Muslims rally against liquor sales (Oakland,CA)

Oakland Tribune ^ | 01/28/2006 | William Brand

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OAKLAND - A march and rally to protest the sale of alcohol at Muslim-owned stores and the proliferation of the corner stores in poor neighborhoods of Oakland drew Muslims from around the Bay Area to downtown Oakland Saturday.

``This is something we've thought about and talked about for a long time,'' said Zachary Twist, of Hayward and Oakland, one of the organizers of the coalition Muslims for a Healthy Community.

The attack on two West Oakland liquor stores last year by men objecting to the sale of alcohol brought the issue forward, Twist said. ``But that is something we totally disagree with. Vigilantism is totally prohibited.''

But when you look at the statistics, 90 percent of Oakland's 350 liquor stores are owned or operated by Muslims - it's amazing and upsetting, Twist said.

``Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''

``We're not talking about prohibition, about banning liquor,'' she said. ``We are talking first and foremost to our fellow Muslims who are selling alcohol. They need to stop, and start selling fresh produce instead,'' Siddiqui said.

The rally ended with Muslim prayers led by clerics, including Mohammed Rajabally, president of the Islamic Society of the East Bay in Fremont, and Zaki Zareef, of Jamma-Tussalaam Community of Peace in Oakland.

It was an unusual sight for Oakland: nearly 150 worshipers, facing East, prone in front of City Hall.

This is just the beginning, one participant said. ``We want to work with other groups, like the black ministers, and others,'' he said.

The day began with a march from DeFremmery Park at 17th and Adeline Street to Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall. The march and rally were planned by Muslims and mosque officers from all over the Bay Area.

But initially, it looked like a march by supporters and associates of Your Black Muslim Bakery, Inc. The march of 75 men, women and children, was preceded by three luxury cars, a Chevrolet Suburban, a Lexus and a BMW, each carrying distinctive red and white crescent flags.

A phalanx of men in black coats ran alongside the cars, ahead of the marchers. The group stopped at liquor stores along the route, and Your Black Muslim Bakery representatives stationed themselves like sentries at the door of each store.

But Muslims from other organizations , speaking mostly in Arabic, talked to store owners and clerks, asking them why they continued to sell alcohol. At the first store, Sunbeam Market at Adeline and 14th Street, Moenssor Ghanan just smiled.

But when they left, Ghanan, who came to Oakland 20 years ago from Yemen, said he is a Muslim. He does not drink, but he sells alcohol because his customers want it.

``Alcohol is legal and I'm licensed by the state of California to sell it,'' he said.

At the next store, Bottles Liquor at 1150 Market, a store clerk, whose family owns the business, argued vehemently with his questioner, Iman Zaid Shakur, in Arabic and English. ``I know I'm wrong, selling alcohol. I'll pay someday,'' the clerk, who asked that his name not be used, said.

``But,'' he insisted, ``why do you go after us. Why don't you go to Safeway? They sell a lot more than we do. Are you willing to go there?''

Shakur said yes in a low voice.

A customer, Dave Brown, said he had been coming into the store for years. ``This store is owned by a family just trying to make a living; they have a right do that,'' he said. ``What they're selling is legal.''

At the third store, S&A Market at 14th and Jefferson streets, Ali Abraham, a former store owner, argued heatedly with two Muslims. ``People in America have a right to protest,'' he said. ``But there is also a law. We didn't invent democracy, but we're not excluded either,'' he said.

``Why do you go after us, weak, poor Arabs with no support, no backing?'' Abraham asked.

One of the Muslims, Abdullah Abdur-Rahman, who said he was from the suburbs, said alcohol sale in poor neighborhoods is a deep-rooted problem. ``You see these stores on every street corner.''

For more information about the Bay Area Muslim coalition, call (510) 868-8318 or email: muslims4hc@emailus.org.

Contact William Brand at: bbrand@angnewspapers.com

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Where's Mayor Moonbeam at? What's his take on this ?

[trubluolyguy]

And so it begins. Soon enough they will demand all women Muslim or not wear head covers or just out and out Burka's.

[sockmonkey]

Sharia Law-Coming soon to Oakland

[johniegrad]

They don't know how to handle life without austere rules and tyranical punishments. Given the freedoms of western society, they are totally confused and helpless.

[yldstrk]

Move back to Saudi or give it up. You are in America now.

[A message]

Sharia Law-Coming soon to Oakland

Well, you know traffic will be much lighter in the bay area once the beheadings and stonings start.

Gotta look at the bright side.

[jazusamo]

``Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''


Siddiqui and all who think like him should move to one of the countries that don't allow the sale of alcohol. This is a free country and no one is forcing him to drink it. They should butt out.

[demkicker]

Guess this is where the Islamic rubber meets the road of 72 virgins. "Oh wait, I'm not sure I believe they really exist!"

"Why do I feel like I'm surrendering my every thought and move to radical lunatics?" (quote from a dumbass muslim)

[Hot Tabasco]

Muslims for a Healthy Community

For some reason, tofu, organic vegetables and a proliferation of healthclubs and treadmill stores comes to mind... LOL!

[sono]

Liquor sales cut into the crank profits.

[paul51]

``Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''

Our law is crystal clear. Alcohol sales are legal. If you don't like it, too bad.

[Itzlzha]

``Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''

Yup, but you see...this is AMERICA!

Alcohol is a LEGAL PRODUCT! So your "religion" is worth exactly what I use your damned evil book to wipe off my a$$...

Guess what is ALSO legal in these clowns "religion"...

And for the STRONG of stomach...maybe you can tolerate seeing these images which I will not post....VERY GRAPHIC!!!

http://www.hyscience.com/archives/JAK09D_RTRIDSP_3_INDONESIA_Reuters_Alertnet.jpeg.jpg

http://www.indiadaily.com/images/editorial/06-18a_4-04.jpg

http://www.jtf.org/mmm.muslim.terror.indonesia.east.timor.beheading.jpg

This is what Islam is...and the sooner we begin to FIGHT these Islamazi both here and abroad, the sooner we can remove them from the Planet, and end the threat to Humanity they are!

[svcw]

And so it begins.

[Izzy Dunne]

They need to stop, and start selling fresh produce instead,'' Siddiqui said.

Yeah, they need to capture some of that Saturday-night cucumber business.

[jec41]

The new Klan.

[csvset]

The Nation Of Islam thugs are for the most part are Americans. This particular gang has been killing each other following the death of their crime boss. They've been fighting over who's going to take the reins of their " enterprise ".

[mtbopfuyn]

90 percent of Oakland's 350 liquor stores are owned or operated by Muslims - it's amazing and upsetting

Probably not far off the numbers around the country either. Now, why is that?

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''


I wonder how they feel about adult bookstores instead?

[mtbopfuyn]

When I woke up today, this was still America the Free. Tomorrow, I'm not too sure about.

[Lurker]

``We are talking first and foremost to our fellow Muslims who are selling alcohol. They need to stop, and start selling fresh produce instead,'' Siddiqui said.

"Or we'll cut your head off..."

L