[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating about Islam and reflects a wide variety of opinions and approaches. It does not reflect the views of the Critical Currents in Islam page or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to cci@jadaliyya.com by Saturday night of every week.]
Trump to host Ramadan dinner
Politico
In a reversal from last year, President Trump will host an iftar meal at the White House on 06 June.
Israel’s Very Popular On Chinese Social Media—Thanks To China’s Online Islamophobia
Quartz
On Weibo, Israel’s official mission to China ranks as the most followed foreign embassy to China, despite a lack of close cultural and economic ties.
Indonesian designer Anniesa Hasibuan jailed for fraud
BBC
Indonesian designer Anniesa Hasibuan and her husband have been jailed for fraud, convicted of embezzling over $60 million; Hasibuan had gained fame for having all of her models wear headscarves during New York Fashion week.
'It's brought us together': At Ramadan, American Muslims On Life In The Age of Trump
The Guardian
In Hamtramck, Michigan, American Muslims of varied economic, national, and social backgrounds can all connect in both faith and politics through Ramadan and the controversies of the Trump presidency.
Looking For New Way To Donate During Ramadan? London Mosque Now Accepts Bitcoin
Reuters
The Shacklewell Lane Mosque in Dalston, east London, has decided to accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in a bid to widen its donor base and cut down on currency conversion fees, mosque leaders said.
A Student Leader Is The Latest Victim of France’s Obsession With The Hijab
The Guardian
A student union leader in France is the subject of scrutiny from the public and politicians for appearing in a documentary while wearing the hijab.
During Ramadan, Faith, Family And Food Take Center Stage
WAMU 88.5
For Granada, a restaurant in Virginia, Ramadan means busy Iftar meal service and a strong communal atmosphere.
Australia’s New Rule for Asylum Seekers Makes Ramadan Even Harder
NY Times
For Muslim refugees in Australian detention facilities, improper and cruel treatment from the institutions in their meal scheduling and access to free-time makes it difficult for practicing Muslims to fast.
US Report: Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya Persists In Myanmar
AP News
Ethnic cleansing targeting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has not stopped despite growing condemnation from the international community, the Trump administration said.
EU Top Court Upholds Belgian Limits On Halal Slaughter
Reuters
Europe’s top court said halal slaughter is only allowed in licensed slaughterhouses, ruling that a Belgian ban on the ritualized religious slaughter by Muslims elsewhere did not infringe on freedom of religion.
Islam Scholar Bernard Lewis Left Unfair Legacy of Disdain For Muslims
Religion News
A prominent voice and scholar on Islam and Muslims, the late Bernard Lewis has left behind a thorough track record of using his work to craft Muslims and Islam as violent, paving the way for a number of problematic conclusions.
London's Muslims take a green bite out of Ramadan
Reuters
A group of British Muslims have organized an environmentally friendly Iftar, emphasizing the importance of green practices found in the Qur’an.
10 Key Findings About Religion In Western Europe
Pew Research Center
In a new study from the Pew Research Center, key facts and insights about religion in Western Europe are explored, finding that majorities in most countries across the region say they would be willing to accept Muslims in their families and in their neighborhoods.
Reverts In Ramaḍān
Islam21c
With the Islamic holy month of Ramadan upon both practicing and non-practising Muslims across the world, it is important remember the value in finding communities and gatherings for those who have converted or reverted.
Philippine Congress passes autonomy bill for volatile Muslim region
Reuters
The Philippines moved a step closer to ending decades of conflict on its resource-rich island of Mindanao, after lawmakers approved a bill that will eventually allow self-rule for the country’s Muslim minority.
Saudi Arabia Told The World Its Problem Was Islam. It’s Actually Tyranny.
Huffington Post
According to reporter Akbar Ahmed, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman blames religious conservatism instead of long-standing state repression for problems facing the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain
The Washington Post
English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson has been sentenced to thirteen months in prison for interfering in two trials; a gag order related to the sentence has provoked accusations of a coverup.
I Talked to Zionists—Then I Was Disinvited by a Major Muslim Group
The Atlantic
Wajahat Ali’s invitation to the Islamic Society of North America’s annual conference was withdrawn, a response Ali claims stems from his dialogue with Zionists.
John Bolton hires top staffer from 'conspiracy-obsessed' anti-Muslim group
Middle East Eye
US National Security Adviser John Bolton appointed the VP of an anti-Muslim far right group as the executive secretary of the National Security Council, the official forum that advises the president on foreign policy and military matters.
Denmark passes law banning burqa and niqab
The Guardian
Denmark has joined several other European countries in banning garments that cover the face, including Islamic veils such as the niqab and burqa, in a move condemned by human rights campaigners as ‘neither necessary nor proportionate.’
UK PM May's Conservative Party urged by Muslim group to tackle Islamophobia
Reuters
Britain’s largest Muslim group urged PM Theresa May’s Conservative Party to launch an independent inquiry into Islamophobia to make sure ‘racists and bigots have no place in the party.’
Conservatives must deal with Islamophobia in party, says Warsi
The Guardian
The Conservatives have been accused of failing to take the issue of Islamophobia seriously by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which is calling for an independent inquiry into a problem it said had ‘poisoned’ sections of the party.
A Radical Pick for the National Security Council
The Atlantic
The National Security Council’s new executive secretary and chief of staff, Fred Fleitz, is a former senior vice president at the Center for Security Policy and a co-author of the organization’s report“The Secure Freedom Strategy: A Plan for Victory Over the Global Jihad Movement”; among other policies, the report called for revoking the citizenship of American Muslims who follow religious law.
The College Student Who Has France’s Secularists Fulminating
NY Times
Controversy over a hijab-wearing student leader has largely overshadowed the recent street protests organized by student activists opposed to changes in education policy.
Anti-Muslim US police trainers thrive in unregulated industry
Middle East Eye
Anti-Muslim activists have exploited US police training programs, and departmental requirements regarding yearly training hours, to spread Islamophobic messages disguised as counter-terrorism training.
German Muslims accuse Bavaria of double standards over crucifix order
Reuters
A new Bavarian law requiring the display of a crucifix in government buildings went into effect on 01 June, provoking pushback and condemnation from opposition parties, clerics, and religious minority groups.
China has turned Xinjiang into a police state like no other
The Economist
The Chinese government has imposed a strict security regime in Xinjiang province targeting the minority Uighur Muslim population, including the use of mass surveillance and the opening of unacknowledged reeducation camps.
Fear of Islam Leads India to Snub Refugees
Wall Street Journal
Rohingya refugees in India face greater challenges than earlier refugee populations due to increasing Hindu nationalism and fears regarding religious demographics.
In Nigeria's Kano, Islamic schools provide affordable education
Al Jazeera
Poverty imposes challenges on many Nigerian families attempting to pay for their children’s educations, even at Islamic schools that cost half as much as private schools.
As Taboos Break Down, Iranians Party On
NY Times
Over the last decade, the wedding hall industry in Iran has grown exponentially while the profile of the morality police has decreased, providing the opportunity for many couples to have non-traditional weddings.
The Islamic veil across Europe
BBC
A number of European nations have debated Islamic garb in the last two decades, a debate that has sometimes led to bans on the niqab or burka; Denmark became the latest nation to implement a ban, creating a fine for women wearing a full face veil.
Trump’s Loudest Anti-Muslim Twitter Troll Is A Shady Vegan Married To An (Ousted) WWE Exec
Huffington Post
One of the most prolific anti-Islam Twitter personalities is profiled, describing the poster’s personal history and the events that boosted the poster’s Twitter account.
A secular Muslim’s guide to drinking alcohol during Ramadan
The Washington Post
Journalist Khaled Diab describes the lives of Muslims and former Muslims who consume alcohol, including perspectives on drinking during Ramadan.