[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.]
May 29-June 4
Brits gather to see Ariana Grande again — this time in defiance, The Washington Post
The tens of thousands of young Brits who descended on this city`s largest cricket ground weren`t there just for a star-studded concert. They also wanted to send a message: We are not afraid.
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After Britain Attack, Trump Feuds With London Mayor, NY Times
President Trump and his team renewed a trans-Atlantic feud with the mayor of London on Sunday, portraying him as soft on terrorism a day after seven people were killed and dozens more wounded in the latest attack in the British capital.
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‘It’s Haunting Me’: Teen Harassed on Portland Train Speaks Out on 2 Men Dead, 1 Injured After Defending Her, CTLA 5
After the attack in Portland, one of the teens being harassed thanks the men that defended her.
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NJ mosque wins $3.25 million in settlement of discrimination case, Religion News Service
A muslim community in New Jersey that faced discrimination by local officials wins a discrimination case and gains the right to build a local mosque.
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Border Advice for Muslims Alarms Australian Official — but It Came From His Department, NY Times
An anti-terrorism booklet alarms immigration minister Peter Dutton - even though his own departed provided the information.
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Christian church destroyed by Isis rebuilt by Muslim residents, Metro
Muslim residents in Mosul get together and help rebuild a church destroyed by ISIS.
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In wake of Trump visit, Saudi-led Sunni bloc already splintering, Al-Monitor
Following Trump’s visit to Riyadh, tensions between Middle-Eastern states have started to rise.
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Egypt`s Al-Azhar looks to `cafe preachers` to spread its message, Al-Monitor
Preachers from Al-Azhar visit local cafes to educate others.
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20th-century Libyan jihadism`s role in Manchester attack, Al-Monitor
Salman Abedi, the perpetrator of the Manchester attack, is another in the long list of young Muslims attracted to jihadism today.
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`Bomb violence with mercy`: anti-terror ad goes viral in Middle East, The Guard
An ad by a telecommunications company has attracted both praise and derision for its message to “bomb violence with mercy.”
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Manchester surgeon: `The families understand this attack does not represent Muslims`, The Guardian
A muslim surgeon who operated on victims of the Manchester attack relays how victims and families accept that the attacker’s views don’t reflect on all Muslims.
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Kenan Malik: How did the left radicalism of my Manchester youth give way to Islamism?, The Guardian
A political activist explains how the social landscape around young British muslims shapes their journey into radicalism.
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Palestinian judge bans divorce during Ramadan because ‘people make hasty decisions when they’re hungry’, The Independant
Based on experience from previous years, a Palestinian religious court bans divorce during Ramadan.
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During Ramadan, Home Cooks Shine, NY Times
Never are home-cooked meals more celebrated and appreciated than during Ramadan.
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Ramadan 2017: China trying to stop Muslims observing holy month in restive Xinjiang region, The Independant
The ruling Communist Party in China has seemingly taken measures to prevent ethnic Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramadan.
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The Problem with Liberal Opposition to Islamophobia, Roar Magazine
While the left frequently decries and denounces islamophobia, the arguments liberals use are often more harmful than not.
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The Film “When God Sleeps” Chooses Stereotypes About Iran Over Good Storytelling, Muftah
While the film “When God Sleeps” might have noble intentions, its reliance on stereotypes hampers its message.
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How the Muslim World Was Invented, Foreign Affairs
The notion of a “Muslim world” is not a result of Islamic “theological requirements or a uniquely high level of Muslim piety,” but a product of the West.
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The Greatest, at Rest, ESPN
Following the death of Muhammad Ali, this is the story of how he was put to rest.
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Exclusive: The Real Reason Muhammad Ali Converted to Islam, Time
Muhammad Ali’s conversion to Islam turned him into a powerful figure in the American Muslim community; TIME discovers another facet in his decision to convert.
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The meaning in my student, Taliesin Namkai-Meche’s last words, Oregon Live
Scholar of Islam, Reed College Professor Kambiz Ghaneabassiri comments on his student’s heroic stand.
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May 22-28
On Islam, Trump is consistently inconsistent, CNN
U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia demonstrated the dichotomy of the administration’s attitude towards Islam, his language both appealing to allies in the Middle East while alienating Muslims.
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The ‘Muslim World’ Does Not Exist, The Atlantic
Yale professor Zareena Grewal argues that the idea of the “Muslim World,” rhetoric frequently used by Western political leaders (and recently used by U.S. President Donald Trump), is an inaccurate term that relies on a faulty premise.
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Why Trump’s speech on terrorism was such a missed opportunity, The Washington Post
Academic and former NSC official Quintan Wiktorowicz argues that by focusing on “radical Islam,” Trump – and others – ignore the socio-economic pressures and disillusionment present amongst young Middle Eastern people that drive them towards extremism.
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The Most Radical Thing About Master of None’s Islam Episode Is That It Isn’t About Religion, Slate
Master of None, starring Aziz Ansari, presents a nuanced view of American Muslims that doesn’t include mentions of terrorism, politics, or immigration; in short, a view into the life of the average “brown person.”
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Don’t be fooled by Trump’s Saudi Arabia speech. He’s still an Islamophobe., The Washington Post
Mehdi Hasan compares recent reporting on Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia to his track record suggesting that despite not using the term“radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump still perpetuates Islamophobia.
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White House Blames Exhaustion for Donald Trump`s `Islamic Terrorism Dog Whistle in Saudi Arabia, The Intercept
Donald Trump, in his speech in Saudi Arabia on March 21st, used eclectic rhetoric in describing terrorism in the Middle East, confusing listeners as to what his administration really thinks; according to the White House, Trump’s language was due to exhaustion.
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As a British Muslim, I fear terror just as much as you do, Independent
Following the attacks in Manchester, a young British Muslim explains how his grief is silenced by society because of his religion.
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American Muslims Discuss Trump`s Speech, The Islamic Monthly
Experts on Islam and the Middle East discuss Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia.
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Hasan Minhaj on Being Called `The Color of Poop` and Other Stories About Growing Up Muslim Indian-American, Newsweek
Hasan Minhaj’s new show on Netflix discusses the prejudice he faced as a young Indian American and his experiences with racism and tolerance.
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The Female Muslim Comic Standing Up to Extremism, Daily Mail
Sakdiyah Maruf, a female Indonesian comic, breaks conventions and raises awareness to tackle controversial issues through humor.
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World`s largest Muslim youth organisation calls for re-examination of Islamic text, Channel News Asia
GP Ansor – a youth organization in Indonesia – called for a re-examination of Islamic texts in the face of the modern reality of Muslim life.
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New Jersey Town Used Zoning to Discriminate Against Islam, The New York Times
Efforts to construct a mosque in New Jersey were hampered by explicitly discriminatory efforts by the township, who tried to issue demands to the community with the intent to disrupt construction.
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Majorities in Europe, North America worried about Islamic extremism, Pew Research Center
Following the attacks in Manchester, and other terrorist attacks in the last few months, a majority of people in the Western worlds are worried about religious extremism.
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Canada Post Eid Stamp Issued To Recognize 2 Important Muslim Holidays, Huffington Post Canada
Canada issues new postal stamps to recognize Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
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Shari`ah-Compliant Crypto Gold: Could Islam Be Preparing for a New World Reserve Currency?, Forbes
The Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and the World Gold Council announces a new Shari’ah compliant gold backed cryptocurrency called OneGram.
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Ramadan 2017: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask, Vox
Ramadan started this past weekend; here’s everything you need to know about it.
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This man spent 14 years in prison with convicted terrorists. Now he’s fighting extremism, QuartzAt a time when a heated debate surrounds root causes of extremism, see this story of an individual who was once a terrorist sympathizer.
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Two killed on Portland train after `defending Muslims`, Al Jazeera
Two men stabbed to death as they tried to stop a far-right sympathizer bullying Muslim women on light-rail train.
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Portland train stabbings: FBI looking into possible hate crime charges, CNN
FBI looks into hate crime charges against Portland suspect who killed two, wounded one.
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Tillerson declines to host Ramadan event at State Department, Reuters
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declined to host an iftar dinner this year, breaking with a bipartisan tradition in place with few exceptions for nearly 20 years.
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Anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist trained senior U.S. Marshall, National Guard members, documents show, The Intercept
A former FBI agent with a penchant for spreading anti-Muslim conspiracy theories trained a senior U.S. marshal, five federal contractors, and five National Guard members at a three-day event in Louisiana.
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Trump misses opportunity to reassure U.S. Muslims after Portland attack, Politico
President Trump’s reaction to Portland draws criticism.
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