News: North America

Demonstrations

Ted Cruz slams Ilhan Omar for ‘opposition’ to antisemitism resolution The Twitter battle between the opposing politicians began when Cruz retweeted a video posted by ABC News of protesters tearing down a statue of Christopher Columbus.

June 13, 2020   

(Jerusalem Post) Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in a Twitter battle between the Republican and the Democrat on Thursday, claiming that if she would like to discuss a genocide, she should discuss the Holocaust and her lack of […]

Academics & Education

Muslim groups call for MUN to take action against ‘[Islamophobe]’ doctor and systemic racism National and provincial groups voice concern over Zachary Kuehner and MUN's response

June 12, 2020   

(CBC) A letter signed by four provincial and national Muslim associations says a doctor accused of making racist comments violated several professional standards, and criticizes Memorial University’s response to the incidents. Zachary Kuehner, a second-year resident at the school, came under fire for his […]

Gender Separation

Muslim women renew calls for more inclusive programs as mosques reopen As the coronavirus pandemic offers time to step back, Muslim Americans rethink how mosques can be more welcoming to women and adapt financially.

June 12, 2020   

(HuffPost) As the coronavirus outbreak spread, mosques, like many houses of worship, were required to close their doors even during the holy month of Ramadan in compliance with statewide shutdowns. American Muslims across the country were forced to celebrate at home. With […]

Academics & Education

MUN students pen letter of complaint against self-professed ‘Islamophobe’ doctor Dean of medicine issues statement without using the word 'racism,' says students didn't file proper complaint

June 9, 2020   

(CBC) On Monday morning, a revised version of Zachary Kuehner’s Twitter bio appeared: “Resident doc, mutt owner, sometimes travel writer.” Deleted from the page was another descriptor that existed until some point over the weekend: “Islamophobe.” This, plus other objectionable comments on social media, […]

Government & Politics

Meet Nabilah Islam, the Bangladeshi American trying to make Georgia progressive Endorsed by Ilhan Omar and AOC, Islam says she's not just trying to flip her district from red to blue, but from red to progressive

June 8, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Nabilah Islam says her family’s one of the lucky ones. As a teenager, her mother, a working-class immigrant from Noakhali, Bangladesh, literally broke her back while trying to hold down two jobs — flipping burgers at one and stacking […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Arabs for Black Lives urges community to do its part against racism New initiative endorsed by Arab artists, academics and organisers calls for eradicating anti-blackness within Arab communities

June 5, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Arab Americans have launched an anti-racism initiative in solidarity with the African-American community as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police last week. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, […]

Government & Politics

New name, same game: American Muslims vow to fight new ‘counter-terror’ initiative Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention programme is just an extension of CVE, advocacy groups say

June 5, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Ahmed Mohamed made headlines five years ago when he brought a homemade clock to his US public high school. A robotics enthusiast, Mohamed loved engineering and had dreams of studying at the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Still, when […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Arab-black relations: Floyd tragedy highlights ties and tensions Debate emerges about responsibilities of Arab American-owned businesses in mostly black neighbourhoods

May 29, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) “Please, please, I can’t breathe,” George Floyd pleaded, gasping for air as a police officer’s knee pressed into his neck for several minutes until his life was lost. Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on Monday has touched the conscience of […]

Academics & Education

Brampton principal ‘temporarily removed’ after alleged Islamophobic remark ​Muslim group says board for Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon didn’t ‘go far enough’

May 28, 2020   

(Brampton Guardian) A national Muslim organization is demanding the public school board for Peel take further action in light of alleged Islamophobic remarks made by a Brampton high school principal. On May 27, Central Peel Secondary School principal Julie DeMaeyer was “temporarily […]

Academics & Education

MCCCD releases report of independent investigation of Scottsdale Community College academic freedom incident Interim school chancellor to ‘take appropriate time’ to consider report, make determination

May 28, 2020   

(Daily Independent) A report has been issued to Maricopa County Community College District Interim Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales detailing facts and findings related to Scottsdale Community College’s response to controversy stemming from quiz questions described as discriminatory to the religion of […]

Government & Politics

Joe Biden’s campaign removes ‘racist’ anti-Palestinian language from platform Passage saying BDS lets Palestinians 'off the hook for their choices' has disappeared from Biden's plan for Jewish-American communities

May 26, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s campaign has watered down an anti-BDS line from his platform for Jewish-American communities, removing “racist” language that angered Palestine solidarity activists. The Biden campaign said in a statement earlier this month that his administration will “firmly reject […]

Government & Politics

Biden’s plan for Muslim Americans: A ‘good start’ but missing policy details Activists call for more specifics from Biden's campaign and urge direct engagement with Muslim community

May 13, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden has released a plan to protect the civil rights of Muslim Americans and reverse some of Donald Trump’s Islamophobic decrees if elected president. The plan, titled “Joe Biden’s agenda for Muslim-American communities,” vows to undo Trump’s Muslim ban on […]

Health & Medicine

Mosques broadcast call to prayer over loudspeakers to boost morale during Ramadan City approved move that mosques hope will raise spirits during Ramadan despite COVID-19 distancing

May 12, 2020   

(CBC) Some Calgary mosques have begun broadcasting a call to prayer over loudspeakers for the first time, to boost morale over Ramadan since large gatherings have been cancelled due to COVID-19. The Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly was the first to do so from […]