BLOG(ISTAN)
REUTERS: “UN Envoy: Muslims Being Targeted in Central African Republic”
From Reuters by Emmanuel Braun (Reuters) – At least 13 people were killed in Central African Republic on Monday as the top U.N. human rights official warned of escalating reprisals against Muslims and urged foreign governments to do more to … Continue reading
NEWSPAPER: “Lifting the Veil: The Lives of Muslim Women in New Zealand”
From The New Zealand Herald Face coverings can polarise Kiwis in New Zealand. Some see them as victimisation, others as unnecessary. Those who choose to wear them have to deal with differing attitudes on a daily basis. Lynn, a New … Continue reading
NEWSPAPER: “Pentagon Clarifies Rules on Beards & Turbans for Muslim & Sikh Service Members”
From The Washington Post By Pamela Constable, Published: January 22, 2014 The Defense Department released regulations Wednesday ensuring the rights of religious-minority service members to display their beliefs outwardly — such as wearing a turban, scarf or beard — as long as the practices do … Continue reading
PBS VIDEO: “Syrian-American Female College Student’s Slam Poetry Inspires Others”
From PBS NewsHour Amal Kassir says she knows she’s lucky. Born of an American mother and Syrian father, she was raised in Denver, but lived for many years in Syria. She says her time in Syria helped her understand the … Continue reading
EDITORIAL: “Court Ruling Against Muslims Moves Japan Closer to Surveillance Society”
From The Asahi Shimbun (Japan) Police and the government collect a wide range of information about society as part of their daily operations. They have the ability to obtain, accumulate and use huge amounts of personal information about individual citizens. … Continue reading
LITERARY NEWS: “Arab-American Named Chancellor of Academy of American Poets”
From ArabAmerica.com The Academy of American Poets announced today that noted translator Khaled Mattawa was elected Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, an honorary position that has been held by some of the most distinguished poets in the United … Continue reading
COOL VIDEO: “Watch Random Strangers Try on Muslim Hijab Headscarf”
Watch people trying on the Muslim hijab headscarf here:
AUDIO: “Arab-American Rapper Focuses On Violence In Syria”
From WBUR (Boston) You may have heard of Omar Offendum, the 31-year-old Syrian-American rapper who made a song about the Arab Spring called #Jan25 that was released just days before the overthrow of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. Now, he’s focusing his music … Continue reading
COLUMN: “We Need A New Ambassador-At-Large for Religious Freedom”
From Religion News Service by Lauren Markoe WASHINGTON (RNS) It’s been three months since the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook resigned as the State Department’s religious freedom watchdog, and those who decry religious persecution in Syria, Sudan and elsewhere are wondering how long … Continue reading
PEW REPORT: “Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High”
From Pew Research Religion & Life Project The share of countries with a high or very high level of social hostilities involving religion reached a six-year peak in 2012, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. A third (33%) … Continue reading
