Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| all you have to do is email... |
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| se7en |
| 12/12/00 at 19:38:47 |
| ... and inshaAllah it'll help this sister out. In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful CAIR Action Alert #279 MUSLIM BEST BUY EMPLOYEE SEXUALLY HARASSED (WASHINGTON, DC - 12/12/2000) - CAIR is calling on Muslims nationwide to contact Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., one of the nation's largest electronics retailers, after that company failed to resolve a case of sexual harassment against a female Muslim employee in Maryland. (Best Buy operates more than 350 retail stores in 39 states.) According to that employee, who wears hijab, a supervisor repeatedly made sexually explicit comments, which she tried to ignore. On September 8, 2000, the worker says the supervisor approached her from behind in a state of sexual arousal and whispered, "This is (for) you, This is (for) you," while rubbing against her. The next day the supervisor again approached the Muslim woman, grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her close to him. She resisted and told him to stop and indicated that she was a married woman. The supervisor allegedly said: "That is good, because I am married too, I won't have to worry about my wife finding out because we both would have a lot to lose." He did not stop the harassment until another worker intervened. Following that incident, the woman asked for time off because she no longer felt comfortable in the store. She said other workers who heard about the incident were avoiding her. Company officials allowed her to take time off but said she would not be paid and that the negative co-worker reactions were a result of the employee "running her mouth" about the incident. In two letters to Best Buy, CAIR demanded that the company: 1) Reprimand the supervisor for his actions. (The supervisor was subsequently terminated.) 2) Institute sensitivity training for Best Buy supervisors. 3) Offer the Muslim employee a formal apology. 4) Offer compensation for any humiliation and emotional distress that she has suffered as a result of the harassment. A similar case resulted in a female employee of Wal-Mart in Missouri being awarded 50 million dollars by a jury that found she was subjected to a hostile work environment. CAIR has filed a complaint with the EEOC, a step necessary prior to any lawsuit. CAIR Civil Rights Coordinator S. Eric Shakir wrote to Best Buy: "It is...clear that Best Buy felt comfortable discriminating against [the employee] as harshly as she was for three reasons: 1. She is Muslim, 2. She is African-American, and 3. She is a woman. "Had the victim not been a member of the above groups, we are confident that Best Buy's response would have been more appropriate. Instead, Best Buy chose to pressure [the employee] in the hopes that she would "break," absolving Best Buy of the responsibility to do anything at all in the form of just compensation... This...is one of the most egregious cases of discrimination we have ever seen..." EEOC guidelines define sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature." IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE.) Contact Best Buy to ask that they resolve this incident to the satisfaction of the Muslim employee. CONTACT: Mr. Richard Schulze Founder, Chairman & CEO Best Buy Company, Inc. 7075 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 FAX: 612-238-3048 TEL: 612-947-2000 or 1-888-BESTBUY (1-888-237-8289) E-MAIL: john.walden@bestbuy.com, laurie.bauer@bestbuy.com, joy.harris@bestbuy.com, jane.kirshbaum@bestbuy.com, susan.hoff@bestbuy.com COPY TO: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.bestbuy.com/ - COPY, POST, DISTRIBUTE, AND ANNOUNCE - |
| Re: all you have to do is email... |
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| Sara |
| 12/12/00 at 20:36:16 |
| Assalam, That man is a *****!!! And VERY SICK!!!! I'm am defiantly e-mailing!!!! |
| Re: all you have to do is email... |
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| Saleema |
| 12/12/00 at 20:18:28 |
| Yeah I was angry too when I read that. If I were his wife, I'd divorce him. But most women choose to stay with those type of sick men for some reason, I bet all his wife is going to do is yell at him. Then he will probably bring her flowers and tell her that the woman is a liar and he'd never do such a thing. I already e-mailed. wassalam |
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| Saleema |
| 12/15/00 at 00:47:33 |
| In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful JOIN THE PROTEST! MUSLIMS PROTEST SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT BALTIMORE BEST BUY WHAT: On Friday, December 15, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a demonstration outside a Baltimore, Md., Best Buy store to protest allegations that a store supervisor sexually harassed a Muslim employee. According to the Muslim employee, who wears a religiously-mandated headscarf, a supervisor repeatedly made sexually explicit comments, which she tried to ignore. On September 8, 2000, the worker says the supervisor approached her from behind in a state of sexual arousal and whispered, "This is for you, This is for you," while rubbing against her. Following that incident, the woman asked for time off because she no longer felt comfortable in the store. She said other workers who heard about the incident were avoiding her. Company officials allowed her to take time off but said she would not be paid and that the negative co-worker reactions were a result of the employee "running her mouth" about the incident. In two letters to Best Buy, CAIR demanded that the company: 1) Reprimand the supervisor for his actions. (The supervisor was subsequently terminated.) 2) Institute sensitivity training for Best Buy supervisors. 3) Offer the Muslim employee a formal apology. 4) Offer compensation for any humiliation and emotional distress that she has suffered as a result of the harassment. CAIR, a Washington-based Islamic advocacy group, has resolved employment discrimination cases with many major American corporations such as Seneca Foods, Seagate Technology, JCPenney, Domino's Pizza, Cox Communications, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Solectron, Sears, Argenbright Security, Burger King, Office Max, Office Depot, and others. There are an estimated six million Muslims in the United States. WHEN: Friday, December 15, 2:30-3 p.m. (Eastern) The protest follows Friday prayers at local mosques. WHERE: Outside the Best Buy Store at 1701 Belmont Ave., Baltimore, Md. (Take the Security Blvd./Rolling Road exit off 695. The protest will take place near the McDonald's.) IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE.) 1. Join the protest to support your Muslim sister. 2. Contact Best Buy to ask that they resolve this incident to the satisfaction of the employee. CONTACT: Mr. Richard Schulze Founder, Chairman & CEO Best Buy Company, Inc. 7075 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 FAX: 612-238-3048 TEL: 612-947-2000 or 1-888-BESTBUY (1-888-237-8289) E-MAIL: john.walden@bestbuy.com, laurie.bauer@bestbuy.com, joy.harris@bestbuy.com, jane.kirshbaum@bestbuy.com, susan.hoff@bestbuy.com COPY TO: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.bestbuy.com/ - END - ----- CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 Tel: 202-488-8787 Fax: 202-488-0833 Page: 202-490-5653 E-mail: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.cair-net.org |
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| Re: all you have to do is email... |
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| Saleema |
| 12/15/00 at 14:33:30 |
| In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful ----- AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/15/2000 HEADLINES: * FOX'S "THE STREET" DEFAMES MUSLIM WOMEN * POST OFFICE OKS BREAK FOR MUSLIMS (OHIO) * KORAN FUROR IS RESOLVED (NY) ----- FOX'S "THE STREET" DEFAMES MUSLIM WOMEN CAIR has received many complaints about a December 13 Fox Network program called "The Street" in which a Muslim woman is shown demanding that a business colleague of her father help "make her a woman." The "Muslim" character is initially shown wearing a face veil, but later takes her clothing off to have sex with the man. Excerpts from just a few of the complaints CAIR received: "...comments were made on the show stating that soon, hundreds of Saudi Arabian women would come to America to lose their virginity to American men." "The daughter told the investor that 'she wasn't ready to wed, but she wanted to become a woman.'" "At one point, he asked 'out of everyone here, why me?' And the girl replied, 'because of your beard. It reminds me of my brother.'" "One character stated that 'Muslim culture is oppressive to women' and another scene had the Muslim father stating that his daughter could not be present for the signing of a contract due to 'culture.'" "This movie not only disgusts me but really shows me how we Muslim women are portrayed by this society. Not only are we oppressed in their eyes, but also loose creatures with no morals or ethics for ourselves or our religion." ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be firm, but POLITE.) Contact Fox to let them know that their misuse of a "Muslim" character was extremely offensive. (Fox canceled the program this week.) E-MAIL: publicity@foxinc.com, askfox@foxinc.com COPT TO: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.fox.com/thestreet/ You can post a message on their "Message Board." ----- POST OFFICE OKS BREAK FOR MUSLIMS The Columbus Dispatch, 12/14/2000 http://www.columbusdispatch.com/ Search using the term "Council on American-Islamic Relations." The U.S. Postal Service and a local Islamic group have resolved a dispute over allowing Muslim postal workers to take a break for religious observances. Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, which began Nov. 27. Each day during the month, they fast beginning at sunrise, then break the fast and pray at sundown. Muslim employees at the Main Post Office, 850 Twin Rivers Dr., had asked for a 15-minute break at the beginning of their 5 p.m. shift each day during Ramadan to break their fast. Their request was denied. Melody Rurik, postal service spokeswoman, said this is the busiest time of the year for the postal service, and the request was turned down at first because "it was felt that it would be very disruptive." The matter was resolved when the Ohio chapter of the Council on American- Islamic Relations intervened and worked with Deborah O'Neil, postal service diversity specialist, Rurik said. Muslims will be allowed to start work at 5 p.m. or a little earlier and take a break for religious observances at the appropriate time, she said. Postal officials also are making secluded areas available for prayer... IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED: Contact the post office to express support for their accommodation of Muslim religious needs. E-MAIL: jbergen@email.usps.gov COPY TO: akramer@email.usps.gov, ohio@cair-net.org, cair1@ix.netcom.com ----- KORAN FUROR IS RESOLVED Cops apologize to Muslims for mishandling holy book New York Daily News, 12/13/2000 http://www.nydailynews.com/ Search "Last 6 Days," then "Wednesday" under "City Beat." To three Queens cops under orders to clean up the sidewalks of Jackson Heights, the book appeared to be just more merchandise sold by some street vendors who didn't have proper permits. The misunderstanding sparked a whirlwind of outrage, but it came to a peaceful resolution Monday when members of New York's Muslim community met with New York's Finest. "They apologized," said Ghazi Khankan, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-New York. "And so we accepted the apology..." "...They dumped them into plastic bags," Khankan said. "They stomped them with their foot to push them down....That's very disrespectful. That's sacrilege. My God, it's not just a book. It contains the exact words of God revealed to the prophet Mohammed." Word quickly spread through the Muslim community about the police officers' actions, and several leaders demanded a meeting with the NYPD. On Monday, Jamison and the three officers sat down with Khankan and other Muslim leaders and apologized for not being sensitive to their culture... ...To prevent future misunderstandings, Khankan will give a series of talks on the Islamic faith at the stationhouse. |
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| Re: all you have to do is email... |
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| Saleema |
| 12/21/00 at 14:24:48 |
| In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful ----- AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/21/2000 HEADLINES: * USE OF "PALESTINE" PROVOKES ATTACK ON SAM'S CLUB * WRITERS PROTEST ISRAEL'S ATTEMPTS AT CENSORSHIP * REMINDER - MUSLIMS RALLY FOR JERUSALEM IN WASHINGTON, DC * DC-AREA MUSLIMS CELEBRATE END OF RAMADAN FAST ----- USE OF "PALESTINE" PROVOKES ATTACK ON SAM'S CLUB RETAILER EMBROILED IN 'GLOBAL' DEBATE By: SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN, The St. Petersburg Times, 12/19/2000 Yasser Arafat has yet to declare a Palestinian state, but "Palestine" exists - at least on globes being sold at Sam's Club stores this holiday season. In the past two weeks, Jewish shoppers from Florida and elsewhere have bombarded the chain with calls and e-mails urging that the globes be yanked from the shelves. "We're getting a lot of questions from members of the Jewish community and we're continuing to look into their concerns with our supplier," says spokesman Melissa Berryhill. The controversy is yet another reflection of the bitter conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over land that each side claims as its own. Yet it also shows that on such a highly charged issue, things aren't always what they appear to be, especially in the realm of instantaneous cyberspace communications. The globes themselves are fairly attractive, standing about 2 feet high and made of semi-precious stones inlaid in a mosaic pattern approximating that of countries, continents and oceans. Some place names are printed in white letters; others in a reddish color that doesn't show up as well against the globe's dark background. The flap arose when a Sam's Club shopper - perhaps here in Florida - looked at the globe and didn't see Israel. But the same person did see "Palestine" printed prominently in white, and thus began an Internet chain letter that quickly made its way around the United States... ...Within a short time, Sam's Club had gotten dozens of e-mails from irate Jewish customers, especially in Florida and New York. As many pointed out, Israel is a bona fide country. Palestine is not. Why then was Palestine on the globe and not Israel?... ...Sam's Club, a subsidiary of retailing giant Wal-Mart, is still trying to determine why its Chinese supplier put "Palestine" on the globes in the first place. Although the chain has no plans to pull them from the shelves, "every comment like this from our members helps us get better," says Berryhill, the spokeswoman. "We're aware of the sensitivity and we will take it into consideration as we review our offerings for next year." The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish-American group, was "extremely disturbed" by initial reports that Israel had been replaced by Palestine, says Ken Jacobson, assistant national director. But the organization tempered its reaction after someone took a picture of the globe showing Israel was there all the time. "There is no Palestinian state even though that is exactly what is being negotiated and talked about and seen by more and more Israelis as inevitable," Jacobson says. "At least (the globe) has Israel. It still is not accurate but it's not as bad as we originally thought." Needless to say, Arab-Americans are delighted that a major retailer is selling globes that show Palestine. "We use the term 'Palestinian' on a daily basis," says Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic relations. "There are Palestinian people who live in what's been called Palestine for millennia, and this is not exactly something that happened yesterday. The term 'Palestinian' is a legitimate description of an area and a people..." ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.) Contact Sam's Club to let them know that Palestine and the Palestinian people DO exist and that you oppose attempts to deny their existence and you support the company's decision to sell the globe. CONTACT: Mr. Tom Grimm President and CEO SAM'S Club 608 Southwest 8th Street Bentonville, AR 72712 TEL: 501-273-4000 FAX: 501-277-7526 E-MAIL: trgrimm@wal-mart.com, skweber@wal-mart.com COPY TO: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_help.jsp ----- WRITERS PROTEST ISRAEL'S ATTEMPTS AT CENSORSHIP By Holger Jensen, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 12/19/2000 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/jensen/1219holge.shtml For the past two months now, the Denver Rocky Mountain News and other papers that run my column have received a heavy flow of mail criticizing my views on the Palestinian uprising and Israel's response to it. By way of balance, I would direct them to the words of Robert Fisk, a respected colleague who has devoted 30 years to covering the Middle East. This is what he wrote for Britain's Independent newspaper: "The degree of abuse now being directed at anyone - academic, analyst, reporter - who dares to criticize Israel, or dares to tell the truth about the Palestinian uprising, is reaching McCarthyite proportions..." ...Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper reported last week that a growing number of Israeli soldiers are beginning to wonder if they are indeed guilty of overkill against the Palestinians. American supporters of Israel would do well to ask the questions that Israelis are asking of themselves. ACTION REQUESTED: (Be POLITE.) Contact the newspaper to express support for Mr. Jensen: CONTACT: John Temple, Editor Denver Rocky Mountain News TEL: 303-892-5172 FAX: 303-892-2568 E-MAIL: temple@denver-rmn.com COPY TO: hjens@aol.com, cair1@ix.netcom.com ----- MUSLIMS RALLY FOR JERUSALEM IN WASHINGTON, DC WHAT: On Friday, December 22, the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations of Greater Washington DC, along with many local mosques and national Muslim groups, will hold a rally for Jerusalem in the nation's capital. The rally is part of the "Worldwide Day for Jerusalem." Jerusalem is Islam's third holiest city, after Mecca and Medinah in the Arabian Peninsula. Muslim and Christian Palestinians are routinely barred by Israel from religious sites in Jerusalem. In the last three months, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been killed while resisting Israeli occupation forces. WHEN: Friday, December 22, 2000 WHERE: 11 a.m. - Rally in Lafayette Park Outside the White House 12:15 p.m. - Friday Prayers (Jumah) in Lafayette Park 1 p.m. - March From Lafayette Park to the State Department (21st and C St. NW) CONTACT: Mahdi Bray, 202-271-6158 ----- DC-AREA MUSLIMS CELEBRATE END OF RAMADAN FAST WHAT: On December 27, 2000, thousands of Muslims in the Washington-metro area will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with communal prayers and a family carnival at the Capital Expo Center in Chantilly, Va. The daylong carnival will feature games and rides for children, an international bazaar and foods from around the Muslim world. The event, which is sponsored by a number of mosques and Muslim organizations, is open to the public. (www.dceid.org) People of all faiths are encouraged to attend and sample the diversity of Islamic culture. WHEN: December 27, 2000 (Please arrive early. Traffic is expected to be heavy.) First Prayer - 8:45 a.m., Second Prayer - 10 a.m., Carnival - 9:30-6:30 p.m. (Prayers are in the Expo Center North Building. The carnival is in the South Building.) WHERE: Capital Expo Center, Route 28 and Willard Road, Chantilly, Virginia (Between I-66 and Route 50.) CONTACT: Sara Ahmad, 301-608-2651, Rizwan Jaka, 703-832-0322, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-489-5108 ----- CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 Tel: 202-488-8787 Fax: 202-488-0833 Page: 202-490-5653 E-mail: cair1@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.cair-net.org |
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