Sixth Annual Banquet an Incredible Success
Over 800 attend sold-out event Dear CAIR-Philadelphia supporters: The executive…
Read MoreSixth Annual Banquet an Incredible Success
Muslim Students Association moves forward with cause
The Muslim Students Association is seeking help from the Philadelphia branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Amara Chaudhry, Civil Rights Director and Staff Attorney of the organization, said, “Truthfully, I think that this likely feels like a personal violation of student rights, and there may be some Equal Protection issues in that it appears that the officials are targeting a specific population based on minority status.” However, she said the police were otherwise staying “within the confines of the law.”New York police monitoring of Muslim student groups sparks concern at Penn
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said such programs are needed because the job of law enforcement is "to prevent things . . . and you only do that by being proactive." Moein Khawaja, executive director in Pennsylvania for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, remained skeptical. "They call it intelligence," he said. "I would call it an ignorance-gathering operation."Speakers Discuss Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the Workplace and Health Care Facilities
Federal law allows workers to match their attire to their religious convictions with few exceptions, two experts said during a presentation at the law school on Feb. 22.Jones and Quinones-Sanchez call bill to ban foreign law ‘mean-spirited’ and ‘unnecessary’
Philadelphia City Council recently passed a resolution in opposition to a controversial state bill that opponents argue smacks of anti-Muslim sentiment. Resolution 120031, co-sponsored by Seventh District Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez and Fourth District Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., asks "Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject House Bill 2029 as unnecessary and inconsistent with our core constitutional principles, and affirming that the Council of the City of Philadelphia welcomes all religious beliefs, traditions and heritages, and does not entertain any concern that any foreign or religious law offers a threat to the law of the land."One Victory in a Larger Battle: Philadelphia City Council Condemns Anti-Sharia Bill
Right now, the Pennsylvania legislature is considering a bill which is part of a national effort to vilify, stigmatize, and demonize Islam and Muslims. Fortunately, CAIR-Philadelphia is working to make sure that this bill never becomes law. On its face, House Bill 2029, introduced by Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon) and titled “American and Pennsylvania Laws for Pennsylvania Courts,” is a bill which prohibits Pennsylvania courts from considering applying any “foreign law” which would limit an individual’s constitutional rights. Unfortunately, the plain language of this bill hides a much more sinister purpose – to demonize Islam and Muslims. Philadelphia City Council Introduces Resolution Denouncing Anti-Foreign (Sharia) Law Bill [UPDATED]
Moein Khawaja, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, told PW of the ban, “What we have in Pennsylvania is version 2.0., which is an attempt to refine it a little bit. It doesn’t mention Sharia or Islam or our faith. But that doesn’t matter because we have a lot of evidence of the legislative intent…from the numerous public statements given by Rep. Swanger.”Advocacy Groups Welcome Philadelphia City Council Resolution Against Anti-Sharia Bill (HB 2029)
Resolution expected to pass unanimously (PHILADELPHIA, PA., 2/1/12) — The…
‘Sharia Law’ Bill Declared Unconstitutional in OK—What does that mean for PA Legislation?
“The Oklahoma decision is the strongest indication that we, too, would win in a court of law,” says Moein Khawaja, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. “The sponsors of House Bill 2029 should ponder whether or not it’s worth engaging in a time-consuming lawsuit.”