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Sacramento Bee - December 6, 2007
Death threat against Muslim leader probed
The FBI is investigating a death threat against Basim Elkarra, director of the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, that he says stems from a legal spat between his organization and popular conservative radio host Michael Savage.
Elkarra said he met with the FBI in the past two weeks to discuss the threat on his life. Because the investigation is ongoing, Elkarra said he was instructed by the FBI not to publicly discuss into details.
FBI spokeswoman Karen Ernst confirmed the FBI received information "regarding an alleged threat" and that the Sacramento field office was investigating.
On Monday, Savage sued the Washington, D.C.-based CAIR for copyright infringement for allegedly using a clip of his show in which he called the Quran "a book of hate" to dissuade advertisers from advertising on his show, according to the Associated Press.
Elkarra said the threat was related to the conflict with Savage and that his office has received many profane calls from Savage supporters.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/547284.html
New University - December 4, 2007
Daniel Pipes says all Muslims should be feared
Despite encountering protests during his last visit in January of this year, (Islamophobist) Daniel Pipes, was again invited to speak at UC Irvine on Nov. 28. His lecture, hosted by the College Republicans, the David Project and the Objectivist Club, was titled “Militant Islam and the Middle East.”
While waiting for the event, people were also met with leaflets distributed by the Worker Student Alliance. Titled “Daniel Pipes: Racist Mouthpiece for U.S. Imperialism,” they provided quotes from Pipes meant to expose him as a xenophobe and racist. Students from the Worker-Student Alliance, Students for Peace and Justice and the Muslim Student Union, also placed tape over their mouths with words such as “hatred,” “Islamophobia,” “racism,” and “Daniel Pipes” written across them.
The questions that drew the most attention were asked by Mariam Moustafa, a third-year international studies student and member of the MSU who chose to remain in the audience throughout the talk.
Not speaking on behalf of MSU, Moustafa argued with Pipes' belief that she, a law-abiding Muslim citizen who was born and raised in the United States, was to be as mistrusted as radicals overseas.
Pipes, in turn, asked, "What is the bigger problem, being afraid of terrorism or being perceived as a potential terrorist?" Moustafa countered with another question, "So basically, as long as there is terrorism in the world, people should be afraid of me because I'm Muslim?"
"I'm afraid so," replied Pipes, followed by applause from the crowd.
http://www.newuniversity.org/checkDB.php?id=6341
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Dec 3, 2007
Burger King settles suit over worker’s beard
By Jane M. Von Bergen
The owner of a Burger King in Brookhaven will pay $15,800 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission on behalf of a Muslim employee who was fired in November 2004 after he refused, for religious reasons, to shave his beard.
The company did not admit to any wrongdoing.
In 2004, the restaurant had a policy that employees must be clean-shaven except for those required to have beards to practice their religions. The employee, Gary Majors, of Chester, brought a letter from his imam, but was still dismissed.
Under the terms of the settlement, Chriskoll Inc., a Philadelphia company that owns the restaurant, must pay Majors and provide training for managers about employees' rights. The suit was filed in Philadelphia on March 21, 2006.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/business_breaking/20071203_Burger_King_settles_suit_over_workers_beard.html
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