Author: AMIR SHAH

Source: The State

Wire Service: AP

http://www.thestate.com/372/story/314894.html

Afghanistan needs more international help to build Islamic schools so fewer students will attend more radical ones outside the country, President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday.

Karzai said parents would not know what their children study in Islamic schools or madrassas outside the country - an apparent reference to...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Wire Service: Reuters

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/ruling-against-islamic-law-on-conversion/2008/02/10/1202578601077.html

In a landmark case, an Egyptian court has ruled that the state must recognise the right of Christians who convert to Islam to change their minds and revert to Christianity.

Until...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Remove_religious_restriction/rssarticleshow/2772049.cms

As long as religious restriction continues on Article 341 of the Constitution of India, the dalit Christians and dalit Muslims will remain marginalised from the national mainstream. They have to bear the brunt of fascist forces sometimes in Gujarat and sometimes in...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: WKRN Nashville

http://wkrn.com/nashville/news/church-offers-support-to-mosque-members/136117.htm

The First Presbyterian Church in Columbia is opening its doors to members of the Islamic Center of Columbia after a fire over the weekend destroyed their place of worship.

When news of the fire spread, church members at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia pitched into to help....

Author: Staff Writer

Source: AFP

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNOYHO_OlQv9TQDsrQ9tB5YeJo7g

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born former Dutch deputy threatened with death for her outspoken criticism of Islam, sought European protection and possible French citizenship at the start of a visit to Paris on Sunday.

French star philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy has spearheaded a campaign for Hirsi Ali to receive honorary French...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7237663.stm

A minister who warned about birth defects among children of first cousin marriages in Britain's Asian community has sparked anger among critics.

Phil Woolas said health workers were aware such marriages were creating increased risk of genetic problems.

The claims infuriated the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC) which called on the prime minister...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: STLtoday/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/world/story/650DBF3370472CA1862573EA0015F54F?OpenDocument

The Dutch Cabinet said Friday it wants to ban burqas from all schools and prevent government employees from wearing the head-to-toe Islamic robes, but said it was impossible to outlaw them altogether.

In a policy...

Author: SHERRI DAY

Source: St. Petersburg Times

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/09/Hillsborough/America_s_Muslim_popu.shtml

Before the women can begin, they must pray.

Propped up by pillows, they sit in a circle on the floor, cup their hands upward and close their eyes.

"Give us clarity, Allah," a woman intones. "Give us truth and honesty. And, help us to succeed in our humble mission."

The women...

Author: Michelle Boorstein

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020803233.html?hpid=sec-religion

For more than a decade, interfaith efforts have been on the rise in the United States, fueled by the growth of newer religious minority groups and by post-Sept. 11 interest in Islam. But participants and experts say a new credo is changing the...

Source: Herald Tribune

Wire Service: AP

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080209/APN/802090674

The only Muslim in the Alabama Legislature said he hopes he is an example of how religion is becoming less a factor as people judge political candidates and that some of the paranoia caused by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is evaporating.

State Rep. Yusuf Salaam, D-Selma, said he believes he has helped make the religion...

Author: Khalid Moss

Source: Dayton Daily News

http://www.daytondailynews.com/l/content/oh/story/living/religion-faith/2008/02/08/ddn020908lifefaith.html

Bringing people of different faiths together will be the theme of a Feb. 20 program hosted by Dayton's Sisters of the Precious Blood.

The featured speak for "Catholics and Muslims: More in Common Than You Think" will be Pat Morrison, a...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: English Politics News/CNN

Wire Service: AP

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7233335.stm

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attracted widespread criticism after appearing to back the adoption of some aspects of Sharia law in the UK.

Dr Rowan Williams said the UK had to "face up to the fact" some citizens did not relate to the UK legal system.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said such moves would create "social chaos."...

Author: Gregg Krupa

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/METRO02/802080332/1041/LIFESTYLE04

The Holocaust Memorial Center this week canceled a Feb. 26 appearance by a Michigan State University professor after Muslims expressed concerns that Indrek Wichman and the group that was sponsoring his appearance, The Michigan State University Young Americans for Freedom,...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020703686.html

The violent attacks by al-Qaeda and by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq have led people and religious groups in the Muslim world to reduce their financial support for Osama bin Laden's terrorist network and to question its leadership, senior U.S. intelligence officials told...