US seeks to seize four mosques

NEW YORK: In what could be one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures in US history, federal prosecutors sought to take over four US mosques and a New York City skyscraper owned by a Muslim organization suspected of being controlled by the Iranian government.

Prosecutors on Thursday filed a civil complaint in federal court against the Alavi Foundation, seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in assets.

The assets include bank accounts; Islamic centers consisting of schools and mosques in New York, Maryland, California and Houston; more than 100 acres (40 hectares) in Virginia; and a 36-story Manhattan office tower.

John D. Winter, the Alavi Foundation’s lawyer, said it intends to litigate the case and prevail. He said the foundation has been cooperating with the government’s investigation for the better part of a year.

“Obviously the foundation is disappointed that the government has decided to bring this action,” Winter told The Associated Press.

It is extremely rare for US law enforcement authorities to seize a house of worship, a step fraught with questions about the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. The action against the mosques is sure to inflame relations between the US government and American Muslims, many of whom fear a backlash after last week’s Fort Hood shooting rampage, blamed on a Muslim American major.

“Whatever the details of the government’s case against the owners of the mosques, as a civil rights organization we are concerned that the seizure of American houses of worship could have a chilling effect on the religious freedom of citizens of all faiths and may send a negative message to Muslims worldwide,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

It is unclear what will happen to the properties if the government ultimately prevails. But the government typically sells properties it seizes through forfeiture and sometimes distributes the money to crime victims.

US attorney’s office spokeswoman Yusill Scribner said there are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of the tenants or occupants of the properties, which will remain open. Prosecutors said the Alavi Foundation managed the office tower on behalf of the Iranian government and, working with a front company known as Assa Corp., illegally funneled millions in rental income to Iran’s state-owned Bank Melli.

A US Treasury official has accused Bank Melli of providing support for Iran’s nuclear program, and it is illegal in the United States to do business with the bank.

At the Islamic Institute of New York, a mosque and school in Queens, two US marshals rang a doorbell repeatedly, taped a forfeiture notice to the window and left a large document on the ground. The fourth Islamic center marked for seizure is in Carmichael, California.
Source: Arab News

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US to Try 9/11 Suspects in Civilian Court

WASHINGTON — The alleged plotters of the 9/11 attacks will be tried in a civilian court in the United States, a move seen as a step toward fulfilling President Barack Obama’s pledge to close the notorious Guantanamo Bay. "I am absolutely convinced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be subject to the most exacting demands of justice," Obama said Friday, November 13, in Tokyo where he is on a week-long Asian tour, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Official told the Washington Post that Sheikh Mohamed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and four suspects will be tried in a civilian court in New York.

Two other Guantanamo detainees are expected to face trial before military commissions.

One of those facing a military commission is Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, accused of plotting the 2000 USS Cole bombing, The New York Times said, citing a federal law enforcement source.

An official announcement is expected to be made by Attorney General Eric Holder later Friday.

Ten detainees already face charges before the military commissions, which Obama halted as he came to power.

Three prisoners have been convicted before military commissions, but the tribunals have been widely condemned for limiting defendants' rights and attracted criticism from the US Supreme Court in a 2006 ruling that forced an overhaul of the process.

Despite the criticism, the Obama administration has indicated it will maintain the system established during former president George W. Bush's tenure.

To mollify critics, the White House and lawmakers worked together on a bill passed in late October that boosted defendants' rights.

The legislation barred the use of evidence obtained through coercion, strengthened the rules on hearsay evidence and improved defendants' access to witnesses and evidence.

Gitmo Closure

The trial of the alleged 9/11 plotters drew fire from the victims’ families.

"To allow a terrorist and a war criminal the opportunity of having US constitutional protections is a wrong thing to do and it’s never been done before," Ed Kowalski of the 9/11 Families for a Secure America Foundation told AFP.

"We feel that that's a terrible mistake.

"President Obama is wrong to do this," Kowalski said.

The transfer is seen as a bid to fulfil Obama’s pledge to close Guantanamo early next year.

"The American people will insist on it. My administration will insist on it," Obama said.

But the US president and his team are facing numerous political and diplomatic hurdles and some officials admit it may be hard to meet the deadline.

US officials meet a difficulty in pursuing charges against many of the inmates, who were subjected to harsh interrogations which human rights groups have called torture.

Among the barriers to closing Guantanamo is the deep resistance by US allies to take detainees, who have been cleared of connections to terrorism.

None of those detainees have so far transferred to the US soil.

Obama has ordered the closure of the notorious detention camp as it has tarnished the United States' reputation abroad.

The US is holding hundreds of detainees in Guantanamo and declared them as “unlawful enemy combatants” to deny them legal rights under the US legal system.

The camp has for years been criticized by international watchdogs and rights icons for operating outside the law, amid reports of torture and rights abuses.

Source: IslamOnline

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Aussie Govt Celebrates Muslim Contributions

CAIRO – Detailing the success stories of many Australian Muslims, the federal government has launched a book recognizing contributions of the Muslim minority to the society. “Muslims were some of the very first visitors to our shores,” reads the book “Australian Journey, Muslim Communities”.

“They bring with them a wealth of different ideas, skills and talents.

“They have helped to build our country into the prosperous and successful nation it is today.”

The 88-page book tells the success stories of more than 40 Muslims, including prominent footballer Bachar Houli and musician Asim Gorashi.

Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.

Australian Journey, Muslim communities Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.

The new government book is the latest effort to highlight Muslim contributions to Australian society.

In 2007, the National Library in Canberra hosted an exhibition to highlight the neglected and unrecorded great contributions of Muslim cameleers to Australia in the 19th century.

The exhibition featured photographs, camel saddles, clothing, textiles and original documents largely borrowed from cameleer descendants who came to Australia between 1860 and 1930.

Shining Models

The book celebrates the diversity of Australia’s Muslims, providing positive models for their participation in different fields.

“It proves to every child that you can aspire to any occupation, in any field, and be a valued Australian citizen,” parliamentary secretary for Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson said in a statement.

The publication cites examples of Muslims making inroads in Australian society.

Among the most striking examples is Bill Baarini, representing Muslims’ active participation in politics.

“Bill Baarini became Victoria’s youngest mayor in 2003 at the age of 26,” the book says.

“He was awarded the Municipal Association of Victoria Emeritus Mayoral Award.”

Forming a fundamental part of Australian defense forces, Muslims were always there at Australia service “whether humanitarian aid or protecting Australia’s security.”

The book cites Commander Mona Shindy whose enthusiasm for the navy career reserved a place for her as a member of the Australian Defense Force.

“I was two years into obtaining my degree when I considered joining the Navy,” the Egyptian-born says.

“I viewed it as an admirable and worthwhile job to do,” the proud Australian Muslims says.

“I stay for the culture, the community, the friendships and the opportunities to undertake different types of work, and interesting work at that.”

Source: IslamOnline

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9/11 Plotters Trial Divides New York

CAIRO – The referral of the alleged 9/11 attacks plotters to be tried in a court near where the World Trade Towers once stood in New York is drawing mixed reactions in the metropolitan city. “I welcome anything that would bring these terrorists to trial,” Sally Regenhard, whose son died in the attack, told The New York Times Saturday, November 14.

“After eight long years there has been no justice on this on any level, and we want these people brought to justice.”

US Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that five suspects, including the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, will be prosecuted in a criminal court in New York.

“Let them come to New York,” said Jim Riches, a retired deputy chief of the New York Fire Department, whose son died in the attack.

“Let them get on trial. Let’s do it the right way, for all the world to see what they’re like. Let’s go.

“It’s been too long. Let’s get some justice,” he said.

At least 3,000 people were killed when terrorists rammed hijacked planes into the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon headquarters in September 11, 2001.

“New York is not afraid of terrorists,” Representative Jerrold Nadler said in a statement.

“We want to confront them, we want to bring them to justice and we want to hold them accountable for their despicable actions.”

Unfair

But many New Yorkers blasted the referral, saying it would grant the suspects undeserved rights of American citizens.

“I fear trying them in our country,” said Mike Low, who lost a daughter in the attacks.

“The defense will have so many tools. They’ll make a circus out of it and just play it to the hilt.”

Other families of the victims stoutly rejected the idea of attending the trial at their land.

“It’s totally unfair,” said Margit Arias-Kastell, who lost her husband in the attacks.

“Why do we have to constantly relive this? They should be hung.”

The trials would be the first for 9/11 suspects on American soil.

Ten detainees already face charges before the military commissions, which Obama halted when he came to power.

Three prisoners have been convicted before military commissions, but the tribunals have been widely condemned for limiting defendants' rights and attracted criticism from the US Supreme Court in a 2006 ruling that forced an overhaul of the process.

"They should hang these guys from one of the cranes in Ground Zero," Jim, a 49-year-old carpenter, said.

"Everyone would come down to watch."

Source: IslamOnline

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Britain's Abu Ghraib

CAIRO — In a new abuse scandal of Iraqi detainees, British soldiers are copying US coercive interrogation techniques used in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, including sexual and physical abuses, The Independent reported Saturday, November 14. "We were taken to a hall where soldiers started stripping us of our clothes," Nassir Ghulaim, 24, a Iraqi laborer, said in a letter to the Ministry of Defense.

"They then asked us to pick fights with one another, or fight them. They were laughing at us and taking photos with digital cameras."

When the Iraqi civilian, who was arrested by British soldiers in April 2007 and taken to a military base, objected the order, the doors of hell opened at him.

"A soldier started hitting me with a baton on my knees and used an electric baton on various parts of my body," he added.

Ghulaim recalls that his torture session was based on the photographs taken from the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

"They made us squeeze in pile-up, as in Abu Ghraib prison photos, while a soldier stood on top of us and started shouting and laughing," he recalled in grief.

"I felt so humiliated and treated as a toy they messed up with."

After a three-day nightmarish experience in the British camp, Ghulaim was freed without charges.

The Defense Ministry said it will investigate the claims of abuses by British soldiers.

The Abu Ghraib scandal first broke out in 2004 after American newspapers published shocking photos taken on mobile and digital cameras by US soldiers of Iraqi detainees.

Prisoners were subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse including the use of dogs to scare and bite prisoners, death threats and sexual abuse. It was also reported that prisoners were raped by American military personnel.

The abuses caused deep resentment across the world, damaging the image of the United States.

Rape

Ghulaim recalls seeing soldiers sexually abusing a young Iraqi man, who was detained with them.

"They picked further on a younger man who was good-looking," he said.

"They made him strip naked and started messing with his penis and taking photos."

The letter also features a claim by another Iraqi detainees, who said that he was raped by two British soldiers.

Hussain Hashim Khinyab, who was arrested on April 2006, recalls his hellish experience at the hands of his British jailers.

"While squatting in the toilets or in the showers, a female soldier used to expose her breast or parts of her body, or mess with another soldier in a sexual way in front of me," he said.

Khinyab, a 35-old carpenter, said soldiers also used to play sexual movies and involve into sexual intercourse before the detainees.

"Soldiers used to play porn movies during evenings and at dawn," he said.

"I was a practicing Muslim and this behavior was very shameful and humiliating for me.

"Also, a soldier in the observation tower used to point the laser spot of his gun at my penis while I was squatting in the toilet."

The Iraqi man said that soldiers were also preventing detaining from practicing their religion.

"I also noticed that every time I started praying or reading Qur'an they would play very loud music to distract me and probably other detainees."

Source: IslamOnline

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British Muslims seen but not heard

London - Seen and Not Heard is an assessment of young Muslims in the UK, by Sughra Ahmed of Britain's Policy Research Centre. The study, conducted over 18 months and released in September 2009, aims to give voice to young Muslims who are often analysed by researchers, but rarely heard from. And as someone who was born in the UK, spent her early years there, and recently lived in London’s East End - an area with a large urban Muslim population - I found Ahmed’s report to be highly topical.

Over 100 young Muslims were interviewed across the country in various focus groups, representing over 15 ethnicities. Ahmed’s work is an intriguing analysis on the state of young Muslims in the UK and clearly includes much input from the young Muslims that she spoke with. Seen and Not Heard informs us that young Muslims are dealing with a plethora of issues – including poverty, education, subcultures, the generational gap, media, police interactions and, of course, religion.

But first, there’s the terminology itself. Ahmed notes that a primary distinction must be made in addressing and discussing young Muslims in Britain. The term “youth” has the negative connotation here of being affiliated with gangs and violence, a perception reinforced all too often by the government, police and media. Youth are seen as a problem in society and Ahmed therefore proposes that Muslim youth be addressed as “young Muslims” or “young people,” something youth workers interviewed for the report also recommended as a step in preventing “otherisation.”

A highly refreshing aspect of Seen and Not Heard is Ahmed’s analysis of the interactions between young Muslims and their parents, and how education comes into play. Overall, the tensions between the two are often comparable to what young people in general experience vis-à-vis older generations – this intergenerational gap is present in many communities, Muslim and non-Muslim.

However in Muslim communities, factors such as language and culture are also present and frequently create distance between parents and their children. Such circumstances affect the education of young Muslims and their attitudes towards it, as many Muslim parents in the UK are not able to engage with their children’s education:

“The research shows that attitude, language, poor education background and feeling insecure with systems of school governance can turn parents away from helping children with their homework, coursework and other assessments, remembering that many parents of the first generation didn’t attend school in the UK and in fact have a generally poor track record of education themselves.”

In other words, the result is that young Muslims are not taking their education seriously, for their parents do not check on their progress. This was certainly the case with me – my parents, like many others, were either too busy with work or were not able to understand my teachers and coursework, resulting in disengagement (though not indifference) with my education.

In contrast, after we moved to the United States, I noticed that the parents of young American Muslims around were often involved with their education, while I was left to my own means. Ahmed has shed much light on my UK experience and recommends that schools need to reach out to parents of young British Muslims with a better cultural understanding. This would result in a better education for young Muslims, and ultimately, better life and job opportunities.

A discussion of the media’s treatment of young Muslims is also necessary – according to the study. Ahmed quotes many young Muslims speaking about their perceptions of how media portray them negatively, and documents how this affects their identity. For example, young Muslims are often unfairly forced to answer for the actions of Muslims abroad because of an increasingly globalised media network.

Some interviewees felt helpless, saying, “You can’t really make a difference.” Ahmed recommends that young Muslims be encouraged to enter media fields as a means of empowerment. As a precursor to this, other interviewees have proactively countered the negative perceptions enforced by the media simply by getting to know their non-Muslim peers.

Ahmed concludes that the identities of young Muslims in the UK are constantly in flux because of shifting attitudes towards education, culture and religion, and that the media’s everyday barrage spurs perceptions to shift quickly. By dispelling stereotypes and misconceptions, Seen and Not Heard demonstrates that young Muslims in the UK have a lot of potential but their potential needs to be recognised and respected.

-- Hena Ashraf (hena@a2palestinefilmfest.org) is a filmmaker and advocate for independent media. Download and read Seen and Not Heard online at http://policyresearch.org.uk/SeenandNotHeard-Complete.pdf. This article is distributed by the Common Ground and can be accessed at GCNews. It appeared in the www.altmuslim.com .
Source: Middle East Online

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