Ghonim’s Facebook page, “We Are All Khaled Said”, became a symbol of the Egyptian revolution and of the rest of the revolutions spreading through the middle east. Ghonim recently released a book, “Revolution 2.0″ a memoir chronicling his experience in the revolution and beyond. “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” says Ghonim.

Rehab traveled to Egypt on Jan 23, two days before the revolution broke out, and participated in the street protests while blogging and running interviews with media outlets in the US. “The most important thing moving forward is determining the right measurements of success: it’s about fixing process, not changing persons,” says Rehab.

Both Ghonim and Rehab agreed that the election was not only the fairest in Egypt in generations but pivotal in that it portends a continuing democratic process that only found its beginning in Tahrir Square but by no means ended there.

Imagine if the absence of characters “whacking knee caps” and “making offers you cannot refuse” was deemed as an “omission” and therefore pro-Italian propaganda, and as a result too controversial to sponsor.

Pathetic? Incredulous?

Well imagine no more.

Such is the pitiful state that Islamophobia has reached in this country, and it’s very real.

All-American Muslim is an American reality show like any other. It portrays the trials and travails of five Michigan families with typical reality show themes like marriage, birth, business, faith, food and of course drama queens.

There is one problem however, at least for the Florida Family Association:  the characters in the show are American Muslims.

The Florida Family Association got its members to send in dozens of emails to the show’s advertisers based on a pre-written template that stated in part:

“The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to the liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.”

So basically, their objection is that the show is portraying “ordinary Muslims” as – you may need to sit down for this – “ordinary Muslims”! Of course this runs the risk that unsuspecting Americans may come to view their ordinary Muslim neighbors as ordinary. According to this Florida group of nuts, this would be a travesty that American corporations must not contribute to.

We are more or less used to the unfortunate fact that there are anti-Muslim loons lurking about out there. There’s the burn-a-Quran-day pastor from Florida, there’s the group from Florida that tried to ban a Muslim professor from the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission because he was Muslim, and there’s that guy who tried to organize against Muslim family day at a Six Flags Texas theme park in Texas. Yes, yes, he was from Florida.

But what is real cause for alarm is the creeping influence of Islamophobia into mainstream American politics and culture.  From the Peter King radicalization hearings that use taxpayer funds to put mainstream American Muslims and their institutions on mock trial, to the frequent anti-Muslim rantings of the Congressman from Florida, Allen “Islam is not really a religion” West all the way to presidential hopeful Newt “Palestinians don’t really exist” Gingrich. And now, we have the weak-kneed primetime corporate sponsors.

That a group of extremists from Florida would exercise their first amendment right to carry out bigoted campaigns is unfortunate but not all that shocking. That 65 out of 67 advertisers (according to the Florida Family Association’s website of which only Lowe’s is independently confirmed) would capitulate to their nonsensical complaints that “ordinary Muslims are being portrayed as ordinary” is an alarming new milestone in the mainstreaming of bigotry in this country. For that reason, it ought to catch the attention of Americans who, for far too long, have stayed on the sidelines of the Islamophobia horror picture show.

Lowe’s admitted that they cut their ads short as a result of the emails they were receiving and after reviewing some websites and blogs out there (in the “bigotosphere”). Lowe’s is not just a “tool” in the hands of the far right, it’s the entire hardware store.

What Lowe’s is essentially saying by choosing to pull its sponsorship is that NOT portraying American Muslims as terrorists is just, well, too controversial for its brand:

“We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance. We strongly support and respect the right of our customers, the community at large, and our employees to have different views. If we have made anyone question that commitment, we apologize.”

Lowe’s is putting forth a very dangerous argument: that the far right bigots and the mainstream Muslim voices with their pro-tolerance allies of all faiths are equal opposites; that those who wish to humanize a faith community that comprises 25% of humanity and those who wish to demonize them are equal opposites; that the forces of bigotry and the forces of anti-bigotry are equal opposites. The pervasive assumption that there is a moral equivalency between the two sparring sides is a major factor in the rise of Islamophobia in the US. But Lowe’s goes further than to claim moral equivalency. It actually takes sides, the wrong side: the side of the bigots.

The running complaint used to be that Muslims are always portrayed as terrorists. But now, the message being sent is that “not portraying American Muslims as terrorists” is sufficient for complaint and controversy. It’s moving the goal posts to a dangerous new “lowe”.

There are three lessons to be extracted from this episode:

First, it is a confirmation of what we have been stating all along:  Islamophobia is not merely a reaction to terrorism or radical ideologies (which would have been a welcome exercise), but, in fact, it is a form of bigotry that targets an entire faith community: the religion of Islam itself and its mainstream practitioners.

Second, Islamophobia is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s sort of like “we hate you because you are terrorists, but when you’re not terrorists, we want you to be terrorists so we can hate you.” In the case of American Muslim leaders and organizations, the line is “we hate you because you are terror-linked, but when you’re not, we need you to be terror-linked so we can hate you.”

Third, Islamophobia is but a smokescreen, a projection of sorts. We are often told that Muslims are trying to Islamize America and institute Islamic Shariah law (“Sharrorize” America as Imam Suhaib Webb puts it). We are told that the less than 1% of American Muslims is but a fifth column who is here to take over and subjugate the remaining 99% plus. Setting aside the obvious ludicrousness of the claim for a second, ask yourself when was the last time American Muslims organized to pull advertisements off the air from shows that do not conform with their faith values (and trust me there are many)? Our organizing campaigns are themed around anti-bigotry and social justice, not the imposition of our faith.

To the contrary, it is the Christian right, the same folks who comprise many of the leading anti-Muslim alarmists, groups like the Florida Family Association (and trust me there are many) that are time and again organizing to force their way of thinking on other Americans. A quick visit to their website shows that this is not the first time they have successfully harassed advertisers for advertising on shows that do not conform to their ideology. They’ve targeted gays, sexually liberal shows, and others they disagree with.

It is not a coincidence that the organized Islamophobia networks in this country often include the same people who are trying to force-feed the Bible into government, schools, and public life.

And so comes the most important realization:

The organized American Muslim community’s agenda is in fact a social justice agenda. Any objective scrutiny of our organizations, campaigns, projects, and discourse reveals that this is widely and consistently the case.

On the other hand, as I already mentioned, you will find that it is it is none other than the far right that is out to force their narrowly conceived socio-religious ideology and way of life on Americans.

They conveniently promulgate the whole Islamist supremacist takeover fantasy and the Shariah scare as a divergence, a distraction, a smokescreen.

Projection is the name of the game.

They often use soft namesakes like “family” and “freedom” to give the impression of docility, and they inundate their websites and blogs with American flags and eagles to give the impression that they are the tried and true patriotic Americans who are best poised to speak for the majority.

They are not the majority, but they are not less than 1% either. They are in the millions, have access to billions of dollars, and have sufficiently organized at both the grassroots level and onas well as the internet in recent years to start to flex some muscle. (It is often stated that if fascism were to ever come to America, it would be wrapped in the US flag and bearing a cross.)

There is a ray of light. More Americans are beginning to wake up to the Islamophobia disease and the attempts at divergence from the real threat to our freedoms and democracy.

A year ago, the scorching Park51 controversy, while contrived and sensationalized at the end of the day, failed to impress the media or the public. In the case of the Lowe’s controversy, Americans are joining hands in speaking out against bigotry. Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish groups, as well as notable individuals, including 2010 Spirit of Anne Frank awardee Anya Cordell, California State Senator Ted Lieu, music mogul Russell Simmons, actress Mia Farrow, and several other celebrities, have come out strongly to say “enough is enough.”

For Lowe’s and other companies that gave in to bigotry, the choice is simple: own up to your error and do the right thing – or risk being chalked up on the wrong side of history (not to mention the wrong side of an impending boycott). Their motto is “let’s build something together.” Well how about some backbone for starters?

[Ahmed Rehab Huffington Post Original post]

[Interview Begins at 9:35]

Lowe’s, the North Carolina-based home improvement giant has raised controversy by pulling their ads off a reality TV show called ‘All-American Muslim.’

Anti-Muslim groups, like the Florida Family Association, pressured advertisers to stop sponsoring the show which they call “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”

“We were really disappointed and stunned that Lowe’s, a major corporation, would take such a stupid decision to side with bigotry against communities,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago).

Rehab called the group’s action a step in the wrong direction and an insult to the Muslim community, “…to marginalize and dehumanize the Muslim community through the notion that the only form of portrayal that is acceptable would be for Muslims to come out as terrorists.”

Rehab is calling for consumers to boycott Lowe’s.

“Islam is a faith the preaches peace, coexistence, justice, tolerance, love, compassion.  That’s what we stand for,” Rehab added.

[Ahmed Rehab NBC 5 Original post]

“What we’re being told here essentially is that it is too controversial to have a show with Muslim characters that are not portrayed as terrorists,” remarked CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab.

[Ahmed Rehab ABC 7 Original post]

After facing pressure from right-wing conservative groups, the Lowe’s home-improvement chain, pulled its ads from a reality TV show about American Muslims. Anti-Muslim groups claim the show, All-American Muslim, “riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”

“It’s one thing for bigots and nuts to be bigots and nuts. It’s another thing for amainstream company to embrace that. This is the mainstreaming of bigotry,” said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago.

[Ahmed Rehab CBS 2 Original post]

December 8, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for federal hate crime charges to be filed against a downstate man after a brutal attack.

Twenty-three-year-old Joshua Scaggs is being held on $500,000 bond after he allegedly slashed the throat of a University of Illinois law school professor.

A witness tells police both the suspect and victim were seated in the waiting area of a train station in Champaign when the suspect jumped up and shouted “this is my country” and attacked the victim.

The attacker reportedly told police he thought the victim was Middle Eastern.

“It’s something that we must take very seriously,” said CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed M. Rehab. “CAIR-Chicago is very disturbed by this news. The Muslim community is disturbed. People of conscience are disturbed. We’ve called police to investigate it, and to prosecute it as a hate crime, because that’s what it is.”

An assistant state’s attorney says he decided not to charge Scaggs with a hate crime because the other charges have stiffer penalties.

(Copyright ©2011 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

[Ahmed Rehab ABC 7 Original post]

History continues to be made in Egypt as today Egyptians in 9 provinces seek to participate in the nation’s first full free elections ever. The remaining 18 provinces will vote in the next two phases on December 14 and January 3.

Cairo residents came out in such large numbers that officials extended voting until 9pm, after having already extended it for a second day tomorrow. Lines went as far as 2 kilometers at some voting stations. Women are reported to represent the majority of those standing in line to vote today.

Egyptians are calling them “Freedom Lines.”

It is estimated that whopping 80% of today’s voters are voting for the first time in their lives.

“I’m 56 years old and never voted before,” said Ahmed Moustafa of Heliopolis. “Why would I vote before if I knew the results of the elections before hand, but today, it’s another thing, I truly feel that this is my country. It’s a great feeling.”

The vote follows a dramatic week of confrontation between protesters on one hand and the military and police in another that included a 3 day fatal street battle outside the ministry of interior on the outskirts of Tahrir Square.

Since Egypt’s youth revolution earlier this year, the nation has been through an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs as revolutionary groups push against the reluctance of the ruling military and the silent majority to usher in immediate and drastic changes.

Today’s elections represent a key milestone in the move towards democracy and a much needed shift in the nation’s mood from depression to a feeling of pride and hope.

This morning, I spoke to many family and friends and it seems that everyone I know, without exception, has gone out to vote – even those who formerly identified as of the “couch party” (or the silent majority).

As always with anything “Egyptian Revolution,” Facebook and Twitter has been abuzz. “I am so happy, I can’t stop smiling since the morning,” Neveen El-Shamy wrote on her twitter feed.

(Members of the Armed Forces stationed at an election station in the city of Dumyat assist an elderly woman who insisted on going out to vote)

Sahar El-Nadi, a Tahrir square activist, took her whole family with her to their assigned voting station, she spent the three-hour wait interviewing fellow voters for her blog.

“Whatever the results of these elections, thanks to Tahrir for this dream come true,” Sahar said.

That message was not lost upon <em>We are all Khaled Said</em>, the now world- famous Facebook page that was instrumental in mobilizing youth into the streets in the early days of the revolution.

“Had it not been for Tahrir Square, we could not have voted with our social security numbers (rather than hard-to-get voter registration cards) in an election that pits 100 candidates for a seat, all of whom believe they stand a winning chance, in a free and fair election.

“Had it not been for Tahrir Square, millions could never have gone out to vote without fearing government thugs intimidating them in the line, corrupt officials forging results, only for the official media to celebrate a day of great democracy under Mubarak.

Thank you Tahrir Square!”

Meanwhile Google Egypt celebrated the historic day with a Google doodle:

[Ahmed Rehab Huffington Post Original post]

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered again today in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.  Yesterday, the country’s interim government offered its resignation following several days of violent protests against the country’s military leaders.  Now the ruling military council has agreed to create a new civilian cabinet.

Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell discusses the latest political upheaval with Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago.

[Ahmed Rehab Worldview, NPR Original post]

October 20, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — Moammar Gadhafi’s long-running regime affected many lives in the United States, including in the Chicago area.

Many in Chicago’s Libyan community told ABC7 Thursday that they feel a sense of relief because Gadhafi’s mark the end of a dictatorship.

Tears of joy filled the Aduib home in Bridgeview as family and friends watched Arab TV via satellite. Mohamed Aduib’s family got the news about Moammar Gadhafi’s possible capture and death early Thursday morning. He was overcome with happiness.

“It is a very joyful day,” said Aduib. “Since six o’clock the phone was ringing continuously from the neighbors, from overseas, from Libya, and everyone is celebrating.”

The Libyan community in Chicago is exhilarated. Many had grown up in a repressive and brutal police state under Gadhafi. They believe the news sends a very important global message.

“This just shows, any dictator in the world has no power in this time and age,” said Abdulraoof Aduib. “Every dictator should be in constant fear of his people, because at the end of the day, it’s the people that rule the country, not the dictator.”

CAIR-Chicago is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its executive director says this is a great day.

“We’re relieved at the end of an era. Muslims don’t rejoice at the death of an individual. However, we are rejoicing at the death of dictatorship and tyranny, and the murderous period that Gadhafi was going after his own people,” said CAIR’s Ahmed Rehab.

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago says, now that the war against Gadhafi’s regime is over, Libya will face a new challenge.

“Now we have a longer, much scarier war that we are going to be entering, which is the war of educating, building the country, the war of assuring that the new government, the new Libya is a free Libya, a democratic Libya,” said Sanad Elfirjani.

The Aduib family says it can now visit family in Libya without fear.

[Ahmed Rehab ABC 7 Original post]