CA: Filmmaker Tries to Change Portrayal of Muslims
Lena Khan went to UCLA in 2002 thinking she wanted to teach political science or history. Then she saw the impact of the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” and how Muslims were depicted in movies such as “The Siege” and “Black Hawk Down.” “I just cringed every time I saw another Muslim terrorist character on the movie […]
PA: Muslim-Catholic Pact to Foster Respect
When Zia Rahman celebrated the opening of the first mosque in Voorhees less than two years ago, he and fellow congregation members found they had built more than a house of worship. They had built bridges to other faiths. While addressing the concerns of opponents to the mosque – who worried about parking, traffic, and […]
TN: Islamic Center Ready to Rebuild After Arson
The alleged hate crime stirred up emotions in many people, and on Sunday, they came out to put the hate behind them and begin healing. Channel Four’s Catharyn Campbell reported the Muslim community lost their place of worship, but they said their faith is stronger than ever. The charred pile of wood that’s left of […]
NJ: Headscarf Ban Wears on Local Turks
Mevlude Alic’s high school years in Turkey started with a daily act of humiliation. In the women’s bathroom of her school, Alic gathered with other students and teachers to remove their headscarves, in accordance with Turkey’s ban on religious covering in public classrooms. The act contradicted a central tenet in the Quran that woman should […]
CT: Muslims Reconcile Burial Rites, State Rules
Muslims bury their dead quickly — within 24 hours. The dead must be interred without a casket, facing the holy city of Mecca. Before the burial, the body is washed with soap and scented water, then wrapped in a seamless cloth, tied at the head and feet. Cremation and embalming are forbidden. But the specific […]
TX: Muslims Changing Names to Avoid Discrimination
In the six years since the 9-11 attacks, Muslims in America have faced discrimination because of their faith, and many are choosing to change their names to avoid it. The legal process in simple, but the emotional one is much more complex. “We tried to change the name,” said Ibrahim Dremali, the imam at the […]
CAIR-MN: Firebombing Leads to Better Relations
More than two weeks after the fire that destroyed his Blaine convenience store, Mohammad Ismail is still reluctant to go to the side of the charred building where someone had spray-painted an obscenity and the word “Arab” on the door. . .The fire at the Blaine Dairy Store has led some people to wonder whether […]
AL: Mayor Attends Mosque Open House
Hoover met its newest neighbor Saturday and found they had a lot in common. About 200 people, including Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos, attended Saturday’s open house at the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center. The mosque, or masjed, recently opened in a former church. Members of the Birmingham Islamic Society explained the basic beliefs of Islam and […]
NJ: Muslim School Aids Nationwide Hunger Awareness Program
Bridgewater-based Muslims Against Hunger Project is kicking off its nationwide Hunger Awareness Week school program Monday, through Feb. 22 at Dar-ul-Arqam, a Muslim school on Thomas Street. Students will collect clothing, pack utensils and bake cookies Monday to Wednesday for the Community Soup Kitchen in Morristown, said Zamir Hassan, national coordinator of Muslims Against Hunger. […]
CA: Muslims Gather to Remember King, Malcolm X
The shared visions of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. can serve as a guide for religious activism today, a Christian minister told dozens of Muslims gathered at a Santa Clara mosque Saturday. “They still are way ahead of us, and we who are serious about apprehending their dreams for us, have a long […]