U.S. Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Gaza
GAZA — The American State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students in Gaza hoping to pursue advanced degrees at American institutions this fall because Israel has not granted them permission to leave. Israel has isolated this coastal strip, which is run by the militant group Hamas. Given that policy, the United States […]
Iraqis Say Marines Handed out Christian Coins
BAGHDAD (AP) — A U.S. Marine handed out coins promoting Christianity to Muslims in the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, outraged Sunni officials said Friday. The U.S. military responded quickly, removing a trooper from duty pending an investigation. It was the second perceived insult to Islam by American service members this month. A U.S. sniper […]
MI: Coach Loses Job Amid Concerns over Proselytizing
A longtime high school wrestling coach has lost his job amid concerns a former assistant coach tried to convert Muslim students to Christianity. The Detroit News reports 35-year coach Jerry Marszalek’s contract with Fordson High School in Dearborn, Mich., was not renewed. The decision was supported by 200 to 300 parents, who packed a Board […]
CAIR: Senate Report on ‘Homegrown Terrorism’ Criticized
On May 8, staff for Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chair Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME) published a report on homegrown terrorism and the Internet that has raised free speech and guilt-by-association concerns. A coalition of nonprofits and a group of Muslim organizations have both sent letters objecting to […]
KS: Death of Muslim Soldier’s Baby Issue for Lawsuit
The death of a Muslim soldier’s son in North Carolina has become a key issue for a group that is suing the military in Kansas. Eight-month-old Lachlan Agee died May 3 at Fort Bragg, and officials suspect sudden infant death syndrome. His father, Pfc. Eli Agee, is stationed there. Mackenzie Agee says she tried repeatedly […]
CAIR-MN: Muslim Religious Needs Clash with Company
A New Brighton factory is the latest Twin Cities employer to confront employment issues related to Muslim workers and their religious requirements at a time when the area’s population of Islamic adherents — and employees — is increasing.Mission Foods, whose parent company is Irving, Texas-based food giant Gruma Corp., became the subject this week of […]
It’s Possible to be Modest and Beautiful
Re: “A contradiction?” (Letters, May 29). First, on the basis of absolutely nothing, Ken Shore equates modesty with a desire to be unattractive. It’s an untenable link. Just as it’s possible to be both modest and attractive (e.g. my wife in a business suit), it’s equally possible to be both immodest and unattractive (e.g. me […]
CAIR-NJ: Misperceptions About the Hijab
It wasn’t too long ago, during the social revolution of the Sixties, that many elders in the West criticized the changing fashion trends of their younger generation as being “risqué” and indecent. Mothers taught their daughters to be modest, and to make sure that a man respects them for the right reasons, such as their […]
CAIR-FL: Forum Debates Race, Religion, Politics
2008’s hot topics of race, religion, politics and media coverage drew a crowd to Hills­borough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus Thursday night to listen to a panel discussion and give their opinion about how the media is doing.In general, the sentiment of the evening was that coverage of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright was overblown and […]
CAIR-IL: Dunkin’ Donuts Gives in to Racist Fears
Right-wing pundits would sooner choke Rachael Ray with a keffiyeh scarf than leave her alone to drown herself in all that extra virgin olive oil she likes to splash on her so-called 30-minute TV meals.Ray, the affable, pleasantly ordinary-looking TV chef and eponymous magazine maven, was blasted recently when she showed up in a Dunkin’ […]