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March 23, 2006
Fighting for Our Rights
1. Seven Days Of Secret Hearings In Chicago: The Salah Case
2. Two-day Conference On Immigration Rights
In Solidarity
1. Sara Reschly Of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Writes To The Council
2. Protest Rally Marks Third Anniversary Of The War In Iraq
In Service
1. Participate In The Hunger Knows No Season Promotion
2. Muslim Participation Higher In The Primary Elections
SEVEN DAYS OF SECRET HEARINGS IN CHICAGO: THE SALAH CASE
March was probably one of the worst months for the American legal system in Chicago. In a rare move, the court was closed to media and the public for several days during the Muhammad Salah pretrial. Further, during a four-five hour segment government lawyers and the Israeli torturers, who are members of the Israel Security Agency, were allowed to testify before the judge while Mr. Salah and his defense attorneys were not permitted in the room. The issue in question was whether confessions procured by torture are acceptable in court. Despite requests by Chicago Tribune, journalists and peace and social justice activists, these hearings were not made open to the public.
Also unusual is Judge Amy St. Eve's ruling that Mr. Salah's confession will be made public while the methods of torture used to extract it will remain classified information. Attorneys for Mr. Muhammad Salah opposed releasing the document, saying it is actually a forced confession through torture and will distort the truth in the eyes of the public especially since other evidence remains secret.
"It's going to provide a very distorted record of what happened in this hearing," Michael Deutsch, a Salah attorney said in court, according to a Chicago Tribune March 21, report. "They should release it all and let the chips fall where they may."
The hearing before U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve is tentatively set to resume April 4. Mr. Salah's trial is scheduled for October.
This case is being covered widely by the press. Amnesty International has joined the Chicago Coalition to Protect People's Rights as supporters of Mr. Muhammad Salah. The Council of Islamic Organizations is a founding member of the coalition.
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SARA RESCHLY OF CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS (CPT) WRITES TO THE COUNCIL: TOM FOX UPDATE
Sara Reschly from Christian Peacemaker Teams wrote us in response to our letter of condolence:
Dear Mr. Mujahid,
We are very grateful for your letter and all of the support you have given us. From the first day that our brothers were kidnapped, you have been so kind and supportive. Attending the inter-faith prayer service at the mosque downtown in early December was a powerful experience for me personally. I don't know if you remember, but you preached about not giving in to fear and maintaining hope. I continue to find comfort in those words as we still do not have any news of our other three missing brothers, Jim, Harmeet, and Norman.
Tom was a gentle, patient, and a very humble man. He had a deep respect for Islam. In a letter to his family and friends about his mission in Iraq, Tom wrote that he sought to: "acquire a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural richness… and how we might work together and learn from each other in mutually beneficial ways."
We have sent your condolences along to his family. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We take solace in knowing that Tom was actively living out his faith and deep convictions that the power of love will ultimately bring about a more peaceful and just world.
Much peace to you and all of our friends at the Council of Islamic Organizations,
Sara Reschly
Christian Peacemaker Teams, Chicago
PO Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60608
tel: 312-492-8736
fax:312-277-0291
email: sarar@cpt.org
ACTION ITEM:Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid urges Muslims to send their regrets as well to http://supportfamilies.blogspot.com. A statement by the council is posted there.
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PROTEST RALLY MARKS THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR IN IRAQ
March 18, Chicago - As many as 7,000 Iraq war protesters took to the streets in Downtown Chicago protesting the war in Iraq while marking it’s third anniversary. A contingent of Muslims also participated in the march following a call by the Council.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “In Chicago, rally organizers had sought protest permits to march down Michigan Avenue since the war's first anniversary, only to have their proposals rejected on grounds the proposed march would snarl traffic. To get around the obstacles, organizers copied the parade application for the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Unable to reject the march for its content, the city relented.”
The Council Chairman also spoke at the event. “According to the latest polls it’s clear that the whole country knows that the war in Iraq was a mistake,” he said. He pointed out that American intervention in that region isn’t a three-year old affair but one that has lasted 14 years, since the first gulf war in 1992. According to him, the best solution would be to we give the Iraqi’s what we’d like for ourselves – freedom and liberty to live their life the way one chooses.
The Chairman compared the situation of present-day Iraq to that of Latin America in the 1970’s. Those years saw the largest amount of terrorism and plane hijackings with ties to Latin America, he said. That, however, subsided during the 80’s and stopped in the 90’s. “The terrorism was directly related to the high level of American military intervention there. The terrorism corresponded directly to the levels of hatred toward America. When we stopped interfering in their affairs, it resulted in more freedom, liberty and democracy in the region, even if it meant that the Latin American nations didn’t toe U.S. Foreign Policy lines. If we gave Iraq back to the Iraqi’s we could very well see terrorism there subside,” he said.
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TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON IMMIGRATION RIGHTS
Chicago, March 16th and 17th - Council Chairman, Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid & Council Outreach Coordinator, Mr Murtuza Salahuddin were at a two-day conference on Immigration Rights. Also attending were hundreds of immigration and justice activists.
March 27, 2006 clergy will be marching in the capital lobbying for the passage of better immigration laws. For more information on immigration issues: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0603220073mar22,1,2511005.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
To apply for citizenship:
Becoming a citizen is becoming more of a challenge. The Council can help you apply now and save thousands of dollars in lawyers fees:
http://www.ciogc.org/pages/Announcements/goldcardform/pageDetailPB.html
Call 312-605-0070 for free registration in a Citizenship Workshop, organized by the Council, conducted by professionals and lawyers at the Mosque Foundation.
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SUPPORT THE FOOD DEPOSITORY BY PARTICIPATING IN THE HUNGER KNOWS NO SEASON PROMOTION
 In January the Council channeled your donations of Zabiha, Halal meat to the Chicago Food Depository. It was the largest donation of fresh, quality meat they’d ever received. Now you can support them again. Through April 9, you can support the Food Depository's hunger-relief efforts by participating in their seventh annual Hunger Knows No Season promotion.
To help, simply go to one of these participating retailers between now and April 9: Centrella Stores, Cub Foods, Food 4 Less, Jewel-Osco, Meijer. Once there, just buy any of the participating products, which are all identified by the bright yellow and green Hunger Knows No Season signs visible in the aisles. Click here for a full list of products to plan your shopping list. It's that easy. Just by grocery shopping you can help!
In addition to purchasing specific products, shoppers also have the opportunity to "round up" their bills at Cub Foods stores to support the Food Depository.
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MUSLIM PARTICIPATION HIGHER IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS
These were the first ever primary elections that were marked by relative enthusiasm in the Muslim community while over all voting in the Chicago primary is not considered very high. Besides more Muslims going to the polls, there were more individuals involved in active campaigning for the candidates. The Council distributed 10,000 fliers, 15,000 copies of the United Power for Action and Justice report on the Presidential Candidates for the Cook County board and 300 posters encouraging turnout on election day. A e-voter guide was also issued to facilitate the voting process. The Council is looking for input on all of the above in order to make it make improvements in time for the General Election eight months away. “Promise yourself to get acquainted with the issues and the candidates by the time November comes around,” urges Council Chairman Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid.
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