Posted on 03/18/2003 7:03:00 PM PST by joesnuffy
Islamic civil rights groups to issue safety resource kit online RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. - A national Islamic civil rights group e-mailed safety information to mosques, community centers and others Monday in anticipation of anti-Muslim backlash from the impending war against Iraq.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said the information includes tips on how to handle bomb threats, violence and how to secure mosques.
"To the average American, they don't know the difference between Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden or American Muslims," said Ahmed Bedier, a spokesman for CAIR's Florida office. "They think that all Muslims are the enemy, and that's really unfortunate."
The information was e-mailed across the country and posted on its Web site hours before President Bush was expected to address the nation at 8 p.m. EST on the situation with Iraq.
Bush gave Saddam Hussein a final ultimatum Monday to leave Iraq or face a U.S.-led war.
The development came as the United States, Britain and Spain ended diplomatic efforts in the United Nations to disarm Hussein, withdrawing their proposed resolution setting an ultimatum and clearing the way for a U.S.-led war without Security Council approval.
CAIR has been working on the safety information because of growing concern that anti-Muslim sentiment will increase if a war were to begin.
"American Muslims in this country are patriotic Americans" even if they are opposed to the war in Iraq, Bedier said.
The American public, by a 2-1 margin, supports military action against Iraq to remove Hussein, a slight increase in support from recent weeks, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll out Monday.
About a half-dozen incidents targeting Arab-Americans and Muslims have occurred in recent weeks, said Hodan Hassan, a CAIR spokeswoman.
The incidents have occurred in California, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon and South Carolina, and include beatings of people perceived to be Muslim and Arab, racial slurs and windows being broken at a Chicago mosque while more than 100 Muslims prayed inside.
Hassan said that depending on how the war with Iraq plays out, things can only get worse.
"If we start to see Americans being killed or injured or if there is a terrorist attack anywhere in the world targeting American interests we are concerned there will be a backlash," she said.
Hassan said that FBI offices across the country have talked with local Muslim leaders to discuss security.
"Protecting the civil rights of all Americans remains the top priority of the FBI," agency spokeswoman Sara Oates said. "We are prepared to take a strong and immediate action against any Arab-American backlash. We are committed to investigate any violations of civil rights and to seek (the community's) cooperation and assistance in our efforts to combat terrorism."
ON THE NET
Council on American-Islamic Relations: http://www.cair-net.org/
This guy is stereotyping an "average American" as someone who stereotypes all Muslims. How ironic.
Maybe if CAIR took a stand against Islamic followers threatening US citizens (just because they are US citizens), then there compalints about Islamic groups being threatened (just because they are Islamic groups), then I would have some sympathy.
You reap what you sow.
Mistake or deliberate lie? I doubt if the backlash will be from the war, but rather from any terrorist attacks that may occur. You decide.
Does that include the horn blast and French salute I gave to a hijabi-wearing woman idiot driver when she pulled out right in front of my car at the mall in Dearborn?
Oh dear, I just confessed to a "hate crime." You Freepers will visit me in jail, won't you?
Uh, so what's the problem? Better safe than sorry is what I say.
F***ing liar!
But keep up your trash talk and the average American will hate your guts.
After setting a bomb in a crowded, undefended place where you will kill the most for the least explosive, call the police when there is too little time left for evacuation...etc
This sounds like an invitation to a mugging. Why are they calling attention to themselves? Do they know something we don't?
It is no longer PC to kill Islamic terrorists who point a weapon at you.You must actually die to prove how sensitive you were to multicutural acceptance.
After all, these people are just the same as you, except for culturally induced homocidal tendacies.
Just die on schedule, and all will be well.
Resistance is futile.
And the dweebs think we watch to much TV!
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