tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202886122024-03-21T14:19:25.298-05:00AHMED BEDIERA leading human rights voice.Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-43142763397526985222010-08-23T02:25:00.009-05:002010-08-23T11:32:43.885-05:00Muslims Killed in the 9/11 Terror AttacksMissing from the current national controversy over plans to build a Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan, is the fact that Muslims were also killed in the WTC A<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindJWUE9vAD0tHJSQKOJ1oAruBcKviRi_bqG9ntwgWOqyRVHmEn9u_ECyYmnx1Kl9xW86DyGmhD-45UnWMZ9zecYjE9p700C8asWp5j7TXzbulFW09YMbIdr9QiCkqYy7psfrc2w/s1600/img-muslims-killed911.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindJWUE9vAD0tHJSQKOJ1oAruBcKviRi_bqG9ntwgWOqyRVHmEn9u_ECyYmnx1Kl9xW86DyGmhD-45UnWMZ9zecYjE9p700C8asWp5j7TXzbulFW09YMbIdr9QiCkqYy7psfrc2w/s320/img-muslims-killed911.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508526092014253170" border="0" /></a>ttacks. September 11th was not an attack by Islam against America, 9/11 was an attack by criminal terrorists against humanity.<br /><br />Islam and Muslims are not responsible and must not be held accountable for what happened on that tragic day.<br /><br /><br />Below is a list of Muslims who were killed in the 9/11 attacks.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3492.html">Shabbir Ahmed</a> (Ahmed's child Thanbir and Nicholas, the son of 9/11 victim Michelle Lanza, are in the movie "<a href="http://www.tellingnicholas.com/">Telling Nicholas</a>")<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/2481.html">Tariq Amanullah</a><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/1581.html">Touri Bolourchi</a> (A retired nurse who emigrated to the US from Iran)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3750.html">Abul K. Chowdhury</a> (Cantor Fitzgerald analyst)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3502.html">Mohammad S. Chowdhury</a> (Windows on the World, father of one of the first 9/11 orphans, born two days after the attack)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/4450.html">Jamal Legesse Desantis</a><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/2867.html">Ramzi Attallah Douani</a><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3759.html">Syed Fatha</a> (54 years old; Pitney Bowes)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/page41.html">Mohammad Salman Hamdani</a> (who was one of the heroes of that day)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/4369.html">Aisha Harris</a> (21 years old; General Telecom)<br /><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=ec-BbEYofIsC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=zuhtu+ibis&source=bl&ots=9-thTyVH4f&sig=1Zc3xG1yeNIPLxA_Gb9yBqYhvec&hl=en&ei=449yTLPaDcWBnAfgiaChDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCcQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=zuhtu%20ibis&f=false">Zuhtu Ibis</a><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3519.html">Mohammed Jawara</a> (MAS security)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3598.html">Sarah Khan</a> (32 years old)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3153.html">Taimour Khan</a> (29 years old; Carr Futures)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/4207.html">Nurul Huq Miah</a> (35 years old)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3178.html">Boyie Mohammed</a> (Carr Futures)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3765.html">Ehtesham U. Raja</a> (28 years old)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3602.html">Amenia Rasool</a> (33 years old)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/1404.html">Rahma Salie</a> & unborn child (28 years old; American Airlines #11; wife of Michael Theodoridis; 7 months pregnant)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/2756.html">Khalid Shahid</a> (25 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald; engaged to be married in November)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/4071.html">Mohammed Shajahan</a> (44 years old; Marsh & McLennan)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3948.html">Naseema Simjee</a> (Franklin Resources Inc.'s Fiduciary Trust)<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/1390.html">Michael Theodoridis</a> (32 years old; American Airlines #11; husband of Rahma Salie)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://crosswordbebop.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-many-muslims-died-in-911-attacks.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Originally compiled from here</span></a>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-65119828936054704702010-01-18T16:37:00.003-05:002010-01-18T17:20:34.066-05:00Inside Islam Tampa Premiere is a Huge SuccessThank you to all the guests, volunteers, sponsors and True Talk fans who truned out to the Tampa Premiere of Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really think.<br /><br />Check out the photos<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fbedier%2Falbumid%2F5428206906104438513%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-47906027728857364872009-12-15T15:49:00.004-05:002009-12-17T17:03:49.498-05:00Hate Campaign Against Muslim Eid Postage StampA 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.<br /><br /><br /><br /><object id="flashObj" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" width="486" height="412"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/35214809001?isVid=1&publisherID=35087134001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="omnitureAccountID=gntbcstwtsp,gntbcstglobal&pageContentCategory=video&pageContentSubcategory=immersive&marketName=Tampa Bay, FL:WTSP&revSciZip=&revSciAge=&revSciGender=&division=Broadcast&SSTSCode=video.wtsp.com/&videoId=57531951001&playerID=35214809001&domain=embed&"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/35214809001?isVid=1&publisherID=35087134001" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="omnitureAccountID=gntbcstwtsp,gntbcstglobal&pageContentCategory=video&pageContentSubcategory=immersive&marketName=Tampa Bay, FL:WTSP&revSciZip=&revSciAge=&revSciGender=&division=Broadcast&SSTSCode=video.wtsp.com/&videoId=57531951001&playerID=35214809001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="486" height="412"></embed></object> <p><br /></p><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-0aVvmwsohY2xatbHn_0dut0-znp_8z5PPfLj3YBNYeL2nWemQb7uLfAG2ESXBWpIFseSeh20HG71fSqYKEtVE7oQlnFnSysJ-mx3zDYIL-aOElkylW8joxw4yEViWsFm-BnmA/s1600-h/200912-bedier-wtsp.tiff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-0aVvmwsohY2xatbHn_0dut0-znp_8z5PPfLj3YBNYeL2nWemQb7uLfAG2ESXBWpIFseSeh20HG71fSqYKEtVE7oQlnFnSysJ-mx3zDYIL-aOElkylW8joxw4yEViWsFm-BnmA/s200/200912-bedier-wtsp.tiff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416328759264557778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggadFBxN7w4rOzUc3KG9dAkWmAzut4Et0oGmTtz376-oNRUpj3H8PAS_UH6RlTrcAfTm4mbD0l6ljaSG5xkja4T3eN-UsT8v_UeF_BKMWaO-unkSg_WRDHWLb4YUk6giLWiGKi4w/s1600-h/wtsp-eid.tiff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggadFBxN7w4rOzUc3KG9dAkWmAzut4Et0oGmTtz376-oNRUpj3H8PAS_UH6RlTrcAfTm4mbD0l6ljaSG5xkja4T3eN-UsT8v_UeF_BKMWaO-unkSg_WRDHWLb4YUk6giLWiGKi4w/s200/wtsp-eid.tiff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416328515925378418" border="0" /></a><br /></p>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-11028944176714598522009-12-15T14:00:00.000-05:002009-12-17T16:07:00.482-05:00Did President Obama Honor Muslims with Eid Stamp?<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGkdsXuSaeGUEm4SQF2mOx8OLf_dgAhPxLfDIloDxqX5E101mjyTcnzRlyh0W-iiHeJ4IxLhhAQTILZtp8cwLMnkAPcoLBxTvSA_9C7kJE75TZnYdlJoYpiTF3gzZtE4LYSnmTg/s1600-h/eidstamp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGkdsXuSaeGUEm4SQF2mOx8OLf_dgAhPxLfDIloDxqX5E101mjyTcnzRlyh0W-iiHeJ4IxLhhAQTILZtp8cwLMnkAPcoLBxTvSA_9C7kJE75TZnYdlJoYpiTF3gzZtE4LYSnmTg/s320/eidstamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416312671510813810" border="0" /></a>A massive chain email campaign is underway with the subject line "<a href="http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/09/obamas_eid_stamp/" rel="bookmark">President Obama Honors Muslims with Eid Stamp"</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />I'm quoted in this story and will post the video shortly.<br /><br />You can also review what <a href="http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/09/obamas_eid_stamp/">others have said</a> about this issue.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/story.aspx?storyid=120190">From 10 Connects</a>, CBS Tampa Affiliate<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Muslim stamp delivers e-mail boycott</span><br /><br />St. Petersburg, Florida - It's the holiday season and people are busy mailing out packages and greeting cards.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"I would recommend just hitting the delete button."<br /><br />The U.S. Postal Service and several rumor-debunking websites like Snopes offer information about the Eid stamp and the e-mail.<br /><br />Kathryn Bursch, 10 ConnectsAhmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-41955450195087917162009-11-13T20:13:00.009-05:002009-11-13T20:51:31.053-05:00When will US Marine face Hate Crime for beating Greek Priest<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ahmed Bedier and the Human Rights Council are pushing authorities to investigate and charge U.S. Marine Reservist Jasen Bruce with hate crime charges.<br /><br />Bruce attacked a Greek Orthodox Priest (Father Alexios Marakis) with a tire iron because he thought he was an "Arab terrorist."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />For more background on this story, </span></span><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hY9Vh93SWWXvBKfKHdPWJqtfh99wD9BSVV680"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">read this AP article</span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On another note, where is the national media on this story? </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">imagine if</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> it was an Arab who attacked a US Marine with a tire iron.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Update: The <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/man-accused-of-attacking-greek-orthodox-priest-talks-to-bubba-the-love/1051310">St. Petersburg Times is reporting</a> today that the Jasen Bruce also lied to the police about deployment to Iraq this coming January:</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">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."</span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 15px; "></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/190721017791"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/190721017791" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /></div>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-66922513925152160802009-11-10T22:04:00.003-05:002009-11-10T22:12:27.467-05:00Military (not Islam) Failed to Prevent Ft. Hood Shooting<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#A0A095;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 24px;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px; ">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.<br /></span></span></span><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7527595&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7527595&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-1135835061863939932009-03-19T00:39:00.001-05:002009-03-26T10:41:08.209-05:00FAQ: Setting the Record StraightFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ME<br /><br />Ahmed Bedier sets the record straight by answering your questions.<br /><br />This entry will be updated as needed.<br /><br />3/19/2009<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrication: </span>Bedier still works for CAIR and the new organization he started is a front for CAIR<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Story: Ahmed Bedier left CAIR in May 2008</span>, see <a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2008/05/cairs-bedier-steps-down-to-start-new.html">announcement here</a>. 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.<br /><br />3/2/2009<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrication and Smear</span>: Bedier associates with terrorists<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Story: Ahmed Bedier has NEVER met with anyone accused of terrorism.</span> 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 (<a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2006/11/fbi-tampa-chief-thanks-ahmed-bedier-for.html">see video</a>) 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.<br /><br />3/1/2009<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrication: </span>Bedier has not condemned the Palestinian Islamic Jihad<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Story: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ahmed Bedier has consistently condemned ALL forms of terrorism</span> by individuals, groups and states. In a 12/13/2005 letter to WTVT station manager Bedier wrote <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"</span><em style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">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."</em> <a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2005/12/responding-to-distortion-bedier-says.html">READ FULL POST HERE</a><br /><br />10/1/2006<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrication: </span>Bedier is spokesman for Sami Al-Arian<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Story:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ahmed Bedier has NEVER met Dr. Sami Al-Arian</span>, 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. <a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2006/09/ahmed-bedier-is-not-spokesperson-for.html">READ THE FULL RESPONSE HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">12/17/2005 </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Question: A known anti-Muslim blogger named Joe Kaufman claims that Ahmed Bedier says "Nothing Immoral" About Islamic Jihad. What's the real story?</span><br /></strong></span>Answering the distortions and Clarifying a comment made on the 12/07/05 live television show "Your Turn" on Tampa's FOX Affiliate WTVT. <a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2005/12/responding-to-distortion-bedier-says.html">Click here to read response.</a>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-7813922744794475842009-03-12T08:34:00.002-05:002009-03-26T08:47:40.880-05:00Ahmed Bedier on Why People Must Never Fear Government<span>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"<br /><br />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.<br /><br />United Voices For America which helped organize the event is dedicated to increasing minority participation in the political process.</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-RfpoKDn0s&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-RfpoKDn0s&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-36040913283363511302009-01-02T21:50:00.003-05:002009-01-02T21:58:43.136-05:00Israeli Omer Goldman, Daughter of Former Mossad Chief Speaks Out Against War on Gaza<span>On Friday, January 2, 2009 Ahmed Bedier and Samar Jarrah hosts of the <a href="http://www.wmnf.org/programs/256">True Talk Radio</a> show interviewed Omer Goldman, daughter of a former Mossad chief on the Gaza crisis. Goldman is a <a href="http://december18th.org/">Shministim</a> 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.<br /><br />During the interview Omer Goldman described the Gaza attacks as state terrorism that will not achieve any objectives. Listen to the entire interview now:<br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7QTHzhyvnMY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7QTHzhyvnMY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br /><br /></span>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-35958963708062920562009-01-02T15:41:00.001-05:002009-01-03T04:04:59.327-05:00Tariq Ramadan: Resolve Palestinian-Israeli Conflict With New Global Non-Violent MoventWhile 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.<br /><br />Mr. Ramdan is spot on when he expressed:<br /><br /><span class="centerContenu"><span class="TextPresentation"><span id="conteneur"><span id="contenu"><span class="TextArticle"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span class="centerContenu"><span class="TextPresentation"><span id="conteneur"><span id="contenu"><span class="TextArticle"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>Read the full <a href="http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10491">article here</a>.Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-26488656579109262452008-12-19T09:40:00.009-05:002008-12-19T20:28:22.326-05:00USF Egyptian Student Sentencing Fuels Anti-Muslim Hate; Readers Call for "Killing" Muslims<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyf6yUXSeShlEKRh9Y7TEZmMkKgfMHjeUWmsZ34oiksqH89Cb6h56wgNL9Fq29AOJuE_Rz7inYHsnBJETgqbrh2zJITM6H9SZfQiAItdlPV-RTqz4DO1spCt3r1jR9q-uzvreKQ/s1600-h/081218-tbo-readers-lashout-against-muslims.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyf6yUXSeShlEKRh9Y7TEZmMkKgfMHjeUWmsZ34oiksqH89Cb6h56wgNL9Fq29AOJuE_Rz7inYHsnBJETgqbrh2zJITM6H9SZfQiAItdlPV-RTqz4DO1spCt3r1jR9q-uzvreKQ/s400/081218-tbo-readers-lashout-against-muslims.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281521375906610402" border="0" /></a><br />The recent sentencing of Egyptian University of South Florida student Ahmed Mohamed has sparked anti-Muslim hate speech across the Tampa Bay area and in particular on mainstream news sites.<br /><br />(On June 13, 2008, Ahmed Bedier reacted to Mohamed's guilty plea deal, you can <a href="http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2008/06/bediers-reaction-to-usfs-ahmed-mohamed.html">read it here</a>)<br /><br />It didn't take long for readers of Media General's Tampa Tribune interactive online news website <a href="http://www.tbo.com/">TBO.com</a> to spew (and fuel) anti-Muslim hate calling for violence against Muslims in response to <a href="mailto:esilvestrini@tampatrib.com" class="bold">ELAINE SILVESTRINI</a> article <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://northeast2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/18/181912/ex-usf-student-mohamed-gets-xx-terrorism-case/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Former USF Student Gets 15 Years For Aiding Terrorists (12/18/08)</span></a>. Some readers called for "killing" Muslims, "kicking every Muslim out of the country" and Muslim "Hunting Season Opens Soon."<br /><br />TBO.com policy is to screen and moderate comments, however the site is known to ignore anti-Muslim hate speech. This trend is not healthy as it fuels hate that could incite violence against Americans who happen to be Muslim.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">ACTION: TELL THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TO STOP FUELING ANTI-MUSLIM HATE</span><br />Politely contact the publisher and executive editor at the Tampa Tribune and ask that they not provide a forum that fuels racist and/or religious hate speech on their website. While we should all respect free speech, mainstream news organizations must not fuel hatred or incitement against any group.<br /><br />Remember to reference the "TBO.com reader comments" to the 12/18 article "Former USF Student Gets 15 Years For Aiding Terrorists."<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="mailto:dpalmer@tampatrib.com?cc=jcoates@tampatrib.com&bcc=bedier@gmail.com" target="_blank">Click Here to email the editors now</a> or copy and paste the below email addresses<br />Denise Palmer, Publisher: dpalmer@tampatrib.com<br />Janet Coates, Executive Editor: jcoates@tampatrib.com</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HATE SPEECH AT TBO.COM</span><br /><br />Below is a sampling of the troubling reader comments, to read all the comments on the TBO.com site, <a href="http://northeast2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/18/181912/ex-usf-student-mohamed-gets-xx-terrorism-case/">click here</a>.<br /><br /><p>Posted by ( jetter1048 ) on 12/18/2008 at 03:29 pm. </p> <p> Who here thinks all of us Americans need to get together and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> kick every Muslim out of this country</span>??<br /></p><p>---<br /></p><p id="c403850" class="postedby"> Posted by ( skirtchsnbadguy ) on 12/18/2008 at 08:11 pm. </p> <p> google "fitna video". Eye opening! These <span style="font-weight: bold;">filthy muslims need to be dealt with swiftly</span>! </p>-------------<br />Posted by ( gng ) on 12/18/2008 at 08:30 pm. <p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kill the bastards</span>!!!!!!!!<br /></p><p>---</p><div style="margin-top: 10px;"> <p> Posted by ( TOMMYSOAP ) on 12/18/2008 at 01:48 pm. </p> <p> I am still waiting for any rational excuse <span style="font-weight: bold;">why Filthy Islam should be allowed to exsist in the West? </span></p> ---------- </div> <p> Posted by ( AnitaE ) on 12/18/2008 at 01:51 pm. </p> <p> Why do these muslim idiots think their religion is the only religion? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Get the hell out of the USA and live your demented lives in your own country</span>.<br /></p><p>---<br /></p><p> Posted by ( 91stormvet ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:22 pm. </p> <p> Allah Snackbar!! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hunting Season Opens Soon</span>! Wake Up INFIDELS! lol<br /></p><p>---<br /></p> Posted by ( geile77 ) on 12/19/2008 at 08:46 am.<br />Execute him and send only his head back to his mother in Egypt.<br /><p>----<br /></p><p id="c403903" class="postedby"> Posted by ( worriedman ) on 12/18/2008 at 09:13 pm. </p> <p> They should chop his head off and drag his body through the streets just like they have done to our soldiers. War is war.<br /></p><p>---</p><p> Posted by ( northofcuba ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:25 pm. </p> AnitaE - you don't get it, you and I are infidels. They can't just live and let live. You either join them or die, that simple.<br />---<br /><p> Posted by ( kellieB ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:53 pm. </p> <p> Having lived in the ME for many years,I can confidentially say that they scare the hell out of me. They call us "Dhoomi", the same slang they use for blacks, jews and christians....we are nothing to them, less than dirt and <span style="font-weight: bold;">they are blessed if they kill us.One day we might wake up here in the USA and realise just what a danger these people really are.</span><br /></p><p>---<br /></p><p id="c403760" class="postedby"> Posted by ( succatash ) on 12/18/2008 at 05:59 pm. </p> <p> THEIR SELF BLOWN UP BODIES SHOULD BEIDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA.......AND <span style="font-weight: bold;">THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD PAY FORTHEIR CRIME</span>S.... THEY DON'T CARE FORTHEIR OWN LIVES, OR OURS, PERHAPSTHE'LL CONSIDER A LITTLE MORE THECONSEQUENCES OF THEIR MINDLESS ACTIONS IF THEIR LOVED ONES WERE TO PAY THEPRICE OF THEIR ACTIONS<br /></p><p>---</p><p id="c403712" class="postedby"> Posted by ( TOMMYSOAP ) on 12/18/2008 at 05:09 pm. </p> <p> mlamarca; If you think the US Constitutions religious clause extends to so called "religions" that promote unequal rights, slavery, and death to apostates, I have a nice bridge to sell you. </p>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-27382812832622492562008-12-04T13:12:00.004-05:002008-12-04T15:10:43.412-05:00Ahmed Bedier Condemns, Reacts to Mumbai Terror Attacks<span>Muslim American human rights leader and radio show host Ahmed Bedier Condemns the Mumbai terror attacks and calls on all sides to remain calm and united in fighting terrorism. </span>The Mumbai terror attacks last week are reprehensible, inhumane and should be condemned by everyone. <br /><br />Please watch, share and give your feedback.<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/E68B433D1E474CED" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/E68B433D1E474CED" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-1441456589611852232008-09-23T17:31:00.004-05:002008-09-23T19:18:03.242-05:00Obsession Film Distribution is Hateful Political Propaganda and FearmongeringTampa Radio show host and Human Rights Council President Ahmed Bedier debates the impact of the <a href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/clarion_11254___article.html/fund_obsession.html">mass distribution of the anti-Muslim DVD</a> "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" ahead of the 2008 presidential election. The film was distributed by the <a href="http://www.clarionfund.org/">Clarion Fund</a> a <a href="http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=25495&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1">front organization</a> for Israeli-based <a href="http://www.aish.com/aishint/wwprogram.asp">Aish HaTorah International</a><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/A1EC097DA7EF50D3"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/A1EC097DA7EF50D3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-58768419151295879662008-06-13T22:00:00.001-05:002008-06-14T00:27:18.097-05:00Bedier's Reaction to USF's Ahmed Mohamed Plea DealToday former USF graduate student Ahmed Mohamed chose to cut a plea to one count of material support, which carries of a maximum of 15 years in prison, rather than risk spending the REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE behind bars if convicted. The plea deal is found <a href="http://media.tbo.com/tbo/pdfs/061308mohamedplea.pdf">here</a>. In essence Ahmed Mohamed pled guilty to making a video and posting it to Youtube.<br /><br />Tampa civil rights activst Ahmed Bedier, who has watched the case, reacted to local newspapers:<br /><br />To the <a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/14/na-mohamed-to-admit-terrorism-support/?news-metro">Tampa Tribune</a>:<br /><blockquote><p><br /><em>Local Muslim activist Ahmed Bedier, who has spoken in support of Megahed,<br />stressed that he doesn't know Mohamed or the Mohamed family. He said the video,<br />as described in court documents, was <strong>"unacceptable."</strong><br />He said the case is "a reminder to all Muslim youth out there, especially young males, that they have to be very careful about their actions and what they say. Even if they don't think they're doing some kind of criminal act, it might be perceived by law enforcement ... that you're promoting something illegal. That can have some very bad consequences."<br /></em><em>Mohamed, Bedier said, "was sent here on a scholarship to do a doctorate in engineering and not to make videos, and now he's going to pay the price for that."<br /></p></em></blockquote><br />To the <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/article624049.ece">St. Petersburg Times</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><em>"We're relieved that the issue is being resolved and people are moving on, and<br />we're also relieved that no one was hurt," said Ahmed Bedier, a local Muslim<br />rights activist.<br />Bedier, who has never met Mohamed, said he counsels young<br />Muslim men to be cautious in a climate that has zero tolerance for the<br />appearance of anything terroristic.</em></blockquote><br />The plea deal shows that that there was never an actual real plot to carry out violence and no one was in imminent danger.Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-58658354644939902822008-06-11T17:00:00.000-05:002008-06-11T23:45:35.063-05:00Florida Muslim doctors to open free clinic<p><br /></p> By <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/writers/article380095.ece">Chandra Broadwater</a>, St. Petersburg Times Staff Writer<br /> In print: Wednesday, June 11, 2008<p><br />BROOKSVILLE — It was about to rain Monday afternoon, and Dr. Husam Zarad had an exam table to move.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlQAE4tXG3I273tN_slgJEtyb_t9jCKOFgpc9edZDLSlCkSTZxTG7XsIiVt-TTHmecLm-ws7CDyeqPS9b1BIDGmp7soCSjjP9YhSrNNbdSD0pY1NNbmKpwuF-htQN0ACzQdB1PQ/s1600-h/zarad-table-clinic-web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlQAE4tXG3I273tN_slgJEtyb_t9jCKOFgpc9edZDLSlCkSTZxTG7XsIiVt-TTHmecLm-ws7CDyeqPS9b1BIDGmp7soCSjjP9YhSrNNbdSD0pY1NNbmKpwuF-htQN0ACzQdB1PQ/s320/zarad-table-clinic-web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210851248126316114" border="0" /></a></p><p>With some help from deliverer Don Lambert, the 45-year-old internist unloaded the table from the back of Lambert's pickup as the clouds darkened overhead. Wheeling it on a dolly, they maneuvered the large brown rectangle down a long, narrow hall and into one of the examination rooms at the soon-to-open Crescent Community Clinic of Hernando County.</p><p>On the way in, they passed a stack of gray waiting-room chairs and diagrams of the human body — detailed sketches of the nervous system and the brain — yet to be hung on the freshly painted peach-colored walls.</p><p>"This is our dream coming true," Zarad said, wiping sweat from his brow after angling the table into the room. "This is how we are going to give back to our community."</p><p>In the coming weeks, Zarad and nearly 40 other Muslim doctors in Hernando County will begin working on Saturdays in their new space in the Brook Plaza at Broad Street and Ponce de Leon Boulevard, just outside downtown Brooksville. Their goal is to provide free care to the growing number of underserved and uninsured people in Hernando County.</p><p>Today, the doctors and clinic spokesman Ahmed Bedier are expected to announce the opening of the clinic, financed solely by physicians from Hernando's Muslim community.</p><p>The local physicians have worked for the past year figuring out how to make their vision happen here in Hernando. Modeled after the Red Crescent Clinic in Tampa, and a similar site in central Los Angeles, it is one of a handful of such facilities in the state and country.</p><p>With Zarad and a handful of other doctors at the lead, they're ready to give back the way that their religion asks them — even if it's in a county where religious tensions still run high.</p><p>"Charity and doing good make up the Third Pillar of Islam," Zarad said. "And after talking about this for so long, we decided to make it really happen. I'm losing sleep just thinking of the benefits this will bring for the community."</p><p>Though far from where most of them have their practices in Spring Hill, the doctors liked the 1,400-square-foot Brook Plaza site, which used to be a doctor's office.</p><p>The new clinic is next to a Save-A-Lot grocery store and across from the Brooksville Public Assistance service center. There are also businesses where many people go to find day-labor jobs and several homeless camps in the nearby woods.</p><p>The location also makes it easy for people to walk to if they don't have transportation, Zarad said. And with hours on Saturdays, which they hope to expand to several days in the future, those who can't afford to miss work still will be able to see a doctor. So far, the only requirement to make an appointment is that a patient cannot have insurance.</p><p>While a schedule has yet to be worked out, the doctors expect to have two or three general physicians staffing the office while specialists, including cardiologists and neurologists, will rotate through the clinic on various days.</p><p>Zarad said the move by retailers such as Wal-Mart and Publix to provide cheap prescription drugs solved one problem for those who can't afford proper health care. Now he and his fellow doctors can help to solve another by giving them access to health care and prescriptions for the drugs they need.</p><p>"We've all seen the number of indigent patients increase," he said. "And that was a big reason for us to finally get this open."</p><p>It's not uncommon for many of those who can't afford health care or insurance to end up in emergency rooms for primary care, and often when their health problems have become worse. According to the 2006 Health Needs Assessment, about 18 percent of Hernando residents do not have medical insurance.</p><p>Three years ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the county a $1.95-million grant to expand clinic services when the county's Health Department was identified as catering to medically underserved areas.</p><p>Those regions include Brooksville and the northwestern parts of the county. They were designated underserved because of a shortage of primary physicians, higher incidences of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, and a high percentage of families living below 200 percent of the poverty level, which at the time was $38,700 for a family of four.</p><p>About 23 percent of residents in these areas of the county also had no health insurance.</p><p>The Crescent Community Clinic will also add a layer to similar services provided by Nature Coast Project Access, a county-funded program that refers uninsured patients through the Health Department to a network of volunteer doctors, said Jean Rags, county director of Health and Human Services.</p><p>"The new clinic will be a great contribution to the community, and a welcomed resource to our many residents in need," Rags said.</p><p>Those behind the clinic ultimately hope it will work as a catalyst for others to donate their time and talents to such needs in the community.</p><p>"For example, many of the same people who can't afford medical care can't go to the dentist," said Bedier, the clinic spokesman. "We hope this sets an example for others to follow, and maybe a way to compete in doing good."</p><p>Bedier, no stranger to Hernando as the former executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, added that the physicians aren't worried about some who might not support the Muslim doctors in the county.</p><p>In 2006, CAIR spearheaded efforts to get prominent politicians, including then-Gov. Jeb Bush, to denounce the comments of a Hernando County commissioner's wife, who wrote a letter calling Islam a "hateful, frightening religion."</p><p>The letter spurred weeks of alternating condemnation and kudos throughout the state.</p><p>"People won't be coming to the clinic to attend religious services," Bedier said. "They're going to come because they need health care. While the critics and naysayers will always be there, the majority of people in Hernando County are very loving.</p><p>"If there's a need so important like health care, then I think people will put aside their differences and work together."</p><p><i>Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com, or (352) 848-1432.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Source <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article617015.ece">http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article617015.ece</a></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-84884228561428041162008-06-04T14:03:00.000-05:002008-06-04T14:25:34.884-05:00FL MUSLIM LEADERS TESTIFY AT UNITED NATIONS RACISM HEARING<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bedier/UNMiamiHearingOnRacism"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208109048918238770" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xFd5L6W994RxtI5WVfUKH7Dc0Azod50SHg7zM0d4qoDkpy92DPI6KDnPUttag6JCAYlRhZXet4vSUw_tQQmLpro2s1-ekMxgtjTFN7v45PPwQJcG7aAlKb-HGEBXMz4srhgC6w/s320/bedier-diene.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>(MIAMI, FL 6/4/08) - On June 2, 2008, Florida Muslim leaders met with Doudou Diène, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, at a Miami hearing to discuss Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination.</div><br /><div>For photos of the event <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bedier/UNMiamiHearingOnRacism">click here</a>:<br /></div><div>Special Rapporteur Diène is visiting several cities across the United States to "gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia." </div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL16843098">Reuters: U.N. racism investigator to visit U.S. </a><br /></div><div>Muslim civil rights advocate Ahmed Bedier, who took part in the meeting, relayed how Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric by officials and pundits are contributing to hate crimes against Muslims across Florida. At the end of the meeting, SR Diene assured the participants that the rise of global Islamophobia is alarming and of great concern to the United Nations and vowed that the issue will be included in the final report about his visit due in 2009. </div><div></div><br /><div>"We thank SR Diene for hearing our concerns about the rise in anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States, and we appreciate his concern about Islamophobia's growing threat to world peace," said Ahmed Bedier. "Civilized nations must take concrete action to curb incitement of racial and religious hatred by supporting dialogue and education." </div><div></div><br /><div>American Muslim Association of North America (AMANA) Director Sofian Zakout, who also spoke at the hearing about personal experiences of bias and discrimination, said "Post 9/11 anti-Muslim hysteria has created widespread fear in the minds of American-Muslims and causing mental health issues."</div><div></div><br /><div>For more background on the Special Rapporteur's U.S. visit see: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-racism30-2008may30,0,1815460.story">LA Times: The UN on Racism </a><br /></div><div>Ahmed Bedier is a Florida based civil rights advocate and President of the Tampa Human Rights Council. Bedier is also the founder and former executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.AMANA is a Miami-based Muslim grassroots organization dedicated to social service and community relations, for details visit <a href="http://www.al-amana.org/">http://www.al-amana.org/</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>- END -</div>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-84463644009424937962008-05-28T11:47:00.000-05:002008-05-28T11:49:38.161-05:00VIDEO: Race, Religion and Media Coverage this Election YearAhmed Bedier comments on the status of Race, Religion and Media during this election year<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tljgXfCkaDk&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tljgXfCkaDk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-59602940710911772532008-05-20T10:35:00.000-05:002008-06-11T10:37:23.756-05:00CAIR's Bedier steps down to start new group<span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >By Kevin Graham, St. Petersburg Times Staff </span> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">TAMPA - Ahmed Bedier, founder of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has stepped down as executive director to establish a new peace-building initiative.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bedier, 34, has spent the last five years serving as the face of the local Muslim community.</span><span style="font-size:100%;color:black;"><img src="http://www.ahmedbedier.com/enews/051908bedier2.jpg" alt="" align="right" border="1" height="162" width="250" /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> In his role as executive director of CAIR's Tampa chapter, Bedier led the organization's charge in seeking justice for local Muslims who faced discrimination.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"I'm going to expand on and build upon my work as a civil rights and human rights leader into broader areas of peace building, interfaith dialogue and reconciliation," Bedier said Monday.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">He did not give details about his new initiative or what the organization will be called, except to say he will remain in the Tampa Bay area while doing work on a local and national level.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The details of it will soon be announced," said Bedier, who also serves as president of the Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">CAIR's local profile and visibility in the community grew noticeably under Bedier's leadership. Last year, the organization rallied against the Pinellas County school system and law enforcement after a sixth-grade girl claimed a classmate ripped off her head scarf and threatened to shoot her. Police dropped the investigation, saying there wasn't enough information to substantiate the girl's claims.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bedier also cautioned the public not to rush to judgment when two University of South Florida students were arrested last summer in South Carolina on federal explosives charges. And when a Muslim mechanic died in a gas station explosion earlier this year, his family asked Bedier to follow the investigation.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The new venture is something Bedier said he's contemplated for the past year. He said he's looking forward to being more proactive in civil rights areas and bringing people together.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Source: <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article515009.ece" target="_blank">http://www.tampabay.com/news<wbr>/humaninterest/article515009<wbr>.ece</a></span></p>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-53926642144544722008-01-22T18:49:00.000-05:002008-01-22T18:54:05.623-05:00Ahmed Bedier's Message and Prayer at Martin Luther King Interfaith ServiceCAIR Tampa director Ahmed Bedier's speech and prayer at the Tampa Dr. Martin Luther King, JR Interfaith Memorial Service.<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MDSheserymw&rel=" width="425" height="355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-18900222856531410952007-11-20T19:37:00.000-05:002007-11-20T20:07:20.021-05:00St. Petersburg Police Report Confirms Muslim Sixth Grader Was Threatned<a href="http://www.cairfl.org/images/hannah/071119stpetepolicereport-4.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 530px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="90" alt="" src="http://www.cairfl.org/images/hannah/071119hannah-police-report-threat-confirmed.jpg" border="0" /></a> Today the St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Petersburg</span> Police Department released the findings of their "investigation" into the allegations that a sixth grade Muslim students was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">threatened</span> by her classmate. <div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">threatened</span> by a classmate. According to the report there was conflicting statement on the identity of the classmate who made the threat. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Nevertheless, this is clear supporting evidence that a threat was made just as Hannah claimed.</div><br /><div>To see the excerpts from the St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Petersburg</span> Times Police report confirming the threat, <a href="http://www.cairfl.org/images/hannah/071119stpetepolicereport-4.jpg">click here.</a></div><div></div><div>For local articles about the recent police announcement, visit:</div><div></div><div>Tampa Tribune: <a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/nov/20/muslim-students-complaint-wont-lead-charges/?news-breaking">http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/nov/20/muslim-students-complaint-wont-lead-charges/?news-breaking</a></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-41692125591717908952007-08-30T17:44:00.000-05:002007-08-30T17:51:43.215-05:00Bill Keller's Anti-Muslim Hate and Bigotry the Comments that got him fired<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYDcO5h5LQLUfIxm-0Nf-QjyDxTLgnVL7l5cPUvW-gA8X3urp7x8AuG3ClD4yB9jcN7MXyjJ_TAEUgZ7gttzbxz24GkIICekFe252472O3ILFSt9o0nSiO2SyB5WYl5pO1PUIKw/s1600-h/tb_Keller_dumped.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104628951454818338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYDcO5h5LQLUfIxm-0Nf-QjyDxTLgnVL7l5cPUvW-gA8X3urp7x8AuG3ClD4yB9jcN7MXyjJ_TAEUgZ7gttzbxz24GkIICekFe252472O3ILFSt9o0nSiO2SyB5WYl5pO1PUIKw/s320/tb_Keller_dumped.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />SEE: <a href="http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2007/08/keller-to-leave.html">Televangelist: I Lost My Show Over Muslim Remarks (St. Petersburg Times)</a><br /><br />In its letter to CBS President Tom Kane and WTOG-TV’s general manager, CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier wrote:<br /><br />“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.’ </div><div></div><div><strong>EXTERNAL (NON-BLOGSPOT VIDEO LINK): To view examples of Bill Keller’s Anti-Muslim Bigotry, go to:</strong> <a href="http://www.cairfl.org/video/0705-bill-keller-attacks-islam.wmv">http://www.cairfl.org/video/0705-bill-keller-attacks-islam.wmv</a><br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />Bedier noted that a Muslim family’s home in Sarasota, Fla., was recently torched by arsonists who spray-painted Islamophobic slurs on the walls.<br /><br />SEE: CAIR-Tampa Announces $10K Reward in Arson Case </div></div>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-77796581410288005702007-07-31T19:25:00.000-05:002007-07-31T19:41:02.606-05:00Video: Muslims Say No To Violence, Terrorism & Bin LadenCAIR Representative Ahmed Bedier and Arab-American author Samar Jarrah appear live on FOX 13 to discuss the results of a recent Pew <a href="http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=257">Global Attitudes report</a> that found support for violence in Muslim countries has declined. Bedier repeated condemnations of violent extremist actions as not Islamic.<br /><br />Note: Bedier and Jarrah are co-hosts of "True Talk" a weekly Tampa-based radio show on <a href="http://www.wmnf.org/programs/show/256">WMNF 88.5 FM</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>PART 1 OF 2:</strong><br /></span><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/12YLVAjfFSg" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>PART 2 OF 2:</strong><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WQo49YPzM6s" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-68233780400623630072007-04-19T09:34:00.000-05:002007-04-19T09:43:26.137-05:00CAIR Featured in 'The Muslim Americans' Program on PBSCAIR 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.<br /><br />While there overall series has received <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/arts/television/01jens.html">criticism</a> 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.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6N-znulK-M"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6N-znulK-M" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-7915156846329721232007-03-05T22:43:00.000-05:002007-03-05T22:49:47.381-05:00Ahmed Bedier Exposes the "Illegitimate" Secular Islam Summit and its Funders the Intelligence SummitAhmed 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.<br /><br /><br><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OUJErMA4d9Q"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OUJErMA4d9Q" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20288612.post-63930857788056991332007-01-27T12:53:00.000-05:002007-01-28T08:10:51.244-05:00Islamophobic Propaganda Distributed Door-to-Door in Seminole Florida Designed to Scare People into Attending Church<a href="http://www.ahmedbedier.com/images/hate/hateful-door-hanger1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024782017665190610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPwbpp1d9YK0SHwp9il7oCZaCxgzJA_9RiTNj0ZKM32jmaNUh_oSdMDyeeNgBRBGDl3Tz5HcVTgd6CAPNa9IC8H1P1KYBPP5_Y6YzVJO0QuLW_NBMKZ6U1mfY-OpIUuumBVkvCA/s320/islamophobic-door-hanger.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A local reporter called me (<a href="http://www2.blogger.com/ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2005/01/about-ahmed-bedier.html">Ahmed Bedier</a>) 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.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The flyer's - a copy is available <a href="http://www.ahmedbedier.com/images/hate/hateful-door-hanger1.jpg">here</a> - heading asks in bold caps "ARE YOU READY?", followed by a list of lies. Here are some of them:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>-Muslim Extremists have been stockpiling anthrax in this country for years</div><br /><div>-Several suit-case sized nuclear bombs are thought to have been smuggled across the Mexican border into our country.</div><br /><div>-Within 3 days over 100 million Americans could die of Anthrax Poison</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then it asks the QUESTION "Are you ready for eternity? Do you know for sure that you're going to heaven?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Wait a minute, I thought this was about securing the country from the anthrax and nukes. The flyer goes on to say:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>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.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>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. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's unfortunate that we live in a time where individuals and groups (including religious) are exploiting existing fears to promote their own cause.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Ahmed Bedierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373667565125289007noreply@blogger.com7