August 29, 2011

For the past month, Muslims around the world have been fasting in observance of Ramadan, abstaining from food and water during daylight hours. International rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar and his friend, Rabiah Ahmed, board member of an online platform for American Muslims called My Faith My Voice, recall childhood memories of how their families observed the fast.

Listen to NPR Commentary Here: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/29/140032974/reflections-of-ramadan-from-childhood

Date Posted: August 24, 2011

Crescent Post Managing Editor Arsalan Iftikhar on Al-Jazeera English on August 24, 2011 on Lockerbie Bomber Abdelbaset el-Megrahi.

Watch 6-minute video of Arsalan here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bO-lS9GHB0

July 21, 2011

by Jesse Washington (Associated Press)

But Arsalan Iftikhar, an international human rights lawyer and author of the upcoming book "Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Osama Era," said the Norway attacks "proved that terrorism can be committed by a person of any race, nationality or religion."

Iftikhar, who is Muslim, said one effect of the tragedy would be "to restart a debate on the term terrorism, and who and when the term should be applied.

"Sadly, the last ten years, the term has been co-opted in public discourse and only applies to Muslims," he said. "Now here we have a right-wing Christian extremist who has committed an act of terror, and many people don't know how to react."

Read Entire July 2011 Associated Press (AP) Article Here...

July 21, 2011

by Suzanne Gamboa (Associated Press)

Pew's survey shows significant mistrust remains between the average person on the "Muslim street" and the general public in Western nations, said Arsalan Iftikhar, a human rights attorney who is writing a book about Muslims post-Osama bin Laden.

"Both Westerners and Muslims alike tend to point the proverbial finger at the 'other' in order to not fully accept responsibility for their own societal shortcomings," Iftikhar said.

Read Entire July 2011 Associated Press (AP) Article Here...

Date Posted: May 2, 2011

From National Public Radio

Civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar says Bin Laden's death is a reason for Muslims to celebrate. The head of Washington D.C.'s national synagogue Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld questions whether celebrating a death is ever appropriate. Host Michel Martin speaks with Iftikhar and Rabbi Herzfeld about the impact of Bin Laden's Death from a spiritual perspective.

Listen to audio at: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/02/135920809/is-celebrating-death-appropriate