Source: Middle East Eye – Page 3

‘Inshallah’: Biden uses Arabic expression over release of Trump’s tax returns No foreign policy discussions during the first US presidential debate, in which candidates traded insults and spoke over each other

September 30, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Many Middle East-related policy questions that could affect the lives of millions of people hang on the outcome of the US presidential elections in November: a possible return to the Iran nuclear deal; Washington’s relations with Riyadh; and the White House […]

US congresswoman Betty McCollum receives award for Palestinian children advocacy McCollum thanked American Muslims for Palestine for the 'Champion of Palestinian Rights Award' and accepted it on behalf of 'those who stand up to support human rights for children'

September 16, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) A Palestinian American rights and advocacy group awarded US Congresswoman Betty McCollum on Tuesday with an award for her work advocating for Palestinian human rights. Speaking at the Virtual Palestine Advocacy Day hosted by American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), […]

‘Palestinian self-determination not for sale’: Protesters in US rally against normalisation Hundreds gather outside the White House to condemn normalisation deals between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates

September 15, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) As US President Donald Trump brought together leaders from Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to sign deals to establish diplomatic relations, just outside of the White House, hundreds of Palestinians, civil rights and advocacy groups gathered in […]

Notorious French militant leader arrested by HTS in Syria’s Idlib Omar Omsen, leader of the Firqatul Gharaba brigade, was detained on Saturday, as widening HTS crackdown also targets Hizb ut-Tahrir members

August 31, 2020 Simon Hooper and Harun al-Aswad

(Middle East Eye) A senior French fighter has been detained by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in a new round of arrests by the militant group in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib province. Omar Omsen, the leader of the Firqatul Gharaba brigade, was taken into […]

Muslim group asks for probe into potential voter suppression in New York town Hundreds of ballots from voters with Arabic names were disqualified in Lackawanna, says Council on American-Islamic Relations

August 31, 2020 Sheren Khalel

(Middle East Eye) Arabs and Muslims in a small town in upstate New York may have been targeted during June’s primary elections, as hundreds of absentee ballots that were disqualified belonged to people with Middle Eastern-sounding names. Of the more than 200 absentee primary ballots that were […]

Joe Biden’s plan for Arab Americans: Six takeaways The Biden campaign released a platform addressing domestic and foreign policy issues that affect Arab Americans; here's what's in it

August 30, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has released a comprehensive platform outlining his plans for the Arab-American community, emphasising commitment to civil rights and prosperity at home as well as a more balanced foreign policy in the Middle East. […]

Muslim-American groups mobilise to get voters registered for election day Organisations are aiming to register Muslim voters ahead of November's presidential election

August 28, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) Muslim-American activists are rallying across the country on Friday in an attempt to ensure every eligible voter from the faith group is registered for November’s presidential election. MPower Change, which bills itself as the biggest Muslim digital advocacy organisation in the […]

Muslim Americans care more about civil rights than foreign policy, survey claims Health care and education reforms are also more of a priority for Muslim Americans than foreign policy, survey of 1,500 Muslims claims to show

August 25, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) Muslim Americans care more about civil rights, health care and education reforms than foreign policy, an online survey by a coalition of national Muslim organisations has claimed. According to the survey, which was held over a period of five months and gathered […]

Prominent American activist resigns from UAE peace forum over Israel statement Aisha al-Adawiya resigns from UAE's Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies citing a 'breach of trust'

August 24, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) A prominent Muslim American activist resigned from a UAE-based forum “promoting peace” and accused the organisation of a “breach of trust” after it issued a statement with her name attached to it endorsing normalisation with Israel. Aisha al-Adawiya, the founder of the […]

Biden aides apologise privately over attack on Linda Sarsour In a private call with community activists, a recording of which was obtained by MEE, Biden campaign officials said statements against Sarsour were an 'egregious misstep'

August 23, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Top aides to presidential candidate Joe Biden have apologised to Arab and Muslim Democrats over an attack on Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour by the campaign, in an effort to quell anger over the controversy. In a private call with […]

Influential Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf criticised for backing UAE-Israel deal Academics say Yusuf's endorsement of the Israel-UAE deal is part of a long history of condoning the actions of the UAE government

August 21, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) Hamza Yusuf, a prominent Muslim scholar based in the United States, is facing a deluge of criticism after publicly endorsing the United Arab Emirates’ decision to normalise ties with Israel — a move which has in large part been condemned […]

Linda Sarsour says Biden campaign’s ‘unprovoked’ attack hurts Democrats Biden campaign says it is committed to engaging with Muslims, but non-apology has done little to quell anger from Sarsour's supporters

August 20, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) There is a realistic chance that November’s presidential election may be decided by who wins Michigan. In 2016, President Donald Trump won the Midwestern state by a mere 10,000 votes. Michigan also happens to be home to large Arab […]

Biden campaign’s attacks on Linda Sarsour alienate Muslim voters, activists say Muslim advocates say the campaign's statement against Sarsour shows disregard for Muslim voters who may play key role in November's election

August 19, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour offered advice to the Democrats on Tuesday on how to engage Muslim voters: ensure representation, treat Muslims as a decisive voting bloc in swing states and reach out to them in their communities. “The Democratic […]

‘Slap in the face’: Muslims decry Bloomberg’s upcoming appearance at Democratic convention As New York mayor, Bloomberg oversaw a surveillance programme that targeted Muslim community gatherings, businesses and student groups

August 18, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg oversaw a surveillance programme targeting the city’s Muslim community for almost a decade. This week he will be speaking at the Democratic national convention — an event that has so far focused on […]

Democratic congressman faces accusations of Islamophobia over anti-BDS flyer Congressman William Lacy Clay has been accused of putting 'Muslim lives in danger' by progressive challenger Cori Bush

August 3, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Congressman William Lacy Clay, a Missouri Democrat, is facing accusations of Islamophobia after his campaign sent a flyer featuring the photo of Muslim-American activist Linda Sarsour to attack his progressive challenger over her support for the right to boycott […]

‘Dismantle’ racism: Muslim-American Democrats issue platform proposals Coalition of Muslim Democratic delegates puts forward list of recommendations including ending surveillance programmes and US aid to Israel

July 24, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) In 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform sounded an alarm on the harm that a Donald Trump presidency would cause by outlining potential damages to different communities targeted by the then-Republican nominee’s proposals. “The stakes have been high in previous […]

Biden campaign holds private meeting with Palestinian-American activists Senior adviser to Joe Biden was 'evasive' and made no promises to address Israel's human rights abuses, source tells MEE

July 22, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s presidential campaign held a private virtual meeting with Palestinian-American activists on Tuesday, several sources familiar with the call confirmed to Middle East Eye. Tony Blinken, a top campaign adviser, drew a “contrast between Donald Trump and Joe […]

Police surveillance concerns US Muslims amid BLM protest crackdown With coronavirus hitting the US hard, there are growing fears community groups will have to resort to funding provided by surveillance programmes

July 3, 2020 Vanessa Taylor

(Middle East Eye) The killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis triggered the largest protests over systemic racism and police brutality the United States has seen in more than a generation. Black Lives Matter protests swiftly spread to more […]

Texas mosque faces backlash for hosting local police chief at anti-racism event Despite public outcry and petition that garnered hundreds of signatures, East Plano Islamic Center Masjid went ahead with controversial webinar

June 17, 2020 Sheren Khalel

(Middle East Eye) A mosque in northern Texas is facing a backlash from the local Muslim community after it invited a local police chief as a speaker for an event on systemic racism, rejecting repeated requests for black rights scholars and activists […]

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 Umar A. Farooq

(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 […]

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 Ali Harb

(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, […]

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 Umar A. Farooq

(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 […]

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 Ali Harb

(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 […]

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 Ali Harb

(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 […]

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

May 20, 2020 Yasmina Allouche

(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 […]

UK Muslim charity calls for investigation into ‘police harassment’ Human Aid also demands police apology over seizure of Gaza-bound aid money during Schedule 7 stop at Heathrow Airport

May 19, 2020 Simon Hooper

(Middle East Eye) A Muslim charity has written to the UK’s police watchdog calling for an investigation into the alleged harassment of Gaza-bound aid workers and the seizure of cash donations during a Schedule 7 airport stop last year. Human Aid on […]

UK Muslim charity calls for end to inquiry after police return seized funds Charity Commission asked to end probe into Human Aid UK after donations seized by police are confirmed as legitimate

May 13, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) A UK-based Muslim charity has called on the Charity Commission to end its statutory inquiry into the organisation after police confirmed that funds confiscated from it last year were donations and perfectly legitimate. The money was seized by UK […]

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 Ali Harb

(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 […]

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

April 28, 2020 Sheren Khalel

(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 […]

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

April 27, 2020 Peter Oborne and Jan-Peter Westad

(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 […]

‘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

April 20, 2020 Unlisted Author

(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 […]

Black Muslims in US fear they could be ‘disproportionately impacted’ by coronavirus The community is often rendered invisible within the larger black and Muslim populations

April 7, 2020 Vanessa Taylor

(Middle East Eye) Black Muslims in the United States fear they could be at a higher risk from coronavirus infections, as cases continue to climb and hospitals in communities of colour struggle to flatten the curve. More than 10,000 people have died […]

‘We see this as our responsibility’: Muslims fundraise for Americans impacted by coronavirus Several organisations have begun distributing groceries and money to families financially impacted by coronavirus

March 20, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) The coronavirus pandemic has devastated global financial markets and sent shockwaves through the US economy with analysts expecting massive job losses in the coming months. According to a recent poll, a staggering 18 percent of American households reported either being laid off or […]

Young Arab Americans want to win Michigan for Bernie Sanders Arab-American activists are rallying around the Vermont senator, saying they feel heard by his campaign

March 9, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Hassan Almusawy is only 17, but in November, he’ll be voting for the first time. To ensure that his preferred candidate is on the ballot, he’s travelled more than 1100km from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Dearborn, Michigan, hoping to convince […]

Biden campaign urged to remove ‘Modi supporter’ as Muslim outreach coordinator Middle East Eye understands that Joe Biden's presidential campaign is desperate to find new outreach coordinator to help secure Muslim vote

March 6, 2020 Azad Essa

(Middle East Eye) Pressure is mounting on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign to replace its Muslim outreach manager following revelations he has strong connections with India’s right-wing Hindu government. Sources have told Middle East Eye that the Biden campaign is scrambling to find […]

Rashida Tlaib calls on Michigan’s Muslim-Americans to back ‘Ammu Bernie’ Congresswoman tells Middle East Eye that Sanders' advocacy for human rights is part of his core values, not just rhetoric

March 6, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Rashida Tlaib has an outline of Senator Bernie Sanders’ hair and glasses attached to her maroon blazer. She points to it with joy and pride — “Do you like my pin?” As the congresswoman waits to give a speech […]

In battle for the Muslim vote, Sanders destroys the competition: poll Amid massive voter turnout of Muslim-Americans, Bernie Sanders takes the Muslim vote in landslide, recent CAIR survey shows

March 6, 2020 Sheren Khalel

(Middle East Eye) US presidential candidates made unprecedented efforts to court the Muslim vote in the lead-up to Super Tuesday, but according to a recent poll, Bernie Sanders won that battle in a landslide. Sanders took 58 percent of the overall Muslim […]

‘A show of force’: Muslim-Americans plan to get the vote out on Super Tuesday Muslim groups say the faithful, despite being small in numbers, could be crucial in some voting states

March 3, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) Data on Muslim-American voters is scarce and their voting patterns have hardly been studied, but according to a leading political action group, the Muslim vote could make a major difference on Super Tuesday. Voters in 14 US states and […]

Group of Palestinian Americans endorses Bernie Sanders for president Collection of activists and organisations says Sanders draws attention to the 'injustices of the occupation'

March 2, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Palestinian-American activists and advocacy groups has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president, lauding the Democratic candidate as a “supporter of justice, equality and human rights for all, including the Palestinian people.” “We call upon all Palestinian […]

Meet the progressive Democrat running for Congress in the heart of Arab America Solomon Rajput, a medical student and congressional hopeful, is seeking to take down one of the longest-standing political dynasties in the US

February 18, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) Congressional hopeful Solomon Rajput says his early morning commute to school, more than 20 years ago, left an indelible mark on his political outlook. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a school bus would pick him up from his […]

‘We want our voices heard’: Muslims in Maryland showcase power of door-to-door lobbying Scores of Muslims from across Maryland converge on state capital and find some lawmakers willing to listen

February 12, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) The energy was palpable at Maryland’s House of Delegates late Monday, as members of the Muslim community hurried through the building’s hallways and knocked on doors, trying to lobby politicians on key bills and issues under consideration in the […]

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

February 4, 2020 Ali Harb

(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 […]

US election 2020: The Arab and Muslim vote may be decisive in Iowa In a tight presidential race, Iowa's Arab- and Muslim-American community could have major say on results

February 3, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Iowa. It’s known as America’s breadbasket. The nation’s heartland. A state of farmers, wheat and cornfields. The rural Midwest. It’s also so much more than that. A sparsely populated state of just 3.1 million people, Iowa is home to […]

US election 2020: Some Muslims in Iowa will caucus in their own mosques Muslim Americans say caucusing at mosques will increase political engagement in the community

February 2, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) As soon as communal prayers ended at a mosque in Des Moines on Friday, Imam Jaaphar Abdul Hamed turned to worshippers to remind them that the state’s caucuses to pick the Democratic presidential nominee [are] on Monday. Such announcements […]

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

February 1, 2020 Ali Harb

(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. […]

UK: Prevent review ‘will go ahead’ following concerns by rights groups Conservative party pledges to review counter-terrorism strategy facing renewed criticism from Muslim community

January 22, 2020 Areeb Ullah

(Middle East Eye) The British government said it will continue its review of the controversial Prevent strategy amid concerns by rights groups that the Conservative Party was planning to scrap its report into the counter-terrorism scheme. Prevent is a strand of the […]

‘End Prevent’: UK government faces new calls to drop counter-terrorism strategy Academics and activists call for 'alternative approach' as government's own promised review of contentious programme remains stalled

January 17, 2020 Simon Hooper

(Middle East Eye) The British government is facing fresh calls to abolish its Prevent strategy amid uncertainty over the future of its own suspended review of the contentious counter-terrorism programme. More than 100 academics, activists and public figures opposed to the strategy […]

Can Muslims become strong voice in American politics? Muslim-American organisers want to build on political momentum gained over past three years

January 2, 2020 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) Muslims say they can either make or break President Donald Trump’s bid for re-election in 2020. The young and politically visible community says it has all the tools at its disposal to turn the almost 3.5 million Muslims in the United States into a powerful […]

‘Foolish’: Muslim convention criticised for hosting anti-Palestinian politician Attendees criticise decision to host Ontario Premier Doug Ford whose political party has been accused of Islamophobia

December 23, 2019 Umar A. Farooq

(Middle East Eye) Billed as one of the biggest Muslim events in North America, the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) conference has attracted some high-profile names in recent years, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as Pakistan’s Imran Khan. So […]

Muslim group urges debate moderators to ask candidates about Trump’s antisemitism decree It would be 'disservice to American voters' if moderators did not heed call during next debate, CAIR's government affairs director says

December 18, 2019 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on the moderators of the next Democratic presidential debate to question candidates about a recent executive order that effectively silences criticism on US campuses of Israeli human rights abuses. The order, […]