AZ: Muslim removed from panel
PHOENIX - Nearly three dozen Muslims held a protest Friday in front of City Hall, spurred in part by the removal of a Muslim man from the Phoenix Human Relations Commission.
The City Council in October removed Marwan Ahmad from the commission. Sabahudin Ceman, imam of the Islamic Center of North Phoenix, was named as Ahmad's replacement.
Mayor Phil Gordon was behind the decision to remove Ahmad, saying that he delivers a message of intolerance against Israel and the Jewish community when the commission's mission is to promote respect and understanding among all groups.
Ahmad publishes the Multicultural Yellow Pages, which excludes references to the Valley's Jewish cultural institutions and replaces Israel with the name Palestine on a Middle East map.
Ahmad said Gordon "has been supportive of Israel, but he removed me because of my . . . views on Israel."
"It's a contradiction, " he said, referring to Gordon attending a Stand by Israel Rally in late October.
At the rally, Gordon said local government needs to stand "proudly with the state of Israel," the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix reported.
Gordon, who regularly meets with members of the Muslim community, said that "serving on the Human Relations Commission is a privilege, not a right."
Hani Rahal, a member of a Muslim coalition, said, "People should not be removed from their positions because of their political views."
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