Tag Archives: islam

‘I Converted to Islam, But Hide My New Faith in Public’: An Upper Caste Hindu Man Tells His Story

At a time when many BJP state governments have passed or plan to pass so-called anti-conversion laws, his journey from Hinduism to Islam has given him a special insight in to the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment. New Delhi: “I have hated Muslims … Continue reading

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The grandfather of the European Enlightenment was Muslim

What is the Muslim philosopher Averroes doing in the famous fresco “The School of Athens” of the Italian Renaissance painter Raphael? The painter brought together all thinkers and scientists that influenced the West. So, it’s no surprise that Plato and … Continue reading

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Muslim Parties Must be Included in Arab Spring Reform By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz

The leaders of the protests in Sudan and Algeria are aware that ending their old regimes does not mean the end of political Islam. But they are not at all clear about the necessity of inclusiveness in state building. A … Continue reading

Posted in Egypt, Empire, Ideaology, Islamophobia, Libya, Middle East, Syria, Tunisia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

China cracks down on Ramadan fasting, prompting activist boycott of Chinese products

PHOTO: Muslims traditionally fast from dawn to dusk and pray five times a day during Ramadan. (Reuters: Damir Sagolj)RELATED STORY: My journey to Mecca during the month of RamadanRELATED STORY: A human rights group hacked a Chinese mass surveillance app. Here’s what it foundRELATED … Continue reading

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An encounter of Ottoman, British and West African Muslims in 1894 by Hassam Munir

In 1894, the Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II decided to present his empires highest civilian order to Muhammad Shitta, a Nigerian Muslim entrepreneur from Lagos. Shitta earned the honor by sponsoring the construction of mosque in Lagos. This was a … Continue reading

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The veil in anxious times

An Australian MP’s burqa-wearing stunt this week won’t be last time this issue will come up. But under the veil of the Western preoccupation with head covering, what is this really about? This week, Australias far-right One Nation party leader … Continue reading

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Why Thomas Jeffersons vision of American Islam matters today

An estimated 3.3 million American Muslims are celebrating the month of Ramadan. It was during this month that Prophet Mohammad first received revelations from God. The holiday has been celebrated at the White House with American Muslims since 1996, when … Continue reading

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No veils, no ‘abnormal’ beards: China’s first anti-extremism law targets Xinjiang

Beijing: China’s first anti-extremism law comes into effect on Saturday, enforcing bans on full-face veilsand long beards in the restive far-western regionof Xinjiang. Such bans had previously only been applied ad hoc. The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region sits along the … Continue reading

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40 Years On, A Controversial Film On Islam’s Origins Is Now A Classic

In 1962, a Syrian-born Hollywood filmmaker named Moustapha Akkad watched the epic film Lawrence of Arabia, directed by David Lean. Akkad was riveted as he watched a scene in which actor Omar Sharif emerges from the sands like a wraith … Continue reading

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The Muslims Are Coming! The Muslims Are Coming! The Muslims Are Coming!

American Islamophobia is as old as Plymouth Rock. But weve never seen anything quite like this before. They are terrorist savages and mongrels, part of the rubbish from the desperate and criminal populations of the Third World who have backfilled … Continue reading

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