Monday, August 23, 2010

Muslims Killed in the 9/11 Terror Attacks

Missing 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 Attacks. September 11th was not an attack by Islam against America, 9/11 was an attack by criminal terrorists against humanity.

Islam and Muslims are not responsible and must not be held accountable for what happened on that tragic day.


Below is a list of Muslims who were killed in the 9/11 attacks.

Shabbir Ahmed (Ahmed's child Thanbir and Nicholas, the son of 9/11 victim Michelle Lanza, are in the movie "Telling Nicholas")
Tariq Amanullah
Touri Bolourchi (A retired nurse who emigrated to the US from Iran)
Abul K. Chowdhury (Cantor Fitzgerald analyst)
Mohammad S. Chowdhury (Windows on the World, father of one of the first 9/11 orphans, born two days after the attack)
Jamal Legesse Desantis
Ramzi Attallah Douani
Syed Fatha (54 years old; Pitney Bowes)
Mohammad Salman Hamdani (who was one of the heroes of that day)
Aisha Harris (21 years old; General Telecom)
Zuhtu Ibis
Mohammed Jawara (MAS security)
Sarah Khan (32 years old)
Taimour Khan (29 years old; Carr Futures)
Nurul Huq Miah (35 years old)
Boyie Mohammed (Carr Futures)
Ehtesham U. Raja (28 years old)
Amenia Rasool (33 years old)
Rahma Salie & unborn child (28 years old; American Airlines #11; wife of Michael Theodoridis; 7 months pregnant)
Khalid Shahid (25 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald; engaged to be married in November)
Mohammed Shajahan (44 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
Naseema Simjee (Franklin Resources Inc.'s Fiduciary Trust)
Michael Theodoridis (32 years old; American Airlines #11; husband of Rahma Salie)


Originally compiled from here

Monday, January 18, 2010

Inside Islam Tampa Premiere is a Huge Success

Thank 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.

Check out the photos

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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

Friday, November 13, 2009

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."


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

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.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

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.


Friday, January 02, 2009

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.

Friday, December 19, 2008

USF Egyptian Student Sentencing Fuels Anti-Muslim Hate; Readers Call for "Killing" Muslims


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.

(On June 13, 2008, Ahmed Bedier reacted to Mohamed's guilty plea deal, you can read it here)

It didn't take long for readers of Media General's Tampa Tribune interactive online news website TBO.com to spew (and fuel) anti-Muslim hate calling for violence against Muslims in response to ELAINE SILVESTRINI article Former USF Student Gets 15 Years For Aiding Terrorists (12/18/08). Some readers called for "killing" Muslims, "kicking every Muslim out of the country" and Muslim "Hunting Season Opens Soon."

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.

ACTION: TELL THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TO STOP FUELING ANTI-MUSLIM HATE
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.

Remember to reference the "TBO.com reader comments" to the 12/18 article "Former USF Student Gets 15 Years For Aiding Terrorists."

Click Here to email the editors now or copy and paste the below email addresses
Denise Palmer, Publisher: dpalmer@tampatrib.com
Janet Coates, Executive Editor: jcoates@tampatrib.com


HATE SPEECH AT TBO.COM

Below is a sampling of the troubling reader comments, to read all the comments on the TBO.com site, click here.

Posted by ( jetter1048 ) on 12/18/2008 at 03:29 pm.

Who here thinks all of us Americans need to get together and kick every Muslim out of this country??

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Posted by ( skirtchsnbadguy ) on 12/18/2008 at 08:11 pm.

google "fitna video". Eye opening! These filthy muslims need to be dealt with swiftly!

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Posted by ( gng ) on 12/18/2008 at 08:30 pm.

Kill the bastards!!!!!!!!

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Posted by ( TOMMYSOAP ) on 12/18/2008 at 01:48 pm.

I am still waiting for any rational excuse why Filthy Islam should be allowed to exsist in the West?

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Posted by ( AnitaE ) on 12/18/2008 at 01:51 pm.

Why do these muslim idiots think their religion is the only religion? Get the hell out of the USA and live your demented lives in your own country.

---

Posted by ( 91stormvet ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:22 pm.

Allah Snackbar!! Hunting Season Opens Soon! Wake Up INFIDELS! lol

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Posted by ( geile77 ) on 12/19/2008 at 08:46 am.
Execute him and send only his head back to his mother in Egypt.

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Posted by ( worriedman ) on 12/18/2008 at 09:13 pm.

They should chop his head off and drag his body through the streets just like they have done to our soldiers. War is war.

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Posted by ( northofcuba ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:25 pm.

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.
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Posted by ( kellieB ) on 12/18/2008 at 02:53 pm.

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 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.

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Posted by ( succatash ) on 12/18/2008 at 05:59 pm.

THEIR SELF BLOWN UP BODIES SHOULD BEIDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA.......AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD PAY FORTHEIR CRIMES.... 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

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Posted by ( TOMMYSOAP ) on 12/18/2008 at 05:09 pm.

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.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Ahmed Bedier Condemns, Reacts to Mumbai Terror Attacks

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. The Mumbai terror attacks last week are reprehensible, inhumane and should be condemned by everyone.

Please watch, share and give your feedback.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Obsession Film Distribution is Hateful Political Propaganda and Fearmongering

Tampa Radio show host and Human Rights Council President Ahmed Bedier debates the impact of the mass distribution of the anti-Muslim DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" ahead of the 2008 presidential election. The film was distributed by the Clarion Fund a front organization for Israeli-based Aish HaTorah International

Friday, June 13, 2008

Bedier's Reaction to USF's Ahmed Mohamed Plea Deal

Today 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 here. In essence Ahmed Mohamed pled guilty to making a video and posting it to Youtube.

Tampa civil rights activst Ahmed Bedier, who has watched the case, reacted to local newspapers:

To the Tampa Tribune:


Local Muslim activist Ahmed Bedier, who has spoken in support of Megahed,
stressed that he doesn't know Mohamed or the Mohamed family. He said the video,
as described in court documents, was "unacceptable."
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."
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."


To the St. Petersburg Times:

"We're relieved that the issue is being resolved and people are moving on, and
we're also relieved that no one was hurt," said Ahmed Bedier, a local Muslim
rights activist.
Bedier, who has never met Mohamed, said he counsels young
Muslim men to be cautious in a climate that has zero tolerance for the
appearance of anything terroristic.

The plea deal shows that that there was never an actual real plot to carry out violence and no one was in imminent danger.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Florida Muslim doctors to open free clinic


By Chandra Broadwater, St. Petersburg Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, June 11, 2008


BROOKSVILLE — It was about to rain Monday afternoon, and Dr. Husam Zarad had an exam table to move.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

About 23 percent of residents in these areas of the county also had no health insurance.

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.

"The new clinic will be a great contribution to the community, and a welcomed resource to our many residents in need," Rags said.

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.

"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."

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.

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."

The letter spurred weeks of alternating condemnation and kudos throughout the state.

"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.

"If there's a need so important like health care, then I think people will put aside their differences and work together."

Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com, or (352) 848-1432.


Source http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article617015.ece


Wednesday, June 04, 2008

FL MUSLIM LEADERS TESTIFY AT UNITED NATIONS RACISM HEARING


(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.

For photos of the event click here:
Special Rapporteur Diène is visiting several cities across the United States to "gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia."

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.

"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."

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."

For more background on the Special Rapporteur's U.S. visit see: LA Times: The UN on Racism
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 http://www.al-amana.org/.


- END -

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

CAIR's Bedier steps down to start new group

By Kevin Graham, St. Petersburg Times Staff

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.

Bedier, 34, has spent the last five years serving as the face of the local Muslim community. 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.

"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.

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.

"The details of it will soon be announced," said Bedier, who also serves as president of the Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council.

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.

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.

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.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article515009.ece

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

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.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

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:

Thursday, August 30, 2007

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

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

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:

Thursday, April 19, 2007

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.

Monday, March 05, 2007

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.



Saturday, January 27, 2007

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.


Wednesday, January 24, 2007

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.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

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

Sunday, January 07, 2007

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

Friday, January 05, 2007

Florida Pro-Israel Extremist Joe Kaufman Incites Death Threats Against Muslim Radio Hosts

On January 5, 2007, South Florida right-wing pro-Israel radical Joe Kaufman has taken his racist hate message to dangerous levels inciting death threats against Muslim-American radio hosts. In an online article posted to the David Horowitz right-wing blog Frontpagemag.com titled "Hamas and Holocaust Talk" Kaufman falsely and maliciously accused radio show hosts Ahmed Bedier and Samar Jarrah as "two supporters of and apologists for radical Islam."

Bedier and Jarrah are hosts of the weekly public affairs radio show "True Talk" on the progressive community station and NPR affiliate WMNF 88.5fm. The True Talk program and WMNF are known in the Tampa Bay area as catalysts for bridge building, inclusion and peace. Immediately after extremist Joe Kaufman posted his hate piece on Frontpagemag, Bedier and Jarrah received death and hate threats via the internet and email. Below is an example of the death threat to Bedier and Jarrah posted by a supporter to Joe Kaufman's article.
Kaufman's supporter and Frontpagemag.com member "Fidelis" wrote:


"Maybe someone has the b@lls to pull an "Alan Berg" on them some afternoon when they leave the studio. They're not too far from the mud flap country up there." Click here to see copy of death threat.

The death threat directed at Ahmed Bedier and Samar Jarrah (them) refers to pulling an "Alan Berg" a Jewish radio show host who was shot and killed outside his home by white nationalists.
For details on Alan Berg click here.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

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.



Wednesday, December 13, 2006

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

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

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.

Friday, December 08, 2006

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.

Friday, November 17, 2006

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

Thursday, November 16, 2006

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

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

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.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

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:

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Police Audio: AirTran Removes Muslim Passengers Because "Iranian" Look

On August 20, 2006, two young Pakistani-American Muslim men returning home to Washington, D.C. from Tampa on AirTran flight 941 were abruptly kicked off (or removed) the aircraft and handed over to law enforcement for questioning. Minutes later they were cleared but could not re-board that same flight.

The incident upset me enough to dig deeper, because there is no justification to selectively remove passengers off flights. I decided to research further and what I found was a very disturbing case of racial or ethnic or religious (whatever you want to call it) profiling and maybe a troubling trend in the aviation industry.

I believe that the evidence (when available) will always lead to the truth, because evidence does not lie. In this situation the evidence would be any audio archives between the flight crew and law enforcement. I've tracked it down courtesy of the Tampa Airport Police Department. Below is a transcript of the brief phone call from "Jeff" at AirTran to the Tampa Airport Police dispatch.

The conversation clearly shows that AirTran had no justified reason to remove the two Muslims from the aircraft except that they acted "suspicious" and looked "Iranian." What's an Iranian look like? does that mean anyone who is percieved to be Iranian is a suspect?


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.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

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

Saturday, August 12, 2006

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

Saturday, July 29, 2006

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

Sunday, July 23, 2006

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

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

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


Sunday, July 16, 2006

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