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Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Cair letter to Marco Rubio: We're being targeted for Palestine advocacy
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) has asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify comments he made on a radio show earlier this week, where he appeared to threaten the domestic non-profit group with a terror designation for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. "Your response, whether intentional or not, appeared to raise the possibility that the State Department is trying to find a way to weaponize federal terrorism laws against Cair and other American Muslim institutions based on a debunked conspiracy theory," the letter said, asking that Rubio's office reply directly. During an interview on the Sid & Friends In the Morning podcast on Tuesday, Rubio was asked: "Why wouldn't you guys designate the Muslim Brotherhood and Cair?" "Is that something you think we can count on maybe in the near future? Maybe not Cair just yet, but certainly the Muslim Brotherhood?" New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In response, Rubio said: "Yeah, all of that is in the works." The letter, first seen by Middle East Eye, was sent to the secretary of state on Thursday evening local time in Washington. Cair insisted that its position on Israel's genocide in Gaza in particular is what has drawn the ire of conservative lawmakers and pro-Israel groups. "To these groups, whose top priority is protecting the Israeli government from criticism, any American Muslims who recognize that Palestinians are human beings worthy of freedom are a threat who must be smeared and silenced," the letter says. "The real reason anti-Muslim hate groups and pro-Israel lobby group obsessively target Cair... is because of our steadfast advocacy for Palestinian rights". Just last week, Republican Senator Tom Cotton sent his own letter calling on the Internal Revenue Service to revoke Cair's nonprofit status for its alleged "ties to terrorist activities" linked to "Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood". Cair defended its record, noting it has come under attack by extremist groups on all sides. "Cair has spent 30 years vocally speaking up against all forms of bigotry, including anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and antisemitism, as well as all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and terrorism," the letter said. Debunked Cair says that the group has spent years debunking arguments from both "anti-Muslim extremists and Muslim extremists who attempt to paint Islam as a religion of wanton violence". "In fact, Cair condemned terrorism so often that Isis once put a target on our national executive director," Cair said, using another term often used for the Islamic State militant (IS) group. That director, Nihad Awad, wrote an opinion article for Time magazine in 2014, strongly denouncing IS as far beyond mere "jihadists" who should instead be referred to as "anti-Islamic... criminals". "Despite these facts, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate groups have spent years falsely and nonsensically smearing Cair and other American Muslim institutions as foreign agents of Isis, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Muslim Brotherhood, all somehow at the same time," the letter to Rubio said. "None of this makes sense because none of it is true". Cair maintains that it is an independent American nonprofit organisation in full compliance with federal, state, and local laws and that it has "never been a member, chapter, offshoot, or affiliate of any foreign organization". And while it admitted it does not see eye to eye with the Trump administration's policies, Cair has urged Rubio to provide assurances that the State Department will not "misuse federal laws" to target their free speech based on conspiracy theories. "Disagreement is not the basis for public smears, much less legal action," the letter says.
Mint
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
A brilliant animated series satirises Muslim life in post 9/11 America
It's easy to forget that 9/11 was really just a Tuesday. The first episode of Ramy Youssef's brilliant and nutty new animated series #1 Happy Family USA (streaming on Prime Video) is set on 10 September 2001. Two girls decide that the next day is the best possible day to come out of the closet, since one of them knew she was gay since she was 9 and the other since she was 11. What, they reason, could be a better day than 9/11? Understandably, these young ladies don't quite get the spotlight the next day—or at least not the spotlight that they want. Youssef's unlikely sitcom is about a Muslim family left struggling to fit into post-9/11 America, with FBI agents infiltrating their mosques and suddenly suspicious schoolmates. Suddenly, as the father of the Hussein family says, it isn't okay to look like themselves. Even if they're from Egypt. This week in India, where heinous terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir, have reignited the cyclical firestorm of anti-Muslim sentiment, the show's relevance hits like a steel-toed boot. It's tempting to view the American Muslim experience as removed from our own local discourse, but hatred has a way of mirroring itself across borders, language and decades. The Hussein family's struggle to exist without setting off alarms — literal or societal — feels painfully close to home. Much of the humour hits uncomfortably hard. A middle-schooler, all braces and budding armpit hair, casually drops 'code-switching" into conversation—as naturally as one might talk about boy bands or Pokémon cards. This idea of code-switching, wherein a person of colour approximates a potentially less objectionable version of themselves to fit in with the majority, has never been spelt out clearer. It's not a whispered confession, not an awakening. It's just a thing he and his friends do. Like passing notes, except the note is yourself, reworded and whitewashed. This is the way of children of colour trying desperately to survive the Land of the Free and the Home of the Paranoid. The show opens with a title card that simply reads: 'Rated H—for Haram." That's not just cheeky; it's a dare. This is television that goes for the jugular, giggling all the way. Animated in an exaggerated, Looney Tunes-on-LSD style, this is not your grandma's post-9/11 trauma sitcom. This is trauma that dances, that sings, that slaps on a fake moustache and a Stetson and calls itself Hank. Patriarch Hussein Hussein—voiced with manic brilliance by Youssef himself—is the kind of man who puts the 'ass' in assimilation. His son, 12-year-old Rumi—also voiced by Youssef, all nervous energy and gummy-mouthed glee—tries to blend in by befriending a literal sacrificial lamb, one he has named Lamby. Lamby wants only to be killed, but this deadpan creature is the only one who seems to know what's coming. The lamb's fate, much like the show's humour, is uncomfortably prophetic. Youssef, of course, is no stranger to toeing the line between the sacred and the sacrilegious. His previous series, Ramy (streaming in India on Lionsgate Play) was a revelation—a raw, riveting dramedy about faith, sex, and falafel that made viewers squirm with its honesty. #1 Happy Family USA is like Ramy after several espressos and a stint at Cartoon Network. It's a funhouse mirror version of that show: more outrageous, more absurd, and, somehow, even more true. The animation is retro in all the right ways. Landline phones with curly cords dangle from walls like umbilical nostalgia. Tangerine iMacs glow like radioactive fruit. Kids wait hours to download and burn songs on to mixtape CDs. It's a world that seems far removed, yet the cultural paranoia it satirises remains horrifyingly intact. Youssef masterfully turns the audience's gaze inward. Every joke—and there are many—is a landmine. You laugh, then you realise what you're laughing at, and that uneasy pause you feel? That's the show winning. That's the show telling you that complicity is not just for the villains. #1 Happy Family USA is not comfortable viewing. It's not designed to be. Instead, it's blisteringly clever, subversive, fearless and funny. It doesn't play respectability politics. It doesn't ask to be liked. It hijacks the conversation, throws glitter on it, and demands you watch, preferably while eating an 'all-American" hot dog. This is the kind of cartoon, provocative and political, that I daresay will find the Edward Said seal of approval. It's hilarious, horrifying, and hyper-aware of its audience. The humour is politically incorrect but never lazy, or edge-lordy. It's surgical. The blind spots it targets are literal. In one episode, a school initiative called 'See Something, Say Something" teaches children to rat out Muslim 'behaviour." A blind child enthusiastically raises his hand—and is immediately shut down. The gag is absurd. The gag is cruel. The gag is perfect. It reveals the hollowness of institutional bigotry, dressed up as civic duty. Don't miss out. I've seen #1 Happy Family USA , and this show really is something.
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Fear spreads among Muslim Americans as Trump travel ban looms
Fear spreads among Muslim Americans as Trump travel ban looms The Trump administration is considering prohibiting or limiting travelers from more than 40 countries from entering the U.S. Show Caption Hide Caption What to know about travel bans and who they could affect Immigration law allows presidents to restrict travel into the U.S., but President Donald Trump's bans have been more sweeping than past presidents. Nadiah Alyafai is bracing for four years of missed memories, birthdays, and holidays. Since she was young, the now 22-year-old has traveled to her father's native country of Yemen every few years to see family. Her grandparents, aunts and uncles who live there frequently travel to the United States, too, and some have legal residency here, Alyafai said. But, as President Donald Trump considers sweeping travel restrictions for citizens of more than a dozen countries, Alyafai fears that her family soon won't be able to come and visit and that her father, who became a legal permanent resident of the U.S. more than two decades ago, won't be able to return home to Chicago if he travels outside the country. 'If my grandparents passed away in Yemen and we weren't able to see them one last time . . . there's no words,' Alyafai said. 'It's heartbreaking.' A draft version of the Trump administration proposal to prohibit and limit citizens of more than 40 countries from entering the United States leaked in early March. The White House said Thursday that it had not yet made a decision on the policy. More: Trump travel ban 2.0 coming as soon as Friday. What countries it will affect More than a half dozen advocates told USA TODAY that anticipation of the new restrictions, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's recent detainment of multiple college students from majority-Muslim countries, has led to a climate of rampant anxiety among the American Muslim community. The fear isn't only spreading among those with family living abroad. 'U.S. citizens are afraid to travel overseas, believing there's a possibility they will be prevented by the Trump administration to return, especially if they're traveling to Muslim countries,' said Robert McCaw, the government affairs director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, America's largest Muslim civil rights organization. A cloud of 'paranoia' and 'fear' Muslim affinity organizations across the U.S. say they are inundated with inquiries from members terrified about the Trump administration's immigration policies. 'A lot of people are paranoid and worried,' said Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR's office in the San Francisco Bay Area. One member who has a visa to be in the U.S. delayed their wedding abroad out of concerns that they wouldn't be able to come back if they traveled outside of the U.S., Billo said. The person was from one of more than two dozen countries on the list Trump is considering. Most organizations USA TODAY reached out to said their members were afraid to share stories - even anonymously - out of fear of retribution from the administration or strangers online. Haris Tarin, vice president at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said he has never such a level of trepidation in his more than two decades of advocacy. He believes some of the alarm is in response to the recent arrests of several college students with valid visas who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. More: Mahmoud Khalil hearing: Federal judge in NJ will rule on jurisdiction Earlier in March, immigration officials detained and targeted Columbia University Student Mahmoud Khalil for deportation over his participation in protests over the war in Gaza. Since then, other students from Muslim-majority countries across U.S. universities have been similarly taken into custody, including 30-year-old Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturkat at Tuft's University and Iranian student Alireza Doroudi at the University of Alabama. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday the State Department has possibly revoked more than 300 student and visitor visas since Trump took office in mid-January. Rubio said the White House would revoke legal visas for anyone who vandalizes universities and participated in activities that created a 'ruckus.' He did not say whether the cases of several students already detained fit that criteria. 'This should be scary for every single American,' Tarin said about the arrests. 'This is just a start, and no American is safe from having their free speech impacted.' First Amendment concerns grow He and other advocates have expressed mixed concerns about whether the arrests, along with Trump's other immigration policies, could dissuade people from speaking out against the administration. Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hadidi, chair of the Michigan Muslim Community Council, said some of his members 'feel that the freedom of speech is not a complete freedom of speech at this time.' Zaid Yousef, a University of California Berkeley law student and president of the school's Muslim Student Association, said the recent detainments have caused a resurgence in student protest movements. 'The protests we had two weeks ago . . . had a way bigger turnout than some of the ones we had before Trump took office,' Yousef, 21, said. But he added that there is a heightened sense of caution among students on visas. More: Citizens of tiny Bhutan, 'Land of the Thunder Dragon,' may end up on Trump travel ban list For many, the anticipated restrictions are reminiscent of bans Trump implemented on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations during his first term. Trump issued multiple versions of those policies in 2017 and faced numerous lawsuits over them. One was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The policy currently under consideration by the White House is expected to be more wide-reaching than those floated in the past. It reportedly includes limits on travelers from non-Muslim countries such as Cuba, the tiny, majority Buddhist nation of Bhutan and Haiti. Tarin said he's noticed another big difference. 'In 2017, when the Muslim ban was instituted, there was a major reaction from all parts of American civil society . . . we're not seeing that same level of reaction' now, he said. 'Everyone's exhausted.' Tips for Muslim Americans traveling abroad CAIR has released guidance advising Muslims with different citizenship and legal status on how to protect themselves from immigration enforcement. McCaw, who leads the organization's lobbying efforts, said some Muslim travelers who recently returned to the U.S. were asked by customs and immigration officials about their views on the Trump administration and American foreign policy. More: Trump travel ban: California colleges urge international students to rethink travel plans 'We're living in the midst of increased ideological screening like we have not seen before. Having a bad view of the president might be enough for you not to be granted entry into the United States,' he suggested. The guidance advises U.S. citizens who practice Islam to be cautious when traveling abroad and to take steps to protect themselves before leaving the country. It notes that that the Constitution only protects citizens while they are in the U.S., and those waiting entry at the border are 'technically outside the U.S.' Muslim-presenting citizens should 'be prepared to be put in secondary inspection and be prepared to be asked about your electronic device,' the organization warns in its guidance. McCaw recommended that travelers delete any messaging, social media and photo apps on their phones that they do not want government officials to have unlimited access to before they enter or exit the country. CAIR advised permanent legal residents of the U.S. who have a green card and who 'may be targeted by the travel ban' not to leave the country unless it is necessary. Those that do need to travel abroad should consult an immigration attorney before doing so, the group advises.
Iraqi News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq's ambassador to US attends Trump's Iftar dinner at White House
Baghdad ( – In observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted an Iftar dinner at the White House, bringing together top government officials, diplomats, and members of the American Muslim community. Among the distinguished guests was Iraq's ambassador to the United States, Nazar Al-Khairullah, alongside representatives from other Muslim-majority nations. The event served as an opportunity to recognize the significance of Ramadan, a month of fasting, reflection, and community for millions of Muslims worldwide. Throughout the evening, President Trump expressed his gratitude for the contributions of the Muslim community in the United States and beyond. White House Iftar dinners have been a tradition among U.S. presidents, offering a platform for engagement with Muslim leaders and reaffirming the country's commitment to religious tolerance and unity.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Montgomery County teacher under fire for allegedly harassing, humiliating 8-year-old Muslim student
CLARKSBURG, Md. () — An elementary school teacher in Montgomery County is in hot water after the family of an 8-year-old girl said she was harassed for being an American Muslim. The parents of the girl who attends Cabin Branch Elementary School filed a complaint with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) detailing a 'deeply troubling pattern of behavior' from her teacher. Kensington neighbors concerned about proposed marijuana dispensary According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Maryland, the complaint said the teacher humiliated, threatened and intimidated the girl, particularly regarding her hijab. 'Who made disparaging remarks about her physical appearance and who allegedly subjected her to disparate treatment that led to her apparently receiving harsher consequences for infractions that other students were not receiving,' Zainab Chaudry, director of CAIR in Maryland, said. The complaint alleged the teacher denied the girl access to basic necessities, including using the restroom and drinking water. 'This led to his daughter feeling, very anxious and very concerned, very afraid. She was reluctant to go to school,' Chaudry said. Chaudry said the family didn't get a satisfactory resolution from the school. That's when the girl's father took the complaint to CAIR, prompting advocates to contact MCPS. 'Immediately within, but not even a matter of days. We learned that the school had taken constructive action and that the teacher would no longer have access to the student,' Chaudry said. Mold, air quality at Montgomery County elementary school draws concern Chaudry appreciates MCPS acting swiftly once they got involved. '[However,] the fact that the family felt like they had to take that additional step to reach out to CAIR to request our assistance, it definitely signals that there is more work to be done,' she said. In a statement to CAIR, the girl's father said, 'It means everything to my family that my daughter can now feel safe in class. This situation caused us a lot of stress and worry as parents, my daughter was afraid to go to school before. She's young, she was struggling with what the teacher did. No one's kid should have to deal with this kind of situation from their teachers, no matter their religion.' An MCPS spokesperson told DC News Now that because the incident is a 'personal matter,' the school system is not allowed to comment on it. DC News Now asked again, personnel issues aside, for a comment on the alleged harassment of a child and did not get a response back. Maryland Attorney General announces no charges will be filed against officer in deadly Silver Spring shooting Last year, CAIR received 609 complaints and requests for assistance in Maryland. Chaudry believes that the number is low, given many unreported incidents. 'We hope that this outcome also inspires other families to also seek support if they are a loved one or it's friend or someone that they know is going through a situation where they may potentially be discriminated against,' Chaudry said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
