Updates - CAIR-Philadelphia

Civil Rights Corner

Attend one of two Know Your Rights workshops this weekend
With more and more negative news, an increase in law enforcement encounters and an increasingly hostile environment for Muslim Americans at the workplace, school, airports, and in public accommodation, it is crucial for us to know what our rights are as citizens of this country. It is also important to know that with those rights, we have the responsibility to claim equal citizenship and treatment, and the responsibility to teach others.

Join CAIR-PA for any two of the following workshops this weekend. You will be given the knowledge and tools (including literature) to stand up for yourself and others should any act of discrimination occur, including with law enforcement.

These workshops are led in-part by John Yahya Vandenberg, one of the best immigration and general practice attorneys in the Delaware Valley. This is a great opportunity for attendees to ask questions. See John’s Bio.

Attend a Know Your Rights workshop near you:

• February 26, 2010, Friday, at Arab American Center for Corporate Development (Part of the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society main building located at 1501 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA) at 2:00 pm.
• February 27, 2010, Saturday, at Masjid Ar-Rahman (723 Merchant Street, Coatesville, PA) at 11:00 am.

Moein M. Khawaja
Civil Rights Director

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Youth Corner

April 10th & 11th – Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP)
Community and Interfaith Relations
Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania

CAIR-Philadelphia is accepting applications for the Spring MYLP, Community and Interfaith Relations. After the completion of this conference, high school students are expected to understand the history of Muslims in the Delaware Valley and learn how to interact with people of different religions while maintaining their faith. They will also be equipped to answer questions pertaining to Islam and Muslims. It will be held on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus.

What is the Muslim Youth Leadership Program?

A free 2-day conference combining classroom instruction, practical application workshops, career exploration and community service opportunities in a specific field of advocacy.

Targeted Age Group:
14-18 (High School)

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March 27th and 28th-Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST)
Hosted by the Muslim Student Association (MSA): University of Pennsylvania

The Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) is a national competition for high school students to compete in various areas, such as Humanities, Sciences, Athletics, Arts, and Islamic Knowledge.

MIST Philadelphia will be starting this year as a regional tournament as a qualifier for the nationals. Students will form a team from their high school or register individually to meet and compete with kids from all over the region and local college students.

Contact Aya at saed.aya@gmail.com for more information or visit http://www.getmistified.com/philadelphia/.

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Focus Article: Another Red Scare?

by Sahar Aziz
AltMuslim

The recent discovery of attempted terrorist plots by Muslims in America has prompted overreaching accusations of radicalization of an entire religious group. As a consequence, pressure is mounting on American Muslim leaders to actively engage in elusively defined counter radicalization. But rather than spend limited resources on programs that assume collective guilt, efforts are better spent tapping existing grievances and redirecting them towards the exercise of constitutionally protected dissent.

Focusing on counter radicalization is misguided for two reasons. First, the current discourse on radicalization comes dangerously close to repeating past mistakes of confusing legal political dissent with illicit activity. Second, there is insufficient evidence of systemic unlawful radicalization of American Muslims. Read more…

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