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
Top Muslim leaders launch grant initiative to protect imams from layoffs
By Aysha Khan — April 15, 2020
(RNS) — With mosques’ biggest fundraisers of the year in jeopardy, a new initiative led by four prominent imams aims to protect the livelihoods of mosque staff around the country.
Church software companies rush to accommodate major surge in usage
By Aysha Khan — April 10, 2020
(RNS) — The pandemic has left digital consultants answering an unending stream of questions from faith leaders, and tech companies that provide church management software fielding a staggering upswing of usage and interest.
MuslimGirl founder Amani Al-Khatahtbeh announces congressional run in New Jersey
By Aysha Khan — April 7, 2020
(RNS) — On Saturday, Al-Khatahtbeh announced her mission ‘to make democracy happen’ by unseating 16-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Frank Pallone in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District.
Faith Not Fear crosses bring cheer, and critics
By Aysha Khan and Bob Smietana — April 6, 2020
(RNS) — Inspired by a family in Georgia, a Christian movement to erect crosses decorated with Christmas lights during the pandemic has taken off nationally as a symbol of positivity and prayer. But the lighted crosses have also drawn comparisons to the KKK's burning crosses.
Muslim groups join forces to raise $500,000 for coronavirus relief grants
By Aysha Khan — April 3, 2020
(RNS) — A Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised nearly $500,000 to offer micro-grants to low-income American families whose livelihoods have been hurt by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Black churches, synagogues face racially abusive ‘Zoombombings’
By Aysha Khan — April 3, 2020
(RNS) — Minority groups are calling for law enforcement and Zoom to crack down on perpetrators of racial abuse on the platform.
‘Zoombombing’ comes for houses of worship
By Aysha Khan — March 30, 2020
(RNS) — The mass transition of houses of worship to Zoom and other online video conferencing platforms has meant that religious services are more accessible than ever before — including to trolls.
‘Deadly as Dachau’: Activists call for mass decarceration during pandemic
By Aysha Khan — March 25, 2020
BOSTON (RNS) — Progressive faith-based activists and religious leaders have mounted a nationwide push to release as many people held in jails, prisons and immigration detention facilities as possible to protect them from a coronavirus outbreak.
Houses of worship pitch in to help those left vulnerable by virus outbreak
By Aysha Khan — March 19, 2020
(RNS) — City Road Chapel near Nashville, Tennessee announced a Bar and Restaurant Workers Help Fund this week, one of many faith groups assisting food-service workers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
Campus chaplains, religious clubs advocate for students in a moment of anxiety
By Aysha Khan — March 16, 2020
BOSTON (RNS) — As university campuses around the country shut down and move classes online, chaplains and faith-based campus groups are stepping in to ease the transition.
House Democrats push for No Ban Act, as White House threatens veto over coronavirus
By Aysha Khan — March 11, 2020
(RNS) — This week the Democrat-controlled House is scheduled to vote on the NO BAN Act, even as the White House argues that the bill could impede the government’s ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden faces backlash over pro-Modi staffer’s close Hindu nationalist ties
By Aysha Khan — March 10, 2020
(RNS) — Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign is facing growing pressure from civil rights advocates over the campaign’s choice of Muslim outreach coordinator.
‘We are reclaiming Holi’: College students protest Hindu nationalism with a blackout Holi
By Aysha Khan — March 6, 2020
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) — At 21 university campuses across the country, Hindu students have organized a nationwide campaign called Holi Against Hindutva, held in solidarity with anti-government protesters in India.
Albany becomes third city to condemn India’s citizenship laws
By Aysha Khan — March 4, 2020
(RNS) — As anti-Muslim violence continues unabated in India, the capital of New York state has passed the United States' third resolution denouncing the far-right Indian government’s changes to citizenship laws that have drawn international condemnations alleging anti-Muslim bias.
JD Greear, Omar Suleiman to discuss Christian-Muslim relations at NC college
By Aysha Khan — March 3, 2020
(RNS) — Evangelical students will hear the Southern Baptist Convention president and prominent imam discuss how evangelicals and Muslims can find a way forward ‘in a time of unprecedented division and distrust.’
