[OT]Mosques Closed; Muslims gone: Attack imminent?

[camasprairiegirl]

Please check any local mosques in your area. We are getting reports from exiting Washington state residents in Seattle area, that mosques in their area are shut down tight, with everyone gone. Since this was right after the OBL tape was aired, does this mean another attack is imminent? The lines at the Flying J truck stop in Lewiston, Idaho yesterday afternoon was solid Washington residents, one guy we talked to said he had been there for two hours waiting in line for gas. One guy said he could never remember a time when the mosques was locked up tight. Is this just a fluke or has OBL warned the Muslims and they have bagged ass?

I would be interested to hear if other mosques are closed, especially in the western Washington area, but anywhere. Not sure what we can do about it, but the overall feeling of the people we talked to yesterday afternoon, said there was no way they were staying in the Seattle over the New Year. This does not do anything for the overpowering feelings and sense of urgency felt lately!!

Get ready to get ready!!! As if we haven't heard that enough lately.


edited to add topic header

[ittybit]

A very good question. Hope to hear from others. Have to ask if they have been locked since Ramadan or not...is this a change or are we just now noticing they are closed.

[Redeye]

Oh, frak. Looks like this thread just got nominated for the hit-count winner for the day.
Camasprairiegirl, darn good heads-up! Thanks.
R

[jed brulen]

I don't think Muslims are stupid people. They know someone is getting ready to ride the tiger. If there was a message in the bin laden tape it was probably about the umma. Looking it up some more I found it refers more to 'people' than nation. Osama hit the mark in that observation. He aims, he fires, he scores.

[Dorothy Davis]

Okay. A neighbor said he saw a Muslim woman wearing a Burka yesterday at a K-Mart - he's not an informed person so he didn't notice what she had in her cart. But evidently - they were in town yesterday at least. Her cart may have been loaded with TP and bottled water - but my neighbor would not have noticed.

Let's see: should I put on my best ME accent and call the local mosque asking, "Is the mosque going to be open during the next few days?"

Better yet - if they're remaining open - are they expecting lots of visitors?

[camasprairiegirl]

Ittybit:

They were first noticed to be closed on Wednesday, the day after Christmas.

[jmh]

The question is ...

Are mosques USUALLY closed over the New Year's holiday??

[day late]

jmh,

I cann't say about ALL mosques, or even ALL of islam, however the Iranian New Year is on March 20. Same as Mrs. lates birthday.

[susie_q]

camasprairiegirl, I live in eastern WA. and haven't heard a word about this...but I'm on alert now! will return if I can find any info. it doesn't make sense that the mosques would be closed...for what reason? other than danger lurks? thanks for the heads up.

[chairborne commando]

Well, there have been some incidents at the
Seattle Mosque-fights and even a stabbing.

However, being a Seattle resident, I, too,
would really, really be interested in whether
or not this is a widespread phenomena.

Seattle isn't exactly considered to be a major national treasure (uh...where?),but I suppose Microsoft and Bill Gates might be considered economic symbols. Redmond/Kirkland/Bellevue
members please excuse the wide brush.

[BB]

Doing a google search to see if there is a pattern or just in W. Wash.

What I've found so far is that Mosques were closed right after 9-11, so there is a history of them closing if they fear attacks against THEM. I haven't found anything about them closing for holidays. I'll let you know.

If you want to look at the bigger picture. It is interesting the Pakistan and India are in a face off. Maybe their intelligence is telling them that something is up for New Year's Eve. I expect that when one of the hotspots breaks, the rest will break at the same time.

Thanks CPG. Hopefully there is nothing to this.

[Onebyone]

Isn't it Loon that lives in the midst of a bunch of Arabs in Michigan I think it is?

Where is Loon? That area could be checked for several.

Thanks for the heads up.

[dragnet]

The Mosque/Muslim school here(NE PA)was closed shortly after 9-11.Mainly due to the teachers molesting the students (children)then fleeing the area before the warrants were served.As far as I know they have disappeared into the Muslim underground and haven't been caught yet.

[expose']

I don't know....but the Muslims just had a huge conference in Chicago.....check out the speaker roster. If the muslims started bugging out the day after the conference ended..which would have been December 26th????Could be a heads up? Hmmmm.


SPEAKERS FOR DECEMBER 2001 IAP 5TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO

The following is a list of confirmed speakers and moderators for the Arabic, English, and Youth Programs for the upcoming IAP convention Dec 21-25.

1. Shuhail El-Ghonoshi, PhD, President of Muslim American Society (MAS)
2. Agha Saeed, PhD in Politics and President of American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
3. Hani Al-Hasan, PLO Leader and Advisor to Yasser Arafat
4. Wagdi Ghunaim, Islamic Scholar
5. Abbas Hamidah, Palestine Right of Return Coalition (Al-Awada)
6. Sami Al-Arian, PhD, Civil Rights Activist and President of National
Coalition for the Protection of Political Freedom (NCPPF)
7. Graham Fuller, former CIA director on the Middle-East, Expert from RAND
in Islamic Movements, West and Islam
8. Laura Drake, PhD in Middle-East and Palestine Affairs
9. Shaker Assayed, PhD, Secretary General of Muslim American Society (MAS)
10. Tom Pushari, Los Angeles Research Center and Expert on the Issue of
Palestine
11. Salah Sultan, PhD in Shariah, President of the Islamic American
University (IAU)
12. Ahmad Yousef, PhD in Journalism and President of United Association for
Studies and Research (UASR)
13. Muhammad Al-Hanouti, Islamic Scholar
14. Stanley Cohn, Lawyer in Civil Rights
15. Aminah McCloud, PhD in History
16. Jamal Said, Imam of Mosque Foundation in Chicago
17. Sabri Samirah, PhD in Politics and President of the United Muslim
Americans Association (UMAA)
18. Yaser Bushnaq, President of Solidarity International USA
19. Ziad Hamdan, Political Expert on Islam and Palestine
20. Rafeeq Jaber, President of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
21. Hatem Bazian, PhD in Comparative Religion and Expert on Palestine
22. Osama Abu-Irshid, Political Analyst and Editor of Zaytouna
23. Abdullah Madyun, Imam of Indiana Mosque
24. Altaf Hussain, President of National Muslim Student Association (MSA)
25. Ameen Fateh, Imam and Chairman of the Association of Islamic Scholars in
America
26. Amer Haleem, Interpreter of the Quran and Director for the Quranic
Literacy Institute (QLI)
27. Ashraf Nubani, Lawyer and Civil Rights Activist
28. Basman Dahleh, Organizer of Youth Programs
29. Johari ibn Seale, Imam of Howard University Chapel in DC
30. Ismail Muhammad, Minister for Nation of Islam in Chicago
31. Saif Abdelrahman, Lawyer and Youth Organizer
32. Seema Imam, PhD in Education, and Secretary of the Muslim American for
Civil Rights and Legal Defense (MACRLD)
33. Tareq Abu Ghazaleh, Expert on Palestinian Refugees
34. Raeed Tayeh, Journalist and Organizer of Youth Programs
35. Abdelbaset Hamayel, Secretary General of the IAP
36. Kifah Mustafa, Imam and Islamic Activist
37. Manal El-Hrisse, Political Activist and Organizer of Youth Programs
38. Ribhi Huzain, Organizer of Youth Programs
39. Isa Taiym, Organizer of Youth Programs
40. Rawa Ghabayen, Organizer of Youth Programs

Unconfirmed Invited Speakers and Moderators as of Dec 13, 2001: (Some is still
working on their traveling plans for overseas, and promised to come a day at
least to the convention. We shall keep you informed.)

41. Jamal Badawi, PhD, Islamic Scholar
42. Abdullah Idris, Educator and former President of Islamic Society of
North America (ISNA)
43. Mustafa Barghouthi, PhD, President of the Research Center in Rammallah
44. Louis Farrakhan, Minister of the Nation of Islam
45. Hasher Ibn Maktoum, United Arab Emirates Prince, and President of
Dubai's Division of Media
46. Abdelazeem Elssiddiq, PhD in Theology, Educator, and Chairman of UMAA
47. Khaled Turaani, President of the American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ)
48. Allison Weir, Freelance Journalist and Expert on Palestine
49. Fathi Zubaidi, PhD, Religious Programs Director for UAE TV's and Radios.
50. Karim Irfan, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater
Chicago (CIOGC)

American Muslims: A Bridge of Understanding & Cooperation
(IAP) 5th Annual Convention
Chicago, 21-25 December 2001
Holiday Inn, O'Hare International

Back To: www.iap.org

[ittybit]

Assuming that folks who run mosques may be inclined to travel to national conferences one would assume that any mosque closings might be related to staff being absent to attend said conferences.

The Chicago conference was scheduled for Dec 21 through 25. If mosques were closed prior to the 21st one might assume that the closings were due to staff absenses. However it appears that some mosques closed after staff returned from Chicago, not before. Maybe they were tired afterwards or needed to have staff meetings with those who did not go to the conferences to bring information back to those staff. That is possible.

There are a number of possible reasons for closing mosques and I would hesitate to paint with a broad brush since we do not have alot of clarity on this. It is something to watch and research IMO.

[Squirrel Hunter]

Trying to figure why the gas lines at the Flying J Truckstop in Lewiston, Idaho, relate to closed mosques in Seattle .......??? Is the idea that all the moslems head due east over the Cascades in some of the heaviest snow on record, cross the prairie and line up at the Flying J for the next leg of the journey. Wouldn't we see a horde of burkhas on the streets of Portland here, or at the border into Vancouver?

Okay, I guess its WA honkies lined up a the Flying J, but I still don't get it. Camasprairiegirl -- how many reports of closed mosques? One? two? Two dozen?

[Dennis Olson]

SH, you live in Portland? Where 'bouts? I lived there all my life until '97. First in St Johns, then Parkrose, and finally Oregon City. Spent a couple of years in Lebanon before bailing the hell out. The job situation SUKS in Portland. Nearly all the time. I just read where PDX's unemployment rate was about 6.5%. Ugly.

(/thread drift)

[Meemur]

I posted an alert for Loon at Inner Connections. If anyone can phone her, that would be good, too.

[Squirrel Hunter]

;^) Dennis! Worst unemployment in the nation right now, and I'm only part-employed myself until I hit the bread-lines probably in February! Raised in Portland until a lad of 8 years, up in NW near the fringe of Forest Park, then my parents moved the household out into the country, west toward the coast, when our Portland neighborhood went "herbal" in he late '60s. Married, moved back into town in 1988 or so, still NW, until 1991, then back to the country. I worked last year at Gunderson, Inc, down on the water-front (took my breaks looking wistfully up at U of P and St. Johns) and now am handling Zoo-lights at the Oregon ZOO!!!! ;^)

[Onebyone]

Thanks for leaving Loon the message Meemur

[Dennis Olson]

I used to LOVE going to the zoo. (It was called the "Portland Zoological Gardens"). I remember the Ladybug Theater and the children's zoo. I loved the train rides to Washington Park.

Wow. Small world. And Portland has been a tough city to get work in, for as long as I remember. All the burger-flipping jobs you want, but for a PREFESSIONAL? No way. (That's because all the Kaliforniators move up there when the SoKal toilet flushes, when their economy tanks. Tough for a mere BSEE to compete with all those Masters and PhD's, flush with cash from SoKal.)

And don't even get me started on housing costs or trying (these days) to find a "nice quiet campsite" anywhere in the state. Oregon has changed in the past 20 years, and NOT for the better. Governor Tom McCall (the last politician I ever trusted) had it right...



Again, sorry for the thread drift...

[camasprairiegirl]

There were no Muslims noticed in all the people at the Flying J. Talked to two different families who were leaving specifically because of two seperate mosques being shut down. One near Lake Washington, and one below Sumner. They thought it was just too coincidental where the OBL tape had just come into the limelight, saying "the end is imminent". Lots of conversation going on between all the various people waiting to get gas, and the general concensus was to get the h*ll out of Dodge over the New Year holiday.

[Onebyone]

"The end is imminent"

I don't have cable to have seen the tape of OBL. Does anyone know if OBL words on the tape are posted anywhere? If we had a thread on it then I missed it due to the season activities and my daughter's birthday activies this week. Sure would like to read it.

[Dennis Olson]

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...threadid=17028

[Albuburbia]

I checked out what appears to be our one and only mosque during my lunch break. Never saw it before, but was not impressed. The Islamic Center of NM is a DUMP! It looks like an old doctors' office building. If there is money coming into this place, they are certainly not flaunting it on building maintenance or landscaping. There were 2 vehicles in the south parking lot, a crappy sedan and a crappier blue Ford van. I saw a few vehicles in the north lot, but they were far from the building and might have been from people who worked at nearby businesses just using the parking lot. One thing that did catch my eye, though, was a spread of what appeared to be Christmas lights. They were strung across the top, spanning an area between two high spots, and almost seemed to be spelling something out. Being daylight, I couldn't tell what it said or if it was even in English. No humans seen.

[Pineapple]

I agree that it would be useful to know how many mosques have closed up. If it is only a couple, it mighte be muslims are afraid that anger over the last tape would renew anger against them. On the other hand, if they just closed today, or there are many, it would be very odd, considering Friday is a Holy day to muslims.

[potemkin]

One of the Islamic website I check, Islam Online, seems to have pulled the plug.

http://www.islam-online.com/

It was operational two days ago. It is in Richardson, Tx. (Near Dallas) Their registration is good until June 28, 2003.

<i>InfoCom Corp. (ISLAM-ONLINE3-DOM)
630 International Pkwy. #100
Richardson, TX 75081
US</i>

The other, Islam Online.net is still operational but it is based out of Doha, Quatar.

<i>Islam On Line (ISLAM-ONLINE-DOM)
P.O. Box 13085
Doha,
QA</i>

Ajeeb.com, http://www.ajeeb.com, seems to be OK but again it is in the Middle East, Cairo Egypt.

<i>Sakhr Software Company (AJEEB-DOM)
Sakhr Building Free Zone
Nasr City, Cairo -
EG</i>

[STFrancis]

potemkin,

I could be wrong but the InfoCom group was the one shut down by the Feds for being a collection agency for osma ben butthead...

To busy at work to do a websearch on it... but check the dallas morning news or fort worth star telegram on it...


Blessings..

[CeeBee]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but from the content of this thread so far...

There's nothing to this but an unsubstantiated SPECULATION?

Not even a unsupported rumor, really?

And yet this topic has a huge hit count?

Talk about yer paranoia.

[Loon]

I'm here. Just got in. I went to the Yellow Pages and looked to see how many mosques there are around here. I printed out the names and addresses of about 50 of them within a fifteen mile area of me. I will go take a ride around and see what's up. I'm not real sure if they're normally open during the week anyway. I'll stop by Aldi's first. If there are any muslums around out and about they'll be there shopping

Will check back later.

byeeeeeee

[expose']

Here is a website that lists Mosques of Washington state

Mosques of the State of Washington

---http://www.idrismosque.com/masajidingreaterseattlearea.html-----------------------------------------------------------------------------



Masajid in Greater Seattle Area

Idris Mosque (Northgate)
1420 NE Northgate Way
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 363 - 3013

Masjid Omar Al-Farooq (Mountlake Terrace)
5507 235th St. SW
(425) 776 - 6162

East Side Masjid (Bellevue)
14700 Main St.
(425) 746 - 0398

Masjid Jamiul Muslimin (Cham Masjid)
5945 39th South
(206) 723 - 7677

Masjid Al-Taqwa (Downtown Seattle)
2210 E Union
(206) 726 - 1609

Redmond Musala
9445 Avondale Rd
(425) 895 - 9147

SeaTac Masjid
3040 South 150th St.

West Seattle Masjid
Masjid Al-Tawheed (West Seattle)
1022 South West Henderson
Seattle, WA 98106
Tel 206 763-2239

The Islamic School
The Islamic School of Seattle (ISS)
720 25th Avenue
P. O. Box 22477
Seattle, WA 98122-0477
Tel / Fax: (206) 329-5735

Islamic Center of Kent
20857 108 Ave.
Kent, WA 98031
253-850-2260
Jama'at Al-Ikhlas
1350 East First.
Seattle, WA 98122
Tel: (206) 322-6246

Masjed Abu Bakr
7713 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA
Tel: (206) 726-1609

Downtown Muslim Association
811 5th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
Tel: (206) 781-3537




Tacoma, WA

Islamic Center of Tacoma
2010 Bridgeport Ave.
SW University Place, WA 98409
Tel: (253) 565-0314

Mas'alah Muslim Center
1218 martin Luther King way
Tacoma, WA 98405
Tel: (253) 779-2443




Olympia, WA

Islamic Center of Olymbia
Masjed Al-Nur
4324 20th lane NE
Olympia, WA 98516
Tel: (360) 459-1993

Lacey Islamic Center
7945 Pacific Ave SE
Olympia, WA, 98513
Tel: (360) 438-3570




Pullman, WA
Masjed Al_Farouq
NE 155 Stadium Way
Pullman, WA, 99163
Tel: (509) 334-9424




Spokane, WA
Spokane Islamic Center
East 505 Wedgewood
Spokane, WA, 99208
Tel: (509) 482-2608




Vancouver, WA
Islamic Society of South West Washington
711 NE 43rd
Vancouver, WA, 98661
Tel: (360) 694-7799











--------------------------------------------------------------------------------







Introduction Mosque Services and Activities Prayer's Schedule


Tel. (206) 363-3013
Fax (206) 361-9493
idrismosque@usa.net
Our Location:
1420 NE Northgate Way
Seattle, WA 98125

[Kip Brisbois]

I just called the one In Spokane, Wa. and they are open for business as usual.

Kip

[BB]

Have to agree with CeeBee. No substance I can find.

Kip: Spokane is in E. Wash, out of the loop of danger I would suspect.

[Kip Brisbois]

Spokane is home of the biggest air refueling base in the country. Not to mention the USAF survival school. I am not concerned. I think all Mosques would be closed.

Kip

[jed brulen]

If there are any mosques in Ny where I am they must be invisible. I can't find a single one in the phone books under churches within 80 miles (after 80 who knows). Guess I am safe from that contagion. Its the first time I've ever looked in the yellow pages for churches. I was quite startled to see though there's a Native American Church not far from me. Wonder if they have any good peyote.....hmmmmm

[Albuburbia]

Jed, try under "M" for Mosques. That's where I found the local one here.

[The Flying Dutchman]

With Friday being the Islam / Moslem sabath! I would well imagine that their parking lots would be filled...

"As for mr...I shall finish the Game"!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Dorothy Davis]

Well heck, CeeBee - ain't we havin' loads of fun though!

Camasprairiegirl said, "Talked to two different families who were leaving specifically because of two seperate mosques being shut down. One near Lake Washington, and one below Sumner. They thought it was just too coincidental where the OBL tape had just come into the limelight, saying "the end is imminent"."

Hold on now....are you telling me you stopped at a truck stop and "just happened upon" two different families interested in and knowledgeable about bin Laden's latest comments? You said they were leaving "specifically" because of two separate mosques being shut down? As though - they might be informed - like some here are?? Did I hear you correctly?

Washington state must have a higher literacy rate than my area if you can find hair-raising conversation that easily. Most in my area probably haven't even heard he put out another tape yet.

As to Dennis Olson's thread drift - I'll add my two cents. I lived in Portland once too and remember some of the places you and Squirrel Hunter mentioned. Hall St. Bar and Grill was one of my favorite restaurants with great fresh fish! Tualatin Valley wine was good too. Is Fred Meyers still going strong there? Or has it gone downhill? I keep hoping I'll see that chain crop up in other parts of the good 'ole US of A one day - one stop shopping suits me fine.

I miss some things, but prefer year-round sunshine so I left long ago. Californians moving to other parts of the country create problems for those indigenous to an area. They sell their houses, get mega bucks, and when they arrive in droves - housing prices shoot up like crazy. They usually can afford just about anything it seems. The best thing about CA being next door to OR is that you guys get some great produce and avocados.

So much for thread drift. Well hey! Its Christmas holidays and everyone's visiting around the country, right? Same thing on this board....

[Loon]

No mosques closed here and we still have an overflow of muslims. I'm back. I started out going to Aldi's which is about 6 blocks from my house. I sat in the parking lot for a while and observed who was going in and out. I saw plenty of Arabs. I saw 6 middle eastern men loading tons of groceries in their beat up old car. I also some some Arab women going in. I left Aldi's and drove up to Joy road and then drove down to the 15000 block where the Islamic Center of America is. I turned into the driveway and noticed through the front glass door a woman working in what appeared to be an office. I drove all around the building. There were only two vehicles in the parking lot. There are bars on all the windows.....not in the best neighborhood. I gather they are not closed since there were some people there. I then turned down Greefield and drove by a Muslim Community Center. I observed 7 Arab women walking in accompanied by a few kids. I then drove down to Warren turning east. I drove by Karbalaa Iec mosque. It was open. I could see through the glass doors there were many men and some young boys in there. I'm in Dearborn now where most of the Arabs live around here. Virtually all the businesses are owned by Arabs. None of them were closed. I drove by dozens and dozens of them........beauty shops, gas stations, fruit markets, restaurants, bakeries, meat markets, etc. Stopped by The Hassam Bakery and got a loaf of bread and some coffee. There were a few Arab families in there having dinner. Everything seemed very normal. Drove by the Islamic Library which was still opened and there were people about. On the way home I came down Ford road and drove past the Muslim American Youth Academy. It was open and cars in the lot. I didn't observe anything out of the ordinary at all......except it's snowing to beat the band here. Nice huge old snowflakes. I didn't go to any more on my list since the weather is bad. I saw enough myself not to be concerned about this report.

I had my dog, Buffy, with me and she enjoyed the nice long ride. I think she makes a pretty good spy too!

[Squirrel Hunter]

Thread Drift Alert: DD and DO: we'll have to set up our own Hi Pri thread for any more of this nostalgia :^)

Dorothy: here's a tiny update on Portland in the last few years:

Everything Dennis said about the job situation is true: and you too: the Californias invaded again after the last big SF earthquake -- was it 1992? Moved into downtown and into Bend, drove property values and taxes out of sight, displaced many Portland locals to the hinterlands eventually .......

Blitz Weinhard was bought out (I think it was Schlitz or Miller) in 1998 and then closed down, so you can no longer idle away a morning on the downtown streets to the tangy aroma of brewing hops ....aaahhhhhhhhh: THAT was living! Brewery is being retrofitted and rehabbed into office spaces I suppose it is.

Downtown still vibrant despite recession now hitting hard: new streetcar system coordinated with MAX lightrail opened this fall, has becone VERY popular already; while MAX just opened a new light-rail line to the airport;

Moyers bought out the block between Broadway and 8th, and Taylor and Morrison, and built a new highrise; eliminating such colorful hotspots as the Vat and Tonsure.

Powell's downtown now occupies an entire City Block

The Pearl District has just been through a major urban renewal project: that area, like soooo many others of the city, looks just great and are largely occupied ......

Freddy's is GOING STRONG, and recently bought out Krogers in the Mid-West. Freddy's is everywhere now, including Tillamook, McMinnville, Cornelius -- you name it. DD, a great place to get your Chinese import schlock!!! Public Employee Retirement Fund is heavily invested in Freddy's - and so Freddy's get WHATEVER FREDDY'S WANTS!!

NW Portland has become VEEERY very trendy, lots of specialty shops especially on 23rd and 21st, and new condo and loft units everywhere. In fact, everything has been seeming trendy, chique and high-priced, and our real estate boom is still echoing even while many areas I hear it has slowed down .....

While I now live out in the wine country, and new a few of the vinters (including one at Tualatin Hills) the best regional wine (IMO) is out of Eola Hills Vineyards down around Rickreall -- the very BEST desert wines and late harvest vintages. MMm-mmmm!!

Etc.

Now back to our regularly scheduled crisis ......