Hate Campaign Against Muslim Eid Postage Stamp

A stamp honoring two Muslim holidays has sparked an e-mail campaign to boycott it and some call the e-mail message cyber hate. Ahmed Bedier responds to the hate.

Did President Obama Honor Muslims with Eid Stamp?

A massive chain email campaign is underway with the subject line "President Obama Honors Muslims with Eid Stamp"

This campaign comes around during the holidays. A bunch of intolerant people want to get rid of the commemorative stamp honoring the Muslim holidays of Eid.

I'm quoted in this story and will post the video shortly.

You can also review what others have said about this issue.



From 10 Connects, CBS Tampa Affiliate

Muslim stamp delivers e-mail boycott

St. Petersburg, Florida - It's the holiday season and people are busy mailing out packages and greeting cards.

The United States Postal Service offers a variety of holiday stamps including ones marking Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. But there's one stamp that some people aren't giving the stamp of approval.

It's the Eid Greetings stamp, which honors two Muslim holidays. There's an e-mail going around calling on "patriotic Americans" to boycott it.

Ahmed Bedier, President of the Tampa Human Rights Council and a Muslim, has seen the e-mail and he finds it troubling. "This is a form of hate mail. Hate speech," says Bedier. "It can be very dangerous and it's full of basically a lot of misinformation."

The e-mail sent to 10 Connects does contain some factual errors. It says the stamp is new and that President Obama had it issued. However, the stamp is far from new. It's eight years old and was created when George W. Bush was president.

Besides talking about the stamp, the e-mail also lists a string of terrorist bombings linked to Muslim extremists. The e-mail says that using the stamp would be a slap in the face to Americans who died.

For Bedier, that message amounts to cyber hate. "That would be similar to sending out messages like it was a Catholic who committed the Oklahoma City bombing; it was a Catholic who did this, it was a Catholic who did that. Let's get rid of the Catholics."

But one thing Bedier would like to get rid of is this e-mail. Just like the mobs at the post office, variations of it seem to surface every year. And that's one holiday tradition Bedier wishes more people would help extinguish.

"I would recommend just hitting the delete button."

The U.S. Postal Service and several rumor-debunking websites like Snopes offer information about the Eid stamp and the e-mail.

Kathryn Bursch, 10 Connects

When will US Marine face Hate Crime for beating Greek Priest

Ahmed Bedier and the Human Rights Council are pushing authorities to investigate and charge U.S. Marine Reservist Jasen Bruce with hate crime charges.

Bruce attacked a Greek Orthodox Priest (Father Alexios Marakis) with a tire iron because he thought he was an "Arab terrorist."

For more background on this story, read this AP article

On another note, where is the national media on this story? imagine if it was an Arab who attacked a US Marine with a tire iron.

Update: The St. Petersburg Times is reporting today that the Jasen Bruce also lied to the police about deployment to Iraq this coming January:

"One item she [Tampa Police Spokeswoman] said she could talk about: Bruce told police he was scheduled for deployment to Iraq in January. "That," McElroy said, "turned out not to be true."

Military (not Islam) Failed to Prevent Ft. Hood Shooting

Tampa-based human rights advocate Ahmed Bedier offers extensive reaction to the Ft. Hood shooting tragedy. Bedier says military (not Islam) failed our nation by ignoring the numerous warning signs before the mass shooting.

FAQ: Setting the Record Straight

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ME

Ahmed Bedier sets the record straight by answering your questions.

This entry will be updated as needed.

3/19/2009
Fabrication: Bedier still works for CAIR and the new organization he started is a front for CAIR
Real Story: Ahmed Bedier left CAIR in May 2008, see announcement here. Bedier is not employed or connected to the organization at all. The new civic engagement organization started by Bedier is an independent Florida-based non-profit NOT affiliated to CAIR, its associates or any other entity.

3/2/2009
Fabrication and Smear: Bedier associates with terrorists
Real Story: Ahmed Bedier has NEVER met with anyone accused of terrorism. The source of this fabricated smear is a network of right-wing anti-Arab racist extremists. Bedier has been praised by the FBI Tampa field office for keeping nation safe (see video) and has excellent realtions with local law enforcement. The right-wing bloggers want the public to believe that Bedier has law enforcement and the FBI fooled.

3/1/2009
Fabrication: Bedier has not condemned the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Real Story: Ahmed Bedier has consistently condemned ALL forms of terrorism by individuals, groups and states. In a 12/13/2005 letter to WTVT station manager Bedier wrote "I believe it is unethical and immoral for an American, or those living in our nation, to support or associate with any group that sponsors terrorism, and that includes the Palestinian Islamic Jihad." READ FULL POST HERE

10/1/2006
Fabrication: Bedier is spokesman for Sami Al-Arian
Real Story: 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. This fabrication is constantly recycled by right-wing racist bloggers dedicated to smearing Arab-Americans. READ THE FULL RESPONSE HERE

12/17/2005
Question: A known anti-Muslim blogger named Joe Kaufman claims that Ahmed Bedier says "Nothing Immoral" About Islamic Jihad. What's the real story?
Answering the distortions and Clarifying a comment made on the 12/07/05 live television show "Your Turn" on Tampa's FOX Affiliate WTVT. Click here to read response.

Ahmed Bedier on Why People Must Never Fear Government

Ahmed Bedier at the Florida Capitol quotes Thomas Jefferson in explaining why THE PEOPLE must never fear Government. Jefferson said "When people fear governments, you have tyranny, and when government fears the people you have liberty"

Florida Muslim Capitol Day brought 250 Floridians to the State Capitol who advocated for education and health care reform. While the majority of the participants were members of a religious minority, they did NOT push for any religious or self-serving issues.

United Voices For America which helped organize the event is dedicated to increasing minority participation in the political process.

Israeli Omer Goldman, Daughter of Former Mossad Chief Speaks Out Against War on Gaza

On Friday, January 2, 2009 Ahmed Bedier and Samar Jarrah hosts of the True Talk Radio show interviewed Omer Goldman, daughter of a former Mossad chief on the Gaza crisis. Goldman is a Shministim who has been sent to jail twice for refusing to serve in the Israeli military because she thinks it commits crimes against humanity in the occupied territories.

During the interview Omer Goldman described the Gaza attacks as state terrorism that will not achieve any objectives. Listen to the entire interview now:

Tariq Ramadan: Resolve Palestinian-Israeli Conflict With New Global Non-Violent Movent

While many Arab and Muslims thinkers have been at a loss for words or solutions in regards to the recent Gaza crisis and the ongoing Palestinian Israeli conflict, Dr. Tariq Ramadan offers an alternative thought provoking path to peace and justice.

Mr. Ramdan is spot on when he expressed:

If the Middle East is teaching Muslims anything, it is to stop acting in isolation and return to the universal values they share with their fellow citizens. They should realise they are in and with the majority. Demonstrations and articles are crucial but we need to go further. To launch a global movement of non-violent resistance to the violent and extremist policy of the state of Israel has become imperative. The violence inflicted, in front of us, upon a population of one and a half million humans makes our silence, our division and even our limited emotional reaction undignified, insane and inhumane. A true and dignified resistance requires commitment, patience and a long-term strategy of information, alliance and huge, non-violent democratic participation.

Read the full article here.