Joseph Hammond

Joseph Hammond is an author at Religion News Service.

All Stories by Joseph Hammond

UFOs and science fiction in Muslim culture goes well beyond ‘Dune’

By Joseph Hammond — November 19, 2021

(RNS) — In the Middle East, in particular, science fiction became an outlet for political criticism.

NY court expected to overturn 2 convictions in Malcolm X assassination

By Joseph Hammond — November 17, 2021

(RNS) — Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, who had long maintained their innocence, spent years in maximum security prisons with limited access to their children and families.

New biography offers novel approach to life of Muhammad

By Joseph Hammond — November 12, 2021

(RNS) — In his new book, 'Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait,' biographer Mohamad Jebara takes long-established sources and weaves them together for a fresh telling of a familiar story.

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.

AI technology resurrects the voice of Laleh Bakhtiar

By Joseph Hammond — November 9, 2021

(RNS) — A project aimed at cementing the legacy of an Islam scholar could help the IT world’s sometime hostility to Muslim voices.

European diversity campaign celebrating Hijab ended after French backlash

By Joseph Hammond — November 8, 2021

(RNS) — A Council of Europe spokesperson told the BBC the organization had taken down the campaign tweets, 'while we reflect on a better presentation of the project.'

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.'

EcoSikh joins interfaith effort ahead of COP26

By Joseph Hammond — October 28, 2021

(RNS) — EcoSikh, which draws on Sikh ethics, beliefs and the example of Sikh gurus to confront the world’'s environmental challenges, described the COP26 event as a ‘last ray of hope as the earth faces an unprecedented ecological crisis.’

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.

COVID-19 takes a bite out of Burkina Faso’s cult of sacred crocodiles

By Joseph Hammond — October 22, 2021

(RNS) — The local cult of the crocodile dates to sometime in the 1500s, when, during a period of severe drought, locals believe, a crocodile appeared and led local women to a source of fresh water.

‘Dune’ novels draw on Islamic motifs and have in turn inspired Muslim artists

By Joseph Hammond — October 18, 2021

(RNS) — The original series of 'Dune' novels is heavily influenced by ecology and sociology — as well as imagery from the Islamic world and the Middle East.

Michigan attorney is first Muslim Arab American woman to stand before Supreme Court

By Joseph Hammond — October 8, 2021

(RNS) — Fadwa Hammoud’s appearance at the Supreme Court is one of several important firsts for Muslims in the American legal system in recent months.

Thomas Jefferson’s Quran to visit Dubai Expo 2020

By Joseph Hammond — October 8, 2021

(RNS) — The historic English-language Quran has never traveled outside the United States.

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.