Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Arizona Republic: Palestinian ejected from Human Relations Commission--for "Intolerance"!

More irony than you can shake a stick at:
The tensions in the Middle East are manifesting themselves on a Phoenix commission that is supposed to foster unity among people.

Phoenix City Council members last week removed Marwan Ahmad, a Palestinian and Muslim, from the Human Relations Commission after more than five years of service, saying he was promoting messages of intolerance against Israel, the Jewish community and at least one member of the Islamic community.

Mayor Phil Gordon didn't give a specific reason why they ousted Ahmad, but Ahmad's monthly newspaper, Muslim Voice, has come under fire in the past.

In that newspaper, Ahmad depicted a member of the Islamic community as a dog in an editorial cartoon.

Ahmad also publishes the Multicultural Yellow Pages, which excludes references to the Valley's Jewish cultural institutions and replaces Israel with the name Palestine on a Middle East map. He also omits area codes, airlines and restaurants associated with Israel.

Bill Straus, Arizona regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, called that book "one of our community's most glaring examples of cultural division."

Ahmad said the City Council has violated his freedom of speech and is mixing local and international politics.

The City Council is "under the influence of the pro-Israel groups, and they're putting Israeli interests before the city's interests," he said.

But Gordon defended the action to remove Ahmad, saying the decision had nothing to do with religion or free speech.

He said the commission's mission is to advocate and promote respect and understanding among all groups but Ahmad was delivering a "message of intolerance."

Ahmad was appointed to the commission in 2001 by then-Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza and reappointed by Gordon in 2004. He was removed with about eight months remaining on his three-year term.

Sabahudin Ceman, the imam minister from the Islamic Center of North Phoenix, replaced Ahmad on the commission.

Ahmad said he was not notified of the pending council vote, nor was he informed about the City Council decision after the unanimous vote Wednesday to remove him. City officials mailed him a letter Friday.

Some in the Muslim community are now calling for an apology from the City Council and demanding that Ahmad be reinstated on the commission.

Neither is likely to happen.

"I'm sorry that some individuals feel an apology is needed," Gordon said. "But as the mayor . . . I believe none is due, and I've taken appropriate action."

Gordon said "anyone who preaches divisiveness" can't be allowed on a city commission because it gives the perception that he is representing the city with those views.

Mohammed Riyad, a member of American Moderate Muslims for Public Awareness, said groups are prepared to conduct demonstrations, strikes, counterelection campaigns and file lawsuits if they don't get relief.
In support of Ahmad? I guess that's what that means.
While critics of the council decision concede that Ceman, Ahmad's replacement on the board, is a "good man," they consider Ahmad's removal as an affront to Muslims.

Gordon said he is planning to soon meet with representatives of the Muslim community.

Abdur-Rahim Shamsiddeen, resident imam of the Jewel of Al-Islam Masjid, said Ahmad "cannot attack people and then sit on a commission that deals with human beings, all human beings."

"At the same time, if Marwan believes he was discriminated against, then the American court system is open to him like anyone else," Shamsiddeen said.
(Hat Tip: Daily Alert)

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