Source: Religion News

Government & Politics

Muslim and Arab American voters part ways with President Biden over his foreign policy Among Muslim and Arab American voters, this disapproval of President Biden’s foreign policy has taken the form of an active campaigning against his reelection.

January 19, 2024   

(Religion News) Before she was elected to Georgia’s House of Representatives two years ago, Ruwa Romman, the first Palestinian American to hold any office in Georgia, campaigned for Joe Biden in 2020 in Atlanta’s northeast suburbs, which she now represents. Today, Romman, […]

Academics & Education

Muslim students lead protest for adequate prayer space at New York’s Baruch College Thursday's protest, coming on the final day of Ramadan, was one of the larger weekly protests students have organized over the past two months.

April 21, 2023   

(Religion News) Loud chants carried through the main plaza at Baruch College in the early afternoon on Thursday (April 20) as a group of around 40 students protested near the Office of Student Life. The students, a majority of them Muslim, were […]

Clothing

California senator announces bill to protect religious practices of incarcerated individuals Backers of the bill say that allowing religious detainees and prisoners to wear religious garb does not constitute 'coddling' them.

February 6, 2023   

(Religion News) Rami Nsour, an advocate for the incarcerated, has seen firsthand how difficult it can be for those being held in California’s jails and prisons to practice their faith. As his clients are transferred from one facility to another, he said, […]

Academics & Education

CAIR says Hamline University teacher is not Islamophobic The statement comes after CAIR's Minnesota chapter said the classroom viewing of a painting of the Prophet Muhammad was bigoted and disrespectful.

January 13, 2023   

(Religion News) The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement Friday (Jan. 13), saying an art history instructor at Hamline University did not act with bigoted intent when she showed a 14th-century painting of the Prophet Muhammad in a class last semester. […]

Academics & Education

CAIR MN backs student who says she was hurt by instructor showing image of Muhammad At a press conference held by the Minneapolis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the student said she was shocked and pained by an art history instructor.

January 11, 2023   

(Religion News) Hamline University senior Aram Wedatalla held back tears as she described how hurt she felt when her art history instructor informed the class she would briefly show a painting of the Prophet Muhammad last semester. Speaking at a news conference held […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Americans make historic gains in 2022 midterm elections 'When Muslims run for office today, in 2022 and beyond, ... it's rewarded by voters,' said Mohammed Missouri, executive director of Jetpac, a nonprofit that works to increase Muslim representation in US government and politics.

November 11, 2022   

(Religion News) Nabeela Syed made history in this year’s midterms when she defeated a Republican incumbent in Illinois’ 51st District, making her the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly and among the first Muslims elected to the state Legislature. “It is […]

Government & Politics

In run-up to midterms, Muslim groups, mosques push for voter engagement 'The local work is allowing us to expand voting rights so more people can vote for our candidates,' said Nada Al-Hanooti, executive director of Emgage’s Michigan chapter.

November 5, 2022   

(Religion News) Community organizer Nada Al-Hanooti insists local city council politics hold just as much power as elections on the national and federal levels. As proof, she cites voter outreach efforts in southeast Michigan that in 2021 helped elect the city of […]

Clerics & Preachers

Imam Mohamed Magid appointed to international religious freedom commission The former president of the Islamic Society of North America and current co-president of Religions for Peace has played a key role in numerous declarations and dialogues.

August 11, 2022   

(Religion News) Imam Mohamed Magid, the executive religious director of a Northern Virginia mosque and a leader in interfaith relations, has been appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Magid said he received word from the White House that his […]

Interfaith

ADL chief’s attack on left-leaning organizations criticized as dangerous The speech by ADL chief Jonathan Greenblatt signaled a new, more combative focus on what he called anti-Zionist extremists.

May 3, 2022   

(Religion News) In one of his harshest speeches to date, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, the country’s leading antisemitism watchdog, compared three left-leaning groups that have been critical of Israel to white nationalists. The speech by Jonathan Greenblatt, who has led […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Jewish, Muslim groups voice concerns over Musk Twitter takeover ‘Musk’s takeover threatens to make Twitter an even more dangerous place for Muslims and other marginalized people — and that includes the very real possibility of allowing Trump back on the platform,’ said Sumayyah Waheed of Muslim Advocates.

April 28, 2022   

(Religion News) Muslim and Jewish organizations are expressing concern about billionaire Elon Musk’s impending ownership of Twitter, warning that the aerospace tycoon could roll back moderation policies and unleash a new wave of harassment against religious minorities often targeted on the platform. […]

Government & Politics

Rashad Hussain confirmed as first Muslim US religious freedom ambassador ‘Ambassador Hussain is well placed to advance the US government’s promotion of international religious freedom,’ said the chair of a religious freedom watchdog.

December 17, 2021   

(Religion News) Rashad Hussain has been confirmed as the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, making him the first Muslim American in the role. Hussain was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday (Dec. 16) by an overwhelming vote of 85 to […]

Arts & Entertainment

Celebrity surgeon Dr. Oz seeks to be first Muslim elected to the US Senate Besides Sufism, the mystical Islamic sect, Oz's spiritual practices include transcendental meditation and elements of his wife's Swedenborgian tradition.

December 2, 2021   

(Religion News) Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity surgeon and host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” has launched a campaign for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat now held by Pat Toomey, who is retiring. If Oz wins the Republican nomination, he will be the […]

Government & Politics

Muslims win office in US municipal elections in 2021 Three years after the first Muslim women were elected to Congress, successful campaigns in Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania put Muslims in key local offices.

November 10, 2021   

(Religion News) In Dearborn, Michigan, where the mayor once promised to do something about the city’s “Arab problem,” Abdullah Hammoud, a Lebanese American Muslim, was elected this month to fill that post. In New York, Bangladeshi American Shahana Hanif became the first […]

Government & Politics

Rashad Hussain faces Senate committee on historic nomination The former Obama administration official’s confirmation would make him the first Muslim to hold the position.

October 26, 2021   

(Religion News) A Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday (Oct. 26) considered the nomination of Rashad Hussain to be President Joe Biden’s ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. Hussain’s confirmation would make him the first Muslim to hold the position. Hussain held […]

Government & Politics

New poll reveals how much we presume about Muslim Americans’ politics Two decades after 9/11, Americans are still getting to know their Muslim neighbors. New data may help.

October 15, 2021   

(Religion News) Twenty years ago, Americans hardly gave their Muslim neighbors a thought. Then came 9/11, and our opinions suddenly blossomed. Two decades later we may be past assuming that Muslims want to topple the American government, but other supposed givens — […]

Beards

Sailors, Marines seek religious accommodation to wear beards One Orthodox Jewish sailor and three Muslim sailors joined in a lawsuit alleging the Navy’s beard policy amounts to a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

October 1, 2021   

(Religion News) Shave or be shaved. Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, sailor Edmund Di Liscia faced a stark choice. According to his lawyers, he was told to either shave his beard voluntarily or be held down by his bunk mate and forcibly […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Trump is gone, but Muslim federal workers say reforms are still needed Muslim Americans in Public Service has published a set of 12 recommendations to improve working conditions for Muslims in public service.

September 17, 2021   

(Religion News) Muslim federal employees who say they felt discriminated against under President Trump are advocating for new federal policies to prevent workplace bias, with many backing a new initiative from Muslim Americans in Public Service aimed at getting the Biden administration to […]

Christians

Faith groups accuse GOP senators of ‘apparent anti-Muslim animus’ for stalling Biden nominee 'We are deeply concerned by the apparent anti-Muslim animus driving this unprecedented action against Dilawar Syed,' the religious groups wrote in a letter to the Senate committee.

August 9, 2021   

(Religion News) A group of faith-based denominations and organizations is criticizing lawmakers for stalling votes on a high-level nomination by President Joe Biden, accusing Republican senators of “apparent anti-Muslim animus” for holding up the confirmation of what would be the highest-ranking Muslim […]

Mosques

Study finds the American mosque increasingly a melting pot of Islamic traditions The report, conducted every 10 years, found American Sunni mosques are blending various schools of Islamic jurisprudence or madhabs.

August 3, 2021   

(Religion News) The American mosque is becoming more American. At least according to Ihsan Bagby, who has authored a report for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding based on a … new survey of American mosques. The report, conducted every 10 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

White House announces new religious affairs leaders, first Muslim religious freedom ambassador Biden will nominate Rashad Hussain, who served in other roles under the Obama administration, as his U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

July 30, 2021 , and   

(Religion News) The White House announced Friday (July 30) a slate of nominations and appointments for top religious affairs roles, including the first Muslim American nominated to be the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. President Biden will select Rashad Hussain as […]

Clothing

As Muslim Advocates founder resigns, former staffers allege hostile workplace A group of former Muslim Advocates workers has come forward with allegations of workplace harassment and abuse by the civil rights organization's former management.

July 28, 2021   

(Religion News) On the day in June when Muslim Advocates announced it had been selected for a high-profile donation from MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the nonprofit touted “the tremendous work and accomplishments of our […]

Demographics

Report: Number of mosques in US grows overall, but African American mosques in decline The majority of America’s new purpose-built mosques are found in suburban areas, a shift that reflects the demographic footprint of Muslims in America.

June 2, 2021   

(Religion News) Increasing numbers of African American mosques are closing, while the overall number of mosques in the United States continues to grow, according to a new report. “The American Mosque 2020: Growing and Evolving,” released Wednesday (June 2), shows key changes […]

Crime

Muslim groups mourn and raise money for Colorado shooting victims As further details about the suspect began to emerge, many expressed concern and fear over ramped-up Islamophobia.

March 24, 2021   

(Religion News) Muslim organizations are mourning and raising money for the 10 people killed in the mass shooting on Monday (March 22) at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. The Colorado Muslim Leadership Council on Tuesday released a statement in solidarity […]

Government & Politics

Muslim candidate for Manhattan DA runs to give victims of system a ‘seat at the table’ ‘Tahanie is New York personified,’ said Aboushi’s friend Linda Sarsour. ‘She is kind, humble, but also unbought and unbossed.’

March 5, 2021   

(Religion News) Tahanie Aboushi describes herself as “35, going on 50.” But friends disagree, calling her “bold” and “hilarious.” To survive the next four months, the civil rights attorney likely will need answer both those descriptions, and then some: Aboushi is one […]

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.

February 18, 2021   

(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

Five states elect first-ever Muslim lawmakers, from Oklahoma to Delaware On Tuesday, voters in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Oklahoma and Wisconsin all elected their state legislatures’ first-ever Muslim lawmakers.

November 5, 2020   

(Religion News) Mauree Turner, a 27-year-old member of Oklahoma City’s Muslim community, became Muslim after learning about the faith from her father, who converted while incarcerated. Black and nonbinary, Turner is also a community organizer who’s long been involved in criminal justice […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib denounce Facebook as complicit in anti-Muslim violence Their condemnation comes after a new report found that Facebook has played a role in anti-Muslim violence in Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and the United States.

October 22, 2020   

(Religion News) Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are condemning Facebook after a report, released Wednesday (Oct. 21), documents how the social media company has allowed the spread of anti-Muslim hate and violence in the United States and across the world. The […]