Ahmed Bedier's Message and Prayer at Martin Luther King Interfaith Service

CAIR Tampa director Ahmed Bedier's speech and prayer at the Tampa Dr. Martin Luther King, JR Interfaith Memorial Service.

St. Petersburg Police Report Confirms Muslim Sixth Grader Was Threatned

Today the St. Petersburg Police Department released the findings of their "investigation" into the allegations that a sixth grade Muslim students was threatened by her classmate.

Two out of the four student witnesses interviewed said on 11/8/07 during second period, they heard some shooting threat by a classmate directed at Hannah. This is exactly when Hannah said she was threatened by a classmate. According to the report there was conflicting statement on the identity of the classmate who made the threat.

Nevertheless, this is clear supporting evidence that a threat was made just as Hannah claimed.

To see the excerpts from the St. Petersburg Times Police report confirming the threat, click here.

For local articles about the recent police announcement, visit:

Tampa Tribune: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/nov/20/muslim-students-complaint-wont-lead-charges/?news-breaking

Bill Keller's Anti-Muslim Hate and Bigotry the Comments that got him fired

The Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) announced today that a local television station has dropped a program that promoted hatred of Islam and Muslims.

CAIR-Tampa said WTOG-TV (CW 44) dropped “Live Prayer with Bill Keller” after the station and its parent company CBS received a letter from and had discussions with the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group.

Keller told the St. Petersburg Times: "Ultimately, it was pressure by CAIR that intimidated these people into taking me off the air. It was not mutually agreeable. They told me they were taking me off the air, period."

SEE: Televangelist: I Lost My Show Over Muslim Remarks (St. Petersburg Times)

In its letter to CBS President Tom Kane and WTOG-TV’s general manager, CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier wrote:

“In the hate-filled program, ‘Live Prayer with Bill Keller,’ Islam and Muslims are referred to in the most vicious and bigoted of terms. For example on May 2, 2007, host Bill Keller said: ‘Islam is a 1400-year-old lie from the pits of hell. It’s leading a billion peoples [sic] to hell. . .those who follow this false religion will die and be lost for all eternity.’ On the same program, he also said, ‘The false religion of Islam is about hate, lies and death.’

EXTERNAL (NON-BLOGSPOT VIDEO LINK): To view examples of Bill Keller’s Anti-Muslim Bigotry, go to: http://www.cairfl.org/video/0705-bill-keller-attacks-islam.wmv

“It is our belief that anti-Islamic rhetoric like that used in ‘Live Prayer with Bill Keller’ is exactly the type of language that is likely to incite hate crimes against the American Muslim community.”

“While we strongly support freedom of speech and religion, the public airwaves should not be used to promote hatred and bigotry,” Bedier said today. “We commend WTOG-TV and CBS for rejecting any association with those who would demonize a minority group.”

Bedier noted that a Muslim family’s home in Sarasota, Fla., was recently torched by arsonists who spray-painted Islamophobic slurs on the walls.

SEE: CAIR-Tampa Announces $10K Reward in Arson Case

Video: Muslims Say No To Violence, Terrorism & Bin Laden

CAIR Representative Ahmed Bedier and Arab-American author Samar Jarrah appear live on FOX 13 to discuss the results of a recent Pew Global Attitudes report that found support for violence in Muslim countries has declined. Bedier repeated condemnations of violent extremist actions as not Islamic.

Note: Bedier and Jarrah are co-hosts of "True Talk" a weekly Tampa-based radio show on WMNF 88.5 FM.

PART 1 OF 2:


PART 2 OF 2:

CAIR Featured in 'The Muslim Americans' Program on PBS

CAIR is featured in a Newshour special "The Muslim Americans," part of the 2007 PBS Series 'America At a Crossroads' discussing life for American Muslims after 9/11.

While there overall series has received criticism for being right-wing leaning. The 4/18/07 Newshour special was refreshing. CAIR is prominently featured in the program. The documentary opens with a video sound bite of President Bush at the Washington Islamic Center six days after the tragic attacks of 9/11/01 urging "respect for Islam." Joining President Bush is CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Ahmed Bedier Exposes the "Illegitimate" Secular Islam Summit and its Funders the Intelligence Summit

Ahmed Bedier Exposes the "Illegitimate" Secular Islam Summit on the Glenn Beck television show. The Secular Islam Summit was organized exclusively by non-Muslims, atheists and known Muslim bashers. The funder and the host of the this false reformation hate-fest is the Intelligence Summit, an anti-Muslim group.

Islamophobic Propaganda Distributed Door-to-Door in Seminole Florida Designed to Scare People into Attending Church

A local reporter called me (Ahmed Bedier) the other day for reaction on a story about the distribution of hateful anti-Muslim flyers in a Seminole, Florida neighborhood. The reporter sent me a copy of a payer flyer cut in the shape of a door-knob handle similar to those used for marketing pizza coupons.

The flyer's - a copy is available here - heading asks in bold caps "ARE YOU READY?", followed by a list of lies. Here are some of them:

-Muslim Extremists have been stockpiling anthrax in this country for years

-Several suit-case sized nuclear bombs are thought to have been smuggled across the Mexican border into our country.

-Within 3 days over 100 million Americans could die of Anthrax Poison

Then it asks the QUESTION "Are you ready for eternity? Do you know for sure that you're going to heaven?

Wait a minute, I thought this was about securing the country from the anthrax and nukes. The flyer goes on to say:

Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world. He suffered a horrible death for us and took our punishment so we wouldn't have to go to hell. There is only one unpardonable sin, rejecting Jesus as our Savior. Terrorism is a real tragedy, but eternity without Christ is the greatest tragedy.

The newspaper learned about this bigoted trash from a couple who got a copy of this flyer on their door. The informed the paper that the entire neighborhood was flooded with this junk.

It's unfortunate that we live in a time where individuals and groups (including religious) are exploiting existing fears to promote their own cause.

PRESIDENT'S PORTRAYAL OF 'THE ENEMY' OFTEN FLAWED

Last night I joined other folks from the Tampa Bay area at the Television Studios of WFLA NBC 8 to watch and react to the President's State of the Union Speech. It was like dejavu since I spent the previous year doing the same thing at the same place.


I remember saying last year that I was concerned about the president's use of loaded labels to describe the enemy. Lat year it was radical Islam. I felt the same way this year about the president's use of "Sunni Extremists" and "Shia Extremists."

Watch other comments by watching the below YouTube clip:




For more on the President's portrayal of "The Enemy" check out the below Wash Post article.

Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 1/24/07

In his State of the Union address last night, President Bush presented an
arguably misleading and often flawed description of "the enemy" that the United
States faces overseas, lumping together disparate groups with opposing
ideologies to suggest that they have a single-minded focus in attacking the
United States.

Under Bush's rubric, a country such as Iran -- which enjoys diplomatic
representation and billions of dollars in trade with major European countries --
is lumped together with al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks.

"The Shia and Sunni extremists are different faces of the same totalitarian
threat," Bush said, referring to the different branches of the Muslim
religion. Similarly, Bush asserted that Shia Hezbollah, which has won
seats in the Lebanese government, is a terrorist group "second only to al-Qaeda
in the American lives it has taken."

Bush is referring to attacks nearly a quarter-century ago on a U.S. embassy
and a Marine barracks when the United States intervened in Lebanon's civil war
by shelling Hezbollah strongholds. Hezbollah has evolved into primarily an
anti-Israeli militant organization -- it fought a war with Israel last summer --
but the European Union does not list it as a terrorist organization.

At one point, Bush catalogued what he described as advances in the quest
for freedom in the Middle East during 2005 -- such as the departure of Syrian
troops from Lebanon and elections in Iraq. Then, Bush asserted, "a thinking
enemy watched all of these scenes, adjusted their tactics and in 2006 they
struck back."

But his description of the actions of "the enemy" tried to tie together a
series of diplomatic and military setbacks that had virtually no connection to
one another, from an attack on a Sunni mosque in Iraq to the assassination of
Maronite Lebanese political figure.

AUDIO: AHMED BEDIER DELIVERS INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH AT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING INTERFAITH MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Monday, Jan. 15, the executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) spoke in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at an interfaith memorial service. Representatives from other faiths, civic leaders and elected officials also spoke at the event.

CLICK TO LISTEN: http://www.ahmedbedier.com/audio/20071215-bedier-mlk-prayer.wma

Hate Mail and Threats

Archive of Random Hate eMail/Mail and threats:

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

From: RONALD HEWITT rhewittidaho@msn.com
Date: Nov 6, 2006 9:34 PM
Subject: To: bedier@gmail.com

Dear Ahmed

Add me to your list as one more person who understands what a vile, disgusting religion you practice. Spence and a lot of other right-thinking people are beginning to understand what a bunch of back biting, lying, conniving whining putrid excuse of human beings you are. Shut the fuck up or go back to fucking camels in your tent in the desert.

Ronald J Hewitt
Pocatello, Idaho

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

From: Craig Brown cccbrown@yahoo.com
Date: Nov 7, 2006 4:30 AM
Subject: Your time is gonna cum, GOD
To: bedier@gmail.com

The Christine Religion is 2000 years old. Yourabomination of Christianiy is 1400 years old. Yourspokesperson, mohammed of medina, is a known pedophilerapist.sodmiste of little girls (72 virgins in heavenfor killing kaffirs!!!!!).

The foundation of your religion is CORRUPTION OF HUMMANITY...killing allthose who do not believe as you do. Enslaving theconquoers most innocent, the little girls, to beslaves to your pedophillic, child rapist desires.

You, and your cancerous abomination of a "religion"are an abomination on Humankind. You andislam/muhammah/allah are a SIN on Mankind. You areDoomed. Every once of Humanity blood will be shed toeradicate you from the Earth.

GOD

Wrong Time to Execute The Dictator Saddam Hussein

CAIR Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier offers a Muslim perspective on the execution of Saddam Hussein on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. While Bedier believes that Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator and that his crimes against humanity have caught up to him, Bedier thinks it is NOT wise to carry out an execution of a Muslim on the holiest day of the Islamic calendar. Just must be blind and should not be impacted by politics or revenge.

Ahmed Bedier Condemns anti-Holocaust Iran Conference

I condemn the recent shameful conference held in Iran that sought to deny the Holocaust, one of the lowest moments in human history.

No legitimate cause can ever be advanced by denying the enormous human suffering caused by the massacre of millions of Jews and other minority groups by the Nazis. Attempts to use Holocaust denial as a political tool in the Middle East conflict will only serve to deepen the level of mistrust and hostility already present in the region.

Muslims are commanded in the Quran to "enjoin in the good and forbid the evil," and clearly the genocide of European Jews was nothing but evil. It is a shame that the current government of Iran, which claims to be an Islamic State, would ignore Islamic ethical values and belittle evil. Responsible governments must encourage the study of the Holocaust and other human atrocities to ensure that they are not repeated.

Americans in general and the Jewish and Muslim communities in particular should know that those who spew anti-Semitic bigotry do not speak for Islam; Muslims denounce their views and their hatred. Islam acknowledges Judaism (and Christianity) as a true revealed religion from God; furthermore Muslims view Jews (and Christians) as fellow "People of the Book" who believe in the same Abrahamic Monotheism.

While the cynical conference was held in Iran, it included many non-Muslim participants like former KKK leader David Duke and French "scholar" George Tail, who called the Holocaust a myth. The diverse participation is a reminder that bigotry is not exclusive to any one group.

As "People of the Book" we must stand united and challenge those who would fan the flames of all forms of hate, including anti-Semitism.

Note: The above opinion is based on CAIR's official release, see CAIR CONDEMNS IRANIAN HOLOCAUST DENIAL CONFERENCE

Bill Nelson should be commended for speaking to Syria, others should follow

Mideast expert Ahmed Bedier quoted in today's Tampa Tribune on U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's plans to visit Syria. Bedier commends Senator Nelson for the bold move but it maybe "too little, too late."

Senator's Trip To Syria Lands Him In Hot Zone
Tampa Tribune, 12/13/06
TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is scheduled to meet with Syrian
President Bashar Assad today despite President Bush's objections.
"We discourage the travel of members of Congress to Syria because we believe it
undermines the Siniora government" of Lebanon, White House spokesman Blair Jones said.

"He should be commended for reaching out and trying for dialogue," said
Ahmed Bedier of Tampa, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. Syria, branded by the Bush administration as a supporter of
terrorism, could perhaps help bring stability to Iraq, he said.

"You don't have to agree on everything - but there are some common
interests for all countries in the region," Bedier said. "If you continue to
neglect and not speak to them, that will make your job a lot harder."

Although Bedier welcomed the trip, he added a note of caution.
"A lot of things that are happening now are too little, too late. These things should have been happening years ago," Bedier said.

Ahmed Bedier Receives 2006 Human Rights Award

(TAMPA, FL - 12/8/06) - CAIR Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier today received the prestigious Human Rights Award at the 33rd Annual Awards Breakfast of the Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights Council.

"I am grateful for this recognition and accept the award on behalf ofthe board, staff, volunteers, and members of CAIR who made it possible," said Bedier. Bedier added that the "true winner" of the award is the Muslim Community in the Tampa Bay area.

Other Human Rights Award winners included: Sheriff David Gee, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office; Dr. Sam Horton of the NAACP-Hillsborough; Rev. Beverly Lane.

FBI Tampa chief thanks Ahmed Bedier for helping protect civil rights and working to keep nation safe

Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI Tampa Field office Special Agent in Charge Carl Whitehead praises and thanks Ahmed Bedier while speaking at the 2006 CAIR Tampa Annual Banquet.

"I wanted to say that we really appreciate the effort of Ahmed Bedier [Executive
Director, CAIR-Tampa] here in Florida and all the good work that he does on
behalf of CAIR in the community in the area of civil rights…Mr. Bedier has done
a great job in reaching out to law enforcement, establishing open forums for us
to exchange information in order to keep the nation safe.”
-Carl Whitehead, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Tampa Field Office, speaking at the CAIR 2006 Tampa Banquet

FL Congress woman Brown-Waite defends Muslim Bashers and says All Terrorists are Muslim

Florida Congress woman Ginny Brown-Waite at her best, calling all Terrorists Muslim

Watch her embarrassing performance on WTVT Fox News:



Text Version courtesy of WTVT:



Last Edited: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST
Created: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST

Ginny Brown-Waite is defending a supporter's comments. We've got you covered

BROOKSVILLE - When Governor-elect Charlie Crist heard one of his
supporters call Islam a "hateful and frightening" religion, he kicked
her off his election team.

Governor Bush also condemned Hernando Commissioner Tom Hogan's and
his wife for the remark.

Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite didn't respond until after the
election, then she rushed to the couple's defense.

"Ms. Hogan is entitled to her views, and her husband stood by her
side as a good husband should," stated Brown-Waite.

The congresswoman also attacked the Governor and the Governor-elect
for condemning the comment.

"Not every Muslim is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a Muslim
except for Tim McVeigh," offered Brown-Waite.

"What about Eric Rudolph?" FOX 13 asked.

"Well except him too," said Brown-Waite.

"What about the Klan?" we asked.

"They're not doing terrorist activities right now. We're talking
about a group that wants to do away with our way of life. With all
due respect, I don't think there's any comparison," said Brown-Waite.

We can find many non-Muslim terrorists, but Islamic groups say that's
not the point.

"She's actually standing up on the wrong side of the aisle, defending
bigotry and hatred," stated Ahmed Bedier with the Council on American
Islamic Relations.

The Congresswoman says she defends anti-Muslim remarks on grounds of
free speech.

She wrote a scorching three-page defense claiming those who call
Islam 'hateful and frightening' just reflect her community.

"If this does reflect the views of your community, what will you do
to educate the community?" FOX 13 asked.

"I think it's up to the moderate Muslims," Brown-Waite responded

FAQ: How does blog have anonymous comments, when it is not allowed

On 11/8/06, American Crusader asks the following:

Why does a site that does not allow anonymous comments have so many?Out of
have five comments...four of them are anonymous.

ANSWER: Very simple, when I started this blog, the setting to accept Anonymous comments was enabled. After a flood of spam, I disabled it. Visitors in the past were able to post anonymous comments, visitors now can't.

I hope that clarifies things for you.

Reacting to the Pope's Comments: Muslims Must Not Use Violence When Accused of Being Violent

CAIR Tampa Executive Director speaking out against the violent reaction by a few Muslims in response to Pope Benedict's recent comments against Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In a statement Bedier "While I was upset by and disagree with the Pope's comments on Islam, I am more upset by the violent reaction by a few ignorant people." CAIR announced a new campaign to raise money for the damaged churches in the mideast that were vandalized in reaction to the controversy.

THREE VIDEO CLIPS: To Watch Select the clip from menu on right, then play:

Ahmed Bedier is Not Spokesperson for Al-Arian and Has Never Met Him

The anti-Muslim bashers are at it again, every chance they have to spew hatred at American Muslim leaders they maximize it by resorting to lies, defamation and fabrication. Today Florida's leading Islamaphobe blogger Joe Kaufman fabricated a story Campaign Cash from Al-Arian's Mouthpiece in FrontpageMag.com (a known extremist online publication) naming Ahmed Bedier, Dr. Sami Al-Arian's Spokesperson (also mouthpiece). For more about Sami Al-Arian click here. Kaufman could not be further from the truth.

What Kaufman fails to mention is that Ahmed Bedier has NEVER met Dr. Sami Al-Arian, NEVER spoke with Al-Arian on the phone and NEVER corresponded with Al-Arian via email/mail. So how can Kaufman claim that Bedier is a spokesperson of someone he has NEVER been in contact with??

Bedier is a community leader in Tampa and is the director of American Muslim civil rights group (CAIR) in that city. The Al-Arian trial was the biggest case in Tampa's Federal Judicial history, Bedier spoke a great deal to the media about the case, but so did everyone else. It was top news for several years. Bedier does NOT regret any of the comments he made surrounding the case. As a civil rights leader, Bedier speaks up on behalf of CAIR and its members calling for justice and due process. If Kaufman is upset that individuals are calling for the implementation of the U.S. constitution, than it is Kaufman who should answer whom does he speak for?

Kaufman's hatred for Muslims blinded him from looking at the true facts of the case. An American Jury of 12 who listened to all the evidence for six months overwhelmingly chose not to convict Al-Arian on a single count. Perhaps that's what Kaufman is so angry about, that a Palestinian Professor would get any justice in America. Kaufman is known for his extreme pro-Zionist sentiments which explains his hatred for Palestinians.

Joe Kaufman is recognized in the State of Florida for his hatred towards American Muslims and Arab Americans, just this year alone Americans United awarded him their infamous "Onion Award" recognizing his hatred and bigotry. If one is to review Kaufman's writings he would find that he has accused every Muslim he knows with terror ties, and has never written anything positive about a single Muslim. In his poor writing style, Kaufman attempts to link all Muslims to each other and labels them guilty by association (even if it does not exist, the mere fact that two people share the same religion is association in Kaufman's eyes).

In the same article Kaufman repeats an allegation he made last year that Bedier defended Palestinian Islamic Jihad on a TV show. A flat out lie which Bedier answered last year, for details read the posting Responding to the distortion: Bedier says "Nothing Immoral" About Islamic Jihad.

Finally, Kaufman recycles a FALSE claim that CAIR has some sort of terror ties. CAIR is a legitimate mainstream American organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and 33 offices nationwide with a combined staff of over 75. CAIR and Bedier have a positive working relationship with all levels of government and law enforcement including the FBI. If Kaufman believes his lies he should report them to the appropriate authorities so they can take appropriate action (or laugh at him).

If anyone is not familiar with the great work of CAIR or has concerns about the organization, feel free to visit www.cair.com and read What Public Officials Say About CAIR.

Remember CAIR's "Not In The Name of Islam" Campaign

With the recent foiled UK airline terror plot came the hype and attacks that Muslims condemn terrorism. Muslims around the world including the Council on American Islamic Relations have repeatedly condemn terrorism. In a May 2004 post I included the text of the "Not in the Name of Islam" campaign, here it is again:

“We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."

View or sign the CAIR petition at:http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=169&theType=AA

See also: http://hussamayloush.blogspot.com/2006/08/not-in-name-of-islam-petition.html

Bedier Reacts to UK Terror Plot, Concern of Backlash

Tampa Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations Ahmed Bedier explains the American Muslim perspective on the foiled UK Terror plot (aug 2006) and the Muslim Community's fear of backlash. Islamic centers nationwide have and are encouraged to step security measures. Bedier condemned the terror plot as un-Islamic. Watch below.



SOURCE: BAYNEWS9

Feeling a great deal of fear
Saturday, August 12, 2006


Ahmed Bedier said the center has received hate e-mails.
While many Americans were shaken by the latest developments regarding a possible terror plot to blow up airliners, American Muslims are dealing with an additional fear.

They're afraid people who associate Islam with terrorism judge them because they're Muslim.

"There's a great deal of fear," Council on American-Islamic Relations of Tampa Director Ahmed Bedier said. "There's a great deal of uncertainty and it's a hostile environment."

This comes after charges of a plot to blow up jetliners from Britain to the United States. All 24 suspects arrested are British citizens and are mostly men of Pakistani descent.

American Muslims in the Bay area are now afraid of a backlash, something Bedier said has been the reality for Muslims since 9/11.

"There's been a number of incidents across the country and also the state of Florida as far as mosques being targeted and hate crimes directed at mosques," Bedier said.

In response to that past, security at area Islamic centers and schools like the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay was noticeably heightened during the Day of Congregation. Hundreds of Muslims made their way into the mosque for worship under a close watch.

"All gates are being blocked except some specific gates," Bedier said. "Cars will be blocking the gates individual cars or trucks cannot get close to the structures or facilities."..... MORE

Bedier Condemns Attack on Seattle Jewish Center

On July 29, 2006, Council on American-Islamic Relations Representative Ahmed Bedier appeared on WFTS ABC News to denounce the recent attack by a Pakistani-American on a Jewish Federation Center in Seattle, Washington.



The national office CAIR and American Muslim religious leaders in Washington also condemned the attack:

See:

CAIR CONDEMNS ATTACK ON SEATTLE JEWISH CENTER
Group says Mideast conflict must not be ‘transplanted’ to America

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/28/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned an attack on a Jewish community center in Seattle, Wash., that left one person dead and several more injured. (A statement signed by representatives of the Seattle Muslim community, including CAIR-Seattle, is attached below.)

A lone gunman who reportedly said, “I'm a Muslim American; I'm angry at Israel," entered the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and began shooting. The alleged gunman was later arrested.

In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:

“We condemn this senseless attack on a religious institution and offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured. The American Muslim and Jewish communities must do whatever is within their power to prevent the current conflict in the Middle East from being transplanted to this country. We also urge local, state and national law enforcement authorities to step up security measures at synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions of both faiths.”

full release click here

Bedier Perspective on the Israeli Attacks on Lebanon and Gaza

CAIR Florida Tampa Director Ahmed Bedier appeared on Baynews 9 Political Connections Soapbox segment to comment on the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. In the commentary Bedier urged the U.S. government to call for an immediate cease fire.



Council on American-Islamic Relations

Bedier Leads Tampa Delegation Calling for Immediate Cease Fire in Lebanon and Safe Passage for Evacuees

Ahmed Bedier of the Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR, today called on the U.S. Government to pressure an immediate cease fire for Humanitarian and Evacuation purposes. Family relatives of American Citizens Trapped in Lebanon joined the News conference and criticized the slow and confusing Evacuation process. The news conference took place following a meeting with the Tampa office U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.

In the news clip a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman encourages the use of "word of mouth" as an effective communication method that spreads "quicker than email."



Other related Videos with Bedier on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1wODtn6OJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYYz5QsmsUc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQjIytebv98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GroMfpAFEM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FulWwLGDBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMV6ykKZKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spv8ZMBsLSA

Is Israel a strategic friend or spoiled brat?

The Washington Post today published published and long extensive article examining the U.S. - Israel relationship. The article also reflects on the much talked about and critically acclaimed paper "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" by Stephen Walt from Harvard and John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago.

In light of the recent acts of War against Gaza and Lebanon, more and more Americans are questioning the liability of Israel's irrational behavior.

A brief side note: There is a clear distinction between the great religion of Judaism (recognized by the Quran as legitimate and from The One True Creator) and the government of Israel. Israel does not act in the name of Judaism and their illegal acts should not be seen as encouraged by Judaism. Criticism against Israel and the various Zionist parties should never be equated to the great Divine religion of Judaism. If Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was here today, I would imagine that he would have some serious issues with how Israeli leaders are misrepresenting their faith.

Just like if Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was here today he would have issues with what the violent extremist are doing (i.e. attacking civilians, corruption, injustice).

Ahmed Bedier

NOW HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

A Beautiful Friendship?
In search of the truth about the Israel lobby's influence on Washington
By Glenn FrankelSunday, July 16, 2006; W13

All David Ben-Gurion wanted was 15 minutes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's time.
Israel's founding father, one of the indomitable political leaders of the 20th century, came to Washington in December 1941 yearning to present the case for a Jewish state directly to the American president. He took a two-room suite at the old Ambassador Hotel at 14th and K for $1,000 a month and cooled his heels for 10 weeks, writing letters and reports and making passes at Miriam Cohen, his attractive American secretary. But Ben-Gurion didn't get the meeting. Not then, not ever. Not even a pair of presidential cuff links.
Now let's fast-forward 64 years to late May and a news conference in the East Room of the White House. That tall, freckled, slightly nervous-looking man with the rust-colored hair standing alongside President Bush at matching lecterns is Ehud Olmert, 12th prime minister of Israel. The two leaders and their advisers have just spent two hours together in the Oval Office. Bush is reaffirming the "deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States" and praising Olmert's "bold ideas" and commitment to peace. Afterward, they'll adjourn for a private session without aides or note-takers and then go to dinner together. And the next day Olmert will address a joint session of Congress, whose members will interrupt his speech with 16 standing ovations. Ben-Gurion, whose remains rest in a simple grave overlooking the Negev Desert, would be stunned.
It's not that Olmert is a more commanding figure than Ben-Gurion. Far from it. No, it's about power. And not just Israeli power. It's really about the perceived power of the Israel lobby, a collection of American Jewish organizations, campaign contributors and think tanks -- aided by Christian conservatives and other non-Jewish supporters -- that arose over the second half of the 20th century and that sees as a principle goal the support and promotion of the interests of the state of Israel.
Thanks to the work of the lobby and its allies, Israel gets more direct foreign aid -- about $3 billion a year -- than any other nation. There's a file cabinet somewhere in the State Department full of memoranda of understanding on military, diplomatic and economic affairs. Israel gets treated like a NATO member when it comes to military matters and like Canada or Mexico when it comes to free trade. There's an annual calendar full of meetings of joint strategic task forces and other collaborative sessions. And there's a presidential pledge, re-avowed by Bush in the East Room, that the United States will come to Israel's aid in the event of attack.
On Capitol Hill the Israel lobby commands large majorities in both the House and Senate. Polls show strong public support for Israel -- a connection that has grown even deeper after the September 11 attacks. The popular equation goes like this: Israelis equal good guys, Arabs equal terrorists. Working the Hill these days, says Josh Block, spokesman for the premier Israeli lobbying group known as AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, "is like pushing at an open door."
Not everyone believes this is a good thing. In March two distinguished political scientists -- Stephen Walt from Harvard and John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago -- published a 42-page, heavily footnoted essay arguing that the Bush administration's support for Israel and its related effort to spread democracy throughout the Middle East have "inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security."
The professors claim that our intimate partnership with Israel is both dangerous and unprecedented. "Other special interest groups have managed to skew foreign policy, but no lobby has managed to divert it as far from what the national interest would suggest," they argue. They go on to say that the war in Iraq "was due in large part to the Lobby's influence," and that the same combine is "using all of the strategies in its playbook" to pressure the administration into being aggressive and belligerent with Iran. The bottom line: "Israel's enemies get weakened or overthrown, Israel gets a free hand with the Palestinians, and the United States does most of the fighting, dying, rebuilding and paying."
A sweet deal for Israel, in other words, but a very bad one for America.

Full article here

Was Racist Remark trigger of Zidane Head-Butt Foul at World Cup Final

Yesterday the world (over 1 billion of us) witnessed in slow motion the now infamous head butt fouled by French sports star Zinedine Zidane against Italy's Marco Materazzi. Whatever language you heard it in, all the announcers were saying the same thing pourqoi, pourqoi , why, why????

Today analysts, commentators and the world continues to ponder over the incident. Some news is filtering out, by the AP, European organizations and others that Materazzi might have triggered the foul by making a racist slur at Zidane.

I was disappointed that Zidane lost it and committed the foul. A star of his status should try to keep his cool, but there seems to be more to this story than just a player gone mad. Here are the articles:

AP:
The Zidane mystery: What set him off?

"The Italians did everything they
could do to provoke Zidane," France
defender William Gallas said.
Seconds before, Materazzi had wrapped his arm
around Zidane just as a
French attack on goal passed harmlessly by. The two
exchanged words as they
walked back up the field, well behind the play. Then,
without warning,
Zidane spun around, lowered his head and rammed Materazzi,
knocking him to
the ground.
The Paris-based anti-racism advocacy group
SOS-Racism issued
a statement Monday quoting "several very well informed sources
from the
world of football" as saying Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty
terrorist." It
demanded that FIFA investigate and take any appropriate
action.

See Also: Why Today I Wear My Zidane Jersey

VIDEO: Ahmed Bedier Reacts to Death of Al-Zarqawi

I (Ahmed Bedier) appeared on Tampa FOX affiliate WTVT to debate the Impact of the Death of Iraqi Terror Leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Bedier condemned Zaraqwi's actions as un-Islamic.



The Council on American-Islamic Relations - aka CAIR, the organization that I represent has released the following statement:

CAIR HOPES DEATH OF ZARQAWI LEADS TO DECREASED IRAQ VIOLENCE

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/8/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said it hopes the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will help bring
about a decrease in civilian casualties and sectarian violence in Iraq.

In a statement, CAIR said:

"We hope the death of terrorist
leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will lead to a decrease in the skyrocketing number
of civilian deaths in Iraq and will help slow the downward spiral of sectarian
violence gripping that nation. The violent actions of al-Zarqawi and his
followers violated basic Islamic teachings and resulted directly or indirectly
in the deaths of many innocent Iraqis and foreign nationals."

Ahmed Bedier Debates Attorney on Religious Holidays in Schools

Ahmed Bedier debates New York Attorney Michael Gross on FOX News Channel "Fair & Balanced" segment on the topic of religious holidays in public schools.

Thou Shalt Not Lie: Pat Robertson Says he Leg-Pressed 2000 Pounds

People across the country are questioning claims by Pat Robertson's (founder of the Christian Coalition) claim that he has leg pressed 200 pounds. From the Associated Press (via Yahoo News):

According to the CBN Web site, Robertson worked his way up to lifting a ton with
the help of his physician, who is not named. The posting does not say when the
lift occurred, but a CBN spokeswoman released photos to The Associated Press
that she said showed Robertson lifting 2,000 pounds in 2003, when Robertson was 73. He is now 76.
The Web posting said two men loaded the leg-press machine
with 2,000 pounds "and then let it down on Mr. Robertson, who pushed it up one
rep and let it go back down again." The Web site said several people witnessed
the event, and shows video of Robertson leg-pressing what appears to be 1,000
pounds.

However most experts think Robertson is lying:

Clay Travis of CBS SportsLine.com called the 2,000-pound assertion impossible in
a column this week, writing that the leg-press record for football players at
Florida State University is 665 pounds less.
"Where in the world did Robertson even find a machine that could hold 2,000 pounds at one time?" Travis asked.

Why would anyone be surprised about Robertson's false witness. He does it all the time. Constantly attacking all non Judeo-Christian religions. He constantly bears false witness against God (Allah in Arabic) claiming that God and Allah are not the same. He defined Allah as the "moon god from Mecca." What an insult to all the Arabic speaking Christians who call upon God in their native tongue as Allah. If Robertson has no problem lying to the world about God, then there is nothing else he would not lie about.

Pat Robertson should practice what he preaches by following the bible and at least the 10 Commandments.

USF Oracle Column: Walid Shoebat and Hillel Shock USF Audience by Preaching Violence and Hatred

Last week, I (Ahmed Bedier) asked the question: Why are some Florida "Jewish" Groups sponsoring anti-Muslim hate speech events?. I brought up the question because of an anti-Muslim event hosted by the Hillel (conservative Jewish Org. at college campuses) group at USF and funded by Greater Miami Jewish Federation where a known Islamophobe named Walid Shoebat declared "Islam is not a religion."

Today Sean Kinane, a contributor to the campus newspaper of the University of South Florida, The Oracle, replies to both Walid Shoebat and Hillel in a column titled "Walid Shoebat preached violence, not peace." In the Column Kinane tells both Shoebat and Hillel "more violence and killing is not the way to bring peace," more violence was Shoebats solution for bringing peace. Kinane recalls a troubling exchange between Walid Shoebat and a student in the audience looking for solutions to the Mideast conflict:

A student in the audience asked Shoebat for the advice he would give young
people on creating a world of peace. Shoebat replied, "Sometimes we have to
shoot brother wolf until he promises to stop eating sister sheep." I was not
alone in my shock at this evidently contradictory answer, so I asked him if he
really thought more violence was the way to attain peace. He replied that yes,
essentially, extrajudicial assassinations were acceptable.

Kinnane rightly added:

What a shame it is for Hillel to bring to USF someone who advocates hateful
assassinations and retaliatory violence.

As shame it is indeed, Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation are not only doing a disservice to humanity by promoting hatred and intolerance, but they're also doing a disservice to their own Jewish community. Respectable Jewish organizations in Florida are always at the forefront fighting bigotry, racism and hatred, it's very troubling that they would sponsor events that contradict the work they advocate.

Troubled by these type of events, I recently brought up my concern to a couple of my Jewish friends. Their response was embarrassment and frustration, questioning the wisdom of groups like Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation. They also told me that these groups don't speak for all Jews and they don't speak or act in their name. I am realizing more an more, that when it comes to the Jewish community, one-size does NOT fit all. Like other religions and groups their is diverse opinions among the followers. My Jewish friends explained that the hardliners and extremists tend to be more active voicing their opinion and silencing other views.

Ahmed Bedier video commentary on religious Freedom, Islam and the case of Afghanistan's Abdul Rahman

Last month I joined CAIR in calling for the release of Abdul Rahman, the Afghan man who faced prosecution for leaving Islam. Even though many Muslim scholars and leaders spoke up against any earthly punishment for apostasy (leaving one's faith) the majority of the media failed to include the voices and views of mainstream Muslims in their coverage. The result, most Americans I speak to think that all Muslims supported the position of a handful of Afghan clerics who advocated for Abdul Rahman's death.

This past Sunday I was invited by a Tampa Bay television news station to provide commentary on the topic of Islam and religious freedom. It was a good opportunity to take the message directly to the people.

Peace, Ahmed Bedier

source: http://ahmedbedier.com/video/060403-bedier-religious-freedom.wmv

Why are some Florida "Jewish" Groups sponsoring anti-Muslim hate speech events? Speaker at Tampa event says "Islam Not a Religion"

***Note: I know better than to stereotype against an entire community. The reason I question the judgment of some "Jewish" groups in the below post is because both groups openly claim they're advocating on behalf of the Jewish community***

It is with great displeasure that I write this post. However, unless we openly discuss this type of hatred that exists within our community, then we will not progress.

Last night (March 30, 2006) the University of South Florida chapter of Hillel hosted a hate filled seminar during their 'Israel Week' featuring Walid Shoebat, a self-described "Former PLO Terrorist." Shoebat's fantasy story about being a former terrorists has never been independently confirmed, yet he tours the country and the world speaking to or hosted/sponsored by so called "Jewish" organizations and/or right wing groups, raking in thousands of dollars in speaker fees. Here is one of the hate messages Shoebat had for the crowd at USF (audio clip link available below):

"I began to understand that Islam as a religion is NOT a religion. Islam is a
system of government. Can anybody deny that? Islam is a legislation, civil code,
government, then a religion. That's what Islam is. So now you want to
fight Islamic fundamentalism and it's a problem because you're really talking
about a religion. And you're going to offend people... We must have Islamic
democracy. I said, excuse me, Islam is not a religion. It's like saying
capitalistic communism, is there such an oxymoron?" -Walid Shoebat at
USF

So Mr. Shoebat (not his real name by the way, he has consistently refused to provide his real name and/or age, place of birth or any other identifying information) wants to believe that Islam is not a religion, erasing the faith of over 1.2 billion Muslims around the world and the billions who lived before. Shoebat who has no formal education in theology, history or any other ligit study.

According to Hilled USF's website, the Hillel Shoebat hatefest event was unfortunately sponsored by Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

Which brings me to the question of the day for me, WHY ARE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING ANTI-MUSLIM HATE SPEECH EVENTS? A question I think both groups and others that continue to host Walid Shoebat and other hate mongers like him, must answer.

Hillel's promotion for the Tampa event promised it would be

"Interactive dialogue" and "is going to be unbelievable."

They were partially accurate, the only description for the event is "unbelievable." However it was neither "interactive" nor a "dialogue."

Troubled by last night's event and the question on my mind. I visited the websites of Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation to learn more about their mission and identity, to find out if anti-Muslim hate speech is part of their goals or agenda.

Hillel describes itself as:

The largest Jewish campus organization in the world,
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life provides opportunities for
Jewish students at more than 500 colleges and universities to explore and
celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of regional
centers, campus Foundations and Hillel student organizations. Hillel is
working to provoke a renaissance of Jewish life.......

Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.

Nothing about Islam or hate speech there, if you continue reading Hillel has some positive goals like:

-creating a plenvironmentnviornment; pursue tzedek (social justice); tikkun olam (repairing the world)

So that troubles me even more, where does the seminar of a hate monger and fraud like Walid Shoebat fit in all of this?

To have "unbelievable" and "interactive" dialogue, Hillel and Jewish Federations around the country need to pick-up the phone and dial-up a local American-Muslim organization, mosque or school. Coordinate a real forum with a real agenda that can produce results. Hate speech and rhetoric will only serve to divide our communities.

As conscience consience, Jews, Muslims, Christians and others must condemn hate speech directed at any group. And if not condemn, the least we can do is not actively promote bigots and hate mongers. We have to be consistent and not have a double standard, just as my Jewish friends want me to distance myself from anti-Jewish hate speech by Muslim radicals, I expect the same from them, to distance themselves from anti-Muslim bashers.

The irony is, Shoebat's website provides that "love" is the solution, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King (on the frontpage of this website)

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy
into friend."

Perhaps Shoebat and his sponsoring organization can start practicing what they preach.

TO LISTEN TO A CLIP FROM WALID SHOEBAT'S HATE SPEECH AT THE HILLEL USF EVENT, PLEASE CLICK HERE (then cry).

Related link(s):

Shoebat telling his fake story on O'Reilly Factor: http://youtube.com/watch?v=x6dYXXdiBBA

Afghan Court Drops Case Against Christian Convert

The Associated Press just reported that the case against an Afghan Man who left Islam for Christianity 16 years ago has been dropped, because of 'lack of evidence' and his 'mental status.'

A couple of days ago I (Ahmed Bedier) joined CAIR and others calling for his release.

Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to God) the Afghan authorities did the right thing by dropping this case, that should never have been one in the first place.

For over a week now news outlets reported that Abdul Rahman is facing the death penalty under Islamic Law for leaving Islam, however they failed to point out that this is not a unanimous opinion among all Muslim scholars. Also that there is not a single verse in the Quran that commands the killing of an apostate (a person leaving his faith). The New York Times did a better job in an article published yesterday (3/25/06) "In Kabul, a Test for Shariah."

The NY Times article provides more context and background on the apostasy in Islam and actually interviews Muslim scholars, where others like the AP simply repeated that Islamic Law mandates the killing of apostates. In the NY Times article John Esposito and others weighed in:

• Progressive Muslim scholars argue that the meaning of those laws has been lost over time: When the laws were created, they say, apostasy was seen as the equivalent of treason. "To be a Muslim was to live in an Islamic state or empire, so the presumption was you were not only becoming the enemy of God but the enemy of the empire," said John L. Esposito, a professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University.
  Muslim jurists who support the execution of apostates often point to a hadith — a tradition attributed to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century — in which he is recorded as saying that a person who changes religions should be killed.
  But while the Koran mentions ridda, it never calls for the execution of apostates. There is no record of the prophet killing an apostate himself. And executions of