Author Chips Away at Hollywood Stereotypes of Muslims
George Clooney asked him to work as a consultant on two films – including “Syriana” – and national news programs and networks such as “The Today Show,” “Nightline” and CNN have featured the Hilton Head author on a regular basis. But retired communications professor Jack Shaheen said it’s a lonely job taking Hollywood to task […]
KS: Speaker Gives Islam Positive Image
Presenting before several curious students, faculty and Hays residents, Ruksana Kibria of the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh projected an image of Islam her audience was not used to seeing: a positive one. “Islam is a peaceful religion,” Kibria said. “Its goal is to establish an orderly and harmonious way of life.” Kibria is a […]
New Forum to Try to Improve Catholic-Muslim Ties
The Vatican on Wednesday announced a new Catholic-Muslim Forum to try to improve relations between the religions. The announcement came after a delegation of Muslim scholars met with members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on Tuesday. In a joint statement issued by the Holy See, the parties said that the forum’s first meeting, […]
Maryland Imam Leads Interfaith Efforts
He has met with two U.S. presidents, lectured on Islam in scores of countries and appeared on global television. So Imam Yahya Hendi could be forgiven for declining engagements in the sticks. But on successive days last month, Hendi drove from his Frederick home to ecumenical gatherings in Cumberland, Md., and Columbia, Pa., each at […]
Congress Defends Gaza Assault 404-1
Today Congress passed a resolution (HR 951) condemning Palestinian rocket attacks that include a strident defense of recent Israeli tactics in the Gaza Strip. The resolution also condemned Iran and Syria for “sponsoring terror attacks,” and demanded that Saudi Arabia publicly condemn Palestinian actions. The resolution was originally introduced in January, but contains new language […]
Gaza Conditions ‘at 40-Year Low’
Gaza’s humanitarian situation is at its worst since Israel occupied the territory in 1967, say UK-based human rights and development groups. They include Amnesty International, Save the Children, Cafod, Care International and Christian Aid. They criticise Israel’s blockade on Gaza as illegal collective punishment which fails to deliver security. Israel says its military action and […]
A Bid to Enroll Arabs in U.S. Colleges
Like any good high school student, Lana Awad dreamed of an Ivy League education. But when the Syrian teen started applying to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and Harvard College, her guidance counselor told her to think smaller. After all, no one from her high school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia had ever gone to […]
CAIR: Harvard Gym Accommodates Muslim Women
Harvard University has banned men from one of its gyms for a few hours a week, a move to accomodate Muslim women who, for religious and cultural reasons, cannot exercise comfortably in their presence.The policy is already unpopular with many on campus, however, including some women who consider it sexist.“I think that it’s incorrect in […]
CAIR-OK Co-Sponsors ‘Prince Among Slaves’ Screening
The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Student Association of the University of Oklahoma will hold a screening of the documentary film “Prince Among Slaves” from 7 to 8:30 tonight in Dale Hall, Room 200, 433 Lindsey.The free screening will kick off a new “Film of the Month” series sponsored […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Muslim Bioethics
When Sunni and Shiite scholars disagreed over the ethics of cloning animals, I wondered whether there were other bioethical conflicts in the Muslim world. Are Muslims split over stem cell research and genetically engineered crops? Generally speaking, do they approach biotechnologies in the same way — or variety of ways — as Western cultures? I […]