Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

US may elect first Muslim senator. Why are few Muslims thrilled? Donald Trump-backed Mehmet Oz’s Senate bid fails to produce enthusiasm seen with previous Muslim firsts in US.

(Al-Jazeera) The United States may elect its highest-ranking Muslim official next week — a Donald Trump-backed Republican who has questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 elections. Mehmet Oz, a television personality and retired surgeon of Turkish descent, is running in Pennsylvania against […]

Government & Politics

NGOs call for rejection of IHRA’s anti-Semitism definition in US county A coalition of NGOs are calling for the rejection of a resolution in Montgomery County in Maryland that could make criticism of Israel part of a definition of anti-Semitism, raising wider concerns over free speech.

(New Arab) On a rainy Monday evening at the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, located near Washington, DC, a group of NGOs held a press conference calling on the Council to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, which would […]

Government & Politics

Arab Americans flex their muscles at the US midterms ballot box Arabic voting ballots available in two Michigan cities as Arab Americans enjoy growing political power

(National-UAE) The upcoming US midterm elections serve as a reminder of how far the Arab American demographic has come in gaining political power and influence. In Dearborn, Michigan — the Detroit suburb long considered the heart of America’s Arab American community — […]

Government & Politics

American Muslims in the midterms aren’t long-shot candidates anymore In 2018, a Muslim blue wave emerged in response to Trump. Four years later, many Muslim American candidates are prepping for long careers.

(HuffPost) Abdelnasser Rashid was one of the dozens of American Muslims who ran for office in 2018. It was dubbed the Muslim blue wave, where more than 90 American Muslims ran for office up and down the ballot, emboldened to push back […]

Children & Teens

Four women and 13 children return home to Australia from Syria after secret flight A ‘joyous’ father has been reunited with his daughter and grandchildren after four Islamic State families returned to Australia.

(NCA NewsWire) An emotional man has been reunited with his daughter and grandchildren as four families returned home to Australia after being taken from a camp for Islamic State families in Syria. Seventeen people — four women and 13 children — touched […]

Government & Politics

EU drafts plan to share migrant influx — voluntarily A draft document seen by POLITICO, which is still under discussion, proposes a voluntary relocation of at least 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year.

(Politico) The EU is discussing a proposal for countries to voluntarily relocate a minimum of 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year, according to a draft document seen by POLITICO. The proposal is being crafted by the Czech Republic, which currently holds the […]

Government & Politics

2 women arrested in Canada after coming home from Syrian camp for ISIS fighters’ families 2 women and 2 children were repatriated from northeast Syria, Global Affairs Canada confirms

(CBC) Police have arrested two Canadian women and charged one with terrorism-related offences after the federal government repatriated them from a detention camp in Syria for ISIS fighters’ family members. The RCMP said it arrested Oumaima Chouay on terrorism charges Tuesday night […]

Clothing

London becoming ‘safe refuge for Iranian regime proponents,’ MPs fear Parliament hears of 'substantial rumours' that families of Iran's elite are applying for UK passports to flee to British capital

(National-UAE) The UK Foreign Office has pledged to investigate claims that family members of Iran’s leaders are applying for British passports to seek refuge in London, as protests continue in their country. Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the […]

Academics & Education

Muslim schoolchildren in France often denied food options that fit their faith Court ruling found offering alternate menu choices did not violate secularist principles, argue concerned parents in petition, saying their children often go hungry

(Anadolu) Although the subject gets little media coverage, the problem of food in French school cafeterias is a headache for many parents of Muslim students. Citing their version of secularism, some mayors have decided not to offer alternative menus in school cafeterias. […]

Children & Teens

Al-Hol relatives may seek compensation from Finnish state Three Finnish children remain at the displacement camp in northern Syria, with a UN committee reprimanding Finland for delaying their repatriation.

(Yle) Relatives of Finnish children living in the Al-Hol displacement camp in northern Syria are investigating the possibility of receiving compensation from the Finnish government. The move comes after the UN Child Rights Committee (CRC) last week issued a severe reprimand to […]

Animals

Urgent conference on religious slaughter to be held by European Commission In a document that the participants received, obtained by the Post, the European Commission elaborated that it 'is committed to ensuring freedom of religion or belief in the EU.'

(Jerusalem Post) The European Commission (EC) will hold an urgent conference on Thursday about religious slaughter titled “Freedom of religion with regard to religious slaughter,” the Jerusalem Post has learned. The participants were asked to keep a low profile and not speak […]

Government & Politics

Mehmet Oz faces backlash from Pennsylvania’s Armenian community over Turkish ties Would-be Republican senator's refusal to recognise genocide has made him persona non grata for many Armenian voters

(National-UAE) For many of the roughly 40,000 Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania, the Senate race between Democratic candidate John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz is personal and has become focused on a genocide that occurred during the First World War. Oz, a […]