Academics & Education

Pro-Palestinian school board member opposes honoring Hamas attack victims: ‘Ignores the root of the violence’ Fairfax County School Board member Abrar Omeish chided fellow members for a moment of silence and not including a pro-Palestine perspective

(Fox) A pro-Palestinian Fairfax County School Board member scolded fellow board members Thursday for giving a statement and holding a moment of silence for the victims of Hamas’ recent deadly attack against Israel. During the meeting, Abrar Omeish rebuked the board for […]

Clerics & Preachers

GOP reps raise alarm bells over Iran’s influence in ‘American religious institutions’ GOP reps demand to know if Biden administration has strategy to counter Iranian regime activities in US

(Fox) Republicans in Congress have issued a tough letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warning about the influence of Iran’s terror ideology in at least four U.S.-based mosques and centers. The GOP letter, exclusively obtained […]

Fasting

Muslim inmate files lawsuit claiming Virginia prison won’t accommodate Ramadan observances Green Rock inmate seeks damages, injunction; action claims 20 others also denied

(Washington Times) A Muslim inmate at the Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham, Virginia, is suing for what he claims is the prison’s denial of accommodations during Ramadan, a monthlong religious observance that calls for fasting from dawn to sunset. Alexander Crichlow […]

Academics & Education

Va. board member brags about using taxpayers’ $3B for ‘Muslim power,’ pushing Palestinian agenda in schools Fairfax County school board member, Abrar Omeish, previously refused to vote on a motion that would commemorate Sept. 11 victims

(Fox) A controversial Fairfax, Virginia, school board member, Abrar Omeish, who previously refused to vote on a motion that would commemorate Sept. 11 victims, shared plans to use $3 billion available in the district’s budget for a Palestinian agenda before she was […]

Academics & Education

Controversial school board member endorsed curriculum that removes ‘Islamic terror’ from 9/11 history lessons School board member Abrar Omeish has previously been accused of 'cruel' and 'callous' rhetoric relating to 9/11

(Fox) A Fairfax, Virginia, school board member recommended curriculum materials for teachers to use for their lesson plans which opposed using terms such as “radical Islamic terror,” “Islamic terrorists” and “jihadists” when discussing the history of the Sept. 11 attacks. Abrar Omeish […]

Academics & Education

LGBTQIA+ students criticize school official’s ‘bigoted comments’ A student-led LGBTQIA+ advocacy group criticized FCPS school board member Abrar Omeish for comments she made during a phone meeting in June.

(Patch) An LGBTQIA+ advocacy group representing Fairfax County Public School students criticized at-large school board member Abrar Omeish for “bigoted comments” they say she made during a phone call last month. In a letter posted online at noon Friday, the Pride Liberation […]

Government & Politics

Terry McAuliffe touts endorsement from anti-Israel group Endorsement from pro-BDS activist group raises questions about VA Dem's approach to Israel

(Free Beacon) Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe welcomed an endorsement from an activist group that staunchly defends the anti-Israel boycott movement, calling into question his past opposition to the campaign. In a June tweet, McAuliffe said he was “tremendously grateful” to […]

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.

(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 […]

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 […]

Academics & Education

Muslim Democrats Ghazala Hashmi, Abrar Omeish make history in Virginia elections Hashmi was elected to the state Senate and Omeish to the Fairfax County School Board. They’re among the first Muslims to hold elected office in Virginia.

(HuffPost) Democrats Ghazala Hashmi and Abrar Omeish made history in Virginia’s elections on Tuesday. In a surprise victory, Hashmi unseated incumbent Republican Glen Sturtevant in the state Senate, and Omeish clinched one of three vacant seats on the Fairfax County School Board. […]