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.

(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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Coronavirus: British Muslims call out ‘double standard’ over government Eid warnings The UK government has come under fire for publishing adverts online urging Muslims to stay home during Eid — despite them adhering to lockdown measures

(Middle East Eye) Adverts posted by the UK government online urging British Muslims to stay home and observe the religious festival of Eid at home have been criticised as a display of “double standards” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. With […]

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

(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 […]

Government & Politics

Mosque loudspeaker saga continues

(Toronto Sun) Last week when I wrote about a single mosque in Toronto using four loudspeakers to declare “Allah is the Greatest” and that there is “No God, but Allah,” I thought it was the case of one mosque, a few zealots […]

Academics & Education

‘Disturbing, Islamophobic’ tweet about call to prayer prompts firing of Peel school council chair Ravi Hooda says his tweet was 'misinterpreted'; has now also been fired from Remax Canada

(CBC) A “disturbing, [Islamophobic] tweet” on the city of Brampton’s decision to allow mosques to broadcast the call to prayer has prompted the Peel District School Board to remove one of its school council chairs and launch an investigation into comments it […]

Fasting

US prison denies some inmates from fasting during Ramadan, rights groups say Some Muslim inmates in Virginia were not able to receive meals before sunrise or at sunset, three rights groups said

(Middle East Eye) A number of Muslim prisoners in Virginia have been denied the right to fast during the holy month of Ramadan because prison management received “too many” requests, three rights groups said. Muslim Advocates, the Islamic Circle of North America’s […]

Banks & Banking

HSBC to block donations to Palestinian aid charity Interpal British bank will no longer process standing orders, in Ramadan blow for one of UK's leading pro-Palestinian aid organisations

(Middle East Eye) British bank HSBC has told customers in the UK that it will stop processing standing order payments to the Palestinian aid charity Interpal from next month. The bank sent out letters earlier this month to account holders who make […]

Arts & Entertainment

Jeff Goldblum faces social media backlash over Islam comments on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ 'Is there something in this religion that is anti-homosexuality? And anti-woman?' the actor and special guest asked during Friday night's episode.

(Hollywood Reporter) Jeff Goldblum has come under fire on social media for asking if Islam was “anti-homosexuality” and “anti-woman” during Friday night’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The comments came after the seven remaining queens on the show, now in its 12th […]

Christians

‘Divisive’: Rights groups accuse Trump of stoking Islamophobia ahead of Ramadan US president suggests Muslims could get preferential treatment during the Muslim holy month, echoing a theme circulating on right-wing Twitter circles

(Middle East Eye) Muslim rights groups have accused US President Donald Trump of stoking Islamophobia after he said there “could be a difference” in how local authorities and politicians enforce coronavirus lockdown measures during the month of Ramadan. During his daily coronavirus news conference on Saturday, Trump referred […]