[stlimc-editorial] Mosque article

[jon pike]

Here's that post that someone put on our sight
concerning the investigation of local mosques by the
feds. It can be linked the URW article that Nico did.


Here's a possible abstract, it's kind of short. I
guess for a graphic we could nab the URW picture,
unless someone has other ideas.

ABSTRACT:

Federal authorities are reportedly investigating local
St. Louis mosques. A posting to the the St. Louis IMC
News Wire charges US attorney Mike Fagan with
harassing 
worshippers at these mosques. The Mosques include the
one run by Unity For Refugee Welfare, which was
profiled last year byu the St. Louis IMC.

COmments suggestions anyone,

--Jon-





                           An article appeared on the
front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Monday,
January 20th, which detailing a wide- ranging federal
investigation into local Muslims and two local mosques
in particular. (Go to www.stltoday.com).

                           The article details how
federal investigators have hauled in St. Louis Muslims
and how US Attorney Mike Fagan has put them before
Grand Juries and shown them photographs of prayers
letting out at local Mosques and asking the detainees
to identify the worshippers. It goes on to say that
that US Attorney Mike Fagan and local FBI agents are
asking so many questions about so many people with so
little, or even no evidence, that those being detained
 couldn't even figure out what the feds where
investigating.

                           The questions being put to
witnesses before the Grand Jury, including a well
known Muslim Imam, Muneer Arafat, centered around
fundraising for money that was sent to care for needy
Palestinians. The Grand Jury also asked if local
Muslims were training for some mythological local
Jihad movement that the Feeds are trying to invent to
justify their budgets.

                           The two mosques that have
come under scrutiny include the al CBI Mosque in South
City, which is ran by Unity Refugees Welfare (see the
stlimc.org archives This mosque is primarily made up
of immigrants from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arab
countries as well as African-Americans, Bosnians and
white Muslims. The primary function of the Mosque is
to provide religious worship services to families
 and religious education to refugee children. The
mosque also is involved in youth mentoring and
charitable activities within the refugee community in
St. Louis.

                           The second Mosque under
investigation is the Islamic Institute of Learning in
North St. Louis. This mosque mostly consists of
African-American Muslims, however the mosque also has
a number of Arab Muslims and others whom pray there.
It is a small mosque and a labor of love for those who
founded it in 1994. The mosque has been
responsible for lowering the crime rates in the area
and making it safer for the local residents. Members
have  also engaged in youth mentoring programs and
educational programs. This mosque came under scrutiny
because it's co-founder, Mujahid Abdul-Qaader
Aq-Menepta, had been arrested after defending the
alleged " 20th hijacker" on an Oklahoma City TV
station in 2001. He was rounded up as a part of an
intimidation campaign which discouraged  Muslims from
speaking out against the Bush war machine, US policy
and civil rights violations in the Muslim community.

                           We must now draw the
connection between the war in Iraq, Palestine ,
Afghanistan, Colombia, Korea and other  places to
issues that are happening locally. The US Justice
Department under John Ashcroft is seeking to crush the
American Muslim community , incarcerate our leaders,
round our young men up in mass detention campaigns and
silence our voices.

                           We are calling on all those
who care about human rights, peace and diversity to
stand up and speak against this campaign. One way that
you can do this is by calling US Attorney Mike Fagan
and tell him that you are concerned  about the civil
rights violations of local Muslims and the detentions
and secret Grand Juries.

                           The number is:

                           US Attorney Mike Fagan
                           314-539-2200


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