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Muslims in Marion multimedia project by Jannet Walsh, photographer, Ocala.com, along with reporter Rick Cundiff, was nominated for the Chairman’s Award (Chairman of The New York Times Company) October 2006, New York Times Regional Media Group.
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Above: Jannet, is wearing a hijab, or head covering, pinned and fashioned at the Islamic Center of Ocala, Ocala, Fla., worn only when photographing in the prayer rooms at the mosque.
Layla Aysheh, 14, left, sister Yesmean Ayshen, 12, center and their friend Reham, 14, all of Ocala, proudly wear their hijabs at the end of the year party for Arabic language students and a hijab party for the three young women who are taking on wearing hijabs permanently. – JANNET WALSH/STAR-BANNER, 2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Interfaith Peace Forum, Ocala, FL – Syed Z. Ahmad, standing, a representative of the Islamic faith, along with Larry Collins seated right, takes his turn to speak about this faith. Seated left to right, Rev. E. McKinnon White, a retired Methodist minister representing the Christian faith, and Linda Iacovini, of the Jewish faith. An Interfaith Peace Forum was sponsored by the Marions for Peace at the Ocala Islamic Center, Tuesday evening, Sept. 19, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Dr. Humeraa Qamar, MD, an Ocala pediatrician, originally from Pakistan , Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Dr. Asad Qamar, MD , a cardiologist, originally from Pakistan, talks about his Islamic faith, Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 2, 2006, Ocala FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Rare Redhead: Jamal Fakhoury, 48, Ocala### Redheaded Dr. Jamal Fakhoury, 48, of Ocala, is a chiropractor by profession. American born, Dr. Fakhoury is originally from the Detroit, Michigan area, but spent part of life growing up in the Middle East. A Muslim by faith, has a family heritage with links to Lebanon from his mother’s family and Palestine on his father’s side. Fakhoury has a younger brother with red hair, including his father, both grandfathers, a grandmother and even a daughter with a signs of auburn red hair. Fakhoury is surrounded by Persian rugs at the Cyrus Rug Gallery, in Ocala, Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2005, Ocala, FL, USA. (Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Here are English and Arabic Qurans in a bookcase located next to the entrances to the prayer rooms. The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. Islam project: Azza Mousa of Ocala, right, originally from Egypt, holds her small version of the Koran, written in Arabic, standing outside of the entrance to women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan. She is giving a hug to Natasha Bonthron age 8 at the time of Ramadan, after they finished with prayers. The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Azza Mousa of Ocala, originally from Egypt, holds her small version of the Quan, written in Arabic, the Muslim holy book. She is standing outside of the entrance to women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Islamic Center of Ocala, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Azza Mousa of Ocala, originally from Egypt, holds her small version of the Quan, written in Arabic, the Muslim holy book. She is standing outside of the entrance to women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Islamic Center of Ocala, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Ladies pray in the women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. – Islam project: Ladies finish praying in the women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. – Islam project: Ladies finish praying in the women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. – Islam project: Ladies finish praying in the women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
###Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL.### Islam project: Imam Zafer Sabawi(cq), serving as the Islamic Center of Ocala’s spiritual leader, addresses the community. The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar(cq) and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar(cq) of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. – Islam project: Ladies finish praying in the women’s section of the prayer room at the time of Ramadan The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Ocala Islamic Center, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr. Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Ramadan 2005, evening breaking of fast party Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, Ocala, FL – Islam project: Katya Bonthron of Ocala, was age 7 at the time of Ramadan 2005, gets ready for prayer. The breaking of fasting party, during the holy month of Ramadan in 2005, that involves the fasting of food during the day. The Islamic Center of Ocala, located on Northeast 14th Street, celebrated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 with a party hosted by Dr Humeraa Qamar and her husband Dr. Asad Qamar of Ocala, that included food, prayer, fellowship. In the prayer rooms, men and women are separated by a white curtain, the faithful gather for one of the times of daily prayer, Saturday evening, October 22, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Sana Qamar, age 13, finishes her personal prayers on Sunday with her family in the living room. Her mother is Dr. Humeraa Qamar, a local pediatrician and her father is Dr. Asad Qamar, an area cardiologist, gather for prayer. They are practicing Muslims and active in their local and global community in the area of charity, Sunday morning, Aug. 20, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Drs. Asad and Humeraa Qamar and family at home praying, Ocala, FL, – Dr. Asad Qamar,left, is checking emails on the computer as he talks with his son Ehsun Qamar age 9, right, while resting and enjoy Sunday cartoons on TV is his other son Aadil Qamar age 5. Behind them is Dr. Qamar’s daughter Sana Qamar, age 13, and coloring and drawing is Saad Ahmad age 4, the children’s cousin. They are all practicing Muslims, Sunday morning, Aug. 20, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Drs. Asad and Humeraa Qamar and family at home praying, Ocala, FL, -Dr. Asad Qamar, center, a local cardiologist, leads a morning prayer for family. All family members are practicing Muslims, Sunday morning, Aug. 20, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Drs. Asad and Humeraa Qamar and family at home praying, Ocala, FL, -Dr. Asad Qamar, center, a local cardiologist, leads a morning prayer for family. All family members are practicing Muslims, Sunday morning, Aug. 20, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Islam project: Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Assistant Professor of Religion from the Department of Religion at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. – Islam project: Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Assistant Professor of Religion from the Department of Religion at the University of Florida, stands outside her office door with a large photo on the wall from Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, considered to be one of the holiest places on earth, called the Kaaba. Dr. Simmons, a Doctor of Philosophy, is a practicing Muslim in Sufism, the area of Islam that is considered to be of the mystical aspect of the faith, Monday morning, May 22, 2006, Gainesville, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Iman Zafer Sabawi, spiritual leader for the Ocala Islamic Center, Ocala, FL. – Islam project: Lesa Sutphin, left, wife of Iman Zafer Sabawi, the spiritual leader for the Ocala Islamic Center Ocala , talks about her life and converstion from a Christian to a Muslim. She is joined by her step-daughter Sufeyh Sabawi and daughter of the Iman, wearing the blue hijab, or head scarf, Thursday afternoon, May 11, 2006, Ocala FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006
Ocala Star-Banner – Hijab Party and Arabic studies end of year party at he Islamic Center of Ocala, Ocala, FL. Islam project: Layla Aysheh age 14, right, proudly wears her hijab, a head scarf while some of the young ladies do not. They were all taking the a Arabic language exam for their end of year studies. The three young women, including Aysheh, celebrated with a party for wearing the hijab, a head scarf, permanently, at the Islamic Center of Ocala. It was an end of year party for Arabic language studies and a Hijab Party for three young women taking on wearing the hijab, a head scarf, permanently, Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2006, Ocala FL.
NEWS – Quran from Masjid Darul-Islam of Ocala, – The is detail in the Quran, written in Arabic, and is the sacred text of Islam, considered by Muslims to contain the revelations of God to Muhammad. This Quaran is located at Masjid Darul-Islam of Ocala, located on West State Road 40,Ocala, Fla. Thursday afternoon, July 28, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005
NEWS – Quran from Masjid Darul-Islam of Ocala, – The is detail in the Quran, written in Arabic, and is the sacred text of Islam, considered by Muslims to contain the revelations of God to Muhammad. This Quaran is located at Masjid Darul-Islam of Ocala, located on West State Road 40,Ocala, Fla. Thursday afternoon, July 28, 2005, Ocala, FL. ( Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005
Rare Redhead: Jamal Fakhoury, 48, Ocala – Redheaded Dr. Jamal Fakhoury, 48, right, of Ocala, is a chiropractor by profession, poses with his mother Marian Fakhoury, of Ocala. American born, Dr. Fakhoury is originally from the Detroit, Michigan area, but spent part of life growing up in the Middle East. A Muslim by faith, has a heritage with links to Lebanon from his mother’s family and Palestine on his father’s side. Fakhoury has a younger brother Omar Fakhoury, of Ocala, with red hair, including his father, both grandfathers, a grandmother and even a daughter with a signs of auburn red hair. Fakhoury is surrounded by Persian rugs at the Cyrus Rug Gallery, in Ocala, Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2005, Ocala, FL, USA. (Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005
Jannet Walsh 