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.

(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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Ilhan Omar urges creation of special envoy role to combat global anti-Muslim hate 'We are seeing a rise in Islamophobia in nearly every corner of the globe,' the Democratic representative said.

(HuffPost) The federal government would have a dedicated, high-ranking official monitoring Islamophobic incidents worldwide under a new bill being introduced Thursday by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). The special envoy for monitoring and combatting Islamophobia, which would be embedded […]

Demonstrations

‘War on terror’: US protesters urge release for Pakistani woman Aafia Siddiqui Protesters call for the release of the Pakistani neurosurgeon serving 86 years in prison for the attempted murder of US officials

(Middle East Eye) Dozens of protesters stood outside Pakistan’s consulate in New York City on Wednesday, calling for the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman who is currently serving 86 years in prison in what civil liberties groups and activists say was […]

Interfaith

Islamist who defended murderers of Jews to speak at Tree of Life anti-hate summit Bush, ADL, Biden cabinet member join with hater to fight hate.

(FrontPage) In October, former President George W. Bush, Biden’s DHS secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, ADL boss Jonathan Greenblatt, and other notables will descend on the massive Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. The occasion isn’t a party convention, but the inaugural Eradicate Hate […]

Internet

Former DePaul University student guilty of trying to help Islamic State through computer program Defense attorneys said the case ran up against fundamental questions about free speech, insisting that Thomas Osadzinski 'had a right to watch those videos. He had a right to share those videos.'

(Chicago Sun-Times) A federal jury on Monday convicted a onetime student at DePaul University of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State in the form of a computer script that helped disseminate the terrorist group’s propaganda. Jurors at the Dirksen […]

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.

(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 — […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

US rights group call[s] out Facebook on ‘anti-Muslim hate’ content Recent congressional testimony has once again highlighted what appears to be neglect by Facebook regarding the hosting of hate content on its pages.

(New Arab) After the congressional testimony by Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen about hate speech on the platform, a Muslim rights group in the US is calling for greater accountability of the social media giant. Facebook has come under fire for allegations that it has […]

Government & Politics

Rashida Tlaib speaks at ‘Gaza is Palestine’ online event The campaign hopes to stop Israel from receiving military assistance from the United States.

(Jerusalem Post) US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib attended an online event called “Gaza is Palestine” on Thursday. Tlaib appeared alongside speakers and BDS supporters such as Mohammed El-Kurd, who has made controversial statements about Israel. Kurd stated in an interview with MSNBC that […]

Government & Politics

Senators alarmed after Afghan refugees walk off military bases by the hundreds Senators worry 'hastily developed' Afghanistan evacuation created 'gaps' in criminal vetting

(Fox) Senate Republicans are demanding answers from the Biden administration amid reports that hundreds of Afghan evacuees are walking off U.S. military bases without completing the resettlement process. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of Defense […]

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.

(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 […]

Government & Politics

‘Politics is power’: American Muslim groups ramp up voting drives ahead of upcoming general elections American Muslims are becoming an important voting bloc, but engagement needs to be an ongoing habit, not just for general elections, say advocates.

(New Arab) America’s general election was less than a year ago, but with local, state and midterm elections fast approaching, and with early voting already well underway, Muslim groups are wasting no time in getting their community out to vote. “We’re often […]