Mar
23

MI Imams Condemn Murder of Paratroopers, Rabbi and Jewish Children in France

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MI Imams Condemn Murder of Paratroopers, Rabbi and Jewish Children in France

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WARREN, MI, 3/21/12) – The religious leaders (imams) of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM) today condemn in the strongest terms the recent murders of three French Muslim paratroopers, a rabbi and three Jewish children, which were reportedly committed by a French national named Mohammed Merah.

Merah has been named as a chief suspect in recent shootings in which he allegedly killed three fellow Muslims for serving in the French military in Afghanistan as well as a rabbi and three Jewish children due to revenge of injustices perpetrated against Palestinian children by the Israeli military.

The imams reaffirm our previously stated position the Islamic teachings stress the sanctity of all human life and that respecting the rule of law is incumbent upon all Muslims.

The Qur’an, Islam’s revealed text, states: “Whoever kills a person, unless [as punishment through due process] for murder or mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32)

Though the imams recognize that many innocent civilians have been killed in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the imams also state that there is no justification for the wanton violence that has taken place in France in response to the previously stated injustices.

Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts: “Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil.”

The imams also note that Muslims and Jews have peacefully co-existed for centuries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and that tensions related to the Arab-Israel conflict is not indicative of the historical relationship between Muslims and Jews.

The imams offer their condolences to the families of the victims and pray for calm and peace.

The imams Council of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan represents a coalition of Muslim religious leaders (imams) in the Metro-Detroit area.

End

CONTACT: CIOM’s Imams Council Co-chairs, Imam Baqir Berry, (313) 903-1222, bberrymiis@yahoo.com or Imam Steve Elturk, (248) 210-4156, ameer@ionaonline.org. Email to CIOM: admin@ciomonline.com

SEE: Who is French shootings suspect Mohammed Merah? (CNN)

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/21/world/europe/france-shooting-suspect-profile/?hpt=ieu_t2

SEE: Prosecutor: French shooter was planning new attack (CBS)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501714_162-57401647/prosecutor-french-shooter-was-planning-new-attack/

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Dec
14

Muslim Volunteer Day, in partnership with the Jewish community’s Mitzvah Day

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What are YOU doing for Christmas? How about making a family tradition of helping others on this holiday!

Join CIOM/ISCOM on a Muslim Volunteer Day, in partnership with the Jewish community’s Mitzvah Day. Spend a few hours in the morning on Christmas Day volunteering at a variety of places in Metro Detroit helping your neighbors celebrate their special holiday. Sign UP NOW (Deadline for sign-up is this Friday). There are a variety of volunteer options for all ages.

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2578165362/efbnen

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Nov
02

10 Mosque’s in 1 Day – Mosque Tour

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Program Overview:

BREAKFAST & WELCOME: 9AM, Islamic Center of America

TOUR BEGINS: 10 AM. 10 Mosques, with 3 full stops including lunch, 5.5 hours total

TOUR ENDS: 4 PM at Islamic Center of America

Purchase tickets at: http://mosquetour.eventbrite.com/

Friends,

My name is Ismail Ali and I am the project manager for the first annual CIOM Detroit Area Mosque Tour. On November 12th 50+ people will board a bus and visit 10 historic mosques in and around metro Detroit. The tour will begin and end at the Islamic Center of America, with stops throughout Dearborn, Detroit, and Hamtramck. Our main guide will be CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.

Participants will learn about the history, settlement, and practices of Detroit’s diverse Muslim community. Saima Akhtar, architecture PhD candidate from the University of California-Berkeley, selected the mosques and produced much of the content for our journey.

You may register now at mosquetour.eventbrite.com. The bus can only hold 55 people and we fully anticipate a sell out, so do not delay! Student passes are $10 and the regular fare is $20. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at iaali@umich.edu.

Best,
Ismail Ali
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

P.S. A generous donor decided cost could not be a barrier to participation in the tour, so a limited number of fee waivers are available. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in this option.

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Aug
26

25th Annual Unity Banquet and Awards Gala

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Please join us as we celebrate our

25th Annual Unity Banquet

September 18th.

Given the significance of this milestone, the banquet will take place at a special venue: the Detroit Institute of Arts, located at 5200 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202.The event will feature a rich program, including a movie ” On a Wing and a Prayer: An American Muslim Learns to Fly” and viewing of exhibits on Islamic Egyptian, ancient Middle Eastern, African and Asian art work. This year’s theme is “Nurturing Culture with Faith”.This year Keynote speaker is Alex Kronemer of Unity Production.

Registration will begin at 3:30 PM

Movie and Museum Access 4:00 PM – 6:00
Award Ceremony: 6:00 pm – 7:30
Strolling Dinner-pray 7:30-9:00 pm
Special Extended Gallery view 7:30-9:00 pm

$50 Ticket ($30 students) – Ticket includes movie, gallery viewing, and special awards banquet with Alex Kronemer as keynote and musical performance by the Turkish Niagara Foundation.

$20 Ticket will include children’s program: child care with entertainment and dinner

To buy tickets online please go to:
http://ciom25thbanquet.eventbrite.com/

For tickets in your local area contact:
Mohammed Kibriya – 586-604-7757

For more information, please visit www.ciomonline.com

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Aug
16

CIOM 9/11 Service Project

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AOK (Acts of Kindness) Detroit

Transforming 9/11

Working Side by Side to Make a Difference

‘Acts of kindness protect one from ruin wrought by evil.’ (Muhammad, peace be upon him)

Council of Islamic Organizations of MI, ACCESS, Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, City Year Detroit, City of Detroit, United Way, WISDOM, J-Serve and Focus: HOPE, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, City Year Detroit, the Jewish Community Relations Council, Arts & Scraps, and Detroit’s Cities of Service “Believe in Detroit” Campaign — have joined together to commemorate Sunday, September 11th, the tenth anniversary of 9/11, as a busy day of community service and interfaith and intercultural interaction in our region.

Register for the A-OK Service Day online here

On Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in response to a call by President Barack Obama to make 9/11 an annual National Day of Service and Remembrance, hundreds of Detroit-area young people will come together to brighten the lives of others. The event will take place at Focus: HOPE, 1400 Oakman Blvd., Detroit MI 48238.

An estimated 700 volunteers will be on hand for projects such as park beautification, vacant lot clean-up, food packaging, sorting art supplies for local schools, and writing thank you cards to U.S. troops serving abroad. As they work side by side, their energy and dedication will help transform 9/11 into a day of learning about each others interests, families, and faith traditions. After the projects are completed, there will be a structured dialogue series designed to increase tolerance and understanding, with the goal of promoting a sense of unity, peace, community-building, and mutual understanding.

A breakdown of the day’s Agenda

Noon. – Registration begins
1 p.m. – Kickoff rally begins
1:30-4 p.m. – Projects
4-5 p.m. – Eat/Dialogue

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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Jul
26

A-OK (Acts of Kindness) Detroit

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A-OK (Acts of Kindness) Detroit

Transforming 9/11

Working Side by Side to Make a Difference

Leading community organizations participating — Council of Islamic Organizations of MI, ACCESS, Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, , City Year Detroit, City of Detroit, United Way, WISDOM, J-Serve and Focus: HOPE –have joined together to commemorate Sunday, September 11th, the tenth anniversary of 9/11, as a busy day of community service and interfaith and intercultural interaction in our region.

The Acts of Kindness (A-OK) mission is to transform 9/11 from a day of mourning into a day for people to come together and work side by side to make their community a better place to live.
Community service is a way for us to emerge from a decade of division and destruction to become a society that pulls together to care for one another. In this way, we turn a negative (9/11) into something hopeful and positive.
With this new approach, 9/11 becomes a day to learn about each other’s interests, families, faith traditions, and a day in which we can find our commonality as human beings. Our focus is on our common missions of unity, peace, community-building and mutual understanding.
When we work together, we reduce myths and stereotypes about the “other,” and enhance respect and understanding.
Last year we made a difference in Southwest Detroit. This year we must continue to maintain our relationships and move forward to break down our cultural, ethnic and religious segregation in Metro Detroit. The A-OK committee is working to do just that – getting more people together to talk, break bread together, perform community service together, and find out what we all have in common.

Focus hope will be hosting us

Focus: HOPE’s mission is to use “intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice,” making it an ideal organization to partner with for a day of service. In addition, Focus: HOPE has extensive experience in enlisting volunteers to work in its food, education, and community revitalization efforts.

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Jun
22

CIOM INTERFAITH HEALTH FAIR

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2nd Annual Health Fair will be held on July 19th, 2011, in cooperation with the HUDA Clinic, the Muslim Center, the Chaldean community and the Jewish Community Relations Council.