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South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board – Sept. 26, 2006
Anti-extremist Islamic scholars sent home
It's tough to be a Muslim in America these days. Witness what happened to four Islamic scholars who were sent back to Egypt last week after being detained for 24 hours at Miami International Airport.
They were in South Florida to lead prayers at mosques and to preach against Islamic extremism, as they have in past years during Ramadan, supporters say. It's just the sort of preaching all Americans need to hear. Yet, according to Muslim organizations, the scholars were treated shabbily and sent home without explanation.
Of course, Muslims must understand that it is the violence practiced by many of their coreligionists that leads to incidents such as this. Still, U.S. officials must be careful not to lump all Muslims together. The law-abiding ones, which make up the vast, vast majority, can greatly assist the war on terror.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-edittdmuslimssep26,0,3200317.story
South Florida Sun-Sentinel – Sept. 21, 2006
Muslim scholars' treatment at Miami airport spurs outcry
Ruth Morris
Federal immigration authorities held four Muslim scholars for 24 hours at Miami International Airport, denying them access to a bed or a phone, then sent them back to Egypt without a clear explanation for their removal, an American Muslim association charged Wednesday.
Sofian Abdelaziz, director of the American Muslim Association of North America in Miami, said his group had invited the four to lead prayers at mosques in Broward and Miami-Dade counties during the holy month of Ramadan, which starts Sunday.
He called the incident an "outrage," and said it thwarted efforts to expose Muslim youths to religious leaders who reject the extremist views that have inspired terrorists. During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from dawn to dusk to focus energy on their inner faith.
"I consider this a big disaster for our community this year," Abdelaziz said. "We are against extremism, and we are not dealing with sheiks and imams who have a policy to teach extremism ... We lost four good educators."…..
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cback21sep21,0,6226161.story
Associated Press – Sept. 28, 2006
Imam planning Ramadan visit
to mosque denied entry into US
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Islamic cleric from South Africa was denied entry into the United States, disrupting his trip to visit northern Virginia Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ismail Mullah arrived at Dulles International Airport on Sept. 22, but was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Customs officers held him for several hours before he was allowed to board a flight back to South Africa.
Mullah has visited the Islamic Community Center of Northern Virginia for Ramadan for the past three years. He had been expected to lead prayers there following his arrival. Ramadan began in North America last Saturday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Bill Anthony said Mullah "withdrew his application for admission after being talked to by our people."
About 1,000 people are denied entry into the United States daily for reasons that include inadequate travel documents or because their names appear on a U.S. government watch list.
"This doesn't preclude him from seeking admission in the future," Anthony said.
Nasir Chhipa, director of the Islamic Center in Woodbridge, Va., says federal authorities should explain whether Mullah was targeted because of his religion.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says four other foreign imams were denied entry at a Florida airport immediately before the holiday.
http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/09/28/ap3052481.html
Washington Post – Sept. 23, 2005
Imam from South Africa denied entry at Dulles
By Jerry Markon
A South African imam who flew to Dulles International Airport yesterday to lead Ramadan prayers at a Northern Virginia mosque was denied entry into the Unites States, prompting questions from local Muslims.
The imam, Ismail Mullah, arrived at 5:55 a.m. yesterday on a flight from South Africa, said Arsalan Iftikhar, national legal director for the District-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. He said Mullah was delayed for several hours by customs officers and then sent back to South Africa.
The Islamic Community Center of Northern Virginia in Woodbridge had invited Mullah, who has come to the United States for Ramadan for the past three years, said Nasir Chhipa, the center's director. Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, started at sundown yesterday.
Chhipa and CAIR officials called on federal authorities to explain whether Mullah was targeted because he is Muslim. They said they were especially concerned about a possible pattern, because four other foreign imams were denied entry at an airport in Florida this week….
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/22/AR2006092201485.html
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