Government & Politics

As US refocuses anti-extremism programs on far right, many Muslims still oppose them After the Capitol attack, the Biden White House called for countering violent extremism programs to shift to a focus on white supremacists. But Muslim groups say the programs are still a waste of resources.

(Religion News) The storming of the U.S. Capitol brought renewed attention to the threat of far-right and white supremacist groups in the nation, prompting the Biden administration to consider applying counterterrorism-focused programs that have for years targeted Muslim communities. Many in the […]

Government & Politics

Biden’s move to expand refugee admissions is his most unpopular executive action so far Tracking of 28 executive actions puts refugee cap increase at bottom of list

(Morning Consult) President Joe Biden’s first weeks in office have been marked by a customary series of executive actions that voters have largely embraced, with one notable exception: last week’s move to greatly expand the number of refugees allowed into the country. […]

Government & Politics

GOP lawmakers seek to remove Omar from committees as Dems press to drop Taylor Greene from panel Republicans argue that Omar has made anti-Semitic comments that are grounds for dismissal

(Fox) House GOP lawmakers are seeking this week to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her committee assignments as Democrats push for similar action against embattled Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Fox News has learned. The House is […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Vox party account suspended for tweet violating hate speech rules Twitter has suspended the official account of Spain’s right-wing Vox party for a tweet on Islamic immigration that they say violated its hate speech rules.

(Euro Weekly) The tech giant Twitter said that they had briefly suspended the official account of Spain’s right-wing Vox party as one of their tweets had violated their hate speech policy. In order to unlock their account, the company said, all the […]

Government & Politics

Barred from U.S. under Trump, Muslims exult in Biden’s open door Few foreigners welcomed President Biden’s election victory as enthusiastically as the tens of thousands of Muslims who have been locked out of the United States for the past four years.

(NY Times) As the results of the American presidential election rolled in on Nov. 4, a young Sudanese couple sat up through the night in their small town south of Khartoum, eyes glued to the television as state tallies were declared, watching […]

Government & Politics

Regulator satisfied with Islamic Relief’s response to antisemitic comments by former leaders The Charity Commission opened a case into the charity after offensive comments by former senior figures came to light

(Third Sector) The Charity Commission has declared itself satisfied with the response of Islamic Relief Worldwide to antisemitic comments made by former senior leaders. It comes as the charity said it had requested a meeting with President Biden’s new administration after the outgoing Trump […]

Government & Politics

Biden reversing travel ban for Muslim countries ‘very disappointing’: Chad Wolf The former acting DHS secretary argues 'it's going to make the American people less safe'

(Fox) Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf argued on Wednesday that President Biden’s intention to revoke Donald Trump’s travel bans for majority-Muslim countries is “going to make the American people less safe.” Speaking on “America Reports” shortly after Biden took the oath of office […]

Demonstrations

Rights group calls on US Muslims to be ‘extra vigilant’ in wake of Capitol riot Council on American-Islamic Relations says threat posed by far-right white supremacist violence is high and Muslims may be targets

(Middle East Eye) A leading Muslim-American civil rights and advocacy group urged Muslims to remain “extra vigilant” until the end of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration amid a threat of white supremacist violence. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said on Wednesday that the […]

Children & Teens

Trump signs anti-female genital mutilation law that increases punishment of perpetrators The new law says female genital mutilation is 'a form of child abuse, gender discrimination and violence'

(Fox) A new law that its backers called a pivotal step in protecting vulnerable young women and girls across the United States from the “barbaric and medically unnecessary procedure” of female genital mutilation was signed into law by President Trump on [Tuesday]. […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim group decries Trump’s pardon of contractors It ‘is an unconscionable act of moral insanity,' says CAIR's head about Blackwater contractors

(Anadolu) The US’s largest Muslim civil rights organization on Wednesday condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to grant clemency to four former Blackwater contractors convicted of killing Iraqi civilians. National executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Nihad Awad said the […]

Government & Politics

US elections 2020: Muslims in state of Georgia mobilise for Senate runoff As early voting begins, the contest will have implications on issues of Islamophobia, police reform and systemic racism across US

(Middle East Eye) Ahead of the consequential US Senate race in Georgia next month, Muslim organisers and community members in the state are coming together to mobilise Muslims to vote for the upcoming election, which will decide which political party will have […]

Government & Politics

Sen. Cruz reintroduces act to designate Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group 'Since the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Brotherhood-affiliated groups have consistently preached and incited hatred against Christians, Jews and other Muslims' — Sen. Jim Inhofe.

(Jerusalem Post) Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) reintroduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act this week, his office announced on Wednesday. The act urges the US State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). “I am proud to […]