10
May

“Muslim Apple” on Terrorism Resources?

It has always fascinated me how people find my blog and so a few days ago as I was scanning the list of link referrals to my blog I noticed one link from the wikipedia-esque Terrorism Resources website entry on Masoud Khan in the “homegrown terrorist database” section.

The entry states that: “This dossier was compiled by WM and MJ. The final editing was done by Crystal Ball. Copyright 2008 TerrorismResources.Org”

I don’t know who WM, MJ, or Crystal Ball are but their entry is skewed and inaccurate. It seems that they make up for their lack of information by making it up as they go along. My blog Muslim Apple is listed as the personal website of Masaud Khan simply because I posted two statements by him and one from his family. The statement he read at the original sentencing hearing, and later, a letter he wrote from prison, and an update from his family on the status of his case.

I thought about creating an account on that site so I could login and try to update and correct the misinformation but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

Masaud Khan was sentenced to life plus 65 years and then had the sentence reduced by twenty years to life plus 45 years.

Please remember those caught up in this unjust war on individuals and their families in your prayers.

10
May

Talaq Ruled Invalid in Maryland

The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled this week that the Islamic divorce method of talaq by which a man can divorce his wife simply by saying “I divorce you” three times, unsurprisingly, fails to meet the state’s definition of “due process” and awarded a Muslim woman divorced after 20 years of marriage by this method the legal entitlement to about half of her ex-husband’s assets and half of his $90,000 a year World Bank pension.

Washington Post: Islamic Divorce Ruled Not Valid in Maryland

Triflin’ brothers beware, if neither your deen nor your intelligence restrains you, the state of Maryland has the back of the sisters and will keep you in check.

08
May

Obituary: Mildred Loving

Mildred Loving of the Virginia vs. Loving case fame died last week Friday. In 1958, she married her white sweetheart Richard in Washington DC since interracial marriage was illegal in their home state of Virginia. Virginia’s tourism motto is “Virginia is for Lovers” and the Lovings helped make that a little truer for interracial couples.

Mildred Jeter Loving, 68, a black woman whose refusal to accept Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1967 that struck down similar laws across the country, died of pneumonia Friday at her home in Milford, Va.

Washington Post: Quiet Va. Wife Ended Interracial Marriage Ban

Martin Luther King Jr. on interracial marriage:

Races do not fall in love and get married. Individuals fall in love and get married. Why don’t you want your fellow men and women, your fellow Americans to be happy? Why do you attack them? Why do you want to destroy the love they hold in their hearts? Why do you want to crush their hopes, their dreams, their longings, their aspirations? We are talking about human beings, people like you, people want to get married, buy house, and spend their lives with the one they love. They have done no wrong.”

Continue reading ‘Obituary: Mildred Loving’

07
May

Did You Kill People Over There?

Yesterday, in my math class, sitting one seat away from me at the end of the row was another student attentively taking notes on logarithms, preparing for our final exams. Our professor asked him why he hadn’t been in class recently and he said that he had been away on army business.

Professor: Have you been to Iraq?

Student: Yes, and I have to go back. I don’t want to go back.

Professor: Did you kill people over there?

Student: Quietly, almost like a whisper under his breath he said, “yeah” and nodded his head.

Professor: That’s terrible. If you don’t want to go back, I’ll take you to Africa. They won’t find you over there.

Student: They’ll find me.

This is just about as close as I get to the war in Iraq. Other than the Iraqis I know here in the US that are worried about their loved ones over there, and my time at the airport when we used to see military men and women shipping out and some coming home in small boxes and urns, the war doesn’t affect me on a day-to-day basis except that I know that the lives and money spent over there could be put to better use over here or elsewhere around the world.

03
May

Following (a cop) Too Closely Again

Last Tuesday, I received a citation from a Prince George’s County police officer for “following too closely”, which I think is one of the more bogus citations a person can receive especially if there no was resulting accident because clearly the vehicles were both able to maneuver and operate safely.

I was on my way to class, behind the police officer for a while on Powder Mill Road for those of you familiar with my section of Maryland. There was a farm tractor on the road, moving slowly of course, and I wanted to pass it but didn’t feel comfortable because that would have meant that I would have had to pass both the cop and the tractor and I’m sure the cop could have found some other excuse to pull me over. So a back up of cars formed behind the tractor, the cop, and I, as no one was willing to try to pass the cop.

Then we moved onto 197 (another roadway) still behind the cop, going slower than the usual rate of speed for the road. At the flashing red light, left turn onto the campus, the cop stopped for an exceptionally long time before proceeding and then I stopped and pulled into campus. Then he pulled me over.

Cop: “You seem to be in quite a hurry this morning.

Silently, thinking to myself, “Yeah, I was trying to be on time for my class at 9:30″.

Cop: Is there any reason why you were pushing me down the road?

Me: I was not pushing you down the road.

Cop: You didn’t stop at the flashing red light.

Me: Yes, I did stop.

Cop: No, I stopped and you stopped behind me and then I went and you went as well.

Me: No I stopped behind you, and again after you went. Continue reading ‘Following (a cop) Too Closely Again’

03
May

Tear Down Guantanamo: One Pixel At a Time

10
Apr

USA vs. Al-Arian Screening Today!

This Thursday (April 10th) the University of Maryland at College Park Muslim Students Association is hosting a free screening of USA vs. Al-Arian in the Hoff Theatre, Stamp Student Union @ 6 PM.

If you have not already seen the documentary then you should make a point to see this thought-provoking film. When I saw the film, one of Dr. Al-Arian’s sons was at the panel discussion afterward and today one his daughters will be speaking afterward so even though I have class at that time, I will try to go again.

In December 2005, a Tampa jury acquitted Dr. Sami Al-Arian of “terrorism” charges. Two years later he is still in prison because the Bush administration refuses to honor a May 2006 promise to release and deport him. Dr. Al-Arian was due to be released in weeks, but is now on a hunger strike to protest the government’s refusal to honor a plea agreement.

Come find out why.

“USA vs Al-Arian” Screening at University of Maryland
Featuring Guest Speaker: Laila Al-Arian, Journalist and daughter of Dr. Al-Arian.
Please join us on Thursday April 10, 2008
From 6:00pm - 10:00pm in the evening.
The event will take place the Hoff Theater, located within the University of Maryland Stamp Student Union
College Park, MD

Sponsored by: The Muslim Students Association, International Socialist Organization, Feminism Without Borders, Organization of Arab Students, Students for a Democratic Society, and Peace Forum

From the Storehouse:

Free Sami al-Arian Now!

05
Apr

Scrabulous Anyone?

I like to play Scrabulous. Do you?

05
Apr

Ignoring the Naysayers, Back by Popular Demand

In light of all the invitations that I have received lately to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, I thought it would be a good time to reprise the I Don’t Get Mawlid & Hadra series of posts. I don’t participate in these sort of events but I’m not going to knock those who do, there is a difference of opinion, and Allah knows best. I’ve always liked the quote by Maya Angelou that we are more alike than unlike, indeed.

And just so I’m not asked for the third time to delete this video, this mawlid celebration has nothing to do with the RIS Convention. It was a completely private affair between the individuals that took part.

From the Storehouse:

Mawlid & Hadra - I Don’t Get It

Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah on Mawlid

Deleted non-RIS Mawlid video

05
Apr

Imam Johari on NPR

Check it out, one of our local imams, Imam Johari AbdulMalik on NPR: Class Teaches New Muslims About Faith’s Practices.

From the Storehouse: Imam Johari AbdulMalik - Preparation & Words