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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Source: Reuters

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...

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-02/04/article01.shtml

On February 4, 2004 IslamOnline.net reported, "Holland's Labor Party announced Monday, February 2, the appointment of the first Muslim-Arab member to Amsterdam 's City Council, the highest authority in the capital. Ahmad Abutaleb, of a Moroccan decent, replaces prominent councilor Rob Oudkerk, who was forced to step down last month over a sex scandal that hit...

Source: US Newswire

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...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1075847651258200.xml

On February 3, 2004 The Associated Press reported that "a teacher at a suburban high school was removed from his classroom because of accusations that he yanked off a Muslim student's head scarf and allegedly told her, 'I hope God punishes you.'

West Jefferson High School principal Lale Geer confirmed Tuesday that...