European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 18 stars and stripes sunday March 252007 Black Muslim numbers up persecuted groups increasingly joining forces since by Ramit Plushnick Masti the associated press Pittsburgh Allah Akbar the Muslim Call for prayer rings out on a recent Fri Day and a group of Black men and women gather to celebrate the islamic Day of rest the wooden House in Pitts Burghs rundown Homewood neighbourhood looks like any other on the Block but the sign at the door Masjid Mumin and the rows of shoes lined up inside on Gray plastic shelves hint of the Brand of sunni islam its members practice the mosque is one of seven in Pittsburgh Home to a vibrant Community of about 8000 to 10000 sunni muslims some 30 percent of them Black following what appears to be a trend in cities nationwide religious leaders in Pittsburgh say there has been a Rise in Black con versions to sunni islam since the sept 112001 terror attacks no National surveys have been taken to confirm the increase but islamic religious leaders in Chica go Cleveland and Detroit have also reported growth said Lawrence Mamiya a professor of religion and Africana studies at new Yorks Vassar College experts estimate that 30 percent of the 6 million to 7 million muslims in the us Are Black with Only South asians making up a larger number at 33 percent sunni islam is the worlds most prominent Branch of islam the nation of islam and the moorish science Temple other Muslim groups that attract Many Blacks believe in prophets after Muhammad making them anathema to sunni islam Pittsburgh is Home not Only to Black muslims but also a Broad Community of immigrants who practice the religion however until sept 11 the two communities were isolated after the attacks immigrants to Fri surveillance police raids and other scrutiny began to reach out to Black mus lims in Pittsburgh whose Perselu Keith Muslim men gather for Friday prayers March 9 at the Masjid Mumin mosque in Pittsburgh Tion they could suddenly relate to said Sarah Jameela Martin 64 an Active member of the cites Black Muslim Community now As immigrant and Black muslims in Pittsburgh try to improve the religions image and separate it from global terrorism Blacks Are paving the Way mar tin said Frank Franklin forensic pathologist professor James Starrs left looks on with coauthors of the secret life of Houdini Larry Sloman Center and William Kalush right before measuring Houdini grave site thursday in Queens by exhumation could Tell if Houdini was killed the associated press new York the circumstances surrounding Harry Houdini sudden death were As murky As the Rivers where he often performed death defying stunts despite a medical explanation rumours that the virtuoso escape artist had been murdered soon took on a life of their own nearly 81 years after Houdini died on Hallow Een great Nephew wants to exhume his renowned relatives body to determine whether ene Mies poisoned him for debunking their bogus claims of Contact with the dead a team of top level forensic investigators would conduct new tests once Houdini body was disinterred the legendary stars relative told the associated press prominent new York lawyer Joseph Tacopina who is assisting the family in Clearing any Legal hurdles to the exhumation said at a news conference Friday that paperwork necessary for the exhumation would be filed in court on monday the generally accepted version of Houdini death held that he suffered a ruptured appendix from a punch in the stomach leading to a fatal Case of Perito Nitis he was 52 rare Butterfly gets safeguarding As trails close at Nevada dunes by Scott Sonner the associated press Reno Nev Federal land manag ers trying to keep a rare Butterfly off the list of endangered species have closed dozens of offload vehicle trails at one of the largest Sand dunes in the West the closure affects about six Square Miles at Sand Mountain recreation area in Western Nevada the dunes shrubs Are the Sand Mountain Blue but Teralys Only known Home the Bureau of land management controls activities at the dunes which Are 600 feet tall and stretch for two Miles their 200 Miles of trails attract an estimated 50000 off readers annually on motorcycles Dune buggies and Al terrain vehicles Bureau officials said they could not say How Many Miles of trails were closed but noted that the main Dune at Sand Mountain where most motorized use occurs will remain open the blk and the fish and wildlife service have been seeking a Compro Mise with offload groups to restrict vehicles since conservationists started petitioning for Federal Protection of the Butterfly in 2004 the blk published the emergency closure order in the Federal Register last week two years after imposing a voluntary measure it will Post signs where travel is prohibited spokesman Mark Struble said Bureau of Uno this undated file image shows the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly at the Sand Mountain recreation area East of Falk Nev its called an emergency restriction so when everybody hears the e word they think we Are shutting the whole Mountain Down that is not the Case Struble said if the old Way continues habitat will continue to degrade and the species will be closer and closer to getting listed conservationists filed a lawsuit in fed eral court in Sacramento Calif in Janu Ary 2006 to try to Force the fish and wildlife service to declare the Butterfly an endangered species Agency officials Are reviewing the Butterfly habitat and could Rule As soon As next month on the proposed list ing the closure is a Good first step to Ward protecting the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly which exists nowhere else in the world said Lisa Belenky staff attorney for arizonans Center for biological diversity which sued along with the Nevada outdoor recreation association and Public employees for environmental responsibility off readers were less enthusiastic Richard Hilton president of friends of Sand Mountain said the closure was kind of pushed on us but probably the Best Deal his group could Hope for it was one of those things where we Felt like any time an environmental group sues offload users usually lose he said some conservationists said that even with 80 percent of the dunes closed there still will be too much intrusion and that More Protection is warranted the real test of the bureaus commit ment to protecting Butterfly habitat will be enforcement said Karen Scham Bach of Public employees for Environ mental responsibility though violators will be subject to up to one year in prison Struble said the initial emphasis will be on distributing maps and educating visitors Soldier returns from Iraq Dies in Accident Airport staff in la accused of stealing Bay Shore by a Soldier who had recently served 18 months in Iraq died in a Freak Accident when he fell Down stairs in his Home a military funeral was scheduled Friday at the first congregational Church in Bay Shore for Paul Hawkes 21 an air Force Security expert who had returned Home less than two weeks ago Hawkes died last week after fracturing his Skull during the fall which occurred after he celebrated St Patricks Day with friends the senior airmans family has honoured his wish made before he went to donate his organs to help others a 25yearold Westchester county Man was set to receive his heart Hawkes who guarded military bases outside Baghdad served with the air National guard 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton los City attorneys office is expected to file Misdemeanour theft charges against a group of screen ers at los Angeles International Airport suspected of steal ing personal items from celebrities and other travellers City attorney Rocky Delgadillom office announced thurs Day they will file cases against 10 Airport employees and one transient eight of the accused workers were Airport screener who have been dismissed from their jobs according to the los Angeles times the alleged victims include hotel heiress Paris Hilton and Singer Keyshia Cole said Nick Velasquez a spokesman for the attorneys office pilfered items include Cartons of cigarettes watches and jewelry me newspaper said from the associated press
