Community News (V10-I45)

Interfaith leaders condemn bigotry promoting DVD

St.Louis,MO–A group of interfaith leaders rallied behind the Muslim community in St.Louis and condemned the distribution of a bigotry promoting DVD. “Obession: Radical Islam’s War Against The West,” has been distributed via seventy American newspapers by direct mail. The St.Louis Post-Dispatch was one of the few newspapers in the country which refused to distribute the DVD.

On Monday members of Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls lent support to the Muslims and condemned the contents of the DVD.

The Rev. Dieter Heinzel, associate pastor at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church (USA), said he had been moved by former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s statement last week on “Meet the Press.”

“Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?” Powell asked. “The answer’s no. That’s not America.”

Heinzel said he was born in Germany twenty years after the end of World War II and people still come up to him and ask whether he’s a Nazi. He said the comparison of Islam to Nazism in “Obsession” was especially disturbing. “That’s a very painful association,” he said.

North Bay gets its first mosque

NORTH BAY–The city of North Bay in Ontario opened its first mosque last week. It was inaugurated by the city’s mayor.

The North Bay mosque, located at 423 McPhail Street, is a major step forward for the Muslim community in North Bay and has been under construction for the past year. Leaders in the Muslim community say they are extremely proud of this accomplishment in establishing the first mosque in the community of North Bay.

“Mayor Fedeli has demonstrated considerable insight in the future of multiculturalism, Immigration and openness or Religious practices and for the first time ever in the history of the City of North Bay all religions are now represented with a place of worship,” notes Kaneez Merali.

Muslim Day in Atlanta

ATLANTA–More than two thousand people attended the annual Muslim Day held in Grant Park over the weekend. The event was organized by the Majlis Ash-Shura of Atlanta mosques, an umbrella organization.

It featured Halal food vendors, an Islamic bazaar and events for children.

There were  also sports and Qirat competitions.

There are an estimated  80,000 Muslims in Atlanta area.

Syed, Jahedi, join Lutheran General

PARK RIDGE,IL–Dr.Husain Syed and Dr.Sogol Jahedi have joined the staff of Lutheran General Hospital. Syed Husain, M.D., of Chicago  is board certified in internal medicine. Dr. Husain received his medical degree from St. Georges University. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Husain has an office in Long Grove.

Sogol Jahedi, M.D., of Barrington, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Jahedi received her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She served her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Jahedi has offices in Buffalo Grove and Park Ridge.

Dr. Sajida Ahad joins SIU School of Medicine

Dr. Sajida Ahad has joined the faculty at the Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine as an assistant professor of general surgery. She specializes in bariatric and laparoscopic general surgery and is a member of the SIU Comprehensive Weight Management Program.

Ahad received her medical school degree in 1998 from the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi Pakistan and completed her surgical residency in 2006 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She recently completed fellowships in surgical education research and laparoscopic surgery at the University of Washington.

Halal markets to rescue ailing farms in Canada

NORTHUMBERLAND–County council has given the go-ahead to an action plan to help local agricultural sectors and rural communities prosper.

Over the last 15 years, over 30 per cent of the agri-businesses in Northumberland have closed, according to a staff report presented at the county’s Oct. 15 meeting. To help local agriculture thrive, staff presented an action plan with several ambitious goals including a small-scale local abattoir in Northumberland. The abattoir would decrease shipping costs for eastern Ontario farmers, serve the ‘100 Mile Diet’ market of the Greater Toronto Area and provide a source for locally grown Halal and Kosher meat including beef, lamb and goat.

Another report recommendation was involvement in research initiatives for bio-products, with a goal to establish Northumberland as a world leader in bio-alternative and green industries. Staff also recommended reintroducing hemp in local crop rotations and on marginal lands, while working to develop a market and local manufacturing tie-ins.

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