Pope Francis took a large step in healing relations between the Vatican and the highest Islamic authority in Egypt on Monday. The pontiff met with Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in an attempt to reopen the lines of communication that have been down since 2011, reports The Huffington Post.

Source: Pope Francis Meets With Sunni Muslim Leader - World Religion News

Near the end of his Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Albuquerque in December, Gill Parker Payne decided he had to take action.Seated a few rows in front of him was a woman he had never met before. She was wearing a religious headscarf, known as a hijab, which Payne recognized as a Muslim practice. He stood up, walked down the aisle and stopped next to her seat. Looking down at the woman, Payne instructed her to remove the covering.“Take it off! This is America!”

Source: ‘Take it off! This is America!’: Man who...

Centro Islamico in Houston, Texas, a mosque for Latino Muslims, celebrated their first Cinco de Mayo last week.

Source: Latino Muslims Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Only U.S. Spanish-Speaking Mosque - World Religion News

The writer/filmmaker uses humor to help people understand Islam, but it took years for some mosque members to come around to her jokes. Nawaz's new memoir is called Laughing All The Way to the Mosque.

Source: 'Little Mosque' Creator Zarqa Nawaz On Mixing Comedy And Religion : NPR

In the West, racists see skin color. In Algeria, they see religion.

Source: Black in Algeria? Then You’d Better Be Muslim - The New York Times

A group of Muslims has organized a conference at Carleton University to reach out to community members struggling with mental health issues.

Source: Ottawa Muslims tackle 'taboo' of mental illness - Ottawa - CBC News

The militant group has threatened the lives of 11 imams and scholars in the West, in a fight carried out at mosques and Islamic conferences, and on social media.

Source: Muslim Leaders Wage Theological Battle, Stoking ISIS’ Anger

London's newly-elected mayor Sadiq Khan formally signs up to his new role as the capital's mayor.

Source: Sadiq Khan sworn in as new London mayor - BBC News

Zarifeh Shalabi received the ultimate symbol of teenage acceptance when her non-Muslim friends campaigned for her by wearing hijabs in solidarity.

Source: A Few Miles From San Bernardino, a Muslim Prom Queen Reigns - The New York Times

Veils for Muslim women come in all sizes, shapes and colors — and with terminology that can mean different things in different places.

Source: What’s That You’re Wearing? A Guide to Muslim Veils - The New York Times

“Stereotypes lose their power because they’re replaced by true, authentic relationships,” says Rev. Josh Graves, pastor of the Nashville megachurch Otter Creek Church of Christ, describing his project of engagement between Christians and Muslims. “It’s very hard for people to care about people they don’t know. That’s just true of humans wherever you are on planet earth.” More →

Source: Christians Countering Anti-Muslim Rhetoric | April 29, 2016 |...

At a time when "religious liberty" has become associated in the U.S. with the right to oppose LGBT protections and same-sex marriage, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports on the "serious and sustained assault" on religious people and practices abroad. The organization cites attacks on Muslims in the Central African Republic and Burma to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and the repression of all religious activity in North Korea.

Source: ...

Leader Abdul Rashid Abdullah says that there is a natural overlap between Scouting and Islam, including reverence and respect for others

Source: Muslim Scouts hoping to change perceptions - CBS News

An assistant federal security director said he considered the instructions racial profiling and reported them to officials in Washington.

Source: Minnesota T.S.A. Manager Says He Was Told to Target Somali-Americans - The New York Times

As France grapples with radical Islam and a rise in anti-Semitic acts, a growing number of Jews are choosing to settle in the British capital.

Source: London Becomes a Leading Destination for French Jews After Attacks - The New York Times