ISTANBUL - A political crisis rooted in fears of the growing influence of political Islam intensified Tuesday as Turkey's highest court annulled a parliamentary vote that could have led to a new president with Islamic leanings. The ruling by the Constitutional Court, voiding a vote that was shunned by secular lawmakers, led to calls for moving up the date of a general election originally planned for November. It followed massive street marches by secular protesters, a plummet of the financial markets and a threat of intervention by the pro-secular military.
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http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565009343264980999
Man Fights Mosque Opening Lawsuit Claims Leader Associated With Terrorist Groups (Florida)
May 1, 2007
MIAMI -- A man fighting the opening of a mosque in his suburban neighborhood filed a lawsuit Tuesday to try and halt construction, a move derided by Arab leaders as anti-Muslim.
Rodney Wright claimed the relocation of the Islamic Center of South Florida to a new, larger building in his Pompano Beach neighborhood "presents a substantial harm to the well-being, safety and health" of the community. Wright identified himself as a Christian.
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http://www.local10.com/news/13237257/detail.html
Germany: United Muslims Demand More Privileges
May 1, 2007
On April 11 this year, Der Spiegel and DPA/Expatica reported that four of the largest Muslim bodies in Germany had amalgamated to form an umbrella group. This new coalition is called the Coordination Council of Muslims in Germany (KRM).
It comprises the Turkish-Islamic Union for Relgious Affairs (DITIB), the Islamic Council (IR), the Central Council of Muslims (ZMD) and the Association of Islamic Culture Centers (VIKZ). By amalgamating, the member groups hope that they can have more influence on policies in Germany. The four groups will still exist outside of the KRM, stated Rafet Ozturk of DITIB. Ayyub Axel Koehler, president of the IR said: "As far as I am concerned, this is a dream come true."
The spokesman for DITIB, one of the component groups, announced then in Cologne that KRM will open offices in every German state. He invited individual mosques and Muslim associations to join KRM. This pressure group was not supported by secular Muslims. One politician, Lale Akgun, a member of parliament and the Social Democratic Party's liaison person with Islam, said: "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if these four organizations were granted the power to define what Islam is in Germany. They jointly represent a very conservative Islam. There is no room among them for liberal views."
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Letter Threatens to 'Terminate' Detroit-Area Muslims
Tue May 1,2007
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today said it received a letter threatening Muslims in the Detroit area.
The letter, which contained violent pro- Israel and Islamophobic rhetoric and imagery, stated in part: "Our goal is to terminate all Muslums (sic) in the greater Detroit area...and we will kill you first!" CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid reported the threat to the FBI and is urging local mosques and Islamic institutions to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."
"It is important that law enforcement officials, elected representatives and community leaders take these kinds of threats seriously and act accordingly," said Walid. He also encouraged Islamic non-profit groups to apply for recently-announced DHS grants to receive training and to purchase equipment such as video cameras, alarm systems and other security enhancements. The grants are offered through the Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program. SEE: Grants Available to Boost Mosque Security (CAIR) http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=502&theType=AA
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
Action Alerts: Grants Available to Boost Mosque Security
Sunday, April 29, 2007
DHS ANNOUNCES $24 MILLION AVAILABLE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY THROUGH UASI PROGRAM
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/newsreleases/FY07_UASI_Release.pdf
The following information was released by the Department of Homeland Security:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that nonprofit organizations in the 46 designated UASI areas are eligible to apply for funds as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This grant program will provide more than $24 million to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations who are deemed high-risk for a potential international terrorist attack.
Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations through their eligible State Administrative Agency (SAA) according to criteria that includes:
Prior identified and substantiated threats or attacks toward the nonprofit or closely-related organization, either within or outside the U.S., by a terrorist organization; Symbolic value of a site as a highly recognized national or historical institution that renders it a possible terrorist target; Organization's role in responding to or recovering from terrorist attacks; and Organization's credible threat or vulnerability, as well as the potential consequences of an attack, as determined by a previously conducted risk assessment.
The federal grant funds must be used for target-hardening activities, which can be accomplished through training or the purchase or installation of security equipment on real property owned or leased by the nonprofit organization. Allowable equipment is limited to physical security enhancements (e.g. alarm systems, bulletproof doors or windows) or inspection and screening systems (e.g. walk-through magnetometers and conveyor-belt x-ray systems used to screen personnel and packages for hazardous materials or devices).
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http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=502&theType=AA