Islam

Charity Guilty of Funding Terror

November 25, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7747187.stm

A Muslim charity and five of its former leaders have been convicted of funding the Palestinian militant group Hamas, designated a terrorist group in the US.

Jurors reached the guilty verdict after eight days of deliberations in the retrial of the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.

The group - once the largest US Muslim...

Read more about Charity Guilty of Funding Terror

Even in Violence-Free Town, Christians Want to Join Exodus Out of Iraq

November 25, 2008

Author: Dennis D. Gray

Source: Daily Press

Wire Service: AP

http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-iraq-christian-flight,0,2304619.story

Young Christian women in tight jeans mingle easily with Arab matrons draped in black, head-to-toe robes. Both church spires and mosque minarets rise above the low-slung houses. Violence is rare.

"The people here look out...

Read more about Even in Violence-Free Town, Christians Want to Join Exodus Out of Iraq

Islamic Centre Planned for Town

November 25, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7735533.stm

Muslims who rent halls for social gatherings and prayers have set up a charitable trust to raise money for a permanent Islamic centre.

Members of the West Wales Islamic Cultural Association hope to establish a community centre in Carmarthen.

They have identified a building and raised more than £60,000 towards their Â...

Read more about Islamic Centre Planned for Town

Menino's Mosque

November 24, 2008

Author: David S. Bernstein

Source: The Boston Phoenix

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/72356-Meninos-mosque/

Most locals concede that getting anything of substance accomplished in Boston is a Herculean task. Residents have all but embraced the principle of civic inaction with a perverse kind of local pride. In the end, who you know is probably more important than what you are trying to do. And there is no doubt that little is accomplished without...

Read more about Menino's Mosque

Jews, Muslims Seek Better Ties in `Twinning' Program

November 24, 2008

Author: Nicole Neroulias

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=17015

The mistrust and misconceptions between North America's Jews and Muslims may run thick and deep, but leaders of a new nationwide interfaith initiative say the two sides have more to learn than fear from each other.

That was the message issued this weekend (Nov. 21-23) in more than 100 mosques and synagogues that signed up for a "Weekend of...

Read more about Jews, Muslims Seek Better Ties in `Twinning' Program

U.S. Muslim Leaders Denounce Al Qaeda's Slur Toward Obama

November 22, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/21/obama.muslim.remark/index.html

Spiritual leaders of New York's African-American Muslim communities lashed out Friday at a purported al Qaeda message attacking President-elect Barack Obama and, using racist language, comparing him unfavorably to the late Malcolm X.

The imams called the recorded comments from al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri "an insult"...

Read more about U.S. Muslim Leaders Denounce Al Qaeda's Slur Toward Obama

Top Islamic Body: Yoga Is Not For Muslims

November 22, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/malaysia.yoga.banned.ap/index.html

Malaysia's top Islamic body on Saturday ruled against Muslims practicing yoga, saying it had elements of other religions that could corrupt Muslims.

The National Fatwa Council's non-binding edict said yoga involves not just physical exercise but also includes Hindu spiritual elements, chanting and...

Read more about Top Islamic Body: Yoga Is Not For Muslims

Muslim Civil Group Blasts NYPD 'Terrorism' Report

November 21, 2008

Author: Nicole Neroulias

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=17002

A New York City Police Department report that characterizes young Muslim men as susceptible to Islamic extremism and "jihadization" is biased and unfair, a Muslim civil rights group said Thursday (Nov. 20).

The Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition, created last year in response to a NYPD analysis of terrorism plots, said it has...

Read more about Muslim Civil Group Blasts NYPD 'Terrorism' Report

UN Rejection of Iranian ‘No-Action Motion’ Is Victory for Human Rights, Say Baha’is

November 21, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahá’í World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/670

The Baha’i International Community praised the United Nations General Assembly for today rejecting a so-called “no-action motion” on human rights in Iran.

Such a motion, if it had passed, would have used procedural rules to set aside a resolution that is sharply critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran over its use of torture, the...

Read more about UN Rejection of Iranian ‘No-Action Motion’ Is Victory for Human Rights, Say Baha’is

'Hindu Terrorism' Debate Grips India

November 21, 2008

Author: Zubair Ahmed

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7739541.stm

A new and highly controversial phrase has entered the sometimes cliche-riddled Indian press: "Hindu terrorism".

As with the term "Islamic terrorism" and "Christian fundamentalism", this latest addition to the media lexicon is highly emotive.

It was in the aftermath of the 29 September bomb blast in the predominantly Muslim town of Malegaon in...

Read more about 'Hindu Terrorism' Debate Grips India

Religious Freedom Does Not Apply to Muslims Here, Says Retired Judge

November 20, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Malaysia Today

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15101/84/

The concept of religous freedom does not apply to Muslims in the country, a retired high court judge told an international seminar here.

Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik said, as far as enacted law was concerned, it was clear that it was not easy for one to abandon the practices of the faith.

Citing the case of Lina Joy's renunciation of Islam, Faiza...

Read more about Religious Freedom Does Not Apply to Muslims Here, Says Retired Judge

Prophet Cartoon Row in Indonesia

November 19, 2008

Author: Lucy Williamson

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7737223.stm

The Indonesian government says it has called on a blogging website to take down two cartoons which depict Muslim Prophet Muhammad in sexual situations.

The communications minister said the drawings were "very inappropriate", and said if necessary he would ask internet service providers to block the site.

The cartoons, which appeared on...

Read more about Prophet Cartoon Row in Indonesia

Pages