CAIR-Philadelphia

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Lessons of Ramadan and 9/11

The burn of hunger, giving one's money to others, and performing extra prayers can be painful, and the temptation to go the easy road is always there. But by taking the hard road, I hope to end up with a healthier body, better relationships, and ultimately a satisfied conscience. It takes individual willpower and being different from everyone else for a little while. But these are short-term sacrifices for enduring gains.
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Study about Islam enters curriculums

Moein Khawaja, executive director of the Philadelphia branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said when teaching religion, schools should cover basic beliefs and history. Talking about the small percentage of Muslims who are extremists is best saved for advanced politics and history classes, he said. He points to the terrorist attacks in Norway executed by Anders Behring Breivik, who identifies himself as a Christian.

"An in-depth discussion of him during a basic lesson on Christianity would be inappropriate," he said. "They should learn about it in the proper context."
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An Analysis of the Norway Terror Attacks, the Influence of Islamophobia and How We Label Terrorists by Moein Khawaja

Two very important themes have emerged from the terrorist attack in Norway this past weekend, both of which require analysis and offer some interesting conclusions.  One, some media have demonstrated a desire to jump to the conclusion that if an act of terrorism occurs, then there must be some Muslim involvement.   Moreover, others have shown a clear double standard after learning the attack was committed by someone who is not a Muslim.  Two, the attacker, Anders Behring Breivik, has revealed himself to be a right-wing, extremist Islamophobe.  The question then emerges, why did he attack a government building and a youth camp, and not a mosque or Muslim institution?
Read MoreAn Analysis of the Norway Terror Attacks, the Influence of Islamophobia and How We Label Terrorists by Moein Khawaja
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The lighter side of things – After nearly becoming hamburger, deal lets cow escape with its life

The tension began to unwind once Katz contacted Moein Khawaja, executive director of the Philly chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "I called him out of the blue," said Katz, who is a vegan. "This would not have happened without him." Khawaja, who named the cow Casper for its white coat, said he appreciated the passion the animal lovers showed but that Madina's owner was only following the rules about the sale of livestock by a slaughterhouse.
Read MoreThe lighter side of things – After nearly becoming hamburger, deal lets cow escape with its life