Source: Star Tribune

On August 1, 1999, the Star Tribune published an article written by Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, on the situation of Islam in America. Pipes separates the American Muslim community - "immigrants and native-born converts alike" - into two categories: integrationists and chauvinists. The integrationists have no problem being patriotic Americans while holding fast to their Muslim beliefs. Many of these integrationists "present Islam as the fulfillment of American values and see Muslims as a very positive force to...

Source: The Toronto Star

On July 31, 1999, The Toronto Star published an article on Dar al Islam, a Muslim village begun in 1977 by American and European converts who wanted to live amid the Native American pueblos in northern New Mexico. The village, which was constructed in Abiquiu, New Mexico, boasts an adobe mosque as its centerpiece. Completed in 1981 and situated on 1,600 acres, the mosque and adjoining madrassah include vaulted ceilings, domes, archways, gardens, courtyards, and a library. The Dar al Islam community of several dedicated families...

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

On July 31, 1999 Akron Beacon Journal featured an article on the research of Northern Ohio's religious diversity by Pluralism Project affiliates. The "growth in religious diversity has been examined by two Kent State University researchers... Dr. David Odell-Scott, associate professor of philosophy... and Dr. Surinder M. Bhardwaj, a professor of geography... received a 1998 grant through the Pluralism Project at Harvard University to map the religious diversity of Northern Ohio... As a result of that work, the researchers have...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 23, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article on the efforts of Los Angeles Muslims and Jews to renew efforts to create a code of ethics for civilizing Muslim-Jewish relations. In the wake of the national controversy over the appointment of Salam Al-Marayati to a national counter-terrorism commission, the two sides are trying to salvage public relations. Mather Hathout, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California, stated: "We have got to learn how to disagree-with respect and civility and a touch of...

Source: Sacramento Bee

On July 17, 1999, the Sacramento Bee reported that U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton cited the California Department of Corrections in contempt of court for not fully implementing a court decision in February of 1999 that ensured the right of every Muslim inmate to attend Jumu'ah prayer services at midday on Fridays. Ernest Fenelon, a California Medical Facility inmate who is Muslim, brought suit against the Department of Corrections in 1995 for not allowing him to attend Jumu'ah services. Judge Karlton ruled in Fenelon's favor...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 9, 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported that House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO.) withdrew the nomination of Salam Al-Marayati to a congressional commission on counter-terrorism. Gephardt claimed that Al-Marayati would not be able to gain security clearance in time for him to join the commission. Gephardt has been under fire from Jewish organizations ever since he made the appointment. Morton A. Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, accused Al-Marayati of excusing terrorist attacks against...

Source: Portland Press Herald Online

On July 6, 1999, the Portland Press Herald Online published an article on the Muslim population in Maine. Due to the influx of immigrants to Maine from Somalia, Iran, Iraq, and Kosovo, the Muslim population has grown to approximately 1,500. The Portland Muslim community now has a masjid and sustains the New World Market, the state's only halal meat counter. The largest Muslim groups in Maine are Afghans and Somalians, with immigrant groups also from Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Iran, and Iraq.

Source: The Detroit News

On July 6, 1999, The Detroit News published an editorial entitled, "A New Neighbor on Ford Road."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 5, 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported that the appointment of Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt to a national counter-terrorism commission has come under attack by major Jewish organizations. Muslim Americans hail the appointment as a "sign that Washington is finally giving them a voice in policymaking." Al-Marayati looks forward to the position: "I hope to broaden the discussion on terrorism by looking at its root...

Source: The New York Times

On July 4, 1999, The New York Times reported that Christopher M. Letz, a six-year veteran of the New York State Park Police, was suspended on June 22nd, 1999 for insubordination because he grew a goatee, which is against department regulations. Letz, who grew the goatee to comply with Muslim teachings, was inspired by a March 1999 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals that blocked the dismissal of two Muslim police officers in Newark, New Jersey for growing beards for religious reasons. Though Officer Letz is not in favor of...

Source: The Beacon News

While on July 3, 1999, The Beacon News of Aurora, Illinois reported that a Muslim man, Tarell Rodgers, had been attacked in a mosque by three white men and on July 7th, that his garage had been set on fire, by July 9th the paper reported that Rodgers admitted to fabricating these attacks.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 2, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article by Laila and Salam Al-Marayati on the attempts of Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) to disturb Jewish-Muslim relations and block appointments to federal commissions. The Al-Marayatis call for moderation and dialogue to help foster a "viable and mature Jewish-Muslim relationship." "Our major concern is not with promoting any particular foreign group but with enriching the democratic process of debate in America. Our approach is to educate American policymakers and...

Source: The Buffalo News

On June 25, 1999, The Buffalo News reported that the leaders of the Darul-Uloom Al-Madania congregation in Buffalo, New York want county permission to buy city land and create a cemetery for Muslims within city limits. The congregation of 150 Muslims, which is located in the former Polish National Cathedral in Buffalo, has put forth the first proposal in more than a century seeking to open a new cemetery within city limits.

Source: USA TODAY

On June 25, 1999, USA Today published an article looking at the problems Muslims have encountered in the United States' workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and its affiliates received 440 complaints from Muslims in 1998, up 42% from 1994. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received 135 workplace discrimination complaints for the year ending March 1999, up 13% from the same period last year. CAIR's Ibrahim Hooper stated: "Our biggest obstacle has been ignorance on the part of employers - not...

Source: CAIR

On June 23, 1999, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that Channel One News, a private educational channel sent via satellite to 12,000 middle and high schools in the United States, has featured Islam in a story entitled "One Nation: Islam in America."