American Muslim Observer » Uncategorized

Muslim American Travelers Targeted

amobserver — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:41:30 +0000

A Muslim American legal advocacy group is charging that federal agents are targeting Muslim American, or perceived Muslim American, travelers for invasive questioning and searches. Those targeted are being questioned about their religion, politics, finances and charitable giving; all without any indication of wrongdoing on the part of those being questioned.

Muslim Advocates states that law abiding Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans are experiencing widespread and systematic privacy intrusions at the hands of federal agents at borders and airports. The interrogations are occurring without evidence or suspicion of wrongdoing and are taking away from already scarce resources. Additionally the activities are generating false leads and eroding trust between law enforcement and the public.

During the end of the Bush administration guidelines were issued making racial and ethnic criteria as a basis for questioning legal. President Obama needs to take steps to make these guidelines illegal.

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=676&&ArticleID=25882&&name=n&&currPage=2

American’s View of Muslim World Bleak

author1 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:42:35 +0000

A recent poll reveals that only one in five Americans has a positive view of Muslim nations. Another poll shows that 46 percent of people asked have a negative view of Muslim nations. The poll also revealed that most Americans believe that Muslim countries have a negative view of Americans. The poll showed that people are split almost down the middle about whether it matters if Muslim nations have a favorable view of America. 53 percent of those questions said that it does matter; while 47 percent said that it does not matter.

President Obama said at a town hall meeting in Turkey that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam and 62 percent of Americans agree with that statement. Six out of ten people said that they believed that the Muslim world thinks they are at war with America. While the American view of Islam has improved since President Obama took office, it is far from positive.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/02/us.muslims.poll/index.html

American Muslims Converted in Prison

author1 — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:13:31 +0000

There is talk that prison conversion to Islam is a cause of radical extremism. The planned attacks on Jewish Institutions in New York City have brought this issue under the microscope. Three of the men arrested in the terror plot were converted in prison. Salahuddin Mustafa Muhammad is the imam at the Masjid al-Ikhlas, a mosque in Newburgh, N.Y. He has spent a great deal of time ministering to Muslims in prison.

Mr. Muhammad says that he does not here the extremist talk amongst the men he works with. He also states that if he did, he would stamp it out. Such extremism is not Islamic in his opinion. It is important to understand these are isolated cases and that the direction of Islam in prison is that of reformation and community uplifting. Islam is more often a moderating influence on prisoners. Making them turn away from drugs and crime.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/nyregion/24convert.html?ref=us

Muslim Extremists Plan Attack on Jewish Institutions

author1 — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:29:46 +0000

There were four men arrested in a plot to bomb a Synagogue and a Jewish Community Center. The suspects also planned to shoot at military planes with missiles at New York’s National Guard Base. The suspects wanted to engage in terrorist acts and selected targets and sought weapons to carry out their plans.

The four men, James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen; were arrested after purchasing inactive explosive devices and an inactive missile. The men believed that these weapons were real and fully planned to attack Americans. Cromite believed that he would go to paradise if he died a martyr. All four men were born in the United States and were Muslim. Three of the men were converted in prison and the fourth was born of Afghan decent.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN20523965