News: North America

No regret: Captured ISIS fighter wants to come home — but not if he will be judged by Canadian law Some security experts question Canada’s strategy in dealing with returning ISIS members

(CBC) Before he was captured by Syrian Kurdish forces in February, Canadian Mohammed Khalifa went from being a cog in the ranks of ISIS to its English-language voice. Khalifa, 35, who goes by his ISIS nom de guerre Abu Ridwan, says he […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Two Muslim men say American Airlines canceled their flight to DFW because crew ‘didn’t feel comfortable’ flying with them 'Airports are a scary place for Muslims,' says D-FW imam.

(Dallas Morning News) Two Dallas-area Muslim men say their American Airlines flight was canceled because the crew “didn’t feel comfortable” after they waved to one another boarding a flight from Birmingham, Ala., to DFW International Airport. When they got off, they said […]

Demonstrations

Women’s March replaces three original leaders, after anti-Semitism accusations, with 16 board members Calls for the co-chairs to resign arose before the 2019 Women’s March on Washington.

(Washington Post) The Women’s March is replacing three inaugural board members who have been dogged by accusations of anti-Semitism, infighting and financial mismanagement — controversies some say have slowed the organization’s progress and diminished its impact. Co-Chairs Bob Bland, Tamika Mallory and […]

Clerics & Preachers

Hamza Yusuf issues apology for ‘hurting feelings’ with Syria comments It was announced in June that Yusuf would be joining US State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights, which drew even more flak from US Muslims

(Middle East Eye) Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, one of America’s leading Muslim scholars, apologised for “any pain that I caused” over comments he made about Syrian refugees in a 2016 video that emerged on social media earlier this week. In a 10-minute-long statement released […]

Government & Politics

After Israel allows West Bank visit to grandmother, Tlaib says she’s not going Legislator cites ‘humiliating’ terms for family trip, which she’d requested after being denied formal visit with Omar; she’d been blasted by Palestinians for ‘surrender’ to Israel

(Times of Israel) Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib changed her mind Friday on visiting the West Bank, hours after Israel said it would allow her to visit relatives in the Palestinian territory on humanitarian grounds. The about-face was the latest in a series […]

Government & Politics

In climbdown, Israel says Tlaib can enter to visit her Palestinian family Congresswoman to be allowed into the country after she vows to respect ‘any restrictions,’ refrain from promoting a boycott during her stay

(Times of Israel) Interior Minister Aryeh Deri on Friday said he would allow Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, whom Israel barred from visiting the country a day earlier along with her colleague Ilhan Omar, to enter Israel on humanitarian grounds. The decision came […]

Government & Politics

Israel announces US lawmakers Omar and Tlaib will not be allowed to visit Move comes after Trump tweeted that letting them in would ‘show great weakness’; ministry would consider allowing in Tlaib to visit West Bank relatives on humanitarian grounds

(Times of Israel) Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced on Thursday that Israel has decided to deny entry to two US congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, over their support for boycotting the Jewish state. The two had been expected to travel […]

Government & Politics

Israel could bar Omar, Tlaib from visiting, official says Netanyahu discusses thorny issue with AG, top ministers; final decision on the US Congress members lies with interior minister, who has been adamant about banning BDS backers

(Times of Israel) After extensive consultations, the Israeli government may decide not to let US Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib enter the country, an Israeli diplomatic official said Thursday. The planned visit of the two controversial freshman lawmakers has made […]