Islam

Interfaith Statement Against Gay Marriage

February 7, 2004

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/07/leade

On February 7, 2004 The Boston Globe published the text of an Interfaith Statement against gay marriage, reading in part: "Today, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of the state of Massachusetts joined with over 3000 other religious communities within the state to offer a joint statement in support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union...

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Secularizing Legislation May Extend to Hospitals, Other Public Institutions

February 6, 2004

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1142313,00.html

On February 6, 2004 The Guardian reported, "As France's national assembly neared the end of a four-day debate on a ban on religious emblems in state schools, the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said 'similar legislation' was planned to stop hospital patients refusing to be treated by male doctors...Health administrators have reported cases of Muslim husbands who would...

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Immigrants Shape the Michigan Election

February 6, 2004

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0402/06/a02-57279.htm

On February 6, 2004 The Detroit News reported on how immigrant voters may shape the outcome of the 2004 presidential election in Michigan, noting that "their numbers may be small, but they could carry a lot of weight in a tight race, which the presidential contest in Michigan is likely to be. Among these swing voters in a swing state are Arab- and Muslim-Americans and two of the...

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Law Society of Kenya: Muslims Relegated to "Second-Class Status"

February 6, 2004

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3466313.stm

On February 6, 2004 the BBC News reported, "Kenya's Muslims are being relegated to second-class status because of the country's official efforts to combat terrorism, say Kenyan lawyers. The Law Society of Kenya says dismal treatment of Muslims has marred human rights gains made in the past year. Muslims make up about a quarter of the population, but suffer harassment and intimidation, say the annual report. The...

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Diversity in Mississippi

February 6, 2004

Source: The Sun Herald

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/7887577.htm

On February 6, 2004 The Sun Herald reported. "Religion in South Mississippi is more diverse than many who live in this strongly Christian region realize. Perhaps no one knows that better than Cindy Brown, an associate professor at the University of Southern Mississippi who spent three years documenting the religious diversity with photographs. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Hare Krishnas and Jews...

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Controversy Surrounds UNICEF Calendar With No Hindu or Sikh Holidays

February 5, 2004

Source: Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_561918,00050003.htm

On February 5, 2004 the Hindustan Times reported, "A major controversy erupted after UNICEF's UK branch printed a diary ignoring Hindu and Sikh religious festivals while listing religious festivals from Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. The diary which contains 25 days associated with Christianity, three days linked to Islam, two days for Judaism and one day for Buddhism...

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Bush Calls the "Sons and Daughters of Abraham" to Action

February 5, 2004

Source: US Newswire

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=111-02052004

On February 5, 2004 US Newswire published the remarks by President Bush at the annual Prayer Breakfast: "There's another part our heritage we are showing in Iraq, and that is the great American tradition of religious tolerance. the Iraqi people are mostly Muslims, and we respect the faith they practice. Our troops in Iraq have helped to refurbish mosques, have treated Muslim...

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Ban of Religious Symbols Seen as Targeting Islam

February 5, 2004

Source: The Economist

http://www.economist.com/World/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2404691

On February 5, 2004 The Economist ran an in-depth article on the integration of the growing Muslim population in France to French secular society, spurred by the controversy over the proposed law banning religious symbols in public schools. The article reported, "Outside France the headscarf ban has caused bafflement and indignation, and not only in the Arab...

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Update: Teacher Transferred After Yanking Student's Headscarf

February 5, 2004

Source: The Times-Picayne

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1075966342243360.xml

On February 5, 2004 The Times-Picayne reported that "Maryam Motar attends school in the United States, not France, where the government is considering a law that would forbid her to wear the head scarf required by her religion.

The West Jefferson High School sophomore's attire still made her a target for ridicule, though, and according to...

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Education Minister: No Plans to Ban Headscarf from Schools

February 5, 2004

Source: Aftenposten

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=724308

On February 5, 2004 Aftenposten reported, "Education Minister Kristin Clemet said during question time in parliament on Wednesday that she had no plans to ban the hijab - the head scarf worn by Muslim women that has recently become increasingly associated with Islamism. The Progress Party's parliamentary group agreed Wednesday to propose banning the hijab and...

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Secularists Protest Proposed Ban of Religious Symbols

February 5, 2004

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-02/05/article07.shtml

On February 5, 2004 IslamOnline.net reported, "Scores of French secular activists thronged to the outside of National Assembly on Wednesday, February 4, in protest at the lower house's intention to ban hijab and other religious insignia in the rigidly-secular country. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the ban, saying the move would be discriminatory as...

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Members of Congress Speak Out Against French Ban

February 4, 2004

Source: The Sikh Coalition

http://www.sikhcoalition.org/HondaEhlers.asp

On February 4, 2004 The Sikh Coalition reported that Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) sent a memo to members of Congress and urged them to sign onto a letter to the French Government. This letter expresses concern over the French ban of articles of faith in schools. The letter reads, in part: "On February 10, 2004, the French Parliament will vote on legislation to restrict religious...

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Leader of German Christian Democrat Party Backs French Ban of Religious Symbols

February 4, 2004

Source: EUpolitix.com

http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200402/337ee4a1-bd98-46d9-b0a9-f107bdc0 1209.htm

On February 4, 2004 EUpolitix.com reported, "Muslim headscarves should be banned in schools, the leader of the European Parliament’s largest political group has told EUpolitix.com. Entering the fray of the controversial debate over the freedom to wear Muslim veils in public institutions, German Christian Democrat MEP Hans-Gert...

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