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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Florida vs. Radical Islam -Articles & Updates

Florida vs. Radical Islam -Articles & Updates

CAIR vs. Christian Radio station in Tampa - Homeowners fight building of new mosque in Osceola
February 12, 2005

MIM: Here are the first of what will continue to be updated articles about how residents in Florida are dealing with the Islamisation of their state. New articles will be arranged according to date and existing articles will be added to when new items appear.

MIM :A Christian radio station in Tampa Bay rejected a CAIR ad and returned their money after their station manager took a look at the CAIR website and rightly determined that their promotional spot for " a dialouge between Christians and Muslims" was an exercise in Islamic propagation designed to introduce and convert people to Islam.

Ahmed Bedier, a spokesman for CAIR which is a Saudi funded front group for Hamas, disingenously proclaimed that their aim was "not to convert people but to promote dialouge" considering that in 2002:

"...The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, has stressed the necessity of promoting effective coordination among Islamic organisations in the United States of America. During a visit to the Headquarters of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Dr. Al Turki said: "This coordination will achieve the best results for the future of Muslims in the U.S., strengthen relations between them, and highlight the comprehensive principles of Islam." Dr. Al Turki and members of his accompanying delegation conducted a tour of different sections of the CAIR, during which its Director General, Dr. Nihad Awad, briefed them. Dr. Al Turki expressed the League's readiness to offer assistance in the promotion and coordination of Islamic works, and noted that it will establish a Commission for this purpose..." http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/307

The principled stance of Christian station WBTN which rejected CAIR's ad and returned their money, "because the group recruits people to Islam", should put media giant Fox to shame for caving in to CAIR's demands that the tv station air an outrageous 'disclaimer" cautioning viewers of their show '24 to"keep in mind" that portrayals of Muslims as terrorists had no basis in reality (!)

By MICHELLE BEARDEN
[email protected]


TAMPA - A Christian radio station canceled its advertising contract with a Muslim organization this week on the grounds that the content "did not serve our Christian constituency."

The 30-second spot promoted a Saturday event at the University of South Florida - a Christian-Muslim dialogue.

"This is exactly why we need to be doing programs like this," said Ahmed Bedier, director of the Central Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "There's a lot of misinformation about Islam, and relations are strained. Not only here, but all around the world."

Christopher Gould Sr., general manager at WTBN, 910 AM, said Thursday that it was unfortunate a contract had been signed, but the company reserves the right to reject advertising after it reviews the content.

The station will refund the Islamic council's $300, he said.

"We run advertising that is aimed at our audience," Gould said. "This isn't the first time we've had to reject something. It could be another religion trying to promote people to its faith, or for an alcoholic beverage or a gentleman's club. We have to draw the line as to what is acceptable."

The contract had been signed by a sales manager when the promotions department reviewed the ad. Gould said he checked out the council's Web site and concluded the group is "clearly interested in recruiting people" to Islam.

"The language was very gentle, and it's under the guise of tolerance and discussion," he said. "But the fact is, they want to grow their organization."

That is not the group's intent, Bedier said.

Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding, its Web site says. The organization has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

"We don't aspire to go out and convert," Bedier said.

The radio spot invites the public to attend a Muslim- Christian interfaith event titled "Jesus: Biblical and Quranic Perspectives." It is sponsored by CAIR-Florida and the Muslim Student Association at USF, and includes Christian and Islamic scholars.

A narrator opens the spot with: "Our world today is torn apart by mistrust and misunderstanding. We have a choice: live in ignorance of each other or work to create harmony and tolerance." Listeners are then invited to a "historic dialogue" between Christians and Muslims who will share their perspectives on Jesus.

The event will show that the two religions have more in common than differences, particularly among conservative worshippers, Bedier said.

"We're very close when it comes to social issues. We don't drink, we're against abortion and we're family-oriented. But we have to have dialogue to know this about each other."

Bedier also said Islam is the only other major religion that believes Jesus was sent by God.

WTBN is owned by Salem Communications, a radio broadcasting company with Christian and family-themed programming. The chain owns 104 stations nationwide.

Gould said his decision is in keeping with the company's philosophy.

"It's nothing against this particular religion," he said. "If the Church [of Jesus Christ] of Latter-day Saints or [Jehovah's] Witnesses wanted to run a spot promoting their religion, we'd do the same thing. We're here to serve evangelical Christians."

Reporter Michelle Bearden can be reached at (813) 259-7613.

Keyword: Links, to listen to the canceled radio spot.

This story can be found at: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB92DCT15E.html

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050212/NEWS/502120381/1004

Published Saturday, February 12, 2005
Christian Station Rejects Muslim Ad

The Associated Press

TAMPA -- A Christian radio station canceled an advertising contract with a Muslim organization, saying that the 30-second spot didn't serve its listeners because the group recruits people to Islam.

Christopher Gould, general manager at WTBN-AM, said Thursday that it was unfortunate a contract had been signed, but the company reserves the right to reject advertising after it reviews the content.

The advertisement discussed a Saturday event promoting dialogue between Christians and Muslims at the University of South Florida.

"This is exactly why we need to be doing programs like this," said Ahmed Bedier, director of the Central Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "There's a lot of misinformation about Islam, and relations are strained. Not only here, but all around the world."

The Tampa Bay-area station will refund the Islamic council's $300, Gould said.

The contract had been signed by a sales manager when the promotions department reviewed the ad. Gould said he checked out the council's Web site and concluded the group is "clearly interested in recruiting people" to Islam.

Bedier said his group's intent was not to convert people, but to encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties and promote mutual understanding.

WTBN is owned by Salem Communications, a radio broadcasting company with Christian teaching and talk serving as its main format. The company owns 95 stations nationwide, according to its Web site.

Gould said his decision is in keeping with the company's philosophy.

----------------------------

MIM: CAIR FL cries victim on Hannity and Colmes

Interview With Ahmed Bedier
Fox News: Hannity & Colmes


Tuesday, February 15, 2005
News; Domestic

Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes

COLMES: Welcome back to "Hannity & Colmes." I'm Alan Colmes. A Christian radio station in Florida has pulled an ad sponsored by the Muslim group, Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CARE [sic], claiming it didn't serve their listeners. The ad was for an event promoting dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our world today is torn apart by mistrust and misunderstanding. We have a choice: live in ignorance much each other or work to create harmony and tolerance. The Council on American- Islamic Relations invites you to an historic dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Join us this Saturday, February 12, at USF, where renowned Christian and Islamic scholars will share their perspective about Jesus.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

COLMES: The station has declined to appear on the program but provided us with this statement: "This ad request was treated no differently than any other. It was received by a salesperson who listened to it with management and decided that it was not appropriate for our radio station audience."

Joining us now from Tampa is the Florida communications director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ahmed Dabir -- or Bedier, forgive me.

Mr. Bedier, thank you for being with us.

As I understand it, there was a contract signed, correct?

AHMED BEDIER, FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN- ISLAMIC RELATIONS: Yes, that is correct.

COLMES: And they backtracked and decided not to air it. And they are claiming that it was because you were proselytizing and there was an attempt to get people to convert and that was the reason they did not want it on their air?

BEDIER: Well, that's unfortunate that they chose to do that. We explained to them that our mission and vision is not convert anyone or preach. We're not a missionary group. We're America's largest Muslim civil rights organization. And we work to foster understanding and build bridges between communities.

COLMES: Right.

BEDIER: And we explained that information to them.

COLMES: Right. I looked at the mission statement, and I don't see anything that says anything about converting. And also, there are Christian and Muslim scholars, I understand, at this event to have this dialogue.

BEDIER: This event was a complete success. It was attended by hundreds of Muslims and Christians, who came together to dialogue and left with a spirit of -- a wonderful spirit of understanding. And that's what we were trying to do, foster that spirit.

COLMES: By the way, they have the right to reject an ad. It is certainly -- it is within their right. They can say, "I'm not going to take the ad" for whatever reason. They are a business. They have a right not to take it. I just don't understand their reasoning.

When CARE says the mission is to enhance understanding of Islamic -- Islam, encourage dialogue, and empower American Muslims, there's nothing in the statement about asking people to become Muslim. That's not your mission, correct?

BEDIER: No, it's not our mission, and that's what was confusing to us. And we explained that to them, and I don't really know where they're getting this idea from.

And we're trying to foster this understanding. We're America's largest civil rights group.

And we tried to let them know that we wanted them to join this effort to bring their constituents to this event so we can establish this dialogue at a time when there's a lot of misinformation going on.

COLMES: Wouldn't it be, I think, a Christian thing to do to have a dialogue to understand other faiths? What do you think their reason is, other than stated ones, for rejecting the ad?

BEDIER: Well, we live in trying times, and people have fear. And it's generated by ignorance. And that's what we wanted to reach across and try to eliminate that fear and ignorance.

And I told them, if Jesus was with us here today, he would want to talk to the Muslims. He would want to sit and eat with the Muslims and share his peace and love. And that's what's it means to be Christian. I think that's what it means to be American.

COLMES: Do you think you're being discriminated against?

BEDIER: I'm not necessarily sure if it's discrimination. I think it's really generated out of fear and ignorance. And I know that they mean well. However, again, fear can drive people to do irrational things.

HANNITY: It's Sean Hannity. I think you're jumping to conclusions here that you ought not jump to, because they've been very clear.

For example, the Church of Jesus Christ, the Latter Day Saints, LDS, they -- they said in statements that they or Jehovah's Witnesses or any other religion, they similarly would be rejected on the same grounds here. So it's because they have a particular faith.

Can you not respect their faith, their belief system and their value system they put on the radio? Why can't you just respect that and you can go elsewhere?

BEDIER: Oh, I respect that. However the situation here, they made the decision after they entered into an agreement, into a contract. They signed a contract.

HANNITY: And the contract was for $300?

BEDIER: Yes. And it's really irrelevant, the amount. It's the essence here, that they promised to commit to something. And people of faith should honor their promises.

HANNITY: Ahmed, I understand, but they didn't know the full context of your group. They feel -- their interpretation of your web site is that you're proselytizing.

Now, CARE has been known as a very controversial group over the years, correct? Didn't CARE take the position about Sheikh Rahman, the guy in the first World Trade Center bombing? Did you not take a strong position on that?

BEDIER: No, we didn't take such positions. CARE is known as America's largest civil rights organization. We're a mainstream organization. We work with all levels of the government, from the White House all the way down to the city council.

HANNITY: Did you not have a spokesman for your group at one time, a guy by the name of Royer (ph) that was on your staff that was convicted?

BEDIER: I think several years ago we had that individual in our group. And if you're inciting that somehow we're responsible for the actions or behavior of the individuals after they left our organization, that would be similar to somebody that worked for FOX five years ago and then commits a crime and FOX would be responsible for it.

HANNITY: I'm saying that the group has been known as a controversial group. You also have, and this has been well documented...

BEDIER: I would not say that we're controversial at all.

HANNITY: Well, documented, two ex-FBI counterterrorism chiefs have had some very bad things to say about your organization. I don't know them to be true.

But you cannot say that CARE is not a controversial group. It is a controversial group. The position that some had taken about Sheikh Rahman are controversial. Are you denying that?

BEDIER: I'm denying that -- what you're saying, that we're a controversial group. CARE is one of the fastest growing American organizations.

HANNITY: I don't want the spin. Did you not take controversial positions on these high-profile cases? Yes or no?

BEDIER: We are a civil rights organization, and we need to take positions...

HANNITY: You're giving me talking points. I don't want those.

COLMES: So what if you're controversial? So are we. Thank you very much for being with us tonight.

Coming up next, though, we'll bring you the very latest on a controversy that's tearing one California community apart.

Later, one former Clinton appointee has some harsh words for the former first lady. She'll be here to state her case.

And that is all coming up on "Hannity & Colmes."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MIM: CAIR reports that the Muslim Christian love fest was "overall a sucessful"... and "much needed event". Given CAIR's credibility rating this begs the question as to how many non Muslims (if any), showed up.

CAIR/MSA Muslim-Christian Dialogue A Success

The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Student Association of BadawiFlorida sponsored and held a successul Muslim-Christian Dialogue on Saturday February 12, 2005. It was focused on the different perspectives of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him), from both Islam and Christianity.

The event started with a welcome by CAIR's Central Florida Director, Ahmed Bedier followed by an introduction by the Muslim Student Association's secretary, Sajeda Noor. The dialogue was held between Dr. Jamal Badawi (Professor at St. Mary's University, Halifax Canada) and Rev. Dr. Duncan S. Ferguson (Director of the Center for Spiritual Life, Eckerd College). They both gave 20 minute presentations on the general life, significance, and teachings of Jesus from their religion's perspectives. Based on the topic at hand, the audience had an opportunity to submit questions on paper. Each speaker was asked numerous questions that led into deeper discussion of how Jesus was portrayed in each religion.

Ferguson

Overall, it was a successful event. The speakers enlightened the audience with their information and the audience remained respectful of the speakers and moderator while they were speaking. In attendance were community members from many different religious organizations and churches, and all expressed gratitude for such a much-needed event. CAIR and MSA would like to thank all those who took time out of their schedule to come to this event and also to the volunteers who helped make it possible.

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MIM:Dhimmitude in Osceola

The plans for the new Al Albir Islamic Association mosque were approved despite homeowners objections and received the blessing of the City Commissioner Ken Shipley who lauded the decision as an expression of 'religious freedom'.

Besides the fact that the mosque is a two story building which dwarfs the surrounding houses, the residents have expressed a legitimate fear of terrorism, given the proximity of Oscela County to Kissimmee, home of the Universal Heritage Foundation, a group linked to Al Qaeda, and an international network of radical Islamists. The views expressed by one resident show that Americans are now beginning to realize that the proliferation of mosques in American cities and neighborhoods (most of which are Saudi funded) is part of a Jihad strategy to Islamise the US. The placing of mosque in the middle of a residential district will be used to launch conversion campaigns under the guise of 'Getting to Know Your Muslim Neighbor". No doubt, the mosque will also host an open house, to lure the local infidels inside under the quise of "getting to know what Islam is about". One resident did have the courageous to express his objections that the mosque could become a source of terrorism and it was duly reported that "city commissioners distanced themselves from his comments".

Placing a mosque in the middle of a residential neighborhood could be viewed as a form of pyschological terror and forms part of the tactics of waging Jihad through conversion.

"It is our contention that this would be the same as if Dec. 8, 1941, there was a zoning meeting in Honolulu asking to have a Japanese Shinto temple put in," Charles Tiffany said. "For the good of everyone in this room, including these gentlemen [from the mosque] here, I don't think putting a powder keg down in Intercession City getting ready to blow any second makes any sense."

See: Jihad through 'Con'version: Exploiting good faith and the Constitution to recruit converts to Islam

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/212


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MIM: New Mosque planned for Osceola County despite homeowners objections

Homeowners Fighting to Prevent Construction of Mosque January 14, 2005

A group of Osceola County homeowners is fighting to prevent construction of a mosque in the neighborhood.

Members of the Albir Islamic Association want to build a new mosque between 17-92 and Tampa Highway. They say they've outgrown their storefront mosque off State Road 535.

Neighbors complain it will increase traffic and impact their wells and drainage. Some say they're also concerned a mosque might attract hate crimes.

"People who commit crimes don't care about anybody. If they're committing a hate crime against them, they're not gonna care if they hit me or one of my kids," says resident Jean McLean.

County planners have recommended commissioners approve the building. They'll vote on it after a public hearing January 24th.

The mosque has also agreed to hire an officer to direct traffic.

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http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:yBRvE-N3nNcJ:www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-ocomosque28012805jan28,1,5594834.story%3Fcoll%3Dorl-news-headlines-osceola+osceola+mosque+al+albir&hl=en

By April Hunt | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 28, 2005

Osceola County has given the green light to its first mosque, after nearly a month of debate on development issues that danced around religious tensions about the project.

Residents in the Cherub Homes subdivision near Intercession City, where the Masjid Al-Bir mosque is scheduled to break ground in the next month on Old Tampa Highway, said they opposed it because of worries about traffic, drainage, noise and security.

But during one of two public hearings Monday, one resident who said he spoke for others raised the specter of international Islamic terrorists as a reason for opposing it.

"It is our contention that this would be the same as if Dec. 8, 1941, there was a zoning meeting in Honolulu asking to have a Japanese Shinto temple put in," Charles Tiffany said. "For the good of everyone in this room, including these gentlemen [from the mosque] here, I don't think putting a powder keg down in Intercession City getting ready to blow any second makes any sense."

County commissioners distanced themselves from Tiffany's comments in their 3-2 vote, apologizing to members of the existing congregation. Dissenting commissioners Bill Lane and Paul Owen said they agreed that the house of worship did not belong in the rural residential area.

"My concern is that there is a right of the citizens to enjoy their property and not be disadvantaged," said Owen, who said the storefront in Indian Wells that now serves as a makeshift mosque is a "fiasco" of traffic and parking problems.

"You guys really don't have a very good track record, you know, of being able to govern your properties," he told the applicants.

Aiman Akileh, an engineer who donated his services on the project, said the Indian Wells site was an "embarrassment" that will close when the new mosque is ready later this year.

Parking for an estimated 200 congregants will not be a problem at the new location, he added, because the property owner, Albir Islamic Association, has agreed to a paved parking lot.

The owners also have consented to install right- and left-turn lanes into the mosque, limit its height to 30 feet at its highest point and hire off-duty police to guide traffic during peak worship hours, from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays.

All of those conditions exceed county guidelines, Akileh said, adding that a church about three miles away from the mosque doesn't even have a paved lot.

"Everything the county has asked for, we have agreed to, plus," Akileh said. "As far as fit, wherever we go, we are not going to fit. We will not fit wherever we go in Osceola County."

Commissioners who voted to approve the project, however, said they welcomed it. They noted that the mosque leaders had worked to accommodate concerns with their concessions and that some worries, such as noise from broadcast sermons, were unfounded rumors that do not reflect the mosque's quiet services.

"This country was founded by people coming here for religious freedom," Commissioner Ken Shipley said. "That is who we are."

April Hunt can be reached at 407-931-5940 or [email protected].

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http://www.oscnewsgazette.com/index.php?option=sports&task=viewarticle&sid=9914#

Intercession City residents concerned about plans for mosque Print E-mail
13 Jan 2005
By Marvin G. Cortner News-Gazette Staff Writer

Residents along U.S. 17-92 midway between Campbell City and Intercession City are worried that a proposed mosque would increase traffic and reduce property values in their neighborhood.

Baker Mohammad has applied for a conditional use for a 6-acre-site owned by the Albir Islamic Association Inc., on the south side of Old Tampa Highway north of U.S. 17-92 and west of Delores Road. The site is in the Cherub Homes subdivision and the new mosque would serve as a new location for an existing Islamic congregation.

The Osceola County Commission had the issue on its agenda Jan. 3 but the request was returned to the Osceola County Planning Commission for further review Jan. 6.

According to letters sent by residents to the Osceola County Growth Management Department, the most-often cited complaints are that the mosque would be inappropriate in a residential neighborhood, it would increase traffic in the subdivision and overflow parking would end up on residential streets.

The height of the proposed mosque, according to residents' letters, would be at least 40 feet high — inappropriate for an area with predominantly single-story structures. The size of the proposed mosque would be 15,000 square feet.

"Why such a tall structure in the middle of the neighborhood?" asked Jean Mclean of Judith Drive in her Dec. 7 letter to Mike Kloehn, growth management administrator. "Churches should be on the outskirts of neighborhoods, not smack in the middle."

Other residents worry what effect a new well for the mosque with at least 400 worshipers might have on existing wells. They also worry about the large quantity of lighting proposed for the mosque site and the impact the land's development would have on local drainage.

Lighting sources at the mosque, according to county documents, could not be visible beyond the site boundary and must comply with county code. Also, landscape buffering would be required.

The applicant also would be required to build a right turn lane on Old Tampa Highway in the westbound lane at Poinciana Boulevard.

Contact Marvin G. Cortner at 407-846-7600, Ext. 205. E-mail at [email protected]

-----------------------------

January 27, 2005

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/433

Mosque narrowly gains county approval
By Marvin G. Cortner News-Gazette Staff Writer

Despite opposition from neighbors, the Osceola County Commission Monday night on a 3-2 vote approved construction of a mosque between Intercession City and Campbell City. Residents of the 46-home subdivision argued that operation of the 7,500 square foot mosque — to be built on a 6-acre site owned by the Albir Islamic Association — would increase traffic in their neighborhood and create overflow parking problems, resulting in a loss of property values. Residents also argued that any kind of church in the subdivision would not fit in.

Baker Mohammad, applicant for the conditional use permit to allow the mosque, said the proposal complied with county ordinance and that traffic, parking and building height worries expressed by residents had been resolved.

Both county staff and the Osceola County Planning Commission recommended approval of the mosque with a maximum of 477 worshippers allowed, a 30-foot limit on the height of the structure and a turn lane on Old Tampa Highway to be paid for by the association. The congregation now has 200 members.

County Commission Chairman Paul Owen agreed with opponents that a mosque — or any house of worship — would not fit in.

"I think if this mosque were built, it would disadvantage people there now," he said.

The group, which now meets in a strip mall at Indian Wells off Polynesian Boulevard, has created significant parking problems there.

"I don't want to see that in this neighborhood. The other issue is that once you add that many cars onto Old Tampa Highway, it would make that road very dangerous."

Commissioner Bill Lane, who cast the second vote against the plan, also said the mosque would not fit in. Other worries aired by commissioners included that there would not be adequate paved parking provided or that mosque traffic would cut through residential streets.

Aiman Akileh, representing the construction company that would build the mosque, said, "Wherever we go, we would not fit in. Right now, we have 200 worshippers in a strip mall and they are forced to park in ditches and on curbs, there's nowhere else. We are trying to remedy this."

Akileh said the mosque would be a "first class" structure, that parking would be contained on the site behind brick walls, that the congregation would pay for a traffic control officer to help deal with congestion when the Friday afternoon service ends and that there would be no outside sound amplification system.

"We've done everything the county has asked for," he said.

Contact Marvin G. Cortner at 407-846-7600, Ext. 205. E-mail at [email protected]





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