ICCF Mourns the Loss of Innocent Lives in Iran

The Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno (ICCF) reiterates its great concern for resorting to violence in the aftermath of the elections in Iran.

ICCF condemns the killing of innocent civilians, the destruction of property and the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.

We believe in non-violence, the right of individuals to dissent, freedom of speech and right to peaceful assembly among other inherent rights that should be enjoyed by all.

We mourn the loss of life and pray to God to inspire and empower the Iranian people to reach a peaceful and just resolution to the current political stalemate in Iran.

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"Abu Ghraib Abuse Photos Show Rape"

The Daily Telegraph published an article confirming the existence of pictures of sexual assault, including rape, of Muslim men, women and minors. The existence of such photographs was never revealed in 2004.

President Obama is attempting to block the release of an estimated 2,000 photographs from prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan despite an earlier promise to allow them to be published. The images show torture, abuse, rape... Read entire article

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Being Muslim in America

The US State Department published 'Being Muslim in America' in March 09. The book gives a lively and richly illustrated overview of what it is like to be Muslim in the United States. It contains profiles of successful young Muslims from diverse fields; the history of a number of mosques; and timelines of Muslim-related events in US history from 1619 to 1935 and from 1957 to 2007. Read the entire report!

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An Appreciation of Islam:
Q&A with Rabbi Reuven Firestone

By Brad A. Greenberg
The Jewish Journal / Los Angeles

Reuven Firestone is both rabbi and renowned Islamic scholar.

A professor of medieval Jewish and Islamic studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and senior fellow at USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture, Firestone’s interfaith work is not focused on reaching political common ground but on understanding shared religious experiences.

In promoting his book, “An Introduction to Islam for Jews” (Jewish Publication Society, 2008), Firestone spoke at the Jewish Community Library about Islam as a world religion, Muslim views on non-Muslims and whether Muslims and Jews will be able to live in peace in Israel. The Journal caught up with him afterward. Read More

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Muslim in America: "a voyage of discovery"

By Jessica Ravitz, CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Hailey Woldt put on the traditional black abaya, expecting the worst.

The last time she'd worn the Muslim dress that, with a head scarf, covered everything but her face, hands and feet, she was in Miami International Airport, where the stares were many and the security check thorough.

This time, she was in a small town called Arab. Arab, Alabama, no less. "I expected people to say, 'What is this terrorist doing here? We don't want your kind here,' " said Woldt, a 22-year-old blue-eyed Catholic, recalling her anticipation before stepping into a local barbecue joint. "I thought I wouldn't even be served." MORE

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