Free Republic

...Across Europe, Muslims are hungry for advice about how to integrate in their new countries while remaining true to their faith. Questions range from the complex (Can I pay into a pension system that is based on interest, which is forbidden by Islam?) to the mundane (When do sunset prayers take place during the summer solstice in Scandinavia, when the sun doesn't set?). In response, councils, television shows and Internet sites have issued a flood of fatwas aimed at aiding the residents of Islam's newest frontier, Europe. But as the French woman found out, this avalanche of advice is heavily...

Muslim leader calls on lobbyist to retract 'jihad' reference 07/26/2005 By NIKI SULLIVAN  / Associated Press A Portland Muslim leader is asking a pesticide industry lobbyist to retract a statement in which she warned that Senate Democrats had declared "jihad" against Republicans over an environmental dispute. Shahriar Ahmed, president of the Bilal Mosque in Beaverton, said use of the term in an e-mail dealing with a controversy over a pesticide use reporting program perpetuates negative stereotypes about Muslims. "The term 'jihad' here was used intentionally to aggravate the situation," Ahmed said during a news conference Tuesday. The word has been used...

Events push mosque leader into spotlight Whether bumped from a prayer breakfast or fielding concerns about a detention, Shahriar Ahmed broadens views of Islam Monday, May 10, 2004 JILL SMITH BEAVERTON -- The question took Shahriar Ahmed by surprise. The president of Bilal Mosque in Beaverton was looking for an elevator at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center when a security guard approached him: "Aren't you the guy who was disinvited from the prayer breakfast?" A week earlier, organizers of the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast of Washington County had pulled Ahmed from the program because he is Muslim. Most mayors bowed out...

Four days ago Warblogging reported on the story of Maher (Mike) Hawash. Mr. Hawash's problems have now been the subject of an article in the New York Times. Mr. Hawash is a programmer, working at Intel, who was detained by the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force as a material witness. He has so far spent just about two weeks in jail without being charged with a crime and without being questioned or told why he is detained. He is being kept in solitary confinement. Mr. Hawash was detained by FBI agents wearing helments, body armor and carrying assault rifles...