Mosques

Demographics

Report: Number of mosques in US grows overall, but African American mosques in decline The majority of America’s new purpose-built mosques are found in suburban areas, a shift that reflects the demographic footprint of Muslims in America.

June 2, 2021   

(Religion News) Increasing numbers of African American mosques are closing, while the overall number of mosques in the United States continues to grow, according to a new report. “The American Mosque 2020: Growing and Evolving,” released Wednesday (June 2), shows key changes […]

Government & Politics

Austria’s Muslim youth file lawsuit against ‘Islam map’ The map, showing the names and location of over 600 mosques and associations in the country, has sparked outcry.

May 29, 2021   

(Deutsche Welle) Muslim Youth Austria (MJO) is filing a lawsuit against the country’s controversial “Map of Political Islam,” the group announced on Saturday. The map, showing the names and location of over 600 mosques and associations in Austria and their possible links abroad, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Austria sparks uproar with ‘Islam map’

May 27, 2021   

(AFP) The Austrian government came under fire Thursday for a new “Islam map” showing the location of mosques and associations around the country, with religious groups saying it would stigmatise Austria’s Muslim population. Earlier, Integration Minister Susanne Raab unveiled an internet website […]

Government & Politics

French Muslim Council’s Israel-Palestinian policy may violate political prohibitions CFCM president called his worshipers to recognize the significance of al-Aqsa Mosque & Jerusalem in the Muslim religion only a few months after standing against politics in places of worship.

May 23, 2021   

(Jerusalem Post) In a possible violation of a prohibition on political discussion in mosques, French Council of Muslim Faith president Mohammed Moussaoui called upon his congregants to take action on the Arab-Israeli conflict and to recognize the significance of al-Aqsa Mosque and […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim groups decry Israeli violence against Palestinians American president, Congress urged to halt US support for Israeli government and institutions

May 9, 2021   

(Anadolu) American Muslim organizations on Sunday strongly condemned Israeli violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has left hundreds of Palestinians injured during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) said it denounced the […]

Crime

Muslim groups mourn and raise money for Colorado shooting victims As further details about the suspect began to emerge, many expressed concern and fear over ramped-up Islamophobia.

March 24, 2021   

(Religion News) Muslim organizations are mourning and raising money for the 10 people killed in the mass shooting on Monday (March 22) at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. The Colorado Muslim Leadership Council on Tuesday released a statement in solidarity […]

Academics & Education

French mosque accused of radicalism to reopen earlier Pantin mosque was closed for six months in October for disseminating video criticizing history teacher before his murder

February 2, 2021   

(Anadolu) The Grand Mosque of Pantin near Paris, closed as part of a crackdown against radical Muslims by the French government in the aftermath of history teacher Samuel Paty’s assassination, will soon be reopened, the interior minister announced Monday. The mosque was […]

Government & Politics

French mayor criticizes decision to shut down mosque Denouncing incompetence of gov't to close mosque in Montmagny, mayor says it has nothing to do with 'radicalism'

January 19, 2021   

(Anadolu) A French city’s mayor has lashed out against the government’s “Islamist separatism” campaign after a mosque in his jurisdiction was accused and shut down to combat radicalism. Patrick Floquet, the mayor of the Montmagny town in northern France, “denounced the incompetence […]

Government & Politics

France cracks down on ‘Islamist separatism,’ shuts down 9 mosques The closing of mosques is part of France’s massive surveillance operation targeting its Muslim minority.

January 17, 2021   

(Morocco World News) French authorities have shut down 9 mosques since the month of December. “Among the 18 places of worship that were particularly monitored at my request, 9 were closed down,” the French minister of interior [Gerald] Darmanin tweeted on January […]

Government & Politics

Morocco slams Belgian minister for accusations of mosque infiltration Morocco’s representative in Belgium calls on the Belgian minister to avoid 'baseless' accusations that can lead to needless tensions with a strategic ally.

January 10, 2021   

(Morocco World News) Morocco has responded to the Belgian Minister of Justice Vincent Van [Quickenborne] after he accused Moroccan intelligence of mosque infiltration. Van Quickenborne, who claimed that Morocco had infiltrated the mosque in Cinquantenaire park in Brussels, described the mosque’s director […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

New French law may increase discrimination France's government is presenting a draft law to combat 'radical Islamism.' Critics say the measures are inefficient and will further stigmatize Muslims.

December 8, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Irfan Thakar and Omar Ahamad feel misunderstood as Muslims in France. They are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Saint-Prix, a northern suburb of Paris. As the imam, the 30-year-old Thakar regularly leads the prayer at the Moubarak mosque, […]

Clerics & Preachers

Renowned imam calls on Muslims to engage with France Prominent Islamic scholar [Mohammed] Abu Zaid has urged Muslims in France to cooperate with the government. But he told DW that the authorities should also foster dialogue with the Muslim community.

December 5, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) France’s latest steps in combating Islamist extremism at home have been closely monitored in Arab countries. The brutal killing of French teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in class, prompted French President Emmanuel […]