2 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 6, 2005
Local Muslims protest uran abuse
4
By Laura Van Hyfte
Daily News Editor
Members of the Muslim Com-
munity Association of Ann Arbor
voiced their outrage at the U.S. gov-
ernment and military last Friday
in response to Quran desecration
and alleged mistreatment of Mus-
lim detainees in American Military
detention facilities.
The crowd of about 100 protesters
gathered outside the Islamic Center
of Ann Arbor and demanded that
a commission be created to inves-
tigate allegations of torture and
abuse. They also demanded that all
detainees be given full due process
rights and that they either be charged
with a crime or be released. Protest-
ers specifically said they want the
detention center at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba shut down, saying it dis-
regards universal human rights and
is a national embarrassment.
"This demonstration is to say
we've had enough," said Kristine
Abouzahr, the event's organizer.
"Respect Islam; stop the torture and
the inhuman treatment."
According to a report released
by the Pentagon last Friday, a copy
of the Quran had been deliberately
kicked and another stepped on at
Guantanamo Bay. One Quran was
accidentally splashed with urine
when a prison guard urinated outside
and the waste traveled through an air
vent, landing on a prisoner and his
Quran, according to the report. The
guard who stepped on the Quran was
fired, and the one responsible for
urinating on the book was relocated
away from prisoners.
Of all the allegations against the
U.S. government, Quran mistreatment
largely motivated the protesters.
Abuse of the Quran angered Mus-
lims because it has a large part in
their beliefs and lifestyle, Abou-
zahr said, adding that Muslims are
very sensitive to mistreatment of the
Quran because of its importance in
Islam.
"It has a different level for Mus-
lims; it's integrated into our daily
lives. We have a very high sensitiv-
ity toward it," Abouzahr said.
Abouzahr said she was not sur-
prised when hearing about alle-
gations and admissions of Quran
mistreatment.
"Right when I heard (about the
Quran abuse), I was angry. The sad
part is, I expected that. These days
we trust U.S. officials to humiliate
(Muslims)," Abouzahr said. "It's
another way of humiliation and
enraging Muslims. More and more
it seems that the war is on Muslims
and Islam," Abouzahr added.
Muhammad Hachimi, an Imam
who gives a Friday sermon at the Islam-
ic Center, also expressed his disappoint-
4
4
Imam Muhammad Hachimi protests outside the Islamic Center of Ann Arbor last Friday.
ment upon hearing the news.
"What I am angry about is the con-
firmation of this story. I'd be angry if I
heard that anyone touched the Bible. I
respect people," Hachimi said.
On May 9, Newsweek reported
that a Quran had been flushed down
a toilet at Guantanamo, but the
magazine later retracted the article
after its source could not be certain
he read about the allegations in the
Pentagon report he had cited.
Protesters acknowledged that
many of the allegations they cited
have not yet been proven and stressed
that an investigation of all the accu-
sations is necessary.
Regardless of the outcome of any
future investigations, the protesters
stressed that the Guantanamo Bay
prison must be shut down.
"The Guantanamo Bay prison has
become a source of shame," Nazih
Hassan, an organizer of the, said to
the crowd.
After hearing this, the crowd
began to shout, "Shut it down!"
STADIUM
Continued from page 1
The reaction from some students has been positive.
Tom Rainwater, a recent graduate of the engineer-
ing school, said that renovations could get more fans
into the stadium, and in effect, generate more rev-
enue.
Rainwater added that an expansion one end zone
may help the stadium keep its title as the largest sta-
dium in the nation but the expansion could ruin the
stadium in the process.-
Kinesiology junior Eric Kruske said he also sup-
ported expansion.
"If we call it the Big House theyshould keep adding
on seats - the Big House has always been seen as the
biggest stadium," Kruske said.
Kruske added that extra seating would improve the
character that the Big House has.
"I think it will add to the atmosphere. Regardless
of how many seats, the Big House is great because of
our alumni and fans," Kruske said.
Stevenson admitted that no plans have been final-
ized, but he said he has great confidence that the
Regents will approve the plans at their July or Septem-
ber meeting.
-II
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