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

A decade after FBI killing of Detroit imam, Muslims still look for answers

By Aysha Khan — October 29, 2019
(RNS) — In 2009, federal agents shot Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah during a warehouse raid. Muslims in Michigan and around the country say they still have more questions than answers about the prominent leader’s killing.

New England art exhibition shows another side of American Muslims

By Aysha Khan — October 25, 2019
BOSTON (RNS) — The artwork is part of the annual art series 'More Than My Religion,' a project organized by New England Muslim artists to reflect American Muslims’ multifaceted identities beyond their religious practice.

Tennessee pastor posts video burning book that critiques Christian nationalism

By Aysha Khan — October 24, 2019
(RNS) — A conservative evangelical pastor in Tennessee posted a video of himself on social media burning a book by an atheist lawyer who argued the U.S. was not built as a Christian nation.

Muslim employee claims discrimination by New York DMV over Friday prayers

By Aysha Khan — October 21, 2019
(RNS) — A Muslim employee has filed a discrimination complaint against New York State’s Department of Motor Vehicles for allegedly denying his repeated requests to attend weekly religious services.

After call from Indian official, library pulls Sikh ‘genocide’ memorial

By Aysha Khan — October 16, 2019
(RNS) — After an Indian official called the Connecticut library, the entire memorial — which accused India of committing genocide against Sikhs in 1984 — was quietly removed from the library.

Inside the WhatsApp group of young Muslims praying for Bernie’s health

By Aysha Khan — October 15, 2019
(RNS) — A group of young American Muslims just finished an entire recitation of the Quran on the Vermont senator's behalf. Here's why.

Meet the imam building a ‘Muslim Village’ in the heart of Vegas

By Aysha Khan — October 11, 2019
LAS VEGAS (RNS) — Since 2010, the imam of Las Vegas’ oldest mosque has slowly but surely driven local drug houses and gangs out of his historic neighborhood. Now, he's on a mission to purchase the surrounding properties and transform them into affordable housing.

Opposition to Modi isn’t just about anti-Muslim violence, Indian Christians say

By Aysha Khan — October 9, 2019
(RNS) — Framing the opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party’s Hindutva creed as a Hindu-Muslim conflict ignores the persecution of India's Christians and other religious minorities.

Houston mourns ‘trailblazer’ Sikh officer killed in line of duty

By Aysha Khan — September 30, 2019
(RNS) — On Monday (Sept. 30), Houston and Sikhs around the world mourned Sandeep Dhaliwal after the 10-year veteran of law enforcement was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop last week. 

New Reddit project makes mental health care accessible to young Muslims

By Aysha Khan — September 25, 2019
(RNS) — As of this month, the r/Islam subreddit will offer a designated space for young Muslims to explore their own mental health — with guidance from a licensed clinical psychologist.

Congressional hearing on travel ban highlights impact of muddled waiver process

By Aysha Khan — September 24, 2019
(RNS) — The first-ever congressional hearing on the ban focused on its human cost. But it also highlighted the confusion around the process for obtaining the case-by-case waivers promised by the Trump administration.

Tech companies join Muslim groups in support of historic bill to end travel ban

By Aysha Khan — September 23, 2019
(RNS) — If passed, the bill would be the first legislation to focus specifically on Muslims’ rights.

In San Diego, Muslims question rollout of city’s ‘smart’ streetlights

By Aysha Khan — September 20, 2019
(RNS) — An analysis of San Diego's controversial 'smart' streetlights, equipped with cameras and sensors, suggests that many of the city’s mosques could be monitored by the city.

Website aimed at British Muslim women funded by UK anti-extremism program

By Aysha Khan — September 16, 2019
(RNS) — SuperSisters seems to be part of a larger strategy by the Home Office to work with PR and digital media agencies to offer young Muslims an anti-terrorism narrative.

9/11 timeline project traces ‘underlying Islamophobia’ in war on terror

By Aysha Khan — September 10, 2019
(RNS) — The visual timeline of post-9/11 policies and programs highlights the 'underlying Islamophobia' linking nearly two decades of torture, immigration crackdowns, surveillance overreaches and more.
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