Muslim
Muslims win office in US municipal elections in 2021
By Joseph Hammond — November 10, 2021
(RNS) — 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.
High court struggles with government secrets case
By Jessica Gresko — November 8, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court struggled Monday with whether to allow a lawsuit by Muslim men claiming religious bias by the FBI to go forward despite the government’s objection that doing so could reveal national security secrets. The case the high court was considering involves a group of three men from Southern California. They […]
A new generation of Muslim American media puts women in focus
By Joseph Hammond — November 1, 2021
(RNS) — 'I think today there is a shift in the media industry writ large with more and more women going into the profession,' said the editor in chief of American Muslim Today. 'That is being reflected in the Muslim community.'
In Somalia, a rare female artist promotes images of peace
By Hassan Barise — October 27, 2021
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia’s decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and a 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
Rashad Hussain faces Senate committee on historic nomination
By Joseph Hammond — October 26, 2021
(RNS) — The former Obama administration official’s confirmation would make him the first Muslim to hold the position.
NBA’s Enes Kanter targets China, Nike over Uyghur genocide
By Joseph Hammond — October 26, 2021
(RNS) — Kanter, one of the most visible Muslims in the NBA, donned a pair of custom shoes Monday with the slogans ‘modern day slaves’ and ‘no more excuses’ emblazoned on them.
Muslims recall questionable detentions that followed 9/11
By Noreen Nasir and Gary Fields — October 4, 2021
Even though 20 years have passed, several Muslim families still remember the treatment they underwent after the incident.
Sailors, Marines seek religious accommodation to wear beards
By Joseph Hammond — October 1, 2021
(RNS) — 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.
Illinois passes legislation to allow student athletes to wear hijab without waivers
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 24, 2021
(RNS) — The Inclusive Athletic Attire Act allows all student athletes to modify their uniforms in keeping with their religion, culture or personal preferences for modesty.
Poet Cavafy remains an unlikely symbol of Greek culture in Egypt
By Joseph Hammond — September 20, 2021
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (RNS) — He was born and died in Alexandria, Egypt, then home to a large Greek community that began immigrating to Egypt in the 19th century. Writing primarily in Greek and little published during his lifetime, Cavafy's works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Balbir Singh Sodhi, early victim of 9/11 hate, honored on 20th anniversary of his death
By Alejandra Molina — September 16, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Balbir Uncle’s story could have ended here,’ said activist Valarie Kaur, ‘but this was not the end of his story. His death was a beginning because of how he lived.’
Comparing Texas’ abortion ban to Islamic law is inaccurate, perpetuates Islamophobia, experts say
By Alejandra Molina — September 3, 2021
(RNS) — While opinions vary over when a pregnancy can be terminated, there is no complete ban on a woman's right to end a pregnancy under Islamic law, experts say.
Antisemitic and anti-Muslim content is flourishing on TikTok, report finds
By Alejandra Molina — August 27, 2021
(RNS) — The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based nonprofit that tracks extremism online, released a report Aug. 24 that found TikTok 'operates as a new arena for violence-endorsing, hateful ideologies.'
New podcast finds ‘work-life-faith balance’ for modern Muslim parents
By Joseph Hammond — August 24, 2021
(RNS) — Unlike in other parenting podcasts, ‘discipline’ is as likely to mean spiritual accountability as toddler timeouts.
Study finds the American mosque increasingly a melting pot of Islamic traditions
By Joseph Hammond — August 3, 2021
(RNS) — The report, conducted every 10 years, found American Sunni mosques are blending various schools of Islamic jurisprudence or madhabs.
