The hajj, subject of a new exhibition at the British Museum, shows that a respect for other faiths is central to Muslim tradition, argues Karen Armstrong.
Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia
The false claims about ‘two-tier system’ behind EDL’s planned Leicester protest
The Leicester Mercury exposes the lies and myths surrounding the assault on Rhea Page, which have been exploited by the English Defence League in order to mobilise its supporters for a protest in Leicester next month.
The Mercury argues:
One can only conclude that the reason the EDL has leapt upon the misunderstandings about this case is because it actually has a much wider agenda. It is seeking to propagate a message that white English people are becoming second-class citizens in their own country and preferential treatment is given to Muslims.
That is, of course, deeply divisive and dangerous stuff which breeds resentment between communities. And, as we have seen, its argument crumbles as soon as one carries out a detailed examination of the facts.
See also “Brilliant public meeting as Leicester unites to oppose EDL”, UAF news report, 20 January 2012
Closure threat to Islamic primary school in Newham
Newham Council are threatening to close a primary school in Forest Gate after just four months in a bitter dispute over planning permission.
Council officials have issued an enforcement notice against Alif Academy, an independent Islamic primary school that opened in September, claiming they do not have planning permission to operate as a school.
Headteacher Hasib Hikmat [pictured] said their planning application was blocked by the council’s enforcement notice which has forced them into an appeals process after they spent £50,000 refurbishing the building. But the council and the headmaster both confirmed that the school, at 313-319 Katherine Road, is registered with the Department for Education (DfE) and gained approval from Ofsted.
Santorum says equality ‘doesn’t come from Islam’ but from ‘God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’
BOILING SPRINGS, SC — At his last town hall before South Carolinians vote, Rick Santorum was discussing the concepts of freedom and equality that the nation was founded on and said the concept of equality “doesn’t come from Islam” or “Eastern religions”. Instead “it comes from “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”.
Interfaith rally at Long Island mosque condemns hate crimes
When one group is harmed, we all are. That was the message Friday in Huntington as a diverse cross section of public officials and clergy stood together in solidarity to denounce a recent string of hate crimes in Huntington and other parts of Long Island.
Sharia ‘a force for good not a reason for fear’
The Asian News interviews Aina Khan, head of the new Sharia law division at Manchester-based legal firm Russell Jones & Walker.
Top CIA lawyer never approved NYPD collaboration
The Associated Press continues its investigation into the New York Police Department’s surveillance of Muslim communities.
Roots and Rise of Islamophobia in Europe – Enough Coalition seminar on 4 February
Jonathan Freedland defends dialogue with representatives of East London Mosque
Writing in this week’s Jewish Chronicle, Jonathan Freedland defends Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg against Martin Bright’s recent attack on him over his failure to boycott representatives of the East London Mosque:
Wittenberg is not the only rabbi to have had dealings with the ELM. Just weeks ago, four rabbis – including the Orthodox Dayan Binstock – spoke at the mosque’s community centre. Yet the JC has not denounced Binstock as a “useful idiot”, nor has it railed against the Orthodox Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue, whose president tells me they have a “wonderful relationship” with the nextdoor ELM. In fact, I’ve separately learned the shul was delighted to accept a £5,000 contribution from the mosque towards a new roof – made with no publicity – and was touched when the mosque halted building work to ensure they could daven undisturbed on Yom Kippur. Are the Fieldgate Street congregants “useful idiots” too?
CAIR asks FBI to aid probe of fire at Ohio Muslims’ home
HILLIARD — Police and Norwich Township Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire on Britton Farms Drive.
An Ohio State student lives in the house with his roommate. That student says the garage has previously been painted with anti-Muslim slurs. The student’s mother owns the house, and his father is Dr. Salah Sultan, a controversial Islamic scholar who lives outside the U.S. No one was hurt in the fire.
The Council on American Islamic Relations is working with investigators to determine whether the fire was intentionally set, and whether that would constitute a hate crime.
ABC6OnYourSide.com, 18 January 2012
See also CAIR press release, 18 January 2012