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Muslim American Society Update - Muslimah - 06-28-2003
In the Name of Allah: Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Muslim American Society Update
June 27, 2003
1) FLIER FROM SENATOR ANGERS MUSLIMS (BOSTON GLOBE)
2) MAS-BOSTON ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SENATOR'S COMMENTS
3) MAS FREEDOM FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH VOTER REGISTRATION
DRIVE NATIONWIDE
4) ICNA-MAS CONVENTION JULY 4TH WEEKEND IN PHILADELPHIA
_________________________
1) FLIER FROM SENATOR ANGERS MUSLIMS
By Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe
http://www.globe.com/dailyglobe2/178/metro...ier_from_senato
r_angers_Muslims+.shtml
Senator Guy W. Glodis has angered Muslims and a civil rights
group over a flier he sent to fellow senators that says
terrorist attacks could be deterred if convicted Muslim
extremists were buried with pig entrails.
The flier, which Glodis's 39 colleagues received Wednesday,
said an execution of Muslim extremists in the Philippines
was ordered by General John Joseph ''Black Jack'' Pershing
before World War I, in which the terrorists were shot with
bullets dipped in pigs' blood, then buried with ''pigs'
blood, entrails, etc.'' According to the flier, contact with
the blood and entrails of pigs ''instantly barred'' Muslims
from paradise, dooming them to hell. It said news of the
burial deterred other terrorist attacks for ''the next
forty-two years.''
''Maybe it is time for this segment of history to repeat
itself, maybe in Iraq,'' the flier concluded. ''The question
is, where do we find another Black Jack Pershing?''
A Muslim group denounced the flier as ''slanderous
garbage.'' Internet websites cast doubt on the authenticity
of the killings as described in the flier, with at least one
referring to the description as a fictional chain.
The Auburn Democrat would not say yesterday whether he
agreed with the contents of the flier, which he circulated
to his colleagues with a note that said ''thought this might
be of interest to you.''
''I didn't write it,'' he said. ''I just passed it along to
my colleagues. I often share news items of interest with my
colleagues.''
The flier merely recounted historical fact, Glodis said, and
should not have offended anyone.
''If some of my colleagues are so weak-kneed and politically
correct and cannot accept historical fact, I suggest they
lodge a formal complaint with the secretary of the Army,''
Glodis said.
But a national Muslim society took a different view and
plans to call for Glodis's censure today.
''I am outraged and I am offended, and I think that the
senator owes an apology to his Muslim constituents,'' said
Raeed N. Tayeh, public affairs director of the Muslim
American Society Freedom Foundation, in Washington, D.C.
''The inflammatory nature of passing this around and the
recklessness with which he's done it -- he hasn't checked
his history, and I think it's ludicrous.''
Islam does not teach that people would be barred from heaven
by being buried with pigs, Tayeh said.
''It's a canard, it's a lie, a fable,'' he said. ''It is one
of those urban legends that keeps getting passed on like a
terrible chain letter. God admits people to heaven based on
their actions. This is what Muslims believe.''
Tayeh said he would join local Muslims today to call on
Senate President Robert E. Travaglini to censure Glodis.
Travaglini's office did not return several calls requesting
comment.
''This is just a sad commentary on the ignorance of people
who are entrusted to represent Americans, that they would
pass around such offensive, distasteful, and slanderous
garbage to members of an esteemed body such as the
Massachusetts Senate,'' Tayeh said.
A local civil rights leader concurred.
''It's deeply troubling,'' said Andrew Tarsy, civil rights
director for the Anti-Defamation League's New England
office. ''Discourse on difficult issues in this country
requires a fundamental respect for human rights. Appeals to
bigotry are not a part of the constructive discussion about
the war on terrorism. His role is to lead a discussion, and
that can be done without this kind of recklessness.''
Most of the senators called for comment on Glodis's mailing
yesterday did not return calls, but two defended his First
Amendment right to circulate it. ''I respect Guy. He is a
friend, and this isn't something I would support or send
out, but he has a right to do it,'' said Senate Minority
Leader Brian P. Lees, an East Longmeadow Republican.
''If there was any indication that we would repeat something
like that, I would never agree to anything like that, but he
has a right to any opinion he wants,'' he said.
Senator Jarrett T. Barrios said he found the flier
offensive, and threw it away.
''I get offensive things sent to me all the time,'' said the
Cambridge Democrat.
''The First Amendment of the United States allows people to
be eloquent in how they express themselves or to be
troglodytes. It doesn't discriminate. Clearly, the senator
is able to exercise his First Amendment rights and has
chosen to do so. And I am free to throw it in the garbage.''
2) MAS-BOSTON ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SENATOR'S
COMMENTS
Contact: Ms. Sadaf Kazmi 617) 834-0849
(Boston, MA - 6/27/2203) The Boston chapter of the Muslim
American Society* (MAS) is deeply outraged over the
circulation of a fabricated flier by State Senator Guy
Glodis in the esteemed chambers of the Massachusetts General
Court.
The flier in question includes a fictitious story claiming
that in 1913, General Jack Pershing, then a military
governor in the Philippines, carried out a mass execution of
Muslim rebels using bullets soaked in pigs' blood, and then
buried the bodies with the blood and entrails of the pigs in
order to deprive these "Muslim extremists" from entering
heaven.
The canard goes on to say that this act deterred "terrorism"
in the world for the following 42 years, and it closes with
the sentence: "Maybe it is time for this segment of history
to repeat itself, maybe in Iraq? The question is, where do
we find another Black Jack Pershing?"
Senator Glodis attached a message to the flier that he sent
to his colleagues saying, "Thought this might be of interest
to you."
Well it might be of interest to Mr. Glodis to know that the
"lesson from history" that he passed around is a total
fabrication, kept alive by bigots who wish to vilify and
demonize Muslims and the Islamic faith.
It might be of interest to Mr. Glodis to know that as far as
Islam goes, God controls the gates of heaven, not maniacal
savages who would commit mass murder in such a foul and
inhumane way.
It might be of interest to Mr. Glodis to know that the
Constitution of the United States of America, a document he
swore to uphold, forbids "cruel and unusual" punishment for
any and all crimes committed.
Such ignorance, recklessness, and disrespect is something
that our community has come to anticipate from right-wing
bigots, not from a Democratic state senator from the
distinguished Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who has been
entrusted to represent and inform his people, not mislead
and disgrace them.
We call on Senate President Robert Travaglini to begin
censure proceedings immediately, and we call on the Senate
Ethics and Rules Committee to investigate the matter as
well.
3) MAS FREEDOM FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH VOTER REGISTRATION
DRIVE NATIONWIDE
The MAS Freedom Foundation, the public affairs arm of the
Muslim American Society, plans to kick off it's nationwide
voter registration drive over the 4th of July weekend in
Philadelphia. The theme of the drive is "I'm Muslim, I
Vote!"
The drive will begin in the birthplace of American Democracy
during the annual Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA)-Muslim American Society (MAS) joint convention (see
below for more details). Simultaneously, MAS chapters
around the country, including the Maryland, Illinois,
Massachusetts, and North Caroline chapters, will launch the
drive in their local areas.
"Our goal is to get a head-start on the forthcoming
elections. We want to be ready, with votes in hand for
those who support our issues, or against those who oppose
us," said Raeed N. Tayeh, public affairs director for the
MAS Freedom Foundation. "It is our absolute responsibility
to vote and bring our issues and perspective into the
political realm."
To find a chapter in your area that is participating in the
drive, please visit www.masnet.org/chapters.asp, or send an
email to raeed@masnet.org.
4) ICNA-MAS CONVENTION JULY 4TH WEEKEND IN PHILADELPHIA
ICNA & MAS Annual Convention
Friday - Saturday - Sunday July 4,5,6 2003
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, PA
Convention Theme -- America at a Crossroads: The Struggle
for Liberty and Justice
Confirmed Speakers
Imam Siraj Wahaj w Dr. Mohammed Nur Abdullah
Imam Zaid Shakir w Dr. Ihsan Bagby
Dr. Suheil Ghannouchi w Dr. Ali Mazrui
Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed w Dr. Salah Sultan
Dr. Muzamil Siddiqui w Dr. Talat Sultan
Dr. Ahmed Turkistan w Dr. Zahid Bukhari
Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah w Dr. Ibrahim Negem
Dr. Hassanuddin Ahmed w Dr. Muhammed Yunus
Sheikh Shakir El-Sayed w Mr. William Baker
Sheikh Mokhtar Maghroui
For more information or to register, please visit
www.icna.org
_____________________________
Muslim American Society
P.O. Box 1896
Falls Church, VA 22041
Tel: (703) 998-6525
Fax: (703) 998-6526
Email: communications@masnet.org
Web: www.masnet.org