VOICE MUSLIM VOICE Monthly Newspaper | Vol.15 Issue No.174 | March 2011 Rabi Al-Awwal / Rabi Al-Akhar 1432H FREE www.AZMuslimVoice.com FREE CONSULTATION 602-306-1111 ACCIDENTS & INJURY • Auto Accidents • Serious Injuries • Dangerous Products • Death Cases • Slip & Fall • Police Officers Abuse • Large Truck Accidents MEDICAL MALPRACTICE • Birth & Brain Injuries • Misdiagnosis • Surgical Errors • Nursing Home abuse • Complex Injury Cases • Harmful Drugs Website: WWW. ALZAIDILAW.COM ديحمد الزيامي م امي حوادث محاACCIDENTS & SERIOUS INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE & WRONGFUL DEATH Discount Fee 25 % * FREE ADVICE BY PHONE / CALL 24 HOURS *For non-litigated cases **Cost Extra Toll Free 1-866-498-4878 No Recovery NO FEE ** 1990 W Camelback Rd. Suite 416 Phoenix, AZ 85015 Trusted by the community since 1993 AMERICAN-MUSLIMS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Vote on www.azmuslimvoice.com 12 10 Poll: Arab Uprisings: Young People Break with Tradition Join our Facebook group to meet other Muslims in Phoenix Group name: Muslim Voice Do you believe Arizona is becoming a hostile place for immigrants? Do you believe that Arab revaluations will change U.S. foreign Policy ? Last month’s results: Yes 66.7% • No 33.3% New America Media News Report, Jalal Ghazi EYE ON THE ARAB MEDIA -- Arab scholars and journalists are struggling to come up with answers explaining the sudden uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and other Arab countries. Many of them, however, believe it has a lot to do with youth empowerment stemming from young peoples’ ability to break away from tribal and religious traditions. Abdel Aziz Al-Khamis, Editor-in-Chief of the Arabian Observer Magazine told the London-based television network, Arab News Broadcasting (ANB) that the Arab youth are rebelling against their parents’ ideals. “They saw how their parents failed to rebel; they saw how their parents dealt with traditional ideals such as the religious value that calls on people to obey the rulers”, and according to Al-Khamis, they are not willing to continue on the same path. “The tribal chiefs and even the religious sheiks no longer have control over the younger generation like they used to have in the past,” Al-Khamis added, “their control used to even go over the younger peoples’ parents, but not anymore, and that is due to education and openness to other [Western] countries.” For example, in Sidi Bouzid in southern Tunisia, the tribal and religious sheiks who are loyal to now former President Ben Ali’s regime tried to calm the uprising down, but they failed. According to Al-Khamis, they met with the young generation and talked to them, but the protestors made specific demands that their sheiks could not meet. The younger generation wants their dignity and rights that were taken away from them by the rulers, he said. Tribal and religious leaders are losing control over the young generations because they are becoming part of a civil society that is being formed now and this is happening in all Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Al-Khamis added. Political analyst Suliman Busofah pointed out that the younger generations are more willing to challenge traditional religious values than their parents. He told ANB “in our Islamic traditions the thing that we teach our children to fear most is to be burned. But the new generations no longer Continued on page 14 4 2 Shedding Light On The Neglected Muslim Consumer Market Muslim Media Honored in Nation’s Capital Immigration Advocates Denounce Arizona Governor’s Yes No Dr. Shadwan Alsafwah MD, FACC, FSCAI Board Certified Cardiologist 480-832-2010 CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A LAWYER 602-264-9800 BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM • ELIMINATE CREDIT CARD DEBT • STOP FORECLOSURES IMMEDIATELY • ELIMINATE MEDICAL BILLS • STOP HARASSING PHONE CALLS • STOP CREDITOR LAWSUITS • STOP GARNISHMENT ORDERS • ELIMINATE OLD TAXES • ELIMINATE 2ND MORTGAGES AFFORDABLE FLAT FEES The Law Office of Christos Agra, PLC One East Camelback Road, Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85012 Christos Agra 14 See details page 13 and 20 March 6 th M U L T I C U L T U R A L FESTIVAL & EXPO SPRING 2011 American Muslim Woman Association holds its Hajj dinner Palestinians call for unity
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Vote on www.azmuslimvoice.com
1210
Poll:
Arab Uprisings: Young People Break with Tradition
Join our Facebook group to meet other Muslims in Phoenix
Group name: Muslim Voice
Do you believe Arizona is becoming a hostile place for immigrants?
Do you believe that Arab revaluations will change U.S. foreign Policy ?
Last month’s results:
Yes 66.7% • No 33.3%
New America Media
News Report, Jalal Ghazi
EYE ON THE ARAB MEDIA -- Arab scholars and journalists are struggling to come up with answers explaining the sudden uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and other Arab countries. Many of them, however, believe it has a lot to do with youth empowerment stemming from young peoples’ ability to break away from tribal and religious traditions.
Abdel Aziz Al-Khamis, Editor-in-Chief of the Arabian Observer Magazine told the London-based television network, Arab News Broadcasting (ANB) that the Arab youth are rebelling against their parents’ ideals. “They saw how their parents failed to rebel; they saw how their parents dealt with traditional ideals such as the religious value that calls on people to obey the rulers”, and according to Al-Khamis, they are not willing to continue on the same path.
“The tribal chiefs and even the religious sheiks no longer have control over the younger generation like they used to have in the past,” Al-Khamis added, “their
control used to even go over the younger peoples’ parents, but not anymore, and that is due to education and openness to other [Western] countries.”
For example, in Sidi Bouzid in southern Tunisia, the tribal and religious sheiks who are loyal to now former President Ben Ali’s regime tried to calm the uprising down, but they failed. According to Al-Khamis, they met with the young generation and talked to them, but the protestors made specific demands that their sheiks could not meet. The younger generation wants their dignity and rights that were taken away from them by the rulers, he said.
Tribal and religious leaders are losing control over the young generations because they are becoming part of a civil society that is being formed now and this is happening in all Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Al-Khamis added.
Political analyst Suliman Busofah pointed out that the younger generations are more willing to challenge traditional religious values than their parents. He told ANB “in our Islamic traditions the thing that we teach our children to fear most is to be burned. But the new generations no longer
Continued on page 14
42Shedding Light On The Neglected MuslimConsumerMarket
The Law Office of Christos Agra, PLCOne East Camelback Road, Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Christos Agra
14
See details page 13 and 20March 6th
MULTICULTURAL
FESTIVAL & EXPOSPRING 2011
AmericanMuslim Woman Association holds its Hajjdinner
Palestinianscall forunity
MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com2 CARTOON / LOCAL
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TERMS USED IN THIS PAPER
Alhamdulilah: Praise GodAllah: Arabic word for GodFatwa: Islamic decision based on Shari’aHadith: Sayings of the Prophet Moham-madHajj: Pilgrimage to MeccaHalal: Allowed in IslamHalaqa: Group studyHaram: Prohibited in IslamHijab: Head cover for womenHijra: Migration of the Prophet from Mecca to MadinaImam: Islamic scholarIman: FaithInshallah: God willingMadina: City near Mecca in Saudia ArabiaMasjid: Place were Muslims gather for prayer and studiesMecca: City in Saudi Arabia where Prophet Mohammad was bornPbuh: Peace be upon himQuran: Islam’s Holy bookShahadah: Is saying “I accept Allah as the one God and Mohammad as his messen-ger” when someone accepts Islam.Sharia’: Islamic lawShura: A council of Muslim scholars(SWT) Subhanahu Watala: Praise be to AllahTaqwa: God consciousness
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Immigration Advocates Denounce Arizona Governor’s Suit Against U.S.
New America Media
News Report, Valeria Fernández
PHOENIX, Ariz.--Civil rights group denounced Gov. Jan Brewer’s announcement that her state will counter-sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws. The called it a political move and criticized Brewer’s incendiary rhetoric.
Brewer’s action come in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the Obama administration challenging the constitutionality of SB 1070, Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration statute requiring people to carry papers showing that they are legally in the United States. Brewer said that Arizona cannot enforce immigration laws because doing so is the purview of the federal government.
One of the toughest immigration bills in the nation, SB1070 would have made it a state crime for a person to be an undocumented immigrant in Arizona. But a federal judge has blocked portions of the law from going into effect.
Newly elected Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said that federal law preempts state actions, barring Arizona from defending its border. “And yet they are not doing their job in defending the border, and that’s precisely what this counter-claim is,” he stated.
The U.S. Justice Department did not comment on the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.
Groups such as the Border Action Network and National Immigration Forum (NIF), however, criticized Brewer for engaging in incendiary rhetoric towards illegal immigration and filing a frivolous lawsuit.
They especially took issue with the governor referring to the problem of illegal immigration in the state as an “invasion” against which the federal government has failed to protect its citizens.
NIF Executive Director Ali Noorani said in a statement that the countersuit is “a cheap political stunt and a waste of time.” He called Brewer’s choice of words “particularly inflammatory in a state that needs not more rhetorical gasoline.”
Previously, Brewer was sharply criticized for making unconfirmed claims that there are headless bodies in the desert as a result of violence spilling from the drug war in Mexico.
During Thursday’s press conference Brewer cited examples of the growing violence along the United states-Mexico border, such as the shooting death last December of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry, who was killed in Nogales by bandits. She also
mentioned the unsolved murder of rancher Robert Krentz in Douglas, Ariz.
“Arizona did not want this fight, we did not start this fight,” Brewer said. “But now that we are in it, Arizona will not rest until our borders are secure.”
Carlos Galindo, a local activist and radio commentator questioned why Brewer wasn’t addressing the murder of Mexican-American Juan Varela, labeled a hate crime in connection with SB 1070, and the shooting of nine-year-old Bricenia Flores and her father, allegedly by a member of the Minutemen group.
Brewer ignored Galindo and moved to another reporter, who repeated the question.
“We in Arizona are very concerned about the violence that is taking place because of the drugs cartels and the human smuggling and the criminal behavior,” she responded. “It’s happening to illegal immigrants, it’s happening to legal citizens and we want it stopped.”
Attorney General Horne told New America Media that complaints that Arizona immigration enforcement and laws are leading to a hostile climate towards Latinos are unfounded.
“I’m hoping to probe that enforcing the law does not create an environment of hate towards any race or group,” Horne said, referring to SB 1070.
The Arizona countersuit makes several claims against the federal government: That it has failed to gain “operational control of the border,” as required under the Secure Fence Act of 2006; has failed to protect Arizona from economic costs and violence associated with illegal immigration; has not reimbursed $760 million in costs for incarcerating undocumented immigrants; and has fought Arizona in its constitutional attempt to protect its citizens.
Horne wants a federal judge to hold the Obama administration liable for not enforcing the law and to award the state financial restitution for the costs incurred.
Jaime Farrat, policy director for the Border Action Network in Tucson, said Brewer has exaggerated claims that crime is up in Arizona, when FBI statistics show that crime has decreased.
“The violence they talk about in Mexico is not taking place here in Arizona or in any part of the border. Facts show that what she claims is not happening,” he said.
The problem, Farrat added, is not that the federal government is failing to enforce immigration laws; the issue is the way the feds have been doing so.
Jennifer Allen, Border Action Network’s executive director, said: “The reality is
one of unprecedented resources dedicated to the border and record drops in apprehension rates and in people crossing the border illegally.”
Allen asserted, “To gain ‘operational control’ of the border, we need the federal government to fix our broken immigration system so that people can use the system rather than go around it.”
State Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, emphasized that the lawsuit would distract from resolving the state’s economic woes. Currently, Arizona faces an estimated $1.5 billion budget deficit.
“I think it would be irresponsible to move forward on litigation that she is seeking money for, that she is seeking media for and that apparently has no legal merit,” Sinema said.
Brewer created a legal defense fund to finance litigation against SB 1070. So far she has collected more than $3.7 million in private donations and intends to use some of that funding to support the counter-claim without using taxpayer money.
Civil rights attorney Daniel Ortega said he doubted the countersuit would be legally successful, but he conceded that it was a brilliant political move to give Brewer’s voter-base the impression that she is active on the issue.
Ortega said that at the end of the day, if such a case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices “won’t allow for different states to come up with their own laws and enforcement of immigration. We need a uniform system.”
MARCH 2011www.AZMuslimVoice.com 3WORD ON THE STREET 3“What are your opinions on the resignation of former
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak?”Muslim Voice
By: Sumbal Akhter
“Mubarak’s resignation demonstrated the power of the Egyptian people to form a peaceful revolution and to show their frustration against the government. Ruling Egypt for over 30 years, Mubarak was unable to please the population and continued with his authoritarian style
of leadership. As a ruler, he is obliged to listen to the Egyptian’s needs and to serve them in the best way possible. However, he failed and as a result, the people rose up and protested the end of his regime. It is inspiring to see that positive action can take place through nonviolent means.” –Haneen Odeh
“Let’s just say that the US tried establishing democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq with two wars and almost 10 years of work without any real effect and Egypt brought democracy in less than two weeks with a revolution led by the people, go Egypt! And get with it America!” – Riad Sbai
“I think that Hosni Mubarak stepping down as the Egyptian president was a big positive change for Egypt and a step towards democracy for the country. I am happy for the people of Egypt, and now hopefully with a new President, the people’s voices will be heard”. –Maham Fayyaz
“It was great to see that Hosni Mubarak had finally stepped down after so many years. The Egyptian people are free at last; they have worked so hard and finally have their freedom and rights back. It was astonishing to see that during this whole process there was no fighting involved between the Egyptians. The Egyptian
Muslims and non-Muslims came all together wanting the same thing, with no violence involved, which displayed an excellent example of unity. I am tremendously happy for the Egyptian people and glad to see that they have inspired other countries in the Middle East to do the same.” –Mariam Alshukri
“To be honest, it’s both relieving and exciting to see that not only the Egyptians, but many countries in the Middle East have chosen to wake up and make a change. Mubarak’s resignation is a welcome sign for reform and a greater focus on the politics of the Middle East for the world to remember in this time of shifting foreign policy.” –Kamla Hsin Tung
“It’s not only exciting but also refreshing to see democracy being established in the Middle East. The Egyptian people are good role models for people in other countries obstructed by corruption, for example Pakistan. People who continue to live in a dictatorship and are dreaming about freedom should follow in the footsteps of the Egyptian people.”-Sanaa Hamid
Haneen Odeh Riad Sbai
Maham Fayyaz Mariam Alshukri
Kamla Hsin Tung Sanaa Hamid
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Interaction with the Outside Community, Imam and the Executive Committee or Board of Directors• Khutbah in Your Mosque• Non-Profit Organizations: Youth Centers, Student Associations, Civic Engagement and Civil Rights
Organizations, Charity Organizations and Social Services• Schools• Islamic Cemetery• Ramadan in Your Mosque• Community EventsAnd more…Have a say in you community! Go participate in the Poll of the Week and cast your vote today!!
“Work: Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers” 9:105The first step in creating effective change or growth in our Muslim communities is to understand where we are currently. At RateMyMuslimCommunity.com you will find overall evaluations to identify areas of your organization that are working well and areas that need further attention and development. At the end is an opportunity for a review.
Feel free to share this evaluation with your Leadership Team and Board of Directors. You may be surprised at the results!
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The American Muslims Women’s Association (AMWA) held their annual dinner on Saturday, February 5th at the Tumbleweed recreation Center. This was to honor the community members who performed the Hajj last year. A large number of families in the valley attended this colorful and social event.
Shabana Fayyaz welcomed the guests and introduced the president of AMWA to come to the stage. Hanan Ismail, the new president of AMWA, expressed her thanks and blessings to the members who performed Hajj. She talked about the mission of the AMWA and its accomplishments last year. She also introduced the new AMWA board members. The board members introduced were
President: Hanan Ismail
V President: Saba Farooqi
Treasurer: Eram Khan
Membership Coordinator: Shabana Fayyaz
Refugee Coordinator: Gul Siddiqi
Outreach Coordinator: Aliya Zia
Event Coordinator: Shahnaz Ahmed
Event Coordinator: Atiya Majeed
Case Manager: Nausheen Chughtai
Case Manager: Ambreen Amir
The program started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Umar Hasan. He translated the verses from the Surah Al-Hajj with eloquence. Umar is a young student from the Arizona Cultural Academy.
Gul Siddiqui, the Refugee Coordinator, who also performed Hajj last year, talked of her pilgrimage experience
and introduced Imam Basir as a scholar from Azhar University with in depth understanding and knowledge of Islam.
Imam Basir, the guest speaker, thanked the AMWA for the invitation to speak.
He applauded the work being done by AMWA to help the homeless, refugees and orphans in the valley.
“AMWA volunteers are busy every week working tirelessly in these charitable causes,” he said. “As community members, we should join them as volunteers and contribute,” he added.
The Imam, who also performed Hajj, last year talked about the spiritual experience of the Hajj and its significance giving references from the Surah Al-Hajj. He congratulated the guests who were blessed with this opportunity last year.
Shabana Fayyaz honored each Haji individually on the stage with applause.
Aliya Zia presented flowers to each one of them.
Eram Khan, the treasurer, shared the video and the slideshow of the AMWA volunteers in action.
Bilal Siddiqui recited the Naat and Nasheed. Saba Farooqi, the Vice
President conducted the Children’s International fashion show. Saba gave the audience the opportunity to guess the ethnic dresses from various regions in the world.
In conclusion, the AMWA board members came on the stage and repeated the AMWA Pledge led by Hanan Ismail. The guests enjoyed the sumptuous dinner afterwards as the program came to close.
EFE, News Report
TUCSON -- Republican state legislators in Arizona decided on Monday not to introduce a bill that would have required hospitals during non-emergency cases to check their patients’ immigration status. The bill, Senate Bill 1405, was pulled from the agenda of the Senate Judiciary Committee because it did not have enough votes to pass.
The legislation would be the farthest reaching law of its kind in the country. Critics, including many doctors and health care providers, say it would turn them into immigration agents, and could make some immigrants afraid of going to the hospital when they need medical care.
American Muslim Woman Association holds its annual Hajj dinner
Arizona Hospital Immigration Bill
Pulled at Last Minute
MARCH 2011www.AZMuslimVoice.com
IRS Warns from Tax FraudLOCAL
Welcome to Islam Sister Gabrielle (Khadija)
On 29th of January 2011, after Isha prayer, Gabrielle (Khadija) became Muslimah at Greenway Masjid. “Allah is the Greatest”, echoed the words of happiness from the witnesses of this great event.
One week before this event, Gabrielle (Khadija) got married at Greenway Masjid with Amadou who is originally from Senegal, and plays for NBA. Tonight she is back again, but this time to accept Islam.
Khadija admired her husband’s behavior who really behaves like a young Muslim man. Allah opened her heart to the truth and after some consultations with her husband and Imam Didmar Faja, Gabrielle (Khadija) accepted Islam.
Congratulations Khadija and may Allah be pleased with you.
Greenway Masjid staff
www.greenwaymasjid.com
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Helpful Hints when choosing a Return Preparer to ensure you don’t hire an Abusive Return PreparerIRS Criminal Investigation (CI) reminds you;
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MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com6 LOCAL
Muslim Voice
By Fathiyyah Bashshar
In the first surah of the Qur’an it says:
“You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.” Every Muslim at one point in their life has recited La-Illaha Ill-Allah, Muhammadan Rasool-Allah. This
is the testament of the Shahada. For many of us, reverting to this way of life took many paths. Here in America, the numbers are interesting. The New York Associated Press has stated that there are over 3 million Muslims here in the United States; with 40% of them being reverts.
The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said, “No babe is born but upon Fitra (as a Muslim). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 033, Number 6426).
We all have a story of our paths, the people that were major factors and the masjids that supported us; the new Shahada and that continue to support us today. Below are a few questions that were posed to two male and two females as they address their path to Islam.
1. Explain your final decision to take your Shahada, such as influences etc?
Faheem Lea stated “My final influence to take my Shahada was through a brother named Abdul Qawi, while I was incarcerated. I was always interested in Islam, and had read and studied it a bit, but I never knew that you had to enter into it to be a Muslim, until I met this brother, and he was the first one to invite me to take my Shahada, as opposed to just telling me about Islam. Before that though, I had always met and talked to Muslims, and they were just different, and there were two things that were always noticeable about them: they seemed to have an abundance of intelligence, and they always seemed to have impeccable manners. Then as I accepted Islam and began to study more, I found that these were two recurring themes in Islam, and very central themes at that I might add! So that further convinced me, after I was convinced to take
my Shahada, and it was starting to reveal that Islam is the truth.”
2. How much assistance did the Masjid provide?
Salah Washington of Phoenix stated “that she was raised Christian in New York. She accepted Islam in 2005 in Flagstaff while at NAU. The masjids in Phoenix were very supportive in helping me learn. In the beginning it was difficult because people always spoke of what you couldn’t do as opposed to what you could do. The different cultures were hard to decipher in regards as to what was really Islam or what was actually culture. The brothers and sisters had new Shahada classes that taught
me how to pray and recite small surahs of the Quran. I appreciate the masjids, because the sisters sometimes weren’t that sociable. In my time of need ICC Masjid assisted me with my utilities, and Masjid Umar gave me food vouchers. The masjids provide much assistance. Other masjids should truly mirror the social services of the masjids here in Arizona.”
3. What advice would you give to local masjids leaders to aid in the support of new Muslims?
Muslims needs support, especially new Muslims. The masjids here provide classes for new Shahadas` as well as the seasoned Muslim. There always seems to be some sort of class operating of the several masjids I frequent. My advice is to stay proactive and to get to know new Muslims. Stop and take the time to ask about them if you don’t see them at the Masjid for awhile. Finally, have more social
events to bring the community together. This builds rapport amongst the cultures and culture is what seems to separate us as a community.
Abdur-Rahiym Bashshar
4. How has Islam changed your life?
My eyes swell with tears as I think about how Islam has changed my life. I often ask myself where I would be if I didn’t have this religion and way of life to guide me. Allah knows best. The Shahada was indeed a solid footing on the ladder to spiritual knowledge and closeness to Allah. There is no way to fully explain how my life changed. Alhamdulillah! I am so very glad that I am a Muslim. Islam is my life. Islam is the beat of my heart. Islam is the blood that courses through my veins. Islam is my strength. Islam is my life so wonderful and beautiful. Without Islam, I am nothing and should Allah ever turn His magnificent face from me I could not survive. I praise Allah daily for making me Muslim, for only He can make Muslims. Allah says and no one can mislead whomever Allah guides; is not Allah the Most Honorable. Zumar 39:37.
Fathiyyah Bashshar
In conclusion:
The question that remains to be answered is why so many people have chosen Islam? Islam is an amazing blend of simplicity and rationality; the unambiguous and uncompromising belief in the Unity, the Greatness, the Wisdom of Allah, the Creator of the universe, is unparalleled among other religions. The religion of the Muslim (Islam) is continuously present with him and, in the daily prayer, manifests itself in a solemn and impressive ritual which cannot leave either the worshipper or the spectator unaffected.” My dear brothers and sisters, Islam is so strong and so self-assured that it does not need to use force to attract others to it.
The moral and intellectual superiority of Islam over all other religions has manifested itself so clearly throughout the history of Islam. Despite all of the ills of Muslims everywhere, Islam continues to be the fastest growing religion on earth. So let’s continue to be good to one another and embrace each other. After all we all have at least one thing in common and that is the Shahada.
A couple years ago, I went to do my taxes at a local community tax preparer’s office here in Phoenix. He was known to all as the one to go to. Therefore, when I asked around and everyone except a few who warned me of his lack of professionalism referred me to use his service I went. Those who warned me told me that he is not punctual and that he is not well informed in the tax preparation business because he caused many mistakes in their tax returns.
I did not heed their warning and he, let’s name him Abdallah(which is not his real name), did my taxes for that year and the following year. When I sat with him I explained to him that I wanted everything done by the books. He promised a good return and many deductions. I reiterated I do not want to cheat the government nor do I want to be cheated so follow the law and apply what are rightfully my deductions and I will pay what I owe to Uncle Sam.
I left Abdallah’s office and was happy. In fact, I referred others in the community to use his services, because I like to support the community businessman. Well, later that same year I came to regret my decision. The IRS, the Internal Revenue Services , came calling on my doorstep to verify my deductions. It seems that the deductions I claimed on my taxes raised great suspicions. I called Abdallah and he said no worries. I will help you out and I will come with you to the appointment with the IRS agent. Then, I proceeded to gather my receipts to prove my deductions and awaited my appointment. I did find comfort in the fact that Abdallah will be accompanying me to the appointment. However, to my dismay he did not show up at the appointment and I was left to sort out the mess he put me in on my own.
I did resolve the matter with the IRS. But, the misery was not over; those who I referred to him called me and also faced problems with the IRS. Sarah, again not her real name, was given a nice return because of the deductions Abdallah claimed on her tax return only to have to pay it all back the following year. The lesson of the day is to not fall victim to tax scams and remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Community TaxPreparers got me in
trouble
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A few days ago we heard about protests in Libya, before that Egypt, and before that Tunisia. What do all these protests have in common? The people finally have a voice. What’s next? How do we stay away from re-electing the same type of people, how do we hold leaders accountable for their actions or atrocities? This is the main reason that the Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) at The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU) decided to host a discussion with the diverse undergraduate community at ASU. Three current Muslim law students were in attendance as well as the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Shelli Soto and MLSA advisor and current law professor, Carrissa Hessick. President of the MLSA and a current 3rd year law student, Nasir Mohammed, gave a moving introduction to the event. “Who do you think is at the forefront of these democratic movements,” referring to the current protests across the Middle East, “Attorney’s!”
As a Muslim and Middle-Eastern woman I know the family pressures of becoming an engineer or doctor and I know many people who have chosen to take that path. Becoming a doctor or engineer is not a bad idea but with all the current events that have been going on in the world today, it is the lawyers of the world who will be making these changes possible.
If Egyptians would like to establish a new constitution or change the old one, it is important that there are lawyers who assist in this process because of their familiarity with local laws. The brave people of Egypt took to the streets and ousted their corrupt leader but it is now the lawyers turn to continue the work. They are the ones who know the laws and understand how the system works, and they will be the ones to understand what the people are asking for.
Lawyers are not only needed to represent the
people of other nations but here in Arizona as well. Arizona Law makers recently introduced a proposal that would deny the basic 14th Amendment rights of American citizens. The 14th Amendment guarantees that anyone born in the United States is a citizen. The law that is being proposed would require that anyone who would like to receive a birth certificate for their baby must show their current immigration status. This in turn is punishing the child for something they had no hand in. Lawyers will be the ones to make sure racist laws like this are not enacted.
Professor Hessick went on to describe different areas of law as well as the application and admissions procedure. Undergraduate students asked questions and advice from the law students who were willing to take a mentor role and help the students in any way possible. The main focus of this event was to urge students of different cultural backgrounds and various majors, that they are needed in the area of law and are encouraged to apply.
Muslim Law Students at ASU Urge Undergraduates to
Consider Law School Muslim VoiceBy Victimized Muslim
MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com8
The Revolution Was TelevisedMuslim Voice
By Ahmad Daniels
In 1974, when African Americans were experiencing a period of social change, self-identity, and in many cases planning its own revolution, poet and singer Gil Scott-Heron
composed a song entitled “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” He enumerated an array of reasons why African Americans should “stop rehearsing, get their act together, and take their show on the road.” (Translation: Stop talking and initiate change.) While it was all said tongue-in-cheek, his point was well taken; do not expect to see a televised announcement of when the Black revolution would begin for “…the revolution will not be televised, not be televised, not be televised, the revolution will be no re-run brother; the revolution will be live.”
There were no cell phones, Twitter nor Face Book back then and social networking occurred at parties and other gala events. I trust Gil is somewhere amused and watching minute-by-minute news accounts of a televised people’s revolution and smiling all the while.
Blind Sided
What has transpired in Tunisia and Egypt will be talked about, dissected and analyzed for decades to come. Just as the coming down of the Berlin Wall failed to appear on the radar screen of those whose job it is to predict such occurrences, one can not help but ponder what other despotic head-of-state is next in line to receive his pink slip. And while it
may be easier for some to acquiesce with changes that have transpired in Tunisia, Egypt, on the other hand, comes as a huge surprise.
Of all the Arab nations, Egypt is by far America’s darling. Funded to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars a year and some 70 billion over 30 years, Egypt ranks number one on America’s list of Arab nations to embrace. It was only fitting that President Barack Obama selected the land of the Pharaohs in which to deliver his major speech
to the Egyptians in particular and the Muslim world in general in May 2009 A world that, for the most part has long ceased to admire, respect, or fear the United States. Who can deny the role the U.S. Government has played in continuing to prop up a president that denied his people political freedom and who was either unable or unwilling to adequately address the high rate of
youth unemployment?
Ideals vs. Interest
Clamoring will continue for some time to come concerning whether or not the United States failed to come to the aid of long time friend, President Hosni Mubarak. The conditions that led to his dethroning are in no way unique to Egypt and can even be found in Algeria in addition to Black Africa in a nation like Zimbabwe where President Robert Mugabe’s
decisions continue bring pain and suffering to the masses of his people.
To say the Obama Administration finds its self in a precarious situation would be an understatement. It is torn between its laudable ideals of democracy and the right to vote vis-à-vis what the USA knows to be in its best interest. Had the United States sincerely possessed a genuine interest in democracy, there would
not have been away for her (it is worth repeating) to have continued backing Mubarak for some 30 years to the estimated tune of 70 billion dollars. The USA can ill-afford to have free elections (a’la Hamas in the Gaza strip) and find that a group (Muslim Brotherhood or other anti-Zionist faction) may not have won outright but did end the day with significant seats and representation.
USA’s Next Steps
[The U.S. is preparing a new package of assistance to Egyptian opposition groups, designed to help with constitutional reform, democratic development and election organizing, State Department officials tell TIME. The package is still being formulated, and the officials decline to say how much it would be worth or to which groups it would be directed.
The Obama Administration cut democracy-and-governance aid to Egyptian opposition groups in its first two years in office, from $45 million in George W. Bush’s last budget to $25 million for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. The Obama Administration also stopped providing aid to groups that had not registered with the Egyptian government, drawing criticism from human-rights organizations.] – Time
What other revolutions will be televised? Only time will tell. But it is worth mentioning that many heads of state that are in the “cross-hairs” of their people would be wise to remember the motto of the Black Congressional Caucus—no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only personal interest; words that are continuing to resound ever so vibrantly in Washington.
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Richard Irvine
The Electronic Intifada
As the Egyptian revolution approached its climax the first priority of Israel and the West was that the so-called cornerstone of Middle East peace and security remain in place -- the much-fabled 1979 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the almost sacred truth that the “longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt has greatly contributed to both countries and is the cornerstone for peace and stability in the entire Middle East.” Going further, military expert Amos Harel warned that any break in the treaty could have dire consequences for Israel and so consequently the Egyptian revolution represented “a nightmare to Israeli intelligence leaders and planners” (“Cairo Tremors Will Be Felt Here, Haaretz, 30 January 2011).
This certainly would be understandable if an Egyptian abrogation of the treaty would be likely to lead to war, or if Israel had implemented the peace accords in good faith. The truth however is that Israel absolutely ignored its obligations under Part 1 of the treaty -- to allow representative self-government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip leading to independence -- while using the sure knowledge of
Egypt’s neutrality to launch a series of devastating wars. Indeed, when one looks at the historical record there can surely be few treaties that have brought so little peace and so much war.
That Israel always viewed the Camp David Accords as a blank check is evident both in its behavior and in Western and Israeli commentators’ fears that the abrogation of the treaty might mean Israel will have to curtail its military interventions.
Writing in Israel’s Haaretz on 14 February, Aluf Benn declared, “Israel will find it difficult to take action far to the east when it cannot rely on the tacit agreement to its actions on its western border. Without Mubarak there is no Israeli attack on Iran.” Thus Benn concludes that Mubarak’s departure has actually prevented a new Israeli war.
Certainly Israel has used the absence of any significant Arab counterweight to pursue policies that have either repeatedly brought war, or in the case of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, presented “serious obstruction[s] to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East” as UN Security Council resolutions 446 and 478 put it.
What is evident from the record is that Israel wasted no time putting the treaty to the test. In 1980 it illegally
annexed East Jerusalem, and the following year the Syrian Golan Heights. In 1981 it launched an illegal attack on Iraq’s nuclear reactor.
More significantly Israel also used the accords as a means to continue the destruction and dispossession of Palestinian society. Under Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who won the Nobel Peace Prize with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israel developed a twin track approach with regard to the Palestinians of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip: a collaborationist “village league” form of governance was established, although due to Palestinian resistance it failed to take root, while simultaneously the number of illegal colonists in the West Bank and Gaza more than quadrupled (according to data published by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, and collated by Peace Now, the number of settlers in the West Bank grew from 5,000 in the early 1970s to more than 20,000 in 1983).
This was a negation of the accords that led Israeli cabinet minister Ezer Weizman to resign after declaring that no one in the cabinet was interested in peace. Begin however was undeterred, which was not at all surprising as after the 1978 establishment of the illegal colony of Elon Moreh outside Nablus he had boasted that there would be “many more Elon Morehs
to come” -- a prophecy that has become only too true, as today there are over half a million Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
However Begin’s primary use of the accords was as a means to wage war. In the first instance this meant the 1982 invasion of Lebanon and the war against the Palestine Liberation Organization -- a war launched without provocation and in the midst of what Noam Chomsky has described as a PLO “peace offensive.” During the course of this war Israel not only devastated the Palestinian and Lebanese populations of Lebanon but also systematically trashed the country and trounced the Syrian army when it sought to defend itself. At its end the International Committee of the Red Cross estimated that 17,825 civilians had been killed. Would this have been possible without Israel knowing that Egypt was permanently out of the conflict?
The same of course holds true for subsequent Israeli military actions, whether it was the brutal crushing of unarmed resistance during the first Intifada from 1987 to 1993, or the 1996 and 2006 reinvasions of Lebanon, or the mass casualties of the second intifada and the 2008-09 invasion of Gaza. In every case knowledge that Egypt would either stand idly by or indeed approve has made Israel confident that it could
act with impunity.
Yet this was not always the case. For many years leading up to the Camp David Accords the Arab League had insisted that a final peace agreement must be a comprehensive one involving all parties to the conflict. Tragically Egypt under Sadat chose to break that consensus and by putting its own interests first effectively undermined the negotiating positions of all other Arab parties whilst giving Israel a free hand to militarily enforce its vision on the Middle East. If then the Camp David Accords do breakdown this should not be read as a sign that peace is further away than ever, but rather that perhaps at long last an all-embracing peace amongst equals may be possible.
Speaking at the time of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signing, the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat commented, “Let them sign what they like. False peace will not last.” For Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese and indeed Israelis, he has been proven only too correct.
Richard Irvine teaches a course at Queen’s University Belfast entitled “The Battle for Palestine” which explores the entire history of the conflict. Irvine has also worked voluntarily in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and taken part in olive planting and harvesting in the West Bank.
Egypt-Israel “peace treaty” brought more war than peace
MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com10 NATIONAL
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News Report Anthony Advincula
WASHINGTON, D.C. — An African-American weekly, a Jewish monthly magazine, and a Muslim biweekly publication were among the big winners of the second Washington, D.C. Ethnic Media Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Tuesday night at the University of California, Washington Center.
“This celebration is such an important event. I’m so glad that we’re
doing this together, honoring the work that we do,” said Minhaj Hasan, editor of The Muslim Link, who bagged two awards.
The judging panel was made up of award-winning journalists, advocates and academics, including Chuck Lewis of the American University School of Communication, Maria Puente of USA Today, Louisa Fahy of Bloomberg News and Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The event, sponsored by New America Media (NAM) and the American University School of Communication, honored the excellence of ethnic media reporting in print, online and broadcast formats, and highlighted that media sector’s crucial role of informing the immigrant and minority communities they serve.
About 200 people attended the ceremony.
“I never thought that I would have this opportunity, in Washington,
D.C., to meet with people from other countries,” said Seng Lim Yu, a reporter for The Korea Daily, who won first-place for immigration reporting.
More than 100 entries were received in nine languages, including Farsi, Vietnamese, Amharic, Korean, Nepali and Urdu.
Winners were selected in nine categories: local news, immigration, editorial/commentary, arts, sports and entertainment, photojournalism, investigative reporting, broadcast and international affairs.
Most of the winning stories tackled issues
that have been ignored or underreported in major national and international news outlets.
“There are 1.7 million Arab citizens in Israel. Their children attend
segregated public schools, and this is not reflected in the mainstream media at all,” said Sarah Breger, associate editor of Moment Magazine, whose story won the top prize for investigative reporting.
“The reality is that the ethnic media play a vital role in our society
by bringing news and information to demographics that want more than what is delivered by the major media outlets,” said Alexandra Moe, NAM’s Washington, D.C. director. “NAM and the American University School of Communication are honoring the tremendous contribution, often made on a barebones budget, that ethnic media offer.”
A career achievement award was given to Hazel Trice Edney, editor-in-chief of Trice Edney News Wire, while the Nepali Post, Pakistan Post and Vietnamese newspaper Pho Nho received special community awards.
“It’s always nice to be recognized for what we truly deserve. But many of the great stories that we have done are not even given an award,” said Edney. “Let’s consider that we’re all winners…because we’re not afraid to confront the things that matter to our communities. I encourage all to raise the bar.”
A List of Winners:
BEST LOCAL NEWS:
First Place (Tie): “Hardy Students Demand Principal’s Return,” Norma Porter Anthony, The Washington Informer.
First Place (Tie): “Shedding Light on the Neglected Muslim Consumer Market,” Minhaj Hasan, The Muslim Link.
Runner Up: “Asian Americans Desperately Needed to Join ‘Be the Match Marrow Registry’,” Cathy Crenshaw Doheny, Asian Fortune.
BEST IMMIGRATION COVERAGE:
First Place: “Immigration Status Not a
Factor in Receiving WIC Benefits,” Seng Lim Yu, The Korea Daily.
Runner Up: “Mustafa Center Rises from Humble Beginnings,” Sufia Alnoor and Rashad Mulla, The Muslim Link.
BEST INVESTIGATIVE NEWS:
First Place (Tie): “Separate But Not Equal: Israel’s Arab Citizens,” Dina Kraft, Moment
Magazine.
First Place (Tie): “The Strange Death of Rubén Salazar: Accident or Assassination?” Frank O. Sotomayor, Hispanic Link.
Runner Up: “Community Health Centers,” Paula Andalo, El Tiempo Latino
BEST ARTS, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT:
First Place: “Banned Practice – Music Censorship,” Amina Elahi, Divanee.com
Runner Up: “The Curious Case of Walter Mosley,” Johanna Neuman, Moment Magazine
BEST COMMENTARY:
First Place: “Prioritizing Politics Over Unity Hurt the Community,”
Minhaj Hasan, The Muslim Link
Runner Up: “Fatty, Fatty, Two By Four,” Jose de la Isla, Hispanic Link
BEST PHOTOJOURNALISM:
First Place: “Woman Struggling to
Read,” Carlos Andres Vargas, ML News, Metrolatinousa.com.
Runner Up: “Neda Pro-Democracy Demonstration,” Ali Khaligh, Iranians Weekly.
BEST FEATURE WRITING:
First Place (Tie): “Soledad O’Brien Talks Race with The Washington Informer,” Shantella Sherman, The Washington Informer
Denise Barnes, “CNN’s partnership with The Washington Informer on Black in America special”
First Place (Tie): “In the Lord’s Time,” Neil Rubin, Baltimore Jewish Times
Runner Up: “Hurdling Campaign Brickbats May Offer Bully Pulpit
Against Racism,” Rita Gerona Adkins, Asian Fortune
BEST BROADCAST:
First Place: “Mexican Immigrants Returning to their Homeland,” Anne L.
Wakefield, Grupo Radio Central
Runner Up: “Workers’ Protection,” Armando Guzman, Azteca America
BEST INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:
First Place: “Blogging Suicides: The Death of Foreign Migrant Domestic
Workers in Lebanon,” Dereje Desta, ZeEthiopia
Runner Up: “Local Students of Farhar Hashmi Defend Movement Against
Accusations,” Zunara Naeem, The Muslim Link
SPECIAL MENTION
Special Mention for 2010 Census Coverage: Pho Nho Newspaper Special Mention for Coverage on Aging: Pakistan Post
Special Mention for Community Coverage: Nepali Post
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10-0
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By The Associated Press
Some key numbers you’ll need to know for filing your taxes in 2011:
PERSONAL EXEMPTION:
_Each personal or dependent exemption is worth $3,650.
STANDARD DEDUCTION:
_$11,400 for married couples filing a joint return, and qualifying widows and widowers.
_$5,700 for singles and married individuals filing separate returns.
_$8,400 for heads of household.
_Taxpayers who are 65 or older or who are blind may be eligible for a higher standard deduction.
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_$72,450 for a married couple filing a joint return, and qualifying widows and widowers.
_$47,450 for singles and heads of household.
_$36,225 for married individuals filing separately.
_$43,352 ($48,362 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
_$40,363 ($45,373 married filing jointly) with two
qualifying children
_$35,535 ($40,545 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
_$13,460 ($18,470 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
Maximum credit:
_$5,666 with three or more qualifying children
_$5,036 with two qualifying children
_$3,050 with one qualifying child
_$457 with no qualifying children
CAPITAL GAINS:
_0 percent if taxed in the 10 percent or 15 percent brackets.
_Top rate of 15 percent if taxed in higher brackets.
By The Associated Press
MILFORD, Conn. (AP) _ The owner of a Middle Eastern grocery store in Milford is making another attempt to open a hookah lounge.
Sammer Karout goes before the Planning and Zoning Board to discuss and possibly get a vote on his proposed business in which tobacco is smoked through a communal water pipe.
Karout, who owns the Olive Tree store, opened a hookah lounge in 2009, but he was shut down by the city because he lacked the proper permits.
He tells The New Haven Register he wants to do things right this time. His lounge would be open to the public and people would just pay for use of the hookah. There would be no drinking, eating or dancing and no one under 18 allowed.
The board will discuss Karout’s proposal.
Taxes: Important numbers for filing 2010 tax returns
Man attempts to open hookah lounge
in Milford
MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com12
Written by Minhaj Hasan
Muslim Link Staff
American Muslims know their community has money. Lots of it. They save it, invest it, and donate it.
And they spend it to the tune of around $100 billion per year.
Despite this rich and willing spending demographic, mainstream US companies seem to be oblivious, creating targeted marketing campaigns aimed at African-Americans, Latinos, and dozens of other slices of the American population but ignoring the American Muslim consumer.
Last year, a professional networking group of young Muslims mostly from New Jersey called Mlink set out to change that. They held their first annual American Muslim Consumer Conference in New Brunswick, inviting Muslim entrepreneurs, business advocates, and researchers to help describe the American Muslim consumer.
This year’s American Muslim Consumer Conference, themed “Charting the Landscape”, dealt with some of the same issues describing and categorizing the American Muslim consumer, but also dealt with the idea of how companies can best market to the Muslim consumer. Significantly raising the profile of the annual gathering was this year’s main sponsor, world’s largest marketing and communications firm Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide.
Recognizing the untapped potential of global Muslim consumer buying power, Ogilvy & Mather created a corporate unit dedicated to consulting companies on how best to market and brand their products and services for Muslim markets, appropriately calling it Ogilvy Noor. (‘Noor’ is the arabic word for ‘light’ – Ed.)
Attracting over 350 registered guests to the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, the full day conference’s first keynote was titled “the American Muslim Experience: What Headscarves, Halal Chicken Nuggets, and the Super Bowl Have In Common” and delivered by Gallup analyst Magali Rheault.
Each of about nine sessions throughout the day focused on a particular aspect of the Muslim consumer market.
The first session, “Marketing to Muslims: Media Realities and Analytical Strategies in the Muslim Landscape” featured a panel of marketing directors, consultants, and strategists. Prominent and much appreciated among them was Steven Pilchak, the General Manager for Best Buy in Dearborn, Michigan whose store incorporated Eid greetings in an
advertising campaign last year. The advertisement received some negative feedback from Islamophobic groups, but sales actually increased after the advertisement, which coincided with the Thanksgiving season. Nazia Hussain, also on the panel and the director of Cultural Strategy at Ogilvy Noor, said the lesson to learn from Best Buy is not to back down when promoting diversity and inclusion.
“Making Muslims feel included [is very important] … because [right now] Muslims in America feel marginalized and ignored,”
Hussain told the Muslim Link, adding that the new “Noor” unit of Ogilvy & Mather is focused on helping companies “empathize with Muslim values” and aligning their products and services to those values.
The second session, “Halal: Challenges and Opportunities in North America”, was moderated by ISNA Secretary General Safaa Zarzour and had a panel which included zabiha.com founder Shahed Amanullah and Dr. Mehmood Khan, a vice-president and Chief Scientific Officer at Pepsico. The five member panel explored the debate on the value and importance of “halal” to the Muslim market, what is considered “halal”, and how uniform “halal standards” can be developed globally.
Actor Faran Tahir, who played the villain in Iron Man and also played a major role in Star Trek, delivered the afternoon keynote address and discussed Muslim stereotypes. He said in the acting business today a Muslim name assumes the actor generally plays the bad guy role.
The third main panel looked at specific case studies of American Muslim firms partnering with mainstream corporations
to reach wider markets. Of note were Joohi Tahir, the Vice-president of Marketing and Sales for Chicago based Crescent Foods, and Jack Acree, Executive Vice-president of American Halal Co. Both firms produce frozen halal products and sell their products in large stores like Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods. Tahir, whose firm sells frozen halal chicken products, said Walmart reached out to them and solicited their products.
“Mainstream is coming to halal, not the other way around, and we should be proud
of that,” she said, adding that Walmart data suggests that more than 50% of the customers buying Crescent Food products at their stores are non-Muslims.
Others on the panel cautioned on being dependent on large corporations to sell products, since purchases by firms like Walmart drive the per unit cost down and make profit margins very slim for smaller companies. The panel also discussed how the mainstream marketplace “lives and dies by data”, and due to the severe lack of data on the halal market, judging its progress is very difficult.
The forth session was unique and entertaining, taking a panel of experienced, successful, and at times sharply critical businessmen and placing young entrepreneurs with their business plans in front of the panel.
Northern Virginia resident Omar Khawaja, CEO of Little Big Kids which makes fun, educational products for the “under 7 crowd”, was appreciated for bringing much needed products to the marketplace, but also cautioned by some panel members. Tariq Farid, CEO and founder of
Edible Arrangements International, said Khawaja needs to pursue his idea full-time. “If you’re going to ask investors to invest, they are going to ask how invested you are,” said Farid.
Adnan Durrani, one of the founding partners of Stonyfield Farms, among the largest organic yogurt companies in America, peppered Khawaja with questions on profitability, unit costs, shipping costs, and other numbers, trying to make the point that entrepreneurs must have a firm grasp of every measurable aspect of their operations.
Other entrepreneurs taking the hot seat were a New York based Islamic themed jewelry maker, a proposed kabob restaurant following the Chipotle model, an online advertising network, and a California based online magazine. The five entrepreneurs were chosen from a pool of about 25 that applied.
In the conference’s final keynote address, Ogilvy & Mather CEO Miles Young underscored the importance of “Islamic branding” – exposing the values Muslims are attracted to, and then aligning the marketing message to those values. Defining those values, according to Young, is the first challenge.
“[Those] adjectives – values we need to seek out [are] – honesty, respect, consideration, kindness, peacefulness, purity, patience, discipline, authenticity, transparency, trustworthiness, humility, modesty, community, and above all else sincerity of intent,” said Young.
The second challenge was to gather solid data on the Muslim market to show Muslims are not one large “homogeneous green block”. Third, the Muslim consumer market must “convey normality”, said Young, citing that while Jews only constitute 2% of the US population, about 30% of American food products are kosher.
Ogilvy & Mather’s Nazia Hussain said her company’s sponsorship of the American Muslim Consumer Conference was a “profile building opportunity” for Ogilvy Noor. The firm also sponsored the World Islamic Economic Forum and the Oxford Islamic and Branding & Marketing Forum during the last year.
Murshed Chowdhury, part of the organizing team for this year’s conference, said attendees, vendors, and partner businesses were “floored by the execution, content, and professionalism” of the conference. About a dozen vendors had booths at the conference. Next year he said they hope to double the participation of mainstream companies and raise more awareness in the Muslim Community and beyond.
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have this fear. They are burning themselves alive despite the fact that their religious beliefs tells them that that they will be burned in hell because they committed suicide”
Busofah added, “Since the Tunisian uprising started, 24 people have burned themselves alive in Algeria and half of them died.”
Al-Khamis mentioned that there are other traditional values that were challenged by the Arab youth, as well. According to him, while parents have always tried to avoid confrontation with oppressive rulers because they were afraid of being harmed, the younger generation resents “following the crowd” and values “sacrificing oneself,” as evident in the willingness of large numbers of people to die protesting in the streets.
In addition, while the older generations believed that one should only resist foreign colonization or invasion, “the new generations have a new view of who can be the colonizer and oppressor. They believe that the oppressors can be the local rulers and therefore the rebellion can be against them,” Al-Khamis said.
The youth are also breaking away from traditional tribal ideals. “The new generations value their individual freedoms more than their parents’ generation. In the past, the demands of the Arab individual were shaped by his group, tribe, or religious sect, but now the individual values his own freedom and believes that he can share common values with different segments of the population including farmers, western-educated students, computer engineers and even street cleaners. All these people now are mobilizing against oppressive regimes,” Al-Khamis said.
In the case of Egypt, the diverse groups that participated in the January 25 uprisings are now forming a structured organization
that can potentially lead Egypt to a new era. Professor Clovis Maksoud, the Director of the Center for the Global South at American University in Washington, D.C. told Al Jazeera, “This is a very peaceful, enlightened and spontaneous mobilization that has taken place all over Egypt. Historically fragmented opposition in Egypt has now blended together into a synthesis which provides an organizational system for this mass movement and on the other hand might provide a sense of clear direction”.
One of the reasons why the younger generation is less fearful of the regime than their parents is their ability to utilize Western technology such as cell phone cameras, and the Internet, as well as social media like YouTube and FaceBook. “A long time ago, Arab regimes were able to use violence to oppress protests,” Al-Khamis said, “but now the whole world can see what happens everywhere -- even in remote villages in Tunisia and Egypt -- in a timely manner, thanks to the information technology.”
Satellite televisions, which strongly encourage pan-Arab nationalism, and social media have enabled the Arab youth to stay connected more with what is happening in other Arab countries. Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University told Al Jazeera “there is an Arabic public sphere, the walls that the regimes have erected, and which Arab satellite televisions and social media have broken down in some ways, are now broken politically too. People are borrowing methods and taking aspirations from one country to the other.”
Khalidi continued, “something has changed now. Everybody now understands that this region is linked and everybody has the same aspirations. People are taking heart of what happened in Tunisia and now what is happening in Egypt.”
Arab Uprisings: Young People Break with Tradition
Palestinians call for unity between Hamas & FatahHundreds of Palestinians gathered at Al-Manarah,
Ramallah’s main square, calling for Palestinian unity
Israel Navy To TakeLebanon Gas Resource
The four year old Palestinian division between the rival factions of Fatah and Hamas is no more endurable for these people.
The Hamas government banned the anti-division protests in the Gaza Strip for security reasons.
On the same day, acting PA chief Mahmoud Abbas stressed that the coming presidential and parliamentary elections should be held by September simultaneously in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem/Al-Quds.
Abbas sayings came in press conference with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta.
The Hamas movement slammed the PA’s proposal of new elections by September, saying Abbas had no legitimacy.
Hamas which democratically won the parliamentary elections in 2006 and took control of the Gaza Strip has repeatedly called for a reform in the PLO and an end to the internal division before elections.
The majority of the Palestinians here in the West Bank and in Gaza are not satisfied with the latest PA changes. Major Palestinian rallies are expected to kick off in Gaza and the West Bank on March 21st calling for an end to the division.
The Israeli naval forces plan to enforce Tel Aviv’s claim over sea-based gas resources off Israel, including one belonging to Lebanon and another, which extends into the country’s waters.
The resources, including Lebanon’s Tamar field, which -- situated in the Mediterranean Sea -- holds an estimated 8.4 trillion cubic feet (238 billion cubic meters) of natural gas. They cover an area about 1.5 times the size of Israel, AFP reported.
Tel Aviv -- which enjoys heavy material, financial and other kinds of support from the West -- claims harvesting the fields would boost its energy independence.
Lebanon also owns a major part of
Leviathan -- another targeted resource, which is located in the joint regional waters between Lebanon and northern Palestine in the Mediterranean. The field is thought to hold natural gas resources of around 16 trillion cubic feet (450 billion cubic meters).
The Navy would present the plan to Tel Aviv at the end of the month.
Last year, Israel threatened to use military force to capture Leviathan.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri reacted by saying that “Israel is racing to make the case a fait accompli and was quick to present itself as an oil emirate, ignoring the fact that, according to the maps, the deposit extends into Lebanese waters.”
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Continued from page 1
MARCH 2011www.AZMuslimVoice.com 15
By MAGGIE MICHAEL
Associated Press
CAIRO (AP) _ Moammar Gadhafi’s regime in Libya deployed security forces throughout the restive country and bluntly warned citizens Friday against joining the unrest in which dozens of protesters have been killed.
Demonstrations against Gadhafi’s rule have erupted in several Libyan cities this week, especially in the east, and the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said that 24 people died in unrest Wednesday and Thursday. But a hospital official in the eastern city of Beyida told The Associated Press on Friday that the bodies of at least 23 slain protesters were at his facility, which was treating about 500 wounded _ some in the parking lot for lack of beds.
``We need doctors, medicine and everything,’’ he said.
The wave of pro-democracy protest that has swept across the Middle East has brought unprecedented pressure on leaders like Gadhafi, who have held virtually unchecked power for decades.
The man who has controlled Libya since 1969 rode in a motorcade through the nation’s capital of Tripoli on Thursday and, according to eyewitnesses, also sent out forces that included dark-skinned, French-speaking fighters. Like the hospital official, the witnesses spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Witnesses in Beyida and Zentan, 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Tripoli, said ``special militia’’ units called Khamis Brigades were deployed in their cities.
In Beyida, local police _ who are in the same tribe as residents _ allied with protesters and prevented attacks from the militia, according to a witness and Mohammed Ali Abdullah, deputy leader of the exiled National Front for the Salvation of Libya.
``I saw African migrants and I saw Tunisians among the militia,’’ the local eyewitness said.
In Zentan, a female eyewitness said a Khamis Brigades unit attacked the city after protesters set fire to police stations and sprayed graffiti on the walls that read: ``Down with Gadhafi.’’
Officials with loudspeakers offered money for residents to stop protesting.
Their message was, ``we can give you money; whatever you want, we can provide,’’ said the woman, who was standing at the top of her building. `Then they cut electricity and water. This is a mountain area and the weather is chilly.’’
Residents of Tripoli, where small protests took place in central districts, said that they received a text message to their cell phones. The message warned people ``who dare to violate the four red lines’’ which include Gadhafi himself, national security, oil and Libyan territory, one woman who received the message said.
Already, a newspaper regarded as a Gadhafi mouthpiece had threatened demonstrators.
``Whoever tries to violate them or touch them will be committing suicide and playing with fire,’’ an editorial of Az-Zahf Al-Akhdar, or the Green March newspaper said on Thursday.
Armored vehicles, again with French-speaking, dark-skinned soldiers, roamed the streets chasing protesters, according to the local eyewitness. Helicopters hovered low over demonstrators’ heads.
``They are trying to scare the youth,’’ the eyewitness said. ``Many were detained.’’
In the eastern city of Benghazi, thousands of protesters marched in funeral processions to bury the victims who were shot dead during the past two days.
One of the protesters, Nizar Jebail, owner of an advertising company, said he spent the night in front of the city’s court building. He said he wants not just reforms, ``but freedom and equality.’’
``There are lawyers, judges, men and some women here, demanding the ouster of Gadhafi. Forty-two years of dictatorship are enough,’’ he said by phone.
``We don’t have tents yet but residents provided us with blankets and food,’’ he said. ``We learned from Tunisia and Egypt.’’
Gadhafi rallies supporters amid widening protests
Turks like leaders but worried about
economy
INTERNATIONAL
Received by Newsfinder from AP
Unlike people in many other countries of the Middle East, Turks actually like their government and their leaders. But they still don’t like the way their country is headed.
About 54 percent of the Turkish public has a favorable opinion of the increasingly high-profile Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a new AP-GfK Poll. Majorities also trust the military, the judiciary, the presidency and the Grand National Assembly to do the right thing at least most of the time, a faith in political institutions that is lacking in much of the region.
However, most Turks still say their country is headed in the wrong direction, with the economy as their top concern.
A broad majority call unemployment is an `extremely serious’’ problem in Turkey, despite economic growth of about 7 percent in 2010. The unemployment rate in October was about 11 percent, but it almost doubled for those between the ages of 15 and 24 at 21 percent. The majority of Turkey’s 74 million people are young, and the country’s social net is still relatively weak.
About half of Turks see ``a high level of economic growth’’ as an extremely important as a goal for their country. Thirty-eight percent call the country’s economy ``poor’’ or ``very poor,’’ and just 34 percent expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next five years.
Negative perceptions of the country’s economy appear to drive Turks’ outlook on their nation and even their home life. Among those who describe the economy as ``poor,’’ 87 percent say the country is headed in the wrong direction, and only 34 percent say they are generally happy with how things are going in their lives. Likewise, this group is less apt to trust the nation’s institutions and leaders to do what is right.
Still, Turks are conflicted about whether a shift toward greater government control of business would improve things. Most say incomes should be made more equal and that they prefer more government ownership of business and industry. At the same time, a majority see economic competition as a positive, for stimulating ``people to work hard and develop new ideas,’’ and prefer business owner or employee autonomy.
Beyond the economy, terrorism rises as another widespread concern, with 66 percent calling it an ``extremely serious’’ problem, about on par with unemployment.
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EYE ON THE ARAB MEDIA -- While the American mainstream media emphasized the threats posed by the Muslim Brotherhood, warning that they could fill the power vacuum created in Egypt and Tunisia, Arab scholars from the U.S. and the region believe such threats are baseless.
Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University told Al Jazeera “I would not even begin to talk about the American media. Everybody chasing everybody else’s tail to talk about how backward Arabs are and how we all are going to be eaten up by Islamists if the secret police do not beat them down.”
According to Khalidi, “the salient majority is now on the streets. And the amazing thing is, the demands that are developing starting in Tunisia and now in Egypt and other Arab countries, so far, have no prominence of an either Islamic, left, or right lean. It is a remarkable mix of the various trends that actually existed in the Arab society and were masked by this ridiculous narrative that was paddled to us.”
Mehran Kamrava, the interim dean of Georgetown University in Qatar told Al Jazeera, “these [Arab] regimes have very effectively used the bogeyman of Islamic fundamentalism. In fact we are hearing it again in this country in the U.S., with the comparison of the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, very effectively done to provide a false choice to pro-Western governments.”
“I do not think it is going that way
at all,” Kamrava said. “The Muslim Brotherhood both in Tunisia and Egypt did not play a leading role in the demonstrations and they can’t claim credit for them.”
Abdel Aziz Al-Khamis, Editor-in-Chief of the Arabian Observer Magazine agreed. He told the London-based television, Arab News Broadcasting
(ANB) that “in Tunisia, the Muslim Brotherhood did not participate in the uprisings in the beginning. They came at the end, once Ben Ali left the country. When they realized that change will happen; they rushed to reap the fruits [make political gains].”
According to Al-Khamis, the Muslim Brotherhood is now in a weak position. “Now the Tunisian public view the Muslim Brotherhood as cowards and therefore they do not deserve to be depended on in forming the new political structure in Tunisia.”
Because of what happened in Tunisia,
in Egypt the Brotherhood took a different approach. “In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood wanted to avoid this mistake and this is why they went to the Tahrir Square later on and wanted to play a role”. The Muslim Brotherhood did not participate in the demonstrations held in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square until Dec 27, by then the demonstrations were already
widespread throughout Egypt.
“The Muslim brotherhood has strong influence in Egypt, but they have always feared confronting the military regimes,” Al-Khamis added.
Dina Ibrahim, an Egyptian-born assistant professor of journalism at San Francisco State University also believes that the Muslim Brotherhood threat is exaggerated. She recently returned from a month in Cairo where she discussed the Brotherhood’s popularity with “quite a few people of different socio-economic classes.” She told New America Media that “they are
definitely popular, but not quite enough to rule the country. They will have a pivotal role in any new government, but I do not believe that the people are ready to be ruled by them.”
Furthermore, to assume that the Muslim Brotherhood is a static organization that never changes is wrong. There are indications that the younger generation of the Muslim Brotherhood has modernized. Muslim Brotherhood leaders have expressed a willingness to be part of the political system along with other opposition groups who do not share their Islamic ideologies.
Dr. Nawal El-Saadawi, the world renowned Egyptian novelist and feminist, told Al Jazeera that “when we were in Tahrir Square among millions, I was met by the younger generation of the Muslim Brotherhood, they embraced me and said ‘we disagree with some of the ideas in your books, but we love you and respect you.’ The fear of Islam or Islamophobia is fake”.
In fact, there are indications that the entire Egyptian society is changing, El-Saadawi said. “The revolution is political, social, cultural, and economic and it will change the basis of the patriarchal class system and it will change the culture.”
“Not a single church was burned during the revolution and not a single woman was harassed during the revolution,” El-Saadawi said. “When we were living in Tahrir Square, we were millions. Women, men and children were under tents day and night. In fact, all the differences between Egyptians evaporated, Christians, Muslims, men and women were all together and there was equality between all.”
Arab Uprisings Shatter “Bogeyman Theory” of Islamist Takeover
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MARCH 2011www.AZMuslimVoice.com 17HEALTH
Received by Newsfinder from AP
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Mastering a second language can pump up the brain in ways that seem to delay getting Alzheimer’s disease later on, scientists said Friday.
While the new research focuses mostly on the truly long-term bilingual, scientists say even people who tackle a new language later in life stand to gain.
The more proficient the person becomes, the better, but ``every little bit helps,’’ said Ellen Bialystok, a psychology professor at York University in Toronto.
Much of the study of bilingualism has centered on babies, as scientists wondered why simply speaking to infants in two languages allows them to learn both in the time it takes most babies to learn one. Their brains seem to become more flexible, better able to multitask. As they grow up, their brains show better ``executive control,’’ a system key to higher functioning _ as Bialystok puts it, ``the most important part of your mind.’’
Does that mental juggling in youngsters translate into protection against cognitive decline when in older people?
Bialystok studied 450 Alzheimer’s patients, all of whom showed the same degree of impairment at the time of diagnosis. Half are bilingual; they have spoken two languages regularly for most of their lives. The rest are monolingual.
The bilingual patients had Alzheimer’s symptoms and were diagnosed between four and five
years later than the patients who spoke only one language, she told the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Being bilingual does nothing to prevent Alzheimer’s disease from striking. But once the disease does begin its silent attack, those years of robust executive control provide a buffer so that symptoms do not become apparent as quickly, Bialystok said.
``They’ve been able to cope with the disease,’’ she said.
Her work supports an earlier study from other researchers that also found a protective effect.
What is it about being bilingual that enhances that all-important executive control system?
Both languages are essentially turned on all the time, but the brain learns to inhibit the one that is not needed, said psychology professor Teresa Bajo of the University of Granada in Spain. That is pretty constant activity.
That is not the only area. University of British Columbia psychologist Janet Werker studies infants exposed to two languages from birth to see why they do not confuse the two, and says bilingual babies learn very early to pay attention better.
Werker tested babies in Spain who were growing up learning both Spanish and Catalan. She showed the babies videos of women speaking languages they’d never heard _ English and French _ but with the sound off. By measuring the tots’ attention span, Werker concluded that babies could distinguish between English and French simply by watching the speakers’ facial cues. It could have
been the different lip shapes.
``It looks like French people are always kissing,’’ she joked, while the English ``th’’ sound evokes a distinctive lip-in-teeth shape.
Whatever the cues, monolingual babies could not tell the difference, Werker said Friday at the meeting.
But what about people who were not lucky enough to have been raised bilingual? Scientists and educators know that it becomes far harder to learn a new language after puberty.
Partly that’s because adults’ brains are so bombarded with other demands that they do not give learning a new language the same attention that a young child does, Bialystok said.
At the University of Maryland, scientists are studying how to identify adults who would be good candidates to master a new language, and then what types of training are best. Having a pretty strong executive control system, like the lifelong bilinguals have, is among the good predictive factors, said Amy Weinberg, deputy director of the university’s Center for Advanced Study of Language.
But people do not have to master a new language to benefit some, Bialystok said. Exercising your brain throughout life contributes to what is called cognitive reserve, the overall ability to withstand the declines of aging and disease. That is the basis of the use-it-or-lose-it advice from aging experts who also recommend such things as crossword puzzles to keep the brain nimble.
``If you start to learn at 40, 50, 60, you are certainly keeping your brain active,’’ she said.
Speaking 2 languages may delay getting Alzheimer’s
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Herbs and Grains SoupFood Recipes
Small pies (Manaeish) or Fatayer
Ingredients
½ Kilo ground meat
1 Tbsp lemon zest
2 Tbsps chopped dill
Salt & pepper
2 Tbsps olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
½ cup soaked yellow lentil
½ cup soaked Egyptian rice
2 cup stock
1 Tbsp chopped mint
1 Tbsp chopped basil
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
1 Tbsp chopped coriander
1 Tbsp chopped spinach
1 tsp saffron
½ cup yogurt
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Method
• Mix ground meat with lemon zests and dill. Season with salt & pepper then shape into small balls.
• Put meatballs in the oven pan. Leave in the oven until totally cooked.
• Heat oil in a pan then add onion and garlic then lentil and rice and stir.
• Add stock to the mixture until boiling then reduce the heat and simmer until cooked.
• Add the meatballs and the herbs. Leave until simmering.
• Mix yogurt with flour, stir.
• Melt saffron in a teaspoon hot water then put over the yogurt, then add the mixture to the stock until start simmering and getting thick.
• Serve hot with lemon juice.
Ingredients
1 Tbs yeast
¼ Cup water, warm
2 ½ Cup flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
¾ Cup milk
¼ Cup oil
1 Egg, beaten +2 Tbs milk
Method
- Dissolve yeast in warm water, leave for 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Combine flour, salt and sugar in an electric mixer on low speed.
- Add yeast mixture, milk and oil while beating on medium speed for 10 minutes or until soft dough is formed (can be mixed with hands for about 25 minutes).
- Place dough and roll in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1hour or until doubled in size.
- Roll dough on a lightly floured surface into a (½ cm thickness) circle. Cut into approximately 7 cm circles.
- Brush circle edges with the egg mixture
and fill one side of the circle as desired (for example white cheese and dried mint mixture), then fold into a half circle; pinch the edges with a fork to seal. (Hint: flour the fork so it won’t stick with the dough).
- Brush with the egg mixture, prick with a fork, sprinkle with sesame seeds, black sesame or crushed pistachios (as desirer).
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden (time may vary according to filling).
- heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add ingredients and stir until done.
- Fill pies by adding a portion of the mixture in the middle of the dough circle, then fold edges to meet in the middle to shape a triangle. Top with pomegranates seeds.
* For minced beef filling (precooked ground beef, pine nuts)
- Place a portion of filling in the middle of the dough circle; pinch the edges to form an unsealed square. Sprinkle with roasted pine nuts.
IRAQI CHILIDREN'S RELIEFASSOCIATION,INC. in AZ
For moreinformation call602-486-3935
Helping Iraqi children who are orphans, handicapped, injured in wars. This is an opportunity for those who want help humanity in this world by donating or helping this noble cause.
ذين في قال تعالى )والذين هم على صالتهم دائمون والعلوم للسال والمحروم( وسيجزي اهلل المحسنين اموالهم حق م
www.icrai.p2h.info
AS LOW AS $55/MON.
FOR (3X2 INCH) SIZE AD
ADVERTISE HERE
For more information call480-275-1538
ArAbic lAnguAge teAcher And islAmic lAw And the QurAn for
All levels
Giving lessons at home
•Valleywide Knowledge & Expertise •Specializing in Residential Real Estate •Short Sales, Bank Owned, REOs •Buying or Selling •Multi-Million Dollar Producer •GRI Designation – Graduate REALTOR® Institute •ABR® Designation – Accredited Buyer Representative •Professional – Diligent – Passionate
Fady Abuhmaidan CRS, GRI, ABR®
Cell: 602-300-7332 • Fax: 480-718-8513
Serving the Arab community by helping them make informed decisions when buying or selling their homes
The Aquila Ocotillo3195 S. Price Rd., Unit # 150 • Chandler, AZ 85248
Farkhanda Khan, M.D.
Phone: 480-722-0239
www.chandlerpsychiatry.com
Specializing in Adult, Child, Adolescent & Geriatric Psychiatry
Chandler Psychiatry PLLC
M.B. Khan, M.D.Chandler Neurology & Sleep Disorders Associates P.C
The Aquila Ocotillo3195 S. Price Rd., Unit # 150 • Chandler, AZ 85248
Phone: 480-722-0239
www.chandlerneurologyandsleep.com
Specializing in all Neurological & Sleep Related Disorders Diagnostic Services include EEG, EMG,
Polysomnography, MSLT & MWT
7440 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd.Scottsdale, AZ [email protected] • www.shortsellmyhouse.net • www.ReneeLeach.com
MARCH 2011www.AZMuslimVoice.com 19CALENDAR / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Phoenix Prayer TimesMarch 2011 • Radi Al-Awwal / Radi Al-Ahkar 1432 H
ISLAMIC CENTERS IN ARIZONAISLAMIC CENTERS IN ARIZONACOLORING CONTEST FOR KIDS
Hint: If the paper is too thin to color, make a Xerox copy then color it.Ages 3-12, please send a picture of yourself.
COLORING CONTEST
Name: Age: Phone: # March 2011
Send your coloring to the Muslim Voice to enter the drawing for the best picture.
February Winner
Tucson Prayer TimesMarch 2011 • Radi Al-Awwal / Radi Al-Ahkar 1432 H
ISLAMIC WEEKEND SCHOOLSIslamic Community Center of Phoenix: Sunday at 9:45 am-1:20 pm.Islamic Cultural Center: Sunday at 10:00 amMuslim Community Mosque: Sunday at 10:00 am until 2:30 pm.Masjid Omar Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.ICNEV Weekend Islamic School Tel: (480) 346-2081Classes held on Sunday K thru’ grade 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.ACA Weekend School Sunday 10:00 am-1:15 pm. www.azacademy.org/weekend
Sultan Education in Chandler Saturdays & Sundays - children/adults 480-593-7066Greenway Islamic Academy Tajweed, Islamic Studies, & Arabic Language 602-565-0500
DIRECTIONS TO THE ISLAMIC CULTURALCENTER CEMETERY
IN CASE OF DEATH• Call Sandy at Angel’s Burial, at 480-962-6435
• Total cost is $1,800.00
FROM THE ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER (ICC):
1) Go South on Forest to University Drive. Turn right.2) Go West on University to the I-10 highway. Take I-10 East.3) Proceed on I-10 East (~12 Miles). Exit at Queen Creek Rd. (EXIT #164).4) Turn right on route 347 South. Proceed for about 14 miles.5) Turn right on route 238 West. Proceed for about 8.7 miles.6) Turn right on unnamed/unpaved street after you see the street sign which reads “36 miles” and proceed to the cemetery.
Check our website for up to date information
www.tempemasjid.com
PHOENIXArizona Cultural Academy 7810 S. 42nd Pl. • Phoenix602-454-1222
Islamic Center of Arizona9032 N. 9th St. • Phoenix
Islamic Center of N. Phoenix13246 N. 23rd Ave. 85029602-371-3440
Islamic Comnty Ctr of Phx7516 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix • 602-249-0496
Muslim Community Mosque1818 N. 32nd St. • Phoenix602-306-4959
Masjid Al-Rahmah2645 E. McDowell Rd. • Phoenix602-275-5493
Masjid Muhammad Ibn Abdullah5648 N. 15th ave.Phoenix, AZ 85015602-413-5279
Al Rasoul Mosque5302 N. 35th Ave. • Phoenix602-864-1817
PEORIAGreenway Islamic Center6724 West Greenway • Peoria, AZ www.greenwaymasjid.com
TEMPEIslamic Comnty Ctr of Tempe131 E. 6th Street • Tempe480-894-6070
Masjid Al Mahdi1016 S. River Dr. • Tempe480-557-9699
Masjid Omar Bin Al-Khattab6225 S.McClintock • Tempe 480-775-6627
MESAMasjid-el-Noor 55 N. Matlock • Mesa 480-644-0074
SCOTTSDALEIslamic Center of N.E. Valley 12125 E. Via Linda • Scottsdale480-612-4044
CHANDLERMasjid AsSalam1071 N. Alma School Rd.• Chandler 480-250-7522
Islamic Center of East Valley425 N. Alma School Dr. • Chandler602-388-9900
LAVEENIslamic Center of Laveen P.O. Box 1107 • Laveen602-361-4401
MARICOPAMasjid Bilal Ibn Rabah44240 W. Maricopa/Casa-Granda Hwy Maricopa Arizona 85139 con-tact# (602)312-7913
CASA GRANDEMasjid Sajda is located c/o:The Legacy Suites540 North Cacheris CourtCasa Grande`, Arizona 85122480.332.8618
Osama Ali
MARCH 2011 www.AZMuslimVoice.com20 ADVERTISEMENTS
Hacienda Las Palomas
Located at 351 N. Country Club DriveMesa, AZ 85201
S.E Corner University Drive / Country ClubEasy Access From US 60 Or 202
