AUSTIN — A string of threats is prompting a boost in security at the State Capitol.

The threats are directed at hundreds of Muslims who are in Austin for 'Muslim Day at the Capitol.' They represent Islamic organizations and mosques from across the state of Texas.

According to the Texas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), threats were posted online and also came in over the phone. Law enforcement stepped up protection, making additional Department of Public Safety troopers visible along the south steps of the building.

The Texas Muslims are visiting the Capitol to meet with lawmakers and ignite positive interactions. There have been similar rallies at the start of a new legislative session for a few years now. However this year, threats against the group escalated.

According to CAIR people started posting messages on a blog site called Bare Naked Islam a few weeks ago. Some people threatened gun violence. Others wrote about killing and capturing participants.

"We feel we are in the front lines," explained President of the San Antonio CAIR chapter Sarwat Husain. "We are not doing anything wrong here. We are doing what anybody else does. So for anybody to feel threatened or not to like it, it is ridiculous. We are protecting our First Amendment [rights]."

Husain says about 300 Texas Muslims registered to attend 'Muslim Day at the Capitol.' Some backed out after the threats intensified.

"The fear is on both sides. Our community is afraid of the politicians, of the law enforcement, of the people in common, you know, because of all these threats. We also want to teach the politicians," said Husain.

The threats are not new to the group. Back in 2011 CAIR says they called on the FBI to investigate similar messages posted on the same website, threatening mosques across the state. The group is asking law enforcement to look into who's behind the online messages.

KVUE, 31 January 2013

See alo "Security boosted for Texas Muslim event following online threats", CAIR press release, 31 January 2013

View the Original article

Hoping to nurture good will between two major faiths, Christians and Muslims will mingle Sunday at a Texas barbecue at a Keller church.

The Rev. Bob Roberts, pastor of the 3,000-member NorthWood Church, said the gathering is intended to create friendships and recruit Muslims and Christians who will work together on a series of community projects.

"We've got a big Muslim issue in America," Roberts said. "There are 2 billion Christians in the world and 1.5 billion Muslims. If we don't learn how to get along, we are going to have a very sick world."

Those attending will be served beef slaughtered according to Islamic rules.

It's a follow-up to a similar service at NorthWood – attended by 1,500 Muslims and 1,000 Christians – shortly after the 10th anniversary of 9-11. That service, labeled "repulsive" by a political activist, was highly emotional.

At one point, Roberts told the Muslims, "We love you." After a standing ovation, a Muslim in the audience stood and replied to Roberts, "We love you too."

At Sunday's event, Muslims and Christians will sign up to work together on several volunteer projects, including painting and remodeling homes and renovating a Haltom City baseball field. Also, women will take part in cooking clubs, sharing recipes from their different cultures.

Among the speakers will be U.S. Rep. Kay Granger; former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley, director of the Center for Global Strategies in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Azhar Azeez, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield, Ind.

Star-Telegram, 18 January 2013

View the Original article

The small, black pig lay dead on its side upon the wooden deck, a deep gash on the side of its belly.

That's what a congregant at the Islamic Outreach Center saw Tuesday evening when he and a handful of other worshippers arrived for nightly prayers. Worshippers also found blood stains near the door of the Harris County mosque.

"It looked like someone was trying to take it inside, but it was locked," said Ilyas Choudry, who helps run the center.

At the end of a news conference on Wednesday about the incident, mosque officials also discovered what appeared to be animal intestines hanging from the facility's front gate. The intestines may have come from the pig, which appeared to be cut open.

Mosque officials believe someone may have left the pig at the Cypress-area center as an act of hate. They called the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating.

Houston Chronicle, 5 December 2012

See also "Slaughtered pig left outside of Cypress mosque a possible hate crime", Houston Press Blog, 5 December 2012

And CAIR press release, 5 December 2012

View the Original article

U.S. Attorney Jerry E. Martin at press conferenceA federal grand jury on Thursday charged 24-year-old Texas resident Javier Alan Correa with violating the civil rights of members of a mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn. mosque that has been the target of previous anti-Muslim attacks.

Correa is charged with "intentionally obstructing by threat of force the free exercise of religious beliefs and one count of using an instrument of interstate commerce to communicate a threat to destroy a building by means of an explosive device," the feds said in a press release.

Correa allegedly used a cell phone to call the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro and left a message saying there was going to be a bomb in the building on the 10th anniversay of the September 11 terrorist attacks. "Listen up you fucking Muslim bitches, go back to your fucking dirty fucking country, fucking Muslim fascists, get the fuck out of here," he allegedly stated.

"The controversy and criminal activity surrounding the construction of this particular place of worship has impeded the ability of people to exercise that most basic right," U.S. Attorney Jerry E. Martin of the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the progress of construction and legal proceedings at the local level to insure these citizens are able to enjoy all basic liberties guaranteed under the Constitution."

TPM, 21 June 2012

See also "Texas man indicted for threats against Murfreesboro mosque", News Channel 5, 21 June 2012

View the Original article

Hundreds of Israelis are running for a seat in the Knesset. Only one is running for a seat in Congress.

Itamar Gelbman was born in New York 30 years ago and as a child moved with his parents to Herzliya, where he was raised. He studied business management and computer science at Tel Aviv University and served as an undercover reserve officer in the Tel Aviv Police District.

After graduation, Gelbman joined the IDF where he was a lieutenant in what he calls the "army special forces." He said he could not be more specific about what he did in the army but that he received multiple awards, including a commendation from the IDF chief of staff.

Eight years ago, he moved to Texas. After US President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, Gelbman decided to get involved in politics.

Gelbman is running in the May 29 Republican Primary in Texas’s Sixth Congressional District, which is outside Dallas. "I'm the only candidate for the seat who is pro-Israel," Gelbman said.

Gelbman said he believes American politicians need to give Israel the benefit of the doubt. He does not believe the US should involve itself in the settlement issue and he would work to block foreign aid to Islamic countries that act against Israel and the United States.

"I would defend Israel and be their voice in the House," he said. "Israel should be allowed to do whatever it needs to do. The Palestinians need to change their education system and accept Israel as a Jewish state with Jerusalem as its capital." Gelbman said he would work to make sure a law requiring the US to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem would be enforced.

He received national attention when Muslims in his district were offended by his campaign flyer in which vowed to "fight the Islamization of America."

Gelbman recently came to Israel to spend Passover with family. While he was in the country, he met with MK Danny Danon and other Likud politicians.

Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2012

Not so sure about the "national attention" bit. The only report I can find of Gelbman antagonising the Muslim community is by a local TV station.

View the Original article