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.’

(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.

(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 […]

Legal

‘Unacceptable risk’: Terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika will stay jailed despite finishing sentence A convicted terrorist who plotted terrifying attacks on major Aussie targets will not be let out of jail despite finishing his sentence.

(NCA NewsWire) A convicted terrorist will stay behind bars despite finishing his sentence after a judge agreed he was an “unacceptable risk” to the community. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney ruled on Christmas Eve that Abdul Nacer Benbrika will spend a […]

Government & Politics

US elections 2020: Muslims in state of Georgia mobilise for Senate runoff As early voting begins, the contest will have implications on issues of Islamophobia, police reform and systemic racism across US

(Middle East Eye) Ahead of the consequential US Senate race in Georgia next month, Muslim organisers and community members in the state are coming together to mobilise Muslims to vote for the upcoming election, which will decide which political party will have […]

Crime

Amirah Droudis: Lindt cafe terrorist Man Monis’s girlfriend has murder sentence slashed The girlfriend of the Lindt cafe terrorist has had nine years slashed from her sentence for murdering the gunman’s wife.

(NCA NewsWire) Man Monis’s lover has had her jail sentence for murdering the Lindt cafe siege gunman’s former wife slashed by nearly 10 years after the Court of Appeal found his thrall over her was broken by his death. Amirah Droudis, 41, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Colorado rep: ‘As a practising Muslim, Palestinian American, you mobilise advocacy every day’ The 38-year-old daughter of Palestinian immigrants became a trained political scientist after earning a bachelor's degree at the University of Colorado Denver and then a master’s degree in public policy.

(Middle East Monitor) Colorado elected its first Muslim lawmaker in state history, during a night like no other following four years of social, political, and indeed, emotional turmoil. Iman Jodeh is no stranger to the US political arena, which she believes has […]

Government & Politics

‘We don’t have much of a choice’: Florida’s Muslim voters disenfranchised by both parties In largest swing state, most voter advocacy taking place is for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, but not everyone is happy about it

(Middle East Eye) As the US November elections edge closer, much of the nation’s attention has zeroed in on swing states, with some, such as Florida, set to be battlegrounds that may determine the outcome. While there are only about 3.45 million […]

Government & Politics

Supreme Court receptive to damages battle over no-fly list Forecasting a win for four men whom the FBI put on the no-fly list after they refused to spy on fellow Muslims, several U.S. Supreme Court justices saw an implication of private damages in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

(Courthouse News) Several justices with the U.S. Supreme Court hinted Tuesday that a law protecting religious freedoms includes a subtext that would allow individuals to sue government agents for money damages. In the underlying 2013 suit, Muhammad Tanvir accused FBI agents of violating […]

Government & Politics

9/11 conspirator imprisoned in Colorado’s Supermax sues Trump and top U.S. officials, alleging ‘cover up’ Zacarias Moussaoui is serving a life sentence at the federal Supermax prison in Florence

(Denver Post) A man who conspired with the 9/11 hijackers has filed lawsuits from his Colorado prison cell against President Donald Trump, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Attorney General William Barr and more than a dozen other people in […]

Government & Politics

U.S. repatriates last of Islamic State suspects believed captured in Syria The suspects had been held by Syrian forces along with prisoners from other countries whose governments have been reluctant to take back the men.

(NY Times) The United States has repatriated and charged the last Americans believed to be detained in Syria and accused of supporting the Islamic State, the Justice Department said on Wednesday. The move could give the Trump administration a stronger hand in […]

News: North America

Terrorism on a budget: Americans who joined ISIS or planned attacks did so with little money Americans supporting ISIS left a much smaller financial footprint than Al Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks, a concerning trend, says a new report.

(NBC) A new report on terrorism financing shows that for most Americans who sought to join or support ISIS, the trip was cheap and the money came easily, making it harder for investigators to track would-be terrorists. “[S]ave for a few exceptions, […]