USA News Digest

07/17/2024

Is Tampa becoming the new Dearborn?
My friend Dr. Ken Chitwood reports for New Lines Magazine on the FL town’s vibrant Muslim community, its growing political muscle & the dilemmas it faces in an increasingly polarized ideological landscape.
Link:

While the city’s Islamic infrastructure is dynamic, the community’s mix of progressive values and social conservatism makes it an outlier in a polarized ideological landscape

07/08/2024

CAIR-FL Condemns Shirion Collective for Disinformation Campaign and Harassment Targeting Pro-Palestinian Activists

(TAMPA, FL, 7/8/2024) – The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), the state’s largest civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Florida tech entrepreneur, Daniel Linden and the network organization Shirion Collective for their alleged efforts to spread anti-Palestinian propaganda, harass activists and propagate harmful conspiracy theories.

SEE: Revealed: the tech entrepreneur behind a pro-Israel hate network

According to media reports, Shirion has allegedly engaged in a sustained campaign of harassment against pro-Palestinian activists, offering bounties for the identification of protesters and spreading harmful conspiracy narratives.

Linden's coordination of the group's efforts on platforms such as X, Telegram, and GoFundMe has facilitated the spread of pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian propaganda, as well as the harassment of pro-Palestinian protesters.

In late 2023, Shirion reportedly began offering “bounties” for the identification of pro-Palestinian protesters, labeling them as antisemites and inciting further harassment. These bounties ranged from $500 for identifying students to $10,000 for identifying politicians. Such actions are not only unethical but dangerous, encouraging vigilantism and endangering the lives of innocent individuals.

Beyond these bounty programs, Shirion has allegedly encouraged Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, celebrating violence and destruction in Gaza and against pro-Palestinian supporters. They have reportedly glorified the deaths of Palestinians, including journalists and children, and celebrated police violence against protesters and journalists.

SEE: A post depicting a vehicular attack on protesters in Denver, Shirion wrote “LIKE & SHARE to make this more common”.

In a statement, CAIR-FL’s Media and Communications Director Wilfredo Ruiz said:

“There is a natural revulsion experienced by the vast majority of Florida citizens against any individual or organization that promotes hate, racism, islamophobia or antisemitism in our Sunshine State.”

Ruiz added: “The clear message to Mr. Linden’s Shirion Collective and its enablers, as well as to any other hate monger, is that we will expose you and we will denounce you.”

CAIR-FL stands firm in its commitment to countering disinformation, promoting truth, and defending the rights of individuals to express their views without fear of harassment or violence.

About CAIR-Florida

CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, foster dialogue, safeguard civil liberties for all, empower American Muslims, and form coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

//END//

CONTACT: Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-FL Media and Outreach Director, Ph. (305) 502-6749, E: [email protected]

04/02/2024

04/02/2024

Israeli forces strike innocent people again: Aid convoy run by the World Central Kitchen took fire in Gaza and seven aid workers were killed.
What else do you need to witness to finally call Netanyahu for what he is: a vile ! Israel has become a pariah state parading all sorts of for the whole world to see: 16,000 children dead, thousands of elders and women murdered, all Gaza hospitals bombed, blocking medicines, water, and other essentials from reaching Gaza, and again and again murdering aid workers; like if it was not enough with those from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
The question is: How you're going to stand to your children and grandchildren when asked what was your position, what or who did you support?... either with your words or your deafening silence.

03/21/2024

"Whenever Muslims are portrayed, whether positively or negatively, people become curious about who Muslims are and what Islam entails. By placing Muslims in the forefront, regardless of the intent behind it, people will inevitably learn from them. Whether Muslims are showcased to speak the truth about their beliefs and actions or being simply vilified, it will inevitably yield consequences and individuals will become intrigued," he tells TRT World.
Ruiz, who himself reverted in 2003, a couple of years following the 9/11 attacks, believes that another consequence of the increasing Islamophobia in the US following the crisis in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Arab-Israeli war was that Muslims became more vigilant against discrimination and endeavoured to educate themselves about their rights.

The resilience shown by the Palestinian people during the five-month-long bloody war has ignited curiosity about Islam among young people in the West, leading many to embrace Islam.

03/06/2024

Chile bars genocidal Israeli firms from taking part in Latin America’s biggest aerospace fair
(AFP - 3/6/2024 SANTIAGO, Chile)
Chile says it will exclude Israeli firms from Latin America’s biggest aerospace fair, to be held in Santiago in April.

“By decision of the Government of Chile, the 2024 version of the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), to be held between 9 and 14 April, will not have the participation of Israeli companies,” a defense ministry statement says.

It doesn’t give a reason, but the government of leftist President Gabriel Boric has been critical of what he has called Israel’s “disproportionate” response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Chile, which has the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world, recalled its ambassador to Israel late October to protest Israel’s “unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law” in Gaza.

Israel’s Ambassador in Chile Gil Artzyeli tells AFP he hasn’t been contacted by the government with the FIDAE news.
“We cannot say we are surprised taking into account the (Chilean) government’s doctrine towards Israel,” he says

02/14/2024

En menos de 1 mes, el 11 de marzo, comienza el mes del ayuno - Ramadán - para los seguidores del Islam 🕌.
Durante el mes, los musulmanes conmemoran el milagro de la revelación del Corán 📖, que contiene la palabra del Creador revelada al profeta Muhammad ﷺ en las visitaciones del Ángel Gabriel en los últimos 23 años de vida del profeta. Muhammad ﷺ murió en el año 622.
🔎 Leer en línea: Corán 📖 Traducción al español👇🏽
https://online.fliphtml5.com/wwkz/jinb/ =14

⬇️ Bajar Copia del Corán 📕 en PDF👇🏽
https://noblecoran.com/images/libros/coran-traduccion-isa-garcia.pdf

02/01/2024

How war destroyed Gaza’s neighborhoods – visual investigation. Quodos to The Guardian for this war crimes' evidence collection

01/26/2024

RULINGS AGAINST ISRAEL AND IN FAVOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

1. 15-2 The state of Israel shall take all measures to prevent the commission of genocide to Gaza

2. 15-2 The state of Israel shall ensure that the military not commit any acts of genocide

3. 16-1 Israel shall take all measures to punish all public solicitations to genocide

4. 16-1 Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to address adverse conditions to life in the Gaza Strip

5. 15-2 Israel shall take effective measures to preserve evidence of actions impacting the Genocide convention

6. 15-2 Israel shall submit to the court a report all measures taken to follow the orders of this court within one month

01/24/2024

Netanyahu's Likud Ministers, Far-right MKs to Attend Israeli 'Gaza Resettlement' Conference
Several Israeli lawmakers are due to attend the 'victory conference' in Jerusalem next Sunday, claiming the occupation and resettlement of former Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip 'as the only thing that will bring security'

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01/13/2024

Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, spokesperson for CAIR Florida/ CAIR en Español: Musulmanes Hispanos (Council of American-Islamic Relations-Florida), said such attacks and Marriott's decision to cancel the conference are part of a “holistic effort” in the state both by Gov. Ron DeSantis and private businesses to shut down criticism of Israel.

He pointed to the state's recent barring of the group Students for Justice in Palestine from public university campuses and Florida hospitals firing Muslim doctors who expressed support for Palestinians.

“This is not the way we are supposed to live, where our speech is protected by our Constitution here in America. It's like we are in a different country,” Ruiz said.

A South Florida Marriott Hotel canceled a Muslim group’s conference at the last minute after a protest group claimed the coalition was promoting Hamas, terrorism and antisemitism. The South Florida Muslim Federation says it was told by the hotel that its conference was being canceled because of se...

01/09/2024

Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we return.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un | إِنَّا ِلِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ,
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor died from natural causes, coroner says

LONDON (AP) — Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor died from “natural causes” in July, a coroner said Tuesday. London’s Metropolitan Police had said the singer…