cornell) (Wa. Post/ABC News) (Zogby)

Where does this image come from? … • The actions of some Muslims • Not differentiating between Islam and Muslims • Media and popular stereotypes • People who should know better

…TELEVISION

… COMIC BOOKS

… CARTOON FILMS For example: SONG LYRICS from ALADDIN: "Oh, I come from a land, From a faraway place, Where the caravan camels roam. Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but, hey, its home. " 1993

… CARTOONS

… Movies

… BOOKS

… One-sided news reports – negative emphasized, positive ignored

One-sided news reports – double standards • Robert Cottage arrested for possession of largest amount of chemical explosives ever found in Britain. 10 -4 -06 • Demetrius Crocker of Tennessee, who told undercover FBI agents of his desire to explode a briefcase bomb while Congress was in session. 4 -06. • In all the fuss about the Dubai ports deal did you ever hear that another Dubai company already runs 12 U. S. ports – and a Chinese company runs port terminals on West Coast? • Has anyone heard about Robert Goldstein, a Florida podiatrist who was caught in the act with 30 explosive devices, 40 weapons, and a list of Muslim targets in his hands. He had planned to start his killing spree at a Muslim school near his Seminole, Florida home.

One-sided news reports – what happened next? • • • • Brandon Mayfield - cleared Capt. James Yee - cleared 3 men accused in Walmart ‘Cellphone’ case - cleared 2 brothers in Britain - released with no charges Newspaper apologizes for false Iran badge story Webmaster al-Hussayen - cleared Indian inquiry clears Muslims of 2002 train fire Sami Hammoudeh - acquitted Sami al-Arian - acquitted Dr. Bassem Hussein - acquitted Muslim charity Interpal - cleared Salman Hamdani cleared – actually a hero of 9/11 Etc. etc

… Distorted View of American Identity America is different. We have no king but Jesus. John Ashcroft “This is a religious war, not against Islam but for Christianity, for a Christian nation. ” Ann Coulter Those who believe the Judeo-Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims. Rev. Pat Robertson

… Prejudiced RHETORIC by: • Media personalities • Government leaders & political figures • Religious leaders The man on the street

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM, MUSLIMS AND ARABS FROM THESE SOURCES?

American Muslims are … • • Dirty, have poor hygiene Not loyal, a 5 th column in the U. S. Silent, don’t speak out against terrorism Breed like rabbits Violent Intolerant of other religions • • • Not really human Michael Savage Preoccupied with sex Afraid of work that ‘dirties’ their hands Pigs and murderous scum Ragheads Sen. Conrad Burns Incapable of being moderate Oliver North Worse than Nazis Pat Robertson

ISLAM IS … • The enemy • Repelled by modernity • A worthless, dangerous Satanic religion • A cancer that destroys the body it infects • A murderous organization • A car burning cult • At best false, at worst bloody & dangerous

“If Western civilization is to survive, Islam must be destroyed. ” “Islam must be eradicated because it cannot be reformed. ”

The Qur’an is … “Strictly a theft of Jewish theology. ” Rev. Pat Robertson The source of Islamic terrorism. according to a speaker sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Comparable to Hitler’s Mein Kampf and teaches Muslims to lie.

The prophet of Islam is … A demon-possessed pedophile The Rev. Jerry Vines A wild eyed fanatic and a killer A terrorist Rev. Jerry Falwell Rev. Pat Robertson

Therefore … “A virulent hatred of Muslims is not racism because people have a CHOICE TO BE MUSLIM and nobody is a member of a race by choice”. “They Have forfeited their right to be accepted as loyal citizens”

What should ‘we’ do about ‘them’ • • • Don’t allow them to have holidays honored by public schools Don’t allow the call to prayers from mosques Stop printing the Eid holiday postage stamp Make them carry special I. D. cards Profile them Have Muslims only check in lines at airports Don’t allow conversion to Islam Put them in internment camps Ban Islam and deport Muslims Invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity • Kill the Muslims – The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim

SOUNDS CRAZY – BUT LOOK AT JUST A FEW OF THE ‘RESPECTABLE’ AND INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE SUCH STATEMENTS

RESPECTED LEADERS IN THE GOVERNMENT, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL LIFE

S. Carolina Board of Education member Dr. Henry Jordan "Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims. " “… the religion of Islam is a "cult" that worships "Lucifer. "

North Carolina State Legislator Sam Ellis "I don't want the students in the university system to be required to study this evil. “ Referring to college assignment to read the Qur’an

Representative Peter King (R-NY) “No American Muslim leaders are cooperating in the war on terror. "80 -85% of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists. ”

Representative Frank Lasee Islam is NOT a religion of peace. Islam IS a religion intent on conquering the world … this is a central theme in the Koran. ”

Attorney General of the U. S. John Ashcroft • "Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you. "

General William Boykin

Representative Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) • “Arrest every Muslim that comes across the state line. ”

Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) • “If a terrorist attack were to occur in the USA by Muslim extremists then our response could be to bomb Mecca. ” • “you cannot integrate some people into your society. ”

U. S. Civil Rights Commission Peter Kirsanow “I can foresee a scenario in which the public would demand internment camps for Arab Americans … If there's a future terrorist attack in America … you can forget about civil rights. ''

30 th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D. C. anti-Islam paraphernalia being sold at a right-wing conference kicked off by Vice President Cheney.

MEDIA PUNDITS, CELEBRETIES & PERSONALITIES

Media pundits & celebrities … • • • Ann Coulter Sean Hannity Michael Savage Glenn Beck Daniel Pipes Jackie Mason

Media pundits & celebrities … • • Neal Boortz Oliver North Bill O’Reilly Imus in the Morning show • Laura Ingraham • Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Paul Weyrich et al • “Would our country have issued a swastika flag stamp in 1941? Would our country have issued a hammer and sickle stamp in 1955? ”

Saddest of all RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF FAITH COMMUNITIES

Signs at Churches

Signs at Churches

Clergymen & religious leaders “Muslims are worse than Nazis. ” “Islam is a violent religion. ” "Islam is essentially a Christian heresy“ “Muhammad Was a Terrorist. ”

Clergymen & religious leaders • • Rev. John Hagee Rev. Pat Robertson Rev. Jerry Falwell Rev. David Clippard Lord Carey Rev. J. Grant Swank Rev. Franklin Graham

POP CULTURE THE MAN IN THE STREET

Bumper stickers

Billboards …

Tee shirts … • That’s Allah Folks!

Boeing ad Showing Helicopter attacking a Mosque

Restaurant sign

Blogs … • The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim • • http: //wizbangblog. com/2005/10/26/the-only-dead-muslim-is-a-good-muslim. php http: //waronjihad. org/muslims 151005. html http: //www. catch. com/comments/44025_0_17_0_C/ http: //bbayne. com/2006/09/a-lott-of-sand-n-s/ http: //www. familyfriendsfirearms. com/forum/showthread. php? p=547444 This seems to be a popular idea and turns up many times

There are thousands of anti-Muslim blogs and sites online • Here a few images taken from these blogs …

• Text says: How things would be if Islam had to obey truth in advertising laws.

INCIDENTS The rhetoric is becoming increasingly more violent … And now we are seeing the result …

One of these on a tee-shirt could keep you from boarding a plane שלום ����� � ● Мир ● Pace ● ﺳﻼﻡ ● Peace ● ●

Arabic writing on Tee-shirt keeps man from boarding plane "You can't wear a T-shirt with Arabic script and come to an airport. It is like wearing a T-shirt that reads 'I am a robber' and going to a bank, " was the security man's statement.

One of these prayers could keep you from boarding a plane

PRAYING WHILE MUSLIM • Passengers refused to fly on a plane until ‘Asians’ were removed. • A Muslim doctor was put off a plane because other passengers were alarmed to see him quietly praying in his seat. August 2006 • 5 Muslim men were detained and questioned for praying at Giants Stadium in New York. November 2005 • 6 Imams were removed from a plane because passengers had seen them praying and speaking in Arabic before boarding. November 2006

Mosque vandalism in Ballwin, MO

Second Shooting at Florida Mosque • On the first day of Ramadan, an unknown gunman shot into the crowded mosque in Brevard, Florida. October 2006

Muslim school vandalism

U. S. Mosque Incidents … • U. S. mosques are becoming dangerous places. There have been: • 11 threats • 51 vandalisms • 1 cross burning • 2 vehicles driven into mosque • 1 bomb plot and 5 bombings • 2 assaults • 6 shootings • 7 arsons

Being a Muslim student is not safe • UCLA TASER Incident

Wearing this peace of cloth could get you KILLED

• Religious hate seen as motive in killing A mother of six was killed Thursday by a single bullet to the head as she walked with her 3 -year-old daughter on a wellto-do residential street in Fremont, California.

Being mistaken for a Muslim could get you KILLED • Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Mesa, Arizona gas station owner was shot to death. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Balbir_Singh_Sodhi

• WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN MUSLIMS?

American Muslims … Vote run for office dialogue

CONTRIBUTE IN LOTS OF WAYS …

SERVE THE NATION • Muslim military members at White House Iftaar dinner in 2006 • Muslim military members participate in commemoration of 9/11

SERVE THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES • Keith Ellison - Congressman MN • Yaphett el-Amin – State Rep. MO • Mohamed Khairullah – Mayor Prospect Park NJ Saqib Ali – State Rep. MD M. J. Khan – Houston City Council TX Malik ibn Noel, Navy’s 1 st Muslim Chaplain • • •

Zakia Mahasa, Circuit Court Judge MD Omar T. Mohammadi, NY Civil Rights Commission Shirin Tahir-Kheli, 1 st American Muslim Woman Ambassador

Shahram Hashemi a Hero of 9/11

ENRICH OUR LIVES … • Fazlur Khan, Architect of Sears Towers, Chicago • Ismael Merchant, filmaker

• Emad Al-Turk Co-founder International Museum of Muslim Cultures, Mississippi

• Mustapha al-Akkad filmaker • Dr. Edward Zarhounim, head Nat’l Instit. For Health

• Bijan, fashion designer • Iman, fashion model

Inspire us … • Anousheh Ansari, 1 st Muslim woman in space - 2006

PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Touch our hearts … Daniel Moore Mohamed Zakaria Poet Calligrapher Coleman Barks Poet Peter Sanders, photographer

Muslims Voices Against Extremism & Terrorism • Muslim voices have been loud and clear – they are simply not heard or ignored.

Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, chairman of the Sunna and Sira Council, Qatar Islam, the religion of tolerance, holds the human soul in high esteem, and considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin, this is backed by the Qur’anic verse which reads: ‘Who so ever kills a human being [as punishment] for [crimes] other than manslaughter or [sowing] corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and who so ever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind’ (Al-Ma’idah: 32). "

Khamene’i, Ayatollah Ali, Supreme jurist-ruler of Iran ** “Killing of people, in any place and with any kind of weapons, including atomic bombs, long-range missiles, biological or chemical weapons, passenger or war planes, carried out by any organization, country or individuals is condemned …”**

Leader of al-Muhajirun, a radical Islamist movement Shaykh Omar Bakri Condemned 9/11 attack. “If Islamists did it—and most likely it is Islamists, because of the nature of what happened—then they have fully misunderstood the teachings of Islam. . Even the most radical of us have condemned this. I am always considered to be a radical in the Islamic world and even I condemn it. ”

The Grand Sheikh of the al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi Condemned suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and condemned terrorism in all its forms.

• Does Islamophobia exist? • Is there anything we can do about it?

Pastor Martin Niemoller

Elie Wiesel • “Unless we safeguard the liberties of all our citizens, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence mean about as much as a plastic flag bumper sticker. ”

Declaration of Independence “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” July 4, 1776

Margaret Mead • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. ”

EDUCATE

THANK YOU FOR COMING • From Terrorism to Global Ethics Conference – Religions and Peace in Turkey • Masum Kirmizigul singing