Aysha Khan

Aysha Khan is a Boston-based journalist reporting on American Muslims and millennial faith for RNS. Her newsletter, Creeping Sharia, curates news coverage of Muslim communities in the U.S. Previously, she was the social media editor at RNS.

All Stories by Aysha Khan

Muslim civil rights group fires director for spying for anti-Muslim activists

By Aysha Khan — December 15, 2021

(RNS) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio said Tuesday (Dec. 14) that its longtime executive and legal director, Romin Iqbal, had admitted to working with the Investigative Project on Terrorism.

Women seek diverse paths to leadership in Islamic spaces

By Mariam Fam and Aysha Khan — December 8, 2021

CAIRO (AP/RNS) — The formal ranks of Islamic leadership remain largely filled with men, but many women are finding other paths to leadership.

As Muslim Advocates founder resigns, former staffers allege hostile workplace

By Aysha Khan — July 28, 2021

(RNS) — 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.

‘The nuke we survived’: American Muslims breathe sigh of relief as Biden reverses travel ban

By Aysha Khan — January 20, 2021

(RNS) — Over the last four years, more than 41,000 visa requests have been denied due to the ban.

Houston woman faces historic indictment over female genital cutting

By Aysha Khan — January 14, 2021

(RNS) — The indictment alleges Zahra Badri knowingly transported a minor from the U.S. for the purpose of female genital cutting in 2016.

Pakistan attempts to prosecute Ahmadi US citizens for digital blasphemy

By Aysha Khan — January 13, 2021

(RNS) — In 2016, Pakistan enacted digital regulations that allow authorities to block online content in the 'interest of the glory of Islam.'

Muslim Pro, a popular prayer app, stops providing user data to firm selling to US military

By Aysha Khan — November 18, 2020

(RNS) — An investigation by Vice News found that two Muslim lifestyle apps were among hundreds of smartphone apps whose users’ location data has been sold to companies passing data on to military contractors.

Across America, Muslims are becoming a fixture on the disaster relief landscape

By Aysha Khan — November 9, 2020

(RNS) — Muslim American philanthropies are increasingly turning their volunteer efforts to emergency relief projects in the U.S.

Five states elect first-ever Muslim lawmakers, from Oklahoma to Delaware

By Aysha Khan — November 5, 2020

(RNS) — On Tuesday, voters in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Oklahoma and Wisconsin all elected their state legislatures’ first-ever Muslim lawmakers.

Ismaili, Ahmadi Muslims push national voter registration efforts

By Aysha Khan — October 26, 2020

(RNS) — Voter mobilization efforts in US Muslim communities have long been characterized and led by Sunni institutions and figures. That's starting to change.

In San Diego, Black Muslims are working to expand voting access in jails

By Aysha Khan — October 13, 2020

(RNS) — Pillars of the Community is hiring a team of pretrial inmates to register eligible voters from behind bars. The group’s leaders say it’s part of their faith as Muslims.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib joins Congressional Freethought Caucus

By Aysha Khan — August 20, 2020

(RNS) — Rep. Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women in Congress, has joined the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

Body cam video released in 2017 police killing of Muhammad Muhaymin Jr: ‘Allah? He’s not going to help you’

By Aysha Khan — August 20, 2020

(RNS) — Advocates are intensifying demands that Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the killing.

Muslim ICE detainees in Miami forced to choose between pork or rotten halal food, lawyers say

By Aysha Khan — August 19, 2020

(RNS) — The ICE chaplain reportedly dismissed Muslim detainees' repeated complaints by saying, ‘It is what it is,’ the legal advocates allege.

Her American father was shot in a blasphemy trial in Pakistan. Now she’s fighting for justice.