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Aug 1 , 2008
29
Rajab, 1429
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Ayat
of the Week [Surah
Al-Imran (3): 8-10]
Following
the circulation of derogatory emails by the Harris County
Sheriff’s Department, CAIR-Houston initiated a follow up
meeting with the department to
further discussion about how to prevent a future incident from occurring. CAIR-Houston was represented at the meeting by staff members Asma Siddiqi and Shan Pasha along with Board Members Jamal Zaidan and Mohammed Ismaeel. The meeting was held as a follow up to the previous meeting with ISGH, CAIR-Houston and other community leaders that took place immediately after publicity over the emails sent by members of the Sheriff’s Department. Chief Deputy of Detention Command Mike Smith, one of the officers who took part in the emails, was also present at the meeting. Smith started the meeting by sincerely apologizing for his participation with the derogatory and racially biased emails. Smith said he wasn’t thinking clearly and barely read the emails at the time he forwarded them to his colleagues. Following the apology, Smith told CAIR-Houston that the officers involved with the emails had been reprimanded. The CAIR-Houston office expressed concerns about the placement of safeguards to prevent such incidents from repeating. Currently all new officers must receive a state mandated sensitivity training, which is taught by Smith. The Houston Sheriff’s Department has also included its own extra training, which is specific to Houston’s needs, said Smith. CAIR-Houston offered to coordinate with the officer’s diversity training and help conduct more specific and detailed trainings about Muslims and Islamic practices. The officers present at the meeting took an interest in CAIR’s offer. “CAIR-Houston believes that a good relationship with the Sheriff’s Department is vital for the Department to understand the Muslim community, thus preventing prejudice and stereotypes,” said CAIR-Houston Communication Coordinator Asma Siddiqi. CAIR-Houston thanks the Harris County Sheriff’s Department for hosting the meeting and looks forward to working with them in the future. CAIR-Houston is hosting a new workshop with the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA will be
presenting on airport security. The first workshop will be at the ISGH
Main Center, Friday at 5:30 pm.
The TSA is the governmental organization that conducts all the security checks at airports all across America. The branch from Houston’s Intercontinental Airport will be partnering with CAIR-Houston for this workshop. “Airport security is something that affects all Americans and unfortunately has a bigger, and more profound effect on some Muslims who feel they are targeted by additional security screening,” said CAIR-Houston Communication’s Coordinator Asma Siddiqi. Attend this workshop and find out the facts so you can be better prepared next time you travel. What: Airport Security Workshop with TSA When: Friday, August 1 at 5:30 p.m. Where: ISGH Main Center Help a foreign student experience life if America.
By hosting a student you provide a safe enviroment from which he or she
can experience life as a student in America.
The Center for Cultural Interchange is looking for a family who is willing to host a foreign exchange student, from Jordan. For more information visit www.cairhouston.org  CAIR-Houston
and Sheriff's Department on Emergency Procedures
CAIR-Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department’s communication division held an emergency and 911 procedures workshop last week. Captain Hennessey and Communication Officer, Lisa Dobson described the many aspects of the division’s goals and mission along with their role as part of the sheriff’s department. The communications division receives and processes the emergency and non-emergency 9-1-1 calls from Harris County. The division is also responsible for disseminating all public safety and criminal justice information for the county. During the workshop, the audience was provided with an in-depth view of the division and its many operations and responsibilities. The officers also described the process behind 9-1-1 calls, how callers are located and the basic protocol for the dispatcher receiving the 9-1-1 call. The workshop was a great opportunity for the Houston Muslim community to interact with the Sheriff’s Department, learn about the importance of the communication division and gain understanding about 9-1-1 procedures. Where:
Westin Oaks Galleria (5011 Westheimer)
When: Saturday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. Please join us at our Annual Banquet to celebrate the success of CAIR-Houston in the past year, and learn about our vision for the future. Ambassador Edward Peck will be our keynote speaker for the evening. Peck has a long history in the U.S. government, including service as a Foreign Service Officer in Morocco, Algeria and Egypt. Tickets are $50 and seating is limited. To reserve your seat, purchase your ticket now. CONTACT: Shan Pasha at 713.838.CAIR |
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