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Michigan woman becomes first Air Force lawyer to wear hijab

Lebanese-American Lt. Maysaa Ouza is making history as the first lawyer to wear a hijab as part of the Air Force’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps program.

Lt. Ouza was recently granted a religious accommodation allowing her to wear a hijab during training and in her role as chief of legal advice at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Ouza said she chose to pursue a career with the U.S. Air Force because of the public service opportunities. She also wanted to break down barriers.

“Many people that look like me fear rejection, and thus will not apply for jobs like this,” said Ouza. “My hijab is an asset to the Air Force, not a liability.”

hijab air force attorney 1

Ouza, who graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law, knew that her hijab may impact her application into the Air Force.

After being accepted into the highly-competitive JAG Corps program, she was told she could only request a religious accommodation after committing years of her life to military service.

Air Force officials said she would have to remove her hijab and begin basic training without the head covering.

The American Civil Liberties Union and her attorneys sent a letter to the Air Force on behalf of Ouza urging officials to reconsider the policy.

The Air Force then reversed their decision and allowed Ouza to join JAG Corps with the religious accommodation.

Ouza will attend further training in Alabama in July, and will be promoted to captain upon graduation in September.

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalized amid Qazwini controversy

(DEARBORN, MI) — The Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn, Mich. was vandalized with graffiti recently, amid an ongoing controversy involving Imam Hassan Qazwini, who resigned from the Islamic Center of America in January.

“The Qazwini and Iraq Club,” the graffiti read in Arabic. Other statements attacking the center’s founder, Mohammed Turfe, were sprayed on doors and walls.

Qazwini has been hosting Ramadan prayer services at the Bint Jbeil Center, which prompted an anonymous letter attacking the center’s founder.

“We hold Mohammed Turfe fully responsible for the unprecedented act of hosting Qazwini, and we ask him to ban Qazwini from the center to save the community from controversy and divisions,” the letter said.

Qazwini is an Iraqi-American, while most board members are Lebanese-American. Qazwini says his opponents are targeting him because of his national origin.

In January, Qazwini was the target of anonymous letters that accused him of corruption and adultery, including diverting mosque money for his father’s projects in Iraq.

He strongly denied all allegations, except admitting that he sent some money to his father’s charitable orphanage in Iraq.

Qazwini, who was born in Iraq, says he was the victim of racism by Lebanese board members, who wanted to fund projects in Lebanon, according to the Detroit Free Press.

A group of volunteers have since cleaned off the graffiti. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Dearborn Police at 313-943-3012.

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 News

Lebanese satirist under fire for ‘insulting Islam’

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese satirist Charbel Khalil is under fire for allegedly defaming Islam on Twitter.

Khalil appeared before a prosecutor on Monday after Dar al-Fatwa, the top Sunni religious authority in Lebanon, filed a complaint against him to the courts.

Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Abdel-Latif Derian urged Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi to take action against Khalil, after he posted a photo of a woman lying on a black bed-cover with the Islamic slogan, “There is no God but God and Mohammed is his Prophet” in Arabic.

The black bed cover resembled the banner of the Islamic State group and it was accompanied with the words, “Sexual jihad under the Prophet’s umbrella.”

Khalil appeared before the prosecutor at Beirut’s Justice Palace with his lawyer MP Ibrahim Kanaan. He said the photo meant to shed light on the harm being done by Islamic State militants to Islam.

State Prosecutor Samir Hammoud referred the case to the State Prosecutor of Appeals Claude Karam after he found that there was enough evidence to try Khalil.

Khalil’s friends, colleagues, and supporters gathered outside of court with black ribbons around their mouths to signify government censorship.

© AP Photo/Hussein Malla
© AP Photo/Hussein Malla

Many of them held signs reading “Je Suis Charbel”, comparing Khalil’s case to the Charlie Hebdo Magazine in Paris. The magazine headquarters came under fire on January 7 by a group that killed 11 people and injured 11 others over an alleged critical photo of Prophet Mohammed.

Khalil is the director of comedy program “Basmat Watan,” which airs on LBC-TV. The program pokes fun at politicians of all political backgrounds and religions.

In 2006, Khalil came under fire after airing a satire comedy of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, sparking street demonstrations and tire burnings in Beirut.

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 City Beat, News, Raleigh

Three Muslim students killed in North Carolina

(CHAPEL HILL, NC) — Three Muslim-American students were shot to death at the residential complex of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday.

Police say Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was arrested and charged with killing the students.

The victims, all shot in the head, were identified as Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, and his wife, Yusor Mohammad, 21, of Chapel Hill, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh, police said.

The father of two of the victims called the shooting a “hate crime” based on their Islamic faith. But Chapel Hill police said that “preliminary investigation indicates the crime was motivated by an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking,” according to a statement posted online.

“We understand the concerns about the possibility that this was hate-motivated and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case,” the statement said, quoting Police Chief Chris Blue.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt called the killings a “senseless and tragic act surrounding a long-standing dispute.”

“I share strong feelings of outrage and shock with my fellow citizens and university students — as well as concerned people everywhere,” he said. “We do not know whether anti-Muslim bias played a role in this crime, but I do recognize the fear that members of our community may feel. Chapel Hill is a place for everyone, a place where Muslim lives matter.”

On the UNC campus Wednesday night, several thousand people attended a candlelight vigil in memory of the students. In Raleigh, a moment of silence was planned during the North Carolina St. vs Virginia basketball game, according to Chancellor Randy Woodson.

Hicks, who turned himself in to authorities, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the fatal shootings. His Facebook profile boasts a page called “Atheists for Equality” where he frequently published posts critical of religion.

The hashtag #ChapelHillShooting and #MuslimLivesMatter were trending on Twitter just a few hours after the shooting, including several thousand tweets criticizing Western media for not covering the shooting.

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Muslim passenger claims harassment on Delta Airlines flight

(DETROIT, MI) — A Muslim woman from Dearborn says Delta Airlines mishandled a harassment case on a flight from Florida to Detroit.

Darlene Hider, 32, said she was with her four kids and husband when another woman yelled, “This is America!” and insulted her because of her Islamic faith.

Instead of asking the woman to stop, Delta flight attendants told Hider to “get your kids and change seats.” She was later moved to the rear of the plane.

“I felt as if I wanted to defend myself but I couldn’t because of the Islamophobia going on,” Hider told BuzzFeed News. “It’s enough that I wear a scarf. We have to prove ourselves every day to people and it gets tiring. I’m not a terrorist. I’m American.”

According to Hider, the flight attendant said: “You are at my wit’s end. You better be quiet before I kick you off this plane!”

Hider’s brother, Abed Ayoub, is the legal and policy director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

“Everyday Muslims and Arabs are discriminated against in America,” Ayoub posted on Twitter. “They are sisters, wives, mothers and don’t deserve this.”

“As a civil rights attorney I work with victims of discrimination all the time. Corporations like Delta need to respond better,” he said.

Brian Kruse, a spokesman for Delta Airlines, say they’re reviewing the situation.

“Delta does not condone discrimination of any kind,” he told the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday.

The president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Samer Khalaf, is now calling on Delta to better train their flight attendants.

“We encourage Delta to take immediate steps to rectify this matter and ensure that their agents are better equipped to address instances of harassment,” he said.

The ADC released a video that they say shows part of the incident. A flight attendant is heard saying: “You want to get off the plane? I’m fixing the problem. If you want, we will take you out.”

WATCH video footage of Hider moving seats:

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 City Beat, Detroit

Imam Al-Qazwini resigns amid Islamic Center controversy

(DEARBORN, MI) — Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini resigned from his duties as spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of America (ICA) on Ford Road in Dearborn, Mich. on Friday.

In a speech to the Young Muslim Association, Al-Qazwini called ICA board members “racist” and “selfish,” and called on the packed congregation to urge them to step down.

“For 18 years, I kept my mouth shut,” he said. “I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Al-Qazwini has been the target of anonymous letters that accused him of corruption and adultery, including diverting mosque money for his father’s projects in Iraq.

He has strongly denied all allegations, except admitting that he sent some money to his father’s charitable orphanage in Iraq.

Al-Qazwini, who was born in Iraq, says he was also the victim of racism by Lebanese board members, who wanted to fund projects in Lebanon, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Ron Amen, the chairman of the board, confirmed Qazwini’s resignation.

“The news came as a total shock to the board,” Amen told the Arab American News. “I think it’s a huge mistake. There have been derogatory comments about the Sayed, but I don’t believe resigning is the way to handle the adversary.”

Lebanese-American radio host Afaf Ahmad says she’s being attacked for publishing controversial YouTube videos about ICA issues.

“It’s very said,” she said. “This is how the Arab community reacts to a female journalist is doing her job and telling the truth. Thanks to those who believe in my mission since only brainwashed people are attacking me mostly from fake accounts.”

On Twitter, supporters are defending Al-Qazwini with the hashtags #SupportQazwini and #WeSupportQazwini.

“The community I know is better then this,” wrote Danielle Mallad. “Should we not come together instead of dividing apart? Stop the hatred!”

Another Twitter user wrote: “I admire and respect you for your 18 years of loyal service to our community, you will be greatly missed.”

WATCH Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini speak to the Young Muslim Association:

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 City Beat, Detroit

Muslim woman files suit against Advance America

(DEARBORN, MI) — An Arab American woman filed a discrimination lawsuit against Advance America in Inkster, Mich. on Wednesday.

Raghdaa Ali says she walked into a cash advance provider in June when the clerk told her to “get out,” she told WYXZ-TV in Detroit.

Ali claims the clerk pointed to a dress code sign on the door and asked her to leave, saying her religious head scarf violated the no hat policy.

“This is our beliefs and our religious (beliefs) — we cannot take it off. She said if you cannot take it off, we cannot serve you,” she told WXYZ-TV.

Ali filed a federal lawsuit against the corporate parent, claiming that Michigan does not require the removal of the scarf for state ID, and asking to remove her headscarf is unlawful.

“Lack of (knowledge of) religious culture,” is to blame says Ali. “This is my country and I have the same right as they have.”

Advance America Cash Advance was founded in 1997 and is the largest provider of the non-bank cash advance services in the United States.

“For the safety of our customers and employees, Advance America requires the temporary removal of hoods, hats, sunglasses and other head coverings in order to be admitted into our centers,” said Jamie Fulmer, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Advance America. “We intend to vigorously defend the legitimate security purpose of our practice in court.”

Ali says she has the support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee.

“In this instance, we are talking about a religiously protected activity. In this instance, we are talking about mistreatment towards somebody because of the way they look,” says Fatina Abdrabboh, the director of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee.

Watch the WXYZ-TV report below:

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 Entertainment, New York, News

Lebanese-American Muslim to play Jesus in Bill O’Reilly film

(NEW YORK, NY) — Lebanese-American Muslim actor Haaz Sleiman will play Jesus in a new National Geographic Channel film, an adaptation of Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Jesus.”

The Lebanese actor will join Kelsey Grammer, Stephen Moyer, Rufus Sewell, Emmanuelle Chriqui and John Rhys Davies in the project, according to The haaz-sleiman---photoHollywood Reporter.

Sleiman, who was born in the United Arab Emirates, was raised in Lebanon and moved to the United States when he was 21 years old. He previously starred in the 2008 indie drama film, “The Visitor,” where he played an undocumented Syrian immigrant.

Most recently, he had a recurring role in USA Network’s Covert Affairs, and in CBS dramas “Person of Interest” and “Reckless.”

“Traditionally Jesus has been played by a white man and I think the fact that this is a Middle-Eastern actor is significant,” Matthew Belloni, executive editor of The Hollywood Reporter, told ABC News.

One blogger called the selection of Sleiman “shocking.”

“I mean, if you were filming a Martin Luther King, Jr., miniseries, you wouldn’t cast Jim Caviezel or Diogo Morgado in the lead role. It’d be ridiculous and racist and insulting,” wrote blogger David Henson.

O’Reilly, who will serve as executive producer of the film, says “Killing Jesus” is a history book about Jesus the man, not the Messiah.

“The film (Killing Jesus) will break new ground in chronicling the life of the most famous human being who ever lived. The superb cast and script reflect much thought and research. Viewers are in for something very different and very special.”

Killing Jesus will premiere globally on the National Geographic Channel in 2015 in 171 countries and 45 languages.

Watch ABC News’ report about O’Reilly’s new film:

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 News

Christian-Muslim summit hosted in Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A joint Christian-Muslim Summit was held in Beirut at Dar al-Fatwa to discuss the dangers facing Lebanon, including the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians in the face of threats by the Islamic State.

The meeting comes after the election of Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian who stressed on the importance of safeguarding Lebanon from any religious strife.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said that Christians and Muslims have nothing to fear from each other.

“We in Lebanon today, Muslims and Christians together, pledge to safeguard each other,” Qabbani said in his opening speech. He urged people of different religious groups to avoid conflict and “overwhelm their nation with unity.”

Attending the summit were also deputy head of the higher Shia council Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Druze leader Sheikh Naim Hasan and many other representatives of various religious sects.

In a statement, the summit members declared they would form a joint committee that will meet with Arab heads of state and religious leaders to tackle the various challenges especially the displacement and persecution of Christians in the Arab world.

“Lebanon needs a president who has the ability to lead the Lebanese toward common values,” the head of the dialogue committee, Mohammad al-Sammak, said.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri hailed a Lebanese Christian-Muslim summit which convened Thursday, particularly its call for a swift end to the presidential vacuum.

“I particularly praise the call released by the attendees to elect new president,” Hariri said in a statement.

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 News

Halal industry to be worth $2.5 trillion by 2018

Halal food and lifestyle, products manufactured or produced as per the Islamic laws, sectors are expected to grow phenomenally as Muslim population continues to grow and the companies hoping to tap into the lucrative market.

As per the latest State of Global Islamic Economy Report, published by Thomson Reuters in partnership with DinarStandard, consumer expenditure in 2012 for the fast-growing global halal food and lifestyle sectors was $1.62 trillion and is expected to be valued at $2.47 trillion by 2018.

“Global brands such as Nestle, Carrefour, Marriot, Pfizer, as well as regional investment firms and thousands of SME’s grapple with serving this fast growing, global, and complex market,” said Rafi-uddin Shikoh, Managing Director & CEO of DinarStandard, in a statement released yesterday.

The report defines halal as:

“Food permitted per Islamic dietary guidelines from the Qu’ran. Muslim followers cannot consume: pork or pork by products, animals that were dead prior to slaughtering, animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of God, blood and blood by products, alcohol, carnivorous animals, birds of prey.”

GCC halal food imports are set to jump from $25.8 billion in 2010 to $53.1 billion by 2020, and the UAE’s annual halal food imports is expected to reach $8.4 billion by the end of the decade – according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The UAE is all geared to position itself as the gateway of this growing industry segment. The UAE government has recently announced setting up of ‘Halal Cluster,’ a 6.7 million square feet land in Dubai Industrial City, for firms dealing in halal food, cosmetics, and personal care items, according to the CEO of Dubai Industrial City, Abdullah Belhoul.

“This industry itself, we know it is growing. So we think there is a lot of opportunity… and we need to capitalize on this,” said the CEO.

The report mentions that the global Muslim consumers spent about $1,088 billion in food and beverage consumption in 2012, accounting for 16.6% of global expenditure. “This expenditure is expected to grow to $1,626 billion market by 2018. This represents the Halal food potential market world-wide within its core Muslim consumer market,” according to the report.

 

Source: Al-Bawaba

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