The survey, which polled 950 Indian American Muslims in order to take a “comprehensive look” at how Hindu nationalist ideology, particularly following the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is “shaping social, professional, and digital interactions”, said that over 80% of respondents experienced “Islamophobic harassment, discrimination, or prejudice from Hindu friends or social contacts over the past decade since Modi’s rise to power.”

It said, 70% of respondents experienced biased treatment from Hindu colleagues, including being passed over from promotions and anti-Muslim remarks at work; 48% of respondents reported facing harassment and discrimination on Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn, describing these experiences as emotionally exhausting, and contributing to feelings of isolation and hostility; 90% of respondents agreed (73% of them strongly) that Hindu nationalism “is a threat to Muslims in the United States”; and 86% agreed (69% strongly) that Hindu nationalism “is a threat to democracy in the United States.”

According to the survey report, the rise of Hindu nationalism in India is directly driving the rise of Islamophobia within the Indian American diaspora, adding, “Hindu nationalism is fostering an environment of intolerance that actively undermines democratic values both in India and within the diaspora community in the U.S.

Indian American Muslims are experiencing the dissolution of longstanding social, workplace, and community bonds” with “their Hindu peers who have absorbed the bigoted ideology of the Modi regime.”

The report further say, social media platforms have been weaponized against the Indian American Muslim community, “which overwhelmingly reported experiences of anxiety, fear, and isolation from Islamophobic posts and groups on international tech platforms.”

It adds, the conflation of the political ideology of Hindu nationalism with the religion of Hinduism has “dangerously allowed the supremacist movement to penetrate U.S. cultural and progressive spaces, further isolating Indian Americans.”

The survey respondents are located throughout the United States but are concentrated in the larger Indian American population centers in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Texas, and California.
The report emphasizes on the need for enhanced community dialogue, education, and policy interventions to address the growing divide and ensure the inclusion and safety of Indian American Muslims.

Source: Counterview

Director: Nausheen Dadabhoy

Producer: Sofian Khan, Kristi Jacobson, Heba Elorbany

Duration: 82 Minutes

In “An Act of Worship”, Pakistani-American filmmaker Nausheen Dadabhoy weaves a glorious tapestry of personal stories, verité, archival footage, and home movies together, to open a window into the world of Muslim Americans. Due to their first-hand knowledge and intimate access to the Muslim community, the filmmaking team is able to take charge of the account, which has previously been shaped by outsiders.

The film follows three women activists who have come of age since 9/11 and who are part of a new generation of Muslims in America. One is a community organizer of a sanctuary city initiative in New York, another is a young hijab-wearing activist in Michigan learning how to overcome society’s expectations of her, and the third is a California lawyer advocating for her community while balancing motherhood.

Interwoven with each woman’s tale is a historical timeline that takes a look back at pivotal moments affecting Muslim community, From the Boston Bombing to the Muslim Ban, the film’s chronicle explores the collective memory of the community through a lyrical combination of home videos and re-told stories. The portrait the film creates shows a community that has undergone enormous change as it emerges from the shadows to shape its own narrative and resist further marginalization.

Source: Tribeca Film Festival

Islamic Educational Center of Orange County (IECOC) is a Shi’a non-profit organization based in Orange County, California, serving all the communities of Orange and Los Angeles Counties since 1996. It provides religious and educational services to Shi’a Muslims in the area.

The IECOC Youth organization is composed and run by Muslim youths, who manage and shape each session according to the issues that interest them.

The creed of this organization will be: There is no god, but God, and Mohammad (PBUH) is His rightful messenger. The purpose of this Youth Group is to serve the best interests of Islam and the Muslims of Southern California. Towards this end, members of the Youth Group shall aspire to:

– Lead a life according to the principles of Islam as provided for by (a) Allah (SWT) in the holy Quran; (b) His messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS); and (c) the Ahlul Bayt (AS).

– Help young Muslims conduct themselves in accordance with Islamic principles.

– Create a support system for Muslim youth in Southern California.

– Prepare the youth to be the future leaders of the community and maintain Islamic heritage for future generations.

– Promote unity and joint action among Muslims.

– Encourage and provide Islamic education to the members of Youth Group

– Promote charitable activities within the greater community of California.

– Promote cooperation and good relations with both Muslims and non-Muslims, and their respective organizations.

– Create a professional network for youth who hope to be future professionals.

– Encourage organized civic engagement.

– Provide services for community members that increase access to (a) jobs; (b) career opportunities; and (c) career advice.

Founder and Director

Dr. Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini is the Founding Imam of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County and Founding President of the Shia Muslim Council of Southern California. He is a graduate of the Islamic seminary of Qum, holds a PhD in Islamic Studies from UK and is the author of a number of books.

In September 1996, he founded the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County (IECOC). Drawing on his experience in Islamic studies, he has maturated the center for educational, religious and social events. As the founder and imam of IECOC, he serves as a mentor for the Muslim community.

Contacts

• Address: 3194-B Airport Loop Dr, Costa Mesa. CA 92626, USA
• Phone: +1(714) 432 0060
• Email: info@iecoc.org
• Website: https://iecoc.org/

Most times, the Muslim community is only thinking of how Islamophobic tropes of otherization, not belonging in the U.S., Muslim women being called “towel heads,” boys being called Taliban, and other claims that label both males and females as terrorists impact the Muslim psyche – but bullying is not the only impact. Dr. Sawsan Jabr’s research suggests that as a result of Arab students experience in schools, they are having to adopt a dual identity of choosing to be Muslim or American at school. These are some of the consequences of Islamophobia on Muslim students, but we are often not asking the question of how Islamophobia impacts students of other faiths, too. I do not mean the obvious impact of Islamophobia of prejudice and bullying against Muslim students – I mean that if non-Muslim students never learn anything about the facts about Islam, the Islamophobia industry, and never hear Muslim voices, then what kind of society are we systematically creating?

It’s important to understand that schools often replicate what is happening in society.  Muslims are often dehumanized, blamed, and dragged into stories that have no basis in Islam itself- the case that comes to mind is the Virginia State Senator Amanda Chase who made an argument for not masking by attacking Islam and Muslims and claiming that when people mask, it’s similar to wearing the niqab and that will “break their will and individuality”. These outrageous and false claims make me further question what people are learning in schools and what the purpose of school is.

Source: MuslimMatters.org

According to Najeeb Jarrar, Google’s head of brand and consumer marketing at its Middle Eastern offices: ‘During Ramadan there’s a spike in the information required for prayer times, card making, how to give to charity and how and when to fast.’

Additionally, its new Qalam application has made it simple and accessible to create and share Ramadan greeting cards with friends and family members. The company worked extensively with calligraphists, including Soraya Syed, one of Pakistan’s first female calligraphers, and artists from around the world to craft over 35 artworks which seamlessly blend art, calligraphy and virtual reality.

Source: Daily Mail

As the world grapples with the impact of President Trump’s Muslim ban, Pope Francis stressed that no religion is terrorist, adding that the claimed “Muslim terrorism” does not exist. “Christian terrorism does not exist, Jewish terrorism does not exist, and Muslim terrorism does not exist,” the pontiff said in a welcome letter read aloud at a meeting of grassroots political movements in California, Daily Mail reported on Saturday, February 18.

Pope Francis insisted in the letter to the conference in Modesto that there are “violent individuals in all peoples and religions”. Insisting that he was not talking about someone in particular, his speech is likely to be interpreted as a critique of President Trump’s immigration policy. “Intolerant generalizations” would only make these people stronger because they feed on hate and xenophobia, the Pope added.

“Do not classify others in order to see who is a neighbor and who is not,” the pope said. “You can become neighbor to whomever you meet in need, and you will do so if you have compassion in your heart.” The session on racism was attended by more than 600 clergy and social justice activists. The comments come as German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed on Saturday, February 18, that the Islamic faith is not the cause of terrorism. Merkel also urged members of the Muslim clergy to fight back against a “false” interpretation of the religion, which leads some to unjustifiably perpetrate acts of violence in its name.

Source: AboutIslam.net

A series of letters sent to mosques throughout California that threaten genocide against Muslims does not rise to the level of a hate crime, but police are still searching for the author or authors of the racist screeds, officials said Monday. Flanked by faith leaders and police commanders at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, law enforcement leaders said they are still doggedly pursuing the letter-writer or writers to ensure they don’t pose a larger threat.

“We know that incidents routinely evolve into crimes,” LAPD Cmdr. Horace Frank said. “We don’t want to wait until this evolves.” The gathering near Koreatown was sparked by a series of handwritten messages recently sent to Muslim faith centers in Los Angeles, Signal Hill, Northridge, Claremont, San Jose and Savannah, Ga. Each missive was addressed to the “Children of Satan” and called Muslims a “vile and filthy people.” The letters also praised President-elect Donald Trump and called for Muslims to be eradicated in the U.S.

“Your day of reckoning has arrived,” the letter read, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Greater Los Angeles chapter. “There’s a new sheriff in town — President Donald Trump. He’s going to cleanse America and make it shine again. And, he’s going to start with you Muslims.”  The letter, signed only by “Americans for a Better Way,” said Trump was “going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.”

Stephen Woolery, who heads the counterterrorism division of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said the messages are too vague to constitute a hate crime. While the FBI does not have an open investigation into the letters, police in Los Angeles, Pomona, San Jose and other jurisdictions are still trying to find the author or authors, and plan to document the threats as a “hate incident.” Frank said threats like these could be indicative of a larger threat, pointing to the October arrest of an Agoura Hills man who called the Islamic Center of Southern California and threatened to kill people there because of his “hatred for Muslims.” When that man, 40-year-old Mark Feigin, was arrested, a search of his home turned up thousands of rounds of ammunition and several weapons, police and prosecutors have said.  Investigators said the letters appear similar, and it is likely each was sent by the same person…

Continue reading at: Los Angeles Times

The FBI’s strategy for Preventing Violent Extremism in Schools aims to recruit teachers and school officials to monitor students for signs of radicalization. The criteria for what may constitute radicalization may as well be designed to facilitate racial and religious profiling and quash political dissent. It includes those who criticize US government policies, have qualms about “western corruption,” use “code word or unusual language,” and travel to “suspicious” countries. It also reinforces the mistaken belief that there are reliable indicators which may help predict who becomes a violent extremist.

The FBI’s strategy came under immediate fire for instructing teachers to effectively “act as puppets of federal law enforcement” and using the threat of terrorism to “justify a massive surveillance apparatus.” A coalition of 14 civil liberties organizations pointed out to FBI Director James Comey that the Bureau’s strategy “perpetuates profiling and negative stereotypes that Arabs, Sikhs, South Asians, Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim are prone to engage in extremist violence…”

Muslim students already face abuse and bullying in schools and the FBI’s strategy is likely to exacerbate this trend. In a study published last year, the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) reported that 55% of American Muslim students it surveyed admitted being subjected to “some form of bullying based on their religious identity,” a rate that was twice as high as the national average.

In addition to the threat of bullying, the FBI strategy also compromise the trust teachers strive to cultivate with students as well as teachers’ attempts to encourage original and creative thinking in students. As Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) warned in a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, having teachers participate in the FBI’s strategy may “chill relationships with students or, for that matter, undermine a supportive learning environment.”

These concerns are not merely theoretical. The FBI’s strategy is modeled after UK’s Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program known as Prevent. Since the British Parliament passed the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act in 2015, public sector workers such as teachers and doctors have a statutory duty to identify students and patients at risk of violent extremism and report them to Channel, the government’s De- radicalization program. Some recent reports on Prevent illustrate the problems the FBI’s strategy is likely to encounter and the impact it will have on students and teachers.

Source: World Bulletin / News Desk

SABA Islamic Center

Background

In 1977 a couple of families (Br. Ahmed Mirza and Br. Ali Hussain) took the initiative of locating the whereabouts of the Shia families and organizing a Moharram Majalis at their residences in San Jose.

In 1979 after the conclusion of a Majlis the Shia Association of Bay Area was formed and the people present at that time nominated five lifetime Trustees of the Association. The Association evolved from its’ infancy in 1979 to a reasonably well organized community.

Afterward instead of five lifetime Trustees, the Association decided to elect nine Trustees for two years. These Trustees perform various operating tasks voluntarily. A house was purchased in the city of San Jose in June of 1986 for $ 125,000.00 and converted into Hussaini Center. However, a permit to operate as a religious center could not be obtained due to strict requirements by the city.

In 1992 and as the community grew and more and more families started to participate in religious gatherings, a 2500 square feet building at South White Road was purchased at a cost of $450,000.00. With the help of contributions from the community members, the building was paid off in a few years.

Current Status

SABA Islamic Center has a unique position amongst all other Shia-Muslim Associations in North America that its’ membership comprises of Urdu speaking members from India and Pakistan, Persian speaking members from Iran and Afghanistan and Arabic speaking members from Lebanon, Iraq and other Arab countries along with the English and Spanish speaking members.

In 1992 SABA, by the Grace of God and help of fourteen infallibles, invited the first Resident Aalim and in 2002 the second Resident Aalim to serve the community. The first Hajj group was arranged by the Islamic Center in 1994 and since then every year Hajj group is organized. The Association has obtained Non-Profit Corporation and Tax Exempt status from the State of California and the Federal Government.

The Association also purchases grave-sites in local Muslim cemeteries frequently on as needed basis where Islamic funeral and burial arrangements are made. The grave-sites are funded by the donations from the community. A weekend school for children is held every Sunday to teach Quran, Fiqh and Islamic History. Adult classes are also conducted on as needed basis. Friday prayers, Moharram, Ramadhan and Thursday programs are regularly held at the SABA Center. During Moharram, Safar and Ramadhan various religious scholars are invited for parallel speeches in different languages.

Annual family camping trip, Al-Hasnain Youth conference and a picnic is held every year by the Association. Arrangements for the collection and disbursement of Fitra, Zakat, Khums and donations for needy families are made as required by the community. Nikah and marriage counseling services are provided by the Islamic Center.

SABA Islamic Center welcomes non-Muslims to learn about Islam. So far many conversions have taken place. There is a monthly membership fee to become a member of the Islamic Center. The funds thus raised is used for the upkeep of the center, Resident Aalim’s expenses and for Islamic Center programs. SABA Islamic Center was the first Islamic Center to start the weekly email and web-site was started in 1996 to communicate the Islamic Center programs to the community.

Current Objectives

Payoff the new building. Increase attendance in religious school for children and adults Establish a library of religious books, periodicals, video and audio tapes, etc. Increase coordination and cooperation with other Islamic Centers.

Contacts:

• Address: 4415 Fortran Ct, San Jose, CA 95134, US
• Phone: +1 408-946-5700
• Email: saba@saba-igc.org
• Website: http://www.saba-igc.org/about-saba/history