Government & Politics

Hassan Diab urges federal government to settle $90 million claim alleging ‘wrongful extradition’ Diab was held for years in a French jail as part of a terrorism investigation that failed due to weak evidence

(CBC) Hassan Diab filed a statement of claim today seeking $90 million from the federal government over the role Canada played in his extradition to France — but his lawyer says the best outcome for everyone would be a speedy out-of-court settlement. […]

News: North America

Ottawa terrorist accused of trying to radicalize inmates released from prison, living in Calgary halfway house A parole board member described his potential harm to others and national security as exceptional.

(Ottawa Citizen) Carlos Larmond, the Ottawa terror twin jailed in 2016 for trying to leave the country to fight for the Islamic State, and later accused of trying to radicalize other inmates, has been released from prison and is living quietly at […]

Academics & Education

EMSB says it won’t accept federally backed funding to fight pair of Quebec laws Even though the Court Challenges Program is independent, Quebec's premier called on Ottawa to intervene

(CBC) The English Montreal School Board says it will not take the $250,000 it was offered by the federally backed Court Challenges Program to fight two Quebec laws that the board contends go against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In […]

Academics & Education

Legault government up in arms after EMSB awarded federal funds to fight pair of Quebec laws Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says funding is allocated by program independent of federal government

(CBC) The Quebec government says Ottawa has some explaining to do after it was revealed that the English Montreal School Board is funding two separate legal challenges of provincial laws with federal tax dollars. “We need an explanation from the federal government,” […]

Government & Politics

Sanders touts endorsement from Iowa Dem who defended convicted terrorist Hillary Clinton returned donations and denounced the American Muslim Alliance. Now, Sanders embraces its leader.

(Free Beacon) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders touted the endorsement of Ako Abdul-Samad, who once defended an al Qaeda propagandist and runs a Muslim-American organization so controversial that other Democrats have returned its donations. “I’m honored to have Rep. Abdul-Samad’s endorsement,” Sen. […]

Government & Politics

US election 2020: At one Iowa mosque, almost all caucus votes went to Bernie Sanders Muslim-Americans came out overwhelmingly in support of Sanders at mosque in Des Moines

(Middle East Eye) “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.” The Muslim call for prayer, known as adhan, echoed through the Muslim Community Organization in Iowa as voters stood in a registration line outside the prayer hall, waiting to attend the Democratic Party’s caucuses at […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar takes Bernie Sanders’ message to Iowa mosque 'It's not about somebody else. This election cycle is about us,' US congresswoman tells Muslim Americans

(Middle East Eye) If Muslim-Americans want to become “visible” and elevate their issues on the decision-making table, they must participate in the upcoming presidential elections. That was Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s message to worshippers at the Muslim Community Organization in Des Moines, Iowa. […]

Government & Politics

Trump administration expands travel ban The White House placed restrictions on immigration from half a dozen additional countries, including Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.

(Politico) President Donald Trump will expand his contentious travel ban, placing new restrictions on six additional countries, just as he embarks on a tough reelection campaign where he will tout his hard-line stance on immigration. Immigrant visas will be suspended for citizens […]

Government & Politics

Bernie Sanders endorsed by Muslim group, Iowa’s sole Muslim state lawmaker The senator from Vermont has been a top contender among Muslim American voters in the Democratic presidential contest.

(HuffPost) The national board of the Muslim Caucus of America as well [as] Iowa state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad announced their endorsements of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for the 2020 presidential election. “What you have here is an individual who stands up for […]

Clerics & Preachers

CAIR-Ga. names new executive director

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Activist, educator and former imam Abdullah Jaber has been named the new executive director of the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Jaber, 29, assumes the post on March 1. Jaber plans to make his first public appearance […]

Children & Teens

Rashida Tlaib retweets unverified claim Israelis killed Palestinian boy The tweet claimed that the boy was kidnapped by 'Israeli settlers, assaulted and thrown in a water well'

(Jerusalem Post) US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib retweeted a claim that “Israeli settlers” had “kidnapped and executed” a Palestinian boy. In fact the boy was found by Israeli emergency services dead in a cistern on Saturday morning after going missing on Friday. Nevertheless, […]

Government & Politics

U.S. border officers were told to target Iranian-born travellers, officer alleges in email U.S. Border Protection has denied detaining Iranian-born travellers and blamed long waits on the holidays

(CBC) U.S. border officers working at multiple Canada-U.S. border crossings were instructed to target and interrogate Iranian-born travellers in early January, said a U.S. border officer in an email obtained by CBC News. The allegation follows reports that up to 200 people of Iranian […]

Government & Politics

Trump weighs travel ban expansion in coming days The Trump administration is eyeing seven countries for new immigration restrictions three years after its original order, which created an uproar for targeting Muslim-majority nations.

(Politico) President Donald Trump may expand his controversial travel ban with an announcement expected as early as Monday, the three-year anniversary of the original order, which targeted several majority-Muslim nations. The list of countries is not yet final and could be changed, […]